From Deseret News archives:
NFL today
— The Bengals (6-8) are assured their 14th consecutive season without a winning record, tied for the second-longest such streak of futility in NFL history.
— The Bills have won five straight, scoring at least 33 points in each of those games.
— David Akers had an extra point blocked by Dallas, ending the Philadelphia kicker's club-record string of 153 successful conversions.
STATS
— The Chiefs scored on four of their first five possessions en route to a 45-17 win over Denver, their biggest margin of victory in their long series with a Broncos since a 31-point win in 1983.
— The Chiefs became the first team in NFL history to have three backs rush for more than 150 yards in a game in one season. Larry Johnson had 151 Sunday against Denver, matching the amount Priest Holmes had against the Broncos earlier in the season. Derrick Blaylock rushed for 186 against New Orleans.
— Jake Plummer, Broncos, has eight interceptions and only one touchdown pass in his last three games.
SWINGS
— Despite losing, Green Bay clinched a playoff spot, becoming just the ninth team in NFL history to reach the postseason after a 1-4 start.
— One season after they were a league-worst 4-12, the Chargers moved to 11-3 with their eighth straight win and earned their first postseason berth since 1995.
— Since an 0-4 start, Buffalo has won eight of 10 to climb into contention for a wild-card berth. They've won five in a row.
— The Bucs (5-9) became the first team to win the Super Bowl and then post consecutive losing records the next two seasons.
INJURIES
— WR Terrell Owens, Eagles, was knocked out in the third quarter of a win over Dallas with a sprained right ankle.
— S Donovan Darius, Jaguars, was ejected for a helmet-stripping clothesline hit that sent Packers WR Robert Ferguson to the hospital for X-rays on his neck and head.
SPEAKING
— "I'm pretty sure coach Reid's relieved over that. The big guy's not hurt, severely, and he doesn't have to worry about putting those tights on." — Philadelphia LB Ike Reese, on the ankle injury to Eagles WR Terrell Owens. If Owens doesn't return for the final two regular-season games, he'll finish one TD catch short of winning his bet with Reid that would have required the beefy coach to wear black spandex tights.
— "We didn't see this coming. If there was any game on the schedule that we felt confident about coming in and winning, it would be Arizona." — Rams WR Torry Holt, after St. Louis lost 31-7 at Arizona.
