NFL chokers

"Choking" is a highly politically incorrect term -- which is exactly why I relish using it. PC is for wimps that are afraid to speak the truth, lest they hurt someone else's precious feelings.

Well, guess what? It hurts MY feelings when others try to stifle my freedom of speech, and tell me there are certain words I can't say. Rest assured, given such provocation and/or repression, I'll go out of my way to use them any way.

On to the chokers.

The Kansas City Chiefs, at home, no less, had a 21-0 lead over the Tennessee Titans and choked it away in the second half.

The LA Rams, on paper, and throughout the season superior to the Atlanta Falcons, choked away a playoff game in their own stadium.

The Buffalo Bills can be excused for getting trashed (choking) in Jacksonville. The Jags are pretty good this year, and Buffalo hasn't been worth four dead flies since that OJ guy was carrying the ball many years ago.

The best playoff game was between the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers. And what ultimately happened? Cam Newton choked it away -- again.

It seems every time Cam gets on the big stage -- he gags.

True, he made it all the way to the Super Bowl not long ago, but choked.

Even in the press conference afterwards, while an opposing player on the winning team was being interviewed, Cam was within earshot, and choked. He stormed off the stage, like a little boy that just got spanked (which he figuratively was) and was slinking off to his room in shame. Some refer to this phenomenon as throwing a temper tantrum.

It is interesting that both visiting teams won their playoff games on Saturday, but both home teams prevailed on Sunday.

So what do we have to look forward to?

The Saints get to go to Minnesota to face the Vikings next week. The chances of Drew Brees and Co. pulling an upset over the purple gang? Not good, but they've got a shot if everything falls their way.

The Falcons will head to Philly to face the Eagles. Though Atlanta pulled the ultimate choke in last year's Super Bowl, blowing a 25 point third quarter lead to lose to the Patriots in overtime, yours truly would hardly count them out against the Eagles. With starting QB Carson Wentz out for the season with a blown ACL, it's likely only a matter of time before his replacement Nick Foles pulls his usual choke act. History doesn't lie. Over his career, Foles has gagged more often than your average rookie porn actress.

In the AFC, the NE Pats will host the Tenn Tits. Forget this one. Hey, any team that has a head coach named Mularkey can't be taken too seriously. Unless Tom Brady comes down with a serious case of retardation, thereby forgetting how to get to the stadium, this game is a lock. And when it comes to the chances of choking, who would you put your money on? Marcus Mariotta or Brady?

The Jacksonville/Pittsburgh game -- in Pittsburgh -- is interesting for one reason. Back in October, those same Jags put a thumping on the Steelers. Few saw that coming. And if Mike Tomlin and his crew ever needed motivation -- they definitely have it in wanting to avenge that embarrassment. This game could get ugly, choke city, for the Jags.

Besides, other than their own fans, nobody wants to see Jax or Tenn move on. Everybody is awaiting the big showdown between the Patriots and Steelers, with a Super Bowl trip on the line.

Me? Since my beloved Packers -- no, I don't live anywhere near Green Bay, but adopted them years ago -- lost the services of Aaron Rodgers, I've taken a liking to the Minnesota Vikings. Head coach Mike Zimmer has undergone some severe trials and tribulations in his personal life and emerged to whip the Vikes into a very good team, even though their top two quarterbacks, and star running back, have gone down for the season.

Besides, New England and Pittsburgh have won a slew of Super Bowls between them over the years. The Vikings have been there four times in the past and yet to come away victorious.

With any luck, and will likely take a lot --- this will be their year.

I just hope they don't choke.