January 23, 2011

The Stage is Set

Well after 17 weeks of the regular season and three weeks of playoffs the NFL has the two teams that will play in Super Bowl 45.

The Green Bay Packers jumped on top early and held on to beat a feisty Chicago Bears team 21-14. I have to wonder what would have happened had Bears QB Jay Cutler not been injured just prior to halftime. Also, Aaron Rodgers looked like a deer in the headlights in the second half after the Bears upped the pressure on him. The Pack is fortunate to have held on to win.

Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Steelers on going to their 8th Super Bowl. The Steelers jumped on top of the New York Jets early and got up 24-0 before New York scored just before half. The Jets came back in the second half and made it close but no cigar. The final was Steelers 24-19.

If I had to speculate at this point I would predict the Packers by two over the Steelers in the Super Bowl. But, that's two weeks away. Stay tuned for the reasons why I feel Green Bay will win that game.

January 13, 2011

Football Part - II

The St. Louis Rams season didn't end as I had hoped. They ended up losing to the Seahawks in Seattle 16-6. The Rams didn't move the ball all night long and you have to credit the Seahawks defense for coming up with a game plan that shut down Sam Bradford and Steven Jackson. (Although part of the blame has to go the Rams receiver corp which dropped numerous catchable balls). The Rams had too many three and outs and never did get un-tracked. The squad ended the 2010 campaign with a 7-9 record. While it tied Seattle for the NFC West title, Seattle won the tie-breaker by having a better division record than St. Louis.

If you had told me in July the Rams would win seven games in 2010 and be battling for a playoff spot the final game of the season I would have been ecstatic. The seven wins surpassed the team's win total for 2007, 2008 and 2009 combined.

After seeing the team win some tough games, my expectations going into Seattle were a lot higher than where they were a year ago. After all the Rams had beaten up on Seattle on their visit to the Jones Dome. But, alas it wasn't meant to be.

I am looking forward to the 2011 season (if there is one) because of the improved defense and the talent that will be back on offense. With a good draft this spring the Rams could not only make the playoffs but be playing late into January.

January 08, 2011

Football Part I

I have to say I was disappointed with the way the Missouri Tiger football season came to an end. If you slept through the past month, Mizzou got beat by Iowa 27-24 in the Insight Bowl. Yep, that's right, the freakin Insight Bowl. I don't think quarterback Blaine Gabbert was at his best that evening, but you also have to give credit to the Hawkeyes who kept pressure on him and did a good job of covering up the Tiger's receivers.

I had to get up early the morning after the game so turned it off with the Tigers up 24-20. The first thing I did when I got up the next day was to get on the 'Net and learn that Mizzou had lost on a pass interception. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who has decided to turn pro, tried to force something that wasn't there. He said so after the game. And there are those in the St. Louis media who took potshots at Gabbert. But, I really can't be critical of him. He is a tremendous athlete with a gift and has made that pass many times in the past two years. (So Bernie Miklaz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch get off of Gabbert's back). I was sad to see Mizzou lose it's bowl game for the second year in a row, but still this team had ten wins this year. Not too shabby.

With ten wins the Tigers should have been playing in the Cotton Bowl ahead of Texas A&M. Missouri had a better record than (A&M) and destroyed the Aggies back in October 30-9 in College Station. But, the bottom line is bowl committee's are nothing more than greedy businessmen looking to line their pockets. Not only wasn't Mizzou invited to the Dallas bowl game, but A&M was invited to play prior to BCS Sunday. Is it fair? Heck no. But as long as Missouri stays in the Big 12 Conference, it will continue to get hosed in the bowl selection process. First of all the conference leadership has done a terrible job of aligning itself with all of the bowl committees. The Big 12 had two teams playing on New Year's Day this year. The Big Ten (which is a weaker conference) had five teams playing on New Year's Day. (And all five lost).

The Cotton Bowl took A&M because it would sell 25 thousand tickets. Missouri sold about 18 thousand tickets four years ago when it was there. And at about $100 a pop that meant 700 thousand dollars in revenue to the Cotton Bowl committee. Enough said.

January 05, 2011

Happy New Year

Well I suppose it's better than late never, so Happy New Year to you! You probably wonder where the heck this was five days ago. Well, working my butt off and partying some too. So, with that explained. May 2011 be your best year yet and may it bring you health, peace, happiness and hopefully prosperity!