Since I'm being bullied into revealing my Super Bowl pick, here it is, because, well, I'm just that spineless.
Giants v Patriots: All the talk this week has been about Tom Brady's ankle, which is precisely why we need to eliminate the bye week in between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl. Nothing pisses the sports media off more than not talking football after doing nothing but for the last few months, so non-stories like the Brady ankle become Watergate-ish in their perceived importance.
But I digress...
The easy thing to do here is look back at the Giants-Pats game at the Meadowlands last month and assume it'll be a similar game; after all, neither team has changed that much since that fantastic game on the last Saturday in December, and, of course, neither team has lost since then.
On the Giants side, Eli Manning and the New York offense are moving the ball extremely well, and balancing the run and pass well. The defence is solid, and any team with a former Ottawa Renegades kicker can't be all bad. (Wait, maybe it can...)
For New England, any so-called adversity the Pats have had to face this year has been met with a punch in the face and a quick count from the ref. No team, especially the Giants, can match the Pats on either side of the ball, and no one does better with 2 weeks to plan for an opponent than Darth Belichick.
Also, let's remember that this version of the Patriots is 3-0 in the Super Bowl and 18-0 this year, while the big stage is new for most of the Giants' roster.
I think New England will start out strong, say 10 or 14-0, but New York will stay in the game until the end. Unfortunately, the New England Patriots will win the Super Bowl and go 19-0 this season.
But rest assured I will be cheering for the Giants.
New England 37, New York 31.
Record: 7-3
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Giants-Patriots Game Best Possible Outcome
So, here we are, 32 teams and five months later, and New England and New York are meeting for the Super Bowl in two weeks. The consensus from the series of tubes (read: Internet) is that a Packers-Pats match-up was the best way to go from the four possible outcomes.
Apparently, a Brett Favre-Tom Brady match-up, plus the slim possibility of the ageless one knocking out the undefeated Pats and marching off into the sunset was a storyline few could pass up. But the Pack proved yesterday that they would be no match for New England if they had pulled out the win.
A Giants-Pats game for the league championship is the best game of the four available, for one simple reason: their game in week 17 was the Pats' (second) closest game of the year, and the Giants are on a roll unmatched by any team not from New England. New York goes in as a 14-point underdog, and I'm sure that's just how they like it; no one giving them a chance to win.
But, in the end, the game will be a close one, and likely one of the more entertaining games in the past 10 years. It would not surprise me if the Giants pull off the upset to end all upsets.
But only time will tell. My pick for the game comes next week.
Apparently, a Brett Favre-Tom Brady match-up, plus the slim possibility of the ageless one knocking out the undefeated Pats and marching off into the sunset was a storyline few could pass up. But the Pack proved yesterday that they would be no match for New England if they had pulled out the win.
A Giants-Pats game for the league championship is the best game of the four available, for one simple reason: their game in week 17 was the Pats' (second) closest game of the year, and the Giants are on a roll unmatched by any team not from New England. New York goes in as a 14-point underdog, and I'm sure that's just how they like it; no one giving them a chance to win.
But, in the end, the game will be a close one, and likely one of the more entertaining games in the past 10 years. It would not surprise me if the Giants pull off the upset to end all upsets.
But only time will tell. My pick for the game comes next week.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Conference Championship Sunday
Well, the time is finally here, the "Final Four" of the NFL playoffs. Like most people, I was looking forward to a Pats-Colts AFC final rematch, but I suppose the Chargers will have to do. It's not like anyone can stop the Cheaters this year anyway. In the NFC (read: loser conference) the upstart Packers (with their barely upright QB) host the surprising Giants in a battle of "really? those two teams? Okay.) Oh, well. On with the picks.
Chargers @ Patriots: The Chargers would need the miracle of miracles to beat the Pats in New England, and that's with Rivers, Tomlinson, and Gates healthy. But they aren't, so this one should be over early. New England 34, San Diego 17.
Giants @ Packers: Everyone seems to be salivating at the prospect of a Brady v Favre Super Bowl, but the Giants have won 9 straight road games, and seem to do everything right, at least in the last half of the season. This one will be close. New York 19, Green Bay 17.
Record: 5-3
Chargers @ Patriots: The Chargers would need the miracle of miracles to beat the Pats in New England, and that's with Rivers, Tomlinson, and Gates healthy. But they aren't, so this one should be over early. New England 34, San Diego 17.
Giants @ Packers: Everyone seems to be salivating at the prospect of a Brady v Favre Super Bowl, but the Giants have won 9 straight road games, and seem to do everything right, at least in the last half of the season. This one will be close. New York 19, Green Bay 17.
Record: 5-3
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Come On!!
The one thing I've learned watching the NFL playoffs for the last 15 years or so is on divisional weekend, the home teams never sweep. There is always at least one team from the wild card round that takes out a team that had a week off to prepare. After the Seahawks got trounced in snowy Green Bay (hello, stop the run Seattle!) and the Jaguars fell short to New England (unfortunately) I said to some of my colleagues at work today that San Diego or New York would win.
But I never thought both Indianapolis and Dallas would fall today.
In the bits of the games that I saw (the blessing and curse of working in an area with dozens of televisions), I noticed that the Colts had several chances to win the game, but a lack of execution from the Indianapolis receiving corps cost them their season. And in Dallas, I managed to get home to see the last 21 seconds of the game, only to see Romo and the 'Boys get stuffed on 2nd and 3rd down, followed by an end zone interception on 4th down.
The moral? Always take at least one road team on divisional weekend. And don't trust my Super Bowl picks.
The other thing we learned today? New England cannot be stopped now. And that's depressing.
But I never thought both Indianapolis and Dallas would fall today.
In the bits of the games that I saw (the blessing and curse of working in an area with dozens of televisions), I noticed that the Colts had several chances to win the game, but a lack of execution from the Indianapolis receiving corps cost them their season. And in Dallas, I managed to get home to see the last 21 seconds of the game, only to see Romo and the 'Boys get stuffed on 2nd and 3rd down, followed by an end zone interception on 4th down.
The moral? Always take at least one road team on divisional weekend. And don't trust my Super Bowl picks.
The other thing we learned today? New England cannot be stopped now. And that's depressing.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
A Perfect Start, Except I Didn't Cheat
Okay, 4-0 in the wild-card round, so I'm feeling pretty good. Here goes nothing...
Seahawks @ Packers: Everyone remembers their last playoff meeting, coincidentally enough the last time Favre and the Pack won a playoff game. Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck said, after winning the overtime coin toss, "we want the ball, and we're going to score." Of course, Hasselbeck threw a pick to Al Harris, who ran it back for the winning touchdown.
I'm not sold on the Pack this year, as they had a relatively easy schedule. Seattle looked good in the 4th quarter last week, but they still weren't great. This one will be close, but the Seahawks pull it out; I see Favre throwing a pick in the 4th to seal it for Seattle. Seattle 24, Green Bay 20.
Jaguars @ Patriots: I want so badly to pick the Jaguars. Going into the playoffs, they were the "team that no one wanted to play." But you can't blow an 18 point lead in Pittsburgh, barely squeak out a win, and expect to beat the Pats in Foxboro.
It pains me to type this. New England 34, Jacksonville 21.
Chargers @ Colts: You know, every time I read about Pro Bowl picks, All-Pro picks, MVP votes, I kept wondering: Isn't Peyton Manning still the reigning Super Bowl MVP and one of the best quarterbacks ever? Aren't the Colts the second-best team in the NFL this year? They prove it on Sunday. Indianapolis 35, San Diego 20.
Giants @ Cowboys: First things first, the "Jessica" factor is non-existent; the hot blond who can't sing (I know, I know, which one?) won't be at the game, so Tony Romo has no excuse if he fumbles the snap on the potential game-winning kick. Dallas hasn't played well since the Packers game, but it counts now. T.O. should play, and Eli's coming off two strong games in a row. He hasn't had 3 good games in a row yet. Dallas 31, New York 21.
There you go, Seattle @ Dallas and Indy @ NE. Here's hoping.
Seahawks @ Packers: Everyone remembers their last playoff meeting, coincidentally enough the last time Favre and the Pack won a playoff game. Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck said, after winning the overtime coin toss, "we want the ball, and we're going to score." Of course, Hasselbeck threw a pick to Al Harris, who ran it back for the winning touchdown.
I'm not sold on the Pack this year, as they had a relatively easy schedule. Seattle looked good in the 4th quarter last week, but they still weren't great. This one will be close, but the Seahawks pull it out; I see Favre throwing a pick in the 4th to seal it for Seattle. Seattle 24, Green Bay 20.
Jaguars @ Patriots: I want so badly to pick the Jaguars. Going into the playoffs, they were the "team that no one wanted to play." But you can't blow an 18 point lead in Pittsburgh, barely squeak out a win, and expect to beat the Pats in Foxboro.
It pains me to type this. New England 34, Jacksonville 21.
Chargers @ Colts: You know, every time I read about Pro Bowl picks, All-Pro picks, MVP votes, I kept wondering: Isn't Peyton Manning still the reigning Super Bowl MVP and one of the best quarterbacks ever? Aren't the Colts the second-best team in the NFL this year? They prove it on Sunday. Indianapolis 35, San Diego 20.
Giants @ Cowboys: First things first, the "Jessica" factor is non-existent; the hot blond who can't sing (I know, I know, which one?) won't be at the game, so Tony Romo has no excuse if he fumbles the snap on the potential game-winning kick. Dallas hasn't played well since the Packers game, but it counts now. T.O. should play, and Eli's coming off two strong games in a row. He hasn't had 3 good games in a row yet. Dallas 31, New York 21.
There you go, Seattle @ Dallas and Indy @ NE. Here's hoping.
Monday, January 7, 2008
The NHL's Backyard Rink
On New Year's Day, the NHL held its second regular season game outdoors, but the first to be played in the U.S., and the first to be broadcast nationally south of the border. In a dull game, Pittsburgh beat Buffalo 2-1 in a shootout, with wunderkid Sidney Crosby scoring the winning goal.
Frequent stoppages for snow removal aside, the game was a resounding success, as over 70,000 people braved the elements at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, and NBC enjoyed their highest hockey ratings by a country mile.
There is, of course, talk now about making this an annual event, because if it worked once and everyone watched, why wouldn't it work again? And again... and again...
The problem here is that repeating a regular season game outdoors once a year, or even once every two years, has the very real potential of becoming stagnant and boring, something no league, or network, wants to have happen.
I think the outdoor game is a great idea, and the lack of offense aside, the Pens-Sabres game was immensely entertaining. But there is a better solution than merely playing a game for 2 points outdoors. (Oh wait, it's the NHL. 3 points.)
Why not have the All-Star Game played outdoors? The outdoor idea is still new enough to attract the casual or curious viewer, and showcasing the league's best talent in a game that ultimately means nothing will appease the GM's and coaches who fear the outdoor game may cost their team just enough points to miss the playoffs in the pathetic NHL.
Also, the game could be made into a real event, with the skills competition, oldtimers game, and rookie game also being played on the largest backyard rink. The players who have played in either Buffalo or Edmonton have already said they loved the game and are more than willing to do it again.
The league is calling in for a miracle, and the phone was answered with the results of the Winter Classic. Now the league needs the message to get through to the right people, and an outdoor All-Star Game should do that.
Frequent stoppages for snow removal aside, the game was a resounding success, as over 70,000 people braved the elements at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, and NBC enjoyed their highest hockey ratings by a country mile.
There is, of course, talk now about making this an annual event, because if it worked once and everyone watched, why wouldn't it work again? And again... and again...
The problem here is that repeating a regular season game outdoors once a year, or even once every two years, has the very real potential of becoming stagnant and boring, something no league, or network, wants to have happen.
I think the outdoor game is a great idea, and the lack of offense aside, the Pens-Sabres game was immensely entertaining. But there is a better solution than merely playing a game for 2 points outdoors. (Oh wait, it's the NHL. 3 points.)
Why not have the All-Star Game played outdoors? The outdoor idea is still new enough to attract the casual or curious viewer, and showcasing the league's best talent in a game that ultimately means nothing will appease the GM's and coaches who fear the outdoor game may cost their team just enough points to miss the playoffs in the pathetic NHL.
Also, the game could be made into a real event, with the skills competition, oldtimers game, and rookie game also being played on the largest backyard rink. The players who have played in either Buffalo or Edmonton have already said they loved the game and are more than willing to do it again.
The league is calling in for a miracle, and the phone was answered with the results of the Winter Classic. Now the league needs the message to get through to the right people, and an outdoor All-Star Game should do that.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Wild Card Weekend
So, here we are, NFL playoff time. Looking back on my picks at the beginning of the season, I made some colossal mistakes, but I'm sticking with my pick of an Indianapolis/Dallas Super Bowl.
Anyway, the picks are back for the playoffs, but without the spreads:
Redskins @ Seahawks: It's hard to go against Washington right now; they've won 4 straight, and are clearly playing inspired football after the tragic death of safety Sean Taylor. But Seattle is the better team, and are even stronger at home. Seattle 27, Washington 14.
Jaguars @ Steelers: A month ago, everyone and their mother would have taken Pittsburgh as the team most likely to do damage in the playoffs, and possibly knock out the Patriots. But an injury to Willie Parker and a loss to both New England and Jacksonville later, and they're in trouble. Jacksonville 31, Pittsburgh 24.
Giants @ Bucs: Neither one of these teams seem to be consistent enough to move on past this weekend, but someone has to win. New York is a strong road team, and took New England to the brink last week. New York 21, Tampa Bay 13.
Titans @ Chargers: Their last meeting went to overtime, but San Diego is better than they were then, and the Titans' Vince Young is playing hurt. San Diego 24, Tennessee 10.
Anyway, the picks are back for the playoffs, but without the spreads:
Redskins @ Seahawks: It's hard to go against Washington right now; they've won 4 straight, and are clearly playing inspired football after the tragic death of safety Sean Taylor. But Seattle is the better team, and are even stronger at home. Seattle 27, Washington 14.
Jaguars @ Steelers: A month ago, everyone and their mother would have taken Pittsburgh as the team most likely to do damage in the playoffs, and possibly knock out the Patriots. But an injury to Willie Parker and a loss to both New England and Jacksonville later, and they're in trouble. Jacksonville 31, Pittsburgh 24.
Giants @ Bucs: Neither one of these teams seem to be consistent enough to move on past this weekend, but someone has to win. New York is a strong road team, and took New England to the brink last week. New York 21, Tampa Bay 13.
Titans @ Chargers: Their last meeting went to overtime, but San Diego is better than they were then, and the Titans' Vince Young is playing hurt. San Diego 24, Tennessee 10.
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