On a solemn Sunday afternoon in Denver, Dre’Mont Jones made plenty of noise in the Broncos’ matchup with the Detroit Lions.
The Denver Broncos started the game by honoring the life of former receiver Demaryius Thomas, who died on Thursday.
Wow. What a special moment.
— RK (@RyanKoenigsberg) December 12, 2021
pic.twitter.com/6ho4xfbNme
When the game resumed, Jones continued his assault on opposing teams’ backfields. This week, it was Jared Goff and the Lions who experienced his wrath. Especially during the Lions' second series of the second half.
On first down, Jones sacked Goff for a nine-yard loss. On second down, Jones dropped running back Godwin Igwebuike for a three-yard tackle for loss. Following a 20-yard pass completion, the Lions went for it on 4th-and-2 from their own 33-yard line. Jones knocked down Goff's pass attempt.
The Lions go for it on 4th and 2.
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) December 12, 2021
Guess who.
Dre'Mont Jones pic.twitter.com/BWZS6yY4Zn
What did the big fella have to say about the impressive series?
Dre'Mont Jones couldn't be stopped pic.twitter.com/CptRjpWyaK
— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR__Broncos) December 13, 2021
Jones has recorded at least one sack in back-to-back games and his inspired play led Denver to a 38-10 win. The Broncos host the Cincinnati Bengals next weekend in a battle of 7-6 teams with major playoff implications.
Ward for the win
With Lamar Jackson knocked out of the game and the Cleveland Browns leading 24-6 at halftime, the Dawg Pound faithful might have expected to cruise to a victory over the hated Baltimore Ravens. A torrent of fourth quarter scoring by John Harbaugh's squad and a recovered onside kick put the anticipated favorable outcome in serious doubt.
Enter Denzel Ward. With a minute remaining in the game, Baltimore faced fourth-and-six from its own 45-yard line. Tyler Huntley, in at quarterback for the injured Jackson, found Mark Andrews, but Ward laid the tight end out four yards short of the first down marker. Game over.
Denzel Ward makes the game-sealing tackle for the Browns. pic.twitter.com/eI45ZAerI6
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 12, 2021
The stop on Andrews wasn't Ward's only big stop of the afternoon. Below you will see him decleating Devonta Freeman.
@denzelward #Browns https://t.co/QzumaX4UNj
— L.V. (@AkronLV) December 13, 2021
With their playoff hopes also hanging in the balance, the Browns will host the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday.
For whom the Bell trolls
The end of the first half did not go the way of the Cincinnati Bengals. A muffed punt return gave the San Francisco 49ers great field position with 57 seconds on the clock. The Bengals' defense did a decent job and appeared to have held the 49ers to a field goal attempt. However, Vonn Bell was called for a costly taunting penalty. Following an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-long, Bell was flagged for pointing at 49ers center Alex Mack as the defensive back excitedly raced back to the line of scrimmage.
Vonn Bell got hit with a taunting flag for this pic.twitter.com/oknTgC1Yja
— Hookah Doncic (@MasterTes) December 12, 2021
Given new life, Jimmy Garoppolo connected with tight end George Kittle on the very next play for a 14-yard touchdown. Instead of having a chance to possibly lead at the half, Cincinnati entered the break down 17-6.
Joe Burrow brought the Bengals back in the second half by targeting Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase. Burrow hooked up with Chase for two fourth-quarter touchdowns that were instrumental in extending the game to overtime. It appeared Burrow had atoned for Bell's costly taunting penalty when the quarterback from Athens, Ohio, led Cincinnati to a field goal on the opening drive of the extra period.
Garoppolo answered as the 49ers converted several third downs on their way to a game-winning 12-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk to prevent the Bengals from taking the lead in the AFC North.
Bell finished the day with a team-high 10 tackles and also broke up two passes and caused a fumble.
Bosa punishes Prince
A key reason why Burrow and the Bengals had to settle for a field goal in overtime was because of Nick Bosa blowing by Isaiah Prince. Bosa has free reign to decide which side of the line he wants to charge from. After Prince entered the game, Bosa continually chose to pressure from his former Ohio State teammate's side. The decision proved pivotal as the Pro Bowl defensive end dropped Burrow on 3rd-and-3 from inside the 49ers' 20-yard line. The stop forced Cincinnati to send Evan McPherson on for a field goal rather than going for a touchdown.
Nick Bosa.#ProBowlVote
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 13, 2021
CBS pic.twitter.com/ryzhc05zwa
Bosa had two sacks on Sunday, both against Prince, and is tied for the NFC lead with 14 sacks for the season.
Big bear sack
Not to be outdone by his little brother, Joey Bosa had a sack of his own. The L.A. Chargers' defensive end blew past Nate Solder and knocked the ball out of Mike Glennon's hands for his fourth strip sack of the season.
STRIP SACK #ProBowlVote + @jbbigbear#ProBowlVote + @Twenty7Savage
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 12, 2021
(: fox) pic.twitter.com/0ZQBZnexpC
Bosa has recorded five sacks in the last six games and has 8.5 sacks for the season. However, the teabag drop dance he unleashed after his sack against the Giants was a first. Doesn't seem fair that Bell was flagged for taunting, but Bosa wasn't penalized for this tawdry celebration.
Bayou Buckeyes
Nick Vannett led the New Orleans Saints with 44 receiving yards and was second on the team with three receptions. Marshon Lattimore had a team-high two passes broken up and was the Saints’ second-leading tackler with five stops in their 30-9 victory over the New York Jets.
Catchless in D.C.
Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel combined for zero catches and zero yards in the Washington Football Team’s 27-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. McLaurin was targeted four times and Samuel twice, but neither receiver was able to come down with a catch, marking the first time Scary Terry has gone without a reception in his 42-game NFL career.
McLaurin had to leave the game in the second half after landing on his head and suffering a concussion.
Terry McLaurin came down HARD on this deep jump ball from Heinicke.
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) December 12, 2021
He's slow to get up. Hope that's just being winded and isn't something more serious like a rib or collarbone. #WashingtonFootball pic.twitter.com/9GHIe4fDYr
What makes the injury worse? Curtis Samuel was wide open on the sideline and Taylor Heinicke still decided to force the ball into double coverage, resulting in McLaurin’s injury.
Elflein gives Newton unintentional lesson on gravity
Pat Elflein trips up Cam Newton, and the exchange is fumbled for a turnover. pic.twitter.com/PDVis92jII
— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) December 12, 2021
The game-changing trip occurred with the Carolina Panthers trailing 20-14 around the midpoint of the third quarter. The Atlanta Falcons capitalized on Pat Elflein’s gaffe and extended their lead to 26-14.
Following the 29-21 loss, Cam Newton has lost 11 straight games as Carolina's starting quarterback.
EZ does it
Ezekiel Elliott's bum knee has been a cause for concern. For the fifth straight game, Elliott was held to under fifty yards rushing. Dallas Cowboys' head coach, Mike McCarthy, acknowledged limiting his star running back after seeing him take a shot.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy on RB Ezekiel Elliotts usage: That was me being conservative. I saw him take the shot right to the knee. He was fine. That was more me being cautious. pic.twitter.com/4oiXrzOsMz
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) December 12, 2021
With concerns about Elliott's health on McCarthy's mind, the coach couldn't have been too pleased to see the talented back come off of the sideline to stick up for his quarterback.
#Cowboys RT Lael Collins was ejected for going after Washington DE William Bradley-King. Collins and Ezekiel Elliott didnt like the hit QB Dak Prescott took on this play. pic.twitter.com/qvJQnOl77m
— ProFootballChase (@pfootballchase) December 12, 2021
Vrabel versus Meyer
Mike Vrabel was the defensive line coach for Urban Meyer's first two Ohio State teams. On Sunday, the two faced off for the second time as opposing NFL coaches.
The Tennessee Titans and Vrabel's defense dominated Meyer's Jacksonville Jaguars. The team from Florida was limited to eight carries for eight yards. For those limited with math skills, that's one yard per carry. Not good.
When the clock hit zero, Vrabel’s team had defeated Meyer’s team 20-0. Vrabel has outscored his old boss 57-19 in the two games this season, and Meyer was in no mood for a conversation after Sunday’s game.
Cannot stop watching Urban Meyer soullessly shake hands with Mike Vrabel and just sort of wander off with a blank look on his face pic.twitter.com/VtYX2swqay
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) December 12, 2021
It appears the rumors about the icy relationship between Vrabel and Meyer might possess some truth.
Fields' Lambeau Field first
After missing the last two games with banged-up ribs, Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears faced the not-so-frozen tundra of Lambeau Field on Sunday. The rookie quarterback and the Bears' special teams had Chicago in a position to upset Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers with a 27-21 lead at halftime.
Bears back on top! Justin Fields 54 yards to Byrd for the touchdown! pic.twitter.com/wiGAwzqL9J
— TopFan (@TopFanTV) December 13, 2021
Unfortunately for the team from the Windy City, things went south after Green Bay's 75-yard scoring drive in the third quarter. On the Bears' ensuing drive, Fields fumbled and the Packers converted the turnover into another touchdown and a 35-27 lead.
The Chicago Bears put on a late charge, but were unable to overcome Fields' three turnovers, including a pick-six, and the early second half deficit. The Bears fell to 4–9 after the 45-30 loss, in which Fields completed 18 of 33 passing attempts for 224 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions and ran the ball nine times for a team-high 74 yards.
| PLAYER | POS | TEAM | WEEK 14 STATS | SEASON STATS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELI APPLE | CB | BENGALS | 3 tackles, 1 PBU | 39 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 INT, 7 PBU, 1 FR |
| DAMON ARNETTE | CB | RAIDERS | Released | 4 tackles, 1 PBU |
| JEROME BAKER | LB | DOLPHINS | Bye | 67 tackles, 1 sack (10 yards), 4 TFL, 9 QBH, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 1 FF |
| VONN BELL | S | BENGALS | 10 tackles, 2 PBU, 1 FF | 81 tackles, 1 sack (12 yards), 5 TFL, 1 QBH, 5 PBU, 3 FF, 1 FR |
| TUF BORLAND | LB | VIKINGS | Played on special teams | 1 game played |
| JOEY BOSA | DE | CHARGERS | 1 tackle, 1 sack (8 yards), 4 QBH, 1 FF | 37 tackles, 8.5 sacks (58 yards), 4 TFL, 19 QBH, 5 FF |
| NICK BOSA | DE | 49ERS | 3 tackles, 2 sacks (12 yards), 2 TFL, 2 QBH | 42 tackles, 14 sacks (114 yards), 18 TFL, 28 QBH, 1 PBU, 3 FF |
| NOAH BROWN | WR | COWBOYS | IR (groin) | 14 catches, 157 yards |
| BARON BROWNING | LB | BRONCOS | 3 tackles, 1 TFL | 34 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 QBH, 1 PBU |
| PARRIS CAMPBELL | WR | COLTS | Bye | 10 catches, 162 yards, 1 TD |
| JONATHON COOPER | LB | BRONCOS | 5 tackles, 1 FR | 27 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 TFL, 5 QBH, 1 FR |
| WYATT DAVIS | OG | VIKINGS | DNP | 5 games played |
| TAYLOR DECKER | OT | LIONS | Started at LT | 5 starts |
| J.K. DOBBINS | RB | RAVENS | IR (knee) | |
| NATE EBNER | DB | GIANTS | IR (knee) | 2 tackles |
| PAT ELFLEIN | C | PANTHERS | Started at C | 6 starts |
| EZEKIEL ELLIOTT | RB | COWBOYS | 12 rushes, 45 yards; 1 catch, 15 yards | 185 rushes, 810 yards, 8 TD; 41 catches, 245 yards |
| LUKE FARRELL | TE | JAGUARS | Played | 6 catches, 49 yards |
| JUSTIN FIELDS | QB | BEARS | 18/33 passing, 224 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT; 9 rushes, 74 yards | 133/231 passing, 1,585 yards, 6 TD, 10 INT; 56 rushes, 311 yards, 1 TD |
| JORDAN FULLER | S | RAMS | 6 tackles | 96 tackles, 2 TFL, 4 PBU |
| DaVON HAMILTON | DT | JAGUARS | 4 tackles | 27 tackles, 1 sack (12 yards), 1 TFL, 2 QBH, 1 PBU |
| JOHNATHAN HANKINS | DT | RAIDERS | 4 tackles | 32 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QBH, 1 PBU |
| MALIK HARRISON | LB | RAVENS | Played on special teams | 21 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QBH |
| DWAYNE HASKINS | QB | STEELERS | Inactive | |
| CAMERON HEYWARD | DT | STEELERS | 6 tackles, 1 TFL | 67 tackles, 6.5 sacks (43.5 yards), 6 TFL, 10 QBH, 1 INT, 6 PBU, 1 FF, 1 FR |
| JUSTIN HILLIARD | LB | GIANTS | IR (ankle) | 2 games played |
| JALYN HOLMES | DE | SAINTS | 2 tackles | 11 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 PBU |
| MALIK HOOKER | S | COWBOYS | 2 tackles | 26 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD |
| SAM HUBBARD | DE | BENGALS | 2 tackles, 3 QBH | 53 tackles, 7.5 sacks (32.0 yards), 11 TFL, 16 QBH, 3 PBU, 2 FR |
| CARLOS HYDE | RB | JAGUARS | 1 rush, 2 yards; 1 catch, 6 yards | 72 rushes, 253 yards, 1 TD; 12 catches, 65 yards |
| JONAH JACKSON | OG | LIONS | Started at LG | 13 starts |
| MALCOLM JENKINS | S | SAINTS | 3 tackles, 1 QBH | 62 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QBH, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 1 TD |
| CAMERON JOHNSTON | P | TEXANS | 5 punts, 229 yards, 45.8 avg, 1 inside 20 | 71 punts, 46.8 avg, 29 inside 20 |
| DRE'MONT JONES | DT | BRONCOS | 3 tackles, 2 sacks (17 yards), 3 TFL, 2 QBH, 1 PBU | 28 tackles, 5.5 sacks (37.5 yards), 9 TFL, 10 QBH, 2 PBU, 2 FF |
| JAMARCO JONES | OT | SEAHAWKS | IR (back) | 1 start, 7 games played |
| MICHAEL JORDAN | OG | PANTHERS | Inactive | 6 starts, 7 games played |
| MARSHON LATTIMORE | CB | SAINTS | 5 tackles, 2 PBU | 53 tackles, 2 INT, 15 PBU |
| TYQUAN LEWIS | DT | COLTS | Bye | 15 tackles, 2.5 sacks (3.5 yards), 3 TFL, 6 QBH, 1 INT, 2 PBU |
| COREY LINSLEY | C | CHARGERS | Started at C | 13 starts |
| TERRY McLAURIN | WR | WFT | 0 catches | 54 catches, 735 yards, 5 TD |
| RAEKWON McMILLAN | LB | PATRIOTS | Bye | |
| JAKE McQUAIDE | LS | COWBOYS | Played at LS | 1 tackle |
| JOSH MYERS | C | PACKERS | IR (knee) | 5 starts |
| ANDREW NORWELL | OL | JAGUARS | Started at LG | 12 starts |
| JEFF OKUDAH | CB | LIONS | IR (leg) | 4 tackles, 1 PBU |
| BILLY PRICE | C | GIANTS | Started at C | 12 starts |
| ISAIAH PRINCE | OT | BENGALS | Played at RT | 12 games played |
| BRADLEY ROBY | CB | SAINTS | 1 tackle | 18 tackles, 1 sack (7 yards), 2 TFL, 3 QBH, 1 INT, 4 PBU |
| CURTIS SAMUEL | WR | WFT | 0 catches | 5 catches, 18 yards, 2 rushes, -1 yard |
| TREY SERMON | RB | 49ERS | IR (ankle) | 31 rushes, 136 yards; 1 catch, 23 yards; 1 FC, 2 tackles |
| KENDALL SHEFFIELD | CB | FALCONS | Played on special teams | 5 games played |
| MICHAEL THOMAS | WR | SAINTS | PUP (ankle) | |
| TOMMY TOGIAI | DT | BROWNS | Inactive | 2 tackles |
| NICK VANNETT | TE | SAINTS | 3 catches, 44 yards | 8 catches, 123 yards, 1 TD |
| SHAUN WADE | CB | PATRIOTS | Bye | 2 games played |
| DENZEL WARD | CB | BROWNS | 5 tackles | 34 tackles, 0.5 sack (2 yards), 2 QBH, 2 INT, 8 PBU, 1 TD |
| PETE WERNER | LB | SAINTS | Inactive | 41 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 QBH |
| CHASE YOUNG | DE | WFT | IR (knee) | 26 tackles, 2 sacks (7 yards), 4 TFL, 4 QBH, 1 PBU, 2 FF |
