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Show T Salt Lake Tribune, Tough L.A. D Coatimied From C-- l points, the Dolphins lost seven points of their own on a dropped touchdown pass, and then placekicker Fuad Reveiz capped the haphazfield-goa- l ard effort by shanking a in final the minute. attempt The Patriots scored just 6 minutes and 20 seconds into the contest when Tony Franklin kicked a field goal, made possible when Miami running back Tony Nathan fumbled on the first Dolphins' play from scrimmage at his own Miami answered late in the first quarter due in large part to three buzzing strikes thrown by quarterback Dan Marino, who moved downfield with an pass to to Bruce Hardy Mark Duper, an and then a blur near the end line to lead with 14 39 tight end Dan Johnson for a left in the first half. In the past, that kind of purposeful, methodical drive has turned a game in Miamis favor, but this time it seemed to inspire the Patriots more. On their next possession, they exploited the Dolphins susceptibility to the ground game with some punishing rushes right up the center of the Miami line, including a punishing romp by fullback Robert Weathers in which he broke three tackles before falling to the wet turf at the line. By Handy Minkoff UPI Sports Writer CHICAGO nin to punk-roc- k Jim 13, 1986 C3 Patriots Stop Miami Jinx Patriots Win To Win AFC Title, 31-1- 4 With Stingy McMahons Arm, Feet Beat d whose tastes hair styles and New Wave sun glasses, outsmarted one of the NFLs most conservative pass defenses Sunday to move the Chicago Bears Into the Super Bowl. In a game that had been billed as the matchup of the superstar running backs Walter Payton of the Bears and Eric Dicker-so- n of the Rams McMahons running and his short passes undereath the Rams zone were the most damaging factors in Chicago's 24-- 0 NFC championship victory. McMahon, the outspoken and volatile former Brigham Young quarterback, scrambled for one touchdown and hit Willie Gault for a r score. He completed 16 of 25 passes for 164 yards and gained 28 yards on four carries. Rams quarterback Dieter Brock, hemmed in all afternoon, was held to only 10 of 31 for 66 yards. McMahon, wearing protective gloves for the second straight week, showed disdain for the bomb, preferring to pick apart the LA defense with crisp, short passes. He helped, the Bears continue their season-lon- g domination in time of possession. When no one was open, he showed his ability to scramble for yards, including a run that gave Chicago a 0 lead on its first McMahon, d possession. Everyone says we cant throw but we can throw with anyone, said Bears coach Mike Ditka. I cant say enough about Jim. On the second TD, it was his only call of the day. I sent in a running play and he didnt like it and threw. McMahon said the Rams linebackers allowed him room to run when his receivers were covered. The alley was open. The run for the TD was there because they played zone, McMahon said. Brock had a surprising amount of time to throw his series of short passes. But the old rookie did not have a completion of more than 15 yards and when he had time, he underthrew, overthrew or his receivers dropped the ball. It was a tough day to throw, said LA coach John Robinson. But give McMahon credit. He has had great games in a row two straight times. He was the dominant offensive factor of this game. When they needed the yards, he got it. Both quarterbacks were sacked three times but the Bears escaped the serious damage. Brocks final sack by the NFLs leader, defensive end Richard Dent, created a fumble tuat linebacker Wilbur Marshall snatched and rambled 52 yards for the Bears final score. The Rams defense did stop Payton on the ground. He was held to 32 yards in 18 carries, but McMahon made him a major factor nonetheless. The Bears quarterback was able to check off covered receivers in the Rams zone and find Payton in vacated areas for short gains.. j Pass Defense By Dave Raffo UPI Sports Writer The Dolphins last chance for MIAMI another comeback victory Sunday ended with two fourth-quartplays that summed up the New Patriots handled Mthe England way iamis passing game three times this season. In each case, the New England defense prevailed. With 4 48 remaining and New England Dan Marinos pass to Mark Dupahead er was broken up by comerback Raymond Clayborn in the end zone. Duper argued that Clayborn held his arm. The official disagreed and Duper responded by throwing his helmet in disgust. That cost Miami 15 yards, bringing about a from the 28. Marino went to Duper in the same spot on the next play and Clayborn intercepted to clinch the Patriots first trip to the Super Bowl. I thought it was a good call, Clayborn said of the incompletion. "Duper said he grabbed my arm. The official said no, he grabbed you the same time as the ball got there. Then Mark got irate and slammed his helmet down. On the next play, they went deep on me again and I intercepted. Marino completed passes for 248 d passing game yards for his first against the Patriots this season. But Marino was intercepted twice, bounced a bunch of passes and was able to completed just seven passes for 96 yards to dangerous wide receivers Duper, Mark Clayton and Nat Moore. Marino attempted three bombs in the game, but Clayborn batted down two and the Miami quarterback missed Clayton on another. After falling behind, Miami wasnt able to mount a rally like it did last week against Cleveland. Our team is not Cleveland, said Clayborn. But the Patriots copied the Browns tactic of having their comerbacks play close to the Dolphins wide receivers and force Marino to look for tight ends and running backs. After studying what Cleveland did, we figured we had good enough corners to do the same things, said Patriots free safety Fred Marion, who intercepted a third-perio- d pass. coverage the entire Clayborn played second half while New England switched up on left cornerback Ronnie Lippetts side. Clayton and Duper caught three passes each and Moore one for 10 yards. As a group, we did not get it done, said Moore, usually Marinos favorite third-dow- n target. To work as hard as we did, put together a stretch of victories and then blow it, its frustrating. We dont ever think any game is out of reach, Marino said. .We had our chances. They didnt do anything differently than they did against us before, and against everybody else this year. - With the crowd exhorting its team to play the way the Dolphins are supposed to play in games of such magnitude, the Patriots scored seven-again with remarkable ease on a play drive that gave them a 17-- advantage 6 25 before the half. er 7 The second half started in a similar fashion when Miami kick returner Lorenzo Hampton fumbled the opening boot of the second half, and New Englands Greg Hawthorne recov- ered at the Dolphins 31-1- 4, 25. 3 third-quarte- 7-- The Dolphins, seemingl disturbed by this sudden, unexpected turn, compounded their distress by handing the ball over to the Patriots again when Marino hobbled a snap and nose tackle Lester Williams recovered at the Associated Press Laserphoto Jim McMahon jumps for joy after scrambling for first touchdown. Three plays later, quarterback Tony Eason touchdown pass to running flicked a back Tony Collins that gave the Pats the lead back, 10-- with 10 10 remaining in the half. When New England moved all the way to the Miami 2 on the ensuing possession, coach Raymond Berry elected to gamble on a r tuation. Eason faked a handoff to running back Mosi Tatupu, then lofted a short pass in the flat to Weathers, who danced into the end zone to give the Pats a 24-- 7 lead early in the third quarter. al One of the few weak points in New England's work Sunday was on punt returns a flaw attributable largely b the absence of Irving Fryar, who cut his hand severely during a domestic squabble with his wife and it provided the Dolphins with their second touchdown in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. 200-yar- ar Associated Press Loserphato Associated Press Laserphoto William Perry and Walter Payton exchange greetings after the Bears finished off the Rams en route to Chicagos first Super Bowl berth ever. New England January quarterback Tony Eason reacts to a long completion. The spirit of Marlboro in a low tar cigarette. m WLim llaiiliuro lights LIGHTS LOWE RC O TAR V NICOTINE Also available in Flip-To- p box. 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