Sunday NFL playoff winners make big comebacks

UNDATED - A day of remarkable NFL comebacks has followed a pair of blowouts, keeping Super Bowl hopes alive in San Francisco and Pittsburgh. <br> <br> The 49ers earned the right to play at Tampa Sunday after pulling off the second-greatest playoff comeback in league history. The Niners trailed 38-14 late in the third quarter until Jeff Garcia threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in a 39-38 shocker over the New York Giants. <br> <br> Garcia&#39;s 13-yard TD pass to Tai Streets put the Niners ahead with one minute remaining. Garcia finished with 331 yards and three touchdowns, two to Terrell Owens. He also hit Owens for a pair of two-point conversions during the 25-point turnaround. <br> <br> Matt Bryant was given a chance to hit a game-winning, 41-yard field goal with six seconds remaining. But a botched snap and an incomplete pass by holder Matt Allen ended the Giants&#39; season. <br> <br> The Giants ruined an otherwise fine performance by Kerry Collins, who threw for 342 yards and four touchdowns. Amani Toomer had three touchdown receptions and Tiki Barber added 115 rushing yards and a score. <br> <br> The NFL&#39;s Comeback Player of the Year engineered a second-half comeback that prolonged the Steelers&#39; season. Tommy Maddox tossed three touchdown passes in the final 19 minutes as the Steelers stormed back from 17 points down to beat Cleveland 36-33. <br> <br> The comeback began after Dennis Northcutt&#39;s second scoring reception gave the Browns a 24-7 lead. Plaxico Burress, Jerame Tuman and Hines Ward each grabbed touchdown passes from Maddox. But the Steelers didn&#39;t take their first lead until Chris Fuamatu-Ma&#39;afala scored on a three-yard run with just 54 seconds remaining. <br> <br> Maddox was 26-of-43 for 367 yards and two interceptions to lead one of the finest comebacks in Steelers history. <br> <br> Cleveland quarterback Kelly Holcomb had a superb afternoon, throwing for 429 yards and three touchdowns. But Browns running back William Green was held to just 30 yards on 25 carries. <br> <br> The NFL Divisional Playoffs get under way Saturday, with the Steelers at Tennessee before Philadelphia hosts Atlanta. <br> <br> Sunday&#39;s action has the New York Jets at Oakland after the Niners take on the Buccaneers in Tampa. <br> <br> The Jets and Falcons are coming off easy victories.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/1/185907