The 2012 NFL season still isn't over yet because of the playoffs, but it's not too soon to look back at some of the best moments and games of the regular season. The playoffs still hold future stories ahead, but here are some of the most exciting matchups of the 2012 season and the year itself.
Week 1, September 9, 2012
Washington Redskins 40, New Orleans Saints 32
The first week of the season had story lines coming out of every direction in the NFL and this game was no different. The matchup in the Super Dome featured a Heisman-winning rookie making his first NFL start in Robert Griffin III and had the Saints playing for the first time without head coach Sean Payton since all the punishments were handed down in the bounty scandal.
The game turned out to be one that was a primetime affair taking place In the early afternoon. Griffin and Saints quarterback Drew Brees dazzled all day, making play after play to put points on the board. The Saints took an early 7-3 lead over the Redskins, but Griffin struck back quickly for his first career NFL touchdown pass, an 88-yard score to wide receiver Pierre Garcon.
By the end of the first half, Griffin had a perfect 158.3 passer rating, the first time a rookie had done so with 10 or more attempts. Brees took a 20-14 lead into halftime after a blocked punt was returned for a touchdown, but Griffin never gave up. The Redskins came out of the half on fire, scoring 10 straight points to take a 30-17 lead.
The fourth quarter ended up being the most exciting of them all. Following a field goal from Billy Cundiff, Brees threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Lance Moore, but the defense couldn't hold Washington back. The team took a 40-25 lead and Brees could not battle back after adding a last touchdown to Darren Sproles to cut it to 40-32.
By the end of the game, Griffin had passed for 320 yards and two touchdowns while completing 19-of-26 passes. Brees was just as good, passing for 339 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions.
Week 2: September 16, 2012
New York Giants 41, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34
The New York Giants were coming off of a disappointing loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 and were looking to avoid a tough 0-2 start after winning the Super Bowl. Enter a scrappy Buccaneers team with new head coach Greg Schiano to stir things up. Schiano, the former coach of Rutgers, was back in his familiar state of New Jersey for the game and treated it like a college showdown, but let's get to that later.
The first half was a complete nightmare for the Giants, as the team fell behind 24-13 after Eli Manning threw three interceptions, including one at the end of the second quarter that was returned for a touchdown by Eric Wright with eight seconds left. Luckily for Giants fans, Manning wasn't finished yet.
Following a field goal early in the third quarter to put Tampa Bay up 27-13, the Giants scored 21 straight points, including an 80-yard touchdown pass to Victor Cruz from Manning and a two-point conversion from Andre Brown.
Just as things started to look good for the Giants, Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman hit Mike Williams in the endzone for a 41-yard strike that tied the game at 34. Manning took the ball with less than two minutes left in the game and took the team down the field, resulting in the game-winner with 30 seconds left.
There were four touchdowns in the final seven minutes of the game, but the real explosions took place on the final snap. With the Giants possessing the ball following a late interception and appearing ready for a kneel-down to end the game, Schiano instructed his players to go at Manning, trying to a force a fumble. The bush-league play had coach Tom Coughlin screaming at Schiano after the game.
Manning threw for a career-high 510 yards and nearly set the Giants franchise record for passing in a single game. The Giants gained 604 yards on the day in one of the most exciting games of the season.
Week 3, September 24, 2012
Seattle Seahawks 14, Green Bay Packers 12
From one of the most exciting games of the season, to one of the most controversial.
The final game for the replacement referees came down to the very end, with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson flinging a ball in the endzone that was called a touchdown, although it appeared as though Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate and Packers' defensive back M.D. Jennings both had their hands on it.
The end of the game erupted in chaos, but left the Seahawks with the win. Luckily for the Packers, the loss didn't affect their season much (they still won the NFC North), but it was truly a sign of things to come for the Seahawks. Wilson has been electric for the team this season and he showed signs of that on the final play as he avoided pressure and hit Tate for his second touchdown of the night.
Wilson finished the game with just 130 yards passing, but had two crucial touchdowns and did not turn the ball over. Aaron Rodgers had 223 yards passing, but was kept out of the endzone.
Week 15, December 16, 2012
San Francisco 49ers 41, New England Patriots 34
This matchup on Sunday night football featured two of the best teams in the NFL and one of the best comebacks anyone will ever see.
The 49ers took a 31-10 lead after three touchdown passes from quarterback Colin Kaepernick, but the Patriots never gave up. The team scored 28 unanswered points at one point, including a one-yard touchdown run from Brady, to tie the game at 31.. New England had won 20 straight games at home in the month of December, but could not hold on after Kaepernick's career-high fourth touchdown pass.
Amazingly, at one point in the game, the win probability for San Francisco reached 99.2 before New England's amazing comeback. Brady passed for 443 yards and one touchdown in the game and also added the rushing score. Wide receiver Michael Crabtree caught seven balls for 107 yards and two touchdowns, while Patriots wideout Brandon Lloyd made 10 receptions for 190 yards.
Honorable Mentions:
-Week 5: Indianapolis Colts 30, Green Bay 27
An amazing comeback by the Colts after falling behind 21-3 in the first half. Andrew Luck threw for 362yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner to Reggie Wayne with 35 seconds left.
-Week 10: San Francisco 49ers 24, St. Louis Rams 24
The first tie in the NFL since 2008 saw 275 yards passing and two touchdowns from Rams quarterback Sam Bradford and a clutch field goal from 49ers kicker David Akers to send the game into overtime.
