Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Game Balls and Penalty Flags- Week 12

As we head to December, 17 of 32 teams are still in the playoff race, just what the NFL was hoping for. Green Bay has an oh-fer in the loss column and Indy has an oh-fer in the win column. Both teams head to December looking like those 0's can remain.

GAME BALLS

Laurent Robinson, WR Dallas: The journeyman from Illinois State has been a great fill-in for Miles Austin as he hauled in seven passes for 79 yards and two scores as the Cowboys are the hottest team south of Wisconsin.

Ravens Defense: Baltimore sacked San Francisco QB Alex Smith a franchise record tying nine times despite playing without LB Ray Lewis, the team's leading tackler and vocal leader.

Matt Ryan, QB Atlanta: Ryan has struggled most of the year, but came out of his shell playing against a tough Vikings defensive line going 27 of 34 for 262 yards and three TDs as the Falcons try to keep pace with New Orleans.

A.J. Green, WR Cincinnati: The rookie made a leaping catch for a 51 yard gain in the final minute to set up a field goal that rallied the Bengals to a 23-20 victory over the Browns to keep Cincy in playoff contention.

A.J. Yates, QB Houston: He just gets a game ball for being the first Houston QB in two weeks to walk off the field not hurt. Next week may be another story. Good Luck Yates.

Patrick Peterson, CB Arizona: Peterson tied the NFL record with his fourth punt return for a touchdown this season as the Cardinals won their seventh in a row in St. Louis with a 23-20 victory.

Oakland Special Teams: K Sebastian Janikowski kicked a team-record six field goals, P Shane Lechler had an 80-yard punt and neutralized star returner Devin Hester as the Raiders took out the Bears 25-20.

Drew Brees, QB New Orleans: Brees passed for 363 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score as the Saints rolled to a 49-24 victory over the Giants.

PENALTY FLAGS

Ndamukong Suh, DE Detroit: He was tossed for stomping on Packer's OL Evan Dietrich-Smith's right arm in the third quarter. Suh claimed he didn't intentionally step on the Dietrich-Smith with his foot, saying he was just trying to separate himself from the situation. Not good for a guy who already has a rep as a dirty player.

Browns Special Teams: For the second time in three games, a botched snap cost Cleveland a chance to take a late lead. Phil Dawson was short on a 55-yard try with just under two minutes left after the snap skipped along the ground, giving Cincinnati a chance to win the game, which they did.

Indianapolis Colts: The Colts probable lone chance to win this season against Carolina was all for not as they dropped to 0-11 for the first time since 1986 and have lost six home games in a season for the sixth time in the Indianapolis era.

Stevie Johnson, WR Buffalo: Not for the TD dance, but for dropping the game winning TD not once but twice. This was a game the Bills needed and their star wide out failed his team when they needed him most.

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