A Look Back at Week 17 in the NFL
Eagles Beat Cowboys, Vikings Win NFC North, Dolphins Win AFC East
Dec 29, 2008 Justin Harrington
Philadelphia Romps Dallas, 44-6, to Win Final NFC Wild Card Spot
The math was not easy for Philadelphia to have a chance at securing a slot in the postseason. First, the heavily favoured Tampa Bay Buccaneers had to lose to the Oakland Raiders; and second, either the Chicago Bears or Minnesota Vikings needed to lose. All Dallas had to do was win their game against the Eagles in Philadelphia and they were in. When the Bucs and Bears lost their games earlier Sunday the table was set for a "win and in" match-up between the Cowboys and Eagles. One would move on, one would go home.
The Eagles showed that they were not ready to go home when they broke a 3-3 tie after the first quarter with a 24-0 second quarter, fueled by one rushing and two passing touchdowns from Donovan McNabb. In the second half, McNabb and his teammates on the offense sat back and watched their defensive unit embarass the Cowboys. Early in the third quarter, Brian Dawkins sacked Tony Romo and forced a fumble that was recovered and returned 73 yards by DE Chris Clemons for a score and a 34-3 Eagles lead. Dawkins was at it again on the next Dallas possession, forcing a fumble from RB Marion Barber that was scooped up by CB Joselio Hanson and taken 96 yards for another Philadelphia score and an insurmountable 41-3 advantage. When the smoke cleared, the Eagles had forced five turnovers in total. The final 38-point margin is the largest between the teams in their head-to-head history.
The Eagles will visit the Vikings next Sunday in an NFC Wild Card game.
Noteworthy: McNabb finished the season with a team-record 3,916 passing yards, surpassing the record he previously set. WR DeSean Jackson became the first Eagles rookie to lead the team in receptions (62). He also set the record for receiving yards (912) by a first-year Philadelphia player.
Vikings Claim NFC North on Last-Second Field Goal
The Giants had nothing to lose. They had already secured themselves a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Vikings, however, had everything to gain. With a divisional title on the line, Minnesota kicker Ryan Longwell booted a 50-yard FG attempt that sailed through the uprights as time expired and secured a dramatic 20-19 Vikings victory.
Minnesota was trailing by nine points in the fourth quarter before Tavaris Jackson connected with Bernard Berrian on a 54-yard TD pass that brought the Vikings within two with less than 10 minutes left in the game. The Giants were able to burn almost six minutes off the clock before kicker John Carney missed wide right on a 48-yard FG attempt with just over three minutes to go. On what proved to be the game's last possession, Minnesota overcame two third downs as they moved the ball to the Giants' 32-yard line to set the stage for the game-winning kick.
Noteworthy: The Vikings won five of their last six games and helped secure themselves their first postseason appearance since 2004. RB Adrian Peterson collected 103 rushing yards on Sunday and ended the season with a league-leading 1,760 yards on the ground.
Dolphins Defeat Jets, 24-17, to Claim AFC East
Sunday's game against New York was sweet revenge for Chad Pennington, having been let go by the Jets before the season to make room for Brett Favre. Pennington looked like the Favre of old, completing 22 of 30 pass attempts for 200 yards and two TDs. Favre just looked old as he tossed three interceptions - one of which was returned 25 yards for a score - adding to his league-worst total of 22. The Jets were eliminated from the playoffs after losing four of their last five games following a promising 8-3 start to the season. Head coach Eric Mangini was fired.
Noteworthy: The Dolphins (11-5), who had just one win last season, tied the 1999 Indianapolis Colts for the biggest one-season turnaround in NFL history. They will host the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday afternoon.
Other Week 17 NFL Action:
- Atlanta Falcons 31, St. Louis Rams 27 ... the Falcons clinched the no. 5 seed in the NFC and will visit Arizona to face the Cardinals next Saturday.
- New England Patriots 13, Buffalo Bills 0 ... the Patriots fell short of the playoffs by virtue of victories by the Dolphins and Ravens.
- Cincinnati Bengals 16, Kansas City Chiefs 6
- Houston Texans 31, Chicago Bears 24
- Carolina Panthers 33, New Orleans Saints 31 ... the Panthers secured the no. 2 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye.
- Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Cleveland Browns 0 ... Browns head coach Romeo Crennel was fired following the loss.
- Oakland Raiders 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24
- Indianapolis Colts 23, Tennessee Titans 0 ... the Colts will host the Chargers next Saturday evening.
- Green Bay Packers 31, Detroit Lions 21 ... the Lions made it an official 0-16 season and said goodbye to head coach Rod Marinelli as he was fired.
- Baltimore Ravens 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 7 ... the Ravens secured the AFC's final playoff spot with the win.
- Arizona Cardinals 34, Seattle Seahawks 21
- San Francisco 49ers 27, Washington Redskins 24
- San Diego Chargers 52, Denver Broncos 21 ... the Chargers won the AFC West with the win and eliminated the Broncos in the process.
Stats Source:
nfl.com
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