Otherwise known as the FACO bowl. This is the first final featuring two founding fathers of the league. They have both arrived at this epic clash in differing styles. Since I am doing little at work today, I'm going to try to spice up this preview with some links.
Ironically, if you were to make an analogy matching the two with countries' politics, it's Kevin who would be China while Bill would be the USA. Bill has been more wheeling and dealing, while Kevin has relatively been conservative with his transaction button. Bill has sought the limelight with splashy trades while Kevin tries his best to avoid drawing attention to his team until after the fact. Bill's victories so far have not been of the subtle kind, they were loud exclamations of power in 100-point outbursts. Kevin has been more deadly in terms of wins, but most his wins seemed to be quietly cold efficient killings. Bill is George S. Patton. Kevin is Sun Tzu. So while you may think it's a final between two Caucasian powers, I think one of them has been doing it the Asian way this season. And it's not the person who knows how to speak Chinese.
QB:
No question Drew Brees is superior to Matt Schaub over a season. And this week, he gets to host the terrible Tampa defense. The Saints also will need to win to clinch the home field advantage, and will go all out since Minnesota is playing later Monday. In Kevin's favor, Schaub is facing a Dolphins pass defense that made Vince Young look like a pro-bowl QB last week, flashy INT notwithstanding. Edge: Bill (Moderate)
RB:
This is where Kevin shines, but efficiency questions could be a problem for his #2 RB spot. Chris Johnson will represent, but Kevin will have to choose between LDT and Jamaal Charles. Will Kevin attempt to further Bill's playoff bad karma by starting LDT or ride the hot hand of the next Priest Holmes? Bill is set with MJD and Ray Rice. It doesn't matter as much that they are facing pretty good run defenses on the road, since both of them are threats to catch the ball as well. Edge: Kevin (Minor)
WR:
Bill's lack of depth hurts him in this department. With the Colts clinching home field and Reggie Wayne a bit hurt, they may rest him since they have depth at WR. Bill has a shallow WR bench. Kevin has 3 pro-bowl caliber WRs on his roster. Again, Kevin will have a choice to make between OchoCinco and Sims-Walker. Both have been inconsistent lately, so it's a tough call that could mean the difference. Maybe Kevin shouldn't start the guy who likes Michael Buble since Kevin thinks cooking blogs aren't manly enough.... But then again: Rookie corners. check. Playing in front of your homies at the U. check. Your team having little running threat due to injuries. check. Yeah, I see Andre Johnson having a monster game against the Dolphins. (So are you going to be happy for Kevin when AJ busts a 60 yard TD, PJ?) Edge: Kevin (Moderate)
TE:
Bill's Tony Gonzalez has Matt Ryan back to throw the ball to him. Plus, he's playing a mediocre, though somewhat warming-up, Bills defense. While this is a nice automatic start for Bill, Gonzalez does have some distractions about his home. Kevin inexplicably started Shiancock instead of Witten. While it's true that Witten didn't perform much better, Witten will face the imploding-on-top-of-an-existing-implosion Deadskins on Monday night. Edge: Bill (minor)
K:
Bill's Hartley may be kicking more XPs than FGs, while Kevin's Kaeding faces a relatively tough Titans defense so he may be getting more FG attempts than Hartley. Edge: Kevin (minor)
DST:
Green Bay hosting Seahawks vs. Giants hosting Panthers. I think that on paper, this favors Bill since the Seahawks have sucked outside the west coast while who knows which version of the Panthers offense will show up. This would be a good time to see which free agent Defenses are out there. Let's see...nope nothing good out there. So this is going to be in Bill's favor. Edge: Bill (Moderate)
Intangibles:
Kevin has always performed better facing his fellow Caucasians, and I think he won his two championships while facing another Caucasian team. Kevin will show up to the fight. We all know the sad story of Bill's Buffalo-like history in FADUCO, but this year may be different. He's not relying heavily on a single team compared to previous Bill playoff teams. The law of averages should catch up at some point to have the top points scorer win the championship as well. And I'm sure Bill is desperately trying to outlaw any hint of pre-championship celebration in the Cosgrove household. I think Bill will appease the fantasy gods this year. Bill over Kevin 85 - 78.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Ironically, if you were to make an analogy matching the two with countries' politics, it's Kevin who would be China while Bill would be the USA. Bill has been more wheeling and dealing, while Kevin has relatively been conservative with his transaction button. Bill has sought the limelight with splashy trades while Kevin tries his best to avoid drawing attention to his team until after the fact. Bill's victories so far have not been of the subtle kind, they were loud exclamations of power in 100-point outbursts. Kevin has been more deadly in terms of wins, but most his wins seemed to be quietly cold efficient killings. Bill is George S. Patton. Kevin is Sun Tzu. So while you may think it's a final between two Caucasian powers, I think one of them has been doing it the Asian way this season. And it's not the person who knows how to speak Chinese.
QB:
No question Drew Brees is superior to Matt Schaub over a season. And this week, he gets to host the terrible Tampa defense. The Saints also will need to win to clinch the home field advantage, and will go all out since Minnesota is playing later Monday. In Kevin's favor, Schaub is facing a Dolphins pass defense that made Vince Young look like a pro-bowl QB last week, flashy INT notwithstanding. Edge: Bill (Moderate)
RB:
This is where Kevin shines, but efficiency questions could be a problem for his #2 RB spot. Chris Johnson will represent, but Kevin will have to choose between LDT and Jamaal Charles. Will Kevin attempt to further Bill's playoff bad karma by starting LDT or ride the hot hand of the next Priest Holmes? Bill is set with MJD and Ray Rice. It doesn't matter as much that they are facing pretty good run defenses on the road, since both of them are threats to catch the ball as well. Edge: Kevin (Minor)
WR:
Bill's lack of depth hurts him in this department. With the Colts clinching home field and Reggie Wayne a bit hurt, they may rest him since they have depth at WR. Bill has a shallow WR bench. Kevin has 3 pro-bowl caliber WRs on his roster. Again, Kevin will have a choice to make between OchoCinco and Sims-Walker. Both have been inconsistent lately, so it's a tough call that could mean the difference. Maybe Kevin shouldn't start the guy who likes Michael Buble since Kevin thinks cooking blogs aren't manly enough.... But then again: Rookie corners. check. Playing in front of your homies at the U. check. Your team having little running threat due to injuries. check. Yeah, I see Andre Johnson having a monster game against the Dolphins. (So are you going to be happy for Kevin when AJ busts a 60 yard TD, PJ?) Edge: Kevin (Moderate)
TE:
Bill's Tony Gonzalez has Matt Ryan back to throw the ball to him. Plus, he's playing a mediocre, though somewhat warming-up, Bills defense. While this is a nice automatic start for Bill, Gonzalez does have some distractions about his home. Kevin inexplicably started Shiancock instead of Witten. While it's true that Witten didn't perform much better, Witten will face the imploding-on-top-of-an-existing-implosion Deadskins on Monday night. Edge: Bill (minor)
K:
Bill's Hartley may be kicking more XPs than FGs, while Kevin's Kaeding faces a relatively tough Titans defense so he may be getting more FG attempts than Hartley. Edge: Kevin (minor)
DST:
Green Bay hosting Seahawks vs. Giants hosting Panthers. I think that on paper, this favors Bill since the Seahawks have sucked outside the west coast while who knows which version of the Panthers offense will show up. This would be a good time to see which free agent Defenses are out there. Let's see...nope nothing good out there. So this is going to be in Bill's favor. Edge: Bill (Moderate)
Intangibles:
Kevin has always performed better facing his fellow Caucasians, and I think he won his two championships while facing another Caucasian team. Kevin will show up to the fight. We all know the sad story of Bill's Buffalo-like history in FADUCO, but this year may be different. He's not relying heavily on a single team compared to previous Bill playoff teams. The law of averages should catch up at some point to have the top points scorer win the championship as well. And I'm sure Bill is desperately trying to outlaw any hint of pre-championship celebration in the Cosgrove household. I think Bill will appease the fantasy gods this year. Bill over Kevin 85 - 78.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Comments
thanks as allways for your writeup on the blog throughout the year. I really enjoy your blog.
Through a combination of business needs, flight pricing and lack of focus on my part, I will be in route to China on Sunday. My 14 hour flight leaves Sunday at 11:00 AM. This means that I'm not going to have any idea whether I won or not till around 3:30AM Monday morniing (EST). There won't be any celebration becuase I will be in China.
Good luck to Kevin, I admire the way he has built his teams over the years and think that his team is deeper and better managed than mine. I rely more on a few stars than he does and don't have as many future talent as he does.
Bill