Ok, here we go…the 2010 Superbowl Potential Matchups.  Really, its all about the story.  That’s what sells.  Nobody in America wants any specific team in the Big Game unless:

1.  It’s their favorite team

2.  The story of the game is intriguing to them

Last year, in the Arizona-Pittsburgh nail-biter,  it wasn’t so much about the players as it was the head coaches.  It was a bit of old Superbowl winning QB in Kurt Warner vs rising star Ben Roethlisberger.  But the story of the coaches was the real battle.  Quick Flashback:  Bill Cowher retires as the Steelers Head Coach after 15 years.  Two guys were in the final running for the job.  That derby came down to Ken Whisenhunt (former Steelers Offensive Coordinator) and Mike Tomlin (former Minnesota vikings Defensive Coordinator).  Basically, the Steelers went with Tomlin, not only passing over Whisenhunt but also saying to him, “Yeah….we don’t like how you do things with the Offense lately… so you can go.  Bye Bye.”  Slap in the face.  So what does Whisenhunt do?  He takes the Head Coaching job with the Cardinals and makes it to the Superbowl two years later, against the guy who took the job he wanted.

Ultimately, the game proved the Steelers’ decision correct…although they won by a tippy-toe catch in the back cor-

1 Foot

ner of the endzone with no time left.  Personally I don’t think that was a catch.  From every angle I saw (and it was on everywhere so I saw it a lot…) plus the pictures I saw, he never had his top foot down, touching the ground, after he dove to catch it.  They called it in favor of the Steelers, but his foot was so obviously not down, it furthered my suspicion that the results of major sports games are telegraphed for greater story appeal.  Why not?  Its a business.  They’re selling storylines, so why not make them as captivating as possible?  Keeps ya coming back…but that’s for another Blog…

So as we speak (you read, me type), the NFL, ESPN, CBS, Sports Illustrated and every other sports entertainment media entity is planning for the 4 potential storylines of the 2010 Superbowl.  Since I used to work in this media-wacked world, but also because this is what I love about football, I will break them down.  Lets have a look, shall we…:

1.  Vikings – Colts: “The Experience Bowl” – This will be the story of the two most experienced and talented quarterbacks in the league today.  Brett Favre is in his 19th year, he’s 40 and he’s played 98% of his career in Green Bay.  He was their darling, their hero and their sa-

Big Pey Days A-Coming

int (colt?).  He brought them 2 Superbowl appearances and 1 win since the days of Lombardi.  Then, they gave him the boot.  He ultimately lands in Minnesota, the team he wanted to go to but wasn’t allowed to, because its the rival of the Packers.   So what does he do to prove he’s still crazy-valuable?  He brings the Vikings to the Superbowl in only his first year with the team.  The story would be even sweeter with a Superbowl victory, a final victory for Favre, and something strong and fulfilling to retire on.  But its not going to be so simple, because what America loves is someone who is a surprising, likable personality…and that’s who Peyton Manning, QB of the Colts, is.  He’s known as the best game general, who calls his own plays, sees blitzes before they happen, goes deep for the big play and has the arm to back it up.  Then off the field he’s the nicest guy.  He’s involved in charities, he’s a family man from a family of NFL Quarterbacks, he does commercials and doesn’t take himself too seriously, always poking fun at himself.    He’s the smartest, hardest working player on the field, and the all-american young man off of it.  People love a guy like that.  “Give him another ring,” they say.  “He’s a good guy.  We like him!”  So who do you go for?  You have the Old Warrior of the Gridiron going against America’s Good Ole Boy.  You want both guys to have the Ring…but only one will get it.

2.  Saints – Colts: “The Flying Offensive Bowl” – Just an all-out Air Attack.  No Defense will be played.  Just the two most high-octane,  scoring machines racking up big play after big play…  The score could very easily be 112-105.  The Saints have Drew Brees and his after-thought bunch of ball-hogs have dominated the stats this year.  They were the only team to score more than 500 points.  Brees threw the most TDs (34) to 10 different receivers, had the most yards passing-per-game average (294), and the highest passer rating (109).  We already talked about Manning.  He’s the guy who set the bar for Brees to eclipse.  If Brees wins this game, he just might do that.

3. Saints – Jets: “The Bring-It Bowl”.  Easy storyline here:  The NFL’s top offensive team verse the NFL’s top Defensive Team.  Saints got Brees, 4 stellar running backs, Shockey and Head Coach Sean Payton’s game planning.  Jets have the orchestrator of the vaunted Raven’s Defenses of the 2000’s who’s

Brett the Jet

got a young, tough, fast, run-stopping AND pass-stopping, Gang of Green, ballers.  If these two mighty forces should meet, it will be about who can flex their muscles bigger.  I’d actually pay to see that one.

4.  Vikings – Jets: “The Revenge Bowl” – The one everyone wants to see.  I’d pay to see the last matchup but I’d camp outside the stadium to get tickets to this one.  Its a Last Laugh Tale.  Who’s gonna get it?  Brett has his departure from Green Bay to avenge, but add on how the Jets cut him after he played hurt to end last season, and not bringing them to the playoffs.  That wasn’t fair to him either, so add that to his fire.  The Jets feel the same way, but to make their point, they will hope to say, “Hey Pal!  Guess who still got to the Superbowl…without you!”  Everybody here’s got a point to prove against the other.  Who’s going to make the stronger arguement…?  Revenge is such sweet….STORYLINE!!!

That’s it.  One of these four will be what we buy into.  Of course, if you just love football you’ll love whichever game you get to see, but the storyline will just make it more Super-Awesome!!

….Now for my pick:   LETS GO NEW YORK GIANTS!!!!   GO BIG BLUE!