Steelers’ offense shows new life in win
CINCINNATI — Kenny Pickett threw for a season-high 278 yards and the Pittsburgh Steelers showed new life on offense days after firing offensive coordinator Matt Canada, beating the Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals 16-10 on Sunday.
The Steelers (7-4) totaled 421 yards, snapping a streak of 58 games without gaining 400 yards. Pat Freiermuth had a career-high 120 yards receiving as the Steelers outgained their opponent for the first time this season under interim offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner.
Chris Boswell kicked two fourth-quarter field goals to keep the Bengals at bay. Cincinnati (5-6) got a field goal from Evan McPherson just before the 2-minute warning, but the Steelers recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
Bengals backup Jake Browning threw a touchdown pass in his first start but had trouble keeping the chains moving. He finished 19 for 26 for 227 yards and threw an interception in the red zone.
Browning got the start in place of Burrow, the franchise quarterback whose season ended when he tore a ligament in his right wrist in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 16.
TITANS 17, PANTHERS 10
Derrick Henry ran for two touchdowns and 76 yards helping host Tennessee snap a three-game skid beating Carolina.
This was just the fourth game in Music City this season for the Titans (4-7), who played at home only once over the past seven weeks. Tennessee improved to 4-0 when playing at Nissan Stadium this season.
Arden Key had a sack and forced fumble recovered by two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, who also had one of four sacks by Tennessee. Denico Autry had two, the second just two plays before the Titans forced the Panthers to turn the ball over on downs with 1:55 left to seal the victory.
GIANTS 10, PATRIOTS 7
Xavier McKinney set up Randy Bullock's goahead 42-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter with New York's third interception of New England's woeful pair of quarterbacks, and the Giants won consecutive games for the first time this season, beating the visiting Patriots.
New England had a chance to win in the final minute, but coach Bill Belichick played for a tie and Chad Ryland was wide left on a 35-yard field goal attempt with 3 seconds left.
The Patriots got a first down at the Giants 22 with about a minute to play in regulation but didn't take a shot at the end zone.
Tommy DeVito threw a touchdown pass for New York (4-8), which did more than enough against quarterbacks Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe — despite playing without Pro Bowl tackle Dexter Lawrence — to send the Patriots (2-9) to their fourth straight loss.
FALCONS 24, SAINTS 15
Desmond Ridder overcame two interceptions by throwing a touchdown pass to Bijan Robinson in the fourth quarter and host Atlanta moved into a first-place tie in the woeful NFC South by beating New Orleans.
The Saints (5-6) were limited by injury problems at wide receiver after losing Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (thigh).
New Orleans still outgained the Falcons 444397 as quarterback Derek Carr passed for 304 yards but had to settle for five field goals by Blake Grupe.
The Falcons (5-6) snapped a three-game losing streak as Robinson ran for 91 yards with a touchdown.
Atlanta led 14-12 before Ridder lofted the 26-yard scoring pass to Robinson. The rookie ran out of the end zone and into the tunnel.
COLTS 27, BUCCANEERS 20
Jonathan Taylor ran for two scores, Gardner Minshew added another and the Indianapolis Colts defense came up with a late turnover Sunday to preserve a 27-20 victory over Tampa Bay.
Indy (6-5) won its third straight and climbed above .500 for the first time since the end of September with its second home victory of the season.
The two-time defending NFC South champion Bucs (4-7) have lost four straight road games, this one in uncharacteristic fashion.
Indy gashed the usually stingy Tampa Bay run defense for 155 yards and 5.7 yards per carry — numbers that would have been even higher if Taylor had not slid down inbounds to keep the clock running late before the Colts started kneeling down.
JAGUARS 24, TEXANS 21
Trevor Lawrence threw for 364 yards and a touchdown, and AFC South-leading Jacksonville escaped with a 24-21 victory over host Houston when Matt Ammendola's 58-yard field goal attempt bounced off the crossbar with 34 seconds left.
The Jaguars (8-3) avenged their 37-17 home loss to Houston (6-5) in Week 3 and created some separation at the top of the division.
C.J. Stroud, the second overall pick in the draft, thew for 306 yards and two touchdowns as Houston's three-game winning streak was snapped. He has 3,268 yards passing this season to move past Justin Herbert (3,224) for most in NFL history by a rookie in his first 11 games.