NFL Week 15 Sunday Recap -- Sunday December 19th

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

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(NFL Game Summary - Seattle at NY Jets

(Sunday, December 19th)
Final Score: NY Jets 37, Seattle 14

East Rutherford, NJ (Wager On Football - NFL Wagering) - Chad Pennington tossed three
touchdown passes and Curtis Martin added two more scores on the ground as
the New York Jets rolled to a 37-14 win over the Seattle Seahawks at the
Meadowlands.

Santana Moss was the recipient of two Pennington touchdown passes. Martin
rushed for 134 yards on 24 carries for the Jets (10-4), who rebounded from a
dismal 17-6 loss in Pittsburgh last week to take the driver's seat for the
first AFC wild card spot with two games remaining.

Several players on the offense expressed their displeasure with the play
calling after last Sunday's lackluster performance against the Steelers, but
things opened up against a weak Seattle defense that yielded 482 yards
total.

Matt Hasselbeck completed 22-of-30 passes for 201 yards and two scores for
the Seahawks (7-7), whose grips on the NFC West now hang in the balance
depending on how St. Louis fares in Arizona. Shaun Alexander was held to 77
yards rushing on 19 attempts, one of which was ended by a crucial fumble at
the goal line late in the third quarter.

Martin's second TD run, his 12th of the season, set a franchise record. But
it may have been the result of a questionable call by the officials as it
appeared the ball never crossed the goal line.

The scene was reminiscent of the December 1998 meeting between these same
two clubs when the phantom last-minute, game-winning touchdown awarded to
Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde ended up costing Seattle a playoff spot.
Testaverde's attempted scramble to the end zone came up well short of the
goal line, but the score handed New York a 32-31 victory. The controversial
play was a key factor for the return of instant replay the following season.

The run by Martin was the second of three straight touchdowns scored by the
Jets, but the Seahawks still had a chance to get back into it

Seattle was trailing by 16 nearing the end of the third quarter when
Alexander was on his way to the end zone, only to have the ball punched
loose and recovered by New York for a touchback.

Instead, the Jets recorded the only points of the fourth quarter. Following
a fumble recovery by Eric Barton at the Seattle 23-yard line, Pennington's
five- yard strike to Justin McCareins with 8:14 to go capped the scoring.

Shaun Ellis hit Hasselbeck as the quarterback started to throw, and guard
Steve Hutchinson couldn't maintain possession of the loose ball. Hasselbeck
injured his right throwing elbow on the play and did not return, giving way
to backup Trent Dilfer.

New York drove 71 yards on the game's opening possession before settling for
a 21-yard field goal by Doug Brien and a 3-0 edge.

Hasselbeck and the Seahawks came right back with a 71-yard march of their
own. Jerry Rice's spectacular one-handed grab at the sideline in the end
zone capped things off for a 7-3 advantage with 5 1/2 minutes left in the
first quarter.

The Jets' next series carried into the second period, aided by Jerald
Sowell's 34-yard catch and run to the Seattle six-yard line. Martin took it
in from one yard out three plays later to put his team ahead by three.

Martin scored again from three yards away seven minutes later to make it a
17-7 game. Television replays showed that the ball may not have broken the
plane of the goal line, enticing Seattle coach Mike Holmgren to challenge
the ruling. However, there was not enough evidence to overturn the call on
the field.

Barton's interception of Hasselbeck on the ensuing series set up Moss' first
touchdown catch, a 32-yard reception over the middle for a 24-7 Jets lead
just inside of the two-minute warning.

Seattle's no-huddle offense then produced a touchdown right before halftime
as Hasselbeck completed six passes for 60 yards. Jerramy Stevens hauled in a
six- yard throw to the end zone with three ticks left to close the gap to
24-14.

The tandem of Pennington and Moss combined for another touchdown right out
of the halftime gates. After LaMont Jordan scampered 33 yards on a direct
snap, Pennington hit Moss on a slant over the middle for a seven-yard score,
but Brien missed the extra point to create a 16-point margin.

Brien also hooked a 30-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter.

Game Notes

Martin's 14 total scores matches Don Maynard's club record...Pennington
notched his seventh career three-TD game...Sowell registered a game-high 83
receiving yards on five receptions...Moss finished with five catches for 79
yards...Jordan had 15 carries for 84 yards...The touchdown for Rice was his
third of season...Dilfer came up empty on his two pass attempts.

NFL Game Summary - Denver at Kansas City

(Sunday, December 19th)
Final Score: Kansas City 45, Denver 17

Kansas City, MO (Wager On Football - NFL Wagering) - Larry Johnson ran for a career-high 151
yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries to lead Kansas City to a 45-17 win
over Denver at Arrowhead Stadium.

Trent Green threw for 224 yards and three scores on 16-of-19 passing for the
Chiefs (6-8), who posted their third straight victory. Eddie Kennison caught
seven passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns, while Dante Hall returned the
opening kickoff for a score.

Jake Plummer -- who was intercepted twice -- completed 23-of-41 passes for
292 yards and a touchdown for the Broncos (8-6), whose third straight loss
allowed San Diego to clinch the AFC West title. Rod Smith caught six passes
for 75 yards and a score.

Dexter McCleon registered both interceptions for Kansas City, which took an
early 14-0 lead.

Hall returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, his second of
the season, to put the team ahead 7-0.

On its first possession, Johnson reached the end zone on a five-yard TD run
with 4:49 left in the first quarter. Kennison's five-yard catch on third
down extended the 11-play, 87-yard drive.

Smith caught a 22-yard touchdown pass late in the first to get Denver within
14-7. The play -- on third down -- capped a nine-play, 64-yard series.

A seven-yard TD catch by Kennison, with 9:36 to go in the second quarter,
staked the Chiefs to a 21-7 edge. An unnecessary roughness penalty against
Denver safety John Lynch set up the six-play, 44-yard drive.

Johnson's 32-yard TD run put the Chiefs ahead 28-7 with 4:06 to go in the
second. The run -- right up the middle -- highlighted a six-play, 58-yard
march.

Jason Elam kicked a 27-yard field goal with four seconds left in the quarter
to get the Broncos within 28-10 at halftime.

Johnson ran for 111 yards on 17 carries in the first half.

Samie Parker caught a 48-yard touchdown pass with 8:11 left in the third
quarter to open a 35-10 lead for Kansas City. An 18-yard TD catch by
Kennison less than a minute into the fourth quarter made it 42-10.

Lawrence Tynes kicked a 39-yard field goal for the Chiefs with 5:31 to play.

Denver's Garrison Hearst capped the scoring 1:18 later with a four-yard
touchdown run.

Game Notes

Parker caught three passes for 84 yards for the Chiefs, who won for the
second time in the last six meetings...Tatum Bell ran for 50 yards on nine
carries for the Broncos, who still lead the all-time series 50-39...Kawika
Mitchell recorded 10 tackles - including two sacks -- for Kansas City, which
spilt the season series with Denver...D.J. Williams recorded 12 tackles and
a sack for Denver.

NFL Game Summary - New Orleans at Tampa Bay

(Sunday, December 19th)
Final Score: New Orleans 21, Tampa Bay 17

Tampa, FL (Wager On Football - NFL Wagering) - Aaron Brooks found Donte' Stallworth for a seven- yard go-ahead touchdown with 38 seconds remaining to cap a late rally that handed the New Orleans Saints a 21-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.

The touchdown pass was the second for Brooks in the final four minutes, as he hit Joe Horn three minutes earlier to get the Saints (6-8) within three at 17-14. Brooks was also sacked seven times, but finished 14-of-21 for 169 yards.

Aaron Stecker opened the game with a 98-yard kickoff return for a score for New Orleans, which has won back-to-back contests after dropping its previous three to remain in playoff contention in the underachieving NFC.

Joey Galloway accounted for both Tampa Bay (5-9) scores -- one by air and the other via a 59-yard punt return. Michael Pittman ran for 131 yards on 24 carries, but his crucial fumble with just over three minutes to go set up the decisive touchdown.

Simeon Rice recorded 3 1/2 sacks for the Buccaneers, who have lost two straight. They also saw their four-game home win streak come to an end.

"It will not get any harder than this for our players, our coaches and our fans," said Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden. "It was a horrible, horrible defeat today."

Trailing 17-7, Saints kicker John Carney missed a 38-yard field goal, failing at a chance to make it a one-score game.

New Orleans then reaped the benefits of its own special teams play to get within a field goal. Michael Lewis had about four opposing players surrounding him when he fielded Josh Bidwell's short punt at his own 43, but he burst up the middle for 53 yards before being forced out just four yards away from a touchdown. Brooks then found Horn two plays later to make it 17-14 with 3:33 to play.

Tampa Bay's final task of running out what was left of the clock proved to be too much to ask for, as Pittman fumbled the ball away on the next play from scrimmage.

Brooks gave the ensuing drive new life when he sprinted 13 yards facing a 4th- and-12 at the Tampa Bay 43. He then found Boo Williams down the seam for 22 yards before capping things off with his slant pass to Stallworth two plays later.

With only 38 seconds left and no timeouts, there was little Brian Griese could do to avoid the final outcome. The Bucs quarterback was 12-of-20 for 101 yards and a touchdown along with one interception.

"We have a 10-point lead, then Michael Lewis makes the punt return and then lightning strikes with the fumble on the next play," Gruden added. "You can't turn the ball over and expect any favors."

New Orleans jumped out to a 7-0 lead on Stecker's 98-yard kick return. He initially dropped the ball at his own 10 before picking it up and racing to the end zone.

The Buccaneers answered right back after getting good field position on the ensuing kickoff. Griese hit Galloway from three yards out to knot the score at 7-7 just 4 1/2 minutes in.

Both offenses struggled for the remainder of the half as eight of the next nine series ended in punts.

Mike Alstott's fumble at the New Orleans 31 ended the other, but the Saints were unable to capitalize.

Griese moved his team into the red zone on the opening possession of the second half before his pass intended for Michael Clayton in the back of the end zone was picked off by Mike McKenzie.

Again, the Saints couldn't do anything with the turnover and were forced to punt.

Only this time, Galloway fielded Mitch Berger's short kick and weaved his way 59 yards to the goal line to put Tampa Bay ahead 14-7.

More punts followed until Saints receiver Jerome Pathon coughed the ball up just three yards shy of the end zone. Pathon had just hauled in a 15-yard pass from Brooks and lost the handle when he fell to the ground untouched. The ruling was challenged by New Orleans coach Jim Haslett, but upheld.

Pittman broke off a 58-yard run four plays later to get the ball in enemy territory, but the Bucs had to settle for Jay Taylor's 37-yard field goal for a 17-7 edge early in the final stanza.

Game Notes

Clayton (1,041) became the first Bucs rookie to surpass the 1,000-yard receiving plateau...Galloway now has two touchdowns in back-to-back games...Saints running back finished with 25 carries for 89 yards...Griese has a touchdown pass in all 10 games he has played this season.

NFL Game Summary - Jacksonville at Green Bay

(Sunday, December 19th)
Final Score: Jacksonville 28, Green Bay 25

Green Bay, WI (Wager On Football - NFL Wagering) - Byron Leftwich threw two touchdown passes, Fred Taylor rushed for 165 yards and a score and Jacksonville escaped frozen Lambeau Field with a 28-25 victory over the host Packers.

Leftwich ended just 9-of-20 for 121 yards in the win, but was good enough to lead Jacksonville (8-6) to its second straight win. Jimmy Smith caught four passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

The Jaguars intercepted Brett Favre three times in the second half, including twice in the end zone, and recovered an onside kick after a late Packers touchdown made it a three-point game.

Favre finished 30-of-44 for 367 yards and two touchdown passes -- one each to Donald Driver and Antonio Chatman. Ahman Green rushed for 94 yards and Javon Walker had 11 receptions for 152 yards in the loss.

The Packers (8-6) have dropped two of three, but they clinched their fourth straight playoff berth before even taking the field by virtue of losses by Chicago, Carolina, Dallas and the New York Giants this weekend. They are just the ninth team ever to make the playoffs after a 1-4 start.

Green Bay's loss also means the Atlanta Falcons clinched a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

The Packers lost wide receiver Robert Ferguson late in the fourth quarter after he was clotheslined by Jaguars safety Donovin Darius while making a 31- yard catch across the middle. Ferguson was wheeled off the field on a stretcher and taken to an area hospital. Darius was whistled for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and ejected from the game.

Green Bay opened the second half with a 76-yard drive and pulled ahead 17-14 on Driver's 32-yard touchdown catch.

But the Jaguars came right back and regained the lead just four plays later when Taylor broke loose for a 37-yard touchdown run to make it 21-17.

The Packers drove all the way to the Jacksonville three-yard line on the ensuing possession, but a scrambling Favre was intercepted by Rashean Mathis on an errant pass intended for Bubba Franks in the back of the end zone.

The Jaguars then extended their lead to 29-17 on a gutsy move by head coach Jack Del Rio, who called Greg Jones' number on fourth-and-inches rather than kick a field goal for a seven-point lead.

Jones busted into the end zone with little trouble, giving Jacksonville an 11- point cushion with 9:49 remaining.

Favre was intercepted by Rashean Mathis on the first play of the ensuing possession, giving the Jaguars good field position at their own 42. They punted, and after the injury to Ferguson, Favre was again intercepted in the end zone -- this time by Deon Grant on a pass intended for Driver.

Jacksonville punted again, and Favre capped a 67-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to Chatman with 1:08 left. The Packers were successful on their two-point conversion attempt, but couldn't come up with the onside kick.

Jacksonville jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the game's first possession when Leftwich and Smith hooked up for a 31-yard touchdown. The score was set up by Taylor's 46-yard run on second down.

Green Bay pulled within 7-3 on Ryan Longwell's 35-yard field goal 1:25 into the second quarter. Longwell then missed from 31 yards later in the quarter, snapping a streak of 45 consecutive makes inside 45 yards.

Leftwich fumbled two plays after that when he was sacked by Kabeer Gbaja- Biamila, and a heads-up play by safety Darren Sharper led to a 10-7 lead for Green Bay.

Thinking the play was dead, and perhaps a little worried that his quarterback was down, Jacksonville lineman Vincent Manuwai picked up the loose ball and stood idle away from the play. Sharper alertly knocked it from his hand and bolted 15 yards for the TD with 4:44 remaining in the first half.

But Jacksonville responded on the ensuing possession and took a 14-10 lead when Leftwich and Smith hooked up for another TD, this time from 16 yards out with 2:28 left before the break.

Game Notes Taylor has 35 career 100-yard rushing games and five this season...Favre's third quarter interception snapped a streak of 169 passes at home without one...Favre and Leftwich both played with bruised left hands...Green tied franchise records by eclipsing the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fifth time overall and also for the fifth consecutive year. Jim Taylor gained 1,000-plus yards for the Packers from 1960-64...Jacksonville won for the first time in three all-time meetings with the Packers.

NNFL Game Summary - St. Louis at Arizona

(Sunday, December 19th)
Final Score: Arizona 31, St. Louis 7

Tempe, AZ (Wager On Football - NFL Wagering) - Josh McCown threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more, as the Arizona Cardinals thumped the St. Louis Rams, 31-7.

McCown was 22-of-34 passing for 287 yards with two scoring tosses to Larry Fitzgerald for the Cardinals (5-9), who eclipsed the 30-point mark for the second time this season. McCown also had nine rushes for 33 yards and the two scores.

"When you score 31 points, hold a team to seven points and basically no points against the offense -- and not in position to kick even field goals -- then you feel like you've done a very good job," Arizona coach Dennis Green said.

Jamie Martin relieved an ineffective Chris Chandler and threw for 188 yards for the reeling Rams (6-8), who would have assumed the top spot in the NFC West with a victory by virtue of Seattle's loss to the Jets Sunday. St. Louis has lost four of five games overall and five straight road games.

St. Louis trails the 7-7 Seahawks for the top spot in the NFC West, but holds a tiebreaker over Seattle by virtue of two head-to-head victories. The Rams host the Eagles next Monday night before ending the season with a home game against the New York Jets. Meanwhile, the Seahawks have Arizona and Atlanta left on their schedule.

Should the Cardinals win their last two games and the Seahawks and Rams both lose out, it would be the Cardinals taking the NFC West division title with a 7-9 record. Arizona has Tampa Bay at home and travels to Seattle in its final two contests.

"I'm surprised that a 5-9 team is in it, but I'm not surprised that it's this team," McCown said. "We have it in us. We have the talent, we have the capability to do this, it's just a consistency thing."

The Cardinals defense forced five three-and-outs and two turnovers.

St. Louis was outgained by the Cardinals, 402-185. The Rams were held to 22 rushing yards, all coming on 10 carries by Marshall Faulk, and failed to score an offensive touchdown for the first time since December 1, 2002, versus the Eagles.

McCown got the Cardinals on the board with 5:24 left in the first quarter, when his one-yard quarterback sneak capped a 73-yard march.

Neil Rackers connected on a 48-yard field goal with 1:44 left in the first quarter to make it a 10-0 game.

The Cardinals threatened to put this game out of reach early in the second quarter, as McCown hit Larry Fitzgerald for an eight-yard touchdown pass, and Arizona had a 17-0 lead. That score came 2:36 into the frame.

But with the Cardinals driving later in the second, McCown was hit from behind and fumbled, and linebacker Leonard Little recovered the ball and scampered 61 yards to paydirt to get the Rams on the scoreboard.

Despite the turnover, McCown had a solid first half. He threw for 199 yards and a score on 15-of-21 passing.

Meanwhile, the Rams sputtered offensively in the opening 30 minutes. Chris Chandler, starting in place of the injured Marc Bulger, was just 1-of-6 for one yard and an interception before giving way to Jamie Martin early in the second. Martin, a Walter Payton Award winner while in college, was 4-of-10 for 38 yards in the second quarter.

"We didn't see this coming," Rams wide receiver Torry Holt said. "If there was any game on the schedule that we felt confident about coming in and winning, it would be Arizona."

McCown and Fitzgerald connected on a scoring toss again, this time from four yards away, to up the advantage to 24-7.

The Rams, who had just 62 total yards at the midway point of the third quarter, began to move the ball late in the frame. Martin connected with Holt inside the five-yard line, and Holt battled for the extra yards to get into the end zone. But Ifeanyi Ohalete hit Holt from behind and caused a fumble, and he recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback.

McCown accounted for the final score as he scored on a nine-yard bootleg with 10:54 remaining.

Game Notes

Bulger was inactive for the game with a sprained shoulder...Rams' linebacker Tommy Polley was ejected from the game early in the fourth quarter for hitting a Cardinal player on the sideline in the head...Rams' head coach Mike Martz lost to the Cardinals for the first time in six career tries...Emmitt Smith had 71 yards on 19 carries...Holt had 95 yards receiving on six catches, while Bryant Johnson led the Cardinals with 69 receiving yards on three catches.

NFL Game Summary - Tennessee at Oakland

(Sunday, December 19th)
Final Score: Oakland 40, Tennessee 35

Oakland, CA (Wager On Football - NFL Wagering) - Kerry Collins threw for 371 yards and five touchdowns, including three to Jerry Porter, to lead the Oakland Raiders past the Tennessee Titans, 40-35, at Network Associates Coliseum.

Collins finished 21-of-37 and was picked off once, while Porter ended with eight receptions for 148 yards. It marked the second five-touchdown performance of Collins' career.

Doug Gabriel and Teyo Johnson also caught scoring passes for the Raiders (5-9), who halted a two-game losing streak.

Tennessee quarterback Billy Volek also had an outstanding contest, completing 40-of-60 passes for a career-high 492 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. He threw for 426 yards and four TDs in a loss to the Chiefs this past Monday.

Drew Bennett had a career-high 13 catches for 160 yards and two TDs for the Titans (4-10), who have dropped four in a row. Bennett was coming off a career night against Kansas City with 12 catches for 233 yards -- the most in the NFL this season.

Derrick Mason contributed 121 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions in the loss.

Oakland scored a pair of touchdowns just under three minutes apart in the third quarter to take control.

Collins and Gabriel connected on a 45-yard touchdown pass with 7:28 left in the period to put the Raiders in front 28-21. Gabriel caught a pass over the middle and outraced the defenders to the end zone for his first TD since Week 1.

On the third play of the ensuing possession for Tennessee, Volek fumbled after being sacked and Warren Sapp recovered the ball for Oakland at the Titans' 21- yard line.

Four plays later, Collins found Porter in the end zone from three yards away to increase the advantage to 14 points with 4:30 remaining in the stanza.

After the teams exchanged interceptions, Tennessee had the ball at its own 34- yard line. Volek then guided the offense down the field and on a 4th-and-goal from the three, fired a touchdown pass to Mason to pull the Titans within 35-28 with 11:53 left in the fourth quarter.

Tennessee then got the ball back following a punt and drove to the Oakland 18- yard line. On 4th-and-1, the Titans attempted a trick play, as holder Craig Hentrich took the snap in field goal formation and threw a pass to the end zone intended for Shad Meier. However, the ball was deflected away at the last second and the Raiders maintained their seven-point lead.

Oakland then proceeded to march into field goal range and Sebastian Janikowski split the uprights from 42 yards out to give the Raiders a 38-28 advantage with 3:39 remaining.

Tennessee again battled back and cut the deficit to 38-35 on Volek's one-yard plunge into the end zone with 1:21 left. The Titans then tried an onside kick, but Johnson recovered it for Oakland to essentially seal the win.

The Raiders tacked on a safety in the closing seconds when Volek was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone.

Oakland grabbed a 7-0 lead 5:48 into the contest, as Collins tossed an 18- yard TD pass to Johnson to cap a seven-play, 93-yard drive.

Tennessee countered on its next possession, marching 81 yards for a touchdown on 11 plays. Volek's 17-yard scoring toss to Bennett evened the contest with 3:08 left in the period.

The Raiders came right back and took a 14-7 advantage courtesy of Collins' 32- yard TD pass to Porter.

Following an exchange of punts, Tennessee had the ball at its own 49-yard line. On the eighth play of the series, Volek again connected with Bennett for a score, this time from 23 yards away to knot the game at 14-14 with 8:42 remaining in the second quarter.

The clubs again exchanged punts and Oakland took over at its own 22-yard line. Collins then engineered a 78-yard scoring drive in nine plays. Porter's 18- yard TD reception with 1:55 left in the period gave the Raiders a 21-14 advantage.

The Titans needed just 26 seconds to answer. Volek accounted for all 76 yards on the ensuing drive with four completions, including a seven-yard touchdown pass to Ben Troupe that deadlocked the contest at 21-21 with 1:29 left in the stanza.

Tennessee had a chance to move in front in the closing seconds of the first half, but Gary Anderson missed a 41-yard field goal.

Game Notes

Oakland cornerback Charles Woodson was inactive for the game with a sore right knee...Bennett tied Jerry Rice's record of eight touchdown receptions in a three-game span. Rice accomplished the feat in both 1987 and 1993...Troupe had six catches for 75 yards...The Raiders have won three of the last four meetings between the two teams.

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