Close Calls - Week 2
By Joe Nelson
VegasInsider.com
Each week a handful of NFL games go down to the wire not only on the scoreboard but relative to the pointspread. Here is a look at last week’s outcome impacting fourth quarters in Week 2 of the NFL season with a handful of games that were close to finishing with a different outcome.
Denver Broncos (+3) 31, Kansas City Chiefs 24 (41½): The key Thursday night AFC West matchup was tied 17-17 entering the fourth quarter after Brandon McManus hit a 54-yard field goal. Early in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs reached the Denver 14-yard line before an interception, but on its next possession, Kansas City cashed in with a touchdown to lead by seven with less than three minutes on the clock. Peyton Manning turned in a brilliant drive with Emmanuel Sanders scoring with just 36 seconds on the clock, tying the game and spoiling the night for those on the ‘under’ as well. It looked like the game was headed to overtime, but on first down, Jamaal Charles fumbled for the fifth Kansas City turnover of the night and Bradley Roby returned it for the winning touchdown.
Cincinnati Bengals (-3) 24, San Diego Chargers 19 (48): This key AFC battle was a one-point game well into the third quarter and the Chargers got a big stop late in the third forcing a short field goal that put the Bengals up 17-13 heading into the final frame. Cincinnati would connect early in the fourth for a touchdown to bring the lead to 11 points, but with just over four minutes to go, San Diego connected for a 40-yard touchdown pass. Down five, the Chargers opted to go for two in what was a huge play relative to the spread with the line at -3½ much of the week before sliding to -3. The Chargers completed the pass, but could not reach the end zone, leaving the Bengals in position to cover. The Chargers did force a punt to get the ball back, but wound up with an interception.
Atlanta Falcons (+2) 24, New York Giants 20 (50): The Giants led 13-10 at the half and moved that lead to 20-10 quickly in the second half. It looked like New York would add to that lead inside the 10-yard line on its next possession, but Eli Manning fumbled taking a sack to give the Falcons a huge stop. Off the turnover, the Falcons completed a 91-yard drive early in the fourth quarter to get within three points and then forced consecutive punts from the Giants. With just over a minute to go, the Falcons rushed in a touchdown to take the lead and the Giants did not get past midfield in the final minute, suffering a second straight painful loss with a blown late lead.
Oakland Raiders (+6) 37, Baltimore Ravens 33 (42): The underdog cover looked promising for the Raiders with a 30-20 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Ravens had tied the game by the seven-minute mark of the fourth. For a Raiders team that has done plenty of losing in the last decade, it was a familiar storyline and the Derek Carr was intercepted to hand the Ravens the ball already on the edge of field goal range with a chance to take the lead and possibly get past the number as well. Baltimore got within the Oakland 15-yard line, but the Raiders defense held as Baltimore cashed in a 31-yard field goal with just over two minutes to go, leaving Oakland still in position to cover. Derek Carr and the Raiders did even better completing perhaps the signature drive of the young quarterback’s career to date as Oakland found the end zone with 26 seconds to go for the outright win.
Green Bay Packers (-3) 27, Seattle Seahawks 17 (49½): The Packers took the early lead in the big NFC Championship rematch, up 13-3 at the half. Seattle stormed back in the third quarter with two touchdown drives within the span of just over three minutes to take a 17-13 lead as an underdog. The Packers trimmed the lead to one-point with a field goal but still trailed several minutes into the fourth quarter. Aaron Rodgers led the Packers back in front with an 80-yard touchdown drive with less than 10 minutes to go and up by five the Packers went for two and succeeded, a key play given the spread that was at -3 to -4 throughout the week for the hosts.
On the next Seattle drive, Russell Wilson was intercepted by Jayrone Elliott who fumbled a few steps later with players on both teams jumping into the pile. Seahawks lineman Justin Britt emerged from the pile with the ball, but officials awarded the ball to Green Bay in a controversial call and while no replays showed a clear recovery for either team, the Packers held on to the key turnover. Green Bay settled for a field goal on that possession to push the lead to 10 points just after the two-minute warning and Seattle’s efforts for a backdoor cover ended with a Fred Jackson fumble just across midfield.