Why I like Payton, and think this team is different:

>>I almost think WE are in a must win..ATL has DET, and will most likely win, CAr is off, the Giants have HOU (again probably a win).

Obviously we'd rather be 6-2 than 5-3. And if you had to lose, it is most preferable to lose to an AFC opponent (not likely going to factor in any of the tie breaker scenarios except with members of your own division, a situation that usually doesn't come down to that tiebreaker).

And while I understand your argument, Tampa is 2-5 and (technically) 3 1/2 games behind us and 3 1/2 games behind Atlanta by virtue of losses to both teams. They can't afford to drop to 5 games behind us if we beat them (we'd be 6-2, they'd be 2-6 and would need to finish the season 1 game up on us with only 8 to go). To me, they are in a complete must win situation with no outs but to beat us. We've got to use that against them IMHO.

TPS