NFL 2022 Week 13 Recap
Buffalo Bills (-5 1/2) at New England Patriots was the Thursday night game. Last year each team won on the other team’s field during the regular season before the Bills at home blasted the Patriots in the playoffs. The Bills moved from their own 33 to a 1st and 10 at the New England 28. Josh Allen then hit Stefan Diggs for 10, but offensive pass interference on Diggs killed the drive. Tyler Bass hit a 48 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Bills. After a touchback, Mac Jones hit Hunter Henry for 9 and Nelson Agholor for 11. On 2nd and 5 from the Buffalo 48, Jones went to non-relative Marcus Jones for the touchdown and the 7-3 Patriots lead.
The Bills took over at their own 18. Allen went to Jared Cook for 14. On 3rd and 9 from the Buffalo 35, Allen threw deep incomplete but defensive pass interference meant a 22 yard gain. Cook then gained 28 yards. On the first play of the second quarter, Allen went to Diggs for an 8 yard touchdown to make it 10-7 Bills. The Bills got it back at their own 44. Singletary gained 11 and 4. On 3rd and 3 from the New England 38, Allen went to McKenzie for 8. On 3rd and 1 from the New England 21, Singletary gained 2. On 3rd and 3 from the New england 12, Allen hit McKenzie for 4. On 3rd and goal at the 8, Allen hit Greg Davis for the touchdown to cap the 14 play, 56 yard, 8 minute drive. The Bills led 17-7 with 5 1/2 minutes left in the half.
The defenses dug in as the rest of the half and the third quarter were scoreless. Nick Folk missed a 48 yard field goal try for the Patriots to end the half. In the fourth quarter the Bills took over at their own 6 yard line. Runs and short passes meant 3rd and 4 from their own 25. Allen hit Diggs for a pair of 19 yard gains. Cook gained 8, 4 and 3. On 3rd and 4 from the New England 18, Allen hit Diggs for 9. On 3rd and goal at the one, Singletary got in to make it 24-7 Bills only 30 seconds into the fourth quarter. All the Patriots could mister was a 17 play drive that reached the Buffalo 8 yard line before Jones was sacked for a 13 yard loss Folk hit a field goal with 1:53 left, but this game belonged to the Buffalo defense. The Bills are 9-3 while the Patriots are 6-6 on the year. 24-10 Bills.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons — a pair of below average teams tried to keep their respective seasons alive. The Steelers after a touchback moved to a 1st and 10 at the Atlanta 23. Kenny Pickett was sacked to kill the drive. Matthew Wright hit from 46 to make it 3-0 Steelers. In the second quarter the Steelers moved from their own 14 to a 1st and 10 at the Atlanta 27. A run lost a yard and Pickett threw incomplete twice. Wright hit again from 46 to make it 6-0 Steelers. The Falcons moved from their own 26 to a 1st and 10 at the Pittsburgh 22. A run lost yards and Marcus Mariota was sacked. Younghoe Koo hit from 50 to get the Falcons within 6-3. The Steelers soon faced 3rd and 4 from their own 31. Pickett connected with Pat Freiermuth for a 57 yard gain. Pickett then went to Connor Heyward for a 17 yard touchdown to make it 13-3 Steelers.
After a touchback, Mariota went deep to London for 37 yards. The Falcons then went backward. Koo hit from 51 to get the Falcons within 13-6. The Steelers after a touchback moved to a 2nd and 7 at the Atlanta 30. Pickett threw incomplete twice. Wright his hit third field goal from 48 to make it 16-6 Steelers. In the third quarter the Steelers took over at their own 10 and moved 75 yards in 14 plays and 7 1/2 minutes. Yet on 1st and 10 from the Atlanta 14, a pair of offensive penalties killed the drive. Wright hit his fourth field goal from 33 to make it 19-6 Steelers.
After a touchback, Mariota ran for 9 and Cordarelle Patterson ripped off gains of 7, 11 and 22. Mariota threw a 5 yard touchdown pass to Pruitt to get the Falcons within 19-13 after three quarters. The Falcons got it back at their own 26 to start the fourth quarter. They moved 64 yards in 10 plays and took a whopping 9 1/2 minutes off the clock. On 1st and goal at the 10, Patterson got around the end for the touchdown and were an extra point away from their first lead. Yet offensive holding nullified the touchdown. On 3rd and goal from the 10, Mariota threw incomplete. With 5 1/2 minutes left in the game, Arthur Smith opted for the field goal. Koo hit from 28 to get the Falcons within 3 points. The Steelers ground down the clock. A perfect punt pinned the Falcons back at their own 2 yard line with only 39 seconds left. Mariota was quickly intercepted. 19-16 Steelers
Denver Broncos at Baltimore Ravens — Last year the Ravens were 8-3 before Lamar Jackson got injured and the Ravens lost their last 6 games. This year the Broncos have a great defense but a totally anemic offense. The Broncos moved from their own 17 to a 3rd and 5 at the Baltimore 33. A run lost a yard but Brandon McManus hit from 52 to make it 3-0 Broncos. On the last play of the first quarter, Jackson was sacked and left the game with a bad knee. Tyler Huntley played the rest of the way. In the second quarter the Ravens moved from their own 30 on a 10 play, 62 yard, 5 minute drive. On 3rd and 9 from the Denver 10, a completion gained only 2 yards. Justin Tucker hit from 26 to make it 3-3. The Broncos moved from their own 7 to a 4t and 1 at the Baltimore 23 with 37 seconds left in the half. Nathaniel Hackett decided not to gamble. McManus hit from 41 to make it 6-3 Broncos. In the third quarter an interception of Huntley gave the Broncos a short field at the Baltimore 40. McManus hit from 50 to make it 9-3 Broncos.
The defenses dug in as the Ravens took over at their own 9 yard line with 6 minutes left in regulation. With 4 1/2 minutes left after failing to convert on 3rd and 1, John Harbaugh gambled on 4th and 1. This was crazy. He was at his own 18. Yet this was not brinksmanship. He went for it. Mark Andrews took the direct snap and got the yard. From their own 21, Huntley hit Andrews for 5 with 15 more tacked on for defensive unnecessary roughness. On 3rd and 5 from their own 46, Huntley threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant a 17 yard gain. Huntley went to Likely for 12. With 1:06 to play, the Ravens faced 4th and 2 at the Denver 18. Huntley kept it and gained 3. Huntley then hit Drake for 13. Huntley ran for the 2 yard touchdown. after 59 1/2 minutes, the Denver defense finally broke. The Broncos took over at their own 18 with 23 seconds left and 2 timeouts. With 2 seconds left, McManus was brought in for a 63 yard field goal try. His longest previous kick was 61. This kick was center but just short. The broncos suffered another gut-punch loss while the Ravens found out Jackson’s injury was not season-ending. 10-9 Ravens
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears — Last year an enraged Aaron Rodgers told the Chicago Bears fans “I own you! I still own you! This wounded Packers team was the best and perhaps last chance for the Bears to make Rodgers eat his words. Early on the bears moved after a touchback to a 4th and 3 at the Green Bay 22. Cairo santos hit from 40 to make it 3-0 Bears. The Bears got it back and soon faced 3rd and 5 from their own 35. Justin Fields hit Cole Kmet for 10. Fields then escaped through everyone up the middle for an electrifying 55 yard touchdown run to make it 10-0 Bears.
The Packers from their own 30 moved 64 yards in 13 plays and 7 1/2 minutes. In the second quarter on 3rd and 5 from the Chicago 6, Rodgers threw incomplete. Mason Crosby hit a 24 yard field goal to get the Packers within 10-3. The Bears fumbled the ball to set the Packers up at their own 40. Yet on 4th and 7 from the Chicago 36, Matt LaFleur passed up a 54 yard field goal try and went for it. Rodgers threw incomplete. Fields then went deep to St. Brown for a 56 yard gain. David Montgomery ran for 7 yard touchdown to make it 16-3 Bears with 6 minutes left in the half. The extra point was no good.
The Packers soon faced 3rd and 8 from their own 27. Rodgers went to Allen Lazard for 11. Dillon ran for 16. On 3rd and 4 from the Chicago 40, Rodgers hit Lazard for 7. Aaron Jones ran for 11 and 7. On 3rd and 3 from the Chicago 13, Jones lost a yard. With 23 seconds left in the half, Matt LaFleur appeared to lose his mind by again going for it rather than taking the sure field goal. On 4th and 4, Rodgers hit Christian Watson for the touchdown as the Packers only trailed 16-10. In the third quarter from their own 28, the Bears moved 62 yards in 12 plays and 8 minutes. Yet 1st and goal at the 9 saw a run lose 5 yards followed by an offensive penalty. Santos hit from 28. Late in the third quarter the Bears had a 19-10 lead.
The Packers soon faced 3rd and 7 from their own 21. Rodgers went to Watson for 15. On the first play of the fourth quarter, a deep incompletion drew a 36 yard defensive pass interference penalty. Dillon ran for a 21 yard touchdown to get the Packers within 19-17. With 11 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the Bears missed a chance to extend the lead when Santos missed a 40 yard field goal try. From their own 30, the Packers moved 56 yards in 13 plays and 7 minutes. On 3rd and 5 from the Chicago 14, Rodgers threw incomplete. Crosby hit from 32 to make it 20-19 Packers. With 3 minutes left and the Bears on the verge of field goal range and a chance at the lead, Fields was intercepted. The Packers took over at their own 32. Rodgers went to Watson for 19. With 1:51 left, Watson ran for a 46 yard touchdown. An extra point would put the Packers up by 8, so Matt LaFleur went big and bold. A 2 point conversion try would lock up the win. Rodgers hit Lewis to put the game on ice. Thanks to 18 unanswered fourth quarter points, Rodgers still owns the Bears. 28-19 Packers
Jacksonville Jaguars at Detroit Lions — The Jaguars and Lions are both young teams that are slowly moving in the right direction. The Lions put up a ton of points but give up a ton as well. The Jaguars were coming off of an emotional home win over Baltimore. The Jaguars fumbled on the second play from scrimmage and the Lions took over at the Jacksonville 38. Jared Goff hit Raymond for 7 and Wright for 11. On 3rd and 7 from the Jacksonville 13, Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown for 12. Jamaal Williams got the last yard for the 7-0 lions lead. After a touchback the Jaguars moved 62 yards in 10 plays. Yet on 2nd and 3 from the Detroit 13, Trevor Lawrence threw incomplete twice. Riley Patterson hit from 31 to get the Jaguars on the board. After a touchback, Goff hit Jackson for 5, st. Brown for 8, Reynolds for 7, and DJ Chark for a big 41 yard gain. Goff hit St. Brown for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 14-3 Lions after the first quarter.
The game was never competitive. In the second quarter Mike Badly hit field goals of 45 and 47 to make it 20-3 Lions. Patterson hit from 42, but Badly hit his third field goal of the second quarter from 38 to make it 23-6 Lions. The Lions began the third quarter at their own 39 and quickly moved to put the game away. Goff hit Wright for 14 and St. Brown for 13. On 3rd and 9 from the Jags 22, Goff hit St. Brown for 12. On 3rd and goal at the one, D;Andre Swift got in to make it 30-6 Lions. The Jaguars did manage one more touchdown, but nothing more. In the fourth quarter Badly hit his fourth field goal from 44 and Goff capped a 68 yard drive with a 4 yard touchdown pass to St. Brown to complete the blowout. 40-14 Lions
Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans — Deshaun Watson had not played football since January of 2020. Nearly 3 years later, he was back from a very lengthy suspension. His first game for the Browns was against his old team that got rid of him for his off the field conduct. On the first play of the game, Kyle Allen set the tone for the worst team in football by throwing an interception. Yet a Browns fumble gave the Texans a short field. Kaimi Fairbairn hit a 44 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Texans. The Browns moved from their own 16 to the Houston 11. Watson went to the end zone and was intercepted. The Texans moved from their own 26 to a 4th and goal at the one. Love Smith went for it and Allen threw incomplete. The Browns defense got the goal line stand and the offense wasted it. Nick Chubb was tackled in his own end zone for a safety to put the Texans up 5-0.
The Texans defense was pitching a shutout after 26 minutes. The Browns had no offense. Yet one special teams play gave the Browns the 7-5 lead. Donovan Peoples-Jones evaded several horrendous attempts at tackling for a 76 yard punt return touchdown. A perfect punt in the third quarter pinned the Texans at their own one yard line. Allen kept the ball, fumbled it, and Ward recovered it and went 4 yards for a defensive touchdown. The Texans defense was pitching a shutout but the Browns led 14-5. The Texans managed a 35 yard field goal by Fairbairn, but Cade york countered from 43 to make it 17-8 Browns with 9 1/2 minutes left in regulation. One play after a touchback, Allen was intercepted by Tony Fields, who returned the pick 16 yards for another defense touchdown and a 24-8 Browns lead. York hit again from 42 to make it 27-8 Browns. The Texans defense gave up only 2 field goals. They did not surrender a touchdown. Yet the Browns managed 2 defensive touchdowns and one touchdown on special teams. Watson did very little, but he did not need to do much at all. Houston got a garbage touchdown in a garbage season. 27-14 Browns
New York Jets at Minnesota Vikings — Mike White got the start as the Jets and their very good defense tried to slow a Vikings team that had rolled threw much of the regular season so far. An early interception of White gave the Vikings a short field at the Jets 34. The Jets defense held and Greg Jospeh hit a 51 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Vikings. The Jets after a touchback moved to 1st and 10 at the Minnesota 30. White threw 3 straight incompletions. Greg Zuerlein hit from 48 for a 3-3 game.
In the second quarter the Vikings exploded. On 3rd and 2 from their own 34, Kirk Cousins hit Justin Jefferson for 4. On 4th and 2 just past midfield, Kevin O’Connell went for it. Cousins hit Osborn for 7. On 3rd and 3 from the Jets 30, Cousins hit TJ Hockensen for 6. The second quarter began with the Vikings facing 3rd and 5 at the Jets 19. Cousins hit Jefferson for 10 with defensive unnecessary roughness adding 5 more. Dalvin Cook ran for the 4 yard touchdown to cap the 14 play, 74 yard, 7 minute drive and make it 10-3 Vikings. The Vikings got it back and soon faced 3rd and 2 from their own 22. Cousins went to Jefferson for 4. On 3rd and 9 from their own 27, Cousins ran for 11. Cousins went deep to Jalen Reagor for 38. On 3rd and 7 from the Jets 21, Cousins went to Hockenson for just enough. Alexander Mattison ran for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 17-3 Vikings with 3 1/2 minutes left in the half. After a touchback, Robert Saleh gambled on 4th and 2 from his own 43. White threw incomplete. The short field let Jospeh hit from 41 for a 20-3 Vikings lead with 40 seconds left in the half.
The Jets could not reach the end zone for long stretches, but they gradually chipped away at their deficit. Zuerlein earned his nickname “The Leg” by burying a 60 yard field goal to end the half. Zuerlein hit again from 36 and 30 in the third quarter. Zuerlein’s fifth field goal from 26 had the Jets within 20-15 with 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation. After a touchback, Cousins hit Mundt for 12 and Hockenson for 13. Cook gained 11. Cousins went to Adam Thielen for 25. On 3r and 6 from the Jets 10, Cousins went to Jefferson for the touchdown to make it 27-15 Vikings with 8 1/2 minutes left. After a touchback, the Jets struck quickly. Knight got around the end for 48 yards. Defensive pass interference added 24 more. On 4th and goal at the one with 6:45 to play, White got in. After 5 field goals, their first touchdown had the Jets back within 5. The Jets got it back at their own 16 with 5 1/2 minutes left and moved 83 yards in 14 plays. On 2nd and goal at the one with 1:54 left, White got stopped. On 3rd and goal White threw incomplete. With everything on the line on 4th and goal from the one, White threw incomplete again. The Jets took their timeouts on defense and got golden field position at the Minnesota 43 with 90 seconds left. With 32 seconds left, the Jets had 1st and 10 at the Minnesota 19. White threw 3 straight incompletions. With 16 seconds left, it all came down to 4th and 10. White went to the end zone and was intercepted at the goal line by Bynum. The Jets were game, but too many field goals dropped them to 7-5. The Vikings swept the AFC East to get to 10-2 on the year. 27-22 Vikings
Washington Commanders at New York Giants — These division rivals came in with almost identical records and legitimate playoff aspirations. An early Giants fumble gave the Commanders a short field at the Giants 48. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Taylor Heinecke threw incomplete. Joey Slye hit from 21 to make it 3-0 Commanders. The Commanders got it back at their own 38. Heineck hit Dotson for 16. Robinson had a pair of 5 yard gains. Heinecke went to Logan Thomas for 11. On 3rd and 4 from the Giants 19, Heinecke went to Terry McLaurin for the touchdown and the 10-0 Commanders lead.
After a touchback, from their own 40, Daniel Jones ran for 21. On 3rd and 5 from the Washington 29, a completion lost a yard. Graham Gano hit from 48 to get the Giants within 10-3. The Giants got the ball back at their own 19. Jones went deep to Darrius Slayton for 55 yards. On 3rd and 7 from the Washington 23, Jones ran for 10. Saquon Barkley ran for a 13 yard touchdown for a 10-10 game. After a touchback, the Commanders moved to a 1st and 10 at the Giants 24. run went nowhere and Heinecke threw incomplete twice. Skye hit from 42 to make it 13-10 Commanders. The Giants after a touchback moved to a 1st and goal at the 9 with 5 seconds left on the clock. Brian Daboll was not taking any chances. Gano hit from 27 as the teams took a 13-13 tie to the locker rooms.
A fumble early in the third quarter gave he Giants gift field position at the Washington 20. On 3rd and 4, Jones gained 7. Jones hit Isaiah Hodgins for a 6 yard touchdown to make it 20-13 Giants. With 10 minutes left in regulation, Slye missed from 52 for the Commanders. With 3:43 left, the Commanders took over at their own 10. Heinecke hit McLaurin for 11. On 4th and 4 from their own 27, Heinecke went to Curtis Samuel for 20. Heinecke then went to Samuel again for 25 at the 2 minute warning. Heinecke found Dotson for a 28 yard touchdown. With 1:45 left, the game was tied 20-20. The rest of the fourth quarter and overtime were a punt-filled slog as the defenses dug in. A field position game had the Giants taking over at their own 43, but with only 28 seconds left in overtime. Jones hit James for 14. With 5 seconds left, Gano came in for a very long 58 yard field goal try to win it for the Giants on the lsat play of overtime. A few years ago, Gano hit from 63 for Carolina to win against the Giants. Now he was trying to win for Big Blue. His kick was on target but short as the game ended in a tie. 25 years ago these teams ended in a tie where Gus Frerotte accidentally Frerotted himself. 25 years later, another stalemate. 20-20 Tie, OT
Tennessee Titans at Philadelphia Eagles — The Titans are a good team, but the Eagles are a great team. The Eagles began facing 3rd and 8 from their own 27. Jalen Hurts went to Smith for 20 and again for 5. Hurts then went to Kenneth Gainwell for 14. Hurts then went deep to Smith for a 34 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Eagles. The Titans soon faced 3rd and 4 from their own 35. Ryan Tannehill threw incomplete but the defense jumped offside. Tannehill then ran for 17. On 4th and 7 from the Philadelphia 40, Mike Vrabel went for it. Tannehill gained 8. On 3rd and 3 from the Philadelphia 25, Tannehill went to Burks for the touchdown and a 7-7 ballgame.
The Eagles soon faced 2nd and 11 from their own 14. Hurts went to Quez Watkins for 16. Hurts went to AJ Brown for 14. On 2nd and 15 from their own 39, Hurts went to Stoll for 26. On 2nd and 15 from the Tennessee 40, Hurts went to deep to Brown for the touchdown and a 14-7 Eagles lead one minute into the second quarter. The Titans moved from their own 13 to a 3rd and 1 at the Philadelphia 8. A false start was followed by a sack of Tannehill to kill the drive. Randy Bullock hit from 36 to get the Titans within 14-10 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the half.
After a touchback, Hurts hit Sanders for 8, Watkins for 6, and Still for 8 as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. Gainwell gained 13 and caught a pass from Hurts for 10. Defensive pass interference on an incompletion added 24 yards. Hurts ran for 4 and then for the 2 yard touchdown as the Eagles took a 21-10 lead to the locker rooms. Mike Vrabel has a tough defense, but the second half was all about Kevin Sirianni’s defense. A 27 yard punt return early in the third quarter set the Eagles up at midfield. Hurts hit Smith for 9, Brown for 5, Stoll for 7, and Brown for a 29 yard touchdown to make it 28-10 Eagles. The Eagles put the game away with a grueling 16 play, 68 yard, 10 minute drive that battered the Tennessee defense into submission. Sanders ran for a 3 yard touchdown with 11 1/2 minutes left to turn a close game into a blowout and get the Eagles to 11-1 on the season. 35-10 Eagles
Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams — The defending champion Rams are not mathematically eliminated, but they are done. Matthew Stafford is on injured reserve, ending his season. John Wolford started this game. Early on, Cam Akers had gains of 8 and 7. Atwell added 7. Wolford hit Skowronek for 22. On 3rd and 2 form the Seattle 24, Powell gained 9 and caught a pass from Wolford for 14. Akers ran for a one yard touchdown to cap the 10 play, 77 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive and make it 7-0 Rams. The Seahawks soon faced 1st and 15 from their own 20. Kenneth Walker gained 30. Geno Smith hit Tyler Lockett for 10. On 3rd and 7 from the Rams 36, Smith went to Lockett for the touchdown and a 7-7 game.
The Rams after a touchback moved from their own 33 to a 2nd and 7 at the Seattle 21. A run lost a yard and Wolford then threw incomplete. Matt Gay hit a 40 yard field goal to make it 10-7 Rams. The Seahawks began the second quarter at their own 9 yard line. Smith hit Parkinson for 12 and Noah Fant for 17. Smith went to DK Metcalf for gains of 8 and 25. On 3rd and 3 from the Rams 16, Smith went to Lockett for 12. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Smith went to Fant for the touchdown to make it 14-10 Seahawks. The Rams moved from their own 37 to a 2nd and 7 at the Seattle 27. Wolford was sacked to kill the drive. Gay nailed a 54 yard field goal with less than one minute in the half to get the Rams within 14-13.
In the third quarter, the Seahawks moved from their own 17 to a 3rd and 3 at the Rms 8. Smith threw incomplete and Metcalf was called for a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Jason Myers hit the 41 yard field goal to make it 17-13 Seahawks. On the next Seattle drive, an interception of Smith set the Rams up at their own 45. They moved to a 2nd and 7 at the Seattle 8. An incompletion was followed by a sack of Wolford. Gay hit from 32 to get the Rams within 17-16 with 13 minutes left in regulation. After a touchback, the Seahawks moved 67 yards in 11 plays and 6 minutes. On 3rd and 7 from the Rams 8, Smith threw incomplete. Myers hit from 26 to make it 20-16 Seahawks with 6:46 to play in the game.
After a touchback, Wolford went to Atwell for 18. On 4th and 2 just past midfield with 4 1/2 minutes left, Sean McVay decided to go for it. Wolford gained 14. Powell added 20. Akers ran for a 6 yard touchdown as the Rams retook the lead 23-20 with 3 minutes left. After a touchback, Smith hit Metcalf for 9 and Fant for 7. Smith went to Fant again for 14. On 3rd and 10 from the Rams 40, Smith went to Lockett for 10. Smith then went to Goodwin for 17. Well within field goal range to tie the game, Pete Carroll went for the win. Smith hit Metcalf for an 8 yard touchdown as the Seahawks reclaimed a 4 point lead with only 36 seconds left. With 10 seconds left, the Rams were down to their last gasp facing 4th and 20 from their own 15. Wolford went deep and was intercepted. The Seahawks got to 7-5 while the Rams only one year after winning it all are guaranteed a losing season. 27-23 Seahawks
Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers — In 1984, Joe Montana and Bill Walsh began a dynasty over Dan Marino and Don Shula. While the stakes for this game were not as high, both teams were in strong playoff position and looking to stay that way. On the very first play from scrimmage after a touchback, Tua Tagovailoa went to Trent Sherfield for a 75 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Dolphins only 10 seconds into the contest. The 49ers moved from their own 17 to a 2nd and 6 at the Miami 19. After an incompletion, 3rd and 6 brought utter heartbreak to the Bay Area faithful. Jimmy Garoppolo was supposed to be shipped out of town with the drafting of Trey Lance. After a drama-filled offseason, Garoppolo was kept on the team as a backup. Lance was the starter, but in Week 2 Lance went down injured and was lost for the season.
Garoppolo had been playing well. Yet only 3 1/2 minutes into this game, Garoppolo was sacked and suffered a broken ankle. He is now also lost for the season. The 49ers 3rd string quarterback is Mr. Irrelevant. Brock Purdy had never started a game. The last person to be drafted usually never makes the team, much less play. Now Purdy was required to manage the game and save the 49ers season. Robbie Gould hit the 47 yard field goal to get the 49ers within 7-3.
A 20 yard punt return gave the 49ers the ball back at their own 46. On 3rd and 3, Purdy went to Christian McCaffrey for 7. Mason ran for 11. On 3rd and 10 from the Miami 29, Purdy threw incomplete but defensive pass interference added 14 yards. Purdy’s very first NFL touchdown pass went to Kyle Juszczyk for 3 yards and a 10-7 49ers lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter the Dolphins moved from their own 10 on a 12 lay, 65 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive. On 3rd and 1 from the San Francisco 17, Tagovailoa was sacked. Jason Sanders hit a 43 yard field goal to tie the game 10-10.
With 2:47 left in the half, the 49ers took over at their own 24. Purdy hit Deebo Samuel for 7 and McCaffrey for 9. On 3rd and 10 from their own 35, Purdy went to George Kittle for 19 and to Jennings for 19 more. Purdy then went to McCaffrey for 18. On 3rd and goal at the 3 with 4 seconds left in the half, Purdy went to McCaffrey for a 3 yard touchdown to make it 17-10 49ers. In the third quarter, an interception of Tagovailoa set up the 49ers at their own 36. They moved to a 1st and 10 at the Miami 23. A run lost 4 yards to kill the drive. Gould hit from 43 to make it 20-10 49ers. Tagovailoa was quickly intercepted again to set up the 49ers at the Miami 25. Yet on 3rd and 5, a completion gained only 2 yards. Gould hit from 36 to have the 49ers up 23-10 after three quarters.
After a touchback, Tagovailoa hit three Hill for 7 and Jalen Waddle for 9. The fourth quarter began with Tagovailoa going to Hill for 19. On the very next play, Tagovailoa went bombs away to Hill for a 45 yard touchdown to get the Dolphins right back in it down 23-17. The Dolphins got it back at their own 10 and moved to a 3rd and 2 at the San Francisco 36 with 6 minutes left in the game. Tagovailoa threw incomplete. Mike McDaniel, the kid coaching Miami, passed up a 54 yard field goal try and went for it. Tagovailoa hit Mike Gesicki for 3, but Kyle Shanahan challenged the catch and successfully had it overturned to an incompletion. The 49ers moved to a 1st and 10 at the Miami 11 when a sack and offensive holding meant 3rd and 31. Gould nailed a key 48 yard field goal to give the 49ers breathing room up 26-17 with 2:03 left. One play after a touchback, Tagovailoa was sacked and fumbled. Nick Bosa delivered the hit and Greenlaw returned the fumble 26 yards for the exclamation point touchdown. For Mr. Irrelevant, it was a Purdy good game. Both teams are 8-4. Time will tell how the 49ers rally around their 3rd string signal caller. 33-17 49ers
Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals — The Bengals shocked the Chiefs in Arrowhead in overtime 27-24 in lsat year’s AFC Title Game. One week ago the Bengals went into Tennessee and gutted out a win at Tennessee for the second straight time. Now it was the Chiefs burning for revenge in Cincinnati. The Bengals began facing 3rd and 4 from their own 31. Joe Burrow went to Perine for 11 and Hurst for 9. Perine gained 8. Burrow went to Wilcox for 13 and to Tyler Boyd for 17. Burrow ran for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Bengals. The Chiefs took over at their own 27 and moved 65 yards in 10 plays and nearly 5 minutes. Yet on 2nd and 3 from the Cincinnati 8, Patrick Mahomes threw incomplete twice. Harrison Butker hit from 26 to get the Chiefs within 7-3. The Bengals soon faced 3rd and 2 from their own 34. Burrow hit JaMarr Chase for 7. An interception of Burrow was nullified by defensive pass interference, giving the Bengals 10 more yards. Roughing the passer added 15 more. Perine gained 8 and 10. On 3rd and 8 from the Chiefs 12, Burrow went to Tee Higgins for the touchdown as the Bengals led 14-3 90 seconds into the second quarter.
The Chiefs took over at their own 19. Mahomes went to Gray for 15 and Juju Smith-Schuster for 12. Isaiah Pacheco gained 9 and 2. On 4th and 4 from the Cincinnati 37, Walrus Andy Reid opted against a 55 yard field goal try and decided to go for it. Mahoems hit Smith-Schuster for 5. Jerick McKinnon gained 8, Smith added 12, and McKinnon gained another 11. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Mahomes went to McKinnon for the touchdown to get the Chiefs within 14-10. The Bengals quickly moved from their own 23 to a 3rd and 1 at the Chiefs 4 yard line. Burrow got stopped with 51 seconds left in the half. Zac Taylor decided to go for it rather than take the easy field goal. Taylor got the carry on 4th and 1 and got blown up for a 3 yard loss. The Chiefs began the third quarter facing 3rd and 7 at their own 26. Mahomes hit Marques Vldes-scantling for 42 yards. Mahomes then hit Travis Kelce for 18. On 3rd and 4 from the Cincinnati 8, Mahomes went to Pacheco for the touchdown to make it 17-14 Chiefs.
After a touchback, the Bengals moved to a 3rd and 3 at the Chiefs 18. Burrow threw incomplete. Evan McPherson hit a 36 yard field goal for a 17-17 game. A 44 yard kickoff return had the Chiefs at their own 47. Mahomes went to Watson for 15. On 3rd and 10 from the Cincinnati 38, Mahomes went to Valdes-Scantling for 29. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Mahomes threw incomplete. Walrus Andy Reid took a big gamble by going for it rather than just kicking the field goal for the lea. Mahoems ran for the touchdown himself to put the Chiefs up 24-17.
The Bengals after a touchback moved to a 3rd and 1 at the Kansas City 18 to start the fourth quarter. Anineligible man downfield penalty killed the drive. McPherson hit from 41 to get the Bengals within 24-20. Two plays later, a 19 yard completion from Mahomes to Kelce saw the normally reliable Kelce fumble the ball away. The Bengals took over at their own 47. Burrow went to Perine for gains of 8 and 16. On 3rd and 7 from the Chiefs 26, Burrow hit Perine for just enough. On 3rd and 5 from the Chiefs 14, Burrow hit Boyd for 6. Burrow then went to Evans for the 8 yard touchdown. With 9 minutes left in regulation, the Bengals now had the 3 point lead.
The Chiefs after a touchback moved 10 plays and took 5 1/2 minutes off the clock. On 3rd and 3 from the Cincy 33, Mahomes was sacked. Walrus Andy Reid brought in Butker to try a 55 yard field goal try with 3 1/2 minutes left to tie the game. Butker’s kick was wide no good. The Chiefs took their timeouts on defense. At the 2 minute warning, the Bengals faced 3rd and 11 at the Chiefs 28. Zac Taylor went high risk. Burrow hit Higgins for 14. Burrow then took a couple of knees. The Bengals won by the exact same score over the Chiefs as last year. The Chiefs are 9-3 and the Bengals are 8-4. Yet the Bengals have now beaten Tennessee and Kansas City twice in a row. Maybe the Bengals run to the Super Bowl last year was not a fluke after all. 27-24 Bengals
Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders — After starting 2-7, the Raiders came in winners of 2 straight. Both of those wins were on the road, and both required overtime. In Week 1, the Chargers smacked them around. Here was the rematch. Coaches Brandon Staley and Josh McDaniels both make terrible decisions. Staley is a psychotic gambler, often going on 4th down when it is not required. McDaniels keeps abandoning the run when the run is working. On the Raiders first drive, McDaniels quickly abandoned the run and the Raiders punted. The Raiders defense harassed Justin Herbert and sacked him multiple times. Yet on the Raiders second drive, McDaniels again abandoned the run. A short completion was fumbled. The Chargers took over at the Raiders 25. On 3rd and 2, Herbert threw incomplete. Rather than take the field goal, Staley insisted on going for it. Herbert only gained one as the Chargers turned it over on downs.
Yet for the third straight drive, McDaniels stubbornly refused to run the ball. Carr threw 3 straight passes. On 3rd and 5 from his own 21, Carr’s pass was batted in the air and intercepted by Callahan, who returned it 26 yards for a defensive touchdown. In the battle of who wanted it least, the Chargers led 7-0. The Chargers got it back at their own 20 and moved to a 3rd and 5 at the Raiders 15. Herbert was sacked. Dicker hit from 37 to make it 10-0 Chargers. After a touchback, Josh McDaniels kept throwing. Carr hit Davante Adams for gains of 12 and 19. On 3rd and 9 from the Chargers 43, Carr went to Mack Hollins for 14. Yet it was Josh Jacobs who finished things. Last week Jacobs had 303 all purpose yards, including 229 on the ground. On this drive, Jacobs ran for 9 and then busted free for a 20 yard touchdown to get the Raiders within 10-7. The Raiders got it back at their own 21 and moved to a 2nd and 6 at the Chargers 37 with 2 1/2 minutes left in the half. McDaniels again abandoned the run and Carr threw incomplete twice. Daniel Carlson buried a 55 yard field goal for a 10-10 deadlock with 2:17 left in the half.
The Chargers after a touchback moved to a 3rd and 3 at the Raiders 16. Herbert threw incomplete. Dicker hit a 34 yard field goal to make it 13-10 Chargers with 27 seconds left in the half. After a touchback, Carr quickly went to Adams for a 36 yard gain. On 3rd and 5 from the Chargers 34 with 9 seconds left, Josh McDaniels was taking on chances. The Raiders were out of timeouts, so Carlson was brought in for a 52 yard field goal try to tie the game. It was the right call, but the normally sure-footed Carlson sent his kick wide no good. The Chargers began the third quarter at their own 21 and immediately self destructed. Herbert hit Austin Ekeler for 11, but Ekeler fumbled and the Raiders recovered at the Chargers 31.
One play and 8 seconds later, the Raiders had the 17-13 leadCarr went deep to Adams for the touchdown. The Chargers moved from their own 19 to a 2nd and 5 at the Raiders 34. Herbert threw incomplete twice. From 52 yards out, Dicker was no good. From their own 42, the Raiders struck quickly. Jacobs gained 13. Carr handed the ball to Jacobs again, but this time Jacobs pitched it back to Carr. The perfectly executed flea flicker had Carr go bombs away to Adams for a 45 yard touchdown. Now the Raiders led 24-13. The Raiders got the ball back at their own 20. This time there was a heavy dose of running the football. The Raiders moved 74 yards in 14 plays, taking 8:40 off the clock. The Chargers defense was being pounded into submission. The fourth quarter began with the Raiders facing 3rd and 1 at the Chargers 6. The Raiders were running the ball down the Chargers throats. The Chargers could not stop it. A 31-13 lead would effectively put the game away.
At the worst possible time, as he has throughout this season, Josh McDaniels abandoned the run. Rather than let his bruiser try to get one more yard, a play action pass saw Carr throw incomplete. On 4th and 1, McDaniels played it safe. Carlson hit from 25. The Raiders led 27-13 after 17 unanswered points, but they had failed to slam the door shut. Their problem all year has been FCO, a failure to close out games. That drive was FCO1. The Chargers soon faced 4th and 1 from their own 31. Herbert gained 2. That was FCO2. With 8 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the Chargers were down to their last gasp facing 4th and 12 from the Raiders 35. Herbert rolled out to his right and went deep to Keenan Allen for the touchdown. Just like that, FCO3 had the Chargers right back in it down by 7 points.
After a touchback, the Raiders moved to a 3rd and 4 at the Chargers 42 with 5 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Another first down would tighten the screws on the Chargers. It would also get the Raiders within field goal range, and one more field goal would ice the game. Carr went to Adams, and Adams made an acrobatic catch on the sideline for 12 yards. Yet Brandon Staley challenged the catch, and it was reversed to an incompletion. On 4th and 4, Josh McDaniels opted to punt. This was FCO4. The Chargers moved easily from their own 9 to a 3rd and 9 at the Raiders 42 with with 2:52 left. If the Chargers scored a touchdown, Brandon Staley would possibly go for the 2 point conversion like he did last week. This time Herbert threw incomplete. On 4th and 9, Herbert went deep again and threw incomplete again.
This time the Raiders defense did their job. Now it was up to the offense to close out a game. Josh McDaniels would not be out-thinking himself this time. Jacobs is a battering ram, and he ran for 4 and 6 for a key first down as the Chargers took their timeouts on defense. Jacobs ran for 3 more as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. With the Chargers helpless to stop the clock, Jacobs ran for 3 more. On 3rd and 4, Jacobs only gained 2. While this was technically FCO5, a perfect AJ Cole punt pinned the Chargers back at their own 10 with only 22 seconds left. Herbert hit Allen for a hook and lateral to Ekeler for a 27 yard gain. Yet only 8 seconds remained and the Chargers were still only at their own 37. Rather than throw a Hail Mary, Herbert hit Carter for 14 more. Yet Carter was tackled inbounds as the clock ran out. The Raiders after a 2-7 start have won 3 straight, with the last 2 being on the road against teams with winning records. The Chargers at 6-6 only lead the Raiders by one game. Jacobs again was the difference, bruising his way for 144 yards on 26 carries, an average 5.5 yards per carry. On a side note, the Raiders had 0…yes, 0…penalties in the first half. They finished the game with only 3 penalties for 15 yards. 27-20 Raiders
Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys was the Sunday night game. The Cowboys were the better team and at home, but the way this game ended was indescribable. A field position game had the Colts at their own 47. They moved to a 3rd and 4 at the Dallas 34. Jonathan Taylor only gained one yard. Chase McLaughlin hit the 52 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Colts. The Cowboys took over at their own 27. Dak Prescott hit Tony Pollard for 10 and Dalton Schultz for 11. Ezekiel Elliott gained 10. On 4th and 1 from the Indianapolis 27, Mike McCarthy went for it and Elliott gained 6. On 3rd and 9, Prescott went to CeeDee Lamb for a 20 yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Cowboys. The Colts took over at their own 21. Taylor gained 5 and 14. Matt Ryan went deep to Pierce for 45. Ryan then went to Dulin for a 14 yard touchdown as the Colts led 10-7 after the first quarter.
A field position game in the second quarter had the Cowboys at their own 44. Tony Pollard ran for 17. On 3rd and 2 from the Indianapolis 31, Prescott went to Lamb for 22. Pollard ran for a 2 yard touchdown to make it 14-10 Cowboys. The Cowboys got it back but an interception of Prescott was returned 31 yards by Gilmore to the Dallas 19. On 2nd and 7, Matty Ice threw incomplete twice. McLaughlin hit the 34 yard field goal to get the Colts within 14-13 with 1:47 left in the half. The Cowboys went 3 and out and the Colts got it back at thrown 27. With one minute left in the half from their own 40, Matty Ice went ice cold. Ryan was intercepted by Hooker, who returned it 26 yards to the Indy 26. On 3rd and 9 from the Indy 13 with 13 seconds left in the half, Prescott went to Michael Gallup for the touchdown and the 21-13 Cowboys lead. In the third quarter the Colts took over at their own 10 and moved 90 yards in 15 plays and 8 minutes. Ryan went to Alec Pierce for a 15 yard touchdown. Jeff Saturday went for 2 and Ryan threw incomplete. Yet the Colts were only down 21-19. For three quarters, this was a close game. The fourth quarter was simply stunning.
The Cowboys moved 75 yards in 10 plays and nearly 5 minutes. One minute into the fourth quarter, Prescott hit Gallup for a 3 yard touchdown to make it 28-19 Cowboys. The Colts took over at their own 27. They immediately fumbled the ball away and Malik Hooker returned the fumble 38 yards for a defensive touchdown. A gadget play on the 2 point conversion try failed but the Cowboys led 34-19. The Colts took over at their own 22. On 3rd and 6 from their own 40, Ryan was intercepted. The Cowboys took over at their own 47. Prescott hit Schultz for 22 and Pollard ran for a 30 yard touchdown as the Cowboys led 40-19. The extra point was blocked. Three plays after a touchback, Ryan was intercepted again. The Cowboys took over at their own 28. On 3rd and 9, defensive pass interference on an incompletion meant a 44 yard gain. Elliott ran for 22, one, and then the 4 yard touchdown to make it 47-19 Cowboys. The Colts took over at their own 23. From their own 41, Ryan was sacked and fumbled. The Cowboys took over at the Indy 29. On 3rd and 4, Davis ran for a 23 yard touchdown. The Colts turned it over on 4 straight possession. The Cowboys obliterated the Colts 33-0 in the fourth quarter alone. These teams met in Super Bowl V, known as the Blunder Bowl. Yet in this game it was the Colts committing all the blunders. Ryan had 4 of the 5 Colts turnovers as the Cowboys scored touchdowns on 5 straight possessions to end the game. Pass-happy Mike McCarthy ran the ball 34 times for 220 yards as the Cowboys got to 9-3 on the year. 54-19 Cowboys
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers was the Monday night game. Since Tom Brady has come to Tampa, no team has vexed him like the New Orleans Saints. When Dennis Allen was interim coach for one game, his masterful defensive game plan led to a 9-0 Saints win win Tampa and Brady angrily throwing his tablet. After a touchback, The Buccaneers began with a staggering 16 play, 72yard drive that took 8 1/2 minutes off the clock. Yet on 3rd and goal at the 4, a completion gained only one yard. Ryan Succop hit a 21 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Buccaneers. After that, the Saints defense cracked down. In the second quarter the Saints faced 3rd and 4 at their own 26. Red Rifle Andy Dalton went to Shaheed for 19. On 3rd and 6 just past midfield, Dalton went to Adam Trautman for 20. Dalton then went to Taysom Hill for a 30 yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Saints. The Saints defense did the rest. Wil Lutz hit a 38 yard field goal with 20 seconds left in the half, a 21 yarder in the third quarter, and a 29 yarder midway through the fourth quarter for a 16-3 Saints lead. The Saints dominated for 57 minutes.
With 3 minutes left in regulation, defensive pass interference on a deep bomb meant 1st and goal at the one. Brady hit Cade Otton for the touchdown to cap the 91 yard drive and get the Buccaneers within 16-10. With 2 1/2 minutes left on 3rd and 17 from his own 18, Dalton went deep over the middle to Hill. Hill had it in his hands until he got blasted to force an incompletion. The Buccaneers had life at their own 37. Brady went to Julio Jones for 5, Chris Godwin for 9, and Cade Otton for 8. Leonard Fournette ran for 10. On 3rd and 6 from the Saints 27, Brady went to Miller for 7. Brady went to Jones for 15. A 5 yard touchdown pass from Brady to Godwin with 19 seconds was nullified by offensive holding. It didn’t matter. On 3rd and goal at the 6, Brady went to Rachaad White for the touchdown. This was Brady magic, but it was also an unforgivable defensive collapse combined with the Saints offense kicking too many field goals and not putting the game away late. 17-16 Buccaneers