Why winning the NFCS is so important

[teeray]

Look, getting your ass kicked is not fun, and it raises a lot of doubts about your team.  I get it, I am concerned too. 

 

Inevitably you get the silly sentiment of "Who cares if we win the NFCS if we just going to get your ass kicked anyway in the playoffs"

 

I have referenced in other threads the 2011 Giants as a team that limped into the playoffs playing in a weak division, and managed to win a Super Bowl

 

The first round they played a Falcons team that was probably better than they were, and were 6-2 at home but only 4-4 on the road.  Even though the Falcons were a better team with a better record they had to go to the Giants home field and ended up getting smoked 24-2.  That win injected a team that hadn't been past the divisional round of the playoffs in three year a shot of confidence that it road all the way to a Super Bowls championship (although in fairness the last time they made it past the divisional round before that they won the SB)

 

That was the same Giants team that got smoked by the 5-11 Redskins in what was thought to be must win for them, that led to boos and the infamous "Eli the Terrible" headline in the New York Post

 

But... There is an even more apropos example of why winning the division, even a crappy division is important, and can help you significantly get where you want to go. 

 

The 2008 Arizona Cardinals.  The Cards that year lost 4 of their last 6 games that season.  Here were the scores of those 4 losses:

 

Giants 39-29

Eagles 48-20

Vikings 35-14

Patriots 47-7

 

They still won the pooty (at that time) NFC West division

 

Here were the final standings:

 

Cardinals: 9-7

Niners: 7-9

Seahawks:  4-12

Rams: 2-14

 

Just a no good, terrible, very bad division

 

Ironically, they also played the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional round.  The Falcons were a better team, and finished 11-5.  The Falcons were also a stout 7-1 at home.  But since Arizona won their division, the Falcons had to travel out to Arizona and Zona got the win 30-24.

 

The next game Zona came out to our own Carolina Panthers home here in Charlotte.  Jake imploded.  All I really want to say about that.

 

Here is the thing.  In the NFC championship game they played the playoff wild card team Philadelphia Eagles.  A team that had played them just a few weeks before in the year in Philly and they beat Zona 48-20. 

 

BUT because Zona won their division, this game wasn't in Philly.  It was in the desert.  Arizona got their revenge on their home field 32-25 and went to the SB.

 

In the SB against the Steelers they were a fumble returned 96 yards for a TD from winning that Super Bowl.

 

 

Who knows what is going to happen, who cares if you are in a pooty division.  The first step is to win the division.  After that anything can happen.

 

Maybe we get blown out in the first game.  Fug it.

 

But maybe, just maybe, we get a home game for winning the division.  Maybe we get a big win there and build some confidence and get on a roll at the right time.

 

But regardless, either way, don't tell me it doesn't matter if we win the NFCS.   You can't win a Super Bowl if you don't make the playoffs.

 

And if you make the playoffs, and win your division, ANYTHING can happen.

 

These two teams in the last 7 years prove it

 

/rant

 

 

 

[CelibatePimp]

I don't think anyone is asking for us to tank. Our division is terrible. This was the tough stretch of our schedule. Hopefully we can begin to get better as the schedule softens up.

[Jakob]

Watch out, this forum can't handle logic today. This we probably has the most undereducated fans in all of football. Whats sad is the same people who praised Newton, Rivera, Gettleman, last week are the same ones saying the need to go and the second we win they will be praising them again. This team has a 1.5 lead in the NFC South. We got blown out by a top 5 team. At any moment the defense might get it together.

[cbarrier90]

I appreciate your optimism but I think even the biggest homer sees we have way too many gaping holes to make a serious run at this point in time. If we weren't technically in a rebuilding season and Hardy was back and things looked more like last year I would be more inclined to agree with you but I think just getting in would be a major accomplishment given the personnel and inconsistencies so far this season.

That said I think getting in is very possible and should downright be expected.

[PanthersClinic]

Everyone wants to win the division and go to the playoffs. What people don't want is a 6-9-1 season being treated like an 11-5 season and getting players and coaches unnecessary contracts.

[Jump Zone]

I see winning the division as the only path into the playoffs for NFCS teams which IMO is why it is important.

[PandaPancake]

Ok ok, I give up. We need to win the division

[cbarrier90]

Everyone wants to win the division and go to the playoffs. What people don't want is a 6-9-1 season being treated like an 11-5 season and getting players and coaches unnecessary contracts.

This isn't Hurney.

We went 12-4 and let everyone go. Gettleman understands the big picture.

[teeray]

By the way, I am going to have to change my handle to "Optimist Prime"

[SZ James (banned)]

Wanna bet $100 if we make the playoffs that we aren't one and done?

[restNChrist]

Look, getting your ass kicked is not fun, and it raises a lot of doubts about your team.  I get it, I am concerned too. 

 

Inevitably you get the silly sentiment of "Who cares if we win the NFCS if we just going to get your ass kicked anyway in the playoffs"

 

I have referenced in other threads the 2011 Giants as a team that limped into the playoffs playing in a weak division, and managed to win a Super Bowl

 

The first round they played a Falcons team that was probably better than they were, and were 6-2 at home but only 4-4 on the road.  Even though the Falcons were a better team with a better record they had to go to the Giants home field and ended up getting smoked 24-2.  That win injected a team that hadn't been past the divisional round of the playoffs in three year a shot of confidence that it road all the way to a Super Bowls championship (although in fairness the last time they made it past the divisional round before that they won the SB)

 

That was the same Giants team that got smoked by the 5-11 Redskins in what was thought to be must win for them, that led to boos and the infamous "Eli the Terrible" headline in the New York Post

 

But... There is an even more apropos example of why winning the division, even a crappy division is important, and can help you significantly get where you want to go. 

 

The 2008 Arizona Cardinals.  The Cards that year lost 4 of their last 6 games that season.  Here were the scores of those 4 losses:

 

Giants 39-29

Eagles 48-20

Vikings 35-14

Patriots 47-7

 

They still won the pooty (at that time) NFC West division

 

Here were the final standings:

 

Cardinals: 9-7

Niners: 7-9

Seahawks:  4-12

Rams: 2-14

 

Just a no good, terrible, very bad division

 

Ironically, they also played the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional round.  The Falcons were a better team, and finished 11-5.  The Falcons were also a stout 7-1 at home.  But since Arizona won their division, the Falcons had to travel out to Arizona and Zona got the win 30-24.

 

The next game Zona came out to our own Carolina Panthers home here in Charlotte.  Jake imploded.  All I really want to say about that.

 

Here is the thing.  In the NFC championship game they played the playoff wild card team Philadelphia Eagles.  A team that had played them just a few weeks before in the year in Philly and they beat Zona 48-20. 

 

BUT because Zona won their division, this game wasn't in Philly.  It was in the desert.  Arizona got their revenge on their home field 32-25 and went to the SB.

 

In the SB against the Steelers they were a fumble returned 96 yards for a TD from winning that Super Bowl.

 

 

Who knows what is going to happen, who cares if you are in a pooty division.  The first step is to win the division.  After that anything can happen.

 

Maybe we get blown out in the first game.  Fug it.

 

But maybe, just maybe, we get a home game for winning the division.  Maybe we get a big win there and build some confidence and get on a roll at the right time.

 

But regardless, either way, don't tell me it doesn't matter if we win the NFCS.   You can't win a Super Bowl if you don't make the playoffs.

 

And if you make the playoffs, and win your division, ANYTHING can happen.

 

These two teams in the last 7 years prove it

 

/rant

you sir make way too much sense and now I feel better... thank you

[teeray]

I appreciate your optimism but I think even the biggest homer sees we have way too many gaping holes to make a serious run at this point in time. If we weren't technically in a rebuilding season and Hardy was back and things looked more like last year I would be more inclined to agree with you but I think just getting in would be a major accomplishment given the personnel and inconsistencies so far this season.

That said I think getting in is very possible and should downright be expected.

 

Depends on how you look at it.

 

That Zona team, every halfway decent team they played the last 6 games BLEW them out.  Some even worse than that shitshow we saw today

 

48-20

35-14

47-7 in their 15th game!!!

 

The only two teams they beat the last 5 games was the team that would go on to have the #1 overall pick and the 4-12 Seahawks.

 

Every other team blew them out.  The games weren't even close.  Even the Giants 37-29 win wasn't as close as the final score

[teeray]

Wanna bet $100 if we make the playoffs that we aren't one and done?

 

Who gives a poo?  Maybe we do, or maybe something else happens and we get on a run.

 

You can't go on a run if you don't get there.

 

I'm not saying that we will make a run like they did, I am saying that twice in the last 7 years other teams have, so why not us?  They had personnel flaws too.

 

Who knows maybe we get two home games even though we have a worse record than two of our opponents

 

And basically it is a fug you to the "derp who cares if we win NFCS.. derp" people

[Marc Anthony]

Good post teeray, we may have hope yet...