THROWING KNIVES: THE SUPER BOWL IS SET

by BD, Staff Writer

The Super Bowl Is Set
A little premature? Maybe. But I find it hard to believe we won't be watching a Cowboys-Patriots rematch come February. Sure, no team is unbeatable, as the 2005 Colts taught us, but there was never a time I was positive those Colts were Super Bowl bound. It's not the same this season. The Patriots are clearly the class of the league. No one can argue that. The Cowboys appear to be the class of the NFC after dispatching the Giants for the 2nd time this season yesterday. Meanwhile, the Colts are dealing with more injuries than manageable and are in danger of losing out on their first round bye to Pittsburgh. Leaving them in a position where they might have to go through both Pittsburgh and New England to get back to the Super Bowl. Something that I simply cannot see them pulling off. I suppose I'll rundown my thinking, though it's not as if I'm in the minority with my expectations.

Let's start with the NFC first. The Cowboys currently sit at 8-1 with their division all but officially locked up after they swept their only competition for the season in New Jersey yesterday afternoon. They''ll no doubt improve to 10-1 with Washington and the Jets next up on the schedule. After that it's Green Bay, a team that's had a running game for exactly 2 of 9 games thus far. Dallas will shut down the running game and win the game by at least 10. That's the only legitimate contender left on the board for Dallas. They'll likely be able to rest at the end of the season and should finish 14-2.

As far as the rest of the alleged contenders. I won't buy on Green Bay until they can run the ball on a consistent basis. Detroit could very well lose the rest of their games and finish 6-10. I stayed away from the local kool-aid because I knew this team still wasn't very good, despite all the media hoopla. They can't stop the pass, something Dallas, New York, and Green Bay all do very well. Those three combine for 4 of Detroit's final 7 games.

No one in the South or West is a legitimate contender. Seattle has the talent on paper, but unless Shaun Alexander can get it together or Maurice Morris turns into a solid back the Seahawks won't be going anywhere. The Saints? Can't stop the pass at all. Though they'll probably sneak into the playoffs because the conference is so poor outside of Dallas, Green Bay and New York. Speaking of New York, Dallas has their number and until they look like they did before they went to London I'll be half expecting them to go into the tank like they did last season.

The AFC is sufficiently stronger in the middle, but Indianapolis is probably the only team capable of beating the Patriots. But they won't be able to do it in New England, they missed their shot last week and I'd be shocked if they went into Foxboro and won. As far as their schedule goes only Pittsburgh posses even the slightest of threats, but the game is in Foxboro where the Pats are even tougher to beat. Let alone stay within 17 points.

Their are plenty of teams who can be considered contenders in the AFC, but as I said above theirs only one team who can beat the Patriots. It's a great team in Indy, but they'll need that bus full of injured guys to get healthy and to make sure they snag the 2nd best record in the conference first. (Something that looks unlike given their division.) Then they'll have to go to Foxboro and win. Something that I just can't see happening.

Pittsburgh and Cleveland are both solid, but neither great and it takes greatness to even stay in the game with New England. San Diego has the talent, but with Norv Tuner at the helm their season is pretty much over. I mean, how do you force 6 picks and still almost lose? Unbelievable. It's a much larger indictment of the Chargers what happened last night than the Colts, especially when you consider Craphonso Thorpe was lining up in the slot for Indy and Manning was forcing the ball to Reggie Wayne, the only guy it he knew would catch it.

Tennessee and Jacksonville both play great defensively, but if you're going to beat the Pats you'll need to score a shitload of points. Something neither of these teams could do against the Carnies.

I know, it's football, anything can happen. Tom Brady or one of the other Patriots key contributors could be lost for the season. Tony Romo could catch a previously unseen venereal disease (or the plague) from Britney Spears and accidentally give it to his entire team forcing them to be quarantined. Thus, forfeiting their season for the good of humanity. Crazy shit can happen, it's football, their's parity and all that. But unfortunately for the rest of us, unless something crazy does happen, it's going to be America's Nostril's taking on American's Nutsack this February. And based on October 14th, it looks like the Nostril's have it.

Yesterday In Sports....
A Brown-Out Occurred At Heinz
As the offense disappeared in the 2nd half and the Steelers rallied for a 31-28 win.

Winless No More
The Rams dominated the Saints for their first win of the season, 37-29.

Still Winless
Miami blew a 10-2 4th quarter lead as Buffalo won 13-10.

The Cannon Fired Again
Rex Grossman replaced an injured Brian Griese and tossed the game winning 59-yard TD to Bernard Berrian.

A Win Finally!
The Wizards got their first win as they toppled the Hawks in Atlanta 101-90.

Winless In Seattle
The Sonics fell to 0-7 after a home loss to Detroit 107-103.

Kansas State Darkhorse Final Four Candidate?
They look to have the Durant-like freshman as Micheal Beasely went for 30 and 14 in a win over Pittsburgh State.

Weekend Expectations Recap
My Expectations
Cincinnati knocks off UCONN. - Yup.
Arizona State bounces back at UCLA. - It was close, but they got it done.

St. Louis and Miami both remain defeated. - St. Louis won.
Dallas beats the Giants again. - Yup.

Seattle remains winless. - Yup.
Houston improves to 6-1. - Barely, they almost lost to Charlotte last night.

Willie Parker drops 100+ on Cleveland. - Just barely, I knew he wouldn't score.

DCScrap's Expectations
Illinois beats Ohio State. - The homer pick works out.
Oklahoma State hands Kansas their first loss. - Nope.

Minnesota beats Green Bay. - Ouch.
The Colts lose at San Diego. - Yes.

The Bulls get their 2nd win. - Sadly, no. They lost at home to Toronto by 30 on Saturday night.
The Celtics lose a game. - The only unbeaten left.

LT racks up 150 Yards and 1 TD vs Indy. - He got halfway there, but what do you expect when his QB's playing like that?

The scoring is 1 point per correct pick game/team pick. 2 points for a correct line pick and half a point for close calls.

BD's Total: 6
DCScrap's Total: 2

Scrap actually hit two of his upset calls, but somehow I had my best week ever. I remain alive another week.