10 Amazing Stats from NFL Sunday: Week 14

NFL football is the greatest reality TV program of all time. The Giants and Colts made sure of that back in 1958. Each NFL fall weekend is a completely new and original experience for every player, fan and coach alike. New stories, new personalities, new winners and new losers. And new statistics.

Here are the most important, most intriguing and most bizarre statistics from Week 14 of NFL play:

15.8: Points per game after the third quarter in Dallas' last five games
The Cowboys rallied once again to thrust themselves directly into the heart of the NFC East race by outscoring Cincinnati 10-0 in the fourth quarter. It was the fourth win in five weeks for the 'Boys and a big reason has been the way Dallas has finished games. The Cowboys have outscored their opponent in the final frame (and overtime) in each of the last five games and by a total of 79-34. That is a per game average of 15.8 points — or nearly three scoring drives per fourth quarter — while the opposition is averaging less than seven points in the final frame.

70: Days since the Eagles won a game
On the final play of the game after a stellar drive from yet another rookie quarterback; Andy Reid got his team back in the win column for the first time since September (Week 4, Sept. 30). Nick Foles connected with Jeremy Maclin from one yard out to cap a 13-play, 64-yard drive that covered the final 2:44 of time remaining. It is the first career win for the rookie signal caller from Arizona. More importantly, Tampa Bay falls to 6-7 in heart-breaking fashion while fellow 6-6 Wild Card contenders Dallas, Washington and Minnesota all won to jump the Bucs in the standings. Foles finished 32-of-51 passing for 381 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the win.

133.4: Yards per game Adrian Peterson needs to average to reach 2,000
All-Day Adrian continues to amaze in his return from ACL surgery. He rushed 31 times for 154 yards and two early touchdowns to power the Vikings to an upset win over the Chicago Bears. The win keeps Minnesota right in the thick of the Wild Card hunt and Peterson is inching closer to making history. He needs 133.4 yards per game in his final three to become just the seventh player to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a single season. He is on pace to set personal bests in rushing yards and receptions and is on pace for his second-best season in touches (373), carries (326) and rushing touchdowns (13). All of this less than a year removed from a torn ACL. 

Dec. 20, 1986: Last time the Giants scored 50 points
The Giants dominated the Saints Sunday evening to the tune of 52 points. It was the first time the franchise reached the 50-point plateau since a 55-24 win over Green Bay on Dec. 20, 1986. The team set a record for kickoff return yards (287) and first year tailback David Wilson set a Giants franchise record for all-purpose yards (327). He scored three touchdowns in the win. New York ran 61 offensive plays, 47 of which came in New Orleans territory, and sits one game ahead of the Eagles and Redskins in the NFC East.

72: Cam Newton's career-long run...
which was a key touchdown gallop down the left sideline in the big upset win over the Falcons. In what was likely his best performance as a pro, Newton completed 23-of-35 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns through the air to go with 116 yards rushing on nine carries and another score on the ground. He didn't turn the ball over once and handed Matt Ryan and Atlanta just their second loss of the season. It was his first career 100-yard rushing effort.

34: Most points allowed at home by Pittsburgh in over two years
The Steelers suffered their second straight home loss after allowing 34 points to a depleted and lame duck Chargers team. It is the first time a team scored 30 points at Heinz Field since Week 10 of 2010 when the Patriots scored 39 in a win. In the last eight home games, the Steelers allowed a total of 72 points — or 9.0 points per game — with an 8-1 record. The loss was the fourth overall in five games and it drops Pittsburgh into a tie with the Bengals in both the AFC North and AFC Wild Card standings. Ben Roethlisberger returned to complete 22-of-42 passes for 285 yards, three touchdowns and two turnovers. Two of his three scores came after the game was already well in hand for San Diego.

4.0: Points per play for Kirk Cousins
Cousins, a rookie from Michigan State, played in the second game of his career for Washington this Sunday. He threw two passes and tied the game with an 11-yard touchdown with less than 30 seconds left in the game. He then did his best Robert Griffin III, who had to leave the game after getting his knee twisted up on the final drive, impersonation by scoring the two-point conversion on a QB draw to send the game to overtime. One big punt return and a couple of Alfred Morris runs set up the game-winning field goal from Kai Forbath. Cousins is now 7-of-11 for 137 yards and three touchdowns in two games of spot duty for an injured RG3. The Redskins are now over .500, in the thick of the NFC East race and will be anxiously awaiting the results of Griffin's MRI Sunday evening.

38-0: Seattle's lead at halftime over Arizona
The Cardinals played the worst half of football in the history of their franchise against Seattle in Week 14. The Seahawks forced six turnovers, scored 38 points and rolled up 238 yards of offense to put the game out of reach before halftime. The 38 points marks the most points allowed by Arizona in one half and the Cardinals have lost nine straight games after starting the year 4-0. The Seahawks eventually ran the final score to 58-0, a franchise record for points scored, and forced eight total turnovers while allowing just nine first downs on defense. Cornerback Richard Sherman intercepted two passes — one he returned for a touchdown — and recovered a fumble. His four-game suspension for Adderall use is currently going through the league's appeals process.

6: Fourth quarter comebacks for Andrew Luck
The No. 1 overall pick led his team on a 13-point second-half comeback over the Titans in Week 14 to move the Colts to 9-4 on the season. In 13 starts as a rookie, Luck has now led six fourth-quarter comebacks in his short career. Indianapolis leads the AFC Wild Card chase by two games now and Luck, after 196 yards in the win, has 3,792 yards on the season. He passed Peyton Manning's Colts rookie record (3,739) and trails only Cam Newton's 4,051-yard record on the all-time rookie passing charts. Don't forget, the Colts won two games last year. 

10,228: Drunk Driving fatalities in this country in 2010
I am saddened to have to add this statistic, but after the Jerry Brown-Josh Brent tragedy, I feel some perspective is necessary. Drunk driving fatalities in this country have decreased every year but three since 1991, but, according to the CDC, over 10,000 people died in 2010 due to drunk-driving accidents. Or 28 people per day. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $51 billion according to CDC. But our loved ones suffer the worst cost. Jerry Brown is just one of 10,000 and it appears Brent (hopefully) understands the level of guilt he will suffer through the rest of his life. Because they played NFL football, the spotlight has been cast on the horrific accident that ended Brown's life. Don't let it go unnoticed.