Trifle Not With the Football Gods

So I'm watching the NFL's season opener, featuring the defending Superbowl champs against the team they knocked off in the AFC championship game. The rematch was by all accounts an exceptional game, with multiple lead changes and the marquee players doing their thing. The game comes down to the final drive, as the Colts are trying to redeem themselves from last year's loss to the Patriots. As the Colts near the end zone down 27-24 with 40 seconds remaining, their move is clear- go for the TD, and if it's not there, kick the FG and take it into overtime. Well, Peyton Manning (my fantasy football QB) tries for one more play and then makes the egregious error of committing a rookie mistake (yep, MY fantasy QB!) and takes a sack with no time outs left, pushing the ball back another 20 yards. This is not good, but hey, they've still got Mike Vanderjagt, he the owner of a 41 consecutive made FG's streak, and the all time highest kicking % in NFL history. He'll push it through the uprights, and overtime will be on its way. Except...

...Running through my mind is a quote made by one of my favorite football writers, the Tuesday Morning QB Gregg Easterbrook. Since the end of last year, TMQ has said,

You'll rue the day you didn't miss. He will take his record streak of 41 straight field goals into 2004. My advice remains -- Vanderjagt should honk an unimportant kick early to get the streak over with, or by the football gods, is sure to miss a game-winner.

And this is running over and over through my mind, and even though Al Michaels does the typical "He hasn't missed in 41 attempts" covering that normal sports commentator jinx, it is the TMQ's prediction that unsettles me most.

When Vanderjagt finally lines up and boots it, there was no doubt in my mind he would push it wide.

Too freaky.