Broncos cruise past Texans, 27-9
The Denver Broncos ruined Brock Osweiler’s homecoming Monday night, hurrying, hitting and harassing their former teammate in a 27-9 win over his Houston Texans (4-3).
Coach Gary Kubiak returned to the sideline following his second health scare in three years, and the Broncos (5-2) ended a twogame skid.
C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker energized Denver’s sputtering ground game, both running for a touchdown. Anderson gained 107 yards on 16 carries and Booker had 83 on 17 attempts.
Although he avoided sacks, Osweiler was just 22 for 41 for 131 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Siemian was 14 of 25 for 157 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. Jaguars’ Lee flagged for slur: Jaguars receiver Marqise Lee said he was flagged for using a racial slur in Jacksonville’s 33-16 loss to the Raiders on Sunday.
Lee acknowledged Monday that was the cause for his unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty late in the third quarter, a flag that seemingly started the Jaguars’ fourth-quarter meltdown in which defensive tackle Malik Jackson and cornerback Jalen Ramsey were ejected.
“I got flagged for saying the N-word,” Lee said. “In the midst of the game, emotion is going from both teams. It just so happened the ref heard me, so I got the flag. I’ve just got to fess up to it.” RB Foster retires: Fourtime Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster has announced his retirement midway through an injuryplagued season with the Dolphins.
Foster, 30, tried to come back from a torn Achilles tendon but was slowed this season by groin and hamstring injuries. He disclosed his decision on the website Uninterrupted, and the Dolphins confirmed it. Ryan calls hit ‘dirty’: Bills coach Rex Ryan is challenging the NFL to consider ejecting players for blindside hits to the head such as the one by Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry that leveled Buffalo safety Aaron Williams.
Ryan called Landry’s hit “dirty” and “deliberate” while saying on-field officials made the right call in flagging the player for unnecessary roughness. Extra points: Bears QB Jay Cutler has been cleared and will return from a thumb injury to play against the Vikings on Oct. 31. He has been out since Sept. 19. ... Cowboys WR Dez Bryant, who has not played since injuring his right knee Sept. 25 against the Bears, ran routes and caught passes in practice and is expected to play Sunday. ... Jets QB Geno Smith has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He was hurt while being sacked during Sunday’s win over the Ravens. ... Cardinals WR Jaron Brown tore his ACL against the Seahawks and is out for the remainder of the season. ... An MRI showed that Redskins LT Trent Williams’ left knee, injured in a loss to the Lions, has no structural damage, but coach Jay Gruden said Williams’ condition will be monitored during the week.