BRISTOL, Connecticut - Fighting for the AFC's final
wild card, the Denver Broncos got physical.
Defensive end Reggie Hayward recorded three sacks as the Broncos
roughed up Billy Volek in an important 37-16 victory over the
Tennessee Titans on Saturday night.
Entering the day one of four teams tied for the final wild card,
the Broncos (9-6) moved one-half game ahead of Baltimore,
Jacksonville and Buffalo.
On Sunday, the Ravens visit the AFC North champion Pittsburgh
Steelers (13-1); the Bills play at San Francisco (2-12) and the
Jaguars host the Houston Texans (6-8).
Hayward led a dominant effort by the Broncos' defense which
sacked Volek five times before knocking him out early in the
fourth quarter with an injured left knee. Denver had six sacks
overall.
"We wanted to bounce back," Hayward said. "We got embarrassed
last week."
Volek entered the Christmas night game on fire, throwing for 918
yards with eight touchdowns in the last two games. But he
completed just 8-of-20 passes for 111 yards and two
interceptions before being driven from the contest.
While Volek struggled, Jake Plummer finally found his game. He
had thrown just one touchdown pass and eight interceptions in
the last three games.
But Plummer shredded the Titans, completing all eight of his
passes in the first quarter for 130 yards and a touchdown. He
went 21-of-26 overall for 303 yards with two touchdowns and an
interception.
"I'm just happy we got a win," Plummer said. "Hey, I can
actually say merry Christmas now and mean it."
"For him to come back and fight the way he did under the
circumstances, I was pleased," said Broncos coach Mike Shanahan,
who won his 100th regular-season game.
Reuben Droughns rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns and also
had a TD reception for Denver.
Antowain Smith rushed for a touchdown for the Titans (4-11), who
lost their fifth straight game.
In the other Christmas Day game, Dante Hall's 49-yard kickoff
set up Lawrence Tynes' 38-yard field goal with 22 seconds
remaining as the Kansas City Chiefs posted a wild 31-30 victory
over the Oakland Raiders.
Ryan Longwell's 29-yard field goal as time expired lifted the
Green Bay Packers (9-6) to a 34-31 victory over the Minnesota
Vikings on Friday in a showdown for the NFC North title.
Despite the loss, the Vikings (8-7) still hold the NFC's first
wild-card spot and can clinch a playoff berth this weekend with
losses by either Carolina or St. Louis.
Carolina (6-8) plays at Tampa Bay (5-9) on Sunday and St. Louis
(6-8) hosts Philadelphia (13-1) on Monday night.