Lions rely on Gibbs' legs, Goff's arm to beat Raiders
Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs ran for a season-high 152 yards and a touchdown, Jared Goff threw for 272 yards with a score, and the Detroit Lions beat the Las Vegas Raiders 26-14 on Monday night.
The NFC North-leading Lions (6-2) stalled on three early drives, setting for field goals, before Goff threw an 18-yard strike to rookie Sam LaPorta to put them ahead 16-7 late in the first half.
Goff threw an interception that Marcus Peters returned 75 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter, allowing Las Vegas (3-5) to pull within two points. Detroit's next drive ended when Craig Reynolds fumbled at the Raiders 3.
The Lions kept the ball and scored on their third drive of the second half, taking a two-score lead on Gibbs' 27-yard touchdown run. Riley Patterson made a 52-yard field goal to give Detroit a 12-point lead.
That was a comfortable cushion against the offensively challenged Raiders.
Las Vegas welcomed the return of Jimmy Garoppolo, but lamented that he threw a league-leading ninth interception one play after the Raiders recovered a fumble in the first quarter. Kerby Joseph picked off Garoppolo's lofted pass into double coverage toward Davante Adams in the end zone.
TORN ACL ENDS SEASON FOR VIKINGS' COUSINS » Kirk Cousins has a torn right Achilles tendon that will end his season, dampening the mood around the Minnesota Vikings after their recent resurgence and putting the front office and coaching staff in a scramble to figure out which quarterback to finish with.
Cousins underwent an MRI exam on Monday that confirmed the team's initial fear about his first career injury, suffered when he planted his foot in the grass to step forward in the pocket and try to avoid a sack in the fourth quarter at Green Bay. Cousins went down in pain, had to limp off the field without putting weight on his right leg and was resigned to cheering on his teammates from a cart before the dreaded ride inside for further examination.
“We're all hurting for Kirk,” Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said, “just knowing how much he's invested into this team.”
The Vikings (4-4) beat the Packers 24-10 on Sunday and climbed above the cut for the playoffs after an 0-3 start. Staying there will be far more challenging without Cousins, their everready leader who's suddenly and stunningly unavailable to play.
“There's no doubt about it. We're going to miss him,” O'Connell said.
Cousins will have surgery on a to-be-determined date. No recovery timetable was announced, but it's typically at least a six-month process for returning to full strength. New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has raised the longshot possibility of returning yet this season from his torn left Achilles tendon, but he's nearly two months ahead of Cousins on his rehab because he was hurt in the opener.
ALSO OUT FOR THE SEASON » The Atlanta Falcons have been dealt a huge blow on the defensive side, losing tackle Grady Jarrett for the rest of the season with a knee injury. The 30-yearold Jarrett tore an ACL during the early minutes of a 28-23 loss to the Tennessee Titans, coach Arthur Smith said Monday. He didn't specify which knee was injured. ... Patriots receiver Kendrick Bourne is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season after suffering a torn ligament in his knee, according to a person with knowledge of the diagnosis. Testing revealed the extent of the injury Bourne incurred during Sunday's 3117 loss to Miami said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday on the condition of anonymity because Bourne's status had not been announced. GIANTS TRADE DL WILLIAMS TO FIRST-PLACE SEAHAWKS » The struggling New York Giants have traded defensive end Leonard Williams to the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks for a pair of draft picks, according to a person with knowledge of the trade.
The person, who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the teams have not announced the deal, said the Giants will receive a second-round draft choice in 2024 and a fifthrounder in 2025 for Williams, who had a $32 million salary cap hit this season, the highest on the team.
Seattle (5-2) has two thirdround picks next year, which will help soften the blow of giving up a second-rounder. PACKERS' GARY AGREES TO 4-YEAR, $107M EXTENSION » Green Bay outside linebacker Rashan Gary has agreed to a four-year contract extension, bringing a bit of good news to a team that has lost four straight games.
Gary announced the fouryear, $107 million extension that included a $34.6 million signing bonus on social media. The Packers announced the extension later Monday without revealing terms.
A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that Gary can earn $107 million through the end of a deal that now runs through 2027 because he's receiving about $96 million in new money to go along with his 2023 salary of $10.8 million. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the team hasn't announced the terms.
This deal gives the slumping Packers (2-5) a long-term commitment from one of their top overall players. Gary was eligible to become a free agent after the season if he hadn't agreed to an extension.
HURTS' INJURED KNEE RAISES CONCERN » All Jalen Hurts did on an injured left knee was throw for 319 yards and four touchdowns and led the Philadelphia Eagles to another win.
Hurts even failed to throw an interception for the first time in four games. To top off his list of accomplishments, Hurts rallied the Eagles back from a halftime deficit to beat the Washington Commanders 38-31 and make them the only 7-1 team in the NFL.
How much better could Hurts have played on two healthy legs?
Just how much his banged-up left knee is really bothering him, well, Hurts won't say. He's downplayed the severity of the injury — though clearly it has made him reluctant to run — and remained focused on staying in the lineup and keeping the Eagles tops in the NFL.
“I told you guys I really don't wanna speak on it anymore,” Hurts said.
He'll let his numbers do the talking instead.
Hurts became the 6th player in NFL history to record 300-plus total yards and at least two total touchdowns in six straight games.