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Foot Soldiers Stepping Up As Playoffs Draw Near

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 18, 2007

Updated: 12/17/2007 11:46 pm

TAMPA - Keep your eye on the trenches.

The first three months of the NFL season are reserved for the quarterbacks and their prima donna receivers, filling highlight reels with great throws and fingertip catches.

But starting in mid-December, the foot soldiers lead the way, warming up in the winter chill and playing pivotal playoff roles as the weather deteriorates.

"I was so excited when I woke up," Browns RB Jamal Lewis said, surveying Cleveland's winter landscape Sunday morning. "I saw the weather and I knew it was going to be one of those days when the team was going to have to count on the offensive line and the backs."

Lewis carried 33 times for 163 yards as Cleveland beat Buffalo 8-0 in near-blizzard conditions.

"This game was all about making a statement and moving the ball with Jamal," said guard Eric Steinbach, the prized free-agent acquisition from Cincinnati who has combined with rookie tackle Joe Thomas to give the Browns a powerful tandem on the left side.

The Jaguars, who lead the NFL with 471 rushing attempts, walked out of the muck of Heinz Field with 224 rushing yards in a 29-22 victory against Pittsburgh as Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew took turns throwing mud on the Steelers.

"This was great experience for this football team to come here and play in this weather," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "We know we're going to play in this type of weather to advance in the postseason."

Strong wind gusts inhibited quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and David Garrard, but Jacksonville extended its streak to eight consecutive games with at least 24 points.

"We're not some soft Southern team," crowed Jaguars tackle Tony Pashos. "We go where we have to and do what we have to do."

The Redskins relied on running back Clinton Portis to keep the chains moving at the Meadowlands, where freezing temperatures and wind gusts of 35 mph provided treacherous conditions for the passing game.

At one point in Washington's 22-10 triumph, Eli Manning and Todd Collins were a combined 2-for-18 through the air.

"The wind caught me one time and I thought I was in Siberia," Redskins linebacker Marcus Washington said.

Manning threw 52 times for the Giants in that notorious wind tunnel, connecting with his target only 18 times. The 34 incompletions marked the most since Joe Namath of the Jets misfired 36 times against Denver in a 1967 American Football League game.

Even Tom Brady and the Patriots made an accommodation for the conditions at Foxborough, where a slick field, steady rain and blustery winds limited New England to only 27 pass attempts.

Laurence Maroney awoke from his slumber to run for 104 yards in a 20-10 victory against the Jets that kept the Patriots unbeaten.

"Even though we pass the ball a lot, my confidence level never dropped," said Maroney, who had gained only 112 yards in the previous four games. "Sooner or later, I knew they're going to need the running game and they're going to call my number. I was going to be ready when they did."

HUDDLE UP: Whether RB Brian Westbrook decided on his own, or heeded the advice of Eagles T Jon Runyan, his kneel down at the 1-yard line late in the game against Dallas was a selfless masterstroke. ... Brett Favre deserves all those accolades in Green Bay, but don't downgrade the emergence of second-year WR Greg Jennings, a deep threat who makes secondaries pay for steering coverage toward veteran Donald Driver. ...Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett may be a hot coaching prospect, but he's a long shot to replace Bobby Petrino in Atlanta. ... Defensive injuries are mounting in Pittsburgh, where the slumping Steelers could quickly find themselves a No. 6 playoff seed instead of AFC North champions. ... Mike Martz's erratic two-year run in Detroit should prompt Rod Marinelli to search for an offensive coordinator more committed to a physical style of play. ... The Seahawks were due for a clunker, but there's no excuse losing to Carolina at this stage of the season. ... Without many weapons at his disposal, Drew Brees is finishing like a champion for New Orleans. ... Remember when Oakland owner Al Davis lived to beat up on opponents from the other conference? The Raiders are 1-7 against the NFC in the past two seasons.

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