Playoff Pats
Among the folks watching the New England Patriots get into the playoffs by beating the Chicago Bears were the former Patriots who had their postseason ended on quite a down note by the Bears.
"I wish this was the score nine years ago," said former linebacker Steve Nelson, who was on the team that was routed by Chicago, 46-10, in the 1986 Super Bowl.
The Patriots made the playoffs the next season, but hadn't qualified again until yesterday.
"I'm thrilled with the way they're playing," said former quarterback Steve Grogan. "It's been a very big surprise they're in the playoff hunt. I thought they'd finish .500."
But Grogan is ready to hop on the bandwagon.
"They have stability at the top, they're very well-coached and they have a young cast of characters with a couple of veterans to provide leadership," he said.
"I think the emotion is similar to the same time of year of the '85 season. But I don't think they've reached the point where we did in the playoffs, when we kept winning on the road the way we did. It could get that way, though."
The Faulk report
The Colts' Marshall Faulk finished his rookie season with 1,282 yards rushing, including 12 runs of 20 or more yards and 31 runs for at least 10 yards.
His total is the third-highest in franchise history, topped only by .. Eric Dickerson's 1,659 in 1988 and 1,311 the next year.
Faulk's 1,804 yards from scrimmage also is the fourth-highest total in league history by a rookie. Dickerson set the record of 2,212 when he was with the Los Angeles Rams in 1983.
If the Browns would have held the Seahawks without a touchdown, they would have become the fifth team in NFL history to give up fewer than 200 points since the 16-game schedule went into effect in 1978.
"We really wanted that for Nick," said middle linebacker Pepper Johnson, referring to defensive coordinator Nick Saban, who will be leaving after the season to take over as head coach at Michigan State. "We could have sent him off with a blast, a nice Christmas present for him and his family."
In the defensive huddle, Johnson said the players were talking about keeping Seattle out of the end zone so that they could achieve their goal.
"I think that's when we started messing up," Johnson said.
Such a deal
After yesterday's victory, the Bengals announced they are raising ticket prices $3 per seat. That's a $1 increase per win.
You always can return it
To make good on a preseason promise that he would buy them all gifts if he made the Pro Bowl, Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter gave expensive watches to the other receivers yesterday. They knew the watches were expensive -- Carter forgot to take off the price tags.
Born to be wild
Bengals defensive lineman Tim Krumrie, retiring after his 12th season, was honored on the field at halftime. The club presented him with a motorcycle, which he rode off the field. After the Bengals rallied to win, he drove back onto the field for a celebration.
Dismounting
Two of the Denver's top defenders -- linebacker Karl Mecklenburg and safety Dennis Smith -- probably played their last games for the Broncos yesterday. Mecklenburg made four tackles, and Smith had two tackles and two passes defensed, including one jarring hit that separated a receiver from the ball.
It was the final game of a 12-year career for Mecklenburg, 34, who is retiring. It probably was the final game in the 14-year career of Smith, 35 -- at least in a Broncos uniform. Smith said he hopes to play another season, but doubts the Broncos will want him back.
"I got emotional a few times out there today," Smith said.