Championship Weekend?

As the final weekend of playoffs approaches, I couldn’t help but take a step back and analyze the how intriguing this year’s contestants for the right to play in the Super Bowl are. In the NFC you have the Vikings and the Saints, and in the AFC the Jets and the Colts. Right off the bat, it’s difficult to remember when any other team besides for the Colts have been still playing at this time of year…Well have no fear my Cool Guys and Gals, your resident Football Historian, B Willie Cyclops is here to break down these oh so appealing artifacts of knowledge for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

First up is the Minnesota Vikings. The most interesting thing about this team isn’t that they’ve been to the Super Bowl an astounding 4 times. It isn’t even the fact that they went to all of the games within a 7 year span…The amazing thing about this team is that they lost each one! They tried and failed against to the Chiefs, Dolphins, Steelers, and Raiders. With a margin of loss of over 15 points, it seemed as though the Purple People Eaters were just happy to be in the Big Game.

Their last attempt was foiled in 1977 and they haven’t been there since. They have been close though, going to the NFC championship game in ’87, ’98 and 2000. Now, 10 years removed from the game before ‘The Game’ the Vikings are relying on ageless q.b. Brett Favre to navigate them down to Miami.

Next up is the Indianapolis Colts. This by far the most consistently successful team still playing. The past few years they have battled the Patriots and Steelers for AFC domination.  In 2007 the Colts played and defeated the Chicago Bears down in Miami to earn the right to call themselves the best team in the NFL. While they have been to playoffs almost automatically over the past decade or so, their only other Super Bowl appearance was in 1971 with a 16-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

For all of their victories, the Colts have actually only been to the AFC Championship game 4 times since 1970. Only twice in the past decade have they made it to the game before ‘The Game’. This year, they will once again rely on the arm and superior cerebral skills of Peyton Manning to get them a chance to hoist the Lombardi trophy.

And now here comes a true surprise, The New York Jets are playing for the right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. The Jets have sporadically been to the playoffs the past 12 years only once making it the the AFC championship, a 23-10 loss to the Denver Broncos in 1999. Prior to that game the Jets had been a model of inconsistency, reaching the AFC championship game only twice, once in 1982, losing to the Miami Dolphins and in December 1968 defeating the Oakland Raiders leading to an improbable Super victory over the Baltimore Colts.

At the beginning of the playoffs the Jets were a 50-1 shot to win the Super Bowl, easily the longest shot of any of the teams that had made it. They were picked to lose each of their previous games by any pundit that would be listened to. They are easily the team nobody expects to be here and with their previous history it would be hard to argue, but someone once said, “Offense wins games, Defense wins Championships.” and if that holds true the Jets No.1 defense should be in Miami in two weeks defended their right to be there.

And last but not least, The New Orleans Saints are hosting the NFC Championship this Sunday. While this season the Saints have been one of the best, their history is just the opposite. They have been to the playoffs a few scattered times in their existence, yet have won exactly ONE playoff game. They have never even sniffed the Super Bowl. To say it’s a historical anomaly that they are playing for the right for ownership of the Lombardi Trophy is the understatement of the year.

The Saints will rely on the strong, accurate arm of super q.b. Drew Brees as they have been for the past few seasons. The difference between those years and this one is the Defense of N’awlins is supremely better. The question will be; will this team be able to handle the pressure of its first ever NFC championship game?

So there it is,In the past 33 years these four teams have combined for exactly 1 Super Bowl appearance. It is sure to be one of the most interesting battles for the ride to Super Bowl XLIV (that’s 44 for all those of you who failed their Roman Numeral tests).

One thing this weekend teaches us is how parity is really evident in the Modern NFL. No matter how bad your team has been in the past, or great for that matter, in a just a few years your fortunes could change. So be loyal and have faith!

When all is said and done, what  Super Bowl match up would be the most unique you ask?? With a combined appearance record of 1-82 the Jets vs Saints would fulfill the most thirsty and loyal of fans, including yours truly!

So this Sunday take a couple of hours and enjoy an atypical weekend of Championship Football.

-B Willie Cyclops