Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site tekchips.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ukma!psuvm.bitnet!psuvax1!burdvax!sdcrdcf!hplabs!tektronix!tekcrl!tekchips!stevev From: stevev@tekchips.UUCP (Steve Vegdahl) Newsgroups: net.sport.football Subject: Patriots Message-ID: <468@tekchips.UUCP> Date: Mon, 13-Jan-86 13:44:25 EST Article-I.D.: tekchips.468 Posted: Mon Jan 13 13:44:25 1986 Date-Received: Fri, 17-Jan-86 01:34:42 EST Distribution: net Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 72 This note contains a few random comments, all of which have to do with the Patriots. (I'm a Raider/Niner fan for whatever that's worth.) First, congratulations to the Patriots for beating and outplaying the Dolphins, and becoming AFC champs for the first time in the club's history. Winning three games on the road is some feat. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Regarding the 1976 Pats/Raiders playoff game: In the pre-game shows and newspapers, all I kept hearing about was the questionable roughing-the-passer call against Julius Adams on 4th down that allowed the Raiders to keep their last-gasp drive going and beat the Pats in the closing seconds. What I do NOT hear about was a much more blatant mistake by the refs that allowed the Raiders to get the ball in the first place. There were something like two minutes left in the game and the Pats had the ball somewhere around midfield and were attempting to run out the clock. A third-down passing situation came up in which the Pats could run out the clock (or all but run it out, I forget) if they could manage to make a first down. They attempted a pass over the middle (I forget the intended receiver's name), but it was incomplete, bringing up fourth down. The reason he did not catch the ball, however, was that Raider linebacker Phil Villapiano grabbed him and threw him to the ground. I'm not sure whether he did this before or after the ball was thrown, but either way it should have resulted in a penalty (def. holding or pass interference) that would have given the Patriots a first down. As no penalty was called, the Pats had to give up the ball, setting up the Raider drive that included the roughing call on Adams and the subsequent winning Raider TD drive. Does anyone else remember the non-call against Villapiano? Is my memory playing tricks on me? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Next subject: sportsmanship. Is Blackmann (sp?, N.E. #55, anyway) taking sportsmanship lessons from Pat Sullivan? I was quite unimpressed by his apparent taunting actions after the Dolphin kicker missed a field goal. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Final subject: Super Bowl prediction. I have long contended that teams that get to the playoffs and win playoff games by relying on turnovers are not what Super Bowl winners are made of. What typically happens is that they win by beating teams who are turning the ball over, but ultimately run into a team that is "hot" and is not turning the ball over, and lose. Consider the Vikings of the early '70's or the Broncos and Seahawks recently. Also, remember the Redskins of couple years ago, who ran up some phonomenal turnover "ratio" only to get blown out by the Raiders in the Super Bowl. The Patriots seem to be such a team. In my estimation, the Patriots will need a turnover "ratio" of at least +3 in the Super Bowl in order to beat the Bears. All indications are that the Bears are "hot" (they are also good). I just do not think that Chicago will turn the ball over that often. I would not be surprised to see something close a repeat of Super Bowl 18 where the Raiders blew out the Redskins. Let's go with Bears 27, Pats 10. Turnovers: Bears win 3 to 1. ---------------------------------------------------------------- This will be only the fourth Super Bowl in history in which neither team has been to a Super Bowl before. The others were Packers-Chiefs (obviously) in '67, Jets-Colts in '69 and 49ers-Bengals in '82. Can anyone shed some light on what players and coaches from either team have Super Bowl experience? Steve Vegdahl Computer Research Lab. Tektronix, Inc. Beaverton, Oregon