In this series of articles, I will be highlighting the best NFL games of the week as well as the home team, the Patriots. In week 17, the playoff race got even tighter for a lot of teams with the last weeks coming up. Here are the highlights.
Bengals vs Broncos
The Bengals pull away from the Broncos in overtime to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Cincinnati still needs help in the final week of the season to get into that last spot in the AFC playoff race. However, all they could control was to win out after they fell to 4-8 on the season. Since that moment, they have won four straight and are in a position to make the playoffs.
This game against the Broncos was win or miss the playoffs for the Bengals and they pulled through.
On their first two drives of the game, they turned it over on downs both times on fourth and short. They put no points on the board despite being in Denver territory twice. With five minutes left to go in the half, the Cincinnati offense put together a drive that ended in a Tee Higgins touchdown for their first points of the game.
Joe Burrow would find Tee Higgins in the endzone again to take a 17-10 lead. In a tie game, Higgins fumbled the ball, giving possession to the Broncos. Fortunately for the Bengals, they would get the ball back soon after due to an interception by their defense.
With less than two minutes to go in regulation, Burrow was pushed into the endzone to take the lead once again, but the Bengals found themselves in overtime after Denver scored as time was running out.
In overtime, both teams started with a punt, but Cincinnati got down to field goal range to try and win the game. The game-winning kick hit the uprights and was no good. They were able to get the ball back with a little over two minutes left in overtime. In five plays, the Bengals reached the three-yard line. Burrow found Higgins for the third time to get the touchdown and win the game.
The Bengals now need to win their next game against the Steelers, a Dolphins loss or tie, and a Broncos loss to make the playoffs.
Tee Higgins with his third touchdown catch of the day, winning the game in overtime. Photo Courtesy: bengals.com
With a win or a tie, the Broncos could have clinched the playoffs, but they will have to wait another week.
In the first half, the Broncos were only able to get a field goal, which came on their first drive of the game. This put them in a 7-3 deficit going into halftime.
Coming out of the half, they put together a 12-play, 70-yard drive that was capped off by a Courtland Sutton touchdown catch, tying up the game at 10. On the next drive, Bo Nix hit Marvin Mims with a 51-yard touchdown pass to tie the game once again.
With less than two minutes left, the Broncos were coming from behind yet again to try and tie the game. With eight seconds left, Nix threw a jump ball to the endzone, and Mims came down with it to take the game into overtime.
In overtime, the Broncos punted on their first possession and got the ball back after Cade York missed a field goal. Only needing a first down at the least to get a tie, Denver was forced to punt the ball away.
Denver can clinch the playoffs next week with a win over the Chiefs who are most likely resting starters.
Vikings vs Packers
The first points did not come for Minnesota until the end of the first quarter. Sam Darnold sailed a pass to Jalen Nailor who was wide open in the endzone for their first score. They would then hit two more field goals in the first half to take a 13-3 lead over Green Bay.
They would extend their lead right after the half with a Jordan Addison diving touchdown reception. After a pick on the previous drive, Darnold bounced back with a strong possession. A screen pass to Cam Akers resulted in another touchdown to go up by three scores.
Back in Packers territory, the Vikings had to settle for a field goal that would end up being no good. Up nine with the ball back, Minnesota went three and out and had to give the ball back to Green Bay. Green Bay scored again and with two minutes left, the Vikings just needed to run the clock out to get the win.
The Vikings will now play the Lions on Sunday Night Football for the #1 seed in the NFC and the NFC North Title.
The Packers started slow, only having a field goal in the first half, but they did not quit in the second half. They scored their first touchdown midway through the third quarter after getting an interception. Josh Jacobs got them to the two-yard line and then took it in for a touchdown.
Down by 17, Emanuel Wilson scored from five yards out and they successfully got a two-point conversion. They were now down by nine with the ball back. In two minutes, they drove down the field to score yet again, but they were still down by two. They kicked the ball back to Minnesota, needing a stop, but the Vikings offense was able to run out the clock.
The Packers now have the seventh seed in the NFC playoffs.
Chargers vs Patriots
The Chargers routed the Patriots in a playoff-clinching win.
After a punt on the first drive, the Chargers offense put together a strong drive where they converted on fourth down with a 19-yard reception to Quentin Johnston followed by a 23-yard touchdown pass to Derius Davis.
They then got down to the New England nine-yard line but had to kick a field goal. On this drive, Ladd McConkey surpassed the most receptions in a rookie season in Chargers history. McConkey then caught a touchdown on the next drive to go up 17-0.
Before the half, the Chargers kicked another field goal after getting good field position from a roughing the passer penalty.
Out of the half, the Chargers continued their momentum with Justin Herbert connecting with McConkey for a 40-yard touchdown. After the Patriots turned it over on downs, Los Angeles went three and out, but they were already in field goal range. It was now 30-7.
The Chargers scored once again, this time with J.K. Dobbins running it in from the 2-yard line. Los Angeles got a field goal later in the fourth quarter and was able to easily lock up a playoff spot going into Week 18.
Derius Davis makes diving touchdown catch for the first points of the game. Photo Courtesy: chargers.com
The Patriots, who were coming off a strong game against Buffalo, did not show much progress in this one. Their first drive ended in a punt and Drake Maye went to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion.
With Jacoby Brissett in at quarterback, New England went three and out. With Maye back in, the Patriots fumbled the ball on a botched play and were looking at a 17-0 deficit.
Their only score of the game came from a free play where Maye threw the ball into the endzone, and Demario Douglas caught it between a few defenders.
The rest of their drives ended in punts or turnovers on downs.
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