ESPN writer Super Bowl picks are in *Surprise*

[FootballMaestro]

4 minutes ago, caatfan said:

That's about what I figured. You could come up with even a better list of why things are lining up for a Panthers win. 

 

I was a little surprised too. All week I've been hearing former (and current) players, coaches, etc. saying they don't see the game even being close. I guess some are still buying the 'great Denver defense' argument, along with the Panthers being unprepared for the 'Super Bowl experience'. 

Yup.

That along with the Peyton Love, Memorial (end of his career) Narrative.

[caatfan]

1 minute ago, FootballMaestro said:

Yup.

That along with the Peyton Love, Memorial (end of his career) Narrative.

The funny thing is that Manning's lack of performance this season is the main reason why we're being favored by most. Wanting him to have one more big game in him and objectively thinking it'll happen are two different things. Even if I were a big Broncos fan I wouldn't be picking them to win unless I were drinking the Kool-Aid and not paying attention to what the Panthers have done in the playoffs. They destroyed both teams in the 1st half, and fixed the 2nd half issue in the Arizona game.

[Bartin]

12 hours ago, outlaw4 said:

I'm going off memory here but this was a "stars are aligning" argument that had the following:

1. New England couldn't take care of business in the regular season and gave up the #1 seed at the end. Broncos would've had no chance if they had gone to Foxborough.

2. Broncos decided to place Manning back in against the Chargers when they were losing. They ended up winning.

3. Bengals did the Broncos a huge favor by both injuring Big Ben and knocking out Antonio Brown.

4. Even with the injuries, Steelers were leading the game in the 4th and driving for a score when they fumbled. Broncos end up scoring a TD off that turnover and eventually taking the win.

5. For all the struggles the Patriots had against the Broncos, they were this close to taking the game into overtime. Yet the king of comebacks fell short.

6. TD injured his arm.

7. The whole "Manning's last rodeo" and how the team will play above expectations.

8. The argument about how when great offense meets great defense in Super Bowls, it's the defense that shows up more. He cites Patriots vs Giants as what the local guy thought was going to happen.

For all of that, his prediction was somewhere around 20-17 or 17-14 Denver.

 

The Vegas narrative is "please God, someone put money on the Broncos because we are screwed if the Panthers beat the spread." No doubt that it's influenced by how much more money is on the Panthers than the Broncos.

[DaveThePanther2008]

I know this on NFL.com but MJD must be on some serious drugs if he thinks Denver is going to put 42 up on us.

42 Points for the 19th rank offense.  WOW  Only 2 from NFL Network chose Denver.  MJD and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila (whoever that is)

[FootballMaestro]

13 minutes ago, caatfan said:

The funny thing is that Manning's lack of performance this season is the main reason why we're being favored by most. Wanting him to have one more big game in him and objectively thinking it'll happen are two different things. Even if I were a big Broncos fan I wouldn't be picking them to win unless I were drinking the Kool-Aid and not paying attention to what the Panthers have done in the playoffs. They destroyed both teams in the 1st half, and fixed the 2nd half issue in the Arizona game.

I think most OF THOSE FOLKS PICKING MANNING (ESPECIALLY ON TV), know their picks are insane, but they don't care.

They're just spitting in the face of the Panthers, cause they don't care, want Peyton to win. SMH

But it's alright. Cause if/when they get smashed tomorrow, we'll see the mourning.

[Anybodyhome]

I'm so glad I gave up watching sports shows in favor of just watching the games themselves.

If kickoff is 1:05PM, the TV goes on at 1:05. Tomorrow will be no different when the TV goes on around 6:20.  

[Nomad82]

18 hours ago, manu4t said:

Chris Berman is dead to me now.  Long live John Clayton!

Clayton is the tim kurkjian of nfl reporting. that place doesn't deserve them.

[CarolinaSunday]

18 minutes ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

I know this on NFL.com but MJD must be on some serious drugs if he thinks Denver is going to put 42 up on us.

42 Points for the 19th rank offense.  WOW  Only 2 from NFL Network chose Denver.  MJD and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila (whoever that is)

TJ Ward is MJD's cousin. MJD also chose Ward as his MVP pick, so clearly MJD is a paragon of objectivity. 

[Nomad82]

11 hours ago, JJT said:

That is the most sophomoric analysis of who would win a football game that I have ever read. 

The contestants were neither compared nor contrasted. 

What has happened to thought in this post obama world?

"Thanks, Obama"