Super Bowl XLVI Prediction

In case you’ve been located under a rock for the past two weeks, Super Bowl XLVI is now upon us.  A rematch of four years ago when the Giants upset the Patriots, spoiling a perfect season in the process.  This year the wild card, got hot at the right time again 9-7 Giants are facing the again number one overall seed in the AFC, the 13-3 Patriots.  It is the super bowl so it is exciting, but its NY and New England so it’s also very annoying.

Let’s begin at the Championship Games; the two teams playing in this year’s super bowl are definitely not the best two teams in the league.  Both should have lost their respective conference championship.  The 49ers beat themselves by turning the ball over on bad special team’s plays and the Ravens had a dropped touchdown pass that would have won the game and then a missed 32 yard field goal to send it to overtime; double whammy for Ravens fans.  So both NY and NE got a little lucky to get where they are, but that’s football and that’s why they play the games.

The story of the week hasn’t been Tom Brady going for his 4^th ring to tie only Bradshaw and Montana, or the Patriots decade long run as this era’s dynasty.  No the 4 letter and others have chosen to concentrate on the emergence of Peyton Manning’s little brother Eli as an “elite” quarterback.  Eli Manning was asked earlier in the season if he thought he was an elite quarterback, his answer was yes.  This got a lot of media attention and debate, but what else do you expect an NFL quarterback to say?  Would you want your starting quarterback answering that as “well maybe”, “not sure” “I’m okay, I guess”?  No, you want confidence so this quote and answer is really a non-story. 

All of the attention and most picks from those in the media have gone to the Giants.  If I’m the Patriot’s I love every single minute of it.  The Patriot’s are three time super bowl champions and this is their 5^th trip in 10 years.  The only story line out of the Patriots camp has been Gronkowskie’s ankle and if he can play.  Bottom line is he will play; T.O. did it on a broken ankle. 

Vegas has this game correct by favoring the Patriots; even based solely on the numbers, the Patriots are the better team.  The Giants were 9-7, Patriots 13-3; The Giants scored 394 points and the Patriots scored 513.  Much has been talked about a week Patriots defense, but they allowed fewer points, 342 to the Giants 400.  Look at the numbers, the Giants scored less then they gave up while the Patriots scored 171 more points then their opponent’s.  I know the Giants are the hot team and the sexy pick, but it’s just too difficult to pick against experience and a proven track record.

A lot of questions have arisen as to what if Eli Manning wins number two?  Is he an instant hall of famer?  Will he then be better then Peyton?  LOL!  Those questions won’t need to be answered because Tom Brady, who is a hall of famer with three rings already, will come away with number four on Sunday.  The only question that remains, is Tom Brady the greatest quarterback of all time?  My prediction, Patriots 31 Giants 23.

Things to do While Watching the Pro Bowl

Welcome to a wasted weekend.  The NFL Pro Bowl is about as useful as a pack of wet matches.  The NFL pulls this cruel joke on all of it's fans at the end of every season and places a week off between the championship games and the Super Bowl.  It used to be a weekend of nothing, then they had the brilliant idea to move the pro bowl from after the super bowl to before it.  Now it's still a weekend of nothing.

So here I am, an Eagles fan with nothing to watch this weekend and nothing to look forward to the following weekend.  The Patriots still owe the Eagles a ring from "allegedly" cheating in the 2004 super bowl and the Giants, well...they're the Giants.  So as Eagles fans I guess we will have to root for the refs.  Below is a six pack (beer not abs) of things to watch for if your bored enough to watch the pro bowl.

1.  For those of you in college make a drinking game of how many times the announcers mention Peyton Manning and where he will play next season.  For those of you tying to hang onto you college days, you can do the same.

2.  Keep a log of Eli Manning mentions and how he is now an elite quarterback.  Also mentioned might be the question of "Is he better then Peyton....?

3.  Check out the Hawaian ladies, the weather isn't the only thing hot in Hawaii.  (If my wife is reading this, this line is just for the readers, I would never do this)

4.  Get up and actually do the Discount Double Check.

5.  Change the channel.

6.  Every time the announcers mention that Tom Brady was a 6th round draft pick, someone in the room will have to get up and do their best imitation Tom Brady dance moves.

Just relax and try and get through this weekend.  After next weekend there isn't much to do until spring training.  At least the Sixers are looking good and the Flyers are playing well.  The NFL season never ends though and a lot is going to happen in February, March and April.  Good things.