The Patriots Path is Clear. Right?
NFL January 14th. 2008, 3:05pm
Didn’t see a minute of the Patriots-Jags game, so unfortunately there will be no half-baked analysis or thoughts on Randy Moss catching one pass. But now that the defending champs have been eliminated by suddenly-mighty Norv (Marty who?), and the best offense in the NFC (Dallas) is gone, it appears quite obvious that the Patriots are running the table, right? At this point, can we call 19-0 a mortal lock? What, you think the beat-up, warm-weather Chargers are going to 18-degree Foxboro and winning? And does anybody really think the Packers or Giants are legit threats to win the Super Bowl? [Aside: Although the NFL is thrilled it will get either the most popular player in the league or the best media market in the Super Bowl, you know they're stewing big-time over the Colts loss.] We were a horrid 1-3 this week, and right now, we’d lean toward both underdogs, but it’s unlikely that we’ll feel the same way Friday. We’d like to offer a hearty congrats to commenter Magglio Merkin, who correctly picked all four games, and in addition to a gold star, he will get a free post about anything he wants.
Photo: Robert E. Klein/Icon SMI
37 Responses to “The Patriots Path is Clear. Right?”
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January 14th, 2008 at 3:12 PM
yes. a thousand fucks yes.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:12 PM
the giants (as they showed two weeks ago) and the pack can give the pats a game. and who knows, a couple of f-ups and the nfc wins. it’s hardly locked in stone.
tell you what, if the pack wins sunday and their cornerbacks lay the wood to moss and jablunt gafney like they did to the seattle receivers, you just watch the alligator arms grow on moss.
i’m personally glad opie taylor and his ADD antics behind center are done for the year. and the MSM fawning over that glorified priest tony dungy.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Sweeeeeet. Deadline?
January 14th, 2008 at 3:17 PM
damnit, my picks lost me a post
fuck, still waiting
January 14th, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Merk – I can run it when you email it in.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:18 PM
People have been wanting them to lose, so let’s stick it right in destiny’s eye and say yes.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:20 PM
I just don’t see anyone beating the Pats this year without tons of luck and incredible reversals of fortune.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Will the Pats EVER turn the ball over?
January 14th, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Huh? I don’t agree with this analysis at all. I think the Packers were the best offense in the NFC for sure. Granted Dallas beat them Head to head, but Favre got hurt in that game, and they still almost pulled it out. Especially towards the end of the year. The Dallas offense just wasn’t itself without a healthy T.O. They were clearly thrown off.
Not to mention I think the Pack has been playing the best football of anyone in football the last month. Yes, better than the Patriots. Granted, Seattle in the snow my not be the best measuring stick, but nonetheless, they were very very impressive. They are a very hard and balanced offense to defend, and their defense is really solid. I think they are a far more complete team than Dallas on both sides of the ball, and am very very intrigued at a Green Bay vs. New England matchup should the cards fall that way. It’d be one of the better ones I can recall both from a football and storyline point of view.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:26 PM
I’m going to have to turn my tv off if it is Brett Favre vs Tom Brady for the Super Bowl. That’ll be the most over-hyped game in history.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:29 PM
Granted the media would beat it into the ground ten times over, but would it really be over hyped? It would be dripping with worthy hype in my eyes.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:31 PM
I’d much rather see the Packers there than the Giants.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:31 PM
the real question is…who does peter king blow first?
January 14th, 2008 at 3:33 PM
I’m sure if it’s Brady v. Favre, Peter King will end up with the nickname “Fingercuffs”…
January 14th, 2008 at 3:34 PM
You didn’t watch Pats/Jags at all? Interesting.
CBS has got to be fuming at no Colts/Pats.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Has TBL finally come around on Ryan Grant yet…he was a absolute stud for the last 55 minutes of that ballgame
January 14th, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Ryan Grant is my boy!
January 14th, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Yesterday was proof as to why this is America’s sport. Even during parts of the Pats game, you didn’t know who was going to win. No one can predict what will happen next week because there is a reason these teams are here and that is because these are great teams. The packers F-ing sucked last year and now they are in the NFC championship. The Colts/Cowboys were supposed to be the better team and yet they lost. No one can say that the Pats have this in the bag because you never know.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Mike – had a birthday party to attend, and it was at a restaurant with no TVs. Watched the highlight package on NFL Network, though. That was like 8 solid minutes of highlights.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:40 PM
I could see a little bit of a let down if this weren’t, you know, the Patriots. I think they were looking forward to playing the Colts and would get up for that game more than the Super Bowl.
But against a team that they crushed in the regular season and is seriously banged up, you could see a little bit of a let down. If, you know, these weren’t the Patriots.
Say what you will about Favre-Brady, but Favre upsetting the mighty Patriots in the Super Bowl would have to go down as one of the greatest moments in sports history.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:49 PM
That photojournalist looks pretty happy about the Patriots scoring a touchdown.
January 14th, 2008 at 3:51 PM
He’s just a fan of grown men expressing themselves. He and I are similar like that.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:06 PM
TBL, does anyone think the Packers are not a legit Super Bowl threat?
They outscored seattle 42-6 after going down 14-0. They’re gonna shit on the giants and then give the Pats all they can handle.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Read into that win over a weak Seattle road team at your peril. I like watching the Pack and would be thrilled to see the Pats go down to them.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:10 PM
even when the jags scored first, i wasn’t nervous. i’m trying to be unbiased, but i don’t see how the chargers can upset the pats. the patriots are the best at making in game adjustments, so no matter what the chargers throw at them, they’ll adjust. if it is a pats- packers super bowl, peter king will be dreaming of cross country skiing along side brady and favre.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:17 PM
agree that seattle is weak, and its nice they were finally exposed, but still, the Packers are legit. I’ll be rooting for the Chargers to cover the 2 touchdown spread, but a Packer-Patriot Super Bowl will be outstanding.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:19 PM
The Packers have the best chance of beating the Pats, and they’ll definitely meet in the Super Bowl, but if they jump to an early lead on the Pack, they can force Favre to make bed decisions and throw where he shouldn’t.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:24 PM
packers have to get by the giants first there wilhelreems and that isnt a easy task
pats will still put up 40+ against the pack, and there is no way in hell ryan grant will run for over 100 against NE
but what do i know, i picked the JAGS against the Pats and lost big
January 14th, 2008 at 4:24 PM
I am hoping that Marlon Mcree can change the tune of the Pats wide receivers. The thought of him leveling Randy on a quick slant has me giddy.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:31 PM
ok, so after Randy Moss gets hit, what are you going to do to Welker, Stallworth, Gafney and Watson? Unless Moss is knocked out of the game, you can’t just assume the others are going to piss their pants just because moss got hit hard.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:33 PM
A Packers/Patriots Super Bowl would be like the Packers.Broncos Super Bowl when Elway was on his way out and Favre was the young star in his prime.
Interesting.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:34 PM
I’d much rather see the Packers there than the Giants.
So would the Patriots.
January 14th, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Eli Manning is unstoppable..Do you think he called big bro after the game and ragged on him..
January 14th, 2008 at 4:39 PM
If Eli isn’t doing a commercial soon for the FlowBee I will be highly disappointed
January 14th, 2008 at 5:45 PM
With all due respect Darrell, I don’t think the Patriots are too worried about facing the Packers in the Super Bowl. Chuck Norris even checks under his bed at night to see if the Patriots are there.
January 14th, 2008 at 5:57 PM
The idea that Favre will start throwing up picks if the Pack falls behind is a bit tired. They were down 14 pts. after 5 minutes on Saturday and he stayed within himself. Other than the Dallas game this year, the reckless Favre of recent years has stayed in hiding. Credit McCarthy, Grant, and an improved receiving corps for Favre not thinking he needs to do everything by himself.
The Pats would probably beat GB, but it would be a better game than Pats/Giants.
January 14th, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Man, I’d do just about anything to see anyone knock off the Patriots. But like you, TBL, I’m afraid it ain’t gonna happen.