Each week the NFL gives us amazing catches and impressive plays, but rarely does mother nature assert herself to give us multiple snow games. Week 14 was high-scoring across the league, but we’re celebrating frozen water.
NFL plays of the week: SNOW!
There were some good plays to be sure, but SNOW!
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
SNOW DAMN EAGLE
There’s a fine art to being a mascot that’s often overlooked. The lifeless, dead face of a cartoon animal can easily become a nightmare -- but “Swoop” straddles the line perfectly. It’s one part over-exaggerated motions like a Power Ranger, and three parts mirth. This isn’t an easy recipe to follow.
He went for the slick slide towards the camera to usher in the end of the first quarter, but fell ass-over-teakettle and turned it into “oh me!” perfection. Eight inches of snow is probably one of the rare occasions being in a giant suit is desirable, and he was perfect.
SNOW DAMN FLACCO
This was a stunning throw. It's cool to try and be cynical about Joe Flacco and find reasons to discredit his contract, but -- goodness -- he's good when he needs to be.
"Clutch" is a strange, unquantifiable factor that is perfect for talk radio fodder and stilted discussion. Look at this throw from a purely clinical level. The Ravens needed a touchdown to keep their season alive. Three touchdowns were scored in the final two minutes, and Flacco was cool under pressure to make this snow-covered pass to the end zone.
Kickerception
The 2013 season has quickly become “year of the kick.” This isn’t the first futbol interception of 2013, and we sure hope it isn’t the last.
More importantly it's just nice to see something go the Falcons' way, poor fellas.
Snow kickers are people too
Kudos to Ravens kicker Justin Tucker for having the wherewithal to ensure he was hitting below the shoulders and wouldn't incur a penalty for a high hit. The bad news is that he set back kicker public relations.
Getting bowled over is bad enough, but he kind of rolls back on himself while other players try to avoid his corpse. You know what though, kudos for him getting out there and trying.
Not the play of the week: STAFFORD FACE
I don't pretend to know what this situation would be like. Matthew Stafford fumbled three times earlier in the game, and his team was struggling against the Philadelphia Eagles. His team was fighting for a playoff spot and before he knew it the ball was sailing past his head.
Stafford is the NFL’s king in looking like a toddler when things don’t go his way, and this snap is the embodiment of a child discovering a farty face for the first time.
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