Here’s what we learnt over the 12th week of this season’s NFL action, which featured a number of overtime games.
Calvin Johnson is on a hot streak
It’s generally understood that Calvin Johnson is the best wide receiver in the NFL right now.
The Lions wideout has reasserted his dominance in the NFL over the last few weeks, with a total of 861 yards in his last five games. That’s an NFL record, unbroken since 1961.
Unfortunately for the Lions, his hot form hasn’t translated into wins, with the team going 2-3 over the past five weeks and relinquishing the division lead to the Bears.
Adrian Peterson is in the conversation for the Hall Of Fame
The 2012 League MVP, Vikings runningback Adrian Peterson, played his 100th career game on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
Peterson had 146 yards and a touchdown in the game, giving him a total of 9,846 yards in his career – the third-most in NFL history through 100 games.
Peterson also entered the top five in consecutive 10-touchdown seasons (he has seven) and touchdowns in the first 100 games (he has 86). Projecting his current trend, Peterson is sure to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
The Packers without Rodgers exactly match the Vikings
The first draw of 2013 was on Sunday, as Green Bay came back from a 16-point deficit to tie the game against Minnesota, with neither team able to put it away after trading field goals in overtime.
The Packers, without star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, were ably led by Matt Flynn, but the team just cannot get it done without #12 – they’re 0-2-1 without him.
The Patriots are never out of the game
NFL fans were rewarded on Sunday night with a terrific game between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, featuring a 24-point comeback in the second half by the New England Patriots – the largest in team history.
There was a total of 11 fumbles in the game, and the Pats were the victim early, giving up a quick 21 points to the Broncos and seemingly out of the game. Benefitting from some injuries to the Denver defense, Brady matriculated the ball time after time to get back in the game.
Ultimately, the Pats won in overtime courtesy of a Denver fumble on special teams.
Greg Schiano shouldn’t be fired
In the most unlikely turnaround, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have now won three straight games after losing their first eight. Coach Schiano faced all sorts of criticism – including some from inside his own locker room – during the streak of losses, and by all accounts was due to be removed at the end of the season.
The team’s dramatic turnaround, which has been based off mistake-free play from rookie quarterback Mike Glennon, and an improving defencee that forced five turnovers on Sunday, has not been seen in the NFL since the 1978 Rams.
Tampa Bay do have some tough match-ups to come against the Panthers and Saints, but it’s reasonable to assume the Bucs will get at least two of their last five.
From this view, a 5-11 season is good enough to retain Schiano.
Quick Hits
* Larry Fitzgerald is the youngest player in history to reach 11,000 receiving yards
* Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon had a franchise record 237-yard game on Sunday
* The two teams with the longest current losing streak are the Texans (9) and Falcons (5). Did anyone foresee that in August?
* The Broncos currently have 55 touchdowns as a team. That’s 20 more than the next best teams (NO, DAL, CHI, DET).
* The Colts have been outscored 93-9 in the first half over the past four games.
* In 34 overtime games under the current rules, only five have ended on a first-possession touchdown.
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