Thursday January 21st, 2005 - Page updated at 4:30pm
By:
C. McDermott
NFL
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The Philadelphia Eagles will be hoping the fourth time
is the charm on Sunday afternoon, when Andy Reid's squad
plays host to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship
at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles have come up short in three consecutive Championship
contests, falling at St. Louis following the 2001 season
(29-24), at Veterans Stadium against Tampa Bay (27-10)
the next year, and at "The Linc" versus Carolina
(14-3) last season. No team in NFL history has lost four
straight Championship games, and Philly joins the Cowboys
(1980-82), Rams (1974-76), and Raiders (1973-75, 1968-70)
as the only franchises to drop three straight during the
Super Bowl era. The Eagles' only Super Bowl appearance
came following the 1980 season, and the club has never
hoisted a Lombardi Trophy. Reid and company began the
march toward Jacksonville with a 27-14 victory over Minnesota
last Sunday.
Atlanta, meanwhile, enters Sunday's contest with an eye
toward a second Super Bowl berth of its own. The Falcons,
who reached the ultimate stage following the 1998 season
before falling to the Broncos, will be making only their
second Championship game appearance in franchise history.
Jim Mora's team, which reversed last year's 5-11 finish
to win the NFC South, was a 47-17 home victor over the
Rams in last Saturday's divisional playoff. Mora is vying
to become just the fifth coach in league history to reach
a Super Bowl in his first season as an NFL head coach,
joining the Raiders' Bill Callahan (2002), the 49ers'
George Seifert (1989), the Broncos' Red Miller (1977),
and the Colts' Don McCafferty (1970). Seifert and McCafferty
are the only members of that group to win Super Bowls
in their initial year.
SERIES HISTORY
The Eagles have a 11-9-1 advantage in the all-time regular
season series with the Falcons, and were 23-16 road winners
when the teams last met, in 2003. Atlanta last defeated
Philadelphia in 1998, and last prevailed in the City of
Brotherly Love in 1988.
The clubs have split two postseason meetings all-time,
with the Falcons claiming a 14-13 victory in a 1978 NFC
First-Round Playoff, and Philly returning the favor with
a 20-6 triumph in a 2002 NFC Divisional Playoff.
Reid is 3-0 as a head coach against the Falcons, including
the 2002 playoff win. Mora will be meeting both Reid and
the Eagles for the first time as a head coach.
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FALCONS OFFENSE VS. EAGLES DEFENSE
The Falcons ran all over St. Louis last Saturday, churning
up 327 ground yards and reminding the NFL-viewing public
why they led the league in rushing offense (167 yards
per game) during the regular season. The ground assault
began with running back Warrick Dunn (17 carries, 142
yards, 2 TD), who averaged better than eight yards per
carry and scored on runs of 62 and 19 yards. Quarterback
Michael Vick made his presence felt with 119 yards on
eight carries, and bruising running back T.J. Duckett
rushed 15 times for 66 yards and a score. Dunn (1106 yards,
9 TD), Vick (902 yards, 3 TD), and Duckett (509 yards,
8 TD) were part of an attack that led the NFL by averaging
5.1 yards per rush during the regular season.
Stopping the ground game will be task number one for
a Philadelphia defense that ranked a modest 16th in NFL
rushing defense (118.9 yards per game) during the regular
season but thrived after middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter
(69 tackles) was inserted into the starting lineup at
midseason. Trotter led the Eagles with seven tackles last
Sunday, and also chipped in with an interception, half
a sack, and two pass deflections versus the Vikings. Nate
Wayne (29 tackles) and Keith Adams (46 tackles), subbing
for an injured Mark Simoneau (48 tackles) at weak side
linebacker, combined for seven stops. Simoneau is questionable
for this week with an ankle sprain. End Jevon Kearse (31
tackles) led the line with five tackles, and defensive
tackles Sam Rayburn (28 tackles) and Darwin Walker (29
tackles) had three each.
Atlanta's ability to run the ball against the Rams minimized
the need for the passing game, but when Vick did throw
it (12-16 passing, 82 yards, 2 TD), he was efficient.
Seven different Falcons caught passes, led by wideout
Peerless Price (3 receptions, 22 yards, 1 TD) and tight
end Alge Crumpler (2 receptions, 22 yards, 1 TD). Crumpler
caught Vick's longest pass of the day, an 18-yard scoring
strike, and Price added a touchdown on a six-yard catch.
Crumpler (48 receptions, 6 TD) and Price (45 receptions,
3 TD) were the biggest pass-catching factors in an aerial
game that ranked just 30th in NFL passing offense (150.8
yards per game) during the regular season. The Atlanta
offensive line was listed near the bottom of the league
in sacks allowed (50), but Vick was dropped just once
against the Rams last week.
Putting pressure on Vick, perhaps the NFL's most dangerous
player in the open field, will be an important directive
for the Eagles on Sunday. Philadelphia finished second
in the league to the Falcons with 47 sacks during the
regular season, with 17 different players from all areas
of the field combining to form that total. Philly placed
regular heat on Minnesota's Daunte Culpepper last week,
sacking him three times and forcing a pair of interceptions.
Kearse, who led the Eagles with 7.5 sacks during the regular
season, dumped Culpepper once, and Pro Bowl safety Brian
Dawkins (69 tackles, 4 INT, 3 sacks) tallied another sack
on a blitz. Dawkins was also credited with a forced fumble
and five stops in the game. Trotter and fellow LB Ike
Reese (52 tackles, 2 INT) had the team's interceptions,
and cornerback Lito Sheppard (56 tackles, 5 INT) had four
pass breakups in the victory. The Eagle secondary allowed
Culpepper to throw for 316 yards, but held Viking receiver
Randy Moss to three catches. Philadelphia was 12th in
passing defense (200.8 yards per game) during the regular
season.
EAGLES OFFENSE VS. FALCONS DEFENSE
Playing a full game without injured Pro Bowl receiver
Terrell Owens (leg/ankle) for the first time this season,
Eagle QB Donovan McNabb (21-33 passing, 286 yards, 2 TD)
quieted skeptics with a strong performance against the
Vikings. McNabb hooked up five times for 65 yards and
a touchdown with wideout Freddie Mitchell, who notched
a second score after snatching an L.J. Smith fumble in
the end zone. Mitchell nearly had a third touchdown in
the second half, but fumbled through the end zone for
a touchback while reaching for the goal line. Running
back Brian Westbrook (5 receptions, 47 yards) was also
a vital part of the passing game, as were Smith (4 receptions,
56 yards) and wideouts Todd Pinkston (3 receptions, 46
yards) and Greg Lewis (2 receptions, 64 yards). Westbrook
was second to Owens in team receptions (73), yards (703)
and TD catches (6) during the regular season. The Eagles
ranked seventh in NFL passing offense (248.7 yards per
game), and were tied for 16th in sacks allowed (37). McNabb
was sacked just once by the Vikings.
The task of pressuring McNabb will fall to an Atlanta
pass rush that led the league in sacks (48) during the
regular season and dropped the Rams' Marc Bulger four
times last week. Ends Travis Hall (28 tackles, 3 sacks
during the regular season) and Brady Smith (30 tackles,
6 sacks) got in on the action as did tackle Rod Coleman
(11.5 sacks), but top regular season sack man Patrick
Kerney (66 tackles, 13 sacks) was shut out in that regard.
Hall is questionable for this week with a chest injury.
A Falcon secondary that was up-and-down all season allowed
Bulger to throw for 299 yards last week, but held All-Pro
Torry Holt to just two catches on the night. Cornerback
Jason Webster (40 tackles, 1 INT) recorded the only interception
of the game, and fellow corners DeAngelo Hall (34 tackles,
2 INT) and Kevin Mathis (65 tackles, 2 INT) were among
team leaders with four tackles apiece. The Falcons ranked
22nd in NFL passing defense (220.4 yards per game) during
the regular campaign.
The Eagles complemented their passing game with a touch
of effective running against the Vikings, as Westbrook
(12 carries, 70 yards) and fellow running back Dorsey
Levens (10 carries, 36 yards) kept Minnesota honest. Though
some speculated that McNabb would run more without Owens'
downfield presence, the quarterback rushed just three
times for three yards in the game. The pass- first Eagles
were 24th in rushing offense (102.4 yards per game) during
the regular season.
Atlanta never allowed the Rams to establish the run last
week, as St. Louis running backs Marshall Faulk and Steven
Jackson combined for just 62 yards on 16 carries in a
losing effort. Every member of the Falcons' talented front
seven had a hand in the run-stopping effort, with weakside
linebacker Keith Brooking (4 tackles, 1 forced fumble)
at the heart of the performance. Brooking led Atlanta
with 101 stops in the regular season, with middle linebacker
Chris Draft (56 tackles) and strong side man Matt Stewart
(71 tackles) putting together quietly effective campaigns
as well. Defensive tackles Coleman (40 tackles) and Ed
Jasper (32 tackles, 2 sacks) were credited with a great
deal of the team's run-stopping success in 2004, as the
Falcons finished tied for eighth in the league in rushing
defense (105.1 yards per game). The lone major blip on
the radar for the Atlanta defense was a 56-10 loss to
the Chiefs in Week 7, when Kansas City rolled up 271 rushing
yards and an NFL-record eight rushing TDs.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Atlanta return man Allen Rossum had a huge game against
the Rams last week, accruing 152 yards on three punt returns
and gutting St. Louis for a 68-yard touchdown. Rossum,
who averaged 12.4 yards per punt return during the regular
season, also averaged 20 yards on four kickoff returns.
The backup corner played for the Eagles for the first
two years of his pro career (1998-99). Punter Chris Mohr
(40.6 avg. in regular season) averaged 42 yards on two
boots last Saturday, and kicker Jay Feeley (18-23 FG)
made his only field goal attempt, from 38 yards.
Philly kicker David Akers (27-32 FG) helped salt away
the Minnesota game with two short fourth-quarter field
goals last week, capping off a quiet day for the Eagle
special teams unit. Punter Dirk Johnson averaged 37.3
yards on three punts, and kickoff return man J.R. Reed
made an impact with a 48-yard return in the first half.
Dexter Wynn fielded two punts, netting just seven yards
in the game.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
While neither team can be expected to cruise as both
did last weekend, the Eagles should ultimately defeat
the Falcons for the same reasons they took down the Vikings.
Philly will place pressure on Vick from a variety of different
angles, and when he runs, a fast Philly defense that pursues
well will contain him more often than not. On the other
side of the ball, Andy Reid's team won't put up a consistent
offensive performance like that of last week, but McNabb
and Westbrook will make enough big plays to keep the Falcons
off-balance. Look for David Akers to be a hero in this
one, and for the Eagles to shed their NFC bridesmaid status
this time around.
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AFC Championships (2) New England
(15-2) at (1) Pittsburgh (16-1)
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One of the NFL's two winningest teams in 2004 will see
its season come to an abrupt end on Sunday night, when
the Pittsburgh Steelers welcome the New England Patriots
to Heinz Field for a momentous AFC Championship clash.
The Steelers and Patriots combined to go 29-3 during the
regular season, and one of the two defeats New England
suffered came against Pittsburgh (34-20) in Week 8.
The Patriots, who come off an impressive 20-3 home victory
over Indianapolis last Sunday, will be attempting to keep
their hopes of a third Super Bowl title in four years
intact. New England, which is now 7-0 in the postseason
under head coach Bill Belichick, is also vying to become
the first back-to- back world champion since the 1997-98
Denver Broncos pulled off the feat.
Though the Steelers extended their winning streak to
15 games with last Saturday's 20-17 overtime victory over
the Jets, the performance could hardly be defined as complete.
Pittsburgh was forced to rally from a 17-10 fourth quarter
deficit against New York, and looked on as Jets kicker
Doug Brien missed two potential game-winning field goals
in the final 1:58 of regulation. The Steelers survived,
however, and will be looking to reach the Super Bowl for
the first time since the 1995 season. Pittsburgh, which
last hoisted a Lombardi Trophy following the 1979 campaign,
is 1-4 in AFC Championships since that season, including
1-3 at home under head coach Bill Cowher.
SERIES HISTORY
The Steelers have a 12-5 edge in their all-time regular
season series with the Patriots, and were 34-20 winners
when the teams met at Heinz Field in Week 8. New England
won a 30-14 decision over Pittsburgh in Foxboro during
the 2002 season, and last won a regular season game in
the Steel City by a 23-9 margin during the 1998 campaign.
The teams have also met in the playoffs three times since
1996, with the Patriots winning a 1996 AFC Divisional
Playoff (28-3), the Steelers returning the favor with
a victory in a 1997 AFC Divisional Playoff (7-6), and
New England prevailing in the 2001 AFC Championship (24-17).
The 1997 and 2001 meetings were played in Pittsburgh.
Cowher is 5-4 against New England in his career, including
playoffs. Belichick has a 5-9 mark against the Steelers
and is 4-8 head-to-head versus Cowher, including postseason.
PATRIOTS OFFENSE VS. STEELERS DEFENSE
New England gutted the Colts via the ground, as Corey
Dillon (23 carries, 144 yards) and Kevin Faulk (11 carries,
56 yards) allowed the Patriots to control the clock and
keep the ball out of the hands of Peyton Manning. Dillon
also led New England with five catches out of the backfield.
A possible missing piece from the Patriot running game
this week will be fullback Patrick Pass (141 rushing yards,
28 receptions during the regular season), who is listed
as questionable with an ankle sprain. Rabih Abdullah would
likely fill in if Pass is unable to go. With Dillon (1635
yards, 12 TD) on the shelf nursing a thigh injury in Week
8, the Patriots rushed just six times for five yards in
a loss to the Steelers. New England finished seventh in
NFL rushing offense (133.4 yards per game) during the
regular season.
The Steelers entered the playoffs as the NFL's best team
against the run (81.2 yards per game), but did not quite
live up to that reputation in last week's win over the
Jets. New York managed 110 ground yards in a losing effort,
with both Curtis Martin (19 carries, 77 yards) and LaMont
Jordan (5 carries, 30 yards) achieving some success. Linebackers
James Farrior (9 tackles) and Clark Haggans (7 tackles,
1 sack) were among the club's leading tacklers in the
contest, and end Kimo von Oelhoffen and nose tackle Chris
Hoke combined for nine stops on the line. Joey Porter,
who led the Steelers with eight tackles and three sacks
against the Patriots in Week 8, was held to three against
the Jets last Saturday.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady wasn't asked to do much
in the Indianapolis win, but still finished an efficient
18 of 27 passing for 144 yards and a touchdown in the
victory. Brady, who also rushed for a TD in the game,
tossed a five-yard scoring strike to David Givens (4 receptions,
26 yards) in the third quarter. Givens, who led New England
in receptions (56) and receiving yards (874), was one
of 10 New England players to catch a Brady pass last Sunday.
Troy Brown (17 receptions, 1 TD) caught two balls for
13 yards in the triumph, and fellow wideouts David Patten
(44 receptions, 7 TD) and Deion Branch (35 receptions,
4 TD) were limited to one reception each. Brady completed
25 of 43 passes for 271 yards, two touchdowns, and two
interceptions against Pittsburgh on Halloween, with Givens
(8 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TD) and Brown (5 receptions,
59 yards) each having solid days. Brady was sacked four
times in that contest, and was dropped three times by
the Colts last week. New England ranked 11th in NFL passing
offense during the regular season (224.2 yards per game),
and the Patriot line gave up the fifth-lowest sack total
(26) in the league.
The Pittsburgh secondary was effective against the Jets
last week, holding Chad Pennington to 182 passing yards
and denying New York a wealth of big passing plays. Safety
Troy Polamalu (7 tackles, 1 INT) notched an interception
of Pennington, and cornerback Willie Williams (11 tackles)
and safety Chris Hope (10 tackles) were 1-2 in stops in
the game. Cornerback Deshea Townsend, who had four tackles
in the victory, will be looking for another big play like
the 39-yard interception return for a touchdown he recorded
off of Brady in Week 8. Pittsburgh posted three sacks
of Pennington a week ago, with Haggans (6 sacks in the
regular season) and end Aaron Smith (43 tackles, 8 sacks)
both getting in on the action. Smith had a sack of Brady
in Week 8, in addition to the three recorded by Porter.
The Steelers were fourth in passing defense (177.2 yards
per game) during the regular season, and tied for seventh
in sacks (41).
STEELERS OFFENSE VS. PATRIOTS DEFENSE
Though the ultimate result was a bit closer than the
Steelers would have liked, the Pittsburgh running game
was typically effective in last week's win over the Jets.
The Steelers amassed 193 ground yards, with Jerome Bettis
(27 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD) and Duce Staley (11 carries,
54 yards) at the heart of that effort. Bettis did cough
up a rare fumble in the game, however. The Steelers ran
all over New England back in Week 8, with Staley (25 carries,
125 yards) and Bettis (15 carries, 65 yards, 1 TD) doing
most of the damage in a 221-yard ground assault. Cowher's
club ranked second in NFL rushing offense (154 yards per
game) during the regular season, with Bettis (941 yards,
13 TD) and Staley (830 yards, 1 TD) making up the major
part of that equation.
While much attention was devoted to New England's ability
to slow Peyton Manning and the Indy passing attack last
week, the defense was equally strong against running back
Edgerrin James, who managed just 39 yards on 14 carries
in the tilt. Linebackers Tedy Bruschi (122 tackles) and
Mike Vrabel (71 tackles) had eight tackles each in the
game, and defensive tackles Vince Wilfork (42 tackles)
and Ty Warren (48 tackles) had two stops each for the
line. The Pats will get a boost if Pro Bowl end Richard
Seymour (39 tackles, 5 sacks), who sat out with an ankle
injury last Sunday, is able to suit up versus the Steelers.
Seymour is listed as questionable. The Patriots were sixth
in the NFL against the run (98.2 yards per game) during
the regular season.
Rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (2621 passing yards,
16 TD, 11 INT) nearly suffered his first career setback
as a starter last week, throwing a pair of interceptions
that would have served as a major culprit in a Steelers
loss. Despite the picks, Roethlisberger wasn't awful,
completing 17 of 30 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown
in the game. Hines Ward (10 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD)
was the rookie's favorite target, with Plaxico Burress
(2 receptions, 28 yards) and Lee Mays (2 receptions, 19
yards) also playing a role. Roethlisberger was 18 of 24
passing for 196 yards and two touchdowns against New England
on Oct. 31, with Ward and Antwaan Randle El notching six
grabs each and Burress catching two TD passes. Roethlisberger,
who was not sacked in that game, was dumped just once
by the Jets last Saturday. Pittsburgh was 28th in NFL
passing offense (170 yards per game) during the regular
season, and tied for 14th in sacks allowed (36).
Though NFL pundits foretold its doom in the week leading
up to last week's game, the Patriot secondary more than
held its own against the high-powered passing attack of
the Colts. Peyton Manning threw for a modest 238 yards
in the game and did not fire a touchdown pass, with cornerbacks
Asante Samuel (3 tackles on the day) and Randall Gay (5
tackles) holding receivers Marvin Harrison (5 receptions,
44 yards) and Reggie Wayne (3 receptions, 35 yards) in
check. Strong safety Rodney Harrison had 11 tackles, a
forced fumble, and the only interception of Manning last
week. Vrabel (5.5 sacks on the year) tallied a sack in
the victory, but top sackman Willie McGinest (9.5 sacks)
was shut out in that regard. New England did not have
a sack or an interception against the Steelers in Week
8, though Samuel was credited with a forced fumble off
of Randle El. New England was 17th in NFL passing defense
(212.5 yards per game) during the regular season, and
tied for third in sacks (45).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Trusty New England kicker Adam Vinatieri staked his team
to a 6-0 lead with field goals of 24 and 31 yards last
week. Vinatieri was also a perfect 2-2 on trifectas against
Pittsburgh in October. Josh Miller, who averaged 39 yards
on five punts versus the Colts, had one of the best days
of his season against Pittsburgh (3 punts, 52.3 avg.)
in Week 8. Troy Brown made a special teams impact with
a 20-yard punt return against Indianapolis last week.
Steeler kicker Jeff Reed connected on both of his field
goal attempts against the Jets, including a 33-yard game-winner
in overtime. Reed was also 2-2 against New England on
Oct. 31. Chris Gardocki averaged 39.6 yards on five punts
against the Jets, and kicked to a 44.3 yard average in
the first meeting with the Patriots. Randle El's longest
punt return last week went for 11 yards, and Ike Taylor's
top kickoff return netted 30. Pittsburgh, which allowed
a kickoff return for a score against the Giants' Willie
Ponder in Week 15, gave up a 75-yard punt return for a
touchdown to New York's Santana Moss last Saturday.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Steelers took down the Pats in Week 8 by getting
out of the gate with 21 first-quarter points, a performance
that is very unlikely to be duplicated on Sunday night.
It is also noteworthy that Corey Dillon sat out that game
with a thigh injury, and while Dillon won't average six
yards a carry against Pittsburgh's quality front seven,
his presence will obviously take some pressure off of
Brady and give the Pats a much-needed offensive dimension.
The x-factor in this game is the Steeler offense, which
can't afford to commit three turnovers as it did last
week and also can't hope to pile up 221 ground yards on
New England as it did back in October. The smart money
in what appears to be a dead-even matchup has to ride
with Bill Belichick, who will devise a scheme to harass
Roethlisberger and get his team back to the Super Bowl
for the third time in four years.
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