Momentum

So much for being hot. Momentum (an invention, near as I can tell, of Don Meredith, who would be better known for his rendition of Willie Nelson’s Turn out the Lights, the Party’s Over) took it in the boxer shorts in the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

The Saints were suspect, having lost their last three in a row, and having been challenged even before that. The Arizona Cardinals, who had the momentum, having beaten Green Bay (which had the momentum, going 7-1 over the second half) the week before. Saints 45, Cardinals 14. Rest 1, Momentum 0.

Dallas was the self (and sports pundit) proclaimed hottest team, some said “the best” entering the playoffs. They’d won their last four, including one over the undefeated (at the time) Saints. The Vikings had no chance it seemed. They were as “cold,” having dropped three of their last four, as the Cowboys were hot. All that was nonsense, of course. Vikings 34, Cowboys 3. Rest 2, Momentum 0.

Indianapolis pulled starters – including the only one that counts, quarterback Payton Manning – giving up its shot at a perfect season, then went on to lose to the hapless Bills. Baltimore was another hot team, having won five of its last six games. That was before visiting the Colts, of course. Colts 20, Ravens 3. Rest 3, Momentum 0.

Some might say that Ol’ Mo finally got a win when the upstart Jets, riding a three-game winning streak and six of their last seven, slipped by the Chargers. But San Diego was anointed the “hottest of the hot” for its eleven game win streak. The Jets didn’t rest, of course, playing through the wild card round. We’ll have to call this a tie. Momentum won for the Jets and lost for the Chargers. Offsetting; no play.

What I take from this is that sports talk hosts and columnists take refuge in “momentum” when they have no idea what else they might talk or write about. Hopefully, going into the two Conference Championship games that’s one discussion we can leave behind.

That might require some thoughtful analysis, though.