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.
December 17, 2023 6:34 am
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Mike Tomlin is tired of losing. The Pittsburgh Steelers dropped their third straight, 30-13 at Indianapolis on Saturday. And the Steelers’ longtime coach is promising changes, while not saying exactly what they might be. It looks like the Steelers will have a new starting quarterback next week, whether Kenny Pickett returns from an ankle sprain or not. Mitch Trubisky was benched late in the loss to the Colts and replaced by Mason Rudolph. The Steelers are averaging 15.9 points per game and they’re now in last place in the AFC North at 7-7.
December 17, 2023 6:41 am
Two people familiar with the league’s decision told The Associated Press the NFL has banned Eagles security chief Dom DiSandro from being on the sideline for the remainder of the regular season after he was ejected from a game for a scuffle with 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw. One of the people said Saturday that DiSandro is still allowed to travel with the team and perform all other work duties but he is not permitted on the sideline while the league is continuing its investigation. Both people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the league hasn’t announced its decision, said DiSandro can return to the sideline for the playoffs.
December 16, 2023 3:44 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rowdy Tellez and the Pirates finalized their $3.2 million, one-year contract as Pittsburgh also acquired outfielder Edward Olivares from the Kansas City Royals for minor league outfielder Deivis Nadal. Tellez, a first baseman and designated hitter, can earn $800,000 in performance bonuses as part of the deal. Olivares, 27, hit .263 with 12 homers and 36 RBIs last season. He has a .261 average with 24 homers and 73 RBIs in parts of four seasons with San Diego and the Royals.
December 16, 2023 3:56 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Billy McKinney was traded from the Yankees to the Pittsburgh Pirates for $500,000 in 2023 international signing bonus pool allocation, six days after the outfielder agreed to a minor league contract with New York. New York had an excess of outfielders after acquiring Juan Soto from San Diego and Alex Verdugo from Boston last week. McKinney, 29, hit .227 with six homers and 14 RBIs in 48 games this season with the Yankees and batted .274 with nine homers and 25 RBIs in 40 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
December 16, 2023 4:01 am
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods jokingly refers to the PNC Championship as his fifth major. Maybe he’s not joking. It’s a chance to play a 36-hole tournament with his 14-year-old son Charlie. They’re part of the 20 teams of major champions and family members. They finished runner-up two years ago. Charlie is big enough now and hits it far enough that he’s been moved back to the same tees Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk are using. Justin Thomas jokes that Charlie is leading the tournament in inches grown. Woods chose to walk during the pro-am. He says it makes his back feel better.
December 15, 2023 4:58 am
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Harper Murray had 13 kills, Bekka Alllick had 10 blocks and Nebraska continued its relentless march to an NCAA volleyball championship with a 3-0 sweep of Pittsburgh in the semifinals. Nebraska advanced to its 11th championship match and will go for its sixth title on Sunday. The Huskers won 25-20, 25-23 and 25-7. Pitt, which had 22 attacking errors, lost the first set on an attack error, lost the second with a service error and the third on a net violation. Pitt’s only leads were 1-0, 3-2 and 4-2 in the first set. The Cornhuskers set the tone with eight blocks in the first set and hit .407 in the third to improved to 15-0 against Pitt. The last meeting was in the 2021 semifinals, won by Nebraska 3-1. Olivia Babcock had 12 kills and Torrey Stafford had 10 for Pitt.
December 15, 2023 4:38 am
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Four days after losing 3-0, the Las Vegas Raiders set a franchise scoring record with a 63-21 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The Raiders scored 42 points by halftime. They didn’t let the Chargers cross midfield until the third quarter. It was the most points for the Raiders, beating out their 59-14 victory at Denver in 2010. The Raiders led 42-0 at halftime, just three points shy of the NFL record for halftime margin that was set in 2009 when the New England led Tennessee 45-0. The halftime deficit was the biggest in Chargers history.
December 15, 2023 4:43 am
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Joe Flacco’s officially signed and sealed with Cleveland. Flacco got a one-year, $4.05 million contract from the Browns, who brought in the veteran quarterback last month while in emergency mode after losing starter Deshaun Watson for the season with a right shoulder injury. Flacco’s deal means the 38-year-old moves from the practice squad to the active roster. And while it was more procedural than anything, it assures he’ll be with the Browns as they try to clinch a playoff spot. The team elevated Flacco from the practice squad in each of the past two weeks for starts.
