7BLACK E7 DAILY 12-25-06 MD RE E7 BLACK

The Washington Post R Monday, December 25, 2006 E7 Professional Football

The Slant By Desmond Bieler

FALLING BEHIND What’s that in your stocking, Cleveland Browns? No, not the lump of DEREK ANDERSON coal, the thing next to it. Why, it’s a big, Comp.-Att. Yds. TD INT fat, yuletide “Boooooo!!” Never mind the Bucs hadn’t won a 10-27 123 0 4 road game in over a year. Never mind REUBEN DROUGHNS they were the NFC’s worst offensive team. Never mind teams from their Carries Yds. TD Fum. conference came into this weekend 19 92 0 0 22-38 against the AFC. The Browns JOE JUREVICIUS certainly didn’t mind all that. Little wonder Cleveland fans are Catches Yds. TD Fum. given to sporting brown headgear — 45800 paper bags, to be precise — as this is BROWNS’ OFFENSE the league’s most depressing franchise. 187 net yards, 0 offensive points, The poor Dawg Pound denizens had to 22:44 time of possession watch the first incarnation of the team ditch them for Baltimore and quickly establish itself as one of the NFL’s most consistent winners. Then Browns Browns fans for being, well, himself. 2-point-doh came along, and . . . ugh. Promising wide receiver Braylon The team’s most dynamic player, Edwards isn’t earning too many Kellen Winslow Jr., is widely despised by popularity points either. Its most consistent offensive player’s name, and game, conjure the word “drones.” And God forbid if Browns 2-point-doh ever find a franchise QB. Of course, if they did, the Cleveland faithful would be more than ready and willing to set fire to Tim Couch in celebration.

An inept offense has wide receiver Joe BY JACK DEMPSEY — ASSOCIATED PRESS Jurevicius and many Bryan Robinson, whose Bengals have been naughty, exits after a loss in Denver. Santa descended from the snowy sky to give the Broncos a nice gift. Cleveland fans scratching their THE RECAP heads in frustration.

BY TONY DEJAK — Baltimore 31, Pittsburgh 7 Brown not only kick the ball, but hit a owner Randy Lerner: Glazer-owned Manchester ASSOCIATED PRESS game-winning 64-yarder. United’s 3-0 trouncing of Lerner’s Aston Villa Before the game, Ravens linebacker Bart Scott Houston 27, Indianapolis 24 Saturday, or Cleveland’s loss to Glazer’s Bucs the said of the team’s playoff push, “We have to keep very next day. I vote for the latter because, while chugging.” Turned out they did some Delta As he himself put it, Ron Dayne “just wasn’t the Browns at least scored some points for Lerner, House-worthy chugging. And when Willie Parker going to be denied” a big day for the Texans. It there’s no shame in losing to the soccer goliath coughed up a fourth-quarter fumble at the Ravens helped, of course, that the Colts’ run defense isn’t that is Man U. Falling at home to the Bucs, 3, it was over even before the Germans bombed familiar with the concept of denial. At this rate, however, should have Cleveland kicking itself. Pearl Harbor. though, that defense will very soon be Arizona 26, San Francisco 20 Tennessee 30, Buffalo 29 acquainting Indy with the Five Stages of Grief. St. Louis 37, Washington 31 (OT) Even in a loss, the 49ers got some good news All credit to Vince Young and the Titans, but in the form of a big game from Vernon Davis. The what were the Bills thinking? I know the wind was So much for the Redskins getting revenge on rookie tight end stepped up with 91 yards blowing, but wasn’t a 45-yard field goal attempt a the Rams for making Adam Archuleta look like a receiving in place of wideout Antonio Bryant, who better bet to win it than a desperation heave into good player. Instead, Marc Bulger and Steven was suspended four games for substance abuse. LOOKING AHEAD the end zone? No one’s going be calling Bills Jackson made the entire Washington secondary But ultimately it was those habitual substance Coach Dick Jauron Slick Rick for that maneuver. look as ineffective, and overpaid, as Archuleta has abusers, the Cardinals — assuming the substance K Atlanta (7-8) at Philadelphia K New England (11-4) at An even less likely moniker: Dick “Six Minutes, been this season. in question is the goodwill of their fans — who (7-7): A playoff berth could be at stake Tennessee (8-7): The Patriots can Doug E. Fresh” Jauron. New Orleans 30, N.Y. Giants 7 prevailed. for both teams. The Falcons lost to the gain the No. 3 seed if they win and the Chicago 26, Detroit 21 Denver 24, Cincinnati 23 Panthers, 10-3, but remain in Colts lose. QB Tom Brady is as good as The Saints put themselves in position to earn a contention. The Eagles lead the they come in important games. The So this is what it’s come to for the Lions — bye in the playoffs. Meantime, Giants Coach Tom Oh, snap! And a botched extra point joins the wild-card race and are very much alive Titans are one of the best stories their fans don’t care enough anymore to stage an Coughlin is putting himself in position to earn a long list great moments in Bengals infamy. In for the division title. If they win out, thanks to rookie QB Vince Young, who effective protest. Barely 100 headed for the exits “Bye!” from his team’s management. fairness, it’s a lot to ask a team with such a including beating Dallas tonight, they has won six consecutive games. in the second quarter, far fewer than the hundreds penchant for DUIs to go for just one. K New England 24, Jacksonville 21 would capture the NFC East. Green Bay (7-8) at Chicago that marched last year to decry the team’s sorry San Diego 20, Seattle 17 K Jacksonville (8-7) at Kansas City (12-3): The Packers need help to make state. Certainly, Detroit QB Jon Kitna couldn’t Tom Brady dinked and dunked the Jaguars to (8-7): A playoff berth could hang in the the playoffs, but QB Brett Favre getting have been impressed, since, as the league leader death. I’m not going to say the Jags got dunked More last-minute madness, as the Seahawks balance. The Jaguars are coming off a another shot in the postseason is in turnovers, he knows a thing or two about enough to feel like a doughnut, but I would like to incomprehensibly allowed a deep touchdown pass 24-21 loss to the Patriots during which another intriguing story line. The Bears throngs heading the other way. point out the big hole where their home-field and lost. But they won the NFC West anyway, and QB David Garrard fumbled late in the switched quarterbacks late in their Carolina 10, Atlanta 3 advantage used to be. afterward all that was left was for Shaun game, and New England recovered to 26-21 win over the Lions, with Brian Tampa Bay 22, Cleveland 7 Alexander to greet LaDainian Tomlinson at seal the victory. The Chiefs beat the Griese replacing Rex Grossman, who I know the Panthers ran the ball effectively, but midfield and advise that no amount of money Raiders, 20-9, Saturday behind 137 was ineffective. good grief, Atlanta! Allowing Chris Weinke to end Hard to know which defeat at the hands of should compel the Charger to appear on the cover yards from Larry Johnson. — Gene Wang his 17-start losing streak was like letting Charlie Malcolm Glazer was more painful for Browns of “Madden ’08.”

Week 16 Roundup

CHARGERS 0767—20 SEAHAWKS 00710—17 Texans, With Boost From Dayne, Upend Colts Late Philip Rivers, who missed on 22 of his first 28 passes, found Vincent Jackson Indianapolis COLTS 7737—24 alone in the end zone for a 37-yard touch- TEXANS 14706—27 down pass with 29 seconds left to give San Diego its ninth straight win. Fails to Clinch FIRST QUARTER The Chargers, who got 123 yards rush- Houston: Dayne 3 run (K.Brown kick), 10:23. Houston: Dayne 6 run (K.Brown kick), 5:46. ing on 22 carries from LaDainian Tom- First-Round Bye Indianapolis: Harrison 37 pass from Manning (Vi- linson, set a franchise record for victories natieri kick), :58. in a season. Tomlinson has had 100 yards K SECOND QUARTER Texans 27, Colts 24 Indianapolis: Moorehead 9 pass from Manning (Vi- rushing in nine straight games. natieri kick), 8:16. Houston: Leach 3 pass from Carr (K.Brown kick), Seattle’s pain was somewhat soothed By Kristie Rieken :16. by Arizona’s upset at San Francisco min- Associated Press THIRD QUARTER utes earlier, allowing the Seahawks (8-7) Indianapolis: FG Vinatieri 33, 1:23. to clinch their third consecutive NFC West FOURTH QUARTER HOUSTON, Dec. 24 — Ron Houston: FG K. Brown 42, 6:54. title despite their third straight loss. Dayne has been called everything Indianapolis: Harrison 7 pass from Manning (Vina- Shaun Alexander ran for 140 yards and tieri kick), 2:41. from a disappointment to an all- Houston: FG K. Brown 48, :00. both Seattle touchdowns. out bust in his NFL career. Attendance: 70,132. The Chargers (13-2), the AFC West Colts Texans champions, did not clinch the top seed in On Sunday nothing was going First Downs ...... 19 22 to stop him from proving — if only Total Net Yards ...... 319 354 the conference because Baltimore won Rushes-Yards ...... 18-114 42-191 for one afternoon — that he was Passing ...... 205 163 earlier at Pittsburgh. San Diego will need Punt Returns ...... 0-0 1-4 to beat the Cardinals at home next week anything but a flop. The 1999 Kickoff Returns ...... 4-104 5-147 Heisman Trophy winner had a ca- Interceptions Ret...... 0-0 0-0 to ensure home-field advantage. Comp-Att-Int ...... 21-27-0 16-23-0 San Diego clinched a first-round bye reer-high 153 yards rushing and Sacked-Yards Lost ...... 0-0 0-0 two touchdowns despite playing Punts ...... 1-55.0 2-40.0 when Indianapolis lost to Houston. Fumbles-Lost ...... 1-1 1-0 Shawne Merriman had three sacks for three quarters on an injured ankle, Penalties-Yards ...... 2-15 4-25 1 Time Of Possession ...... 24:01 35:59 the Chargers and has 15 ⁄2 this season, and Kris Brown kicked the win- RUSHING tied with Aaron Kampman of Green Bay for ning 48-yard field goal as time ex- Indianapolis: Addai 15-100, Rhodes 2-15, Manning the NFL lead. pired, giving the Houston Texans 1-(minus 1). their first win over Indianapolis, Houston: Dayne 32-153, Taylor 8-24, Carr 2-14. SECOND QUARTER PASSING San Diego: V.Jackson 9 pass from Rivers (Kaeding 27-24. Indianapolis: Manning 21-27-0-205. kick), 3:18. Dayne was injured on the first Houston: Carr 16-23-0-163. THIRD QUARTER RECEIVING San Diego: FG Kaeding 46, 12:12. play of the second quarter when Indianapolis: Harrison 8-112, Addai 4-8, Wayne Seattle: Alexander 33 run (Brown kick), 6:10. linebacker Gary Brackett hit him 3-27, Fletcher 2-29, Utecht 2-14, Moorehead 1-9, San Diego: FG Kaeding 40, 2:24. Rhodes 1-6. helmet-first on his right ankle. He Houston: A. Johnson 4-48, Leach 3-18, Taylor 2-28, FOURTH QUARTER Bruener 2-26, Walter 2-21, Putzier 2-19, Dayne Seattle: Alexander 9 run (Brown kick), 12:58. sat out the rest of the series to get 1-3. Seattle: FG Brown 33, 5:07. San Diego: V.Jackson 37 pass from Rivers (Kaeding his ankle taped, something he said MISSED FIELD GOALS kick), :29. he’d never done in a game, and re- BY CHRIS GRAYTHEN — GETTY IMAGES None. Attendance: 68,174. Chargers Seahawks turned to carry the ball 20 more Texans running back Ron Dayne had a career-high 153 yards rushing and two touchdowns despite being injured. First Downs ...... 14 18 times. Manning was 21 of 27 for 205 Total Net Yards ...... 340 314 Rushes-Yards ...... 33-168 33-153 “It was real sore,” Dayne said. “I vantage of it each week. When I you play, when you play or where “It was really disappointing for yards and had three touchdown Passing ...... 172 161 just kept going out there and every get the ball I’m going to try to you play, we’ve got to play better us not to come through with a win passes. Punt Returns ...... 5-39 5-19 Kickoff Returns ...... 3-70 5-107 time I’d run and somebody might show coach that I want to be here than we played today,” said Colts down here,” said Colts coach Tony “This is a critical time for us,” Interceptions Ret...... 2-15 0-0 Comp-Att-Int ...... 10-30-0 17-37-2 fall on it, I would come out. Then I and I want to help this team win.” defensive tackle Anthony McFar- Dungy. “But that’s the way every- Manning said. “This is the time Sacked-Yards Lost ...... 1-9 6-28 would just go back out there even The Texans (5-10) used Dayne land. thing’s been this year.” when people on the outside will Punts ...... 10-42.5 9-49.6 Fumbles-Lost ...... 2-0 1-0 without them telling me to. I just and rookie Chris Taylor to eat up Houston led through most of Dayne scored on runs of 3 and 6 start pointing fingers. As a team Penalties-Yards ...... 10-85 6-50 wasn’t going to be denied today.” the clock and exploit the Colts’ the game until Peyton Manning yards on Houston’s first two we need to stay together and guys Time Of Possession ...... 27:09 32:51 The loss kept the AFC South suspect run defense, ranked last in and Marvin Harrison connected drives, and fullback Vonta Leach just need to do their jobs a little bit RUSHING San Diego: Tomlinson 22-123, Turner 4-29, V.Jack- champions from a chance to clinch the NFL, while taking pressure off for their second touchdown, a 7- added a touchdown just before better across the board and all son 2-8, Rivers 4-6, Neal 1-2. Seattle: Alexander 31-140, Hasselbeck 1-10, Morris a first-round playoff bye. David Carr and the struggling yard pass that tied it 24-24 with halftime. three phases of the game.” 1-3. It was the first time Dayne, re- passing game. The win broke a 2:41 remaining. The Texans added a 42-yard He entered the game needing PASSING leased by both the Giants and nine-game losing streak to the Carr and the Texans then engi- field goal by Brown to stretch their 90 yards to reach the mark and got San Diego: Rivers 10-30-0-181. Seattle: Hasselbeck 17-37-2-189. Broncos before landing in Hous- Colts (11-4). neered a six-play, 31-yard drive lead to 24-17 in the fourth quarter. it when he found Harrison on an 8- RECEIVING ton, gained 100 yards since 2001. The performance capped a span that ended with Brown’s winning The loss ruined another record yard pass in the second quarter. San Diego: V.Jackson 5-97, Gates 2-63, Tomlinson 1-10, Neal 1-7, McCardell 1-4. “The Texans believed in me and of four straight solid games in kick. The much-maligned Houston day for Manning, who set an NFL His second touchdown pass of Seattle: Branch 5-61, Engram 4-65, Hackett 3-37, they gave me the opportunity, and which Dayne had 429 yards rush- quarterback was 16 of 23 for 163 mark by reaching 4,000 yards the day, a 9-yarder to Aaron Moo- Stevens 2-24, Alexander 2-2, Morris 1-0.

MISSED FIELD GOALS I knew I could run the ball,” he ing and five touchdowns. yards and a touchdown and was passing for the seventh time in his rehead, came four plays later and

None. said. “I’m just trying to take ad- “Bottom line, I don’t care who not sacked. nine-year career. tied it 14-14. 7BLACK E7