Category: NFL

A whole bunch goes right: big, fourth quarter propels 49ers to win over the Rams, ending 13-game losing streak

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By Morris Phillip

Down one, the 49ers went for two. Just one of the memorable moments in a second half on Saturday that eclipsed all the forgettable football San Francisco has endured over last three plus months since the team’s last win.

Colin Kaepernick’s designed run on a two-point conversion with 31 seconds remaining lifted the 49ers to a 22-21 win over the Rams, snapping the franchise-record 13-game losing streak with one bold stroke. Amazingly, Kaepernick’s game-winner was merely the capper to a fourth quarter like no other for a team that hadn’t shown this level of resolve at any point in recent memory.

“It worked out for us,” Kaepernick gushed. “It felt amazing, a feeling this team had been looking for for a long time now. It is something this team can build on.”

That the 49ers played so poorly for most of the afternoon, punting on eight, consecutive possessions at one point, then trailed by two touchdowns with 10 minutes remaining, made this victory improbable. And that conclusion was obvious without factoring in how decimated the 49ers were on both sides of the ball.  In fact, when starting running Carlos Hyde was felled by a vicious tackle at the fourth quarter’s outset, the team’s offense was without its starting running back (Hyde), its top receiver  (Torrey Smith), two of its top three tight ends (Vance McDonald, Blake Bell) and all five, presumptive starters on the offensive line.

But somehow in the face of all this inertia, the 49ers and Kaepernick surged, and the Rams collapsed, due to equal parts disinterest and fatigue.  Kaepernick even overcame his well-publicized pattern of poor, second half play, finishing 28 of 38 passing for 266 yards and two touchdowns.

“I thought he did a good job,” Kelly said of Kaepernick.  “We hade a whole new group up front.  There was some growing pains for some of the young guys as they were getting their first snaps up there.”

The 49ers struck first, capitalizing on an interception of No. 1 overall draft pick Jared Goff. Tremaine Brock made the pick, and set up the San Francisco offense with a 38-yard return.  Two plays later, and despite a penalty for too many men on the field on the initial play, Kaepernick connected with Hyde for a 19-yard scoring pass.

But as the afternoon wore on, and the punts by both teams quickly added up, the 49ers proved for more generous than the Rams.

 

Oakland Raiders Saturday post game wrap: Carr injured in victory

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Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is tackled by Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Trent Cole (58) during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. Carr left the game after this play with an injury. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND-Just one week after making the playoffs for the first time in 14 years, the Oakland Raiders were dealt a big blow in their home finale.

Derek Carr, who threw three touchdowns in the second quarter was forced to leave the game with a broken fibula in his right leg.

Despite the injury to Carr, the Raiders were able to hold off a strong comeback by the Indianapolis Colts to win 33-25 at the Coliseum.

Carr gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead just three seconds into the second quarter, as he found Andre Holmes in the end zone for a one-yard touchdown pass.

After former Stanford star Andrew Luck tied up the game on the Colts ensuing possession, as he found Donte Moncrief for a 24-yard touchdown pass, the Raiders would score the next 26 consecutive points to take a commanding 33-7 lead into the fourth quarter.

Clive Walford scored what turned out to be the eventual game-winning touchdown, as he was on the receiving end of a Carr five-yard touchdown pass; however Sebastian Janikowski missed his first extra point of the season after making his first 35 attempts.

Just before the half, Carr hooked up with Jalen Richard from five yards out; however for the second time in a row, Janikowski missed the extra point.

DeAndre Washington, who was inactive for two of the past four games played a huge role, as he carried the ball 12 times for 99 yards and the final two touchdowns of the afternoon. Both of Washington’s touchdowns were from 22 yards in the third quarter.

Luck threw his second touchdown of the afternoon early in the fourth quarter to get the Colts within 33-14.

On the Raiders ensuing drive, Carr was hit by Trent Cole and fell to the ground in pain, as he held his right leg.

Prior to his injury, Carr ended up going 20-for-30 for 228 yards and those three touchdown passes.

Michael Crabtree was the leading receiver, as he caught seven passes for 90 yards on the afternoon.

Luck then drove the Colts down the field, with the big pass play coming when he hooked up with T.Y. Hilton for a 15-yard pass play.

After a 11-yard pass to Jack Doyle, and after a illegal formation penalty, Luck found Dwayne Allen for a 10-yard pass down to the 18-yard line. Following a Sean Smith seven-yard pass interference penalty, Luck called his own number and scampered now from 11 yards out.

Luck and Hilton connected for a two-point conversion that cut the lead down to just 11 with lots of time remaining.

Following a Raiders punt, Adam Vinatieri kicked a 42-yard field goal to bring the Colts within, but that would be as close as they would get.

McGloin was able to close out the game, as he found Amari Cooper for a huge 19-yard gain on third-and-8 that closed out the game.

With the loss, the Colts are eliminated from the AFC Playoffs for the second consecutive season, while the Raiders still have a chance to win the AFC West and earn the second bye in the conference by winning next week in Denver. They also can win the division if the Kansas City Chiefs lose one of their final two games.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Tony Renteria: 49ers they don’t want to win anymore games going after top draft pick

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FILE – In this Sept. 5, 2015, file photo, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) looks to pass as Clemson offensive lineman Mitch Hyatt (75) blocks Wofford defensive lineman Steven Cornellier (95) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Clemson, S.C. Clemson offensive lineman Mitch Hyatt has been selected to The AP All-Atlantic Coast Conference team, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt, File)

The Los Angeles Rams should be a little resurgent under head coach Jim Fassel and played pretty well and they kind of trimmed the playbook back for Rams starting quarterback Jerod Goff. The San Francisco 49ers don’t want to win anymore games They want to get that top NFL draft pick and losing is the key to the draft picks.

Deshaun Watson quarterback of Clemson is favored  to be the top seeded NFL pick and a guy like Watson would fit perfectly into head coach Chip Kellly’s offense. You have to look at the directions of the two organizations and see where their going the Rams have to have a solid defense and they have to dismiss a few opponents from the defensive side to play the football.

Tony Renteria is filling in for Joe Lami for this week’s 49ers podcast at http://www.sportsadioservice.com

 

 

49ers Have Best Chance at Second Win; former Cal QB Goff gets the nod as starter for Rams

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USA Today photo: Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jerod Goff (16) gets the call as starter this Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers at Levis Stadium

By: Joe Lami

SANTA CLARA–It seems like it’s been years since the 49ers beat the LA Rams on Monday Night Football to open the season, as they’ve strung off 13-straight losses. The Rams seek revenge on Christmas Eve with a new look on offense.

Most notably, Jerod Goff will be starting at quarterback on Saturday. The rookie quarterback was jolted against the Seattle Seahawks and sent him into the NFL’s concussion protocol, but the Bay Area native cleared earlier this week and will get the start.

The contest will be an intriguing one for those concerned about the 2017 NFL Draft, as two of the worst teams in the league are set to battle. San Francisco’s offense shines compared to LA’s, averaging 18.9 points per game compared to 14.1. But at the same time, the 49ers also surrender 31 points per game compared to the Rams with 23.4.

However, with those numbers, the 49ers defense shouldn’t get the finger pointed at them, as they are constantly on the field due to zero movement from the offense. Last week’s game in Atlanta was the perfect example of how the inept offense will lose football games. At the end of the first quarter, San Francisco was only able to muster up 12 yards, while Atlanta already had 11 first downs.

If San Francisco can get their offense going and keep it going for a full 60-minutes, they might be able to get their second win of the season. The second half will be important to keep an eye on, as it has been the downfall all season.

Raiders host Colts in home finale on Christmas Eve

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Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) in action during an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 in San Diego. Oakland won 19-16. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND, Calif — Now that the Raiders have locked up an AFC playoff spot, the Silver and Black will look to earn a first-round bye.

The visiting Indianapolis Colts are just looking to stay afloat this season.

Oakland (11-3) will host Indianapolis (7-7) on Christmas Eve in the Raiders’ final home game of the regular season.

Kickoff set for 1:05 p.m. PT.

This game will feature two of the best young quarterbacks in the league in third-year trigger-man Derek Carr for Oakland, and fifth-year starter Andrew Luck for Indianapolis.

Carr has been dealing with a fractured right pinkie ever since he sustained the injury at home on Nov. 27 against the Carolina Panthers. Since that injury, Carr and the Raiders are 3-1.

On the season, Carr has passed for 3,705 yards, 25 touchdowns to just six interceptions, but has only completed 36-of-71 passes for 330 yards over the past two games.

The player that most have picked to be this year’s league MVP helped Oakland clinch its first playoff berth since 2002 with a 19-16 victory over the Chargers down in San Diego last Sunday. Oakland has the second-best record in the AFC behind the New England Patriots (12-2) and are one-game ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) for first place in the AFC with two games to go.

Carr was one of seven Raiders players, along with defensive Khalil Mack, wide receiver Amari Cooper, offensive lineman Keleche Osemele, Rodney Hudson, Donald Penn, and safety Reggie Nelson named to the AFC Pro Bowl team on Tuesday, the most players voted from one team.

Luck is having one of his better season, throwing for 3,631 yards, 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, but Indianapolis is on the verge of missing the playoffs for the second straight season.

Indianapolis carved up the Vikings, 34-6, in Minnesota in Week 15 behind Luck’s 21-of-28 passing for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

Running back Frank Gore carried the ball 26 times for 101 yards and moved ahead of Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett for 10th all-time for most career yards from scrimmage. Gore, who should wind up in Canton, is just 109 yards shy of recording his ninth 1,000-yard rushing season in 12 seasons and would become the first Colts running back since Joseph Addai (1,072 rushing yards in 2007) to record a 1,000-yard rushing season.

Oakland’s defense has started to really come on recently, and now have two players this season who have won defensive player of the week for his performance on Sunday.

Linebacker Bruce Irvin joined Mack when he won the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against San Diego.

Irvin sacked Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers twice, and forced a Kenneth Farrow fumble on a third down play that was recovered by linebacker Malcolm Smith. Irvin also recorded six tackles in a strong performance for Oakland.

Irvin now has seven sacks and five forced fumbles for this season and he along with Mack’s 11 sacks, can add to their total against an Indianapolis offensive line that has gotten Luck sacked 40 times this season, tied for third most with the Denver Broncos.

 

 

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Raiders want to protect the franchise pinkie Carr everything to team going into stretch

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Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr celebrates after an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in San Diego. The Raiders won, 19-16. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Derek Carr what can you say he’s pretty much the weight of the franchise right now as the Oakland Raiders quarterback going into the last two games of the regular season as the Raiders prepare to host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum. They’ve taken him from under center to protect his pinkie finger and he’s been taking snaps from the shotgun or pistol formations. He goes under center the ball is going to forcibly hit that pinkie that’s going to cause further discomfort so the Raiders want to avoid that.

The offense has become a little bit more predictable but it’s definitely hard for the Raiders to have that good running attack that they’ve had and when Carr’s been there it’s been hard to run the ball in shotgun. Hopefully he gets fully healed and he can have a little bit of a diverse offense a little bit more reliability with the running game and it all starts with Derek Carr.

Joe Hawkes Beamon does the Raiders podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Rush is grabbed up from practice squad to Jaguars main roster; plus 49ers legal problems with Santa Clara

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AP photo: 49ers linebacker practice squad player Marcus Rush was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars this past week

Keep in mind players who are on the practice squad are not committed to the team and those who get signed to a contract from another team seeking interest are free to do so. Practice squad players do not have a contractual commitment with the parent club such as 49ers practice squad linebacker Marcus Rush who recently signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars had been on the practice squad all season. Rush or any other practice squad player could have been called up at anytime to the big squad.

The big squad is paying for the practice squad player to be there but the team doesn’t have exclusive rights to the players on the practice squad so if there are guys on practice squad who gets an offer from some other team to sign and be on their main roster than their free to go. The idea of the practice squad is to keep guys kind of ready. It’s not minor league but their there just in case they need to fill the void for a roster spot. Rush will fill a spot at linebacker for the Jags.

David Zizmor does the SF 49ers podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Carr, Cooper, and Mack among seven Raiders selected to Pro Bowl

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Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack, right, pressures San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

OAKLAND, Calif — Quarterback Derek Carr, wide receiver Amari Cooper, and defensive end Khalil Mack headline seven Raiders (the most since 1991) selected to the AFC team for the 2017 Pro Bowl, the league announced Tuesday.

The 2017 Pro Bowl will be held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, Jan. 29. Oakland’s seven players selected were the most selected from one team, with the Atlanta Falcons second with six players selected to the NFC squad.

Oakland (11-3), who clinched their first trip to the playoffs since 2002 with a 19-16 win in San Diego Sunday, hope that none of their players play in the NFL’s All-Star Game as they could be preparing to play for the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LI on Sunday, Feb. 5 in Houston, Texas at NRG Stadium.

Carr is having  career-year and is one of the favorites for the NFL’s MVP Award, throwing for 3,705 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. The third-year signal caller has a 95.2 passer rating while engineering the NFL’s third-ranked scoring offense at 26.9 points per game.

Cooper is just finding his way in the league in only his second season out of Alabama, surpassing the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the second straight season with 1,038 receiving yards this year. Cooper recorded 1,070 receiving yards in his rookie season last year.

Mack, who had his streak of consecutive games with at least one sack snapped at eight in San Diego, is tied for fourth in the league with 11 sacks. No matter what sports page or blog you read, or sports talk show you watch and listen to, Mack’s name is mentioned as a strong candidate to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Left tackle Donald Penn, left guard Kelechi Osemele, and center Rodney Hudson were selected from the AFC’s best offensive line that has only gotten Carr sacked a league-low 15 times this season. This is Penn’s second Pro Bowl nod, while this is the first selection for both Hudson and Osemele.

Safety Reggie Nelson  earned his second straight nod with his team-leading four interceptions.

The Raiders sent six players to last year’s game, with Mack, safety Charles Woodson, and fullback Marcel Reece being voted on the first ballot before Carr, Cooper, and running back Latavius Murray were selected as alternates.

The Silver and Black host the Indianapolis Colts (7-7) on Christmas Eve in Oakland’s final regular season home game.

 

Defenseless: 49ers scorched by Ryan, Freeman in 41-13 loss to the Falcons

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By Morris Phillips

With laser-eyed focus reminiscent of Joe Montana, and athletic superiority last seen in the being of Jerry Rice, the purposeful 49ers marched into the Georgia Dome on Sunday intent on slaying the NFC South-leading Falcons.  Armed with a bullet proof gameplan carved from the genius of Chip Kelly, and led by the fleet-footed Colin Kaepernick…

And thus begins the story pro football journalists assigned to cover the NFC West bottom-dwellers have been yearning to write for more than three months.    But the occasion of such poetic license has yet to come to pass for those chronicling the exploits of the San Francisco 49ers.

So instead–and for a franchise-record 13th consecutive week–the San Francisco game recap strikes a far different tone, beginning with a desultory, first quarter in which the 49ers spotted the Falcons a three-touchdown lead prefacing their 41-13 loss.

The Falcons moved a game ahead of the Buccaneers in the NFC South with the win, and control their playoff destiny.  Meanwhile,  the 49ers moved two weeks closer to a date with Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer and others in the small circle of top-tier NFL draft prospects.

Atlanta scored touchdowns on each of their first three possessions, and only a Devonta Freeman fumble at the 49ers 1-yard line in the second quarter prevented the Falcons from scoring five consecutive times.  Still, the Falcons led 21-0 after one quarter, and 28-13 at the half.

Matt Ryan threw a pair of touchdowns, and Freeman rushed for three more as the NFL’s highest scoring team cruised without top receiver, Julio Jones.  Along with the win, the Falcons established a new, single-season, scoring record with 469 points, surpassing the 448 scored in their 1998 Super Bowl season.  Against the 49ers, the Falcons scored over 40 points in a game for the fifth time this season.

That’s a really good offensive football team,” said Kelly, who saw his 49ers surrender 40 points in a game for the sixth time this season. “It’s a team that could make some hay in the playoffs.”

The 49ers’ ability to field a competitive lineup to counteract Ryan, Freeman and the Falcons’ offense was compromised when inside linebacker Gerald Hodges Jr.  was suspended prior to the game for a breach of team rules, with no other disclosure by the team regarding the nature of the offense.  Then with Nick Bellore set to start inside opposite Michael Wilhoite, Bellore was felled by an elbow injury three plays into the game.

That set in motion a revolving door at Bellore’s spot that included linebacker Ahmad Brooks, safety Antoine Bethea and backup safety Vinny Sunseri.  The lack of bodies at the inside linebacker’s spots put the team’s historically porous run defense at even greater risk, and the Falcons pounced.

Freeman rushed for 139 yards along with his three scores, and became the 11th back to surpass 100 yards against the 49ers this season.  The Falcons, fresh off their 42-14 thrashing of the Rams, totaled 550 yards of offense, including 248 on the ground.  Along the way, the team’s worst showing in a season in terms of rushing yards allowed zoomed past the record of 2,363 yards with two games yet to play.

Offensively, the 49ers weren’t good enough early to counteract the attrition on defense.  Kaepernick connected with Blake Bell in the second quarter to narrow the Falcons’ lead to 21-7.  Later in the quarter, Kaepernick connected with Rod Streater for a 5-yard touchdown pass, but the extra point was missed, and the 49ers would get no closer.

Kaepernick finished 20 for 33 passing for 183 yards, and he was sacked three times.  The 49ers’ offensive woes after halftime continued.  They managed just 85 yards total offense after halftime, with only four first downs.

The 49ers travel to Los Angeles on Christmas Eve, with the mandate to beat the similarly-challenged Rams, the only team they’ve beaten in 2016.  Gametime on Saturday is 1:25pm.

Sunday Final: Raiders clinch playoff berth; Extra Points from Week 15

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AP photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr addresses the media following the Raiders-San Diego Chargers game last Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

SAN DIEGO, Calif — For the first time since 2002, the Oakland Raiders have clinched a playoff spot after holding off the Chargers 19-16 on the road Sunday.

Even though the game was played at Qualcomm Stadium, it looked and sounded like the Black Hole of the Oakland Coliseum with the huge contingent of Raider Nation making the trip to SoCal.

Oakland took advantage of an injury-riddled Chargers team that played without star running back Melvin Gordon, who missed the game due to a hip injury.

Derek Carr, who played primarily out of the shotgun while dealing with a dislocated pinky on his throwing hand, completed just 19-of-30 passes for 213 yards and a 13-yard touchdown shortly before halftime that tied the game at 10-10.

Carr and the Raiders offense looked rather mortal against a stingy Chargers defense that forced two red zone turnovers in the first half, snapping a string of 62 straight trips into the red zone without committing a turnover. Oakland was just 1-for-7 in the red zone and had to rely on four field goals from veteran kicker Sebastian Janikowski to provide most of the scoring for the Silver and Black.

Michael Crabtree led Oakland with six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. It was the second straight game that Oakland’s receiver didn’t record more than 60 yards.

But the story for the Raiders was the defense’s play in the fourth quarter where Oakland forced two Chargers’ turnovers, including the playoff-clinching interception by safety Reggie Nelson on 4th and 15 on San Diego’s final possession thrown by Philip Rivers.

Linebacker Bruce Irvin registered two of Oakland’s three sacks, and forced one of two fumbles for the Silver Black. Fellow linebacker Khalil Mack saw his consecutive games with a sack snapped at eight games.

Outside of Rivers’ late turnover, the 13-year veteran quarterback from North Carolina State was having a strong day throwing the ball — completing 17-of-30 for 206 yards and two touchdowns.

Rivers got San Diego (5-9) on the board on their first possession of the game when he found wide receiver Travis Benjamin wide open down the field for a 47-yard touchdown, and a 7-yard strike to rookie tight end Hunter Henry in the third quarter that saw San Diego take a 16-13 lead (San Diego missed the extra point.)

For Oakland (11-3), the win is huge as they took sole possession of first place over Kansas City (10-4) in the AFC West with two games to go. The Chiefs were stunned at home 19-17 by the Tennessee Titans (8-6).

Oakland must finish ahead of Kansas City if they want to win the division since the Chiefs swept the season series between the two teams.

The Raiders host Indianapolis Saturday in the team’s final home game of the season Christmas Eve, while Kansas City host the reeling Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos (8-6) on Christmas night.

Denver fell to the AFC’s top team, the New England Patriots, 16-3 at home Sunday.

Extra Points from Week 15

  1. Colts running back Frank Gore passed Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett for 10th place on the NFL’s all-time list for most career yards from scrimmage (16,332) in Indianapolis’ hammering of the Vikings 34-6 in Minnesota. Gore, who also passed Dorsett to move into eighth place on the all-time rushing yards list in Week 13 against the New York Jets (12,789), added 101 yards to that total and is just 109 rushing yards away from his ninth 1,000-yard season in 12 seasons.
  2. Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. (14,618) moved into seventh place on the NFL’s all-time receiving list in Baltimore’s 27-26 home win against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 37-year-old Smith Sr. moved ahead of Hall of Famer and former Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison (14,580) on a 34-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
  3. New England (12-2) secured their eighth AFC East division title, and their seventh straight first round bye in the AFC playoffs Sunday and are currently the No. 1 seed.
  4. Jacksonville fired head coach Gus Bradley after the Jaguars dropped to 2-12 on the season. Bradley, who was 14-48 in this three-plus seasons in Northeast Florida, has a .226 winning percentage which ranks as the worst for any coach in the Super Bowl era among coaches with a minimum of 50 games. The Jaguars blew a 20-8 lead Sunday against their division rival Houston Texans and lost 21-20 for their 10th straight win in the AFC South.
  5. Speaking of Houston, the Texans have a quarterback controversy if they want to admit it or not. Incumbent starter Brock Osweiler, who signed a four-year $72 million contract ($37 million guaranteed) in the offseason, was benched after he started the game 6-of-11 for 48 yards with two interceptions, in favor of backup Tom Savage. The third-year pro from Pittsburgh went 23-of-36 passing for 260 yards, with no touchdowns and interceptions fueling Houston’s comeback.
  6. Dallas’ rookie duo of quarterback Dak Prescott (32-of-36 passing for 279 yards) and running back Ezekiel Elliott (23 carries, 159 yards, and 1 TD) helped the Cowboys (12-2) snap Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers’ five-game winning streak. The dangerous combo has the Cowboys closing in on the NFC’s No. 1 seed, and having the road to the Super Bowl going through Dallas. The loss hurts Tampa Bay (8-6), who trail the Atlanta Falcons (9-5) by one game in the NFC South with two games to go.