Most-fined team in 2016-17? Giants.
Most-suspended team (especially for drugs) in 2016-17? Cowboys.
Gone and gone, both in the 4 Eastern slot (the other Sunday game was moved late due to a forecast of ice), both with Green Bay.
Coincidence? Consider this...
All year, a number of anti-Cowboy fans were wondering when the league was finally going to investigate the claims Ezekiel Elliott committed domestic violence, first surfacing in July.
So what is the top side story on ESPN's site as the Cowboys and Packers are preparing to play?
The NFL, according to many sources, is, in fact, investigating Elliott's July incident, for possible 2017 discipline.
Bang. Season over. Right there.
21-3 Green Bay, at one point, was no accident.
Yes, they finally needed to do one "field goal at the gun" situation after only two of the first six playoff games were even fourth-quarter competitive and none finished closer than 12 points.
And they got it, with three field goals in the last four minutes, including Mason Crosby sending Donald Trump home sad because he can't grope the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders in the pussy.
(Yeah, I went THERE! Live with it.)
Here's the thing: Green Bay may well be the whitest-meat babyface in this tournament -- and I do also mean CAUCASIAN White as well.
I'm just not convinced they're corporate enough to lift the Lombardi Trophy, though.
But with the four games done, here are the possibilities, and my thoughts on the angle thereto:
The Two Favorites: New England (-5 - -6 or so) vs. Atlanta (-4.5, was bet as high as -6 for a bit, over/under is over 60 for the Packer game)
What makes this likely: Better team in each conference, yes.
New England is getting another Robert Kraft push, yes.
Atlanta has the stadium forthcoming, yes.
Not so much: We know the NFL has determined champions before on merchandising considerations. Does ANYBODY think Atlanta's fanbase can outbuy Green Bay's?
Most marketable players in the playoffs are White quarterbacks not named Matt Ryan.
Is Atlanta a marketable-enough city? Super Bowl secondary ticket prices plummeted 18-20% once Dallas lost.
Does the country REALLY want to put up with New England, AGAIN???
Counterpoint to the last one: Is that the idea, to make New England the hated heel? If so, there might be another better matchup...
Super Bowl XXXI Rematch: New England vs. Green Bay
What makes this likely: Two most marketable names in the playoffs.
Two Whitest organizations still left.
Not so much (Green Bay): Are they corporate enough to carry the first Super Bowl title of the Oompa-Loompa era?
Green Bay was one of the more-fined teams in the league this year -- maybe not in the NFL doghouse to the extent of the two teams they defeated, but...
Super Bowl XLV Rematch: Pittsburgh vs. Green Bay
What makes this "likely": Certainly two rabid and large fanbases, so the money will talk and walk here.
Many reasoned names.
Not so much (Pittsburgh): Pittsburgh is another of the teams which has been in the league doghouse, especially Antonio Brown and the like. We know the league is looking out from teams in the doghouse, making Pittsburgh's win tonight a bit surprising - and taking a trial balloon of the Super Bowl I rematch in Super Bowl LI off the table...
Pittsburgh vs. Atlanta
What makes this "likely": I'll come up with something by the end of the week. Just not sure how this one would be storylined.
(Yes, if you caught this in the first 15 minutes, I duplicated the one with the two favorites by mistake.)
And NESN and Brian Tuohy caught something today which was very very interesting...
On Saturday night (and here's the NESN article to prove it), the Falcons' official Facebook account put an event on their calendar -- a January 22nd (date is correct) game with... the Green Bay Packers...
EIGHTEEN HOURS before Mason Crosby kicked the game winner at the gun.
And you, Football Nation America, want to hurt people and make people feel lesser for not being football fans and take this as the most important thing of your lives...
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