Thoughts on the Big Game...

• Such a sloppy game. The Super Bowl has not fluidity to it in the first place will all the extra TV timeouts, but this first quarter was bananas. It felt like there was another commercial ever minute or so. So many turnovers. The rain definitely did not help this either..
• Got to give credit to Peyton. He threw a pick early, but settled down to play a very efficient game. In horrible weather conditions he threw accurately, and controlled the tempo of the game perfectly.
• Speaking of the tempo, I think that is where the Colts and Manning have truly developed. In the past they used the no-huddle to rush the defenders and throw down the field. Now they don't only throw down the field, but they run the ball a ton and throw so much underneath. When you combine that with their no huddle, they just wear down the defense. They did it against New England and they did it again last night. They are like a Python slowly squeezing the life out of a defense. It is really remarkable to watch how in control that offense is at all times.
• I messed up on that Grossman prediction. What I should of said is that he not only has to be solid, but he has to be able to at least make a couple of throws down the field. The Bears hid Grossman in the first half, and then when they needed him to make a couple plays in the second half he could not get it down. He under threw two balls that were picked off, not the mention the two or three snaps that he fumbled. Just a gross performance.
• Two things I did not understand about the Bears. One is that they kept such a conservative playbook. Not just that they did not throw the ball down the field, but nothing they did seemed to have any creativity. Considering how inept they were at moving the ball, you would think that they would try to change things up with a reverse or something of that nature. Secondly, and in a related topic, why don't they put Hester in on offense? He is obviously one of the most dangerous open field runners in the sport. Why not try to get him open on a screen or an end around? Something I think they will address and use better next season..
• Phil Simms kept on harping on the fact that the Bears were not blitzing. It seemed like they were blitzing early and as soon as they got burned on the total breakdown in coverage on the 55 yard TD pass, they backed off. Peyton had all the time in the world most plays and the running backs had lanes to run all night. The Bears must be regretting that they did not play more aggressively both on offense and defense.
• Besides all of the crazy turnovers in the first half though, the Colts played a great game. The defense dominated, they ran the ball at will, and most importantly, Peyton played a smart and efficient game. He deserves this Super Bowl and all the acclaim that he will receive as a result.

Other stuff..

• What ever happened to Duke and UCONN being college basketball superpowers??
• Pitchers and catchers are only a couple weeks away....
• If you are the Bears, do you feel in your heart of hearts that you can win a Super Bowl with Rex Grossman?
• I can only imagine how many box pools were screwed up by a) the botched extra point b) viniateri missing a field goal and c) Dungy not kicking the field goal at the end of the game, not to "show up" his boy Lovie...
• Knicks play only like two home game in the next month....
• The Police are performing at the Grammys next Sunday....oh yea!

STKAFI