CARDINALS FINALLY FLY INTO PLAYOFFS; JACKE'S FIELD GOAL AS TIME RUNS OUT SECURES FINAL SPOT : ARIZONA 16, SAN DIEGO 13.

Byline: Associated Press 

The Cardinals are back in the playoffs for the first time in 16 years - and what a way to return.

Chris Jacke kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired Sunday to give Arizona a 16-13 victory over the San Diego Chargers, who had tied the game 16 seconds earlier on a fourth-down, 30-yard touchdown pass.

The victory gave Arizona the final NFL playoff spot and set up a meeting with the Cowboys next Saturday in Dallas.

The Cardinals last playoff game was in 1982, after a nine-game strike season, and they last made the playoffs in a nonstrike year in 1975. The Cardinals last won a playoff game in 1947, when they played in Chicago and beat the Philadelphia Eagles 28-21 for the NFL championship. They have lost three playoff games since.

``I've got to pinch myself to see if this is a dream or not,'' said fullback Larry Centers, who's gone through the worst of times in the team's woeful days in the desert. ``But we're actually in the dance. There were times I didn't feel like this day would come.

``It's just a great day in the life of a longtime Cardinal. Believe me.''

As soon as Jacke's final kick sailed through the uprights, fans in the crowd of 71,670 swarmed the field and climbed onto the goalposts.

Jacke wasn't the only Cardinals hero. Arizona safety Kwamie Lassiter tied an NFL record with four interceptions, all off Craig Whelihan. The record was last tied in 1985.

``We knew we had to make a lot of plays,'' said Lassiter, a backup for the first 11 games this season. ``We had to outplay their defense. A lot of it was being in the right place at the right time.''

After San Diego's tying touchdown, Eric Metcalf returned the kickoff 46 yards to the San Diego 44, and Jake Plummer had time for one pass, a 10-yard completion to Frank Sanders to the 34.

The ball was snapped with three seconds left, and Jacke was soon being mobbed by his teammates as the Cardinals won yet another close game.

Six of the Cardinals wins this season were on field goals in the final four minutes of the game. Four of them, including the win over the Chargers, were on final-play field goals in the second half of the season.

Plummer has led the Cardinals to nine victories when the team trailed or was tied in the final quarter during his two seasons with Arizona.

``We've got a new attitude and a new ballclub that goes out and gives everything every single game,'' Plummer said. ``The fans have got to love it. They see how hard we fight. It's a big step for this franchise.''

The victory gave the Cardinals their first winning season since 1984, when they were in St. Louis. Their best record in the 10 previous seasons in Arizona was 8-8 in 1994.

The Chargers finished the season with a five-game losing streak, due mostly to their NFL-high 51 turnovers, which includes Whelihan's 19 interceptions.

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Cover--Color) RAISING ARIZONA

Chris Jacke's late field goal puts the Cardinals in the playoffs for the first time since 1982.

(2) Cris Jacke helps the Cardinals make the playoffs for the first time in 16 years.

Ken Levine/Associated Press