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Jeremy is Berning

Titans to follow Obama?s example

This piece represents the opinion of the author:

Jeremy Bernfeld

Columnist

November 14, 2008

We may have just finished an exhausting election season, but now it's time to ramp up football season.

The Tennessee Titans are a surprising dark horse if I've ever seen one. The infamous and annoyingly undefeated '72 Dolphins squad must have thought that they could break out the champagne early this year while watching Tom Brady writhe in pain on the Gillette Stadium greenway. But heading into Week 11, the Titans are a smooth 9-0 to lead the league.

With a tenacious defense led by DL Albert Haynesworth (he of stomping fame) and linebacker Keith Bulluck, and a consistent offense with Kerry Collins at the helm, the Titans have been getting it done. And they don't have the toughest schedule from here on out with Detroit, Cleveland, and Houston in the coming weeks. I'm not saying they'll challenge the '72 Fish for an undefeated season, but?aw, what the heck, YES WE CAN.

The New York football Giants currently play the McCain to Tennessee's Barack and I'd put them as the odds-on favorites to sweep both red and blue states on their way to another Super Bowl title. They're in a red state this weekend, but they're no lock for a win against an always stingy Baltimore defense. Next week, however, they'll look for a win in McCain's home state of Arizona, and then they will try to lock up the NFC East the next weekend in?where else?D.C.

The Titans' running-mates hail from the same state as Obama's and from another Pennsylvania steel town with as hardscrabble a reputation as that of Scranton's. The Pittsburgh Steelers will make a strong challenge for the AFC title in the weeks ahead. Just like Biden, they're just happy and somewhat surprised to be in the conversation after devastating injuries to many offensive starters, including runningbacks Willie Parker and backup rookie sensation (and Bernfeld fantasy draftee) Rashard Mendenhall. Even with Parker's imminent return, the Pittsburgh Bidens will find it tough to replace Tennessee as the AFC's Super Bowl nominee because of tough upcoming games against San Diego, New England, Dallas, Baltimore, and Tennessee.

Just as Sarah Palin came out of virtual obscurity and was catapulted to the height of the Republican party, the Packers are an exciting surprise from the NFC. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the real deal, and they have four very winnable home games left. The hockey moms out there will be happy to hear that Green Bay is sticking around and will make a strong push in the NFC. But, like Palin, I don't think this is their year.

Everyody in Dallas is thinking "Maverick," but not because their team is a front-runner for first place. They're all just ready for the NBA season even after Romo finishes nursing his injured pinkie. Just like Hillary, the New England Patriots will stick around just long enough to build up and then destroy their fans' hopes, and like Ralph Nader, Indianapolis can do enough damage to a title contender (like, say, their AFC South-rival Titans) but don't have enough in their own tank to win. Gosh, another Made in Tennessee disaster.

It's incredibly tough to predict the NFL postseason (see: 2007-08, Super Bowl), but the coming weeks will shape the picture up nicely and the favorites are settling into view.

New York will rely on its dominant defensive line to carry them, but their campaign has a brutal schedule. They have three games in three weeks against divisional opponents, with games against NFC West-leading Arizona and NFC South-leading Carolina at the bookends.

Tennessee will have to win against swing-states Florida (Jacksonville), Ohio (Cleveland) and Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh) to win the Conference. But, like the Presidential race, I believe the harbinger of success or failure runs through Indiana (Indianapolis).

As the days get shorter, the NFL only gives us more reason to stay indoors and live by artificial light from the tube. As always, we're in for an exciting conclusion to the football season and every playoff spot is up for grabs.

Who will stumble toward the end and who's in for a ticker-tape parade? I don't need holograms to project your playoff teams. New York, Carolina, Arizona, Green Bay, Atlanta, and Philadelphia will represent the NFC. In the AFC, you'll see Tennessee, Pittsburgh, New England, San Diego, Indianapolis, and New York.

Whatever happens: Hail to the Chiefs, just not in Kansas City.

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