By Mark La Monica
It's the Colts vs. the Panthers in the Super Bowl this year. Or maybe the Patriots against the Seahawks.
Way to go out on a limb, NFL "experts" and "analysts." Why don't you go actually take candy out of a baby's hand next. Hey, maybe you could even tap in a 3-inch putt after your professional playing partner in a charity pro-am nailed the 211-yard approach shot from the rough.
It gets no easier than picking the chalk to win the Super Bowl. Anyone can walk up to the betting window and play the 2/1 horse in an exacta with the 3/1 horse.
You receive no points for chalk in Keyboard Quarterbacks land. Here, we play for value and bragging rights if and when that value pays off.
Here is my Super Bowl XLI prediction: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Dallas Cowboys.
You may say to yourself right now, "What sort of access to hallucinogens does this La Monica kid have?"
None is the answer to that question.
The Chiefs will reach the Super Bowl for the following reasons:
- Larry Johnson ran for 1,750 yards last season and only started 9 games.
- With Herm Edwards as the new coach in KC, Johnson has a great chance to become the sixth running back in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season.
- Edwards coached the Jets last season then left. Anyone remember Bill Belichick, the one-time HC of NYJ?
- This is just the type of luck for the New York Jets: run a coach out of town, then watch him achieve glory elsewhere.
- Edwards can fix a defense pretty quickly.
- Even he can't mess up this offense.
- He has a quarterback to work with.
- The Midwest will eat up Herm's motivational magic.
- Jake Plummer will not match his 2005 season for Denver; Philip Rivers is the QB in San Diego and the Oakland Raiders should have to submit their defensive scheme to an NFL committee for approval before the game.
The Cowboys will reach the Super Bowl for the following reasons:
- Terrell Owens.
- Bill Parcells has precious little time left in his coaching career before he bolts and leaves another franchise in salary cap hell.
- Drew Bledsoe is the starting quarterback, making this prediction even higher in value if it pans out.
- Terrell Owens.
- Their defense.
- The Giants are supposed to be very good this year, which traditionally means they will underachieve. The Eagles have Donovan McNabb and lesser known receivers than your town's high school team. Washington will lose a lot of close games.
- Carolina has some hamstring issues with Steve Smith and the rest of the league might have finally figured out how to defend those quick hitch passes.
- Seattle Seahawks? Three words: Super Bowl Hangover.
- Terrell Owens.
Prediction: Chiefs 24, Cowboys 20.
How it plays out: "Idiot kicker" Mike Vanderjagt misses a field goal at the end of the first half, which forces the Cowboys to go for it on fourth down at the Chiefs' 24-yard line. Bledsoe's pass to Jason Witten falls incomplete.
Comments (5)
Mark, I'm not exactly in agreement with the Super Bowl picks, but I have a question. How did the JETS run Belichick out of town?
He came over with Parcells with the express purpose of taking over for him, which he did for one day then quit.
Frank
It's an independent thought from the previous item, Frank, but I can see how you made that leap.
Mark, here's what will happen once Herm does make it to the superbowl. They'll be on the 30 on 3rd and 17 and 10 seconds left on the clock and call a draw play, allowing the clock to expire with no points. Half time interviews will go somewhat along the lines of "Yeah we just need to score points. Points win ball games"
The second half will lead to Johnson being injured and only at half speed and he won't yank him, which will result in 4 yards rushing for the second half.
Total yards: 237
Total 3rd and draw plays: 12
Total points: 3
Assuming he ever makes it there. That team is old, so he better get it done soon.
Super Bowl 41, Pittsburgh vs Bears, 2 old school teams, defense, defense, defense!!!
Nice pick. Weren't you at Fashion Week?