40 things we learned in Week 14 of the 2016 NFL season
The 40 things we learned from Week 14 of the NFL season:
1. We were Dreaming of a White Week 14 and, in many places, dreams do come true. (And, of course, a downpour in Miami — South Florida snow, if you will).
2. And some teams took big steps to keep their playoff dreams alive ...
3. Le’Veon Bell ran through Rex Ryan’s Buffalo defense for 236 yards, and the Steelers won a game they had to have.
4. By the way, Bell had 298 yards from scrimmage ... 23 more than all of the Bills combined. Ouch.
5. Backup QB Matt Moore led the Dolphins on a drive in the final minute that gave Miami a thrilling 26-23 win over the Cardinals.
6. (Bad news for the Dolphins, by the way, with Ryan Tannehill being sidelined by a sprained knee. At least he avoided the full anterior cruciate ligament tear, but there's no timetable for his return.)
7. Remember when we wrote off Aaron Rodgers and the Packers? Uh, never mind.
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8. The Houston Texans did two things they don’t normally do: Won a big game and did it in Indianapolis. And they can thank Jadeveon Clowney for that. His strip sack in the third quarter was in many ways the play of the game.
9. The Giants defense. Wow. Don't sleep on this team, come January.
10. The Redskins did just enough to win in Philly. And that’s good enough. It’s December. Win and move on.
11. The Lions won a nail-biter. Again. And for once, Lions fans can’t complain about the whole world being against them. The refs were very kind to them on the Bears’ last series — after, of course, calling a terrible penalty on Detroit in the first half. (More on that later).
12. By the way, the Lions are now the No. 2 seed in the NFC. Damn.
13. Jameis Winston might get the headlines, but it is the Tampa Bay defense that will make if famous. Proved that again on Sunday.
Move over, Jameis Winston: Defense is leading the way in Buccaneers' surge
14. And now on to the rest of the league.
15. It is getting a little late for the assurances that the Seahawks always turn it around late in the season. Losing two of last three to playoff contenders not very reassuring.
16. Timing is everything and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels picked the right night to come up with the perfect game plan. Think the Rams were watching?
17. Just what we all hoped for when the day started … extra football from Jets at 49ers.
18. Cam Newton and coach Ron Rivera hugged after the national anthem. No report whether Rivera then tried to straighten Cam’s tie.
19. We will give Calais Campbell of the Cardinals the benefit of the doubt — because it is hard to tell if he was blocked into the quarterback — but this is the second bad “low hit” of a passer this season. Earlier, he was fined for doing it to Cam Newton; this time team he might have ended Tannehill’s season.
20. For the record, the Cincinnati Bengals were the first team to score in the early games. And Robert Griffin III had to play from behind before even touching the ball. Welcome back, RG3.
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21. The NFL was quick to take the air out of a FOX Sports report that the Giants complained to the league that the Steelers used underinflated balls last week. #deflategate2
22. After the NFL denial, Ted Wells was heard mumbling, “Bah, humbug.”
23. Andy Reid and Alex Smith get criticized for everything, it seems, and right now they are laughing their way to a first-round bye.
24. We’re not going too far out on the limb here to predict Pacman Jones won’t be having dinner with Terrelle Pryor any time soon. #ShotsFired
25. DeSean Jackson caught an 80-yard TD pass against the Eagles. And people in Philly had yet another reason to curse Chip Kelly.
26. So Jeff Triplette, who has more major blown calls over the years than we care to list here, added to his resume Sunday. He called a hands-to-the-face penalty against the Lions when it clearly was a Bears defensive lineman committing the violation. Can’t make it up.
27. And we are left to wonder why this guy still has a job.
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28. The start of the second half of Steelers-Bills was delayed because the snow blowers pulled the rubber pellets out of the turf. Used to “soften” the field, the pellets had to be removed from the surface.
29. No truth to the rumor Rex Ryan ordered the delay so he could extend his stay in Buffalo. Because the clock seems to be ticking on the Ryan brothers in Buffalo.
30. They’re renting planes with banners again in San Francisco. Twice last season, someone flew a plane over Levi’s Stadium critical of owner Jed York. This time the banner also aimed ire at general manager Trent Baalke: “Jed, You Reap What You Sow — Fire Baalke.”
31. Dez Bryant has had better trips to the New York City area. #captainobvious
32. Want to sum up the Bills' season in one series? Gain of 9 yards on first down, then QB sack (loss of 2 yards), Sammy Watkins drops a first-down pass on third-and-3. Punt.
33. The Texans’ victory was only their second in 15 games all-time in Indianapolis.
Bengals DBs on Terrelle Pryor: Trash
34. Tip of the helmet to Trey Burton of the Eagles. With the team out of long-snappers because of injury, he took a quick “lesson” on the sideline and came in to snap for what then was the go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter.
35. QB Matt Barkley is opening some eyes in Chicago. He has deserved better in at least two games and is proving to people he can play at this level.
36. The Ravens reminded us why we still don't believe they are playoff worthy. But John Harbaugh has surprised us before.
37. We beat up kickers enough in this space, so only fair to tip the helmet to Houston’s Nick Novak. He was 5-for-5 as the Texans stayed on top in the AFC South.
38. It is being lost in the throes of a season gone bad, but Cardinals RB David Johnson has had 13 consecutive games with 100 yards or more from scrimmage. That ties Edgerrin James' league record for most such games to start a season.
39. The Jacksonville Jaguars had 14 penalties for 114 in their loss to the Vikings. That’s not good.
40. Jeff Fisher. Didn't make it to Week 15, even though the Rams have a short week. Cold.
PHOTOS: Best of NFL Week 14
