SAN DIEGO, California -- Somehow, Stan Humphries and the San Diego Chargers overcame the crazy calls and the Miami Dolphins.
And, in the end, the ball finally went the Chargers' way. Pete Stoyanovich missed a 48-yard field goal with one second left Sunday, and San Diego emerged with a 22-21 victory over the Dolphins that sent them into the American Football Conference championship game.
After the miss, Chargers players and fans alike were yelling and screaming, shaking their fists and proudly displaying anything they could find with a lightning bolt on it to a world they felt never took them seriously.
"I can't describe any of it," said Humphries. "I guess it really won't hit me until the whole thing is over with."
Humphries, deprived of an apparent touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter on an official's call, threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Mark Seay with 35 seconds left to tie it, and John Carney kicked the winning point.
The Chargers will play at Pittsburgh next Sunday for a trip to the Super Bowl. San Diego defeated the Steelers 37-34 in the final regular-season game, although Pittsburgh had already clinched the home field and rested some injured starters.
Sunday's game was filled with several controversial calls, including a rare illegal double pass in which Miami's Keith Jackson appeared to lose the ball.
The Chargers advanced to the AFC title game for the first time since the 1980 and '81 post-seasons. They have never been to the Super Bowl.
The Chargers also blocked what could have been Dan Marino's last realistic shot at getting the Dolphins back to the Super Bowl, which is at Miami's Joe Robbie Stadium.
Marino moved the Dolphins to the San Diego 31 in the final seconds and Stoyanovich -- 8-for-10 between 40 and 49 yards this season -- came on with a chance to win it. But a high snap seemed to throw off his timing, and Stoyanovich missed badly to the right.
Steelers 29, Browns 9. Maybe it was the sight of all those yellow twirling "Terrible Towels" up in the stands that put the Cleveland Browns into such a self-destructing spin cycle Saturday at Three Rivers Stadium. More likely it was the power of Pittsburgh's relentless running game, and a defense that asserted itself at all the right times, that launched the Steelers into the AFC championship game.
Playing what Coach Bill Cowher described as "the best half of football I've witnessed since I've been here," the virtually unstoppable Steelers scored the first three times they had the ball, opened a 21-point lead at intermission and never were seriously threatened in a dominating 29-9 victory before a crowd of 58,185.
It was the third time Pittsburgh defeated the Browns this season, and its 22nd victory in 26 games against Cleveland at Three Rivers Stadium. More significantly, it put the 13-4 Steelers into their first AFC championship game in 10 years.
The Browns seemed rattled right from the start on a raw, overcast day that ended with light snow falling. Quarterback Vinny Testaverde had four of his passes dropped in Cleveland's first three series. By that time the Steelers were already up 10-0 and stuffing the ball down the Browns' collective gullets almost every time they touched it.
Pittsburgh's offense held the ball for 42 minutes 27 seconds and rolled up 238 rushing yards, including 133 on 24 carries from Barry Foster.
Quarterback Neil O'Donnell answered most of his critics with a near-flawless performance. It included 16 completions in 23 attempts for 186 yards and second-quarter touchdown passes of two yards to Eric Green and nine yards to Yancey Thigpen. He directed two other drives that led to Gary Anderson field goals of 39 and 40 yards.
Meanwhile Testaverde looked as if he was having a Tampa Bay flashback. The former Buccaneer managed only 13 completions in 31 throws for 144 yards and had two passes intercepted. The Steelers put the exclamation point on the proceedings when they sacked him for a safety with 2:45 left.
And, in the end, the ball finally went the Chargers' way. Pete Stoyanovich missed a 48-yard field goal with one second left Sunday, and San Diego emerged with a 22-21 victory over the Dolphins that sent them into the American Football Conference championship game.
After the miss, Chargers players and fans alike were yelling and screaming, shaking their fists and proudly displaying anything they could find with a lightning bolt on it to a world they felt never took them seriously.
"I can't describe any of it," said Humphries. "I guess it really won't hit me until the whole thing is over with."
Humphries, deprived of an apparent touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter on an official's call, threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Mark Seay with 35 seconds left to tie it, and John Carney kicked the winning point.
The Chargers will play at Pittsburgh next Sunday for a trip to the Super Bowl. San Diego defeated the Steelers 37-34 in the final regular-season game, although Pittsburgh had already clinched the home field and rested some injured starters.
Sunday's game was filled with several controversial calls, including a rare illegal double pass in which Miami's Keith Jackson appeared to lose the ball.
The Chargers advanced to the AFC title game for the first time since the 1980 and '81 post-seasons. They have never been to the Super Bowl.
The Chargers also blocked what could have been Dan Marino's last realistic shot at getting the Dolphins back to the Super Bowl, which is at Miami's Joe Robbie Stadium.
Marino moved the Dolphins to the San Diego 31 in the final seconds and Stoyanovich -- 8-for-10 between 40 and 49 yards this season -- came on with a chance to win it. But a high snap seemed to throw off his timing, and Stoyanovich missed badly to the right.
Steelers 29, Browns 9. Maybe it was the sight of all those yellow twirling "Terrible Towels" up in the stands that put the Cleveland Browns into such a self-destructing spin cycle Saturday at Three Rivers Stadium. More likely it was the power of Pittsburgh's relentless running game, and a defense that asserted itself at all the right times, that launched the Steelers into the AFC championship game.
Playing what Coach Bill Cowher described as "the best half of football I've witnessed since I've been here," the virtually unstoppable Steelers scored the first three times they had the ball, opened a 21-point lead at intermission and never were seriously threatened in a dominating 29-9 victory before a crowd of 58,185.
It was the third time Pittsburgh defeated the Browns this season, and its 22nd victory in 26 games against Cleveland at Three Rivers Stadium. More significantly, it put the 13-4 Steelers into their first AFC championship game in 10 years.
The Browns seemed rattled right from the start on a raw, overcast day that ended with light snow falling. Quarterback Vinny Testaverde had four of his passes dropped in Cleveland's first three series. By that time the Steelers were already up 10-0 and stuffing the ball down the Browns' collective gullets almost every time they touched it.
Pittsburgh's offense held the ball for 42 minutes 27 seconds and rolled up 238 rushing yards, including 133 on 24 carries from Barry Foster.
Quarterback Neil O'Donnell answered most of his critics with a near-flawless performance. It included 16 completions in 23 attempts for 186 yards and second-quarter touchdown passes of two yards to Eric Green and nine yards to Yancey Thigpen. He directed two other drives that led to Gary Anderson field goals of 39 and 40 yards.
Meanwhile Testaverde looked as if he was having a Tampa Bay flashback. The former Buccaneer managed only 13 completions in 31 throws for 144 yards and had two passes intercepted. The Steelers put the exclamation point on the proceedings when they sacked him for a safety with 2:45 left.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.
Remind me later.
×
Remind me next month
Thank you! Your reminder is set.
We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy.