NFL Week 14 review: A season summed up in seconds

This was the week where small moments, snippets in time, encapsulated an entire season for certain teams and players.

By Sean Nolan

1. Brady’s brilliance defines perfect Patriots

When Deion Branch caught a 59-yard ball touchdown - thrown expertly of course – from Tom Brady (pictured above) at the end of the first half at Soldier Field, it put the Patriots 33-0 up against the Bears and it ended yet another game very early for New England. The simple excellence, in torrid conditions, was emblematic of the form of Bill Belichick’s team.

The Pats would go on to win 36-7. In the process they became the first team to confirm their place in the post-season as they moved to 11-2 at the top of the AFC East. Add in their mauling of the Jets 45-3 on Monday and they are 81-10 over two games in less than a week. After 14 weeks we finally have an undisputed best team in the NFL and it’s the Patriots.

2. Roof falls on Favre’s career?

Snow hampered another team this weekend, and another clip perfectly illustrates their season. After spending all year worrying about the aging Brett Favre and hoping his body held together, eventually their stadium let them down before their QB did, but only by 24 hours.

Following a massive snowstorm over Minneapolis, the roof of the Metrodome collapsed on Sunday morning. The extra day raised hopes that he would recover from his separated shoulder injury but after 297 regular season games, Favre sat out their 21-3 defeat to the Giants on Monday night in Detroit. It is too early to say if we have seen the last of Favre but if we have, then one of the most exciting players ever leaves the league with a whimper.

3. The New York Jets: The team everybody loves to hate

Now to a team that have become less appealing as the season goes on. Following the ‘Hard Knocks’ documentary, the Jets, and especially their coach Rex Ryan, became hot property in the off season. They began the year with a 5-1 record, but after a bye week and a 9-0 loss to Green Bay, the wheels came off.

Two overtime wins masked their problems and now they have lost their last two, including this week’s 10-6 loss to the Dolphins, at home. They are now about as popular as Julian Assange at the Pentagon Christmas party. The Jets have always had a rough n’ ready reputation and Ryan was happy to play up to it, but this weekend one clip pushed them over from disliked and on the road to hated.

The Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Aloisi subtly tripped Miami’s Nolan Carroll as he chased down a punt and in one bone-headed move the last vestiges of respect for the Jets ebbed away. Aloisi was fined and suspended for the remainder of the season. The Jets are still on track for a wild-card slot, but most of the world is now hoping they stuff it up.

4. Massive mix-up sums up Redskins’ season.

Now we turn to the hapless Redskins. The Donovan McNabb trade has not worked out but they hit a new low this week. Their highest paid player Albert Haynesworth has been suspended for the final four games as his row with coach Mike Shanahan escalated further, but on Sunday they sunk even deeper.

In a poor game, McNabb manufactured a TD with nine seconds to go to leave the score 16-17 against the Buccaneers. All they needed was the extra point to go to OT. Cue a massive mix up with the snap. Game over.  After the Haynesworth drama, the benching of McNabb and the poor record this year, the Shanahan era is already looking over at Washington.

5. Tahshard makes the wrong choice for the Cowboys

Finally, the Cowboy’s Tashard Choice getting an autograph from Michael Vick after Dallas lost 27-30 to the Eagles. It neatly covers two of this season’s biggest themes. Firstly, that Vick is now more popular than he ever was before he was jailed for animal cruelty offences. Incredible, unthinkable and the story of the year.

Secondly, that the Cowboys are still far, far away from being a big time franchise. Whether the glove was for charity, his young nephew or the Dalai Lama, don’t ask for the signature on the field if you don’t want to look like a non-league player chasing Wayne Rooney after an FA Cup third round tie. In the locker room fine, in front of the world it just looks bad.

Week 14 scores

Indianapolis 30, Tennessee 28

Buffalo 13, Cleveland 6

Pittsburgh 23, Cincinnati 7

Detroit 7, Green Bay 3

Tampa Bay 17, Washington 16

Atlanta 31, Carolina 10

Jacksonville 38, Oakland 31

New Orleans 31, St. Louis 13

San Francisco 40, Seattle 21

San Diego 31, Kansas City 0

Miami 10, NY Jets 6

Arizona 43, Denver 13

New England 36, Chicago 7

Philadelphia 30, Dallas 27

NY Giants 21, Minnesota 3

Baltimore 34, Houston 28 (OT)