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A STATEMENT GAME
BY 316 (Dec 15)

St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk talks with the media at Rams Park Wednesday, Dec. 15, 1999, in St. Louis. Marshall Faulk has a chance to surpass the rushing-receiving total of 2,358 yards by Barry Sanders of the Lions set in 1997 (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

A win Sunday against the Giants would allow the Rams to become the third squad in team history to record 12 wins in a season. No Ram team has ever won more than 12. (The '73 and '75 teams both went 12-2 in the regular season.)

Now, I'm not going to denigrate the Giants in any way, shape or form. The New York Giants remain one of the bellwether organizations in professional football---and professional sports, in general. Giant history is, in many ways, NFL history.

The 1999 Giants, from what little I've seen of them, have the makings of a solid team ... but one that seems to require a lot going right to be in position to win games.

The defense is very solid, especially up front. The secondary was very sound before being ravaged by injuries. Yet the secondary did a surprisingly nice job in last week's win over the Bills ... and I heard Giant DC John Fox get much praise for his defensive scheme going in.

The Giant offense, meanwhile, has shown signs of life the last few weeks. But, it, too, is dependant on the same philosophy to win games ----make as few mistakes as possible, put together enough drives to get close enough for Cary Blanchard (and, before that, Brad Deluiso) to kick field goals, and then score a TD every now and then.

Kerry Collins has always struck me as a Dilfer-like QB ... reliant on others to play well to help him play well. He's got a powerful arm, but can be very mechanical in his delivery. Ohio State product Joe Montgomery at RB is a bit of an unknown quantity, but seems to have played well. The offensive line is workmanlike, as are the receivers (the lone exception being Toomer).

But something really jumped out at me last night as I was reviewing the Giants' season. Although 7-6, five of those wins by the G-men have come by six or fewer points. One of those close shaves occurred on opening day when the Giants beat the Dilfer-led Tampa Bay Bucs (admittedly, no small achievement), 17-13. An impressive win, to be sure. But, I think it's fair to say that was a much "different" Buc team than the one we're seeing nowadays with Shaun King at QB.

In addition to that four-point win, the Giants also own a pair of nail-biter victories over the Eagles (16-15 at the Meadowlands, 23-17 at the Vet) ... as well as a 13-10 victory over Dallas in New York...and last week's 19-17 victory over Buffalo in upstate New York. Their other two victories of the season were relative blowouts ----31-3 over the Saints in New Orleans and 41-28 over the Jets in a Meadowlands "road game."

Of their seven losses, though, four have been by 10 or more points----a pair of defeats at the hands of the Redskins (50-21 and 23-13) and Cardinals (14-3 and 34-24). To be fair, though, the Giants also pushed the Patriots in Foxboro very early in the season (when New England was playing very well) before losing, 16-14 ... and suffered a not-too-humiliating eight-point setback at Indianapolis a month ago, 27-19.

What does it all mean? No one can say for sure. However, it seems clear to me that the Giants do, indeed, ride the ragged edge when it comes to wins and losses. As I said, a lot seems to have to go right for them to win their games. The margin of error for the G-men seems to be very, very small.

Considering their five close victories (off-set by one close loss) ... a bad call here, an turnover there ... and the Giants might easily be looking at a 5-8 or 4-9 season. I think they have to feel very happy to be where they're at right now, at 7-6.

In my mind, then, it's imperative that the Rams come out sharp and focused Sunday ... and look to put a boot on the Giants' throats as fast as possible. Remember, this is the first home game in three weeks ... the first home game since the Rams clinched the NFC West ... and a win over the Giants would not only wrap up homefield advantage throughout the playoffs (a critical aspect to their playoff aspirations) ... it would also be a perfect way for the team, coaches and fans to celebrate what's transpired this season. Here's hoping the Dome rocks this Sunday.

I hate making predictions----probably because I'm awful at them. That said, the Rams *should* win this football game. It will not be a cakewalk, though ... and the Rams are going to have to bring their 'A' game to get it done. My hope is that they approach this game as they approached the first 49er game ... when they beat San Francisco about the head and shoulders with a blunt object from the opening kickoff to the final kneel-down.

It's critical that the Rams don't allow the Giants to 'stick around' long Sunday. Sure, the Rams will *eventually* wrap up homefield advantage ... but, still, it would be nice to see the Rams make a statement Sunday - and nail down homefield in dominant fashion.

Hopefully, they'll send a message to the rest of the league that the Rams are for real ... and intend to do more than make a "hi ... bye" cameo in the playoffs. 

And sure would be nice to wrap up homefield throughout the playoffs *and* secure that 12 win mark in the same game.