Top 10 Bimbos of 2022

December 29th, 2022

The Top 10 Bimbos of 2022

As 2022 prepares to enter the history books, it is time to take a look at the most shallow, vapid people of the year. This list of the Top 10 Bimbos of 2022 has always been controversial because angry leftist feminists (redundant) are incapable of reading the disclaimer. The term “bimbo” is gender neutral. Gender neutral is not the same thing as gender fluid, which is what one puts in their automobile if they self-identify as a car. Gender neutral means bimbos can be male or female. The only qualification is that the person must coast on their style while having zero substance. For years these awards were dedicated to the ultimate bimbos: Former President Barack Obama and singer Katy Perry. Ms. Perry has been less obnoxious in recent years, so she has been replaced in the ultimate bimbo category by her rival Taylor Swift.

Many of you will be surprised that Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg all failed to make the list. They have not stopped being bimbos, but selecting the same people every year makes things boring. Also, there are so many bimbos of their il that I felt it necessary to replace them in the interest of their cherished diversity. Neither Prince Harry or Meghan Markle made the list. They have not stopped being insufferable pompous @sses, but there is plenty of time in the future for them to return to this list. I tried to select people that would probably not make the list again. This is their only chance.

Taylor Swift and Kanye West just barely missed the list. These two became joined at the hip years ago when west crashed swift’s acceptance speech. These people are both narcissists. Swift has a carefully crafted reputation for being a sweetheart. Her facade belies a cold, indifferent woman who spends her life complaining that her relationships keeps failing. Her music is about settling scores, failing to realize that maybe she is the problem. While she was not responsible for the Ticketmaster fiasco, she stayed silent as her fans burned. As for West, he suffers from mental illness. Normally that would get him sympathy points, but his constant rants against Jews is over the line. So is his hanging out with actual Neo-Nazis. Swift and West deserve each other. They could be a self-absorbed super-couple. West would finally have a man and Kanye would have a new marriage to wreck. Yet there were actually 10 people even worse than them.

With that, here are the Top 10 Bimbos of 2022.

 

10.) Jada Pinkett Smith — Some of you may wonder why her husband Will Smith is not on this list for slapping Chris Rock. What Will did was wrong, but Jada set the whole thing in motion. Rock made a joke, because that is what comedians do. He made fun of her for being bald. Will initially laughed at the joke until he saw that his wife was angry and humorless. Will harmed his career and his reputation to pacify his wife. This is after she spent their entire marriage humiliating him by declaring herself in an open marriage. For using and abusing a good guy and letting him take the fall, she is awful even by low Hollywood standards. She would rank higher on this list except that people in Hollywood are the least important people on earth.

9.) Josh McDaniels — The former Patriots offensive coordinator is considered a genius because he won Super Bowls with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. He took over a decent Denver Broncos team and drove them into the ground in less than two years. He flaked on taking the Indianapolis Colts job after accepting it. He might be the most hated man in football not named Lane Kiffin. He parlayed his last failure as a head coach into the head coaching job with the Raiders. He took a playoff team and turned it into a losing team. He took a Pro Bowl quarterback in Derek Carr, wrecked his game, and then benched Carr. McDaniels is very good at blaming everyone else, but the main reason his teams fail is because of him. Now he has all but blown up the franchise, knowing that he cannot be fired with three years remaining on his contract. He is that rare combination of arrogance without the achievements to back it up.

8.) Paul Pelosi — In late 2022, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was bludgeoned in his home by a mentally ill leftist political activist ranting and raving about his wife. Mr. Pelosi became a sympathetic figure, but the truth of what happened has been suppressed by the media. Rumors abound that he was attacked by someone he knew and invited over to his home. Whether this was a gay romance gone bad or a legitimate robbery turned violent, the media needs to stop hiding the video footage. The real issue is that Paul Pelosi has been protected his entire life. Earlier in 2022, he caused a drunk driving accident that left him injured and two cars smashed. Again, getting a video of the crime scene has proved impossible. The leftist prosecutors did everything they could to tank the case. This is odd given that Paul Pelosi as a teenager was responsible for a driving crash that killed someone. His rich white liberal privilege prevents him from facing charges for any of these situations or for his years of insider trading. His stock trades would be illegal if done by someone not married to one of the most powerful Democrats in America.

7.) John Fetterman — This rich white leftist spent his entire life doing hard drugs and leeching off of his parents. Like most failures, he became a hardcore leftist virtue-signaler. After a failed stint as a small-town mayor, he decided to fail upward by having his family buy him a Senate seat. Despite suffering a stroke that rendered him incoherent, he insisted on staying in the race. His wife seemed to care more about power than his health. While the Pennsylvania Democrat running for Governor coasted to a 17 point win, Fetterman eked out a one point win over a Republican celebrity with few known core beliefs. Fetterman won by refusing to campaign. He adopted the Joe Biden strategy of hiding in his basement. Now he has six years to get paid without doing any real work. He shows up everywhere in t-shirts and shorts, because rich white leftists believe looking like a bum is the same thing as identifying with people who are struggling. This lazy man of zero accomplishments moralizes to everyone else.

6.) Disney executives — There have been many legitimate reasons to hate Disney over the years. Nevertheless, it is hard to believe the company is worse than when Michael Eisner was around. He only wasted money and created a fraudulent image of Mickey Mouse. A Disney vacation has long been unaffordable, but in 2022 the company began committing corporate suicide by embracing woke leftist politics. Every character had to appeal to transgender people and Black Lives Matter activists or be shut down. When leftists demanded that Disney speak out against a Florida “Don’t say gay” bill that had nothing to do with gay people, Disney buckled to pressure. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had finally had enough of Disney’s virtue-signaling. He threatened to remove Disney’s special tax exemption. The mice behind the mouse got the message. The CEO was ousted and Bob Iger returned. He is a liberal virtue-signaler himself, but a raging capitalist first. He will replace wokeism with Disney’s true goal, jacking up the stock price.

5.) Sam Brinton — The Biden is famous for hiring tokens. Someone can be completely unqualified to do any real work as long as they belong to a real or invented minority group. Sam Brinton is unsure about his own gender. In Biden’s eyes, this made him qualified to handle nuclear waste material for the government. Brinton spent more time talking about his sexuality than in doing his job. Like most leftists, he labeled anyone questioning his job performance as homophobic. Yet even Brinton found out that a person’s sexuality is not an excuse for being a common criminal thief. After being repeatedly caught on airport cameras stealing other people’s luggage, Brinton was arrested. As flamboyant as he looked while on the job, this person claiming to be a female looked like a standard bald white male in his mugshot. Brinton was hired because he was of an indeterminate gender. He was fired for being a criminal.

4.) Nina Jankowicz — This unbelievably annoying virtue-signaling leftist was selected by Joe Biden to head up his “Disinformation Governance Board.” The real shock is that such a position could even exist in America. Like most leftists, Jankowicz was eager to censor conservatives under the cover of disinformation. Even by normal liberal smugness standards, her chirping altered lyrics to “SuperCalifragiliciousexpialadocious” was insufferable. Outrage against her led to a backlash against this new board. She denied the board and met, got caught lying about this, and resigned under pressure. The board was disbanded. Now this zealot is taking her “talents” to the private sector, where she gets paid to scream “disinformation” at people she hates. Despite her horrible existence in government, her very brief tenure prevented her from being destructive enough to rank higher.

3.) Former Twitter executives — When Elon Musk purchased Twitter, he discovered a cesspool of corruption and censorship. Twitter’s executive team of hardcore leftists took glee in censoring and banning conservatives. Many of the bans were arbitrary under the phony guise of “misinformation.” From Covid to climate change to transgenderism, misinformation was simply anything powerful liberals disagreed with. The main censorship culprits Vijaya Gadde, Yoel Roth, Parag Agrawal. Agrawal was the CEO and Censor-in-Chief who proudly declared that censoring opposing views was acceptable. Roth was the Head of Trust and Safety, a laughable title. Gadde had the even more fraudulent title of Head of Legal, Policy and Trust. The people in charge of “trust” repeatedly got lying about their intentions, methods and practices. As the worst of the bunch, Gadde was naturally hired by the Biden administration to help censorship efforts there. People who can defend their ideas and beliefs do so.People with indefensible ideas and beliefs try to prevent opposing views from being uttered. Normally these wretched would top the list of bimbos, but their influence has been reduced thanks to Musk cleaning house.

2.) Sam Bankman-Fried — Based on his style of dress, this young virtue-signaler might be the love child of John Fetterman and Don King. Sam Bankman-Fried was a 30 year old billionaire who ran a cryptocurrency firm. He showed up to meetings in short and a t-shirt and became a member of the protected class due to his progressive politics. He donated millions of dollars to Democrats. He was the second biggest Democrat donor behind George Soros. Yet behind all of his billions of dollars was not business acumen but outright criminal fraud. Crypto may be complex, but what SBF did was very simple. He commingled customer funds with company funds, illegally withdrew customer funds, and used those customer funds to fund his lavish lifestyle. SBF got away with it for so long for the same reason most of his ilk do. He spouted progressive politics and gave heavily to Democrats. He is a vegan. He supports climate change action and gay rights. He virtue-signals. Democrats in return protected him. He bought their silence with illegally donated stolen campaign cash. Yet the bigger story is that every link in his business chain is fraud. The input is crypto, which is in itself a fraudulent “currency” built on nothing and used to finance drug and sex trafficking. The output is climate change action, which is based on fraudulent pseudo-science and lies meant to manipulate people. SBF was the fraudulent middle man connecting a fraudulent product with fraudulent purposes. The case against him is strong, but powerful people do not want him to testify. Chances are, the prosecutors against him will tank the case.

The only reason SBF is not number one is because he is a private citizen. He is connected on high to powerful people in government, but the guy ahead of him is in charge of a major part of our government.

1.) Merrick Garland — He pretended to be a moderate Democrat so that he could lie his way onto the United States Supreme Court. Republicans smartly figured out that Barack Obama nominated leftists, not moderates. Obama likes people who use their government position to seek revenge on political opponents. Upon becoming Joe Biden’s Attorney General, Garland went into vengeance mode. Under pressure from his fellow angry leftists, Garland became obsessed with imprisoning Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 election. If Donald Trump were truly irrelevant, the Biden administration would ignore him. If Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election over Trump honestly, Biden would delight in a rematch. At the very least his supporters would not live in fear of this rematch. Democrats are determined to ban Trump from running again, which is what dictators in third world banana republics do to their political opposition.

Under orders from the boss and heavy pressure from the left, Attorney General Merrick Garland ordered a raid on Trump’s Mar-A-Lago mansion. The same FBI agents who perpetrated the 2016 Russia collusion hoax were involved in this raid. Trump was accused of stealing classified documents. This lacks common sense. Any United States President can declare any document unclassified. The double standard was astounding given the kid glove treatment Hillary Clinton received for actually illegally possessing classified documents. Her home was never raided. The raid backfired. Even those who had become weary of Trump’s behavior were outraged at the abuse of government power. In an even more bizarre turn of events, FBI agents felt compelled in the name of “national security” to rifle through Melania Trump’s underwear. Perhaps Garland has weird sexual proclivities akin to Biden or J. Edgar Hoover. He turned a document raid into a panty raid. Garland’s worst quality is his stubborn insistence that he is apolitical and runs the Department of Justice in an apolitical manner. This is nonsense. He kicks in doors with guns drawn and arrests 70 and 80 year old Republicans. He places them in solitary confinement. Democrats get the kid glove treatment. For being more obsessed with Americans who disagree with him politically than with actual global terrorists, Merrick Garland is the top bimbo of 2022.

eric

Posted in MUSIC, POLITICS, SPORTS, Uncategorized, WOMEN | Comments Closed

Top 10 News Stories of 2022

December 29th, 2022

Top 10 News Stories of 2022

As another year prepares to enter the history books, let us look back on the Top 10 News Stories of 2022. These are not necessarily the stories the media covered. They are the stories the media should have covered that matter most. In fact, the stubborn refusal of the media to cover certain stories is in itself a story. Before getting to the list, here are a couple of items that did not make the list.

The fall of Donald Trump. Normally this would be a major story. Former President Trump’s candidates performed badly in the midterms. The Trump Organization was convicted of financial improprieties. After announcing his 2024 presidential run, Trump has not held any campaign events. His tax returns are about to be released. He teased a big announcement that turned out to be himself selling digital merchandise of himself. He is on the verge of political irrelevance. Yet this is not a story because of the key words “on the verge.” He has been counted out so many times, and he keeps confounding those who bet against him. Until his political career is officially over, he is very much still a relevant political player. His political death at this point is premature.

The midterm elections. Normally an election is a big deal. Yet this one offered much more confusion than clarity. Republicans were supposed to win big. In Florida, they did. In New York, they made significant gains. Yet in other parts of the country, Democrats defied expectations. Yet Republicans did capture the House. They barely control it, but Democrats barely controlled it before. No incumbent Senator lost. Only one incumbent governor lost. Americans say they are angry at their leaders but for the most part reelected them. This election offers no clues about the present or the future, and therefore is not a relevant event.

Illegal immigration and Fentanyl deaths. Yes, the Southern border is out of control. Yes, our open border is precisely why drug smugglers are able to succeed. Yes, the drugs now are more powerful and dangerous than ever before. Yes, Fentanyl manufactured in China and distributed through Mexico is killing Americans. This is not a story because nothing will be done about it. Democrats want illegal immigration because illegals vote Democrats. If Americans have to die, so be it. Democrats can just keep importing new illegals and have an endless supply of illegal Democrat voters. Democrats willing to try and rule in perpetuity is not news. The left has always believed the ends justify the means. That is the furthest thing from news. Nothing will be done about it. Until and unless Republicans can somehow win a national election, the illegals will keep coming, the drugs will keep flowing, and Americans will keep dying. The liberal media will make sure this vicious cycle is treated as a right-wing talking point rather than a heartbreaking deadly truth.

With that, here are the Top 10 News Stories of 2022.

10.) Paul Pelosi’s sordid escapades — In late 2022, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was bludgeoned in his home by a mentally ill leftist political activist ranting and raving about his wife. He became a sympathetic figure, but the truth of what happened that has been suppressed by the media. Rumors abound that he was attacked by someone he knew and invited over to his home. Whether this was a gay romance gone bad or a legitimate robbery turned violent, the media needs to stop hiding the video footage. Paul Pelosi has been protected his entire life. Earlier in 2022, he caused a drunk driving accident that left him injured and two cars smashed. Again, getting a video of the crime scene has proved impossible. The leftist prosecutors did everything they could to tank the case. This is odd given that Paul Pelosi as a teenager was responsible for a driving crash that killed someone. His rich white liberal privilege prevents him from facing charges for any of these situations or for his years of insider trading. His stock trades would be illegal if done by someone not married to one of the most powerful Democrats in America.

9.) Nancy Pelosi ousted — She was the first woman elected speaker. She was even elected to that position twice. The liberal media fawns all over her, but the truth is not so simple. She was also fired as Speaker twice. She raises a ton of money for Democrats, but she raises just as much if not more for Republicans by being a lightning rod. The liberal media crows that the red wave failed to materialize. The real story is that Pelosi was fired. The entire progressive agenda risks being stopped, but for Pelosi, her power has been taken away. While Republican voters were the ones who took away her majority, it was actually leftist Squad members who schemed to take her out since their 2018 arrival. Pelosi caved to the mob, and the mob devoured her.

8.) CNN meltdown — It has been so long that most people have forgotten what CNN used to be. With solid anchors including Bernard Shaw, CNN was a real news network. During the Trump presidency, CNN decided to reinvent itself as a leftist grievance network. This strategy failed because leftist basket cases already had MSNBC. They were crazy but entertaining. CNN tried to combine crazy and boring, which does not work. Then came Chris Licht. He is determined to turn CNN back into a real news network anchored by normal human beings. He has fired the worst of the leftist hacks. He has demoted others. CNN’s ratings keep crashing because they betrayed their original mission, replaced it with garbage, and now have no idea who or what they are. It is impossible to win over everyone, but quite easy to lose everyone. This…is CNN.

7.) Roe vs Wade overturned — The Dobbs case achieved the dream of conservatives and the nightmare of liberals. After nearly five years, Roe vs. Wade is no longer the Supreme law of the land. On the surface, abortion should not be a major issue. Out of 370 million Americans, around 150,000 abortions happen per year. Most Americans are never directly affected. Yet emotionally, millions of Americans on both sides of the issue care deeply. Despite leftist hysterics, abortion was not made illegal. It was simply returned to the states, a principle of federalism. Yet the left was able to channel their rage in many races during the midterms. This story would rank higher except that 100 years from now, the fight will still continue. The differences are irreconcilable and the sides are relatively evenly divided.

6.) The Rise of Ron DeSantis — Ron DeSantis was an afterthought in the 2018 Florida gubernatorial primary. Then Donald Trump endorsed him, and DeSantis rocketed past the establishment GOP candidate. DeSantis barely won the 2018 general election 50% to 49%. Four years later, DeSantis won a landslide 20 point victory. He turned blue areas of Florida including Miami rock ribbed Republican red. DeSantis has governed as a real conservative. He has Trump’s pugilistic style but with far more discipline and zero personal drama. Trump was never a culture warrior. DeSantis has launched a full-throttled assault on woke leftism and won. When Disney tried muscling DeSantis, he threatened to remove their tax exemption. They caved. Yet the biggest reason DeSantis won so handily is because he does his job well. His leadership is pure competence. During various hurricanes, he has shown steely-eyed resolve and a laser-like focus. He keeps his political fights related to policy. He is a top tier 2024 presidential contender.

5.) The Fall of Anthony Fauci — For years, Anthony Fauci has been the highest paid federal employee overseeing a budget of billions of dollars. When the Covid pandemic hit in 2020, Fauci became the face of the fight against Covid. Liberals elevated the 78 year old Fauci to godlike status. The liberal media gave him glowing magazine covers declaring him one of the sexiest men alive. Somewhere along the line, the fame got to Fauci. He kept changing his positions with the political winds. He demanded masks and then was caught maskless. He recommended authoritarian measures that stripped Americans of their constitutional freedoms. He encouraged censorship of anyone disagreeing with his arbitrary diagnoses. Fauci was protected as long as Democrats controlled everything. With the Republicans set to take over the House, Fauci knew his protection was gone. New information has come to light showing that Fauci was instrumental in performing barbaric gain of function research. Fauci played a leading role in causing the global pandemic. He has covered for China to protect his own financial interests. He will not go to jail, but his decades of absolute power are gone. Sadly, so are the millions who died from a disease he helped create.

4.) Raid on Mar-A-Lago — If Donald Trump were truly irrelevant, the Biden administration would ignore him. If Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election over Trump honestly, Biden would delight in a rematch. At the very least his supporters would not live in fear of this rematch. Democrats are determined to ban Trump from running again, which is what dictators in third world banana republics do to their political opposition. Under orders from the boss and heavy pressure from the left, attorney General Merrick Garland ordered a raid on Trump’s Mar-A-Lago mansion. The same FBI agents who perpetrated the 2016 Russia collusion hoax were involved in this raid. Trump was accused of stealing classified documents. This lacks common sense. Any United States President can declare any document unclassified. The double standard was astounding given the kid glove treatment Hillary Clinton received for actually illegally possessing classified documents. Her home was never raided. The raid backfired. Even those who had become weary of Trump’s behavior were outraged at the abuse of government power. This would be the top story except for the fact that nothing will come of it. Trump will not be indicted and nobody in the Biden administration will face consequences.

3.) FTX Collapse — Sam Bankman-Fried was a 30 year old billionaire who ran a cryptocurrency firm. He showed up to meetings in short and a t-shirt and became a member of the protected class due to his progressive politics. He donated millions of dollars to Democrats. He was the second biggest Democrat donor behind George Soros. Yet behind all of his billions of dollars was not business acumen but outright criminal fraud. Crypto may be complex, but what SBF did was very simple. He commingled customer funds with company funds, illegally withdrew customer funds, and used those customer funds to fund his lavish lifestyle. SBF got away with it for so long for the same reason most of his ilk do. He spouted progressive politics and gave heavily to Democrats. He is a vegan. He supports climate change action and gay rights. He virtue-signals. Democrats in return protected him. He bought their silence with illegally donated stolen campaign cash. Yet the bigger story is that every link in his business chain is fraud. The input is crypto, which is in itself a fraudulent “currency” built on nothing and used to finance drug and sex trafficking. The output is climate change action, which is based on fraudulent pseudo-science and lies meant to manipulate people. SBX was the fraudulent middle man connecting a fraudulent product with fraudulent purposes. The case against him is strong, but powerful people do not want him to testify. Chances are, the prosecutors against him will tank the case.

2.) Elon Musk and the Twitter Files — Elon Musk purchasing Twitter in itself was amusing. While Musk is politically liberal, he is not a raving leftist. He is a free speech absolutist, not a pro-censorship zealot. He concluded that Twitter’s leadership was censoring people and news that contradicted the left. It was an anti-conservative platform. Upon completing the purchase, Musk immediately fired the leftists uncharge of the censorship, although they still insist they resigned. The main censors were former CEO Parag Agrawal, head of legal Vijaya Gadde, and head fo safety Yoel Roth. Upon taking over the company, Musk faced boycott threats from woke leftists and legal threats from Joe Biden, Merrick Garland, and others. Rather than back down, Musk doubled down. He released company emails and documents that proved massive corrupt ties between the FBI, the liberal media, and social media companies. There was direct coordination to suppress the Hunter Biden laptop story before the 2020 election. There was direct coordination and coercion to suppress any Covid narrative that contradicted Fauci and his fellow Democrats. Anyone questioning masks, vaccines, or government-approved drugs risked being banned from Twitter. Millions of people died because of the suppression of honest science in favor of junk science. Again, liberal privilege prevents any of the bad actors from facing consequences. The liberal media will continue to suppress this bombshell news story through a print and television blackout. Nevertheless, the truth has finally come out. This elaborate attempt to censor half of Americans would be the top story except for one issue. Most of the blood and carnage happened out of sight.

A once in a century global pandemic is bad. A government attempt to suppress the killing of people based on junk science and lies is worse. Yet even those events pale in comparison to genocide with the potential for World War III and Armageddon.

1.) Russia invades Ukraine — On February 24th, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine with the full intent of taking it over. Vladimir Putin’s timing was not coincidental. The days when both political parties were willing to protect the American way of life are long gone. Democrats are now a full-blown anti-war party suffering from Vietnam syndrome. Even the Republican Party has gone from a Bush-Cheney Neocon Party to a Trump populist anti-war party. In 1990, George Herbert Walker Bush responded to Saddam Hussein’s Iraq invasion of Kuwait with the declaration that “This will not stand.” The principle was a noble one. No nation has the right to gobble up another nation. George W. Bush after the 9/11 attacks routed the Taliban in Afghanistan and removed Saddam Hussein from earth. Yet Americans allowed war weariness to usher in an era of dangerous isolationism. Russia’s Vladimir Putin exploited this. In 2014, Russia took over Crimea. Barack Obama responded by doing nothing, exactly as Putin predicted. Putin stayed quiet during the Trump years due to Trump’s unpredictability. With Biden in charge, Putin knows he can act without consequences from the West.

Putin made one major miscalculation. He underestimated the will of the Ukranian people and Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky. Once a Jewish comedian, Zelensky has become one of the toughest historical leaders along with Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, John Howard and George W. Bush. Zelensky is willing to fight to the very last man, and his people have responded with surprising resolve. The West has been sending weapons and money to Ukraine, but Zelensky knows he is alone. The same Western nations that did nothing to stop the Holocaust would happily let Ukraine die to keep Russian oil flowing. Putin has threatened to use nuclear weapons. World War III and Armageddon are not impossible. The world is watching the West’s meekness and taking one. China is preparing to try and finally seize Taiwan. Iran is getting closer to a nuclear bomb that they wish to use on Israel. North Korea is increasing their aggressiveness toward South Korea. The world is a mess because the leader of the free world refuses to lead. If Putin loses this war, it will be because of Zelensky. If Putin wins, it is because the help Zelensky received was the bare minimum. The Neocons were right. The paleocons and anti-war left were always wrong. Meanwhile, Ukraine is soaked in blood because the cowards refuse to stop the evildoers. America’s military leaders are more interested in woke indoctrination than defense. Putin knows this. The decline of American military might has led to Russia potentially obliterating Ukraine from the map. That is the lead news story of 2022.

With God’s help, may 2023 be peaceful. This would be bad for the news industry but great for the civilized world.

eric

Posted in POLITICS | Comments Closed

NFL 2022 Week 17 Prequel

December 28th, 2022

NFL 2022 Week 17 Prequel

Thursday, December 29, 2022, 8pm

Dallas Cowboys (-10) at Tennessee Titans — The 7-8 Titans have lost five straight, including last week at home to previously one—win Houston. They are tied atop the woeful AFC South bu do not hold the tie-breaker. The 11-4 Cowboys are coming off an emotional win over Philadelphia. The chance for a hangover is great and the spread is high given that Tennessee has a defense. Cowboys win but fail to cover

Sunday, January 1, 2023, 1pm

Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons (-3 1/2) — Both teams are done for the year and down to a backup and third string quarterbacks. Cordarelle Patterson is still a game-breaker. Go with the home field. Falcons win but fail to cover.

Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions (-5 1/2) — The 7-8 Lions still have faint playoff hopes. The Bears are long done. Inside the dome at home, go with the fast-paced Detroit offense. Lions cover

Jacksonville Jaguars (-4) at Houston Texans — The 7-8 Jaguars are tied atop the horrible AFC South and hold the tie-breaker. The Texans have only won twice, including last week at Tennessee. The Texans lose close games. Trevor Lawrence is on a mission and Doug Pederson has them ahead of schedule. Jaguars win but fail to cover

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (-13 1/2) — Forget the high spread. The 12-3 Chiefs are tied for the conference lead but do not hold the tie-breaker. The Broncos were obliterated last week by 37 points, getting Nathaniel Hackett and a pair of assistants fired. The Broncos defense normally fights hard, but the Chiefs are on a mission and Patrick Mahomes is playing lights out. Chiefs cover

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (-2 1/2) — The Dolphins have lost four straight to fall to 8-7. They still make the playoffs if they win out. The Patriots have lost consecutive games to drop to 7-8 and the brink of playoff elimination. The home team usually wins this game. The Patriots win with defense and running the ball. Go with the home field and the cold weather. Patriots cover

Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants (-5) — The 8-6-1 Giants are in the playoff picture. The Colts are not. The Giants never win easily. Saquon Barkley runs well but Daniel Jones does not engineer blowouts. The Colts lose close games. Giants win but fail to cover

New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles (-7) — The Saints at 6-9 are only one game back in the lowly NFC South. The 13-2 Eagles have the best record in football but have not locked up their division. They lead the conference by one game and are closing non home field advantage. The Eagles will be angry after losing at archival Dallas last week. Gardner Minshew is not Jalen Hurts, but he is good enough. With Hurts or Minshew, this is a mismatch. Eagles cover

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3) — The 6-9 Panthers trail the 7-8 Buccaneers in the bad NFC South. Tom Brady has never had a losing season. The Panthers have a decent defense. The Buccaneers barely survived lowly Arizona. Rooting against Brady could be a fool’s errand, but with weather not being a factor, go with the Carolina defense. Upset special, Panthers win outright

Cleveland Browns at Washington Commanders (-2 1/2) — The Browns are done. The Commanders at 7-7-1 are desperate. Last week Taylor Heinecke was benched in favor of Carson Wentz. With nothing to play for but pride, the Browns will not pose a threat. The Commanders have everything to play for and will. Commanders cover

4pm

San Francisco 49ers (-5 1/2) at Las Vegas Raiders — The 49ers have a suffocating defense and Brock Purdy is the best Mr. Irrelevant in NFL history. Josh McDaniels needed two years to destroy Denver, but he has taken a wrecking ball to the Raiders in one season. Now McDaniels is announcing the official destruction of the team by benching Derek Carr. Jarrett Stidham will get the nod despite never starting an NFL game. The Carr benching will upset Davante Adams. Josh Jacobs already wants out. Al Davis is rolling over in his grave. McDaniels is as McDaniels does. 49ers cover

New York Jets (-2 1/2) at Seattle Seahawks — Both teams are on life support. Zach Wilson has been benched, most likely for good. Mike White returns rom injury. The Jets have the better defense. Geno Smith would love to beat the team that gave up on him. Pete Carroll would love to get revenge on the team that fired him. Go with the vengeance motive and the 12th man home crowd. Seahawks cover

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (-3) — The 12-3 Vikings are one game back in the conference race for home field advantage. The Packers have won three straight and at 7-8 have slim playoff hopes. The Vikings are the better team with explosive offensive weapons, but Aaron Rodgers is on a mission. The Packers are desperate and at home. Packers cover

Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers (-6 1/2) — The Rams get a de facto extra home game. The Rams obliterated Denver by 37 points last week in an otherwise forgettable season. The 9-6 Chargers clinched a playoff birth. Justin Herbert has too many weapons and the Rams are injury-riddled. Yet the spread is too high for a team that wins ugly. There might be more Rams fans in the stands. Chargers win but fail to cover

8pm

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (-3) — The 7-8 Steelers survived their Immaculate Reception rematch and now face a 10-5 Ravens team that has struggled in recent weeks without Lamar Jackson. With these teams, throw out the records. Home field does not matter. The Raiders are in the playoffs but hurting. The Steelers have won four of five as Mike Tomlin seeks to avoid his first losing season. Go with the healthier team unafraid of a hostile environment. The Steelers are built for running the football in cold weather. Upset special, Steelers win outright

January 2, 2023, 8pm

Buffalo Bills (-1) at Cincinnati Bengals — This is the biggest match between these teams since 1988. The 12-3 Bills are tied atop the AFC and own the tie-breaker in the race for home field advantage. The 11-4 Bengals are one game back. This is a heavyweight prize fight. Josh Allen and Joe Burrow are both for real. Both teams have a good defense. In cold weather, expect a hard-nosed fight. These teams are dead even, so go with the home field. Upset special, Bengals win outright

 

eric

Posted in SPORTS | Comments Closed

NFL 2022 Week 16 Recap

December 23rd, 2022

NFL 2022 Week 16 Recap

Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets was the Thursday night game. The 6-8 Jaguars took on the 7-7 Jets in a battle for playoff survival. The Jaguars entered only one game back in the woeful AFC South while the Jets can only hope for a wildcard. On the 3rd play from scrimmage facing 3rd and 6 at their own 29, Trevor Lawrence was sacked and fumbled. The Jets took over at the Jacksonville 16, lost 3 yards, and settled for a 37 yard Greg Zuerlein field goal. The Jets led 3-0 less than 90 seconds into the game. Their offense took the remaining 58 1/2 minutes off. After a touchback, the Jaguars moved to a 3rd and 3 at the Jets 14. Lawrence threw incomplete. Riley Patterson hit a 32 yard field goal to make it 3-3. The Jaguars got it back at their own 4 yard line. Lawrence hit Hasty for 11, Evan Engram for 14, and Arnold for 17. Lawrence scrambled for 13. Etienne ran for one, 9, 4, 9, and one. On 3rd and goal at the one, Lawrence got in to cap the 16 play, 96 yard, 8 1/2 minute drive and make it 10-3 Jaguars in the second quarter. The rest of the game belonged to the Jags defense and Patterson. Robert Saleh benched Zach Wilson in the third quarter and went with 4th string quarterback Chris Streveler to no avail. Patterson hit from 45 in the second quarter, from 41 in the third quarter, and from 47 in the fourth quarter. Both teams are 7-8 on the year. 19-3 Jets

Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens — The 5-9 Falcons entered only one game back in the wretched AFC South. The Ravens were 9-5 but were struggling on offense without Lamar Jackson. The Ravens took over at midfield and Tyler Huntley went deep to newly acquired Sammy Watkins for 40. The Ravens settled for a 21 yard Justin Tucker field goal to lead 3-0. Tucker then had a 55 yard try blocked but hit from 27 in the second quarter to make it 6-0 Ravens. The Ravens recovered an Atlanta fumble at their own 30. John Harbaugh went straight ground and pound. Edwards gained 11 and 5. Huntley added 14. JK Dobbins added 14, 5 and 2. On 3rd and 3 from the Atlanta 25, Huntley gained 5. On 3rd and 3 from the Atlanta 12, Huntley gained 4. On 3rd and goal from the 6, Huntley hit DeMarcus Robinson for the touchdown. The only completed pass on the 13 play, 70 yard, 7 minute drive made it 14-0 Ravens when Huntley ran in the 2 point conversion. That was the only touchdown in this ugly game. Younghoe Koo hit a 32 yard field goal for the Falcons on the lsat play of the half and a 34 yarder midway through the third quarter to get the Falcons within 14-6. Tucker hit from 21 one minute into the fourth quarter to make it 17-6 Ravens. Koo hit from 37 to get the Falcons within 8 with 2:03 to play. Edwards from his own 28 ran for 3 and 8 as the Ravens ran out the clock. The 10-5 Ravens clinched a playoff birth but are one game back in the AFC North. 17-9 Ravens

Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers — The Lions started 1-6 but have gone 6-1 since and at 7-7 entered with playoff possibilities. The 5-9 Panthers were only one game back in the awful NFC South. The Panthers began at their own 22. On the first play from scrimmage, Chuba Hubbard got around the end for a 30 yard gain. 2 plays later Hubbard carries again for a 35 yard gain. On a drive with 0 pass attempts, Raheem Blackshear ran for a 7 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Panthers. Eddie Pineiro kicked the ensuing kickoff out of bounds to set up the Lions at their own 40. On 3rd and 10, Jared Goff went deep to DJ Chark for 39. On 3rd and 6 from the Carolina 17, Goff went to Amra St. Brown for 13. Goff hit Zylstra for a 3 yard touchdown to make it 7-7.

The Lions got it back and moved from their own 9 on a 13 play, 82 yard, 7 minute drive. The Lions had a chance to take the lead on 1st and goal at the 8 to start the second quarter. Instead Goff fumbled the snap and Gross-Matos recovered for the Panthers at their own 9. Sam Darnold hit Tommy Tremble for 18. Donta Foreman ripped off a 38 yard gain. On 3rd and 3 from the Detroit 28, Darnold went to Thomas for 12. Darnold then ran for 13 and for the 3 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 Panthers. The Panthers got it back at their own 8 and followed up a 91 yard drive with a 92 yard drive that took 11 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. Darnold went deep to Marshall for 36. Foreman ran for 21. On 4th and 1 from the Detroit 26, Steve Wilks went for it and Darnold gained 3. Darnold hit Blacksheer for 12. Foreman ran for a 4 yard touchdown to make it 21-7 Panthers with 2:08 left in the half.

The Panthers got it back at their own 14 with one minute left and quickly moved to the Detroit 18. Pineiro hit from 37 to make it 24-7 Panthers to end the half. The Panthers got it back at their own 26 in the third quarter. Foreman ran for 15. On 3rd and 13 from their own 48, Darnold went deep to DJ moore for 47. Darnold then went to Moore for the 5 yard touchdown to make it 31-7 Panthers. At this point the Panthers coasted. The Lions reached the end zone one in the third quarter and once in the fourth quarter, but Pineiro added two more field goals in the fourth quarter to put the Panthers up by 17 with 1:56 left. The Lions got one more field goal in the waning seconds but fell to 7-8. The Panthers at 6-9 are still alive for their division crown. 37-23 Panthers

 

Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears — The 11-3 Bills were taking on a horrendous Bears team. The Bears began at their own 36. Justin Fields hit Byron Pringle for 20 and David Montgomery ran for 28. On 3rd and goal from the 6, Fields hit Dante Pettis for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Bears. The Bills took over at their own 29. Josh Allen went to Dawson Knox for 24. On 3rd and 6 from the Chicago 43, Allen scrambled for 10. On 1st and 20 after offensive holding, Cook ran for 24. Allen hit Gabe Davis for a 19 yard touchdown. The extra point try by Tyler Bass was no good as the Bills trailed 7-6. Cairo Santos hit a 37 yard field goal for the Bears with 3 1/2 minutes left in the half. With one minute left Bass missed a 38 yard field goal try as the Bears had the surprising 10-6 lead into the break. The second half brought the reality check.

The Bills began the third quarter at their own 14. Allen hit Stefan Diggs for 15. On 3rd and 2 from their own 37, Allen hit Devin Singletary for 10. On 3rd and 1 from the Chicago 44, Allen ran for 11. Singletary then ripped off a 33 yard touchdown run. Sean McDermott went for a 2 point conversion try, and Allen hit Shakir successfully to put the Bills up 14-10. The Bears then fumbled to set up the Bills at the Chicago 35. On 3rd and 2, Cook ran for a 27 yard touchdown to make it 21-10 Bills. An interception of Allen set up the Bears at the Buffalo 18. Yet all the Bears could muster was a 35 yard field goal to get within 21-13 with 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation. The Bills got it back at their own 44. Singletary ran for 8 and then 25 more. On 3rd and 8 from the Chicago 20, Allen hit Hines for 9. On 3rd and 3 from the Chicago 4, Allen ran it in to put the Bills up 28-13 with 3:45 left. The Bears turned it over on downs at their own 20. On 4th and 3, Allen hit Knox for a 13 yard touchdown with one minute left. The Bills outscored the Bears 29-3 in the second half. After 20 years out of the playoffs, the 12-3 Bills this decade have clinched the AFC East for the 3rd straight year. 35-13 Bills

 

New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns — The 5-9 Saints entered only one game back in the awful NFC South while the 6-8 Browns were in a desperate spot. The bad weather led to a scoreless first quarter. An interception of Red rifle Andy Dalton set up the Browns at the Saints 30. On the first play of the second quarter on 3rd and 3 from the Saints 12, Deshaun Watson ran for the touchdown to make it 7-0 Browns. The Browns got it back at their own 28 and embarked on a mind-numbing 17 play, 60 yard, 9 minute drive. Yet on 1st and 10 from the Saints 12, a pair of Watson incompletions sandwiched around a failed run meant a 30 yard Cade York field goal had the Browns up 10-0 with 4 minutes left in the half.

The Saints took over at their own 27 and moved 68 yards in 10 plays. On 3rd and 4 from the Cleveland 7, a run by Taysom Hill only gained 2 yards. Wil Lutz hit a 23 yard field goal to get the Saints within 10-3 at halftime. The Saints began the third quarter facing 3rd and 1 from their own 42. Alvin Kamara gained 14. On 3rd and 5 from the Cleveland 39, Dalton hit Shaheed for 14. Hill gained 13. Hill ran for an 8 yard touchdown to make it 10-10. An interception of Watson set up the Saints at the Cleveland 15. On 3rd and 8, Dalton hit Johnson for 9. Kamara ran for a 4 yard touchdown to put the Saints up by 7 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter the Browns moved from their own 10 to a 4th and 2 at their own 39. Watson threw incomplete. The defense held and the Browns got it back at their own 20 with 5 minutes. They needed 18 plays and moved to a 1st and 10 at the Saints 15 with 43 seconds left. Watson threw 3 straight incompletions. On 4th and 10, Watson was sacked. Both teams are 6-9, but the Brown are done. 17-10 Saints

 

Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs —The 7-7 Seahawks walked around shirtless pregame in subzero temperatures. The 11-3 Chiefs were not impressed. The Chiefs took over at their own 37. Pacheco ran for 7, 5 and 5. Patrick Mahomes hit Jerick McKinnon for 16. On 3rd and 1 from the Seattle 16, Pacheco gained 3. Mahomes hit Kadarius Toney for an 8 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Chiefs. In the second quarter the Chiefs took over at their own 47. Mahomes went to McKinnon and Travis Kelce for a pair of 6 yard gains. On 3rd and 5 from the Seattle 36, Mahomes went to Kelce for 27. Mahomes went to McKinnon for a 9 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Chiefs. The Chiefs got it back at their own 28 and moved to a 3rd and 5 at the Seattle 29. Mahomes threw incomplete. Harrison Butker hit a 47 yard field goal to make it 17-0 Chiefs. The Seahawks managed a field goal before the half, but they were overmatched. An interception of Geno Smith set the Chiefs up at their own 20. Mahomes went to Kelce for 20 and again for a gain of 52. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Mahomes ran it in to make it 24-3 Chiefs with 5 minutes left. The Seahawks reached the end zone once but fell to 7-8. While they do not hold the tie-breaker, the 12-3 Chiefs are tied atop the conference. This makes Andy Reid a most happy Walrus indeed. 24-10 Chiefs

 

New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings — The 8-5-1 Giants got a big win at Washington last week. The 11-3 Vikings made NFL history last week by overcoming a 33-0 third quarter deficit to win in overtime 39-36. The Vikings began at their own 16. Kirk Cousins went to Justin Jefferson for 25 and again for 13. Dalvin Cook ran for 6 and 8. Cousins went to TJ Hockenson for 8 and again for a 12 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Vikings. After a touchback, the Giants moved to the Minnesota 39. On the first play of the second quarter, Daniel Jones went to Bellinger for 16 but fumbled the ball away. The Vikings took over at their own 36. They moved 10 plays in 5 minutes. On 3rd and 3 from the Giants 16, Cousins was sacked. Greg Joseph hit a 40 yard field goal to make it 10-0 Vikings.The Giants took over at their own 31. Jones hit James for 12 and Saquon Barkley for 7. Barkley ran for 7 and 3. Jones hit Barkley for 7. Jones then ran for 14. Jones went to Isaiah Hodgins for a 7 yard touchdown to cap the 10 play, 69 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive to get the Giants within 10-7. Graham Gano hit a pair of 44 yard field goal in the third quarter to have the Giants up after three quarters. The fourth quarter was wild.

After a touchback, Cousins hit Mundt for 16. Cousins went to Jefferson for 17. On 3rd and 5 from the Giants 25, Cousins hit Jefferson for just enough as the third quarter ended. The fourth quarter began with the Vikings facing 3rd and 5 from the Giants 15. Cousins hit Hockenson for the touchdown to make it 17-13 Vikings. Jones was intercepted but the Vikings then turned it over on downs. The Giants from their own 45 moved to a 2nd and 5 at the Giants 37. Barkley gained nothing and Jones threw incomplete. Gano nailed a 55 yard field goal to get the Giants within 17-16 with 6 1/2 minutes left in regulation.

The Giants got it back but quickly had to punt from their own 31. Gillan had his punt blocked, setting the Vikings up at the Giants 29. On 3rd and 10 from the Giants 17, Cousins went to Jefferson for the touchdown. with 3minutes left the Vikings led 24-16. The Giants soon faced 3rd and 2 from their own 33, Jones hit Darrius Slayton for 32. With 2:01 left, the Giants were down to their last gasp facing 4th and 2 at the Giants 27. Barkley ran for the touchdown. Jones hit Bellinger for the 2 point conversion and a 24-24 game. The Vikings faced 3rd and 9 from their own 26. Cousins went to Jefferson for 16. With 19 seconds left the Vikings faced 3rd and 11 from their own 41. Cousins went to Jefferson for 17 and spiked the ball to stop the clock with 4 seconds left. Jospeh came in for a field goal to try and win it, but from 61 yards out. Joseph was good. The 12-3 Vikings are one game back in the conference with 2 games left. The Giants are alive but are not in the playoffs yet. 27-24 Vikings

Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots — The 10-4 Bengals overcame a 17 point deficit last week. The Patriots lost to the Raiders on an insane lateral gone bad to fall to 7-7. This was a tale of 2 different games. The Bengals began at their own 22. Joe Burrow went to Wilcox for 8, to Tee Higgins for 39, to Joe Mixon for 17, and to Higgins again for a 9 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Bengals led 6-0. The Bengals got it back at their own 41. On 3rd and 3 from the New England 41, Burrow ran for 5. On 3rd and 1 from the New England 27, Mixon gained 4. Burrow went to Trenton Irwin for a 23 yard touchdown. The point try failed but the Bengals led 12-0.

The Bengals got the ball back just shy of midfield and moved to a 1st and goal at the 2. Mixon ran it in but offensive holding nullified the touchdown. The second quarter began with Evan McPherson hitting a 28 yard field goal to make it 15-0 Bengals. The Bengals got the ball back at their own 20 with 2:06 left in the half. Burrow hit JaMarr Chase for 11. On 3rd and 1 from his own 40, Burrow went to Wilcox for 10. A defensive facemask added 15. On 3rd and 8 from the New England 33, Burrow hit Tyler Boyd for 9. Burrow went to Higgins for 16. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Burrow went to Irwin for the touchdown. With 14 seconds left in the half, the Bengals were dominating 22-0. The second half was a completely different ballgame.

In the third quarter the Bengals took over from their own 45 looking to deliver the knockout blow. On 3rd and 1 from the New England 32, Burrow hit Mixon for 2. Yet offensive holding instead meant 3rd and 11. Burrow found Marcus Jones. Problem: Jones plays defense for the Patriots. Jones returned the interception 69 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was no good but the Patriots were within 22-6. The Patriots got the ball back at their own 23. Mac Jones hit Jakobi Meyers for 11. On 3rd and 7 from their own 40, Jones hit Kendrick Bourne for 19 as the third quarter ended. The fourth quarter began with the Patriots facing 3rd and 10 from the Cincinnati 41. Jones went to Bourne for 32. On 3rd and goal at the 5, Jones hit Bourne for the touchdown. The 2 pain try failed, but with 13 minutes left in regulation the Patriots were within 22-12.

The Bengals moved from their own 27 to a 3rd and 4 at the New England 25. Burrow threw incomplete. With 9 minutes left, McPherson’s 43 yard field goal try was no good. The Patriots soon faced 3rd and 1 from their own 42. Rhamondre Stevenson got the yard. Jones went to Bourne for a 28 yard gain. Intentional grounding and a false start had the Patriots facing 3rd and 29 at the Cincinnati 48. One more stop would pretty much end the game. Instead. Jones connected with Meyers on a 48 yard touchdown. Nick Folk missed his 2nd extra point but the Patriots were within 4 points with 6 minutes left.

After a touchback, the Bengals faced faced 3rd and 3 from their own 44 with 3:12 to play. A short completion from Burrow to Chase was fumbled. The Patriots had a short field at the Cincinnati 43 with a chance for a comeback for the ages. With one minute left in regulation the Patriots had 1st and goal at the 5. Stevenson got the carry and fumbled. The Bengals recovered. The Patriots took all 3 timeouts on defense and got the ball back with 30 seconds to play at their own 24. With 9 seconds left, on 4th and 15 from their own 34, Jones threw deep incomplete. The Patriots were game, but they are now 7-8 and up against the wall. The 11-4 Bengals are in the playoffs and lead the AFC North by one game. 22-18 Bengals

 

Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans — The 7-7 Titans came in having lost 4 straight, but all they needed to do was beat the worst team in the NFL at home. The Texans had only one once all year but did play two of the very best teams in the league tough the last couple weeks. Malik Willis got the start in place of an injured ryan Tannehill. In the first quarter Mike Vrabel gambled with the Titans facing 4th and 1 just shy of midfield. Willis gained 3. On the next play Derrick Henry rumbled for a 48 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Titans. The Texans soon faced 3rd and 3 from their own 32. Davis Mills gained 4. Driskel came in for a play and hit Jordan for 15. Mills came back in and on 3rd and 2 from his own 38 went deep to Akins for 30. On 3rd and goal at the 6, Mills kept it, gained 5, fumbled the ball, and was bailed out when Rex Burkhead fell on it in the end zone for a touchdown the hard way. The 11 play, 75 yard, 6 minute drive made it 7-7.

The Texans got it back to start the second quarter at their own 41. They move 52 yards in 13 plays and over 8 minutes. Yet on 2nd and 7 from the Tennessee 9, Mills threw incomplete followed by a completion that gained only 2 yards. Kaimi Fairbairn hit the 25 yard field goal to make it 10-7 Texans. In the third quarter the Texans moved from their own 28 to a 4th and 1 at the Tennessee 47. Lovie Smith gambled, brought Driskel in for one play again, and saw him get stopped for no gain. Mike Vrabel went ground and pound. Willis gained 12. Henry added 6. Burks gained 15. Henry added 6 more. Willis ran for the 14 yard touchdown. Without a single pass, the Titans took a 14-10 lead. Mills was then intercepted, but on 4th and 8 from the Houston 38, Willis threw incomplete.

The defenses dug in. The Titans took over at their own 31 and began the fourth quarter with 1st and 10 from the Houston 44. Then came the key play in the game. Henry gained 6 but coughed it up. The Texans recovered at their own 42. They moved 54 yards in 10 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. Yet on 2nd and goal at the 6, Mills was sacked. Then a short pass only ga8ined 5 yards. Midway through the fourth quarter on 4th and goal at the 4, Lovie Smith opted for the field goal. Fairbairn hit from 22 to get the Texans within 14-13. The Texans got it back at their own 27. Mills hit Jordan for 6, Dorsett for 20, and Rodgers for 37. Mills went to Brandin Cooks for a 6 yard touchdown. The 2 point try failed but the Texans led by 5 with 3 minutes left. After a touchback, the Titans moved to a 1st and 10 at the Houston 45. Willis was intercepted. The Titans got the ball back with 1:10 left and one timeout, but pinned at their own 4. With 5 seconds left, the Texans were at the Houston 43. Willis’s Hail Mary reached the end zone but was intercepted. The Titans lost their 5th straight to fall to 7-8. They’re AFC South lead evaporated. They are tied for the division lead but do not hold the tie-breaker. 19-14 Titans

 

Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers — The Commanders were on a tear in recent weeks but suffered a home defeat to the Giants to fall to 7-6-1 and in dire straights. The 10-4 49ers were charging toward the playoffs with Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy and a nasty defense. The 49ers did manage to move from their own 35 to a 3rd and 1 at the Washington 15, but David-Price got stopped. Kyle Shanahan gambled, and on 4th and 1 Christian McCaffrey got stopped as well. The Commanders from that spot went on a mind-numbing 17 play drive that moved them 84 yards and took a ridiculous 11 minutes off the clock. On 3rd and goal at the one, Robinson got stopped. Riverboat Ron Rivera went for it. On 4th and goal at the one out of the shotgun, Antonio Gibson also got stopped cold. The goal line stand in the second quarter kept the game scoreless.

From their own one, McCaffrey gained 3 and 9. On 3rd and 9 from his own 14, Purdy hit Jennings for 15. With 6 1/2 minutes left in the half, Ray-Ray McCloud broke free for a 71 yard touchdown run. The 99 yard drive made it 7-0 49ers. The 49ers got it back at their own 14 and this time Purdy was quickly intercepted. The Commanders took over at the San Francisco 31. On 3rd and 5, Taylor Heinecke hit Jahan Dotson for 9. On 3rd and 14 from the San Francisco 21, Heinecke hit Curtis Samuel for exactly 14. With 22 seconds left in the half, Heinecke went to Dotson for a 4 yard touchdown. The game was tied 7-7. Yet while the first half was a defensive bonelock, the second half was more wide open.

The 49ers took over in the third quarter at their own 24. Purdy went to Brandon Aiyuk for 13 and George Kittle for 13 more. McCaffrey gained 3, 7 and 4. On 3rd and 4 from the Washington 34, Purdy went to Kittle for the touchdown to make it 14-7 49ers. With 6 minutes left in the third quarter of a close game, Riverboat ron Rivera gambled on 4th and 1 from his own 34. Heinecke got stopped cold and the 49ers had a short field. 2 plays later Purdy went to Kittle for a 33 yard touchdown to make it 21-7 49ers.

After a touchback, the Commanders struck quickly. Heinecke went to Dotson for 18 and then went deep to Terry McLaurin for 51. Heinecke went back to McLaurin for a 3 yard touchdown to get the Commanders within 21-14. A penalty on the kicking team had the 49ers set up at their own 40. Purdy connected with Aiyuk for a 54 yard gain. Yet on 2nd and goal at the 5, a sack of Purdy and a false start killed the drive. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Robbie Gould hit a 26 yard field goal to make it 24-14 49ers. A Commanders fumble led to Gould hitting from 23 with 12 minutes left in regulation. An interception of Heinecke meant another short field and a third Gould field goal to make it 30-14 49ers with 9 minutes left.

Heinecke was benched in favor of Carson Wentz. Wentz moved the Commanders 82 yards and threw a 20 yard touchdown to Samuel to get the Commanders within 30-20 with 5 1/2 minutes left. The 2 point conversion try failed, and so did the onside kick. Yet another short field had the 49ers at the Washington 33. McCaffrey ran for a one yard touchdown with just over 2 minutes left to lock up the win. The 7-7-1 Commanders are in trouble while the 11-4 49ers are NFC West champions. With their defense, they could make a deep playoff run. 37-20 49ers

 

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys — The 13-1 Eagles took on the 10-4 Cowboys in a high stakes game for both teams. A win for the Eagles would give them the NFC East title and give them a near stranglehold in the race for home field throughout the playoffs. The Cowboys suffered a shocking loss last week at Jacksonville when they blew a 17-point second half lead. The Eagles would have to play this game without the injured Jalen Hurts. It was Minshew mustache mania as Gardner Minshew got the start. This was a heavyweight title fight. The Eagles after a touchback moved to a 2nd and 9 at the Dallas 10. A run went nowhere and then Minshew only gained 3 more. Jake Elliott hit the 25 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Eagles. After a touchback, the Cowboys were soon at their own 47. Dak Prescott was intercepted by Josh Sweat, who returned the pick 42 yards for a defensive touchdown to make it 10-0 Eagles.

The Cowboys soon faced 3rd and 5 at their own 30. Prescott gained 13. On 3rd and 5 from their own 48, Prescott hit Michael Gallup for 8 and Tony Pollard for 9. Prescott ran for 10. Pollard then caught a pass from Prescott for 9 and ran for 8 more down to the one. Ezekiel Elliot got the last yard to culminate the 14 play, 75 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive and get the Cowboys within 10-7. Three plays after a touchback on 2nd and 12 from his own 43, Minshew was intercepted by Kearse. The Cowboys took over at the Philadelphia 47. On 4th and 8, Mike McCarthy decided to go for it. Prescott threw incomplete but defensive illegal contact was a killer penalty that meant a new set of downs. On 3rd and 6 from the Philly 36, Prescott went to CeeDee Lamb for the touchdown and the 14-10 Cowboys lead in the second quarter.

The Eagles took over at their own 26 and Minshew went to Dallas Goedert for 25 and Quez Watkins for 19. On 3rd and 5 from the Dallas 25, Minshew went to AJ Brown for 7. Kenneth Gainwell picked up 11, 4 and 2, but on 3rd and goal at the one, Gainwell was stopped. Kevin Sirianni gambled, and on 4th and goal at the one, Minshew got in for the touchdown to make it 17-14 Eagles. The Cowboys after a touchback moved 72 yards in 13 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. Yet on 3rd and goal at the 3, Prescott threw incomplete. With 1:149 left in the half, Mike McCarthy was not in a gambling mood. Brett Maher hit the 21 yard field for a 17-17 tie.

After a touchback, the Eagles quickly moved 46 yards in 10 plays. With 24 seconds left the Eagles had 1st and 10 at the Dallas 24. After a false start, Minshew threw 3 straight incompletions. With 6 seconds left, Elliott hit a 47 yard field goal to put the Eagles up 20-17 at the intermission. The Eagles took over in the third quarter at their own 23. Minshew went to Goedert for 22. On 3rd and 9 from their own 46, Minshew found Gainwell for 20. Minshew hot Brown for 12. On 3rd and 2 from the Dallas 13, a run lost a yard. Kevin Sirianni gambled on 4th and 3 rather than just take the short field goal. The gamble paid off as Minshew hit DeVonta Smith for the 14 yard touchdown. The Eagles had breathing room up 27-17.

The Cowboys soon faced 4th and 1 at their own 34. Mike McCarthy gambled. Both coaches were taking big risks on offense, but given how well both offense were playing, these decisions were not completely crazy. Elliott ripped off a 22 yard gain. Yet on 2nd and 5 from the Philadelphia 26, Pollard got stopped for no gain. Then Prescott threw incomplete. Maher hit the 44 yard field goal to get the Cowboys within 27-20. Minshew had been playing well, but 2 plays later a touchback from his own 40, Minshew fumbled a shotgun snap. The Cowboys recovered for a short field at the Philly 31. Prescott went to Dalton Schultz for 21. On 3rd and goal at the 12, Prescott went to Gallup for the score. This thriller of a game was tied 27-27 after three quarters.

The Eagles soon faced 3rd and 2 at their own 33. After gained 5 and 3, this time Miles Sanders got the deuce. Minshew then went to Smith for 16 as the Eagles began the fourth quarter facing 3rd and 10 just past midfield. Minshew went to Smith for 19. On 3rd and 6 from the Dallas 26, Minshew hit Brown for 14. On 3rd and 7 from the Dallas 9, Minshew went to Smith for the touchdown. With 10 minutes left in regulation, The 13 play, 75 yard, 7 1/2 minute drive had the Eagles up 34-27. After a touchback, Prescott went to Ferguson for 24. Yet consecutive sacks of Prescott had the Cowboys facing 3rd and 30 at their own 29. Prescott may not be Roger Staubach, but the Cowboys needed a Hail Mary and got one. An inexcusable lapse by the Philadelphia defense allowed Prescott to go to newly acquired speedster TY Hilton for a 52 yard gain. Prescott then went to Pollard for 13. Prescott hit Lamb for a 7 yard touchdown. With 6 minutes left in regulation, this shootout was tied for the third time at 34-34.

Minshew and Prescott had been going blow for blow. The Eagles took over at their own 22 and moved to a 3rd and 4 at the Dallas 46 with 4 1/2 minutes left. The Eagles were one first down from long field goal range. Yet Minshew was then intercepted. The Cowboys moved from their own 40 to a 3rd and 5 at the Philly 29. Prescott threw incomplete. From 48 yard out, Maher was good as the third lead change of the game had the Cowboys up 37-34 with 2:19 left. One play after a touchback, Sanders fumbled. The Cowboys recovered at the Philly 21. Prescott quickly gained 16 as the Cowboys were 5 yards from icing the game. Instead Prescott got sacked. On 4th and goal at the 3, Mike Mccarthy lined up to go for it, but the Eagles were not fooled. After a delay of game penalty, Maher hit the 26 yard field goal. The Cowboys led by 6.

Yet despite consecutive turnovers, the Eagles after a touchback had 1:41 to work with. The Eagles moved to a 1st and 10 at the Dallas 19. Minshew then spiked the ball to stop the clock with 33 seconds left. The Cowboys took timeouts on defense, figuring that if the Eagles took the lead, the Cowboys could still try and get a long field goal. A pair of incompletions set up 4th and 10 with 20 seconds left. Minshew went to the end zone and threw his 3rd straight incompletion. The offensive shootout was decided by a late defensive stand. Both quarterbacks torched the opposing defense. Minshew was 24 of 40 for 355 yards, 2 touchdowns, but 2 costly interceptions. Prescott was 27 of 35 for 347 yards, 3 touchdowns, and one interception. The 13-2 Eagles and 11-4 Cowboys are both in the playoffs. The Eagles still have not clinched the AFC East. They now only have a one game lead in the race for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Yet they nearly won with a backup quarterback on the road against a very good division foe. A rubber match in the playoffs would be well worth watching, as both teams expect to see each other in the playoffs. 40-34 Cowboys

 

Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers was the Saturday night Christmas Eve game. This game was supposed to honor the 50 year anniversary of what Steelers fans call the Immaculate Reception and the Raiders refer to as the Immaculate Deception. Whatever one thinks of the play, real life tragedy took center stage before the game. Franco Harris was supposed to be at the stadium to have his number retired. He would be only the third player in Steelers history to receive that honor. On the Tuesday before the game, he did radio interviews talking about how excited he was. Then Wednesday morning, just like that, he was gone. Died. The entire football world was leaving, but for the Steelers it was an unfathomable shock. Franco Harris was only 72. He had no outward signs that anything was wrong with him.

Yet this was also a football game between a pair of desperate 6-8 teams clinging to playoff life. The Steelers under Mike Tomlin had never had a losing season. They started 3-7 but came in having won 3 of 4. As for the Riders, they started 2-7 under Josh McDaniels but came in winners of 4 of their last 5. Yet the Raiders had been plagued all season by blown fourth quarter leads and blow double digit leads. Every time it was the same patters. The offense would get one touchdown, take the rest of the night off, and rely on the defense to save them. The defense would get exhausted in the fourth quarter until the collapse was complete.

The reasons ere always the same. The Raiders blew a 17 point lead twice and even a 20 point lead once because of Josh McDaniels refusing to run the football with a lead. When the other team knows you are going to run the football, and you know that they know this, you run the football anyway. That sends a message. It is called in football terms imposing your will. Mike Tomlin runs the football. McDaniels prefers dink and dunk West Coast Offense passes that do not close out games. In the fourth quarter with a lead, it is imperative to run the football. In brutal cold weather and in snow, it is vital to run the football. This game was played with snow coming down. Yet McDaniels far too often abandoned the run. Just like 50 years ago, this game was a defensive slugfest that did the football elders of both teams proud.

The Raiders began at their own 28 and Josh McDaniels smartly began letting his battering ram Josh Jacobs batter away. Jacobs gained 4, 7 and 2. Derek Carr then went to Foster Moreau for 10. Jacobs gained another 11. On 3rd and 1 from the Pittsburgh 29, Carr took the quarterback sneak and got the tough yard. A sack of Carr had the Raiders facing 3rd and 16 at the Pittsburgh 34. Yet Carr calmly went to Amir Abdullah for 17. On 3rd and 7 from the Pittsburgh 14, Carr fred a very short pass to Hunter Renfrow at the sideline. Renfrow made a ridiculous move to fake out the defender, stay inbounds, juke toward the middle of the field, and dive for the touchdown. Neither the snow, the cold, or the wave of emotion from the Steelers fans fazed the Raiders on that first drive. The 14 play, 72 yard drive took 8 1/2 minutes off the clock. The Raiders led 7-0. Unfortunately, the remaining 52 minutes were a mess on offense.

While the offense malfunctioned, the Raiders defense played inspired. The Steelers moved from their own 25 to a 3rd and 2 at the Raiders 23 in the second quarter. Jalen Warren got the carry and was blow up for a 2 yard loss. Chris Boswell came in for a 43 yard field goal try. His kick was no good. The Steelers got the ball back at their own 12 and moved 62 yards in 15 plays and 8 minutes. On 3rd and 8 from the Raiders 26, Kenny Pickett threw incomplete. This time from 44 yards out, Boswell was good. The Steelers were within 7-3 with 1:49 left in the half. Yet after a touchback, the Raiders got aggressive. Carr hit Moreau for 9 and Jacobs gained 10. On 3rd and 10 from their own 44, Carr went deep to Darren Waller for 34. On 1st and 10 from the Pittsburgh 22 with 24 seconds left, Carr threw 3 straight incompletions. Carlson came in with 5 seconds left hit a 40 yard field goal as the Raiders led 10-3 at halftime. Yet the Raiders spent the entire second half trying to protect that lead. The defense got no help from their offense.

In the third quarter the Steelers moved from their own 25 to a 1st and 10 at the Raiders 35. After a run lost a yard, the Raiders got a major brea. Pickett was intercepted by Denzel Perryman, who returned the pick 24 yards to the Pittsburgh 47. The Raiders had the lead and the ball. All they had to do was run the ball, gain a couple of first downs, and rely on one of the best kickers in the league. In this game, a 13-3 lead would be a big deal. Yet Josh McDaniels never learns. On the very next play, Carr threw a pass over the middle that should have been caught by Moreau. instead it bounced off of his hands and was intercepted right back b Maulet. Maulet returned the pick 12 yards to set up the Steelers at their own 44.

The Steelers moved to a 2nd and 3 at the Raiders 33. Yet a run lost 2 yards and a short completion gained only one. On 4th and 4, Mike Tomlin opted for the field goal from 52 yards out in less than ideal conditions. Again, Boswell was no good. Midway through the third quarter, the Raiders had gotten every break in the game. The Raiders moved from their own 42 to a 1st and 10 at the Pittsburgh 41. One more first down would give them long field goal range and a shot at a 2 score lead. Then came a false start. On 2nd and 12, Carr again threw over the middle and was again intercepted. This time Minkah Fitzpatrick saved the Steelers. Yet as great as the Steelers defense was playing, so was the Raider defense. The Steelers quickly went 3 and out.

The Raiders soon faced 3rd and 9 from their own 30. Carr went to Renfrow for 11. Then came a major play in the game. Jacobs took an end around for a 36 yard gain all the way to the Pittsburgh 23 and easily in field goal range. Yet a mindless offensive facemask penalty on Moreau wiped out the entire play. Instead, the Raiders had 2nd and 25. First Moreau dropped the pass that caused Carr’s first interception, and now he committed the team’s first penalty at the worst possible time. A shockingly clean game had 0 penalties in the first half. Yet this penalty was a killer. On 3rd and 12 from his own 39, Carr was sacked for a 13 yard loss. On the first play of the fourth quarter, things got worse for the Raiders. AJ Cole is a great punter in the tradition of Ray Guy and Shane Lechler, but punting in this weather was like trying to kick a brick. Cole shanked a 29 yard punt to give the Steelers the ball at their own 45.

The Steelers moved to a 2nd and 9 at the Raiders 24. Pickett threw incomplete and then completed a pass for only 2 yards. Again, the Raiders defense held. This time Boswell was good from 40 yards out. The Steelers were only down 10-6. With 10 minutes left, the Raiders needed to run the football. Yet Josh McDaniels is just too stubborn to stick with the run. The Steelers were putting 8 men in the box, but that is no excuse. Jacobs had been playing well all season when it mattered most. Now it mattered most. On 2nd and 8 from their own 42, McDaniels insisted on passing. Carr was sacked for a 10 yard loss to kill the drive. The Steelers got it back at their own 21 with a full 6 minutes left and a chance to win.

The Raiders defense had to be exhausted. Despite being down on the scoreboard, Mike Tomlin stuck with the run. Surely the Raiders defense would break. On 3rd and 1 from his own 30, this time it was Tomlin who decided to pass rather than go smash mouth. Pickett threw incomplete. With 4 1/2 minutes left, the home crowd booed as Tomlin chose to punt and trust his defense. This time Josh McDaniels put things in the hands of his bellcow Jacobs gained 5, but on 2nd and 5 was stopped for no gain. While running the ball on 3rd and 5 seems crazy, only 3 minutes remained. Another run would either take the clock down to 2:15 or force the Steelers to burn a timeout. McDaniels called another pass play and Carr threw incomplete. 3rd and 5 is normally a passing down, but in cold bad weather, with the defense expecting a pass, a run would have been justified. Instead, the Steelers got the ball back at their own 24 with 2:55 left and all 3 timeouts.

What came next was inevitable. Pickett hit Najee Harris for 6 and Pat Freiermuth for 17. as the clock hit the 2 minute warning. Pickett went to Freiermuth again for 10 more. Pickett then found Harris for 19. With 55 seconds left in regulation, the Steelers faced 4th and inches at the Raiders 15. The Raiders were the kings of failure to close out games, or FCO. Now their entire season was on the line. One stop would end the game. The entire world knew Tomlin was going to go straight up the gut, most likely a quarterback sneak. This was no time for finesse or trying to be cute. This was about sheer will. Pickett kept the ball and appeared stopped cold. After what seemed like forever, Pickett tried to lunge forward. The Raiders celebrated, believing he was short. His knee appeared down before he lunged. The game was over.

Yet 50 years after the Immaculate Deception, the Steelers received another gift from the officials. After a lengthy review, the Steelers were given the first down. The late Raiders coach John Madden once said that one knee equals two feet. Yet this time one knee down meant absolutely nothing. The call was that his knee was not down. The Raiders defense had bent all game, and as expected, they finally broke. On the next play Pickett went over the middle to George Pickens for a 14 yard touchdown. For 59 minutes, the Steelers trailed and had failed to reach the end zone. Yet now the Steelers had the 3 point lead. the Raiders had collapsed again.

The previous week the Raiders blew a 17-3 lead, fell behind 24-17 to New England, and saw Carr lead a stirring comeback. He tied the game 24-24 with 30 seconds left and then saw the Raiders win on the final play in bizarre fashion. This time the Raiders were at their own 29. They only had 43 seconds but they had all 3 timeouts. They only needed a field goal to force overtime. Carr went deep incomplete. On 2nd and 10, Carr went bombs away again. He had Renfrow open. Yet maybe because of the weather, or maybe because of the entire season being like this, Carr’s pass was wildly off the mark and intercepted by Sutton. 36 seconds remained and the Raiders still had all 3 timeouts. A run went nowhere as the Raiders took their first timeout. 25 seconds remained. This time Heyward ran for a 21 yard gain and went down inbounds. The game was over. The snow was still coming, but the Raiders season had melted.

The Steelers are 7-8 and still have playoff life and the chance to avoid Mike Tomlin’s first losing season. The 6-9 Raiders are finished. Making matters worse, this team as we know it may soon be finished as well. Owner Mark Davis will not fire Josh McDaniels. McDaniels is now talking of benching Carr and even trading him in the offseason. Jacobs is a free agent who ripped into McDaniels after the game without calling him out by name. Jacobs lambasted the decision to repeatedly try and throw the ball in cold snowy weather rather than pound the rock. Jacobs is the leading rusher in the NFL, but far too often this season the game has been taken out of his hands. Carr did have 3 interceptions, but he should not have been put in passing situations to begin with in these conditions. Losing Carr and Jacobs would gut the heart out of this team and leave only McDaniels, who has never had a winning season as a head coach. He inherited a playoff team and turned a playoff team into a losing team. Rather than get rid of McDaniels, Mr. Davis will choose McDaniels over Carr and Jacobs. The silver and black are in for some dark black times. For now, they have 2 more games and then 7 months to try and recover from the nightmarish 2022 season. 13-10 Steelers

Green Bay Packers at Miami Dolphins was the Sunday Christmas morning game. The Packers were 4-8 but came in winning 2 straight and barely alive in the playoff chase. The Dolphins began 8-3 but came in having lost 3 straight. The Dolphins began at their own 20 and moved to a 3rd and 3 at the Green bay 28. Tua Tagovailoa threw incomplete. Jason Sanders hit a 46 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Dolphins. The Packers got a jolt when Nixon returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards to the Miami 9. Yet on 2nd and goal at the 5, Rodgers was sacked. The Packers squandered the golden field position and settled for a 36 yard Mason Crosby field goal and a 3-3 game.

One play and 18 seconds later, the Dolphins had the 10-3 lead as Tagovailoa hit Jalen Waddle for an 84 yard touchdown. A surprise onside kick failed, setting up the Packers at their own 46. Aaron Rodgers went to Allen Lazard for 11 and Watson for 20. On 3rd and 8 from the Miami 15, Rodgers ran for 12. On 4th and goal at the one, Matt LaFleur decided to go for it. Rodgers hit Marcedes Lewis for the score and a 10-10 game.The Packers moved from their own 12 to a 4th and 1 at the Miami 37 in the second quarter. LaFleur went for it again and Rodgers threw deep incomplete.

The Dolphins got it back and soon faced 1st and 20 from their own 28. Tagovailoa went to Mike Gesicki for 24. Tagovailoa then went deep to Tyreek Hill for 52 yards down to the one. Wilson got in to make it 17-10 Dolphins. Matt LaFleur then gambled on a fake punt with the Packers facing 4th and 2 from their own 20. An direct snap up the midd gained nothing. Despite excellent field position, the Dolphins wasted it. On 2nd and goal at the 8, Tagovailoa was sacked. Sanders hit a 34 yard field goal to make it 20-10 Dolphins. The Dolphins got it back and faced 2nd and 2 just shy of midfield at the 2 minute warning. Yet rather than deliver a knockout blow, Raheem Mostert fumbled and the Packers recovered at the same spot.

The turnover allowed Crosby to hit a 46 yard field goal and get the Packers within 20-13. Early in the third quarter the Packers faced 4th and 1 at their own 31. Matt LaFleur was a wild man, going for it deep in his own territory yet again. Rodgers gained 2. Dillon gained 11. On 3rd and 9 from their own 45. Rodgers went to Taylor for 17 and Lewis for 31. Dillon ran for 6 and then for the one yard touchdown. The 11 play, 78 yard, 7 minute drive made it 20-20. After a touchback the Dolphins moved 45 yards in 10 plays and 5 1/2 minutes. Mike McDaniel matched LaFleur risk for risk. He also gambled on 4th and 1 from his own 34. Mostert gained 9. On 3rd and 8 from the Green Bay 30, Tagovailoa threw incomplete. Jason Sanders came in for a 48 yard field goal try to give the Dolphins the lead. The kick was no good. The Packers moved from their own 38 to a 3rd and 15 at the Miami 39.to start the fourth quarter. Rodgers went for it all and was intercepted in the end zone for a touchback.

One play and 9 seconds later, Tagvailoa went deep and found Alexander. Problem: Alexander plays defense for the Packers. He returned the pick 23 yards to the Miami 14. On 2nd and goal at the 5, a completion from Rodgers to Lazard lost 5 yards followed by an incompletion. The Packers wasted the golden field position. Crosby hit the 28 yard field goal to make it 23-20 Packers. The Dolphins moved from their own 18 to a 2nd and 13 at the Green Bay 30. Tagovailoa went to Campbell. Problem: Campbell plays defense for the Packers. The Packers moved from their own 36 to a 3rd and 5 at the Miami 10. Dillon got the carry but gained only 2 yards. Crosby hit the 26 yard field goal to put the Packers up by 6 with 2:02 left. The Dolphins got it back at their own 28 with 1:56 left and 0 timeouts. Yet one touchdown would win it. 2 plays later, Tagovailoa went to Douglas. Problem: Douglas plays defense for the Packers. Tagovailoa’s 3 fourth quarter interceptions doomed the Dolphins to their 4th straight loss. At 8-7 they still make the playoffs if they win their last 2 games. The Packers won their 3rd straight and at 7-8 are alive. 26-20 Packers

 

Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Rams was the Sunday Christmas afternoon game. Nothing says Christmas like a pair of 4-10 teams fighting for nothing. Sometimes a pair of bad teams can come together and play a thrilling game for the ages and an instant Christmas classic. This was absolutely not that game unless one likes lumps of coal. The Rams after a touchback moved to a 1st and 10 at the Denver 27. A false start and a fumble back the Rams up to 3rd and 28. Matt Gay bailed them out with a 55 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Rams. The Broncos soon faced 3rd and 9 at their own 26. Russell Wilson went deep and was intercepted by Durant, who returned the pick to the Denver 34. Baker Mayfield went to Hopkins for 22 and Tyler Higbee for a 9 yard touchdown to make it 10-0 Rams. The Broncos soon faced 2d and 16 from their own 19. Wilson was intercepted by his former teammate Bobby Wagner, who returned the pick 13 yards to the Denver 11. Two plays later Cam Akers ran for a 2 yard touchdown to make it 17-0 Rams.

The Broncos managed a first quarter field goal, but this game was over. The Rams began the second quarter facing 3rd and 2 at their own 33. Mayfield went to Akers for 17 and 12. Williams ran for 5 and 7. On 3rd and goal at the 7, Mayfield went to Higbee for the touchdown to cap the 11 play, 75 yard, 6 minute drive and give the Rams a 24-3 lead. The Rams got it back and faced 3rd and 5 at their own 15. Mayfield went to Hopkins for 16. On 3rd and 1 just past midfield, Akers gained 5. Mayfield went to Higbee for 21 and Higbee for 12. Akers ran for a 2 yard touchdown as the Rams led 31-3 with one minute left in the half. The Broncos managed another field goal before the half, and league rules prevented the second half from being canceled or replaced with the movie “Heidi.” The Rams added a third quarter field goal and obliterated the Broncos into oblivion in the fourth quarter. Akers ran for a 4 yard fourth quarter touchdown to make it 41-6. The Rams added another field goal. Wilson did throw 2 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, but only one went to his own team. The day after the game, the Broncos finally put Nathaniel Hackett out of his misery, firing him and 2 assistant coaches. 51-14 Rams

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arizona Cardinals is the Sunday Christmas night game. Despite being 6-8, the Buccaneers entered one game atop the horrid NFC South. Tom Brady in his 23rd season is having his worst season from a record standpoint, having lost 8 games for the first time. One more loss would be his first losing season. The Cardinals were done for the year and in disarray. Kyler Murray was on injured reserve and Colt McCoy missed the game with a concussion. 3rd string quarterback Tracy McSorley made his first NFL start. The first three quarters were awful. Ryan Succop hit a 38 yard first quarter field goal for the Buccaneers. Matt Prater answered from 56 for a 3-3 game. Succop hit from 35 in the second quarter to make it 6-3 Buccaneers. Prater hit from 53 for a 6-6 tie at the half. The third quarter was scoreless. One minute into the fourth quarter, Prater hit from 39 to make it 9-6 Cardinals. The first thing resembling a big play came with 12 1/2 minutes left in regulation. A 28 yard punt return set up the Cardinals at the Tampa 33. James Conner ran for a 22 yard touchdown. After 49 minutes of field goals, the touchdown had the Cardinals up 16-6 with 11 minutes left.

The Buccaneers took over at their own 33 and Brady connected with Leonard Fournette for 44 yards. On 3rd and 5 from the Arizona 18, Brady hit Fournette for 10. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Brady hit Rachaad White for the touchdown. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers were within 16-13. The Cardinals after a touchback moved to a 3rd and 1 at the Tampa 42. McSorley fumbled and Gholston recovered for the Buccaneers at their own 45 with 5 minutes left in regulation. The Buccaneers moved to a 3rd and 8 at the Arizona 24. Brady threw incomplete. Succop hit from 42 for a 16-16 tie with 2 1/2 minutes left. The defenses dug in and the game went to overtime. The Cardinals got the ball first and punted. The Buccaneers took over at their own 16. Brady went to Mike Evans for 8, Russell Gage for 23, Evans again for 16, and Gage again for 13. On 3rd and 13 from the Arizona 22, Todd Bowles was not taking any chances. with 3:40 left in overtime, Succop came in for a 40 yard try to win it. The kick was good. At 7-8 the Buccaneers still lead the NFC South by one game. By winning out, Brady can still avoid his first losing season. The day after the game, Cardinals superstar and future first ballot Hall of Famer JJ Watt announced his retirement after 12 seasons. This was his final home game, but he has 2 more games left in his career. He is also a Hall of Famer off the field. 19-16 Buccaneers

 

Los Angeles Chargers at Indianapolis Colts was the Monday night game. After missing out on the playoffs in heartbreaking fashion last year, the 8-6 Chargers could clinch a playoff spot with a win over the lowly Colts. Jeff Saturday decided that instead of Matt Ryan or Sam Ehlinger, third string quarterback Nick Foles…yes, that Nick Foles…would start his first NFL game in over a year. After a scoreless first quarter, the Chargers took over at their own 30. Justin Herbert hit Keenan Allen for 15. On 3rd and 7 from their own 48, Herbert hit Palmer for 8. On 3rd and 13 from the Indianapolis 47, Herbert hit Mike Williams for 16 and again for 18. On 3rd and 1 from the Indy 3, Herbert gained 2. Austin Ekeler ran in the one yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Chargers. The defenses dug in for a long stretch. Chase McLaughlin managed a 46 yard field goal for the Colts, but Dicker responded from 24 for a 10-3 Chargers halftime lead. An interception of Foles led to Dicker hitting a 21 yard field goal for a 13-3 Chargers lead in the third quarter. A Chargers fumble gave the Colts gift field position at the Chargers 21, but on 4th and 1 from the 12, Foles got stopped cold. The Chargers began the fourth quarter at that spot. A 12 play, 88 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive finally finished off the Colts. Ekeler ran for a one yard touchdown. The Chargers defense sacked Foles 7 times and the offense did just enough to punch the playoff ticket for the 9-6 Chargers. 20-3 Chargers

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The Immaculate Deception at 50

December 23rd, 2022

50 years ago on this very day, a day that will live in infamy…in Pittsburgh it is referred to as the Immaculate Reception. Members of the Raider Nation know it as the Immaculate Deception.

Tomorrow night the NFL will pay a tribute to this travesty as the Raiders are again at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

My heart goes out to the entire Steelers family. The shocking death of Franco Harris right before this game is a much bigger tragedy than any play in any football game. Yet even amidst pain and suffering, we have an obligation to fulfill our responsibilities. For those who bled silver and black, it is to root for the Raiders and tell the truth about 50 years ago.
The Immaculate Reception should have been nullified. The Raiders were cheated out of a playoff victory. There were 3 problems on the play.

1) Frenchy Fuqua touched the football, not Jack Tatum. Tatum leveled Fuqua. Tatum could not go through Fuqua’s body to touch the ball. An obscure rule at the time that was later repealed clearly stated that if a ball bounces off one offensive player to another without a defensive player touching it in between, the catch is invalid as an illegal touch.

2) Franco Harris supposedly caught the ball at his shoetips, but there is no angle showing he actually caught it. The bottom half of the ball is not in display. If that ball hit the ground, it is not a catch. There are witnesses on the field who saw the bottom tip of the ball hit the ground.

3) There was an illegal block in the back. Phil Villiapiano was clearly clipped. That should have been a penalty. It was never called.

4) John Madden said he overheard the referee talking to the Pittsburgh Police Department after the play. The officer wanted to know how many police officer PPD could provide if the referee reversed the touchdown. The police said they could provide 6. The refe asked if that meant 600 or 6,000. He was again told 6. He said that 60,000 fans would riot and he needed more than 6. One more time, he was told 6. So the ref said, “In that case, 6 for Pittsburgh,” came back on the field, raised his hands in the air to signal the touchdown.

Last week the Raiders got a tiny measure of vengeance…but not justice…for the Tuck Rule…tomorrow night they must do the same for the Immaculate Deception.

Final note: I asked Steelers great Lynn Swann back in 2008 who would win a game between the 1970s Raiders and Steelers in the year 2008. Swann smiled and said, “Guys would throw down their walkers and get out of their wheelchairs to play that game.”

eric TYGRRRR EXPRESS

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Festivus 2022: You are all wrong

December 23rd, 2022
Some of you think Festivus is today. You are all wrong. Festivus should be December 27, not December 23. So save your airing of grievances until Tuesday.
This was my first arbitrary decision today.
eric @ Tygrrrr Express

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NFL 2022 Week 16 Prequel

December 22nd, 2022

NFL 2022 Week 16 Prequel

Thursday, December 22, 2022, 8pm

Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets (-1) — The 6-8 Jaguars and 7-7 Jets are both fighting for their playoff lives. The Jaguars have the better offense with Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne. The Jets have the better defense, the home field, and the cold weather. Go with the home field and Robert Saleh’s defense, especially in the wake of the bomb cyclone weather. Jets cover

Saturday, December 24, Christmas Eve, 1pm

Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens (-7 1/2) — The 9-5 Ravens fell one game back in the AFC North after losing last week. Just like last year, they lose games when Tyler Huntley fills in for an injured Lamar Jackson. The Falcons at 5-9 are only one game back in the awful NFC South. The spread is too high for a Ravens team that struggles without Jackson. Ravens win but fail to cover

Detroit Lions (-3) at Carolina Panthers — The Lions started 1-6 but have gone 6-1 since to get to 7-7. The Lions score a lot on offense but have a sieve defense. The Panthers at 5-9 are only one game back in the woeful NFC South. Jared Goff is playing better than Sam Darnold. It’s hard to go with the Lions fast track offense in cold and bad weather, but give them the benefit of the doubt due to their red hot streak. Lions cover

Buffalo Bills (-8 1/2) at Chicago Bears — The 11-3 Bills are looking to lock up the AFC East and stay on track for home field throughout the AFC. The Bears are done for the year. The Bills are far superior, and cold and bad weather will not affect them. They are used to it. The spread is too high for a road team given that Justin Fields is an exciting playmaker. A garbage touchdown by the Bears is realistic. Bills win but fail to cover

New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns (-3) — The 5-9 Saints are one of three teams only one game back in the horrid NFC South. The 6-8 Browns are fighting for their playoff lives. Their defense earned a huge emotional win last week over Baltimore. If Deshaun Watson can remember how to throw a football, the Browns will be vastly improved. The home field favors the Browns less than the bad and cold weather does. Go with the bomb cyclone and the Dawg Pound to deliver. Browns cover

Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs (-9 1/2) — The Seahawks overachieved for much of the year but have lost 4 of 5 to fall to 7-7. They are alive for a playoff spot. The 11-3 Chiefs have already clinched their seventh straight AFC West Title. They are tied atop the AFC but do not hold the tie-breaker. The Chiefs pinball offense is in playoff form already. The spread is high, but the Seahawks defense will not be able to slow Walrus Andy Reid and his Patrick Mahomes Express. Chiefs cover

New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings (-3 1/2) — The Giants got a huge road win over Washington while the Vikings last week engineered the greatest comeback in NFL history. Down 33-0 in the third quarter, the Vikings won 39-26 in overtime. The Giants are 8-51 and the Vikings are 11-3 and NFC North champions. The Giants have a quality defense. The Vikings have an explosive offense. The Giants have a ton of heart. They punch above their weight, making for a close game. Vikings win but fail to cover

Cincinnati Bengals (-3 1/2) at New England Patriots — The Bengals overcame a 17-point deficit to win a rout over Tom Brady’s new team. Now they face his old team. The Patriots lost last week to the Raiders in one of the craziest finishes in NFL history. The Patriots literally gave the game away. As Bill Belichcik would say, “We’re on to Cincinnati.” The 7-7 Patriots are desperate, but the 10-4 Bengals are playing with swagger. It starts with Joe Burrow. He is better than Mac Jones. Betting against a desperate and angry Patriots team at home may be unwise, but the Bengals are the defending AFC champions. Bengals win but fail to cover

Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans (-5) — The Texans have won only one game all year and are the worst team in the league. Yet the Titans after a 7-3 start have been reeling with four straight losses. The Titans still have a one game lead in the bad AFC South. The Texans have put a scare into some of the best teams in the league but did not finish. Derrick Henry should run the Titans to a win, but not in a cakewalk. Titans win but fail to cover

4pm

Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers (-7 1/2) — The Commanders lost a tough home game last week to the Giants to fall to 7-6-1. They are alive for a playoff spot, but the 10-4 49ers have a stingy defense. The 49ers have already clinched the NFC West. Brock Purdy has gone from Mr. Irrelevant to Mr. Sensation in a couple weeks. Both teams tend to win ugly, rendering a blowout unlikely. Taylor Heinecke is competent enough to keep the game close for a bit. 49ers win but fail to cover

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (-6) — The 13-1 Eagles have not clinched the NFC East yet. The 10-4 Cowboys need to win out and have the Eagles lose out for the Cowboys to win the division. While that is unlikely, the Cowboys will be angry after their meltdown last week at Jacksonville. The Cowboys blew a 17 point lead. Jalen Hurts may be more hurt than letting on. These teams may meet again in the playoffs in Philadelphia, at which point the Eagles would be favored. In Dallas, expect the Cowboys to send a message that the NFC champion has yet to be decided. Cowboys cover

8pm

Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) — Both teams made the playoffs last year and collapsed this year. The Raiders started 2-7 and the Steelers started 3-7. The Raiders then won 4 of 5 and the Steelers 3 of 4 as both teams come in 6-8 and clinging to playoff life. On paper, the Raiders are the better team. Derek Carr and Josh Jacobs are better than Kenny Pickett and the committee of Pittsburgh backs. Under normal circumstances, the Raiders would win this game. Yet this week is anything but normal. The day before the game is the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. Last week the Raiders won a Hanukkah miracle in crazy fashion. They got a tiny measure of revenge for the Tuck Rule, but this week all the emotion will be with the Steelers due to the untimely death of Franco Harris this past Tuesday. Steelers cover

Sunday, December 25 Christmas Day, 1pm

Green Bay Packers at Miami Dolphins (-4 1/2) — The 6-8 Packers cling to playoff life while the 8-6 Dolphins lost a brutal game at Buffalo last week. The AFC East is most likely out of reach unless Miami runs the table and Buffalo losses their remaining three games. A wildcard is very much in reach for the Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa is actually playing better than Aaron Rodgers. The Packers have been so good for so long and the Dolphins so underwhelming for so long. Yet the Dolphins have a serious defense. Dolphins win but fail to cover

4:30pm

Denver Broncos (-2) at Los Angeles Rams — Two of the worst teams in the league play. The Broncos broke their seven game losing streak against equally lowly Arizona, while the Rams two weeks ago snapped a six game losing streak. The Broncos have the better defense. Russell Wilson is back from concussion, but he has had an awful year. The Rams are injury depleted everywhere. Broncos cover

8pm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6 1/2) at Arizona Cardinals — The Cardinals are done for the year. The Buccaneers looked terrible in blowing a 17 point lead at home last week, but at 6-8 they still lead the wretched NFC South by one game. Tom Brady has lost 8 games in a season for the very first time. One more loss means his first ever losing season. The Buccaneers are uninspiring but the Cardinals are awful. Buccaneers win but fail to cover

Monday, December 26, 8pm

Los Angeles Chargers (-4) at Indianapolis Colts — The 8-6 Chargers won a gutty victory over Tennessee last week. Now they play a Colts team that is done for the year. Last week the Colts had a 33-0 third quarter lead and ended up on the losing end of the greatest comeback in NFL history. Justin Herbert has plenty of weapons and the Chargers have plenty to play for. The Colts lack the firepower to keep up. The Chargers win ugly because Brandon Staley keeps passing up easy field goals in favor of fourth down gambles that work only some of the time. Chargers win but fail to cover

eric

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Farewell, Franco Harris

December 21st, 2022
This Friday is the 50th anniversary of the play forever known as the Immaculate Reception. This Saturday night the Raiders and the Steelers play In Pittsburgh. Every living legend of that 1972 game was supposed to be in attendance.
In a cruel twist of fate, The hero of the game Franco Harris will not be there. He died today.
I guess God needed Franco to join him at the head football table this weekend with Kenny Stabler. John Madden, Al Davis, Art
Rooney and Chuck Noll are sharing a special turducken.
Although I bleed silver and black, I offer heartfelt condolences to the black and gold members of Franco’s Italian Army. NFL flags must be flown at half staff today.
As Peyton Manning said, God bless you all, and God bless football.

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NFL 2022 Week 15 Recap

December 20th, 2022

NFL 2022 Week 15 Recap

This Sunday night began Hanukkah. For leatherheads, this is Week 15. To quote john Randall and mike Singletary, “This is when the big dogs come out!”

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks was the Thursday night game. The 9-4 49ers could lock up the NFC West with a win over the 7-6 Seahawks. The 49ers would have to win with Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy. The 49ers took over at their on 14. Christian McCaffrey caught a 7 yard pass from Purdy and then broke off a 23 yard run himself. On 3rd and 3 just past midfield, Purdy hit Jennings for 8. Purdy went to McCaffrey for 11. Purdy then connected with George Kittle for a 28 yard touchdown. The 5 1/2 minute, 86 yard drive had the 49ers up 7-0 after the first quarter. In the second quarter the Seahawks took over at their own 18. They moved 62 yards in 12 plays and 6 minutes. On 2nd and 8 from the San Francisco 20, Geno Smith threw incomplete twice. Jason Myers hit a 38 yard field goal to get the Seahawks within 7-3. 

After 28 minutes the game was a defensive bonelock. The key play came With one minute left in the half. From his own 35, Smith hit Homer for a 6 yard gain, but Homer fumbled. Ward returned the fumble 40 yards to the Seattle 6. McCaffrey ran for 5 and then for the one yard touchdown to make it 14-3 49ers. The 49ers got another big break when McCloud returned the second half kickoff 39 yards to start the 49ers at their own 41. Two plays later, Purdy went deep to Kittle for a 54 yard touchdown to make it 21-3 49ers. All the Seahawks could muster was a 51 yard field goal by Myers to get the Seahawks within 21-6. The 49ers had a chance to wrap up the game with 5 minutes left in regulation, but Robbie Gould missed a 43 yard field goal try. The Seahawks soon faced 3rd and 1 from their own 42. Kenneth Walker gained 2. Smith went to Will Dissly for 13. Sith went to Walker for 33 and Fant for the 10 yard touchdown. With 3 1/2 minutes left, the Seahawks were within 8. The 49ers soon faced 3rd and 1 from their own 34. Purdy got the yard. The Seahawks challenged the spot and lost, burning their last timeout. On 3rd and 2 from their own 43, Mason went up the gut for a 55 yard gain down to the Seattle 2. Purdy took a couple knees. That is how the NFC West was won. Brock is Purdy good. 21-13 49ers

Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings was the Saturday morning game. The Vikings were 10-3 and would lock up the NFC North with a win at home over the pathetic Colts. The game was expected to be a blowout, but not in the way football fans imagined. To quote ESPN user-announcer Chris Berman, “THAT’s why they PLAY the GAMES!” The Colts got a jolt when they returned the opening kickoff to their own 48 yard line. The first play from scrimmage, an end around to Michael Pittman, gained 19 yards. On 3rd and goal at the 1, a lateral run was blown up in the backfield for a 7 yard loss. The 26 yard Chase McLaughlin field goal made it 3-0 Colts. The Vikings lined up to punt. The Colts came crashing through the line and blocked the punt. It popped up high in the air and and was returned by JoJo Doman for a 25 yard touchdown. The Colts led 10-0 in front of a stunned home crowd in Minnesota.

After a touchback, Dalvin Cook took a pitchout for a 35 yard gain. On the next play Cook carried again and this time fumbled. The Colts recovered and took over at their own 40. Matt Ryan found Ashton Dulin for an 18 yard gain down to the one. Ryan faked the handoff and found a wide open Adams in the flat for an easy touchdown to make it 17-0 Colts. The Vikings soon faced 4th and 1 from their own 34. In an attempt to spark his team, Kevin O’Connell gambled. Cook got the carry and got blasted in the backfield for a two yard loss. The Colts took the short field and moved to a 3rd and 2 at the Minnesota 9 early in the second quarter. Zack Moss got the carry and ran laterally. He was swarmed for a 2 yard loss. McLaughlin hit again from 28 to make it 20-0 Colts as the stunned home crowd turned to shock and disbelief. 

More desperation came for the Vikings when they had to punt on 4th and 1 from their own 30. Kevin O’Connell gambled on a fake punt that had potential but saw the punter’s pass overthrown incomplete. With another short field, The Colts went nowhere on offense but McLaughlin hit from 49 to make it 23-0 Colts. The Vikings soon faced 3rd and 3 from their own 8 yard line. Cousins went over the middle and Julian Blackmon jumped the route for the interception. Blackmon returned the interception 15 yards for a touchdown as the Colts led 30-0. Nothing went right for the Vikings as a 50 yard bomb was challenged by JeffSaturday and reversed to an incompletion. The Colts got it back at their own 21 and moved to a 3rd and 5 at the Minnesota 12 with one minute left in the half. With the Vikings out of timeouts, jeff Saturday was taking on chances. A safe run only gained 2 yards, but bled the clock so the Vikings would not have time for one more drive. With 8 seconds left in the half, McLaughlin hit from 27 to make it 33-0 Vikings. 

The Vikings only had 3 first downs in the first half. The largest comeback in NFL history was 32 points. The 1992 Buffalo Bills in the playoffs trailed at home against the Houston Oilers 35-3 in the third quarter. Frank Reich led the NFL’s greatest comeback as the Bills won 41-38 in overtime. The Bills would go on to win the third of 4 straight AFC Championships and Super Bowl heartbreak. The Oilers suffered permanent death. A couple of years later, with a salary cap coming, Owner Bud Adams blew up the team, moved them To Tennessee, and renamed them the Titans. This game would not have consequences that drastic. Both teams would still exist next year. 

The Vikings in the third quarter took over at their own 12. Cousins hit Jefferson for 13. The next play was a loss but a very questionable unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the defense added 15. Cousins went deep to KJ Osborn for a 55 yard gain. With 8 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, it was still 33-0. On 3rd and goal from the 2, Cousins fired to the front corner of the end zone to Osborn for the touchdown. After over 36 1/2 minutes of miserable football, the Vikings were on the board. Yet they were still down 33-7 and had only a little less than 23 1/2 minutes to come back. Yet it was the Colts keeping the pedal to the metal as the ensuing kickoff had the Colts taking over at their own 40. On 3rd and 7 from the Minnesota 35, a completion gained only one yard. McLaughlin’s 5th field goal from 52 yards out had the Colts up 36-7 with 5 minutes left in the third quarter. 

After a touchback, Cook ran for a 19 yard gain. A screen pass from Cousins to Cook gained 12 more. Cousins went to Jefferson for 18. A swing pass to Osborn that should have gone nowhere gained 10.  From the one, CJ Ham took it up the gut and appeared to be stopped short. After unpiling everyone, the officials determined that Ham somehow broke the plane of the goal. There was a personal foul on the offense for unnecessary roughness, but luckily for the Vikings it occurred after the play. Touchdowns on two consecutive drives had the Vikings within 36-14, but they still trailed by 22 points after three quarters. 

The Vikings got it back at their own 25 to start the fourth quarter. Cousins went to Jefferson for 20, with a questionable defensive personal foul adding 15 more. Cousins went right back to Jefferson for 16 more. On 3rd and 2 from the Indianapolis 7, Cousins fired a laser to Jefferson for the touchdown. The Vikings were within 36-21 with a full 13 minutes left in regulation. After a touchback, the Colts running game moved the ball well. Yet when they switched to the pass, the drive died. Matty Ice went ice cold as a 2nd and 5 pass was thrown high and incomplete. Then a West Coast Offense dink and dunk pass lost a yard. A long punt return by Jalen Reagor was wiped out by a very questionable facemask call on the receiving team. 

From their own 13, the Vikings moved to midfield. Cousins then went for the bomb and was intercepted by Rodney Thomas. Midway through the fourth quarter the Colts took over at their own 2 yard line. To avoid going into a shell, Jeff Saturday got aggressive and went for a bomb as well, but Ryan threw incomplete. The Colts gained only 2 yards in going 3 and out. The Vikings got the ball back with excellent field position at midfield. Cousins went to Adam Thielen for 20 and Osborn for 17. An incompletion to the end zone resulted in defensive pass interference. The 12 yard gain put the ball on the one yard line. On 3rd and goal from the one, Cousins hit Thielen for the touchdown. With 5 1/2 minutes left in regulation, the Vikings were within 36-28. The greatest comeback in NFL history was now a possibility. Yet the Colts still had the ability to close out the game. They had the lead and the ball. 

With 3 1/2 minutes left, complete chaos ensued. The Colts fumbled and Sullivan picked up the fumble and returned it for a defensive touchdown. Yet officials blew the whistle. It was another blown call in a game filled with them. Making matters worse for the Vikings, frustration over the blown call led to Sullivan tossing his helmet, a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. All was not completely lost. The touchdown was wiped out, but the Vikings did recover the fumble. They took over at their own 45 with plenty of time to tie the game. On 3rd and 3, Cousins hit Jefferson for 9. With 3 minutes left, 3 straight incompletions and a false start had the Vikings facing 4th and 15 from the Indy 45. Cousins was taken down after a 2 yard gain. 

The Colts had excellent field position at their own 44. The Vikings had all 3 timeouts plus the 2 minute warning. Moss gained 11 but was unable to go down inbounds. That caused the clock to stop and preserve the timeouts for the Vikings. On 3rd and 7 from the Minnesota 42, one more first down would all but end the game. Moss got the carry and came up inches short. Although McLaughlin had already been 5 for 5 on the day, a field goal try would be 54 yards. With 2 1/2 minutes left, the Colts were one yard from locking up the win. After Ryan tried and failed to get the Colts to jump offside, Jeff Saturday again decided to go for it. Ryan took the quarterback sneak and appeared to have the first down after a second effort surge. Game over.

Not so fast. Officials ruled that the whistle had been blown before the surge. It was another blown call due to an early whistle. The officials brought out the chains and Ryan was short. Jeff Saturday challenged the spot, but officials ruled that forward progress had stopped before Ryan’s final lunge. Saturday lost the challenge. The Vikings had life. They were out of timeouts, but 2:19 still remained. The Vikings needed only one play and 4 seconds. A perfectly executed screen pass to Cook saw him race down the field, escape some tackles, and drag defenders into the end zone for a 65 yard touchdown.. Just like that, the Vikings were a 2 point conversion away from tying the game. Cousins fired over the middle to TJ Hockensen, who out-muscled the defender for the ball. The Minnesota home crowd went nuts. This insane game was tied 36-36. The Colts 33-0 lead had completely evaporated. 

Yet with 2:11 left, the Colts had the ball at their own 25. They needed only a field goal to win and McLaughlin had made all 5 of his attempts. On 4th and 1 from their own 34, the Colts lined up to go for it. It seemed like an attempt to draw the defense offside. A false tart meant the Colts had to punt. The Vikings now had the ball at their own 26 with 1:10 left. On 3rd and 1 from their own 35, Cousins got stopped. For some reason, the Colts let 13 seconds tick off the clock before finally calling a timeout on defense with 22 seconds left. It probably would not have mattered as a perfect punt by Wright went for 64 yards and pinned the Colts at their own two yard line. In an already insane game, the only sane thing to do for the Colts was take a knee and go to overtime. That is exactly what they did.

The Vikings won the overtime coin toss. Despite the fireworks in the first four quarters and despite both defenses being exhausted, most oof the overtime session was quiet. The Vikings punted. The Colts faced 3rd and 9 from their own 34 with 1:53 left in overtime. Kevin O’Connell brought the house and Ryan was hit as he threw. He was lucky that his wounded duck fell incomplete. The Vikings got it back at their own 18 with 1:41 left. Cousins hit Osborn for 15 and Thielen for 20. Kevin O’Connell let the clock run down rather than take the Vikings last timeout. An incompletion stopped the clock with 19 seconds left in overtime. Viking’s kicker Greg Joseph’s longest field goal was 56. Joseph was looking at 57 unless the Vikings gained more yards. A quick swing pass to Jefferson went for 12 yards. Making matters worse for the Colts, a defensive penalty for delay of game added 5 more yards. The Colts were not allowing the Vikings to try and get the ball back to the official. Now Joseph’s kick was a very makable 40 yards. Vikings fans will tell you that Gary Anderson’s 1998 field goal try was only 39 yards. This is not 1998. Joseph was good. Game over. This time for real. 

Are? You? Kidding? Me?!?!?!

The Minnesota Vikings game is now history. Every lesson in life a parent could want to teach their children can be learned from football. Don’t EVER give up. Keep fighting. This game represented everything that is right about football. Talent matters, but so do character, heart and guts. The Vikings showed plenty of it. Cousins was an insane 34 of 54 for 460 yards, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. 

As for the Colts, they will build off of this crushing defeat. 171 yards rushing was not enough to put the game away. My heart goes out to Matt Ryan. In the 2016 Super Bowl, his team had a 28-3 third quarter lead before an epic collapse resulted in a 34-28 overtime defeat. This time a 33-0 third quarter lead was not safe. 

Paul Allen’s “Minneapolis Miracle” radio call from a few years ago was one for the ages, as was his “Oh my heavens” welcoming of Brett Favre to the Vikings. Now he has the greatest comeback in NFL history to add to his legendary radio career. This game will never be forgotten. Nor should it be. This is history. History matters. 

This game looked like a total mismatch on paper. To again quote ESPN uber-announcer Chris Berman: “THAT’s why they PLAY the GAMES!” Add to his sentiment. That’s why they play the ENTIRE game. 

To quote Peyton Manning, “God bless you all, and God bless football.” To quote John Randall and Mike Singletary: “This is when the big dogs come out!” Lastly, while only a regular season game, this is still one of the biggest wins in Vikings history. Thankfully Bud Grant is alive to see it. May he live to 120. 

There are so many more things that can be said, but games like this remind me of why I love football. This is why we fans WATCH the games. As Kirk Cousins would say, “You like that!” Yes. We do. 39-36 Vikings, OT                       

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns was the Saturday afternoon game. The 9-4 Ravens were tied for the division lead but were without Lamar Jackson. Tyler Huntley cleared concussion protocol and started against the 5-8 Browns. This was a typical AFC North street fight. The Ravens moved from their own 19 to a 4th and 1 at the Cleveland 7. John Harbaugh went for it Ricard got stopped for no gain. The Browns moved 64 yards in 14 plays and 8 minutes, settling for a 47 yard Cade York field goal and a 3-0 second quarter lead. Justin Tucker answered from 53 for a 3-3 game. The Browns after a touchback moved to a 1st and goal at the 4. A pair of runs went nowhere and Deshaun Watson threw incomplete. York hit from 23 to make it 6-3 Browns. On the last play of the half, the normally reliable Tucker was no good from 48. In the third quarter after a touchback, the Ravens moved to the Cleveland 15. Huntley was then intercepted. The Browns moved 91 yards in 12 plays and 6 minutes. Watson hit Donovan Peoples-Jones for the game’s only touchdown from 3 yards out to complete the scoring. Tucker’s 50 yard fourth quarter field goal try was blocked. York then also missed two field goals but the Ravens turned it over on downs twice. 13-3 Browns

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills was the Saturday night game. The Dolphins won a brutal 21-19 game in week 2 in Miami that saw Tua Tagvailoa get knocked senseless. The rematch in Buffalo featured was played with snow flurries coming down. The 10-3 Bills could lock up a playoff birth with a win over the 8-5 Dolphins. In the first quarter the Dolphins moved from their own 27 on a 14 play, 52 yard, 8 minute drive. On 3rd and 1 from the Buffalo 11, Tagovailoa was sacked. Jason Sanders hit a 39 yard field goal goal to make it 3-0 Dolphins. After a touchback, Josh Allen went deep to Dawson Knox for a 45 yard gain. Allen then went to Singletary for 14 and 40 Morris for a 13 yard touchdown to make it 7-3 Bills. After a touchback, Raheem Mostert broke free for a 67 yard gain to set up 1st and goal at the 4. Yet another tun gained only one yard and Tagovailoa then threw incomplete twice. Sanders hit the 21 yarder to get the Dolphins within 7-6 in the second quarter.

The Bills soon faced 3rd and 17 from their own 18. Allen went deep to Greg Davis for 21. Cole Beasley just came out of retirement this week to rejoin the Bills. Allen went to Beasley for 9. Cook ran for 8 and 4. Allen went to Stefan Diggs for 20. On 3rd and 1 from the Miami 11, Singletary got the tough yard. Allen then went to Hines for a 10 yard touchdown to cap the 12 play, 75 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive to make it 14-6 Bills. The Dolphins soon faced 3rd and 4 from their own 31. Tagovailoa went deep to Jalen Waddle for 32. On 3rd and 5 from the Buffalo 32, Tagovailoa went to Tyreek Hill for 6. On 3rd and 9 from the Buffalo 25, Tagovailoa went to Hill for 14. Ahmed then ran for an 11 yard touchdown. With 3 minutes left in the half, the 10 play,75 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive had the Dolphins within 14-13.

The Bills soon faced 3rd and 1 from their own 27. Allen gained 4. Allen then went to Diggs for 13 and Knox for 9. On 3rd and 1 from the Miami 47, Singletary gained 3. On 3rd and 4 from the Miami 38, Allen went to Isaiah Mckenzie for 19 with 26 seconds left in the half. A pair of defensive holding penalties moved the Bills closer and kept stopping the clock. Allen went to Cook for a 4 yard touchdown as the half ran out with the Bills up 21-13. The Dolphins struck quickly in the third quarter. On 3rd and 4 from their own 33. Tagovailoa went deep to Waddle, who split the seams and outraced everyone for a 67 yard touchdown. Mike McDaniel went for the 2 point conversion. Tagovailoa threw incomplete as the Dolphins trailed 21-19.

A field position game saw a great punt pin the Bills back at their own 2 yard line. That led to another punt and the Dolphins getting the ball at midfield. The Dolphins went nowhere and had to punt on 4th and 10. A mind-numbingly dumb roughing the kicker penalty allowed the Dolphins to keep the ball and gain 15 yards to the Buffalo 35. Three plays later Tagovailoa went to Hill for a 20 yard touchdown pass. The Dolphins after three quarters had the 26-21 lead. The fourth quarter began with the Bills having excellent field position just shy of midfield. Allen was sacked and fumbled. The Dolphins recovered at the Buffalo 47. On 3rd and 1 from the Buffalo 27, a dangerous sideways pass by Tagovailoa lost 2 yards. Sanders hit the 47 yard field goal. With 12 minutes left in regulation, the Dolphins led 29-21. The warm weather Miami team was beating up the cold weather Buffalo team in Buffalo. The snow came down much worse for the rest of the game, making for a winter wonderland classic.

After a touchback, Cook gained 16. Allen then took a perfectly executed draw play for a 44 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the 5 Allen found Knox for the touchdown. Sean McDermott went for the 2 point conversion and chaos ensued. Out of the shotgun, Allen took the draw up the middle and leaped in the air. He collided at the goal line with a defender and the ball popped out. Allen landed in the end zone without the ball but convinced he had a touchdown. Officials never blew the whistle and a mad scramble eventually saw the ball recovered way back at the 30 yard line. After an official review, the nose of the ball just barely broke the plane of the goal before landing on a defender’s helmet and being fumbled. It was as close as humanly possible, but it counted and the game was tied 29-29 with 9 minutes left in regulation. 

The Bills got the ball back at their own 7 yard line with 6 minutes left. Allen went to Davis for 14. A sack lost 8 yards but Allen went back to Davis for 15 to set up a key 3rd and 3 for the Bills at their own 28. Allen went to Diggs for 6. On 3rd and 2 from their own 42, Allen hit Isaiah McKenzie for 5. Singletary gained 8, 7 and 4. The key play of the game came with 50 seconds left. On 3rd and 6 from Miami 34, Allen went deep incomplete but defensive pass interference meant a 21 yard gain. The call was an easy one as the defender never turned around to look for the ball. Now with 39 seconds left, a pair of safe runs meant 3rd and 1 at the Miami 4. 30 seconds remained. On the 2nd down run, the defense tried to let Singletary score, but he went down on purpose to prevent the Dolphins from getting the ball back. With the Dolphins out of timeouts, Allen purposely took a knee and centered the ball. Tyler Bass came in for the 25 yard field goal with everything on the line. The offensive line cleared away all the snow. Although the ball briefly got lost amidst the snow, Bass hit it dead center. The Bills were in the playoffs and had all but clinched the division. The Dolphins were still alive for a wildcard. Barring a spectacular Buffalo collapse, the division would be out of reach  A third match between these teams in the playoffs would be eagerly anticipated. 32-29 BillsThe Bills were division champs and the Dolphins were still alive for a wildcard. A third match between these teams in the playoffs would be eagerly anticipated. 32-29 Bills

Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears — All the 12-1 Eagles had to do to keep rolling was beat the 3-10 Bears. The Eagles already clinched a playoff spot but not their division. The Bears moved from their own 25 to a 3rd and 1 at the Philadelphia 30. Justin Fields got taken down for a 2 yard loss. Matt Eberflus passed up a 50 yard goal try and went for it. Fields threw incomplete. Jalen Hurts was then intercepted as the first quarter was scoreless. The Eagles began the second quarter at their own 19. They moved to a 2nd and 9 at the Chicago 17. Offensive holding killed he drive. Jake Elliott hit a 32 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Eagles. The Bears soon faced 3rd and 4 at their own 31. Fields ran for 15. Fields went to David Montgomery for 21. A sack of Fields forced a fumble. The Bears retained possession but faced 2nd and 27 back at the Philadelphia 48. No problem for Fields, who evaded a sack and a bunch of tacklers for a 39 yard gain. On the next play Montgomery ran for the 9 yard touchdown. The extra point was no good as wind played a factor. The Bears led 6-3.

With 2:48 left in the half the Eagles took over at their own 9. Miles Sanders gained 6 and 5. Hurts scrambled for 6. Hurts hit Kenneth Gainwell for 7. On 3rd and 3 from their own 38, Hurts went deep to Smith for 38. On 3rd and 8 from the Chicago 22, Hurts scrambled all the way for the touchdown as the Eagles took a 10-6 lead to the locker rooms. A 58 yard kickoff return to start the second half had the Eagles taking over in the third quarter at the Chicago 42. On 3rd and 2, Gainwell gained 3. Hurts went deep to AJ Brown for 29. Hurts got the last yard to make it 17-6 Eagles. 

The Eagles got it back at their own 40 and disaster immediately struck. A swing pass from Hurts to Sanders was fumbled and picked up by Gordon, who returned it 12 yards to set up the Bears at the Philly 15. On 3rd and 5, Fields hit Montgomery for the 10 yard touchdown to get the Bears right back in it down 17-13. The Bears got it back at their own 40 but at the Philly 42 fumbled the ball away. The Eagles moved to a 4th and 6 at the Chicago 33. Kevin Sirianni passed up a 51 yard field goal try with wind a factor. Hurts threw incomplete. The Eagles got it back at their own 4 yard line and moved to a 1st and 10 at the Chicago 20. A run went nowhere and Hurts threw incomplete twice. Elliott’s 38 yard field goal try to give the Eagles a 7 point lead doinked off the upright no good. A drive of 19 plays, 76 yards, and 8 1/2 minutes yielded 0 points. 

The defenses dug in. with 5 minutes left in regulation the Eagles faced 3rd and 6 from their own 29. Hurts went bombs away to Brown for a 68 yard gain. On 3rd and goal at the one, Hurts kept it and got the quarterback sneak across the goal line. Kevin Sirianni inexplicably went for a 2 point conversion. Hurts got around the end to put the Eagles up 25-13 with 4:20 to play in the game. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the kicking team set up the Bears at their own 40. On 3rd and 4 from the Philadelphian 43, Fields hit Webster for 8. Fiedscthen went deep to Byron Pringle for a 35 yard touchdown to get the Bears within 5 points with 2:43 to play. The onside kick failed but the Bears still had one timeout and the 2 minute warning. They needed a defensive stop. Everything came down to the Eagles facing 3rd and 6 at the Chicago 40. Rather than a safe run, Sirianni went bold. Hurts hit Brown for 12 and then took a couple knees as the Eagles escaped to get to 13-1 on the year. 25-20 Eagles

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints — A pair of bad teams met, although the Falcons at 5-8 were only one game back in the awful NFC South. Marcus Mariota was benched in favor of Dave Ridder. The Saints started with 3rd and 9 at their own 26. Red Rifle Andy Dalton went to Johnson for 14, Olave for 16 and Rasheed Shaheed for 18. On 3rd and 9 from the Atlanta 19, Dalton went to Johnson, who stretched just past the pylon for the touchdown. The 10 play, 75 yard, 5 minute drive made it 7-0 Saints. The Saints got it back at their own 27 and struck quickly. On 2nd and 5, Taysom Hill came in at quarterback. He went bombs away to Shaheed for a 68 yard touchdown to make it 14-0 Saints. 

The Falcons moved from their own 38 and moved to a 2nd and 3 at the Saints 7 in the second quarter. David Ridder threw incomplete and then was sacked. Younghoe Koo hit the 28 yard field goal to get the Falcons within 14-3. After a third quarter touchback, Cordarelle Patterson ran for 11. On 3rd and 1 from their own 45, Tyler Allgeier ran for 43. On 3rd and 3 from the Saints 5, Allgeier ran for the touchdown to get the Falcon within 14-10. The Saints soon faced 3rd and 1 from their own 34. Dalton gained 2. Dalton hit Olave for 16. Alvin Kamara ran for 7, 2, and on 3rd and 1 from the Atlanta 39, 3. Dalton hit Shaheed for 9, Kamara for 9, and Johnson for a 22 yard touchdown to cap the 11 play, 75 yard, 7 minute drive for a  21-10 Saints lead after three quarters. 

With 11 minutes left in regulation the Saints had to punt on 4th and 17 from their own 4. A 10 yard punt return gave the Falcons gift field position at the Saints 32. On 3rd and 2, Ridder got just enough. On 3rd and 4 from the Saints 16, Allgeier gained 5. Patterson ran for 8 and then for the 3 yard touchdown. Allgeier ran in the 2 post conversion. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Falcons were within a field goal. The Falcons got the ball at their own 10 with 6 minutes left and moved to a 4th and 5 at midfield with 2:13 left. Ridder hit London for 12, but London fumbled and Roby recovered for the Saints. The saints moved from their own 39 to a 3rd and 1 at the Atlanta 27 with one minute left. With the Falcons out of timeouts, Hill came in at quarterback and took the sneak. He came up inches short. The clock ticked down to 12 seconds. On 4th and inches, Hill fumbled the snap. The Falcons recovered at their own 27 with 9 seconds. After a 6 yard gain, 5 seconds remained. Ridder set up for the Hail Mary, took off running past the line of scrimmage, and gained 18 yards as the game ended with a whimper. 21-18 Saints

Detroit Lions at New York Jets — The 6-7 Lions and 7-6 Jets both came in with hopes of making the playoffs. Zach Wilson regained his starting job due to Mike White being in concussion protocol. After a touchback, the Lions moved 73 yards in 14 plays and 8 minutes. On 3rd and goal at the 2, Jackson only gained one. Dan Campbell gambled. On 4th and goal at the one, Williams got blown up in the backfield for a one yard loss. Despite the goal line stand, the Jets joy was short-lived. On 4th and 11 from their own one, a they punted and Raymond returned it 47 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Lions lead. The Jets began the second quarter facing 2nd and 5 at their own 27. Wilson went deep to non-relative Wilson for 33 and then went deep again to CJ Uzomah for a 40 yard touchdown and a 7-7 game. 

The Lions after a touchback moved to a 1st and 10 at the Jets 11. A touchdown run by Williams was nullified by offensive holding, killing the drive. Mike Badgley hit a 31 yard field goal to make it 10-7 Lions. With 25 seconds left in the half the Jets took over at their own 19. Robert Saleh got very aggressive and Wilson went deep to Smith for a 50 yard gain. Wilson hit Smith for 15 more. On 1st and 10 from the Jets 16 with 12 seconds left, Wilson threw incomplete twice. Greg Zuerlein hit a 34 yard field goal to make it 10-10. In the  third quarter an interception of Wilson set up the Lions at the Jets 15. 3 plays lost the Lions a yard. Badgley hit again from 34 to make it 13-10 Lions. In the fourth quarter the Lions took over at there own 9 and moved 65 yards in 10 plays and 6 minutes. On 3rd and 5 from the Jets 36, Jared Goff threw incomplete. From 54 yards out midway through the fourth quarter, Badgley was no good. 

The Jets took over at their own 44. Wilson went to non-relative Wilson for 33. Wilson found Braxton Berrios for 14. On 3rd and goal at the one, Wilson went to Uzomah for the touchdown. With 4:41 left, the Jets had the 17-13 lead. The Lions soon faced 3rd and 2 from their own 30. Goff hit Amra St. Brown for 10. with 1:49 left, the Lions faced 4th and 1 just shy of midfield. Rather than run up the gut, a perfectly executed screen pass from Goff to Brock Wright saw Wright weave through everyone and drag a tackler into the end zone for a 51 yard touchdown. Just like that, the Lions now had the 3 point lead. After a touchback, the Jets were down to 4th and 18 from their own 40 with 14 seconds left. Wilson went deep to Moore for a 20 yard gain. The clock appeared to run out but Robert Saleh managed to get a timeout with one second left. Greg “The Leg” Zuerlein came in for a 58 yard field goal try to force overtime. His kick was wide no good. Both teams are 7-7, which is not bad for a Lions team that started 1-6 but have gone 6-1 since. 20-17 Lions

Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers — A pair of 5-8 teams came in fighting for their playoff lives, although the Panthers were only one game back in the horrendous NFC South. The Steelers began facing 3rd and 6 at their own 37. With Kenny Pickett out with a concussion, Mitchell Trubisky got the start. Trubisky hit Johnson for 8. Najee Harris ran for 10 and 8. Trubisky hit Warren for 11. Harris ran for a 7 yard touchdown to cap the 12 play, 67 yard, 7 minute drive to make it 7-0 Steelers. The Panthers took over at their own 15. Sam Darnold went to Marshall for 13. On 3rd and 11 from their own 27, Darnold went to DJ Moore for 14 and 15. On 3rd and 13 from the Pittsburgh 47, Darnold went bombs away to Marshall for a 40 yard gain. The second quarter began with the Panthers facing 3rd and goal at the 5. Darnold rolled out to his right and fired to Moore, who with a receiver draped all over him somehow made the catch falling to the ground for the touchdown. The 11 play, 85 yard 6 1/2 minute drive made it 7-7.

The Steelers soon faced 3rd and 1 at their own 34. Trubisky gained 4. On 3rd and 4 from their own 44, Trubisky went deep to George Pickens for 38. Warren did the rest, running for 9, 2, 5, and the 2 yard touchdown to culminate the 10 play, 75 yard, 6 minute drive and make it 14-7 Steelers. In the third quarter, the Steelers took over at their own 9 in the third quarter and embarked on the longest drive of any NFL team in the last 3 years. 21…yes, 21…plays. 91 yards. 12…yes, 12…minutes off the clock. On 3rd and 2 from their own 17, Harris got just enough. On 3rd and 10 from their own 19, Trubisky hit Johnson for 12. On 3rd and 1 from their own 40, Sims ran for 22. Trubisky went deep to Johnson for 18. On 3rd and 6 from the Carolina 15, Trubisky went to Johnson for 8, but unsportsmanlike conduct on Johnson after the play moved the Steelers back 15 yards. On 3rd and 1 from the Carolina 13, Watt gained 2. Harris gained 9 and one. Trubisky from the one took the quarterback sneak and crashed through with a great second effort. The mind-numbing drive put the Steelers up 21-7 after three quarters. 

After a touchback, the Panthers moved 64 yards in 11 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. On 2nd and 8 from the Pittsburgh 10, Darnold threw incomplete and then lost a yard. With 12 minutes left in regulation, Steve Wilks opted for the field goal. Eddie Pineiro hit from 29 to get the Panthers within 21-10. The Panthers got it back at their own 27 and moved to a 2nd and goal at the 2. A run lost 2 yards. Darnold was then sacked. Twice a trip to the red zone had the Panthers settling for field goals. Pineiro hit from 32 as the Panthers were within 21-13 with 6:15 to play. The Steelers soon faced 3rd and 14 from their own 21. Trubisky went to Johnson for 19. On 3rd and 6 from their own 44, Trubisky hit Johnson for 9. With one minute left, Chris Boswell hit a 50 yard field goal to make it 24-13 Steelers. The Panthers quickly moved from their own 37 to the Pittsburgh 34. Needing 2 scores, Pineiro nailed a 52 yard field goal to get the Panthers within 8 with 19 seconds left. The onside kick failed as the Steelers at 6-8 still have playoff hopes. 24-16 Steelers

Dallas Cowboys at Jacksonville Jaguars — The 10-3 Cowboys barley survived Houston last week, a wake up call. The 5-8 Jaguars are a year away from being contenders. A Jaguars fumble midway through the first quarter gave the Cowboys a short field at the Jacksonville 41. On 3rd and 1, Tony Pollard gained 3 and then 11 more. Ezekiel Elliott gained 8 and then ran for a 10 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Cowboys. The Cowboys got it back at their own 14. On 3rd and 1, Pollard gained 4 and then 5. On 3rd and 1 from their own 36, Prescott threw incomplete but defensive pass interference meant a 17 yard gain. Prescott began by the second quarter by hitting Brown for 9 and CeeDee Lamb for 15. Prescott went deep to Hendershot for a 20 yard touchdown. The 10 play 86 yard, 5 minute drive made it 14-0 Cowboys.

After a touchback, Travis Etienne ran for 6 and 5. Trevor Lawrence went to Jones for 7, Evan Engram for 13, and Etienne for 13 more. Agnew for 18 more. Lawrence hit Zee Jones for the 5 yard touchdown to get the Jaguars within 14-7. A 38 yard kickoff return set up the Cowboys at their own 34. Elliott ran for 7 and 5. On 3rd and 4 from the Jacksonville 35, Prescott went to Brown for 14. Pollard ran for 8 and Prescott added 12 more down to the one. Prescott hit Brown for the score to make it 21-7 Cowboys with 1:55 left in the half. After a third quarter touchback, the Jaguars moved 61 yards in 10 plays. On 3rd and 5 from the Dallas 14, Lawrence threw incomplete. Riley Patterson hit the 33 yard field goal to get the Jaguars within 21-10. The Cowboys after a touchback moved to a 2nd and 2 at the Jags 4. Elliott lost 2 and Prescott threw incomplete. Brett Maher hit from 24 to put the Cowboys up 24-10. An interception of Lawrence gave the Cowboys a short field at the Jags 42. On 3rd and 3, Prescott threw incomplete. Maher nailed a 53 yarder as the Cowboys led comfortably 27-10 with 5 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.

The Cowboys would not be comfortable for long. After a touchback, Etienne ran for 6 and 10. Lawrence then went deep to Zee Jones for a 59 yard touchdown to get the Jaguars within 27-17. Prescott was quickly intercepted to give the Jaguars the ball back at the Dallas 39. Agnew gained 30. On 3rd and goal from the Dallas 10, Lawrence went to Jones for the touchdown. After three quarters, the Jaguars were right back in it down 27-24. The Jaguars got it back at their own 25 to start the fourth quarter. Etienne gained 16 and 5. Lawrence went deep to Christian Kirk for 27. Etienne gained 6 and Hasty added 13. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Lawrence hit Jones for the touchdown. 21 unanswered points in a 9 minute span has the Jaguars up 31-27 with 10 minutes left in regulation. 

After a touchback, Prescott went to Lamb for 25. On 3rd and 1 from the Jacksonville 41, Prescott got the yard. On 3rd and 1 from the Jags 31, Prescott gained 2. On 3rd and 3 from the Jags 22, Prescott hit Pollard for 5. On 3rd and 6 from the Jags 13, Prescott went to Brown for the touchdown. The 13 play, 75 yard, 7 minute drive had the Cowboys back up 34-31 with 3 minutes left. After a touchback, the Jaguars moved to midfield. Lawrence scrambled for 11 but Kearse forced a fumble that Micah Parsons recovered for the defense. The Cowboys took over at their own 38 but the Jaguars and all 3 timeouts on defense. On 3rd and 10, Prescott threw incomplete. The Jaguars got the ball with one minute left and one timeout at their own 29.

On 3rd and 10, Lawrence hit Kirk for 15. With 12 seconds left the Jaguars faced 3rd and 3 just past midfield. Lawrence went to Jones for 19 yards as the Jaguars called their last timeout with 5 seconds left. Patterson came in for a 48 yard field goal try to send the game into overtime. Patterson was good and the game was tied 34-34. The Jaguars got the ball to start overtime and did nothing. The Cowboys took over at their own 20. Pollard ran for 21 and then 6 more. On 3rd and 4 from their own 47 came the play of the game. A short pass from Prescott to Brown bounded right off of Brown’s chest. It should have been a routine reception. Instead the ball ricocheted over to Rashawn Jenkins, who returned the interception down the sideline for a 52 yard interception return touchdown to end the game. The home fans went wild as the Cowboys suffered a stunning loss. The 6-8 Jaguars are still clinging to playoff life. 40-34 Jaguars, OT 

Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans — The Texans are the worst team in the NFL, but they took Dallas to the limit last week before losing in the final minute. Now they had to take on a 10-3 Chiefs team looking to clinch their 7th straight AFC West title. Jeff Driskel came in to start and ran for 9. After 3 plays, Davis Mills came in and went deep to Moore for 34. On 3rd and 9 from the Chiefs 35, Mills went to Rex Burkhead for 17. On 3rd and 10 from the Chiefs 18, Mills threw incomplete but defensive pass interference added 14. Mills went to Quitoriano for an 8 yard touchdown. The 11 play, 80 yard, 5 1/2 minute drive made it 7-0 Texans. After a touchback, Pacheco ran for 11 and 18 to end the first quarter. On 3rd and 5 from the Houston 41 in the second quarter, Patrick Mahomes went to Juju Smith-Schuster for 8. Mahomes then ran for 13. Mahomes went to McKinnon for a 20 yard touchdown to make it 7-7. The Chiefs got it back at their 22. Pacheco got nailed and fumbled. The Texans recovered at the Chiefs 17. Only 9 seconds later the Texans had the 14-7 lead as Mills scrambled around the end for the touchdown. 

With 5 minutes left in the half, the Chiefs took over at their own 3 yard line. On 3rd and 5, Mahomes went to Travis Kelce for 14, but unnecessary roughness on Kelce after the play moved the Chiefs back 11 yards. Because the penalty was after the play, the Chiefs still had 1st and 10. Mahomes went to Gray for 13 and McKinnon for 21 and 11. McKinnon ran for 8 and Mahomes added 12. Mahomes went to Kelce for 12. With 20 seconds left in the half, the drive came down to 3rd and goal at the 4. Mahomes fired a laser to the front corner of the end zone and Marques Valdes-Scantling somehow caught it going to the ground with a knee down for the touchdown. The extra point was no good as the Chiefs trailed 14-13 at halftime after the 13 play, 97 yard drive. 

After a third quarter touchback, the Chiefs moved 67 yards in 10 plays and 6 minutes. On 3rd and 4 from the Houston 10, Pacheco only gained 2. Walrus Andy Reid decided not to gamble on 4th and 2. Butker hit the 27 yard field goal to make it 16-14 Chiefs. The Chiefs got it back at their own 23 and moved to a 1st and 10 at the Houston 35. Offensive holding meant 2nd and 17. Mahomes hit Schuster for 6, but Schuster got belted and fumbled. The Texans took over just past midfield. On 3rd and 2, a run got stopped but the defense jumped offside. On 3rd and 5 from the Chiefs 31, , Mills threw incomplete but defensive pass interference added 16. Mills was sacked but defensive illegal contact added 5 moMills went to Akins for the 12 yard touchdown to put the Texans up 21-16 after three quarters.

The Chiefs took over at their own 16. Mahomes went to Smith-Schuster for 8 and Kelce for 13 to end the third quarter. Mahomes began the fourth quarter by hitting Smith-Schuster for 12, Valdes-Scantling for 15, and McKinnon for 13. Mahomes ran for a 5 yard touchdown. Walrus Andy Reid called for the 2 point conversion and Mahomes hit McKinnon successfully to make it 24-21 Chiefs with 12 minutes left in regulation. The Texans after a touchback moved to a 1st and goal at the 9 with 6 minutes left. Driskel came in and lost a yard. Mills came back in and threw incomplete twice. Fairbairn hit the 29 yard field goal. With 5 minutes left the game was tied 24-24. The Chiefs from their own 23 used the entire clock. On 1st and 10 from the Houston 31 with 1:45 left, a run lost 3 yards. On 3rd and 11, a short pass lost anger yard. The Chiefs took a timeout with 12 seconds left. What could have been a shorter field goal try for Butker was 51 yards. Butker was wide no good. 

The Chiefs got the ball at their own 9 yard line to start overtime. They moved to a 3rd and 4 at the Houston 43. Mahomes was then sacked. The Texans had a chance to win the game outright. Yet on their first play from scrimmage in overtime from their own 13, Mills was tackled after a short gain and fumbled. The Chiefs recovered at the Houston 26. One play and 6 seconds later, the game was over. McKinnon broke through the line for a 26 yard touchdown to end the game. The Texans were game against one of the best teams in the league, but in the end they suffered another heartbreaking loss. They have won only one game all year and are in a strong position for the top pick in the 2023 Draft. The Chiefs at 11-3 are tied with Buffalo for the top record in the AFC, although Buffalo as of now holds the tie-breaker. For now, the Chiefs clinched the AFC West for the 7th straight year, making Andy Reid a most happy Walrus indeed. 30-24 Chiefs, OT

 

Arizona Cardinals at Denver Broncos — Kyler Murray is out for the season while Russell Wilson was out due to a concussion. Colt McCoy and Brett Rypien got the start for a pair of bad teams having a miserable season. The Broncos on their first drive moved after a touchback to a 3rd and 8 at the Arizona 34. Rypien threw incomplete. Brandon McManus hit from 52 to make it 3-0 Broncos. After that McCoy threw an interception and McManus missed a field goal. The Cardinals then moved from their own 28 to a 3rd and 6 at the Denver 27. McCoy threw incomplete. Matt Prater was good from 45 for a 3-3 game. A Broncos fumble gave the Cardinals the ball just shy of midfield with 38 seconds left in the half. Prater hit from 50 to end the half with the Cardinals up 6-3. After a third quarter touchback, the Cardinals held the ball for 11 plays and 6 minutes. McCoy was injured on the drive. Third string quarterback McSorley played the rest of the game. On 2nd and 7 from the Denver 35, an incompletion was followed by a killer offensive holding call. Prater nailed a 55 yarder as the Cardinals led 9-3.

The Broncos took over at their own 20. Latavius Murray got around the end for a 35 yard gain. Rypien hit Jerry Jeudy for 6 and Tomlinson f or 7. Rypien went back to Tomlinson for 18. Marion Mack ran for a 3 yard touchdown. With 6 minutes left in the third quarter, the Broncos led 10-9. The Broncos began the fourth quarter at their own 44. On 3rd and 1 from the Arizona 47, the defense was penalized for 12 men on the field. Mack had gains of 6 and 17. Murray ran for a 10 yard touchdown. With 11 minutes left in regulation, the Broncos led 17-9. The Cardinals soon faced 3rd and 8 from their own 27. McSorley was intercepted by Simmons, who returned the pick 23 yards to the Arizona 10. Defensive unnecessary roughness moved the ball to the 5. Eric Tomlinson ran for a 3 yard touchdown as 21 unanswered points had the Broncos up 24-9. The Cardinals did manage to go 78 yards and James Conner ran for a one yard touchdown with 6 minutes left. An ill-advised 2 point conversion try by Kliff Kingsbury failed. By the time the Cardinals got the ball back at their own 3 yard line, only 1:48 remained. With one minute left McSorley was intercepted as the Broncos snapped their 7 game losing streak. 24-15 Broncos

New England Patriots at Las Vegas Raiders — 20 years ago in a blinding snowstorm, the Raiders were cheated out of a trip to the AFC Title Game due to the “Tuck Rule.” Bill Belichick is still coaching the Patriots. The Patriots entered the game 7-6 while the Raiders at 5-8 were on the brink of playoff elimination. A loss would end their season. Belichick’s former assistant Josh McDaniels has made history as the Raiders head coach. In one year, the Raiders have blown 4 double digit leads. The Raiders have lost games twice when leading by 17 and once when leading by 20. Last week the Raiders led the lowly Rams 16-3 with 4 minutes left and gave the game away 17-16 in the final seconds. The Raiders were a dumb team that makes dumb decisions that lose games. McDaniels is head dummy, stubbornly refusing to run the ball in situations that clearly call for a run. This is why the Raiders do not close out games. Their offense stalls and their defense gets exhausted and breaks down. The offense was expected to get help with Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow returning from injury. The Patriots are a disciplined team that does not make mistakes. It would take a miracle for the Raiders to have a chance in this game.

The Raiders began the game at their own 27. They held the ball for 12 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. They moved to a 2nd and 5 at the New England 21. Then came the self-destruction typical of this game. An inexcusable delay of game penalty meant 2nd and 10. Derek Carr hit Josh Jacobs for 11, but that was wiped out by an ineligible man downfield. Daniel Carlson bailed out the offense. His 49 yard field goal made it 3-0 Raiders. The Patriots got the ball at their own 12 and moved 82 yards in 14 plays and 7 1/2 minutes. The Patriots had 2nd and goal at the one. This time it was Bill Belichick making the bizarre decision not to run the ball with Rhamondre Stevenson. Mac Jones threw incomplete twice. Belichick gambled on 4th and 1. Again, the Patriots messed up with a killer false start penalty. Nick Folk hit the 24 yard field goal for a 3-3 game in the second quarter. 

The Raiders took over at their own 24. Carr went to Davante Adams for 9. On 3rd and 9 from their own 38, Carr went to Keelan Cole for 20. Jacobs ran for 6, caught a pass from Carr for 11, and ran for a pair of 5 yard gains. Offensive holding appeared to kill the drive. Yet on 2nd and 20 from the New England 25, Carr went to Waller for the touchdown and the 10-3 Raiders lead. With 35 seconds left in the half, the Patriots had to punt on 4th and 6 from their own 47. Palardy’s punt was blocked by Koonce. The Raiders took over at the Patriots 20 with 27 seconds left. Defensive penalties kept the drive alive but also took precious seconds off the clock. With 9 seconds left, the Raiders had 1st and goal at the 5. With time for maybe one more play, Carr fired a laser to Mack Hollins for the touchdown. The Raiders led 17-3 at the half. 

The Raiders had another double digit lead. Most teams take years or even decades to lose multiple double digit leads. The Raiders did it 4 times in one season. All the Raiders had to do was run the ball in the second half, bleed the clock, and grind out a win. Yet Josh McDaniels has to be smarter than everyone else, which is his undoing. He throws West Coast Offense dink and dunk passes that stop the clock, lead to shorter drives, and lead to his defense spending too much time on the field. While Bill Belichick was running the ball, McDaniels was refusing to learn from his former boss. Yes, the Raiders led by 14. Yet they had no idea how to close out a game. The Raiders defense actually forced a punt on the first New England drive of the third quarter. The Raiders had the ball, the lead, and total momentum. All they had to do was run the ball.

From his own 13, Jacobs ran for 4. So far, so good. Handing the ball to him again would have made perfect sense. Instead, McDaniels called one of his precious West Coast Offense dink and dunk sideways passes. Carr threw the pass and Kyle Duggar jumped the route. Dugger returned the interception 16 yards for a defensive touchdown. Just like that, the Patriots were within 17-10. On the next series, McDaniels learned nothing. Carr came out throwing incomplete. On 3rd and 13 from his own 30, Carr hit Renfrow for 14. Yet McDaniels kept throwing  and a sack of Carr killed the drive. A great punt by AJ Cole pinned the Patriots back at their own 2 yard line. Last week he did the same thing only to have the defense give up a fourth quarter 98 yard drive for a loss.

This time the Patriots took 12 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. They made it look easy, but the defense only gave up 69 yards. Bill Belichick on 2nd and 9 from the Raiders 28 abandoned the run himself. A swing pass from Jones to Stevenson lost 5 yards. It was like Belichcik was copying McDaniels. Folk got the Patriots within 17-13. On the next drive from their own 9 yard line, Jacobs ran for 3 yards before McDaniels quickly abandoned the run. Carr threw incomplete and was sacked. Another 3 and out gave the Patriots the ball at midfield. On 3rd and 7 from the Raiders 47, Jones only gained 6. Yet defensive illegal contact kept the drive going. Again, the coach that would run the ball would win. Belichick again abandoned the run even though it was working. On 1st and 10 from the Raiders 35, Jones threw 3 straight incompletions. Folk nailed a 54 yard field goal try. With 13 minutes left in regulation, the Patriots were within 17-16. The Raiders defense had not given up a single touchdown. Yet because the offense did nothing, the defense at some point would break. That is what has happened with the Raiders all year.

The Raiders took over at their own 26. Jacobs ran for 7, 2, and on 3rd and 1 from their own 35, 2. The running game was working. All the Raiders had to do was stick with it. Then the Raiders took a killer delay of game penalty. 1st and 15 meant Josh McDaniels immediately abandoned the run. A sack and a fumble meant 3rd and 17 followed by a give up short pass. The Raiders were punting again. The Patriots took over at their own 22. Despite a 4 yard run, Bill Belichick then abandoned the run. Jones threw incomplete twice. The Raiders got it back at their own 19 and immediately got hit with a false start. This meant another 1st and 15. On 3rd and 9, a completion from Carr to Amir Abdullah only gained 8. The Raiders punted again. Then came the inevitable. One week after collapsing in the final 4 minutes, the Raiders did so again. The Patriots took over at their own 24. Jones went deep to Jakobi Meyers for 39 yards. Stevenson then broke free for a 34 yard touchdown. Belichick went for 2 and Jones hit Meyers for the conversion. 21 unanswered points had the Patriots up 24-17 with 3:43 to play.

There was plenty of time to still run the ball. The Raiders from their own 31 did not even try. Carr threw 3 straight incompletions, mainly because Hollins dropped a well-thrown bomb. With 3:12 left, on 4th and 10 from his own 31, Josh MccDaniels decided to punt. Given how exhausted the Raiders defense was, the Raiders were probably not going to get the ball back. Yet in a battle of who wanted it least, the Patriots committee a false start. The Raiders took their timeouts on defense. On 3rd and 10 from their own 28 with the Raiders out of timeouts, Jones rolled out like he was going to pass. He was bluffing, and Maxx Crosby knew it. There was no way Jones was going to throw that football and risk a clock-stopping incompletion. Jones smartly stayed inbounds and voluntarily went to the ground. The Raiders got the ball back at their own 19 with 2:11 left and 0 timeouts. Yet they had the 2 minute warning.

Carr then threw 3 straight incompletions, mainly because Hollins dropped 2 more passes. He was having a nightmarish couple of series. With 1:54 to play, the Raiders last desperate gasp came down to 4th and 10. For many weeks, the Raiders had failed to close out games where one more defensive stop would have guaranteed victory. On this day, the Raiders needed their offense to make sure the opponent failed to close the game out. With the entire season hanging in the balance, Carr went to Hollins again. This time he caught the ball for a 12 yard gain. The Raiders had life. Carr went to Hollins yet again for 13 more yards. Carr hit Jacobs for 6. Carr then went over the middle to Waller for 20. Despite having two timeouts left, Belichick decided not to take it to settle down his defense. Carr was in a rhythm, and he fired a gorgeous fade pass to the end zone. Keelan Cole out-jumped the defender for a 30 yard touchdown. The Raiders were an extra point from tying the game. Yet this would not be a Raiders game without the officials bringing controversy, especially when the Patriots are on the other sideline.

The Patriots insisted that Cole was out of bounds. One angle shows that his second toe may have been out of bounds. Yet the key piece of evidence were the divots. Replay showed Cole kicking up black divots from the field, not white divots. It was as close as humanly possible, but Cole was inbounds. Overturning this touchdown would be the Tuck Rule hell all over again. after looking at the replay for several minutes and several angles, officials declared Cole inbounds and upheld the touchdown. This time the Raiders would not be cheated in the final moments. There was still time for Josh McDaniels to lose his mind and try a 2 point conversion, but thankfully he did not. Carlson did his job and the game was tied 24-24 with 32 seconds left. For those wondering why the Raiders finally functioned on offense, it is because Carr runs the 2 minute drill. McDaniels does not call those plays. When Carr is in control, the offense moves. 

The Raiders were jubilant, but after a touchback the Patriots still had 32 seconds and 2 timeouts. All they needed was a field goal. On 3rd and 2 from their 33, Stevenson gained 12 yards. The Patriots were at their own 45 as they called their last timeout with 14 seconds left. All they needed was another 15-20 yards. Yet this time the Raiders defense did not melt down at the end. The much beleaguered secondary did their jobs. Jones threw incomplete twice, and there were no penalties on either play. Now only 4 seconds remained. The Patriots had two options. They could try a Hail Mary, which from their own 45 was perfectly reasonable. Otherwise, they could opt for a give up run and settle for overtime. Bill Belichick opted for the give up run. All Stevenson had to do was get tackled and the game would go to overtime. Instead, one of the craziest finishes in the history of the National Football League took place. Nobody could believe what occurred, and decades later, they still will not believe it. 

Stevenson gashed the Raiders for a 23 yard gain. 23 is not 55, and as well as Stevenson had been running, Stevenson was not going to run for a 55 yard touchdown. All he had to do was fall to the ground. Instead, he lateraled the ball to Meyers. Now running the hook and laterals is perfectly fine as a desperation suicide strategy when a team is losing on the final play, but the Patriots were not losing. The game was tied. There was no reason to be playing hot potato. Meyers also could have just fallen to the ground. Yet Meyers also lost his mind. He ran backward about 10 yards and lateraled the ball backward toward Jones. This made no sense since Jones could not throw a pass, and he certainly was not the one you want running with the ball in that situation. Yet madness turned into Greek tragedy in the Desert. Meyers saw his own quarterback, but he did not see the other Jones. That was Raiders defender Chandler Jones. Chandler Jones intercepted the lateral bit past midfield. The only thing standing in his way was Mac Jones.

It was not a fair fight.Chandler Jones flattened Mac Jones to the ground and ran right over him. Chandler Jones rumbled for a 48 yard defensive touchdown. Just like that, the game was over. There would be no overtime. 2 touchdowns in the final 32 seconds decided the game in regulation. This was sheer insanity. There were no flags on the field. This was crazier than the Tuck Rule, the Hoty Roller and the Heidi Game combined. It was Silver and Black miracle at the Death Star. Announcers, coaches and fans all wondered what the heck had just happened. The only thing missing was Bill King yelling “Holy Toledo” or John Madden getting into it with an opposing mascot. This touchdown counted.

After the game, Chandler Jones credited a team win. Meyers took the blame himself. Meyers and Stevenson both insisted that they were supposed to just fall to the ground. Refusing to shove either one of them under the bus, Bill Belichick simply stated that the team made too many mistakes. The Patriots and the Raiders were in shock and disbelief. Raiders announcer Jason Horowitz made the best call since Bill King’s Holy Roller call. “On the first night of Hanukkah, it’s a miracle in Las Vegas!” For Jewish members of the Raider Nation, this absolutely was the Las Vegas Hanukkah Miracle. The Patriots fell to 7-7. The Raiders are still clinging to life at 6-8. They got a tiny piece of revenge for the Tuck Rule, although the Patriots fans still complain about 1976 and Sugar Bear Hamilton. 

The Raiders have no time to rest. Their Hanukkah miracle is in the books. Their next game is Saturday night December 24th. They need another Hanukkah miracle combined with a Christmas miracle. They will be at Pittsburgh in the 50th anniversary of what many football fans call the Immaculate Reception and Raiders fans know is the Immaculate Deception. Yet for the moment, thanks to Chandler Jones, the Raiders will forever have won because of the Immaculate Interception. 30-24 Raiders, OT

Tennessee Titans at Los Angeles Chargers — A pair of 7-6 teams played a physical game. The Chargers took over at their own 32. Justin Herbert hit Mike Williams for 8, and Donald Parham for 18. Austin Ekeler ran for 10. On 3rd and 16 from the Tennessee 34, Herbert hit Keenan Allen for 14. Brandon Staley likes to go for it rather than take easy field goals, which usually leads to a turnover on downs. He never learns. This time he passed up a 38 yard try. On 4th and 2 from the Tennessee 20, Herbert hit Allen for 4. On 3rd and 1 from the Tennessee 7, Joshua Kelley gained 3. On 3rd and goal at the one, Kelley got in. The 14 play, 68 yard, 8 minute drive made it 7-0 Chargers. The Titans took over at their own 37 in the second quarter. Derrick Henry ran for 11. Ryan Tannehill connected with Henry for 37 more. Henry ran for 11 and then for the 4 yard touchdown for a 7-7 game. With 1:52 left in the half, the Chargers took over at their own 20 and moved to the Tennessee 25 with 12 seconds left. In relatively short field goal range, Brandon Staley again got greedy. Herbert went to the end zone and McCreary made a spectacular deflection to Kalu for an interception touchback. McReary was out of bounds but purposely shoved the ball to Kalu before his feet touched down. The teams traded interceptions in a scoreless third quarter. early in the fourth quarter, Randy Bullock missed a 51 yard field goal try that would have give the Titans the lead.

The Chargers soon faced 3rd and 1 at midfield. Ekeler gained 4. Herbert then went deep to Allen for 31. Ekeler ran for 12 and for the 3 yard touchdown to make it 14-7 with 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation. The defenses dug in again and the Titans took over at their own 26 with 3 minutes left. Henry ran for 7 and 3. On 3rd and 1 from their own 45, Haskins gained 8. On 2nd and 12 just past midfield, Tannehill hit Okonkwo for 28 and Austin Hooper for 17. On 3rd and goal at the one, Tannehill kept it and benefitted from Henry shoving him past the pylon. With 44 seconds left, the game was tied 14-14. The Chargers took over at their own 23. Herbert went to Williams for 16, Everett for 6, and Williams again for 35. The Chargers took the clock down to 4 seconds. Cameron Dicker came in for the 43 yard field goal try to win it. Dicker was good. The 8-6 Chargers are in a strong wildcard position while the 7-7 Texans, losers of 4 straight, still lead the terrible AFC South by one game. 17-14 Chargers

Cincinnati Bengals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — The 9-4 Bengals and 6-7 Buccaneers squared off in a game with plenty of playoff implications. It was also the first matchup between the young Joe Burrow and the old Tom Brady. Brady won it all in 2020 and Burrow got the Super Bowl in 2021. An early interception of Burrow set up the Buccaneers at their own 30. On 3rd and 5, Brady hit Russell Gage for 6. On 3rd and 8 from their own 43, Brady found Mike Evans for 16 and Cade Otton for 20. White ran for 6 and 7. On 2nd and 3 from the Cincinnati 4, Brady threw incomplete. Brady was then tackled after a one yard gain. Todd Bowles played it safe. On 4th and 2 from the Cincinnati 3, Ryan Succop hit the 21 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Buccaneers. 

The Buccaneers got it back at their own 41. On 4th and 1 from the Cincinnati 40, Todd Bowles went for it again. Brady went to Evans for 7 and again for 24. The second quarter began with the Buccaneers facing 3rd and goal at the one. Brady threw incomplete. Bowles gambled a third time. This time Brady hit Gage for the touchdown to make it 10-0 Buccaneers. The Buccaneers missed a chance to extend the lead when Succop missed from 50, but the Buccaneers got it back at their own 15 and marched down the field. Leonard Fournette gained 7, 6 and 3. Brady hit Chris Godwin for 15 and Fournette for 5. On 3rd and 2 from the Cincinnati 46, Brady hit Fournette for 12 and then found Godwin for 18, 11, and for the 5 year touchdown. With 1:40 left in the half, the Buccaneers had a commanding 17-0 lead. 

After 28 minutes of lifelessness, the Bengals moved in the 2 minute drill from their own 30 to a 1st and 10 at the Tampa 23 with 18 seconds left. A pointless short completion gained nothing and forced Burrow to spike the ball to stop the clock with 3 seconds left. Evan McPherson hit the 41 yard field goal to end the half. The third quarter brought the inexplicable. On 4th and 1 from his own 26, Todd Bowles gambled on a fake punt. Bernard took the direct snap, fumbled it, and saw the Bengals take over at the Tampa 16. Yet on 2nd and goal at the 3, rather than run the ball, Zac Taylor kept passing and Burrow threw incomplete twice. McPherson hit from 21 to get the Bengals within 17-6. The Buccaneers took over at their own 8 yard line. On 3rd and 8 from their own 23, Brady was intercepted by Trey Flowers. The Bengals took over with a short field at the Tampa 31.  

On 4th and 3 from the Tampa 24, Zac Taylor passed up a 42 yard field goal try and gambled. Burrow kept backpedaling until he was finally cornered by 3 defenders and sacked for a 23 yard loss. Yet defensive holding gave the Bengals a gift first down. On 3rd and 8 from the Tampa 17, Burrow went to Chase for 7. Yet instead of 4th and 1, a defensive facemask on the play meant 1st and goal at the 5. Burrow went to Tee Higgins for the touchdown as the Bengals were within 17-12 with 6 minutes left in the third quarter. The 2 point conversion try failed. The Buccaneers soon faced 3rd and 10 from their own 21. Brady was sacked and fumbled. The Bengals took over at the Tampa 13. On 3rd and goal at the 3, Burrow hit Tyler Boyd for the touchdown to give the Bengals their first lead of the game up 20-17 after a successful 2 point conversion. After a touchback, the Buccaneers from their own 38 saw Brady fumble again. The Bengals took over at the Tampa 39. On 3rd and 8, Burrow hit Chase for just enough. On 3rd and 10 from the Tampa 29, Burrow went to Wilcox for 19. Burrow went to Chase for an 8 yard touchdown. to make it 27-17 Bengals. On the next drive, Brady was intercepted again. 

The Bengals soon faced 3rd and 5 from their own 43. Burrow hit Irwin for just enough. Burrow hit Joe Mixon for 11. On 3rd and 3 from the Tamps Bay 32, Burrow hit Boyd for just enough. Zac Taylor went for it on 4th and 1 from the Tampa Bay 20. The defense jumped offside. Burrow hit Wilcox for a 12 yard touchdown. 34 unanswered points turned a 17 point Bengals deficit to a 17 point Bengals lead at 34-17. The Buccaneers turned the ball over on 5 straight drives. The last 4 of those turnovers were by Brady himself. On the 20 year anniversary of the Tuck Rule, Brady was fumbling all over the place and those fumbles were counting. The Buccaneers got a garbage touchdown with less than one minute remaining. The Bengals at 10-4 now have a one game lead in the AFC North. Despite being 6-8, the Buccaneers have a one game lead in the horrendous AFC South. Tom Brady needs to win all 3 remaining games to avoid his first ever losing season. 34-23 Bengals 

New York Giants at Washington Commanders is the Sunday night Hanukkah kickoff game. A couple of weeks ago these teams played to a 20-20 tie. They both entered 7-5-1 and fighting for playoff survival. This was also the very first game in NFL history where a Hanukkah Menorah was lit on the field. The game started on the first night of Hanukkah, and the celebration put together by Chabad of Maryland occurred between the first and second quarter. The Commanders in the first quarter moved from their own 30 to a 1st and 10 at the Giants 25. A run lost 2 yards and a pair of false starts killed the drive. Joey Slye hit a 41 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Commanders.

Early in the second quarter, the Commanders were facing 2nd and 18 from their own 10. Heinecke was hunted down by Kayvon Thibodeaux, who forced a fumble, recovered it, and rolled one yard into the end zone for a defensive touchdown and a 7-3 Giants lead. The Giants got the ball back at their own 3. Daniel Jones went to Vannett for 15 and Sawon Barkley for 4 and 6. On 3rd and 9 from their own 31, Jones hit James for 10. Jones went to Hodgins for a pair of 7 yard gains. On 4th and 9 from the Washington 35, Brian Daboll passed up a 53 yard field goal try and gambled. Jones hit James for 11 and then Hodgins for 19. With 1:43 left in the half, Barkley ran for a 3 yard touchdown as the Giants led 14-3 at the intermission.

In the third quarter the Commanders took over at their own 9 yard line. Heinecke hit Terry McLaurin for gains of 18 and 13. Brown ran for 15. Heinecke went to McLaurin for 20, to Jahan Dotson for 11, and back to Dotson for a 19 yard touchdown. The 2 point conversion try failed but the 91 yard drive had the Commanders within 14-9. The Giants after a touchback embarked on a 10 play, 5 1/2 minute drive. On 2nd and 9 from the Washington 36, offensive holding killed the drive. Graham Gano hit from 50 to make it 17-9 Giants. In the fourth quarter the Commanders moved from their own 42 to a 3rd and 9 at the Giants 33. Heinecke threw incomplete. Slye hit from 51 to get the Commanders within 17-12.

The Commanders got the ball back at their own 9. Heinecke went deep to Dotson for a 61 yard gain. On 3rd and 4 from the Giants 5 with the Commanders looking for the lead, Heinecke was sacked and fumbled. The Giants moved from their own 14 to a 3rd and 6 at the Washington 31 at the 2 minute warning. A short completion lost a yard. Gano nailed a 50 yard field goal to put the Giants up by 8 with 1:55 left in regulation. A strong kickoff return by Antonio Gibson had the Commanders at their own 43. Heinecke went to Curtis Samuel for 27. With one minute left, on 3rd and goal at the one, Robinson got in. Yet before the Commanders could try the tying 2 point conversion, the touchdown was nullified by an illegal formation penalty. On 3rd and goal at the 6, Heinecke threw incomplete twice. The Giants moved one game ahead of the Commanders. Both teams are still alive, but the Commanders need much more help. 20-12 Giants   

Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers was the Monday night game. Last year the Rams won it all and the Packers won 13 games and secured home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Yet rather than an NFC Title Game preview, this was just a pair of bad teams. The Rams are out of the playoffs, but the Packers at 5-8 were clinging to life. The Rams used up their miracle last week. The Packers from their own 32 moved 52 yards in 12 plays and 6 1/2 minutes. On 2nd and goal at the 5, Aaron Rodgers threw incomplete. Then he was sacked. Mason Crosby hit a 34 yard field goal to make it 3-0 Packers. On their next series, Rodgers was intercepted. The Rams began the second quarter at their own 32. They moved to a 3rd and 7 at the Green Bay 15. Baker Mayfield threw incomplete. Matt Gay hit from 33 to make it 3-3.

The 3s continued as the Packers soon faced 3rd and 3 from their own 33. Rodgers hit Randall Cobb for 12, AJ Dillon for 17, and Cobb again for 14. On 4th and 3 from the Rams 17, Matt LaFleur decided to go for it rather than kick a 35 yard field goal. Stunningly, with everyone expecting Rodgers to pass, it was Dillon out of the shotgun running for 4. Dillon the ran for 5 and finally for an 8 yard touchdown. The 11 play, 74 yard, 6 minute drive meant a 10-3 Packers lead. The Rams took over at their own 35 and moved to a 1st and 10 at the Green Bay 37. Mayfield threw 3 straight incompletions. Gay leveled a 55 yard field goal. With 46 seconds left in the half, the Rams were only down 10-6.

The Packers began the third quarter at their own 32. Rodgers went to Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson for 10 apiece. Rodgers then went to Dillon for 17 and Watson for 15. On 3rd and 6 from the Rams 9, Rodgers threw incomplete but defensive illegal contact meant 1st and goal at the 4. Dillon did the rest, running for 3 and then the one yard touchdown.The 11 play, 68 yard, 7 minute drive made it 17-6 Packers. A 17 yard punt return with 15 more tacked on for a facemask gave the Packers gift field position at the Rams 35. Aaron Jones ran for 9, 2 and 3. Rodgers hit Marcedes Lewis for 14. Rodgers went to Jones for a 7 yard touchdown as a close game was now a 24-6 Packers romp. The Rams managed one touchdown before the third quarter ended, but the Packers grinded the Rams to dust in the fourth quarter without any points. A 15 play, 82 yard, 9 minute drive. Despite 1st and goal at the one with 1:39 left, Rodgers did the classy thing. With the Rams out of timeouts, he took 3 knees rather than run up the score. The Packers at 6-8 still have a ray of playoff hope. 24-12 Packers  

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Hanukkah 2022 Menorah Lighting and Party Schedule

December 18th, 2022
Hanukkah is my favorite holiday. Football is my favorite sport. Today is a great Sunday to enjoy both. Here is my Hanukkah schedule:
Los Angeles (all subject to change)
Tonight December 18: Pico Shul:
Tomorrow night: Citywalk
Tuesday night: Chabad Brentwood
Wednesday night: Chabad Simi Valley
Thursday night: Fly to Las Vegas
Friday night: Shabbos in Las Vegas
Saturday night: Menorah lighting in Las Vegas plus the Raiders game vs Pittsburgh.
Sunday night: Hanukkah at the sportsbar to enjoy football and another Las Vegas Menorah lighting.
Monday night December 26: Fly back to Los Angeles.
Now to enjoy football. To quote John Randall and Mike Singletary:
“This is when the big dogs come out!”

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