Browns fans turn ugly
CLEVELAND, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers earned playoff spots Sunday and still managed to be overshadowed by the beer-throwing fans of the Cleveland Browns.
A tardy, if accurate ruling on the part of the officials cost the Browns a chance to pull out a victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars -- touching off an ugly scene that jeopardized the safety of players and officials alike.
Bottles, cups and other debris came flying from the stands, forcing officials to waive off the final 48 seconds of the contest and run for cover. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, however, contacted the officials and said the final moments of the contest would have to be played.
The teams were called back onto the field 30 minutes later and Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell took a knee on two consecutive plays to run off the remaining time as the Jaguars held on for a 15-10 victory.
Chicago, meanwhile, clinched its first post-season berth in seven years by downing Tampa Bay, 27-3, and Pittsburgh will take part in the playoffs as champions of the AFC Central thanks to a 26-21 conquest of the Baltimore Ravens. The Bears and Steelers joined Oakland in the playoffs, the Raiders having clinched the AFC West title on Saturday.
The ranks of the playoff teams could grow tonight when St. Louis visits New Orleans. A St. Louis win would not only put the Rams in the playoffs, but would ensure a spot for the San Francisco 49ers as well.
Five of the six playoff spots in the NFC appear all but wrapped up. In addition to Chicago, those likely to enter the Super Bowl chase are the Rams, 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers. Philadelphia and Green Bay need only one more win to clinch a berth. The Eagles moved within reach of the NFC East title Sunday with a 20-6 win over Washington while Green Bay missed out on a chance to clinch with a 26-20 loss to Tennessee.
The playoff picture is also relatively clear in the AFC, where Baltimore, Miami, New England and the New York Jets are in the best position to join Pittsburgh and Oakland.
Miami, despite a 21-0 loss to San Francisco Sunday, still holds a half-game lead over New England and a one-game advantage over the New York Jets in the AFC East.
The problems in Cleveland arose when Cleveland quarterback Tim Couch, his team trailing by five points, appeared to hit Quincy Morgan with a three-yard completion on fourth and two to give the Browns a first and goal on the Jaguars' nine. Couch then spiked the ball with 48 seconds left.
But referee Terry McAulay soon announced to the crowd that the communications system, which allows the replay official to alert him about a reviewable play during the final two minutes of a half, had malfunctioned.
McAulay then reviewed the Couch-to-Morgan pass and saw that Morgan never had control of the ball. So McAulay ruled the pass incomplete and gave possession to the Jaguars -- effectively ending the game.
Various objects were soon being thrown onto the field. There could be further implications from the incident, especially since Browns president and CEO Carmen Policy was unapologetic for the behavior of the fans.
"If I'm not going to criticize the officials, I am certainly not going to criticize the fans of Cleveland," Policy said. "I like the fact that our fans cared. They care about this team and they cared about this game."
Other results Sunday: New England 12, Buffalo 9 in overtime; Indianapolis 41, Atlanta 27; Kansas City 26, Denver 23 in overtime; New York Jets 15, Cincinnati 14; Seattle 29, Dallas 3.
The Detroit Lions also won for the first time this season, downing the Minnesota Twins, 27-24.
Wizards win sixth straight
TORONTO, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Michael Jordan's Washington Wizards held Vince Carter scoreless in the second half Sunday and pulled away for their sixth straight victory, a 93-88 triumph over the Toronto Raptors.
The first meeting between North Carolina alumni -- "Air Jordan" and "Air Canada" -- began with Carter exploding for 19 points in the first quarter and the Raptors bolting to a 19-point lead.
But Carter went cold after halftime and picked up his fifth foul in the third quarter. By that time, the Wizards had rallied to take the lead behind Jordan, who made four straight shots in the period.
Carter returned with 10:24 to play but did not score again. He was none of four from the field in the second half and finished with 23 points.
Jordan made just eight of 21 shots and scored 21 points. As he has during the winning streak, he showed increasing trust in his teammates, who are improving around him.
Other NBA results: Los Angeles Clippers 82, Detroit 77; New Jersey 114, New York 96; Sacramento 104, Memphis 87; Seattle 114, Orlando 91; Los Angeles Lakers 101, Golden State 85.
Los Angeles Kings stay hot
ANAHEIM, Calif., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Aaron Miller scored his first two goals of the season Sunday night, including the game-winner 14 seconds into overtime, as the Los Angeles Kings extended their unbeaten streak to five games with a 3-2 victory over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
On the winning goal, the Kings found themselves shorthanded as center Adam Mair was penalized for holding with 1:10 left in regulation.
With 50 seconds left on the penalty, Ducks center Matt Cullen won the opening faceoff against Brian Smolinski, but Paul Kariya could not handle the pass. Smolinski stole it and passed to Miller, whose slap shot went through the legs of goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere.
Miller also forged a 1-1 tie 15:25 into the game with his first goal since Jan. 18 of last season.
Eric Belanger added a power-play goal for Los Angeles, which has scored at least two goals on special teams in three straight games.
Other NHL results: Carolina 7, Pittsburgh 0; Colorado 3, Minnesota 2 in overtime; Edmonton 3, Philadelphia 2 in overtime.
Duke stays No. 1
DURHAM, N.C., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Jason Williams and Carlos Boozer scored 18 points apiece Sunday as top-ranked Duke remained unbeaten with a 93-51 victory over North Carolina A&T.
Williams' 18 points came on six three-pointers as the Blue Devils (8-0) posted their largest margin of victory over the Aggies in the seven all-time meetings, all Duke victories.
Boozer made just five of 11 shots, but converted eight of his nine foul shots and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead Duke in that department.
Bruce Jenkins scored 24 points for the Aggies (1-7), who fell to 0-5 on the road this season.
In the only other game involving a top 10 Sunday, Illinois defeated Western Illinois, 98-62.
North Carolina wins NCAA soccer title
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Michael Ueltschey made eight saves and Ryan Kneipper and Danny Jackson scored goals Sunday as North Carolina blanked Indiana, 2-0, to win the NCAA men's soccer championship.
The Tar Heels (21-4-0) completed a stunning run to the title. They won three straight tournament matches in overtime before shutting down the Hoosiers (18-4-1), who had lifted the trophy twice in the previous three years.
Thanks to Ueltschey, who registered his 13th shutout, North Carolina was able to avenge its loss to Indiana in last year's NCAA quarterfinals at Chapel Hill.
Kneipper headed home a 12th-minute cross for his team-leading 14th goal of the season. Co-captain Jackson converted a penalty kick with 15 minutes left and North Carolina recorded its third shutout in five tournament matches.
The Tar Heels squeezed into their first national title game with a 3-2 victory in four overtimes over Stanford on Friday.
Woods rallies with 64
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods carded an 8-under-par 64 on Sunday to catch Vijay Singh and win his own tournament, the $4.1 million Williams World Challenge.
Woods began the day four shots behind Singh but had 10 birdies, including five straight to start the back nine, and finished the unofficial event at 15-under 273.
Along with the win, which came in front of family and friends at Sherwood Country Club, Woods pocketed the $1 million top prize.
Singh struggled to a 71 on Sunday and ended up alone in second at 276.
No one else was within five shots of Woods, who invited 17 of the best players from around the world to an event that supports the children's foundation that bears his name.
American crashes out of giant slalom
ALTA BADIA, Italy, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- France's Frederic Covili won a men's World Cup giant slalom Sunday after race leader Bode Miller of the United States crashed out in the second leg.
Covili, the winner of the season-opening giant slalom in Soelden, posted his second win in three giant slaloms with a two-run combined time of 2 minutes, 40.58 seconds.
The 26-year-old Frenchman edged reigning world champion Michael Von Gruenigen of Switzerland by a tiny .02. Finland's Sami Uotila posted his best career World Cup result, crossing third in 2:40.67.
Miller, leading after the opening leg, sat poised to collect his third consecutive victory in a technical event. But the last skier to go in the second run crashed out just a few gates down, prompting Covili to punch his fists in the air in triumph.
Covili, who had never finished higher than fourth before this season, leads the discipline standings with 280 points.
