Right now, even the San Francisco 49ers don't think they look much like a playoff team.
And it's more than the three losses in their last four games. It's how they've lost, particularly over the last two weeks.In Monday night's regular season closer, they gave Roger Ruzek a second chance and the Philadelphia kicker connected on a 28-yard field with no time left in overtime as the Eagles beat San Francisco 37-34 to send the 49ers into the postseason on a two-week downer.
Just moments earlier, Ruzek missed a 38-yard try, but the Eagles got another shot when the 49ers' Merton Hanks was penalized for roughing the kicker after leaping in an effort to block the kick.
"I believe this team can win. We've just got to regroup," San Francisco's Jerry Rice said after the 49ers fell to 10-6. "Knowing that during the playoffs we have one shot, maybe that might be the extra incentive to get going."
Philadelphia (8-8), recovering from a midseason tailspin caused by a wave of injuries, ended the year with three straight victories to avoid their first losing season since 1987.
Nearly lost in the wild finish was Steve Young of the 49ers winning a third straight NFL passing title - something no other quarterback has done - and the relief performance by Steve Bono, who directed two scoring drives in the final 4:41 to force overtime.
But the 49ers allowed Philadelphia to get out to a 24-3 lead, surrendered a season-high in points and placekicker Mike Cofer had another demoralizing outing.
Cofer missed two field goals, including a 32-yarder that would have won it for the 49ers in OT after Bono drove the team to the Eagles' 14 in the opening possession of the extra period.
In a 10-7 Christmas day loss to Houston, in which San Francisco's top-ranked ranked offense was held to a season-low in scoring, Cofer missed one kick and had another blocked.
San Francisco's finish does not bode well for the 49ers' in the postseason. Only one club - the 1966 Green Bay team - went on to win the Super Bowl after losing its last two regular season games.
Despite the way the season ended, the 49ers remain the NFC's second seed. They will have a first-round playoff bye and play either Minnesota, the New York Giants or Detroit in a divisional playoff Jan. 15 at Candlestick Park.
"We're a good team and we're going to get better," said San Francisco running back Ricky Watters, who ran for 54 yards and a touchdown in his return from a three-week absence caused by a right knee ligament strain.
Young, who became the first quarterback in club history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in a season (4,029), said the 49ers should look at the big picture.
"You want to win. We fought like crazy out there," said Young, who threw two touchdown passes. He had a 3-yarder to Jerry Rice and a 38-yarder to John Taylor that pulled San Francisco into a 24-all tie midway through the third period.
"But obviously we were protecting some people. Ricky had to come out. Jerry. It's down to a single-game elimination tournament. I don't feel we're going in anything but full speed ahead. I don't think there's any big problem," added Young.
Young completed 15 of 19 for 165 yards and finished with a 101.5 rating, the third consecutive season he has had a ranking above 100.0, also an NFL first. He edged Dallas' Troy Aikman, who had a 99.0 rating.
Philadelphia's Bubby Brister, who came on in the aftermath of a season-ending knee injury to Randall Cunningham, cut up the San Francisco defense for 350 yards and three touchdowns. His third scoring pass, a 21-yarder to Herschel Walker late in the third quarter, snapped a 24-24 tie, and he drove the team 68 yards in nine plays to set up Ruzek's winning field goal.
"We've been playing pretty well the last three weeks," Brister said. "We played exceptionally well against a great team. It'll carry on into next season and help us."
"I pick Dallas in the playoffs," Michael Young said.