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If the St. Louis Rams beat the New England Patriots Sunday in Super Bowl XXXVI, will they be considered a dynasty? A victory over the Patriots and Kurt Warner's Rams will likely be hearing dynasty talk. That's big stuff. But when you consider the Rams will have won two Super Bowls in three seasons, having the best record in the NFC in two of those seasons, and also went to the playoffs the other year, dynasty isn't that far-fetched.
"It's tough to say whether you can be a dynasty, in this day and age with free agency," said Rams quarterback Kurt Warner. "But I think we're in great position. We have a lot of core guys who have been signed for a while and can stay together." There is actually some thinking that had the Rams not fumbled a punt late in their playoff loss to the Saints last season, they would be going for three Super Bowl victories in a row. The Rams had rallied from a big deficit to cut the lead to three but Az-Zahir Hakim fumbled a punt to end any chance of a repeat for the Rams. As it is, the Rams are not trying for a "three-peat" but instead will be trying to win the first Super Bowl for coach Mike Martz. He took over for Dick Vermeil last season after Vermeil led the Rams to the Super Bowl in 1999. Martz inherited a team loaded with offensive talent, and he has helped transform the defense into one of the top 10 units in the league. He hired new coordinator Lovie Smith and let him take control. "Everyone knows that we didn't advance further into the playoffs because of our defense," said defensive end Grant Wistrom. "We were 31st in the league in points allowed. We had one of the best offenses in the league, but we were pathetic on defense." The improvement on defense makes the Rams the most balanced team to play in the Super Bowl in years, which is why they are 14-point favorites over the Patriots at the Superdome on Sunday. The Patriots are being given little chance to win as they are the third-biggest underdog in Super Bowl history. But remember, the New York Jets beat the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III as nearly 20-point underdogs. "Being called an underdog is for the fans and everybody else," said Patriots coach Bill Belichick. "What's really important is what our team thinks and what our players think. I think our team thinks it can play with whatever team we need to play with." Belichick's elaborate defensive schemes will give the Patriots a chance to at least slow the St. Louis offense. But they simply do not have the overall defensive speed to keep up with the Rams for an entire game. Some of the New England players admitted this week that they were amazed at how fast the St. Louis receivers were when they played them the first time (a 24-17 Rams victory). Guess what? They'll be even faster this time. On the artificial turf of the Superdome, those receivers and running back Marshall Faulk will look even quicker. That means the Patriots offense will have to try and keep up. Can it? No. Which means the Rams are going to get that second ring in three years. Let the dynasty talk begin. Matchup to watch: The St. Louis receivers form the best trio in the league, but the Patriots have a group of corners that have the ability to play those receivers in man coverage. Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce and Az-Zahir Hakim give Rams quarterback Kurt Warner a group of receivers who can get deep, but also have the ability to create problems after the catch. They will force Patriots cornerbacks Otis Smith, Ty Law and Terrell Buckley to have big games. They have to make sure they don't get hit by the big play, but also must tackle on the shorter routes. The winner of this battle will likely be the winner of the game. Mismatch of the game: The Rams had a solid game last week on special teams against the Eagles, but that has been a major area of concern all season long. Their return units have not made big plays, and the coverage teams have struggled. New England has had outstanding special-teams play and scored two touchdowns that way last week in the AFC Championship Game upset over the Steelers. Troy Brown is one of the best punt-returners in the league, returning one for a score last week. He has to be contained by the Rams' outside gunners, who must be able to get off the jams at the line of scrimmage. If Brown can get a couple of big returns, it could be a major boost to the Patriots' chances of pulling off another upset. Key player: To beat the Rams, you have to be able to score points. That will put a lot of pressure on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Starting a Super Bowl can be an awe-inspiring thing, but for a young quarterback it can be even worse, especially since his ankle is hurting. When the other team can score points in a hurry, that can make it even tougher. Brady has to be able to make plays in the passing game, but he also has to do it without forcing the ball. If the Rams get turnovers, this game could get ugly quickly. Brady will start although he has to know that if he struggles, Drew Bledsoe will be ready for a relief role. That can't be good from a confidence standpoint. Surprise player who could have impact: In the cover-two schemes used by Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, the middle of the field is the vulnerable area. That's usually where a top-notch, pass-catching tight end can become a big factor. The Patriots don't have one, though. What they do have is a serviceable player in Jermaine Wiggins, who has come alive in the playoffs. He has the tools to make plays in the middle of the field, although he'll never be confused with Tony Gonzalez. If St. Louis sticks to their normal coverage, Wiggins may be able to catch five passes and help open things up outside for the receivers. Analysis: The line says that the Patriots have no shot to win this game. But Bill Belichick is too good a defensive coach to let it get out of hand. He will find some way to keep the Rams offense in check -- at least by St. Louis standards. The Patriots, though, will have to find a way to score points. That will put a lot of pressure on an offense that isn't built to score points quickly. New England will have to get the running game going, but to do that they will have to challenge the Rams vertically. On defense, the Patriots will likely put their focus on stopping Marshall Faulk. That would make the Rams one-dimensional, something New England was able to do in the first game when Faulk did not play. Warner threw for over 400 yards that day. Can he do it again? Probably not, but he'll get chances down the field. It's up to the Patriots to limit the number of big plays he gets. New England won't win this game, but they will keep it close for three quarters. Prediction: St. Louis 31, New England 21. • Privacy Policy • Copyright • Contact • Webmaster • Advertise • ©2001 Diamond Gloves Boxing. All Rights Reserved www.DiamondGloves.com™ |
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