Columnist Sal De Filippo: High-powered offense vs. powerful defense

Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003 | 9:05 a.m.

Sal DeFilippo's pro football picks column appears Friday. Reach him at sal@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4076.

Almost without fail, three words inevitably define the fate of teams fighting to reach the Super Bowl.

The words are usually forgotten during the regular season, but crop up in discussion during, or after, the week of the big game.

Fortunately, I have someone to remind me.

He's my neighbor, Mike Mele, an electrician with the county. Last week, we were at Johnny Mac's in Henderson, a longtime favorite locals restaurant with great food and a great atmosphere. On this night, however, we were only interested in chicken wings and the bar.

Mele, a native of New Jersey but a lifelong Eagles fan, is the kind of neighbor everyone loves -- he's the guy who fixes everything. I'm the guy who needs everything fixed. It would take a congressional budget deficit plan to cover all the favors I owe this guy.

After suffering through Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it didn't take long for him to drown his sorrows -- and even less time for him to assess this weekend's Super Bowl XXXVII matchup against the Oakland Raiders.

It all comes down to those three little words.

"DEFENSE," he booms out, and then takes a sip of lager, partly to help build in the mandatory pause that seems to accompany this phrase whenever anyone says it. "WINS ... CHAMPIONSHIPS."

You can try to counter, but it's no use.

Specifically, you can get about as far as "But what about the high-powered" before Mele does his best Kramer impersonation, holding up his hand as a stop sign, looking the other way and saying, "Ah, nah, nah."

"DEFENSE (pause) WINS (longer pause) CHAMPIONSHIPS," it comes again.

Recently, some sports magazines have challenged the axiom, saying that some offenses simply can't be contained and if executed efficiently, can control a game more than a defense can.

I offer this in defense of Mele's claim. Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl, handily, and not because he played like Joe Montana.

The 2000 Ravens, the 1985 Bears and the other dominant defenses in NFL lore took all the pressure off of their offenses by shutting down their opponents, shortening the distance their offenses had to move the ball, and by creating turnovers.

Any Philly fan can tell you that. After scoring a touchdown in the opening minute, largely thanks to a long kickoff return, the Buccaneers shut down Donovan McNabb, allowing only a field goal the rest of the way. The Bucs' D made their share of big plays, too, including the long interception return for a touchdown by Ronde Barber to cement their Super Bowl berth.

On paper, they have the advantage because of their great defense. So, it's decided. The Buccaneers will win, right?

Not if Clint Holmes, this year's winner of the Sal's Celebrity Selectors football picks contest, gets his way.

Holmes, an energetic variety singer who performs at Harrah's, says it will be the Raider Nation that's celebrating on Sunday.

"I like Oakland to win, by about a touchdown," said Holmes, who compiled a 30-21 record against the spread to edge the defending champion, Monte Carlo master magician Lance Burton, and win the (cough) prestigious Golden Nerf award, which he will keep for at least a year.

"I love Jerry Rice and his work ethic and I'd love to see Tim Brown get a ring," Holmes added. "Tampa Bay is good, but I just think Oakland's offense is so diversified that they are going to find a way to score and I'm not sure Tampa will be able to keep up."

This year, Oakland's offense was the league's most dangerous, led by quarterback and Most Valuable Player Rich Gannon. After scoring 71 points in two playoff games to reach the Super Bowl, on paper, the Raiders appear to pose a very tough task for any defense.

"It will be a close game, but Oakland will pull away in the second half and win it," Holmes said.

Great offense versus great defense. Hopefully, it will add up to a great Super Bowl. At least it looks that way on paper.