Playoff Push In Full Progress

jashank1989 · 11-30-2006, 08:05 PM

Hey guys, I think this is my first post on the new boards. Anyway, most likely I will be attending either Penn State or the University of Florida next year to major in sports journalism/reporting. I found another MB that was asking for people to volunteer to write weekly articles on the NFL or a team. I asked to do the NFL/Jags so I sent in this as a sample editorial. I figured this would at least be a good start to a career in Sports Journ. So let me know what you guys think, positive or negative.

Playoff Push In Full Progress
11/29/06
By Jared Shanker

The AFC playoff picture is cloudier than ever after a Jacksonville loss in Buffalo and a Kansas City victory over newly ousted starting QB Jake Plummer and the Broncos. The AFC division titles are all wrapped up with the Colts, Patriots, Chargers and Ravens all owning healthy leads over second place. But now, what seemed like a two team race for the sixth and final wild card spot between the Chiefs and the Jaguars is now a seven team derby for both wildcard berths after Denver blew open the door Thursday night and Jacksonville’s mental mistakes laid the doormat.

Miami, New York, Buffalo, Kansas City and Cincinnati all kept their playoff hopes alive with wins this week, while Denver and Jacksonville were both dealt serious blows. Miami continues to win with Harrington at the helm, but another loss would knock them out of playoff contention with seven losses. The same is said for the Bills. The Jets are intriguing because they sit at 6-5 even though they are at or near the bottom in every important offensive and defensive statistic, and are dead even in turnover ratio. However, with a schedule that is a cakewalk compared to other contenders, they have a legitimate shot at the postseason. They do not play a single team over .500 the rest of the way, including the season finale against the train wreck that is the Raiders.

Excluding Jacksonville, that leaves the Chiefs, Bengals and Broncos, which are considered to be the top teams in the playoff hunt. The Chiefs and Broncos appear to be in the driver seat, but with tough schedules and QBs being thrown into the fire midseason that could quickly change. Over the next four games the Chiefs host Baltimore, and travel to Cleveland, San Diego, and Oakland (Saturday night). They close out their season at home against the Jaguars on New Year’s Eve. At 7-4, the Chiefs need to be at least 9-6 going into the last game of the year. Denver finishes the season with three out of their last five at home (Seattle, Cincinnati, and San Fran), with the remaining two games at Arizona and San Diego. If Denver goes 2-0 against the AFC teams, and wins at least one of their NFC games, they would be in the playoffs at 10-6 and a 9-3 AFC record. Cincinnati’s remaining schedule is brutal finishing the season against Baltimore Thursday night, Oakland, at Indianapolis, at Denver, and then home against the reigning (or reeling) Super Bowl champs. It would take a miracle for them to go 4-1 with that defense and an inconsistent offense. So where does that leave the 6-5 Jaguars?

Jacksonville was in prime position for a wildcard berth after a drubbing of the Giants on Monday night, but after a questionable squib kick that lead to a 42 yard game-winning Rian Lindell field goal, the Jags have little room for error. With a tough four game stretch to end the season, Jacksonville needs to win at least three. They play a streaking Dolphins team and an improving Tennessee team on the road, where they have played their worst football of the season averaging 17 points a game while allowing 23 points on their way to a 1-4 record. The good news in all of this, if you want to call it that, is that the Jaguars get Indy and New England at Alltell, where they are 5-1 on the year and average a touchdown more than they do on the road. All of this of course hinges on the finale at Kansas City. Jacksonville needs to be at the worst a game behind the Chiefs heading into the game. Barring a Denver collapse, this game will be a do or die for both teams.

The teams that make the most noise in the postseason are the ones that are on a roll in December and into January. Pittsburgh did it last year, and these seven teams are looking to do the same. The train for Miami is leaving soon, and you can bet there will be a dogfight for those last few tickets.

don4593 · 12-01-2006, 10:45 AM

It's missing something. I think it could use more adjectives to make things sound more interesting, just stating facts gets boring.

What site is this for?

Gbomb · 12-01-2006, 12:06 PM

I agree that it isn't 'exciting' but im not sure what the intentions were. It is still informative. Overall it is pretty good, but unless the reader is a diehard football fan interested in the playoff race, i could see someone losing interest.

Also, for some reason this specific sentence rubbed me the wrong way.

Quote:

Jacksonville needs to be at the worst a game behind the Chiefs heading into the game.

It doesn't flow, and it makes it seem like maybe you are predicting too much or something like that.

11-30-2006, 08:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
jashank1989 New Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6	Playoff Push In Full Progress Hey guys, I think this is my first post on the new boards. Anyway, most likely I will be attending either Penn State or the University of Florida next year to major in sports journalism/reporting. I found another MB that was asking for people to volunteer to write weekly articles on the NFL or a team. I asked to do the NFL/Jags so I sent in this as a sample editorial. I figured this would at least be a good start to a career in Sports Journ. So let me know what you guys think, positive or negative. Playoff Push In Full Progress 11/29/06 By Jared Shanker The AFC playoff picture is cloudier than ever after a Jacksonville loss in Buffalo and a Kansas City victory over newly ousted starting QB Jake Plummer and the Broncos. The AFC division titles are all wrapped up with the Colts, Patriots, Chargers and Ravens all owning healthy leads over second place. But now, what seemed like a two team race for the sixth and final wild card spot between the Chiefs and the Jaguars is now a seven team derby for both wildcard berths after Denver blew open the door Thursday night and Jacksonville’s mental mistakes laid the doormat. Miami, New York, Buffalo, Kansas City and Cincinnati all kept their playoff hopes alive with wins this week, while Denver and Jacksonville were both dealt serious blows. Miami continues to win with Harrington at the helm, but another loss would knock them out of playoff contention with seven losses. The same is said for the Bills. The Jets are intriguing because they sit at 6-5 even though they are at or near the bottom in every important offensive and defensive statistic, and are dead even in turnover ratio. However, with a schedule that is a cakewalk compared to other contenders, they have a legitimate shot at the postseason. They do not play a single team over .500 the rest of the way, including the season finale against the train wreck that is the Raiders. Excluding Jacksonville, that leaves the Chiefs, Bengals and Broncos, which are considered to be the top teams in the playoff hunt. The Chiefs and Broncos appear to be in the driver seat, but with tough schedules and QBs being thrown into the fire midseason that could quickly change. Over the next four games the Chiefs host Baltimore, and travel to Cleveland, San Diego, and Oakland (Saturday night). They close out their season at home against the Jaguars on New Year’s Eve. At 7-4, the Chiefs need to be at least 9-6 going into the last game of the year. Denver finishes the season with three out of their last five at home (Seattle, Cincinnati, and San Fran), with the remaining two games at Arizona and San Diego. If Denver goes 2-0 against the AFC teams, and wins at least one of their NFC games, they would be in the playoffs at 10-6 and a 9-3 AFC record. Cincinnati’s remaining schedule is brutal finishing the season against Baltimore Thursday night, Oakland, at Indianapolis, at Denver, and then home against the reigning (or reeling) Super Bowl champs. It would take a miracle for them to go 4-1 with that defense and an inconsistent offense. So where does that leave the 6-5 Jaguars? Jacksonville was in prime position for a wildcard berth after a drubbing of the Giants on Monday night, but after a questionable squib kick that lead to a 42 yard game-winning Rian Lindell field goal, the Jags have little room for error. With a tough four game stretch to end the season, Jacksonville needs to win at least three. They play a streaking Dolphins team and an improving Tennessee team on the road, where they have played their worst football of the season averaging 17 points a game while allowing 23 points on their way to a 1-4 record. The good news in all of this, if you want to call it that, is that the Jaguars get Indy and New England at Alltell, where they are 5-1 on the year and average a touchdown more than they do on the road. All of this of course hinges on the finale at Kansas City. Jacksonville needs to be at the worst a game behind the Chiefs heading into the game. Barring a Denver collapse, this game will be a do or die for both teams. The teams that make the most noise in the postseason are the ones that are on a roll in December and into January. Pittsburgh did it last year, and these seven teams are looking to do the same. The train for Miami is leaving soon, and you can bet there will be a dogfight for those last few tickets.

12-01-2006, 10:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
don4593 New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Buffalo Posts: 4	It's missing something. I think it could use more adjectives to make things sound more interesting, just stating facts gets boring. What site is this for?