Pats/Colts - thou shall not runneth uppeth thy scoreth!
| 4
|
by Hoops2662
So, Super Bowl 42.5 is set for Sunday at the RCA Dome between the undefeated Patriots and Colts. Clearly, the 8-0 Pats and the 7-0 Colts are in the NFL's hierarchy at the moment. Everyone else is just playing second fiddle when it comes to these two. After all, the Colts are the defending Super Bowl Champions, having won 12 in a row. As for the folks from Foxboro, New England is fresh off completing a record-setting eight game stretch, outscoring opponents by double-digits in every outing thus far this season. And let's be honest, it hasn't even been that close.
Yet, with this epic match-up this Sunday, what are we talking about? That's right, we're talking about running up the score. Did the Pats run it up the last three weeks on the Cowboys, Dolphins and Redskins? In all honesty, I say no. I don't believe in running up the score when you play pro sports. If you don't like what your foe is doing, do something about it.
What I do believe in is class however. I don't think you should be throwing the ball on fourth and two when you're up by 45 points (45-0 to be exact) and less than eight minutes left in the game as the Pats did against the Redskins. You can just as easily hand the ball off and show some dignity and respect for the game.
I'm not saying the Pats should've just laid down gauntlet and given the ball to the Redskins. But you can act like you've won a game before. Have some class and not strive for a 33rd first down that leads to a Matt Cassel touchdown scramble. Heck, at that point, just put Tom Brady back in the game. No wait, that happened in the Miami game when Cassel threw a pick for a touchdown to draw the Dolphins to within 14 points until Brady led the boys on another td romp upon his return to the game. At least in that instance, you could make a case for the modicum belief that Miami might actually make a game of it and after all, every head coach including the Messiah, Bill Belichick is always paranoid.
Remember, this stuff goes in cycles and yes, even the mighty Patriots will soon be on the other end of some of these scores. So, with that in mind, I leave it very clear on how I stand on running up the score.
You want to leave your qb in the game well into the fourth quarter. Feel free, but just remember, the risk reward scales fail to come up in your favor should you lose Mr. Brady with a 30 point lead.
You want to continue to run your offense, feel free. Just don't throw the ball on fourth down with a 30 or 40 point edge.
And if you want to snub your nose at the rest of the NFL after "videogate" earlier this year, feel free. Just beware of the big 'ol bullseye on your chest, because it just got a heck of a lot bigger now.
Now, can we just talk about the game now......
