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Oh, by the way
[size=18:eab2f4037f][b:eab2f4037f]Odds favor the rested in playoffs' second round [/b:eab2f4037f][/size:eab2f4037f]
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
POSTED: Jan. 6, 2003 10:22 p.m.
Something for the wild-card winners to keep in mind as they celebrate: Since the current playoff format started in 1990, teams that had first-round byes are 39-9 in the second round.
In other words, the odds are against the Jets, Falcons, Steelers and 49ers as they go to Oakland, Philadelphia, Nashville and Tampa next weekend.
They can take some consolation, though, knowing that this truly has been the wackiest of seasons, capped by Sunday's twin comebacks. San Francisco erased a 24-point deficit to beat the New York Giants, and Pittsburgh climbed out of a 17-point hole against the Cleveland Browns to advance to the second round.
The Titans, like all the home teams (the bye teams), are favored - by four points. The Eagles are 71/2-point favorites, the Raiders 51/2, and the Bucs five.
The odds - and the pertinent numbers are 39-9, not whatever Vegas might think - say they'll win.
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ODD YEAR, ODD PLAYOFFS: Although running and defense are supposed to win playoff games, that didn't happen this weekend, especially in Sunday's two games.
A total of 221 points were scored in the wild-card round, the second most since the NFL went to the 12-team playoff format in 1990. The most came in 1995, when there were 266 points scored in the first round, which included a 58-37 win by Philadelphia over Detroit (that was the Eagles over the Lions, not the 76ers over the Pistons at halftime.)
Rushing?
In Sunday's games, Kelly Holcomb passed for 429 yards, Tommy Maddox for 367, Kerry Collins for 342, and Jeff Garcia for 331. And that doesn't count Terrell Owens' 25-yard completion on an option pass.
Rushing and defense indeed.
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