Super Bowl LII Poll

[rowan]

New England Patriots, +210
Minnesota Vikings, +375
Pittsburgh Steelers, +525
New Orleans Saints, +750
Philadelphia Eagles, +1200
Jacksonville Jaguars, +2200
Atlanta Falcons, +2500
Tennessee Titans, +7500

Eagles v Falcons, Patriots v Titans, Steelers v Jaguars, Vikings v Saints.

I'd go with 4 home-wins, obviously, but if there's going to be an upset it'll most likely occur in Philadelphia. Minnesota (my pick), Philadelphia Jacksonville and Tennessee have never won the title.

Unfortunately the Pats & Steelers - the most successful franchises in Super Bowl history - cannot actually meet in the Super Bowl as they are both AFC. If they both win this coming weekend, they'll meet for the AFC title. The Eagles v Falcons winner will meet the Vikings v Saints winner for the NFC championship.

Super Bowl LII (52) will be held at Minneapolis (home of the Vikings) on February 4

[rowan]

Head says Pats, heart says Vikings, so I'm voting with a combination of both and going for the latter. It would be a first for the Minnesota outfit, and what a thrill that would be for the home fans! If New England win it I believe they will tie Pittsburgh for the most wins ever - 6. Amazing to me really, because when I first started following NFL in the late 80s the Pats had never won it and were about the worst team in the league for several years. It all began to change with the advent of free agency in the 90s.

[rowan]

Eagles - Falcons kicks off in a few hours to begin the weekend's action. Get your votes in, folks!

Meanwhile, take a look at this game-winning touchdown pass by Tua Tagovailoa in overtime to give Alabama's Crimson Tide a stunning upset win over favourites Georgia in the national collegiate final. The Samoan back-up QB came on at halftime and threw 3 touchdown passes!

[rowan]

Patriots march on, 35-14 over the Titans. Eagles edge the Falcons 15-10.

[rowan]

Big upset with the Jaguares defeating the Steelers in Pittsburgh, 42-45:



My pick Minnestoa currently 17 - 0 up on the Saints:

[Banquo]

Steelers choice of onside kick when only 7 pts down with more than 2 minutes to play and 2 timeouts was pretty questionable. Roethlisberger will be furious with his sides defence as well

[rowan]

Yes, that was the upset of the round. Although the Vikings let a 17-0 lead slip and had to come from behind to beat the Saints 29-24 with a 61-yard touchdown pass on literarally the last play of the game! Can't see anybody but the Patriots winning it this year - again.

[rowan]

So the Vikings were given a 3% chance of scoring on that final play - and did it!

The Patriots are now the only team remaining that has won the Super Bowl before, having done so 5 times to get within one more of tying the Steelers' record. They will host the Jaguares this weekend while the Vikings take on the Eagles in Philly. None of these latter 3 teams has ever won the trophy. So history, as well as form, suggests it will be New England again, but if the Vikings get through at least they'll have the home advantage.

[rowan]

I've got a horrible feeling the Eagles will edge the Vikings and the Pats will win a one-sided Super Bowl for a highly predictable outcome.

Latest odds:

New England Patriots +120

Minnesota Vikings +175

Philadelphia Eagles +700

Jacksonville Jaguars +800

Super Bowl LII will be played on Feb. 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

[Banquo]

So the Vikings were given a 3% chance of scoring on that final play - and did it!

The Patriots are now the only team remaining that has won the Super Bowl before, having done so 5 times to get within one more of tying the Steelers' record. They will host the Jaguares this weekend while the Vikings take on the Eagles in Philly. None of these latter 3 teams has ever won the trophy. So history, as well as form, suggests it will be New England again, but if the Vikings get through at least they'll have the home advantage.

what on earth was New Orleans 43 Williams doing!

[rowan]

So the Vikings were given a 3% chance of scoring on that final play - and did it!

The Patriots are now the only team remaining that has won the Super Bowl before, having done so 5 times to get within one more of tying the Steelers' record. They will host the Jaguares this weekend while the Vikings take on the Eagles in Philly. None of these latter 3 teams has ever won the trophy. So history, as well as form, suggests it will be New England again, but if the Vikings get through at least they'll have the home advantage.

what on earth was New Orleans 43 Williams doing!

Looked like he had a rush of blood to the head and thought he could pick off the intercept. But even if that had been a realistic possibility, all he had to do was make the tackle and time was up anyway.

[switchskier]

It seems that even in thif modern pass happy nfl that defence wins championships, unless of course you're the New England Patriots. That's now seven AFL championship games in a row in a sport with a draft and cap system designed to create equality.

[J Dory]

That was a hell of a game. Anyone but the Patriots for the SB please.

[Banquo]

So the Vikings were given a 3% chance of scoring on that final play - and did it!

The Patriots are now the only team remaining that has won the Super Bowl before, having done so 5 times to get within one more of tying the Steelers' record. They will host the Jaguares this weekend while the Vikings take on the Eagles in Philly. None of these latter 3 teams has ever won the trophy. So history, as well as form, suggests it will be New England again, but if the Vikings get through at least they'll have the home advantage.

what on earth was New Orleans 43 Williams doing!

Looked like he had a rush of blood to the head and thought he could pick off the intercept. But even if that had been a realistic possibility, all he had to do was make the tackle and time was up anyway.

yep, but it was weird what he did....looks like he was aiming for the left leg, not realising Diggs was about to jump. Very odd, literally a rookie error, poor lad.

[rowan]

That was a hell of a game. Anyone but the Patriots for the SB please.

Agreed. But right now that's like saying anyone but the All Blacks for the 2019 RWC please. There's the red hot, 5-time champion Patriots, and then there's 3 teams that never won a Super Bowl and struggled through the playoffs.

[J Dory]

That was a hell of a game. Anyone but the Patriots for the SB please.

Agreed. But right now that's like saying anyone but the All Blacks for the 2019 RWC please. There's the red hot, 5-time champion Patriots, and then there's 3 teams that never won a Super Bowl and struggled through the playoffs.

The difference is, everyone, and I mean absolutely everyone, including all the people on this board, adores the All Blacks. That cannot be said of the Patriots.

[rowan]

I don't think adore is quite the right word. Respect or possibly admire would be more appropriate. I am well travelled and know from personal experience that many people do not adore the All Blacks at all, but very few rugby fans would say they did not respect them. Same applies to the Patriots. Amazing thing about their 5 Super Bowls thus far, as they've all been achieved this century. If they win again it will be six trophies in 18 years and you don't need to be a mathematician to work out that means a third of them. & in the NFL, where all 32 teams have more or less the same chance of success through the franchise and draft system, that is totally phenomenal. More so than the All Blacks' success, I would say, because really only SA, Australia, England and France have the same resources; Argentina, Wales and Ireland being another rung down the ladder, and everyone else well behind in terms of player numbers and exposure to tier 1 rugby, etc. Incidentally, I don't adore the All Blacks myself, because I'm a fan of the underdog and they haven't fit that description for a long time now. Same reason I'm hoping the Patriots juggernaut can be brought to a halt this season. But it's looking increasingly unlikely.

[rowan]

What could have inspired this?

Police in Pullman, Wash., announced Tuesday night that they found Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at his off-campus apartment. He had failed to show up to a workout earlier in the day so police went to his apartment to do a welfare check, finding a rifle next to his body and a suicide note.

He was 21 years old.

“We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Tyler’s passing. He was an incredible young man and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him was better for it. The entire WSU community mourns as thoughts and prayers go out to his family,” Washington State Coach Mike Leach said in a statement.

Condolences poured in from the Washington State and college football communities.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/ear ... 73338f392b

[rowan]

Brady injury:

With Championship Sunday drawing near, both favored teams have an injury to a star player listed on Wednesday's report.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was limited with a right hand injury and missed his regular media availability because he was with the team's medical staff, the Patriots announced.

According to a Boston Herald report, Brady jammed the hand in an accidental collision during practice, but X-rays showed no structural damage.

It's the first time this season that Brady has been on the report for an injury to his throwing hand. He missed practice or was limited due to two other injuries -- his left shoulder (Weeks 6 and 17) and Achilles (Weeks 12-15, 17).

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/0 ... /23336314/

[Banquo]

That was a hell of a game. Anyone but the Patriots for the SB please.

why? Super smart team, assembled without the benefit of ace draft picks, picking up otherwise journeymen players and turning them into high performers.

[Banquo]

Brady injury:

With Championship Sunday drawing near, both favored teams have an injury to a star player listed on Wednesday's report.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was limited with a right hand injury and missed his regular media availability because he was with the team's medical staff, the Patriots announced.

According to a Boston Herald report, Brady jammed the hand in an accidental collision during practice, but X-rays showed no structural damage.

It's the first time this season that Brady has been on the report for an injury to his throwing hand. He missed practice or was limited due to two other injuries -- his left shoulder (Weeks 6 and 17) and Achilles (Weeks 12-15, 17).

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/0 ... /23336314/

They can't win without Brady..imo

[J Dory]

That was a hell of a game. Anyone but the Patriots for the SB please.

why? Super smart team, assembled without the benefit of ace draft picks, picking up otherwise journeymen players and turning them into high performers.

They've won enough, deflate gate, and Brady's too pretty.

[Banquo]

That was a hell of a game. Anyone but the Patriots for the SB please.

why? Super smart team, assembled without the benefit of ace draft picks, picking up otherwise journeymen players and turning them into high performers.

They've won enough, deflate gate, and Brady's too pretty.

ah envy ....for that read All Blacks, 'something about taking it too seriously/haka over use', and BB/DC.

[rowan]

Yes, even the Brady injury might be a ploy. They've done this before. Guaranteed he'll go out and have a great game against the Jags, and I don't really see how they can stop him. Main thing is the Pats' linemen. Just like rugby, American football is basically won up front, and the flashy guys out in the backfield are just finishing off their good work. Brady gets so much time it's easy for him to look good. Hope I'm wrong, but I think New England is already in the Super Bowl and it's only a question of who they face there - Eagles-Vikings being too close to call.

[morepork]

Whatever the result, Philly will be fucking feral on Sunday night.