Houston
Roethlisberger threw passes to six players as Pittsburgh (12-3) romped over the lowly Texans (4-11) despite missing NFL leading receiver Antonio Brown, who sat out with a calf injury.
The Steelers led, 20-0, at halftime after taking advantage of two turnovers by the Texans. Le’Veon Bell added a 10-yard TD run late in the third quarter, and rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster made it 34-6 with an 18-yard touchdown grab in the fourth.
Bell finished with 14 carries for 69 yards and Smith-Schuster had six receptions for 75 yards.
T.J. Yates was 7-of-16 for 83 yards and a touchdown for the Texans, who lost their fifth straight game and for the eighth time in nine games. Yates made his second straight start since Tom Savage sustained a concussion. Yates left the game briefly on Monday to be evaluated for a concussion, and his replacement, Taylor Heinicke, sustained a concussion on his only full possession.
Roethlisberger was replaced by backup Landry Jones with about six minutes remaining and the game well in hand.
The Steelers hurried and harassed Yates all day with Mike Hilton leading the way with three sacks and three quarterback hits, Cameron Heyward adding two and forcing a fumble.
The Texans couldn’t do much right on a day their home stadium was overtaken by vocal Steelers fans waving their Terrible Towels. One of the few highlights came on an acrobatic 3-yard touchdown reception by DeAndre Hopkins in the fourth quarter. Hopkins deflected the ball with his right hand, reeled it in with his left and got both feet down before falling out of bounds for his NFL-best 13th touchdown reception.
Jaguars WR Strong Out for Year
Jacksonville, Fla.
Jaelen Strong said on Monday he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at San Francisco. Strong announced the news in two Instagram posts, saying “this lil setback setting me up for a greater comeback.”
Strong caught three passes for 38 yards and a touchdown in a 44-33 loss to the 49ers. It was his debut with the team.
The Jaguars (10-5) claimed Strong off waivers from Houston early in the season, and he spent the previous five weeks on the practice squad before getting called up because of injuries. His first reception went for a 5-yard score, but he was hurt late in the game.
Eagles’ Wisniewski Still Sidelined
Philadelphia
Wisniewski injured his ankle in Week 14. Chance Warmack started Monday’s contest in his place for the second straight game. Philadelphia already is missing nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters. Halapoulivaati Vaitai has filled in since Peters went down for the season in October.
Oakland is missing Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn. He was placed on injured reserve after having surgery on his right foot.
Also inactive for the Eagles were wide receivers Marcus Johnson and Shelton Gibson, running back Wendell Smallwood, defensive end Steven Means, linebacker Joe Walker and defensive tackle Elijah Qualls.
Others inactive for the Raiders were quarterback Connor Cook, wide receiver Isaac Whitney, cornerback David Amerson, offensive linemen Ian Silberman and Jylan Ware and defensive lineman Treyvon Hester and Mario Edwards Jr.
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