So here we are then, the Super Bowl! 32 teams started, and a lot of them had a good chance of getting here; some did not but had the dreams, so did not and knew it.

It was back on September 10th 2009 that Graham and I took our Final Look, going out on a limb on who would be here, and neither of us mentioned the Saints and we only put the Colts into a Wildcard spot. So yeah, that shows what we knew back then. The Saints have shown some real steel in their play, as have the Colts. Both teams are offensive juggernauts who have been good enough (though not fearsome) defensively. But that they are the two best teams cannot be disputed – well, it can, but you know what I mean – and for the first time in too long for me to bother checking, the two top seeded teams will take to the pitch for the big game.

What do we think…

Andrew – I think it’s fair to say that all of us here feel a certain affection for the Saints. Not only did they come and play in London, but they put on one heck of a great game that we still remember fondly. As a franchise they’ve been a bit downtrodden over the years and it’s great to see them doing so well at last. There is also the Katrina factor – to be doing so well for a city that has suffered so much does warm the heart.
On top of that is that they feature some extremely watchable players: Drew Brees, of course, Reggie Bush, Jeremy Shockey, Darren Sharper, Tracy Porter, Jonathan Vilma and Mac Favourite Will Smith to name but some of this exciting and talented squad.

The Colts though… they have possibly one of the finest QBs ever to play the game in Peyton Manning. Watching him learn, adjust and then shred the Jets was yet another masterclass from this pro. On top of that he seems like a truly nice guy, and I enjoy most of his adverts. With Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon giving him options when Reggie Wayne is covered, Dallas Clark a big part of the passing game and a fair running game and good offensive line… you know that this is a team that can put up serious points.

Defensively, they might not feature many ‘big’ names but as a unit they can play and produce results. They’ll be hoping to get Freeney ready to play, and the signs are that he’ll be ready. Doug Farrar has a good article here about the Colts’ ‘underappreciated’ front 7 that is worth a read. These guys do come in under the radar, but shouldn’t be ignored.

After resting for the end of the regular season, the Colts have been impressive in dismissing the Ravens and Jets and that decision – to rest and be ready for the playoffs rather than chase 16-0 could well be vindicated come Super Bowl Sunday.

But this remains a very difficult game to call. The odds-makers have the Colts as narrow favourites, and I think that’s fair. Whilst the Saints will have many neutrals, me included, supporting them, I think the Colts are an opponent too far and too strong. So I’m calling a Colts win.

Craig - Not the Superbowl i wanted, but a good game it will be. Andrew has basically hit all the points that need to be hit so i’ll get right down to the predicting. I want a Saints win, but i’m going for a Colts win.

Graham - OK, I’ll get right to it, I want the Saints to win the Super Bowl. There done. Now, would I put money on it? Well not for a win bet no. On paper this is the Colts game, but as we know the Super Bowl doesn’t always work like that does it. Cast you mind back to the ‘They will never win it’ NY Giants v the ‘Nobody can beat them’ Patriots a couple of years ago and you will see what I mean.

I think it would be great if we had 2 Super Bowl winners from the last 3 Wembley games and for that reason (notice I am putting all logical thought aside for this one). I am picking the Saints.

The long and short of it is I don’t really mind who wins. I am going to sit back and relax with a beer enjoy the game and The Who and be thankful that we are getting a live broadcast on TV and have yet another regular season game to look forward to in London this October.

Official Mac Prediction:

The most important question is – Who do you think will win?

Image Credits:
Will Trade Husband… Chopfinger
Our wives (and fiancée) would not hold this sign up. For that we’re both grateful, and a little saddened.

Championship Ring… briser50

Well this is a piece of good news.

I’ve always liked Alex Smith (In fact my first though on hearing this years’ Wembley game teams was “I’ll get to see Alex Smith!”) for reasons I can’t fully define. He’s an OK player, but seems to have a great attitude to the game and the team. He restructured his contract after injury and has willingly competed for his place and I think it’s that attitude that I can get behind.

After spending his first two seasons as the youngest QB in the league, he’s grown into the role and I hope to see him do well next year. Certainly at Wembley, where they 49ers are likely to see strong support.

How good he is as a pundit remains to be seen! But we wish him well and hope he enjoys his trips to the UK.

Source: Yahoo! Sports
Image Credit: story.jackie

Pete Townsend has announced that The Who will be performing a medley (yeah, I refuse to use the so-called term ‘mashup’) of some of their most well known songs during the Superbowl halftime show.

These aren’t really a surprise to anyone.

But anyway, it should be good! But hopefully not so good that it stops us doing the regular halftime activities of visiting the bathroom, topping up beer and grabbing a hotdog.

Source: Billboard

Image Credit: birzir

Despite our decidedly poor form in the playoffs, we all (as did many others) that it would go this way. We have two weeks of Peyton Manning adverts and preparation now as the build up. Oh yeah, and the Pro-Bowl, if you’re into that sort of thing I suppose.

We’ll be back next week with our thoughts for the big game. There’s a lot to think on.

Come the off-season and we’ll be looking to finish off our Favourite Four series (looking back, some of these guys didn’t have good seasons!) as well as keeping an eye on the wheelings and dealings of Free Agency and of course the draft… plenty happening.

Image Credit: Stellybot

We’re down to four teams, and the Superbowl is within touching distance now. For the first time, both games take place in a dome. In fact, three of the four teams are dome-dwellers… I’ve not checked but that’s probably a first too.

Both of these matchups look great, but surely the NFC has the juiciest game. Here at Mac we’re looking forward to the games, and also wanting to improve our frankly lamentable playoff form. Yeah, we’ve been terrible.
… Read on

The rumours regarding the 49ers were right, but I can’t recall having read many comments about it being the Broncos…

But they’ll be there on the 31st October at Wembley stadium. And we’ll probably (hopefully!) be there again.

Source: nfluk.com

A topic from the archive.

15th January, 2010 — As we thought, way back when, Chris Johnson’s prospect of being League MVP were likely to be hampered by Quarterbacks getting the nod, and this was completely the case when the votes were counted and CJ had none.

However, he’s made up for it by being the only unanimous 2009 All-Pro selection. So well done to Chris Johnson. He had a great season; was entertaining to watch and his race to set records was enthralling to the end. As one of only 6 2,000 yard players, we’ll be hoping he can keep his form going. Something that eluded a lot of the others. But he’s young and he’s talented. If he hit 2000 yards next year, who’d be surprised if he didn’t get the MVP?

Good luck to him.
… Read on

Twelve have become eight, and the bye-teams step up this week. The #1 seeds in both conferences ambled into the playoffs with successive losses but will be fresh and raring to go.

Craig aside, we embarrassed ourselves last week, with me going 1-3 and Graham an impressive 0-4. Let’s hope we can step up this week…

In the AFC

Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts
A – The Ravens ran the Patriots something stupid last week. Whatever they did on the ground, the Pats just couldn’t stop. That’s how they won so comfortably despite Flacco completing only 4 passes for a total of 34 yards.
The Colts will be a different prospect, and you have to expect that they’ll be able to score points.

The teams met earlier this season, where the Colts scraped a narrow win. In 2008, they dominated them 31-3, and in 2007 it was 44-20 so that puts some pressure on the Ravens. Whilst resting some key players, the Colts have shown that they’re lacking in depth in certain areas and will need their four-time MVP to show up. I think he will, and I think the rest of the team will too. I can’t see the Ravens getting away without a passing game, they won’t be able to rack up the yards they did last week and the Colts. Despite their post-season woes of the last two years, they’ll get it done here. I suspect the dreaded Chargers will be coming to town the week after…
… Read on

Oh dear god… that was terrible.

Join us on Wednesday when we hope to redeem ourselves with the divisional match predictions.

Image Credit: tool92ogt

So a disappointing season has limped to and end. Back in my First Look articles, from last August, I saw us finishing last but was hoping we’d make a fight of it. It wasn’t really to be.

The likable, but perhaps out of his depth Jim Zorn has gone, in a move that is in no way surprising – he’d probably been emptying his office steadily over the last few months – and Mike Shanahan is in. Not just as Coach, but in an Final Say role that he likes and that the team needs. But there’s a lot to fix, let’s take a look at some of the problems he’s inherited.

The Offensive Line
Make no mistake, this was a terrible unit this year. Whether it was injuries or just bad play it all starts with these guys and a lot of the other issues are direct results of these guys. When passing, there is never any confidence that when Campbell drops back he is going to have any time or space, that the pocket will hold as long as it needs to.

When Running, there’s little confidence that they’ll clear the way or win the battles that they need to The ‘Skins were 27th in rushing yards, with a paltry 94.4 yards per game. That’s something to be addressed. Which leads me onto… … Read on