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Sunday, November 11, 2001

Compiled by Ed Bouchette

What do the St. Louis Rams and Oakland Raiders have in common, besides 6-1 records?

If they lose their quarterbacks, they are done, finished, kaput.

The most valuable player in the National Football League is Lady Luck, because injuries can hurt the chances of the best teams and boost those that avoid them.

Take the Steelers. They haven't had a serious injury to a front-line player all season. Starters such as Wayne Gandy, Kimo von Oelhoffen, Lee Flowers and Chad Scott have missed one game apiece, and that's it. Fullback Dan Kreider had injury problems but Jon Witman has returned as the starter.

The Steelers have not changed their defensive lineup because of injuries in the past four games.

The same cannot be said for the three AFC Central Division favorites entering the season -- Baltimore, Tennessee and Jacksonville. All three teams have been beaten up. Baltimore lost two key offensive players for the season -- running back Jamal Lewis and tackle Leon Searcy. Injuries to Steve McNair and Eddie George have hindered the Titans offense but injuries in their secondary have been crucial. The Jaguars have lost running back Fred Taylor, offensive tackle Tony Boselli and several defensive players.

Carolina has five players on injured reserve, including running back Tshimanga Biakabutuka and guard Kevin Donnalley, and Buffalo lost its best defensive player, middle linebacker Sam Cowart. The Panthers and Bills have one victory apiece.

Teams that avoid injuries often are the ones who win championships.

"It has been and is extraordinarily apparent today that it is vital," Cleveland Coach Butch Davis said. "I remember when I was with Dallas, the same 22 players that started in the Super Bowl were the same 22 players that started the first game of the season that year.

"If you tracked it, you would find that that is probably one of the denominators of the teams that do enjoy the opportunity to get to the playoffs and have some success."

Some teams can lose their quarterbacks and keep winning, but not many. New Orleans probably could, perhaps Tennessee Miami, Chicago. But Green Bay couldn't, nor San Francisco or Indianapolis.

Because of free agency and the salary cap, teams don't have the kind of depth they once did and if a key player is hurt, it would be difficult for them to bring in another.

Denver can lose a running back but not its quarterback. The Steelers might be able to lose their quarterback but not their running back.

One other thing besides talent can determine a team's record: its schedule. Play enough teams that are down and it's easier to pile up victories, and vice versa. This is the final season the NFL used the strength-of-schedule format, using won-loss records from the previous season to determine interdivisional matchups: bad record versus bad record, good record versus good record.

But there is a flaw to that format because teams can turn things around so quickly because of the salary cap. Often what appears to be an easy schedule is not.

The Chicago Bears were 5-11 last season, but are 6-1 today. Minnesota was 11-5 last season, but is 3-4 and falling fast. What looked like a tough game when the Steelers' schedule came out does not appear as difficult today. San Diego was 1-15 last season and looked like an easy touch until the Chargers won their first three games and are 5-3.