Colts QB Anthony Richardson ruled out for the game with a concussion against Texans

HOUSTON (AP) — Indianapolis quarterback Anthony Richardson sustained a concussion Sunday against the Houston Texans.

Richardson was taken to the locker room early in the second quarter to be evaluated and the team later announced that he was out with a concussion.

Richardson ran for two touchdowns in the first quarter to help the Colts build a 14-7 lead. He went to the medical tent after a drive to start the second quarter and was soon escorted to the locker room.

It was unclear when he was injured, but he left after a series where he didn’t appear to take any big hits.

Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the draft, was 6 of 10 for 56 yards passing. His touchdown runs were for 18 and 15 yards.

He was replaced by Gardner Minshew.

-Associated Press

NFL: Watson unimpressive as Browns down Texans, Eagles and Bengals win

LOS ANGELES -- Deshaun Watson was less than impressive in his return from an NFL suspension Sunday, but Cleveland's defensive dominance saw him win his Browns debut 27-14 over the Houston Texans.

With playoff races heating up around the league, there was little riding on the contest in Houston.

But the first game in almost two years for quarterback Watson -- who was suspended for 11 games after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions -- put the game in the spotlight.

Watson had already missed all of the 2021 season for the Texans before the Browns controversially acquired him.

On Sunday he was booed by Houston fans on every snap and clearly showed the effects of his time off.

"I'll just say I felt every one of those 700 days," said Watson after the Browns offense generated just six points -- on field goals from Cade York.

Donovan Peoples-Jones took a punt return 76 yards for a Cleveland touchdown, cornerback Denzel Ward had a four-yard fumble return for a touchdown, and linebacker Tony Fields returned an interception 16 yards for a TD to make up for the Browns' lack of offensive production.

Elsewhere, Philadelphia inched closer to a playoff berth with a 35-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans that took their league-best record to 11-1.

The Cincinnati Bengals again got the better of Kansas City, beating the Chiefs 27-24, and the San Francisco 49ers shook off the early injury departure of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to beat the Miami Dolphins 33-17.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, exiting the field to chants of "M-V-P!"

Philadelphia wide receiver AJ Brown torched his former team with a game-high eight catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

"This one meant a lot to me," Brown acknowledged. "Early on, I had mixed emotions about the trade and everything, and I'd be lying to you to say I didn't circle this game."

In Cincinnati, the Bengals beat the Chiefs in a rematch of last season's AFC Championship game.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 16 of 27 passes for 233 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

Bengals counterpart Joe Burrow completed 25 of 31 passes for 286 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the back and forth battle.

Despite the defeat, the Chiefs remain in position to challenge Buffalo for the top seed in the AFC, both teams now at 9-3.

With Garoppolo sidelined early, the 49ers defense came through and contained the potentially explosive Dolphins offense.

Miami opened the game with a 75-yard touchdown by Trent Sherfield on their first play from scrimmage, but struggled to move the ball from there.

San Francisco didn't allow a third-down conversion in the game, the Dolphins mustering just 14 first downs.

Rookie Brock Purdy came in for Garoppolo and threw two touchdown passes as the Niners snapped Miami's five-game winning streak.

The Minnesota Vikings produced more last-minute magic, sealing a 27-22 victory over the New York Jets on Camryn Bynum's fourth-down goal line interception of Jets quarterback Mike White.

The Vikings' 10th win of the season means they'll have a chance to clinch the NFC North title with a win at Detroit next week.

Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins connected on 21 of 35 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown to Justin Jefferson with 8:33 to play that proved enough to win the game.

- Packers rally past Bears -

AFC North leaders Baltimore saw quarterback Lamar Jackson limp off with a knee injury in the first quarter, but with backup Tyler Huntley at the helm edged the Denver Broncos 10-9.

Huntley capped a 91-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run with 28 seconds remaining to seize the win, and in more good news after the game the Ravens announced that the injury to Jackson, the 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player, was not expected to end his season.

In Chicago, banged-up Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers extended his dominance of the Bears, rallying the Packers to a milestone 28-19 victory.

Rodgers' 25th career win over the Bears was the Packers 787th regular-season triumph -- moving them past the Bears to the top of the NFL's all-time list.

The Bears had held sway as the league's winningest team for more than 100 games.

Agence France-Presse

Texans, Bears close facilities after new NFL Covid-19 positives

The NFL's Houston Texans and Chicago Bears shut down their practice facilities Thursday after each team had a player test positive for Covid-19.

The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts each announced a staff member had tested positive, with the Chiefs closing their facility after a workout and later placing defensive tackle Chris Jones on the Covid-19 reserve list, reportedly because he had close contact with someone who tested positive.

The Texans placed linebacker Jacob Martin on the Covid-19 reserve list and he is self-isolating while linebackers Whitney Mercilus and Dylan Cole were identified as high-risk close contacts, also sidelining them for Sunday's game at Jacksonville.

"We were informed last night that a Texans player has tested positive for COVID-19," the Texans said in a statement.

"In consultation with the NFL and medical experts, we have made the decision to close the facility and conduct all operations virtually."

The Bears, who visit Tennessee on Sunday, placed two players on the Covid-19 reserve list Tuesday and on Thursday "were notified that another Bears player has tested positive."

Bears practice was called off and meetings were conducted virtually while the player involved went into self-isolation as contract tracing was completed.

The Chiefs closed their facility after a workout, conducting meetings virtually.

"We'll continue to monitor the situation and take any appropriate action necessary to protect the team and those around us," said the Chiefs, who play host to Carolina on Sunday.

NFL Network reported that the staff member who tested positive was head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder.

The Colts, who are at home to Baltimore on Sunday, announced a staffer positive and conducted meetings online but opted to conduct practice as scheduled.

"The team is in the process of contact tracing and has entered the NFL's intensive protocol," a Colts statement said. "The individual has self-quarantined and is under the care of team doctors."

Agence France-Presse

NFL: Niners stop Rams to stay unbeaten, Texans rally to beat Chiefs

LOS ANGELES -- The San Francisco 49ers remained unbeaten behind a stifling defensive display on Sunday, shutting down the rival Los Angeles Rams with a convincing 20-7 victory in Los Angeles. 

Running back Tevin Coleman and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo scored touchdowns, and Robbie Gould booted a pair of field goals as the 49ers scored the game's final 20 points to improve to 5-0 on the NFL season. It is their first time they have won five straight to start the season since 1990. 

Robert Woods ran for the lone Los Angeles touchdown in the first quarter as the Rams lost their third straight game and dropped to 3-3 overall.

The Rams offence mustered just 165 total yards in front of a crowd of 76,700 at Memorial Coliseum. 

After the Rams had scored on their opening possession, the 49ers answered with a two-yard score by Coleman late in the first quarter.

Garoppolo scored on a one yard plunge early in the third for a 14-7 lead. Garopplolo also passed for 243 yards.

Gould's field goals were from 25 yards and 34 yards in the fourth for the margin of victory.

Elsewhere, the Houston Texans spoiled Tyreek Hill's return for Kansas City, rallying with 20 unanswered points to hand the Chiefs their second straight NFL defeat, 31-24 at Arrowhead Stadium.

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson threw for 280 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more TDs, getting the better of opposite number Patrick Mahomes in a clash of the league's top young quarterbacks.

Star receiver Hill returned for the Chiefs after being sidelined with a shoulder injury since the season-opener and made a quick impact with a spectacular touchdown catch in the first quarter.

He finished with five catches for 80 yards and two TDs, but it wasn't enough to keep the Texans at bay.

Houston's Carlos Hyde rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown against his former team and DeAndre Hopkins' nine catches for 55 yards included one within the last two minutes that let the Texans hang onto the ball and run out the clock.

Mahomes finished with 273 passing yards and three touchdowns, but also threw his first interception of the season.

In Baltimore, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson finished with almost 400 yards of total offense in a 23-17 victory over the winless Cincinnati Bengals.

Jackson connected on 21 of 33 passes for 236 yards and rushed for a career-high 152 yards -- fourth-most by a quarterback in NFL history -- as the Ravens improved to 4-2.

"It's cool, I guess," Jackson said when he learned that he was the first player in the Super Bowl era to produce more than 200 yards passing and 150 yards rushing in a regular-season game.

- Panthers pounce -

The Carolina Panthers pounced for a 37-26 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to get the day started in London.

Christian McCaffrey scored two touchdowns and the Panthers parlayed five interceptions from Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston into 17 points on the way to a fourth straight victory.

The Panthers have bounced back from back-to-back defeats to open the season.

Kyle Allen has since stepped in for injured quarterback Cam Newton, but McCaffrey said it was the support of the "unbelievable" Panthers defense that made the difference at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

"I felt like every single time they were on offense our defense had a chance to get a turnover or a sack," he said.

It was an emotional day for Panthers defensive end Efe Obada, who was born in Nigeria but arrived as a 10-year-old in England where he ended up fending for himself on the streets of London.

He was made an honorary captain for the game.

"I had family in the stands which I loved," Obada said. "Most of them don't even understand what I'm doing, but they believe in me and have supported me for years.

"For me to be in London and just showing them, it was really special."

Elsewhere, the Seattle Seahawks rallied for a 32-28 victory over the Browns in Cleveland to improve to 5-1 for the first time since 2013.

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score as the Seahawks roared back after surrendering touchdowns on Cleveland's first three possessions.

In Minneapolis, Kirk Cousins connected on four touchdown passes -- three to Stefon Diggs -- as the Vikings soared past the Eagles 38-20.

In New Jersey, Sam Darnold threw two touchdown passes in his return from mononucleosis, and New York held on to beat the Dallas Cowboys 24-22 for the Jets' first win of the season.

In a battle of bottom-dwellers, Washington edged Miami 17-16.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Resurgent Rams roll on, Cowboys stall

LOS ANGELES -- Jared Goff threw for three touchdowns as the resurgent Los Angeles Rams overpowered the Houston Texans to maintain their push towards the postseason on Sunday.

Rams quarterback Goff amassed a career-high 355 passing yards as the league's most potent offense took their time before pulling away for a 33-7 win at the Memorial Coliseum.

The victory was the latest stop on a season of renaissance for the Rams, who are now 7-2 at the top of the NFC West after finishing last year at 4-12.

A tight first half saw the Rams held to a 9-7 lead with Bruce Ellington scoring a touchdown for the Texans.

However the Rams cut loose in a dazzling third quarter, with Goff hurling a 94-yard touchdown pass to Robert Woods from inside the Los Angeles end zone to launch a 21-point scoring blitz.

Goff then picked out Sammy Watkins for a 17-yard touchdown before hitting Woods once more for a 12-yard score.


The victory keeps Los Angeles on course to reach the postseason for the first time since 2004.

Elsewhere on Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys lost further ground on NFC East pace-setters the Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) after slipping to a 27-7 loss against the Atlanta Falcons in Georgia.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott rushed for a first quarter touchdown to give Dallas the lead but ultimately suffered a miserable day, being sacked eight times.

Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn was responsible for six sacks as the Cowboys offense, missing the suspended Ezekiel Elliott, failed to fire.

Dallas are now 5-4 in the NFC East, making it increasingly likely their best hope of reaching the playoffs is going to be via a wildcard slot.

In early games Sunday, Chris Boswell drilled a last-second field goal to give the Pittsburgh Steelers a comeback 20-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

The victory saw the Steelers move to 7-2 at the top of the AFC North.

It was the final act of a second-half revival by the Steelers, who had trailed 17-3 in the third quarter before rallying to overturn the deficit.

"We were tested, and tested in a lot of ways," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. "Game circumstances kind of do that to you, but the guys didn't blink with it. They are to be given credit for that.

"Guys delivered in critical moments."

Elsewhere Sunday, Minnesota improved to 7-2 at the top of the NFC North with a 38-30 victory in Washington.

Vikings quarterback Case Keenum threw a career-high four touchdown passes while Adam Thielen amassed 166 receiving yards to help set up the win.

New Orleans meanwhile cemented their status as one of the form teams of the NFC after clinching a seventh consecutive victory in a 47-10 rout of the Buffalo Bills.

Running back Mark Ingram II rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns as the Saints, unbeaten since losing their opening two games of the season, improved to 7-2 to lead the NFC South at New Era Field.

Rookie Alvin Kamara also rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown while another rookie Trey Edmunds had a 41-yard gallop to score in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Drew Brees also rushed for a touchdown as Buffalo slumped to their heaviest home defeat since 2007.

In San Francisco, the 49ers finally got off the mark, winning their first game of the season with a 31-21 defeat of the hapless New York Giants (1-8).

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Brady magic rescues Patriots, Falcons march on

LOS ANGELES -- Tom Brady conjured a last-gasp Houdini act to save the New England Patriots in a thrilling win over the Houston Texans on Sunday as the Atlanta Falcons preserved their unbeaten record.

With events off the field dominating a dramatic day that saw widespread player protests, Brady once again laid on a masterclass to throw for five touchdowns in a 36-33 victory at Gillette Stadium.


The crowning moment of a 378-yard passing display by the 40-year-old Brady came with the Patriots trailing 28-33 with just over two minutes remaining.

An eight-play 75-yard drive ended with Brady hitting receiver Brandin Cooks with a 25-yard pass into the end zone for the game-winning score.

The nerve-jangling finale capped an extraordinary game which had seen sections of the Patriots crowd boo several of the team's own players after they opted to kneel during the playing of the national anthem before kick-off.

Brady had stood with his arms interlocked in solidarity with his team-mates during the solemn anthem rendition.

It was just one of several large protests by players across the league on Sunday following remarks by US President Donald Trump. Trump had enraged NFL stars and team owners on Friday by describing players who protest during the anthem as "sons of bitches" who should be fired.

- Falcons soar -

The Patriots win helped New England move to 2-1 in the AFC East, putting them level with the Buffalo Bills who lead on points difference.

The Bills pulled off an upset win over the unbeaten Denver Broncos, winning 26-16. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor threw for two touchdowns and 213 yards to spark the Bills.

But it was an unhappy afternoon for Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian, who failed to throw for any touchdowns and was twice picked off for costly interceptions.

Denver were one of seven previously unbeaten teams to taste defeat in early games on Sunday.

In Detroit, Matt Ryan threw for two touchdowns as the Atlanta Falcons won the battle of the unbeatens with a hard-fought 30-26 victory over the Lions.

Ryan, desperate to atone this season after last year's Super Bowl collapse, made 24 completions from 35 passing attempts to finish with 294 yards at Ford Field.

The win leaves Atlanta with a perfect 3-0 record at the top of the NFC South while Detroit fell to 1-2 after the loss.

Matthew Stafford finished with 264 passing yards but was crucially unable to mount a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter as the Lions sought to overturn a four-point deficit.

The Carolina Panthers meanwhile saw their unbeaten start to the season end with an emphatic 34-13 loss to the previously winless New Orleans Saints.

Saints veteran quarterback Drew Brees shredded the vaunted Panthers defense with three touchdown passes for 220 yards.

Meanwhile in the day's early game at Wembley Stadium in London, Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles dismantled the Baltimore Ravens en route to a 44-7 win.

Bortles threw for four touchdowns as Jacksonville improved to 2-1.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco meanwhile had a nightmare day, making just eight of 18 pass attempts for 28 yards with two interceptions.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh vowed the team would bounce back in time for next week's divisional battle with Pittsburgh.

"One game or one loss doesn't define you," Harbaugh said.

"It's how you respond that defines you. ... We got outplayed. We have to move on and find a way to play better next week."

Pittsburgh meanwhile have their own problems after sliding to a 23-17 overtime loss against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday.

The Steelers, who opted to remain in their dressing room during the national anthems before kick-off, were sunk by Jordan Howard's 19-yard walkoff touchdown.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NFL: Patriots topple Texans, Falcons outgun Seahawks

LOS ANGELES -- The New England Patriots advanced to the AFC title game for a record sixth straight time as Dion Lewis scored touchdowns three different ways in a 34-16 win over the Houston Texans on Saturday.

Lewis became the first player in National Football League history to score on a kickoff return, pass and run in a playoff game to help set up a conference title showdown against either the Kansas City Chiefs or the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"You gotta give these guys a lot of credit. We didn't play particularly well but we hung in there and ended up making enough plays to win," said coach Bill Belichick.

In the other playoff game Saturday, Matt Ryan carried high-powered Atlanta to the NFC title game as the Falcons defeated the Seattle Seahawks 36-20.

Lewis scored on a 98-yard kickoff return, caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady and ran for a one-yard touchdown in the final quarter.

Lewis's kickoff return score was the first in Patriot's playoff history. He was also guilty of fumbling away a kickoff, leading to a Houston touchdown, and he fumbled on a running play in the fourth quarter.

The only other players to score on a kickoff return, run and pass are Chicago Bear's legend Gale Sayers (1965) and Kansas City's Tyreek Hill, who did it earlier this season.

Brady finished 18-of-38 for 287 yards with two interceptions, for the Patriots who are seeking their fifth Super Bowl championship in franchise history.

Brady said the games are going to get more difficult going forward.

"We got to learn from this game," he said. "This team did a good job playing against us. You add our poor execution and the interceptions on top of that.

"It doesn't feel great because we worked pretty hard to play a lot better than we played. We got to fix some of the things we saw tonight and play better next week."

Julian Edelman caught eight passes for 137 yards.

Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler finished 23-of-40 for 198 yards and had a touchdown pass to C.J. Fiedorowicz.

In Atlanta, Ryan led the offense by throwing for three touchdowns as the Falcons outgunned the Seahawks.

Ryan has now won both his playoff games against the Seahawks but is winless in four postseason starts against other NFL teams.

He completed 25-of-36 passes for 334 yards and went without an interception for the fifth straight game while engineering drives that produced points on five of the team's first six possessions at the Georgia Dome stadium.

- Ryan leads aerial attack -

"He was on it like he has been all year," Falcons coach Dan Quinn said of his quarterback.

The Falcons, who had lost 26-24 at Seattle in the regular season, will play either Dallas or Green Bay on January 22 for a berth in the Super Bowl.

Saturday's win earned the Falcons their fourth NFC Championship game in franchise history and equaled a second round win over Seattle in 2012 that served as Ryan's only previous postseason win.

Julio Jones caught six passes for 67 yards and a touchdown before sitting out most of the fourth quarter after re-injuring his foot.

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson completed 17-of-30 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked three times and intercepted twice.

Seattle was unable to run the ball against the Falcons as Thomas Rawls rushed for just 34 yards after gaining 161 against Detroit a week earlier.

"They do a lot of things well," Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman said of a Falcons offense. "The quarterback gets the ball out quick and he doesn't turn it over. That will do it."

Ryan's three-yard touchdown pass to Mohamed Sanu clinched the victory with less than four minutes remaining.

Wilson was intercepted by Deion Jones and the Falcons took a knee at the one-yard line to run out the clock and end the contest.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Texans rip Raiders to advance in playoff opener

WASHINGTON -- Brock Osweiler threw for one touchdown and ran for another Saturday to spark the Houston Texans over the Oakland Raiders 27-14 in the opening game of the NFL playoffs.

Houston advanced to a second-round American Conference matchup next weekend at either New England or Kansas City, the exact opponent and date to be determined by the result of Sunday's Pittsburgh-Miami game.

The Detroit Lions were set to face the Seahawks in Seattle in a National Conference first-round playoff game later Saturday, the winner to meet either Dallas or Atlanta next weekend.

The Raiders, who managed their first winning campaign since 2002, were in their first playoff game since losing to Tampa Bay in that season's Super Bowl.


Oakland rookie Connor Cook became the first quarterback to make his first NFL start in a playoff game, forced into the role after star Derek Carr suffered a broken leg and replacement Matt McGloin suffered a shoulder injury.

The Texans, who hadn't won a playoff game in four years, had the fewest total season points of any playoff team since 2005, but their top-rated defensive unit was good enough to put them in the playoffs and provided an early spark after Houston's Nick Novak kicked a 50-yard field goal to open the scoring.

On Oakland's next possession, Houston's Jadeveon Clowney made his first NFL interception, tipping the ball twice before finally picking off a Cook pass and setting up the Texans at the Raiders 4-yard line.

On the next play, Lamar Miller ran around left end for a touchdown and Houston seized a 10-0 lead just 8:42 into the game.

The Raiders, who beat Houston 27-20 in a regular-season meeting, answered on a 2-yard touchdown run by Latavius Murray but Novak added a 38-yard field goal to put the Texans ahead 13-7.

- Solid second half -

Osweiler, who had been demoted but returned last week when replacement quarterback Tom Savage suffered a concussion, connected with DeAndre Hopkins on a 2-yard touchdown pass with 80 seconds remaining in the second quarter to give the Texans a 20-7 half-time lead.

Houston entered the game 18-0 over the past three seasons when leading at half-time, 5-0 in the 2016 campaign, and stayed perfect with a solid second half.

What would have been a punt return touchdown for Houston late in the third quarter was wiped out by a penalty for running into the kicker against the Texans' Whitney Mercilus.

But Houston eventually did take possession near midfield and drive into the end zone, a 17-yard pass interference penalty against Oakland cornerback David Amerson setting up Osweiler's 1-yard touchdown run around right end.

The Raiders, who went 0-for-10 on third down conversion attempts over the first three quarters, responded with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown march, with Cook flipping an 8-yard scoring pass to Andre Holmes and Oakland pulling within 27-14 with 8:10 remaining.

The Raiders had the ball twice more but each possession ended with Cook throwing an interception, pickoffs by Corey Moore and A.J. Bouye ending Oakland's final hope and keeping Houston in contention to become the first team to play a Super Bowl in their own home stadium.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Arian Foster - dealing with a Hamstring Injury

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster is dealing with a hamstring injury he re-aggravated in preseason Week 3.

Arian Foster posted a photo of an MRI of his hamstring on Twitter and bringing up questions about his actual condition.

He tweeted: "This is an MRI of my hamstring," Foster tweeted Wednesday. "The white stuff surrounding the muscle is known in the medical world as anti-awesomeness."

"It does look like it’s going to be a 3-4 week injury," ESPN analyst John Clayton said. "The pictures don’t lie."

However, Arian foster assured Houston Texans fans and fantasy football enthusiast that his injury was not serious.

Arian Foster should be ready for week 1 against the Colts.