Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 46

StarTelogram Monday December 92002 WC wwwstar Ickgrzuncom 4 1 iii 1 i 1 1 NIE It A I LS Aaron Glenn Texans CB: Returns two intercept ions for touchdowns cover ing 70 and 65 yards in a 24 6 upset of the Steelers NFL Game Day tirl 2 Rich Gannon Raiders 011 Sets an NIL record with his 10th 300-yard game of the season breaking a tie with Ddn Marino Warren Moon and Kurt Warner Go Ralph Brown Giants LB: Sets up two touchdowns against Washington with a 31-yard tumble return and a 13- yard return alter an interception: WEEK 11 RAIDERS 27 111111111111111111111111111111111 Raiders their WHY OAKLAND The Raiders victory by their veterans Rich Gannon 36 had 328 yards Jerry Rice 40 had for 113 yards WHY SAN Pressure from defense resulted Drew Brees' first three-interception game II Raiders Gannon set an NFL 300-yard game of breaking a tie with Warren Moon and Kurt Chargers LaDainian Tomlinson single-season rushing yards breaking 1994 record of 1350 LIP Oakland at Man noon San Diego at Buf I alo noon i I i WEEK 11 A ii Aidia MI) 1 4 s-lik 6 A4 LI 1 7 L' 1 r7 i r4 i i ik 4 it 44-) p-o i t'ibo --d44" (-N RAI IT '4 'ItS 2'7 40 inillitilI111111111111111 i It 0'14 1 1 4 041Orbel' i ro 1 'J 1 "41 Ilai(leis ''si -1 10 ---0k 144-11 vkb 44 Cr-17- -t- l) 'licit "Al -1 '1 -4 IL WHY OAKLAND r' lk NIO la Al The Raiders I 1- tory by their veterans 44 '14 Rich Gannon 36 4 i 4 44 A ------N had 328 yards t----rct 110--- 1 Jerry Rice 40 had for 113 yar ds A WHY SAN defense resulted Pressure from ik7 41 ii ier Drew Brees' first 0 ception game lot II Raiders non set an NI-1 i 414't 300-yard game of 4kk' breaking a tie with ren Moon and Kurt "'Nt A 4-' '4: 1 Chargers 4- r4v' 1 0 LaDainian Tomlinson i fil 114Z 0 gle-season rushing yards breaking A' 41 ''''N it ooLAI 44444 1994 record of 1350 i 4 ii 4k UP Oakland at Man 14 noon San Diego at Buf I alo noon 44a SMELINES Matthews honored The Titans honored Bruce Matthews by retiring his No 74 jersey and inducting him into their Hall of Fame during halftime of their game Sunday Matthews played in 296 games more than any non-kicker in NFL history before ending his 19-year career in July at age 40 Matthews said he has been busy with his family and six children in Missouri City coaching a pee wee football team and working on their home That has given him the opportunity to watch the NFL from a distance "I am having fun being a fan again" Matthews said Matthews was drafted by the Houston Oilers out of Southern Cal in 1983 and started the final 15 games that season He was selected to a record 14 consecutive Pro Bowls afeat shared with Merlin Olsen Oakland 1O 3 7 7-27 San Diego ------0 7 0 0-7 1 3 7 7-27 1 7 0 0-7 Oakland -----10 3 7 THE ASSOCIATED PRESSSCOTT AUDETTE Defensive end Greg Spires records one of two sacks Tampa Bay had Sunday of Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick First Quarter Oak-Garner 4 run (Janikowski kick) Oak-FG Janikowski 51 5:00 Quarter SD-Tomlinson I run (Christie kick) 5:04 Oak-iG Janikowski 20 13 Third Quarter Oak-Crot keit I run (Jantkowslo kick) 2:12 Fourth Quarter Oak-Wheatley 4 run (Janikowski kick) 725 A-67968 Oak First clowns 22 Duarter owski kick) 11:12 00 Quarter stie kick) 5:04 13 Quarter kowshi kick) 2:12 Quarter nikowski kick) 7:25 Oak Falcons Vick-timized A first for Hall Dante Hall returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns in the first half against St Louis the first Kansas City Chiefs player to do both in the same game Hall is the 20th player in NFL history to return two kicks for scores in a game and the second this season Michael Lewis brought back a punt and kickoff for TDs in New Orleans victory over Washington on Oct13 Hall a fifth-round draft pick out of Texas in 2000 also returned a punt for a touchdown the previous week BREAKDOWN Passing 326 326 Bucs 34 Tampa Bay rspana uses "speed the other teams don't have" to shut down Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick and remain in first place in the NFC South Atlanta-----0 3 0 7-10 Tampa 21 6 7-34 Quarter TB-Jurevictus 10 pass from (Gramattca kick) 1112 TB-Jurevicius 13 pass from fGramatica Kick) 742 4111G Feely 30 2:02 18-14(Canie1114 pass fromELiohnson (Gramatica lockt Third Quarter TB-FG Gramattca 42 956 T6-1'G Gramatica 21 5:20 Fourth Quarter Atl-Crumpler 5 pass from Vlch (Feely kick) B-kliCarciell 27 pass from (Gramatica kick) 831 A-65648 Kickoff Returns 2-130 4-107 Interceptions Ret 3-5 0-0 Comp-All-Mt 26-41-0 22-41-3 Sacked-Yards Lost 1-2 2-13 Punts 5-378 4-418 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0 Penalties-Yards 8-57 8-46 Time of Possession 31:04 28:56 Individual statistics Rushing Oakland Wheatley 9-28 Garner 11-24 Gannon 1-9 Crockett 4-6 San Diego Tomlinson 18-57 Brees 5-5 Dwight 1-2 Chatman I-1 Passing Oakland Gannon 26-41-0-328 San Diego trees 22-41-3-239 Receiving Oakland Rice 7-113 Jolley 6-104 Garner 4-43 Brown 3-23 Porter 2-16 Wheatley 2-15 Knight 1-8 RWttliams 1-6 San Diego Parker 7-96 Alexander 4- 24 Tomlinson 4-22 Dwight 3-26 Chatman 2-40 Norman 1-26 McCrary 1-5 Missed field goal Oakland Janikowski 49 (WL) 4-107 22-41-3 2-13 4-418 0-0 8-46 28:56 4-107 3-5 0-0 22-41-3 12 2-13 0-0 8-46 28:56 11 statistics alley 9-28 Garner 11-24 Gan-Diego Iomlinson 18-57 Brees 1 'non 26-41-0-328 San Diego ce 7-113 Jolley 6104 Garner -16 Wheatley 2-15 Knight 1-8 Parker 7-96 Alexander a1 3-26 Chatman 2-40 Norsnd Janikowski 49 (WO WHY THE BUCCANEERS WON 0B Brad Johnson who has been hot and cold this year was hot and got help from the running game Johnson completed 23 of 31 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns and Tampa Bay rushed for 150 yards just the Bucs' third 100-yard rushing game this season WHY THE FALCONS LOST Atlanta couldn't gets its offense going The Falcons' only touchdown drive which started in the final minute of the third quarter was aided by two Buccaneers' penalties that resulted in first downs KEY PLAY Free safety Dexter Jackson intercepted a Michael Vick pass just Vick's fourth interception of the season and returned it 21 yards to the Falcons 10 to set up' Tampa Bays second touchdown and give the Bucs a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter UP NEXT Tampa Bay at Detroit noon Sunday Atlanta vs Seattie noon Sunday 1 ar-no-srloo Ad First downs 30 22 Rushes-yards 22-68 29-150 Passing 113 271 Punt Returns 3-37 1-12 Kickoff Returns 6-103 2-45 Interceptions Bet 0-0 1-21 Comp-Att-Int 12-251 23-31-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 2-12 1-5 Punts 7-429 -5-412 unibIes-Lost 0-0 0-0 Penalt tes-Yards 4-45 5-38 Time of Possession 2602 33:58 Individual statistics Rushing Atlanta Duckett 13-47 Vick 5-15 Christian 4-6 Tampa Bay Alstott 13-95 Steelier 4-30 Pittman 9-25 King i-2 AWilliams 2-tminus 2) Passing Atlanta Vick 12-25-1-125 Tampa Bay 13Johnson 23-310-276 Receiving Atlanta Crumpler 2-25 RKelly 2-25 Jefferson 2-11 Duckett 2-11 Finneran 2-3 Gaylor 1-47 Christian 1-3 Tampa Bay Jureyiclus 8-100 Pittman di 50 McCardell 4-49 Diger 3-18 KJohnson 2-25 Dudley 1-31 Cook 1-3 Missed field goals None By FRED GOODALL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TAMPA Fla A harried Michael Vick took a moment to confide in Warren Sapp "He said: 'I can't believe it You guys are fast I've never seen anything like this before" Sapp said after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had shut down the NFL's most elusive quarterback for a 34- 10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday "I looked at him and said: 'And we've never seen anything like you either' It's just one of those things where you give him the respect and we'll earn his because he's young right now And when you're young you don't feel like you can be stopped That's the way all of us are when we're young" Brad Johnson threw for 276 yards and four touchdowns and the NFL's No I defense shut down Vick for the second time this season as the Bucs ended the Atlanta Falcons' eight-game unbeaten streak with a 34-10 victory Sunday "Those guys have speed the other teams don't have" Vick said comparing the speed of defensive end Simeon Rice to that of a running back "We'll just forget about it What else Briefly The NFL had its 21st overtime game of the season Sunday tying the record set in 1995 There has been at least one OT game in 11 of the 14 weeks and three times there have been at least three OT games Marvin Harrison became the Indianapolis Colts' career leading receiver He had been tied with Hall of Famer Raymond Berry (631) and set the record with his first catch of the game He finished the game with 640 catches and has118 this season six short of breaking Herman Moore's 19951111 record Jets running back Curtis Martin in his eighth season became the 16ki player in NFL history to surpass the 10000-yard rushing mark GIANTS 27 REDSKINS 21 REDSKINS 21 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 11111111111111111 can we do? As soon as I stepped in the locker room I put this one behind me" The Bucs (10-3) proved their success two months ago against the league's most elusive quarterback wasn't a fluke limiting the Falcons to a field goal until Vick threw a 5- yard touchdown pass to Alge Crump ler early in the fourth quarter Johnson completed 23 of 31 passes including touchdown throws of 10 and 13 yards to Joe Jurevicius and 14 and 27 yards to Keenan McCardell Jureviclus had eight receptions for 100 yards and Mike Alstott had 95 yards on 13 carries to key a running game that produced 100 yards for just the third time this season It was arguably the most impressive performance of the year for the offense and the victory enabled Tampa Bay to retain first place in the NIFC South The Falcons (8-4- 1) lost for the first time since being dominated by the Bucs CI 'ARCMS 7 follow veterans WON were piloted to Quarterback was 26-of-41 and passing Receiver seven catches DIEGO LOST the Raiders' in quarterback career NOTABLE quarterback Rich record with hislOth the season Dan Marino Warner running back set a team record with 1375 Natrone Means' yards NEXT Sunday Sunday SD 19 25-65 226 2-39 NY Was 16 23 29111 20-132 205 315 0-0 5-26 4-115 6-145 1-19 0-0 17-31-0 25-46-1 1-7 6-48 7-331 3-380 0-0 5-4 8 61 12-90 30:59 29:01 illAIZGIMS 7 1111111111111111 follow effins AND WON re piloted to vicans Quarterback was 26-of-41 and sing Receiver seven catches )1E60 LOST the Raiders' quarterback three-interOLE rterback Rich Gan-cord with hislOth the season 1 Dan Marino Wart Warner nning back on set a team sing record with1375 3trone Means' 50 yards 4EXT iunday Sunday SD 19 1 226 2-39 NY Was 16 23 29111 20-132 205 315 0-0 5-26 4-115 6-145 1-19 0-0 17-31-0 25-46-1 1-7 6-48 7-331 3-380 0-0 5-4 8-61 12-90 30:59 29:01 CI RIZGE RS 7 follow veterans WON i were piloted to vic- Quarterback I 11 was 26-of-41 and passing Receiver seven catches DIEGO LOST in quarterback the Raiders' career three-inter- NOTABLE quarterback Rich Gan- record with his 10th the season Dan Marino War- Warner running back set a team sin- record with 1375 Natrone Means' yards NEXT Sunday Sunday 7-27- Makeshift 'D' keeps hope alive Lift 'D' ope alive Atlanta's overtime victory over Minnesota last week but Tampa Bay is better equipped defensively to handle his speed and limited the second-year pro to just 15 yards and five carries The Tampa Bay defense also had one interception setting up a second-quarter touchdown and sacked Vick twice Top performers on Oct 6 falling 1 'A games behind in the division The Falcons failed to score a touchdown in a 20-6 loss to the Bucs two months ago and didn't have much more success on offense this time Vick completed just 12 of 25 passes for 125 yards and struggled to run Vick rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns in RUSHING Player Team Car Yds IDs Fred Taylor Jacksonville 23 145 1 Priest Holmes Kansas City 24 132 2 Deuce McAllister NO 32 115 2 Shaun Alexander Seattle 11 123 0 Michael Bennett Minnesota 19 120 0 William Green Cleveland 26 119 1 Clinton Portis Denver 24 103 0 Duce Staley Philadelphia 21 100 1 Tiki Barber NY Giants 20 96 1 Tony Fisher Green Bay 25 96 1 WHY NEW YORK WON Playing without five defensive starters the Giants forced five turnovers Backup safety Kato Serwanga who was released Monday from Washington's injured reserve list and signed by New York on Wednesday stopped the Redskins' potential game-winning drive when he stripped the ball from receiver Darnerien Mc Cants at the New York 30 with 3:59 left The Giants (7-6) still have slim playoff hopes WHY WASHINGTON LOST The Redskins came to pass and shouldn't have Four of Washington's five turnovers came on pass plays angering the home fans so much that they yelled "Run the ball" Top runner Stephen Davis carried the ball only 12 times for 70 yards and a ID The fans also booed quarterback Danny Wuerffel and chanted for backup Patrick Ramsey who replaced an injured Wuerffel in the third quarter and rallied the team to two touchdowns KEY PLAY The Giants had lost momentum their 17-0 lead was down to 17-14 when Washington's Champ Bailey fumbled a punt Two plays later the Giants scored on Tiki Barber's 1-yard run UP NEXT New York vs Dallas 3:15 pm Sunday Washington at Philadeiphia noon Sunday YORK WON ut five defensive its forced five safety Kato Serreleased Monday l's injured reserve New York on ped the Redskins' dinning drive when all from receiver its at the New York The Giants (7-6) iyoff hopes IINGTON LOST came to pass and our of Washingers came on pass he home fans so elled "Run the Stephen Davis cart 12 times for 70 The fans also booed iny Wuerffel and (up Patrick Ramsey injured Wuerffel in and rallied the tdowns PLAY ad lostmomentum was down to 17-14 iton's Champ Bailey Two plays later on Tiki Barber's NEXT 15 pm Sunday fphia noon Sunday Texans' defense steals win from Steelers PASSING BREAKDOWN By ALAN ROBINSON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Texans With three defensive Stealers touchdowns Houston overcomes being outgained by almost 400 yards and beats Pittsburgh Houston ------14 0 0 10-24 Pittsburgh 3 3 0-6 First Quarter Hau-Wright 40 fumble return kick) 5:54 Hou-Glenn 70 interception return (KBrown kick) 2:01 Second Quarter Pit-FG Reed 40 20 Third Quarter Pit-EC Reed 31 9:33 Fourth Quarter Hou-FG liBrown 41 3:35 Hou-Glenn 65 interceplion return (KBrown kick) 2:02 A-58551 Hou Fit First downs 3 24 Hou Pit First downs 3 24 Player Team C-A Yds ID Int Drew Bledsoe Buffalo 32-51 328 2 4 Rich Gannon Oakland 26-41 328 0 0 Tommy Maddox Pitt 30-57 325 0 2 Rodney Peete Carolina 21-29 319 3 1 Jell Blake Baltimore 18-39 316 2 2 Peyton Manning led 26-42 297 I 3 Jon Kitna Cincinnati 25-37 295 2 0 Jeff Garcia SF 36-55 276 3 0 Brad Johnson TB 23-31 276 4 0 Brian Griese Denver 28-37 266 1 1 RECEIVING WHY HOUSTON WON Big plays on defense The defense was directly responsible for all of the Texans points including the three returns for touchdowns on turnovers Enough said WHY PITTSBURGH LOST Don't blame it on the defense The Steelers limited the Texans to only three first downs and 47 total yards yet lost big It was the Steelers' offense that gave this game away Again enough said NOTABLES The Steelers' Hines Ward caught nine passes to give him a team-record 98 four more than his 94 of last season The Steelers lost to an expansion team in its first season of existence for the third time since 1995 The Steelers lost to Cleveland 16-15 in 1999 and to expansion Jacksonville in 1995 Texans quarterback David Carr was sacked four times Sunday increasing the total to 68 for the season That is four short of Randall Cunningham's record of being sacked 72 times for Philadelphia in 1986 UP NEXT Houston vs Baltimore noon Sunday Pittsburgh vs Carolina noon Sunday Rushes-yards 26-31 31-128 Passing 10 294 Punt Returns 4-18 6-40 Kickoff Returns 3-65 5-95 Interceptions Ret 2-135 0-0 Comp-Att-Int 3-10-0 31-58-2 Sacked-Yards 1 ost 4-23 6-32 Punts 10-421 6-345 Fumbles-Lost 4 3-1 3-3 Penaities-Yards 1-18 8-51 Time of Possession 20-19 39:41 Individual statistics Rushing Houston Allen 13-19 Wells 10-12 Carr 3-6 Pittsburgh Zereoue 11-69 Bettis 14-30 Randle El Hi Ward 2-7 Maddox 2-6 Kreider 1-5 Passing Houston Carr 3-10-0-33 Pittsburgh Maddox 30-51-2-325 Randle Et 1-1-0-1 Receiving Houston Miller 3-33 Pittsburgh Ward 9-76 Randle El 8-88 Burress 6-83 Mathis 5-42 Zereoue 2-27 Kreider I-10 Missed field goals Patsbur9h Reed 43151-11 Passing 10 Punt Returns 4-18 Kickoff Returns 3-65 Interceptions Ret 2-135 Comp-Alt-Int 3-10-0 Sacked-Yards I ost 4-23 Player Team Rec Yds IDs Steve Smith Carolina 5 144 1 Laveranues Coles NY Jets 6 126 1 Terrell Owens SF 12 123 2 Derrius Thompson Wash 6 122 0 Ouincy Morgan Cleveland 3 118 2 Chad Johnson Cincinnati 6 114 0 Jerry Rice Oakland 1 113 0 Jamal Lewis Baltimore 4 108 1 Mushin Muhamrned Carolina 8 106 1 Peerless Price Buffalo 9 105 0 Robert Ferguson Green Bay 6 105 2 Tonight's game NY Giants 3 14 7 3-27 Washington 0 3 11 7-21 First Quarter NY-FG Bryant 42210 Second Quarter NY-Stackhouse 2 pass from Collins (Bryant kick) 8:47 NY-loomer 29 pass from Collins (Bryant Was-FG Cortez 24 00 Third Quarter Was-FG Cortez 44 5:52 Was-GarOner 13 pass from Ramsey (Doering pass from Ramsey) 3:17 NY-Barber 1 run (Bryant kick)125 Fourth Quarter NY-FG Bryant 3510:57 Was-Davis 1 run (Cortez kick) 8:42 A-78635 3 14 7 3-27 0 3 11 7-21 Quarter rid Quarter from Collins (Bryant kick) 8:47 um Collins (Bryant 'd Quarter 52 from Ramsey (Doering pass int kick1125 th Quarter i7 er kick) 842 PITTSBURGH No NFL team ever played worse offensively and won What made the difference was very few teams much less an expansion one have played a game like this defensively Aaron Glenn scored twice on long interception returns and the Texans scored the first three defensive touchdowns in their history Sunday all off Tommy Maddox turnovers to stun the Pittsburgh Steclers 24-6 The SteelerS (7-5-1) were 6- 1-1 in their previous eight games the NFL's best record over that span except for Atlanta's 7-0-1 yet lost to a first-year team that completed only three passes and had only three first downs The Texans were outgained 422- 4Z the fewest yards ever by a winning team in NFL history "To bold a team to 4 some yards that's incredible" Steelers tackle Wayne Gandy said "But to get 40 0-andsome yards and still lose? I've never heard of such a game" Pittsburgh's unexpected loss and Cleveland's last-play 21-20 win at Jacksonville cut the Stvlers' AFC North lead over the Browns to a half-game "To come into Pittsburgh in December and play a first-place team is not an easy task" said Houston coach Dom Capers a former Steelers defensive coordinator "This was our best defensive game They stifled us but we talked all week the No1 thing was we had to take the ball away" Maddox couldn't have had a much worse day in his first game since being briefly paralyzed by a hit Nov 17 in Tennessee despite throwing for 325 yards His fumble was returned 40 yards for a touchdown by Kenny Wright on Pittsburgh's first possession and Glenn's 70-yard interception return for a TD the next time the Steelers had the ball made it 14-0 Later after the Steclers couldn't turn a jabar Gaffney fumbled punt in the fourth quarter into any points Glenn sealed it with a 65-yard inter First downs Rushes-yards Passing Punt Returns Kickoff Returns Interceptions Ret Comp-Att-int Sacked-Yards Lost Punts Fumbles-Lost Penalties-Yards Time of Possession Bears at Dolphins 8 pm WIAACh 8 Jay Fiedler will be back as the starting quarterback for Miami and the Dolphins welcome him They started 5-1 before Fiedler sustained a broken thumb Without him they were 2-4 But the Dolphins (7-5) won't get sympathy from Chicago (3- 9) an injury-plagued team that might be without all-star linebacker Brian Urldcher tonight turning the ball over and giving them touchdowns" All of Houston's points came on defense or special teams Former Steelers kicker Kris Brown kicked a 43-yard field goal that made it 17-6 after Antwaan Randle El also fumbled away a punt in the fourth quarter The Texans (4-9) crossed midfield only once until Randle El's fumble and then only because of a penalty ception return touchdown the fifth of his career "This game was as simple as three plays" said Maddox the former LD Bell High School star "False starts holding penalties they don't kill you What kills you is Individual statistics Rushing New York Barber 20-96 Dayne 8-11 Jones 14 Washington Davis 12-70 Wuerttel 2-35 Watson 212 Mc Cants 1-9 lhompson 1-5 Cartwright 1-1 Betts 1'0 Passing New York Collins 1731-0212 Washington Ramsey 12-27-0-204 Wirer Ile! 13-191-159 Receking New Wok Shorkey 5-89 roomer 4-60 Jones 3-41 Barber 2-11 Stackhouse 2-5 Dane 1-4 Washington Thompson 6122 Gardner 5-76 Betts 4-53 McCants 3-41 kas- by 2-24 Watson 219 Rennie( 1-15 Doering 1-12 Davis1-1 Missed field goals New York Bryant 37 (WU Washington Cortez 43(WR) eass svotm 414440i4001401ikeeVAIWm lual statistics Barber 20-96 Dayne 8-11 Jones 2-70 Wuertlel 2-35 Watson 2-12 1-5 Cartwnght 1-1 Belts 10 Collins 1711-0-212 Washington ler 11(113-19-1-159 Shockey 5-89 roomer 4-60 Jones ouse 2-5 Dayne 1-4 Washington 5-76 Betts 4-53 McCants 3-41 kas- ster 1-15 Doering 1-12 Davis1-1 Ow York Bryant 37 (WL) Washhudirk101ikedVAIIWoA 1 I A4 4 (L oAq 4 4 40-4 ot.