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By: Keith Dobkowski, NFL News Writer
January 19, 2005
And just like that the tide shifted. The unstoppable offense was
stopped, held to just three measly points by what was supposed
to be a very depleted defense. And the best team in football
should have lost twice yet showed heart and preserverence in an
overtime victory. Now, as they did earlier in the season, the two
best teams in football meet yet again. On Sunday, the New
England Patriots head west to face the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The AFC Championship Game creates quite the toss-up in several
football categories. We will break down each match-up to help
determine the team that will win and represent the AFC in the
Super Bowl. The following is a head to head look at the coaches,
the offense, the defense, kicking, and the intangibles. When
totaled we will have a winner.
BILL BELICHICK V. BILL COWER
Two great coaches will face off on Sunday. One is the ultimate
motivator with the ability to make average teams good. And the
other is a team first oriented master who even gets pri madonna
superstars to buy into his program. The ultimate motivator is the
Steelers Bill Cower while the team first master is the Patriots Bill
Belichick.
Cower has led the Steelers to the best record in football and their
fourth championship game under his watch. Cower has done it
with remarkably different teams using much different strategies.
This season Cower has returned to power football by running the
ball, controlling the clock and playing shutdown defense. This
game strategy is perfect for the conditions expected on Sunday.
Belichick has two Super Bowl rings and appears headed towards
his third. Belichick is known to be one of the hardest working
coaches in sports and thus one of the most prepared. In the
game against the Indianapolis Colts, Belichick, missing three
defensive starters, created a plan that ultimately held the high-
powered Colts’ offense to just three points. Expect Belichick to
have his defense just as prepared for the Steelers powerful rush
attack.
THE OFFENSES
While most talk about rookie Ben Roethlisberger when discussing
the Steelers offense, they should be discussing Jerome Bettis and
Duce Staley. The two runners gained over 150 yards against the
Jets and over 1700 yards on the season. With the snowy
conditions the Steelers may call 50 rushing plays in hopes of
gaining 200 yards and controlling the clock.
If the Steelers get down early they will be forced to pass.
Roethlisberger, still undefeated in his NFL career, had his worst
day yet against the Jets. In relatively mild weather
Roethlisberger threw picks in very untimely situations. After the
game it was learned that Roethlisberger had an injured thumb,
one that will require a glove this Sunday. Roethlisberger does
have strong arm and Cower in an effort to grab an early lead may
attack the Pats weakened secondary.
The Patriots have a very balanced offensive attack led by two-
time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady. Brady reminds many of Joe
Montana who won his second Super Bowl beating the Miami
Dolphins 20 years ago today. Brady is cool under pressure and
has two big wins in less than great conditions. Last week Brady
led the Pats to victory over the Colts in a light snow. And three
years ago Brady beat the Oakland Raiders in a very heavy snow
in what is now known as the tuck game.
But with the snow, the Pat too will rely on the ground game.
Corey Dillon set the second best rushing total in Patriots
postseason history last weekend. He may very well reset the
record, as Dillon is sure to get 30 carries in the bad weather.
Dillon was also the missing piece in the Steelers’ upset of the Pats
two months ago.
The Patriots nearly doubled the Colts in time of possession and
this game may come do to who wins the battle of the clock. Both
teams are sure to run heavy in the tough conditions.
THE DEFENSES
Both defenses are strongest at the linebacker position. This sets
up for a great battle in running conditions, as both teams are sure
to run often.
All-league linebacker James Farrior leads the Steelers. The
defense finished first in the NFL and will surely cause havoc for
the Pats as they only allowed 258 yards gained per game. The
defense’s only weakness may be speed at the cornerback
position. However, the harder it snows the less work the
cornerbacks will have to do playing the pass. The cornerback will
receive little help, as the safeties will be brought up to the line to
counter Dillon and the run.
The Pats shut down the middle of the field against the Colts by
running a 3-4 defense and even a 2-5 defense. With the snow
the Pats may keep a safety on the bench and run more of 4-4
defense against the run heavy Steelers. Everyone has been
pointing at the Pats’ cornerbacks as their Achilles heel. However,
they held their own against a much more dangerous offense in
the Colts and will be benefited by the nasty weather and
Roethlisberger’s injured thumb.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Adam Vinatieri has not only been there before, but has some of
the most memorable kicks in NFL history. He has won two Super
Bowls on last minute kicks and hit the game winner against the
Raiders in the snow filled tuck game.
Jeff Reed won the game in overtime against the New York Jets,
but he is young and has to yet experience the pressure of a
championship game, let alone a game that is played in the snow.
INTANGIBLES
The intangibles come in terms of flakes, home field and
experience. A winter storm is headed towards Pittsburgh and
anything from light snow to full whiteout is expected. The snow
will be a great advantage for the Pats who have won big games
in the snow before – see tuck rule – and because the snow will
wipeout the Pats greatest weakness. The Patriots are fielding a
depleted secondary where neither of their starting cornerbacks
will be playing. The snow will counter this effect because it is
harder to throw and catch a ball in nasty weather. While
Pittsburgh does have home field advantage it will not matter as
much because New England is used to playing in bad weather.
There will be no added benefit from the effects of the cold and
snow. Finally, this is a position that this Patriots team has been
in before and therefore they are well versed in the pressure of
the AFC Championship game.
FINAL SCORE: Patriots 24, Steelers 10
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