PRO FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT : COMMITMENT TO YESTERDAY

The Raiders have a competent quarterback, a decent halfback, an Olympic relay team of receivers, a terrific defensive line and all-world cornerbacks.

So why do they once again need a late-season rally to snag a wild-card spot?

According to former Philadelphia Eagle quarterback Ron Jaworski, who specializes in film study for ESPN, the answer lies in their design.

“The Raiders’ vertical stretch offense just doesn’t give the quarterback enough options,” Jaworski said last week. “There are few NFL offenses as poorly designed as the Raiders’ offense.

“Believe me, I’d have migraines, too, playing in this offense. . . .

“I went back to their first game against the Chargers and timed every one of Jeff Hostetler’s drops from the snap to how long it takes him to throw the football. The majority of the time it took him 3 1/2-4 seconds to throw the football.

“You say, what does that mean? Well, in the NFL in a conventional-style offense, on a three-step drop you throw the ball in 1.5 seconds. In a five-step drop, you throw the ball in 2.1 seconds. In a seven-step drop, you throw the ball in 2.7 seconds. He’s holding on to the ball for almost four seconds! You can’t last in the NFL playing quarterback if you’re holding the ball for four seconds!”

Funny, he should say that. Hostetler was sacked five times Sunday, giving the Raiders 42, second-worst in the AFC.

The grand design for the Raider offense, of course, was laid down in the ‘60s by managing partner Al Davis.

Acknowledging his own concerns, Davis hoped Mike Shanahan could bring “a freshness” to the Raider scheme when he hired him in 1988. However, Davis fired Shanahan in 1989 and promoted Art Shell, who announced a return to Raider Ball: “You may know where we are but we know where you are too.”

Shanahan is now the offensive coordinator in San Francisco, where he has helped freshen the 49ers. The Raiders are back in the wild-card hunt.

PLAYOFF PICTURE MADE EASY

In the NFC, the 49ers (12-2) and Cowboys (11-3) have clinched their division titles. The 49ers have also clinched a first-round bye.

If the Vikings (9-5) defeat Detroit next Sunday, they clinch the division title.

The Lions (8-6) and Bears (8-6) can clinch a playoff berth with two victories, amid other combinations.

If the Packers (7-7) win their remaining games, they clinch the playoffs. The Giants, Cardinals and Eagles, all 7-7, are still alive.

In the AFC, the Steelers (11-3) and Browns (10-4) have clinched playoff berths.

The Chargers (9-5), assured of a better record against AFC West competition than the Raiders, need one victory to clinch the division title.

The Dolphins (8-5) can clinch a playoff berth with a victory tonight.

The Raiders (8-6) and Patriots (8-6) can get in with two victories and one loss by the Chiefs, among other combinations. If the Raiders and Patriots are tied for the final playoff spot, the Raiders would advance.

The Chiefs (7-6) can make the playoffs by winning their remaining games.

The Bills (7-7) and Broncos (7-7) are still alive.

BIG D AS IN D-PRESSED

For Jimmy Johnson and anyone else who enjoyed seeing Jerry Jones’ look of horror as he jumped up and down on the sideline only to discover that Jay Novacek hadn’t gotten into the end zone at the end of the Dallas Cowboys’ 19-14 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, it was a good week, indeed.

The 49ers need one victory in two games to make sure any rematch will be in San Francisco.

“As far as I’m concerned, getting a first-round bye is the most important thing,” Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman said. “We’ve been hearing about playing San Francisco in the championship game since the playoffs. We’ve played out there before and won.

“Maybe we won’t even have to play San Francisco. Who knows?”

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR. . . .

Randall Cunningham, spared the ax by Coach Rich Kotite, got to start against the Pittsburgh Steelers, after all. Lucky him.

Cunningham completed nine of 27 passes for a career-low 59 yards and threw another costly fourth-quarter interception as the Eagles lost for the fifth time in a row after a 7-2 start.

Last Monday, Kotite, reportedly only weeks away from getting the ax himself, suggested he’d start backup Bubby Brister, saying he was “keeping my options open,” noting Cunningham hadn’t seen an open receiver on the interception the Cowboys’ Darren Woodson returned 94 yards for a touchdown the day before.

The droll Brister regaled the press with an account of how he handled life as a reserve (“I drink lots of beer”) but didn’t think it was so funny when Kotite then announced, in a written release, that Randall would be back in there.

“On the basis of Monday’s press conference, when there were mixed interpretations as to my remarks concerning our quarterback situation,” wrote Kotite, “I am making a statement that should be understood by everyone: Randall Cunningham is the starting quarterback this Sunday in Pittsburgh.”

Sunday the Eagles trailed, 7-3, in the fourth quarter when Cunningham overthrew Calvin Williams and hit safety Darren Perry, who returned it to the Philadelphia 17, setting up the second touchdown.

Cunningham will need divine intervention to hold his job this week. Try this for a scenario:

Randall gets benched, gets upset and gets traded in the off-season to Arizona where Buddy Ryan, his old Eagle coach, is planning to purge his Cardinal quarterbacks as soon as he can find replacements.

STILL IN THE CHASE, IF THEY CAN USE THEIR CANES

The four-time defending AFC champion Buffalo Bills, needing a victory at home to keep pace with the Raiders and New England Patriots, lost to the Vikings, 21-17.

The Bills (7-7) haven’t won two games in a row since September.

“I’m sure we can recover,” said cornerback Thomas Smith. “You all know we can recover. I guess nobody’s seen the Bills’ backs against the wall this far, but we still have a chance.”

They’re going to have to do a lot of recovering, indeed.

Quarterback Jim Kelly was carted off the field with 1:29 left because of a knee injury and left the locker room in a wheelchair.

Halfback Thurman Thomas, held to 50 yards in 16 carries, left because of a hamstring pull in the first quarter, returned in the second half but went down with another leg injury before the end of the game.

INJURIES

Kelly suffered strained ligaments in his left knee. The knee was X-rayed and then immobilized in a soft cast. Results of the X-rays were not available. . . . Steeler halfback Bam Morris left in the second half because of leg injury. X-rays were negative. . . . Eagle defensive end Burt Grossman left because of bruised ribs and a sprained right ankle.

QUOTEWORTHY

“I wouldn’t trade my hands for anybody’s hands. I wish I could trade my speed for somebody’s speed but I wouldn’t trade my hands.”

--Viking receiver Cris Carter, who caught nine passes to draw within one of Sterling Sharpe’s season record of 112.

“If you saw ‘Jurassic Park,’ it’s like they talked about the raptors--one gets your attention and another one gets you.”

--Steeler linebacker Greg Lloyd, on Pittsburgh’s blitzing defense.

“I thought it was just fun to scream at the coach and get away with it.”

--49er quarterback Steve Young on the hot streak that started with his tantrum after being pulled in a 40-8 rout by the Eagles.

NOTEWORTHY

Viking wide receiver Cris Carter will tie Sterling Sharpe’s single-season reception record with one catch. He caught nine passes Sunday, giving him 111 receptions for the season. Sharpe established the single-season record last year. . . . We refuse to use “From Sharpe minds” here. This will be be a sterling noteworthy: Sterling Sharpe extended his club record to 101 consecutive games with at least one reception. He also started for the 110th game in a row. He hasn’t missed a start since joining the Packers as a first-round selection out of South Carolina in 1988. Sharpe’s seven catches moved him past Mark Clayton into 16th place on the all-time list with 583 catches. . . . What about MeShon Johnson? Packer cornerback KeShon Johnson made the first interception of his career Sunday. Packer rookie running back LeShon Johnson, who had 57 yards rushing coming into the game, broke a career-best 43-yarder in the fourth quarter. Johnson led the nation in rushing last season at Northern Illinois. . . . Jim Kelly’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Pete Metzelaars in the first quarter for Buffalo was the 200th of his career. He is the 18th quarterback in NFL history to reach 200. . . . Andre Reed caught two passes, giving him 81 for the season. He needs eight to break his club record of 88, set in 1989. . . . Plus, he keeps the Patriots nice and warm: Ben Coates set the Patriot single-season record with 88 receptions. His six catches Sunday put him ahead of Stanley Morgan’s 84 in 1986. His 68 yards gave him 1,089 for the season, moving him from third to second on the Patriot single-season list. Morgan set the record of 1,491 in 1986. . . . The Patriots moved closer to becoming the first NFL team with at least five players catching at least 50 passes in the same season. Kevin Turner became the fourth with two receptions for a total of 50. Coates has 88, Michael Timpson 67 and Leroy Thompson 59. Vincent Brisby’s four catches gave him 48 with two games left. . . . Wait a second, Fritz Coleman said there would be no more eclipses till the turn of the century: Drew Bledsoe needs 50 completions in his last two games to break Warren Moon’s single-season record of 404 set in 1991. . . . Rodney Hampton’s 76 yards moved him into second place on the Giant rushing list with 4,655 yards, surpassing Alex Webster, who had 4,638. Joe Morris is first with 5,296. . . . No running back has 100 yards against Pittsburgh since Seattle’s Chris Warren in the fourth game of the season. . . . Pittsburgh’s 11-3 start is its best since the 1979 Steelers--the last of their four Super Bowl champions--had the same record. . . . It was Jerry Rice’s 48th game of 100 yards or more. That puts him two behind Don Maynard’s record of 50. . . . Steve Young threw two touchdown passes to tie the 49ers’ record of 31 set by Joe Montana in 1987. . . . Coming soon--Jim Varney in Ernest Plays Football: Ernest Givins’ 78-yard punt return for a touchdown was the first by an Oiler since Billy (White Shoes) Johnson’s 72-yard return against Cleveland on Dec. 11, 1977.

Tonight’s Game

Miami at Kansas City

6 p.m., Channel 7 There is a chance that quarterback Joe Montana will be able to play for the Chiefs, but he won’t be evaluated until shortly before the game.

The Chiefs (7-6) lost to the Broncos in overtime last week, but backup quarterback Steve Bono completed 18 of 37 passes for 323 yards and a touchdown in Montana’s place. Marcus Allen accepted part of the blame for Kansas City’s loss last week because of his costly fumble. Still, the Chiefs probably will rely on Allen to offset any pressure that the quarterback gets. But the strength of the Dolphin defense has been stopping the run.

The Chiefs, who have lost three of four games, also need to get more points inside their opponent’s 20-yard line. The Chiefs have been inside the 20 of their opponent 17 times in the last seven games. Those turned into only six touchdowns and 11 field goals.

On the other hand, opponents have been inside the Chiefs’ 20-yard line 19 times in those games and scored 12 touchdowns and five field goals.

The ball didn’t bounce right for the Dolphins (8-5) much last week. The Dolphins have lost four of five games and Don Shula might even miss the game because of an injury to his Achilles’ tendon that is similar to Dan Marino’s.

They had a 17-7 halftime lead and ended up losing, 42-31, to the Bills. The Dolphin offense has not had a reliable running game for three weeks--that will have to change to keep the pressure off Marino.

Pro Football Spotlight compiled by Mark Heisler, Ara Najarian, Bob Cuomo and Houston Mitchell.

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THE PLAYOFF RACES

In each conference, the three division winners, plus the three teams with the best record among non-division winners, advance to postseason play. AMERICAN CONFERENCE

TEAM DIV. W L T Pct. PF PA Pittsburgh Steelers* Central 11 3 0 .786 265 190 San Diego Chargers* West 9 5 0 .643 323 266 Miami Dolphins* East 8 5 0 .615 311 269 Cleveland Browns Central 10 4 0 .714 298 178 Raiders West 8 6 0 .571 277 292 New England Patriots East 8 6 0 .571 297 292 Kansas City Chiefs West 7 6 0 .538 241 235 Buffalo Bills East 7 7 0 .500 314 305 Denver Broncos West 7 7 0 .500 300 324 New York Jets East 6 8 0 .429 248 275 Indianapolis Colts East 6 8 0 .429 287 305 Seattle Seahawks West 6 8 0 .429 262 271 Cincinnati Bengals Central 2 12 0 .143 236 340 Houston Oilers Central 1 13 0 .071 193 311

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

TEAM DIV. W L T Pct. PF PA San Francisco 49ers** West 12 2 0 .857 449 256 Dallas Cowboys** East 11 3 0 .786 380 217 Minnesota Vikings* Central 9 5 0 .643 316 259 Detroit Lions Central 8 6 0 .571 296 296 Chicago Bears Central 8 6 0 .571 241 281 Green Bay Packers Central 7 7 0 .500 327 251 New York Giants East 7 7 0 .500 248 282 Arizona Cardinals East 7 7 0 .500 201 250 Philadelphia Eagles East 7 7 0 .500 265 269 New Orleans Saints West 6 8 0 .429 302 355 Atlanta Falcons West 6 8 0 .429 290 358 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Central 5 9 0 .357 215 303 Rams West 4 10 0 .286 252 314 Washington Redskins East 2 12 0 .143 282 374

* Leads division; Cinched division.

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TOP PERFORMANCES PASSING

Player, Team Att. Cmp. Yds. TD STAN HUMPHRIES, Chargers 43 25 337 1 STEVE YOUNG, 49ers 32 25 304 2 HEATH SHULER, Redskins 27 16 286 1 JEFF GEORGE, Falcons 42 25 284 1 DREW BLEDSOE, Patriots 45 25 277 2 JIM EVERETT, Saints 31 18 273 2 WARREN MOON, Vikings 34 21 261 0 BRETT FAVRE, Packers 31 19 250 3 HUGH MILLEN, Broncos 33 20 242 0 JAY SCHROEDER, Cardinals 25 16 216 1 JEFF HOSTETLER, Raiders 31 16 211 1

RECEIVING

Player, Team Rec. Yds. TD HENRY ELLARD, Redskins 8 191 1 CHARLES WILSON, Buccaneers 4 176 2 TONY MARTIN, Chargers 9 172 1 JERRY RICE, 49ers 12 144 0 CRIS CARTER, Vikings 9 111 0 ROBERT BROOKS, Packers 6 105 1

RUSHING

Player, Team Car. Yds. TD CHRIS WARREN, Seahawks 30 185 1 ERRICT RHETT, Buccaneers 31 119 1 EDGAR BENNETT, Packers 22 106 1 JOHN L. WILLIAMS, Steelers 20 94 1 TERRY ALLEN, Vikings 25 90 1