Friday, January 26, 2018
Super Bowl 52
The dust has
settled. It is the Monday morning after the American Football
Conference Championships. The upstart Jacksonville Jaguars fell just
short in their attempt to conquer the New England Patriots. What were
they thinking.? Even after “Gronk” was banished to the sidelines
in the first half, the Patriots found a way, as they always do, and
chugged their way to the final. The Super Bowl will be the eighth for
Brady and Coach Belichick.
The Jaguars
played undisciplined football, giving up 98 yards on six penalties.
The Pats lost 10 yards on one penalty throughout the entire game.
Near the end of the second quarter, the Jags took two long pass
interference penalties, and an unnecessary roughness call. The Pats
took advantage, and scored a touchdown just before half time.
Meanwhile,
in Philadelphia, the Eagles dusted off their wings and flew to an
easy victory over the Minnesota Vikings for the National Football
Conference Championship. The Vikings were touted as the favourites
for the game, but were soundly defeated 38-7. The Vikes scored first,
then watched the Eagles trounce them in all areas of the game.
There is now
a two week layoff for the Pats and the Eagles. Wounds will heal, the
aches and pains will diminish as they prepare for the final assault.
There will be moaning and groaning in the trainers' rooms, just a
little less in Philly and New England.
Tom Brady
will be asked about eight thousand times how his hand feels. He
showed on Sunday that it worked pretty well. He finished the game by
completing 26 of 38 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns. The
Jaguars led early in the fourth quarter, 20-10, but could not
contend with the mystique of the Patriots, and their ability to
record another come-from-behind victory.
The Eagles
lost their starting quarterback, Carson Wentz, early in the season, and felt
destined to suffer another tough season of mediocre football. Enter
backup Nick Foles. He played brilliantly down the stretch, and now
has the job of rallying his troops for their first Super Bowl since
2005. A game they lost to the Patriots.
The Eagles'
Jaylen Watkins will be the lone South West Florida player in the
Super Bowl. He played his high school football at Cape Coral High, as
a quarterback. Ten other athletes from the area have played in Super
Bowls. Six have raised the Lombardi Trophy.
Notable
players from the area who have played the final game include: De
Vondre Campbell, Tre Boston, Matt Prater, Edgerrin James, Jevon
Kearse, Martin Gramatica, and Deion Sanders.
All things
considered, this is not a large area. But the game is played and
practiced here year round. Because of the climate, athletes are
better skilled, more athletic, and better prepared than are those
from the north.
Ah! There
goes my timer! I am heading to the pool. Enjoy the SuperBowl!!
James Hurst
January 22,
2018
# posted by James Hurst @ 7:34 AM 
