NFL notes: Giants bench QB Jones and will start Tommy DeVito against the Bucs

The arches that support the roof are nearly 300 feet above the field at their highest point. The 80,000-seat venue opened in 2009.

Judge denies bail reduction in Broncos WR shooting

A judge denied bail reduction Monday for a man charged with shooting and injuring Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds last month after prosecutors said the suspect had followed Reynolds and two other men into a strip club and followed them out before firing shots into their SUV.

This was a violent, vicious attack on the citizens of Denver County,” prosecutor Holly MacDonald said in asking Denver County Court Judge Andre Rudolph to maintain Luis Mendoza’s bail at $300,000 cash. “This was a coordinated, organized assault on three victims, largely with Mr. Mendoza being the one coordinating this attack.”

At least 30 rounds were fired into the vehicle carrying Reynolds and his companions, MacDonald said.

Steelers not exceeding own expectations

The phrase sounded odd coming out of DeShon Elliott’s mouth. Even though it happened to be true.

Standing inside the Pittsburgh locker room Sunday after another taut victory over the Baltimore Ravens pushed the Steelers to 8-2 and gave them a little wiggle room atop the AFC North, Elliott pulled out a well-worn cliche that made up for in accuracy what it lacked in originality.

“No one expected us to be here right now,” Elliott said.

Three months ago, the Steelers were mostly a mystery after blowing up the quarterback room in the offseason and bringing in an offensive coordinator (Arthur Smith) who spent three years running in place as the head coach in Atlanta.

Pittsburgh began the season as a 50-1 long shot to reach the Super Bowl. Its three AFC North rivals — yes, even Cleveland — had shorter odds.

The narrative has shifted considerably as Thanksgiving approaches, thanks in part to a team that has all the hallmarks of a legitimate threat to play deep into January and perhaps beyond, fueled by a deep roster.

Panthers will give QB Young 4th straight start

Bryce Young will make his fourth straight start at quarterback for the Carolina Panthers on Sunday against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Panthers coach Dave Canales made the announcement Monday after the team returned to practice following a bye week.

The Panthers won back-to-back games for the first time since 2022 before the bye with victories over the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants — the latter of which was played in Germany — with Young under center.

Although the No. 1 overall pick in 2023 didn’t put up great numbers during those two wins, throwing for a combined 297 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, he was able to improve his career record as a starter to 4-17.

Bears’ Eberflus stands by decision to run clock

A day later, Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus stood by his decision to let the clock wind down rather than run another play prior to a last-second field goal attempt against Green Bay.

The Bears ended a chaotic week in which they fired their offensive coordinator with their fourth straight loss, falling 20-19 to the Packers on Sunday when Green Bay blocked Cairo Santos’ 46-yard kick as time expired.

“Yeah, I would do the same,” Eberflus said Monday. “Would you like to be closer? Yeah, sure. You’d like it be at the 15-yard line. But it is where it is and you could have done a bunch of different things there.”

Chicago was in position to stop a skid that began with a loss at Washington on a Hail Mary pass. Instead, the Bears (4-6) fell for the second time in four games on a last-second play.

They led 19-14 before Jordan Love scored from the 1 to give the Packers a one-point lead with 2:59 remaining.

Jaguars coach won’t fire assistants

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson doesn’t believe in firing assistants during the season.

He didn’t do it during his five years in Philadelphia and doesn’t plan to in Jacksonville, not even after the worst loss in franchise history.

Coming off a 52-6 debacle at Detroit and heading into a bye week, Pederson said “everything’s on the table” in terms of making changes. But he also made it clear that keeping his staff intact is a priority.

“I think you got to be really, really careful,” Pederson said. “When you start pointing fingers at certain people, it’s a dangerous thing. And I’m not going to do that. Not doing it. Not right now.

“As a head coach in this league that’s going through what we’re going through, you’re pointing a finger. And if it’s going to be pointed, it needs to be pointed at me. Start with me. That’s enough on that.”

The Jaguars (2-9) could point fingers in any direction and find problems. They have lost four games in a row and 14 of 17.

Smith’s heroics give Seahawks new life

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith delivered in one of the season’s biggest moments and boosted Seattle to a much-needed victory over the rival San Francisco 49ers.

Smith’s 13-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds left gave Seattle a 20-17 victory on Sunday, its first win over San Francisco since 2021. The veteran had 54 passing yards and 29 rushing yards on the final drive to help the up-and-down Seahawks (5-5) end a two-game skid.

While it wasn’t Smith’s best statistical performance of the season, with 221 passing yards with no touchdowns, it was the most satisfying win. Smith had gone 0-5 against the 49ers in his Seahawks career.