Well it's Super Bowl Weekend. That's usually gets me going , but I'm kinda only half interested this year. Which is weird, because it should be a good game, between two very good teams. But this game is being heavily overshadowed by the upcoming labor stoppage. I don't fall into the, better enjoy this one, there might not be football for awhile. Other then Preseason, regular season games are 8 months away. Thats a long time. They will get something done. But onto the game
We have two good quarterbacks, two great defenses. And effective running games. These are what I called the prototype built Football teams in the 21st century. I like the Packers. I think they have more weapons then the Steelers. Plus the injuries to the Steelers O line I think will hurt them. Ben can absorb some hits, but they may add up and just wear him down by the 4th Quarter.
So I'm going with the Packers 24-20.
So will the lombardi trophy be coming to WNY? Nope? Not like the Stanley Cup. Thats too bad. Starks should enjoy himself before Ryan Grant comes back next year.
Well its nice to see the Super Bowl be nice and close and come down to the last play, let it be a fumble or a incomplete pass. I don't think it really mattered. But they should at least really reviewed it. Not the old we did it upstairs and said it was ok. That is not Ok.
But it had that up and down feel, not a whole lot of punts. A unbelievable interception return. That's something you'll see come Super Bowl 100 in the highlight packages. But anyone that says this game was boring not entertaining, doesn't like football. It had drama through out the second half. Though their was a slight lull in the late 3rd. To be fair I was washing dishes, so that could be the reason. Anyway. The 4th was great. This was better then last years game, which was a dull fest for 3 quarters, till some late trading touchdowns. This had challenges and tough calls, hits, and great plays. The game made up for the lack of great commercials. Which is actually a nice difference. Plus Bruce was pretty good, even with the crotch in the camera slide. The Boss does what he wants.
But what comes from last nights game. What does it mean?
That no matter how many times I see him and he looks like in full panic mode, Roethlisberger always finds someone. The safely is a good example, just fired and completed a 20 yard pass. Roethlisberger is my Tom Brady from several years ago. A guy that benefited from a great team around him, that was my perception, and it was wrong. Tom Brady is obviously one of the greats. And Ben maybe reaching that level, ruining another perception. He gets sacked too much, but still makes the play when it needs to be made. And last night was the perfect example. Really the Steelers offense moved the ball somewhat. The lack of running game and Hines Ward being hurt, slowed them down. So it rested on Ben. And when they needed him the most, he found Holmes, and won the game.
Kurt Warner is one of the great Quarterbacks of the late 90's to Now. Without him the Cardinals are a 7-9 football team at best. Their defense is ok, they have no running game. But with Warner their WR's are studs. Matt Leinert looks to be turning into the new Aaron Rodgers. Just waiting for the old man to go away to get his turn. Of course he had his shot and blew it. Now he waits and sits. Because there is no way you take out Warner. I'm not sure what next year holds for Arizona. If Kurt goes back to Giants era Kurt, they are done and will miss the playoffs. But if its "Rams Greatest show on Turf Warner" then they will win the West again, and be dangerous in the playoffs.
I personally relaxed with my Fiancee and father. We had a little party. My gorgeous fiancee made great food, and had everything ready to go by gametime. The TV we got on Black Friday made the game look fantastic. HD was created for Football in my opinion, nothing looks better on a 52 inch screen like the NFL. Well the Dark Knight was pretty good. But Football is something else. It was a great night. My fiancee really wanted the Cardinals to win, mainly because she likes Kurt Warner, but who doesn't. I honestly was fine who won. I thought the Steelers would win, but was pretty excited when Fitzy, burst through the seem for the touchdown. A good game is what I wanted and a good game is what I got.
But hey lets look at some stats. Courtesy of NFL.Com
Roethlisberger 21 for 30 256 yards, 1 td and 1 int (not his fault)
Warner 31 for 43 377 Yards 3 tds and 1 int(so 4 td passes)
The quarterbacks were the story here. The running backs were pretty much non existent. Both teams were ready to stop the run, and make the teams pass. Which almost did in both teams.
Parker 19 rushes for 53 yards.
James 9 rushes for 33 yards.
Those are bad numbers, and I thought you could run on Arizona? I knew you don't run on the Steelers, because its pointless, and Arizona wasn't dumb enough to stick to the run, that and they got down early. Maybe the reason they almost won.
Holmes 9 Catches for 131 yards 1td.
Fitzgerald 7 catches for 127 yards 2 tds Boldin 8 catches for 84 yards Breaston 6 catches 71 yards
Wow, 3 recievers can get open and have good games. How is this done? Someone email Turk Schonert. Or maybe its the Quarterback, who can throw the ball and pick out recievers. But seriously the Cards had 3 recievers with 1000 yard seasons. 3! The Bills are lucky to get one every year. Imagine how good they would be if they had 3 guys. Wait they could be Super Bowl good.
James Harrison and Darnell Dockett
The Co defensive MVP's in my book. Both were forces on their side of the Ball. Harrison with the huge pick and td. Dockett with 2 sacks and 6 tackles. Of course Harrison had a lapse of judgement, when he tried to maim Francisco on a Punt, but whatever, the penalty didn't hurt. I think he can be forgiven for that transgression.
Troy Polamalu was pretty invisible, as was Adrian Wilson, though he led the team in tackles. Made solid tackles when they had to. Polamalu with a huge whiff on James early on. But both seem to be playing back to prevent big play. Of course Troy was nowhere to be found when Fitzgerald streaked for the go ahead score in the 4th quarter. Safetys can either be huge or disappear, because of the defensive game plan. Thats why you need dominant players up front. (a subtle hint to Russ Brandon)
But enough of game recaps, you probably wonder what my favorite commercial was? (ducking thrown objects) Well the whole lineup was pretty sorry, but of course there were a few favorites. Then that flower commercial, where if any guy laughed, their wife probably hasn't talked to them yet. But my personal favorite was the careerbuilder one. Sorry but Koala punching is kinda funny, especially when they have glasses and a cup of coffee.
Hey Dummy
Anyway, with the NFL Europe deep sixed and no Arena league, its a long stretch without real football.
So let the free agency and draft rumors commence!!!!!
The conference championships are over. Now we head into two weeks of hype, the Cardinal coaches getting revenge on the Steelers. Boldin, is he upset and will he play? Is there a player near retirement that is from Tampa story? Because I love the Bettis from Detroit stories, they didn't overkill that. Kurt Warner looking for glory. The coming out of Larry Fitzgerald. Someone saying something stupid that will turn into billboard material. And of course Mike Tomlin getting into an argument with Dr House.
Some may say its not a great matchup. But when is the Superbowl ever the great Matchup? Last year was good, but seriously it was a boring snoozefest for 3 quarters, till people decided to play. This one should at least have some points scored. The Steelers aren't facing a rookie QB, who is average at best. Seriously, they try to promote Flacco, when he threw 4 straight completions. 4! You should do that one 1 drive a game at least. Flacco is terrible. His defense keeps it competitive and their strategy to get pass interference calls to get touchdowns is a joke. The Ravens are unwatchable. Yesterday it was punt after punt, who wants to see that? At least Kurt Warner will spice things up by throwing a pick or two and then hitting Larry Fitzgerald for a amazing touchdown.
But the next two weeks is also a realization that Football is over. That's always sad, and now we get that free agency period, followed by the draft, OTA's then finally in late July we get training camp. LATE JULY! I can't even comprehend that far ahead. Football has just a long offseason and with how the Bills ended, I wish they could get back on the horse in March and start this thing. But I guess anticipation makes things greater, and that's why there is 2 weeks till the Super Bowl.
Before I get to my first prediction for the "Big" Game. Lets watch Willis McGahee go silently into that good night.
Oh man. I'm not the biggest of Willis supporters, but whooo, he got lit up. The Super Vision replay is the best at the end. He looked like a crash test dummy. He's gonna be ok. But oh man, he's feeling that hit till the Super Bowl.
Well the Super Bowl was last night and I think I should probably mention a little about it.
So going into the game I was perfectly prepared for another Patriot Victory. I accepted it and was ok with it. So I was just interested if the commercials were ok, they weren't. The girlfriend and I hung out at my place since I have the better tv and we could just relax eat some food and watch the Patriots roll into dynasty history and get to watch Junior Seau and Rodney Harrison celebrate (gagging). But as the game went on, it stayed close and I was like, mmm Brady isn't very Brady like and is kinda average today. The Giants hit him and hit him and it was fantastic. I'm guessing he isn't moving around much today and feels like crap.
The girlfriend was all about rooting for the Giants, which is fun, because I hate the Patriots, and despise their business practice. I wouldn't be surprised if they cut some veterans today. Speaking of which Mike Vrabel was very invisible yesterday, enjoy Hawaii Mike. But the 4th quarter came about and the Giants scored a Td to go ahead, but I knew the Patriots weren't done, they never are. The Girlfriend was like stop it, but I've seen it too many times, but of course Tom Brady engineered the go ahead drive, where the Giants CB falls down. I'm like well plenty of time left, oh god goddamn patriots did it again, I hate them so much.
The Girlfriend, was telepathically sending signals to Eli Manning to pass the ball well. I loved the sentiment and hoped to God it worked. They moved the ball made some plays. I was like, mmm maybe this might happen. Then this play happened
Thats one of those, I don't believe what I just saw. One of the best plays I ever seen. Thats why the Patriots didn't win. Several guys had the chance to make a play and NONE of them did.
But I was like ok, still gotta score, huge first down pick up by Steve Smith on the sideline. A perfect call and play. I didn't know Kevin Gilbride had that in him. Then this play, where I go holy shit, holy shit holy shit. They just scored. What happened?
The girlfriend was way more excited then I was, I was in disbelief. Really was. I didn't believe what I saw. Eli Manning engineered a 2 minute drive to win a game in the Super Bowl! I love how excited those guys are with Eli.
Well the game wasn't that great, the 4th quarter was, the commercials kinda blew. But it was a good day, since me the girlfriend had a great day of hanging out and watching football. Now thats a good day.
I can't believe the Giants are in the Super Bowl. Really I can't I've watched this team and they never impress. Well they did against the Bills, but who doesn't impress against the Bills? But I enjoy that back and forth of the last game, one of those last possession wins it types deals. Man Mr. Tynes got a lot of opportunities to save himself. I don't care about the bad snap, he shanked that one, that one is on him. Lucky he made the one in OT, or he wouldn't make it back to NY. But you knew once the Patriots made it in, they were happy if NY or the Packers made it in. You get all the NY vs Boston stories or Brady vs Favre. Just makes the media drool at the easy stories.
Unfortunately we get two weeks of hype over this game which will neither be good or close. I don't care they played close a couple weeks ago. The second time you play Bill Belichick he owns you. Oh man theres another storyline. Lets look at all the storylines we will see.
Patriots play for perfection Belichick and the Giants (bad super bowl 25 memories there) Brady vs (other) Manning Yankees Vs Red Sox type talk Junior Seau talk, ugh More dynasty talk More hype then I need to pay attention to and I'll ignore it till Super Sunday.
