Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Monday games are finally living up to expectations

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, Nov. 17, 2000 | 9:41 a.m.

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

When ABC made its bold move to add Dennis Miller to its broadcasting team this offseason, the hopes were that his comedic wit would boost lagging ratings.

The jury's still out on Miller and his effect on viewership, but a funny thing is happening on the Monday Night Football scene.

The games suddenly are exciting again. If you aren't a fan of Miller or his cohorts, turn down the audio, but don't touch the video.

Last Monday's last-second, game-winning field goal by Jason Elam, lifting Denver to a three-point win after Oakland had rallied from a two-touchdown, fourth-quarter deficit, is the latest in a season filled with high drama.

Nine of the 11 Monday night games have been decided by seven points or fewer. The two games that didn't go down to the wire involve the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were routed by Indianapolis in Week 4 and lost by two scores to Tennessee three weeks later.

ABC's lineup is supposed to produce these kinds of results, but seldom does it play out this well. In recent years, the network has tried new combinations in the booth, with Al Michaels as the anchor, along with new sideline reporters, a new starting time, new approaches in graphics, etc. The ratings have been, politely put, stagnant.

One thing that has been constantly high, though, has been the number of points scored. The Jets' rally to edge New England 20-19 in Week 2 was, believe it or not, the lowest-scoring Monday night tilt this season. The average score has been 30-22. That's 11 points per game more than this season's average.

The exciting finishes started with the season opener. The electrifying Rams tossed 41 on the board, but the Broncos, who had won the two previous NFL championships, played tough and lost by five.

In Week 3, the Cowboys won outright as 10-point underdogs at Washington. Weeks 5 and 6 saw seven-point wins by Kansas City and Minnesota and in Week 8, the Jets staged one of the biggest rallies in recent memory in a 40-37 overtime win.

The following week, a long interception return on the final play of the first half proved to be the difference in a six-point Tennessee win at Washington.

And two weeks ago, another overtime thriller ended with Antonio Freeman's spectacular catch in the rain as Green Bay beat Minnesota.

This week, NFC preseason favorites St. Louis and Washington hook up, each fighting through key injuries. The schedule gets seemingly weaker, despite the marquee Dec. 18 matchup between St. Louis and Tampa Bay.

The riveting games have made the Miller effect that much harder to dissect, although I think it's minimal at most. Has anyone noticed a rising interest in the Tiber River or Trevi Fountain? I know it's his style, but are football fans better educated now?

Nah. And on top of that, not one person -- thankfully -- has called me Salbeeno.

Last week

A blah 2-3 week against the number was aided by a Philadelphia rally against Pittsburgh and crippled by Tennessee's home choke against Baltimore. The Vikings covered and the Jets and Panthers failed. The season mark sits at 23-29-3 against the points.

My top five

NEW YORK GIANTS -5 1/2 over Detroit -- The opportuntistic Lions lead the NFC with 28 takeaways, but the Giants don't cough up the ball often. Detroit also doesn't fare well against the run (24th in the league). New York runs away with it. New York Giants 27, Detroit 13.

KANSAS CITY -2 1/2 vs. Buffalo -- Bills head coach Wade Phillips has once again not-so-democratically named Rob Johnson the starting quarterback over Doug Flutie in the battle that has continued since last season. Flutie was rumored to have called Johnson to congratulate him and concede the position several weeks ago, but then retracted his concession, citing Phillips' irregularities as a coach. Whoever takes the snaps, after three straight road games, the Chiefs happily are returning to Arrowhead Stadium, where they have won 11-of-15. Kansas City 28, Buffalo 23.

NEW ENGLAND -7 vs. Cincinnati -- Scott Mitchell will get to start for Cincinnati. I'll be surprised if he gets to finish. New England 29, Cincinnati 14.

PITTSBURGH -3 1/2 vs. Jacksonville -- For the third time this season, the NFL has sent the Pittsburgh Steelers a letter after a loss admitting that there was an incorrect call -- or no call -- by the officials. This one came after the Eagles were not penalized for allowing their players to block downfield as they recovered an onsides kick late in the game. It will take a lot more than a few blown calls for the NFL to feel the need to issue an apology this week. Pittsburgh 19, Jacksonville 10.

ST. LOUIS -5 1/2 vs. Washington -- Trent Green, who spent all of last year watching Kurt Warner become a star, gets a little payback in the national spotlight against his former club. St. Louis 42, Washington 27.