FOR USE AS DESIRED
POW-18              1/8/03

49ERS QB JEFF GARCIA, JETS LB MO LEWIS

& STEELERS PR ANTWAAN RANDLE EL

NAMED NFL PLAYERS OF WILD CARD WEEK

Quarterback JEFF GARCIA of the San Francisco 49ers, linebacker MO LEWIS of the New York Jets and punt returner ANTWAAN RANDLE EL of the Pittsburgh Steelers are the NFL Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Wild Card Weekend (January 4-5), the NFL announced today.

Garcia led the 49ers to a thrilling 39-38 comeback win over the New York Giants, helping the home team erase a 24-point deficit (38-14) en route to the win.  The comeback was the second largest in NFL playoff history, trailing only the 1992 Buffalo Bills, who erased a 35-3 Houston Oilers lead (32 points) on the way to a 41-38 overtime Wild Card win.

Garcia completed 27 of 44 attempts for 331 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for a 97.8 passer rating.  He also added 60 yards rushing, averaging 8.6 yards per carry, including a 14-yard touchdown run.  Garcia’s 331-yard passing game tied JOE MONTANA for the third-highest playoff total in franchise history.

Trailing 38-14 late in the third quarter, Garcia led the 49ers to scoring drives on the club’s final four possessions, culminating the comeback with a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver TAI STREETS.

“Plain and simple, Jeff Garcia makes plays when they count,” said Giants linebacker DHANI JONES.  “If he doesn’t do it with his arm, he does it with his feet.  The man is quite a player.”  

The Jets’ Lewis played a central role in the team’s 41-0 shutout victory over the Indianapolis Colts to kick off Wild Card Weekend on Saturday.  The 12-year Jets veteran tied cornerback RAY MICKENS for the team-high in tackles for the day with seven, including three solos and one for a four-yard loss at the Jets’ 23-yard line which led to a missed Indianapolis field-goal attempt in the first quarter.

Lewis and his defensive teammates posted the franchise’s first playoff shutout and tied the second-largest shutout victory in NFL playoff history (NY Giants 41, Minnesota 0, 2000 NFC Championship). 

“I’m very proud of our defense,” said Jets defensive coordinator TED COTRELL.  “We’ve come a long way from what we were before.

“If you stick together, believe in each other, believe in what you’re doing, keep the faith and keep working hard, then dividends will pay.”

In the past 10 games, Lewis and the Jets’ defense have allowed per-game averages of 14.3 points and 281.9 yards. 

Pittsburgh rookie punt returner Randle El helped kick-start the Steelers, who would eventually come back from a 17-point third-quarter deficit to defeat the Cleveland Browns 36-33.

With Pittsburgh trailing 14-0 in the second quarter, Randle El fielded a punt on the Steelers’ 34-yard line, cut to the outside and outran the Browns’ punt coverage unit on a 66-yard touchdown return to ignite the home crowd.  Randle El’s score was the team’s lone first-half points before the Steelers charged back to advance to Tennessee in this week’s AFC Divisional Playoff game.

“He made big plays for us,” said Pittsbugh head coach BILL COWHER of Randle El.  “The guy is a play-maker, he is a football player.  I can’t say enough about him.  We have a lot of confidence in him.”

The touchdown was Randle El’s first in the NFL on a punt return.  He returned a kickoff 99 yards for a score during the regular season.