Super Bowl XLI Preview

Better late than never I suppose

Anyways...lets get to the topic.As everyone(and their mothers)know Superbowl XLI will be played this weekend...in Miami...at 6:25pm...on CBS...Sunday.So lets give the buildup here.We begin with the 2005-2006 season.In 2005 the Indianapolis Colts began the year 13-0.That unbeaten record would end in Week 15 against the Chargers where San Diego won in Indy 26-17,and just when things couldn't get worse for Dungy and the Colts things took a downhill slide.On December 22nd of that very year Coach Tony Dungy recieved a phone call from Lutz,Florida where his son James lived.It was then Tony had found out that his 18 year old son had died from an apparent suicide.Dungy missed the game against Seattle two days later and the Colts lost 28-13 without their starters and their head coach.Despite losing 2 of 3 to conclude the season the Colts managed to retain their No.1 seed in the playoffs and homefield advantage.

Two weeks later the Colts faced the Steelers in Indianapolis.It was six weeks earlier on Monday Night Football where the Colts beat the Steelers 26-7 at home.However they weren't facing the same team they faced earlier.Instead they faced a tougher more aggresive Steelers squad.It was evident in the first quarter where Pittsburgh jumped out to a 14-0 lead.By the 3rd Quarter it was 21-3 in favor of Pitt.

The Colts rallied in the 4th with 2 touchdowns to make it 21-18.Late in the 4th Quarter the Colts had a chance to win the game when on 4th and 16 Peyton Manning was sacked and was down at the 2.On the next play the ball was given to Jerome Bettis...who fumbled for the first time all year.The ball was suddenly picked up by Cornerback Nick Harper who ran it to the Colts 42 before being met by Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.The Colts managed to drive to the Pittsburgh 29 where they went to attempt a 46 yard field goal what happened next marked the end of one man's career.

Kicker Mike Vanderjact of the Colts,who is/was the most accurate kicker in NFL History missed the kick to the right.The Steelers went on to win Superbowl XL and Vanderjact was gone the next day.Coming into the 2006-2007 season the Colts had high expectations with the signing of Adam Vinatieri,the most clutch kicker in NFL History.Indy started out the season with a 9-0 record before heading to Irving,Texas to face the 5-4 Cowboys.Despite Dallas kicker,Mike Vanderjact(Yes the SAME guy)missing 2 field goals the Boys managed to upset the Colts 21-14.The Colts would finish the last 6 games going 3-3 with losses to Houston,Jacksonville,and Tennesssee.

Coming into the playoffs there was doubt whether or not Indy's defense could stop first round opponet Kansas City and Running Back Larry Johnson.At the end the Colts' D managed to stop them winning 23-8.People for sure thought it was over when they returned to Baltimore to face the Ravens.Baltimore's defense prevented any touchdowns...as did Indy's as the Colts won 15-6 off of 3 Adam Vinatieri field goals.Suddenly things were swinging toward the Colts advantage.

Coming into the game against New England in the AFC Championship the Colts were underdogs due to falling short against New England twice(24-14 in the 04 AFC Title game and 20-3 in the 05 AFC Divisionals).However,for Indy,third time was a charm.Despite falling back 21-3 early the Colts managed to rally and win 38-34 at home beating the Pats in the playoffs for the first time ever.Now with 3 out of the 4 problems out of the way(Larry Johnson,Baltimore's D and Fans,and New England)the Colts are en route to their third Superbowl appearence.Some players to watch out for Indy are:Quarterback Peyton Manning,Running Back Joseph Addai,and Safety Bob Sanders.Now onto Chicago.

In 2005 the Bears went 11-5 behind Quarterback Kyle Orton(for most of the year)suddenly Rex Grossman was given back his job as Quarterback and the Bears drew No.2 in the playoffs.In the Divisional Round the Bears took on the Carolina Panthers.Carolina came out ready to play as they jumped out to a 13-0 lead making it 16-7 at halftime.The Bears wouldn't take the lead throughout the game losing 29-21.Carolina would go on to lose to Seattle in the NFC Championship.2006 kicked off with Chicago going into Lambeau Field and blowing out Green Bay 26-0 becoming the first team to shut out Brett Favre's Packers.Chicago would continue to dominate destroying Detroit,Seattle,and Buffalo by a combined total of 111-20.It appeared to be a repeat of the 1985 Bears who went 18-1 and destroyed almost every team out there.However that almost ended in Week 6 in Glendale.

Arizona,behind QB Matt Leinart jumped to a 20-0 lead at Halftime and led 23-3 with 1:47 left in the 3rd Quarter.Suddenly things shifted to Chicago's favor when a 3 yard fumble recovery made it a 13 point deficit.It became a 6 point deficit when Charles Tillman ran recovered a 50 yard fumble for a touchdown.It was sealed with a Devin Hester punt return to give the Bears a 24-23 victory.Chicago recovered from the close loss the following week by defeating San Francisco 41-10(after leading 41-0 at Halftime)on Halloween weekend.However Chicago's perfect season was suddenly stopped with a 31-13 loss to Miami...the same team who ended the 85 Bears perfect season.

Chicago jumped back up winning 38-20 against the Giants,and 10-0 against the Jets both in Giants Stadium.The Bears then headed to Foxboro where they faced the Patriots and fell short 17-13.Chicago proceeded the next week to beat the Vikings at home 23-12 and "destroyed" the Rams 42-27 on Monday Night Football.The next two weeks however were close scares for Chicago.At home against Tampa the Bears went up 24-3 with 5:22 left in the 3rd Quarter.However,the Buccaneers pulled within 7 at the beginning of the 4th Quarter.Chicago tried to pull away at 31-17 but the Bucs scored twice to send the game into overtime at 31-31.Kicker Robbie Gould missed a field goal but bounced back to win it 34-31.

The second occured against Detroit where they barely escaped winning 26-21.Week 17,however for the Bears would be no escape.On New Years Eve the Bears faced the Green Bay Packers who they destroyed in Week 1.Green Bay went up 23-0 at halftime and never looked back as they won 26-7.Rex Grossman(who claimed that he thought he would only be in a really short amount of time and didn't care because he was going to party later that night)turned the ball over 4 times and had a Quarterback rating of 0.This made Bears fans wonder if their Quarterback could lead them to victory.

The Bears faced off in the Divisional Playoffs two weeks later against the Seattle Seahawks,for whom they beat 37-6 just two months earlier.Seattle led 24-21 with 4 minutes left when a Robbie Gould field goal made it a tie.In overtime a second Gould field goal won the game for Chicago 27-24.The Bears advanced to the NFC Championship for the first time since 1985.The Bears immediately pounced on the Saints making it 16-0 midway thru the 2nd Quarter.In the 3rd Quarter the Saints came close at 16-14 but a safety turned the game around and the Bears won it 39-14 going on a 23-0 run to end it.Now Chicago faces the odds as a 7 point underdog and a Quarterback in doubt after being called the Worst Superbowl QB ever by the New York Times.Some key players to watch out for in Chicago are:Running Back Cedric Benson,Wide Reciever Muhsin Muhammad,and Linebacker Brian Urlacher.

So here we have it two teams seeking their 2nd Superbowl title.One team looking to bring the magic of the George Halas days into the game and the other seeking to have possesion of a trophy(The Colts' Superbowl V trophy is owned by Georgia Frontiere,owner of the St.Louis Rams whose husband,Carroll Rosenbloom owned the Colts from 1953 to 1972.That year he swapped ownership with LA Rams owner Robert Isray and took the trophy with him.The Colts' replacement trophy is in possesion of the City of Baltimore who was given it following the Colts' move to Indy in 1984 by the NFL.).It is also two Quarterbacks looking to prove something.For Rex Grossman its to show that he is worth a damn and deserving of where he is and for Peyton Manning its proving that he can be a Superbowl winner and not a Dan Marino.

With that its now time for my pick.As much as I would love to see Indy pull it off I have a feeling,the same feeling I had when Pittsburgh won Superbowl XL,and the same feeling when Florida beat Ohio State.That feeling is that Chicago will win this game and their 2nd Superbowl.I think it will be a close game and Rex Grossman will have a big day with help from the Chicago Defense and win the Superbowl for him and his team.This is due to the "Don't doubt anyone" theory where the team people are doubting will impress and conquer.

Thats the Superbowl preview edition.Now for the weekly awards

Game of the Week:Virginia vs Clemson only due to Virginia's miracle comeback

MVP of the Week:Again slow week and I never watched too much sports so this will not be handed out

Team of the Week:Chicago Bulls for ending the Mavs streak.

See you next week for the Superbowl Recap following the game.Remember the game is at 6:25pm on CBS.

I also wish best of luck to the owners of the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro who was put to sleep early this morning.

RIP