If you've heard anything at all about the new football season, you've heard about the "Manning Bowl," the epic battle of two brothers being carried out on the football field on the first big Sunday night game of the season. Why is this so important? It's the "perfect storm" of football -- the biggest game of the biggest week with a long-awaited match-up of two of its biggest stars. It's big, big, big.
Here's what you need to know to keep up:
The Sunday match-up: While pro footballers sometimes play during the week, the Sunday games are the big ones, and the big Sunday night match-up on national TV, now broadcast by NBC, is the biggest of the big.
The season opener: The thing to remember about football (and really any sport) is that it's all about anticipation and disappointment. At the beginning of the 16 week season, fans are full of hope that this year their team can make it to the Big Game-the Super Bowl, and so they expend a lot of energy talking about the possibilities.
The Manning Match: Sunday night, September 10, could be the most anticipated football matchup of the entire season. For the past few weeks, everyone has been talking about the “Manning Bowl." Peyton Manning, who is the quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts and arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the league (even though he hasn’t won a Super Bowl yet, something his critics like to point out), will face his younger brother, Eli Manning. Eli is in his second year as quarterback for the New York Giants and is five years younger than Peyton. While Eli's on the field with his 10 teammates -- on what's called the "offense" for those who are catching up on their basic football terms -- trying to score, Peyton will be on the sidelines as his team's defense tries to hold them off. Then they'll alternate, leaving all the drama to the commentators.
The Family Fans: Even if you don't know much about football, the human drama unfolding on the field will catch your attention. Will dad Archie Manning, who was also a famous football player, root for one son over the other? Will he remain neutral?
If you were their dad, what would you do? Anyone else have any other good sibling rivalry stories? I would love to hear them.
What about their mother? She is probably going on a vacation in Siberia until after the game.
Go Peyton!
It will defenitly be an exciting game nonetheless... " GO COLTS"
What a great idea...and how well written. Thanks for all of the insight on this game. I'll definitely tune in now. Hope you expand to other sports.
If Sibling Rivalry wasn't bad enough!
And, they are both Quarterbacks, what a studley family!!! Can't wait to get their Dad's reaction on TV.
This is a great recap! Thank you Betsy!!!! Keep it up!!!
My favorite NFL "sibling rivalry" moment was when Tiki and Ronde Barber's teams were playing each other and they interviewed the boys' mom, asking "who are you rooting for tonight?" Her answer: "My son."
This Sunday's going to be a throwdown in our family too (but on a different scale since, um, I'm not a huge football star): My sister lives in Indy and is a Colts fan, I live in NY and I'm a Giants fan...RUMBLE! Can't wait!
I can't stand Eli Manning....I'm cheering for Peyton the whole way. I'm sure its a bit rough on the family but they are the Mannings. I think they eat, sleep and dream football all the time and will come through just fine. Love the commercial on ESPN where they are touring the facilities.
I know the game has already happened and it was a good game, don't get me wrong...but there was way to much hype!!! Would they do the same thing if the Hasselback brothers were playing against each other???
does anyone know peyton manning's favorite food?
HELLO!! Someone should check and comment on who won the SUPER BOWL last year!! GO PEYTON!!