NFL Recap – Week 15

On%20Thursday%20night%2C%20Andy%20Dalton%20and%20the%20Cincinnati%20Bengals%20capitalized%20on%20the%20Eagles%20five%20turnovers%20to%20improve%20their%20standing%20in%20the%20AFC%20playoff%20picture.%20They%20now%20just%20need%20one%20win.%20Dalton%20threw%20for%20just%20127%20yards%20and%20one%20TD%20and%20was%20sacked%20six%20times.%20The%20Bengals%20rushed%20for%20a%20total%20of%20157%20yards.%20The%20Eagles%20suffered%20their%2010th%20loss%20of%20the%20season%20and%20will%20likely%20be%20starting%20their%20coaching%20search%20when%20the%20season%20ends.%20%28Photo%20by%20Elsa%2FGetty%20Images%29

Matt%20Ryan%20and%20the%20Atlanta%20Falcons%20made%20a%20statement%20to%20the%20rest%20of%20the%20league%20with%20a%20shutout%20win%20over%20the%20Super%20Bowl%20Champion%20Giants.%20Ryan%20threw%20for%20270%20yards%20and%20three%20touchdown%20passes%20as%20the%20Falcons%20handed%20the%20Giants%20their%20first%20shutout%20loss%20in%20the%20regular%20season%20since%201996.%20The%20loss%20also%20drops%20the%20Giants%20into%20a%20tie%20for%20the%20NFC%20East.%20But%20the%20team%20does%20not%20hold%20the%20tie-breaker%20advantage%2C%20making%20their%20post-season%20prospects%20a%20little%20murky.%20%28Photo%20by%20Scott%20Cunningham%2FGetty%20Images%29

Peyton%20Manning%20and%20Knowshon%20Moreno%20dominated%20the%20Ravens%20to%20improve%20the%20Broncos%20record%20to%20%2811-3%29%20and%20put%20them%20one%20game%20closer%20to%20a%20first%20round%20bye%20in%20the%20playoffs.%20Manning%20threw%20for%20just%20204%20yards%20and%20one%20TD%2C%20and%20Moreno%20rushed%20for%20118%20yards%20and%20one%20TD.%20The%20Ravens%20have%20clinched%20a%20playoff%20berth%20but%20are%20still%20fighting%20for%20the%20division%20title.%20%28Photo%20by%20Patrick%20Smith%2FGetty%20Images%29

Aaron%20Rodgers%20connected%20with%20James%20Jones%20five%20times%20for%2060%20yards%2C%20but%20three%20of%20those%20receptions%20were%20for%20touchdowns%20as%20the%20Packers%20beat%20their%20division%20rival%20Chicago%20Bears%2021-13.%20The%20win%20clinches%20the%20NFC%20North%20title%20for%20the%20second%20straight%20year%20and%20puts%20the%20Bears%20just%20on%20the%20outside%20of%20a%20wild%20card%20spot.%20%28Photo%20by%20David%20Banks%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Redskins%20were%20missing%20RG3%20due%20to%20the%20knee%20injury%20he%20suffered%20last%20week.%20So%20backup%20quarterback%20Kirk%20Cousins%20was%20under%20center%20to%20lead%20his%20team%20to%20their%20fifth%20straight%20win.%20Cousins%20threw%20for%20329%20yards%20and%20two%20touchdowns%20as%20the%20Redskins%20moved%20into%20a%20tie%20for%20first%20place%20in%20the%20NFC%20East.%20They%20hold%20the%20tie-breaker.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jason%20Miller%2FGetty%20Images%29

Andre%20Johnson%20caught%20the%20ball%2011%20times%20for%20151%20yards%20and%20a%20touchdown%20as%20the%20Texans%20clinched%20the%20AFC%20South%20with%20the%20win.%20If%20the%20Texans%20win%20next%20week%20they%20will%20secure%20home%20field%20advantage%20in%20the%20playoffs.%20The%20Colts%20%289-5%29%20and%20rookie%20sensation%20Andrew%20Luck%20need%20another%20win%20to%20secure%20a%20playoff%20spot%2C%20but%20can%20do%20that%20next%20week%20as%20well%20when%20they%20play%20the%20Chiefs.%20%28Photo%20by%20Scott%20Halleran%2FGetty%20Images%29

Drew%20Brees%20threw%20for%20307%20yards%20and%20four%20touchdowns%2C%20and%20the%20New%20Orleans%20Saints%20defense%20intercepted%20Josh%20Freeman%20four%20times%20and%20recovered%20a%20fumble.%20The%20end%20result%20was%20a%2041-0%20shutout%20of%20the%20Tampa%20Bay%20Bucs.%20The%20shut%20out%20is%20the%20Saints%26%238217%3B%20first%20since%201995%20and%20extends%20the%20Bucs%20losing%20steak%20to%20four%20games%2C%20ending%20their%20playoff%20hopes.%20%28Photo%20by%20Chris%20Graythen%2FGetty%20Images%29

Adrian%20Peterson%20gained%20212%20yards%20against%20the%20St.%20Louis%20Rams%2C%20moving%20closer%20to%20his%20first%202%2C000%20yard%20rushing%20season.%20He%20is%20also%20on%20pace%20to%20break%20the%20single%20season%20rushing%20record.%20The%20win%20keeps%20the%20the%20Vikings%20in%20the%20running%20for%20the%20second%20wild%20card%20spot%3B%20they%20are%20tied%20with%20three%20other%20%288-6%29%20teams.%20%28Photo%20by%20Dilip%20Vishwanat%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Arizona%20Cardinals%20picked%20off%20the%20the%20Lions%26%238217%3B%20Matt%20Stafford%20three%20times%20and%20returned%20two%20of%20those%20interceptions%20for%20touchdowns.%20The%20third%20interception%20set%20up%20another%20touchdown.%20Beanie%20Wells%20rushed%20for%20just%2067%20yards%20but%20scored%20scored%20three%20touchdowns%20as%20the%20Cardinals%20snapped%20their%20nine-game%20losing%20streak%20and%20extended%20the%20Lions%20losing%20streak%20to%20six%20games.%20%28Photo%20by%20Norm%20Hall%2FGetty%20Images%29

For%20the%20second%20straight%20game%2C%20the%20Seattle%20Seahawks%20scored%20at%20least%2050%20points.%20This%20time%20they%20allowed%20their%20opponent%20to%20score%20some%20points%20as%20well.%20Russell%20Wilson%20threw%20for%20205%20yards%20and%201%20TD%20and%20ran%20for%2092%20yards%20and%203%20TDs%20as%20the%20Seahawks%20racked%20up%2031%20points%20in%20the%20first%20half.%20The%20win%20knocks%20the%20Bills%20out%20of%20the%20playoff%20hunt%20for%2013th%20straight%20year%2C%20which%20is%20the%20longest%20active%20streak.%20%28Photo%20by%20Tom%20Szczerbowski%2FGetty%20Images%29

Facing%20his%20old%20team%20the%20San%20Diego%20Chargers%2C%20FB%20Mike%20Tolbert%20scored%20two%20rushing%20TDs.%20Cam%20Newton%20threw%20for%20two%20more%20touchdowns%2C%20as%20the%20Carolina%20Panthers%20eliminated%20the%20Chargers%20from%20playoff%20contention.%20The%20win%20is%20the%20Panthers%20second%20win%20a%20row%20and%20the%20first%20time%20since%20last%20December%20they%20have%20won%20consecutive%20games.%20%28Photo%20by%20Donald%20Miralle%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Pittsburgh%20Steelers%20and%20the%20Dallas%20Cowboys%20both%20needed%20a%20win%20to%20stay%20in%20the%20playoff%20picture%2C%20and%20battled%20to%20a%20tie%20in%20regulation.%20The%20Steelers%20won%20the%20toss%20in%20overtime%20and%20elected%20to%20receive.%20On%20second%20down%2C%20Ben%20Roethlisberger%20was%20intercepted%20by%20Brandon%20Carr.%20Carr%20returned%20the%20ball%20to%20the%201%20yard%20line%2C%20setting%20up%20Dan%20Bailey%20for%20the%20game-winning%20field%20goal.%20The%20win%20puts%20the%20Cowboys%20in%20a%20three-way%20in%20the%20NFC%20East.%20%28Photo%20by%20Ronald%20Martinez%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Oakland%20Raiders%20offense%20gained%20385%20total%20yards%20against%20a%20depleted%20Kansas%20City%20Chiefs%20defense%2C%20but%20left%20it%20up%20to%20Sebastian%20Janikowski%20to%20score%20the%20team%26%238217%3Bs%2015%20points.%20The%20Raiders%20ended%20their%20six-game%20losing%20streak%20and%20shut%20out%20the%20Chiefs%20for%20just%20the%20second%20time%20ever.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jason%20O.%20Watson%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20New%20England%20Patriots%20were%20looking%20to%20extend%20their%20December%20home%20game%20winning%20streak%20to%2022%20games.%20Facing%20a%2028%20point%20deficit%20in%20the%20third%20quarter%2C%20Tom%20Brady%20rallied%20his%20team%20back%20to%20tie%20the%2049ers%20late%20in%20the%20fourth%20quarter.%20But%20the%2049ers%20withstood%20the%20rally%20and%20scored%2010%20points%20in%20the%20final%20seven%20minutes%20to%20earn%20a%20playoff%20berth.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jim%20Rogash%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20New%20York%20Jets%20couldn%26%238217%3Bt%20capitalize%20on%20a%20huge%20opportunity%20with%20less%20than%20a%20minute%20to%20go%20in%20the%20game.%20Sanchez%20threw%20one%20of%20his%20four%20interceptions%20with%20less%20than%20two%20minutes%20in%20the%20fourth%20quarter%2C%20but%20the%20Jets%20defense%20was%20able%20to%20hold%20the%20Titans%20behind%20their%20five%20yard%20line.%20The%20Titans%20were%20forced%20to%20punt%20but%20muffed%20the%20kick%2C%20giving%20the%20Jets%20a%20first%20down%20on%20the%20Titans%2025-yard%20line.%20Sanchez%20fumbled%20the%20first%20snap%20and%20the%20Titans%26%238217%3B%20Zach%20Brown%20recovered%2C%20giveing%20the%20Titans%20the%20win%20and%20eliminating%20the%20Jets%20from%20playoff%20contention.%20%28Photo%20by%20Andy%20Lyons%2FGetty%20Images%29