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CNN Live Sunday

Can the Patriots Overcome the Rams?

Aired February 03, 2002 - 17:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Super Bowl XXXVI kicks off in New Orleans Super Dome in just about an hour. The big question, what tricks do the New England Patriots have up their sleeves to overcome the heavily favored St. Louis Rams? CNNsi's Mike Galanos has some ideas on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE GALANOS, CNNSI CORRESPONDENT (on camera): And welcome back to New Orleans. We are on the banks of the mighty Mississippi, the Old Man, Old Man River rolling along behind us.

As we have rolled along this week, the main topic when you talk about the game, the Rams are two touchdown favorites. That's the third largest spread in Super Bowl history. So how is New England going to keep this game close? First off, when they have the football, the Patriots want to run the ball, control the clock, basically playing keep away from that high-powered Rams offense. You talk to the Patriots, they want 10, 12 play drives. They want to come up with some points after that to put the Rams on the heals.

When St. Louis does have the ball, key number two: They have to get to Kurt Warner. When he can sit back there, with all those weapons, all those receivers, he can pick you apart. But if they can hit him and get in his face, they believe they have a chance in this football game.

Another thing they're looking for, and it helped them in the first game, when the New England Patriots only lost 24 to 17, Terrell Buckley had an interception return for a touchdown. That's -- what they got that getting into Kurt Warner's face. And they're going to need another big play. I think that's key number three. They need a special teams touchdown, maybe a fumble return for a touchdown.

You look at the game last week, the AFC Championship game and the victory over Pittsburgh, Troy Brown returned a punt for a touchdown. They also blocked a field goal and scored. That's two scores they got, and that's a big reason why they beat Pittsburgh to have a shot against the Rams.

They want to punch the bully in the mouth early in this one. One way to do that is to get that big game-breaking play, get the momentum, and as the underdog, you're telling the bull, the Rams, we can play with you. And that's exactly really what the New England Patriots want to do, build confidence early.

And one other thing, Bill Belichick is a defensive guru. They're counting on him to come up with basically a genius-like defensive game play to slow not only Kurt Warner and that passing game, but also Marshall Faulk, who is arguably the best player going in the NFL.

That kind of paints the scene for you as far as the football game. That will wrap things up from New Orleans. I'm Mike Galanos. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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