NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Mike Tomlin after Steelers' third straight loss: 'I don't necessarily have the answers as we sit here today'


"Let's be honest. We're a fundamentally poor football group right now," head coach Mike Tomlin said following the defeat. "We're playing losing football. I take responsibility for that. By losing football I mean we're just not doing fundamental things well enough. We're not. We're turning the ball over. We're highly penalized. We don't play good in situations. So, I'm just acknowledging that."

"Not a lot had gone in our way to that juncture that made me feel good about banging a 57-yard field goal," he said. "Particularly on the down before. I thought we might take a shot or check it down, and we end up throwing the ball out of bounds. And so I didn't like that field positioning."

"Not a lot had gone in our way to that juncture that made me feel good about banging a 57-yard field goal," he said. "Particularly on the down before. I thought we might take a shot or check it down, and we end up throwing the ball out of bounds. And so I didn't like that field positioning."

Asked about Trubisky's performance following the game, Tomlin spread the blame to everyone: "None of us were good enough, starting first and foremost with myself."

The Steelers ultimately lost the yardage battle, 372-216, the turnover battle, 3-0, and committed eight penalties for 101 yards compared to Indianapolis' two for 10.

NFL.com

 

AFC: Who’s In
If the season ended today, here’s who would make the playoffs.

No. 1: Baltimore Ravens
Record: 10–3, first, AFC North

The Ravens play the Jaguars on Sunday night.

No. 2: Miami Dolphins
Record: 9–4, first, AFC East

Miami hosts the Jets on Sunday.

No. 3: Kansas City Chiefs

Record: 8–5, first, AFC West
Chiefs play New England

No. 4: Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 8–5, first, AFC South

No. 5: Cleveland Browns
Record: 8–5, second, AFC North

The Browns host the Bears on Sunday. They can’t move up in seeding but can slide with a loss.

No. 6: Cincinnati Bengals
Record: 8–6, second, AFC North

By virtue of beating the Vikings on Saturday, the Bengals moved into the AFC’s sixth seed. This will likely change as more results from Week 15 come in.

No. 7: Indianapolis Colts
Record: 8–6, second, AFC South

In the Hunt
Houston Texans (7–6): The Texans visit the Titans on Sunday, albeit without star rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Buffalo Bills (7–6): The Bills host the Cowboys on Sunday, who have won five straight. The Bills need to keep winning, with games against the Dolphins, Lions and Commanders to close out the regular season.

Pittsburgh Steelers (7–7): The Steelers surrendered 170 rushing yards to the Colts in a 30–13 loss Saturday. Pittsburgh hosts the Bengals next week before closing the regular season with games at Seattle and Baltimore.

The Colts beat the Steelers, and are now currently the seventh seed. Indianapolis will have its hands full in its final three games: at Atlanta and home contests against the Raiders and Texans.

In part; SI

 

NFC: Who’s In
If the season ended today, here’s who would make the playoffs:

No. 1: San Francisco 49ers
Record: 10–3, first, NFC West

As outlined above, the 49ers are already in the playoffs. With a victory over the Cardinals on Sunday, they would clinch the NFC West. However, a loss would drop San Francisco to the second seed if the Eagles or Cowboys win.

No. 2: Dallas Cowboys
Record: 10–3, first, NFC East

Dallas takes on the Bills at Orchard Park in the late-window primetime slot. If the Cowboys win, they’ll remain the second seed unless the 49ers lose. If Dallas loses, the Cowboys would drop to the fifth seed if the Eagles beat the Seahawks on Monday night.

No. 3: Detroit Lions
Record: 10–4, first, NFC North

Detroit overpowered Denver on Saturday night behind Jared Goff's five touchdown passes. The Lions close out the regular season with two games against the Vikings sandwiched around a game on the road against the Cowboys.

No. 4: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Record: 6–7, first, NFC South

The Buccaneers visit the Packers on Sunday. A win would keep them as the fourth seed. However, a loss would drop them from the playoff picture completely if the Saints or Falcons win this weekend.

No. 5: Philadelphia Eagles

Record: 10–3, second, NFC East

A loss wouldn’t drop the Eagles in the standings. However, a win over Seattle on Monday night, coupled with a Cowboys loss in Buffalo, would make Philadelphia as the second seed. If the Eagles win and the 49ers and Cowboys both lose, they would regain the top seed.

No. 6: Minnesota Vikings
Record: 7–7, second, NFC North

The Vikings lost to the Bengals 27-24 in overtime after leading 17-3 in the second half. Despite the loss, the Vikings will not move either way in seeding, and will remain the sixth seed going into Week 16.

No. 7: Green Bay Packers
Record: 6–7, third, NFC North

Green Bay can’t move up in the playoff picture with a win over the Buccaneers. However, it could slide out of the seventh seed with a loss, along with a win by the Falcons, Rams or Saints.

In the Hunt
Los Angeles Rams (6–7): The Rams host the Commanders on Sunday, looking to even their record.

Seattle Seahawks (6–7): Seattle is trying to snap a four-game losing streak, hosting the Eagles on Monday night.

Atlanta Falcons (6–7): Atlanta visits the Panthers in the first of two meetings between the teams over the season’s final month.

SI

 

Tyreek Hill is inactive against Jets

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s status for the Dolphins’ home game against the Jets was one of the biggest questions coming into Sunday and the team revealed whether he’ll be in the lineup 90 minutes ahead of kickoff in Miami.

Hill will not be available as the Dolphins try to take another step toward an AFC East title. Hill hurt his ankle against the Titans in last Monday night’s loss and he did not take part in practice at all this week.

Reports ahead of the game indicated the team would let him decide if he felt well enough to play and his presence on the inactive list suggests his pregame work did not leave him confident in his health.

The Dolphins beat the Jets 34-13 earlier this season. Hill had nine catches for 102 yards and a touchdown in that win.

Running back De’Von Achane (toe), left tackle Terron Armstead (knee, ankle), center Liam Eichenberg (calf), safety Jevon Holland (knees), cornerback Xavien Howard (hip), right tackle Austin Jackson (oblique), and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (oblique) were also listed as questionable by the Dolphins.

Holland and Howard join Hill, quarterback Skylar Thompson, safety Deshon Elliott, offensive lineman Robert Hunt, and edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul on the inactive list.

PFT

 

Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase wasn’t around for the end of Saturday’s win over the Vikings and it remains to be seen when he might be able to return to action.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Chase suffered an AC joint sprain in his shoulder while making a catch during the fourth quarter of the Bengals’ 27-24 overtime win. Chase left for the locker room and then returned to watch the final minutes without a helmet or pads on the sideline.

Rapoport adds that Chase will have further tests on Sunday to determine the severity of the injury. A timeline for his return will come together after getting those results and it’s thought that Chase might not miss any additional time.

The Bengals lost defensive lineman D.J. Reader for the season when he tore his quad in the win and defensive back DJ Ivey hurt his knee, so there are multiple injury situations for the team to deal with after improving to 8-6 on the season.

PFT

 

Falcons and Panthers are doing their best to put up a 0-0 tie in heavy rain.

Middle of 2nd quarter, they have a combined 7 punts and 6 first downs.

 

7-0, Falcons now...

 

Tommy Devito just got creamed (side of the head), he's in the blue tent and Tyrod Taylor takes over for the Giants. 7-3 Saints in that one.

 

The New York Jets finally got over the 50 into Dolphins territory 3rd quarter... and then throw the INT, lol.

27-0, Dolphins

 

Only down 10 to the Chiefs with 2:39 to play, the Patriots go for it on 4th down from their own 10 yard line. Talk about quitting.

 

And then the Chiefs take a knee on 4th down. Just seemed kinda strange too me. If you punt down 10 points, at least the defense has a chance to make a play. Just was a huge gamble (going for it on 4th down) that I thought was kinda iffy.

 

Will Levis goes down (left leg). Looked bad.


Levis was able to walk off the field.

 

Sunday Night Football: Ravens clinch playoff berth with 23-7 victory over Jaguars

The Ravens are officially a playoff team and have kept the inside track to securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

With quarterback Lamar Jackson playing a strong game, Baltimore defeated Jacksonville 23-7 on Sunday Night Football to improve their record to 11-3 and clinch a postseason berth.

While Jackson’s passing numbers don’t appear outstanding at first glance — 14-of-24 for 171 yards, one touchdown, one interception — Jackson also rushed for 97 yards on 12 carries. But time and time again, Jackson made the critical throws and critical plays when Baltimore needed them.

Jackson’s best throw of the night came late in the third quarter when he escaped a sack, stood in to take a hit, and fired a pass deep down the left side to Isaiah Likely for a 26-yard gain. That set up Gus Edwards’ 1-yard touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter that put the Ravens up 17-7.

That was all the Ravens would need, but Justin Tucker hit two more field goals in the fourth quarter to get Baltimore to 23 points.

Likely also had a 16-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Tucker had opened the scoring with a 43-yard field goal in the first period.

The Ravens finished with 251 yards rushing, led by Jackson. Undrafted rookie Keaton Mitchell had 73 yards on nine carries. Gus Edwards had 16 carries for 58 yards. Justice Hill had five carries for 23 yards.

But Mitchell may have suffered a significant knee injury. He was carted to the locker room in the fourth quarter and was quickly ruled out.

The Jaguars had plenty of chances to score but seemingly couldn’t get out of their own way — particularly in the first half. Brandon McManus missed field goals of 50 and 55 yards. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence fumbled when trying to gain some extra yards when already in field goal range, dropping the ball as he was transferring it between his hands.

But the worst missed chance came at the end of the first half. With 30 seconds on the clock, Lawrence completed a 36-yard pass to Zay Jones that got the Jags down to the 5-yard line. But with no timeouts and the clock running, Lawrence inexplicably threw to Parker Washington in the flat for a 1-yard gain. Washington wasn’t close to getting out of bounds and time ran out before Jacksonville could run another play.

The Jaguars got inside the Ravens’ 40-yard line on four consecutive drives but didn’t score a point — just the second time in franchise history that had happened.

Lawrence connected with Jamal Agnew for a 65-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter. But that was the only time Jacksonville would get on the scoreboard.

Lawrence finished 25-of-43 for 264 yards with a touchdown and two lost fumbles.

With the win, the Ravens became the first AFC team to clinch a playoff berth. They’ll play the 49ers on Christmas night before facing the Dolphins and Steelers at home to end the season.

The Jaguars are now 2-4 since their Week 9 bye and have lost each of their last three games — all to AFC North opponents. The club is now in a three-way tie for the best record in the AFC South with 8-6 Houston and 8-6 Indianapolis, though Jacksonville has the tiebreaker over both divisional opponents.

Jacksonville will be on the road to play Tampa Bay in Week 16.

NBC

 

John Harbaugh: Keaton Mitchell out for season with serious knee injury

Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell’s injury was as serious as it appeared it could be on the field.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters in his press conference following the 23-7 victory over the Jaguars that Mitchell suffered a significant knee injury that will end his 2023 season.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Harbaugh said. “He’s just got a great attitude and demeanor about him. He’s a guy you want to see do well. He deserves to do well. And just feel for his parents right now — they’re watching and I’m sure they’re feeling it, too.”

Mitchell, an undrafted rookie out of East Carolina, had entered Sunday’s contest having rushed for 323 yards with two touchdowns — averaging an outstanding 8.5 yards per carry. He added 73 more yards to that total on nine carries in Week 15 before exiting the contest.

Mitchell went with the non-contact injury midway through the fourth quarter on a 13-yard run.

Harbaugh said the Ravens plan to have Melvin Gordon available from their practice squad to help replace Mitchell.

“He’s been working super hard,” Harbaugh said. “He’s in great shape and he’ll be ready to go.”

Baltimore also has Gus Edwards and Justice Hill currently on its 53-man roster.

The Ravens will play the 49ers next Monday night.

NBC

 

Derick Henry only had 9 yards on 16 carries yesterday. By far his worst game ever.