simmytbone
12-27-2014, 08:39 AM
Hey guys,
Despite them not makin' the Playoffs, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Oakland Raiders closed out their seasons @ home with wins
Here are the stories:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20141218_TEN@JAC
Jaguars hold off Titans late, win 21-13 in home finale
By MARK LONG | AP Sports Writer
Dec. 19, 2014
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Blake Bortles revived a stagnant offense. Jordan Todman provided some cushion. And Sen'Derrick Marks sealed it with the most rewarding sack of his career.
The trio provided all the highlights in the Jacksonville Jaguars' 21-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night.
In a matchup that was widely billed as unwatchable, Bortles, Todman and Marks offered some compelling moments in a relatively meaningless game.
''The neat thing about this was different guys stood up at different times,'' Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said.
Bortles completed 13 of 26 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown, a 4-yard pass to Marcedes Lewis that got Jacksonville going late in the second quarter. He also ran for 50 yards playing with a sprained right foot.
''I wasn't going out there if I couldn't move around and help the offense,'' Bortles said.
Todman's 62-yard run put the Jaguars ahead for good. He juked one defender and stiff-armed another in his first carry of the night, ending his first score of the season with a leap into the stands.
Marks' play, though, got the most attention.
With the Titans driving, Marks sacked Charlie Whitehurst on the final play. It gave him 8 1/2 sacks on the season, triggering a $600,000 bonus in his contract.
''What a great way to end the night,'' Bradley said.
Marks stood up and starting rubbing his fingers together before getting mobbed by teammates near midfield.
''Oh, we're going to spend some of that money,'' Jaguars defensive end Red Bryant said.
The Jaguars (3-12) won for the second time in four weeks thanks to a rejuvenated offense that had scored just two touchdowns in the previous four games. Playing the Titans (2-13) surely aided the effort.
Tennessee lost its ninth consecutive game and moved a step closer to securing the No. 1 draft pick.
''It was more about mistakes that we made than anything else because when we did it right - as you can see by most of the first half - we played pretty good,'' Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said.
The Jaguars had only 16 yards of offense until Bortles led them on an 80-yard drive at the end of the first half, ending it with the jump ball to Lewis in the left corner of the end zone.
The Jaguars got the ball to start the second half, and Bortles found Marquise Lee on a 34-yard catch-and-run on third-and 7. After two more completions, Jacksonville went to some trickery with a backward to Cecil Shorts III, who then threw across the field to Todman to the 9.
It looked as if Jacksonville would have to settle for a tying field when Bortles was flushed from the pocket and scrambled down the sideline to the 2 on third-and-goal. But linebacker Avery Williamson was called for holding Lewis away from the play, giving the Jaguars new life. Toby Gerhart punched it in from the 1 on the next play.
The turnaround for the Jaguars was surprising. Losers of seven of their last eight games, the Jaguars had only two offensive touchdowns in their previous 46 drives over four games and nearly two quarters, and just like that, Bortles took them down the field for touchdowns on consecutive drives.
That was a bright spot in a game otherwise devoid of them early.
For the final NFL game on Thursday night this year, about the only thing at stake was the inside track for the No. 1 pick, and likely a slightly easier schedule. In this case, the loser had more to gain.
The Titans were led by third-stringer Whitehurst, who was replacing Zach Mettenberger. Whitehurst couldn't miss at the start, and for the first time this year, the Titans scored a touchdown on their opening possession.
Tennessee made it 10-0 in the second and had a 179-16 advantage in yards.
But things turned from there, with Bortles, Todman and Marks providing the big plays.
''It was a great feeling,'' Todman said. ''You're looking up at the scoreboard just hoping you don't get caught from behind. It was a great call. The line did a good job. I made a guy miss and then it was off to the races. It was just what we needed - just what I needed.''
Notes: The Jaguars gave up four sacks, giving them 66 for the season and breaking the franchise record of 63 set in 2001. Jacksonville has allowed at least four sacks in six consecutive games. ... Jaguars RB Toby Gerhart left the game with bruised ribs, tried to return and then sat out for good late. He finished with 53 yards on 12 carries. ... Titans defensive coordinator Ray Horton was on the sideline for the first time this season. ... After NFL observers complained and maybe threatened a fine, Jaguars LB J.T. Thomas removed his teal-tinted visor at halftime.
credit: cbssports.com
Meanwhile....
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/sen-derrick-marks-earned--600-000-on-one-play-141233585.html
Jacksonville's Sen'Derrick Marks earned $600,000 on one play
By Jay Busbee | Shutdown Corner
December 19, 2014 9:12 AM
It was one tackle in a game that was, otherwise, the definition of unmemorable. A tackle to bring a merciful end to a slapfight between two 2-12 teams, a sack of the Tennessee Titans' Charlie Whitehurst through an indifferent O-line. But for Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks, it was the most profitable tackle of his entire career.
The sack triggered a $600,000 bonus in Marks' contract; he had to achieve at least eight sacks this season, and he now has 8 1/2. The sack preserved Jacksonville's 21-13 win against Tennessee, giving the Jaguars the tiniest measure of hope for a better year and giving Titans fans more reason to hope for Marcus Mariota in Tennessee blues.
For his part, Marks knew exactly where he stood. After making the sack, he leaped up and made the Johnny Manziel "money" gesture before getting buried by teammates in a celebratory pile. After the game, he invited pretty much the entire city of Jacksonville to party with him.
"It was pretty awesome," Marks said. "Just the excitement of all the guys. Everybody's excited about somebody else accomplishing something. It just shows the character of our team and the guys that we have. Nobody gets that check but me, but everybody's excited for me. It's just the commitment we all have to one another and the character of each guy in here."
Maybe so, but Marks deserves plenty of credit all on his own. Coming into this season, he only had seven sacks total for his previous five years in the league, one with Jacksonville and four with Tennessee. He's more than doubled his total of four sacks last season.
In the end, Marks is getting the check, but his teammates are apparently going to help him use it. "Oh, we're going to spend some of that money," DE Red Bryant said.
credit: sports.yahoo.com
and finally....
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20141221_BUF@OAK
Raiders knock Bills out of playoffs with 26-24 win
By JOSH DUBOW | AP Sports Writer
Dec. 21, 2014
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Unable to make the playoffs for the 12th straight year, the Oakland Raiders are doing a good job keeping other teams out of the postseason.
Derek Carr threw two touchdown passes, Sebastian Janikowski kicked four field goals, and the Raiders knocked the Buffalo Bills from playoff contention with a 26-24 victory Sunday.
''I can't say enough good things about this team,'' interim coach Tony Sparano said. ''I love the guys in that locker room. They're fighters. Anytime somebody counts them out, they bounce back. It's a great sign of character.''
The Bills (8-7) needed to win their final two games and get some help to end the NFL's longest active playoff drought at 14 seasons. But they failed at the easiest part - beating the lowly Raiders (3-12) - and will miss the playoffs for a 15th straight year.
''When you've gone this long and you're right there with a chance, and you put it all on the line and you don't come through, it hurts,'' quarterback Kyle Orton said.
Oakland has the second longest active postseason drought at 12 but has done a good job of playing spoiler in the past five weeks, beating Kansas City, San Francisco and Buffalo after starting the season 0-10.
''This team has never really gotten down to the point where we were ready to give up,'' safety Charles Woodson said. ''It's always been an upbeat attitude with the guys on the team, and it shows out there each week.''
Carr wasn't that sharp, completing just 17 of 34 passes for 214 yards, but the rookie did what Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers couldn't: throw a touchdown pass against Buffalo's stout defense.
He tied the game with a scoring throw to James Jones in the second quarter and then sealed it with a 1-yarder to Jamize Olawale with 2:51 to go.
''You see what that defense did to the best quarterbacks in the league,'' Carr said. ''When you turn the film on and see what they're doing, you know it's going to be tough. At the start it sure was tough.''
The second TD came after Oakland stopped Buffalo on a third-and-1 near midfield when Ray-Ray Armstrong deflected a pass to Chris Hogan and Carr converted a third-and-22 with a 51-yard completion to Andre Holmes.
Darren McFadden then ran it 25 yards down to the 1, and Carr hit Olawale two plays later to seal Buffalo's fate.
After Janikowski missed a 48-yard field goal attempt, Orton threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Robert Woods with 1:09 to play to cut it to 26-24. But Woodson recovered the ensuing onside kick to end it.
The Bills came into the game vowing not to overlook the two-win Raiders. But Orton struggled after an early touchdown pass to Sammy Watkins, throwing an interception and posting five straight three-and-outs on Buffalo's next six possessions to put the Bills in a hole they never could overcome.
The Bills ran for just 13 yards despite the return of C.J. Spiller from a broken collarbone. That was their worst rushing performance since gaining 4 yards against Tennessee on Nov. 23, 1997.
''At the end of the day, they got after us up front and they kicked our butt up front,'' coach Doug Marrone said. ''When you do that, it's difficult to run, pass, do a lot of things.''
Instead of having a playoff berth possibly on the line next week in New England, the Bills can start looking ahead to next season and figuring out what to do at quarterback. Orton failed to get Buffalo over the hump after replacing ineffective second-year player EJ Manuel.
Orton went 32 for 49 for 329 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Raiders got a pair of field goals from Janikowski in the third quarter to take a 19-10 lead, but the Bills managed to stay within striking distance by keeping Oakland out of the end zone.
Buffalo then got right back into it on the opening play of the fourth quarter when Orton connected on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Scott Chandler to make it 19-17.
But that was as close as it would get.
NOTES: The 13 yards rushing allowed by the Raiders were tied for their third fewest since the merger. ... Bills DT Marcell Dareus (knee) and CB Stephon Gilmore (concussion) left the game with injuries.
credit: cbssports.com
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014121800/2014/REG16/titans@jaguars
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014122110/2014/REG16/bills@raiders
Well guys, the Jaguars and the Raiders close out their seasons @ home with victories and now, they are ready to play spoilers to the Houston Texans and the Denver Broncos
Despite them not makin' the Playoffs, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Oakland Raiders closed out their seasons @ home with wins
Here are the stories:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20141218_TEN@JAC
Jaguars hold off Titans late, win 21-13 in home finale
By MARK LONG | AP Sports Writer
Dec. 19, 2014
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Blake Bortles revived a stagnant offense. Jordan Todman provided some cushion. And Sen'Derrick Marks sealed it with the most rewarding sack of his career.
The trio provided all the highlights in the Jacksonville Jaguars' 21-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night.
In a matchup that was widely billed as unwatchable, Bortles, Todman and Marks offered some compelling moments in a relatively meaningless game.
''The neat thing about this was different guys stood up at different times,'' Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said.
Bortles completed 13 of 26 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown, a 4-yard pass to Marcedes Lewis that got Jacksonville going late in the second quarter. He also ran for 50 yards playing with a sprained right foot.
''I wasn't going out there if I couldn't move around and help the offense,'' Bortles said.
Todman's 62-yard run put the Jaguars ahead for good. He juked one defender and stiff-armed another in his first carry of the night, ending his first score of the season with a leap into the stands.
Marks' play, though, got the most attention.
With the Titans driving, Marks sacked Charlie Whitehurst on the final play. It gave him 8 1/2 sacks on the season, triggering a $600,000 bonus in his contract.
''What a great way to end the night,'' Bradley said.
Marks stood up and starting rubbing his fingers together before getting mobbed by teammates near midfield.
''Oh, we're going to spend some of that money,'' Jaguars defensive end Red Bryant said.
The Jaguars (3-12) won for the second time in four weeks thanks to a rejuvenated offense that had scored just two touchdowns in the previous four games. Playing the Titans (2-13) surely aided the effort.
Tennessee lost its ninth consecutive game and moved a step closer to securing the No. 1 draft pick.
''It was more about mistakes that we made than anything else because when we did it right - as you can see by most of the first half - we played pretty good,'' Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said.
The Jaguars had only 16 yards of offense until Bortles led them on an 80-yard drive at the end of the first half, ending it with the jump ball to Lewis in the left corner of the end zone.
The Jaguars got the ball to start the second half, and Bortles found Marquise Lee on a 34-yard catch-and-run on third-and 7. After two more completions, Jacksonville went to some trickery with a backward to Cecil Shorts III, who then threw across the field to Todman to the 9.
It looked as if Jacksonville would have to settle for a tying field when Bortles was flushed from the pocket and scrambled down the sideline to the 2 on third-and-goal. But linebacker Avery Williamson was called for holding Lewis away from the play, giving the Jaguars new life. Toby Gerhart punched it in from the 1 on the next play.
The turnaround for the Jaguars was surprising. Losers of seven of their last eight games, the Jaguars had only two offensive touchdowns in their previous 46 drives over four games and nearly two quarters, and just like that, Bortles took them down the field for touchdowns on consecutive drives.
That was a bright spot in a game otherwise devoid of them early.
For the final NFL game on Thursday night this year, about the only thing at stake was the inside track for the No. 1 pick, and likely a slightly easier schedule. In this case, the loser had more to gain.
The Titans were led by third-stringer Whitehurst, who was replacing Zach Mettenberger. Whitehurst couldn't miss at the start, and for the first time this year, the Titans scored a touchdown on their opening possession.
Tennessee made it 10-0 in the second and had a 179-16 advantage in yards.
But things turned from there, with Bortles, Todman and Marks providing the big plays.
''It was a great feeling,'' Todman said. ''You're looking up at the scoreboard just hoping you don't get caught from behind. It was a great call. The line did a good job. I made a guy miss and then it was off to the races. It was just what we needed - just what I needed.''
Notes: The Jaguars gave up four sacks, giving them 66 for the season and breaking the franchise record of 63 set in 2001. Jacksonville has allowed at least four sacks in six consecutive games. ... Jaguars RB Toby Gerhart left the game with bruised ribs, tried to return and then sat out for good late. He finished with 53 yards on 12 carries. ... Titans defensive coordinator Ray Horton was on the sideline for the first time this season. ... After NFL observers complained and maybe threatened a fine, Jaguars LB J.T. Thomas removed his teal-tinted visor at halftime.
credit: cbssports.com
Meanwhile....
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/sen-derrick-marks-earned--600-000-on-one-play-141233585.html
Jacksonville's Sen'Derrick Marks earned $600,000 on one play
By Jay Busbee | Shutdown Corner
December 19, 2014 9:12 AM
It was one tackle in a game that was, otherwise, the definition of unmemorable. A tackle to bring a merciful end to a slapfight between two 2-12 teams, a sack of the Tennessee Titans' Charlie Whitehurst through an indifferent O-line. But for Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks, it was the most profitable tackle of his entire career.
The sack triggered a $600,000 bonus in Marks' contract; he had to achieve at least eight sacks this season, and he now has 8 1/2. The sack preserved Jacksonville's 21-13 win against Tennessee, giving the Jaguars the tiniest measure of hope for a better year and giving Titans fans more reason to hope for Marcus Mariota in Tennessee blues.
For his part, Marks knew exactly where he stood. After making the sack, he leaped up and made the Johnny Manziel "money" gesture before getting buried by teammates in a celebratory pile. After the game, he invited pretty much the entire city of Jacksonville to party with him.
"It was pretty awesome," Marks said. "Just the excitement of all the guys. Everybody's excited about somebody else accomplishing something. It just shows the character of our team and the guys that we have. Nobody gets that check but me, but everybody's excited for me. It's just the commitment we all have to one another and the character of each guy in here."
Maybe so, but Marks deserves plenty of credit all on his own. Coming into this season, he only had seven sacks total for his previous five years in the league, one with Jacksonville and four with Tennessee. He's more than doubled his total of four sacks last season.
In the end, Marks is getting the check, but his teammates are apparently going to help him use it. "Oh, we're going to spend some of that money," DE Red Bryant said.
credit: sports.yahoo.com
and finally....
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20141221_BUF@OAK
Raiders knock Bills out of playoffs with 26-24 win
By JOSH DUBOW | AP Sports Writer
Dec. 21, 2014
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Unable to make the playoffs for the 12th straight year, the Oakland Raiders are doing a good job keeping other teams out of the postseason.
Derek Carr threw two touchdown passes, Sebastian Janikowski kicked four field goals, and the Raiders knocked the Buffalo Bills from playoff contention with a 26-24 victory Sunday.
''I can't say enough good things about this team,'' interim coach Tony Sparano said. ''I love the guys in that locker room. They're fighters. Anytime somebody counts them out, they bounce back. It's a great sign of character.''
The Bills (8-7) needed to win their final two games and get some help to end the NFL's longest active playoff drought at 14 seasons. But they failed at the easiest part - beating the lowly Raiders (3-12) - and will miss the playoffs for a 15th straight year.
''When you've gone this long and you're right there with a chance, and you put it all on the line and you don't come through, it hurts,'' quarterback Kyle Orton said.
Oakland has the second longest active postseason drought at 12 but has done a good job of playing spoiler in the past five weeks, beating Kansas City, San Francisco and Buffalo after starting the season 0-10.
''This team has never really gotten down to the point where we were ready to give up,'' safety Charles Woodson said. ''It's always been an upbeat attitude with the guys on the team, and it shows out there each week.''
Carr wasn't that sharp, completing just 17 of 34 passes for 214 yards, but the rookie did what Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers couldn't: throw a touchdown pass against Buffalo's stout defense.
He tied the game with a scoring throw to James Jones in the second quarter and then sealed it with a 1-yarder to Jamize Olawale with 2:51 to go.
''You see what that defense did to the best quarterbacks in the league,'' Carr said. ''When you turn the film on and see what they're doing, you know it's going to be tough. At the start it sure was tough.''
The second TD came after Oakland stopped Buffalo on a third-and-1 near midfield when Ray-Ray Armstrong deflected a pass to Chris Hogan and Carr converted a third-and-22 with a 51-yard completion to Andre Holmes.
Darren McFadden then ran it 25 yards down to the 1, and Carr hit Olawale two plays later to seal Buffalo's fate.
After Janikowski missed a 48-yard field goal attempt, Orton threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Robert Woods with 1:09 to play to cut it to 26-24. But Woodson recovered the ensuing onside kick to end it.
The Bills came into the game vowing not to overlook the two-win Raiders. But Orton struggled after an early touchdown pass to Sammy Watkins, throwing an interception and posting five straight three-and-outs on Buffalo's next six possessions to put the Bills in a hole they never could overcome.
The Bills ran for just 13 yards despite the return of C.J. Spiller from a broken collarbone. That was their worst rushing performance since gaining 4 yards against Tennessee on Nov. 23, 1997.
''At the end of the day, they got after us up front and they kicked our butt up front,'' coach Doug Marrone said. ''When you do that, it's difficult to run, pass, do a lot of things.''
Instead of having a playoff berth possibly on the line next week in New England, the Bills can start looking ahead to next season and figuring out what to do at quarterback. Orton failed to get Buffalo over the hump after replacing ineffective second-year player EJ Manuel.
Orton went 32 for 49 for 329 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Raiders got a pair of field goals from Janikowski in the third quarter to take a 19-10 lead, but the Bills managed to stay within striking distance by keeping Oakland out of the end zone.
Buffalo then got right back into it on the opening play of the fourth quarter when Orton connected on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Scott Chandler to make it 19-17.
But that was as close as it would get.
NOTES: The 13 yards rushing allowed by the Raiders were tied for their third fewest since the merger. ... Bills DT Marcell Dareus (knee) and CB Stephon Gilmore (concussion) left the game with injuries.
credit: cbssports.com
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014121800/2014/REG16/titans@jaguars
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014122110/2014/REG16/bills@raiders
Well guys, the Jaguars and the Raiders close out their seasons @ home with victories and now, they are ready to play spoilers to the Houston Texans and the Denver Broncos