NFL Sunday Recap-Sportacular Sports

NFL Sunday Recap

Ravens clinch 2nd straight divisional title
-Baltimore rolled to a 33-14 victory securing a home playoff game. The Giants need a win against the Eagles and losses from Minnesota and Chicago to return to the postseason.

Cincinnati wins on a last second FG clinching a playoff birth
-The Bengals traveled to Pittsburgh where a late Interception and an ensuing FG pushed Cincy into the 6 spot and knocking Pittsburgh out of the playoffs.

Dallas falls to the Saints in OT while the Redskins tame the Eagles
-RgIII and company held the Eagles at the goal line as time expired to take lead of the division. The Cowboys recovered from a 14 point deficit in the 4th only to falter in overtime. Thanks to a Giants loss, the matchup next weekend still remains the NFC East Championship Game.

Calvin breaks the record on Saturday, AP still has a ways to go.
-Calvin Johnson shredded the Falcons for 225 yards on Saturday Night and remains only 108 yards away from the 2,000 mark. Adrian Peterson rushed for a mere 86 yards and would need 208 yards to break Eric Dickerson's record next week against the Packers.

Ravens fall to Steelers 23-20

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) 23 vs. Baltimore Ravens (9-3) 20

Charlie Batch and the Pittsburgh Steelers are right back in the playoff race and possibly the AFC North discussion after stunning the Baltimore Ravens Sunday afternoon. Ben Roethlisberger has been out the past few weeks with a life-threatening rib injury and replacements Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch had yet to win a game. The Steelers had their back to the wall and faced a must-win if they had any aspirations of winning the division. The Baltimore Ravens had won 15 in a row at M & T Bank Stadium and 12 consecutive against AFC North opponents. Everything pointed to the Ravens winning this game and ultimately clinching the division. It was a poor performance from the Ravens offense that costs Baltimore a 5th straight playoff birth, for now. 

The Baltimore Ravens have pulled out many victories in tight games this season but many of those they deserved to win. Tonight though, Baltimore and more specifically Joe Flacco, gave the game away. Flacco for the second time in the past few years got stripped on a sack, this time by James Harrison and lost all momentum in the game. This occurred after Ed Reed's 61st career interception. The Ravens could've gone on a FG drive and put the game at a point insurmountable for Charlie Batch. Instead, Flacco fumbled away the game and an impressive Batch drive won the game minutes later. Shaun Suisham's 42 yard field goal capped a 6+ minute game winning drive. 

Going forward, Baltimore is still in the driver's seat as they need only to win 1 out of the next 3 against Washington, New York (N), and the Broncos as well as beating Cincinnati on the last day of the regular season. The Steelers now own the last wild card spot with the tiebreaker over the Bengals. Indianapolis controls the top spot at 8-4 but still has to play two games against the 11-1 Houston Texans. Much time remains and both of these teams look like they should return to the post season. The most important part of the result is the impact it has on the Raven's playoff home field advantage. They now have an extremely tough schedule down the stretch and could end up in a 3rd or 4th seed. The Ravens have struggled mightily on the road and now could risk the chance to only play 1 or maybe no games on the road. This Ravens team doesn't look fit to make a deep playoff run but with the return of Big Ben the Steelers defense can carry them far.