Woah woah there. Lets not kid ourselves, the Patriots defense is NOT good. Not even CLOSE to good. In fact, their defense is fucking awful. The reason they were able to destroy the Broncos the way they did defensively was simple: The Broncos are built around running the ball and play-action passing. They establish a running game, and when everyone is incredibly worried about Tebow or McGahee and they stack the box, they'll throw a play-action pass and pray Tebow can get it there (quite literally, actually). When the Patriots went up by so much, they forced Denver to abandon their running game, or at the very least change their extremely conservative play calling, and rely on the pass. With a QB that completes about 40% of his passes on a good day against a bad defense, of course the Broncos couldn't do shit once they had to start throwing the ball. Long story short: Tom Brady had as much to do with Tebow and the Bronco's offense failing as the Patriots defense did. If that was a close game, and Brady doesn't jump his team out to a huge lead, and the Broncos could've relied on the run more, I suspect the Bronco offense would've had a better game. Now, all of that said, the Patriots have to be the favorite to get out of the AFC. I can't imagine the Texans winning the AFC at all. Baltimore might give the Pats a game (more than the Texans would), but I think it will be the Pats. As for the NFC, I disagree that whomever wins the Giants/Packers game will win the Superbowl. I don't even necessarily think they'll go to the Superbowl. Everyone is completely discounting the 49ers, but I'm not. They're going to give the Packers a run for their money, and if they play the Giants I think the 49ers would be favorites and would likely win. Either way, I'd feel good about a Packers/Pats or a 49ers/Pats Superbowl, and I think they'd be good games. That 49er defense against the Patriots offense would be a great matchup, while a Packers/Pats Superbowl would be a shootout of epic proportions. For sheer entertainment value, a Packers/Pats Superbowl would be awesome.
This is precisely what happened. With the way the Broncos are set up now, on both sides of the ball, they simply don't have the firepower to keep up in high-scoring affairs. Most of it, obviously, steams from Tebow's inability to throw the ball effectively. He has his moments, but a majority of his throws (even on the simplest of slant/curl routes) have the consistency of Eli Manning circa 2007. Having said that, last night was just another in a series of growing pains. He's still a second-year QB with a first-year coach. I'm looking forward to seeing Tebow get a full offseason - something he didn't have last year - to further his game along, especially now that he has nearly a full season of experience as a starter under his belt. Call it hopeless optimism, but I'm expecting to see a markedly improved Tim Tebow in September. His decision-making and ability to read defenses improved noticeably over the last 3 months.
No shit. It's mind bottling. And what the fuck's up with all these god damned dropped balls? How many yards did Oakland give up with penalties vs GB giving up easy yards on dropped passes? It's gotta be close.
The way that half ended - I'm sitting here calm because I know if I make any rapid movements something will get thrown. This is the worst the packers have played all year, including against Kansas City. Anyone care to guess how many skills position players dropped passes and/or fumbled? They gave it to Bradshaw trying to just end the half, and then 'holy shit, he got 23 yards and got out bounds, might as well heave it now'. This is just sad. I know we won the super bowl last year, but after a season like this one and done is going to sting. Edit: And what the fuck was McCarthy doing on that onside kick? I can only assume Coughlin has his name tattooed on McCarthy's ass to signify ownership. Edit 2: Another fumble? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?
Of those dropped passes I'd say 2/3rds were less than ideal or outright poor passes, so I'd ask what's up with Rodgers? His throws have been off all day. That said, if the Giants keep playing not to lose like they have all second half they're going to give this game away.
That's game. I know the giants fans are going to happy about how their team played, as well as they should be, but the packers sure did give them a lot of help today.
It's funny how the Giants now get mad when someone calls them out on faking injuries. Settle down Grant, you brought this on yourselves. Man, I'm really really hoping for a GB comeback. Somehow, someway. I can't stand it when every shithead NY transplant starts crowing about how awesome NY is and how much they love it there. Really? THEN MOVE BACK ASSHOLES.
*Blatantly ignores all truth about the Patriots defense being absolute shit, regardless of all the so-called "facts" and "stats" available.* If it is Giants Patriots in the Superbowl I will have to cancel my party, wear all black and watch that game in solitude for the safety of others. Wow, the Packers are shitting this game away, another interception in garbage time? I like the storyline of the 49ers Patriots Superbowl. Alex Smith, the 1st round pick everyone wanted to call a bust even though he's had 7 different OCs and zero consistency VS Tom Brady, the 6th round draft pick who still hasn't gotten over the fact he was picked so late and has more rings than any other active 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th round QB.
Personally, I love the storyline of an all Harbaugh Superbowl. 49ers/Ravens would be excellent. The rematch between the Giants and Pats, with the Giants as huge underdogs again, would also be a good one.
For those who care, the weatherman is predicting 60 degrees for next Sunday in Foxboro for that Pats-Ravens. Yes, you heard that right: 60 degrees. Today, it was 10. Right now, it's 3. I guess weather won't be a factor.
I'm not sure where the fuck the Packers were Sunday but they weren't on that field. That is by far the worst I've seen them play since last year. They looked like a high school team for fuck sake. HOW MANY DROPS? WTF WAS THAT ONSIDE KICK ABOUT? WHY THE FUCKFUCK DID YOU CALL THAT TIMEOUT? Jesus Christ. Terrible. I don't even know what to say about the pathetic display they put on on Sunday. The bottom line is, playing like that they didn't deserve a win. The sad thing is that even though NY smashed them and the better team that day won, the better team during the season lost. I really hope for a good SB but can't help think since they lost it will be somewhat lackluster. All of that said I hope the Niners take the whole thing.
I'd love to see Eli win another Super Bowl, just to see the shitstorm that's sure to follow, questioning who the better Manning brother is. Having said that, I'm pulling for the Pats. And if Brady ends up beating his childhood team en route to ring #4, all the better.
I can't pull for the Patriots. I just can't. Yes, I respect Brady, but that dynasty just needs to go away. Unfortunately, until Brady retires, they're pretty much guaranteed to be a playoff team every year. Even after Brady retires, I don't think the Patriots organization is as dumb as the Colts were. In other words, they'll have a backup plan. Expect the Pats to spend a lot of time building up their defense over the next three years in preparation for Brady's eventual retirement. Once Brady is gone, they'll go back to being a defensive-minded team while they develop a new QB. The team I want to see win at this point is the 49ers. They've spent the vast majority of the season being exceptionally under-the-radar. They're not a flashy team (their QB is Alex Smith, for fuck sake), they're just a smash-mouth defensive team. I want to see Harbaugh v. Harbaugh in the Superbowl. Too much fun to that story.
This Grantland article encapsulates how a lot of New England fans feel about Belichick & Co. It's not that we don't know he's a dick. Of course he's a dick. But it's become so ridiculous that he's become the sort of evil genius caricature that only exists in comic books, and this is a source of endless fascination/amusement. "Why am I punting on 3rd down, up by 35? BECAUSE FUCK YOU, THAT'S WHY!"
Why does that dynasty need to go away? Why is it "unfortunate" that they'll be good while they still have arguably the greatest QB in NFL history? Are you bored of the same team being a yearly SB contender, or what? If you simply Belichick, then I sort of get it. Lots of people do. I must be one of the few non-Patriots fans who thinks Belichick is one of the best things to ever happen to the NFL. People interpret him running up the score as being a bad thing, which is the stupidest fucking thing I've heard in sports: "It's important to WIN, just as long as you don't win by TOO MUCH!" Funny how that shit doesn't apply to major college programs when they orchestrate their cupcake non-conference schedules. Maybe he just wanted to use the opportunity to let Brady punt, just for the hell it. It's not like we see something like that often. Not to mention, it was one hell of a punt.