I know, I know, I'm not supposed to be doing this anymore. You weren't supposed to still have to read my mindless Boston sports fan drivel. If it is any consolation, I was asked to write this column. The assignment was simple: explain why the New England Patriots will defeat the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Now, if I were Michael Irvin on ESPN, I would start ranting about how the Patriots had more heart and more guts — not to mention that I would be wearing the ugliest and flashiest suit seen on this side of the NBA draft.
Instead, let us analyze the real issues in Super Bowl XXXIX, which is how the teams match up on the field. We will begin with the Patriots' defense against the Eagles' offense, which is where New England has the biggest advantage.
The Patriots are great at taking away an opposing offense's bread and butter. In the case of the Eagles, that strength is Brian Westbrook. I expect head coach Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel to begin devising a game plan with the shifty Eagles running back in primary focus. They will likely put a corner on Westbrook when he lines up at wide receiver; when he comes out of the backfield, they'll try to jam him. It was the same technique the Patriots used — successfully — against Marshall Faulk in Super Bowl XXXVI.
Additionally, the Eagles running attack ranked a disappointing 24th in the league. Without being able to run the football consistently, the Eagles will not be able to stay on the field or sustain drives. Crennel will also likely welcome back Pro Bowl defensive tackle Richard Seymour, further strengthening the Patriots' run defense.
As for the Eagles' receivers, even the Patriots' "replacement" secondary will be able to handle the likes of Freddy "I'd like to thank my hands" Mitchell and Todd "Are they going to hit me" Pinkston.
Let us now shift our attention to when the Patriots have the ball. New England is balanced on offense. The Patriots are not truly great at any one facet, but they are very good at a lot of things. They can pound the ball with Corey Dillon, go over the top to a speedy wideout, or dink and dunk down the field with a never-ending barrage of five-yard outs and wide receiver screens.
The Eagles' secondary, perhaps the best in the league, will be able to take away the Pats' deep throws. What they will be unable to stop is the Pats' running game and their short-passing game. The Eagles ranked only 16th in the league against the run this year. While their run defense improved dramatically with the addition of linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, it is still not good enough to shut down Dillon.
Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson loves to blitz. During the regular season, the Birds brought extra pressure something like 60 percent of the time. New England is unfazed by the blitz because of its short-passing game. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis will have quarterback Tom Brady take a threeor five-step drop and dump the ball to receivers running short crossing routes. These quick throws negate the effects of the blitz.
I don't envision the Pats going crazy for 40 points, but I do see them moving the ball methodically against the Birds. Couple that with the Patriots' D shutting down Donovan McNabb and company, and the Patriots will win their third Super Bowl in four years.
I have purposefully waited until now to talk about the one and only T.O. He is a great receiver, and what he did this year for the Eagles was amazing. What he will undoubtedly be on Super Bowl Sunday is average.
Despite Owen's claim that he will be "181 percent" by game time, in reality he will not be at his best — rust alone will keep him down. He likely will be tentative, especially at the start of the game, because the worst possible scenario for the Eagles and their fans is for Owens to re-injure that ankle.
When all is said and done on Sunday night, commissioner Paul Tagliabue will hand Patriots owner Robert Kraft the Lombardi trophy for the third time in four years. Belichick will refuse to comment when Terry Bradshaw asks, "How do you feel?" Finally, Brady will be handed the keys to yet another Cadillac he won't use as Super Bowl MVP.
Don't worry Eagles fans, your time will come. Trust me, I know.
Patriots 27, Eagles 20.
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