Jeff: The Musings O' Monday

Forrest Gump's mama certainly knew what she was talking about: in the age of parody the NFL IS like a box of chocolates; you just never know what you're going to get. After three of four road teams won on wildcard weekend, I, like many, figured normalcy would return, and home serve would mean something. Seattle and Indy were heavy favorites, and although I wanted to see both Carolina and Denver win, I wasn't sure it would happen. Sitting here on a Monday off, watching the Wolves bury the Knicks (this just in- the Knicks are NOT a good basketball team), I'm left with so many NFL questions, and so few answers (although I haven't read Peter King's MMQB or Len Pasquareli's Morning After yet. BTW, if you're a football fan, those are must-reads). Who would have thought that both New England, the clutchest team in the last decade, and Indy, the closest thing to a dominant team this year, both lose? Or speaking of dominant, that Chicago's D would get lit up AT HOME for 434 yards by warm-weather Carolina? And if you're one of three or four people that are familiar with Seattle's cursed history, although they were heavy favorites it's a mild surprise they actually did what they were supposed to do.

A question then from each game:
Carolina 29, Chicago 20
Honestly, how good is Panthers receiver Steve Smith (12 catch, 218 yds, 2 TD-oh and he ran for another 26 too)?
To paraphrase Red from Shawshank Redemption "the last thing that went through the Chicago Bears heads is how in the hell did Steve Smith ever get the best of them?" It's become a cliche to say that Smith is the ONLY weapon in the Panthers offense, but seriously, when one of the best defenses in football have a week to prepare for him and he not only beats them but DESTROYS them? What do you do with that? What else is the guy capable of? Could he cure cancer? Find Bin Laden? Talk KG into staying in Minnesota? Nothing would surprise me anymore. For the record, Smith IS the only option Carolina has. Here's their 2006 regular season stats:
Smith had 103 of the teams 269 receptions (that's 38%), 1563 of 3485 yards (45%), and 12 of 25 TD's (48%). No other Carolina receiver had more than 34 catches, 441 yds, or 4 TD's. And for the record, his numbers yesterday were good for half the teams catches, 68% of their receiving yards, and 2/3rds of their TD's. As Ron Burgandy would say "I'm not even mad- that's AMAZING!"

Pittsburgh 21, Indianapolis 18
Will Peyton Manning EVER win the big one?
I think we all got the answer yesterday, and it was a resounding "NOPE!" If Manning couldn't win it this year, with homefield advantage, the Patriots in a down year, and no real threat from the NFC, I don't know if it ever happens. At about the halfway point of the year, I conceded I was wrong about Peyton. That he wasn't the NFL's version of Alex Rodriguez after all, and that he really could put up stellar numbers and be a leader when it mattered most. So much for that theory. Hey give the guy credit for making the valiant comeback, but they had some, ahem help, to get as far as they did and still blew it. Although Vanderjagt completely shanked that kick, I have to ask why Peyton's going for the gusto on 3rd and 2 instead of converting the 1st down? They make a short completion or a handoff to Edge and the drive continues, or at the very least Vanderjagt has a shorter field goal try. Bottom line is the great ones aren't remembered because they ALMOST make the comeback.

And how ridiculous was that call on Polamalu's interception? When the ref went "under the hood" to look at it on replay, there's no doubt in my mind that he wasn't looking at the replay at all, but instead a video feed directly to Commissioner Tagliabue's office, who was demanding he overturn it so the Colts could get to the Super Bowl. That call was such a blatant screw job I almost thought I was watching a Lakers playoff game.

Denver 27, New England 13
Am I More Annoyed with Bronco fans or Boston Fans?
After my freshman year of college, when the Broncos beat the Packers in the Super Bowl, I swore I would never cheer for the Broncos again under any circumstances. I was SO sick of my Colorado buddies bragging about how great the Broncos were, I almost wished the Packers had won instead. But I'll admit it: I was kind of cheering for Denver on Saturday, and was certainly not sad to see them win. That tells you how sick I am of all the Boston whining between the Red Sox and Patriots, and you just KNOW we're going to get flooded with whiny Northeasterners lamenting their playoff woes. Hey Boston: the whining was cute when you guys hadn't won in 80 years, but when your baseball team finally wins-WITH THE 2nd HIGHEST PAYROLL- and your football team wins 3 of 4 Super Bowls, I think I speak for all of us when I say SHUT THE HELL UP! WE DONT CARE ANYMORE!! Thank you.

At the same time, I don't want to hear from the people in Denver, Pittsburgh, or Austin either. Don't whine to me about how your team "gets no respect". You know how you get respect? Earn it. Win a #$%^& game, and you'll get your respect. Try cheering for the Vikings, Mariners, Canucks or Gophers and then you can talk to me about unfair.

Seattle 20, Washington 10
Why isn't Seattle the favorites to win Super Bowl XL?
Let's see, along with Denver, they've got the best record of the 4 teams left, they've got the MVP, an underrated defense and quarterback, and a coach that's won a Super Bowl. And still nobody gives them a chance. If Alexander is truly 100% next week, how are they not the best team? I mean sure, next week Steve Smith will have 34 catches for 944 yards and 17 TD's while scaling Mt. Rainer, brewing a more popular cup of coffee than Starbucks, and becoming the 1st legitimate left fielder in Mariners history, but the Seahawks should still win right? Right?