Road to the Super Bowl still goes through New England
The road to the Super Bowl always seems to go through New England in the AFC and there’s no reason to think this year is any different. The Patriots are off to a quiet 6-1 start, if such a thing is possible. While the media has focussed on the 7-0 Indianapolis Colts and the terrific defense played by the Denver Broncos, New England has been doing what it always seems to do – win games.That was the story Monday night the Patriots went into Minnesota and crushed the Vikings, 31-7. People around the NFL had viewed the game as a potential “trap game” for the Patriots as the Vikings seemed to be improved this year and are very tough at home with a solid defense.
New England answered with the proverbial, “trap this.”
Now the Patriots host Indianapolis in the annual renewal of their “game of the year.” The former division rivals (they were both in the AFC East through the 2001 season) have met five times in the past three years, including twice in the playoffs. New England won the first four times but Indianapolis won last year’s game, 40-21.
In the end, it didn’t do the Colts any good – they still lost to Pittsburgh in their first playoff game.
This year’s game is again in New England – outdoors, where the Indianapolis offense sometimes isn’t quite as effective as indoors. It’s the featured game on NBC’s Sunday Night Football and the winner will be the frontrunner for home field advantage in the AFC playoffs. And the Colts definitely don’t want to have to return to New England in January.
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Tough times for Super Bowl champs
The defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers have been having a tough time of it so far this year. Not only are the Steelers a disappointing 2-4. Their starting quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, is working on his third serious health issue since winning Super Bowl XL.
Roethlisberger was knocked out in the third quarter of Pittsburgh’s 41-38 overtime loss at Atlanta on Sunday. He suffered a concussion when he was tackled by multiple Falcons. Backup Charlie Batch came on and played well in Roethlisberger’s absence. But the Steelers are hoping Roethlisberger will be able to start this week at Oakland (all indications are that he will).
Roethlisberger suffered a concussion in June when he was involved in a motorcycle accident. Reportedly, he wasn’t wearing a helmet. He also suffered several fractures and injured his knees in the accident. Then, on the eve of the season opener, Roethlisberger underwent an emergency appendectomy and missed the first two games.
Pittsburgh gets a break in the schedule this week when it travels to play 1-5 Oakland. But then come back-to-back home games with Denver and New Orleans. The Steelers finish the season with games at Carolina, at home with Baltimore and at Cincinnati. If Pittsburgh wants to return to the Super Bowl, it will have to right its ship before then.
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The NFC East and the Super Bowl
Coming into the season, many people felt the NFC East Division was the best in football. But the problem with having the best division in football is that the teams are so evenly matched that its unlikely any will be able to get home field advantage beyond the first round of the playoffs. Nor will they be able to get a first round bye, a huge advantage in reaching the Super Bowl.
The Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins are a combined 12-10 through six weeks of the NFL season. The Eagles are 4-2 and lead the division despite losing on Sunday to the New Orleans Saints. The Giants and Cowboys are ½ game back at 3-2 with the Redskins bringing up the rear at 2-4.
Six of the division’s 10 losses so far have come against outside of the division opponents. That can be a killer when it comes time to seed teams for the playoffs. Unless one of the NFC East teams can figure out a way to break free from the pack, the division champion (whomever it might be) is likely looking at playing on the road in the second week of the NFL playoffs.
How big is a first round bye and home field advantage in the second round? Since the NFL went to 12 playoff teams in 1990, 26 of the 32 teams that played in the Super Bowl have earned the off week and home field. Three teams have won the Super Bowl despite having to play in the Wild Card round: Denver (Super Bowl XXXII), Baltimore (Super Bowl XXXV) and Pittsburgh (Super Bowl XL).
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America’s New Team has eyes on the Super Bowl
It’s the story of the year in the NFL but can it lead to a Super Bowl? The New Orleans Saints have opened the season 5-1 heading into their off week this weekend. The franchise, which played all of its “home” games outside of New Orleans a year ago in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, has made a triumphant return to the devastated city.
Led by quarterback Drew Brees and No. 2 overall draft choice Reggie Bush, the Saints have captured the nation’s hearts. But do they have what it takes to continue the success?
That remains to be seen. Brees was a terrific quarterback the last two years for San Diego, leading them to the playoffs once and just missing a year ago. However, he injured his shoulder in the season finale last year and the Chargers elected to let him go and promote highly-touted third-year man Phillip Rivers.
Brees has looked solid for New Orleans so far. He ranks fourth in the NFL in passing yardage with 1,515 so far. In Sunday’s 27-24 win over Philadelphia, Brees led the Saints on a 16-play, 72-yard drive over the final eight minutes, 26 seconds of the game. The drive led to John Carney’s 31-yard field goal to win the game as time ran out.
Bush hasn’t quite had the statistics as a running back that some expected. But he has been electrifying in several games, including a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the game to beat Tampa Bay on Oct. 8.
The big question for the Saints is can they keep it up. Defending NFC South champion Tampa Bay looks like its out of the running this year so that’s a plus for New Orleans. But there are some tough games left on the schedule. New Orleans comes back from the off week on Oct. 29 to face Baltimore at home. Two weeks later, there’s a trip to face the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Games with Cincinnati, Dallas, Washington and the New York Giants remain in addition to division foes Carolina and Atlanta.
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Baltimore finding bumps on road to Super Bow
When the Baltimore Ravens opened the season 4-0 and with quarterback Steve McNair leading the way, it appeared Maryland’s finest might have a chance to make it back to the Super Bowl. Good times especially seemed to be rolling when the Ravens rallied to defeat San Diego on Oct. 1. The Chargers have become many people’s pick to challenge the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC.
But a two-game losing streak and an injury to McNair have put the kibosh on Super Bowl talk in Baltimore. The Ravens fell to the Broncos on Monday Night Football then lost 23-21 to Carolina this past Sunday. Worse, McNair suffered a concussion and a sprained neck while being sacked in the loss to the Panthers. He left the game and his status for the next Baltimore game on Oct. 29 at New Orleans is unclear.
Injuries are part of the game, but Ravens management decided to fire offensive coordinator Jim Fassel after Sunday’s game. The former coach of the New York Giants was let go on Tuesday. Baltimore head coach Brian Billick will take over play calling duties.
The Ravens have never been an offensive juggernaut. Even in 2000, when they won the Super Bowl, they were known more for their overpowering defense. Then-quarterback Trent Dilfer was asked only to be competent and not lose the game.
But the move to oust Fassel indicates Baltimore doesn’t believe the offense is doing enough to win in the playoffs. That is, if it can make the playoffs. The Ravens compete in the AFC North which includes defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh as well as the up-and-coming Cincinnati Bengals.
With veterans such as linebacker Ray Lewis perhaps nearing the end of their careers, the Ravens believe they have to shake things up now to have a chance at the Super Bowl.
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