Thursday Night - Miami Dolphins, 22, Cincinnati Bengals 20 (OT)
It was a see saw contest between the visiting Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins last night.
The Bengals seemed to be controlling the tempo of what seemed like a low-scoring affair early on, as the game approached halftime.
But then the Dolphins answered back, and began to not only score, but build up a sizable lead. They held a 10-3 lead in the third quarter, but the Bengals were driving and deep in Miami territory, seemingly about to score the tying touchdown, when Dalton threw a very horrible pass that wound up being a pick six going in the other direction. Suddenly, the Dolphins were up 17-3 and the game was beginning to look like a laugher.
Give the Bengals credit, though. They hung onto the ball for most of he second half, and really did seem to dictate the momentum, as they clawed their way back into it. First, with one touchdown to close the margin back to one possession, then another to tie it. And then, late in the fourth quarter, they were able to get a field goal that appeared to effectively seal the deal and secure a come from behind victory.
I will admit that I jumped the gun, and assumed it was over.
Not so fast! The Dolphins came all the way back, managing the very limited time nicely, to get a tying field goal and force the game into overtime.
And that was when the game got really unusual, because it ended in a very strange way, securing it as actually quite historic in it's own way.
The Bengals were pinned very deep in their own territory. So deep, that when Dalton dropped back to pass, he was in his own end zone. And wouldn't you know it - he got sacked for a safety that gave the Dolphins two points, and the ball game!
It was only the third time in NFL history that an overtime game ended on a safety like that!
A huge win for the Dolphins, as it keeps them more or less in the thick of it, not only in the playoff race, but also within the AFC East.
As for the Bengals, they squandered some opportunities and made a lot of mistakes last night. Ultimately, this cost them the game, which ended their impressive winning streak, as well as that sense that they were really pulling away with the AFC North lead, which they still possess, but suddenly, without as much of a comfort zone as they enjoyed going into last night's game.
Predictions
I like Carolina at home against the visiting Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons are, on paper, good enough to win. But Carolina is hot, and Atlanta, simply put, is not. Last year, this would have been a laugher in Atlanta's favor. But my, how the times have changed.
I don't see the Cowboys being upset by the Vikings, either. The 'Boys are coming off another tough, tight loss, and they are determined to win this one. It is not a game that they can afford to lose, either, since their lead in the NFC East is so narrow. Minnesota, in the meantime, played well last week against Green Bay, but fell short. On the road, against Dallas, I don't even see it being so close, frankly.
The Saints should beat up on the Jets, as well. The Jets might show something early, but the relentlessness of the Saints through sixty minutes will simply be too much - even way too much, and I don't see this one even being close, frankly. New York is trying to rebound from a humiliating road defeat, but the Saints are not the type of team that you want to have to rebound against.
Otherwise, I like Washington in a tight one over San Diego. The Rams should make a strong home stand against the Titans. No reason to think that Tampa Bay can make a serious run against Seattle on the road, so the Seahawks likely win big this weekend. Oakland should eke out a narrow victory over Philadelphia. The Patriots should add to the woes of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who if they do lose, would fall to an almost unthinkable record (for them) of 2-6 for this usually strong franchise. I think Cleveland finds a way to win at home against Baltimore, although frankly, I'm not sure. That one is a toss up, and I hate going against the defending Super Bowl champs, even if they have been far short of spectacular so far this season. Still, the Browns are overdue for a good season, and this one, despite recent woes, just might be it, still.
On Monday Night Football, the NFC North leading Packers will host the seemingly resurgent Chicago Bears. The thing with the Bears in recent years has been this: they get off to a hot start, and then cool off significantly towards the end. I can't say for sure that history will repeat itself, although things seem to be falling in place towards that scenario again this season, which means that things are beginning to look like they are falling apart in Chicago, with the injuries to quarterback Cutler, and less than dominant play from the rest of the team otherwise. Late season collapse or not, the Bears will not win at Lambeau on Monday Night.
Upsets? How about the Bills knocking off the unbeaten Chiefs? I know that some people might think that's crazy. But the Bills really are a better team than their record indicates, and they absolutely need this win. And the Chiefs, I fear, are not actually as good as their record indicates. I'm not saying that they are not good, just not quite that good, to be standing at 8-0. This weekend, they fall.
On Sunday Night Football, it will be a tough game for both teams in a divisional showdown. The Colts, who have looked incredible at times this season, and far less spectacular at others, will visit the Texans, who really, really need this win to entertain any lingering hopes of recovering enough to qualify fore the playoffs. If they lose this one, they are done for. And though I may be crazy, I will take the Texans, who started to pull themselves together on the road against unbeaten Kansas City, and who should be able to eliminate mistakes enough in this contest to keep this divisional race from becoming a laugher by the midseason point.
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