Home

Don't put Patriots into Super Bowl just yet

Submitted by administrator on Wed, 12/12/2007 - 13:41

The New England Patriots steaming into the Super Bowl looks as inevitable as, well, the 2005 Indianapolis Colts steaming into the Super Bowl after their 13-0 start. Whoops. The Colts, of course, suffered their first loss two years ago in Game 14 to the San Diego Chargers. Then Indy rested starters and lost again at Seattle. By the time the Colts played their first playoff game, the thrill was long gone and so was their aura of invincibility. Eventual champion Pittsburgh beat them, 21-18, putting an emphatic end to the notion that any NFL team is so good that it can't be brought down in a dramatic heap by anybody, any time. OK, probably not by Miami, but you get the point. The Patriots look to be in great shape facing the New York Jets, the Dolphins and the New York Giants to end the season, but we still maintain that a 16-0 season is as inevitable as: -- The Chargers flaming out at home in their first postseason game. San Diego might just avoid that embarrassment this year, if it can finish with a couple of wins in its last three games (Detroit, Denver, Oakland) and draw from wild-card candidates Cleveland, Buffalo or Tennessee for a first-round game. Jacksonville and Pittsburgh would be the ones to avoid. -- Reggie Bush having a brilliant NFL career. Just like Pete Carroll, I told everyone who would listen that the Heisman Trophy-winning running back would be a pro star for the ages -- a singularly talented athlete who was born to win games at all levels. A knee injury has now ended Bush's second season with New Orleans, and I no longer trust my eyes when watching college football. The most dangerous NCAA game-breaker I ever saw in person, Bush left that component behind. Before his season ended, his biggest gainer -- rushing or receiving -- this season was a 25-yard catch. He had six touchdowns, and eight fumbles. -- The end of Michael Vick's NFL career. A 23-month sentence looks bleak for the fallen Atlanta quarterback, but I wouldn't count out a redeeming -- albeit toned down -- twist to the story. If Vick takes care of himself and figures out this remorse thing, he likely will get a chance to play again. America is a forgiving place, and a voracious consumer of comeback stories.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)