Week 16 Recap and Playoff Predictions

What a season it's been in the NFL this year. No Tom Brady, No Michael Vick, injuries, accidental gun shots, bounties, we've had it all but another reoccurance of Spygate. 16 Weeks down, 1 to go, and five of the twelve possible playoff spots still out there to be obtained. It's going to get interesting. Before I make of playoff prediction, here's the 5 stories that truly define the 2008 NFL regular season in a nutshell.

1. Plaxico Burress and the New York Giants

The incredibly talented, incredibly stupid Giants wide receiver has spend more time in the news than on the actual playing field. Suspended for 2 games for a violation of teams rules, 2 more for injuries, and then missing the final 4 games of the regular season for because of an accidental shooting at a New York nightclub. It's actually been quite comical. However, Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin, Earth Wind and Fire, and the rest of the Giants have clinched home-field advantage in the NFC. The road to the superbowl goes through the Meadowlands. Yuck.

2. Adam "Pacman" Jones, T.O, and Dallas Cowboys

Oh Pacman, nine crimes later, still had the nerve to assault his team-appointed security guard at a hotel. A 4-game suspension and a month-term in alcohol rehab later, he's back to returning punts for the Cowboys. When will Roger Goodell learn? On the other hand, it wouldn't be a good season in the NFL without T.O drama. The 34 year old veteran WR still happens to involve himself in petty high school drama, this time surrounding his "Quarterback" Tony Romo and his all-pro TE Jason Witten. T.O is well on his way to ruining his 3rd NFL team, this one possibly ending with a fired coach, and another season gone by with the Dallas Cowboys not winning a playoff game. Can't say I'm upset.

3. The Vickless Falcons

Their franchise QB in jail, their coach abandoned them, and the Falcons are now in the playoffs. That defies logic. It's the truth, the team that nobody gave a chance is now is the most dangerous team in the NFC. First-year coach Mike Smith, Rookie QB Matt Ryan, and long-time backup RB Michael Turner have done the damage, but it's been a team effort. With all that's been going on in the NFL and all the negative publicity, this is most definitely the feel-good story of the 2008 season

4. Donavan Mcnabb 

And back to the negative publicity. Here's 10 years of drama condensed into one game against the Ravens this season. Mcnabb has a bad first half, and after 4 pro bowls, 4 NFC Championships, and he's benched for second-year QB Kevin Kolb, down 3 points against the league's best defense. The image of Mcnabb in his windbreaker watching his team get pulverized is etched in my memory for eternity. For two whole days, fans and media were going back and forth analyzing Mcnabb's future with the team that took him #2 in the 1999 draft. He's now back to starting, responding pretty well to adversity with a 3-1 record in his last 4 games, and a quarterback rating over 100, but the question still resides...Where will #5 play next year?

5. Injuries

If there were a time to make an all-injury team instead of an all-pro team, the injury team would be stacked this year. Of course Tom Brady would be at the quarterback position, Burress being the #1 receiver, Champ Bailey as the shutdown cornerback but which of the 6 Broncos running backs put on injured reserve would get the starting nod at running back?

Projected Playoff Picture

NFC

1. Giants

2. Panthers

3. Vikings

4. Cardinals

5. Falcons

6. Eagles (In because of a week 17 win vs. Dallas, and Tampa Bay's collapse will be complete with a loss against Oakland)

AFC

1. Titans

2. Steelers

3. New England (Jets will win against Dolphins, New England will also win, Patriots get tiebreaker)

4. Chargers (Bye, Bye, Mike Shanahan)

5. Colts

6. Ravens

Hopefully, I'm right.