NFL 2013 Week 7 Recap
5 interceptions for touchdowns kicked off Week 7 as Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency disaster with Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville all falling behind 14-0. This was before Peyton Manning returned to Indy to do his William Tecumseh Sherman burning of Lucas Oil Stadium. Here is the NFL 2013 Week 7 Recap.
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals was the Thursday night game. Last year Seattle destroyed Arizona 58-0. That game was in Seattle. now the Seahawks had to travel to the Desert. It didn’t matter since they are still very good and Arizona is still very bad. Russell Wilson hit Sidney Rice on a 31 yard first quarter touchdown and a 15 yard touchdown to Zach Miller in the second quarter to make it 14-0 Seahawks. Seattle missed a chance to make it 21-0 when a punt return for a touchdown was nullified by penalty.
At that point momentum changed. Jay Feely hit a 49 yard field goal to get the Cardinals within 14-3. Russell Wilson was then sacked deep in his own territory, and the resulting fumble was recovered by the Cardinals at the Seattle 3 yard line. Rashaard Mendenhall ran it to get the Cardinals within 14-10. Steve Hauschka hit a 51 yarder just before the half ended to make it 17-10 Seahawks. Feely hit from 52 in the third quarter as Arizona only trailed 17-13.
At that point Seattle turned out the lights. Wilson moved Seattle 80 yards and threw a 1 yard touchdown to Davis. Carson Palmer was then intercepted at midfield by Browner, who returned it to the one yard line. Marshawn Lynch ran it in to make it 31-13 Seahawks.
Wilson was sacked again and fumbled again, giving Arizona gift field position at the Seattle 15. On 3rd and 3 Seattle gave another gift and jumped offsides. Yet on 1st and goal from the 4, Palmer threw incomplete 3 straight times as the Cardinals settled for a field goal. Yet Hauschka would answer with another kick of his own to make it a 3 score game at 34-16. Arizona would reach the end zone with less than 5 minutes to play to make the score look close. Seattle is 6-1 and still looking Super Bowl bound. Arizona is again looking like an early draft contender. 34-22 Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons — Josh Freeman was supposed to be the problem in Tampa. Mike Glennon fumbled, and the Falcons scored a touchdown off of it. There is no truth to the rumors of a trade deal between Tampa and Minnesota to bring back Josh Freeman in exchange for Coach Greg Schiano and a bag of jellybeans as the Falcons lead 7-0.
Early in the second quarter Matt Ryan threw a 19 yard touchdown pass to Jacquizz Rodgers as the Falcons lead the Buccaneers 14-0 and Greg Schiano prepares to update his resume. The Bucs actually lost their last 6 games last year after a 6-4 start so they have lost 11 straight, making them only 16 games away from surpassing the orange creamsicle winking pirate expansion Bucs for futility.
Mike Glennon hits Vincent Jackson for a 59 yard touchdown, but a 23 yard Matt Bryant field goal has the Falcons up 17-7 in a game somebody, somewhere is watching. Tampa Bay put excitement into the punting game with a 20 yard shank to give Atlanta the ball at the Bucs 37. One play later Matty Ice had a touchdown to Douglas for a 24-7 Falcons lead. Like John Voight in Varsity Blues, Greg Schiano may not coach the second half. Tampa Bay added a field goal before the half ended to create the illusion that the second half would matter.
Mike Glennon connects for the second time on the day with Vincent Jackson as a one yard touchdown pass only has the Buccaneers down 24-17. Matt Ryan’s third touchdown pass is his second connection with Rodgers, whose 8 yard touchdown reception has the Falcons leading the hapless Buccaneers 31-17 early in the fourth quarter.
Down 31-17 in the fourth quarter, naturally the Buccaneers would kick a field goal. Then they kicked another one. Then they lost to remain winless and witless in the Schiano reign of error. 31-23 Falcons
St. Louis Rams at Carolina Panthers — 21 seconds into the game and the Panthers led the Rams 7-0 as Sam Bradford was intercepted for the pick 6. Meanwhile the Rams came back and went for it on 4th and goal at the 1 and smacked into a Carolina brick wall as the goal line stand kept the Rams scoreless. Yet the Panthers defense makes a phenomenal play and the offense wastes it as a handoff several yards deep in the end zone results in a safety as the Rams trail 7-2.
Early in the second quarter Carolina tacked on a field goal to lead 10-2. Greg Zeurlein hit a 28 yard field goal,, but a one yard touchdown run by Mike Tolbert has the Panthers up 17-5. Despite getting to the one yard line, all Carolina can muster is a field goal. Yet they still lead the Rams 20-5 in the third quarter.
Sam Bradford completed a 73 yard pass to Quick to set up a 4 yard touchdown to Stacy as the Rams were only down 20-12. Yet the Carolina Panthers have Steve Smith. Cam Newton hits him for the 19 yard touchdown as Smith jukes a couple defenders. As Steve Smith has been known to remind the audience and the cameramen, if you see him on tv, that means he just scored as the Panthers lead 27-12. Carolina would tack on another field goal to end the lack of suspense, and the Rams would add a field goal of their own to continue the thrills. That was it, as the Panthers had the lopsided win. 30-15 Panthers
Cincinnati Bengals at Detroit Lions — Red Rifle Andy Dalton hooked up with AJ Green on an 82 yard touchdown as the Bengals jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the Lions. Matthew Stafford then led a staggering 16 play, 8- yard drive taking 8 minutes of clock as a 3 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Pettigrew tied the Lions and Bengals 7-7.
David Akers hit a 36 yard field goal in the second quarter to make it 10-7 Lions. Dalton hit Marvin Jones for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 14-10 Bengals. Andy Dalton has his third touchdown pass of the day as a 32 yarder to Tyler Elfert has the Bengals leading the Lions 21-10 in the third quarter.
The Bengals and Lions had a good one going as Dalton and Stafford were trading scores. Stafford hit Megatron Calvin Johnson for a 27 yard touchdown to get the Lions within 21-17. After Cincy extended the lead, Matthew Stafford threw up a prayer into triple coverage, and of course Megatron came down with it for the touchdown. The 50 yard bomb had the Lions and Bengals tied 24-24 in the fourth quarter. On the last play of regulation, from 54 yards out, Mike Nugent is perfect and the Bengals defeat the Lions. 27-24 Bengals
San Diego Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars — Philip Rivers leads the Chargers 80 yards in 13 plays and takes half the opening quarter to do it as San Diego jumps out to a 7-0 lead over Jacksonville. That may be enough to win this game. Jaguars Owner Shad Kahn is from Pakistan, which has nuclear weapons. Kahn would settle for conventional weapons, such as a quarterback, offensive line, and some defensive linemen.
Philip Rivers hit Eddie Royal for a 27 yard touchdown as the Chargers led 14-0. They made it look easy because it was. Jacksonville kicked a field goal to trail 14-3, most likely concluding Jaguars highlights for the day. Jacksonville needed 18 plays and 8 minutes of clock to kick a 30 yard field goal as the Jaguars are 10 losses from 0-16.
San Diego tacked on a field goal in the third quarter to lead 17-3 and Jacksonville added one of their own. A 3 yard Ryan Mathews touchdown run capped off an 84 yard drive as the Chargers, despite being bored beyond belief, sent the Jaguars to another pathetic loss. San Diego led by 18 with 12 minutes left in regulation. Did anything else happen? Of course not. These are the winless Jaguars. 24-6 Chargers
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins — Ryan Tannehill’s first touchdown pass of the day went to the Buffalo defense as Nickell Robey had the Bills lead 7-0. The winner of this game may finish 4 games behind New England instead of 8 games. Deion Sanders is going to break out the Outkast references tonight because Fred Jackson is for real. A 3 yard touchdown run has the Bills leading the Dolphins 14-0 in the mediocrity bowl.
Florida Governor RickScott declares state of emergency as Dolphins/Jaguars/Bucs all down 14-0. Governor Scott partially lifts the disaster warning as Miami and Tampa get on the board to trail their games 14-7. Jacksonville remains a disaster area. Ryan Tannehill hit Charles Clay from 7 yards out to get Miami on the board.
After Dan Carpenter had the Bills up 17-7 with a 39 yard field goal, Ryan Tanneghill threw a 13 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Gibson as the Dolphins trail 17-14. After trailing 14-0, Ryan Tannehill has thrown 3 touchdown passes. He has again gone to Gibson, who followed up his air helicopter 13 yard score with a 4 yard touchdown reception as the Dolphins now led the Bills 21-17 after three quarters. Buffalo would add a field goal to get within one point in the fourth quarter.
With 36 seconds left, Carpenter came in for another field goal try from 31 yards out. He was good and the Bills had the 2 point lead. Yet a strong kickoff return by Thigpen had the Dolphins at their own 46 with 23 seconds left needing only a field goal. Tannehill threw 4 incompletions and the Bills held on for the win. 23-21 Bills
New England Patriots at New York Jets — Geno Smith leads the Jets 80 yards in 12 plays and 5 minutes as a 12 yard touchdown to Kerley makes it 7-0 Jets. Bill Bellichick may cut all 45 players if they lose to Rex Ryan’s Jets. Geno Smith has more touchdown passes to the Patriots then Tom Brady so far. After Brandon Bolen ran it in from one yard out to tie the game 7-7, Smith threw an interception that was returned 79 yards the other way by Logan Ryan for a 14-7 Patriots lead. No matter what, Rex Ryan reminds us that his team is not the worst one to play at Metlife Stadium.
Nick Folk kicked a 37 yard field goal to close the gap, but Stephen Ridley ran it in from 17 yards out as the Patriots stormed out to a 21-10 lead in a game that has not been a rivalry since the Tuna Bowl days of Bill Parcells.
Tom Brady and Geno Smith have each thrown a touchdown pass to the opposing team as the third quarter begins with Tom Brady getting the Jets right back at the game despite his quarterbacking the Patriots. The Jets trailed 21-17 in this Blunder Bowl as Antonio Allen got the 23 yard pick 6 for the Jets.
Yet a stunner was brewing in the new Meadowlands as Geno Smith has run for an 8 yard touchdown to give the Jets the 24-21 third quarter lead over the Patriots. If the Jets win, Metlife Stadium will not be renamed Metdeath Stadium until winless Big Blue plays Monday night. The Jets would add a field goal to take a 27-21 lead into the fourth quarter.
A Tom Brady pass appeared to have New England at the Jets one yard line prepared to take the lead, but an offensive penalty had the Patriots settling for a field goal. Early in the fourth quarter, the Patriots still trail Gang Green 27-24. With 4 minutes left the Jets have the ball clinging to a 3 point lead. Let’s see if Rex Ryan’s ground and pound can get the shocking upset win over New England. We saw last week what Tom Brady can do with one more chance and even only a few seconds left.
With 2:10 to play, Brady moved the Patriots from their own 8 to a 1st and 10 at the Jets 26 with less than one minute left. Yet Brady then threw 3 incompletions and Stephen Gostkowski came in for the 44 yarded to tie it. He was good and the game went into overtime.
New England got the ball first and after a completion, Brady threw 3 incompletions and the Jets took over at their own 20. On 3rd and 5 from the Patriots 36, a running play lost 2 yards out. Rex Ryan took a major gamble and loses as Nick Folk misses a 56 yard field goal. Now the Patriots have excellent field position. Except unsportsmanlike conduct on the Patriots was a killer. After a ton of confusion, the Jets retain possession at the Patriots 23 yard line. The Patriots were called for a leverage penalty on the field goal kick. Now the Jets were in short field goal range.
Nick Folk comes in again for the Jets to try a 41 yard field goal. This time the kick is good as the Jets stun their hated rivals. The post-game handshake between Ryan and Bellichick was as quick as expected. 30-27 Jets, OT
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles — The least exciting game of the day is the battle for first place in the NFC Least, where the Cowboys lead the Eagles 3-0 at the half. A one yard touchdown run by Phillip Tanner caps a 66 yard, 10 play, 6 minute drive and finally sees an end zone as the Cowboys lead the Eagles 10-0 in the third quarter. Chip Kelly’s vaunted offense is not getting it done on this day.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Alex Henery hit a 31 yard field goal as the Eagles now trail the Cowboys 10-3 in the NFC least interesting game of the day. Tony Romo hit Terrence Williams for a 9 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to salt it away. 17-3 Cowboys
Chicago Bears at Washington Redskins — After an exchange of field goals had the Bears and the team still known as the Redskins tied 3-3, Matt Forte ran it in from 2 yards out to put the Teddy Ruxpins from Chicago up 10-3. Mike Shanahan is no longer in Denver, so losing every game except Oakland is no longer acceptable.
Trailing 10-3 after the first quarter, Washington tied the game when Helu ran it in from one yard out to cap an 80 yard drive. One play later Jay Cutler threw a perfect pass to Brian Orakpo, who plays defense for Washington. The 29 yard interception return made it 17-10 Redskins
Do. Not. Kick. The. Ball. To. Devon. Hester. Not now, not ever. Mike Shanahan may fire his special teams coach, as an 81 yard punt return by Deion Sanders’s baby goes for a Chicago touchdown and a 17-17 game. Hester extends his own NFL record for touchdown returns. Dennis Green is right about Devon Hester. Hester is exactly who we thought he was. Crown him.
RGIII led the Redskins 74 yards in 11 plays and 5 1/2 minutes as a 3 yard touchdown to Jordan Reed has the Redskins up 24-17. Now maybe the special teams coach will decide to keep his job and avoid Devon Hester.
Matt Forte is running wild today, picking up the slack for Jay Cutler, who is out of the rest of this game with an injury. Forte broke off a 50 yard touchdown run as the Bears and Redskins are tied 24-24 in the third quarter. Roy Helu then ran it in from 3 yards out as the Redskins retook the lead over the Bears 31-24 late in the third quarter.
No Cutler, no problem. Forte takes a handoff up the gut 6 yards for another touchdown as the Bears and Redskins are tied in a 31-31 thriller early in the fourth quarter. The pinball machine that is the Redskins-Bears game keeps is approaching tilt as RGIII completes a 45 yard touchdown to Aldrick Robinson as statisticians check to see if this is the first NFL score ever by an Aldrick and the Redskins lead 38-31. The closest thing to a defensive stand in the Bears-Redskins game had the Bears kicking a field goal rather than scoring a touchdown as Chicago trailed 38-34 with 9 minutes left in regulation.
Josh McCown brought the Bears back again as passes to Brandon Marshall of 28 yards and Jeffery for 35 yards set up a 7 yard touchdown pass to Bennett and a 41-38 Bears lead with 4 minutes to play. Yet RGIII rapidly moved the Redskins 80 yards as a 3 yard run by Helu with 45 seconds left put the Redskins back up by 4 points. Yet this game was not over. Trickery on the ensuing kickoff gave the Bears one final shot. From the Washington 44, McCown was sacked as the Redskins hung on in this instant classic. 45-41 Redskins
San Francisco 49ers at Tennessee Titans — Phil Dawson hit a 44 yard field goal to give the 49ers the early 3-0 lead. Colin Kaepernick with a 20 yard touchdown run puts the 49ers up 10-0. Frank Gore runs it in from one yard out as the 49ers lead the Titans 17-0 in a game that deserves no more elaboration than that.
12 plays, 79 yards, and 6 1/2 minutes have the 49ers ramming it down the Titans throats as Frank Gore from one yard out has San Francisco up 24-0 early in the second half. The 49ers slept through the rest of the game because they could. Late in the game Tennessee fumbled a punt and the 49ers recover for a gift touchdown to put the game away. 31-17 49ers
Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers — The Browns are lifeless without Brian Hoyer. 3 and out had the Packer starting at the Cleveland 40. Aaron Rodgers tossed a 10 yard touchdown to Finley to make it 7-0 Packers. A one yard touchdown run by Eddie Lacy has the Packers up 14-0 as the Hoyer-less Browns are back to being losers again. Cleveland did manage a field goal, but the Packers added one of their own to take a 17-3 lead into the locker rooms. Despite hibernating most of the rest of the game, Aaron Rodgers went to Jordy Nelson for a 1 yard touchdown late to put Green Bay up 24-6 and Cleveland out of its misery. 31-13 Packers
Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs — After a Texans field goal, Houston gave up a touchdown. The key thing about the Chiefs touchdown was that it came on offense. Despite 5 straight weeks with a pick 6, it was not an interception for a touchdown that has the Texans trailing. Jamal Charles crashed in for the standard type of score.
No Matt Schaub. No TJ Yates. No problem. His name is Case Keenum and he has thrown a touchdown pass. Not to the Kansas City defense. He found a player with the same color jersey as his as a 29 yard touchdown pass to Deandre Hopkins has the Texans leading the unbeaten Chiefs on the road in the second quarter 10-7. These players are not Casey Casem or Thelma Hopkins, although Houston is scraping for players.
Alex Smith then led the Chiefs 97 yards in 15 plays and 6 1/2 minutes, running the final 5 yards himself for the score as the Chiefs led the Texans 14-10 late in the half. A third quarter field goal got the Texans within 14-13, but Kansas City added one of their own and Houston responded again to trail 17-16 with 4 minutes left in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter the Chiefs faced 3rd and goal from the 1. the Chiefs ran up the middle and get rocked. Walrus Lite Andy Reid went for it on 4th and goal and a play action pass had no chance as Smith threw to a receiver out of bounds. The Texans inspired goal line stand kept them only down by one point early in the fourth quarter.
The Texans took over at their own 10 with 1:46 to play and 3rd string quarterback Casey Keenum. Keenum was hit and fumbled and the Chiefs recover at the Houston one yard line. The Chiefs smartly take a knee rather than score and give the ball back. The Chiefs get to 7-0 with the win. 17-16 Chiefs
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers — This once bitter rivalry of must see tv is now a desperation match between also rans. Ben Roethlisberger threw a 3 yard touchdown to Heath Miller and Justin Tucker hit a 46 yard field goal to get the Ravens within 7-3. Shaun Suisham responded with a 34 yarded to make it 10-3 Steelers in the second quarter. Justin Tucker hit from 38 to get the Ravens within 10-6 at halftime. If the Ravens and Steelers were as good as we are used to, the 10-6 game would be called a typical defensive bonelock and praised. Yet these teams are not good, so it is not.
A third quarter field goal had the Steelers up 13-6 and Baltimore added one back to trail 13-9 early in the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh added another one to get it back up to 7 with 10 minutes left to play. Joe Flacco hit Dallas Clark on 3rd and goal from the two with 1:58 to tie things. A strong kickoff return allowed Shaun Suisham to comes in with three seconds left for a 43 yard field goal to win it Suisham was dead center as Pittsburgh won two straight road games after the 0-5 start. 19-16 Steelers
Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts — As expected, a very classy display from the Indianapolis Colts fans in giving Peyton Manning an extended cheering ovation. Manning fought back the emotions as he waved to the crowd. Then they played football. Both teams faced 3rd and 1, ran up the middle, came up short and saw their teams start 3 and out. From the Denver 44, Manning went deep to Eric Decker for a 39 yard gain and again for the 17 yard touchdown and 7-0 Broncos lead.
On 3rd and 10 from the Denver 34, Andrew Luck goes to Darrius Heyward-Bey for a 27 yard gain and 1st and goal. On 3rd and goal at the 2 Luck throws incomplete as the Colts settle for the field goal. The Broncos then turned it over. Andrew Luck with an 11 yard touchdown pass to Heyward-Bey after the Denver fumble to put the Colts up 10-7.
Trindin Holliday returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards. Manning on 3rd and 6 from the Indy 12 threw a touchdown pass to Julius Thomas as the Broncos retook the lead 14-10 early in the second quarter.
Later in the second quarter, from near his own goal line, Manning was hit and fumbled. His arm was not going forward. The Colts recovered in the end zone but it is ruled a safety instead of a touchdown since the refs say it was recovered out of bounds. The Colts are now within 14-12 and get the free kick. Andrew Luck took advantage as a 20 yard touchdown pass to Andrew Havili had the Colts up 19-14 with 6 minutes left in the half. With one minute left in the half Luck hit Fleener for a 21 yard gain to the Denver 17. On 3rd and 1 from the 8 Luck went back to Fleener for the touchdown with 10 seconds left in the half as the Colts lead the Broncos 26-14.
Indy almost puts a dagger in early in the third quarter when a bomb from Luck looks like a 33-14 Colts lead. At the last moment Cromartie gets just enough to deflect it, resulting in the ball being dropped. Indy got it back, and a personal foul on Denver’s defense for a head-butt had the Broncos for the first time this season losing their composure. Another penalty on Denver’s defense for unsportsmanlike conduct had them on the ropes. Luck then scrambled for a 12 yard touchdown as the Colts had their big 33-14 lead with 5 minutes left in the third quarter. Denver’s defense took yet another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the score.
Peyton brought the Broncos back. Yet despite getting inside the 10 yard line, Denver had to settle for a 28 yard Matt Prater field goal and a 33-17 deficit after three quarters.Yet Indy answered back again as a 52 yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri early in the fourth quarter put Indy up 36-17. A 31 yard touchdown pass from Manning to Demarius Thomas had the Broncos still in it. The 2 point conversion was dropped as the Broncos trailed 36-23 with 12 minutes left in regulation.
A critical fumble by the Colts was recovered by the Broncos at the Indy 23. On 4th and 1 from the 14, Manning hit Wes Welker for the first down. Knowshon Moreno got in from one yard out as the Broncos were now within 36-30 with 8:44 still left to play.
Denver held and got the ball back. Just when it looked like Manning was on a roll, he gets hit as he throws and is intercepted. The Colts aerate the Denver 20 needing only a field goal to make it a 2 score game. The failed 2 point conversion earlier is looming large. Vinatieri nails the 42 yard field goal as the Colts have breathing room up 39-30 with 6 minutes left.
Manning played pitch and catch with Welker as three deep completions made it 1st and goal at the 2 with 3 minutes to play. Yet Hillman got the carry and fumbled the ball away. In a bizarre decision, the Colts decided to throw on 2nd and 8 rather than run and force Denver to use timeouts. Yet a critical personal foul call for roughing the passer gave the Colts a new set of downs. The Colts will had to punt at the 2 minute warning with Manning needing 2 scores with 0 timeouts.
Manning took a critical sack as the Broncos did not get a field goal until only 12 seconds remained. The onside kick failed and the Colts had the phenomenal emotional win and Denver had their first loss. 39-33 Colts
Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants was the Monday night game. It was statistically the worst matchup in the history of Monday Night Football as 1-4 Minnesota took on the winless Giants. Sometimes a pair of bad teams can come together and play a thrilling game. This was not that game. The Giants had a staggering 17 play, 68 yard drive that took 9 1/2 minutes off the clock. Naturally, they kicked a field goal. The Vikings got on the board with an 86 yard punt return for a touchdown. In the second quarter Eli Manning hit Reuben Randle for a 24 yard touchdown as the Giants led 10-7 at halftime.
eric