Saturday, January 23, 2016

Designated Arguments - Sweet and Sour

What does a normal person do in the middle of a blizzard? They write. Duh.

With about a month to go before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in Florida or Arizona, the talk of baseball is getting bigger and bigger, despite the fact that the Super Bowl hasn't even happened yet. Talks of rookies and veterans are taking shape around the bars and taverns, and the futures of team signings hang in the balance.

Most of these conversations are fun to chime in on. However, there is one argument that I (personally) hate to chime in on, and it's this:

The Designated Hitter Rule.

Thanks for the fitting picture, Edvard Munch.

I alluded to this topic in a post about interleague play nearly six years ago, long before the Astros jumped ship to the American League and began the trend of having at least one interleague series going on in the Majors at any point during the regular season; in fact, this piece was one of the first fifteen posts of this blog. After I made a quick trip to the bathroom to throw up upon reading this older piece, I came back to my chair, knowing that I can provide a way better argument this time around, and I can actually avenge my 19-year-old self from attempting to sound logical.
[Here--here's some digital ipecac syrup to get you going.]

I never wanted to touch the topic, to be quite honest, and that was because I knew it would be a total mess from the start. There are a lot of good reasons to adopt it league-wide, and there are not so good reasons to adopt it. Both sides have good points to the point that they practically cancel each other out. Seriously, it's like asking the question of whether you like Coke or Pepsi, or Playstation or XBox, or Democrats or Republicans. You can understand both sides of the story, but if you really had to choose, what would you choose?

This is the reason why I have never talked about this until now. It is that difficult for me to decide.

So this is why I'm going to pull you by the hair and you're going to experience it with me.
We're going to do something here called "Sweet and Sour," instead of plainly calling it "pros and cons." Why? Each argument for and against aren't all exactly bad nor good--they're mostly personal preferences. On that note, let's explore!

Point #1: Uniform rules across both leagues.

Sweet: What you see will be what you get. If you're a total outsider to the sport and watch three games featuring six different teams in a given time period, there's a chance that you're going to experience the designated hitter rule at least once. It won't completely throw you for a loop as to why one game will have the rule and the other won't. When a National League team plays against an American League team, the DH rule will only go into effect if both teams are playing at the ballpark of the American League team. So if the New York Mets played the New York Yankess at Citi Field, there would be no DH rule since the Mets are in the National League; but if they played at Yankee Stadium, the DH rule go into effect.

See, this would be confusing if you didn't know what team was in which league.

Sour: The best gimmick of the Big Four sports in the United States is this particular rule. It's as if there are two different sport countries with two different sports jurisdictions. Having the DH rule remain in the American League keeps a different dimension in the sport as a whole, so when full interleague play had rolled around (especially before the 2013 season--thanks, Houston), you had teams walk in having to adjust and show how well they can maneuver the transition. Of course, not all pitchers are happy with this idea, but that'll be explained in this next point.

Point #2: Pitchers [only] gonna pitch.

Sweet: Sure, pitchers have to have some pretty swift arms to craft a nasty pitch, but just because they have swift arms doesn't mean those same arms are crafty enough to swing at one of those pitches. Not only that, it makes the pitcher more susceptible to being a "victim" at the plate, so to speak, as they have the worry of getting hit by a pitch or getting injured while making a run to a base. When pitchers are as important of a commodity as they are today, you don't want to lose them to freak accidents.

Sour: Sports are all about how versatile you are. Most times, if you're a one-trick pony, you're gonna get figured out fast. In the NFL, linemen have to be able to shift in case of an injury, and rushers have to know the routes in a receiving play. In MLS, plays will make midfielders shift to defensive lines in case if there's an offensive threat. In an extra inning game in the National League and you're low on players, there's a chance you'll have to use your pitchers as hitters. It isn't as common to see a position player as a pitcher in the American League, but it has happened before, and you're putting those guys in danger of injury as well. So why not have the pitchers show more gusto? Plus, not all pitchers hate the idea of having to bat.

Point #3: Extended careers.

Sweet: Frank Thomas. Albert Pujols. David Ortiz. While one of these three mentioned are retired, the other two are in the late thirties into early forties with gas still left in the tank. The retired name mentioned (Thomas) played into his forties. This usually isn't heard of very often, considering that most older names make way for younger guys coming through the system, and that older players are more likely to suffer injury while on the field. However, they get a new lease on life in not having nearly as much high-impact since they are either platooned or given the designated hitter spot. Playing 162 games is usually unheard of, and for a good reason (unless you were Cal Ripken, Jr.). Once age settles in, long seasons tend to take a toll. It preserves the player and keeps him playing to his strengths.

Sour: There are younger guys simply itching to make it to the Majors and step out of the farm system. With a heavy dosage of high-impact play occurring in baseball, and the measures to condition the body for long-term play, it's slowly becoming a quick case of "out with the old, in with the new." Bigger contracts are keeping the older guns in there, but for what? To have promising young players sit in AAA for goodness knows how long? Sure, it's extending careers, but it's keeping younger guys in the minors for so long, only to have them brought up much later to have shorter Major League careers. It's backwards.

Point #4: The sport needs more of an offensive burst.

Sweet: Within the past ten years, we have seen more no-hitters and perfect games thrown than ever before. Is it because of the almost-free out provided by the pitcher in the batting order and the cut of the flow in the offensive lineup? It's possible. With an added utility bat, we could see a lot more strategy and keep games at an even keel and pace.

Sour: No. No it doesn't. The sport is just fine. The score is not supposed to resemble an NFL score, and pitchers also aren't supposed to look like wimps. The game would definitely be unbalanced if it was an all-offensive showdown. Sometimes, the best games are the pitcher's duels, and as I had mentioned in a previous post, the game of baseball is, statistically, a game of failure. There are going to be times when the balance gets thrown one way during a game. It can't be so one-sided all the time.

Point #5: Less lineup drainage.

Sweet: Ah, the infamous double-switch. Once the pitcher comes out, the pinch hitter who swung for him goes on the field and replaces another position player. When that's done, you take out a player who can still hold his own and deliver in the clutch, especially if the game goes much longer than expected. You practically eliminate that with the designated hitter. If there's a position player that needs to be benched in favor of another bat (usually if there's a pitcher that one has seen enough), you can take that chance without worrying that your pitcher needs to be replaced later on in the batting lineup due to pitch count.

Sour: Adding the DH takes away a great amount of the strategy that is needed to be a Major League manager. Sports are much like a game of chess, where you have to predict the other player's moves, all while crafting your own to adjust to possible situations in the future. If you put that giant fence of a DH rule in there, you don't really have much to do strategy for in a game unless if it's between a specific hitter and a pitcher.

__________

Okay, now that this is all out of the way, you're probably wondering what my stance is. With the arguments presented, my stance appears to be about as mysterious as Stephen Hawking's brain.

You see, growing up, I respected the pitchers that had batted, because it gave them a reason to help themselves in case if they gave up a lousy run or two. However, I also saw how the American League pitchers reacted to having to bat during interleague (especially guys like Tim Wakefield) and later watch how awkward they looked at the plate. Since then, I really haven't changed my stance. Having a one-rule difference in each league is what makes the game so unique. You see different forms of strategy in each league, and watching each league come together to do battle separates the men from the boys in the realm of management.

If that type of strategy gets taken away, you take away a specific dimension of the game. Then again, when just about anything changes in a sport, people will be apprehensive until you get immersed into it and finally accept it. That applies to when the DH rule was first implemented in 1973, or when the Wild Card came to be after 1994, or when the Wild Card was expanded to two teams in 2012, or when Instant Replay started its use in the tail-end of 2009. If they spread the DH rule to the National League, I would probably feel uncomfortable with it, because I didn't grow up and watch the Phillies in that format. But, of course, that doesn't mean that I wouldn't accept it after a while.

I would probably just be that one person in my old age going: "When I was your age, the pitcher actually batted!"

If the rule would be put into effect by Rob Manfred, which is looking more likely according to reports, it would definitely get backlash from old-school fans, but more accepting from new-age baseball enthusiasts.
(Proof of reports are here and here.)

As for now, we wait to see how this upcoming season progresses. Who knows? We could be seeing the last of awkward pitchers swinging and missing, and possibly missing Bartolo Colon and Madison Bumgarner swinging for the fences and actually getting it there.

-- Stephanie

(Some of the outline of this was based off of FOX Sports' article: "7 reasons why the NL finally should embrace the DH." Article Referenced is found by clicking here.)

Friday, January 15, 2016

Beyond The Vault: Growing Soccer Trees? Don't Choke The Seeds

Due to the demise of the website The Soccer Desk, I managed to scoop up all but one of the articles I published there. Since one of the three salvaged isn't a 2014 World Cup Preview, I want to place it here for good. For having been written two years ago, this held up pretty well. Good work, Me.

Note: This is one of the longer articles I have ever written (it's over 2,000 words)! I've learned to condense and shrink since then. Enjoy.

Me circa 1998.
I moved a girl off the ball and into lawn chairs placed near the sidelines that night. I was a "straight-up killa' G" back in those days. (Her momentum took her that way. I wasn't that cold.)

(Originally written on January 10, 2014)

In order to get a specific feel for the kind of piece I’m writing, I need you to partake in a little mental scenario with me. Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to be Daniel Day-Lewis here. Just take a deep breath and roll with me.

You’re a parent. You have a young child that you practically raised on Cheerios, apple juice, and soccer on Saturday mornings. When he/she reaches a certain age, you decide that it is best that they try the sport that they was immersed in and fell in love with. You sign your child up, and you start playing in the yard with them, preparing them for the exciting months ahead. When you get there, however, you see parents with children coming out of vans and preparing, and it resembles sending your child away to boot camp while the parents are completely oblivious to the impending torture that their children will be subjected to.

This isn’t any old practice; this is a tryout, you think to yourself.

Your child is running in and out of cones, dribbling a ball, and passing it to other children. Balls are shot into a small net, and then other drills are done at stations. You notice that your child isn’t the fastest runner of the bunch; however, the child doesn’t seem to care. Plus, his/her foot isn’t as strong as the others, either. You become worried. What if he/she doesn’t make the team? The heart is there, but is that enough for the coach? A few days pass, and you get a phone call. “Hello n, this is the head coach from the neighborhood soccer team. I regret to inform you that your child has not been chosen to play on the squad this year. We, however, encourage you and your child to support our teams in the games we play in the fall.” You’re heartbroken. What on earth are you going to tell your child? They’re going to ask if they’ll ever be going back to practice soon enough. This is something that makes them happy. You don’t want them to think that they aren’t good enough for a team–he/she is only a child, for goodness’ sake! What do you do?



This, my friends, is the culture that is slowly creeping into American society. We’re experiencing a “survival of the fittest” culture, and to the children who love a sport but may not be as gifted as the next child, they’re getting the short end of the stick. While not every hobby is for everybody, it is always a nice bit of therapy to unwind and do something you love, regardless of how good you are at it compared to others.

In the case of American soccer, the ante has been upped over the past 15 years. In the wake of the successes of the US Women’s National Squad, and the growing popularity of Major League Soccer and US Men’s National Team, there is a drive to get the children started earlier and get them to the top of the game faster than ever before. Compared to the programs held overseas in nations like Spain and Italy, we haven’t held any kind of candle to that in a very long time. While soccer programs in many Universities around the country are keeping the faith, there is a need for more. This is the United States of America, for Pete’s sake. We need to be the best…right?

Many of us in our youth have taken part in recreational sports, whether it was for a neighborhood club or for school. In other regions, you’ll notice that some sports programs are a little rougher around the edges, and they like to “separate the men from the boys,” so to speak. Talent is measured more than drive, and if you can’t ride with ‘em, you might as well ride on home. Where I was born and raised, that wasn’t the case until around the time I was on my way out of high school. Things were pretty smooth until the standards of the recreational leagues were pushed to the limits. Age groups as low as 7-8 were holding tryouts. To me, as a 17-year-old who went through ten years of not experiencing that treatment, it was enough to baffle the most intelligent person. I had played with many people who knew they weren’t the best, but they played because they loved the sport. I’ll even admit that I slowly fell into that category toward the end because I wasn’t the fastest runner—heck, running is my least favorite thing in the whole world. If we had tryouts, what would have become of us? Even though we had loved soccer, would the newfound experience have deterred us from the sport completely?

Sure, we’re human, we’re supposed to experience failure, but when it comes to psychological reinforcing and the idea of “punishment,” where if you can’t do something right, the privilege is taken away completely, what does that do to the child’s mind? It won’t give them much drive to do anything.

You see the best of the best, and you see the ones who love but aren’t the most gifted of the bunch. Could there be a middle ground to this conundrum? We’re the land of opportunity, aren’t we? We need to act like one now. This is where a modest proposal comes into play. If we’re going to instill more love into a sport like soccer, it’s time to spread the wealth around a little more and build a revolution from the ground-up.

It’s time to expand on the sport in the most efficient of ways. Not enough youth may play the sport because of instances such as it being too much money, the necessity of “camps” for whoever wants to be on an elite squad, and the already-filled plates of families in today’s society. If there is a way to get a group of people to unwind for a few nights a week, an organized league could really work out. Bars and taverns do it with softball, and there are groups of guys that have organized basketball leagues—what makes this any different? The personal enrichment is there, and as always, it is a good way to keep sharp on a sport and meet people with your general interests. Let’s admit another point here, too: It’s better than drowning in your sorrows in a bar and finding people that way. Good brain, good liver, good health. I digress. In the case of children, soccer (indoors, at that) could be implemented in after-school programming. Not only would children have a chance to do other activities such as reading and painting and doing homework, they could also find a subliminal way to beat out the daily stressors and build self-esteem. They’ll never know they like and appreciate something until they begin to try it out for themselves.

If the ball is there, they’re going to see what they can do with it, right? This isn’t rocket science; exposure can only lead to curiosity, and that curiosity could lead to hard work and determination, and later appreciation. Plus, even if the parents cannot afford a team or the child “doesn’t play up to expectations,” there is a way for them to express their love of the sport. I’d love to kick around a soccer ball on my break at work. Could you imagine how therapeutic that would be? Plus, it would keep me sharp on a sport I haven’t played with an organized group of people in over six years. Win win, ladies and gentlemen.

There is also the option of beginning a “B-League” for an age group, but not necessarily referring to it as one or as a “reserve team.” If you were politically correct, those references would suffice. It would be something along the lines of a Junior Varsity squad. This practice would still teach the athletes the values and mechanics that they might not be able to pick up on their own if they aren’t on a team or striving to be the best at something they enjoy. The kids will learn from each other and help each other grow and be at their best. No man is an island, and there was never an “I” in team, regardless of what your boneheaded superiors ever said to you. While there may be the athletes that are better at visual learning instead of being more hands-on, every experience is beneficial to keeping the love of the sport from within. We all start from different lands with a universal drive. Keeping that momentum brings out greater appreciation for teammates and other fans that come from all walks of life. Sports bring us closer together, right? Don’t take away that right and tell a child (or even an adult) that he/she isn’t good enough because they don’t do A, B, and C. Winning isn’t everything. That’s rule #1 in the world of sports…well, to me, at least.

Naysayers will throw the rebuttal of: “This whole proposal would lead to us ‘shielding’ our children. They need to ‘man-up’ and learn how to take disappointment because not everyone can do everything.”

First off, those people are the reason why we don’t offer chances to people because they can be cranky people that suck the fun out of something we all enjoy. Lighten up, cranks. Anyway, this wouldn’t be shielding the children at all from trying soccer. If anything, the only way you can “shield” a child is by not giving them the chance to try and play soccer for fear of them not being the absolute best or seeing them possibly get hurt. That, my friends, is what shielding is. You protect something, just like a soccer ball against a striker twice your size throwing their hip into you. The ball has to take a beating sooner or later. Yeah, relevance! Plus, when that shielding occurs, you’re placing a stigma on somebody, giving them the impression (especially at an adult age) that they wasted their time and they should never have bothered taking part in soccer in the first place.

“Why bother? I wasn’t good enough for this. This isn’t for me.” Don’t lie, we’ve all been in that place at some point in our lives, and it hurts like none other. When it comes from a love of sports, it’s the sourest feeling in the world. You can’t ruin the innocence of a child by doing this. They need to explore, regardless of how good they are at something. Take chances, make mistakes, and get a little messy, right?

Finally, on this note, whether one is a child or an adult, everyone deserves a chance to know what works for them or not—no outsider should ever have to make that final decision for them. Nobody likes to be cut off; one would rather go out on one’s own terms. The same philosophy could apply to any sports-related injury as well. If one likes soccer and wants to play, one should have every right to have the resources to hone that love and skill. Just because they “suck at it,” for the lack of a better term, don’t give them the right to not find that out for themselves. If anything, negative comments could either drive or deter a person. Constant negativity could deter that person (and their futures) from ever appreciating or experiencing the world of soccer. Again, we’re talking about a middle ground. Sandwiches are a nice alternative. People want to get better, not get turned away from something because someone says they can’t. Life lessons—we can’t forget them.

With all of this said, the more participation we get from all sides of the country, the wider fan base we get in the long run. The merrier, the more, as it were. When a child plays soccer, the family will often find an outlet to expand on that hobby, and will turn to games on television or YouTube videos to see who they can look up to and model themselves after. I did it, and you probably did it too. Once the fire is fed, there is no stopping the appreciation for soccer in the United States. It all starts with us. While the “elite camps” and higher-level clubs provide the talent, the “Junior Varsity” squads will deepen the fan-scape. It will also make us feel empowered, like we can do anything we put our minds to. That is how we build relationships. That is how we build a unit or fans and appreciation for a sport that is supported and praised all over the world.

Don’t deny our right to try the game; let us love it in our own way.


-- Stephanie

Monday, January 11, 2016

You Get Points For Trying, Don't You?

This whole concept (when it was first "mentioned" by the mass media in August 2015) went in one ear and out the other because I thought the whole story was absolutely foolish. But now that I think about it, this should really be given a bit more attention more than ever. It's gotten pretty nasty out there.


Oh no, I'm kicking this off with a video. (whine whine whine) But if you haven't seen this advertisement, watch it. It will set the tone for this whole thing.


We're definitely going this route. It's either going to make you pull out a lighter and sway it, or it's going to make you rage-quit this read before it even begins.

If you played a sport when you were younger than the age of ten, there was a chance that you would get recognition at the end of the year for being a team player and participating to the best of your ability. That recognition would come in the form of either a medal or a tiny plastic trophy. If you worked really hard and played like a monster, then you were as happy as a clam when you were given your little plastic weapon of pride. (Sidenote: Don't lie--you probably used the thing as a sword at one point or another.)

In August of 2015, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison took his viewpoints on this practice to social media, for his two sons earned awards for participation in the sports they were playing. Some of the things he had mentioned alluded to effort, and that your best isn't always enough. He had wanted the awards to be taken back, as his sons didn't respectfully earn them, and he wants his boys to become men by learning what it truly takes to achieve something like a trophy or a medal.
You can read what he had written in this article here.

At first read, Harrison's words can come off as sounding rather harsh, considering that you never wanna hurt a child's pride for supposedly earning something. On the other hand, reality can be pretty harsh as well. Sometimes you will have a day where, no matter how hard you try to get something done or to accomplish whatever you need to, it isn't enough, or someone just magically happens to outdo you. It sucks, but it happens, and don't deny that something like that has never happened to you. The world isn't out to screw you up, but to be the best at something, it takes more than just blood, sweat, and tears. Heck, it might even take an arm and a leg.

I digress.

These kinds of "awards" are usually pretty appropriate for those who love to play a sport, but aren't simply quite getting it, or they're slower learners and show the great amount of effort each time they play or practice. I can't begin to tell you how many people I had played with in the very beginning who had made this ridiculous improvement as time progressed and became really good to the point where they were making varsity teams in high school. Like, the participation award is seen as recognition that you worked your butt off and you deserve praise for getting as far as you did. Then, that becomes your vehicle to keep moving forward and get even better.

But it isn't always like that...

Why?

The practice of participation awards may be solid and unfortunate proof in regard to the age of entitlement. While one person excels, one who may not perform as well is getting something that wasn't exactly earned. It's like you could slink right through and mess around as much as you want and still "earn" a trophy for being on the team. In society today, it isn't as if most children are doing the bare minimum just to get by--in fact, a lot of them are getting swamped by an errant education system and unnecessary stress--they don't have the quality of "effort earns rewards" instilled in them soon enough. They don't know that hard work gives the greatest rewards (or awards in this case). In fact, it's like a "I know I'm gonna get it anyway, so why bother trying anymore" attitude, and they'll simply plateau without making any sort of push or effort toward getting to where they need to be.

I get it. I seriously do.

If this life were easy, we'd all be millionaires at our physical apex and go through life without a care. I'd have gotten an Oscar by now for every single script I've written in the past four years. And trust me, some of them are baaaaaad. But honestly, we all have to earn what we want, and even though we might be absolutely awful at things we enjoy or have a passion for at first, that's the reason for why we train or practice or place more focus on that particular point. If it brings you happiness, there's no time limit and no limit to our will. Why get an award for wasting time on something you don't care for or won't put energy into? Plus, sports aren't exactly something you can jump right into. They will often take a lot of preparation, knowledge of the rules (don't touch the soccer ball with your hands unless you're the goalkeeper, duh), and some sort of physical conditioning, a.k.a. "knowing your limits."

While there are times and places for casual sports, like a quick game of basketball with your buddies, the mentality from that doesn't always translate well onto a more competitive playing field. Sure, sports are meant to be fun, but training a ton and then displaying your greatness on a professional level is fun as well. Those two examples exemplify two completely different definitions of "fun," but not all fun constitutes the need for you to win an award for just showing up each time. If anything, the award you earn for showing up is that you simply showed up. People who suffer from anxiety or low self-esteem may not even show up at all. That aside, there's more to the game. The rewards and awards from sports aren't always materialistic in nature. They're usually mental, emotional, and physical in the sense of being in better shape and condition.

Showing growth may not be represented by a trophy or a medal, and it might be high-time for kids to see that instead of materialistic entitlement. Actually, adults (most notably the parents) might need that realization too.

Oh, just so you know, these last two sentences above hurt to type out. Why? Because it shows how immature the fields of youth and teenage athletics have become. It's despicably cutthroat in every sense of the term, and the entitlement syndrome hits all age groups addressed like a wrecking ball.

When you "win," you don't always win. You win when you grow or when you accomplish a goal. Too bad everyone wants a big giant cookie for that so the whole world can see it.


-- Stephanie

Friday, January 8, 2016

The NFL Postseason Slant for 2015-2016 - Changing Of The Guard

Guys, I've been partying for the past, like, two weeks because I won my fantasy football league. I actually feel like this stuff helps. I am my own therapy. I think that makes me awesome. (All hail "Ed Hochuli's Biceps")

Sweet baby Jesus.

We're already at the NFL Playoffs, and even before the conclusion of the regular season, we saw a couple of head coaches get the pink slip, and while some of them weren't exactly deserved, they definitely shook up the league. We also saw a lot of injuries and a ton of new faces shake up the face of the NFL, and that, in my humble opinion, is always a pleasant thing to see. Plus, we might be getting a U-Haul soon as one of three possible teams could be making their way toward Los Angeles.

On the other side, we had to hear about Johnny Manziel's escapades again and again, and the film "Concussion" has been the talk of the town [I hope to write about it once I muster up the courage to ask myself out on a date again.], but those things are blips compared to the hard hits and surprises that we're about to look into.

There's one last question I need to ask you. Are you ready?

You know what? I'll let Triple H finish this one off for you.
[It's long and drawn out, but he gets there eventually.]


_______________________________________________

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

East Division - New England Patriots (12-4) - You know, I could possibly have cut and paste this whole thing, and you probably wouldn't have even noticed, but no, seriously, that's not kosher. The main thing that has kept this team from a nearly perfect season has been the costly injuries sustained by Rob Gronkowski, Danny Amendola, and Julian Edelman within the last six weeks. While Tom Brady has more surprises in his bag of tricks, it's time for other receivers (and even runners) to step up to the occasion.
(Next Stop: A Jacuuuuuuziiiiii - First Round Bye)

North Division - Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) - For a little while, it looked like the Bengals burned themselves out in the second half, considering injuries to Andy Dalton and many defensive players were starting to pile up. However, a lot of these guys were in this position last year, and there is no way they're going to let injuries and mental blocks keep them from the prize.
(Next Stop: Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday 8:15PM EST)

South Division - Houston Texans (9-7) - Good gravy. I'm not even kidding when I say that this team looked like absolute crap in the beginning of the season, and the inconsistency of the offensive line and not capitalizing on opportunity was tough to watch at times. On the other hand, the one consistent thing the Texans have going is their defense, and as long as they're healthy and in the correct mindset, we're going to see some great competition.
(Next Stop: Kansas City Chiefs, Saturday 4:35PM EST)

West Division - Denver Broncos (12-4) - Just like the Patriots above, I could easily cut and pa--NOT. You wanna know what makes this team so much more different? Peyton Manning wasn't the big factor in the pocket in the last third of the season. Brock Osweiler made a name for himself, and analysts went bananas on this kid. But wait, there's more! When you're facing one of the best defenses in the league, you're going to hear even more screaming fangirls. As usual, this team is a threat and should definitely be seen as such.
(Next Stop: On the couch playing Madden 16 - First Round Bye and Home-Field Advantage)

AFC Wild Card
Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) - Just because these guys are only in the Wild Card spot doesn't mean they're not the scariest team and could play the spoiler. They can easily screw you over and turn over the ball, and that isn't even where the terror begins on the defensive side, if you can believe that. Plus, with a strong running game (Hello, Jamaal Charles.) you're bound to see some "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes" business. The Chiefs should not be taken lightly. No sir.
(Next Stop: Houston Texans, Saturday 4:35PM EST)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) - While the defense isn't "The Iron Curtain" anymore, it can be agreed upon that the offense hasn't looked this good in a long time. Each receiver is going catch-crazy (thanks to 'ole Big Ben, of course) and Le'Veon Bell is molding himself into a tiny Bus. With a consistent offensive force (and one that's moderately healthy), things should be interesting.
(Next Stop: Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday 8:15PM EST)

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

East Division - Washington Redskins (9-7) - Ehhhhhh, this team gets points for effort, especially since they really stepped it up in the second half, but there have been a lot of points where they made some really, REALLY stupid decisions. It's going to be a big thing to not be outplayed or outmanaged at this point. With a defense leaving much to be desired, the next game (or any future ones for that matter) has to be played like a chess match.
(Next Stop: Green Bay Packers, Sunday 4:40PM EST)

North Division - Minnesota Vikings (11-5) - Don't get me wrong, the "Teddy" chants are adorable, and Mr. Bridgewater knows how to rally, but it's not a surprise that Adrian Peterson, the real game changer, is in top form and delivering when need be. The only issue here is the possibility of injury and jitters, as we have a younger and fresher team that hasn't been in this kind of territory yet. However, with enough veteran support, especially from Head Coach Mike Zimmer (he's been here before, you guys, he knows the pressure), the jitters should burn off within the first few minutes.
(Next Stop: Seattle Seahawks, Sunday 1:05PM EST)

South Division - Carolina Panthers (15-1) - Last year, these guys were infamous for being the first NFL playoff team to be under .500, and now, these guys are nearly perfect coming into the playoffs. To be perfectly honest, they totally deserve all of the praise and attention. Their defense is tight, and their offense is the perfect mix of run and pass. Ron Rivera's squad is undoubtedly the team to fear this month.
(Next Stop: The Pool - First Round Bye and Home-Field Advantage)

West Division - Arizona Cardinals (13-3) - Excuse me while I hop back onto the Carson Palmer bandwagon again, as he was arguably one of the most underrated quarterbacks of the past five seasons, and he's finally getting his time to shine. With a great line to aid him, and with a scary defense to keep the opposition at bay, we're looking at a surprising threat that will give problems to any favorites facing them.
(Next Stop: The Movie Theater to Finally See Star Wars: The Force Awakens - First Round Bye)

NFC Wild Card
Green Bay Packers (10-6) - Not to say that the team took a nosedive, but there was a point in which I almost doubted Aaron Rodgers and his overall ability. Dead serious. Sure, there were a bunch of injuries and miscues throughout the second half of the season, and thankfully they came out alive, but this crap can't happen from here on out. It's go time, and it's not their first time at the rodeo.
(Next Stop: Washington Redskins, Sunday 4:40PM EST)
Seattle Seahawks (10-6) - This is the first time in a while where they don't come in as Division champs, but don't let that fool you. Don't let the record fool you, either. This was a team that was a slow burn and they've reached their peak. While there's a big question mark surrounding Marshawn Lynch at this point, the team has fared really well offensively, and the Legion of Boom is looking angrier than ever. Expect to see a lot of spiritual 12th Men out there.
(Next Stop: Minnesota Vikings, Sunday 1:05PM EST)
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Truth be told, the season exhausted me, and it wasn't because of the number of controversies and news stories surrounding the league. It was, in fact, the games themselves, the REALLY STUPID PLAYS, the poor referee jobs, the--wait. Okay, some of it was rather frustrating, but there were some great endings to games, like this ridiculous ending and this thing of beauty.

Hard to believe there were a bunch of things that have happened in the past five months, eh? No. It isn't. That's what the NFL provides year in and year out.

And we're only bound to get more of that this month.

See you at the end, my friends. Behold, the mighty 2016.

-- Stephanie