NFL 2012 Season — Week 13 Recap
The Kansas City Chiefs won despite a most difficult weekend, and four teams clinched playoff spots. Here's a recap of all of Sunday's games:
Kansas City 27 — Carolina 21
A day after losing a teammate in an apparent murder-suicide, the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Carolina Panthers, 27-21, at Kansas City on Sunday. Brady Quinn passed for 201 yards and two touchdowns, and Jamaal Charles ran for 127 yards, as Kansas City (2-10) snapped an eight-game losing streak.
On Saturday, police say Chiefs' linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend at a residence near Arrowhead Stadium, then drove to the team facility and used the weapon to take his own life in front of head coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Scott Pioli. Fans at Arrowhead Stadium observed a moment of silence prior to the game on Sunday. Players from both teams joined in prayer after the game.
Cam Newton threw for 232 yards and three scores for Carolina (3-9). Panthers' receiver Steve Smith caught five passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Indianapolis 35 — Detroit 33
Andrew Luck's 14-yard touchdown pass to Donnie Avery on the final play of the game gave the Indianapolis Colts an incredible 35-33 comeback victory over the Detroit Lions in Detroit on Sunday. Indianapolis (8-4) trailed by 12 points in the fourth quarter before rallying to win.
Luck finished with 391 passing yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions for the Colts. Receiver T.Y. Hilton had six catches for 100 yards for Indianapolis, while teammate Avery caught five passes for 91 yards and two scores.
Receiver Calvin Johnson made 13 catches for 171 yards and a touchdown for Detroit (4-8), which lost its fourth straight game. Lions' quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 313 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
New England 23 — Miami 16
Tom Brady threw for 238 yards and a touchdown, and the New England Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins, 23-16, in Miami on Sunday and clinched their fourth straight AFC East title. Wes Welker had 12 receptions for 103 yards and a score for New England (9-3). Miami (5-7) sacked Brady four times and intercepted him once, but the Dolphins made several miscues that set up easy Patriots' scores, including a roughing-the-punter penalty and a butchered punt.
Houston 24 — Tennessee 10
The Houston Texans beat the Tennessee Titans, 24-10, in Nashville on Sunday and clinched their second straight playoff berth. Houston (11-1) forced six turnovers and sacked Titans' quarterback Jake Locker six times. Matt Schaub passed for 207 yards and two touchdowns for the Texans. Locker had 309 passing yards and a touchdown for Tennessee (4-8), but he also threw three interceptions and fumbled twice.
Denver 31 — Tampa Bay 23 (UPDATED)
Peyton Manning threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns, and the Denver Broncos beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-23, in Denver on Sunday and won the AFC West title. Demaryius Thomas had eight catches for 99 yards for Denver (9-3), which won its seventh straight game. The loss by Tampa Bay (6-6) meant Atlanta clinched the NFC South. Josh Freeman threw for 242 yards and two scores for the Buccaneers, while teammate Mike Williams caught six passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Pittsburgh 23 — Baltimore 20
Shaun Suisham kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired, and the Pittsburgh Steelers upset the Baltimore Ravens, 23-20, in Baltimore on Sunday. Steelers' third-string quarterback Charlie Batch went 25 for 36 for 276 yards and a touchdown while making his second consecutive start for ailing starter Ben Roethlisberger and back-up Byron Leftwich. Pittsburgh (7-5) trailed 20-13 in the fourth quarter before the rally. Baltimore (9-3) suffered its first home loss in 15 games. Ray Rice ran for 78 yards and a score for the Ravens.
St. Louis 16 — San Francisco 13 (OT)
Greg Zuerlein booted a 54-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining in overtime —after tying the game with a 53-yarder on the last play of regulation — and the St. Louis Rams beat the San Francisco 49ers, 16-13, in St. Louis on Sunday. The teams played to a 24-24 tie in Week 10.
St. Louis (5-6-1) rallied from deficits of 10-2 and 13-10 thanks to a 2-yard fumble return from Janoris Jenkins and Zuerlein's game-tying kick. Colin Kaepernick passed for 208 yards and ran for 84 more for San Francisco (8-3-1). 49ers' receiver Michael Crabtree caught seven passes for 101 yards.
Seattle 23 — Chicago 17 (OT)
Russell Wilson threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Sidney Rice in overtime, and the Seattle Seahawks beat the Chicago Bears, 23-17, in Chicago on Sunday. Wilson passed for 293 yards and two scores for Seattle (7-5), including a 14-yard toss to Golden Tate that gave the Seahawks a 17-14 lead with 24 seconds to play in the fourth quarter. Chicago (8-4) forced overtime on a 46-yard field goal from Robbie Gould as time expired in regulation.
Rice had six catches for 99 yards for Seattle, including the game-winning score. Jay Cutler threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears, while teammate Brandon Marshall caught 10 passes for 165 yards.
Dallas 38 — Philadelphia 33
Tony Romo passed for 303 yards and three touchdowns, and the Dallas Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-33, in Arlington, Tex. on Sunday night. Romo's third scoring pass, a 6-yarder to Dez Bryant with 5:35 to play, gave Dallas (6-6) its first lead of the game and broke Troy Aikman’s career franchise record for touchdown passes. The Cowboys later built an 11-point lead when Morris Claiborne returned a Bryce Brown fumble 50 yards for a touchdown. Brown had 169 yards rushing and two touchdowns for Philadelphia (3-9), which lost its eighth straight game.
Cincinnati 20 — San Diego 13
Andy Dalton ran for a 6-yard, go-ahead touchdown with 4:11 to play, and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the San Diego Chargers, 20-13, in San Diego on Sunday. Dalton threw for 211 yards and a score for Cincinnati (7-5), while BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 118 yards for the Bengals.
Quarterback Philip Rivers passed for 280 yards for San Diego (4-8), but he had two late turnovers, including an interception in the end zone with 49 seconds left that sealed the game. Chargers' wide receiver Danario Alexander had six catches for 102 yards.
Green Bay 23 — Minnesota 14
James Starks ran for a go-ahead score late in the third quarter, and the Green Bay Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings, 23-14, in Green Bay on Sunday. Running back Adrian Peterson ran for 210 yards and a touchdown for Minnesota (6-6). Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 286 yards, a touchdown and an interception for Green Bay (8-4). Packers' safety Morgan Burnett intercepted Christian Ponder twice. The Vikings' QB finished with just 119 passing yards, a touchdown and the two INTs.
N.Y. Jets 7 — Arizona 6
Third-string quarterback Greg McElroy threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Cumberland early in the fourth quarter, and the New York Jets beat the Arizona Cardinals, 7-6, in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sunday. McElroy entered the game in the third quarter for New York (5-7). He replaced ineffective starter Mark Sanchez, who was 10 for 21 for 97 yards and three interceptions. Shonn Greene ran for 104 yards for the Jets. Ryan Lindley was 10 for 31 for just 72 yards and an interception for Arizona (4-8), which lost its eighth straight game.
Buffalo 34 — Jacksonville 18
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score, and the Buffalo Bills beat the Jacksonville Jaguars, 34-18, in Orchard Park, N.Y. on Sunday. Fred Jackson ran for 109 yards for Buffalo (5-7), while teammate C.J. Spiller added 77 yards and a score. Quarterback Chad Henne had a touchdown pass and a run for Jacksonville (2-10).
Cleveland 20 — Oakland 17
Brandon Weeden threw for 364 yards and a touchdown, and the Cleveland Browns beat the Oakland Raiders, 20-17, in Oakland on Sunday. Josh Gordon had six receptions for 116 yards and a score for Cleveland (4-8). Carson Palmer passed for 351 yards, two touchdowns and a rally-killing interception for Oakland (3-9). Brandon Myers caught 14 passes for 130 yards and a score for the Raiders.
[Via NFL.com]