European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 27, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 0 the stars and stripes sports sunday december 27, 1992walsh pupils match successes pack meets Vikings in bid for playoff berth by Mike Nadel Minneapolis apr sixteen weeks ago the minds of Dennis Green and Mike Holmgren were full of anticipation. Their stomachs were full of butterflies their hearts full of Hope. They were Rookie head coaches in the nil Green with the Minnesota Vikings Holmgren with the Green Bay packers Magna cum laude graduates of the Bill Walsh school of football ready to show their Mentor and their fraternity what they already knew we can make it on our own. Sixteen weeks later no matter what happens in sundays game at the metronome Between the pfc Central rivals they be proven they can make it. Green has turned the Vikings from contentious underachievers to harmonious achievers. A year after going 8-8 and two years removed from a 6-10 Mark Minnesota 10-5 has clinched Only its second pfc Central title in 12 seasons. While greens Vikings blazed out of the Box a their season opening overtime Victory Over Holmgren a packers set the tone for a 7-2 Start a it took Green Bay time to warm up. Now the packers Are More than warm. Green Bay 9-6 is the of cd a hottest team Riding the Montana faces test As backup against Lions by Dennis Georgatos san Francisco apr even Joe Montana Isnit sure of what to expect from Joe Montana. Quot its been a while since in be run the offence As a whole a a said Montana who is returning from a 23-Monlh injury caused absence to play in monday nights regular season closer be Ween the san Francisco 49ers 13-2 and Detroit Lions 5-10. A hopefully it wont Lake Long to get into a rhythm but you never know.  to seb radio 3 . Get tuesday a a it la be interesting. It la be fun. I think it will definitely be emotional. One thing that has been part of the drive of coming Back has been the support in be received from the fans throughout the time in be been out. Its been overwhelming. In a just Happy i got an Opportunity to hopefully come Back and do  whatever he does it will come in the unaccustomed role of backup it Steve Young Montana a former understudy who has helped the 49ers gain another pfc West title and Home Field advantage throughout the playoffs. Young named to his first pro bowl last wednesday will Start and is expected to play about two quarters. But with the 49ers already playoff bound and the Lions homeward bound at games end the drama revolves around the return of Montana. He will be ing in a game for the first time since an aug. 3, 1991, exhibition and in the first game that counted since the 49ers loss to the new York giants in the pfc championship on Jan. 20, 1991. A i think everyone had written him off and i know he a excited to come Back and play a 49ers tight end Brent Jones said. Quot he s made a lot of strides. I think it will add a Little excitement to a game most people would have considered  a 10-year starter for the 49ers, Montana has been sidelined for most of the past two seasons by a torn right Elbow Tendon the injury required three operations to repair and Montana endured a setback plagued rehabilitation before finally being activated from injured Reserve on dec. 18. A a we re looking at this As a positive. We re not looking at it As a threat to Steve Young a Jerry Rice said. A Steve he a been named the quarterback so i done to think there a any pressure on him. But knowing that Joe can step in if something should happen to Steve its a big lift to the team. Quot i think the fans Are really going to go crazy. The players Here they re going to try to do everything Possi an and seb television at 7 . Get today pro bowl passing combination of Brett Favre to Star Ling Sharpe to six consecutive victories. With the right combination of Good play and Good Fortune the packers have a Chance to gain their first postseason berth in a non strike season since 1972. A Green Bay Victory coupled with a loss by either Washington or Philadelphia would put the packers in the playoffs. Washington was at Home to the los Angeles raiders on saturday. Philadelphia hosts the new York giants on sunday. Favre who took Over at quarterback when Don Majkowski got Hurt in the third game is one of several new faces in Green Bay a lineup since the opener. Thanks in great part to Favre Sharpe has 102 catches Only four fewer than Art monks nil single season Mark. A i think we re better now. Obviously the attitude and the Confidence Factor is better a Holmgren said. A then that first game there were a lot of questions in the players minds a where Are we How Good can we be a now i think there a a feeling and attitude change. We think we can compete in the  Green always Felt the Vikings could compete. They still had plenty of Talent left from Jerry Burns regime and Green immediately made several moves of Impact. He added Jack Del Rio and Roger Craig. He subtracted Herschel Walker Keith Millard Joey Browner and Wade Wilson. He moved Todd Scott Henry Thomas and John Randle to new positions. He gave Sean Salisbury Audray Mcmillian and Carlos Jenkins More playing time. And he lit a fire under Chris Dole Man and a1 Noga. A i had always heard that the team did no to work hard but i think this team will do what you ask them to do a Green said. A i think this team works As hard As anybody in the National football league. We take a lot of Pride in that. A the ability to adjust to change As rapidly As we did was something that i was pleased  Holmgren Isnit surprised by the Success of the Vikings who made the playoffs in 1987, 1988 and 1989 before complacency and conflict set in. A your situation Here its been a Surprise each week. I must admit that we be exceeded expectations a Holmgren said. A but i always Felt the Vikings were a talented group that needed just a Little direction. And i knew Denny would go in there and do that. A a he a a Good football coach and i consider him a Good Friend. If we weren to such intense rivals now id be really Happy for the position he a  Joe Montana set to return As a backup monday night watches starting a a Steve Voung throw in 49er drills thursday. Offs As the teams no. 2 quarterback. That would mean bumping his close Friend i a i a string. But if Montana is Capa would be hard to imagine Seifert calling on anyone in the event Young was injured. After All Montan s,t0 our super bowl victories and was m map in three of them. Ble to really make Joe look Good. They re going to work a Little harder. You re going to have receivers trying to come up with the big plays just to show that the eur can still  6 j san Francisco coach George Seifert said he will be watching Montana a play carefully because How he performs could determine whether he goes into the play