Week 14 in the NFL has come and gone and the NFC West was busy playing games within the division. The outcome? Naturally, it was a 2-2 record. However, one of those games ended in a surprise. Both the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks won, bringing their respective records to 6-7 on the season. They both remain in the playoff picture in the NFC, albeit only as teams "in the hunt." They do not control their own destiny.
However, the San Francisco 49ers slipped a bit with their loss. At 10-3, they no longer have a firm hold on the number two seed in the NFC and could viably lose their first round bye to the New Orleans Saints.
The Niners, despite forcing three Arizona Cardinals turnovers and leading 19-7, were only able to muster one first down (on a penalty) after getting that lead and lost to the Cardinals 21-19. The Cardinals pulled off a win behind backup QB John Skelton, who came in for duty after Kevin Kolb left the game with concussion-like symptoms after the team's first offensive series. Despite two picks and a lost fumble, Skelton threw for three TDs and Larry Fitzgerald amassed 149 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Seattle walked away from their Monday Night Football game against the now 2-11 St. Louis Rams with a 30-13 win. Despite the final score, the game was as unwatchable as most people outside Seattle and St. Louis would have predicted it was. The one thing viewers were treated to was seeing Seattle RB Marshawn Lynch get Skittles as a reward for great running.
Read on for the reactions from each of the team blogs.
Arizona Cardinals/San Francisco 49ers Postgame Analysis And Quotes - Revenge of the Birds
At the close of today's game between the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers there were plenty of questions to be had. How long will Kevin Kolb be out? After winning three straight, two over playoff bound teams, have the Cards turned the corner? How much better can Ray Horton's defense get?
49ers vs. Cardinals Recap: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - Niners Nation
The San Francisco 49ers (10-3) were served their third loss of the 2011 season in arguably their worst overall performance this year. Against the Cardinals in Arizona, the 49ers did not play like the playoff team they are. Between the peculiar play calling, inability to execute and the luck just not being there for SF, the Niners lost a close one.
Rams Vs. Seahawks, Monday Night Football: Rams Have Nothing When They Need It Most - Turf Show Times
On a day when two NFL head coaches received pink slips, St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo needed to walk away from their Monday Night Football game not looking like chumps. A loss was expected. Needless to say, Steve Spagnuolo and Josh McDaniels failed to meet the most basic of expectations. The Rams fell apart at the seams tonight.
Seahawks Beat Rams, 30-13 - Field Gulls
Seattle overcame an ugly, slow start and sluggish, mistake-riddled offensive attack to wear down the Rams and finally put the game officially away late into the fourth quarter.