Patriots defense dominates Falcons

New England safety Adrian Phillips (center) and cornerback Jalen Mills celebrate stopping the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of the Patriots’ 250 win Thursday night in Atlanta. Mac Jones threw a 19-yard scoring pass to Nelson Agholor for the game’s only offensive touchdown, and Kyle Van Noy and the New England defense took care of the rest, blanking the Falcons for the Patriots’ fifth straight victory. New England (7-4) has allowed just 13 points total in its last three games.

sure to yet, so we will have both guys up and ready to play and probably use both of them.”

Packers’ Rodgers returns to practice

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned

to practice on a limited basis Friday after missing the last two days due to a toe injury as he prepares for Sunday’s game at Minnesota.

Rodgers didn’t have a designation on the Packers’ injury report Friday. The reigning MVP had said

Wednesday even after missing that day’s practice that he would definitely play against the Vikings.

“He looked good throwing the football,“Packer coach Matt LaFleur said after Friday’s practice. “I’m confident that he’ll be in a good place on Sunday.”

Bears put Khalil Mack on season-ending IR

The hicago Bears’ defense took a huge hit Friday when coach Matt Nagy announced outside linebacker Khalil Mack would go on season-ending injured reserve due to a foot injury.

Mack will have surgery next week, but Nagy did not specify the nature of the foot injury. Mack’s season ends with six sacks.

Mack’s injury has been a problem since the Bears played Cleveland in Week 3, but he tried to play through it until going to the sidelines for the Oct. 31 game against San Francisco, and hasn’t returned.

“I know with him, it’s been the last several weeks trying to get right,” Nagy said. “And I think we did everything as far as trying to attack it the right way with him.”

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