The superstition in the National Football League regarding the "Super Bowl Hangover" - the unfortunate losing seasons that teams defeated in the Super Bowl seem to suffer the year after their momentus loss - has a new twist and a greater meaning with the absurd finale to last year's Super Bowl XLII and the first time the presence of the hangover has plagued a "Dynasty" team.

The inspired and miraculous Cinderella story of the New York Giants' playoff run has been popularly chronicled; Sports Illustrated even published a featured aritcle regarding David Tyree's singular and unforgettable catch that even the members of the Giants team referred to as unbelieveable. But the ever-quiet and business-like Patriots and their magical 2007 season has lost virtually all publicity since their epic downfall last February. However, if one examines some of the finer points of the New England Patriots' fate, it may prove to explain why the AFC has taken such an unexpected turn this season.

Continue reading "Patriots' Super Bowl Loss Could Signal End of an Era"

On the first play of Denver's Monday Night game against New England, Jay Cutler injured his finger on Vince Wilfork's helmet. This must have messed with Coach Mike Shanahan's usual pre-planned 15-play commencement to every game. Seeing the immediate innaccuracy of Cutler's throwing after the bang-up, more run plays started to get dialed. Since Selvin Young was out of the game, it was 33-year-old back-up Michael Pittman's job to carry the load. Soon thereafter, during the same long drive downfield, Pittman was injured and taken out of the game. Thus third-stringer Andre Hall had to carry the ball. And on his first touch, he fumbled it. The drive was simply doomed from the beginning.

The Patriots would capitalize on that turnover with a field-goal. And then after another Andre Hall fumble on the next drive, the Patriots would get another field goal. And after three more Denver turnovers, the Patriots would roll over the floundering Broncos, 41-7 (the same score as the largest victory the Broncos had all last year, a slaughter of the Chiefs in Week 14).

Continue reading "The AFC West: How the Former Powerhouse Division Fizzled"