NFL 4th Quarter Covers - Sep. 25
By: Joe Nelson
Glancing at the scoreboard won't tell you the whole story in many games. There were many wild fourth quarters last week in the NFL as nine teams that led entering the fourth quarter ended up losing. Here are the games that went down to the wire relative to the spread in the fourth quarter last week. Get the details on the final minutes in those key games in this weekly column.
San Francisco (+1) 13, Cincinnati 8
Ugly offense prevailed most of the way as the 49ers were scoreless until late in the third quarter, tying the game at 3-3 entering the fourth. Cincinnati had it best scoring chance early in the fourth after a fumble recovery deep in San Francisco territory but had to settle for a chip shot field goal. San Francisco answered with the only touchdown drive of the day to take the lead. The 49ers took a safety late rather than punting deep in their own territory, creating the first even 13-8 NFL final.
New Orleans (-4) 40, Houston 33
The Texans appeared on the verge of 4-0 pushing a 19-17 lead to 26-17 right as the fourth quarter started. The Houston defense even forced a punt on the next possession for the Saints but then went 3 and out on the next possession, oddly passing instead of burning clock. The Saints started in good field position after a marginal punt and scored five players later to get within two. Again with the lead Houston stuck to the passing game and a Matt Schaub was picked on the next series, giving the Saints another short field. The New Orleans score put the margin right on the spread but Saints went for two and succeeded to go up six. The Texans found new life on the next drive, answering to take the lead with just over four minutes to go but New Orleans got a few big plays to take the lead back with another 8-point touchdown drive and then sent Houston backwards on its final drive.
Cleveland (+2) 17, Miami 16
Action and Peyton Hillis being inactive flipped the spread on this game and created a sweet middle opportunity as Miami was +3 early in the week. The Dolphins were in control early and dominated the yardage but could not pull away with a Reggie Bush fumble and a missed field goal being culprits. Miami took a 13-10 lead into the fourth quarter and extended the margin with another 3-pointer with just over three minutes to go. The tough luck Fins were burned again though as the Browns put together its best drive of the day, going 80 yards in 13 plays including a big fourth down conversion. On the ensuing kickoff a horse caller tackle put Miami past midfield with some time on the clock but the passing game failed, ultimately ending in an interception.
Detroit (-3) 26, Minnesota 23
The Vikings incredibly got off to another fast start, posting a 20-0 margin in the first half that could have been even worse, holding the high scoring Lions to just 40 yards on five punts. Another second half collapse was in order however as the roles reversed, Minnesota punted three consecutive times and then oddly the Vikings went for it on fourth and short on the Detroit 17, instead of extending the lead to 23-17 with another field goal. The play ran to back-up RB Toby Gerhart was stuffed and the Lions tied the game on the next possession. Detroit got a stop and another field goal drive but the Vikings finally showed a little fourth quarter lift, getting a 49-yard field goal with just over a minute to go. Minnesota forced a punt and got the ball in Detroit territory seemingly with time for a play or two to set up a field goal attempt but an unnecessary roughness penalty pushed the ball back. The Vikings got a big play on a final heave but did not get out of bounds to set up a final kick and the Lions wasted no time setting up the winner in OT. Most Vikings backers still took the cash but late players ended with an unsettling push.
Carolina (-3.5) 16, Jacksonville 10
Soggy conditions made for a tough game for both rookie QBs but Jacksonville took a 10-8 lead into the fourth quarter after controlling the game for the most part with a solid rushing attack and excellent defense. The Jaguars controlled field position throughout the second half and picked up several first downs but could not quite get into field position. The game turned on an ugly Matt Turk punt that went just 14 yards to set up the Panthers in great field position with just over six minutes to go. Turk had mishandled a snap earlier in the game to set up another short field for the Panthers. Carolina connected and found the end zone a few plays later, getting a questionable 2-point conversion to stand as well. Jacksonville got the ball twice more and moved into Carolina territory on its final possession but time ran out.
Green Bay (-5) 27, Chicago 17
The Packers took a 20-10 lead into the fourth quarter and extended that margin to 27-10 early in the final frame. The Bears would answer with a touchdown just a minute later to get the margin back to ten points before a wild finish. An Aaron Rodgers interception gave the Bears the ball back but on that drive and the subsequent drive the Bears could not get into field goal range. Forcing the Packers to punt the Bears made one of the most incredible punt returns ever seen, as Devin Hester and the return team played decoy on one side of the field and appeared lining up to catch the ball but in reality the punt had gone to the other side of the field and Johnny Knox sprinted down the sideline for a touchdown. The play was called back for a holding penalty that upon review was non-existent, canceling a play that would have flipped the spread winners on both the side and total.