Elway Ruins Raiders Denver Rally Eliminates Raiders From Playoffs

Another John Elway fourth-quarter comeback was enough to send the host Oakland Raiders to their sixth straight loss and eliminate them from playoff contention.

Elway led Denver to 14 points in the final period, the last of them coming on Jason Elam’s 37-yard field goal with 48 seconds left and the Denver Broncos beat the Raiders 31-28 Sunday.

The Raiders, at one time 8-2, finished at 8-8 under first-year coach Mike White. It was their first year back in Oakland after 13 years in Los Angeles.

The Broncos also ended the regular season at .500 under first-year coach Mike Shanahan, who engineered a season sweep over the team he once coached.

Oakland reached midfield but Vince Evans’ desperation pass in the final second fell incomplete.

Falcons 28, 49ers 27

Improbably, Atlanta is going to the playoffs.

The Falcons, a 10-point underdog, upset visiting San Francisco 28-27 with Bobby Hebert coming off the bench to throw two touchdown passes to Terance Mathis and a maligned defense made it stand.

Snapping a string of three consecutive lopsided losses in the series, the Falcons upset the defending Super Bowl champions despite another record-setting receiving day for the incomparable Jerry Rice.

Dolphins 41, Rams 22

At St. Louis, Dan Marino threw two touchdown passes and Miami scored three touchdowns after St. Louis turnovers in a win. The Dolphins then slipped into the final AFC playoff spot when Denver came from behind to defeat Oakland.

The Rams’ once-promising chances disappeared before the opening kickoff when two parts of three-part scenario that needed to happen went against them as Atlanta and Chicago won. St. Louis began the year 4-0 just as the Dolphins had, but was outscored an average of 35-19 in dropping five of the last six.

Packers 24, Steelers 19

At Green Bay, Wis., their first NFC Central crown in 23 years was slipping away from Green Bay when Pittsburgh’s Yancey Thigpen let the game-winning touchdown slip through his hands.

Thigpen’s drop on fourth down with 11 seconds remaining gave the Packers the win, their first outright division title since 1972 and a home playoff game next weekend against Atlanta.

Bears 20, Eagles 14

At Chicago, even in victory, Chicago lost.

Despite defeating visiting Philadelphia, the Bears missed the NFL playoffs because Atlanta rallied to beat San Francisco. Chicago needed a loss or tie by Atlanta to qualify.

Just as the Eagles-Bears game ended, the Falcons took a 28-27 lead over San Francisco.

Bengals 27, Vikings 24

At Cincinnati, Minnesota was eliminated from the NFL playoff chase as the Vikings were in the midst of blowing their final game.

Minnesota wasted a 21-point lead by allowing Cincinnati to rally for 24 consecutive points in the second half, capped by Doug Pelfrey’s 51-yard field goal as time ran out.

Saints 12, Jets 0

At East Rutherford, N.J., Jim Everett’s touchdown pass and Doug Brien’s two field goals gave New Orleans a win over the woeful Jets giving New York the No. 1 draft pick when Jacksonville beat Cleveland.

While the Saints were uncertain whether coach Jim Mora will return next season. The Jets were certain of two things: They finished the season with the worst record in their history, and coach Rich Kotite will return for a second season.

Oilers 28, Bills 17

At Orchard Park, N.Y., Houston’s blitz-happy defense sacked Buffalo rookie Todd Collins five times and Rodney Thomas scored two touchdowns in a win over the Bills in a game that meant virtually nothing.

Steve McNair, making his second career start at quarterback for Houston, completed 12 of 26 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. Collins was 6 of 15 for 30 yards in his first career start. Backup Alex Van Pelt completed 10 of 18 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns in his debut.

Jaguars 24, Browns 21

At Jacksonville, Fla., in what may have been the final game for the proud Browns franchise before a move to Baltimore, former Central Valley and Idaho kicker Mike Hollis booted a 34-yard field goal as time expired to give Jacksonville a win. (See quick kicks).

Redskins 20, Panthers 17

At Washington, stymied by Carolina’s defense for nearly two quarters, Washington put together a lightning-fast, 93-yard drive for the go-ahead touchdown.

Washington won three of its last four. Carolina completed a historic season just one game short of becoming the only first-year expansion team in modern U.S. major professional sports not to finish with a losing record.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: SUNDAY’S BEST Quarterbacks Vinny Testaverde, Browns 28-45-325 John Elway, Broncos 24-41-320 Neil O’Donnell, Steelers 33-55-318 Running backs Scottie Graham, Vikings 25-115 Greg Hill, Chiefs 21-113 Receivers Jerry Rice, 49ers 12-153 Michael Jackson, Browns 7-130 Jake Reed, Vikings 5-111 J.J. Stokes, 49ers 5-106