4C SpOrtS MESSENGER-INQUIRER. Monday, November 24, 2003 PRO FOOTBALL: NFL PRO FOOTBALL: NFL Ravens' late rally beats Seattle 4, -war Ji nf-'' I 4X 1 it Tennessee's Justin McCareins celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the fourth quarter of the Titans' 38-31 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in Atlanta. Backup Volek leads Tennessee Associated Press Cincinnati quarterback Jon Kitna lets a pass fly behind the block of teammate Mike Goff during the Bengals' 34 -27 victory over San Diego on Sunday in San Diego. Kitna was 24-for-38 passing for 243 yards and four touchdowns. By Keith Parsons Associated Press ATLANTA Little-used backup Billy Volek walked into the huddle with the Tennessee Titans trailing and immediately felt comfortable with his teammates.
"You can see in their eyes that they have confidence in me," Volek said. For good reason, too. Volek took over for Steve McNair and threw his second career touchdown pass, rallying the Titans from a 21-point deficit in a 38-31 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. McNair, the leading passer in the NFL, left in the second quarter when he hurt his right calf. After he threw a 5-yard pass to Frank Wycheck, defensive end Patrick Kerney simply touched McNair, who took a tentative step and immediately reached for his calf.
At the time, the team listed his return as questionable, but he didn't come back. Afterward, Titans coach Jeff Fisher said McNair was doubtful for next week's game against the New York Jets. "If I get the nod next week, I'm going to go out and do what I can do," Volek said. "We'll see what happens." He finished 9-for-15 for 117 yards. Before this season, he hadn't thrown a pass since 2001.
Atlanta (2-9) again played without starting quarterback Michael Vick, out since breaking his leg in the preseason. TENUIS: FED CUP Williams each returned interceptions for touchdowns late in the game, and the Vikings sent the visiting Lions (3-8) to their 22nd straight road loss. The Lions tied the Buffalo Bills (1983-86) for the second-longest road skid in NFL history. Minnesota (7-4) snapped a four-game losing streak and remained one game ahead of Green Bay in the NFC North. Eagles 33, Saints 20 Donovan McNabb completed 16-of-25 passes for 259 yards and one touchdown, leading the Eagles (8-3) at home to their sixth straight victory.
David Akers added four field goals. Deuce McAllister had 184 yards rushing, including TD runs of 76 and 22 yards, and Aaron Brooks threw for 287 yards for the Saints (5-6), who had won four of five. Bears 19, Broncos 10 Kordell Stewart scored on a 1-yard run after replacing Chris Chandler, and Paul Edinger kicked four field goals at Chicago. Chicago (4-7) had 217 total yards coming off consecutive two-point losses, but benefited Associated Press The stingy Baltimore Ravens allowed 41 points to Seattle and won. Down by 17 points in the fourth quarter, the host Ravens stormed back behind Anthony Wright and a surprisingly struggling defense.
Matt Stover kicked a 42-yard field goal with 6:32 left in overtime, capping the amazing comeback Sunday that carried the Ravens past the visiting Seattle Seahawks 44-41. Wright, the third-string quarterback just three weeks ago, brought Baltimore (6-5) back with the finest performance of his career. He went 20-for-37 for 319 yards and a personal-best four touchdowns all to Marcus Robinson. Matt Hasselbeck threw a career-high five touchdown passes for the Seahawks, going 23-for-41 for 333 yards. But the Seahawks (7-4) fell to 14 on the road.
Patriots 23, Texans 20, OT Tom Brady's 4-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Graham forced overtime, and Adam Vinatieri had his 37-yard field goal attempt blocked at Houston. But Vinatieri kicked a 28-yard game-winner with 41 seconds left that extended New England's winning streak to seven games. The Patriots (9-2) were ready to end overtime quickly when Mike Vrab'el picked off Tony Banks' pass on the first play. But Ramon Walker gave the Texans a stay with the first field goal block in franchise history. Brady was 29-of-47 for 368 yards and two touchdowns, but his two interceptions and a lost fumble kept the Texans (4-7) in the game without quarterback David Carr (sprained right shoulder).
Rams 30, Cardinals 27 OT Jeff Wilkins kicked a 49-yard field goal with 10:22 left in overtime to give the visiting Rams (8-3) sole possession of first place in the NFC West. It was Wilkins' second winning kick in a row; his 31-yarder last week beat the Bears. Jeff Blake threw two second-half touchdown passes to rookie sensation Anquan Boldin, and the Cardinals (3-8) rallied from a 14-point third-quarter deficit to take a 27-24 lead. Chiefs 27, Raiders 24 Trent Green hit Marc Boerigter for 16 yards on fourth-and-14, then Morten Andersen booted a 35-yard field goal with four seconds left at Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs (10-1), who took their first loss last week at Cincinnati, maintained their one-game lead for home-field advantage in the Navratilova.
This marked the first time a team featuring Navratilova lost a Fed Cup series. Navratilova has not lost in the Fed Cup since she first played in the event for her native Czechoslovakia in 1975. Navratilova is ready to return for the 2004 Fed Cup in April when the United States opens at Slovenia if she is invited by King. She also hopes to team with Raymond at next year's Athens Olympics. The two won their doubles match Thursday in a 4-1 semifinal victory over Belgium.
"It's going great," Navratilova said. "I can't wait for next year." City Editor Dan I Heckei 691-7306 1 1,1 i IV 1 from good field position and two pass interference penalties against Denver's Lenny Walls. Clinton Portis was the only one who managed to do much for Denver (6-5), finishing with 165 yards on 14 carries for his second straight season. Bengals 34, Chargers 27 Jon Kitna matched his career high with four touchdown passes, three to Chad Johnson, and Corey Dillon ran for 108 yards on 18 carries to help the Bengals win at San Diego. It was Johnson who guaranteed Cincinnati's win over previously undefeated Kansas City a week earlier, a victory that proved the Bengals (6-5) were for real.
San Diego (2-9) has lost 16 of its last 20 games under coach Marty Schottenheimer and will miss the playoffs for the eighth straight season. Steelers 13, Browns 6 Visiting Pittsburgh capitalized on five Cleveland turnovers, Jerome Bettis ran for a season-high 93 yards, and the Steelers (4-7) did not look like a tired team. Cleveland (4-7) outgained Pittsburgh 303-168. But Chad Scott intercepted Kelly Hol-comb's pass with 1:41 remaining at the Pittsburgh 39 to seal it Jets 13, Jaguars 10 Chad Pennington threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss with 26 seconds remaining, capping a 94-yard drive at East Rutherford, NJ. Jacksonville (2-9) took a 10-6 lead with 4:24 remaining when Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala scored on fourth-and-goal from inside the 1.
Pennington and the Jets (4-7) could not do much offensively all game, but put together a winning drive helped by a controversial pass interference call on Fernando Bryant Dolphins 24, Redskins 23 Jay Fiedler, sidelined since Oct. 19 with a sprained left knee, came off the bench late in the third quarter and helped Miami rally from a 13-point deficit at home. Fiedler led scoring drives of 71 and 69 yards, both ending with touchdowns by Ricky Williams, who ran for 107 yards. The largest fourth-quarter comeback by the Dolphins (7-4) since 1980 might have salvaged their season. They remained two games behind AFC East leader New England.
Washington (4-7) lost for the sixth time in the past seven games despite a strong showing by backup quarterback Tim Hasselbeck. 1480. Owcnsboro. KY 4ZW2-1480 i mm Associated Press Earlier in the week, he sprained his ankle in practice, further delaying his return. "We walked out there and we gave them everything we had," Falcons coach Dan Reeves said.
"We don't apologize to anybody." Justin McCareins scored twice for the Titans (9-2), including a 58-yard punt return late in the third quarter that gave them the lead for good. In the fourth quarter, he caught a 14-yard TD pass from Volek to make it 38-24. "It shows you what kind of man he is," McCareins said of Volek. "He came in in a really tough situation and really took control of the offense and the huddle. He does that every day in practice." The Falcons cut the lead to seven on Doug Johnson's 41-yard pass to Peerless Price, then got the ball back in the final two minutes.
But a fourth-down pass from Johnson to Brian Kozlowski fell short, and Tennessee ran out the clock. "I am really proud of the way that Billy handled the game and also the way the players around him stepped up, which is what has to happen," Fisher said. This was a huge comeback for us and a huge character game." Johnson started for the first time since the sixth game, replacing Kurt Kittner. He finished with 276 yards, including an 86-yard pass to Warrick Dunn in the first quarter that gave Atlanta a 21-0 lead. Lisa for the rest of the team," Navratilova said.
Mauresmo, undefeated in Fed Cup play this season, ended American hopes for an 18th title. The U.S. team was without its top players for the semifinals and finals. Serena and Venus Williams were sidelined by injuries, and Lindsay Davenport was recovering from surgery. France, which won its only other Fed Cup in 1997, went into the final day at Olympic Stadium ahead 2-0.
On Saturday, Mauresmo defeated Raymond, and Mary Pierce struggled past Shaughnessy. "This year, everything was perfect," Mauresmo said. Mauresmo, a finalist in the season-ending WTA Championships, dropped only one set in her eight Fed Cup matches this season. She led France's semifinal win over Russia with two singles victories. France had lost to the United States in the 10 previous Fed Cup encounters.
The United States has won 17 Fed Cup titles in 26 appearances. The French beat the Netherlands in their only previous trip to the finals six years ago. Pierce was the only member from that team to play this year. No team has come back from a 2-0 deficit in the finals. The United States had hoped to win both singles Sunday, leaving the title up to Raymond and U.S.
falls to France in Fed Cup AFC and swept the Raiders (3-8) for the first time since 1998. Colts 17, Bills 14 Edger-rin James carried Indianapolis' banged-up offense to a comeback victory at Orchard Park, N.Y. James scored twice, including the winner on a fourth-down plunge from inside the 1 with 1:38 remaining. The Colts (9-2) won with leading receiver Marvin Harrison seeing limited action because of a hamstring injury. The Bills (4-7) lost their fourth straight while squandering their best offensive performance in a month.
Packers 20, 49ers 10 Ahman Green ran through San Francisco's stingy defense for 154 yards on 27 carries at Green Bay, Wis. Green set franchise records with his fourth straight 100-yard game and his eighth of the season. The Packers (6-5) beat the Niners (5-6) for the 10th time in 11 tries when quarterbacked by Brett Favre, who threw two touchdown passes, including a 66-yarder to Javon Walker. Vikings 24, Lions 14 Corey Chavous and Brian Gift giver's name Address City one day at you'll receive a Yes! I and fief can utiiorafj again and again, tiat teeM ctangtng and sttrAiHsimj (hem of ten aqis aljean fang --Messenger Inquirer Mauresmo gets key win over Shaughnessy By Steve Gutterman Associated Press MOSCOW Even a victory by Martina Navratilova came too late to rescue the Americans, who were beaten by France in the Fed Cup finals Sunday. The French won the women's version of the Davis Cup 4-1, getting a clinching victory from iAmelie Mauresmo to win the title a second time.
"I was just happy for the team that we didn't get shut out," Navratilova said. Mauresmo routed Meghann 6-2, 6-1 to put France ahead 3-0 in the best-of- five series. "I really wanted to bring that ihird point to the team, and that's what I did," Mauresmo said. France's Emilie Loit then Idowned Alexandra Stevenson 6-4, 6-2 in a match between substitutes. The U.S.
team, captained by Billie Jean King, salvaged a doubles victory to avoid a sweep. Navratilova, 47, extended her Fed Cup record to 39-0, teaming with Lisa Raymond to beat Loit and Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 64, 64). "Ifs bad enough losing so I just wanted to hold it up with tyreatift' idea. aclcJ ItOftllS for each gift subscription you purchase, coupon for $5 Off a future renewal. -Only one coupon may be redeemed per renewal want to give a Messenger-Inquirer subscription as a gift receive a coupon for $5.00 off a future renewal -Apt.
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