Depressed Detroit Welcomes Bowl

Detroit is not proving to be the big crowd puller of other destinations in previous years. Sure, the Super Bowl is biggest US sporting event and it will be as popular as ever - but package deals have to sell the destination too. It's proving harder this year.

Since 1950, Detroit's population has diminished from 1.8 million to less than a million. It has one of the country's highest murder rates and more than a third of its population live at or below the federal poverty line. It's unemployment stands at just under 7%.

Ford has just announced plans to cut at least twenty-five thousand jobs nationally. General Motors announced that it had lost $8.6 billion in 2005.

Still, 100,000 visitors should show up in Detroit next Sunday - so the city has a
chance to show people that it isn't all bad. The city is going to get a significant financial boost. More than $100 million has been invested in businesses, apartments and street improvements. Over fifty businesses have relocated or opened downtown in the last two or three years. People now fill the sidewalks night and day.

The weather is naturally a reason why people aren't killing themselves to get to Detroit this weekend. There aren't really any luxury hotels around, no beaches or warm weather or other outdoor activities.

Based on previous host cities Super Bowl experience, visitors could spend as much as $180 million and the total financial boost could top $300 million. The game is sold out as usual, hotels in the surrounding areas are full, restaurants are overbooked, everyone is expecting a profitable week.

Good luck to them.

Cowher Destined For Victory

The Steelers are back on the big Stage in around ten days time, for the first time since they lost to the Cowboys ten years ago in Super Bowl XXX.

Cowher has done the right things this season and one gets the feeling that the fiery coach will not be denied the elusive Superbowl title with the Steelers.

The management have importantly brought on the young Roesthlisberger - and he has transformed the team. At times the young man reminds you off Tom Brady, with this stature and throwing ability. As Roethlisberger has grown, so has Cowher - and in turn the team - into a formidable unit.

Cowher has simply destroyed his demons, reversing a 1-4 record in AFC Championship Games of yester-year, as his underdog team has ruled the road. It's seven victories in a row now and you get the feeling they have an unstoppable momentum.

Six Of The Worst

Before we charge with untamed enthusiasm towards yet another Super Bowl final - let us spare a quick, if unsympathetic, thought for the six teams that have never made a Super Bowl.

Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals. Seattle was in amongst them too...until this year.

Maybe we can forgive the Saints for going nowhere this season, after what happened to their home town of New Orleans. We should also remember that the Texans are a relatively new team. The Jaguars gave fans some hope this season - but in the end it wasn't to be. As for when the rest will make it the the Bowl? That's anyone's guess.

So let's welcome Seattle to the club and just pray for the rest. Maybe we should start a book on who will be the first of the 'last six' to make the Super Bowl - the only problem is that customers could wait a long time to collect any winnings!

Patriots Finally Fall in AFC Playoff.

The Denver Broncos' Champ Bailey returned an interception one hundered yards to set up a touchdown and the team recovered three fumbles to take a 27-13 win over the New England Patriots.

It was the first post-season loss for Tom Brady, who won his first ten games to set a record for quarterbacks. New England were trying to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls and four in five years. In all honesty most did not expect them to make it this year with the injury problems they had suffered.

Yet to a degree it was Patriot errors and turnovers that cost them - and they really beat themselves.

New England seemed to be about get back in the game at 10-6 down - when Tom Brady threw into the end zone for Troy Brown but was intercepted by Baily who brought it back downfield to the Patriots one yard line. On the next play the Broncos scored a touchdown with to take a 17-6.

Later, Jake Plummer rolled to his right and connected with Smith for a touchdown pass to make it 24-6 under nine minutes remaining.

But Brady was on fire, connecting with Branch on bomb over the middle and David Givens less than a minute later - to haul back some of the deficit.

The Patriots then let it go with a Broncos field goal and another interception and the game ended 27-13.

Playoffs Superbowl

This years Playoff picture has developed and Super Bowl contenders know what they have to do. Below is a quick peek at a few of the issues surrounding the teams:

Have Jacksonville been lucky with their schedule and season's opponents? If Byron Leftwich returns after missing nearly half a dozen games with a fractured ankle, he'll have to be sharp.

Is Washington currently the best team in the NFC? Coach Joe Gibbs takes his team to face Tampa Bay with the longest current winning streak of any playoff team. Can the master craft a memorable Super Bowl win?

Have the Bengals had their confidence knocked by back to back losses for a combined seventy four points? The manner of those defeats was telling.

What is the state of play with Denver's secondary? Denver's last two seasons ended in RCA Dome defeats. To get to the Super Bowl, they could find themselves back there again. Although the Broncos have the second-worst pass defense of any playoff team, they have allowed just 16.1 points a game.

Chicago's offense is no where near as effective as its own defense, the best in the league. If they can put it all together they could surely go all the way.

Tampa Bay has allowed over forty one, which is more than any playoff squad. They will need some better QB protection for the playoff run.

Will the Steelers ride with Jerome Bettis (The Bus) to the bowl? Bettis may no longer be Pittsburgh's preferred runner but he still represents the power rushing game that is Steelers football.

Can the Patriots overcome the loss of Harrison and others? Belichick is still the best coach in the NFL. Tom Brady has passed for an NFL-high 4,110 yards but going against them is the fact that no playoff team has allowed more touchdown passes (twenty-five) than New England.

Can Seattle end their twenty-one year run without a playoff win? With players like Shaun Alexander this is the year to make up a lot of ground and banish the playoff demons of yesterday.

Does Carolina have a good enough rushing game? In Super Bowl XXXVIII two years ago, they had a great rusher in Stephen Davis. This time they have Steve Smith - with Davis injured.

Giants stumbling? The NYG defense has been affected by a sudden crop of injuries at linebacker. One feels that Eli Manning needs to find some consistency if they are to progress.

Will the RCA Dome and homefield advantage help the Colts finally get to the Bowl? Having dispelled their Patriots demons - the Colts should fear no-one. If they end up playing an improving New England again, then at least it wouldn't be in the cold of Gillette Stadium, it will be in an AFC title game...indoors.

On To The Football Playoffs

Week 17 Results:

Indianapolis 17, Arizona 13
Kansas City 37, Cincinnati 3
Pittsburgh 35, Detroit 21
Miami 28, New England 26
Tampa Bay 27, New Orleans 13
Cleveland 20, Baltimore 16
Jacksonville 40, Tennessee 13
Minnesota 34, Chicago 10
Washington 31, Philadelphia 20
St. Louis 20, Dallas 10
N.Y. Jets 30, Buffalo 26
Carolina 44, Atlanta 11
Green Bay 23, Seattle 17
San Francisco 20, Houston 17 (OT)
Denver 23, San Diego 7
N.Y. Giants 30, Oakland 21