All six NFL divisions will have new winners if current standings hold up. Last year, there were five new winners. The year before that, there were six. Since 1997, 21 NFL teams have either won or currently lead their divisions. That’s called parity.
A month ago, the prospects of a Super Bowl rematch between the St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans appeared plausible. Now, the Rams face a tough road to even make the playoffs. The Titans no longer are leading the AFC race for home-field advantage and quarterback Steve McNair is questionable for this week’s game against Cincinnati with sprains to this left ankle and left knee. McNair walked around on crutches Monday with a plastic boot around his left foot.
Although the six leading playoff contenders in the AFC have separated from the pack, two-team races in each division are extra tight.
In the AFC East, the 10-3 Miami Dolphins have a one-game lead on the 9-4 New York Jets, but the Jets have beaten the Dolphins twice.
In the AFC West, the 10-3 Oakland Raiders have a one-game lead on the 9-4 Denver Broncos, but the Broncos have beaten the Raiders twice. Denver quarterback Brian Griese, who separated his right shoulder against the Raiders Nov. 13, threw Monday for the first time since that Monday night victory.
In the AFC Central, the 10-3 Titans have a one-game lead on the 9-4 Baltimore Ravens, but a scheduling quirk gives the Ravens one more AFC game than the Titans. It could prove a tiebreaker.
Rams now lambs: Just when the Rams’ maligned defense holds the Carolina Panthers to three field goals and sacks quarterback Steve Beuerlein seven times, the Rams’ offense is held to three points.
For the first time since joining coach Mike Martz’s staff on Oct. 21, defensive guru Bud Carson called the plays and turned the defense loose. But Kurt Warner’s four interceptions in his first start since Oct. 22 were too much to overcome.
It was the second win by the Panthers over the Rams in four weeks. The Panthers are 4-7 against the rest of the NFL.
Explained Panthers safety Eugene Robinson: “The Rams created a mystique last year with how explosive they were. Their defense could give up 35 points and they’d put up 50 points. Everybody was like, `Oh man, they’re the greatest thing since sliced bread.’
“Rightfully so. Now, all you need to do is have a very good defense, play sound ball, keep things in front, and don’t give up the big play.”
Lately, it’s been easily said and done.
The Rams host the Minnesota Vikings Sunday in a game that no longer means an inside track for NFC home field for St. Louis.
If the Rams lose their fourth straight home game, they would fall to 8-6 with tough trips to Tampa and New Orleans to finish their season.
The style: Maybe it’s the pants. When the Rams changed colors this year, they boasted of having three different pants–white, gold, and blue. But after 13 games, they have worn only gold.
“I like the colors; I don’t like the pants,” Martz said. “They’ve got this little swashbuckler thing down the side, that stops at a point. It looks like you’re carrying some sort of sword. It’s the ugliest pants I’ve ever seen, and I just refuse to wear it. I asked the league to send us some plain white ones and we’d wear ’em. And they sent these. So I’m just not going to wear them.”
And the blue pants? “Same thing,” Martz said. “They’ve got this cute little `swish dude’ down the side. I’m not trying to make a fashion statement when we play. But I would like to have something that guys don’t feel embarrassed about when they’re out on the field.
“I think that’s what those pants are: cute. And I’m not going to wear cute. I’m sorry.”
The glamor: Oakland fullback Jon Ritchie went to Stanford. Minnesota center Matt Birk went to Harvard. Neither majored in fashion design.
Ritchie wears a T-shirt, cargo pants and sandals most every day.
“My whole concept is try not to get it dirty while I’m wearing it,” Ritchie said. “That way, I can continue wearing it without any problem like smell or stains. I use good deodorant, try not to get food on me. My clothing for work is provided, so all I have to do is wear clothing from my house while I’m driving. It’s an ideal situation for me as far as my clothing perspective.”
Birk, who offers stock and financial tips on radio, bought a duplex in St. Paul, his hometown, and rented the upstairs apartment to friends. Birk moved into the basement and never got around to furnishing it.
“I don’t even have a refrigerator,” he said. “It’s just the one room with a couch, bed and TV. And that’s about it.
“I can’t appreciate a nice house or nice stuff at this point in my life. I like to keep the focus on football. When I want luxury, I go to my parents’ house. They have a carpet.”
Birk has a cement floor. His parents live two miles away.
