European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 08, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse Sunday december 8, 1985 new England hosts Detroit an 85 Nemesis for acc East the stars and stripes Page 25 by Michael Janofsky new York times sports writer besides their 9-4 records in the Eastern division of the american conference inc jets the Miami dolphins and the new England patriots have something else in common this season they each had a game scheduled with the Detroit Lions. The dolphins played them oct. 27 and lost 31-21. The jets played them nov 28and lost 31-20. This sunday it s the patriots turn. But there s a difference and a difference that could go a Long Way into determining which of the three wins the division the Jcu and the dolphins played the Lions in the Silva Rome at Pontiac Mich. The patriots play them at Home in Sullivan stadium at Foxboro mass. At Home the Lions Are 6-0. On the Road they arc i-6. People pay Loo much attention to the records Tony Eason the patriots quarterback said. Every time the Lions have played at Home they have played Well. But they Don t necessarily play bad on the Road they be just lost the patriots have won seven of their last eight games a Span marked by two changes at quarterback. After starting the first six games of the season Eason suffered a separated left shoulder in a loss to the Cleveland Browns. Steve Grogan who had lost his Job to Eason Early last season replaced him and remained the starter until he injured his left knee two weeks ago and was pronounced unable to finish the season. Eason returned As the patriots lost to the jets in overtime 16-13, but a week later they beat the Indianapolis Colls 38-31. We have made a lot of strides from game one to now Eason said. People have to remember this is really the first year we have had this offence american conference jets 9-4 at in Fulo 2-11 the jets will have had 10 Days to prepare for this one after losing to the Lions 31-20 on thanksgiving Day. But is it time enough to make it More difficult for opposing defenders to get to the quarterback. Ken o Brien that s the key to this game. The Bills no doubt watched How the lion did it but watching does t necessarily equal doing. No team in the league has sacked a quarterback less often than inc Dills who have done it i1 times. Thai s Why the jets should win. Pittsburgh 6-7 at Sun Diego 6-7 forgot the records and inc probability that neither of these teams will make the playoffs. This should be a fun game be cause both teams will keep passing until they gc.1 it right. If that s the ease the St Clurs should win. Their defense is much better than the chargers and is ranked third after 13 games. Cleveland 7-6 at Seattle 7-6 the Browns who Lead the acc Central arc one of the hottest teams in the league with victories in their last three games. Yet even one More loss could scotch their playoff Hopes with Cincinnati and Pitts Burgh Onty a game behind. And the Browns history with the sea Hawks is not Good the teams have played annually since 1977. With Seattle winning six of eight. Los Angeles raiders 9-4 at Denver 9-4 this game could decide the Winner of the acc West and leave the loser clinging to Uncertain wild card possibilities. When they played two weeks ago in los Angeles the raiders won 31-28 with Marcus Allen Rushing fur 173 Yards and Chris Bahr kick ing a Field goal in overtime. Still the Broncos have a tendency to play belter in the second game against a team they had faced earlier. National conference Washington 7-6 at Philadelphia 6-7 the last time they played the third week of the season the redskins got an Early glimpse of the kind of season it would be losing by 19-6. The skins Are still having trouble scor ing but now with Jay Schmo Cdr they have a quarterback with inc kind of Arm who can pass them Back into Contention if they get behind Early As they did in a 35-8 loss to san Francisco last sunday. Schroeder threw 58 passes More than any other Redskin quarterback. New veins 5-8 at St. Louis 4-9 in two Light victories the saints have been Able to make use of an offensive line that is slowly returning to Good health. It especially show in Earl Campbell who has run for 204 Yards. The saints Pill fur Lime should continue a wins the cardinals who have loss four straight and Ciatu of their last nine. Tampa Bay 12-11 at Minnesota 6-7 the buccaneers should find this game As a Welcome diversion after losing 21-0 to the packers in the snows of Wisconsin last sunday. The Vikings play their Home games indoors and although that might not make much of a difference to the buccaneers who lose to almost anybody it will make for a warmer atmosphere. new York wants k-5 at Houston 5-8 three of the giants losses have been to Green Bay. Cincinnati and Cleveland. The oilers arc another of those up and Down teams that can make you squirm. They arc capable of playing brilliantly or horribly. Lately with Oliver Luck at Quarter Back they have been passing rather Well and even though they have lost three of their last four games they could still be dangerous. Atlanta 2-11 at Kansas City 4-9 a who cards game if there Ever was one. The chiefs have lost eight of their last nine the Falcons five of their last six. The Falcons at least can scare you because they have a Good runner in Ger Ald Riggs and an offence that can score. The chiefs have been shut out twice this season and have not got beyond 10 Points four other times. Dallas 9-4 at Cincinnati 6-7 this May not be so predictable As it appears. The bengals can score in a hurry and the Dallas defense is ranked 22nd against the pass. Don t think Boomer Esiason is not aware of that. Not that Danny White of the cowboys has t noticed How Leaky Cincinnati s defense is Only the Falcons have Given up More Points. The cowboys need a win to stay a game ahead of the giants in the n pc East. Indianapolis 3-10 at Chicago 12-1 the bears loss in Miami might be healthy for them in the Long run Al though not for the Colts. While the dolphins found the holes in Chicago s defense the Colts Don t have the kind of offence to find the holes in a Box of doughnuts. They have lost five straight and seven of eight. The Colts will also face Jim Mcmahon in his first Start in a month. Even up photo Chicago a a Jim Mcmahon loosens up. 1st Start in month with All the inactivity he s still the top rated passer in the pfc. Miami 9-4 at Green Bay 6-7 the last Florida team to play in Green Bay the buccaneers failed to score in a near blinding snowstorm. It s doubtful the weather could be such a Factor again but inc Mere fact that inc dolphins could experience a swing of 60 degrees or so could be a problem for a passing team Hal relics so much on Tim ing and execution. Monday night los Angeles rams 9-4 at san Francis co 8-5 the rams Are backsliding fast. They have lost four of their last six games including one by 28-u to the 49crs to break their seven game winning Streak at the Start of the season. What is so alarming is that the erosion has taken place on de feast which had been such a strength in the Early weeks. That s Good news for the 4�crs. Even Hough they have won their last three games their offence is still not totally in synch. A Victory would not Only tic the a incurs with inc rams in the division but give them u decided Edge in tiebreaker considerations because of a had to head sweep. " Italy s Mair wins men s downhill Val d Sere France a Italy Smichael Mair won the 30th criteria us of the first Snow saturday a men s downhill counting toward the world cup finishing a fraction of a second ahead of Luxem Bourg s Marc Girardelli. Mair 23, descended the slope in2 01.32. 0.34 ahead of Girardelli. Aus Tea i Peter Wirnsberger finished third in 2 01.99switzerland s Peter Mueller and aus Tria s Stefan nieders cer placed fourth and fifth respectively. Top american finisher was Doug Lewis who was 19th in 2 03.31. Chris Kent was the top Canadian 0.01 behind Lewis in 20th Pirmin Zurbriggen of Switz Erland was injured in a fall on a training run thursday and did not race sat s Karl Alpiger won the first two world cup competitions this season held last August in Argentina. Officials Here meanwhile cancel sunday s scheduled giant slalom race be cause of Lack of Snow. Another Date or place for the event has not been decided. W. Germans finish 1-2 in women s ski opener a photo italian skier Michael Mair. Winner at Val d Lucre a Estrere. Italy a West Ger Many s Marina Kiehl and Michaela Gorg finished 1-2 in a would cup super giant slalom Here saturday the opening event of the women s Competition upsetting the favorite Swiss and austrian skiers. Rising yugoslav Star Mateja sect who started 51st, was a surprising third. The . Team was off with a Good atari in the new season with Veteran Deb Bie Armstrong taking fourth place and Eva Twar Dokins placing fifth. Kinchl a 20-year-old from Munich who is the Holder of the world cup giant Sla Lom title edged the teammate by 0.22 seconds mastering a perfect run in 1 min Ute 28.44 seconds. I skied Well at midcourse and i went straight through the final Gates to gain decisive Hundredth of a second said Kiehl who scored her fifth world cup Victory Here. Gorg who skied her Best Ever world cup race said i ran a Good race despite a very hard track made difficult by a mixture of natural and artificial Snow 1 sect a 17-year-old who was timed in 1 29.14, said she could not have done bet Ter because of her late Start when the course was damaged. Armstrong who turned 22 Friday led a Good showing of the . Team and explained we All arc More confident and Happy this year with new coaches and new training the skier from Seattle finished one Sec Ond behind Kinchl after starting 27th. Tward Okens a 20-Ycar-Otd who lives in Squaw Valley calif., said she skied the toughest super a in her career. My legs were hurting and i had prob lems in controlling skis All the Way Down Twar Dokins said. World giant slalom Champion Diane Roff from Williamson n.y., finished 3.66 seconds behind in 35th place. She was tampered by a High starting number 64th. Swiss Veteran Ace Erika Hess who placed 13th saturday and american Tamara Mckinney who was 19th, were favourites in sunday s slalom Here
