York Daily Record from York, Pennsylvania • 12

4B YORK DAILY RECORD FOOTBALL MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, Cowboys, Giants head for showdown The two meet Sunday for the NFC East title and homefield advantage. Associated Troy Smith were $63.6 Aikman and Emmitt played Sunday like they worth every penny of the million they're being paid. Aikman, a fresh $50 million contract in the bank, threw two NFL WEEK 17 touchdown passes and Smith regained the NFL rushing lead and scored a touchdown as the Dallas Cowboys rolled to a 38-3 victory over the Redskins. It was the most one-sided game in the 68-game history of the Cowboys-Redskins series and moved Dallas into an NFC East championship showdown with the New York Giants at the Meadowlands next Sunday. The Giants lost to the Cardinals Sunday, 17-6.

"I'd have to say it's the biggest regular season game since I've been here," Aikman said. The winner next Sunday gets homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Aikman hit 16 of 20 passes for 193 yards and Smith rushed 21 times for 153 yards. Smith, the NFL rushing leader the last two seasons, has 1,318 yards to 1,283 for Jerome Bettis of the Los Angeles Rams. Dallas Washington 7 3 14 0 14 First Quarter Was FG Lohmiller 32.

4:30 Dal Smith 1 run (Murray kick). 8 42 Second Quarter Dal Irvin 8 pass from Aikman (Murray kick), 13:06 Dal Harper 15 pass from Aikman (Murray kick), 14:47 Third Quarter Dal Coleman 1 run (Murray kick). 9:50 Dal Williams 62 punt return (Murray kick). 12:44. Fourth Quarter Dal FG Murray 38, 7:23.

A 64.497. Was Dal First downs 17 28 Rushes-yards 28-126 32-175 Passing 72 205 Comp-Att-Int 15-33-2 17-23-0 Sacked- Lost 4-30 2-13 Time of Possession 30:22 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS. RUSHING Washington, Brooks Mitchell 2-19, Byner 3-12, Ervins 4-7. Gannon 1-3. Dallas, E.

Smith 21-153. Coleman 6-19. Agee 2-4. 1-1, Kosar 2-(minus 2). PASSING Washington.

Rypien 12-30-2-81, Gannon 3-3-0-21. 27 Dallas, Aikman 16-20-0-193. Kosar 1-3-0-25. RECEIVING Washington, Wychek 4-16. Sanders 3-28.

Howard 2-19 Clifton 2-15, Brooks 2-4. Monk 1-12, Byner 1-8 Dallas, Irvin 5-53. Harper 4:65, E. Smith 3-18. Novacek 2-46, Williams 2-11.

T. Williams 1-25. MISSED FIELD GOALS Dallas. Murray 39 Bills 16, Jets 14 Key to the game: Steve Christie hit a 40-yard field goal (his third of the day) with 3:48 left in the game to win it and give Buffalo its fourth straight AFC East title. New York's Cary Blanchard missed 42-yarder with 53 seconds to play.

Key stats: Blanchard missed three field goals for the Jets. N.Y. Buffalo Jets 6 ON First Quarter Buf T. Thomas 2 run (Christie kick), 5:06. NYJ J.

Johnson 24 pass from Esiason (Blanchard kick), 12:56. Second Quarter Buf FG Christie 38. 3:06. Buf FG Christie 36, 14:55 Third Quarter NYJ Burkett 6 pass from Esiason (Blanchard kick), 7:25 Fourth Quarter Buf FG Christie 40. 11 12.

70.817 NYJ Buf First downs 19 Rushes-yards 25-120 36-90 Passing 232 256 Comp-Att-Int 22-31-0 20-31-2 Yards Lost 0-0 0-0 Time of Possession 30:10 29:50 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING New York, J. Johnson 16-94. Esia5-19, Baxter 2-7. Murrell 2-0. Buffalo, Thomas 23-61, Davis 7-21, Gardner 3-5, Kelly 3-3.

PASSING New York, Esiason 22-31-0-232. Butfalo, Kelly 20-31-0-256 RECEIVING New York. J. Johnson 8-81. Mitchell 6-78.

Burkett 3-18, Mathis 2-25, Baxter 2-17. Thornton 1-13. Buffalo, Brooks 5-75, Metzelaars 4-35, Davis 3-53. Reed 3-51. Thomas 3-29.

Beebe 1-8, Gardner 1-5. MISSED FIELD GOALS NY Blanchard 27, 41, 42. Packers 28, Raiders 0 Key to the game: Sterling Sharpe caught seven passes to become the first receiver ever with two straight 100-catch seasons, including a 23-yarder from Brett Favre, to give the Packers a 14-0 lead in the third quarter. Key stats: Green Bay's win coupled with Philadelphia's 37-26 victory over New Orleans earned the Packers their first playoff berth since the strike-shortened 1982 season and first in a non-strike year since 1972. LA Raiders Green Bay 7 14 28 Second Quarter QB Bennett 1 run (Jacke kick), 13:59.

Third Quarter GB Sharpe 23 pass from Favre (Jacke kick), 5:04. Fourth Quarter QB Butler 25 fumble return (Jacke kick), 1:03. GB Thompson 60 run (Jacke kick), 2:53. 54,482. LA QB First downs 17 'Rushes-yards 18-46 37-148 136 181 'Comp-Att-Int 18-38-2 14-28-0 Sacked Lost 8-52 2-9 Possession 28:18 31:42 RUSHING Los Angeles, McCallum 5-23, Bell INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 7-14, Evans 4-4, Jordan 1-3, Montgomery 1-2.

Green Bay, Thompson 21-101, E. Bennett 15-38, Favre 1-9. PASSING Los Angeles, Hostetler 7-18-1-56, Evans 11-20-1-132. Green Bay, Favre 14-28-0-190. RECEIVING Los Angeles, Brown 7-80, Jett 3-41, Jordan 3-37, Ismail 2-13, S.Smith 1-8, Horton 1-7, Bell 1-2.

Green Bay, Sharpe 7-119, E. Bennett 4 41, West 1-24, Chmura 1-6, Thompson 1-0. MISSED FIELD GOALS GB, Jacke 37, 30. Lions 20, Bears 14 Saints have only themselves to blame for loss A his 100th pass of the season Sunday ahead of the Raiders' in history with two straight 100-reception years. NATIONAL CONFERENCE East Pct.

-Dallas 733 y-NY Giants 11 4 733 Philadelphia 7 8 0 467 Phoenix 6 9 0 400 Washington 4 11 0 267 Central y-Green Bay 9 6 600 -Detroit 9 6 H000 .600 Pct. Minnesota 533 Chicago 8 467 Tampa Bay 5 10 0 333 West Pct. x-San Fran. 10 5 0 .767 Orleans 7 8 0 .467 Atlanta 6 9 0 400 LA Rams 4 11 0 267 x-clinched division title y-clinched playoff berth Sunday Night Minnesota 30, Kansas City 10 Today's Game Miami at San Diego, 9 p.m. Friday, Dec.

31 Minnesota at Washington, 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2 Buffalo at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m. Dallas at New York Giants.

1 p.m. Green Bay at Detroit, 1 p.m Miami at New England, 1 p.m. Phoenix at Atlanta, 1 p.m. Seattle at Kansas City, 1 p.m. Denver at Los Angeles Raiders.

4 San Diego at Tampa Bay, 4 p.m. Chicago at Los Angeles Rams, 4 Cincinnati at New Orleans, 4 p.m. New York Jets at Houston, 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 3 Philadelphia at San Francisco, 9 Cle McCardell 28 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick).

5:58. Fourth Quarter NUMBERS Cle Carrier 56 punt return (Stover kick), 6:56 Cle Vardell 1 run (Stover kick). 8:46. Cle Mack 1 run (Stover kick). 11:09.

LA Anderson 23 pass from Rubley (Zendejas NFL kick), 13:23. A 34.155 AMERICAN Cle LA East First downs 23 21 Rushes-yards 32-102 21-95 x-Buffalo Passing 287 Miami Comp-Att-Int 21-23-0 24-32-2 N. Y. Jets 8 Sacked-Yards Lost 1-3 1-7 Indianapolis 4 11 Time of Possession 33:29 26:31 NEngland 4 11 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Central RUSHING Cleveland, Metcalf 15-56, Hoard 4-20, Mack 6-17, Vardell 6-10, Testaverde 1-(minus x-Houston 11 1). Los Angeles, Bettis 16-56.

3-31, Rubley 1-5, Pittsburgh 8 7 Ellard 1-3 Cleveland 8 PASSING Cleveland, Testaverde 21-23-0-216. Cincinnati 3 12 Los Angeles, Rubley 24-32-2-294. RECEIVING West -Cleveland, Metcalf 8-57, McCardell 4-72, Carrier 3-41. Jackson 2-26. Hoard 2-12, Kinchen 1-6, Vardell Kansas City 10 5 1-2.

Los Angeles, Ellard 8-114, Anderson 5-58, y-Denver 9 6 Drayton 3-49, Lang 2-27, Bettis 2-12, Gary 2-2, LA Raiders 9 6 Carter 1-26. Lester 1-6. San Diego 6 8 MISSED FIELD GOAL LA, Zendejas 30. Seattle 6 9 Cardinals 17, Giants 6 Key to the game: Ron Moore got 110 of his 135 rushing yards and scored twice in the second half, and the Cardinals kept the Giants without a first down in the third period. N.Y.

Giants 3 3 Phoenix 0 0 10 First Quarter NYG FG Treadwell 19, 8:12. Second Quarter NYG FG Treadwell 22, 2:05. Third Quarter Pho FG G. Davis 20, 8:48. Pho R.

Moore 19 run (G. Davis kick), 12:59. Fourth Quarter Pho R. Moore 1 run (G. Davis kick).

2:51. A 53,414. NYG Pho First downs 16 20 Rushes-yards 26-78 28-144 Passing 215 189 Comp-Att-Int 23-36-0 15-24-2 Sacked-Yards Lost 3-19 1-9 Penalties 5-25 5-47 Possession 31:33 28:27 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING New York, Hampton 15-38, Meggett 6-22, Simms 3-16, Bunch 1-1, Tillman 1-1. Phoenix, R. Moore 23-135, Centers 1-6, Beuerlein 2-2, Bailey 2-1.

PASSING New York, Simms 21-30-0-214, Graham 2-6-0-20. Phoenix, Beuerlein 15-24-2-198. RECEIVING New York, Meggett 7-65. Calloway 6-69. Jackson 6-63, McCaffrey 2-29.

De Brown 1-14. Simms 1-(minus Phoenix, Centers 5-84. Clark 4-51, Reeves 2-25, Bailey 2-10. Proehl 1-16, R. Hill 1-12.

MISSED FIELD GOALS New York, Treadwell 42. Phoenix, G. Davis 53. Buccaneers 17, Broncos 10 Key to the game: Tampa Bay, a two-touchdown underdog, went ahead, 17-7, with 11:58 left in the third period on Craig Erickson's TD throw to Courtney Hawkins. Key stats: Despite the setback, Denver (9-6) gained a wild-card playoff berth because of losses by Pittsburgh and the New York Jets (both 8-7).

Tampa Denver Bay 9 10 3 First Quarter Den Rivers 5 run (Elam kick), 9:35. Second Quarter TB Moore 19 pass from Erickson (Husted kick). :07. TB FG Husted 48, 14:28. Third Quarter TB Hawkins 14 pass from Erickson (Husted kick), 3:02.

Den FG Elam 24, 8:26. A 73,434. TB Den First downs 13 18 Rushes-yards 36-65 23-110 Passing 171 225 Comp-Att-Int 14-30-1 26-41-0 Yards Lost 2-5 1-0 Penalties-Yards 2-10 5-34 Time of Possession 31:03 28:57 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Tampa Bay, Cobb 25-42, Erickson 6-16, Workman 5-7. Denver, Delpino 12-38, Milburn 4-31, Rivers 4-27, Bernstine 2-10, Elway 1-4. PASSING Tampa Bay, 2 Erickson 14-30-1-176.

Denver, Elway 26-41-0-225. RECEIVING Tampa Bay, Hawkins 8-105, Workman 3-22, Copeland 1-21, Moore 1-19, Wilson 1-9. Denver, Sharpe 6-65, Tillman 5-42, Kimbrough 4-40, Delpino 3-15, Milburn 3-2, Marshall 2-49, R.Johnson 2-8, Bernstine 1-4. MISSED FIELD GOALS Tampa Bay, Husted 41. Denver, Elam 51.

Vikings 30, Chiefs 10 Key to the game: Jim McMahon completed 17 of 25 passes for 219 yards and two TDs and again got great support from Scottie Graham. Graham gained 166 yards on 33 carries. Key stats: Minnesota's win eliminated Chicago from the postseason picture. STEELERS' BOX Pittsburgh 3 Seattle 3 3 3 16 First Quarter Sea P. Green 2 pass from Mirer (Kasay kick), 11:25.

Second Quarter Sea FG Kasay 32, 2:21. Pit FG Anderson 42, 8:19. Third Quarter Sea FG Kasay 48, 8:08. Fourth Quarter Pit FG Anderson 43, :23. Sea FG Kasay 35, 8:36.

A 65.693. PIt First downs 18 25 Rushes-yards 20-116 45-267 Passing 264 101 Comp-Att-Int 20-43-1 12-30-1 Sacked- Lost 2-21 5-16 Time of Possession 24:18 35:42 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Pittsburgh, Thompson 12-66, O'Donnell 4-33, Hoge 4-17. Seattle, Vaughn 26-131, J. Williams 14-86, Mirer 4-44, Blades 1-6. PASSING Pittsburgh, O'Donnell 20-43-1-285.

Seattle, Mirer 12-29-1-117, Tuten 0-1-0-0. RECEIVING Pittsburgh, E. Green 7-119, Thompson 5-31, Stone 4-100, Mills 2-13, Graham 1-17, Hoge 1-5. Seattle, Blades 4-60, J. Williams 3-16, Martin 2-23, R.

Thomas 2-16, P. Green 1-2. MISSED FIELD GOALS None. Allen ranks his record-tying day HARDLY among his greatest DELIGHTFUL moments in Temperatures (T) and wind football. chills (WC) at various sites throughout the NFL Sunday: By MARK ASHENFELTER SITE WC Special to the Daily Record Philadelphia 24 -12 PHILADELPHIA Eric Buffalo 9 -28 little help Green Bay 0 -22 Allen admits he had a Chicago 13 0 from the New Orleans Saints on New England -20 his way into the record book Sunday.

Press "They're the EAGLES things were NOTES ASSOCIATED Terry CONFERENCE Pct. 733 643 533 267 267 Pct. .733 533 467 -0000 200 Pct. 667 0 600 600 0 429 0 400 Monday night MATCHUP: Miami Dolphins (9-5) at San Diego Chargers (6-8) WHEN: 9 p.m., today TV: WHTM Ch. 27, WJZ Ch.

13 ODDS: Chargers by 1 LAST WEEK: Dolphins QBs Scott Mitchell and Steve DeBerg aired it with 401 yards passing vs. Bills, but five turnovers proved costly in 47-34 loss to Buffalo in AFC East showdown Chargers blew 17-0 lead and were eliminated from playoff hunt in 28-24 loss to Chiefs. NOTES: Both teams unsettled at QB. Will Mitchell or DeBerg start for Miami? Will Stan Humphries (concussion) or John Friesz start for San Diego? Charger WR Anthony Miller leads AFC in yards (933) on 70 catches Dolphin LB John Offerdahl (hamstring) is questionable Chargers have NFL's third-best run defense (84.4) Dolphins rookie 0.J. McDuffie (first round, Penn State) is second in AFC in kickoff returns (22.5) and fourth in punt returns (11.3) Dolphins glad to get away from Joe Robbie Stadium.

After 9-2 start, Dolphins lost three straight at Joe Robbie: Giants, Steelers and Bills. Long time coming Green Bay has put together back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1966-67 when it won the first two Super Bowls. Milestones Harbaugh of the Bears attempted 23 passes against Detroit and has 1,748 for his career, breaking Sid Luckman's club record. Sterling Sharpe of the Packers became the first receiver in NFL history with consecutive 100-catch seasons. Sharpe had seven catches for 119 yards and now has 106 for the season after a record 108 last year.

Where's he been? Detroit's Erik Kramer, in his past three starts, has completed 69 of 77 for 700 yards and seven TDs with just one interception. PRESS McDa- NOTES PF PA 299 232 302 273 270 223 179 348 205 259 PF PA 344 238 292 272 295 291 174 299 PF PA 294 267 343 251 273 296 245 253 256 280 PF PA 360 216 275 189 256 281 299 259 221 331 PF PA 320 252 268 272 263 281 228 210 220 344 PF PA 439 258 297 330 306 358 201 361 p.m. p.m p.m. doing in Japan," Allen said of the preseason opener between the clubs five months ago. "They didn't change a lot, so it enabled us to jump on a lot of routes, change things at the line of scrimmage and dictate to them what was going to happen." What happened in the second half was virtually unheard of.

Allen intercepted a pair of passes from backup quarterback Steve Walsh, returning for touchdowns. In the process, he became only the third player to return four interceptions for touchdowns in a single season. For history buffs, the others were Houston's Ken Houston (1971) and Kansas City's Jim Kearney the following season. Allen, who scored on returns of 33 and 25 yards, hopes his name will still be in the books more than 20 years from now. "It's nice to read about those things when you retire," he said following the Eagles' 37-26 victory at Veterans Stadium.

"It's special (because) wherever you play, you want to leave a mark." Allen, who will likely earn yet another trip to the Pro Bowl when the rosters are announced Tuesday (7:30 p.m., ESPN), couldn't have done it without New Orleans' predictable attack. Both plays developed exactly as Allen had viewed them on tape while preparing for the game. "They were both zone-type of coverages," said Allen, who lined up in the slot in the Eagles' nickel defense. "(New Orleans) would send one guy out and one would come inside. On the first one, I tried to stay inside the receiver (Quinn Early), who did an out after 7 or 9 yards.

"I looked right into (Walsh's) eyes and thought there was no way he was going to throw the ball, but he tried to force it in." Eagles Continued from 1B "Maybe (the Eagles) will go out on the market and bid for Seth and Clyde," Waters said. Anything can happen, we can accidentally back into the playoffs." For that to happen, the Minnesota Vikings must lose to Washington Friday afternoon with the Eagles winning at San Francisco next Monday. At this point, Minnesota, Philadelphia and New Orleans are alive, with Chicago's hopes hinging on Minnesota's game against Kansas City Sunday night. A Minnesota win over the Chiefs would eliminate Chicago, helping the Eagles. If Minnesota loses Friday, the Eagles beat San Francisco and New Orleans loses to Cincinnati, the Eagles are in.

Even if New Orleans wins, the Eagles currently have an advantage in point differential, the determining factor for the final spot. If Minnesota were to lose its final two games, Chicago would also have to lose to Los Angeles for the Eagles to get in. "(The playoffs) still might happen and I hope (they) do," quarterback Bubby Brister said after throwing three touchdown passes. "We have a hell of a football team. Guys are getting healthy and we're playing hard.

I'm just happy to be a part of Until the defense came to life, it appeared any talk of the playoffs was going to be laid to rest for good. Three Morten Andersen field goals gave New Orleans (7-8) a 9-0 lead and the Eagles had shown few signs of life. Thomas changed all of that when he sacked Saints quarterback Mike Buck for a safety with 10:43 left in the second quarter. Following the free kick and a 15-yard return by Vai Sikahema, the Eagles started at the New Orleans' 43. Brister eventually hit Michael Young for a 49-yard touchdown, but the Eagles still trailed, 9-8, after Roger Ruzek's point-after kick was blocked.

A faked blitz by safety Wes Hopkins may have contributed to the second. But for whatever reason, Walsh tried to throw another one to Early and Allen gladly struck again. "This was pretty much (my most exciting game)," Allen said. It was a lot of fun today." Green Bay's Sterling Sharpe hauls in niel. Sharpe became the first receiver Key to the game: Lion QB Erik Kramer completed 23 of 31 for 223 yards a and two touchdowns, including 6 of 6 for 47 yards in the Lions' winning a TD drive.

Key stats: The Lions (9-6) clinched at least a wild spot. Detroit Chicago 0 10 3 First Quarter Chi Worley 1 run (Butler kick), 10:19 Second Quarter Det Perriman 20 pass from Kramer (Hanson kick), 2:13 Det FG Hanson 40. 14:55 Third Quarter Det FG Hanson 37. 13:15 Fourth Quarter Chi Harbaugh 1 run (Butler kick). 4.39.

Det Hallock pass from Kramer (Hanson kick). 11:56 A 43.443 Det Chi First downs 20 14 Rushes-yards 26-84 32-77 Passing 223 103 Comp-Att-Int 23-31-1 14-23-0 Time of Possession 30:13 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Detroit, Lynch 22-85, Kramer 4-(minus 1). Chicago. Worley 24-61, Harbaugh 6-13. Green 2-3.

PASSING Detroit. Kramer 23-31-1-223 Chicago, Harbaugh 14-23-0-107 RECEIVING Detroit, Lynch 7-46. Perriman 6-75, H. Moore 3-42. Holman 3-16.

Hallock 2-10. Matthews 1-23. W. Green 1-11 Chicago, Obee 4-35. Conway 4-33.

Worley 3-20, Jennings 1-11. Heyward 1-4. Wetnight 1-4. MISSED FIELD GOALS Chicago. Butler 45, Detroit, Hanson 47.

Patriots 38, Colts 0 Key to the game: Leonard Rus- sell rushed for two touchdowns and Drew Bledsoe passed for two more as the Patriots won their third straight. Key stats: It was New England's biggest margin of victory since a 56-3 win over the New York Jets on Sept. 9, 1979. New England 7 10 14 Indianapolis 00 First Quarter NE Russell 2 run (Bahr kick), 5 19. Second Quarter NE FG Bahr 19.

7:44. NE Cook 1 pass from Bledsoe (Bahr kick), 14:55 Third Quarter NE Timpson 30 pass from Bledsoe (Bahr kick). 10:00. NE Russell 3 run (Bahr kick), 12:15. Fourth Quarter NE Croom 5 run (Bahr kick), 9:48.

A 26.571. Ind NE First downs 7 24 Rushes-yards 18-37 58-257 Passing 99 143 Comp-Att-Int 13-25-0 9-11-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 2-11 0-0 Time of Possession 21:32 38:28 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Indianapolis, Culver 8-15. Potts 7-14. A.Johnson 3-8. New England, Russell 26-138.

Croom 21-93, Turner 5-16. Gash 4-6, Bledsoe 1-2, Saxon 1-2. PASSING Indianapolis, George 13-25-0-110. New England, Bledsoe 9-11-0-143. RECEIVING Indianapolis, Langhorne 4-45, Hester 4-44.

Potts 2-7. Cash 1-7, Toner 1-5. A.Johnson 1-2. New England, Turner 3-52, Timpson 2-59. Coates 2-44, Gash 1-7.

Cook 1-1. MISSED FIELD GOALS None. Bengals 21, Falcons 17 Key to the game: David Klingler threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Carl Pickens his career-best third of the game with one minute left. the loss eliminated Atlanta from playoff contention. Key stats: Klingler had never thrown a TD at Riverfront Stadium the Bengals' home field.

Atlanta Cincinnati 9 3 First Quarter Cin Thompson 3 pass from Klingler (Pelfrey kick), 3:02. At Rison 21 pass from Hebert (Johnson kick), 9:57. Second Quarter Cin Pickens 24 pass from Klingler (Pelfrey kick), 11:56. Third Quarter Ati FG Johnson 49, 3:43. Fourth Quarter Ati Pegram 1 run (Johnson kick), 8:02.

Cin Pickens 6 pass from Klingler (Pelfrey kick), 14:00. A 27,014. Ati Cin First downs 22 16 Rushes-yards 39-191 24-122 Passing 185 162 Comp-Att-Int 16-31-1 16-30-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 2-11 2-12 Time of Possession 36:30 23:30 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Atlanta, Pegram 37-180, Hebert 1-9, Broussard 1-2. Cincinnati, Green 15-56, Klingler 3-36, Fenner 6-30. PASSING Atlanta, Hebert 13-26-0-144.

Tolliver 3-5-1-52. Cincinnati, Klingler 16-30-0-174. RECEIVING Atlanta, Rison 6-84, Pritchard 5-66, Hill 2-30, Mims 2-15, Pegram Cincinnati, Pickens 6-71, Fenner 3-36, McGee 2-26, Query 2-21, Thompson 2-8. Frisch 1-12. MISSED FIELD GOALS None.

Browns 42, Rams 14 Key to the game: The Browns (7-8) turned the game into a runaway with three fourth-quarter touchdowns: on a 56-yard punt return by Mark Carrier and 1-yard runs by Kevin Mack and Tommy Vardell. Key stats: Vinny Testaverde rewrote a longstanding NFL record for completion percentage, connecting on 21 of 23 throws (91.3 percent), breaking Ken Anderson's 90.91 set in 1974. LA Rams 00 Cleveland First Quarter Che Vardell your (Stover kick), 14:20. (Zendejas kick), 6:18. Second Quarter Cle McCardell 8 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick), 11:27.

Third Quarter What's the A week after getting the job done in his return to the club, Eagles kicker Roger Ruzek missed three extrapoint attempts. Ruzek's first and third efforts were blocked. His second attempt went wide left. The crowd saved one of its biggest cheers for Ruzek, who converted his final attempt following Allen's second touchdown. That gave the Eagles a 37-19 lead, something that proved rather important once Tyrone Hughes returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown with 2:21 to play.

As you might have guessed, Coach Rich Kotite wasn't overly amused with the breakdowns by his special teams. How cold was It was a less-than-balmy 24 degrees at kickoff Sunday, with the wind out of the west at 28 mph. The windchill factor was listed at minus-12, a fact not lost on many who'd purchased tickets for the season's final home game. Of the 66,388 tickets distributed, only 50,085 were used and most of their owners departed by early in the fourth quarter. The 16,303 no-shows were a season high and the crowd was the smallest since 43,287 showed up to watch the Eagles play Phoenix on Christmas Eve in 1989.

Amazingly enough, quarterback Bubby Brister, who has played in similar conditions in Pittsburgh, said the elements weren't that bad. "I saw a big alley and I threw it before (Young) came out of his break," Brister said of the touchdown off a square-in route. "We timed it up pretty good and he caught it for a big play." An 11-yard strike from Brister to Herschel Walker capped a 40-yard drive and the teams exchanged field goals to allow the Eagles to take an 18-12 lead into the half. Allen's 33-yard interception return made it 24-12, but the Saints answered back before Brister engineered one of the team's best drives of the season. Brister (20 for 30, 195 yards) completed six, passes on the 17-play, 82-yard march that culminated in a 6-yard pass to tight end Mark Bavaro.

Two plays later, Allen drove the final stake into the Saints' hearts with his second interception and TD. "I just think we're getting better and better," Joyner said. "We've undergone SO many changes throughout the course of the year, that we just needed time to come together with the players that we have." And maybe it isn't too late, after all. New Orleans 9 3 7 7 26 Philadelphia 0 18 6 13 -37 First Quarter NO FG Andersen 41, 4:26. NO FG Andersen 56, 8:21.

NO FG Andersen 35, 13:17. Second Quarter Phi Safety. Thomas sacked M. Buck in the end zone, 4:11. Phi Young 49 pass from Brister (kick blocked) 6:32.

Phi Walker 11 pass from Brister (Ruzek kick), 9:38. NO FG Andersen 37, 13:10. Phi FG Ruzek 46, 14:55. Third Quarter Phi Allen 33 interception return (kick failed). 5:21.

NO Muster 2 run (Andersen kick), 7:06. Fourth Quarter Phi Bavaro 6 pass from Brister (kick failed) 1:28. Phi Allen 25 interception return (Ruzek kick) 2:23. NO Hughes 83 punt return (Andersen kick) 12:39. A 50.085.

NO Phi First downs 7 20 Rushes-yards 21-83 44-134 Passing 75 180 Comp-Att-Int 6-18-2 20-30-0 Yards Lost 3-17 2-15 Punts 3-38 5-36 Fumbles-Lost 2-1 3-1 Penalties-Yards 5-33 3-20 Time of Possession 20:03 39:57 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING New Orleans, Brown 13-62, Muster 8-21. Philadelphia, Walker 16-56, Joseph 13-46. Sherman 9-29, Hebron 2-3, Brister 3-0, Feagles 1-0 PASSING New Orleans, Walsh 5-11-2-78. M. Buck 1-7-0-14.

Philadelphia, Brister 20-30-0-195. RECEIVING New Orleans, Muster 2-16. Turner 1-52, Martin 1-15, Early 1-7, Brown 1-2. Philadelphia, Walker 4-32, Young 3-78, Joseph 3-24. C.

Williams 3-21, Johnson 3-14, Bavaro 2-18, Bailey 1-5, Sherman 1-3. MISSED FIELD GOALS None..