Wild Card Weekend -- the weekend where every wild card team (except for the one going against the Pats, of course), won. The teams were evenly matched -- either having the same records, or off by a game, but being hot lately. There were few surprises, even though two teams that lost were both favored (not by much). To the degree I cared, I generally favored the team that lost, in one case because the loss did not help the Giants in the end.
Ah, the Giants. Many noted that they had to win the final game, giving them the NFC East plus a home game, even after even a loss would have gave them a playoff berth (as a road / wild card team). After all, they would in that case be in the midst of a two game losing streak, backed in (after losing to a bad team), and have to play on the road. Yeah, that would have been tough. Perhaps, they would have had a worse game -- you know, worst than 23-0 with team MVP Tiki Barber having a lousy day along with the rest of the team. It was surely the worst game of the year, a reminder of some of the worst games of the last two seasons. Yuck.
The other NFC leader, Tampa, lost too ... but made a game of it. This even after two quick touchdowns were given up off turnovers. The Bucs D, unlike the Giants, actually gave them a chance to win down to the final minute ... when the third turnover ended their hopes. Mixed rookie QB effort there ... one that unlike the Giants QB only started a few games into this season. The Pats won, of course, though it was only 7-3 at the Half. What else when two Jag key defensive players had casts on their arms? The Bengals lost their QB right away (he's due back sometime in late '06), went ahead 17-7 ... and stopped scoring. The back-up did pretty good, but the team did not have it late. Again, at least they showed some life.
Unlike a certain NJ team I know. Anyway, do not be too surprised if Wild Card Carolina actually has a home game ... which will happen if they and the Redskins both win next week ... after all, the Redskins Offense mostly took off this weekend (fourteen of seventeen points off those turnovers). We shall see.