Doom's day

Bill Belichick's next challenge is to devise a defense that will thwart Denver's run to the Super Bowl, Mission impossible? Don't underestimate him.

He is called "Doom" by the Jets, this introverted, foul-mouthed workaholic who jokes that he stays awake only 24 hours a day and would rather watch game tape than talk. Bill Belichick may not have polished people skills, but for the Broncos he represents perhaps the major obstacle between them and another Super Bowl appearance.

Belichick is the Jets' assistant head coach in charge of defense. The nickname comes from his monotone, baritone voice, as in the voice of doom--or in the fate that awaits offenses when they play the Jets. But his reputation as one of the league's elite assistant coaches has been forged on creative schemes and rock-solid fundamentals. Whether with the Giants, Patriots or Jets during his 13 years with Bill Parcells, or during his disappointing five-year, headcoaching tenure in Cleveland, he has immediately improved his defenses and then molded them into units that were among the NFL's best. Two years into the rebuilding program with the Jets, his defense probably is not yet ready for the likes of the Broncos, but don't underestimate his ability to frustrate and, perhaps, befuddle Denver in Sunday's AFC title game.

In Mile High Stadium, where they have won 18 straight, the Broncos have averaged 433 total yards and 35 points this season. Terrell Davis has averaged 141 rushing yards, bolstered by a 199-yard spectacular last Saturday in Denver's 38-3 second-round romp over the Dolphins, who came in with the league's No. 3 defense. After a late-season offensive slump, the Broncos have re-established their superiority, combining the crunching running of Davis with quick-strike passing capabilities. Perhaps just as important, they are cocky enough--and coach Mike Shanahan is a skilled-enough offensive guru--that they don't think any opponent can control them at home.

"But the Jets have a chance," says Colts coach Jim Mora, whose team split two games with New York this season. "They are playing with a lot of confidence fight now. This is a well-coached, disciplined team and they will be prepared. They are going to give you a lot of different stuff on defense. It is not a simple scheme to attack. Lots of times, teams give you different looks and then you can catch them in the wrong thing and hurt them. But these players are disciplined; they don't mess up assignments."

Belichick's lads don't have to pitch a shutout; in this offensive-geared era, such a thought is foolish. But they do need to prevent the Broncos from establishing the type of rhythm that so overwhelmed the injury-weakened Dolphins defense. The key time will be the first quarter, during which Shanahan's befuddling game plans usually enable the Broncos to burst to substantial leads. Too often this season, opponents have been forced quickly to abandon their primary offensive designs and play catch-up to the Broncos, which takes pressure off a susceptible Denver defense.

If the Broncos are made to defend on a level field, their secondary weaknesses can be exposed, and that leaves them vulnerable. But as the Dolphins discovered, the Denver defense feeds off its offense's ability to turn the game into its personal playground. The defense then becomes much more freewheeling and aggressive, particularly when it knows foes must forgo the run and try to rally by throwing. Dan Marino grew so frustrated that he resorted to taking swipes at Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski, who delights in agitating opponents.

So Belichick's mission will be to make the Broncos work for their points, instead of seeing them move almost at will, as they did against the Dolphins. That will allow the Jets' offense, which is averaging 26 points and is maturing to the point where it is one of the NFL's three or four best, to feature the run-pass balance that Parcells would prefer. The Jets won't win an out-of-control shootout in Mile High, but they have a chance in what promises to be a high-scoring game if they don't fall behind early, and if they can maintain some reasonable contact with the Broncos throughout the contest. What the Jets want from Belichick is the resourceful planning that spurs Parcells to call his defensive staff "the wizards."

That's what will make the first quarter so crucial to the Jets. The Broncos have outscored opponents, 54-9, on opening possessions this season, and 158-54 in the opening period. Over the last 38 games, they have lost only twice when ahead at the half, including 22 straight at home. Just ask the Dolphins about being steamrollered quickly. They fell behind, 21-3, when the Broncos scored on their first three possessions, going 92 yards in 14 plays over almost eight minutes for one touchdown, using just four plays to cover 66 yards on a second score and consuming 5 1/2 minutes on 11 plays over 87 yards for the third TD. They mixed in big strikes (a 33-yard Ed McCaffrey reception) with Davis' full-throttle firms (five gains of 11 or more yards) with ball control to all but end Miami's chances even with more than two quarters remaining. It was a brilliant offensive display, complete with varying formations and unpredictable play calls. And the dismantling rushes of Davis, the league's most valuable player.