Zeroing In

Sporting News, The, Nov 6, 2000

Overshadowed by all the points being scored this season by certain teams are the number of points not being scored in certain games. Thanks to some superb defensive performances, NFL teams have already recorded eight shutouts, surpassing last season's total of seven in 248 regular-season games.

With the 2000 season just past the halfway point, NFL teams are on pace to record 16 shutouts. Although the likelihood of that happening isn't good, 16 shutouts would be the most in the league since 1977, when 25 of 196 regular-season games ended in shutouts. That season, the second-year Buccaneers were shut out a whopping six times in 14 games.

Most of the credit this year goes to the Ravens, who pitched shutouts in three of their first five games--against the Steelers (in Week 1), Bengals (Week 4) and Browns (Week 5). AFC Central rivals Pittsburgh (two) and Jacksonville (one) also have won by shutout. So have Miami and Tampa Bay.

Since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger, the five most productive--and least productive--seasons for shutouts:

MOST                  FEWEST

25 (1977)             2 (1994)
22 (1976)             4 (1995)
18 (1974)             6 (1996)
16 (1970)             7 (1984, '97, '98, '99)
15 (1971, '73, '92)   8 (1986, '88, '90)

SUNDAY'S GAMES

STEELERS 9, RAVENS 6

Pittsburgh   0   0   9   0   9
Baltimore    0   6   0   0   6

Second Quarter Bal.--FG, Stover 51, 3:40. Bal.--FG, Stover 49, 13:08.

Third Quarter Pit.--Ward 45 pass from Stewart (kick failed), 5:09. Pit.--FG, K. Brown 24, 9:07.

A--69,405

                         Pit.       Bal.

First Downs                14         14
Rushes-Yards           34-120     28-135
Passing                   111        139
Punt Returns              0-0       2-27
Kickoff Returns          3-63       3-55
Interception Returns      1-0        0-0
Comp-Att-Int           9-18-0    11-24-1
Sacked-Yards Lost        5-22       3-13
Punts                    7-40       4-32
Fumbles-Lost              2-1        2-2
Penalties-Yards          3-20       4-20
Time of Possession      31:58      28:02

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-- Pittsburgh, Bettis 18-65, Stewart 9-31, Huntley 7-24. Baltimore, Ja. Lewis 19-93, Holmes 5-19, Dilfer 3-23, Taylor 1-0. PASSING-- Pittsburgh, Stewart 9-18-0-133. Baltimore, Dilfer 11-24-1-152. RECEIVING-- Pittsburgh, Ward 2-55, Shaw 2-30, Burress 2-16, Kreider 1-14, Bruener 1-11, Huntley 1-7. Baltimore, Ja. Lewis 3-53, Ismail 3-41, Sharpe 3-35, Taylor 2-23. MISSED FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS-- None. INTERCEPTIONS-- Pittsburgh, Washington 1-0. KICKOFF RETURNS-- Pittsburgh, Poteat 3-63. Baltimore, Harris 3-55. PUNT RETURNS-- Baltimore, J. Lewis 2-27. SACKS-- Pittsburgh, Porter 2, A. Smith 1. Baltimore, R. Lewis 1, Burnett 1, McCrary 1, Herring 1, Adams 1.

BENGALS 12, BROWNS 3

Cincinnati   0   7   3   2   12
Cleveland    0   0   3   0    3

Second Quarter Cin.--Dillon 1 run (Rackers kick), 2:46.

Third Quarter Cin.--FG, Rackers 39, 5:07. Cle.--FG, P. Dawson 18, 13:04.

Fourth Quarter Cin.--Safety, Holding penalty on Cleveland enforced in the end zone for a safety, 6:34.

A--73,118

                         Cin.      Cle.

First Downs                18        10
Rushes-Yards           51-179     20-54
Passing                    61       128
Punt Returns             3-21      3-47
Kickoff Returns          3-68      3-69
Interception Returns     1-30       1-5
Comp-Att-Int           7-20-1   13-32-1
Sacked-Yards Lost        4-23      2-19
Punts                    8-40      8-42
Fumbles-Lost              2-0       0-0
Penalties-Yards          6-84      9-71
Time of Possession      36:42     23:18

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-- Cincinnati, Dillon 27-137, Bennett 17-39, Smith 5-(minus 1), Keaton 1-3, Warrick 1-1. Cleveland, Prentice 16-40, Pederson 2-10, White 2-4. PASSING-- Cincinnati, Smith 7-20-1-84. Cleveland, Pederson 6-16-0-65, Wynn 7-16-1-82. RECEIVING-- Cincinnati,Warrick 3-25, Bennett 1-21, Yeast 1-19, McGee 1-13, Battaglia 1-6. Cleveland, Johnson 6-102, Northcutt 4-23, Edwards 1-12, Patten 1-7, Shea 1-3. MISSED FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS-- None. INTERCEPTIONS-- Cincinnati, T. Carter 1-30. Cleveland, Rainer 1-5. KICKOFF RETURNS-- Cincinnati, Yeast 1-29, Keaton 1-22, Mack 1-17. Cleveland, White 2-57, Saleh 1-12, PUNT RETURNS-- Cincinnati, Yeast 3-21. Cleveland, Northcutt 3-47. SACKS-- Cincinnati, C. Carter 1, Hall 1. Cleveland, Rainer 1, C. Brown 1, Moore 1, Team 1.

FALCONS 13, PANTHERS 12

Carolina   3   3   3    3   12
Atlanta    3   0   0   10   13

First Quarter Car.--FG, Nedney 35, 7:58. Atl.--FG, Andersen 35, 14:06.

Second Quarter Car.--FG, Nedney 48, 5:17.

Third Ouarter Car.--FG, Nedney 25, 11:31.

Fourth Quarter Car.--FG, Nedney 24, 2:20. Atl.--Anderson 2 run (Andersen kick), 9:56. Atl.--FG, Andersen 31, 12:07.

A--46,178

                          Car.      Atl.

First Downs                 16        16
Rushes-Yards             20-30     27-97
Passing                    179       184
Punt Returns              2-11      3-23
Kickoff Returns           2-29      4-71
Interception Returns       2-8      3-55
Comp-Att-Int           21-41-3   19-29-2
Sacked-Yards Lost         4-23       1-7
Punts                     3-52      3-40
Fumbles-Lost               1-1       2-1
Penalties-Yards           9-58      8-98
Time of Possession       28:23     31:37