Just in case you forgot, the NFL was quick to remind everyone how unpredictable it can be this past weekend.
Favourites like the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots suffered upsets, while the Green Bay Packers didn’t even look like a playoff team, let alone a title contender.
Let’s look back at some of the biggest storylines from Week 16:
– #360USA: Bill Foley building his Vegas dreams on solid ground
– NFL: Peyton Manning rubbishes growth hormone use allegations
Blip on the radar
Carolina really seemed destined to go 16-0, but while it would have made for a storybook narrative, there are bigger things to play for.
Sure, the Panthers should have beaten the inconsistent Atlanta Falcons, but when you’re 14-0 you have the luxury to slip up because you’ve already put yourself in position to have a shot at the ultimate prize: a ring.
Just ask the New England Patriots how valuable a perfect regular season is in the grand scheme of things.
Little has changed for Carolina, aside from them shedding additional pressure. Cam Newton is still the MVP favourite and the Panthers are still a scary team.
Belichick yourself
Bill Belichick rightfully gets a lot of credit for his coaching prowess. Some even label him a genius. But one of the greatest coaches the sport has ever seen made a head-scratching gaffe on Sunday.
Belichick decided to kick off to the New York Jets in overtime rather than receive after winning the coin toss.
If you’re not familiar with overtime NFL rules, the game ends if the first score in extra time is a touchdown, which is exactly what the Jets did on the opening drive to win 26-20.
It was the wrong call and that’s not a criticism based on results over process, but on simple logic.
If the aim of overtime is to score, the best possible way to do that is by your offence having possession. If you kick off, you’re taking a risk that your offence might not even see the field and give you a chance to win the game.
Belichick has done this before, when he chose to kick to the Denver Broncos in an overtime game in November 2013, but on that occasion it was due to the wind. Against the Jets, however, the coach said the decision was based on the defence playing better than the offence.
You can at least make a case that using the wind to your benefit can alter a game. There’s no argument in taking the ball out of Tom Brady’s hand if there are no tangible advantages present.
A rare mistake by one of the best.