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Check out a sneak preview of Super Bowl XXXVI. Vic Carucci takes a closer look at the matchup between the Rams offense and the Patriots defense. |
Posted on 02/03/2002 2:25:46 PM PST by Dales
NEW ORLEANS -- The St. Louis Rams are the "Greatest Show on Turf" and the New England Patriots have struggled in Super Bowl's in New Orleans.
But that means nothing to the players.
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Check out a sneak preview of Super Bowl XXXVI. Vic Carucci takes a closer look at the matchup between the Rams offense and the Patriots defense. |
"We've been called 'underdog' all year, so it's not something we feed off of anymore," Patriots receiver Troy Brown said. "If we play well, we can beat anybody."
But the "Big Easy" has been anything but for the Patriots, who lost in their previous two Super Bowl appearances here by a combined score of 81-31.
St. Louis finished with the NFL's best record and seeks its second Super Bowl title in three years.
The Rams posted a 24-17 victory at New England on November 18 and dominated statistically, getting 26 first downs to 13 for the Patriots and 482 yards to 230. But St. Louis coach Mike Martz had a premonition after that game.
"I told the guys that night they beat a Super Bowl-caliber team," Martz said. "They were certainly the most physical team we played."
"(Martz) was right," Rams receiver Isaac Bruce said. "They played us well and went on to win eight straight after that. He definitely knew what he was talking about."
The Patriots trailed 10-7 in the second quarter and were marching for the go-ahead touchdown. But Antowain Smith fumbled after being hit by linebacker London Fletcher at the St. Louis 3 and cornerback Aeneas Williams recovered for the Rams.
It was the turning point of the game as Warner directed an eight-play, 97-yard drive that culminated with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Pro Bowl running back Marshall Faulk with 31 seconds left in the half.
"I lost that game against the Rams. I take responsibility for it," Smith said. "I'm happy for the chance to play against them again."
But Patriots coach Bill Belichick cannot be happy to see the Rams again. Known for his intricate defensive game plans with a multitude of blitz schemes, Belichick had difficulty combating St. Louis' explosive attack. Warner completed 30 of 42 passes for a season-high 401 yards and three touchdowns, Faulk accounted for 153 yards and Bruce caught seven passes for 130 yards.
New England intercepted Warner twice, one of which nickel back Terrell Buckley returned 52 yards for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, St. Louis' defense intercepted Tom Brady twice and held the Pats to 10 points. Fletcher starred with 11 tackles, an interception and the pivotal forced fumble.
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| New England QB Tom Brady says he'll be ready to go on Sunday. |
Brady will get the Super Bowl start after proving during the week that his sprained left ankle is healed. If not, the Pats will turn to backup Drew Bledsoe, who suffered a chest injury in Week 2 and lost his starting job to Brady.
A 2000 sixth-round draft pick, Brady led the Patriots to an 11-3 record and the AFC East title and threw for 312 yards in the snow in a divisional playoff win over Oakland.
Bledsoe, who was signed to a 10-year contract last March, finally got a chance to play again when Brady suffered a sprained ankle late in the first half of last week's AFC championship game. And the nine-year veteran showed no signs of rust, passing for a touchdown and committing no turnovers in a 24-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Brady will have to make more than his share of plays to match the Rams on turf, where their speed is accentuated.
Belichick probably will start with five defensive backs to contain receivers Bruce, Torry Holt and Az-Zahir Hakim.
"Definitely the best group of receivers I ever had to defend," Patriots cornerback Ty Law said. "And Kurt Warner is a very accurate quarterback."
And then there's Faulk, the only player in NFL history to gain more than 2,000 yards rushing and receiving in four straight seasons. Faulk and Williams were born and raised in New Orleans and both were vendors at the Superdome.
"I could not have written the script any better," said Williams, who celebrated his 34th birthday Tuesday. "To have this opportunity and to do it in front of your hometown in the Superdome, where I sold popcorn, peanuts and Coke, where I played high school and college games, is great."
Williams spent his first 10 years with lowly Arizona before he was acquired by the Rams last April. Martz paid him the ultimate compliment, saying Williams is as valuable to the defense as Faulk is to the offense.
On Sunday, Williams will match up against Brown, who set a club record with 101 catches. Brown seized the spotlight in the AFC championship game, returning a punt 55 yards for a touchdown, recovering a blocked punt and lateraling it for another score and catching eight passes for 121 yards.
St. Louis' revamped defense also has shined in the postseason, intercepting Brett Favre six times -- three of which were returned for touchdowns -- in a 45-17 rout of Green Bay in the divisional playoff and effectively containing Donovan McNabb in the NFC championship game win over Philadelphia.
Under defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, the Rams changed eight defensive starters and reduced their points allowed from 471 to 273. Fletcher, end Grant Wistrom and cornerback Dexter McCleon are the only defensive starters who remain from the Super Bowl team two years ago.
The Rams are appearing in their third Super Bowl overall, losing after the 1979 season to Pittsburgh and defeating Tennessee.
The Patriots were pounded by the Chicago Bears, 46-10, in Super Bowl XX and lost to Green Bay, 35-21, in Super Bowl XXXI.
Nine Patriots remain from that team, including Bledsoe, Law, Brown, safety Lawyer Milloy, cornerback Otis Smith and kicker Adam Vinatieri.
New Orleans is hosting the Super Bowl for a record ninth time.
The Rams lead the series, 5-3.
Copyright 2002 SportsTicker Enterprises, L.P.
If you want to play that game, how about the Rams being owned by a gun-grabber. And how about Missouri electing that Carnahan widow over John Ashcroft? And what about Richard Gephardt?
Most of the liberals up this way aren't football fans anyhow.
Here, here! We in the Northeast always get the bum rap, and there is plenty of $hit to go around. With that, I will now crash. 4 am isn't far away.
Willie knew he was being fitted for the goat horns for holding Faulk on the called back 95 yard fumble for touchdown that would have sealed the game.
Lawyer Milloy and David Patten's interview with Terry and the boys was hastily wrapped up but not before Lawyer uttered the utterly ridiculous comment that they fought for a cause, and people die for causes. I almost puked when he made the punk gaffe. The only people I know who recently died for causes were brainwashed moon worshippers flying planes into buildings or strapping rat poison soaked nail bombs to their torsos.
Although libertarians claim to be for "local" government, they wouldn't abide by "anti-drug" laws even if they were state or local laws.
Can't trample on "freedom", dontcha know...
Even during the game, I held back. I was hoping that that missed second Rams field goal would be decisive, ---and it was. The call back TD, because of holding, threw me into a tizzy and I spent the last 30 seconds with my fingers over my eyes (with a small hole for peeking) and finally let out a WHOOP when that ball went over with .02 left on the clock!
I then let it all out!!!!!! When the defense was doing so well, I was afraid of jinxing them if I got my hopes up, but finally they won and all the pundits can now eat their words! Never will anyone one take any team for granted again! All those boasters and know-it-alls can go hide their heads. The Patriots won - not by a fluke, but by a fantabulous defense and a special, special team.
So often the Super Bowl is not 'super' -- but this one is for the books. Congrats to the Pats! A great team and a great coach! I had to laugh when Madden didn't agree with Belichick's strategy in that last play before the field goal. Then when it worked, he had the goodness to say: "I agree with Belichick's strategy"! (OWTTE) HeeHee! LOL!
Good game and a happy ending for all the believers!
In the last 5 years, or so, that hasn't been hard to accomplish.
Yep, I don't see anything but a total RAMS victory.
14 posted on 2/3/02 12:45 AM Pacific by 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
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The PATS will be blown out in the first 15 minutes....and then the only think to watch will be the commercials.
18 posted on 2/3/02 6:53 AM Pacific by SkyPilot
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The best thing the 'Patriots' have going for them tomorrow is their name. But, in the wake of 911, we need ALL of the 'patriot' wins we can get - this would be one more, but I am cheering for the Rams, Warner, and Faulk - 'simply the best', IMHO.
21 posted on 2/2/02 8:25 PM Pacific by d14truth
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Sorry, the Rams already have this game won. It's sad that they have to beat a team called the "Patriots".
3 posted on 1/30/02 7:32 PM Pacific by RamsNo1
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Rams by 28. Bledsloe comes in relief but its too late. Games on turf and the Patsies won't be able to key on the run like they did against the Squealers. Rams do have a passing game, you know. Nice sentiment starting Brady but the Pat's fans I know say their only chance in this high scoring contest would be with Bledsloe.
8 posted on 1/30/02 7:50 PM Pacific by mcenedo
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The Greatest Show on Turf will demonstrate why on Sunday...Rams 38...Patriots 17.........
10 posted on 1/30/02 8:15 PM Pacific by X-Servative
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Sorry--but it will be another freakin BLOWOUT! After 8 1/2 hours of hype--the Superbowl game will be all but over in 15 minutes, and the people at the parties will start discussing how the commercials last year were so much better. RAMS 52........................PATS 17
42 posted on 1/28/02 4:26 AM Pacific by SkyPilot
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This will be another in a long line of boring Superbowls. The Pats shot their wads beating the Steelers. When they face the Rams they will be spanked badly by a very superior team. Count on it!
GO RAMS!
59 posted on 1/28/02 5:51 AM Pacific by Walkin Man
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The guys that fumbled the ball, enjoyed a really bad call from the refs, and won vs. the Raiders. The Rams will destroy the Pats by 17.
75 posted on 1/28/02 6:36 AM Pacific by Paulus Invictus
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Classic NFC blowout comin' up.... Rams 48 Pats 10 You Pat fans are riding high on emotion and intangibles, but the matchups are lopsided: QB: Warner vs. Brady: Rams RB: Faulk vs. Smith: Huge Rams advantage WRs: Bruce, Holt, Hakim, ...you get the idea. Plus: Game's in a dome, Pats 0-2 in Supes, inexperienced QB, Favre and McNabb couldn't solve Rams, and so on.
131 posted on 1/28/02 12:39 PM Pacific by Jhensy
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Did the Patriots choose not to have anybody introduced, or did the network bypass it because they were running behind schedule for the national anthem?
Patriots made ALL the 'intangibles' and a couple of turnovers work for them. Got the 'W', and my hat's off to them.
Well put. I've been to Patriot games and the parking lot is always full of pickups and proper flag-waving, beer-drinking, good Americans. You'd think you were in the middle of Nebraska or something. Most liberals wouldn't be caught dead in such a setting.
remember. st. louis elected a dead guy AND kept their urban areas open to try to throw the state to gore in 2000.
who are the real losers?
I will eat a little 'humble pie', but hardly the bold absolute that would require 'EATING CROW'.
The Patriots chose to be introduced as a TEAM not as individuals because that's what they wanted.....very symbolic of how they won.....even Tom Brady said that the MVP car he won would be the team car!
BRAVO Patriots....you ARE the Champios of the World!
I did sorta the same thing. Check this out from another thread I posted on:
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To: Pappy Smear
Eagles/Patriots Superbowl? Taglibue and the Fox Sports prez will be slitting their wrists Monday morning if that happens.
Which would be fine with me since they are not picking up Pat Summerall for play-by-play next year (he and Madden are the absolute best in the business for the NFL).
But seriously, I agree that the sheep won't win it all. The Philly defense held them in check this year, and Piggsburgh's D is just too much. Kurt Warner will swear he's seeing 33 Piggsburgh jerseys on the field if they play.
Again, my gut (if I were a betting man) tells me Philly vs. New England. NE just seems to have the intangibles working for them this year. McNabb is maturing right before our eyes and is ready for the big time, IMHO.
Should be fun to watch this Sunday!
126 posted on 1/26/02 10:04 AM Central by rdb3
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Hey, at least I called the NE upset of Piggsburgh! ;-)
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