Freeman carries Falcons to key win over Bucs
Devonta Freeman rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown to help the Atlanta Falcons stay close in the tight NFC South race with a 24-21 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last night in Tampa.
Freeman scored on a 32-yard run midway through the fourth quarter, restoring a 10-point lead for the Falcons (9-5), who barely hung on to win for the fifth time in six games and remain one game behind New Orleans and Carolina in the division standings.
Freeman also caught five passes for a team-high 68 yards and had a firsthalf fumble recovered in the end zone by teammate Levine Toilolo for a touchdown. Matt Ryan threw an early TD pass to Justin Hardy and finished 17 of 31 passing for 212 yards and no interceptions.
Jameis Winston threw for 299 yards and three TDs for the Bucs (4-10), including a 16-yarder to Adam Humphries that trimmed Atlanta’s lead to 24-21 with 3:51 remaining.
Winston also threw TD passes of 30 yards to O.J. Howard and 42 yards to Mike Evans.
O’Brien will not quit
Texans coach Bill O’Brien was emphatic yesterday about his desire to remain with Houston, a day after the team dropped to 4-10 with an embarrassing 45-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“I will never quit as the head football coach of the Houston Texans,” he said. “Ever.”
O’Brien has one more season left on his contract. The former Patriots offensive coordinator’s job security has become a topic of discussion in recent weeks as injuries and inconsistent quarterback play have led to four straight losses, one win in the last eight games.
O’Brien spent a sizable chunk of his media availability discussing his future, his relationship with general manager Rick Smith, and whether he would like to sign an extension to remain with the Texans . . . .
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said he hasn’t talked to owner Mike Brown about his contract, but emphatically denies a report that he’s decided to leave Cincinnati after his 15th season. The Bengals (5-9) are coming off back-to-back drubbings by Chicago and Minnesota.
Davis suspended
The NFL suspended Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis for two games following his helmet-to-helmet hit on Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams. Adams left Sunday’s game with a concussion and Davis was penalized 15 yards . . . .
New York Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley was waived following a fourgame suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancers . . . .
Nick Rose is the Chargers’ fourth kicker of the season after Los Angeles waived Travis Coons and claimed Rose off waivers from Washington . . . .
Oakland Raiders left tackle Donald Penn will undergo surgery on his right foot and miss the rest of the season. Penn has played in all 174 regular-season games since debuting as an undrafted free agent with Tampa Bay in 2007 . . . .
The Indianapolis Colts put center Ryan Kelly (concussion) and inside linebacker Jon Bostic (knee) on injured reserve.
Broncos QB unsure
Denver Broncos coach Vance Joseph said he wasn’t sure whether Brock Osweiler or Paxton Lynch will start at Washington this weekend after Trevor Siemian went on injured reserve with a left shoulder injury he sustained at Indianapolis last week . . . .
Drew Stanton will be back at starting quarterback for Arizona on Sunday after coach Bruce Arians benched Blaine Gabbert after five starts.