The NFC West was in full display Monday night, as the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals each looked for their fourth win of the season.
In a game where even Jon Gruden couldn't find a player to shower with compliments, the 49ers were able to come away with a win despite losing RB Frank Gore for the year. The most surprising result after Monday night is that the Niners sit only one game back of the division lead and a potential playoff spot
With five games left on the schedule, the entire NFC West (Rams 5-6, Seahawks 5-6, 49ers 4-7, Cardinals 3-8) is below .500 and threatening to make history by providing the NFL with its first losing team to reach the post-season.
From his seat in the broadcast booth, Gruden was adamant in a half-joking fashion, that Commissioner Roger Goodell needs to step in and rectify the rules on the fly, much like he's done with illegal hits to the head.
Gruden believes that an 8-8 team is acceptable, but that Goodell needs to act now to prevent a 7-9 or 6-10 division winner from ever earning a playoff berth.
Only twice in history have 8-8 teams made the post-season - the 1985 Browns and the 2008 Chargers, and never in history has a losing team qualified. The Browns were knocked out quickly, while the Chargers upset a 12-4 Colts team in the wild-card game before being eliminated the following week.
With the Buccaneers and Packers both at 7-4 and currently outside the playoff picture, it would be a tough pill to swallow to watch a 7-9 team not only make it to the playoffs, but host a game as a division leader.
www.tsn.caInteressanter Aspekt
