European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 17, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Falcons wrap up berth in playoffs Atlanta apr Deion Sanders had More fun with the interception he did t catch than the two he did on sunday As the Atlanta Falcons clinched a wild card berth in the playoffs. Taking a lateral after Tim Mckyer picked off a Dave Krieg pass in the third Quarter Sanders weaved in and out of Seattle defenders on a 48-Yard touch Down return As the Falcons downed the sea Hawks 26-13. The Victory coupled with the Dallas cowboys 25-13 Victory Over Philadelphia assured Atlanta of a wild card playoff spot a its first since the 1982 strike season. Atlanta also kept alive a shot at the pfc Western division championship with the Victory in its final regular season Home game in Atlanta Fulton county stadium. It was the fifth Victory in a Row and the seventh in eight games for the Falcons 10-5who can Clinch their second division Crown in 26 years by beating Dallas next week or if the new Orleans saints lose one of their two remaining games. The Falcons will leave the stadium after this year with an All time record of 85-115-2 and move into the 72,000-seat Georgia dome next year. The third loss in a Row for the sea Hawks 6-9 ended their slim playoff Hopes. It was Atlanta a first Victory in five games with the sea Hawks. Chris Miller threw for the other two Atlanta touchdowns a 4 Yards to George Thomas in the second Quarter and 30 Yards to Michael Haynes in the fourth. Brian Jordan sacked Kelly Stouffer for a safety in the opening minutes and Norm Johnson Seattle Sall time leading scorer added a Field goal of 42 Yards for the Falcons in the second Quarter. John Kasay who beat out Johnson in training Camp kicked a pair of 43-Yard Field goals for the sea Hawks. The sea Hawks added a touchdown with 63 seconds remaining on Kric go a 24-Yard pass to Louis Clark. The Falcons blew an Early scoring Opportunity when Sanders pulled in a on handed interception of a Stouffer pass at the Seattle 34. He later aled to Mckyer who lost 7 Yards on the return and a 10-Yard penalty was tacked on because of an illegal Block by John Rade. The Falcons could t move but Scott Fulhage backed the sea Hawks to their 4 when Elbert Shelley batted the punt backwards from the 1, downed by Tracy Johnson. Three plays later Jordan sacked Stout for in the end zone and Atlanta had a 20 Lead after 5 02 had elapsed. Sanders other interception came on the Atlanta 3 on the first play after the sea Hawks had taken Over on the Falcons 35. Miller completed passes of 21, 7 and 12 Yards in a 53-Yard drive that led to Johnson a 42-Yard Field goal for a 5-0 Lead 2 29 into the second Quarter. The stars and stripes december 17,1991 c Page 28 Seattle quarterback Kelly Stouffer is sacked for a safety by Atlanta linebacker Jessie Tuggle sunday in Atlanta. Stouffer suffered a knee in july on the play. Millers 4-Yard scoring pass to George Thomas with 4 41 left in the first half capped a 62-Yard drive in 12 plays in which Miller converted three third Downs with a 9-Yard run and passes of 14 Yards to Mike Pritchard and 9 Yards to Haynes. The sea Hawks who did no to get outside their 35 in the first half squandered a scoring Opportunity at the Start of the third Quarter. Miller fumbled the snap on the second play and Terry wooden recovered on the Atlanta 23. The sea Hawks netted Only seven Yards on three plays and failed to Cut into the 12-0 deficit when Kasay was wide left on a 34-Yard Field goal  sports nil summaries standings Page 23 Kaiserslautern shootout results a Page 25 seminoles upset tar heels Page 26 magic Mcnall group May buy Aba Kings a Page 27dallas turns it around Philadelphia apr it was a Symbol of the Dallas cowboys Quick sprint from oblivion Back to the top of the nil a an 85-Yard punt return by Kelvin Martin that put what was once americans team Back into the playoffs for the first time since 1985. Martin who suffered through Dallas 1-15 1989 season capped the cowboys remarkable rebirth with a burst up the Middle with 45 seconds gone in the fourth Quarter. That ignited a 17-Point rally and gave Dallas a 25-13 upset of Philadelphia ending the eagles six game winning Streak and taking their playoff Fate out of their own hands. The win which improved Dallas record to 10-5 and combined with Detroit a win Over Green Bay guaranteed both the cowboys and Lions wild card spots in the muddled pfc playoff race. The eagles 9-6 must beat Washington Here next week and Hope for help. Dallas fourth straight win mirrored its miraculous season. If Martin was the hero he had plenty of help from a defense that intercepted Jeff Kemp twice and sacked him seven times with Jimmy Jones getting 2vi and Ken Norton two. Ironically the eagles who had 11 sacks in the first meeting had just one for sunday. Jones and Russel Maryland combined on a 9-Yard sack just before Martins punt return. He also got help from Steve Beuerlein and Michael Irvin who combined on a 4-Yard to for the clinching touchdown with 6 02 left after being totally shut Down during first half and Keith Willis who made Field goals of 50, 32 and 37 Yards the last one with 2 40 left in the game. Dallas ended a nine game losing Streak to the eagles in non strike games. Beuerlein just 2 of 17 for 17 Yards before intermission finished 9 of 31 for 145 Yards and had completions of 32 Yards to Jay Novacek and 36 Yards to Irvin to set up his to pass to Irvin. Irvin who last week set a single season record for receptions by a Cowboy had five catches for 92 Yards in the second half. Lions gain first playoff spot since 83  d \ v i / a no mgt _. _ Green Bay wis. Apr Wayne Fontes thawed out in a hurry sunday. There were hugs and backs laps and plenty of smiles to go around in his finest hour As coach of the Detroit Lions. A a we re in the playoffs and i can to believe it Quot Fontes said minutes after the Lions beat the elements and the Green Bay packers 21-17 to earn their first playoff spot since 1983. A we had a lot to prove. We re Good enough to we anywhere. But we still want More than just the playoffs. We have a Chance to win the division Quot said Fontes whose team was without five injured starters. The Lions Victory their first outdoors in five tries this season gave them an 11-4 record tying a franchise record for wins last reached in 1962. And with Only four losses they Are still in the running to win the pfc Central division where they Are tied with Chicago. In sundays numbing game played in sub Zero wind chills at Lambeau Field the Lions got a 78-Yard fourth Quarter punt return from Mel Gray two touchdown passes from Erik Kramer to Robert Clark and a big defensive play in the closing minutes. A i started to fair catch the Ball and then i said a its time to go for it and things worked out a said Gray whose return through the startled packers made it 2110 with 10 42 left. It s a split second decision. I Felt the room. 1 made a couple of Jukes and then there was  the packers 3-12 lost for the 17th time in their last 20 games