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Grinding it out in the fourth quarter
Posted: Tuesday November 02, 1999 03:04 PM
Ever wonder why Miami coach Jimmy Johnson went to such great lengths to stock up on running backs? After going 3-5 on the road in 1998, Johnson wanted to have plenty of backs around so he could keep players fresh and grind games out in the fourth quarter, especially on the road. After a 16-9 win in Oakland, during which the Dolphins held the ball for 12:12 of the fourth quarter, Miami is now 4-0 on the road in 1998. Flutie avoids third loss againBuffalo quarterback Doug Flutie drove the Bills 45 yards for the winning touchdown with 1:35 left to play against the Ravens, thus avoiding the first three-game losing streak of his career. In 208 starts at Boston College, the USFL, CFL and NFL, Flutie has never lost three in a row. Chief's defense toughAfter turning back three late drives to preserve a shutout against the Chargers, Kansas City's defense has now given up an average of just 6.1 points in the second half this season. The Chiefs' defense has plenty of gaudy stats: 13 interceptions, four defensive touchdowns and on Sunday they held the Chargers to three passing yards in the first half. All-pro linebacker Derrick Thomas said, "I think this group has a chance to be the best defense I've played on." Capers jam up with JacksonvilleAt the halfway point of the season, Jacksonville is a serious Super Bowl favorite thanks to the job Dom Capers is doing as defensive coordinator. Capers has taken an underachieving unit with no Pro Bowlers and even less personality and turned it into a swarming, unpredictable defense that has held opponents to just 9.9 points per game. The Jags are on pace to break the all-time record for fewest points allowed in a season set by the 1986 Chicago Bears. Now, back to the Real WorldAnd finally, the popular MTV shows Real World and Road Rules recently invaded One Buc Place in Tampa to film an episode that will air in February. The casts from each show played in a mud football game at the University of South Florida with $10,000 in e*trade money on the line. Despite coaching from defensive tackle Warren Sapp, the Real World team lost to Road Rules, 28-8. While Sapp was also disappointed that the pugnacious Puck was not part of the group, it must have at least been nice to finally see some offense in Tampa. Sports Illustrated staff writer David Fleming covers the NFL and appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated.
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