Detroit Lions pay attention: How about the Miami Dolphins? Just one year ago they jumped for joy managing to avoid a 0-16 season. This season the Dolphins wrapped up the AFC East with a 24-17 over the New York Jets capping off one of the best turn around stories in pro football history.
In another improbable story, the Oakland Raiders defeated the Tampa Bay Bucaneers 31-24. The loss eliminated the Bucs and opened the door for either the Dallas Cowboys or Philadelphia Eagles to grab a wild card spot. And it wasn’t even close. The Eagles knocked around and beat down the Cowboys 44-6. Suddenly, that tie against the Bengals doesn’t mean so much anymore. Give credit to McNabb and the Iggles, they persisted and were rewarded.
Remember the blown call that sealed a Denver Broncos victory over the San Diego Chargers earlier this year? Was there a more hard luck team than the Chargers? Four losses coming with under 30 seconds to go? Are you serious? Well, it all came to a showdown against their division rivals for the AFC West title. After all the injuries and bad luck, the Chargers finally euthanized their demons and kicked Broncos ass by a score of 52-21.
For those of you who care, that’s a combined 96-27 between the two games. Not the tight division games we expected. The Eagles and Chargers are in.
Finally, the Minnesota Vikings took the NFC North with a last second win over the New York Giants 20-19 while the Chicago Bears fell to the Houston Texans 31-24. The Vikes are off to the post season while Da Bears go home.
Let the playoffs begin.
By the way, I do like the Dolphins as a dark horse.
