European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 27, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Defuse 49ers 10 oilers Cris Dishann deflects 49cr a a Steve Young s pass intended for Jerry Rice. Houston d keys 10th win in Row by Dennis Georgatos san Francisco a leave it to buddy Ryan to take some of the Luster off the san Francisco 49ers�?Toffense. The Houston defense held the 49ers to a season Low in scoring and forced two interceptions and a Fumble by Steve Young the leagues leading passer As the oilers emerged with a 10-7 Christmas Day Victory Over san Francisco. It was the 10th. Straight Victory for Houston lt-4which got just enough offence to overcome three turnovers. A a buddy a philosophy is if the quarterback is Flat on his Back he can to throw the Ball a Houston defensive Back Terry Hoage said of the clubs first year defensive coordinator. Houston had More to gain by winning saturdays matchup Between division see Page 28 for game stats nil standings schedule winners. The oilers mindful they have been eliminated from the postseason on the Road five of the past six seasons Are competing with Kansas City 10-4 and Buffalo 104 for Homefield advantage throughout the  playoffs. A there Are no guarantees As to where Well be at the end of the season Quot said Cody. Carlson who relieved Warren Moon at quarterback when the latter went out in the fourth Quarter with a rib injury. The 49ers 10-5who failed to score with Young at quarterback had a 13-game Home winning Streak end. They already have clinched the pfc West title a first round playoff Bye and a Home Date for the divisional playoffs Jan. 15-16. With Little to gain and not wanting to risk Youngs health san Francisco coach George Seifert pulled Young from the game late in the third Quarter replacing him with Steve Bono. A to be pulled out of the game like that i had to bite my Tongue a Little bit a said Young who was told at halftime he would be coming out Early. San Francisco which scored 55 Points in last weeks Victory at Detroit did no to the stars and stripes december 27,1993 Page 32 get on the Board until amp Leeds 8-Yard touchdown run with 12 11 remaining. It capped a 12-play, 73-Yard drive directed by Bono who relieved Young with 3 33 left in the third Quarter. Young was 15 of 29 for 178 Yards before leaving. He was intercepted twice and fumbled to set up a Houston score. The oilers also had turnover problems and Moon had to leave the game with just under seven minutes left. Carlson came on to Lead a time killing drive denying the 49ers the Ball the rest of Way. Gary Brown also helped maintain Possession finishing with 114 Yards on 19 carries. Moon had a touchdown pass but like Young was off target much of the Day completing 11 of 26 for 158 Yards. He was also intercepted three times twice by cornerback Michael Mcgruder whose second interception came with Houston on the move again Midway through the third Quarter. Mcgruder returned the interception 15 Yards and san Francisco took Over at its 30. After a 5-Yard scramble by Young he completed a 22-Yard pass to Lee and a 32-Yard toss to Jerry Rice to the Houston 11. The drive stalled however and Mike Cofer a 24-Yard Field goal was blocked by Eddie Robinson. Houston twice blunted san Francisco drives with end zone interceptions and led 10-0 at halftime cashing in Youngs Fumble for a 7-Yard touchdown pass from Moon to Ernest Givins. Al Del Greco added a 24-Yard Field goal. Rookie Blaine Bishop starting in place of injured safety Bubba Mcdowell sacked Young on a Blitz and forced the Fumble recovering at the san Francisco 18. Three plays later Moon found Givins for the  hand rockets 2nd straight loss by the associated press Phoenix a on a Day when giving was the Norm the Phoenix suns did the taking Kevin Johnson who had 36 Points and nine rebounds said the real suns showed up in a 111-91 Christmas Day Victory Over Houston which tied an Aba record with a 22-1 Start but since has lost two straight. Phoenix is headed the other Way heating Seattle and the rockets after losing by 26 Points at Denver on tuesday. A the trademark of our team a has always been that if we play poorly or underachieve we come Back and play Well a Johnson said. The suns aggressive defense stopped Houston s perimeter game and Phoenix neutralized its height disadvantage by out rebounding the rockets 53-35. Charles Barkley tied his season High with 38 Points and had 18 rebounds and . Green collected 14 rebounds. He also scored seven of his 17 Points in the final 2 40. Aba Hakeem Olajuwon had 27 Points and 13 rebounds for the rockets and Robert Horry scored 20 Points. Johnson had 18 Points in the second Quarter when the suns used fast break baskets to expand a 24-21 first Quarter Lead to a 61-39 bulge at halftime. A there is no one in the league we would beat when you allow 32 transition Points in the first half a Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. A we really had Loo Many mental  Barkley scored 13 Points in the third period helping the suns to an 84-68 Lead. But the suns went 4 45 without a Point Early in the fourth Quarter As Olajuwon led a 12-0 rally. He started the run with a Basket and finished it with a three Point play shaving the deficit to 88-82 with 7 10 remaining. But Barkley snapped his team out of its Funk with an offensive rebound. Although he missed the Layup Barkley was fouled and made two free throws and the suns went on a 7-0 run to open breathing space. A nobody can play at the level we were playing at the first three quarters a Barkley said. A they made a run but we Hung  the suns shot 52.4 percent to 39.8 for Houston. In saturdays Only other game bulls 95, Orlando 93 Chicago a Toni Kukoc made the game winning shot but it was Scottie Pippen reviving memories of Michael Jordan and Christmas past who made it possible by engineering a fourth Quarter comeback that carried Chicago Over Orlando. The Victory secured when the magic a Nick Anderson failed to get off a shot at the Buzzer was made possible when Kukoch a running left hander into the Lane broke a 93-93 tie with two seconds remaining. But it was Pippen scoring 28 Points and playing both ends of the floor in the final Quarter like the just retired Jordan who sparked the bulls to their ninth straight Victory the a bad a longest current win Streak. Kukoc and . Armstrong added 17 each for Chicago. Anderson led the magic with 23 Points. Shaquille of Neal added 20 and Anfrenee Hardaway 18 in the losing Effort. 1 i a a Man n j a my a Impi i no Iii. R4 ii i turf it i Vvs f 1 Yir