Super Bowl 38 pick: Rams over Raiders

Yahoooooo Sporting News ^ | 08/28/03 | Dan Pompei

[bedolido]

What makes a Super Bowl winner?

The cliche answer is great defenses, and the last three Super Bowl winners -- Tampa, New England and Baltimore -- support that logic. But before the 2000 season, the argument can be made that 12 of the previous 13 Super Bowl winners (the lone exception being the 1990 Giants) were offense-dominated teams.

So great offenses also can win. In fact, it says here great offenses will win this season when the Rams beat the Raiders in the Arena, er, Super Bowl.

What wins Super Bowls are transcendent players who redefine their careers at the ultimate moments. Think John Elway helicoptering to a first down in 1998. Think Joe Montana dissecting the Bengals on the game-winning drive in 1989.

What wins Super Bowls are coaches who give transcendent players advantages by putting them in positions to succeed. Think Jon Gruden and Bill Belichick the last two seasons or, if you prefer, Joe Gibbs in 1988.

Assuming Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk are healthy and can play as they did two seasons ago, no team has more game changers than the Rams. Some would say it is a big assumption that they will be healthy, but it may be a bigger assumption that two of the most gifted players in the game can lose their gifts so quickly.

This team also has the premier offensive mind in the game. Mike Martz is the coach whom offensive coaches at every level of football study in order to better prepare their teams.

Think Warner throwing beautiful spiral after beautiful spiral on February 1 in Houston, just as he did when he was the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1999 and 2001. Think Faulk dancing through gaps, around linebackers and by defensive backs. Think Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt bursting out of their breaks, making effortless catches and then running away from everyone.

Think Martz making 11 offensive players look like 18, temporarily paralyzing a defense that can't possibly keep up with so many shifts, motions and personnel changes.

Think Rich Gannon throwing short, precise strikes, each one a dagger, to Jerry Rice, Jerry Porter, Tim Brown, Charlie Garner, Doug Jolley, Teyo Johnson and Tyrone Wheatley. But those short strikes don't hurt as much as Warner's long ones.

Think Rams 34, Raiders 28.

AFC picks

Division winners: Dolphins, Steelers, Titans and Raiders Wild-card teams: Colts and Bills AFC championship: Raiders over Dolphins

NFC picks

Division winners: Eagles, Packers, Bucs, Rams Wild-card teams: 49ers and Giants NFC championship: Rams over Packers

Super Bowl winner: Rams

Award picks Defensive player of the year: DE Jason Taylor, Dolphins Offensive rookie of the year: TE Dallas Clark, Colts Defensive rookie of the year: CB Terence Newman, Cowboys Comeback player of the year: QB Kurt Warner, Rams Coach of the year: Gregg Williams, Bills

Senior writer Dan Pompei covers the NFL for Sporting News. Email him at pompei@sportingnews.com.

[Mr. Mojo]

...and those old blue and white uniforms were much cooler than these "new" (in 1974) blue and yellow.

Great names back on D back then --- Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Jack Youngblood, Rosy Greer, Fred Dryer, Isaiah Robertson, Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds......

[mr.pink]

I'm not worried.

I am worried. I watched the Pitt-Dal game and Scott and Washington were still giving 6-7 yard cushions to the opposing recievers.

I agree Troy P will be a big help by season's end, and Bell should be a monster once again...also on the bright side Ike Taylor (rook CB) should eventually be a real terror shut down corner.

I wish we would move to a 4-3 D for the `04 season.

[Richard Kimball]

As far as the Rams "suck"ing, we'll see. If they stay healthy, I don't think there's a team that can beat them.

And that's the sadness of parity. The 70's Steelers, 80's Niners or 90's Cowboys would have mopped up the floor with them and then kicked their *ss for missing the corners. The Rams were (are) a brilliant offensive team, but their defense couldn't stop Baylor. The other three teams I mentioned had complete packages on both sides of the ball. The last great NFL team was the 91-93 Cowboys (the 95 team was operating off the vapors of what was left in the tank). Thank you, Paul "pencil neck" Tagliabu for the "parity" in the NFL.

[Richard Kimball]

Bring back Pirate Bruce!

[bedolido]

Thank you, Paul "pencil neck" Tagliabu for the "parity" in the NFL.

Yeah I have to admit you're correct. The 70's Steelers, 80's Niners or 90's Cowboys would be impossible for any current NFL team to beat. And you're also correct on parity.

I hate it when you're right!

still GO RAMS!!!

[SoothingDave]

Super Bowl 38

38? I think he means "XXXVIII"

SD

[SoothingDave]

If Bell stays healthy, it will relieve some of the pressure on the defensive backs.

It's the lack of cohesion on the offensive line that seems more troubling right now.

SD

[stands2reason]

You mean the Dallas Jerry Jone's Cowboys? I'm just waiting for that A-hole to die. Then maybe I'll watch them again....

[mr.pink]

The last great NFL team was the 91-93 Cowboys

I agree completely...that was some complete team, a perfectly designed and built team....and I'm a 1st class Dallas hater.

Personally, I always enjoyed having a truly great around, as opposed to rewarding half a$$ed front offices (see Dan Snyder or when Schula got desperate at the end) by letting them buy players because they aren't smart enough to know how to build a sound team by drafting well.

And agree with your point about the Rams. They're the Fouts era Chargers, Marino era Dolphins with one trophy.

[.cnI redruM]

My Super Bowl Prediction:

Titans 24 - Eagles 13.

Eddie George runs for 125 yards, McNabb throws 2 Ints.

[Lando Lincoln]

I can't resist posting here........this is for fun, right??

Here is Lando's out on the limb Super Bowl picks.....

Green Bay Packers(picked with my heart)
over
Buffalo (picked because I have this feeling, you know??)

Actually, as a Packer fan, I will always believe they have a shot because of #4 at quarterback. Buffalo because Coach Williams will do something about that defense, and, because Bledsoe will rock and roll this year.

Lando

[mr.pink]

Actually, as a Packer fan, I will always believe they have a shot because of #4 at quarterback.

When your QB is basically John Wayne, you've always got a shot.

[Just another Joe]

All preseason long there is one team that has been overlooked.
The Chiefs.
They are my dark horse pick.

[mr.pink]

One point on the 80's Niners.

Their organization was masterfull in pulling in complimentary pieces to plug holes/add depth prior to the age of Free Agency. Fred Dean comes immediately to mind.

A truly professional organization and that was refected in the teams play.

[bedolido]

Their organization was masterfull in pulling in complimentary pieces to plug holes/add depth prior to the age of Free Agency. Fred Dean comes immediately to mind.

It's amazing how every once in awhile everything seems to pull together to create something great. In this case, the 80's Niners (Which, as a die-hard Rams fan, I hate) were a good example of how perfection is so elusive, but was found in SF.

[SamAdams76]

St. Louis Rams and Oakland Raiders were two teams that were CLOBBERED by the New England Patriots on their way to Super Bowl victory a couple of years back. Those two teams are has-beens. Warner should go back to stocking grocery shelves and Gannon needs to retire (does he get senior citizen discount on his cleats?).

Meanwhile, New England has steamrolled to a 4-0 preseason record. They are on their way to an undefeated 16-0 season. They should just award the Vince Lombardi trophy to MVP Tom Brady right now and get it over with.

[mr.pink]

It's amazing how every once in awhile everything seems to pull together to create something great.

Well said.

[mr.pink]

St. Louis Rams and Oakland Raiders were two teams that were CLOBBERED by the New England Patriots...

I don't think you "clobbered" either team...you lucked out against Oakland and out smarted the Rams.

You did "clobber" and outsmart my Steelers both in that years AFC Champ game and last years opener and I salute your team for that.

Your coach, can out coach my coach in his sleep. The Pats drafted well and added smart FAs....I think you're gonna' have a great year. BEAT MIAMI!

[SamAdams76]

Parcells is only successful when he has Bill Belichick running his defense. Everytime a Parcells team won the Super Bowl, it was won on defense and Bill Belichick was running it. Unfortunately for Parcells, Belichick is now head coach of the New England Patriots. Parcells couldn't bring a Super Bowl to New England. But Belichick could, and did.

Parcells has never won a Super Bowl without Belichick but Belichick was able to win a Super Bowl without Parcells. That should tell you all you need to know about what an overrated coach Bill Parcells is.

[SamAdams76]

What you say is true. I just wanted to rile up some Rams and Raiders fans! The Pats lucked out on that forward lateral against the Steelers too (on that blocked punt) but in the end it wasn't decisive. The Pats had everything going for them that year (at least after Bledsoe went down).

I think the Pats are in for a good year as well. They looked sharp on TV last night against Chicago. They've got some depth too.