Huskers in the NFL: Week 15

Lincoln -- Sunday was a historic day as one former Husker eclipsed one of the oldest team records in NFL history, while several other helped their teams punch playoff tickets.

In San Diego, Ahman Green broke the oldest team single-season rushing record in the NFL, breaking Hall of Famer Jim Taylor's mark of 1,474 yards set in 1962. Green rushed for 75 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries and caught a one-yard touchdown grab in the Packers' 38-21 win at San Diego. Green, who needed only 14 games to break Taylor's team record, has 1,538 yards in 2003. WIth the win, Green Bay tied Minnesota for the NFC North lead with an 8-6 record.

In Arizona, Carolina used a dramatic finish to clinch the franchise's second-ever playoff berth with a 20-17 victory over the Cardinals. John Casey's field goal with four seconds left lifted Carolina to its first playoff birth since 1986. Former Husker Mike Minter had seven tackles, three pass breakups and returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown. It was his second interception touchdown of the year, equaling the team record for most interception returns for a touchdown in a season, previously accomplished by Eric Davis in 1998. Minter ranks as the Panthers all-time leader with 342 interception return yards and four interception returns for touchdowns.The Panthers were without defensive end Mike Rucker, who sat out because of a knee strain, but improved to 9-5 on the season.

In St. Louis, the Rams improved to an NFC-best 11-3 record and clinched the NFC West with a 27-22 victory over Seattle. Defensive end Grant Wistrom had four tackles, including an eight-yard sack, while rookie cornerback DeJuan Groce recorded three solo stops and had a pass breeakup, helping the Rams to a 13th straight home victory to equal a franchise record.

In Kansas City, the Chiefs continued to stay even with New England for the AFC's best record with a 45-17 victory over Detroit. Cornerback Eric Warfield had six solo tackles and a pass breakup, while offensive lineman Will Shield powered the Kansas City offense to a season-high 521 yards of total offense. Clint Finley, who was elevated to the Chiefs' active roster from the practice squad this week, did not play, as Kansas City clinched its first division title since 1997.

Off the field, a trio of former Huskers (Mike Rucker, Carolina; Will Shields, Kansas City; and Grant Wistrom, St. Louis) were named finalists for the Walter Payton Man of the Year last week. The award given annually by the NFL for players' off-the-field community service as well as playing excellence and has been presented since 1970. The 2003 winner will be named prior to Super Bowl XXXVII in Houston, Texas.

Tonight's Monday Night Football matchup features Correll Buckhalter of the Philadelphia Eagles taking on the Miami Dolphins. Currently, Nebraska leads all Big 12 schools with 35 former players on NFL rosters, a total that ranks among the leaders for all schools.

Offense

  Rushing ReceivingPlayer, Team Opp. ATT YDS AVG LNG TD Rec Yards AVG LNG TDBuckhalter, Correll Philadelphia Mia. (Mon.) - - - - - - - -- - - Schlesinger, Cory, Detroit K.C. 2 4 2.0 2 0 3 23 7.7 12 0Green, Ahman, Green Bay S.D. 19 75 3.9 34 1 1 1 1.0 1 1Diedrick, Dahrran, Green Bay Practice Squad -DNP - - - - - - - - - -Linemen                      Dishman, Chris, Arizona San Francisco Raiola, Dominic, Detroit Kansas City- StartWiegert, Zach, Houston Tampa Bay - Did Not PlayShields, Will, Kansas City Detroit - StartTreu, Adam, Oakland

Baltimore - Start

Hochstein, Russ, New England Jacksonville

Volk, Dave, Dallas Cowboys

Practice Squad -Did not playFonoti, Toniu, San Diego Injured Reserve - Did not play                       

Defense

  Defensive Stats Special TeamsPlayer, Team Opp. TKL AST CMB SK YDS IN YDS PD FF FR TKL AST CMB FF Bl FRVanden Bosch, Kyle, Ariz. Injured Reserve - Did not playWilliams, Tyrone, Atlanta DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Kelsay, Chris, Buffalo Tenn. - 1 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - -Minter, Mike, Carolina Ariz. 5 2 7 - - 1 35-TD 3 - - - - - - - -Rucker, Mike, Carolina DNP-Injured - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Brown, Mike  Chicago Ariz. 10 - 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - -Swiney, Erwin Green Bay DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Slechta, Jeremy, Houston DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Foreman, Jay, Houston T.B. 6 4 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - -Warfield, Eric, Kansas City S.D 6 - 6 - - - - 1 - - - - - - - -Finley, Clint, Kansas City Det. - DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Brown, Ralph, NY Giants Wash. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Craver, Keyuo, New Orleans N.Y. Giants - - - - - - - - - - 1 - 1 - - -Johnson, Eric, Oakland Bal. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Parrella, John, Oakland Injured Reserve - Did not playPolk, Carlos, San Diego G.B. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Groce, DeJuan, St. Louis

Sea.

3 - 3 - - - - 1 - - - - - - - -Shanle, Scott , St. Louis DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Grant Wistrom, St. Louis Sea. 3 1 4 1 8 - - - - - - - - - - -Frost, Scott, Tampa Bay N.O. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Special Teams

. Returns Field Goals Ex. Pts PuntsPlayer, Team Opp. KR YDS PR YDS TD ATT Made YDS ATT Made No. YDS AVG TB i20 LNGBrown, Kris, Houston T.B. - - - - - 1 1 38 - - - - - - - -LaFleur, Bill, San Francisco Cin. - - - - - - - - - - 1 36 36.0 0 0 36Brown, Josh, Seattle StL. - - - - - 2 2 31, 38 2 2 - - - - - -Groce, DeJuan, St. Louis Sea. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

() missed field goal DNP - Did Not Play; INJ - Injured, did not play; IR - Injured Reserve