Week 15 NFL This Week

Hello and welcome to NFL This Week.

Under a week now until Christmas

Day, and a crucial period

in the race for the playoffs.

But despite such a busy schedule,

at least Patriots coach

Bill Bellichick finds time to get

into the Christmas spirit.

REPORTER:

True or false.

Bill Belichick goes

carolling every year?

I love carolling.

Jingle Bells sung by

Bill Bellichick, coming to porch

near you in New England.

Can you imagine opening your door

and Bill Belichick is

singing a carol to you?

He seems so happy!

Joining me once again,

our two-time Super Bowl winner

Osi Umenyiora and former NFL

cornerback Jason Bell.

Right, let's look at how the playoff

picture looked coming into week 15.

Pittsburgh and New England face

each other this week.

A New England win would take them

back to number one seed due

to their head-to-head record.

Jacksonville had the opportunity

to confirm a playoff place.

But behind them, Buffalo,

Baltimore and the LA

Chargers are all tied on seven

and six and have playoff hopes.

The Eagles are NFC East

divisional champions,

but a win this week would secure

them a first-round bye that

comes from being either

the number one or two seed.

Behind them, it's so close,

but two teams to pick out

here are the LA Rams

and Seattle Seahawks,

who play each other this week

in what is a must-win game

at the top of the NFC West.

So, New England vs Pittsburgh -

they don't get much

bigger than this.

Two of the most successful NFL teams

in history fighting it out once

again to be the AFC number one seed.

This is strictly A-listers only.

This is where Super Bowl

royalty hangs out.

The Steelers' six Super Bowl titles

against the Patriots' five.

Headline acts in every shirt.

Even when they do not

speak, they are news.

The Belichick stare that can turn

a journalist to ice at 50 paces.

This is regular season,

but this is for rules the AFC.

This is just another week

of football, but this

is Brady against Ben,

Gronk and Brown, Cooks and Bell.

The fuse is lit.

Get ready to win this game!

COMMENTATOR: 2nd & goal,

and another touchdown.

This is something that has been

a regular happening for Burkhead

here in the last few weeks.

We see a great block by Devlin.

The fullback right there creating

the hole, and Burkhead just

a touchdown machine when they get

inside the red zone.

1st down, shotgun.

And there is the 100th catch

of the season for Antonio Brown.

Now from the 18, new set of downs.

Now from the 18, new set of downs.

Rosters Berger completes it, and

that is touchdown.

Completes it, that's Rodgers!

Ben has the option to hand it

off, but he keeps it

and throws it up the middle.

What a perfect throw,

right over the stretch of Rowe.

2nd & 18, fakes the handoff.

Looks for another option.

Bounces back, throws,

in the end zone.

Incomplete.

Oh, there was traffic

there, and so, too,

was Antonio Brown, whose injured.

Let's see his legs.

Oh, yeah, he gets kicked

right in that left calf.

Being escorted to the sideline

by the medical crew.

STUDIO: With Antonio Brown's game

over, Chris Boswell's 51 yard field

goal gave the Steelers

a 3-point lead.

The Patriots quickly cancelled that

out, Stephen Gostkowski's 32-yard

field goal tying the game at 10-10

on their next possession.

COMMENTATOR: Big play

here, back to the field.

For five wide, what will they do?

3rd & goal, he lobs it over

the top and is reeled in.

What a catch by Bryant

for the touchdown!

You can see Martavis

Bryant right here.

He's got Gilmore in his face,

come across the field,

he's shallow and Ben

floats away over.

And he holds that, see that left

wrist holding that hand down?

You'd better catch the ball

when you only use one hand,

but what a root and catch.

Now 3rd & goal.

Brady, throws it for

the touchdown to Cooks.

Watch him step up in

the pocket, and Cooks gets

inside leverage on him.

What a throw?

To throw that that tightly.

This is a big point, needs some

yards for a field goal at least.

And they've been great on 3rd down

so far, seven out of nine,

so they need to pick up ten

on this one.

Incomplete.

Bell wrestled down after

the incompletion by Richards,

and the crowd didn't like it,

but there'll be plenty.

Can Pittsburgh get a pass?

They got to 'em,

and it's intercepted!

It's Williams who finally

was able to pull it in.

The pressure was on Brady.

He had to upload it,

and he's picked off for the first

time in 12 years against Pittsburgh.

It's Bell.

He cuts back and he's

in for the touchdown.

Le'Veon Bell for the Steelers.

Great run.

Look at Roberts.

Go get the ball!

Go get the ball!

He had an angle for him,

and you see he just shot the gap.

Linebacker, 52, Roberts,

and Bell out runs him.

STUDIO: Gostkowski's 46 yard field

goal cut the Patriots' deficit

to five points with four minutes

left in the game.

COMMENTATOR: He's going

to move Smith-Schuster

around to the right side.

Across the middle.

Patriots there to defend it,

and stop them short.

A yard short.

A little high drama.

2:06 to play.

It was passed, almost intercepted.

Could have been a game ender had

Sean Davis held onto it.

The ball was deflected,

looks like Hayward got a hand on it.

Oh, my gosh, Sean Davis,

to win the football game.

Pressure on Rhodes, got

Gronkowski at the 50.

1st & 10, Patriots from their 49.

Brady down the field,

and there is Gronk.

That is Gronk's sixth

catch of the half.

Over 100 yards alone in this half,

eight for the game, 151,

you saw his hulk reaction,

and they are fired up.

He got about halfway

there with that catch.

Brady's going to call the play

to the line of scrimmage now.

He's got the coverage.

Here is the 1st down throw.

And off the ground,

Gronkowski, it is a catch,

and he strikes the pose again.

The Steelers have one left.

There is Lewis, and he's

in for the touchdown.

With 56 seconds to go,

the Patriots have taken the lead.

I think they're going to go for two.

They should go for two here.

This could make the margin three

if they convert the two.

It is a fade right here

if he is one-on-one.

Are they going to go double?

Tom's looking at the safety.

The double again wide open,

Gronk pulls it down for the two.

Look at that.

Never a doubt that was where

Brady was going to look.

The midfield slant,

Sean Davis just off balance.

And now the Steelers

will have 56 seconds.

Across the middle, Smith-Schuster

running across that side,

taking as much as he can.

But he breaks away.

Now he cuts it up the middle.

Still on his feet,

looking for some help.

Inside the 15, and all the way

to the 10-yard line.

Time out if you're Pittsburgh,

time-out Pittsburgh!

69 yards.

This is incredible.

It is a crossing route,

and he comes underneath real

flat, and he gets away.

Richard Smith Tim.

And he just kept running,

and the rookie, I can't

believe that happened.

And of course, two last time out

with 34 seconds to go.

To the end zone.

Touchdown Pittsburgh!

Jesse James, two plays,

they take in the distance.

Are they looking at the football,

possibly losing control?

Oh, that's what it is, Jim.

They don't think he caught it.

Does he maintain control right here?

He's got to maintain possession.

Does that bobble?

REFEREE:

After reviewing the play,

the receiver in the end zone

did not survive the ground.

It is an incomplete pass.

Oh, my goodness!

Unbelievable.

REFEREE:

2nd down and ten

at the 10-yard line.

2nd & goal.

New England is going

to come after them.

They can't, they've got to get

out of there, right?

They are coming.

I know.

They are coming, they shake it off,

trying to get to the sideline.

He in play.

Don't clock it.

You are going to go

ahead and throw it.

Take your time, snap it

with nine or eight seconds.

He is telling them to fade.

There he goes,

running down the play.

He fires, and it is intercepted!

It is intercepted to save the game!

And the Patriots are going to win

it, absolutely amazing.

You have to throw a fade right

there, but it went inside.

That was Rowe who batted

it into the air.

New England wins it 27-24.

That was a lot of fun. It goes back

and forth, and you play right to the

end, and the ball bounces in weird

ways, I'm glad it bounced our way

today.

We are not going to go back

and say anything against anybody, we

lost a game.

Very competitive game,

and our guys just kept battling, and

in the end, we were able to make

enough plays to win.

You can see how

his demeanour changes. What a

remarkable end to the game. Let's

just look at this Jesse James catch

that wasn't.

The NFL put out on Twitter this clip

with senior VP of officiating

Al Riveron explaining why

it was not a touchdown.

Hello everyone. I just wanted to

review a play that happened in the

very exciting New England and

Pittsburgh game today. As we can see

here, Roethlisberger completes a

Pastor James who is going to ground

as he reaches the goal-line, and

that is the key here. By rule, to

complete the process of the catch,

he must survive the ground, and by

that we mean he must maintain

control of the football. As we see

her, he does put the ball over the

goal line, but once he gets there,

he loses control of the football and

then the ball hits the ground. So

therefore two things occur. He loses

control of the football, and the

ball touches the ground prior to him

regaining control. Therefore the

ruling on the field of a touchdown

was changed to an incomplete pass.

Thank goodness he put the arrow on

to point out where the ball was(!)

Was that a robot? It sounded like

one of those machine voices!

Joking aside. That wouldn't happen

in our football. Decisions don't

often get its planes to us by the

people involved.

By the robots

involved!

But that at least opens up to the

fans and it splendid, so if you are

going to complain about what

happened at the end of that, it is

the rule that is the problem.

It is

the rule that is the problem, and

there are so many discrepancies as

to what is a catch, what is the

catch, was this a touchdown, was

this not?

Would you just accept it?

The rule is clear. It made a tonne

of sense. Obviously you question,

did he break the plane, what

happened? I think players now need

to adjust to that than understand

what the rules are. Most Head

coaches let you know before the

season, and they need to know in

those positions that you make sure

you maintain the catch.

What did you

make right at the end of that game,

Big Ben's fake spike and going for

it as opposed to actually spiking it

and taking the field goal and go

into overtime?

He had time to throw

the fade, but the fact that he threw

a slant with all those defenders in

there, and it wasn't Antonio Brown!

His guy that bailed him out. So I

don't understand.

So the poor

decision is more the choice of throw

rather than the fake spike?

It is

throwing it into all that traffic.

You want to avoid that traffic.

Mike

Tomlin said we are a team who want

to go for the win.

Especially in a

game of this magnitude, you want to

go for the jugular, have the

fortitude to go for the win in a

situation, and they did it but it

didn't work out for them.

Let's look

at the linkup between the players.

The double market, can you do that

with Gronk?

This guy is six foot

six, 200 and 70lb, athletic and

fast, here's a match-up nightmare.

I

don't understand why they didn't

adjust it and try to do something

schematically that changed it,

because Sean Davis was struggling.

So at least try to double-team him

to see what happens?

Give him a

different look, because he was

destroying it.

He goes in for that

which sets up the two pointer. He

was virtually alone.

That was crazy,

they should have put two guys out

there, but...

They can't put two

guys out there!

They used to do it

Calvin Johnson! They put two guys

out there and took him out of the

play.

He was a receiver, this is a

tight end.

He is the best dude on

the field for right now, take it

away!

That is a fair argument.

How do you...

I don't understand how

you expect them to...

He's the best dude on field form

right now, he has beaten man to man

coverage every down,

take it away!

That is a fair argument.

In a season where we have seen

so many injuries to crucial players,

often MVP candidates,

Antonio brown is out,

he has got five weeks to get fit

for the Championship game,

four weeks for the divisional game.

That is a tough, tough blow

for a team and a guy, Antonio Brown

who was having an MVP...

We said last week, didn't we?

He's a football player,

making play after play

for the Pittsburgh Steelers,

I don't know how they will be able

to recover from this.

Don't forget, The NFL

Show is on Saturday

after Match Of The Day,

where we will take another

look back at week 15,

preview week 16 and all the play-off

drama that lies ahead,

that is all from ten past

midnight on BBC One.

A reminder, too, that all of our

shows are available on the iPlayer.

Right, let's take a look at some

of the other week 15 games.

Well, this was one of the standout

results of the whole season

as the Rams overwhelmed

their divisional rivals the Seattle

Seahawks in the NFC West.

Four touchdowns for Todd Gurley

and he is now up to 17 and leads

the way in the NFL this season.

Looking like a young

Marshall Falk out there.

That is his fourth touchdown,

he took Goff's 14 yard pass

and Russell Wilson had no

chances all day.

The Rams defence sacked him seven

times and Osi will do more.

Not a surprising amount.

Not safe!

In just a moment.

Big win for the Vikings

as they thumped the Bengals,

thanks mostly to a great defense.

Eric Kendricks here with

a 31 yard interception.

UCLA boys, right there,

Mark, in front of him.

OK.

Spot your friends!

Yeah.

And this was, Teddy Bridgewater,

since coming back in August 2016,

Case Keenam coming back

towards the end of the game.

So loud he couldn't actually hear

the calls in his ear.

Another big divisional clash,

now this is the AFC West,

the Chargers and the Chiefs.

Smith got them rolling.

Tyreek Hill, he can pick them up

and put them down, Mark.

64 yard touchdown

pass to Tyreek Hill.

The Chiefs did not lose.

Rivers had an awful day.

Picked three times.

Watch this though, Tambor Hali,

at the end, helping an opponent,

Joey Bosa, giving him tips.

That is brilliant.

That is the fraternity

man, we've got to stick

together, no matter what.

I love that clip.

Love it.

Anyhow, onto the

Cowboys and Raiders.

Dak Prescott running this.

Making it happen.

In the third quarter,

that made it 17-10.

Derek Carr found Michael Crabtree

to square it to 17 all

in the fourth quarter.

This Dan Bailey field goal,

the difference, it keeps the playoff

hopes of the Cowboys still alive

and they have Elliott back for

the clash with Seattle next week.

Zeke had a six-pack,

I saw the picture.

Let's do the Saints next

who beat the Jets to keep up

the pressure in the NFC.

He scored in the second

quarter to make it 17-7.

Mark Ingram sealed it

in the fourth quarter.

That was from 50 yards,

all going swimmingly.

Going swimmingly for the Saints.

I like it.

That is a good one.

This was a must win divisional game

for Atlanta against Tampa Bay.

It actually went back

and forth, did this.

The 42 yard pass to Mike Evans

made it a 3-point game

going into the fourth quarter.

Look at this running game, though.

Devonta Freeman was immense.

However, Tampa Bay hung on in there.

Winston finding

Adam Humphreys there.

But they missed the extra points,

Atlanta still in the playoff mix.

The Los Angeles Rams have the best

interior defensive lineman

in all of football and his name

is Aaron Donald.

I mean, look at that face,

he's cuter than a fat baby.

I just want to pinch

his little cheeks.

Whatever you do, don't make

the mistake of pinching this man's

cheeks, because he is a full grown

man and I'm going to

to pinch his cheeks.

Check this out.

This man right here is incredible,

he had a field day.

Now, as the defensive lineman,

the offensive linemen are going

to try and stop your charge,

with their hands.

So when you are rushing a passer,

you want to be really

good with your hands,

you want to be able to get

their hands off you and get

to the quarterback and Aaron Donald

is going to execute

this to perfection.

Check this play out, right here.

You're going to see the offensive

lineman put his hands

out and Aaron Donald

is going to immediately use

the forklift and get

around to the quarterback,

taking him straight down.

What an incredible play

by Aaron Donald and you guys thought

the whole time that all we did

was chest bump each other,

chest bump each other.

We actually have some technique

and Aaron Donald showed that.

Watch this play right here.

This was an even better play.

He is going to use the exact same

movement but this time

he is going to come inside.

Check this out.

He goes to the inside of

the offensive lineman with the sweet

inside move and right

there you are going to see them

try to double-team him.

And right here, he is going to do

something that very few men can do.

He is going to get skinny.

Well, as skinny as a 300 pound man

can get, so really not that skinny.

You turn on the shoulders

a little bit, you guys know

what I'm talking about!

He is going to turn his shoulders

and get to the quarterback and look

at him chasing up to Russell Wilson,

looking like a lion chasing

a wildebeest in the jungle.

Getting that man down, another

incredible play by Aaron Donald,

who terrorised the Seattle Seahawks

the entire evening and last but not

least, you're going to see him do

something here which I never did.

Play that run.

I was so focused at getting

to the quarterback, I didn't care

about the run and this is why

Aaron Donald is a much better

player than I ever was.

Wow!

Check him out right here.

Right here, this is

called gap control.

He is going to maintain his gap,

get the offensive lineman in the gap

and put his body in that hole

and right now you're

going to see him get

to the running back early.

So, it is great to get there early.

Well, not always.

Not always.

But anyway, you guys know what I'm

talking about, come on!

You have put him ahead of you!

Listen, he's a great

football player, man,

what do you want me to say?

You know, sometimes you've

just got to give credit

where credit is due,

Mark.

Let me read you a quote

from Wade Phillips, Aaron Donald,

because he is better than everybody,

and I didn't know he was

better than everybody.

I thought he was good, but I didn't

know he was better than everybody

and he is and that comes from...

He's expensive...

A very experienced defensive coach.

No question.

And a guy who coached

Vaughan Phillips, coached some

of the best players in football

and for him to say that,

that is lofty praise

for Aaron Donald and tells you how

good he is.

Given...

And we've spoken about

McVay a lot on the show,

but given what he has done,

remember they were four and 12 last

season and what they are now,

is he a contender for coach

of the year?

He has to be.

He went into an organisation,

had a group of players,

had to figure them out,

had to figure out all of their skill

sets, their strengths.

Me and Osi talk about that

all the time, coaches that can

figure out how good you are,

what things you do well,

he did that in the offseason,

you see the product,

he deserves all the accolades.

Not only that, but they are

on course to win the AFC West

for the first time since 2003.

He is not just turning

around a losing record,

he is turning around

a decade of history.

No question, man, they were

perennial seven and nine,

eight out of eight and this guy has

come in there and he

has got the job done,

beyond the expectations of anyone.

This is an outstanding young coach.

He is my friend, you know.

I knew him when you were

a young little boy, man,

and now he is grown-up,

I am so proud of him, Mark.

I am so proud!

Let's move on to Minnesota

and the Vikings.

We've had a bit of a laugh

about Case Keenum over recent weeks,

but given his performance and I've

got my script to say that I can give

you some stats, 20 of 23 passes,

he completed for 236 yards and two

touchdowns, you know,

let's give the guy some credit, yes?

You've got to give him credit,

he is playing in an outstanding

system that fits him perfectly.

He is a smart guy,

they don't ask him...

He has been blowing diva.

I can't even say nothing

about Case Keenum.

I think what is said

the most about him, for me,

just as someone who watches

the sport, was his reaction

to Teddy Bridgewater coming on and,

you know, the result,

the scoreline at Cincinnati,

allowed him to rest a bit,

some of his O line, give Bridgewater

a few plays, but his reaction

was classic, wasn't it?

That locker room was very close.

Those guys are very close.

They really enjoy being around each

other and that is what makes

football so beautiful.

But that was just about starting

to rehabilitate Bridgewater

after nearly two years out.

It is not about getting

to the playoffs and putting him

back in ahead of him.

No, there is no chance of that

happening here at all.

This guy has taken them

to the promised land,

well almost the way through.

Well, regardless of other results

this week, Green Bay simply needed

to win their game against Carolina

to have any hope of staying alive

in the playoff hunt.

As is often the case

with the Packers, they look

to quarterback Aaron Rodgers

to save the day.

Eight weeks after collarbone

surgery, with 13 screws

in his shoulder, Rodgers was back

on the field, leading the Packers

at a rampant Carolina Panthers.

15th play of the drive.

He finds them.

McCaffrey.

Touchdown.

What a drive for the rookie.

Kind of a natural pick

there by Greg Olsen,

he releases up the field,

and the guy covering,

Christian McCaffrey out

of the backfield on that H post

route, he could not

come down and cover it.

Easy touchdown.

Here comes Aaron Rodgers.

He led the NFL when he went down

with a broken right collarbone

in week six at Minnesota.

It was on October the 15th

where he was hit outside

the pocket by Anthony Barr.

3rd & 9.

The defensive coordinator

for Carolina, he likes to bring

pressure, we will see if he brings

it on this down.

Rodgers throws, Adams

for the touchdown!

And for the moment, Davante Adams

has more touchdown reception

since the start of last year

than anybody in the NFL

in a power walking meet.

This was not power walking here,

watch Davante Adams and the move

that he makes on Kurt Coleman.

One-on-one on the safety and Coleman

was head bobbing, he did not know

what where they were going to go.

He takes it to the post.

Easy touchdown.

Rodgers steps through.

Throws.

Cobb.

One to one, Randall Cobb, cuts back,

what a run, touchdown!

Aaron Rodgers, he falls

on that right shoulder

after he delivers that football,

good to see him get up off the turf.

He scrambles, he moves up,

he goes down and Cobb,

as he is running that crossing

route, they just cut him loose

and then he makes a heck

of a run after the play.

Newton.

Let's it fly.

Olsen.

A walk-in touchdown.

They just completely

turned Greg Olsen loose.

You can see, they bring pressure

and Cam is able to hang

in there enough before Brooks gets

to him, but there you go.

2nd & 10.

Rodgers down the middle,

intercepted by Colin Jones.

Second interception by Rodgers

in the game, but a flag

at the end of the play.

A big hit then on Davante Adams

at the end of this play

and that is Thomas Davies.

That is not what we want to see

and it is obviously their hit

that they have been trying to take

it out of the game.

Let us hope that he is OK.

A lot of people attending

to him right now.

Thank God he is able to get up

and walk off the field.

Personal foul.

Blindside block.

Intercepting team, number 58.

That is a 15-yard penalty.

Panthers ball.

First and ten.

Newton keeps.

He was looking for Olsen.

That wasn't there.

Now throws to the back.

There it is juggled and incomplete.

Byrd.

I don't think this is a touchdown.

The ball is out.

Now he really grabs it and when he's

secure it is going to the line,

going to the ground,

he is on the boundary.

I don't think there is any question,

this will be when Ron Riviera

is going to have to listen

to the guy helping him upstairs.

There is a ruling on the field

of an incomplete pass.

Yeah, I don't know, unless we're

not seeing something,

but it looks like an easy one to me,

Joe.

After review, the runner

was down by contact,

in the end zone, it is a touchdown.

Wow!

We are wrong, Rivera is right.

On 1st down, Newton

keeps, Byrd, touchdown!

His second.

You see Byrd as he pushes

up on the quick post

and that is easy pickings there,

outside leverage, good corner,

good coverage by Newton.

Rodgers down the middle,

Rodgers, touchdown!

Rodgers throws, passes,

the ball is out.

And Carolina has got it

and it is a catch and fumble.

Carolina Panthers takeover.

He runs a heck of a route,

but did he have possession and did

he make another football move?

It is close, it is about

on that second step.

First and down, Carolina.

So the call is catch and fumble

and that is going to be it.

No time-outs left for Green Bay.

It is disappointing

for all the Packers fans,

to get to this position,

get Aaron Rodgers back on the field,

only to lose in the first outing.

Nothing should get in the way

of what our ultimate goal

is and we know what that is.

We talked about the vision

when we first got started.

It is to win the Super Bowl

and that is the bottom line.

More than anything else

it is about what we intend to do.

Everything we do will be about that.

Well, it is not the fairy tale

that we were hoping.

As I lay in that surgery

bed, eight weeks ago,

thinking about this moment,

I obviously saw it going

a little differently,

but I am proud of our guys,

the way they played

in the last few weeks.

Today, I was disappointed,

I did not play very well.

I expected to play well,

it was good defense.

But I made too many mistakes

and even still, we had a chance

there at the end to come back.

I thought he did a lot of good

things, I thought he competed,

just like he always does.

Obviously, when you look

at the start line, I think

stating the obvious,

it is hard to overcome

being -4 in a game.

the field for right now, take it

away!

That is a fair argument.

the field for right now, take it

away!

That is a fair argument.

the field for right now, take it

away!

That is a fair argument.

I felt pretty good, I just missed

some throws. I threw the ball in the

dirt. To Geronimo in the red zone,

just uncharacteristic play in Macon

and I was disappointed in my

performance today, I didn't play

very well.

And that result coupled with Atlanta

beating Tampa Bay means that that is

the end of their season, you would

expect them to let Aaron Rodgers

rest for the rest of the season. And

you would expect Davante Adams to

take a while to come back from this,

because this hit from Thomas Davis

was horrific, wasn't it?

That was not good, and as a player,

they are trying to eliminate this

from the game. A guy like Thomas

Davis should be totally aware of

this, this is unacceptable and not

how we protect players.

This makes

me so angry, because what's the

point? There is no point in doing

that to the guy you are playing

against. He is supposed to be a man

of the year contender, and he knows

better than to do stuff like this.

They should have thrown him out of

the game on the spot.

He has been

banned for two games by the NFL, and

he expressed his regret doing that

afterwards. Davante Adams on social

media, he said, we got pro bowl

players out here headhunting in

saying that they didn't mean to harm

me. Somebody please explain to me

what I wasn't trying to hurt him

means when, nowhere near the play,

it you lead with your head and ear

hole a defenceless player?

it you lead with your head and ear

hole a defenceless player?

It is

just stupidity, man. You know the

repercussions, you know what is

happening, stop it.

There was a

great bit in the game, which

unfortunately you can't hear

properly on the TV, you might be a

book to find it on social media,

where Clay Matthews tells the rest

of the pack, this is the

wheelwright, and they said, have you

been watching our film, watch this!

And proceeds to do the play and

score a touchdown from it. The

confidence of the man!

Yes, he

thought it was the real root,

incredible play.

The NFC South, how

do you view this? Still a 3-way

battle for it, and they all have

divisional games in the next two

weeks.

I am looking at the Panthers

right now and thinking, scary. As

Cam Newton goes, they go, he is

playing with confidence and that

defense under Steve Wilkes is

getting after people.

But the same

thing you just said about Carolina,

I'm saying about Atlanta and New

Orleans, they are scary. No one

wants to play any one of those teams

Rina!

Atlanta have both New Orleans

and Carolina to play. Carolina and

New Orleans both have to play Tampa

Bay. Do they have any say in this?

They did OK against Atlanta, so

divisional games, they will raise it

a bit?

Divisional games are always

tough, you go in and play each

other, you have seen each other

before and that gives you the

advantage.

So the Bucs can still

affected?

They have talent and will

go up against it every week they

play.

Let's have a look at some of

the other week 15 games.

The Lions faced the Bears in

Detroit. This long pass was followed

by this TJ Jones touchdown moments

later. This eight yard catch sealed

it, the Lions are still in the NFC

wild card hunt. Another impressive

performance came from Jacksonville.

They were 31-0 up at half-time

against the Texans, this 14 yard

pass the pick of those scores.

DeAndre Hopkins scored consolation

touchdown, Jacksonville through to

the postseason for the first time

since 2007. The Titans and the

49ers, Garrett Celek got his second

quarter touchdown for the 49ers, and

that made it 13-3, but Delaney

Walker struck back from four yards,

and Tennessee stayed in touch with

this game with that. Robbie Gould

kicked the winner late on, and that

will really hamper the Titans'

playoff chances.

We went to golf

tournaments together, we had a good

time.

Is that an on-air story or

not?

He is his friend!

Completely

off air story.

We are not mentioning

Cleveland, and that is not fair. We

missed their touchdown because of

you in your golf stories! This is

what Joe Flacco was doing, 17-10 up,

the Ravens were, Q classic

Cleveland. To Sean Kyzer fumbled in

the end zone, also at eight and six

are Buffalo after they beat Jay

Cutler's Miami Dolphins. LaShawn

Merritt scored two touchdowns, he

has now gone over 10,000 yards in

his career.

Nice catch.

And some

prime Cutler. Three interceptions,

the final one to White. But Buffalo

still in the playoff

the final one to White. But Buffalo

still in the playoff hunt.

Jacksonville securing the playoff

spot

Jacksonville securing the playoff

spot for the first time since 2007.

Let's just show you linebacker Smith

showing you what it meant to his

team-mates.

We dominated the team,

and they dominated us a couple of

years ago. You understand? New era!

Let's keep going! One, two, three!

I didn't understand what he was

talking about.

I felt it.

We

mentioned it last week, and it came

through a little bit, this feeling

of us against the world that is

going on at the Jaguars. They don't

feel they're getting respect from

the NFL media. They feel they've got

the history of the franchise on

their backs as well, huge franchise

they haven't got the history of some

of the big teams, and they are being

ignored.

They are not being ignored

any more!

But they are playing on

that.

It is like you said before,

whose name is all over that? Those

boys are tough now, and it is that

defense is just making it happen.

They are out there playing like

crazy, and you had better be good on

each level. They have all of those,

and Smith earlier, he is a madman in

the rush.

And Blake portals in

December has the best pass rate.

I

am not going to beat my chest, but

he is coming through.

He is coming

through.

And nobody is talking about

the receivers he is playing with.

These guys are really stepping up

and playing well. A great receiver

coaching those guys.

And you can see

his influence?

Absolutely, because

he was a great receiver and ran

really precise routes because I had

to cover him and I couldn't!

Do

think New England and Pittsburgh

will be concerned at all about

Jacksonville?

Neither one of them

want to play against Jacksonville

Jaguars at that is because of the

way the Jaguars are built, they can

rush the passing, defend the run. We

have monsters upfront to be able to

get after the quarterback, and it is

an outstanding defensive team. You

don't want to play them right now.

Just a little nod to the future,

because this game also affected

Tennessee Titans, who were in

Jacksonville's division, and it has

knocked them down a bit. San

Francisco have got something going,

haven't they? If we were to look

ahead to next season already which

we are not supposed to do at this

stage, they are going to be an

exciting team to watch.

Now that you

have plugged Jimmy GNN, these guys

have confidence, they feel like they

can do anything, win games, they

have their quarterback.

There is a

rumour going down the NFL that the

Patriots wanted to look after Jimmy

Garoppolo and therefore didn't want

to treat into Cleveland, so when

Cleveland were interested, they

phoned up the 49ers and asked him.

Does that sound believable?

I think

Belichick has a problem with the

Cleveland Browns, but I don't like

the way the New England Patriots

treated this whole situation.

Regardless of how they treated Tom

Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo and every

thing came right together for them.

As Osi would tell you, the next game

we are going to see is one of pure

hatred. Despite only winning two

games this season, the New York

Giants needs no motivation to put

their opponents in their place. In

their first game without Carson

Wentz, the focus was on Nick Foles

to continue their season.

COMMENTATOR: And he falls into the

end zone, touchdown first time. The

Giants have come up on the first

possession of the game. Foles came

over as a free agent from Kansas

City, you know the story. He started

24 regular-season games, and was a

start of the last time Philadelphia

went to the playoffs in 2013 and he

had a great year. 2nd down. At the

back of the end zone, that is a

Philadelphia touchdown for Geoffrey.

He goes four for four on the drive.

If you watch Jeffrey, and on target,

and in rhythm, and you can see see

why he has won 20 ball games at the

start of this level.

And that is a

touchdown for King.

That is a

complete setup and a starting route.

He took advantage.

3rd & 2. And now

they are looking to make it five out

of five. He is still on his feet,

and down the sideline he goes for a

third touchdown.

Poor tackling in

the secondary once again, and the

Giants take the lead.

2nd & goal

from the 10-yard line. It is coming

again, and that is a touchdown.

Nice

double move by Zak hurts, he uses

his big body to come here and come

back in, and his defender he has

told to box out, he boxes out Adams.

Good job, taking advantage.

Slowing

down, and Manning scrambled around.

They are going to get the ball...

They nearly got it the last time,

and this time they get it. He'll

came up with the block.

The got one

block last week, so they are going

to try again. He is going to sneak

through this gap on, long

unprotected. And that is a free run

to the punter, and look at him

taking it right off the foot. Hands

at waist level, beautiful job, and

special teams are now stepping up

for the Eagles, everyone is getting

involved.

Outside the 9-yard line.

It is thrown wide open in the end

zone, and indeed, warm by the fire.

The Philadelphia Eagles offense, the

highest scoring team.

Nothing kills

the defense like a lack of

communication. Right here between

these two guys, nobody is

communicating. You see that, and it

is easy pickings. That will kill a

team every single time.

And now

looking to the corner of the end

zone, and that is a touchdown for

Philadelphia. Four touchdown s the

Nick Foles.

He is recognising that

the back is turned by Daryl Moss,

throw that ball up, tee times it

perfectly going to catch it off the

back of number 23.

The Eagles came

back to take a lead. This is inside

the 20, the ten, and King dives, did

he get to the end zone? No, he was

just outside. Now they say

touchdown.

You can see right here, a

good job of letting him have it

heats, he takes off and I think that

is a touchdown. He crossed the plane

with the football.

REFEREE:

The call stands, touchdown.

This will be a 48 yard field goal

try. They have had a play after

block, and now a field goal block.

Make him run outside. He is late

with his left hand, Malcolm Jenkins

jumps over that, avoids any dripping

with his feet gets in there to block

the field goal.

Jake Elliott added a field goal

in the next Eagles possession.

They lead by five with

under four minutes left.

And it is 4th down and goal.

At the goal-line.

They break for the rush.

And Manning to the end zone.

Complete with an eye on Ingram

with an eye on the flag

and the Philadelphia Eagles

win their 12th game of the year.

Carson probably reached out

to all of his players

If

and offensively probably wished them

well, but there was no...

I keep pace sheds

If I keep pace

and

offensively probably wished

them well, but there was no...

They spent the whole

week with Nick...

There might have been

a little bit of that,

how are we going to play,

you know, what is going to happen

to start the game, but we just went

right down the field and Nick had

the hot hand early and maintained it

throughout the game.

Really, I think, this

was a great win for the team,

but for Nick as well

and for the guys.

You get the butterflies, for sure.

I think any game you ever play in,

you get that excitement,

because it is a big stage,

there is a lot going on,

but once you get onto the field,

you just play ball.

You live in the moment.

There is just something that comes

out of you and you just go out

there and just play.

They already have the division one,

they have now got the bye week,

but as Doug Pedersen said,

arguably, that is a more

important win for Nick Foles

than it is for the Eagles.

Yeah, he had to get out

there and he had to get comfortable

and he looked comfortable,

especially when he had

a clean pocket.

He was protected and able

to step up there and throw

and he made that throw,

struggled a little bit

with the outside throws, but hey,

ultimately you cannot do throwing

the ball in the middle of the field.

Like you were talking about earlier,

man, he actually had to go

in there and win the game.

For them.

It is not like, he was just

going to be loose, he had to go

in there and win and he made throw

after throw and the receivers

came up big for him,

making all these incredible catches.

They are going to be OK.

Yes, it just calms

everything down, doesn't it.

It prevents a media storm,

it stops the doubts of fans,

it just relaxes everybody.

Like everybody was saying,

it is a good team,

it is a good quarterback.

Would there be any concern about

the Eagles defense after that game?

They gave up the points

that they did and in fact,

their worst performances defensively

wise have come against the Giants.

Mark, divisional rivals,

I keep on telling you,

these games you can throw

everything, throw all the records

out, throw everything out

of the window, these two teams know

each other, they know

their strengths, their weaknesses

and they were able to exploit them

because they know them.

So throw out the form book,

throw out the fact that the Giants

have been dreadful offensively,

the Eagles have been

so strong defensively,

you can simply put it down

to a divisional match up.

Yeah, and they attacked the middle

of the field, so they knew

there was a weakness there.

I think a team with a good tight

end can expose them.

There were a lot of passes happening

that seemed like communication

with the linebackers

and the defensive backs.

There could be some other

teams looking at that.

That is what I saw.

You saw a big play on the outside,

but ultimately it was everything

happening in the middle

of the field.

OK, let's take a look

at the standings then for you before

we leave you this evening.

As you can see, there is the AFC,

New England, Pittsburgh

have won their division,

Jacksonville can still

make the playoffs.

The Titans can still mathematically

win the AFC South and Kansas City's

win over the Los Angeles Chargers

has just given them

the edge in the AFC West.

As far as the NFC East is concerned,

Dallas still have the chance

of the playoffs, in the north,

Minnesota, the divisional winners,

Detroit still in the running

there as well, the NFC South

is all to play for, as we discussed

the Rams now still have a 98% chance

of winning the NFC West.

Who works these things out?

In the AFC, the playoff

picture is as follows,

New England's last-gasp win that put

them back as the number one seed

by virtue of a better head-to-head

record over Pittsburgh,

Jacksonville are now

confirmed in the playoffs

as we have mentioned,

but there is still an awful lot

to play for behind them.

In the NFC, Philadelphia

as they say, they still get

a first-round bye in the playoffs,

Dallas remain very much alive

in the AFC wild card race,

at eight and six, the Cowboys face

also the eight and six Seahawks

in week 16, a do or die game.

And three teams from the South

are still in the playoff picture.

A reminder that we have the NFL show

again this Saturday,

from ten past midnight on BBC One

after match of the day.

You can also catch

everything on the iPlayer.

Sadly, Bill Belichick was not

available to sing us out tonight

with a Christmas Carol,

which is probably a good thing

as we are out of time.

Good night.

His collarbone was not fully

healed, but out he came.

Not quite at his best,

but the playoffs push

you through the pain barrier.

Two weeks to go, it is

the season to be merry

unless you have a playoff

place to secure.

Only in the NFL at Christmas.