NFL 2013 Week 14 Recap
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars was the Thursday night game. Chad Henne moved the Jaguars 80 yards in 13 plays and 6 minutes and on 3rd and goal from the one hit Mercedes Lewis for the touchdown. In the second quarter a 6 yard touchdown pass to Cecil Shorts made it 14-0 Jaguars. Case Keenum moved the Texans 91yards in 12 plays for an 8 yard touchdown to Martin to get Houston within 14-7. Josh Scobee added a 40 yard field goal to make it 17-7 Jaguars at halftime. Case Keenum was again benched for Matt Schaub.
After a Houston field goal in the third quarter, Gus Bradley went to his bag of tricks. A halfback option pass from Sanders to Todman meant a 21 yard touchdown and a 24-10 Jacksonville lead. Schaub hit Graham for a 5 yard touchdown as the Texans were only down 24-17 after three quarters.
Bullock hit his second field from 31 yards out as the Texans only trailed 24-20 with 11 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Houston got it back after a touchback with 9 1/2 minutes left and moved to a 2nd and 1 at the Jaguars 12. Schaub threw incomplete and a run lost a yard. With 3:45 to play, Kubiak decided to go for it rather than kick the field goal and play defense. Schaub threw incomplete.
Houston got it back with 2:21 left but Schaub was quickly intercepted. Scobee added a 39 yard field goal and Houston got it back with 20 seconds to play from the Texans 23. Schaub was sacked for an 18 yard loss to end the game. Jacksonville has won 4 of 5 while Houston has lost 11 straight, leading Texans owner Bob McNair to fire Kubiak on Friday and replace him with Michelin Man Wade Philips. 27-20 Jaguars
Minnesota Vikings at Baltimore Ravens—Minnesota fumbled and the Ravens recovered at the Vikings 25. Joe Flacco scrambled for 22 and on 3rd and goal from the one hit Dickson for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Ravens. Blair Walsh hit a 39 yard field goal in the second quarter to get the Vikings within 7-3. Walsh hit from 40 in the third quarter to get the Vikings within 7-6. Another interception of Flacco set up Minnesota at the Baltimore 33. Only 30 seconds into he fourth quarter, Matt Cassel hit Simpson for a touchdown on 3rd and goal from the 8 to make it 12-7 Vikings. After nearly 58 minutes of hideous football, the ending was a thriller.
With 2:05 to play Flacco hit Dennis Pitta from one yard out and the Ravens got the 2 point conversion to lead 15-12. Yet Minnesota came right back and with 90 seconds to play Toby Gerhart went straight up the middle for a 40 yard touchdown as now Minnesota led 19-15. With the Ravens clinging to their playoff lives, they needed another miracle. They got one as a short kickoff was returned 77 yards for a touchdown by Jacoby Jones.
Minnesota took over at their own 21 with 1:11 left and 0 timeouts needing a field goal to tie it. A short swing pass to Cordarelle Patterson became a 79 yard touchdown in front of a shellshocked home crowd.
Baltimore took over at their own 20 with 45 seconds left and 2 timeouts. Flacco immediately completed a 35 yard pass play and needed only 7 seconds to do it. Flacco was then intercepted, but defensive pass interference meant 1st and 10 at the 28 with 23 seconds left. A completion to Pitta put the ball on the 9 yard line with 10 seconds left as the Ravens took their last timeout. Flacco fired to Brown with 4 seconds left. Although it appeared Brown was out of bounds, the officials ruled he got his feet down. There were 19 points scored in nearly 58 minutes of football, and 35 points in the last 2:05. Baltimore at 7-6 is still alive after the epic win. 29-26 Ravens
Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals —Andy Dalton threw a 29 yard touchdown pass to Marvin Jones to make it 7-0 Bengals. Ben-Jarvus Green-Ellis took his law firm one yard into the end zone in the second quarter to make it 14-0 Bengals. Green-Ellis added another one yard touchdown run in the third quarter to make it 21-0 Bengals.
The Colts finally got on the board when a short pass from Andrew Luck to Rogers went for a 69 yard touchdown. Luck then hit Brazill for a 19 yard touchdown to get the Colts within 21-14. Dalton gave the Bengals breathing room with a one yard touchdown pass to Gresham for the 28-14 Bengals lead. In the fourth quarter Dalton hit AJ Green from 9 yards out as the Bengals led 35-14. Luck tried to rally the Colts but it was too little, too late. Cincinnati got to 9-4 as Indy fell to 8-5 as both teams lead their divisions by default. 42-28 Bengals
Atlanta Falcons at Green Packers —Atlanta held the ball for 6 minutes to start the game and faced 4th and 2 at the Packers 35. Mike Smith is a riverboat gambler, but despite the season being lost, he punted. Matt Flynn then led a staggering 18 play, 90 yard drive that consumed 9 minutes. On 3rd and goal at the one, Eddie Lacy got in to make it 7-0 Packers as the first quarter ended.
In the second quarter Matt Ryan went to Davis for a 36 yard touchdown to tie the game 7-7. Flynn was then sacked and fumbled to give the Falcons the ball at the Packers 13. Ryan went to Tony Gonzalez for a 2 yard touchdown for the 14-7 Falcons lead. Mason Crosby hit 40 yard field goal to get the Packers within 14-10, but Flynn was then intercepted by Weatherspoon, who returned it 71 yards for a touchdown as the Falcons had the 21-10 lead.
Crosby hit from 33 and 25 in the third quarter to get the Packers within 21-16 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter Ryan was sacked and fumbled to give the Packers the ball at the Atlanta 21. Flynn hit Andrew Quarless for a 2 yard touchdown as the Packers led 22-21.
At the 2 minute warning, Atlanta faced 4th and 6 at the Green Bay 33. Mike Smith passed up a 51 yard field goal with snow coming down and Ryan threw incomplete. Atlanta got it back at their own 9 with 44 seconds left. On 3rd and 10 from the Atlanta 43 with 11 seconds left, Ryan went deep and was intercepted as the Packers remained alive in the NFC North. 22-21 Packers
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots —Billy Cundiff hit a 43 yard field goal as the Browns took a surprising 3-0 lead. Cundiff hit from 37 in the second quarter as the Browns led 6-0. In the third quarter Jason Campbell hit Barnidge for a 40 yard touchdown. The 2 point conversion failed but the Browns still led 12-0 in front of a disbelieving home crowd.
New England finally kicked a 33 yard Stephen Goskowski field goal, but one play was enough for Cleveland to strike again as Campbell found Gordon for an 80 yard touchdown and a 19-3 Browns lead. The Patriots finally woke up and needed only 3 plays to move 72 yards. Shane Vereen got in from 6 yards out and the 2 point try succeeded as the Patriots trailed 19-11 after three quarters.
With 5 1/2 minutes left in regulation, Gostkowski hit a 50 yard field goal as the Patriots trailed 19-14. Yet Jason Campbell is no Brandon Weeden. Campbell led another 80 yard drive as a 4 yard touchdown pass to Cameron locked up what may be the upset of the year. New England most likely have cost themselves home field throughout the playoffs with this loss. 26-14 Browns
Oakland Raiders at New York Jets —Nick Folk hit a 41 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Jets. An interception of Geno Smith set up a 52 yard field goal try by Sebastian Janikowski, which was no good. Geno Smith then threw a 25 yard touchdown to Kerley to make it 10-0 Jets.
In a surprising move late in the first quarter, Dennis Allen benched Matt McGloin and brought back Terrelle Pryor in at quarterback. McGloin had done nothing wrong, and this seemed to be Allen giving Pryor a hard look and conceding that the season is over. For fans of the Raiders this was demoralizing. In the second quarter Janikowski hit a 41 yard field goal to get the Raiders within 10-3.
Pryor then came out and McGloin was back in. The Raiders took over at their own 2, had a false start back to the one, and on 3rd and 8 from the 4 saw McGloin get intercepted by Ed Reed. Despite 1st and goal at the 4, the Jets ran 3 plays, lost a yard, and settled for a 23 yard Folk field goal to lead 13-3.
As pathetic as the Jets are, the Raiders are worse. The defense is solid but the offense is matched in futility only by the special teams. Marquette King had his punt blocked for another touchdown as the Jets led 20-3. For some reason Dennis Allen was allowed to coach the second half.
The third quarter began with a ray of hope as Marcel Reece broke free for a 63 yard touchdown run to get the Raiders within 20-10. Yet Geno Smith then moved the Jets 72 yards, getting the final 8 himself to make it 27-10 Jets. McGloin can throw the deep ball, but it was a short pass to Rod Streater that went for a 48 yard touchdown as the Raiders got within 27-17. Folk would hit his third field goal from 51 as the Jets led 30-17.
Janikowski hit from 40 as the Raiders trailed 30-20 early in the fourth quarter. Yet a Chris Ivory touchdown run had the Jets up 37-20 with 9 minutes left to play. With 2:24 left McGloin hit Rivera for a one yard score, but the Raiders never got within 10 points after falling behind. The Jets got to 6-7 while the Raiders at 4-9 cannot even beat teams that lose to everyone else. 37-27 Jets
Detroit Lions at Philadelphia Eagles—This game was played in a blizzard. After a scoreless opening quarter, the Lions began the second quarter with their sixth fumble, although they only lost two of them. Nick Folk had thrown 19 touchdown passes without a single interception, but was finally picked off in this game. It was returned 30 yards to the Philly 20. Bell got in from the 2 for the touchdown. Jim Schwartz decided on a 2 point conversion because the weather was too miserable to try extra points. Stafford hit Bell to make it 8-0 Lions. With one minute left in the half Chip Kelly passed up a field goal try and gambled on 4th and 7 from the Detroit 10. Foles threw incomplete as 6 inches of snow fell in the first half.
In the third quarter with the snow still coming down, Jeremy Ross returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown. The Lions again went for the 2 point conversion and this time Stafford threw high and incomplete as the Lions led 14-0. Nick Foles would throw a 19 yard touchdown pass to Desean Jackson. Jackson may have stepped out of bounds but there was too much snow to tell. Chip Kelly also did not feel comfortable trying an extra point as the 2 point conversion failed and the Eagles trailed 14-6.
The fourth quarter began with a critical personal foul on the Detroit defense. LeSean McCoy broke free for a 40 yard touchdown run. The 2 point conversion failed, but holding on the Detroit defense gave Philly another shot from the one. Brice Brown got in to tie the game 14-14. Yet seconds later Ross burned the Eagles again as he took the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. A false start on the 2 point conversion led Jim Schwartz to call a timeout. Players used the timeout to clear a path for David Akers to try an extra point. The kick was blocked. To add more insanity to the situation, an Eagle defender returned the kick all the way the other way until the referee explained that this was not college football. Extra points cannot be returned in the NFL, as the Lions led 20-14.
McCoy then got free again for a 57 yard touchdown. Even with the game tied, it was 2 point conversion time. Foles hit Riley Cooper as the Eagles led 22-20.
With 9 minutes left and the Eagles facing 3rd and goal, the referees announced that they had to stop play to clear the goal line because they could not see it. On 4th and goal from the one, Chip Kelly decided to go for it and Foles snuck it in. An extra point would have made it a 2 point game but again a 2 point try was attempted. It failed and the Eagles led 28-20.
Detroit’s seventh fumble was the third one they lost, and Chris Polk ran for a 38 yard touchdown to put the game out of reach with 3 minutes left in regulation.
The Eagles got to 8-5 while the Lions fell to 7-6. Both teams could win their division or miss the playoffs entirely. 34-20 Eagles.
Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers—Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers 74 yards in 12 plays and 7 minutes,hitting Emanuel Sanders for a 5 yard touchdown for a 7-0 Steelers lead. Caleb Sturgis hit a 30 yard field goal to get the Dolphins within 7-3. In the second quarter Roethlisberger was sacked and fumbled to set the Dolphins up at the Pittsburgh 31. Ryan Tannehill hit Clay for a 6 yard touchdown to put the Dolphins up 10-7.
In the third quarter the Dolphins moved 80 yards as a 4 yard run by Thomas had the Dolphins up 17-7. Pittsburgh came right back as Big Ben hit Antonio Brown for a 43 yard touchdown to get the Steelers within 17-14. Tannehill was then intercepted by Troy Polamalu, who returned it 19 yards for a touchdown to put the Steelers in front 21-17. Tannehill came back with a 4 yard touchdown to Hartline as the Dolphins now led 24-21 in this seesaw game.
On the first play of the fourth quarter Roethlisberger hit Jerricho Cotchery for a 16 yard touchdown as the Steelers now led 28-24. A 55-yard run by Daniel Thomas led to a 13-yard touchdown pass to Charles Clay, who broke free from two defenders to give Miami the 31-28 lead with three minutes to play. Miami added a field goal and with three seconds left the Steelers had one last chance from their own 20. Roethlisberger completed a short pass, followed by a bunch of laterals that has not worked since the Stanford marching band. Yet this time the ball got back to Big Ben, who lateraled to Antonio Brown, who raced to the end zone.
As the Steeler Nation celebrated Immaculate Reception Part II and prepared for the winning extra point, the officials ruled that Brown stepped out of bounds at the Miami 13 yard line. It was the correct call as Miami stayed alive at 7-6 and Pittsburgh at 5-8 is done. 34-28 Dolphins
Buffalo Bills at Tampa Bay Buccaneers—On the first play from scrimmage Rainey ran for an 80 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Buccaneers. Dan Carpenter hit a 40 yard field goal to get the Bills within 7-3. Mike Glennon went to Vincent Jackson for a 36 yard touchdown to make it 14-3 Buccaneers. In the second quarter an interception of EJ Manuel led to a 53 yard Ryan Lindell field goal to make it 17-3 Buccaneers. Glennon then Wright for a 5 yard touchdown to make it 24-3 Buccaneers at halftime. The Buccaneers have won four of their last five under Greg Schiano. 27-6 Buccaneers
Kansas City Chiefs at Washington Redskins—With hard snow coming down, Ryan Succop somehow hit a 33 yard field goal to put the Chiefs up 3-0. A 60 yard punt return by Dexter McCluster then had the Chiefs at the Redskins 13. On 4th and 1, Walrus Lite Andy Reid gambled in the snow. Charles gained 2 and then 2 more for the touchdown to make it 10-0 Chiefs. A 40 yard interception return of RGIII set the Chiefs up at the Washington 25. On 3rd and 6 Alex Smith hit Dwayne Bowe for a 21 yard touchdown to make it 17-0 Chiefs.
In the second quarter McCluster burned the Redskins again for a 24 yard punt return to the Washington 41. Smith hit Charles for the 5 yard touchdown as the Chiefs were all over the Redskins 24-0. McCluster just destroyed the Redskins on the next one as he took the punt return 74 yards for a touchdown as the Chiefs led 31-0 and Mike Shanahan wondered if Daniel Snyder would fire him at halftime.
After the Redskins finally got in the end zone, special teams continued the onslaught as Quinten Demps returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for another touchdown as the Chiefs led 38-7, taking a 38-10 lead into the locker rooms. The Chiefs snapped their three game losing streak to get to 10-3 while Mike Shanahan contemplate where he would coach after Daniel Snyder fires him. 45-10 Chiefs
Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos —John Fox came back to coach Denver as Jack Del Rio handed the reins back. Early on Ryan Fitzpatrick hit Hunter for 57 yards and Shon Greene ran it in from the one to make it 7-0 Titans. Peyton Manning led a 13 play, 74 yard, 5 minute drive that ended with 4th and goal at the one. Fox decided to go for it and Manning hit Wes Welker for the one yard touchdown to tie the game. Leon Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards to the Denver 3 yard line. Chris Johnson did the rest as the Titans led 14-7. On the next series twice Manning threw a touchdown pass and twice had the officials overturn the score as Denver settled for a 25 yard Matt Prater field goal to trail 14-10.
Perhaps coaching for his job and perhaps to keep Manning off the field, Mike Munchak took some fourth down gambles. On 4th and 1 just shy of midfield midway through the second quarter, Fitzpatrick hit Johnson for a 23 yard gain. On the next play Greene ran for the score as Tennessee had the surprising 21-10 road lead. After that reality set in and the Denver offense went full throttle.
Manning moved the Broncos 81 yards in 10 plays and 5 minutes as an 8 yard touchdown to Julius Thomas had Denver within 21-17 with 1:50 left in the half. Denver forced a 3 and out and got it back at their own 15 with 52 seconds left. Manning moved the Broncos to the Tennessee 46 and a chance for NFL history.
The NFL field goal record of 63 yards was set by Saints kicker Tom Dempsey in 1970, and later matched by former Broncos kicker Jason Elam and current Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski. Seabass once had a 64 yard try clank off the upright no good. In the mile high air, Prater kicked the ball a mile high and a mile deep into the record books. His 64 yarder still had Denver down 21-20 at halftime, but the momentum was all Denver.
Manning hit Denarius Thomas for a four yard touchdown in the third quarter to put Denver in front. Knowshon Moreno added a one yard touchdown run as 24 unanswered points had the Broncos up 34-21. Fitzpatrick hit Hunter for a 41 yard touchdown to get the Titans within 34-28. In the fourth quarter Manning led Denver 79 yards in 13 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. This time on 4th and goal at the one Coach Fox played it safe to make it a 2 score game. Prater can also hit 19 yard field goals as Denver led 37-28 with 13 minutes left in regulation.
A Tennessee fumble gave the Broncos a short field and Manning hit Eric Decker for a 20 yard touchdown to make it 44-28 Broncos with 9 1/2 minutes left. Monte Ball added a 5 yard touchdown run for emphasis. At 11-2, the Broncos remain one game ahead of Kansas City in the West and one game up on New England for home field throughout the playoffs. The Titans are done and coach Mike Munchak may be as well. 51-28 Broncos
St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals — Rashaard Mendenhall ran it in from 3 yards out to make it 7-0 Cardinals. Greg Zuerlein hit a 44 yard field goal to get the Rams on the board. In the second quarter Carson Palmer hit Larry Fitzgerald for a 7 yard touchdown pass and a 14-3 Cardinals lead at the half. In the third quarter Karlos Dansby returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown and Abraham sacked Kelly Clemens for a safety and a 23-3 Cardinals lead.
In the fourth quarter Stacy got in from the one to get the Rams within 23-10. Ellington ran it in from 6 yards out to put it away as the Cardinals are very much alive in the playoff race and the Rams are not. 30-10 Cardinals
New York Giants at San Diego Chargers—The Chargers have never forgiven Eli Manning for rejecting them a decade ago, and this time they made him pay. Philip Rivers threw a 43 yard touchdown pass to Allen for a 7-0 Chargers lead.
In the second quarter Rivers led a 15 play, 76 yard drive that took 7 1/2 minutes. Nick Novak hit a 36 yard field goal to make it 10-0. Rivers then led the Chargers 67 yards in 11 plays and 6 minutes as a 4 yard touchdown to Allen made it 17-0. Rivers then hit Danny Woodhead for a 6 yard touchdown and a 24-0 Chargers halftime lead.
A third quarter Rivers fumble set up a one yard touchdown run by Peyton Hillis, but Ryan Mathews added a one yarded of his own to make it 31-7 Chargers. In the fourth quarter Manning hit Brandon Myers for a 5 yard touchdown but it was nowhere near enough as the Giants trailed 31-14. Rivers led another time consuming drive of 7 1/2 minutes as 75 yards and 11 plays meant a 27 yard Novak field goal and a 34-14 Chargers advantage. Novak tacked on another kick for good measure as San Diego under rookie coach Mike McCoy is still alive for the postseason while the Giants are done. 37-14 Chargers
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers —Seattle entered the week as the only team to have already clinched a playoff spot. Phil Dawson hit field goals of 23 and 48 as the 49ers led 6-0 after the opening quarter. In the second quarter Marshawn Lynch ran it in from 11 yards out to make it 7-6 Seahawks. Dawson hit his third field goal from 52 to make it 9-7 49ers. Russell Wilson hit Willson for a 39 yard touchdown, but Colin Kaepernick found Vernon Davis for an 8 yard touchdown just before the half ended as the 49ers clung to a 16-14 lead.
The defenses then clamped down, and after a scoreless third quarter, a 38 yard punt return by Golden Tate led to a 31 yard Stephen Hauschka field goal and a 17-16 Seattle lead with 6 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Frank Gore broke off a 51 yard run to the Seattle 18 with 4 minutes left. Seattle took their timeouts on defense, but on 3rd and 7 from the 15 Kaepernick scrambled for 8. This allowed the 49ers to bleed the clock down to 30 seconds and set up Dawson for the chip shot winner. Dawson was good and Seattle had 22 seconds and 0 timeouts from their own 15. Wilson went deep and was intercepted. The 49ers are alive for the playoffs while the Seahawks at 11-2 are still on track for home field throughout. 19-17 49ers
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints was the Sunday night game. Carolina led 6-0 after the first quarter on a pair of Graham Gano field goals, but the rest was all Saints. In the second quarter Drew Brees threw touchdown passes of six and 15 yards to Marques Colston and a five-yard touchdown to Graham. Brees went back to Graham in the fourth quarter as 31 unanswered points saw the Saints rebound in a big way after last week’s humiliation at Seattle. Although the 10-2 Saints lead the 9-3 Panthers, these teams have a rematch in two weeks in Carolina. The NFC South winner will probably have a first round bye in the playoffs. 31-13 Panthers
Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears was the Monday night game. A 14-14 game in the bitter cold was broken open in the last two minutes in the half. Robbie Gould hit a 27-yard field goal and Josh McCown, who had run for a touchdown and threw for one earlier in the half, threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jeffery just before the half. Up 24-14, McCown stayed red hot, throwing touchdown passes of four yards to Matt Forte and 17 yards to Michael Bush to make it 41-14. Tony Romo threw three touchdowns but McCown was 27 of 36 for 348 yards and four touchdowns. Neither signal-caller was intercepted, but the Dallas defense was simply overmatched. Both teams are 7-6 and still in the hunt. 45-28 Bears
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