NFL Week 15 review

The Bengals ended a 10 game losing streak with a 19-17 win over the Browns. The Bengals are now 3-11 on the season while the Browns have now fallen to 5-9. Cedric Benson carried the Bengals with 150 yards on the ground and a touchdown while Clint Stitser kick four field goals. Carson Palmer threw for 209 yards and 89 of those to TO's back up Andre Caldwell. Colt McCoy had 243 yards through the air and two touchdowns.

The Redskins two fourth quarter touchdowns and two points conversions in the forth tied up the game but a Cowboys field goal with 50 seconds left led the Cowboys to a 33-30 win. Jon Kitna threw for 305 yards and two scores and Jason Witten caught 10 passes for 140 yards and a score. Rex Grossman started for the benched Donovan McNabb and threw for for 322 yards, 4 touchdowns but two interceptions. Santana Moss caught two touchdown passes for the Redskins.

The Titans stopped their losing streak with a 31-17 win over the Texans. The Titans scored three touchdowns in the first quarter to take the 21-0 lead and they cruised to a victory. The Titans go to 6-8 on the season while the Texans fall to 5-9 after starting out 4-1. Chris Johnson had 130 yards and a touchdown on the ground for the Titans, Kerry Collins came back from an injury to throw for 237 yards and two scores and Kenny Britt caught 6 passes for 128 yards. Matt Schaub had 325 yards and two touchdowns through the air for the Texans.

The Colts running game came alive as they beat the Jaguars 34-24. Both teams now sit at 8-6 but because the Colts won this game they have the tie break advantage so they are a top the AFC South. Peyton Manning threw for a modest 229 yards and two touchdowns because running back Donald Brown picked up 129 yards and a score on the ground. The Colts defense limited Maurice Jones-Drew to only 46 rushing yards on the day. David Garrard had 294 and a couple of touchdown passes in the loss.

The Chiefs got a 27-13 win over the Rams in Matt Cassel's return from injury. With the win the Chiefs stay atop the AFC West and one game in front of the Chargers with their 9-5 record. The Rams are still tied atop the NFC West with a miserable 6-8 record. This could be the first year a sub .500 team makes the playoffs. Jamal Charles led the Chiefs offense with 126 yards and a touchdown and Matt Cassel threw for 184 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs defense held the Rams offense to only 224 total yards and Sam Bradford  had only 181 passing yards.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills beat the Dolphins 17-14 and almost diminished their playoff hopes. The Bills move to 4-10 and have won 4 out of 6 since starting off the season at 0-8. The Dolphins fall to 7-7 and with the Ravens, Jets, and Chargers all leading them in the Wild card race they have a very slim chance at securing a playoff birth. Fitzpatrick threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns for the Bills. Chad Henne had 276 yards through the air and Brandon Marshall caught 11 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown.

DeSean Jackson's game winning punt return capped off a Eagles 38-31 win over the Giants. The game was tied at 31 with 13 seconds left and the Giants punted it away. Jackson caught it and went up the sidelines for a 65 yard touchdown. The Eagles were down by 21 with 8 minutes left in the game but they scored 28 unanswered points to comeback and beat the Giants. The Eagles now have a game lead in the NFC East race over the Giants. The Giants are still holding the last Wild Card spot in the NFC. Mike Vick threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns but also ran for 130 more and a score. Eli Manning led the Giants with 289 passing yard and four touchdowns and Mario Manningham had 113 yards receiving and two touchdown catches.

The Lions stunned the Buc's with a 33-30 win in overtime. The Lions stopped a 26 game road losing streak as they move to 4-10 on the season. The Buc's have struggled losing three of the last four and falling out of a NFC Wild Card spot with a 8-6 record. Matt Stanton had 252 yards and a touchdown for the Lions. 152 of those yards went to receiver Calvin Johnson and Maurice Morris had 109 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Josh Freeman had 251 yards and a touchdown, LeGarrette Blount had  110 rushing yards a score and Mike Williams caught six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

The Panthers finally got a win, this one over the Cardinals 19-12. The Panthers are still at a league worst 2-12 record and are kind of just playing for the #1 draft pick now while the Cardinals are also at a miserable 4-10. Jonathan Stewart carried the team with 137 rushing yards while Jimmy Clausen threw for 141 yards and a touchdown. Cardinals quarterback John Skelton threw for 196 yards and 125 of those yards went to Larry Fitzgerald.

Ray Rice and the Ravens upset the Saints 30-24. Haloti Ngata tipped a Drew Brees pass and Cory Redding picked it off late in the 4th while the Saints were driving to secure the win for the Ravens. Both teams now have 10-4 records but the Ravens are chasing for the Divisional bid and a bye while the Saints are looking for a Wild Card bid. Ray Rice had 153 rushing yards and a touchdown but also caught 5 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown to help lead the Ravens. Joe Flacco threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Drew Brees threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns for the Saints.

The Falcons got a 34-18 win over the Seahawks and clinched the NFC South Division. The Falcons didn't need that much offense, only 266 yards,to get the win. Matt Hasselbeck turned the ball over three times before he was benched and one was a fumble that the Falcons jumped on in the end zone. The Falcons move to a NFC best 11-2 and their tied with the Patriots for a league best while the Seahawks are 6-8 but still tied atop the NFC West with the Rams. Matt Ryan threw for 174 yards and three touchdowns while Roddy White caught 7 passes for 65 yards and a touchdown in the win.

The Raiders beat the Broncos 39-23 in Tim Tebow's first NFL start. The game was tied going into the half but the Raiders just pounded it away on the ground to pull away in the 2nd half. The Raiders move to 7-7 on the year while Broncos fall to a pitiful 3-11. Jason Campbell had 238 passing yards and a touchdown while Darren McFadden ran for 119 yards for the Raiders. Tebow passed for 138 yards and a touchdown but also ran for 78 more and a touchdown for the Broncos.

After dropping two straight the Jets got back on track with a 22-17 win over the Steelers. Brad Smith started the scoring off with a 97 yard touchdown off the opening kickoff for the Jets. The Jets move to 10-4 and still hold a Wild Card spot while Steelers are at 10-4, same as the Ravens, but are still in the Divisional lead because they have the tie break. Mark Sanchez threw for 170 yards and ran in a touchdown while Braylon Edwards had 100 yards receiving for the Jets. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 264 and a touchdown, Rashard Mendenhall had 100 yards rushing and a touchdown and Mike Wallace caught 7 passes for 102 yards.

Matt Flynn and the Packers make it a game but the Patriots got the 31-27. Tom Brady didn't have a big game but he led the Patriots down the field twice to take over the lead in the 4th quarter. Matt Flynn only had once mistake but it turned into a pick six for the Pat's. Tom Brady finished the game with only 163 passing yards and two touchdowns. Flynn threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns, Brandon Jackson had 99 rushing yards and James Jones caught five passes for 95 yards and a score. The Packers now have a 8-6 record and are on the outside looking in for a Wild Card spot while Patriots sit at an AFC best 11-2, have won the AFC East and are looking for home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Bears clinched the NFC North with a 40-14 win over the Vikings. The Bears knocked out Favre in the first quarter and rolled after trailing 7-0. The Bears defense gave up only 7 points after the first drive and forced five turnovers in the win plus Devin Hester broke a return record after he scored his 14th career punt/kick return touchdown in the win. Jay Cutler passed for 194 yards and three touchdowns while Matt Forte had 92 rushing yards for the Bears. Brett Favre's back-up Joe Webb had 129 yards and rushed for a touchdown while Percy Harvin had 72 receiving yards and a touchdown for the Vikings.

Weekly Leaders

Passing
Matt Schaub, Texans: 35-54, 325 yards and two touchdowns
Rex Grossman, Redskins: 25-43, 322 yards and four touchdowns
Jon Kitna,Cowboys: 25-37, 305 yards and two touchdowns
David Garrard, Jaguars: 24-38, 294 yards and two touchdowns
Eli Manning, Giants: 23-39, 289 yards and four touchdowns


Rushing
Ray Rice, Ravens: 31 carries for 153 yards and a touchdown
Cedric Benson, Bengals: 31 carries for 150 yards and a touchdown
Jonathan Stewart, Panthers: 27 carries for 137 yards
Mike Vick, Eagles:10 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown
Chris Johnson, Titans: 24 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown

Receiving
Calvin Johnson, Lions: 10 catches for 152 yards
Jason Witten, Cowboys: 10 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown
Kenny Britt, Titans: 6 catches for 128 yards
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals: 9 catches for 125 yards
Mario Manningham, Giants: 8 catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns