The 2014 NFL regular season may have had its fair share of drama off the field, but it was also a pretty exciting few months on the field.
From the Philadelphia Eagles coming back against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 to a season-ending Sunday Night Football Matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals to decide the AFC North, there were some tremendous games played during the regular season.
In hopes that we can somehow will the NFL to an amazing Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, here is a look at the best game from each week of the 2014 regular season.
Week 1: Atlanta Falcons 37, New Orleans Saints 34
Photo Courtesy of: Nola.com
Julio Jones returned in a big way in Week 1 of the 2014 season helping Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan break Atlanta’s franchise record for passing yards in a game with 448 yards, 116 of which went to Jones. Atlanta was down 20-7 with 20 seconds left in the first half when Matt Bryant knocked in a field goal to bring the game within 10. Atlanta would pull closer in the third quarter, as the teams continued to excel on offense. Ryan then led the Falcons to a game-tying field goal with 1:20 remaining in regulation before Matt Bryant ended it in overtime. It was definitely a sign of things to come for the under-performing Saints.
Week 2: Philadelphia Eagles 30, Indianapolis Colts 27
Photo Courtesy of: Bleacher Report
A game featuring two of the league’s top offenses did not disappoint. Chip Kelly’s Eagles fought off a 14-point third-quarter deficit in the house that Peyton Manning built. Down 20-6 with 6:43 left in the third, Pro Bowlers Jeremy Maclin and Darren Sproles scored on consecutive Eagles’ possessions to put Philadelphia ahead.
Week 3: Dallas Cowboys 34, St. Louis Rams 31
Photo Courtesy of: Youtube.com
A surprising disappointment in 2014, the St. Louis Rams had the eventual NFC East champions right where they wanted them up 21-0 with six minutes remaining in the first half. The Cowboys then rallied, putting together four consecutive scoring drives to put the game within one, at 21-20 with 2:43 left in the third. Dallas continued its comeback in the fourth on a Terrance Williams receiving touchdown with 6:13 remaining. Bruce Carter then iced the game with a pick-six with 5:58 remaining. Though St. Louis would score again, Dallas had already put the game out of reach.
Week 4: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 24
Photo Courtesy of: bucs.com
Everyone counted out the Buccaneers early in the 2014 season, even the Pittsburgh Steelers. After falling behind Big Ben and company 24-17 with 7:50 remaining in the third quarter, Tampa Bay scored once early in the fourth quarter. With :07 seconds remaining in the game, Vincent Jackson became the hero by hauling in a touchdown for the win.
Week 5: Cleveland Browns 29, Tennessee Titans 28
Photo Courtesy of: Bleacher Report
A game that will likely be overlooked for eons due to the competitors involved was one of the greatest thrill rides of the season. Jake Locker had his Titans up 28-3 with 2:44 left in the second quarter before exiting the game due to injury. The Cleveland Browns pounced on Locker’s replacement, Charlie Whitehurst, shutting down the Titans offense for the remainder of the game. Brian Hoyer played the hero in this one, tossing three touchdowns, including the game-winner to Travis Benjamin with just over a minute remaining in regulation.
Week 6: San Diego Chargers 31, Oakland Raiders 28
Photo Courtesy of: Chargers.com
The Chargers entered the black hole expecting to walk out unscathed with an easy victory. Yet Derek Carr and the resurgent Raiders were gunning for their first win, and nearly pulled it out against a Chargers’ team playing without its workhorse, Ryan Mathews. With the game tied until an Andre Holmes receiving touchdown with 10:01 left in regulation, the Chargers were on the ropes and nearly knocked out. However, the Bolts rallied, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes, including replacement running back Brandon Oliver’s go-ahead touchdown with 1:56 to go.
Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs 23, San Diego Chargers 20
Photo Courtesy of: utsandiego.com
The Chargers certainly had a flair for the dramatic in 2014, but could not make the most of all of their opportunities. Facing division rivals in back-to-back weeks, the Chargers fell behind the Chiefs 10-7 with 3:11 left in the third. What followed was one of the best offensive possessions of the year. Led by Philip Rivers, the Chargers traveled 80 yards in six plays in just 41 seconds, capping off their scoring drive with a go-ahead touchdown to Antonio Gates. The teams traded scores in the second half. And with the ball in the Chiefs’ court with 1:36 remaining, they drove 48 yards on nine plays to ice this division game with a field goal.
Week 8: Washington Redskins 20, Dallas Cowboys 17
Photo Courtesy of: NJ.com
Monday Night Football madness is not close to an apt description. Just like we all drew it up, this game featured multiple possessions led by Colt McCoy and Brandon Weeden. The NFC East rivals traded scoring drives throughout the game until Dallas found itself down in the fourth quarter. Weedon led a scoring drive, which culminated in a touchdown to Jason Witten with nine minutes remaining. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, McCoy was able to lead a game-winning drive in overtime. Kai Forbath knocked in a 40-yard field goal to cap off a heroic performance from McCoy in his Texas homecoming.
Week 9: Minnesota Vikings 29, Washington Redskins 26
Photo Courtesy of: Bleacher Report
With the visiting Redskins up 10-0 in the second quarter, it was up to rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to pull off a comeback. The first-round pick showed tremendous poise, connecting on a touchdown to Chase Ford with just 36 seconds left in the first half. The second portion of this game was all about the rushing attack from these two bottom dwellers, as Matt Asiata and Alfred Morris took over. Down 20-14, Asiata put one in the painted box to take a one-point lead. Morris was not done, as he would lead a Redskins scoring drive to put the visitors back up. But at the end of the day, it was Asiata, doing his best Adrian Peterson impression, that rushed for the go-ahead score and two-point conversion with 3:27 remaining. Minnesota held the ball for over eight minutes in the fourth quarter, outlasting Morris and the Redskins in the process.
Week 10: San Francisco 49ers 27, New Orleans Saints 24
Photo Courtesy of: Bleacher Report
This contest had fans on both sides chomping at the bit on every snap. San Francisco had the largest lead of the contest, up 14-0 with 4:17 left in the first. But it was not to last. Drew Brees rallied his team by scoring three times. And while Rob Ryan’s defense held the 49ers to one score as the game was nearing an end, Colin Kaepernick led a 49ers drive to tie the game with a field goal with 44 seconds remaining. Following an Ahmad Brooks strip sack of Brees, the 49ers would kick the game-winning field goal in overtime. For Brooks, it was some sweet revenge from the prior year’s game.
Week 11: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Tennessee Titans 24
Photo Courtesy of: Pointspreads.com
The hapless Titans found themselves the odd-team out in a plethora of games this season, but rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger had given his team hope on Monday Night Football. The two teams combined for four scoring drives in the first quarter, before the offensive salvo was quieted on both ends. Tennessee put together three consecutive scoring drives and held Pittsburgh scoreless from 1:03 in the first quarter, a performance capped off by a Mettenberger touchdown with 3:42 left in the third quarter. Yet as all bad teams tend to do, the Titans let up at the end, allowing Pittsburgh to rally with two fourth quarter touchdowns for the win.
Week 12: Denver Broncos 39, Miami Dolphins 36
Photo Courtesy of: Bleacher Report
For the offensive-minded fan, this was a top-game of the year nominee. The two teams combined for 10 offensive touchdowns and 54 first downs in South Beach. Down 14-3 to the home team early, Demaryius Thomas hauled in a Peyton Manning pass to pull his team to within one with just 12 seconds left in the first half. Miami was the only team to score in the third quarter, digging a deep hole for Manning to lift his team out of. Scoring three unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Manning delivered the Broncos back from the dead to go up 39-28. Miami’s comeback fell short when it failed to recover an onside kick after a Ryan Tannehill touchdown with 1:34 remaining in regulation.
Week 13: San Diego Chargers 34, Baltimore Ravens 33
Photo Courtesy of: 10news.com
A heart-breaker for Ravens fans, this contest is also a front runner for the best game of the year. Baltimore dominated this contest, leading from 10:46 in the first until the Chargers go-ahead score in the fourth. Down 23-13 after a Torrey Smith receiving touchdown with 5:01 in the third quarter, the Chargers pulled within three on a Ryan Mathews rushing touchdown early in the fourth. Baltimore added 10 points to an already inflated lead, but Philip Rivers would not be denied. San Diego scored three touchdowns in the game’s final quarter, winning on a one-yard Eddie Royal receiving touchdown with 38 seconds left in regulation. San Diego kept its playoff hopes alive in exhilarating fashion.
Week 14: Indianapolis Colts 25, Cleveland Browns 24
Photo Courtesy of: abc7.com
Despite the fact that he was facing a defense that put up its best performance of the season, Colts’ quarterback Andrew Luck would not be denied in this one. Cleveland scored two defensive touchdowns in the first half and added an Isaiah Crowell score to go up 21-7 in the third quarter. Luck led a Colts’ rally with 13 unanswered points to pull the team to within three points. The Browns added a little security to their lead while pushing through a field goal with 8:34 remaining. But it was all for naught. Luck connected with his T.Y. Hilton for a game-winning touchdown with 32 seconds left in the game.
Week 15: Carolina Panthers 19, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17
Photo Courtesy of: Tampabay.com
Defensive showdowns never get the credit they deserve, as was the case with this NFC South clash. Without Cam Newton due to injuries he suffered in a car accident, Derek Anderson stepped up for the Panthers in their time of need, keeping Carolina’s playoff hopes alive. Down 10-9 at the end of the first half, the Panthers scored twice in the second half, and dominated the Buccaneers defensively. Tampa Bay would not score another point until a Josh McCown rushing touchdown with 3:11 to go in the fourth. The Buccaneers comeback hopes were then cut short, which enabled Carolina to remain in the race for the NFC South title.
Week 16: San Diego Chargers 38, San Francisco 49ers 35
Photo Courtesy of: Bleacher Report
Philip Rivers must be exhausted after the year his team had. Rivers added another incredible comeback to his resume on the Saturday before Christmas. The 49ers were up 21-0 after an interception return for a touchdown by Antoine Bethea with 10:20 remaining in the first half. The Chargers then scored five second-half touchdowns against a stout 49ers defense that was reeling from injuries to Patrick Willis and Navorro Bowman. Malcom Floyd capped the comeback off with a receiving touchdown with just 29 seconds left to send the game to overtime. San Diego had held San Francisco scoreless in the fourth quarter, and put the finishing touches on the 49ers on a 40-yard Nick Novak game winner in overtime.
Week 17: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Cincinnati Bengals 17
Photo Courtesy of: heinzfield.com
Two AFC North powerhouses met for the AFC North title in the final week of the season. In one of the most physical games of the year, Pittsburgh outlasted their opponents from Ohio, completing a season-sweep of the Bengals in the process. Down 10-7 early in the second quarter, the Steelers scored three times with no answer from the Bengals until 11:14 left in the fourth quarter. Yet Pittsburgh gave the Bengals no chance for a comeback as Antonio Brown sealed his team’s victory with a 63-yard receiving touchdown with 2:50 left in the game. The Steelers won the division and the third seed in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Bengals were forced into settling for a wild card berth.
Photo: USA Today