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    Shutdown Corner
    • Alshon Jeffery had a rough day on Sunday (Getty Images)

      Alshon Jeffery, wide receiver, Chicago Bears: The second round pick out of South Carolina has had a quiet rookie season, catching 19 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns while missing six of 14 games this season. In Sunday's 21-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, which has placed the Bears on the outside looking in at the NFC Playoffs with two games remaining on the schedule, Jeffery had zero receptions on four targets and was flagged for not one, not two, but three offensive pass interference penalties in the second half, including one that nullified what would have been a one-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter. Jeffery's inability to gain separation from cornerback Sam Shields in drawing those flags hurt even more on the Bears' final offensive play, when Jeffery was clearly held by Shields as the pass from Jay Cutler fell incomplete. With three pass interference penalties on the day, though, the officials could not give the rookie the benefit of the doubt.

      Josh Freeman, quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: After a red-hot October, Freeman has cooled considerably, completing less than 45 percent of his pass attempts in Weeks 13 and 14 and may have hit rock bottom in Sunday's 41-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Freeman was intercepted four times, increasing his season total by 50 percent. The Saints converted those four interceptions in 20 points and added another seven points after Freeman fumbled while being sacked in the fourth quarter.

      Shawn Slocum, special teams coordinator, Green Bay Packers: The Packers had an 11-point lead on the Bears and were eight minutes away from clinching the NFC North when Slocum inexplicably called for a "toss back" play where Randall Cobb threw the ball across the field to Jeremy Ross, who muffed the lateral, which was recovered by Bears defensive back Anthony Walters. The Bears would only get a field goal out of what was an unnecessary gift from Green Bay, but why pick that moment to run a play that could have let your biggest rival back into the game?

      Read More »from Week 15 LVPs: Alshon Jeffery, Josh Freeman had forgettable performances on Sunday
    • As a major component of the new content deal between Yahoo! and NBC Sports, we're proud to present the first edition of "The Dungy Playbook," in which former NFL coach and current NBC NFL analyst Tony Dungy discusses the most pressing issues going on in the league.

      Coach Dungy starts off by reflecting on the amazing season of Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, who rushed for 212 yards against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. Less than a year after major knee surgery, Peterson is actually on a track to not only become the seventh back in league annals to break the 2,000-yard mark, but to possibly eclipse the single-season rushing yardage record of 2,105 yards, set by Eric Dickerson of the Los Angeles Rams in 1984.

      Dickerson's record was once thought to be unbreakable, but we never thought we'd see anyone run like Peterson after a major knee procedure, either. At 1,812 yards through 14 games, Peterson would need to average 147 in each of his last two regular-season games to make history.

      Here's Coach Dungy on Peterson's prospects:

      "Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings is having a phenomenal year this year. Leslie Frazier, his head coach, thought going into the season that he was going to have to put him on a pitch count -- limit him, maybe give him 10 or 12 carries per game. But Adrian said, 'No, coach -- I am ready. I am strong, and I am ready to go.' And he has played beyond anybody's expectations, closing in on 2,000 yards. He's averaged around 150 [yards per game] ... to break Eric Dickerson's record, [and] I think he can do it.

      "But the question is, can he lead the Vikings into the playoffs? Two tough games -- at Houston, and home against Green Bay. If Adrian Peterson does lead them into the playoffs and breaks the record, I think he has to be the MVP of the league."

      Read More »from The Dungy Playbook: Can Adrian Peterson break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record?
    • Colin Kaepernick out-dueled Tom Brady on Sunday night (Getty Images)

      Colin Kaepernick tossed four touchdown passes as the San Francisco 49ers held off a furious second-half comeback to beat the New England Patriots 41-34 in a fumble-filled affair Gillette Stadium on Sunday night.

      The 49ers defense forced Tom Brady and the Patriots to go three-and-out on the opening possession and Kaepernick immediately jumped on New England's defense. The 2011 second-round pick out of Nevada completed four of five pass attempts for 60 yards as the 49ers drove 63 yards in just six plays with Kaepernick hitting former Patriots receiver Randy Moss for a 24-yard touchdown.

      Turnovers from both teams were the story of the first quarter. Brady was intercepted by 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers, who returned the ball 53 yards to the Patriots' five-yard line. Two plays later, Kaepernick dumped the ball off to No. 2 tight end Delanie Walker, who had the ball jarred out of his hands by safety Steve Gregory, with Aqib Talib recovering the loose ball. New England would return the favor later in the period when backup running back Shane Vereen was stripped by linebacker NaVorro Bowman and cornerback Chris Culliver recovering the ball at the Patriots' 34-yard line. San Francisco could not take advantage of the excellent field position as Kaepernick would fumble the snap when the 49ers were attempting to convert a fourth-and-one play.

      Following a 32-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski, Kaepernick would again lead the 49ers on a quick touchdown drive that began with Talib being flagged for a 35-yard pass interference penalty and end with Kaepernick finding a wide open Walker for a 34-yard score midway through the second quarter. The 49ers would add a 20-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to take a 17-3 lead into the break.

      Read More »from 49ers hold off Patriots’ second-half rally, clinch berth in NFC Playoffs with 41-34 win
    • (Associated Press)Josh Brent spent Sunday's game on the Cowboys' sideline, a jarring sight a little more than a week after Brent was charged with intoxication manslaughter following a car accident that killed teammate Jerry Brown. But Brent's presence was requested by his teammates.

      Brent, a defensive tackle who is on the reserve/non-football injury list for the rest of the season, wore a Cowboys sweatshirt and hat on the sideline through the team's win against Pittsburgh. Brent had Brown's No. 57 jersey draped over his shoulder during the national anthem according to some reports, including one from the Dallas Morning News.

      [Also: Slideshow: Sports world honors Connecticut shooting victims]

      "His teammates asked him to come and be down there with him, so that's where we are," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said, according to DallasCowboys.com. "I do know that certainly there's the other side of the coin, but this is the case of the people that he's arguably the closest to really wanted him around." Brent's presence on the sideline was criticized during CBS' halftime show of the Steelers-Cowboys game.

      Read More »from Josh Brent watches Sunday’s game from Cowboys sideline
    • Torrey Smith sustained a concussion on Sunday (Getty Images)

      Here are some of the injury situations we'll be monitoring as the NFL enters Week 16 of the 2012 regular season:

      The struggling Baltimore Ravens got a little more banged up on Sunday as wide receiver Torrey Smith and backup running back Bernard Pierce exited the game with concussions. Both will have to go through the concussion protocol before being cleared to play in next Sunday's game against the New York Giants.

      Speaking of the Giants, right guard Chris Snee suffered a hip injury in the first half, but would return to the game before again taking a seat in the blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty suffered a burner, while rookie cornerback Jayron Hosley injured his ankle and may undergo an MRI on Monday.

      In the wild Sunday night game, San Francisco 49ers left guard Mike Iupati suffered a right shoulder injury in the second quarter. Playing at a Pro Bowl level this season, Iupati was pulling on a running play when he took on New England Patriots first round linebacker Dont'a Hightower. Iupati was replaced by veteran Leonard Davis for the remainder of the first half, but would return in the third quarter.

      49ers All-Pro defensive tackle Justin Smith suffered an elbow injury in the third quarter and underwent x-rays, which were negative, but would not return. Running back Frank Gore also may have been dinged up as rookie LaMichael James, who has been inactive for much of the season, was in the game and getting carries as the 49ers were draining the clock in their 41-34 win.

      Patriots rookie cornerback Alfonzo Dennard suffered a right knee injury when he was blocked low by fullback Bruce Miller in the second quarter. Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes limped off the field just before the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter.

      San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews suffered a broken left clavicle, the San Diego Union-Tribune reprts, and will miss the remainder of the 2012 season. Mathews broke his right clavicle during the preseason. The No. 12 overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft will enter his fourth season in the NFL having missed 10 of a possible 48 games during his career.

      Read More »from Torrey Smith, Ryan Mathews headline Week 15′s injury roundup
    • (@cjzero)Football players grab at whatever they can to bring a runner down, and sometimes that can lead to wardrobe issues.

      Just ask Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray, who was pantsed on national television as he was tackled against the Steelers.

      Read More »from DeMarco Murray gives television audience a glimpse of a full moon
    • As always, our good friends at NFL.com and the RedZone Channel (still the most addictive substance around, no matter where you live) have given us the video of all 64 touchdowns scored in Sunday's morning and afternoon games (depending on your time zone).

      This week, we've got some interesting ones -- start with the three rushing touchdowns scores by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, as the rookie quarterback zone-optioned the Buffalo Bills into oblivion. Wilson wasn't the only NFC West player to surprise with three rushing scores -- Arizona's Beanie Wells also put up a trio of rushing touchdowns in the Cardinals' 38-10 shocker over the Detroit Lions.

      Cleveland's Trent Richardson, Carolina's Mike Tolbert, and Washington's Alfred Morris each put up a pair of rushing touchdowns, leaving Adrian Peterson with just one score. Begging the question: How does a guy rush for 212 yards, and hit the end zone just once? Seattle's Marshawn Lynch is probably wondering the same thing about his day, in which he gained 113 yards on just 10 carries, and scored just once. Hopefully, Lynch has his quarterback on his fantasy team.

      Among the 35 passing touchdowns you'll see, there are the four scores thrown by New Orleans' Drew Brees in the Saints' 41-0 beatdown of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. St. Louis' Sam Bradford, Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, and Atlanta's Matt Ryan each threw for three touchdowns. Other guys, like Buffalo's Ryan Fitzpatrick and Cleveland's Brandon Weeden, had a touchdown pass each, but their days were partially ruined by two-pick days.

      Touchdowns you won't see? Well, you won't see any from Eli Manning or Josh Freeman, as their teams were goose-egged. If we had a pick reel, Freeman would lead that up, as he threw four against the Saints. Matthew Stafford also has an Excedrin headache after his three-pick, no-touchdown game against the Cards.

      Of course, the most impressive defensive touchdown was scored by Chris Harris of the Denver Broncos, who spoiled Joe Flacco's day with a 98-yard pick-six.

      Read More »from Video: See all 64 touchdowns from Sunday’s gameday action
    • When the Cowboys were rebuilding their secondary this offseason, they dropped $50.1 million over five years on cornerback Brandon Carr.

      That's a lot of money, but, what's being in a playoff race worth?

      Carr's interception and return to the 1-yard line set up Dallas' game-winning field goal in overtime, giving the Cowboys a 27-24 victory over Pittsburgh and adding another contender to what is turning into a jumbled, beautiful mess of a NFC playoff picture.

      [Also: Fantasy owners rue leaving WR James Jones on the bench this week]

      Read More »from Cowboys stay alive in crazy NFC playoff race with an overtime win over Pittsburgh
    • St. Louis Rams receiver Danny Amendola could be forgiven, we suppose, for his exuberance on this six-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings, except for two things: First, the catch put the score at 33-13, Vikings. Probably not the best idea to act all celebratory when you're getting blown out. Second, the spiked ball flew up and hit an elderly usher in the face, breaking the poor man's glasses.

      Amendola tried to make amends on the Rams' next score, when he caught a successful two-point conversion from Sam Bradford after Bradford hit Lance Kendricks for another six-yard score. Amendola handed the ball to the first usher-looking guy he saw, but it wasn't the same person.

      "We kept fighting," Amendola said after the game. "We knew how much time we had so I guess we didn't run out of time but I felt like we needed to get some points on the board early and it didn't happen. The good thing is we kept fighting and it came down to the wire for a little while. We have

      Read More »from Danny Amendola beefs an usher with a touchdown spike, tries to make up for it later
    • It was not Joe Flacco's finest day. (Getty Images)

      The firing of former offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, and the subsequent promotion of quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell to that position, were supposed to help the Baltimore Ravens out of an offensive slump that has now seen the team lose three straight games, and go from a seemingly sure AFC North winner to a team seemingly hoping for a home playoff game at 9-5. Caldwell, who worked with Peyton Manning in Indianapolis for years, would call plays for the first time in an NFL game while facing his old buddy as the Ravens took on the Denver Broncos at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium.

      Change, at least to start, wasn't successful. The 34-17 thrashing, which was not nearly as close as the score may indicate, was the worst home loss of the John Harbaugh era.

      [Also: Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez delivers age-defying outing vs. Giants]

      The worst play happened when, with first-and-goal at the Denver 4-yard line with 15 seconds left in the first half, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco threw an interception to Broncos defensive back Chris Harris, who returned it 98 yards for a pick-six.

      "You come to the Ravens' house and beat them handily, it's definitely a statement game," Harris said. "We definitely wanted to show to everybody that we're an elite team."

      The 11-3 Broncos most certainly are. The Ravens? Not so much.

      "I felt like it was Christmas and not for our side," said safety Ed Reed, who was individually embarrassed when Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno jumped over him during a 20-yard gain.. "We were in a giving mood. ... We didn't play football. I was embarrassed. I am embarrassed as a player to come out and perform the way we have. As a Ravens nation, as a player, I am embarrassed for our city."

      Flacco, who was the target of boos from the home crowd, acknowledged that the fans had a right to be ticked off. He finished with 20 completions in 40 attempts for 251 yards, two touchdowns, and that pick-six. However, both touchdowns, to tight end Dennis Pitta, came in the fourth quarter, when the game had entered the "laugher" stage. Baltimore's first right drives read like a JaMarcus Russell career retrospective: Fumble, punt, punt, punt, punt, punt, interception for touchdown, end of half.

      Read More »from Caldwell’s promotion makes no difference as Ravens’ offense continues to collapse

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