The Houston Oilers paid tribute to the late Jeff Alm the best way they knew how: Playing with the same intensity he showed, they became the first team in the NFL to clinch a division championship.
A few hours later Sunday, San Francisco won its 10th NFC West title in 12 years. The 49ers and Oilers joined Dallas and the New York Giants as teams assured of playoff spots.Green Bay and Miami also could have clinched playoff berths with wins, but both lost.
In their first game since Alm took his own life, the Oilers wrapped up the AFC Central by winning in Pittsburgh 26-17 Sunday for their ninth straight victory.
"It was hard to put it out of our minds, but I think the team did a great job of staying focused," Oilers quarterback Warren Moon said. "We wanted to win for Jeff, and we're sending the game ball to his parents."
Alm, a fourth-year reserve defensive lineman, shot himself to death Tuesday after being involved in an auto accident that killed a childhood friend. He was to have returned to the lineup this week from a leg injury.
The Oilers knew Alm as a driven, charged-up player who could laugh one minute and glare the next.
Alm's picture flashed on the scoreboard at Three Rivers Stadium as both teams stood at attention before the national anthem. The Oilers wore his No. 76 stickers on their helmets.
"I thought about it every time I turned around and saw that 76 on a helmet," defensive end William Fuller said. "At the same time, you have to put it out of your mind, and concentrate on what you have to do. And we did what we had to do."
Houston (10-4), normally tentative at Three Rivers Stadium, attacked from the start, using a quick-strike offense and an aggressive defense.
The Oilers won for only the seventh time in 25 games at Pittsburgh. But the Oilers lost leading receiver Webster Slaughter for the rest of the season when he tore ligaments in his left knee.
The Steelers (8-6) lost their first division home game in three years and probably must beat Seattle and Cleveland to make the playoffs as a wild card. Pittsburgh was missing running back Barry Foster - out for the season with an injured ankle - and lost Pro Bowl linebacker Greg Lloyd indefinitely with a pulled left hamstring.
In Saturday games, Dallas (10-4) beat the New York Jets 28-7 and Denver defeated Chicago 13-3.
Tonight, the New York Giants (10-3) are at New Orleans.
Chiefs 28, Chargers 24
At Kansas City, Mo., Joe Montana threw a go-ahead touchdown pass one play after sustaining a concusssion in the third quarter.
The Chiefs (10-4) overcame a 17-0 deficit and remained with Buffalo and Houston for the home-field advantage in the AFC. Kansas City has won eight straight regular-season games against San Diego (6-8).
Montana called a 40-second timeout after Junior Seau flattened him. Appearing wobbly, he threw a 4-yard pass to J.J. Birden for a 21-17 lead, then left the game.
Raiders 27, Buccaneers 20
At Los Angeles, Jeff Hostetler threw a 27-yard TD pass to Alexander Wright and Napoleon McCallum ran 5 yards for another score in the first quarter as the Raiders kept the playoff hopes intact.
Los Angeles (9-5) finishes at Green Bay and at home against Denver. Tampa Bay (4-10) has lost 10 or more games for 11 straight seasons and 20 straight games against teams from California dating back to 1980.
Redskins 30, Falcons 17
At Washington, the Redskins forced Bobby Hebert into six turnovers and beat Atlanta for the 10th straight time at RFK Stadium.
A.J. Johnson scored on a 69-yard interception return, Monte Coleman returned a fumble 29 yards for a score and Washington (4-10) got a safety on a bad punt snap.
Patriots 20, Browns 17
At Cleveland, New England managed to win a close game when Leonard Russell capped an 80-yard drive with a 4-yard TD run with two minutes left.
New England (3-11) won its second in a row. Before that, the Patriots had lost seven straight games, six of them by less than a touchdown.
Bengals 15, Rams 3
At Cincinnati, Derrick Fenner ran 1 yard for his first touchdown of the season and erratic Doug Pelfrey kicked three field goals - while missing two and an extra point.
Both victories by the Bengals (2-11) have come at home against the Los Angeles teams, the Rams (4-10) and Raiders.
Rams rookie Jerome Bettis had his fourth straight 100-yard game, gaining 124 on 24 carries.
Cardinals 30, Seahawks 27
At Seattle, Greg Davis tied the game with a team-record, 55-yard field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter, then kicked a 41-yarder 6:45 into overtime that lifted Phoenix over the Seahawks.
Davis also kicked a 50-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Steve Beuerlein passed for a career-best 431 yards and three touchdowns for the Cardinals (5-9), who were 4-12 in their last two seasons.
Seattle (5-9) never got the ball in overtime and lost its fourth in a row. Rick Mirer became the top rookie passer in NFL history with 2,576 yards.
Eagles 20, Colts 10
At Indianapolis, the Eagles sacked Jeff George four times and forced three fumbles, two of which set up a field goal and a 14-yard touchdown pass from Bubby Brister to Calvin Williams.
Philadelphia (6-8) scored its most points since the fourth game. Indianapolis (4-10) ended a streak of 20 quarters without a touchdown. The Colts managed just 31 yards rushing - all by rookie Roosevelt Potts - against a defense ranked 27th in the league.