Bill Parcells credited a heavenly force. Vinny Testaverde concluded it was something mystical. Wayne Chrebet said it came from within.
Just about everyone else pointed to the officials for handing the New York Jets a critical 32-31 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.Parcells acknowledged divine intervention after Testaverde's 5-yard quarterback sneak -- which went about 4 1/2 yards -- kept the Jets (9-4) tied atop the AFC East with Miami.
The Jets, whose 6-26 record in December entering the game displays how their luck has run in the final month of the year, couldn't have been more fortunate. Testaverde, in the midst of the busiest passing game of his 12-year career (42-for-63 for 418 yards, two TDs and an interception returned for a touchdown by rookie Anthony Simmons), called his own number on fourth down with 27 seconds left. Seven seconds later, as he was slammed to the ground in a pileup, head linesman Earnie Frantz immediately signaled the AFC's leading passer had won the game with his legs.
Replays showed Testaverde came up short of the goal line.
"To this point," Testaverde said after one of the most memorable endings in team history, "it's been a magical season."
The Seahawks (6-7), who likely dropped from playoff contention, thought something tricky was going on. Cornerback Shawn Springs, who was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct for throwing his helmet after the touchdown, wondered if the officials had been "intimidated."
"The refs should really let the players decide the game," Springs said. "Don't make a call that determines the outcome."
But that's the way it's been going in the NFL this season, particularly lately. The same crew worked in Detroit on Thanksgiving and was responsible for the infamous coin toss controversy.
Now this.
"He called it right away and signaled," said referee Phil Luckett. "There was a pileup, but the head linesman had already called a touchdown for the ball breaking the plane (of the goal line)."
The touchdown culminated a rousing rally from a 31-19 deficit by the Jets, who saw three of their four turnovers lead to 21 Seattle points. Testaverde found Keyshawn Johnson on a 16-yard TD pass to bring the Jets within five with 12:22 remaining.
"This," said Chrebet, who caught seven passes for 74 yards, while Johnson had nine receptions for 114, "says a lot about this team's character."
Joey Galloway, Seattle's dynamic wideout, caught only two passes, but they were for touchdowns of 70 and 57 yards in the first quarter on Aaron Glenn, New York's best cover cornerback. Glenn intercepted the next pass thrown to Galloway, but sprained his ankle and left on the second-period play.
Still, with Ricky Watters' 39-yard run and Simmons' pickoff -- Seattle's seventh interception runback for a TD this season, two off the NFL mark -- the Seahawks remained in control.
New York's other scores were on a 3-yard pass to Keith Byars, who later left with a broken right arm, and a 1-yard run by Curtis Martin. John Hall kicked two 20-yard field goals, and Seattle's Todd Peterson nailed a 50-yarder.
That set up the tight finish, and yet another obvious officiating error.
VIKINGS 48, BEARS 22: With a pregame injury sending Cris Carter to the sidelines to join three other ailing offensive starters, Randall Cunningham threw three touchdown passes to Randy Moss for the second straight game as Minnesota clinched its first NFC Central title since 1994.
The Vikings (12-1) outgained the Bears 341-14 on the way to a 27-0 halftime lead, guaranteeing themselves a first-round playoff bye, the first time they have earned that during coach Dennis Green's seven seasons.
Moss, who burned Dallas for 163 yards and three TDs on Thanksgiving, caught scoring passes of 6, 3 and 34 yards against the Bears (3-10), who lost their fifth straight.
FALCONS 28, COLTS 21: Chris Chandler came back after missing a week with a sprained right ankle and threw for two TDs and ran for another for Atlanta (11-2). The Falcons fell behind 21-7 to the Colts (2-11), but rallied as Chandler shook of five sacks and went 20-of-28 for 297 yards as Atlanta held on to its one-game lead in the NFC West over San Francisco.
SAINTS 22, COWBOYS 3: Kerry Collins threw touchdown passes of 4 and 89 yards, and New Orleans held Dallas to 182 yards of total offense, just 18 on the ground. Emmitt Smith had just 6 yards on 15 carries.
The victory put the Saints (6-7) into a tie for the last NFC wild-card spot and prevented Dallas (8-5) from clinching the NFC East.
BILLS 33, BENGALS 20: Doug Flutie threw for 319 yards as Buffalo (8-5) stayed a game behind the Dolphins and Jets with its eighth win in 10 games. The Bengals (2-11) lost their eighth in a row, their longest losing streak since 1994.
JAGUARS 37, LIONS 22: Jamie Martin, who entered the game after Mark Brunell was injured on the second play, threw a 67-yard touchdown pass on his second attempt and finished with 228 yards to lead Jacksonville. Rookie Fred Taylor ran for 183 yards to surpass the 1,000-yard mark as the Jaguars (10-3) moved three games ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Central. Barry Sanders gained 102 yards for the Lions (5-8).
PATRIOTS 23, STEELERS 9: Drew Bledsoe threw an 86-yard TD pass to Terry Glenn, who finished with a team-record 193 receiving yards for New England (8-5), which is tied with Buffalo, a game behind the Dolphins and Jets. Bledsoe, who led the Patriots to last-second victories the previous two weeks despite a broken index finger on his throwing hand, was 21-of-34 for 327 yards and overcame three interceptions by the Steelers (7-6).
DOLPHINS 27, RAIDERS 17: Linebackers Zach Thomas and Robert Jones returned interceptions for short scores, and Miami (9-4) turned four first-half turnovers into 24 points. Thomas and Jones each had another interception in the second half, and the Dolphins had six overall, raising their NFL-leading total to 26 this season. Miami also sacked Donald Hollas eight times.
The Raiders (7-6) have lost three straight and four of their last five games.
GIANTS 23, CARDINALS 19: The Giants (5-8) ran for 200 yards to come back from a 17-7 deficit against the Cards (6-7) who fell into a tie with New Orleans for the final NFC wild-card spot. Kent Graham combined with Tiki Barber on an 87-yard TD pass and Gary Brown ran for 124 yards for New York.
The Cardinals have never made the playoffs since moving to Arizona prior to the 1988 season.
OILERS 16, RAVENS 14: Al Del Greco kicked three field goals, including two 48-yarders, as Tennessee (7-6) broke a two-game losing skid.
Jim Harbaugh moved the Ravens (5-8) 80 yards and hit Floyd Turner with a 20-yard touchdown pass with 1:46 left to make it 16-14. The Ravens got the ball back with 1:18 to go, but Harbaugh's pass was tipped by rookie Samari Rolle and intercepted by Steve Jackson.
REDSKINS 24, CHARGERS 20: Trent Green's 20-yard TD pass to Leslie Shepherd with 1:54 left gave Washington (4-9) its fourth win in six games.
The Redskins have never lost to the Chargers (5-8) in six meetings.