Monday Read Option: The Most Important Moments of 2014, From Colston's Fumble to Rivers' Rally
By Jason Lisk
And then there were 16. Half of the league’s teams were eliminated by late yesterday afternoon, when Buffalo failed to recover a desperation onside kick in Oakland. Kansas City and Houston are holding on to slim hopes (the full AFC scenarios are broken down here), so it really comes down to a couple of things. Which two of San Diego, Baltimore, and Cincinnati will get in, or will they all pass and open the door? And the exciting, wonderful NFC South matchup between Atlanta and Carolina.
How did we get there? Let’s recap some of the biggest plays and moments–maybe not the most exciting or beautiful–but most important, in getting here.
MARQUES COLSTON’S FUMBLE IN OVERTIME (WEEK 1)
Remember in week 1 when New Orleans were one of the Super Bowl favorites? Yeah, it’s been awhile. The rough season started in overtime, in the first of many close and frustrating losses, when Marques Colston fumbled, to set up an Atlanta field goal.
If New Orleans wins that one, despite everything else that happened in weeks 2 to 16, they are in the driver’s seat against Tampa Bay, rather than eliminated.
SEATTLE SCORES TO START OVERTIME AGAINST DENVER (WEEK 3)
Denver completed a pretty amazing comeback, on the road, against Seattle’s defense, to send it to overtime. Then, Seattle won the coin flip, went the length of the field, and Peyton Manning never touched the ball again.
This one wouldn’t exactly rate as a surprise between the two Super Bowl participants, but that result is dictating who could get the No. 1 seed in both conferences. Denver would be in the driver’s seat had they won in Seattle, while the Seahawks would still be in a wildcard position rather than likely getting to play every game at CenturyLink Field.
“WE’RE ON TO CINCINNATI” (WEEK 4)
Was there a bigger moment than “on to Cincinnati?” New England had just gotten crushed in Kansas City. The offense had been pitiful during a 2-2 start, and Brady was at the very bottom of the league in most passing efficiency measures.
Then, Belichick dismissed all questions by giving a smirk to a question about whether Brady’s job was in jeopardy, and moving on to Cincinnati. New England is 10-1 since then, with the only loss at Green Bay.
MIKE NUGENT’S MISSED FIELD GOAL TO END OVERTIME (WEEK 6)
The only tie in the NFL this year came about because Mike Nugent missed a field goal at the end of overtime, when it looked like like Cincinnati was going to win a wild one. At the time, we didn’t know just how bad the NFC South would turn out to be–the entire division would go nearly a month without a win from that point.
That tie, as it turns out, is like a loss for Cincinnati. If Nugent had made that field goal, Cincinnati would be at 10-4, and already qualified, by holding the tiebreaker over Baltimore. As it stands, Cincinnati has two primetime games where they will be underdogs. Tonight against Denver and next Sunday night in the finale against Pittsburgh.
It also means that New Orleans is officially eliminated, though they would have still needed a tie between Atlanta and Carolina had that kick been made.
AARON RODGERS LAST SECOND TOUCHDOWN AGAINST MIAMI (WEEK 6)
The season has been short on notable end-of-game moments, but Aaron Rodgers provided one in Miami, and it has ripple effects throughout the league.
If Green Bay loses that game, they are still in the playoffs, but Seattle actually doesn’t control its destiny for the No. 1 seed (that would be Dallas), while a 9-6 Miami team would be still alive for a wildcard spot entering week 17.
THE WILD LAST TWO THREE MINUTES OF PITTSBURGH-HOUSTON FIRST HALF (WEEK 7)
Here’s the win probability summary of the Houston at Pittsburgh game on Monday night.
Houston had more than an 80 percent chance of winning, up 13-0 on the road at halftime. They went to the locker room down 24-13. It involved a field goal, a quick 3-and-out and a touchdown in two plays, followed by an immediate fumble (and touchdown one play later) and then an interception (and a touchdown two plays later).
Pittsburgh would win 30-23. What would we be looking at if Houston had not produced an implosion for the ages in that short span? Pittsburgh and Houston would be tied at 9-6, Houston would have the tiebreaker, and be in almost certain playoff position with a game against Jacksonville standing in the way.
At the time of that 24 point swing, Pittsburgh was sitting at 3-3, and was coming off a disastrous and ugly performance at Cleveland. They are 7-2 since that time.
CARSON PALMER TO JOHN BROWN FOR 75 YARD TOUCHDOWN (WEEK 8)
Arizona had many key plays in getting to 11 wins. None, though, would prove to be as decisive as Palmer’s long bomb to John Brown with about 90 seconds left, facing a 3rd and 5 and trailing 20-17.
That play swung a key game. Philadelphia wins that one, and they are tied at 10-5 with the Cardinals and hold the tiebreaker going into week 17, and Arizona’s quarterback-less team is looking at another close call in missing the postseason, just like 2013.
CARSON PALMER’S KNEE INJURY (WEEK 10)
Of course, Arizona’s in that position of limping into the postseason because of Carson Palmer’s knee injury in the second half against the Rams.
Arizona has scored 70 total points in the last six games. Chandler Catanzaro hasn’t kicked an extra point after an offensive touchdown since November 16th. (It’s been four weeks since he kicked any extra point).
BOBBY WAGNER RETURNS FROM TURF TOE INJURY (WEEK 12)
Has there been a bigger return from injury than Bobby Wagner coming back for Seattle. Wagner suffered the original injury in the second quarter of a home loss to Dallas. Seattle largely survived the relatively softer portion of their schedule, but since Wagner has returned, the Seattle defense has surged again to best in the league.
Seattle has allowed 33 points total in the last five games, wins over Arizona twice, San Francisco twice and Philadelphia.
DALLAS LOSES THE MOMENTUM IN PHILLY, GETS IT RIGHT BACK AS DEZ BRYANT GOES OFF (WEEK 15)
Same old Dallas. I wish we could go back and take Twitter snapshots of what was being said as Dallas had a 21-0 lead at Philadelphia, which disappeared to a 24-21 deficit with 20 minutes remaining. Then Dez struck again with some big plays, including the dagger for his third touchdown.
Philadelphia went from pre-emptive favorite to completely out in the span of a few weeks and Dallas could still get home field throughout the playoffs.
SAN DIEGO’S COMEBACKS AT BALTIMORE (WEEK 13) AND AT SAN FRANCISCO (WEEK 16)
In case you fell asleep on Saturday night, San Diego’s obituary had to be shredded. That was the second key comeback in a month on the road for San Diego. In Baltimore, Rivers led a game-winning drive in the final minute. In San Francisco, Rivers brought San Diego from down by three touchdowns to go to overtime, where they prevailed.
As a result, San Diego is one more road rally away from the playoffs for a second year, while Baltimore could be eliminated and miss the postseason . . . again . . . after winning the Super Bowl two years ago.
[GIFs and videos by Michael Shamburger]