We will obviously spend tons and tons of time looking at the Super Bowl from every different angle over the next two weeks, but before we get into the nitty gritty of it let’s look at the first thoughts that came from watching the two games today:
1. All my best hopes go to Willis McGahee. I have flashed back to his Fiesta Bowl injury about a hundred times since it happened. I won’t be surprised at all if McGahee doesn’t play again. It’s a real shame what someone that talented has had to go through. The amazing part is that he has still had a very solid career despite the problems. I can’t help but think about what he could have done if he’d had a bit more luck.
2. Larry Fitzgerald = incredible freak. I don’t remember a receiver being harder to cover over a three game stretch than Fitzgerald has been in the playoffs. He was toying with the Eagles in the first half. By the time the game rolls around we are going to be so sick of hearing about this guy that it’ll be ridiculous.
3. Arizona can absolutely win the Super Bowl. I’m not saying that they will yet, obviously. I just had to write that down so I could read it and start to absorb what it means – the Cardinals are playing like a very legitimate team right now. Bizarre, seemingly impossible, but absolutely true.
4. One interesting storyline coming out of this game is the coaches. Both guys are younger coaches in their second season at the helm of their first team. They are an entirely different breed from much of what we have become used to over the last while. These guys are no Parcells, Belichick, or Johnson. It’s a changing of the guards.
5. Troy Polamalu is a freaking maniac. It’s not a wonder that he’s rarely totally healthy. I can’t believe how many times we saw him jump up and over people.
6. Joe Flacco looked like what he is – a rookie QB from a lower tier college who was in over his head. That was one of the first times he has looked like that, and certainly the first in a long while. He’ll get over it. Hopefully.
7. The Eagles are a very lousy team when they get deep in the playoffs. There’s really no denying that.
