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Thursday, December 24, 2009
How the Patriots get to the Super Bowl
The more I think about it, the more I like New England's chances in the playoffs. But they're only 9-5, and they seemingly can't win a playoff game on the road, you say. True. Yet here's why I like the Pats going forward.
This week's game against the Jags is a must-win. Period. This week is the Super Bowl. Why? Because that'll secure a playoff berth, and Tom Brady - and any other players who are dinged up - can get a rest in Week 17.
New England would get a first-round home game against one of the many AFC teams in the mix for the two wild card spots. Personally, I'd like to see Denver, only because you know Josh McDaniels doesn't want to give Belichick another shot (especially at home).
Assuming the Patriots advance (and fans should be confident, considering the Patriots are perfect at home this year), they'd get Indianapolis on the road in the conference semifinals. OK, less confidence here, but clearly New England can hang with the Colts. And are you going to tell me there isn't going to be even a little extra motivation for that month's worth of 4th-and-2 talk?
Should Brady and company advance, waiting likely will be the Chargers, New England's biggest adversary this decade. Remember Troy Brown stripping the ball and recovering the fumble after Brady's interception? Remember sealing the Super Bowl berth with a 20-12 victory in the 2007 season?
Look, these are probably long shots, but I'm just trying to point out that they're not as long as some may think. And remember my Super Bowl pick at the beginning of the season.
New England 42, Minnesota 20.
This week's game against the Jags is a must-win. Period. This week is the Super Bowl. Why? Because that'll secure a playoff berth, and Tom Brady - and any other players who are dinged up - can get a rest in Week 17.
New England would get a first-round home game against one of the many AFC teams in the mix for the two wild card spots. Personally, I'd like to see Denver, only because you know Josh McDaniels doesn't want to give Belichick another shot (especially at home).
Assuming the Patriots advance (and fans should be confident, considering the Patriots are perfect at home this year), they'd get Indianapolis on the road in the conference semifinals. OK, less confidence here, but clearly New England can hang with the Colts. And are you going to tell me there isn't going to be even a little extra motivation for that month's worth of 4th-and-2 talk?
Should Brady and company advance, waiting likely will be the Chargers, New England's biggest adversary this decade. Remember Troy Brown stripping the ball and recovering the fumble after Brady's interception? Remember sealing the Super Bowl berth with a 20-12 victory in the 2007 season?
Look, these are probably long shots, but I'm just trying to point out that they're not as long as some may think. And remember my Super Bowl pick at the beginning of the season.
New England 42, Minnesota 20.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
City of Brotherly hate
The word fan stems from the word fanatical, and these days, people are taking that to the extreme. This video is from Sunday's game between host Philadelphia at the San Francisco 49ers. As you can see, the rowdy Eagles fans (who've been known to throw snowballs at Santa Claus) pelt 49ers fans unmercifully until they are escorted away from security (those Paul Blart types).
Keep in mind, the Eagles won the game in a rout. What the hell is wrong with people? What gives them the right do this? Is this not assault? I know they're just snowballs, but fans have to be responsible for their actions. If I'm not mistaken, it was a thrown object that started the brawl at the Palace five years ago.
If I were the fans in the video, I would write to Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and president Joe Banner and demand a public apology for the actions of these idiotic fans. I would insist security be beefed up to handle these kinds of situations, and fans seen acting in a rowdy manner be thrown out and no longer admitted. I would call for a one-strike-and-you're-out rule.
I'm going to the Patriots game this Sunday (as a fan, not as a reporter) and I expect to cheer on the Pats, maybe throw some verbal jabs at the Jaguars, but what I won't to do is chuck objects at Jacksonville fans. They have just as much right to be there as you and I.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Randy responds ...
Well, sort of.
The New England Patriots receiver, who was accused all week of "dogging it" against the Panthers last week (after a win, no less), let his play do the talking on Sunday against the Bills. He caught five passes for 70 yards and a touchdown.
After the game, Moss addressed the media. And that's an understatement.
"Ya'lls had all two weeks to do your talkin', not let me do mine," Moss told reporters. "You know it's been really a tough couple of weeks, but you move on, you know. That's the nature of the game. So I'm happy that we got this victory.
"I appreciate all of the support from my true fans, the players, the coaches, my family and loved ones," he continued. "I've been in this league 12 years and I've been through a lot.
"These shoulders I have on my body, you can put the Earth on it. So just to let you know, I bounce back."
Then, without taking questions, he left the podium.
You know what? Good for him. I would have done the same. I couldn't believe the "dogging it" talk was still being talked about on Saturday morning. Maybe it was a slow week, or maybe the media just sometimes goes too far.
If the latter is the case, I hope they get on Wes Welker, who caught just four passes for 40 yards and had a few drops, much like Moss the week before. But you know that won't be the case. Welker is the media's little darling, while Moss simply marches to the beat of his own drummer. And that doesn't sit well with the media.
So they write about him negatively. No wonder he rarely talks to reporters.
The New England Patriots receiver, who was accused all week of "dogging it" against the Panthers last week (after a win, no less), let his play do the talking on Sunday against the Bills. He caught five passes for 70 yards and a touchdown.
After the game, Moss addressed the media. And that's an understatement.
"Ya'lls had all two weeks to do your talkin', not let me do mine," Moss told reporters. "You know it's been really a tough couple of weeks, but you move on, you know. That's the nature of the game. So I'm happy that we got this victory.
"I appreciate all of the support from my true fans, the players, the coaches, my family and loved ones," he continued. "I've been in this league 12 years and I've been through a lot.
"These shoulders I have on my body, you can put the Earth on it. So just to let you know, I bounce back."
Then, without taking questions, he left the podium.
You know what? Good for him. I would have done the same. I couldn't believe the "dogging it" talk was still being talked about on Saturday morning. Maybe it was a slow week, or maybe the media just sometimes goes too far.
If the latter is the case, I hope they get on Wes Welker, who caught just four passes for 40 yards and had a few drops, much like Moss the week before. But you know that won't be the case. Welker is the media's little darling, while Moss simply marches to the beat of his own drummer. And that doesn't sit well with the media.
So they write about him negatively. No wonder he rarely talks to reporters.
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