Super Bowl Blues: Griese Steps Up

Super Bowl Blues: Griese Steps Up
by Rams Nation's Oscar F Lopez

The reality of the regular season is that wins and losses count now. The factors that somehow were question marks in the preseason do not matter. The score at the end of the game is the only thing that matters. Well, someone please convey that message to the Rams coach. Mike Martz somehow can't seem to grasp the idea that sure points are better than no points.

Momentum is a key to winning football games. The Denver Broncos came into Sunday's game with a point to prove. That point was that they were going to showup the Rams just like the New England Patriots. Mike Shanahan's gameplan worked to perfection. The in your face and tough guy tactics by his football team really set the tone for the game.

Brian Griese isn't a great gifted quarterback like Kurt Warner. But on this day he was the better quarterback in the end. For a guy that was being booed and almost replaced at one point during the game. He sure sucked it up and played like a true superstar when he needed to make plays. Going 18 for 27 and throwing for 202 yards and two touchdowns. Griese got a lot of support from his teammates. Namely wide receiver Shannon Sharpe who was making his Mile High return.

The key to the whole game was the Broncos pressure on Kurt Warner and clogging the middle and outside holes for Marshall Faulk. The physical play of the defense on the Rams really confused and tired the Rams in the end. Kurt Warner's time management really cost the Rams valuable time down the stretch. Kurt was 32 of 41 for 315 yards, but was rushed the whole game with the Broncos sacking him three times. For Marshall, he had a career high 14 catches for 91 yards. His ground game was just none existent.

The Rams just came out flat. They showed no real get up and go drive. Their first big play wasn't until the second quarter when Aeneas Williams intercepted a pass by Brian Griese on a Grant Wistrom tip to give them good field position at the Broncos 26 yard line.Then Marshall scored from 3 yards out to make the score 16-13.

The big questionable call was on a 4th and 1 on the Bronco's 9 yard line. This is where Mike Martz needs to really understand his football team. Instead of taking the sure points and moving on. NO he decides to prove to the world that he can score with the pass in any situation. Well, Denver just continued to prove him otherwise.

With physical presence and plain in your face rushes, the Broncos did just that and forced a crucial turnover. At this point in the third quarter it would have been 16-16. I am no NFL coach but come on take the sure points, especially when your team is not playing well.

The Rams looked like the early 95-97 teams. They just played descent football for three quarters and flat out did nothing in the fourth quarter. Losing by seven points is not the end of the world. But not using your timeout's wisely was just unacceptable for an MVP quarterback that has played in big games. The Rams were just plain out of it. It seemed that they were still feeling the ill effects of the Super Bowl. Mike Martz i believe needs to take this film and study the Super Bowl more closely, because the rest of the league already knows something he doesn't.

I know one game is not a whole season. But rust is bad either way. The preseason is over and Denver just sounded the alarm clock. So i am waiting for Max Q to Kickoff 2002. Let's hope the angry Giants can be tamed.

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