Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Mighty Rams should thank lowly Bears

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, Dec. 29, 2000 | 10:23 a.m.

Sal DeFilippo's pro football picks column appears Friday. Reach him at sal@lasvegassun.com or 259-4076.

You'd have to think, at the very least, that the St. Louis Rams sent one heckuva Christmas gift to Bears placekicker Paul Edinger.

Marshall Faulk this week was named the league's Most Valuable Player, but without Edinger's heroic 54-yard field goal on the final play to give the Bears a playoff-denying victory over the Detroit Lions, Faulk's Rams may not have had the chance to try to defend their crown in the postseason.

After a 6-0 start, injuries to Faulk and last year's MVP, quarterback Kurt Warner, contributed to a 3-6 stretch that put St. Louis' playoff hopes in doubt. It took a gargantuan effort from 10-point underdog Chicago -- who a week earlier couldn't cross midfield in a shutout loss at San Francisco -- and a Rams win over New Orleans to vault the league's most potent offensive team into the postseason.

The next question: Can the Rams win three games away from the comfy Trans World Dome to reach Super Bowl XXXV?

If nothing else, the road back could be a familiar one. Six days after winning at New Orleans, the Rams find themselves in the same Superdome.

As the sixth seed in the NFC, a victory against New Orleans would force the Rams to play at the Meadowlands against the New York Giants, the same site where they posted a 38-24 win over the NFC's top-seeded club.

A win there, and then it's possible the Rams could play at Minnesota, Philadelphia or Tampa Bay. The Vikings are the top seed among those teams, and also play in a dome, which caters to St. Louis' speedy style of play.

The Rams are undoubtedly the most dangerous No. 6 seed in playoff history.

The What's My Line handicapping contest that has accompanied this column throughout the regular season concluded last week.

There were 10 competitors, each beginning with a $20,000 fake bankroll, and picking two or three NFL sides or totals each week.

In the professionals' division, made up of sports book directors and handicappers, sports consultant Mike Lee had another terrific season against the spread, compiling a 26-13-1 mark. As always, Lee played close to the vest -- he is a longtime proponent of playing a percentage of your overall bankroll, even with fake money -- and ended with $30,100.

The Arizona Charlie's sports book won their two big plays, worth $10,000, in the final week to end with $24,095 and a 19-19-2 record.

Rob Terry, sports book director at Palace Station, took third with $15,600 and a 21-23-2 mark.

Thanks also to handicappers Dave Cokin and Jackie Dell and to Jay Kornegay, the director of race and sports at Imperial Palace, and Chuck Esposito, the assistant vice president of race and sports at Caesars Palace, for their participation and support of the contest.

Even for those in the know, picking games against the point spread is no easy proposition. Take away Lee's impressive 67 percent mark, and the remaining six combatants in the professionals division were a combined 90-118 -- only 43 percent.

Ironically, the overall fake breadwinner was in the sportsmen's division. Local slot engineer Bobby Franco employed a go-for-broke strategy in the season's closing weeks, but the results were quite the opposite. Franco won three plays good for $15,000 last weekend, to finish with $36,500, and a 26-18-2 record, or 59 percent.

Perhaps Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman could invite Franco to advise him during the city's next financial planning meeting.

Without spending one fake penny on a fake campaign ad, the mayor ran out of imaginary coin at the season's midway point. In a Goresque move, the mayor refused to concede. After several recounts and a few court rulings, Goodman was left with no alternative but to borrow money from the contest's other celebrity participant -- Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton.

Newton obliged, but now it appears as if he is getting stiffed -- Goodman lost most of that loaned money, too, finishing with only $400.

Newton finished with $4,400, not counting the two grand he spotted the mayor.

Thanks to all the participants for their contributions.

Last week

A strong 4-1 finish to the regular season was made imperfect by the Jets' collapse at Baltimore. Washington, Green Bay, Chicago and Tennessee covered the number.

Wild-card games

ST. LOUIS -6 at New Orleans -- After their backdoor entry into the postseason, expect the Rams to run all over New Orleans' house this week. Sorry, Saints fans, but still no playoff win for this franchise. St. Louis 40, New Orleans 28.

MIAMI -1 vs. Indianapolis -- The Colts also needed help and got it last weekend to reach the postseason, but despite a win at Miami during Indianapolis' stretch run, the Fish defense won't allow any horseplay this time around. Miami 20, Indianapolis 16.

PHILADELPHIA +2 1/2 vs. Tampa Bay -- The temperature has been in the low 30s in the City of Brotherly Love this week, which means a rocky trip for the Bucs. Philadelphia 10, Tampa Bay 9.

DENVER +3 vs. Baltimore -- For the first time in his career, Shannon Sharpe will be speechless. Denver 26, Baltimore 23.