Ten of the 12 playoff teams have been decided, with Miami able to wrap up another spot with a victory Monday night against Denver. The last NFC berth is down to Arizona, Tampa Bay and the New York Giants, with the survivor playing at Dallas in the wild-card week while Green Bay and San Francisco meet in the other game.
The Cardinals are in the driver’s seat. If they beat San Diego next Sunday, they’ll qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the strike-shortened year of 1982, when 16 teams were admitted to the “tournament.” If they lose, the door is open for Tampa Bay or the Giants.
If the Cards make it, the longest drought will belong to the Seattle Seahawks, who were eliminated Sunday and last made it to the postseason in 1988.
The AFC saw New England and Buffalo wrap up wild-card spots, Jacksonville clinch its first division title and the New York Jets clinch the AFC East and a first-round bye. The AFC first-round matchups are uncertain, although it’s possible that Buffalo and New England could meet in a rematch of the controversial finish three weeks ago, won by the Patriots thanks to a pair of at-best questionable calls in Foxboro.
For only the second time since the NFL adopted the 16-game schedule in 1978, all six division winners are different from last season. It also happened in 1992.
FAVRE TO THROW
Green Bay’s Brett Favre won’t be going to the Pro Bowl this season, but he still had a history-making season.
Favre became the first NFL player to throw at least 30 touchdown passes in five seasons–and in consecutive seasons. He had been tied with Miami’s Dan Marino with four 30-TD seasons.
Favre also moved into second place with his 108th straight regular-season start, eight shy of Ron Jaworski’s record set with the Philadelphia Eagles in the early 1980s.
MAKING A STATEMENT
Michael Bates proved the Panthers were behind coach Dom Capers before Sunday’s game against the Rams. When Bates came out for pregame warmups, he spotted a sign hanging on the Ericsson Stadium railing that urged Capers–likely to be fired after the season–not to let the door hit him on the way out. Bates went over to the sign, tore it down and gave the fan a stern lecture.
“I asked him if he was around two years ago when we went to the NFC championship game,” said Bates, Carolina’s Pro Bowl special teamer. “I asked him what he thought about Dom back then. And he didn’t have anything to say.”
The Panthers beat St. Louis 20-13, running their record to 3-12.
HEADY PLAY
The Bengals managed to get a field goal just before halftime in Pittsburgh, thanks to the quick thinking of kicker Doug Pelfrey.
The Bengals were rushing to get the right players on the field. Pelfrey alertly jumped under center, took a hurried snap and spiked the ball with 3 seconds left, allowing him to make a 43-yard field goal as the half ended. The Bengals went on to beat the Steelers 25-24.
INJURY REPORT
Vikings Pro Bowl quarterback Randall Cunningham fractured a bone in his left hand in the first half against Jacksonville, but the hand was wrapped at halftime and he stayed in the game.
49ers quarterback Steve Young left the game against the Patriots with a twisted left knee and will have a MRI on Monday.
Other key injuries: Packers TE Mark Chmura (strained calf), Oilers RB Rodney Thomas (hamstring), Cowboys RB Chris Warren (groin), Panthers WR Muhsin Muhammad (pulled hamstring), Chargers LB Kurt Gouveia (broken right hand), Lions CB Terry Fair (shoulder).
ONE LIFE TO LIVE
Cardinals safety Tommy Bennett said he wasn’t worried when Chris Jacke lined up for the final field-goal attempt. Jacke delivered a 35-yard kick as time expired to win it for Arizona and keep the Cards in the playoff chase.
“We could have been on a sofa at home, watching soaps and game shows tomorrow,” Bennett said. “But Chris Jacke, he’s a proven veteran. He’s been to the playoffs, he’s been to the Super Bowl, he’s experienced kicking under pressure.”
