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| Wednesday, December 6 By Joe Theismann Special to ESPN.com | |||||
ESPN's Joe Theismann answers five pressing questions from Sunday's action:
Go back a little bit in football history. Remember when the Bears had the "46" defense? Remember when the run-and-shoot offense was big in Houston and then Atlanta? Remember how the zone-blitz defense wreaked havoc? All of these innovative ideas were the rage of the NFL. Well, last year the Rams began doing something a little different -- throwing the ball 40-50 times a game and getting their speedy receivers and backs matched up one on one. To a degree, defensive coaches have caught up with the Rams' philosophy. More importantly, the Rams' problem has been their inability to catch the football. Week after week, the Rams' receivers are making catches and getting the ball knocked away. They are dropping about six balls a game in crucial situations. If the Rams qualify for the playoffs and manage to hang onto the football again, they could be a really tough team. Their problems have to be solved from within more than anything. Kurt Warner was back in the lineup Sunday, but the Rams only scored three points and he threw four interceptions. It can't be attributed to Warner's rustiness; the Panthers had already beaten the Rams once, and they beat them again. Even if Warner had been healthy throughout the Rams' recent slump, they would have experienced the same difficulties. They lost Marshall Faulk for two games, and I still don't think he is 100 percent. Plus, I think the defensive coaches would have created problems for them anyway. Who is to blame for the Colts' recent slide? You have to look at how the Colts were built and continue to be put together. The Colts started by drafting quarterback Peyton Manning, then running back Edgerrin James. And then they got a supporting cast around them. But no one considered the Colts a defensive powerhouse, and defense is where they have suffered the most all season. Who is to blame? No one is to blame. The opponents realize the Colts are a one-dimensional team that has a defense struggling to stop people. In addition, the Colts continue to make mistakes that cost them games. In certain games, Manning has made bad decisions with the football. Last week, he threw a late interception to kill their chances. Then Sunday, the Colts fumbled a snap that the Jets recovered when the Colts were attempting a comeback. The Colts have had opportunities to win games. Lately, they have found ways to lose them. Should people recognize the Broncos as a Super Bowl contender? The Broncos should have been recognized as a Super Bowl contender at the beginning of the season. I felt the Broncos would be a much improved team because Brian Griese would have another year of experience and Terrell Davis was returning from knee surgery. The Broncos were primed for a better season than last year. To the Broncos' credit, they always seem to find another running back. First, they drafted Davis in the sixth round. Then, they got Olandis Gary in the fourth round. Last year, they drafted Mike Anderson in the sixth round, and Anderson rumbles for 251 yards Sunday. I'm sort of excited and wondering who the Broncos are going to draft next year. Good, quality depth is so hard to find, and the Broncos have been able to do it with three straight running backs. That's amazing. Is Fiedler/Smith a Super Bowl-caliber QB/RB combo? Yes, they are because every division-leading team is a Super Bowl contender, including the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins could get a bye and then only need two wins to qualify for the Super Bowl. Jay Fiedler came back Sunday and showed a lot of poise against Buffalo, and receiver Oronde Gadsden did an excellent job. Leslie Shepherd, a pickup from the Redskins, has been a big boost to Miami's receiving corps. The biggest key has been Lamar Smith's ability to run the football. It's funny; in Jimmy Johnson's years with the Dolphins, all he wanted was to create and build a running game. The year after he retires, the Dolphins have found a running game. Would Brett Favre ever leave the Packers? I don't see him leaving the Packers because I don't believe Brett Favre ever wants to leave Green Bay. General manager Ron Wolf would be giving up one of the finest football players in the league and a perennial candidate for MVP. Favre plays on a team with average receivers, a young tight end who drops as many passes as he catches, two rookie tackles, a new offensive coordinator, and a new defensive coordinator. Favre is the glue that holds the Packers together and will be until he decides to leave the game. Just like Dan Marino should have never been anything but a Miami Dolphin, and John Elway should have never been anything but a Denver Bronco, Favre should never be anything but a Green Bay Packer. The Packers go as Favre goes. And as long as he is in Green Bay, the Packers will be a playoff contender. Former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann works as a game analyst for ESPN's Sunday Night Football. He will review the NFL week for ESPN.com every Monday in his "Cup o' Joe" feature. He will also break down the Sunday Night Football matchup each Friday. | ALSO SEE
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