AFC West Roundup: Week 12
The Broncos fell to third place in the AFC West after the Chiefs escaped with a 30-27 OT win. (Photos by AP)
In a game of runs, Derek Carr — dislocated finger and all — led the Raiders to a fourth-quarter comeback and a 9-2 record. Carr exited briefly after the Raiders went up 24-7, and the Panthers took advantage. Carolina went on a 25-0 run to take a 32-24 lead, but they missed a pair of two-point conversions and an extra point that would prove incredibly costly. Clive Walford would tie the game with a leaping touchdown grab, and Sebastian Janikowski put the Raiders back up by three with a field goal with 1:45 remaining. The Panthers had one last shot before Mack ended things. Up next: vs. Buffalo
It was over when: Khalil Mack strip-sacked Cam Newton on fourth-and-10 with a minute left to go in the game and the Panthers trailing by three points.
Player of the game: Khalil Mack finished with a pick-six, a sack, six tackles and the strip sack that he recovered. It was a dominant performance by one of the league's most-elite pass rushers.
In a Sunday Night Football classic, the Broncos fell just short against the division-rival Chiefs. Denver held an eight-point lead with just over three minutes remaining in regulation, but Kansas City drove the length of the field to score a touchdown just before time expired. The ensuing two-point conversion would send the game to overtime, where the teams traded field goals on their first possessions. The Broncos would not convert on a 62-yard field goal attempt, however, and Chiefs kicker Carlos Santos banked in his try for the win. Up next for Broncos: at Jacksonville Up next for Chiefs: at Atlanta
It was over when: Santos knocked in a 34-yard field goal off the left upright. McManus' miss certainly put the Chiefs in position to score, but in a game that featured plenty of lead changes and big plays, nothing was certain until the referees signaled the kick was good.
Player of the game: OLB Justin Houston piled up three sacks in his second game back from injury, and that would normally be good enough to earn player of the week honors. But Tyreek Hill accomplished something that hasn't been done in decades by returning a kick for a touchdown, rushing for a touchdown and catching a touchdown. In a game full of explosive plays, Hill's 86-yard kick return touchdown — complete with a high-five during the runback — may have been the most dynamic of all.
Player of the game: Quarterback Trevor Siemian was knocked around in the first half, but he roared back after the intermission and finished with 368 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 125.6 passer rating. He completed 20-of-34 passes and connected on three completions of at least 35 yards, including a 76-yard pass to Bennie Fowler.
San Diego came off their bye week recharged and ready for Brock Osweiler and the Texans at NRG Stadium. Osweiler got Houston on the board first with a rushing touchdown over the top, but the Chargers countered with two touchdowns from Philip Rivers. After the Texans stalled in the red zone, San Diego extended its lead with a touchdown reception by TE Hunter Henry. Playing from behind, Osweiler struggled, throwing three interceptions, including one on the final Hail Mary as time expired.
It was over when: Hunter Henry finished off a 75-yard drive with a 12-yard reception down the right seam. With an 11-point lead, San Diego's defense simply needed to fend off two scoring drives in the final 9:52 of regulation. The Texans' offense came up with a field goal with 14 seconds left, but the Hail Mary after a successful onside kick recovery fell into the Chargers' hands.
Player of the game: Philip Rivers' three touchdowns and 242 passing yards drove San Diego to its fifth win of the year.
