Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown isn't sympathizing with the Cincinnati Bengals or their injured linebacker Vontaze Burfict."Karma, karma ... I ain't talking about nobody. Karma is karma. Karma is life. When you do wrong things, wrong things happen to you. Karma could be on you guys if you do the wrong thing," Brown said, according to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic.Brown took a hit from Burfict in a 2015 playoff game that caused him to miss the Steelers' AFC Divisional Playoff against the Denver Broncos.Burfict was carted off Monday night after being on the wrong end of a massive block from Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.Brown also took a serious hit in Monday's game, when Bengals safety George Iloka leveled him in the back of the end zone on the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter."The guy just left his feet and hit me in the head. Karma for him, too," Brown said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were told by medical personnel that linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a spinal contusion, according to Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network.The team will not know any more until some swelling goes down.Shazier suffered the injury early in the first quarter of Monday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals while trying to make a tackle on Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone.He lay motionless while being attended to by medical staff and was eventually placed on a backboard and carted off the field.Shazier was then transferred by ambulance to the hospital and taken to a trauma center.Steelers general manager and vice president Kevin Colbert addressed the issue after the game in a statement.

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt and Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve were named Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year honorees in a reveal on Monday's episode of NBC's "The Tonight Show."Watt and Altuve are credited with uplifting the city of Houston following the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey late this summer.Watt raised over $37 million in aid for the relief efforts prior to the start of the Texans' season. His 2017 campaign was shortened by a leg injury suffered in Week 5, ending his year with 15 combined tackles.Altuve helped the Astros win the first World Series in franchise history, ending baseball's second-longest championship drought.He was named American League MVP for a season in which he hit .346/.410/.547 with 24 home runs and 32 stolen bases.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

CINCINNATI (AP) Chris Boswell kicked a field goal on the final play shortly after Antonio Brown caught a 6-yard touchdown pass - taking a hit to the head while landing in the end zone - and the Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off another improbable comeback against the Cincinnati Bengals, rallying for a 23-20 victory Monday night.Down 17-0 early, the Steelers (10-2) extended their best start since 2004 in a physical game with a couple frightening injuries. Brown's touchdown tied it at 20 with 3:51 to go, setting up Boswell's 38-yard field goal, his second straight winner in the closing seconds.The Bengals (5-7) simply can't find a way to beat their Ohio River rival, not even after getting off to the big early lead. They've dropped six straight against Pittsburgh, including the Steelers' 18-16 playoff win at Paul Brown Stadium that included another Cincinnati meltdown.Pittsburgh lost leading tackler Ryan Shazier to a back injury in the first quarter. The linebacker was removed from the field on a cart and taken to a hospital for evaluation. Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was carted off in the fourth quarter after JuJu Smith-Schuster leveled him with a high hit, then taunted him by walking over him.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was carted off the field late in Monday's game against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.Burfict collided heavily with Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster while going for a tackle on running back Le'Veon Bell, taking the worst of the impact.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon will not return to Monday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a concussion.Mixon was taken to the locker room during the second quarter of Monday's game to be evaluated for head and shoulder injuries after colliding violently with Steelers linebacker Vince Williams.The rookie running back walked off the field under his own power and headed to the medical tent before going to the locker room. He was initially deemed questionable to return.Mixon finished the game with 34 yards on seven carries, along with one catch for 8 yards.Giovani Bernard took over as lead back in Mixon's absence.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady expressed disappointment Monday regarding Rob Gronkowski's one-game suspension.Gronkowski was sanctioned for delivering an illegal hit on Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White that concussed the rookie defender.Brady spoke candidly about Gronkowski's suspension but also offered his support."It's an emotional game, and the emotions got the best of Rob," Brady said on Westwood One Radio, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "I'm disappointed that he won't be out there with us on Monday night. I think he's appealing it, but we'll see how that goes. I support Rob. I love Rob. He's been such a great supporter of mine. He knows I'm always here for him."Gronkowski reportedly does plan to appeal the suspension, but if it's not overturned, he will miss next Monday's game against the Miami Dolphins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier was stretchered off the field in the first quarter of Monday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals after colliding with Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone.Shazier then left the stadium in an ambulance to be evaluated for a back injury.Following the collision, he reached for his back and then lay on the field. He was able to lift his head while medical staff attended to him.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald presented himself as an unlikely ally for New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski on Monday.Gronkowski was suspended one game for an illegal hit delivered to Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White which rendered the rookie standout concussed. The veteran tight end was flagged for unnecessary roughness.Although some argued Gronkowski got off easy, Fitzgerald conversely felt the punishment was too harsh."I don't particularly like the suspension. I don't like when the actions of one player affects his team. Taking him off the field for a complete game is going to really hurt the Patriots. I thought he definitely should have been fined heavily. Those kind of plays really don't have a place in our game. I think the NFL has done a great job of emphasizing that over the last few years. I don't agree with the one-game suspension though," Fitzgerald said on Westwood One Radio, via ESPN's Mike Reiss.Gronkowski expressed remorse following Sunday's game but noted he was frustrated with the officiating.Patriots head coach Bill Belichick apologized immediately to Bills counterpart Sean McDermott for his star's actions.New England is cruising through the AFC at 10-2 but will certainly miss one of its most potent weapons against the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 11.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFLPA is considering launching an investigation into whether New Orleans Saints tight end Coby Fleener should have been removed from a Week 12 game against the Los Angeles Rams due to a concussion, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.Fleener was diagnosed with a concussion after colliding with Rams safety Blake Countess, who was fined $24,309 for what the league deemed as a hit on a defenseless receiver.The tight end was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 2.Fleener finished the season with 22 receptions for 295 yards and two touchdowns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is active for Monday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.He had been dealing with a toe injury for much of the week, missing Friday's and Saturday's practice sessions, but was able to take a pregame warmup.Brown is coming off a Week 12 game against the Green Bay Packers in which he caught 10 of 12 targets for 169 yards and two touchdowns. He has totaled 313 receiving yards and five touchdowns over his past two outings.He caught four of 10 targets for 65 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers' first matchup against the Bengals earlier this season.Overall, Brown has 80 receptions on 126 targets for 1,195 yards and eight touchdowns through 11 games this year.The Bengals rank ninth in Football Outsiders' DVOA against opposing No. 1 receivers and allow nine targets and 59.9 receiving yards per game to the position.Linebacker James Harrison, and cornerback Joe Haden were both ruled inactive.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants effectively cleaned house Monday, firing head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese in rapid succession. It wasn't altogether surprising, but news from East Rutherford quickly reverberated in league circles as the final circus act of the Reese-McAdoo era reached its inevitable conclusion in real time.Although it's certainly possible to be dissuaded from entertaining a job with the Giants amid what's been a nightmare season, they will present the most lucrative head coach and general manager vacancies this winter. If the Giants do their due diligence, play up their historical reverence, and remain patient, they will be able to outline the quickest path to a full rebuild among the league's basement dwellers.Few expected the Giants to disintegrate completely during the 2017 season, coming off an 11-5 record in 2016. Some even billed the Giants as a sleeper Super Bowl contender entering the year and the team is still brimming with talent, particularly on the defensive side of the ball with Landon Collins, Janoris Jenkins, Damon Harrison, and Jason Pierre-Paul still playing at a high level. But with Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall suffering season-ending injuries early in the year, the Giants simply haven't played up to the sum of their parts. With better coaching, it wouldn't be a surprise for the Giants to become a marquee franchise again.Related: 3 reasons why the Giants should tune Ben McAdoo outThe vast majority of the blame for the lost season should fall squarely on McAdoo's shoulders. McAdoo's conflict with Eli Manning has been analyzed ceaselessly after he called his quarterback out in September. Additionally, he picked feuds with Jenkins, Collins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and allowed other outlets to attack Beckham's character with impunity. Lauded for his offensive genius, McAdoo failed to show what the Giants saw in him as the team posted a putrid 15.8 points per game this season - only the 0-12 Cleveland Browns have scored less. McAdoo handed play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan in October, which should've been interpreted as a red flag.The Giants, however, can and will do better than McAdoo.Reese is guilty to some degree for this year's calamity. Showing a resolute aversion to running backs and linebackers in the draft throughout this tenure, Reese failed to address some of his team's biggest woes. The architect of the team's 2011 Super Bowl win, Reese was afforded plenty of good will and some of his measures worked - spending $200 million to renovate the defense paid off and the next GM can work off the nucleus of his grand plan. Ultimately, Reese's poor draft record and inability to command the room led to his downfall but it should be noted that he did a far better job than McAdoo.Related: 3 new coach-GM options for GiantsBeing the head coach and GM of the Giants are two of football's vaunted positions. This is the same franchise that correctly plucked Bill Parcells out of the Air Force and watched him become one of the defining coaches of his generation. Parcells birthed the rise of Bill Belichick, who excelled as his defensive coordinator, before eventually becoming the icon he is today. Wellington Mara, George Young, and Ernie Accorsi are three venerable men who elevated the position of Giants general manager into the national conscience. Along with the built-in advantage of playing in the New York market, the Giants ought to have their pick of top-tier candidates, as long as they learn from their mistakes of rushing to hire McAdoo and keeping Reese for too long.The Giants will have $29.9 million in cap space for the 2018 season, according to OvertheCap.com. It's not a massive sum to work with but considering the team's pre-existing level of talent, an asset to work with in Manning and an impending top pick, the next executives for the Giants will have enough to work with. New York is too talented for a full-scale rebuild in the vein of Cleveland or San Francisco, not tied to a potentially damaged asset like Indianapolis with Andrew Luck, nor is it in a full-scale identity crisis like Denver or Chicago.Frank Sinatra said it best: "I want to be a part of it, New York, New York."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Most Valuable Player award is usually given to the player who's had the greatest impact on one of the premier teams in the NFL. Though they are still in a very tight race for the playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks have not been in the conversation as one of the best teams in the league at any point this season.Despite this, no player has had a greater responsibility for his team's success than Russell Wilson. Through 13 weeks, he is the NFL's MVP.Since the preseason, the Seahawks' offensive line has been a major concern. Because of deficiencies in the line and lack of a premier back, the Seahawks don't have much of a running game emanating from the running-back position. Defensively, multiple starters have had their seasons interrupted due to injury. Richard Sherman and Cliff Avril are on injured reserve, and multiple other Pro Bowl defenders have missed games with injuries.Simply put, this defense is producing less boom than in years past.However, the Seahawks have Wilson, who gives them a chance to win every week. His performance on Sunday Night Football was nothing short of spectacular. Other than Aaron Rodgers, no other quarterback currently in the NFL can do everything, at an extremely high level, like Wilson.From a throwing perspective, Wilson rarely misses during the regular course of a called play. When the line gives him time and he can go through his progressions, Wilson puts the ball on the money nearly every time. Whether he is throwing versus tight man coverage, against a soft zone, or under pressure from a cover 0 blitz, Wilson almost always throws a catchable ball.Wilson owns a 64 percent completion rate, and would be much closer to 70 percent if it weren't for him regularly throwing balls away to prevent sacks.One of the more surprising stats that most people don't realize about Wilson is that he is one of the best deep-ball throwers in the NFL. Unlike Matt Ryan or Tom Brady, who generally take a shot down the field during the regular course of a play, Wilson throws a lot of deep passes that are "off schedule."Many times it's because he's running around out of the pocket, which he did on multiple occasions on Sunday. He also buys extra time within the pocket to make big plays.Facing an all-out blitz from Philadelphia in which the Seahawks had only seven blockers versus eight Eagles rushers, Wilson calmly faded back away from the pressure to allow time for Doug Baldwin to work his way down the field on a deep corner route. Many quarterbacks look for the quick throw when getting a "cover 0" pressure.Wilson knew he'd get hit, but is so confident with his deep ball touch that he held the pigskin for an extra second, made the throw well before Baldwin finished his route, and took a hit after he let it loose. The 40-yard toss, off his back foot, was an absolute dime. Athletic quarterbacks aren't necessarily supposed to be great throwers. Wilson, however, is one of the best.As the season has progressed, it is becoming increasingly obvious that offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is calling more bootleg and play action. These concepts are helping his struggling line, as the defense must play the run for the initial part of the play. But it also gives Wilson more time in the pocket to use his magic. Even when these plays break down, Wilson somehow manages to make something out of nothing.There are a lot of quarterbacks who are deadly accurate when throwing on the run. Never, during my 20-plus years of watching the NFL, have I seen a quarterback throw the ball running to his left better than Wilson. Yes, Rodgers makes incredible throws when working to his left. The throw to Jared Cook against the Cowboys in last year's playoffs is one of the best I've ever seen.What separates Wilson from the rest is that he has a rare combination of strength and flexibility to make these throws accurately. Rodgers will, at the last second, flip his hips to get more torque on his throws. Wilson will be running full speed to his left, parallel to the line of scrimmage, and get his upper body and arm to make a firm accurate throw down the field.I haven't seen any college or pro quarterbacks make this type of throw in my lifetime. Most quarterbacks simply don't have the flexibility or strength to make these passes. Wilson, partially because of his compact stature, makes them multiple times a game.Though the playoffs don't start until after the New Year, Wilson and the Seahawks were playing in a postseason type of atmosphere on Sunday Night. Sitting at 7-4 and facing the Eagles, who most experts had slated as the best team in the NFL, the Seahawks were in a must-win game to keep pace with the other teams who were in the hunt in a very crowded NFC conference.Much as they had all season, the Seahawks completely relied on their quarterback to carry their offense.Throughout the year, Wilson has been responsible for an astounding 82 percent of his team's yards. Obviously, Wilson has thrown for all of Seattle's passing yards, but what is so shocking is that he also leads the team in rushing. He currently has 432 rushing yards, which is more than the Seahawks' top two running backs. In fact, Chris Carson and Eddie Lacy have a combined for just 387 rushing yards in 2017.Also, Carson and Lacy have a combined 118 rushing attempts to their quarterback's 71. Concurrently, Wilson has three of the four Seattle rushing touchdowns this year. Rarely do I think quarterbacks are worth the $20 million-to-$27 million that owners are forced to pay them, but - considering the monster extension Wilson just received - I am beginning to think at this point he is underpaid.Football is the ultimate team sport. I don't know how far Wilson can carry the Seahawks this year with the lack of protection and running game. As their defense begins to get healthier, Seattle could be a team that gets hot down the stretch. Currently, Seattle owns the No. 5 seed in the NFC. If the Seahawks win three of their last four games, they will be in the playoffs - possibly with a home game.Carson Wentz has had a spectacular sophomore season. Tom Brady, at the age of 40, is having another MVP-caliber year. But no player, or quarterback, in the NFL is having a greater impact on his team or the league than Russell Wilson. If he finishes the last quarter of the season in the same fashion as the first three quarters, he deserves to be the NFL's Most Valuable Player.Sage Rosenfels is a former 12-year NFL quarterback who writes, does radio, and podcasts about the NFL and college football. Find him on Twitter @SageRosenfels18.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has been suspended one game for violating the NFL's unnecessary roughness rules.The tight end took a running dive onto a downed opponent during Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Gronkowski led with his elbow into the back of the head of Bills corner Tre'Davious White.NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan deemed Gronkowski's actions "not incidental" and added that he "placed the opposing player at risk of serious injury."

John Mara said he couldn't waste any more time.Mara and Steve Tisch, owners of the New York Giants, dismissed head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese on Monday with the team sitting at 2-10 after finishing last season with a record of 11-5."We agreed that wholesale changes needed to be made to get this team back to where it needs to be, and we agreed it was pointless to wait any longer to make these changes," Mara said at a press conference.The season has been a mess since the Giants lost their first five games of the season. It reached national news when Eli Manning was benched in favor of Geno Smith. However, Mara said no single act or decision led to the firings, not even the Manning saga."We were spiraling out of control. I think we just needed a complete overhaul," he said, per Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.The owner also mentioned interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo and interim general manager Kevin Abrams will be given consideration for the full-time roles. As for who will start at quarterback for the Giants, Mara said the decision is up to Spagnuolo.He hopes to have a new general manager on board before the draft in April.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Suddenly, the New York Giants are in search of a new coach and a new general manager.The team fired second-year head coach Ben McAdoo and longtime general manager Jerry Reese on Monday after the team slipped to 2-10 on the season.Luckily, this is New York, and the Giants will have no shortage of capable candidates. Here are three pairings that could take over Big Blue:John Dorsey and Dave ToubDorsey has perhaps the strongest resume of all the available general managers. The Kansas City Chiefs parted ways with Dorsey this summer despite compiling a cumulative record of 43-21 in four years. His firing came after a 12-4 season and a successful 2017 draft in which he landed the team's quarterback of the future in a draft-day trade for Patrick Mahomes and plucked running back Kareem Hunt in the third round.During his tenure, Dorsey also found stars Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill at mid-round value.Related: An examination of how Dorsey shaped the Chiefs through the draftWorking against his case is Giants owner John Mara's disapproval of McAdoo's communication style and the report that Dorsey was let go by the Chiefs in part because of his communication skills.As for Toub, he's considered a head coach-in-waiting. Toub joined the Chiefs the same year as Dorsey and has been in charge of the team's special teams ever since.He alone does not deserve the credit for the individual successes of returner Hill, former kicker Cairo Santos, and punter Dustin Colquitt, but he had similar results in a decade-long stint in Chicago.Toub interviewed for coaching vacancies in the offseason and should be expected to be a top candidate again after this season.Dave Gettleman and Mike Shula(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Gettleman was another surprise firing this offseason. Gettleman took over a Carolina Panthers club that went 12-4 in 2013 and reached the Super Bowl in 2015, yet, after a 6-10 finish in 2016, he was let go.The news came as a surprise to Panthers players and coaches. Ron Rivera even went as far as to say Gettleman "did a great job" in his time in Carolina. The results don't lie. Gettleman shouldn't be unemployed for long.Shula remains the Panthers' offensive coordinator and is currently helping to steer the club to an 8-4 record and a possible return to the playoffs.The 52-year-old has spent the majority of his coaching career in charge of the quarterbacks, and that will be a position of focus for a Giants club bracing for a future without Eli Manning.Whether its Davis Webb or a quarterback selected with a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft, developing a QB will be a central task for New York's next coach.Nick Caserio and Josh McDanielsLast season, it was believed the Patriots' director of player personnel and offensive coordinator would be the new leaders of the San Francisco 49ers. Instead, the pair could remain on the East Coast.Caserio has been a vital member of the Patriots' personnel department since 2008. He's long been a candidate to run his own team and Giants ownership will no doubt hope to land the biggest fish possible.McDaniels' last stint as an NFL head coach lasted just as long as McAdoo's. However, he's spent the past seven years building back up his resume and stocking his coffers with Super Bowl rings. McDaniels will be a coach again, it's just a matter of when.A vacancy with a marquee team in the high-profile NFC East represents a likely fit for the offensive wunderkind.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tyrod Taylor appears to have escaped serious injury, as Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott announced Monday that the quarterback is dealing with a patella contusion and is considered day-to-day.McDermott added that, when healthy, Taylor will remain the team's starting quarterback.Taylor was carted to the locker room after taking a hit in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 23-3 defeat to the New England Patriots. McDermott told reporters after the game that Taylor initially injured the knee on the first play of the game, but the quarterback insisted he remain in the game.Rookie backup Nathan Peterman replaced Taylor in the game, and it remains to be seen whether Taylor will be healthy enough to make the start when the Bills take on Indianapolis Colts this week.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants are expected to start Eli Manning at quarterback in their next game against the Dallas Cowboys, ESPN's Jordan Raanan reports.The move comes after the Giants reportedly fired head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese on Monday.Manning reportedly told interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo that he wants to start again Tuesday during an appearance on WFAN.Team owner John Mara said on Wednesday that he initiated the conversation with Reese and McAdoo to take a look at the team's other quarterbacks. As a result, Eli Manning was benched in Sunday's loss to the Oakland Raiders and his consecutive starts streak of 210 games was snapped, now to seemingly miss only one game.Backup Geno Smith went 21-for-34 for 212 yards and a touchdown in the 24-17 loss.Manning said after the game that he plans on playing next season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants cleaned house Monday, and it seems the catalyst for the seismic decision to fire both Ben McAdoo and Jerry Reese was quarterback Eli Manning's benching.Giants owner John Mara was reportedly "furious" with the damage his team's image took following the decision to sit Manning, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB. Mara's anger over the course of the last week was evident to those throughout the organization, according to Breer.Related - Report: Giants fire McAdoo, Reese in midst of disastrous 2-10 seasonMara previously called the backlash to the club's decision to bench Manning "understandable," as he explained his discussions with Reese last week, but Monday's events beg the question of how favorable Mara viewed sitting his franchise player for the entirety of Sunday's game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants fired head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese just hours after a 24-17 loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday sent the team to 2-10.The moves come less than a week after quarterback Eli Manning was asked to give way to backups Geno Smith and Davis Webb. Manning chose instead to end his 210-game starting streak to allow Smith to be under center from the opening snap of Sunday's game.The Manning saga has led to substantial fan response and even a report that a group of 25 former Giants planned to stand on the sidelines during the team's next game in Manning jerseys.McAdoo, the first head coach in the league to be fired this season, disciplined other star players during the season. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was suspended for one game in October over a spat with coaches and top corner Janoris Jenkins was also benched for one game in early November for violating team rules.The Giants entered the season with lofty goals after posting an 11-5 record in McAdoo's first year at the helm. New York got off to a disastrous 0-5 start and could not recover.Star receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall were both lost for the season after Week 5.Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will take over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season and assistant general manager Kevin Abrams will fill the interim GM role.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite not being active on the football field this year, Colin Kaepernick has made an impression on the world that could result in him receiving a very notable honor.The free-agent quarterback has been named to Time Magazine's shortlist for its Person of the Year award for 2017, Time announced Monday.The list of Time's candidates is presented below in alphabetical order.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Without question, the best Week 14 NFL games are in the NFC, as the playoff picture continues to evolve. Covers checks in on the opening lines for a handful of matchups, with insights from Scott Cooley, odds consultant for offshore sportsbook Bookmaker.eu.

Colin Kaepernick was honored and met with a standing ovation at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California's Bill of Rights dinner on Sunday.Kaepernick received the Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award and was a surprise honoree to those in attendance.Kaepernick began protesting against oppression by sitting or kneeling during the playing of the national anthem last season. Currently a free agent, he has continued his activism by donating to organizations fighting oppression."We all have an obligation no matter the risk, and regardless of reward, to stand up for our fellow men and women who are being oppressed with the understanding that human rights cannot be compromised," Kaepernick said in an acceptance speech, reports Alene Tchekmedyian of the Los Angeles Times.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Gordon's first regular-season game in almost three years could be characterized as a success, though not a resounding one.Related: Gordon shows flashes of brilliance in return to footballIn his return from a suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, the Cleveland Browns receiver caught four passes for 85 yards in a 19-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.Gordon was clearly the focal point of the offense, as he was targeted 11 times by quarterback DeShone Kizer. The snag is the two couldn't connect on seven of those plays as the Browns fell to 0-12 on the season."We got a lot more work to do," Gordon said after the game, per Pat McManamon of ESPN. "I'm just trying to go out there and make sure I do my job to the best of my ability, try to execute and make sure we have a lot of fun doing it."The 26-year-old said there wasn't much change on the football field from the last time he was playing."Football is what I've been doing my whole life. New stadium ... that's about it," Gordon said.Gordon's next chance to show off his talents will come in a Week 14 matchup with the Green Bay Packers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens corner Jimmy Smith will be suspended four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.Smith, who sustained a season-ending Achilles injury Sunday, will withdraw his appeal in order to begin serving his suspension.Smith, a seven-year pro, was playing a vital role for a unit that ranks third in pass defense. On the strength of a top-10 overall defense, the Ravens own a 7-5 record and a hold on the sixth seed in the AFC playoff picture.In 12 games, the 29-year-old had three interceptions, one pick-6, and nine passes defensed.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin shared his appreciation for NFL owners pledging to fund a series of social activism programs over the next seven years.

The final month of the regular season is underway, which means the league's playoff picture is coming into focus. Following Sunday's action, a host of teams are a step closer to cementing their postseason bids.AFCSeed Team Division Record 1PatriotsEast10-22SteelersNorth9-23TitansSouth8-44ChiefsWest6-65JaguarsSouth8-46RavensNorth7-5The Patriots remain the class of the AFC after routing the Bills. But while the defending champions are riding an eight-game winning streak, they could be usurped at the top of the conference if the Steelers beat the Bengals on Monday.Despite sporting identical records, the Titans remain ahead of the Jaguars due to a superior head-to-head record. The teams will square off again in Week 17.The Chiefs are mired in a major slump, but still have a tenuous lead in the AFC West over the Chargers and Raiders despite all three teams holding 6-6 records. That's due to Kansas City's superior winning percentage in divisional games, but Los Angeles and Oakland are surging.The Ravens moved a game ahead of their competitors for the final playoff spot with their win over the Lions combined with the Bills' loss to the Patriots.In the hunt SeedTeamDivisionRecord 7ChargersWest6-68BillsEast6-69RaidersWest6-610BengalsNorth5-611JetsEast5-712DolphinsEast5-7It's been a tale of two seasons for the red-hot Chargers, who are on the outside looking in despite a three-game winning streak. The same could be said of the Raiders, who are back in the thick of the race after winning their last two games.The Bills somehow remain in the race despite creating a quarterback controversy of their own, but will likely need a wild-card spot to qualify considering the Patriots have all but wrapped up the AFC East. The Dolphins and Jets are in the same boat.NFC Seed Team Division Record 1VikingsNorth10-22EaglesEast10-23RamsWest9-34SaintsSouth9-35SeahawksWest8-46PanthersSouth8-4The Vikings continued their assault on the NFC by edging the Falcons 14-9 on Sunday. As a result - along with the Eagles' loss to the Seahawks - Minnesota has taken hold of the conference's No. 1 seed based on tiebreakers.The Rams remain a game ahead of the Seahawks after defeating the Cardinals on Sunday.The Saints beat the Panthers to break a tie in the NFC South, while the Rams are ahead of the Saints because they won their head-to-head matchup.In the hunt Seed Team Division Record 7FalconsSouth7-58LionsNorth6-69PackersNorth6-610CowboysEast6-611RedskinsEast5-712CardinalsWest5-7The Falcons are actively awaiting a slip-up from one of their divisional rivals after losing to the Vikings. The Saints and Falcons play Thursday in what ought to be one of the games of the season, giving the latter an opportunity to catch up in the race.The Lions slipped to No. 8 after getting routed by the Ravens, while the Packers and Cowboys improved their respective odds with victories this week.At 5-7, the Redskins and Cardinals will need miracles to sneak into the playoffs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SEATTLE (AP) Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes, the last a 15-yard strike to J.D. McKissic with 7:29 left, and the Seattle Seahawks stayed in the NFC playoff hunt with a 24-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.Seattle (8-4) snapped Philadelphia's nine-game winning streak thanks largely to another masterful performance by its quarterback. Wilson was 20 of 31 for 227 and threw touchdowns of 11 yards to Jimmy Graham, 1-yard to Tyler Lockett and the TD to McKissic after the Eagles had trimmed the lead to seven.Philadelphia (10-2) was the highest-scoring team in the NFL averaging 31.9 points per game. But the Eagles got just 10 points out of seven drives that at some point reached Seattle territory.Carson Wentz was 29 of 45 for 348 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Wentz had a costly fumble at the Seattle 1 on the opening drive of the second half that could have pulled the Eagles even at 10-all.Wentz was inches shy of breaking the plane when Sheldon Richardson ripped the ball free. The loose ball bounced around the end zone and eventually over the end line for a touchback and Seattle's ball. It was a major turning point as Seattle went 80 yards in 11 plays, capped by Wilson's 1-yard pass to Lockett and a 17-3 Seattle lead. The touchdown was setup by a 47-yard pass to Doug Baldwin on third-and-10 beating a Philadelphia blitz.Seattle snapped a rare two-game losing streak at home mostly because of Wilson. It wasn't his best game in numbers, but it might be one of his best performances. He came up with key throws when needed, kept plays alive with his legs and pulled out some unexpected improvisation just went the Seahawks needed it.Wentz started a Philadelphia rally on the first play of the fourth quarter. Facing third-and-13 at the 16, Wentz was pressured from the pocket. As he was about to be dragged down by Quinton Jefferson, Wentz hit Nelson Agholor for 51 yards. Four plays later, and again facing third-and-long, Agholor beat Maxwell again and Wentz found him for a 27-yard TD to pull the Eagles within 17-10.Agholor had seven catches for 141 yards.That's when Wilson pulled out a little more magic on what proved to be Seattle's decisive drive. Facing third-and-8 at the Philadelphia 42, Wilson was forced to scramble. Six yards downfield and short of the first down, Wilson lateraled the ball to Mike Davis as he was about to be hit. Davis took the lateral another 17 yards for a first down. It was a borderline play that appeared close to a forward pass but Philadelphia didn't challenge.After another remarkable Wilson throw across his body to Nick Vannett for 21 yards, Wilson hit McKissic for a 15-yard score with 7:29 left and a 14-point Seattle lead.GRAHAM'S ROLLGraham had just three catches for 26 yards but continued to be Wilson's favorite target near the goal line. Graham has touchdowns in four straight games and nine in the past seven games.SCORING STREAKPhiladelphia failed to score at least 20 points for the first time in 15 games, a streak dating to last season. The Eagles were the only team in the league to score at least 20 in every game this season.FIRST QUARTER FINALLYSeattle became the first team to score an offensive touchdown in the first quarter against the Eagles on Graham's 11-yard TD catch. The Eagles had allowed just 18 points in the first quarter coming into the game, but allowed points on two of Seattle's first three possessions.INJURIESErtz left in the third quarter to be evaluated for a head injury and did not return. Ertz was injured trying to make a difficult catch across the middle that was broken up by Bradley McDougald.UP NEXTEagles: At the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.Seahawks: At Jacksonville on Sunday.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Freshly turned New York Giants backup quarterback Eli Manning doesn't know what the team he won two Super Bowls with plans on doing next season, but he's firm when it comes to his personal goals."I plan on playing next season," Manning said following New York's 24-17 loss to the Oakland Raiders with Geno Smith under center, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.Smith went 21-of-34 passing for 212 yards and one touchdown as the Giants lost again on Sunday, which reaffirmed to many disgruntled fans that the current 2-10 season is not the fault of Manning, who'd started 210 consecutive games for the franchise.The veteran passer had completed 62.5 percent of his attempts for 2,411 yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions through 11 games.While a report surfaced Sunday morning that head coach Ben McAdoo's future with the Giants could be directly tied to the team's performance following his decision to bench Manning, the longtime quarterback said his coach isn't the only one at fault for the disastrous season."I don't want anybody to get fired," Manning said. "When a coach gets fired, it's usually because the team, the players and myself haven't performed up to our duties. I don't want to see that. So I hope there is no truth to it."Manning has a full no-trade clause, while his contract has another two seasons with a combined $22 million in base salary remaining.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase added insult to injury when opting for a fourth-quarter onside kick and numerous members of the Denver Broncos made it clear they didn't appreciate the gesture.The Dolphins led 33-9 and essentially had the game wrapped up but Gase elected for an onside kick which his team recovered. Miami finished with a 35-9 victory.Gase worked for the Broncos from 2009-2014, spending his last two seasons with the team as their offensive coordinator. Several Broncos players believe Gase was trying to exact a measure of revenge."He's mad at somebody in this organization,'' Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said via ESPN's Jeff Legwold. " ... It looked like he was trying to embarrass us. But I guess that what happens, they haven't won too many games, a big game for them. Guess he wanted to take it personal and guess he still had some bad blood left over from before.''"I was pissed,'' Broncos linebacker Shaquil Barrett added.Gase expressed no remorse for his actions, however."It's 60 minutes,'' Gase said. "I'm not going to slow down. I don't care what the score is."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

"I feel like we can run the table," was Aaron Rodgers proclamation to the NFL with the Green Bay Packers sporting a 4-6 record through 11 weeks last year.They did, and qualified for the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season in the process.With the Packers at 6-6 through 13 weeks in 2017 and awaiting Rodgers' return from a broken collarbone, a repeat conclusion to the year could see the Packers into the postseason once again.Their season was expected to end with a Week 6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings - the game in which Rodgers was injured - dropping them to 4-2 as their star headed to IR.They've gone 2-4 without their franchise QB, but with a victory Sunday over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and some help in the form of losses suffered by the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons - their top competitors for a wild-card spot - hope remains.How we've gotten hereBrett Hundley has completed 61.4 percent of 184 pass attempts this season, totaling 1,185 passing yards with another 110 yards on the ground. He has thrown for five touchdowns and rushed for two, matching the scores with seven interceptions.His best performance came in a Week 12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, completing 17 of 26 attempts for 245 yards, and a career-high three touchdowns with no interceptions. In comparison, the numbers he produced in the Week 13 victory - going 13-for-22 for just 84 yards, his second game with under 100 passing yards as a starter - were underwhelming.Rookie running back Aaron Jones returned from a two-game absence to play the hero Sunday, busting a 20-yard touchdown run in overtime. His contribution was accompanied by fellow rookie Jamaal Williams' first-career 100-yard rushing game.Head coach Mike McCarthy deserves credit for altering the Packers offense to rely on a new-found running game, as they've passed on just 53.76 percent of their offensive plays over the past three weeks, down from a 64.68 percent rate with Rodgers at the helm in 2016, a mark that ranked second in the league.Hundley's final hurdleHundley just needs to get the Packers through a Week 14 road match-up with the 0-12 Cleveland Browns before returning to his rightful spot on the bench.The Browns' defense could provide a tough test for the run-heavy Packers, as Cleveland ranks eighth in the NFL with 97.2 rushing yards allowed per game, while holding opponents to just 3.3 yards per attempt - the second best rate in the league.As a result, Hundley could be forced to pass more often than McCarthy would like, but he'd be doing so against a team ranked in the bottom five of several important defensive passing stats, including completion percentage, touchdowns, and passer rating.The final stretchHere's a look at what will lie before Rodgers if he's able to return for Week 15:OpponentRecordPPG AllowedPanthers8-418.8Vikings10-217.7Lions6-624.0The Vikings and Panthers will face each other next week, with a Panthers loss worsening their wild-card bid and sending them into the Week 15 matchup with the Packers on a two-game losing streak.With the Vikings in full control of the NFC North, there's the possibility they would rest some weary stars while avoiding the risk of disclosing too much of their game plan to the Packers ahead of any potential playoff meeting.Rodgers and the Packers are 16-8 in his final three games of a season over the past eight years, including last year's 6-0 record to finish the regular season.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Geno Smith was not shy about voicing his dislike for comments made by Rex Ryan leading up to the quarterback's start in place of Eli Manning on Sunday.The newest New York Giants starting quarterback lit into his former head coach with the New York Jets on Sunday. Ryan was baffled earlier in the week about the "bizarre" choice to start Smith in Manning's stead versus the Oakland Raiders.While Smith didn't have a great debut for the Giants - throwing for 212 yards in the 24-17 loss - he was very confident in his takedown of Ryan's comments."I did see one of my ex-coaches say he didn't want me to be his quarterback. That really upset me," Smith told reporters after the loss, according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. "I saved his job in 2013. We fought our ass for him both years. For him to say that shows how much of a coward he is."Smith confirmed Ryan, who works for ESPN as an NFL analyst, was the coach he was referring to. Smith helped the team to an 8-8 record as a rookie in 2013, winning three of the last four games of the season to help keep Ryan's job secured for one more season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marshawn Lynch is one of very few NFL players who can bring humor to any situation - even a drug test.After the Oakland Raiders runner rushed for a season-high 101 yards in Sunday's win, Lynch was requested to provide a urine sample for a drug test. However, a group of reporters were waiting to talk to Lynch at his locker so the candid veteran had to explain why he wouldn't be providing many quotes."I'm sorry, though, look," Lynch said as he showed reporters a notice for a random drug test, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. "It's either this, or that, and I can't afford that. I apologize."But if you do not understand what this is, it's when you put your ding-ding sauce out and give them a sample."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon made his much-anticipated return to football Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, showing flashes of brilliance in his first action since Dec. 21, 2014. Many speculated whether Gordon could return to his 2013 form when he led the NFL in receiving yards, and while he was impressive in a 19-10 loss, there's still work to be done.Gordon finished with four receptions for 85 yards on 11 targets, all team highs. It's clear the winless Browns have no plans to gradually work Gordon into the offense, instead letting him operate as the focal point with the season lost. Still, it was a promising debut, even as Gordon squared off against stellar competition.

The knee injury that forced Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor to exit Sunday's game vs. the New England Patriots isn't believed to be serious, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.The signal-caller was carted off the field in the 4th quarter and had a towel draped over his head, but "has told people close to him that he's going to be OK," according to Rapaport.Taylor completed 9-of-18 passes for 65 yards and one interception before leaving the game and being replaced by rookie Nathan Peterman.The Bills host the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday, but it remains unclear who will be under center.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fitting with another unpredictable season in the NFL world, some of the league's most laughed-at quarterbacks were the ones doing the chuckling this Sunday.While they may not be the most physically-gifted passers in football, these four signal-callers, who are typically the butt of the joke, did plenty more than just manage the game. But who had the best day?Blake BortlesComp.Att.YardsTDsINTsRush YdsRush TDs263530920270For the second time this season, Bortles topped 300 yards against the Colts' defense, the only team he's done that to in 2017, leading his team to a convincing 30-10 victory over their division rival.The Jaguars had to lean on Bortles as the run game was not as potent as usual, averaging 3.6 yards per carry on 27 attempts with only one score. Bortles avoided his usual trend of turning the ball over, instead completing 74.3 percent of his passes - his highest mark in the last two seasons.Josh McCownComp.Att.YardsTDsINTsRush YdsRush TDs263633110192McCown has somehow kept the Jets in the playoff hunt through 13 weeks thanks to a gutty performance in Sunday's 39-31 shootout win over the Chiefs.The journeyman pivot led scoring drives for the Jets on every second half possession - aside from a final kneel down - to keep pace with a surging Chiefs offense. McCown spread the ball to six different pass catchers, with two topping 100 yards, while calling his own number twice on one-yard scoring runs.Tom SavageComp.Att.YardsTDsINTsRush YdsRush TDs314936511-10Savage couldn't get his team the win they needed to keep pace in a lowly AFC wildcard race, though he did have his first career 300-yard passing game.The third-year pro found nine different receivers in the losing effort, including second-year tight end Stephen Anderson who caught his first career touchdown.Alex SmithComp.Att.YardsTDsINTsRush YdsRush TDs193336640700Smith does not appreciate having his skills diminished by fans and media. After a week of columnists calling for rookie Pat Mahomes to see playing time, Smith was back to the form that had him in MVP conversations early in the season.The veteran quarterback started the game hot, hitting Travis Kelce for a a pair of touchdowns - a 22-yard score, followed by a 36-yard connection - on the opening two drives. Smith needed just one rush attempt to lead the game in yards on the ground, scrambling for 70 yards in the second quarter.Smith came just two yards shy of his season-high set in Week 1, though with the Chiefs dropping their fourth straight, the quarterback's performance won't be considered as good as the opening-night win.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Larry Fitzgerald continued his climb up the career receiving yards list on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, surpassing Isaac Bruce's mark of 15,208 yards to move into fourth all time. Fitzgerald finished the game with 15,267 career yards, racking up 98 yards on 10 catches in the loss.The Arizona Cardinals veteran also became the third player ever to record 1,200 career catches, joining Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Tony Gonzalez. He was the fastest to do so, reaching the mark nine games earlier than Rice did.Fitzgerald, who's leading Arizona's passing attack at age 34, has moved quickly up the list this season after beginning in the 10th spot. The 14th-year pro is also likely to pass Randy Moss (15,292) for third place all time next week as he sits just 25 yards back.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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Rob Gronkowski regretted taking a late shot at Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White after Sunday's win, though he was not over his frustrations with the officiating that partially led to his actions.After apologizing for the hit, the New England Patriots star called penalties levied against him and non-called fouls on him by defenders "crazy" following the game.

Baltimore Ravens top cornerback Jimmy Smith tore his Achilles in Sunday's 44-20 win over the Detroit Lions and is out for the season, head coach John Harbaugh announced after the game, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Smith was enjoying perhaps the best season of his career, recording three interceptions, nine pass deflections, and 26 tackles.The Ravens will be left with veteran Brandon Carr, rookie Marlon Humphrey, and second-year defender Maurice Canady at cornerback as they push to make the playoffs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

CHICAGO (AP) Robbie Gould kicked a 24-yard field goal in the closing seconds, Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 293 yards in his first San Francisco start, and the 49ers beat the Chicago Bears 15-14 on Sunday.Gould made five field goals in his first appearance at Soldier Field since Chicago cut him prior to the 2016 opener. The Bears' all-time leader in points and field goals made, he shouted at their sideline after he nailed the winner.Garoppolo was solid in his first start since the 49ers (2-10) acquired him from New England before the trade deadline in October. The suburban Chicago product completed 26 of 37 passes with an interception. And the 49ers picked up the win after losing their first five road games.Chicago (3-9) dropped its fifth straight, and coach John Fox fell to 12-32 in three seasons with the Bears.Mitchell Trubisky was 12 of 15 for 102 yards and a touchdown.Tarik Cohen returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown. That made him the first NFL rookie with rushing, receiving, passing and punt return TDs in a season since Gale Sayers in 1965The 49ers were trailing 14-12 when Garoppolo connected with Trent Taylor on third down for a 33-yard pass to the Chicago 18 with two minutes left. Kyle Juszczyk kept the drive going with a 3-yard run on third-and-2 at the 10.Garoppolo threw for 172 yards in the first half. But the 49ers committed six penalties and headed to the locker room trailing 14-9.The Bears grabbed a 7-3 lead in the closing seconds of the first quarter when Trubisky hit Dontrelle Inman in the back of the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown. Kyle Fuller set that up when he ripped the ball out of Louis Murphy's hands for an interception at the Chicago 41.Cohen made it 14-6 in the second quarter with his big punt return, racing to the end zone after he initially ran about 15 yards in the wrong direction.INJURIES49ers: Starting RT Trent Brown (shoulder) was active after being listed as questionable. S Adrian Colbert also was available after missing last week's 24-13 loss to Seattle following thumb surgery.Bears: LB Pernell McPhee suffered a shoulder injury on the game's opening drive. ... DE Mitch Unrein (knee) was hurt in the second quarter. ... RG Kyle Long (shoulder) sat out the second half. ... LG Josh Sitton was active after being listed as questionable because of a concussion. ... S Adrian Amos (hamstring) and his backup Deon Bush (ankle) were inactive.UP NEXT49ers: Visit Houston on Dec. 10.Bears: Visit Cincinnati on Dec. 10.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford underwent X-rays on his throwing hand which came back negative, head coach Jim Caldwell confirmed post-game.Caldwell verified Stafford suffered a bruise and X-rays revealed he didn't fracture his hand.Stafford was deemed questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens with a right hand injury after being taken to the ground upon throwing an interception.

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor was carted to the locker room and declared out for the game with a knee injury Sunday against the New England Patriots.He was replaced by rookie Nathan Peterman, who sees for his first game action since being pulled from a five-interception effort in Week 11.Head coach Sean McDermott told media after the game that Taylor injured his knee on the first play of the game and the team discussed taking him out earlier, but the quarterback insisted on staying in. The Bills trailed 23-3 in the fourth quarter when Taylor exited.The veteran passer completed 9-of-18 passes for 65 yards with one interception and 32 rushing yards on three carries.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore surpassed LaDainian Tomlinson's mark of 13,684 yards to move into fifth in all-time rushing on a 16-yard run in the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Gore entered the game seventh on the list with 13,636 yards, surpassing Jerome Bettis' career total of 13,662 before Tomlinson's.The 34-year-old notched 11,073 of his yards with the San Francisco 49ers through the first 10 years of his career, setting a franchise record, before joining the Colts in 2015.Next on the list is Curtis Martin at 14,101 yards, though Gore will likely need to wait until the 2018 season to catch him.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens corner Jimmy Smith was carried off the field in the second quarter Sunday against the Detroit Lions with an Achilles injury and has been ruled out for the rest of the game.Smith started all 11 games and recorded three picks and nine passes defensed this season.It would be a significant loss for the Ravens as they fight for a playoff spot with five weeks remaining in the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.