(NEWS CENTER) -- The official launch of the #NEWSCENTERnow Sports Overtime Podcast and Blog.
The first blog is by NEWS CENTER Managing Editor Ted Varipatis
Welcome to our new sports blog, Section 326. Why section 326 you ask? It’s the location of my Patriots season tickets. I’ve had them for the last 23 years. Not exactly primo seats, I know. But I’m at least in the stadium. It also helps explain why this lifelong news guy thinks he can write in a somewhat articulate manner about the Patriots and all other New England and local sports for that matter.
So let’s get right to it. With the playoff push in high gear, what are the Pats chances of representing the AFC in the Super Bowl? In the words of Caddyshack’s Judge Smails…gooood…very gooood. With three weeks to go, the Pats are one win away from securing a first round bye and at least a two seed. But realistically anything short of a top seed would be a disappointment.
Assuming they finish at the top of the AFC, who can come into Foxboro and beat them? Pittsburgh? I don’t think so…not with that defense.
Oakland? The team has no playoff resume, and Brady eats their defense for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But a redux of the tuck rule game in the snow 15 years later is appealing.
Denver, our old nemesis? Don’t look now, but they’re fighting for their playoff lives.
Kansas City? Maybe, but Bill Belichick trumps Andy Reid (all politics aside). Major coaching edge for the Pats there.
Speaking of Belichick, I know all Pats fans have the credo “In Bill We Trust”, but despite his divine status, he is not above being questioned.
Last year, some curious play-calling against the Eagles and Dolphins and his decision to give the ball to the Jets in OT cost the Patriots the number one seed, meaning the AFC championship went through Denver. There’s no way the Broncos win in Foxboro, and the Pats probably would have gone on to beat the Panthers in the Super Bowl.
Let’s fast forward to the Monday night Ravens game. Everybody in the stadium cringed when Cyrus Jones went back to field a punt in the second quarter. By the grace of Tedy Bruschi, that punt narrowly avoided clanging off him, creating a turnover.
But Belichick decided to keep playing with fire, and put Jones in the same position in the third quarter. What happens? A guy who has four fumbles this year has the brain cramp of the millennium, giving the Ravens a gift-wrapped touchdown. One simple question for you Bill. Why? Fool me once shame on you, but fool me five times? Shame on the hoodie. The move almost cost the team a crucial victory.
I know it’s sacrilegious to question the Almighty one, but here’s hoping Belichick doesn’t have any more missteps for the rest of 2016. Don’t get me wrong, I worship him. I get it. Even the arguably greatest coach of all time has his moments but they’ve been coming a little too frequently the past couple of years.
Agree or disagree? Let us know. And keep your eyes peeled for a new podcast featuring myself and Lee Goldberg, coming to a laptop, an ipad, and a mobile app near you. I was thinking Vee and Lee? Okay fine…Lee and Vee.
Ted Varipatis – WCSH Managing Editor and 24 year Pats Season Ticket Holder.
Editors Note: Ted thought he was going to get away with doing a podcast without the digital director...think again. Schoolsy
