An Indianapolis Colts cheerleader has her head shaved by the Colts’ mascot on Sunday. The shaving was for raising money for leukemia research in honor of head coach Chuck Pagano. (AP-Yonhap News)
TAMPA, Florida (AP) ― No one has led more late game-winning drives during the past five seasons than Matt Ryan, who has kept the Atlanta Falcons flying high with five fourth-quarter rallies this year alone.
Matty Ice did it again Sunday, throwing for 353 yards and overcoming two critical turnovers to stop Tampa Bay’s four-game winning streak with a 24-23 victory.
The Falcons (10-1) kept pace with the Houston Texans for the NFL’s best record, and Ryan had plenty of help in withstanding a challenge from the up-and-coming Buccaneers (6-5).
“They are playing with a lot of confidence,” said Ryan, who has won seven of his past eight starts against the Bucs. “It’s always been a tough place for us to come play. They play with great effort, and I think they have a good football team.”
Ryan teamed with Julio Jones on an 80-yard TD midway through the third quarter, but the Falcons found themselves trailing 23-17 after the Bucs marched for a touchdown, then used a sack-fumble to set up a field goal that left Atlanta needing another strong finish from their quarterback.
Ryan obliged by a leading a six-play, 64-yard march that Michael Turner finished with a 3-yard TD run that put the NFC South leaders ahead for good with 7:55 remaining.
Connor Barth missed a 56-yard goal for Tampa Bay (6-5) in the closing minutes, and the winning streak that’s helped the Bucs climb back into playoff contention following a slow start ended when Josh Freeman’s desperation pass fell incomplete in the end zone on the final play.
Cutler sharp in win CHICAGO (AP) ― The Chicago Bears got Jay Cutler back from a concussion, only to lose three more stars to injuries.
Start with Devin Hester. Add Matt Forte and Charles Tillman to the list, and just for good measure, throw in two starting guards.
Consider this a painful win.
Cutler threw for 188 yards and a touchdown after missing a game, and the Bears broke it open early in a 28-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
The injuries, however, tempered some of the good feelings.
Tied with Green Bay for the NFC North lead and just a game ahead of Minnesota (6-5) coming in, the Bears (8-3) grabbed a 25-3 halftime lead thanks to Cutler’s pinpoint passing. The defense held Adrian Peterson in check early on, although he finished with 108 yards rushing.
Chicago also came away with three more takeaways to increase its total from a league-leading 30 entering the game to 33.
The rather easy win came after back-to-back losses to Houston and San Francisco, but it also came with a heavy price.
The Bears lost Hester, a receiver and record-setting return specialist, early to a concussion. And that was just the start.
Forte, their top running back, hobbled to the tunnel midway through the third quarter with an ankle injury. Coach Lovie Smith said Tillman, their star cornerback, also hurt his ankle.
Besides those three, the Bears lost both guards in the third quarter to knee sprains, with Lance Louis and Chris Spencer going down. Louis’ injury on a blindside hit by Jared Allen as Antoine Winfield returned an interception forced Chicago to go with Gabe Carimi, who lost the right tackle job to Jonathan Scott.
Spencer, meanwhile, was in the lineup after Chilo Rachal left the team.
If the Bears are going to develop any continuity on the line, well, don’t expect it anytime soon.
Giants rout Packers EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP) ― Eli Manning threw for three touchdowns, giving him 200 for his career, and the New York Giants sacked Aaron Rodgers five times Sunday night in a 38-10 rout of the Green Bay Packers.
Coming off their bye, the Giants (7-4) put to rest concerns about a dormant offense and a tired arm for Manning.
He connected with rookie Rueben Randle, Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks for scores, and Ahmad Bradshaw had a combined 119 yards, including a 59-yard sprint on a screen pass to begin the onslaught.
The Giants opened a two-game lead in the NFC East.
Mathias Kiwanuka had two of the sacks as Rodgers never got comfortable. Green Bay (7-4) had its five-game winning streak snapped and fell out of a tie atop the NFC North with Chicago. The Packers had allowed no more than 24 points during their string of victories.
Cincinnati 34, Oakland 10
Cleveland 20, Pittsburgh 14
Indianapolis 20, Buffalo 13
Denver 17, Kansas City 9
Miami 24, Seattle 21
Jacksonville 24, Tennessee 19
St. Louis 31, Arizona 17
Baltimore 16, San Diego 13
San Francisco 31, New Orleans 21
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
