It has been my custom in this blog to annually make my prediction for who I think will win the Super Bowl. This year’s prediction obviously has special relevance for me because the Denver Broncos are representing the AFC. So without further ado, here’s my guess for the winner of Super Bowl 48: I predict that the Broncos will win. I’m sure I haven’t shocked anyone with my prediction, but let me give you some reasons as to why I believe Denver will win.
My biggest reason is Peyton Manning. He is playing at such a high level right now that I don’t foresee any defense stopping him. The Seahawks are a tough, strong, formidable defense, to be sure, and they may slow Manning and the offense down for a time, but not for the whole game. By the way, here’s an interesting statistic: in his career when he faced number one rated defenses, Peyton Manning has won three games and lost just one.
I’m reminded of when Manning and the Colts played the New York Jets for a chance to go to Super Bowl 44. The Jets had a very stingy defense that year. I don’t know if they were the number one ranked defense in the league, but they were certainly a tough test. The Jets defense showed their strength for a time, but eventually, Manning and the offense was able to start making plays. Ultimately, the Colts won the game 30-17. It could be something similar to that game that happens in Super Bowl 48.
On the other side of the ball, the Denver defense (which has been their biggest weakness all year) has gotten progressively better of late. They have arguably played their best in the postseason. Further, in the AFC championship game, the Patriots tried to run the ball down the Broncos throat and they were unable to do it. I believe that Denver will be able to do the same thing in the Super Bowl, leaving it up to Russell Wilson to air it out. Wilson is undeniably a tremendous talent. He will make some plays, both with his arm and his legs, but I still say that if Denver stops Marshawn Lynch and the Seattle running game, Denver will win.
I don’t think it’s going to be a blowout. My prediction for the score is Denver 28 Seattle 20.
Kevin
Monday, January 27, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
The greatest quarterback of all time?
As a longtime Peyton Manning fan, I have found it perplexing to hear some people assert that if the Broncos do not win Super Bowl 48 it somehow tarnishes Peyton’s overall legacy. I disagree with this. I submit that Peyton Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game of football (if not the greatest), and this is true whether Denver wins or loses on February 2nd.
This is going to be Peyton’s third Super Bowl appearance. Thus far he has won one and lost one. No one will dispute that Dan Marino was a fantastic quarterback, and he had one Super Bowl appearance (which he lost). No one would dispute that Brett Favre was also a fantastic quarterback; he had two Super Bowl appearances (he won one and lost the other). Active quarterbacks like Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers are also great, and to this point, each has one Super Bowl appearance. This is certainly not to minimize Marino, Favre, etc. My point here is Manning has accomplished a lot in both his regular season and postseason career.
Yet in spite of this, many still call Peyton Manning the greatest quarterback in the regular season, who allegedly ‘chokes’ in the postseason. Clearly, this is false. It is obvious that Peyton has the capacity to win in the postseason. He has helped three different squads get to the Super Bowl, twice with the Colts, and once with the Broncos.
Kevin
This is going to be Peyton’s third Super Bowl appearance. Thus far he has won one and lost one. No one will dispute that Dan Marino was a fantastic quarterback, and he had one Super Bowl appearance (which he lost). No one would dispute that Brett Favre was also a fantastic quarterback; he had two Super Bowl appearances (he won one and lost the other). Active quarterbacks like Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers are also great, and to this point, each has one Super Bowl appearance. This is certainly not to minimize Marino, Favre, etc. My point here is Manning has accomplished a lot in both his regular season and postseason career.
Yet in spite of this, many still call Peyton Manning the greatest quarterback in the regular season, who allegedly ‘chokes’ in the postseason. Clearly, this is false. It is obvious that Peyton has the capacity to win in the postseason. He has helped three different squads get to the Super Bowl, twice with the Colts, and once with the Broncos.
Kevin
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
A simple but true thought
The reality of the Super Bowl is someone is going to lose. I know that’s an obvious and simple thought, but stay with me on this one. While I certainly love the idea of having a Super Bowl, I have to admit that every year I always have a tinge of sadness for the team who loses. Think about it. Here is a team that fought, battled, endured blood, sweat, and tears only to lose in the Super Bowl.
What makes it worse is that the losing team is generally remembered as nothing more than a failure (if they are even remembered at all). All that hard work; all the success they enjoyed to get to the big game, but then you lose and you are relegated to being considered nothing more than the loser. This is really unfortunate. They should be remembered as the best team in their conference.
In fact, as many of you NFL fans know, for years in the NFL there was no Super Bowl; the AFC would have their championship game and so would the NFC, and the season would end there. There was an AFC champion and NFC champion and that was it. But then someone had the idea to have the winner of the AFC and the winner of the NFC play each other in what was coined the Super Bowl. This was, of course, almost 50 years ago. While it was a great idea, I think as a result of that decision, today many fans undervalue and denigrate the overall reputation of the team that loses the Super Bowl rather than applaud the fact that they made it to the big game in the first place.
Kevin
What makes it worse is that the losing team is generally remembered as nothing more than a failure (if they are even remembered at all). All that hard work; all the success they enjoyed to get to the big game, but then you lose and you are relegated to being considered nothing more than the loser. This is really unfortunate. They should be remembered as the best team in their conference.
In fact, as many of you NFL fans know, for years in the NFL there was no Super Bowl; the AFC would have their championship game and so would the NFC, and the season would end there. There was an AFC champion and NFC champion and that was it. But then someone had the idea to have the winner of the AFC and the winner of the NFC play each other in what was coined the Super Bowl. This was, of course, almost 50 years ago. While it was a great idea, I think as a result of that decision, today many fans undervalue and denigrate the overall reputation of the team that loses the Super Bowl rather than applaud the fact that they made it to the big game in the first place.
Kevin
Monday, January 20, 2014
A 'super' Super Bowl matchup
Well, the matchup for Super Bowl 48 is set. It is very exciting that the AFC will be represented by the Denver Broncos. Denver will square off against the Seattle Seahawks on February 2nd.
In the two weeks leading up to the game, I’m going to write several different blog installments about the Super Bowl, some of the players involved, and eventually I’ll offer up my prediction for who I think will win (although I’m sure you can already guess who I’ll pick).
For today I just wanted to express my congratulations to both the Broncos and the Seahawks for making it to the final game. It should be a great contest. Being a Denver native and Bronco fan since I was a very small boy, I’m obviously biased toward the Broncos and will be rooting for them to win, but I’m also happy for the Seahawks for getting to the big game as well.
Kevin
In the two weeks leading up to the game, I’m going to write several different blog installments about the Super Bowl, some of the players involved, and eventually I’ll offer up my prediction for who I think will win (although I’m sure you can already guess who I’ll pick).
For today I just wanted to express my congratulations to both the Broncos and the Seahawks for making it to the final game. It should be a great contest. Being a Denver native and Bronco fan since I was a very small boy, I’m obviously biased toward the Broncos and will be rooting for them to win, but I’m also happy for the Seahawks for getting to the big game as well.
Kevin
Saturday, January 18, 2014
"Do not worry about your life"
Check out these wise, instructive words from Jesus:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:25-34)
Comprised in this passage, Jesus emphatically states not to worry three different times (verses 25, 31, and 34). In fact, Jesus’ perspective is that it is absolutely useless to worry. I love verse 27: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” There’s no point in worrying. We don’t accomplish anything when we do so.
In my own life, I’ve learned that the things I’m tempted to worry about don’t even come to pass anyway. Don’t get me wrong: I’m as susceptible to worrying as anyone. Believe me I know the temptation to worry, and I can’t honestly claim that I never do so. But I’ve learned over and over again that it is so much better to simply put my trust in God rather than worry; I know that ultimately He will take care of me.
Kevin
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:25-34)
Comprised in this passage, Jesus emphatically states not to worry three different times (verses 25, 31, and 34). In fact, Jesus’ perspective is that it is absolutely useless to worry. I love verse 27: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” There’s no point in worrying. We don’t accomplish anything when we do so.
In my own life, I’ve learned that the things I’m tempted to worry about don’t even come to pass anyway. Don’t get me wrong: I’m as susceptible to worrying as anyone. Believe me I know the temptation to worry, and I can’t honestly claim that I never do so. But I’ve learned over and over again that it is so much better to simply put my trust in God rather than worry; I know that ultimately He will take care of me.
Kevin
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