Wednesday’s question of the day: Which two teams will play in this season’s Super Bowl?
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Which two teams will play in this season’s Super Bowl? Reporters from around the Tribune family tackle today’s question of the day, then you get a chance to leave a comment and tell them why they are wrong.
Dave Hyde, South Florida Sun Sentinel
New England vs. Chicago. The Genius vs. Da Bears. Retro is in, and this takes everyone back to the ‘80s when the Super Bowl Shuffle was the song of the season, Jim McMahon mooned a helicopter and the Bears trounced the Pats.
All New England has lost from last year is offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, back-up quarterback Matt Cassel, and a wealth of defensive experience in Richard Seymour, Tedy Bruschi and Rodney Harrison. They’ve lost more other years. Tom Brady is back, Bill Belichick is still smart and the Patriots get the 32nd-ranked schedule, according to FootballOutsiders.com. Thirty-second! Is that legal? Chicago benefits from the Denver bailout in getting quarterback Jay Cutler. Throw him with a Top 5 defense and get ready for a re-mix of the Super Bowl Shuffle.
Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times
San Diego will beat New Orleans in the Super Bowl. For the ninth consecutive year, a different team will represent the NFC. Drew Brees and the offense will be credited with getting the Saints further than they have ever been, but the real difference maker will be a vastly improved defense. In the end, though, it will be the Chargers raising their first Lombardi Trophy. Despite several key injuries, they have advanced to the AFC championship and divisional rounds the past two seasons. Now, with LaDainian Tomlinson and Shawne Merriman back, the Chargers will win it all - then start up the new stadium-or-relocation talk.
Andre D. Williams, Allentown Morning Call
The NFL is always full of surprises. It’s also loaded with parity, but if all goes as planned this could be the year of the San Diego Chargers and the Philadelphia Eagles. Barring upsets in the playoffs, they’ll meet in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami.
The Chargers have a super quarterback in Philip Rivers, a future Hall of Fame running back in LaDainian Tomlinson, and Shawne Merriman back to anchor the defense. It’s time for the Chargers to stop choking.
Philadelphia has more offensive talent than in any of Donovan McNabb’s previous 10 seasons, and that includes a wildcat in Michael Vick. And the Eagles defense is still a punishing unit that will do its part to to help make amends for the loss to Arizona in last season’s NFC title game.