PAGE 12, THE BEHREND BEACON, SEPTEMBER 10, 1999
SPORTS
NFL TEAMS GEAR UP FOR '99
Out o
Vikings and Jets should top NFL in 2000
Just days away from the kickoff
to the 1999-2000 NFL football sea
son, there is already a sense of con
fusion as to who the teams to beat
are. It's no longer the era of Green
Bay/San Francisco/Dallas in the
NFC which was evident with the
Super Bowl run of the Atlanta Fal
cons last year. And as usual, your
guess is as good as mine in regards
to whom the AFC's representative
for Super Bowl XXXIV will he.
But I'll narrow it down for you.
My prediction for Super Bowl
XXXIV sees Minnesota squeaking
by the Bill Parcells' coached New
York Jets.
There are the teams, but that's not
the whole story. You're going to see
some surprises this season. I'm not
talking about a miracle season by the
Barry Sanders-less Lions and I don't
mean a storybook start for the Cleve
land Browns. The teams in the cel
lar of their divisions last season will
stay there for the most part, hut the
mediocre teams of recent seasons
Beacon Staff NFL Football Predictions
Matt Wiertel
AFC Championship: Jacksonville Jaguars vs
New York Jets
NFC Championship: Minnesota Vikings vs
Arizona Cardinals
Super Bowl XXXIV
Jacksonville Jaguars
Super Bowl Champs
NFC Top Ten
High-scoring Vikings won't be denied this time
by Fernando Dominguez
Los Angeles Times
I. Minnesota Vikings
Still dejected over the championship
that should have been, the Vikings
have their sights on Atlanta in more
ways than one _ getting past the Fal
cons in the playolts and reaching the
Super Bowl. Coach: Dennis Green
(71-41) 1998 record: 15-1. Newcomer
to make impact: End John Burrough,
who made 21 tackles for Atlanta last
season. Little-known fact: The Vi
kings are the only 15-victory team not
to reach the Super Bowl. Stat that
must change: Minnesota lived by the
pass and died by the pass, giving up
317 yards passing and three touch
downs through the air in the 30-27
NFC Championship Game loss to At
lanta. The Vikings ranked 19th in pass
defense during the regular season.
2. Green Bay Packers
To overtake Minnesota in the division,
the Packers have to stop resting on
their laurels. Coach: Ray Rhodes (29-
34-1) 1998 record: 11-5. Newcomer
to make impact: Rookie cornerback
Mike McKenzie, from Memphis,
gives the Packers added help in con
taining the likes of Minnesota's Randy
Moss. Little-known fact: The Pack
ers have won 44 of their last 46 games
at Lambeau Field. Stat that must
change: Brett Favre had 23 passes in
tercepted, an NFC high.
3. San Francisco 49crs
Their high-powered offense directed
by aging quarterback Steve Young
can't make up for the shortcomings on
defense, but nobody is writing off the
49ers. Coach: Steve Mariucci (25-7)
1998 record: 12-4. Newcomer to
make impact: Running hack Lawrence
Phillips, the well-chronicled bust in St.
Louis and Miami who can redeem
himself by replacing all-pro Garrison
Hearst, sidelined by a broken ankle.
Little-known fact: Young and Co.
manhandled opponents in the second
quarter, outscoring them, 163-70. Stat
that must change: The 49ers ranked
29th in pass defense, giving up 233.3
yards per game.
4. Atlanta Falcons
Even with a tougher schedule than last
year, the Falcons are too talented not
to give Minnesota a run for NFC su
premacy. Coach: Dan Reeves (162-
Bounds
might start their rise to Super Bowl
contendership.
The strongest division in the AFC
this year is from the East. Year-in
and year-out, this division almost al
ways has at least two teams with
playoff ability. The only problem:
they never deliver when it counts.
Postseason is also referred to as
"hell" to these teams that can't seem
to win the prize. Only two teams in
the division have made it to the show
in the 90s, hut lost. Buffalo and Mi
ami could contend for a wild-card,
sports editor
Minnesota Vikings vs
Jacksonville Jaguars
117-1) 1998 record: 14-2. Newcomer
to make impact: Safety Marty Carter.
The eight-year veteran made 159 tack
les last season with Chicago, includ
ing 18 against the Falcons. Little
known fact: The Falcons are looking
to put together winning seasons for the
first time. Stat that must change: Bet
ter coverage by the secondary. Of the
22 touchdowns through the air given
up by the Falcons, eight covered 50
yards or more.
5. Dallas Cowboys
If free of injury and turmoil, the Cow
boys should cruise in the NFL's weak
est division. Coach: Chan Galley (10-
6) 1998 record: 10-6. Newcomer to
make impact: Wide receiver Raghib
Ismail, the "Rocket," whose deep
threat ability should fit in Galley's
wide-open scheme. Little-known fact:
Gailey and Atlanta Coach Dan Reeves
were football standouts at Americus
(Ga.) High. Stat that must change: The
Cowboys gave up 12.99 yards per
completion, fifth-highest in the league.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are giving quarter
back Trent Dilfer one more chance to
show what he can do, or show him the
door. Coach: Tony Dungy (24-24)
1998 record: 8-8. Newcomer to make
impact: Rookie defensive tackle An
thony McFarland from Louisiana
State. The Buccaneers plan to rotate
him at the position with veterans War
ren Sapp and Brad Culpepper. Little
known fact: The Buccaneers have only
four winning seasons since joining the
NFL in 1976. Stat that must change:
Tampa Bay averaged 162.9 yards
passing, fourth-lowest in the league.
7. Washington Redskins
New team Owner Daniel Snyder
wants big improvements or pink slips
will abound. The line will form be
hind Coach Nory Turner. Coach:
Turner (32-47-1) 1998 record: 6-10.
Newcomer to make impact: Quarter
back Brad Johnson, a legitimate starter
relegated to back up Randall
Cunningham at Minnesota. Johnson
completed 64.4 percent of his passes
last season, tops among quarterbacks
with 100 or more attempts. Little
known fact: Snyder is erasing the last
vestiges of Jack Kent Cooke's ego.
The home field, for one, is now
Redskins Stadium. Stat that must
change: The Redskins need to win a
hut the Jets should fly atop the di-
Sure, the Browns are hack and
Cleveland is in a frenzy. That's
good for the NFL and good for the
city, but even better for the teams
in the AFC; for now at least. For
Jacksonville and Tennessee, that
should post two guaranteed wins.
For Pittsburgh, maybe a split (I
don't see the Steelers sweeping
their rival Browns). The Jaguars
should emphatically, but quietly,
win the AFC Central.
The "Best of the West" could be
the worst of the AFC's playoff
teams. The Broncos should ride the
top of that division, but I don't see
rookie quarterback Brian Griese re
placing #7. You know... John
Elway. Seattle could challenge, but
it looks to be a one-team show.
The NFC is on a two year losing
streak in the Super Bowl. Doesn't
sound big, but coming off a 13-year
winning streak, it is strange. Look
for the NFC to bring a quick halt
Craig Hazelwood
assistant sports editor
AFC Championship: Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas
City Chiefs
NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers vs
Washington Redskins
Super Bowl XXXIV
ington Redskins
Super Bowl Champs
game before Halloween, unlike last
year, when they started 0-7.
8. Arirona Cardinals
Because of a suspect defense, third
year quarterback Jake Plummer will
probably have to add to his eight
comeback victories in 26 games for
the Cardinals to win. Coach: Vince
Tohin (20-28) 1998 record: 9-7.
Newcomer to make impact: Line
backer Rob Fredrickson, an excel
lent pass defender who made 86
tackles for Detroit last season.
Little-known fact: The Cardinals
have not won an opener since 1991.
Stat that must change: Although they
couldn't outrun a centipede, they Car
dinals called for only seven fair
catches in 43 punts, averaging 6.9
yards per return.
9. New Orleans Saints
Who but Coach Mike Ditka would
conceive of trading all of the team's
draft choices to land one player, even
if it is Ricky Williams, the Heisman
Trophy winner from Texas? Coach:
Ditka (118-82) 1998 record: 6-10.
Newcomer to make impact: Will
iams. He better, or, pity couch pota
toes, Ditka goes back to blabbering
on TV. Little-known fact: New Or
leans' last 1,000-yard rusher was
Dalton Hilliard in 1989. Stat that
must change: The Saints ranked last
in the league in rushing at 82.8 yards
per game, scoring a measly six
touchdowns on the ground.
10. New York Giants
Putting his faith, and perhaps his
future employment, in the hands of
quarterbacks Kent Graham and
Kerry Collins might be Coach Jim
Fassel's worst move yet. Coach:
Fassel (18-13-1) 1998 record: 8-8.
Newcomer to make impact: Tight
end Pete Mitchell, a much-needed
pass-catching threat at the position.
He had 38 receptions for Jackson
ville in 1998. Little-known fact: As
head coach at Utah, Fassel recruited
and tutored quarterback Scott
Mitchell, now of the Baltimore
Ravens. Now you know who to
blame. Stat that must change: Gra
ham needs to improve on his 70.8
quarterback rating or, pity the Gi
ants, Collins gets to play.
to the AFC's supremacy.
There should be three exciting divi
sion races going on this season, but the
best should be the NFC East. Dallas,
Arizona, N.Y. Giants and
the... Washington Redskins'? Yes, not
only am I picking Washington as a con
tender for the NFC East, I am picking
them as the winner. There is no domi
nant team in the division which leads
me to believe the Redskins could he
the Cinderella team of the NFL this
season. Washington doesn't settle for
sub-. 500 seasons for too long at a time.
The 'Skins almost always win Super
Bowls unexpectedly, with an average
quarterback (Brad Johnson), a quiet
running back (Stephen Davis), and a
good offensive line.
The NFC Central shouldn't surprise
anyone except "cheeseheads." The Vi
kings are headed to Super Bowl
XXXIV no matter what Brett Favre
has to say about it. The Pack won't he
back without Holmgren on the side
lines. He was no Lombardi. hut Ray
Rhodes is 'not even a Shermin
Buffalo Bills vs. Wash-
Washington Redskins
AFC Top Ten
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
A retooled defense and a solid offense
makes Jacksonville a legitimate Super
Bowl contender. Coach: Tom
Coughlin (35-29) 1998 record: 11-5.
Newcomer to make impact: Safety
Carnell Lake. switching from
cornerback at Pittsburgh to his stron
gest position, solidifies the secondary.
Little-known fact: The .Jaguars are the
only expansion team in NFL history to
have advanced to the playoffs three
times in their first four seasons. Stat
that must change: Equally incompetent
at defending against the pass or the run,
the Jaguars yielded 347.4 yards a
game.
2. Miami Dolphins
Coach Jimmy Johnson has laid the
groundwork hut needs the ground
game to kick in for the Dolphins to
reach the next level. Coach: Johnson
(71-57) 1998 record: 10-6. Newcomer
to make impact: Rookie running hack
Cecil 'the Diesel' Collins from
McNeese State. The guy's a walking
police blotter but also a gifted
ballcarrier who can run inside or out
side. Little-known fact: Dan Marino
needs 1,087 yards passing to become
the first player to reach 60,000. Stat
that must change: The Dolphins aver
aged 3.4 yards rushing, worst in the
AFC.
3. Denver Broncos
Without retired quarterback John
Elway, Terrell Davis' running is not
enough to bring the Broncos an unprec
edented third consecutive Super Bowl
title. Coach: Mike Shanahan (55-29)
1998 record: 14-2. Newcomer to make
impact: Cornerback Dale Carter, who
hid 39 tackles and two interceptions
with Kansas City. Little-known fact:
The Broncos need to win their first four
home games to set an NFL record of
28 consecutive home victories, sur
passing Miami's streak of 27 from
1971-74. Stat that must change: Den
ver gave back every yard and more that
Elway and his backups gained through
the air, ranking 26th in passing defense.
4. New York Jets
If quarterback Vinny Testaverde's
clock doesn't strike midnight, the Jets
can go to the ball, er, Bowl. Coach:
AFC Championship: Jacksonville Jaguars vs
New York Jets
NFC Championship: Minnesota Vikings vs
Washington Redskins
Super Bowl XXXIV
New York Jets
Super Bowl Champs
by Fernando Dominguez
Los Angeles Tunes
Lewis...never heard of him? That
was the point
The Falcons' miracle of last sea
son won't repeat itself this season.
San Francisco will win the division
with maybe a challenge from New
Orleans. I am confident in Ricky Wil
liams even if other teams weren't.
Super Bowl XXXlV...Minnesota
vs. New York. Doesn't sound very
interesting, hut these are two teams
that have historic teams from the past
and will now have more for the fu
ture. Minnesota, however, will he the
team remembered.
The 1999-2000 football season
shouldn't he anything out of the or
dinary except for the return of the
Cleveland Browns. In this area, that's
a big thing, and in fact it is a positive
event for the NFL. Cleveland has al
ways been a city known for football
as evident with the crazy and loud
fans at the games. You'll see how
more exciting football can he with
just the addition of one team...one
historic team.
Jason Snyder
editor-in-chief
Minnesota Vikings vs
Minnesota Vikings
Jaguars Rule in 1999
Bill Parcells (130-92-1) 1998 record:
12-4. Newcomer to make impact:
Safety Steve Atwater was a force at
Denver and should he one with the
Jets. Little-known fact: The Jets each
took home a $32,500 losers' share
from the conference title game,
$17,500 more each than Joe Namath
and company got for winning Super
Bowl 111 in 1969. Stat that must
change: New York averaged 40.6
yards a punt, worst in the AFC, hence
the signing of free agent Tom Tupa
away from New England. Tupa was
ninth in the league with a 44.5-yard
average.
5. Seattle Seahawks
New boss Mike Holmgren is hoping
third-year quarterback Jon Kitna is
through cutting his teeth. Coach:
Holmgren (75-37) 1998 record: 8-8.
Newcomer to make impact: Wide re
ceiver Sean Dawkins, who last sea
son caught 53 passes for 823 yards
and a touchdown at New Orleans.
Little-known fact: Seattle's only
Monday night game this season is
Nov. 1 at Green Bay, Holmgren's
stomping ground the last seven years.
Stat that must change: The Seahawks
had the poorest third-down efficiency
rating in the league at 27.7 percent.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have installed an aggres
sive down-the-field attack, but
whether quarterback Kordell Stewart
can execute it is another story. Coach:
Bill Cowher (71-41) 1998 record: 7-
9. Newcomer to make impact:
Rookie safety Scott Shields from
Weher State can also punt and kick
in a pinch. Little-known fact: Cowher
and Minnesota's Dennis Green are
starting their eighth seasons with their
teams, the most by active coaches.
Stat that must change: Stewart's 62.9
quarterback rating barely beat out
those of immortals Don Hollas of
Oakland and Craig Whelihan and
Ryan Leaf of San Diego among AFC
starters.
7. Tennessee Titans
Quarterback Steve McNair's stiff
back had better loosen up or
Nashville's latest hick show is
doomed. Coach: Jeff Fisher (32-38)
1998 record: 8-8. Newcomer to make
impact: Rookie end Jevon Kearse
SEASON
NFL SCHEDULE
Week 1
Sunday, September 12
Baltimore @ St. Louis 12:00
Buffalo @ Indianapolis 12:00
Carolina @ New Orleans 12:00
Cincinnati @ Tennessee 12:00
Kansas City @ Chicago 12:00
Oakland @ Green Bay 12:00
Arizona @ Philadelphia 1:00
Dallas @ Washington 1:00
New England @ N.Y. Jets 1:00
Detroit @ Seattle 1:15
Minnesota @ Atlanta 4:15
N.Y. Giants @ Tampa Bay 4:15
San Fran. @ Jacksonville 4:15
Pittsburgh @ Cleveland 8:20
Monday, September 13
Miami @ Denver 7:00
Bye: San Diego
GAME OFTHE WEEK
STEELERS VS.
BROWNS
from Florida has the speed and
quickness to beat offensive tackles.
Little-known fact: Al Del Greco
needs one field goal to become the
12th NFL player to reach 300. Stat
that must change: The Titans
dropped opposing quarterbacks
only 30 times.
8. Buffalo Bills
The well-rounded Bills will prove
that last season was no Flutie fluke,
making for a tight race in the East
division. Coach: Wade Phillips (27-
25) 1998 record: 10-6. Newcomer
to make impact: Rookie wide re
ceiver Peerless Price last season
caught 61 passes for 920 yards and
10 touchdowns at Tennessee.
Little-known fact: Eric Moulds was
the only NFL receiver with 50 or
more catches to average 20 yards
per reception at 20.4. Stat that must
change: The Bills gave up 27 touch
downs passing, one fewer than AFC
leader Denver.
9. Kansas City Chiefs
So the Chiefs are reduced to Elvis
Grbac or Warren Moon, 43, to lead
an offensive revival. What, Dieter
Brock wasn't available? Coach:
Gunther Cunningham (first year)
1998 record: 7-9. Newcomer to
make impact: Linebacker Marvcus
Patton, who is coming off a 143-
tackle season with the Washington
Redskins. Little-known fact: Born
in Munich, Germany, Cunningham
is the fourth foreign-born head
coach in league history. Stat that
must change: The Chiefs set an NFL
season record with 158 penalties.
10. Baltimore Ravens
With Scott Mitchell or Tony Banks
at quarterback, the Ravens had bet
ter call a Priest other than Holmes.
Coach: Brian Billick (first year)
1998 record: 6-10. Newcomer to
make impact: Tackle Harry
Swayne, fresh off Denver's formi
dable offensive line, provides ex
perience and stability. Little-known
fact: Billick once worked in public
relations for the San Francisco
49ers. Maybe he can give Art
Modell a few tips. Stat that must
change: The Ravens scored 25
points or more in only three games.