NFL - Week Fourteen Review

Miracles, surprises and mistakes . . .
It was all part of some fantastic finishes around the NFL this weekend as the NFL Playoff picture continues to take shape.

Miracle in Miami

Without a doubt, the Miami Dolphins 34-33 victory over the New England Patriots on the final play of the game with the laterals that wound up with running back Kenyan Drake (pictured right) taking the ball 52 yards for the touchdown as time ran out was the most exciting moment, in Week Fourteen and perhaps all season.
The Patriots (9-4) were stunned at the outcome as the Dolphins (7-6) kept alive their playoff hopes and also thwarted the Patriots from clinching their tenth consecutive AFC East title. Pats quarterback Tom Brady had three touchdown passes and 358 passing yards in the loss while Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill had three touchdown throws, including the "miracle" one that won the game.
The Chicago Bears (9-4) dominated the Los Angeles Rams (11-2) on the Sunday Night Football game, winning at home, 15-6 as their defense smothered the Rams, holding them to a season low 214 yards in total offense (including just 52 rushing yards) and two field goals. Rams QB Jared Goff was intercepted four times in the game.
The Kansas City Chiefs (11-2) defeated the Baltimore Ravens, 27-24 in OT as kicker Harrison Butker made a 35-yard field goal and then the Chiefs defense stopped the Ravens (7-6) to seal the win. The Chiefs were able to force the OT thanks to two big plays on fourth down by QB Patrick Mahomes (377 passing yards with two TD and one interception), including a big pass play to WR Tyreek Hill (eight catches, 139 yards) and the game tying five-yard TD pass to Damien Williams.

Derrick Henry 99-yard TD run

Last Thursday night, Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, the Heftyinfo NFL co-Player of the Week,  had a game for the ages, rushing for 238 yards and scoring four touchdowns, including a record tying 99-yard TD run to lead the Titans (7-6) to a 30-9 romp over the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars. Tony Dorsett of the Dallas Cowboys (1982) also went 99 yards for a score.

Amari Cooper scored three TD in big win

Another huge effort to aid a win was turned in by Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper, the Heftyinfo NFL -co-Player of the Week. The Cowboys (8-5) outlasted the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, 29-23 in overtime for their fifth straight win as Cooper (10 receptions for 217 yards and three TD) hauled in the winning 15-yard TD catch on a deflection.
The win all but clinches the NFC East division for Dallas as both Philadelphia and Washington sit with 6-7 records.





                         
                                               Elsewhere Around the NFL . . . . . . .  

The Los Angeles Chargers (10-3) kept pace with the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West race with a 26-21 hard fought home victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, who were playing without their top two offensive players (injured QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green). Chargers kicker Michael Badgley nailed four field goals, including a team record 59-yard boot to end the first half, to help make the difference in the outcome . . .  The Cleveland Browns beat Carolina, 26-20, sending the Panthers (6-7) to their fifth consecutive defeat as WR Jarvis Landry scored twice . . .  The New Orleans Saints (11-2) clinched the NFC South division with a 28-14 road win against Tampa Bay as QB Drew Brees ran for a score and threw a TD pass to pace the win. Bucs QB Jameis Winston had two TD passes in the loss . . .  The Green Bay Packers (5-7-1) knocked off the visiting Atlanta Falcons, 34-20 as QB Aaron Rodgers had two TD passes . . .  The Oakland Raiders stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-21 behind two TD passes from QB Derek Carr and a blocked field goal as time expired to send the Steelers (7-5-1) to their third straight defeat . . .  The New York Jets rallied past the Buffalo Bills for a 27-23 road win as Elijah McGuire scored on a one-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter . . .  The New York Giants (5-8) routed the fading Washington Redskins, 40-16 as rookie RB Saquon Barkley went off for 170 yards rushing (on just 14 carries), including a 78-yard scoring run. The Redskins (6-7) have lost four in a row . . .  The Indianapolis Colts (7-6) won at Houston, 24-21, which snapped the Texans nine-game winning streak. Colts QB Andrew Luck had two TD passes and kicker Adam Vinatieri's 54-yard field goal to end the first half proved to be the difference in the final score . . .  The San Francisco 49ers beat the Denver Broncos, 20-14, damaging the Broncos (6-7) playoff hopes in the AFC race as 'Niners tight end George Kittle scored on an 85-yard pass play and hauled in seven catches for 210 yards to stun the Broncos . . .  The Detroit Lions won a yawner at Arizona, beating the Cardinals, 17-3 as Darius Slay took an interception back 67 yards for a touchdown . . . The Seattle Seahawks (8-5) beat the Minnesota Vikings, 21-7 on Monday Night Football as RB Chris Carson scored on a two-yard rushing TD and Justin Coleman took a fumble back 29 yards for another score in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach. 


WEEK FOURTEEN RESULTS
Tennessee 30, Jacksonville 9
New Orleans 28, Tampa Bay 14
NY Jets 27, Buffalo 23
NY Giants 40, Washington 16
Kansas City 27, Baltimore 24 (OT)
Cleveland 26, Carolina 20
Green Bay 34, Atlanta 20
Miami 34, New England 33
Indianapolis 24, Houston 21
Dallas 29, Philadelphia 23 (OT)
LA Chargers 26, Cincinnati 21
San Francisco 20, Denver 14
Oakland 24, Pittsburgh 21
Detroit 17, Arizona 3
Chicago 15, LA Rams 6
Seattle 21, Minnesota 7