Vikings at Rams
Trans World Dome
St. Louis, Mo.
Sunday, Dec. 10, 2000
AT A GLANCE: While the Vikings have clinched a
posteseason berth and are concentrating on winning home-field advantage throughout the
playoffs, the Rams are suddenly fighting for their playoff lives.
|
| OVERVIEW: Considering both teams’ suspect defenses,
it’s a good bet this game could end up similar to the last one the Rams and Vikings
played against one another — a wild 49-37 Rams victory in last year’s playoffs.
In that game, Tony Horne’s 95-yard TD on the opening kickoff of the second half was
the first of five straight Rams touchdowns, building the St. Louis lead to 49-17. Both
teams combined for a whopping 891 yards. Despite the return last week of QB Kurt Warner,
who missed five games with a broken pinky on his passing hand, the usually potent Rams
offense struggled mightily for the second game in a row. In successive losses to the
Saints and Panthers, the Rams averaged a meager 278.5 yards per game with just five plays
of 20 yards or longer.
In addition, the Rams had an ungodly seven turnovers in their latest loss to the
Panthers and have a combined 14 turnovers in a three-game losing streak that has put their
playoff hopes in jeopardy.
Minnesota, meanwhile has been a high-scoring offensive machine and should benefit from
a 10-day break since their victory over the Lions last Thursday night — their fourth
game in 19 days.
Despite a subpar effort from WR Randy Moss and QB Daunte Culpepper’s season-low
passing-yardage output, Minnesota still managed 24 points vs. Detroit.
WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL:
With Robert Smith, the NFC’s leading rusher, having a career year running behind a
line that has bulked up since last season, the Vikings’ offense has become more
balanced. For the season, the Vikings have run the ball 371 times and attempted 396
passes. Last year the disparity was much greater (422-530). |
|
|
| Trans World Dome |
| St. Louis, Mo. |
| Date: Sunday, December 10, 2000 |
| 12:00 p.m. Central Time |
| Type Of Turf: Artificial |
| Meeting Of The Year: Only |
| Season Record: |
| |
Minnesota |
11-2-0 |
| |
St. Louis |
8-5-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Minnesota |
8-5-0 |
| |
St. Louis |
4-8-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Minnesota (R) |
4-2-0 |
| |
St. Louis (H) |
4-3-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Minnesota (R) |
4-2-0 |
| |
St. Louis (H) |
1-5-1 |
| Record On Artificial Turf: |
| |
Minnesota |
9-0-0 |
| |
St. Louis |
6-3-0 |
| Record On Artificial Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Minnesota |
6-3-0 |
| |
St. Louis |
2-6-1 |
|
|
| Smith, who is capable of breaking loose for a big play every time he gets his hands on
the ball, has been much more than just a productive ballcarrier. The Rams’ LB corps,
led by London Fletcher in the middle (28 tackles and three interceptions in the last two
games), must guard against screen passes to Smith out of the backfield — a play that
has been very effective for the Vikings this season. Minnesota WRs Moss and Cris Carter,
who joined the 49ers’ Jerry Rice as the second receiver to catch 1,000 passes in his
career following a seven-catch effort vs. Detroit, must be licking their chops over the
prospect of facing a Rams secondary that has struggled in coverage most of the season. In
the playoff game vs. St. Louis last year, Moss and Carter combined for 16 catches for 299
yards and three TDs.
The Rams’ pass rush, which generated seven sacks vs. Carolina, needs to pick right
up where it left off against Culpepper, who is susceptible to making mistakes and forcing
passes when steadily pressured. A key matchup in the trenches pits Rams DLE Kevin Carter,
coming off a three-sack outing against the Panthers, vs. Vikings ORT Korey Stringer, who
is having an outstanding season.
WHEN THE RAMS HAVE THE BALL:
The defending Super Bowl champions looked unstoppable before Warner was injured early
in a loss to the Chiefs in Week Eight. Before the injury, Warner had thrown for 18 TDs and
a then-NFL best 2,445 yards.
In his return to action vs. Carolina, however, Warner was rusty, badly overthrowing his
receivers on deep balls as the Rams were held to their lowest point total since a 24-3
loss to the Saints in 1998.
In addition to badly needing Warner to regain his form, the Rams also will need a lot
more out of dual-threat RB Marshall Faulk, who has been held in check (by his standards)
the last two games.
A key to beating Minnesota’s defense will be to get SS Robert Griffith, the
unit’s hard-hitting leader, to move closer to the defensive line, which could then
open up more outside lanes for the Rams’ ever-dangerous WR arsenal spearheaded by
Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Az-Zahir Hakim. In order to do that, however, it’s
imperative that the Rams get more out of their ground game than they did in Carolina,
where the Panthers’ more than doubled St. Louis’ rushing plays (33 to 16).
It’s also imperative that the Rams’ receivers cut down on their uncustomary
mistakes as of late, especially Holt and Hakim, who are coming off particularly shaky
outings.
Minnesota’s pass rush is coming off one of its better games (five sacks, including
two by DLE John Randle), but it has been very inconsistent for the most part.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Dec. 3, 2000 |
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
84 MOSS, 81 Walsh, 83 Kent |
| OLT |
73 STEUSSIE, 74 Badger |
| OLG |
63 LACINA, 76 Liwienski, 60 Withrow |
| C |
78 BIRK, 60 Withrow |
| ORG |
71 DIXON, 76 Liwienski |
| ORT |
77 STRINGER, 74 Badger |
| TE |
86 DAVIS, 87 McWilliams, 85 Jordan |
| WR |
80 CARTER, 89 Hatchette, 82 Walters* |
| QB |
11 CULPEPPER, 6 Brister, 8 Bouman |
| RB |
26 SMITH, 21 Williams, 22 D. Palmer, 23 Chapman* |
| FB |
40 KLEINSASSER, 33 Morrow, 48 Cercone |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
93 RANDLE, 91 Burrough, 95 Paup |
| NT |
99 HOVAN*, 98 Robbins* |
| UT |
94 WILLIAMS, 98 Robbins* |
| DRE |
97 SAWYER, 90 Northern |
| SLB |
57 RUDD, 55 Hall |
| MLB |
52 WONG, 56 Nelson, 50 Bercich |
| WLB |
58 McDANIEL, 54 Wilson* |
| LCB |
20 WRIGHT, 29 Serwanga |
| RCB |
28 TATE, 27 Thibodeaux |
| SS |
24 GRIFFITH, 30 Banks |
| FS |
37 CARTER*, 42 Thomas |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
17 BERGER |
| PK |
1 ANDERSON |
| H |
17 BERGER |
| PR |
82 WALTERS, 22 Palmer, 28 Tate |
| KR |
82 WALTERS, 21 Williams, 33 Morrow |
| KC |
51 M. PALMER, 91 Burrough |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
88 HOLT, 81 Hakim, 82 Horne (inj.) |
| OLT |
76 PACE, 70 St. Clair* |
| OLG |
61 NUTTEN, 68 Swanson |
| C |
67 McCOLLUM, 60 Everitt |
| ORG |
62 TIMMERMAN, 73 Spikes |
| ORT |
50 TUCKER, 73 Spikes |
| TE |
86 WILLIAMS, 84 Conwell, 45 Robinson |
| WR |
80 BRUCE, 87 Proehl, 89 Thomas, 83 Blevins |
| QB |
13 WARNER, 10 Green, 9 Germaine |
| FB |
42 HODGINS, 25 Holcombe, 34 Dukes |
| RB |
28 FAULK, 25 Holcombe, 36 Watson |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
93 CARTER, 77 Moran |
| DLT |
99 AGNEW, 94 Hyder |
| DRT |
90 ZGONINA, 75 Farr, 94 Hyder |
| DRE |
98 WISTROM, 57 Little, 66 Young* |
| LLB |
52 JONES, 51 Styles |
| MLB |
59 FLETCHER, 51 Styles, 53 Miller* |
| RLB |
54 COLLINS, 51 Styles |
| LCB |
21 McCLEON , 22 Shepherd*, 20 Allen |
| RCB |
41 LYGHT, 32 Bly, 22 Shepherd* |
| SS |
23 BUSH, 38 Coady, 27 Bowen* |
| FS |
35 LYLE, 27 Bowen* |
SPECIALIST |
| PK |
14 WILKINS, 5 Hall |
| P |
4 BAKER |
| H |
35 LYLE, 87 Proehl |
| KR |
32 BLY, 81 Hakim |
| PR |
81 HAKIM, 32 Bly |
| KC |
45 ROBINSON, 90 Zgonina, 61 Nutten |
* Rookie |
Back to Handicapper's Corner |
