Florida's trouncing of Ohio State in the BCS Championship last night really brings up some interesting issues. First of all, for the second year in a row, sportswriters were so busy giving Troy Smith the reacharound that they forgot that they still had to play one more game. Just like with USC last year, sports reporters were falling all over themselves to crown the Buckeyes national champs without even having to play to the game, and they ended up being completely wrong. I think more sports writers picked Boise State to beat Oklahoma before that game last week than gave the Gators a chance to beat OSU. With the way Michigan got embarrassed by USC, combined with last night's game and the Big 10 Conference's losing bowl record this year, I think it's safe to say that the Big 10 is completely overrated.
Also, in the comments of Lord Bling's previous post, CowboyLaw wanted to know what other team, besides the Chiefs last weekend, intercepted Peyton Manning twice AND held them to 9 points or less in a half. As it turns out, this occurred in 25% of the Colts regular season games (4 for those of you who cheer for the Chiefs). It all started with Jacksonville on September 24th. The Jags held the Colts to 7 points in the first half of that game. On October 8th, Tennesee held the Colts scoreless in the first half and intercepted him.
The Broncos held Manning and company to 6 points in the first half of their October 29th game, a game in which undrafted Rookie RB Mike Bell had 6 times as many rushing yards as Larry Johnson did against the Colts D. The Dallas Cowboys held the Colts to 7 points in the first half of their November 19th game, intercepted Manning twice, plus, unlike the Chiefs, they actually won the game. As did Tennessee on 12/3, when they intercepted Manning twice, held them the 14 points and actually won.
As you can see, intercepting Peyton Manning and/or holding the team to less than 10 points in a half was not an uncommon occurrance. By comparison, the number of games where this occurred was more frequent than the number of games where Trent Green had more touchdowns than interceptions (once, against the intimidating Cleveland Browns Defense), as well as the number of opponants the Cheifs beat who would eventually be in the playoffs (again 1, San Diego).
Then again, if Damon Huard were the future of my football team, I suppose I might savor a pathetic playoff loss as well. But, that's what fans of teams that don't win Super Bowls but every 40-50 years do, I guess.
2 comments:
I think your stat misinterpreted my challenge. How many teams have intercepted PM twice in one half and limited the Colts to 9 points in that same half? Your stats assume I meant 2 INTs total and 9 points in one half. If you want to run that stat, it'd be 3 INTs total and 9 points in one half. Which also hasn't happened much lately.
And the Chiefs 1 win against SD is also 1 more than the Bronkeys managed. And, just as importantly, we remembered to beat the 49ers.
CHAMPIONSHIP SCOREBOARD:
Broncos 2, Chiefs 1
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