Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
February 1, 2002, Washington Post

Best Team May Win

This week, the Super Bowl is the biggest game around. So let's get right to who is going to win.

The St. Louis Rams are the best team in professional football. No doubt about it. The Rams have the best record, 16-2. They have an offense that is so fast and so good that it's called "the Greatest Show on Earth." The Rams defense is rock solid. They have the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the National Football League, quarterback Kurt Warner. And a high-powered halfback, Marshall Faulk, who maybe should have been the MVP.

The New England Patriots are not the best team in the NFL. Their record is a more down-to-earth 13-5. No one expected the Pats to make it to Super Bowl XXXVI. They won their two playoff games because of luck, snow, bad calls by the referees and some one-in-a-million plays such as a blocked field goal that they returned for a touchdown. The Pats are such a Cinderella team that they may run out on to the field in New Orleans wearing glass slippers.

So the Rams are a cinch to beat the Patriots and win the Super Bowl, right?

Not so fast. The best team does not always win the big game. Upsets are one of the fun things about sports. And maybe, just maybe, the New England Patriots can pull off a big upset this Sunday. But the Pats will have to do a few things right if they are going to shock the football world:

Get lucky. Like most underdogs, the Pats will need a big break such as an interception, fumble or kick return for a touchdown. A turnover or quick TD will get them off to a fast start and thinking that they really can win. Of course, the Pats ran back an interception for a touchdown the first time the two teams met this season and the Rams still won, 24-17.

Get Warner. The Rams' quarterback is a fabulous passer when he has time to throw the ball. But Warner is not a very good runner. If the Patriots can put pressure on Warner and knock him down or make him scramble around, he might not be able to complete as many passes to his lightning-quick receivers.

Get hot. The Pats need their quarterback to have a big day. I don't think the Patriots will be able to run much against the Rams' defensive line. So the Pats will have to move the ball through the air. Wednesday, Patriots Coach Bill Belichick said that Tom Brady would be his starting quarterback. Brady has a tender ankle. He will have to be 100 percent, or the team will have to go to backup Drew Bledsoe, for the Pats to have a chance.

All right, so what do I really think? Are the Rams better? Absolutely. Do the Patriots have a chance? Possibly. Will I be watching? Most definitely.

It's the Super Bowl and, who knows, we all might see a big upset.

Fred Bowen is the author of sports novels for kids. Write to him at KidsPost, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071. Or e-mail (with "The Score" in the subject field): kidspost@washpost.com.

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