Hawks or Pats?

Pats,

Mostly because I never liked Pete Carroll from his USC days and I am a huge Brady fan....as unpopular as that may be in some quarters. :-) Oh, and Belichick is a genius.

Of course in best Cleveland style he was hounded out of town and look what has happened since.

Jim

And for me, there are few people in sports whom I despise more than Tom Brady, whose greatness as a player is undisputed, but he is the biggest whiner in NFL history. I love seeing his uniform get dirty.

And Belichick is now a "genius", but when he coached the Browns, he was a bonafide idiot running 150 lb Eric Metcalf between the tackles.

Plus I have that whole NY vs Boston thing going, starting with Yankees-Red Sox, but extending to almost anything else as well.  But that is what usually happens when you play to not lose instead of playing to win, which is what the Pack did from the moment of the last interception of Russel Wilson.  (Doesn't help when you try to catch on onsides kick with your helmet.)

So by default I will root for the Seahawks.

I am really looking for the new book, "How to F**k Up a Playoff Game in 44 Seconds" - authored by the entire Green Bay Packers team  The Seahawks didn't win that game as much as the Packers shot themselves in the foot and lost it.

Yep, I watched a replay of the Green Bay/Seattle game, and sure enough, somehow, the Seahawks still won. More that the Packers snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Gives me pause to pick the Hawks, but then there's last year's absolute defrocking of 'His Holiness Peyton'.

Belichik certainly stands among the greatest coaches of all time, as well as Brady at QB. On the other hand, Pete Carroll might be more a master CEO than an X's and O's type. He's surrounded himself with excellent coordinators, built a common winning philosophy throughout his organization; an internal chess match of motivating personnel toward the singular cause of victory. And he's been very successful at it since he's been at USC.

Russell Wilson always seems to make just few enough mistakes and the proper amount of big throws to seal the deal. Like that 2 point conversion toss vs GB. Really? And the Hawks do it with a college level corps of receivers. But then there's Beast Mode and the read option. Hopefully Marshawn will be the X-factor here. Him and the stingy, oppressive Hawks defense. Legion of Boom.

Joe,

This post makes you sound American! :-)

Jim

It has just been announced that further investigation has determined that:

As long as Brady doesn't get locked in on Gronk. Hawks have the safeties to cover him. Collins to spy on Wilson all game long. Pats by a field goal in last two minutes, 27-24. Need to remember the popcorn this year and keep the heating on till the small hours. Party on.

Andy

From the moment the Packers made the last interception of Wilson, and the guy went down of his own accord when he had 15 yards of open field and a blocker (could have gotten in FG range or close to it), to running truly lame, predictable running plays resulting in negative yardage, to rushing as few as 2 pass rushers on plays giving Wilson all day to find an open receiver, to trying to field an onside kick with your helmet (only David Tyree can do that), to screwing up the 2 point conversion defense when they had Wilson running for his life...gee, did I miss anything?  By the time they got to OT, you knew it was very unlikely they would regain the form that had them in control for 3.75 quarters.  One of the biggest chokes I have ever seen in a football game.  As Joe said, "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory."

The key to the SB will be forcing Brady to perform his job in a manner reminiscent of Michelangelo...that being flat on his back.

His status as one of the greatest QBs of all time is unquestioned, but he definitely is the NFL's all-time biggest  cry-baby/whiner, and he does not like to get touched.  Here's hoping the Seahawks can pound the living crap out of that prima-donna.  (That's how the Giants did him when they won.)  Then his wife can go on TV and make excuses for him.  He's such a p*ssy...especially in light of how good he really is.

I agree about Brady. Very good when the O-line is perfect but throws a tantrum if they don't do it every time. QB sneaks behind the likes of Koppen, Mankins, Connolly and Stork don't mean toughness and it drives me to distraction when commentators praise him for it. And he still can't throw downfield consistently. Receivers keep getting blamed for it but he just can't judge the arc. Zips short passes brilliantly. Pats need to stick with a running game.

Andy

Sports journalism in America has been dead for the last ten years (at least). "Reporters" do nothing but sit on their asses and respond to social media, then shout aggressively in front of the camera using the trending jargon. I really can't watch it. I used to enjoy reading the newspaper, but it's now a shadow of itself, with more grocery store ads than columns.

On the other hand, play-by-play announcers have become especially adept at their craft, and I appreciate their attention to preparation. They do their homework and it shows in their spontaneous analysis. The camera people are exemplary as well. Little now goes unseen during a live broadcast. I guess that's why I stick to live sporting events and eschew the rest of it.

Is Deflate Gate still rumbling on?  What is all the hoo-ha about Brady's balls being under-inflated, would it give the Pats that much of an advantage?  I hear that Brady has been quoted as saying that his balls are perfect, but the NFL are still looking into the matter.

Hawks to win.

Oh it's more than rumbling. I think the media have decided en masse that if Bill won't answer their mundane questions they'll just run a non-story to fill the 24/7 news cycle void. Still, at least it stops them pestering someone else. 

Andy

Looking forward to the game .....whilst last year was hilarious (there is something about a Manning losing badly that just naturally appeals), i'm hoping for a close game.

i think a fit Gronk just tips the balance - im guessing he will be up against Chancellor which should be fun to watch but on his day Gronk is unplayeable (saw him destroy the Rams at Wembley the other year). Thing is if that doesnt work then there's Blount, or Edelman,.....or Amindola. Whereas i just cant see the Hawks threatening the Pat's secondary. 

So Pats by four .......or ten if Brady's balls are softened and they buy up the local supply of skittles,

Excitement in the Emerald City is palpable. The 12s are out everywhere. Flags on houses and cars, everyone wearing Hawks garb, the Space Needle and homes are bathed in blue and green lights, "Go Hawks" on all business sign boards, and the Skittles shelves are bare. Can't wait, but I'm poised for a real nail biter

Well the halftime show left me wondering whether I wanted to lose my hearing or my sight.  Typical SB halftime tripe.

Interesting game though...gutsy call before the half to go for the touchdown...the Hawks come out for the second half tied despite being outplayed for much of the first half.

Rats! 28-24, not 27-24. And winning score came 2 seconds outside the two minute warning. Must try harder.

What a game. And after two major downers against the Giants I'm feeling 'top of the world ma'.

Andy

(Patriots fan 1983- present, safe to say the later half better than the earlier)

Helluva call on the final score Andy. My hat begrudgingly off to the Pats .

The Hawk's decision to pass on that fateful play is destined to become fodder for the annals of sports history in the same vein as Buckner's dribbler, especially given they had Beast Mode in the backfield and time outs on hand. I don't get the call, but the Hawks died tonight as they've thrived under Pete Carroll; with aggressive confidence.

Agreed Joe - Pete Carroll got too cute for his own good.  They should have either used Lynch, or even Russel Wilson's legs could have been a factor on a run/pass option off of play action.

Especially after the football gods smiled on them with that unlikely catch.  Well Green Bay handed the game to Seattle in the NFC title game, and now Seattle essentially blew it in their own way.

And even though I hate the Patriots (mainly because of Brady) I think Seattle showed their lack of class and sportsmanship when that skirmish erupted.  I wasn't exactly enamored of that team - too much trash talking...although I think Wilson has his head on straight.

I agree with you both. What a strange call for the Hawks final 1st and goal drive, why the heck throw when you have Lynch in Beast Mode?  The catch that got the Hawks into that position was more than fluky anyhow so maybe justice was served.