Motivation No Problem for Greene Against Steelers

Week 17 and the questions:

1. Why should Pittsburgh Steeler quarterbacks Mike Tomczak and Kordell Stewart be particularly wary of Carolina Panther linebacker Kevin Greene today?

2. How about that 49er running game?

3. Why do the Bears have no shot against the Buccaneers in Tampa?

4. Who’s the most surprising and effective performer in Green Bay this season?

5. And this week’s upset special?

And the answers:

1. Greene, former Ram and currently the Panthers’ hyperactive linebacker, is not only matched against his former team (Pittsburgh, which made no move to re-sign him), his contract calls for incentives if he mugs the opposition’s quarterback.

Greene, a leading choice to be the NFL’s defensive player of the year, has 14 1/2 sacks. His contract calls for him to earn an additional $150,000 if he picks up 1 1/2 additional sacks against the Steelers. He should be properly motivated.

2. San Francisco’s starting running backs, Terry Kirby and William Floyd, have run the ball 24 times in the last two weeks for 40 yards. That is not exactly playoff football.

“If we have to, I still believe we can [run], unlike last year, when I didn’t feel we could run if we had to,” quarterback Steve Young said. “I believe Terry could get 100 yards, and William could get 50 next week.”

That’s it, the 49ers, in danger of losing the NFC West title, are saving their running for when it really counts.

Against the St. Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints, the 49ers averaged 163.5 rushing yards and compiled a 6-0 record. In their nine games against everyone else, they averaged 81.9 yards and are 5-4. Stop the 49ers on the ground, so it seems, and they are finished.

3. It will probably be too cold in Tampa for the Bears. Since 1987, Chicago has lost 17 consecutive road games in the months of December and January.

4. Wide receiver Antonio Freeman. The Packers were really smart, er, lucky. They got Freeman with the 98th pick in 1995 draft to return punts.

“It’s amazing to all of us,” Packer General Manager Ron Wolf said. “But he is for real.”

The Packers acknowledge Freeman has average size, average speed, an average vertical jump and an average Wonderlic score. So why so much success?

“He has great receiver instincts,” offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis said. “There’s a gray area where things happen on the field that you haven’t practiced and haven’t seen, and he’ll just do the right thing. He does things that you can’t rehearse.”

5. Living on the edge to the very end: Green Bay over Minnesota and San Francisco over Detroit.

TV GAMES

* AGREE TO TIE?

Kansas City (9-6) at Buffalo (9-6), 10 a.m., Channel 4: Both teams need to win or tie to make the playoffs, and conspiracy theorists will be huddled before their TV sets if this one goes into overtime.

--Say what: A 0-0 tie between these two lackluster outfits would need no prearranged agreement.

--Player to watch: Kansas City quarterback Steve Bono has become a pitiful character. Sent to the bench because he wasn’t good enough to play ahead of lifelong backup Rich Gannon, he now gets the call because Gannon is limping.

--Finally: Who needs Bono? Kansas City has won every season finale since Marty Schottenheimer became coach in 1989.

* 18 POINTS

Minnesota (9-6) at Green Bay (12-3), 10 a.m., Channel 11: The Packers don’t have to win, which should still be easy, they simply can’t lose by more than 18 points or Carolina has a chance to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

--Say what: Now you know why the Packers ran the score up on the Lions last week; they trailed the Panthers by 10 points in point differential, then beat Detroit, 31-3.

--Player to watch: Is it Favre or Lambeau Field? Brett Favre is 49-27 as the Packers’ starting quarterback, but then Green Bay has won 14 consecutive games at home.

--Finally: Minnesota Coach Dennis Green has been on the incentive plan. Ever since there were rumors of Lou Holtz replacing Green, the Vikings have been winning.

* THE END TO RFK

Dallas (10-5) at Washington (8-7), 1 p.m., Channel 11: The Cowboys intend to treat this as a scrimmage, while the Redskins hope to get though the afternoon without being booed by their own fans.

--Say what: The Redskins opened the season 7-1. What’s Norv Turner, some sort of Wayne Fontes?

--Players to watch: Count how many Cowboy starters play. Count how many are still around after halftime.

--Finally: This will be the final NFL game in RFK Stadium; next year the fans get gouged in Jack Kent Cooke’s new stadium.

* .500 OR ELSE!

Denver (13-2) at San Diego (7-8), 5 p.m., ESPN: The tension, the suspense, the last chance for the Chargers to put it all together and knock off the Broncos’ scrubs to finish at .500.

--Say what: Denver wants to play its regulars for only a limited time. So do the Chargers, but for different reasons. The Broncos are going to the playoffs, the Chargers are looking for folks who can play.

--Player to watch: Denver running back Terrell Davis can become the NFL rushing leader. Keep an eye on the Pittsburgh results; if Jerome Bettis doesn’t play because of his bad ankle, Davis won’t have to make much more than a cameo appearance.

--Finally: Denver quarterback John Elway has beaten the Chargers more than any other team. But then everybody beats the Chargers.

NO STOCKING STUFFERS

Arizona (7-8) at Philadelphia (9-6): The Eagles have crawled into the playoffs, and if they lose at home to Arizona, the NFL should be allowed to eliminate them from postseason consideration on some sort of technicality.

--Say what: Ricky Watters is crying again about not getting the ball. Last week he put on his coat and sat in a pout on the bench while Charlie Garner carried the ball. When the coaches wanted to put Watters in, they couldn’t find him.

--Player to watch: Arizona quarterback Kent Graham is 4-2 as the Cardinals’ starter, and he has made it known he’s no fan of Boomer Esiason, who walked out on the team two weeks ago.

--Finally: Any moment now the cameras should be catching an Eagle coach wringing Watters’ neck along the sideline.

Chicago (7-8) at Tampa Bay (5-10): Bear Coach Dave Wannstedt is upset the season is ending because his team is playing well. Guess he didn’t get that September wake-up call.

--Say what: Tampa Bay quarterback Trent Dilfer said he played like a dog last week. Why limit it to a week?

--Player to watch: Dilfer--see what kind of dog he mimics this week.

--Finally: Tampa Bay is favored by 2 1/2 points over the Monsters of the Midway.

Houston (7-8) at Baltimore (4-11): Be careful what you wish for--you might get the Oilers or Ravens moving into your neighborhood.

--Say what: The Ravens are averaging 356.4 yards a game, and can’t beat their own shadow.

--Player to watch: Steve McNair starts for the Oilers, and that’s probably the last anyone will see of Chris Chandler in Houston.

--Finally: The NFL says it cannot refund Pro Bowl tickets just because Vinny Testaverde is playing.

Miami (7-8) at New York Jets (1-14): Why bother?

--Say what: Miami running back Karim Abdul-Jabbar needs 36 yards to hit the 1,000-yard mark--he would be the first Dolphin to do so since Delvin Williams in 1978.

--Player to watch: Abdul-Jabbar, obviously.

--Finally: Rich Kotite will be available for yardwork, windows, painting beginning Monday.

Seattle (6-9) at Oakland (7-8): Gentlemen, are your flags ready? Over and under on penalties called on both teams is 27--26 by the Raiders.

--Say what: The Raiders’ 20 penalties a week ago were the most by any team in 20 years. They can top that, though.

--Player to watch: Attention Seahawk defenders in search of padding their stats: Billy Joe Hobert starts at quarterback for the Raiders.

--Finally: Seven of the Raiders’ eight losses have been by six points or fewer. It’s that fine commitment to making it close that counts.

NAUGHTY OR NICE?

Atlanta (3-12) at Jacksonville (8-7): If the Jaguars are good little boys, mind their business and beat the heck out of Atlanta, they go to the playoffs. The Falcons quit long ago.

--Say what: Joe Gibbs has denied reports he will be the Falcons’ next coach and general manager, so when’s the announcement going to be made of his hiring?

--Player to watch. Chuck Smith. The Falcon defensive end leads the team in sacks, but like quarterback Jeff George earlier, he has been suspended for suggesting Coach June Jones doesn’t have a clue.

--Finally: June Jones doesn’t have a clue.

Indianapolis (9-6) at Cincinnati (7-8): The Colts continue to confound by overcoming adversity, and the Bengals have gone 6-2 since Bruce Coslet’s elevation. The Colts need a victory to guarantee making the playoffs.

--Say what: Coslet got a new contract to be head coach and then fired most of his assistants. Scrooged, indeed.

--Player to watch: Jim Harbaugh. The Colt quarterback inspires exciting finishes and is the kind of guy worth rooting for.

--Finally: The Bengals already got their victory over the Colts earlier this season in overtime. They have hit their quota.

PARTY TIME

Pittsburgh (10-5) at Carolina (11-4): The Panthers are 7-0 at home and can wrap up their first NFC West title with a victory. Boy, won’t the 49ers feel foolish. The Steelers would like to rest Jerome Bettis and Mike Tomczak, and Carolina is all for it.

--Say what: There have been a consistent 2,000 no-shows to each Carolina game this season. What happens when these guys start to lose?

--Player to watch: Greene has not talked all week, apparently in an effort to garner further attention when he goes up against his old team. And so many people wanted to know what he thought of Madonna’s appearance on Oprah recently.

--Finally: Carolina Coach Dom Capers, the Steelers’ former defensive coordinator, left just as Pittsburgh was on its way to the Super Bowl. Draw your own conclusions.