Superbowl XLVI: "Everything to Gain. Everything to Lose"

Legacy.

That’s what this Superbowl is all about. In many ways, that’s what Football—nay – sports, is all about.

Besides the fun and the fame and millions of dollars, that’s what motivates athletes; the great one’s anyway.

In the NFL, it seems like all season it’s been all about the QB’s.

It started with Cam Newton in the preseason. Can he play? Will his game translate to the NFL? Will he be worthy the #1 NFL Draft Pick? Many of those questions have already been answered.

Before opening night, the Colts (and the league) lost Peyton Manning to an injury that would sideline him for the duration of the season. The Colts were horrendous. Period. By season’s end, many considered Peyton the league MVP by default.

Then on opening night, we got a glimpse of Brees versus Rodgers and the conversation shifted right into “who’s the best QB in the league” mode. Rodgers for MVP? Will Brees break Marino’s record?

Then about 5 weeks into the season there was Tebow; the bumbling, mystifying, polarizing Tebow. What a mess of a wonderful story that it was.  Week after week, win after win, we talked more and more about Tebow’s ability (or lack thereof) to throw the football in contrast to his uncanny capability to inspire, and most importantly, lead his team to wins. The kid moved mountains. (Rocky mountain pun intended).

As the playoffs neared, and the Patriots win-streak mounted, of course, the Golden Boy, Tom Brady entered the conversation. Is winning (and impressively so) with the worst statistically rated defense enough to be considered for the MVP? Well, I think so.

Most recently it’s been about the emergence of one, Eli Manning. With big games to knock out the Cowboys (before the playoffs), then the Packers (in the playoffs) and a myriad of comeback wins this season, he wandered his way into the debate.

Then there was also Andy Dalton (rookie ginger sensation—I say that jokingly, but he was impressive), Tony Romo (extremely talented, yet very underrated QB), Matthew Stafford (who had the luxury  of throwing to Megatron all year), and more.

Suffice to say, Quarterbacks this year have been a big deal. The Superbowl has two of them.

Tom Brady and Eli Manning.

For Tom, this is without a doubt the biggest game of his NFL career. Win it (and the MVP) this year, and he’s undoubtedly a top 2 Quarterback of all-time. A 6th round draft pick with 7 Probowls, 4 Superbowls, 3 Superbowl MVP’s (assuming), 5 AFC Championships, 3 NFL MVP’s, the single-season passing TD’s record and Gisele Bundchen to boot. Lose it, and he’s the QB that probably doesn’t win another SB after the Spygate scandal. Whether any of it really matters, doesn’t matter—because it does to those that will tell the story.

For Eli, only one Quarterback that has won two Superbowls is not in the Hall of Fame. (Insight via Stephen A. Smith). Not only does that give him one more than his big bro, Peyton, who is already a HOF’er in everyone’s eyes, but that gives him two Superbowl wins over another future HOF’er in Tom Brady. He holds the current record for most consecutive games played, and if there was another 4th quarter QB bigger than Eli this season (Disclaimer: Tebow might not actually be a QB (jk)), you let me know who he is. Lose it, and he’s the guy that beat Tom Brady in a fluky Superbowl in a year where the Patriots quest for perfection was no more than a metaphor for how unattainable perfection truly is.

Now let’s not kid ourselves though, other legacies are at stake, too.

Bill Belichick could easily bolster his case as the greatest coach of all-time. Tom Coughlin could add another Superbowl ring to his collection and at age 65, ride off into the sunset. The Patriots and Giants who have been around since 1959 and 1925, can add another Championship to their storied histories.

Now where do I stand on this? I’m sure that’s what you’ve been wondering all along.

It’s been a quite a journey picking every NFL game this season. It’s been taxing, time consuming, sometimes frustrating, but mostly a yacht full of fun. I’m proud to say I finished the regular season better than last year, and I plan on improving again next year. (Picking 80% winners is the goal).

**I might starting picking with the spread to tailor this blog even more to you gambling enthusiast out there.

That said, as I declared on September 8, 2011, the New England Patriots will be your Superbowl XLVI (46) Champions.

Book it. *crosses fingers*

Thanks for reading.

Be sure to check out my NBA predictions the rest of the season.