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Historical review: 100 years ago
By BRUCE LOWITT
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 26, 2001
WRAPUP: The Super Bowl-champion Rams unveiled their all-offense, no-defense game plan, outlasting Denver 41-36. ... About 770,000 people must have had it figured right. That's how many fewer viewers watched the Dennis Miller Monday Night Football debut than watched the 1999 MNF season-opener. ... Oakland's No.1 draft pick, Sebastian Janikowski, continued an FSU place-kicking tradition. Janikowski's first pro field-goal attempt, from 41 yards out against San Diego, sailed wide right. Still, the Chargers lost.
BONEHEAD DECISION OF THE WEEK: With the Steelers scoreless late in the game, starting quarterback Kent Graham drove them to a first and goal at the Baltimore 1-yard line, whereupon coach Bill Cowher yanked Graham and sent in Kordell Stewart. Three plays and 1 lost yard later, Cowher sent Graham back in. He threw an incomplete pass and the Ravens' 16-0 shutout was assured.
NO-BRAINER: The Cowboys' Troy Aikman was reminded of -- or couldn't remember -- his concussions of 1999 by getting his first of the millennium, and ninth of his career.
SURPRISE OF THE WEEK: The Eagles opened their game with an onside kick against Dallas, recovered it, drove 58 yards for a touchdown and cruised in a 41-14 upset at Texas Stadium.
HE SAID IT: "I wasn't wasting any time. I wasn't going to be the poster child for lightning." -- Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, after sprinting off the field when lightning crackled over Giants Stadium, delaying the game for 23 minutes.
Week 2:
WRAPUP: Former FSU star Peter Warrick caught three passes in his NFL debut with Cincinnati. He also dropped three and the Bengals were beaten 24-7 by the Browns. ... Charlie Batch pretty much aimed his passes at whoever Deion Sanders was (not really) covering. Sanders called the Redskins' 15-10 loss "the worst I've ever played in my 12-year career." ... New Orleans hadn't won on the road in nearly two seasons, but when Jeff Blake drove the Saints 90 yards and, with 47 seconds remaining, threw his third touchdown pass of the game to put New Orleans up 28-27, the Chargers lost again.
UPSET OF THE WEEK: The noise in the RCA Dome was deafening, especially with the Colts leading 21-0 in the second quarter, before Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon ran for three touchdowns and Tyrone Wheatley for two in a 38-31 upset at Indianapolis.
HEY, HE CAN PASS, TOO: After running for three touchdowns in Week 1 against Chicago, Daunte Culpepper threw his first touchdown pass for the Vikings to beat Detroit.
HE SAID IT: "It was like we won the Super Bowl." -- Baltimore quarterback Tony Banks, after the Ravens beat Jacksonville for the first time in nine tries.
Week 3
WRAPUP: Daniel Snyder's $100-million Redskins fell to 1-2 as Randall Cunningham, subbing for Troy Aikman, threw two touchdown passes for the Cowboys. ... When Sebastian Janikowski won the Oakland kicking job, Joe Nedney was cut. The Broncos signed him after Jason Elam was hurt in week 2, and Nedney's four field goals helped beat the Raiders 33-24. Janikowski? Wide left. ... It wasn't a Dan Marino-like performance; Jay Fiedler's 11-for-16 for 160 yards and a touchdown was more Bob Griese-like as Miami beat Baltimore. Marino was honored at halftime. ... Kansas City's Elvis Grbac threw for five touchdowns ... and the Chargers lost again.
WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?: The Dawg Pound rocked as the Browns -- the 2-year-old second edition -- beat Pittsburgh for the first home win since Dec. 17, 1995, the original Browns' last home game before Art Modell moved the franchise to Baltimore.
BONEHEAD PLAY OF THE WEEK: Carolina cornerback Doug Evans prevented an Atlanta touchdown with two minutes to play by knocking the ball out of Jamal Anderson's hands -- but recovered the fumble and stepped into the end zone, giving the Falcons a safety in their 15-10 win.
HE SAID IT: "I made everyone aware before the game that this team had never had a shutout." -- Defensive tackle Gary Walker, before the Jaguars got their first shutout. It wasn't that difficult. It was against the Bengals.
Week 4
WRAPUP: Cincinnati's Bruce Coslet quit as coach of the NFL's worst team of the past decade -- and of the season (0-3 and outscored 74-7). Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau took over. ... The 49ers' Terrell Owens celebrated his first touchdown by dancing on Dallas' midfield star, and when he headed there after his second touchdown, Cowboys safety George Teague flattened him. ... Sebastian Janikowski kicked two field goals and didn't miss any. ... Jon Kitna's touchdown pass covered 68 yards, Ryan Leaf's intercepted pass went 69 yards for a touchdown ... and the Chargers lost again.
BLOOD AND GUTS: When Titans quarterback Neil O'Donnell, his lip split open by a vicious sack, staggered to the sideline, Steve McNair -- held out because of a bruised sternum -- took over and completed his only three passes, the last for 18 yards and a touchdown to beat the Steelers.
SURPRISE OF THE WEEK: It's gotta be the pants. The Chiefs reverted to the red pants of their glory years in the AFL and rallied from 12 points down in the third quarter to edge Denver 23-22.
WORST PERFORMANCE: Arizona's Jake Plummer, who had his best game two weeks earlier against Dallas, then had a bye week, was intercepted four times in a 29-3 loss to the visiting Packers.
HE SAID IT: "I feel like I've had four road games." -- Bears quarterback Cade McNown, after being booed in his second home game (as well as his first).
Week 5
WRAPUP: For the second year in a row the Bears beat the Packers in Green Bay. ... Randy Moss started the day with one touchdown for the season. He ended it with four in a win over Detroit. ... The Titans controlled the ball for 42 minutes, 46 seconds to beat the Giants and stay unbeaten in 10 games at their new stadium. ... Kurt Warner had a quarterback rating of 158.3 against the San Diego defense, a perfect day according to the NFL's complicated formula, as the Rams rolled up 57 points ... and the Chargers lost again.
BONEHEAD PLAY OF THE WEEK: Pittsburgh rookie Plaxico Burress caught a pass and fell down, untouched. He must have thought he was back at Michigan State and that the play was over. He spiked the ball. Jacksonville grabbed it. Burress was charged with a fumble.
SECOND GUESS OF THE WEEK: The Bengals led 13-3 after a Miami field goal with 56 seconds to go in the first half. The Dolphins kicked off. You take a knee, right? Not new Cincinnati coach Dick LeBeau. He called a pass play. Jason Taylor forced a fumble by quarterback Akili Smith, recovered it and ran 29 yards for a touchdown. That made it 13-10. Miami won 31-16. "In hindsight, I wish I hadn't thrown the ball," LeBeau said.
UGLIEST MOMENT: Referee Jeff Triplette, who threw the weighted penalty flag that may have ended Cleveland tackle Orlando Brown's career when it hit him in the eye, threw one that hit Jacksonville cornerback Aaron Beasley in the head.
HE SAID IT: "This is like Sunday afternoon watching Tiger Woods play golf." -- St. Louis cornerback Todd Lyght, on the Rams' point production and runaway wins.
Week 6
WRAPUP: The Bengals managed 213 total yards on offense. The Titans' Eddie George managed 214 on his own, running and receiving, to keep Cincinnati winless. ... Vinny Testaverde sustained a pinched nerve one play into the Jets game against Pittsburgh. Goodbye Vinny, and goodbye Jets. ... After Oakland's bye week, Sebastian Janikowski was wide left from 41 yards out, wide right from 35. He didn't have to attempt the extra point when the Raiders beat the 49ers in overtime. ... San Diego and Denver were tied at the half. Then Brian Griese threw his second and third touchdown passes of the game ... and the Chargers lost again.
SURPRISE OF THE WEEK: Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler was knocked out of the Giants game in the second quarter. The surprise is that it wasn't a concussion but just some hard hits that knocked the wind out of him.
UPSET OF THE WEEK: Least-liked home-team quarterback of the week: Cade McNown, booed mercilessly even though Chicago's receivers were dropping his passes and runners gained 72 yards. There aren't many teams the Bears are supposed to beat. New Orleans was one. A 7-0 lead dissolved into a 31-10 loss.
UGLIEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brett Favre. Oh, Green Bay's quarterback still is good-looking, but he was grotesque in the Silverdome. He tried to beat Detroit singlehandedly. Three interceptions and two fumbles later: Lions 31, Packers 24
HE SAID IT: "It's like putting peanut butter and jelly on a hamburger. It's just not right." -- Buffalo defensive end Phil Hansen, on seeing Bills career rushing leader and former teammate Thurman Thomas across the scrimmage line wearing a Dolphins uniform.
Week 7
WRAPUP: Atlanta's Darrick Vaughn took the Rams' opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. St. Louis' Tony Horne then went Vaughn 6 yards better, taking the resulting Falcons kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown, the first time the first two kickoffs had been returned for touchdowns. ... Like the Rams, the Vikings went to 6-0 with three more Daunte Culpepper touchdown passes. ... Sebastian Janikowski was wide left twice -- okay, one was from 59 yards away -- but was good from 43 with 25 seconds to play and the Raiders beat the Chiefs.
SECOND-GUESS OF THE WEEK: San Diego coach Mike Riley stuck with his pregame plan to alternate quarterbacks against Buffalo. After Jim Harbaugh's effective first quarter, Moses Moreno took over. He fumbled the first snap. On San Diego's next drive, he fumbled when sacked. The result: two Bills touchdowns ... and the Chargers lost again.
QUARTERBACK CONTROVERSY IN THE MAKING: Rob Johnson completed 28 of 44 passes for 306 yards, all career highs, and still the Buffalo fans booed him. Then he sustained a separated shoulder on the first play of overtime. Doug Flutie took over and completed two of three passes for 31 yards. The Bills won on a field goal.
WHAT'S THE POINT?: In their first six games, the fewest points scored by the Rams in any one of them was 37. In their first six games the winless Bengals scored 37 points -- period.
HE SAID IT: "Every game is a Super Bowl for us right now." -- Defensive lineman Oliver Gibson of the winless Bengals, who will have to watch the real one on TV or from the stands.
Week 8
WRAPUP: Two seasons after coaching the Cardinals to their first playoff victory in 51 years, and one day after they lost to Dallas 48-7, Vince Tobin was fired and defensive coordinator Dave McGinnis was made interim head coach. ... In one of the NFL's greatest comebacks -- or meltdowns, depending on your viewpoint -- the Jets rallied from a 30-7 deficit in the fourth quarter, with Vinny Testaverde throwing four touchdown passes, to beat Miami 30-37 in overtime. ... Cincinnati's Corey Dillon ran through Denver, past Walter Payton, and into the all-time rushing record book with 278 yards, three more than Sweetness. Oh, and the Bengals won for the first time. ... Rams quarterback Kurt Warner sustained a broken pinkie on his passing hand. St. Louis still scored 34 points, but the Chiefs scored 54 ... and the Chargers -- ta-dah! -- had the day off.
AH, YES, I REMEMBER IT WELL: Trent Dilfer got into the Ravens game against Tennessee and said "it was like old times." Well, yes; 7-for-13, 58 yards, one interceptions, no touchdowns and a 13-6 loss.
WORST PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Browns backup quarterback Doug Pederson threw 20 passes, nine (for 61 yards) to teammates, three to Steelers.
NO-BRAINERS: Quarterback Brock Huard left the Seahawks game against Oakland with a concussion and was replaced by Jon Kitna, who already had one. It showed. The Raiders won 31-3.
HE SAID IT: "George knows how to make a game plan against them. They are still running the same system they ran under him, and he owns it." -- Carolina linebacker Lee Woodall, after coach George Siefert improved his record against his former team, the 49ers, to 4-0 with a 34-16 victory.
Week 9
WRAPUP: This time it was Miami's turn. Okay, it wasn't as dramatic, but rallying from a 17-0 deficit to score four touchdowns on four possessions in about 13 minutes of the second and third quarters was good enough to beat Green Bay 28-17. ... And the Jets ran out of magic in Buffalo, losing 23-20 on Steve Christie's field goal as time ran out. ... Sebastian Janikowski was wide left on one field goal attempt in San Diego, but connected on five others, the last with 15 seconds to play ... and the Chargers lost again.
SAME OL', SAME OL': Trent Dilfer fumbled inside the Pittsburgh 10-yard line and threw an interception into the Steelers end zone and the Ravens failed to score a touchdown for the fifth game in a row.
WORST PERFORMANCE: The Panthers ran the ball 20 times. They gained 30 yards. They lost to Atlanta 13-12.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS: Samari Rolle's 81-yard interception return and Derrick Mason's 69-yard punt return for the Titans ended Washington's five-game winning streak.
HE SAID IT: "I didn't expect to be talking about silver linings." -- Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, after Seattle lost for the fifth time in a row, Holmgren's longest losing streak in his nine years as a coach."
Week 10
WRAPUP: Bobby Ross couldn't take it anymore. One day after Detroit lost 23-8 to Miami, "one of the most embarrassing losses I have ever had," he said, the Lions coach resigned. ... Terrell Davis returned from foot and ankle injuries to rush for 115 yards, his first 100-yard game since Super Bowl XXXII as Denver beat the Jets. ... Trent Dilfer's three scoring passes against the Bengals were Baltimore's first touchdowns in five games. ... Seattle rookie Rian Lindell kicked a 48-yard field goal at the gun ... and the Chargers lost again.
HIGHLIGHT CATCH OF THE SEASON: Antonio Freeman slipped on the wet grass at the Minnesota 20-yard line reaching for Brett Favre's pass. Cornerback Chris Dishman deflected the ball. It bounced off Freeman's shoulder. He reached out, kept it from touching the ground, pulled it to his chest, got up and ran into the end zone for Green Bay's 26-20 overtime victory.
SECOND-GUESS OF THE WEEK: With a first down and eight seconds left in the fourth quarter at Green Bay, the Vikings' Gary Anderson came on to try a 33-yard field goal in a driving rain. Holder Mitch Berger bobbled the snap, then ran to his right and threw a weak pass intercepted by Tyrone Williams as time ran out. Had Berger immediately thrown the ball away there would have been enough time for another Anderson attempt.
BEST PERFORMANCE (AND UPSET) OF THE WEEK: Arizona's Aeneas Williams returned a fumble 104 yards, tying Oakland safety Jack Tatum's 28-year-old NFL record in the Cardinals' 16-15 victory over Washington.
HE SAID IT: "The guys asked me, "Did you think about downing the ball?' No way. I looked at them and said, "Man, didn't you know there's an election on Tuesday?"' -- Williams, taking into consideration the vote on a tax to build a new stadium for the Cardinals. (It passed, 454,785-421,662.)
Week 11
WRAPUP: Trent Dilfer gave the lead away on an interception with 2:30 to play, then took it back on a touchdown pass with 19 seconds left. And when Al Del Greco was wide right from the 43 at the gun, the Ravens won 24-23, ending Tennessee's eight-game home winning streak. ... Doug Flutie won the Bills game at Chicago but lost his starting role to Rob Johnson because coach Wade Phillips liked the way Johnson looked in one series. ... A broken left ankle finished Ricky Williams' season, but not New Orleans'. ... San Diego honored Dan Fouts, Lance Alworth and other greats of the team. But there was a game to be played against Miami ... and the Chargers lost again.
UPSET OF THE WEEK: The Jaguars were expected to challenge for the AFC Central lead. By this time they were a lot closer to the bottom than the top, their descent accelerated by Seattle quarterback Jon Kitna's touchdown pass with 2:01 to play and Mark Brunell's last-play pass to Alvis Whitted, who never heard Brunell audible away from a quarterback sneak.
BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Tim Seder kicked three field goals. He also kicked two extra points. All well and good -- but the second conversion followed Seder's 1-yard touchdown run with a pitch from holder Micah Knorr on a fake field goal. You can count the number of NFL place-kickers with touchdown runs on one foot. Maybe two.
WHAT TOOK THEM SO LONG?: In 1968 Bob Kalsu played for the Bills. In 1969 he was in the military. In 1970 he became the only NFL player killed in the Vietnam War. In 2000 the Bills added his name to their Wall of Fame. Fame? No. Honor? Yes.
HE SAID IT: "To tell you the truth, I think they were Miami fans because our fans emptied out." -- Linebacker Junior Seau, on the booing directed at Chargers quarterback Ryan Leaf.
Week 12
WRAPUP: This time there was no frantic comeback. The Jets didn't need one. Their defense sacked Jay Fiedler on the opening play, knocking Miami's quarterback out of the game with a pinched nerve in his neck, and intercepted replacement Damon Huard three times. Dolphins castoff Bernie Parmalee turned two of the turnovers into touchdown runs in the Jets' 20-3 win. ... Donovan McNabb passed and ran for touchdowns against Arizona and the Eagles' eighth win, matching their combined total in 1998-99, put them in first place. ... With Brian Griese and Terrell Davis benched with injuries, Gus Frerotte ripped San Diego's defense for five touchdown passes as Denver rallied from a 13-point deficit with seven minutes to play ... and the Chargers lost again.
UPSET OF THE WEEK: The Redskins sacked Trent Green five times, once for a safety, and St. Louis, without an offense to offset its leaky defense, lost 33-20 at home in prime time.
BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: It wasn't the Steel Curtain Fred Taylor was facing. Still, it was the Steelers defense, which gave up 234 rushing yards, the most ever by a Pittsburgh team, and four touchdowns to Jacksonville's running back.
WINNING UGLY: Steve McNair was intercepted three times and fumbled twice after being sacked, five of the Titans' seven turnovers -- against the Browns. Final score: Tennessee 24, Cleveland 10.
HE SAID IT: "I haven't beaten them since I've been here. It might be me." -- Wide receiver Oronde Gadsden, after the Dolphins' sixth loss in a row to the Jets.
Week 13
WRAPUP: The Rams, looking less and less likely to defend their Super Bowl title, lost for the fourth time in six games and their third in a row at home as the Saints, with quarterback Aaron Brooks making his first NFL start, beat St. Louis 31-24. ... Cris Carter made his 1,000th career catch (joining only Jerry Rice) as the Vikings became the first team to clinch a playoff berth by beating Detroit 24-17. ... Al Del Greco, whose missed extra point and field goal in Week 11 cost Tennessee a win, missed a 28-yarder with 3:08 to play, then Mike Hollis' 38-yarder at the gun gave the Jaguars a 16-13 win. ... John Carney kicked a 52-yard field goal with 2:14 remaining to put San Diego ahead 17-16, then its defense stopped Kansas City quarterback Warren Moon's desperation drive ... and the Chargers won!
SECOND-GUESS OF THE WEEK: The Colts had a 14-10 lead and the ball in field-goal range on third and 7 with three minutes to play. Instead of calling a running play, Peyton Manning threw long, Brock Marion intercepted and the Dolphins drove 84 yards to score with 70 seconds remaining to win 17-14.
SECOND SECOND-GUESS OF THE WEEK: In his excitement after a run that would have given Kansas City a first and goal at the 1-yard line, fullback Tony Richardson spiked the ball. He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, the Chiefs were penalized back to the San Diego 16-yard line and they had to settle for a field goal.
BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Rushing for 125 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries is a pretty fair afternoon for a running back. For a quarterback, sensational. Donovan McNabb also passed for a score to beat the Redskins 23-20.
HE SAID IT: "He was so big. I don't think they make Tylenol that big." -- Defensive end Marco Coleman, on the headache McNabb gave the Redskins.
Week 14
WRAPUP: Daniel Snyder fired coach Norv Turner after his Redskins lost 9-7 to the Giants when Eddie Murray (their fourth place-kicker of the season) was short on a last-second 49-yard field-goal attempt (earlier, he missed a 39-yard gimme). ... The gods were smiling on the Bucs as the 'Skins, Eagles, Saints and Lions -- all ahead of Tampa Bay in the playoff chase when the day began -- lost. ... Mike Anderson had a rookie-record 251 in Denver's victory over the Saints, and Corey Dillon (the former rookie record-holder at 246) ran for 216 as Cincinnati beat the Cardinals. ... Al Del Greco repaired his reputation with a 50-yard field goal as time ran out and the Titans beat the Eagles 15-13. ... Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre joined Dan Marino with his ninth consecutive 3,000-yard season. ... And he's ba-ack. Sebastian Janikowski was short from 44 yards out with four minutes to play and the Raiders fell to Pittsburgh 21-20. ... Oh, and with the 49ers in town, the Chargers lost again.
COLD? HEY, IT'S ALMOST BALMY: The wind chill was 16 degrees but Jay Fiedler was hot, throwing three touchdown passes, one to 100-yard rusher Lamar Smith in a 33-6 win at Buffalo.
IT WASN'T LIKE THIS IN GAINESVILLE: Former Florida quarterback Doug Johnson made his NFL debut. His second pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown, he had another one picked off, fumbled twice and was sacked four times as the Falcons lost 30-10 to Seattle.
UPSET OF THE WEEK: The Rams' descent continued as quarterback Kurt Warner returned and threw four interceptions, one of them returned for the game's only touchdown, in a 16-3 loss to Carolina.
HE SAID IT: "This team has a chance to be 10-6. That's a disappointment to me. There's part of me that would like to be a part of it. There's part of me that understands why it's necessary to make a change right now." -- Turner, who gave way (involuntarily) to Terry Robiskie, Redskins interim head coach.
Week 15
WRAPUP: Redskins interim coach Terry Robiskie came in the way Turner went out -- with a loss. Emmitt Smith led the Cowboys past Washington 32-13 with his record-tying 10th consecutive 1,000-yard season and joined Walter Payton and Barry Sanders as the only 15,000-yard rushers. ... The Rams woke up, Kurt Warner passing for 346 yards and Marshall Faulk scoring four times in a 40-29 win over Minnesota. ... Brett Favre, leading the Packers past Detroit 26-13, improved his record to 26-0 at home in temperatures of 34 degrees or lower (it was 24 with a wind chill of 5 at kickoff). ... The Ravens gave Baltimore its first playoff team since the 1977 Colts. San Diego coach Mike Riley was promised he could keep his job in 2001, even after the Ravens' Trent Dilfer threw two touchdowns ... and the Chargers lost again.
NO-BRAINER, AGAIN: Troy Aikman sustained his 10th concussion, the fourth in his past 20 starts, jeopardizing his career (as well as his brain).
WHERE’S HEIDI WHEN YOU NEED HER?: The Jets were so dreadful in a 31-7 Monday night loss in Oakland that third-string quarterback Chad (no dimples) Pennington ended up in the game -- and threw for their only score with 24 seconds to play.
CHECK, PLEASE: The Rams did their NFL-banned bob 'n' weave in the end zone the first three times they scored. Quarterback Kurt Warner offered to pay any fines, then August Busch, owner of St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch, said he'd pick up the tab. It turned out to be $90,000.
HE SAID IT: "I don't know how smart that is, because we live up here and we don't practice outside." -- Packers safety LeRoy Butler, upon hearing that the Lions practiced outdoors to acclimate themselves to Green Bay's frigid conditions (it didn't help).
Week 16
WRAPUP: The torch was passed -- literally and figuratively -- by Jeff Garcia from Jerry Rice to Terrell Owens. From all indications, Rice played his final game in San Francisco as a 49er, catching seven Garcia passes for 76 yards in a 17-0 win over the Bears while Owens caught 20 passes, exceeding by two the NFL record set by the Los Angeles' Rams Tom Fears in 1950 (and passing Rice's team record of 16 along the way). ... The Giants beat self-destructing Dallas 17-13 to clinch the NFC East title and make good on coach Jim Fassel's guarantee four weeks earlier that they'd make the playoffs. ... By beating St. Louis, the Bucs gift-wrapped the NFC West title and presented it to New Orleans. ... Derrick Mason of the Titans became the league's single-season record holder for all-purpose yards. ... Iheanyi Uwaezuoke returned a punt 64 yards and Doug Evans ran back a blocked field goal for the Panthers, each for a touchdown, and San Diego clinched the No.1 pick in the draft ... as the Chargers lost again.
NON-CONCUSSION CALL OF THE WEEK: The Cowboys were at their 30-yard line facing third and 1 with less than a minute to play and no timeouts. They trailed the Giants by four points. Needing a touchdown -- granted it was a long shot to begin with -- Dallas quarterback Anthony Wright, making his first start, called two running plays. Did he think the clock would stop if he got the first down? Even Troy Aikman with a concussion wouldn't have made those calls.
IT'S WARMER IN ARIZONA: A year ago Dave McGinnis turned down the Bears' head coaching job when they announced he was their man before he'd agreed to the contract. Seven weeks after the Cardinals fired Vince Tobin, McGinnis had the "interim" removed from his title.
THEY INSURE THIS GUY?: Rob Johnson was knocked out of a Bills game for the fifth time in his 11 starts, this time with a concussion.
HE SAID IT: "Here is my story; I was in the locker room before the game and some guy hit me across my face and taped me in my locker, took my uniform and went and played." -- Ravens quarterback Trent Dilfer, explaining his dreadful 12-for-22, 70-yard, four-sack, intercepted-in-the-end-zone passing game in Arizona.
Week 17
WRAPUP: St. Louis didn't seem to have much of a chance to defend its Super Bowl championship, what with the Lions heavily favored to beat the Bears in Detroit and claim the final NFC playoff berth. But the Rams defeated the NFC West champion Saints, then were rewarded with a playoff trip back to New Orleans when the Lions lost 23-20 on rookie Paul Edinger's 54-yard field goal with two seconds to play. ... Tampa Bay's overtime loss to Green Bay gave the Vikings the NFC Central crown despite their 31-10 loss to the Colts and gave Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper an extra week to let his sprained right ankle heal. ... Jason Sehorn caught one onside kick and ran it in for a touchdown, then caught another and fell on it to preserve the Giants 28-25 win over Jacksonville that clinched home-field through the playoffs. ... The Dolphins secured the AFC East, winning 27-24 at New England on Olindo Mare's 49-yard field goal into the wind with nine seconds to play. ... Terry Robiske went out on a winning note as the $100-million Redskins beat Arizona. ... By falling to Pittsburgh, San Diego became the sixth team to finish 1-15 in the 22 seasons the NFL has had a 16-game season. ... For the final time in 2000 (everybody in unison), the Chargers lost again.
HEY, WE'VE GOT A PLANE TO CATCH: It took 35 minutes for Miami and New England to play the final three seconds. What had been ruled a Patriots fumble was changed to an incomplete pass; players from both locker rooms had to be called back for one more play. Some were half-dressed and freezing on the sidelines as New England's Michael Bishop threw one last desperation (and incomplete) pass.
DO YOU THINK THEY'LL LIKE HIM MORE NOW?: For the first time this season, Bears quarterback Cade McNown, whose teammates have questioned his work ethic and professionalism, produced a come-from-behind win.
AND IN THE BATTLE OF EX-BUCS QUARTERBACKS ... : Even Baltimore's Trent Dilfer couldn't blow this one, not even after an 11-for-25 day for 99 yards with two interceptions. It was Vinny Testaverde's turn. One of his three intercepted passes (that was one of the Jets' six turnovers) was returned 98 yards by Chris McAlister for a touchdown.
HE SAID IT: "The whole Chicago Bears organization can come to my house for dinner tonight. I'll put Edinger, the kicker, at the head of the table." -- St. Louis defensive tackle D'Marco Farr, after Paul Edinger kicked Detroit out of -- and the Rams into -- the playoffs.
Playoffs: Wild-card round
WRAPUP: For the Bucs, getting to the playoffs was all well and good. But consigned to frigid Philadelphia, the Eagles froze them out of the end zone and won 21-3. Winless in 20 games starting below 40 degrees, winless in five playoff games on the road, winless because the Bucs defense couldn't stifle quarterback Donovan McNabb's passing or rushing, Tampa Bay couldn't get its running gamed on track, and Shaun King couldn't penetrate the Philly defense until it was too late. Nine days later the Bucs fired offensive coordinator Les Steckel. ... Once again the St. Louis defense was too much for its offense to overcome, allowing ex-Gator Willie Jackson to catch three touchdown passes and letting the Saints run up a 24-point lead in a 31-28 loss. ... Jay Fiedler rallied Miami from two touchdowns behind in the second half and, after the Colts' Mike Vanderjagt missed a 49-yard field-goal attempt early in overtime, the Dolphins won 23-17 when Lamar Smith's playoff-record 40th carry (and the final 17 yards of his 209-yard rushing afternoon ended in a touchdown. It kept Indianapolis (and former New Orleans) coach Jim Mora winless in the post-season. ... The Ravens won 21-3 as Jamal Lewis ran for two scores and Baltimore's defense so effectively throttled Gus Frerotte (playing in place of injured Brian Griese) that the Broncos put in rookie quarterback Jarious Jackson.
BEST NON-CATCH: Lewis let Trent Dilfer's pass slip through his hands. The ball bounced off Denver cornerback Terrell Buckley. Shannon Sharpe caught the rebound and took it 58 yards for a touchdown.
WORST NON-CATCH: The Rams' frantic fourth-quarter comeback died when Az-Zahir Hakim muffed a punt inside his 10-yard line. Brian Milne fell on the ball, allowing New Orleans to run out the final 1:43 for its first playoff victory.
EMANUEL REDUX: The Saints' Robert Wilson caught an Aaron Brooks pass. Then he fell on his back. Then one of the Rams knocked the ball free. On replays, it appeared to be a legal catch. It was ruled incomplete. It would have given New Orleans a first down and allowed them to run out the clock. It became insignificant only when Hakim muffed the punt. Hello, Rules Committee?
HE SAID IT: "We work real hard on that. You get the back to bat it up just right -- that's the easy part -- but getting the DB to bat it back is the really hard part." -- Ravens coach Brian Billick on the Lewis-Buckley-Sharpe play.
Playoffs: Divisional round
WRAPUP: Trent Dilfer completed 5 of 16 passes. Jamal Lewis gained 47 yards. Kyle Richardson had two punts. Baltimore had the ball for less than 20 minutes. And it won. The Ravens were masters of efficiency. They didn't commit a turnover. Even their mistakes were harmless. Meanwhile, Steve McNair's one intercepted pass was run back 50 yards by Ray Lewis for a touchdown, Al Del Greco missed three of four field-goal attempts and Tennessee fell 24-10, the only home team to lose in the first two weekends of playoffs. ... Miami ran into the Raiders and were stopped cold 27-0, shut out for the first time in 37 post-season games. ... Daunte Culpepper to Randy Moss for 53 and 68 yards and two touchdowns, Culpepper to Cris Carter eight times for 120 yards and a touchdown, that's about all you need to know about the Vikings' 34-16 victory over the Saints. ... The Giants had beaten Philadelphia twice, sacking Donovan McNabb three times, then four times. This time: six times. The Giants offense was stagnant, but a Ron Dixon 97-yard touchdown with the opening kickoff and a Jason Sehorn touchdown with a spectacular on-his-back interception were all then needed in their 20-10 win.
AND YOUR POINT IS ...: If only the Dolphins could skip the second round of playoffs. Two years ago they lost 38-3 at Denver. Last year they were beaten 62-7 at Jacksonville (some farewell for Dan Marino, eh?). The 27-0 loss at Oakland this year put the cumulative score at 127-10.
CAN'T TOUCH ME: The Saints led the league with 66 sacks during the season. Defensive tackle La'Roi Glover led the league with 17. Neither Glover nor any other Saint got a glove -- or hand -- on Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper.
BUT HE MEANT IT TO BE A COMPLETION: Miami's Jay Fiedler was hit as he began a throw. The ball flew to his right and back a couple of yards. It looked like a backward lateral. Oakland's Tory James, who already had returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown, picked up the ball and ran into the end zone. The officials conferred, reviewed, conferred some more, then called it an incompletion. The explanation: Fiedler had intended it to be a forward pass.
HE SAID IT: "If I knew that, I'd be a genius. Hold on, I am a genius. Give me a minute and I'll come up with an answer." -- Baltimore defensive tackle Tony Siragusa, on why the Ravens have won twice at Tennessee while the rest of the league is 0-15.
Today’s Super Bowl story lineup
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