What makes it so difficult for a team to go undefeated?

Some teams have a tough time winning one game.  Can you imagine having the pressure of winning 16 in a row?  I think for any team to go undefeated is very commendable, regardless of whether you are a fan of the team or not. I think it is ridiculously hard because there are so many factors going against a team going 16-0.  And if you want to go 19-0, then you really have your work cut out!  For starters, you have to avoid injury and keep all your key players healthy.  Since that is almost impossible, you also need to have a back up that will be able to perform as well as the person he is replacing. Then, you need to think about the players, who are physically exhausted after playing 16 games.  On top of being physically exhausted, they have to deal with the mental pressure of going undefeated.  Everyone is watching just to see if you can pull it off. Then you have every team in the NFL wanting to rip your head off just to break your winning streak. I mean going 16-0 is not bubble gum and candy.  I take my hat off to New England to win every game in the season!  It is amazing, I had fun watching. I really hope they can pull off just two more games!

Hugs ~ Pilar

I am all for taking out the starters if the team is in a position to do so. There is no need to risk injury. However, if the back-ups are really starting to fall behind, I would put my starters in again. New England did that a couple of times this season. Remember when they played against Miami? The second that Miami got within three touchdowns, Brady was back in. I think that was fair. Especially close to playoff time, if the team has nothing to lose and a playoff spot has already been clinched and wining or losing would affect home field advantage, I would rest all my starters and would not risk injury at that point. I agree with New England playing its starters because they have a real shot at becoming part of NFL history. Indianapolis is smart to rest its players, and Dallas, not so much. The only reason I could see Dallas starting Romo was to maybe get him used to connecting with Terry Glenn, just in case TO was injured. But personally, I would have rested my starters.

Hugs~ Pilar

If I had to answer this question two weeks ago I would have said it’s obvious that Romo can not stay focused when his girlfriend is there. Therefore, for the sake of the team making it to the big game, I would suggest that Romo's beau send him off with a spirit gift and watch him play from the comfort of her home. It’s not Jessica's fault.  It would be Romo's fault for not being able to stay focused. You know, there are some soccer players that go all season without having sex to stay focused. Maybe that is a bit extreme, but so is signing a 64 million dollar contract. But after playing Saturday night with all the distraction from the Carolina fans and the Jessica Simpson look-a-likes, Romo did say Jessica was there at the game, and still Dallas was able to take the win.  So, Jessica has my blessing to go to the rest of the games as long as Romo stays focused (but I am only saying this because he said she was there Saturday and they still won). Maybe us Dallas fans were just taking it hard that we lost to Philadelphia and needed someone to blame it on. I mean REALLY, we lost to Philadelphia??!!??

Hugs ~ Pilar

I go back and forth with this penalty. If Tony Romo is throwing to Jason Witten and someone interferes with his catch, then I am all up for the penalty. However, if it is the other way around and my Dallas boys are just playing good defense, then I find myself challenging the call thinking, “How do the refs really know the receiver was going to complete the catch in the first place?” But overall I do agree with the penalty. I think the refs do a fair job at judging whether it is pass interference or just a player playing great defense. At times I think a team may get lucky with the penalty. There have been several times I thought there was no way a receiver would have caught the ball, and if it wasn't for the flag being thrown, it could have changed the entire outcome of the game. But overall I think it is fair and sometimes needed.

Hugs ~Pilar

Haven't you ever heard the saying, “Can't you take a joke?” Yes, I think when encroachment is used in football it is all just a joke. Half the time they are probably talking smack about each others Momma's. Not to mention, I don't think any of the guys really ever take it personal. It's part of boys being boys. I would do it too. I'd talk about your girlfriend, your Momma, your cat and your dog. Now if I was off the field and someone started "encroaching" me, we'd have a problem. But in football I think everyone does it as part of just talking trash and having fun.

Hugs ~Pilar

Well, now it depends on by how much I am winning the game by. If I was like New England who can win a game by 30 points, then heck, I'd go for the scoring. Why not try to beat a record win? I might even consider just re-enacting the college game where Trinity University scored a touchdown by throwing something like 5 backwards laterals, just to give the fans something to talk about. If I was far enough ahead of the other team and didn't need to worry about the ball being intercepted, then I'd try and score some extra touchdowns and have some fun. However if it was a close call, I'd run the ball and waste the clock as much as possible. It's a conservative way to play. I know many times when I have watched my Dallas boys play, all I kept thinking was “OK guys, there is just 3 minutes left. Hold on to that ball, now is not the time to try and score. Just run down the clock and let this game be over right now!!!"

Hugs ~Pilar

Wow! This question sucks for me because I can justify the importance of every position in the NFL, from the long snapper to the quarterback. But since most people can’t name the top five long snappers, they are definitely not overrated, in fact, hardly even rated. So as much as I am preparing myself for the lashes for what I am about to say, I am going to pick the wide receiver as the most overrated position. I would focus more on a quarterback and the offensive line than on a great wide receiver. With a great QB and OL you can still score. When Jerry Rice was with San Francisco he had a Joe Montana throwing to him. Randy Moss is an extremely talented wider receiver but how many rings does he have? Now playing with New England, even Moss himself realizes he is in a great situation. And he will probably get his ring now because he is finally on a team with a great QB and OL, and a great everything else for that matter. But how many times has New England won the big game without Moss? I think having a great wide receiver definitely helps, and there are many talented wide receivers playing. Even though TO and Moss are really shining bright this season, I think the big game can still be won without a decent wide receiver.

Hugs ~Pilar

I would have to say, the offensive lineman for sure. You never hear the announcer talk about any of the offensive linemen because it isn't really a position that can have glorifying moments, like making a completion or scoring a touchdown. Even the defensive linemen have the chance to have a glorifying moment, just like the Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips combo in San Diego. Defensive linemen sack a quarterback and they are having their names shouted out by the announcers. But the Offensive linemen have the ability to turn a good quarterback into a great quarterback. The offensive line gives the quarterback all the protection so he can have enough time to find an open receiver. Heck, they are the ones who are keeping the quarterback from getting hit and hurt. A quarterback can be great, but if he isn't given any protection he will never be able to get the ball out of his hands. The only time I ever really heard a quarterback put ANY emphasis on his offensive line was when Peyton Manning blamed them for losing to Pittsburgh in the 2006 playoffs. He went on national television and blasted these poor guys, saying there was a "protection problem". These guys are being charged at by 290 pound defensive linemen that have one objective in their mind, and that is to charge through anything that is standing between them and sacking the quarterback. It's like a wall trying to stop a bulldozer! Quarterbacks, thank your linemen!

Hugs ~Pilar

I think Ricky Bobby said it best, in Talladega Nights, "If you’re not first, you’re last." I hate being last. So I would have to say I would be all about the win. They say there is no "I" in team but I think any player who plays to fill his stats has found the "ME" in team. Football is very much a team sport and if you play as a team, then you win as a team. It really is about the win if you want to one day wear the glorious Ring. I would be more concerned about my team winning and becoming division champs first, and then taking it to the next step and helping them win the big game, because ultimately if the team wins I would win too. I get mad when my favorite team loses, I would hate to be one of the guys in the locker room after a loss. Losing doesn't feel good. It's much more fun to win! When you win a game the team goes out and celebrates! I couldn't say, "It sucks that we lost, but I had a great game!" I still lost! Having great stats makes a player look good but having a Ring would make him look better. Take a look at L.T.'s stats, last season, they were crazy impressive. But, does he have the ring? Nope. Man, I should have been a coach!

Hugs ~Pilar

When you say most entertaining, I am going to have to pick the fun rivalry between Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Johnson and Atlanta cornerback DeAngelo Hall. I just love Chad Johnson, he is always talking trash in a non mean-spirited way like sending Cleveland’s defensive backs Pepto Bismol. How cute and clever! And I loved that DeAngelo Hall shaved “I OWN U 85” on his head. As a chick, I like that their rivalry didn’t end up in a UFC showcase at a Las Vegas casino, like the rivalry between Levi Jones and Joey Porter. I hate to see a little “on-the-field rivalry” turn into an off-the-field feud. Instead of taking the trash talk personally, Chad and DeAngelo shared laughs over a nice big hug, but only after a Cincinnati victory over Atlanta! I hope Ray Lewis and Adalius Thomas take notes from these two jokesters and hug it out! Hug it out