December 27, 2020 3:58 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Indianapolis Colts are surging. The Pittsburgh Steelers are reeling. Still, both teams will have plenty at stake when they meet at Heinz Field. The Colts have won five of six games to move into the lead in the AFC South. The Steelers have lost three in a row since their 11-0 start. Indianapolis can clinch a playoff berth with a win and losses by either Baltimore or Miami. Pittsburgh can lock up the AFC North with a victory but will need its offense to get going. The Steelers are averaging just 16 points a game during their current skid.
December 27, 2020 7:44 am
LAS VEGAS (AP) — With a defender dragging him down by his facemask, Ryan Fitzpatrick still managed to launch the pass that might have saved the Miami Dolphins’ season. Just a little more FitzMagic. Fitzpatrick’s desperation heave to Mack Hollins set up Jason Sanders’ 44-yard field goal as the Dolphins drove the field in the final 19 seconds to move one step closer to a playoff berth with an improbable 26-25 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night. Fitzpatrick led three scoring drives in the fourth quarter for Miami (10-5) with the final one the most unlikely after the Raiders (7-8) bypassed a gimme touchdown for a field goal. The move to play for the field goal backfired as the Raiders lost on a kick instead. The Dolphins moved a half-game ahead of Baltimore in the AFC playoff race and can clinch a wild-card berth with a win next week at Buffalo.
December 26, 2020 4:00 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Alvin Kamara tied a 91-year-old NFL record while helping the New Orleans Saints wrap up their fourth consecutive NFC South title. Kamara ran for a career-high 155 yards and tied an NFL record with six rushing touchdowns as the Saints ripped the Vikings, 52-33. He equaled a single-game record for rushing TDs set by Hall of Fame fullback Ernie Nevers in 1929 for the Chicago Cardinals. Kamara sprinted for a 40-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive and added five more TDs inside the Minnesota 7. The 11-4 Saints never punted and set a record of yards gained in a game by a Vikings opponent with 583. Drew Brees completed 19 of 26 throws for 311 yards in his second game back from rib and lung injuries that had sidelined him for four games. It was the most points allowed by the Vikings since 1963.
December 26, 2020 3:41 am
The Pittsburgh Pirates are trading first baseman Josh Bell. A press release from the Pittsburgh Pirates states that Bell will be traded to the Washington Nationals for two right handed pitching prospects. The Pirates will receive Wil Crowe who made his major league debut with the Nationals in 2020 and Eddie Yean. The 26 year old Crowe is ranked as the Nationals’ third best prospect. Yean is 19 years old and is ranked as the Nationals’ eighth best prospect. Bell spent 5 seasons with the Pirates generating a .261 batting average, 86 home runs and 309 RBIs.
December 25, 2020 3:52 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he understands why his play is being criticized. Roethlisberger says he deserves it for the number of mistakes he’s made during Pittsburgh’s three-game losing streak. The 17-year veteran says the offense held a player’s only meeting over video conference in hopes of getting things right before the playoffs. After a torrid start to the season Roethlisberger has thrown for eight touchdowns against six interceptions over Pittsburgh’s last five games. Despite the team’s slide, the Steelers can still wrap up the AFC North title with a victory over Indianapolis.
December 24, 2020 7:38 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Rockets and Thunder were scheduled to play their NBA season opener Wednesday in Houston. But the game was postponed following coronavirus cases and James Harden’s violation of the NBA COVID-19 protocols, leaving the Rockets without the league-mandated eight players available. The NBA said three Rockets players had returned tests that were either positive or inconclusive and that four other players were quarantined because of contact tracing. The league also said that Harden was unavailable for the game because of a violation of health and safety protocols. Video surfaced on social media showing that Harden was without a mask at a crowded party in a private event space on Tuesday night. The league has fined the former MVP $50,000.
December 24, 2020 3:49 am
UNDATED (AP) – Georgia Southern and Memphis have ended their college football seasons with a bowl game victory. Shai Werts had three touchdown runs and threw a 65-yard scoring pass to help Georgia Southern beat Louisiana Tech 38-3 in the New Orleans Bowl. The Eagles came up with four interceptions, including two near its own goal line in the first quarter. Georgia Southern finished with 322 yards rushing against the Bulldogs after entering the game averaging 262. In the Montgomery Bowl, Brady White passed for 284 yards and three touchdowns to lead Memphis to a 25-10 victory over Florida Atlantic.
December 24, 2020 3:53 am
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Ayo Dosunmu scored 21 of his 30 points in the second half to lead No. 18 Illinois past Penn State 98-81. Kofi Cockburn added 23 points and Andre Curbelo had 15 points and eight assists for the Illini, who won their second straight at the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State opened up a 19-4 lead over the first five minutes. The Illini used the remainder of the half to claw back, tying the game at 43 at halftime. Illinois took over midway through the second half. Myreon Jones and Izaiah Brockington scored 21 points apiece for Penn State.
December 24, 2020 3:50 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Tampa Bay Lightning could be without one of their top snipers until next fall. Winger Nikita Kucherov is expected to miss the entire regular season because of a hip injury that requires surgery. Losing the 2019 NHL MVP and leading scorer from the 2020 playoffs is a major blow to the defending Stanley Cup champions.
December 23, 2020 3:54 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers are reeling. The AFC North leaders have dropped three straight games following an 11-0 start. The latest setback came in a 27-17 loss to Cincinnati in which the Steelers never led. Coach Mike Tomlin says he still believes his team can turn it around. Time is running out. The Steelers finish the regular season with games against surging Indianapolis and Cleveland. One victory would wrap up the division title.
