ekblaw@uiucdcs.CS.UIUC.EDU (01/27/86)
I pretty much ignored all the Super Bowl "predictions" I read on the net. People are allowed their OPINIONS, even when they try to claim their opinions as FACTS. No, I patiently (although it was difficult to remain that way) waited for the Super Bowl and the score that faked EVERYBODY out. But now that it is over, I have difficulty accepting it. I should start by saying that my favorite NFC team is the Chicago Bears, and my favorite AFC team the New England Patriots. This has been true for years, so nobody should accuse me of jumping onto bandwagons this year (although I'm sure Jimbo or Mr. Moore will try). Going into this Super Bowl I thought I had it made. Cripes, I couldn't lose! One of my favorite teams was going to win it all, and the other at least made it there. I hoped (and half- heartedly anticipated) a close game, where both teams could shine. What I saw Sunday was disappointment city! I'm glad the Bears won (although I wish Walter would have made a TD instead of McMahon's TWO or Perry's. That man deserves the honor of a Super Bowl TD!) and I don't think they purposely ran up the score (made a turnover that almost was a defensive TD using 2nd & a couple of 3rd stringers in there!), but I am still pissed! Hell, the Patriots can play better than they did in the Super Bowl. I feel cheated! Not only didn't I get to see the great game that I had anticipated, but I didn't get to see the great Patriots team, either. I'd like to know who were the wimps impersonating the Patriots Sunday! That wasn't the team I watched in the playoffs. Hell, that wasn't even the team I watched lose in Chicago the second week of the season. This wasn't the team I watched play Miami tough in the Orange Bowl on Monday night Football. Maybe the New England Patriots all caught that flu bug down there in New Orleans, couldn't play, and hired replacements. I hope it was something like that. Anyway, I salute the Chicago Bears, NFC and NFL Champions (for 9 months, at any rate) and the New England Patriots, AFC Champs. Despite their disappoint- ing loss Sunday, I feel that the have the best defense in the AFC, and their offense is top three in the conference. I feel confident that next year the Patriots will return to the playoffs. Will they do it as AFC East Champs? Maybe. It's really too early to call. Miami will be their only real worry, as I see the Jets going downhill (and the Colts and the Bills are already down that hill). Will they return to Super Bowl? I'd like to see that, but I'm not sure that will happen. The Raiders are always tough, Miami is still strong, and Seattle and the Broncos are improving. I wish the Patriots well in 1986/7. Robert A. Ekblaw P.S. Do you realize that the 10 points TOTAL in playoffs and Super Bowl given up by the Bears is the fewest points given up in postseason play in NFL history by a Super Bowl winner? Or that the 209 total is the fewest given up in a 19 game season? Or that the Bears were the first team to give up less than 200 points in a 16-game regular season? What a tribute to the league's best defense this year!