Injuries Spoil Teams’ Recipes

It’s late in the season and you’re playing on a losing team.

With three games left on the schedule, it’s hard to block out the fear of getting hurt because, chances are, your team already has had more than its share of injuries.

Just read the injured list heading into this weekend’s NFL games: Houston, 16 players either on injured reserve or declared out this weekend because of injury; Arizona, 15; Oakland, 14; Cleveland, San Diego and Detroit, 13 each; and the New York Giants, 12.

The correlation between injuries and success in the NFL seems clear. Teams whose players are relatively injury-free have the best chances of winning. Teams that are hurting usually lose. Records say it all. The Texans are 5-8; the Cardinals and Raiders are each 3-10.

Houston’s injured list takes up an entire page in the league’s weekly injury release.

Quarterback Tony Banks is out for the season because of a broken hand, defensive end Gary Walker out because of turf toe ... the list goes on. It’s the same with the Cardinals. Center Pete Kendall is out because of a shoulder injury, receiver Jason McAddley is out for the season because of a hamstring injury, kicker Bill Gramatica is out for the season because of a back injury.

When teams are hit hard by injuries, they have to rely on backups. Teams that lack depth struggle. Teams built to last survive.

The Denver Broncos are expected to have 11 players out because of injuries for their game against Cleveland, but they are still in the playoff picture with an 8-5 record. Coach Mike Shanahan has been able to replace injured key starters with players capable of getting the job done.

Lose Jake Plummer and Steve Beuerlein at quarterback, plug in Danny Kanell until Plummer returns. Lose Ian Gold and John Mobley at linebacker, Donnie Spragan steps up.

New England, another winning team, also has been able to overcome injuries. The Patriots have lost such key contributors as receivers David Patten and Troy Brown, along with linebackers Rosevelt Colvin and Courtney Ledyard, yet sport an 11-2 record and would have home-field advantage throughout the postseason if the playoffs started today.

Philadelphia also has come on strong after dealing with early-season injuries. The Eagles have won eight consecutive games and lead the NFC East with a 10-3 record after starting the season 0-2.

Philadelphia struggled when defensive backs Brian Dawkins, Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor were sidelined. All three players were Pro Bowl selections. Coach Andy Reid was able to keep his team together and the Eagles have become the hottest team in the NFL.

But if Reid had a choice, you can bet that he would rather have a season without any injuries at all. It’s part of the recipe for success for upstart teams such as the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers.

Cincinnati Coach Marvin Lewis has been fortunate to have his first season with the Bengals so injury-free. The Bengals are expected to have only two players out for their game against San Francisco, guard Matt O’Dwyer and linebacker Dwayne Levels.

The Cowboys have been almost as fortunate as the Bengals. Dallas is expected to be without four players for today’s game against Washington -- running back Aveion Cason, guard Gennaro DiNapoli, center Al Johnson and defensive back Donald Mitchell. The Panthers also should have four players out when they play Arizona.

But before getting too carried away with the theory that not having injuries translates into victories, consider the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears.

It would be easy to assume, based on the teams’ 5-8 records, that the Steelers and Bears have been dragged down by injuries. That isn’t the case.

Pittsburgh is expected to have five players out for today’s game against the New York Jets, and Chicago will have six sitting out the game against Minnesota.

It just goes to show that talent does mean something.