Ravens lose grasp on first place when Likely TD turns into a drop By DAVID GINSBURG Associated Press The Associated Press BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE (AP) — Isaiah Likely clasped his hands around the football in the end zone and took a couple of steps forward. The referee signaled a touchdown, and the Baltimore Ravens and their fans began to celebrate the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter of a pivotal game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
An instant later, the touchdown call was overturned. A replay review showed Likely lost control of the ball before taking a third step with it, and the incomplete pass turned out to be a significant factor in Baltimore's 27-22 defeat Sunday.
In a season that hasn't remotely met expectations, the Ravens were dealt another devastating blow by a very close and controversial call.
At first glance, it appeared as if Likely held the ball long enough before Pittsburgh cornerback Joey Porter Jr. knocked if from the tight end's grasp. That's certainly how Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson saw it.
“If you were on the field with us, I believe you’d have thought it was a touchdown, too,” Jackson said afterward. “But I can’t do the ref’s job. So, it is what it is.”
Heck, even Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers was getting ready to get on the field in comeback mode.
“I was thinking, we got to put a drive together," Rodgers said. “And then they moved the ball back, and they’re lining up for the next play.”
The definition of a catch is not common knowledge, but the refs were on top of it.
NFL Vice President of Instant Replay Mark Butterworth said: “The receiver controlled the ball in the air, had his right foot down, then his left foot down. The third step is an act common to the game, and before he could get his third foot down, the ball was ripped out. Therefore, it was an incomplete pass.”
The call came on a first down play from the Pittsburgh 13 with 2:43 remaining and the score 27-22. Jackson still had three more chances to get the ball in the end zone, but his fourth down pass from the 8 fell incomplete.
“We wanted it to be a touchdown, but unfortunately it wasn’t,” Jackson said. “So we just tried to do what we could to drive the ball down the field and put points on the board.”
Baltimore got the ball back one more time just after the two-minute warning, but the game ended with Jackson being sacked at the Pittsburgh 38. With the defeat, the Ravens (6-7) fell a game behind the rival Steelers for first place in the AFC North.
Things might have been different had Likely maintained his grip on the ball.
“You’ve got to live with the ref’s call,” Likely said.
That wasn't the only call that failed to go Baltimore's way. Earlier in the fourth quarter, Rodgers was seemingly intercepted on a batted ball that went high in the air and was grabbed by Rodgers and Ravens linebacker Teddye Buchanan. Officials called it an interception, then decided that Rodgers had possession when his knee hit the ground.
“The offense had initial control of the ball and ended up being down by contact,” Butterworth said.
Two close calls, both of which did not work out for Baltimore, contributed heavily to dropping the Ravens below .500 and a game out of first place.
“We still have four games left. We can still turn it around, I believe,” Jackson said.
But when asked his level of frustration at this point in a disappointing season, he quickly replied, “Through the roof!”
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Broncos beat Raiders 24-17 to extend winning streak to 10 games as Geno Smith injured By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer The Associated Press LAS VEGAS
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Bo Nix passed for 212 yards and rushed for a touchdown, and the Denver Broncos didn't fall behind for the first time this season as they defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 24-17 on Sunday.
The Raiders lost quarterback Geno Smith , who injured his right hand and shoulder in the third quarter and was replaced by Kenny Pickett.
The Broncos (11-2) appear to be on the verge of ending Kansas City's nine-year reign in the AFC West, and they tied idle New England for the top seed in the conference. Denver owns the tiebreaker because of its 6-0 record against common opponents; the Patriots lost to the Raiders.
In running their winning streak to 10 games, the Broncos also ended their NFL record of rallying for nine consecutive victories. Denver has its best record through 13 games since 2013.
The Raiders (2-11) have lost seven in a row and 11 of 12. Las Vegas also has lost 11 consecutive divisional games, the league's longest active skid.
Statistics pointed to a potential mismatch with the Broncos bringing in a top-five defense against a Raiders offense that's at or near the bottom of several statistical categories. Denver held the ball for 39:03 and gained 356 yards with 27 first downs. The Raiders had 229 yards and 16 first downs.
Nix was highly efficient, completing 31 of 38 passes.
Nik Bonitto recorded two sacks, giving him 12 1/2 for the season. He is the first Denver player with double-digit sacks in consecutive seasons since Von Miller did it five straight times from 2014-18.
Smith was 13 of 21 for 116 yards and a touchdown. Pickett completed 8 of 11 passes for 96 yards and a TD.
Maxx Crosby had two tackles for loss, giving him 25 for the season to break his team record of 23 set three years ago.
Each team had just one possession in the first quarter — and made them count.
The Broncos opened with a 14-play, 81-yard drive that took 8:54, with Nix running in from 8 yards to complete the series. Then the Raiders took the remaining time off the clock, with Smith hitting Brock Bowers for a 15-yard TD.
That was the first opening-series touchdown the Broncos have allowed this season. It also was the first opening Las Vegas drive to go the distance since the first game at New England.
Both offenses had their difficulties in the second quarter, with the only score coming on a 48-yard punt return for a touchdown by Denver's Marvin Mims Jr.
RJ Harvey's 3-yard scoring run late in the third period gave Denver what seemed like an almost insurmountable two-touchdown lead. Harvey has five TD runs this season and four through the air.
Bad beat for Broncos
Daniel Carlson's 46-yard field goal with no time left gave a particularly nasty beat to Broncos bettors who gave the Raiders 7 1/2 points.
Injuries
Broncos: DT D.J. Jones (ankle) and TE Nate Adkins (knee) did not play.
Raiders: CB Kyu Blu Kelly (knee), who leads the team with three interceptions, was injured early in the second quarter. ... TE Ian Thomas (calf) was hurt in the fourth quarter. ... TE Michael Mayer (ankle) and WRs Alex Bachman (thumb) and Dont’e Thornton Jr. (concussion) did not play.
Up next
Broncos: Host Green Bay next Sunday.
Raiders: Visit Philadelphia next Sunday.
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Quincy Williams arrives in Joker makeup for Jets' Gotham City game against Dolphins By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Quincy Williams is no joker when it comes to dressing for the occasion.
The New York Jets linebacker arrived for the team's 34-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday with his face made up to look like the comic and movie villain Joker — complete with a big painted-on red grin.
The team posted the arrival video of Williams, who smiled on his way into MetLife Stadium.
It was fitting attire for Williams with the Jets wearing their “Gotham City Football” Rivalries uniforms for the game. Williams also wore a ”Gotham City Football" bomber jacket into the stadium. The Joker, of course, is Batman's main adversary in the fictional Gotham City in the comics and movies.
It's a familiar getup for Williams, who has also dressed up as Joker for Halloween in the past. He also teased his outfit a few hours before the game by posting a clip on his Instagram Stories of Jack Nicholson playing Joker in the 1989 film “Batman.”
Williams was out of the makeup for the game, of course, and wasn't smiling much after the loss, although he had seven tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit in the game.
AFC East and NFC West teams are wearing Rivalries uniforms for select games this season, with other divisions doing the same in future seasons.
The Jets' uniforms feature matte black helmets, “Gotham Green” jerseys and pants with black and iron ore stripes. Several elements around MetLife Stadium were added for the game, including redesigned end zones — with the city skyline silhouetted below the Jets' logo — and other signage around the field and stadium.
The game was also part of “Legends” weekend for the Jets, who welcomed back 113 former players. As part of the celebration, the team honored the 25th anniversary of the “Monday Night Miracle,” when the Jets rallied to score 30 points in the fourth quarter and beat the Dolphins 40-37 in overtime.
Key members of that Jets squad, including former quarterback Vinny Testaverde and wide receiver Wayne Chrebet, served as honorary captains for the game.
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With 10 sacks and growing leadership, Chargers OLB Tuli Tuipulotu elevating all aspects of his game By DAN GREENSPAN Associated Press The Associated Press EL SEGUNDO, Calif.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Tuli Tuipulotu leads the Los Angeles Chargers with 10 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.
Those are not the only areas where Tuipulotu is guiding the Chargers, with their emerging star outside linebacker becoming more comfortable expressing himself in his third season.
Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said Tuipulotu spoke to the defense prior to their 31-14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders , stressing the need to come out with the right mindset following an ugly loss in Jacksonville on Nov. 16 before their bye week.
Tuipulotu then led the way with two sacks and four tackles for loss as the Chargers (8-4) allowed a season-low 156 total yards.
“And when you speak that, and then you go out and play the way he played, that’s pretty cool, and that earns yourself a lot of respect, which he already has,” Minter said.
Tuipulotu played his first NFL game seven days after his 21st birthday in 2023, but he joined a position group that already had premier players in Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa. Tuipulotu deferred to the veterans and wouldn’t even refer to them by their first names as a rookie.
“His mind was churning, but the words weren’t coming out yet,” Mack said.
Tuipulotu was content to focus on learning from the two proven edge defenders. That approach had already helped set up the Lawndale, California, native for success in high school and again in college at Southern California.
His older brother, Marlon Tuipulotu, was a standout defensive tackle for the Trojans. Cousin Talanoa Hufanga was an All-America safety at USC and the Pac-12 defensive player of the year in 2020. Following their examples gave Tuli Tuipulotu an understanding of everything it took to excel, and he joined Hufanga as the Pac-12’s top defender in 2022 and was a unanimous All-American that season.
Drafted in the second round by the Chargers with the 54th overall pick in April 2023, Tuipulotu already had an understanding of what was coming. Marlon had two years of NFL experience with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chargers’ opponent on Monday night. Hufanga had just earned All-Pro honors in his second year in San Francisco.
Coincidentally, both are now playing in the AFC West for the Chargers’ divisional foes, as Marlon is with Kansas City and Hufanga in Denver.
“They just paved the way,” Tuli Tuipulotu said. “They made things a lot easier for me, just because I know what the process is. I knew what the process was going into college because of them. I know the process was going into the NFL because of them.”
Tuipulotu has been able to take the processes and experiences of family and teammates, including Mack and Bosa, to adapt and elevate in his own ways.
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh raves about Tuipulotu’s fitness regiment. Offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer was caught by surprise when he recently came in for a treatment session and saw Tuipulotu already out on the field in cleats at 6 a.m. Minter praised the detailed notes Tuipulotu takes and the questions he asks in meetings.
“It’s a process to be a good player,” Minter said. “And that word gets thrown around a lot, but for Tuli, it’s truly like everything he does leads to how he plays on game day.”
The carryover has been particularly evident of late as Tuipulotu has had five sacks and nine tackles for loss in his past five games. He has helped the Chargers navigate the departure of Bosa , who was cut in the offseason for salary cap reasons, both coming off the edge in base personnel and lining up inside in specialty packages.
Salyer, who has played guard and tackle for the Chargers, said Tuipulotu’s mix of physical tools and approach to the position exacerbates the mismatch between a natural pass rusher and interior offensive linemen that already exists in obvious throwing situations.
“I mean, Tuli is a player that really takes advantage of bad technique,” Salyer said. “He’s a lot stronger than he looks, and he just plays really hard. He plays the game harder than most guys really do, so if you take a play off, he’s gonna take advantage of that. If you take a bad set, he’s gonna take advantage of that.”
Minter sees the expanded versatility of Tuipulotu’s pass rush identity as another indicator of him reaching a new level.
“And when you’re like a dominant player, and you play with the physicality that he plays with, and the relentless motor that he plays with, it’s almost like, ‘Hey, put me wherever. Try and get me a one-on-one, and I can win.’ And I think he’s got that mindset, which is awesome to have,” Minter said.
Putting all those things together, Tuipulotu has already surged past his previous career highs of 8 1/2 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2024 with five games remaining. The Chargers won’t put any limits on what he can accomplish this season or going forward.
“I always say the sky’s the limit for Tuli, man,” Mack said. “I’m not expecting him to just stop at 10, and I’ll just leave it at that.”
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Dolphins' Achane leaves with a rib injury; Jets rookie QB Cook steps in for injured Taylor By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — De'Von Achane was running all over the New York Jets and headed for another huge game for Miami.
Then a rib injury knocked him out early in the Dolphins' 34-10 victory Sunday, but coach Mike McDaniel said the star running back could've returned if it was necessary.
Achane was slow to walk off the field after a 29-yard run late in the second quarter. He went into the injury tent on the sideline while Jaylen Wright replaced him as the Dolphins’ primary ballcarrier. The team announced Achane was questionable to return — but he never came back in.
“We got it looked at,” McDaniel said. "He was hurting. He was available to come back into the game in an emergency. You worry about breaks. That takes time. Didn’t see that.
“He was available to come back into the game. I chose not to put him in there.”
Achane ran for 92 yards and a touchdown on seven carries and had a 13-yard catch. He rushed for at least 120 yards in each of his previous three games and was well on his way to doing so again before he was hurt.
The Dolphins will evaluate Achane throughout the week to see if he'll be able to play against the Steelers in Pittsburgh next Monday night.
“One would hope,” McDaniel said. “I’ll push all the burden onto the trainers and push him as much as he can. The good news is, as you guys saw, we have other players to hand the ball off to as well. I promise you, he’ll be in there if he’s ready.”
Wright rushed for a career-high 107 yards and his first NFL score and rookie Ollie Gordon II also ran for a TD for Miami, which had 239 yards rushing overall while winning its fourth straight game.
Miami also lost linebacker Caleb Johnson (shoulder) in the first quarter and safety Elijah Campbell was ruled out in the third with knee and ankle injuries.
Jets rookie quarterback Brady Cook made his regular-season NFL debut when he replaced the injured Tyrod Taylor with 3:39 left in the first quarter.
Taylor left with what the Jets said was a groin injury. Coach Aaron Glenn didn't have an immediate update after the game.
“The quarterback situation, we’ll look at that going into next week,” Glenn said. “But yeah, it’s always tough when your starter goes down, it doesn’t matter who it is.”
Taylor was intercepted on a deflected pass on his last throw, which Miami took advantage of by later scoring a touchdown to take a 21-0 lead.
Cook, signed in May as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri, handed off to Breece Hall on his first two snaps and then threw incomplete to Adonai Mitchell before the Jets punted. Cook's first completion came two possessions later, a 6-yard pass to fellow rookie Mason Taylor.
With 30 seconds left in the first half, Cook also tossed his first interception when his throw for John Metchie III was picked off by Rasul Douglas deep in Dolphins territory.
Cook, who finished 14 of 30 for 163 yards and two interceptions, served as the backup to Tyrod Taylor because Justin Fields was ruled out Friday with knee soreness. There's a chance Cook could start for the Jets next week at Jacksonville.
“It was definitely a challenge, but a great challenge,” Cook said. “One that comes with the job of being the backup quarterback. I felt ready to play today and obviously I didn’t do enough to get a win.”
Cook, who threw for 9,008 yards and 49 touchdowns with 15 interceptions in five seasons at Missouri, was signed to the active roster Saturday. He had been promoted from the practice squad for two previous games this season but hadn’t played.
Cook was 25 of 38 for 235 yards and a touchdown with one interception in three preseason games.
Glenn said Mason Taylor has a stinger and fellow tight end Stone Smartt has a possible concussion. Rookie defensive end Tyler Baron was ruled out with a knee injury. Linebacker Kiko Mauigoa cleared the concussion protocol, but didn't return because of a shoulder injury.
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Colts QB Daniel Jones could be out for the season with a right Achilles tendon injury By MARK LONG AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press JACKSONVILLE, Fla.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Daniel Jones slammed his helmet to the ground several times before eventually limping to the sideline.
He was reacting to his latest injury, which might be season-ending. His body language was indicative of how the Indianapolis Colts must feel with the AFC South — and their once-promising season — slipping away.
Already playing with a broken bone in his left leg, Jones injured his right Achilles tendon in a 36-19 loss at Jacksonville on Sunday.
“Could be season-ending. I don’t have the full details on it, but we’ll get more clarity on that,” coach Shane Steichen said. "Not for sure, but it’s not looking good.”
Jones dropped to the ground after throwing incomplete and immediately grabbed the back of his right leg. He eventually got up and made his way to the sideline and then the locker room for tests. He returned to the sideline in the second half wearing a walking boot.
Riley Leonard replaced him, but the Colts (8-5) were essentially done for the day.
They might be done for the season. With Jones injured and four winning teams — Seattle, San Francisco, Jacksonville and Houston — left on the schedule, no one should be surprised if Indy doesn't win again.
Cornerback Kenny Moore called this loss — the team's third in a row and fourth in five games — a dagger.
Jones' injury surely had a lot to do with it. Jones' resurgence was a big reason the Colts started the season 7-1. He signed a one-year contract in free agency and beat out Anthony Richardson in training camp.
But with potentially a nine-month rehab in front of him, the Colts could be looking for a new starter in March.
“Anytime you lose a guy that puts in so much work and so much effort, and is always there for his team, and showing up with a fibula injury and goes out there and freaking plays, just so much respect for him," Steichen said. "Just so much respect.”
With Richardson on injured reserve with a broken orbital bone, Leonard is the only other quarterback on Indy's roster. Brett Rypien is on the practice squad.
Jones played several games though a broken left leg. He said he couldn’t pinpoint exactly when the injury occurred or when he first noticed something didn’t seem right. He maintained the past two weeks he felt healthy enough to play.
His performance, however, told a different story. As defenses put increasingly more pressure on Jones, he has looked less mobile and has been less accurate than in Indy’s first eight games.
He completed 5 of 7 passes for 60 yards, with an interception against Jacksonville. Leonard completed 18 of 29 passes for 145 yards, with a touchdown run and an interception.
“I was actually impressed with what he did in the situation," Steichen said. "I thought he went in and competed his tail off.”
Leonard credited Jones with getting him ready to play and praised him for playing through the broken leg.
“Daniel’s the toughest guy that I’ve ever been around, by far in my life," Leonard said. "He’s the most competitive person that I’ve ever met. So it’s no surprise that he came back out there to cheer us on. I remember going over the sideline, and he was just first one to put the raincoat on me, the first one to ask me what I see on that play and help me out and what to expect on certain situations.
“It’s just exactly who he is, whether he’s playing or not. He’s very consistent, man. So I really respect that about him.”
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QB Jayden Daniels out again for Commanders after landing hard on previously injured left elbow By BRIAN MURPHY Associated Press The Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn thought his team had turned a corner last week in an one-point overtime loss to first-place Denver.
For the first time since Week 2, they had their starting quarterback and top three wide receivers in the lineup on Sunday at Minnesota, facing a reeling opponent that had been struggling at home.
Instead, Jayden Daniels hurt his elbow again in the third quarter, veteran tight end Zach Ertz suffered a serious knee injury moments later, and Washington failed to score in a humbling 31-0 loss to the rejuvenated Vikings .
Ertz was carted off the field with what the Commanders feared was a torn ACL. Meanwhile, Quinn kept Daniels on the sideline down 17-0 to protect him while backup Marcus Mariota finished Washington’s eighth straight loss.
“He was questionable to return and could have,” Quinn said. “It was my decision to sit him out. We were off as a team, and I felt that it was the right call.”
Daniels was injured with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter and Washington facing fourth-and-1 from the Minnesota 30-yard line.
He tried to hit wideout Terry McLaurin with a quick pass toward the left sideline. But Vikings edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel jumped in front of the ball and secured the deflection for an interception and 40-yard return.
During the runback, Minnesota cornerback Isaiah Rodgers delivered a clean block on Daniels, knocking the quarterback off balance at midfield, where he landed hard on his left arm.
Daniels retreated to the bench clutching his elbow in pain and was surrounded by Washington medical staff. Then he got up, slammed his helmet to the turf and was sent for treatment in the medical tent as Mariota took over.
Daniels completed just 9 of 20 passes for 78 yards with four rushes for 16 yards, leaving with Washington trailing by two touchdowns. Mariota completed 2 of 4 passes for 30 yards, was also intercepted, and lost a fumble.
One of the league’s worst defenses let struggling Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy march the Vikings down the field for a game-opening touchdown. The second-year quarterback finished with three touchdown passes while the Vikings rushed for 162 yards after quickly seizing control.
Meanwhile, the Commanders gained only 206 total yards, were shut out for the first time since 2019 and fell to 3-10 just 11 months after playing in the NFC championship game.
“I thought we took a step forward as a team last week,” Quinn said. “Today, we took three steps back. We didn’t find our rhythm and we lived in theirs. None of it was acceptable.”
The mood was somber in the Commanders locker room as a team with lofty expectations for 2025 tried to process another double-digit defeat and the loss of two more injured stars.
“It’s tough because you watch those guys work hard, especially Jayden,” said linebacker Bobby Wagner. “Who doesn’t want to see their quarterback hustle down the field to try to stop a touchdown? It’s tough to see good men, true competitors go down. Our job as teammates and brothers is to be there for them to lean on.”
Ertz, who was upended on an incomplete pass over the middle, left the Washington locker room on crutches. Quinn said the 35-year-old would have an MRI on Monday, but the team fears the worst.
“The early signals aren’t good,” Quinn said. “Let’s hope for the best.”
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McCarthy, Vikings rebound with 31-0 win over reeling Commanders, who lose Daniels to injury again By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings had no bigger problem in this messy season than turnovers, with a league-worst minus-15 margin entering this week.
In a much-needed momentum-builder for young quarterback J.J. McCarthy, they finally kept a firm grip on the ball — up and down the field.
McCarthy threw a career-high three touchdown passes in his first turnover-free game, returning from his latest injury absence in prime form for the Vikings in a 31-0 victory on Sunday that sent the Washington Commanders to their eighth straight loss.
“It’s just something I feel like should’ve happened a lot earlier,” McCarthy said. “I absolutely love those guys for the grace and patience they’ve had with me, but we’ve got to continue to do it again.”
McCarthy went 16 for 23 for 163 yards in his seventh NFL start, after sitting out last week in Seattle with a concussion while the Vikings were shut out for the first time in 18 years and dropped their fourth consecutive game with the offense in disrepair . One week later, they got to deliver the shutout — in just their second turnover-free game of the season.
They also stopped a three-game losing streak at U.S. Bank Stadium, where the Vikings heard plenty of boos the previous time they played at home.
“It felt good to play to the standard our fans expect,” coach Kevin O'Connell said.
McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie year after knee surgery and five games earlier this season with a sprained ankle, targeted his tight ends for all three scores — the first two to Josh Oliver and the last one to T.J. Hockenson.
As smooth as the afternoon went for the Vikings (5-8), the return of the starting quarterback for the Commanders (3-10) produced nothing positive — only pain.
Jayden Daniels , the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award winner, was forced out midway through the third quarter when he was blocked during an interception return and landed hard on the left elbow he dislocated last month to require a three-game absence. Daniels missed three games to injury earlier this season, too. Marcus Mariota, who is 1-5 as the starter, threw an interception and lost a fumble in relief.
“When you get beat 31-0, it’s not about offense or defense. That’s just bad,” wide receiver Terry McLaurin said. “We just didn’t play any kind of complementary football, and this is the result.”
Stacking positive plays
McCarthy, who took four sacks and faced plenty of pressure, looked like a seasoned pro from the start as the Vikings elected to take the ball first and opened with a seven-play, 61-yard drive for their first touchdown in nine quarters.
The defense stopped the Commanders on fourth-and-goal from the 2 when Deebo Samuel stumbled in the back of the end zone and failed to hang on to the throw from Daniels — a third straight incompletion despite owning one of the league's best rushing attacks and averaging 4.7 yards per attempt on the ground on Sunday.
Then McCarthy directed a 19-play, 98-yard drive that drained 12:01 off the clock, as the Vikings converted all five third downs — including three with 6-plus yards to go. Jordan Mason capped the possession with a touchdown run, as the Vikings leaned on him and Aaron Jones for a combined 128 yards on 25 carries.
Justin Jefferson, who has totaled just four receptions for 15 yards over his past two games, frequently pumped his fist in support of McCarthy after completions that moved the chains. The two-time All-Pro was so relieved to experience a well-rounded victory such as this with his teammates that he didn't mind McCarthy missing him wide open on a post route from their 34-yard line late in the third quarter, when McCarthy scrambled for a first down instead.
“It’s definitely one of those plays I wish would’ve come to me, but it happens sometimes and that’s part of the game," Jefferson said. "As long as we win, that’s what I really care about.”
Playing keepaway
The time of possession during Minnesota's second touchdown drive was the longest in the NFL since 2021, when San Francisco had the ball for 13:05 on a Week 11 possession at Jacksonville.
This was the longest drive duration for the Vikings since at least 2000, as far as Sportradar data goes back on this category. Their most recent possession that hit 19 plays was in Week 3 in 2008 against Carolina. That ended with a field goal.
Injury report
After Daniels left, 13-year veteran TE Zach Ertz hurt his right knee on a hard and low hit during an incompletion from Mariota. The Commanders feared he tore his ACL.
Up next
The Commanders play at the New York Giants next Sunday afternoon.
The Vikings visit the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday night.
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Tagovailoa wins in cold, leads Dolphins to 4th straight victory 34-10 to remain unbeaten vs. Jets By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa warmed up pretty quickly against the New York Jets and put his cold weather woes on ice.
Tagovailoa threw a touchdown pass to stay undefeated against his AFC East rivals, Miami rushed for three scores and the Dolphins ran away with a 34-10 victory Sunday for their fourth straight win. The defense also stifled an already struggling Jets offense.
“That's a formula to win games in December,” coach Mike McDaniel said.
Tagovailoa improved to 7-0 against the Jets as a starter and 8-0 overall in games in which he has played against the AFC East rivals. And with the temperature 41 degrees at kickoff, Tagovailoa moved to 1-7 in his career when the temperature is 46 or colder.
“I felt good, but it’s football," Tagovailoa said. “Whether it’s hot, whether it's cold, you've got to go out there and you've got to play.”
De'Von Achane ran for 92 yards and a touchdown before leaving in the second quarter with a rib injury following a 29-yard run, but McDaniel said the star running back could've returned in “an emergency.”
He wasn't needed, though. Jaylen Wright filled in and had a career-high 107 yards and his first NFL score. Rookie Ollie Gordon II also ran for a TD for Miami (6-7), which rushed for 239 yards overall and has won five of its last six to remain in the playoff hunt after starting the season 1-6.
“I don’t think I’ve been in the league where I’ve had a stretch necessarily like this one," Tagovailoa said, "in terms of the start to the year and finding that flow toward the later end of the year.”
Tagovailoa was 13 of 21 for 127 yards with a touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle before sitting for the final minutes with the game well in hand. Zach Wilson, New York's No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, finished for Miami.
Zach Sieler had 2 1/2 of the Dolphins' six sacks of the Jets (3-10), who were officially eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. It's the 15th straight year — the NFL's longest active drought — without a postseason appearance for New York.
“This game was definitely disappointing," first-year coach Aaron Glenn said. "Really hard to try to put this in words. The only thing I can say is I didn’t have these guys ready to play. That was obvious by the way we went out there and played.”
Undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook made his regular-season NFL debut for the Jets when he replaced the injured Tyrod Taylor with 3:39 remaining in the first quarter. Taylor left with what the team announced was a groin injury. Glenn didn't have an immediate update on Taylor, who was 1 for 4 for 6 yards and an interception.
Cook, who was Taylor's backup because Justin Fields was ruled out with knee soreness, was 14 of 30 for 163 yards and two interceptions. The rookie said he “absolutely” felt more comfortable as the game went on after a rough start.
“I think you definitely saw flashes there in the fourth quarter of us moving the ball," Cook said. "We need more of it.”
Fast start
On Miami's opening drive, Tagovailoa was hit as he was throwing, but got enough on the pass to complete it to Waddle for a 3-yard touchdown that gave Miami a 7-0 lead.
Achane made it 14-0 a few minutes later with a 13-yard touchdown run to cap Miami's second possession.
“We knew they were going to come out fast and the biggest thing was us coming out fast, too,” Jets linebacker Quincy Williams said. “We didn't do that the first series. ... We didn't show up earlier.”
Tyrel Dodson gave the Dolphins the ball right back when Taylor's pass went off Mason Taylor's hands and right to the linebacker. It was originally called an incompletion, but McDaniel challenged the call and it was ruled via video review that Dodson kept the ball from hitting the ground for an interception by pinning it between his knees.
Tyrod Taylor, who made his third straight start in place of the benched Fields, was hurt on the play.
Special special teams
Isaiah Williams gave the Jets a spark when he returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown — his second score on a punt return this season — to make it 21-7 with 20 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Trailing 24-7 late in the third quarter, New York's special teams again came up big. With Austin McNamara set to punt on fourth down, Malachi Moore took the direct snap and then lateraled to Isaiah Davis, who gained 19 yards and a first down.
The Jets' offense stalled, though, and New York settled for Nick Folk's 31-yard field goal.
Injuries
Dolphins: LB Caleb Johnson left in the first quarter with a shoulder injury and didn't return. ... S Elijah Campbell was ruled out in the third with knee and ankle injuries.
Jets: Glenn said TE Mason Taylor has a stinger. ... TE Stone Smartt has a possible concussion. ... Rookie DE Tyler Baron was ruled out with a knee injury. ... Rookie LB Kiko Mauigoa cleared the concussion protocol, but didn’t return because of a shoulder injury.
Up next
Dolphins: Take on the Steelers in Pittsburgh next Monday night.
Jets: Travel to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars next Sunday.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Rookie QB Tyler Shough's 2 TD runs lead Saints to a 24-20 upset of Buccaneers By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press TAMPA, Fla.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Shough has faced the two top teams in the NFC South and beat them both on the road.
The New Orleans Saints are more competitive than their record indicates.
Shough ran for two touchdowns and the Saints upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-20 on Sunday to tighten the division race. The rookie quarterback is 2-3 as a starter, with the other victory coming at Carolina.
“We can beat anybody. When we’re stalling out, we’re beating ourselves,” Shough said. “Knowing how close we have been in some of those losses, how you can flip it on its head and we produce those big plays, we’d get those wins.”
The lowly Saints (3-10), who were 8 1/2-point underdogs , frustrated Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers (7-6) in a sloppy game mostly played through a driving storm.
The four-time defending division champion Bucs lost for the fourth time in five games and fell into a first-place tie with Carolina. The Bucs and Panthers face off twice in the final three games.
“It doesn't matter whether the team was 12-0 or 0-12, it's the NFL. You have to show up and make plays or the other team is gonna beat you,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said.
After Chris Godwin Jr. couldn’t hold onto Mayfield’s pass on fourth-and-2 from the Saints 47, New Orleans drove for the go-ahead score.
Shough spun away from Logan Hall and Vita Vea in the backfield and scrambled 13 yards for a touchdown and a 24-17 lead near the midpoint of the fourth quarter.
The Buccaneers had a chance to tie it but Emeka Egbuka dropped Mayfield’s pass in the end zone, and they settled for a 37-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin that cut the deficit to 24-20 with under five minutes remaining.
The Bucs had another chance in the final two minutes but Mayfield ran out of his early-season magic.
First, Deion Jones dropped a potential interception that would’ve set Tampa Bay up near its own 40. Instead, the Bucs got the ball after a punt at their 20 with 1:48 remaining and no timeouts.
Mayfield threw two incomplete passes, ran for 6 yards and threw a 3-yard pass to Cade Otton on fourth-and-4.
“I don’t disagree that it feels disjointed,” Godwin said of Tampa Bay's offense. “I can’t put my finger on exactly why. I feel like if we could, it would probably be easier to fix it. You can’t just look at this and go, ‘Oh, it’s whatever.’ It’s not whatever, we have to correct it. If we want to make a run at this thing, we’ve got to get it together and get it together fast.”
Shough finished with 144 yards passing and 55 rushing with one pick.
“Our guys have a lot of adversity this year and they’ve grown through this journey,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said.
Mayfield had 122 yards passing on a 14-of-30 afternoon with one interception.
Shough’s 34-yard TD run on the opening drive of the second half was his career score on the ground. It gave New Orleans a 14-10 lead.
Helped by a 29-yard pass-interference penalty on Jonas Sanker that wiped out an incomplete pass to Tez Johnson on third-and-10, the Buccaneers reclaimed the lead a few plays later.
Rachaad White ran 11, 7 and 5 yards. Then Sean Tucker ran for 13 yards and scored from the 1 to make it 17-14.
The Saints answered with a 30-yard field goal by Charlie Smyth that tied it at 17-all. Shough completed a pass on fourth-and-1 to the Buccaneers 5, but a penalty for illegal man downfield forced the Saints to settle for a field goal.
A 54-yard kickoff return by Mason Tipton to open the game set the Saints up at the Buccaneers 45. Devin Neal capped a quick drive with a 3-yard TD run for a 7-0 lead.
The Saints had just one touchdown in the first quarter this season before that score.
Fourth-down woes
The Bucs went for a fourth-and-1 at the Saints 45 late in the first quarter but Carl Granderson stopped Bucky Irving for a 7-yard loss on a deep pitch.
Sean Tucker was stuffed on a fourth-and-1 at the Saints 49 late in the second quarter.
On the ensuing possession, New Orleans went for fourth-and-1 at the Buccaneers 42 and Neal was dropped for a 3-yard loss by Haason Reddick.
The Bucs finally converted on fourth-and-1 when Mayfield ran for 4 yards on the last drive of the first half, which ended with no points.
Welcome to the NFL
Undrafted rookie Benjamin Chukwama made his first NFL start for the Buccaneers, filling in for All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs.
Injuries
Saints: RB Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle), T Taliese Fuaga (ankle), S Justin Reid (knee) were inactive.
Buccaneers: LG Ben Bredeson left in the second quarter with a knee injury. ... DB Tykee Smith exited late in the first half with a stinger. ... Reddick left with an ankle injury. ... Wirfs (oblique), WR Mike Evans (clavicle), RG Luke Haggard (shoulder) and CB Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) were inactive.
Up next
Saints: Host Carolina next Sunday.
Buccaneers: Host Atlanta on Thursday night.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL