The NFL is entering the homestretch — and in Week 13, a bad tackle shocks the league. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is unfairly attacked, suffers and a fight breaks out around him. The Eagles win the big game against the Ravens, and there is several last minute dramas.
NFL shock: Lawrence takes a dangerous hit
Shortly before the end of the second quarter, the sporting aspect no longer matters. In the most unpleasant way. A rough, dangerous and unfair play by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair against Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence sparks a brawl between the teams four minutes before halftime. Ultimately, Al-Shaair and Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones were ejected. Lawrence, wounded in the head, is immediately examined in the catacombs. Once a concussion is diagnosed, the game is over for him. It’s not yet clear how long the NFL’s third-highest paid player will be out. The Texans ended up winning 23:20.
Al-Shaair’s hit sends shockwaves throughout the NFL as the defensive back hits Lawrence hard in the head with his elbow and shoulder while the quarterback intentionally goes feet first to the ground to put end of the game. According to the rules, players are no longer allowed to be tackled during such a “slide”. But Al-Shaair hits Lawrence with power and speed, causing his body to twist and his head to hit the ground violently. The playmaker lay on the field for several minutes and received treatment before having to be taken off the field in a medical car.
Wild scenes unfold just a few meters from Lawrence. First, Jaguars tight end Evan Engram shoves Al-Shaair in the back in retaliation. This creates a fight between almost every player on the field, fists flying, pushing and wrestling. When things have calmed down a little, we move on to the next round: Al-Shaair and Jaguars goalkeeper Brandon Scherff tear off their helmets, want to grab each other by the collar and can almost be held back by their teammates. Al-Shaair, who was previously involved in an argument on the second day of the match when he first made a questionable shot and then punched an opponent on the sidelines, later also got into a fight with fans in the stands and had to be taken to the catacombs under police protection.
Barkley shines in best game
The real highlight game on Sunday is: the Ravens against the Eagles. It’s the duel between two Super Bowl candidates and probably the two best running backs in the league, Derrick Henry (Baltimore) and Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia). Both had the most carries in the NFL this season, Barkley had 1,392 total yards before the game (first place), while Henry was close behind with 1,325 yards. However, Henry led the NFL with 13 touchdowns as a running back, while Barkley was behind with ten.
The match started slowly, but Lamar Jackson and his Ravens took a 9-0 lead. The quarterback does things only he does: he throws to Mark Andrews, who is covered by three opponents, with centimeter precision, literally forcing his tight end to make an epic catch, which Andrews makes with top marks. But eventually Jalen Hurts and the Eagles found their rhythm, the Eagles scored 14 straight points and went into the break with a 14:12 lead. At this point, Barkley (45 yards) is ahead of Henry (35 yards), but neither of them has scored a touchdown yet.
Not much happens in the third quarter, in part because Justin Tucker, the Ravens’ legendary kicker, misses two field goals (previously an extra point). “It’s concerning for Ravens fans when you think about what’s going to happen later in the season,” former quarterback Tony Romo said on CBS. But then Barkley turned on the turbo a few times midway through the final section and broke through with a 25-yard run for the game-clinching touchdown to make the score at 21:12. It is not without reason that the Eagles rocket has the best chance of becoming the MVP of the season. A title almost always reserved for quarterbacks. His team followed up with a Field Goa, the Ravens scored a touchdown in the last second, then the Eagles won the first game 24:19.
Russell Wilson turns back time
Shortly after his 36th birthday, Russell Wilson is at his best during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wild 44-38 victory over their longtime rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals. The veteran quarterback threw for a game-high 414 yards and three touchdowns, each better than the last. Wilson’s offense manages to win a furious shootout against Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense (sixth best offense in the league).
The Bengals are 4-8 after the loss and are on the verge of being eliminated from the playoff race. In the end, it was their defense that was responsible for the defeat: for the sixth time this year, they allowed at least 34 points, including four times in the last five games. It couldn’t be worse and with this defense, superstar Burrow won’t win the Super Bowl. On the other hand, the Steelers improve their record to 9-3, find the right response to last week’s defeat and remain ahead of Baltimore, second in the AFC North.
The jets dig their own grave deeper and deeper
This Jets season is already a disaster, but one day before his 41st birthday, superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers experiences not only the next loss (3-9), but also one of the strangest games of the year during the 9:26 p.m. vs. Seattle: The Seahawks lose the ball on kickoffs twice in the first half as the New York team takes a 14-0 lead. In the second half, however, Rodgers and Co. didn’t think much of anything, but Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams celebrated, becoming the game-winner with two sacks and a 92-yard pick-six.
Commanders dominate at will
Jayden Daniels and the Commanders flexed their muscles so much in the first quarter that the game was already decided at that point. Led by its rookie quarterback (and two turnovers by the Titans), the Washington DC team leads 21-0 after 15 minutes. The first four drives each led to a touchdown, and in the end the Commanders won 42:19. Daniels threw for 206 yards, three touchdowns and an interception – and ran for another touchdown. With his sixth rushing touchdown this season, he now has the second-most touchdowns ever by a quarterback in a season for Washington.
But the defense should also be praised: Washington linebacker Bobby Wagner became only the second professional in NFL history to make 100 tackles in a season for the 13th consecutive time. Thanks to the defense, the Titans only managed a total of 245 offensive yards (Commanders: 463 yards). However, Tennessee’s Nick Westbrook-Ikhine still caught three passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns. He has now scored eight touchdowns in the last eight games.
Vikings snatch victory from Cardinals
Late drama, part 1: While the Vikings don’t lead against the Arizona Cardinals until 1:13 remains, Minnesota takes the lead for the first time all day when quarterback Fullback Sam Darnold throws running back Aaron Jones for a five-yard touchdown. The Vikings narrowly escaped with a 23:22 victory and now have an impressive ten wins (two losses). The Cardinals relinquish the lead in the NFC West.
The Colts earn an important last-second victory
Late drama, part 2: Recently much-criticized Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson drops his shoulder — and bulldozes through the Patriots defense in the game’s final seconds. With this 2-point conversion (instead of the simpler extra point, which would have “just” brought overtime) after the very late touchdown, the Indiana team earned a narrow 25:24 victory over their old rivals of New England and keeps its faint playoff hopes alive with six wins and seven losses.
Cousins threw four interceptions
Late Drama Part 3: There are 40 seconds left when Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins wants to give his Atlanta team the last chance to win – but he throws his fourth interception of the day (sets his negative personal record). Cousins had a game to forget in the 13:17 loss, while the Chargers proved once again that they have one of the best defenses in the league and have now become a serious opponent in the playoffs with eight wins. High-profile Justin Herbert, Los Angeles’ quarterback with just one playoff game under his belt, is now expected to lead the Chargers to the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time in 14 years.
