NFL 2018 Week 12 Recap
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions was the Thanksgiving Day morning game. Mitchell Trubisky was injured, so Chase Daniel got his first start since 2016 and his third NFL start in his entire career. After a scoreless first quarter, the Bears began the second quarter facing 3rd and 3 at the Detroit 42. Daniel hit Burton for 4 yards, but Burton fumbled and the Lions returned the fumble 20 yards to the Chicago 40. On 4th and 1 at the Chicago 16, Matt Patricia decided to go for it. Matthew Stafford hit Bellmore for 5 yards. LeGarrette Blount ran for a 4 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Lions lead.
Chicago responded after a touchback and moved to a 3rd and 9 at the Detroit 22. Daniel threw incomplete. Cody Parkey hit a 40 yard field goal to get the Bears within 7-3. Chicago got it back at their own 35 with 2:10 left in the half. . Daniel hit Taylor Gabriel for gains of 11 and 7, Anthony Miller for 26 yards, Mizzell for 11 yards, and Mizzell again for the 10 yard touchdown with 40 seconds to spare. For some odd reason Matt Nagy decided on an unnecessary 2 point conversion. The try failed and the Bears led 9-7 at halftime.
With 4 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, the Lions took over at their own 20. From their 28, Stafford went deep to Kenny Golladay for a 43 yard gain and Theo Riddick for 21 more yards. Blount ran for the 4 yard touchdown. This time Detroit went for 2 and didn’t get it as the Lions led 13-9 after three quarter.
The Bears took over at their own 18. Daniel hit Tarik Cohen for 9 yards with 15 more tacked on for roughing the passer. On the last play of the third quarter with the Bears facing 3rd and 3 just shy of midfield, Daniel hit Gabriel for 8 yards. Daniel began the fourth quarter hitting Cohen for 7 yards, with 15 more tacked on for a facemark. Daniel then hit Cohen for the 14 yard touchdown to put the Bears up 16-13 only 80 seconds into the fourth quarter.
After a touchback, the Lions moved 73 yards in 11 plays and 6 minutes. Stafford hit Golladay for 11 yards. On 3rd and 3 from their own 44, Stafford hit Golladay again for 23 yards. Midway through the fourth quarter, on 3rd and 1 from the Chicago 2, rather than play smash mouth, Matt Patricia opted to pass. Stafford threw incomplete. On 4th and 1 form the 2, Patricia decided not to go for the win. Matt Prater came on for the 20 yard field and tied the game 16-16. Down the stretch, Lions fans had to feel good. The Bears had a guy who never played. The Lions had their veteran quarterback.
The Lions got it with 6 minutes left at their own 41. Stafford then threw a perfect pass to Eddie Jackson. Problem: Jackson plays defense for Chicago. In front of a stunned home crowd, Jackson returned the interception 41 yards for the touchdown to put the Bears up by 7. The Lions got it back after a touchback and moved 64 yards in 10 plays and 5 minutes. With 1:11 left on the clock, the Lions faced 3rd and 9 at the Chicago 11. Stafford went to the end zone and found Kyle Fuller. Problem: Fuller plays defense for Chicago. The Lions fell to 4-7 while the Bears climbed to 8-3 atop the NFC North. 23-16 Bears
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys was the Thanksgiving Day afternoon game. The Cowboys made it look easy early on, going 75 yards in 10 plays and 5 minutes. On 3rd and 5 from their own 30, Dan Prescott hit Amari Cooper for 7 yards and Olawale for 10 yards. On 3rd and 4 from the Washington 47, Prescott hit Cooper for 11 yards. From the Washington 23, Ezekiel Elliott ran for 7 and then the 16 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Cowboys. A field position game saw the Redskins take over midway through the second quarter at their own 47. With Alex Smith out for the year, Colt McCoy got the start. McCoy went to Vernon Davis for a 53 yard touchdown and a 7-7 ballgame.
The Cowboys came back 65 yards in 14 plays in 5 1/2 minutes. With 1:48 left in the half they had 1st and goal at the 4. After an incompletion, Prescott was sacked for a 13 yard loss. Brett Maher hit the 28 yard field goal to make it 10-7 Cowboys at halftime.In the third quarter, a field position game was broken open when Trey Quinn returned a punt 30 yards to have the Redskins starting at the Dallas 25. McCoy hit Quinn for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 13-10 Redskins. The extra point was no good. After that, the Cowboys took over.
After a touchback they quickly moved 75 yards. Prescott hit Cooper for 11 yards. Elliott ran for gains of 16 and 8. Prescott then went to Cooper for a 40 yard touchdown and a 17-13 Cowboys lead. Dallas got it back at their own 9 yard line and delivered a backbreaker. Prescott found Cooper on the sideline, and he broke a tackle and outraced everyone for a 91 yard touchdown and a 24-13 Cowboys lead. McCoy as then quickly intercepted, setting up the Cowboys at the Washington 17 with 90 seconds left in the third quarter. The Cowboys began the fourth quarter with 3rd and goal at the 5. Prescott ran it in himself to have the Cowboys comfortably in front 31-13.
The Redskins tried to make a game of it and got a spark when a very short kickoff was returned 44 yards to the Dallas 44. McCoy hit Josh Doctson for 17 yards and ran for 11 yards itself. Kapri Bibbs got the last yard to get the Redskins within 31-20 with a full 11 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Dallas moved from their own 22 to a 4th and 1 at the Dallas 33 with 5 1/2 minutes remaining. Jason Garrett decided to go for it, but Elliott was stopped cold. The Redskins moved from their 33 to the Dallas 36, but McCoy went deep and was intercepted at the Dallas 14 with 4 1/2 minutes left.
With 4 minutes left and the Cowboys facing 3rd and 10 at their own 14, Jason Garrett surprisingly called a pass play. Prescott threw incomplete, allowing the Redskins to preserve the last timeout. The Redskins took over at their own 46 with 3:50 to play. They drove to a 3rd and 3 at the Dallas 13 with 1:22 to play. McCoy threw incomplete. Needing 2 scores, Jay Gruden went for the field goal. Dustin Hopkins hit the 31 yarder to get the Redskins within 8 points. The onside kick failed and that was it. Both teams are 6-5 but moving in opposite directions. Washington has lost 2 straight while Dallas has won 3 straight. They turned it around by realizing who their best player was and feeding him the d@mn ball. Running the football has the Cowboys tied with the Redskins atop the NFC Least. 31-23 Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints was the Thanksgiving night game. This is normally a great rivalry game, but for whatever reason the Falcons are totally out of sync and the Saints are clicking on all cylinders. The stats were very misleading. Matt Ryan finished 35 of 47 for 377 yards. Brees had a very pedestrian game by his standards, finishing only 15 of 22 for 171 yards. Yet Brees now has a running game. In a mind-numbing decision, the Falcons won the coin toss and Dan Quinn deferred. Who in their right mind lets Brees touch the football first at home? After a touchback to start the game, Alvin Kamara ran for 18 yards. Brees hit Darnold for 9 and Kamara ran for 9 yards. On 3rd and 7 from the Atlanta 36, Brees hit Thomas for 8 yards and Tommy Lee Lewis for a 28 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Saints.
The Falcons fumbled, but the Saints gave it right back when Brees was intercepted. The Falcons took over at the Saints 39 yard line. Yet on 2nd and 6 from the Saint 7, Ryan was sacked for a 7 yard loss. The Falcons settled for a 32 yard Matt Bryant field goal to get on the board, but that was not going to beat the Saints. The Saints moved 71 yards in 15 plays and 8 1/2 minutes. With 9 minutes left in the half the Saints had moved to a 3rd and 2 at the Atlanta 4 yard line. Brees threw incomplete and Sean Payton decided not to go for it. Wil Lutz hit the 22 yarder to make it 10-3 Saints.
Midway through the second quarter, the Saints got it back at their own 42. From the Atlanta 42, a defensive pass interference penalty moved them 16 yards closer. On 3rd and 4 from the Atlanta 20, Kamara ran for 8 yards and Brees hit Austin Carr for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 17-3 Saints. The Falcons moved from their 25 to a 1st and 10 at the Saints 32 with 26 seconds left in the half. Ryan hit Julio Jones for 15 yards, but Jones fumbled and the Saints recovered. The Falcons got a break to start the third quarter with a kickoff return to their own 40. Yet on 4th and 2 from their own 48, Dan Quinn in an act of desperation decided to go for it even though there were 28 minutes of football left. Ryan threw incomplete.
The Saints took over after an exchange of punts at their own 30. Kamara gained 2 and 9 and Brees went to Watson for a 20 yard gain. Kamara ran for 9 more and Mark Ingram added another 5. Brees went to Dan Arnold for a 25 yard touchdown to make it 24-3 Saints. The Falcons came back 79 yards in 13 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. They had to go for it on 4th and 2 from their own 47, and this time Ryan hit Hooper for 4 yards. Despite 1st and goal at the 2, Ryan threw incomplete twice and Smith got stopped for no gain. Dan Quinn again had to go for it and this time Ryan hit Calvin Ridley for the touchdown. The Falcons were within 24-10 after three quarters, but there would be no comeback.
An interception of Ryan early in the fourth quarter set up the Saints at the Atlanta 22. On 3rd and goal at the 5, Brees hit Keith Kirkwood for the touchdown. With 9 1/2 minutes left, the Saints were cruising up 31-10. On the next Atlanta drive, they moved 58 yards in 10 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. On 4th and 12 from just shy of midfield, Ryan hit Jones for 21 yards. On 4th and 10 from the Saints 30, Ryan hit Ridley for 27 yards. Yet Ridley fumbled and the Saints recovered with 4 minutes left. Atlanta eventually got a garbage touchdown, but they fell to 4-7 while the Saints are sky high at 10-1. Ryan was sacked 6 times, Brees only once. Each quarterback was intercepted once, but Ryan threw for 2 touchdowns while Breezes added 4 of his own. The Saints added 150 yards on the ground. They are a complete team. 31-17 Saints
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals — Baker Mayfield went right to work from the Cleveland 22 and hit Nick Chubb for 23 yard gain. From the Cincinnati 42, Mayfield hit Johnson for 23 and Callaway for 9. From the 10, Chubb gained 2, 7 and the one yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Browns. The Bengals had a field goal blocked, setting up the Browns at their own 44. Mayfield hit Jarvis Landry for 14 yards, Higgins for 24, and Callaway for the 13 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Browns.
The Browns began the second quarter at their own 4 yard line. On 3rd and 3 from their own 11, Mayfield hit Landry for 9 yards. On 3rd and 11 from their own 19, Mayfield went to Callaway for 21 yards. On 3rd and 1 just shy of midfield, Mayfield went to Njoku for 24 yards, again for 21, and a third time for a 6 yard touchdown as the Browns led 21-0 in front of a shellshocked crowd in Cincinnati. An interception of Red Rifle Andy Dalton had the Browns taking over at their own 41. Chubb ran for 4, 7 and a loss of 2. On 2nd and 12 from midfield, Mayfield hit Calloway for 19 and Njoku for 9. From the Cleveland 22, Chubb got stopped on 2nd and 1 and 3rd and 1. Gregg Williams decided to go for it. On 4th and 1, Chubb got the yard. On 3rd and 3 from the Cincy 14, Mayfield hit Chubb for the touchdown as the Browns were up 28-0.
With 2 1/2 minutes left in the half, the Bengals finally got going from their own 25. On 2nd and 20 from their own 37, Dalton scrambled for 21 yards. Joe Mixon ran for 32 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 5 Dalton threw incomplete but defensive offsides gave the Bengals another chance. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Dalton hit John Ross as the Bengals trailed 28-7. On the third play of the third quarter, the Bengals faced 1st and 20 at their own 34 after a tripping penalty. Out of the shotgun, the ball sailed past Dalton and the Browns recovered 27 yards later to have 1st and goal at the 7. Mayfield hit Fells for a 6 yard touchdown to make it 35-7 Browns.
from just shy of midfield, Ryan hit Jones for 21 yards. On 4th and 10 from the Saints 30, Ryan hit Ridley for 27 yards. Yet Ridley fumbled and the Saints recovered with 4 minutes left. Atlanta eventually got a garbage touchdown, but they fell to 4-7 while the Saints are sky high at 10-1. Ryan was sacked 6 times, Brees only once. Each quarterback was intercepted once, but Ryan threw for 2 touchdowns while Breezes added 4 of his own. The Saints added 150 yards on the ground. They are a complete team. 31-17 Saints
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals — Baker Mayfield went right to work from the Cleveland 22 and hit Nick Chubb for 23 yard gain. From the Cincinnati 42, Mayfield hit Johnson for 23 and Callaway for 9. From the 10, Chubb gained 2, 7 and the one yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Browns. The Bengals had a field goal blocked, setting up the Browns at their own 44. Mayfield hit Jarvis Landry for 14 yards, Higgins for 24, and Callaway for the 13 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Browns.
The Browns began the second quarter at their own 4 yard line. On 3rd and 3 from their own 11, Mayfield hit Landry for 9 yards. On 3rd and 11 from their own 19, Mayfield went to Callaway for 21 yards. On 3rd and 1 just shy of midfield, Mayfield went to Njoku for 24 yards, again for 21, and a third time for a 6 yard touchdown as the Browns led 21-0 in front of a shellshocked crowd in Cincinnati. An interception of Red Rifle Andy Dalton had the Browns taking over at their own 41. Chubb ran for 4, 7 and a loss of 2. On 2nd and 12 from midfield, Mayfield hit Calloway for 19 and Njoku for 9. From the Cleveland 22, Chubb got stopped on 2nd and 1 and 3rd and 1. Gregg Williams decided to go for it. On 4th and 1, Chubb got the yard. On 3rd and 3 from the Cincy 14, Mayfield hit Chubb for the touchdown as the Browns were up 28-0.
With 2 1/2 minutes left in the half, the Bengals finally got going from their own 25. On 2nd and 20 from their own 37, Dalton scrambled for 21 yards. Joe Mixon ran for 32 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 5 Dalton threw incomplete but defensive offsides gave the Bengals another chance. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Dalton hit John Ross as the Bengals trailed 28-7. On the third play of the third quarter, the Bengals faced 1st and 20 at their own 34 after a tripping penalty. Out of the shotgun, the ball sailed past Dalton and the Browns recovered 27 yards later to have 1st and goal at the 7. Mayfield hit Fells for a 6 yard touchdown to make it 35-7 Browns.
The Bengals tried to make a game of it, scoring two touchdowns with one missed extra point to trail by 15 with 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation. On their next 2 possessions they turned it over on downs. Hue Jackson had a miserable run as the Browns head coach. After recently being fired, he returned to his former job as the offensive coordinator of the Bengals. On this day, he would not get his revenge. The Browns snapped their streak of 25 straight road losses, one shy of the NFL record. 35-20 Browns
Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers — The defenses dominated early on. The Panthers moved to a 4th and 2 at the Seattle 5. Riverboat Ron Rivera decided to go for it. Can Newton took the snap and are up inches short. Carolina got it back and again moved from a 3rd and 2 at the Seattle 4. Christian McCaffrey got the carry and lost 3 yards. This time Ron Rivera opted for the field goal. Graham Gano hit from 26 to make it 3-0 Panthers. In the second quarter the Seahawks moved 60 yards in 12 plays. On 3rd and 8 from the Carolina 15, Russell Wilson threw incomplete. Sebastian Janikowski hit the 33 yarder for a 3-3 game.
A field position slog had the Panthers taking over at their own 47. Newton went to McCaffrey for 14 yards. Samuel ran for a 25 yard gain. Moore ran for 7 and Newton hit Samuel for a 7 yard touchdown as the Panthers led 10-3. The Seahawks soon faced 3rd and 4 at their own 31. Wilson hit Tyler Lockett for a 27 yard gain and Madden for 28 more down to the Carolina one. Carson banged his way over the plane of the goal for the score as the game was deadlocked 10-10.
The Panthers took over at their own 33 and moved to a 1st and goal at the 10 with 90 seconds left in the half. A completion lost 3 yards, and on 3rd and 10 a short pass gained only 3 yards. Gano hit from 25 to make it 13-10 Panthers at halftime. In the third quarter the Panthers moved from their 28 to a 1st and 10 at the Seattle 18. Newton went to the end zone and was intercepted for a touchback. From their own 20, Carson gained 15. On 3rd and 12 from their own 33, Wilson went deep to DJ Moore for a 54 yard gain. On 3rd and 9 from the Carolina 12, Wilson went to Lockett for the touchdown to make it 17-13 Seahawks.
After a touchback, Newton hit Samuel for 10 and Moore for 13 more. On 3rd and 2 from the Seattle 44, Newton ran for 9 yards. Newton then hit McCaffrey for 23 yards down to the Seattle 12. The Panthers fumbled but retained possession. On 2nd and 10 Newton threw incomplete but defensive pass interference put the ball on the one. McCaffrey got in as the Panthers led 20-17 after three quarters. Seattle came back with a 14 play, 63 yard drive that consumed 7:15 off the clock. On 4th and 1 from the Carolina 13, Pete Carroll decided to go for it. Carson got the yard. On 3rd and 10 Wilson threw incomplete. Seabass hit the 30 yard field goal. With 9 1/2 minutes left in regulation, a pair of teams fighting for their playoff lives were tied 20-20.
After a touchback, McCaffrey gained every single yard on the next Carolina drive. He ran for a 59 yard gain on then ran for 15 more. On 1st and goal at the one, he tried to go over the top and was hit and fumbled. Luckily for Carolina, Greg Olsen fell on it at the two. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Newton hit McCaffrey for the touchdown. With 7 minutes left, the Panthers led 27-20.
After a touchback, Seattle had their turn. Wilson hit Lockett for 13, Dickson for 9 and Doug Baldwin for 11. With 3 1/2 minutes left, it all came down to 4th and 3 at the Carolina 35. One stop and the game was over. Instead, Wilson went for it all and hit Moore for the touchdown. In front of a stunned Carolina crowd, for the fourth time the game was tied 27-27.
Carolina moved from their 21 to a 3rd and 7 at the Seattle 37 with 1:50 to play. Newton hit Moore, but only for a 3 yard gain. Seattle took their last timeout. Ron Rivera decided to go with the 52 yard field goal try, knowing a miss would give Seattle good field position and enough time. Gano came in, and his kick was no good, just wide by a hair. Seattle took over with 1:40 left at their own 42.
With 1:07 left, Seattle faced 3rd and 5 from their own 47. One defensive stop would give Carolina another chance. Wilson rolled out, and a defensive breakdown left an open Lockett. Captain Munnerlyn begged for help that did not arrive as Lockett caught the bomb for a 43 yard gain down to the Carolina 10. Pete Carroll had Wilson take a couple knees to take the clock down to 4 seconds. Seabass came in for the 31 yarder as Gano looked on helplessly. Janikowski drilled it dead center. McCaffrey finished with 237 total yards, all for naught. Newton was a white hot 25 of 30 for 256 yards, 2 touchdowns and one interception. Wilson was 22 of 31 for 339 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Both teams are 6-5 and out of reach for their respective division crowns, down by 4 games with 5 left. Seattle would hold a playoff wildcard tie-breaker. 30-27 Seahawks
Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills — One year after making the playoffs, Doug Marrone and Sean McDermott both entered this game with 3-7 teams. The Bills began at their own 25. From their 36, Josh Allen went to Kelvin Benjamin for a 32 yard gain and to Croom for 11 more. McKenzie ran for a 6 yard touchdown to cap the 75 yard drive and put the Bills up 7-0. Buffalo got it back at their own 14. From their 25, Josh Allen went bombs away to Foster for a 75 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Bills.
The game changed in the second quarter as the Jaguars moved 74 yards in 11 plays and 6 1/2 minutes, mostly on the ground. Leonard Fournette gained 7 yards, Carlos Hyde ran for 6 and 10. From the Buffalo 39, Fournette ran for 16 and Hyde added 11 more. On 3rd and 3 from the 5, Fournette ran for the touchdown to get the Bills within 14-7. Jacksonville got it back and faced 1st and 15 at their own 21. Fournette gained 14 and Westbrook ran for a 43 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the one, Fournette got in again for a 14-14 game.
In the third quarter the Jaguars took over at the Buffalo 47 and soon faced 3rd and 10. Blake Bortles was sacked but defensive holding kept the drive going. From the Buffalo 30, Bortles went deep to Dante Moncrief for what at first was ruled a touchdown. Officials ruled the ball down at the one as a brawl broke out. Buffalo’s Lawson was ejected. So was Jacksonville’s Fournette. After a false start, Bortles threw a 7 yard touchdown to Westbrook. Again the touchdown was nullified, this time by offensive holding. Bortles was sacked again and this time it stuck. On 4th and goal from the 24, Josh Lambo came in for a 42 yard field goal try. It was no good.
Momentum quickly swung back the other way as the Bills took over at their own 32 with 35 seconds left in the third quarter. A 5 yard completion was followed by a 15 yard facemark penalty tacked on. On the last play of the third quarter, Allen went to Foster for 19 yards with another personal foul for unnecessary roughness adding 15 more. 30 penalty yards killed the defense. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Allen ran up the middle himself for a 14 yard touchdown to make it 21-14 Bills.
The defenses dug in and with 5 minutes left a great punt had the Jaguars pinned at their own 2 yard line. Bortles was intercepted by Poyer at the Jacksonville 18 yard line. On 3rd and goal at the 3, a run lost a yard. Steve Hauschka hit the 22 yard field goal as the Bills led 24-14 with only 3 minutes left. Bortles rallied the Jaguars 70 yards, throwing a 13 yard touchdown to Westbrook with 1:20 to play. The onside kick failed and the Jaguars were done, with the earlier missed field goal the difference. Jacksonville has lost 7 straight games. 24-21 Bills
Oakland Raiders at Baltimore Ravens — After finally getting another win last week, Oakland was supposed to get blasted by Baltimore. Lamar jackson got the start for an injured Joe Flacco. The Raiders began at their own 19. From their 21, Derek Carr hit Seth Roberts for 10 yards. Roberts thaen took a reverse around the end for 11 more yards. Carr then hit Smith for 9 yards. On 3rd and 1 at the Baltimore 37, Muscle Hamster Doug Martin got the carry and got stopped. Jon Gruden decided to go for it on 4th and 1. A play action pass allowed Carr to hit a wide open Smith for a 30 yard gain. On 3rd and goal from the one, Martin got the carry, went airborne, and confusion ensued. The Ravens came up with the ball and thought they had a fumble and a touchback. After that initial ruling, on further review it was clear Martin broke the plane of the goal before losing the ball. The touchdown put the Raiders up 7-0.
The Raiders frequently score on their first drive and then do nothing the rest of the game. The Ravens moved from their 31to a 3rd and 7 at the Oakland 29. Jackson threw incomplete. Justin Tucker hit the 47 yard field goal to get the Ravens within 7-3. Rather than run the ball and try to establish an identity, Gruden kept passing and Carr threw 3 straight incompletions. The Ravens moved from their 27 to the Oakland 47, but on 3rd and 8 Jackson threw incomplete.
In the second quarter the Raiders got it back at their own 9 yard line. A 34 yard completion to Seth Roberts was nullified by offensive pass interference on Roberts. The offense was doing nothing, the defense was hanging on, so it was time for an Oakland special teams breakdown. Jones took a punt straight down the sideline 70 yards for a touchdown to put the Ravens up 10-7.
The Ravens got it back at their own 14. From their own 19, Jackson went deep to a wide open Andrew for a 74 yard gain to set up 1st and goal at the 7. A delay of game was followed by a defensive stand. Tucker hit the 28 yard field goal. The Ravens led 13-7.
Baltimore got it back at their own 30. On 3rd and 10, Jackson threw a pass and the tip drill came into play. 3 Raiders tipped it in the air before a 4th Raider, safety Reggie Nelson, finally intercepted. Despite starting at the Baltimore 43, the Raiders could not take the lead. Carr hit Jared Cook for 16 yards. Carr went to Cook again for a 24 yard gain down to the Baltimore 3 yard line, but offensive pass interference wiped out the gain. Daniel Carlson did hit a 42 yard field goal as the Raiders only trailed 13-10 with 2 1/2 minutes left in the half. The Ravens went down the field again and Jackson went for it all. A well defended ball was deflected in the air by the defender and intercepted in the end zone by Gilchrist for a touchback.
In the third quarter the Ravens sought to put the game away. They moved 75 yards in 13 plays and 7 minutes. Runs and short passes had the Ravens facing 3rd and 3 at the Oakland 20. Montgomery ran for a 15 yard gain and Jackson ran for the 5 yard touchdown to make it 20-10 Raiders. Oakland lacked the talent to come back. This game was over.
On 2nd and 7 from the Oakland 28, Carr nearly had the ball knocked out of his hand. He stayed in the pocket, went deep, and with help from a fallen defender hit Seth Roberts for a 44 yard gain. From the Baltimore 16, Carr under pressure threw a prayer to Cook, who while falling down somehow kept his foot off the chalk and made a one-handed acrobatic catch for the touchdown. With 5 minutes left in the third quarter, the Raiders were only down 20-17. However, these are the Raiders.
First came the defensive meltdown. Baltimore took over at their own 29. Jackson hit Boyle for 10 yards and Montgomery for 6 more. On 3rd and 5 from the Oakland 43, Montgomery ran for 6. On 3rd and 5 from the Oakland 32, Jackson hit Hurst for just enough. On 3rd and 1 from the Oakland 18, the defense jumped offsides. On 3rd and goal at the 8, with the defense needing one stop to keep it a one score game, Jackson hit former Raiders receiver Michael Crabtree for the touchdown. Crabtree was traded before the season started. He is one of many ex-Raiders burning their old team in the Jon Gruden 2.0 era as the Ravens led 27-17 with 11 minutes left in regulation.
Then came the offensive meltdown. The Raiders took over at their own 20 and had to go for it on 4th and 8 from their own 38, Carr was sacked and fumbled. The ball was actually fumbled forward five yards, and Terrell Suggs picked it up for the defense at the Oakland 43 in the middle of the field. The Raiders must have fallen asleep because Suggs got all the way to the sideline and practically crawled down the field for the clinching touchdown. The Raiders fell to 2-9 with another fourth quarter meltdown while the Ravens at 6-5 are still alive in the playoff hunt. 34-17 Ravens
San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Ryan Fitzpatrick is back on the bench as Dirk Koetter turned to Jameis Winston. Tampa took over at their own 27. On 3rd and 8 from their own 40, Winston went deep to Mike Evans for a 42 yard gain. Winston hit Chris Brate for a 6 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Buccaneers. In the second quarter the 49ers moved 79 yards in 5 1/2 minutes. Nick Mullens hit Matt Breida for 9 yards. Greg Kittle ran for 10 and caught a pass for 11 more. Breida ran for gains of 11 and 21. Mullens hit Pettis for a 13 yard touchdown. Robbie Gould doinked the extra point off the upright no good as the 49ers trailed 7-6.
The Buccaneers moved 53 yards in 12 plays and 5 minutes. Yet on 3rd and 8 from the San Francisco 22, Winston threw incomplete. Cairo Santos hit the 40 yard field goal to make it 10-6 Buccaneers. The Buccaneers got it back at their own 41 with 1:37 left in the half. With 9 seconds left and the Buccaneers facing 3rd and 7 at the Frisco 21, Dirk Koetter decided not to take a shot at the end zone. Santos hit the 39 yard field goal to make it 13-6 Buccaneers at halftime.
In the third quarter the 49ers moved from their own 16 to a 2nd and goal at the one. Breida got the carry and got stopped. On 3rd and goal inches short of the goal line, Mullens took the quarterback sneak and again got stopped. Kyle Shanahan decided to go for it. On 4th and goal at the one, a false start killed the try. Gould hit the 23 yard field goal as the 49ers trailed 13-9. After a touchback, Winston hit Evans for 34 yards. Defensive pass interference added 23 more. Barber ran for a 2 yard touchdown. The 49ers missed their chance to tie the game and the Buccaneers now led 20-9.
The Bucs got it back at their own 15. Winston hit Chris Godwin for 15 yards, Auclair for 8 more, Humphries for 6, Desean Jackson for 14, and Godwin for 11 on the last play of the third quarter. The fourth quarter began with Winston hitting Humphries for a 28 yard touchdown to turn a close game into a blowout. 27-9 Buccaneers.
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles — The Giants began the game facing 3rd and 9 at their own 26. Eli Manning hit Ellison for 10 yards and O’Dell Beckham for 10 more. From midfield, sequin Barkley ripped off a 26 yard gain. Manning hit Barkley for a 13 yard touchdown. Pat Shurmur inexplicably went for a 2 point conversion that failed as the Giants led 6-0. The Eagles took over at their own 29. Adams ran for a 52 yard touchdown that was called back due to a holding call. The Giants got it back at their own 6 yard line and moved all the way to a 1st and goal at the 10. Yet on 3rd and goal from the 7, Manning threw incomplete. Aldrick Rosas hit the 25 yard field goal to make it 9-0 Giants. Rosas hit from 51 in the second quarter as the Giants led 12-0 in front of an angry home crowd.
The Eagles finally got going and moved from their 30 to a 3rd and 2 at the Giants 23. Carson Wentz kept it and lost a yard. Josh Elliott hit a 42 yard field goal to get the Eagles on the board down 12-3. The Giants struck back quickly after a touchback. Manning went to Ellison for 20. Barkley ran for 4 and then ripped off a 51 yard touchdown to make it 19-3 Giants.
This time after a touchback the Eagles finally made a game of it. From their 30, Wentz hit Zac Ertz for 24 yards and Alshon Jeffery for gains of 9 and 11. Defensive pass interference tacked on 13 more yards. Wentz hit Ertz for the 15 yard touchdown. Clement ran in the 2 point conversion as the Eagles only trailed 19-11 at halftime.
In the third quarter the Giants went backward as far as 3rd and 18 tab their own 2. They punted from their 6 and the Eagles took over at the Giants 47. The eagles moved to a 3rd and 1 at the Giants 5, but a false start killed the drive. Elliott hit the 28 yard field goal to get the Eagles within 19-14 after three quarters. The Eagles for it back to start the fourth quarter at their own 39. Wentz went to Clement for a 23 yard gain. Adams did the rest, running for 15, 11, 3 and the one yard touchdown. Adams ran for the 2 point conversion. With 10 minutes left in regulation, 19 unanswered points had the Eagles up 22-19.
The Giants finally got going, moving from their 22 to a 2nd and 5 at the Philly 12. Barkley gained one yard and Manning threw incomplete. Rosas hit the 29 yard field goal with just under 7 minutes left for a 22-22 tie game. The Eagles responded after a touchback. Wentz hit Jeffery for 21 yards, Ertz for 10 more, Nelson Agholor for 12 to the Giants 30 at the 2 minute warning. Doug Pederson played it very safe with 3 straight runs that took the clock down to 22 seconds. Elliott came in for the 43 yard field goal try. The kick was good. The Giants took over at their own 34 with 16 seconds left. With 5 seconds left from their 38, Manning did not have the arm for the Hail Mary. The hook and lateral had no chance as the Eagles beat the Giants for the 5th straight time. Philadelphia is still clinging to life with a 5-6 record. 25-22 Eagles
New England Patriots at New York Jets — The Jets began at their own 20 after an exchange of punts. Jose McCown hit Herndon for a 19 yard gain and Isaiah Crowell for 19 more. On 3rd and 7 from the New England 41, a completion only gained 3 yards but roughing the passer added 15 more. On 3rd and 3 from the New England 16, McCown hit Jermaine Kearse for the touchdown as the Jets had the surprising 7-0 lead. The Patriots came right back after a touchback. Tom Brady went to Josh Gordon for 23 yards, Chris Hogan for 20 more, and on 3rd and 12, to Rob Gronkowski for a 34 yard touchdown to tie the game 7-7.
After that the defenses dug in. In the second quarter Stephen Gostkowski hit a 34 yard field goal for the Patriots. Josh Myers drilled a 55 yarder at the end of the half for a 10-10 ballgame. In the third quarter the Patriots moved from their 25 to a 4th and 1 at the Jets 11 Bill Belichick decided to go for it and Cordarelle Patterson gained 2 yards. After that Brady threw 3 straight incompletions. Gostkowski hit the 32 yarder to make it 13-10 Patriots. The Jets moved from their 25 to a 2nd and 6 at the New England 20. McCown threw incomplete twice. Myers hit from 38 for a 13-13 game with 4 minutes left in the third quarter.
After a touchback, the Patriots struck quickly. Brady hit Chris Hogan for 27 yards. James White ran for 27 more. Brady hit Julian Edelman for the touchdown as the Patriots led 20-13 after three quarters. Early in the fourth quarter, the Patriots took over at their own 20. Michel ran for a 33 yard gain. On 3rd and 10 from the Jets 47, Brady found Gordon for 17 yards and Edelman for 16 more to set up 1st and goal at the one. On 3rd and goal from the one, Michel got in. With 9 minutes left the Patriots had a comfortable two touchdown lead. At the 2 minute warning, the Jets faced 3rd and 2 at the New England 4. They need a score and an onside kick recovery. McCown threw incomplete twice and the Jets were done. After a 3 quarter street fight, the fourth quarter was the cold dose of reality. 27-13 Patriots
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Chargers — Last week both of these teams lost by a field goal on the final play of the game at home. The Chargers were undone by a relatively weak Denver team while Arizona was stunned by Oakland. Nevertheless, Arizona came in 2-8 with the Chargers at 7-3. Arizona began facing 3rd and 3 at their own 31. Josh Rosen hit Seals-Jones for 5 yards Kirk for 17 more. David Johnson ran for 11 and on 3rd and 1 from Chargers 27, gained 2. Rosen then went deep to Larry Fitzgerald for a 25 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Cardinals lead. A 26 yard punt return had the cardinals getting it back at the Chargers 44. On 3rd and 5 from the Chargers 12, Rosen threw incomplete. Phil Dawson hit the 30 yard field goal as the Cardinals had the surprising 10-0 lead.
King returned the ensuing kickoff 40 yards to the Chargers 42 yard line. Philip rivers went deep to Travis Benjamin for a 27 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the 9 to start the second quarter, Rivers hit Williams for the touchdown to get the Chargers within 10-7. The Chargers fumbled on their next series, setting up the Cardinals at the Chargers 35. Arizona got nothing when Dawson missed a 46 yard field goal. The Chargers after a sack of Rivers faced 2nd and 17 at their own 29. Rivers hit Antonio Gates for 18 yards with 15 more tacked on for a facemask. Rivers hit Keenan Allen for 11 yards and Melvin Gordon ran for a 28 yard touchdown to make it 14-10 Chargers.
Rosen was quickly intercepted, setting the Chargers up at the Arizona 31. On 1st and 20 from the Arizona 29, Rivers hit Culkin for 24 yards. Gordon ran for the 5 yard touchdown to make it 21-10 Chargers. The Chargers got it back at their 20 with 1:45 left in the half. Rivers hit Allen for 8, Ekeler for gains of 9 and 11, Williams for gains of 4 and 10, Ekeleer for gains of 3 and 5, and Allen for a 20 yard gain on 3rd and 2 down to the Arizona 2 yard line with 8 seconds left in the half. Rivers then hit Williams for the dagger as 4 touchdowns in the second quarter had the Chargers up 28-10.
The Chargers sought to immediately put the game away in the third quarter. From their 23, Gordon gained 5 and Rivers hit Allen for 16. Gordon ran for gains of 7 and 4. A busted play set up 2nd and 20 at the Chargers 45. Rivers hit Ekeler for 14 and again for 8 to convert 3rd and 6. Jackson ran for gains of 19 and 5. Rivers hit Benjamin for 5 yards and Allen for the 4 yard touchdown as the Chargers led comfortably 35-10. The Chargers got it back at their 27 and moved to a 4th and 1 at the Arizona 15. Anthony Lynn showed no mercy. Ekeler took a pitchout 13 yards and then got the last 2 yards himself to make it 42-10 Chargers.
Rivers in less than three quarters was a ridiculous 28 of 29. That’s right, only one incompletion. He threw for 259 yards with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. To keep him healthy, Anthony Lynn gave him a clipboard. With the Chargers up by 32 points, Geno Smith came in to finish the game and the Chargers tacked on a fourth quarter field goal. The Chargers got to 8-3, one game back of Kansas City in the AFC West. 45-10 Chargers
Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts — Both teams came in 5-5, but it was the Colts winning 4 straight and the Dolphins reeling. Ryan Tannehill returned after being injured for 5 games, replacing Brock Osweiler. From the Miami 25 to start the game, Frank Gore ran for 7 yards. Tannehill hit Smythe for 21 yards and Danny Amendola for 13 more. Tannehill went to Drake for a 33 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Dolphins. After a touchback the Colts struck back. Marlin Mack ran for gains of 16 and 7. Andrew Luck hit TY Hilton for 21 yards, Wilkins for 17 more, and Eric Ebron for the 14 yard touchdown to make it 7-7.
With 6 minutes left in the half, the Colts faced 3rd and 4 at their own 33. Luck ran for it and slid short of the sticks but a questionable unnecessary roughness penalty kept the drive going. On 4th and 1 at the Miami 39, Frank Reich decided to go for it. He opened up the bag of tricks as backup Jacoby Brissett threw a 4 yard pass to Luck the quarterback turned wide receiver. Luck quickly returned to playing quarterback and hit Hilton for a 24 yard gain down to the one. Luck on the play-action pass fired over the middle to Doyle for the touchdown and the 14-7 Colts lead with 1:44 left in the half.
After a touchback, Miami struck immediately. Tannehill went deep to Carroo. The defender had position but somehow missed the ball. Carroo broke free and raced for a 74 yard touchdown and a 14-14 game with one minute left in the half. The final minute was ridiculous. Luck was intercepted. Miami fumbled it back. Luck went deep, and was intercepted again all in a 17 second span.
In the third quarter the Dolphins partially blocked a punt, setting themselves up at the Indy 42. On 3rd and 3 from the Indy 11, Tannehill threw incomplete. Jay Sanders hit the 29 yard field goal to make it 17-14 Dolphins. The Colts moved to a 3rd and 7 at the Miami 20. Luck was sacked and fumbled. The Colts retained possession but with a 10 yard loss. Adam Vinatieri came in for the tying field goal that was now 48 yards instead of 38 yards. The kick was blocked.
The Dolphins took over at their own 38. Frank Gore ran for gains of 10 and 5. The fourth quarter began with the Dolphins facing 2nd and 4 at the Indy 34. Gore ran for a 23 yard gain and after a loss, Drake went straight up the gut for a 14 yard touchdown. 90 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Dolphins led 24-14. The colts moved from their 25 to a 3rd and 8 at the Miami 28. Luck threw incomplete. With 8 1/2 minutes left in regulation, Vinatieri hit a 46 yarder to get the Colts within 24-17.
The Colts got it back midway through the fourth quarter at their own 11 yard line. Luck hit Hines, who looked like he was going out of bounds, stayed inbounds, and raced back to the middle of the field for a 19 yard gain. On 3rd and 1 from their own 39, Luck connected with Hilton for a 36 yard gain. From the Miami 25, Hines gained 9 and 4 and Luck hit Eric Ebron for the score. With 4 1/2 minutes left in the game, it was tied 24-24.
Unnecessary roughness on Miami on the touchdown and holding on the kickoff return had the Dolphins pinned at their own 6 yard line. The Colts got the ball back at their own 42 with 2 1/2 minutes to play. At the 2 minute warning it all came down to 3rd and 9 from the Indy 43. Andrew Luck was about to be sacked by two defenders as the pocket collapsed. He ducked under the sack, stepped up, and found a wide open for a gain. Hines then ripped off a 14 yard gain. With 3 seconds left, Vinatieri came in for a 32 yard try to win it. The most clutch kicker of all time was good, as the Colts win their 5th straight to get above .500 and send Miami below it. 27-24 Colts
Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos — The Steelers moved the ball but made uncharacteristic mistakes. First, Chris Boswell missed a 48 yard field goal try. The resulting field position allowed Brandon McManus to make a 41 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Broncos. The Steelers then moved from their 25 to the Denver 24. On the first play of the second quarter, Ben Roethlisberger hit Xavier Grimble for a 23 yard gain. Grimble fumbled at the one out of the end zone for a touchback. With 6 minutes left in the half, the Steelers finally got on the board when Boswell hit a 41 yard field goal for a 3-3 game.
After a touchback and a neutral zone infraction, Pittsburgh had 1st and 5 at their 30. Lindsay ran for a 32 yard gain. On 3rd and 5 at the Pittsburgh 33, Case Keenum hit Booker for 6, LaCosse for 17, and Lacosse again for the 10 yard touchdown as the Broncos led 10-3 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the half. After a touchback the Steelers moved to a 2nd and goal at the 2 with 30 seconds left in the half. Big Ben threw incomplete and then completed a pass to Juju Smith-Schuster for not gain. On 4th and goal at the 2 with 3 seconds left, Mike Tomlin opted for the field goal as the Denver crowd celebrated the defensive stand. They would not be celebrating for long. Tomlin called a fake, the snap went directly to Boswell, and he threw a perfect pass to a wide open Villaneuva for the tackle eligible and a 10-10 halftime game.
Roethlisberger had over 200 yards passing in the first half yet the only touchdown came from their kicker. On the first play of the third quarter, Big Ben went bombs away to Smith-Schuster. Yet the ball was overthrown and bounced off Smith-Schuster’s outstretched fingers incomplete. A great punt then pinned the Steelers back at their own 3 yard line. Roethlisberger went bombs away again and this time Smith-Schuster caught the ball, split the defenders, and stunned the Denver home crowd with a 97 yard touchdown as the Steelers led 17-10.
The Steelers got it back at their own 23 and moved to a 3rd and 3 at the Denver 47. They had all the momentum, but it was very fleeting. Roethlisberger was intercepted by Chris Harris, who returned 15 yards to the Pittsburgh 43. Keenum went deep to Emanuel Sanders for a 38 yard gain and then again for a 5 yard touchdown to make it 17-17 with 5 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter. After an exchange of punts, the Steelers moved from their 37 to a 1st and 10 at the Denver 40. Roethlisberger was sacked for a 6 yard loss. On 2nd and 16, Big Ben hit James Conner, who twisted and weaved through the defense for a 23 yard gain. Yet he had the ball punched out, and the Broncos recovered the fumble as the third quarter ended.
From the Denver 21 to start the fourth quarter, Lindsay ran for 9 and Freeman added gains of 5 and 4. On 3rd and 5 from the Denver 40, Keenum hit Hamilton for 13 yards. Lindsay ran for 18. Keenum hit Heuerman for 15 and Sanders for 14 more. Lindsay ran for the 2 yard touchdown as the Broncos retook the lead by 7 with 9 1/2 minutes left in regulation.
After an exchange of punts, Pittsburgh began their last possession with 4 1/2 minutes left at their own 44. They moved to a 1st and goal at the 3 at the 2 minute warning. With one minute left, it all came down to 3rd and goal at the 2. Roethlisberger faked the handoff, and fired to the middle end zone into traffic where nothing good ever happens. The ball was intercepted, as the Broncos hung on for the shocking win. 2 straight wins have them still barely alive at 5-6 while Pittsburgh fell to 7-3 with the loss. 24-17 Broncos
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings was the Sunday night game. In the first quarter the Packers moved from their own 32. Adam Jones ran for 11 yards. On the next play, defensive pass interference added 26 more yards. On 3rd and 1 from the Minnesota 22, Jones gained 4 yards. Rodgers threw a 15 yard touchdown pass to Devonta Adams to make it 7-0 Packers. After a touchback, Cook gained 9 and Kirk Cousins hit Kyle Rudolph for 9 more. From midfield, Cousins hit Stefan Diggs for 24 yards and Cook for the 26 yard touchdown and a 7-7 tie after the first quarter.
After a touchback, Rodgers hit Brown for 15, Kendricks for 8, and St. Brown for 23 yards. Jones gained 9 and Rodgers hit Adams for 6 to end the first quarter. The Packers began the second quarter at the Minnesota 14. Rodgers hit Jones for 8 and Jones ran for the 6 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Packers. After a touchback Minnesota came back again. Cousins hit Rudolph for 17 yards. On 3rd and 7 from the Minnesota 45, Cousins hit Rudolph for 10. On 3rd and 5 from the Green Bay 40, Cousins hit Diggs for 10 and again for the 30 yard touchdown. With 11 minutes left in the half it was 14-14.
The defenses stiffened and the Vikings missed a couple chances to take the lead before halftime. With 5 1/2 minutes left before halftime, the Vikings faced 3rd and 1 at the Green Bay 29. Latavius Murray got the carry and lost a yard. Dan Bailey missed the 48 yard field goal try. With 3 seconds left in the half, Bailey made a 51 yard field goal. However, a false start forced Bailey to try again from 56. This time he was no good. Earlier in the year these teams were tied after four quarters of regulation and still tied after overtime. Now they were tied after one quarter and tied at the half.
A key play in the game came midway through the third quarter. The normally overly cautious has been stung in the media for being overly cautious. He decided to gamble on 4th and 1 from his own 44. The pass-happy McCarthy even ran the ball. Jones got stopped for no gain. The short field allowed the Vikings to move to a 3rd and 7 at the Green Bay 10. Cousins was sacked, but this time Bailey made the 35 yard field goal to make it 17-14 Vikings. A sack of Rodgers had the Packers punting on 4th and 22 from their own 13. A 20 yard punt return with 5 more tacked on for a kicking team illegal formation had the Vikings starting at the Green Bay 31. Diggs took an end around 12 yards, so Mike Zimmer called the same play again. Cook took an end around 5 yards. Cousins hit Adam Thielen for the 14 yard touchdown as the Vikings led 24-14 after three quarters.
The Vikings got the ball back at their own 7 yard line and held the ball for 7 minutes. On 3rd and 5 at the Green Bay 29, Cousins was sacked for an 8 yard loss. With Bailey having already missed twice, Mike Zimmer was not going to try a 55 yard field goal. Zimmer punted, the Packers fumbled it, and the Vikings recovered at the Green Bay 15. On 4th and 2 from the 7, Zimmer decided to go for it since a touchdown with 5 minutes left would put the game away. Cousins had his pass batted down.
From the 10, Rodgers hit Jimmy Graham for 25 yards and again for 9 more. A sack of Rodgers set up 3rd and 10 from the Green Bay 35. Rodgers went deep to Adams for 36 yards and again for 9 more. Yet on 2nd and 1 from the Minnesota 20, pass-happy Mike McCarthy would not run the ball. Rodgers threw a West Coast Offense dink and dunk sideways pass incomplete. Then on 3rd and 1 Rodgers went for it all, had a wide open receiver, and overthrew him as the ball was juggled and dropped. Needing 2 scores, on 4th and 1, McCarthy went for the field goal. Mason Crosby hit the 38 yarder to get the Packers within 7.
The onside kick failed and the Packers took over at the Green Bay 41 with 2:19 to play. On 3rd and 6 at the 2 minute warning and the Packers out of timeouts, Mike Zimmer opted against a safe run which could have meant a 50+ yard field goal try. Zimmer went with a pass knowing an incompletion would stop the clock. Cousins fired a laser over the middle for the first down and then took a couple knees. Cousins finished with 334 yards passing to 198 for Rodgers. The Vikings are 6-4 and very much alive while the Packers are 4-6 and on the brink of elimination. After 13 years in Green Bay, fairly or not, Mike McCarthy’s hot seat is scorching. 24-17 Vikings
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans was the Monday night game. The Texans entered the game with heavy hearts due to the death of team owner Bob McNair on Saturday. He founded the team that began play in 2002 and was the only owner the team has ever had. He brought football back to Houston when Bud Adams moved the Houston Oilers to Tennessee and changed their name to the Tennessee Titans. Those teams played on this night.
The Titans moved from their 25 to a 3rd and 9 at the Houston 20. Marcus Mariota hit Firks but only for 7 yards. On 4th and 2 from the 13, Mike Vrabel decided not to gamble. Ryan Succop hit the 31 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Titans. The Titans got it back at their own 31 and struck quickly. Derrick Henry ran for 8 yards. Mariota then went deep to Smith for a 61 yard touchdown. The Titans led 10-0, but after that the game changed.
The Texans took over from their 38 after nearly fumbling away the kickoff. Lamar Miller ran for 21 yards. After gaining one yard, Miller then ripped off gains of 15 and 12. Deshaun Watson then threw a 12 yard touchdown pass to Thomas to get the Texans within 10-7. A 25 yard punt return allowed the Texans to get it back at their own 40. Watson went deep to DeAndre Hopkins for a 28 yard gain. Watson then hit Thomas for 12 yards. On the first play of the second quarter, Watson then ran for the 15 yard touchdown to make it 14-10 Texans.
Tennessee moved the ball from their 25 to a 4th and 1 at the Houston 3 yard line. This time Mike Vrabel decided to go for it. Stocker got the carry and got stopped stone cold. One play later the game completely changed. Miller got the handoff, broke a couple tackles near the line of scrimmage, got to the sideline, and was off to the races for a 97 yard touchdown. The 14 point swing had the Texans up 21-10 rather than down 17-14.
With 55 seconds left in the half, a miserable drive had the Titans punting on 4th and 34 from their own 9. The Texans took over with 45 seconds left at their own 38. Watson hit Akins for 8 and then went deep to Hopkins for 24 more yards. Watson scrambled up the middle for 5 yards but the final 18 seconds of the clock kept ticking. Watson rushed everyone up to the line and spiked the ball to stop the clock with one second left. Kaimi Fairbairn hit the 43 yard field goal as the Texans took a 24-10 lead to the locker rooms.
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans was the Monday night game. The Texans entered the game with heavy hearts due to the death of team owner Bob McNair on Saturday. He founded the team that began play in 2002 and was the only owner the team has ever had. He brought football back to Houston when Bud Adams moved the Houston Oilers to Tennessee and changed their name to the Tennessee Titans. Those teams played on this night.
The Titans moved from their 25 to a 3rd and 9 at the Houston 20. Marcus Mariota hit Firks but only for 7 yards. On 4th and 2 from the 13, Mike Vrabel decided not to gamble. Ryan Succop hit the 31 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Titans. The Titans got it back at their own 31 and struck quickly. Derrick Henry ran for 8 yards. Mariota then went deep to Smith for a 61 yard touchdown. The Titans led 10-0, but after that the game changed.
The Texans took over from their 38 after nearly fumbling away the kickoff. Lamar Miller ran for 21 yards. After gaining one yard, Miller then ripped off gains of 15 and 12. Deshaun Watson then threw a 12 yard touchdown pass to Thomas to get the Texans within 10-7. A 25 yard punt return allowed the Texans to get it back at their own 40. Watson went deep to DeAndre Hopkins for a 28 yard gain. Watson then hit Thomas for 12 yards. On the first play of the second quarter, Watson then ran for the 15 yard touchdown to make it 14-10 Texans.
Tennessee moved the ball from their 25 to a 4th and 1 at the Houston 3 yard line. This time Mike Vrabel decided to go for it. Stocker got the carry and got stopped stone cold. One play later the game completely changed. Miller got the handoff, broke a couple tackles near the line of scrimmage, got to the sideline, and was off to the races for a 97 yard touchdown. The 14 point swing had the Texans up 21-10 rather than down 17-14.
With 55 seconds left in the half, a miserable drive had the Titans punting on 4th and 34 from their own 9. The Texans took over with 45 seconds left at their own 38. Watson hit Akins for 8 and then went deep to Hopkins for 24 more yards. Watson scrambled up the middle for 5 yards but the final 18 seconds of the clock kept ticking. Watson rushed everyone up to the line and spiked the ball to stop the clock with one second left. Kaimi Fairbairn hit the 43 yard field goal as the Texans took a 24-10 lead to the locker rooms.
The Texans moved from their own 25 to a 4th and 1 at the Titans 43. Bill O’Brien decided to go for it and Watson hit Hopkins for 5 yards. On 4th and 1 from the Houston 29, O’Brien decided not to go for it. A field goal would make it a 3 score game, and Fairbairn delivered from 47 yards out to make it 27-10 Texans.
With 2 minutes left in the third quarter a 16 yard punt return had the Titans starting just shy of midfield. On 3rd and 7 from the Houston 48, Mariota went deep to Davis for the touchdown as the Titans trailed 27-17 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter the Texans took over at their own 40. From the Tennessee 46, Watson scrambled for 34 yards and then threw a 10 yard touchdown pass to Thomas to salt the game away. Houston won their 8th straight game as Bob McNair smiled from heaven. 34-17 Texans