2019 NFL Week 15 Recap

By Rob Woodfork
December 16, 2019 | 2:17 AM

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) celebrates his touchdown pass to tight end Josh Hill, which broke the NFL record for career touchdown passes, surpassing Peyton Manning, in the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. — <b><i>Colts 7</i></b> <b><i>Saints 34</i></b> Who loves Monday nights more than Drew Brees? A year after setting the all-time passing yardage record against the Redskins on MNF, Brees claimed the all-time touchdown mark and the single-game completion percentage record (96.7%). Unlike Tom Brady, Brees looks like he's still got enough in the tank to carry New Orleans deep into the postseason.

Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, left, swaps his jersey with his brothers Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Terrell Edmunds, center, and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Trey Edmunds, right, following an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. The Bills won 17-10. — <b><i>Bills 17</i></b> <b><i>Steelers 10</i></b> Buffalo, in just their second appearance on Sunday Night Football and first since 2007, clinched its second playoff berth in three years and first 10-win season in 20 years. But that wasn't the biggest drought that ended in Pittsburgh: <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/11/edmunds-brothers-will-be-first-brother-trio-to-play-in-same-nfl-game-since-1927/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Edmunds brothers' family reunion</a> was the first of its kind in 92 years and one of <a href="https://www.wgrz.com/article/sports/edmunds-brothers-make-nfl-history-as-they-face-each-other-on-sunday-night-football/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the greatest stories</a> of the weekend.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS — DEC. 15: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 15, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. — <b><i>Rams 21</i></b> <b><i>Cowboys 44</i></b> Knowing full well Philadelphia won in Washington, and with <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/11/jason-garrett-meets-wade-phillips-again-sunday/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wade Phillips back in Dallas</a> for revenge, the Cowboys put together their best win of the year — and only victory over a team with a winning record. Both of these teams are woefully underachieving, but L.A.'s payroll and star power makes it a massive disappointment they're likely to miss the postseason.

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA — DEC. 15: Wide receiver Julio Jones #11 of the Atlanta Falcons and team celebrate the fourth quarter touchdown over the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 15, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. — <b><i>Falcons 29</i></b> <b><i>49ers 22</i></b> Kyle Shanahan couldn't complete the sweep of his former teams but still clinched his first playoff berth as a head coach thanks to the Rams' no-show in Dallas. The Niners better hope for another Rams no-show when they play in San Fran Sunday, or else the regular season-finale in Seattle will be moot.

CARSON, CA — DEC. 15: Middle linebacker Eric Kendricks #54 of the Minnesota Vikings forces a fumble by running back Austin Ekeler #30 of the Los Angeles Chargers, allowing defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo, #95, of the Minnesota Vikings to grab the ball and run for a touchdown in the second quarter of the game at Dignity Health Sports Park on Dec. 15, 2019 in Carson, California. — <b><i>Vikings 39</i></b> <b><i>Chargers 10</i></b> L.A. somehow managed to turn the ball over seven (7!) times to a Vikings team sporting a 1-6 record in the Mountain and Pacific time zones under coach Mike Zimmer. Philip Rivers looks done and Anthony Lynn might be too if he doesn't give Tyrod Taylor a chance to show what's he's got in the Chargers' final two games.

Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake (41) runs for his fourth touchdown of the game during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. — <b><i>Browns 24</i></b> <b><i>Cardinals 38</i></b> <a href="https://wtop.com/national/2019/12/ap-exclusive-thousands-of-ohio-absentee-applications-denied/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kenyan Drake's monster game</a> somewhat overshadowed the duel between the NFL's last two No. 1 overall picks in what was likely Larry Fitzgerald's final game in Arizona. Because, you know, <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/11/kliff-kingsbury-to-pitch-larry-fitzgerald-on-2020-return/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kliff Kingsbury's pitch to keep Fitz</a> probably won't include him stepping down as head coach. Speaking of which, <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001087466/article/browns-still-supporting-firstyear-coach-freddie-kitchens" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleveland's commitment to Freddie Kitchens</a> should get everyone in that building fired. The Browns clinched their 12th straight non-winning season despite coming into this season amid expectations every bit as big as their talk. It's almost as if Cleveland is saying "hold my beer" in response to the Redskins' chronic dysfunction.

Players go up for a pass thrown by Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr late in the second half of an NFL football game between the Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Jacksonville won the game 20-16. — <b><i>Jaguars 20</i></b> <b><i>Raiders 16</i></b> <a href="https://www.raiders.com/video/nfl-100-greatest-no-17-the-sea-of-hands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sea of Hands</a> didn't happen in Oakland one last time, as the Raiders lost their final game at Oakland Coliseum thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1206371703007383552?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gardner Minshew's late-game heroics</a> amid <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/15/gardner-minshew-i-saw-more-middle-fingers-in-oakland-than-i-had-in-my-whole-life/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a sea of fingers</a>. The Silver and Black's Bay Area bye-bye may have sucked but Minshew Magic certainly does not.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Greg Ward (84) catches a touchdown pass beating out Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (24) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Landover, Md. Eagles won 37-27. — <b><i>Eagles 37</i></b> <b><i>Redskins 27</i></b> Boy, where do I start? Adrian Peterson <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1206316694660165632?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">solidifying his case for the Hall of Fame</a>. Dwayne Haskins and Terry McLaurin having breakout games with Urban Meyer in the owner's box. The <a href="https://www.si.com/gambling/2019/12/15/eagles-redskins-last-second-td-bad-beats-nfl-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bad beat</a> to end all bad beats. But while people laud the Redskins for playing the Eagles close in a game that meant everything to Philly and nothing to Old D.C., I'm calling out Josh Norman — the league's highest-paid corner finally on the field after weeks on the bench — for getting torched for the game-winning touchdown by a guy cut six times and then <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28308702/got-play-cards-dealt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talking nonsense in the aftermath</a>. If I'm Meyer, I'm not touching this gig and if I'm the NFL, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/dan-wolken/2019/12/15/urban-meyer-not-fit-nfl-coaching-job-skills-do-not-translate/2657883001/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I'm not touching Meyer</a>.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) runs off the field during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. — <b><i>Dolphins 20</i></b> <b><i>Giants 36</i></b> His three picks aside, Eli's farewell was <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28306976/eli-manning-gets-special-win-giants-likely-final-home-start" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a helluva send-off</a> for a guy with a career .500 record and was really the catalyst for only one of the two Super Bowl runs he was a part of. Yeah, I said it.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA — DEC. 15: Luke Kuechly #59 of the Carolina Panthers goes after Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. — <b><i>Seahawks 30</i></b> <b><i>Panthers 24</i></b> Seattle went from <a href="https://twitter.com/BradyHenderson/status/1203943076772761600" target="_blank" rel="noopener">falling off their high horse</a> to becoming the first team in 41 years to win 10 one-score games in a season en route to their first 11-win season since their 2014 Super Bowl campaign. If the Seahawks lock up homefield advantage, they're almost certain to make a return trip.

New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) runs in a touchdown off an interception in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Cincinnati. — <b><i>Patriots 34</i></b> <b><i>Bengals 13</i></b> New England certainly didn't need to cheat to beat Cincinnati, posting their highest scoring output since Week 6 and clinching a playoff berth for the 11th straight season. But of course, that won't stop the NFL from dragging the Patriots through <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/15/spygate-2-investigation-closer-to-beginning-than-end/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">another ridiculously-named investigation</a> into something blown completely out of proportion.

Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers runs for a first down during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Green Bay, Wis. — <b><i>Bears 13</i></b> <b><i>Packers 21</i></b> In the 200th meeting between these storied rivals, Green Bay clinched a playoff berth at Chicago's expense, sweeping the regular season series for seventh time in the last 11 seasons and 15th time in the last 26 years. The Bears have a lot to answer for.

KANSAS CITY, MO — DEC. 15: Juan Thornhill #22 of the Kansas City Chiefs intercepts a Denver Broncos pass in the end zone during the third quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 15, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. — <b><i>Broncos 3</i></b> <b><i>Chiefs 23</i></b> Drew Lock’s homecoming had him seeing red … red jerseys pummeling him in Kansas City's best defensive performance of the season to sweep Denver by a combined score of 53-9 and keep the Chiefs in position to grab the 2-seed in the AFC. Considering how much <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/15/patrick-mahomes-is-2-0-in-the-snow-and-hes-hoping-for-more/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Patrick Mahomes likes to play in the snow</a>, that'll mean something.

DETROIT, MI — DEC. 15: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drops back to pass during the first quarter of the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Dec. 15, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Tampa Bay defeated Detroit 38-17. — <b><i>Bucs 38</i></b> <b><i>Lions 17</i></b> I’m done calling Jameis Winston “The Human Turnover.” After <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1206337386420097026?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the NFL's first</a> back-to-back 450-yard, 4-TD games (but still tossing four picks the last two weeks), he’s now "<a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/09/jameis-winston-could-lead-the-league-in-both-touchdowns-and-interceptions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Great Equalizer</a>.”

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson scrambles against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, in Baltimore. On the run, Jackson broke the single season record for most rush yards by a quarterback in NFL history. — <b><i>Jets 21</i></b> <b><i>Ravens 42</i></b> In the last Thursday night game of the season, Lamar Jackson made what figures to be his closing statement for MVP by leading Baltimore to back-to-back AFC North titles with his third 5-TD performance of the season, and oh by the way, set the new single-season rushing record by a QB. No matter what <a href="https://twitter.com/TomBrady/status/1205308052880134144" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/TomBrady/status/1205308052880134144&source=gmail&ust=1576354544581000&usg=AFQjCNEgKmzvL4DLpwCeV6iGqCPsVQzxVw">Tom Brady tweets</a>, he can't catch Jackson and the Ravens — literally or figuratively.

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Bad beats, good home finales and a rare on-field family reunion highlight the NFL Week 15 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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