St. Louis Sports Online

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Mike Huss "The Fuss According to Huss" St. Louis Sports Online lead columnist and host of "Sportstalk" on WGNU AM-920 note new time: (7:00-8:00 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays) E-mail Mike at: hussonwgnu@aol.com

The St. Louis Rams will have home field advantage during the entire 1999 National Football Conference Playoffs.

A member of the St. Louis Rams will be named the 1999 National Football Conference Player of the Year.

These will all occur, eventually.

But before the community, media, and elected officials join in one big group hug and a great big hip, hip, hooray for our Blue and Gold Heroes, the New York Giants are coming to town. The Rams do not have to win this football game. On the other hand, the Giants must win this football game to keep their 1999 playoff hopes alive.

But despite the need for urgency, the boys from the Meadowlands do present a well-timed opportunity for the Gateway City's team. The Giants provide still another test for the Rams' legitimacy with the league as well as many local supporters.

I don't want to spoil your pre-playoff party, folks; but Sunday is an important game for the Rams. Could you all quit that silly bob and weave dancing and stop the blue and gold face painting for a quick moment, please?

Reality Check: There are still many people across the fruited plain that do not take these Rams seriously. Sure their 11-2 record is impressive. But really, whom have they beaten? Recent history warns us to beware of such teams with soft win/loss records.

During the 1999 baseball season, the Cleveland Indians won 97 games and won the American League Central Division by 21 _ games. When it was over, the remaining members of the AL Central did not compile a winning record in 1999. (You know, kind of like this fall's NFC West). The Tribe earned the best record in the American League and a home field advantage throughout the League playoffs.

During the fall of 1998, Kansas State University rolled its way into the Big 12 championship game by defeating mostly cream puffs disguised as football teams.

Earlier this spring, the Ottawa Senators compiled the best record in the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. With this accomplishment, the Senators earned home ice advantage thought their conference playoffs in a relatively week conference.

Aside from the win/loss records, these three teams have one other thing in common.

Each of these teams got knocked out of the playoffs in the first round.

Hello, Rams Park. Do you see a resemblance here?

The recent weeks of Rams feel good stories from the television talking heads and the scribes may have given their faithful a false sense of security. This team is far from invincible. They can be beaten; and can be beaten early in the playoffs.

This media created, fan conceived, talk radio coerced comfort zone is exactly the reason why Sunday's game with the Giants is very important. The Rams need to win it, period. Not just to improve their record to the Randy Karraker mark of 12 wins, but for their overall credibility.

The Rams must re-establish their focus. This is especially true playing against a team that legitimately wants to beat them.

Our Male Sheep have not looked as sharp during the past four games as compared to this season's first four. It is true that the St. Louis' opponents are better prepared for the Rams: having weeks of film to study their patterns, offensive and defensive sets.

But as the New Orleans game at the Dome proved, a team could play ball control against the Rams. Opponents can essentially shorten the game, for a push at the end. We still have not seen how this Rams team will respond in a pressure, must perform situation.

As with the game in Carolina, it would behoove Dick Vermeil to treat the Giants match-up as a playoff game. Technically, there is something at stake for the Rams in the home field playoff advantage. Ironically, it may not be a bad thing if St. Louis has fewer points than New York at halftime.

(Quick memo to Coach Vermeil: I could be wrong, but shouldn't you be more concerned about the play of your cornerbacks and defensive secondary than your place kicker?)

Shortly, the Rams will rest quarterback Kurt Warner, running back Marshall Faulk, as well as many of the others for the playoffs. The fear with clinching to early is whether that team can recapture the fire that put them in the playoffs.

This is the same fire and determination that got the Rams the NFC home field advantage and Conference MVP. This drive and focus are a must to advance in any sport.

In case you disagree, I suggest you contact the folks in Cleveland, Ohio, Manhattan, Kansas or Ottawa, Quebec, Canada.