Read opposing arguments from Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan about which matchup presents the best possible game for the 2010 Super Bowl.
Finally, though this season has flown by for me, by Monday morning we will all know the Super Bowl matchup. One thing is certain – no matter what teams are matched up on Super Sunday, the game will be fantastic. Each team plays good defense, most teams play good offense. The one team that does not play good offense – the New York Jets – makes up for what is lacking with extremely excellent defense. The Jets are a fascinating team flush with talent and personality. The Minnesota Vikings may not have the personality the Jets have, but they have balance. Each team is dynamic and interesting on and off the field, and the combination would make the ideal Super Bowl matchup in 2010.
Both teams feature the type of characters and personalities that make media week tolerable for fans and media alike. For the Jets, no personality stands out more than outspoken and bombastic coach Rex Ryan. Plenty of writers have talked about how great Ryan’s personality is, and during media week, should the Jets win this weekend, Ryan will get a lot of camera time. For the Vikings, Brett Favre will continue his media magnetism, for better or worse. Should the Vikings win this weekend – which I believe is very likely – Favre’s accomplishments at his age and stage of career are rather amazing, and worth examining through the relentless spotlight of the media.
It is not as if media week suffers from a lack of stories around the teams and players in the Super Bowl, but Brett Favre will also have the chance to face the Jets one season after wearing the team’s jersey. No, the coaching staff is different from when Favre wore green, but the fans remember the excitement his presence promised, and ultimately did not deliver. Should Favre have the chance to deliver a championship to the Vikings, Jets fans – with the troubles seen from their team’s quarterback Mark Sanchez – will be unable to hold back frustrations.
After all of the stars and non-football stories are covered, recovered, covered again, and then slowly beaten to death, the two teams also play a game of football. While these teams present the best sports reporting opportunities, they also present the best possible matchup of football teams.
The Jets are the prototypical successful playoff team in the NFL. The Jets do two things well – defense, and run the football. The Jets had the best defense in the regular season allowing fewer than 15 points every game, and a mere 252.3 yards allowed per game. Amazingly the Jets only allowed 153.7 passing yards per game (a big reason why I feel the Colts will struggle this weekend). The Jets have the best defensive players in the playoffs. The team also runs the ball extremely well and has improved in that department in the playoffs thanks to the efforts of rookie running back Shonn Greene.
The great thing about this potential matchup is that the one offensive strength the Jets have is the one defensive strength the Vikings have. The Vikings only allowed 87.1 rushing yards per game. Sure, Favre and the offense are well balanced and strong, but they have not faced a defense like the Jets yet, either. Yards and points will be a struggle, especially with as poorly as the Vikings and Adrian Peterson have run the football in the playoffs.
This matchup seems like it would a slam dunk against the Jets. Greatness happens in sports when the odds seem to be are at their most obvious. It is in these situations that expectations are certain. These same conditions were present when an improbable New England Patriots team beat the St. Louis Rams, and the countless other close and surprising NFL playoff games. More than any other game the Jets and the Vikings would showcase the best the league has to offer in off the field stories and on the field drama.
Regardless of the outcome of the games this weekend I will watch the Super Bowl. But, the best possible matchup imaginable is between the Vikings and the Jets.
I voted for Vikings vs. Colts, only because the Saints vs. Colts wasn’t available in the poll above…
Saints vs. Colts would be a very interesting match-up, with Peyton Manning playing for his second Superbowl win against his dad Archie’s long hoped and prayed for by the “faithful” team in N.O… Super Dome Thunders!!
Weather Forecast: A Super Brees-y day in Miami, FL.
Great comment! As it turns out our writers didn’t find the matchup you mentioned as one of the most compelling offered. But, you make a solid argument, especially regarding Peyton Manning playing against a city he has done a great deal of charity work for. He is a favorite son that will be turning against the will of many supporters for one game. That will make for some interesting stories, and a cool twist on the on-the-field action.
Nice work, buddy! That’s why we debated what would be the most interesting match up, not the most likely. Congrats on the prediction business – it’s a tough business to be in!