Championship Sunday
So it has been a long while since I updated this blog and I figured what better time to do it then right now. I mean tonight at around 6:30 the New England Patriots will be taking on the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC Championship and the exclusive rights to go to Super Bowl XLI in Miami, Florida.
I was watching ESPN this morning and they were talking about what their panel of analysts thought about the two teams coaches and other off the wall questions that really have no bearing on how the game will be played. One specific question really tweaked a nerve or something because here I am writing this post. The question was, “How many super bowl championships would Peyton Manning have if he played for the New England Patriots?”
The panel unanimously agreed that he would have just as many rings, three, as Tom Brady. All fine and dandy, but they clearly didn’t take the time to look at this question and give it any intelligent thought. Look at the teams that Manning had and look at the teams that Brady had over the years. Manning had more talent Brady had more heart.
In the years Brady has been winning Super Bowls Manning has set the records, won the MVP’s, and been the favorite during the regular season. Yes, I understand that Brady had a good defense to go along with his capable offense, but with Manning’s talent he could put up four or five touchdowns a game easily. Despite this he hasn’t won a Super Bowl or an AFC Championship.
The basic fact is that Manning has historically choked in the months of the season where it mattered most. Brady has been the complete opposite having an almost perfect record in the playoffs, only one loss.
The Patriots and Colts have been two of the leagues elite teams for six years now. And I can pick and choose from many things that make them completely different. Both teams have great coaches, but only one of them has won a Super Bowl. Both have great Quarterbacks, but again only one of them has won a Super Bowl. The Patriots defense is great the Colts in inconsistent. The opposite is true about the offense with the Colts being great and the Patriots is reliable, but no where near the threat of the Colts
The Patriots stress the team, no one player is bigger than the team. Probably why Brady, who bought into Belichick’s system, took far less money than any of the elite starting Quarterbacks in the league, by saying something along the lines of the organization being able to spend the money in better ways than he ever could. He isn’t about stats; the only stat that matters to Brady is wins. You never hear about the receivers on this team complaining about Brady not throwing the ball to them enough. In fact you never hear about anyone complaining about anything on this team. This team is the NFL’s version of Pleasantville, before Reese Witherspoon came in and gave them sex and color. You have guys sacrificing themselves for the greater good of the team. I mean Troy Brown plays on both Defense and his natural side, offense. He saved the game against the San Diego Chargers on a great play.
The Colts on the other hand care about stats as well as winning, and when they don’t perform well they lose. The Patriots play poorly and find other ways to win. So I believe that if Manning had played in New England he wouldn’t have any rings unless he bought into the system that Brady already has. Now if Peyton Manning bought into the system where he wouldn’t have the stats that he has now then, he wouldn’t be Peyton Manning.
Two things before I wrap this up, of the four teams playing for two spots to go to the Super Bowl, there are 16 players going to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii a week after the Super Bowl. Only one is a member of the Patriots, that one, is Richard Seymour. I won't make any predictions, but if the game comes down to an Adam Vinatieri field goal or a Stephen Gostowski field goal miss, I'm going to be very upset and may not be very friendly until the Colts lose to New Orleans in the Super Bowl.
I was watching ESPN this morning and they were talking about what their panel of analysts thought about the two teams coaches and other off the wall questions that really have no bearing on how the game will be played. One specific question really tweaked a nerve or something because here I am writing this post. The question was, “How many super bowl championships would Peyton Manning have if he played for the New England Patriots?”
The panel unanimously agreed that he would have just as many rings, three, as Tom Brady. All fine and dandy, but they clearly didn’t take the time to look at this question and give it any intelligent thought. Look at the teams that Manning had and look at the teams that Brady had over the years. Manning had more talent Brady had more heart.
In the years Brady has been winning Super Bowls Manning has set the records, won the MVP’s, and been the favorite during the regular season. Yes, I understand that Brady had a good defense to go along with his capable offense, but with Manning’s talent he could put up four or five touchdowns a game easily. Despite this he hasn’t won a Super Bowl or an AFC Championship.
The basic fact is that Manning has historically choked in the months of the season where it mattered most. Brady has been the complete opposite having an almost perfect record in the playoffs, only one loss.
The Patriots and Colts have been two of the leagues elite teams for six years now. And I can pick and choose from many things that make them completely different. Both teams have great coaches, but only one of them has won a Super Bowl. Both have great Quarterbacks, but again only one of them has won a Super Bowl. The Patriots defense is great the Colts in inconsistent. The opposite is true about the offense with the Colts being great and the Patriots is reliable, but no where near the threat of the Colts
The Patriots stress the team, no one player is bigger than the team. Probably why Brady, who bought into Belichick’s system, took far less money than any of the elite starting Quarterbacks in the league, by saying something along the lines of the organization being able to spend the money in better ways than he ever could. He isn’t about stats; the only stat that matters to Brady is wins. You never hear about the receivers on this team complaining about Brady not throwing the ball to them enough. In fact you never hear about anyone complaining about anything on this team. This team is the NFL’s version of Pleasantville, before Reese Witherspoon came in and gave them sex and color. You have guys sacrificing themselves for the greater good of the team. I mean Troy Brown plays on both Defense and his natural side, offense. He saved the game against the San Diego Chargers on a great play.
The Colts on the other hand care about stats as well as winning, and when they don’t perform well they lose. The Patriots play poorly and find other ways to win. So I believe that if Manning had played in New England he wouldn’t have any rings unless he bought into the system that Brady already has. Now if Peyton Manning bought into the system where he wouldn’t have the stats that he has now then, he wouldn’t be Peyton Manning.
Two things before I wrap this up, of the four teams playing for two spots to go to the Super Bowl, there are 16 players going to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii a week after the Super Bowl. Only one is a member of the Patriots, that one, is Richard Seymour. I won't make any predictions, but if the game comes down to an Adam Vinatieri field goal or a Stephen Gostowski field goal miss, I'm going to be very upset and may not be very friendly until the Colts lose to New Orleans in the Super Bowl.
posted by Joe Hegarty at 11:48 AM
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