NFL 2013 Week 15 Recap
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos was the Thursday night game. Peyton Manning made it look easy early on as a 15 yard touchdown pass to Caldwell had the Broncos up 7-0. Nick Novak would hit a 38 yard field goal for the Chargers and Matt Prater responded with a 32 yarder as the Broncos led 10-3 after the opening quarter.
The game changed in the second quarter as Philip Rivers threw touchdown passes of 19 and 10 yards to Kane to give the Chargers the 17-10 halftime lead. In the third quarter Ryan Mathews raced for a 23 yard touchdown as San Diego led 24-10 in front of a stunned home crowd.
In the fourth quarter Manning completed a 12 play, 89 yard, 6 minute drive with a 5 yard touchdown to Caldwell to get the Broncos within 24-17 with 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation. With 5 minutes left an interception of Manning gave the Chargers a short field. Novak hit a 35 yarder with 2 1/2 minutes to play to give San Diego a 27-17 lead.
Needing 2 scores, Manning quickly led the Broncos to a 42 yard Prater field goal with 30 seconds left. Yet the onsides kick failed and the Chargers had the shocking upset. San Diego at 7-7 is still alive while 11-3 Denver still has a one game lead for home field throughout the playoffs. 27-20 Chargers
Washington Redskins at Atlanta Falcons — 14 plays, 83 yards, and 7 minutes was capped with Stephen Jackson running it in from 3 yards out to make it 7-0 Falcons. Matt Ryan then threw a 13 yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez to make it 14-0 Falcons. Kirk Cousins, in for the benched RGIII, threw a 23 yard touchdown to Davis to get Washington within 14-7.
In the second quarter Santana Moss fumbled a punt and the Falcons recovered. Atlanta got to the one but not in as a 20 yard Matt Bryant field goal put the Falcons up 17-7. Fumbles on three straight plays meant three straight turnovers in this battle of futility. Cousins then hit Pierre Garcon for a 53 yard score to get the Redskins within 17-14. Kai Forbath would add a 33 yard field goal, Ryan would thrown an interception, and Forbath would hit again from 37 as the teams went to the locker rooms With the Redskins up 20-17.
In the third quarter the Falcons faced 4th and goal at the one. Stephen Jackson got the carry and got nothing. Yet on the next play from scrimmage Cousins was intercepted. Atlanta got it right back at the 2 and Jackson got in to put the Falcons up 24-20. Cousins was intercepted with 5 1/2 minutes left in regulation, leading to a 51 yard Bryant field goal and a 27-20 Falcons lead with 3 1/2 minutes left.
Cousins led the Redskins 80 yards to a three-yard touchdown to Santana Moss with 30 seconds to play. With the team 3-10 and everyone about to be fired, Mike Shanahan decided to go for the two-point conversion. There was nothing to lose but the game, which Washington did when Cousins threw incomplete. 27-26 Falcons
Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns —Jay Cutler returned from injury and Josh McCown went back to the bench. Billy Cundiff hit a 35 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Browns. In the second quarter Cutler led a ridiculous 15 play, 75 yard drive that took 9 1/2 minutes off the clock. The Bears settled for a 23 yard Robbie Gould field goal to tie it 3-3. Cutler then threw a perfect pass to Gipson, who plays defense for the Browns. Gipson returned it 44 yards for the score and the 10-3 Browns advantage. Cutler came back and threw a 5 yard touchdown to Brandon Marshall to tie it 10-10.
In the third quarter it was Jason Campbell completing a pass to Bowman, who plays defense for Chicago. Bowman returned it 43 yards for the score as the Bears led 17-10. Campbell brought the Browns back 85 yards as Edwin Baker plunged in from short yardage to tie the game 17-17. A fumble by Chicago was then returned 51 yards by Ward for a second defensive touchdown and a 24-17 Browns lead. Cutler came back with a 45 yard touchdown to Jeffery to tie the game 24-24.
Devon Hester took a punt 21 yards to the Cleveland 36, leading to a four-yard Cutler touchdown pass to Bennett for the 31-24 Bears lead with six minutes to play. With just over three minutes left the Bears faced 3rd and 9 from their 36. The Browns needed a stop for a shot to tie it, and instead Matt Forte ran for 24 yards and Michael Bush raced 40 yards for a touchdown to make it 38-24 Bears. Jason Campbell hit Josh Gordon for a 43 yard touchdown with one minute left, but the onside kick failed as the Bears stayed very much alive to win the NFC North. 38-31 Browns
Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck moved the Colts 80 yards in 11 plays and 5 1/2 minutes a a 14 yard touchdown to Whalen had the Colts up 7-0. Bullock hit a 49 yard field goal for Houston. In the second quarter Case Keenum was intercepted to set up a 37 yard Adam Vinatieri field goal and a 10-3 Colts lead. Luck then threw a 9 yard touchdown to Trent Richardson for a 17-3 Colts advantage. A 43 yard Vinatieri field goal had the Colts cruising 20-3. In the third quarter a long punt return meant Vinatieri’s third field goal from 40 and a 23-3 Colts lead. The Colts defense tacked on a safety. 25-3 Colts
Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars—Chad Henne was intercepted to give Buffalo a short field. Dan Carpenter hit the 42 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Bills. EJ Manuel was then intercepted for a short field the other way. Josh Scobee hit a 32 yarder to tie it 3-3. In the second quarter Henne hit Sanders for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 10-3 Jaguars. Manuel moved the Bills 94 yards and hit Woods for a 7 yard score to tie it 10-10. Buffalo got it back and Manuel ran it in from eight yards out to make it 17-10 Bills. Carpenter would add a 40 yard field goal to make it 20-10 Bills at the half.
Jacksonville battled back as Scobee hit a 55 yard field goal in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter Henne hit Mercedes Lewis for a 13 yard touchdown and a 20-20 game. Manuel led the Bills 80 yards as a one yard touchdown to Summers had Buffalo up 27-20 with 9 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Henne led the Jaguars after a touchback to 1st and goal at the Buffalo one with four minutes to play. A run lost four yards and on 3rd and goal Henne was intercepted in the end zone.
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins—Tom Brady led a staggering 16 play, 83 yard, 7 minute drive but the Patriots had to settle for a 22 yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal and a 3-0 lead. Miami failed to tie the game when a snap on a field goal try was fumbled. Late in the half Brady would throw a 13 yard touchdown pass to Hoomanawanui for a 10-0 Patriots lead. Yet with 30 seconds in the half Ryan Tannehill hit Mike Wallace, who broke a tackle and raced for a 39 yard touchdown to get the Dolphins within 10-7.
A 32 yard Caleb Sturgis field goal in the third quarter tied the game 10-10. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Tannehill hit Thomas for a 2 yard touchdown and a 17-10 Dolphins lead. Brady led a 15 play, 81 yard, 7 minute drive but the Patriots lettered for a 23 yard Gostkowski kick as New England still trailed 17-13.
The Patriots got it back and Brady hit Julian Edelman for a 24 yard touchdown as the Patriots retook the lead 20-17 with 4 minutes left in regulation. Gostkowski kicked the ensuing kickoff out of bounds. With 2:40 to play the Dolphins faced 4th and 5 from their 45. Joe Philbin decided to go for it and Tannehill hit Charles CLay for 6. Tannehill then hit Matthews for 24 and Thigpen for the 14 yard touchdown. The Dolphins had the 4 point lead, but the Patriots had Brady with the ball and all 3 timeouts and 1:15 to go 80 yards.
With one minute left the Patriots faced 4th and 8 from their own 33. Brady hit Amendola for 12. Brady went back to Amendola all the way to the Dolphins 31 with 37 seconds left. On 3rd and 10 Brady hit Edelman at the Dolphins 18 as the Patriots used their final timeout with 26 seconds left. Everything came down to 4th and 5 from the 13 with 7 seconds left as the Dolphins took their last timeout on defense.
Brady fired to the end zone and was intercepted by Michael Thomas. Miami remained alive for the playoffs and the Patriots missed a golden opportunity to snatch home field throughout the playoffs. 24-20 Dolphins
Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings—Matt Cassel threw a 57 yard touchdown to Greg Jennings to put the Vikings up 7-0. Alex Henery hit a 35 yard field goal to get the Eagles on the board and in the second quarter Blair Walsh hit a 21 yarded to make it 10-3 Vikings. Henery hit from 31 to get the Eagles within 10-6.
Cassel moved the Vikings 16 plays and 75 yards in 8 minutes. Without Adrian Peterson, it was Asiata who plunged in from the one to put the Vikings up 17-6. Henery hit his third field goal from 33 yards as the Eagles trailed 17-9 at halftime.
In the third quarter Cassel ran it in from 6 yards out as the Vikings took the 24-9 lead. Chip Kelly decided to summon the ghost of Barry Switzer by gambling on 4th and 1 from his own 24. Kelly’s gamble failed, giving Minnesota a gift field goal and a 27-9 lead. Nick Foles would rally the Eagles with touchdown passes of 30 yards to Desean Jackson and three yards to Zac Ertz as Philadelphia only trailed 27-22 after three quarters.
Minnesota blasted the game open in the fourth quarter as Asiata ran it in again from one yard out and Cassel hit Cordarelle Patterson for a five-yard touchdown. Foles threw another touchdown pass late, but Asiata’s third touchdown from five yards out to complete the blowout. Philadelphia saw their five game win streak snapped but they remained one game ahead of Dallas in the NFC Least. 48-30 Vikings.
Seattle Seahawks at New York Giants—Steve Hauschka hit a 49 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Seahawks. In the second quarter Marshawn Lynch ran it in from the two to make it 10-0 Seahawks. Hauschka hit from 44 and 24 in the third quarter to make it 16-0 Seahawks. In the fourth quarter one of Eli Manning’s four interceptions set up a 12 yard-touchdown from Russell Wilson to Baldwin. The Legion of Boom defense pitched a shutout and all but locked up home field throughout the playoffs for Seattle. 23-0 Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Colin Kaepernick led an 11 play, 62 yard, 7 minute drive and hit Michael Crabtree for the 4 yard touchdown and the 7-0 49ers lead. Phil Dawson hit a 28 yard field goal in the second quarter to make it 10-0 49ers. Just past the 2 minute warning, Kaepernick went deep to Vernon Davis for a 52 yard touchdown and a 17-0 49ers lead. Mike Glennon finally got the Buccaneers on the board just before the half with an 11 yard touchdown to Vincent Jackson as the Bucs trailed 17-7.
After a 43 yard Phil Dawson field goal in the third quarter, Mike Glennong threw a 24 yard touchdown pass to Wright to get the Buccaneers within 20-14 early in the fourth quarter. Kaepernick then led a mind-numbing 17 play, 77 yard drive that consumed 10 1/2 minutes off of the clock. The 49ers settled for a 21 yard Dawson field goal to lead 23-14. The Buccaneers fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Kendall Hunter returned it two yards for another 49ers touchdown. Dawson added a fourth field goal as the 49ers at 10-4 are rounding into fine playoff form. 33-14 49ers
New York Jets at Carolina Panthers —Graham Gano and Nick Folk each hit a pair of field goals early on for a 6-6 game. Cam Newton then found Deangelo Williams for a 72 yard touchdown and Gano added his third field goal from 40 yards as the Panthers led 16-6 at halftime. An 86 yard drive by Geno Smith ended in a one yard Richardson run as the Jets only trailed 16-13 after three quarters.
With 13 minutes left in regulation the Jets had a punt blocked, setting Carolina up at the Jets 14. Mike Tolbert plunged in from one yard out to make it 23-13 Panthers. Smith then had an interception returned 41 yards for a touchdown by Captain Munnerlyn to put the game away. The Jets got a garbage touchdown as their season effectively ended. Carolina at 10-4 is tied for the NFC South lead and hosts New Orleans next week in what will most likely decide the division crown and a first round bye. 30-20 Panthers
Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys – This one will be talked about for years. With Aaron Rodgers still out and Matt Flynn in, the Packers hole grew deeper. Dan Bailey hit a 47 yard field goal for the Cowboys. Mike McCarthy then had Mason Crosby try a 57 yard field goal early on. Crosby leveled it and the game was tied. Bailey hit from 23 for a 6-3 Dallas lead. Tony Romo hit Jason Witten for a 25 yard touchdown and a 13-3 Cowboys lead after the first quarter.
In the second quarter Bailey hit his third and fourth field goals from 43 and 50 yards to make it 19-3 Cowboys. DeMarco Murray got in from one yard out as the Cowboys led 26-3 at halftime.
In the third quarter Flynn hit Jordy Nelson for a 13 yard touchdown but Bailey’s fifth field goal from 50 yards still had Dallas up comfortably 29-10. Flynn then hit Quarless for a 3 yard touchdown and found Starks for an 11 yard touchdown to get the Packers within 29-24 with 13 minutes left in regulation.
Romo hit Dez Bryant for a 5 yard touchdown to give Dallas breathing room up 36-24 with 8 minutes left. Flynn’s fourth touchdown pass to Jones from 3 yards out had the Packers within 36-31 with 4 1/2 minutes left. Then came the most controversial decision since LeBron James.
With 3 minutes left Dallas faced 2nd and 6 from their 35 and the Packers were down to their last timeout. Jason Garrett called a running play. The entire stadium was in shock when Romo audibles to a pass play, nearly got sacked, and threw an interception at midfield. Eddie Lacy got in from one yard out as the Packers led by a point with 90 seconds to play. Romo was then intercepted again. Flynn now holds the Packers records for passing yards in one game and biggest comeback in team history. Dallas after this meltdown remained one game back in the NFC Least lead at 7-7 while the Packers can still win the NFC North. 37-36 Packers
New Orleans Saints at St. Louis Rams—Both of these teams are far better at home, as the Rams led by Jeff Fisher’s defense jumped all over Sean Payton’s offense. Drew Brees had a miserable game as his first pass was intercepted. One play later Kellen Clemens hit Harkey for a 31 yard touchdown. Brees was intercepted again as the Rams took over at their own 7 and moved 93 yards. Klemens hit Kendricks from 4 yards out to make it 14-0 Rams.
Greg Zuerlein hit a 31 yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter and Garrett Hartley connected from 45 to finally get the Saints on the board. Zac Stacy ran for a 40 yard touchdown as the Rams had a 24-3 lead at the half. Zuerlein added a 35 yarded yo make it 27-3 Rams after three quarters.
Brees led a furious fourth quarter rally as the Saints scored a pair of touchdowns and executed a successful onside kick with three minutes left. With 1:54 to play, Garrett Hartley came in for a chip shot 26 yard field goal try to make it a one score game with another onside kick to come. Hartley missed it.
The loss eliminated the Saints from home field throughout as they are now at 10-4 tied with Carolina for the NFC South lead. New Orleans and Carolina have their showdown rematch next week in Carolina with the division and first round bye on the line. 27-16 Rams
Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders —If this is not rock bottom for the Raiders, imagining what could be is too scary to contemplate. The Chiefs behind Jamal Charles belted the Silver and Black from the first play from scrimmage. Charles caught touchdown passes of 49 and 39 yards from Alex Smith and Matt McGloin had an interception returned 47 yards for another score by Berry as the Chiefs led 21-3 after the first quarter.
After Rashad Jennings scored from one yard out for the Raiders, Charles ran it in from the one and caught a 16-yard touchdown from Smith to make it 35-10 Chiefs in the second quarter. McGloin led a furious rally as Jennings got in from one yard again to have the Raiders down 35-17 at halftime.
In the third quarter McGloin hit Holmes for a 6 yard touchdown and Rivera for a 14 yard score as the Raiders were only down 35-31. McGloin had a chance to lead a comeback for the ages.
Not on this day. Smith went to Charles for a 71 yard touchdown. Smith then hit McGrath for a 6 yard score. In the fourth quarter Davis ran it in from 17 yards out as the Raiders gave up the most points in franchise history. The Chiefs at 10-4 under Walrus Lite Andy Reid clinched a playoff spot while the Raiders at 4-10 for some reason have not fired Dennis Allen. Alex Smith finished 17 of 20 for 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, 4 of them to Charles. Charles also had a fifth touchdown on the ground. McGloin threw 4 interceptions and Terrelle Pryor was brought in again by Allen to disrupt the offense. Pryor went 1 for 4 for 12 yards and an interception of his own. 56-31 Raiders
Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans—Rob Bironas started the shootout with a 45 yard field goal for the Titans. Rashaard Mendenhall ran it in from the one to make it 7-3 Cardinals. Ryan Fitzpatrick found Chris Johnson for a 25 yard touchdown to make it 10-7 Titans. A 25 yard Jay Feely field goal meant a 10-10 game at the break.
Feely hit from 47 in the third quarter to put the Cardinals in front, but Fitzpatrick led a 15 play, 74 yard, 7 minute drive. A one yard touchdown to Walker meant a 17-13 Titans lead. Palmer found Ballard for a 6 yard score as the Cardinals now led 20-17 after three quarters. Mendenhall got in from one yard out as Arizona built a 27-17 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Fitzpatrick was then intercepted by Cason, who returned it 20 yards for a touchdown and a 34-17 Cardinals lead with only 6 minutes left in regulation.
Fitzpatrick led a monster rally, hitting Preston from 10 yards out with just over 3 minutes left. The onside kick failed but the Titans got it back at their own 7 as Arizona only took 30 seconds off the clock. On 4th and 2 from the Arizona 6 with 52 seconds left needing 2 scores, Mike Munchak opted for the field goal. Bironas hit from 24 to get the Titans within 34-27. This time the onside kick worked as the Titans took over at the Arizona 46 with 44 seconds left. On 3rd and goal from the 8 with 14 seconds left, Fitzpatrick’s fourth touchdown pass on the day to Preston meant overtime.
Tennessee got the ball to start overtime and were closing in on field goal range. Yet on the third play of overtime, despite 402 yards passing, Fitzpatrick’s second interception was a killer. Arizona took over at their own 46 and Feely hit the 41 yarder to win it. The Munchak era is probably done in Nashville while the Cardinals at 9-5 under Bruce Arians are still alive for a playoff spot. 37-34 Cardinals, OT
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers was the Sunday night game. Bell ran it in from one yard out after a fumbled snap on a punt, Ben Roethlisberger threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown, and Brown returned a punt 67 yards for a score as the Steelers led 21-0 after the first quarter and cruised from there. Three Shawn Suisham field goals had the Steelers up 30-7 after three quarters. Andy Dalton threw a pair of fourth quarter touchdown passes to get the Bengals within 10 with 5:46 to play, but Big Ben bled the the clock to zeroes. The Steelers got to 6-8 while the Bengals at 9-5 still have not clinched the AFC North or silenced critics who think these Bengals are paper tigers. 30-20 Steelers
Baltimore Ravens at Detroit Lions was the Monday night game. Despite having dated a Kardashian, Reggie Bush ran for a 14 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Lions lead. In the second quarter the Ravens took 3 trips to the red zone and had to settle for 3 Justin Tucker field goals of 29, 24, and 32 yards as Baltimore led 9-7 at the half.
In the second half Tucker added a fourth field goal, the Lions added one of their own, and Tucker hit his fifth field goal as the Ravens led 15-10 in the fourth quarter. Matthew Stafford moved the Lions 80 yards in 14 plays and 6 minutes as a 14 yard touchdown pass to Justin Fauria had the Lions up by a point with 2:21 to play after the failed 2-point conversion. With 43 seconds left the Lions faced 4th and 7 at the Baltimore 43. Although the Ravens initially planned to go for it, Jim Harbaugh called timeout and then decided to have Tucker try a 61-yard field goal. Tucker had hit 32 straight, but this was a lot to ask with the game on the line. Tucker drilled his sixth field goal just over the crossbar and just inside the right upright. Stafford was then quickly intercepted for the third time as the Ravens at 8-6 and Lions at 7-7 are both still alive for the playoffs but one game back in their respective divisions.
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