NFL Week 12 live: Browns set to activate Gordon next week vs. Chargers

Welcome to NFL Week 12.

We’re already three games into the weekend because of the Thanksgiving Day games, which included a win by the Chargers (5-6) over the Dallas Cowboys (5-6). 

Today, the Rams (7-3) host the red-hot Saints (8-2) at 1:25 p.m.

As always, keep it here for notes from around the league and updates from the Coliseum.

Nov. 26, 2017, 10:22 a.m.

Rams mailbag: Receivers, McVay, defense and holiday binge-watching suggestions

The Rams play the New Orleans Saints, winners of eight consecutive games, as they try to bounce back from last week’s defeat at Minnesota.

The Rams are 7-3, so a playoff spot is still within reach.

Now, on to your questions.

Nov. 26, 2017, 10:11 a.m.

Patriots use fake punt on first drive against Dolphins ... because why not?

Matt Wilhalme

Well, that didn’t go the way Miami drew it up.

After halting the Patriots with a three-and-out, the Dolphins sat back with their special teams unit and waited for New England to punt the ball.

Instead, safety Nate Ebner took a direct snap and ran it up the right side of the Patriots’ offensive line for a 14-yard gain on fourth and eight.

The play ultimately led to a two-yard touchdown run by running back Rex Burkhead to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead over the Dolphins.

Nov. 26, 2017, 9:46 a.m.

What a game: 28 years ago, Rams' Flipper Anderson set the single-game receiving record vs. Saints

Matt Wilhalme

Rams receiver Flipper Anderson had 336 yards receiving on 15 catches in 1989 against the New Orleans Saints.

Since then, only the Detroit Lions’ Calvin Johnson has come close, picking up 309 yards on 14 catches during a game against the Dallas Cowboys in 2013.

What may be most interesting about Anderson’s feat is that he had just one touchdown and the Rams won by a final score of 20-17.

Nov. 26, 2017, 9:29 a.m.

Rams' Tavon Austin can trace road to NFL to childhood competitions

It was a thin strip of grass on the median of Tioga Parkway, a bustling West Baltimore thoroughfare.

They called it the Middle Piece.

Measuring perhaps 35 yards long and 15 yards wide, the urban patch served as a makeshift football field for generations of Tavon Austin’s relatives and neighborhood kids.

Nov. 26, 2017, 8:36 a.m.

Browns set to activate Josh Gordon next week against Chargers, report says

Matt Wilhalme

It’s been years since Josh Gordon played like an All-Pro and even longer since he touched the field in a regular-season game.

But Gordon could get back on the field for Cleveland as soon as next week when his team plays the Chargers at StubHub Center, according to an NFL.com report.

Gordon, 26, hasn’t played since 2014 because of multiple violations of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy which ultimately earned him an indefinite suspension from the league.

In an interview with GQ, Gordon recently admitted that he had taken some substance “probably every game of his career.”

Gordon was drafted by the Browns in the second round of the 2012 conditional draft out of Baylor. His rookie season he caught 96 passes for 805 yards and five touchdowns. 

He bettered that mark in 2013, catching 159 passes for 1,646 and nine touchdowns after missing the first two games of the season for his first violation of the substance-abuse policy.

A second violation of the league policy earned him a 10-game ban in 2014. A subsequent violation cost him the entire 2015 season.

Nov. 26, 2017, 8:30 a.m.

Video preview: Rams vs. Saints

Nov. 26, 2017, 8:15 a.m.

Rams vs. New Orleans Saints: How they match up

RAMS (7-3) VS. NEW ORLEANS (8-2) 

When Rams have the ball

A week after the Minnesota Vikings shut down his team’s high-scoring offense, Rams coach and play-caller Sean McVay will try to reboot. Quarterback Jared Goff did not turn over the ball against the Vikings, but he was held without a touchdown pass for the first time since a Week 7 victory over Arizona. Goff is completing 61% of his passes, 16 for touchdowns, with four interceptions. Last season against the Saints, in his second NFL start, Goff played well in the first half and then struggled. Goff faces a new challenge because the Rams are without leading receiver Robert Woods, who suffered a shoulder injury against the Vikings. Sammy Watkins is expected to play a larger role, and Tavon Austin finally could be utilized as a receiver. Pharoh Cooper, Mike Thomas and rookie Josh Reynolds also will get opportunities. Running back Todd Gurley has rushed for eight touchdowns and scored on three pass plays. He rushed for 20 yards in the first quarter against the Vikings but was limited to 17 the rest of the game. The Saints rank ninth in the NFL against the pass and 13th against the run. But they are without their two top cornerbacks and end Alex Okafor because of injuries. They still have end Cameron Jordan, who has eight sacks, and safety Vonn Bell, their leading tackler.

When Saints have the ball

Future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees leads the NFL’s most productive offense. The Saints are second in passing and third in rushing and scoring. Brees, in his 17th season, is completing 72% of his passes, 15 for touchdowns, with five interceptions. In last week’s 34-31 overtime victory over the Washington Redskins, Brees completed 29 of 41 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. His favorite receiver is Michael Thomas, the former Woodland Hills Taft High and Ohio State standout who has 65 catches, two for touchdowns. Rookie running back Alvin Kamara (48 catches), receiver Ted Ginn Jr. (35) and tight end Coby Fleener (21) are other top targets. Mark Ingram, the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner, has rushed for a team-best 806 yards and eight touchdowns. The Rams entered the week with questions at cornerback. Kayvon Webster was cleared from concussion protocol and will start opposite Trumaine Johnson. Slot corner Nickell Robey-Coleman is doubtful, so safety Lamarcus Joyner could double as a slot corner in certain situations. Last week, the Rams got pressure on Case Keenum, but failed to sack the Vikings quarterback. Aaron Donald and other members of the Rams’ front seven cannot afford Brees the same luxury.

When they kick

Greg Zuerlein leads the NFL in scoring with 115 points. But after failing to get into field-goal range against the Vikings, the Rams must find a way to create opportunities for their most consistent scoring threat. Zuerlein has made 28 of 29 field-goal attempts. Punter Johnny Hekker is averaging 46.8 yards per kick. Pharoh Cooper averages 30.2 yards per kick return, which ranks ninth in the NFL. He averaged 10.4 yards per punt return. Saints kicker Wil Lutz has made 22 of 26 field goal attempts. Thomas Morstead averages 47.3 yards per kick.

Gary Klein’s prediction

This is the Rams’ second consecutive game against an NFC opponent that appears bound for the playoffs. The Saints have an eight-game winning streak, but it will be difficult to maintain after a long trip.

RAMS 30, SAINTS 27

Nov. 26, 2017, 8:01 a.m.

NFC notes: From A to Z

Matt Wilhalme

Arizona Cardinals: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert was taken with 10th pick by Jacksonville out of Missouri in 2010. He was 5-22 over two- plus seasons with his former team, which he now faces in Week 12.

Atlanta Falcons:Mohamed Sanu has grabbed a touchdown reception in three of the last four games and leads the Falcons with four in 37 catches for 388 yards. 

Carolina Panthers: Tight end Greg Olsen (foot), out since Week 2, and center Ryan Kalil (neck), who has played just two games, are expected to play against the New York Jets.

Chicago Bears: Rookie Mitchell Trubisky hasn’t had a pass intercepted in consecutive games. The Bears have one win in regulation and two in overtime.

Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys have lost three straight games by at least 20 points for the first time since 2004, all since running back Ezekiel Elliott was suspended. 

Detroit Lions: Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford suffered a right ankle injury during Detroit’s 30-23 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Thanksgiving.

Green Bay Packers: The Packers haven’t won in Pittsburgh since 1970. Green Bay is 25-12 on Sunday night since 1990, before starter Brett Hundley was born (1993).

Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback Case Keenum has led the Vikings to a 7-2 record as the starter after going 9-15 during stints with the Texans and Rams.

New Orleans Saints: Cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore (ankle) and Ken Crawley (abdomen) both missed practice this week and are questionable for the game against the Rams.

N.Y. Giants: Giants cornerback Eli Apple was a healthy scratch for the second straight week for the Giants’ 20-10 Thanksgiving Day loss to the Washington Redskins. 

Philadelphia Eagles: Jay Ajayi has 168 yards rushing and one touchdown in two games since being traded from Miami. He had 465 yards in seven games with the Dolphins.

RAMS: The Rams will face all three fellow NFC division leaders over a four-week stretch (lost to Vikings last week, vs. Saints this week, vs. Eagles in Week 14).

San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers last won back-to- back games in 2014 under coach Jim Harbaugh. They have committed a turnover in nine of 10 games.

Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks have won eight straight against the 49ers going back to the NFC Championship game in 2014, when they went on to win the Super Bowl.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rookie tight end O.J. Howard has three touchdowns in his last three road games. He has 17 catches for 279 yards but has also fumbled the ball twice. 

Washington Redskins: Receiver Jamison Crowder has 27 catches for 412 yards over the last four games after totaling only 19 grabs for 149 yards over the first seven games.

Nov. 26, 2017, 8:01 a.m.

AFC notes: From A to Z

Matt Wilhalme

Baltimore Ravens: Linebacker Terrell Suggs has six sacks in six career games against Houston. Baltimore is 70-29 when Suggs has at least half a sack.

Buffalo Bills: Nathan Peterman threw five interceptions last week before he was benched for Tyrod Taylor, who has had three picks all season.

Cincinnati Bengals:A.J. Green has 31 100-yard receiving games, tied with Chad Johnson for the Bengals team record. Cincinnati’s offense ranks last in the NFL.

CHARGERS: Philip Rivers’ 434 yards passing in a victory over the Cowboys on Thanksgiving was the first time he’s thrown for more than 425 yards and won.

Cleveland Browns: Duke Johnson Jr. leads the Browns with 46 catches and 414 yards receiving. He leads all running backs with 1,462 yards receiving since 2015. 

Denver Broncos: The Broncos’ six straight losses are their most since 1990. Their last seven-game losing streak came in 1967, when they lost nine in a row.

Houston Texans: The Texans are 44-80 on the road since joining the NFL in 2002. Cornerback Johnathan Joseph is set to play in his 100th game with the Texans. 

Indianapolis Colts: Jacoby Brissett, who is expected to start, needs one touchdown pass of 60 or more yards to tie John Unitas’ single-season franchise record (five). 

Jacksonville Jaguars: End Calais Campbell played the previous nine seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, the Jaguars’ Week 12 opponent,  and ranks second on the Cardinals franchise career sacks list with 56 1/2.

Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has made a catch in 58 straight games. Kansas City leads the league with 98 points in the fourth quarter.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins have had the second-most penalties (84), including 17 last week in a loss to Tampa Bay, one shy of their franchise record.

New England Patriots: The Patriots have won six consecutive games and need one more victory to guarantee a winning record for the 17th straight season.

N.Y. Jets:Josh McCown leads the league in completion percentage on third down (74). Defensive end Leonard Williams has 11/2 sacks in the last two games.

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders fired defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. this last week and replaced him with defensive assistant John Pagano. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers haven’t allowed a touchdown on an opponent’s opening drive in 27 straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL.

Tennessee Titans:Rishard Matthews had the Titans’ first 100-yard receiving game of the season last week.

Nov. 26, 2017, 8:01 a.m.

NFL Week 12 scores and schedule

Today's schedule

New Orleans Saints at RAMS, 1:25 p.m.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons, 10 a.m.

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals, 10 a.m.

Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans, 10 a.m.

Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs, 10 a.m.

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots, 10 a.m.

N.Y. Jets at Carolina Panthers, 10 a.m.

Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles, 10 a.m.

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers, 1:05 p.m.

Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders, 1:25 p.m.

Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers, 5:30 p.m.

Monday's schedule

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday's results

CHARGERS 28, at Dallas Cowboys 6

Minnesota Vikings 30, at Detroit Lions 23

at Washington Redskins 20, N.Y. Giants 10

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