KC Chiefs QB Brodie Croyle is one of Lloyd’s Lackey’s for Week 14 after his awful play in his team’s loss to the Chargers –0-10 as a starter
Week 14 Games
Thursday, December 9
Colts (7-6) over Titans (5-8), 30-28…A crazy Thursday Nighter that saw Indy hold-on after building a big lead early..QB Peyton Manning looked to be back (over 300 yds passing w/ 2 TDs, no INTs)…Collins (over 200 career TDs) rallies Titans, but falls short…CJ2K gives it his all (almost 200 yds of offense), but TENN didn’t have much else..Moss held to zero receptions…Colts find a little running game with rookie Javarris James (17 ATT 49 yds 1 TD)
Sunday, December 12
Niners (5-8) over Seahawks (6-7), 40-21…Singletary makes the right move by going back to QB Alex Smith (3 TDs, 0 INTs)…Seattle continues to show there is more clean-up needed by Carroll on this inconsistent team…Niners RB Brian Westbrook continues drinking from the fountain of youth (6 REC, 87 yds 1 TD)
Bills (3-10) over Browns (5-8), 13-6… In the Battle for Lake Erie, the Bills did just enough to get passed the Browns…Fitzpatrick was not great but he got the job done..Hillis continues his climb up the Browns’ historical ladder…Delhomme was pitiful (threw for only 86 yards)…Mangini appears to be out in Cleveland
Buccaneers (8-5) over Redskins (5-8), 17-16…This game was a nail-biter and showed that “Good” Teams win and “Bad” teams lose…Bucs QB Josh Freeman continued to play cool under pressure..Special Teams killled the Redskins (2 missed field goals and botched potential game-tying XP)…Kicker Gano (ribs) had a bad game..McNabb had a solid game despite being under duress in the pocket…WAS RB Ryan Torain had a career day in a losing effort
Cardinals (4-9) over Broncos (3-10), 43-13…In Week 14′s Toilet Bowl the winner was Arizona…Cardinals crushed the hapless Broncos in Erc Studesville’s head coaching debut…First time starter QB John Skelton had a very solid game..RB Tim Hightower (148 r. yards and 2 TDs) had the game Whisenhunt had been waiting for Cards K Jay Feely was awesome (25 points including a TD run)
Chargers (7-6) over Chiefs (8-5), 31-0…This game showed the AFC West is still wide-open..With no Cassel (appendix), the Chiefs were terrible on offense…Cheifs QB Brodie Croyle now 0-10 as a starter (7/17 40 yds 0 TD)…Chargers get above .500 and back in division-hunt…Rivers has another big day while spreading ball around..SD defense holds KC to less than 200 total yards
Dolphins (7-6) over Jets (9-4), 10-6…A bad home loss for the suddenly reeling J-E-T-S (lost 2 straight)…NY Jets Asst Coach Sal Alosi goofs by tripping a Miami player on a special teams play (suspended for rest of 2010 and fined 25K)…Dolphins defense is stifling (6 sacks)…Jets QB Sanchez looked not ready for primetime (17-44 for 216 yards and INT)…Dolphins LB Cameron Wake lived in New York backfield as starting RT DamienWoody (knee) was out..Henne “managed the game” but defense ruled
Eagles (9-4) over Cowboys (4-9), 30-27…A tough NFC East road win for the Eagles despite their continued redzone problems on offense and defense…Akers keeps kicking..Birds D harasses Kitna into a crucial pick…Vick shakes off some shaky O-line play (constantly hit) to get the ball to D-Jax, McCoy, and Avant…D-Jax showed both his explosive big play nature (over 200 yards on only 4 catches) and immarturity (stupid taunting penalty for “hotdog” goalline theatrics)..RB LeSean McCoy continues to come of age as he helped the Birds run out the clock at the end of the game (over 4 minutes)…Dumb endzone moves by Eagles KR Calvin… PHI loses Graham (ACL – season) and Bradley (Dislocated Elbow – Indef)…There was a minor National stink/controversey over Cowboys RB Tashard Choice getting Eagles QB Michael Vick’s autograph on the field after the game…Eagles face Giants in an NFC East showdown in WK15
Falcons (11-2) over Panthers (1-12), 31-10..This one should have been stopped before it even started…Matt Ryan is efficient as he finds future HOF Gonzalez for a TD…Turner rolled up and down the field on the hapless Carolina defense (28 Rushes, 112 yds, 3 TDs)…Claussen looks lost in a bad home loss…ATL moves closer to NFC homefield advantage..Good effort from comebacking RB Stewart wasted
Jaguars (8-5) over Raiders (6-7), 38-31…One of the Week’s best games was a huge surprise…OAK and JAX went toe-to-toe for 4 qtrs with the Jags winning to remain atop the AFC South…JAX ran the ball over the Raiders like a tank (over 200 yards)…JAX’s Thunder and Lightning Combo of MJD and Jennings both run for over 100 yards..Great games for Campbell and McFadden are wasted in a tough loss for the Raiders…JAX next plays at IND in WK15 for the AFC South crown
Lions (3-10) over Packers (8-5), 7-3…A shocker in Motown as the battle-tested Lions finally pulled off an upset…GB loses QB Aaron Rodgers (2nd concussion of season) then the game…Replacement Flynn was no match for a defense led by R.O.Y candidate N. Suh… Stanton efficient and throws for game’s only score…GB has to pick up the pieces for a WK15 showdown game with the Patriots on SNF
Patriots (11-2) over Bears (9-4), 36-7…Pats clinch playoff spot…No one plays better in the snow than the Patriots and MVP candidate / QB Tom Brady (now 10-0 in his career in the white stuff)…Brady spreads the ball all over the field (369 yds, 2 TDs) to Welker, Branch, Woodhead and others…Speaking of Branch, he had a career regular-season high 151 rec yds including a back-breaking 59-yd catch right before halftime…The Patriots humiliated the NFC North leaders on their own field…Patriots clinch first 2010 playoff spot…Bears will need to step-up in WK15 against MIN (where?)…NE hosts GB on SNF
Saints (10-3) over Rams (6-7), 31-13..This game showed that the NFC West is the NFC Least as the Champs pounded the upstart Rams in the Bayou…QB Drew Brees (25-40, 221 yds, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) found a variety of WR’s including the re-emerging Marques Colston…RB Chris Ivory had another good game before leaving with a minor injury… Other than S-Jax the Rams didn’t have much offense to keep the Saints off rookie starter Sam Bradford..Everything still same, Saints trying to catch ATL and STL still leads the NFL’s worst division. Next in WK15, NO faces ATL in an NFC South Showdown and STL will host KC in a Missouri “Show Me Something” special.
Steelers (10-3) over Bengals (2-11), 23-7…This was tough Western PA football played in the mud with rain and cold temperatures…PIT further buried the awful Bengals with a dominating win..Look for Marvin Lewis to be out after season as Cincy are classic underachievers…Big Ben toughs-it-out as he wears a shield to protect his broken nose…Polamulu looks like DEF MVP of league (2 INTs including game-changing Pick-6)…Carson Palmer is not right and it shows…T.O wonders where he will be in ’11
Monday, December 13
NY Giants (9-4) over Vikings (5-8), 21-3..This game was moved to MondayNight in DET due to the Metrodome’s roof collapsing under snow..1st MNF game of the evening was historical as Favre is inactive due shoulder (297 consecutive starts over)..Peterson bottled up….Giants overcome more E. Manning INTs (2) to post win…G-Men’s tag team backfield of Bradshaw and Jacobs run the ball down the Vikings throat (over 200 yds)…T-Jack hurts knee on handoff, but hobbles through most of game…NYG and PHI for NFC East in WK15
Ravens (9-4) over Texans (5-8), 34-28 OT…This laugher early got real interesting at the end…BAL jumps out to an early 28-7 lead only to have QB Schaub (31-62, 393 yds, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) and WR A. Johnson lead HOU to 21 unanswered points to send the game to overtime…Ravens CB Josh Wilson wins the game in OT on a Pick-6..Ravens stay 1-game behind PIT..New Orleans visits BAL in WK15
Weekly Leaders
Passing
1. M. Schaub HOU 393 yds – OT (L)
2. T. Brady NE 369 yds, 2 TDs (W)
3. J. Campbell OAK 324 yds, 2 TDs (L)
4. P. Manning IND 319 yds, 2 TDs (W)
5. M. Hasselbeck SEA 285 yds (L)
6. M. Vick PHI 270 yds, 2 TDs, 2 INTs (W)
Rushing
1. R. Torain WAS 172 yds, 0 TDs (L)
2. L. McCoy PHI 149 yds, 0 TDs (W)
3. T. Hightower ARI 148 yds, 2 TDs (W)
4. J. Stewart CAR 133 yds (L)
5. D. McFadden OAK 123 yds (L)
Receiving
1. D. Jackson PHI 210 yds, 1 TD (W)
2. D. Branch NE 151 yds, 1 TD (W)
3. A. Johnson HOU 140 yds – OT (L)
4. A. Benn TB 122 yds, 0 TD (W)
5. H. Ward PIT 115 yds (W)
5. W. Welker NE 115 yds (W)
TDS
1. M. Schaub HOU 3 TDs OT (L)
1. D. Garrard JAC 3 TDs (W)
1. D. McFadden OAK 3 TDs (L)
1. A. Smith SF 3 TDs (W)
1. D. Brees NO 3 TDs (W)
(3 others tied for 1st)
Kickers
J. Feely ARZ 25 points (W)
J. Reed SF 16 points (W)
D. Akers PHI 12 points (W)
Standings Breakdown
2 teams — (11-2) Patriots,Falcons
2 teams — (10-3) Saints, Steelers
5 teams — (9-4) Eagles, NY Jets, Bears, NY Giants, Ravens
4 teams – (8-5) Chiefs, Packers, Jags, Bucs
3 teams — (7-6) Colts, Dolphins, Chargers
3 teams — (6-7) Seahawks, Raiders, Rams
6 teams — (5-8) Titans, Redskins, Browns, Niners, Texans, Vikings
2 teams — (4-9) Cowboys, Cardinals
3 teams – (3-10) Lions, Bills, Broncos
1 team — (2-11) Bengals
1 team – (1-12) Panthers
Division Leaders
NFC
Eagles/Giants (NFC East – 4 game lead over WAS), Falcons (NFC South — 1 game lead over NO), Bears (NFC North — 1 game lead over GB), Seahawks/Rams (NFC West — 1 game lead over SF)
AFC
Jags (AFC South — 1 game lead over IND), Steelers (AFC North — 1 game lead over BAL), Patriots (AFC East — 2 game lead over NYJ),
Chiefs (AFC West — 1 game lead over SD/Oak)
Current Streaks
Winning: Falcons (7); Saints (6); Patriots (5)
Losing: Bengals (10); Panthers (7); Titans (6)
If playoffs started today, Here would be the Seeds….
NFC — 1. ATL, 2. CHI, 3. PHI, 4. STL, 5. NO, 6. NYG
AFC — 1. NE, 2. PIT, 3. KC, 4. JAX, 5. BAL, 6. NYJ
How 2009 Playoff teams are faring — Saints (10-3), Eagles (9-4), Packers (8-5), Vikings (5-8), Cowboys (4-9), Cardinals (4-9),
Patriots (11-2), NY Jets (9-4), Ravens (9-4), Colts (7-6), Chargers (7-6), Bengals (2-11)
Remaining Games for Contenders
Atl – @Sea, NO, Car
Bal – NO, @Cle, Cin
Chi – @Min, NY, @GB
GB – @NE, NYG, Chi
Ind – Jac, @Oak , Ten
Jac – @Ind, Was, @Hou
KC – @StL, Ten, Oak
Mia – Buf, Det, @NE
Min – Chi, @Phi, @Det
NE – GB, @Buf, Mia
NO – @Bal, @Atl, TB
NYG – Phi, @GB, @Was
NYJ – @Pit, @Chi, Buf
Oak – Den, Ind, @KC
PHI – @NYG, Min, Dal
Pit – NYJ, Car, @Cle
SD – SF, @Cin, @Den
Sea – Atl, @TB, StL
SF – @SD, @StL, Ari
StL – KC, SF, @Sea
TB – Det, Sea, @NO
Week 15
Thu, Dec 16
SF @ SD Qualcomm Stadium 8:20 PM —- NFLN
Sun, Dec 19
BUF @ MIA Sun Life Stadium 1:00 PM —- CBS
CLE @ CIN Paul Brown Stadium 1:00 PM —- CBS
DET @ TB Raymond James Stadium 1:00 PM —- FOX
JAC @ IND Lucas Oil Stadium 1:00 PM —- CBS
ARI @ CAR Bank of America Stadium 1:00 PM —- FOX
NO @ BAL M&T Bank Stadium 1:00 PM —- FOX
PHI @ NYG New Meadowlands Stadium 1:00 PM —- FOX
KC @ STL Edward Jones Dome 1:00 PM —- CBS
WAS @ DAL Cowboys Stadium 1:00 PM —- FOX
HOU @ TEN LP Field 1:00 PM —- CBS
ATL @ SEA Qwest Field 4:05 PM —- FOX
NYJ @ PIT Heinz Field 4:15 PM —- CBS
DEN @ OAK Oakland Coliseum 4:15 PM —- CBS
GB @ NE Gillette Stadium 8:20 PM —- NBC
Mon, Dec 20
CHI @ MIN University of Minnesota 8:30 PM —- ESPN
Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and Sports Journey Broadcast Network , who is also an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)