Viva Murillo!
It kind of makes sense, doesn’t it? This season we’ve seen the silliest images you can imagine: A Bengal jumping into the Dawg Pound, a rookie setting the single-game rushing record, Terrell Owens in tears defending a quarterback. In a surreal year like this, why can’t Eli Manning shed Tiki Barber and Jeremy Shockey and reach the big game?
I don’t know if it’s parity, goofy marketing or what. But when seeing giant Giants parading down London streets to celebrate one of the most boring games of the year isn’t in the top 10 of unusual events, you know something is out of whack.
With that in mind, the Patriots absolutely must go 19-0. It would make too much sports-sense that a team that played them so tough could upset the applecart. So, of course, it won’t happen. In fact, in the tradition of absurd events, I think the Patriots will beat them by 40 because that’s totally against conventional wisdom and makes no sense. It’s too logical that a team that had a 12-point lead on New England would give them a good game ... so they’re going to get blown out. Not much more to say about that.
But what about all the other stuff? Why is Peyton throwing six interceptions against the Chargers and only losing because Vinatieri had a Vanderjagt moment? Why is he throwing for more than 400 yards at home against them in the playoffs and still losing?
How can Bobby Petrino quit on the Falcons just hours after he told them not to quit? How can that same team go out the next weekend and let the Buccaneers return a kickoff for a touchdown for the first time in team history?
What kind of championship Sunday is it when LaDainian sits sulking on the bench for an entire game -- with his helmet on -- while Brett Favre tosses the longest TD pass in Packers playoff history, only to do nothing the rest of the game?
It was a great one. Randy Moss and Antonio Gates were invisible, but Chris Chambers and Plaxico Burress made their presence felt. The toughest Charger was Philip Rivers. The best quarterback in Lambeau was Eli Manning. The kicker who couldn’t miss was ... wait for it ... Nate Kaeding. It’s perfect, really.
So here we are at the end of the season. The Browns are the best team in Ohio and the Dolphins are the worst team in Florida. Cam Cameron lasted just one year, and Norv Turner looks like his job is pretty safe. And a year after going 13-3, nobody remembers Brian Billick or Steve McNair in Baltimore.
I guess with that kind of year, this is the perfect Super Bowl. The Giants beat three division winners on the road. The Patriots beat everybody in their path. Puppy Bowl IV will be broadcast on Animal Planet and the only Manning left standing is Eli.
Makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?
Feel free to share your unusual stories from the 2007 season. You can also reach Michael Murillo at vivamurillo@gmail.com.
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