Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 13, 1992

Last year, the team that had the much tougher conference championship game won the Super Bowl. . . .

I look for the same this year if for no other reason than that my preseason prediction was the Buffalo Bills over the Washington Redskins on a Scott Norwood field goal. . . .

The Denver Broncos should have gone into their two-minute drill 50 minutes earlier Sunday. . . .

Outstanding achievement by a defensive unit this decade: The Broncos limiting the Buffalo offense to three points at Rich Stadium. . . .

The plan devised by Denver defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, son of Bum, should be enough to get him a head coaching job some day soon. . . .

Most Bill postseason games are either blowouts or are decided by a missed field goal or two or three. . . .

Dick Enberg was being kind to Jim Kelly during the fourth quarter when he said the Bills’ quarterback was having “just an average day.” . . .

The Lions could have played the Redskins on a rug and under a roof and still not have come close. The Redskins beat them badly where it matters most, up front. . . .

Don’t the Redskins know that Gatorade dousings have become passe?. . . .

Joe Gibbs’ effective, but basic, rushing attack reminds me of those of Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packer championship teams. . . .

The year of officiating was summed up nicely during the AFC championship game when it took the zebras a month and a half to determine the down and line of scrimmage after an instant-replay review reversed what would have been a Buffalo interception. . . .

I realize that pro football ratings are higher on Sunday than Saturday, but the conference championship games should be played on separate days so each can get its proper due. . . .

There was also the possibility Sunday of Buffalo and Denver going into overtime and portions of the two games being played at the same time. . . .

Mike Holmgren of the Green Bay Packers will attempt to join the ranks of undistinguished football players who became outstanding coaches. Holmgren was a highly regarded high school quarterback in San Francisco, but never played enough to win his letter at USC. . . .

The seven nominees who most deserve induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer are Lem Barney, Bob Brown, Al Davis, Charlie Joiner, John Mackey, Lynn Swann and Bill Walsh. . . .

Talk about lack of respect. Arizona gangs up on Tracy Murray Saturday in Tucson, so UCLA’s other forward, Don MacLean, who happens to be an All-American, scores 38 points. . . .

MacLean is showing the maturity of a senior and controlling his emotions this season. . .

How close was the game? UCLA won by two points in the last second, the turnovers were even, and the Bruins had two more rebounds than the Wildcats. . . .

Too bad the rest of the nation couldn’t have enjoyed one of the best Pac-10 games ever. It was televised only on a regional basis. . . .

However, ABC is dry washing its hands in anticipation of what could be a late-season battle of unbeatens when it televises UCLA-Duke March 1 from Pauley Pavilion. Actually, the No. 2-ranked Bruins, who don’t have to play a lot of tough Atlantic Coast Conference games on the road, probably have a better chance of staying unbeaten than do the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils. . . .

Look-alikes: Christopher Bowman and Desi Arnaz Jr.. . . .

What makes the football coaching vacancies at Cal and Stanford at the same time even more unusual is that neither outgoing coach was fired. . . .

Somehow, I couldn’t get excited about the Steve Elkington-Brad Faxon playoff in the Tournament of Champions. . . .

An announcement is expected soon that Ray (Boom Boom) Mancini will attempt another comeback April 3 against Greg Haugen in Reno. . . .

Another former champion who has decided to return to the ring is Danny Lopez, 39, who will box Juan Delapaz Feb. 27 at the Irvine Marriott. . . .

Floyd Patterson is training Razor Ruddock for his Feb. 15 bout against Greg Page at the Mirage in Las Vegas. . . .

Incidentally, Showtime is listing Mike Tyson as a commentator for its Ruddock-Page coverage although his rape trial in Indianapolis begins Jan. 27. . . .

Are NBA players missing a lot of easy shots this season or am I simply watching too many Laker and Clipper games? . . .

The Boston Celtics made a good deal when they traded Brian Shaw to the Miami Heat for Sherman Douglas. Shaw has been a disappointment. . . .

The Minnesota Timberwolves are the only team in the NBA that doesn’t have a losing career record against the Celtics. The teams are 3-3. . . .

The Chicago Bulls are 48-7, including playoffs, since April 14. . . .

I would love to attend a tailgate party with John Madden.