Tune into KPUG for a NFL triple-header today. First catch the Minnesota Vikings battling the Washington Redskins with coverage starting at 9:30am. Then its the Houston Texans vs. the Los Angeles Rams at 12:30pm and then we join the New England Patriots taking on the Denver Broncos at 4:30pm. You can hear it all on KPUG 1170AM & 97.9FM – The Sports Leader!
Keenum, Vikings keep rolling by beating Redskins 38-30
STEPHEN WHYNO, AP Sports Writer
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Case Keenum threw touchdowns to four different receivers to build a big lead, and the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings won their fifth in a row Washington Redskins 38-30 Sunday despite two second-half interceptions.
With Teddy Bridgewater active for the first time since January 2016 after a devastating knee injury, Keenum was 21 of 29 for 304 yards and TD passes to Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, David Morgan and Jarius Wright. He was picked off on consecutive throws by D.J. Swearinger.
Thielen had eight catches for a season-high 166 yards.
Latavius Murray also ran for a score as five players got into the end zone for Minnesota (7-2), which was 8 of 12 on third downs. The Vikings won their first game out of the bye week for the second time in eight seasons as they try to avoid a repeat of the swoon that cost them a playoff spot last season.
Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins had three TDs — two rushing and one passing — and was 26 of 45 for 327 yards with an interception. The Redskins (4-5) failed to build off an upset victory at Seattle and now find themselves on an uphill climb in the wild-card race.
WHAT A CATCH
A day after being called up from the practice squad, second-year Redskins receiver Maurice Harris came up with a highlight-reel grab: a diving, one-handed catch for a touchdown on the opening drive. The 36-yard play originally was ruled an incompletion, but the Redskins challenged and the call was reversed on replay review.
This was Harris’ first game action this season — he last played in January — and the score represented the first TD of his career.
VIKINGS CELEBRATE
The team that set the standard for group celebrations with a game of “Duck, Duck, Goose,” pushed the bar higher when Diggs and Thielen leapfrogged teammates in the end zone after Thielen’s 7-yard TD catch. Diggs was flagged earlier for leaping into the base of the crossbar, which even in the New Fun League isn’t allowed.
INJURIES
Vikings: They played without DE Everson Griffen because of a foot injury. Griffen was the third player since the NFL began tracking sacks in 1982 to have one in each of his team’s first eight games of the season.
Redskins: WR Ryan Grant was initially cleared of, and then ruled out with, a concussion. … RB Rob Kelley left with an ankle injury in the first quarter. … S DeAngelo Hall suffered a right knee injury late in the second quarter, pressing CB Kendall Fuller to play out of position. … LB Will Compton left with a foot injury.
UP NEXT
Vikings: Host the high-scoring Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in a game that could sort some order in the crowded NFC playoff picture.
Redskins: Visit the New Orleans Saints on Sunday in a game they now badly need to win given their upcoming schedule.
Jaguars rally to beat Chargers 20-17 in OT for 3rd straight
MARK LONG, AP Sports Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Josh Lambo kicked a 30-yard field goal with 3:12 remaining in overtime, lifting the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 20-17 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Lambo’s kick got tipped at the line of scrimmage and still cleared the crossbar. The former soccer player ran the other way and slid on both knees near midfield before getting mobbed by teammates.
It gave Jacksonville its first three-game winning streak since 2013.
The game ended up in overtime after a wild and wacky final two minutes of regulation that included a fumble, two interceptions, a taunting penalty and a costly flag for roughing the passer. At times, it looked as if neither team wanted to win.
After all the chaos, Lambo drilled a 34-yard field goal to send it to the extra period.
After Jacksonville punted, A.J. Bouye intercepted a pass from Philip Rivers on third down and returned it to the 2-yard line. But a taunting call on cornerback Aaron Colvin pushed the Jaguars (6-3) back 15 yards. Lambo hit the winner a few plays later.
Colvin’s penalty was just the last in a crazy series of poor decisions for both teams. Jaguars receiver Marqise Lee was called for taunting in regulation, and Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa was flagged for unnecessary roughness that set up the game-tying kick in regulation.
On top of those, Chargers rookie Austin Ekeler fumbled while trying to run out the clock with a three-point lead, and Blake Bortles threw two interceptions while trying to rally the Jaguars in the final two minutes.
Bortles completed 28 of 51 passes for 273 yards, with a touchdown and the two picks. Leonard Fournette ran for 33 yards on 17 carries and failed to score for the first time in his rookie season.
Rivers threw for 235 yards and two scores, both to Ekeler, but his interception proved to be the most costly of all the late-game mistakes.
The Chargers (3-6) lost for the first time in seven games in the series.
The Jaguars scored on a fake punt and on a drive that included 11 consecutive passes from Bortles.
Corey Grant took a direct snap on a fourth-and-7 play, juked one defender, made another miss and then zigzagged his way for a 56-yard touchdown in the first quarter. It was the second straight week Jacksonville got a huge play from special teams. Jaydon Mickens returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown in a victory against Cincinnati last week.
With the NFL’s top running game stalled, the Jags turned to Bortles. He threw a perfect pass to Marqise Lee for a 6-yard score in the third and then found his top receiver for a 2-point conversation that tied the game at 14.
After the two interceptions late, Bortles directed the game-tying drive at the end of regulation.
INJURIES
Jaguars receiver Allen Hurns was carried to the locker room with a right leg injury late in regulation. … Jaguars special teams ace Arrelious Benn injured his right knee in the first half and was later ruled out. … Jaguars lost long-snapper Matt Overton (right shoulder) in the fourth quarter. … Both teams played without their starting right tackle. Los Angeles’ Joe Barksdale (foot) and Jacksonville’s Jermey Parnell (knee) missed the game after being listed as questionable Friday.
BRADLEY RETURNS
Former Jaguars head coach and current Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley returned to Jacksonville 11 months after being fired. Bradley, who went 14-48 in three-plus seasons in Jacksonville, avoided most pre-game contact with former players and assistants. A few Jaguars coaches tracked down Bradley on the opposite side of the field, but it was clear Bradley wanted to save any reunions for after the game.
UP NEXT
Chargers: Host Buffalo next Sunday, the first of three home games in four weeks.
Jaguars: Play at winless Cleveland next Sunday, the first of two straight on the road.
Fitzpatrick helps Bucs beat Jets 15-10, end 5-game skid
FRED GOODALL, AP Sports Writer
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Fitzpatrick led two long scoring drives and Tampa Bay limited the New York Jets to less than 200 yards of offense until late in the fourth quarter to snap a five-game losing streak with a 15-10 victory Sunday.
With Fitzpatrick filling in for injured quarterback Jameis Winston, the Buccaneers (3-6) used three field goals to build a 9-3 lead. Charles Sims put the game out of reach with a 6-yard touchdown reception with just over six minutes remaining.
Fitzpatrick, facing the team he played for the past two seasons, completed 17 of 34 passes for 187 yards and was intercepted once.
The 34-year-old Fitzpatrick, one of just four players in NFL history to throw TD passes for seven different teams, led a seven-minute drive that produced a field goal in the first quarter. He finished a 15-play, 81-yard march, also lasting more than seven minutes, with his TD pass to Sims to make it 15-3.
Josh McCown, also facing one of his former teams, was 23 of 39 for 263 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Robby Anderson caught a 38-yard TD pass in the final minute for the Jets, scoring for the fourth straight game to give New York one last chance.
But Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin recovered the ensuing onside kick, ending any chance of New York completing a comeback.
Winston hurt his shoulder on Oct. 15 and made three more starts before the Bucs decided to shut him down for a minimum of two weeks. The Bucs also played without leading receiver Mike Evans, suspended one game by the league for his role in a sideline skirmish the previous week at New Orleans.
Fitzpatrick has played for seven different teams during a 13-year career, including the Jets the past two seasons.
McCown, who has been with 10 franchises over 15 seasons, was 1-10 as starter with the Bucs three years ago.
Despite finishing with 275 yards to Tampa Bay’s 271, the Jets failed to move the ball with any consistency for more than three quarters.
INJURIES
Jets: Played without RB Matt Forte, who didn’t practice all week because of swelling in his surgically repaired right knee. … CB Morris Claiborne left in the first half with a foot injury.
Buccaneers: CB Vernon Hargreaves III left the game in the second half with a sore hamstring and did not return.
UP NEXT
Jets: Bye. Next game at home vs. Carolina on Nov. 26.
Buccaneers: At Miami next Sunday, beginning stretch of three consecutive road games. Rescheduled from Sept. 10 because of Hurricane Irma.
Titans rally, beat Bengals 24-20 for best start since 2008
TERESA M. WALKER, AP Pro Football Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Marcus Mariota tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to DeMarco Murray with 36 seconds left , and the Tennessee Titans rallied to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 24-20 Sunday for their fourth consecutive victory.
It’s the longest winning streak for the Titans (6-3) since winning five straight in 2009, and it’s their best start to a season since 2008 when the Titans last reached the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
Murray ran for two touchdowns, and Mariota finished with 264 yards passing.
The Bengals (3-6) lost for the third time in four games despite sacking Mariota four times. They started with three defensive starters scratched and lost a fourth when linebacker Vontaze Burfict was ejected in the second quarter after pushing the arm of an official.
Cincinnati took its only lead at 20-17 on a 70-yard TD pass from Andy Dalton to A.J. Green with 5:03 left, but the Bengals couldn’t stop the Titans, who drove 73 yards for the winning TD.
They had one last chance. On their final play, Dalton threw deep only to have Titans safety Kevin Byard knock the ball down.
ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER BENGAL TOSSED
Last week, Green was ejected from a loss at Jacksonville for a fight with Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey that cost him $42,541 in fines. Against the Titans, Burfict was ejected with 5:12 left in the second quarter.
Burfict was flagged for a late hit on Murray, then two plays later referee Jeff Triplette announced Burfict had made contact with an official. Replay later showed Burfict shoving the left arm of down judge Jeff Bergman who immediately threw a flag. Burfict took his time leaving the field, talking with fans, raising both arms and finally jumping to high-five a fan before going into the locker room.
TURNOVERS
Dalton had a hard time holding onto the ball with two fumbles in the second quarter. On the first, Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo sacked and stripped him of the ball, which was recovered by Derrick Morgan. Then Dalton had a bad snap that Morgan again recovered. But Mariota gave the ball right back to Cincinnati when Darqueze Dennard intercepted a pass.
RECORD STREAK ENDS
Titans kicker Ryan Succop’s NFL record streak of successful field goals finally came to an end at 56 straight after his first attempt. He missed wide right on a 48-yarder midway through the second quarter. Succop came into the game having easily topped the previous NFL mark of 46 consecutive field goals inside the 50 that had previously been set by Matt Bryant of Atlanta between 2013 and 2015. It was Succop’s first miss from inside 50 yards since Sept. 21, 2014, in a loss at Cincinnati. The Titans kicker came into this game 21 of 23 on field goals. Succop connected from 44 yards for a 17-13 halftime lead.
INJURIES.
Cincinnati cornerback Adam Jones left the field with 8:57 left in the third quarter, and the Bengals ruled him out with a concussion. … Dennard also hurt a toe.
UP NEXT
Bengals: Visit Denver.
Titans: Visit Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
Matthew Stafford helps Lions come back and beat Browns 38-24
LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Matthew Stafford lofted a 29-yard, tiebreaking touchdown to Eric Ebron early in the fourth quarter and the Detroit Lions went on to beat the winless Cleveland Browns 38-24 Sunday.
The Lions (5-4) rallied from first- and second-half deficits to earn consecutive victories for the first time since winning the first two games this season.
The Browns, who fell to 0-9 on the season, led 10-0 early in the game for their first double-digit lead of the season, and were up 24-17 in the third after Deshone Kizer led two consecutive touchdown drives.
Detroit is the only franchise to have a 0-16 season in 2008.
Cleveland’s chances to finally win this season were hurt when Kizer took a shot to the ribs by blitzing defensive back Quandre Diggs late in the third.
The rookie quarterback, who came back to play late in the fourth, had perhaps his best game. He completed 21 of 37 passes for 232 yards with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Britt in the first quarter. Kizer ran seven times for 57 yards, including a go-ahead, 1-yard sneak with 6:01 left in the third.
Kizer returned to play and converted three fourth downs with throws before getting picked off by Darius Slay in the end zone with 1:19 remaining. Browns backup Cody Kessler was 1 of 3 for 5 yards in relief of Kizer.
Matthew Stafford bounced back from a slow start to connect on 17 of 26 passes for 249 with three TD passes in the second half.
After trailing 24-17, Stafford threw an 8-yard pass to Theo Riddick for a TD, had the scoring toss to Ebron and a screen to Golden Tate that he turned into a 40-yard score to put Detroit up 38-24 with 4:36 to go. Stafford was sacked on his first snap, threw an interception on his second possession and had just 57 yards passing in the first half.
INJURIES
Browns: LB Jamie Collins left the game with a knee injury when he intercepted a pass early in the game and wasn’t cleared to return. RT Shon Coleman (concussion) and TE Randall Telfer (eye) were also hurt during the game.
Lions: RB Dwayne Washington left the game with a hip injury after picking up a first down on a 10-yard catch in the fourth quarter. LT Taylor Decker made his season debut, coming back from shoulder surgery.
UP NEXT
Browns: Host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Lions: Visit the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Packers win first game without Rodgers, beat Bears 23-16
ANDREW SELIGMAN, AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) — Brett Hundley threw for 212 yards and a touchdown, Nick Perry had three sacks and the Green Packers beat the Chicago Bears 23-16 to snap a three-game losing streak on Sunday.
Hundley, starting his third game for an injured Aaron Rodgers, threw a 17-yard touchdown to Davante Adams to make it 23-13 with 5:29 to play, and the Packers (5-4) hung on to beat the Bears (3-6) for the eighth time in nine games.
Chicago’s Mitchell Trubisky threw for a career-high 297 yards. He hit Josh Bellamy for a 46-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the Bears dropped their second in a row after winning back-to-back games.
The win was Green Bay’s first since a narrow victory at Dallas on Oct. 8. A week later, Rodgers got driven to the turf by the Vikings’ Anthony Barr in a loss at Minnesota week and the Packers haven’t been the same since then.
Hundley completed 18 of 25 passes to help the Packers win their eighth straight at Soldier Field counting the playoffs.
Ty Montgomery ran for a 37-yard touchdown in the second quarter, but sat out the second half because of a rib injury. That left the Packers without their top two running backs, after Aaron Jones hurt his knee in the first quarter.
The Bears had a replay challenge backfire in a big way as they were threatening to score in the second quarter. And the offense stalled after Mason Crosby missed a 35-yard field with just over a minute left, giving Chicago one final chance.
The Packers led 10-3 in the second quarter after Montgomery went untouched through the line for his big TD run.
The Bears were then driving deep in Green Bay territory when their replay challenge near the goal line backfired in a huge way.
Benny Cunningham was ruled out at the 2 after turning a short pass into a 23-yard gain. The Bears challenged the spot. Replay officials ruled he didn’t have control when he hit the pylon, and with the ball rolling out of bounds in the end zone, Green Bay took over at the 20.
The Bears didn’t lose a timeout, since the call was overturned, though that’s a loss they would have gladly taken. Coach John Fox screamed at line judge Bart Longson after the ruling and the crowd continued to boo as the Packers took possession.
INJURIES
Packers: S Morgan Burnett sat out with a groin injury.
Bears: The Bears held out RG Kyle Long (finger). With Long out, Cody Whitehair started at right guard and Hroniss Grasu at center. … LB Danny Trevathan (calf) and TE Dion Sims (illness) were inactive.
UP NEXT
Packers: Host the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 19.
Bears: Host Detroit Lions on Nov. 19.
Roethlisberger rallies Steelers to 20-17 win at Indianapolis
MICHAEL MAROT, AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger’s 32-yard completion to Antonio Brown with 35 seconds set up a 33-yard field goal from Chris Boswell as time expired Sunday, giving Pittsburgh a 20-17 come-from-behind win at Indianapolis on Sunday.
The Steelers (7-2) have won four straight overall and five in a row in the series.
But it sure wasn’t easy as the Colts (3-7) held Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell in check. Pittsburgh needed two second-half TD passes from Roethlisberger to fight its way out of a 17-3 third-quarter deficit. And Roethlisberger reverted to his traditional form on the Steelers’ final possession.
The two -time Super Bowl champion methodically marched the Steelers 70 yards in the final 3 minutes, 10 seconds to give Pittsburgh its only lead.
Roethlisberger was 19 of 31 for 236 yards with one interception. Bell had 26 carries for 80 yards and Brown, the league’s leading receiver, caught three passes for 47 yards.
Indianapolis extended its 10-3 halftime lead to 17-3 when Jacoby Brissett hooked up with Chester Rogers on a 61-yard TD pass four plays into the second half. But again the Colts couldn’t hold onto the lead.
Roethlisberger found JuJu Smith-Schuster on a 7-yard TD pass midway through the third quarter to make it 17-9. Boswell’s extra point was blocked and the Steelers barely avoided giving up two more points when Colts safety was tackled at the Steelers 2-yard line after a lengthy return.
After Ryan Shazier’s interception at the Colts 10-yard line with 12:52 to go, Roethlisberger hooked up with wide-open Vance McDonald for another 7-yard score. Roethlisberger’s conversion pass to Martavis Bryant tied the score at 17.
Boswell could have given the Steelers the lead with a 37-yard field goal with 6:17 to go, but the kick hit the right goal post.
INJURIES
Steelers: Starting safety Mike Mitchell left on a cart with an injured right ankle and did not return. Cornerback Joe Haden left in the first half with a left leg injury and was on crutches on the sideline late in the game. Linebacker James Harrison missed the game with a back injury.
Colts: Cornerback Kenny Moore left in the third quarter with a concussion and tight end Darnell Daniels and linebacker Darnell Sankey both left with hamstring injuries in the fourth quarter. None of the three returned.
UP NEXT
Steelers: Host Tennessee on Thursday night, their first home game since Oct. 22.
Colts: Will have a much needed bye before hosing Tennessee on Nov. 26.
Ingram, Saints run up 47-10 win over porous Bills
JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Mark Ingram scored a career-best three touchdowns and the New Orleans Saints won their seventh straight game by plowing through a porous Buffalo Bills defense in a 47-10 rout on Sunday.
Alvin Kamara also had a 3-yard touchdown rushing as the Saints blew the game open by scoring five times on their first six possessions, not including a one-play series to close the first half. Ingram finished with 131 yards rushing by scoringtwice from 3 yards , and another on a 1-yard plunge.
The Saints finished with 298 yards rushing and 32 first downs.
Their defense was just as dominating in limiting Buffalo to 198 yards, and 10 first downs. And five of those first downs came on Buffalo’s meaningless final drive that ended with backup quarterback Nathan Peterman hitting Nick O’Leary on a 7-yard touchdown pass.
New Orleans set a franchise record by scoring six touchdowns rushing, and it marked the most allowed by Buffalo in team history.
Even Saints quarterback Drew Brees got involved in the run of rushing touchdowns by scrambling in from 6 yards to put New Orleans up 37-3 in the final minute of the third quarter. Trey Edmunds capped the scoring with a 41-yard touchdown run with 3:04 left.
The Saints never punted, with the only thing to stop them was tight end Josh Hill losing a fumble at the Buffalo 9 in the first quarter.
The Saints (7-2) haven’t lost since dropping their first two games of the season to match their longest winning streak since closing the 2011 season 8-0. New Orleans has already matched its win total from each of the past three seasons.
The Bills (5-4) simply unraveled in losing their second straight and while dropping to 4-1 at home. The most notable cheer came with 4:53 remaining when Peterman replaced Tyrod Taylor and then immediately hit Deonte Thompson for a 10-yard reception along the right sideline.
After Stephen Hauschka capped a nine-play, 57-yard opening drive with a 37-yard field goal, the Bills never crossed midfield over their next eight possessions.
Taylor finished 9 of 19 for 56 yards and an interception. LeSean MCcoy was bottled up in finishing with 49 yards rushing and another 11 receiving.
As for the Bills defense, it followed up a poor-tackling effort in allowing 194 yards rushing and three touchdowns rushing in a 34-21 loss at the New York Jets on Nov. 2.
Buffalo allowed a season-worst 482 yards.
PICK BUT NO 6
Saints DT Sheldon Rankins nearly scored on an interception return only to be pushed out of bounds at the Bills 3 on Buffalo’s opening drive of the second half.
Taylor’s pass over the middle hit tight end Charles Clay in the chest and bounced directly into Rankins’ hands. Ingram scored his third TD on the next play from scrimmage.
BENJAMIN DEBUT
Kelvin Benjamin, like much of the rest of the Bills offense, was rendered invisible in making his debut after being acquired in a trade with Carolina on Oct. 31. He finished with three catches for a team-best 42 yards.
INJURIES
Saints: Backup running back Daniel Lasco had feelings in his extremities after sustaining a spine injury while tackling Buffalo’s Brandon Tate on a kickoff return six minutes into the second quarter.
Lasco moved his leg and briefly raised his arm as he was loaded into an ambulance and transported to a Buffalo-area hospital.
Bills: DE Jerry Hughes did not return after hurting his shin late in the second quarter.
INACTIVES/ACTIVES
Saints: Starting offensive linemen Terron Armstead (chest) and Larry Warford (abdomen) are active despite being listed as questionable on the Saints final injury report.
Bills: TE Charles Clay returned after missing three games with a left knee injury. LT Cordy Glenn (left ankle/foot) and WR Zay Jones (left ankle/knee) did not play after both were hurt in a 34-21 loss at the Jets on Nov. 2.
UP NEXT
Saints: Host Washington on Nov. 19.
Bills: Play next two on road starting at Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 19.
Jared Goff leads Rams to 4th straight win, 33-7 over Texans
GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Robert Woods caught two of Jared Goff’s three touchdown passes during a dominant third quarter, and the surging Los Angeles Rams returned after a month away from home for their fourth straight victory, 33-7 over the depleted Houston Texans on Sunday.
After struggling to a 9-7 lead during a quiet first half for the NFL’s highest-scoring team, the Rams (7-2) ran away with a series of big throws by Goff, who passed for a career-high 355 yards.
Woods caught a 94-yard TD pass to break it open before Sammy Watkins and Woods made TD catches 19 seconds apart late in the third quarter. The Rams defense shut out Houston in the second half and won at the Coliseum for just the third time in 11 games since returning to Los Angeles last season.
Woods finished with eight catches for 171 yards, making the longest catch of his NFL career before following it up with a 12-yard TD .
Bruce Ellington caught a 26-yard TD pass for the Texans (3-6), who have lost three straight and four of five.
Tom Savage passed for 221 yards with two interceptions for Houston, which lost its second straight since losing rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson for the season with a knee injury.
NFL scoring leader Greg Zuerlein kicked four field goals for the Rams, who hadn’t played in LA since early October thanks to two East Coast road trips, a bye and a “home” game in London.
Rookie coach Sean McVay’s club still kept its momentum going with a 205-yard third quarter on the way to scoring at least 27 points for the eighth time in nine games. The Rams are off to their best start since 2001, when they went 8-1 in St. Louis.
Aaron Donald, the Rams’ powerhouse defensive lineman, forced a fumble on Houston’s opening possession while sacking Savage, his college teammate at Pitt. But the Rams couldn’t get in the end zone early, and they trailed for the first time since Oct. 15 when the Texans made a 75-yard drive in the second quarter capped by Ellington’s untouched catch-and-run TD.
Houston had the chance for more points late in the first half, but Mark Barron made an interception at the Los Angeles 10.
INJURIES
Texans: WR Will Fuller injured his ribs while receiving a huge hit from Rams S Lamarcus Joyner in the first half. He didn’t return.
Rams: Watkins came up limping in the first half and missed some playing time before returning in the second half. … Joyner injured his own hip in the first half, but returned for the second half. .. LG Rodger Saffold hurt his ankle in the second half. He is a key part of the Rams’ revitalized offensive line.
BIG KICKS
Zuerlein surpassed his previous career high when he made his 27th field goal of the season shortly before halftime, and he added another in the second half. The sure-footed veteran has missed just one field goal all season.
UP NEXT
Texans: The NFC West portion of the schedule continues with a visit next Sunday from the Arizona Cardinals, who will be on extra rest after playing Thursday.
Rams: A trip to Minnesota for an early game next Sunday against former QB Case Keenum and the Vikings.
Brady, Patriots send Broncos to fifth straight loss, 41-16
ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Pro Football Writer
DENVER (AP) — Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes and the New England Patriots matched their own AFC record with their 12th consecutive road victory, pummeling the Denver Broncos 41-16 on Sunday night.
These teams have represented the AFC in the last four Super Bowls, and the Broncos (3-6) were hoping a visit from their rivals would help shake them from their funk, one that included a 28-point loss at Philadelphia a week earlier. With a win, “the swag, the energy in this locker room, it’ll skyrocket,” suggested Aqib Talib.
Instead, the Broncos fizzled.
They saw their losing streak reach five games, their longest skid in seven seasons, and they lost back-to-back games to the Patriots (7-2) in Denver for the first time since 1966.
Avoiding Von Miller all night and throwing for 266 yards on 25-of-34 passing, Brady improved to 8-9 against the Broncos, the only team he has a losing record against, and won for just the fourth time in 11 trips to Denver.
His 86th regular-season road win broke a tie with Peyton Manning for most all-time.
The Patriots also won a dozen consecutive road games from 2006-08. The NFL record is 18 set by the Joe Montana-led San Francisco 49ers from 1988-90.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
