Archive for January 21st, 2008
Continue Reading January 21st, 2008
Because we’re all gonna be hearing every single storyline between now and two freaking weeks from now, let’s go ahead and run the obvious ones down, right here, to get ‘em out of the way.
After this, you can officially shut off the TV until February 3.
• The Patriots are attempting to become the first undefeated team since 1972.
• Bill Belichick can become the second coach ever to win four Super Bowls.
• Eli Manning is the younger brother of Peyton Manning, who won the Super Bowl last year.
• The Giants and Patriots played each other in Week 17, in one of the most entertaining games of the year. It also might have rejuvenated the Giants to make their Super Bowl run.
• Boston and New York are known as historical rivals.
• The Giants have not lost away from Giants Stadium since Week 1.
There. They’ll be beaten to death over the next two weeks. Those six topics will be probed through every orifice for a fortnight. So read ‘em now, and we can all move on.
Early bed for us tonight: Bookstores open early tomorrow, after all.
Continue Reading January 21st, 2008
We have to say, in the annals of Cameras Capturing People Suffering From A Ridiculously Small Amount Of Clothing While At Sporting Events In Below-Zero Temperatures history, this might be one of the more pleasant shots.
Our favorite is the one in the middle, who surely was taunting her friends all games about their wimpiness at wearing mittens. Real fans go gloveless!
And they probably all feel pretty stupid today. Until, of course they sign that deal with Maxim.
Continue Reading January 21st, 2008
What they’re saying on the interwebs about New England’s 21-12 win over San Diego in the AFC Championship Game …
• Chargers Whining And LTs Lack Of Emotion. Again, the Chargers whine after another loss. Anyone else sick of it? Handle it on the field. And my biggest problem is with LT. He just sat on the bench all day feeling sorry for himself. Hey, aren’t you supposed to be a leader on that team? Get your butt up and cheer your teammates on, offer advice and help to Turner and Sproiles. Do something! I watched Sam Madison last week in street clothes offer everything he could to his teammates but LT sits on the bench behind his visor and says nothing and does nothing. Just sits and watch. I guess he was just feeling sorry for himself because he couldn’t play. [The Jack Bauer Of Search Engine Optimization]
• Just Good Enough. This game will certainly not go down as a classic, instant or otherwise. In what was definitely his weakest game by far Tom Brady led the New England Patriots past the San Diego Chargers Sunday 21-12, to remain unbeaten at 18-0, and more importantly to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. [Patriots Gab]
• And Now … The Longest 14 Days In Sports. There is no longer period in the world than the fortnight that stands between the end of the NFL Conference championship games and the kickoff of the Super Bowl. In what has to be some sort of karmic cycle we recieve some kind of inverted Red Sox/Yankees matchup with the Patriots playing the part of the Yankees evil empire and the Giants playing the part of the proud underdog who carry the hopes of a nation that pleads to be saved from an off season of crowing from the land of white chowder. [InkogNegro 1.0]
• Maybe It Will Be Like The First Rocky Movie. We all know that they print these things up for both teams and send the unused ones to underprivileged kids in Third World countries. I am not joking. But I think the Bolts deserved to wear this gear and I believe that the FAITHFUL READERS of Justice Is Coming did as well. I have no regrets. I don’t blame Norv or anyone else today. This was the first time since the mid ’90s where we didn’t hurt ourselves. I will peel the “LaDainian Deserved Better” sticker and replace it with something looking forward to next season. I also don’t want to get into a debate over Junior, Jughead Manning or any other non-Charger. [Justice Is Coming]
• It Wasn’t Pretty But It Was A Win. Sixth AFC championship, sixth time to the Superbowl. The first half was not great to watch, nor easy on the nerves. Halftime seemed to show some adjustment, some improvement. Like when they sent Moss out to test if it were zone or man, seeing no coverage of him, went with another open receiver… I learn something every time I watch this team play. [The Sixteenth Minute]
• Giants And Patriots Headed To Glendale. I personally hate the Patriots. I was at the Baltimore/New England game this year and while I am not a die-hard Ravens fan, the way New England stole that game infuriated me to no end. Each week I am amazed at the lack of calls from the referees on the Patriots. I guess they are the only team that DOESN’T hold on offense. Anyway, the Patriots are in and congrats. You are the best screen/5-yard passing team in the NFL. [Sports Hub]
• Schottenheimer, Anyone?. I never thought I would utter the following phrase as a die hard Broncos fan, but I am livid that the San Diego Chargers didn’t win today (which says how much I can’t stand the Patriots but that’s another matter). They literally handed the AFC Championship Game to New England on a silver platter. [Reid Fischer]
Continue Reading January 21st, 2008
As talented as the Patriots are, we’ve had a couple instances this year that have reminded what’s really annoying about New England: They really are the same team they’ve been for the past few years. On games when matters aren’t going well — and they certainly weren’t yesterday — they still find a way to ugly up the game and win anyway … just like those past Patriots teams that really didn’t have that much talent. It’s very frustrating.
You had to think, in his career, Tom Brady had one lousy playoff game in him. He had it yesterday, and the Patriots still won pretty handily. (Even if they did piss everybody off in the process.) New England clearly hasn’t looked as dominant in the last six weeks as they did to start off the year, but not only have they still won every game, they haven’t exactly convinced anybody that they’re reeling either. You get a sense that, at some point, they’re going to put it all together, they way they did at the beginning of the season, and just destroy somebody in their definitive “we are the best team of all time” game. It’s beginning to look like that game will be the Super Bowl. If you didn’t get them yesterday, when they were at their worst, you’re probably not gonna get them at all.
Continue Reading January 21st, 2008
What they’re saying in the ethernet about the New York Giants’ 23-20 OT win over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game …
• Giants Know The Way To Glendale: 23-20 In OT. Third time’s a charm, huh? Favre played like anything but a legend against a beleaguered secondary, and the result is that another Manning will take a snap for the second straight Super Bowl. Some night for Lawrence “Hey FOX, don’t call me Larry — if you bother to interview me” Tynes, huh? (Back-to-back texts after the Giants kicked shanked the potential game-winner in regulation: “Is he fired yet?” followed by “He should never set foot in NYC again, for his own safety.”) [The Big Lead]
• Time To Eat It. I’m gonna be sick. Not figuratively. I’m really gonna hurl. Favre was decent, but he was outplayed by Manning. Yeah, wake up and smell the limburger, cheeseheads. Manning’s throws were where they were supposed to be more often. If it wasn’t for Driver resurrecting several drives with circus catches up the middle (and of course the 90 yard play where he somehow managed to outrun 3 guys who were all faster than him), the Packers might have been shut out. [My Official Green Bay Packers Blog]
• Our Long National Nightmare Is Over. Honestly, did you want to listen to two weeks of “Favre vs. Brady?” Now, in lieu of that, we’ll get talk about what could be a very intriguing Super Bowl, the Patriots on the cusp of immortality, and numerous reruns of the regular season finale that these two teams gave us, which was easily the best non-Vikings game I watched this football season. [Daily Norseman]
• Keepin’ It In The Family: Eli Manning In A Super Bowl. What’s funny is most Giants fans wanted Eli Manning traded just 4 weeks ago. [Stampede Blue]
• Congrats To The Giants Fans Who Believed. I just finished watching a huge group of Giants fans close down Brett Favre’s steakhouse in the heart of Green Bay, just a few blocks from Lambeau Field. I’d imagine that must have felt pretty good. That’s where I was in the wee hours of this frigid Wisconsin morning, with two-thirds of Team Daily News. The famous restaurant owned by Favre was absolutely overrun by fans wearing blue — including several with cheese head hats — painted Giants colors of course (I guess that would be blue-cheese?). [New York Daily News]
• The Road Warriors. (Posted Jan. 19) The Giants can walk into Lambeau and walk out as the NFC Champions, and I believe they will. I could be wrong but tomorrow, at the end of the 4th quarter, the scoreboard in frigid Wisconsin will read: NYG 24, GB 20. [G-Men Headquarters]
• Super Giants Win In Overtime. How sweet … After a week of hearing Favre-love from all corners, including how the best game would be the legendary Favre trying to shoot down the unbeaten Patriots, it was a mistake by the legendary quarterback that ultimately doomed the Packers. [Big Blue View]
• Cheap Shots #94. Boston vs. New York. Again. Jesus Tapdancing Christ. [Signal To Noise]
Continue Reading January 21st, 2008
Kickers are always complaining that they have too much pressure on them, and that people only notice them when they fail. This is not exactly true; people only notice kickers when they fail and the team loses. Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes missed two potential game-winning field goals yesterday — one wasn’t necessarily his fault — but when he hit the last one, that’s all anyone remembered. He’s on the front page of the papers today. And strangely … Brett Favre is not.
Despite the Favre exhaustion of the last few years, the casual, non-partisan fan had to be rooting for Favre yesterday, if just to add even a wee bit more spice to the Super Bowl. The goodwill Favre built up throughout his career returned in 2007, and even those of us who love to make fun of those who worship The Gunslinger Mentality warmed up to him. And then he comes out in overtime yesterday and throws a pass every bit of ill-advised, and even more disastrous, as his famous lame duck in the loss to the Eagles four years ago.
Favre may retire, finally, and he may not; we hope, at the very least, he doesn’t take as long to let us know this time. But let us not forget: He has one Super Bowl, lost one, and now cost his team a trip to two others in four years. We know, we know: It’s Favre. But one quarterback in Wisconsin yesterday decided to take the game in his own hands, and the other just safely managed the game and stayed out of trouble. Guess which one’s going to the Super Bowl?
Another Playoff Run Ends On A Bad Favre Throw [PackersNews]
(UPDATE: Lest we forget, by the way, Coming To America called this.)
