Sometimes the only choice is to just give up. Sometimes the deck is stacked so high against you that it's pointless to keep trying. Sometimes the only thing left to gain is another scar to remind you of your failure. Sometimes it's just best to quit.
Now is not the time.
It wasn't the time Jacksonville Jaguars, fighting to make the playoffs with an injured quarterback. It wasn't the time for the Cincinatti Bengals facing their "big brother", the Steelers. It wasn't the time for the Carolina Panthers who had never beaten Michael Vick. It wasn't the time for the New Orleans Saints, keeping hope alive for a decimated city.
And now is not the time to quit for the New England Patriots. Even though there's little reason to believe that there's another Cinderella story waiting to be told, it's far to early to close the book on this season. If there's one thing this team has taught me, it's to never give up, never back down, and never say die. The defending champs may be hobbled, but there's far too much pride in the New England locker room to surrender the title without a fight. The weakness of the AFC East has allowed us to throw one last punch, and it's going to be a haymaker.
For the past four seasons, no team has been able to eliminate the Patriots. When their backs were pressed against the wall, they performed at their finest level. A 9-0 playoff record and three Super Bowl titles, stand as a testament to the undeniable will this team possesses. Even in 2002, the lone year where they didn't capture the title, they still managed to win their elimination game against the Dolphins in Week 17, only to miss the playoffs by a tie-breaker to the Jets.
This isn't 2002. So barring a collapse of epic proportions, the Patriots will be in the 2005 post-season representing the AFC East. They may not be the favorite. In fact, they just might have the worst record of all the AFC playoff teams. But no matter what the circumstances, there's one thing that holds true - it's going to take a lot more than a "better record against common opponent" to take them down this time. If someone is going to cut the Patriots' throat and end their dynasty, then they're going to have to do something that hasn't been done since Tom Brady came onto the scene. They're going to have to do it on the field.
The odds have never been worse. Home field advantage is gone. Our psychologial advantage is gone. And there's most likely going to be a 16-0 powerhouse with a gigantic chip on their shoulder gunning for us with all they've got. If there ever was a time to give up, it's now.
But now is not the time .
Predictions:
NFC NORTH:
1. Bears
2. Vikings
3. Lions
4. Packers
NFC SOUTH:
1. Panthers
2. Buccaneers
3. Falcons
4. Saints
NFC EAST:
1. Giants
2. Cowboys
3. Redskins
4. Eagles
NFC WEST:
1. Seahawks
2. Rams
3. Cardinals
4. 49ers
NFC SEEDING:
1. Seahawks
2. Panthers
3. Giants
4. Bears
5. Cowboys
6. Buccaneers
AFC NORTH:
1. Bengals
2. Steelers
3. Ravens
4. Browns
AFC SOUTH:
1. Colts
2. Jaguars
3. Titans
4. Texans
AFC EAST:
1. Patriots
2. Dolphins
3. Bills
4. Jets
AFC WEST:
1. Broncos
2. Chiefs
3. Chargers
4. Raiders
AFC SEEDING:
1. Colts
2. Bengals
3. Broncos
4. Patriots
5. Steelers
6. Chiefs
NFC PLAYOFFS:
Wildcard Round:
Giants over Buccaneers, Cowboys over Bears
Divisional Round:
Giants over Seahawks, Panthers over Cowboys
NFC Championship:
Panthers over Giants
AFC PLAYOFFS:
Wildcard Round:
Broncos over Chiefs, Patriots over Steelers
Divisional Round:
Patriots over Colts, Broncos over Bengals
AFC Championship
Patriots over Broncos
SUPERBOWL XL:
Patriots over Panthers
Now is not the time.
