[SPORTS] NFL WEEK 12 RECAP: RIVERS HAS HISTORIC DAY

Philip Rivers Dialed In, Seahawks Continue Climb, Cousins Solves Primetime Woes, And More!

So much for being ‘trash’.

Just in case you missed it, Jalen Ramsey talked a ton in his GQ interview this past summer. In a earth shattering and mostly ill-received interview, Ramsey gave scathing reviews for a number of the NFL’s starting quarterbacks, including his opponent on Sunday, Josh Allen.

Ramsey called the Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback ‘trash’ and that he couldn’t wait to play him this season.

Well, let’s just say that didn’t work out too well for him.

Surprisingly, that was a pretty good football game down in Western New York. I wasn’t able to catch all of the game until I got home from the New England Patriots annual trip to East Ruthford.

My girlfriend beside me laughed at the fact Buffalo was beating Jacksonville, but all it made me do was cringe in knowing that the Patriots had made them look like a Super Bowl Contender back in Week 2.

If anything, that’s a reminder that what we see in the first month of the season is unlikely to be the case at this point in the season.

The Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins were 3-1, Ryan Fitzpatrick was an MVP candidate and we all thought the Buffalo Bills would finish 0-16 after their first two games.

Yeah, things changed a lot.

Here are my biggest takeaways from Week 12 of the NFL season.

Rivers Sets NFL Mark In Chargers Rout Of Cardinals

The question going into the Los Angeles Chargers home game vs the Arizona Cardinals wasn’t if Philip Rivers was pissed off following last week’s loss, but just what he would do in response.

In a memorable performance, Rivers continued his strong 2018 with one for the history books.

Philip Rivers set an NFL record for completions to begin a game with 25 straight completions on Sunday in the Los Angeles Chargers’ 45-10 blowout of the Arizona Cardinals.

Rivers, who was coming off a two interception performance vs the Denver Broncos in a tough 23-22 loss at home, was electric in this one.

There were difficult throws made down the field to well covered targets, an amazing one-handed grab, toe-tap touchdowns in the corner of the end zone and Rivers simply taking what the defense gave him.

His first incompletion of the game did not surface until the 6:04 mark of the third quarter when a pass intended for Austin Ekeler fell incomplete.

Rivers would ultimately throw another touchdown to cap off the drive before exiting. He finished the game going 28-for-29 with 259 passing yards and three touchdowns.

The Los Angeles Chargers (8-3) lost Melvin Gordon to an MCL injury, the one down from the game.

The Chargers have a huge matchup next Sunday night in Pittsburgh when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Defense Helps Broncos End Steelers Streak

The Denver Broncos have been close in a number of their losses this season. Something that could’ve derailed their morale as a team has only further provided the team with confidence they can turn those losses to victories.

They did that on Sunday, and in the process helped their cause in a possible push for the playoffs.

The Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-17 on Sunday afternoon at Sports Authority Field to end the Pittsburgh Steelers’ six-game winning streak.

Shelby Harris intercepted Ben Roethlisberger on a pass in the end zone from the two-yard line late to seal Denver’s second huge win in as many weeks.

The Denver Broncos defense forced the Pittsburgh Steelers into four turnovers, including two game-changing turnovers in the second half that saw Denver’s offense capitalize and score touchdowns off each.

Leading Denver’s offense was rookie running back Phillip Lindsay, who rushed for 110 yards on just 14 carries with a touchdown run that gave Denver a 24-17 lead in the fourth quarter.

Case Keenum would throw for 197 passing yards and two touchdowns, going another game without throwing an interception.

With their wins over the Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers in consecutive weeks, Denver has vaulted themselves into the playoff race.

Their remaining schedule is a relatively easy one, as they have three road games with the Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders while having to face the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Chargers at home.

For Pittsburgh, it’s a tough trip back to the Steel City.

The Pittsburgh Steelers amassed 527 total yards, a season-high total allowed by the Denver Broncos, but Roethlisberger’s two interceptions and lost fumbles from James Connor and Xavier Grimble came back to haunt Pittsburgh.

The Steelers hadn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher all season, but they did that on Sunday in Denver as their run defense has looked suspect over the past two weeks.

They have allowed 303 rushing yards in just the past two weeks, both on the road where the team has struggled to replicate its on-field success.

They’ll look to get back to their winning ways at home when they host the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday night at Heinz Field.

Wilson Helps Keep Seahawks Afloat In NFC Playoff Race

It wasn’t long ago that it appeared the future of the NFC was to be a number of encounters between the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers in the postseason, but two teams who have seen changes from personnel to coaching over the years are fighting to remain in the playoff picture.

In a thrilling contest, the Seattle Seahawks outlasted the Carolina Panthers 30-27 on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium to keep their playoff hopes alive and well.

Russell Wilson threw for 339 passing yards and two touchdowns, including a huge 43-yard completion to Tyler Lockett late to set up a game-winning 31-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski as Seattle won their second consecutive game.

A game that saw its shifts in momentum, it was Seattle — who crept closer to the sixth and final playoff spot — that pulled out a few more plays.

Carolina did well to limit Seattle’s rushing attack, but Russell Wilson was up to the challenge against Luke Kuechley and the Panthers.

In a critical play that went a long way towards determining the game, Russell Wilson found his wide receiver David Moore for a 35-yard touchdown on 4th and 3 to tie the game at 27-27 with 3:26 remaining.

On the ensuing possession, the Carolina Panthers would get into field goal range for struggling locker Graham Gano, who went on to miss a 52-yard attempt with 1:45 remaining.

The Seattle Seahawks (6-5) survived a career day from Panthers’ running back Christian McCaffrey, who finished with 237 total yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.

After slipping past Carolina on Sunday, their schedule shapes up to be favorable as they finish the season with four out of their last five games of the season at home.

Three of those games will be against the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals, two of the NFL’s worst teams.

Cousins Outshines Rodgers In Vikings Win

Kirk Cousins has heard the noise from outside, but he won’t acknowledge those who question the Minnesota Vikings for investing as much money as they did into him.

With Minnesota desperately in need of a reversal after losses in two out of their past three games, that’s exactly what Cousins delivered.

The Minnesota Vikings took down the Green Bay Packers 24-17 on Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium to stay in the playoff hunt.

Kirk Cousins carved up the Green Bay Packers secondary for 342 passing yards and three touchdowns in Minnesota’s victory over their NFC North rivals.

He outplayed his counterpart Aaron Rodgers, who was sacked four times in the loss. Rodgers finished the game throwing for only 198 passing yards and one touchdown.

After battling to a 29-29 tie back in Week 2, the two teams played to a 14-14 tie at the half. In the second half, it was Minnesota, leading 17-14, establishing a cushion late in the third quarter after Kirk Cousins’ 14-yard touchdown score to Adam Thielen gave the Vikings a 24-14 lead.

The Vikings defense would stand up to Rodgers, holding Green Bay to a field goal in the second half as they improved to 4-2 at home this season.

Currently in the No. 5 spot in the NFC playoff picture, Minnesota has their work cut out for them with two consecutive road games vs the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks over the next two weeks.

Winning one of those games could be a determining factor in Mike Zimmer’s Minnesota Vikings advancing to the playoffs as the Chicago Bears are in control of the NFC North with just five games remaining.

What are your takeaways from the NFL Week 12 action? Leave your comments below!