Bet the Super Bowl Online

First things first, the Detroit Lions are 50/1 to win the Super Bowl. The only team with a worse chance (according to Las Vegas) is the Arizona Cardinals. (Super Bowl Odds are from the our best online sportsbook)

Simply put, if you thing the Lions will win the Super Bowl, you should bet them now! 50/1 means you can bet $100 on the Lions, and if they win, you would win $5,000. That’s a great payday.

The Detroit Lions are one of the most venerable members of the National Football League having originally been formed way back in 1929. However, despite their rich history they have not enjoyed a sustained run at success over their time in the NFL. Still they are a team that is well respected and today enjoys a substantial fan base.

The History of the Detroit Lions

The team was founded in 1929 as the Portsmouth Spartans, a team that drew players from the semi-professional ranks. Although not initially a member of the NFL, it did play teams from that league and enjoyed some success against them. The city of Portsmouth built a new stadium for their Spartans and the team joined the NFL in 1930. They managed to earn a mediocre 5-6-3 record in their first season.

One of the most interesting successes Portsmouth had was in 1932 against the Green Bay Packers where they only played 11 players with no substitutions. The Spartans defeated the Packers 19 to 0 on that day. That was the same year that Portsmouth played in their first NFL playoff game against the Chicago Bears to the indoor confines of Chicago Stadium because of blizzard conditions. The Spartans lost 9 to 0 that day and the following year the Eastern and Western Conferences of the NFL was formed.

The Great Depression hit the city of Portsmouth hard and they team was moved to Detroit and renamed the Lions in 1934 as a nod to the Detroit Tigers. The Lions made history in 1935 by playing in their first Thanksgiving Day game which is a tradition that continues to this day. 1935 was also the year that Detroit won its first NFL Championship defeating the New York Giants 26 to 7.

However, that was the high point for the Lions as the next 15 years saw them struggling to win games. The only notable achievement was in 1943 when the Lions and Giants played to a 0 to 0 tie, the last time an NFL game ended in a scoreless tie.

The 1950s saw Detroit enjoy its greatest success in the NFL thanks in large part to its legendary quarterback Bobby Layne who led the Lions to its first NFL Championship Game in 1952 and defeated the vaunted Cleveland Browns under legendary coach Paul Brown 17 to 7. The Lions managed to repeat the following year against the Browns 17 to 16 thanks to a late touchdown pass from Layne to Jim Doran. However, in 1954 the Cleveland Browns got their revenge and beat the Lions badly 56 to 10 to deny the Lions a third consecutive championship.

In 1957, the Lions managed to get back into the NFC Championship Game again despite Layne being injured and out of the contest. This time, the Lions managed to rout Cleveland 59 to 14 and bring home their third NFC Championship in just six years, a remarkable achievement.

However, that would be the last successful run by the Lions as of this date. Since that time, the Lions have only won a single playoff game and have yet to manage even threaten a championship run. The legend says that this was because following their last Championship win in 1957 the Lions traded Layne who had been injured to Pittsburg. According to the legend, Layne cursed the Lions and stated that they would not win another championship for fifty years. While the curse was never confirmed to have actually happened, what is true is that the Lions have yet to win in well over 50 years an NFL Championship.

By the 1960s, the Lions were still potent, but they could not seem to catch a break as they won the first “Playoff Bowl” which was a temporary experiment between the runners-up of each conference which did not advance the team in the playoff system. This experiment stayed in place until 1970 when the AFL officially merged with the NFL.

Perhaps the most noted achievement of this time was not the Lions themselves, but instead how they served as part of the literary backdrop of George Plimpton who spent some time in the Lions’ training camp pretending to be a player and writing about the experienced for his book “Paper Lion” which was eventually made into a film.

By the 1970s, the Lions continued their struggles despite going 10 – 4 in 1970, only to lose to the Dallas Cowboys. Tragedy struck on October 24^th, 1971 when their wide receiver Chuck Hughes actually died on the field because of a massive heart attack, the only player in NFL history to die in such a manner. The Lions continued to struggle throughout the 70’s and into the 1980s despite acquiring some talented players along the way.

In 1980, the Lions drafted Oklahoma running back Billy Sims who led them to some success, but they could never make the playoffs and struggled to put together winning seasons. However, their fortune changed in 1989 when they drafted Oklahoma State running back Barry Sanders. His incredible abilities combined with his humble nature helped give the Lions hope even as they struggled on the field.

However, by 1991 they had managed to up their game and went 12 – 4 over that season, only to lose Mike Utley, an offensive guard to a paralyzing injury. Still, the managed to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 38 to 6 in their first playoff game only to get smashed by the Washington Redskins 41 to 10 in the NFC Championship Game.

With Barry Sanders on their team, the Lions continued to make the playoffs over the course of the 1990s, but they never could win another post-season game. While Barry Sanders managed to rush for an amazing 2,053 yards in 1997, he retired from the Lions at the end of the decade which led to a downward spiral for the team.

Today, the Lions seem ready to return as in 2014 they have made the playoffs yet again. Whether they can sustain success is another matter, but this storied franchise certainly has a rich history in the city of Detroit.

The storied history of the Arizona Cardinals is one that encompasses more than a century in American sports. A charter member of the NFL when it was formed in 1920, the Cardinal organization was actually founded back in 1898, making it the oldest recognized professional sports organization in the United States that is continuously run outside of baseball.

Currently, the Cardinals are members of the NFC West Division of the National Football League. However, despite their very long history they have not enjoyed a great deal of success over the years and the franchise has moved from their original location in Chicago to St. Louis and now to Tempe, Arizona where they are currently located. The Cardinals are certainly one of the most interesting franchises in the NFL and over the years has certainly created a great deal of history for themselves.

The History of the Cardinals Franchise

Before becoming charter members of the NFL in 1920, the Cardinals were part of a vibrant football circuit that existed in the Chicago area. The Cardinals left that circuit to become members of the American Professional Football Association which became the National Football League in 1922. Along with the Green Bay Packers, they are the only organization to still exist from that original timeframe.

The Cardinals were rather pivotal in the inaugural season of the NFL as their victory over the Decatur Staleys (who later became the Chicago Bears) allowed the Akron Pros to win first championship by playing the Staleys to a tie where the tie-breaker was their overall records. In the first few years of the struggling NFL, the Cardinals were at the center of many interesting contests where they set one of the most curious records that still exists today. In a game against Racine on November 25^th, 1923, the Cardinals scored exactly 4 points which makes them the only team to score that exact amount in the history of the NFL.

In 1925, the Cardinals won their first NFL Championship under unusual circumstances as they won by winning percentage instead of in an actual championship match. This was because the NFL at the time had no set schedules or playoff system in place. After completing what would be the final game of the season the Cardinals found themselves in second place. So, the managed to schedule a couple of games against recognized opponents and thumped each one to the point where they had managed to overtake the first place team. Although highly controversial, it was not against the open-ended rules of the NFL at the time.

Perhaps a far more notable achievement of the Chicago Cardinals was the fact that they actually hosted African American players, including Duke Slater, one of the most outstanding lineman of his era. The Cardinals kept Slater on the roster even during times when the NFL was adopting rules which greatly limited the participation of African Americans. Slater played 99 games and was named All-Pro for six seasons.

Unfortunately, the Cardinals saw little success on the field after winning the 1925 NFL Championship. Over the course of the next 20 years, the Cardinals only had two winning seasons and had 10 losing seasons in a row that lasted until 1945. However, the end of World War II signaled a change in the Cardinal organization as they managed to turn things around. The NFL had standardized their schedule for 12 games in 1947 when the Cardinals enjoyed their best season ever. They went 9- 3 and beat Philadelphia 28 to 21 for their first and only NFL Championship. The following season the Cardinals managed to go 11 – 1 and participated in the first NFL Championship Game to be televised. However, they lost to their rivals, the Eagle 7 to 0 in a heavy snowstorm.

The 1950s were a terrible time for the Cardinals as their record plummeted and attendance dropped as more people went to Soldier Field and Chicago Bears games. With only 33 wins in ten seasons, the Cardinals were in danger of being totally forgotten when after undergoing a great financial struggle managed to move the team to St. Louis in 1960.

From 1960 to 1987, the Cardinals played in St. Louis with mediocre results, enjoying a few winning seasons and some success, but for the most part not making the post season. It took 14 years before the Cardinals became truly competitive under the auspices of Don Coryell who engineered his team to win the NFC East, but through a quirk in the schedule had to go on the road and lost to the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the playoffs, the first playoff game the Cardinals were in since 1948. The Cardinals won the NFC East the following season, but lost to the Rams in the first round of the playoffs. That was the only notable success for the Cardinals in their stay in St. Louis. By 1998, the franchise had moved to Tempe, Arizona.

The Cardinals struggled in their first decade in Tempe, but by the end of the 1990s the team had shown some life with Jake Plummer as the quarterback winning some close games and managing in 1998 to beat the Cowboys in their first post-season victory since 1947, a stretch of 51 years.

However, that brief moment of success burned out the following season and the Cardinals slumped back into their losing ways for another decade until they won the NFC West Division in 2008 and their first home post-season game since 1948. However, it was not until the following year that the Cardinals won their second post-season contest since 1947 and then won two more playoff games to reach Super Bowl XLIII against the Pittsburg Steelers, only to lose in an exciting 27 to 23 contest. Still, the Cardinals manage to win more post-season games in that one year than all of their previous years in the NFL combined.

Today, the Cardinal franchise is still strong in the Tempe area and has a devoted fan base. In 2014, the Cardinals managed to secure another post-season playoff game despite undergoing numerous injuries which provides hope to the Cardinal faithful that a Super Bowl victory is within their grasp at some point.

Cardinals Super Bowl Odds

The Cardinals are a lot shot to win the Super Bowl. Their current odds in Las Vegas are 75-1. If you like Arizona to win the Super Bowl, you should bet on them now as their odds will only increase if they win this weekend. Good Luck!

Texans at Titans: The NFL schedule makers have a wacky sense of humor. How else do you explain the next six weeks in the lives of the Houston Texans? They start a three-game road trip this week. Then, after hosting the Bills, they go on another two-game road trip. Their journeys will include flights from Jacksonville to New York, Houston to New York, and New York to Oakland. Yes, that’s two trips to the Big Apple; Gary Kubiak will be able to catch both Hairspray and A Chorus Line, if he is so inclined (he’s probably not).

The Texans haven’t won on the road since Dec. 2004, so the double road trip will hardly be a vacation. Not that the Texans have scared anyone at Reliant Stadium, either. “Teams act like it’s homecoming when they come in here, and we’ve got to change that kind of thinking,” said Texans defensive end N.D. Kalu. Despite Kalu’s warning, the Titans have no intention of scuttling the floats or canceling the Sadie Hawkins dance.

The Texans are one of the few teams in the league that the Titans can look down upon. Two weeks ago, Jeff Fisher celebrated his team’s upset of the Redskins as if Marty McFly had traveled back to Super Bowl XXXIV and pushed Kevin Dyson two yards into the end zone. Now his team is hoping to win back-to-back games for the first time since 2003. “Now we have some confidence, knowing we can play with anyone in the league,” linebacker Keith Bulluck said. “Whether it’s a top team or a bottom team, we are coming out to play the rest of the year.’’ That’s great, Keith, but what were you doing in September?

Inveterate gambles might be interested in knowing that the Texans are 4-1 against the spread in their last five meetings with Tennessee, and that they are getting three points. Of course, you can also avoid the middle man and just set your money on fire.

Jets at Browns: During the Browns’ bye week, Romeo Crennel vowed to work with embattled offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon and fix the problems in the Browns offense. The results: seven points, 10 first downs, and a 1-of-11 performance on third downs. “Once Romeo Crennel decided against enacting any serious change during the bye week, it was obvious the behind-the-scenes attention he turned on game-planning and play-calling would amount to mortician’s work,” Bud Shaw wrote in the Cleveland Plain Dealer one day before Carthon got his pink slip. New coordinator Maurice Chevalier is planning major changes. “Oooh la la, ze offense, she is tres moche! Tank heaven for leetle quarterbacks,” Chevalier said.

(Actually, Jeff Davidson will act as the Browns offensive coordinator. Chevalier remains dead.)

Maybe Carthon should have taken some advice from Eric Mangini, a more successful offshoot of the Parcells/Belichick coaching tree. Mangini, eager to embrace new technology, encourages players to download game film into their MP3 players. After all, nothing suggests serious film analysis like a two-inch wide screen. Say, is that Kellen Winslow II or a ketchup smear?

We smell upset this week. But it’s only because we heard a rumor that Chad Pennington deleted all of his footage of the Browns blitz packages so he could download two episodes of Family Guy and the latest My Chemical Romance album.

Jaguars at Eagles: Andy Reid called a special Monday practice to make his team watch film of their last two losses, a 30-minute gag reel filled with facemask-grabbing, 12th-man blitzing, flag-kicking, and public vomiting. Apparently, Johnny Knoxville was called in to edit the footage. “No one’s blowing a head gasket or getting out of control right now,” Darren Howard said after the film session. Apparently, Howard hasn’t spoken to an Eagles fan recently. The Jaguars can match the Eagles play-for-bonehead play: injuries, fumbles, and dropped passes all contributed to an embarrassing loss to the Texans. “We just need to walk out of this Texas stadium and delete this,” Reggie Williams said on Sunday. The loser of this game may be deleted from the playoff picture. The Eagles won’t let that happen at home.

Niners at Bears: The Bears are heavy favorites, and they are facing a team that shouldn’t be able to stay on the field against them. When have we seen this before? Oh yeah, last Monday night. ‘’I’m not too happy with the way we played, but the character we exhibited, that’s something to be documented. That’s the character of a champion,’’ special teams ace Brandon Ayanbadejo said of the Bears’ recent only-against-the-Cardinals comeback. Lovie Smith was more skeptical. “I hope that’s the case. But we have a long way to go.” This week, the Bears will turn the ball over seven times but win on a blocked kick and three fourth-and-one stands. Quentin Tarantino is writing Mike Nolan’s postgame speech.

Buccaneers at Giants: Just once before he retires, we want to see Tiki deke Ronde. Or Ronde thump Tiki muy grande. Or, see both of them flash their power rings at halftime as Ronde takes the shape of a pterodactyl and Tiki takes the form of a refreshing spring mist. In fact, anything the Barber twins do on the football field is cool. But no more credit card commercials, please.

Steelers at Raiders: Randy Moss gave Art Shell a game ball after the Raiders won their first game since last November against the Cardinals. Moss then promised Shell that he would go 18 whole minutes on his radio show without criticizing the coaching staff, which explains why Moss was playing In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida. Ben Roethlisberger’s status was up in the air at presstime. The Raiders’ status wasn’t: they still stink.

Cowboys at Panthers: Welcome to the dawn of the Tony Romo era, otherwise known as the “Anyone but Bledsoe Era.” Romo has spent four years in Dallas and is good enough to win games given the available firepower. The question is whether said firepower will accept him as their leader. The Cowboys start a three-game road trip against a Panthers team a lot like them: a would-be contender long on offensive weaponry but incapable of building any early-season momentum. Take the Cowboys and the points this week, but look for them to descend into bickering over the next few weeks. And steer clear of Bledsoe: he’s a little snippy these days.

Cardinals at Packers: Early odds on whom Brett Favre carries around on his shoulders after the Packers beat what’s left of the Cardinals: Donald Driver: 2-1. Ahman Green: 3-1. Denny Green (”I know who you are! Now let me off the $%^# hook!”) 10-1. Peter King: 15-1. Paul Hornung with his pants around his ankles: 2,000-1. Actually, if the presstime rumors are true, Green will be off the hook by the time you read this.

Ravens at Saints: Steve McNair missed some practices early in the week, but he is expected to play on Sunday. Brian Billick is taking over for scapegoat — err, departed offensive coordinator — Jim Fassel as the team’s play caller, but he didn’t make many changes over the bye week. “You can only get so much done. You can’t be unrealistic,” Billick said. “We are not going to come out and start running the wishbone … it’s just not going to happen.” That’s a shame, because Ravens fans are really wishing for some offense. After the Ravens score just 13 points this week, Billick will start firing ticket takers.

Do the following statements sound familiar to you?

“Hey, barkeep, can you put the Jaguars-Texans game on this television? While you are at it, put Patriots-Bills on that one, Panthers-Bengals on that one, NASCAR on the one by the window, and HGTV on the one over the jukebox so my girlfriend can watch her scrapbooking program.”

If you or someone you love often asks bartenders to customize his football viewing experience, that person may be suffering from OCSD: Obsessive Compulsive Satellite Disorder. Such individuals cannot distinguish between a public tavern and their own living rooms, and they are incapable of realizing that bartenders have more important things to do than fiddle with remote controls (like, for example, pouring beverages for thirsty sportswriters).

There are a variety of treatments for OCSD. Patients can learn the Satellite Serenity Prayer: “Grant me the serenity to watch the games I cannot change, the courage to change the games I can (like fourth quarter blowouts), and the wisdom to not ask a bunch of guys in black biker gear to turn off a Raiders game.” Tavern owners can help by pre-labeling each television with the game it will show, and by training servers to “just say no” to OSCD sufferers with unreasonable demands.

But an OCSD sufferer’s buddies are his first line of support. Friends don’t let friends incur channel-changing related beatdowns. On a Sunday like this one, filled with interesting games, it’s important to limit OCSD behavior. Find a good seat where you can watch multiple games. Pick a bar that has 300 televisions. Or just buy your own satellite and stay the heck home. You can make a difference.

Games you will watch
Rams at Chargers: Forgive St. Louis sports fans if they have been a little too distracted by the exploits of Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen to pay much attention to their football team. But the Rams gained ground by standing still during their bye week. Not only did the Seahawks lose on Sunday, but they lost Matt Hasselbeck for a few weeks. The Cardinals sunk even further into oblivion, eliminating some of the divisional competition. The Rams proved that they could take the Seahawks to the wall two weeks ago, and their Week 10 rematch could have playoff implications.

The playoff talk is built upon the assumption that the Rams can at least split with their AFC West opponents over the next two weeks. That’s a tall order. By the time they host the Chiefs, Trent Green could be back under center. And this week they face the success-allergic Chargers. Just when we’re ready to crown them as the best team in the AFC, Marty Schottenheimer’s troops find a new and creative way to lose.

The Chargers will play without several key members of their front seven this week. Shawne Merriman will play while his suspension is appealed, but fellow linebacker Shaun Phillips is out with a calf injury. Defensive end Igor Olshansky just had knee surgery and is out for a few weeks. Steve Foley, of course, is lost for the season. The Chargers had depth along the front seven at the start of the year, but they are really testing their depth. If they cannot mount a pass rush, Torry Holt and company will parboil their secondary, especially if players like safety Marlon McCree continue the “tackling optional” policy they introduced in Kansas City.

But all of the talk about the Chargers defense ignores how good their offense has become. The Chargers rank fourth in the league in offensive DVOA and third in points scored. A few turnovers marred an otherwise solid performance last week, but the Chargers have just five giveaways on the season and usually take care of the ball. The Chargers will be able to pile up points against an average Rams defense. They may be overvalued as 10-point favorites, but they’ll prevail.

Colts at Broncos: Regular Rundown readers are familiar with the phenomenon we call AFC Rock Paper Scissors. The Patriots always beat the Colts. The Broncos always beat the Patriots. And the Colts always beat the Broncos. It’s such an easy little trend that it’s tempting to skip the actual game analysis and just wait to see who plays whom in the postseason. But since the Colts are traveling to Denver and New England the next two weeks, straining the limits of the RPS theory, we had better take a closer look at the matchups.

Last week we wrote that the Colts’ run defense was a critical weakness, so a run-oriented team like the Broncos (or the Redskins) should theoretically have an advantage against them. But we oversimplified a bit: the undersized Colts have a hard time stopping power runs up the middle, but they are effective when opponents attack the perimeter. On outside runs, ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis can shed blocks and disrupt plays while the linebackers attack downhill. The Broncos, a stretch-running team, will learn what the Redskins discovered last week: if you keep trying to attack the edge, the Colts will dump your running back for some losses.

Tatum Bell will play a key role against the Colts.

Take away Tatum Bell and the running game, and the Broncos have no way to move the ball. Jake Plummer’s problems this season have been well documented, but it’s not like Plummer is missing lots of wide-open receivers as they streak down the field. Rod Smith appears to have turned 36 all at once. Javon Walker is still getting his feet wet. Tight ends? What tight ends? The Broncos miss all of those “fringe” players who were dumped in the off-season: Mike Anderson, Ashley Lelie, and even Jeb Putzier. The defense has been tremendous, but this is their biggest test of the year. They won’t hold the Colts to a single-digit score, and the Broncos will once again be held to 17 or fewer points on offense.

The Broncos typically have an ace up their sleeve in late October: Old Man Winter often plays his exhibition games in Denver. Unfortunately for the Broncos, Mr. Winter is hanging out with his peer group (Marv Levy and Ralph Wilson) in Buffalo: forecasts call for Sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s in Denver all weekend. The injury report is a wash: the Colts will miss defenders Montae Reagor and Mike Doss, but the Broncos offense will be even weaker without left tackle Matt Lepsis.

The RPS theory prevails this week, which is a mixed blessing for Colts fans who see the dreaded Patriots on the horizon (yes, we know, the Colts won last year). Oh, and Steelers fans shouldn’t feel left out: they can play the RPS game, too. Steelers beat everybody. Including themselves.

Falcons at Bengals: The men’s magazine GQ is about to publish its list of the 16 “coolest” sports heroes ever, and Michael Vick makes the list, along with Joe Namath, Willie Mays, John McEnroe, and Magic Johnson. Apparently, the criterion included awesome threads and a rep as a cell phone-shuffling ladies man. Championship rings were optional, at least in Vick’s case.

If the GQ spread was Vick’s greatest accomplishment of the week, then this game would be buried among the Nutshells. But Vick had his best game ever as a passer last week, and not a moment too soon. Two weeks ago, Falcons coordinators Greg Knapp and Ed Donatell almost pulled a Buddy Ryan vs. Kevin Gilbride, owner Arthur Blank called a Jim Mora-less coaches meeting, and the dirty little secret that Knapp is frustrated with Vick’s slow development became dirty little common knowledge.

The unpredictable Falcons face the equally unpredictable Bengals, whose high-powered offense, slowed by injuries along the line, has scored just 53 points in three games. Despite the slow start, there’s no friction between coordinator Bob Bratkowski and the team’s offensive stars. “Bratkowski — I love you! Thank you! That was a great call,” Chad Johnson said after Bratkowski ordered a bomb to Johnson to set up a game-winning score.

Keep talking like that, Chad, and GQ will make you one of the coolest athletes of the millennium. Actually, they are probably scared off by the orange hair. No pick in this game: these two teams have burnt us in the past few weeks, so we’re waiting until we see more.

Games you should watch
Seahawks at Chiefs: With Matt Hasselbeck injured, Seneca Wallace is now the Seahawks quarterback. Wallace left college as a “slash” player in the mold of Antwaan Randle El or the Jets’ Brad Smith, but a funny thing happened on his way to the slot: the former Iowa State star stuck as a quarterback. He has thrown 52 passes in his four-year career, 27 of them in mop up duty, 25 of them last week. He’s fast and creative with the ball, but he’s also vertically challenged: Wallace measures 5? 11? using the wishful thinking ruler, and he weighs as much as Walter Jones’ average meal.

With Matt Hasselbeck shelved, Seneca Wallace takes over.

Wallace’s job is to prevent a catastrophe and maybe win a few games while Hasselbeck heals. Even if Wallace plays well in Kansas City, the Seahawks will have a hard time escaping with a win. Their offense has suffered all of the injuries, but their defense has also been a disappointment. Opponents have noticed that the Seahawks bite on every misdirection play that a coach can dream up, and the Chiefs have a playbook full of screens, counters, and reverses. Larry Johnson, who is still picking little bits of Marlon McCree out of his facemask, should enjoy his second straight big game against a team that has forgotten its tackling fundamentals.

Trent Green might be back in a week or two, just in time for a stretch that includes the Dolphins and Raiders. Don’t write the Chiefs off just yet. Nor the Seahawks, for that matter: even with guys named “Seneca” and “Maurice” starting, they can finish 10-6 in an easy division.

Patriots at Vikings: The Vikings unveiled a tricky Mewelde Moore-to-Jermaine Wiggins halfback pass for a touchdown last week, just hours after the Chargers surprised the Chiefs with a LaDainian Tomlinson-to-Brandon Manumaleuna touchdown throw. Bill Belichick saw the plays and now has a case of genius envy. He spent much of the week down in the lab with his offensive assistants concocting a Laurence Maroney to Mike Vrabel shovel pass, to be followed by a Matt Cassell drop kick.

The Vikings’ crafty offense was showcased in all of the highlight reels, but their defense has spurred their surprising 4-2 start. Kevin Williams and the front four provide a solid pass rush, and E.J. Henderson has finally developed into a fine all-purpose linebacker. The Vikings give up too many passing yards, but they have a knack for scoring points with their defense. “That’s pretty much been the mentality around here: that we’re trying to put up points,” cornerback Antoine Winfield said after Williams scored the Vikings’ fourth defensive touchdown of the season.

The problem with defensive touchdowns is that you cannot rely on them. The Patriots have turned the ball over just six times all year, so the Vikings cannot count on their defense to do much of the scoring. They also cannot count on the Patriots to rely solely on their rushing attack. Tom Brady finally figured out who Doug Gabriel, Reche Caldwell, and Chad Jackson were against Buffalo, completing nine passes to his trio of new receivers, including two touchdown throws. “All the guys are working hard,” Brady said. “Everyone is part of the passing game.”

If the Patriots have repaired their biggest offensive problem, then the rest of the AFC is in trouble. So are the Vikings, who aren’t good enough to ring up back-to-back upsets just yet.

Barriers tumbled like dominoes last season for the Seattle Seahawks. They set franchise records for regular-season wins (13) and consecutive victories (11), won in the postseason for the first time in 21 years and played in their first Super Bowl.

And yet when the Seahawks reflect on the 2005 campaign, it usually comes with a wince. The 21-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl left a void that still hurts some seven months later.

“I don’t know that I’ll ever totally be over it,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck told reporters at the Seahawks’ training camp. “I lost a state championship game my senior year in high school, and I still get mad, angry, very angry thinking about it. I feel very similar about what happened last year. I guess you just got to move on.”

Added linebacker Lofa Tatupu: “I’m still not over it, man. You never forget something like that. You still have those negative thoughts on how close you came, but you try not to dwell on it.”

Perhaps the Seahawks took the defeat so hard because opportunities had fizzled in the past for them, too. Just two years ago, for example, they were the trendy choice to win the NFC. But they went 9-7, and the Rams shoved them out of the playoffs in the first round.

Seattle’s frustration extends back to 1985, when, after going 12-2 without star running back Curt Warner (knee injury), the Seahawks were expected to steamroll the NFC with a healthy Warner. They wound up 8-8.

So, the sting of a Super Bowl defeat understandably might be a bit more piercing in Seattle. But now, as the new season approaches, it’s time for the grieving to end, coach Mike Holmgren instructed.

Recently, Holmgren gathered his staff and watched the tape of the loss to the Steelers one last time. “We still think about it,” he said, “but it’s done.”

The Seahawks have too many challenges in the present to continue dwelling on the past, Holmgren added. First of all, the NFC West appears to be tougher, with the Rams, Cardinals and 49ers all expecting improvement.

Also, Seattle must overcome some key offseason losses via free agency, including Steve Hutchinson, one of the NFL’s premier guards. Wide receiver Joe Jurevicius and free safety Marquand Manuel won’t be easily replaced, either.

New Seahawks include Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson, although his past Achilles’ tendon problems are a concern, and wide receiver Nate Burleson, who could soothe the Jurevicius departure.

Most important, the key cogs in the offense that led the NFL in scoring last year remain: Hasselbeck, running back Shaun Alexander and left tackle Walter Jones. Alexander, whose 1,880 rushing yards led the league and whose 28 touchdowns were an NFL record, flirted with free agency before signing an eight-year, $62 million deal to remain in Seattle. He’s the reigning league MVP.

Defensively, the Seahawks jumped from near the bottom of the league in ‘04 to the middle in ‘05, 16th in yards allowed. While no one was confusing the Seahawks with the Monsters of the Midway, that upgrade was enough of a complement to the offense to push Seattle to the top of the NFC.

That unit remains mostly intact, headed by Tatupu, a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie, and tackle Rocky Bernard, who collected 8½ sacks last year.

No doubt, the Seahawks are strong enough to roll through the NFC again. Then again, most teams coming off Super Bowl seasons have similar expectations. In recent years, those expectations have gone flat.

Not only have the last five Super Bowl losers failed to reach the playoffs in the subsequent season, none even posted a .500 or better record: Philadelphia, 6-10 in 2005; Carolina, 7-9 in ‘04; Oakland, 4-12 in ‘03; the Rams, 7-9 in ‘02; and the New York Giants, 7-9 in ‘01.

For the most part, injuries and age caught up with those teams. Still, some insist it’s some kind of jinx.

“I think the jinx is just storytelling,” fullback Mack Strong said. “Reporters write about it, fans get excited about it, and it kind of takes on a life of its own. I don’t put any stock in it. All that matters is what we do as players.”

But Hasselbeck cautioned that the Seahawks are in a dangerous spot.

“We’re set up to fail that way right now,” he said. “We’re set up to think we’re better, or just the same team, that played last year. We’re not. It’s a different team, and we’ve got to work our tails off every week, every game.”

In full knowledge of the iffiness of any team getting to a Super Bowl, and duly noting that the Miami Dolphins haven’t won one in 33 years and haven’t been to one in 22 years, I’m taking the Dolphins to take it all. Some of Nick Saban must have rubbed off on me. He is positivism personified, and no less about this team. Don Shula, who did the only great coaching deeds that have been done for the Dolphins, is impressed, too: “I think Nick has got it all on track.’’

1. MIAMI DOLPHINS
Even with the NFL chockablock with fine coaches, there aren’t many detailists as fine as Nick Saban. If he talks in circles, it’s only because he considers what’s happening around him his own business, not the world’s. Not necessarily a great public relations move, but why would Saban care? He gets paid to win, not to make friends. Granted, QB with Daunte Culpepper could be problematic – ligament often equals predicament. You hardly ever make a Super Bowl without a top quarterback, and even though Culpepper is fine when he’s ready, we won’t know till September, and then maybe only week to week. But then we’re all week to week, sort of. Otherwise, Saban’s building process has been sound, and the “secret’’ weapon Saban brought was Hudson Houck, one of the best offensive line coaches anywhere . . . ever.

2. NEW YORK GIANTS
Sure, the old boy could stand some charm-schooling, but he can give lessons in waking up new or dormant franchises. At Jacksonville, Tom Coughlin set winning records for new teams. Old timers will recall Coughlin was an assistant coach on the Giants’ Super Bowl champions of 16 years ago. And last year, he prodded the Giants to the postseason in just his second season. Jeff Hostetler quarterbacked those ‘90 Giants. Not to oversell Eli Manning on his family’s achievements, but he should be around a long time. One way he could improve is for his run-blockers to become pass-blockers as well. That doesn’t absolve Manning – he lapsed into some bad habits and threw some bad passes. Says here he’s coming back strong.

3. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
At first it looked like Peyton Manning just picked up the pedigree from Archie, and was passing it along to Eli. Now it’s more like Peyton started the whole bloodline. This guy is all thoroughbred, still only 30 and maybe another 10 years in front of him if he can keep that terrific motivation, and the loss of Edgerrin James doesn’t tear a gigantic hole in the offense. Of course, it gets tougher every year, but a team that went 14-3 shouldn’t lack motivation. Again, they need a better defense; the Colts were tattooed for 26 and 28 points in two late-season games.

4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Surprise pick this high with Chris Simms stepping up as QB? He can chuck it. Now, if Jon Gruden can straighten out whatever problems there have been with Michael Clayton’s potential on the other end. But far bigger than Clayton is the picture in the offensive line. At top speed, it’s one of the best blocking units around and the biggest reason the Bucs will be right in the middle of an often-underrated NFC South.

5. CAROLINA PANTHERS
Keyshawn Johnson should be winding down a little at age 34, so the same old big-money guy is Steve Smith. I cringe every time someone mentions an “automatic’’ Pro Football Hall of Famer, but if Smith, even at 5-9, isn’t a Canton candidate somewhere around 2015, there isn’t a mountain in North Carolina. By the way, the Panthers made sure underrated boss John Fox will stick. He’s a $5 Million Man through at least ‘10.

6. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
This is a gamble on the Steelers’ superior organization, because Super Bowl kings just don’t keep repeating. This also is a bet on Ben Roethlisberger, who is 27-4 and an awesome team guy. If the Steelers lead by 10 any time, they are a lock to win. That has happened 102 times since Bill Cowher took over in ‘92; the Steelers have won 100 of those times.

7. DENVER BRONCOS
You’re about as safe picking up a Rocky Mountain rattlesnake as messing with Snaky Jake Plummer, who took them to the brink of the AFC championship. Plummer has the offensive line to go the distance. But does he have the receivers? And can Denver’s defense shut people down? Anyway, as long as the Broncos play half the schedule at home, they will be a factor.

8. WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Joe Gibbs only has to continue his upward track since rejoining the Skins in ‘04. He certainly seems to have invested wisely (well, management invested, since there’s no salary cap for coaches) in offensive coordinator Al Saunders and defensive chief Gregg Williams, both enrolled at more than $2 million per year. This is a club to take seriously, especially if runner Clinton Portis and catcher Santana Moss can stay upright.

9. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
“Experts’’ mention the Patriots’ so-called easy schedule – laughable. No NFL team has a schedule that is certifiably easy going in. The Patriots’ talent is being chipped away, but they will be dangerous as long as they have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Hard to figure out exactly what to say about Corey Dillon, who once could be called unstoppable. Running backs do pay dear prices in bodily wear.

10. OAKLAND RAIDERS
Al Davis was smart to recycle coach Art Shell. The Raiders also are recycling sometimes shaky QB Aaron Brooks, about whom I’m not so sure. Then there’s Randy Moss, a coast away from old teammate Daunte Culpepper – a coast too far, Moss probably is saying under his breath.

11. DALLAS COWBOYS
Cowboys fans can hope all they like with Drew Bledsoe and Terrell Owens, but Dallas today is nothing like it was in the days of Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith. Yes, yes, I hear it too, T.O. will be good, T.O. has learned his lessons. But T.O. is still T.O., and I simply can’t imagine he and Bill Parcells successfully coexisting for very long.

12. CINCINNATI BENGALS
Here’s a documentary-in-the-works about the value of putting so much on a QB. Wonder-kid Carlson Palmer comes into his third season off a second in which he flung 20 more touchdown passes than interceptions. Remember, the Bengals, not the Steelers, are defending the AFC North title.

13. CHICAGO BEARS
They do say the city is outraged over a ban on foie gras, the delicacy compounded of duck and goose liver; “they’’ presumably refers to the millions of gourmet diners in this delicate area. I suspect Chicagoans are much more interested in the Bears, who get Rex Grossman back. And how handy is it to play in the division where you get two games apiece against Green Bay, Minnesota and Detroit.

14. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
How did the Seahawks get so far down so fast after playing that close Super Bowl? It’s simply history. The past five years, no Super Bowl loser has made even .500 the next year. There hasn’t been a Super Bowl loser to even win the Super Bowl the next season since, hoo boy, the ‘72 Dolphins who just mowed down everybody. If you think it should be Matt Hasselbeck’s time, join the cheering.

15. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Old Jethead Herman Edwards has defensive problems. His offense is OK, if not spectacular with 36-year-old Trent Green not missing a start since ‘01. It looks as though CB Patrick Surtain will have to carry a lot more of the defense than he ever thought he would when he shipped out of Miami.

16. BALTIMORE RAVENS
Oh, the glories this old burg has known! Now, though, anxiety is the headline, with coach Brian Billick on the griddle partly because of uncertain quarterbacking. Management gave him a scary “vote of confidence’’ amid assumptions that either the Ravens will go to the Super Bowl or Billick will go, period.

17. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Young Jack Del Rio’s Jaguars came to bloom a bit offensively in scoring 30-plus points in half their past eight games. Byron Leftwich has to go injury-free and hit consistently. He doesn’t move around all that niftily even in the best of health.

18. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
So which guy do we believe? Terrell Owens, who kept talking about how tired Donovan McNabb got out there? Or McNabb, as usual the picture of confidence? The home of the cheesesteak sandwich has been toast lately, and things will get hotter unless the search for a true No. 1 RB turns up results. Another recent Super Bowl loser going sour.

19. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
This is something I’ve been waiting for – Philip Rivers’ chance to start. Rivers has a splendid touch, not to mention a fine fella to keep things going in LaDainian Tomlinson. And check out what most of the world is missing: One of these days Marty Schottenheimer is going to bring it all home.

20. ST. LOUIS RAMS
The Rams are putting a lot of weight on Torry Holt, Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson to carry the offense for new coach Scott Linehan. One thing to remember about the Rams – teams don’t change coaches (as they did going from Mike Martz to Linehan) unless there’s a problem.

21. GREEN BAY PACKERS
Brett Favre will be the story as long as he’s there. He’s closing in on 38, only about four years younger than new coach Mike McCarthy. But when you look over at the Bears as favorites to win the AFC North, well, Favre is 11-1 at Soldier Field.

22. NEW YORK JETS
Issue here is QB, QB, QB. Chad Pennington has started only 25 of 48 games since he actually led NFL passers four seasons ago. Hard to believe they just missed making a run at the AFC championship as recently as ‘04.

23. BUFFALO BILLS
Dick Jauron is an appealing coach who hasn’t gotten it done yet. Willis McGahee is pretty much the running package if he can last. And the Bills don’t have a trustworthy QB.

24. ATLANTA FALCONS
Michael Vick? Great eye appeal, but an overall plus? Falcons bank on John Abraham to bring punch to a soggy defense. This division used to be easy. No more.
25. CLEVELAND BROWNS
After a bunch of front-office jockeying and a blow-up between Trent Dilfer and offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon, Dilfer is outta there and Charlie Frye starts at QB. Sad case: The Browns are 15-33 since reaching the ‘02 postseason.

26. ARIZONA CARDINALS
Not one of nine coaches since Don Coryell in ‘77 has left with a winning record, and Dennis Green is 11-21 and up against it.

27. DETROIT LIONS
Doesn’t seem fair that so many awful things happen in Detroit. How could you do that to a team like this, anyway, Barry? Or did you do it just because this is a team like this?

28. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Brad Johnson, soon-to-be 38 and once of FSU, can throw if they give him enough receivers to make up for the hole Randy Moss and Nate Burleson left following their departures the past two years.

29. HOUSTON TEXANS
Maybe they played it smart in drafting Mario Williams over Reggie Bush, but I thought the Texans needed more help on the other side of the ball.

30. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Were we ever so eager to say something nice about a team? Maybe different circumstances will mean different results.

31. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Mike Nolan is cleaning house, and hard-luck Frank Gore is a buster, faster than anybody ever seems to think.

32. TENNESSEE TITANS
Titans play four times on the road in their first six games, and some of those opposing defenses – San Diego’s, Miami’s and Washington’s – look extremely punishing.

Good Luck!

Pro bowl beckons Bears fans will not have to wait for Monday night’s game at Arizona to start choosing their favorites for the Pro Bowl. Balloting for the Pro Bowl begins Monday on nfl.com. The fan voting counts one-third in the process with players and coaches also getting their say. It was the player and coach votes that helped out some Bears last season when six were chosen for the game, the most for the franchise since six were selected in 1991.

Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and center Olin Kreutz have been chosen to five Pro Bowls, and both should extend that this season if they stay healthy.

Also selected last season were defensive tackle Tommie Harris, linebacker Lance Briggs, cornerback Nathan Vasher and strong safety Mike Brown, all chosen for their first time. Harris, Briggs and Vasher were the only ones who played (injuries sidelined the others).

The franchise record for Pro Bowl players is nine following the victory in Super Bowl XX.

1985 Flashback

Ditka praises Niners With the Bears unbeaten in five games and bracing for an Oct. 13 date at defending Super Bowl champion San Francisco, coach Mike Ditka heaped the requisite respect on the 49ers (3-2), saying, ‘’They’re still the best team in football.’’

Ditka cautioned against unrealistically high expectations.

‘’We’re approaching to where the 49ers were a year or two ago when they were making their move,’’ Ditka said. ‘’But I don’t think you are champion until you are. Period. And they are. They wear the crown, the mantle of success.’’

Halliburton lawsuit lists Super Bowl party
A lawsuit filed in Washington claims U.S. taxpayers funded a big screen TV and snacks that Halliburton Co. sent to Iraq for the 2005 Super Bowl.The lawsuit filed by a former Halliburton employee also alleged the Houston-based company defrauded the government by double- and triple-billing for Internet, food and athletic services provided for U.S. soldiers, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

Halliburton officials said the actions by KBR, its division responsible for the military mess halls in Iraq, were misinterpreted. The company said all of its Super Bowl activities were covered under recreation and troop morale boosting clauses in its contract.

The suit, the latest salvo involving Halliburton`s contentious multibillion-dollar services contract, was filed under the False Claims Act, designed to prevent war profiteering by allowing citizens to sue on behalf of the government and recover a portion of damages.

Halliburton was run by Vice President Dick Cheney from 1995-2000.

Janet Jackson repeats Super Bowl antics
As if flashing the 2004 Super Bowl halftime audience weren’t enough, singer Janet Jackson has appeared bare-breasted in her latest music video.Jackson, whose infamous “wardrobe malfunction” while performing with Justin Timberlake during Super Bowl XXVIII two ago led to Federal Communications Commission fines, bared her breasts in her video for the single “So Excited,” TZM.com said Monday.

Why did she do it?

Jackson told Giant magazine that one of her famous brothers used to tease her as a child, saying “he thought my butt was too big,” TZM.com said.

For four quarters, they slugged it out.The defending Super Bowl champs and the team that plays in that city that hosted the Super Bowl . . . once.

It was a game of big hits, not big plays . . . save for Reggie Williams’ career-long 48-yard fourth-quarter reception.

And after the Jacksonville Jaguars came away with a 9-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers on “Monday Night Football,” it’s a safe bet they’re on the national radar now.

“That’s exactly what we wanted to do,” Jacksonville defensive tackle Marcus Stroud said. “We wanted to go out and show the entire nation that hey, we’ve got good football down here.”

It was the lowest-scoring game in “Monday Night Football” history, edging out Oakland’s 9-3 win against Denver in 1980. It was also just the fifth time a defending Super Bowl champion has been shut out — the first time since the 1981 Oakland Raiders.

Josh Scobee’s field goals from 31, 32 and 42 yards proved to be the difference maker for the Jaguars, who now boast two nationally-televised wins over a pair of teams — Pittsburgh and the Dallas Cowboys — that own 10 Super Bowl titles between them.

However, there is no question which performance was more impressive.

Jacksonville held the Steelers to just 153 yards of total offense, including just 26 on the ground. That’s the lowest rushing total by a Pittsburgh team since Bill Cowher took over as head coach in 1992.

It was also the Jaguars’ first shutout since Dec. 7, 2003, when they beat Houston 27-0.

Pittsburgh, coming off a victory last week against Miami, had starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back for the first time since he underwent an emergency appendectomy 15 days earlier.

And through three quarters, the Jaguars held the defending Super Bowl champions to just 91 yards of total offense. Pittsburgh ran only three plays in Jacksonville’s territory and never crossed the Jaguars 45-yard line.

“That’s the best,” defensive tackle John Henderson said. “That’s how you want your defense to come out every Sunday, every Monday, every Thursday — whichever day it is.

“You want to come out and just give it all you’ve got, every man doing their job.”

Jacksonville only sacked Roethlisberger twice, but the Jaguars hit him so often the Steelers quarterback appeared to be flinching on some throws, expecting to take another shot on every throw. Roethlisberger completed 17 of 32 throws for just 141 yards. He was intercepted twice by Jacksonville cornerback Rashean Mathis.

Pittsburgh running back Willie Parker, who rushed for 115 yards on 29 carries against the Dolphins, found no running room against Jacksonville. He finished with 20 yards on 11 attempts.

And while the Steelers are known as big hitters — a fact they backed up Monday night — Jacksonville defenders repeatedly hit Pittsburgh receivers, knocking would-be pass receptions loose.

Was that the best Henderson has seen the Jaguars defense play?

“Man . . . I mean . . . wow, yes sir,” Henderson said with a big toothy grin. “I gotta say yes. We’re going to get many more, but that was the best.”

Jacksonville’s offense may not have found the end zone, but the Jaguars were able to move the ball on Pittsburgh enough so that when they did have to punt, they were able to pin the Steelers deep in their own territory and force Pittsburgh to go on a long drive.

Running back Fred Taylor, who has always played well against the Steelers, didn’t disappoint Monday night. He gained 92 yards on 22 carries, while quarterback Byron Leftwich completed 26 of 39 passes for 260 yards.

Leftwich’s biggest pass of the night came on third-and-6 from the Pittsburgh 32-yard line, when he hit wide receiver Matt Jones along the left sideline for a 13-yard gain.

The play not only gave the Jaguars a first down, but it made Scobee’s eventual 31-yard field goal try much shorter.

Another third-down pass in the fourth quarter — this one on third-and-5 from Jacksonville’s own 13-yard line — went for 10 yards to tight end George Wrightster.

It was on that same drive that Williams would later make his big play, with help from running back Maurice Jones-Drew — who picked up blitzing safety Troy Polamalu — and wide receiver Matt Jones, who delivered a block on Steelers cornerback Deshea Townsend that sprung Williams for the big gain to the Pittsburgh 15.

Scobee finished the drive with a 32-yard field goal with 6 minutes, 15 seconds remaining.

Williams, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2004 draft, had been labeled a bust in Jacksonville following two unproductive seasons.

However, after catching a career-best six passes against Dallas — including the second touchdown reception of his career — Williams had another big night against the Steelers. He caught eight passes for 98 yards.

And with the Steelers trying to mount a late drive, Mathis got inside of Pittsburgh receiver Santonio Holmes for an interception with 4:53 remaining that set Jacksonville up at the Pittsburgh 29-yard line.

Scobee then put the Steelers in a big hole with a 42-yard field goal that made it a two-score game.

Another Mathis interception was returned to the Pittsburgh 2-yard line with less than two minutes remaining, but rather than try to punch it in and risk a turnover, Leftwich kneeled three times to run the clock out.

Jacksonville (2-0), which has thrived on playing the underdog role, will likely be in the same situation next week against the Indianapolis Colts (2-0). But if they can get that one, the Jaguars won’t be able to play that card anymore.

Not that they would really mind.

The only thing they really had a problem with Monday night was that they wouldn’t be able to savor it very long. Coach Jack Del Rio has a 24-hour rule for his team to think about any game — win or lose — and then there’s Peyton Manning to get ready for.

“It’s too bad you only have 24 hours,” safety Donovin Darius said. “And it’s too bad it’s 12 o’clock right now. You’ve got to go home and you’re supposed to go to sleep. I won’t go to sleep until 5 in the morning.”

After Week 2 of the NFL games, the latest odds to win the 2007 Super Bowl have now been released with some big movements from earlier released odds.

The Indianapolis Colts remain the favorite to win the 2007 Super Bowl at 5 to 1 odds followed closely by the New England Patriots at 6 to 1 odds.

Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals have leapfrogged out of double digit numbers with odds of winning the 2007 Super Bowl set at 8 to 1.

Carolina Panthers go in the opposite direction with odds of 16 to 1 from single digits previously as do the Dallas Cowboys with odds now set at 14 to 1.

How about those Baltimore Ravens? You can still get this team at double digit odds to win the 2007 Super Bowl. VIP.com has the Ravens at 15 to 1 odds.

Chicago is another hot team you might want to jump on now with odds at 10 to 1 to win the 2007 Super Bowl. You can bet $100 to win $1000 if the Bears go all the way.

The Miami Dolphins were now listed with odds of 50 to 1 to become Super Bowl champions in 2007. With a 0-2 start (including a near shut out at home vs. the Buffalo Bills), the Dolphins were previously listed among the top 10 teams with the best odds of winning.

Seattle Seahawks odds were at 13 to 2. San Diego Chargers had odds of 12 to 1. Minnesota had odds of 25 to 1 after an impressive 2-0 start verses two solid teams. New Orleans with its 2-0 start on the road had 75 to 1 odds of winning the 2007 Super Bowl. Atlanta had odds of 25 to 1. Buffalo was looking good early on with odds of 75 to 1 of winning the 2007 Super Bowl.

Following Monday Night’s game, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars odds to win the 2007 Super Bowl were not updated. Jacksonville’s odds were expected to still have great value.

You can find all these future bets on which teams will win the 2015 Super Bowl at right here!

The Dallas Cowboys 2007 Super Bowl odds continue to get worse following the reported suicide attempt of controversial receiver Terrell Owens.

According to reports, Owens tried to kill himself by overdosing on pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened, according to a police report obtained Wednesday.

The report said TO was asked by rescue workers if he was attempting to harm himself or others, at which time he stated, “Hell Yes”.

The Dallas police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend “that he was depressed.” Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV. Police scheduled a news conference for later Wednesday morning. A spokesperson for Owens denied he had tried to
commit suicide, instead claiming that the NFL star had mixed pain killers with other supplements by accident.

In response to the news, bookmaker BetUS.com gave the Cowboys longer odds of winning a 2007 Super Bowl championship, now listing them with odds of 20-1.

Odds of Dallas winning a Super Bowl title were previously listed with near single digits.

What others think when it comes to the Steelers successfully defending their Super Bowl XL championship

“Parity? It’s overrated. In 2006, the Steelers stand out among the few teams that have discovered the necessary elements to remain elite in the salary-cap era. And they’ll prove their mettle again — with the first ring for the other hand.”

– The Sporting News

“Pittsburgh looks every bit as loaded as the 2004 team that went 15-1 before losing in the AFC title game to the Patriots, and the ‘05 squad, which became the first No. 6 seed to win it all.”

– Sports Illustrated

Addendum: Despite the seeming rave review, SI still doesn’t pick the Steelers to repeat. Instead, it predicts they will lose to eventual Super Bowl champion Miami in the first round of the playoffs.

“When analyzing the Steelers by position, there are not many areas of concern, but now the Steelers are the hunted and face a brutal schedule. Repeating will not be easy.”

– espn.com

“Now in his third season, [Ben] Roethlisberger is poised to have his welcome-to-the-elite-level season. That’s why the Steelers are not only the choice to win the division, but also to push for consecutive Super Bowl rings.”

– cbssportsline.com

“The AFC is too talented for the Steelers to stay on top, even with Roethlisberger.”

– Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

CHICAGO BEARS ODDS SLASHED FOR SUPER BOWL

Chicago are fast emerging as a genuine championship contender after maintaining their unbeaten start to the season with a 37-6 thrashing of Seattle Seahawks.

It was the Bears who were the headline selection of this website before week 1 when they were recommended at a massive 25/1.

Those odds have now disappeared with 7/1 the going rate. Seattle are still thought to be in the mix at 15/2, although Shaun Alexander can’t return quick enough from his broken foot.

The Bears defence were in dominating form to shutdown the Seahawks’ attack, limiting running back Maurice Morris to just 35 yards, sacking quarterback Matt Hasselbeck five times and grabbing two interceptions, one leading to a Daniel Manning touchdown in the second quarter. And all this after Hasselbeck had thrown five TD passes last Sunday against New York Giants.

The Bears led 13-3 midway through the second term courtesy of a Mushin Muhammad touchdown and two field goals from Robbie Gould before Manning’s 10-yard interception return gave the home team a dominant 19-3 lead. Thomas Jones rushed for two short touchdowns to further sink the Seahawks as the Bears emerged as the front runners in the NFC. Seattle haven’t been totally dismissed in the betting with one firm making them third most likely to win Super Bowl.

Infact the three readaBet.com ante-post Super Bowl selections are 1-2-3 in the betting. With Buffalo, Arizona (a), bye, San Francisco and Miami next up for the Bears, it is not impossible they could overtake the Colts in the betting by the midpoint of the season. The Colts have a tricky period coming up with Washington, Denver and New England, the latter two games road trips.

Baltimore are worth keeping a close eye on as they kept their winning-start going after a come-from-behind victory. Steve McNair threw a 10-yard touchdown pass for Todd Heap in the last minute of the game to give the Ravens a late 16-13 win over the San Diego Chargers. Baltimore are as short as 10/1 for Super Bowl.