Freeman: Gregg's right about something!
MIAMI -- Some people say this Super Bowl between the Colts and Bears will be historic. Two great teams, clearly the two best in football. Fascinating subplots. Hall of Fame players on both sides.
I agree. This sucker is going to make history. In fact, Super Bowl XLI has me so jacked up, I'm digging through a history book right now. Bear with me as I look for a piece of information.
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| 'I will be proud to represent America as the quarterback of the Super Bowl champion Colts.' (AP) |
The biggest blowout in Super Bowl history was 17 years ago. That was Super Bowl XXIV, when the Denver Broncos needed 20 IVs of fluid pumped into their locker room after San Francisco beat the blood, sweat and piss out of them 55-10.
This game will be like that.
Indianapolis is going to absolutely destroy the Bears.
You a betting man or woman? Take the Colts, who are favored by a touchdown. Not a betting man or woman? Start now. Ex-Colts quarterback Art Schlichter would tell you: This is free money. Cherry-picking. Chalk.
Every variable in this game hinges on the Bears. If you're Chicago or a Chicago fan, that's not comforting. Because the Bears need almost every variable to break the right way to keep this game close.
See, there are no variables where the Colts are involved. The running backs are solid and don't fumble. The receivers are in the Pro Bowl. The defense is better than it has been all season. Adam Vinatieri is the fourth-most accurate kicker in NFL history and already has won two Super Bowls with last-second kicks.
And then at quarterback, the most variable position of all, is Peyton Manning. And he's no variable. He's easy money. On that short turf, in this warm weather, inside that semi-friendly stadium, Manning is going to throw until his arm falls off. The only variable is the first digit of his final passing tally. Will he throw for 300 yards? Or 400?
Manning was a Hall of Fame quarterback years ago, and two weeks ago he overcame his freak-out moment when he rallied the Colts past New England in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Game. That was his pressure test, and he aced it.
Super Bowl XLI? This is his cake, and he's going to eat it.
As for Bears quarterback Rex Grossman, this is his bed. And he's going to wet it.
