MMBSD: Keys to Winning in the Playoffs

As this first weekend of playoff football reveals anything, other than Tom Coughlin probably shouldn’t stroll down Broadway this week, is that playoff football is a whole different type of football, altogether (It’s a whole different type of football). Heck if Simmons can create a few rules out of his ass, why can’t I? Unless he copy righted out of ass comments, which would be a shame since that’s where most of my thinking comes from also. Anyway a few thoughts on this week in the NFL

Playoff Experience Matters

Sure its cliché but its cliché because it’s true. Experience matters, certainly at the quarterback position. It’s a league where a team goes as far as the quarterback can take them. If you have a great quarterback, your defense only has to be good. If you have a great defense, your quarterback still can’t make mistakes. There were four games, with four quarterbacks with experience facing down four quarterbacks without experience (of the playoff variety that is). Young Chris Simms was supported by an outstanding defense. Monte Kiffin and the rest of the Buc defense had more than girth for most teams to win. But young Chris Simms and his third grade reading skills made one too many mistakes and though close, Tampa couldn’t pull off the win.

Will Eli ever be great? Eli seems to be on the roller coaster of hype going from Mid-Season “Just like Peyton” to End of the Year “Couldn’t Start in Detroit”. My thought it’s too early to make pronouncements. Palmer blossomed in his second year. I say wait and see. In the meantime the Giants go embarrassed in the kid’s first playoff game. (Note not having any sort of running game doesn’t help either). Carolina, who has done a Jekyll and Hyde routine all year, showed that on a good day Carolina is among the elite of the NFC.

Over in New England, the Patriots magic was too much for the Southern trained Jaguars. The Jags couldn’t get their offense unstuck in the cold. Leftwich was certainly harassed all game, but you could tell his reads were a tad slow (I suppose all QBs are that way against Belichek coached defenses). Without any offense life-force, the Jags defense slowly melted away. Pats move on to Mile High and we will see if Plummer has improved his playoff skills.

When It Doubt- Injure the Other Teams QB

Well I guess this really isn’t a rule as much as a key to victory. Playoff football is physical. Playoff games involving division rivals are bloodbaths. The Cinci-Pittsburgh game was just a gangland style hit. Carson Palmer, in his first playoff start, was unable to show critics (read me) that he belongs in uber-elite category of first time playoff quarterbacks who do well (Marino and Brady come to mind). A German (or possibly Swedish) assassin (Kimo von Oelhoffen) posing as a Pittsburgh lineman made sure that an unfortunate “accident” befell the Bengal’s star. Looked like a pretty dirty play to me. Of course if asked to testify I’d certainly keep my mouth shut so that “The Chin” wouldn’t rub me out too. Without Palmer, the Bengals couldn’t muster the offensive power to compensate for their defense.

Random Thoughts

I have this theory that Peter Gammons pays players (like Manny or Tejada) to demand outlandish trades. That way Peter can get more air time and once old Gammons makes a few reports; he has his “clients” say they no longer want a trade. I don’t know where Gammons gets his money to pay off players to demand trades but I have to say he is effective. Since I berate various TV personalities for not apologizing when they mistakes I should do my own set of apologies. Today’s apology goes to the Phoenix GM. He made some wacky moves in my eyes in the off-season (too be fair a lot of people also called the moves a lot worse). Despite not having Amare, this team is currently 22-11 and in first place in its division. A lot of accolades should go to Shawn Marion (averaging around 20-10 a game) and Steve Nash (who is angling to be the next Canadian Prime Minister) but the GM collected a bunch of no names (Boris Diaw) to surround those two and its working. The Texans have more or less announced they are going to draft Reggie Bush number one. As I said at the top it’s a quarterback league. No matter how good the running back, without a solid man throwing the ball, the team won’t win. If David Carr is not the answer, Texas better hope they didn’t pass on drafting a franchise QB. Now those are hard to find.