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RnB · 12-13-2012, 02:09 PM

(12-13-2012 10:32 AM)Jesus Wrote: Despite all that they were the overall favorite to win the Super Bowl. They lost in the first round at home destroyed by the Giants a team they narrowly beat earlier in the year.

What does this mean?
Nothing. It doesn't matter if you blow out every team you face or just squeak by. There is no way of telling whether or not your team is capable of winning or losing before the game starts. If we go by what the Packers did two years ago, they look unstoppable in the playoffs. If we go by what they did last year, then they are chumps.

Any Given Sunday. You are dead on, in terms of using the past to predict the future in professional sports. They play the games for a reason, anything can happen, underdogs can be victorious, et al.: looking at sports in this manner is the only way I can function as a fan.

We all want our team to win. Realizing that your emotional connection to the team, and/or a specific expectation, has no effect on the outcome is much healthier, in my opinion.

(12-13-2012 10:44 AM)phocis850 Wrote: Its confusing how this team looks from one week to the next. Our record is great, but how we got there is questionable.

I want a solid showing Sunday. Win or lose, we must show up. If not, my expectations in the playoffs will turn into a Bills fans hopes of winning the SuperBowl.

It is not very confusing when you consider that parity is a hallmark of the NFL, with the entire monetary structure of the league devoted to maintaining a high level of competitiveness across all thirty-two teams. Some seasons (even multiple seasons when talent and execution are sustained) there are outliers that are entirely dominant, most seasons there aren't.

(12-13-2012 11:20 AM)swanlee Wrote: I'm ok with us resting players and tanking the rest of the season. I'd like us to experiment try some weird things etc. We are 11-2 even at 11-5 we have a good chance at a bye week and at least one home playoff game.

Before I'm called crazy seriously the Cardinals were a horrible regular season team and went to the superbowl, the Packers were pretty bad the year they won the super bowl,The Saints were on a 3 game regular season losing streak when they won the superbowl. Both Giant superbowls came when they had regular seasons that were not very good.

These up coming games mean practically nothing, the Panthers game meant zilch in the long term.

In recent times it almost seems if you want a Superbowl you need a mediocre regular season or you need to take it easy and tail off at the end of the regular season.

I don't know if this trend is substantiated over enough seasons (or franchises) to justify securing a playoff berth early and then resting starters, developing depth, and working on schemes; it makes sense though, without considering any monetary/morale/locker-room aspects.

If there is any season that we might benefit from doing it, it's this season. Two new coordinators and a new philosophy on both sides of the ball means that the systems are still fresh and malleable. Finding out what works BEST for us, depending on opponent, will always be an ongoing process. However, trying to find specific schemes/game-plans that work, without needing to worry about the score, is a rare opportunity in the NFL

I honestly don't care if we have home-field throughout, but would be very surprised if we don't secure the number one seed. As long as we get one playoff game in the Dome I will be a happy camper.