Montana Gives Chargers a Headache : AFC: Despite suffering a concussion on previous play, he completes go-ahead touchdown pass in Chiefs’ 28-24 victory.
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.
Montana, almost knocked out of the game on the previous play, was unaware that he raised his arms in the touchdown signal while lying flat on his back after completing the go-ahead touchdown pass to J.J. Birden in the third quarter.
“I don’t remember doing that,” Montana said. “It was probably just instinct.”
On the previous play, Junior Seau flattened Montana, who went to the sideline as the Chiefs took a 40-second timeout. He returned to complete a four-yard scoring pass to Birden that gave the Chiefs a 21-17 lead.
After the pass to Birden, Montana was taken to the locker room with what the team said was a mild concussion. He was there when Dave Krieg connected with Willie Davis on a 28-yard touchdown pass play in the fourth quarter that turned out to be the difference. Montana returned for the Chiefs’ final two series.
“Someone just hit me in the head. I don’t know who,” Montana said. “It knocked me woozy a little bit, so they made me come out. Luckily, it cleared up and I went in for the next play.”
After a horrendous start, the Chiefs trailed the Chargers, 17-0, after the first play of the second quarter.
“You don’t spot many people in this league 17 points and come back and win. I don’t care who they are,” said Chief Coach Marty Schottenheimer.
Said San Diego Coach Bobby Ross, whose quarterback, Stan Humphries, was sidelined because of a mild concussion in the first quarter. “It was a very tough loss for us,” “They came back after being down, 17-0. That’s a difficult thing to do.”
San Diego (6-8) lost its eighth consecutive regular-season game to Kansas City even though the Chiefs’ first five plays from scrimmage netted an interception, an incompletion, a fumble, a one-yard gain and a four-yard loss on a sack.
On the first play of the second quarter, Duane Young caught a three-yard touchdown pass from John Friesz for a 17-0 lead that quieted the crowd of nearly 75,000 and appeared to put the Chiefs’ hopes for their first AFC West crown since 1971 in doubt.
Donald Frank intercepted Montana’s first pass and returned it 15 yards to the Chiefs’ 30. On third and eight, Ronnie Harmon was wide open in the end zone for Humphries’ 28-yard touchdown pass.
Marcus Allen’s fumble a moment later was recovered by Gary Plummer on the Chiefs’ 26 and four plays later, John Carney’s 38-yard field goal made the score 10-0 only 3:47 into the game.
The Chiefs reacted with a 14-play, 77-yard drive as Montana not only found his missing passing touch but scrambled 17 yards on third and 15. A 13-yard pass interference penalty on Darren Carrington gave the Chiefs a first and goal from the one, and Allen scored his 15th touchdown.
Montana moved the Chiefs 66 yards in eight plays to pull within 17-14. He got the drive started with a 29-yard gain to Willie Davis, then found Keith Cash for 14. Davis beat Donald Frank in the end zone on a nine-yard touchdown pass with 2:16 left in the half.