The List: Memorable Monday night finish tops the NFL’s Week 14 games

The Week 14 games lacked the drama fans have become accustomed to in recent weeks, but they made up for it with good games featuring teams playing for postseason berths. The Chiefs clinched their fifth straight AFC West title and the Packers clinched the NFC North for the second year in a row. The Steelers lost to the Bills, but still clinched a playoff spot after both the Dolphins and Raiders lost. Buffalo could have clinched a spot, but they needed five things to happen (a win, plus losses by New England, Miami, and Las Vegas), but only got four (Baltimore won). However, we begin this week’s installment of The List with a game on Monday night that came down to the final seconds.

THE GOOD

Jackson leads the Ravens over the Browns in a memorable Monday night game

 Lamar Jackson had 163 yards and a touchdown passing to go along with 124 yards and two scores rushing as the Ravens outlasted the Browns, 47-42, on Monday night in a contest that is certain to be in the discussion for game of the year. Jackson had Baltimore in front, 34-20, heading into the fourth quarter before exiting the game with cramps in his throwing arm. After Cleveland scored two touchdowns to go in front, the 2019 NFL MVP returned and led two scoring drives in the final six minutes.

The game featured two of the top three rushing offenses in the NFL, and the teams combined for nine touchdowns on the ground. Each team took nearly six minutes off the clock on their first possessions, with Nick Chubb opening the scoring for the Browns and Jackson’s five-yard run knotting the score. Cleveland kicker Cody Parkey missed a field goal on the first play of the second quarter and later in the period, the running of Jackson and rookie J.K. Dobbins set up a Gus Edwards 11-yard scoring run to give Baltimore a 14-7 lead. Baker Mayfield responded on the next drive with a first-down pass to Jarvis Landry and a 37-yard strike to Donovan Peoples-Jones that set up Chubb’s second touchdown with 4:16 left. With less than a minute before halftime, Jackson struck again. His 39-yard pass to tight end Mark Andrews set up his own 17-yard run for a 21-14 halftime advantage.

Just like at the start of the game, the teams traded touchdowns early in the second half, with Edwards registering his second score on a 19-yard run and Kareem Hunt countering for Cleveland. After a Ravens punt, Tyus Bowser intercepted Mayfield and returned the ball to the one-yard line. Dobbins scored on the next play for a 14-point advantage. The Browns responded with a 12-play drive which picked apart the Ravens with a well-timed mix of runs and passes. Mayfield finished things off with a 21-yard pass to Rashard Higgins, then his two-point pass found its way to Peoples-Jones after the ball bounced out of Hunt’s hands, cutting the deficit to six points.

With Jackson now in the locker room, Trace McSorley, a 2019 sixth-round draft pick out of Penn State, came in and struggled, and Baltimore was forced to punt. Cleveland went on another 12-play drive, with Mayfield completing first-down passes to Landry and Higgins, and Chubb’s 13-yard run setting up a five-yarder from Mayfield with 6:33 remaining. Parkey’s extra point gave the Browns their first lead since early in the first quarter, 35-34. McSorley drove the Ravens into enemy territory, but he went down with a knee injury just before the two-minute warning.

Jackson returned from the locker room just as McSorley was being helped off the field. On his first playback, he found Marquise “Hollywood” Brown with a 44-yard touchdown. A Dobbins run on the two-point conversion was successful, giving Baltimore a 42-35 lead. Mayfield took less than a minute to reach the end zone. He completed a 30-yard pass to Peoples-Jones and hit Hunt a pair of times, including a 22-yard touchdown with 1:04 left to knot the score once again. On the Ravens’ final possession, Jackson had 14-yard passes to Andrews on consecutive plays to get into Browns territory. Baltimore then turned to Justin Tucker, the most accurate kicker in NFL history. His 55-yard field goal snuck inside the left upright with two seconds left. Cleveland tried a series of laterals on the final play. The sequence lasted nearly a minute before Landry was tackled out of the back of the end zone for a game-ending safety.

Dobbins had 53 yards rushing and a touchdown, and Edwards added two 49 yards and two scores for Baltimore (8-5). Andrews posted a game-high 78 yards receiving, and Brown totaled 50 for the Ravens. Mayfield finished with 343 yards and two touchdowns passing in addition to his rushing score. Chubb had 82 yards and two rushing touchdowns, and Hunt totaled 110 yards (33 rushing plus a team-leading 77 receiving) and two scores for Cleveland (9-4). Peoples-Jones (74 yards), Higgins (68 yards and a touchdown), and Landry (52) also had solid games for the Browns. 

Chiefs clinch fifth straight AFC West title

Patrick Mahomes threw for 393 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Chiefs to a 33-27 victory over the Dolphins that clinched a fifth straight AFC West crown. Miami jumped out to a 10-0 lead, but Kansas City scored 30 straight points, thanks to Mahomes scoring passes to Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, as well as a Hill touchdown run and a Mecole Hardman 67-yard punt return score. Although Miami head coach Brian Flores joked earlier in the week that he wished “we could have 14 defenders,” his team’s defense forced Mahomes into three interceptions and sacked him three times.

Dolphins rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a career-high 316 yards and two touchdowns passing, and he also had a scoring run in the fourth quarter. Kelce totaled 136 yards receiving and Hill added 101 combined yards (79 receiving and 32 rushing) for Kansas City (12-1). Lynn Bowden had a team-high 82 receiving yards and tight end Mike Gesicki caught two touchdown passes for Miami (8-5).

Rams shut down Patriots in Super Bowl rematch

The Rams and Patriots met in Super Bowl LIII less than two seasons ago, with New England coming out on top 13-3 in a defensive struggle. Thursday night’s game was much more decisive, with rookie running back Cam Akers totaling 171 rushing yards in a 24-3 Los Angeles victory. Jared Goff opened the scoring with a one-yard sneak on an opening drive loaded with big Akers runs, and the 2016 top pick added a touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp.

The Rams held the Patriots to 220 yards, posted six sacks, and chased the ineffective Cam Newton from the game. Kenny Young intercepted Newton and returned it 79 yards for a score on the first play of the second quarter to give Los Angeles (9-4) a 17-0 lead. Damien Harris led New England (6-7) with 50 yards rushing. The Patriots’ lone score came on a Nick Folk field goal late in the first half.

For more on the Super Bowl LIII rematch on Thursday night, read Richie Dordas’ story here.

Rodgers and the Packers take over the top spot in the NFC

Aaron Rodgers threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns, and he also added a running score in a 31-24 victory over the Lions on Sunday that allowed Green Bay (10-3) to clinch its second straight division title and move into the top spot in the NFC playoff picture. Davante Adams (seven catches for 115 yards) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (6-85) each had a touchdown catch, and the Packers gained more than 100 yards on the ground thanks to the efforts of Aaron Jones (69 yards) and Jamaal Williams (38).

Rodgers has 41 combined touchdowns (39 passing and two rushing) so far this season, and has added to his NFL record by reaching that mark for the fifth time in his career. Matthew Stafford had 244 yards and a touchdown for the Lions, but he was sacked four times and left late in the game with a rib injury. D’Andre Swift returned from a concussion to score a touchdown and Kerryon Johnson also reached the end zone for Detroit (5-8).

Eagles upset Saints in Hurts’ debut

Jalen Hurts threw for 167 yards and a touchdown, and he also ran for 106 yards in his first career start as the Eagles upset the Saints, 24-21. After a scoreless first quarter Hurts, a first-round pick out of Oklahoma, found Alshon Jeffery with a 15-yard touchdown pass. Miles Sanders had 115 yards and two scores, including an 82-yard run late in the second quarter that put Philadelphia (4-8-1) ahead, 17-0. Hurts is only the second quarterback since 1950 to rush for more than 100 yards in his first start (Lamar Jackson in 2018), and he is the only one to also have a touchdown pass.

The Saints came marching back in the third, thanks to an Alvin Kamara five-yard run and a 37-yard scoring pass from Taysom Hill to Emmanuel Sanders. Miles Sanders’ second rushing touchdown gave the Eagles a 10-point cushion midway through the fourth quarter, but Hill connected with tight end Jared Cook for a 20-yard score with 1:24 left. The onside kick hit off the foot of an Eagles player, but Philadelphia recovered despite the appearance that Saints punter Thomas Morstead corralled the ball first. Kamara ran for 50 yards and a score, and Michael Thomas posted game-highs with eight catches and 84 yards for New Orleans (10-3).

Best of the Rest

Drew Lock threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Broncos to a 32-27 victory over the Panthers. Rookie wide receiver KJ Hamler had 86 yards on just two receptions, but both went for scores. Tim Patrick and tight end Nick Vannett caught touchdowns for Denver (5-8), which also got an 83-yard punt return score from Diontae Spencer.

Mike Davis ran for 51 yards and two touchdowns, and Teddy Bridgewater had 283 yards passing and 31 yards and a score rushing for Carolina (4-9), but their final drive was stopped just after the two-minute warning. Robby Anderson had a game-high eight catches and 84 yards for Carolina, who lost after having three players test positive for the coronavirus earlier in the week.

Justin Herbert had two touchdown passes and Michael Badgley kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired to give the Chargers a 20-17 win over the Falcons. Herbert had 243 yards passing, Keenan Allen and Tyron Johnson caught touchdowns, and Austin Ekeler had a game-high 79 yards rushing for Los Angeles (4-9). Allen now has 623 receptions in 99 career games, passing Antonio Brown (622) for the most by a player in his first 100 games since the 1970 merger.

Matt Ryan had 224 yards and a score, but he was sacked twice and threw three interceptions. Russell Gage had 82 yards receiving and also threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley late in the first quarter. Ridley registered eight catches for a game-high 124 yards for Atlanta (4-9).

Chase Young, the second pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, returned a Nick Mullens fumble 47 yards for a touchdown, giving the Washington Braves a 23-15 win over the 49ers that moved them into first place in the NFC East. Young, an Ohio State product, also had six tackles and a sack. Washington (6-7) was outgained 344-193, but the defense took over thanks to Young’s return along with a 76-yard interception return by Kamren Curl on the final play of the third quarter.

Quarterback Alex Smith, who suffered a gruesome broken leg in 2018 that cost him more than a year, left the game in the first half with a calf strain and was replaced by 2018 first-round pick, Dwayne Haskins. Mullens threw for 260 yards and a touchdown, and Brandon Aiyuk posted game-highs with 10 catches and 119 yards for San Francisco (5-8). 

Sam Kirk recently broke down the NFC East. Do you think things will change after the Week 14 games? 

Josh Allen had 260 yards and two touchdowns and Taron Johnson returned an interception 51 yards for a score as the Bills handed the Steelers their second straight loss, 26-15, on Sunday night. Stefon Diggs led all receivers with 10 catches and 130 yards for Buffalo, which is currently third in the AFC with a 10-3 record. Diggs is now tied for the Bills’ single-season record with 100 receptions.

Ben Roethlisberger had 187 yards and tossed scoring passes to James Washington and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Pittsburgh (11-2) is now one game behind Kansas City for the best record in the conference. Despite the loss, the Steelers set a record with a sack in their 70th straight game, breaking a tie with the 1999-2003 Buccaneers.

Read Juan Guarin-Camargo’s story for more on the Bills’ victory over the Steelers.

Stat Leaders

Although there were some solid games during Week 14, the list of stat leaders is slightly less than usual. Patrick Mahomes posted a week-high 391 yards, and he leads the NFL with 4,208 overall. Baker Mayfield threw for 343 yards for the Browns in a loss to the Ravens on Monday night, Dolphins rookie Tua Tagovailoa set a career-high with his 318-yard performance against Mahomes and the Chiefs, and Derek Carr passed for 316 yards in a loss to the Colts. Although they didn’t reach the magic number, Denver’s Drew Lock (280 yards and four touchdowns), Seattle’s Russell Wilson (206 yards and four scores), Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers (290 yards, three passing touchdowns, and one rushing score) and Chicago’s Mitchell Trubisky (267 yards and three scores) all posted stellar games. Behind Mahomes on the season yardage list is Houston’s Deshaun Watson with 3,761, along with Wilson and Rodgers, who are tied for third with 3,685. Rodgers leads the league with 39 touchdown passes, followed by Wilson with 36 and Mahomes with 33.

Derrick Henry had another phenomenal game, rushing for 215 yards and two touchdowns against the Jaguars. Rams rookie Cam Akers had 171 yards against the Patriots on Thursday night and Colts freshman Jonathan Taylor totaled 150 yards and two scores against the Raiders. Other players to reach 100 yards rushing included Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson (124 yards in a Monday night win over Cleveland), Chicago’s David Montgomery (113 against Houston), Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook (102 versus Tampa Bay) and two Eagles, Miles Sanders (115) and rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts (106). Henry extended his lead for the rushing title and now has 1,532 yards this season. Cook is second with 1,352, followed by Jacksonville rookie James Robinson, who reached the 1,000-yard barrier and now has 1,035. Henry and Cook are now tied for the league lead with 14 rushing touchdowns, followed by New England quarterback Cam Newton and Washington rookie Antonio Gibson, who have 11 apiece.

Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins had a week-high 136 yards on nine catches in a win over the Giants, and he is followed by Chiefs tight end Chris Kelce (eight receptions for 134 yards), Bills receiver Stefon Diggs (10-130), Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley (8-124), Bears receiver Allen Robinson (9-123), 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk (10-110) and Packers star Davante Adams (7-115). Diggs tops the NFL with 100 catches, followed closely by Chargers star Keenan Allen (99) and Hopkins (94). Kelce leads the league with 1,250 yards, but there are several players within striking distance, including Seattle’s DK Metcalf (1,180), Diggs (1,167), Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill (1,158), Hopkins (1,155), and Adams (1,144). Hill and Adams are tied atop the receiving touchdown list with 14 apiece, followed by Minnesota’s Adam Thielen with 12 and Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans with 11.

Al Michaels honored by Baseball Hall of Fame

Al Michaels, who has become one of the most iconic voices in American sports history, was given the 2021 Ford Frick Award for broadcast excellence and will be honored during induction weekend at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, on July 24. Michaels, the current play-by-play commentator on NBC’s Sunday Night Football coverage, has also announced games during UCLA’s 88-game win streak in men’s college basketball under legendary coach John Wooden in the 1970s, called the “Miracle on Ice” U. S. men’s ice hockey victory in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY, and was in the booth for ABC when an earthquake interrupted the World Series in 1989.

Michaels began his career in sports as a color commentator alongside legendary Lakers announcer Chick Hearn in 1967. He moved west the following year and called games for the Pacific Coast League baseball team the Hawaii Islanders, as well as University of Hawaii football and basketball games. Michaels became the announcer for baseball’s Cincinnati Reds in 1971 and also worked for NBC Sports calling World Series games and Olympic hockey games the following year in Sapporo, Japan. In 1974, he went to San Francisco and began calling Giants games while also broadcasting for UCLA basketball.

After signing with ABC in 1976, Michaels began calling games for the network’s Monday Night Baseball broadcasts. Over his 30 years with ABC, he called baseball, college football and basketball, track and field, horse racing, golf, boxing, and the Olympics, especially the 1980 hockey game in which Team USA defeated the heavily favored Soviet Union, with Michaels shouting “Do you believe in miracles? YES!” as time expired on the Americans’ 4-3 victory.

Michaels, Tim McCarver, and Jim Palmer were in the ABC booth when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the California Bay Area before Game 3 of the 1989 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics. He also was the play-by-play commentator on ABC’s Monday Night Football from 1986-2006, and he spent three years as the lead broadcaster for the network’s ABC coverage.

Michaels moved on to NBC in early 2006, where he became the play-by-play man on Sunday Night Football, being paired with John Madden from 2006-09 and with Cris Collinsworth for the past 11 years. Overall, Michaels has covered 15 years of horse racing triple crown events, 11 Super Bowls, nine Olympics, eight World Series, four Stanley Cup, and two NBA finals series.

“My Cause My Cleats” campaign allows players to support causes

Most of the time, the NFL cracks down on what it calls “uniform violations.” Players are not allowed to wear custom cleats or put any messages on their game apparel. However, the league once again allowed for a weekly break from this policy as part of the “My Cause My Cleats” campaign, which began five years ago. More than 1,000 players, staff members, and media personnel wore and displayed their cleats during Week 13 games to raise awareness and funds for various causes. More than 20 percent of players chose messages involving social justice issues, with other messages in the categories of youth services, health and wellness, cancer awareness, mental health, the military and many other causes (shown with a cool graphic at NFL.com).

NFL teams announce Man of the Year nominees

The 32 NFL teams announced their finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award on Thursday. The nominees include players from all spots on the depth chart, including stars such as Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson, Bears tight end Jimmy Graham, Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins, Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks, Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, and Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans.

One of the more unique selections is Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who earned a six-game suspension in 2019 for hitting Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head with his own helmet in an altercation during a Week 11 game. Another strange team choice is cornerback Pierre Desir, who had three interceptions and 47 tackles in his first season with the Jets, but the team waived him on November 17. He signed with the Ravens and played in the Week 13 win over the Cowboys.

Fans are encouraged to participate in the Charity Challenge, a social media campaign that is run by Nationwide insurance. Voting runs through January 17, with votes registered by using #WPMOYChallenge followed by the player’s last name on Twitter. The player with the most hashtags will receive a $25,000 contribution to the charity of his choice, with $10,000 for second place and $5,000 for third.

All nominees will receive a $40,000 donation for the charity of their choice, with the winner receiving a $250,000 donation. The Man of the Year Award originated in 1970 and was renamed after the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton in 1999. The 2020 winner will be announced at the NFL Honors awards ceremony, which is held the week before Super Bowl LV.

Bills sign GM Beane to an extension

On Dec. 9, the Bills signed Brandon Beane to a multi-year contract extension that will keep the general manager in Buffalo through the 2025 season. The Bills brought in Beane and head coach Dough McDermott after firing Doug Whaley in early 2017, and the team also gave McDermott an extension through 2025 in August. Since the hiring of Beane and McDermott, the Bills have made the playoffs twice and are currently leading the AFC East through 13 games this season.

Beane began his NFL career as an intern with the Panthers, working with the Communications, Football operations, and Personnel departments from 1998-2007. He served as Carolina’s Director of football operations from 2008-14 and was an assistant general manager under Dave Gettleman in 2015-16. Beane helped Gettelman assemble the Panthers team that reached Super Bowl 50 before losing 24-10 to the Broncos.

Adams’ daughter sells shares of Titans to other family members

On Saturday, Susie Adams Smith, the daughter of original Titans franchise owner Kenneth “Bud” Adams Jr., sold her shares in the team to the family-run KSA Industries, Inc. Financial details of the deal were not released, and the sale must still be approved by the rest of the NFL’s owners. The Adams family will remain in control of the team, with Bud Adams’ oldest daughter, Amy Adams Strunk, owning 50 percent, with the rest being held by the KSA group that includes grandchildren Kenneth Adams IV, Barclay Adams, and Susan Lewis.

Bud Adams joined Lamar Hunt in an attempt to buy the Chicago Cardinals and move them to Texas in 1959. After that sale, as well as an attempt to gain an NFL expansion team, fell through, Adams joined with Hunt again as part of the upstart American Football League, with Hunt owning the Dallas Texas (which he later moved to Kansas City and renamed the Chiefs) and Adams running the Houston Oilers. Adams moved the Oilers first to Memphis and then Nashville, Tennessee, renaming the team the Titans in 1998. He died in 2013 of natural causes at age 90. In addition to a 50 percent share of the team, KSA Industries also runs Adams Resources and Energy Inc.

Worley re-joins the Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders signed cornerback Daryl Worley off the Bills’ practice squad on Dec. 9. Worley previously spent two seasons in Oakland, registering 91 tackles and two interceptions in 2018-19. The West Virginia product was drafted by the Colts in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He played two years with Indianapolis and totaled 152 stops and three interceptions. Worley started the 2020 season with Dallas, but was released after seven games. He spent most of November on Buffalo’s practice squad, but he appeared in one game for the Bills.

Chargers lineman has a unique side business

In a venture that is the perfect use of the phrase “truth in advertising,” Chargers guard Forrest Lamp has had an endorsement deal with, get this, a lamp company since 2017, while he was still a student at Western Kentucky. The arrangement is with Lamps Plus, a California-based corporation that was founded in 1976, This past week, Lamp came out with his first signature piece, a five-foot-high floor model made of faux wood called the Forrest Sequoia. So, for the low price of $199.99, you can have a forest lamp designed and endorsed by … Forrest Lamp!

THE BAD

Former Giants and Buccaneers coach Perkins passed away

Ray Perkins, who had a coaching career that spanned more than 30 years, passed away on Dec. 9 at age 79. Perkins was an Alabama wide receiver who earned a championship ring with the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V during his five-year playing career. His NFL coaching career began as wide receivers coach with the Patriots from 1974-77, followed by a stint as offensive coordinator of the “Air Coryell” Chargers in 1978.

Perkins was named head coach of the Giants in 1979, and he led New York to a 23-34 record in four seasons. The Giants went to the playoffs in 1981 but lost to the eventual champion 49ers in the Division round. Perkins returned to his alma mater in 1983 and had the daunting task of replacing legendary Alabama head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. He led the Crimson Tide to a 32-15-1 record and three bowl victories in four years. However, the 5-6 mark the team had in 1984 was the team’s first losing season since 1957, the year before Bryant took over the program.

Perkins returned to the NFL as head coach of the Buccaneers in 1987, but Tampa Bay failed to win more than five games in each of his four seasons. He ended his time in South Florida with a 19-41 record and a 42-75 overall mark in the NFL. Perkins went 2-9 in his last head coaching stop at Arkansas State in 1992. He was offensive coordinator with the Patriots (1993-96) and Raiders (1997), and he coached tight ends and running backs with the “new” Browns from 1999-2000. After a long absence, Perkins returned to coach at Jones County Junior College in his home state of Mississippi from 2012-13, and later volunteered at nearby Oak Grove High School.

Raiders lose to Colts and fire coordinator after the game

  Jonathan Taylor ran for 150 yards and two second-half touchdowns as the Colts defeated the Raiders, 44-27. Philip Rivers had two first-half scoring passes to T.Y. Hilton and had 24 yards overall for the game. Hilton added five catches and 86 yards for Indianapolis (9-4).

Derek Carr threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns, and he also ran for a score. However, he also tossed two interceptions, with Khari Willis returning one 50 yards for a score. Nelson Agholor had a game-high 100 receiving yards and a touchdown, and tight end Darren Waller followed his 200-yard performance in Week 13 with seven catches for 75 yards.

Las Vegas (7-6) has lost three of its past four games and has given up 150 points in that span. Following Sunday’s game, the Raiders fired defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, who was in his third season in the position. Rod Marinelli, the team’s defensive line coach and a former head coach with the Lions from 2006-08, will take over as interim coordinator for the rest of the season.

After a seven-year college career, including a three-year run as head coach of his alma mater Ursinus in Pennsylvania, Guenther was hired as an assistant coach with the Redskins in 2002. He spent 13 seasons with the Bengals, starting as an assistant coach in 2005 before becoming the assistant linebackers coach in 2011, the head linebackers coach the following year, and the defensive coordinator in 2014. Guenther replaced three-time champion linebacker and current Seahawks defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. in Oakland after he was fired in November 2017.

Giants fall flat against Cardinals after a big win

The Giants had a chance to keep the momentum of a four-game win streak going against the Cardinals, a team who had a similar offensive look to the team they beat last week, the Seahawks. Instead, Kyler Murray and Kenyan Drake were able to move the ball with precision, and Arizona’s defense registered eight sacks, including a team-record five by Haason Reddick, in a 26-7 victory.

Murray threw for 244 yards and a touchdown to tight end Dan Arnold, who outleaped four defenders. Drake ran for a game-high 80 yards and a score, and Murray totaled 27 on the ground. DeAndre Hopkins showed why the Cardinals traded for him, amassing nine catches for 136 yards, and Mike Nugent added four field goals for Arizona (5-8).

Daniel Jones threw for 127 yards, but he was sacked six times and lost a fumble on his first possession that was returned inside the 10 by former Markus Golden, who the Giants waived earlier this season. The only score came on a fast-moving drive midway through the third quarter, which was highlighted by Golden Tate’s leaping catch. Dion Lewis rushed it in for New York (5-8) on the next play.

The game featured one of the most obvious non-calls of the NFL season. Lewis was returning a punt midway through the second quarter when Cardinals linebacker Kylie Fitts was blocked to prevent him from making the tackle. As his body was going past Lewis, Fitts made a kicking motion with his leg, knocking the ball out, and Arizona recovered (leading to the Murray pass to Arnold). Although an intentional kick is illegal, either the officials simply missed that part or determined it wasn’t an infraction. Either way, the call was wrong. However, the worst part is it was not reviewable by replay, which seems to fly in the face of what replay was designed to do. Here is a call that breaks a league rule AND results in a change of possession (which occurred as soon as Lewis started returning the punt). What good is having a rule and replay if you can’t review a potential violation?

Dalton leads Dallas to a rout of his former team

Andy Dalton threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Cowboys to a 30-7 win over the Bengals. Dalton spent his first nine seasons with Cincinnati and led the team to the playoffs four times. Amari Cooper had 51 yards and a touchdown, and Aldon Smith recovered a Trayveon Williams fumble and returned it 78 yards for a score midway through the first quarter. Greg Zuerlein added three field goals for Dallas (4-9).

Brandon Allen had 217 yards and a touchdown for the Bengals before he left the game in the fourth quarter with a leg injury that was later diagnosed as a bone bruise in his knee. A. J. Green posted a game-high 62 yards and a touchdown for Cincinnati (2-10-1).

Worst of the Rest

: Derrick Henry showed once again why he is the most dangerous running back in the NFL, totaling 215 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-10 Titans rout of the Jaguars. Henry now has a league-record four games with at least 200 yards rushing and two scores, breaking a tie he held with Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, and LaDainian Tomlinson.

Ryan Tannehill had 212 yards and two scores, including a 37-yarder to A.J. Brown, who registered game-highs with seven catches and 112 yards for Tennessee (9-4). Mike Glennon struggled for the Jaguars, but Gardner Minshew returned from a thumb injury and threw for 178 yards and a touchdown in relief. James Robinson had 67 yards rushing and Keelan Cole added 67 yards and a receiving score for Jacksonville (1-12).

Tom Brady tossed two touchdown passes and Ronald Jones added 80 yards and a score on the ground as the Buccaneers took advantage of Vikings miscues in a 26-14 win. Brady hit Scotty Miller with a 48-yard scoring pass midway through the second quarter and connected with tight end Rob Gronkowski on a one-yard pass early in the third for Tampa Bay (8-5). Dalvin Cook ran for 102 yards and a score and Kirk Cousin threw for 225 yards and a touchdown. However, he was sacked six times and lost a fumble. Dan Bailey also missed all four of his kicks (one extra point and three field goals) and Minnesota (6-7) committed some bad penalties that led to points for Tampa Bay.

Mitchell Trubisky had 267 yards and three touchdowns as the Bears ran up, over, and through the Texans, 36-7. David Montgomery opened the scoring with an 80-yard touchdown, and he finished with 113 yards on the game. Allen Robinson added nine catches, 124 yards, and a score for Chicago (6-7), which keeps its playoff hopes alive. Deshaun Watson threw for 219 yards and a touchdown for Houston (4-9). However, he was sacked six times, including once by Khalil Mack in the end zone for a safety in the second quarter.

Lions rookie Okudah will have surgery

The Lions will be without rookie cornerback Jeff Okudah for the rest of the season. The third overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft played nine games this year, but missed time with hamstring and shoulder injuries, and he added a groin injury this week that will require surgery. Okudah registered 47 tackles, two passes defensed, and one interception. Detroit drafted the former Ohio State All-American to replace three-time Pro Bowler Darius Slay, who was traded to Philadelphia in March.

Other injuries in Week 14

The Panthers thought they had some good news amid a COVID-19 issue that resulted in eight players being sent to the reserve list. Star running back Christian McCaffrey, who had missed nine games with shoulder and ankle injuries, was set to return but aggravated a quad strain in practice that forced him to miss the matchup with the Broncos.

In addition to quarterbacks Matthew Stafford (rib), Ales Smith (calf), and Brandon Allen (knee), several other players left games after suffering injuries in Week 14. Dolphins receivers DeVante Parker and Jakeem Grant both had leg injuries and tight end Mike Gesicki scored two touchdowns, but also suffered a shoulder injury. Other injured players included: Texans safety Justin Reid (hand), 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and linebacker Fred Warner (stinger), Chiefs tackle Mike Remmers (back), Chargers tackle Bryan Bulaga (head), and guard Trai Turner (concussion), Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell (shoulder), Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (shoulder), Seahawks tackle Brandon Shell (ankle), Broncos cornerback Duke Dawson (knee), and Eagles cornerbacks Avonte Maddox (knee) and Darius Slay (head), along with safety Rodney McLeod (knee). Bills defensive back Taron Johnson, who returned a Ben Roethlisberger interception for a touchdown, left the Sunday night game later with a concussion. Slay is now in concussion protocol, Maddux could miss multiple weeks and both Dawson and McLeod suffered torn ACLs, which will sideline them for the remainder of the season.

THE UGLY

Seahawks spot the Jets as a field goal, but cruise to victory

Things started well for the Jets on Sunday. Sam Darnold completed a pair of passes, Frank Gore was able to move the ball on the ground and the Jets’ first possession ended with them in the lead after a field goal. However, that was the high point of the game. New York (0-13) finished the contest with 185 total yards, and the field goal was the team’s lone score in a 40-3 blowout loss to the Seahawks.

Russell Wilson threw for 206 yards and four touchdowns and DK Metcalf led all players with 61 yards receiving and a score. Chris Carson had 76 yards and a touchdown, and Carlos Hyde added 66 yards for Seattle (9-4). Things got so out of hand that Geno Smith took over for Wilson at quarterback late in the third quarter. Smith played for the Jets from 2013-16, and he was the team’s starter for his first two seasons before he was replaced by Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2015.

Another former Jet, safety Jamal Adams, had a sack in the game to set the single-season NFL record for defensive backs with 8½. Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson held the previous mark with eight in 2005. Adams spent his first three seasons with New York, earning All-Pro honors in 2019 and being selected to a pair of Pro Bowls. He was traded to Seattle as part of a six-player deal in late July.

Panthers COVID issues coming to light as players return

  On Friday, the Panthers activated linebacker Shaq Thompson, wide receiver Curtis Samuel and defensive tackle off the reserve/COVID list. The three were among eight players who were placed on the list on Dec. 7, with three players receiving positive COVID tests, including wide receiver D.J. Moore and defensive tackle Zach Kerr.

While the Panthers announced the return of those three players, more details are coming out surrounding the events leading to the positive COVID-19 tests. NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said on Dec. 9 that there was a gathering of players outside the Panthers’ facility during the team’s bye week. Although Carolina had no new cases of coronavirus after the initial announcement, the team could face stiffer fines and punishments since the league has decided to crack down on violations in recent weeks.

Broncos CB Bouye gets PED suspension

On Dec. 7, one week after Texans cornerback Bradley Roby and wide receiver Will Fuller were both given six-game suspensions for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, the league gave Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye the same season-ending ban. Bouye began his career by playing four years in Houston, and he was Fuller’s teammate in 2016. The cornerback signed with Jacksonville and was a Pro Bowler after amassing a career-high six interceptions in 2017. Bouye was traded to Denver in March and played in just seven games this season while dealing with a shoulder injury. In his eight-year NFL career, Bouye has amassed 14 interceptions, 338 tackles and 72 passes defensed.

What’s on tap for next week: The crazy end-of-the-year NFL schedules begin in Week 15, with the Chargers-Raiders rivalry continuing on Thursday night. The NFL Network will have a Saturday doubleheader that includes the Bills and Broncos playing at 4:30, followed by the Panthers facing the Packers at 8:15. Sunday afternoon’s top games will feature showdowns in the AFC South (Texans vs. Colts), AFC East (Patriots vs. Dolphins), and NFC North (Bears vs. Vikings) as well as the heavyweight fight between the 12-1 Chiefs and the 10-3 Saints. The Browns-Giants game was moved to Sunday night, with the AFC North contest between the Steelers and Bengals ending the week on Monday night.

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-By: Kevin Rakas