[meader99]

Much rather have health than a few wins in a row heading in.

[Potentate]

Last week, days before the game, some 49ers players themselves said it was important to them to get a win against a strong division opponent and take momentum into the playoffs. We can theorize all we want on whether the notion of momentum is meaningful or not, as it relates to capping games, but the fact that it is a big deal to SOME of the players who actually play the games simply can't be denied.

[lakerboy]

Thanks for posting the article. I laughed. I cried. I laughed again, etc.

Year	Team	End of Season
2012	Ravens	Lost 4 of final 5 games
2011	Giants	Won 3 of final 4, including sweep of Cowboys to win NFC East
2010	Packers	Finished 2-2, but also didn't have Aaron Rodgers for 3 of 4 halves in losses
2009	Saints	Lost final 3 games after starting 13-0, only benching starters in Week 17
2008	Steelers	Won 6 of their last 7 games
2007	Giants	Lost 2 of their final 3, although Week 17 loss to 16-0 Patriots was seen as impressive
2006	Colts	Lost 3 of final 5 games
2005	Steelers	Won final 4 games after starting 7-5
2004	Patriots	14-2 season with 1 of 2 losses coming in final 4 weeks (to 4-12 Dolphins)
2003	Patriots	Won final 12 games of the season
2002	Buccaneers	Finished 3-2 after 9-2 start, but also went without Brad Johnson for final two games (split)
2001	Patriots	Started 5-5, won final 6 games of the year to make the playoffs
2000	Ravens	After 5-4 start, won final 7 games of the year
1999	Rams	Won 7 consecutive games in Weeks 10-16 before loss with backups in Week 17
1998	Broncos	Started 13-0 before losing 2 of final 3
1997	Broncos	Started 11-2, lost 2 of final 3
1996	Packers	Won final 5 games
1995	Cowboys	Lost back-to-back games in-division in Week 14 and Week 15 before winning final 2
1994	49ers	Won 10 consecutive games before meaningless Week 17 loss with backups
1993	Cowboys	Won final 5 games
1992	Cowboys	13-3 team with one of those losses coming to 9-7 Redskins in Week 15
1991	Redskins	Started 11-0, lost 2 of final 5, but 1 was with some backups
1990	Giants	After 10-0 start, lost 3 of 4 before winning final 2 by 3 points each

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...entum-football