Open Thread: Super Bowl XLI -- Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 3:08 PM EST in New England Patriots News

The game, the pre-game, the commercials, the "entertainment," the broadcast .. whatever you want to talk about. It's all fair game today.

Revised game-time forecast: Close to 70 degrees, winds around 10-15 mph, and a 40 percent chance of rain showers. That's a little warmer, less windy and potentially rainier than predicted last night.

I admit: Before the Patriots recent dominance, I was always excited about the Super Bowl, regardless who was playing. This year, not so much. That tends to contradict the national perception that we New Englander's take success for granted. We get excited for every game the Patriots play, whether we choose subdued expression until game time. Success is expected, and loss is disheartening.

But while I'm not particularly excited about the game itself, I'll watch it and enjoy rating the commercials and having some good football food, and I hope you'll all do the same.

So sit back, take it all in and post your comments here. And even though they aren't playing: Go PATRIOTS!!

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Nope...

I am so stress free this afternoon. No Super Bowl, and tomorrow I'll scrounge around the internet for the good commercials... Not to mention, I still get the Super Bowl food, just don't have to watch the game I don't really care about.

Get a couple of extra weeks in here of stress free living before Spring Training starts... :)

by DanieXJ on Feb 4, 2007 3:24 PM EST reply actions

You know, I was just going to say ...

What the heck is this stuff? Does anyone (besides the people getting paid) enjoy this stuff or think it's entertaining at all? I mean, when during the regular season do you see any of this stuff? What is it? What does it have to do with football? What does it have to do with anything? I'm kind of stunned.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 5:54 PM EST up reply actions

Didn't watch much all afternoon

Couldn't stand listening to Shannon Sharpe and Boomer Esiason. So I watch a DVD. I go back to the pre-game, and I see whatever this is ... like some kind of fruity acid flashback.

Let's face it, the people who tune into this one game a year are going to tune in anyway. Why try to appeal to them? They're not going to watch until the Super Bowl next year. How about showing stuff real football fans might be interested in?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:00 PM EST up reply actions

It was more like a show for Provincetown

than a Super Bowl.

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 6:02 PM EST up reply actions

Phil Simms is already annoying me

I don't know how many times he's already said that the Colts or Manning or someone did something to the Patriots "last week." I just don't think it's that hard to be correct, especially when it's your job and when you right in the middle of it. I guess that's the way of the world now.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:08 PM EST reply actions

At least Billy Joel didn't ruin th National Anthem

He didn't sound all that great, but he sang it like it should be sung and didn't turn it into a performance piece, like so many lesser "artists" are prone to do.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:20 PM EST reply actions

that's exactly what i was going to say.

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 6:21 PM EST up reply actions

A look at the current weather radar

For anyone who's interested .. it's a little damp down there, but don't expect any driving rain. Keep an eye on the ball-handing and place-kicking snaps.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:23 PM EST reply actions

bears get first victory--heads

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 6:24 PM EST reply actions

Sounds like a Bear-heavy crowd so far

I guess the Indy fans didn't find it necessary to go support their team. Anyone?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:25 PM EST reply actions

simms already rooting for colts

even though colts lost coin toss its good for them

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 6:27 PM EST reply actions

Simms already looking for an angle for the Colts

Maybe it's a good thing the Colts lost the toss ... what an idiot!

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:27 PM EST reply actions

HAHAHAHA .. what do you think now Simms?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:28 PM EST up reply actions

Now the Colts aren't starting on defense

Is it a good thing that they're starting on offense now?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:29 PM EST up reply actions

woohoo

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 6:27 PM EST reply actions

good call simms

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 6:28 PM EST reply actions

Does that count as 2 mistakes for Vinatieri?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:30 PM EST reply actions

"Last week"...

...those tangled feet would have been a penalty on the Pats.

by RSNexile on Feb 4, 2007 6:33 PM EST reply actions

colts are nervous

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 6:34 PM EST reply actions

Two false starts on Indy

They now have half as many penalties as they did last week. Most of the penalties for the rest of the game should be on Chicago.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:34 PM EST reply actions

Manning's interception

How many mistakes is that now? Coin toss (if you want to count it), kickoff runback, two false starts and an interception. All in the first few minutes of the game.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:35 PM EST up reply actions

intercepted

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 6:34 PM EST reply actions

Not surprisingly, Chicago did nothing on offense

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:39 PM EST reply actions

These are some of the worst commercials ever

Sierra Mist has lousy commercials anyway. These are worse.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:40 PM EST reply actions

two bad ones

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 6:41 PM EST up reply actions

Bears making sure they hit people on every play

Looks a bit like the Patriots plan against the Rams so far.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:43 PM EST reply actions

But hardly any pressure on Manning at all

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

another mistake for the colts

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 6:47 PM EST reply actions

Four man rush .. 7 in coverage

How does Wayne get that wide open?

Colts have far more mistakes, including botching the extra point, but they trail by just 1.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:48 PM EST reply actions

slippery ball

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 6:51 PM EST reply actions

Lots and lots of mistakes for both teams

This is a Super Bowl, huh? And ANOTHER mistake .. Addai fumbles. This is worse than last year's Super Bowl. Too bad a good team didn't make it there

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:52 PM EST reply actions

lousy colts rush defense

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 6:52 PM EST reply actions

gonna have to throw it here on 3rd down

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 6:54 PM EST reply actions

Good call, scsatr .. Easy throw even for Grossman.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:55 PM EST up reply actions

Run or pass on 3rd down?

Good blocks, Simms? How come there was no gain? That doesn't make sense.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:54 PM EST reply actions

ridiculous snickers commercial

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 6:56 PM EST reply actions

Snickers commercial

Must have been produced by same people who produced the pre-game "entertainment." And now a reference to homosexuals during a "Survivor" commercial.

Well, it is CBS.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 6:57 PM EST reply actions

letterman has no credibility left

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:00 PM EST reply actions

He had credibility?

Was that Oprah?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:01 PM EST up reply actions

yep

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:02 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks for telling us about Wayne's TD

About 10 minutes after it happened.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:01 PM EST reply actions

Incomplete? What are you kidding?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:03 PM EST reply actions

Officials get it right again

Another force out .. good call.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:04 PM EST up reply actions

4 turnovers in the first quarter so far.

these teams stink

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:05 PM EST reply actions

Another fumble ... 3 in the first quarter

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. Like they never played football in bad weather before.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:05 PM EST reply actions

Well, the Colts haven't

All that dome playing...

Advantage: Bears.

by RSNexile on Feb 4, 2007 7:07 PM EST up reply actions

simms--harrison turns into db

wrong again

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:07 PM EST reply actions

Slow-starting Manning

Take away the 53-yarder to Wayne, and he's 5 of 12 for 28 yards and an interception.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:08 PM EST reply actions

Colts get every call at the line of scrimmage

All post-season, they've gotten every one of those calls. And it helps greatly on the punt.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:09 PM EST reply actions

Grossman is pretty bad

So bad, they had to try to run it on 3rd-and-7 inside their own 10.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:13 PM EST reply actions

Terrible 1st quarter .. 14-6, Bears

Lousy football execution, lousy broadcast, lousy commercials.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:16 PM EST reply actions

agreed

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:16 PM EST up reply actions

I dub thee: Super Bowl Zzzlee

A lousy name for a lousy game.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:18 PM EST reply actions

Budweiser: Dean Martin must be rollin in his grave

Still not a single good commercial. Coke was probably the closest, and that was nothing to write home about.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:24 PM EST reply actions

that's(coke) not even a new commercial

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:27 PM EST up reply actions

dean is rolling in his grave

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:27 PM EST up reply actions

There's Manning throwin someone else under the bus

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:26 PM EST reply actions

These teams are terrible

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:28 PM EST reply actions

These commecials are even worse

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:30 PM EST up reply actions

Bears secondary is even worse

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:31 PM EST up reply actions

so are these commercials

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:30 PM EST up reply actions

How do the Colts never get called for holding?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:32 PM EST reply actions

It would be very difficult...

...for the officials to call holding when their eyes are closed.

by RSNexile on Feb 4, 2007 7:35 PM EST up reply actions

Same play they held on against New England

Fist-fulls of jerseys. How can you not call that? That's why they have that big gaping hole right up the middle.

And they hold their way right into the end zone.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:35 PM EST up reply actions

Keep running it until they call it, I guess

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:25 PM EST up reply actions

maybe cbs can get some napkins to wipe off the

camera

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:33 PM EST reply actions

it's a mistake to go for two if they are

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:35 PM EST reply actions

Ya .. that would have been a bad decision

I didn't think Dungy could be that bad of a coach.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:38 PM EST up reply actions

bears offense is pathetic

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:42 PM EST reply actions

Did you see that time of possession difference?

Colts: 16:07
Bears: 7:44

You can see the Bears defense getting tired -- quite a bit from being held -- just like the Patriots did.

And the Chicago offense is pretty inert. If you can't pick up a first down, you're not helping your defense.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:42 PM EST reply actions

After that pathetic 3-and-out

Colts 16:07, Bears 9:03, and Colts will probably hold the ball for the rest of the half.

I wonder if a team in the Super Bowl ever held the ball for less than 10 minutes in the opening half?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:44 PM EST up reply actions

Make that 9:56 for the Bears

NFL having a hard time keeping stats up to date with only one game to worry about.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:46 PM EST up reply actions

First downs

Colts 13, Bears 3

Kind of goes hand-in-hand with that time of possession stat.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:49 PM EST up reply actions

Poll results

Before the game: Bears 7, Colts 3

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:47 PM EST reply actions

Another fumble .. but I doubt Bears will score

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:50 PM EST reply actions

And they don't

What an awful football game.

Ya, Simms, I know why there's a fumble. These teams are terrible.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:51 PM EST up reply actions

grossman IS A LOSER

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:50 PM EST reply actions

Fumble puts Bears of 10 minutes of possession

They now have 10:04

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:52 PM EST reply actions

outside of tony eason

grossman must have the worst first half stats of any qb

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:52 PM EST reply actions

Timeout .. ha ha, ha ha

Nantz.

Colts almost blew it.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:56 PM EST reply actions

Vinatieri miss ... that's a shame

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:56 PM EST up reply actions

Simms .. master of the obvious

The Bears are a tired football team. Especially on defense.

That's brilliant.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 7:58 PM EST up reply actions

NO GOOD

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:56 PM EST reply actions

you can't ice him

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 7:57 PM EST up reply actions

Jimi Hendrix must be rollin in his grave, too

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:13 PM EST reply actions

i actually didn't think

prince was too bad. it could have been a lot worse.

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 8:20 PM EST up reply actions

Overall, he wasn't .. but Jimi is rollin

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:21 PM EST up reply actions

First half stats .. all Colts

If not for Devin Hester's opening touchdown, the Bears wouldn't even be in it.

Yards: Colts 257, Bears 95
First downs: Colts 13, Bears 3
3rd down conv: Colts 5 of 10, Bears 1 of 5

Only 3 penalties all game: 2 false starts on Colts very early, 1 neutral zone infraction on Bears.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:21 PM EST reply actions

proof qb rating is useless

grossman's 1st half rating 120.8 but only 32 yards.

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 8:28 PM EST reply actions

what a joke for a spot

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 8:30 PM EST reply actions

Ya, pretty darn generous

Holding on Wayne the play before. Right where the pass was too.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:30 PM EST up reply actions

1st time playoffs Colts don't get that call

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:34 PM EST reply actions

Simms counting is a sight to see

"One .. two .. there's six."

Amazing he only came up with 11 that time. He got to 12 in about 2 seconds in the Patriots game.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:38 PM EST reply actions

No doubt Dungy will argue more and more

Needs to get more calls. Officials not helping them enough. Go, Dungy, go.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:39 PM EST up reply actions

he'll get these calls eventually

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 8:40 PM EST up reply actions

Coke commericals have been the best

Kind of weird, and not that great, but far better than the rest.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:42 PM EST reply actions

i have seen these commercials before maybe

at the movies

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 8:45 PM EST up reply actions

Total plays: Colts 58, Bears 19

Time of possession: Colts 27:30, Bears 10:04

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:43 PM EST reply actions

grossman is utterly incompetent

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 8:47 PM EST reply actions

Can you believe New Orleans didn't beat these guys

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:47 PM EST reply actions

No way the Bears D can continue holding up

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:47 PM EST up reply actions

MVP?

Joseph Addai? Anyone else?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:49 PM EST reply actions

the game is about to end.

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 8:51 PM EST reply actions

How do they not call the offensive holding?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:54 PM EST reply actions

Really tough to beat a Robert Goulet commercial

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:56 PM EST reply actions

Helmet to helmet out of bounds

Shouldn't that be, like, 30 yards, or something?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 8:59 PM EST reply actions

Bud Light commercials only reinforce the idea ...

... that only complete idiots drink Bud Light. I don't understand the campaign.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:00 PM EST reply actions

nance loves the colts

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 9:03 PM EST reply actions

Really? What clued you in?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:04 PM EST up reply actions

Nice FG by Gould -- 44-yards

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:04 PM EST reply actions

he may have caught that

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 9:07 PM EST reply actions

I don't think he establishes control

Just touching the ball isn't control. The definition of possession apparently depends on which team needs the call. When the Colts fumbled against New England, that didn't qualify as control. But it probably will this time;

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:09 PM EST reply actions

What a shock .. they interpret to benefit Colts

And it makes the 3rd-down conversion a piece of cake.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:12 PM EST up reply actions

End of third: Colts 22, Bears 17

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:11 PM EST reply actions

colts should be

winning this game by 30 points

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 9:18 PM EST reply actions

Probably by at least that

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:19 PM EST up reply actions

Unbelievable!!

The Colts hold all game, and the Bears get called probably simply because they picked up a first down.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:20 PM EST reply actions

the refs have to step in again and help colts

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 9:20 PM EST reply actions

he stepped out of bounds

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 9:21 PM EST reply actions

Lovie Smith HAS to challenge this

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:22 PM EST reply actions

No way it gets overturned

Because NOW that the Colts got the original call, there has to be indisputable, beyond the shadow of a doubt, divine guidance evidence to overturn it.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:24 PM EST up reply actions

I'm shocked .. again

Wow. The Colts got the call.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:25 PM EST up reply actions

grossman is a trird string qb at best

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 9:24 PM EST reply actions

I don't know how Chicago got to this game

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:26 PM EST up reply actions

nance and simms openly rooting for colts

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 9:24 PM EST reply actions

Nothing new there

Same as the Colts getting every call.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:26 PM EST up reply actions

Nantz will probably cry tears of joy ...

... during the trophy presentation, especially when he meets Peyton -- he's so dreamy.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:28 PM EST up reply actions

Grossman really Bledsoed that one

Another dirty play by Colts players. Bears player only got called after three Indy players came in late, even after the first flag. Should have been 3 personal fouls on Colts, 1 on Bears.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:32 PM EST reply actions

offensive interference

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 9:33 PM EST reply actions

Offensive pass interference

No call. Shocking.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:33 PM EST reply actions

What is Manning complaining about?

He's been whining the whole game about everything. Geez, what a prima donna.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:34 PM EST reply actions

Manning upset by the call.

Manning upset by everything. "Everyone under the bus!" Manning is never at fault.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:37 PM EST reply actions

What are the chances Grossman leads Bears ...

... to a score here?

OK, you can stop laughing now.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:39 PM EST reply actions

Career builder commericials .. too over the top

Whatever happened to "subtle humor"? Must be too cerebral for today's society.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:40 PM EST reply actions

That was a catch and a fumble

not that it matters at all

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:45 PM EST reply actions

i don't nkow which was worse

the bears offense or the commercials

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 9:46 PM EST reply actions

Tough call

But what's worse than both is Jim Nantz.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

MVP?

Dominic Rhodes? Addai? or Manning?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:49 PM EST reply actions

I'd go with either Rhodes or Addai

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:50 PM EST up reply actions

Ha! They'll call Colts for holding ...

... now that the game is over. I'm speechless.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:50 PM EST reply actions

manning will get it as

predetermined by the NFL

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 9:50 PM EST reply actions

not sure about this call

field goal would end game now they are giving bears a chance--however slim

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 9:55 PM EST reply actions

c'mon how much of a chance did the Bears EVER have

with Grossman in there?

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:57 PM EST up reply actions

The NFL accomplishes its goal

by scsatr on Feb 4, 2007 9:58 PM EST reply actions

One of worst Super Bowls ever

In the area of last year's between Steelers and Seahawks, and 2000 between Ravens and Giants. In addition, the "entertainment" was terrible, and there were no memorable commercials. Very disappointing.

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 9:59 PM EST reply actions

Nantz starting to sound like Ted Sarandis

"Adversity! Adversity! Adversity!"

They stopped Larry Johnson, then went to Baltimore, then came back from 18 against New England, then won in the rain after giving up an opening kickoff touchdown, then they fought off the Nazis, then they successfully completed the Apollo mission after that on-board explosion, then ...

by tommasse on Feb 4, 2007 10:03 PM EST reply actions