Sunday, February 03, 2002
Patriots seek to disrupt dynasty
Champs in '99, Rams go for 2
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NEW ORLEANS — More than a few times this week, the D-word has been mentioned in relation to the St.Louis Rams.
That's D, as in dynasty.
A victory tonight in Super Bowl XXXVI over New England would give the Rams their second championship in three years. And with the core of the NFL's best team contractually bound for the next couple of years, there could be more titles.
The only thing really standing in the Rams' way in this Super Bowl is another D-word — the defense of the Patriots.
New England is a 14-point underdog and will stay with the Rams only if coach Bill Belichick devises a defensive scheme that slows down St.Louis' speed-of-sound offense.
“And, the thing about the Rams is, they bring guys off the bench that are as fast or faster than the guys out there, people like (Az-Zahir) Hakim,” Belichick said.
St.Louis quarterback Kurt Warner threw for 4,830 yards this season, second-most in history behind Dan Marino's 5,084 in 1984. Warner has five wide receivers, not to mention running back Marshall Faulk and tight end Ernie Conwell, who are as talented as any starters in the league.
“You couldn't ask for a better situation,” Warner said. “I'm surrounded by talents all over the place, guys who can break a game open any time you get them the ball.”
The Patriots, upset winners over Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game, were effective in taking away the Steelers' top-ranked rush offense. The Patriots have to do the same today and not allow Faulk to run for 100-plus yards.
In the NFC title game, the Rams trailed the Eagles 17-13 at halftime. Faulk rushed 22 times for 75 yards and two touchdowns in the second half — 31 times for 159 yards for the game — and the Rams rallied for the 29-24 victory.
Faulk, who had more than 2,000 yards in total offense for a record fourth-straight season, said he respects the Patriots defense.
“They are an aggressive defense,” he said. “The challenge that we pose to people as an offense, they pose as a defense.”
The Rams and Patriots met in Week 10 at Foxboro, Mass., with the Rams winning 24-17. Warner threw for a season-high 401 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. That was the Patriots' last loss. They've won eight in a row.
Still, New England's secondary has the talent and experience to neutralize the St. Louis pass offense.
“The biggest thing Bill does so well is understanding what your Achilles' heel is,” Rams coach Mike Martz said. “He breaks you down very well. Then he does as good a job as anybody of getting the personnel matchups with his defensive people on your offensive people.”
New England safety Lawyer Milloy is going to his third Pro Bowl. Cornerback Otis Smith led the Patriots with five interceptions.
Offensively, the Patriots will have to maintain ball control with their short passing game. Quarterbacks Tom Brady and Drew Bledsoe helped the Patriots have a two-minute possession advantage last week at Pittsburgh.
Wide receiver Troy Brown is the Patriots' best offensive player and Brady's favorite target. Brady, the second-year quarterback who led the Patriots to a 13-3 record after Bledsoe was injured, will get the start despite spraining his ankle last week.
“I don't think, after watching him the last two days,” Belichick said Friday, “that the ankle is going to be an issue in the game.”
This is the Patriots' third Super Bowl. The previous two also were in New Orleans, and New England lost both, in January 1986 to Chicago and January 1997 to Green Bay.
On the Patriots' side is the unusual one-week preparation period between the title games and the Super Bowl. History suggests the shorter preparation time makes for closer games.
It has happened only five times, because of a variety of scheduling reasons, and the average differential those years was 10.2 points. The closest was Super Bowl XXV in 1991, a 20-19 Giants victory over the Bills.
Super Bowl XXXIV, the Rams' 23-16 victory over the Titans, also was played with just a one-week break.
Thirty Super Bowls have been played with two weeks to prepare, and the average differential was 17.3 points. Ten games had margins of 20 or more points.
Mark Curnutte covers the Bengals for the Enquirer. He can be reached here.
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Patriots seek to disrupt dynasty