European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 17, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 22 a the stars and stripes tuesday december 17, 1991sunday in the Brister returns to lift Steeles by bengals Pittsburgh a Bubby Brister playing for the first time in two months threw touchdown passes to Rookie tight ends Adrian Cooper and Keith Cash and the Pittsburgh Steeles withstood five turnovers to defeat the Cincinnati bengals 1710 sunday. The loss assured the bengals 213 of the worst season in the franchise s 24-year history. The 1968 bengals went 3-11 in their first year when the nil played a 14-game regular season. Steeles coach Chuck Noll overruled offensive coordinator Joe Walton and started Brister Over Neil o Donnell who had gone 2-6 As a starter since replacing Brister during Pittsburgh a 23-20 loss to the new York giants on oct. 14. Brister the steel Erst starter for nearly four seasons Hadnot played since and refused to finish up in the steel Erst 31-6 loss to Houston on dec. 8, saying afterwards a a in a no mop up but of Donnell a ineffectiveness prompted Noll to return to Brister who was 3-3 As a starter before his benching. Brister who was 15 for 28 for 184 Yards needed just three plays to get the Steeles 69 on the scoreboard. He hit Cooper on a 47-Yard touchdown pass play with 2 01 gone after setting up the score with a 15-Yard completion to Myrril Hoge. After Cincinnati tied it at 10 on David Fulcher s 27-Yard interception return touchdown and Jim breeches 39-Yard Field goal Brister re ignited a Pittsburgh offence that had become mired in turnovers. Brister directed a 10-play, 61-Yard drive that ended with his 19-Yard touchdown pass to Keith Cash on the first play of the fourth Quarter. Broncos slip by cards play keep Denver apr sore shouldered quarterback John Elway swept right end from 4 Yards out for the clinching touchdown with 1 46 left lifting the Denver Broncos past the stubborn Phoenix cardinals 24-19 sunday. Elway a score capped a 66-Yard, six drive and erased a 19-17 deficit to coping Denver 11-4 in Contention for Homefield advantage and a first round Bye in the playoffs. The loss was the seventh straight for the cardinals 4-11. Elway whose three interceptions in the second half were converted into a Trio of Greg Davis Field goals that put the cardinals in front completed 22-Yard passes to Shannon Sharpe and Vance Johnson on the winning drive and Steve Sewells 19-Yard run got the Broncos inside the 10. On third and goal from the 4, Elway faded to pass then sprinted to the right Corner beating linebacker Freddie Joe Nunn to the end zone. The Broncos then withstood a desperation cardinals drive that reached the Denver 27-Yard line where Chris Chandler was sacked by Rookie Kenny Walker on the games final play. With recently released hostage Thomas Sutherland a a professor at nearby Colorado state University and a longtime Broncos fan a looking on the cardinals rallied from a 17-6 third Quarter deficit to score on four straight possessions. Phoenix got a solid performance from Chandler who was making his first Start for the cardinals after being waived by Tampa Bay last month. Chandler flipped a pass in the left Flat to Ernie Jones who eluded three would be tacklers in tip toeing Down the sideline for a 45-Yard scoring play that Drew the cards within 17-13 with 3 02 left in the third Quarter. Four plays later cornerback Aeneas Williams intercepted Elway at Midfield and three Chandler completions offset two sacks to set up Davis 28-Yard Field goal with 10 13 remaining. The Broncos generated More than twice As much total offence 174-82 in the first half in taking a 10-3 Lead at intermission. Broncos Back Steve Sewell is brought Down by cardinals defend scan David Jolt dolphins playoff drive san Diego a the Miami dolphins had a wild card berth practically gift wrapped but Rod Bernstine and the san Diego chargers swooped in and left them with a Lump of Coal instead. Bernstine scored three of san Diego a four fourth Quarter touchdowns As the chargers overturned a 13-Point deficit to stun the dolphins 38-30 on sunday denying Miami the Chance to wrap up the final acc wild card berth. The dolphins 8-7 closed to 31-30 when Mark Clayton caught his second to pass of the Day an eight yarder with 2.37 left. That capped a drive on which Dan Marino completed six of seven passes for 74 Yards. But Bernstine finished off the upset with a 63-Yard touchdown run with 1 38 left As the chargers 4-11 ended a three game losing Streak. The new York jets lost 6-3 to new England earlier on sunday meaning the dolphins needed Only to beat the chargers to Clinch their second consecutive wild card berth. Now the Issue will be decided when Miami plays Host to the jets in a season finale next sunday. Miami had won three straight and five of six coming in. San Diego scored twice in a 1 40 Span Early in the fourth Quarter to take the Lead for Good. With the chargers trailing 23-10, John Friesz threw a 25-Yard touchdown to Ronnie a Lurmon 2 14 into the fourth Quarter. On the first play of the ensuing Dolphin drive Leslie of Neal jarred the Ball Loose from Marino with Joe Phillips recovering at the Miami 13. Bernstine scored on a 5-Yard run thre plays later for a 24-23 Lead. The chargers forced another turnover i nulls later. Marino who earlier passed Joe Montana on the a Fly Sall time pass ing yardage list was flushed from the pocket and intercepted by free safety Stanley Richard who ref turned it to the Miami 43. Bernstine scored on a i Yard run with 4 20 to go for a 31-23 Lead capping an eight play drive. Bernstine gained 104 Yards on 13 carries. Friesz completed 17 of 25 passes for 185 Yards and one to. Marino completed 27 of 42 passes for 313 Yards and three ads and also scored just the sixth Rushing touchdown of his nine year pro put jets postseason plans on hold East Rutherford . A the playoff dreams of the new York jets nearly blew away in the Meadowlands wind sunday. The jets 7-8 lost their third straight game 6-3 to the new England patriots. New York missed two Short Field goals while quarterback Ken of Briens passes often sailed in gusts of up to 30 Mph. The patriots did t do much belter in the swirls but they got a pair of Field goals by Charlie Baumann and help front new York s receivers who dropped some crucial passes. Despite the loss the jets stayed alive in the playoff race when Miami lost 38-30 at san Diego. The Winner of next sundays acts dolphins game at Miami gets the final acc playoff spot. Quot i done to know if the pressure got to us or what Quot new Yorkus Brad Baxter said. Quot we had the Ball and we had the opportunities. Somebody has to make a big nobody did for the jets. And new England 1-15 last year moved to 6-9 in its first season under coach Dick Mac Pherson. A the thing we talked about was that if we want to be in the playoffs and they Are supposedly going to the playoffs a Mac Pherson said a then we better be pre pared to play like them or better than them or Why should wx1 even want to get in them the playoffs a a Louie Aguiar became the first kicker in 12 years other than pal Leahy to make a Field goal for new York. After Leahy battling hip and hamstring problems was wide left on a 23-Yardcr into the wind in the first Quarter he was replaced by Aguiar the teams punter. When Aguiar made a 23-yarder in the second Quarter it was the first time since Dave Jacobs connected on dec. 15, 1979 that someone other than Leahy hit a Field goal for the jets. But Aguiar also missed a 27-yarder at the end of the half. A the just missed it what can i say Quot jets coach Bruce Coslet said. A a it a really not his Job to do Quot we re fairly fortunate to have Louie on our football team but he s still a punter by the jets dominated the opening half even though of Brien missed his first eight passes. They had drives of 75, 64 and 54 Yards yet came away with Only three Points. We can to score three Points and expect to live off that a of Brien said. A a it a
