European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 14, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pago 30 the stars and stripes sports tier slav. December 14.1993 to i. Giants first to reach by Barry Wilner a football writer after two seasons of giant Steps backward the new York giants have leaped into the playoffs before anyone else. The giants won their fifth straight game sunday beating Indianapolis 20-6 to Clinch an pfc wild card berth. If they win the rest of their games new Orleans Phoenix Dallas the giants 10-3 sunday in the Nufi will have Homefield advantage throughout the conference playoffs. A it s great to be in the playoffs but we still have three games to go guard Bob Kratch said. A a we done to want to be a wild card. If we win a couple of More games Good things can happen around  Good things already Are happening Tor a team that was 8-8 and then 6-10 under Ray Handley. Dan Reeves replaced Handley this season and has gotten the giants Back to the form that carried them to the 1990 championship. A this says a lot about these Guys after the last two years a Reeves said. A it s a tremendous tribute to the Guys in that room to be the first team to make the layoffs this  playoffs this pc Rodney Hai Odney Hampton rushed for a career High hoards and a touchdown. The Colts 49 have not scored a touchdown in 17 straight  other games sunday packers 20, chargers 13 at san Diego Tony Bennett and Johnny Holland stopped fourth Down attempts by san Diego 6-7 and Terrell Buckley and Mike prior intercepted passes in the closing minutes As Green Bay 8-5 stayed tied for the pfc Central Lead. Edgar Bennett and Darrell Thompson scored on Short runs and Chris Jacke kicked two Field goals. Broncos 27, chiefs 21 the chiefs 9-4 blew a Chance to take total control of the acc West. But losing at Denver 8-5 is no Surprise a Kansas City Hasni to won in mile High stadium in 11 straight tries. John Elway threw three touchdown passes to Shannon Sharpe the final one set up by Reggie Rivers blocked punt. Elway out dulled Joe Montana who had a pair of. To passes As Denver rallied from a 14-3 second Quarter deficit. The chiefs Marcus Allen had a 4-Yard run for his 14th touchdown of the season and his nil leading 11th Rushing to. Cowboys 37, Vikings 20 at Minneapolis the cowboys looked Good for the first time in More than a month even though they weren t particularly impressed. Emmitt Smith rushed for 104 Yards Troy Aikman passed for 208 Yards Michael Irvin had eight receptions for 125 Yards and Eddie Murray made Field goals of 52,51 and 46 Yards. From late in the first Quarter to Midway through the third Dallas 9-4 had 13 first Downs to none for the Vikings. Minnesota 6-7which has its first four game Home losing Streak since 1984, fell two games Back in the pfc Central. Lions 21, cardinals 14 coach Wayne Fontes shakeup worked As Erik Kramer promoted from third string threw for 257 Yards and three touchdowns against Phoenix 4-9. But Detroit 8-5 a ceded a goal line stand to snap a three game skid and hold onto first place in the pfc Central. _ on second Down from the Lions 1, Kelvin Pritchett tackled Ron Moore for a 3-Yard loss. Steve Beuerlein a pass to Gary Clark in the end zone was incomplete and Ryan Mcneil intercepted at the goal line on fourth Down. The visiting Lions intercepted Beuer Lein three times and sacked him four Rodney Hampton 27 reaches into the end zone for a giants touchdown sunday As Colts Duane Bickett 50 and Ray Buchanan 34 try to Stop him. Times. Derrick Moore Barry Sanders replacement gained 107 Yards. Raiders 27, sea Hawks 23 at los Angeles Tim Brown returned a punt 74 Yards for a touchdown 1 45 into the third Quarter that triggered a 17-Point outburst. Jeff Jaegers 48-Yard Field goal and a 56-Yard touchdown pass from Jeff Hostetler to James Jett made it 27-9. The raiders 8-5 had their highest scoring game this season. Seattle 5-8 has lost eight in a Row to the raiders. Buccaneers 13, bears 10 at Tampa Bay the bears four game winning Streak ended As their defense could not make up for continued errors by the offence. The bears 7-6 finished with 286yards Tofal offence compared with 215 for tamp amp Bay 49. Mazio Royster scored on a 4-Yard run while Michael Husted had Field goals of Gardocki. The bears played half without quarterback Jim Harbaugh bruised right nand. Bills 10, eagles 7 at Philadelphia the Bills 9-4 overcame two interceptions two fumbles and three missed Field goals by taking advantage of two late turnovers by Philadelphia 5-8which has lost eight of nine. Heath Sherman Tost the Ball to Mickey Washington on the Bills 29 to set up Frank Reich a touchdown pass to Pete Metzelaars with 3 44 left. Vai Sika Hema fumbled the ensuing Kickoff to set up Steve Christie a 34-Yard-Field goal to win it. It was Sik Ahemad a second Fumble of the game. Reich replaced Jim Kelly sprained ankle late in the third Quarter. Oilers 19, Browns 17 the Host oilers 9-4 wort their eighth straight their longest Streak since 1961. A Victory at Pittsburgh next sunday would Clinch the division title for houston.a1 Del Greco kicked four Field goals and Cris Dishman got his fourth interception in As Many games. Cleveland 6 7 led 10-0 As Vinny Testaverde in his first Start since recovering from a shoulder separation threw two touchdown passes. The oilers lost free safety Marcus Robertson with a season ending ruptured Tendon in his left knee. Rams 23, saints 20at new Orleans the saints unable to Stop Jerome Bettis continued slumping. The saints 7-6 have lost six of eight after starting with five straight wins. Despite missing the second Quarter with a bruised stomach Bettis became the first Rookie since to Jackson six years ago to Rush for 200 Yards in a game running for 212, including a 71-Yard touchdown for los Angeles 4-9. He also went Over 1,000 Yards for the season. A we wanted to realty Pound it a Bettis said. A i did no to think we a be that successful though. Its a really great feeling. I never got 1,000 Yards at notre Dame. Patriots 7, Bengal 2 Way Down at the Bottom of the standings Cincinnati 1-12 Sank a game below new England 2-11which snapped a seven game slide. The patriots defense which has allowed 74 Points in its last seven games stopped Eric Ball on a fourth Down at the new England 1 with 1 16 left. New England scored on Drew Bledsoe a 8-Yard pass to Ben Coates with 25 seconds left in the first half. The patriots took an intentional safety on their final Possession As Marv Cook snapped the Ball Over punter Mike Saxon and out of the end zone with 21 seconds to  expected to be a top Choice for jaguars Charlotte , a Florida a athletic director wont try to Block conversations Between coach Steve Spurrier and the a Fly a new expansion teams the Carolina panthers and the Jacksonville jaguars. A the Bottom line is we want Steve to be our coach but we  stand in his Way a athletic director Jeremy Foley told the Charlotte observer. Spurrier and former Washington redskins coach Joe Gibbs have been considered co favourites for the Carolina Job and Spurrier also is expected to be a top Choice of the jaguars. Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke has said that Gibbs is still under contract to his club. Foley confirmed there was a clause in Spurrier a contract prohibiting him from leaving Florida to coach an nil team in the state of Florida. However Foley said he would not enact the clause if Spurrier enters into discussions with the jaguars. And the clause is not included in. Spurrier a proposed contract Extension through 2000, which Foley said has been agreed to a in principles but not yet  we done to think it is Legal anyway a Foley said of the clause prohibiting Spurrier a in state movement. Spurrier a current contract signed when he came to Florida from Duke in 1989, expires in 1994, the panthers and jaguars begin play in 1995. Foley is confident the new contract will soon be signed keeping Spurrier at Florida. A Steve has told us he has the Best coaching Job in America and that he is very Happy Here Quot Foley said. A any time recruiting season starts we hear these kinds of rumours. We re confident Steve will be Here a Long time but we wont take it for granted. Of course we want to keep  when asked last week about his Poten tial candidacy Spurrier said a i have a Standard answer that ill give you. In be got a wonderful Job. In a not looking to go anywhere. Ill worry about that if it comes  Foley said the panthers have not yet requested permission to talk to Spurrier who is 58-23-1 in seven seasons at Florida and Duke. Florida 10-2 this season and ranked eighth won the Sec championship this season for the second time in Spurrier a four years As coach Florida plays third ranked West Virginia 11-0 Jan. 1 in the sugar bowl