|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jamal Lewis would like the last regular-season game of 2003 to be memorable for him and the Baltimore Ravens.
Lewis can break the NFL's single-season rushing record and become the fifth player to eclipse 2,000 yards Sunday night when the Ravens (9-6) host the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Baltimore and the
Cincinnati Bengals (8-7) are fighting for the AFC North division title. The
Bengals play the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon and would win the division
in a tiebreaker.
That division title is the only AFC playoff berth at stake on Sunday. It's not
as simple in the NFC, where three teams - the Minnesota Vikings (9-6), Green
Bay Packers (9-6) and Seattle Seahawks (10-6) - are vying for two playoff spots.
The Vikings visit the lowly Arizona Cardinals (3-12) and need a win to clinch the NFC North title. The Packers host the playoff-bound Denver Broncos (10-5) in a marquee interconference matchup.
But while five teams fight for three postseason spots, Lewis seeks football immortality. In his fourth season since being drafted fifth overall out of Tennessee, Lewis has rushed for 1,952 yards. Eric Dickerson holds the single-season record with 2,105 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1984.
"Anything is possible," Lewis said. "I think it is attainable and I think we can go out and get those kinds of yards. The whole line will be psyched up and ready to go, so I think I will just put it in their hands. I will just follow their lead."
Lewis also is 48 yards shy of joining Dickerson, Barry Sanders (2,053), Terrell Davis (2,008) and O.J. Simpson (2,003) in the exclusive 2,000 club.
Even if he does not get the record, it has been a magical season for Lewis, who set the single-game rushing record with 295 yards against Cleveland on September 14.
This will be Lewis' second crack at the Steelers this season. In the opener, he was limited to 69 yards on 15 carries in a 34-15 loss.
Led by Lewis on offense and perennial Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis on defense, the Ravens are on the verge of winning their first division title since relocating to Baltimore following the 1995 season.
The Bengals last made the playoffs in 1990 but can end their 12-year streak of non-winning seasons with a victory over the Browns. A win, coupled with a Baltimore loss, would give the Bengals an improbable division title under rookie coach Marvin Lewis.
Seattle kept its wild-card hopes alive Saturday with a 24-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
The Seahawks need a loss or tie by Minnesota or Green Bay on Sunday to lock up a playoff spot.
Even if Minnesota and Green Bay win, Seattle can make the playoffs if Dallas (10-5) loses Sunday at New Orleans. That would create a three-way tie for two wild card berths, and Seattle has a strong chance to gain one on the strength-of-victory tiebreaker.
That is probably not the scenario for which the NFL is hoping after Brett Favre's electrifying performance on Monday night.
Playing the night after the death of his father, Favre threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns to lead Green Bay to a 41-7 thumping of the Oakland Raiders.
Also last week, the Broncos clinched their first playoff berth since 2000 with a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
The St. Louis Rams (12-3) can clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win or tie against the Detroit Lions (4-11).
The Rams hold a half-game lead over the Eagles for the conference's best record. Philadelphia won at Washington on Saturday night, forcing the Rams to secure home field on their own.
Getting home-field would be a huge advantage for the Rams, who have won a franchise-record 14 straight games at the Edward Jones Dome.
The Rams have reeled off seven straight wins, their longest streak since an eight-game run in 2001. St. Louis reached the Super Bowl that season before losing to New England.
The Indianapolis Colts (11-4)
and Tennessee Titans (11-4) already have earned playoff berths and will play
on wild card weekend. The Colts can clinch the AFC South title Sunday with a
win over the Houston Texans (5-10). The Titans, who lost twice to Indianapolis,
will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8).