Baltimore/Browns at Denver and thoughts about the Mannings

The divisional round of the NFL playoffs, nicknamed the “slots” begin Saturday afternoon in Denver when the Baltimore Ravens visit the Broncos. The Ravens won the lone playoff clash between the teams in a wild card round game in 2000. The Ravens then won two road games and the Super Bowl.

Despite what the NFL deems, I consider the Ravens the descendants of the old Cleveland Browns (for example, in baseball the old Washington Senators became the Minnesota Twins and a new Washington Senators team now the Texas Rangers, began play in Washington D.C. in 1961. The records of the Senators, Walter Johnson for example, are with the Twins.) Without going into the hypocrisy involved in the fact the Ravens are not recognized as the Browns’ descendants, I recall three AFC Title game victories by the Broncos over the Browns, who moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens in 1996. Denver lost the subsequent Super Bowl all three times after beating the Browns for the AFC crown.

Last year Eli Manning won his second Super Bowl with a (9-7) Giants team. Now brother Peyton, (a playoff bust in losses at New England in 2003 and 2004, a home loss as the AFC one seed in 2005 and another home loss as the two seed in 2007) and a well coached, “parts in place” Denver team is the favorite to win the Super Bowl. Surely, if they do, Manning will get a disproportionate amount of the credit. I predict, but admittedly hope not, that Manning will have an excellent post season and may well win a second title on the AFC TV network with Jim Nantz “gushing” about him.

One thought, Archie Manning, a fine quarterback, but ridiculously remembered for more than he was, predicted a low scoring national title game. He was wrong, a loss. He and his sons have it so good and here’s hoping Peyton is denied another title. I should talk, but Peyton have you learned how to plug in your toaster yet?

Peyton, Archie & Eli