Before I get to my pick for the Super Bowl, I can't help but think about the NFL's un-champions.
The teams that could have, and in some cases, maybe should have been in Sunday’s game.
These teams had a chance to do something special, but instead took it to a whole new level of entertainment and playoff failure.
In no particular order, let's take some time to honor the lovable losers of the 2007 NFL Playoffs...
The Indianapolis Colts
With LaDainian Tomlinson on the sidelines, Antonio Gates unable to play effectively, and Philip Rivers out with a partially torn ACL, the Colts had everything going for them.
More importantly, they had a three-point lead in the fourth quarter.
The vaunted Colts’ defense managed to allow future Hall-of-Famer Billy Volek to drive 78 yards for a touchdown.
Then the unstoppable Colts’ offense managed zero points on consecutive possessions inside Charger territory.
This was a collapse of epic proportions. A choke-job more than worthy of accolades and mockery.
The Green Bay Packers
It was supposed to be Brett Favre’s opportunity to show the world that he’s still the best.
It was supposed to be Brett Favre vs. Tom Brady—the Gunslinger vs. the Kid.
It was supposed to be the Green Bay secondary against the Patriots’ wide receivers.
Unfortunately, the Packers forgot they had to beat the Giants first.
In a game that will forever be remembered as the day Old Man Winter defeated Old Man Favre, the Packers forgot how to run the ball, forgot that they shouldn’t throw the ball to the other team, and decided that a 5’10 corner could man up on a 6’4 wide receiver.
Good show, Packers. If there’s one thing we hate it’s predictability. Their gameplan certainly couldn’t have been predicted.
Of course, it wasn’t predicted because it was so damn horrible. But we respect them sacrificing their biggest game of the year to keep us on our toes.
Good show, coach McCarthy. Good show indeed.
The Dallas Cowboys
Blame it on Jessica Simpson.
Blame it on Wade Phillips.
Blame it on the rain?
Jerry Jones told us his team was so important to the NFC, the NFL, the United States, and the U.S. economy that they couldn’t possibly be considered for one of those oversees games.
They’re America’s team.
One could say (one being Jerry Jones) that they were the NFL Dream Team.
Like all recent Dream Teams, the all-star-packed Cowboys somehow found a way to lose to an inferior team from a lesser country (New York is in Canada, right?).
All Tony Romo had to do was drive 48 yards in 1:41.
All Tony Romo managed to do was drive 14 yards in 1:19, then throw a game-ending interception.
Tony Romo and America’s team, we applaud you. You made us all proud. . . of the Giants.
Super Bowl: New England Patriots (-14) vs. New York Giants
I’m looking at this entirely from a gambling perspective.
I need good reasons to lay money down on a team.
I’m not doing it because someone is the “Hot team” or because they played well a couple of weeks ago in a losing effort.
I need tangibles reasons.
Something to make me feel good about putting my hard earned cash on the line.
I’ve tried to convince myself that the Giants’ defensive line can pressure Brady.
But that’s hard to do because the Patriots were missing the entire right side of their offensive line and their top two tight ends in the last matchup, yet Brady was able to sit back in the pocket and pick them apart the entire second half.
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