Are You Ready for Some Football?!

It’s finally here.  After suffering through an interminably long NBA season and what has been (from my point of view, at least) a disappointing baseball season, the time has come for the NFL to kick off again.

Horse racing may be the sport of kings, but NFL football is the king of sports.  For excitement, for strategy, for athleticism, for variety, for sophistication, for fan passion, and for national attention, nothing else compares.  And it begins again tonight.

Yes, I know that it began some weeks ago with the preseason.  And in years past, I have paid more attention to the preseason.  But this year I found myself uncommonly impatient with the exhibition games.  And so I’m glad now for the real games to begin.

They begin tonight when the Cowboys visit the rival (and defending champion) New York Giants.  It will be interesting to see how the Democratic National Convention, and specifically former President Clinton, fares against the NFL in terms of national ratings.  I suspect the numbers will bear witness to my earlier assertion that nothing compares to the NFL.

\For the Packers, the regular season officially kicks off at 3:15 PM Green Bay time this Sunday afternoon, and it begins with one of the toughest games of the season.  Many are calling it a preview of the NFC Championship Game.  We shall see.  If so, this first game of the season will likely determine where that championship game gets played. 

From very early in the 2011 season, the question was whether the Packers could achieve perfection – an undefeated regular season, culminating with a Super Bowl win.  After going 15-1 with a disappointing first-round playoff loss, I think the new question is this: Were we as good as our record?

Green Bay’s passing attack was epic, to be sure.  But their defense was suspect, and in the end a team with better all-around balance took home the trophy that was meant to be ours.  Now, come Sunday afternoon, we’ll play another team that may also boast a better all-around balance.  I’m glad it’s a home game for us… but then that January game against the Giants was a home game, too.
Don’t get me wrong: I’m very excited and hopeful about the upcoming season.  I’m just really worried about the first game of the season. 

Win or lose, though, I am definitely ready for some football!