Injury-depleted Colts win
Sermon steps up to lead run game
Gardner Minshew threw three touchdown passes and the Colts rushed for 170 yards, improving their playoff prospects with a 30-13 win over the sagging Steelers on Saturday.
Minshew was 18 of 28 for 215 yards and matched his career high for TD passes while leading a Colts offense lacking its usual complement of playmakers. Leading receiver Michael Pittman Jr. left the game with a concussion, top rusher
Zack Moss departed with a right arm injury, and former 2021 rushing champ Jonathan Taylor (right thumb) didn’t play.
The Colts (8-6) have won five of six and temporarily moved a half-game ahead of three teams for the AFC’s seventh and final playoff spot. The Steelers (7-7) dropped their third straight and fell into last place in the AFC North, putting coach Mike Tomlin’s run of 16 straight seasons at .500 or better in jeopardy.
Pittsburgh took an early 13-0 lead behind backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky, but by late in the fourth quarter, the Colts had scored 30 consecutive points and third-stringer Mason Rudolph was slinging passes for the Steelers.
Trey Sermon ran 17 times for 88 yards to lead the Colts after logging only 11 runs this season. Pittman finished with four receptions for 78 yards, giving him 99 catches and the second 1,000-yard season of his career.
Trubisky went 16 of 23 for 169 yards with one TD pass and two interceptions in another ugly offensive effort for Pittsburgh, which only had 74 yards rushing and finished with 216 yards.
Lions blast Broncos
Jared Goff matched a career high with five touchdown passes, three to rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, and the Lions routed the Broncos, 42-17.
The NFC North-leading Lions (10-4) could clinch a spot in the postseason for the first time since the 2016 season if other results go their way this weekend. The simplest scenario would be a loss or tie by Seattle to Philadelphia on Monday.
The Broncos’ hopes of making the playoffs for the first time since the 2015 season took a hit. Denver (7-7) had won six of its previous seven games to pull within a game of AFC Westleading Kansas City.
Goff and the the Lions bounced back from some poor outings — losing two of three games — with a dominant second quarter.
The veteran quarterback, who turned the ball over eight times in the previous four games, threw touchdown passes in the period to LaPorta, rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and Amon-Ra St. Brown to give Detroit a 21-0 halftime lead.
Stroud not cleared
C.J. Stroud will miss Houston’s game Sunday against the Titans after suffering a concussion last week.
The rookie was injured in last Sunday’s 30-6 loss to the Jets when his head bounced off the turf after taking a hit with about 6½ minutes left in the fourth quarter. He did not practice all week and coach DeMeco Ryans said Friday that he remained in the concussion protocol.
With Stroud out, the Texans (7-6) will look to start Davis Mills or Case Keenum.
The second overall pick is the biggest reason for Houston’s improvement this season and he ranks second in the NFL with 3,631 yards passing and 20 touchdowns with just five picks.
Eagles without Slay
Cornerback Darius Slay Jr. had arthroscopic knee surgery this week and will miss at least Monday night’s game at Seattle. The 32-year-old has started 12 games for the Eagles this season and has two interceptions. The Eagles could look to Josh Jobe or rookies Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks to help fill Slay’s spot.
Penalties meted out
Chiefs coach Andy Reid was fined $100,000 and quarterback Patrick Mahomes was fined $50,000 for criticizing officials following their 20-17 loss to Buffalo last week. Reid and Mahomes violated the NFL’s policy about public criticism of game officials for comments about an offside penalty that negated a TD late in the fourth quarter.
Garrett takes hit
Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett was fined $25,000 by the NFL for “public criticism of officiating” after he made pointed remarks following last week’s game against Jacksonville . . . The NFL has banned Eagles security chief
Dom DiSandro from being on the sideline for the remainder of the regular season after he was ejected from a game this month for a scuffle with 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
Donald ailing
Seven-time All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald has been downgraded to questionable for the Rams’ game against Washington because of groin tightness . . . The Giants (5-8) activated tight end Darren Waller from injured reserve and will be looking for their fourth straight win at New Orleans . . . The Falcons placed defensive lineman
Kentavius Street on injured reserve and ruled out defensive tackle David Onyemata against the Panthers. The Falcons also added kicker Younghoe Koo to the injury report with an illness, listing him as questionable . . . The Packers activiated cornerback Eric Stokes from injured reserve, making him eligible to play against the Buccaneers.