If you follow football or like statistics, then you know that the 2020 NFC East of the National Football League (NFL) has played dismal football as it pertains to every team's record:
Eagles 3-5-1
Giants 3-7
Washington 2-7
Cowboys 2-7
A once celebrated division - 13 Super Bowl wins and 18 Super Bowl appearances - has made 1st place ideal for the sub .500 squad. What does this mean in football terms? Well, one team will make the playoffs from this division. If any of these NFC East teams played in any other division of the NFL, they would, at best, stand in 3rd place; and, at worst, stand in last place. If any of these NFC East teams were in the AFC, neither one of them would have a position in the playoffs if the season ended today; and if playoff status depended on record, alone.
That's the mediocre part. Storied history - do not get it twisted - but mediocre records.
The Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC Central) at 9-0 have one fewer win than the entire NFC East (10).
The Good Part
With the best NFC East record at 3-5-1 and the worst record tied for 2-7 with seven games remaining for all of the teams but the Giants (6), the viability for first place reigns. The window closes the more the Eagles win and the rest of the division loses. The window also closes the more every team loses, which has established itself as the most prominent streak, thus far.
Most of the teams in every other division can achieve first place as well, especially as their windows close. But, due to their record, if they do not finish in first place, they have the option to sneak in to the playoffs as a wild card, which is conferenced-based. An NFC East team in 2020 does not have that option at the moment. NFC East teams need to outright win their division. This need brings the point of this message to... staying focused.
Stay focused on 1st place. No one is that far out because everyone keeps losing.
So?... So, coaches can make game-by-game decisions instead of looking for the permanent replacement. For example, Washington has a QB debacle. All they need is for one QB, any QB to get one win. If he loses, may be you change QBs...or not. It does not seem like a huge deal because...everyone else keeps losing. By no means should mediocrity lust in celebration. No way! However, it can create a new focus when normal tactics have difficulty working out.
Your Takeaway
Have you ever worked out with a group of individuals, and everyone is having an average or below average day (e.g., due to lack of sleep, increased stress, or improper nutrition, or fatigue)? Then, on the fifth exercise, you bust out a max effort because of some technique you tried. That example is how the NFC East looks as far as focus creation.
Focusing,
Derek
Derek Arledge, MS, CSCS www.teempt.com @teemptraining
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