J J Birden

Kicker Norm Johnson returned to form and the Seattle Seahawks' defense displayed its finest form Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Johnson, who has struggled this season, kicked four field goals and the Seahawks limited Christian Okoye and Barry Word to a combined 66 yards rushing for a 19-7 victory.

With no Joe Montana, the Kansas City Chiefs needed the defense to provide some offense. So nose tackle Dan Saleaumua took over. Saleaumua picked up a fumble and ran 16 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter. The ball had been stripped from Brett Favre by Derrick Thomas to start the Chiefs on a 17-point run that sent them to a 23-16 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Monday night.

Joe Montana seems to always have his way with the Atlanta Falcons and doesn't seem to know why. "I have no idea," he said Sunday night after passing for a Georgia Dome record 361 and two touchdowns, leading Kansas City to a 30-10 victory over the Falcons. "I wish I knew." Montana completed 28 of 39 passes, including touchdown passes of 13 and 34 yards to J.J.

Sometimes when it's cold and wet, it doesn't matter who makes the most mistakes. It's who makes the worst mistake. The Kansas City Chiefs held Natrone Means to 55 yards in 21 carries. They forced a swarm of San Diego turnovers. But the most critical error on a gray day turned out to be the last, and the Chargers (8-2) were grateful for a 14-13 victory Sunday that put them two games ahead of the Chiefs (6-4) in the AFC West.

Woozy, wobbly and fighting a headache, Joe Montana still completed Kansas City's comeback from a 17-0 deficit Sunday. As a result of their 28-24 victory over San Diego, the Chiefs (10-4) remained tied with Houston and Buffalo for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs and maintained their one-game lead over the Raiders and Denver Broncos in the AFC West.

Al Del Greco might be small but he proved to the Kansas City Chiefs that he can make the big kicks. The 5-foot-10 Del Greco ignored the taunts of the Chiefs to kick a 39-yard field goal in overtime Sunday and give the Houston Oilers a 23-20 victory. "Neil Smith was jawing at me and started calling me 'Pee Wee,' " Del Greco said. "After I made it I kind of mouthed something to him. As big as he is, it probably wasn't very smart."

In a classic game between classic quarterbacks, it all came down to the final two minutes. And after John Elway produced one of his trademark drives, Joe Montana answered it. Montana threw his third touchdown pass of the game, a five-yarder to Willie Davis with eight seconds left Monday night, giving the Kansas City Chiefs a 31-28 victory over the Denver Broncos before 75,151. First, it was Elway, leading Denver on a 39-yard, six-play drive.

Even battered and bruised, Joe Montana is still the best. Montana threw his third touchdown pass of the game, a five-yarder to Willie Davis with eight seconds left, lifting the Kansas City Chiefs to a 31-28 victory over the Denver Broncos on Monday night.

Craig Janney, who left the St. Louis Blues last month in a dispute over playing time, was traded Monday to the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Jeff Norton, a fourth-round draft choice in 1997 and future considerations. The center, 27, who was third on the Blues in scoring last season with 16 goals and 68 assists, is scheduled to earn $2 million next season, which was a stumbling block in trade discussions.

Kansas City Coach Marty Schottenheimer could not explain why the Chiefs played so badly in their 28-7 loss to the Raiders at the Coliseum. After defeating the Raiders six consecutive times and entering Sunday's game with a four-game winning streak, Schottenheimer's team was dominated. "I wouldn't say that we were flat," he said. "But I don't have any idea why we couldn't make the plays." From the opening kickoff, Kansas City's spell on the Raiders seemed to be over.