DENVER GETS FRIENDLY BOUNCE : SUNDAY'S SCORES.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. John Elway John Albert Elway, Jr. (born June 28, 1960) played American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Denver Broncos from 1983 through 1998. Elway holds many college and professional records and was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is the only was screaming at the ball to hit the turf. Ed McCaffrey Edward T. McCaffrey (born August 17, 1968 in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania) is a former American football wide receiver who played for the New York Giants (1991-1993), San Francisco 49ers (1994) and the Denver Broncos (1995-2003) of the National Football League. was scrambling to make a tackle. Not exactly the way a game-winning touchdown pass is supposed to go. But that's how the pivotal play unfolded for the Denver Broncos on Sunday in another of their miraculous wins. McCaffrey caught a 5-yard TD with 19 seconds left on a twice-deflected pass as Elway once again rallied the Broncos in the fourth quarter for a victory, this time 21-17 over the Minnesota Vikings ``It's a dangerous time when the ball is tipped in the middle,'' said Minnesota coach Dennis Green Dennis "Denny" Green (b. February 17, 1949 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) is a former American football head coach. During his professional career, Green coached the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals. . ``We thought we could come up with it. We had two guys run into each other and it went up for a third time. That's when they came up with it.'' ``I've seen a Hail Mary Hail Mary: see Ave Maria. Hail Mary Latin Ave Maria Principal Roman Catholic prayer addressed to the Virgin Mary. It begins with the greetings spoken to Mary by the Archangel Gabriel and by her cousin Elizabeth in the Gospel of Luke: , but this wasn't a Hail Mary,'' added Vikings defensive end Alfred Williams This article is about the American football player. For "the hammerman poet", see Alfred Williams (Poet). For the cricket umpire, see A. P. Williams. Alfred Williams (born November 6, 1968 in Houston, Texas) is a former American football player. . ``I guess it was a short version of the Hail Mary.'' The crazy bounce - and the outcome it produced - were about the last things the Vikings needed. They've been distracted lately over speculation that Green will be replaced by Lou Holtz, who resigned at Notre Dame last week. McCaffrey's improbable game-winner gave Denver (11-1) its eighth straight victory, matching the second-longest streak in franchise history. It also marked the 34th time Elway has led the Broncos to a win in the fourth quarter. Elway finished 27 for 36 for 334 yards, and he was 10 of 13 for 144 yards in the fourth quarter. Even though fantastic finishes are his forte, this one was like none of Elway's previous 33. ``The ball was in the air about 20 seconds, and I was just screaming at it go get on the ground,'' he said. ``And all of a sudden this white jersey came out of nowhere, and it was Eddie McCaffrey and he got in the end zone.'' Taking over at his 16 with 5:21 to play, Elway drove the Broncos to a third-and-2 at the Vikings 5. The drive included a 39-yard pass to Anthony Miller and a gutsy fourth-down pass to Aaron Craver that appeared to gain less than a yard, but still picked up a first down at the Minnesota 14. ``It's a game of inches, maybe in this case a sixteenth of an inch,'' Craver said. ``. . . I was just hoping the official would spot it where I caught it. I knew if we were going to win the game we had to have that first down.'' On the deciding play, Elway was looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. Shannon Sharpe and forced a pass over the middle. Harlon Barnett batted it into the air. It looked like an easy interception - and a huge victory for the Vikings - until Barnett and Orlando Thomas tipped it into the air again. McCaffrey never saw the second tip, but the ball fell into his arms at the 1, and he burrowed into the end zone to stun the Vikings (6-6) in a game they badly needed. ``I saw it go up and I just ran to the ball,'' McCaffrey said. ``I was thinking I'd have to make a tackle. It seemed like it was up there for about 10 minutes.'' The Vikings got two touchdown passes from Brad Johnson, making consecutive starts for the first time in his career, and an outstanding defensive performance against the NFL's top-rated offense. But it wasn't enough, leaving them on the brink of playoff elimination for the second straight season. Terrell Davis scored two TDs for the Broncos, but the NFL's leading rusher gained only 68 yards. ``Our guys feel terrible,'' said Green. ``They wanted it bad. It was an opportunity for us to get seven wins, and it was an opportunity for us to win at home. We just didn't pull it out.'' Denver remained in charge in the AFC (1) (Application Foundation Classes) A class library from Microsoft that provides an application framework and graphics, graphical user interface (GUI) and multimedia routines for Java programmers. , leading Kansas City by three games in the West and Buffalo by two games in the race for home-field advantage in the playoffs. Even though the Broncos now are one win away from matching the best record in franchise history, they're trying to avoid believing they are a team of destiny. ``Luck always helps,'' Elway said. ``I would like to, in about seven more games, tell you this is a team of destiny.'' San Francisco 19, Washington 16 (OT) N.Y. Giants 20, Dallas 6 San Diego 28, Kansas City 14 Denver 21, Minnesota 17 Arizona 36, Philadelphia 30 Green Bay 24, St. Louis 9 Carolina 31, Houston 6 New England 27, Indianapolis 13 Buffalo 35, N.Y. Jets 10 Tampa Bay 13, New Orleans 7 Chicago 31, Detroit 14 Jacksonville 28, Baltimore 25 (OT) Oakland 27, Seattle 21 Cincinnati 41, Atlanta 31 Complete coverage, Page 3 Rise and fall The fortunes of NFC NFC abbr. National Football Conference powers San Francisco and Dallas went in different directions Sunday on the East Coast. Above, the 49ers' Jeff Wilkins (14) walks toward his exultant holder, Elvis Grbac, after connecting on the 38-yard field goal that lifted San Francisco to a 19-16 overtime victory over the Redskins Redskins can refer to:
CAPTION(S): 4 Photos, Chart, Box Photo: (1--color) Denver quarterback John Elway wriggles away from Vikings' John Randle in yet another comeback victory. Associated Press (2) Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey (87) twists away from Minnesota's Jeff Brady to score the winning touchdown. John Doman / St. Paul Pioneer Press
The St. Paul Pioneer Press is a newspaper based in St. Paul, Minnesota, primarily serving the Twin Cities metropolitan area. (3--color) No Caption (Football - Dallas - Giants - Action) (4--color) No Caption (Football - 49ers) Associated Press Chart: SUNDAY'S SCORES (see text) Box: RISE AND FALL (see text) |
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