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-FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS—SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1985
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Associated Press
Rams Eric Dickerson is breaking out of a slump
Troubled Falcons
seeking respect
By Steve Brunner
Gwinnett Daily News
The Atlanta Falcons are one of
the few teams that can’t think
playoffs. They can’t even think
.500. All that is salvagable is re
spect.
After a stretch of three games
against the Los Angeles Earns (8-
2), Chicago Bears (10-0) and Los
Angeles Raiders (6-4), head coach
Dan Henning figures his Falcons
(1-9) could have plenty.
Or none.
“These are three weeks when
we’ll test ourselves against what
appears to be the cream of the
crop,” Henning said. “And we’ll
have played three more great de
fenses. We look at the next few
weeks as an opportunity to make
up for some of the disappoint
ments of this year.”
The local fans apparently have
already given up completely.
Roughly 17,000 tickets remained
unsold as of Friday and Sunday’s
crowd for the Rams game could be
less than 30,000.
Henning, who blocks out
thoughts of the pressure he is
under as a head coach with a 12-30
record, is thinking in with the good
air and out with the bad.
“We want to take the way we
played in the second half of the
Washington game and the second
half of the Philadelphia game and
put that together,” said Henning.
“During those periods, we shut
those people down and moved the
football efficiently.”
Ball control has been a large
part of Atlanta’s scheme and no
doubt will continue as such. The
Falcons are No. 2 in the NFL in
time of possession, trailing only
the Chicago Bears. Running back
Gerald Riggs, the NFC’s top
rusher with 1,015 yards, is a big
RAMS-FALCONS SCOUTING REPORT
RAMS OFFENSE: In most weeks, the Rams can count on Eric Dickerson to control the clock
and punish the defense. But the Falcons have always been particularly tough on Dickerson. The
Falcons will probably committ eight men to defend the run as they did last time against the
Rams. Taking what the defense gives you is a tired cliche But in this case, the Falcons'
defense gives you man-to-man coverage on the wideouts and a lot of it The Rams have enough
speedy receivers to make the Falcons pay even if they don't get Dickerson's customary 100-
yard performance.
FALCONS OFFENSE: Archer rallied the Falcons against Philadelphia in the second half last
week or the starting quarterback might have been journeyman Bob Holly. The Falcons have just
one productive wide receiver in Billy Johnson and they lead the league in sacks allowed. Gerald
Riggs is their only consistent offensive weapon, but even his presence is negated when the
Falcons have to play from behind. In short, the Falcons replaced one quarterback who couldn't
avoid the rush (Bartkowski) with one (Archer) whose arm is suspect.
RAMS DEFENSE: The Rams are strong against the run out of their 3-4 alignment They have
enough good pass rushers in Gary Jeter, Doug Reed and Dennis Harrison to take advantage of
the Falcons' ailing offensive line. With Dickerson a mere mortal after his superhuman 1984
season, the Rams are still a better team. The reason is a more aggressive defense. When the
Rams gamble with man-to-man coverage, they have people like Green, Nolan Cromwell,
Johnnie Johnson and Leßoy Irvin to make it work.
FALCONS DEFENSE: Once upon a time, the Falcons' linebackers were a feared unit. Not
anymore. The Falcons will stop occasional drives with something resembling the old Grits Blitz,
but too often their gambles blow up in their faces. Atlanta finally got slow-footed Tom Pridemore
out of the starting secondary. But there is little talent and even less depth on a defense that
ranks last in the NFC.
KEY MATCHUPS
THE TEAMS VS. THE SPREAD: Atlanta beat the line last week for only the third time this season
and the Falcons are 1-4 at home against the spread The Rams are 3-2 on the road against the
line
RAMS WRs HENRY ELLARD and BOBBY DUCKWORTH vs. FALCONS CBs WENDELL
CASON and BOBBY BUTLER: Look for the Rams to throw underneath early to set up the deep
pattern. The Rams receivers have it all over the Falcons’ in speed. And unlike some defenses,
the Falcons won’t try to hide their weakness with a lot of zones
RAMS DE DOUG REED vs. FALCONS T ERIC SANDERS: This was not the best week for
Falcons starting right tackle Brett Miller to come down with a broken ankle Reed is one of the
Rams’ best pass rushers. Sanders is a journeyman who should be very happy that David Archer
can scramble
RAMS CBs GARY GREEN and LEROY IRVIN vs. FALCONS WRs STACEY BAILEY and BILLY
JOHNSON: The Falcons may list Charlie Brown as a starter but he’s been a non-entity since
being traded to Atlanta from Washington. Ditto Bailey, who weighs only 157 and has the bruises
to prove it. This matchup should allow the Rams to committ more defenders to the rush and
hound Archer into some interceptions
FALCONS C JEFF VAN NOTE vs. RAMS NG CHARLES DEJURNETT: Van Note is having a
good season for a 39-year-old center If DeJurnett can handle Van Note it should go a long way
in how wen the Rams’ shut down Riggs, who is looking to become the first Falcon running back
to rush for 100 yards in four consecutive games.
Pro Football
Falcons vs. Rams
TODAY’S GAME: 1 p'm.
□ SITE: Atlanta-Fulton County Sta
dium.
□ RECORDS: Falcons 1-9, Rams 8-
2.
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS: Eagles
23, Falcons 17, OT; Giants 24, Rams
19.
SERIES: Rams lead, 28-7-2.
COACHES: Falcons, Dan Henning
(12-30, 3rd season); Rams, John Rob
nson, (27-15, 3rd season).
BROADCAST INFO: Television
none. Radio WSB-AM (750).
reason for that.
Riggs will have to do it with less
help against the NFL’s No. 3 run
defense this week. The offensive
line will have two inexperienced
starters, guard Jeff Kiewel and
tackle Eric Sanders, filling in for
injured regulars.
“If we don’t have any more
injuries, we should be sound in
there,” said Henning. “Another
injury and we’d have to move
people around and that could take
its toll.”
The Atlanta defense has given
up a league-high average of 30.7
points a game and ranks 27th in
total yardage allowed.
Those are the kinds of statistics
that should bring perk up the
Rams, who are 24th in total of
fense. Running back Eric Dicker
son (644 yards) and quarterback
Dieter Brock (1,770 yards, 9 TDs,
10 interceptions) are the central
figures. Emerging from a slump,
Dickerson has broken the 100-yard
mark the past two games.
Bears (10-0) at Cowboys (7-3)
Mike Ditka returns to the city where he learned to coach pro
football when the Chicago Bears invade Dallas for what might be
one of the top attractions ot the regular season.
Ditka's goal, of course, will be to
beat his mentor, Tom Landry.
Perhaps Ditka and the Bears will
show the Cowboys a trick or two. Can
the pupil beat his famous teacher?
The elements will make it the NFL’s
most interesting game to date in
TV CAMS
1 p.m., Ch. 5 **
-
1985
The Cowboys are trying to recapture the NFC East title and
the Bears represent a giant obstacle.
But the Bears haven't beaten Dallas in 14 years and have
defeated the Cowboys only once in their home stadium, Ditka
was embarrassed last year when he called only five running
plays in the second half for Walter Payton and Dallas won 23-
14.
The Bears can clinch the NFC Central title with a win over
Dallas. Chicago is the first team since Minnesota in 1975 to win
its first 10 games.
Saints (3-7) at Packers (4-6)
The New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers have a lot in
common entering today's game at Milwaukee
The Packers are coming off a victory over Minnesota, but
prior to that had lost three straight The Saints are in the midst of
a five-game tailspin.
Both teams also have unsettled quarterback situations. After
10 games, the Saints have decided to bench Dave Wilson. The
Packers, on the other hand, have juggled between Lynn
Dickey, Jim Zorn and Randy Wright all season; and probably will
switch again this week from Zorn to Dickey.
NFC EAST
fe : tot ** 4 f
Associated Press
Giants QB Phil Simms
Giants (7-3) at Redskins (5-5)
The last time the New York Giants had a team like this, the
names were Gifford, Tittle, Rote, Summerall and Huff.
Those players were household
words the last time the New York
Giants won a division title and Frank
Gifford and Pat Summerall are still
visible in the pro football world as
network sports announcers.
But the Giants' fans have waited
I TV CAM! I
Monday
1 9 p.m., Ch. 2 |
22 years for the Giants to put together another team that could
match their last conference championship team in 1963.
•They may find out Monday night if they've got a chance to
end that long drought when the Giants play the Washington
Redskins at RFK Stadium.
The Redskins have been on top of the NFC Eastern Division
the last three years but they're staggering this year at 5-5 and
the Giants could deliver the knockout punch.
Cardinals (4-6) at Eagles (5-5)
Things really have come unglued for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Jim Hanifan’s team is on its last leg, and his days as a coach
probably are numbered.
St. Louis has lost five of its last six games. Roy Green, the
club’s best all-around offensive player, has been hampered all
season with a variety of injuries and has missed the last two
games with a bruised leg. Ottis Anderson, the Cardinals' top
running back, didn't start last week because of two dislocated
toes on one foot and a sore ankle on the other leg. He got in for
two plays against the Bucs, and suffered a sprained knee and
probably won't play this week.
Making matters worse, quarterback Neil Lomax has been in a
slump, missing his targets at times and having his receivers
drop the ball at other times
Suffice to say, these are troubled and muddy waters that
flow from Busch Stadium.
So when the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that has won four of
its last five games, come to town Sunday for an NFC East game,
they'll be facing a team that will either give in or fight like mad
NFC CENTRAL
Vikings (5-5) at Lions (5-5)
The Detroit Lions played like jokers against the Chicago
Bears last week, but they’d like to look more like a wild card
when they host arch-rival Minnesota in the Pontiac Silverdome
The problem is, so would the Vikings.
As luck would have it, the twain shall meet as the old NFC
Central Division rivals meet in sort of a Showdown in Motown
The Lions and Vikings will match their .500 records with
visions of playoff cash dancing in their heads.
The Lions are counting on their mastery of the Silverdome to
even the score with the hated Vikings. Detroit has a 4-0 record
at home, with the victims including the likes of Dallas, San
Francisco and Miami
Bengals (5-5) at Raiders (6-4)
In the strange ebb and flow of the National Football League,
the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Raiders are two
teams that have taken sudden, swift turns
TV GAME |
1 4 p.m., Ch. 11 la*
Cincinnati, after struggling early,
has rebounded behind the strong
young arm of Boomer Esiason to win
three in a row and four of its last five
games
Los Angeles, on the other hand,
after breezing to five straight victo-
NFL Week 10
ries, not only has lost two in a row, but has given up 73 points in
the process.
So this Sunday afternoon s match between two strong
playoff contenders on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has
taken on added significance.
Neither the Bengals nor the Raiders can really afford a loss
as the NFL schedule draws into its crucial late stages
Patriots (7-3) at Seahawks (6-4)
Pardon the Seahawks if they look strangely across the
Kingdome field at Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan and
wonder what he's doing in the lineup.
The last time they saw Grogan he was on his way to the
bench with Seattle leading 23-0 in a game early last season.
Tony Eason came in and rallied New England to a 38-23
victory. It looked like Grogan's days as a starter were over.
Now Grogan has directed the Patriots to five straight
victories since Eason suffered a shoulder injury and is a
frontrunner for Comeback Player of the Year. Eason is healthy
again, but Grogan remains the starter.
Seattle has won two straight with ferocious defense and a
turnover-free offense. To derail New England, the Seahawks
must find a way to rattle Grogan and contain hard-running Craig
James. What may be tougher will be moving the ball. The
Patriots have been permitting less than 12 points a game during
their winning streak.
Bills (2-8) at Browns (4-6)
A tale of two of the worst offenses in the NFL will unfold
today when the Browns play Buffalo at Cleveland Stadium.
In Cleveland, the Browns have decided rookie Bernie Kosar
is the answer to the second lowest-scoring offense in the AFC
The Browns have lost four straight, fallen out of first place in the
AFC Central, the division no one really wants to win, have only
scored two touchdowns in the last three games and are 1 -4
when Kosar starts.
In Buffalo, the Bills not only own the worst offense in the
league, but also a two-game winning streak.
Last week Hank Bullough slapped Vince Ferragamo to the
bench and gave Bruce Mathison his first start ever at quar
terback in four seasons. Mathison and Buffalo responded with a
20-0 shutout of Houston.
AFC EAST
■
Associated Press
Dolphins WR Mark Duper
Dolphins (6-4) at Colts (3-7)
Mark Duper is well That news makes the Indianapolis Colts
sick
Not exactly among the National Football League leaders
when it comes to defending against the pass, the Colts are now
even more concerned about slowing Miami in the Hoosier Dome
with Duper and his blazing speed back in the lineup
I TV CAME J ,
I t p.m., Ch. 11 a*
The feeling is the Dolphins, back in
the race for the AFC East title, will go
after the Indianapolis secondary early
and not let up until the outcome is
decided.
That was the pattern they em
ployed in the first meeting this season
even though Duper departed early in the game with the leg
ailments which put him on injured reserve.
A quick glance at the record book is also leaving the Colts
feeling ill Miami has won the last 10 games between the AFC
East rivals and 16 of the last 17. In the last six contests, the
Dolphins have outscored the Colts 201 -51
AFC CENTRAL
Steelers (5-5) at Oilers (4-6)
Pick your scenario:
After a 3-5 start, sputtering Pittsburgh finally rights itself with
wins over Cleveland and Kansas City. Now the Steelers have a
chance to knock the Oilers out of the AFC Central race by
winning in Houston. It is an opportunity that even inconsistent
Pittsburgh shoud not pass up:
Or. Houston, trying desperately not to be the weakest team
NFL ratings
These computer rankings are based on a
formula that weighs and ranks 10 statistical
factors, including winning percentage, total
offense, total defense, points scored per
yards gained, points allowed per yards al
lowed and turnovers
Record Rating
1. Chicago Bears (10-0) .971
2. Dallas Cowboys (7-3) .921
3. New York Giants (7-3) .916
4. Los Angeles Rams (8-2) .915
5. Denver Broncos (7-3) .911
6. New York Jets (7-3) .873
7. Miami Dolphins (6-4) .860
8. Seattle Seahawks (6-4) .859
9. Los Angeles Raiders (6-4) .851
10. New England Patriots (7-3) .841
11. San Francisco 49ers (5-5) .839
Weekend odds
(Overs-Unders in parentheses)
Buffalo plus 8 at Cleveland (36)
Chicago even at Dallas (41)
Cincinnati plus 6 at Los Angeles Raiders (46)
Kansas City plus 13 at San Francisco (45)
Los Angeles Rams minus 6Vi at Atlanta (39)
Miami minus 8 at Indianapolis (43)
in the league's weakest division, was shocked 20-0 when
these teams met in Pittsburgh two months ago It is time to snap
back Woeful as they are, the Oilers can move back into a first
place tie in the AFC Central by whipping the Steelers
Those are the two scenarios Yours is as good as either of
them. The only certainity is that the Steelers. Oilers, Cleveland
or Cincinnati will win the AFC Central and advance to the
playoffs
AFC WEST
I V i i|||
igflK
Associated Press
Chargers QB Dan Fouts
Chargers (5-5) at Broncos (7-3)
Three weeks ago, it ranked as little more than another
waystop on yet another frustrating season for the San Diego
Chargers.
Now. today's invasion of Denver's Mile High Stadium has an
entirely new and much more meaningful dimension to it With
their 40-34 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Raiders, Don
Coryell's reborn team is again a factor in the AFC West title
chase
With their deep freeze 17-16 win over San Francisco
Monday night, Denver has opened a two-game lead over San
Diego and one over the Raiders and Seahawks.
November seems to produce nothing but big games, and this
one is no exception Denver had a four-game winning streak
halted 30-10 at San Diego two weeks ago in a game which the
Chargers totally dominated to begin their new surge
INTERCONFERENCE
Chiefs (3-7) at 49ers (5-5)
After being beaten up by rugged AFC West and Central rivals
week after week, beleaguered Kansas City coach John
Mackovic probably looks on today's meeting with defending
Super Bowl champion San Francisco as somewhat of a respite
for his team
The Chiefs, who started the 1985 NFL season by beating
the Saints and Raiders, have steadily regressed to just another
also-ran club, and stagger into Candlestick Park in the throes of
a six-game losing streak
The 49ers, meanwhile, took another step backwards in their
quest for a second Super Bowl title, losing to the Denver
Broncos, 17-16, Monday night at Mile High Stadium. And the
49ers, who continue to be an enigma to coach Bill Walsh, had
only themselves to blame, comimg away with only three points
on three possessions inside the Denver 11-yard line. The
49ers converted on only one of 16 third-down plays against the
Broncos and gave up the winning field goal with 1 27 left in the
game
Buccaneers (1-9) at Jets (7-3)
The New York Jets, who have more than done their part to
make things interesting in the AFC East, are trying to put the
events of last Sunday out of their minds and concentrate on a
team they should beat this week and have to avoid taking lightly
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Jets, tied with the New England Patriots for first in the
AFC East, may be tempted to take a peek back when they face
the Buccaneers in Giants Stadium.
Last Sunday's game in the Orange Bowl against the Miami
Dolphins was indeed a shocker for coach Joe Walton and his
players. One minute they were leaping up and down, stomping
on the years of being frustrated by the Dolphins in Miami in
celebration of a touchdown pass from Ken O'Brien to Rocky
Kleaver with 1:06 to play.
It looked like a sure winner, a knockout blow for the Dolphins
who would drop to three games behind the Jets in the playoff
race. But 25 seconds later, the Jets glee had turned to gloom
That's when Mark Duper beat cornerback Bobby Jackson to
catch a 50-yard, game-winning touchdown pass from Dan
Marino. The Dolphins won, 21-17, and are just a game behind
the Patriots and the Jets in their division.
1 2. San Diego Chargers (5-5) .804
13. Cincinnati Bengals (5-5) .789
14. Washington Redskins (5-5) .783
1 5. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5) .772
16. Philadelphia Eagles (5-5) .751
1 7. Detroit Lions (5-5) .750
18. Minnesota Vikings (5-5) .742
1 9. Cleveland Browns (4-6) .726
20. Green Bay Packers (4-6) .719
21. Houston Oilers (4-6) .711
22. St. Louis Cardinals (4-6) .703
23. Kansas City Chiefs (3-7) .682
24. New Orleans Saints (3-7) .667
25. Buffalo Bills (2-8) .651
26. Indianapolis Colts (3-7) .649
27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1 -9) .643
28. Atlanta Falcons (1-9) 629
Code .925-above: Excellent; .850-.924:
Above Average; .725-.849: Average; .650-724:
Below Average; ,649-below: Terrible.
Minnesota plus 3 at Detroit (43)
New England plus 3Vi at Seattle (44)
New Orleans plus 7 vs. Green Bay (44)
Pittsburgh minus 3 at Houston (42)
Philadelphia minus 1 at St. Louis (38)
San Diego plus 4Vi at Denver (44)
Tampa Bay plus 9 at New York Jets (43)
New York Giants plus 1 at Washington (39)