Fighting for your playoff lives and...really?

Today was a bad day to be a fan of football.

Not that the scores really mattered, because they didn't.  I am not a fan of the Giants, nor the Ravens, Buccaneers, Chargers and Bills - so I soul-searched for about 2.2 seconds to answer why their losses bothered me so much...

...and my conclusion is that I'm a fan of the game of football, and to see these teams disrespect their fans, the game and themselves was disturbing to me.

To see those teams come out as uninspired and seemingly disinterested as they looked is a stain on their fabric, and insult to their fans and, most of all, an insult to the game of football. I imagine that these teams have lost a great amount of respect - not just with their fans, but within the entire football world.

Perhaps these teams should set back and watch film of teams like the Saints, the Dolphins, Colts and Texans to see what taking pride in your job looks like...and on a day that we saw some bad football, the ultimate of insults is for us to look at the scoreboard and see that the Arizona Cardinals, with nothing to play for but pride, showed up and creamed the Lions, leaving the stadium pride intact.

The Ravens and Giants? Chargers and Bills? Not so much.

The scores of this afternoon's early games:

Indianapolis 27 Houston  29

Nice bounceback for the Texans.  They showed the heart of a champion after last week's disappointment, and consequently became the AFC South Champion.  Perhaps news of the Texans' demise were premature?  The Colts suffered a setback, but are still in prime position for the post season if they come back and take care of business next week.  We know enough about the Colts to assume that they will....

Jacksonville 3  Miami 24

I'm telling ya, this Dolphins team is going to be a team to be reckoned with next season.  The team is playing hard and are never out of a game.  I'm sure they'll be up for the Patriots on the last game of the season.  The Jags?  They get the Patriots next week - the way they mailed this one in, the Patriots get an extra week of practice...

Denver 34  Baltimore 17

To see the egg that the Baltimore Ravens laid this afternoon was appalling to me as a football fan - insulting even.  I mean, I know that Denver is good, but to dominate a supposed elite conference foe in Baltimore?  That was a flop job.  No one is going to take this team seriously after that.  Denver is steaming towards a high seed...

Minnesota 36  St. Louis 22

Minnesota kept their playoff hopes alive and Adrian Peterson took 200 steps toward a 2000 yard season and perhaps the League MVP.  They might just have something for the Texans next week.  Yup, they just might.  The Rams are playing out the string, but they have fought hard all year and took San Francisco to the mat.  Respect for Jeff Fischer and his staff for keeping this team playing hard.

Washington 38  Cleveland 21

That was an impressive performance by the Redskins.  Cleveland are no pushovers and Washington went in and did what they needed to do.  How can you have anything but respect for that?  The Browns as well.  They are playing hard for their staff, hopefully it's enough to be able to see them continue that work next season...I would think that next week's game with the Broncos might go a long ways to deciding that.

New York Giants 0  Atlanta 34

Really?  You put up a goose egg on a day when you were fighting for your playoff lives? Now you are clinging to a wild card spot with the Vikings right on your back side.  I think maybe the American Public is tired of your sandbagging act, where you hem and haw during the regular season, then turn into World Beaters in the playoffs...I know I am.  The Falcons looked every bit the top seed in the NFC that they clinched today.

Tampa Bay 0  New Orleans 41

The Buccaneers? well, they are playing out the string, but to get hammered as they did by the Saints raises questions as to their heart. Their saving grace, however, is that one of the teams that did show up and fight on Sunday was the Saints, and to blow the Bucs right out of the Superdome as they did says much about their players and their hearts....New Orleans is going to be OK.

They won't be in the playoffs, their season derailed before it even started. But they showed the football world that they are no easy win, and that they will be back stronger next season.

Green Bay 21  Chicago 13

I guess the Bears are the pretenders that Bears fans are used to seeing.  The defense is legit, but the offense is last year's...The Packers?  Not impressive, but a win is a win.  At least they showed up in the middle of a division race...and now have an inside track to the #2 seed should the 49ers fall to the Patriots tonight.  After the start they had, a respectful "Well Done"!

Carolina 31  San Diego 7

The Panthers started the year horribly, but have pulled it together and are now looking like the team we expected to see...the Chargers?  Jokes.  The Ownership has stuck by the coach and GM to a fault, and now that the writing is on the wall for both, the team has gone on early vacation.  Again, Jokes.

Seattle 50  Buffalo 17

The Bills were just overwhelmed by a superior team.  Seattle, you may be in first place in the NFC west tomorrow morning.  Buffalo?  You need a Quarterback and a defense that plays up to it's capabilities.

Detroit 10  Arizona 38

Jim Schwartz, if you weren't gone before this game, you certainly are now.  So much talent and you've misused it.  Arizona is to be commended for putting together a nice effort - but both seasons are over - and probably both coaches tenures...

Oakland 15  Kansas City 0

Both teams are done, but at least both competed...two more coaching vacancies?  There are going to be a lot of new head coaches next season...it's been a long time since we've seen an offense as incompetent as the Chiefs have...and they have Jamal Charles...

Pittsburgh 24  Dallas 24

Best game of the day between two evenly matched opponents mired in playoff races...and both came to play  The Steelers never quit, and got a huge win over Baltimore last week...Mike Tomlin has that kind of respect from his players.  But ultimately they fell to the Cowboys...nothing to be ashamed of, but the loss really hurts them in the playoff race.  Dallas climbs right back into the hunt for the division crown.