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                         January 25, 2002

Fox-Murphy tied at 6-2, head into round 3

Commentary by Jim Fox
Staff Writer

After two weeks of pro football playoffs Capt. Pat Murphy and I are still tied in our battle of playoff prognostications. After an opening round weekend, where we both went 4-0, we fell back to earth with 2-2 marks in the divisional round.

So with three games left to pick we are tied at 6-2.

With all due respect to New England sports fans, with whom I have such a great relationship with in the first place, the Patriots season will end Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh.

The Pats played a good second half against the Oakland Raiders Saturday night in abysmal conditions. I will give them that. The Steelers are just a better team all-around. They run the ball better, even without Jerome Bettis, who is again expected to return to the fray this weekend.

Pittsburgh has better receivers, too. The problem they do have without Bettis is a weak, short-yardage game.

One area that New England has a distinct advantage in is the kicking game. Pats’ kicker Adam Vinatieri is so much better than inept Steelers’ kicker Chris Brown that it doesn’t feel right calling both of them kickers.

Part of the problem may be that Heinz Field, the Steelers new home, has an open end zone that has contributed to only 52 percent of all field goals attempted by both college and pro kickers this season being made.

The Steelers pass rush will cause Pats quarterback Tom Brady trouble. New England will have to establish a running game behind Antowain Smith. If not, it will be a long afternoon for Brady and company.

The only way I see New England winning is if Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart suffers a Brett Favre-like implosion while trying to force passes past the likes of the Pats’ Ty Law and Lawyer Milloy.

Former Army football coach Bob Sutton, now the New York Jets’ linebackers coach, used to say that he would take Law over any other cover man in the NFL.

For what it’s worth, that could be the Steelers biggest concern, keeping Stewart from trying to do too much.

The Brady miracle has giving New England 12 wins in its last 15 games, but Pittsburgh is the team that will have to face the offensive onslaught in New Orleans Feb. 3, not New England.

"Well Foxy, we’re tied going into the Final Four," Murphy said. "For the record, we should be 7-1 because the Raiders were robbed when instant replay overturned the Brady fumble at the end of the game. But the Steelers won’t need a game-changing call to beat the Pats this week. The good ole’ boys from the great state of Pennsylvania will give the Pat’s dream season a nightmare ending."

Murphy: Steelers 30-13

I’m sure Murphy can’t wait to chortle about a Pennsylvania Super Bowl, but it won’t happen unless St. Louis Rams’ quarterback Kurt Warner continues to get beat up.

Warner suffers from the following: The thumb on his throwing hand is reportedly not still 100 percent, his vocal cords are healing from a blow suffered back in week 17, now he has bruised ribs because Rams coach Mike Martz left him in the game when the Rams were up 45-10 in the fourth quarter against Green Bay.

The Eagles best chance to stifle the Rams offense may be to put defensive end Hugh Douglas on a search and destroy mission with the target being Warner.

The Eagles almost beat the Rams in week 1. Philly won’t be intimidated by St. Louis. The Eagles know they were one fumble recovery away from beating them. The Philly defense is better than the Packers D and the Eagles offense poses a more balanced and ultimately more dangerous threat than Green Bay did because of the presence of Eagles signal caller Donovan McNabb. Despite what Murphy will tell you, it still doesn’t equal an Eagles win.

The Rams must turn the ball over repeatedly for the Eagles to win.

St. Louis has too many weapons, on offense, defense and even on special teams.

Philly will give a valiant effort and will most likely give the Rams a good game, but don’t expect them to upset the Rams. Again, unless the Rams lose Warner and make a ton of turnovers the Rams win going away.

"Foxy," Murphy said, "to quote the great Judge Advocate, Lt. Daniel Caffey, ‘I want the truth!’ Enough excuses about Warner’s injuries and valiant efforts. This Eagles’ team is going to shock the world Sunday as 11-point underdogs. Their whole defense will be on a search and destroy mission, not just Pro Bowler Hugh Douglas. Look in the dictionary for the definition of a ram. It is a male sheep. And that is what this Eagles’ defense will feast on Sunday. After beating up on Buccaneers and Bears in the playoffs, it looks as if ram will be on the menu in the NFC Championship game. With Donovan at the helm on offense, he will be the one putting on the greatest show on turf!"

Murphy: Eagles 28-20