Young Will See New Vikings

Steve Young had his best all-around game of the year in San Francisco’s win over Minnesota four weeks ago. He’ll be facing a much different Viking defense in Saturday’s NFC divisional playoff.

Stung by the ease with which the 49ers moved through their defense in San Francisco’s 28-17 victory Dec. 7, the Vikings shook up the unit.

In all, the Vikings changed six of the 11 positions on defense, with the most dramatic involving the shift of Pro Bowl defensive tackle John Randle to right end in place of injured Derrick Alexander.

Rookie Tony Williams took Randle’s tackle spot. Meanwhile, Stan Colinet took over left end for injured Fernando Smith, and Ed McDaniel moved from weakside linebacker to start in place of injured Jeff Brady in the middle. Rookie Dwayne Rudd came in to take McDaniel’s place at weakside linebacker. Also, rookie Torrian Gray started at free safety in place of injured Orlando Thomas.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a good teacher during the regular season and it wasn’t only Coach Tony Dungy.

Sure, Dungy did a masterful job leading the one-time NFL doormats to their first postseason berth since 1982, but he says playing in the NFC Central is what gives his team confidence, and it can slow down Brett Favre after stopping Barry Sanders in the first round of the playoffs.

“That’s not easy, getting those two guys back to back. But that’s kind of the way it’s been in this division, playing against a lot of good offensive players,” Dungy said. “I know our guys will be up for the challenge.”

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The New England Patriots blitzed with great success against Dan Marino in their first-round playoff victory over Miami last week. They won’t be able to do that against Kordell Stewart, right?

“No,” Patriot Coach Pete Carroll said as he prepared for the Pittsburgh Steelers and their scrambling quarterback. “But we have to do it in a fashion where we can maintain eyes on him and stand on our feet so we can get after him.”

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Two running backs from the same high school--one a cinch for the Hall of Fame, the other headed toward that direction--will stage an informal reunion this weekend.

They won’t be swapping funny stories or fond remembrances when the Broncos and Chiefs meet in a divisional playoff game Sunday, since they graduated 12 years apart. But Kansas City’s Marcus Allen and Denver’s Terrell Davis have a bond that goes beyond their commonality of being alums of Lincoln High School in San Diego.

“I don’t know if [Davis] knows it or not, but I pull for him every time I see him play,” Allen said.

Told that Allen follows his career, Davis was flattered.

“Is that right?” he said. “To have somebody like Marcus Allen sit there and say that he follows me and he watches me and in a little way he admires me, that’s the biggest compliment I could ever receive.”