Bucs 38, Rams 35
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| The Bucs scored game-winning TD with 48 seconds left, then intercepted Kurt Warner on Rams' last-ditch effort. |
Warrick Dunn and Shaun King can share it. Dunn had three TDs and King led with his arm, fast thinking and fleet feet. |
| UP NEXT: Bucs (10-5) at Packers (8-7) | Rams (9-6) at Saints (10-5) |
Lions 10, Jets 7
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Tom Donahoe's analysis |
| Jets kicker John Hall's 35-yard field goal attempt went wide left with nine seconds left in regulation. |
Lions guard Jeff Hastings. It's not everyday an offensive lineman gets a TD. Hastings not only scored the first of his five-year career, but his end-zone fumble recovery was Detroit's lone TD on the day. |
When you watch the Lions, you wonder how they got their nine wins. They're not very pretty, but find a way to get it done. One area where they've excelled has been the turnover department. It was a key interception that sparked the Lions on Sunday. |
| UP NEXT: Lions (9-6) vs. Bears (4-11) | Jets (9-6) at Ravens (11-4) |
Chiefs 20, Broncos 7
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Tom Donahoe's analysis |
| Broncos wideout Rod Smith said Denver came out flat, and it showed -- the Broncos did not score an offensive touchdown for the first time since last season's regular-season finale. |
Happy birthday, Tony Richardson. The Chiefs running back celebrated his 29th birthday by rushing for 156 yards on 23 carries -- the most yards by a Kansas City back in a decade. |
The Broncos struggled Sunday. Much of the problem can be attributed to Kansas City's time of possession. The Chiefs' defense was good, but the ability of the Chiefs' offense to control the clock was the biggest nemesis for Denver's offense. |
| UP NEXT: Chiefs (7-8) at Falcons (3-12) | Broncos (10-5) vs. Niners (6-9) |
Panthers 30, Chargers 22
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Tom Donahoe's analysis |
| In the second half, when the Chargers made mistakes and gave up a 22-14 lead. The Panthers returned a punt for a TD and returned a blocked FG for a score to cap their comeback win. |
The Chargers, who managed to get something -- the top pick in the NFL draft -- after throwing away this game. |
When you've lost as many games as the Chargers have lost
this season, it's tough to say that one is more disappointing than the
other. Fortunately for their future, the Chargers have decided to retain
coach Mike Riley. |
| UP NEXT: Panthers (7-8) at Raiders (11-4) | Chargers (1-14) vs. Steelers (8-7) |
Saints 23, Falcons 7
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Tom Donahoe's analysis |
| Terry Allen scored from two yards out to give the Saints a 20-7 lead in the third quarter, putting the game out of reach for the Falcons. |
Saints QB Aaron Brooks. In just his fourth NFL start, he went 24-of-35 for 285 yards to bring the Saints closer to a playoff berth. |
Aaron Brooks certainly looks like a keeper. He's got great size, athletic ability and an arm that permits him to make all the throws. Jeff Blake's future in New Orleans is certainly an interesting question. |
| UP NEXT: Saints (10-5) vs. Rams (9-5) | Falcons (3-12) vs. Chiefs (7-8) |
Patriots 13, Bills 10, OT
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Tom Donahoe's analysis |
| Adam Vinatieri kicked a 24-yard field goal with 19 seconds left in overtime to clinch the Patriots' win. |
Vinatieri, who erased some Buffalo demons. The Pats kicker had missed seven of 11 previous field-goal attempts at Buffalo, including one in the fourth Sunday. His overtime winner surely made up for it. |
The Patriots have been involved in lots of close games this season and have usually come up short. You have to admire their persistence under some very difficult conditions. The ability to win close games is critical in the NFL. |
| UP NEXT: Patriots (5-10) vs. Dolphins (10-5) | Bills (7-8) at Seahawks (6-9) |
Bengals 17, Jaguars 14
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Tom Donahoe's analysis |
| Neil Rackers converted a 27-yard field goal as time expired to cap the Bengals' come-from-behind win. |
The Paul Brown Stadium field, which helped the Bengals win this one. Mike Hollis slipped on a FG attempt that would have given the Jags a 17-7 edge late in the fourth. Mark Brunell on the field: "You're risking your careers out there." |
The Jaguars let this game slip away by giving up 10 points late in the fourth. At the end of the game, they seemed to be affected some by the field conditions -- which aren't good when the weather in Cincy is good. |
| UP NEXT: Bengals (4-11) at Eagles (10-5) | Jaguars (7-8) at Giants (11-4) |
Titans 24, Browns 0
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Tom Donahoe's analysis |
| The game? The season is over for the Browns, who ended things on a bitter note -- they got their fifth straight loss and were shut out for the fourth time this year. |
Titans RB Eddie George, who rushed for 176 yards on 34 carries and three touchdowns despite the snow and frozen field in Cleveland. |
These expansion Browns are only in their second year and have suffered lots of injuries this season. At last count, the Browns had at least 14 players on injured reserve and four of them are QBs. This is not Chris Palmer's fault. |
| UP NEXT: Titans (12-3) vs. Cowboys (5-10) | Browns finish at 3-13. |
Packers 33, Vikings 28
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Tom Donahoe's analysis |
| Ahman Green ran for 16 yards on first down of the Packers final drive, enabling Green Bay to run out the clock and take home a rare win in Minnesota. |
The Packers defense. Yes, the Ahman Green-Brett Favre combo was huge, but Green Bay held Robert Smith to just 26 rushing yards and forced two turnovers -- all in front of a loud Vikings crowd. |
The Vikings' recent slide has been the inability of their defense in general to step up and make plays. The Vikings need to play more consistently and aggressively on defense if they want to go far in the playoffs. |
| UP NEXT: Packers (8-7) vs. Buccaneers (9-5) | Vikings (11-4) at Colts (9-6) |
Niners 17, Bears 0
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Tom Donahoe's analysis |
| It ended the way it should have -- the 49ers threw one more to Jerry Rice -- a 24-yard strike with 16 seconds left. It was the 1,275th career reception for Rice, who likely played his last game with the Niners. |
The other Niners wideout Terrell Owens, who caught an NFL-record 20 passes for 283 yards and a touchdown. It also broke Rice's franchise record of 16 receptions set in 1994. |
Unless Rice decides to retire, he will be playing for another team. It would be encouraging if the league and the players association could protect veterans under the cap like Rice, who want to finish their careers with the teams that drafted them. |
| UP NEXT: Niners (6-9) at Broncos (10-5) | Bears (4-11) at Lions (9-6) |
Colts 20, Dolphins 13
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Tom Donahoe's analysis |
| In the first half. After the Colts had been shut out in the first half of their last three road games, they broke out early and gained a 17-3 halftime lead Sunday. |
The usual suspects for Indy -- Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James. Manning threw for 206 yards and ran in for a TD, and James ran for 112 yards on 32 carries. The win keeps the Colts' postseason hopes alive. |
With the injury to Jay Fiedler this week, he may not have been 100 percent. Combined with injuries to wideouts Lamar Thomas and O.J.McDuffie -- it has been difficult to develop the consistency and rhythm in the passing game. |
| UP NEXT: Colts (9-6) vs. Vikings (11-4) | Dolphins (10-5) at Patriots (5-10) |
Ravens 13, Cardinals 7
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Tom Donahoe's analysis |
| The Cardinals failed to convert on any of five chances inside the Baltimore 30 in an ugly game Sunday. |
Ravens running back Jamal Lewis, who was the only consistent player in the game Sunday. He rushed for 126 yards on 29 carries, and his 1-yard TD run gave the Ravens the lead for good in the third quarter. |
Baltimore's offense seemed to revert to the way it played in the middle of the season. Trent Dilfer struggled with some of his decisions and the Ravens did not do a good job of protecting him. |
| UP NEXT: Ravens (11-4) vs. Jets (9-6) | Cardinals (3-12) at Redskins (7-8) |
Giants 17, Cowboys 13
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| Tiki Barber scored from 13 yards out in the fourth quarter to give the Giants their first lead of the game -- a lead they would not relinquish. |
The Giants defense. The unit gave the offense numerous scoring chances in the first half, including two fumble recoveries. And Emmanuel McDaniel's interception set up the go-ahead TD. |
| UP NEXT: Giants (11-4) vs. Jaguars (7-8) | Cowboys (5-10) at Titans (12-3) |
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ALSO SEE
TJ's Take on Week 16 in the NFL
Prime Time Players
Week 16 infirmary report
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