Are you sure Seattle is in? The scenario is that Dallas loses and Seattle has to have a better "strength of victory" than Dallas, which won't be finalized until today's games are over, apparently....
(Edited to add: there are headlines on the ESPN and Yahoo pages saying Seattle has clinched. I'm not sure how, though. wink So Green Bay has to beat out Minnesota for the division in order to make it.)

The Bengals came up pretty small. They blew a golden opportunity at the end of the first half and let Cleveland drive down the field at the end. Too bad, because tonight's game would've been more interesting.

The Colts came up pretty small, but survived. So now they get to play this weekend at home against Denver, just like a week ago when the Broncos smacked them down. Heh heh heh.

The Rams, of course, came up smallest of all.

[ December 28, 2003, 01:56 PM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

Incredible finish for the Packers--waiting to see the Cardinals pull out a shocking win over the Vikings, who were 6-0 to start the season! This has got to be one of the great choke jobs of all time.

I know this might not be the right thread, but let's give those defending Super Bowl Champs their props for finishing 7-9 overall, going 3-5 at home. Way to defend that title!

P.S. Way to go Rai-duhs as well!

Unbelievable finish to the Vikings-Cardinals game. We're going to have to see that ending in unending replays. What a strange day in the NFL.

The Arizona last-play TD was the play of the year and the Vikings choke (up 17-6 with 2 minutes to go) one of the greatest of all-time.

Extremely strange day in the NFL, but these chokes and upsets made for one of the more memorable season ending day in memory.

The Vikings are a true Jeckyl and Hyde, how can anyone figure out who they really are. The Packers had a charmed life at the end, and the Rams must have a taste for the great outdoors in winter. As for the Bucs, well it is just another example of a Superbowl team having a bad subseqent year, they may rebound next year.

My Vikes have made a career out of gag jobs like this one. I just knew they'd lose this game; it's the kind of game they've been losing throughout my fandom. Bottom line is they weren't a playoff worthy team even before losing yesterday. Four teams finished tied at 4-12 for the worst record in football (Giants, Chargers, Raiders, Cardinals); they all beat the Vikes. How they managed this while beating the Chiefs, Broncos, Seahawks, Packers Just pathetic.

That said, yesterday's collapse doesn't come close in my mind to the Vikes loss to Atlanta in the NFC Championship Game a couple of years ago. They weren't going to the Super Bowl this year, but they were then.

Joe: yes, those headlines are accurate. The Hawks are in.....

Jim @ Outsports and I were watching the Vikings v. Cards game on the Dish, with the Packers game on the picture-in-picture. Josh McCown was ATROCIOUS the entire game; he didn't have a clue about what to do with the ball. So, when the Cards scored to make it 17-13, we figured, dumb luck, they'll still lose. But that last drive, what a nightmare for the Vikings: a 30 yard PI call, a good throw and catch to get to the ten or so and then...they sack McCown, the Cards have no timeouts left and....they win. I thought the one ref (#89, the back judge?) did a great, great job. As soon as Poole hit the ground, he was right there, instantly signaling that Poole was pushed out of bounds and that it was a touchdown. The refs get a lot of grief, but Bill Carola (sp?) and his crew did a great job in tough circumstances.

We were both thinking of our friend Steve, who's a huge Vikings fan, and GVF. What a team you guys root for.

Ah, the Bengals. They had it in their grasp and they choked it away. Jon Kitna's brain melt at the end of the first half that cost them a chance at a field goal set the tone. Maybe they didn't deserve to win if they let Lee Suggs run for 186 yard. Lee Suggs?

What a choke job by the Rams. Instead of playing all their playoff games on the turf, they'll probably have to play IN Philly in January. They really did themselves no favors by underestimating the Lions. The Colts v. Texans game was excellent too. The Colts, my All-Lust Team: Manning, Vanderjagt, Brandon Stokely (great catch for the TD) and the LB Nelson. Woof.

Go Packers.

Thank you New Orleans by defeating the Cowboys and putting the Seahawks into the playoffs. GO Seahawks!

The Arizona game was unreal. Who'd have thunk it?

And Philly fans need to thank my hubby Joey Harrington for leading the lowly Lion to an improbable vicotry over the Rams.

Imagine that, the two games that everyone thought were gimmes (the Arizona & Detroit games) ended up being the biggest games with playoff implications & bit the heavily favored teams teams in the ass! Amazing.

Although I would rather NOT be playing Green Bay this weekend, it is a rather intriguing story with Holgrem going back to GB for a second time this season only this time it's for al the marbles.

Mariner: I truly hope that Holmgren can get some vengeance this time back in green Bay. Please Lord, let this game not be a one sided blowout, and for gosh sakes, GO SEAHAWKS!

Mariner - when did you marry Joey? He's mine -- hands off
wink