The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 38

gWejjjpp9ajj)M Pro Football' 12 Cowboys gunning for Joe Montana Chargers, Bengals gird for Ice Bowl II FffOA PAGE B-l cc lu cc CO record with a total of 1,646 yards. The Cowboys, perhaps shaken by the Oct 11 embarrassment in San Francisco, righted themselves and won the NFC East title with a 12-4 record. Dallas wiped out Tampa Bay 38-0 last weekend, giving Landry his 18th postseason coaching victory. The 49ers, In their first playoff game in nine years, outscored the New York Giants 38-24. Walsh's team carries a six-game winning streak into the NFC title match and has won 13 of its last 14 games.

The 49ers began the season where they hope to end it, at the Silverdome, where they lost to the Detroit Lions, 24-17. After three weeks of regular-season play, the 49ers were 1-2. They were 4-2 after ambushing the Cowboys. "We saw the 49ers at their best," says Dallas quarterback White, who was sacked three times by Dean in the October game. "It was obvious what happened to us.

It wasn't one or two players, it was 45 a total FfiOM PGE B-l linebacker DD. Lewis and safety Charlie Waters. The Cowboys' pass rush, led by linemen Ed "Too Tall" Jones and All-Pro Randy White, is one of the most experienced and feared in the NFL. But the 49ers' defense, featuring three extraordinary rookies in the secondary and All-Pro Fred Dean on the line, was much more consistent this season than the Dallas unit. San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana, the 25-year-old Notre Dame product in his first season as a full-time starter, led the NFC in passing this season, with the Cowboys' Danny White ranking second.

"It all boils down to putting pressure on Montana. He has to know we're in the game. And he will," says Jones. In the regular-season meeting of the teams, Montana was sacked just once and threw for 279 yards. The game's most startling statistic was the mere 21 yards rushing by Tony Dorsett, who set a pallas season season), who also owns the record for the best passing percentage in a game.

The Chargers' receivers specialize not so much in yardage as is mileage. Ten AFC receivers gained more than 1,000 yards during the 1981 season. San Diego had three of them: Charlie Joiner, 1,188 yards; Wes Chandler, 1,142, and Kellen Wins-low, 1,085. The Bengals had one rookie Cris Collinsworth who sneaked in with 1,009 yards. The Chargers, for all their vaunted air superiority, also gained 2,005 yards rushing this season (eighth in the conference), led by Chuck Mun-cie's 1,144 yards (second in the AFC) and rookie James Brooks's 525 yards.

The Bengals were ninth in the AFC in rushing with 1,973 yards. Pete Johnson was their leader with 1,077 yards. Defensively, the Chargers were survivors barely. They were next-to-last in the conference in defense, ahead of only Baltimore. Their league-high 478 points overcame the 390 they allowed and helped them finish with a 10-6 record and win the AFC Western Division title.

The Bengals' defense was fourth overall in the conference, but only ninth against the pass. It allowed 304 points. But Cincinnati scored 421, enough to give the team a 12-4 record, the best in the AFC. The teams met once during the 1981 season and played a game of rdle-reversal. The Bengals were the explosive entity as Anderson passed for 444 yards in a 40-17 romp.

After playing against Miami last week in weather not unlike their own in San Diego, the Chargers will have to deal with a wintry Queen City. League's most historic games have been played in the kind of foul, numbing weather predicted for Riverfront Stadium today. One of the most historic was the 1967 National Football Conference championship game at Green Bay between the Packers and the Dallas Cowboys. They called it the Ice Bowl. The field was frozen, and the wind-chill factor was 60 below zero.

Packer quarterback Bart Starr sneaked for a touchdown in the closing minutes for a 21-17 victory. The Packers then went to sunny-Miami and beat the Oakland Raiders, 33-14, for coach Vince Lombar-di's second consecutive Super Bowl title. The 1962 NFL championship game in Yankee Stadium between the New York Giants and the Packers also was played in windy, subzero temperatures. The Packers won, 16-7. The Giants also were winners in the famous Sneaker Game, when they donned sneakers at halftime to beat the Chicago Bears, 30-13, on the glassy Polo Grounds turf in 1934.

The contrasts between today's opponents are striking. Charger coach Don Coryell runs a loose ship. He has been known to show up late for his own meetings. Bengal coach Forrest Gregg funs a tight ship, almost military like. Jackets and ties are mandatory on road trips.

Charger quarterback Dan Fouts's passes are bombs. The Chargers' aerial game works on the "more-is-better" principle. Bengal quarterback Ken Anderson is precision personified, a three-time passing champion in the National Football League (including the 1981 1t? Itii.J i The Record's NFL playoff picks VINNY DiTRANI 'Bengals over Charger, giving 4 point Ken Anderson should have a picnic against the likes Willie Buchanon, Glen Edwards, and nickel man Allan Ellis In that San Diego secondary. Cowboy over 49er. giving 2Vfc point Time-tested Cowboys survive Candleswamp and Bill Walsh's Intricacies to make another Super Bowl visit.

Last week: 1-3. Season record: 127-97-6. Season best bets: 12-6. JOHN ROWE Chargers over 'Bengals, taking 4 points How would you like to be the two defensive coordinators in this game? Good luck, good luck. A field goal could decide this for either side.

Cowboys over 49era, giving 2'A point Forget the 49ers rout of the Cowboys in October. Dallas is a different team In the playoffs. Last week: 3-1. Season record: 113-111-6. Season best bets: 12-5-1.

PAT PICKER Charger over 'Bengal, taking 4 point Look for a super game with a field goal or less deciding it. Cowboy over 49ers, giving 2Vi points Dallas has added incentive that whipping San Francisco administered during the regular season. Last week: 2-2. Season record: 118-106-6. Season best bets: 6-10-2.

UPI photo Chargers coach Don Coryell shows just how much he hates the cold Cincinnati weather as he pulls down his cap while making his way across the frozen Riverfront Stadium turf. AFC Championship matchups When Chargers have the ball NFC Championship matchups When Cowboys have the baSI 8 NFL Team Records Game-bv-game records of teams involved in Sunday's National Football League conference championships: AMERICAN CONFERENCE Cincinnati Bengals Regular Season (12-4) 27 Seattle most of the afternoon. Carlton Williamson and Dwight Hicks should be able to keep up with the three Cowboy tight ends. Again, the field could have a bearing on the success of the coverage people. Edge: COWBOYS COWBOYS' BACKS vt.

49ERS' LINEBACKERS Tne best linebacker on the field in last week's Giants-49ers game was Keena Turner, and that's saying something when Lawrence Taylor is in the same park. Turner is extremely active, but he must be at his best today when Tony Dorsett fans out into his area. Dorsett gained a meager 21 yards on nine carries in the regular-season meeting, but that was a long time ago. He and Ron Springs ate up the vaunted Buccaneer defense last week, combining for 156 yards. With Danny White at the controls, It could be a long afternoon this time for the 49er defenders, who held the Cowboys to 192 total yards In the first meeting.

Edge: COWBOYS COWBOYS' RETURN MEN vs. 49ERS' RETURN MEN James Jones does the bulk of the Cowboy returns, as well as backing up Dorsett. His sucess has 31 at JETS 17 Cleveland COWBOYS' OFFENSIVE LINE vs. 49ERS' DEFENSIVE LINE Tom Landry had to do some retooling of his offensive front in midseason after losing two centers. But former right guard Tom Rafferty has moved into the pivot, and Kurt Petersen, another of the many former collegiate defensive linemen switched to offense by the Cowboys, has performed well at right guard.

Key match will be in passing situations when'Pro Bowler Pat Donovan is asked to keep out Fred Dean, the defensive player of the year. Chances are on a slippery field that Donovan will keep Dean off Danny White's back. The inner triumvirate of Petersen, Rafferty, and Pro Bowler Herb Scott should pop open some holes in the middle, even with linebacker "Hacksaw" Reynolds lurking there. Edge: COWBOYS COWBOYS' RECEIVERS vs. 49ERS' DEFENSIVE BACKS Those precocious 49er cornerbacks held Cowboys' wideouts to five receptions in Oct.

11 regular-season meeting, and two of those were by reserve Doug Donley after things had gotten out of hand. But there is something about playoff time that brings out the best in Drew Pearson. His match-up with rookie Ronnie Lott should be the highlight of the day. Eric Wright, who made the possible strip of the Giants' Earnest Gray last week, draws Tony Hill 21 30 20 24 17 19 7 17 21 17 10 21 21 21 10 2 Playoffs 21 27 Buffalo (OT) 10 al Houston 41 at Baltimore 34 Pittsburgh 7 at New Orleans 34 Houston 40 at San Diego 24 Los Angeles 38 Denver 41 at Cleveland 3 San Francisco 17 at Pittsburgh 30 al Atlanta the team with 10 sacks as the team total sank from 60 in 1980 to 47. Huge tackles Anthony Munoz, approaching the status of best in the game, and Mike Wilson should handle the Charger ends.

So the success of guards Dave Lapham and Max Montoya against Johnson and the huge Louie Kelcher should determine whether Ken Anderson has all day or just half a day to throw. Edge: BENGALS BENGALS' RECEIVERS vs. CHARGERS' DEFENSIVE BACKS Key to the rise of the Bengals this year was the addition of Cris Collinsworth as a legitimate outside threat. Collinsworth accounted for 67 catches on one flank, taking the pressure off Steve Kreider and veteran Isaac Curtis, who combined for 74 catches on the other side. Throw in tight end Dan Ross and his team-high 71 receptions, and it's little wonder that Anderson has had such a tremendous season'.

The guys in the lightning-bolt helmets who occasionally will edge into the TV picture will be the members of the San Diego secondary. The Chargers' defensive backfield is terrible. Edge: BENGALS BENGALS' BACKS vs. CHARGERS' LINEBACKERS Anderson looks so old peeping through his tiger-striped helmet, but his arm has beep young all season. He's this year's Jim Plunkett, although he has done it on a steadier basis throughout the season.

Best Bengal running threat Is monster fullback Pete Johnson, who bulls his way for yardage (1,077) while catching Anderson's shortest tosses (46 receptions). The only thing that can be said of the San Diego linebackers is they are better than the San Diego defensive backs. Edge: BENGALS BENGALS' KICKERS VS. CHARGERS' KICKERS Pat Mclnally topped the NFL punters this season, while ex-Dolphin George Roberts wound up in the middle of the pack for the Chargers. Cincy kicker Jim Breech is deadly from inslda 40 yards, while Rolf Benirschke finally got It right in overtime last week against Miami, moving the Chargers into this title game.

Edge: BENGALS 28 Buffalo San Diego Chargers Regular Season (10-4) 44 at Cleveland 28 Detroit 42 al Kansas Cilv 24 al Denver 24 Seattle CHARGERS' OFFENSIVE LINE vs. BENGALS' DEFENSIVE LINE The overlooked facet of the Chargers' great passing attack is the blocking of the offensive line, which allowed only 19 sacks in an unbelievable 648 pass plays this season. That's about one sack in every 34 attempts. But in the previous meeting betweeji the two clubs (Nov. 8), Cincinnati accounted for SIX of those 19 sacks.

Top pass rusher up front is Eddie Edwards, who had 10 sacks during the season. But he'll have to work against mammoth Russ Washington. If Reggie Williams blitzes from his outside linebacking spot (he had a team-high 11 sacks during the season), left guard Doug Wilkerson (if he has overcome the flu) may have to pick him up. Bengals might even try a five-man line in nickel situations to try to harass Fouts before -he can find those many gifted receivers. Edge: CHARGERS CHARGERS' RECEIVERS vs.

BENGALS' DEFENSIVE BACKS Quick: Name the four starters in the Cincinnati defensive backfield? Bryan Hicks and Bobby Kemp aren't exactly household names, but they're the starting safeties for the Bengals. Louis Breeden and veteran Ken Riley are the corners. The unit plays well together but lacks individual excellence. And the Chargers' receivers are excellent both individually and as a group. Charlie Joiner, Wes Chandler, and Kellen Winslow all surpassed 1,000 yards in receiving yardage, while reserves Dwight Scales and Eric Sievers are no slouches, either.

Fouts should get 300-plus yards passing. Edge: CHARGERS CHARGERS' BACKS vs. BENGALS' LINEBACKERS The linebackers are the heart of Cincinnati's defense. The aforementioned Williams is an active outside man, while Glenn Cameron and Jim LeClair clean up inside. Bo Harris is a steady force on the strong side.

Chuck Muncie (another flu victim) has had a great year for San Diego, scoring 19 touchdowns, but he still gets separated from the ball once in awhile. Rbokie James Brooks has given Muncie admirable support. As for Fouts, there aren't many better pure passers around. Edge: BENGALS CHARGERS' RETURN MEN vs. BENGALS' RETURN MEN Brooks has become the league's top all-purpose yardage man and is an excellent return man.

His runback ability persuaded the Chargers to take him over Joe Delaney in the first round last spring. Bengal return men are average. Edge: CHARGERS When Bengals have the ball BENGALS' OFFENSIVE LINE VS. CHARGERS' DEFENSIVE LINE If there is one portion of San Diego's defense that isn't lousy, it's the defensive line. But the loss of Fred Dean (he'll be with San Francisco Jn today's second game) took a lot of the pass-rush pizzazz out of the group.

"Big Hands" Johnson led 14 23 31 42 10 33h 14 20 20 40 44 21 17 2 23 10 Playoffs 38 31 Minnesota 43 at Baltimore 17 at Chicago (OT) 22 Kansas City 17 Cincinnati 23 al Seattle 55 at Oakland 34 Denver NFL playoff lineups AFC Championship CHARGERS OFFENSE VS. BENGALS DEFENSE 27 Buffalo 24 al Tampa Bay 23 Oakland 41 at Miami (OT) NATIONAL CONFERENCE Dallas Cowboys Regular Season (12-4) 26 at Washington WR 18 Charlie Joiner LT 66 Billy Shields LG 63 Doug Wilkerson 62 Don Macek RG 67 Ed White RT 70 Russ Washington TE 80 Kellen Winslow WR 89 Wes Chandler OB 14 Dan Fouts RB 21 James Brooks RB 46 Chuck Muncie RCB 13 Ken Riley RE 79 Ross Browner RILB 50 Glenn Cameron NT 75 Wilson Whitley LILB 55 Jim LeClair LE 73 Eddie Edwards SS 26 Bobby Kemp LCB 34 Louis Breeden FS 27 Bryan Hicks ROLB 57 Reggie Williams LOLB 53 Bo Harris 30 St Louis 35 at New England 18 GIANTS 17 at St LouiS 14 al San Francisco 29 Los Angeles 28 Miami 17 al Philadelphia Summary BENGALS OFFENSE VS. CHARGERS DEFENSE 17 21 10 20 45 17 27 14 14 27 10 9 13 10 13 Playoffs 0 27 Buffalo been average this year. Amos Lawrence broke a big kickoff return against the Giants, and Freddie Solomon remains explosive on the punt returns. When 49ers have the ball 49ERS' OFFENSIVE LINE vs.

DALLAS DEFENSIVE LINE As In most games Involving the Cowboys, this Is the major match-up. The 49ers must keep the Cowboys' front four out of Joe Montana's face if Bill Walsh's well-conceived passing game is going to work. John Ayers, who earned his pay last week blocking against Lawrence Taylor, this time draws Randy White a frying-pan-to-fire situation. Underrated Keith Fahnhorst draws "Too Tall" Jones in the other top match. On paper, the Cowboys appear to have the better of this battle.

But don't discount the ability of Walsh and his staff to devise blocking schemes to even up matters. Edge: EVEN 49ERS' RECEIVERS v. COWBOYS' DEFENSIVE BACKS Much has been written about the Dallas defensive backfield during the year, how free agents Everson Walls and Mike Downs and safety-turned-cornerback Dennis Thurman have sparked the team to the league's top interception total. One reason for this is that teams love to throw on the inexperienced Dallas secondary if they can get the time. The Niners amassed 290 yards passing in the first meeting as Montana was sacked only once.

Walsh involves everyone in his passing game, and his always-different patterns should befuddle the young Dallas defenders and maybe even mess up strong safety Charlie Waters. Edge: 49ERS 49ERS' BACKS vt. COWBOYS' LINEBACKERS Montana is so good at the controlled passing game that it's little wonder the Niners enjoyed time-of-pos-session advantages in 11 of 17 games this season. Last week he threw against the Giants' basic 3-4 most of the day. This time he will get the Cowboys' nickel in any passing situation.

That means that Anthony Dickerson will be blitzing to further bolster the Cowboys' pass rush. The 49er backs are average, but Walsh uses the right ones in the right situations to make the most of their abilities. (Edge: COWBOYS 49ERS KICKERS vs. COWBOYS KICKERS Again the footing could affect the kicking games. Danny White gets the punting nod over barefooted Jim Miller, and Rafiel Septien should outkick Ray Wersching.

Edge: COWBOYS 24 al Detroit 24 Washington 10 Chicago 37 at Baltimore 21 Philadelphia 10 at GIANTS (OT) WR 80 Cris Collinsworth LT 78 Anthony Munoz LG'62 Dave Lapham 58 Blair Bush RG 65 Max Montoya RT 77 Mike Wilson TE 89 Dan Ross WR 85 Isaac Curtis QB 14 Ken Anderson RB 40 Charles Alexander RB 46 Pete Johnson RCB 29 Mike Williams RE 90 John Woodcock RT 79 Gary Johnson MLB 54 Jim Laslavic LT 74 Louie Kelcher LE 68 Leroy Jones SS 44 Pete Shaw LCB 28 Willie Buchanon FS 27 Glen Edwards RLB 51 Woodrow Lowe LLB 57 Linden King Unless the Riverfront Stadium surface is impossible to navigate, there should be plenty of points scored in this one, maybe even more than the 57 put up in the regular-season game (the Bengals had 40 of those). What it all amounts to is that Cincinnati has the better defense and therefore should allow fewer points. If either Fouts or Anderson comes up cold, however, his team is in trouble, since neither runs the ball very well. PREDICTION: Cincinnati 34, San Diego 24 VINNY DiTRANI 38 Tampa Bay San Francisco etert Regular Season 13-3) 17 al Detroit 28 Chicago 17 at Atlanta 21 New Orleans 30 at Washington 45 Dallas 13 al Green Bay NFC Championship 24 17 34 14 17 14 3 17 14 14 15 31 10 3 6 17 PlavofH 24 20 Los Angeles 17 al Pittsburgh 17 Atlanta 12 Cleveland 33 al Los Angeles 17 GIANTS 71 at Cincinnati COWBOYS OFFENSE VS. 49ERS DEFENSE NFL 78 Houston playoff schedule 21 at New Orleans 38 GIANTS OPEN SUNDAYS 8 A.M.-9 P.M.

ANTHONY'S PHARMACY 341 Broad Pal. Pk. 944-2720 SUNDAY, Dec. WIM-Csrd Ptsvofft American Conference Buffalo 31 TIRES JETS 27 NFL Injury Report WR 80 Tony Hill LT 67 Pat Donovan LG 68 Herbert Scott 64 Tom Rafferty RG 65 Kurt Petersen RT 61 Jim Cooper TE 89 Billy Joe DuPree WR 88 Drew Pearson QB 11 Danny White RB 33 Tony Dorsett RB 20 Ron Springs BATTERIES Natienat Conference GIANTS 27 Philadelphia 21 SATURDAY, Jan. 1 Conference Semifinal! SaTIriJaTsfunSay National Conference Tampa Bay 0 Dallas 38 Be Your Own Boss! Make More Money! American Conference San Diego 41 Miami 38 (OT) Summary RCB 21 Eric Wright RE 76 Dwaine Board Of 74 Fred Dean.

RILB 54 Craig Pukf NT 78 Archie Reese LILB 64 Jack Reynolds LE 79 Jim Stuckey SS 27 Carl Williamson LCB 42 Ronnie Lott FS 22 Dwight Hicks ROLB 58 Keena Turner LOLB 59 Willie Harper i VS. COWBOYS DEFENSE RCB 32 Dennis Thurman RE 79 Harvey Martin RT 54 Randy White MLB 53 Bob Breunig LT 78 John Dutton LE 72 Too Tall Jones SS 41 Charlie Waters LCB 24 Everson Walls FS 26 Michael Downs RLB 50 D.D. Lewis LLB 58 Mike Hegman AT LOWEST DISCOUNT PRICES! WE'LL QUOTE 797-9210 AUTO PARTS WHEELS MOTOR OIL Jim Rick Noorigiit STATE TIRE AUTOMOTIVE DISCOUNT CENTER 14-32 RIVER ROAD SUNDAY, Jan. American Conference Cincinnati 28 Notional Conference San Francisco 38 DALLAS AT SAN FRANCISCO Cowboys: Herbert Scott (ankle) questionable. DE Ed Jones (A nee LB Angelo King (ankle), LB DO Lewis (calf), Kurt Petersen (shoulder), DE Bruce Thornton (hand), Charlie Waters (hip), OT John button (thigh), probable.

49ers. RB Ricky Patton (knee) doubtful OB Guy Beniamin (flu), RB Walt Easlev (flu), DE Lawrence Piliers (shoulder), WR Dwight Clark (flu), Keith Fahnhorst (flu), probable SAN DIEGO AT CINCINNATI Chargers: CB Bob Gregor (neck). Ed White (neck), DE Wilbur Young (hamstring), LB Keith Ferguson (shoukter), questionable RB Chuck Muncie (flu). QB Ed Luther (flu), RB John Caopelletti (groin). CB Willie Buchanon (knee), LB Jim Lasta-vic (grom), CB Mike Williams (groin), DE Leroy Jones (eve infection).

TE Kellen Winslow (shoulder), WR Wes Chandler (ribs), GeerM Roberts (hamstring), probable Bengals No injuries reported Buffalo 21 GIANTS 24 OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS SHOW JANUARY 9-10 RAMADA INN Exit 172 Garden St. Montvals Eiptort th irva owning your own buttons Btowm for Macs. Open to th PubHe. New products FrM Lllsrslurs Adm. 13.00 49ERS OFFENSE WR 87 Dwight Clark LT 61 Dan Audick LG 68 John Avers 56 Fred Quillan RG 51 Randy Cross RT 71 Keith Fahnhorst TE 86 Charle Young WR 88 Freddie Solomon OB 16 Joe Montana RB 30 Bill Ring RB 49 Earl Cooper On paper it's hard to determine how the 49ers got that'45-14 decision in the team's first meeting this season.

But this game won't be played on paper; it will be played on mud. The Cowboys have on Intangible, the revenge motive. The 49ers have the Cinderella, rags-to-riches momentum. But the outcome should rest on Dallas's ability to pressure Montana and disrupt the 49er passing game. PREDICTION: Dallas 24, San Francisco 20 VINNY DiTRANI TODAY Conference Championships American Conference San Diego at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

National Conference Dallas al San Francisco, 5 P.m. SUNDAY, Jan. 24 Super Bowl XVI At Pontiac 4 p.m. ATTEND AWYTIME 12 FAIR LAWN. N.J.

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