It's November, so it's must-win time
Posted: Thursday November 05, 1998 09:27 AM
It's that time of year when you know the NFL season is getting serious --
say good-bye to the bye week. No more three-day weekends for players. No
more trying to figure out who's not playing each week. Last weekend, the Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers had
the last of the NFL holidays.
Just think -- next year with 31 teams, there will be one team off each
weekend. How screwed up is that? For this year at least, the byes are done
for the final two months of the season. The playoffs are coming up fast,
and if you can't take a week off on the schedule anymore, you certainly
can't take one off on the field.
This weekend all 30 teams strap it up for battle. We throw around the term
"must-win" all too often. 49ers coach Steve Mariucci put up this
smokescreen before the 49ers' most recent visit (and loss) to the Packers
at Lambeau Field: "Must-wins are playoff games or games that get you into
the playoffs."
I always thought every game should be considered a must-win. If you lose,
then you must win the next one or at least give it the old college try. You
know, win one for the Gipper! Well, here are four games this week that need
to won for the Gipper.
Atlanta (6-2) at New England (5-3): Chris Chandler vs. Drew Bledsoe. The Patriots
secondary is one of the league's elite. Edge Bledsoe. On the other hand,
the Patriots receiving corps comes in on one leg with injuries to Terry Glenn, Troy Brown and Vincent Brisby. Last week,
the Pats looked to the ageless one Henry Ellard (actually, he's 37). Call
it even on the QBs. This game also features two stud runners with Atlanta's
Jamal Anderson and
Patriots rookie Robert
Edwards. Atlanta's team quickness is better suited for the climate
controlled Georgia Dome. I like the Pats in this must-win game.
New Orleans (4-4) at Minnesota (7-1): The Saints play good defense
and play merry-go-round at QB. It was to be Kerry Collins' turn soon
until he had too many rounds a few nights ago in Charlotte. The Vikes now
are only one game ahead of the Packers and must win to get back on track
for an all-expense-paid trip to Super Bowl XXXIII.
Buffalo (5-3) at New York
Jets (5-3): Flutie plays every game likes it's a must win. I only
wish I had paid more attention to Doug while he was in Canada. The Bills
and Jets are both solid on defense. Can New York's Bill Belichick find a
way to stop a QB who does the best imitation of Fran Tarkenton I've seen in
years?
Kansas City (4-4) at Seattle (4-4): 4-5 makes it tough to chase
that playoff dream. There is a big, giant clock ticking as Warren Moon turns 42 on
November 18. The only thing sharp about Chiefs QB Elvis Grbac has been his
tongue.
For all of these teams, this week is a must-win situation. But if they
don't win, there's always another must-win next week.
James Lofton, one of 76 nominees this year for the Pro Football Hall of
Fame, is an NFL analyst for CNN/SI. His weekly column appears every
Thursday exclusively on CNNSI.com.
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