WHO WINS THE [SUPER] BOWL?

Patrick: Wow…has this been a heckuva season and playoffs or what? Teams we were pretty sure would do well this year, well, didn’t; and a couple we didn’t quite expect a ton from played above themselves. I’m not sure where my head is at the moment with these playoffs, so I’m relying on y’all to help me find it. Who wants to give it a go?

John: I got it. So, how ironic after the first 54 Super Bowls, when no NFL team hosted the big game, that, this year, is the 2nd straight year that an NFL team has hosted? Last year, it was Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; this season, we have the Los Angeles Rams doing it.

Patrick: That is trippy.

Russ: I know, right. Well, shoot, let me first say “Congrats” to the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams for getting to the Super Bowl. I really enjoyed the AFC and NFC Championship games. The Kansas City Chiefs lost against Cincinnati because of bad play-calling. I don’t know what they were thinking just before halftime. Kansas City had first and goal, were up by 10; yet, they managed to get zero points.

John: Could’ve been up by two touchdowns—

Patrick: With the ball first in the second half!

Russ: Well, this is why they are going fishing, as Charles Barkley likes to say when it comes to those NBA teams who get booted from the playoffs! Also, there is no Tom Brady, no Drew Brees, no Aaron Rodgers; shoot, it’s a whole new era. We got ex-Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford leading the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl going against QB Joe Burrows a.k.a. Cool Joe B and the upstart Cincinnati Bengals. My prediction has definitely changed since the end of the season—and definitely since the beginning of the season.

RUSS ADAMS

Patrick: Spit it out, please.

John: Yeah, hurry it up, Russ, I got a prediction as well!

Russ: All right, all right. So, I have Cincinnati upsetting the L.A. Rams 31-27. Cool Joe B—Joe Burrows—said that the team do not consider themselves underdogs. He said they’re showing up to win. Definitely a nice attitude to have. Plus, as the #4 seed, they beat the #1 and #2 teams in the AFC in the last couple of weeks, so they’re, without a doubt, on a mission.

JOHN HAGAN

Patrick: And we all know anyone can win on any day.

Russ: Right. And if you’re not sure about that, ask Jim Plunkett. Not the greatest QB, but, eventually, won the big one with the Raiders. So, I’m going with the underdog Cincinnati Bengals. Final answer. John?

John: Okay, so the Bengals have a very talented and young offensive team with Joe Burrow as starting QB. However, the defense is slightly suspect. Now, they were able to get away with it against the Chiefs, due to bonehead coaching decisions by Coach Andy Reid, but I don’t see the Bengals pulling it off against a team with superstars and Pro Bowlers galore, e.g., Matthew Stafford, Odell Beckham, etc. So, Rams 34, Bengals 24. Entertaining early, but the depth and talent of the Rams should be enough.

Patrick: Wow, fellas. Y’all gave me a lot to think about. Well, I want the Bengals to win in this season of upsets… but Matthew Stafford and the Rams have worked it this year. I wouldn’t be upset either way. And by the time this issue hits, we’ll know which of you is a genius.

John: It’s been a good year.

Any comments or suggestions? Email pedwards@streetwise.org

PATRICK EDWARDS