The final weeks of the season are vital for the top three teams of the NFC West, and Week 16 demonstrated how hungry each team was for the playoffs. The Arizona Cardinals shocked the league with 17-10 victory over the division-leading Seattle Seahawks. The San Francisco 49ers avoided an upset in their last home game at Candlestick Park and pulled out a 34-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The St. Louis Rams are mathematically out of the playoff picture, but they still competed until the very last snap in their 23-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Team Notes:
St. Louis Rams: Kellen Clemons completed 16 of his 20 pass attempts for a 158 yards. Zac Stacy added to his possible Rookie of the Year campaign by rushing for 104 yards and one touchdown. Fellow rookie Stedman Bailey scored the first touchdown of his career on a thrilling 27-yard double reverse in the second quarter. Bailey also caught three receptions for 44 yards. Alec Ogletree led the team with eight tackles, and James Laurinaitis picked up six tackles and 1.5 sacks. William Hayes recovered two fumbles. Robert Quinn set the Rams’ official franchise record with 18 sacks after racking up three more against the befuddled Buccaneers’ offensive line.
Arizona Cardinals: Carson Palmer struggled throughout the game. He threw four interceptions, but he did manage to pass the game-winning touchdown on a 31-yard bomb to Michael Floyd. Andre Ellington and Rashard Mendenhall combined for a total of 127 yards on the ground. Daryl Washington picked up seven tackles and one sack. Karlos Dansby added six tackles and had one interception. Calais Campbell sacked Russell Wilson twice and recorded four tackles.
Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson had a less-than stellar performance. He was limited to 108 yards passing while completing only 40% of his passes. He did sling an 11-yard pass to Zach Miller for his only touchdown. Marshawn Lynch rushed for 71 yards on 18 carries. The Seahawks’ defense picked off Carson Palmer four times with Richard Sherman recording two of them.
San Francisco 49ers: Colin Kaepernick completed 13 of 21 passes for 197 yards, 174 of which went to Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin. Frank Gore rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown, and Kaepernick added 51 yards and a score as well. Patrick Willis gave a vintage performance with 18 tackles. NaVarro Bowman returned an interception 89 yards for a touchdown and recorded 11 tackles.
Standings (Week 16 Opponent)
Seattle Seahawks 12-3 (vs. Cardinals)
San Francisco 49ers 11-4 (vs. Falcons)
Arizona Cardinals 10-5 (vs. Seahawks)
St. Louis Rams 7-8 (vs. Buccaneers)
SOURCE: ESPN Box Score
IMAGE: Otto Greule Jr.
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