I make no mincing of this point: San Francisco, as a specific example, is the best team in the 2012-13 NFC, and it's NOT close. This could well be the coming out party of the Next Great Forty-Niner Dynasty.
The retirement of Ray Lewis might well present the NFL with an opportunity to honor the player which took the game from the supposedly family-friendly confines of previous eras into the urban, inner-city thug era which mirrors most of it's major players today.
But make no mistake: The only real difference between events like this and what I proposed is that I missed what the actual storyline is. I have no real clue as to what it, now, is (though Lewis does present a very real opportunity to "honor" the player which mainstreamed the culture which is now dominant in the NFL over the last 10-15 years or so).
Green Bay is on the way down. There is nothing which can be said to deny it. They do not have the defense to defeat an elite team (and, no, I do not think Houston is an elite team either!). The offense was not as potent this year.
Factually, even with the one win taken from them by the officiating (which would only have changed the venue of the defeat, not it's opponent nor magnitude), 11-5 was probably flattering. San Francisco pummeled them twice, the Giants have their number, I still think the loss at Minnesota was somewhat scripted, the Colts got one for their coach, and well, you know the rest...
Peyton Manning is a wonderful story, but, sans the one year, he still hasn't accomplished that much in the playoffs, and one has to wonder if just getting through the year without his neck getting snapped was the real prize!
So, what now?
- Clear the decks for Seattle, their fandom, and how much people are willing to throw away for a championship?
- Ray Lewis?
- One more for Brady and Belichick?
- Houston finally takes the stage?
- Niner Dynasty III?
- or Atlanta?
Man the 49ers are the best team in the league, I agree with you. Who is going to beat them? They beat Brees (Twice counting last year's playoffs), Rodgers (Twice), they beat Brady, they will absolutely destroy Matt Ryan next week.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't surprised the Ravens won. Manning is a loser in the post season as soon as everyone crowns him the MVP of the year.
There is just no way I think Atlanta beats SF. They had this game won and blew it, nearly lost if Pete Carroll don't call that Time out and give them another try at the field goal. They won't be going up by a big lead against SF. The Niners beat Brees, Brady, and Rodgers. Ryan won't be a problem at all. Honestly I don't think even new England is going to beat the 49ers
Or Godell can kill two birds with one stone with Atlanta, they would be playing in the superdome, the saints home stadium, and in Atlanta, thats where the murders that ray lewis were tied to took place, just a thought
ReplyDeleteSevered End: Thought about that, especially as I think that, if they do give Lewis a Super Bowl ring as a retirement gift, it's essentially for the murders. Of course, you're thinking the other direction, but it's not that I haven't considered that.
ReplyDeleteGary: The only question is: Will they go through with it? And what I'm scared of is, if they do, it's going to screw with that poor kid's head... He comes in, unseats the quarterback, his team wins the Super Bowl, and HE'S THE NEXT JOE MONTANA!!!
Are you serious, Niner Nation? Really??