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January 21, 2005

Issue #29

Weekly Publication

Table of Contents:

Quote of the Week

Thank You

View from the Nose Bleed Section

Free Pick Section

Quote of the Week:

The urge to gamble is so universal and its practice so pleasurable that I assume it must be evil.

Broun, Heywood

The Colts

I am still puzzled how the Patriots completely shut down the Colts last week. I know they have a great defense and a genius as a coach, but this was one of the most prolific offenses in the history of the NFL. To only score 3 points is just amazing and mind boggling to me. I give all the credit in the world to the New England coaches and players but offer another side of the story, which is, the Colts choked! Yes, I said the 5-letter word which we are not suppose to say about teams and players, but they really did choke!

The Colts came out and played right into the hands of New England by running the ball and throwing it short. They did not stretch the field which they have done all year and could have exploited the vaunted Patriot defensive weakness. For whatever reason they decided to play it close to the vest and grind out the win. When the heck did that become their offensive game plan? Who the heck decided to try to do this against the defending champions? Sure Manning would have taken some shots standing in the pocket longer but you have to do what brought you to the dance. If they would have stretched the field, the running lanes and shorter passing routes would have opened up and then you could have saved Manning from the potential sacks.

The Colts seemed to run the ball on first and second down every possession and then on 3rd down had too many dropped passes in the first half. They looked good running the two-minute offense at the end of the first half and should have come out running it to open the 3rd quarter. By midway through the 3rd quarter the defensive backs of New England were just sitting on all short routes and delivering some huge hits to the receivers.

Yes the Patriots are an awesome team and deserve everything coming to them but they should send many thank you cards to the Colts for playing the Patriots type of game. The Colts should have gone out and played the way they have played all year. Then when the snow had settled and if they had lost, at least then they would know that they gave it their best shot.

Opinion from The Meat Hook

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From The Nose Bleed Section:

Thoughts and Ponders for AFC/NFC Championship Week

Just because Manning lost last week, does that make his unbelievable season a failure? To him, yes it will but to everyone else, it shouldn’t.

Why can’t Manning win the big one? Is it because he chokes? Is it because it’s all in his mind? Or is it just because the Patriots are proven winners and know what it takes to win the big one?

McNabb, Manning, and Vick are great QB’s. But they are not proven winners yet. Brady is a proven winner. All three of those QB’s may have better stats, but until they can slip a super bowl ring on their finger, let alone two, they can’t be put in Brady’s class.

Will McNabb make it to the Super Bowl? They say 3rd time is a charm...oh wait, it is number 4 for him. Is there a saying for a 4th time?

It is scary how good the Falcons look right now. It will be even scarier when they get this west coast offense down even better for next year.

Its amazing how much a good QB means for a team. How bad were the Falcons last year without Vick? That question alone proves the point.

This has been a great season of football and we still have 3 games left. It doesn’t matter which 2 teams make the Super Bowl this year, it should be a great game to watch. Happy Betting!

Just The Facts:


NFL Free Pick

Atlanta @ Philadelphia –5

Will the jinx end this year for the Eagles? They can’t lose 4 in a row, can they? It’s possible but the Eagles won’t let that happen. Even though the most explosive player in the league is coming to town, a player who made a NFL defense look like a Pee-Wee team last week, means absolutely nothing to the Eagles. McNabb wants to prove himself as a winner. This is his 4th chance to make that first step. The Eagles to the Super Bowl.