Best and Worst: Week 13

by Andrew Pasquini – Sports 1140 KHTK

We’re now through 13 weeks in the NFL season and only two teams have been officially eliminated from playoff contention. Nine of the 16 games this week finished within one score, including the Cardinals upsetting the Packers, the Giants beating the Bears in overtime, and the Chargers beating the Steelers on a game-winning field goal.

Here’s the best and worst from the past week in the NFL

Best: The Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals went into Lambeau Field on Sunday as 13.5 point underdogs and defeated the Green Bay Packers 20-17. Zane Gonzalez hit a 44-yard field goal with 1:41 left in the game and Mason Crosby missed a 49-yard attempt as time expired to give Arizona the win. It was the first time the Cardinals franchise beat the Packers in Green Bay since 1949 when the then Chicago Cardinals defeated the Packers 39-17.

Worst: Mike McCarthy

After the loss on Sunday, the Green Bay Packers announced they parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy and have named Joe Philbin the interim head coach. McCarthy had been the head coach of the Packers since 2006, finishing with a record of 125-77-2 and a Super Bowl title.

Best Adrian Peterson

Washington running back Adrian Peterson has had a bounce back season after struggling with the Saints and Cardinals last season. With Washington, Peterson is averaging 71.3 yards per game his highest average since 2015. On Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, Peterson broke out for a 90-yard touchdown run, giving a flashback to his peak days with the Vikings.

90 YARDS! ADRIAN PETERSON! ALL. DAY.

📺: ESPN #WASvsPHIpic.twitter.com/UhT2zR1V8v

— ESPN (@espn) December 4, 2018

The run was the longest run of his career.

Worst: Adrian Peterson

Peterson gained 90 yards on that one carry but on his other eight carries of the game, Peterson gained eight yards. Peterson became the second running back in NFL history to have a 90+ yard run and finish 100 yards rushing since Herschel Walker did so in 1994 when he had a 91-yard run but finished the game with just 98 yards.

Best: The Dallas Cowboys  defense

The Dallas Cowboys have won four in a row after defeating the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night. The Cowboys defense was key in the victory, holding the Saints to just 10 points on the night and 176 total yards. To put how good of a night the Cowboys defense had against the Saints, New Orleans averages 34.9 points per game and 396.6 yards per game. The Cowboys did what seemed to be impossible in shutting down the Saints high-powered offense.

 

 

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