NFL - NEWS & NOTES

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Bengals safety Shawn Williams was suspended for one game without pay for stomping on the leg of Dolphins offensive lineman Solomon Kindley during Sunday’s game. The NFL did not give him additional punishment for being ejected from the game.

The NFL did hand down seven fines to six other players involved in the brawl that marred the game between the teams last week, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports. Three players were ejected in that fracas, following Xavien Howard and Tyler Boyd‘s disagreement earlier in the game that led to their disqualifications.


Bengals special teams player Mike Thomas, who started the fourth quarter melee with back-to-back hits on punt returner Jakeem Grant that drew penalties, was fined $4,853.

Dolphins receiver Mack Hollins, who was ejected, was fined for both unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness. The fines were $4,412 each.

Dolphins receiver DeVante Parker, who also was ejected for throwing multiple punches, was docked $10,500.

The NFL also fined Bengals defensive back Mackensie Alexander $15,000, Dolphins defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah $10,000 and Dolphins end Christian Wilkins $12,500.

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DeAndre Hopkins, Kenyan Drake both ready to play for Cardinals



The Cardinals will have their leading rusher and leading receiver on the field today against the Giants.

Arizona wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and running back Kenyan Drake are both at full strength and expected to play today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Hopkins was listed as questionable with a back/neck injury and Drake was listed as questionable with a hip injury.

Today’s game is a very big one for the Cardinals, who have lost three straight games and find themselves at risk of falling out of playoff contention. It’s also a big one for the Giants, who are trying to hold onto first place in the NFC East.

Hopkins leads the Cardinals with 85 catches for 1,019 yards, and Drake leads the Cardinals with 178 carries for 768 yards.

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Cardinals vs Giants is all of a sudden a huge game. Giants tied for 1st in the NFCE... Cardinals cant afford to loose another in their quest for the playoffs. Most the big guns are ready to go... might be one of the better football games.

 

It's also with Wildcard implications for both teams. Yes, even the Giants.

 

Bucs beat Vikings, who need a new kicker



The absence of a competent kicker cost the Vikings dearly today in Tampa Bay.

Minnesota kicker Dan Bailey missed all three of his field goal attempts, as well as his only extra point attempt, as the Vikings lost to the Buccaneers, 26-14.


The loss drops the Vikings to 6-7 on the season and may have dealt the death blow to their playoff hopes. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer was demonstrably livid at Bailey’s missed kicks, and it’s hard to believe Bailey will be around beyond today — even though the Vikings signed him to a contract extension this offseason.

The win improves the Buccaneers’ record to 8-5 and puts them in great position to earn an NFC wild card berth. Tampa Bay’s pass rush had a strong day, with Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett all pressuring Kirk Cousins all day.

Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady wasn’t great, but he didn’t need to be. He had no sacks or turnovers, hit a 48-yard deep ball to Scotty Miller in the end zone for a touchdown, and also helped create a pass interference penalty in the end zone on a Hail Mary at the end of a first half, setting up a field goal.

The Bucs have a clear path to the playoffs, but the Vikings will have a tough time getting to the postseason. Especially if they cannot find a better kicker.

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Andy Dalton returns to Cincinnati for 30-7 win to keep Dallas’ playoff hopes alive



Andy Dalton returned to Cincinnati, where he led the Bengals to five consecutive playoff berths in his first five seasons, and came home with a 30-7 victory.

The Cowboys kept their hopes of winning the NFC East alive and ended a two-game losing streak. They now are 4-9, with the 5-7 Giants losing big to the Cardinals and 5-7 Washington playing the 49ers later today.


The Bengals held onto the third spot in the 2021 draft order in falling to 2-10-1.

Dalton completed 16 of 23 passes for 185 yards with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper and a 7-yard touchdown pass to Tony Pollard.

The story, though, was the Dallas defense. It forced three turnovers after entering with only 11 on the season, and Tyrone Crawford had his first two sacks of 2020.

Giovani Bernard, Trayveon Williams and Alex Erickson lost fumbles on back-to-back-to-back possessions to open the game. The Patriots were the last team to do that, fumbling on their first three possessions in a Nov. 24, 2013, game against the Broncos.

Aldon Smith returned Williams’ fumble 78 yards for a touchdown. The other two Bengals’ turnovers led to 10 Cowboys’ points as Dallas jumped out to a 17-0 lead.

The Cowboys settled for field goals after reaching the Cincinnati 16, 2 and 37. Greg Zuerlein made field goals from 34, 20 and 55 yards.

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Derrick Henry runs over Jaguars in 31-10 win



Titans running back Derrick Henry is trying to be the first repeat rushing leader in the NFL since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2007 and his effort got a big boost in Jacksonville on Sunday.

Henry ran 26 times for 215 yards and two touchdowns in the Titans’ 31-10 win over the Jaguars. The victory pushes their record to 9-4 and ensures they will remain in first place in the AFC South through the end of Week 14.


It is the second time that Henry has crossed the 200-yard mark this season and the fourth time that he’s done it since the start of the 2018 season. There have been four 200-yard games by every other player in the league over that span.

Henry is now up to 1,532 yards on the season and has 14 rushing touchdowns. He’ll try to keep pushing those numbers higher against the Lions next Sunday.

The Titans also got a strong game from wide receiver A.J. Brown. He dealt with an ankle injury during the week and appeared to tweak it during Sunday’s game, but he didn’t miss much time and caught seven passes for 112 yards. One of those catches went for a 37-yard touchdown and Ryan Tannehill also hooked up with tight end Geoff Swaim for a score.

All of that scoring went on before the Jaguars pulled quarterback Mike Glennon in favor of Gardner Minshew in the third quarter. Minshew was playing for the first time since Week 7 and went 18-of-31 for 178 yards and a touchdown. We’ll see if he gets back in the starting lineup in Baltimore as the Jaguars try to snap a 12-game losing streak next weekend.

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Mitchell Trubisky outplays Deshaun Watson as Bears thump Texans



For one day, at least, Mitchell Trubisky was better than Deshaun Watson.

Trubisky, the much-maligned quarterback whom the Bears selected in the 2017 NFL draft, 10 picks before the Texans selected Watson, played very well today in a 36-7 win over the Texans. Trubisky completed 24 of 33 passes for 267 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. It was one of his best games as a Bear.


Watson had an ugly game in a disastrous performance for Houston. His numbers don’t look terrible — 21-of-30 for 220 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions — but a lot of those yards came in garbage time, and he was also sacked six times.

The win improves the Bears’ record on the season to 6-7 and allows them to cling to their slim playoff hopes. The Texans drop to 4-9, and they’re going nowhere fast. The only focus in Houston should be on figuring out how to put a team around Watson that doesn’t see him get sacked six times in blowout losses in 2021 and beyond.

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Cardinals snap losing streak with 26-7 win



The Cardinals snapped a two-game losing streak during a Week 5 visit to face the Jets at MetLife Stadium and they snapped another losing jag at the same spot this Sunday.

Arizona had lost three straight games heading into Week 14, but they found their groove in a 26-7 victory over the Giants. The win snapped the Giants’ four-game winning streak and puts them in position to fall out of first place in the NFC East if Washington beats the 49ers.


The Cardinals are now 7-6 and in the thick of the race for a playoff spot in the NFC. They’ll return home to continue that push against the Eagles in Week 15.

Kyler Murray and company got off to a slow start offensively as they were held to six points on their first three red zone trips, but they got into the end zone before the end of the first half and stretched their lead to 20-0 on a one-yard Kenyan Drake touchdown run in the third quarter. The Giants got on the board on the ensuing drive, but the Cardinals Defense reclaimed control from there.

They would sack Daniel Jones six times before he departed with just under three minutes to play. Jones didn’t appear to suffer a new injury, but he looked far less mobile than usual in his return from the hamstring injury that kept him out in Week 13.

Haason Reddick had three of those sacks and added two more once Colt McCoy was in the game. Reddick is the first player with a five-sack game this season.

Jones finished 11-of-21 for 127 yards and never ran the ball. Murray did get back to running the ball after a few weeks of limited work in that phase. He ran 10 times for 52 yards while completing 24-of-35 passes for 244 yards. Nine of those completions went to DeAndre Hopkins, who finished with 136 yards.

That may not push the Cardinals all the way over the wall offensively, but that balance is a good place to start.

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Chiefs hold off Dolphins 33-27 despite Patrick Mahomes’ three interceptions



The Chiefs had the game in the bag, up 30-10 heading into the fourth quarter. The Dolphins, though, made it interesting.

The Chiefs converted a fourth-and-one from the Miami 40 with 2:31 remaining on a quick pass from Patrick Mahomes to Tyreek Hill that went for 22 yards. Hill grabbed his hamstring after the play.


It allowed the Chiefs to have Harrison Butker kick a 46-yard field goal with 1:08 remaining for a two-score margin before the Dolphins added a late field goal.

The Chiefs won 33-27 despite four turnovers, including three interceptions thrown by Mahomes.

It was Kansas City’s eighth win in a row, giving the Chiefs a 12-1 record and clinching the AFC West. The Dolphins, who entered having won seven of eight, fell to 8-5 but remain in control of a wild card spot.

Byron Jones and Eric Rowe‘s early interceptions helped the Dolphins to a 10-0 lead before the Chiefs scored 30 unanswered. Hill had a 32-yard score on an end around and caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes; Travis Kelce caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes; Mecole Hardman returned a punt 67 yards for a score; and Chris Jones sacked Tua Tagovailoa in the end zone for a safety.

Xavien Howard‘s pick of Mahomes in the end zone with the Chiefs driving with 14:19 left got the Dolphins back in it. Howard now has an interception in five consecutive games.

The Dolphins scored two touchdowns, and with 4:15 remaining, were down only six points before the Chiefs ate 3:07 off the clock on their field goal drive.

Mahomes finished 24-of-34 for 393 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He had a fumble he recovered and took a 30-yard sack.

Still, the Chiefs were the better team.

Kelce caught eight passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. Hill ran for 32 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 79 yards and a score.

Tagovailoa went 28-of-48 for 316 yards with two touchdowns and a pick. Mike Gesicki, who caught five passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns, left early with an arm injury.

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Dolphins, even though they lost, might be the real deal...

 

Drew Lock throws four touchdowns as Broncos beat Panthers 32-27



The jury may still be out on whether or not Drew Lock is the Broncos’ long-term solution at quarterback. But at least on Sunday, he looked the part.

Lock threw for a career-high four touchdowns, leading Denver to a 32-27 victory over the Panthers. He completed 21-of-27 passes for 280 yards, good for a 149.5 passer rating. His last touchdown was his best — a 49-yard deep strike to K.J. Hamler.


Hamler was Denver’s leading receiver, recording 86 yards on two receptions — both of which went for touchdowns.

Returner Diontae Spencer opened the scoring with an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter.

The Panthers nearly executed a fourth-quarter comeback, but defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones brought down quarterback Teddy Bridgewater for a sack to start the Panthers’ final offensive drive. That put the offense behind the chains and Bridgewater’s fourth-and-8 pass was well short of the sticks for a one-yard gain.

Bridgewater finished the game 30-of-40 for 283 yards, but took four sacks. Carolina was without running back Christian McCaffrey with a thigh injury and wide receiver D.J. Moore, who tested positive for COVID-19. Robby Anderson led the team with eight receptions for 84 yards.

Panthers have now dropped seven of their last eight games, falling to 4-9. The Broncos are now 5-8 with a chance to still finish the season at .500.

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Hurts doing it all for the Eagles... running, throwing, good stuff.

Philly takin it to the Saints.

 

All 4 NFC East teams are right in the mix for the division which is crazy. Each team has a realistic path to the division title at this point.

 

Washington takes over sole possession of first place in NFC East with 23-15 win



Washington didn’t get an offensive touchdown and lost starting quarterback Alex Smith at the end of the first half. They won anyway.

Washington got two defensive touchdowns and error-free play from Dwayne Haskins to beat the 49ers 23-15 on Sunday.

It was Washington’s fourth win in a row and, at 6-7, it takes over sole possession of first place in the NFC East. The Giants lost to fall to 5-8, with the Eagles at 4-8-1 and the Cowboys 4-9.

49ers quarterback Nick Mullens had a fumble returned for a touchdown and an interception returned for a touchdown but tried to bring his team back. On the first play after the two-minute warning, Mullens completed a 22-yard pass to Kendrick Bourne to the Washington 22, but officials penalized Mike McGlinchey for holding.

On fourth-and-12, Mullens’ pass to Bourne went for 10 yards before Ronald Darby and Jon Bostic made the tackle.

The 49ers got the ball back at their own 25 with one second left, but the needed miracle didn’t happen.

Chase Young returned a Mullens‘ fumble 47 yards for a score with with 58 seconds left in the first half to give Washington a 13-7 halftime lead. Safety Kamren Curl returned a Mullens’ pass 76 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the third quarter to give Washington a 23-7 lead.

The 49ers outgained Washington 344 to 193.

Smith left with a calf injury on the final play of the first half and did not play in the second half, though the team listed him as questionable to return.

Smith went 8-for-19 for 57 yards and an interception, while Haskins was 7-of-12 for 51 yards.

Mullens was 25-of-45 for 260 yards with one touchdown, an interception and a fumble. Jeff Wilson also lost a fumble.

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Sunday Night Football: Stefon Diggs goes for 130, Bills defeat Steelers 26-15



For 29 of the game’s first 30 minutes, the Steelers were in control against the Bills. But then quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw a pick six and Buffalo got things rolling for a 26-15 win on Sunday Night Football.

Cornerback Taron Johnson got the interception off Roethlisberger, returning it 51-yards to the end zone for the first touchdown of his career with just 52 seconds left in the first half.

Then wide receiver Stefon Diggs got hot in the third quarter. He made six receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown in the period, as Buffalo built a 23-7 lead. Diggs ended the game with 10 receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown — good for a new career high in yards receiving with 1,167.

With his 10th catch, Diggs also became the first player this year to reach 100 receptions. It’s the second time in his career he’s had at least 100.

The Steelers brought the game to within one possession early in the fourth quarter with a three-yard touchdown from Roethlisberger to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, plus a successful two-point conversion from Roethlisberger to tight end Eric Ebron. But later in the fourth, cornerback Levi Wallace intercepted Roethlisberger to stop Pittsburgh’s treat.

The Bills used a 13-play drive that took 7:11 off the clock to end the game.

Roethlisberger finished the game 21-of-37 passing for 187 yards with a pair of touchdowns and interceptions. Smith-Schuster was the leading receiver, catching six passes for 55 yards. But Pittsburgh’s run game was a problem again, netting only 47 yards on 17 carries.

Allen ended 24-of-43 passing for 238 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He added 28 yards on the ground on six attempts.

With the loss, the Steelers fall out of the No. 1 seed in the AFC at 11-2. The Chiefs take over that position at 12-1 following Sunday’s win over the Dolphins.

At 10-3, Buffalo is one step closer to clinching its first division title since 1995. The Bills will officially clinch a playoff berth if the Ravens lose to the Browns on Monday night.

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Raiders fire defensive coordinator Paul Guenther



‘Tis the season to fire defensive coordinators.

Six days after the Jets fired Gregg Williams after losing to the Raiders, the Raiders have fired Paul Guenther after losing to the Colts.

The Raiders announced that Guenther has been relieved of his duties, and that defensive line coach Rod Marinelli will serve as the interim defensive coordinator for the balance of the season.

The Raiders surrendered 456 total yards on Sunday, with an average gain by Indy of 7.7 yards per play.

Coach Jon Gruden hired Guenther when Gruden took the job in 2018, touting the Mike Zimmer-style attack. The Raiders have not become strong defensively on a consistent basis, and today’s loss to the Colts significantly impacts the Las Vegas playoff chances.

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