NFL Late Games week 16

Only three games going on late today, beginning with...

The Detroit Lions and San Diego Chargers at Ford Field in Detroit. Both teams have playoff hopes on the line. Detroit led off with a 7 yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Brandon Pettigrew, and Jason Hanson made the extra point. The Lions rolled on with Hanson making a 50 yard field goal. Stafford kept Detroit going in the second quarter with a touchdown pass to Kevin Smith for 3 yards, and Hanson again made the extra point. The score at halftime was 24-0 as Stafford tossed Calvin Johnson a touchdown pass of 14 yards and Hanson applied a PAT. San Diego got on the board in the third quarter with Philip Rivers throwing to Malcom Floyd for an 11 yard play resulting in a touchdown, allowing Nick Novak the extra point. Novak also kicked a 22 yard field goal for the Chargers. Detroit replied with a 6 yard touchdown run by Smith, and Hanson was there with the extra point. The Lions iced the game with Cliff Avril picking off Rivers and returning it 4 yards for a touchdown, allowing Hanson the extra point for a 38-10 final. Detroit goes to 10-5 and clinches a playoff spot, while San Diego sits at 7-8 and in serious trouble.

Down to Dallas, with the Cowboys hosting the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia drew first blood with a 13 yard Michael Vick touchdown pass to Brent Celek, and Alex Henery made the extra point. The Eagles led 14-0 at the half with Vick throwing a touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin for 5 yards, and Henery again added the PAT. Henery made a 43 yard field goal for Philadelphia in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Henery nailed a field goal from 51 yards away. Dallas avoided the shutout in the waning minute of the last quarter as Stephen McGee threw 4 yards to Miles Austin, and Dan Bailey kicked an extra point for a 20-7 final. Philadelphia, while out of the playoffs, is 7-8, while the Cowboys now have to fight for their spot at 8-7.

Finishing the day off, we go to Seattle, where the Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers. Seattle struck first with Tarvaris Jackson throwing a 13 yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin, and Steven Hauschka made the extra point. San Francisco got on the board in the second quarter with David Akers kicking a 53 yard field goal. Hauschka gave the Seahawks a 10-3 lead to take into halftime with a 19 yard field goal. The 49ers came out on the attack in the third quarter, allowing Frank Gore to run 4 yards for a touchdown and Akers made the extra point. Akers then his a 29 yard field goal for San Francisco. Akers extended the 49ers lead in the fourth quarter with a 44 yard field goal. Seattle replied on a 4 yard touchdown run for a touchdown, something not yet to occur this season against the San Francisco defense, and Hauschka added the PAT. The 49ers took the game though, as Akers was true from 39 yards on a field goal to make it 19-17. San Francisco goes to 12-3 while Seattle is 7-8, and the latter was eliminated from playoff contention by the Detroit victory.