Well, it finally happened. The so-called experts have been predicting a Patriots-Eagles Super Bowl for three straight years, and now they will finally get some vindication. As for me, this matchup does not excite. As a Giants fan living in New England, I cannot imagine a worse situation.
I never thought I'd say this, but I think I'm going to be rooting for the Eagles next Sunday. As much as I hate them, they've still never won a Super Bowl, and as a Red Sox fan, I can empathize with the team's playoff meltdowns of the last three seasons.
Besides the hometown fans, nobody likes a dynasty. I hated the Bulls in their prime. Now I can appreciate them. I hated the Cowboys of the mid-90's. Now I can appreciate them.
Maybe someday I'll appreciate the Patriots, but I'm sick to death of them right now. I can't imagine anything I'd rather watch less than Tedy Bruschi raising his team's third Lombardi trophy in four years, the whole time still yelling about how his team gets no respect.
Well Tedy, I'll show you some respect, since you're feeling so unappreciated. I'll say that the Eagles have a zero-percent chance of winning the Super Bowl. Maybe five-percent, if Terrell Owens is able to play.
I don't say this because I think the Eagles match up poorly with New England. In fact, I think this game is a great matchup for Philly. The team's secondary should be able to shut down the Patriots' receivers and they should be able to put pressure on Tom Brady with its pass rush.
However, I just don't see an Eagles victory under any circumstances, short of Brady or Corey Dillon going down with injuries. After watching the Steelers fulfill their role as Clubber Lang to New England's Rocky Balboa, I can't see the Patriots losing to anybody.
Furthermore, I don't want to hear anymore about a lack of respect for New England. Everybody respects the Patriots. They're the defending Super Bowl champs, and they finished the season 14-2.
However, it doesn't seem illogical of people to predict that the Colts, who have the most prolific passing attack in the NFL today, if not of all time, might pose problems for a team that is missing Ty Law, Tyrone Poole, Richard Seymour (on the pass rush), and that has Troy Brown taking snaps at cornerback.
It's not disrespect, but a logical assessment of the matchups. It's not disrespectful to think that a team like Pittsburgh, which physically dominated New England during the regular season on its way to finishing 15-1, might be able to do it again at home in the playoffs.
This stuff all makes sense. However, this Patriots team has defied logic ever since its legendary Super Bowl run of the 2001-2002 season. I may not like the Patriots, but I certainly respect them.
For the Colts, it will be another long off-season spent thinking about a wasted season filled with worthless accomplishments and trying to figure out a way to beat the Patriots. I truly believe that Peyton Manning is going to bring this team a world championship before it's all said and done. If the Colts can ever get the top seed in the AFC, thus also earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, I think the Colts will be able to take it all the way.
I'm not saying that I think Peyton Manning is a winner. Winners don't need a certain set of circumstances to succeed; they find a way no matter what. Clearly, the Colts can't win a playoff game in Foxboro.
But, let's be serious. I don't think that any team could beat New England in Foxboro. Not the Colts, nor the Steelers, nor the undefeated Miami Dolphins of the 70's, nor the '93 Dallas Cowboys, no one. If the Colts are ever going to get over that hump, it's going to have to be in Indy, in the dome, on the artificial surface. Plus, don't just blame Peyton Manning for this. The Colts' defense is soft.
If the Eagles are going to have any shot in this game, they're going to need Terrell Owens to play, and their defense is going to have to find a way to rattle Tom Brady. This is an outstanding defense that found ways to shut down the explosive Minnesota Vikings offense, and found a way to contain Michael Vick.
The Eagles defense is phenomenal. Its secondary is the best in football, its linebackers have been playing well, and its defensive line is loaded with talent. Jevon Kearse has proven himself to be one of the off-season's most valuable acquisitions. If the Eagles have any shot in the Super Bowl, its defense will have to create some turnovers, and keep the Patriots offense from establishing any sort of rhythm. Can they? Absolutely. Will they? I wouldn't bet on it.
Finally, was anybody besides Joe Buck really offended by the Randy Moss mooning incident? Was this really a big deal at all? Frankly, I think it was blown way out of proportion. The Vikings are looking to trade Moss, who has recently been the center of a great deal of controversy. I think that he would be a valuable addition to any team. I know he's had problems, but he can do things that no one else can. Teams have to account for him every time he steps on the field. He missed five games this year (officially he only missed three, but he started two, and was then taken out after the first series), and he still scored 13 touchdowns.
Talent shouldn't outweigh character, but it does in the rarest of cases. This is one of those cases. I'm not saying he's a good guy. I'm not saying he's a good role model or teammate. I'm just saying, if I was a general manager, I'd feel much more comfortable having him play for me than against me.