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How things change in three weeks

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Posted: Tuesday September 28, 1999 01:08 PM

Before the season began several players told me that the Falcons defense was one of the most feared in football. How things change in three weeks.

On Sunday, cornerback Ray Buchanan was burned for a 38-yard touchdown by Rams rookie wideout Torry Holt. Later, Rams quarterback Kurt Warner said Sunday's 35-7 win against the Falcons reminded him of his days in the Arena League when it was normal to score on almost every down.

One defense that has played extremely well is the Tampa Bay unit led by a rejuvenated Warren Sapp. Dating back to last year the Bucs have given up only one touchdown in their last 16 quarters. On Sunday they held the Broncos to just one third-down conversion.

The Bucs were so confident heading into their matchup with Denver that they scheduled a victory celebration before the game was even played.

Redskins picked up playbook fast

Washington coach Norv Turner told me that one key to the Redskins' fast start has been the ease with which quarterback Brad Johnson absorbed the team's playbook.

The system is very similar to the one Johnson used in Minnesota, although the two teams use different terminology and the Redskins rely more on timing routes.

For some players, though, switching playbooks can be harder than learning a foreign language. Turner told me that fullback Larry Centers, a former Cardinal, occasionally runs plays in practice the way they were designed back in Arizona.

Cowboys tough inside the red zone

Regardless of how Deion Sanders' big toe holds up this weekend, if Dallas continues to execute like it has inside the 20, the Cowboys will be nearly impossible to beat.

So far, in their seven trips inside the red zone, the Cowboys have six touchdowns and a field goal.

Reid not amused by Eagles start

The Eagles are now 0-17-1 on the road since Dec. 14, 1996--a winless road streak that is just five games behind the NFL record set by the Houston Oilers in 1984.

New coach Andy Reid is not amused. Last week on the return trip from Buffalo, Reid banned laughing on the team's charter plane.

Sports Illustrated staff writer David Fleming covers the NFL and appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated.

 

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