Score one for the “average Joe”. The National Football League announced today that it will lower its ticket prices for some playoff games in the upcoming postseason. The move comes largely in part from the current economic slump the country faces; the league claims it wants to be “responsive to the economic challenges facing our fans.”

Well my friends, the league that can do no wrong has struck gold yet again. What better way to say “we care” than to lower single-game prices for the playoffs in what already is the most expensive ticket-price-per-fan league in the United States.

Early estimates are marking the decrease in prices from anywhere between 10 and 15 percent of last year’s average playoff tickets, which was around $120 for each of the first three rounds. Although prices for Super Bowl XLIII will probably remain close to the same as last year’s big game, the NFL has shown both a heart and a brain in making its latest financial move.

Not only could this incredibly popular organization jack ticket prices through the roof, it could also sit there and laugh about it while raking in the dough. People will pay to see live football in their home regions, especially with the parity in the 2008 season. There are no clear favorites anymore; teams that were so far out in front like the Patriots and Colts of years past have now fallen back into competition with the rest of the league. Almost any team is a contender for at least one home playoff game.

The NFL made a highly intelligent choice in lowering postseason ticket prices because it publicly shows that it is a “people’s league.” It recognizes the hard times that average middle-class families face these days, and has shown with its latest decision that it must cater to the fans to be successful. The National Football League didn’t have to do this at all; but they chose to give up some extra postseason revenues anyway, and for that they should be given credit where credit is due.

Specific playoff ticket prices have not been set at this time because as mentioned above, we really don’t know which 12 teams are going to end up competing for the Lombardi Trophy after December.

So for fun, let’s just go ahead and pencil in home games for Tennessee and Arizona right now. It’ll be tough to gauge the average price for a ticket at LP Field or University of Phoenix Stadium, considering neither team has gotten a home playoff game in recent memory. Either way, the demand is going to be high.

Denver has a chance to get its first home playoff game since 2005; the Giants, Bears and Panthers are all trendy picks in the NFC, and even the Dolphins have a decent chance to play a game in Miami in January. Minnesota, Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, San Diego, Baltimore, the NY Jets, and Buffalo are all one game out of first place in their respective divisions. Ultimately, home games have a chance to be played almost anywhere this postseason.

That’s another reason why the NFL’s move is so brilliant. The league didn’t wait a couple more weeks until the playoff picture became clearer. Right now was the time to announce the average ticket price reductions, a time when fans can get excited about their team’s hope for a playoff appearance. People will recognize the favor the NFL has done in lowering prices, and in return pack every house and then so during the postseason.

You probably won’t see MLB or the NBA make this kind of risky financial move anytime in the near future, and god forbid if the NHL gives up a dime to keep its league afloat. Overall, the NFL has both the brass and the support to pull off a move like this that ultimately will lower its yearly income; and that football fans, is why the league dominates above any other sport in this country.

Bravo, NFL.