Sardina: Giants have Super formula

Watching the New York Giants manhandle the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday night cemented my opinion that they are - by far - the favorite to win another Super Bowl.

I realize they only beat Philly by five points, but they completely controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and they went on the road and beat a division rival, who needed a win in the worst way.

This by no means guarantees the Giants the title, but they won't get complacent, behind coach Tom Coughlin, who suddenly is a genius after being lambasted by fans and media at this point last season.

The Giants realize from last year's experience that peaking in December and January is what will decide their fate. And being the best team doesn't mean they'll hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February. Just ask the New England Patriots.

But it's hard to argue against a team with the league's best rushing offense, an improving quarterback, a good rushing defense and a great pass rush.

It's also very difficult to come up with a team that can beat the Giants in Giants Stadium this postseason.

Sardina: AFC good, bad and ugly

I'm not sure what to make of the American Football Conference this season.

It started ugly with Tom Brady's injury, that gave the rest of the AFC a much better chance to represent the conference in the Super Bowl.

What team will that be? I realize Tennessee is 7-0 and is a very solid football team with a GREAT coach in Jeff Fisher, but until they develop some big playmakers on the outside, their margin for error is minimal.

The Steelers have the defense, a good quarterback and plenty of offensive weapons, but the offensive line is weak.

The Bills have a lot of spunk and an up-and-coming QB in Trent Edwards, but it's a little too early to count on them making a run deep into the playoffs.

The Patriots? Forget it.

The Colts? Only if safety Bob Sanders is completely healthy heading in November and December.

The Chargers? They have a good chance to win the AFC West, despite being 3-5, but they don't look anything like last year's team.

Parity is what the NFL wanted, and thanks to Brady's injury, the AFC is loaded with mediocre teams.

Is that good for the game?

Rays have proved point

At the all-star break, I wrote that the Red Sox and Yankees would make the playoffs and the Rays would wilt under the pressure in September.

 

Wrong!

 

In September, I still figured they didn't have enough to hold off the superpowers.

 

Wrong!

 

The Rays not only won the division, they cruised past the White Sox in four games to advance to the American League Championship Series to face my beloved Boston Red Sox.

 

OK Tampa Bay, you've proved your point. We'll all remember your magical run. Now it's time to go away and let us watch the Red Sox go for their third Series title in five years.

 

Wishful thinking.

Where are the good teams?

Aside from the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, I'm having trouble finding a good AND consistent team in the National Football League.

The Cowboys have the most talent, but in consecutive home games they lost to Washington and had to hang on to beat the winless Bengals.

Those Redskins are interesting. They are physical on both lines and if QB Jason Campbell continues to play mistake-free football, they could become last year's Giants.

The Steelers are good, but quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is taking way too many hits and that doesn't translate into a long playoff run.

The Titans are also unbeaten, but scare noone. They play tough defense and try to win games 17-14. They will make the playoffs, but it's hard seeing them dominating anyone.

Things change fast in the NFL, so I hope we start seeing some of the better teams - San Diego, Philadelphia and Indianapolis - starting to play like it.

Sardina: American Team won't miss Woods until singles

Tiger Woods is the best golfer in the world ... by far. It's not even a discussion.

 

His compatriots, however, will not miss him at this week's Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

 

The Americans have been embarassed by the Europeans the past two Ryder Cups and head into Friday's play without the world's No. 1 player.

 

I think it will be advantageous. Now, instead of looking to Woods to dominate this team competiton as he does individual tournaments, the Americans will have to look in the mirror and take it on themselves to turn the tables on the favored Europeans.

 

I'm still not sure the U.S. has what it takes to beat Europe, but I guarantee a much better performance by the red, white and blue.

Harrington clutch

Padraig Harrington has done things that not even Tiger Woods has. ... coming from behind to win majors.

 

Harrington's play down the stretch in the last two majors has been incredible.

 

And the fact that the players ahead of him weren't folding like lawn chairs - as is often the case when Tiger is near the leaders - makes his performances even more impressive.

 

The thing I want to see is Harrington battling Woods coming down the final few holes next April in Augusta.

 

It's amazing to say, but I'm not positive Woods would win that battle.

 

 

Wouldn't want to be Rodgers

Ask Jay Fiedler or Brian Griese how difficult it can be following an iconic quarterback.

 

Whether it's his fault or not, Aaron Rodgers, the new leader of the Green Bay Packers, will be blamed if the team fails to at least make the second round of the playoffs this season.

 

The defense could be awful, the running game non-existent, but the spotlight will be squarely on Rodgers as fans will compare him to their beloved Brett Favre every step of the way in his first season guiding the Packers.

 

There will be a lot of fans saying 'Brett would've made that play'. After every tough game or loss, the media will compare him to Favre ad nauseum.

 

That's something Rodgers better be prepared for.

 

Aside from Steve Young, there hasn't been a quarterback in the last 20 years to successfully follow a legend. And Young was already an established NFL star.

 

Good luck Aaron, you're going to need it.