The best teams sometimes get the breaks.
And the not-so-best teams sometimes don't get the breaks.
My NFL Nation colleague in Nashville, Paul Kuharsky, conducted an interesting study based on this premise: The best officials work the playoffs.
This year, those rewarded with playoff games for their in-season work include Brad Allen, Tony Corrente, Craig Wrolstad, Carl Cheffers, Ed Hochuli, Pete Morelli, Bill Vinovich, Ronald Torbert, Gere Steratore and Terry Mcauley. Mcauley worked the AFC Championship Game, which Browns fans may smirk at when they recall the "bottle game" against Jacksonville, which Mcauley refereed.