Remember
when Princess Diana got killed in that car in Paris and we all
suddenly had to stop making nasty remarks about bulimia and adultery?
I guess it's the same sort of thing with Ray Lewis. C'mon
Ravens! One more win for Ray, so he doesn't have to retire!
Apparently, he's the grand old man of linebacking now and nobody's
allowed to mention the murder indictment in 2000 or the two guys who
got killed in Atlanta at a Superbowl party that year. But I still wonder
about the white suit Ray was wearing that night---the white suit that
has never been found. Fashion tip---don't wear a white suit 1) after
Labor Day or 2) when you're going to stab people.
New
England is heavily favored and New England will win. Sorry, Ray.
However, I can't see laying nine or ten points in a spot like this.
For one thing, Conference Championship games are rarely blowouts.
The teams that get there have usually proven themselves worthy by
first getting to the playoffs and then clearing away the wild-card
dross. Here, New England, in Foxboro, beat a pretty good Houston
team. Indeed, the Patriots thumped them. Baltimore's achievement
was even more impressive---going to Denver and wearing down the best
team in the conference. The Ravens were supposed to be crushed in
that game, yet they responded to challenge after challenge and
finally prevailed.
In
their recent match-ups, the Raven beat the Pats 31 – 30 in
Baltimore on September 23. And, of course, in last year's AFC
Championship game, the Pats won in New England, 23 – 20. So how do
you lay nine or ten points in a game like this?
In
terms of the numbers, New England has a much more potent passing
offense and a slightly weaker pass defense. In some ways, it's the
same sort of challenge the Pats faced with Houston, where the
question was (as it often is in New England), can Brady outscore
these guys? He probably will, but if I were forced to bet this game,
I would have to take the Ravens and the points. Instead I pass.
NFC
Penn
Charter is the oldest Quaker school in the world. It was founded in
1689 by William Penn. It's very expensive. It has a lovely campus
and beautiful buildings. It's three blocks from my house. Matt Ryan
went to high school there. He played quarterback.
It
is difficult for people outside of Philadelphia to understand the
loathing most normal Philadelphians harbor for Quakers, the Quaker
establishment in Philly, the American Friends Service Committee and
schools like Penn Charter. Maybe it's the bow ties. Maybe it's the
absence of anything one might call “Quaker food.” Maybe it's that
they are better than the rest of us and have a lot more money than
the rest of us but will occasionally stitch together a quilt for us
if we're really down and out and smelly. For me personally, it's the
way they claim to be “pacifists,” but actually just root for the
other side in every war.
Kinky
Friedman once noted that they're not making Jews like Jesus anymore.
Well, they're not making Quakers like Betsy Ross either.
So
I'm biased. That's why I'm telling you this. I'm disclosing my
bias. I think Matt Ryan is a mutt, but maybe that has something to
do with my feelings regarding Quakers in general and Penn Charter in
particular. For me, though, letting a Penn Charter quarterback play
in the Superbowl would be like letting Haaa-vard play Alabama for the
BCS.
And
it's hard to be impressed with Atlanta's win over the Seahawks, isn't
it? They're at home, they've had a week off, they're up 20 in the
fourth, and then they need a miracle comeback to squeak out a win???
This is not how good teams get to the dance. By contrast, San Fran
fought off a tough, gritty performance by the Packers and finally
managed to dominate in the final quarter. San Francisco beat the
Packers because they were the better team. As for Seattle vs.
Atlanta, well, who can be sure?
As
for the all-important yards/pass numbers, San Francisco is the best
team in the NFC while Atlanta is no better than fourth. Green Bay
was much more dangerous than Atlanta will be. The 49ers will be
going to the Superbowl this year after a (relatively) easy win over
the Falcons. Lay the points.
Copyright2013MichaelKubacki
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