The Pirateer
Super Bowl XLI: PREVIEWMonday, February 19, 2007 By Arthur Kapetanakis
The waiting is almost over… Super Bowl XLI is just days away. The much anticipated game pits the Indianapolis Colts against the Chicago Bears, with the Colts being seven point favorites. The match-up that most football fans are anxiously waiting to see is that of the explosive Colt offense, led by quarterback Peyton Manning, against the stingy Bears defense, led by linebacker Brian Urlacher. The Colts have the number one offense in their conference (the AFC) while the Bears have the number one defense in their conference (the NFC) so surely there will be some fireworks when those two units are on the field. Simply put, something has to give. The major players for the Colts offense include the aforementioned Peyton Manning and wide receiver Marvin Harrison. Manning, who threw for the second most passing yards in the NFL this season, has been labeled as a player who cannot win the “big one” because he has often failed to perform at his best in the playoffs in recent years. He is now relishing the chance to silence his critics once and for all by winning the biggest game there is to win. Marvin Harrison is the Colts’ primary wide receiver and according to many analysts, the best receiver in the game. He had 1,366 receiving yards this season, good for second most in the NFL. Harrison will do his best to find holes in the Chicago defense so that Manning can get him the ball. On defense, the Colts’ leading tackler is linebacker Cato June who has 142 total tackles. Lineman Robert Mathis leads the team with 9.5 sacks. The Bears’ defense is anchored by linebacker Brain Urlacher and Tottenville High School’s own Adewale Ogunleye, a lineman. Urlacher leads the defense with 142 total tackles and is the unquestioned motivational and verbal leader of the team. Ogunleye who played his high school football with the THS Pirates has 6.5 total sacks and leads the Chicago pass rush. It is the job of the pass rush to pressure Peyton Manning and force him into making mistakes by robbing him of the time he needs to execute a good pass. On offense, the Bears’ hopes rest with their inconsistent quarterback, Rex Grossman. He has been great this season in seven games in which he threw for two or more touchdowns and he has been awful in five games in which he threw for three or more interceptions. Bears fans can take comfort in the fact that in the playoffs, Grossman has thrown for two touchdowns and only one interception in two games. If the Bears are going to beat the Colts on Sunday, they have to hope that that kind of player shows up. Grossman does not need to win the game for Chicago, but he has to make sure that he doesn’t lose it for them. The game is set for Sunday, February 4th at 6 PM on CBS. It will be played in Dolphin Stadium in Miami , Florida . ** Due to certain circumstances, the February 2007 issue of The Pirateer was released two weeks after the Super Bowl. The Indianapolis Colts won with an amazing victory ** |