Tim Tebow, Michael Vick and The Top 10 NFL Week 15 Storylines
This was one of the most exciting weeks of the 2010 NFL season.
Tim Tebow made his first NFL start at quarterback for the Denver Broncos against the Oakland Raiders. And he performed very well.
Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin completed a miraculous comeback against the New York Giants.
Mike Shanahan proved doubters wrong with Rex Grossman as his starting quarterback.
Tom Brady sets a historic record as the Detroit Lions snap theirs.
Playoff scenarios and more lie ahead!
10. AFC and NFC West Three-Way Division Battles
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Somehow, heading into Week 16, both West divisions has three contenders for the division title.
In the NFC, St. Louis, Seattle and San Francisco are all try to keep their heads above water. One of these teams with a guaranteed losing record will win the division and host a playoff game. Oh, the luxuries of a division title.
St. Louis needs to beat San Francisco before entering a possible division title defining matchup with Seattle Week 17.
Seattle isn’t expected to travel to Tampa Bay and beat the Buccaneers Week 16 though.
San Francisco needs to beat St. Louis and Arizona in the next two weeks. They would then sneak into the playoffs if St. Louis beat Seattle. What a ride it’s going to be to the finish.
The Kansas City Chiefs control their own destiny at 9-5. San Diego sits 8-6 and Oakland is 7-7. They both desperately need Kansas City to fall to Tennessee Week 16. Kansas City hosts two home games in the next two weeks, where they are currently undefeated. It is looking likely that the Chiefs will win the AFC West, though nothing is out of the realm of possibility in this wild, wild division.
9. Ravens Snap Saints’ Six-Game Winning Streak
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Baltimore snapped the New Orleans Saints’ six-game winning streak at home.
Ray Rice finally dominated a game. He rushed 31 times for 153 yards and a touchdown. He displayed those great receiving skills again, catching five passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Brees was once again in MVP form for the most part.
He completed 29 of 46 attempted passes (63.0 completion percentage) for three touchdowns and one interception.
One touchdown bounced off Marques Colston’s hands and into Lance Moore’s in the back corner of the end zone. Moore was able to keep his feet in bounds and maintain control of the ball.
Still, the Ravens were able to hang on to the much needed win to keep them tied with Steelers. The Ravens now have a chance to win the AFC North division if they win, and the Steelers manage to lose two easy games.
The Saints battle Atlanta and are still in the NFC South division race with a win.
These two teams put on a great show in a potential Super Bowl matchup.
8. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts, Back Atop the AFC South
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Manning gave Colts nation a scare when he threw 11 interceptions in just three games. The Colts looked liked they could potentially miss out on the playoffs for the first time in what feels like forever.
Manning rallied his team and put them back on the right track.
They beat Jacksonville at home in Week 15 and now sit atop the AFC South once again. More importantly, the Colts control their own destiny going forward. If the Colts win their next two games against Oakland and Tennessee, they win the AFC South and make the playoffs once again.
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7. Matt Flynn’s Valiant Effort
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In his first NFL career, Matt Flynn had to lead his Green Bay Packers to battle Tom Brady and his New England Patriots in Foxboro, where Tom Brady just does not lose.
Flynn gave the Patriots a surprising run for their money. After the Patriots have dominated most of their games since their Week 9 loss to the Browns, Flynn actually had the Packers winning this one most of the game.
Flynn completed 24 of 37 passes (64.9 completion percentage) for 251 yards and three touchdowns.
Unfortunately, Flynn’s lone interception was ran back by Kyle Arrington for a 36-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Flynn had time to win the game with time winding down late in the fourth quarter, but he was sacked and lost a fumble on fourth-and-one with the game on the line as time expired.
Flynn gave it his all, but his mistakes may have cost the Packers a chance at the playoffs.
6. Tom Brady’s Historic Pace
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Ever since the embarrassing Week 9 loss to the Cleveland Browns, Tom Brady has been a man possessed in rare MVP form.
In the Week 15 win over the Green Bay Packers, Brady broke Dan Meredith’s record with his seventh straight game of at least two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Brady has now gone nine games without turning the ball over let alone throwing an interception. Brady almost threw one in the first quarter to Charles Woodson, but almost doesn’t count.
Since that loss to Cleveland, Brady has thrown 17 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Only Michael Vick stands in Brady’s way for the 2010 NFL MVP award.
5. New York Jets Surprise Pittsburgh Steelers
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The New York Jets went on the road and defeated the Troy Polamalu-less Pittsburgh Steelers. Even though Polamalu was inactive, it is still a great win for the New York Jets, who have stumbled in the past two weeks against New England and Miami.
Pittsburgh even clinched a playoff berth in the loss.
New York all but clinched a playoff berth after Santonio Holmes’ return to Pittsburgh victory. They control their own playoff destiny heading into the final two weeks of the season.
Mark Sanchez finally refused to turn the ball over after throwing an interception in eight straight games.
The defining play of the game was Jason Taylor’s safety on Mewelde Moore. Gang Green desperately needed this win to get back on the right track.
Pittsburgh will be able to get back on the right road against Carolina in Week 16.
4. Mike Shanahan Right About Rex Grossman
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Mike Shanahan benched veteran Donovan McNabb for the rest of the season for Rex Grossman. Everyone scoffed at the idea, but it seems everyone was proven wrong by Mike Shanahan and Rex Grossman.
Grossman bounced back from a terrible first half to light up the Cowboys in the second half on the road in Dallas.
He finished the day completing 25 of 43 passes (58.1 completion percentage) for 322 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions and a fumble.
Grossman was sharp in the second half. If he performs like this in the final two weeks, he may have just surprisingly resurrected his career.
3. Detroit Lions Snap Historic 26 Road Game Losing Streak
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Calvin Johnson and Maurice Morris led the Detroit Lions to their second consecutive win in years. Most importantly, the win snapped a historic 26 road game losing streak that has haunted the Lions.
The Lions almost snapped it on opening day in Chicago, but a Calvin Johnson touchdown to take the lead and essentially win the game was called incomplete. Johnson caught 10 passes for 152 yards in the contest. Morris rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown.
The Lions beat Josh Freeman’s surprisingly strong Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home 23-20, so they definitely deserve this win.
They will try to make it three in a row against the Miami Dolphins in Week 16.
2. Tim Tebow’s First NFL Start
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Tim Tebow finally made his first NFL start for the Denver Broncos. He had a great showing in the hostile Oakland environment. Tebow started in place of the injured Kyle Orton and had his team in the game until his defense let him down in the second half.
Tebow completed eight of 16 passes (50.0 completion percentage) for 138 yards and a touchdown. Tebow should have had two touchdowns, as a pass was dropped in the end zone.
He also ran for 78 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown.
Tim Tebow could very well be the successor Denver has been looking for since John Elway.
1. Michael Vick Leads Eagles Past Giants
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The Giants had the game and division locked up.
Until Michael Vick let his wings, or legs, loose.
Vick evaded sacks and ran all over the field. He rushed 10 times for 138 yards and a touchdown. He also completed 21 of 35 passes (60.0 completion percentage) for 242 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
He led the Eagles to touchdown drive after touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. It all started with a Brent Celek touchdown. After rushing for a touchdown to bring the Eagles within seven, Vick found Jeremy Maclin for his second fourth quarter touchdown reception with 1:16 to go.
The game was set to go to overtime.
Then a poor snap led to a terrible Matt Dodge punt to DeSean Jackson. Jackson muffed the return but recovered and ran up the middle of the field untouched and after showboating, completed the walk-off punt return touchdown.
The devastating Giants collapse cost them the division and possibly a playoff berth if they continue to stumble.
Meanwhile, Michael Vick has his Eagles soaring high. They have shown they are a resilient team and will be the biggest force in the NFC playoffs. Michael Vick has his eyes set on his first Super Bowl ring.
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