The Times-Tribune from Scranton, Pennsylvania • 31

C-7 THE SUNDAY TIMES, JANUARY 9, 1983-SCRANTON, PA. Bradshawona Roller-Coaster Bradshaw said in a recent interview that he has changed little as a person since leaving Louisiana Tech to join what was then one of the worst teams in pro football. The biggest change is my Knowledge of the game," he said. Nothing out there surprises me any more. I know what's going on.

The most obvious changes in me would be success, and money I had success but I never had money. "I don't trust people, that's probably the biggest change in PITTSBURGH AP) After four Super Bowls, two marriages and whispers that his career was over, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw is riding high again into the National Football League playoffs. The 34-year-old Bradshaw has survived an up-and-down season, similar to some of his early pro years, to lead the Steelers into today's American Conference playoff against the San Diego Chargers. Even Bradshaw doesnt know what to expect next. Before the strike (when the Steelers beat Dallas and Previously, he had to share time with both Terry Hanratty and Joe Gilliam.

"When I got the confidence from that man (Noll) in that office was when I became a quarterback, when I started making my progress. Prior to that, I wasn't making any progress. I knew that when I made mistakes, I was going to be benched, and I was. When he finally said, Go and make your mistakes, we're going to win with you' is when I became a me. I trusted everybody when I first came hereTNow, I'm very thpv rfirf bIe.

ss. iw( absolutely do not trust sports writers or Droadcasters. i line and djvorces to former Mlss Teenage America Melissa Babish and figure skating star Jo Jo Starbuck. He said his personal tragedies have helped him professionally. They were very painful," he said of the failed absolutely do not trust sports writers them as individuals, but I dont trust them because they have a job to do.

So Im very careful. I dont think I personally feel any different or feel that I am not the same Terry Bradshaw that people knew years ago. going to do." This season, Bradshaw has played as well, and as poorly But when you bury yourself in your work, you survive. All of the painful i sudden you're out of the painful part and go on. Actually, as he has ever played.

In the opener against Dallas, he 1 tni completed 17 of 28 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns; What I have never gotten used to is being mobbed by people. Even years of being one of Pittsburgh's most recognizable residents have not conquered Bradshaws fear of crowds. "I cant go out. I cant Christmas shop. I hardly-ever go out and eat dinner," he said.

I can't do things normal people do. They say. Youre successful, accept it. And I do accept it, and I realize the fans make us what we are, and we owe it to them. a I've w( 1 played better football when Ive been under tremendous against Buffalo, he completed just two of 13 passes for three yards, was intercepted twice and sacked four times before being replaced by Cliff Stoudt.

He has no explanation for the roller-coaster ride, just as he has no explanation for why he and the Steelers suddenly-emerged in 1974 aftqr seasons of mediocrity to win four Super Bowls in six years. "I cant explain why the good Lord said the Steelers were But you know, bless their hearts, they make it awfully tk am aifl 1iia4 6a mumU (Laib MninkknoliAAJe Tlfl (mink their Its pressure. He now feels more comfortable when accompanied by women who arent glamourous, but have backgrounds similar to his own. I dont date any girls in Pittsburgh. I know what Im looking for in a woman now, he said.

And Ive met a girl. Actually, Ive met several that were good but one in particular thats a pretty fascinating person. I want somebody from my part of the country that understands me. They tell me that you can go out and date anybody you want to date, but you can't. I've never been into that at all.

1 always wanted to meet good old gals. A good old gal. Few people know the real Terry -Bradshaw, he feels, even tough on us just to mingle in neighborhoods. tough' The early days of Bradshaw's career were marked by Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw will lead the Steelers into the playoffs today against San Diego. (AP Laserphoto) going to come together and this is going to be the greatest team ed," he said.

You cant explain ever assembled, performances and frequent benchings by Coach Chuck Noll. The same player who was recently voted the second-mostliked professional athlete in America once was cheered by Steelers' Bradshaw has lost most of his blond hair since he came out of the Bayou Country of Louisiana in 1970 as one of the most heralded college quarterbacks ever. But he hasnt lost his enthusiasm, nor the fear of failure he says has kept him from getting complacent. fans because he was injured and couldnt play any more. led the Bradshaw said he, and his Career, turned the comer in after all these years.

The coaches and the players know me best, he said. They know me better than anyone. the middle of the 1974 season when Noll gave him the starting job. San Diego at Pittsburgh game last January at Cincinnati, where wind chills dipped to 59 below. KEY MATCHUPS: CHARGER TIGHT END KELLEN WINSLOW VS.

STEELER STRONG SAFETY DONNIE SHELL The Steelers have had trouble covering the pass, but it hasn't been Shell's Channel28i12j30jjjn year (in Kansas City) without success. So the hosts will have a few things in their favor, including the fact that they are coming off a 37-21 victory over Cleveland last weekend. The Raiders not only ended San Diegos five-game winning streak, they also knocked the Chargers out of a home-field playoff advantage. The San Diegans reported no serious injuries after the After his teams 41-34 icing of San Diego last Sunday, Matt Millen, the Los Angeles Raiders linebacker, had this chilling thought for the Chargers; I hope it sleets and snows and it's 50,000 degrees below zero in Pittsburgh." Nice guy. What he was referring to, of course, was San Diego's disdain for cold weather, something they have dreaded since their escapades in the AFC title fault.

He's had a big year, with five interceptions. Wins-. Odds are it won't be that cold in Pittsburgh when the Chargers meet the Steelers 'in the first round of the playoffs. But it wont be Tahiti, either. And it will be on artificial turf, a surface the San Diegans have tested once this Tampa Bay at Dallas by one linebacker.

White will throw into a crowd to Cosbie, who is 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds. Cosbie caught a 42-yard pass in the br fourth quarter between four defenders to set up Dallas' THE BUCS ON DEFENSE The defense that was once one of the NFLs leaders is now among the mediocre. The Tampa Bay front three did sack Chicago quarterback Jim McMahon four times for losses of 32 yards Sunday. But Williams and the Tampa Bay offense has been winning the games this season. THE COWBOYS ON DEFENSE Everson Walls finished the season with the NFL's most interceptions 7.

Opposing quarterbacks continue to throw away from Walls and the result Three weeks ago, the Dallas Cowboys were the talk of the National Football League. The Cowboys are still the subject of converations, but the question now is, What happened?" Dallas, 6-3, finished the regular season with two straight losses to Philadelphia and Minnesota. The Cowboys were expected to sail through the NFL playoff tournament before Minnesota rallied in the final minutes of Monday night's game to win 31-27. Before losing to Minnesota, several Dallas players said they would prefer to play Tampa Bav in the first round instead of the Vikings. A victory over Minnesota would have set up a rematch at Texas Stadium.

go-ahead touchdown against Minnesota. LAST-MINUTE FACTORS There's a strong possibility that Tampa Bay may have to play without two starting regulars in their defensive backfield. Free safety Cedric Brown (shoulder) and right eornerback Mike Washington (lower back) were hurt in the final quarter against the Bears. Washingtons backup, Johnny Ray Smith, has a knee injury andf probably can't play. Replacements will be Neal Colzie moving from strong safety to free safety; Mark Cotney, a former starter out last year with Monday night was a 60-yard interception return by Dennis Thurman, the other eornerback.

Thurman did allow a crucial an injury, going to strong safety; and John Holt moving in at eornerback. Also, quarterback Williams was sore early in the Channel 22 3:30 p.m. week having suffered a strained hamstring against Chicago. He should be ready by game time. loss, but the training room was filled following a very physical game.

Pittsburgh and San Diego are very much alike. Both can move the ball through the air and on the ground. Defensively, they play the run pretty well but find the pass a -mystery. WHEN THE CHARGERS HAVE THE BALL The Raiders found the key to at least slowing down the Charger of-fense. They put pressure on quarterback Dan Fouts.

He was sacked three times, and had people in his face most of the afternoon. He passed for 303 yards, but they didnt come as easily as. they did in the team's big romps over San Francisco, Cincinnati and Baltimore on previous weekends. Still, since the strike ended, Fouts has thrown for more than 300 yards (45C against the 49ers) on six occasions. His favorite target has become Wes Chandler, whe has caught 27 passes for 641 yards and eight scores in the last four games.

Chandler went over the mark on the season despite missing the second Denver game with a kidney bruise. If Fouts finds Chandler occupied, he'll try all-pro tight end kellen Winslow or wide receiver Charlie Joiner. San Diego's running game has clicked in recent weeks, with Chuck Muncie rushing for more than 100 yards in each of the last two games. When Muncie needs a rest, James Brooks is an excellent replacement, who also doubles as a kick returner. WHEN THE STEELERS HAVE THE BALL The Steelers will beat you on the ground and in the air They arent choosy Last week against the Browns, they rushed for 261 yards and quarterback Terry Bradshaw passed for 269.

Franco Harris is an ageless wonder who gained 120 yards against Cleveland, and Walter Abercrombie, his rookie sidekick, has a world of talent. A few weeks back, there were thoughts that Lynn Swann, the Steelers' famed receiver, might be about finished. He caught five passes against the Browns for 114 yards. He isnt finished. John Stallworth, th6 other wide receiver, remains one of the game's best, and Jim Smith is as good a third receiver as there is in the game.

Bradshaw always has been a tng-play quarterback, but he may have to settle for less. San Diego has not allowed a long bomb this season, but there are lots of yards to be gained underneath the zone. Probable Lineups. DALLAS COWBOYS OFFENSE Tom Landry had expressed concern in his team's lackadaisical attitude before the Minnesota game. But he calmly accepted the loss, saying that Dallas had no incentive to beat the Vikings, who were playing for the bomefield advantage in the first round.

WHEN THE BUCS HAVE THE BALL Quarterback Doug Williams attempted 49 passes against Chicago. Remarkably the offensive unit had Only one penalty for five yards. The Bucs are low is as good as they come but seems to perform less effectively when he's battered around. STEELER NOSE GUARD GARY DUNN VS. CHARGER CENTER DON MACEK Macek is as underrated as they come and Dunn has been a force' in a defense that has allowed opponents just 85 yards a game rushing.

For the Charger running game to work, Macek. must find a way to discourage Dunn from time to time. CHARGER WIDE RECEIVER WES CHANDLER VS. STEELER CORNERBACK MEL BLOUNT Chandler is on top of his game and Blount is not. Blount may be an old pro who knows all the tricks, but it's doubtful he can handle Chandler by himself.

He'll need help. CHARGER CORNERBACK JEFF ALLEN VS. STEELER RECEIVER JOHN STALLWORTH Just the opposite of the above. Allen is a rookie. Stall-worth is one of the best.

Allen cant do it alone. CHARGER QUARTERBACK DAN FOUTS VS. STEELER LINEBACKERS The Raiders blitzed Fouts successfully. Other teams havent. If youre going to blitz and its almost a prerequisite vs.

San Diego its wise to at least get close enough to hear Fouts breathe. STEELER QUARTERBACK TERRY BRADSHAW VS. CHARGER BACK SEVEN -San Diego's three linebackers and four defensive backs take very deep drops. Bradshaw loves the medium-range and long pass, but may be forced to change this week There's a lot of room under the San Diego zone FACTORS -The Chargers have nver won in Pittsburgh. Thetwo teams have met eight times, with Pittsburgh holding a 6-2 advantage.

The Chargers have won tbe last two meetings 35-7 in 1979 and 26-17 in 1980 both in San Neither team lists any serious injuries for this on? This is San Diegos fourth consecutive year in the playoffs, the longest string in the Last week's loss to the Raiders marked the first time the Chargers have lost a regular season-ending game since Don Coryell took over the club in 1978 Pot-Wt. WR-179 LT-255 LG-262 C-253 RG-267 RT-257 TE-232 WR-190 QB-185 RB-192 RB-212 trying to play a more controlled pass offense this season and Williams nas completed more than 55 percent of his passes for Ne. Name 88 Drew Pearson 67 Pat Donovan 68 Herb Scott 64 Tom Rafferty 65 Kurt Petersen 61 Jim Cooper 84 Doug Cosbie 80 Tony Hill 1 1 Danny White 33 Tony Dorsett 20 Ron Springs 18-yard reception in Minnesotas winning touchdown drive. Ed Jones will return to the Pro Bowl, but Harvey Martin is having his best season since 1977 when he led the league in sacks with 23. KEY MATCHUPS: COWBOY DEFENSIVE LEFT END ED JONES VS.

BUC RIGHT OFFENSIVE TACKLE CHARLIE HANNAH Jones sacked Williams twice and batted one pass in last years 38-0 playoff victory. But Hannah was more effective when the teams played in November, holding Jones to no sacks. BUC TIGHT END JIMMIE GILES VS. COWBOY STRONG SAFETY BENNY BARNES Giles was headed for the winning touchdown against Dallas when he fumbled into the arms of Michael Downs in the regular-season game this year. But he is still the NFC's premier tight end and Barnes is now a fading star in his 11th season.

It Tampa Bay throws often on first down, as Minnesota did, the Bucs can take advantage of Barnes and middle linebacker Bob Breunig. BUC LEFT DEFENSIVE END DAVE STALLS VS. COWBOY RIGHT OFFENSIVE TACKLE JIM COOPER Stalls and Cooper were best friends for three seasons in Dallas. Cooper now has a revenge motive after Stalls sacked quarterback Danny White in the teams first meeting this season. Cooper is the most under-rated member of the Dallas offensive line.

COWBOY TIGHT END DOUG COSBIE VS. BUC SECONDARY -Cosbie has caught seven passes twice this season and. has become White's favorite receiver. Cosbie runs a variety of patterns, both short and deep, and is almost impossible to stop the first time in his career. Halfback James Wilder is slowly adding a running attack to the Bucs offense.

WHEN THE COWBOYS HAVE THE BALL Tony Dorsett TAMP MY BUCCANEERS I No. Nifflt 84 Gordon Jones 75 Dave Reavis 72 Ray Snell-50 Steve Wifeon 61 Greg Roberts 62 Sean Farrell 88 Jimmie Giles 89 Kevin House 12 Doug Williams 32 James Wilder 28 Melvin Carver TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS I 65 Dave Stalls 76David Logan 63 Lee Roy Selmon 59 Andy Hawkins 1 56 Cecil Johnson 52 Scott Brantley 53 Hugh Green 41 Norris Thomas 40 Mike Washington 20 Neal Colne 34 Cedric Brown broke a NFL recoOd with a 99-yard run against the Vikings. More impressive. Dallas had only 10 men on the field at tne DALLAS COWBOYS DEFENSE time. Dorsett's longest run of the year before Minnesota was tni only 19 yards and the record-breaking run might have created 72 Ed Jones 78 John Dutton 54 Randy White 79 Harvey Martin 58 Mike Hegman 53 Bob Breunig 59 Guy Brown 24 Everson Walls 32 Dennis Thurman 31 Benny Barnes 26 Mike Downs a statistical illusion about the Dallas running game, which has been subpar this season.

Landry has shifted to a ball-control passing offense and Danny White was having his best season Before completing only 14 of 32 passes against Minnesota. Outside of Dorsett and White, tighend Doug Cosbie has become the most important member of the Dallas offense. Playoff Matchups NATIONAL CONFERENCE Atlanta Falcons (5-41 at Minnesota Vikings (5-4) (today) In their final two games of the regular season, the Falcons lost to Green Bay, 38-7, and to New Orleans, 35-6. In each game, the Falcons failed to put Enough pressure on the quarterback to prevent him from testing the Falcons secondary, which is not a team strength to begin with. Worse, the Falcons enter the playoffs in poor lineba physical condition.

The linebacker Buddy it with a defense that, for the most part, played as welt as it had to to win. In the league's statistical rankings, which are based solely on yardage allowed, over the 16-game regular season, the Bengals defense was ranked fourth in the conference and 12th in the league. Over nine games this season, it was ranked fifth in the conference and 11th in the league. Statistics tell a story, but not the whole story," Reggie Williams, the Bengals outside linebacker, said Wednesday from Cincinnati. Our defense is the type that plays in spurts.

It can change momentum during the course of the game. We can be playing -sloppily, but when we need to stop the offense, were there." The Bengals this season defended better against the run than the pass. Dan Fouts of Curry is out with a sprained knee. The tight end Junior Miller is unlikely to play with a I Probable Lineups. sprained knee.

The offensive tackles Mike Kenn and Eric Sanders, the linebacker Fulton Kuykendall and Al Richardson, the defensive ends Jeff Yeates and Jeff Mcrrow, the running backs Gerald Riggs and William Andrews and the kicker Mick Luck- PITTSBURGH STEELERS OFFENSE hurst all are expected to play with less Tneri severe injuries There was some consolation in the fact that none of the members of the the Chargers and Terry Bradshaw of the Pittsburgh Steelers proved that: Fouts corn- 8 I i 1 ft)'. I Pos Wt WR 220 LT-256 RG-265 255 LG-260 RT 230 TE 260 WR 180 QB 210 RB 222 RB-225 OFFENSE Poa-Wt. WR-186 LT-284 LG-258 C-260 RG 279 RT 295 TE 251 WR-183 QB-205 RB 215 RB-228 0EFENSE No. Name 82 John Stallworth 74 Ray Pmnev 7 i Craig Woltley 52 Mike Webster 77 Steve Courson 79 Larry Brown 89 Bennie Cunningham 88 Lynn Swann 12 Terry Bradshaw 44 Frank Pollard 32 Franco Harris secondary were injured against the Saints. Their health, and effectiveness, will be required to stop Tommy Kramer, the Viking Suarterback who threw 15 touchdown passes us season, despite losing his two starting SAN DICG0 CHARGERS No Name 86 Wes Chandler 66 Billy Shields 63 Doug Wilkerson 62 Don Macek 67 Ed White 70 Russ Washington 80 Kellen Winslow 18 Charlie Joiner 14 Dan Fouts 25 John Cappelletti 46 Chuck Muncie SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 76 Keith Ferguson 79 Gary Johnson 74 Louie Kelcher 68 Leroy Jones 57 Linden King 59 Cldt Thrift 51 Woodrow Lowe 29 Mike Williams 27 Jell Allen 49 Andre Young 48 Tim Fox.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS DEFENSE receivers, Ahmad Rashad and Sammy White, late in the year. The Falcons will ''i also need a strong game from their offen sive line, which they generally get. Monday Ted down seven Dallas night, the Vikings bati passes. AMERICAN CONFERENCE New York Jett (6-3) at Cincinnati Bengali lay afte (Sunday) The second Sunday alter (7-2) the end of the NFL football strike, the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Los Angeles Raiders, 31-17, and prevented the running back Marcus Allen from gaming any yards. im gaming any ya pleted 25 of 40 passes for 435 yards; in Pittsburghs 26-20 victory over the Bengals, Bradshaw completed 29 of 42 for 298 yards and three touchdowns.

Last year, in the first game between the Jets and Bengals in five years, a 31-30 Bengals victory, Richard Todd completed 18 of 29 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Though the Bengals won si of their last seven games and the Jets lost two of their last three to finish with a 6-3 record, the Jets produced more points, 245 to 232, and allowed fewer, 166 to 177. Also, among the 16 teams in the playoffs, the Jets defense ranks fourth, Cincinnati's 11th, based purely on yards allowed. We have never faced a team that hasnt Sven us a problem, said Hank Bullough, Bengals' defensive coordinator. Nonetheless, he dismissed all the statistical comparisons except for one.

"Scoring," he said. Defensive statistics are so misleading. Defensive coaches have been fired because a quarterback will have thrown for 300 yards. But you always have to take, into consideration the number of times the quarterback throws, which is something the defense has no control over. If the quarterback has to throw 60 times to.

get his 300 yards, then the defense has done a good job." Playoff Schedule. memrng seeds seeond-kmwst seed at second-highest seeds Twenty two days later, tne Bengals lost to the San Diego Chargers, 50-34, and gave up offe 661 yards of total offense. tl 1 CONrtMNCI CHAMPIONSHIP (AMES (Winner et Jan 15-16 games at home at highest remaining seeds) NFC Championship Saturday, Jin 22 AFC Champmnthip Sunday. Jan 23 (Seeding ft Parentheses) Th top fight teems Mch conference rt seeded 1 to 8 lor the duration of the by won-tost percentage end tiebreaker AFC nnt fomd VC Today's Same New Yorit Jet (6) at Cincinnati (3) 12 30 San Dego (5) at Pittsburgh (4) 12 30 Today 6 am Tamp Bay at Da'ta (2). 4pm At'ania (Si at Minnesota HI 4pm Set.

lee. II I la. II AFC and RFC (Seem fttand) tnumst regaining miH at highest re- The Bengals finished the season with a 7-2 record to become the No. 3 seed among the eight American conference teams in the Super Bowl XVII tournament. But how their defense performs against the the No.

5 seed, the New York Jets, Sunday in Cincinnati in the first round of the playoffs, could well determine if the Bengals advance to the second round. When the Bengals won the American Conference championship last year, they did Sb' SUPCR KWl XVH Sun Jan 30. Pasadena Ro Boml 6 pm ST AFC NFC Champion, tor Vince Lombardi Trophy fVO BOWL Sun Feb 6 Honolulu AFC A I Star NFC All-Star Two Stecler fans sit at ticket window at Three Rivers Stadium waiting for tickets to go on sale. The Steelers will meet the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the AFC playoffs today. (AP Laserphoto) I.