Monday, December 22, 2008

The NFL Screws the Pats

The Patriots need to win next week in order to make the playoffs. In addition, they need either the Dolphins or the Ravens to lose. Complicating the matter, if the Pats lose and the Jets beat the 'Fins, the Jets go to the playoffs.

Thus, if the Patriots win, the Jets don't have much to play for: they'd need an unlikely Baltimore loss in order to get in. But that won't matter much, since all the games are scheduled for 1pm starts.

At least, that was the case until today, when the NFL in all its wisdom moved the Dolphins-Jets and Ravens-Jaguars games to 4pm. Thus, the Jets will know by kickoff whether they control their own future or not. If Baltimore pulls away from the Jaguars early, the Jets have no reason to keep fighting hard, and with Eric "Revenge" Mangini at the helm, they could happily let the game slip away, putting the Dolphins into the playoffs ahead of the hated Pats.

Still, the Patriots need to win next week, and it's only fanboy bloggers who are all atwitter over the scheduling changes. Belichick and his troops won't say a thing about it.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

its cuz they care mostly about $$$: favres last game + the game for first place + its in NYC = lots of interest

Anonymous said...

its cuz they care mostly about $$$: favres last game + the game for first place + its in NYC = lots of interest

Macro Guy said...

Sure... but they could have moved the Pats game to 4pm as well, instead of the Ravens game (for instance).

Mike said...

Yeah, when I saw this "NFL flex" schedule change I was pretty pissed. Hopefully Favre will pull something out of his arse like he always does.