Jason Pierre-Paul returns to the Buccaneers after sitting out nearly 2 years By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press TAMPA, Fla.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned to a familiar face to bolster their pass rush.
Three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul was signed to the team’s practice squad on Tuesday, nearly two years since he last played in an NFL game.
Pierre-Paul, who had 9 1/2 sacks for the 2020 Super Bowl champion Buccaneers, joins a group that includes veteran Haason Reddick and third-year player YaYa Diaby.
“Obviously, I’ve been wanting to play football since the beginning of the year,” Pierre-Paul said. “(When the) opportunity comes, you’re there, so that’s basically what happened. There was an opportunity given and I made the best of it.”
The 36-year-old Pierre-Paul was selected by the Giants with the 15th pick in the 2010 NFL draft. He spent eight seasons in New York, four in Tampa Bay, one in Baltimore and played a few games for New Orleans and Miami in 2023. He has 94 1/2 sacks in 14 seasons.
The four-time defending NFC South champion Buccaneers (7-6) are tied for first place with Carolina. They host Atlanta on Thursday night.
“As far as the training, and I’ve been doing a lot of training with my personal trainer, he doesn’t stop, he trains every day,” Pierre-Paul said. “I think he got me in the best shape — I won’t say in my whole entire career, but damn near. I’ve seen the results, running around the lake and running sprints and running drills, I was able to kill the bad drills out there. I think I killed it and I just think staying in shape was one of the main keys and just not giving up.”
Larry Foote, the Bucs' run game coordinator and outside linebackers coach, views Pierre-Paul as a voice players can relate to. Pierre-Paul hasn't played since Dec. 11, 2023, so it's not quite like Philip Rivers coming back to the Indianapolis Colts after sitting out the last four seasons.
”(He’s) a guy that can bring some of the intangibles that we cannot bring as coaches that I think he can help,” Foote said. “That’s the way I’m looking at it. His energy and his juice. ... We’ll see what he can do the next couple of weeks. This is a short week, see if he (has) something in the tank. We worked him out and he looked good; I worked him out personally and he can still move and bend and he (has) that God-given freaky ability, and we’ll see what he can do next week.”
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10 months after Super Bowl, Mahomes and Hurts struggle in historic week of turnovers By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press
The least productive start of Patrick Mahomes' career ended Kansas City's nine-year run of division titles and put another remarkable streak in jeopardy.
Jalen Hurts was even worse a night later for the Philadelphia Eagles, as the two starting quarterbacks from last season's Super Bowl combined for a week that had never before been seen in the NFL.
Mahomes threw three interceptions and no touchdowns in the Chiefs' 20-10 loss to Houston that dealt a major blow to their playoff hopes . Hurts threw four interceptions, lost a fumble and had no TDs in a 22-19 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
It marked the first time that the two starting QBs from the previous season's Super Bowl each threw at least three interceptions and had no TD passes in the same week.
The 19.8 passer rating for Mahomes and 31.3 for Hurts are the two lowest this season among quarterbacks with at least 25 attempts in a game as neither looked close to the level they reached last season on their runs to the Super Bowl.
Mahomes' rating was the lowest for any Chiefs QB with at least 20 attempts since Matt Cassel had a 19.1 in the 2010 season finale against the Raiders. The 10 points were the fewest ever scored by Kansas City in a game started by Mahomes at Arrowhead Stadium.
The loss eliminated Kansas City from contention in the AFC West after nine straight titles and put their run of seven straight appearances in the AFC title game in jeopardy. The Patriots are the only other team with longer streaks, having won 11 straight division titles from 2009-19 and made eight straight AFC title games from 2011-18 with Tom Brady.
It also dropped Kansas City's chances of making the playoffs to 11%, according to the NFL NextGen Stats model. Barring a shocking turn of events, this could set up the first AFC championship game without either Mahomes or Brady at quarterback since the 2010 season.
Hurts' performance wasn't nearly as damaging to Philadelphia's playoff hopes as the Eagles still hold a 1 1/2-game lead over Dallas in the NFC East but provided a moment that had never before been seen in the modern NFL.
It happened when Hurts threw his second interception of the game in the second quarter. Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand caught it and started his return. He then fumbled when he was hit by the Eagles’ Will Shipley. Hurts recovered, but immediately fumbled right back after getting hit by Los Angeles' Jamaree Caldwell. Troy Dye recovered for the Chargers, giving Hurts both an interception and a lost fumble on the same play.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Hurts was the first player to commit two turnovers on the same play as far as records go back to 1978.
He threw two more interceptions, including a game-ending one in overtime to become the first Philadelphia player with five turnovers in a game since Donovan McNabb did it in 1999 as a rookie against Indianapolis.
Quarterback carousel
While Shedeur Sanders was named the starter for the rest of the season in Cleveland, some of the other franchises might be looking for new starters.
The New York Jets could be forced to use a new starter with Tyrod Taylor dealing with a groin injury and Justin Fields slowed by a knee injury. Rookie Brady Cook made his NFL debut in relief of Taylor on Sunday and could be in line for a start this week against Jacksonville that would make him the team's 41st starting QB since Joe Namath's last start in 1976 and the 46th since the merger.
The Browns have used the most starting quarterbacks since the merger with 60, with the only other teams using more than the Jets being Chicago (54), the Rams and Cardinals (49 each) and Washington (47).
Indianapolis could use its 44th starting QB since the merger after Daniel Jones tore his Achilles — or do something even more surprising. The Colts signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers to the practice squad this week even though he last played in the 2020 season. Riley Leonard and Brett Rypien are the options if Rivers isn't ready to go.
The Colts have lost four out of five games to go from 7-1 and the top spot in the conference to in danger of missing the playoffs. Only five of the 127 teams that started a season 7-1 or better since the merger missed the playoffs with it last happening with Chicago in 2012. Washington missed out in 1996, New Orleans in 1988, San Diego in the strike-impacted 1987 season and Miami in 1975.
Defensive stars
Seattle rookie defensive back Nick Emmanwori and Buffalo cornerback Christian Benford put together some performances for the record book on Sunday.
Emmanwori had a sack, an interception and blocked a field goal in the Seahawks' 37-9 win at Atlanta. Only three other players since at least 2000 had a sack, interception and blocked kick in the same game with Emmanwori's teammate Leonard Williams the last to do it in 2024 for Seattle against the New York Jets.
Arizona's Adrian Wilson did it in the 2010 season opener against the Rams and Hall of Famer Julius Peppers did it in Week 12 of the 2004 season against Tampa Bay.
Benford had a game-changing pick-6 in the Bills' win over Cincinnati a week after returning a fumble for a touchdown against Pittsburgh. He is the first Bills player ever to score a defensive TD in back-to-back games and the first on any team to do it since Nik Bonitto did it for Denver last December.
Benford's 63-yard return on Sunday when Cincinnati was in Bills territory with a 28-25 lead with less than 6 minutes remaining gave Buffalo the lead and completely changed the game. According to the NFL's NextGen Stats , the play increased Buffalo's win probability from 16.2% to 77% — with the 60.8 percentage point increase in win probability the largest of any play outside of the last 2 minutes in 10 seasons of NextGen Stats data.
Vikings flip the script
The Minnesota Vikings pulled off a feat that hadn't been done in more than three decades.
One week after losing 26-0 at Seattle , the Vikings turned the tables on Washington and beat the Commanders 31-0 at home in a turnaround last accomplished by the 1992 Denver Broncos.
Minnesota was the fifth team in the Super Bowl era to shut out an opponent after getting blanked the previous game. John Elway's Broncos were the last to do it in 1992 when they followed up a 30-0 loss to Philadelphia in Week 3 with a 12-0 win at Cleveland the next week.
While that kind of turnaround is rare in the modern game it wasn't uncommon in the early days of the NFL when shutouts were far more common and there were 73 scoreless draws in the league's first quarter century. According to Sportradar, there were 160 instances in the pre-Super Bowl era when a team followed a shutout loss with a shutout win.
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Seahawks’ Darnold bounces back from trio of shaky games, stands out in 2nd half against Falcons By ANDREW DESTIN AP Sports Writer The Associated Press SEATTLE
SEATTLE (AP) — Sam Darnold and Seattle’s offense didn’t get off to the start it wanted on Sunday, though the Seahawks quarterback certainly rounded into form in the second half.
Darnold threw three touchdown passes, all in the second half, of a 37-9 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. It was Darnold’s most touchdown passes in a game since Nov. 2, when the Seahawks (10-3) beat the Washington Commanders 38-14.
“We did a great job in the second half,” Darnold said, “of coming back and finishing the game strong.”
Seattle found itself deadlocked in a 6-6 tie at halftime because of the Seahawks’ inability to convert red zone chances into touchdowns. One of Jason Myers’ three field goals in the afternoon, a 22-yarder, came after Darnold tossed a pair of incompletions and a false start.
In the second half, Darnold more closely resembled the quarterback the Seahawks were used to before a three-game stretch in November in which he threw two touchdown passes against four interceptions.
Darnold passed for 182 of his 249 yards after halftime in addition to his three touchdown passes, the last of which required him to step up in the pocket before delivering a strike to the NFL’s leading receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, from 4 yards out. Darnold said he’s sought to become better at escaping up in the pocket, rather than up and out.
“I just felt like the other edge rushers were getting around a little bit, so I just tried to get up the middle and obviously made a play,” Darnold said. “And ‘Jax’ did a great job of getting open.”
So did plenty of other Seahawks receivers on Sunday. Five players had at least 20 yards receiving, including relative newcomer Rashid Shaheed, who had his most yards in a game (67) since the Seahawks acquired him from the New Orleans Saints ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
In Darnold’s opinion, the Seahawks’ offense, which ranks second in the NFL in points per game (29.3), is doing a fine job of moving up and down the field. That’s thanks in no small part to his play.
“I feel like we’re in a good spot,” Darnold. “We’ve just got to continue to harp on the details of everything. We know that in the locker room, and we’ll do a good job of that throughout the week.”
What’s working
All-pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon has been hampered by injuries in his third NFL season, and isn’t putting up eye-popping stats quite like he did in 2023. Witherspoon did have his first interception of the 2025 season on Sunday, though, as well as two of his five passes defended this year.
Fellow cornerback Riq Woolen commended Witherspoon for what was arguably his finest performance of the season.
“Having (Witherspoon) out there, you know he’s going to be there,” Woolen said. “He’s loud, but his play speaks for itself as well. Ball-knowers know, football players know and people around the league know that he’s a great player. When he’s out there, he’s a force multiplier.”
What needs help
Darnold has only been brought down 17 times through 13 games, but the Seahawks’ offensive line has shown some cracks as of late. He was sacked twice on Sunday after being brought down four times in a 26-0 win against the Minnesota Vikings.
Though Darnold emerged from the game relatively unscathed, keeping him upright will be paramount to the Seahawks’ prospects for the postseason in 2025.
Stock up
Not only did Shaheed have his most receiving yards in a game with the Seahawks on Sunday, but he also returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. It took a few weeks, but trading for Shaheed is looking like a shrewd move with each passing week.
Stock down
Running back Kenneth Walker III was in a groove in November, rushing for at least 56 yards in four out of five games. The fourth-year tailback started December with a dud, though, galloping for just 29 yards on 10 carries. His 2.9 yards per carry were his fewest in a game since the season opener, when the 49ers’ defense limited Walker to 20 yards on 10 carries.
Injuries
TE Elijah Arroyo went down in the first half of Sunday’s game with a knee injury. Macdonald said this week is probably in jeopardy for Arroyo to play. C Jalen Sundell, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, should be back at practice this week, per Macdonald.
Key number
423 — Days in between Seahawks kickoff returns for touchdowns. Wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. – who is currently a free agent – returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown in a 36-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers last year.
Next steps
The Seahawks host two games next week. The Colts come to town on Dec. 14, and the Rams will arrive in Seattle for a key matchup with NFC West title implications on Dec. 18.
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Pete Carroll defends field goal decision after backlash from the Raiders' loss to Broncos By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer The Associated Press HENDERSON, Nev.
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Pete Carroll knows his decisions as Raiders coach are especially magnified when they affect the betting line, as happened in Sunday's 24-17 loss to Denver .
He sent Daniel Carlson onto the field to kick a 46-yard field goal with 5 seconds left, and when the ball sailed through the uprights, Las Vegas covered the 7 1/2-point spread at BetMGM Sportsbook. Other books had similar lines.
There was some swift and, in some cases, vicious reaction on social media.
In meeting with the more traditional media on Monday, Carroll said he can't be concerned about the criticism.
“I have to be rock solid on that,” Carroll said. “I can’t bend and twist and go with whatever the public sentiment is, or one person’s sentiment for that matter, regardless of who it is. I just can’t do that and do my job the right way to the best of my ability.”
The Raiders were trying desperately to come back from a two-possession deficit to the Broncos in the closing minutes, and it first appeared Carlson would never get a chance to kick the field goal.
Broncos safety Brandon Jones, however, drew a delay-of-game penalty for not allowing wide receiver Tyler Lockett to get up after a 26-yard gain. That penalty stopped the clock, and officials made the decision to go with 5 seconds remaining.
Carroll lobbied for even more time to be put on the clock.
“I was talking 10 (seconds) with the guy trying to get it back up, and I thought I’d had a chance to plead it and they might give me a shot,” Carroll said. "So that was just competing all the way as well. Fans couldn’t understand, but there was a real clear thought of what we were trying to get down there just to take it down to the very last click.
"It just didn’t work out.”
This is far from the first time Carroll has been down this road in which his decision was tied to how a point spread was affected.
While coaching New England in 1998, the Patriots benefited from a pass interference call in the end zone against Buffalo on a Hail Mary play. Tight end Ben Coates caught a 1-yard touchdown pass on the next play, and the miffed Bills left the field rather than line up to defend the extra point. Carroll then instructed Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri to take advantage of the open field for the 2-point conversion and a 25-21 victory.
“If I remember right — I don’t know how accurate this is — but there was a real uproar because the one point made a difference in the line,” Carroll said. “So I got hammered for that. I never really recovered with a bunch of people for that call, but at the time, it seemed like the right thing to do.”
What’s working
DE Maxx Crosby continues to produce, making a sack and two tackles for loss. He has five sacks and 15 TFLs over the past six games. Crosby already has broken his club single-season record with 25 tackles for loss, and there are four games left.
What needs help
Carroll already fired special teams coordinator Tom McMahon , so it's uncertain how much more can be done. Poor tackling on a Broncos punt return that led to a touchdown and 14-7 lead was the turning point. There's a lot to like about the Raiders' special teams, but there have been way too many breakdowns this season that have been crucial in some of the losses.
Stock up
Backup QB Kenny Pickett completed 8 of 11 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown after replacing injured starter Geno Smith. It's obviously a small sample size, but Pickett looked more than capable of running the offense if needed. Doing as a starter, of course, is another matter.
Stock down
The Raiders couldn't get off the field defensively. Denver scored 17 points on three drives that went more than 80 yards, two 90 and longer. The time of possession on those series — 8:54, 9:13, 10:17. By the end, the Broncos had the ball for 39:03, which helped limit Las Vegas to just 48 plays. The Broncos had 40 snaps alone on the Raiders' side of the field.
Injuries
Carroll said he wouldn't know more about the status of QB Geno Smith (shoulder) “for a couple of days.” ... CB Kyu Blu Kelly (patella tendon) will be out for the foreseeable future. “We'll see how it goes and what has to take place to get him right,” Carroll said. “You notice, it was in open field. It was just a freak accident that shouldn't happen. You didn't see it buckle or anything. He just planted and sometimes that happens.”
Key number
5 — Number of consecutive games the Raiders have allowed at least four sacks and rushed for fewer than 75 yards, a first in the Super Bowl era.
Next steps
The Raiders visit defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia on Sunday.
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Eric Morris introduced as Oklahoma State coach, looks to revive program Gundy brought to prominence By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer The Associated Press STILLWATER, Okla.
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — For years, Eric Morris admired what Mike Gundy built at Oklahoma State from afar.
As a former assistant coach at Big 12 rival Texas Tech, he learned about the high-scoring Cowboy offenses, high-level quarterback play and the long list of athletes who weren’t highly recruited but turned out to be great players.
Gundy had a career record of 170-90 at his alma mater and posted winning records every season from 2006 to 2023. Though this is a new and different era, Morris believes the things that made Gundy one of the winningest coaches in college football can carry over.
The former North Texas coach looked to the future while respecting the past when he was introduced as Oklahoma State’s coach on Monday.
“I want to acknowledge my profound appreciation and respect for Coach Gundy and his coaching staff," he said. "His 20 years of leadership made Oklahoma State into one of the top football programs in America."
He said Oklahoma State checked all the boxes for him personally and professionally. When discussing whether he could win at Oklahoma State, he apologized to athletic director Chad Weiberg in advance for his language.
“As it relates to the professional, can we win a championship? Sorry, Chad, but my answer to that is hell yes, we can win a damn championship.”
Morris knew through his previous stops about the rowdy crowd at Boone Pickens Stadium and looks forward to being on the right side of that homefield advantage. He said his previous visits as a player and assistant coach didn't go well.
“I have ringing memories of my ear and those paddles hitting ... people are screaming all kinds of things at you,” he said.
Though Oklahoma State finished with a 1-11 record this season, Cowboys fans remained enthusiastic throughout the season. That energy continued with an overflow crowd of 1,100 at the Click Family Alumni Hall Room at the school’s alumni center. He had already won them over, then sealed the deal when mentioning his desire to revive the rivalry with Oklahoma that largely ended when the Sooners moved to the Southeastern Conference.
Morris likes the challenge of rebuilding a program. He took North Texas from 5-7 in his first season four years ago to the American Conference title game this season. Though Morris has fond memories of North Texas, he’s ready to move forward. He said his “100% attention” is on Oklahoma State football and building relationships, a roster and a staff.
“It’s been nice to to finally feel like my feet are on the ground in Stillwater and have one focus, and that’s making Oklahoma State football the best it possibly can be,” he said.
He credits his scrappy approach to being a small town kid who played for Shallowater High School in Texas. He was an undersized receiver at Texas Tech, much the way Gundy was an undersized quarterback at Oklahoma State.
Morris thinks those qualities will help make him a fit in Stillwater.
“You’re so much more proud of the things that I think that we do the hard way,” he said of being a small-town kid. “And so I believe in doing things the hard way, in a tough and gritty way.”
He also likes to develop quarterbacks. He has coached, developed or recruited Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, John Mateer, Cam Ward, Chandler Morris and Drew Mestemaker. Many of those players weren’t heavily recruited.
He asked the crowd to trust him on recruiting that position.
“If I take a three-star quarterback, nobody get mad at me," Morris said. “Like, that’s all I can say, right? We have a set of qualifications and kind of a formula that we have to recruit these guys.”
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Shough's growth, steady defense and roster-wide effort had Saints coach Kellen Moore smiling By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer The Associated Press NEW ORLEANS
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Rookie Tyler Shough took another important step in his growth as an NFL quarterback by showing he could improvise effectively under pressure and in the clutch.
New Orleans’ defense continued to show it could consistently put forth solid performances highlighted by multiple fourth-down stops and an interception.
Not only did it add up to a surprising victory on the road and in the rain at NFC South-leading Tampa Bay , but it provided coach Kellen Moore evidence that his players haven't quit on him during his difficult first season in charge.
“This was a big-time example of having awesome guys on our team,” Moore said Monday after reviewing video of New Orleans' 24-20 triumph. “You have every reason to get distracted when you have the record that we have, and for them to prepare and put themselves in a really good position to be successful on Sunday was awesome.”
The victory was just the third for the Saints (3-10), who still need three more victories to improve on their 5-12 mark in 2024.
“Resiliency is part of the NFL,” said Moore, who was the offensive coordinator for the 2024 champion Philadelphia Eagles last season. “It's an important aspect for our guys to be able to cope with it and navigate it individually and collectively as well.”
As for Shough, his passing numbers were a relatively modest 13 of 20 for 144 yards without a touchdown and one interception. But he also ran for 55 yards and two touchdowns — and his second score came on a play in which he escaped what looked like an imminent sack .
“His legs obviously came alive and became a huge impact on this game, which we needed in those conditions,” Moore said.
“We always look at the throwing aspect of it, but I think it's all the other little things,” Moore said, such as understanding the blocking assignments and recognizing potential matchup issues.
“You have to factor in all this mental part of it and then you have to go execute the play at a high level,” Moore said.
The Bucs outgained the Saints in total yards, but the Saints kept Bucs QB Baker Mayfield's passing game in check and got some pivotal stops. They also made plays on special teams, including Mason Tipton's 54-yard kickoff return, which helped set up a TD.
“When you look down the sideline and see the energy that we're playing with, I think that's what says a lot about this group of guys,” Tipton said. “It was a rainy day, tough conditions, but you just got to see the grit that everybody plays with.”
What’s working
Defensively, the Saints now rank sixth in the NFL against the pass. After limiting Mayfield to 14 completions on 30 attempts for 122 yards passing, New Orleans is giving up an average of 182.6 yards per game through the air.
What needs help
The Saints' defense was unusually porous against the run at Tampa Bay, giving up a season-high 179 yards on the ground. Some of that had to do with Mayfield's scrambling. He rushed for 42 yards.
Stock up
In addition to Shough, rookie running back Devin Neal contributed 84 yards and a touchdown from scrimmage, with 70 yards on the ground to go with a 14-yard catch.
“I love his energy. I love his juice,” Moore said of Neal.
“One of the most impressive aspects, being a young guy, is how prepared he is," Moore added. "Protections is usually the thing that keeps all these young guys off the field earlier in their careers as running backs — and that's the least of our problems with him.”
Meanwhile, defensive end Carl Granderson made two tackles behind the line of scrimmage — one of them on fourth and 1.
Stock down
While Taysom Hill remains a main cog on special teams, he struggled to contribute offensively for a second straight game. He rushed twice for minus-1 yard and was unable to catch either of just two passes thrown his way.
Injuries
Running back Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle), right tackle Taliese Fuaga (ankle), and safety Justin Reid (knee) will continue rehabbing injuries this week that kept them all out of the lineup in Tampa Bay.
Key number
28 — The number of consecutive games in which the Saints have scored just seven or fewer first-quarter points. They are 6-22 in those games, during which they have been held scoreless in the first quarter 15 times.
Next steps
The Saints host Carolina on Sunday for their final meeting this season with the Panthers, who entered this week tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for first place in the NFC South.
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Baltimore's Harbaugh still miffed by reversals: 'About as clear as mud right now' By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer The Associated Press BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE (AP) — A day later, John Harbaugh still wasn't satisfied with the way the NFL determines if a catch has been made.
“It’s about as clear as mud right now," the Baltimore coach said.
The Ravens lost their biggest game of the season Monday, 27-22 to the Pittsburgh Steelers . Two replay reviews went against Baltimore in the fourth quarter. One of them turned an interception into a Pittsburgh catch, and the other changed a touchdown by the Ravens into an incompletion.
Harbaugh said Monday he and general manager Eric DeCosta had spoken to the league.
“It didn’t clear anything up. It didn’t make it any easier to understand in either one of the two calls,” Harbaugh said. “They’re very hard to understand how they get overturned, but they did, and that’s where it stands.”
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was ruled to have caught his own pass and been down by contact before losing control of the ball and having it intercepted by a Raven. Then Isaiah Likely lost a TD when the ball was knocked away from him after both his feet landed in the end zone, but before he completed an additional step.
Harbaugh said the league did acknowledge a mistake on a second-quarter penalty on Baltimore that occurred when the Steelers were attempting a field goal. Travis Jones was called for unnecessary roughness, giving Pittsburgh a first down. The Steelers scored a touchdown on the next play to go up 17-3.
“The Travis Jones call, they told me, and they told me I had permission to state this, that it was a wrong call,” Harbaugh said. “It should not have been called.”
Now Baltimore (6-7) is playing catch-up again. The Ravens staggered to a 1-5 start thanks in part to an injury to Lamar Jackson. Then they won five in a row, but the star quarterback didn't look totally healthy and the offense was out of sorts. Now they've lost two straight divisional games at home, and next week's prime-time visit to Cincinnati feels like a must-win.
Baltimore is just a game behind Pittsburgh (7-6) atop the AFC North, and the teams meet again in Week 18. But if the Ravens fall to the Bengals, they would need the Steelers to lose to Cleveland to have any shot at winning a tiebreaker with Pittsburgh.
What's working
Baltimore’s offense still settled for too many field goals, but Jackson and Derrick Henry looked a little more like themselves in the second half. The Ravens finished with 420 yards of offense, their highest total since Week 1.
What needs help
The Baltimore offensive line still has plenty of issues, but the defensive front was a concern in this game. The pass rush against the 42-year-old Rodgers wasn't nearly good enough. He wasn't sacked a single time and had enough time to revive a downfield passing game that had been dormant for Pittsburgh.
Kyle Van Noy has just two sacks this season for the Ravens after posting 12 1/2 last season.
Stock up
Likely hasn't had a particularly good season, but he was a factor in this game, scoring a third-quarter touchdown and nearly adding a game winner late in the fourth.
Stock down
Tyler Loop missed an extra point and wasn't great on kickoffs. Mark Andrews had only one catch in his first game after agreeing to a three-year extension .
Injury
Keaton Mitchell's 55-yard run in the third quarter gave Baltimore a much-needed jolt, but he left with a knee injury. With Justice Hill also out, the Ravens are running out of rushing options besides Henry, who had 94 yards on a season-high 25 carries.
Harbaugh did say Mitchell was day to day.
“We got good news," he said.
Key number
The Ravens lost at home for the fifth time this season, tying a franchise record set in 2015. Baltimore has one home game left, against New England in two weeks.
Up next
The Ravens take on the Bengals on Sunday, just 2 1/2 weeks after losing 32-14 to them at home.
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Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez wins Bronko Nagurski Award as nation's best college defensive player By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer The Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Texas Tech senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has won the Bronko Nagurski Award given annually to the nation’s top college defensive player.
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Rodriguez received the award at a banquet Monday night at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Rodriguez, known for his dark mustache that is now copied by Texas Tech football fans, has 114 tackles this season, along with four interceptions, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one sack for the Red Raiders, who boast the nation’s fifth-best defense.
Texas Tech (12-1) won the Big 12 championship and will make its first appearance in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day. The Red Raiders, who allow just 254.4 yards per game on defense, were tabbed as the No. 4 seed in the final College Football Playoff rankings and have a bye week.
They will play the winner of No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 James Madison in the quarterfinals.
Behind a stifling defense led by Rodriguez, the Red Raiders won 12 games by 20-plus points this season, including a 34-7 victory over previously No. 11 BYU in the Big 12 championship game on Saturday. They join the 2018 Alabama team as the only programs in the Associated Press era to accomplish that feat.
After a regular season win over BYU in November in which Rodriguez had 14 tackles and two takeaways in a 29-7 victory , he struck the Heisman Trophy pose.
Kansas City Chiefs three-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who played at Texas Tech and was at the game during a bye week, later posted on social media: “Get him to New York! @HeismanTrophy.”
“My guys, they wanted me to hit it. Just a rush of adrenaline,” Rodriguez later said of his pose.
The other finalists for the award were Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell and Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore.
Rodriguez joins some elite company.
Previous Bronko Nagurski Award winners include Will Anderson Jr. (2021), Chase Young (2019), Bradley Chubb (2017), Aaron Donald (2013), Luke Kuechly (2011), Ndamukong Suh (2009), Brian Orakpo (2008), Derrick Johnson (2004), Terrell Suggs (2002), Dan Morgan (2000), Charles Woodson (1997) and Warren Sapp (1994).
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Chargers' Dicker kicks winning field goal, Jefferson's interception seals 22-19 OT win over Eagles By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer The Associated Press INGLEWOOD, Calif.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Justin Herbert stiff-armed the opposition with his broken left hand, the defense forced big plays and the Los Angeles Chargers eked out a victory to move within two games of first place in the AFC West.
Cameron Dicker kicked a go-ahead 54-yard field goal — one of his five in the game — and Tony Jefferson intercepted Jalen Hurts at the 1-yard line in overtime of a messy 22-19 victory over the slumping Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.
"What a team we have, they refuse to lose,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh effused, putting the win “in the discussion of the birth of my seven children, my marriage.”
The Chargers (9-4) overcame Odafe Oweh's penalty on a neutral zone infraction that gave the Eagles a first down on 4th and 4. Two plays later, Hurts threw deep to Jahan Dotson in double-coverage only to have Jefferson keep his feet in bounds on the game-ending play.
“Last night, we were talking, me and the corners, and you can ask Cam (Hart), I literally spoke this one into existence,” Jefferson said. “I told him, ‘Tip me the ball, I’ll be there.' The football gods are looking out for me.”
Hurts threw four interceptions and the the defending Super Bowl champions lost their season-worst third in a row and fell to 8-5.
Dicker's 46-yard field goal with 12 seconds left sent the game to the 10-minute extra session tied 19-19 after Jake Elliott's 44-yarder minutes earlier had put the Eagles ahead 19-16. Dicker was 5 for 5.
Elliott also kicked field goals of 54, 30 and 41 yards at SoFi Stadium, where the Eagles' green-and-white jerseys dotted the crowd.
Saquon Barkley gave the Eagles their first lead with a 52-yard touchdown to start the fourth quarter that made it 16-13. He ran for a combined 78 yards in the Eagles’ losses to the Cowboys and Bears before notching 122 on 20 carries for just the second time this season. He had 150 yards against the New York Giants on Oct. 26.
Herbert was 12 of 26 for 138 yards, one touchdown and one interception with a career-worst seven sacks. He also ran for 66 yards on 10 carries.
“He’s a superhero. He’s a competitive maniac,” Harbaugh said. “It felt like we were in a movie and you get to the point where you go, ‘OK, this is getting a little unrealistic.’”
Herbert said he knew he was going to play against the Eagles as early as last Sunday, even before his surgery.
“The first couple days were kind of tough, getting the swelling down and be able to grip,” he said. “I did everything I could to hold onto the ball.”
Jefferson said, “He's just a warrior.”
Hurts was 21 of 40 for 240 yards and four interceptions. In the first quarter, he had two turnovers on the same play as part of a chaotic sequence in which he was intercepted and he fumbled. Da’Shawn Hand picked off Hurts and then fumbled the ball before Hurts recovered and the quarterback fumbled and Troy Dye recovered to give the Chargers possession.
“We lost the game," Hurts said, "and I didn’t play well enough to help us to win the game."
The Eagles had five turnovers and six penalties for 53 yards.
“I thought the defense did a lot of good things and the offense moved the ball against a really good defense, but we didn’t finish,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “We kicked a lot of field goals and had some turnovers. It’s hard to beat a team on the road when you’re not finishing drives and getting three points. I have to put that on myself.”
The Chargers tied the score 16-16 on Dicker's 31-yard field goal with 7:26 remaining in the fourth.
Injuries
Eagles: LG Landon Dickerson left with a calf injury in the third quarter.
Chargers: WR Derius Davis sustained an ankle injury, and RT Trey Pipkins III (ankle) left in the second quarter. ... S Derwin James Jr. was evaluated for a head injury, but returned soon after in the second. ... S Elijah Molden (hamstring) left the game in the third.
Up next
Eagles: Host Las Vegas on Sunday.
Chargers: Visit Kansas City on Sunday. The Chiefs lost 27-21 in the teams' season opener in Brazil.
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Chargers, Eagles in giving mood with three-turnover play DOUG PADILLA Associated Press The Associated Press INGLEWOOD, Calif.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Unable to wrap your hands around the season’s hottest gift?
The Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles feel your pain.
Three turnovers on a single play Monday night unfolded like a white elephant gift exchange.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts finished the night with four interceptions and a fumble, including a pick that ended the Chargers' 22-19 victory in overtime.
A wild scenario in the second quarter typified Philadelphia's frustration.
The Eagles had the ball before the Chargers plucked it away. The Eagles got it right back, before the Chargers yanked it away again.
From the time Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts let go of his pass with 8:28 remaining in the first half, until the ball stopped rolling, it was among the wildest 9 seconds of the season.
Hurts’ second-quarter pass to A.J. Brown was intercepted by Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand at the Los Angeles 17-yard line. Hand fumbled at the 24-yard line when he was hit by the Eagles’ Will Shipley. Hurts had the ball return to his hands at the 33 but he fumbled it when he was hit by the Chargers’ Jamaree Caldwell.
Only the Chargers’ Troy Dye was able to secure the ball tightly when he jumped on it at the 43-yard line.
“It was amazing. You just can’t script that," Hand said of his first career interception in eight NFL seasons. “It’s great football. That’s the moment you think about as a little kid.”
Hurts made history, becoming the only NFL player ever to throw an interception, recover a fumble and lose a fumble on the same play. Adding to the oddity was that the Eagles entered with just eight giveaways all season, tied for the best in the NFL.
“As frustrating as the night was, we had an opportunity to win the game in the end,” Hurts said, when asked specifically about the wild second-quarter play. “I had the ball in my hands, driving down, having everything on our terms. And I didn’t bring it home.”
The Chargers cashed in the madness with a field goal to take a 10-3 lead with 4:55 remaining in the second quarter. But the giveaway game was far from complete.
The three-turnover play was merely part of a stretch when the teams had five turnovers in a span of 11 plays after Hurts was intercepted on the Eagles’ next possession and Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert fumbled the ball away one play later.
“That one stings,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said. “At the end of the day we had some turnovers in this game, which is uncharacteristic of us."
The gift giving continued.
In the end there were eight total turnovers from both teams on the night. The Chargers’ Tony Jefferson delivered the final one in overtime when he intercepted Hurts' pass at the 1-yard line.
“I didn’t play well,” Hurts said. “Too many turnovers. Lots of opportunities, especially when we get on the other side of the 50. But I wasn’t able to get us in the box.”
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