Posted on 01/07/2006 8:32:13 AM PST by Ultra Sonic 007
Today on ABC, the first matches of the Wild Card Round will be played!
At 4:30 PM...
Washington (10-6) at Tampa Bay (11-5)
And at 8:00 PM...
Jacksonville (12-4) at New England (10-6)
WHO SHALL WIN?
Some of the sports talking heads don't get the Patriots. The complete lack of flamboyant superstars doesn't make sense to them.
Team owners are starting to get it, however. A good balanced team with depth is now, and always has been the way to go.
So here we have a team who has won three out of the last four Super Bowls and is well on the way to possibly their fourth Super Bowl in five years and still, any talk of a Patriots dynasty (outside of New England) is met with howls of derision and laughter.
It's not so much a "respect" thing. It's just that the Patriots don't have the cachet of former great "dynasty" teams such as the 70s Steelers, the 80s 49ers or the Cowboys of the 90s.
I think it's because the Patriots just don't have the "prime-time flash" and the big-name playmakers that were featured on those other teams. To non-fans, the Patriots are just boring. Coach Belichick comes out in a ratty sweatshirt and 95% of Tom Brady's plays are mostly unspectacular screen passes, play-action fakes and such. You just don't see any 70-yard bombs being thrown by Brady. Brady is just an efficient machine who plays it safe and doesn't make many mistakes. This is the key to the Patriot's success. Brady has the discipline to throw the ball away when he doesn't have any open receivers or he'll just take a sack, as opposed to trying to make a spectacular play like what many other quarterbacks will try to do.
The Patriots are more of a team than a collection of a few superstars. Their offensive players will line up on defense if needed. The quarterback will be asked to block on reverses just like any other player. If it makes more sense to pooch punch and pin the opponent deep in their own end zone than to kick a field goal, the kicker will be asked to do that instead. Basically the players are coached to ignore personal statistics and focus on winning the game. You are not going to see Corey Dillon get carries just so he can make some kind of personal milestone. If it fits into the game plan, Dillon will get the carries. If it doesn't, Corey will ride the bench.
Many NFL coaches don't have that kind of power over the players.
They bore the pundits because they rarely make spectacular plays (like Watson's last night). Solid fundamental football just isn't sexy to them.
That year I was in college and desperately trying to get Patriot playoff tickets (it was their first home playoff game in 18 years). The place I usually get them through told me they were sold out for the first game which I was sure was the only one the Pats would play because there was no way Denver would lose at home. Little did I know but my mother had already bought me tickets for the first game as a Christmas present (best gift I ever received). Frustrated over not getting tickets to the first game for some reason I asked if they were any tickets available for the very remote possibility of an AFC championship game. I got them and like you couldn't believe it when the Jags knocked off Denver. Still the biggest playoff upset I've ever seen.
Bingo. The intelligent football fans get the Pats but many folks outside of New England just don't understand how the Patriots consistently win without the T.O. like superstars.
The ESPN crew gave the Pats their due on Countdown with the exception of course of...Michael Irvin. This guy has had it out for the Pats all during their run.
Sounds to me like the Countdown guys think the Colts will beat the Pats, and believe NE would rather play Denver. I think NE would rather play Indy, just to demolish them.
NE is going to the Super Bowl, especially if they keep playing like they did last night. Wonder if they'll play against Seattle...
Personally, I think Drew Bledsoe had the potential to be a great quarterback and I also think he has a better arm then Tom Brady. If he played more like Tom Brady, he'd likely have a Super Bowl ring or two himself. But you could always count on Bledsoe to do something stupid such as throwing the ball across the field in heavy coverage or just slinging the ball out there when he was about to be sacked. Bledsoe was always trying to make something out of nothing and he just didn't have the discipline to get out of the pocket so he could throw the ball away when there was nothing there on a consistent basis.
Bledsoe also always had that "deer in the headlight" look when he was in trouble which probably contributed to his making mistakes. Brady by contrast is cool and collected and almost always does the right thing.
That's why I'm surprised Parcells (who should know him better than most) took him down to Dallas. Bledsoe does seem to have taken his game up a notch since going to Dallas so no doubt Parcells' coaching is good for him. But he still made some really bonehead plays this year.
If the Pats go into Indy next week, I wouldn't be surprised to see them come out like gangbusters and run up a significant lead by halftime. By the time Peyton and Co. shake off the cobwebs, it might be too late.
At least, that's what I'm hoping.
If the Pats have to go into Denver, I'm not nearly as confident.
"That's why I'm surprised Parcells (who should know him better than most) took him down to Dallas. Bledsoe does seem to have taken his game up a notch since going to Dallas so no doubt Parcells' coaching is good for him. But he still made some really bonehead plays this year."
Parcells seems to be the only guy who can keep Bledsoe under control. I think he yells a lot. Bledsoe is more afraid of Parcells than he is of the rushing linemen.
They are a good match.
I'm watching ESPN.
Michael Irvin is irritating. I'm not sure why, but he annoys me.
I'm just glad that tonight I'll finally know who the Pats will be playing. That's been the topic on sports talk radio all week (yes we were looking past the Jaguars).
Remember when Drew had his breakout year in 1994? I thought he was destined for greatness. He was still making mistakes but I thought those would dissapear as he matured. They never did.
They might have to go to Denver anyways. If they're able to stop Denver's run and force Plummer to beat them I like their chances.
I think the Pats will three-peat. They are healthy, and they have Tom Brady. And Indy doesn't play all that well at home. And I still don't think Jake Plummer can lead a team to the Super Bowl.
Wouldn't you agree that a great quarterback is distinguished by his mental makeup, more than physical tools. Kordell Stewart had a cannon for an arm. plus he had great running skills, and when used as a wide receiver he made acrobatic catches, but it was apparent from early on that he did not have the mental tools to succeed.
Looking at those who's careers have been written, I'd have to say that Joe Montana may have had the best head for a quarterback that I have ever seen.
Joe Montana was/is the best QB I have ever seen play.
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