Tom King

Question: Does it really feel like Super Bowl Weekend?

Answer: Not really.

Maybe it’s the fact we’ve gone deeper into February than ever with the Super Bowl, which in its humble beginnings was held a month earlier than this. And later it somehow went from being the last Sunday in January to the first Sunday in February.

And now it’s a week later as the NFL got its 17th regular season game and 18th regular season week.

And, since the New England Patriots aren’t in it for the third straight year, it’s not like it’s fresh in everyone’s minds around here. Maybe by 6:20 p.m. on Sunday that will change.

Yes, we get nostalgic, as usual, when the Patriots aren’t in it, thinking back to the personal fun and energetic excitement of covering Super Bowl Week and the game itself. This is the second time since the Patriots won their first Super Bowl to start the Tom Brady Era that they’ve gone three straight years without going to the Super Bowl. The first was the 2008-2010 seasons, in between the losses to the New York Giants, first in Glendale, Ariz.and Indianapolis. Sorry.

We certainly miss the whole Super Bowl atmosphere, while the week is always a lot of work as there are stories from every angle, and media from all over the world.

But COVID has changed it by all accounts – the Rams of course are in the comfort of home, but the Bengals didn’t arrive in sunny, warm Los Angeles until Thursday.

And that’s another thing: We always missed out on the shorts and T-shirt weeks. Minneapolis-Bloomington wasn’t exactly warm and toasty. Atlanta was 38 degrees the day we arrived. Even over the years Houston, Jacksonville and even Phoenix were on the chilly side, but certainly a late January week there is better than one here. No complaints.

The best Super Bowl Week was New England’s second Houston appearance. The food, the atmosphere that week, etc. was spectacular, and, of course, a historic comeback. The most convenient? Indianapolis, everything closely located, even the out and abouts. And… Minnesota. Everything was in the Mall of America; the Patriots media sessions a stone’s throw away from the media workroom. The only thing was it was a mighty chilly walk across the parking lot to the hotel, and once you got back you didn’t dare go out. Brrrr. Just a hunch the NFL won’t go back there for another Super Bowl.

The question is, will the Patriots ever make it back anytime soon? Usually, the Super Bowl involves a team that didn’t make the playoffs or was an early exit the year before. But it’s also pretty clear that the team will need changes in terms of getting younger, faster, and having more playmakers on the roster, instead of non-contributors like N’Keal Harry and Jonnu Smith. One a clear draft bust and the other a free agent bust who will be give the benefit of the doubt for now. But not for long.

Can they get there in the Mac Jones Era? Of course.Jones will get bigger, stronger, more experienced and confident. He may not be Josh Allen, but he’s not Daniel Jones.

As for this Super Bowl, while there’s not a lot of buzz, it is an intriguing matchup. Really, how many thought the Bengals would be here? And after they were down 21-3 to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game?

Clearly second-year QB Joe Burrow is the answer to how it all happened. But against the Rams duo of Aaron Donald and Von Miller, how will he survive with a teflon offensive line in front of him? Of course, we’ve been asking that same question the last month. And he’s still playing.

So is Matt Stafford. He’s got Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham, Jr. But he’s still Matt Stafford. However, he got to this point, didn’t he?

The Rams have star power. They put all their eggs in this game’s basket, and a lot of times that doesn’t work.

However, it may this time. We have to go with the better defense.

Rams, 27-20.

Too bad the Patriots aren’t playing, but happy Super Bowl Weekend anyway.

Even if it doesn’t feel like it.

TWO WEEKS AGO: 1-1

PLAYOFFS: 8-4

REGULAR SEASON: 80-48

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on Twitter (@Telegraph_TomK).