SPLIT DECISION: WILL YOUTH OR EXPERIENCE PREVAIL IN THE NFL PLAYOFFS?
NFL country for old men
Columnist colleague Jeff Edelstein made some snide remark when we divided Split Decision into his (ahem) youth and my “ancient” existence.
Don’t mind old school. In fact, this Split Decision about who wins the Division playoff games on Sunday, references that famous guitar player Sir Jimi Hendrix and his first studio album entitled “Are You Experienced?”
That’s a major no for Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff and another uh-uh for Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City signal caller who has locked down the National Football League MVP Award.
Goff faces Drew Brees, 40, of top-seed New Orleans in the Mercedes Benz Superdome while Mahomes hosts old-man Tom Brady, 41, of New England Patriots. Goff is like 16 years old and Mahomes may not have been kissed as of last Sunday when his Chiefs defeated the Indianapolis Colts. (Goff is 24 and Mahomes 23 but you get the picture).
Seriously, Super Bowl LIII will be reserved for old cats Brees and Brady as nostalgia offers a last chance for glory. Yes, both will continue to play, perhaps impressively but the February meeting serves as the last hurrah for Brady and Brees. Old age will eventually overtake these guys or some nagging injury knocks them on their butts.
Ben Roethlisberger at just 23 years old did win Super Bowl XL when Pittsburgh defeated the Seahawks, 21-10 in 2005. Big Ben put up ugly numbers with just 9 of 23 pass completions for 123 yards and two interceptions.
Goff will not handle the Superdome noise decibels that power the Saints while one factor could offer hope for the No. 1 Chiefs. What can make a 41-year-old man like Brady feel really old? Extremely wrong if you answered a 18-year-old girlfriend. Actually, it’s cold weather.
Forecasts predict a high of only 15 degrees and a low of 8 degrees on Sunday, when the Patriots meet the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game at 6:40 p.m. EST.
If Chiefs can get a few good licks on Brady, take him to hard turf, then the fearless Patriot could feel the heat while the agile Mahomes will move better.
The prediction here sides with New Orleans winning 38-31 while Brady & Company hold off Kansas City, 27-24.
No upset feelings here if Chiefs beat Brady as multi-millions will celebrate a Patriots loss.
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@Trentonian. com.