NFL Exhibition Roundup : Tomczak’s 3 Touchdown Passes Get Him BAck in Good Graces

Third-team quarterback Mike Tomczak of the Chicago Bears, the object of Coach Mike Ditka’s wrath earlier in the week, took it out on the Pittsburgh Steelers Saturday night.

Tomczak threw three touchdowns passes as the defending Super Bowl champions, showing no effects of fatigue despite playing in London only six days before, crushed the Steelers, 33-13, in an exhibition game at Pittsburgh.

With starting quarterback Jim McMahon and backup Steve Fuller watching from the sidelines, Tomczak completed 17 of 23 passes for 238 yards, including a 61-yard fourth-quarter scoring play to Thomas Sanders.

Tomczak, a second-year pro and a former Ohio State star, completed his last nine attempts in the first half, including scoring passes of 24 yards to Ken Margerum and four yards to Brian Baschnagel. The latter score came just 15 seconds before halftime and powered the Bears to a 16-6 lead.

“I got on (Tomczak) this week because he hadn’t been doing the little things,” Ditka said. “I’m very happy for Mike. He did some very good things for us; now we have to take the best from this game and go with it.”

Tomczak said he didn’t need an interpreter when Ditka delivered his less-than-subtle message to him.

“I feel like if I can just get a little confidence, I’ll feel like I can play in this league,” Tomczak said. “When someone’s not playing well around here, Coach Ditka will let you know about it. He did to me.

“I guess competition brings out the best in everybody.”

The Steelers, playing without injured running backs Frank Pollard and Walter Abercrombie, managed only 40 yards on 22 rushing attempts. Quarterbacks Mark Malone and Scott Campbell frequently were forced to throw on the run--or nearly on their backs--as the Bears’ defensive line overpowered the Steelers’ offensive line.

“Am I worried? If we played these guys every week, I’d be worried,” said Steeler Coach Chuck Noll. “I’m glad we only play them twice this year. I understand a little bit why they’re the world champions.”

San Diego 20, Dallas 0--Mark Herrmann, the understudy to Dan Fouts, directed three second-quarter scoring drives for the Chargers at San Diego.

Herrmann was 4 for 4 for 78 yards in his first two drives. Both ended in two-yard touchdown runs, the first by fullback Tim Spencer to climax a 58-yard march and the second by reserve fullback Buford McGee, ending a 54-yard drive.

The Cowboys have gone three straight games without scoring a touchdown. The Rams defeated them, 20-0, in last season’s playoffs, and the Bears beat them, 17-6, in an exhibition game at London last week.

The game marked the debut of San Diego’s new defensive scheme emphasizing stunts and blitzes. Cowboy starting quarterback Danny White, who played through the first period, was sacked three times for 35 yards in losses.

“We’re trying to develop a personality that people will respect,” said San Diego linebacker Fred Robinson, who was involved in two sacks. “We’re not going to be real rowdy or mouthy. The production is what counts, the win.”

Said Dallas Coach Tom Landry: “We played terrible. We knew we were going to have some problems. They made big plays on us, big pass plays. They moved the ball.”

Kansas City 20, Cincinnati 0--Todd Blackledge threw a 22-yard touchdown pass, and Nick Lowery kicked two field goals as the Chiefs capitalized on two turnovers in a 13-point second quarter at Kansas City.

Blackledge connected with Anthony Hancock to end a 64-yard drive that began when Art Still recovered a fumble by Bengal fullback Larry Kinnebrew.

Cincinnati quarterback Doug Gaynor, a fourth-round draft choice from Cal State Long Beach, threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Tim McGee in the third quarter, but the play was called back because of holding.

Cleveland 19, Buffalo 17--Greg Allen scored the winning touchdown for the Browns on a two-yard run with 50 seconds to play at Cleveland.

The Bills led, 17-6, after fifth-round draft choice Carl Byrum ran two yards for a touchdown less than a minute into the fourth quarter.

Mike Pagel, who followed Bernie Kosar and Jeff Christensen at quarterback for Cleveland, pulled the Browns within 17-12 when he ran one yard for a score. Pagel, obtained in an off-season trade with Indianapolis, completed 4 of 5 passes for 39 yards in the drive.

Pagel then drove the Browns 57 yards in 12 plays for the winning score after a Buffalo punt. Pagel finished with 12 completions in 16 attempts for 114 yards.

St. Louis 26, Tampa Bay 10--Cornerback Lionel Washington and linebacker Niko Noga each returned interceptions for touchdowns, and rookie John Lee from UCLA added three field goals to lead the Cardinals at Tampa, Fla.

The Buccaneers appeared listless as neither Steve Young nor Alan Risher could direct a consistent attack. Frank Middleton scored Tampa Bay’s only touchdown on a six-yard run in the final quarter.

The Cardinals went ahead, 10-0, in the second period when Noga intercepted Young’s pass over the middle and returned 15 yards untouched for a touchdown.

Young, battling veteran Steve DeBerg for the starting quarterback job, played the first half and hit on just 6 of 18 passes for 54 yards.

Green Bay 38, N.Y. Jets 14--Former University of Wisconsin running back Gary Ellerson, making his professional debut in his college stadium at Madison, Wis., scored first-half touchdowns on runs of six and 35 yards before 73,959 fans, the largest home crowd in Packer history.

The Packer defense forced five turnovers, including a 50-yard interception return by cornerback Mossy Cade in the fourth quarter for a touchdown.

Green Bay quarterback Randy Wright, also from Wisconsin, hit James Lofton on passes of 25 and 17 yards to set up the first score, a one-yard run by free agent Freddie Parker.

In the second half, the Packers scored 17 points behind Vince Ferragamo. The first score was set up by a 47-yard pass play to wide receiver Walter Stanley. Five plays and 31 yards later, Ferragamo delivered a three-yard pass to tight end Mark Lewis alone in the end zone.

Minnesota 30, Miami 16--Third-quarter interceptions by Chris Doleman and Neal Guggemos at Minneapolis helped the Vikings break open a close game against the Dolphins, who played without quarterback Dan Marino.

Tommy Kramer hit Mike Jones on a 56-yard scoring play as the Vikings took a halftime lead of 10-6. Kramer, playing only the first half, completed 9 of 22 passes for 182 yards.

Don Strock started for Miami and passed for only 31 yards in the first half. Jim Jensen, Strock’s replacement, fared better statistically, throwing for 100 yards, but was the victim of the two key interceptions.

New Orleans 10, Denver 7--Morten Andersen of the Saints kicked a 51-yard field goal for the game-winner with six minutes left at Denver.

New Orleans scored its touchdown early in the first quarter after cornerback Willie Tullis picked off a tipped John Elway pass and returned it eight yards to the Denver 14. Four plays later, fullback Wayne Wilson bolted one yard off the right side.

Denver countered six minutes later on a flea flicker play. Elway handed off to running back Sammy Winder, who in turn pitched back to Elway, who then connected with Vance Johnson on a 56-yard pass play. On the next play, Elway hit running back Gene Lang on an 11-yard pass for the tying score.