14 days, 14 posts

That's what I have in store for the next two weeks before the Super Bowl. The first week I'll be focusing on this past season, starting with the most recent events, and working my way backwards. Then next week, the posts will be more geared towards the upcoming game. Should be a lot of fun.

Anyway, I have to start with yesterday's games.

Bears 39, Saints 14 - This was actually a very entertaining game for 3 quarters, then the wheels finally fell off for the Saints. They took the city on a magical ride, though, and the future is definately bright - see the ridiculous 88-yard TD reception by Reggie Bush. As for the Bears, Rex Grossman played a very solid, if unspectacular, game at QB. With that defense and running game he really needs to play the Trent Dilfer role - the question is can he be disciplined enough to do it. The answer yesterday was yes. We'll see what the answer is in two weeks. And can you say enough about the Bears defense? Ya, they gave up a bushel of yards, but they turned the Saints over 4 times. And if it weren't for the aforementioned 88-yard reception by Bush, they would have given up only 287 yards and 7 points to the NFL's best offense. The elements were on their side, but they took full advantage, never allowing the Saints to get their passing or running game in stride.

Colts 38, Patriots 34 - This is the game everyone wants to talk about, and with good reason. Only three weeks ago I was saying that the Boise State/Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl was the greatest football game I have ever seen at any level. Now, that has been replaced. The game started as a replay of the teams' previous post-season meetings, with the Patriots running the Colts off the field and leaping out to a gaudy 21-3 lead. But then, something switched on in Peyton Manning's head - maybe it was the abscence of pressure, with the game having been apparently lost - and he started moving his team down the field like he has done his entire career in the regular season. Before you knew it, the game was tied at 21 and he was thinking "Hey, this isn't so hard after all." Next thing you know, the two best quarterbacks in the NFL were having a heavyweight slugfest, and at the end of it all they both found themselves with a possession at the end of the game with a chance to score a touchdown for the win. Manning lead his team to a touchdown, Brady failed. Game over.

Tomorrow I'll be recapping the AFC side of the tournament. Till then...