Going for Two: Conference Championship Blues

I felt it when New England didn't score on their first drive. I'd wondered why they elected to receive when they won the coin toss. The teevee always told me that Belichick liked to have the last possession of the first half and the first of the second. But the teevee said today that this decision secured "one more possession" for New England.

They should have gone with their normal procedure. Denver scored first, and New England kept punting, until that first touchdown. I figured that was the start of their eventual win, but then Mr. Perfect missed, and Denver was still leading. Scores kept happening, low scores, but New England was never in the lead. They should have gone for field goals on 4th down at least twice (or maybe just once, I forget) in the the 4th quarter. But they didn't. They didn't get the 2-point conversion, they didn't get the onside kick, and they didn't get the AFC Championship. That loss cost me one thousand theoretical dollars. Of course, as with every New England loss, it was worth it. And this one was so worth it. Oh, and this video is a thing of beauty.

Arizona was down 10 to nothing at the end of the first quarter, but Carolina going up early was to be expected. Arizona made a better showing than the Seahawks did, at least in the first half, but then fell apart as Carolina soared. The Panthers lulled us into a false security by not scoring in the second half last week. Or maybe it wasn't Arizona's year. Maybe that will be next year, for the first time in 70 years. Better than the Cubs, I guess.

So my Super Bowl prediction was completely wrong, but the one team that everyone thought was a lock lost, so it could be worse. It means that the 4th worst possible outcome of these Playoffs was prevented. Fourth or fifth, or something, whatever, but the other worst outcomes had already been prevented. The last remaining worst outcomes are now out since the Patriots aren't going to Super Bowl 50.

I would have liked to see an Arizona and Denver Super Bowl, and I would like to see Peyton Manning go out on top, but it won't happen. Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly care for Manning, but as I told a friend earlier today, anyone that unfortunate looking has my sympathy, at least. Denver may have the best defense, but these last two weeks have convinced me. Carolina is going to kick their ass.