European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 9, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 32 the tars and stripes sports sunday january 9,1994 giant Viking lbs nope to end playoff droughts by Tom Canavan East Rutherford . A the lost time Phil Simms and Jim Mcmahon met in a playoff game was in 1985, when a whiff on a punt and the defences decided the contest More than the two quarterbacks. Mcmahon would go on to Lead the Chicago bears to a super bowl Victory that year. Simms would do it the next year with the new York giants. Since then neither has led his team to a Victory in a playoff game As a starter. For one of them the Streak will end today when Mcmahon and the Minnesota Vikings 9-7 meet Simms and the giants 115 in an pfc wild card game at giants stadium. The Winner will play either Dallas 12-4 or san Francisco 10-6 next weekend depending on what happened in the playoff yesterday Between Detroit and Green Bay. If Green Bay won it plays Dallas and the Viking giant Winner goes to san Francisco. If Detroit won the giant Minnesota Winner plays the super bowl champs and the Lions get the 49ers. Neither Simms nor Mcmahon appears concerned about next week. Both will have their problems today against one of the leagues top defences. The giants and Vikings have conservative offences that stress Ball control the running game and not making mistakes. Simms 38, has completed 247 of 400 passes for 3,038 Yards and 15 touchdowns earning his second pro bowl berth. Mcmahon 34, has played Well in the past three games completing 58 of 88 passes for 651 Yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions. Quot for a lot of the veterans this is the Type of game that really stimulates them and gets them to Rise to the next level a giant coach Dan Reeves said Quot i think. Phil is that Way. The bigger the game the More the excitement the More the adrenaline a 4tve never coached Jim a said Reeves the Apps coach of the year. A but in be watched him and he reminds me of the Type of player the tougher the situation the More he wants to be in the so called Punk a a has started two a giants4 Phil Simms left and Vikings Jim Mcmahon Haven to met in playoff since 85. Playoff losing t games since the 85 super bowl losing to Washington in 1987 and san Francisco in 1988. Against the giants Mcmahon is 3-1 lifetime. A a he a does a lot of different things a giant linebacker Lawrence Taylor said. A the demands everything on the Field. He rules everything. He controls everything. Heya great motivator for that team and for every team he a been on. The Guy knows How to that s been especially True lately. Mcmahon who played for the bears chargers and eagles before joining the Vikings in 1993 As a free agent is 83 in games he started this season and played into the fourth Quarter. In his last 19 starts dating to 1991, he is 15-4. His career winning percentage As a starter 70.5 percent on a 67-28 record is second among Active quarterbacks to Joe Montana 72 percent on a 108-42 record Mcmahon who is a Friend of Simms downplayed the head to head matchup. A i done to care about the other quark Quad that Terback a he said. A i done to play him. Mat s the defense a Job. I know they have a lot of respect for him As Well they should. He Shaa a great career and played Well this Simms also is More concerned with the opposing defense. The Vikings Lead the league in fewest Yards Given up per game and have recorded 45 sacks. The unit also made a major contribution to the Vikings three game season ending winning Streak. The giants lost their last two including a bitter 16-13 overtime decision to Dallas that Cost them the pfc East title and Home Field advantage for the playoffs a in this league there is no such thing As a carryover a Simms bowl tackle jumbo Elliott has Back problems and was placed on injured Reserve Friday by the giants. Eric Moore will Start instead of Elliott at left tackle. T by John Nadel los Angeles a the Denver Broncos and los Angeles raiders just finished a game reminiscent of the shoot outs that were commonplace in the old american football league. Their coaches done to expect a repeat performance today. A this is a playoff game. This is a Little different a Denver coach Wade Phillips said of the Bronco Raider rematch at the los Angeles coliseum. A a it a going to be a lot harder for both teams to move the bail. This game could be the opposite it could be a Low scoring game. You never know from week to the quarterbacks a John Elway of the Broncos and Jeff Hostetler of the raiders a passed for a combined 671 Yards and six touchdowns As the raiders rallied for a 33-30 overtime Victory last sunday. The outcome set up a rematch in a first round playoff game at the same site. The Broncos scored on their first six possessions while the raiders scored on four straight possessions at one stage and finally the Quot last two limes they had the Ball to earn the Victory. The teams combined for 869 Yards in total offence. A a it a going to be a dogfight again a Raider coach Art Shell said. A a in a sure you la Sec some adjustments by both teams. Its Tough to contain the Denver Broncos and John Elway i Felt we did a decent Job of that in the second half. Now we be got to do it for four Elway and Hostetler a couple of veterans Are coming off their finest years. Elway passed for a career Best 4,030 Yards Ana a career High 25 touchdowns with a career Low 10 interceptions this season his 11th in the nil. Hostetler who signed a free agent contract with the raiders last March after nine seasons with the new York giants passed for a career Best 3,242 Yards and 14 touchdowns. In last sundays game Elway was 25 of 36 for 361 Yards and three touchdowns while Hostetler was 25 of 41 for 310 Yards and three scores. Neither quarterback was intercepted. The raiders 106 have beaten the Broncos 9-7 six straight times at the coliseum and in eight of the nine games the teams have played since Shell became the Raider coach in 1989. A a they be had our number As of late a Elway said. A a they be made the plays to win the games and we Haven to. We be been in every game they Veall been fourteen of the last 21 Bronco Raider games have been decided by three Points or less and six have gone into overtime. The raiders will be trying to beat the Broncos for the third time this season. In the first game Between the teams at mile High stadium oct. 18, the raiders won 2320. If Kansas City Defeated Pittsburgh yesterday the Bronco Raider Winner will face the Buffalo Bills at Rich stadium in a second round game Jan. 15, if Pittsburgh beat Kansas City the Bronco Raider Winner will meet the Houston oilers at the Astrodome on Jan. 16. Analysis Minnesota 9-7 at . Giants 11-5 6 30 . Get 9n an to and radio line a giant by 6v4.record is. Spread Viking 6-10 giant 1-5. A a a series record Vikings Lead 64. Viking offence Rush no. 21pass no. 14overall no. 7jim Mcmahon led Vikings to 8 of 11 Flom he started despite mediocre passing slats 200 of 331 far 1,967 Yards 9 ads and 0 ints. Or crib Carter Cerf two with 86 Chii Schuj for 1,071 by Atli giant offence Rush no. 1pass no. 22overall no. 10typical giant Ball control attack led nil in ruining 128 Yards per Gam and Lime of pome Ision 32 18 while committing nil Tow l 7 turnover. Rod Hampton ranked fifth in pfc with 1,077 Yards on 292 carries despite missing 4 games with injury. Phil Simms completed 61.8 percent of posses for 3,038 Yards. With Njuty to or Mike Sherrord or Mark Jackson 58 catches for 708 Yards is Lone deep threat Viking defense Rush no. 6pass no. 61, Overall no. T. Nil s top rated do fee Field opponents to 275 Yards per Gam and pfc Low 95.9 on the ground. Vikings also look for big ploy they be totalled 52 ints for 713 Yards Ond 8 ads last two seasons. De Chris Dole Mari Ond it John Rondo each had 12 i sack. Giant defense Rush no. 7pass no. T10overall no. 5. Allowed nil Low 205 Points during regular season an average of 12.8 per game. Two newcomers finished 12 in tackles lbs Carlton Bailey 136 and Michael Brooks 92. Special teams a Minnesota ranks lost in nil in Kickoff coverage 24.s Yards allowed per return and 26th in punt cover Oao 12.2. Kicker Fuad Rev ii made .22 of 22 Fig attempts from inside 40 Yards but Only 4 of 13 from 40-plus. Giants David Treadwell Mode 21 of 31 Fig attempts. Streaks and notes Winner ploys at Dallas in second round of playoffs with Detroit Victory Over Green Bay at san Francisco if Green Bay win. Giants have wan last three meetings with Vikings. Denver 9-7 at la. Raiders 10-6 10 . Get on an to and radio line a raiders by 2. Record is. Spread Broncos 9-5-2 raiders 6-9-1. Series record a raiders Lead 46-19-2 in regular season but Broncos won Only postseason meeting 20-17 in 1977 acc championship. Bronco offence Rush no. 18pass no. 4overall no. 5. John Eloy capped his most productive regular season with 361-Yard, 3-td performance against raiders. Elway led acc in attempts 351 ,. Completions 348completion percentage 63 2yards 4,030ads 25 and passing rating 92.8. He also had career Low 10 ints. The Shannon Sharpe finished third in pfc with b1 receptions for 995 Yards and nine ads. With top re Rod Bernstine out with shoulder injury re Robert Elpino 445 Yards on 131 carries will Start. Raider offence Rush no. 26pass no. 5overall no. 13. Jeff Hostetler completed 236 of 419 passes for 3,242 Yards to become first raiders Qto surpass 3,000 Yards since Ken Stabler in 1979. He also led nil lbs with five Rushing ads. Or Tim brawn topped acc with 1,180 Yards on career High 80 catches with seven ads. Rookie r8 Randy Jordan and Nick Bell Lead meager running game that averaged Only 89 Yards per game. Bronco defense Rush no. 4pass no. 27. Overall no. 19. Allowed 233 passing Yards per game and 304 last week to raiders despite secondary that boasts two pro bowl safeties a Dennis Smith and stave Atwater. In Simon Fletcher led Broncos in sacks for sixth straight season with t3v4. My or defense Rush no. 20pass no. 5overall no 9. Has allowed at least 20 Points in each of last five games. C8 Terry Mcdaniel Hod five interceptions to Lead acc s third ranked pass defense 179 Yards allowed per game. Special teams a Denver s Reggie Rivers is Only player in nil with two blocked punts this season. Punter Tam Rouen ranks second in nil with 45.0-Yard average los Angeles Ramb Ismail led acc with 24.2-Yard Kickoff return overage in his first nil season. And notes a Winner plays at Buffalo m second round of playoffs with Kansas City Victory Over Pittsburgh at Houston if Pittsburgh wins. Raiders Nave won last six meetings with Broncos in la
