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January 22, 2006

Penultimate Football Weekend

I have absolutely no idea who's going to win today. None.

Ohmygawd. Only three football games remain! That's it. Two today, then the Superbowl, and then no actual NFL TV shows until next September. These truly are dark and forboding days! Sure, it'll be nice to have my Sundays back, but I'm just not sure I really want them back, despite the obvious health and social benefits. As Paul Tagliabue would (apparently) say, I really do enjoy the "contrived adversity" of the NFL. At least it makes me feel good to know that the commish properly understands the appeal of his product; makes me feel less cynical about it.

(Speaking of, if you're at all interested in the NFL, it is absolutely 150 percent worth your time to read the Tagliabue article in this week's Sports Illustrated (requires a subscription). Very insightful stuff. Also, for as uptight the NFL is about the cast members questioning the validity of the TV show, Tagliabue is very frank about his product. Very worth it.)

Anyhoo, we've got games today, and I'd like to have some opinions about them. Note that I am completely baffled by the remaining four teams and can imagine scenarios where each wins the Super Bowl. Las Vegas has to be very happy about this:

Pittsburgh at Denver: I've been very fond of running the "Mike Shanahan hasn't won anything without John Elway; also, didn't those teams cheat the salary cap?" line with Broncos fans in recent years. Similarly, Pittsburgh at least gets the Birds off the hook for being the one team that's consistently pooped their pants in the conference championship round more than the Eagles. So something has to give here! As I'm on the record as rooting against the Stillers (Steelers Go For The KillShot), I think I'm going to pick the Broncos. The Steelers are playing meaner than anyone in the tournament right now (even meaner than the Panthers), and I think they'll show up and try to smack the Broncos in the mouth. I just don't know if it'll be enough. I also think this game could be over very quickly if the Broncos can get ahead early. Also, Mike Shanahan is much smarter than Bill Cowher, especially on game day. Yes, and I am aware that this means that Jake Plummer will start a Super Bowl. Broncos (-3.5) 27, Steelers 20.

Carolina at The Seahawks: as much as I respect this Panthers team and envy all that they're about (mean-spirited defense, opportunistic offence, and NFL Playoffs Heisman Trophy Winner Steve Smith), I still hold a grudge in re: the NFC Championship game two years ago. I genuinely enjoyed getting to see the Birds smack the crap out of them last season. And I can't stand that John Fox pulls the Bill Parcells kill-the-clock-from-the-first-quarter-on-and-hope-the-other-team-screws-up strategy. It sucks. It's the NFL version of the neutral-zone trap or the 4-5-1. Just awful. And I really want the home team to win, if only because C@L will be a whole lotta fun over the next two weeks if they do. (I'm still in the market for a ticket today, by the way....) I just don't know if C@L is mean enough to beat these guys. Also, Steve Smith is a complete psychopath who is playing like someone's kidnapped his family and is demanding a Super Bowl MVP as ransom. I'll be pulling for the Hawks, I will, but I don't know that they can do it. Carolina (+3.5) 20, Seahawks 13.

Enjoy the contrived adversity!

Posted by thatkid at January 22, 2006 11:14 AM under Sports

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Posted by: Thorles at January 23, 2006 6:36 AM

Posted by: thatkid at January 23, 2006 10:23 AM

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