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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, December 4, 2006

Cowboys' Gramatica kicks winner in debut

Advertiser News Services

NFL HAWAI'I

P Mat McBriar, Cowboys (University of Hawai'i), 2 punts, 46.0 average, long of 50, 1 inside 20

WR Ashley Lelie, Falcons (UH), 2 catches, 17 yards, long of 9

LB Kawika Mitchell, Chiefs (Honolulu-born), 9 initial tackles, 2 assists, 1 interception (23-yard return)

DE Travis LaBoy, Titans (UH), 2 initial tackles

CB Aaron Francisco, Cardinals (Kahuku High), 3 initial tackles

LB Pisa Tinoisamoa, Rams (UH), 1 initial tackle, 1 assisted tackle

LB Jeff Ulbrich, 49ers (UH), 2 initial tackles, 1 assisted tackle

DT Isa'ako Sopoaga, 49ers (UH), 1 initial tackle

DE Kimo von Oelhoffen, Jets (Moloka'i High), 1 initial tackle

K Jason Elam, Broncos (UH), 2 for 2 field goals, long of 41; 2 for 2 extra points; 1 rush for 2 yards on a fake field-goal attempt.

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Queen and David Bowie's "Under Pressure" blared from the Giants Stadium speaker system as Martin Gramatica walked out on the field with six seconds to play yesterday.

The song's memorable beat picked up again when the New York Giants called a timeout in attempt to ice the kicker as the temperatures dipped into the 30s and the crowd of 78,666 roared even louder.

But Gramatica, signed by the Dallas Cowboys last Monday to replace Mike Vanderjagt, the NFL's most accurate kicker in history, was oblivious.

Gramatica calmly, coolly and confidently kicked a 46-yard field goal with one second left to give the Cowboys a 23-20 victory over the Giants and putting his new team in excellent playoff position with a month to play.

"It's hard to believe," Gramatica said. "I just thank God that I am here. That is all that I have been wanting and I haven't really been able to get a second chance. This is my second chance, and I want to take advantage of it."

When his new teammates saw him at practice, they were struck at how small he was (5-8, 190 pounds) and how his practice jersey was two sizes too big for him. But they also noticed how he did not miss a kick during practice, something Vanderjagt, who will earn $3.3 million from the Cowboys this year, hardly did.

"His first game back in the league for a while and that kick, you know you can't get much more pressure than that for the division lead," coach Bill Parcells said. "He did a good job. I told him he was making me look good."

And the Cowboys are looking good, too.

At 8-4 with four games to play they have a two-game lead in the NFC East over the slumping Giants (6-6). They have won four straight games, their longest streak since Parcells' first year (2003) when they last made the postseason.

BEARS 23, VIKINGS 13

CHICAGO — Devin Hester ran into the record book again, Ricky Manning Jr. returned an interception for a touchdown, and the Chicago Bears claimed their second straight NFC North title.

Hester tied an NFL record with his fourth touchdown return, and Manning ran back an interception 54 yards to lead Chicago.

Chicago (10-2) has a five-game lead on the Vikings (5-7) with four games remaining, and also has the NFC's best record by two games.

TITANS 20, COLTS 17

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Rob Bironas kicked a 60-yard field goal — the franchise's longest in history — with 7 seconds left, and the Titans beat the Colts for the first time since December 2002.

The team that tied for the NFL's second-biggest comeback in the final 10 minutes last week against the New York Giants struck again against the Colts (10-2), who had lost only four of their previous 36 games.

The Titans (5-7) didn't trail by 21 this time, but they were down 14-0 in the first half before starting this comeback just before halftime. They intercepted Peyton Manning twice, and Vince Young threw for two touchdowns.

SEAHAWKS 23, BRONCOS 20

DENVER — Josh Brown tied an NFL single-season record with his fourth winning field goal in the final minute, nailing a 50-yarder with 4 seconds left to give Seattle the win.

Rookie defensive lineman Darryl Tapp returned Jay Cutler's first interception 25 yards for a touchdown and the Seahawks (8-4) took advantage of five turnovers to send the Broncos (7-5) to their third straight loss.

Denver lost middle linebacker Al Wilson to a sprained neck in the fourth quarter, and kicker Jason Elam, a University of Hawai'i alum, appeared to hurt his left leg on a fake field goal run just before halftime.

JETS 38, PACKERS 10

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Chad Pennington and the Jets took apart the Packers' defense and stoked their hopes of an improbable playoff run.

Pennington put together three touchdown drives of 70 yards or more in the second quarter and the Jets (7-5) cruised.

New York built a 31-0 halftime lead over Green Bay (4-8). Pennington, who was 25 of 35 for 263 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, connected with eight receivers.

FALCONS 24, REDSKINS 14

LANDOVER, Md. — The Falcons (6-6) faced a big first-half deficit and were headed toward their fifth straight loss. Then came a 24-point rally, highlighted by a pair of big plays in the open field.

Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn? Nope. Defensive lineman Chauncey Davis and rookie running back Jerious Norwood.

Davis' 41-yard rumble after his first career interception set up one touchdown, and Norwood's moves embarrassed several would-be tacklers on a 69-touchdown run.

Washington is 4-8.

CARDINALS 34, RAMS 20

ST. LOUIS — Marcel Shipp scored three touchdowns, Edgerrin James had 115 yards rushing, and Matt Leinart won for the second time in seven pro starts for Arizona (3-9), capitalizing on the Rams' season-high 126 yards in penalties.

Marc Bulger threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns, but also had three interceptions to add to woes that contributed to a sixth loss in seven games for the Rams (5-7).

CHARGERS 24, BILLS 21

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — LaDainian Tomlinson had 178 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns, helping the Chargers (10-2) extend their winning streak to six. It was Tomlinson's sixth straight 100-yard game and seventh of the season.

With a 51-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, Tomlinson joined Eric Dickerson as the second NFL player to reach 1,200 yards rushing in each of his first six NFL seasons.

Buffalo is 5-7.

STEELERS 20, BUCCANEERS 3

PITTSBURGH — The NFL's most mistake-prone team didn't do much on offense for the second week in a row, but it didn't make much difference as the Steelers capitalized on repeated Tampa Bay mistakes.

Ben Roethlisberger bounced back from one of the worst games of his three-season career to throw touchdown passes to two tight ends — both times after the Bucs (3-9) turned over the ball.

The Steelers (5-7) began the game with a league-high 30 turnovers, but this time limited themselves to one giveaway, while Tampa Bay gave away the ball four times.

PATRIOTS 28, LIONS 21

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Corey Dillon's three short touchdown runs overcame 10 penalties, four turnovers and a safety. The Patriots (9-3) didn't lead in the second half until Dillon scored on a 4-yard run with 2:33 left.

The Lions (2-10) have the NFL's worst record over the last six years at 23-69.

TEXANS 23, RAIDERS 14

OAKLAND, Calif. — Houston (4-8) didn't complete a pass in the second half, finished the game with negative yards passing and somehow found a way to win. Demarcus Faggins scored on a 58-yard fumble return and Houston used two long returns and a pair of fumbles by Randal Williams to set up 16 more points in the second half.

The Raiders are 2-10.

BROWNS 31, CHIEFS 28

CLEVELAND — Derek Anderson, Cleveland's backup quarterback, threw two touchdown passes in the final nine minutes of regulation and ran 33 yards in overtime to set up Phil Dawson's 33-yard field goal. Cleveland is 4-8, Kansas City 7-5.

JAGUARS 24, DOLPHINS 10

MIAMI — David Garrard passed for 229 yards and two scores for the Jaguars (7-5), who won for the second time on the road and ended a four-game win streak by the Dolphins (5-7), likely ensuring Miami will miss the playoffs for the fifth year in a row.

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