Despite injuries, Patriots keep winning
Posted: Tuesday December 22, 1998 12:12 PM
This week's unsung coach is Patriots offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese,
who came up with a plan to beat the 49ers despite missing quarterback Drew Bledsoe, receiver Terry Glenn and fullback
Tony Carter.
Zampese gave untested QB Scott Zolak a chance,
blending screens, draws and a number of deep passes against a questionable
San Francisco secondary. Zolak went 14-for-30 for 205 yards and two
touchdowns Sunday to put the Patriots into the playoffs. Going for a first
down late in the game instead of a sure field goal was an excellent
decision, and the tying touchdown changed the game's momentum.
Another coach worthy of mention is Bears offensive coordinator and
quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh. Young Matt, just 42, got an offensive
unit with too many injuries to mention to play very well at the tail end of
an awful season.
The Bears have lost two quarterbacks for their season and played with their
third-string tailback Sunday, but Cavanaugh got a 24-3 win over the Ravens.
Unproven running back James
Allen rushed 23 times for 163 yards and a touchdown.
The last two seasons have been hard on Bengals quarterback Jeff Blake. Last year, he
lost his job to Boomer Esiason, then this year, he was almost waived or
traded after losing his job to Neil O'Donnell. Blake has
handled all of this with class and waited his turn. This week he made the
best of his limited opportunities, completing 20 of 36 passes for 367 yards
and a touchdown and, most of all, a win in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, Blake
broke his wrist in the win, ending his year.
I always look for the senior citizens to make this list, so we have to
mention Raiders quarterback Wade Wilson. Wilson, 39,
went 14-for-25 for 167 yards, two touchdowns and again, a win. Rookie coach
Jon Gruden has now won with three different quarterbacks this year.
Two other performances worth noting -- Giants receiver Amani Toomer, who had the
game-winning catch to end Denver's undefeated season last week, came back
with four catches for 49 yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs. Patriots
rookie Greg Spires came
through with two sacks in the win over the 49ers, helping bolster a pass
rush that's been awful with Willie McGinest out.
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