The Perfect Distraction

Yeah, I’m not going to talk about it. The thing. You know. The thing. We’re on to… who the hell knows, really? But I bought the ticket a long time ago. I’ll take the ride.

Where was I? Oh, right. We’re on to Seattle.

Rumor has it Dion Lewis will suit up this Sunday. An already potent Patriots offense gets a hit of nitrous oxide. Brady has led New England to 34 points a game. Without Lewis. Can he come all the way back in one game? What’s he worth? In seven games (2015) he scored four touchdowns. Let’s call it 3.5 points per game. 37.5 points a game. Fingers crossed.

This coming game with Seattle is the kind of game the Patriots need to win for home field in the playoffs. With the AFC East playing the NFC West this year, it’s practically a division game. More importantly, if you want to avoid tiebreakers, you need to have the best record. Seattle is flying cross country on a short week. The Patriots are coming out of their bye week. This is a game New England should win which kind of makes it a must win.

Does the 8:30pm start nullify the jet lag? Hmmm…

Anyway, big game. The suits should be happy with the numbers on this one.

This game has plenty of back stories, chief among them SB49. That by itself would be enough (plenty of subplots in that game), but there’s more, oh, so much more. There’s the “You mad, bro?” moment, Pete Carroll’s stint as HC of the NEP, the Bennett brothers (sadly/luckily Michael will miss the game because knee surgery) and of course Wilson vs. Brady, two of the best quarterbacks with two of the most famous wives in the NFL. It’s a legitimate “Super Bowl preview, bro?” game. Not that Seattle would be the favorite against Dallas or Atlanta (if the playoffs started today); they’d be road dogs.

Which brings us back to this coming Sunday. A win in Foxborough for Seattle could be the psychological edge they will need when playing for the NFC Championship in Dallas.

It’s really a statement game for both the Seahawks and the Patriots, a clash of pigskin heavyweights. Frasier vs. Ali. Kaiju vs. Jaeger.

It’s Thursday night and I’m already nervous. I have no idea how I’m going to make it to the Sunday night kick off in one piece.

Wait.

Yes I do; vodka. I need to get to the liquor store. I should put a reminder on my phone…