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Nation-wide polling lists Jaguars-Vikings as top choice
By Arnie Leshin
This is not an election, it’s merely a game, because that’s what football is, a game. So listen up, it’s all free. Who would you want to stand at attention and honor the national anthem or let’s say, what matchups in the Super Bowl would interest you the most?
All it takes is a glance at the two Sunday National Football League games to make your choice. From these two games will come the NFC and AFC champions to meet up in Minnesota on Super Bowl Sunday.
Now you might be surprised by the recent consensus that the most popular choice is the Jacksonville Jaguars versus the Minnesota Vikings. Next comes the New England Patriots meeting up with the Vikings. After that, there are those that would like to see the Jags playing the Philadelphia Eagles, and the last pick would have the Pats versus the Eagles.
Surprised? Sure, why not. If it’s not the one you chose, you question why.
Start with the bottom. It would appear that New England against
Philadelphia would be the ideal match-up for the East Coast fans. But that’s the problem, the rest of the country would not want this game. It’s too regional. Two teams from the East, both winners of their respective conferences, does not sound that popular nation-wide.
Plus, it would be the worst choice for Dallas Cowboys fans who have no love for the Philly team, and who remember owner Jerry Jones dismissing present Eagles’ quarterback Nick Foles as an option in 2013. And there aren’t any cowboys in New England and Philadelphia, so this gives these fans even more reason to dislike these two franchises.
Next?
Right ahead of it is the Jaguars-Eagles. It’s not East versus East, but how much better is East versus South? Then again, Jacksonville would have to get past the game in New England against the defending champions, the winners of six Super Bowls and who appear to be playing in this event every year.
But this is not about New England. It’s about the chip on their shoulders Eagles, who have that disrespected feeling, as in having the best record in the NFC and entering the game against the Atlanta Falcons, the No. 4 seed, as a 2 ½ point underdog.
Worst yet, the word is that Minnesota will arrive in Philadelphia as 3 ½ point picks. And if the green and white gets to the Super Bowl and plays, let’s say, Jacksonville, the No. 4 seed in the AFC, it would still be the underdog.
Go figure.
How about the second choice, New England versus the Vikings? Well, first of all, not everybody would enjoy watching Minnesota on its own home turf, and second of all, not everybody would enjoy seeing the Pats once again playing the final game of the season, although it would be interesting to see just how many points New England would be favored by versus Minnesota.
And number one would be the Jaguars-Vikings match-up. That’s the people’s choice, the one chosen by 53 percent of the nation’s fans. It has a solid lead over the Patriots-Vikings 32 percent, and the last two don’t even come close, the Jaguars-Eagles at 9 percent, and New England-Philly at 6 percent.
Now remember, these are the two teams that most of the people want to line up in the Super Bowl. It’s not to have any affect on who’s the favorite. Any one of the eight would just want to be playing in Minnesota, especially the Vikings, but wouldn’t care who the other team is.
But if Jacksonville versus Minnesota is the favorite choice, the consensus of voters would be happy. Then again, it’s safe to say that all of the others will be tuned into the actual tilt.
Getting back to the Eagles, why are they underdogs? They began with a rush, winning 11 of their first 12 games, but didn’t look all that good as the regular-season wound down. They played solid defense and Foles took over the role of quarterback and, after two starts, he took control of the position.
Minnesota was hurt by injuries from the start and Casey Keenam became the quarterback starter on his sixth team, expect he’s turned out to be up to the challenge, and combined with their quality defense, these Vikings are dreaming of playing on their own field, which would be the first since the official Super Bowl began in the 1968-69 season.
Like the Eagles did in their conference, New England had the best record in its conference, but it wasn’t the underdog against the Tennessee Titans and won’t be the underdog versus Jacksonville. The Pats happen to be the only one of the four who can beat you on offense or defense, while the Jaguars spotlight their defense and an improved offense.
Jacksonville has Blake Brottles as its starting quarterback, and he’s right out of the University of Central Florida. The Jag fans trust him a little more now after he performed well in the win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. That and the defense make for a better team.
Also, Jacksonville, which first played under Tom Coughlin, has him back as a special consultant. As head coach of the New York Giants, he defeated Brady and company twice in two Super Bowl starts. His team won by putting the pressure on Brady, six sacks the first time and seven the next time. So if the Jaguars get to line up against the Patriots, no doubt Coughlin will be passing along some advice.
Brottles, Foles, Keenam don’t has much of a resume, Tom Brady does. He’s nearly 40 years old and still reigns supreme. But the Super Bowl has seen surprises before,
Just a reminder, whoever wins this Sunday continues to play, and it matters very little who the people’s choice is. Either way, it’s still a game.
The Final Four begins with the Jaguars at the Patriots with a scheduled 1:05 p.m., followed by the Vikings at the Eagles at approximately 4:40.
Latest odds have New England over Jacksonville by 7 ½ points, but it did go down from 9 ½ after Brady’s hand injury was revealed. And yes, it’s Minnesota over Philly by 3 points after starting at 3 ½.
