Super rematch
2004 NFL Draft Mailbag
May 10, 2004
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
Reader feedback is always welcomed here at DraftKing.com. Send your thoughts to me at LouPickney@gmail.com.
From: Bill Cunningham
Sent: Thursday, May 6, 2004 3:08 AM
To: Lou Pickney
Subject: (no subject)
good site, even if I am checking it out after the draft. do you really envision a Panthers Pats re-match in the SuperBowl? ok, who knows too early.
Lou: The Patriots' success hinges on three things, in my opinion: 1) Tom Brady staying healthy for most or all of the season; 2) The ability for the defensive line to step up and fill in for the loss of DT Ted Washington to free agency; 3) Corey Dillon posting similar numbers in 2004 that he did in previous years in Cincinnati.
Yes, the Patriots are the favorites out of the AFC. But this is no mid 90s San Francisco or Dallas type team. They have been brilliantly constructed, players taken to fit the system ideally. But thanks to parity, it's no runaway for the Pats.
With the Panthers, remember that their Super Bowl run was based in no small part on luck, thanks to some rather odd decisions made by the Rams in their Double OT playoff thriller. The Eagles look mighty tough; I know I'm not the only person who is intrigued by the thought of McNabb-to-Owens. Don't count out a healthy Michael Vick in Atlanta, or the much defensively improved Vikings, or the aforementioned Rams. Plus there will be mystery teams creeping up: there are ALWAYS teams that come out of nowhere to make a run (like Dallas last year).
I'll put it to you like this: if you gave me 10-to-1 odds against a Super Bowl rematch, I'd bet everything I own on it not happening. Just too many variables involved in there...
