VS.

The ZINE makes ESPN look like idiots again as we bring back  the "spoof" Superbowl cover that they found to be so amusing back in September.

One of the reasons this Championship game was SO satisfying is that the Rams came out and played 'their game'. Unlike the Tampa war, this was Ram-Football. They imposed their will on the Titans for quite a while. Except for the redzone problems this is the way they have played all year long---Warner throwing mid-range darts to all his weapons. He is so deadly accurate, it is breathtaking at times.

At the same time, I guess I'm real satisfied with the way the Rams won because I think many folks underestimated the Titans and McNair. Yes they have flaws, but their game is built around those two great lines and McNair/George. They do need to add some skill players, but I'd still call them the second best team in the NFL. That's pretty great.
Just not as great as the Rams.

The Titans have done more, with less than any team in recent memory. That says a lot about their coaching staff and heart.  The AFC was a superior conference this year. LOOK what the Titans accomplished.

Also, I still say McNair doesn't get enough respect. Yes, Warner can do things McNair cant do. McNair is nowhere near as accurate or 'polished' a passer as Warner or any of  the good passers. He has NO 'touch' at all and he isnt consistently accurate. All that is true. (I think he can improve though; he threw pretty well in college). But McNair can do things no other QB in the league can do.

One of the reasons I think McNair is a great weapon is the effect he has on the opposing team's front four. They can't just pin their ears back and rush. They have to 'contain' him 'while' they are pushing upfield. That really makes it a LOT easier for offensive lineman to block them. Also, he tires lineman out from having to chase him. K.Carter looked dead on that last drive.

AND, I think if he improves his passing a little bit, and the Titans get him another  weapon or two, he could lead the Titans back to the Super Bowl. Who's gonna stand in their way in the AFC?

And Eddie George became truly great this year as well. This was the first time all year that the Rams front four got pushed around, wasn't it? I cant remember another team just pounding the Rams front four like the Titans did Sunday. Maybe more teams will try it next year. They need more qualilty depth on the line.

And Kearse is awesome,  as are Matthews and Bishop. They whipped Jax 3 times, Indy at Indy, the Bills, and  they beat the Rams earlier. I would say they deserve a whole lot of respect.

But having said all that...ie. that the Titans don't get nearly enough respect, that they are a great team, and that McNair is a great QB....still...they were lucky to have been in the game in the

The Titans were tenacious and skillful, but they were lucky to be close at the end.

The Titans played Titan-Ball for a while in the second half, pounding the ball, but by  then the Rams had built a lead. It was 'catch up' time for Tenn. The Rams air attack was and is, a more lethal attack than Tennesee's grinding ground game. The Rams are the better team. They have much more talent.

This game was beautiful. I'm kinda glad it wasnt a blowout. If it 'had' been a blowout some folks would have dismissed the Rams by saying the Titans didnt even belong in the game. It's always something with some critics. Anyway, I dont think very many 'credible' on-lookers are gonna 'doubt' the Rams championship-pedigree after that game.The Rams 'deserved' that one, and almost everyone who saw the game, will be forced to conclude that.

Now, the fans and the Rams have something to build on. Just like when Denver won a close Super Bowl against the Packers. They came back and DOMINATED the next year. Maybe the Rams can do that. They will be the hunted now. They will have to improve to win it all again. I hope they come back 'Hungry'. Often, champions don't. We'll see if they're up to it.

Right now, though, the Rams are the class of the NFL. They earned it. They proved it. I'm happy. A championship stays with you forever. Time to celebrate.

WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING BY MAC
(Jan 31)

I got to the middle of the second quarter at my neighbor's house, when power failed.  I went to the local bar, where power failed halfway through my first beer...and then the same thing happened at the third and fourth locations. I listened to the fourth quarter on the radio, pissed beyond all belief, as feared we'd lose... 

All I can say is I wouldn't change a thing now..!!

We couldn't have drawn up a better way  to win it all. We have three fabulous plays to enjoy, along with everything else---

* the Tampa game and the Rams' own version of "The Catch"

* the superbowl winning TD by Ike

* and "The Tackle" by Jones. 

It WAS INDEED the best super bowl ever.  Better than the Giants' win over the Bills, which was my favorite before today.

This is a game and season I'll never forget, .  . The Titans did a good job in the redzone, but then our O didn't execute the way they should've.  HAD they gotten TDs, that game could've gotten UGLY for the Titans. Like I said, though, I wouldn't change a thing...Winning the way we did was painful, but much more memorable.

This one's for  ALL Rams fans, and as far as I'm concerned all the Rams players of the past who fell short as well.

EVERY RAM, EVERY DOWN
BY TOM RIVERS
(Jan 31)

Every Ram, every down you never know who. 

Last week on several occasions I predicted the Rams would win on the last play. Why did I make that prediction?

1. I thought the game would be close and could well be decided near the end of the game.

2. I don't know Jeff Fisher, but from what I have seen, I liked him as a coach. He is going to send a team on the field which will play the entire 60 minutes.

3. I know Dick Vermiel as a coach very well; I have never seen a coach who gets more from his player than Dick.

4. Dick has great players, but you don't get to put your mark on history if that is all you have.

5. All great football games are decided by only two or three critical plays.

Since Dick took the job in St. Louis three years ago, he has been preaching the following philosophy---"Every man every down, you never know who you never know when." Dick had been preparing every Ram for three years to be THE RAM when the world championship was on the line. Mike Jones was that Ram Sunday, but all of them were ready.

Saint Louis, you have my favorite coach coaching your football team.

Have a nice off-season. Tom.

During the game, unfortunately, there wasn't any commentary about how Miller was winning the battle with Kearse all day long. Kearse knocked down a pass and of course had theface mask play on a Warner scramble, but we dominated him all day until the fourth quarter when he got the hit on Warner that resulted in the touchdown.

All that pre-game hype, and not once did they isolate on how Miller was pounding him.

It's too bad that the networks spend so much time on self-promotion that there's no time for analysis of individual matchups anymore. Not one replay of a holding call. The game was very well played by both teams, but the television coverage was awful.

Al Michael was very pro-Titans in his coverage, and of course there were a lot of interviews of Titans but few Rams interviews. Thank God for Jaworski and Steve Young or you might not have known we even played the game.

It won't be written anywhere, but this defense held up against the 2 biggest smash-mouth teams in the league. Ultimately it came down to the fact that we had the best combination of offense and defense, better than anybody, and both times the best team was still standing at the end.