NFL 2022 Week 17 Recap
Dallas Cowboys at Tennessee Titans was the Thursday night game. The 11-4 Cowboys got a big emotional win over top seeded Philadelphia last week. The Titans started 7-3 but have since lost 5 straight. Ryan Tannehill is on injured reserve now and the Titans started 3rd string quarterback Joshua Dobbs. This was his first NFL start. The Cowboys took over at their own 45. Dak Prescott went to Dalton Schultz for 13. On 3rd and 5 from the Tennessee 37, Prescott went to TY Hilton for 7. Defensive pass interference added 14 more. Ezekiel Elliott ran for 4, one, and then the one yard touchdown to cap the 10 play, 60 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive and make it 7-0 Cowboys. The Cowboys moved from their own 35 to a 3rd and 1 at the Titans 15. Elliott got the carry but lost 3 yards. On the first play of the second quarter, Brett Maher hit a 36 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Cowboys.
The rest of the half was ugly as a pair of Prescott interceptions led to a pair Randy Bullock field goals from 37 and 29 to get the Titans within 10-6. In the third quarter the Cowboys faced 3rd and 4 at their own 17. Prescott hit Michael Gallup for 13. Defensive pass interference aded 9. On 3rd and 2 from their own 48, Elliott gained 4. On 3rd and 19 from their own 43, Prescott went bombs away incomplete but drew a 51 yard defensive pass interference call. On the next play Prescott went to Schultz to cap the 10 play, 89 yard drive and make it 17-6 Cowboys. The Titans soon faced 3rd and 6 from their own 33. Dobbs went to Burks for 21. Haskins ran for 12. On 4th and 2 from the Dallas 26, Mike Vrabel went for it and Haskins got just enough. On 3rd and 5 from the Dallas 20, Dobbs hit Robert Woods for 9. On 3rd and 6 from the Dallas 7, Dobbs hit Woods for the touchdown. The 14 play, 71 yard, 7 minute drive had the Titans right back in it only down 17-13 after three quarters.
The Cowboys soon faced 3rd and 10 from their own 25. Prescott went to Hilton for 28. A roughing the passer call to start the fourth quarter added 15 more. On 3rd and 2 from the Titans 18, Prescott hit Davis for 5. Prescott went to Schultz for a 10 yard touchdown to culminate the 10 play, 75 yard, 5 minute drive and make it 24-13 Cowboys with 12 minutes left in regulation. After that the Dallas defense clamped down. Maher tacked on a 45 yard field goal for the Cowboys with 6 1/2 minutes left. Dobbs was then intercepted. The Titans got it back and with 3:45 left faced 4th and 15 at the Dallas 47. Dobbs threw incomplete and the Titans lost their 6th straight to drop to 7-9. They still have a shot at winning their division, but they will need help. They even have a very outside sot at home field advantage. The Cowboys at 12-4 are in playoff mode.
Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons — A pair of bad teams played. After a touchback, the Cardinals moved to a 2nd and 1 at the Atlanta 10. James Conner gained 7, but offensive holding nullified the gain and killed the drive. The 14 play, 55 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive was capped by a 38 yard Matt Prater field goal to make it 3-0 Cardinals. The Falcons soon faced 3rd and 4 from their own 31. JJ Watt, who announced his retirement after the end of this season, jumped into the neutral zone. On 3rd and 1 from their own 45, Tyler Allgeier gained 5. On 3rd and 7 from the Arizona 37, Allgeier gained 9. On 4th and 1 from the Arizona 19, Arthur Smith went for it. Allgeier gained 14 and then ran for the 5 yard touchdown. The staggering 16 play, 75 yard drive took nearly 10 minutes off the clock and put the Falcons up 7-3 early in the second quarter.
The Falcons got it back at their own 11 and immediately fumbled the ball away. The Cardinals took over at the Atlanta 8. Two plays later Blough hit McBride for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 10-7 Cardinals. The Falcons after a touchback moved 66 yards in 12 plays and 7 minutes. Yet on 4th and 2 from the Arizona 9, this time Arthur Smith’s gamble saw Ridder throw incomplete. The Cardinals punted on 4th and 6 from their own 14. The Falcons blocked the punt and took over at the Arizona 5. One play later, Cordarelle Patterson got in to make it 14-10 Cardinals with 1:47 left in the half. The Cardinals moved from their own 20 to the Atlanta 18. Only 2 seconds remained, Prater hit from 36 to end the half with the Cardinals within 14-13. In the third quarter a punt pined the Cardinals at their own one yard line. They moved 81 yards in 11 plays. On 2nd and 8 from the Atlanta 18, Blough threw incomplete twice. Prater hit again from 36 to make it 16-14 Cardinals.
The Cardinals got it back at their own 15 and moved to a 4th and 1 at the Atlanta 44 early in the fourth quarter. Kliff Kingsbury went for it and Clement got stopped for not gain. The Falcons from that spot moved to a 3rd and 5 at the Arizona 9. Ridder threw incomplete. Younghoe Koo hit the 27 yard field goal to put the Falcons up 17-16 with 9 1/2 minutes left. After a touchback, the Cardinals moved to a 1st and 10 at the Atlanta 32. Consecutive offensive penalties killed the drive. Kliff Kingsbury gambled on a 57 yard field goal try. Prater delivered to put the Cardinals up 19-17 with 5 minutes left. After a touchback, Patterson ran for gains of 7 and 22. Ridder hit London for 10. On 3rd and 7 from the Arizona 27, Ridder hit Pruitt for 14. With one minute left, the Falcons fced 3rd and 2 at the Arizona 5. If the Cardinals got a top, they could get the ball back with maybe enough time for one or two plays. Instead, Allgeier gained 3. The Falcons took the clock down to 2 seconds. Koo’s field goal try from 21 yards out was good. 20-19 Falcons
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions — The 7-8 Lions stumbled last week but needed only a win over the lowly Bears to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Bears began with 3rd and 9 from their own 26Justin Fields ran for 8 with defensive holding adding 5 more. On 3rd and 1 from their own 48, Cole Kmet took the direct snap and handed it to Fields, who got around the end for a 31 yard gain. On 3rd and 2 from the Detroit 13, Fields went to Kmet for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Bears. The Lions soon faced 3rd and 4 from their own 31. Jared Goff went to Amra St. Brown for 28. Dan Campbell went for it on 4th and 4 at the Chicago 35. Goff went deep incomplete but defensive pass interference meant a 34 yard gain down to the one. Goff hit Wright for a 2 yard touchdown and a 7-7 game. The Bears soon faced 3rd and 4 from their own 31. Fields broke free for a 60 yard gain. Yet on 3rd and goal at the 2, Fields was sacked. Cairo Santos hit a 23 yard field goal to make it 10-7 Bears after the first quarter. After that, the Lions took over.
After a touchback Williams gained 14. Goff went deep to DJ Chark for 28. The second quarter began with Deandre Swift running for a 17 yard touchdown to make it 14-10 Lions. The Lions got it back at their own 37. Williams ripped off a pair of 7 yard gains. Goff hit Williams for 13. On 3rd and 1 from the Chicago 27, Goff gained 2. Goff went to raymond for 9 and to Wright for the 9 yard touchdown to make it 21-10 Lions. After a touchback, he Bears took over at their own 48. Fields was hit and fumbled. The Lions recovered at midfield. With 17 seconds left in the half the Lions faced 4th and 1 at the Chicago 4. This time Dan Gamble decided no to gamble. mike Badgley hit a 23 yard field goal to make it 24-10 Lions. The Lions began the third quarter facing 3rd and 18 from their own 17. Swift ran for a 35 yard gain and Williams ran for 40 more. Williams ran for a 2 yard touchdown to make it 31-10 Lions. The Lions got it back at their own 8. Goff went to Chark for 28 and St.. Brown for 11. Swift gained 9. Goff went to Raymond for 16 and to Swift for a 21 yard touchdown. The 92 yard drive meant a 38-10 Lions lead after three quarters. The Lions added a fourth quarter field goal as 34 unanswered points kept the Lions alive in the playoff race. 41-10 Lions
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans — The 7-8 Jaguars fought back to tie reeling Tennessee atop the AFC South. With Tennessee having lost on Thursday, the Jaguars with a win would take a lead in the AFC South. The Texans only won twice all year, but one of those wins was last week at Tennessee. The Texans moved from their own 26 to a 4th and 1 at their own 45. Despite failing to convert on 3rd and 1, Lovie Smith gambled in his own territory. Despite Davis Mills starting, Jeff Driskel came in for this play and got stopped cold. With a short field, Trevor Lawrence went to Christian Kirk for 13. Travis Etienne gained 9 and 4. Lawrence hit Jones for 14. Hasty ran for a 5 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Jaguars. In the second quarter the Jaguars took over at their own 38. Etienne immediately ripped off a 62 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Jaguars. Two plays later, Mills was sacked and fumbled. Campbell recovered it and returned it 12 yards for a defensive touchdown and a 21-0 Jaguars lead. In the third quarter the Jaguars faced 2nd and 13 at their own 22. Lawrence threw incomplete but defensive holding meant an automatic first down. Lawrence hit Evan Engram for 16 and Jones for 17. On 3rd and 7 from the Houston 36, Lawrence hit Hasty for 11. Lawrence went Jones for 15. Conner ran for the 3 yard touchdown as the 11 play, 75 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive made it 28-0 Jaguars. Each team added a field goal to complete the scoring. Up by 28, Doug Pederson benched Lawrence to keep him healthy for a big game next week. If the 8-8 Jaguars beat Tennessee next week, the Jaguars win the AFC South. 31-3 Jaguars
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs — The 12-3 Chiefs are tied with Buffalo for the conference lead but do not hold the tie-breaker. To keep pace, they needed only to beat a terrible Broncos team that lost by 37 last week and finally put Nathaniel Hackett out of his misery. The Chiefs began facing 3rd and 2 a their own 43. Patrick Mahomes hit Travis Kelce for 4. Walrus Andy Reid went for it on 4th and 1 from the Denver 44. Mahomes hit Kelce for 10, McKinnon for 11, and Moore for 18. Pacheco ran for a 5 yard touchdown. Andy Reid for some reason tried a fake 2 point conversion try that failed as the Chiefs led 6-0.The Broncos moved from their own 21 on a 14 play, 49 yard, 7 minute drive. On 2nd and 6 from the Chiefs 30, Russell Wilson threw incomplete twice. Brandon McManus hit a 49 yard field goal to get the Broncos within 6-3 in the second quarter. With 5 minutes left in the half, the Chiefs fumbled a punt and the Broncos recovered at the Chiefs 16. One play and 5 seconds later, Wilson got around the end for the touchdown and the 10-6 Broncos lead.
After a touchback, Mahomes went to Toney for 27. Mahomes then went to McKinnon for 28. On 3rd and 7 from the Denver 15, Mahomes threw incomplete but defensive holding meant an automatic first down. Mahomes hit McKinnon for 4 and again for a 6 yard touchdown to make it 13-10 Chiefs. The Chiefs recovered a fumble late in the half but missed a field goal to end the half. In the third quarter the Broncos took over at their own 37. Latavius Murray gained 5, 7, 19 and 5. Wilson went to Okwuegbunam for a 25 yard touchdown. With 6 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, the Broncos led 17-13 and were smelling upset.
The Chiefs took over at their own 35. From midfield, Mahomes hit Juju Smith-schuster for 11 and Marques Valdes-Scantling for 22. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Mahomes went to Bell for a 17 yard touchdown to make it 20-17 Chiefs. One play after a touchback, Wilson was intercepted by Sneed, who returned the pick 25 yards to the Denver 17. Mahomes went to Pacheco for 9 and to McKinnon for a 3 yard touchdown. The Chiefs led 27-17 with 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation. After a touchback, Murray gained 11. On 3rd and 6 from their own 40, Wilson threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 7 more yards. On 4th and 7 from the Chiefs 40 midway through the fourth quarter, the Broncos were down to their last gasp. Under heavy pressure Wilson was intercepted, but defensive illegal use of hands meant 1st and 10 for the offense. Wilson went to Jeudy for 7, Saubert for 8 and Okwuegbnuam for 16. Wilson ran for a 4 yard touchdown to get the Broncos within 3 with 6:14 to play. The Broncos got it back at their own 26 and moved to a 4th and 2 at their own 45 with 1:20 to play needing only a field goal to tie the game. Wilson was sacked. The 13-3 Chiefs with a win next week will have a shot at home field advantage throughout the playoffs, making Andy Reid a most happy Walrus indeed. 27-24 Chiefs
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots — The Dolphins were cruising toward the playoffs at 8-3 before collapsing and losing 4 straight to fall to 8-7. The would still make the playoffs by winning their last 2 games. Yet with Tua Tagovailoa injured, Teddy Bridgewater got the start. The 7-8 Patriots with a loss would be out but with a win this and next week would be in the playoffs. The Patriots faced 3rd and 5 from their own 24. Mac Jones threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant a 9 yard gain. Jones went deep to Thornton for 24. and Jakobi Meyers for 17. On 3rd and 2 from the Miami 16, Jones threw incomplete but defense holding meant another first down. On 3rd and 6 from the Miami 7, Jones went to Thornton for the touchdown. The 10 play, 81 yard drive made it 7-0 Patriots.
The Dolphins soon faced 4th and 1 from their own 34. Mike McDaniel lined up to go for it but a false start killed the try. Yet on 4th and 6, the Patriots ran into the punter. That made it 4th and 1. McDaniel attempted to gamble again and this time Wilson gained 2. On 3rd and 6 from their own 40, Bridgewater hit Wilson for 13. Bridgewater went to Tyreek Hill for 19 and Mike Gesicki for 14. On the first play of the second quarter Hill ran for a 2 yard touchdown to make it 7-7. The Dolphins missed a chance to take the lead when a 51 yard field goal try by Jason Sanders was no good. A field position game in the third quarter gave the Dolphins a short field at the New England 41. Bridgewater went to Jalen Waddle for 23. Wilson ran for 9. Bridgewater hit Raheem Moster for a 2 yard touchdown as the Dolphins led 14-7 on the road.
The Patriots moved from their own 18 to a 3rd and 6 at the Miami 32. A false start killed the drive. Nick Folk hit a 49 yard field goal to get the Patriots within 14-10. The Dolphins soon faced 3rd and 15 from their own 24. Bridgewater was intercepted by Kyle Duggar, who returned the pick 39 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Patriots led 16-14 with 3 minutes left in the third quarter. Bridgewater was injured on the play. 3rd string quarterback Skylar Thompson played the rest of the game. The Patriots took over at their own 11 with 9 1/2 minutes left. Jones hit Kendrick Bourne for 16, to Rhamondre Stevenson for 5, and Jakobi Meyers for 25. Stevenson gained 8. On 3rd and 5 from the Miami 27, Jones threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant a 22 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the one, Jones went to Meyers for the touchdown. The 11 play, 89 yard, 5 minute drive had the Patriots up 23-14 with 4 1/2 minutes left. The Dolphins turned it over on downs, but then the Patriots did as well. The Dolphins took over at their own 39 with 2 1/2 minutes left. Thompson hit Gesicki for a 4 yard touchdown to cap the 61 yard drive to get the Dolphins within 2 with one minute left. Yet the onside kick failed. Both teams are 8-8. The Dolphins 5th straight loss means they need to win and get help to make the playoffs. The Patriots control their own destiny. Win next week and they are in. 23-21 Patriots
Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants — The Giants at 8-6-1 would make the playoffs with a win at home over the lowly Colts. The Colts moved from their own 20 to a 4th and 1 at the Giants 5. Jeff Saturday decided not to gamble. Chase McLaughlin hit the 23 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Colts. In the second quarter the Giants exploded. From their own 29, Saquon Barkley ran for 5, Matt Breida added 8, Barkley gained 5 more, and Jones added 5. The Giants kept running to start the second quarter as Barkley gained 7 and 19. After 7 straight runs, Jones hit Isaiah Hodgins for 12. On 3rd and goal at the 6, Jones hit Richie James for the touchdown to make it 7-3 Giants. The Giants got it back at their own 36. On 3rd and 6 from their own 45, Jones went to Bellinger for 10. Jones ran for 13. Jones went back to Bellinger for 24. Jones went to Hodgins for a 6 yard touchdown. After a touchback the Colts soon faced 3rd and 11 at their own 46. Nick Foles was intercepted by Landon Collins, who returned it 52 yards to pay dirt and a 21-3 Giants lead.
The Giants got it back at their own 39 with 46 seconds left in the half. They moved to a 1st and 10 at the Indianapolis 18 with 14 seconds left. Jones threw incomplete twice. Graham Gano hit a 36 yard field goal to make it 24–3 Giants at the half. The Giants immediately fumbled in the third quarter, but the Colts went nowhere and missed a field goal. The Giants took over at their own 38. Jones went to James for 28 and Bellinger for 8. Jones ran for an 18 yard touchdown. 31 unanswered points had the Giants cruising up 31-3. The Colts managed a 16 play, 68 yard, 8 1/2 minute touchdown drive, but ball control power football is not helpful when you’re down by 28. The Giants moved 70 yards and Jones ran for a 10 yard touchdown with 12 minutes left in regulation to complete the scoring. The 9-6-1 Giants under 1st year head coach Brian Daboll are in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. 38-10 Giants
New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles — The 13-1 Eagles were cruising toward home field advantage throughout the playoffs before stumbling last week at Dallas. Jalen Hurts was out for the second straight week. Gardner Minshew played well in that losing effort and got the start again. They needed to beat a 6-9 Saints team on life support. After a touchback, Red Rifle Andy Dalton went right to work, hit Chris Olave for 16. On 3rd and 4 from their own 47, Dalton went to Johnson for 10. On 3rd and 3 from the Philadelphia 36, Dalton went to Olave for 8. On 3rd and 1 from the Philly 19, Prentice gained 2. On 3rd and 3 from the Philly 10, Taysom Hill only gained one. Dennis Allen gambled on 4th and 2. Hill gained 8. Hill got the last yard as the 15 play, 75 yard, 9 minute drive made it 7-0 Saints. Dennis Allen’s defense was suffocating. In the second quarter Wil Lutz hit a 54 yard field goal. The Saints got it back at their own 30 and moved to a 3rd and goal at the one. Hill lost a yard. Lutz hit from 20 as the Saints took a 13-0 lead to the locker rooms in front of a stunned home Philadelphia crowd.
In the third quarter the Eagles moved from their own 9 to a 2nd and 2 at the Saints 26. A run lost a yard. On 3rd and 4, Kenneth Gainwell ran for a 28 yard touchdown. Yet offensive holding nullified the score and killed the drive. Jake Elliott drilled a 56 yard field goal to get the Eagles within 13-3. The Eagles got it back at their own 4 yard line. Minshew hit Smith for 12 and 6. Minshew then went deep to AJ Brown for a 78 yard touchdown. Just like that, the Eagles were within 13-10 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter the defenses dug in. The Eagles faced 4th and 1 at midfield with 8 1/2 minutes left in regulation. Kevin Sirianni went for it. Minshew kept it and got stopped for no gain. The Eagles got it back at their own 9. From his own 11, Minshew’s swing pass was intercepted by Marshon Lattimore, who strolled 12 yards into the end zone for the touchdown dagger with 5 1/2 minutes left. Despite the win, the Saints were eliminated from the playoffs due to other results on the day. Despite 2 straight losses, the 13-3 Eagles still win the NFC East and clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win next week. A loss could send them all the way down to the Wildcard spot. 20-10 Eagles
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — The 7-8 Buccaneers took on the 6-9 Panthers. A Buccaneers win would give them the NFC South crown. A Panthers win and a win next week would make the Panthers NFC South champs. In 23 years, Tom Brady has never had a losing season. After a touchback, Sam Darnold on the first play fro scrimmage went deep to DJ Moore for 26 yards. Darnold went to Smith for 11. On 2nd and 5 from the Tampa 23, Darnold threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant 6 yards. Darnold went to Tommy Tremble for a 17 yard touchdown for a 7-0 Panthers lead. The Buccaneers wasted a 14 play drive when Ryan Succop missed a 53 yard field goal in the second quarter. The Panthers took over at their own 43. Darnold hit Marshall for 14. On 4th and 3 from the Tampa 36, Steve Wilks went for it. Darnold hit Moore for 7. On 3rd and 5 from the Tampa 24, Darnold went to Moore for the touchdown. Midway through the second quarter, the Panthers led 14-0.
The Buccaneers would face 3rd and 5 from their own 25. Brady went to Chris Godwin for 12. The Panthers defense had been suffocating for 27 minutes, but one big play turned the game around. Brady went bombs away to Mike Evans for a 63 yard touchdown as the Buccaneers were within 14-7 with 2:10 left in the half. The Buccaneers took over at the Carolina 13. On 3rd and 1 from the Carolina 4, Brady threw incomplete. Succop hit from 22 to get the Buccaneers within 14-10 at the half. In the third quarter the Buccaneers from their own 2 yard line moved 90 yards in 15 plays and 7 over minutes. On 2nd and goal at the 8, Brady threw incomplete twice. Succop’s 26 yard field goal try was blocked as the Buccaneers again came up empty. The Panthers took over at their own 9. Donta Foreman ran for 6 and 7. Darnold went deep to Moore for 47. On 1st and 20 from the Tampa 41 after offensive holding, defensive holding meant a new set of downs. Darnold went to Moore for 14. The first three quarters were quiet. The fourth quarter was wild and began with Darnld hitting Smith for a 19 yard touchdown and a 21-10 Panthers lead.
After a touchback, the Buccaneers struck quickly. Defensive pass interference meant 14 yard gain. On 3rd and 6 from their own 43 Brady went deep again to Evans for a 57 yard touchdown. The 2 point conversion try failed but the Patriots were within 21-16. The Buccaneers got it back at their own 8. Brady went to Godwin for 11 and 8 and to Leonard Fournette for 11. Brady went to Russell Gage for 21, to Cade Otton for 12, and to Evans yet again for a 30 yard touchdown. This time Brady hit Godwin for the 2 point conversion to make it 24-21 Buccaneers. With 2 1/2 minutes left in regulation the Panthers faced 1st and 10 from their own 13. Darnold was sacked and fumbled. The Buccaneers recovered at the Carolina 6. Two plays later Brady ran for a one yard touchdown. The extra point failed but 20 unanswered points made it 30-21 Buccaneers with 1:58 left. After a touchback, the Panthers quickly moved to a 2nd and 15 at the Tampa 31. Needing 2 scores with one minute left, Steve Wilks went with the field goal. Eddie Pineiro hit from 49, but the onside kick failed. The Panthers are out of the playoffs. The 8-8 Buccaneers clinched the NFC South. Brady is playoff bound again even if he ends up with a loss next week and a losing season. Darnold was 23 of 37 for 341 yards,3 touchdowns and one interception, but Brady was 34 of 45 for 432 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. 30-24 Buccaneers
Cleveland Browns at Washington Commanders — The 7-7-1 Commanders came in having lost 2 straight and barely alive in the playoff race. All they needed to do was at home beat the lowly Browns. After benching Taylor Heinecke last week, Ron Rivera decided to start Carson Wentz this week. A first quarter interception of Wentz gave the Browns the ball at the Washington 36. On 3rd and 5 from the Washington 19, Deshaun Watson threw incomplete. Cade York hit the 37 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Browns. Commanders moved from their own 22 to a 4th and 1 at the Cleveland 40. Riverboat Ron went for it and Williams got stopped for a one yard loss. Wentz threw another interception but the Commanders got the ball back in the second quarter at their own 4 yard line. On 3rd and 1 from their own 13, Robinson gained 5. On 3rd and 2 from his own 26, Williams gained 12. On 3rd and 17 from their own 31, Went hit Jahan Dotson for 20. Robinson gained 9 and 4. On 3rd and 5 from the Cleveland 32, Wentz hit Logan Thomas for 15. On 3rd and 4 from the Cleveland 11, Wentz hit Thomas for 6. On 3rd and goal at the one, Robinson got stopped. Riverboat Ron went for it again with 21 seconds.left in the half. Wentz got in. This was drive of the year. 21…yes, 21…plays. 96 yards. 11 1/2 minutes. The Commanders led 7-3 at the intermission.
In the third quarter the Browns took over at their own 37. Watson hit Bryant for 7 and ran for gains of 4 and 5. On 3rd and 5 from the Washington 46, Watson went to Amari Cooper for the touchdown and the 10-7 Commanders lead. The Browns got it back at their own 16. Nick Chubb gained 9, 7 and 6. Ford gained 9. On 3rd and 9 from their own 48, Watson hit Cooper for 26. On 2nd and 19 from the Washington 35, Watson went to David Njoku for 21. On 3rd and 9 from the Washington 13, Watson went to Donovan Peoples-Jones for the touchdown as the Browns led 17-7 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter the Commanders after a touchback moved to a 3rd and 5 at the Cleveland 24. A completion by Wentz lost a yard. Joey Slye hit a 43 yard field goal to get the Commanders within 17-10. After a touchback, Watson ran for 21. On 4th and 1 from the Washington 45, Kevin Stefanski went for it Jacoby Brissett gained 2. Chubb gained 8 and 2. Watson went to Cooper for a 33 yard touchdown with 5 1/2 minutes left to ice the game. Wentz added another interception as both teams were eliminated from contention. 24-10 Browns
San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders — All the 11-4 49ers needed to do to keep cruising toward the playoffs was beat a 6-9 Raiders team that was setting itself on fire. The Raiders have blown multiple fourth quarter leads this year The Raiders under 1st year head coach and perpetual egomaniac Josh McDaniels have set an NFL record by blowing 4 double digit leads in one season. McDaniels’s stubborn refusal to run the ball to close out games is why the Raiders keep losing. Despite having the league leading rusher in Josh Jacobs, McDaniels fails to pound the rock. He wears out his own defense instead of the opposing defense. McDaniels decided to blame his own failures on quarterback Derek Carr. McDaniels threw Carr under the bus and benched him for the final 2 games. Carr left team headquarters and will most likely never play for the silver and black again. Carr has bailed out the Raiders many times over his 9 years with the team while the Raiders have had the NFL’s worst defense. Carr holds the franchise records in team history yet somehow McDaniels decided to replace Carr with Jarrett Stidham, who has never started an NFL game before.
The 49ers somehow managed to be offside on the opening kickoff as the Raiders began at their own 30. Jarrett Stidham on his first play found Foster Moreau for a 20 yard gain. Stidham then went to Jacobs for 14. On 3rd and 2 from the San Francisco 24, Stidham went deep to Darren Waller for the touchdown. The Riders had the quick 7-0 lead. The 49ers took over at their own 33. Christian McCaffrey gained 11 and 5. On 3rd and 3 from the Raiders 37, McCaffrey ripped off a 37 yard gain. Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy hit Brandon Aiyuk for a 2 yard touchdown to tie the game 7-7. After a touchback, the Raiders moved 74 yard in 10 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. Yet on 3rd and goal at the one, rather than ru the ball, Josh McDaniels insisted on throwing. Stidham threw incomplete. Then on 4th and goal at the one, McDaniels surrendered. Daniel Carlson hit the 20 yard field goal for the 10-7 Raiders lead.
The 49ers soon faced 3rd and 1 at their own 34. McCaffrey gained 2. The second quarter began with the 49ers facing 3rd and 6 at their own 40. Purdy threw incomplete, but defensive pass interference meant a 13 yard gain. Defensive pass interference on the very next play added 12 more yards. On 3rd and 5 from the Raiders 30, Purdy hit McCaffrey for 6. Purdy hit George Kittle for 9. Kyle Juszczyk for 9. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Purdy hit Kittle for the touchdown. The 13 play, 75 yard, 7 minute drive made it 14-10 49ers. After a touchback, the Raiders moved 73 yards in 10 plays and 5 minutes. This time on 4th and 1 from the San Francisco 2 yard line, Josh McDaniels did gamble. Giving the ball to Jacobs up the middle was the right call, but Jacobs got stopped cold for no gain.
The Raiders defense forced a 3 and out and the Raiders got the ball back with 2 1/2 minutes left in the half with a short field at the San Francisco 44. Stidham hot Jacobs for 7 and Hunter Renfrow for 12. On 3rd and 2 from the San Francisco 8, Stidham gained 4. With 10 seconds left in the half, stidham threw a fade to the end zone for Davante Adams. The best receiver in the league out-jumped the defender and somehow got both feet down inbounds. The touchdown gave the Raiders the 17-14 halftime lead. The third quarter began with the Raiders forcing another 3 and out. The Raiders took over at their own 16. Stidham immediately fumbled the snap but fell on it. On 3rd and 11, Stidham hit Renfrow for only 4 yards, but a defensive facemask penalty on Fred Warner gifted the Raiders 15 yards and kept the drive going. On 3rd and 4 from their own 40, Stidham rolled all the way to his left. The defense broke contain and Adams got behind the defense. Adams immediately put his hand in the air and Stidham unleashed a bomb just before getting belted. Adams hauled it in for a 60 yard touchdown. After 35 minutes of football, the Raiders had a 24-14 lead. They had out-played the best defense in the NFL. Now the question would be if they could finish a game or if this was more of the same.
After a touchback, Purdy hit McCaffrey for 7, Aiyuk for 5, and McCaffrey again for 15. After offensive holding meant 1st and 20, Purdy hit Jennings for 18. Aiyuk gained 16. McCaffrey ran for a 4 yard touchdown. The 75 yard, 5 minute drive had the 49ers within 24-21. Rather than try and run the ball, Josh McDaniels insisted on throwing.. Stidham threw incomplete and the Raiders were on their way to a 3 and out. The 49ers moved from their own 14 to midfield. Purdy went deep and was intercepted by Amik Robertson. The Raiders took over at their own 18. Stidham went deep to Waller for 24. Jacobs gained 4 and 5. On 3rd and 1 just past midfield, Stidham gained 3. The Raiders began the fourth quarter with 1st and 10 at the San Francisco 46. The running game was working. Yet for the billionth time this season, McDaniels abandoned the run. Stidham threw deep incomplete. On the next play Stidham went over the middle was intercepted as the Raiders gave the ball right back.
The 49ers took over with a short field at the Raiders 42. On 2n and 7 from the Raiders 25, Purdy threw incomplete twice. Kyle Shanahan also has a bad habit of abandoning the run with a lead in the fourth quarter, and it has cost him on the biggest stage on multiple occasions. Robbie Gould hit a 43 yard field goal to tie the game 24-24 with 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation. The Raiders after a touchback managed one first down but then suffered a delay of game penalty for having 12 men in the offensive huddle. 1st and 15 put the Raiders behind the 8 ball and they punted again. The 49ers moved from their own 35 to a 3rd and 4 at the Raiders 6 yard line. Purdy threw incomplete. The Raiders needed a big stop and got it. Yet Gould hit a 24 yard field goal. With 6:44 left, the 49ers led 27-24. Again, the Raiders had blown a fourth quarter lead. Again, the Raiders had blown a double digit lead.
After a touchback, Stidham went to Moreau for 21 and again for 14. Yet on 1st and 10 from the San Francisco 39, Josh McDaniels again refused to run the ball. Stidham threw incomplete followed by a false start. With 4 minutes left, Carlson came in for a 57 yard field goal try to tie the game. One of the best kickers in the league drilled it for a 27-27 tie. Now it was up to the Raiders defense to get a stop. They could not. After a touchback, Purdy went to Aiyuk for 23 and McCaffrey for a 38 yard gain. With 2 1/2 minutes left the 49ers had 1st and 10 at the Raiders 14. If the 49ers got one more first down, they could take the clock down to near zero and kick a chip shot field goal for a 30-27 win at the gun. It did not come down to that. Jordan Mason got the ball and ran all the way for the touchdown. The 49ers led 34-27, but the Raiders still had 2:17 left to try and tie the game. This was not a brilliant defensive strategy. The Raiders defense is just that awful. Now it was up to a quarterback starting his very first game.
After a touchback, Stidham went to Mack Hollins for 21 as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. Offensive holding had the Raiders facing 1st and 20 from their own 36. Stidham under heavy pressure then went bombs away just before getting belted. The ball was underthrown but Adams made an acrobatic diving one-handed catch going to the ground. Now the Raiders had 1st and 10 at the Frisco 19. Stidham went to the end zone incomplete but defensive pass interference on Warner meant 1st and goal at the one. This time Josh McDaniels kept it basic. Jacobs banged into the end zone standing up. McDaniels also decided not to go crazy with a 2 point conversion try. Carlson nailed the extra point. The game was tied 34-34. Yet the Raiders left 1:11, way too much time on the clock.
As expected, the Raiders defense melted down. After a touchback, Purdy went to Aiyuk for gains of 12, 18 and 11. With 26 seconds left, the 49ers were looking at a 52 yard field goal try. They still had one timeout left, which meant a safe run with a few more yards would be the smart call. Yet Kyle Shanahan refuses to run when he should run. Purdy rolled out to pass and got belted just as he threw. A wounded duck flew in the air and would have been intercepted had any of the Raiders defenders been looking for the ball. Instead, Aiyuk caught it for 11 more yards. The 49ers let the clock tick down to 2 seconds left. Gould came in for a 41 yard field goal try to win it. The Raiders needed an absolute miracle.
They got one. Gould was wide, no good. This game was going to overtime, where the Raiders were 3-0 on the season. The Raiders won the coin toss. After a touchback, Jacobs ripped off gains of 9 and 6. The Raiders were at their own 40. Jacobs got a third straight carry and got stopped. Yet on 2nd and 10 it would have been perfectly reasonable to give him a fourth straight carry. Yet Josh McDaniels will abandon the run every single time at the slightest hint of adversity. Stidham went back to pass and got hit as soon as he threw the ball. This time it was his wounded duck floating helplessly in the year. The 49ers got a miracle catch on their own. The Raiders did not. Gipson intercepted the ball and returned it 56 yards to the Raiders 3 yard line. At this point Kyle Shanahan took no chances. He had Purdy take a knee just to center the ball. Gould came in for the 23 yard field goal try to redeem himself. Gould was good. The Raiders were out of miracles, out of luck, and out of the playoffs at 6-10. The 12-4 49ers won their 9th straight game and have an outside shot at home field throughout the playoffs.
The Raiders might be blown to pieces in the offseason. Carr is likely gone. Jacobs is an unrestricted free agent because Josh McDaniels foolishly declined his 5th year option before the season started. Adams may want out because he only came to the Raiders to play with his best friend Carr. Stidham had a good game for three quarters and threw for 365 yards and 3 touchdown passes. Yet when it mattered, Stidham had 2 killer interceptions, one or two other balls that should have been intercepted, and a fumbled snap. The defense is as awful as ever. The team that made the playoffs last year is dead in the water, going from winning 10 games to losing at least 10. The cause of this destruction is McDaniels, but he seems to be the only one who is safe. He is only one year into a 4 year contract. He will convince Mark Davis that he needs better players, especially at quarterback. Yet Jack Del Rio, Jon Gruden and Rich Bisaccia all won with Carr. McDaniels has never had a winning season as a head coach. Although this loss was on the first day of 2023, the Raiders are expected to be a mess until McDaniels is fired. The Raiders lost their 5th game when leading by double digits. They lost their 6th fourth quarter lead. McDaniels is all talk, but Al Davis’s motto is “Just win, baby.” McDaniels loses and blames the quarterback. The Raider Nation needs to keep Carr and get rid of McDaniels. If they get this backward, they will remain a backward franchise. 37-34 49ers, OT
New York Jets at Seattle Seahawks — Both teams came in 7-8 and knowing a loss would eliminate them playoff contention. Geno Smith and Pete Carroll got to face off against their old team. The Seahawks began at their own 27. On the first play of th game, Kenneth Walker ran for a 60 yard gain. On the 3rd play, Smith hit Colby Parkinson for a 12 yard touchdown. Just like that, the Seahawks led 7–0. An interception of Mike White was returned by Diggs 27 yards to the Seattle 37. The Seahawks moved to a 2nd and goal at the 4. A run lost 2 yards and Smith then threw incomplete. Jason Myers hit a 25 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Seahawks. The Jets managed a 44 yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein, but the Seahawks took control in the second quarter. On 3rd and 3 from their own 32, Smith threw incomplete but the defense jumped offside fr a key first down. Smith went to Tyler Lockett for 8. Smith went deep to Dallas for a 41 yard gain. The second quarter began with Smith hitting Tyler Mabry for a 7 yard touchdown and a 17-3 Seahawks lead. The Jets managed another 44 yard field goal midway through the second quarter, but nothing else. In the third quarter Zuerlein missed from 57. The Seahawks defense clamped down. Myers hit from 31 in the third quarter, missed from 41 in the fourth quarter, and hit from 31 again in the fourth quarter. The 8-8 Seahawks can make the playoffs next week with a win and some help. The 7-9 Jets are out. The Jets once fired Carroll and got rid of Smith. 23-6 Seahawks
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers — The 12-3 Vikings have been cruising toward the playoffs. The Packers were left for dead at 4-8 but then won 3 straight. At 7-8, the Packers were very much alive but would be knocked out with a loss. 3 minutes into the game the Packers suffered a blocked punt. The Vikings had 1st and goal at the one. Kirk Cousins threw incomplete. Dalvin Cook got stopped for no gain and then lost a yard. On 4th and goal at the 2, Kevin O’Connell had seen enough. Greg Joseph hit the 21 yard field goal. The Vikings led 3-0, but this was a victory for the Packers. 13 seconds later the Packers had another special teams situation, but with much better results. Keisean Nixon returned the ensuing kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown. The Packers led 7-3 and spent the rest of the game carpet-bombing the Vikings into submission. After the Packers gave it up on downs at their own 45, the Vikings faced 4th and 2 at the Green Bay 37. This time O’Connell gambled, with disastrous results. Cousins was intercepted by Darnell Savage, who returned the interception 76 yards for a touchdown. Without any offensive points, the Packers led 14-3 after the first quarter.
Things got worse for the Vikings. Jospeh missed a 46 yard field goal. The Packers from their own 36 moved 56 yards in 14 plays and 7 minutes. On 4th and goal at the 3 in the second quarter, Matt LaFleur lined up to go for it. A delay of game ended the chance. Mason Crosby hit the 26 yard field goal to make it 17-3 Packers. The Vikings moved from their own 29 to the Green Bay 31. Cousins was intercepted by Amos, who returned the pick 26 yards to his own 40. On 3rd and 1, Aaron Jones got around the end for a 31 yard gain. On 2nd and 11 from the Minnesota 21, Rodgers went to Robert Tonyan for the touchdown to make it 24-3 Packers. With 41 seconds left in the half, more misery for the Vikings saw Joseph miss again from 50. It was Crosby who hit from 56 as the Packers led 27-3 at the half. In the third quarter the Vikings moved from their own 16 to the Green Bay 15. Cousins was sacked and fumbled. The Packers moved 76 yards and Dillon ran for a 2 yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it 34-3 Packers. One play after a touchback, Cousins was intercepted. A short field at the Minnesota 45 led to 3rd and goal at the 2. Rodgers ran it in to make it 41-3 Packers. A few weeks ago the Vikings made NFL history by coming back from 33 points down. This week down 38, they did manage 2 touchdowns but nothing more. At 12-4 the Vikings are in the playoffs but looking vulnerable. The 8-8 Packers now control their own destiny. If they win, they are in the playoffs. 41-17 Packers
Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers — The 9-6 Chargers are in the playoffs and the Rams are out. The Rams from their own 14 moved to a 2nd and goal at the 4. Yet a run lost a yard and Baker mayfield threw incomplete. Matt Gay hit the 23 yard field goal. The 13 play, 81 yard, 8 minute drive made it 3-0 Rams. After a touchback, Justin Herbert hit Mike Williams for 26. Kelley ran for 12. The second quarter began with Austin Ekeler running for 8. Herbert hit Williams for 19. Ekeler ran for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Chargers. The Chargers got it back and faced 3rd and 7 from their own 13. Herbert hit Keenan Allen for 10. Ekeler then broke free for a 72 yard touchdown run and a 14-3 Chargers lead. After a touchback, Mayfield went to Van Jefferson for 16. On 3rd and 3 from their own 48, Mayfield went to Jefferson for 22. On 3r and 3 from the Chargers 23, Brown ran for the touchdown. With 4 minutes left in the half, the Rams were only down 14-10. Yet the rest of the game belonged to the Chargers defense.
After a touchback, the Chargers moved to a 1st and 10 at the Rams 22 with 32 seconds left. Herbert threw 3 incompletions. Dicker hit a 40 yard field goal to make it 17-10 Chargers at the intermission. After a third quarter touchback, Herbert hit Ekeler for 17 and Wiliams for 14. Kelley gained 17 and Ekeler added 10. On 3rd and 1 from the Rams 15, Herbert gained 2. On 3rd and 3 from the Rams 6, Herbert went to Gerald Everett for the 6 yard touchdown to make it 24-10 Chargers. The Chargers in the fourth quarter took over at their own 30. Herbert went to Allen for 28. Herbert hit Ekeler for 14 and Allen for 8. Kelley added 8. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Herbert hit Donald Parham for the touchdown with 12 minutes left in regulation to complete the scoring. The 10-6 Chargers are in playoff form. 31-10 Chargers
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens was the Sunday night game. The 7-8 Steelers needed to win this week and next week and get help to make the playoffs and avoid Mike Tomlin’s first losing season. The 10-5 Ravens are in the playoffs but have lost 2 straight without Lamar Jackson. Whenever these teams play, the results are the same: A defensive head-knocker that goes down to the wire, with home field rarely ever mattering. After an opening touchback, the Steelers moved to a 3rd and goal at the 2. Kenny Pickett threw incomplete. The 15 play, 73 yard, 8 minute drive had the Steelers settling for a 21 yard Chris Boswell field goal and a 3-0 lead. The Ravens from their own 27 responded with 15 play, 61 yard, 8 minute drive of their own. On 3rd and 5 from the Pittsburgh 12 to start the second quarter, Tyler Huntley threw incomplete. Justin Tucker hit from 30 for a 3-3 game. With 3 1/2 minutes left in a bone-crushing first half, a 48 yard Boswell field goal try to give the Steelers the lead was no good. The Ravens after a false start faced 1st and 15 from their own 33. JK Dobbins ran for 17, 5 and 4. On 3rd and 1 from the Pittsburgh 41 at the 2 minute warning, Tyler Huntley gained 2. Dobbins gained 12. Huntley gained 9. On 3rd and 16 from the Pittsburgh 22, Dobbins gained 7. Yet defensive unnecessary roughness on the play was a killer. On the next play, with 7 seconds in the half, Huntley hit Likely for the touchdown and the 10-3 Ravens lead at the break. The second half was more defense. Tucker hit from 51 in the third quarter to give the Ravens a 13-3 lead.
Boswell connected from 51 and in the fourth quarter hit a 33 yarder to get the Steelers within 13-9 with 10 minutes left in regulation. The defenses dug in and the Steelers began their last drive of regulation with 4:16 left at their own 20. On 3rd and 1, Pickett got the yard. Pickett hit Pat Freiermuth for 20 and Steven Sims for 28. On 3rd and 1 from the Baltimore 13, Pickett kept it and with considerable help from his offensive lineman was carried to the first down after initially being stopped cold. On 3rd and 8 from the Baltimore 10, Pickett threw a perfect fade to Najee Harris for the touchdown. The Steelers led 16-13 with one minute left. After a touchback, the Ravens moved to their own 38 with 20 seconds left. Huntley went deep and was intercepted. The only turnover of the game denied Tucker a chance to tie it. The 10-6 Ravens are in the playoffs but have lost 3 straight. Their chance at winning the AFC North took a serious hit. The 8-8 Steelers are still clinging to playoff life. The last 2 weeks, Pickett overcame 10-point second half deficits without a touchdown to throw his only touchdown in the final minute. 16-13 Steelers
Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals was the Monday night game. This game was supposed to be about football. The 12-3 Bills were at the 11-4 Bengals. The Bills with a win this and next week would wrap up home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Bengals with a win would wrap up the AFC North and have an outside shot at home field advantage. Everything was on the line. Yet 9 minutes in, this game all of a sudden became about much more than football. Starting with football, the Bengals after a touchback made it look easy. Defensive pass interference on the first play meant 29 yards. On 3rd and 1 from the Buffalo 37, Joe Burrow gained 2.Burrow then went to Hurst for 21. Burrow hit Tyler Boyd for a 14 yard touchdown and a 7-0 Bengals lead. The Bills after a touchback moved 68 yards in 13 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. On 2nd and 3 from the Cincinnati 7, Allen threw incomplete twice. Tyler Bass hit a 25 yard field goal to get the Bills within 7-3. The Bengals took over at their own 32. A Joe Mixon run set the Bengals up with 2nd and 3 at their own 39. Although there were still 51 minutes left, the next play would be the final play of the game. Burrow hit Tee Higgins for 13 yards to the Buffalo 48. Burrow was tackled by Bills defender Damar Hamlin. After the tackle, both players got up. Then the nightmare unfolded.
A few seconds later out of nowhere, Hamlin collapsed to the ground. The collision between these two players looked routine. There was nothing illegal about the play, just a shoulder to the chest. Hamlin was not breathing. The medical personnel came out to try and get him into the ambulance but he was on the ground for several minutes. After 20 minutes of players praying and sobbing, he was finally put in the ambulance. Yet there was no thumbs up sign or anything encouraging to make the fans cheer. Players have seen brutal injuries. They have seen legs get broken. They have seen players get paralyzed. We all have. Yet here was a player at risk of dying on the football field. This has never happened before. A decade ago, Korey Stringer died in practice. In 1971, Chuck Hughes collapsed on the field and later died that afternoon at the hospital. Yet this was a player at risk of dying right on the spot at the field.
Players were crying and hugging each other. The Cincinnati crowd was stone cold silent. Bills Coach Sean McDermott and Bengals Coach Zach Taylor had serious conversations at midfield as dueling quarterbacks Allen and Burrow hugged each other. At first the game was suspended. The hope was that Hamlin would be ok. Unfortunately, the news was bad. He suffered a heart attack on the field and had to have his heart shocked back into rhythmic beating. He was alive but in critical condition at the Cincinnati Medical Center. He had a tube in his throat to help him breathe.
Both coaches consulted extensively with the players as players from the Bengals went into the Bills locker room to offer support. Meanwhile, the league office in New York was in constant contact with both coaches and the players’ union. The decision was made to postpone the rest of the game. No more football would be played that night. As for when or if the game would be finished, those questions would not be answered Monday night. This game has major ramifications for the playoffs and the inside track to the Super Bowl. Yet Monday night, the only thing that mattered was that Damar Hamlin was fighting for his life. This was not a safety issue. There was no concussion. There was no way to protect a player from this type of situation. It truly was an unprecedented situation. There was plenty of speculation on any other issues Hamlin may have had. Out of respect for his family, this football column will not surrender to the ghoulishness of wild speculation. What matters is that Hamlin lives.
On a positive note, Hamlin’s GoFundMe page exploded with donations and love. In 2020 he began raising money for young children. It was a toy drive. Before the game, he had raised about $2,500. By Wednesday night, donations reached 7 million dollars. Here is the link to that page.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/mxksc-the-chasing-ms-foundation-community-toy-drive
While many of the Bills players flew back to Buffalo Monday night, several players stayed in Cincinnati to visit Hamlin at the hospital. Some Bengals players joined them at the hospital. Fans of both teams gathered outside the hospital and prayed.
While the most important issue remained the health of this 24-year-old man, the NFL also had to figure out the logistics of resuming the game without appearing heartless. Because there is a 2-week gap between the Conference Title Games and the Super Bowl, the league had some wiggle room to postpone the entire Week 18 regular season finale schedule of all the games. The league announced on Tuesday that this game would not be continued this week. The league also announced on Wednesday that all Week 18 games would go on as scheduled, including games involving the Bills and Bengals separately. If both of these teams were out of the playoffs, canceling the game would be easy. Yet this is a key game that could determine home field advantage throughout the playoffs. It may be necessary to postpone the Wildcard round. There are no easy solutions. Again, Damar Hamlin’s situation is far more important. Nevertheless, an entire league with billions of dollars on the line needs to figure out how to try and make none of the playoff teams have a competitive disadvantage. By Wednesday night, Hamlin was still in critical condition and needing a ventilator to breathe. He was slightly improving from Monday night but far from out of the woods. The league said they would take care of him financially even though he has not played the required 3 years to vest for his NFL pension. Pray for him. 7-3 Bengals, game suspended, no winner.
eric