We predicted it from the beginning
February 3, 2010
In an unpredictable league like the NFL, everything
changes week by week. Here on the Daily Kent Stater
sports staff, however, we all knew since the preseason
who would win the Super Bowl. Scratch that — we all
knew since Week 4. Not quite. Week 8? Not exactly.
Well, we may not have known until the conference
championship games were over, but we aren’t afraid
to admit it. Here’s our Super Bowl “locks” at different
points this NFL season.
Preseason: Minnesota Vikings
(2008 record: 10-6)
The old grizzled veteran leaves
the farm, takes off the Wranglers and
suits up for the new look Purple People
Eaters. What more do you need?
Week 4: Denver Broncos (4-0)
The team is undefeated coming
off a huge win over Cowboys. Kyle
Orton is playing like John Elway and
Josh McDaniels looks like a reincarnation
of Bill Belichick on sugar pills.
Week 8: New England Patriots
(6-2)
Tom Brady is back to his old ways,
the offense resembles the greatest
show on turf and the defense may just
get Dean Pees a head-coaching job.
Week 12: New Orleans Saints
(11-0)
Who dat say dey gonna beat dem
Saints? Not the New England Patriots.
Drew Brees and company just
absolutely embarrassed and dominated
the Patriots on Monday Night
Football.
Week 17: San Diego Chargers
(13-3)
The Chargers are easily the
hottest team in the NFL ending
the regular season on an 11-game
winning streak. Momentum is key
going into the playoffs, right?
Super Bowl winner: New
Orleans Saints
I just can’t trust the Colts
defense to stop Drew Brees and
the rest of the Saints offense without
Dwight Freeney. I know the
Saints defense isn’t the ‘85 Bears,
but they’re much better than people
think. Saints 34, Colts 14
Contact assistant sports editor
Randy Ziemnik
Preseason pick: Pittsburgh
Steelers (2008 record: 12-4, Super
Bowl XLIII Champions)
As a Steeler fan since birth,
I usually lean toward my team
every year. But this year, I had an
excuse: to be the champion, you
have to beat the champion. With
the majority of their starters and
coaches returning from their Super
Bowl winning 2008 team, the Steelers
seemed like a lock.
Week 4: Minnesota Vikings
(4-0)
After scoring 118 points in their
first four games, Brett Favre, Adrian
Peterson and co. were making
opposing defenses look like a
bunch of flapper girls at a speakeasy
on a Saturday night (*cue
1920s reporter voice).
Week 8: Pittsburgh Steelers
(5-2)
I went back to my preseason
pick when the Steelers turned
into what looked like Super Bowl
form again after winning four
straight including an impressive
victory against then-undefeated
Minnesota, finally making Favre
look like he should be discussing
“diabeetis“ with Wilford Brimley
instead of playing football.
Week 12: New Orleans Saints
(11-0)
At 11-0, it was hard to ignore
this team any longer. Drew Brees
had six 300-plus yard passing
games to this point and the team
was winning games by an average
of almost 17 points (16.9).
Week 17: San Diego Chargers
(13-3)
I’ve always been a fan of hot
teams going into the playoffs,
and the Chargers were as hot
as Brooke Shields in “The Blue
Lagoon,” (she was a little young
in that movie, but don’t judge me
before you watch it). They won
11 straight games after starting
2-3.
Super Bowl winner: New
Orleans Saints
Drew Brees is due, and the
football gods will smile upon
him this Sunday.
Saints 34, Colts 27
Contact sports editor
Cody Francis
Preseason: Pittsburgh Steelers
(2008 record: 12-4, Super
Bowl XLIII Champions)
No surprise here. I’ve been
a member of Steeler Nation for
as long as I can remember, and
every season I rank them atop
the rest. But this year was different.
This year, the Steelers were
defending Super Bowl Champions.
The title was theirs to lose.
Week 4: New York Giants
(4-0)
What do Mario Manningham,
(the other) Steve Smith and
Hakeem Nicks have in common?
Other than being Giants’ receivers,
it’s safe to say all of these
guys were sitting in the waivers
list for fantasy football owners
in the season’s first few weeks.
Anonymity aside, the trio hauled
in seven of Eli’s eight TD passes
in the team’s first four games.
Week 8: Pittsburgh Steelers
(5-2)
After starting the season 1-2,
the Steelers returned to championship
form by stringing together
four consecutive wins, including
a 27-17 win over the highly
touted Minnesota Vikings. What
Super Bowl hangover?
Week 12: Minnesota Vikings
(10-1)
The only question left for the
Vikings’ playoffs push was how
much was left in Father Favre’s tank. Minnesota averaged 31
points per game heading into
December and had one of the
league’s best defenses.
Week 17: Dallas Cowboys
(11-5)
This was hard to admit. I hate
the Cowboys with a passion.
Tony Romo is second only to
Tom Brady as my least favorite
player in the league. But after
handing the Saints their first
loss in Week 15 and skunking
the Eagles in their season finale,
not too many teams looked more
impressive than the Cowboys
heading into playoffs.
Super Bowl winner: Indianapolis
Colts (14-2)
Two words: Peyton Manning.
Colts spoil Saints’ Super Bowl
debut in typical shootout fashion,
41-31.
Contact assistant sports editor
Caleb Raubenolt
