Steelers top Ravens, now 11- 0
PITTSBURGH — Playing in the middle of the afternoon in the middle of the week in the middle of a pandemic, Ben Roethlisberger threw for 266 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown to JuJu Smith- Schuster, and the Pittsburgh Steelers improved to 11-0 with a disjointed 19-14 win over the undermanned Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday. The Ravens (6-5), who have lost three straight games, were without more than a dozen players on the COVID-19 reserve list, including quarterback Lamar Jackson — the reigning NFL MVP — and running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins. Baltimore backup Robert Griffin III struggled in Jackson’s place, turning the ball over twice in the first quarter and completing seven of 12 passes before being replaced by Trace McSorley midway through the fourth quarter after injuring his left hamstring. McSorley, one of 11 players promoted from the practice squad before kickoff, connected with Marquise Brown for a 70-yard touchdown with 2:58 to play. However, the Steelers were able to drain the clock behind a third-down catch by James Washington, eliminating the Ravens from repeating as AFC North champions. The Ravens’ outbreak forced the NFL to push the game back three times: from Thanksgiving night to Sunday, from Sunday to Tuesday and eventually from Tuesday to Wednesday. The teams kicked off in the afternoon to not interfere with NBC’s annual Christmas special at Rockefeller Center.
› ANN ARBOR, Mich. — University of Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel strongly rebuked any notion the school’s football team would try to avoid facing rival Ohio State in the regular-season finale, calling the idea “ridiculous” and infuriating. In a video released Wednesday by Michigan, Manuel spoke hours after the Wolverines ( 2- 4), who are dealing with an outbreak of COVID-19 in their program, canceled this weekend’s game against Maryland. The outbreak could also threaten Michigan’s annual game against border rival Ohio State on Dec. 12 — and the Buckeyes’ chances to play for a Big Ten title. Ohio State had to cancel its game last week at Illinois because of a spike in COVID-19 cases in its program. It was the second game the Buckeyes (4-0) have lost from their regular-season schedule, and one more would leave them unable to reach a conference-mandated minimum to be eligible for the Big Ten title game.
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› LOS ANGELES — LeBron James has agreed to a contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. James’ agency, Klutch Sports, confirmed the deal Wednesday during the first week of training camp for the reigning NBA champions. The Los Angeles Times reported James’ extension is a two-year, $85 million deal through the 2022-23 season. The four-time NBA champion is getting the maximum deal to extend his tenure in Los Angeles, where he moved two seasons ago after his second stint with his home-state Cleveland Cavaliers. James’ previous contract ran through only the upcoming season with a player option for 2021-22, allowing the third-leading scorer in league history to become a free agent next summer if he chose. Instead, James reportedly committed to play through his 20th NBA season with the Lakers, whom he joined in 2018 after winning one title in Cleveland and two with the Miami Heat.