Coming out of a nice week-long holiday break, sports fans now tune back
Yes, we’re talking playoffs!
The east coast media might not like this, but this year’s 12 team playoff
field has a decidedly western flavor. Or, put another way, which region of
the country is likely to feature this year’s Super Bowl champion?
The West.
In the AFC, three teams out of six are from the AFC Western Division,
including the local favorites, the Denver Broncos. The two AFC wild card
teams are also from The West.
Things aren’t much different with their NFC counterparts. Two of the six
NFC playoff participants are from the western division and you could
argue that a third, Arizona, could easily have been a playoff participant.
What do we take from this information? Well, probably not much. With
only Philly and New England to rely on, easterners don’t have much to
root for this time around. Of course, no one should feel too sorry because
Baltimore is the most recent champ. New England is a perennial power
and the NY Giants have won twice in the last decade.
When the first ‘cold weather/outside’ Super Bowl bid was awarded – this
year’s game will be held at MetLife Stadium across the river from New
York – I’m sure there was a thought that the Giants could be playing for
the title on their home field.
I think, more than anything, it points to the cyclic nature of power shifts in
the NFL. The Commish likes that.
So, if champions from Seattle are hoisting the Lombardi Trophy a month
from now on February 2 – or if the champs hail from Denver, San Fran,
San Diego or KC – it’s just a one year thing. Next year, we could easily be
touting the potential championship run of the Steelers, Jets or
Washington.
Now, the weather in New Jersey in early February…now that’s another
matter completely and probably a topic for another time. Hercules,
anyone?
JG
Originally posted 1/2/2014
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