What a crazy week of football!

The good, bad, and ugly from NFL Week 14

The good, bad, and ugly from NFL Week 14
Miami pulled off the improbable. Miami Dolphins Team Website

Wow! What a week of football! We had upsets, blowouts, and some of the most exciting plays to date! Here's how I saw it go down:

THE GOOD

-The Dolphins pulled off a dramatic 34-33 upset of the Patriots on the final play of the game. They completed a 69-yard hook and ladder play using two laterals to score a touchdown. If you haven't seen the play by now, I question whether or not you are connected to society. Belichek took responsibility for the play, as he should've.

-Chief's quarterback Pat Mahomes Jr. is the league MVP. Not only is he on pace for 50 touchdowns and 5,000 yards passing, but he has highlight reel plays damn near every game. Case in point: his no-look pass for a first down, and his unbelievable 4th down completion to Tyreek Hill that goes against all conventional wisdom.

-The Bears stifled the Rams in an old school, hard-nosed football game. Final score was 15-6. It was the first time the Rams had been held under 23 all season, much less under 10. Whoever said the league is more flag football should watch this Bears team, or the Ravens, the Cowboys play defense.

THE BAD

-The Steelers inexplicably lost, again. This time, it was to the lowly Raiders by a 24-21 margin. The Steelers came into the game 7-4-1 and in control of the two seed via the Pats loss. They left with their third straight one score loss. A play here or there and they could easily be the one seed in the AFC.

-Speaking of the Raiders, they decided to fire general manager Reggie McKenzie. This appears to have been the end of the McKenzie/Jon Gruden power struggle. Ever since the team rehired Gruden as its head coach, he's been in a constant pissing match with those in the front office. Game over. He's won. Here's to hoping the Raiders spent that $100 million dollars on Gruden wisely.

- The Lions won 17-3 over the Cardinals. Your fifth win in the thirteenth game of the season over a three-win team is bad enough, but to do so with only 96 yards passing? That's reason to make your fanbase wear bags over their heads, even in a win.

THE UGLY

-The Skins benched recently acquired quarterback Mark "Butt Fumbler" Sanchez in their 40-16 blowout loss to the Giants. Josh Johnson, also recently acquired, will now be the starter for a team that's down to its fourth option at quarterback. I wonder if they'll call…Tony Romo. Gotcha!

-The Panthers were once 6-2 and being talked about as an NFC contender. Then the Steelers blew them out 52-21 on Thursday Night Football and that started their five game slide. Now 6-7, they'll most likely miss the playoffs and head coach Ron Rivera should be on the hot seat. This team is more up and down in recent years than teenage girl's emotions during prom season.

-Cowboys running back Ezekial Elliott was flagged for lowering his helmet and initiating contact in their 29-23 wild win over the Eagles. He was running towards the sideline and did what comes natural to every running back: lowering himself to brace for contact. However, the refs decided to flag him on the play and negate a would-be first down. Excuse my language, but this s*%# is pissing me off!

Some teams have clinched their playoff spot and/or division already. Others are struggling to the finish line. Then there are the ones who once looked promising and now look like life came at them fast, similar to the former beauty queens/kings in high school that look like life whipped their ass with an ugly stick. Sure is going to be a great finish and playoff run!

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The Angels beat the Astros, 4-1. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.

Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.

The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.

Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.

Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.

Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.

Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.

Key moment

Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.

Key Stat

Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.

Up next

Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.

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