NFL NOTEBOOK
Raiders top Broncos 27-14
OAKLAND, CALIF. — Dwayne Harris returned a punt 99 yards for a touchdown after Denver failed to down it, and the Raiders gave their fans plenty to celebrate in their possible final game in Oakland, beating the Broncos 27-14 on Monday night.
The Raiders (4-11) are set to move to Las Vegas in 2020 and have no lease for next year. With Oakland officials having sued the team over the move, the Raiders are looking into other options for 2019, including AT&T Park in San Francisco.
A decision is expected before the Super Bowl, but many of the die-hards came out for this game knowing it could be the last NFL game ever in the stadium that opened in 1966.
It has been almost that long since the Broncos (6-9) had gone back-toback seasons with losing records, having last done it in 1971-72.
After going 5-11 in coach Vance Joseph’s first season, Denver has done little better in year two and general manager John Elway could be ready to make a change after the season.
Seahawks sign Carroll to extension through 2021
Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is sticking around through the 2021 season after signing a three-year contract extension.
Carroll said he was first approached about an extension last week and finished the deal on Monday. The contract will take him through his 70th birthday in September 2021.
Carroll is in his ninth season as Seattle’s coach and clinched his seventh playoff berth with Sunday’s victory over Kansas City. He is 97-59-1 overall in his tenure.
Foles will get another start
Nick Foles will get another shot to lead the Philadelphia Eagles to the playoffs.
Coming off a recordsetting performance in a 32-30 comeback win over Houston, Foles will start when the Eagles (8-7) visit Washington (7-8) in a mustwin game Sunday.
Coach Doug Pederson announced Monday that Foles will remain under center, though it’s no surprise because Carson Wentz hasn’t been cleared to return from a back injury that has forced him to miss the last two games.
The defending Super Bowl champs will earn the NFC’s second wildcard spot if they beat the Redskins and the Vikings (8-6-1) lose at home to the Bears (11-4).
Foles set a franchiserecord with 471 yards passing against the Texans and tossed four touchdown passes.
Rams will play Gurley if healthy to secure 1stround bye
Effectively locked into their playoff seed last season, the Los Angeles Rams rested nearly all of their key players against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17.
The Rams will again host the 49ers in the regularseason finale on Sunday, but have plenty to play for this time around.
Coach Sean McVay said the Rams would go all out to try and secure a first-round bye, including playing running back Todd Gurley if he is healthy.
The Rams (12-3) will clinch the No. 2 seed and a firstround bye in the NFC with a win or a Chicago loss at Minnesota. They can’t get the top spot, which belongs to the Saints.
Gurley was not active for the 31-9 win over Arizona on Sunday because of soreness in his knee.