By Brian F. Bauer
It’s pretty obvious at this stage that the Saints are out of the NFL Playoffs (if I just ruined that for you, welcome back from your coma), but if you’re anything like me, that doesn’t mean you skip the NFL Playoffs. Professional football is doled out in small doses annually and I like to enjoy every last helping, even when the remaining teams are among those I can’t stand. Fortunately, the Falcons aren’t here either, so for me anyway, that means I can LARGELY put away my bag of bad juju. Of course, that doesn’t make the playoffs a big love-in as far as Saints fans go. Here’s one Saint’s fan list of what’s left and how I’m hoping (or hoping against) they fare.
Get em outta here:
- Carolina Panthers. At 15-1 they’ve taken the reins as the NFL darlings this season, winning behind a combination of solid defense, a solid running game, and an MVP-caliber season from the enigmatic Cam Newton. I’ll admit it – it’s hard not to like Cam, with his happy go lucky attitude and affinity for giving TD balls to his younger fans. But I simply can’t abide by another Super Bowl champ from the NFC South – at least not until the Saints take their second. Of course, that represents a small problem, at least this weekend, because for me, the other team on this list is …
- Seattle Seahawks. Did they really win last week? Really? I watched most of that game while doing other things and when I saw Minnesota driving late, it seemed like someone was finally going to rid us of the Seahawk menace once and for all. That would spell the likely end for Marshawn Lynch in the Pacific Northwest and potentially the final time we’d have to hear about “Beast Quake” on the regular. But Blair Walsh missed a sure thing, and here we are. I actually rooted (sorry – I know, I know) for Carolina in this very matchup a year ago just because I couldn’t stand the idea of this team advancing to yet another Super Bowl, and for a little while it was interesting. I’m still stinging over Beast Quake (1 and 2), still annoyed over the Colston lateral, still steamed about Jimmy Graham’s annual Seattle disappearing act. Let’s face it, we’re rooting against whoever comes out of this one, regardless.
Mixed feelings:
- Arizona Cardinals. I like what Arizona has done this season, I really do. They came out on top of a division of teams that regularly frustrate the Saints, and put a smile on my face by beating up on San Francisco and Seattle (once anyway). They have likeable enough players (John Brown, Larry Fitzgerald) and some nice comeback stories (Carson Palmer and CJ2K). I should be totally, absolutely fine with Arizona, or at least a bit indifferent. Don’t ask me why, but I find myself a little bit jealous. On a lot of levels it feels like these two teams are pretty close to one another in terms of talent and success of late, and right now, for whatever reason, Arizona is just doing it better. Of course, that can all turn on a dime and we’ll be exchanging places with them a year from now, which would be awesome, thanks.
Because I think we’re better than they are?
- Kansas City Chiefs. I have no real problem with this team other than the fact that every time I see them play I wonder how the Saints would have fared in the AFC West. I mean, look at that offense. You’re in round 2 of the playoffs with that? Really? They’re like the anti-Saints, with a defense good enough to keep them around and offense “good” enough to … uh … keep them around? Anyway, I just can’t stand the thought of KC at that offense in the Championship game.
- Green Bay Packers. I opted to put the Packers AFTER the Chiefs for a couple of reasons, the top being that while I have a long list of NFC teams I DON’T like, I usually wind up rooting for the NFC in the Super Bowl (unless it’s Seattle). But I have the same gripe with Green Bay that I have with KC. This is just the Saints with a more favorable schedule. Busted up offensive line, suspect defense, solid wrs with an excellent QB. So if I HAVE to root for an NFC team this weekend, this is probably it (and of course, they’re probably gonna lose too).
Indifferent:
- New England Patriots. Honestly, for me I almost don’t care who wins in the AFC. Each team has an annoying angle that will play out during the two weeks between the Championship games and the Super Bowl, I guess it’s a question of which you find more annoying. I put the Patriots here just because really, again? Change the channel already, I’ve seen this movie too many times.
- Pittsburgh Steelers. I actually like a lot of players on Pittsburgh and admittedly, a lot of that comes from playing fantasy football. But I’m also on the East Coast, and grossly aware that the most annoying people in the world that aren’t Falcons fans or Redskins fans are Steelers fans … ANOTHER title? They haven’t shut up about the last one yet.
- Denver Broncos. I like Peyton Manning. The New Orleans connection, the fact that he’s been a Hall of Famer basically his entire career, whatever. I tend to root for him unless he’s across the sidelines from the black and gold. Denver doesn’t particularly offend me in any way, only thing I worry about is them starting Brock Osweiler in the Super Bowl and giving 1 or 2 on my list a shot at a ring.
So there you have it. Who are you rooting for/against this weekend? Let me know in the comments.
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