Author's note: This articale was written with a small, yet significant, assist from my Dad to get the players’ names right…hey, I know sarcasm…he knows football.
The NFL playoffs are in full swing, and soon the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, and Arizona Cardinals will do massive battle against each other like knights errant from a former era for an opportunity to become the Super Bowl Champions of the World.
Champions…that is…for exactly one year. Next year, there’s gonna be a new champion. But the hype is all about this year, people, so let’s get on with it!
Their battleground? A white-lined, properly fertilized yet still somehow retaining its organic green turf appearance. Having said that, that legendary and traditional green grass might in fact be artificial green turf. And that’s okay. You can change the nature of the field, unlike the weight of the ball just to make it easier to throw.
Remaining Playoff Schedule Conference Championship:
Sunday January 24
AFC – 3:05 p.m. Eastern on CBS
NFC – 6:40 p.m. Eastern on FOX
Super Bowl 50:
Sunday February 7th, 6:30 p.m. on CBS
[endif]-- And regardless of what kind of green turf they play on, or what new ways Quarterback Tom Brady might come up with to make it easier for him to win his Patriots yet another Superbowl, the champion will then be crowned. And, you can be sure of one thing: The winners will say it was a great team effort. After the heralds have been sung, and because it is a team effort, the MVP (Most Valuable Player) who will be awarded a brand new car will allow each one team member exactly one spin around the block one time in his exclusively owned brand new car…because…it’s his and only his having been awarded it in this team sport. Hey, he couldn’t have won it without the other players surrounding his greatness.
Let me be clear before I digress. And digress I likely will.
Football is a violent sport and the players earn every penny they make. In fact, in many ways football is a perfect example of some of the best and worst aspects in a competitive world. The best players earn the most, and the players with the least skills among their peers are quickly let go from their teams and future football income despite giving 110%. Head injuries, unfortunately, are an equal opportunity possibility. Football is at the same time physically violent and cruel, but incredibly rewarding to the competitors wallets at the moment they sign their contracts. After the ink on their contract dries, however, one might question just how financially rewarding that contract really was. The NFL, America’s sport, has a long list of ex-players who have found themselves penniless, jailed, or even on the television show “Dancing with the Stars.” Hey, maybe NFL history could be considered a paradigm for America’s uncut version of their latest high school history books.
But until such time as the future is unveiled, it is almost about the present. And at present, this year’s playoff season looks a lot like last year’s, but with a few different names to stockpile like old jerseys in a dying NFL mall outlet.
Last week, the New England Patriots relied on the star power of quarterback Tom Brady and tight end, Rob Gronkowski to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 27-20. Kansas City had come into the game riding high on an 11-game winning streak but could not prevent Brady, a four time Super Bowl winner, from advancing to the last stage before the Super Bowl. Gronkowski, often referred to by the incredibly descriptive nickname, “Gronk”, caught two touchdowns from Brady. The Chiefs stout defense and ball-control offense set the tone by controlling the ball for most of the game, but in the end could not stop the Patriots in their pursuit of a fifth Super Bowl victory.
Didn’t the Patriots cheat last year? Why are they even allowed in? Oh well, whatever.
Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals advanced to the next round with a 26-20 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers. This past Sunday’s games saw the Carolina Panthers jump out to a 31 point lead over the Seattle Seahawks. Finally, the stage is set for another epic playoff confrontation between quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Many believe this will be Manning’s swansong performance if the Broncos lose. On the flip side, Tom Brady appears as good as ever. The Broncos-Patriots matchup has the makings for an epic confrontation, one that can be recited (or watched on Youtube) through the ages. But, you can bet that everyone, winners and losers alike, will all say that “it came down to teamwork and giving 110 per cent.”
Image credit for Banner Art:
https://www.google.com/search?q=nfl+playoff+logo&espv=2&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiGjbabk7PKAhVHGD4KHevVDRYQ7AkIMQ&biw=1344&bih=759#imgrc=kmNkJZFYkgT0GM%3A
Image credit for playoff wins:
https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome-psyapi2&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&q=NFL%20Playoffs&oq=NFL%20Playoffs&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.3727j0j4
Sources:
"NFL Playoff Bracket & Schedule 2016: Divisional Round Edition - Viral Editorial." Viral Editorial. N.p., 16 Jan. 2016. Web. 18 Jan. 2016.
Editorials, The Republican. "Editorial: NFL Playoffs More Predictable than Presidential Politics." N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2016.
"NFL Playoffs | Steelers 18, Bengals 16: Miscues in Last 2 Minutes Sink Cincinnati Hopes." The Columbus Dispatch. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2016.
http://www.nfl.com/playoffs/playoff-picture
Author’s Note: And, as part of my source list, my awesome Dad who explained the game well enough so I could write this article on a game he loves and I never loved back. To him, thanks for spending the time to help me with this. I love you.
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