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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Where Hip Hop lives
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Conference Championship Matchups
Code:
OAKLAND (13-5) at PITTSBURGH (13-4)
Tot. Offense, ypg (Rk): 361.6 (11) 381.8 (2)
Rush Offense, ypg (Rk): 92.7 (23) 140.3 (1)
Pass Offense, ypg (Rk): 268.9 (7) 241.4 (13)
Tot. Defense, ypg (Rk): 343.4 (21) 318.6 (8)
Rush Defense, ypg (Rk): 86.1 (2) 106.1 (24)
Pass Defense, ypg (Rk): 257.3 (28) 212.4 (5)
Quarterback: Rich Gannon Tommy Maddox
4303 yd, 67%, 23 td, 11 int 3834 yd, 66%, 34 td, 10 int
Running Back: Charlie Garner Jerome Bettis
1101 yd, 8 td 1571 yd, 7 td
Wide Receiver #1: Jerry Porter Plaxico Burress
80 rec, 1318 yd, 7 td 65 rec, 1184 yd, 10 td
Wide Receiver #2: Tim Brown Hines Ward
64 rec, 875 yd, 2 td 56 rec, 790 yd, 8 td
Top Third Receiver: RB Charlie Garner RB Jerome Bettis
68 rec, 650 yd, 3 td 54 rec, 454 yd, 5 td
Top Defensive Players: OLB Bill Romanowski DE Kimo Von Oelhoffen
97 tkl, 1.5 sacks, 2 int 31 tkl, 16 sacks, 17 hurries
S Rod Woodson OLB Jason Gildon
89 tkl, 6 int, 17 defn 73 tkl, 3.5 sacks, 3 int
DT Dana Stubblefield CB Chad Scott
39 tkl, 11 sacks, 12 hurries 60 tkl, 10 int, 14 defn
Comments: Oakland's run to the AFC Championship has been keyed on being tough against the run. That worked against Baltimore and Tennessee because those teams aren't good enough passing the ball to take advantage of the Raiders' poor pass defense. That changes this week. No, the Steelers are actually better runners than passers, but they are simply a superior passing team to what the Raiders have faced so far. On top of that, Tommy Maddox is playing very well right now. It won't be so easy for the Raiders, who face somewhat of a similar situation their opponents faced in earlier rounds. They aren't a good running team, so they can't take advantage of the Steelers' one defensive weakness. They will need to pass on the fifth-best pass defense and contain Kimo Von Oelhoffen, he of the 6.5 sacks the past two playoff games, to win this game. And I just don't think they can do that.
Code:
TAMPA BAY (13-4) at ST. LOUIS (14-3)
Tot. Offense, ypg (Rk): 364.3 (9) 373.2 (6)
Rush Offense, ypg (Rk): 105.9 (12) 87.3 (26)
Pass Offense, ypg (Rk): 258.4 (9) 285.9 (2)
Tot. Defense, ypg (Rk): 322.9 (9) 363.8 (28)
Rush Defense, ypg (Rk): 88.4 (5) 98.1 (12)
Pass Defense, ypg (Rk): 234.4 (15) 265.8 (30)
Quarterback: Brad Johnson Kurt Warner
4132 yd, 66%, 30 td, 23 int 4575 yd, 65%, 34 td, 17 int
Running Back: Thomas Jones Marshall Faulk
1027 yd, 5 td 796 rd, 4 td
Wide Receiver #1: Keenan McCardell Torry Holt
80 rec, 1323 yd, 11 td 93 rec, 1476 yd, 11 td
Wide Receiver #2: Keyshawn Johnson Isaac Bruce
73 rec, 959 yd, 5 td 54 rec, 854 yd, 3 td
Top Third Receiver: TE Ken Dilger TE Cameron Cleeland
70 rec, 607 yd, 5 td 61 rec, 691 yd, 5 td
Top Defensive Players: S John Lynch ILB Jamie Duncan
125 tkl, 5 int, 15 defn 103 tkl, 4 sacks, 2 int
OLB Shelton Quarles CB Aeneas Williams
98 tkl, 4 sacks, 2 int 97 tkl, 2 int, 11 defn
DE Simeon Rice DE Grant Wistrom
44 tkl, 10.5 sacks, 25 hur 50 tkl, 16 sacks, 17 hurries
Comments: This has the makings of a high-scoring game. The Rams have the second best passing attack in the league, and the Buccs are merely medicore against the pass. The Buccs aren't as good a passing team as the Rams, but they are top ten in that category, and they are going up against one of the worst pass defenses in the league. Scoring shouldn't be an issue. I think with the passing games trading off scores, the running game becomes critical. And that's where the Rams may have a flaw. They have one of the worst running attacks in the league, but would have to try running against one of the best run defenses. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers--a more accomplished running team--won't have nearly the test in the Rams' run defense, which is passable, but by no means spectacular. I think home field advantage willkeep it close, but the Buccs will pull this one out in the long run.
CR
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I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready.
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