NFL 2018 Week 16 Recap
Washington Redskins at Tennessee Titans was the Saturday afternoon game. Both teams came in fighting for their playoff lives. Washington began facing 3rd and 6 at their own 32. 4th string quarterback Josh Johnson hit Crowder for a 30 yard gain. Dustin Hopkins hit a 50 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Redskins. Tennessee came back 69 yards in 11 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. From the tennessee 31, Marcus Mariota hit Taylor for 15 yards and Davis for 16 more. On 3rd and 6 from the Washington 22, Mariota gained 7 yards. From the one, Derrick Henry appeared stopped, shook a tackle, and dove for the end zone. He stretched the ball over the pylon just before his knee hit the ground. The extra point was no good but the Titans led 6-3.
The Redskins began at their own 7 yard line and mounted what may be the drive of the year. A sack of Johnson had the Redskins facing 2nd and 27 from their own 2. Adrian Peterson ran for 13 yards. On 3rd and 14 from their 15, Johnson hit Josh Doctson for a 22 yard gain. From the Tennessee 26, Johnson hit Sprinkle for 15 yards. The drive took a mind-numbing 17 plays. It covered 93 yards. It consumed over 11 minutes off the clock. Johnson hit Michael Floyd for a 7 yard touchdown to make it 10-6 Redskins.
The Titans soon faced 3rd and 11 at their own 24. Mariota hit Firkser for 12 yards, Jennings for 6, Lewis for 18 on 3rd and 4, Davis for 14, and Jennings for 9. Despite 1st and 10 from the Washington 14, a sack of Mariota was more than an 8 yard loss. It injured Mariota as Blaine Gabbert replaced him. A sack of Gabbert had the Titans settling for a 42 yard Ryan Succop field goal to end the half. The Titans trailed 10-9 due to the missed extra point.
The second half belonged mostly to the kickers.The Redskins moved 64 yards in 11 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. Washington moved from their 14 to a 2nd and 7 at the Tennessee 22. Johnson threw incomplete twice. Hopkins hit from 40 as the Redskins led 13-9 after three quarters. The Titans moved 60 yards in 10 plays and 5 minutes. They moved from their 25 to a 4th and 2 at the Washington 15 to start the fourth quarter. Mike Vrabel decided not to go for it. Succup hit from 33 as the Titans were within 13-12. Washington moved 12 plays and held the ball for 7 minutes after a touchback. Yet on 3rd and 9 from the Titans 18, Johnson was sacked for a 10 yard loss. Hopkins hit the 46 yard field goal to make it 16-12 Redskins midway through the fourth quarter. Yet they did not close the door.
Gabbert is awful. There is no way he is going to win a game for anyone. After a touchback, he went deep to Talor for a 35 yard gain. On 3rd and 7 from the Washington 37, Gabbert threw incomplete but defensive holding kept the drive going. From the Washington 32, Henry ran for 7, 5 and 18 yards. From the 2 yard line, with the Redskins totally committed to stopping the run, Gabbert faked a handoff to Henry and found a wide open MyCole Pruitt in the flat for the touchdown. With 4 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the Titans had the 19-16 lead.
Washington moved after a touchback to a 3rd and 3 at the Tennessee 44 with 1:22 to play. Johnson had managed the game and played mistake free football. Yet when it mattered most, he went deep and was intercepted. By the time Washington got it back at their own 15, only 14 seconds remained. Needing a Hail Mary miracle, Johnson went deep and found Malcolm Butler for a long touchdown. Problem: Butler plays defense for Tennessee. The 56 yard interception return was an exclamation point as the Titans got to 9-6 and stayed alive while the Redskins at 7-8 are cooked. 25-16 Titans
Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers was the Saturday night game. Baltimore’s top ranked defense dominated the first half and their offense held the ball for 20 minutes before the intermission. On the first play from scrimmage, Philip Rivers went for the bomb and was intercepted. Yet all Baltimore could muster was a 24 yard field goal from Justin Tucker in the first quarter and a 35 yarder in the second quarter to lead 6-0. In the first quarter John Harbaugh gambled on 4th and goal at the 2 and Lamar Jackson threw incomplete. Tucker also missed a 53 yarder in the first quarter and a 65 yarder to end the half that would have been an NFL record. The Chargers killed themselves with penalties, but it was a pair of defensive penalties on the Ravens in the final 2 minutes of the half that gifted the Chargers field position. Mike Badgley hit a 38 yard field goal with 45 seconds left in the half as the Chargers only trailed 6-3.
On the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter from their own 20, it was the Ravens fumbling the ball away and giving the Chargers the ball at the Baltimore 17. Melvin Gordon did the rest, running for 13, 3, and then the last yard to make it 10-6 Chargers. The Ravens took over at their own 15 and this time they struck quickly. Jackson went to Brown for 17 yards and then went deep to Andrew with a perfect pass that split the seams and went for a 68 yard touchdown. After a first half without a touchdown, both teams reached the end zone in the first three minutes of the second half as the Ravens led 13-10.
Baltimore got it back and soon faced 3rd and 1 at their own 41. Jackson faked a handoff and kept the ball himself for a 10 yard gain. On 4th and 8 from the Chargers 38, John Harbaugh trusted his kicker despite two earlier misses from very long range. Tucker drilled the 56 yarder as the Ravens led 16-10. The Chargers took over at their own 26 and held the ball for nearly 8 minutes. Rivers converted 3 times on 3rd and long. On 3rd and 5 from the Baltimore 29, Rivers got belted for an 11 yard loss. Anthony Lynn was not going to try a 58 yard field goal. A perfect punt pinned the Ravens back at their own one yard line with 4 1/2 minutes left.
Baltimore ran it 3 straight times and punted. The Chargers took over with 3 minutes left at the Baltimore 39. Gordon ran for 8 yards, but offensive holding meant 1st and 20 instead. On the next play Rivers found Gates and bedlam ensued. Gates had the ball punched out by the Baltimore defense. It was returned 62 yards the other way for a defensive touchdown to put the Ravens up by 12 with 2:40 to play. Officials huddled for a lengthy amount of time before determining that the ball came out just before Gates’s knees hit the ground. The call could have gone either way. The Ravens got to 9-6 and are in a strong wildcard position. They even have a shot at winning their division. The Chargers at 11-4 have all but lost out on their division and will almost definitely have to settle for a wildcard as well. 22-10 Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns — The battle of Ohio saw the Browns coming in winners of 4 of their last 5 games. After a scoreless first quarter, the Browns got going in the second quarter. From the Cleveland 26, Nick Chubb ran for 22 yards. Jarvis Landry ran for 6 and Chubb ran for 7 more. On 4th and 1 from the Cincy 15, Gregg Williams decided to go for it. Baker Mayfield hit Landry for 6 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Mayfield hit Njoku for the score to make it 7-0 Browns. The Browns for it back at their own 30 and struck quickly as Gregg Williams went to the bag of tricks. Mayfield handed it to Calloway who pitched it to Jarvis Landry who then threw a deep option pass to Brad permian for a 63 yard gain. Mayfield then hit Darren Fells for a one yard touchdown to make it 13-0 Browns. The extra point dunked off the upright no good.
The Browns got it back with 5 minutes left in the half at their own 20. Mayfield hit Fells for 9 and Perriman for 13. Greg Joseph ended the half with a 37 yard field goal to make it 16-0 Browns. In the third quarter the Browns moved 87 yards. On 3rd and 2 from the Cleveland 21, Mayfield hit Landry for 19 yards. Chubb ran for 15 and Mayfield hit Hilliard for 15 more. On 3rd and 4 from the Cincy 17, Mayfield went to Higgins for the touchdown to make it 23-0 Browns after three quarters.
The Bengals tried to make a game of it, moving from their 31 to a 1st and 10 at the Cleveland 21. A pass lost 4 yards and Jeff Driskel was sacked for 8 more. The fourth quarter began with the Bengals facing 4th and 22 from the Cleveland 33. Marvin Lewis decided to just try and avoid the shutout with a 51 yard field goal try. Randy Bullock hit it and the Bengals were within 23-3. The Browns then held the ball for 14 plays and 7 1/2 minutes, moving 62 yards. Joseph hit a 31 yard field goal as the Browns comfortably led 26-3 midway through the fourth quarter.
Driskel tried to rally the Bengals, moving them 75 yards. With 5 minutes left Driskel threw a 14 yard touchdown pass to Uzomah to get the Bengals within 26-10. The Browns went 3 and out when Mayfield threw incomplete on 3rd and 4 from the Browns 34. The punt was blocked, and the Bengals recovered at the Cleveland 23. Driskel threw a 3 yard touchdown pass to John Ross. Driskel hit Core for the 2 point conversion. The Dawg Pound got nervous as a 23 point lead was down to 8 points with a full 3 minutes left.
Before football fans could complain about the “same old Browns,” these are absolutely not the same old Browns. They took over at their own 16. Chubb ran for gains of 4 and 6. With 2:01 to play and the Bengals expecting another handoff, Gregg Williams showed why he is head coaching material. A short pass from Mayfield to Njoku went for a 66 yard gain down to the Cincy 3 yard line. With the Bengals out of timeouts, Williams decided to have Mayfield take 3 knees rather than run up the score. After a 4-1 start, the Bengals collapsed as Marvin Lewis awaited his Black Monday fate. After winning only 3 of 40 under Hue Jackson, the Browns have won 5 of their last 6 games under Williams. Yes, the Brows are a good football team. 26-18 Browns.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys — The Buccaneers took o er at their own 36. Jameis Winston went deep to Mike Evans for a 38 yard gain to set up 1st and 10 at the Dallas 13. Offensive holding killed the drive. Cairo Santos hit the 37 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Buccaneers. The Cowboys after a touchback soon faced 3rd and 12 form their own 34. Dak Prescott went deep to Gallup for 31 yards. On 1st and 20 from the Tampa 35, Prescott hit Ezekiel Elliott for 10 yards and Amari Cooper for 11 more. Prescott ran for the 7 yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Cowboys. The Buccaneers after a touchback moved to a 3rd and 5 at the Dallas 34. Winston was sacked and fumbled. Smith recovered it and rumbled 69 yards the other way for a defensive touchdown to make it 14-3 Cowboys.
The Buccaneers in the second quarter embarked on a 14 play drive that consumed 7 1/2 minutes. After moving from their own 29 to a 1st and 10 at the Dallas 27, an illegal block killed the drive. Santos hit from 45 as the Buccaneers still trailed 14-6. With 1:43 left in the half, Brett Maher drilled a 59 yard field goal to put the Cowboys back up 17-6. After a touchback, the Buccaneers still had 1:43 to work with. Winston went to DeSean Jackson for 24 yards. Winston then went to Humphries for 5 and Evans for 11. Unnecessary roughness on the defense led to Jacquez Rodgers running for a 2 yard touchdown as the Buccaneers only trailed 17-13 at halftime.
In the third quarter Santos missed a 52 yard field goal, setting the Cowboys up at their own 42. Prescott hit Gallup for 18 and Cole Beasley for 13 more. On 2nd and goal at the 3, Jason Garrett tried a reverse with Cooper that was blown up in the backfield for a 7 yard loss. On 4th and goal at the 2, Garrett decided not to gamble. Maher hit the 20 yarder to make it 20-13 Cowboys.
Things got worse for the Buccaneers when Winston was hit and fumbled and the Cowboys took over at the Tampa Bay 4 yard line. Prescott hit Gallup for the touchdown to make it 27-13 Cowboys after three quarters. In the fourth quarter the Buccaneers had the ugliest mind-numbing drive of the season. Starting from their own 25, They began the fourth quarter facing 4th and 2 at their own 45. Winston hit Rodgers for 5 yards. On 4th and 1 from the Dallas 16, a rare call for delay of game on the defense kept the drive going. On 4th and 1 from the 2, with everything on the line, a delay of game this time was on the offense. On 4th and 6 from the 7, Winston scrambled up the middle and came up inches short of the sticks. 17 plays, 73 yards and over 9 1/2 minutes of clock resulted in nothing.
The Buccaneers got the ball back at their own 29 with 4 1/2 minutes left. Winston did throw a 7 yard touchdown pass to Evans with 2:05 to play to get the Buccaneers within 7 points. The onside kick failed, and an 11 yard by Elliott let Dallas run out the clock. The Cowboys were 3-5 at the midpoint. Now they are 9-6 and have clinched the NFC East title. Jerry Jones stuck with Jason Garrett and he again delivered. As for Dirk Koetter, he may be a Black Monday casualty. 27-20 Cowboys
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions — The 7-7 Vikings clung to faint playoff hopes but early on ran into a buzzsaw. Detroit dominated but cold not crack the end zone. Matt Prater hit field goals of 47 in the first quarter and 35 and 48 in the second quarter to make it 9-0 Lions with 4 minutes left in the half. From the Minnesota 31, Kirk Cousins hit Cook for 29 yards with 10 taken off for offensive holding. Cousins then hit Kyle Rudolph for 15 yards. On 3rd and 17 just past midfield, Cousins went deep to Adam Thielen for 40 yards. Cousins hit Stefan Diggs for the 8 yard touchdown to get the Vikings within 9-7.
The Vikings got it back at their own 30 with 36 seconds left in the half. With 12 seconds left, the Vikings faced 2nd and 19 at their own 39. Cousins hit Rudolph for 17 yards. with 2 seconds left it came down to the Hail Mary on 3rd and 2 from the Detroit 44. One year after the Minneapolis Miracle, Cousins threw a perfect bomb and Rudolph caught it cleanly for the end zone. The Vikings led 14-9 at halftime. Nobody gives up Hail Marys like the Lions at home. In the third quarter the Vikings moved 69 yards in 11 plays and 6 minutes. They settled for a 24 yard Dan Bailey field goal to make it 17-9 Vikings.
The Vikings got it back at their own 47 and Cousins hit Rudolph for 11 yards. On 2nd and 19 from the Detroit 38, Cousins went to Rudolph for 17 yards. Cousins then went to Cook for a 4 yard gain. Cousins hit Rudolph for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 24-9 Vikings. Bailey tacked on a 29 yard field goal to complete the scoring. 27 unanswered points and a big effort from Mike Zimmer’s defense got the Vikings to 8-7 and alive in the playoff race. 27-9 Vikings
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots — A field position game had the Patriots taking over at their own 45. Michel ran for 5. Cordarelle Patterson took an end around 12 yards. Michel ran for 19, 12, 3 and finally for a 4 yard touchdown. Without a single pass, the Patriots led 7-0. In the second quarter, the Patriots took over at their own 44. From midfield, Patterson ran for 15 yards. James White ran for a 27 yard touchdown as the Patriots led 14-0. This was ugly turnover-filled first half. The Bills missed a 43 yard field goal. The Patriots fumbled the ball away. The two quarterbacks traded interceptions.
The Bills tried to make a game of it. Steve Hauschka hit field goals of 35 and 41 in the third quarter to get the Bills within 14-6. The Patriots moved 88 yards in 10 plays and 5 minutes. On 4th and 4 from the Buffalo 32, Bill Belichick decided to go for it. Brady fired to Julian Edelman, who broke tackles all the way for the score to make it 21-6 Patriots. The Bills moved to the New England 5 yard line but fumbled the ball away. Midway through the fourth quarter Stephen Gostkowski hit a 23 yard field goal to put the game away and make it 24-6 Patriots. Buffalo got a garbage touchdown to complete the scoring.
The Patriots got to 10-5 and won the AFC East. The list of their accomplishments is staggering. 10 straight AFC East titles. 16 straight seasons of at least 10 wins. 18 straight winning seasons (They went 9-7 in 2002). 15 AFC East Titles in 16 seasons (They went 11-5 in 2008. They were tied for the division lead but lost the tie-breaker to Miami and missed the playoffs). Quarterback Tom Brady has led the Patriots to 15 consecutive AFC East Titles (He was injured the entire 2008 season where New England lost the tie-breaker. Matt Cassel led the team that year). 8 Super Bowl appearances with 5 Super Bowl wins. The Patriots have also been to the AFC Title Game 7 straight years. To make it 8 in a row, the Patriots may have to do it the hard way. For Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, that is fine with them. 24-12 Patriots
Green Bay Packers at New York Jets — Sometimes a pair of bad teams can produce a thrilling game. This actually was that game. The Jets moved to the Green Bay 18. Sam Darnold was then sacked for a 10 yard loss. A 36 yard field goal try was no good. Gang Green got it back at their own 17. Darnold hit Anderson for 16 yards, Kearse for gains of 7 and 13, McGuire for 16, Kearse for 6, and on 3rd and 6 from the Green Bay 19, to Herndon for 15. McGuire ran for the 4 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Jets. In the second quarter the Jets took over at their own 24. Darnold hit Anderson for gains of 14 and 9. On 4th and 1 from the Green Bay 36, Todd Bowles decided to go for it. Darnold gained 3 yards. On the next play Darnold went to Anderson for the 33 yard touchdown as the Jets had the surprising 14-0 lead.
The Packers took over at their own 10. Aaron Rodgers hit Williams for 10 and Williams ran for 13 more. On 3rd and 4 from the Jets 49, Rodgers went deep to Kumerow for the touchdown as the Packers got within 14-7. After the 90 yard drive, the Packers would trail by 14 again only 12 seconds later. Roberts took the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for the score to make it 21-7 Jets. The Packers soon faced 3rd and 3 at their own 42. Rodgers went deep to St. Brown for 34 yards. On 2nd and 15 from the Jets 29, Rodgers went to St. Brown for 14 yards. However, a defensive penalty on Williams led to him being ejected and set up 1st and goal at the 7. The Packers have their own Williams, and he ran for the score to get the Packers within 21-14.
In the third quarter the Packers moved the ball but settled for Mason Crosby field goals of 42 and 29 as the Packers trailed 21-20. After a touchback, Darnold hit McGuire and Anderson for a pair of 14 yard gains. On 3rd and 7 from the Green Bay 15, Darnold hit Anderson for 5 yards. Darnold hit Herndon for the 5 yard touchdown to make it 28-20 Jets. Moore got blasted on the ensuing kickoff and fumbled the ball. The Jets took over at the Green Bay 18. On 2nd and 12, Darnold hit McGuire for a 20 yard touchdown as the Jets had the 35-20 lead after three quarters. Then came Aaron Rodgers.
From their own 39 to start the fourth quarter, the Packers moved to a 1st and 10 at the Jets 20. Rodgers threw 3 straight incompletions. Down by 15, Joe Philbin made what seemed like a very uninspiring decision. Mason Crosby hit the 38 yard field goal, but with 11:45 to play the Packers still trailed 35-23. The Jets went nowhere but a great punt pinned the Packers at their own 6 yard line with 9 1/2 minutes left. Rodgers went deep to St. Brown for 24 yards with 15 more tacked on for unnecessary roughness. On 4th and 1 from the Jets 46, Rodgers hit Tonyan for 11 yards. On 3rd and 4 from the Jets 29, Rodgers threw deep incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 1st and goal at the 3. Rodgers got the last yard. The Jets had every chance under the sun to put the game away, but with 6 1/2 minutes left the Packers only trailed 35-30.
The Packers got it back with 3:12 to play at their own 17 yard line. Rodgers hit Williams for 4, Graham for 16, Kumerow for 13 and Williams for 26. Rodgers then scrambled for 23 yards to set up 1st and goal at the one. Rodgers threw incomplete and Wiliams got stopped as the Jets took their second timeout on defense with 1:15 left. On 4th and goal at the one, Rodgers went for the quarterback sneak. A pileup ensued. The Jets thought they had a goal line stand. The officials ruled touchdown. The Packers led 36-35 and decided to go for the 2 point conversion. Then came a play that has defined the Jets for the last 50 years.
Rodgers had his 2 point pass intercepted by Roberts, who returned it over 100 yards the other way for a score. That under league rules is a 2 point score for the defense, as the home crowd celebrated the Jets retaking the lead 37-36. It was all for naught. Defensive holding nullified the entire play. Given a second chance from the one, Rodgers got in himself. 18 straight points had the Packers up 38-35 with 1:12 left.
Just when it appeared the Jets were dead, Roberts returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards to the Green Bay 38. Darnold hit Herndon for gains of 9 and 14. With 36 seconds left the Jets had 1st and 10 at the Green Bay 15. They still had one timeout and a chance to win. Darnold threw 3 straight incompletions. Jason Myers hit the 33 yard field goal with 17 seconds left. The game was going to overtime tied 38-38.
The Packers won the toss in overtime. After a touchback, Rodgers ran for 8 and Williams added 7 more. On 3rd and 10 from the Green Bay 40, Rodgers threw deep incomplete. However, defensive pass interference meant a 33 yard gain to the Jets 27. Williams gained 9 and 5. On 2nd and 10 from the Jets 13, Rodgers threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 1st and goal at the 6. Rodgers scrambled for the touchdown, but offensive holding nullified it. It didn’t matter. On the next play Rodgers went to Davante Adams for a 16 yard touchdown. The game was finally over as Joe Philbin and Todd Bowles awaited their Black Monday fates. 44-38 Packers, OT
Houston Texans at Philadelphia Eagles — The 10-4 Texans had not yet locked up the AFC South but still had an outside chance at the top seed in the conference. The 7-7 Eagles were on the brink of elimination. The Eagles moved 77 yards in 13 plays and 7 minutes. On 4th and 2 from the Houston 37, Doug Peterson decided to go for it rather than try a 55 yard field goal. A short pass from Nick Foles to Darren Sproles saw Sproles fake out tacklers, bull over defenders inside the 5, and get to the end zone to make it 7-0 Eagles. The Texans came back 63 yards in 11 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. Yet on 3rd and 6 from the Philly 7, a false start and an incompletion ended the drive. The second quarter began with Kaimi Fairbairn hitting a 30 yard field goal to get the Texans within 7-3. Foles was then sacked and fumbled, setting up the Texans at the Philly 5 yard line. Deshaun Watson ran for the score. The extra point was no good but the Texans led 9-7.
The Eagles came back 75 yards in 14 plays and over 7 minutes. On 3rd and 1 from the Philadelphia 39, Foles went deep to Sproles for 31 yards and Zac Ertz for 15 more. On 4th and 3 from the Houston 8, Doug Pederson decided to go for it. Foles hit Dallas Goedert for 6 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Foles threw incomplete but JJ Watt was called for roughing the passer. From the one, consecutive offensive penalties moved the Eagles back to the 16. On 3rd and goal at the 10, Foles hit Ertz for 9 yards. Doug Pederson again gambled on 4th and goal at the one. Foles hit Ertz for the touchdown. The Eagles went for 2 but Foles was sacked. The Eagles led 13-9. With 3 minutes left in the half the Texans took over at their own 20. Watson hit Thomas for 15 and Akins for 11. A pair of defensive penalties for lowering the head to initiate contact and roughing the passer gifted 30 yards to move the Texans to the Philadelphia 17. Watson ran for a 6 yard touchdown as the Texans took a 16-13 lead to the locker rooms.
In the third quarter the Eagles took over at their own 12. Foles went deep to Alshon Jeffery for a 52 yard gain. Jake Elliott hit the 47 yard field goal for a 16-16 game. The Eagles got it back at their own 17 and needed only 14 seconds to take the lead. Foles went deep to Nelson Agholor for an 83 yard touchdown bomb as the Eagles led 23-16. On the next series Watson got belted and fumbled. Fletcher Cox recovered for the Eagles at the Houston 44. On 3rd and 3 from the Houston 23, Foles went to Ertz for the touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Eagles had a commanding 29-16 lead with 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation.
The Texans moved from their 23 to a 3rd and 1 at the Philly 21 midway through the fourth quarter. Watson was sacked for an 8 yard loss. Bill O’Brien decided to go for it. On 4th and 9 Watson’s completed pass only gained 5 yards. The Eagles on 2nd and 7 from their 27 saw Foles go to Goedert for 24 yards. Yet on the next play the Eagles fumbled and the Texans recovered at their own 45. On 2nd and 10 Watson completed a 5 yard pass but unnecessary roughness added 15 more. Watson hit Hopkins for a touchdown but the Texans still trailed 29-23 with 5 minutes left.
Houston got it back at their own 20 with 4 minutes left. Watson hit Foreman for 8 and then ran for 12 more. On 3rd and 11 from the Houston 44, Watson hit Akins for 22 yards. On 3rd and 11 from the Philly 35, Watson threw a perfect bomb to Vyncint Smith. Smith got his knee down before sliding out the back of the end zone. With 2:04 to play it was the Texans with the 30-29 lead. With 1:50 left, the Eagles faced 3rd and 10 at their own 11. Then came the play of the game.
Foles went back to pass and got blasted by Jadavean Clowney just as the ball was thrown. Somehow Alshon Jeffery caught the ball over the middle in traffic for a 19 yard gain. On top of that, a very questionable defensive roughing the passer penalty on Clowney added 15 more yards. Clowney led with the crown of his helmet. He hit Foles in the chest, but using his own helmet meant a penalty. Foles was down. He had the wind knocked out of him. He eventually walked off the field. Third string quarterback Nate Sudfeld came in and threw his first NFL pass, an incompletion. To wild cheers, Foles came back in the game.
On 3rd and 10 from his own 45, Foles went deep to Ertz for 20 yards. Sproles then ran for 16 yards. With 3 seconds left, Elliott came in for a 35 yard field goal try. Everything was on the line for both teams. Elliott’s kick was good. The Eagles at 8-7 cannot win their division but are still clinging to wildcard playoff life. The Eagles are still the defending champs, and champions do not go down without a fight to the end. As for Foles, he continues to show heart and guts. The Texans at 10-5 saw their chances for a first round bye get less likely. 32-30 Eagles
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers — After 6 straight losses and a shoulder injury, Cam Newton was shut down for the year. Taylor Heinicke got the start and fumbled the snap on his first play from scrimmage. Yet he still managed to lead a 14 play, 73 yard drive that took 8 minutes off the clock. On 3rd and 9 from the Atlanta 34, Heinicke scrambled for 11 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Heinicke threw incomplete but defensive holding kept the drive going. Heinicke hit Thomas for a one yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Panthers.
The Falcons came back 85 yards in 13 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. On 3rd and 2 from the Atlanta 33, Matt Ryan hit Mohammed San for 18 yards. On 3rd and 1 from the Carolina 40, san gained 24 yards. On 3rd and 8 from the Carolina 14, Ryan hit Julio Jones for 11 yards. On 3rd and goal at the one, Ryan went to Jones for the score to tie the game 7-7 after the first quarter. In the second quarter from the Carolina 23 on 3rd and 9, Heinicke went deep to Thomas for a 27 yard gain to midfield. On 3rd and 13 from the Carolina 47, Heinicke was sacked for a 13 yard loss. However, roughing the passer kept the drive going. Heinicke went to the locker room after being injured on that play.
Third string quarterback Kyle Allen was just activated from the practice squad earlier this week. Now he was playing professional football. Chandler Catanzaro hit a 50 yard field goal to make it 10-7 Panthers. Matt Bryant responded with a 39 yarder for a 10-10 game. The Panthers moved from their 36 to a 2nd and goal at the 4 with one minute left in the half. At the 2 minute warning, Heinicke was back in the game. Heinicke was intercepted at the 2 yard line to end the threat. On the first play of the third quarter, Ryan went deep to Calvin Ridley for a 75 yard touchdown to make it 17-10 Falcons.
Atlanta got it back at their own 15. Ryan hit Ridley for 11 and Tevin Coleman ran for 20. Ryan went deep to Sanu for a 44 yard touchdown to put the Falcons up by 14. The fourth quarter was scoreless as the Panthers lost their 7th straight. In 2015, Ron Rivera led the Panthers to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl trip. In 2016, Dan Quinn led the Falcons to the Super Bowl, where they led 28-3 in the third quarter. This season both teams both fell apart. It would be surprising if either one of these coaches were Black Monday casualties, but anything is possible, Carolina has new ownership, adding to the tension. 24-10 Falcons
New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts — The Colts came in with playoff hopes. Eli Manning came out firing, hitting Sterling Shepard for 12 yards, Latimer for 10, and on 3rd and 6 from the Indy 42, back to Shepard for 17 more. Saquon Barkley from the one got stopped in the middle but bounced to the outside and got in to make it 7-0 Giants. After going 75 yards in 11 plays and 6 minutes, the Giants came back again 87 yards. On 3rd and 11 from their own 38, Manning went deep to Shepard for a 55 yard gain. Manning hit Simonson for a 3 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Giants.
In the second quarter the Colts moved from their 25 to a 1st and 10 at the Giants 26. Andrew Luck went to the end zone and was intercepted. The Colts got it back and moved 78 yards in 12 plays and 7 minutes. From the Giants 40, Luck went to TY Hilton for 25 yards. On 3rd and 3 from the Giants 8, Luck went to Hines for 7 yards. Hines got the last yard to get the Colts within 14-7. The Giants soon faced 3rd and 8 at their own 27. Manning went to Bennie Fowler for a 26 yard gain and to Shepard for 20 more. Aldrick Rosas hit a 40 yard field goal as the Giants led 17-7 at the midpoint.
In the third quarter the Colts faced 2nd and 8 from their own 17. Luck hit Rogers for 11 yards and then went deep to Hilton for a 55 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the 2, luck Dontrelle Inman for the score as the Colts trailed 17-14. The Giants took over at their own 15. Manning hit Simonson for 5, Ellison for 16 and Barkley for 18. On 3rd and 5 from the indy 41, Manning went to Engram for 8 and again for 32 yards down to the one. Manning got in himself o make it 24-14 Giants.
The Colts soon faced 3rd and 8 at their own 28. Luck went to Inman for a 29 yard gain and to Hines for 28 more yards. On 1st and 10 from the Giants 15, Luck was sacked and fumbled the ball away. However defensive holding kept the drive going. Marlin Mack ran for the 3 yard touchdown as the Colts only trailed 24-21 after three quarters.
After a touchback, the Giants held the ball for over 6 minutes. On 3rd and 1 from their own 34, Manning connected with Engram for a 27 yard gain. Engram took an end around 14 yards. On 3rd and 8 from the Colts 23, Manning hit Engram for just enough. On 2nd and 2 from the Indy 9, a run lost 2 yards. On 3rd and 4 Manning threw incomplete. With 9:20 to play, Rosas hit a 27 yard field goal. The Giants led 27-21 but left the door open for a Colts comeback. The Colts moved from their 25 to a 1st and 10 at the Giants 39. Luck threw 3 straight incompletions. Frank Reich opted against a 57 yard field goal try or going for it as the Colts punted. A perfect punt pinned the Giants back at their own 4 yard line. The Colts got it back at their own 47 with 3:43 left.
On 3rd and 3 from the Giants 46, Luck threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant an automatic first down. From the Giants 44, Luck ran for 14 yards. Luck then hit Chester Rogers for 3 and Inman for 9. On 2nd and 12 from the Giants 20, Luck hit Hilton for just enough. On the next play defensive pass interference put the ball on the one. Luck hit Rogers for the touchdown with 55 seconds left as the Colts led by one point. With 23 seconds left Manning was intercepted as the Giants remained the best 59 minute team in football. Frank Reich saw his once 1-5 Colts go 8-1 since to get to 9-6. The Colts are alive in the playoff race and have a major showdown next week with 9-6 Tennessee where the loser is out. The Colts even have an outside shot at winning the AFC South. 28-27 Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins — The Dolphins took over at their own 22. On 3rd and 6 from their own 38, Ryan Tannehill hit Danny Amendola for 20 yards. A swing pass from Tannehill to Ballage went for a 31 yard gain down to the 11. Tannehill found Brandon Bolden for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Dolphins. The Jaguars soon faced 3rd and 3 at their own 32. Cody Kessler hit Dante Moncrief for 10 yards. On 3rd and 6 from the Miami 46, Kessler hit Greene for 10. On 3rd and 8 from the Miami 31, a pass only gained 6 yards but roughing the passer added 13 more yards. Kessler hit Leoanrd Fournette for 11 yards down to the one. Fournette got in to make it a 7-7 game.
The second and third quarters were scoreless. In the fourth quarter the Jaguars took over at their own 41. Kessler was benched in favor of Blake Bortles. Bortles ran for 13. On 2nd and 13 just past midfield, Bortles ran for 14. Kai Forbath hit a 26 yard field goal. With 11 minutes left in regulation, the Jaguars led 10-7. One minute later after a touchback came the play of the game. On 1st and 15 from the Miami 32, Tannehill found Smith. Problem: Smith plays defense for Jacksonville. Smith returned the interception 33 yards for the clinching touchdown as the beleaguered Jaguars knocked the Dolphins officially from playoff contention. 17-7 Jaguars
Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals — The Rams came in having lost 2 straight, pretty much denying them the top seed in the conference and in danger of even missing a 1st round bye. The Cardinals are still on pace for the top pick in the Draft. Early on the Rams fumbled and the Cardinals took over at the Los Angeles 41. Zane Gonzalez hit a 41 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Cardinals. Then reality set in. After a touchback, Anderson gained 6 and Cooks gained 17, with 15 more tacked on for a lowering the head to initiate contact penalty. On 3rd and 4 from the Arizona 31, Jared Goff hit Robert Woods for 11 and Tyler Higbee for 16. Woods ran for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Rams.The Rams in the second quarter got it back at their own 16. Runs and short passes moved them to the Arizona 41. Anderson ran for gains of 27 and 9. Goff got the last yard to make it 14-3 Rams.
The Cardinals on 2nd and 8 from their own 27 tried to come back. Defensive pass interference moved the ball 11 yards. Josh Rosen then ran for gains of 14 and 16. Then steve wills went to his bag of tricks. Rosen fired a backward pass to Larry Fitzgerald, who threw a perfect deep ball to David Johnson. The 32 yard touchdown had the Cardinals within 14-9 after the missed extra point. Yet the Rams had too much firepower. On 2nd and 16 from their 19, Goff hit Everett for 6 and Cooks for 18 more. From the Arizona 32, Goff hit woods for gains of 13 and 11. Anderson ran for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 21-9 at halftime. Both teams missed a field goal from over 50 yards before the half ended.
The second half was a formality. Zuerlein hit from 21 in the third quarter as the Rams led 24-9 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter the Rams took over at their own 5 yard line and made it look easy. Anderson went up the gut for a 46 yard gain. Goff then went deep to Woods for a 39 yard touchdown to complete the blowout. The win got the Rams to 12-3. Although home field throughout the playoffs is out of reach, a win next week will guarantee them a first round bye. 31-9 Rams
Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers — The 49ers still have a shot at the top Draft pick. The 10-4 Bears still had a slim chance at a first round bye. The Bears win ugly with defense. In a scoreless first quarter, Cody Parkey missed a 37 yard field goal. In the second quarter Robbie Gould made field goals of 33 and 30 against his old team to make it 6-0 49ers. After a touchback, Mitchell Trubisky hit Mizzell for 26 yards, Howard for 16 more, and Braunecker for 18. On 1st and 10 at the San Francisco 13, Trubsiky went to the end zone and was intercepted. However, defensive holding kept the drive going. On 3rd and goal at the 4 with 1:52 left in the half, Trubisky hit Miller for the touchdown as the Bears led 7-6.The 49ers took over at their own 32. Wilson gained 8 and 5. Nick Mullens hit Goodwin for 17 and Taylor for 23. Gould hit from 23 to end the half with the 49ers up 9-7.
In the third quarter the bears took over at their own 10 yard line. Trubisky hit Robinson for 9. On the next play a facemark added 15 yards. Runs and short passes moved the Bears to a 3rd and 2 at the Frisco 20. Trubisky hit Robinson for 10 and Gabriel gained 8. Howard got the final 2 yards as the Bears led by 5 after three quarters. The fourth quarter was all defense. The Bears had a chance to put the game away when they fumbled the ball away at the Frisco 24 with 1:52 left. With 1:40 left on 2nd and 4 from the Chicago 45, Mullens threw 3 straight incompletions. It was hideous, but Matt Nagy has an 11-4 Bears squad that has an outside chance at a 1st round bye. 14-9 Bears
Pittsburgh Steelers at New Orleans Saints — The Steelers snapped their 3 game losing streak with a big win over New England. Two more wins would lock up the AFC North while losses could knock them out of the playoffs altogether. The Saints with a win would lock up home field throughout the playoffs. Drew Brees threw a bomb to the end zone that was intercepted, setting up the Steelers at their own 40. Chris Boswell hit a 49 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Steelers. After a touchback, Brees hit Thomas for 28 yards. On 4th and 1 from the Pittsburgh 34, Sean Payton decided to go for it. Brees went deep incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 1st and goal at the one. Mark Ingram got in to make it 7-3 Saints.
The Steelers took over at their own 10. On 3rd and 4 from their own 38, Ben Roethlisberger went deep to Vance McDonald for 49 yards. The drive died there but Boswell hit the 30 yarder to get the Steelers within 7-6. After a touchback, Brees went to Ted Ginn for 15 yards. On 3rd and 8 from the Saints 42, Brees went to Thomas for 20. Defensive pass interference added 22 more yards. On 3rd and 2 from the 8, Alvin Kamara ran it in to make it 14-6 Saints.
With 6:45 left in the half, the Steelers were pinned at their own 3 yard line. On 3rd and 2 from their own 11, Big Ben went deep to Antonio Brown for 28 yards and again for 10 more. On 3rd and 11 from the Saints 39 at the 2 minute warning, Roethlisberger went back to Brown for 16 yards. On 3rd and 9 from the Saints 22, Big Ben threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 20 yards and 1st and goal at the 2. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Roethlisberger hit Samuels for the touchdown. The 15 play, 97 yard, 6 minute drive had the Steelers within 14-12 with 40 seconds left in the half. Roethlisberger hit Rogers for the 2 point conversion and a 14-14 game. After a touchback, Brees hit Ginn for 13, Watson for 6, and Kamara for 31 yards. Wil Lutz hit a 43 yard field goal as the half ended to put the Saints up 17-14.
In the third quarter the Saints moved 75 yards in 11 plays and 6 minutes. On 2nd and 11 from their own 24, Brees connected with Kamara for a 42 yard gain. On 3rd and 4 from the Pittsburgh 16, Brees hit Thomas for 8 yards. Ingram ran for 7 and Kamara on 3rd and goal got the last yard to make it 24-14 Saints. The Steelers soon faced 1st and 15 at their own 20. Roethlisberger hit Juju Smith-Schuster for gains of 12 and 23, Brown for gains of 17 and 12, Switzer for 13, and on 3rd and goal from th 3, Brown for the touchdown. The Steelers were now within 24-21. The Steelers got it back at their own 34 and struck quickly. Roethlisberger hit Brown for 26, Smith-Schuster for 20, and Brown for the 20 yard touchdown as the Steelers led 28-24 after three quarters.
The Saints offense was doing nothing and the Steelers began the fourth quarter at their own 25. Samuels ran for gains of 7, 4 and 9. With 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the Steelers faced 3rd and 2 at the Saints 34. Looking to put the game away, Stefan Ridley fumbled and the Saints recovered at their own 35. Lutz came in for a 50 yard field goal try with 6 minutes left. The kick was blocked.
A sackof Roethlisberger had the Steelers punting on 4th and 5 at their own 42 with 4 minutes left. Mike Tomlin gambled on a fake punt. Fullback Nix took the snap up the middle, gained only 4 yards, and came up celebrating and dancing, doing the first down gesture. He was jubilant until it was pointed out that he did not make the first down. The Saints took over at the Pittsburgh 46. At the 2 minute warning, the Saints faced 4th and 2 at the Pittsburgh 27. Brees fired incomplete, and again the Steelers celebrated too early. Defensive pass interference meant 1st and 10 at the Pittsburgh 22.
Offensive holding and a pair of incompletions including a perfectly thrown dropped ball set up 3rd and 20 from the Pittsburgh 32. Brees fired over the middle to Ginn for a 25 yard gain to set up 1st and goal at the 7 as Mike Tomlin took a timeout on defense. Brees fired to Thomas for a 6 yard gain as the Steelers took their last timeout. With 90 seconds left, two yard separated victory from defeat. Brees fired to Thomas. Officials ruled Thomas down at the one but replay clearly showed Thomas broke the plane of the goal. He caught it past the goal line and then fell back to the one after the catch. Officials reversed the call to a touchdown. With 1:25 left, the Saints led by a field goal as the Superdome Who Dat Nation exploded in joy.
The Steelers began with a false start and three straight incompletions that set up 4th and 15 from their own 20 with 1:09 left. Roethlisberger fired to Brown at the sideline for a 19 yard gain. Roethlisberger then hit Smith-Schuster for 14 yards over the middle and spiked the ball to stop the clock with 45 seconds left. On the next play the Saints got flagged for illegal contact and were lucky it was not pass interference. The Steelers came in with 5 wide receivers. Roethlisberger completed a pass to Smith-Schuster, who was in field goal range.
Smith-Schuster had the ball ripped out of his hands by Rankins and the Saints fell on it. Smith-Schuster was never down. He was laying on top of another defender and never hit the ground himself. The Steelers lost their 4th game in 5 weeks and are now 1/2 a game behind Baltimore in the AFC North. If the Steelers win next week and Baltimore loses, the Steelers win the division. Otherwise, the team that started 7-2 is done. Roethlisberger finished 33 of 50 for 380 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, all for naught. The 13-2 Saints have now locked up home field throughout the playoffs. The 2009 team that won it all finished 13-3. The Saints have never won 14 games. Brees finished 27 of 39 for 326 yards, one touchdown and 0 interceptions. 31-28 Saints
Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks was the Sunday night game. The Chiefs with a win would lock up the AFC West and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. A loss would put them at risk of dropping all the way to a Wildcard and a road playoff game. The Seahawks would clinch a Wildcard playoff spot with a win, while a loss this week and next week would eliminate them from playoff contention. The Chiefs have the high powered offense but Seattle has the deafening roar of the 12th man. Early on the Seahawks moved 78 yards in 11 plays and 5 minutes On 3rd and 13 from their own 19, Russell Wilson scrambled for 19 yards. Wilson hit Doug Baldwin for 16 yards and Chris Carson ran for 17 more. On 3rd and 1 from the Chiefs 4, Carson got in to make it 7-0 Seahawks.
After a touchback, Damian Williams ran for 25 yards to midfield. On 3rd and 3 from the Seattle 43, Williams gained 7. Despite 1st and 10 from the Seattle 36, Patrick Mahomes threw 3 straight incompletions. Andy Reid trusted Harrison Butker with a 54 yard field goal on the road in a hostile environment, and Butker delivered to get the Chiefs within 7-3. Late in the first quarter, Sebastian Janikowski doinked a 36 yard field goal try off the upright no good.
The Chiefs took over and a sack of Mahomes had them facing 2n and 18 at their own 18. Williams gained 5. On 3rd and 13 Mahomes hit Conley for 18. On 3rd and 1 from midfield, Williams took an end around 21 yards. Tyreek Hill gained 9 and Mahomes hit Travis Kelce for 17 yards down to the Seattle 2. Mahomes hit Williams for the score as the Chiefs led 10-7. The Chiefs got it back at their own 20. On 1st and 15 from their 30, Williams lost 6 yards and fumbled. The Seahawks took over at the Chiefs 21. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Wilson threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant a new set of downs. Wilson hit Vannett for a one yard touchdown to make it 14-10 Seahawks. With 23 seconds left in the half from the Chiefs 30, Mahomes hit Conley for 23 yards but Conley had it punched out of his hands and the Seahawks recovered to end the half.
In the third quarter the Seahawks moved 65 yards in 12 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. After a touchback, Carson ran for gains of 15 and 4. On 3rd and 6 from the Seattle 44, Wilson hit gannett for 10 yards. On 3rd and 6 from the Chiefs 29, Wilson was sacked for a 5 yard loss. Janikowski missed a 47 yard field goal, but roughing the kicker gave the Seahawks new life. Janikowski was clearly hurt on the play. on 2nd and 6 from the Chiefs 10, Wilson threw incomplete twice. Seabass did hit the 28 yarder for a 17-10 lead, but he was forced to drop kick his kickoffs.
The Chiefs took over at their own 17. Mahomes went to Kelce for 23, Williams for 12, and Hill for 11. On 3rd and 3 from the Seattle 30, Mahomes hit Kelce for 5 yards on a throw across his body. On the next play Mahomes went to West for a 25 yard touchdown to tie the game 17-17. After a touchback, Pete Carroll went to the ground game. Carson gained 6 and 9. Wilson hit Doug Baldwin for 18 yards. On 3rd and 15 from the Chiefs 47, Wilson hit Ed Dickson for 18 yards. Wilson then went deep to Baldwin for a 27 yard touchdown where Baldwin somehow kept his feet inbounds. The Seahawks had the 24-17 lead after three quarters.
The Chiefs began the fourth quarter at their own 30. Mahomes hit Kelce for 16 yards and the Chiefs were on the march. On 3rd and 2 at the Seattle 36, Mahomes went deep to Hill for a 32 yard gain. Yet 1st and goal at the 4 was followed by a pass that lost one yard, a false start, and another 2 incompletions. With 10 1/2 minutes left, Walrus Lite Andy Reid decided not to gamble. Butker hit the 29 yard field goal to get the Chiefs within 24-20.
The Seahawks took over at their 30 and Wilson went to Tyler Lockett for a 25 yard gain. Wilson then scrambled up the middle, broke through a tackle, and gained 26 yards. Carson ran for 11 more yards. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Wilson threw incomplete. However, defensive holding was a killer penalty. On the next play Wilson hit Dickson for the 2 yard touchdown. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Seahawks had breathing room up 31-20.
Breathing room would not last long. From the Chiefs 28, Mahomes hit Williams for 5, Conley for 13 and Kelce for 7. With 5 1/2 minutes left, the Chiefs faced 4th and 1 at the Seattle 45. Mahomes scrambled for a 22 yard gain. Mahomes then hit West for 12 yards and fired to Robinson in the back of the end zone for the 11 yard touchdown. On the 2 point conversion try, Mahomes evaded a tackler and ran up the middle and in. With 4 1/2 minutes left to play, the Chiefs were within 31-28.
On 3rd and 6 from their own 29, Wilson calmly fired a completion at the sticks for a critical 1st down. On 2nd and 11 from their own 34, Pete Carroll went for it all rather than play it safe. Wilson went deep to Lockett for a 45 yard gain. From the Chiefs 21, Carroll again wanted to stay aggressive since the Chiefs still had timeouts. Yet this time Wilson was sacked for a 9 yard loss. Carroll didn’t care. He had Wilson keep throwing. Wilson lobbed a fade into the arms of Baldwin, who made a one handed juggling catch at the goal line. Only inches away, out of the shotgun, Wilson handed off to Carson. Carson was met before the goal line and bulldozed over 2 defenders and into the end zone. With 2 1/2 minutes left the Seahawks had finally put the game out of reach.
No, they did not. The ensuing kickoff was returned 61 yards to the Seattle 31. On 3rd and 5 from the Seattle 15, Mahomes under heavy pressure threw deep incomplete. Butker hit the 32 yard field goal to get the Chiefs within 7 points with 80 seconds left. Now it was time for the onside kick. It was kicked out of bounds and the Seahawks survived.
The Chiefs loss dropped them to 11-4, the same record as the Chargers. The Chiefs hold the tie-breaker, so they can still win the AFC West and clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win next week. However, if they lost and the Chargers win, the Chiefs tumble all the way to the five seed Wildcard and would have all their playoff games on the road instead of at home. The Chiefs missed a chance to rest all their starters next week. The Seahawks with the win got to 9-6 and are in the playoffs. 38-31 Seahawks
Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders was the Christmas Eve Monday night game. Vance Joseph came in wondering if this would be his last game as Denver’s coach. The Raiders came in wondering if this would be their last game ever playing in Oakland. The Raider Nation came out in full force. The Raiders came out with a ton of emotion as Jon Gruden and Derek Carr visited the Black Hole. 5 minutes into the game, the Broncos punted on 4th and 12 at their own 34. Denver attempted to down the ball at the one yard line. Harris picked up the ball for the Raiders, knowing that even if he fumbled it the Raiders would still keep possession because Denver touched it first. Harris got to the sidelines and outraced everybody for a 99 yard special teams touchdown. There were no flags on the field.The Raider Nation erupted as the Raiders led 7-0.
Neither team could move the ball on offense. Denver killed themselves with offensive penalties. A 47 yard bomb was wiped away when Jon Gruden successfully challenged the completion. The ball hit the ground. In the second quarter the Raiders took over at their own 11. Muscle Hamster Doug Martin ran for 5 yards. Carr hit Jordy Nelson for 12 yards. Defensive pass interference added 6 more yards. Carr hit Jalen Richard for 14 yards, Darren Waller for 6, Martin for 9 and Richard for 6. After all those passes, Martin broke off a 24 yard touchdown run. Midway through the second quarter, the Raiders led 14-0.
The Raiders got it back and faced 2nd and 20 at their own 10. Carr hit Richard for 10 and on 3rd and 10 found Nelson for 16 and again for 14 to midfield. Martin gained 11 and Carr hit Seth Roberts for 11 more. The drive stalled but Daniel Carlson hit a 43 yard field goal. The Raiders led 17-0. Only 19 seconds remained in the half. However, the Raiders this year have not finished games. Carlson kicked the ensuing kickoff out of bounds, giving Denver the ball at their own 40. On 3rd and 10, Case Keenum hit Sutton for 20 yards with 4 seconds left. The Raiders allowed Brandon McManus to try a 58 yard field goal. The kick was dead center but barely short of the crossbar no good. The Raiders dodged a bullet, but they led Denver 12-0 in Denver at halftime and 19-7 in the fourth quarter only to lose 20-19 on the final play.
Midway through the third quarter the Broncos took over at their own 18. Keenum went to Patrick for 26 yards. On 3rd and 10 from the Denver 44, the Raiders had Keenum did to rights in the backfield. Several mistackles later, and Keenum had gained 17 yards. Keenum threw a 7 yard touchdown pass to Hamilton. The Broncos were within 17-7. Raider fans have seen this movie before. Yet this time the Raiders responded. From their own 28, Jon Gruden was determined to run the football. Martin gained 7 and 9. On 1st and 20 from the Oakland 34, Carr hit Richard for 10, Nelson for 6, and on 3rd and 4 from midfield, Nelson for 12. The fourth quarter began with the raiders facing 3rd and 3 at the Denver 31. Carr hit Nelson for 7 yards. Martin ran for 4, 14, and 3. Richard ran for the 3 yard touchdown. With 12 minutes left in regulation, the Raiders led 24-7.
Again, the biggest problem with the Raiders is their inability to finish games. The Broncos took over at their own 23. On 3rd and 3 from their own 35, Keenum hit Hamilton for 6 yards. On 3rd and 1 from midfield, Keenum hit Patrick for 13 yards. On 3rd and 1 from the Oakland 28, Booker gained 9 yards. Keenum went deep to Sutton for a 19 yard touchdown. The Broncos were only down 24-14 midway through the fourth quarter. The Raiders needed to show they can finish a game.
The Raiders went 3 and out, but it was not all bad. They ran the ball 3 straight times. Jon Gruden was determined to keep pounding the rock. A good punt pinned the Broncos at their own 12 yard line. Keenum went over the middle and was intercepted. The Raiders took over at the Denver 31 with 5 1/2 minutes left. Gruden took no chances, with 2 straight runs and a short pass. Carlson nailed a 45 yard field goal to put the Raiders up by 13 with 4 1/2 minutes left. Denver got it back and soon faced 4th and 19 at their own 9 yard line. Keenum was intercepted by Harris, who returned it 21 yards to the Denver 18.
Martin gained nothing. Then he gained one yard. On 3rd and 9, he got the ball again and banged up the gut for a 12 yard gain. The crowd erupted, Gruden pumped his fists, Carr celebrated, and the clock hit the 2 minute warning. With Denver out of timeouts, Carr took 3 knees. An emotional Carr took a lap and high-fives the fans, who stayed and waited for him. He fought back tears at his press conference and told everyone how much he loves Oakland. He lives in Oakland and doesn’t go anywhere in the offseason. He just finished his 11th straight game without an interception. Two years ago he spent Christmas Eve with a broken leg. This year he spent it helping his team win. There is plenty of time to discuss other issues like where the Raiders will play in 2019. For now, it was a sweet win for the entire Raider Nation to enjoy. 27-14 Raiders