Times-Advocate from Escondido, California • 41

Monday, December 25, 1989 Chargers get a late break, top Broncos By Kevin Scattareggia Times Advocate Sportswritet SAN DIEGO After a season full of narrow defeats and near victories, the Chargers rang in the holiday season with a last-second victory of their own. Sundays win over the Denver Broncos will go down in the book as a 19-16 victory, thanks to a 45-yard, game-winning field goal by Chris Bahr with no time left. The win, before 50,524 at Jack Murphy Stadium, ends a season in which all the Chargers close losses began to blend together. Although the game meant virtually nothing to each team, for the Chargers the triumph was a gratifying way to end a long, long season. We learned a lot about ourselves this season, said linebacker Leslie ONeal.

It doesnt do any good to look back, but it makes you wonder what might have happened if we had won a few of those close games. For the record, in nine of the Chargers 10 defeats excluding the opening-day 40-14 loss to the Raiders they lost by a combined total of 39 points. In their last four wins, the club won by a total of 15 points. The seasons over and I think that this was a just dessert for our team, said Henning, who finished his first season here 6-10, equaling the clubs 1988 record. I think they wanted to show they could continue to play hard, they wanted to play hard, they wanted to win.

I dont think were ever going to have a game other than a one-run ballgame. The Chargers very nearly had themselves another heart-wrenching defeat thanks to several costly mistakes late in the fourth quarter. Leading 16-10 with 1:37 left in the game, wide receiver Anthony Miller fumbled on a third-down reverse. Denver linebacker Michael Brooks recovered at the Chargers 41 -yard line. Please see Chargers, page D2 Season's Greetings to Jack McKeon who got what he wants, and now has a chance to show us what he can do with it.

Joan Kroc a nice person finally getting out of the rong business. Billy Joe Tolliver who promises plenty of excitement in years to come. Craig Lefferts welcome home. Leslie ONeal who made such a great comeback. Bo Schembechler for the years of victories, integrity and wonderful memories.

Well miss you. Michael Jordan for obvious reasons. Magic Johnson for remembering to smile. Craig Bell no matter what you say, you're a heck of a coach. Tony Gwynn who deserves more money, but don't we all.

We're behind you. Alan Trammell who I know reads this paper. Jack Clark who just whetted our appetites in his first year here. Neville Saner who gets the best out of his players year after year after year after year Jud Buechler and maybe a national championship before you graduate. Wayne Gretzky whos managed to remain a nice guy.

Terry Kennedy resurrected after what looked like the end of the line. Juan Eichelberger a nice guy in a tough business. Billy Ray Smith who snagged a pretty one in Kvmberly Hunt. Bip Roberts A small package who brings good things to the Padres. Mannie Jackson and may you succeed in bringing the NBA to San Diego.

Richard Esquinas and Harry Cooper ditto the NHL. Steve Garvey who had a tough year, but kept his sense of humor. Ron Newman who keeps winning year after year. Greg LeMond a great choice as Sportsman of the Year. Muhammad Ali a childhood idol.

Bruce Hurst can you believe hes now underpaid, too? i All the local high school and youth sport coaches and volunteers your dedication is the greatest gift. All the local athletes always remember, theyre just games. Terry, Bob, Kevin, Tod, Dennis qnd Chris who help bring it all to you every day. Garvey and Gibson the chickenest cats in the hemisphere. Lori, my love may you soon be able to give everyone the gift of your music once again.

Shannon OaweThe Times Advocate goes topsy-turvy as Chargers finish the season with a victory. sttoDD some ptayofftf (mcGirttaiiinilfy Oefftt both also had 8-4 conference records. But the Eagles earned the home-field because of a better record against common opponents. Thats bad news for the Rams, who have had difficulty with playoff games in cold-weather sites the last few years. The New York Giants locked up the NFC East title with their 34-17 victory over the Los Angeles Raiders.

New York will host a playoff front Stadium. If the Bengals lose, then Pittsburgh will travel to the Astrodome to meet the Oilers on Sunday. The NFC wild-card game is set. The Philadelphia Eagles, who had the inside track to win the NFC East before losing to New Orleans last Monday night, will host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Both clubs finished 11-5 and did not meet in the regular season, and Chargers running back Marion Ythieres By Tim Cowlishaw Dallas Morning News Confusion created by parity in the AFC finally turned to clarity Sunday as the NFL regular season drew to a close for 26 teams.

But the two who arent finished yet, Minnesota and Cincinnati, will have much to say about the final makeup of the playoff picture. The Vikings, who host the Ben-gals tonight and are unbeaten (7-0) in the Metrodome this season, can wrap up the NFC Central title with a victory. But if they lose. Green Bay, a 20-10 winner over the Dallas Cowboys, will win the division and make its first non-strike playoff appearance since 1972. The Bengals, thanks to what transpired Sunday, also remain alive.

A win would give them a 9-7 record and tie them with Houston and Pittsburgh for the best runner-up records in the AFC. If that happens, the Bengals will host the Oilers in a wild-card game Sunday, just two weeks after they handed Houston a 61-7 beating in River told me, O.J., you never know. And he didnt. Anderson was limited to two carries that season and just 65 last year. He was ignored in the Plan free agency and invited back to the Giants strictly as insurance this year.

And when Joe Morris broke his foot in training camp, Parcells cashed in his policy. He kept saying, Give me half a season, Anderson said. He tries to find ways to motivate you. How are you going to motivate a guy whos been in the league 11 years? If Im not motivated now. Im not going to be.

For Anderson, the motivation was to prove he wasnt through. Everybody counted me out, he said. I just wanted to prove I could do it. Playing in sub-zero wind chill temperatures, Anderson scored his Please see Raiders, page D2 Butts and Browns will host playoff games in two weeks with Denver playing the wild-card winner and Buffalo visiting Cleveland. So those watching tonights Minnesota-Cincinnati game with interest will be the Oilers and Stee-lers (pulling for the Vikings) and the Packers (pulling for the Bengals).

Said Green Bay Coach Lindy Infante, Weve been living on the edge all season. As recently as two weeks ago we were one game out. We figured out a way to tie it back up. Now weve done our part. Regardless of what happens today, the AFC standings will show 10 of 14 teams with records of .500 or better but only one team, the Broncos, with 10 or more wins.

Its the first time since the 1970 merger that a conference hasnt produced at least two 10-game winners. The NFC, meanwhile, has six teams with 10 or more wins, and Minnesota could become the seventh tonight. Wild ending gives Rams a wild-card FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) -Their success on the last play meant the Los Angeles Rams playoff quest wont go down to the last day. They clinched a wild-card berth Sunday when New Englands Steve Grogan overthrew Hart Lee Dykes at the back of the end zone with no time left, ensuring their 24-20 victory over the Patriots.

Had the Rams lost, the only way they could have reached the playoffs would have been if Minnesota lost to Cincinnati in tonights regular-season finale. Instead, theyll visit Philadelphia in next Sundays NFC playoff opener. Were 11-5 and we still have to play on the road, said Coach John Robinson, whose Rams trailed San Francisco in the NFC West. Ill worry about (Philadelphia quarterback Randall) Cunningham to- Please see Rams, page D4 Ageless wonder leads Giants past Raiders game the weekend of Jan. 6-7, as will the 14-2 San Francisco 49ers.

If the Rams win the wild-card game, they will play at New York while the Central Division champion goes to San Francisco. If the Eagles win, they will play at San Francisco while the Central champion visits New York. In the AFC, Denver lost for the third time in four weeks Sunday, but it meant nothing. The Broncos The Associated Press Mervyn Fernandez. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.

(AP) Each week in the New York Giants locker room, Coach Bill Parcells and running back Ot-tis Anderson would have this little talk about the 32-year-old running backs workload. Hed say, Dont worry, were only going to run you 15 times, Anderson said. Then Id go out there 20-25 times every game. Ill tell you what. I dont think the man knows how to count.

Anderson can count though and his 74 yards on 23 carries Sunday in a 34-17 victory over the Los Angeles Raiders pushed his total for the season to 1,023 yards. It is his first 1, 000-yard season since 1984 and perhaps, at age 32, the most satisfying of his career. I recall standing on the sidelines in 1987, saying to (blocking back) Maurice Carthon that Id never get a chance, that Id never start again, Anderson said. He Giants Myron Guyton (29) moves to recover fumble by Raiders 4.