Football...

Here we are near the end of the football season...this means two things. Sundays will soon be free for me to do whatever I want and Spring is coming.
I had some fun yesterday...yes we beat the Jags, which isn't a huge task, but we are starting to look like a team that can contend for a Championship. Tom's form is coming back as well as his confidence.

As far as The Colts (or as some people I know call them...The Peyton Mannings)...I don't agree with the choice they made yesterday. They proved they don't have a team without Manning. I was worried (and even made the comment after we lost to the Colts, "There goes our 16-0 record.") they were going to win all their games and go on to be the only team to go 19-0. I think they had the potential to do so. But the mental toughness to take a loss when you don't have to? I saw a lot of dissapointment on Peyton's face yesterday (he kept his helmet and pads on for a reason), it'll be an interesting postseason...

Got to keep an eye on those Chargers as well...

Patriots win? NFL week 2...

I'm hoping this becomes a familiar sight...

We looked decent yesterday. I was not in the mood to write about what happened in Week 1, and I am going to watch the rest of the season hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

As far as Brett Favre...

He's the same ol' Brett. Did anyone (besides Letha and I) notice he's wearing a bright yellow shirt under his jersey and pads (look at the pic above)? Brett you are not a Packer currently...and I think they are better off without you. You are one of the best (I can't imagine the records Marino would have if he played this long), I just wish you didn't go to the team I hate.

Our defense played well yesterday, and are going to have to for the rest of the year is we are going to do anything. If nothing else I hope we mess up other teams plans for the post season, and if we still get there...cool.

Hey Colts fans...don't worry, your team is going to get out of this funk and start really kicking team's butts. Even while those Steelers are coming up behind you.

I also enjoyed watching the Chargers get their losses these last two weeks. Tomlinson has a lot of talent (but seems to be made of glass) and Rivers needs someone to put a good lick on him to get him to shut up.

Biggest choke...

Yep...that's right, the Patriots (who went undefeated for the entire season) lost on Sunday night to the Giants. If that game were played 10 times, I would say the Pats win 7 of them, but this is a ONE game championship...and the G Men were the better team last night.

This loss goes up there with the New York Yankees collapse in the '04 post season, the Red Sox mess up in '86, the Bills making it to 4 Super Bowls and NOT winning, and the Patriots collapse last year in the AFC Championship.

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!! THIS JUST IN...

Tiki Barber just released a statement to the press. According to him, he NEVER actually filled out his retirement papers and the Giants never released him either. He his now owed his entire salary and his Super Bowl ring. "I felt I should keep this news close to my chest until the proper time, WE'RE SUPER BOWL CHAMPS!!!!!," was the way he chose to end his press release.

And now back to reality...

Our defense was amazing last night...but a defense can't play the whole game without making some mistakes. The Patriots D was present for 50 minutes of last night's defeat. The offense is another mess...they might have shown up to play for 10 minutes last night. That's half of the the game, and we were in it till the end. Tom looked horrible all night long.

Congrats to the NEW YORK fans...to the rest of you that are celebrating (like your team won it all) when someone else's team wins...you should be ashamed of yourselves.

Hey...I'm not too sad, the Red Sox won the World Series, and baseball season is coming up shortly...the Celtics will make it deep in the playoffs, most likely...and we only have 6 months until preseason starts all over again.

And on to Arizona...

So as I watched the last two games of the Patriots I have tried to not get SO emotionally attached. I remember how I felt after last year's AFC Championship, heck I got the flu right after watching our last regular season game this year. I get so into the games (Patriots, Red Sox, and Celtics) that I boil over one way or another. This is something I am attempting to control. I enjoy the game, I just don't get so mad or sad that I get sick anymore...or so I hope.

Now if the Patriots don't win the Super Bowl...I will be the first one to say we choked. Do I think that the Giants have what is needed to beat the BEST team in the HISTORY of the NFL? No! What everyone (who's watching) is experiencing is history. This is the BEST offense EVER. We have an amazing defense and THE best coach to ever coach the game.

People want to just judge his on the field antics (Spy Gate included), but this coach does so much more. He's the one who wanted Sammie Morris, Wes Welker, Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, Corey Dillon, Junior Seau...the list goes on and on. He's a great coach who doesn't draft the best. We have had a lot of bad picks since he's been here. The people he has put around him to coach the players that he gets for this team have performed at such an amazing level this year.

Now the Patiots are on their way to their 4th Super Bowl in 7 years. I wanted to win last year so that we could be the second team to win 4 in 6 years (the Steelers did it in the 70's), but we folded in the second half of the AFC title game. Not this year...we have been hurt, like a lot of other teams by the injury bug (Scott, Colvin, Morris and Thomas) all impact players, but we have made it thru to the title shot. Our linebackers have been amazing during the playoffs. Who would've thought that the oldest linebacking core in the NFL would be able to do what they've done? When Colvin got hurt, I was really worried about it. Now it seems that they have made sure that years and wisdom have over come speed and youth, one more game to go.

The last thing I wanted to address was the running game. If not for our running backs we would have not made it to the AFC Championship. Maroney has silenced most of his critics by having 2 122 yard games, by running down hill. I hope he keeps it up next year as well.

And the HERO of the game was Kevin Faulk. The guy that when he touches the football, my brother and I both go, "DON'T FUMBLE!!!!!!!" He was known to cough up the football quite often early in his career, but not anymore.

The other thing that was interesting is that the Giants made it to the Super Bowl. Letha commented to me that she was happy because they made it without Tiki Barber. The guy who did nothing but be as selfish as possible for the entire last year he played. Then after he left he wanted to sling more mud. I hope he feels stupid for being a selfish football player (the ultimate TEAM sport) who's team made it to the big game the year HE decided to leave.

And a happy new year...

Hello everyone...it has been a while, with the birthdays, christmas, busy time at work, and getting sick something awful...I haven't posted in a while.

So the new year is here and the first topic is...

16-0, BABY!!!!!

I have only missed one Patriots game all season long (the first one against The Bills) and I have been a serious fan of the NFL for around 8 years now...I would have to say that this year's Patriots team is THE BEST regular season team EVER.

No other team has EVER gone undefeated in the regular season while breaking as many records as the Pats did this year. The most points scored by an offense, most TDs by a QB, most TD catches by a WR.

Some people like to point out that we played in a weak division (to which I agree), but that is not an excuse...we have also played 6 teams in the playoffs. The 1972 Dolphins had a cake schedule as well, funny how no one talks about that anymore...

And is there a more dynamic player than Randy Moss?

This guy is amazing...I was one of the people who thought he had a bad attitude and I wasn't sure if he'd fit in right...but he proved me (and a lot of other people) wrong. His one handed grab against the Colts, was one of the best catches I have seen in the last couple of years (as well as the grab Marvin Harrison had against us last year in Foxborough). But the one I will remember for a LONG time is the catch that took him and Brady past the record books. He streaks as fast as he can and Brady underthrows him...so what do the Pats do? They go back to the same route and THIS time Brady hits him in stride. It was beautiful...the cornerback was so wasted (from running with Randy the first time) he didn't have a prayer of keeping up with Moss this time (see picture).

He's so far gone that the people on the sidelines can't believe it...look at how their mouths drop in awe...

The second topic is the Playoffs...with the AFC teams being...

The Patriots
Colts
Steelers
Chargers
Jaguars
Titans

Now the first match ups are Jags at Steelers and Titans at Chargers.

Game: Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers:

Everyone gives a lot of credit to the Jags (and they should). I normally wouldn't believe they could go into Pittsburgh TWICE in one year and beat the Steelers, but the Steelers did lose their BEST weapon for the season (Willie Parker) and I don't see Big Ben winning this game on just his arm. Game Winner: Jags

Game: Tennessee Titans at San Diego Chargers:

The best running back in the NFL (LT) is going against a good defense. The key to this game is taking away LT and making Rivers beat you with his questionable arm. This kid is still green and gets rattled VERY easily. Tennessee...put 8 men in the box and keep your eye on LT, while you blitz the hell out of Rivers, make him hurt. Don't let LT get on a roll, or you'll be in trouble with the play action, which I do thing will happen against the Titans. Game Winner: Chargers

If the playoffs go this way...then the next games would be...

Game: San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts:

The Colts defense showed up this year...just as important as their offense at some points. The key is the same as it would have been for the Titans...STOP LT. The Colts can I think better than the Titans. Plus, if you get in a shoot out who do you want on your side? Manning or Rivers... Game Winner: Colts

Game: Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots:

The Jags are the one team that we haven't played in our conference this year, that I wished we did. Their running style is amazing and poses the biggest threat in the playoffs for the Pats. If they can control the clock and keep Brady off the field, they have a very good chance of beating us. On the flipside, Brady and Moss don't need much time to get it down the field. If the Jags get up by more than 2 TDs in the second half, than I would think they could hold on. Do I think they can get up that much on THESE Patriots in the playoffs? I don't, and Brady has proved many times that all he needs is a little over a minute to get down the length of the field. Game winner: Patriots

The AFC Championship (the way it should be this year)...

The Colts and Pats have matched up so many times since they stopped being divisional rivals, they might as well be in the same division. THIS will be by far the HARDEST game to play for the Pats. These two teams are so evenly matched, you might as well flip a coin. But since I am a Pats fan, I say that Gostkowski is going to kick the winning field goal as time expires... Game winner: Patriots

and the NFC teams being...

Cowboys
Packers
Bucs
Giants
Seahawks
Redskins

Let the games begin...I don't know much about the NFC (as I'm a Pats fan and the wife is a Colts fan) I watch mostly AFC games. But I think that the Giants beat the Bucs, the Skins beat the Seahawks, the Giants lose to the Cowboys, the Packers lose to the Sins, then the Cowboys beat the Skins to make it to the Super Bowl.

We have already played them once on their field...(and I hope not to make you mad Justin, Noah or Joel, if you read this) but I think the Patriots are playing on a higher level this year. I think it will be a close game for most of it, but at some point the Patriots are going to turn on the afterburners and win by 10-14 points.

Now with all of this being said...it is of course my opinion and watch my Patriots make an arse out of me and lose in the divisional round, while the Titans win the whole thing. That is after all why we watch, so we may be entertained. So no matter what team you root for be happy...it's playoff time.

9-0...

it's nice to be undefeated.

A couple of things from the game on Sunday:

Randy Moss' one handed catch was one of the nastiest catches I have ever witnessed.

Our defense played REALLY well (I'll go more into it below).

Joseph Addai ATE us UP. But, it might have been the idea all along. Let's take Manning's receivers away from him. Let's let their running game beat us. Which is different than we've played Manning before. It was always...stop the run and make Manning throw it all day long.

But it does come as a curse as well, there are 2 sides of my fandom. One side that wants to see my team win and is very happy when it happens. The second side that wants to not have to beat my wife's team to make me happy.

It is no secret that I am a Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins (although I don't watch Hockey as much as I would like to) fan. My wife is a New York Yankees and Indianapolis Colts fan. This means that during MOST key match ups in the 2 seasons, that one of us is usually unhappy afterwards. It's harder for me with football than baseball. While I loath the Yankees, I have gotten use to seeing my team lose to them (I was worried to see them in the playoffs this year). I dislike the Colts a lot too, but the Patriots have been able to handle them a lot better than the Sox/Yankees. It's also tough for us because we enjoy football more than any other sport.

But since we live near Boston and Letha never really cared about basketball, she has decided to be a Celtics fan. So now we have one team we can both care about. As a side note, the Pacers are looking better than anyone thought they could (myself included). I didn't think they would be the worst in the East, but I didn't think they would be in the Top 10 either. I got to give it up to my boy Shane for calling it. I will admit that I have always been a Celtics fan , but always hoped the Pacers did well. I loved Reggie Miller, he's the only player on any other team (other than my own) that I liked.

Double standards...

no, of course not, not in the NFL.

"How's this for a four-game stretch of NFL greatness?

W, 49-14
W, 41-10
W, 41-9
W, 51-24

That quartet of one-sided scores comes to you courtesy of the 2004 Indianapolis Colts from a November-December period during which Peyton Manning and Company annihilated the Texans, Bears, Lions, and Titans, respectively. And, you know it's funny, I don't remember one person whining about them running up the score."

This was written by Eric Wilbur for the Boston Globe, please feel free to read the rest of the article here, it's interesting.

I still don't know how I feel about the Patriots doing what they are doing. On one hand I think they should do whatever they want. Then I also wonder why they're doing it this way?

I can't wait for Sunday to be over.

One week...

until the showdown in the dome. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

The 2 last undefeated teams in the NFL (The Patriots and the Colts, the best 2 teams in the league for the last couple of years) are going to meet on November 4th.

Brady is leading the highest scoring offense vs. Manning leading a team that can score at will.

It's hard to pick who will win this game. As a Patriots fan I hope and expect them to win. As a football fan I think the Colts are one hell of a team, that is going to be hard to beat. I'm not too worried about it, no matter who wins...there will be a rematch in the playoffs.

Brady was absolutey nasty today. He threw for 3 TDs and ran for another 2. I was more mad about us giving up points compared to scoring so much. I'll see how much I am willing to write a blog after next week's game. We will be celbrating the birth of David Maier next Sunday. His birthday is Thursday this week.

Go Pats, Go...

Did anyone else stay up to watch the Chargers gets shell shocked? I know I did...it was GREAT to see the team bounce back after the week they had.



L.T. just doesn't look like himself so far this year, and you're not going to hear me complain. When we lost our offensive and defensive coordinators, it took us a while to get going again. But the Chargers also lost their head coach...how you fire someone after a 14-2 season is beyond me.

I think right now there are 3 teams in the AFC that are going to be there the WHOLE year long:

The Patriots
The Colts
and The Steelers

Mike Tomlin looks like he has instilled a desperation to win in Pittsburgh. They are a team to watch this year.

Randy Moss is NASTY. Yes, I said nasty...he has a good team and a good attitude. He's happy because he's WINNING. He wasn't happy anywhere else because he was losing all the time. Now, IF we start losing while he's on our team then he will become a cancer. But I don't think with Brady at the controls, that we are going to see those days for a while now.

Tom Brady has been throwing up some VERY impressive numbers for ANY QB. He finally has the weapons he's always wanted. The Patriots can play how ever they want now...run the clock out and play you slow or throw the bomb down field and go fast. Great teams dictate clock usage.

Go Brady, Go...

Justin and I would be happy...

According to this posting on the Boston Globe, Justin and I are most likely to be happy at the end of this upcoming NFL season.

I still worry about the Colts, and who wouldn't...especially when you see what happened in the 2nd half of the AFC Championship.

I hope the posting is right.