New England @ New York Jets
1 2 3 4 FINAL
NEW ENGLAND 0 7 7 14 28
NEW YORK 3 7 7 14 31
NEW YORK – What will be lost in New York's (5-6, 1-2 AFC East) 31-28 dramatic late victory over their hated rivals from New England (6-5, 1-3) will be the sheer dominance displayed by the Jets (save for three crushing turnovers).
The Jets out-gained the Patriots 438 to 220 while allowing only four rushing yards (after allowing under 100 yards for the game two weeks ago against against the Rams).
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, for most of the game, looked to be the better passer completing 26-34 attempts for 251 yards compared to Tom Brady's 21-27, 243 yard line.
But, as has been the case all year for these cardiac Jets, the red zone and turnover woes almost doomed the squad again.
Garoppolo saw two of his passes returned for touchdowns as he foolishly held onto the ball too long as he was being pressured.
The 3rd year man has yet to understand the importance of throwing the ball into the stands when the situation warrants it.
"I have to be better there," Garoppolo said. "There was no reason for this to have been a close game - our defense was lights out all night."
After stuffing Brady and company inside the five yard line, Bill Belichick dialed up a fake field goal run by back up quarterback and holder Brandon Doherty, who scampered into the end zone despite the best efforts of Shane Ray.
"Lowest moment of my short career," Ray said. "I slipped and now it looks like I got trucked by the holder man. Terrible."
Despite all of that, Joey Bosa, Myles Jack, and the rest of the dominant Jets defenders kept the team in it enough to allow for Garoppolo to drive his team in the waning moments for the eventual winning score.
"Heart," David Johnson said. "This team has it. We have seen it all. You are going to have to bury us twice to end this season for us. We ain't going out like that."
New York will have another chance to extend their season against the Indianapolis Colts next week.
The Jets out-gained the Patriots 438 to 220 while allowing only four rushing yards (after allowing under 100 yards for the game two weeks ago against against the Rams).
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, for most of the game, looked to be the better passer completing 26-34 attempts for 251 yards compared to Tom Brady's 21-27, 243 yard line.
But, as has been the case all year for these cardiac Jets, the red zone and turnover woes almost doomed the squad again.
Garoppolo saw two of his passes returned for touchdowns as he foolishly held onto the ball too long as he was being pressured.
The 3rd year man has yet to understand the importance of throwing the ball into the stands when the situation warrants it.
"I have to be better there," Garoppolo said. "There was no reason for this to have been a close game - our defense was lights out all night."
After stuffing Brady and company inside the five yard line, Bill Belichick dialed up a fake field goal run by back up quarterback and holder Brandon Doherty, who scampered into the end zone despite the best efforts of Shane Ray.
"Lowest moment of my short career," Ray said. "I slipped and now it looks like I got trucked by the holder man. Terrible."
Despite all of that, Joey Bosa, Myles Jack, and the rest of the dominant Jets defenders kept the team in it enough to allow for Garoppolo to drive his team in the waning moments for the eventual winning score.
"Heart," David Johnson said. "This team has it. We have seen it all. You are going to have to bury us twice to end this season for us. We ain't going out like that."
New York will have another chance to extend their season against the Indianapolis Colts next week.
Jacksonville @ Buffalo
1 2 3 4 FINAL
JACKSONVILLE 3 0 0 14 17
BUFFALO 7 0 3 10 20
BUFFALO – A torrential downpour over Ralph Wilson Stadium paved the way for one of the more compelling and heart-wrenching finishes of the 2016 NFL season as the Buffalo Bills (10-1) somehow finished off the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5) 20-17.
Despite allowing only 160 yards to the Jacksonville offense over the course of the entire game, Aaron Rodgers' offensive unit sat deadlocked at 10-all on the Jaguars 6-yard line with 1:50 remaining.
On 3rd-and-goal, with a field goal firmly within reach, Rodgers forced an ill-advised pass into the endzone which was picked off by Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith.
With nothing but green grass in front of him, Smith stormed down the field 106 yards for what seemed to be the game-winning pick six.
"In the moment, I felt like we were on top of the world," Smith said. "But 12 (Rodgers) over there is magical and you can never count him out."
Unfazed by his error, Rodgers methodically led his team down the field before finding Tyler Lockett in the corner of the endzone with only :19 remaining.
The typically cool Rodgers sprinted towards Lockett and tackled his favorite target in one of the more emotionally scenes of the '16 season.
As the teams prepared for overtime, with only seconds on the clock, Jacksonville's Blake Bortles started the Christmas season early for Bills fans by throwing an interception at mid-field with only :09 on the clock.
Rodgers again found Lockett for a 12-yard gain to set up Dan Carpenter for his second 50-plus game-winning field goal attempt in as many weeks.
The kick was true.
"These games can only help us come playoff time," Rodgers said. "This team is starting to feel like one of those meant-to-be units."
Without the services of injured Todd Gurley, James White filled in admirably with 126 yards rushing and a score.
Lockett, closing in on Gurley's 150-catch record, had 13 catches on the day for 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The hot Bills next head to Oakland to face Derek Carr and the Raiders.
Despite allowing only 160 yards to the Jacksonville offense over the course of the entire game, Aaron Rodgers' offensive unit sat deadlocked at 10-all on the Jaguars 6-yard line with 1:50 remaining.
On 3rd-and-goal, with a field goal firmly within reach, Rodgers forced an ill-advised pass into the endzone which was picked off by Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith.
With nothing but green grass in front of him, Smith stormed down the field 106 yards for what seemed to be the game-winning pick six.
"In the moment, I felt like we were on top of the world," Smith said. "But 12 (Rodgers) over there is magical and you can never count him out."
Unfazed by his error, Rodgers methodically led his team down the field before finding Tyler Lockett in the corner of the endzone with only :19 remaining.
The typically cool Rodgers sprinted towards Lockett and tackled his favorite target in one of the more emotionally scenes of the '16 season.
As the teams prepared for overtime, with only seconds on the clock, Jacksonville's Blake Bortles started the Christmas season early for Bills fans by throwing an interception at mid-field with only :09 on the clock.
Rodgers again found Lockett for a 12-yard gain to set up Dan Carpenter for his second 50-plus game-winning field goal attempt in as many weeks.
The kick was true.
"These games can only help us come playoff time," Rodgers said. "This team is starting to feel like one of those meant-to-be units."
Without the services of injured Todd Gurley, James White filled in admirably with 126 yards rushing and a score.
Lockett, closing in on Gurley's 150-catch record, had 13 catches on the day for 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The hot Bills next head to Oakland to face Derek Carr and the Raiders.
San Francisco @ Miami
1 2 3 4 FINAL
SAN FRANCISCO 0 14 0 0 14
MIAMI 7 21 14 3 45
MIAMI – An outmanned San Francisco 49ers team fell big to the Miami Dolphins (10-1) 45-14 today in South Beach.
After an early second quarter fake field goal by the 49ers helped lead to a TD, tying the game at seven, the Miami Dolphins stepped on the gas offensively.
Rookie Jacoby Brissett saw the training wheels come (somewhat) off the team's playbook.
The NC State product finished 13-for-18 with 233 yards passing and one touchdown.
"Wasn't a great game by me," Brissett said. "But I'm happy they are trusting myself and our receivers more each week."
A red hot Chris Ivory continued his incredible season, which has seen him average a gaudy 7.8 yards per carry, with 167 yards and three touchdowns (while only carrying the ball 14 times).
"It's the o-line here, man," Ivory said. "I'll get all the pub since I'm the one with the ball, but just look at all those beasts blocking."
Head Coach Adam Gase made the decision to drop former safety Calvin Pryor permanently into the box in the 'Deone Buchanon' role while giving the starting Free Safety job to the steadily improving Byron Jones (with pro bowler Earl Thomas moving over to Strong Safety).
The changes did not yield great results, as the team finished with its lowest sack total for the season.
"We like the changes," Gase said. "This also gives us a chance to get Miles (Killebrew) in there as well. I think, in time, this gives us the best chance to be aggressive and faster as a unit."
For the game, the balanced Miami offense finished with 234 yards rushing and 233 yards through the air, for their most efficient offensive performance of the season.
The team also scored their sixth non-offensive touchdown of the season (leading the NFL) on a blocked punt while also finishing without a turnover; Their +17 turnover differential also leads the league.
The Dolphins will face a tougher task next week as they head to Baltimore to take on the Ravens.
After an early second quarter fake field goal by the 49ers helped lead to a TD, tying the game at seven, the Miami Dolphins stepped on the gas offensively.
Rookie Jacoby Brissett saw the training wheels come (somewhat) off the team's playbook.
The NC State product finished 13-for-18 with 233 yards passing and one touchdown.
"Wasn't a great game by me," Brissett said. "But I'm happy they are trusting myself and our receivers more each week."
A red hot Chris Ivory continued his incredible season, which has seen him average a gaudy 7.8 yards per carry, with 167 yards and three touchdowns (while only carrying the ball 14 times).
"It's the o-line here, man," Ivory said. "I'll get all the pub since I'm the one with the ball, but just look at all those beasts blocking."
Head Coach Adam Gase made the decision to drop former safety Calvin Pryor permanently into the box in the 'Deone Buchanon' role while giving the starting Free Safety job to the steadily improving Byron Jones (with pro bowler Earl Thomas moving over to Strong Safety).
The changes did not yield great results, as the team finished with its lowest sack total for the season.
"We like the changes," Gase said. "This also gives us a chance to get Miles (Killebrew) in there as well. I think, in time, this gives us the best chance to be aggressive and faster as a unit."
For the game, the balanced Miami offense finished with 234 yards rushing and 233 yards through the air, for their most efficient offensive performance of the season.
The team also scored their sixth non-offensive touchdown of the season (leading the NFL) on a blocked punt while also finishing without a turnover; Their +17 turnover differential also leads the league.
The Dolphins will face a tougher task next week as they head to Baltimore to take on the Ravens.
