MMBSD: Second Guessing

The title of this column is Back Seat Drivers. The essence of Back Seat Driving is not necessarily to make accurate prognostications or even fair shakes. It is to make observations, typically in hindsight, of how others can improve (it certainly isn’t an inner awareness exercise). This weekend there were four NFL games. Now each of the games had plays that could have turned the tide and had a different team win. While I would be willing to argue that each of the teams that won deserved it (i.e. they didn’t only win via a fluke play or bad referee call), the teams that lost and those supporting them deserve a little second guessing. Let the second guessing begin.

1) Joe Gibbs and the offensive play calling –

Similar to John Gruden the week before, Gibbs called plays like he votes, extraordinarily conservative. The number of deep balls Brunell through to at least keep the safeties honest could be counted on one hand of a three toed sloth. Even with time clicking down and the Redskins were in the two minute drill Gibbs relied on screen passes. Sure to be fair Brunell has long since lost the battle against Father Time which means his arm/leg strength has ebbed but its Gibbs decision to have Brunell huffing and puffing with each five yard out pattern throw.

2) Peyton Manning and Big Games

Sure you could lay the game at the feet of some drunken Canadian kicker or a defense that couldn’t cover the middle of the field but this team is built around one guy Peyton Manning. Manning was the one that handles most of the offensive play calling that couldn’t adjust to Pittsburgh’s D during the first half. It was Manning that couldn’t take the pressure and froze like a deer in the headlights. It was Manning that had pass after pass sail into that good night. Sure some blame could go to Dungy now for resting a team for a full month (the Colts seemed only slightly less rusty than the Tin Man from Wizard of Oz). However its Manning’s offense and Manning that continues to fail in the big game.

3) Chicago’s Supposed Solid D

Now I had been told that Chicago had one of the best defenses in the league. In fact during the season I had been told Chicago’s D was as good as Baltimore’s of Super Bowl run. They had sacked Delhomme eight times during the last meeting. However there had been something nagging me during the entire Bears season. How had the Cleveland Browns scored 20 points on them? Yes the team that had scored fewer touchdowns than any other team in the league put up 20 pts on the Monsters of the Midway. Hadn’t a physical Pittsburgh also taken them to the cleaners? Oh and a team with fast wide recievers (see Bengals, The) had racked up yardage too. The Bears ferocious past rush was tamed and without a lot of turnovers the Panthers sliced them at will. Steve Smith somehow had over 200 yards receiving. Nick Goings, not to be confused with Barry Sanders, kept drives moving along when the starter went down. I suppose a few eye brow raises can be directed at Chicago’s reluctance to use Thomas Jones and allow for rest for the beleaguered defense. Giving up 29 points isn’t going to win you too many games. Giving up 29 points at home, in the playoffs should have us second guessing how good the defense really was.

4) The Pats’ Bandwagon

We heard all this week how the Pats were back and running on all cylinders. Peter King slurped the 10-0 Tom Brady. Bill Simmons was readying his tivo for Bill Belichek’s spell binding speech at the end of the game. Dan Marino mused if New England would become the greatest dynasty in the history of the world (other choices include the Ming Dynasty, 3^rd Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, and Die Hard I-III). The warning signs were there though. Before this game Tom Brady had 12 TDs and 12 INTs on the road in the playoffs. Not something that you want printed underneath your bust at Canton. Corey Dillon was limping and grumbling during last week’s victory. I don’t think Dillon could finish a 40 yard dash at the moment let alone show off any blazing speed. New England was traveling to the stadium that sits a mile above sea level. That’s like trying to win a marathon against a Kenyan in Kenya. Plus gambler’s logic should have kicked in (i.e. good luck doesn’t go on forever). The team that rode the “tuck rule” into Super Bowl lore would eventually roll snake eyes. That weekend was this weekend. By the end the holy trifecta of Pats land could only slump off the field. Belichek’s defense didn’t hold up its end of the bargain. Vinatieri missed a crucial field goal. The perfect Brady, despite his best efforts at blaming receivers, refs, position of Mars and Jupiter, for the loss will be sitting at home when the playoffs resume next week. He threw a pass that should never have been thrown and once he did the Pats lucky playoff streak ended.