In two weeks, the Super Bowl will be upon us. After this grandest of American sports spectacles, the salad days of basketball and baseball will follow, along with a smattering of other sports, but in the good ol’ US of A, we know who is king.
No, not LeBron James, silly. Football is king.
These last three weeks of pro football are what every fan has been waiting for, even as a sinking feeling grows in the pit of each of their stomachs with the realization that after 12 more quarters of football, it’s over till September.
Conversely, wives and girlfriends, and even husbands and boyfriends, will rejoice as the football gods return their beloved — not to mention her or his attention span — and weekend productivity will reach peaks unseen since the summer.
Soon, your loved one can finally join you on your IKEA trip for a second opinion on that bookcase.
But before you get too excited, you must get through these last 14 days, and what better way to build some goodwill ahead of next month’s IKEA trip than to show you care what happens?
Pretending you care about the Super Bowl is easy. NFL fans are sure everyone cares about the Super Bowl, even if you’re secretly hoping the men in tight pants quit throwing the brown “ball” around so you can see more $10 million Doritos commercials.
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What’s clear is that Rodgers was far from mobile in last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. Despite Rodgers hobbling around in the pocket, the Cowboys failed to put pressure on him — especially in the fourth quarter — as the one-legged wonder completed 24 of 35 passes for 316 yards and tossed three touchdowns.
Don’t expect Seattle’s defensive players to be so merciful. Expect them to bring the house — and often — against Rodgers and try to knock him down on every play. And don’t expect the Legion of Boom to go any easier on his receivers or on Lacy, who has been complaining of knee soreness ahead of Sunday’s matchup.
In Foxborough, you’ll have a more traditional story line in the old guard versus the new.
Brady, of course, is the poster boy for winners — and not because of the UGG boots contract and being married to Gisele Bundchen.
Since coming to the NFL in 2001, he’s played in five Super Bowls and won three of them. This will be his ninth AFC Championship game.
But remember, he’s lost his last two conference championships and his last two Super Bowls, so don’t be surprised when commentators wonder aloud if Luck, 25, who has taken the Colts to the playoffs in each of his three seasons, is ready to take the crown from the 37-year-old Brady’s head.
Want a fun drinking game? Take a slug from your beer every time someone says “heir apparent” during the pregame show.
