FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-PRE-5 8/28/01
PRESEASON CONCLUDES WITH GIANTS-RAVENS SUPER BOWL XXXV REMATCH, VERMEIL FACING SB XXXIV CHAMP RAMS
It’s the last week in August, but it will remind fans of the final Sunday of the last two Januarys!
Two games in the final week of preseason possess heavy Super Bowl overtones as the NFL heads into Kickoff 2001 (September 9-10).
On Friday afternoon, the Baltimore Ravens will host the New York Giants in a rematch of this past January’s Super Bowl XXXV. That night on ESPN (8:00 PM ET), the St. Louis Rams welcome the cross-state rival Kansas City Chiefs, coached by the man who led the Rams to their Super Bowl XXXIV title in 1999 – DICK VERMEIL.
Did somebody say déjà vu?
The Giants hope not, because their aim is to get on track this preseason by reversing the outcome of January’s Super Bowl in which the Ravens’ defense held them to 152 total net yards in a 34-7 triumph.
The 1-2 Giants have struggled this preseason and head coach JIM FASSEL is growing impatient.
“I want us to hone in on the smart aspects of football,” says Fassel. “And I want guys accountable. I want to see the difference in these guys in the way they play on Friday.”
The Ravens’ Super Bowl victory to conclude the NFL season was ironic. They topped the Giants last August 25 in the teams’ final preseason game 24-17 to produce an undefeated preseason (4-0). The last team to sweep its preseason and go on to win a Super Bowl was…the Giants (4-0) in 1990 (Super Bowl XXV).
This preseason’s contenders for a perfect slate? The Minnesota Vikings and San Diego Chargers, both 3-0. On Friday night, the Vikings play in Miami and the Chargers in Arizona.
Since 1970, 32 teams that have gone undefeated in the preseason have advanced to the playoffs.
“People say winning in the preseason doesn’t matter,” says Vikings tackle CHRIS LIWIENSKI. “Don’t believe that garbage. Nothing is better than winning, even in the preseason. What happens is you start getting on a roll, and you kind of forget how to lose.”
Following is a list of playoff teams that were undefeated in the preseason since 1990 and how they fared in the postseason:
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TEAM (PRESEASON RECORD) |
YEAR |
HOW THEY FARED |
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N.Y. Giants (4-0) |
1990 |
Won Super Bowl XXV |
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Minnesota (4-0) |
1992 |
Lost in NFC Wild Card Game |
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San Francisco (5-0) |
1992 |
Lost in NFC Championship Game |
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Detroit (4-0) |
1993 |
Lost in NFC Wild Card Game |
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Chicago (4-0) |
1994 |
Lost in NFC Divisional Playoffs |
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Philadelphia (4-0) |
1995 |
Lost in NFC Divisional Playoffs |
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Green Bay (5-0) |
1997 |
Lost in Super Bowl XXXII |
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Jacksonville (4-0) |
1997 |
Lost in AFC Wild Card Game |
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Pittsburgh (5-0) |
1997 |
Lost in AFC Championship Game |
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Miami (4-0) |
1998 |
Lost in AFC Divisional Playoffs |
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Minnesota (4-0) |
1998 |
Lost in NFC Championship Game |
|
Tampa Bay (4-0) |
1999 |
Lost in NFC Championship Game |
|
Baltimore (4-0) |
2000 |
Won Super Bowl XXXV |
|
Denver (4-0) |
2000 |
Lost in AFC Wild Card Game |
Meanwhile in St. Louis Friday night, there will be a lot of handshakes before kickoff – Dick is back in town!
“Dick” is Vermeil, the energetic, emotional coach who in ’99 guided the surprising Rams – led by a then-unknown quarterback named KURT WARNER – to a 13-3 record and 526 points, the fourth-most ever, and a 23-16 triumph over the Tennessee Titans in one of the most exciting Super Bowls ever.
“He knows what it takes to win a Super Bowl,” says Chiefs linebacker DONNIE EDWARDS. “How many years did it take him to do that in St. Louis? Three? Hopefully, he can bring that recipe to Kansas City.”
One of the Rams’ players who helped Vermeil mix his “recipe,” wide receiver AZ-ZAHIR HAKIM, thinks Friday night will be unusual indeed.
“It’ll be tough seeing Dick Vermeil on the other side of the ball,” says Hakim. “But life goes on.”
As it will for the rest of the NFL this week. Only, for some, life will definitely change.
This Sunday, September 2, teams have to cut down to their final 53 players for the 2001 season by 4:00 PM ET.
Those final cuts are not a fun time for coaches.
“This is the most unpleasant part of my job, to tell these guys that they’re no longer part of this team,” says Indianapolis Colts head coach JIM MORA. “They’ve worked hard and put in a lot of time. It’s not an easy thing to do.”
For the veterans assured of a position, the final week of preseason is time to put the final touches on their game.
“By playing a lot, you get in a game mood,” says New York Jets eight-year center KEVIN MAWAE. “Because next week, you go right out there and it’s the real thing.”
THIS WEEK’S NFL SCHEDULE – AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 1 |
All times local. Open date: Chicago |
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AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE |
INTERCONFERENCE |
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE |
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 30 |
THURSDAY AUGUST 30 |
FRIDAY, AUGUST 31 |
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Buffalo at Pittsburgh, 7:30 |
Jacksonville at Dallas, 7:30 |
Tampa Bay at Atlanta, 7:30 |
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Indianapolis at Cincinnati, 7:30 |
N.Y. Jets at Philadelphia, 7:30 |
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Tennessee at Detroit, 7:30 |
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Washington at New England, 8:00 |
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31 |
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Cleveland at Carolina, 8:00 |
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Green Bay at Oakland, 6:00 |
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Kansas City at St. Louis, 7:00 (ESPN) |
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Minnesota at Miami, 7:00 |
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N.Y. Giants at Baltimore, 12:00 |
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San Diego at Arizona, 7:00 |
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San Francisco at Denver, 7:00 |
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 |
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New Orleans at Seattle, 1:00 |
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AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE |
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE |
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Eastern Division |
Eastern Division |
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W |
L |
T |
Pct. |
Pts. |
OP |
|
W |
L |
T |
Pct. |
Pts. |
OP |
|
|
Buffalo |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
36 |
37 |
Arizona |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
47 |
43 |
|
|
New England |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
40 |
28 |
Philadelphia |
1 |
1 |
0 |
.500 |
23 |
20 |
|
|
N.Y. Jets |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
43 |
37 |
N.Y. Giants |
1 |
2 |
0 |
.333 |
41 |
36 |
|
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Indianapolis |
1 |
2 |
0 |
.333 |
75 |
76 |
Washington |
1 |
2 |
0 |
.333 |
33 |
72 |
|
Miami |
1 |
3 |
0 |
.250 |
59 |
71 |
Dallas |
1 |
3 |
0 |
.250 |
51 |
63 |
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Central Division |
Central Division |
|||||||||||||
|
|
W |
L |
T |
Pct. |
Pts. |
OP |
|
W |
L |
T |
Pct. |
Pts. |
OP |
|
|
Cleveland |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
42 |
36 |
Minnesota |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
80 |
52 |
|
|
Jacksonville |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
51 |
66 |
Green Bay |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
42 |
29 |
|
|
Pittsburgh |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
47 |
47 |
Detroit |
1 |
2 |
0 |
.333 |
58 |
73 |
|
|
Tennessee |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
64 |
54 |
Tampa Bay |
1 |
2 |
0 |
.333 |
40 |
27 |
|
|
Cincinnati |
1 |
2 |
0 |
.333 |
50 |
60 |
Chicago |
1 |
3 |
0 |
.250 |
69 |
74 |
|
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Baltimore |
0 |
2 |
0 |
.000 |
20 |
36 |
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Western Division |
Western Division |
|||||||||||||
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|
W |
L |
T |
Pct. |
Pts. |
OP |
|
W |
L |
T |
Pct. |
Pts. |
OP |
|
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San Diego |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1.000 |
61 |
54 |
Atlanta |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
63 |
33 |
|
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Denver |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
58 |
52 |
St. Louis |
2 |
2 |
0 |
.500 |
61 |
56 |
|
|
Kansas City |
2 |
1 |
0 |
.667 |
53 |
37 |
Carolina |
1 |
2 |
0 |
.333 |
44 |
58 |
|
|
Oakland |
2 |
2 |
0 |
.500 |
54 |
62 |
New Orleans |
1 |
2 |
0 |
.333 |
61 |
69 |
|
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Seattle |
1 |
2 |
0 |
.333 |
62 |
62 |
San Francisco |
1 |
2 |
0 |
.333 |
62 |
70 |
|
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LAST WEEK’S RESULTS |
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Home team in capitals. Open date: Atlanta |
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AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE |
INTERCONFERENCE |
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE |
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JACKSONVILLE 28, Kansas City 23 |
Carolina 20, BALTIMORE 17 |
Arizona 24, CHICAGO 20 |
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Buffalo 20, CINCINNATI 10 |
Philadelphia 20, TENNESSEE 14 |
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WASHINGTON 27, Cleveland 25 |
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MINNESOTA 28, Indianapolis 21 |
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PITTSBURGH 20, Detroit 7 |
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GREEN BAY 17, Miami 12 |
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TAMPA BAY 20, New England 3 |
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DENVER 31, New Orleans 24 |
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N.Y. Jets 17, N.Y. GIANTS 14 |
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SAN DIEGO 13, St. Louis 10 (OT) |
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Seattle 28, SAN FRANCISCO 18 |
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Dallas 21, Oakland 6 (American Bowl in Mexico City, Mexico) |
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