Sports

Mattie T’s Week 14 NFL Recaps

Written by The Go-To-Man Mattie T. on December 14, 2010

Star Player of the Game: Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who completed 25 of 35 passes for 319 yards while throwing for 2 touchdowns.

Manning on the Colts’ must-win urgency in every game down the stretch:

“This reminds me of high school. You have to win one each game to advance. It’s kind of a playoff game approach and our backs were against the wall.”

Star Player of the Game: Buccaneers wide receiver Arrelious Benn, who caught 4 receptions for 122 yards.

Redskins punter Hunter Smith on his failed hold that cost Washington a chance to tie the game after a late offensive touchdown:

“People are going to call for Graham’s head. They’re going to say it was a high snap. They’re going to blame me for dropping it. I’m a 12-year vet and I have to catch the ball and get it down. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining; it doesn’t matter where the snap is. If anybody needs to lose their job, it’s me, certainly not one of those guys. I certainly accept blame and hope I receive the blame.”

Star Player of the Game: Bills running back Fred Jackson, who rushed 29 times for 112 yards.

Bills linebacker Arthur Moats on the team’s bounceback effort following a blowout loss last week to Minnesota:

“We were all disgusted about that performance last week. So we were ready to bounce back and we accomplished this.”

Star Player of the Game: Lions running back Maurice Morris, who rushed 11 times for 51 yards.

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy on the concussion that knocked Aaron Rodgers out of the game in the 2nd quarter:

“He was a little groggy after those two plays, and the medical staff and Aaron decided it was in his best interest not to go back in. That’s not my call, and I don’t know any specifics.”

Star Player of the Game: Jaguars running back Rashad Jennings, who rushed 5 times for 109 yards & scored 1 touchdown.

Jaguars receiver Mike Sims-Walker on the halftime speech from Maurice Jones-Drew:

“It meant something because it came from him. He’s not a talkative guy, a loud person. But he felt like we were letting the game slip away by doing things we don’t normally do. He gave us some words and we listened. We came out and fed off it.”

Star Player of the Game: Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, who caught 8 receptions for 115 yards.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer on his two interceptions, which were both returned for Steelers touchdowns:

“Completely my fault. This loss is completely on my shoulders.”

Star Player of the Game: Falcons running back Michael Turner, who rushed 28 times for 112 yards & scored 3 touchdowns.

Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith on Jimmy Clausen’s apology to the defense after he was sacked 5 times & threw 1 interception:

“If you’re going to apologize, you know, you should apologize to the people in the huddle with you. He has a lot to learn. He ain’t at Notre Dame anymore that’s for sure.”

Star Player of the Game: 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, who completed 17 of 27 passes for 255 yards while throwing for 3 touchdowns.

49ers wide receiver Josh Morgan of the importance of Sunday’s win:

“You lose, you go home. We know we’ve still got a chance to go to the playoffs.”

Star Player of the Game: Saints wide receiver Marques Colston, who caught 5 receptions for 46 yards & scored 2 touchdowns.

Saints running back Pierre Thomas on his first action in over 2 months on Sunday:

“I was surprised to get as many touches as I did, but I knew they were going to test me and see if I was ready. The ankle wasn’t giving me any problems. I felt great out there.”

Star Player of the Game: Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who completed 27 of 40 passes for 369 yards while throwing for 2 touchdowns.

Bears defensive end Julius Peppers on the blowout loss:

“It’s not that we’re a bad football team. We played a good football team today. I don’t know if you all saw the game last Monday night. They beat somebody else worse than they beat us today. It’s not like we were playing a bad football team. We played a great team today and they came to play and they executed better than we did. That’s it.”

Star Player of the Game: Cardinals running back Tim Hightower, who rushed 18 times for 148 yards & scored 2 touchdowns.

Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton on his 3-interception game:

“There is no excuse the way we played. There is no excuse the way I played.”

Star Player of the Game: Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby, who recorded 8 tackles & forced 1 fumble.

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez on the team finishing without an offensive touchdown for the 2nd straight game:

“It makes you sick. I’m really upset. I think the team is, too.”

Star Player of the Game: Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd, who caught 4 receptions for 51 yards & scored 2 touchdowns.

Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles on the Chargers’ defense:

“We know their defense is not all that good, but hey, they came through today and stopped us.”

Star Player of the Game: Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who caught 4 receptions for 210 yards & scored 1 touchdown.

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick on Jackson’s key 91-yard touchdown reception in the 4th quarter:

“I knew he was going to have an opportunity to get some yards. I knew I put the ball in the perfect location. I just didn’t know he was going to take it 91 yards. … Basically won the game.”