Cheese over Tuna: Packers will win the Big Show

By Matthew Morgado

At the second bark from inside the face mask of Drew Bledsoe, Ben Coates broke off the line of scrimmage, rumbled two yards downfield past the Jets' 49, and veered toward the sidelines. Bledsoe set and delivered the spiraling pigskin toward his favorite target, but as the pass fluttered towards his chest, Coates stepped back to the Patriots' 49, made the reception, and used his enormous frame and girth to grind for an additional half-yard. Alas, it was not enough, and the Patriots had been stopped cold on fourth-and-two; their valiant comeback from down 21-7 at the half had apparently fallen short, 27-24, and the Meadowlands faithful began to remove the paper bags from their heads, no longer feeling the necessity to be nameless fans. However, line judge Charles Stewart was undeniably watching a different set of circumstances unfold, and he spotted the ball at the Jets' 49, awarding the Pats a first down and the opportunity to walk away victorious.

Six weeks later, Giants coach Dan Reeves, hoping to end his career in the Big Apple with another stunning upset, had his team up by 22 points at halftime. With the bye week hanging in the balance, Patriot coach Bill Parcells had other ideas. He engineered a brilliant comeback, mixing the passing of Bledsoe and the rushing of tailback Curtis Martin and fullback Keith Byars to pick apart the Giant secondary and narrow the gap. But even the best of plans couldn't have forecasted the spectacular play that ultimately granted the Pats the spoils of victory. On third down-and-13 from the Giants' 42, Bledsoe drilled a pass behind wide receiver Troy Brown, who slid and corralled the ball while lying flat on his back for a 13-yard gain and a key first down. The Pats punched it in with 1:23 remaining and narrowly escaped defeat 23-22.

The Patriots captured two miraculous victories in their two games against New York squads. In these two brief contests, the Patriots sapped the magic that accompanied the World Champion Yankees all season from the Big Apple.

Very rarely does a championship team even become a contender before it faces its share of tribulations and bizarre stories--the Bulls had to deal with an enigma named Rodman; the Avalanche were detested by an entire country because they fled the province of Quebec; and last year's Super Bowl champion Cowboys had to overcome Barry Switzer's fourth-down debacles versus the Eagles in '95.

Perhaps New England has become the reigning team of destiny. The team of destiny will attempt to defeat the Green Bay Packers, who, in the legacy of Lombardi, are attempting to lay the foundation for their second football dynasty.

In Jean de la Fontaine's fable, La Fourmi et La Cigale, the ant gathered food in the summer while the grasshopper sang and danced. Thus, the ant had food stored for the winter. In football terms, that means preparation for battle. There may be no better coach in the NFL at preparing a team for a Super Bowl than "The Big Tuna," Bill Parcells. He and Don Shula are the only coaches to take two different franchises to the ultimate contest of football immortality. In fact, he has coached two different quarterbacks to victories in late-January, and he hopes to make Bledsoe the third. In both '87 and '91, he used a ball-control offensive scheme with running backs such as Joe Morris, Otis Anderson, and Dave Megget. He only put the ball in the hands of quarterbacks Phil Simms ('87) and Jeff Hostetler ('91) for a change of pace. Unfortunately, unless Curtis Martin and the offensive line are dominant, Parcells will have to entrust more of the game to the right arm and, more importantly, the eyes and reactions of an often inconsistent Bledsoe.

Moreover, Parcells is playing a masterful chess game with his team and the media. He has successfully diverted the press from digging into his players' private lives, instead turning the attention to himself. The Pats could not possibly have felt the burden of media day on Tuesday as severely as the Pack. The only question that reporters seemed to ask was whether Parcells would take Peyton Manning or Orlando Pace with the Jets' first pick in the draft. As a result, his team will be relaxed and prepared for the opening kickoff. Coupled with the notorious slow starts of Brett Favre (two for his first eight with one interception versus Carolina), Parcells' formula will help the Pats jump to an early lead. Stingy defense and a couple of rumples from offensive coordinator Ray Perkins' plethora of screen plays will put the Pats up 10-0 early.

However, the main story of Super Bowl XXXI is not the Big Tuna or the New England Patriots. It is the tale of the Green Bay Packers, the cheeseheads, the Lords of Lambeau, the Fiends of the Frozen Tundra.

Faced with an initial deficit, Sean Jones, Gilbert Brown, and Reggie White will ensure that the Pats' ability to run the ball becomes more difficult than driving through three lanes of Mack Trucks on I-95. LeRoy Butler, Tyrone Williams, and Craig Newsome will make the Pack defensive backfield appear more congested than midtown Manhattan gridlock. They will hold Martin and Bledsoe in check for the balance of the game, with the exception of a late, meaningless touchdown.

Offensively, Favre will awaken from his early slumber. He resides 30 minutes away from New Orleans, and his friends and family will not allow him to fall short of the expectations that accompany two straight MVP seasons. The resilient Favre scoffs at a closing pocket, escapes danger, and consistently makes something out of nothing. He routinely uses his physical strength and mental tenacity to ad lib plays like the third-and-seven he converted on a shovel pass to running back Dorsey Levens while in the grasp of Panther Kevin Greene.

Further, Favre has a wide range of offensive weapons at his disposal. Edgar Bennet and Levens may be the best backfield tandem in the NFL today. The Pack has overcome adversity in losing All-Pro wideout Reggie Brooks and found a new leader in Antonio Freeman. Andre Rison, waived earlier this season by the Jaguars, has shown no fear of going over the middle. The crafty Don Beebe gives the Pack speed and Super Bowl experience at wide-out position.

In addition, Favre's best friend Mark Chmura teams with Keith Jackson to become the best tight end combo in the league. After years of wallowing in NFL, Desmond Howard has rekindled his Michigan energy by returning punts and kickoffs for touchdowns and performing "Lambeau Leaps."

The Packers will dominate the final three quarters of this Sunday's contest. In the AFC championship game, Jacksonville was able to bounce back from its early jitters, as Mark Brunell carried his team on his arm and his legs down to the Patriots' five with an opportunity to tie the game in the fourth quarter. The unseen hand of destiny reared its head again, this time in the form of a bloody throwing hand for Brunell, who unwisely threw the ball into the welcoming arms of Pats free safety Willie Clay. Favre will have no such problems securing the game and dynasty will defeat destiny. He will remind the viewers that the only reason to watch the game is for the company and the commercials. And, next year, it will be Mike Holmgren who Nike imitates in their Vince Lombardi ads.

Prediction: Green Bay 34, Patriots 17 Back to Sports...