Next week there will be 3 rematches from today:

Jets/bengals

gb/zona

dal/phi


and all 3 games today were blowouts due to various degrees of starter resting.

Fairly interesting scenario to me, what do you guys think, is this good/bad.

Is your opinion changed if all 3 games are decided by 3 or fewer points next week (leading to the conclusion that teams did learn something today and gameplaning does work).

Hmm tough to say. Dal-Phi the only game both teams were playing. The other 2 are just whatever.

Is Boldin done for the year?

I say they all mean something. I mean, they were blowouts.

Ok, NYJ/Cin, you can see because the Jets had to win the game so they were absolutely playing to win and it showed from the beginning. When it got out of hand, the Bengals didn't care, so the onslaught continued.

GB/Ari, I think GB matches up really well with these guys, and this game was just like the preseason matchup, which I believe says alot. Yeah, it was vanilla, and neither team was throwing the kitchen sink blitz wise, but GB hammered them from the start. Although, I have no idea why McCarthy kept the 1st team in after the half, Ari. took Warner out really early, basically when the game was out of hand, which was still mid 2nd quarter.

But the Phi/Dal game, this game was still huge. I didn't get to see it, but I can't imagine either team slacking because they were in the playoffs, and if so, I would figure Dal first because it doesn't earn them a week off, just a home game. So Phi had alot more at stake than Dal even, and they just couldn't stop Dal and they couldn't close on drive's. Being that this game had huge meaning, I don't see why this would change around. 2 to 3 weeks ago, I would have said Phi. in a runaway, but I think it will be more of the same, maybe a little closer. If somehow I am wrong and Phi wins, it will be them scoring 40pts to do so, and special teams will be a key factor, along with McNabb getting the big plays in there.

I think GB puts it on Ari, especially if Cromartie and Boldin is out. Stick a fork in NE, their hopes and dreams went down the tube along with Welker's knee. I think Cin, is a way different team next week, I think they comeback, ready, Benson in the game, everyone mentally 100% instead of halfassing it and dropping passes because their heads are somewhere else. I think they will make Sanchez beat them, which will take a miracle.

If the Ravens had lost, then all four of the first-round games would have been rematches of Week 17 games (Patriots/Texans would have been the fourth).