WASHINGTON, 16 December 2003 — Three teams celebrated division titles and another clinched a playoff berth Sunday in Week 15 of the National Football League.
It was also a memorable day for quarterback Billy Volek, running backs Troy Hambrick and Curtis Martin and rookie cornerback Terence Newman.
The Kansas City Chiefs (12-2), Carolina Panthers (9-5) and St. Louis Rams (11-3) captured division crowns and the Indianapolis Colts (11-3) sealed a playoff berth. Priest Holmes rushed for three touchdowns and Trent Green passed for 341 yards and three scores as the Chiefs clinched the AFC West title with a 45-17 rout of the Detroit Lions, who matched an NFL record with their 23rd straight road loss.
The Chiefs (12-2) rebounded from last week’s embarrassing 45-27 loss at Denver to claim their first division crown since 1997.
“Needless to say, we’re excited but this is the first phase of a championship,” Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said.
Meanwhile, the Lions (4-10) continued their futility away from home in tying the longest road skid in NFL history, set by the Houston Oilers from 1981-84. Detroit has not won on the road since a 10-7 victory over the New York Jets on Dec. 17, 2000.
The Lions conclude their road schedule next Sunday against the Panthers, who snapped a three-game losing streak and claimed the NFC South title with a 20-17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals (3-11).
It was fitting that the Rams sealed their third NFC West title in five years at home. Marc Bulger threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns and Marshall Faulk added 85 yards rushing and a score to lead the Rams to a 27-22 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
The Rams increased their winning streak at the Edwards Jones Dome to 13 games, tying a franchise record for consecutive home wins, and moved ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles (10-3) in the race for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
The Eagles were to visit the Miami Dolphins (8-5) the next day. The Seahawks (8-6), who last made the postseason in 1999, lost their sixth straight road game and are tied for the second wild-card spot.
Indianapolis remained one game ahead of the Tennessee Titans (10-4) in the AFC South and needs to win one of its two remaining games to clinch the division title.
Things also went quite well for Hambrick, who rushed for a career-high 189 yards and the Dallas Cowboys forced six turnovers, including three interceptions by Newman, and rolled to a 27-0 rout of the Washington Redskins.
Martin dashed through the snow into some pretty exclusive company, becoming the second running back in NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in his first nine seasons. Former Lions great Barry Sanders did it in his first 10 years.
