NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE The week of lavish South Florida partying and hob-nobbing is over. In what has become the most anticlimactic moment of Super Bowl Week, this game will finally get played between the Colts and Bears. To me, this whole week has become way too overexposed in oh so many ways. We hear so much more about what’s going on BEFORE the game, it seems the game itself is an afterthought. Everyone will tell you they went to the Playboy, Maxim, or Penthouse parties and hung out with P.Diddy and Snoop Dogg. Thousands of people were in South Florida with no game tickets, yet spent thousands of dollars.
And of course, on Sunday, people are more interested in having a party all day, then talk about the commercials that are going to be aired while the game is played. Does anyone CARE about who wins anymore?
Okay. Guess I should get serious… These two teams have had roller-coaster rides in arriving in Miami to play this game. Both played very well throughout the first half of the season, only to stumble a little in the second half of their respective schedules. That led to a lot of media and fans wondering if either team was going to do anything when the playoffs started.
Yet here they are, as they were able to assemble the troops and do what it took to pull out wins. The biggest concern on the Bears side has been the play of Rex Grossman. The problem has been his inconsistent play in all situations. In some games, Rex has been fabulous, throwing the ball with pinpoint accuracy and taking care of business. Then you’ll see times when the guy seems to enjoy throwing passes to the opposing squad. That’s not good, my friends, and that STILL is the concern in everyone’s minds.
I hear people saying that if Grossman plays a ‘decent’ game and avoids turnovers, then the Bears have a very good shot at winning this thing. I think that’s a fair statement. But he still needs to make big plays, which he is capable of.
The Colts had a great start to their season as well, then started giving up yards on defense, primarily with a lack of stopping the run, which caused them to lose a game or two. Manning was starting to throw interceptions as well. Many were thinking it would be their death knell.
But the Colts were able to pull together and shut down the Chiefs, Ravens, and Patriots in making it to Miami. In fact, their defense has become a strength, more than anything else. Of course, it helps when they can be some strong and methodical in marching down the field all the time to score when they want and need to. Speaking of Defense, that certainly has been the strength of Chicago. Their defense has done a fabulous job of shutting down opposing teams. They also do a great job of forcing turnovers, which to me will be THE KEY to this contest. If the Bears defense can put pressure on Peyton Manning and maybe get a pick or two, then they have a decent shot at winning this game.
We know the Colts are favored to win this. Vegas has them as a seven-point favorite. There’s no question the AFC has been the stronger, more dominant Conference in the NFL, giving the line even more credence. Again, I think turnovers will be THE KEY to this game. I think it can and will be a close contest. If I were wagering, I would take the Bears, simply because seven points is too many to give up in this one. Both teams are too good. I think the Colts still will win, but not by seven. Hope you enjoy the game!
LAST WORD Last weekend we saw Eldrick and Roger Federer win their respective events, which certainly was not a surprise. In winning his third Australian Open, Federer did not lose a set in any of his matches, which hadn’t been done since the mid-1970’s. Tiger won his seventh consecutive PGA Tour event, which certainly is a rarity in these times of highly competitive tournaments.
While we have heard of many other players and teams dominate their respective sports through history, what these two individuals are doing is simply amazing, in my mind. And to do it as INDIVIDUALS stand out that much more. There’s a huge difference between playing on a field with others on your side surrounding you, as opposed to being out alone with essentially no one to count on, except yourself.
Tom Weppel talks trash on Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. on WIOJ-AM 1010, and on SportsAvengers.com 24/7.
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