Controversy surrounded the biggest NFL game of the regular season when the replay officials took a touchdown away from the Pittsburgh Steelers in the closing seconds of a 27-24 home loss to the New England Patriots.Steelers tight end Jesse James had the football on a ten-yard pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the ball had already broken the plane of the goal line before hitting the ground in his grasp, but the replay review over ruled the touchdown call by the field officials.
The reversal ruined what was a great and very exciting game between the two best teams in the NFL this year. Especially exciting were the the final two minutes of the fourth quarter when Pats QB Tom Brady led the winning drive for the go ahead score. Patriots running back Dion Lewis scored on an eight-yard run and the two-point conversion pass from Brady to tight end Rob Gronkowski (nine catches for 168 yards) made it 27-24 for the Patriots (11-3) with just 56 seconds to play.
Pittsburgh (11-3) got a 69-yard pass play from Roethlisberger to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to set up the game ending drama at the New England 10-yard line.
The Steelers could have clocked the ball from just inside the Patriots' five-yard line following the ruling that took away their go ahead touchdown, but the Patriots intercepted a deflected pass in the end zone to wrap up the game.
Another strange ending to a game took place in the Sunday night affair out in Oakland as the Dallas Cowboys (8-6) held on for a 20-17 win over the Raiders (6-8) as Oakland QB Derek Carr (two TD passes) fumbled the football out of the end zone reaching for the pylon at the goal line in the closing minute to give the game to Dallas.
Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey made a 19-yard field goal to make the difference in the outcome after the 'Pokes coughed up a ten point halftime lead.
The Carolina Panthers (10-4) spoiled the return of Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers back from his injuries in a 31-24 home win as they picked off Rodgers three times. Rodgers did have three TD passes, but Panthers QB Cam Newton had four TD passes in the win. The Packers slipped to 7-7 with the defeat.
Minnesota (11-3) clinched the NFC North division in a 34-7 rout of the visiting Cincinnati Bengals behind a pair of TD passes from Case Keenum and a strong defense that held the Bengals to only 161 total yards in offense while also scoring a touchdown on a pick six interception.
The Kansas City Chiefs (8-6) dominated the second half in a 30-13 rout of the visiting Los Angeles Chargers (7-7) that puts them one step closer to clinching the AFC West. Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt went for 155 yards and scored two touchdowns while QB Alex Smith had a pair of scoring passes. The Chargers turned the ball over four times, including three interceptions thrown by QB Philip Rivers as they saw their four-game win streak snapped.
Elsewhere Around the NFL . . . . . .
The New Orleans Saints (10-4) fought off the New York Jets, 31-19 as Drew Brees had two TD passes and RB Mark Ingram scored two rushing touchdowns to help them maintain first place in the NFC South . . . The Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) clinched their first playoff berth since 2007 in a 45-7 thumping of the visiting Houston Texans. Jags QB Blake Bortles had three TD passes in the win . . . The Los Angeles Rams dominated the host Seattle Seahawks, 42-7 to improve to 10-4 and all but clinch the NFC West division. Rams RB Todd Gurley (152 yards rushing) scored four touchdowns in the rout. Seattle (8-6) managed to gain just 149 total yards in the loss . . . The Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) won a hard fought game against the New York Giants, 34-29 as quarterback Nick Foles threw four scoring passes in his first start after starting QB Carson Wentz went down for the season with a knee injury last week . . . The Buffalo Bills (8-6) won a big game at home, 24-16 against Miami as the defense had three interceptions while RB LeSean McCoy scored twice to lead the offense . . . The Baltimore Ravens also improved to 8-6 in a 27-10 road win against the Cleveland Browns (0-14) as the defense scored a touchdown and QB Joe Flacco ran for a score and also had a TD pass . . . The Washington Redskins beat the Arizona Cardinals, 20-15 as QB Kirk Cousins had two TD passes . . . The San Francisco 49ers won their third game in a row with a 25-23 effort over the Tennessee Titans (8-6) as kicker Robbie Gould made six field goals, including the game winner from 45 yards as time expired. Titans QB Marcus Mariota had two TD passes in the loss, which dropped them two games behind Jacksonville in the AFC South race . . . The Detroit Lions (8-6) pounded the Chicago Bears, 20-10 on Saturday as QB Matthew Stafford had a pair of TD passes to keep their playoff chances alive . . . The Thursday night game saw the Denver Broncos get a 25-13 road win against Indianapolis as QB Brock Osweiler came off the bench to throw two TD passes while running back C.J. Anderson rushed for 158 yards to lead the offense . . . In the Monday Night Football game, the Atlanta Falcons (9-5) defeated the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-21 to stay within one game of New Orleans and Carolina in the NFC South race. Falcons RB Devonta Freeman rushed for 126 yards and scored a touchdown and QB Matt Ryan added a TD pass while the defense scored on a fumble recovery as well. Bucs QB Jameis Winston passed for 299 yards and three touchdowns in defeat.
Heftyinfo NFL Player of the Week - Todd Gurley (RB - Los Angeles Rams)
WEEK FIFTEEN RESULTS
Denver 25, Indianapolis 13
Detroit 20, Chicago 10
Kansas City 30, LA Chargers 13
Jacksonville 45, Houston 7
Minnesota 34, Cincinnati 7
Baltimore 27, Cleveland 10
Philadelphia 34, NY Giants 29
Buffalo 24, Miami 16
Carolina 31, Green Bay 24
New Orleans 31, NY Jets 19
Washington 20, Arizona 15
LA Rams 42, Seattle 7
New England 27, Pittsburgh 24
San Francisco 25, Tennessee 23
Dallas 20, Oakland 17
Atlanta 24, Tampa Bay 21
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