A Look Back at Week 15 in the NFL
Cowboys Beat Giants, Steelers Clinch AFC North, AFC East Crowded
Dec 17, 2008 Justin Harrington
New York Offense Stymied By Dallas as Cowboys Win NFC East Match, 20-8
For the first time since December 2004, the high-flying Giants (11-3) failed to score a touchdown. It wasn't because their offense was bad; it was because the Dallas defense was good ... very good. Missing starters on his offensive line, Eli Manning was sacked eight times and forced into two fumbles. He also tossed two interceptions and went without a touchdown pass for the first time since the season opener. The Giants running game, which collected 200 yards and two TDs on the ground in the Week 9 win over Dallas, managed only 72 yards and did not score on Sunday. OLB DeMarcus Ware was the star of the game for the Dallas defense with three sacks and two forced fumbles. Tony Romo had an efficient day under center, going 20-for-30 for 244 yards and 2 TDs. Rookie RB Tashard Choice took charge of the running game with Marion Barber still not 100 percent and ran for 91 yards and one TD. Dallas (9-5) currently holds a wild card spot in the NFC but has plenty of teams within close range, including the Atlanta Falcons (9-5), Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1) and Chicago Bears (8-6). They face the Baltimore Ravens next Saturday and then travel to Philadelphia for a rematch with the Eagles in the season closer.
Interesting Note: Terrell Owens' reported unhappiness with what he perceived as Romo's favourtism of TE Jason Witten as a passing target did not manifest itself the way many in the media seemed to expect. Instead, Owens laughed and smiled with Romo and Witten for all the cameras to see as they stood together on the sidelines. No controversy in Dallas ... yet.
Steelers Clinch Second Straight AFC North Title
It took over 59 minutes until the game saw its first TD, but when Ben Roethlisberger found Santonio Holmes open in the end zone for a four-yard score and a 13-9 Pittsburgh lead with 50 seconds left everyone knew it would take a miracle from the Baltimore Ravens to pull out a win. That's because the Steelers defense was just too much, holding the Ravens to 202 total yards and forcing two INTs from Joe Flacco. The victory not only clinched the division for Pittsburgh (11-3) but it also gave them a first-round bye in the playoffs. Baltimore (9-5) is in shape to contend for a wild card spot but shares the same record with four other AFC teams, all in the AFC East.
Interesting Note: The Pittsburgh defense has held every one of its opponents this season to less than 300 yards of total offense. They allow a league-low 239.1 yards per game; Baltimore is second, allowing just 257.5 yards per game.
Dolphins, Jets and Patriots Locked in Three-Way Tie Atop AFC East
In late October it looked like this year was all about the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East. Now they're the only team that doesn't matter in the division. Up 27-23 against the NY Jets in the fourth quarter on Sunday, the Bills' JP Losman decided to drop back and attempt a pass with about two minutes left in the game. Losman never made that pass as he was subsequently sacked, lost control of the ball, and watched as the Jets recovered it and returned it 11 yards for the eventual game-winning score. The decision dropped the Bills to 6-8 and secured their plans for the NFL playoffs, which don't include playing football. In the other AFC-relevant games, the Miami Dolphins edged the San Francisco 49ers, 14-9, while the New England Patriots crushed the Oakland Raiders, 49-26. The Dolphins, Jets and Patriots all stand at 9-5. The Dolphins and Jets will meet in New York during Week 17 in the AFC East's last divisional game of the 2008/09 regular season.
Interesting Note: In the Patriots' convincing defeat of the Raiders, QB Matt Cassell threw a career-high four touchdowns less than one week following the death of his father. The Patriots also ran for 277 yards, the team's highest total in any game since 1985.
Other Week 15 NFL Action:
- Chicago Bears 27, New Orleans Saints 24
- Atlanta Falcons 13, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10
- Cincinnati Bengals 20, Washington Redskins 13
- Houston Texans 13, Tennessee Titans 12
- Jacksonville Jaguars 20, Green Bay Packers 16
- Seattle Seahawks 23, St. Louis Rams 20
- San Diego Chargers 22, Kansas City Chiefs 21
- Indianapolis Colts 31, Detroit Lions 21 (the Lions are now 0-14 on the season)
- Minnesota Vikings 35, Arizona Cardinals 14
- Carolina Panthers 30, Denver Broncos 10
- Philadelphia Eagles 30, Cleveland Browns 10
Teams that have clinched divisions: Giants (NFC East), Titans (AFC South), Cardinals (NFC West) and Steelers (AFC North)
Stats Source:
www.nfl.com
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