Super Bowl XXXIX - Philly vs New England

[fireshoes]

Looks like the Pats have got their game wrapped up now. Two weeks to go for the Super Bowl!

Big Ben just didn't make the throws for Pittsburgh today. The Pats just kept making big plays. I feel bad for Bill Cowher. He's been a good coach for a long time, but comes up short once again.

On the NFC side, Atlanta sure didn't look like the same team as last week. No explosion at all. I guess good defense will do that to you. McNabb was solid. I tend to think the Patriots will make him look pedestrian though.

[mantis]

E A G L E S GO EAGLES!!!!!!!!!

[VR3]

Colts got HAMMERED, not even a TD - wow!

Moneys on the Pats.

[fireshoes]

Colts was last week.

[polksda]

I love my Eagles, but I think New England may be the better team. A lot of X-factors for the game though:

1. Does T.O. play? If so, how does he affect an offense that seemed to be clicking today?

2. McNabb is a better QB than Rothlisberger is, so I don't think the Pats defense will have it as easy as they did today.

3. The Pittsburgh defense let the Patriots run amok, whereas the Philadelphia defense shut Atlanta down. I don't think the Pats offense will have it anywhere near as easy as they did today. Rothlisberger was a nonentity.

It could end up being a lot closer than people think. For the last 2 months all I've been hearing and reading is "whoever comes out of the NFC will be slaughtered." I'm not sure I'd be betting the farm on that just yet...

[fireshoes]

Pittsburgh's defense was #1 in points allowed and yards allowed this season.

[HBombToo]

all the way:D

I had a lot of fun today.....:p

twin

[dorokusai]

Just another wasted year for us Pittsburgh fans....this getting old, but at least Kordell Stewart is gone, and that's worth every moment.

[TroyD]

Originally posted by polksda
I love my Eagles, but I think New England may be the better team. A lot of X-factors for the game though:

1. Does T.O. play? If so, how does he affect an offense that seemed to be clicking today?

2. McNabb is a better QB than Rothlisberger is, so I don't think the Pats defense will have it as easy as they did today.

3. The Pittsburgh defense let the Patriots run amok, whereas the Philadelphia defense shut Atlanta down. I don't think the Pats offense will have it anywhere near as easy as they did today. Rothlisberger was a nonentity.

It could end up being a lot closer than people think. For the last 2 months all I've been hearing and reading is "whoever comes out of the NFC will be slaughtered." I'm not sure I'd be betting the farm on that just yet...

Sorry, but I think the Philly fans are deluding themselves. Atlanta was a mediocre team and looked that way.

Sure, Philly could win IF New England has an off day. However, as I've said, if NE plays the way they have the past two weeks, it's going to be a dissappointment for Philly. The fact is though, NE played, arguably, the best two teams in football the past two weeks and not just beat them but OWNED them.

As for question #2...well, Manning is a better QB than McNabb and that didn't seem to work out very well either. The fact is, NE isn't a one dimensional team. They can tailor thier game to whatever style the oppostion plays. What NE has on thier side is that they are the smartest team and best coached team in football.

BDT

[jdhdiggs]

The biggest thing I saw yesterday is that the Philly "O" is soft except TO and McNabb.

Westbrook always runs out of bounds instead of fighting for the extra two yards (or more-I mean its the championship game and your stepping out of bounds to avoid a corner? WTF!), Pinkston is a big pansy. They can't run up the gut and their recievers can't get off the line if pressed. This is not an offense that will be able to move the ball against the pats unless TO is damn close to 100%.


With TO down, McNabb will have to be superman for any shot. This one reaks of blowout...

Although there is a lot of karms going against the pats... I mean really, can you end a 86 year curse in baseball and win a third SB in four years at the same time...

[Demiurge]

Well, I'll be pulling for the Eagles, even thought they're our regular season enemies. I'm sick and tired of the Patriots, but it has nothing to do with their talent. They're amazing. They deserve it, but I'm ready for something else. Should be interesting...and despite how awsome New England is I'm not going to write off the Eagles just yet. I think they want this more than New England does.

*edit*

I guarantee that T.O. will play. Guarantee. There is absolutely no way in hell he isn't.

[TroyD]

I'll disagree to a certain extent. NE has been, IMO, slighted all season and into the playoffs. They were underdogs against Indy and despite being 3-point faves by oddsmakers, most pundits were picking the Steelers. Hell, Marino and Sharpe were waving towels on the pregame show.

The Pats are the epitome of the team concept. No real 'franchise' players. They just do what it takes to win. Against a team like NE, you can't just ride a franchise player to the finish line. They have too many ways to beat you.

Unless NE beats themselves (possible but unlikely) with stupid mistakes, Philly is outclassed in every position.

As a postscript though, with the impending departure of most of the NE coaching staff to either Notre Dame and the Browns, it's VERY possible that this could be the end of the 'dynasty' years for the Pats. So, I don't think motivation will be an issue for NE.

BDT

[HBombToo]

Originally posted by dorokusai
Just another wasted year for us Pittsburgh fans....this getting old, but at least Kordell Stewart is gone, and that's worth every moment.

This was a great year to be a Pittsburgh fan. IMHO young Ben did an outstanding job for his age and experience. He brings much hope to the future and the team may end up being a power house again.

I am very glad Stewart is gone! He was nothing more than a show boy who did nothing but distract the team.

I think the Pats will win even though I would like to see Philly win.

HBomb

[Demiurge]

I don't disagree with what you're saying, but if you've been following Philly they've been pawing at this for 4 years, and arguably longer. They've nearly gotten to the dance the last 3 years and finally made it now. New England has been there and I'll argue the best team is always going to get treated without respect and treated like a bitch.

I really have no interest in either team, but being a fan of the NFC I'll be pulling for my side and the underdog....even if I think that would be a wasted effort.

Would be a hell of a story if Philly lost another big game though....

[TroyD]

I agree with what you are saying about Philly and I'll agree that there is no question that they've been going after this for awhile, but the flip side to that is, they've lost in the NFC championship to teams who have largely sucked as well.

I don't think that the emotional high that Philly may be on right now can be sustained for two weeks and even if it can, I'll take experience, preparation and talent. Hey, I was a Pats fan in '86 when they played Chicago (I still think the 85 Bears were the greatest single season team ever) and the whole underdog thing didn't amount to squat. Chicago was a better team and it showed.

BDT

[Demiurge]

:D

Hey, I have lots or reasons to hate the Iggles. They never should have been at the Championship game last year!!!! ;)

[Tour2ma]

Originally posted by TroyD
I still think the 85 Bears were the greatest single season team ever.

Agree... problem was, the '85 Bears thought so, too...

At this point, I can not see the Pats losing. Not to say XXXIX will be a blow out, but the Pats just find a scheme to win.

That said kudos to the Eagles. The "mush rush" neutralized Vick, and the O-line controlled what I thought was a very active, aggressive Atlanta defense... at least that's what it was a week ago...

[Toxis]

GO BROWNS!!!

[fireshoes]

Originally posted by dorokusai
Just another wasted year for us Pittsburgh fans....this getting old, but at least Kordell Stewart is gone, and that's worth every moment.

I'd say the Steelers totally exceeded any expectations I had for them going into the season. I mean, Tommy Maddox was the starting QB back then. ;)

[Loud & Clear]

'85 Bears greatest team ever? Wow, that's amazing considering that none of the teams before them went to the Super Bowl and none of the teams after went to the Super Bowl. Sounds more like a one-hit wonder than a great team, imo. Did half of their players get there that year, then quit the next?

[mantis]

Being from Philly and feeling it all around me, I still don't think we will win this one. It would be awesome if they somehow pulled it off.Emotions are riding extremely high around here and everywhere you go , you can feel the excitement.

The Pats are one of if not the best team in years. There like a dynasty team of long ago. They are solid on all sides of the ball and play at a level not matched by anyone. We are a great team and If TO plays , I feel the game will be close. I don't see no blowout happening.

Whoever wins it will be tight.

Go E A G L E S !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dan

[TroyD]

Originally posted by Loud & Clear
'85 Bears greatest team ever? Wow, that's amazing considering that none of the teams before them went to the Super Bowl and none of the teams after went to the Super Bowl. Sounds more like a one-hit wonder than a great team, imo. Did half of their players get there that year, then quit the next?

I said greatest SINGLE season team ever. They SHOULD have gone undeafeted that year.

Far as greatest dynasty? I'll go with the Steelers of the 70's.

BDT

[jdhdiggs]

Originally posted by Loud & Clear
'85 Bears greatest team ever? Wow, that's amazing considering that none of the teams before them went to the Super Bowl and none of the teams after went to the Super Bowl. Sounds more like a one-hit wonder than a great team, imo. Did half of their players get there that year, then quit the next?

Actually, the next year they lost one game during the regular season and then got upset in the playoffs and then the team did implode. The yeare before the superbowl they lost only 3 games before playoffs so losing 8 games in three full years including playoffs isn't so bad.

[NCrewson]

From www.sportspickle.com


Team Many Calling the “Greatest Ever” Tired of Being Disrespected
Angered by the latest slap in the face that has them favored by only seven points against the 15-3 Eagles in the Super Bowl, New England Patriots players say they are getting sick of being disrespected by the media and public.

“It started at the beginning of the season,” said safety Rodney Harrison. “I saw somewhere that we were only 3:1 favorites to repeat – I mean, what’s that all about? One-to-one would have been the proper level of respect, or how about not even accepting bets at all because we’re so great that nobody should bet against us. But no, some people actually did bet against us. Total disrespect.”



Linebacker Willie McGinest said he knew no one thought much of his team after they traded for former Bengals running back Corey Dillon. “I remember some expert on ESPN saying when we got Corey that we would ‘almost be impossible to dethrone now,’” said McGinest. “What’s this ‘almost’ stuff? It’s that type of constant disrespect that motivates this team every week.”

Head coach Bill Belichick sets the tone by repeatedly telling his players that no one believes in them but themselves. But he must take some extreme steps to make sure they don’t hear any dissenting opinions.

“First of all, I make a rule that during the season they may not watch any sports shows on TV or read the paper without checking with me first,” said Belichick. “That way they don’t find out that nearly every member of the media gushes over them incessantly at every opportunity, saying the Patriots are the greatest this ever, or the best that of all time. Obviously, if they heard that stuff it would be tough for me to play the disrespect card.”

Belichick then spends at least 20 hours of each week writing fictitious newspapers stories and producing fake sports TV news programming that he then shows to his players.

“It’s propaganda of the highest order, but if it helps us win another Super Bowl I don’t mind,” said Belichick. “The funny thing is, they believe all of it. I showed them a fake ‘SportsCenter’ segment I produced called ‘100 Reasons the Patriots Are the Worst Team Ever’ and they actually thought it was real.”

Belichick said his finest moment came before Sunday’s AFC Championship game at Pittsburgh, where the Patriots were definitive favorites on the road against a No. 1 seed who beat them handily earlier in the season. “There I was addressing the team – a team who was picked by nearly everyone to win the game – and I actually told them that no one believed in them but themselves and their families,” said Belichick. “And they bought it right away. I didn’t see one player roll his eyes or do that cough ‘bullsh-t’ thing or be like: ‘Uh, coach, doesn’t everyone think we’re going to beat them fairly easily?’ It was amazing. After a while you have to wonder if these guys are retarded or what.”

With the Patriots installed as early seven-point favorites against the Eagles, Belichick says he is going to have to get very creative to convince his team one more time that they are disrespected.

“I just hope I can keep telling them this crap with a straight face,” he said.


Pats by a bunch!!

[danger boy]

I read today that Janet "wardrobe malfunction" Jackson is going to be at the Superbowl again this year.



BUt, she's not performing.

I just hope they keep the cameras off of her.