Well, at least that is what ESPN and others are boldly predicting. The problem with their prediction is that they seem to have forgotten something.
With many assuming that these teams will be representing their conferences in the Super Bowl, one would think that both of the teams have shown promise in the playoffs in recent years. Actually, the Patriots haven’t won a playoff game since the ‘07-’08 campaign and the Eagles haven’t won one since ‘08-09.
Yeah, these teams are clear-cut favorites.
Oh and here is another thing the media is conveniently forgetting: the two teams that were in the Super Bowl last year.
Anyone who says that the Packers are not the early season favorite to win the Super Bowl must have missed the 2010 season, or they are just foolish. So the Packers have all of their core returning, have one of the best QB’s in the game, and showed with their remarkable playoff run last year that they are the best in the NFL, but somehow they are not the favorite.
And then you have Pittsburgh. The Steelers have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back for a full season this year and still have All Pro defensive talents in James Harrison and Troy Polamalu. They have won 2 Super Bowls in the time period since the Patriots won their last Super Bowl, and came close last season. How you can count out a team with a winning pedigree like Pittsburgh is borderline insanity.
Then of course you have teams that have actually won playoff games in the past years. The Colts and Saints are only 2 years removed from the Super Bowl and are definitely a threat come postseason, despite early exits last year. The Falcons and their dynamic offense will be ready to go again, and the NY Jets have played in the AFC Championship two years in a row, not to mention their playoff beatdown of the Patriots last season.
So why are the Eagles and the Patriots favorites?? Clearly they must have made bold off-season moves.
The Philadelphia Eagles have much more reason to claim that they are the team to beat. Signing Nnamdi Asomugha and trading for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie createsthe best 3 cornerback tandem possibly ever, in addition to Asante Samuel.
Having Michael Vick coming into the season as the starting QB and likely retaining star wide receiver DeSean Jackson will lead to another year of great offense. If the argument was for whom is the favorite in the NFC East, I’d definitely agree with the Eagles as the choice. The only problem is that the team needs to prove it can win a postseason game in the post-Mcnabb era before I am willing to say they are a “dream team”.
The Patriots defense last season was the team’s glaring weakness, and as Jets’ linebacker Bart Scott put it, “They couldn’t even stop a nosebleed”. Surely the Patriots must’ve made tons of upgrades on defense.
Well, uhm, yeah. They signed a big fat dude!
Yep Fat Albert Haynesworth is coming to New England to save the day.¤.¤. or maybe to eat a hotdog. Washington fans are happy to never see this guy put on a Redskin jersey again, and although talented, he truly does not care about football. I don’t care who Belichick is; he can’t save this guy.
And then you have the incredibly overrated Chad Ochocinco. Chad is a brilliant man, managing to manipulate the media into thinking he is still a relevant receiver by having a reality show, driving NASCAR, trying out for the MLS, and riding a bull. Unfortunately his skills have deteriorated and he is not even the Pats best receiver (Wes Welker). There has never been so much hype around a non #1 receiver and Chad figures to be average at best. Plus, you know he will only be able to live the “Patriot Way” for a few weeks, and then he will want all the spotlight on himself.
The Patriots and the Eagles are both very good teams, and have the potential to win their conferences and maybe even the Super Bowl. But it is way too premature and very foolish to crown champs long before the season started, especially when neither of these teams is the defending champion. The Packers are the team to beat and will be until they are eliminated from the playoffs.
Sorry Pats and Eagles, you will have to prove yourselves in January.
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