Two down, one to go. Last weekend, much to many people's dismay (including my son's), the explosive defending Champion Green Bay Packers and their marginal defense were eliminated rather easily by the rejuvenated New York Giants. The high-flying New Orleans Saints went down the same week. The biggest reason, defense and lack thereof.

Thanks to rule modifications over the past few years that greatly favor offense, the NFL has gotten themselves into bit of conundrum. For 17 regular season weeks, every ticky-tack hit and insignificant bump a defensive player makes in the secondary or on a quarterback brings an immediate flag. During the regular year it is an extremely rare event that an offense is not rewarded for throwing an incomplete pass with a flag on the defense. Extremely rare. Search your feelings Luke, you know it to be true!

Then comes the post-season. The NFL would never admit it publicly, but I've watched enough football in my nearly half-century to know for sure that post-season games are officiated differently. Gone are the infuriating and game-changing ticky-tack interference and illegal contact calls. Heck, you can almost hit the quarterback without a flag! The regular season brand of ball wouldn't fly when so many of those calls have such an extreme impact on the outcome of a game.

So what does that lead to? Encroachment of the long-dormant defenses. I feel very sure the NFL really wanted Green Bay vs. New England, but I'm afraid they are about to get Baltimore vs. San Francisco. It would appear offense gets you to the playoffs, but you better pack your defense for when the rules change in January.