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Colts 31, Jaguars 24
Week 16 did get off to a predictable note on Thursday night as the Colts defeated the Jaguars on the road, 31-24.
Peyton Manning was 29-for-34, passed for 364 yards and three TDs as the Colts (11-4) won their 8th in a row and, more
importantly, clinched a playoffs berth as the AFC's 5th seed.
Ravens 33, Cowboys 24
But on Saturday night, unpredictability surfaced again as the Ravens defeated the Cowboys in Texas Stadium, 33-24.
The Ravens - Cowboys game had started out as advertised, a showdown between two elite NFL defenses. The Ravens took
a 9-7 lead into halftime. The Ravens then added 7 points in the 3rd quarter for a 16-7 lead. But, then in the 4th
quarter it was all about the offense as each team scored 17 points.
The Cowboys appeared to be dictating the rhythym of the
game scoring twice to get within two points of the Ravens. But, each time the Ravens responded with spectacularly long runs
from scrimmage. Willis McGahee first scampered for a 77-yard TD run, then Raven's fullback Le'Ron McClain burst through a
Cowboys defense caught in headlights like deer for an 82-yard TD run. This a week after the Cowboys defense shut down the
Giants for a 20-8 win.
Saturday's game may now wind up being the last NFL game at Texas Stadium as the Cowboys travel to Philadelphia and face the
Eagles. Meanwhile, the Ravens gained control of the AFC's other wildcard slot. With a win at home against Jacksonville the
Ravens are the number 6 seed in the AFC playoffs.
Then on Sunday, unpredictability got downright nasty as the Buccaneers, Eagles and Jets gave up control of their playoff
destiny, while the Vikings and Broncos gave life to the Bears and Chargers.
Chargers 41, Buccaneers 24
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers led the San Diego Chargers, 24-20, as the fourth quarter started. But, the Chargers outscored the
Buccaneers 21-0 in the the 4th quarter for a 41-24 victory. Chargers QB Philip Rivers found Antonio Gates on a five-yard
TD pass for a Chargers 27-24 lead, then Darren Sproles took a screen pass 32 yards for a TD and 34-24 lead. Antoine Cason
sealed the victory for the Chargers when he returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown.
The Bucs (9-6) lost their first home game of this season against a Chargers team that was previously 2-5 on the road.
The Buccaneers now host the Raiders at home, but need the Eagles to defeat the Cowboys at home to make the playoffs.
On the other hand, the Chargers (7-8) winners of 3 straight have complete control of their destiny, if not the advantage
as they face the Broncos at home for the AFC West division title.
Redskins 10, Eagles 3
Due to the Cowboys and Buccaneers losses, the Eagles started their game against the Redskins in control of their playoff
destiny. The Eagles winners of 3 straight and with a reputation for strong Decembers was visiting a Redskins team that
had lost to the Bengals the previous week. Furthermore, the Redskins had lost 5 of their last 6 games.
The Eagles dynamic offensive duo -- Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook -- were somewhat invisible as the Eagles were unable
to score a TD in the game. In fact, McNabb's fumble led to the only touchdown of the game.
Seahawks 13, Jets 3
After yesterday's debacle in Seattle, the Jets find themselves at the mercy of the Buffalo Bills, that is, if they can manage
to beat the Dolphins at home. For the Jets to make the playoffs they need to win and the Patriots to lose to the Bills.
For the Jets, the west coast is definitely a problem as they are 0-4 on the road to the Chargers (7-8), Raiders (4-11), Niners (6-9)
and Seahawks (4-11). Brett Favre was 18 for 31 with 187 passing yards, two interceptions and a miniscule 48.7 passer rating.
A Jets loss to the Dolphins and Chad Pennington on Sunday may wind up being the ultimate irony.
Chris Collinsworth: "You have to wonder, 'Is this the end of an era?' Brett Favre, at the end of the season, playing
in an unlikely snowstorm in Seattle cannot knock off the 4-11 Seahawks. Amazing."
Falcons 24, Vikings 17
The Falcons were 3-4 on the road facing a Vikings team that had won 4 straight games and was 5-1 at home. But, the
Vikings fumbled the ball 7 times handing the Falcons the win and a playoff berth. The Vikings must now beat the Giants
at home in order to win the NFC North and make the playoffs.
Bills 30, Broncos 23
The Bills, losing to the Jets last week on late-game fumble, were ready to roll over for the Broncos in Denver. And in
the beginning it appeared as though that was the way it would play out as the Broncos led 13-0.
But halfway thru the second quarter and on, the Bills played like they did in the first half of the NFL season when they
started 5-1. The Bills managed to outscore the Broncos 30-10 even though the Broncos outgained the Bills 532 to 275 yards.
Jay Cutler threw for 359 yards on 25-of-45 with 1 interception. Cutler's interception came with 6 minutes left in the game
at the goal line.
Titans & Giants Clinch Top Seeds
However, a sense of logic did come back as the Titans won and the Giants regained their form to clinch the top seeds
in the AFC and NFC plus gain the ever-important home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Titans clinched early on Sunday as they defeated the AFC's number two seed Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of
31-14.
A solid offensive attack that netted the Titans 323 yards with scores on a Kerry Collins TD pass and TD runs from
Chris Johnson and Lendale White were key to beating the visiting Steelers winner of 5 straight.
It was the first time the Steelers surrendered over 300 yards this 2008 season.
The Steelers attempt at a comeback was thwarted late in the game as Michael Griffin intercepted a Ben Roethlisberger
pass and returned it 83-yards up the sideline for a Titans TD.
Meanwhile, the Giants closed out the day with a 34-28 victory in overtime over the Panthers.
With the NFC number 1 seed on the line, the Giants overcame an 11-point deficit in the second quarter and
an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Panthers in overtime. Brandon Jacobs scored his
third touchdown of the game for the win, a two-yard run 5 minutes and 3 seconds into the overtime.
The Giants rushed for 301 yards. Derrick Ward ran for 215 yards on 15 carries (14.3-yard average). Brandon Jacobs
added 87 yards rushing along with the 3 TDs after sitting out last week's Cowboys game with an injury. Eli Manning was
17-of-27 for 181 yards and 1 touchdown pass.
For the Panthers, DeAngelo Williams had a spectacular day scoring all four Carolina touchdowns (13-yards, 5-yards, 1-yard and
30-yards). Jake Delhomme completed 11-of-19 for 185 yards.
RELATED NFL 2008 Week 16
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there will always be change. A prime example is the NFL teams that make and don't make the playoffs year after year.
Week 17: Final Week of the NFL's 2008 Regular Season & It's All on the Line
The journey to the NFL's playoffs has been challenging this 2008 season especially over the last two weeks which have been
topsy-turvy. Upsets, disappointments and suprises leave a number of teams fighting for the remaining NFL's 5 playoff spots.
For those teams, this is their last-chance. They either do it now in NFL's final week of the 2008 regular season or start
planning for 2009. Plus, at stake for the Falcons and Panthers, the NFC's number two seed and a first-round playoff bye.
NFL 2008 Week 17 Playoff Scenarios, Playoff Races & Playoff Picture
The Chicago Bears dramatic 20-17 overtime win against the Packers on MNF set the scene for the playoffs. A look at the NFL
playoff races, the NFC playoff scenarios and the AFC playoff picture as the NFL 2008 regular season approaches its final weekend.
NFL 2008 Playoffs & Playoff Scenarios
Heading into NFL 2008 Week 16, the AFC playoff scenario is down to 6 teams fighting for 4 spots. While in the
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With 2 weeks left in the regular season NFL teams find themselves in must-win situations. For the NFC & AFC Top seeds, it's about home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
For the other teams still in the playoff hunt, it's a matter of survival and about punching their ticket for the
playoffs. As such, the goal is simple: keep winning, control your own playoff destiny and hope not to have to rely
on other teams losing.
Thursday Night Battle Between Colts & Jags Still Meaningful
The Jaguars (5-9) host the hottest team in the NFL. After their mediocre 3-4 start to the season, the Colts have
won seven in a row to improve their record to 10-4.
Ravens vs. Cowboys: Identical Records & Playoff Aspirations
The game features a matchup of teams with identical 9-5 records fighting for a Wildcard playoff berth in their
respective conferences. The Ravens come off a deflating 13-9 loss to the Steelers while the Cowboys head into the
game after a convincing 20-8 victory against the New York Giants.
NFC Leaders Battle It Our for Home Field Supremacy
The NFC's top playoff seed is at stake this Sunday night when the Carolina Panthers visit the New York Giants. The
Giants and Panthers have identical 11-3 records, but appear to be going in different directions.
The Battle for the AFC King of the Hill
The top two seeds in the AFC meet this Sunday, as the AFC South Champion Tennessee Titans (12-2) host the
AFC North Champion Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3). While both teams have clinched a first-round playoffs bye,
this Sunday game will likely determine which team gains homefield advantage in the AFC.
4th Time Better Be the Charm for the Jets Out West
The Jets head to the west coast for the 4th time this season to face the Seahawks in Mike Holmgren's last home
game as Seattle's head coach. With the Dolphins and Patriots also sporting 9-5 records, this week's matchup
is significant. The Jets cannot afford to look ahead to the season finale against the Dolphins.
Eagles Aim for 4th in a Row at Redskins Expense
The Eagles look to win their fourth straight game as they travel to Washington to take on the Redskins.
The Washington Redskins (7-7) downward spiral continued last week in Cincinnati as Washington suffered
its third straight loss and defeats in five of their last six games.
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NFL 2008 WEEK 17 SCHEDULE (DECEMBER 28)
(All times local)
St. Louis at Atlanta, 1:00 PM
Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
New England at Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Oakland at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Kansas City at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Seattle at Arizona, 4:15 PM
Detroit at Green Bay, 1:00 PM
Jacksonville at Baltimore, 4:15 PM
Chicago at Houston, 1:00 PM
Miami at N.Y. Jets, 4:15 PM
Tennessee at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM
Dallas at Philadelphia, 4:15 PM
N.Y. Giants at Minnesota, 1:00 PM
Washington at San Francisco, 4:15 PM
Carolina at New Orleans, 1:00 PM
Denver at San Diego, 5:15 PM (NBC)
NFL 2008 WEEK 16 RESULTS (DECEMBER 18, 20-22)
(Home team in CAPS)
Indianapolis 31, JACKSONVILLE 24 (Thursday)
Baltimore 33, DALLAS 24 (Saturday)
San Diego 41, TAMPA BAY 24
TENNESSEE 31, Pittsburgh 14
Buffalo 30, DENVER 23
OAKLAND 27, Houston 16
SEATTLE 13, N.Y. Jets 3
Atlanta 24, MINNESOTA 17
Cincinnati 14, CLEVELAND 0
WASHINGTON 10, Philadelphia 3
New Orleans 42, DETROIT 7
Miami 38, KANSAS CITY 31
NEW ENGLAND 47, Arizona 7
San Francisco 17, ST. LOUIS 16
N.Y. GIANTS 34, Carolina 28 (OT)
CHICAGO 20, Green Bay 17 (OT) (Monday)
NFL 2008 WEEK 15 RESULTS – DECEMBER 11, 14-15
(Home Team in Caps)
CHICAGO BEARS 27, New Orleans Saints 24 (OT)
N.Y. JETS 31, Buffalo Bills 27
Seattle Seahawks 23, ST. LOUIS RAMS 20
Minnesota Vikings 35, ARIZONA CARDINALS 14
ATLANTA FALCONS 13, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 (OT)
Pittsburgh Steelers 13, BALTIMORE RAVENS 9
CINCINNATI BENGALS 20, Washington Redskins 13
CAROLINA PANTHERS 30, Denver Broncos 10
HOUSTON TEXANS 13, Tennessee Titans 12
New England Patriots 49, OAKLAND RAIDERS 26
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 31, Detroit Lions 21
DALLAS COWBOYS 20, N.Y. Giants 8
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 20, Green Bay Packers 16
San Diego Chargers 22, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 21
MIAMI DOLPHINS 14, San Francisco 49ers 9
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 30, Cleveland Browns 10
NFL 2008 WEEK 14 RESULTS - DECEMBER 4, 7 - 8
(Home team in CAPS)
SAN DIEGO 34, Oakland 7
Miami 16, BUFFALO 3 (Toronto)
DENVER 24, Kansas City 17
SAN FRANCISCO 24, N.Y. Jets 14
CHICAGO 23, Jacksonville 10
New England 24, SEATTLE 21
Minnesota 20, DETROIT 16
ARIZONA 34, St. Louis 10
Houston 24, GREEN BAY 21
PITTSBURGH 20, Dallas 13
INDIANAPOLIS 35, Cincinnati 3
BALTIMORE 24, Washington 10
NEW ORLEANS 29, Atlanta 25
Philadelphia 20, N.Y. GIANTS 14
TENNESSEE 28, Cleveland 9
CAROLINA 38, Tampa Bay 23
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