There’s going to be some bitching that the 11-5 New England Patriots got left out of the playoffs, while at the time of this writing it is still possible for the San Diego Chargers to clinch their division with eight wins to along with eight loses, a non-winning record. Why should the Chargers get in sans-winning record just because they are in a weak division?

Patriot fans shouldn’t complain too much about the weakness of the AFC West, since that 11-5 record is propped up by a 3-1 record against the AFC West. Speaking of the West and weak divisions, the Patriots were also handed four games against the equally pathetic NFC West, all four resulting in victories. That’s seven wins against the two worst divisions in football, with only one (maybe two, pending the conclusion of the Broncos/Chargers game tonight) of those victories against a team with a winning a record, and that would be a world dominating 9-7 at that.

So New England fans, don’t start that complaining too soon. You could have just as easily been handed a schedule this year that included games against the NFC East and AFC South, and you’d be sitting out of playoffs with an 8-8 record instead.