Thanks, 18.

So long, Peyton.

It looks like the Colts and Manning will officially part ways in a few hours from the Colts' facility on the West side of Indy in a few hours.  Some pretty amazing video of Manning and Irsay leaving Indianapolis International Airport, together, has been running on a loop on EsPN this morning.  This whole break-up has been like none I've ever seen in sports.

First off, being the pessimist that I sometimes am, I thought Manning would never play again after watching the slow healing process last fall.  Watching a Super Star fall so quickly and abruptly is unusual...but watching Manning fall, then rise to play for another team is something I didn't think I'd see.  Now, it looks like it's inevitable.

Manning is about my age- a few months younger than me...so he's probably my favorite Colts QB.  I grew up watching Pagel and Schlichter play grab ass for the Colts before Trudeau, Chandler and Harbaugh actually played quality football behind center for the franchise...but no one has defined the Colts as has Manning.  He is the Indianapolis Colts.

Regardless if Mora was ranting his way through pressers, Dungy was leading the team like a consummate pro or Caldwell was stoically doing his job, Manning was succeeding...and in a big way.  In the last year, I've heard more positives from fans of rival teams about Manning than I ever heard about him when he was torching the league...and those were honest opinions.

Manning was and is one of the greatest quarterbacks ever...and is the best Colts QB ever...even better than B'More legend Unitas.

But, Irsay has this one right...regardless of what happens from here on out.  Manning's staggering price tag is just too much to legitimize a post-operative Pro-Bowler who turns 36 in less than a month.  I turned 36 back in August...and have had a few surgeries.  Granted, I'm not quite the athlete that Manning is...and I'm in just a little worse shape than he is. But each time I have surgery, it takes me longer to get over it. I had my shoulder operated on a few years ago...just for a bone spur and scope...and it took me a year to feel right.  Even though Manning is throwing the ball well (according to grainy interwebnet videos), is he throwing it $28 million bonus and $90 million contract-well? Few completely-healthy 28 year old NFL pro-bowlers can do that.

I do think Manning will play at a high level next season...someplace.  My only hope is that it's a team that I can actually casually root for (read as: not the Jets).  What I don't know, and what no one knows is how long Manning will be able to play at a high level...If I were a betting man, I'd say two to three seasons is the absolute best-case scenario for that.

I love seeing Drew Brees succeed...and root for it.  I'll do the same for Manning in almost any scenario. If you've been visiting this site for long, you know that I don't have the passion for the NFL that I do for the college game- specifically, the Colts are no where near my true love, My Boilers.  But, the team that moved to my hometown when I was 9 years old, is the team that I'll be cheering for, regardless of whom is playing QB.

Today is the first time I've been sad about the loss of Manning.  Maybe it's the fact that I talked to my 6 year old about him no longer being the Colts' QB this morning...or perhaps its just a lot more real when there's a press conference in the very near future about what's next for the Colts and Manning. Regardless of the reason why, this stinks.

But, it's time.

Peyton Manning Was Clipped

It doesn't seem to be getting talked about anywhere, but I noticed it on one of the replays of Tracy Porter's interception on Sunday -- Peyton Manning was the only guy with a chance to tackle him and he was shoved to the ground with a two-handed push to the back from Will Smith. (I know, shocking that an OSU player might do something kind of cheap.

First, the video:



If you're looking for it, it's not hard to see at all. Peyton immediately knows it's a pick and starts making a path to intercept Porter, who spent most of the run changing hands, apparently because he couldn't decide which hand to use to showboat with. (To Mrs. Money's everlasting credit, during the replay she says, "Stop switching hands!" And no, she wasn't referring to me. Pervs.)

So here it is frame by frame.

As Porter cuts back and easily makes the lumbering Peyton overrun his intended destination, Smith puts two hands on Peyton's number 18 and leaaaaannnns....


Peyton is heading face-first towards the turf, with Smith attempting to turn left, instinctively trying to distance himself from Manning, whose fall is usually a telltale sign of a block in the back.


Peyton crashes to the ground like a tree and the party is on.


I noticed this in the CBS replay.... in the background as Porter is celebrating, you can see Peyton get up and begin to half-heartedly throw his arms up as if to ask, "Didn't anyone see that?" But he had to know nobody was going to stop the party.

And that brings me to my point -- while I'm fine with the outcome as I wanted to see a Saints victory, it's sort of crappy that a play that could be used as a textbook definition of clipping went completely uncalled because the officials were, what? Just as overcome by the moment as the rest of us? Simms didn't see it, Nantz didn't see it. Or if they did, they chose not to call the officials out about it.

(Had this happened to Tom Brady, Pats fans everywhere would be organizing a protest of the game and demanding the NFL play it over again.)

How might that have changed the game, though? The Saints then have the ball on their own side of the field and the Indy defense is amped with three minutes left to hold them and get the ball back to Peyton. I know, I know, it's over and believe me, I'm certainly not a Colts apologist -- understand that. I just find this to be an interesting tidbit. While so many people are talking about how Drew Brees signing with the Saints altered their history, it's interesting to think about how much a correct call could have altered this Super Bowl.

Coronation

Purdue's favorite son reaches the pinnacle.

Drew Brees grew up in Texas and went 28-0-1 as a high school QB in Austin. But none of the big time Texas schools wanted Drew. He was too small. He'd hurt his knee in high school. He wasn't the right material for them.

Drew went on to Purdue, becoming the favorite player of many of us. He took over Joe Tiller's offense in 1998 and produced, without question, the most exciting moments of the past 40 years of Boilermaker football. He's remained a loyal Boilermaker, still doing ads for local businesses in West Lafayette as well as donating $1.5 million back to the University.

Drew's next stop was with the San Diego Chargers, where (as hard as this is to imagine) there were questions about whether he could make it in the NFL. Eventually, Drew persevered and became successful, leading the Chargers from poor back to respectable. However, they had acquired Phil Rivers and decided when Drew's "franchised" year was up, after the 2005 season, that they would let him walk. And he did. But not before grotesquely wrecking his throwing shoulder in his final play as a Charger, on a meaningless fumble recovery, in a meaningless game...for a team that no longer wanted him anyway.

He gutted out months of rehab in order to be ready for the 2006 season, for whoever took a chance on him.

The only two teams to show interest in him as a free agent were Miami and New Orleans. Miami eventually decided he wasn't worth the risk and went with *cough/laugh* Daunte Culpepper. Drew signed with New Orleans, a team coming off a horrid year after playing their whole 2005 season away from home following Katrina.

In 2006, Drew quietly led the Saints to within one win of the Super Bowl. They took a dip the following two seasons, though Drew most certainly did not, throwing for over 5,000 yards in 2008.

In 2009, the Saints put it all together. But many felt the 5-0 Giants were better than the 4-0 Saints in October. The Saints crushed New York. Many felt the Pats would be a challenge -- the Saints waxed New England. Many felt the Vikings and Brett Favre would take out the Saints, who hadn't played a complete game in a long time. The Saints still found a way. And then, of course, for these past two weeks, all we've heard about is Peyton's second Super Bowl title. It sounded forgone.

As recently as this morning even, the doofuses on ESPN were debating whether or not Drew Brees was an "elite" quarterback. I guess it was up for debate because he hadn't won a Super Bowl. Which is a simply idiotic debate. The guy is one of the absolute best in the league, much the way Dan Fouts and Dan Marino were -- two guys who never won a Super Bowl. Drew needed to do nothing else to prove he was an elite quarterback.

But then, Drew's been overcoming being not giving him the credit he deserves or believing in him fully for a long, long time. Going back to the end of high school, when nobody really recruited him in Texas and he wound up at Purdue. And changed all of our football-viewing lives for the better.

Drew Brees went 32 of 39 tonight in a nearly flawless peformance and beat a Colts team that has looked unbeatable all season. He beat the unflappable Peyton Manning. Before that he beat Kurt Warner and Brett Favre. And now he is a Super Bowl champion and a Super Bowl MVP.

Congrats, Drew. We couldn't be prouder. And since all three of us here at Boiled Sports became papas in the past six weeks, the below photo made us saps love it all even more.

Who dat Boiler? He's Drew Brees...champion.

Good Guy Super Bowl

A lot's been said over these two dragged out weeks where we're all repeatedly reminded how awesome it is to work in sports -- especially if you're not playing the Super Bowl. All athletes and celebs and every single sports radio show in America (except the Handsome Hour) seem to descend upon the host city. I will admit I rather enjoyed the fact that they had marginal-to-crappy weather in Miami most of this week. Serves you all right for rubbing the rest of our noses in it, jerkwads. Also, have fun trying this in Dallas next year. It actually snows in Dallas in Jan/Feb. Have fun with that.

Also, why can't we go back to those few years where there was only one week between the conference title games and the Super Bowl? They did a few times maybe ten or so years ago and I'm guessing it didn't work as well for the sponsors and host city and, well, basically everyone trying to make money off this event. You know who it did work out well for? Fans. You know, the people who, ostensibly, these games are being played for. I loved that. A week off sucks. From preseason games in late July through the NFC/AFC championship games, there is NFL football every single week. And then we just grind it to a halt for two weeks. So stupid and illogical. Of course, they could be like the BCS and take off 5 or 6 weeks and then play the Super Bowl in March, so I guess I should be thankful.

Anyway, here we (finally) are. Colts versus Saints and, honestly, unless you have some irrational hate for one of these teams, I think the majority of neutral fans (i.e., not a true fan of either) are in the boat I am -- it wouldn't be awful if either team won. Which is a rare place for the Super Bowl to be. Usually I really do or do not want to see a team win. Usually, it's the latter. Unless the Giants are in it, I'm usually rooting against someone. Two years ago was utterly awesome because not only was I rooting for my Giants, but I would have been rooting against the Patriots anyway.

For Boilerdowd, the season before was the ultimate. And now, here we are, with a game that matters probably more to him than me (since as for pro football, he's a Colts guy and a Drew Brees lover fan) but that I cannot wait to watch.

Neither team plays a whole lot of defense, though we've heard a lot of talk about the beating New Orleans put on Brett Favre. And that's fine, but Favre has always taken hits. The guy holds on to the ball and waits for a sandlot play to develop. He often throws at the last second and he also tries to throw a block sometimes. Make no mistake, though, the Saints gave up a lot of yards and points in that NFC title game. The Vikes couldn't stop turning the ball over and yet they still should have won. Crazy.

The Colts are surgical, as everyone talks about ad nauseum regarding Peyton, so I won't rehash it here. Suffice it to say, though, that when Tom Brady had marginal, unknown receivers back in 2006, he lost to the Colts and everyone said they needed to upgrade their receivers for Terrific Tom. The Pats then did that in a major way (Moss, Welker, Gaffney, etc.) and Handsome Tom still hasn't won a Super Bowl since the 2004 season. Manning, on the other hand, takes unknown receivers and turns them into stars. Funny how that works.

The Saints have been riding emotion for a long time now. They played like a machine for the first three months of the season, dispatching quality opponents like the Giants and Pats as though they didn't belong on the same field with the Saints. These weren't "solid wins" or clear victories -- these were destructions. One could argue that the G-men and the Pats were never the same after being de-pantsed by the Saints in New Orleans. The Giants were 5-0 heading to New Orleans, in what was billed as a test for the Saints. Turned out the Giants were pretenders, getting hammered and reeling a 3-8 finish. Ugh.

The Pats entered 7-3, got trounced, and went 3-2 down the stretch, flaming out in the first round of the playoffs.

My point? The Saints were a buzzsaw, absolutely mowing down anyone in their path. And then they sort of lost their way, losing their final three games. I knew this would be a problem, as they then had a bye week and it had been five weeks since they had won a game. You can't overstate how much repetition and mindsets factor into NFL success -- after all, it's one-and-done; you can't have a bad game and go get 'em tomorrow like in a playoff series in other sports.

The Saints got their act together in destroying the Cardinals and then put together a somewhat nervous performance against the Vikes. And here we are.

The Colts, meanwhile, are almost frighteningly methodical in how they flatten teams. No trash talking. No responding to remarks by idiots like the Jets. They, in what is unfortunately rare, let their play do all their talking. They go out there and ground their opponents into dust. How many times were the Colts even seriously challenged this year? I saw them in person here in Houston against the Texans and the Texans looked in control early, building a 23-7 lead, I believe. And then, predictably, the wheels came off because Peyton has something few others have -- complete confidence in his and his team's abilities as well as patience. It doesn't matter how long it takes for him to figure things out -- he will figure them out. The Patriots had outplayed the Colts all night in that November game famous for Bill Belichick's going for it on fourth down. But that call kind of overshadows how Peyton brought the Colts back from a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter. That's incredible and few guys -- if any -- could do that to a Patriots team. The fourth down call never should have been an issue -- Peyton forced it to become one.

Another Colts tidbit that I have heard a few times and find myself completely agreeing with is that they haven't lost a single game they've tried to win. On its face, this sounds like a little kid argument: "Well, I wasn't trying!" But it's not. The Colts lost two games this season. One to the Jets, in which they held a third-quarter lead before the team inexplicably decided to fold the tent for the week and remove key players, such as Manning. And the other in the final week, in a snowy game against the Bills -- a game which I definitely agreed with yanking the starters since the game was truly rendered as meaningless as possible as a result of the previous week's dumb decision. The Colts should have gone for perfection, in my opinion. But they didn't and so now they're pissed and want to crush anyone in their path -- at least that's how I see it. So maybe it was a genius move. We'll never know for sure.

My (rambling) point is this.... we think the Colts are going to wind up the champs this weekend. As mentioned on the Handsome Hour, our loyalties are divided. Boilerdowd is a Colts fan who likes Drew Brees more than the supple, young, impressionable lads he "guided" as a counselor in the Purdue dorms -- and he's come to the conclusion that he wants the Colts to win. He also threw in the girl-like (no offense ladies) comment that he wants to see Drew do well, too. So, basically, he's like a mom who wants all the kids to get a trophy at the end of the soccer season. Yay!

Me, I'm pulling for the Saints all the way. I've been the Superdome to see Drew play, I (like many of you) watched him play in Ross-Ade and I really like pretty much everything about this Saints team. Again, this is not to disparage the Colts, who for the most part do everything the classy, right way (aside from going for perfect seasons, at which they are poor). And again as mentioned, if the Colts were to win, I'd be fine with Peyton having a second Super Bowl and would honestly hope he wins a few more to cement his status as the best QB ever -- because he really is.

The BS pick, as though you care:

Colts 38, Saints 35

Joe Tiller, Game Changer?

Was this man partially responsible for changing the game?

This is a bit off the current topics of the season, but since it's Super Bowl week, I thought it might be appropriate. I was listening to the radio today and every radio show in America is being done from "radio row" at the Super Bowl and Tiki Barber was on. He was discussing the current state of the game and, of course, the upcoming game this weekend. And a point he made really resonated with me and made me wonder if it was possible that Joe Tiller had some hand in changing the way the game of football is played....nationwide.

Tiki was discussing the Super Bowl combatants and he commented on how Indy's rushing offense is 29th in the league -- and how that doesn't matter at all, because of how surgical Peyton Manning is. Fair point. He went on to talk about how the position of running back is quickly becoming less relevant to the point where he expects it to soon be less relevant than ever. This is because everyone runs some variation of the spread offense and bubble screens and quick outs and slants -- when done precisely -- are just as effective as a first down run play that used to be the bread-and-butter of every offense out there. You always ran on first down unless you were some wild-ass, Bill Walsh offense. And he was considered kind of kooky when he first ran it in the NFL.

So yes, the West Coast offense existed -- and succeeded -- for a number years, starting with those '80s Forty-Niners teams. But it's safe to say everyone else mainly relied on the tried and true method of success (and the "conventional wisdom" of many football lifers): run on first down, run on second down, maybe pass on third down. Oh, and the quarterback spent almost all of his time under center. The shotgun was a gimmick, sort of, and something that good defenses felt they could use to their advantage because it was almost always a sign of a sure passing down.

Then something funny happened over the past ten years or so. Spread offenses took over. They say football is a "copycat" sport (see the ridiculous proliferation of the dumb-ass, 1940s Wildcat offense) and so as spread offenses began to succeed more, more teams began to institute them. This spread (no pun intended) like wildfire, burning through the college ranks and down to high school, to the point where the guy currently referred to as maybe the best college football player ever can't get comfortable taking a snap from center. Crazy.

Joe Tiller came to Purdue in 1997 and immediately implemented a spread offense, infamously called "basketball on grass," a term that is still used by know-nothing commentators today, even when Purdue is running more plays on the ground than in the air. But think back -- Cowboy Joe's system in 1997 was a lot more revolutionary than it would be in 2010. Now, everybody runs a version of the spread. In 1997, approximately zero Big Ten teams ran such an offense. For years (up until his retirement, in fact), Tiller was cited as the reason that the Big Ten's offensive statistics and approach changed. Tiller began passing on first down and frequently "using the pass to set up the pass." We all loved it, of course, because it completely baffled Big Ten defenses (remember, that 1997 team was coming off a 3-8 1996 and didn't even really have the personnel for such an offense) and allowed the Boilers to race to a 9-win season. It was amazing.

Before long, more offenses in the Big Ten opened it up, as did many offenses around the country at that time. Just prior to that, what kinds of teams won national titles in college football? Teams like Nebraska, running the effing OPTION. Now what kinds of teams win it? Teams like Florida and Alabama and USC. Sure, they're not all overly pass-happy teams, but the threat of their passing attack is one of the keys to making them successful. Nebraska used to win titles with quarterbacks who had no business even being referred to as quarterbacks.

Whereas winning Super Bowls at the NFL level used to be done with running game and crushing defense, the St. Louis Rams of '99-'01 showed that you could be very successful (and win a Super Bowl) by passing the sh-t out of the ball and playing defense once in a while. The Rams did what nobody had ever been able to do -- outscore everyone.

So the question I ask you is this: Did Joe Tiller play some significant role in changing the way the game is played? Clearly, I'm not silly enough to think he was the cause, but is it fair to say that what he brought to the Big Ten helped make the pass-happy, spread approach more mainstream?

Well, the 29th-best rushing team in the NFL is playing against Joe Tiller's first big recruit and the man who ran his offense better than anyone.

Big Weekend for Former Boilermakers

No kidding, right? Unless you live under a rock (okay, or if you're not an avid Purdue follower), you know that there are Boilermakers on every team left in the NFL's final four. So while we do sometimes talk NFL around here, we've been doing less of it lately -- however, over the next couple weeks, I think you'll be hearing a little more about it. Let's look at the combatants and the games this weekend. Because, hey, everyone else is.

New Orleans Saints versus Minnesota Vikings


One of Purdue's proudest sons is one win away from the Super Bowl for the second time in his four seasons with New Orleans. People forget that in Mr. Handsome's first year with the team, in 2006, they lost the championship game to the Bears. This was the year after they won only 3 games while playing their entire season away from New Orleans following Katrina. I remember this vividly because Drew had just gone to New Orleans and that August I was in Las Vegas and I put down a bet on the Saints to be NFC champs -- at 35-1. I was a believer in Drew. And I remember not telling anyone I had done that until they were eliminated, so as not to jinx it. Alas, the sucko Bears managed to Rex Grossman their way into the opportunity to get waxed by the Colts.

I'll be pontificating/hero-worshipping Drew a little more in a separate post later today, but for now let's get to this game.

I'm worried, and I'm not afraid to admit it. The Saints biggest weakness has been their run defense. And what is one of the Vikings strength? Of course, Adrian Peterson who, make no mistake, is an animal. I love this guy and let's all just agree that he's the reason Brett Favre has had an admittedly terrific season. Brett, to his credit, bought into the Vikings plan to run the hell out of Peterson until other teams committed to stopping him -- and then they'd punch 'em in the throat with a Brett Favre pass. This of course only works if Favre avoids his trademark crippling interceptions (all-time leader in INTs, by the way, though I don't recall them stopping the game for any ceremonies for that), which has done an amazing job of. This is Favre's lowest interception season ever -- EVER. And he still quietly threw for 4,200 yards. So as much as we collectively dislike this disingenuous hillbilly, he's playing possibly the best football he's ever played -- or at least his best in ten-plus years.

However, the playoffs are when the wheels often come flying off for Fav-ray. So we shall see.

Both sides have pretty decent defenses, but certainly their defenses are not what the teams are known for. On the Minnesota side is our old friend Ray Edwards, who terrorized Tony Romo, much to my delight. Seriously, is there anything better than seeing the Cowboys lose? Jerry Jones deserves nothing. He had one of the best coaches in the game, but his ego forced him to hire a series of bozos (not including Parcells, who eventually had enough on his own) and make himself the GM. Yes, a rich doofus owns the team and makes himself the GM. Even Mark Cuban's not that arrogant. But I digress.

Ray Edwards has blossomed into a hell of a defensive player. He's actually missed some practice time this week due to injury and while I never like to see a Boiler down, I'm okay if he doesn't make it out there to pressure Drew.

The Saints offense, as we've seen over and over this year, is explosive. And they're playing in one of the few home venues that truly can be considered a home-field advantage. I've seen games in the Superdome and it's a pretty great experience -- I can only imagine how deafening it is in the playoffs. And deafening is when opponents make mistakes, run the wrong route, etc. Here's hoping.

Saints 38, Vikings 34
-------------------------------------------------------

Indianapolis Colts versus New York Jets


Alright, let's get something straight -- the Jets aren't even in the playoffs if the Colts and Bengals don't lay down for them the last two weeks of the season. Sure, they've played very well and very opportunistically in the playoffs, but they shouldn't even be here. And let's make mistake -- no matter how much the Jets push their "Are they trying now?" motivation tactic (as they did against Cinci), the Colts are just as pissed off about that previous matchup. The Colts players were not pleased with the decision to lay down -- and that's what you expect out of competitors. I expect the Colts to want to win, and win big, showing everyone that they are indeed better than the Jets when they try for four quarters. Given that, I'm thinking Peyton Manning may get more snaps than Curtis Painter in the second half this time around. Going out on a limb here.

As for the Jets, I don't want to completely minimize them. They have a coach who has convinced them to truly believe and they have. Reportedly, at a team meeting on January 5, Rex Ryan mapped out their daily obligations, meetings, practices, etc., all the way through the Tuesday after the Super Bowl. On that day, the board said "PARADE." I give the fat man credit -- he's pushing all the right buttons.

And who has had some of the most critical catches for the Jetties? None other than Dustin Keller, former monster Boilermaker. Have you ever noticed how whenever they need a critical catch, Keller makes it? Can you remember any drops, legitimate or otherwise? And finally, is it me, or is Keller already one of the best YAC tight ends in the NFL? The guy turns short crossing patterns into 50 yard gains. I love the guy and wish he was on my team.

BUT.... let's look closer at the Jets success. Sure, the Jets have the number 1 rushing offense in the NFL. But that's skewed, because they also have an interception factory in Mark Sanchez. When you have a guy you don't trust to throw the ball, you run it incessantly and hope your defense makes some plays. Many teams have ridden this formula to success, usually with shoddy quarterbacks. And it's worked for the Jets because of the teams the Jets have played.

The Bengals looked listless and the Jets were ahead most of the day -- perfect formula for them. And the Chargers? Well, is anyone surprised the Chargers choked early again? I mean, when can we start piling on them as chokers and underachievers. I'm really tired of hearing about how "this is the year" for the Chargers. They've been good for essentially the entire LaDainian Tomlinson Era and, yet, they almost always seem to fall short of expectations. Cool, calm Phil Rivers leads them to one TD in the first half and winds up throwing a Farvian crippling interception that the Jets returned to the SD 16 yard line.... to a place where even Sanchez couldn't help but score. Suddenly, the pressure was on SD and the Jets ground them down. My point? I'm not impressed with the two teams the Jets beat. How they beat them? Yes, I'm impressed with that. But I don't think the Colts are like either of those teams. Coffee is for closers. The Colts are closers.

Colts 23, Jets 13

Uh-Oh: Could the Golden Boys Have Cheated, Too?

Looks like the Pats aren't the only ones who might be cheaters in the NFL. The feel-good Colts might also be to blame.

Just like in baseball and auto racing, where the old adage goes, "If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'," it looks like the Colts are the latest to get called out for trying something that's a bit below-board.

Whether or not there's truth to it remains to be seen, but the Colts right now stand accused of piping in extra crowd noise for Sunday's showdown with the Patriots.

What's interesting to me is why a team would think this would really help. This is what makes me think this is either unlikely to be true or, if it is true, is the product of someone aside from the football operations (i.e., the sound team at the Hoosier/RCA/Whatever Dome). I mean, isn't it likely the Pats have played in pretty loud places before?

Apparently, league officials were tipped off when the crowd noise got very loud in the dome.

"This game took place in Indianapolis," said Roger Godell in a prepared statement, "and everybody knows the Indiana crowds never really get loud so we knew something was amiss."*

Seriously, though, I think this is pretty funny and just adds to the brewing hate between these teams and fan bases.

*Statement may be fabricated -- please don't have me kneecapped, Commissioner Goodell.

Who Ya Got?

If you haven't heard, the Colts and Patriots are playing on Sunday in what might be the most hyped regular season game ever. And there's a fair amount of backlash from people who are sick of hearing about these teams (Sox-Yanks of the NFL?) and their golden boy quarterbacks.

However, this game actually is worth the hype. At least, in my opinion, and really, whose opinion matters here? Yours?

I recall back in the 1990 season, both the Giants and Niners had started the season 10-0 and were supposed to play one another in Week 12 -- on Monday night, no less. Everybody was talking about it weeks in advance and, predictably, both teams lost focus and lost in Week 11. So it was a Monday night matchup of 10-1 teams, which was still awesome. The Niners won the game 7-3, in the most entertaining game that could ever be that low-scoring.

This matchup, however, will supercede it, I think. For one thing, both teams are methodically mowing down their opponents and are both simply amazing at staying focused. Peyton's focus and single-mindedness about winning and working hard to get better is legendary. Brady's ability to carry out an expertly-crafted (if sometimes illegally crafted with videos) game plan is also impressive. And both are in the absolute primes of their careers.

Some things to think about as we head towards NFL Armageddon in Indy this weekend:

• Think about the 21-3 lead that the Pats had on the Colts in the AFC title game last January. If Tom Brady had guys like Moss, Welker and Stallworth to throw to, is there any doubt the Pats hold onto that game? What becomes of Peyton's reputation if that happens and he comes up short again? And for all those who think Belichick's a genius for cutting loose guys they don't need (like Deion Branch), was that perhaps his most terrible coaching move, since it obviously cost them a potential title?
  
• These two guys are like Magic and Bird, only with what appears to be even more parity between them. Seriously, if you had to choose a quarterback to start your team right now, who would you choose? It's not an easy question to answer and no matter which way you start leaning, you can see reasons to go the other way (like heterosexuality for some of our readers).
  
• The Colts are a home underdog. I am willing to bet there's never been a Super Bowl champ who started the following season 7-0 and then was an underdog at home. And I believe the line is at 5.5, which means it's more than a field goal! Amazing. This is the team that beat the Pats the last time they played. Has to be motivation for Indy, right?
  
• People talk about how the Pats are simply crushing their opposition this season -- and it's true -- but it's not like the Colts aren't taking care of business convincingly. They've scored 41, 22, 30, 38, 33, 29 and 31 points in their seven wins, averaging a 17-point margin of victory.
  
• Of course, the Pats have been ludicrous, putting up 38, 38, 38, 34, 34, 48, 49, 52, with an average margin of victory of almost 27 points! They're actually scoring like a top-ranked college team toying with I-AA opponents (or Division II opponents, in the case of the Redskins). They're averaging 50 points a game over the past three weeks. It's like they've been warming up for this game.
  
• No matter what Belichick, Brady and the rest of them say, this is not just any other game. I'm sure they'll play it off that way, especially if they win, but there's no way this isn't the one Belichick wants more than any other regular season game. Sure, beating Manboobies Mangini is fun, but it's just recreational at this point. Beating the Colts -- the team that took him down -- is what Belichick wants to do. And you know he'd love to hang 52 on the Colts in the Dome.
  

So who is going to win this thing?

Boilerdowd lives outside Indy and is a homer for the Colts, despite his other allegiances to Boston-area sports teams. ;-)

Tim is outside Cleveland and I believe he dislikes both teams. I imagine he's rooting for a tie.

And me -- I'm in Jersey and truly rooting for a good game. Despite the hate a lot of people have for these two teams (and I am seeing them compared more and more to the Sox-Yankees of football), I really enjoy watching them both play. They're machine-like, methodical teams, and I wish I had teams to watch that were simply this good. It's the game everybody wants to see if they love football and it's just the right time -- halfway through the season, early November, baseball is over... it's just right.

In my weekly pool that I play in, I picked the Patriots, simply because one of my rules is not to pick against the Pats until they show me the have a weakness. Isn't that scary? Looking at a team halfway through the season and thinking they truly have no weakness?

Usually in my pool, which is run with confidence picks (you pick all the games and then assign a confidence number to each game), I simply check off the Pats and Colts and then give them each the highest number of confidence points I can. Well, this week was obviously different. Like everyone else, a Colts win wouldn't suprise me at all -- they are the undefeated, defending champs and they're at home, after all -- but I have to go with the Patriots. It's kind of dumb to pick the road team in such a clash, but I think the Patriots are viewing this game as their season and that's going to be the difference. When they meet again in January, though, things might be different.

Colts Week 1

I know, it's not Brees v. Manning, it's two teams playing eachother. But, it is two high-powered offenses squaring off with two of the best signal-callers in the game at the helm for each team.

Tonight, actually, this afternoon, Faith Hill and the NFL broadcasting team roll into Indianapolis for a ridiculous carnival of events not related to football...as well as the NFL season opener.

I'll be honest, I like Peyton Manning. But at one point, I would have left my wife and started an alternative lifestyle with Drew Brees. Now that I have a kid and he's moved to the South it just won't work. As a result, I'm a lot more level-headed since I'm not blinded by my man-crush.

I'll be going with the home team to pick up a victory this evening. I'm picking the Colts to win by forcing the Saints into an arms race that they can't win...Colts 37 Saints 28

I look for the undersized & young Colts defense to play better than most think it can, especially down the stretch. Last thing, before the NFL gets into full-swing, the Patriots and Belichick can suck it. I think they've made a few deals with the devil (i.e. Randy Moss) that will end up biting them in the arse before the season's up. I still think that Brady might be the best overall quarterback in the league, but chemistry is still important. Hiring a bunch of mercenaries doesn't always bring you a championship- just ask the Yankees. (oh no he di-int)

Pretty Fricking Super

The Indianapolis Colts are World Champs...and from the perspective of a guy who lives just outside of Indianapolis, it's pretty great. The build-up to the game was fun, and the celebrations after have been tame. I am happy for Manning and Dungy both who have constantly been told that they just can't win the big game.

So, Peyton Manning won't have to answer anymore questions about his legacy now that he's won a Super Bowl...or will he? No joke- At 11:45 pm Eastern, on ESPN, the smart guys on ESPN asked the question- "Does Peyton need to win two to cement his legacy as one of the greats?" Seriously, that has to be the most stupid question ever asked. I think his legacy is just fine- he's got some individual records, his team won 13 in a row in 2005, he was part of one of the biggest comebacks in playoff history and his team is now the World Champion. I am pretty sure it's OK to say he's a great quarterback. Further, he now can win the big game; I'd argue he won the last two big games...so shut it, ESPN. He's jumped through plenty of hoops.

Does anyone else think the Colts might win another now?

Colts 38 Patriots 34

Ding Dong, the witch is dead!





I know, I know, the Colts haven't won a Super Bowl yet, but all of the whispers that have followed Peyton Manning & Tony Dungy alike have been silenced. They really needed to play the Patriots to stop people (like me) from doubting that they were even capable of winning the "big game" let alone beating teams from the Boston area during the month of January.

Here's the thing- I find Manning, Dungy, Wayne, Addai, Irsay and many others in the Colts organization likable. It's nice, for me at least, to see "the good guy" win. Conversely, I find Belicheck unlikable...even moreso, I find Mark Hurley and Chris Bois & most other chowdah heads detestable...So it couldn't have happened to a better group of guys.


For those of you who didn't catch this- the Colts had Jim Harbaugh out at midfield for the coin toss...Right away, I was pretty angry. Real great, I thought, Harbaugh, the patron saint of the almost-win in the AFC championship is representing the Colts. That mentality reminds me of another team that I root passionately for. Unlike the Boilers, I don't think the Colts will have the Lombardi trophy on their helmet going through the horseshoe. (ref. the Rose through the "P" during Purdue's Rose Bowl appearance of 2001).

In fact, the whole game reminded me of a Purdue bowl game...with the exception of the fact that the team that I was rooting for actually won the contest.

In other news, another "good guy", Drew Brees was battered, beaten and made to look pretty lousy by the over-rated Bears defense. I really believe that the Saints offensive line played as poorly as any offensive line at that level that I have seen in a while; let alone a Championship-caliber team...Much of the credit should go to the Bears defense, but come on now. I'm pretty excited for Brees & company's future. Oh yeah, and Bush is pretty OK, if you're into that sort of thing.

Hey, Did You Know Tom Brady And Peyton Manning Have Played Each Other Before?

Yes, Rex, symbolicly, that’s what it would be like if the Saints molest you at home this weekend.

Okay, that picture out of the way, it’s time to move on to this week’s Boiled Sports NFL Playoffs Analysis. Or BSNFLPA. I like to pronounce this “Biss-Niffle-Pah.” But that’s just me.

As you know, we’re all competing for a night with someone’s wife. I don’t know where everyone’s minds are but I want to use boilerdowd’s wife for a night of home-cooked food. That is, if I win. If Tim wins, he might want to play one-on-one hoops against her. And if b-dowd himself wins, well, he can do whatever he likes. If she lets him, that is.

But enough about wives. The day will (soon) come when I’ll have a wife so the jokes must end (soon).

As documented, we’ve got a tight race going here, with playoff picks looking like this:

Tim: 5-3

boilerdowd: 6-2

J Money: 5-3

As Kissing Suzy Kolber points out, no matter how bad you feel about your own picks, just look at the dartboard-like results of the crew at ESPN and you’ll feel better about yourself.

So last week we analyzed coaches and learned that fat ones don’t generally last in the playoffs and, look, Andy Reid is gone and Mike Holmgren is gone. And no, despite Tony Dungy and Sean Payton moving on, being a thin coach is no guarantee of success. In fact, you can still suck really hard. See Shottenheimer, Marty and Edwards, Herman for further reading.

And two weeks ago we analyzed the quarterbacks and learned…well, not much, considering perennial choker Peyton is still in the hunt and loose cannon Rex Grossman is also still chuckin’.

So what to do this week? Well, how about we check out the logos/mascots of each team and see what we can glean from that.

New Orleans Saints – What the hell IS that? Is that one of those things you’d see in a Cajun church? I mean, next to a shop-vac? (Sorry, New Orleans, that was low.)

But seriously, is that a stabbing device? It’s not very scary. And, really, neither is a “Saint.”

I always thought the Chicago Cubs had one of the lamest names/mascots mainly because they’re basically calling themselves a baby version of something. Even a baby version of a bear isn’t something that instills fear. But a Saint? There are people who would say my future wife is a Saint for putting up with my BS and, frankly, she wouldn’t scare me on the football field. She’s got good hands but her tackling skills are lacking. Thumbs down on the Saints for tough logos.



Chicago Bears – Now we’re talking! The Bears sound mean and tough and wild enough to tear your limbs off. Sure, their primary logo is that mediocre “C,” which doesn’t inspire any fear, but they’re the BEARS dammit! ROAR! And then you see their secondary logo...

and see that the Bear almost looks like…he’s smiling or something. Wooo, scary! Put a detached limb in his mouth or somebody’s entrails hanging out like spaghetti, know what I’m saying? Marginal performance by the Bears logo but definitely better than a Saint.



New England Patriots – Pat Patriot. Hey, that’s really clever. I guess they had to make it simple enough for their brilliant fans to remember. Pat sounds like “Patriot,” so that should be sort of easy. They switched to the more modern looking logo they currently use and, honestly, it’s not that intimidating. In fact, think back to before they won anything and you’ll remember that the Patriots weren’t ever considered a scary team. They were the Pats, which sounded a lot like “patsies.” Whee! How formidable! Granted, if Pat Patriot...


were a real person, I wouldn’t want to be on the same field with him. But less because of his bulging muscles and more because he’s, you know, dressed like a Continental Army soldier. That’s just sort of weird.


Indianapolis Colts – Wow, a horseshoe. Intimidating, guys! “Oh no! The horseshoes are coming to town!” What are we doing, drinking beer at a cookout? That’s the only time horseshoes can be dangerous. And if you want to say, well, they’re not the Indianapolis Horseshoes, they’re the Indianapolis Colts, to that I say: So what? Why not be the Indianapolis Stallions? Or the Indianapolis Studs? In fact, when the Colts franchise bent Baltimore over and gave them a rough screw in 1983, they should have changed their name right then. The Indianapolis Studs – Don’t Screw With Us Or We'll Mount You.

-----------------------------------------------------------

So on to the picks for this week. With just a one game lead, boilerdowd has to pick carefully and hold his lead going into the Super Bowl. How we’ll break a tie has yet to be determined but it’ll probably be some variation of predicting the final score or the total points or Lisa Bettag’s cup size.

For the championship games…

Tim:

Saints over Bears
Patriots over Colts

boilerdowd:

Colts over Patriots (This is Peyton's chance to quite the whispers)
Saints over Bears (I just haven't bought into the Bears all season, I'm not going to start now...Plus, Drew Brees is super-cute!)

J Money:

Saints over Bears
Patriots over Colts

I can’t believe I’m taking both road teams.