Super Bowl Recap: The Game

• That was not a very good game at all. Besides the opening kickoff, nothing made me get excited or even stand up.
• I ate three bowls of chili in the first quarter and then proceeded to play a brief game of football at the beginning of the second. That was a bad choice, but that was some very good chili.
• As soon as Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown (who didn't see that coming?), I mentioned Ginn's opening return in the BCS Championship Game and how that turned it. Apparently, returning opening kickoffs for touchdowns in championship games is not a good thing.
• Rex Grossman didn't do quite as bad as everyone is saying he did. His play certainly was a hindrance, but they'd found ways to win despite that all year so saying he's the only reason the Bears lost this game is foolish, but he was a large part of it.
• Is bringing Rex Grossman back as the Bears quarterback the right move? I say yes for now, but mainly just because I want to read more Sex Cannon jokes over at Kissing Suzy Kolber.
• I think Peyton Manning should've been in the "Best Quarterback of All Time" discussions already, but now those arguments are about to go into overdrive. I'm not excited to hear these at all.
• I was absolutely shocked when Vinatieri missed a field goal at the end of the first half. I was waiting for the apocalypse at that moment.
• I'll admit that I was part of the problem, but I heard "Da Bears!" said far too many times last night.
• As the game went on I kept making the same speech I do every year about how Super Bowl Monday should be a national holiday and this year, my dream finally came true. My school was cancelled on account of 'cold'. No major snow, just coldness. My school is also out of session tomorrow. I still can't wrap my find around the fact that this is happening.

Super Bowl Preview

The final game of this football season is upon us and it saddens me. I have no real interest in the game except for the fact that it's football and the Super Bowl. My Eagles were eliminated a few weeks ago so I don't really care who wins, but this game still figures to be a good one.

Why the Colts Should Win:

• Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the league
• Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison make up quite possibly the best receiving duo in the NFL
• Joseph Addai has done a great job filling in for Edgerrin James, far better than anyone anticipated.
• The Colts defense has been much improved in the postseason
• Adam Vinatieri
• So the offense is basically unstoppable, but...

Why the Bears Should Win:

• The Bears defense has been consistently good throughout the year (although a tad overrated near the end) and if anyone would stop the Colt's offense it would be them
• Rex Grossman, despite his spottiness, is good for a few big plays per game it seems
• Bernard Berrian is a great deep threat
• Thomas Jones is a much better running back than people realize and having Benson as a backup doesn't hurt
• Devin Hester

All things considered, this seems to be a pretty even match-up, but I still think the Bears will come out on top. Despite everything, the Bears are still 15-3 and I don't think this Colts defense will be good enough to stop the Bears. Even though the Bears aren't a very great offense, the Colts defense has just been that bad throughout the year. I pick the Bears in a close one.

Bears: 27
Colts: 20

Championship Games: Brief Recap

Well Championship weekend has come and gone so we now know who will be facing each other in thirteen days for the Super Bowl.

So to get there the Bears beat the Saints pretty soundly, 39-14, but they weren't nearly as dominant as the score makes it seems. It wasn't until the 4th quarter that the Bears really pulled away after the safety and Berrian's touchdown catch which put them up 11 and the Saints simply never recovered. I said Good Rex would have to show up for the Bears to win and he didn't really show up until the 4th quarter and that was when they began to really pull away. He made some crucial money despite his flat-lining earlier. Of course the defense really stepped up too forcing three turnovers and Thomas Jones played a huge role with his 123 yards and a touchdown. I still do not feel comfortable with the Bears. No, not at all.

The Colts shocked everyone, not really by winning, but instead Peyton shocked everyone by completing a clutch, game-winning drive. In all honesty, what shocked me even more was Tom Brady failing in the clutch with the interception that sealed the ending of the game. Reche Caldwell's dropped passes were crucial, and although they were not the reason the Patriots lost the game I can't help but wonder how different the game would've been with Deion Branch. They've been playing with very little depth at the receiver position all year and it really cost them here. All in all, this was a great game and although Tom Brady and Peyton Manning switched roles, it's nice to see the Patriot's not win the Super Bowl again and to see Peyton Manning finally win a big game.

Super Bowl preview coming later...

NFL Championship Weekend Preview

I am so late in previewing these games it's insane. I really wanted to do this earlier, but just never did and now the games start in less than 12 hours. Now, all the games have been analyzed from every possible viewpoint so these previews are going to be very brief, but anyways here we go....

NFC: Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints

As with every single game the Bears have played this year, it all comes down to Rex Grossman. Although the team has still won a few games where he's done horrific, I don't think they could pull it out this week with him playing as poorly as he did against Arizona or Green Bay. Another main concern for the Bears this weekend will be their run defense. They did poorly against Shaun Alexander last week so seeing how they do against Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush will be interesting. The Saints are obviously who the non-partial observer will want to win and they have a very good chance with that offense, but I don't see them getting it done. The Bears have been the NFC's best all year and I think they'll pull it out tomorrow.
Bears: 24 Saints: 17

AFC: Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots
Dreamboat vs. Manning. The matchup we've kind of secretly wanted, but are hesitant to embrace. Despite the fact that this game has been incredibly overhyped, it still figures to be a heck of a game. We get to see if Manning will finally overcome his tendency to fail in the clutch and overtake Brady who has been anything but imperfect in clutch games. I don't think that this Colts team is as incredibly good as it was last year and that they blew their best chance last year against the Steelers. I find it very hard to pick against Brady and Belichick in a game of this magnitude and jsut as hard to pick Manning so I'm picking the Patriots. Things just seem more right that way.
Patriots: 28 Colts: 20

Ohio State Fans Are Humbled..

I live in Ohio, right in the middle of their self proclaimed "Buckeye Country". I enjoy living here for the most part, but the Ohio State football fans are some people I don't really like too much. Granted there are some notable exceptions I have encounted, they are THE team for overconfidence and a false sense of superiority.

I have lived in Ohio for six years now and I've never caught the bug of OSU football. They are the most obnoxious group of fans as a collective whole that I have ever encountered (and I still wish I could think of a better word than obnoxious). Well, a message board, courtesy of The Fanhouse, definitely just made my day. It is a Buckeyes message board and the topic is whether people have gotten over the loss to Florida. Ten days have now passed and some still have their sense of pride (or arrogance) and others have become humble, shamed fans. Here are some personal favorites...

BuckNatty123: I haven't even visited this forum since the 7th. Haven't read the college football section of si.com or espn.com since then either.

OSUBuckeyes7: I graduated from OSU, I will always be a Buckeye, but I will never get over that loss

bucknut4life: over it? no way at all...but i can say that i dont have flashbacks of certain plays anymore..honestly for about a week or so, random points of the day i would see troy getting sacked..

biggman76: The pain will be there forever

ramatam: I'm as bad now as I was after the game...We were embarassed, humiliated & disgraced on national tv. You can NEVER get over that if you have passion about the scarlet & grey.

more buckeye sadness, mourning (and still some celebratory notions) here

The Off-Field Exploits of Ben Roethlisberger

I just posted about Tom Brady and his love life and now I discover some new things about Ben Roethlisberger that just bring joy into my heart.

• First off, he drinks like a champion (and although these pictures are a year old now, they are worth reposting even if there's only one person who hasn't seen them)


• Secondly, he drinks with Carson Daly


• And finally, he is friends with Donald Trump. In his own words..
  
  
  "I’ve met and played golf with people like Donald Trump. He’s a good friend. We talk once a week at least. We’ve gone to dinner, we’ve gone out, we’ve golfed, we’ve gambled. All kinds of things."

I'm not going to judge him for being friends with Donald Trump, but that does seem very odd indeed. The fact that they've gone out and gambled together makes it sound even weirder. I honestly just can't wrap my mind around those two being friends, but who knows, maybe this could lead to a future appearance on 'The Apprentice' or something like that. The possibilities are endless and quite frankly, I'm excited.

Maybe Big Ben Will Defend Donald (Mondesi's House)

Tom Brady is Luckier Than Us

Tom Brady has a lot going for him in life. Let's take a look.

1. He makes millions of dollars per year
2. He has three Super Bowl rings
3. He hosted SNL (and was decently funny)
4. He dated Bridget Moynahan
5. And now, he is apparently dating Gisele Bundchen

This guy has got it going on. I have no clue how he even has time for all these women, but somehow he does it. He must be a superhero or something.

Just In Case You'd Forgot, Tom Brady Would Like To Remind You That He Is In Fact, The Man [The Big Lead]