European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes december 20,1993 Page 40broncs use defense to bears by Rick Gano Chicago apr Denver a defense did the dirty work saturday on a Rainy Muddy Day at Soldier Field. The Broncos intercepted three passes and fell on two fumbles in soiling another performance by the Chicago bears ineffective offence. A we had to play their kind of game because of the weather a Denver coach Wade Phillips said after a 13-3 Victory improved the Broncos playoff chances and improved their record to 9-5 a it just shows that we can play any kind of game. We Are not just a passing  Chicago backup quarterback . Willis starting for Jim Harbaugh who has a bruised right hand never got a grip a not on the Ball or the game a during a miserable afternoon at Soldier  completed Only 14 of 29 passes with three interceptions and also fumbled to set up Denver a Only touchdown a go ahead score late in the first half. Bears coach Dave Wannstedt said Harbaugh could have played and he talked about using him after the a cars fell behind 10-3 at the half. 4�?~the main thing was the turnovers a said Wannstedt announcing that Harbaugh would return As the starter next Welc against Detroit a game the bears 7-7 must win to stay alive. A a we re wounded badly in the playoff Hunt a said Wannstedt. A but we re not out of it  Willis completing Only 6-of-16 first half passes threw an interception to Stop one drive Early in the second Quarter and his Fumble after a hit by Mike Croel led to Denver a touchdown with 1 24 left in the first half. Croel recovered the Ball at the bears 16. After a 15-Yard run by Rod Bernstine Robert Despino carried in from the 1, giving the Broncos a 10-3 Lead. Elam a 24-Yard Field goal after an eight minute drive opening the second half made it 13-3. Dennis Smith then picked off a Willis pass in the end zone Early in the final Quarter to again Stop the bears. The Broncos then used up the clock on the Sloppy Field behind the running of Bernstine who became the first Back this season to gain 100 Yards on Chicago a defense. Elam missed from 41 Yards with 4 21 remaining but Steve Atwater intercepted Willis two minutes later ending a late bears drive. Chicago got an Early break when Chris Gardocki a punt hit the Broncos Ronnie Bradford with Ron Cox recovering for at the Denver 29. But after two 7-Yard runs by Worley starting in place of Neal Anderson the bears bogged Down and settled for Kevin butlers 31-Yard Field goal. John Elway completed 14 of 24 for 113 Yards for the Broncos. Bernstine gained 103 Yards on 20 carries. A jets Jeff Lancman sacks cowboys Troy Aikman in first Quarter saturday but the quarterback went on to Lead Dallas to a 28-7 win. Cowboys Roll past jets to Clinch playoff berth by Dave Goldberg East Rutherford . A some teams win with muscle. The Dallas cowboys do it with Speed and skill which is Why they seem Back on track to defend their nil title. The cowboys qualified for at least a wild card playoff berth saturday by beat ing the new York jets 28-7 As Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin combined on touchdown passes of 42 and 4 Yards and Kevin Smith returned an interception 32 Yards for a score. Aikman was. 21-of-27 for 252 Yards throwing Only three incomplete passes. The jets intercepted three in a game that featured nine turnovers five by the cowboys. We re getting better even with the turnovers a coach Jimmy Johnson said As his team set the stage for a return visit in two weeks against the new York giants the team they re trying to catch in the pfc East. The first Aikman Irvin to came at the end of a dazzling four play 78-Yard drive that took just 52 seconds at the end of the first half after the teams had exchanged mistakes for two quarters. A Troy can make plays that other quarterbacks can to Johnson said of the drive which climaxed a Sloppy two periods in which both teams squandered numerous chances. The second to came at the end of a perfect 95-Yard March with 1 13 left in the third Quarter. Then just 51 seconds later Smith stepped in front of Chris Burkett picked off Boomer Esiason a pass and raced untouched to the end zone to make it 21-0. Dallas Ho-4 is a half game behind the giants who play at new Orleans monday night and Are the Only other nil team to have clinched a playoff berth. The jets 8-6 dropped behind a pack of seven other acc teams with five or fewer losses. New Yorkus Only Consolation was Brad Baxters 1-Yard to run with 11 28 left in the game that broke a Streak of nearly four games without a touchdown. The jets now go on the Road for their final two games to Buffalo and Houston. A a we re not out of this by any stretch of the imagination a jets safety Ronnie Lott said. A but we keep gambling and you can Only Roll the Dice so Many times. We be Only got a few Rolls  the first half appeared to be heading for a scoreless tie fitting for the jets who came into the game without allowing a to in 12 quarters and without scoring one in 14. But the cowboys struck suddenly using All the skill at their command. A the Bottom line is that they Over Irvin came mistakes and we did no to Esiason said. A Troy threw three interceptions and he a still out there throwing and making the plays its hard to keep them Down even when they  that a what happened at the end of the half. Starting at their 22 with 1 28 left Aikman hit Emiil Smith for six Yards Smith who had 91 Yards in 20 carries ran for nine More Aikman found Alvin Harper for 21, then found Irvin who leaned Over Eric Thomas and fell into the end zone. A a it a always important to get on the Board Irvin said. A they were mixing it up real Well double teaming on me doing different things. They were a defense playing with Confidence. We needed a score to take their Confidence  until then the game was nothing but squandered opportunities. On their first Possession the cowboys reached the jets 40 and went for a first Down on fourth and of. A but they failed when Johnston fumbled Forward giving the Ball to the jets. A Ball cannot be fumbled Forward on fourth Down. The jets reciprocated moving to the Dallas 9 but failing when Johnson was stopped on fourth-and-1 by Tony Casillas and Russell Maryland. Rob Moore fumbled after apparently making a first Down at the Dallas 25 and Darren Woodson recovered for the cowboys. Then the cowboys drove to the jets 21, but Thomas picked off Aikman a pass at the goal line. On their next Possession Dallas moved again but Jay Novack fumbled at the jets 6 and Lott recovered. But after the jets squandered yet another Chance Early in the second half when to Lewis intercepted a pass at Midfield after Bill picket tipped it the cowboys took off. Starting at their 5, they went All the Way i it a a drive featuring a 20-Yard pass from Aikman to Harper and a 20-Yard scramble by Aikman on third-and-16. Aikman capped it by finding Irvin who had six catches for 91 Yards in the right Corner of the end zone. Two Pruys later Smith stepped in front of Burkett and raced to the end zone. The final Dallas touchdown came on Johnston a 3-Yard run with 5 53 left. Esiason was 21of-37 for 194 Yards. A Muni