Like Patrick, I'm a little bit more interested in the remainder of the regular season than I am in making predictions about the playoffs, and I'll tell you why: David Tyree. In the 2007 NFL season, we must all remember, the Patriots were the undefeated shoo-in candidate for the fourth Super Bowl in the Brady era. The Giants, being evil and at least partly red, were Mitt Romney, of course. And New England—16-0 at the end of the regular season—lost it all on an impossible catch pinned against his helmet. Undefeated seasons crumble quickly, and sometimes they do so at the most heartbreaking moment possible. 

I wouldn't wish a variation of The Catch on anyone except a Jets fan, though. But like Jake, I would hope for some perspective here: There isn't a set script for the rest of the NFL season, Hampton (and, much as I'd like it, there isn't one for politics, either). It's been a wonderful shock to see the 49ers get to a point where Jake would actually confidently place them in the Super Bowl and I don't immediately laugh at him, but it's not something I could have predicted a year ago.  For me, the greatest thing about the NFL playoffs, aside from Super Bowl commercials, is that they aren't anything like the MLB's, NBA's, or NHL's. Teams don't get seven shots to win it all; they get one. That leaves room for surprises. The Packers might be a great offensive team, but they're not immune to The Catch.

–Emma