NFL Week 15 Sunday Recap -- Sunday December 19th

By: Q. Smyth Senior Editor - Wager On Football .com Sportsbook Review

Join Our #1 Rated Sportsbook Today Reviewed By Our Sports Book Review

(NFL Game Summary - Pittsburgh at NY Giants

(Saturday, December 18th)
Final Score: Pittsburgh 33, NY Giants 30

East Rutherford, NJ (Wager On Football - NFL Wagering) - Jerome Bettis scored on a one-yard
touchdown run with 4:57 left in the fourth quarter to lift Pittsburgh to a
hard-fought 33-30 win over the New York Giants at the Meadowlands.

Bettis, who finished with 140 yards on 36 carries, again filled in for the
injured Duce Staley to lift the Steelers (13-1) to their team-record 12th
consecutive win.

"It's a lot of fun," said Bettis. "The main reason I stayed was for an
opportunity to win and that's what we are doing. It's especially gratifying
to contribute. It feels great."

Ben Roethlisberger was not overly impressive, but still guided his team to
the victory, which keeps them atop the standings in the AFC. Roethlisberger
ended 18-of-28 for 316 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions and set
the Pittsburgh team record for consecutive wins to begin his career with 12.

Antwaan Randle El finished with five catches for 149 yards and a touchdown
while also throwing for a score and Hines Ward had nine receptions for 134
yards in the win.

"The good thing is I have that many weapons," said Roethlisberger. "Everyone
steps up big all of the time. It makes my job that much easier."

Eli Manning, who has yet to win since being named the starter (0-5), ended
16-of-23 for 182 yards with two touchdowns, but threw a critical
interception late in the game in the loss. Tiki Barber added 76 rushing
yards and a touchdown for the Giants (5-9), who have dropped seven straight
games.

"It was frustrating," said Manning. "We all thought we could win this game.
We came in, we were fired up, we played well and hung with the best team.
It's never fun to lose, but at least we competed and hung in there."

The two rookie quarterbacks, who were both highly tauted out of college,
played against each other in the NFL for the first time. Manning, out of Ole
Miss, was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft by San Diego and
then traded to the Giants in a deal that sent Philip Rivers and draft picks
to the Chargers. Roethlisberger, who played his collegiate ball at
Miami-Ohio, was chosen by Pittsburgh with the 11th choice in the first
round.

Manning, who was named the starter on November 21 against Atlanta, has
struggled in his young career. He has completed only 58-of-133 passes (44
percent) with three touchdowns and seven interceptions. Roethlisberger, on
the other hand, has been solid in his rookie campaign as he has a 66 percent
completion percentage (182-of-276) with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Trailing by one early in the fourth, Pittsburgh mounted a 60-yard drive
before grabbing a 26-24 lead on Jeff Reed's 28-yard field goal with 11:35
remaining.

The Giants immediately responded with a march of their own as Barber capped
it with a one-yard scamper. New York then went for two points, but Manning
was sacked and the team led 30-26 with 8:15 remaining. Manning passed for 65
yards on the seven-play drive.

Pittsburgh, though, put together one final scoring drive that culminated on
Bettis' one-yard touchdown run with 4:57 left in the game. Roethlisberger
went 4-of-4 for 57 yards, including a 36-yard pass to Randle El, on the
67-yard drive that gave the Steelers a 33-30 lead.

On the ensuing Giants series, Manning went deep for Amani Toomer, but the
pass was intercepted by Willie Williams.

The Steelers then took over with 3:19 left at their own 18-yard line and
were able to make two first downs to run out the remaining time.

"It was a very gutsy win for our football team," said Pittsburgh head coach
Bill Cowher. "What a great team win this was for our football team. We made
the plays down the stretch we had to make. I couldn't be more proud of our
football team. I can't say enough about what we were able to do offensively
and come back in the second half."

New York wasted no time taking a 7-0 lead as Willie Ponder returned the
game's opening kickoff for a 91-yard touchdown.

The Steelers, though, tied the game moments later as they moved 55 yards in
six plays. They capped the drive on a trick play as Randle El took a pitch
before finding Verron Haynes for a 10-yard touchdown pass. The big play on
the series was a 34-yard reception by Randle El.

The Giants immediately countered as Ponder ran the kickoff back 33 yards and
Barber later rushed for 35 to move the ball to the Pittsburgh 20-yard line.
Five plays later, Manning found Jeremy Shockey for a two-yard touchdown to
make it 14-7 with 4:02 left in the first quarter.

Reed's 33-yard field goal with 19 seconds remaining in the opening period
got the Steelers within 14-10 and Roethlisberger then gave his club the lead
with a 35-yard strike to Randle El with 5:36 left in the second.

On the 12-play, 88-yard drive that put Pittsburgh ahead, the visitors were
helped out on several big plays. After sacking Roethlisberger on third down
and apparently forcing a punt, the Giants were whistled for a questionable
unnecessary roughness penalty that gave the Steelers an automatic first
down. Then, four plays later, Bettis rushed for a two-yard gain on a
4th-and-inches from the New York 34 before the drive was eventually
culminated on Roethlisberger's touchdown strike on 3rd-and-13.

Reed's 21-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half gave
Pittsburgh a 20-14 lead the intermission.

Roethlisberger was then intercepted on the first series of the second half
and the Giants took over at the Pittsburgh 37-yard line. New York proceeded
to move as close as the two-yard line, but it had to settle for Steve
Christie's 22-yard field goal.

The Steelers moved down the field on their next series before getting
stopped and being forced to rely on Reed's 36-yard kick to widen the gap to
23-17 with 4:15 left in the third quarter.

Manning's one-yard strike on a play action fake to Marcellus Rivers with 29
seconds left in the third put the Giants ahead 24-23. The big play on the
72- yard drive was a 49-yard pass play over the middle to David Tyree.

Game Notes

Ward's nine catches give him 500 for his career, making him the second
Steeler to eclipse the 500 reception mark (John Stallworth, 537)...Bettis'
36 carries were the most he has had in a game since 1998 when he ran the
ball 34 times. The 36 carries also equaled a career-high that he previously
accomplished on November 30, 1997 against Arizona...Terry Bradshaw (1975)
had the Steelers' previous mark of 11 straight victories to begin his
career...Reed made all four of his field goal attempts...Williams
intercepted his first pass since 2002...Ponder's touchdown was the Giants'
first game-opening kickoff return for a score in a regular-season home game
in team history. The Giants have allowed at least 30 points in three
straight games for the first time since the 1973 season...Staley has missed
five of the team's last six games with a lingering hamstring
injury...Pittsburgh wide receiver Plaxico Burress (hamstring) also missed.

NFL Game Summary - Washington at San Francisco

(Saturday, December 18th)
Final Score: Washington 26, San Francisco 16

San Francisco, CA (Wager On Football - NFL Wagering) - Patrick Ramsey completed 18-of-27
passes for 214 yards and a touchdown to lead Washington to a 26-16 win over
San Francisco at Monster Park.

Rod Gardner caught six passes for 111 yards and a score for the Redskins
(5-9), who have won two of their last three games. Clinton Portis finished
with 110 rushing yards on 35 carries.

"Offensively we gained a lot of confidence today," Ramsey said. "I think
when we're playing well on our side of the ball, the defense feeds off of
that. Our defense played great, which made my job easier."

Ken Dorsey -- making his first career start at home -- threw for 206 yards
and two touchdowns on 20-of-38 attempts with four interceptions for the
49ers (2-12), who have lost eight of their last nine. Eric Johnson, who
caught eight passes for 73 yards, set a franchise record for most receiving
yards by a tight end in a season (780).

Antonio Pierce returned an interception for a touchdown for Washington,
which took advantage of three interceptions by Dorsey in the first half to
snap a 7-7 tie.

An interception by Sean Taylor less than three minutes into the first
appeared to be a touchdown. Taylor picked off a pass, ran 30 yards and
handed the ball to Lemar Marshall, who went 54 yards to the end zone.

But instant replay showed Taylor illegally handed the ball forward to
Marshall, and the score was negated.

Just 15 seconds into the second quarter, Jeff Chandler -- in his first kick
for the team -- booted a career-best 49-yard field goal that capped a
nine-play, 28-yard drive and put the Redskins ahead 10-7.

Chandler delivered a 25-yard field goal 6:17 later to made it 13-7.
Gardner's 39-yard reception highlighted the eight-play, 56-yard drive and
set them up at the San Francisco three-yard line.

Another field goal by Chandler, from 20 yards with 5:17 to go in the second
quarter, was set up by a Dorsey interception. Ron Warner picked off a pass
and ran 39 yards to the 49ers nine-yard line. But Washington settled for
three points and a 16-7 advantage.

A blocked punt by San Francisco's Keith Lewis led to a safety and brought
his team within 16-9 with 2:08 remaining in the second.

Pierce stepped in front of a pass over the middle and returned it 78 yards
for a touchdown with 48 seconds left in the quarter to put the Redskins
ahead 23-9 at halftime.

"I know I sound like a broken record, but we can't turn the ball over like
we've been doing and expect to win games," said 49ers head coach Dennis
Erickson. "The defense kept us in the game and gave a chance to win, but the
offense just couldn't get any rhythm today."

Chandler then booted a 26-yard field goal with 3:32 left in the third
quarter to make it 26-9. The kick capped a 15-play, 78-yard series.

Curtis Conway's 11-yd TD catch, with 4:26 to go in the fourth quarter,
brought the 49ers within 26-16.

Washington scored on its initial possession for the third straight game.
Robert Royal caught a 12-yard touchdown pass to cap a 10-play, 72-yard drive
to make it 7-0.

A 17-yard TD catch by Brandon Lloyd on the ensuing possession forced a 7-7
tie for the 49ers. An illegal use of hands penalty and Lloyd's 16-yard catch
on third down extended the nine-play, 71-yard march.

Game Notes

Laveranues Coles hauled in four passes for 39 yards for the Redskins, who
went 30 games without a defensive touchdown...Dorsey broke a finger on his
right hand in the first half for the 49ers, who still lead the all-time
series 13-8-1...Washington has won two of the last eight meetings against
the 49ers...San Francisco starting defensive end Andre Carter sat out with a
sore back...Washington cornerback Shawn Springs missed the game with a
concussion...Johnson broke the 49ers record set by Brent Jones (747) in
1990.

NFL Game Summary - Carolina at Atlanta

(Saturday, December 18th)
Final Score: Atlanta 34, Carolina 31 (OT)

Atlanta, GA (Wager On Football - NFL Wagering) - Jay Feely's 38-yard field goal 2:25 into
overtime on the heels of Aaron Beasley's interception of Jake Delhomme
handed the Atlanta Falcons a dramatic 34-31 victory over the Carolina
Panthers.

The loss for the Panthers (6-8) puts a severe damper on their hopes of
making the playoffs and defending their NFC Championship. Carolina scored 21
straight points in the fourth quarter to take a 31-24 lead, only to see the
game tied once again on Michael Vick's 12-yard scamper to the end zone with
1:37 left in regulation.

Carolina started the season a disappointing 1-7 after making an improbable
run to the Super Bowl last year, but wins in its previous five games put the
team back in the playoff picture in the underachieving NFC.

Delhomme finished 24-of-35 for 340 and a pair of scores. Muhsin Muhammad
caught his 12th touchdown pass of the year, adding to his career high, and
finished with 10 catches for 135 yards.

Warrick Dunn rushed 28 times for 134 yards and a TD for the Falcons (11-3),
who have already clinched the NFC South. Vick also had two scores by air
against a pair of interceptions, completing 11 of his 28 attempts for 154
yards. The athletic signal-caller is now 5-0 all-time versus the Panthers.

Atlanta looked to be in good shape after touchdowns on consecutive
possessions in the third quarter, but a Vick interception turned the tide in
Carolina's direction. His deep ball intended for Peerless Price was picked
off by Chris Gamble inside the five.

Delhomme orchestrated a 97-yard drive from there in less than four minutes,
hitting Kris Mangum in the end zone from 11 yards away to close the gap to
24-17.

Vick was drilled by Brentson Buckner on the ensuing series and the ball
popped up in the air for a spectacular one-handed grab by Julius Peppers,
who sprinted 60 yards to paydirt the other way to tie the game for the
Panthers.

"You just got to see two of the most unique athletes in sports play
tonight," Mora said of Vick and Peppers, who also lined up as a receiver for
a play in the end zone. Peppers leapt in the end zone to bring down a
floater from Delhomme, but he landed out of bounds.

The Falcons turned the ball over again next time out, thanks to an Alge
Crumpler fumble. That set up Nick Goings' five-yard, go-ahead touchdown run
with 3:41 remaining in regulation.

"To me if you quit in any game you're in, you're a loser," Delhomme said.
"We don't have many of those on this team."

The time on the clock was more than enough for Vick, but not without a lucky
bounce. The ball came loose once more after Vick was hammered again at the
Carolina 10, but rookie receiver Michael Jenkins quickly pounced on it.

Then on 4th-and-goal from the 12, Vick escaped pressure and sprinted up the
middle, demonstrating remarkable body control to barely dive across the goal
line without his knee touching the ground. The play was reviewed and upheld.

"Everyone else had their backs turned to me, so that is why I was able to
make it to the end zone," said Vick said. "I was lucky to get in there."

"No other quarterback makes that play," said Panthers linebacker Mark
Fields.

Carolina played it conservatively from there to send the game into overtime.

In the extra session, the Panthers won the toss and Delhomme overthrew Ricky
Proehl downfield as Beasley waited for the ball to come down. Beasley
returned it 30 yards to get Atlanta in field goal range already.

"I guess I floated it a little bit more than I wanted to," Delhomme said.
"That's disappointing and frustrating. I feel like I let my teammates down."

Dunn carried twice for a total of three yards before giving way to Feely for
the game-winner.

Vick flashed his playmaking skills to help Atlanta get on the board in the
opening stanza, avoiding the rush and scrambling 12 yards to the Carolina
four-yard line. A floater out to Brian Finneran three plays later on a fade
to the left resulted in the game's first touchdown.

Feely's 37-yard field goal early in the second quarter pushed the Falcons'
lead to 10-0, but Carolina answered quickly with a touchdown.

Muhammad pulled down his third reception of the series in the end zone on a
short slant to cap an 11-play, 80-yard drive that lasted nearly seven
minutes.

Feely had a chance to add to the Atlanta lead, but his 45-yard attempt on
the ensuing possession was wide left.

Carolina then took over at its own 35 and Delhomme once again focused on
getting the ball to his main target. Muhammad caught four more balls for 48
yards before the drive stalled at the four-yard line to set up John Kasay's
21-yard boot just before the half that knotted the game at 10-10.

The Falcons opened the third quarter with a lengthy scoring drive. Dunn
closed out the eight-plus minute series with three straight runs, the last
six yards across the goal line for a seven-point advantage.

Vick then fired a bullet to Dez White the next time out from 12 yards away
to push the Atlanta margin to 24-10.

Game Notes

Crumpler's 48 receptions this season puts him ahead of Junior Miller for
most catches in a season by a Falcons tight end. Miller caught 46 balls in
1980...Allen Rossum also broke a club record for punt return yardage,
passing Billy Johnson's previous mark of 1,251...Delhomme fumbled four times
and lost two...Vick picked up 68 yards on the ground on eight
carries...Goings ran 24 times for 61 yards...Gamble had both Carolina
interceptions...Atlanta linebacker Keith Brooking forced two fumbles

NFL Game Summary - Houston at Chicago

(Sunday, December 19th)
Final Score: Houston 24, Chicago 5

Chicago, IL (Wager On Football - NFL Wagering) - David Carr completed 13-of-28 passes for 220
yards and a touchdown, while Domanick Davis added a rushing score, as the
Houston Texans defeated the Chicago Bears, 24-5, in a sloppily played game
at Soldier Field.

Jabar Gaffney hauled in four passes for 109 yards, while Corey Bradford
ended with three catches for 58 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown
reception for Houston (6-8), which won for just the second time in its last
seven games.

Davis ended with 95 yards on 25 carries with an 11-yard TD scamper, while
Kris Brown booted a 20-yard field goal in the win.

Chad Hutchinson struggled on the day, finishing 17-of-34 passing for 168
yards with an interception for Chicago (5-9), which has dropped two straight
and saw its scant playoff hopes all but fade with the loss.

Thomas Jones carried the ball 15 times for 40 yards, while Paul Edinger
kicked a 43-yard field goal for the Bears, who have now gone eight quarters
-- the span of two games -- without a touchdown. The Bears managed only a
field goal in last Sunday's 22-3 loss at Jacksonville.

After a scoreless first quarter, Houston finally got on the scoreboard late
in the second half. A six-play, 67-yard drive was capped when Carr hooked up
with Bradford for a 37-yard scoring strike, making it 7-0 with under a
minute left in the period.

The Bears defense kept them in the game in the third, setting up the team's
first points of the contest.

Chicago pinned Houston back on its own five-yard line. On second down, Carr
felt pressure up the middle, backpedaled into the end zone, and threw the
ball into the ground. Carr was immediately called for intentional grounding,
which resulted in a safety, making it 7-2 at the 4:06 mark of the third
quarter.

The Bears received the free punt that ensued, but were unable to take
advantage of the solid field possession. However, Chicago's defense once
again buckled down and forced a quick three-and-out.

A 29-yard punt by Chad Stanley gave Chicago the ball on the Houston 33.
After two running plays by Jones picked up just one yard, Hutchinson hit
David Terrell for a nine-yard gain to place the ball on the Texans' 25. From
there, Edinger's 43-yard field goal was true, pulling the Bears within 7-5
early in the fourth.

However, on Houston's ensuing series, Carr orchestrated a seven-play,
76-yard drive all the way to the Bears three-yard line. Brown then capped
the drive with a 20-yard field goal, stretching the Texans' advantage to
10-5 with 11:37 remaining in the game.

The Texans then put the game away as Davis ended a 14-play, 56-yard drive
with an 11-yard TD run with 4:23 to play.

Carr hooked up with Bradford for an eight-yard gain on 4th-and-7 to keep the
drive alive, putting the ball on the Texans' 23. Four plays later, Davis
sealed the win with his 11th rushing score of the season.

Moments later, Charlie Robinson's 60-yard fumble return for a touchdown made
it 24-5 to put an exclamation point on the rout.

Game Notes The game marked the first-ever meeting between the Texans and Bears in the regular season...Houston's former NFL team, the Oilers, went 2-2 at Soldier Field before moving to Tennessee in 1997...The Bears played without linebacker Brian Urlacher, who was hampered by a sore hamstring. Chicago fell to 0-5 without the All-Pro linebacker in the lineup...Gaffney caught a 69-yard pass, which was a career-high...The Bears have scored 10 or less points in seven games this season...The game marked the third coldest home game in Bears history. The temperature at kickoff was minus 10 degrees.

NFL Game Summary - Dallas at Philadelphia

(Sunday, December 19th)
Final Score: Philadelphia 12, Dallas 7

Philadelphia, PA (Wager On Football - NFL Wagering) - Dorsey Levens ran for a two-yard
touchdown with just 1:57 remaining to lift Philadelphia over Dallas, 12-7,
in a contest between NFC rivals at Lincoln Financial Field.

Donovan McNabb completed 20-of-35 passes for 223 yards with a touchdown pass
and two interceptions for the Eagles (13-1), who clinched homefield
advantage for the duration of the NFC playoffs with their sixth straight
victory.

Philadelphia, which won 13 games in a season for the first time in franchise
history, has won the last three meetings with Dallas and nine of the last
10.

Vinny Testaverde was 16-of-28 for 176 yards with a touchdown and two
interceptions for the Cowboys (5-9), who dropped their second consecutive
game on the heels of a two-game win streak.

Philadelphia star wide receiver Terrell Owens left the game early in the
third quarter with a sprained ankle and did not return. Owens limped off the
field, but initial x-rays were negative. Owens posted two catches for 24
yards before leaving the game and now has 77 catches for 1200 yards and a
team- record 14 touchdowns on the season.

The Eagles trailed 7-6 and had the ball at their own 36-yard line after
Billy Cundiff missed a 46-yard field goal to set up the game-winning drive.
Levens ran in for the score, but it was McNabb who ignited the drive. On the
first play, McNabb hit L.J. Smith for a 13-yard pass close to midfield and
soon after posted two carries for a total of 31 yards. The Eagles then went
for two, but failed and led 12-7 with 1:57 left.

Dallas had one final chance, but Lito Sheppard intercepted Testaverde to
seal the win.

The Eagles outgained Dallas in total offense, 328-237.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Eagles opened up the scoring on their
opening possession of the second quarter. Chad Lewis hauled in a two-yard
touchdown pass from McNabb to cap off a nine-play, 70-yard drive. Todd
Pinkston highlighted the possession with a 19-yard catch into Dallas
territory, but the extra point was later blocked as the Eagles only led 6-0.

With just 3:22 left in the first half, the Cowboys grabbed a 7-6 edge which
they would carry into the intermission. Off of a turnover, Testaverde found
Keyshawn Johnson in the end zone for a seven-yard TD. Eric Ogbogu gave the
Dallas offense the ball at the Philly 23 after he recovered a fumble by
McNabb, who was hit hard by defensive end Greg Ellis.

Julius Jones ran for 80 yards on 25 carries in the losing effort for Dallas.

Game Notes

Owens has caught a pass in 129 straight games...Philly went 6-0 against
division foes this season...The Cowboys still hold a 49-39 advantage in
their all-time regular season series with the Eagles...Dallas listed RB
Eddie George as inactive for the second straight game.

NFL Game Summary - Minnesota at Detroit

(Sunday, December 19th)
Final Score: Minnesota 28, Detroit 27

Detroit, MI (Wager On Football - NFL Wagering) - Daunte Culpepper threw for 404 yards and
three touchdowns and Minnesota survived a botched Detroit extra-point
attempt with eight seconds left to hold onto a wild 28-27 victory at Ford
Field.

Culpepper completed 25-of-35 throws and tied a Vikings season record with
his 34th touchdown pass as Minnesota (8-6) kept its hopes alive of capturing
the NFC North division. Nate Burleson caught two of Culpepper's scoring
strikes and finished with 134 yards on five grabs for the Vikings, who
stopped a two- game slide.

Randy Moss had four receptions for 102 yards, including an 82-yard touchdown
in the second quarter.

Joey Harrington overcame a pre-game flu bug to rack up a career-high 361
yards on 25-of-44 passing for the Lions (5-9), who have dropped seven of
eight after a 4-2 start. The third-year pro threw a pair of touchdowns but
was intercepted twice.

Roy Williams snared seven passes for 104 yards and two scores, including a
one-yard touchdown in the final seconds which brought Detroit to within
28-27. However, long snapper Don Muhlbeck's toss on the point-after attempt
skipped to the ground, and holder Nick Harris was buried by Terrance Shaw to
seal the win.

The Lions rallied from an early 14-3 deficit to knot the game at 21-21 on
Harrington's nine-yard pass to Williams and subsequent two-point conversion
catch by Tai Streets with 6:11 to play.

Minnesota regained the lead when Moe Williams blasted into the end zone from
11 yards out with 1:37 remaining, but Harrington drove Detroit 80 yards in
nine plays for the apparent tying score.

NFL Game Summary - San Diego at Cleveland

(Sunday, December 19th)
Final Score: San Diego 21, Cleveland 0

Cleveland, OH (Wager On Football - NFL Wagering) - LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 111 yards
and two touchdowns on 26 carries, as San Diego shut out Cleveland, 21-0, at
snowy Paul Brown Stadium.

Drew Brees wasn't a huge factor and threw only six passes in the game due to
the treacherous conditions. Brees, who completed four of his throws, passed
for 85 yards with a touchdown for the red-hot Chargers (11-3), who have won
eight straight games and clinched the AFC West title by virtue of Denver's
loss against the Chiefs.

Antonio Gates had a 72-yard touchdown reception for San Diego, which won its
division for the first time since the 1994 season when the club went 11-5
and reached Super Bowl XXIX.

Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer was Cleveland's head coach from
1984-1988 and posted a 44-27 regular-season record with four playoff berths,
three division titles and two AFC Championship appearances.

Luke McCown finished 11-of-27 for 108 yards with an interception for the
dreadful Browns (3-11), who have dropped eight straight contests. They also
fell to 0-3 under interim head coach Terry Robiskie, who took over when
Butch Davis resigned on December 1st.

Lee Suggs had 105 rushing yards in the loss.

Last week Cleveland managed just 17 net offensive yards in its 37-7 loss to
Buffalo, which was a franchise low and the fifth-worst total in NFL history,
but this week the team gained 231 total yards despite not being able to
score.

After punting on its opening series, Cleveland quickly regained possession
as Drayton Florence had the wobbly football deflect off his leg. Dyshod
Carter recovered for the Browns at San Diego's five-yard line, but the
Browns could not capitalize as McCown was intercepted in the end zone by
Donnie Edwards on the next play.

The Chargers then were stopped on three straight plays, but Cleveland was
called for a roughing the punter penalty on fourth down to keep San Diego's
drive alive. The mistake proved detrimental as the Bolts proceeded to march
80 yards in 14 plays before capping it on Tomlinson's one-yard score. The
touchdown gave San Diego a 7-0 lead with 2:09 left in the first quarter.

Cleveland had a chance to get on the board midway through the second, but
Phil Dawson missed a 39-yard field goal try.

The margin rose to 14-0 as Brees found Gates for a 72-yard touchdown
reception with 2:11 remaining in the second period. Gates lined up as a
fullback and then released to the left sideline where Brees found him in
stride and the tight end ran untouched for the score.

The Browns tried a bit of trickery to start the second half as Dawson
attempted an onside kick. However, San Diego recovered the ball and marched
downfield. The 11-play, 42-yard drive was culminated by Tomlinson's one-yard
run, his second score of the day, to make it 21-0 with 8:32 left in the
third.

Cleveland nearly scored midway through the third, but Antonio Bryant dropped
a ball on 4th-and-goal from the five-yard line.

Game Notes

Gametime temperature was 18 degrees with a windchill of minus 10 degrees,
while the field was completely covered in snow...San Diego reached the
playoffs for the first time since 1995...Tomlinson extended his own team
record by scoring in 11 straight contests. He has 16 touchdowns this
year...Gates has 12 touchdowns this season, which ties the single-season
tight end record held by four others (Wesley Walls, 1999; Todd Christensen,
1983; Jerry Smith, 1967; Mike Ditka 1961)...Edwards has three interceptions
in the last two weeks...San Diego has won five of the last six meetings.

NFL Game Summary - Buffalo at Cincinnati

(Sunday, December 19th)
Final Score: Buffalo 33, Cincinnati 17

Cincinnati, OH (Wager On Football - NFL Wagering) - Rian Lindell kicked a career-high four
field goals to lead Buffalo over Cincinnati, 33-17, at Paul Brown Stadium.

Drew Bledsoe completed 15-of-30 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown for the
resurging Bills (8-6), who are back in the playoff picture with their eighth
win in 10 games since an 0-4 start.

Buffalo running back Willis McGahee left the game with a hyperextended knee
after rushing for 25 yards on 11 carries in the first half and did not
return.

Rudi Johnson ran for 130 yards and a score for the Bengals (6-8), who have
dropped two straight games on the heels of a two-game win streak to fall out
the playoff race.

Jon Kitna replaced starting quarterback Carson Palmer, who sat out with a
knee injury, and was 16-of-32 for 151 yards with a touchdown and two
interceptions

NFL Week In Review Page 1 - 2

Game Capsules Used With Permission By Our Sponsor MySportsbook.com

Week 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16 . 17

WildCard Weekend Divisional Weekend

Top | NFL Wagering | NFL Football Betting at NFL Sportsbooks