Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Rams are nearing last rites

By ERNEST HOOPER

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 5, 2000

Since the Bucs schedule was released in the spring, Tampa Bay fans have been eying the Dec.18 Monday night showdown against the St. Louis Rams.

The rematch of the 1999 NFC Championship game would be a chance for the Bucs to exact revenge, and it almost certainly would have playoff implications. The idealist figured the Bucs-Rams tilt might determine who got homefield advantage in the NFC through the playoffs.

Now the game is shaping up as a play-in instead of a playoff. In fact, the Rams very well may enter Raymond James Stadium on the verge of elimination. If St. Louis (8-4) loses to Minnesota (11-2) Sunday, and the Saints (8-5) beat San Francisco (5-8), New Orleans would move a game ahead and need only a victory over Atlanta on Dec. 17 to clinch the NFC West title.

That would leave the Rams battling probably Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Detroit and Washington for wild-card spots. The Redskins hold a tiebreaker advantage over St. Louis, and if the Lions and Eagles remain in contention, they would have better conference records than the Rams.

That means the Rams-Bucs victor gains the tiebreaker. In essence, the game becomes a play-in, especially if the Bucs beat the Dolphins on Sunday.

It's almost inconceivable the once unstoppable Rams could end up on the couch watching the playoffs, but they have to win at least two of three to have a legitimate shot of getting into the post-season, and there is a lot going against them.

St. Louis' first-place schedule concludes in a most difficult way (Vikings, at Bucs, at Saints), and key injuries have taken a toll. Mix in the season-long struggles of the defense and a rash of turnovers (14 in the past three games) and you clearly have a team standing on the precipice of being overwhelmed.

Are there signs of hope? Sure. Quarterback Kurt Warner may shake off the rust that saw him throw four interceptions against the Panthers on Sunday, and the Rams offense can only play better after turning the ball over seven times against Carolina.

They also will have the luxury of facing a Vikings defense that has been riddled all season. If Bucs quarterback Shaun King averaged 281 yards in two starts against Minnesota, what's Warner going to do?

Still, the Rams defense will have to come up with some big plays against Minnesota, and though the unit played better with de facto coordinator Bud Carson calling plays for the first time this season, no one in his right mind would take St. Louis' defense over Robert Smith, Randy Moss and Cris Carter.

A loss to Minnesota would make the Bucs game a must-win for the Rams. But with the Bucs equally desperate for a victory and Tampa Bay's defense ready to duplicate its amazing effort in the conference championship game, a St. Louis victory at Raymond James seems even more improbable than a win against the Vikings.

Unless the Rams come up with a reversal of their most recent fortunes, they are done.

IN THE AFC: The AFC playoff picture is a little more clear than on the NFC side. Provided none of the frontrunners endure the proverbial collapse, the six leaders are likely to make the post-season: the Dolphins, Jets, Titans, Ravens, Raiders and Broncos. What's at stake, however, are playoff byes and homefield advantage. The Raiders' loss to Pittsburgh may cost them on both fronts, while the Dolphins have a shot to finish with the best record in the league.

PEPPER BRINGS SPICE: There's no telling what direction Dan Snyder may go in to find a new head coach after the season, but the hiring of Pepper Rodgers as the team's director of football operations may raise eyebrows around the University of Florida.

Rodgers was brought aboard in an official capacity late Sunday night in what was the first step in replacing Norv Turner with assistant Terry Robiskie. But he has been serving as a liaison between Memphis-based FedEx and the Redskins and has attended practice with Snyder on a regular basis. According to the Washington Post, Snyder initially named Rodgers as the interim coach before a heated exchange between him and Robiskie changed his mind.

So where do the Gators fit in? Rodgers gave Florida coach Steve Spurrier his first coaching job at Georgia Tech in 1979, and the two have remained close friends. Could he be a liaison between Snyder and Spurrier?

Maybe, but Rodgers reportedly has been communicating with Miami coach Butch Davis on Snyder's behalf.

-Information from Times wires was used in this report.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright