NFL Playoffs

If you haven't boycotted the NFL due to their knee-takin'...you will see the playoff picture:
Tennessee Titans v. Kansas City Chiefs
Atlanta Falcons v. L.A. Rams
Buffalo Bills v. Jacksonville Jaguars
Carolina Panthers v. New Orleans Saints

You know the reason why these deep seeded teams make it so far into the playoffs? They continue to play. You know who's going to lose in the next round? The Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only did they sit three of their starters against the Cleveland Browns (which makes sense since there was nothing to play for), they will be playing a team that will come in with momentum.
That means they rest for three weeks. Now, you're probably thinking "Thom! You're so full of shit!" Maybe. But what I found out is that the more a team waits, the less advantage they have. For a few reasons. We get lazy, we start to overthink shit...we stop studying. All our other friends have stopped playing and so forth. At that point, playing for the playoffs is more exciting to the fans than the players. Also...unless you have a hobby that doesn't include partying (which how can you NOT if you're young and are going to the playoffs), you will get sluggish. There is a theory out there that players get injured with less practice. And you don't even know what team you're game planning for.

The difference with the Patriots are...they have Bill Belicheck as a coach. That guy does not fuck around. The players know he will get you a ring. Just ask Michael Floyd, the headcase wide receiver who signed up for 2 weeks with the Pats did one football move and got a Super Bowl ring.