I'm not a New Yorker and I'm not a Bostonian. I've never been to either place. With that being said, here's my unbiased prediction on how the Super Bowl will pan out.
I think this game would be much closer if it weren't for the dreaded Super Bowl Bye Week. I'd love to watch a SB where teams didn't have two weeks to prepare for one another.
Since the outcomes of the previous Sunday, all I've heard is how the Patriots will do this and the Patriots will do that. And while every Silver & Black drop of blood of me hates to say this, they ARE a great team. But are they great enough to beat the Giants on the first Sunday in February? (Sounds like it's Easter, huh?........and, BTW, no SB should ever be played in February)
The Patriots breezed through the playoffs with their "B" game. They beat a Jacksonville team with a great rushing tandem, but a QB and WRs that left a lot to be desired. They looked vulnerable at times (Patriots' fans must admit) yet managed to win by 11.
In the AFC Championship game, they beat a Chargers' team that was without the league's best running back, the league's best TE (ok, he played, but y'all know he was hurtin') and an injured QB. I still can't believe a 100% Volek isn't better than a 70% Rivers, but I digress. All that said with Brady's three picks and the Pats still won by 9.
So here we go, Super Bowl XXLII. The Giants don't have the talent when you match 'em up. But they have a chance. And I'm not basing this on Week 17. Their front line is enough to give Brady headaches. Their secondary, despite being beat up, is enough to hang with Moss, Welker, Gaffney, Stallworth and the boys. On offense, let's forget about Peyton Jr. Eli aside, Jacobs and Bradshaw have enough fire power to tire out the Pat's defense. Burress & Toomer can keep the defense honest if Coughlin allows it.
It all boils down to coaching. We all know Belichick is a genius (and a cheater). His two weeks to prepare won't change our opinion of what we think he'll do. IT'S ALL ON COUGHLIN AND HIS STAFF. If they can prescribe an offensive game plan that mixes enough Jacobs, Bradshaw, Burress, and Toomer the Giants will win.
Both teams will have the same amount of turnovers (2) and both kickers will not miss in Arizona. When it all boils down, New York's special teams will be the difference. Their special teams' won't score, but it will be the difference.
FINAL SCORE: New York Giants 33 New England Patriots 27.
Is there anything we can do as fans to fix this travesty? After 20 straight weeks of NFL football that counts, we're left with the most miserable week in sports. We have to pretend that we care about NBA basketball in January. We have to pretend we care about early conference match ups in college basketball. And more importantly, we have to pretend we really need that extra week to get fired up for the Super Bowl.
The Super Bowl Bye Week is a train wreck. The momentum gained by the New York Giants after defeating the Packers Sunday has hit a speed bump as players, fans, and media alike continually remind themselves they've still got TEN MORE DAYS before kick-off.
I'm being a little lazy in my research right now, but does the NFL really have a valid excuse for postponing this pinnacle of sport for an additional week? I'm looking long and hard for anything that might suggest this is a good idea. In fact, I'd like to take this opportunity to make this a special "Bye Week" interactive blog. In your best Letterman-Top-10 style, please list your reasons why this is a good idea.
We knew it would be tough. We knew it'd be next to impossible. Going 16-0 in the regular season was something NOBODY ever accomplished. The Colts had the chance, then blew it at home. AT HOME! Against a team that might not make the playoffs!
I know, I know, you'll say the Chargers are a good team.
I know, I know, you'll say the Colts had nothing to play for.
Guess what? It happened. Against the Chargers! Yes, they're a good team and yes they'll probably miss the playoffs. But don't kid yourself, the Colts wanted that record. End of story.
Marty and his boys brought in a team desparate for a win to keep playoff hopes alive. Marty brought in a team with an injured Mega-Star in Tomlinson. And Marty walked away with a "W".
Lacking intensity until the middle of the third quarter, the Colts saw stardom smack them upside the head. The 'Bolts came ready to play. The 'Bolts wanted it more. The 'Bolts laid the ground work for all other Indy opponents to follow.
What we witnessed Sunday was the parody of the NFL. San Diego had no business winning that game. The Colts had no business losing that game, especially at home. Guess who loved the Colts loss the most? You guessed it, the New England Patriots. The Pats could very well be the Colts first playoff game in the 2005 season. Despite cleaning the Pats clock on that Monday night in Foxboro, Indy should be worried. Facing the defending Super Bowl champs AT HOME after that embarassing defeat to the Chargers is like bringing a turkey to a Christmas buffet dinner. It's been done. They'll do it again.
Tony Dungy and his crew better right the ship. If they don't, it will be another playoff loss to New England and an off-season of "coulda, woulda, shoulda."
