Week Eleven Recap

As we inch closer to the playoffs, skies darken for some teams, while others pray for a break in the clouds.

Severe thunderstorms delayed the game in Chicago almost 2 hours (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Baltimore 20, Chicago 23 (OT)

Black skies turned sunny in Chicago when the Bears were able to outlast the Ravens in overtime. The game was delayed almost 2 hours by a passing storm system that saw over 50 tornadoes touch down across the Midwest, so technically speaking, the skies were actually still dark when the winning FG was kicked-- by then, it was night. 

Josh McCown again led the Bears to victory in the absence of Jay Cutler, and is making a very strong case to supplant Cutler as the starter. Consider these stats: McCown is completing 60% of his passes, has thrown 5 touchdowns, zero interceptions, and has won both of the games in which he has started. 

After escaping with a win last week in OT, the Ravens were unable to rally for the win in Chicago. They were able to drive the field and kick the game-tying FG as time expired, and their past playoff experience has given them the wherewithal to mount last-minute scoring drives when the game is on the line.  However, their concern should be the other 59 minutes of football; at 4-6, the defending Super Bowl champs are about to miss the playoffs entirely. 

New York Jets 14, Buffalo 37

The Geno Coaster continued to roll this weekend, and this week the drop was rather severe. The rookie fumbled twice and threw three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown, before being replaced by backup Matt Simms in the fourth quarter.

More surprising was the fact that the Jets were coming off their bye week, and it looked like they would have preferred another week away from work. Instead, they were routed by the Bills in Buffalo and are tied for the last remaining wildcard spot, but performances like these (note: plural)  make you wonder how they are in such a position at all.

Cleveland 20, Cincinnati 41

After dropping two straight games, Cincinnati got a much needed victory over a division foe on Sunday, though in the beginning it looked like things were headed in the other direction. In their first five possessions, the Bengals went three-and-out 3 times and Andy Dalton threw 2 interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. The hideous first quarter placed the Bengals in a 13 point hole and had their home fans booing raucously, but apparently that was what the team needed. They went on to score a franchise record 31 points in the second quarter alone and raced past the Browns on their way to their victory. 

Cleveland wasted an outstanding performance by CB Joe Haden, who held WR AJ Green to 7 yards on 2 catches, and returned an interception for a score in the first quarter. Jason Campbell had a rough day, throwing 3 interceptions of his own, completing less than half of his passes, and tallying twenty-nine incompletions-- especially troubling considering the team attempted only 19 running plays. But at 4-6, Cleveland still finds itself on the outskirts of the AFC wildcard picture. 

Washington 16, Philadelphia 24

The Eagles saw a 24 point lead evaporate almost entirely in the fourth quarter, as Washington scored two touchdowns and hit both two-point conversions to come within one score of a tie. They worked the ball down to the 18-yard line before RG3 threw a terrible interception in the end zone with just 24 seconds remaining, and the Eagles were able to hold on for their first home victory in their last 11 games. 

Detroit 27, Pittsburgh 37

Matt Stafford threw for 327 yards and Calvin Johnson came down with both touchdowns and 179 yards receiving of his own. Then the first half ended.

A Tale of Two Halves (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Yes, both players were on pace for a record-shattering day in Pittsburgh, but when the third quarter started, it seemed a completely different team took the field. The Lions were shut out in the second half and allowed Ben Roethlisberger to throw 2 fourth quarter touchdowns and complete the comeback for the Steelers. Matt Stafford threw for only 35 yards in the second half, and Calvin Johnson was held without a catch for the rest of the game. 

A tremendous opportunity was blown by Detroit; they now sit in a tie with the Chicago Bears for first in the NFC North, while Pittsburgh, at 4-6, moves into the AFC wildcard hunt.

Atlanta 28, Tampa Bay 41

We knew they were bad, but not certainly not that bad. Or are they? 

I'm talking about the Atlanta Falcons, who found themselves down by 28 points in the fourth quarter to a team that, nine days ago, still had not won a single game. Now the two teams are tied for last in the NFC South, just one win above the absolute bottom of the league. 

It has certainly been a disappointing season for the Buccaneers, who traded away their mercurial QB, Josh Freeman, early in the season and lost both first- and second-string running backs to season-ending injuries. But Atlanta was a team that many expected to contend for a Super Bowl this year-- they were in the NFC Championship just a year ago! Instead, their collapse will go down as the most complete I have ever witnessed-- and I'm a Raiders fan! 

Arizona 27, Jacksonville 14

Don't look now, but Arizona has won 5 of its last 7 and is sitting at 6-4, tied for the last NFC wildcard spot. They have flown under the radar all season long, and while a victory over the Jags is certainly nothing to brag about, the NFL pays no mind to strength of schedule. A win is a win, and the Cardinals now have enough to be tied for ninth-most in the league (out of 32). 

The Good News: Arizona's strong run-defense is ranked #2 in the league. On Sunday they held Maurice Jones drew to 23 yards on 14 carries-- an average of 1.9 yards per carry. Discount the one run of 9 yards, and that stat shrinks to 14 yards on 13 carries. 

The Bad News: their last two games of the season come at home against San Francisco and on the road in Seattle. 

Oakland 28, Houston 23

Undrafted rookie QB Matt McGloin threw for three touchdowns and no interceptions in his first NFL start and led the Raiders to their first road victory of the year. A fantastic defensive effort solidified the victory for Oakland, as the final Houston drive was stopped short on the 2-yard line. 

Houston has now lost 8 straight games and was so incapable that Coach Gary Kubiak pulled Case Keenum for former starter Matt Schaub. The puzzling maneuver did not provide the spark he had hoped, and only ignited the Houston teammates against one another. 

Rashad Jennings added 150 yards and a TD (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

San Diego 16,  Miami 20

A last-minute drive was too little, too late to bail out Phillip Rivers and the Chargers, who ran out of time on Miami's 25-yard line. A sloppy game featured interceptions by both QBs in the first quarter (and came on consecutive drives) and, when combined, the teams went a dismal 6-21 on third down conversions (29%). 

San Diego drops to 4-6 but remains alive one game back of the wildcard spot, while 5-5 Miami moves into a tie for that very spot with the New York Jets. 

San Francisco 20, New Orleans 23

The NFC showdown in New Orleans suddenly turned into a defensive showcase. The 49ers vaunted defense had a tall task in stopping Drew Brees, but New Orleans' defense played extremely well also, limiting Kaepernick to 127 yards through the air and holding Frank Gore to just 45 yards rushing. Brees managed only 1 touchdown on the day and threw an uncharacteristically poor interception. New Orleans was held without a touchdown in the second half, but 3 fourth quarter field goals, including one as time expired, were enough to lift the Saints to victory.

"Illegal Contact to the Head of the QB" (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

A controversial "roughing the passer" call overturned what would have been a game-winning fumble recovery by the 49ers, but San Francisco had other opportunities, and miscues had a large impact on the outcome as well. Most notably, the 49ers were penalized for tackling the defenseless punt-returner, after he had signaled fair catch, on what ended up being the game-winning drive.

Still, the game was well-played by both teams and may have been a potential playoff preview. However, if these two teams meet head-to-head in the postseason, it will likely be in New Orleans again, as the loss gives the Saints the tiebreaker over the 6-4 49ers. 

Green Bay 13, New York Giants 27

The suddenly-slumping Packers certainly miss Aaron Rodgers. Instead, QB Scott Tolzein got his first NFL start and threw for 339 yards on the day-- it was the three interceptions that doomed him. The Packers were able to move the ball at will, and even out-gained the Giants in total yards. However, they left the Meadowlands with a third consecutive loss, and at 5-5, now find themselves behind both Detroit and Chicago in their own division. 

Meanwhile, the Giants have rallied for 4 straight victories, and at 4-6, are very much alive in their own division race. After a horrendous start that many said they would never overcome, they seem desperate to prove their doubters wrong. If there is one thing we know about the Tom Coughlin/Eli Manning combination, its that 9-7 is sometimes good enough to win the Super Bowl. Don't give up on Big Blue just yet.

Minnesotta 20, Seattle 41

The train keeps on rolling in Seattle, and it may not stop until February. The NFL's most complete team let the Vikings hang around for three quarters before scoring 17 unanswered points in the 4th to put the game away. QB Russell Wilson continues to make incredibly athletic plays, and Marshawn Lynch, who is second in rushing yards and tied for first in touchdowns, is simply and truly in Beast Mode. 

The Seahawks enter their bye at 10-1, best in the NFL, and will need the week to prepare-- they host the Saints next and then will travel to San Francisco for a highly-anticipated divisional rematch.  

Kansas City 17, Denver 27

*Sunday Night*

Perfection came to an end in the Mile High city on Sunday Night Football as the Chiefs were dropped by Peyton Manning and the Broncos.

They say "slow and steady wins the race", but it does not win the NFL football game, and nowhere was a lack of urgency more apparent than on the KC offensive side of the ball. QB Alex Smith, eternal game-manager, is so programmed to not make costly mistakes that he refuses to take risks when plays need to be made. He took very few shots downfield when his team was down 17 in the fourth quarter, and instead stuck to a conservative style of mistake-free football.

His biggest mistake: losing the game!

Denver got the win but it was not pretty. In fact, they were held to their lowest point total of the season, and one wonders how Peyton Manning's ankle injury will affect his ability to make plays. His deep ball is already compromised by his infamous neck surgeries, and without a back foot to plant off, he threw wobblers all game long. In the end though, those wobblers fell into the hands of his lethal receiving core, and the NFL's best offense was able to get the best of the NFL's best defense.

New England 20, Carolina 24

*Monday Night*

Whoever decided to schedule a late-season monday night matchup between the Panthers and Patriots needs to immediately purchase a lottery ticket. I do not know at what point in the offseason this was decided, and I certainly do not know how the NFL was convinced to approve the match. All I know is that I am happy as hell they did!

The season's biggest surprise team won its sixth consecutive victory, and second consecutive over a legitimate contender, by upsetting the Patriots in Carolina. Much attention was given to a controversial "no-call" in the end zone on the last play of the game, but that attention rightfully belongs to Cam Newton, who played what may be his best game as a pro in a nationally televised game.

Finding himself down 4 points after Brady executed a vintage late scoring drive to put his team ahead, Cam Newton answered the call and led his team on an 83-yard touchdown drive to regain the lead with under a minute to go. The third-year pro made plays with his arm and his legs and one-upped Brady by earning 7 instead of settling on the field goal, and found WR Ted Ginn for what would be the game-clinching score.

Greatest Press Conference Ever (Mad Producer Productions)

Indianapolis 30, Tennessee 27

*Thursday Night*

The Colts squeaked out another iffy victory over a weak team. It took a halftime speech by Andrew Luck, as well as 24 second half points, but Indianapolis was able to survive the scare against the Titans. Trent Richardson was held to 22 yards, lowering his yards-per-carry as a member of the Colts to 2.83. The Colts improved to 7-3 and look to be running away with their division-- the NFC South-- thanks in part to the epic collapse of the Texans and the eternally hapless Jaguars.