Politically Correct NFL Playoffs

This is being written while the first of four NFL playoff games this weekend is being played.

Now think about this...

If you're any kind of a pro football fan you're well aware of all the hype behind these games as the build-up began after last Sunday's games came to an end... But let's just throw all of that talk out the window and look at the playoffs as if through the eyes of the NFL's executives (always concerned with perception in terms of television ratings and sponsorship deals)...

Today we've got the Baltimore Ravens at the Pittsburgh Steelers (the game that's nearing halftime as I write this) and later the Green Bay Packers will invade the Georgia Dome and take on the Atlanta Falcons. Tomorrow it'll be the Seattle Seahawks at the Chicago Bears followed by the New York Jets at the New England Patriots.

So given this group of eight teams who should make it to the Superbowl and win? The top seeds in the NFC and AFC are Atlanta and New England respectively and it's my contention that that's just who should square off in Dallas on February 6th. How do I know that? Well, in the eyes of the NFL they are the two most unblemished of all the possibilities, that's how.

Big Ben... Drunk Again

For example... Pittsburgh is QB'd by an almost rapist... (I know that sounds harsh, but if you're familiar with what happened between Ben Roethlisberger and that young college girl, what would you call it?). Do you think the NFL wants a guy like that leading a team into their Super Bowl? I don't... Pittsburgh is struggling against the Ravens right now...

Then there's the hapless Seattle Seahawks who happen to play in the weakest division in the NFL. For all the parity hype we annually hear out of the NFL do you really think they'll allow the Seahawks to play in the Super Bowl? How would having a 7-9 team in the league's biggest game make the NFL look? Sorry Seattle, if Chicago doesn't get ya whoever you play next Sunday will. Count on it...

Refs meeting at Chicago Bear / Seattle Seahawk game...
"Who wants to make this next call against the Seahawks?"
"Me! "Me!" "I do!" "Let me!"

I don't think the NFL has a problem with either Atlanta or the Green Bay Packers... For this reason I'm gonna say the Falcons pull out the victory on the strength of the home field advantage.

Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers, quarterbacks for the Falcons and Packers respectively are the epitome of the NFL's All-American boys...

Finally, there's the late Sunday matchup between the Jets and the Patriots. I've got it in my head that the NFL really doesn't care for all the rhetoric coming out of the Jets' Head Coach and several of their players. Normally I wouldn't bet against a New York team (corporate headquarters for the NFL is New York City and we see favoritism toward the New York teams in many subtle ways) but the Jets have become a real problem... So long Rex...

If I don't miss my politically correct mark, next weekend will feature the Bears at the Falcons and the Ravens at the Patriots thus setting up the Super Bowl the NFL would prefer and if it's the Steelers verses the Patriots next week count on the Steelers losing...

Yeah I know, I'm pulling for the Seahawks, but NFL reality has set in...

Hang in, Pete!