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Final Football Forecast for 2003! The Playoffs"I'm not being run out of town, I just have to do what I think is best in relationship to my football responsibilities as head coach." Well Dick (Vermeil) you may not be running but other coaches sure are. In light of the recent firings in the NFL this week I have one thing to say: Why not Wannstedt? Here's a guy that was given everything asked for when he went down there: Ricky Williams, all the say in draft picks, and $$$$. Since his tenure started 4 years ago they're wildcards only. They missed the playoffs the past 2 years, and they're under .250 in December games. OUCH! Wayne Huizenga better get himself a good GM to help this Jimmy Johnson clone. In any event he should have gone and hired Tom Coughlin down the road from Jacksonville.
Now on to the playoffs!
The NFC, which stands for Not Functional or Competitive, is again more wide open then the 2004 Tour de France if Lance Armstrong decides to retire this year. The number 1 seed Eagles (guess I can't call them Beagles) are hurting big time. Now with Westbrook hurt this could spell defeat even at home. The 2 seed Rams are about as bad as anyone when it comes to turnovers. They have more turnovers than a Pillsbury factory at Christmas time. Dallas and the Panthers could be the best of this bunch since the Packers and the Seahawks have nothing left in the tank against a good D. To quote Elvis Costello "Those two teams are about as exciting as a used Kleenex". In any event I'm taking the Panthers or the Cowgirls in this conference.
The AFC, which stands for Air Force a Coming, definitely has the edge here. The Patriots have it all going for them, they're 6-0 in snow games in Foxboro, they're on a 12 game winning streak, a club record, and they have the best "D" in the game. To break this team you're going to need more then a good team, you will need some luck as well. In the 2 spot we find Dickie V's (not Vitale) Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have a formidable offense with the best runner in the NFL the past 2 years, but they give up an average of 18 points a game. The Priest will need a prayer from the Pope to advance past the mighty Pats. The other games will be tough calls. The great AFC quarterbacks for New England and Kansas City (Green and Brady) fall short of the courage Air McNair of the Titans puts out. The guy has more lives then Dick Clark. Just when you think he's gone for the year he shows up at the start of the next series. I like the Titans over the Ravens. As far as the Broncos and the Colts go, who knows? It's a rematch of two weeks ago, where the Broncos spanked the Jolts on national TV without Clinton Portis. This is a rematch for the Jolts. If they can't win this one at home Tony Dungy is jinxed.
Needless to say, all roads to Houston go through Foxboro, where the Pats hardly ever lose. Could we see a repeat of 2001? "Do you believe in miracles ? YES!"
— Al Michaels ABC sports.See you next September and may all your gifts for 2004 be season tix to the Patriots!
— Johnny "Prime Time" Maz
