After winning the most exciting Super Bowl, what would the New York Giants do for an encore?
How about fall apart?Their free fall dropped the Giants out of playoff contention Sunday. The same old problems that have plagued them since the beginning of the season were evident in a 19-14 loss to Philadelphia.
"This game was the epitome of our entire season," Ray Handley said of his first year as Giants coach, replacing the retired Bill Parcells. "We didn't take advantage of the opportunities we were given. We didn't execute in the red zone. We turned the ball over, took penalties at the wrong time. We didn't stop them in the fourth quarter. We gave up the big play."
And they gave up their title rather easily. Only one team has failed to make the playoffs on two different occasions the year after it won the Super Bowl: the New York Giants.
"We've looked like champions at times, and at times we've looked like the worst team in the NFL," linebacker Steve DeOssie said. "We're not getting turnovers, we've lacked on defense and we haven't made the big plays that are characteristic of the Giants.
"But this year has been very uncharacteristic of us. There are too many people screwing up to point fingers. Three persons' hands wouldn't be enough."
Jeff Kemp replaced the injured Jim McMahon and guided the Eagles back from a 14-3 deficit and to their sixth straight win. Kemp connected for an 8-yard score with Calvin Williams late in the first half, beginning the comeback. Roger Ruzek had four field goals and Philadelphia (9-5) completely clamped down on New York, which has lost seven of eight to the Eagles.
"Personally, I am not taking any great satisfaction in knocking off the Giants from a pedestal," Kemp said. "I am just pleased the Eagles are closer to their goal, which is a Super Bowl. We've got a long way to go."
Falcons 31, Rams 14
At Anaheim, Calif., the Falcons (9-5), gaining inspiration from their baseball counterparts in Atlanta, assured their first winning season in nine and moved into first place in the NFC West with their fourth straight victory.Chris Miller hit 19 of 28 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Michael Haynes had six catches for 112 yards, and Brian Jordan had an interception and two sacks.
"Those guys (the Braves) were just like us at the beginning of the season; they were in the cellar," cornerback Tim McKyer said. "We've been just like the Braves, and we want to do the same thing."
Jim Everett completed just 7 of 16 passes for 109 yards with two interceptions, lost a fumble and was sacked three times as Los Angeles (3-11) lost its eighth in a row.
Cowboys 23, Saints 14
At Dallas, the Saints (9-5) lost their fourth in a row - they've blown leads in all four games. For the third straight week, they lost when a win would have guaranteed a playoff spot.
Emmitt Smith rushed for 112 yards and Steve Beuerlein, subbing for injured Troy Aikman, threw two touchdown passes for the Cowboys (9-5), who will make the playoffs by winning their last two games.
"Steve Beuerlein is a second-string quarterback with first-string ability," Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin said. "He knows his role as a backup, but he plays like a starter."
Lions 34, Jets 20
The Lions completed a perfect 8-0 home performance and moved closer to their first playoff berth in eight years. Detroit (10-4) has won 10 times for the first year since 1970.
Barry Sanders rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns in a rough game that saw Lions nose tackle Jerry Ball sidelined by what he claimed was a cheap shot block by Brad Baxter.
"This was one of the most dirty games I have ever been associated with," Sanders said. "Maybe the Jets can explain why they thought they had to resort to that and play dirty.
"I felt like I got hit late a couple of times. I thought the plays out of bounds were a little late, but I guess the refs didn't."
The defense forced five turnovers by New York (7-7) and has forced 17 in the last three games.
Bears 27, Packers 13
At Chicago, Mike Ditka won his 100th regular season game as a coach. Jim Harbaugh threw two touchdown passes to Wendell Davis and Brad Muster ran for two scores as the Bears (10-4) stayed tied with Detroit atop the NFC Central. The Packers (3-11) lost their fifth in the last six games.
Harbaugh hit 16 of 25 passes for 209 yards.
"It means a lot to me because of my pride," Ditka said. "Because when I came here, people said I wouldn't stay here and I stayed for 10 years. Whether I tricked somebody or not, I'm proud of that."
Redskins 20, Cardinals 14
At Phoenix, Washington clinched homefield throughout the NFC playoffs. Mark Rypien passed for two touchdowns as the Redskins rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit. Earnest Byner's 116 yards and Rypien's 22-of-31 passing for 256 yards gave Washington a 13-1 record.
"We came out in the second half and just put it together," said Rypien. "I think all of us have to be a little more concerned and focused these last two games. You don't want to go into the playoffs sluggish."
Phoenix (4-10) skidded to its sixth consecutive loss overall and seventh loss in a row against Washington.
49ers 24, Seahawks 22
Watch out for the 49ers. Seeking its ninth straight playoff appearance, San Francisco (8-6) won its fourth straight game as Steve Bono threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to John Taylor with 1:08 left. It was the third TD throw for Bono, the Niners' third-string quarterback.
Bono completed 25 of 44 for 280 yards, but also was intercepted twice and lost a fumble. He hit Taylor and Jerry Rice for scores, making the 49ers 17-1 in games in which they each catch at least one touchdown pass.
"Oh, man, that's about as exciting as they get, and we've had a lot of exciting games since I've been here," 49ers coach George Seifert said. "I saw a lot of effort. We didn't quit."
The host Seahawks (6-8) fell for the fourth time in five weeks and were practically eliminated from the playoffs. Quarterback Dave Krieg committed his 107th career fumble, an NFL record.
Broncos 17, Browns 7
At Cleveland, John Elway wasn't slowed by an aching shoulder.
Elway threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns after hardly practicing all week. He overcame four sacks, while the Broncos (10-4) had five traps of Bernie Kosar.
His touchdown passes were for 30 yards to a diving Michael Young in the second quarter and 6 yards to Vance Johnson in the fourth.
"Those are catches that you never forget," Young said. "If I drop it, who knows what happens the rest of the game?"
Chiefs 20, Chargers 17, OT
At Kansas City, the Chiefs (9-5) clinched a playoff appointment as Nick Lowery made his 20th straight field goal, an 18-yarder in overtime. Mark Vlasic, signed as a Plan B free agent from San Diego, replaced interception-prone Steve DeBerg starting the second half and hit Harvey Williams with a 16-yard touchown pass in leading the Chiefs back from a 14-point deficit.
San Diego's John Carney had tied it with a 27-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. But the Chargers (3-11) couldn't overcome a short punt from their end zone in overtime.
Patriots 23, Colts 17, OT
The host Patriots rallied from a 17-3 deficit and won on a 45-yard pass from Hugh Millen to Michael Timpson in overtime.
The Patriots (5-9) had gone seven straight quarters without a touchdown. But John Stephens scored on a 1-yard run early in the fourth period and New England tied the game with seven seconds left on a 2-yard pass from Millen, who was sacked eight times, to rookie Ben Coates and Charlie Baumann's extra point. It was Coates' first NFL touchdown.
The Colts scored twice in 27 seconds late in the first half. First, Jeff George threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jessie Hester. Then, after a fumble recovery at the New England 1, Eric Dickerson scored.
Vikings 26, Buccaneers 24
At Tampa, Herschel Walker went 71 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the first quarter and wound up with a season-high 126 yards as the Vikings rushed for 296. Fuad Reveiz kicked four field goals, two of them 50-yarders as Minnesota (7-7) won in its first game since coach Jerry Burns announced he plans to retire at the end of the season. Tampa Bay fell to 2-12.