Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 46

8c ST. PETERSBURG TIMES SUNDAY. JANUARY 9. 1983 pro football Chargers vs. Stfeelers and cold Vikings weDcoinnie Falcons By DAVE SCHEIBER By MARK JOHNSON St.

Pef rlburg Timai Sutf Writer Alan Page and Carl Eller," Bennett said. "All four of their down linemen were No. 1 draft choices, so that shows you what kind of people they are, They put a lot of heat on a passer. Anyone who saw the pressure the Vikings put on Danny White knows what we must do along the offensive line. "There is no question that (Steve) Bartkowski is more vulnerable to the rush than a Danny White because he doesn't have White's mobility.

We're going to have to keep our tight end or one of our backs back with him to give him added protection." One of the day's more interesting matchups involves Minnesota defensive end Doug Martin, who leads the NFL in sacks with following an outstanding game against Dallas, and Atlanta Pro Bowl tackle Mike Kern. If Martin and friends run free, it could be a long afternoon for Bartkowski, a pure drop-back passer who has completed more than 63 percent of his passes this fall but haB thrown for only eight touchdowns. The Falcons have scored only one touchdown in their last two games. "Minnesota has a very good football team, certainly better than their record indicates," Bennett said. "They're coming off a high, and we haven't played very well the last two weeks.

Also, we're more beat up right now than we have been at any time this year. "We're going to have a tough time." MINNESOTA OBVIOUSLY has momentum; the Vikings won three of their last four games to finish 5-4, won four of their five home games during the regular season and are 1-point favorites today. But the last two games between these two teams have been decided by two points total (31-30 Atlanta last year, 24-23 Minnesota in 1980), and Minnesota coach Bud Grant seems to expect more of the same. "I've seen a lot of Atlanta films," Grant said. "I think you have to look at the team when they're at their best not when they're at their worst.

They're legitimate. Nobody's going to remember what you did in the asterisk-added regular season." Viking quarterback Tommy Kramer (eighth in the National Conference in passing this year, three notches behind Bartkowski) again will be without wide receiver Ahmad Rashad, but his other favorite target, Sammy White, is coming off a knee injury and is a good bet to start. The Falcons will be without middle linebacker Buddy Curry, and tight end Junior Miller is doubtful. "Everybody has injuries this year," said Bennett, who has seven other players listed as either questionable or probable. "It's something you must play through." Bennett and Grant both understand.

The Metrodome may be in good shape, but the roof will fall on one of their teams today. But Steeler coach Chuck Noll suggests that the Charger defense's biggest problem might be that "their offense scores too quickly, and they end up being on the field too long." San Diego and Pittsburgh each finished the Beason with 6-3 records, but the Steelers earned the home-field advantage due to a better record in common games (3-1 compared to 2-1). Fouts, who averaged an NFL record 324.7 passing yards per game, spearheads the Charger attack. The burly, bearded quarterback completed 218 passes in 309 attempts for a 61.8 percentage and 17 touchdowns. His favorite target this season was tight end Kellen Winslow as usual.

Winslow led the AFC in receiving for the third straight year with 54 catches for 721 yards. San Diego wide receiver Wes Chandler finished in a four-way tie for second place with 49 receptions. But former University of Florida star Chandler was No. 1 when it came to running with each catch. He gained 1,032 yards the only receiver in the NFL to reach the plateau during the strike-shortened season.

He was followed by none other than Winslow, who motored for 721 yards. Chandler also excelled in the scoring department along with San Diego running back Chuck Muncie. They ended the season second on the AFC scoring list with 54 points, behind Los Angeles Raider Marcus Allen (84 points). Muncie anchored the rushing game with 569 yards in 138 carries and eight touchdowns. He's joined by fleet tailback James Brooks, who gained 430 yards in 87 carries and added six touchdowns.

The Steelers, meanwhile, are still paced by the same old war horses that brought them four Super Bowl championships. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw, though bothered by injuries and periodic slumps, finished the year ranked fifth in the AFC. He hit 127 of 240 attempts for 1,768 yards, 17 touchdowns and a 52.9 percentage. Bradshaw's statistics were marred, however, by 11 interceptions. Pittsburgh's top receiver this season was a man known more for his running prowess.

Franco Harris, still going strong, caught 31 passes for 249 yards. Right behind him was John Stallworth with 27 catches for a team-leading 441 yards. The Steeler ground attack, of course, was fueled by Harris. He rolled for 604 yards in 140 carries. Defensively, Pittsburgh prospered with an aggressive secondary.

Safety Donnie Shell and cornerback Dwayne Woodruff tied Cincinnati's Ken Riley and New York's Bobby Jackson for the conference lead with five interceptions. Material from United Press International was also used in this report. MINNEAPOLIS It was the Minnesota Vikings' roof that collapsed late last week, but the Atlanta Falcons are the ones wondering what hit them. After getting off to a 4-1 post-strike start, the Falcons were outscored 73-13 against Green Bay and New Orleans in their final two regular-season games. Atlanta's 5-4 record1 still merits a playoff spot, but instead of starting at home, the Falcons must play Minnesota today at 4 p.m.

EST in the patched-up Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. "We were embarrassed in our last two games," Atlanta coach Leeman Bennett said, "and it remains to be seen how we will respond. If we expect to win, we'll have to come back and play at the level we achieved prior to the last two weeks of the season." THE FALCONS, at least, won't have to concern themselves with old Metropolitan Stadium, where the Vikings weathered sub-freezing temperatures and frolicked to a 7-3 playoff record before moving indoors this season. Part of the Metrodome's fiberglass roof ripped open less than two weeks ago, but repairs were made in time for last Monday night's game against Dallas.

Depending on your point of view, Minnesota that evening either sentenced the Tampa Bay Bucs to Dallas or saved them from a trip to Green Bay, where they still enjoy playing in thegreat outdoors. The Vikings came from behind in the final minutes to defeat the Cowboys 31-27, thanks greatly to a killer pass rush that brought back memories of the Purple People Eaters of the 1960s. "I haven't seen them (the Vikings) rush a passer that well since eight or nine years ago when they had people like PITTSBURGH The forecast in Western Pennsyl- vania calls for snow flurries and 25-degree temperatures this afternoon. The big question is: For the second straight playoff year, will this frigid weather cool the sizzling offense of the San Diego Chargers? Whether the warm-weather Chargers will fold in the chilly clime as they did last year at Cincinnati (losing 27-7 in the championship game) will be answered beginning at 12:30 p.m. today when San Diego quarterback Dan Fouts Co.

face the Pittsburgh Steelers in round one of the AFC playoffs. The game will be telecast on Channel 8. The Chargers enter the Three Rivers Stadium show-down with the most potent offense in the entire NFL, having averaged 450.8 yards per game. That total represents -the third highest in league history, surpassed only by the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams set the record in 1950 with an average of 451.7 yards and broke it the next year with a total of 458.8.

In the last five games of the season, San Diego grooved "at an unbelievable clip of 507 yards per game, including a team-record of 661 in the Monday Night 50-34 triumph over Cincinnati two weeks ago. But, on the other hand, San Diego's defense was the third worst in the AFC, giving up 24.5 points per game. Charger coach Don Coryall said the unit's problems resulted from a lack of experience among the starters. "Basically, it's a patchwork defense." WORKING DAYS on era onm PLA VOFFC ATT A GE.AEK3G New York Jets (6-3) at Bengals (7-2) TV: none locally Radio: 1 2:30 p.m.. WFLA-970 Chargers (6-3) at Steelers (6-3) TV: 1 2:30 p.m., WFLA-8 Radio: none locally Falcons (5-4) at Vikings (5-4) TV: none locally Radio: none locally jl I Plemtty of eyes on Jets-Bengals Mi fiX't WE WILL PAINT ANY CAR, ANY COLOR FOR $79.95.

NO UPS, NO EXTRAS! By JOE CARIMICELLI United Press International THERE IS NO FINER PAINT MADE THAN EARL SCHEIBS ACRYLIC DIAMOND GLOSS WE USE DuPONT PIGMENTS AND GENERAL ELECTRIC SILICONES 3 YEAR WRITTEN GUARANTEE AGAINST FADING. IF YOUR CAR FADES I'LL REPAINT IT FREE! "The doctors told me the knee is fine and I'll go out and give it all I've got," Klecko said. "I wouldn't play if I didn't think I could help. 1 1 don't just want to play. I want to be able to play like Joe Klecko can play." 1 "I have to make myself healthy," McNeil said.

"There's no second chance. I'm not going there to lose this game. If it takes an effort like Kellen Winslow gave against Miami last year, then I'll do it. It's not the money. It's pride.

This 8201 110. FLORIDA TAMPA 933-4091 I msssksid 'Special Sunday hours 11:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. offense as well as third in defense. Richard Todd was third in the AFC in passing, throwing for 1,961 yards and 14 TDs. Wesley Walker caught 39 passes for 620 yards and six TDs.

"I think both clubs are a lot better than we were last year," Anderson said. "I'd hate to think you stand still. I remember the Jets for their good defense. They put on a lot of pressure and you have to react quickly." "I think both teams have changed considerably since last year," said Bengals coach Forrest Gregg. "It was our second game and it was their second game.

We won by one point but it was close right down to the end. Both teams have improved an awful lot since then. "The Jets have developed great balanae. They're playing probably the best balanced offense in the NFL between rushing and passing. They have an awful lot of weapons." "THEY GAVE US more headaches than I want to remember," said Ross.

"They had pressure on Kenny constantly all day, making Kenny throw a lot sooner than he wanted. The fact that they've been winning with injuries to their defensive line is the sign of a good football team. The big problem with the Jets is that you know exactly what they're going to do but it's very hard to stop them." Whether some of the Jets' defensive weapons will be available is a major concern to coach Walt Michaels. End Joe Klecko, the NFL sack leader and AFC Defensive Player of the Year last year, is returning for the first time since knee surgery after the second game this season. Tackle Marty Lyons had hamstring problems for the last three weeks but says he will play.

McNeil suffered a hamstring pull as the Jets finished 6-3 last Sunday with a loss to Kansas City but also vows he will play. CINCINNATI A year ago, the New York Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals played shootout and almost nobody noticed. There will be more eyes on them today when they tangle again in the opening round of the AFC playoffs. In the second game of last season, the Bengals, coming off a lackluster 6-8 year, rallied for a 31-30 victory over the Jets, who were in the throes of an 0-3 start. But the Bengals maintained their momentum and wound up in the Super Bowl and the Jets turned themselves around and earned a playoff spot.

Today they meet again, with two of the NFL's top offenses matched against each other. On TV, however, the game will be telecast to the New York and Cincinnati areas. Most of the rest of the nation will view San Diego at Pittsburgh under the regionalized telecasting format adopted for the playoffs this season. Cincinnati's Ken Anderson led the league in passing as he guided the Bengals to a 7-2 record and a third-place finish in the eight-team AFC playoff field. Anderson set an NFL record for completion percentage by hitting 70.55, breaking a mark set by Washington's Sammy Baugh in 1945.

LAST WEEK, Anderson set an NFL record with 20 consecutive completions in a 35-27 victory over Houston. Cris Collinsworth caught 49 passes this season for 700 yards and one touchdown and Dan Ross caught 47 for 508 yards and three TDs as the Bengals' offense ranked second in the AFC. The Jets, sparked by NFL rushing leader Freeman McNeil (786 yards), ranked third in team has great pride and I think it will show. "I PLAN TO GO all out from the first play and come as hard as I can for as long as I can," said Lyons, who played high school ball at St. Petersburg Catholic.

"If I can't go on, it's just one of those unfortunate things." Anderson hopes his offensive line will give him time to operate. It may be hurt, however, by the loss of guard Max Montoya, who suffered a hyperextended knee during the week and was doubtful for today's game. Michaels feels ball control and a solid defensive effort will be the key for his team. "Cincinnati's passing game is solid and Pete Johnson doesn't hurt you when he's carryng the ball. Anderson does a good job throwing off to his backs and he doesn't use just one primary receiver like a lot of clubs do.

He can spread it around with five or six guys. "I like to think we can control the ball more than they can. Either that or we're going to have to put points up fast. But I don't want to play shootout with them." The weather, critical in the Bengals' AFC title game against San Diego last January when the wind chill reading plunged to minus 59, was not expected to be a factor. The National Weather Service predicted temperatures in the 30-40 degree range with a slight chance of rain.

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1.98 to 3.01 WHEEL ALIGNMENT and Rotation HAKES FI0NT DISC PADS 0IIEAIDIUM HAKE LINING Chalk up the network television playoff plan as a backfire, as CBS put it to the test and should have put it to rest Saturday afternoon. The NFL's first-round playoff formula of telecasting only half the available games was accompanied by mass confusion and the subsequent ire on the part of the viewing fans. Several telephone calls to the St. Petersburg Times sports department Saturday protested CBS's switching away from the planned Lions-Redskins telecast to Green Bay. where the Packers were pounding on the St.

Louis Cardinals. That was all part of the master plan, however. Briefly recapping, the first round of the NFL's Super Bowl Tournament consists of eight games in four days, at first glance a veritable smorgasbord of NFL action. However, AFC games are played at the same time and NFC games are at another hour. That allows only two telecasts into any region each day.

In order to allow full national coverage of all four games daily, telecasts of AFC and NFC games would have had to compete in both the early and late time slots, an option that was rejected before it was even considered. AS A WAY of forestalling viewer protest, the networks got the NFL to permit unlimited live switching from game to game. They also obtained a waiver of a rule that limits complete cutaways from contests that get out of competitive hand. That waiver was exercised after the Redskins bolted to a 31 -0 halftime lead over the Lions. Dick Stockton, working at RFK Stadium, explained that all viewers except those in Washington and Detroit would be watching the Packers and Cardinals, which, although on the way to becoming another blowout, was only 28-9 at the half, therefore slightly more competitive than the game in Washington.

The league ruling, though, would hive permitted an earlier switchoff when the Reds-kins led 17-0: at that same hour the Packers led only 7-3 and it still was a game for a short time thereafter. CBS finally switched away from Washington, as it had said earlier in the week it would, and then stuck with the Packers until the end. It did. though, continue to give taped Radial-Tuned SHOCK ABSORBERS 518 LUBRICATION, OIL CHANGE. OIL FILTER Special $1295 W5 5il788 updates of scoring plays from Washington, much as it said it would not.

Another promise, made earlier in the week, was to cut away to the alternate site, live, as soon as a scoring play became imminent, and then switch back. Big, surprising plays and apparent lack of execution on CBS's part seemed to preclude much of that. IN FACT, bumbling execution was the order of CBS's production. Early in the telecast from Washington, Stockton and Roger Staubach announced that an early field goal had put Green Bay ahead and a score on the screen showed 3-0 Green Bay. Oops, the Cards actually had taken the early lead.

Stockton and Staubach, either victims themselves or just terribly confused, later indicated a live cutaway to Green Bay that didn't occur. Then it did. just in time to catch one live Packer touchdown before the half. The halftime show itself, something that CBS should have polished by now, added to the comedy. In the middle of a feature on the shaky fates of many NFL coaches, host Brent Musberger introduced current Eagle boss Dick Vermeil who, as it was, was working live in the studio to comment on rumors he was leaving Philadelphia for the Rams.

Suddenly, with a flip of a switch and before Vermeil got a chance to respond, it was back to RFK and Dick Stockton with cameo guest James Brolin, who just happened to stop by CBS's booth to hype his Saturday night appearance in Whitewater Rebels, which just happened to be on CBS. The dreaded PROMO. NBC, which had the late slot Saturday, didn't get too flashy, but kept its performance solid Saturday. It helped that it carried much more competitive games. Most updates were on tape, as with CBS, and live cutaway, the nature of which makes it difficult to coordinate, was used sparingly.

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