I Wanna Be Sedated

I have spent the last 48 hours being subjected to a one-two punch of the tenth anniversary of the Tuck Rule and recent Patriots failures in the playoffs.  When there’s a break in that action, I’m asked to consider the possibility that Tim Tebow may, in fact, be the second coming of Jesus Christ.  Through all of this I’ve come to the undeniable realization that I’ve really got to cut down on the coffee.

Come on Pigskin Nation!  Aren’t you sick and tired of listening to those 2001 Raiders whine about how they were cheated out of a Super Bowl? 

Two Undeniable Facts

First, there is such a thing as a Tuck Rule and referee Walt Coleman interpreted the rule correctly.  It was by rule an incomplete pass.  You may think it’s a stupid rule but the NFL’s competition committee doesn’t agree with you.

Second, the Raiders were leading 13-10 when that play occurred and the Patriots were twenty yards away from field goal range with no timeouts and 1:43 to play.  Yet somehow, this single call cost Oakland the game? 

What is the opposite of mentally tough?  The 2001 Oakland Raiders.

Past Performance is Not an Indicator of Future Performance

Yes, the Patriots have lost their last three playoff games; they’ve lost their last two playoff games at home.  These are, as they say, the facts on the ground.

For some, the game tonight against Denver has become the biggest game of the Belichick-Brady era (independent of whether or not Jesus will be running the read option for the Broncos).  All the pressure is on the Patriots to prove they are still the badass ballers who won three of four Super Bowls.  You know, back in the day.

The legacy of the winningest head coach-quarterback combo in NFL history is on the line tonight, people!  

Okay, losing sucks and its worse when you know how good it feels to win and yes this is a big game but are we really going pigskin apocalypse here? 

Yeah, I guess we are.

We’ll be going over to our friends Steve and Kathy to watch the game with them.  They say we all die alone but we don’t have to suffer a fourth straight playoff loss by our pigskin heroes alone, do we?  

Anything can happen in the NFL and it usually does.  This game will be no different.  I have no idea how it will turn out but I do know this.  The New England Patriots have always been at their best when success was least expected.  I know, I know.  Vegas has pegged the Pats as 13.5 point favorites so you’re not buying that underdog/nobody believed in us thing, but I’ve spent the day listening to all the reasons the Broncos will win (QB = Jesus and He will rake the NWE defense when Willis McGahee isn’t running for 600 yards).  Everyone outside of New England is rooting for the Broncos.  All the Republican candidates for president are rooting for the Broncos.  Russian mobsters are rooting for the Broncos.  Mexican drug lords are rooting for the Broncos.  Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa featuring Bruno Mars are rooting for the Broncos.  Alien races that receive this game on radio waves that travel through space for a thousand years will be rooting for the Broncos. 

I’ll be with friends tonight, so I have more people to high five with.