It won’t be a surprise to PFW staffers if
the Rams play the Steelers in Super Bowl XXXVI. It will be a surprise if the Rams
don’t reach the title game. Consider the majority of PFW’s editors firmly on the
Rams’ bandwagon as they head into the postseason with just two losses all year.
Owners of the top-ranked offense, including MVP Kurt Warner and MVP runner-up Marshall
Faulk, the Rams didn’t return to their familiar role as title contender until they
beefed up their defense in the offseason. The moves have worked as the St. Louis’
defense is ranked third in the NFL. Also, don’t forget that if the Rams keep winning,
they won’t have to play outdoors the rest of the season.Jeff Agrest, Senior
editor
It's not often that the No. 1 seeds in each conference reach the Super Bowl, but I like
that to happen this season. In a rematch of Super Bowl XIV, won 31-19 by the Steelers over
the then Los Angeles Rams, the current St. Louis Rams will prevail. There's just no
stopping them. They have so much balance offensively that I don't think any defense in the
history of football could contain them. Defensively, the Rams have improved by leaps and
bounds. Keep in mind, St. Louis' defense has been pretty banged up of late, yet it
finished second in the league in yards allowed and sixth in points allowed. The Steelers
will keep the game close early because of RB Jerome Bettis, but a few big plays from QB
Kurt Warner will increase the margin in the second half before RB Marshall Faulk puts the
game away. Pittsburgh's 3-4 defense could give the Rams some trouble, but remember, the
Rams saw some of that same look preparing for New England earlier this season and
prevailed. Also, if the Rams should have to utilize more blockers to protect Warner
because of the 3-4, I forsee an easy adjustment. Head coach Mike Martz can shape his
offense any way he wants, and it's that offense that makes the Rams my Super Bowl pick.
Dan Arkush, Executive editor
With arguably the two best offensive players in the game today, I have to go with the
Rams to win this year's Super Bowl. Their offense is operating on all cylinders, and,
perhaps even more importantly, their defense has become one of the best in the league
after being one of the worst last season. I don't think any team has that kind of balance
on both sides of the ball, except perhaps Pittsburgh, who I pick to be St. Louis’
opponent on Feb. 3 in the Superdome. In the championship game, I look for "The
Greatest Show on Turf" to steal the show in convincing fashion.
Ken Bikoff, Associate editor
The only way the Rams won't pick up their second Super Bowl trophy in three seasons is
if they beat themselves. The defense has improved so much over last season that the
offense is allowed to make some mistakes and get away with them. If QB Kurt Warner throws
interceptions and St. Louis doesn't capitalize on its opportunities, the team is
vulnerable. But no team in the NFC or AFC can match the Rams when they are at their best.
The Steelers have the best shot, and I think they will get their chance in the Super Bowl.
St. Louis' overall speed, however, will be a problem for Pittsburgh. The Rams' defense is
much improved against the run this season and will be able to contain RB Jerome Bettis and
shut down the Steelers' offense.
Andy Hanacek, Associate editor
Last year, most folks clamored for a Ravens-Rams Super Bowl, where the most explosive
offense played the most dominant defense. They didn't get it. This year, they will. The
Steelers and Rams will square off in New Orleans, bringing an end to this crazy season.
Even though the Steelers have struggled giving up big pass plays, don't count them out of
this one. The Rams will have been beaten up by the Bears (in my opinion) in the NFC
Championship game (which the Bears might just win), and Pittsburgh brings the heat more
than the Bears at times. If the Rams hammer their NFC title-game opponent, they'll edge
out the Steelers on one big play, much like they did against the Buccaneers in the 1999
NFC Championship game. But if they had to squeak out a win in the NFC Championship, look
for Pittsburgh to beat up the Rams physically and hoist the trophy in what will no doubt
be an exciting game. My guess is No. 2 — a victory to the Steelers.
Mike Holbrook, Managing editor
This is a tough call, but I’m going to have to go with the top seeds — St.
Louis and Pittsburgh — with the belief that home-field advantage will be awfully
important in these playoffs. While I’ve got a feeling that the Rams’ penchant
for turnovers could put them in jeopardy, the "Greatest Show on Turf" is too
potent for most defenses, including the Steelers. Pittsburgh does have one thing that can
cause the Rams trouble, and that’s a strong pass rush. With a league-best 55 sacks,
the Steelers can put pressure on Rams QB Kurt Warner and cause turnovers. But I’ve
got a feeling the Rams will find a way to protect their MVP. Look for this game to be a
tight, hard-fought battle that comes down to the wire, much like the Rams-Titans game did
in Super Bowl XXXIV. In the end, I think the Rams have too many weapons and Warner will
hook up with WRs Torry Holt or Isaac Bruce on a game-breaking, long TD pass to win their
second title in three years.
Kevin McCauley, Website coordinator
In a year that saw fresh, new faces rising to the forefront, young superstars taking
teams to new heights and signs of struggling franchises returning to past glory days of
tradition, the outcome this year is all too predictable. How many times have you heard
that defense wins championships? I thought so…That being said, I find the obvious
choice to take home this year’s Lombardi Trophy truly offensive. Offensive that is,
in a Warner, Faulk, Bruce, Holt, Hakim, etc. sort of way. Despite having a quarterback
prone to throwing interceptions, the Rams’ arsenal of offensive weapons is more than
enough to compensate for any number of errant missiles fired by league MVP Kurt Warner and
will prove to be too much for any of their worthy opponents to combat. With all due
respect to the Rams’ defense, its job is simply to occupy the field long enough to
give the "Warner Brothers" time to rest and plan their next foray into the
endzone. I see a number of close matchups in the AFC resulting in Pittsburgh showing up in
New Orleans as merely a formality for the Rams as St. Louis wins its second Super Bowl
title in three years.
Trent Modglin, Associate editor
In our Kickoff Issue, I chose the Rams to beat the Broncos in New Orleans. All right,
so I was off with the talented but inconsistent Broncos, but there’s no way you could
sway me away from the Rams at this point. I think there are teams (primarily in the NFC)
that could beat St. Louis if they play a near-perfect game, but I’m sticking with the
best show on turf because the Rams won’t be venturing outside during the postseason
except to start their cars. In the AFC, things are a little less secure. Against my better
judgment, I’m going to stick with the plummeting Raiders, who I chose at midseason to
replace the Broncos as the AFC representative. I realize they don’t exactly enter the
playoffs on a high note, they’re beat up physically, they likely would have to go
through New England and/or Pittsburgh and they’re playing a team they lost to in the
season finale in the first round. I have come to terms with all of this, and yet I’m
still leaning in their direction. Why, you may ask? Because I believe they have too much
veteran leadership not to get it done. It will be a tough road to New Orleans, but the
Silver & Black will return to the form they showed early on. And then get crushed by
the Rams.
Nolan Nawrocki, Associate editor
There are four teams I can see in New Orleans on Feb. 3. In the NFC, I will be
surprised if the top two seeds, St. Louis and Chicago, do not meet in the NFC championship
game. Chicago has allowed the fewest points in the NFL. They win games with defense, very
much like last year’s Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. They have won every game
this year when they have scored more than 13 points. If they can disrupt Kurt Warner, tame
Marshall Faulk and make big plays defensively like they have done all year, the Bears have
a chance of representing the NFC in the Super Bowl. However, St. Louis has been incredibly
dominant this season and features the game’s best offense and third-ranked defense.
They are stocked with talent with Pro Bowl-caliber players at nearly every position and
will be very difficult to beat. They have won the Super Bowl before and are hungry to do
it again. In the AFC, Pittsburgh has to be the overwhelming favorite. Like the Rams, the
Steelers rank second in the league defensively and fifth offensively. QB Kordell Stewart
has elevated his game. RB Jerome Bettis is a truck coming out of the backfield. WRs Hines
Ward and Plaxico Burress not only have been productive catching the ball, but are
excellent blocking downfield. Defensively, the Steelers’ 3-4 formation allows their
linebackers to play are all over the field, and they have been shutting down opponents all
season. Nonetheless, my surprise pick in the AFC is a team that barely made the playoffs
last week under first-year head coach Herman Edwards. The New York Jets are 7-1 on the
road and lead the NFL in perhaps the most important statistical category in the game of
football — turnover differential. The Jets’ +18 turnover margin is the main
reason, along with a superb offensive line and the vision of RB Curtis Martin, that the
Jets made the playoffs this year. Edwards’ positive attitude is contagious, and I
would not be surprised to see Edwards take his sixth-seeded Jets to the Superdome if QB
Vinny Testaverde can play like the seasoned veteran he is.
Pick: Rams over Jets
Ron Pollack, Editor-in-chief
Rams over Steelers. Yeah, it’s boring to make chalk picks like this, but I think
these are the teams to beat. That said, I don't think any team in the NFL can be
considered an overwhelming lock to reach the Super Bowl. A Rams-Bears matchup would be
very interesting, but I don’t think that even the Bears’ sensational defense can
shut St. Louis down. Slow them down, maybe. Even so, a slowed down Rams offense is more
impressive than most. On the flip side, I just don’t see the Bears' offense doing
enough against the Rams. While it's not incomprehensible, I don't see any of the other NFC
teams being able to win back-to-back road games against the Bears and Rams (assuming form
holds) in the playoffs. In the AFC I really had a hard time turning my back on the
Patriots. New England seems to be playing like a team of destiny right now. I was hugely
on the Steelers' bandwagon until their late-season loss to the Bengals, which gives me
cause for concern. Nonetheless, I think home-field advantage will carry the Steelers to
the Super Bowl. That said, I won't be at all surprised if Patriots head coach Bill
Belichick comes up with the sensational game plan necessary to frustrate Steelers QB
Kordell Stewart in the AFC title game.
Jeff Reynolds, Associate editor
Steelers 26, Rams 20 ... As much as I would like to lean toward the St. Louis Rams, the
Pittsburgh Steelers are my pick to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in the New Orleans Superdome
Feb. 3. Pittsburgh, much like Philadelphia (a 20-17 overtime loser to St. Louis in Week
One), the New York Giants (a 15-14 loser to St. Louis in Week Five) and New Orleans (a
34-31 winner at St. Louis in Week Seven), uses a blitzing scheme that will keep Rams QB
Kurt Warner off-balance, unable to find his timing or rhythm under constant pressure from
LBs Joey Porter (9.0 sacks), Kendrell Bell (9.0 sacks), Jason Gildon (12.0 sacks) and DEs
Kimo von Oelhoffen (4.5 sacks) and Aaron Smith (7.5 sacks). Pittsburgh defensive
coordinator Tim Lewis’ bunch will force the turnover-prone Rams into mistakes with
pressure and speed. RB Jerome Bettis might be the clincher here. Rams defensive
coordinator Lovie Smith has his unit playing very well, but Bettis has no equivalent,
he’s the top of the mountain when it comes to bruising backs. Don't be surprised if
New England or Chicago disrupts this scenario with an upset in the conference title game. |
