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On to Detroit! |
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The National Football League decided that Super Bowl XL will be played in Detroit, Michigan. Yeah, that's right, XL, as in Forty, or Fourty, or however the hell we're supposed to spell it in Canada! Ironically enough, the residents of Hockey Town USA., 33 per cent of whom live under the poverty line, have a better chance of getting to the big game than the hometown Lions do. In fact, it's probably safe to assume that Wally Buono's B.C. Lions have a better chance of winning this year's Super Bowl than Steve Mariucci's Detroit Lions. But that's another story, and not a pretty one. Their quarterback duo of Harrington and Garcia puts about the same amount of fear into opposing defensive coordinators as a Boy George/Clay Aiken combo would. The Raiders traded for Randy Moss, brought in LaMont Jordan and re-signed speed-burning wide receiver Jerry Porter to a long-term deal in hopes of shielding a defence that looks to be softer than men who think it's cool to drink Cosmopolitans. Fortunately for Oakland, aside from San Diego, the only "D" in the AFC West is in the word "Denver," a team which for some reason believes Jake Plummer is going to be the one to lead them to the franchise's first post-season victory since John Elway's retirement. Whatever. Baltimore's faith in the underachieving Kyle Boller is as confusing and maddening to some as to why there is still not one freaking Taco Bell in Montreal. With Jamal Lewis out of jail, the acquisition of wide out Derrick Mason and the drafting of Oklahoma's Mark Clayton, the Ravens are expecting the former Cal standout to start scoring on the field as much as he does off of it. If he doesn't, not only will he be the former starting quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens, but worse, he is going to make Ray Lewis very angry. And you wouldn't like him when he's angry! While Indianapolis is perceived by many to be the AFC's second best team, people in Kansas City and Pittsburgh would no doubt disagree, as the Chiefs should now have defence to go along with one of the league's most potent offences that will be playing football in late January. The Steelers are looking for more than late January this time around. An AFC championship appearance is one thing, winning the Super Bowl is another. Sometimes, the truth hurts. Just ask Terrell Owens, who must look at himself in the mirror knowing that he is going to have to get by on his $7-million-a-year deal he's so unhappy with. If he thinks he's unhappy now, he should look forward to a season of double and triple coverage, as the only thing that will be hotter than the league's sleaziest cheerleaders will be Eagle fans themselves, as they realize that last year was as close as they are going to come for a long time. Minnesota hasn't been to the dance since 1977, and, considering their past Bowl performances (0-4), maybe that's not a bad thing. Like Kansas City, the Vikings have shored up the defensive side of the football, but will be, along with Carolina, Atlanta and Philadelphia, the class of this year's less than stellar NFC. Pigskin Prognosticator September 8 Playoff predictions AFC East: Patriots Sports Rage with Gabriel Morency is vented weeknights at midnight on the TEAM 990 AM. Comments? sportsrage@team990.com |
The "Road to Forty" begins tonight in Foxboro, Massachusetts, as the defending champions New England Patriots host the "Silver and Black Attack" of Randy Moss and the Oakland Raiders in the NFL's 2005 regular season opener. The Patriots may not have Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weiss's coordinating expertise anymore, but they remain the team to beat as they gun for their third straight and fourth Bill Belichick, er, Vince Lombardi Trophy in the last five years. 
New England has been as dominant as a team can be in a parity-driven league, but the pack is close, as is evident in the Pats' combined margin of victory (nine points) in their three Super Bowl wins. |
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