What's My Line? Rain, Lightning delay merely ploy in NFL

Sal DeFilippo's, pro football picks column appears Friday. Reach him at [email protected] or 259-4076.

PROFESSIONAL football used to be a sport for tough guys. Most every fan has seen some footage of the NFL as it was in the '40s and '50s, when pads seemed optional, helmets were made of sponge, and if you had teeth, your team was penalized 15 yards.

The game remains physical and hard-hitting, but I think it has lost some of its edge. Case in point: Sunday night's Kansas City-Seattle game at Arrowhead Stadium.

It was a rainy night in Kansas City, certainly damp enough to have canceled any wussy baseball game. But this is football. It's a game played meant to be played in any and all weather conditions.

That's why no team stupid enough to play its home games in a domed stadium has ever won a Super Bowl. The football gods won't allow it. It's that simple.

So how can you explained what happened Sunday night? So, it rained a little. OK, maybe five inches of rain in an hour is more than a little. But we're talking about rain.

A strong rain is nothing more than Mother Nature's way of stopping a good passing offense. Mom was having particular fun in this case -- Kansas City replaced its artificial turf with natural grass only two seasons ago, so this was a great chance to create a real Missouri mudbath, and Seattle quarterback Warren Moon has trouble hanging onto the ball, even when it's dry.

The Chiefs and Seahawks were tied, 3-3, in the second quarter when the unthinkable happened. The game was delayed for an hour because of the storm. Some lame excuse was offered about lightning in the area, and fear for the players' safety. Meanwhile, the 60,000-plus fans sat patiently in their conductive metal seats, waiting for play to resume.

Lightning hazard? Big deal. You can't tell me Dick Butkus never got struck by lightning during a game. Legend has it he once tackled a lightning bolt, cracking it in half. It's a part of the game.

What's next? Will San Diego have to change its name to the Puffy Clouds?

NFL histories said only one other game in recent memory has been delayed -- a September 1996 game between the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts. Reports from the game said they delayed the start because of storms -- I think the NFL was stalling, figuring nobody really planned to show up to watch these teams play (remember, the Jets were 1-15 that year) and maybe they could cancel the game for the betterment of the sport.

Regardless, this was one delay of game penalty I could do without.

Last week

The Vikings proved last week that they're for real, and I'm not. Chalk up another sad 4-8 week. I was 8-4 on totals, which means I can predict how many points teams will score -- just not which ones.

For the season

Top of the line: 2-3

Spread: 25-42-1, .375

Over/Unders: 37-31, .544

Straight-up: 43-25, .634

Top of the line

I don't know which Bills teams will show up -- the one that started 0-3 or the one that beat the 49ers last week. Fortunately, I do know which Colts team will.

Buffalo 17, Indianapolis 12.

Other games

DALLAS -7 vs. Carolina, under 39 --

Who does Kerry Collins think he is, Cal Ripken? You don't survive as an NFL quarterback by asking to be taken out of the starting lineup, which is what Collins did on Wednesday. Ex-Cowboy Steve Beuerlein isn't the answer.

Dallas 24, Carolina 10.

KANSAS CITY +3 at New England, under 37 --

The Chiefs actually played well last week, once play was resumed. After that mess, this week should be easy.

Kansas City 21, New England 15.

SAN FRANCISCO -10 1/2 at New Orleans, under 43 1/2 --

Maybe this week San Francisco won't wait until the fourth quarter to show up.

San Francisco 31, New Orleans 10.

PITTSBURGH -2 1/2 at Cincinnati, under 40 1/2 --

The Steelers should provide Bengals quarterback Neil O'Donnell with a trip down memory lane. Hard to believe he led Pittsburgh to the Super Bowl only three seasons ago.

Pittsburgh 20, Cincinnati 13.

WASHINGTON -2 1/2 at Philadelphia, over 39 --

The old cliche applies here: When these teams meet, you can throw the records out the window. I still think Redskins will win a couple of games, though, starting with this one.

Washington 30, Philadelphia 26.

TENNESSEE +3 1/2 at Baltimore, over 41 --

The Oilers are probably envious are Ravens return specialist Jermaine Lewis, who already has returned two punts for scores this year. The last time Tennessee had a punt return score was when the team still made its home in Texas. Lewis sets up the game-winning kick with another long return.

Baltimore 24, Tennessee 23.

CHICAGO +3 at Arizona, over 43 --

You'll know the winner of this game by halftime. The Bears lost their first four games, leading each game at the half. Last week, they went into the break tied with Detroit before pulling out a victory. Noticing the trend, the Bears let Arizona score a few times early, then rally.

Chicago 27, Arizona 21.

SEATTLE +6 1/2 vs. Denver, under 46 1/2 --

The Broncos are so good they can make Bubby Brister a star. Expect the Seahawks to throw everything they have at Denver.

Denver 24, Seattle 20.

NEW YORK JETS -3 1/2 at St. Louis, over 43 --

Bill Parcells insists he doesn't have a quarterback controversy. And as long as Glenn Foley stays injured, he's right.

New York Jets 29, St. Louis 23.

OAKLAND -6 1/2 vs. San Diego, under 37 1/2 --

The Chargers could end up 2-14.

Oakland 24, San Diego 10.

NEW YORK GIANTS -2 1/2 vs. Atlanta, under 37 1/2 --

The Falcons should have saved some of those points from last week. Talent-wise, Atlanta is better, but New York will do what it takes to win at home.

New York Giants 17, Atlanta 13.

JACKSONVILLE -6 1/2 vs. Miami, over 40 --

The Jaguars are unbeaten and still haven't played a game where they were clicking on all cylinders. Perhaps the Monday Night spotlight will do the trick.

Jacksonville 26, Miami 17.

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