NFL 2013 Week 13 Recap
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions was the Thanksgiving morning game. After a scoreless first quarter, David Akers hit a 27 yard field goal for the Lions and Mason Crosby hit a 54 yarder to tie it. Matthew Stafford was then hit and fumbled, resulting in a one yard return touchdown run by Burnett as the Packers led 10-3.
Stafford came back and hit Jeremy Ross for a 5 yard touchdown to tie the game again. Reggie Bush, despite having dated a Kardashian and fumbling earlier in the game, had a one yard touchdown run to make it 17-10 Lions.
The Lions outgunned the Packers by more than double and ran over 40 plays to only 20 for the Packers while holding the ball for about 21 minutes in the first half. Yet the Lions missed a chance to extend the lead when Akers missed a 31 yard chip shot to end the half.
Detroit began to pull away in the third quarter when Stafford hit Calvin Megatron Johnson for a 20 yard touchdown to make it 24-10 Lions. With Brett Favre still retired, Aaron Rodgers still injured, and Scott Tolzien returned to Walmart, Matt Flynn was playing in this game. Flynn was sacked for a safety to make it 26-10 Lions. Detroit took the free kick and Bell got in from the one to make it 33-10 Lions. A touchdown pass to Kevin Ogletree with four minutes to play extended the blowout as Detroit maintained their tenuous lead atop the NFC North. 40-10 Lions
Oakland Raiders at Dallas Cowboys was the Thanksgiving afternoon game. On the opening kickoff, the Cowboys fumbled and Scott Jenkins returned it for a 23 yard touchdown. The Raiders led 7-0 only 12 seconds into the game, but they giveth as much as they taketh away. From inside their own 5, Matt McGloin fumbled a snap and Dallas recovered. DeMarco Murray scored the easy touchdown to tie the game 7-7.
Yet McGloin has shown plenty of poise, and he led the Raiders in the second quarter on a 12 play, 79 yard drive that took 5 1/2 minutes. On 3rd and goal from the one, Rashad Jennings took a handoff and got around the corner to the pileon to make it 14-7 Raiders. Oakland got it back with 10 minutes left in the half at midfield and McGloin killed Dallas on several third downs. The 8 minute drive saw Jennings crash in from the one after converting 3rd and 2 from the 3 himself as the Raiders had the 21-7 lead in front of a bewildered home crowd.
After 28 minutes, Dallas had only 53 total yards, exactly 0 in the second quarter. Yet the Raiders went into a prevent defense in the 2 minute drill, and Murray got his second touchdown of the day with 10 seconds left in the half from four yards out as Dallas only trailed 21-14.
In the second half the Raiders do what they do. They failed to finish a game as Dallas took over. Romo led a 10 play, 87 yard, 6 minute drive that ended with a 4 yard touchdown to De Bryant to tie the game 21-21. In the fourth quarter Murray got in again from 7 yards out as the Cowboys led 28-21.
McGloin led the Raiders down the field, but in the red zone the Raiders broke down again. McGloin went to the end zone and had single coverage. Yet the pass was intercepted for the touchback with 10 minutes to play. Romo led a time consuming drive an bled the clock. 14 plays, 79 yards, and 7 minutes led to a 19 yard Dan Bailey field goal.
Needing 2 scores, McGloin moved the Raiders in position for a 45 yard Sebastian Janikowski field goal. Seabas hit it with 35 seconds left. Yet the onside kick failed and the Raiders had their 11th straight non-winning season. Dennis Allen can still lose 4 more games as Raiders coach, but hopefully that will be the end of this failed experiment. Jon Gruden is available. 31-24 Cowboys
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens was the Thanksgiving night game. These bitter rivals are not what they have been in past years, but they are both 5-6 fighting for playoff survival. Joe Flacco hit Torry Smith for a 7 yard first quarter touchdown and Justin Tucker added a 43 yard second quarter field goal as the Ravens led 10-0 at halftime.
Tucker added a 34 yard field goal in the third quarter to pad the lead to 13-0. The Steelers finally got on the board when Ben Roethlisberger hit Emanuel Sanders for an 8 yard touchdown to get within 13-7. The Ravens kept moving the ball but had to settle for Tucker field goals of 38 yards in the third quarter and 45 yards in the fourth quarter to lead 19-7. Pittsburgh edged closer when Bell got in the end zone from one yard out to get Pittsburgh within 19-14. Yet Tucker then hit his fifth field goal from 48 yards out to put the Ravens up 22-14 with 6 minutes to play.
Big Ben moved the Steelers from their 21. At the 2 minute warning from the Baltimore 20, Roethlisberger went deep to Heath Miller for the touchdown. Officials reviewed the play and reversed the score, putting Miller down at the one. Bell got in for the score with 90 seconds left. Officials again reviewed the play and again a touchdown was taken off the board as Bell was ruled down at the one. Roethlisberger then threw incomplete and with one minute left it came down to 4th and goal at the one. Roethlisberger threw to Jerricho Cotchery for the score and this time it stood. The 2 point conversion attempt to Emanuel Sanders was dropped. The onside kick failed as Baltimore hung on to get to 6-6 and put Pittsburgh on the precipice of playoff elimination. 22-20 Ravens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers—A 27 yard Ryan Lindell field goal had the Buccaneers up 3-0 at the outset. Cam Newton brought Carolina right back as a 16 yard touchdown to Brandon LaFell had the Panthers up 7-3. Lindell hit again from 53 to get the Bucs to within 7-6. In the second quarter a long drive set up a 23 yard Graham Gano field goal for Carolina. Newton then got in from the one to give the Panthers the 17-6 halftime lead.
In the third quarter Newton fired to Tedd Ginn Jr. for a 36 yard touchdown as Carolina now had a 24-6 advantage. Carolina then put the clamps down on defense. Newton led a 13 play, 66 yard drive that took nearly 9 minutes off the clock. The Panthers settled for a 22 yard Gano field goal but that was more than enough. The Bucs saw their 3 game winning streak snapped as they now have a losing season. Meanwhile Carolina has won 8 straight and still has a chance at their division and even a slim shot at home field throughout. 27-6 Panthers
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns—A long punt return had Cleveland starting at the Jacksonville 47. On the first play from scrimmage Brandon Weeden went deep for a 42 yard gain to set up Willis McGahee from one yard out to make it 7-0 Browns. Jacksonville came back as Chad Henne hit Harbor from 18 yards out to tie the score. In the second quarter Weeden easily moved the Browns 92 yards in 11 plays as he went back to Gordon for a 21 yard touchdown and a 14-7 Browns lead.
Yet these are not the Bryan Hoyer or Jason Campbell Browns. They are the Brandon Weeden Browns. Weeden was intercepted, giving Jacksonville the ball at the Cleveland 17. Maurice Jones-Drew got in from 8 yards out to tie the game 14-14. Weeden was intercepted again, giving the Jaguars the ball at the Cleveland 28. Josh Scobee hit the 44 yard field goal. Weeden was then sacked and fumbled and the Jaguars took over at the Cleveland 18 with 5 seconds left in the half. Scobee hit from 36 as 13 gifted points on 3 Weened turnovers in the last 2 minutes of the half had the Jaguars leading 20-14.
In the third quarter Weeden led the Browns 80 yards in 10 plays and 5 minutes as a 4 yard touchdown pass to Greg Little had the Browns back on top 21-20. Midway through the fourth quarter clinging to a one point lead, the Browns faced 1st and 10 from their 14. Rather than run some clock, Weeden lined up in the shotgun. What could possibly go wrong? A fumbled snap led to Weeden trying to kick the ball as a safety now had the Jaguars up 22-21. Jacksonville took the free kick and Scobee hit from 36 to make it 25-21 Jaguars with 4 minutes to play.
The Browns were pinned at their own 5 yard line, which could have meant another safety. Instead Weeden went deep to Gordon for a 95 yard touchdown as the Browns had the 28-25 lead. Yet Chad Henne moved the Jaguars 80 yards as a 20 yard touchdown to Chris Shorts put Jacksonville up by 4 with 40 seconds left. Cleveland moved to the Jacksonville 47 with 6 seconds to play. Cleveland began with a false start. The Hail Mary reached the end zone and was safely knocked down as Jacksonville has won three of their last four in this battle of the both of the barrel. 32-28 Jaguars
New England Patriots at Houston Texans—One week after their big emotional comeback win against Denver, the Patriots came out flat. Ben Tate ran it in from eight yards out as the Texans took the early 7-0 lead. A 31 yard interception return of Tom Brady set up a 43 yard Bullock field goal to make it 10-0 Texans. The Patriots finally woke up and took interest in the game as Brady fired a 23 yard touchdown to Rob Gronkowski to get the Patriots within 10-7. In the second quarter Tate broke up a 20 yard touchdown run as the Texans had the 17-7 halftime lead.
In the third quarter Brady quickly led the Patriots 78 yards. Develin was stopped three times on one play but his fourth effort got him the toughest one yard touchdown run this year as New England got within 17-14. The Patriots came back and another 73 yards came quickly as a 9 yard touchdown to Shane Vereen had the Patriots up 21-17. The Texans did not fold as Case Keenum brought the Texans 81 yards in 6 minutes. Keenum took it in himself from 5 yards out as Houston led 24-21 late in the third quarter.
Brady kept piling up the yards as 81 more meant a 7 yard touchdown run by Blount to put the Patriots up 28-24 early in the fourth quarter. A 66 yard bomb from Keenum to Deandre Hopkins set up Tate from 5 yards out as the see-saw game had the Texans up 31-28. Stephen Gostkowski missed a 55 yard field goal earlier in the game but drilled a 53 yarded midway through the fourth quarter to tie the game 31-31. New England got it back and in the face of a deafening crowd, Gostkowski drilled another 53 yarder as the Patriots led 34-31 with 3:12 to play.
The Texans turned it over on downs as New England survived to stay within striking distance of home field throughout the playoffs. Houston has lost 10 straight despite fighting hard. 34-31 Patriots
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts—A 47 yard Adam Vinatieri field goal got the Colts on the board first. Vinatieri hit again from 48 to make it 6-0 Colts. In the second quarter Ryan Fitzpatrick led the Titans 80 yards in 10 plays and got the last yard himself for a 7-6 Titans lead. Vinatieri’s third and fourth field goals from 45 and 37 yards out had the Colts up 12-7 at the break.
In the third quarter Fitzptrick led a 14 play, 80 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive that culminated in 4th and goal at the one. Fitzpatrick hit Chris Johnson for the score to put the Titans up 14-12. Yet on the next series Fitzpatrick would be sacked and fumbled. Vinatieri hit his fifth field goal from 49 yards out to make it 15-14 Colts.
Andrew Luck got it done when it mattered most, leading a 92 yard, 11 play drive that ate up 6 minutes. Donald Brown got in from 4 yards out as the Colts only trip to the end zone was just enough just past the 2 minute warning. Fitzpatrick moved the Titans from their 21 to the Indy 33 with 33 seconds left. Fitzpatrick was intercepted as the game Titans dropped to 5-7 and the Colts at 8-4 all but wrapped up the AFC South. 22-14 Colts
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings—A 30 yard Robbie Gould field goal got the Bears on the scoreboard first. In the second quarter Cordarelle Patterson broke free for a 33 yard touchdown run to make it 7-3 Vikings. Gould would hit a 40 yard field goal as the Bears trailed 7-6 at intermission.
The third quarter began with a jolt. Josh McCown hooked up with Jeffery for an 80 yard touchdown as the Bears quickly took the 13-7 lead. Blair Walsh hit a 32 yard field goal as a long drive had the Vikings settling for a 13-10 deficit. McCown went deep again to Jeffery for a 46 yard touchdown as the Bears took a 20-10 lead.
Christian Ponder came out with a concussion and Matt Cassel came in. In the fourth quarter Cassel led a 13 play, 89 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive that ended with an 8 yard touchdown to Greg Jennings. Minnesota was within 20-17 midway through the fourth quarter. The game then turned into a battle of who wanted it least.
McCown fumbled at Minnesota took over at the Chicago 18. Yet from the 6, Cassel was intercepted by Green at the one, who returned it all the way to midfield. On 3rd and 1 from the Minnesota 41, Matt Forte got stopped cold and Minnesota had another chance. With 1:55 left, Minnesota faced 4th and 11 from their own 8. Cassel hit Simpson for 20 yards and then 24 more to midfield. With 36 second to play Minnesota had 1st and 10 at the Chicago 12. Cassel then threw 3 straight incompletions. Walsh hit the 30 yarded with 20 seconds left to tie the game.
Devon Hester took the kickoff 7 yards deep in the end zone and returned it 57 yards to midfield. Gould came in for a 66 yard field goal to make NFL history, but it was no good. In overtime the Bears got it first and McCown fumbled. From 39 yards out, Walsh hit the field goal and the Vikings celebrated. Yet a facemask penalty on Minnesota nullified the kick. Leslie Frazier decided to have Walsh try from 57 yards. He was no good. With 4 minutes left in overtime the Bears had another chance as Gould came in for a 47 yarder. Again the kick was no good. Adrian Peterson then took over and carried the Vikings to a 34-yard try by Walsh. With less than two minutes left in overtime, this time Walsh was good and this time it counted as the Bears lost ground in the NFC North. 23-20 Vikings, OT
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets—The battle of 5-6 division rivals was as ugly as expected. A pair of Caleb Sturgis field goals in the second quarter from 34 and 43 yards out had the Dolphins take a 6-0 lead into the locker rooms.
In the third quarter Rex Ryan benched Geno Smith and brought in Simms, the son of NFL great Phil Simms. Young Simms fumbled and the Dolphins recovered. At least it was not a butt-fumble. Ryan Tannehill went to Brad Hartline for a 31 yard touchdown as the Dolphins led 13-0.
Simms would lead the Jets down the field, but at the 2 yard line the Dolphins defense stiffened. A 20 yard Nick Folk field goal had the Jets down 13-3. Tannehill came back with a 28 yard touchdown to Mike Wallace to make it 20-3 Dolphins. In the fourth quarter Tannehill led an 11 play, 60 yard, 6 minute drive that led to 4th and goal at the one. Joe Philbin opted for the field goal with the outcome not in doubt. 23-3 Dolphins
Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles—Carson Palmer was hit and fumbled early on to give the Eagles the ball at the Arizona 25. Nick Foles threw a 6 yard touchdown to Ertz to make it 7-0 Cardinals. In the second quarter Palmer went deep to Larry Fitzgerald for a 43 yard touchdown to tie the game. Alex Henery then hit a 32 yard field goal to put the Eagles back in front. Foles would throw a one yard touchdown to Captain Morgan Brent Celek as the Eagles led 17-7 at halftime.
In the third quarter Foles moved the Eagles 80 yards in 13 plays as a 24 yard touchdown to Ertz had the Eagles up 24-7. Palmer came back as 80 yards in 10 plays and 5 minutes resulted in a 23 yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Floyd as Arizona got within 24-14. In the fourth quarter Palmer moved the Cardinals 86 yards as a 3 yard touchdown pass to Dray had Arizona within 24-21 with 4:45 to play.
An interception of Foles was nullified by a defensive penalty and Arizona then turned it over on downs as Philadelphia hung on. Both teams are 7-5 and in the playoff hunt. 24-21 Eagles
Atlanta Falcons at Buffalo Bills—A battle of eliminated teams had EJ Manuel and Fred Jackson scoring short touchdowns on the ground to put the Bills up 14-0. Atlanta got back to within 14-7 when Stephen Jackson broke off a 27 yard touchdown run. In the second quarter Dan Carpenter hit a 29 yard field goal to make it 17-7 Bills. Atlanta got within 17-14 when Smith tore off a 38 yard touchdown run. Matt Bryant hit a 49 yard field goal as the teams were tied 17-17 at halftime.
In the third quarter Matt Ryan threw an 11 yard touchdown on 3rd and goal to Tony Gonzalez to put the Falcons up 24-17. Yet on Atlanta’s next series Ryan fumbled and the Bills recovered at the Atlanta 21. One play later Manuel hit Fred Jackson for the touchdown to tie the game 24-24.
In the fourth quarter CJ Spiller raced for a 36 yard touchdown as the Bills took the 31-24 lead. Yet in a game of big plays, the biggest came with 90 seconds left to play. The Falcons moved to a 3rd and goal at the 16. Ryan threw incomplete but defensive pass interference instead meant 1st and goal at the one. Jackson got in to tie the game 31-31. With 28 seconds left the Bills had moved to a 3rd and 1 at the Atlanta 44. Manuel hit Stevie St. Johnson for 14 yards to field goal range, but St. Johnson fumbled the ball away.
Buffalo won the toss and on the second play of overtime Manuel hit Chandler for a 22 yard gain. Yet Chandler fumbled and the Falcons took over at the Bills 47. Ryan hit Douglas for 20 yards and Bryant nailed the 36 yarded to give the Falcons the win in an otherwise forgettable season. 34-31 Falcons, OT
St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers—Phil Dawson hit a 32 yard field goal in the first quarter and a 43 yarder in the second quarter to make it 6-0 49ers. A 12 play, 72 yard, 6 minute drive led to a 3 yard touchdown run by Frank Gore as the 49ers led 13-0. Greg Zuerlein would hit a 43 yard field goal to get the Rams within 13-3.
In the third quarter Zuerlein hit from 34 as the Rams clawed to within 13-6. Dawson hit from 24 to make it 16-6 49ers.
In the fourth quarter Colin Kaepernick hit Vernon Davis for a 17 yard touchdown to put the game out of reach. Despite a garbage touchdown for the Rams they are all but eliminated from contention as the 49ers remained very much alive. 23-13 49ers
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs—With first place in the AFC West on the line, Alex Smith led the Chiefs 83 yards as a 17 yard touchdown pass to Hemingway had Kanas City up 7-0. In the second quarter Peyton Manning went to Eric Decker for a 41 yard touchdown to tie the game.
13 seconds later the Chiefs were in front again as Niles Davis returned the ensuing kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown and a 14-7 Chiefs lead. After a Manning interception, Smith hit Anthony Fasano for a 12 yard touchdown as the Chiefs led 21-7 in front of a rocking home crowd.
Manning then went bombs away to Eric Decker for a 42 yard gain down to the Chiefs 3 yard line. On 3rd and goal Manning hit Knowshon Moreno for the touchdown as the Broncos got within 21-14 with 4 minutes left in the half.
In the third quarter Manning went back to Decker again for a 39 yard touchdown to tie the game 21-21. Manning and Decker played pitch and catch as that 80 yard drive was followed up with a 92 yard drive where Manning hit Decker for a 15 yard touchdown to give the Broncos the 28-21 lead. In the fourth quarter Manning led a 95 yard drive as a one yard touchdown to Decker had the Broncos up 35-21.
The Chiefs fought back as Smith led a staggering 17 play, 80 yard drive that took nearly 8 minutes. Jamal Charles got in from one yard out to get the Chiefs within 35-28. The Chiefs defense finally forced a punt and the Chiefs took over at their 8 with 3 1/2 minutes to play. On 3rd and 14 from their own 4, Smith completed a prayer to Jenkins for 26 yards and then hit Dexter McCluster for 28 more. A 23 yard completion to Dwayne Bowe had the Chiefs at the Denver 19 at the 2 minute warning.
With 1:51 to play it came down to 4th and 4 from the 13. Smith fired to the end zone incomplete. Denver is 10-2 and Kansas City has lost their third straight after winning their first nine games. More importantly, Denver has swept the Chiefs to all but wrap up the AFC West and inch toward home field throughout the playoffs. 35-28 Broncos
Cincinnati Bengals at San Diego Chargers—The law firm Ben-Jarvus Green-Ellis scored from four yards out in the second quarter to get the Bengals on the board first. Philip Rivers went to Green for a 30 yard touchdown to tie the game 7-7.
In the third quarter an interception of Rivers snuffed out a Chargers threat and set the Bengals up at their own 25. Andy Dalton moved the Bengals and a 21 yard touchdown to AJ Green had Cincinnati up 14-7 after three quarters. Mike Nugent hit a 46 yard field goal with 9 1/2 minutes remaining to give the Bengals a 17-7 cushion.
A game of turnovers saw both teams exchange fumbles as San Diego took over with a short field and Nick Novak hit a 48 yard field goal to get the Chargers within seven points again with 5 minutes to play. From the Cincy 34, Tate broke off a 24 yard run and the Bengals ran out the clock to get to 8-4 and drop the Chargers to 5-7 and the elimination brink. 17-10 Bengals
New York Giants at Washington Redskins was the Sunday night game. Early on it was all Washington as RGIII led a 14 play, 73 yard, 7 minute drive including a fourth down conversion. Alfred Morris banged in from one yard out to make it 7-0 Redskins. Early in the second quarter RGIII hit Logan Paulsen for a 19 yard touchdown as the Redskins led 14-0.
The Giants came back as Antonio Brown ran for a 23 yard touchdown. Eli Manning hit Brandon Myers for the tying 22 yard touchdown with 35 seconds left in the half. RGIII moved the Redskins to the Giants 39 with one second left in the half Rather than try a 57 yard field goal, it was Hail Mary time. Yet instead RGIII scrambled and gained 20 yards but the clock ran out.
In the third quarter Manning had a pass deflected and intercepted to give the Redskins the ball at the Giants 12. Washington settled for a 33 yard Kai Forbath field goal to lead 17-14.
Early in the fourth quarter a bad snap led to a partially blocked punt to give the Giants the ball at the Washington 46. Passes of 18 to Myers and 19 to Cruz put the ball on the one yard line, where Brown banged in to make it 21-17 Giants. With 2 1/2 minutes left in regulation, Josh Brown hit a 39 yarder to extend the lead to 7 points.
After some officiating confusion, everything came down to the Redskins facing 4th and 1 at the Giants 45 with 90 seconds to play. RGI found Garcon for 6 yards, but Garcon had it ripped out of his hands by Will Hill. The turnover kept the Giants alive at 5-7 while the 4-8 Redskins are officially done. 24-17 Giants
New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks was the Monday night game.
Sean Payton and Drew Brees brought their pinball offense into Seattle to face off against the Pete Carroll defense led by Richard Sherman and the Legion of Boom. With typical Seattle rain coming down, the 12th man provided a decisive edge.
Steve Hauschka got the Seahawks on the board first with a 26 yard field goal. Bennett then returned a fumble 22 yards for a touchdown to make it 10-0 Seahawks. Russell Wilson hit Zach Miller for a 60 yard gain to set up a 2 yard touchdown pass to Miller for the 17-0 Seahawks lead.
In the second quarter Brees led a 13 play, 80 yard, 8 minute drive that ended with a 2 yard touchdown to Graham to get the Saints within 17-7. Wilson brought Seattle to a 4th and 1 from the 2, and Carroll took no chances as Hauschka made it 20-7. With Seattle pinned deep in their own territory late in the half, Sean Payton took timeouts on defense to give Brees one more chance. The strategy backfired as Wilson converted on 3rd and long and drove Seattle down the field again. The 12 play, 88 yard drive ended with Wilson rolling to his right and throwing back left to a wide open Doug Baldwin for a 27-7 Seahawks lead at the half. Seattle at 11-1 has all but clinched their division and home field throughout the playoffs. New Orleans at 9-3 has fallen into a tie with Carolina with next week being the NFC South showdown between them. 34-7 Seahawks
eric