Ok JCraig, different sport but want to take a stab at the two teams that played the best hockey from January onward in the NHL last year ? I’ll give you a hint they played a Game 7 against each other for a cup.

As a follow up question, how did the Lightning do in the playoffs after all of their victories in October and November ?
- Pegullaville

“Well......... We’re Waiting” GIF

Yes and Josh McDaniels is the OC in New England right now because as a head coach he started out 6-0 and fell flat on his face and finished 8-8.

I don’t think Frank Reich (Colts) is having a very pleasant morning, however Mike Vrabel (Titans) is.

Both teams had completely different out looks a few weeks ago.

Once again conveniently leaving out the hockey reference I guess because it doesn’t fit your narrative.

Blues were last place in the NHL, Sabres were first in mid December. How did that work out ?
- Pegullaville

The jets went 3-1 in November when it counts, but I'm having trouble finding them in playoff race

“Well......... We’re Waiting” GIF
- Pegullaville

The raiders went 3-1 in November when it counts but I'm having trouble finding them in the playoff seedings

The raiders went 3-1 in November when it counts but I'm having trouble finding them in the playoff seedings
- jcragcrumple

Right in the thick of it. Losing a game that counts yesterday doesn’t help.

The jets went 3-1 in November when it counts, but I'm having trouble finding them in playoff race
- jcragcrumple

If they don’t lose the game that counts yesterday they are still in the playoff race too.

Right in the thick of it. Losing a game that counts yesterday doesn’t help.
- Pegullaville

The Bears went 3-2 in November when it counts but I'm having trouble finding them in the playoff standings

The Bears went 3-2 in November when it counts but I'm having trouble finding them in the playoff standings
- jcragcrumple

10-6 can get the 2nd wild card in the NFC. Just win the games that count.

The focus should be on the Devils for the Sabres and the Ravens for the Bills.

Who cares about the rest of the league.

The Bills are having a good season. Let's enjoy that.

10-6 can get the 2nd wild card in the NFC. Just win the games that count.
- Pegullaville

All games count.

10-6 can get the 2nd wild card in the NFC. Just win the games that count.
- Pegullaville

5 out of 6 of the current AFC playoff teams have been in their respective playoff spots since week 2, which is odd, because those games were played in not November

I didn’t know their season was over.
- Pegullaville

Make no mistake. It's over.

5 out of 6 of the current AFC playoff teams have been in their respective playoff spots since week 2, which is odd, because those games were played in not November
- jcragcrumple

Yep and the one’s still playing in February will have played the best from November onwards.

Yep and the one’s still playing in February will have played the best from November onwards.
- Pegullaville

Unless it's the patriots, ravens or 49ers who have been good all year, even when it didn't count

Vesey has 5 points in his last 5 games.

Skinner has 2 goals in his last 8 games and is a -5.

Burakovaky, Donskoi, Dzingel, Haula, Connolly, coild also give us that production on lines 2/3.

This team goes as Jack goes, until we find a half decent goalie and a 2C.
- Pegullaville

Man, when you whittle it down to an 8 game sample I guess you’re dead on.

As per usual, when Skinner scores a few goals soon and is back on pace for the 35 goals that everyone expected, I look forward to the back tracking about how we will just have to “wait and see” for you to be right

Man, when you whittle it down to an 8 game sample I guess you’re dead on.

As per usual, when Skinner scores a few goals soon and is back on pace for the 35 goals that everyone expected, I look forward to the back tracking about how we will just have to “wait and see” for you to be right
- sbroads24

Jack Eichel makes $1M more then Jeff Skinner. Can’t make this up.

In all seriousness, Pegulaville has a point to an extent, but he's taking it to an extreme. Teams that play better later in the season have a better chance of post season success. A team that starts 10-0 and then loses its final 6 and limps into the final wild card seed is most likely not going to make any noise in the playoffs. On the other hand, a team that starts 0-6 and then rattles off 10 straight is more likely playing better football at the time and could at the very least be a threat to win a playoff game or two. However, the reality is, both cases are extremes and rarely happen, if ever, in the NFL. That's where his defenses of Cleveland and Denver are way off base. Those teams have almost zero shot at the playoffs when you consider the amount of teams they have to leapfrog and tiebreakers, and the very reason is they were absolute garbage in the early part of the season.

It's the same reason why, in the NHL, if you're not at least with a grasp of a playoff spot by the end of November (i.e. US Thanksgiving), you're toast 99% of the time.

Jack Eichel makes $1M more then Jeff Skinner. Can’t make this up.
- Pegullaville

Uh, one player you had to buy every UFA year, the other was buying two years of UFA.

You realize how much Eichel would get on the open market, right?

Make no mistake. It's over.
- buffalofan19

It’s not over till it’s over. The Browns have two games against the Bengals, Cardinals, and Ravens. 8-8 is completely realistic. 9-7 is not impossible.

In all seriousness, Pegulaville has a point to an extent, but he's taking it to an extreme. Teams that play better later in the season have a better chance of post season success. A team that starts 10-0 and then loses its final 6 and limps into the final wild card seed is most likely not going to make any noise in the playoffs. On the other hand, a team that starts 0-6 and then rattles off 10 straight is more likely playing better football at the time and could at the very least be a threat to win a playoff game or two. However, the reality is, both cases are extremes and rarely happen, if ever, in the NFL. That's where his defenses of Cleveland and Denver are way off base. Those teams have almost zero shot at the playoffs when you consider the amount of teams they have to leapfrog and tiebreakers, and the very reason is they were absolute garbage in the early part of the season.

It's the same reason why, in the NHL, if you're not at least with a grasp of a playoff spot by the end of November (i.e. US Thanksgiving), you're toast 99% of the time.
- buffalofan19

With the parity in the league I wouldn’t count any one out. Maybe in years past, but not anymore.

It’s not over till it’s over. The Browns have two games against the Bengals, Cardinals, and Ravens. 8-8 is completely realistic. 9-7 is not impossible.
- Pegullaville

Tennessee and Pittsburgh essentially guaranteed that 9-7 will be the bar to get in, and as of now, Cleveland doesn't have the tiebreaker over either of them. It's over.

In fact, the best path for Cleveland to get in would be for Buffalo to lose four straight, and that assumes Cleveland wins out.

In all seriousness, Pegulaville has a point to an extent, but he's taking it to an extreme. Teams that play better later in the season have a better chance of post season success. A team that starts 10-0 and then loses its final 6 and limps into the final wild card seed is most likely not going to make any noise in the playoffs. On the other hand, a team that starts 0-6 and then rattles off 10 straight is more likely playing better football at the time and could at the very least be a threat to win a playoff game or two. However, the reality is, both cases are extremes and rarely happen, if ever, in the NFL. That's where his defenses of Cleveland and Denver are way off base. Those teams have almost zero shot at the playoffs when you consider the amount of teams they have to leapfrog and tiebreakers, and the very reason is they were absolute garbage in the early part of the season.

It's the same reason why, in the NHL, if you're not at least with a grasp of a playoff spot by the end of November (i.e. US Thanksgiving), you're toast 99% of the time.
- buffalofan19

Green Bay won 2 of their last 4 and 3 of their last 6 before winning the superbowl in 2010

Philly went 3-2

The Patriots win every other year because they win 12 games every year and get a bye

In all seriousness, Pegulaville has a point to an extent, but he's taking it to an extreme. Teams that play better later in the season have a better chance of post season success. A team that starts 10-0 and then loses its final 6 and limps into the final wild card seed is most likely not going to make any noise in the playoffs. On the other hand, a team that starts 0-6 and then rattles off 10 straight is more likely playing better football at the time and could at the very least be a threat to win a playoff game or two. However, the reality is, both cases are extremes and rarely happen, if ever, in the NFL. That's where his defenses of Cleveland and Denver are way off base. Those teams have almost zero shot at the playoffs when you consider the amount of teams they have to leapfrog and tiebreakers, and the very reason is they were absolute garbage in the early part of the season.

It's the same reason why, in the NHL, if you're not at least with a grasp of a playoff spot by the end of November (i.e. US Thanksgiving), you're toast 99% of the time.
- buffalofan19

They become way off base when he realizes what he said is wrong and then triples down on it.

We’re still failing to see how September and October football (half of the season) “doesn’t count”

Jack Eichel makes $1M more then Jeff Skinner. Can’t make this up.
- Pegullaville

A couple things:

1) Salary cap has gone up. So have salaries in general since the Eichel extension

2) Jeff skinner is an elite player that scored 40 goals and scores 30 goals in his sleep. Overpay good players! Don’t overpay bad to average players

I’ve said that before.

Whoopty do. We overpaid skinner by 1 million bucks

I listen, and he has a point with the aging of that contract.
His criticism of the player seems a bit harsh overall, expecting more than the player can give.
I believe he is overpaid by about $1m. Just because a player is paid $9m, it does not mean his production goes up automatically commensurate with his contract. Jeff Skinner is a 30-40 Goal scorer with 55 -65 pts. That is the reality.

His main point is Botts should not have agreed to that contract and found someone else to fill that role for less. Sounds good on a post, and does not give any consideration to the environment at that time. You will remember the Sabres were a complete poop show, and absolutely starved for scoring. What impact would have been realized if Botts did not re-sign him? Does the risk of telling the whole NHL that the Sabres do not value productive free agents further erode their ability to attract them in the future. Does Jack, or Sam, or other players look at management differently and request a trade? Do the fans revolt? Is that risk worth $1m?

He is going through a rough patch right now no doubt. Has he had chances over the last 8 games, yes. Does everybody want him on track for 40 instead of 30, absolutely. Would he be better served playing on a capable 2nd line rather than 3rd and 4th line players? I think it is safe to assume the answer is yes there, and probably better chances.
- IonSabres

I do not care about the contract, it's done, should he be playing with better players, yes I agree with that, but he still getting chances, he is who he is, nobody should get made for asking more from him.

A couple things:

1) Salary cap has gone up. So have salaries in general since the Eichel extension

2) Jeff skinner is an elite player that scored 40 goals and scores 30 goals in his sleep. Overpay good players! Don’t overpay bad to average players

I’ve said that before.

Whoopty do. We overpaid skinner by 1 million bucks
- Sabretooth9

Kyle Okposo only makes 3 mil less than Skinner

Cant make this stuff up.

I think I’d rather overpay Skinner by 1-2 than Okposo by 4 mil