A VERY AMERICAN SUPER BOWL
If you had to choose two NFL team names that best personify America, you would be hard pressed to find two better than the Patriots and the Eagles. And that’s exactly who we’re left with going into Super Bowl LII.
In a little under two weeks, these two teams will vie for the 52nd NFL Championship inside US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.Â
First off, you know who is missing? The home team Vikings, who were unable to do much on either offense or defense against Philadelphia on Sunday. I was afraid initially that after that crazy ending to the Saints-Vikings game last week, it could potentially be a letdown scenario for Minnesota.
Now, do I absolutely believe that to be true? Not really. I would assume the Vikings were professional enough to put that game behind them to focus on the NFC Championship.
What I wasn’t necessarily expecting to happen was for the Vikings’ No. 1-ranked defense to allow second string quarterback Nick Foles to throw for 352 yards and three touchdowns. Or for the Eagles’ run game to produce 114 yards on the ground and an additional touchdown among their top three running backs.
And in case you didn’t tune into the first addition of “Good Morning Sandhills” on The Classic Rock Radio station Monday morning, I mentioned that Vikings quarterback Case Keenum has basically been auditioning for other teams (as well as the Vikes) all season long with him now a free agent. I added that any teams thinking about signing him in the future hopefully didn’t put all their stock into this one game.
Keenum was 28-48 for 271 yards with only one touchdown and two interceptions.
Long story even longer, the Vikings weren’t able to run the ball, throw the ball efficiently or play defense; pretty much the top three things a team needs to do to win any game, much less in the playoffs.
As far as the earlier game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the home team New England Patriots, I think it was safe to say that everyone outside of northern Florida figured the Pats wouldn’t have much trouble with the Jags even though Jacksonville carried a pretty stout defense of its own.
However, New England fans had to be nervous throughout three-fourths of this game because the Jaguars led up until the fourth quarter. I also remember watching it saying to myself, Jacksonville better not take their foot off the pedal because that’s when Bill Belichick and Tom Brady do their best work.
And wouldn’t you know it? That’s exactly what happened.
The Jaguars have the No. 1 passing defense in the NFL? Whatever. Brady threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns.
There are three certain things in life, it seems: death, taxes and the Patriots in the Super Bowl.
TRIVIA TIME: Including 2018, how many AFC Championships have the New England Patriots won? Answer below.
MOUNT ZION
Duke’s men’s basketball team beat Miami and Pittsburgh this past week, but the Blue Devils’ biggest news of the week came off the court, coming out of nowhere to nab a commitment from Zion Williamson, the No. 2 recruit in the ESPN 100.
Head coach Mike Krzyzewski now has the top three players in the 2018 class and will have the No. 1 class for the fourth time in the past five years.
But, how many National Championships does Duke have in that same time period? Well, the answer is one; in 2015. Now don’t get me wrong. Plenty of teams would love to have just one championship, much less the five that the Blue Devils own overall.
My point is, having a stacked roster in college basketball doesn’t always translate into automatic winning. And on top of that, Williamson will only be in Durham for one year, just like his future teammates that are joining him.
However, and that’s a huge however, Clemson and South Carolina thought they had a legitimate chance to sign the Spartanburg native. And Roy Williams and the Tar Heels were right there on the recruiting trail, as well.
Williamson is a heck of a catch, and he’s taking his highlight-reel dunks with him to Tobacco Road.Â
Here’s an early “welcome to the ACC,” big man.
TRIVIA ANSWER: The New England Patriots have won 11 AFC Championships overall, including eight of those in the last 17 years, otherwise known as the Belichick-Brady era.
