NFL 2022 Week 16 Recap
Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets was the Thursday night game. The 6-8 Jaguars took on the 7-7 Jets in a battle for playoff survival. The Jaguars entered only one game back in the woeful AFC South while the Jets can only hope for a wildcard. On the 3rd play from scrimmage facing 3rd and 6 at their own 29, Trevor Lawrence was sacked and fumbled. The Jets took over at the Jacksonville 16, lost 3 yards, and settled for a 37 yard Greg Zuerlein field goal. The Jets led 3-0 less than 90 seconds into the game. Their offense took the remaining 58 1/2 minutes off. After a touchback, the Jaguars moved to a 3rd and 3 at the Jets 14. Lawrence threw incomplete. Riley Patterson hit a 32 yard field goal to make it 3-3. The Jaguars got it back at their own 4 yard line. Lawrence hit Hasty for 11, Evan Engram for 14, and Arnold for 17. Lawrence scrambled for 13. Etienne ran for one, 9, 4, 9, and one. On 3rd and goal at the one, Lawrence got in to cap the 16 play, 96 yard, 8 1/2 minute drive and make it 10-3 Jaguars in the second quarter. The rest of the game belonged to the Jags defense and Patterson. Robert Saleh benched Zach Wilson in the third quarter and went with 4th string quarterback Chris Streveler to no avail. Patterson hit from 45 in the second quarter, from 41 in the third quarter, and from 47 in the fourth quarter. Both teams are 7-8 on the year. 19-3 Jets
Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens — The 5-9 Falcons entered only one game back in the wretched AFC South. The Ravens were 9-5 but were struggling on offense without Lamar Jackson. The Ravens took over at midfield and Tyler Huntley went deep to newly acquired Sammy Watkins for 40. The Ravens settled for a 21 yard Justin Tucker field goal to lead 3-0. Tucker then had a 55 yard try blocked but hit from 27 in the second quarter to make it 6-0 Ravens. The Ravens recovered an Atlanta fumble at their own 30. John Harbaugh went straight ground and pound. Edwards gained 11 and 5. Huntley added 14. JK Dobbins added 14, 5 and 2. On 3rd and 3 from the Atlanta 25, Huntley gained 5. On 3rd and 3 from the Atlanta 12, Huntley gained 4. On 3rd and goal from the 6, Huntley hit DeMarcus Robinson for the touchdown. The only completed pass on the 13 play, 70 yard, 7 minute drive made it 14-0 Ravens when Huntley ran in the 2 point conversion. That was the only touchdown in this ugly game. Younghoe Koo hit a 32 yard field goal for the Falcons on the lsat play of the half and a 34 yarder midway through the third quarter to get the Falcons within 14-6. Tucker hit from 21 one minute into the fourth quarter to make it 17-6 Ravens. Koo hit from 37 to get the Falcons within 8 with 2:03 to play. Edwards from his own 28 ran for 3 and 8 as the Ravens ran out the clock. The 10-5 Ravens clinched a playoff birth but are one game back in the AFC North. 17-9 Ravens
Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers — The Lions started 1-6 but have gone 6-1 since and at 7-7 entered with playoff possibilities. The 5-9 Panthers were only one game back in the awful NFC South. The Panthers began at their own 22. On the first play from scrimmage, Chuba Hubbard got around the end for a 30 yard gain. 2 plays later Hubbard carries again for a 35 yard gain. On a drive with 0 pass attempts, Raheem Blackshear ran for a 7 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Panthers. Eddie Pineiro kicked the ensuing kickoff out of bounds to set up the Lions at their own 40. On 3rd and 10, Jared Goff went deep to DJ Chark for 39. On 3rd and 6 from the Carolina 17, Goff went to Amra St. Brown for 13. Goff hit Zylstra for a 3 yard touchdown to make it 7-7.
The Lions got it back and moved from their own 9 on a 13 play, 82 yard, 7 minute drive. The Lions had a chance to take the lead on 1st and goal at the 8 to start the second quarter. Instead Goff fumbled the snap and Gross-Matos recovered for the Panthers at their own 9. Sam Darnold hit Tommy Tremble for 18. Donta Foreman ripped off a 38 yard gain. On 3rd and 3 from the Detroit 28, Darnold went to Thomas for 12. Darnold then ran for 13 and for the 3 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Panthers. The Panthers got it back at their own 8 and followed up a 91 yard drive with a 92 yard drive that took 11 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. Darnold went deep to Marshall for 36. Foreman ran for 21. On 4th and 1 from the Detroit 26, Steve Wilks went for it and Darnold gained 3. Darnold hit Blacksheer for 12. Foreman ran for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 21-7 Panthers with 2:08 left in the half.
The Panthers got it back at their own 14 with one minute left and quickly moved to the Detroit 18. Pineiro hit from 37 to make it 24-7 Panthers to end the half. The Panthers got it back at their own 26 in the third quarter. Foreman ran for 15. On 3rd and 13 from their own 48, Darnold went deep to DJ moore for 47. Darnold then went to Moore for the 5 yard touchdown to make it 31-7 Panthers. At this point the Panthers coasted. The Lions reached the end zone one in the third quarter and once in the fourth quarter, but Pineiro added two more field goals in the fourth quarter to put the Panthers up by 17 with 1:56 left. The Lions got one more field goal in the waning seconds but fell to 7-8. The Panthers at 6-9 are still alive for their division crown. 37-23 Panthers
Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears — The 11-3 Bills were taking on a horrendous Bears team. The Bears began at their own 36. Justin Fields hit Byron Pringle for 20 and David Montgomery ran for 28. On 3rd and goal from the 6, Fields hit Dante Pettis for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Bears. The Bills took over at their own 29. Josh Allen went to Dawson Knox for 24. On 3rd and 6 from the Chicago 43, Allen scrambled for 10. On 1st and 20 after offensive holding, Cook ran for 24. Allen hit Gabe Davis for a 19 yard touchdown. The extra point try by Tyler Bass was no good as the Bills trailed 7-6. Cairo Santos hit a 37 yard field goal for the Bears with 3 1/2 minutes left in the half. With one minute left Bass missed a 38 yard field goal try as the Bears had the surprising 10-6 lead into the break. The second half brought the reality check.
The Bills began the third quarter at their own 14. Allen hit Stefan Diggs for 15. On 3rd and 2 from their own 37, Allen hit Devin Singletary for 10. On 3rd and 1 from the Chicago 44, Allen ran for 11. Singletary then ripped off a 33 yard touchdown run. Sean McDermott went for a 2 point conversion try, and Allen hit Shakir successfully to put the Bills up 14-10. The Bears then fumbled to set up the Bills at the Chicago 35. On 3rd and 2, Cook ran for a 27 yard touchdown to make it 21-10 Bills. An interception of Allen set up the Bears at the Buffalo 18. Yet all the Bears could muster was a 35 yard field goal to get within 21-13 with 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation. The Bills got it back at their own 44. Singletary ran for 8 and then 25 more. On 3rd and 8 from the Chicago 20, Allen hit Hines for 9. On 3rd and 3 from the Chicago 4, Allen ran it in to put the Bills up 28-13 with 3:45 left. The Bears turned it over on downs at their own 20. On 4th and 3, Allen hit Knox for a 13 yard touchdown with one minute left. The Bills outscored the Bears 29-3 in the second half. After 20 years out of the playoffs, the 12-3 Bills this decade have clinched the AFC East for the 3rd straight year. 35-13 Bills
New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns — The 5-9 Saints entered only one game back in the awful NFC South while the 6-8 Browns were in a desperate spot. The bad weather led to a scoreless first quarter. An interception of Red rifle Andy Dalton set up the Browns at the Saints 30. On the first play of the second quarter on 3rd and 3 from the Saints 12, Deshaun Watson ran for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Browns. The Browns got it back at their own 28 and embarked on a mind-numbing 17 play, 60 yard, 9 minute drive. Yet on 1st and 10 from the Saints 12, a pair of Watson incompletions sandwiched around a failed run meant a 30 yard Cade York field goal had the Browns up 10-0 with 4 minutes left in the half.
The Saints took over at their own 27 and moved 68 yards in 10 plays. On 3rd and 4 from the Cleveland 7, a run by Taysom Hill only gained 2 yards. Wil Lutz hit a 23 yard field goal to get the Saints within 10-3 at halftime. The Saints began the third quarter facing 3rd and 1 from their own 42. Alvin Kamara gained 14. On 3rd and 5 from the Cleveland 39, Dalton hit Shaheed for 14. Hill gained 13. Hill ran for an 8 yard touchdown to make it 10-10. An interception of Watson set up the Saints at the Cleveland 15. On 3rd and 8, Dalton hit Johnson for 9. Kamara ran for a 4 yard touchdown to put the Saints up by 7 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter the Browns moved from their own 10 to a 4th and 2 at their own 39. Watson threw incomplete. The defense held and the Browns got it back at their own 20 with 5 minutes. They needed 18 plays and moved to a 1st and 10 at the Saints 15 with 43 seconds left. Watson threw 3 straight incompletions. On 4th and 10, Watson was sacked. Both teams are 6-9, but the Brown are done. 17-10 Saints
Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs —The 7-7 Seahawks walked around shirtless pregame in subzero temperatures. The 11-3 Chiefs were not impressed. The Chiefs took over at their own 37. Pacheco ran for 7, 5 and 5. Patrick Mahomes hit Jerick McKinnon for 16. On 3rd and 1 from the Seattle 16, Pacheco gained 3. Mahomes hit Kadarius Toney for an 8 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Chiefs. In the second quarter the Chiefs took over at their own 47. Mahomes went to McKinnon and Travis Kelce for a pair of 6 yard gains. On 3rd and 5 from the Seattle 36, Mahomes went to Kelce for 27. Mahomes went to McKinnon for a 9 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Chiefs. The Chiefs got it back at their own 28 and moved to a 3rd and 5 at the Seattle 29. Mahomes threw incomplete. Harrison Butker hit a 47 yard field goal to make it 17-0 Chiefs. The Seahawks managed a field goal before the half, but they were overmatched. An interception of Geno Smith set the Chiefs up at their own 20. Mahomes went to Kelce for 20 and again for a gain of 52. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Mahomes ran it in to make it 24-3 Chiefs with 5 minutes left. The Seahawks reached the end zone once but fell to 7-8. While they do not hold the tie-breaker, the 12-3 Chiefs are tied atop the conference. This makes Andy Reid a most happy Walrus indeed. 24-10 Chiefs
New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings — The 8-5-1 Giants got a big win at Washington last week. The 11-3 Vikings made NFL history last week by overcoming a 33-0 third quarter deficit to win in overtime 39-36. The Vikings began at their own 16. Kirk Cousins went to Justin Jefferson for 25 and again for 13. Dalvin Cook ran for 6 and 8. Cousins went to TJ Hockenson for 8 and again for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Vikings. After a touchback, the Giants moved to the Minnesota 39. On the first play of the second quarter, Daniel Jones went to Bellinger for 16 but fumbled the ball away. The Vikings took over at their own 36. They moved 10 plays in 5 minutes. On 3rd and 3 from the Giants 16, Cousins was sacked. Greg Joseph hit a 40 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Vikings.The Giants took over at their own 31. Jones hit James for 12 and Saquon Barkley for 7. Barkley ran for 7 and 3. Jones hit Barkley for 7. Jones then ran for 14. Jones went to Isaiah Hodgins for a 7 yard touchdown to cap the 10 play, 69 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive to get the Giants within 10-7. Graham Gano hit a pair of 44 yard field goal in the third quarter to have the Giants up after three quarters. The fourth quarter was wild.
After a touchback, Cousins hit Mundt for 16. Cousins went to Jefferson for 17. On 3rd and 5 from the Giants 25, Cousins hit Jefferson for just enough as the third quarter ended. The fourth quarter began with the Vikings facing 3rd and 5 from the Giants 15. Cousins hit Hockenson for the touchdown to make it 17-13 Vikings. Jones was intercepted but the Vikings then turned it over on downs. The Giants from their own 45 moved to a 2nd and 5 at the Giants 37. Barkley gained nothing and Jones threw incomplete. Gano nailed a 55 yard field goal to get the Giants within 17-16 with 6 1/2 minutes left in regulation.
The Giants got it back but quickly had to punt from their own 31. Gillan had his punt blocked, setting the Vikings up at the Giants 29. On 3rd and 10 from the Giants 17, Cousins went to Jefferson for the touchdown. with 3minutes left the Vikings led 24-16. The Giants soon faced 3rd and 2 from their own 33, Jones hit Darrius Slayton for 32. With 2:01 left, the Giants were down to their last gasp facing 4th and 2 at the Giants 27. Barkley ran for the touchdown. Jones hit Bellinger for the 2 point conversion and a 24-24 game. The Vikings faced 3rd and 9 from their own 26. Cousins went to Jefferson for 16. With 19 seconds left the Vikings faced 3rd and 11 from their own 41. Cousins went to Jefferson for 17 and spiked the ball to stop the clock with 4 seconds left. Jospeh came in for a field goal to try and win it, but from 61 yards out. Joseph was good. The 12-3 Vikings are one game back in the conference with 2 games left. The Giants are alive but are not in the playoffs yet. 27-24 Vikings
Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots — The 10-4 Bengals overcame a 17 point deficit last week. The Patriots lost to the Raiders on an insane lateral gone bad to fall to 7-7. This was a tale of 2 different games. The Bengals began at their own 22. Joe Burrow went to Wilcox for 8, to Tee Higgins for 39, to Joe Mixon for 17, and to Higgins again for a 9 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Bengals led 6-0. The Bengals got it back at their own 41. On 3rd and 3 from the New England 41, Burrow ran for 5. On 3rd and 1 from the New England 27, Mixon gained 4. Burrow went to Trenton Irwin for a 23 yard touchdown. The point try failed but the Bengals led 12-0.
The Bengals got the ball back just shy of midfield and moved to a 1st and goal at the 2. Mixon ran it in but offensive holding nullified the touchdown. The second quarter began with Evan McPherson hitting a 28 yard field goal to make it 15-0 Bengals. The Bengals got the ball back at their own 20 with 2:06 left in the half. Burrow hit JaMarr Chase for 11. On 3rd and 1 from his own 40, Burrow went to Wilcox for 10. A defensive facemask added 15. On 3rd and 8 from the New England 33, Burrow hit Tyler Boyd for 9. Burrow went to Higgins for 16. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Burrow went to Irwin for the touchdown. With 14 seconds left in the half, the Bengals were dominating 22-0. The second half was a completely different ballgame.
In the third quarter the Bengals took over from their own 45 looking to deliver the knockout blow. On 3rd and 1 from the New England 32, Burrow hit Mixon for 2. Yet offensive holding instead meant 3rd and 11. Burrow found Marcus Jones. Problem: Jones plays defense for the Patriots. Jones returned the interception 69 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Patriots were within 22-6. The Patriots got the ball back at their own 23. Mac Jones hit Jakobi Meyers for 11. On 3rd and 7 from their own 40, Jones hit Kendrick Bourne for 19 as the third quarter ended. The fourth quarter began with the Patriots facing 3rd and 10 from the Cincinnati 41. Jones went to Bourne for 32. On 3rd and goal at the 5, Jones hit Bourne for the touchdown. The 2 pain try failed, but with 13 minutes left in regulation the Patriots were within 22-12.
The Bengals moved from their own 27 to a 3rd and 4 at the New England 25. Burrow threw incomplete. With 9 minutes left, McPherson’s 43 yard field goal try was no good. The Patriots soon faced 3rd and 1 from their own 42. Rhamondre Stevenson got the yard. Jones went to Bourne for a 28 yard gain. Intentional grounding and a false start had the Patriots facing 3rd and 29 at the Cincinnati 48. One more stop would pretty much end the game. Instead. Jones connected with Meyers on a 48 yard touchdown. Nick Folk missed his 2nd extra point but the Patriots were within 4 points with 6 minutes left.
After a touchback, the Bengals faced faced 3rd and 3 from their own 44 with 3:12 to play. A short completion from Burrow to Chase was fumbled. The Patriots had a short field at the Cincinnati 43 with a chance for a comeback for the ages. With one minute left in regulation the Patriots had 1st and goal at the 5. Stevenson got the carry and fumbled. The Bengals recovered. The Patriots took all 3 timeouts on defense and got the ball back with 30 seconds to play at their own 24. With 9 seconds left, on 4th and 15 from their own 34, Jones threw deep incomplete. The Patriots were game, but they are now 7-8 and up against the wall. The 11-4 Bengals are in the playoffs and lead the AFC North by one game. 22-18 Bengals
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans — The 7-7 Titans came in having lost 4 straight, but all they needed to do was beat the worst team in the NFL at home. The Texans had only one once all year but did play two of the very best teams in the league tough the last couple weeks. Malik Willis got the start in place of an injured ryan Tannehill. In the first quarter Mike Vrabel gambled with the Titans facing 4th and 1 just shy of midfield. Willis gained 3. On the next play Derrick Henry rumbled for a 48 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Titans. The Texans soon faced 3rd and 3 from their own 32. Davis Mills gained 4. Driskel came in for a play and hit Jordan for 15. Mills came back in and on 3rd and 2 from his own 38 went deep to Akins for 30. On 3rd and goal at the 6, Mills kept it, gained 5, fumbled the ball, and was bailed out when Rex Burkhead fell on it in the end zone for a touchdown the hard way. The 11 play, 75 yard, 6 minute drive made it 7-7.
The Texans got it back to start the second quarter at their own 41. They move 52 yards in 13 plays and over 8 minutes. Yet on 2nd and 7 from the Tennessee 9, Mills threw incomplete followed by a completion that gained only 2 yards. Kaimi Fairbairn hit the 25 yard field goal to make it 10-7 Texans. In the third quarter the Texans moved from their own 28 to a 4th and 1 at the Tennessee 47. Lovie Smith gambled, brought Driskel in for one play again, and saw him get stopped for no gain. Mike Vrabel went ground and pound. Willis gained 12. Henry added 6. Burks gained 15. Henry added 6 more. Willis ran for the 14 yard touchdown. Without a single pass, the Titans took a 14-10 lead. Mills was then intercepted, but on 4th and 8 from the Houston 38, Willis threw incomplete.
The defenses dug in. The Titans took over at their own 31 and began the fourth quarter with 1st and 10 from the Houston 44. Then came the key play in the game. Henry gained 6 but coughed it up. The Texans recovered at their own 42. They moved 54 yards in 10 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. Yet on 2nd and goal at the 6, Mills was sacked. Then a short pass only ga8ined 5 yards. Midway through the fourth quarter on 4th and goal at the 4, Lovie Smith opted for the field goal. Fairbairn hit from 22 to get the Texans within 14-13. The Texans got it back at their own 27. Mills hit Jordan for 6, Dorsett for 20, and Rodgers for 37. Mills went to Brandin Cooks for a 6 yard touchdown. The 2 point try failed but the Texans led by 5 with 3 minutes left. After a touchback, the Titans moved to a 1st and 10 at the Houston 45. Willis was intercepted. The Titans got the ball back with 1:10 left and one timeout, but pinned at their own 4. With 5 seconds left, the Texans were at the Houston 43. Willis’s Hail Mary reached the end zone but was intercepted. The Titans lost their 5th straight to fall to 7-8. They’re AFC South lead evaporated. They are tied for the division lead but do not hold the tie-breaker. 19-14 Titans
Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers — The Commanders were on a tear in recent weeks but suffered a home defeat to the Giants to fall to 7-6-1 and in dire straights. The 10-4 49ers were charging toward the playoffs with Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy and a nasty defense. The 49ers did manage to move from their own 35 to a 3rd and 1 at the Washington 15, but David-Price got stopped. Kyle Shanahan gambled, and on 4th and 1 Christian McCaffrey got stopped as well. The Commanders from that spot went on a mind-numbing 17 play drive that moved them 84 yards and took a ridiculous 11 minutes off the clock. On 3rd and goal at the one, Robinson got stopped. Riverboat Ron Rivera went for it. On 4th and goal at the one out of the shotgun, Antonio Gibson also got stopped cold. The goal line stand in the second quarter kept the game scoreless.
From their own one, McCaffrey gained 3 and 9. On 3rd and 9 from his own 14, Purdy hit Jennings for 15. With 6 1/2 minutes left in the half, Ray-Ray McCloud broke free for a 71 yard touchdown run. The 99 yard drive made it 7-0 49ers. The 49ers got it back at their own 14 and this time Purdy was quickly intercepted. The Commanders took over at the San Francisco 31. On 3rd and 5, Taylor Heinecke hit Jahan Dotson for 9. On 3rd and 14 from the San Francisco 21, Heinecke hit Curtis Samuel for exactly 14. With 22 seconds left in the half, Heinecke went to Dotson for a 4 yard touchdown. The game was tied 7-7. Yet while the first half was a defensive bonelock, the second half was more wide open.
The 49ers took over in the third quarter at their own 24. Purdy went to Brandon Aiyuk for 13 and George Kittle for 13 more. McCaffrey gained 3, 7 and 4. On 3rd and 4 from the Washington 34, Purdy went to Kittle for the touchdown to make it 14-7 49ers. With 6 minutes left in the third quarter of a close game, Riverboat ron Rivera gambled on 4th and 1 from his own 34. Heinecke got stopped cold and the 49ers had a short field. 2 plays later Purdy went to Kittle for a 33 yard touchdown to make it 21-7 49ers.
After a touchback, the Commanders struck quickly. Heinecke went to Dotson for 18 and then went deep to Terry McLaurin for 51. Heinecke went back to McLaurin for a 3 yard touchdown to get the Commanders within 21-14. A penalty on the kicking team had the 49ers set up at their own 40. Purdy connected with Aiyuk for a 54 yard gain. Yet on 2nd and goal at the 5, a sack of Purdy and a false start killed the drive. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Robbie Gould hit a 26 yard field goal to make it 24-14 49ers. A Commanders fumble led to Gould hitting from 23 with 12 minutes left in regulation. An interception of Heinecke meant another short field and a third Gould field goal to make it 30-14 49ers with 9 minutes left.
Heinecke was benched in favor of Carson Wentz. Wentz moved the Commanders 82 yards and threw a 20 yard touchdown to Samuel to get the Commanders within 30-20 with 5 1/2 minutes left. The 2 point conversion try failed, and so did the onside kick. Yet another short field had the 49ers at the Washington 33. McCaffrey ran for a one yard touchdown with just over 2 minutes left to lock up the win. The 7-7-1 Commanders are in trouble while the 11-4 49ers are NFC West champions. With their defense, they could make a deep playoff run. 37-20 49ers
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys — The 13-1 Eagles took on the 10-4 Cowboys in a high stakes game for both teams. A win for the Eagles would give them the NFC East title and give them a near stranglehold in the race for home field throughout the playoffs. The Cowboys suffered a shocking loss last week at Jacksonville when they blew a 17-point second half lead. The Eagles would have to play this game without the injured Jalen Hurts. It was Minshew mustache mania as Gardner Minshew got the start. This was a heavyweight title fight. The Eagles after a touchback moved to a 2nd and 9 at the Dallas 10. A run went nowhere and then Minshew only gained 3 more. Jake Elliott hit the 25 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Eagles. After a touchback, the Cowboys were soon at their own 47. Dak Prescott was intercepted by Josh Sweat, who returned the pick 42 yards for a defensive touchdown to make it 10-0 Eagles.
The Cowboys soon faced 3rd and 5 at their own 30. Prescott gained 13. On 3rd and 5 from their own 48, Prescott hit Michael Gallup for 8 and Tony Pollard for 9. Prescott ran for 10. Pollard then caught a pass from Prescott for 9 and ran for 8 more down to the one. Ezekiel Elliot got the last yard to culminate the 14 play, 75 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive and get the Cowboys within 10-7. Three plays after a touchback on 2nd and 12 from his own 43, Minshew was intercepted by Kearse. The Cowboys took over at the Philadelphia 47. On 4th and 8, Mike McCarthy decided to go for it. Prescott threw incomplete but defensive illegal contact was a killer penalty that meant a new set of downs. On 3rd and 6 from the Philly 36, Prescott went to CeeDee Lamb for the touchdown and the 14-10 Cowboys lead in the second quarter.
The Eagles took over at their own 26 and Minshew went to Dallas Goedert for 25 and Quez Watkins for 19. On 3rd and 5 from the Dallas 25, Minshew went to AJ Brown for 7. Kenneth Gainwell picked up 11, 4 and 2, but on 3rd and goal at the one, Gainwell was stopped. Kevin Sirianni gambled, and on 4th and goal at the one, Minshew got in for the touchdown to make it 17-14 Eagles. The Cowboys after a touchback moved 72 yards in 13 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. Yet on 3rd and goal at the 3, Prescott threw incomplete. With 1:149 left in the half, Mike McCarthy was not in a gambling mood. Brett Maher hit the 21 yard field for a 17-17 tie.
After a touchback, the Eagles quickly moved 46 yards in 10 plays. With 24 seconds left the Eagles had 1st and 10 at the Dallas 24. After a false start, Minshew threw 3 straight incompletions. With 6 seconds left, Elliott hit a 47 yard field goal to put the Eagles up 20-17 at the intermission. The Eagles took over in the third quarter at their own 23. Minshew went to Goedert for 22. On 3rd and 9 from their own 46, Minshew found Gainwell for 20. Minshew hot Brown for 12. On 3rd and 2 from the Dallas 13, a run lost a yard. Kevin Sirianni gambled on 4th and 3 rather than just take the short field goal. The gamble paid off as Minshew hit DeVonta Smith for the 14 yard touchdown. The Eagles had breathing room up 27-17.
The Cowboys soon faced 4th and 1 at their own 34. Mike McCarthy gambled. Both coaches were taking big risks on offense, but given how well both offense were playing, these decisions were not completely crazy. Elliott ripped off a 22 yard gain. Yet on 2nd and 5 from the Philadelphia 26, Pollard got stopped for no gain. Then Prescott threw incomplete. Maher hit the 44 yard field goal to get the Cowboys within 27-20. Minshew had been playing well, but 2 plays later a touchback from his own 40, Minshew fumbled a shotgun snap. The Cowboys recovered for a short field at the Philly 31. Prescott went to Dalton Schultz for 21. On 3rd and goal at the 12, Prescott went to Gallup for the score. This thriller of a game was tied 27-27 after three quarters.
The Eagles soon faced 3rd and 2 at their own 33. After gained 5 and 3, this time Miles Sanders got the deuce. Minshew then went to Smith for 16 as the Eagles began the fourth quarter facing 3rd and 10 just past midfield. Minshew went to Smith for 19. On 3rd and 6 from the Dallas 26, Minshew hit Brown for 14. On 3rd and 7 from the Dallas 9, Minshew went to Smith for the touchdown. With 10 minutes left in regulation, The 13 play, 75 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive had the Eagles up 34-27. After a touchback, Prescott went to Ferguson for 24. Yet consecutive sacks of Prescott had the Cowboys facing 3rd and 30 at their own 29. Prescott may not be Roger Staubach, but the Cowboys needed a Hail Mary and got one. An inexcusable lapse by the Philadelphia defense allowed Prescott to go to newly acquired speedster TY Hilton for a 52 yard gain. Prescott then went to Pollard for 13. Prescott hit Lamb for a 7 yard touchdown. With 6 minutes left in regulation, this shootout was tied for the third time at 34-34.
Minshew and Prescott had been going blow for blow. The Eagles took over at their own 22 and moved to a 3rd and 4 at the Dallas 46 with 4 1/2 minutes left. The Eagles were one first down from long field goal range. Yet Minshew was then intercepted. The Cowboys moved from their own 40 to a 3rd and 5 at the Philly 29. Prescott threw incomplete. From 48 yard out, Maher was good as the third lead change of the game had the Cowboys up 37-34 with 2:19 left. One play after a touchback, Sanders fumbled. The Cowboys recovered at the Philly 21. Prescott quickly gained 16 as the Cowboys were 5 yards from icing the game. Instead Prescott got sacked. On 4th and goal at the 3, Mike Mccarthy lined up to go for it, but the Eagles were not fooled. After a delay of game penalty, Maher hit the 26 yard field goal. The Cowboys led by 6.
Yet despite consecutive turnovers, the Eagles after a touchback had 1:41 to work with. The Eagles moved to a 1st and 10 at the Dallas 19. Minshew then spiked the ball to stop the clock with 33 seconds left. The Cowboys took timeouts on defense, figuring that if the Eagles took the lead, the Cowboys could still try and get a long field goal. A pair of incompletions set up 4th and 10 with 20 seconds left. Minshew went to the end zone and threw his 3rd straight incompletion. The offensive shootout was decided by a late defensive stand. Both quarterbacks torched the opposing defense. Minshew was 24 of 40 for 355 yards, 2 touchdowns, but 2 costly interceptions. Prescott was 27 of 35 for 347 yards, 3 touchdowns, and one interception. The 13-2 Eagles and 11-4 Cowboys are both in the playoffs. The Eagles still have not clinched the AFC East. They now only have a one game lead in the race for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Yet they nearly won with a backup quarterback on the road against a very good division foe. A rubber match in the playoffs would be well worth watching, as both teams expect to see each other in the playoffs. 40-34 Cowboys
Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers was the Saturday night Christmas Eve game. This game was supposed to honor the 50 year anniversary of what Steelers fans call the Immaculate Reception and the Raiders refer to as the Immaculate Deception. Whatever one thinks of the play, real life tragedy took center stage before the game. Franco Harris was supposed to be at the stadium to have his number retired. He would be only the third player in Steelers history to receive that honor. On the Tuesday before the game, he did radio interviews talking about how excited he was. Then Wednesday morning, just like that, he was gone. Died. The entire football world was leaving, but for the Steelers it was an unfathomable shock. Franco Harris was only 72. He had no outward signs that anything was wrong with him.
Yet this was also a football game between a pair of desperate 6-8 teams clinging to playoff life. The Steelers under Mike Tomlin had never had a losing season. They started 3-7 but came in having won 3 of 4. As for the Riders, they started 2-7 under Josh McDaniels but came in winners of 4 of their last 5. Yet the Raiders had been plagued all season by blown fourth quarter leads and blow double digit leads. Every time it was the same patters. The offense would get one touchdown, take the rest of the night off, and rely on the defense to save them. The defense would get exhausted in the fourth quarter until the collapse was complete.
The reasons ere always the same. The Raiders blew a 17 point lead twice and even a 20 point lead once because of Josh McDaniels refusing to run the football with a lead. When the other team knows you are going to run the football, and you know that they know this, you run the football anyway. That sends a message. It is called in football terms imposing your will. Mike Tomlin runs the football. McDaniels prefers dink and dunk West Coast Offense passes that do not close out games. In the fourth quarter with a lead, it is imperative to run the football. In brutal cold weather and in snow, it is vital to run the football. This game was played with snow coming down. Yet McDaniels far too often abandoned the run. Just like 50 years ago, this game was a defensive slugfest that did the football elders of both teams proud.
The Raiders began at their own 28 and Josh McDaniels smartly began letting his battering ram Josh Jacobs batter away. Jacobs gained 4, 7 and 2. Derek Carr then went to Foster Moreau for 10. Jacobs gained another 11. On 3rd and 1 from the Pittsburgh 29, Carr took the quarterback sneak and got the tough yard. A sack of Carr had the Raiders facing 3rd and 16 at the Pittsburgh 34. Yet Carr calmly went to Amir Abdullah for 17. On 3rd and 7 from the Pittsburgh 14, Carr fred a very short pass to Hunter Renfrow at the sideline. Renfrow made a ridiculous move to fake out the defender, stay inbounds, juke toward the middle of the field, and dive for the touchdown. Neither the snow, the cold, or the wave of emotion from the Steelers fans fazed the Raiders on that first drive. The 14 play, 72 yard drive took 8 1/2 minutes off the clock. The Raiders led 7-0. Unfortunately, the remaining 52 minutes were a mess on offense.
While the offense malfunctioned, the Raiders defense played inspired. The Steelers moved from their own 25 to a 3rd and 2 at the Raiders 23 in the second quarter. Jalen Warren got the carry and was blow up for a 2 yard loss. Chris Boswell came in for a 43 yard field goal try. His kick was no good. The Steelers got the ball back at their own 12 and moved 62 yards in 15 plays and 8 minutes. On 3rd and 8 from the Raiders 26, Kenny Pickett threw incomplete. This time from 44 yards out, Boswell was good. The Steelers were within 7-3 with 1:49 left in the half. Yet after a touchback, the Raiders got aggressive. Carr hit Moreau for 9 and Jacobs gained 10. On 3rd and 10 from their own 44, Carr went deep to Darren Waller for 34. On 1st and 10 from the Pittsburgh 22 with 24 seconds left, Carr threw 3 straight incompletions. Carlson came in with 5 seconds left hit a 40 yard field goal as the Raiders led 10-3 at halftime. Yet the Raiders spent the entire second half trying to protect that lead. The defense got no help from their offense.
In the third quarter the Steelers moved from their own 25 to a 1st and 10 at the Raiders 35. After a run lost a yard, the Raiders got a major brea. Pickett was intercepted by Denzel Perryman, who returned the pick 24 yards to the Pittsburgh 47. The Raiders had the lead and the ball. All they had to do was run the ball, gain a couple of first downs, and rely on one of the best kickers in the league. In this game, a 13-3 lead would be a big deal. Yet Josh McDaniels never learns. On the very next play, Carr threw a pass over the middle that should have been caught by Moreau. instead it bounced off of his hands and was intercepted right back b Maulet. Maulet returned the pick 12 yards to set up the Steelers at their own 44.
The Steelers moved to a 2nd and 3 at the Raiders 33. Yet a run lost 2 yards and a short completion gained only one. On 4th and 4, Mike Tomlin opted for the field goal from 52 yards out in less than ideal conditions. Again, Boswell was no good. Midway through the third quarter, the Raiders had gotten every break in the game. The Raiders moved from their own 42 to a 1st and 10 at the Pittsburgh 41. One more first down would give them long field goal range and a shot at a 2 score lead. Then came a false start. On 2nd and 12, Carr again threw over the middle and was again intercepted. This time Minkah Fitzpatrick saved the Steelers. Yet as great as the Steelers defense was playing, so was the Raider defense. The Steelers quickly went 3 and out.
The Raiders soon faced 3rd and 9 from their own 30. Carr went to Renfrow for 11. Then came a major play in the game. Jacobs took an end around for a 36 yard gain all the way to the Pittsburgh 23 and easily in field goal range. Yet a mindless offensive facemask penalty on Moreau wiped out the entire play. Instead, the Raiders had 2nd and 25. First Moreau dropped the pass that caused Carr’s first interception, and now he committed the team’s first penalty at the worst possible time. A shockingly clean game had 0 penalties in the first half. Yet this penalty was a killer. On 3rd and 12 from his own 39, Carr was sacked for a 13 yard loss. On the first play of the fourth quarter, things got worse for the Raiders. AJ Cole is a great punter in the tradition of Ray Guy and Shane Lechler, but punting in this weather was like trying to kick a brick. Cole shanked a 29 yard punt to give the Steelers the ball at their own 45.
The Steelers moved to a 2nd and 9 at the Raiders 24. Pickett threw incomplete and then completed a pass for only 2 yards. Again, the Raiders defense held. This time Boswell was good from 40 yards out. The Steelers were only down 10-6. With 10 minutes left, the Raiders needed to run the football. Yet Josh McDaniels is just too stubborn to stick with the run. The Steelers were putting 8 men in the box, but that is no excuse. Jacobs had been playing well all season when it mattered most. Now it mattered most. On 2nd and 8 from their own 42, McDaniels insisted on passing. Carr was sacked for a 10 yard loss to kill the drive. The Steelers got it back at their own 21 with a full 6 minutes left and a chance to win.
The Raiders defense had to be exhausted. Despite being down on the scoreboard, Mike Tomlin stuck with the run. Surely the Raiders defense would break. On 3rd and 1 from his own 30, this time it was Tomlin who decided to pass rather than go smash mouth. Pickett threw incomplete. With 4 1/2 minutes left, the home crowd booed as Tomlin chose to punt and trust his defense. This time Josh McDaniels put things in the hands of his bellcow Jacobs gained 5, but on 2nd and 5 was stopped for no gain. While running the ball on 3rd and 5 seems crazy, only 3 minutes remained. Another run would either take the clock down to 2:15 or force the Steelers to burn a timeout. McDaniels called another pass play and Carr threw incomplete. 3rd and 5 is normally a passing down, but in cold bad weather, with the defense expecting a pass, a run would have been justified. Instead, the Steelers got the ball back at their own 24 with 2:55 left and all 3 timeouts.
What came next was inevitable. Pickett hit Najee Harris for 6 and Pat Freiermuth for 17. as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. Pickett went to Freiermuth again for 10 more. Pickett then found Harris for 19. With 55 seconds left in regulation, the Steelers faced 4th and inches at the Raiders 15. The Raiders were the kings of failure to close out games, or FCO. Now their entire season was on the line. One stop would end the game. The entire world knew Tomlin was going to go straight up the gut, most likely a quarterback sneak. This was no time for finesse or trying to be cute. This was about sheer will. Pickett kept the ball and appeared stopped cold. After what seemed like forever, Pickett tried to lunge forward. The Raiders celebrated, believing he was short. His knee appeared down before he lunged. The game was over.
Yet 50 years after the Immaculate Deception, the Steelers received another gift from the officials. After a lengthy review, the Steelers were given the first down. The late Raiders coach John Madden once said that one knee equals two feet. Yet this time one knee down meant absolutely nothing. The call was that his knee was not down. The Raiders defense had bent all game, and as expected, they finally broke. On the next play Pickett went over the middle to George Pickens for a 14 yard touchdown. For 59 minutes, the Steelers trailed and had failed to reach the end zone. Yet now the Steelers had the 3 point lead. the Raiders had collapsed again.
The previous week the Raiders blew a 17-3 lead, fell behind 24-17 to New England, and saw Carr lead a stirring comeback. He tied the game 24-24 with 30 seconds left and then saw the Raiders win on the final play in bizarre fashion. This time the Raiders were at their own 29. They only had 43 seconds but they had all 3 timeouts. They only needed a field goal to force overtime. Carr went deep incomplete. On 2nd and 10, Carr went bombs away again. He had Renfrow open. Yet maybe because of the weather, or maybe because of the entire season being like this, Carr’s pass was wildly off the mark and intercepted by Sutton. 36 seconds remained and the Raiders still had all 3 timeouts. A run went nowhere as the Raiders took their first timeout. 25 seconds remained. This time Heyward ran for a 21 yard gain and went down inbounds. The game was over. The snow was still coming, but the Raiders season had melted.
The Steelers are 7-8 and still have playoff life and the chance to avoid Mike Tomlin’s first losing season. The 6-9 Raiders are finished. Making matters worse, this team as we know it may soon be finished as well. Owner Mark Davis will not fire Josh McDaniels. McDaniels is now talking of benching Carr and even trading him in the offseason. Jacobs is a free agent who ripped into McDaniels after the game without calling him out by name. Jacobs lambasted the decision to repeatedly try and throw the ball in cold snowy weather rather than pound the rock. Jacobs is the leading rusher in the NFL, but far too often this season the game has been taken out of his hands. Carr did have 3 interceptions, but he should not have been put in passing situations to begin with in these conditions. Losing Carr and Jacobs would gut the heart out of this team and leave only McDaniels, who has never had a winning season as a head coach. He inherited a playoff team and turned a playoff team into a losing team. Rather than get rid of McDaniels, Mr. Davis will choose McDaniels over Carr and Jacobs. The silver and black are in for some dark black times. For now, they have 2 more games and then 7 months to try and recover from the nightmarish 2022 season. 13-10 Steelers
Green Bay Packers at Miami Dolphins was the Sunday Christmas morning game. The Packers were 4-8 but came in winning 2 straight and barely alive in the playoff chase. The Dolphins began 8-3 but came in having lost 3 straight. The Dolphins began at their own 20 and moved to a 3rd and 3 at the Green bay 28. Tua Tagovailoa threw incomplete. Jason Sanders hit a 46 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Dolphins. The Packers got a jolt when Nixon returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards to the Miami 9. Yet on 2nd and goal at the 5, Rodgers was sacked. The Packers squandered the golden field position and settled for a 36 yard Mason Crosby field goal and a 3-3 game.
One play and 18 seconds later, the Dolphins had the 10-3 lead as Tagovailoa hit Jalen Waddle for an 84 yard touchdown. A surprise onside kick failed, setting up the Packers at their own 46. Aaron Rodgers went to Allen Lazard for 11 and Watson for 20. On 3rd and 8 from the Miami 15, Rodgers ran for 12. On 4th and goal at the one, Matt LaFleur decided to go for it. Rodgers hit Marcedes Lewis for the score and a 10-10 game.The Packers moved from their own 12 to a 4th and 1 at the Miami 37 in the second quarter. LaFleur went for it again and Rodgers threw deep incomplete.
The Dolphins got it back and soon faced 1st and 20 from their own 28. Tagovailoa went to Mike Gesicki for 24. Tagovailoa then went deep to Tyreek Hill for 52 yards down to the one. Wilson got in to make it 17-10 Dolphins. Matt LaFleur then gambled on a fake punt with the Packers facing 4th and 2 from their own 20. An direct snap up the midd gained nothing. Despite excellent field position, the Dolphins wasted it. On 2nd and goal at the 8, Tagovailoa was sacked. Sanders hit a 34 yard field goal to make it 20-10 Dolphins. The Dolphins got it back and faced 2nd and 2 just shy of midfield at the 2 minute warning. Yet rather than deliver a knockout blow, Raheem Mostert fumbled and the Packers recovered at the same spot.
The turnover allowed Crosby to hit a 46 yard field goal and get the Packers within 20-13. Early in the third quarter the Packers faced 4th and 1 at their own 31. Matt LaFleur was a wild man, going for it deep in his own territory yet again. Rodgers gained 2. Dillon gained 11. On 3rd and 9 from their own 45. Rodgers went to Taylor for 17 and Lewis for 31. Dillon ran for 6 and then for the one yard touchdown. The 11 play, 78 yard, 7 minute drive made it 20-20. After a touchback the Dolphins moved 45 yards in 10 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. Mike McDaniel matched LaFleur risk for risk. He also gambled on 4th and 1 from his own 34. Mostert gained 9. On 3rd and 8 from the Green Bay 30, Tagovailoa threw incomplete. Jason Sanders came in for a 48 yard field goal try to give the Dolphins the lead. The kick was no good. The Packers moved from their own 38 to a 3rd and 15 at the Miami 39.to start the fourth quarter. Rodgers went for it all and was intercepted in the end zone for a touchback.
One play and 9 seconds later, Tagvailoa went deep and found Alexander. Problem: Alexander plays defense for the Packers. He returned the pick 23 yards to the Miami 14. On 2nd and goal at the 5, a completion from Rodgers to Lazard lost 5 yards followed by an incompletion. The Packers wasted the golden field position. Crosby hit the 28 yard field goal to make it 23-20 Packers. The Dolphins moved from their own 18 to a 2nd and 13 at the Green Bay 30. Tagovailoa went to Campbell. Problem: Campbell plays defense for the Packers. The Packers moved from their own 36 to a 3rd and 5 at the Miami 10. Dillon got the carry but gained only 2 yards. Crosby hit the 26 yard field goal to put the Packers up by 6 with 2:02 left. The Dolphins got it back at their own 28 with 1:56 left and 0 timeouts. Yet one touchdown would win it. 2 plays later, Tagovailoa went to Douglas. Problem: Douglas plays defense for the Packers. Tagovailoa’s 3 fourth quarter interceptions doomed the Dolphins to their 4th straight loss. At 8-7 they still make the playoffs if they win their last 2 games. The Packers won their 3rd straight and at 7-8 are alive. 26-20 Packers
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Rams was the Sunday Christmas afternoon game. Nothing says Christmas like a pair of 4-10 teams fighting for nothing. Sometimes a pair of bad teams can come together and play a thrilling game for the ages and an instant Christmas classic. This was absolutely not that game unless one likes lumps of coal. The Rams after a touchback moved to a 1st and 10 at the Denver 27. A false start and a fumble back the Rams up to 3rd and 28. Matt Gay bailed them out with a 55 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Rams. The Broncos soon faced 3rd and 9 at their own 26. Russell Wilson went deep and was intercepted by Durant, who returned the pick to the Denver 34. Baker Mayfield went to Hopkins for 22 and Tyler Higbee for a 9 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Rams. The Broncos soon faced 2d and 16 from their own 19. Wilson was intercepted by his former teammate Bobby Wagner, who returned the pick 13 yards to the Denver 11. Two plays later Cam Akers ran for a 2 yard touchdown to make it 17-0 Rams.
The Broncos managed a first quarter field goal, but this game was over. The Rams began the second quarter facing 3rd and 2 at their own 33. Mayfield went to Akers for 17 and 12. Williams ran for 5 and 7. On 3rd and goal at the 7, Mayfield went to Higbee for the touchdown to cap the 11 play, 75 yard, 6 minute drive and give the Rams a 24-3 lead. The Rams got it back and faced 3rd and 5 at their own 15. Mayfield went to Hopkins for 16. On 3rd and 1 just past midfield, Akers gained 5. Mayfield went to Higbee for 21 and Higbee for 12. Akers ran for a 2 yard touchdown as the Rams led 31-3 with one minute left in the half. The Broncos managed another field goal before the half, and league rules prevented the second half from being canceled or replaced with the movie “Heidi.” The Rams added a third quarter field goal and obliterated the Broncos into oblivion in the fourth quarter. Akers ran for a 4 yard fourth quarter touchdown to make it 41-6. The Rams added another field goal. Wilson did throw 2 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, but only one went to his own team. The day after the game, the Broncos finally put Nathaniel Hackett out of his misery, firing him and 2 assistant coaches. 51-14 Rams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arizona Cardinals is the Sunday Christmas night game. Despite being 6-8, the Buccaneers entered one game atop the horrid NFC South. Tom Brady in his 23rd season is having his worst season from a record standpoint, having lost 8 games for the first time. One more loss would be his first losing season. The Cardinals were done for the year and in disarray. Kyler Murray was on injured reserve and Colt McCoy missed the game with a concussion. 3rd string quarterback Tracy McSorley made his first NFL start. The first three quarters were awful. Ryan Succop hit a 38 yard first quarter field goal for the Buccaneers. Matt Prater answered from 56 for a 3-3 game. Succop hit from 35 in the second quarter to make it 6-3 Buccaneers. Prater hit from 53 for a 6-6 tie at the half. The third quarter was scoreless. One minute into the fourth quarter, Prater hit from 39 to make it 9-6 Cardinals. The first thing resembling a big play came with 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation. A 28 yard punt return set up the Cardinals at the Tampa 33. James Conner ran for a 22 yard touchdown. After 49 minutes of field goals, the touchdown had the Cardinals up 16-6 with 11 minutes left.
The Buccaneers took over at their own 33 and Brady connected with Leonard Fournette for 44 yards. On 3rd and 5 from the Arizona 18, Brady hit Fournette for 10. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Brady hit Rachaad White for the touchdown. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers were within 16-13. The Cardinals after a touchback moved to a 3rd and 1 at the Tampa 42. McSorley fumbled and Gholston recovered for the Buccaneers at their own 45 with 5 minutes left in regulation. The Buccaneers moved to a 3rd and 8 at the Arizona 24. Brady threw incomplete. Succop hit from 42 for a 16-16 tie with 2 1/2 minutes left. The defenses dug in and the game went to overtime. The Cardinals got the ball first and punted. The Buccaneers took over at their own 16. Brady went to Mike Evans for 8, Russell Gage for 23, Evans again for 16, and Gage again for 13. On 3rd and 13 from the Arizona 22, Todd Bowles was not taking any chances. with 3:40 left in overtime, Succop came in for a 40 yard try to win it. The kick was good. At 7-8 the Buccaneers still lead the NFC South by one game. By winning out, Brady can still avoid his first losing season. The day after the game, Cardinals superstar and future first ballot Hall of Famer JJ Watt announced his retirement after 12 seasons. This was his final home game, but he has 2 more games left in his career. He is also a Hall of Famer off the field. 19-16 Buccaneers
Los Angeles Chargers at Indianapolis Colts was the Monday night game. After missing out on the playoffs in heartbreaking fashion last year, the 8-6 Chargers could clinch a playoff spot with a win over the lowly Colts. Jeff Saturday decided that instead of Matt Ryan or Sam Ehlinger, third string quarterback Nick Foles…yes, that Nick Foles…would start his first NFL game in over a year. After a scoreless first quarter, the Chargers took over at their own 30. Justin Herbert hit Keenan Allen for 15. On 3rd and 7 from their own 48, Herbert hit Palmer for 8. On 3rd and 13 from the Indianapolis 47, Herbert hit Mike Williams for 16 and again for 18. On 3rd and 1 from the Indy 3, Herbert gained 2. Austin Ekeler ran in the one yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Chargers. The defenses dug in for a long stretch. Chase McLaughlin managed a 46 yard field goal for the Colts, but Dicker responded from 24 for a 10-3 Chargers halftime lead. An interception of Foles led to Dicker hitting a 21 yard field goal for a 13-3 Chargers lead in the third quarter. A Chargers fumble gave the Colts gift field position at the Chargers 21, but on 4th and 1 from the 12, Foles got stopped cold. The Chargers began the fourth quarter at that spot. A 12 play, 88 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive finally finished off the Colts. Ekeler ran for a one yard touchdown. The Chargers defense sacked Foles 7 times and the offense did just enough to punch the playoff ticket for the 9-6 Chargers. 20-3 Chargers