From: floydg@oakhill.sps.mot.com (Floyd Goodrich)
Subject: Re: Dallas/Buffalo
Organization: Motorola Inc., Austin Tx.
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 20:45:35 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.154634.11052@galileo.cc.rochester.edu> iqrh_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Imran Qureshi) writes:

>Two weeks of superbowl hype can't even be compared to any playoff game.

Why not?  The Cowboys didn't hit the practice field until Thursday.  That 
means a maximum of 3 extra days of hype.  And the SF-Dallas game was one of 
the most-hyped games in recent memory.

>Aikman over Kelly?!?!?!?

Probably, but not by much.

>You've got to be kidding.  First of all, please note that Kelly completed
>17 of his 24 passes.  No imcompletions in the second half.  His two INT's
>were clear effects of his rustiness (one pass was short by 18 inches and
>the other was a miscommunication with the reciver).  If Kelly is on, he'll
>kill Dallas and open up holes for Thurman to blow by in...which will open
>up the pass and it will feed on itself.  The Bills don't have a powerhouse
>offense for no reason!

Why does he have to be kidding?  Look at the SF-Dallas game, Aikman completed
24 of 34 passes for the same completion percentage as kelly's 17-24.  Aikman
had a much larger avg/catch, more TDs, but most importantly 0 INTs in 2 playoff 
games.  Oh, yeah, look at the passer ratings for the year or for the playoffs 
and tell me if Kelly or Aikman is ranked higher.  Who threw for more yards this 
year, Kelly in his high octane offense or Aikman?

>Emmitt is good, but he's no Thurman.  TT can catch and run with ball like
>no other RB in the game!!  Kenneth Davis provides FRESH legs...note his
>2nd half long runs in the last 3 games...he was clearly rested and ready
>to blow the tired defense away.

Note Smith's domination in the 2nd half of virtually ALL games this season.
Oh, yeah, were you watching last week when Smith caught 7 passes for 60-70
yards?  Dallas has the youngest team in the league, BTW, and some people
consider that that means they will not tire as readily as older teams.

>did you happen to catch the screen passes last week by any chance?

They weren't thrown to me!  Can you seriously think Dallas will be as 
unprepared for them as Miami was?

>The Bills clearly have the best line in the NFL!!! 

By what criteria?  Yards, sacks allowed, scoring, or what?  Please back 
this up.

>The Bills have peaked at the right time, everyone is playing awesome and ther
>are on a 91-16 scoring run with 15 sacks and 6 INTs in the last 10 quarters.

But will their peak be enough to surpass the Cowboys'?

>This is a team possessed.  They shut down the pass and the run=> victory.

Easier said than done.

>Also the intangibles:
>1.  Bills experience in SB (it does matter)

Prove it or stow it.

>2.  Bills have much more to win for

Oh, is the winner's share more if you're an AFC team?  What exactly does
Buffalo have to win that Dallas doesn't?  Respect?  The label of a loser?
If Buffalo manages to lose again, what do you think will happen to the
team/organization next year?

>3.  Levy has lately been coaching like a genius

So has JJ.

>4.  In case of injury AT ANY KEY SPOT the Bills have a suitable backup.

As does Dallas.  (Except for Ike Holt.)

>5.  Bills will be healthier than at any time in the playoffs--they have more
>    to gain from the two week layoff.

Dallas is already at full strength.

>6.  Grass field hurts the Team Speed on Defense factor for Dallas

It sure slowed down their D last week, what with the 3 turnovers they forced
and all.  Check out the stats through 3 quarters vs. SF and tell me how much
SF yardage came against a loose zone in the 4th quarter. (Hint: about 40%)

>7.  Dallas already getting cocky with dances, celebs, assuming victory

Huh?  They've been doing that all year.  It's zeal and exuberance as far as
I can tell.  If you dismiss it as cockiness, that's your choice.  But since
they've been winning all year and doing those things, I doubt that's any
proof they will play poorly.

>8.  Bills are in a zone

The End Zone or their usual Super Bowl Stupor (tm)?

>9.  Bills Kicking game is one of the best in the league along with coverage

Is it good enough to cancel Dallas' excellent return game?

>Bills 37, Dallas 17

That must be a typo.

Don't pass off your opinions as facts, please.


Floyd Goodrich
floydg@oakhill.sps.mot.com