Mattie T’s Week 16 NFL Recaps

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Star Player of the Game: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who completed 22 of 32 passes for 320 yards & threw for 1 touchdown. Roethlisberger also scored on a rushing touchdown.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on Carolina’s defensive gameplan:

“They were stacking the line of scrimmage to stop the run so, when you see that, you’ve got to take what they give you. Guys got open and Ben distributed the football to them.”

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Star Player of the Game: Cardinals wide receiver Andre Roberts, who caught 5 receptions for 110 yards & scored 1 touchdown.

Cowboys kicker David Buehler on his critical missed extra-point following a go-ahead touchdown, which enabled Arizona to win the game:

“I’m not feeling too good. I feel bad for Stephen. He drove the team down there and got the touchdown. PATs are something that is something automatic. You have to put them through the uprights. I think I just rushed it a little bit.”

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Star Player of the Game: Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel, who completed 24 of 34 passes for 314 yards while throwing for 3 touchdowns.

Chiefs head coach Todd Haley on Sunday’s win, which clinched the AFC West with San Diego’s loss:

“I probably won’t say it a whole bunch. I’m proud of the guys. There’s a lot of people who have struggled through some tough times. The reward in this business is winning, and winning big games. This just gives us an opportunity to play in some bigger games. We’ll see how far we’ve come.”

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Star Player of the Game: Ravens running back Ray Rice, who rushed 25 times for 92 yards.

Browns head coach Eric Mangini on his decision to try an onside kick to start the 2nd half, which failed:

“I felt that we had a chance for it.”

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Star Player of the Game: Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who completed 15 of 27 passes for 140 yards while throwing for 3 touchdowns.

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Star Player of the Game: Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, who completed 28 of 37 passes for 292 yards & threw for 1 touchdown.

Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo on Sunday’s win, which sets up a Week 17 showdown with Seattle for the NFC West title & a playoff berth:

“Another must win. It’s great to have that situation in the 16th game.”

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Star Player of the Game: Lions quarterback Shaun Hill, who completed 14 of 26 passes for 222 yards & threw for 2 touchdowns.

Dolphins cornerback Vontae Davis on Detroit’s 10-point comeback with 5 minutes remaining in regulation:

“The Detroit Lions? They shouldn’t come in and win this game. We’ve got way more talent.”

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Star Player of the Game: Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss, who caught 5 receptions for 85 yards.

Redskins cornerback Kevin Barnes on his key interception in overtime that helped Washington win:

“I told the defense somebody has to be the hero, and when the chance came I made the play.”

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Star Player of the Game: Bears running back Matt Forte, who rushed 19 times for 113 yards & scored 1 touchdown.

Forte on becoming the first running back all season to rush for over 100 yards against the Jets:

“That’s the type of offense Mike Martz has, it’s an explosive offense and we had a lot of big plays in this game and that’s what we focus on doing.”

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Star Player of the Game: Broncos wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, who caught 5 receptions for 111 yards.

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow on rallying the team from a 17-point halftime deficit:

“We kept fighting, we kept believing and I think we were just more aggressive and we just went after it. We had nothing to lose and we were just going to go out and play until the last second.”

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Star Player of the Game: Colts running back Dominic Rhodes, who rushed 17 times for 98 yards.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning on his naked 27-yard bootleg run, which helped Indianapolis win the game:

“I’ve always thought it does work when you don’t tell anybody. My dad taught me that a long time ago. If I wanted to score I would have scored,” he said. “I chose not to.”

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Star Player of the Game: Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, who completed 16 of 21 passes for 299 yards while throwing for 4 touchdowns.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers on Sunday’s loss, which ended their 4 year playoff streak:

“It’s tough anytime you’re eliminated from a chance of playing for the postseason. It’s something I haven’t dealt with since I’ve been playing here. This was the final straw.”

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Star Player of the Game: Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman, who completed 21 of 26 passes for 237 yards while throwing for 5 touchdowns.

Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck on the Week 17 matchup against the Rams, which will clinch the NFC West title for the winner:

“I don’t know if we all understand it, but it’s ridiculous the opportunity we still have. It’s huge. We should be saying, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you,’ because it’s amazing. There’s teams that are having pretty good seasons and they are out of the playoffs and don’t get a chance. For us to still have that opportunity, as poorly as we’ve played at times, as poorly as we performed tonight, is a huge opportunity.”

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Star Player of the Game: Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who completed 25 of 37 passes for 404 yards while throwing for 4 touchdowns.

Rodgers on his dream scenario for Week 17, as Green Bay needs a win to clinch a playoff berth:

“I wouldn’t mind Philly losing so maybe Chicago locks up that two (seed) and they might rest some of those studs they’ve got on defense. But no, this has been an up and down year. A lot of things have happened both positively and negatively that we might not have expected, but we go into the last game of the season with a chance to make the playoffs with a win and that’s all we can ask for right now.”

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Star Player of the Game: Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem, who caught 10 receptions for 101 yards.

Falcons running back Michael Turner on his critical goal-line fumble:

“It wasn’t anything they did. I just lost control, and that’s something I can’t do. I’ll make sure it won’t happen again.”

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Star Player of the Game: Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who rushed 22 times for 118 yards & scored 1 touchdown.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid on Tuesday’s loss, which cost the team a shot at a first-round playoff bye:

“We don’t deserve it after that performance. Every phase was terrible. We didn’t coach well enough. We didn’t play well enough. I’m disappointed in myself. It’s embarrassing.”