December 20, 2023 4:39 am
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — It can happen almost overnight: a backup quarterback goes from holding a clipboard to being thrust into action. Backups are on display all around the NFL right now after a flurry of starters have gone down for the season with injuries and teams have needed help to keep their postseason hopes alive. At the end of Week 15, 18 teams had started quarterbacks who weren’t their first-string passers on opening day; 56 different quarterbacks have started an NFL game this season. And as starters continue going down, the value of backups keeps rising.
December 19, 2023 4:40 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sidney Crosby’s 18th goal of the season broke a third-period tie and the Pittsburgh Penguins edged the Minnesota Wild 4-3. The Penguins blew a three-goal lead but recovered to win for the third time in four games. Crosby added an assist to move past Mark Recchi and into 13th all alone on the NHL’s all-time scoring list with 1,535 points. Jake Guentzel scored his 14th goal for the Penguins. Ryan Hartman, Jake Middleton and Vinni Lettieri scored for the Wild, who rallied from down 3-0 to briefly tie it before Crosby put the Penguins ahead to stay.
December 19, 2023 4:45 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have added another veteran left-hander to fill out their starting rotation, agreeing to terms with Martín Pérez. A person with knowledge of the agreement tells the Associated Press the deal is for one year and worth $8 million. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract is not finalized pending the completion of a physical. Pérez won a World Series with Texas in November. He is the second left-handed starter to join Pittsburgh in recent weeks. The Pirates acquired Marco Gonzales from Atlanta on Dec. 5.
December 19, 2023 4:42 am
SEATTLE (AP) — Drew Lock threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 28 seconds left to cap a 92-yard drive, and the Seattle Seahawks stunned the Philadelphia Eagles 20-17, ending a four-game skid and getting back into NFC playoff contention. Seattle rallied behind its backup quarterback, who moved the team the length of the field for its longest touchdown drive this season and found the Seahawks’ rookie first-round pick for the biggest catch of his young career. Philadelphia had one last chance, but Julian Love made his second interception of the fourth quarter, picking off Jalen Hurts’ deep pass. The Eagles dropped their third straight game.
December 18, 2023 4:48 am
PITTSBURGH — (WPXI) – A player released from the Steelers practice squad earlier Sunday is facing charges for simple assault. Tariq Carpenter, 24, was arrested after a domestic incident in Pittsburgh on Sunday morning. According to Pittsburgh police, officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of Fifth Avenue just after 8 a.m. The victim told police she was thrown to the ground and held against her will. Police identified the suspect as Carpenter and he was arrested at the scene. Later Sunday morning, the Steelers announced Carpenter had been released from the practice squad. It’s not clear if the arrest is the reason for his release. Carpenter is now in the Allegheny County Jail.
December 18, 2023 4:40 am
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Lamar Jackson threw a touchdown pass and made the play of night when he avoided a sack and threw to Isaiah Likely near the goal line, and the Baltimore Ravens clinched a postseason berth with a 23-7 victory at Jacksonville. The Ravens won their fourth in a row and moved a step closer to securing the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. The Jaguars lost their third straight — all against AFC North teams — and are now tied with Houston and Indianapolis atop the AFC South. Self-inflicted mistakes were a common thread in Jacksonville’s skid.
December 18, 2023 4:45 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — Joe Flacco passed for 374 yards and led Cleveland to 13 points in the fourth quarter, and the Browns withstood a Hail Mary on the final play to beat the Chicago Bears 20-17. Dustin Hopkins kicked a 34-yard field goal with 32 seconds left to put the Browns ahead. Flacco was intercepted three times but made some brilliant throws in the closing minutes, including two passes to David Njoku for 65 yards to set up Hopkins’ kick. Bears receiver Darnell Mooney got his hands on a heave to the end zone by Justin Fields on the game’s final play, but he couldn’t hold on.
December 18, 2023 4:37 am
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is questionable for Monday night’s game at Seattle because of an illness, a person familiar with his status told The Associated Press on Sunday. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the injury report hasn’t been released yet, said Hurts will travel separately from the team. The Eagles have lost two straight games but would secure the NFC East title if they beat the Seahawks and win their final three games.
December 17, 2023 6:37 am
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gardner Minshew threw three touchdown passes and the Indianapolis Colts rushed for 170 yards, improving their playoff prospects with a 30-13 win over the sagging Pittsburgh Steelers. Minshew was 18 of 28 for 215 yards and matched his career high for TD passes while leading a Colts offense lacking its usual complement of playmakers. The Colts have won five of six to improve to 8-6 and temporarily moved a half-game ahead of three teams for the AFC’s seventh and final playoff spot. The Steelers dropped their third straight to fall to 7-7 and into last place in the rugged AFC North.
December 17, 2023 6:32 am
TORONTO (AP) — Martin Jones stopped 38 shots for his first shutout of the season, Max Domi had a goal and two assists, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-0. Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Matthew Knies each had a goal and an assist, and John Tavares, Noah Gregor and Bobby McMann also scored for the Maple Leafs. Tyler Bertuzzi had three assists to help Toronto extend its point streak to nine games (6-0-3). Jones, making his third appearance and second start this season, got his 29th career shutout as the Maple Leafs spoiled former general manager Kyle Dubas’ return to Toronto. Tristan Jarry was pulled early in the second period by Pittsburgh after giving up four goals on 14 shots. Alec Nedeljkovic came on and finished with 18 saves.
