So much for the undefeated season. But the Broncos–as well as the Vikings, also at 13-1–still can tie for the best record (15-1) in a 16-game season, which the NFL began in 1978. Only the 1984 49ers and 1985 Bears have done it, and both won the Super Bowl.
Minnesota still needs another win or an Atlanta loss to clinch home field through the NFC playoffs. Denver has already clinched the AFC home field.
In any case, the Broncos’ Monday night game at Miami, which was to be the season’s biggest game, will now be memorable only as John Elway’s first and perhaps only NFL game in Miami. Amazingly, Elway and Dan Marino, in their 16th NFL season, have only faced each other once, a 30-26 Dolphins victory in Denver in 1985.
NOT ME, THE QUARTERBACK
Kevin Greene, one of the best pass rushers in NFL history, attacked assistant coach Kevin Steele on the sideline in the first half of Carolina’s 28-25 loss to Washington.
The Panthers had just allowed their third TD early in the second quarter and trailed 21-3 against Washington when Steele and Panthers head coach Dom Capers began to address the defense on the bench.
When Steele waved an arm near Greene, the 6-foot-3-inch, 247-pound linebacker suddenly jumped up, grabbed Steele’s jacket with two hands, started yelling and pushed him backward about 10 feet.
“One of the reasons Kevin is a good player is that he is an emotional guy,” said Capers, who said he would take “appropriate action” against the player. “But (he) knew he was wrong.”
Greene was near tears over the incident after the game. “I lost my composure in the heat of the moment,” he said.
“Football is an emotional, aggressive game,” Steele said. “Kevin is a good person. We’ve talked about it and worked it out. That’s all I have to say about it.”
FUN IN PHILLY
The Eagles had their first non-sellout since Dec. 22, 1996–also against the Cardinals. The announced crowd of 62,176 didn’t include thousands of no-shows–some of whom dropped their tickets in a paper shredder outside Veterans Stadium.
It was the first game at the stadium since a railing collapsed, injuring nine spectators, in the Army-Navy game on Dec. 5. A sign at the 50-yard line read, “Enter at your own risk.”
The fans who showed up preserved one of the longest-running Philadelphia sports legends, booing Santa Claus during pregame introductions, and they really let him have it when he missed a field goal during halftime ceremonies.
DRAFT DERBY
The expansion Browns will get the No. 1 pick, but it’s quite a battle behind them. Carolina and Cincinnati are at the bottom at 2-12, with the Bears, the Eagles and the surging Colts at 3-11. The Rams (4-10) beat New England, continuing their strange season. They’re 3-1 against the AFC East, beating the Bills, Patriots and Jets, but their only other win came against the Bears.
KEY INJURIES
The Jaguars lost their second quarterback in as many weeks, while the Rams lost Tony Banks for the season Sunday.
Jamie Martin, who replaced injured Mark Brunell last week, left Sunday’s game against Tennessee with a sprained knee.
Banks, in his 43rd consecutive start, tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in the first quarter.
Also out: Patriots WR Terry Glenn (fractured ankle), Panthers WR Raghib Ismail (strained knee), Panthers TE Wesley Walls (sprained foot), Ravens DT Tony Siragusa (neck), Vikings T Korey Stringer (strained groin).
MAGNIFICENT ANDERSON
The Broncos’ bid for a perfect season is over, but Gary Anderson is still alive and kicking for Minnesota.
Anderson, 39, kicked six field goals Sunday and now has made 34 in a row, breaking the NFL record of 31 set by former Viking Fuad Reveiz in 1995. Anderson is 29 for 29 this year and is also perfect on extra points.
“That’s an unbelievable record set by a buddy of mine,” Anderson said. “You hate to break a buddy’s record, but that was a high standard.”
