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Thanks For Playing, Chad. Buh-Bye Now.
Well, that wasn’t pretty, but it was effective…and eminently satisfying. For a solid week, the “experts” in the sporting press blathered about how the New York Jets had the Patriots’ number, about how NY coach Eric Mangina was inside Bill Belichick’s head, about how the pupil had surpassed the teacher, yadda yadda yadda… After dicking around and letting the clearly inferior Jets hang in the game for 50 minutes, it was nice to run the ball down their throats in the final quarter. And, of course, any time a Boston/New England sports franchise beats a New York franchise, it’s doubly sweet.
This concludes the Junior Varsity portion of the playoffs. Next up: a road game against the AFC-leading, 14-2 San Diego Chargers. If the Pats play the first three quarters in San Diego the way they played the first three quarters this week, they’re going to get their heads handed to them. “Bend But Don’t Break” defense works against a team with no running game; not so much against a team with LT. However, all is not lost: while the Chargers have the advantage in overall talent, the Pats have huge advantages in both playoff experience and coaching. I like our chances against a team with a rookie QB and Marty Schottenheimer calling their plays.
I was especially pleased to hear the Chargers’ Shawn Merriman predict a Jets win at halftime. Hmmm, think that’ll be locker room bulletin board material this week? Suck it, Steroid Boy.
No bracket busters in the AFC this year; the pretenders are gone, and all four division champs make the second round. I must admit, I was surprised (okay, stunned) that the Indy defense was so effective yesterday, but Herm “Rigor” Edwards played right into their hands. Hey Herm, they’re stacking nine guys on the line every single play to stop LJ! How about a couple of deep passes? Hey Herm, Peyton is shredding your Cover 2! How about a blitz or two? No? Okay, thanks for playing. You didn’t belong here, anyway.
In other news: the NFL’s local entry here in Seattle won an unbelievable, heart-stopping game over the loathsome Dallas Cowboys. The loss was so stunning and dispiriting for Dallas that Human Cancer Cell Terrell Owens said “I feel like crying.” That’s right, cry, T.O. Cry like a little schoolgirl. Your pain is delicious to us.
