Week 14 featured quite the unique variety of events.
Along with a horrific shutout, some quarterback temper tantrums and untimely injuries, here are this week’s notable NFL winners and losers.
Winner: Dwight Freeney’s strip-sack on Teddy Bridgewater saves the game
With just seconds left on the clock, pass-rusher Dwight Freeney, new to the Cardinals this year, made a game-winning play to advance Arizona to 11-2 in the NFC West.
The Clincher. Thank you, @dwightfreeney. #MINvsAZpic.twitter.com/HrSOvWdGs3
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 11, 2015
Unstoppable, Freeney came from behind at the Arizona 31-yard line and strip-sacked quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, resulting in a fumble recovered by defensive end Calais Campbell.
At the time of the game-ending sack, the score was 23-20 and the Vikings were at third and 10. Should Minnesota have decided to go for a field goal attempt on that play, the game would have gone into overtime with a successful kick.
The sack by the 35-year old All-Pro was his fourth of the year, and it came perfectly timed to seal the victory for the Cardinals who currently occupy the second spot overall in the NFC.
“That’s why I came back, because moments like this, you can’t duplicate those in life,”Freeney said, per Pro Football Talk.
For the Vikings, a win would have helped put the heat on the Green Bay Packers, along with helping their overall standing in the NFC. Now they’re in a much tougher spot with three games left to play.