The Houston Oilers paid tribute to the late Jeff Alm the best way they knew how: Playing with the same emotion he showed, they became the first team in the NFL to clinch a division championship.
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."
The Oilers (10-4) joined the New York Giants (10-3) and Dallas (10-4) as the first NFL teams to make the playoffs this season. San Francisco and Kansas City also had chances to clinch spots later in the day.
Buffalo, meanwhile, improved its hopes by beating Miami 47-34 in a game between AFC East co-leaders. But Green Bay, which has not made the playoffs in a non-strike season since 1972, missed a chance to clinch with a 21-17 loss to Minnesota.
In other games, Washington beat Atlanta 30-17, New England defeated Cleveland 20-17, Cincinnati downed the Los Angeles Rams 15-3, Kansas City 28, San Diego 24, San Francisco 55, Detroit 17, Los Angeles Raiders 27, Tampa Bay 20 and Phoenix 30, Seattle 27, OT.
On Sunday night, Philadelphia was at Indianapolis. On Monday night, the New York Giants are at New Orleans.
In Saturday games, Dallas beat the New York Jets 28-7, and Denver defeated Chicago 13-3.
Alm, a fourth-year reserve defensive lineman, took his life Tuesday after being involved in an auto accident that killed a childhood friend. He was to have returned to the Oilers' lineup this week from a leg injury.
Alm's picture was flashed on the scoreboard at Three Rivers Stadium as both teams stood at attention prior to the national anthem, and the Oilers wore No. 76 stickers on their helmets in memory of him.
"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 won for only the seventh time in 25 games at Three Rivers Stadium. But Houston 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.
Bills 47, Dolphins 34
At Miami, Buffalo won the highest-scoring NFL game this season and took over first place in the AFC East.
Mickey Washington scored on a 27-yard interception return, and Nate Odomes on a 25-yard fumble return. The Bills (10-4) led 47-20 after striking for three touchdowns in the first six minutes of the second half.
Miami (9-5) had the league's best record just three weeks ago, but has lost three in a row - all at home.
Vikings 21, Packers 17
At Milwaukee, Jim McMahon won his 10th straight start against Green Bay and revived Minnesota's chances of repeating as NFC Central champion.
McMahon threw for three touchdowns, matching his season total entering the day. Scottie Graham ran for 139 yards for the Vikings (7-7).
The Packers (8-6) had won six straight at County Stadium. But second-year coach Mike Holmgren left the game 0-4 lifetime against Vikings coach Dennis Green, another former San Francisco assistant.
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.
Hebert threw four interceptions and fumbled twice as Atlanta (6-8) fell flat a week after beating San Francisco.
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.
Cleveland (6-8) lost for the sixth time in seven games. Browns quarterback Vinny Testaverde threw an interception into the end zone with 4:50 left, setting up the Patriots' winning drive.
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.
Chiefs 28, Chargers 24
At Kansas City, Mo., Still woozy from a hit on the previous play, Joe Montana hit J.J. Birden for the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter Sunday, and Kansas City beat San Diego 28-24.
The Chiefs erased a 17-0 deficit to beat the Chargers, remaining tied with Buffalo and Houston for the home-field advantage in the AFC.
Montana had to call a 40-second time out after Junior Seau flattened him on an incomplete pass on second down. Appearing wobbly, he flipped a 4-yard pass to Birden in the corner of the end zone for a 21-17 lead as the Chiefs (10-4) maintained their one-game lead over Denver and Los Angeles in the AFC West.
Montana, who has missed five starts due to injury, immediately went to the locker room and the team announced he had a mild concussion. Backup Dave Krieg made it 28-17 with 12:54 left on a 28-yard scoring strike to Willie Davis.
49ers 55, Lions 17
At Pontiac, Mich., this time, the San Francisco 49ers made sure they clinched the NFC West long before the fourth quarter.
The 49ers, after blowing a big chance last week, scored on every possession in the first half behind Steve Young and swamped the Detroit Lions 55-17 Sunday to win their 10th division title in 12 years.
Young, the NFC's leading passer, threw for 354 yards and four touchdowns in less than three quarters, and left with a 45-10 lead. The 49ers (10-4) went on to score more points in Detroit than any Lions' opponent ever.
The Lions (8-6) remained tied with Green Bay for the NFC Central lead. By the time the game began at 4 p.m. EST, the Lions knew that Green Bay already had lost to Minnesota, but could not take advantage in losing for the fourth time in five games.
Raiders 27, Buccaneers 20
At Los Angeles, the Raiders had a terrific first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. It was good enough to keep them in the hunt for an AFC playoff berth.
The Raiders scored touchdowns on their first two possessions and then added 10 points in a span of 1:10 early in the fourth quarter before holding on to beat the Bucs 27-20.
The Raiders (9-5) play at Green Bay next Sunday before finishing the season with a home game against Denver.
The Bucs (4-10) have now lost 10 or more games for 11 straight seasons and 20 straight games against teams from California dating back to 1980.
The Raiders won despite getting almost nothing from their running game, netting just 17 yards on 23 carries.
Cardinals 30, Seahawks 27, OT
If Phoenix coach Joe Bugel still has a chance at saving his job, Greg Davis and Steve Beuerlein are doing all they can to help him.
Davis tied the game At Seattle, with a team-record, 55-yard field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter, then kicked a 41-yarder 6:45 into overtime Sunday that gave the Cardinals a 30-27 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Davis also kicked a 50-yard field goal in the fourth. Beuerlein helped get Davis in position by passing for a career-best 431 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 34 of 53 passes.