Result Is Official, in More Ways Than One

A review of Week 7 in the NFL, and a correction, please.

Upon further review, the Colts defeated the 49ers on Sunday, 31-20, and the officials apologize for throwing the game.

Adjust the standings accordingly.

The 12th Man

The NFL probably would frown on the 49ers awarding the officials game balls for their contribution in rallying to defeat the Colts, but that doesn’t mean the league wasn’t thrilled with the final result.

This year, with the exception of Minnesota, the NFC sits devoid of quality football teams, as evidenced by declining Fox ratings. Tag another loss on the 49ers, and that Green Bay-San Francisco game in two weeks--one of the few quality NFC games on the schedule--loses some luster.

Say Again

The 49ers were favored by 18 points, won by three, and Coach Steve Mariucci gushed after the game, “We just witnessed one of the great comeback wins.�

Some saw it differently.

“It was horrible, a horrible job,� said Colt Coach Jim Mora after a pair of officiating calls led to 14 points for the 49ers.

Defensive back Jeff Burris’ 70-yard interception return was wiped out when an official ruled that Burris had held a 49er receiver in the end zone, although replays showed something quite different. Replays also showed an official staring intently at a play and signaling no catch by 49er wide receiver J.J. Stokes, indicating he had not kept his feet in the end zone. But after consultation from other officials and a great deal of San Francisco whining, he changed his call, awarding a touchdown.

“This will go down as one of the all-time best finishes,� said Mariucci, who doesn’t get many chances to watch other games.

Next Time, Make It Free

There’s some doubt that if the doors were flung open and there was no charge to watch the Oilers at work they would attract a full stadium.

Even Chocolate the Mouse, one of the Beanie Babies, wasn’t enough enticement for the folks in Nashville to surrender their Sunday to their new team, the disappointing Oilers. The Oilers attracted 33,288 to watch them play the Bengals in the 41,089-seat Vanderbilt Stadium.

Babies Grow Up

Indianapolis’ Peyton Manning, San Diego’s Ryan Leaf and Detroit’s Charlie Batch, the quarterback-poor NFL’s great hopes for better days ahead, struck a blow for optimism this week. They had a combined quarterback rating of 111.9, completing 43 of 68 passes for 532 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions.

OK, So Baby Steps

June Jones took over for Kevin Gilbride in San Diego, but he failed to turn over a new Leaf.

Leaf passed for 83 yards, but lost 55 on sacks and has now thrown 148 times since his last--and only--touchdown pass.

P.S. The Chargers also maintained their one-touchdown-a-game pace under Jones, and now have played 10 straight with the offense having scored no more than one touchdown.

Short, But Oh-So-Tall

Doug Flutie, his two NFL stints separated by eight years nine months and three days, rejected a $1-million contract to stay in Canada to accept $275,000--plus a $50,000 bonus--to play in the NFL again with Buffalo.

When Flutie arrived in Buffalo and learned the Bills had traded for Rob Johnson to be their starter, he admitted he had no idea who Johnson was and went to the store and bought football magazines to study up.

Now he’s the Bills’ starter, the best story going in the NFL.

“That’s because people like underdogs,� said Flutie, now 10-5 as a starter in the NFL.

Especially really, really short underdogs.

Keep This in Mind

The Vikings are undefeated and, for the fourth time in Coach Dennis Green’s tenure are in first place in the division. They were tied for second on two other occasions after five games. At some point, someone is going to let Green in on a secret--it’s a 16-game season.

Four times in the last six years the Vikings have lost more games than they have won in the last 11 games.

The Race Is on

Now that Gilbride has been dismissed, who is the next to go? Ray Rhodes in Philadelphia? Or Ted Marchibroda in Baltimore? Norv Turner in Washington?

Favorite: Marchibroda.

Marchibroda, who found success in Indianapolis with quarterback Jim Harbaugh, has been unable to duplicate the feat in Baltimore with Vinny Testaverde, Harbaugh and Eric Zeier.

Last week the Ravens scored eight points, this week six after Marchibroda showed serious signs of panic, shuffling Zeier and Harbaugh in and out. The Ravens haven’t scored a touchdown in 19 quarters, and Marchibroda’s strength is his offensive knowledge.

The Ravens play the Packers next.

There’s Always Someone Worse Off

The 0-7 Redskins are are being criticized now by their own coach.

Turner reportedly suggested during a halftime tirade that some of his players were quitters in Washington’s 41-7 loss to Minnesota.

Just some?

“That’s as poor a performance as I can say I’ve ever been involved with,� said Turner, in the coaching business since 1975.

The Redskins have a bye this week.

“I could use three byes,� said cornerback Darrell Green. “If we could buy someone else’s bye, I’d take it.�

Take a Bow

* Chicago Coach Dave Wannstedt somehow has kept the Bears’ attention and dedication, and although the Cowboys reside in the NFC Least Division, a win of any sorts for the Bears is to be celebrated.

* New York Giant quarterback Danny Kanell threw for three touchdowns and 259 yards. That is no misprint.

* Trent Dilfer threw a tantrum at halftime, but unlike his passes, it was not off target. Dilfer fired up the Buccaneers and kept them in the playoff hunt with a comeback victory.