A Look Back at Week 13 in the NFL
Broncos Beat Jets, Vikings Defeat Bears, Burress Charged
Cutler Leads Broncos to Convincing 34-17 Win Over Favre's Jets
Cold, inclement weather at the Meadowlands didn't cool of the New York Jets. The Denver Broncos did. The first-place Jets (8-4) were riding a five-game winning streak entering Sunday's action and were looking to put some space between themselves and their AFC East rivals. But the Broncos (7-5), currently in possession of first place in the AFC West, had similar intentions. Jay Cutler never let the rain or wind bother him as he recorded his sixth 300+ yard game of the season, completing 27 of 43 pass attempts for 357 yards and two TDs. Rookie RB Peyton Hillis had his first career 100-yard rushing game with 129 yards on 22 attempts and one TD. It was the first time this season a player has rushed for more than 100 yards against the Jets. On the other side of the ball, Brett Favre failed to throw a TD pass for the third time this season as RB Thomas Jones picked up the slack with 138 yards and two TDs.
The Jets still sit in front of the New England Patriots (7-5), Miami Dolphins (7-5) and Buffalo Bills (6-6). Of the four AFC East teams, only the Dolphins won their Week 13 game.
The Broncos look poised for the playoffs as they have opened a commanding lead in the AFC West over the San Diego Chargers (4-8), Oakland Raiders (3-9) and Kansas City Chiefs (2-8).
Minnesota Downs Chicago 34-14 to Take First in NFC North
Adrian Peterson ran over the Bears for 131 yards and a touchdown. Bernard Berrian collected 122 yards receiving and a touchdown. But the biggest star of the game for the Vikings was their defense. Before halftime, and facing a potential 11-point deficit, the Vikings stopped the Bears on four-straight scoring attempts from Minnesota's 1-yard line. One play after forcing the turnover on downs, Gus Frerotte heaved a pass down the left side of the field to a wide open Berrian who took the ball the rest of the way for a franchise-record 99-yard score through the air. Very quickly the Vikings were in the driver's seat, and they never looked back. Minnesota's defense forced three interceptions from Kyle Orton and sacked the Chicago QB three times, all courtesy of DE Jared Allen. Allen was also responsible for dragging down RB Matt Forte on 4th-and-goal during the Vikings' second quarter goal-line stand.
The win moved the Vikings (7-5) into first place in the NFC North ahead of the Bears (6-6), Green Bay Packers (5-7) and hapless Detroit Lions (0-12).
Giants Still Winning Without Troubled Star Receiver Burress
What began for the defending Super Bowl-champion Giants as concerns about Plaxico Burress' hamstring injury escalated over the weekend when the receiver accidentally shot himself in the thigh in a New York nightclub early Saturday morning. Burress left the club to be treated at an area hospital and was discharged early Saturday afternoon. He turned himself in to authorities on Monday morning and later posted $100,000 bail. Burress does not have a permit to carry a handgun in New York and was subsequently charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He is scheduled to next appear in court on March 31st and could face at least 3.5 years in prison if convicted.
Burress has had a tumultuous year with the Giants since catching the Super Bowl-winning touchdown last season. Earlier this year he was suspended for one game and fined $117,500 for missing a team meeting. He was also hit with a $45,000 fine by the NFL for abusing an official and tossing a ball into the stands in a game against the San Francisco 49ers.
He has struggled in most of the games in which he has played, catching no more than four passes in any one game since Week 2 against the St. Louis Rams when he caught five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown.
Despite their star receiver's absences and struggles, New York has lost just one game this season, and at 11-1 have a stronghold on first place in the tough NFC East after a 23-7 victory against the Washington Redskins this week. Burress' backup, third-year receiver Domenik Hixon, has thrived in a replacement role with 26 catches for 373 yards and one touchdown. He got his third start of the season this week and will likely see more should Burress not return.
Other Week 13 NFL Action:
- San Francisco 49ers 10, Buffalo Bills 3
- Baltimore Ravens 34, Cincinnati Bengals 3
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23, New Orleans Saints 20
- Miami Dolphins 16, St. Louis Rams 12
- Indianapolis Colts 10, Cleveland Browns 6
- Carolina Panthers 35, Green Bay Packers 32
- Atlanta Falcons 22, San Diego Chargers 16
- Pittsburgh Steelers 33, New England Patriots 10
- Kansas City Chiefs 20, Oakland Raiders 13
- Houston Texans 30, Jacksonville Jaguars 17
Check out all the Week 13 Thanksgiving Day action by clicking here
Stats Source:
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