NFL 2014 Week 11 Recap
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Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins was the Thursday night game. A battle of field goals saw Caleb Sturgis hit from 38 and Dan Carpenter hit from 33 in the first quarter, from 21 in the second quarter, and from 46 to make it 9-3 Bills in the third quarter. After that the Dolphins took over. Ryan Tannehill hit Gibson from 7 yards out to make it 10-9 Dolphins. Kyle Orton was then sacked in the end zone for a safety as the Dolphins led 12-9 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter Tannehill hit Landry for an 8 yard touchdown to lock up the win. A late field goal after Buffalo turned it over on downs completed the scoring. 22-9 Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears — A pair of bad teams faced off as Blair Walsh kicked a 50 yard field goal to get the Vikings on top 3-0. Minnesota got it back and Teddy Bridgewater hit Ellison for a 7 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Vikings. In the second quarter Jay Cutler hit Jeffery for a 27 yard touchdown and then went to Brandon Marshall for a 44 yard score as the Bears took a 14-10 lead. In the fourth quarter Cutler led a staggering 16 play, 72 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive. A 4 yard touchdown pass to Marshall on 3rd and goal had the Bears up 21-10 with 9 minutes left in regulation. Walsh hit from 26 to get the Vikings within 8 with 4 minutes left. The Vikings got it back at their own 34 just before the 2 minute warning. With 50 seconds to play the Vikings faced 2nd and 3 at the Chicago 29. Bridgewater went for all the marbles and was intercepted in the end zone. Jay Cutler did throw two more interceptions, but his three touchdown passes and 330 yard passing in completing 31 of 43 passes made the difference. 21-13 Bears
Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns — A Ryan switch occurred for the Texans as Fitzpatrick was benched in favor of Mallett. Mallet led the Texans 89 yards in 12 plays and threw a 2 yard touchdown pass to JJ Watt. Watt is all world on defense, and is succeeding at playing iron man football. In the second quarter Bryan Hoyer threw a 32 yard touchdown pass to Hawkins to tie the game 7-7. Mallett hit Graham for a 20 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Texans at halftime. Bullock hit from 46 in the third quarter and 37 and 50 in the fourth quarter to ice the game. Mallet was 20 of 30 for 211 yards, two touchdown passes and an interception. Hoyer was 20 of 50 for 330 yards, one touchdown and one interception. 23-7 Texans.
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers — A dreadfully dull game saw the Panthers take 17 plays and 9 minutes to go 83 yards. They settled for a 23 yard Graham Gano field goal to lead 3-0 in the second quarter. The Falcons responded with a 13 play, 64 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive. Matt Bryant kicked a 34 yard field goal to tie the game 3-3. Matt Bryant then hit from 42 to put the Falcons up 6-3 at halftime as smelling salts were given to fans in the stands to wake them up.
On the third play of the third quarter the Panthers faced 3rd and 2 from their 28. Newton was intercepted, giving Atlanta the ball at the Carolina 14. The Falcons settled for a 26 yard Bryant field goal to lead 9-3. A shanked 28 yard Carolina punt had the Falcons starting at their own 45. Matt Ryan hit Roddy White for a 2 yard touchdown to make it 16-3 Falcons. Cam Newton hit Kelvin Benjamin for a 22 yard touchdown as the Panthers got within 16-10 with 9 minutes left in regulation. The Panthers got it back and Newton went to Brown for a 47 yard touchdown and a 17–16 Carolina lead with 6 1/2 minutes left.
The Falcons came back and Matt Bryant hit his fourth field goal from 44 yards as the Falcons retook the lead by two just before the 2 minute warning. Carolina came right back and with 1:26 to play Gano had a 46 yard field goal try to give the Panthers the lead. It was no good. Carolina got it back at their own 16 with 22 seconds to play needing a miracle. Three straight hook and ladder passes and several laterals later, the Panthers gave Gano another shot from 63 yards out with one second left. The kick was blocked and the Falcons had the win. 19-17 Falcons
Cincinnati Bengals at New Orleans Saints — Drew Brees led a 14 play, 67 yard drive that took 6 minutes, but the Saints settled for a 31 yard Shane Graham field goal to open the scoring. Red Rifle Andy Dalton countered with a 12 play, 77 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive. From the Saints 12, Dalton hit Gresham. Gresham fumbled at the goal line and a mad scramble ensued, but the play was reviewed and called a touchdown to make it 7-3 Bengals.
The Saints got it back and moved from their 20 to 3rd and goal at the one. Mark Ingram got the carry and hit a stone wall. Sean Payton decided to go for it on 4th and goal but Brees’s pass to Lorig lost a yard. Inspired by the goal line stand, in the second quarter Dalton led a 15 play, 94 yard drive that took 7 1/2 minutes. The Bengals moved from their own 2 to 3rd and 1 at the Saints 3. Hill got the carry and lost a yard. On 4th and 2 Jay Gruden took no chances. Mike Nugent hit the 22 yarder to make it 10-3 Bengals with 3 minutes left in the half.
The Bengals got it back and were just trying to run out the clock. With 14 seconds left in the half facing 2nd and 12, Hill got the carry and broke free for a 62 yard gain. The Bengals called timeout with one second left and Nugent hit a 42 yarder to give the Bengals the 13-3 lead heading into the locker rooms.
In the third quarter a shanked 2 yard punt set the Bengals up at midfield. Dalton hit Gresham for a one yard touchdown as the Bengals had the 20-3 lead in front of a stunned home crowd. Bree led a 12 play, 80 yard, 6 minute drive. On the first play of the fourth quarter Brees hit Kenny Stills from 9 yards out to get the Saints within 20-10. Dalton brought the Bengals back and hit AJ Green for a 24 yard touchdown to put the game out of reach. 27-10 Bengals.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Redskins — Robert Griffin III is back, and he is playing terrible football. On the first play from scrimmage after a touchback, Griffin threw his first interception to set up Tampa Bay at the Washington 29. A 32 yard Murray field goal made it 3-0 Buccaneers. The Redskins later faced 3rd and 6 from their own 8. Griffin was intercepted again by Banks, who returned it 19 yards for a touchdown and a 10-0 Buccaneers lead.
In the second quarter the Buccaneers fumbled a punt to set up Washington at the Tampa 17. 1st and goal at the 6 soon became 4th and goal at the 29 after consecutive sacks of Griffin. The Redskins missed a field goal. With the Bucs facing 2nd and 20 at there own 27, Josh McCown went deep to Mike Evans for 51 yards. Murray hit from 38 to make it 13-0 Redskins. Despite dominating the entire had, the Bucs had a breakdown just before intermission. RGIII found Helu for a 30 yard touchdown as the Redskins only trailed 13-7 at halftime.
In the third quarter McCown went back to Evans for a 36 yard touchdown to make it 20-7 Buccaneers. They hooked up again in the fourth quarter for a 56 yard touchdown bomb to make it a blowout. 27-7 Buccaneers.
Denver Broncos at St. Louis Rams — Jeff Fisher benched Austin Davis for Shaun Hill. John Fox did not bench Peyton Manning for Brock Osweiler. Yet early on it was the Rams smelling upset. Greg Zuerlein kicked a 37 yard field goal to get the Rams on the board after Hill led them 61 yards in 11 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. The next time the Rams got the ball they needed only one play and 8 seconds. Hill went bombs away to Kenny Britt for a 63 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Rams.
In the second quarter Hill kept Manning off the field for long stretches. An 11 play, 69 yard, 7 minute drive set up Zuerlein from 29 as the Rams led 13-0. For the second week in a row the Broncos slept through much of the first half on the road against a far inferior team. Yet Denver woke up late in the half and Manning hit Emanuel Sanders for a 42 yard touchdown to get the Bacons within 13-7 at the midpoint.
In the third quarter the Rams moved to a 3rd and 3 at the Broncos 4. Hill threw incomplete and the Rams settled for a third field goal from Zuerlein from 22 yards out. The Rams led 16-7 entering the fourth quarter, but the door was not closed shut. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Manning was intercepted at the St. Louis 47. Jeff Fisher decided to have Greg “the Leg” Zuerlein try a 55 yard field goal with 12 minutes left in regulation knowing a miss would give Denver excellent field position. Fisher trusted his kicker and Zuerlein drilled it through to make it 19-7 Rams.
With 5 1/2 minutes left Manning was intercepted again at the Denver 41. Zuerlein drilled his fifth field goal from 53 yards out as the Rams had a stranglehold. Manning finished 34 of 54 for 389 yards and one touchdown, but also two killer interceptions. Shaun Hill was 20 of 29 for 220 yards and one touchdown, but did not throw an interception. 22-7 Rams
San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants — Eli Manning hit Donnell for a 19 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Giants. After that Phil Dawson took over. He hit a 31 yard field goal in the first quarter and from 37 and 44 in the second quarter to give the 49ers the 9-7 lead. An interception of Manning set up the third one as the Giants defense kept the 49ers out of the end zone. In the third quarter the 49ers went for the quick strike. Colin Kaepernick found Michael Crabtree for a 48 yard touchdown to make it 16-7 49ers. The Giants got within six on a 43 yard Josh Brown field goal midway through the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter Manning moved the Giants from their 12 to the San Francisco 32. A short pass was then intercepted with 10 minutes left. The Giants got it back at their 35 and with 5 minutes left the Giants had 1st and goal at the 4. Three straight incompletions was followed by Manning’s fourth down pass being ricocheted and intercepted. The Giants got it back at their own 15 with 1:10 to play but turned it over on downs. Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers got to 6-4 by winning ugly with hard-nosed defense while the Giants continued losing with inept offense. 16-10 49ers
Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs — Alex Smith is supposed to be a dink and dunk game manager, and early on he led a mind-numbing 15 play, 86 yard drive that consumed 9 minutes off the clock. Jamal Charles got in from the one to put the Chiefs up 7-0 and make Andy Reid a most happy Walrus Lite. Russell Wilson showed he could put a team to sleep as well with a staggering 16 play, 90 yard drive that also consumed 9 minutes. Wilson hit Doug Baldwin for the 7 yard score to tie the game 7-7 in the second quarter.
Jamal Charles struck again with a 16 yard touchdown run to make it 14-7 Chiefs. Wilson led a 13 play, 76 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive but this time the Chiefs held when it counted. Seattle settled for a 24 yard Steve Hauschka field goal to trail 14-10. Hauschka hit from 27 as well to get the Seahawks within 14-13 at halftime.
In the third quarter Smith kept moving the ball gradually as a 12 play, 67 yard 7 1/2 minute drive. On 3rd and 1 from the Seattle 3, Davis got the carry and lost 2 yards. Santos hit the 23 yard field goal to make it 17-13 Chiefs. Later on Charles fumbled and the Seahawks took over at the Chiefs 44. Wilson hit Moeaki for a 1 yard touchdown to have the Seahawks up 20-17 after three quarters. Kenneth Davis scored from 4 yards out early in the fourth quarter for a four point Chiefs lead.
Russell Wilson moved the Seahawks from their 23 to a 4th and goal at the 2 midway through the fourth quarter. Pete Carroll decided to go for it and Wilson threw incomplete. Seattle got it back at the Kansas City 45 with 6:15 to play. On 4th and 1 from the 36 with 3 1/2 minutes left, Carroll decided to go for it again. Marconi Lynch got the carry, but Beast Mode met Brick Wall Mode as the Chiefs swarmed him in a sea of red. Seattle got it back with 2:47 to play at their own 4 yard line but turned it over on downs. Smith finished 11 of 16 for 108 yards without a touchdown or interception. He wins this week Trent Dilfer award for drinking and dunking West Coast Offense style while the defense gets the win. 24-20 Chiefs
Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers — The only winless team at 0-9 went on the road to play an overrated rival that had lost 3 straight. The Raiders began at their own 22. On the first play from scrimmage, Derek Carr fumbled. The Chargers took over at the Oakland 22. 2 plays later Philip Rivers went deep to Malcolm Floyd for the touchdown. Less than one minute into the game and the Chargers led 7-0. While it was tempting to immediately declare the Raiders 0-10, the defense played well for long stretches. Midway through the first quarter Sebastian Janikowski hit a 42 yard field goal to get the Raiders within 7-3. San Diego drove to the Oakland 5 yard line with 4 minutes left in the half but settled for a 23 yard Nick Novak field goal and a 10-3 Chargers lead. For all the jokes about the Raiders, the blunder on the opening play was the only thing separating these teams, who played even football for the next 25 minutes.
After a touchback, Carr quickly moved the Raiders to a 3rd and 1 at their own 44. Darren McFadden got the carry and came up short. With an 0-9 team, Tony Sparano decided to inspire his team on 4th and inches by punting. Before the punt, the 2 minute warning came and gave the Raiders a chance to think it over. Sparano punted anyway as the coach who has only lost this year played not to lose. Naturally this led to uninspired defense although the Raiders dodged a bullet when Novak’s 48 yard field goal try to end the half just missed.
Novak redeemed himself with a 52 yard field goal in the third quarter to make it 13-3 Chargers. The Raiders offense remained boring, stale, predictable and awful as a West Coast Offense dink and dunk pass on 3rd and 5 was dropped by a wide open receiver. Timing patterns are worthless when the receivers have no sense of timing or patterns. With 4 minutes left in regulation and the Raiders facing 3rd and 2 at the San Diego 6, another miscommunication between quarterback and wide receiver meant another field goal. While the defense had played well all game, this is where their exhaustion from being on the field the whole game usually leads to the game losing breakdown.
By the time the Raiders got it back at their own 12, only 1:05 remained. On 4th and 10 Carr’s prayer was answered for a big gain. With 11 seconds left, Derek Carr’s Hail Mary was incomplete. Although two seconds clearly remained on the clock, officials called the game over. The Raiders are six losses away from permanent infamy. 13-6 Chargers
Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals — The 7-2 Lions took on the 8-1 Cardinals. These teams were losers for a long time until winners took over in Jim Caldwell and Bruce Arians. Caldwell is the expressionless quiet man who has built a solid defense while the emotional Arians loves the big strike offense. Carson Palmer is out for the season, but Drew Stanton was ready. Reggie Bush was out, but since he used to date a Kardashian his presence was not missed.
Early on Stanton went deep to Michael Floyd for a 42 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Cardinals. The Cardinals got it back at their 23 and moved to a 3rd and 10 at the Detroit 12. Stanton went back to Floyd for the touchdown and the 14-0 Cardinals lead. Detroit got to within 14-3 when Matt Prater’s 50 yard field goal try dunked off the upright but went through good. Stanton was intercepted just past the 2 minute warning, setting up Detroit at the Arizona 19. On 4th and 1 from the 10 Caldwell decided not to gamble. Prater hit from 28 to get the Lions within 14-6 at the half. The defense held on for dear life in a scoreless second half. Yes, 9-1 Arizona is for real. No, Jim Caldwell did not allow the big win to lead to him making a facial expression. 14-6 Cardinals
Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers — The Packers were wearing their 1929 Great Depression throwback uniforms. Green Bay won a championship that year but nationwide poverty explained the terrible football wear. When Aaron Rodgers is your quarterback, even the most ugly outfits are beautiful. Rodgers went deep to Jordy Nelson for a 64 yard bomb to set up a 27 yard Mason Crosby field goal and a 3-0 Packers lead. Green Bay got it back at their own 12 and 88 yards came easily. Rodgers hit Adams for a 6 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Packers. Special teams got into the act as Hyde returned a punt 75 yards for another touchdown and a 17-0 Packers lead.
In the second quarter Chris Parkey hit a 33 yard field goal to get the Eagles on the board. Rodgers came right back with a 27 yard touchdown to Nelson for a 24-3 Packers lead. Green Bay got it back and Rodgers led another 80 yard drive as a one yard Eddie Lacy run made it 30-3 Packers. Parker hit another field goal as the Eagles trailed 30-6 at the half.
Green Bay in the third quarter would add a field goal and Julius Peppers returned an interception 51 yards. The extra point was block for the second missed point after try on the day. Missed extra points and ugly uniforms are all one can criticize when the team scores in all three phases of the game and leads 39-6. Mark Sanchez did not butt-fumble but a bad shotgun snap and an awkward attempt to pick it up turned into another defensive touchdown. Sanchez did not lose this game. It was a beatdown by a team that will probably no have home field advantage, to the relief of the rest of the NFC. 53-20 Packers
New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts was the Sunday night game. The focus was on Tom Brady and Andrew Luck, but the game belonged to Jonas Gray. Gray ran it in from 4 yards out to cap an 11 play, 89 yard drive and put the Patriots up 7-0. Adam Vinatieri hit a 31 yard field goal to get the Colts within 7-3. In the second quarter an 11 play, 68 yard drive culminated with Gray running it in from 2 yards out to make it 14-3 Patriots. The drive began when Luck was intercepted at the New England 32. The roles were reversed when Brady was intercepted at his own 23. Luck hit Hakeem Nicks for a 10 yard touchdown with one minute left in the half.
In the third quarter the Patriots moved 80 yards as Gray continued to run hard. A 2 yard touchdown pass from Brady to Wright made it 21-10 Patriots. Vinatieri hit a 53 yard field goal to get the Colts within 21-13. Every time Indy got close, New England responded. Gray’s third touchdown from three yards out capped off a 10 play, 80 yard, five minute drive to make it 28-13 Patriots.
In the fourth quarter it was Luck leading an 11 play, 80 yard, 5 minute drive. Luck hit Castonzo for the one yard touchdown to get the Colts within 28-20. All Brady did was come back again with a 10 play, 80 yard, five minute drive. Gray got his fourth touchdown from one yard out with 8 1/2 minutes left to put the game out of reach. Brady threw a 26 yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski to complete the scoring. Gray finished with 199 yards rushing on 38 carries. 42-20 Patriots
Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans was the Monday night game. The Steelers got on the board with a 49 yard field goal from Shawn Suisham to open the story. Zac Mettenberger then completed a pass to William Gay, who plays defense for Pittsburgh. Gay returned the interception 28 yards for a touchdown. With the Steelers up 10-0, it seemed that the rout was on.
Tennessee came back as Bishop Sankey ran it in from 9 yards out to get the Titans within 10-7. Ben Roethlisberger led a 14 play, 85 yard, 7 minute drive that got no further than the 5 yard line. Suisham kicked a 23 yarder as the Steelers led 13-7 after the first quarter. In the second quarter the Titans drove deep but could not get past the 3 yard line. Ryan Succor hit a 20 yarder to get the Titans within 13-10.
With 52 seconds left in the half, 2 plays changed the game. With the Steelers facing 3rd and 7 at the Tennessee 17, Roethlisberger was looking to finish off a 7 minute drove that began at the Pittsburgh 13. Big Ben went to the end zone but was intercepted for a touchback. With Mettenberger being a rookie, Ken Whisenhunt was expected to play it safe and go to the locker rooms. Instead Mettenberger went deep to Nate Washington for an 80 yard touchdown. The crowd exploded as the Titans out of nowhere led 17-13 at halftime. The crowd went even wilder in the third quarter when Mettenberger led an 11 play, 77 yard, 5 minute drive. Mettenberger hit Coffman for a 4 yard touchdown for a 24-13 Titans lead.
The Titans couldn’t hold the lead against a superior Pittsburgh team. Roethlisberger moved the Steelers 72 yards. On the first play of the fourth quarter, LeVeon Bell ran it in from 5 yards out to get the Steelers within 24-20. Tennessee went 3 and out and the Steelers got it back at their own 35. Roethlisberger ended up throwing a 12 yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown as the Steelers reclaimed the 3 point lead with 9 minutes left in regulation. Tennessee gained one first down but ended up punting again. The Steelers got the ball at their own 19 with 7 minutes left in regulation.
On 3rd and 4, Roethlisberger hit Wheaton for a 6 yard gain. LeVeon Bell did the rest, carrying the ball 7 straight times. Desperately needing a stop, the Tennessee defense could not get one. Bell was a workhorse, gashing the Titans for 204 yards on 33 carries. This was Mike Tomlin Steelers football. Meanwhile, Roethlisberger and Mettenberger are still both not Jewish. 27-24 Steelers