DaveStebbins wrote:
But it isn't just a coin toss. It's a coin toss plus an entire touchdown drive. If you lose the toss and want a possession, the solution is simple, stop the other team from scoring a touchdown. (Meant to be a matter-of-fact tone, I hope it doesn't come across as aggressive or negative. If it does, I apologize.)
I agree and I disagree in some respects. I'd have to say that offense - generally - has an advantage over D. On O, you have the ball and control and (hopefully) you all have a plan of what you are going to do. On D, you have to react. Therefore, in my opinion, the coin toss itself offers a significant advantage which is what I don't much care for (forgive how condescending that might sound, I'm just trying to give my thoughts on why it's an uneven playing field I realise nothing in there is likely to be a new insight to anyone). So yes, it's not as silly as a coin toss deciding who wins the game. If the D do well enough, the issue is somewhat moo (like a cow's opinion). In the Cards vs Packers game, I think the right team won. But in terms of an entertaining product for me to watch at home, I'd much prefer that both teams get at least a drive. That said, I do have part of me that utterly agrees that the coin toss is an even(-ish at the very worst) way to decide who gets it and if you don't want the other team to score, you gotta stop them.
It's more fair than deciding a snooker game on a coin toss for a respotted black because the NFL D can at least make a play, the snooker player who lost the toss can do nothing really. But my argument would be that letting both teams have a shout might be better entertainment.
Well, as has been discussed before I'd love Peyton Manning to retire on top. Sure this season has a stat-line for him that is bad. His stats are actually bloody awful in some respects. But while I love a downer ending in fiction, in reality I'd love to see him go with that second ring and remove a little bit of the asterisk that is "GOAT (regular season)" and a little toward just being one of the GOATs. I mean, the guy is clear first round HoF anyway. Absolutely no doubt. He has a superbowl ring, well into 500+ TDs, well into 70,000 yards passing etc. He's so first ballot, he's almost 0th ballot if such a thing could exist. But the thing that always gets me is this. I imagine the Manning family round for a Sunday lunch. And I see the Eli with two rings and Peyton with one. And something isn't right about that. (No dig at Eli meant).
So do I think it will happen? Not at all. I see a result a bit closer than Manning's last SB, but I don't think that Denver are as good as Carolina on the whole. The offense is stuttering and Carolina have a solid D. And while Denver are great on D, the Panthers have been scoring so much this season I can't see that not leaking through. Carolina have been great to watch (the anti-Cowboys this season) and honestly, look like the best team in the NFL this season. The Cardinals, for me, were the second best team and they couldn't stand up to the Panthers (although Palmer seemed to basically bottle it on such a big stage). Cam Netwon has progressed from being the guy I liked watching to looking like the new archetype of how the QB position can be played well. Given I'd say he didn't have his #1 reciever as well, we could see Newton making another step forward next year. Sure, he did have a guy like Olsen, who was pretty damned solid all year. He has a running game that has been pretty sweet. And on the other side, Norman had his best year yet at CB. Kuechly is one of the best at his position, and numerous other guys on that team. They've been great to watch, and I love the giving TD footballs away thing. That'd probably leave me grinning and I'm supposed to be a grown up, so I can't imagine what it's be like for a child to get a ball like that. And I've got a soft spot for Jared Allen. He's one of the reasons I started liking NFL and one of the reasons I chose the Vikes as my team when he was tearing up QBs there. So I'll be wearing my Jared Allen jersey next Sunday.
My prediction 38-24 in favour of Carolina.
Of course, my friend and I will be doing our obligatory Madden game of the Superbowl which influences my bets for the weekend significantly. I'm also on about a 7 year loss streak with coin toss bets.
Not sure if I can be bothered watching the ProBowl tonight. I only got about an hours sleep tonight and the game kicks off at midnight. That's a bit of a stretch for me, unless I get caffeine-d out my tits (so to speak). Probowl is usually good fun though. I just wish their was a way to have the players in the probowl but make it a full on game. I don't want to see anyone get hurt, but wouldn't it be cool to see two teams of roughly the best in the game this year?