Bloodless Coup

OTOH, The Great All-Universe Peyton ManningTM has only managed three field goals so far.

I saw about 15 min of the game while in a restaurant. During that time, TGAUPM(TM) made a short pass for a three yard loss, a short pass for a yard or two of gain, and then threw an interception that was run back to the 9 yard line. Then: first down, KC runs it to the 4 or so. Second down, KC runs it to the 2. Third down, ball is snapped and the QB immediately falls down and is self-sacked for a loss of about 5. Fourth down, 25ish yard field goal attempt is MISSED. KC's defense looks strong, but their offense would appear to have the butterflies...

Oh, and not to change the subject, but since you happen to be online you should go look at Drudge. He's, um, got something that's a little interesting, if it's true.

Baltar, you awake?

So I just checked again - and I see the Chiefs just scored to make it 16-8 Colts at the end of the 3rd. I guess what's standing out to me so far from the numbers (apart from Peyton the Great's interceptions) is the phenomenal job the Colts are doing at controling the ball. They've had it for more than twice as long as Kansas City. I guess keeping their offense off the field is one way to shut down Larry Johnson ...

As to the Drudge thing - why is that a big news story? Did someone think Israel wouldn't be constructing plans to take out Iran's nuke facilities?

The story is that Israel's plans a) involve nukes and b) seem to have become public, both of which seem worthy of note.

I guess - but I don't find either part of that particularly surprising myself. And of course these could just be a set that's been floated for effect.

Eh. Of course Israel has contingency plans to bomb Iran. Of course some of (but not all of) Israels contingency plans to bomb Iran involve nuclear weapons. The same can be said of us.

Color me fairly unimpressed. Israel has to know that nuking Iran will get them in more trouble than any number of invasions of Lebanon (and look how well they've done out of those). I can't see Israel doing this until their backs are against the wall, and that hasn't happened yet.

Scared analysts - after all that talk (and talk and talk) about how this weekend's wildcard games were sooooo hard to call, the home (higher ranked) team ended up winning every single game.

So do any of you have personal favorites in this NFL season? Remaining teams you really want to see get to the Super Bowl? Just curious. I'll likely be pulling for the NFC champ in that game, but personally I still have a fondness for the Patriots in the AFC - even without Adam Vinatieri.

Pats Pats Pats. I'd root for 'em even if they weren't my local team. It'll be very interesting to see what they do vs the Chargers next week.

i could live with the pats, but overall i'd like to see new orleans finish off its storybook run. even if katrina didn't make them sentimental faves, i really like their personnel and the way they play the game.

Well I said I'd likely pull for the NFC, so it'll come as no surprise that I'm pulling for the Saints too (though I like the Eagles well enough too actually - after all Reid should probably have a Super Bowl ring at some point, and Garica's a great story this year). But up until the Super Bowl I'm for the Patriots.

yeah i'm torn about the pats. really, the only AFC team i _don't_ want to see win the conference championship is . . . ah, hell, each one's got a nice story: brady becoming one of the all-time clutch quarterbacks (really, he already is) and bellichick's star rising yet more; peyton finally getting his; philip rivers proving the giants' folly; baltimore showing for the second time in less than a decade that sheer defensive dominance can carry the day in the NFL.

in a million years, i can't pull for the eagles. i like garcia's story, don't get me wrong, but i'm a lifelong giants fan. the only team that would make me more miserable were they to win would be dallas, especially with parcells at the helm. and since the bears and seattle are utter pretenders, really i can _only_ pull for the saints.

Ok, so. Two questions:

1) Will the not-quite-as-strong-as-they-used-to-be Pats beat the maybe-better-than-they-used-to-be Colts next week?

2) Do either of the NFC teams have a realistic chance against the AFC Champion?

As to your second question, I think the Saints could win over the AFC champ. But I have a hard time seeing how the Bears could win two more games.

As to your first question, I have no idea. That game could really go either way. Which is perhaps fitting in this season when practically every playoff game is still competitive on the last possession.