It’s gift-giving season, that time of year when you get what you’re asking for, something you don’t have, or maybe, if you’re no good, nothing at all.
So it goes in National Football Leaguealso, where this year more parcels than usual are stacked around the metaphorical family tree of professional football, and in countless cases the same gift awaits after the color wrap torn pig skin.
Exciting items are given out throughout the tournament when Yuletide overflows?
Opportunity.
For all but a few naughty ones who misbehave to escape the controversy, hope persists in various forms, thanks to a unique, unpredictable campaign. and weighted this par, where there are still plenty of posts in the knockout stages to grab.
The chance to revive a season is in some cases worth it, in others perhaps much less, but either way, here it is, a weekend full of football will come as soon as he Santa starts working overtime and everything to play.
As long as you have five or more wins so far – and all but six teams meet that criteria – knockout football is still a legitimate possibility. However, Noel’s charm takes many different forms.
For some, the gift of hope is like receiving a lottery ticket on Christmas morning; a nice gesture, all but guaranteed to lead to nothing. It’s the same for Pittsburgh Steelworkerare still on the hunt but need a confusing combination of dozens of results – three of their own wins are just the beginning – to break through the field.
What do you get for the man who has everything? Or for the man who makes $50 million a year? Because Aaron Rodgersmaybe the best gift is this, a little chance to debut Green Bay Packers a comeback is unlikely after the season even after all the dismal developments of the year and a two-month span of only a single win.
Rodgers told reporters: “So we won two games and pretty much everything we needed went our way. “Just now, right? Things are getting better.”
Next is Miami Dolphins on Christmas Day (1pm ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app), where Rodgers hopes to continue the Pack’s little rescue act.
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Those who never saw this coming may be the ones who enjoyed it the most. The Detroit lion, which emerged from June 1 to July 7, is actually joining the conversation. At the beginning of November, not even Dan Campbell, an extremely optimist, could be bold enough to scribble this kind of result on his wish list and send it to the elves.
The Jacksonville Jaguar also glad to have lifted their own spirits, mixing it with Tennessee Giants‘ startling fall, and find myself on the doorstep of an accelerated version of Trevor Lawrence progress milestone.
The Lions and the Leopards stepped up when they needed to and showed adequate form for a post-season contender. The other teams did not, but were still in the bracket.
Among them, unthinkable, was New York Jets, horrible again on Thursdaywith the only relief that came when the fourth midfielder chain Chris Streveler to be bring back for replacement Zach Wilson.
They look like a team that is going nowhere and they have lost 4 games in a row. Win the last two, though, and there’s even more chance they’ll make it to the post-season.
New cheerleading and long-term retention is what was intended as the NFL added a post-season seventh place in each convention. On this evidence, it’s hard to argue with logic. Everyone loves gifts, and what better time than this?
In NFC South, there is a happy parcel for brave cat and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who led the way to a home play-off spot despite a turbulent and mostly unsatisfactory season. However, generosity extends to all others in the same department, New Orleans, Atlanta and Carolina all 5-9, are well aware that the opportunity is also theirs.
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For some, there’s a chance to wrap up the achievement of a post-season landing – perhaps with plush paper and ribbon – with another win, or even a slightly diminished result elsewhere. . That’s how it’s for Baltimore Crowswho can finish eagle‘ diminishing chance (1pm ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app) and keep the pressure up Cincinnati Bengals at AFC North.
The thing to remember about this particular type of Christmas gift is that it is only a good gift if it works, otherwise it will go up in smoke and be forgotten like all clothes that don’t fit. twists, unopened CDs, disappointing calendars and second. candy rate of the year passed.
Chance teases that good things can happen – but in most cases only if you win – which for all permutations is still what it is.
That’s why Lawrence has been sitting smiling in his Christmas sweater as early as Thursday night, his role in the carnival planning fulfilled.
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Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports and the author of the FOX Sports Insider newsletter. Follow him on Twitter @MRogersFOX and Sign up for the daily newsletter.
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