Week 17 Results
Sunday
Redskins 28 Cowboys 18
It was a game television executives dream of. The Dallas Cowboys vs. the Washington Redskins. The winner goes to the playoffs and the loser goes home for a long off season.
Alfred Morris ran the Redskins into the playoffs with 200 yards rushing and two touchdowns as the Redskins defeated the Cowboys, 28-18.
The Redskins built a 21-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter after a 32 yard touchdown run by Morris. Tony Romo and the Cowboys didn’t fold. Romo lead a touchdown drive and converted the two point play to bring the Cowboys within 3 points.
The Cowboys defense came onto the field and got the ball back to their offense. After a completion to Jason Witten, the Cowboys seemed to be rolling towards another fourth quarter comeback. On the next play, Romo threw his most costly interception of the season. Redskins linebacker Rob Jackson tricked Romo into thinking he was going to blitz and then dropped back into coverage for the game sealing interception.
The Redskins started the season 3-6 and completed the season with 7 straight wins to steal the NFC East from the Cowboys and the New York Giants.
The Cowboys finish the season 8-8 and out of the playoffs. The Redskins will host the Seattle Seahawks next week at RFK Stadium.
Patriots 28 Dolphins 0
When the New England Patriots need to take care of business the Patriots take care of business. When the Houston Texans lost earlier today, it opened the door for the Patriots win and clinch a first round bye in the AFC playoffs. The Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins 28-0.
Tom Brady passed for two touchdowns and Stevan Ridley rushed for two touchdowns.
Next week the Patriots will have the opportunity to rest and get ready to host the second lowest remaining seed in the AFC playoffs in two weeks.
The Patriots finish the season with a 12-4 record and the Dolphins finish 7-9.
Chargers 24 Raiders 21
The San Diego Chargers defeated the Oakland Raiders 24-21. We will soon find out if it was enough to save Norv Turner’s job.
After starting the season 3-1, the Chargers lost 7 of the next 8 before finishing the season 3-1.
Phillip Rivers was 13-17 and had two touchdown passes.
Micheal Spurlock started the scoring for the Chargers with a 99 yard kickoff return.
The Chargers finish the season 7-9 and the Raiders finish the season 4-12.
49ers 27 Cardinals 13
The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-13 to clinch the NFC West. Also, with the win and the Minnesota Vikings win over the Green Bay Packers the 49ers clinched a first round bye in the NFC playoffs.
Colin Kaepernick and Michael Crabtree hooked up twice for touchdowns. Frank Gore also had a touchdown for the 49ers.
Brian Hoyer struggled for the Cardinals completing only 19 of his 34 passes.
Next week, the 49ers will enjoy their bye week and wait to host the second lowest remaining seed remaining in the NFC playoffs.
The Cardinals finish the season with a 5-11 record. After starting the season 4-0, the Cardinals ended the season 1-11.
Seahawks 20 Rams 13
The Seattle Seahawks defeated the St. Louis Rams 20-13. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, the San Francisco 49ers win over the Arizona Cardinals clinched the NFC West for the 49ers.
The Seahawks will be the NFC’s fifth seed and will play the winner of the Dallas Cowboys/Washington Redskins game tonight.
Russell Wilson tied Peyton Manning’s record for most touchdown passes as a rookie with 26.
The Rams finish the season with 7-8-1 record. If the Rams can get some more weapons around Sam Bradford they could be a playoff contender next year.
Broncos 38 Chiefs 3
Peyton Manning passed for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the Denver Broncos to a 38-3 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs. With the win and the Houston Texans loss, the Broncos have clinched home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
The Broncos started the season 2-3 before winning their last eleven games to clinch the top seed in the AFC.
Demaryius Thomas had 7 catches for 122 yards and a touchdown to lead the Broncos.
The loss ended the Chiefs season with a disappointing 2-14 record.
Next week, the Broncos will sit home and watch the playoffs. In two week, they will host the lowest remaining seed in the AFC.
Vikings 37 Packers 34
Adrian Peterson didn’t break Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record. He fell 9 yards short. He was carried off the field by his teammates in celebration anyways. Peterson rushed for 199 yards including a 26 yard carry to the 11 yard line that set up Blair Walsh’s game winning field goal. The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Green Bay Packers 37-34 to clinch the final wild card spot in the NFC.
With the loss, the Packers fell out of the two seed and will host the Vikings next weekend at Lambeau Field. The Packers loss also helped the San Francisco 49ers clinch a first round bye.
The Vikings win not only secured their playoff birth but it also eliminated the Chicago Bears.
Peterson finishes the season with 2,097 yards rushing. An astounding 1,019 of those yards came AFTER contact. In two games against the Packers this season, Peterson has rushed for 409 yards.
The Packers finish the season with an 11-5 record and the Vikings finish 10-6.
Panthers 44 Saints 38
In a game of swings, the Carolina Panthers defeated the New Orleans Saints 44-38.
The Panthers controlled the early part of the game going up 10-0. The Saints then scored 24 of the next 27 points to take a 24-13 lead into the third quarter.
In what had to feel to Saints fans like a final nail in the coffin from the league to the Saints, referee Al Riveron blew an easy Saints challenge. Leading 24-13, the Saints looked ready to seize control in the third quarter. Panthers tight end Greg Olsen fumbled along the sideline in Carolina territory, and Saints defensive back Johnny Patrick appeared to recover it. Initially, the play was blown dead and Olsen ruled down. It was clear to everyone on the field, in the stadium, and on the broadcast (including former NFL head of officials, Mike Pereira) that the ball was fumbled and recovered by the Saints. Riveron agreed that the ball was fumbled but somehow declared that the Saints didn’t clearly recovered the ball.
A few plays later, the Panthers scored a touchdown and went on to score 28 straight to take control of the game. The Panthers had 5 rushing touchdowns in the game.
Drew Brees set yet another NFL record becoming the first quarterback to ever throw for over 5,000 yards in a season three times. He is also the first player in NFL history to pass for at least 4o touchdowns in consecutive season. On the other hand, the Saints defense set the record for most yards allowed in a season and became the first team in NFL history to allow more than 7,000 yards in a season.
The Panthers end the season with a 7-9 record after starting 1-6. The Saints also finish the season at 7-9 after starting 0-4.
For more on Drew Brees and his unfair season click here.
Buccaneers 22 Falcons 17
The road to the Super Bowl in the NFC was going to go through Atlanta regardless of the result of their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That doesn’t mean the Falcons called off the dogs. Matt Ryan played the entire game, but the Buccaneers defeated the Falcons 22-17.
Doug Martin finished off an incredible rookie season with 142 yards rushing and a touchdown. Mike Williams also had a touchdown for the Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers finish up and down season with a 7-9 record. The Falcons finish one of the best seasons in team history with a 13-3 record.
Next week, the Falcons will watch the NFC wild card games and prepare for the lowest remaining seed to come to the Georgia Dome in two weeks. The Falcons are 7-1 at home and will be a tough out in the playoffs.
Bills 28 Jets 9
Likely playing his last game as the New York Jets starting quarterback, Mark Sanchez was awful. Sanchez completed only 17 of his 35 passes and threw a costly interception that was returned by a Buffalo Bills defender. The Bills defeated the Jets 28-9.
CJ Spiller showed why he is one of the most exciting players in the game with 142 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. Tashard Choice and Brad Smith both had rushing touchdowns for the Bills.
The game ends disappointing seasons for the Bills and the Jets. The Bills and Jets both finish the season with a 6-10 record. Head Coaches Rex Ryan and Chan Gailey will wait to find out if they will be fired or brought back for another season.
Bengals 23 Ravens 17
The Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens both knew that they were headed for the playoffs and who their opponents would be. Playing for pride, the Bengals defeated the Ravens 23-17.
Both teams sat most of their starters and those that did play saw limited action. Joe Flacco and and Andy Dalton both played part of the game before being replaced by their respective draft picks.
Bengals rookie wide receiver Marvin Jones scored his first NFL touchdown.
Both team finish the season at 10-6 but the Ravens owned the tiebreaker over the Bengals.
Next week, the Ravens will host the Indianapolis Colts and the Bengals will travel to either Houston, New England, or Denver.
Bears 26 Lions 24
The Chicago Bears took care of their business and now have to wait to see if it will be enough to make the playoffs. The Bears defeated the Detroit Lions 26-24 and will clinch a wild card birth if the Green Bay Packers defeat the Minnesota Vikings.
At the midway point of the season it seemed as if the Bears would coast to the playoffs with a 7-1 record. Instead, the Bears went 3-5 in the second half and lost their hold on the NFC North to the Packers and the wild card to the Vikings.
Calvin Johnson failed to gain the yards he needed to be the first receiver to ever go over 2,ooo yards. He finished the season with 1,964 yards receiving.
The Lions finish their season 4-12 and the Bears finish 10-6 and rooting for help from the Packers.
Colts 28 Texans 16
With a win, the Houston Texans could have clinched home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Instead, the Indianapolis Colts foiled those plans with a 28-16 win.
The Colts won and played their starters the whole game despite being locked into the fifth seed in the AFC.
The Colts recieved a huge boost with the return of their head coach, Chuck Pagano. Pagano coached his first game since being diagnosed with leukemia early in the season.
The Texans will have to wait and hope that the Patriots or Colts lose or they will host the Cincinnati Bengals next weekend. The Colts know they will be traveling to Baltimore to play the Ravens next week.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, today’s victory over the Cleveland Browns is one week late and against the wrong team from Ohio. After losing to the Cincinnati Bengals last week the Steelers were eliminated from the AFC playoff picture. Today, they finished strong with a 24-10 victory.
Ben Roethlisberger had three touchdown passes for the Steelers.
The Browns played with Thaddeus Lewis not Brandon Weeden at quarterback and Lewis proved to be ineffective.
The Steelers finish the season 8-8 and the Browns finish 5-11.
Eli Manning had five touchdown passes and Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for over 100 yards and a touchdown.
The loss for the Eagles ends one of their most miserable seasons of the decade. Andy Reid is likely to be fired tomorrow. Michael Vick started the game for the Eagles in what was considered by most to be an audition for where he might play next season. Vick passes for less than 200 yards, completed less than 50% of his passes and was intercepted.
Unfortunately for the Giants, they didn’t get the help they needed to make the playoffs. The Giants were eliminated when the Chicago Bears defeated the Detroit Lions, 26-24.
