Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff
Final Score
Patriots 56
Bills 10
View from Mt. Olympus: Think about this; a team that had won 4-games in a row and was playing at home was a 16-point underdog, yet no one batted an eyelash, and the spread was never in doubt. That’s sick!
It’s great to listen to national announcers like Al Michaels and John Madden spend 3-hours talking about how great this team is. Michaels, at one point, said what most of us have been thinking for about a month now; that this could very well be the greatest team in history. Madden also said Tom Brady is playing quarterback better than anyone in history has ever played the position. No argument from me on either point.
What I will disagree with Madden on is his frustration that the Bills were just letting Brady stand in the pocket and shred them. Um, John; they weren’t LETTING him. The offensive line wasn’t LETTING them get close to him. Yes, credit Brady for his incredible pocket presence. When all hell is breaking loose around him, Giselle’s boy-toy is cooler than a glass of water after an Altoid. But that shouldn’t take away from the fact the O-Line rarely lets Brady get hit and manages to pick up any and all blitzers, giving their playmaker just enough time to find an open receiver. And Mr. Madden, when you do blitz Brady, that leaves nothing but open receivers.
Oh, and while we’re at it, let’s make sure to credit New England’s players and coaches for their intelligence and decision making. The Pats are prepared for every game situation, every scenario, and make the right choice an incredibly high percentage of the time. As I watch the rest of the league, this point is reinforced even more.
After a second half TD that made the score 28-26 Arizona, Bengals “Einstein” Marvin Lewis kicked the extra point instead of going for two. Totally inexcusable, yet poor decision making and time management on the part of coaches happens time and time again.
Did anyone watch the Lions-Giants game? Why does genius Mike Martz keep the #2 overall pick in the draft on the bench at the expense of Shaun MacDonald? Why does John Kitna, with a pair of 6’4” receivers like Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson, throw jump balls to midgets like MacDonald and Mike Furrey? Why does a receiver, trailing by 6 with a little over 2-minutes remaining, stay inbounds on a catch, then when he realizes he’s about to get tackled, try to fumble the ball out of bounds intentionally, where it almost got picked up by the Giants defense? You know why? Because the players either a) aren’t smart enough to know better and b) haven’t been coached well enough to know better. You don’t see that kind of stuff in Foxboro.
Thank you, oh football God, for Bill Belichick and the 2007 New England Patriots…the greatest team in history!
That’s the view from here…how do you see things? Shappy? You still think this team’s going to get beat somewhere along the line? How about you, DB? How about the rest of you? Want to come out on that limb with me and call this the greatest team in NFL history?
Teddy, although I agree with everything you said. You're rant reminded me of a game we used to play to pass the time on the way to places like Berlin, N.H. to confuse some High School kid into thinking they actually won something cool.
That game was "Who are the worst coaches in the NFL?"
1. Brian Billick- Just HOW did this Stooge win a Superbowl?
2. Marvin Lewis- or Dennis Green II, All hype no ability and fosters a thug environment on hos team.
3. Andy Reid- Honestly, what has he done? Besides leave his family in ruins.
4. Eric Mangini- might have black-balled himself out of a career, Maybe Weis could use a defensive coordinator.
5. Herm Edwards- Just plain bad, a cheerleader who can't manage a clock.
6. John Fox- can't really blame the 4th year coach, he's had a ton of injuries, needs fresh start.
LEGEND KILLER'S TOP 5 COACHES
1. Bill Belichick
2. Mike Shanahan
3. John Gruden
4. Dick Jauron
5. Mike Holmgren
Teddy, you LISTEN to John Madden? I thought you were more intelligent than that. That guy hasn't had a coherent thought since he was in a booth with Pat Summerall. Al Michaels is good but Madden is a buffoon. Reminds me of the days when you needed to watch the Celtics but put the TV on mute and put on Johnny Most's radio call...
I still think they're going to lose a game- either to Pittsburgh or to the Giants. Once they have to play a team with a good defense in the lousy weather and have to rely on their non-existent running game when playing a team that has one they will not be able to pull it out. Brady's not going to be throwing these bb's to Moss in rain/snow with 40 MPH winds. And that, ultimately, is why I can't buy into this "best team ever" stuff.