Newspapers / The Carolina Times (Durham, … / Sept. 1, 1979, edition 1 / Page 20
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it I J-ICE CAT.:USA TIKES " SAT.; StPTEUtUI 1, 179 , -I aflfobal fcoiMS loop Sotf for .pGiafiimg Bj Larry Barber ' f Now that the National Football League's pre season has given us five weeks of shaded reality, 'will regular play, which begins this weekend, shock us beyond that , point into a world of bewildered uncertainty? If it cranks up from last year, we are in for a wild 1979-80 joyride, and with, the overall balance bet ween teams, pro gnosticated had better duck now. Pittsburgh's Super Bowl-winning club is still tightly bound, and will be the team to compare championship qualities ' by, but it pays in probably the league's top division. Dallas, the team losing to those Stealers last January 21, will . again be characteristically sound; but stands severely weakened by retirements and injuries. Look for an outright shake-up in the standings, this year with some recent year patsies figuring in the .title chase, some former powerhouse deteriorating into mediocrity, and new teams dawning on the horizon. Serious championship contenders will be Houston, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, will surprise playoff teams iri 1978; " plus be aware of com ebacks from Oakland, Sail Diego, Cincinnati, Detroit, Green Bay, and Chicago. Of these, San Diego might be the best of the bunch. Falling from playoff sight could be Minnesota, largely because of Fran Tarken ton's retirement, and Washington, which let the VOver-tbe-HilT gang go over the hill. New teams that will give everyone trouble are. of courscnew teams; Seattle and Tampa Bay, expansion franchises of 1977. What one must keep in mind is that there is a broad line between being comeptitive, and winning. The two have nothing in ' common when the records are posted. With is in perspective, here is how they will look; at regular season's end. The AFC East could come down to head-to-head competition between New England and Miami, and with the Patriot's firepower, they get the nod. Steve Grogan will be calling his own plays this year, and should have more confidence than ever. New England has an abundance of fine runn ingbacks led by Sam Cun ningham, and deadly receiving troops in Harold Jackson, Stanley Morgan and Russ .Francis. Miami's Dolphins are always near the crest because of quarterback Bob Griese and a super coach. Last year they added 1,000-yard runner Delvin Williams to the roaster, and this season returned Larry Czonka. Nat Moore and Duriel Harris lead a fine crop of receivers. The Baltimore Colts will make a . comeback because quarterback Bert Jones will be back and healthy. If not, they acquired Greg Landry to spell him. The two have excellent people to throw to in Roger Carr, Glenn Doughty and Ray-, mond Chester. Versatile Joe Washington will lead the runners along with ,Dpn Hardeman. The New York Jets will be better in . 1979, as will the Buffalo Bills, but are outclassed. The AFC West might have the most exciting title race of all. with the San Diego Chargers and Seat tle Seahawks coming off fine campaigns, . and Oakland forgetting all abput 1978. Defending divisional champions, the Denver Broncos, are not going to relinquish their crown without , a fight, Their offense is sometimes suspect, but that "Orange Crush" defense can beat most clubs. San Diego and Seattle live bv the offense and are capable of outscoring any opponent. If Oakland plays the flawless game like In the past, their balance will overtake the- other three. The Kansas City Chiefs are not yet ready, " - Despite the Dallas Cowboys', obvious troubles, they still have . Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Harvey Martin, Drew Pearson, and Tom! Landry. With names like these, they will again dominate the NFC East. The Philadelphia Eagles improved last year but are still a season away. The . Washington Redskins, St. Louis Cardinals and N.Y. Giants are going through! changes, and are not ready to make a real challenge. The NFC Central is a true puzzel, and the win ner might be no better than 9-7. The Detroit Lions came on strong late last season with a new : found offense and tough defense. The Green Bay Packers started off like, days of old then died near the end, just missing the crown because Minnesota beat them in head-to-head competition. The Chicago Bears still has Walter Payton, but are engulfed in inconsistency. The young Tampa Bay Buc caneers are ud and com ing, but that youth will. cost them dearly in the close eames. Perennial champions Minnesota vikings have lost Tarken ton and ooted for vouth. so with that transition; . lnolr far them ta falter. The Los Aneeles Rams will again be the class of tne NFC West, and maybe the team to erase Dallas as the long. They run a con trolled machine that is1 well oiled. Surmise team. the Atlanta Falcons have one of the best defenses in the league, but the schedule might keep them trom a wild card in 1979. The New Orleans Saints Will be vastlv imnrnved. and wflPscore points, but thev save ud too manv. The San Francisco 49ers 1 just have not gotten themselves together. Opening Day Predictions: Detroit 24, Tampa Bay 14 New Orleans, 23, Atlanta 21 Baltimore 28, Kansas City 10 -Denver 17, Cincinnati 7 Cleveland 20, N.Y. Jets 13 Dallas 27, St. Louis 10 Chicaao 17. Green Bav 13 Houston 28, Washington 16 Miami 31, Buffalo 20 Philadelphia 24. N.Y. Giants 6 , Los Angeles 23, Oakland 20 r oaii uieyu 03, oeauie . Minnesota 26, San Francisco 14 PinsQurgnjB, New England 24 DIVISIONAL BREAKDOWN The AFC will only be a matter of who can possibly catch ud to Pitt sburgh, a team possessing uncanny winning tendan cies of late and are record setting time-three world titlist. Reasons: Brad- shaw, Swann, Harris, Greene, Stallworth, White, Greenwood, Ham, Lambert, Blount, Shells. and the list eoes on. These men an their teammates form the most powerful balanced club in the NFL. The chamDions will get heat from the orash Houston Oilers, who lost to them in last season's conference title game. The Oilers have 1978s top rookie Earl Campbell, who led the league in rushing, and : Dan Pastorini thro wine to Ken Burrough and Mike Barber. Also, Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, a wide-receiver-returner, is back from a 1978 in jury. The Cincinnati Bengals could be a factor if they can keep quarter back Ken Anderson iniurv-free. He has two wide receiving antelopes in Isaac Curtis and Billy Hooks, and can hand off to Pete Johnson and Ar chie Griffin. The Cleveland Browns are among the winningest ciuos since lvoy, but must be more consisent if they are to continue. They do nave talent with Brian Sipe coming dn at quarter-' back, Greg Pruitt's runn ing, and Reggie Rucker's receiving. The' unaided human eye, "jwr mt Dttt possible fiewlni condition!, can distinguish ten million wriiviant cgior surfaces. American Football Con ference New England (Ron Erhardt) Miami (Don Shula) Baltimore (Ted Marchibroada) N.Y. Jets (Walt Michaels) Buffalo (Chuck Knox) ' Pittsburgh (Chuck Noll) Houston ("Bum" Phillips) Cincinnati (Homer Rice) Cleyeland (Sam Rutlgliano Denver (Robert Miller) San Diego (Don Coryell) Oakland (Tom Floras) Seattle (Jack Patera) Kansas City (Marv Levy) EAST National Football Con ference " 1 Dallas (Trim anrirvl 2' ' Philadelphia (Dick vermeili) , 0 wasningion (jacK raraee; 4 St. Louis (Bud Wilkinson) 5 N.Y. Giants (Ray Perkins CENTRAL 1 Detroit'(Monte Clark) 2 Chicago (Neill Armstrong) 3 Green Bay (Bart Starr) 4 Tampa Bay (John McKay) 5 Minnesota ("Bud" Grant) WEST 1 Los Angeles (Ray Malavasl) 2 . Atlanta (Leeman Bennett) 3 ... New Orleans (Dick Nolan) 4 San Francisco (Bill Walsh) Basketball is the only major sport that is completely American in origin. ' r ' Trade-mark ' . . good food Jm1jq. -anytime Durbain Coca-Cola Boiling Comply I f 1(1 A "' : i fin v w m ... f i i - i : i I t j . ,-Sai ..i Mini ii mini- l-l I II I HlMlIlHI.nl nil I in I I I nn -T l-l. ll.nl mi 1! 'l 'J 1 I II '4'. ?i " : I I ft k ' , TV H - i ,li 1 , 1 il 1 It u -i 4:U 1 it .4 umik ) KsiKiViiiamrii)
The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.)
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Sept. 1, 1979, edition 1
20
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