NFL 2020 Week 14 Recap
December football. This is when the big dogs come out.
New England Patriots at Los Angeles Rams was the Thursday night game. The Patriots began their dynasty by shocking the Rams in the 2001 Super Bowl. Bill Belichick won a slugfest over Sean McVay as the Patriots topped the Rams in the 2018 Super Bowl. This regular season game had the 6-6 Patriots trying to survive against the 8-4 Rams. After a touchback Jared Goff hit Tyler Higbee for 25. Cam Akers ran for 35. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Goff hit Cooper Kupp for 3. Sean McVay went for it on 4th and goal at the one. Goff took the quarterback sneak over the top and got the ball over the plane of the goal for a 7-0 Rams lead. The Rams quickly got it back at their own 23 and moved to a 1st and 10 at the Patriots 25. Intentional grounding led to 3rd and 18. Goff hit Akers for 16. This time McVay did not gamble on 4th and 2 from the 17. Matt Gay hit the 35 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Rams. The Rams got it back at their own 13 and soon faced 3rd and 4 from their own 29. Goff was intercepted by Bryant. The Patriots took over at the rams 32. On the first play of the second quarter from the Rams 19, Cam Newton was intercepted. Kenny Young returned it 79 yards for a defensive touchdown and a 17-0 Rams lead. The Rams defense did the rest. New England managed only a second quarter field goal. In the third quarter the Rams moved on a back breaking 16 play, 90 yard drive that took nearly 10 minutes. Goff hit Kupp for a 2 yard touchdown. The fourth quarter was scoreless. The Patriots had won at least 10 games for 17 straight seasons. That streak is now broken. The Patriots are barely alive at 6-7 and the Rams at 9-4 got a small measure of revenge. 24-3 Rams.
Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — The Buccaneer started 6-2 but came in losing 3 of their last four. The Vikings started 1-5 but have gone 5-1 since. Midway through the first quarter the Vikings took over at their own 16. Kirk Cousins hit Adam Thielen for 15. Dalvin Cook ran for 8 and 2. Cousins hit Thielen for 15. On 3rd and 7 from the Tampa Bay 36, the defense jumped. On 3rd and 2, Cook gained 3. Cook ran for 9 and 4. The Vikings began the second quarter with 1st and goal at the 5. Cook ran for 4 and then for the one yard touchdown. The 14 play, 84 yard drive took 8:15 off the clock. The Vikings led 6-0 after Dan Bailey missed the extra point. The Vikings missed a chance to extend the lead when Bailey, also missed a 36 yard field goal try. After that the Buccaneers took over the game.
The Buccaneers took over at their own 26. On 3rd and 4 from the Minnesota 48, Tom Brady with all kinds of time went bombs away to Scottie Miller for the touchdown and the 7-6 Buccaneers lead. With 4:42 left in the half, Bailey’s nightmarish day continued when he missed another field goal from 54 yards out that would have given the Vikings the lead. With 4 1/2 minutes left in the half, the Buccaneers took over at their own 44. Brady hit Chris Godwin for 16. On 3rd and 1 from the Minnesota 28, Ronald Jones gained 3. On 3rd and 6 from the Minnesota 21, Brady hit McCoy for only 3 but a defensive personal foul for lowering the head to initiate contact meant 1st and goal at the 9. On 2nd and goal from the 7, Brady was intercepted at the one yard line. Yet defensive pass interference instead meant 1st and goal at the one. With 44 seconds left in the half, the Buccaneers led 14-6.
The Vikings went 3 and out and Bruce Arians took his timeouts on defense. The Buccaneers got it back at their own 28 with 21 seconds left. Brady hit Cameron Brate for 9 and Antonio Brown for 16. Brady spiked the ball to stop the clock with one second left. From the Minnesota 47, Brady threw the Hail Mary. Officials never call defensive pass interference on the Hail Mary, but Tom Brady gets every single call. Defensive pass interference on the Hail Mary meant 1st and goal at the one with one untimed down. This time the ultra-aggressive Bruce Arians went conservative and opted for the field goal. Ryan Succop hit the 18 yard field goal for a 17-6 Buccaneers lead at the half. The Buccaneers faced 3rd and 2 at their own 33 to start the third quarter. McCoy gained 10, 5, 3, and on 3rd and 2 just past midfield, 14 more. Brady went deep to Mike Evans for 29. Brady hit Rob Gronkowski for a 2 yard touchdown to break open a close game and make it 23-6 Buccaneers. The extra point was no good.
The Vikings soon faced 3rd and 6 from their own 29. Cousins went to Conklin for 14 and Ham for 8. On 3rd and 2 from just shy of midfield, Cousins hit Ham for 9 and 5. On 3rd and 1 from the Tampa Bay 31, Ham got stopped. Mike Zimmer went for it and Cook got the yard. On 4th and 6 from the Tampa 26, Cousins hit Conklin for 7. Cousins hit Smith for a 14 yard touchdown. Zimmer inexplicably went for 2, perhaps out of disgust with his kicker. Cousins hit Justin Jefferson for the 2 point conversion. The 15 play, 75 yard, 8 1/2 minute drive was great ball control, but killing the clock is not good when you’re losing. The Vikings trailed 23-14 after three quarters. With 9 minutes left in regulation and needing 2 scores, the worst and perhaps final game of Dan Bailey’s career in Minnesota saw him miss his third field goal from 46 yards out. Bailey missed 10 points, and the Vikings were losing by 9 points. Succop hit a 48 yard field goal to extend the lead with 5 minutes left. After a touchback the Vikings quickly moved to a 2nd and 3 at the Tampa 38. Cousins was sacked for a loss of 10, then threw incomplete, and on 4th and 13 was sacked again with 2:14 left to extinguish any hopes. The Buccaneers are 8-5 and the Vikings at 6-7 are still mathematically alive. 26-14 Buccaneers
Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants — The 66 Cardinals came in losing 3 straight. The 5-7 Giants came in winning 4 straight and tied for the NFC Least lead. Daniel Jones fumbles a lot. From midfield, Jones got blown up and fumbled. Golden got the trifecta with the hit, the fumble recovery, and the runback 30 yards to the Giants 9 yard line. Yet on 3rd and goal at the one, Kenyan Drake got stopped. Kliff Kingsbury went for it. On 4th and goal from the one, Kyler Murray faked the handoff to both running backs, rolled to his right, and threw high and incomplete. The goal line stand was wasted as the Giants went 3 and out and the Cardinals returned the punt 24 yards to the Giants 38. Mike Nugent hit a 34 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Cardinals. In the second quarter the Cardinals again had excellent field position at their own 47. On 4th and 1 from the Giants 44, Kliff Kingsbury went for it. Drake gained 3. On 3rd and 3 from the Giants 34, Murray hit Arnold for 20. A false start killed the drive but Nugent hit again from 37 to make it 6-0 Cardinals.
The Giants immediately fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Cardinals had another short field at the Giants 21. On 3rd and goal at the 7, Murray fred high to the end zone and Arnold hauled it in for the touchdown and the 13-0 Cardinals lead. The Cardinals began the third quarter facing 3rd and 1 at their own 32. Murray hit Deandre Hopkins for 4. On 3rd and 3 from their own 43, Murray gained 5. Drake their ripped off a 36 yard gain. On 3rd and 3 from the Giants 9, Murray hit Williams for 8. Drake leapt over the top and broke the plane of the goal for the one yard touchdown. The 11 play, 77 yard, 6 minute drive made it 20-0 Cardinals. The Giants did reach the end zone once but the Cardinals added a pair of fourth quarter field goals to cap off the decisive win. The Cardinals are 7-6 and the Giants are 5-8, with both teams being alive for a playoff spot. 26-7 Cardinals
Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins — The 11-1 Chiefs came in tied for the best record in the AFC while the Dolphins at 8-4 were one game back in the AFC East. Patrick Mahomes had a pass deflected by a defender and intercepted. The Dolphins failed to capitalize, missing a field goal. The Chiefs got the ball back at their own 35 and had one of the worst drives in NFL history. Out of the shotgun, a bad snap meant a 6 yard loss. On 3rd and 12, Mahomes scrambled and was eventually tackled for a 30…yes, 30…yard loss. The Chiefs on 4th and 42…yes, 4th and 42…from their own 3…punted. The Dolphins took over with a short field at the Chiefs 44. On 3rd and 11, Tua Tagovailoa hit Mike Gesicki for 14. On 3rd and 5, Tagovailoa hit Grant for 19 and then fired over the middle to Gesicki for a 7 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Dolphins. After a touchback the Chiefs faced 1st and 10 at their own 38. Mahomes threw a high pass that bounced off a receiver’s hands and was intercepted again. It was the first game all year where the Chiefs had multiple turnovers. Rowe returned the interception 22 yards to the Chiefs 47. On 3rd and 6 from the Chiefs 13, Tagovailoa through a high pass to the end zone just out of reach as the receiver could not haul it in. Sanders hit a 31 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Dolphins. Then reality set in.
After a touchback, the Chiefs finally got going in a big way. Mahomes hit Kelce for 21 and 9 and Robinson for 13. Tyreek Hill raced for a 32 yard touchdown to get the Chiefs within 10-7. The Dolphins got it back at their own 22 and soon faced 3rd and 7 from their own 37. Tagovailoa threw a deep ball that should have been caught. Instead the defender was able to bat it up in the air, where it was intercepted. With 3 minutes left in the half the Chiefs took over at their own 26. Mahomes went to Kelce for 16 with 15 more tacked on for roughing the passer. On 3rd and 1 from the Miami 34, Leveon Bell gained 8. Mahomes went to Sammy Watkins for 15 and to Kelce for a 6 yard touchdown as the Chiefs led 14-10 with 1:37 left in the half. The Chiefs had taken the Dolphins best punch and were in the lead. The rest was inevitable. After a touchback, Mahomes went to Carl Edwards-Helaire for 26 and then went deep to Tyreek Hill for a 44 yard touchdown and a 21-10 Chiefs lead. One minute later the Dolphins punted and MeCole Hardman followed a perfect wall of blockers. Hardman got to the sideline and weaved his way through traffic for a 67 yard punt return touchdown and a 28-10 Chiefs lead. The Chiefs would fumble away another scoring chance but it didn’t matter. Tagovailoa was sacked in the end zone for a safety as the Chiefs led 30-10. Mahomes would throw another interception for a touchback. Despite 4 turnovers including uncharacteristic 3 interceptions by Mahomes, the Chiefs were still winning easily. They really are that good.
Momentum shifted after the Chiefs failed to put the dagger in. From their own 20 Tagovailoa hit Gesicki for 13, Perry for 5, Hollins for 23, Shaheen for 10 and Gesicki for a 29 yard touchdown. With 12 minutes left in regulation the Dolphins were within 30-17. The Dolphins got it back with 10 minutes left at their own 25. From their 36, Tagovailoa hit Hollins for 6, Bowden for 9 and Smith for 9. On 3rd and 1 from the Chiefs 40, Laird gained 3. Tagovailoa hit Hollins for 18. On 3rd and 1 from the Chiefs 10, Tagovailoa gained 2. Three defensive penalties meant 1st and goal at the one. Tagovailoa got in. The 14 plat, 75 yard, 6 minute drive had the Dolphins within 30-24 with 4 minutes left.
After a touchback, Mahomes hit Edwards-Helaire for 11 with 15 more added on for a defensive facemask. On 3rd and 1 from the Miami 40, Edwards-Helaire got stopped. A 58 yard field goal try would lock up the win, but that was too risky. Andy Reid decided to go for it, knowing that failing to convert could cost the Chiefs the game. Andy Reid hates running the ball, and the pass-happy coach let Mahomes hit Hill for a 22 yard gain. Reid finally did run the ball, and Edwards-Helaire lost 3 yards and then lost 8 yards. Reid vowed never to run the ball again. With just over one minute left, a short field goal try was now a 46 yarder. A miss would again give the Dolphins a golden chance to win. Butker’s kick was good and the Chiefs led 33-24. Needing 2 scores after a touchback, Tagovailoa rallied the Dolphins to the Chiefs 26. Sanders hit a 44 yard field goal with 16 seconds left but the onside kick failed. The Dolphins dropped to 8-5 but still in the playoff picture. It wasn’t pretty, but the Chiefs at 12-1 locked up the AFC West for the 5th straight year, making Andy Reid a most happy walrus indeed. 33-27 Chiefs
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars — The 8-4 Titans came in tied atop the AFC South against the 1-11 Jaguars. Aldrick Rosas came in for a 53 yard field goal to give the Jaguars the lead, but the kick was blocked. On 2nd and 3 from midfield, Tannehill hit Swaim for 13 and then went deep to AJ Brown for a 37 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Titans. In the second quarter the Titans fumbled to set up the Jaguars at the Titans 40. On 3rd and 5 Mike Glennon threw incomplete, but Rosas hit a 53 yard field goal to get the Jaguars on the board. After a touchback, Derrick Henry did everything. He ran for 8, 22, 5, 4, and on 3rd and 1 from the Jacksonville 36, all the way for the touchdown. With 40 seconds left in the half, the Titans led 14-3. That was enough time for the Jaguars to self destruct. They ran 3 plays, lost 15 yards, and the Titans took their timeouts on defense. The Titans got it back at their own 37 with 9 seconds left. Ryan Tannehill went to Davis for 19 and Smith for 9 with 2 seconds left. Stephen Gostkowski drilled a 53 yard field goal to make it 17-3 Titans.
The second half was pointless. After a touchback, Tannehill hit Brown for 13 and Brown for 9. Henry took it up the gut for a 47 yard gain. Tannehill went to Swaim for a 5 yard touchdown to make it 24-3 Titans. Glennon was quickly intercepted to set up the Titans at the Jags 48. On 2nd and 17 from their own 45, Tannehill hit Brown for the exact amount with 15 more added for a defensive facemask. Tannehill hit Swaim for 16 down to the one and Henry ran it in for make it 31-3 Titans. At 9-4 the Titans were in a good position for a playoff run while the 1-12 Jaguars saw their season of misery continue. Doug Marrone will most likely not be fired before the end of the season, but Black Monday will be brutal for the normally patient Shad Khan. Jacksonville got a garbage touchdown in a garbage season. 31-10 Titans
Dallas Cowboys at Cincinnati Bengals — Neither team is going to the playoffs. Word has leaked that Jerry Jones will not be firing Mike McCarthy, in his first season with the Cowboys. However, changes to their dead last defense will be coming. The Bengals began by fumbling, setting up the Cowboys at the Cincinnati 32. That led to a 34 yard Greg Zuerlein field goal to make it 3-0 Cowboys. The Bengals moved from their own 25 to a 2nd and 3 at the Dallas 20. Williams got the carry and fumbled. Smith picked it up and rumbled 78 yards for a defensive touchdown and a 10-0 Cowboys lead. The Bengals moved from their own 25 on a 13 play, 60 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive. On 3rd and 1 from the Dallas 15, Perine got stopped. Zac Taylor decided to go for it to start the second quarter. Erickson got the carry and got stopped and fumbled. The Cowboys took over at their own 12. On 3rd and 1 from their own 21, Ezekiel Elliott gained 3. On 3rd and 14 from their own 20, Red Rifle Andy Dalton hit Amari Cooper for 20. On 3rd and 5 from the Dallas 45, Dalton hit Cooper for 13. On 3rd and 6 from the Cincy 38, Dalton hit CeeDee Lamb for 14, Michael Gallup for 12, and Cooper for an 11 yard touchdown. The 15 play, 88 yard drive took more than 8 minutes off the clock and had the Cowboys up 17-0. The Bengals managed a touchdown before the half but nothing else. The Cowboys added a field goal in each of the final 2 quarters and a 7 yard touchdown pass from Dalton to Pollard after the 2 minute warning. 30-7 Cowboys
Houston Texans at Chicago Bears — Neither team is going to the playoffs. On their first offensive play from scrimmage, David Montgomery broke through the line and raced for an 80 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Bears. The Bears got it back at their own 21. Mitchell Trubisky hit Allen Robinson for 14, Jimmy Graham for 12 and Robinson for 7. On 3rd and 3 from the Houston 46, Trubisky hit Robison for 9, Kmet for a pair of 7 yard gains and Mooney for 10. The Bears began the second quarter facing 1st and 10 at the Chicago 13. Trubisky hit Graham for a 5 yard touchdown. The 12 play, 79 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive made it 14-0 Bears.
The Texans soon faced 3rd and 2 from their own 22, Deshaun Watson ran for gains of 4 and 7. On 3rd and 3 from their own 33, Watson connected with Johnson for a 48 yard gain. Watson ran for 14 and hit Coutee for a 5 yard touchdown to get the Texans within 14-7. They would get no closer.
The Texans got the ball back at their own 19 and disaster struck. Watson was sacked for a 10 yard loss. Then he was sacked again in the end zone by Khalil Mack for a safety and a 16-7 Bears advantage. The Bears took the free kick at their own 34. Montgomery ran for 13 with 15 more tacked on for defensive unnecessary roughness. Trubisky hit Miller for 6, Robinson for 9, Montgomery for 11, Mooney for a 12 yard touchdown. With 3 1/2 minutes left in the half the Bears were dominating 23-7. The Bears got it back with 1:45 left in the half. On 3rd and 6 from their own 27, Trubisky hit Robinson for 8 and again for 22. On 2nd and 18 just shy of midfield, Trubisky hit Kmet for 16. On 3rd and 2, Montgomery gained 11. Trubisky hit Robinson for 16. With 11 seconds left the Bears 3 yards away. Trubisky hit Robinson for the touchdown to make it a 30-7 Bears landslide at the intermission. A useless second half saw the Bears kick a field goal in each of the final two quarters to end their 6 game losing streak. 36-7 Bears
Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers — Neither team is going to the playoffs. The Panthers punted on 4th and 4 from their own 27. Spencer got it, made it to the sideline, and outraced everyone for an 83 yard punt return touchdown and a 6-0 Broncos lead. The extra point was no good. In the second quarter the Broncos moved from their own 10 to a 2nd and 9 at the Carolina 32. Jeremy Chinn has been a one man wrecking crew this season. He belted Drew Lock, who fumbled. Obada recovered it and rumbled 54 yards to the Denver 3. Davis ran in the 3 yard touchdown to make it 7-6 Panthers. The Broncos soon faced 3rd and 3 from their own 32. Lock hit Fumagalli for a 4 yard gain. On 3rd and 8 from the Denver 38, Lock threw incomplete but roughing the passer kept the drive going. Lock went deep to Jerry Jeudy for 31 yards. On 3rd and 6 from the Carolina 12 out of the shotgun, Melvin Gordon gained 9. On 2nd and goal at the 4, Gordon got stopped but a mindless defensive penalty for taunting meant 1st and goal at the 2. Lock hit Vannett for the touchdown. The 12 play, 75 yard drive had the Broncos up 13-7 with 1:37 left in the half.
The Broncos took over in the third quarter. From their own 37, Lock hit Jeudy for 11. Gordon gained 15. Lock went deep to Hamler for a 37 yard touchdown. The extra point was again no good as the Broncos led 19-7. The Panthers soon faced 3rd and 7 from their own 28. Teddy Bridgewater hit Robbie Anderson for 10. On 3rd and 3 from their own 45, Bridgewater hit Anderson for 21. Yet on 2nd and 5 from the Denver 17, Bridgewater threw incomplete twice. Joey Slye hit the 35 yard field goal to get the Panthers within 19-10 midway through the third quarter. The Broncos soon faced 3rd and 8 from their own 27. Lock hit Fumagalli for 14 and then went deep to Patrick for 32. On 2nd and 14 from the Carolina 31, Lock connected with Fumagalli for a 29 yard gain. Lock hit Patrick for the touchdown. Vic Fangio went for a 2 point conversion to make it a 3 score game, but Lock threw incomplete. The Broncos led 25-10 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.
After a touchback Bridgewater hit Pierre Cooper for 12 and Smith for 9. On 3rd and 1 from their own 46, Smith gained 6. Bridgewater went to Samuel for big gains of 19 and 17. On 3rd and 5 from the 7, Bridgewater out of the shotgun took the draw up the middle for the touchdown. Only 90 seconds into the fourth quarter, the Panthers were within 25-17. The Panthers took over at their own 18. Bridgewater hit Curtis Samuel for 14, Anderson for 8 and 23, and Samuel again for 16. Samuel ran for 10. On 3rd and goal at the 7, the Panthers suffered a costly delay of game penalty. Then a short completion gained only 4 yards. With 5:15 to play, Matt Rhule decided to play it safe. Slye hit the 26 yard field goal. The 10 play, 74 yard, 5 minute drive had the Panthers within 25-20.
After a touchback, the Broncos truck quickly. Rather than grind down clock, Lock ran for 6, hit Gordon for 20, and went deep to Hamler for a 49 yard touchdown. With 4 minutes left th Broncos had breathing room up 32-20. After a touchback the Panthers needed only 30 seconds to strike back. Bridgewater hit Davis for 20. Defensive pass interference added 13 more. Bridgewater then went to Cooper for 32. Davis out of the shotgun ran for a 10 yard touchdown. With 3 1/2 minutes left the Panthers were back within 5. Matt Rhule opted to trust his defense rather than go with an onside kick. A low line drive squib kick was headed toward the end zone and died just short of it. The Broncos were backed up at their own 7 yard line. The Panthers got it back at their own 27 with a full 2:48 to play. Yet on 3rd and 8, Bridgewater threw incomplete twice with 1:50 left. The Panthers were out of timeouts, and Lock took 3 knees. 32-27 Broncos
New York Jets at Seattle Seahawks — The 8-4 Seahawks came in tied atop the NFC West while the 0-12 Jets suffered a crushing last second defeat last week and fired their defensive coordinator. The Jets after a touchback moved to the Seattle 27 and then bogged down. Castillo hit a 45 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Jets. Then reality set in. After a touchback, Russell Wilson hit DK Metcalf for 14. Moore ran for 9, Chris Carson added 10 and Hart gained 19. Wilson hit Swain, for a 19 yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Seahawks. Wilson on his next series threw an interception but the Seahawks got it back at their own 30. Wilson went to Tyler Lockett for 10. On 3rd and 4 from their own 46, Wilson hit Lockett for 15. Carlos Hyde ripped off gained of 15 and 18. On the first play of the second quarter, Wilson went to Metcalf for a 5 yard touchdown to make it 14-3 Seahawks. On the very next Jets play from scrimmage, Frank Gore fumbled and Bobby Wagner recovered for the Seahawks at the Jets 32. On 3rd and 2 from the Jets 24, Carson only gained one. Pete Carroll decided not to gamble on 4th and 1. Jason Myers hit the 41 yard field goal to make it 17-3 Seahawks.
Castillo missed a 37 yard field goal try with 2 1/2 minutes left in the half. From their own 31, Wilson hit Metcalf for 8 and 6, Carson for 9 and 4, and Hollister for 20. On 3rd and 2 from the Jets 14, Wilson hit Metcalf for 9. With 30 seconds left in the half, Carson ran for a 5 yard touchdown to make it 23-3 Seahawks. The extra point was no good. Castillo then missed a 41 yard field goal try. For some reason the second half was played. On 3rd and 3 from their own 32 to start the third quarter, Wilson hit Lockett for just enough. On 3rd and 8 from their own 37, Wilson threw incomplete but defensive holding kept the drive going. These are the Jets. On 3rd and 7 from their own 45, Wilson was sacked but illegal contact on the defense kept the drive going. These are the Jets. From midfield, Carson ran for 4, 28 and 8. Wilson hit Dissly for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 30-3 Seahawks. The Jets then punted on 4th and 16 from their own 4. The Seahawks took over at the Jets 40. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Wilson hit Moore for a touchdown to make it 37-3 Seahawks. The Seahawks added a fourth quarter field goal to lead 40-3. The Jets fell to 0-13 as Just End The Season had the Jets 3 games from 0-16. Adam Gase is somehow still employed. The Seahawks at 9-4 are in a strong playoff position.
Indianapolis Colts at Las Vegas Raiders — The Raiders needed a miracle over the winless Jets to get to 7-5 while the 8-4 Colts were in a good playoff position. This was the first of 3 straight Raiders home games, and they got back Josh Jacobs, Jonathan Abram and big Trent Brown from the injury list. However, Paul Guenther’s defense remained awful as Philip Rivers completed passes with ease. On the first play from scrimmage after a touchback, the Raiders committed a defensive pass interference penalty for a 4 yard Chargers gain. Taylor gashed the Raiders for a pair of 13 yard gains. Rivers hit Taylor for 20. Taylor then ran for 18. On 3rd and goal at the 6, a false start was followed by a pass that gained only 4 yards. Rodrigo Blankship hit the 25 yard field goal. The 10 play, 68 yard, 6 minute drive made it 3-0 Colts. The Raiders ran 3 plays and gained only 2 yards. The Colts soon faced 3rd and 7 at their own 31. Rivers went to Michael Pittman for 19 yards to midfield. Nyheim Hines gained 13. On 3rd and 8 from the Raiders 35, Rovers went to TY Hilton for 17. On 3rd and goal at the 7, Rivers fired to Hilton for the touchdown. The 11 play, 72 yard, 5 minute drive gave the Colts a 10-0 lead.
The Raiders finally woke up. From their own 24, Jacobs ran for 7. Carr hit Henry Ruggs for 6 and Darren Waller for 4. Jacobs ran for 12. Carr then went deep to Foster Moreau, who juked a defender for a 47 yard touchdown to end the first quarter with the Raiders down 10-7. The Raiders got it back to start the second quarter at their own 17. On 3rd and 3 from their own 35, Carr went deep to Nelson Agholor for a 36 yard gain. Carr hit Jacobs for 8 and then went deep to Agholor for a 21 yard touchdown and a 14-10 Raiders lead.
Yet the Raiders defense remains awful. From their own 32 the Colts made it look easy. Rivers went deep to Pittman for 23 and deep again to Hilton for a 41 yard touchdown. Just like that the Colts were back on top 17-14. The Raiders then spent much of the second and third quarters moving the ball well and not finishing drives. After a touchback the Raiders moved to a 3rd and 8 at the Colts 13. Carr threw a fade to Waller in the end zone, but Kenny Moore made a leaping one handed interception for a touchback with 3 12 minutes left in the half. The Colts soon faced 3rd and 15 from their own 15. Rivers threw incomplete but defensive holding on…who else, Trayvon Mullen…meant an automatic first down. The Raider gave the Colts another first down with encroachment. On 3rd and 6 from their own 29, Rivers went to Zach Pascal for 27 yards. On 3rd and 10 from the Raiders 34 with the defense smelling pass, Taylor gained 15. With 6 seconds left the Colts faced 3rd and 4 at the Raiders 13 with one timeout. The Raiders again expected pass and Hines carried the ball and appeared headed to the end zone. He was upended at the 2 yard line but the Colts got the timeout with one second remaining. Blankenship hit the 20 yard field goal as the 13 play, 78 yard drive put the Colts up 20-14 at the half.
The Raiders began the third quarter facing 3rd and 10 at their own 25. Carr found Hunter Renfrow, who leapt in the air over 2 defenders to get just enough for the first down. Carr went to Waller for 15. Jacobs gained 6 and Carr added 5. From the Colts 38, Jon Gruden went to the bag of tricks. Carr threw a backward pass to Zee Jones, who threw a halfback option pass to Agholor for a 29 yard gain. Yet the offense again could not finish the drive. On 2nd and goal from the 7, Carr threw incomplete twice. Daniel Carlson hit the 25 yard field goal to cap the 13 play, 68 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive and get the Raiders within 20-17. The Raiders defense remained horrendous. On 3rd and 1 from their own 34, Wilkins gained 3. Taylor then raced through a wide open hole for an easy 62 yard touchdown. The Raiders were kicking field goals and the Colts were scoring touchdowns as the Colts led 27-17 midway through the third quarter.
After a touchback it was deja vu all over again. The Raiders moved to a 1st and goal at the 10 but could not finish the drive. A completion gained nothing. Then came an incompletion. On 3rd and goal from the 10, Carr inexplicably threw a short pass that gained only 5 yards. For some reason throwing past the marker was not an option. For those who despise the West Coast Offense, this is how teams lose. Carlson hit the 23 yard field goal to get the Raiders within 27-20 after three quarters. The 14 play, 70 yard drive took over 7 minutes but was the third time the Raiders drove deep only to be denied a touchdown. The Raiders offense was malfunctioning near the goal line while the Raiders defense was determined to continue melting down everywhere.
After a touchback to start the fourth quarter, Rivers hit Hilton for 14. On 3rd and 5 from from their own 44, Rivers hit Hilton for 7. Hines ripped off a 31 yard gain. On 3rd and 2 from the Raiders 7, the defense desperately needed a stop. Instead they jumped into the neutral zone. On the next play Taylor ran it in for a 3 yard touchdown and a 34-20 Colts lead with 9 1/2 minutes left. One play after a touchback, the Raiders collapse was complete. A West Coast Offense dink and dunk pass lost one yard and was fumbled. The Colts recovered at the Raiders 26. Blankenship hit a 35 yard field to make it 37-20 Colts. Needing 3 scores in 5 1/2 minutes, the Raiders kept the West Coast Offense dinking and dunking. The result was inevitable. A short pass from Carr bounced off of Jalen Richard’s hands and was intercepted by Willis, who returned it 49 yards for a touchdown to make the game a blowout with the Colts up 44-20.
The Raiders got a garbage touchdown to close out the scoring. The Colts at 9-4 are playing like a playoff team. The Raiders last year began 6-4 before collapsing down the stretch with a 1-5 record to go 7-9. This year the team insisted that they were not the Faders. They are. After starting 6-3 and nearly sweeping the defending champions, the Jets have gone 1-4 to fall to 7-6. Their only win in that stretch was over a winless team, and they needed a miracle to do it. The defense has not been fixed. The secondary is awful. Jon Gruden had finally had enough. After the game, defensive coordinator Paul Guenther was fired. Wade Phillips is available. So is Jeff Fisher, although the Buddy Ryan disciple probably would not settle for less than a head coaching job. Start with the Michelin Man and son of Bum Phillips. Defensive line coach Rod Marinelli will be the interim defensive coordinator for the final three regular season games. 44-27 Colts
Washington Anonymous Surnames at San Francisco 49ers — Both teams came in 5-7, but the Washington No-Names had won 3 straight including a shocking road win over previously unbeaten Pittsburgh. Playing football is illegal in Santa Clara, so the game was played in Arizona. With 5 minutes left in the opening quarter, the Non-Redskins missed a long field goal to give the 49ers great field position at their own 43. Raheem Mostert had a pair of 9 yard gains sandwiched around a 17 yard completion from Nick Mullens to Aiyuk. Wilson ran for 11 and then for the one yard touchdown as the 49ers led 7-0 after the first quarter. After that Ron Rivera’s defense dug in.
Dustin Hopkins hit a 51 yard field goal with 6 minutes left in the half to get the No-Names on the board. The 49ers quickly fumbled on the second play from scrimmage and the No-Names recovered at the San Francisco 26. Hopkins hit a 31 yard field goal to get the No-names with 7-6. At the 2 minute warning, Alex Smith was intercepted to give the 49ers the ball at their own 38. Two plays later Mullens was hit and fumbled by Chase Young, who got the trifecta. He got the sack, the forced fumble, and the fumble recovery that he took for a 47 yard defensive touchdown to put the Washington Gridlock up 13-7. In the third quarter the Washington Deficits moved 72 yards in 11 plays and 5 minutes. On 3rd and goal from the 3, Smith threw incomplete.Hopkins hit the 21 yard field goal to put the Anonymous Surnames up 16-7. The 49ers moved from their own 8 yard line to a 2nd and 2 at the No-Names 24. The 11 play, 68 yards 5 minute drive turned disastrous on the last play of the third quarter. Mullens had a pass intercepted by Curl, who followed blockers down the sideline for a 76 yard defensive touchdown and a 23-7 lead for the Riveras.
Despite not having an offensive touchdown, the Riveras led by 16. The 49ers faced 3rd and 9 from their own 26. Mullens hit Reed for only 5, but roughing the passer added 15 more. On 3rd and 10 from their own 46, Mullens hit James for 16 and Dwelley for 6. Mostert gained 14. Kyle Juszczyk caught a pass for 9, ran for 33, and caught a 6 yard touchdown pass from Mullens. Mullens hit Kendrick Bourne for the 2 point conversion to get the 49ers within 8 with a full 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation. At the 2 minute warning, the 49ers were facing 3rd and 2 from the Washington 44. Mullens fired over the middle to Bourne for a 22 yard gain. Yet offensive holding nullified the play. An incompletion set up 4th and 12. Mullens hit Bourne, but he was able to only gain 10 yards before he was wrapped up by the defense short of the sticks. The 49ers held on defense and got the ball back at their own 25 with exactly one second left. Mullens hit Aiyuk for 19 but the hook and laterals did not reach midfield. The 6-7 Non-Redskins had a one game lead in the NFC Least while the 49ers at 5-8 play in a real division and are all but out of it. 23-15 Anonymous Surnames
New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles — The 10-2 Saints took on the 3-8 Eagles in a battle of backups. Taysom Hill started his 4th game in place of Drew Brees while Jalen Hurts started his first ever NFL game over the benched Carson Wentz. The Eagles from their own 24 held the ball for 13 plays and over 8 minutes yet only moved 39 yards. On 4th and 2 from the Saints 34, Doug Pederson passed up a 52 yard field goal try and went for it. Myles Sanders was hit for a 3 yard loss. The Saints moved from their 37 to a 4th and 2 at the Philadelphia 27. Sean Payton opted for the field goal and from 45 yards out, Wil Lutz was no good. The Eagles soon aced 3rd and 7 from their own 38. Hurts hit Reagor for 39 yards. On 3rd and 3 from the Saints 16, Sanders only gained one. A field goal try would only be 33 yards but Doug Pederson again went for it. Hurts went to Alshon Jeffery for the first down and the touchdown to make it 7-0 Eagles early in the second quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, an interception of Hill had the Eagles at the Saints 32. On 3rd and 4 Hurts threw incomplete. Jake Elliott hit the 44 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Eagles. With 2:13 left in the half the Eagles were pinned at their own 4 yard line. Hurts gained 11. Sanders then broke off tackle and outran everyone for an 82 yard touchdown. With 1:35 left in the half the Eagles were winning a stunner up 17-0. The Eagles got it back at their own 23 with one minute left and moved to a 1st and goal at the 8 with 9 seconds left. Hurts threw incomplete but roughing the passer meant 1st and goal at the 4. Only 2 seconds remained. Doug Pederson played it safe and Elliott came in for the chip shot 22 yard field goal. The kick was doinked off the upright no good.
The Saints finally got going in the third quarter from their own 35. Hill hit Michael Thomas for 13 and Johnson for 11. On 3rd and 6 from the Philadelphia 35, Hill hit Cook for 8. Hill hit Alvin Kamara for 11. Kamara then ran for 4 and for the 5 yard touchdown. The 10 play, 65 yard, 5 minute drive had the Saints within 17-7. The Eagles after a touchback moved to a 4th and 1 at the Saints 40. Doug Pederson went for it and Hurts got stopped cold. On 3rd and 9 from their own 41, Hill went to Thomas for 22 and to Emanuel Sanders for a 37 yard touchdown. The Saints were right back in it down 17-14 after three quarters.
The Saints in the fourth quarter moved from their own 5 to a 4th and 2 at the Philly 42 with 10 minutes left in regulation. Hill was sacked and fumbled and the Eagles took over at their own 47. Hurts ran for 9 and hit Ward for 14. Reagor ran for 19 and Sanders added 7. Sanders ran for a one yard touchdown as the Eagles led 24-14 with 6 1/2 minutes left and were smelling upset. After a touchback and needing 2 scores, Hill moved the Saints to a 3rd and 8 at the Philly 31. Hill was sacked. On 4th and 16, Sean Payton brought Lutz in to try a 57 yard field goal at the 2 minute warning. The kick was no good. The Eagles were in total control but in just trying to run out the clock, Hurts fumbled the ball and the Saints recovered just shy of midfield with 1:44 left. Hill went deep to Smith for 31 and to Cook for a 20 yard touchdown. This all took 20 seconds. With 1:24 left the Saints were within a field goal. The onside kick was a beauty, and it nicked off a Philadelphia player. The Saints appeared to recover but after a mad scramble the Eagles had it. Hurts took 3 knees as he won a stunning upset in his very first game. The Saints had their 9 game winning streak snapped. At 10-3 they have a near stranglehold on the NFC South. However, the loss dropped them into a tie atop the NFC and the Saints do not have the tie breaker. 24-21 Eagles
Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Chargers — Neither team is going to the playoffs. The Chargers from their own 17 saw Justin Herbert hit Austin Ekeler for 9. Ekeler ran for 9 more. On 3rd and 1 from their own 44, Kenny Ballage gained 4. Ekeler ripped off a pair of 13 yard gains. On 3rd and 5 from the Atlanta 26, Herbert hit Johnson for just enough. On 3rd and 5 from the Atlanta 16, Herbert hit Keenan Allen for 6 and again for a 10 yard touchdown. The 15 play, 83 yard drive took 9 1/2 minutes off the clock and had the Chargers up 7-0. After a touchback Todd Gurley for caught a pass from Matt Ryan for 8, ran for 2, caught a pass for 4, and ran for 8 and 4. On 3rd and 1 from the Chargers 39, Gage took the direct snap and went deep to Calvin Ridley for the touchdown and a 7-7 game.
The Falcons got it back at their own 33. Ryan went to Gage for a 35 yard gain. On 3rd and 3 from the Chargers 25, Ryan hit graham for 7. On 3rd and 10 from the Chargers 18, Ryan was sacked. Younghoe Koo hit a 45 yard field goal to make it 10-7 Falcons. Adderly returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards to the Atlanta 23. The Chargers wasted the field position. On 3rd and 4 Herbert threw incomplete. Mike Badgley hit a 35 yard field goal for a 10-10 deadlock. After a touchback Ryan hit Ridley for 32 yards. On 3rd and 7 from the Chargers 40, Ryan went to Ridley for 19 more. On 3rd and 1 from the Chargers 12, Smith gained 3. Ryan hit Laquon Treadwell for a 9 yard touchdown to make it 17-10 Falcons with 5 minutes left in the half.
After a touchback the Chargers moved to a 3rd and 1 at the Atlanta 8 and took their final timeout with 22 seconds left. Ballage got the carry and got stopped. In a desperate attempt to hurry up the field goal, the Chargers committed an illegal shift. That meant an automatic 10 second runoff and the end of the half as the Chargers totally wasted a 16 play, 62 yard, 5 minute drive. This is why they lose games. In the third quarter the Falcons moved from their own 22 to a 1st and 10 at the Chargers 43. Ryan went for it all and was intercepted in the end zone for a touchback. Herbert hit Ekeler for 12. On 3rd and 3 from their own 39, Herbert hit Allen for 8 and Hunter Henry for 11. Ekeler gained 13 and caught a pass for 13 more. On 3rd and goal from the 12, Herbert hit Johnson for the touchdown. The 13 play, 80 yard, 8 1/2 minute drive tied the game 17-17 after three quarters. The fourth quarter was truly a battle of who wanted it least between two teams known for blowing close games late.
With 9 minutes left in regulation a 20 yard punt return gave the Falcons the ball at their own 41. With 4 minutes left they faced a 2 and 7 from the Chargers 16. Then came offensive holding. Then Ryan was intercepted by Addae. The 11 play, 5 minute drive gained only 33 yards and came up empty. The Chargers moved from their own 25 to a 3rd and 2 at the Atlanta 45 with one minute left. Herbert fired over the middle and was intercepted by Wreh-Wilson at the Atlanta 38. From the Chargers 45, Ryan was intercepted by Davis. A personal foul on the return against the Chargers had them taking over at their own 26 rather than their own 41 with 30 second left. On 3rd and 2 from their own 34, Herbert hit Henry for 15. Herbert then threw a perfect pass to Johnson for 25 yards with 16 seconds left. Anthony then called a safe run as the Chargers took their final timeout with 2 seconds left. Badgley came in for a 43 yard field goal try for the win. The kick was good as the Chargers finally got a bit of relief in the midst of a tough season. 20-17 Chargers
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions — The 9-3 Packers took on the 5-7 Lions. The Lions began facing 3rd and 9 from their own 26. Matthew Stafford went deep to Mohammed San for 21. On 3rd and 2 from the Green Bay 45, Stafford hit Marvin Jones for 8. Stafford hit Sanu for 16 and Danny Amendola for 15 down to the one. Stafford hit TJ Hockenson for the touchdown. The 11 play, 75 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive made it 7-0 Lions. After a touchback the Packers struck quickly. Aaron Rodgers hit Davantae Adams for 4, St. Brown for 15, and Adams again for a 58 yard touchdown and a 7-7 game.
The Packers got it back at their own 31. Rodgers hit Marques Valdez-Scantling for 10. On 3rd and 4 from their own 47, Rodgers gained 5. On 3rd and 1 from the Detroit 39, Williams gained 2. Rodgers hit Austin for 5 and Adams for 12. Rodgers began the second quarter by hitting Valdez-Scantling for a 14 yard touchdown. The 12 play, 69 yard, 7 minute drive had the Packers up 14-7. With 5:40 left in the half the Lions faced 1st and 15 at their own 15. Stafford hit Swift for 17 and Cephus for 8. Stafford went to Adrian Peterson for 23 and Johnsonbahd Hockenson for 10 each. On 1st and 20 from the Green Bay 21, Stafford went to Hockensen for 13 but defensive holding instead meant 1st and 10 from the Green Bay 16. Stafford hit Amendola for 10. Swift ran for the 3 and then for the 3 yard touchdown. With 90 seconds left in the half the game was tied again 14-14.
The Packers began the third quarter facing 3rd and 7 from their own 28. Rodgers there incomplete but defensive holding meant a new set of downs. On 1st and 20 from their own 23, Rodgers hit Lazard and Valdes-Scantling for a pair of 14 yard gains. On 3rd and 14 from the Detroit 42, Rodgers went deep to Valdes-Scantling for 21. On 3rd and 4 from the Detroit 15, Rodgers hit Lazard for just enough.On 3rd and goal from the 6, Rodgers got around the end and scored the touchdown. The 14 play, 75 yard drive took nearly 9 minutes and put the Packers up 21-14. The Packers got it back at their own 21. Rodgers hit Valdez-Scantling for 15. On 3rd and 3 from his own 43, Rodgers hit Tonyan for 11. Williams gained 11. Aaron Jones gained 8 to end the third quarter and 9 and 7 to start the fourth quarter. On 3rd and 1 from the Detroit 8, Williams gained 4. Rodgers hit Tonyan for the 4 yard touchdown. The 12 play, 79 yard, 8 minute drive put the Packers up 28-14 with 12 minutes left in regulation.
After a touchback the Lions soon faced 3rd and 10 from their own 35. Stafford hit Jones for 12. On 3rd and 7 from the Green Bay 45, Stafford threw incomplete but defensive holding kept the drive going. Stafford hit Hockensen for 13. On 3rd and 4 from the Green Bay 11, Stafford ran for 6 with defensive holding adding 3 more. Johnson ran for the 2 yard touchdown. The 13 play, 75 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive had the Lions within 28-21 with 6 1/2 minutes left. The Packers moved from their 25 to a 1st and 10 at the Detroit 35. A run gained one yard and Rodgers threw incomplete twice. A 52 yard field goal try resulted in a false start. Matt LaFleur now had a big decision to make. With 3 1/2 minutes left, LaFleur gambled big on Mason Crosby. Now it was a 57 yard try. Crosby nailed it to to give the Packers breathing room up 31-21.
Making matters worse for the Lions, a hit on Stafford in the first half was finally too much to bear. Chase Daniel came on in relief in a desperate situation and moved the Lions to a 3rd and goal at the 4. Daniel scrambled and scored at the 2 minute warning, but offensive holding nullified it. After an incompletion, Matt Prater hit a 32 yard field goal to get the Lions back within 7. The onside kick was a good one and it appeared that Killebrew recovered for the Lions. Yet the officials ruled that Killebrew was out of bounds. After a lengthy review, the call stood and the Packers had the ball at the Detroit 45. The Lions took their final timeout on defense. Everything came down to the Packers facing 3rd and 5 at the Detroit 40 with 1:40 left. When the other team is out of timeouts, you run the ball. Every. Single. Time. Instead Matt LaFleur trusted his future Hall of Fame quarterback. Rodgers hit Tonyan short of the sticks, but Tonyan leapt in the air over a couple defenders to get past the sticks. Rodgers took a knee to get the Packers to 10-3. The Packers clinched the NFC North and are tied atop the overall NFC. The Packers hold the tie-breaker. 31-24 Packers
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills was the Sunday night game. The 11-1 Steelers lost their first game last week but had already clinched a playoff spot. They have almost clinched the AFC North and entered the week tied atop the AFC. The 9-3 Bills came in one game ahead in the AFC East. With snow flurries coming down, this game was all about defense. A scoreless game saw its first break with 9 1/2 minutes left in the half. The Bills fumbled and the Steelers recovered at the Buffalo 30. Ben Roethlisberger hit Washington for a 19 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Steelers. The Bills moved from their 26 to a 1st and 10 at the Pittsburgh 16 at the 2 minute warning. Josh Allen threw 3 straight incompletions. Tyler Bass hit the 34 yard field goal to get the Bills within 7-3. After a touchback, the Steelers faced 2nd and 5 from their own 47 with 52 seconds left. Ben Roethlisberger threw a short pass and Johnson jumped the route. He returned the interception 51 yards for a touchdown and a 9-7 Bills lead. The extra point was no good.
The Bills began the third quarter facing 3rd and 2 at their own 40. Allen found Stefan Diggs for 6 and Knox for 8. Singletary gained 14. Allen hit Diggs for 12 and again for a 19 yard touchdown and a 16-7 Bills lead. The Steelers punted on 4th and 19 from their own 16. A 21 yard punt return had the Bills at their own 43. Allen hit Diggs for big gains of 22 and 19 and then went to Davis for a 13 yard touchdown as the Bills were breaking open a close game up 23-7 midway through the third quarter.
The Steelers took over late in the third quarter at their own 19. Roethlisberger hit Johnson for 5, Johnson for 6 and Eric Ebron for 17. The Steelers began the fourth quarter at the Buffalo 47. Roethlisberger hit Samuels for 8, Washington for 9, Johnson for 17, and Juju Smith-Schuster for 7. Roethlisberger threw a 3 yard touchdown to Smith-Schuster. The 2 point conversion was successful. The 10 play, 81 yard drive had the Steelers within 23-15 with 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation. The Bills took over at their own 34. Josh Allen hit Cole Beasley for 9. On 3rd and 10 from their own 47, Allen hit McKenzie for 12. On 3rd and 5 from the Pittsburgh 36, Allen threw a deep ball incomplete and drew a defensive pass interference call to set up 1st and goal at the one. The Bills went backward after that, but Bass nailed a 23 yard field goal to put t he Bills up by 11 midway through the fourth quarter. Roethlsberger was then intercepted. The Bills faced 1st and 20 at their own 19, but Allen led a drive that consumed the remaining 7 minutes. On 3rd and 11 from his own 28, Allen hit Knox for 16. On 3rd and 1 from the Pittsburgh 19, Moss gained 2 to lock up the win. The 11-2 Steelers are one game back in the AFC while the Bills at 10-3 now lead the AFC East by 2 games. 26-15 Bills
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns was the Monday night game. The 9-3 Browns took on the 7-5 Ravens in a crucial AFC North battle. The Browns went right to work from their own 19. Baker Mayfield hit Njoku for 20. On 3rd and 4 from their own 45, Mayfield hit Karim Hunt for 10. Kevin Stefanski then went to the bag of tricks. Mayfield lateraled to Jarvis Landry, who threw the halfback option pass to Nick Chubb for 12. Mayfield then went to Bryant for 4, Njoku for 11, and Higgins for 9 and 4. Chubb ran straight up the middle for a 7 yard touchdown. The 11 play, 81 yard, 6 minute drive made it 7-0 Browns. The Ravens soon faced 3rd and 6 from their own 31. Lamar Jackson scrambled for 7 with defensive holding adding 5 more. On 3rd and 7 from their own 46, Jackson went deep incomplete but defensive pass interference meant a 29 yard gain. Jackson ran for 13 and 6. On 3rd and 3 from the 5, Jackson ran for the touchdown. 73 yards took 6 minutes and made it a 7-7 game.
After a touchback, the Browns moved to a 4th and 4 at the Baltimore 34. Kevin Stefanski went for it. Mayfield threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant an 11 yard gain. A false start killed the drive. On the first play of the second quarter, Cody Parkey came in for a 39 yard field goal try to give the Browns the lead. The kick was no good. The Ravens took over at their own 20. JK Dobbins gained 11. Jackson added 10 and Dobbins gained 13. Jackson hit Willie Snead for 10. Jackson ran for 20 and Edwards ran for an 11 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Ravens midway through the second quarter. The Browns soon faced 3rd and 8 from their own 27. Mayfield hit Landry for 11 and deep to Donovan Peoples-Jones for 27 yards. Chubb ran for 8 and then for a 14 yard touchdown to make it 14-14 with 4 minutes left in the half.
A short punt gave the Ravens the ball back at their own 44 with one minute left. On 3rd and 10, Jackson went deep to Andrews for a 39 yard gain. Jackson then ran for a 17 yard touchdown and a 21-14 Ravens lead. After a touchback to start the third quarter, the Ravens struck quickly. On 3rd and 3 from their own 37, Jackson broke free for a 44 yard gain. Edwards then ran for a 19 yard touchdown to make it 28-14 Ravens.
After a touchback Mayfield hit Bryant for 9. Chubb ran for 11. Mayfield hit Njoku for 14, Chubb for 9 and Hunt for 26. Hunt ran for a 5 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good as the Browns trailed 28-20 after the 11 play, 75 yard drive. The Browns got the ball back at their own 13. Mayfield was intercepted by Bowser, who returned it 17 yards to the Cleveland one yard line. Dobbins got in. The extra point was blocked but the Ravens led 34-20 with 4 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.
The Browns soon faced 3rd and 5 at their own 30. Mayfield gained just enough with defensive illegal use of hands adding 5 more. On 4th and 4 from their own 46, Kevin Stefanski decided to go for it. Mayfield hit Landry for 12. Mayfield went deep incomplete, but Stefanski successfully challenged that the defense had 12 men on the field. Hunt ran for 10 to end the third quarter with the Browns facing 1st and 10 at the Baltimore 27. On 3rd and 8, Mayfield was able to only get 4. On 4th and 4 from the Baltimore 21, Stefanski went for it again and John Harbaugh had to call a timeout to avoid his defense again having 12 men on the field. Mayfield scrambled and had a running lane. Yet he also had a wide open receiver because the defender fell down. Higgins caught it for the score as the Browns were within 34-26. The 12 play, 75 yard, 6 minute drive was capped barely more than one minute into the fourth quarter. Stefanski inexplicably went for a 2 point conversion. Mayfield hung in the pocket and fired over the middle to a receiver. It bounced right off of the receiver’s hands and by sheer luck was caught off the deflection by Peoples-Jones. The Browns were within 34-28 the hard way.
After a touchback, it was a big surprise to see 3rd stringer Trace McSorly in at quarterback. Jackson was seen jogging to the locker room with an undisclosed problem. Backup Robert Griffin III was on injured reserve. On 3rd and 6, McSorly had a wide open Marquise Brown in the flat. McSorly was past the first down marker and he just dropped it. The Browns took over at their own 30. Mayfield hit Landry for 12. Hunt ran for 5 and 7. Mayfield hit Higgins for 8 and 10. Chubb barreled over people up the middle for 13. On 3rd and goal from the 5, Mayfield avoided a sack, rolled out, found a running lane and got in the end zone. The 12 play, 70 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive tied the game. Cody Parkey had already missed an extra point and a field goal, and a delay of game meant a 38 yard extra point try. Parkey was good and the Browns led 35-34 with 6 1/2 minutes left in regulation.
The Ravens took over at their own 21 and Jackson was still in the locker room. Reports were that he was suffering from cramping. Jackson did have COVID a couple weeks earlier. It was up to McSorly to try and win on the road with a small but hostile crowd in the Dawg Pound. On 3rd and 10, McSorly fired to Snead for a 13 yard gain. On 3rd and 2 from the Cleveland 41, McSorly faked a handoff and slipped without being touched. He landed awkwardly and hurt his leg as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. The play lost 3 yards. Now the Ravens were without a quarterback on 4th and 5 from the Cleveland 44. Except they weren’t. It was something out of a movie set, but Jackson jogged back on to the field. Jackson rolled out and looked like he was going to run. Instead he found a wide open receiver. Brown caught it for the touchdown. John Harbaugh went for 2. Dobbins banged over a defender and got in. The Ravens led 42-35 but the Browns after a touchback had all 3 timeouts and 1:51 to play.
Mayfield immediately went deep to Peoples-Jones for 28 yards. Baltimore called a timeout on defense. Mayfield hit Landry for 7, Hunt for 16, and Hunt again for a 22 yard touchdown. Hunt was tackled at the one but lunged and got the ball just past the pylon. Parkey hit the extra point. The Browns had tied the game again 42-42, but they may have scored too early. After a touchback the Ravens had 1:04 on the clock. They also had Jackson. Jackson fired to Andrews for a pair of 14 yard gains as the Ravens took their last timeout with 38 seconds left. Then the Browns took a timeout on defense. Jackson completed a pair of short passes but the clock kept running. Jackson spiked the ball with 7 seconds left. Justin Tucker came in for a 56 yard field goal try to win it. Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history, but 56 yards in the cold with a slight wind is a lot to ask. Tucker snuck it over the crossbar and inside the upright with 2 seconds left. The hook and laterals took forever but went backward and resulted in a safety. The Browns could have been 10-3, one game back in the division, and sent the 7-6 Ravens to the brink of elimination. Instead the Browns are 9-4 and the Ravens are 8-5 and very much alive. The 1980 Browns were the Cardiac Kids. 40 years later, the 2020 Browns are giving us Cardiac Kids II. A playoff rematch between these teams would be a blockbuster. 47-42 Ravens