The first team to clinch a playoff spot is. . . . the St. Louis Rams.
The Rams break the NFC’s longest postseason drought, going for the first time since 1989, when they were in Los Angeles. In the AFC, Seattle hasn’t been in the playoffs since 1988. The Seahawks lead their division, but only by one game over Kansas City.
It’s the Rams’ first division title since 1985–the Dieter Brock-led L.A. team that lost 24-0 to the Bears in the NFC title game before Super Bowl XX.
St. Louis, which had the Cardinals from 1960-87 and has had the Rams for five, also will play host to a playoff game for the first time. The St. Louis Cardinals played three postseason games–in 1974 at Minnesota, ’75 at Los Angeles and ’82 at Green Bay–and all were blowout losses.
It may be a while before another NFC team clinches a postseason berth. Eight teams, four each in the East and Central, have records between 8-4 and 6-6. Only five can advance.
SAY IT WITH FLOWERS
The Falcons’ Ray Buchanan picked off two New Orleans passes on Sunday, returning the second 52 yards for a TD.
Buchanan, penalized nine times this season, jokingly presented the officials with a dozen roses before the game. Then, the one-time Proviso East star came through with one of his best performances, also making six tackles and breaking up three passes.
“The way the officials have been treating me is not good,” Buchanan said, grinning. “Whatever I did to them before, I’m sorry.”
GOOD COMPANY I
Dallas’ Emmitt Smith joined Barry Sanders as the only players to rush for more than 1,000 yards in nine consecutive seasons. Smith gained 75 yards Sunday night against New England, giving him 1,053 for the season.
GOOD COMPANY II
Oakland’s Tim Brown became the third player with 1,000 yards receiving in seven consecutive seasons. Brown, who had six catches for 75 yards Sunday, tied Hall of Famer Lance Alworth; they trail only Jerry Rice, who has 11 straight.
DEFENSE!
The Jacksonville Jaguars have allowed 131 points through 12 games, the second-best mark since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. The 1985 Bears hold the record of 127.
The Jaguars, like the ’85 Bears, have only one loss. While they rested from Thursday’s victory over Pittsburgh, Tennessee’s defeat at Baltimore gave them a two-game lead in the AFC Central with four to play.
INJURY REPORT
Seattle cornerback Chris Canty was taken off the field on a cart after getting knocked out with a concussion late in the Seahawks’ game in Oakland.
Canty was strapped to a stretcher and his neck was wrapped with a brace. He was taken for X-rays to determine the extent of the injury.
“He had movement in his legs, movement in his fingers,” Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said. “He was out. He got knocked pretty good, but any time there’s movement, that’s a good sign.”
Giants cornerback Jason Sehorn saw his season ended by injury for the second straight season on Sunday, sustaining a broken left leg in the first quarter against the Jets. Sehorn missed all of last season with a knee injury.
The Giants also lost starting center Brian Williams with a sprained left knee and backup running back Sean Bennett for three weeks with a sprained right knee. Tight end Pete Mitchell left with a sprained right ankle.
Also injured: Ravens RB Errict Rhett (ribs), Falcons WR Tim Dwight (knee, hamstring), Saints QB Billy Joe Hobert (ribs), Chiefs C Tim Grunhard (hip), Chiefs CB Cris Dishman (head.).
NOTHING PERSONAL, BUT . . .
49ers receiver Terrell Owens after San Francisco lost its eighth straight game, this one to longtime NFL patsy Cincinnati: “Right now, it’s looking real ugly. Not to discredit the Bengals but, jeez, this has got to be the worst.”
