2019 NFL Week 14 Recap

By Rob Woodfork
December 9, 2019 | 2:04 AM

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley, right, scores past Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tre Flowers during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Los Angeles. — <b><i>Seahawks 12</i></b> <b><i>Rams 28</i></b> Clearly, <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/04/sean-mcvay-attributes-increased-todd-gurley-usage-to-me-not-being-an-idiot/">Sean McVay is not an idiot</a>. Todd Gurley again carried a full load and Jared Goff again had a good night for a Rams offense looking more like the team that represented the NFC in last season's Super Bowl. L.A. is back to being must-see TV.

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DEC. 08: Patrick Mahomes (15) of the Kansas City Chiefs gestures for a first down during the second half against the New England Patriots in the game at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. — <b><i>Chiefs 23</i></b> <b><i>Patriots 16</i></b> New England hadn't trailed at home since Week 6 <i>of last season</i>, won 21 straight home games and the legendary Brady-Belichick tandem had never lost at home to an opposing QB under the age of 25. Patrick Mahomes wrecked all that and Kansas City not only wins its division, but still has a shot at leapfrogging the Patriots for a first round bye. Not bad for a team that <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28252143/chiefs-gear-mistakenly-sent-new-jersey-sources-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">almost had to forfeit over lost luggage</a>.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DEC. 08: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers talks with teammates during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Dec. 08, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Steelers defeated the Cardinals 23-17. — <b><i>Steelers 23</i></b> <b><i>Cardinals 17</i></b> Considering Arizona is so bad <a href="https://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/28212164/sources-josh-shaw-parlay-bet-included-arizona-cardinals-game" target="_blank" rel="noopener">their own players bet against them</a>, any fun <a href="https://www.azcardinals.com/news/gm-steve-keim-job-status-plan-for-offseason-excited-about-the-future-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steve Keim has building the Cardinals</a> will be on Madden. But the real-life Steelers are getting their best QB play from A Man Called Duck, and against all odds, maintain Mike Tomlin's streak of non-losing seasons in Pittsburgh to remain in the driver's seat for the last AFC wild card. Have I told you lately I think Tomlin should be Coach of the Year?

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) passes against the Oakland Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. — <b><i>Titans 42</i></b> <b><i>Raiders 21</i></b> In one of the most unpredictable turns of the season, <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1203856638031081472?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ryan Tannehill continued his tear</a> to lead the Titans to their first 500-yard game since the move to Tennessee and into a tie with Houston atop the AFC South. The two teams play twice in the final three weeks, so barring another upset Texans loss (they play in Tampa Bay in Week 16), Tennessee may still have to pull off a sweep to win the division.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen, right, makes a reception in front of Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback A.J. Bouye (21) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. — <b><i>Chargers 45</i></b> <b><i>Jaguars 10</i></b> So how do you shake free of an <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/02/chargers-getting-frustrated-as-they-find-every-way-you-can-possibly-lose/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">epic run of late-game failures in close defeats</a>? Blow out a listless Jacksonville team <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/02/two-expensive-misses-one-cheap-hit-for-jaguars-at-quarterback/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">incapable of making a good choice at QB</a>, of course!

ORCHARD PARK, NY - DEC. 8: Lorenzo Alexander (57) of the Buffalo Bills dives to make a tackle on Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens as he runs the ball during the first quarter at New Era Field on Dec. 8, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. — <b><i>Ravens 24</i></b> <b><i>Bills 17</i></b> In <a href="https://twitter.com/fieldyates/status/1201895115524132864?s=21" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a rare matchup of mobile quarterbacks</a>, Lamar Jackson fell short of Mike Vick's single-season rushing record but joined him as the only QBs to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. If this dude's "off day" still includes <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1203741378875801600?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shattering another pair of ankles</a> and throwing 3 TDs even when <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28253245/bills-player-gets-look-ravens-coach-notes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the opposition gets a gift cheat sheet</a>, the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/baltimore-ravens-gift-pope-francis-signed-custom-no-8-jersey-in-archbishops-visit-to-rome/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heavens are proclaiming</a> Baltimore is a team of destiny.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) dives to the pylon for a touchdown against New Orleans Saints linebacker Craig Robertson (52) in the second half an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. — <b><i>49ers 48</i></b> <b><i>Saints 46</i></b> For the second time, <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/08/49ers-hope-another-full-week-on-the-road-pays-off/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">San Francisco's extended road trip</a> helped them get a key win and give them the likely homefield advantage if we're lucky enough to see a playoff rematch between these two teams. Please, great football gods, let us have a rematch between these two teams.

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DEC.08: Odell Beckham (13) of the Cleveland Browns jumps in the air during a stop in play while playing the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium on Dec. 08, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. — <b><i>Bengals 19</i></b> <b><i>Browns 27</i></b> As has been the case in most of Cleveland's rare wins this season, the tone surrounding this game made it feel more like a loss. Between the <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/08/the-cheap-seats-are-the-cheapest-theyve-been-all-year-in-cleveland/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Redskin-esque cheap seats</a> and the <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/12/odell-beckham-jrs-talent-has-been-wasted-in-what-multiple-sources-describe-as-a-dysfunctional-browns-offense.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brewing Odell Beckham controversy</a>, the Browns seem likely to blow this thing up in the offseason -- again.

Minnesota Vikings free safety Harrison Smith (22) intercepts a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Minneapolis. — <b><i>Lions 7</i></b> <b><i>Vikings 20</i></b> Minnesota just missed grabbing its first shutout in two years but continue to squat on the final NFL wild card spot. With the Rams returning to form -- and only a game out of the playoff picture -- the Vikings can't have a letdown in L.A. next week.

Denver Broncos strong safety Kareem Jackson (22) celebrates his interception against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Houston. — <b><i>Broncos 38</i></b> <b><i>Texans 24</i></b> Houston has a problem. Rookie Drew Lock had a near-perfect passer rating in the first half of his second start and <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/08/kareem-jackson-has-interception-fumble-return-for-touchdown/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kareem Jackson tormented his former team</a> to deal the Texans a terrible loss that basically offsets last week's quality win over the Patriots. If Houston fails to win their division, we'll remember this loss a lot more than we'll remember their <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonTexans/status/1203694582141046784?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">linebackers' weekly dress-up routine</a>.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) fumbles the ball as he's hit by New York Jets defensive end John Franklin-Myers (56) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. Fitzpatrick recovered the ball on the play. — <em><strong>Dolphins 21</strong></em> <em><strong>Jets 22</strong></em> Miami is learning what seven other teams already learned the hard way: When <a href="https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/top-news-ryan-fitzpatrick-feeling-better-than-ever" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ryan Fitzpatrick feels good</a>, that can only be good for the opposition.

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DEC. 08: Jameis Winston (3) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers breaks a tackle by Denico Autry (96) of the Indianapolis Colts during the second quarter of a football game at Raymond James Stadium on December 08, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. — <b><i>Colts 35</i></b> <b><i>Bucs 38</i></b> Credit to Coach Kangol: He's got Tampa <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2019/12/05/bruce-arians-to-his-team-about-playoffs-youre-in-it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">believing they're a playoff team</a> and everyone not named Jameis Winston is playing like it. If the Bucs finally purge themselves of The Human Turnover, they might actually be good enough to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L2p9fldkZ0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eat some W's</a> in 2020.

Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky (10) runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, in Chicago. — <b><i>Cowboys 24</i></b> <b><i>Bears 31</i></b> In what amounted to a playoff game in Chicago, the battle between two of the NFL's most rightfully criticized entities was won by Mitchell Trubisky. Meanwhile, Dallas -- in the midst of one of <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1202826489835728896?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the greatest underachieving seasons</a> the league has ever seen -- is finally wrapping its collective head around what I've known for years: Jason Garrett is more liability than championship head coach.

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If you think the late-season playoff push is interesting, wait’ll you see how CliffsNotes, Dodgeball and lost baggage tie into the NFL Week 14 Recap.

Quarterback Alex Smith’s grueling road to recovery chronicled in ESPN program

By CNN
April 28, 2020 | 10:34 PM

NFL quarterback Alex Smith suffered a gruesome leg injury that put his career in jeopardy and had him fighting for his life, and his long and grueling road to recovery is chronicled in an upcoming one-hour program from ESPN called "Project 11." The leg injury occurred Nov. 18, 2018, in the third quarter of a game between the Washington Redskins and Houston Texans. After being sacked by the Texans' J.J. Watt and Kareem Jackson, Smith suffered a spiral and compound fracture of the right tibia and fibula.

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