Rotation used to fill gap left by Shazier

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Sean Spence was unemployed and at his Florida home watching the Steelers play Monday night. After a whirlwind week, he went from former Steelers linebacker into the starting lineup Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens.

It didn’t take very long for Spence, who flew to Pittsburgh Tuesday morning after Ryan Shazier and his backup Tyler Matakevich were injured against the Bengals, to regain the confidence of his coaches. He practiced Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and the Steelers felt good enough about his fitness level and knowledge of the defense to start him.

Spence was drafted by the Steelers in 2012 and played for them through the 2015 season. He played for the Titans last season and for the Colts this season until they released him in early October.

Arthur Moats played the second series for Spence. L.J. Fort, who finished the Bengals game as the only remaining healthy player at that position, came in on passing downs. They continued similar rotations throughout the game.

Bell sets record

Running back Le’Veon Bell set an NFL record in the first quarter Sunday night when he passed Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson for the most scrimmage yards in a player’s first 60 games. Dickerson had 7,636 in his first 60 games. Bell previously passed Edgerrin James, LaDanian Tomlinson and Marcus Allen in previous weeks.

Bell surpassed 1,600 yards from scrimmage for the second consecutive seas o n , joining Antonio Brown as the only other players in franchise history to gain 1,600 scrimmage yards in back-to-back years. It’s the third time in his five-year professional career that Bell has reached 1,600 scrimmage yards.

When Bell scored on an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter he passed Terry Bradshaw and has the fourth-most rushing touchdowns in team history with 33.

Run defense struggles

The Steelers had held six consecutive opponents below 100 rushing yards, but the Bengals and Ravens each had over 100 the past two games.

The Bengals had 130 Monday night and the Ravens went over 100 midway through the third quarter.

Corner rotation

Coty Sensabaugh, who was benched Monday night after allowing two touchdown catches, started and played the first quarter against the Ravens. Cameron Sutton came on in relief of Sensabaugh on the Ravens’ third series at the start of the second quarter.

This ‘n’ that

Antonio Brown is the fourth player in NFL history to record five consecutive 90catch seasons. He joins Torry Holt (2002-07), Marvin Harrison (1999-2003) and Demaryius Thomas (2012-16) … Safety Sean Davis recorded his third career interception and his second of the season in the first quarter … Placekicker Chris Boswell booted a 52-yard field in the second quarter, his fifth of 50 yards or longer in his career. All five of those kicks were at Heinz Field … Boswell already has 30 field goals. The team record for most field goals in a season is held by Norm Johnson, who had 34 in 1995.

Inactives

The Steelers deactivated linebackers Ryan Shazier and Tyler Matakevich, defensive backs Joe Haden and J.J. Wilcox, offensive lineman Matt Feiler, defensive lineman Daniel McCullers and quarterback Josh Dobbs. The Ravens deactivated receiver Breshad Perriman, running back Terrence West, offensive linemen Jermaine Eluemunor and Maurquice Shakir, outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith, defensive end Bronson Kaufusi and cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste.

Quarterback Carson Wentz threw for 291 yards and four touchdowns before leaving with a knee injury and visiting Philadelphia beat the Los Angeles Rams, 43-35, Sunday to clinch its first NFC East Division title since 2013.

Two sources familiar with the injury said that doctors believe Wentz has torn his left anterior cruciate ligament and will miss the rest of the season and playoffs.

Wentz will need an MRI to confirm the severity of the injury. “I don’t know anything until we evaluate him [Monday],” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said.

Wentz was hit hard as he dived into the end zone on a play that was called back because of holding. He stayed in the game and threw a 3yard touchdown pass to Alshon Jeffery to give the Eagles a 31-28 lead.

Backup Nick Foles came in and rallied the Eagles (112) to the win. “Everyone is really excited about the win but you have your starting quarterback go down, it’s emotional,” Foles said. “I work with him every day so I’m dealing with that.”

Browns

DeShone Kizer’s interception in overtime set up visiting Green Bay’s winning touchdown as Cleveland fell to 0-13 for the second year in a row with a 27-21 loss to Green Bay. Once again, costly mistakes did in the Browns, who led by 14 points in the fourth quarter. “It hurts,” said Kizer, whose three touchdown passes were overshadowed by his late gaffe. “Obviously, when you start tasting a little victory throughout the game,

As much as 2 feet of snow was forecast in Buffalo, N.Y., when the storm hit about 90 minutes before kickoff. Within an hour, the flakes fell so fast that fans sitting in New Era Field’s east-end stands were unable to make out the large video scoreboard directly across from them. Punted balls stuck in the snow. But LeSean McCoy plowed on and scored on a 21-yard run with 1:33 left in overtime to secure Buffalo’s 13-7 win against Indianapolis in a wintry whiteout setting best suited for snow shoes and sled dogs. McCoy finished with 149 yards rushing to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the sixth time in his career.

Panthers

Jonathan Stewart ran for 103 yards and three touchdowns and Carolina snapped visiting Minnesota’s eight-game win streak with a 31-24 win. Cam Newton threw for 137 yards and a touchdown and ran for 75 yards as Carolina racked up 216 yards on the ground against the league’s No. 2ranked defense to tie the Saints atop the NFC South.

49ers

Jimmy Garoppolo threw for a career-high 334 yards and a touchdown to help the 49ers to their second win in a row, 26-16, at Houston. The 49ers have won three of their past four after opening the season 0-9 under first-year coach Kyle Shanahan. “It’s definitely exciting,” Shanahan said. “You can feel it in our building. Guys are gaining that confidence.”