Colts win AFC South; Vinatieri's winning FG sets up matchup against Jets

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts are back in the playoffs.

And they look like they're ready to defend their AFC championship, too.

Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes, the defense limited Chris Johnson to 39 yards rushing and the always-clutch Adam Vinatieri booted a 43-yard field goal as time expired Sunday to give the Colts a 23-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans. They earned their seventh -- and most improbable -- AFC South title in eight seasons.

"We know what they were up against and how difficult it was and to overcome all that and win the division," owner Jim Irsay said, "it is extra special."

For the Colts (10-6), there were plenty of reasons to celebrate.

They tied Dallas' NFL record of nine consecutive playoff appearances, set from 1975-83.

Manning broke Gene Upshaw's long-standing record for most consecutive starts to open a career (208) and then set a new mark for completions in a season (450), established just a few hours earlier by Drew Brees. The four-time league MVP also threw his 398th and 399th career TD passes, falling one short of joining Brett Favre and Dan Marino as the only members of the 400 club.

Reggie Wayne caught nine passes for 68 yards and one TD, moving past Hall of Famer Raymond Berry into second in franchise history with his 69th career touchdown receiving.

Indy became only the third team since 2000 to lose a Super Bowl and return to the playoffs the following year.

Plus, the Colts did all that despite having 17 players on injured reserve.

The reward: a Saturday night showdown with the New York Jets in a rematch of last year's AFC title game. They also have a chance to host a second straight championship game as the surprise No. 3 seed, thanks to Kansas City's 31-10 loss to Oakland.

"I'll wait until Tuesday to get into that (the Jets)," Manning said. "We just kind of found out what time we're playing and who we're playing and get going on them starting this week."

Yes, the Colts were fortunate.

After losing to Dallas on Dec. 5, they were 6-6 and in serious jeopardy of missing the postseason for the first time since 2001. So coach Jim Caldwell told his players they needed four straight wins to make it back.

They did it, barely, and got a little help along the way.

Moments after Dominic Rhodes lost a fumble and Tennessee ran it back to the Colts 37, Houston's 34-17 victory over Jacksonville went final -- assuring the Colts of the division crown. But they still needed to win to avoid a possible second-round matchup at New England.

Two plays later, Kerry Collins fumbled the snap and Robert Mathis recovered at the Colts 38. Manning needed only five plays to get the Colts into Vinatieri's range, then waited patiently next to the official as the clock ticked down. He called timeout with three seconds left.

Vinatieri, the best clutch kicker in league history, wasted no time in adding another line to his legacy, raising his arms after the 43-yarder went through.

"They're never the same and you never take them lightly," said Vinatieri, who was 3 for 3 and matched a season-long with a 48-yarder in the first quarter. "We just have to have the opportunity at the end to help our team win that game. It was a good win, an important win for us. We'll take it."

For Tennessee (6-9), it was a fitting end to a season gone awry.

The Titans were 5-2 in late October, then lost eight of nine and now face uncertainty after a public spat between Vince Young and coach Jeff Fisher put the futures of both in doubt.

Fisher told the television broadcast crew he expected a quick decision to be made about his job status and later said he hoped to return next season.

"I'm under contract for another year, so we'll see," Fisher said. "We're going to come back and have wrap-up physicals tomorrow and we'll start our evaluation process."

The Colts won this one the same way they had the previous three -- by running effectively and stopping the run.

"They've been playing better the last couple of weeks," Collins said. "They definitely have improved since the last time we played them. You can't just come in here and say we're going to pound the ball at them for 150 yards. It just doesn't happen like that."

Meanwhile, Indy topped 100 yards rushing for the third straight game and Manning played like his usual self. He finished 27 of 41 for 264 yards and probably would have thrown for a record-breaking 64th 300-yard game had it not been for a handful of drops.

Late in the first half, Manning hooked up with Wayne on a bubble screen, and the receiver sprinted around the right side and into the end zone for a 7-yard score to make it 13-6.

Collins punched back in the second half, throwing a 21-yard TD pass to Kenny Britt to tie the score.

Manning answered with a perfect 30-yard over-the-shoulder pass to Pierre Garcon to make it 20-13, then Collins tied it again on Johnson's 15-yard reception that made it 20-20 with 4:18 left in the third quarter.

Neither team scored again until Vinatieri's field goal ended it.

"I think it shows the resolve of this team and our fight," Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney said. "It doesn't matter if we're 6-6 and we have to win our last four, we have to do it. If we have to win the last seven, we'll try to do it. That's just kind of what we are and we've been that for a while."

Notes: Collins was 28 of 39 for 300 yards with two TDs and passed John Unitas for 11th on the career passing list. Collins has 40,441 yards. Unitas had 40,239. ... Fisher coached his 273rd career game, including playoffs, moving past Joe Gibbs for seventh on the career list for most games coached with one team. ... Manning finished the season with a career-high 4,700 yards passing.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

View the original article here

Ravens TE Heap could shake hamstring issue to play against Browns

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Ravens coach John Harbaugh says tight end Todd Heap could return for Sunday's road game against the Cleveland Browns after missing the past two games with a pulled right hamstring.

Heap was injured during a 13-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Harbaugh said he has spoken with trainer Bill Tessendorf, who's optimistic Heap will play Sunday.

Also on Monday, the Ravens cut offensive guard Bryan Mattison and promoted tight end Davon Drew to the active roster from the practice squad.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

View the original article here

Broncos' Tebow earns second start of season against Texans

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos don't care if everyone knows it, including the Houston Texans: Tim Tebow will start again Sunday.

Rather than keep everybody guessing, interim coach Eric Studesville made the unusual move Monday of announcing that Tebow would be under center when the Broncos (3-11) play host to the Texans (5-9).

Studesville said Kyle Orton is still bothered by bruised ribs and that Tebow did a good job managing the game plan, the team and the crowd in his first NFL start Sunday despite Denver's 39-23 loss at Oakland.

"Well, the reason right now was that we felt that Tim played well yesterday, ran our offense effectively," Studesville said. "Compounding that was the fact that Kyle still was rehabbing ... and we just felt like prolonging this later into the week wasn't the best thing for our preparation and practice."

So, now the Texans don't have to worry about preparing for two quarterbacks, one a right-handed prolific passer and the other a rookie southpaw.

Studesville thought the benefit to the Broncos outweighed any concerns about the Texans knowing it.

"I think they'll certainly have tape on him now to have a game plan," Studesville said. "What they'll do differently ... we're going to do some things differently because we'll have more information on him too, now. So, how that all plays out I'm not exactly sure."

Tebow, who was stunningly selected with the 25th overall pick in the April draft by former coach Josh McDaniels, had thrown just one NFL pass before Sunday and most of his two dozen snaps had come in specialty situations such as short-yardage and goal line packages.

His repertoire was limited Sunday because of bad weather and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy's conservative game calling but he showed enough to merit more playing time and perhaps more of a chance to throw the ball.

"We know more now about Tim and what he can do in a game, we can give him things," Studesville said. "But the entire game plan is still based on what we think gives us the best chance against the Houston Texans, and that's what's going to determine the volume of the playbook more than anything else."

Asked if team owner Pat Bowlen might have suggested the move to ensure there isn't a sea of empty seats at Invesco Field on Sunday, Studesville said he indeed met with the owner and chief operating officer Joe Ellis in the morning but that it was his decision alone. He said Bowlen and Ellis agreed with his call.

Although Studesville gave his team the day off Monday, both quarterbacks reported to Dove Valley, Orton for treatment on the ribs he bruised in a loss at Arizona on Dec. 12, and got the news.

Studesville said Orton didn't object.

"No, he's a professional," Studesville said.

Tebow had moments of greatness and moments of grief in his first career start.

By the time the first quarter ended, he had joined Kordell Stewart and Michael Vick as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to run for a 40-yard touchdown and throw for a 30-yard touchdown in the same game.

He was a bit lucky: his 40-yard scamper was supposed to be a hand-off and his 33-yard touchdown strike went through the hands of cornerback Stanford Routt before Brandon Lloyd caught it as he rolled out of bounds.

Tebow admitted after the game that on his touchdown run, he was supposed to hand off to tailback Correll Buckhalter on third-and-24.

"My reaction was it was seven points no matter how it happened," Studesville said Monday.

So, it's forgivable when a rookie goofs up?

"Forgivable? No," Studesville said. "But I'm happy it worked out in a good way."

The Raiders were impressed by the NFL's most intriguing pro prospect since Vick joined the Atlanta Falcons out of Virginia Tech in 2001.

Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha got a good hit on Tebow late in the game but Tebow, who weighs nearly 250 pounds, doled out a lot of punishment himself.

"A lot of guys will either slide or they'll try to take the path of least resistance. But he's going to go head-up with a guy, every time. He's a big guy, tough to bring down," Asomugha said.

That's the concern about Tebow: can he last in this league with that same style that helped him win two national titles and a Heisman Trophy at Florida?

"He's a tough runner. He runs like a back," Raiders safety Michael Huff said. "Once he gets more experience throwing the ball, he'll be a good quarterback."

He's definitely a work-in-progress quarterback who needs more polish in his footwork and throwing mechanics to go with his high energy and enthusiasm.

Tebow completed eight passes for 138 yards and ran eight times for 78 and wasn't picked off Sunday.

"People said he couldn't be an NFL quarterback but he made some good throws, he had some good runs," Oakland linebacker Quentin Groves said. "He does what suits him best and that's what it is."

And what best suits him right now is throwing occasionally and running -- he averaged 9.8 yards a carry.

"He earned a lot of respect from me today," defensive tackle Tommy Kelly said. "He's a lot better athlete than you think he is. You heard so much about him and then you play him. He made a couple moves out there today that surprised me. I think he's got a bright future."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

View the original article here

Steelers' Miller expected back on field against Panthers

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers expect tight end Heath Miller to play Thursday night against Carolina after missing two games with a concussion.

Miller, hurt Dec. 5 in Baltimore, was expected to return for Sunday's game against the Jets, but developed post-concussion headaches and was held out. His replacement, Matt Spaeth, caught a touchdown pass during Pittsburgh's 22-17 loss.

Miller was injured on a helmet hit by the Ravens' Jameel McClain, who was fined $40,000 by the NFL.

Defensive end Aaron Smith (torn triceps) is being fitted with a shoulder brace so he can resume practicing, although coach Mike Tomlin did not say Monday when that might be. The Steelers practice only once this week.

Smith hasn't played since being injured Oct. 24 in Miami.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

View the original article here

Vikings' frustration bubbles up against Packers

View the original article here

Raiders likely without CB Asomugha, TE Miller against Chiefs

View the original article here

Steelers LB Harrison cools off, decides against retirement

That retirement talk by James Harrison didn't last nearly long enough for some NFL quarterbacks.

The three-time Pro Bowl linebacker resumed practicing with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, one day after he threatened to retire because of the NFL's stricter punishment of players for dangerous hits.

Harrison was one of three players fined a total of $175,000 by the NFL on Tuesday for flagrant hits last weekend -- he was docked $75,000 for a helmet-hit on Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi -- and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday followed up the fines by releasing a memo emphasizing significant penalties will be imposed upon players who strike an opponent in the head or neck in violation of existing rules.

La Canfora: NFL can't be senseless

Harrison, arguing the restrictions won't allow him to play football as he has always played it, met with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on Wednesday to discuss the changes. Tomlin decided to give Harrison a cooling-off day and sent him home from practice.

Harrison's teammates didn't take his threat to retire seriously, saying he enjoys playing too much to quit during the second season of a six-year, $51.2 million contract. Harrison agreed with that in a statement issued Thursday by the Steelers.

"I have come to the decision that I cannot and will not let the league office stop me from playing the game that I love," Harrison said.

Harrison didn't talk to reporters before or after practice. The team said the statement would be Harrison's only comments.

"I will continue to play the game with the same passion, intensity and focus with which I have always played and let the chips fall where they may," Harrison said. "I have never given up, quit or walked away from anything in my life, and I am not about to start now."

Too bad for the New England Patriots' Tom Brady, who joked that life for NFL quarterbacks would be easier if Harrison retired.

Steelers safety Ryan Clark also found some levity in the situation. Asked about the notoriously intense Harrison's mood upon returning to the team, Clark said the linebacker isn't "a fluffy person" even when he's in a good mood.

"He's fine," Clark said. "Obviously, it's a tough situation, and he was able to handle it the way he needed to. We're glad to have him back."

In his statement, Harrison said player safety must be emphasized, but he argued again that his hit on Massaquoi was permissible under NFL rules. Tomlin also said the hit was legal.

"I feel the real reason for the fine was the statement I made after the game wherein I said that I try to hurt people, not injure them," Harrison said in the statement. "In the same sentence, I attempted to clarify my meaning. But I understand that my comments leave a lot open to interpretation. The statement was not well-thought out, and I did not adequately convey my meaning. I apologize for making that statement, and I want it to be known that I have never and would never intentionally try to injure any player."

Browns center Alex Mack suggested that Harrison should be worried about his own health. Mack said Harrison's concussion-causing hits Sunday on Browns wide receivers Massaquoi and Joshua Cribbs weren't isolated.

"If you watch the game film, he was doing that to everyone on every play. People would be on the ground, and he would try to spear them," Mack said. "There's a play on film where (running back) Peyton Hillis is tackled, and he (Harrison) comes up and spears him. It's like you're being cheap, you're being dirty."

Dirty, he said, and dangerous.

"You're ruining your own brain, and you're damaging other people," Mack said. "It's your brain. You need that a lot."

Neither Massaquoi nor Cribbs was able to practice Wednesday or Thursday. Browns coach Eric Mangini said both players could be medically cleared for practice Friday.

Steelers nose tackle Chris Hoke insisted Harrison, who was the 2008 Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year, isn't a dirty player who lives off cheap hits.

"That's not James -- that's a misunderstanding," Hoke said. "He goes out and plays hard. There's not a dirty ounce in his body. ... It's all about hard work for him. He's one of the first guys in here in the morning and one of the last to leave. He's a class act. It's good to see him back, because he's a humongous part of our team."

Although Harrison's one-day absence was the predominant topic in the Steelers' locker room, defensive end Aaron Smith said it wasn't a distraction. Many veteran Steelers players routinely take days off from practice during the season; the only difference was Harrison didn't watch from the sideline or attend meetings.

Smith also said Harrison's situation won't be a distraction Sunday.

"When you go out there on Sunday, all you think about is the football game," Smith said. "You don't think about anything else."

And the Steelers will play ... uh, the Miami Dolphins, right? With so much talk about Harrison, Steelers players are being asked relatively few questions about their opponents.

"Is that who we're playing?" Smith said, only kidding.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

View the original article here

Redskins move above .500 with OT victory against Packers

LANDOVER, Md. -- For the fourth time in five weeks, the nerves mounted along the Washington Redskins sideline as the game once again came down the final snap. They're finding all sorts of ways to win -- except, that is, by taking a knee.

This time the shouts of exultation had to wait until Graham Gano's 33-yard field goal sailed through the uprights 6:54 into overtime. It gave the Redskins a 16-13 win over the Green Bay Packers and an unexpected 3-2 record for a team that won only four games last season.

It's almost too much to take.

There's no need to fret about missing any games. You can watch every contest again with Game Rewind. Get more information here.

"You wish you could do something different, man," receiver Santana Moss said, shaking his head. "But I'll take 'em. As long as they're Ws out there, I'll take 'em."

Washington has had two games go to overtime and two that ended on passes thrown into the end zone by the opposing team at the end of regulation. This one came after the Redskins were thoroughly dominated for much of the afternoon, the defense allowing 427 yards and the offense allowing Donovan McNabb to get sacked five times. They also overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

But the Redskins have come out on top more often than not, a switch universally attributed in the locker room to new coach Mike Shanahan.

"These are the games," fullback Mike Sellers said, "we didn't win in the past."

And these are the games the Packers (3-2) aren't supposed to lose, not if they're going to keep their Super Bowl aspirations intact. They were coming off a two-point win over Detroit that had no one in the locker room celebrating, and that followed a three-point loss to Chicago in which they had a team-record 18 penalties.

Already banged up coming into the game, Green Bay also had Donald Lee (shoulder), Jermichael Finley (knee), Ryan Pickett (ankle), Clay Matthews (hamstring) and Derrick Martin (knee) leave with injuries. After the game, the Packers revealed Rodgers suffered a concussion.

"It's just one of those seasons, and we've still got to focus in, and we've got to keep clicking. I still think we can be the team that we want to be. It's the 'Year of the Takeover' still," said Finley, using the nickname he has given this season. "It ain't changed just 'cause of one loss."

The Packers moved the ball well early, but couldn't convert their yards into points, leaving them with a tenuous 13-3 lead entering the fourth quarter. A 48-yard touchdown pass from McNabb to a leaping Anthony Armstrong got Washington within three, and Gano tied the game with a 45-yard field goal with 1:07 remaining.

The Packers had time to drive for a winning score in regulation, but Mason Crosby hit the left upright from 53 yards with 1 second left.

In overtime, Rodgers' downfield pass was picked off by a diving and rolling LaRon Landry at the Packers 39-yard line. Two short passes, a holding call on linebacker Brady Poppinga and a pass interference penalty on Charles Woodson moved the ball to the 22, helping Gano get in easy range.

How much did the tide turn? The Redskins punted on seven of their first eight possessions, while the Packers' last seven possessions ended with four punts, two missed field goals and an interception. Green Bay was also hurt by nine penalties for 63 yards.

"We just keep hearing the whispers: 'We can't beat this team.' 'We can't beat that team.' 'We're not playing great.' 'We're not doing this,'" Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. "We're just going out there, taking care of business."

McNabb finished 26 for 49 for 357 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Moss caught seven passes for 118 yards. Ryan Torain ran for 40 yards on 16 carries starting for Clinton Portis (out with a groin injury). Landry had a hand in two turnovers, forcing a fumble on Green Bay's first drive before his interception on the Packers' last drive.

NFL RedZone

Watching football on Sundays will be a whole new experience with NFL Network's new channel, NFL RedZone. Find out why.

Rodgers completed 27 of 46 passes for 293 yards, surpassing 10,000 yards for his career, and a 5-yard pass to Donald Lee in the first quarter accounted for Green Bay's only touchdown. Brandon Jackson ran for a career-high 115 yards on 10 carries, including a 71-yard first-quarter run that set up the touchdown.

The Packers had one first-half drive end when Lee was stripped from behind after making a catch. Another made it to Washington's 1-yard line early in the second quarter, but three attempts couldn't move the ball that final yard. Rodgers' pass to rookie tight end Andrew Quarless was broken up in the end zone on fourth down.

"I think we all know yards don't mean anything," Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. "It's about points."

Notes: Redskins DL Albert Haynesworth was not with the team. He was in Nashville mourning the death of his half brother, who died in a motorcycle accident on Thursday. ... Washington hadn't beaten Green Bay at home since a 38-21 victory at RFK Stadium in 1979.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

View the original article here

Veteran QB Palmer's late mistakes cost Bengals against Bucs

CINCINNATI -- Josh Freeman had no timeouts to use and a packed stadium screaming for him to make another inexperienced mistake that would decide the game.

Uh-uh, not this time.

These baby Bucs are growing up.

There's no need to fret about missing any games. You can watch every contest again with Game Rewind. Get more information here.

Freeman led Tampa Bay to a signature win Sunday, directing two scoring drives in the closing minutes for a 24-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Connor Barth's 31-yard field goal with 1 second left secured a major breakthrough for the upstart Buccaneers.

At 3-1, they've matched their victory total for all last season, when they dropped their first seven under first-year coach Raheem Morris. They were on the verge again Sunday against a Cincinnati team that seemed to have one well in hand.

"It took us 15 weeks to win this many last year," said Freeman, who started as a rookie in that dreadful season. "We're a young team, but we feel we have the opportunity to win every game. And it's not who's leading the longest, it's who's leading at the end."

The Bengals (2-3) were, until Carson Palmer's interceptions turned it around.

And now, the defending AFC North champions are in a lot of trouble.

"We're a 2-3 team, and it's not a good team," safety Chris Crocker said. "We gave it away."

The Bengals were ahead 21-14 and in position to close it out with 2:28 to go. Palmer tried to get the ball to Terrell Owens on a third-and-13 play from midfield, but Aqib Talib wrestled it away.

Freeman, who missed two plays in the first half after getting dazed by a hit, showed poise with no timeouts left and 63,888 fans screaming for him to give it away. He scrambled 9 yards for a first down, threw a 15-yard pass to Mike Williams, then perfectly lofted a pass to Williams in the end zone. Williams out-jumped Johnathan Joseph for the tying touchdown with 1:26 to go.

"I've got all the confidence in that guy to make the play one-on-one," said Freeman, who finished 20 of 33 for 280 yards with an interception. "You get only so many opportunities to atone for the mistakes you make. Today was a great example of that."

Freeman's best throw was yet to come.

Palmer drove the Bengals to midfield and tried to connect with Ochocinco. The ball slipped off his fingertips and went directly to Sabby Piscitelli, who returned it to the 34-yard line with 14 seconds to go.

"It was like inches, inches away," Ochocinco said. "It was third down. I lunged for it. It was right at my fingertips."

Freeman's next throw was his best. He made a perfect pass to Micheal Spurlock at the 13-yard line. Spurlock got the toes of both feet down while falling out of bounds -- the call was upheld on review.

When Barth's kick went through, the Bucs did hip-bumps in celebration and started running off the field.

One second too early.

The Bengals threw away a multilateral return on the kickoff, starting that Tampa Bay celebration all over.

"I was more emotional after I got off the field and caught my breath," Morris said.

The Bengals will have two weeks to catch theirs. They head into their bye with no idea why their passing offense is so bad.

NFL RedZone

Watching football on Sundays will be a whole new experience with NFL Network's new channel, NFL RedZone. Find out why.

Palmer threw three interceptions, including a quick out that was intercepted by Cody Grimm and returned 11 yards for a touchdown in the first half. Palmer finished 21 of 36 for 209 yards. Three of his third-down passes were dropped by wide-open receivers.

The only time Cincinnati moved the ball consistently was when it reverted to the run-first philosophy that got it to the playoffs last season. Cedric Benson carried 23 times for 144 yards, his first 100-yard game of the season. He set a club record with six last season.

It wasn't enough to overcome those two last-minute interceptions.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis blamed himself for calling the passing plays late in the game instead of running. Palmer disagreed.

"We felt like we had the game in control, and those two plays sealed our fate in this one," Palmer said. "I'm the quarterback of this team. I need to find ways to win the football game."

Notes: Bucs C Jeff Faine left in the second quarter with an injured right thigh and didn't return. He walked off the field with assistance. ... S Sean Jones hurt his back in the first quarter and stood on the sideline with ice on his back. ... The Buccaneers have won their last six games against Cincinnati. ... CB Ronde Barber started his 172nd straight game, tying Dick LeBeau for the longest streak by a cornerback in league history. ... Owens violated the NFL's restrictions on tweeting less than 90 minutes before a game. He grew perturbed when asked about it afterward.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

View the original article here