It’s time for me to throw up my hands and admit that I’m just not going to get my arms around the 2010 season. Every time I think I’ve got it figured out someone throws another curve ball and I end up .500 in picks. But it’s too late to stop now.
We find out today who plays in the Super Bowl. I have hunches, but I can see scenarios where any of the four teams move on. Here’s my guess (http://www2.vegas.com/gaming/):
Green Bay (-3.5) at Chicago
The Bears need a low scoring game and possibly some scoring help from the defense and special teams. If this gets to be a shootout I like Aaron Rodgers more than Jay Cutler. The Packers are, arguably, the hottest team in football right now. I was listening to the Mike and Mike Show this week and the two hosts talked with Mark Schlereth about how cold weather and bad field conditions affect games. In a nutshell, they said bad fields help offenses because they know where they are going and defenses don’t. I think there’s some good logic there. The Packers’ offense is better than Chicago’s offense. So I’ll take the Packers to win and cover, but barely.
New York Jets at Pittsburgh (-4)
If the Packers aren’t the league’s hottest team, then I think it’s the Steelers. But last week I would have said it was New England. The Jets put a whoopin’ on them. The Jets are one of the teams I have most had trouble figuring out this season. Going into 2010 I thought they were going to dethrone the Patriots as the class, err, well as the best team in the division. That turned out to be way off base. But after taking a 45-3 butt-kicking from their rivals, they’ve gone on a ridiculous roll. Will they make it a matchup of six seeds in the Super Bowl?
I don’t think so. Ben Roethlisberger might be a bit of a jerk. But he’s a top six quarterback in the NFL. The defense is top two or three, if not the best overall. And Mike Tomlin is one of the best and one of my favorite coaches. Jets give them a battle and keep it close. But Roethlisberger wins out over Sanchez in the end. Jets beat the spread. Steelers go to the Bowl.
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Andy , nice job covering the Title games. Are you sure you didn’t write this after the games were played. LOL!
This years Super Bowl participants were rather predictable before the season. Even though I only picked the Packers of the two. LOL! You’re right about all the B.S. that came in 2010.
If not for Ben’s trouble I’m sure many would of picked the Steelers bouncing back for another SB. But after his Ben’s trouble and once the punishment had been handed out I figured there were only two real ways the Steelers season would end up. One was a sorry start and finally in ruins with questions everywhere or be seen as a redemption story with huge Steeler success. Big Ben is just that good when it counts so I would of bet on him being OK. But you just never know
It certianly helps to have an organization that is like a rock from top on down. I too admire Tomlin and his coaching ability greatly. He’s only 38 yrs old and the coach he most reminds me of is a young Don Shula. Can’t get higher praise than that. Both began around 34 yrs old and were successful from the start with very successful organizations. We’ll see if he’s still a head coach at 65. LOL A great start anyhow. Back on track the only question for me was would Rothelisburger go down as the biggest idiot of all time by throwing everything away and not conforming? Here’s the answer and result :) Good job Ben!
The easiet SB pick was the Green Bay Packers. And yes I did pick that one. :) The NFC was weak and they were definetly trending up with a prolific offense. Funny thing is, they almost let it slip away before even making it to the tournament. The injury bug got them pretty good. First coming out of the gate with Pro Bowl RB Ryan Grant than midway with their pro bowl caliber TE in Jermichael Finley.. That’s tough for any team to deal with including Rodgers’ concusion late in the season. It was Rodgers’ effort to overcome the concussion quickly (wink-nod) that was one of the team’s keys to find their way to the SB. They aren’t going to the SB with Matt Flynn.
The only real surprise to me was how quickly their young Defense developed from a team giving up 45 pts in their previous Playoff game to being the best in the NFC Conference. They were very impressive all year and must be considered a Super Bowl team not only now but for several years to come IMO. Maybe that GM Ted Thompson does know a little something. LOL
As far as the others, well I guess you always have to take serious the Teams with the best QBs like Manning, Brady and Rivers. Although none seemed to have the team strenth in their favor to make a run this year. Maybe New England but their Defense was way too young and porous.
As for the Jets, I never gave them much consideration because I didn’t trust the main characters and viewed their run last year as a one hit wonder. I might have to give them slightly more consideration next year. :) Brad, sorry but that’s all this lifelong Dolphin’s fan can muster. LOL
My other SB pick was the Baltimore Ravens. :)
This is going to be a GREAT GAME. I can’t wait!!