NFC
Great win for Chicago and the Bears franchise. They were the most unappreciated #1 seed in recent memory. Something like 70% of bets in Vegas were against them. The quarterback played well enough and the defense played great. This is the recipe that they will need to beat the Colts. Swarm the football and force turnovers, while being able to make a couple big plays on offense.
A tough loss for New Orleans. A part of everyone was rooting for that city. No matter what though, no matter how the season ended this playoff run brought a lot to the people of that city. Not only that, but this is such a young team and there is a lot of promise for it. That has to be a good feeling for that city, to have something to look forward to. In any event, it was a fun game to watch and Chicago deserves this Super Bowl bid.
AFC
Great game. I am honestly still shocked. That is what sports does though. Whether its the Red Sox overtaking the Yankees, Bill Cowhers' Steelers going from a #6 seed to winning a Super Bowl, to the Saints making the NFC title game from 3-13 the year before. Manning had been heart-broken by the Pats before, and had lost games in the playoffs he was "supposed to win" numerous times as well. He fell behind by 18 points in the first half, but engineered his team to dominating drives in the second half. The Colts offense could not be stopped in the second half, due large in part to Manning. Not only his making plays, but his control of the pace and efficiency of the drives.
In my mind, the Pats once again though showed why they are such a great team. They lost to a better team, but they still were in position to win. They forced the Colts to win the game, they did not give it to them. This is consistently what the Pats do in the playoffs and most teams are not able to capitalize. Manning and the Colts did not let that happen. Obviously the end of yesterdays game had a couple Patriot miscues, but I do not view them as those. I felt the roughing the passer call on that last Colt drive was bogus, and the Brady pick was a pass he was trying to force considering the time situation. He admitted that himself. He was put in a situation where he has to try and make a play he would not usually look to make.
In any event this is good for the NFL. Most people did not want the Pats in the Super Bowl once again. While New Orleans would have been a great story in the Super Bowl, having Chicago there is always good for the league. They are a hallmark franchise, and bring a national fan base. The Colts have the leagues' most marketable player, and have been hyped to win it for years. This is as good of a match-up that the league could hope for.
Randoms
- I don't really have a problem with the Reggie Bush flip. I don't like the taunting before/after, but I love his exuberance.
- Thoughts on seeing Eli in the box watching his bro yesterday? I am not saying he should not support his brother, but for some reason its tough for me to see him there after not getting it done with the Giants. Any Giant fan wanna chime in on this or am I just being crazy?
- All year I have hated how the refs have called the roughing the passer penalty. We saw it once again last night. That call on the Colts last drive was so ticky-tack. I know the rule, but it makes it so tough on defensive linemen. I hope the league addresses this in the offseason.
- I know people rip Belechik for how he acts after games, but as a fan I like it. When my team losses a tough game I feel totally dejected. If you saw him after yesterdays game, it was the exact same. He gave short, bland answers to reporters' questions. I am not saying it is the most sportsmanlike thing to do, but at least you know as a fan of that team, that he puts everything into winning the game, and like many of the fans he lives and dies by the outcome.
- Same with Brady. Asked if he would watch the Super Bowl he said "probably not." As a fan, it makes you feel good.
- I thought that the Pats were good enough to win it all with Belechik, Brady, and that bruising defense. Obviously they did not, but they got two first round picks, plenty of cap space, and some holes to fill in the secondary and wide receiver position. They are not going anywhere.
- I know this is similar to what Simmons wrote on Friday, but why do people hate the Pats so much? I have only two reasons why people should. One is that they are a Boston team. The other is that your favorite team is in the Pats' division or a rival of them (Colts, Steelers). Other than that I don't see why so many people hate on the Pats....Thoughts?
STKAFI
6 comments:
I personally hate the Pats (I'm a Jets fan, I live in Boston with the most annoying, bias sports fans in the country) however, I feel that what most people feel towards the Pats is a jealousy not hatred.
People are jealous that they are so good. That every move they seem to make works. That luck and bounces always seem to go their way. That they win all the close ones, etc.
You can call it hate, but its really envy.. Much like the Yanks during their great run, where they always seemed to come back, always seemed to make the key play. Its not hate, its a desire for your own team to make the same plays.
As for Eli, he's got to support his brother. Peyton has always publicly supported him.
In closing, Peyton is the man, screw the Pats
People hate the Pats, same way people hated the Cowboys under Jimmy Johnson a couple years back. Fans want to see other teams in the Super Bowl, as they've seen the Pats there 3 out of the last 5 or 6 years. I'm sure in the next couple of years, another team will likely fill this role.
FYI, Belichick and Brady have yet to play in a Super Bowl without big ole' Chuck Weis.
Brady and Belichik have also not played in a Super Bowl without Romeo Crennel or Eric Mangini...
I think the Yanks/Pats comparison is especially apt. It is kinda eerie how similar they are. Both teams started their respective dynasties on muffed, dubious calls in the second round of the playoffs (jeffrey maier, tuck rule), both teams have a core group of players around which the team revolves (brady/brown/bruschi vs. jeter/oneill/rivera/martinez), both teams made personnel moves that worked incredibly well, almost to the point of being lucky (like signing david justice- who knew? and the pats letting go SB MVP for jabbar gaffney- who the fuck is he?). Both teams had a "closer" who you always trusted with the game on the line. Both teams had coaches whose first success was w/ the dynasty. Both teams have charismatic leaders that are ice cold in the clutch. Both teams seemed to be blessed with good fortune, with balls always bouncing their way and calls always favoring them. And both teams, had a team first mentality that really drove their successes (if you cant believe that for the 96-00 yankees- read buster olneys book on them). Which is why I say fuck Simmons for crying about the Pats backlash-suck it up and realize its lonely at the top.
exactly. he's like curtin in madden. can't win a super bowl without stallworth.
any thoughts out there on the tuna? at first i was quick to say his legacy has been tarnished...then after thinking this guy just gets teams to the playoffs...however, two first round exits w/ the cowboys was dissapointing
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