Steelers, Raiders Hope for Playoffs
S E A T T L E, Dec. 16, 2000 -- The Oakland Raiders’ dream of a
division championship were dampened by a loss in soggy Seattle
today, while the Pittsburgh Steelers kept their slim
playoff hopes alive with a decisive win over Washington in
their farewell to Three Rivers Stadium.
Blame the rain, the refs or anybody named Williams, but theRaiders had to curse their luck for their 27-24 defeat after acontroversial safety set the stage for Seawhawk quarterbackJohn Kitna to throw a nine-yard touchdown to Darrell Jacksonwith 28 seconds remaining for the winning score.
The loss cut playoff-bound Oakland’s lead over Denver inthe AFC West to just one-half game. The Broncos (10-4) own thetiebreaker and can take the division by winning their final twogames, whatever the Raiders (11-4) do next week againstCarolina.
Seattle’s Winning Drive
With 2:24 remaining, Raiders defensive back Charles Woodsonappeared to make a game-saving play, knocking the ball out ofthe hands of Seahawks running back Ricky Watters, who hadbroken into the secondary and was racing for the end zone.
Oakland safety Marquez Pope recovered the fumble at the 2but slid along the wet field into the end zone. Officials ruledit a safety after Pope was downed by the Seahawks’ JamesWilliams. The two-point safety brought Seattle within 24-21.
“The interpretation of it was that it was a safety,”Oakland coach Jon Gruden said. “We protested to no avail. Thecall stood. We can talk about it all day. It’s obvious wethought it should have been our ball on the 1-yard line.”
“Either you down me where I recovered the ball or it’s atouchback and you bring our team out to the 20-yard line,” saidPope. “It’s a call I’ve never heard before but like they say, you always have your first.”
After the free kick, the Seahawks (6-9) took over at their31. Kitna, who was knocked out of the game briefly in the thirdquarter, drove Seattle 69 yards in nine plays for the score.
“I think Jon played a very courageous game,” Seattle coachMike Holmgren said. “He hurt his knee, reallu jammed his tendonwhen he slammed it into the turf, and the conditions were very,very tough for throwing.”
Seattle miscues gave Oakland two pieces of luck at the end.Rian Lindell missed the extra point, meaning the Raiders neededonly a field goal to force overtime, and Lindell’s kickoff wentout of bounds, giving Oakland the ball at the 40.
But Seattle defensive back Willie Williams intercepted adeflected pass at the Seattle 33 with 12 seconds left.
Steelers Legends Say Goodbye
In Pittsburgh, the Steelers said goodbye to their31-year-old stadium with a victory as Jerome Bettis rushed for104 yards and Richard Huntley ran for a pair of touchdowns in a24-3 victory over the Washington Redskins.
Three Rivers Stadium served as home to the Steelers’ fourSuper Bowl championship teams. About 40 past players took partin postgame ceremonies.
Almost the entire Steelers Iron Curtain team was on handincluding Franco Harris, Mel Blount, Lynn Swan, Dave Stallworthand L. C. Greenwood, but not quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
“It’s a sad day one way but it brought back so manymemories,” said Harris, “not just the Immaculate Reception. Itwas great coach [Chuck] Noll was here and seeing the guys wasterrific.
“The new park is a step forward for the City of Pittsburgh,but I will always think of Three Rivers as our ball park.”
Said Bettis: “It makes you understand the tradition aboutevery guy that has come here and played in these uniforms.”
The current band of Steelers will have a new home locatedadjacent to their current facility.
Playoff Hopes Are Still Alive
“We are alive for the playoffs still and we gave the fansand the old Steelers something to remember,” coach Bill Cowhersaid. “Jerome Bettis played great, Richard Huntley took it intothe end zone twice.
“[Quarterback] Kordell Stewart did a good job. And ourdefense shut down [Washington quarterback] Jeff George. [Hank]Poteat goes down in history with the longest punt return in thehistory of Three Rivers. A great day and we are still alive.”
Rookie Hank Poteat returned a punt 53 yards for a score forPittsburgh (8-7), which still needs to defeat San Diego nextweek and get some help from other teams to make the playoffs.
There will be no January football for the Redskins (7-8).Despite a $100 million payroll, the Redskins lost for the sixthtime in seven games and were eliminated from the playoffs.
“This season went south for all of us,” interim coach TerryRobiskie said.
“You saw the game, nothing goes right for us,” said flashycornerback Deion Sanders. “Three different times we droppedwould-be interceptions. They ran back a punt for a touchdown,that’s what I am supposed to do. It’s hard to believe how badthis season has become.”