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Bettis is one tough bus to stop
By Stefani Rebekah Black January 19, 2006 |
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The weather at Mile High Stadium this Sunday won’t be as cold as it could be with the all the rain and snow that’s been affecting the west coast for the month of January. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the weather shouldn’t be a factor with the team being acclimated to playing at Heinz Field which can be affected by the weather as well as Mile High Stadium. The Steelers who are visiting the Denver Broncos for the AFC Championship this Sunday are looking forward to the next stop getting to the big show, the Super Bowl. Denver Broncos safety John Lynch, said after practice today, his major challenge will be trying to stop the Steelers star pro bowl running back Jerome Bettis who has an astonishing regular season with 110 carries and an all star 368 yards averaging 3.3 yards per carry and 9 touchdowns for the season. Bettis last Sunday rushed for 46 yards against the Indianapolis Colts at the RCA Dome and in 17 attempts had a touchdown in the Steelers effort in beating the Colts. Lynch says when he does get to play against Bettis anytime he gets to stick him its unforgettable, "They're all memorable when they're against him. You've just got to bring out a lot because you know he's carrying a lot.," said Lynch. When Denver lineman Gerard Warren faced Bettis during the regular season before joining the Broncos as a former Cleveland Browns defensive lineman putting the stop on the bus is a major achievement and that Bettis is not an easy catch "Bettis is like a bowling ball rolling down hill." said Warren. The average carries for Bettis per game has been 15, and the Broncos expect somewhere around that number or more. Domonique Foxworth, the Broncos rookie cornerback has been studying film and having conversations with the corner coaches and defensive coaches on how to put the brakes on Bettis with his moves and where he likes to go, "we never saw anyone quite that big in the ACC." said Foxworth. The most significant thing about the Steelers legacy on this road to the Super Bowl is that they could accomplish the goal in three road games. With a victory on Sunday, Pittsburgh will be the second team in NFL history to accomplish getting to the Super Bowl with three road victories along the way. Bettis is hoping to keep the Steelers on track as he nearly knocked them off track, when he fumbled late in the game last Sunday, as the Colts almost returned the cough up and it would have been a big backfire on the bus if the Colts ran it back. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger put the tackle on and saved everyone's bacon in a gold and black uniform. "Once in a blue moon, Jerome fumbles. Once in a blue moon, I make a tackle. They just happen to be in the same game." said Roethlisberger. Head Coach Bill Cowher says he wants the club to focus and the journey to the Super Bowl will be complete, "we are traveling a path right now that no one else has been on. But we certainly aren't going to let history dictate our journey. As I told the players, your journey can make history." said Cowher. Stefani's AFC Championship footnotes: 50 year old Pittsburgh Steelers fan Jerry O'Neil was watching the Steelers-Colts match last Sunday when he fell off his bar stool from a heart attack after Bettis fumbled the ball and the Colts recovered before Roethlisberger put the stop on the return, "I wasn't upset the Steelers might loose. I was upset because I didn't want to see him end his career like that. A guy like that deserves better. I guess it was a little too much for me to handle." said O'Neil. O'Neil recovered and his doctors will implant a new pacemaker and prescribe medication for his heart, "The Steelers won the game and I'm still alive, so I guess I'm doing pretty good." said O'Neil. Last tid bit: During the post-practice media conference, the subject was brought up of Jerry Rice who’s been busy all season. The retired wide receiver who tried and made third string for the Broncos during pre-season and then retired right after exhibition play is now appearing on "Dancing with the Stars" and is a judge in the Miss America Beauty Pageant. Bronco head coach Mike Shanahan just smiled and said to the media core present about Rice, "it's a new beginning." Shanahan said that he hoped it would also be a new beginning starting Sunday afternoon at Mile High if the Broncos can get to the promise land and beat the Steelers. 12 noon is kick off at Mile High this Sunday. Stefani Rebekah Black is covering the AFC Playoffs and is co-host on raiderfanradio.com and Sportstalk on 1430 KVVN San Jose and 1110 KLIB Sacramento. |
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