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A16 SPORTS
Tuesday 13 december 2022
Analysis: Third-string NFL QBs rise to challenge of starting

By ROB MAADDI and collected,” Ravens
AP Pro Football Writer coach John Harbaugh
Brock Purdy outplayed Tom said of Brown. “(He’s) very
Brady, leaving his dad in much a student of the
tears with a stellar perfor- game, works very hard at
mance in his first career it in terms of preparing him-
start. Anthony Brown dis- self.” Baker Mayfield got
played a veteran’s poise things started for reserve
under pressure in his NFL QBs Thursday night, leading
debut. Third-string quar- the Los Angeles Rams to an
terbacks had quite the improbable comeback 17-
Sunday leading a pair of 16 win over the Las Vegas
division leaders to impor- Raiders just two days after
tant wins. Other backups, the team claimed him off
including former Super waivers from Carolina.
Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, saw The Rams (4-9) are headed
action in Week 14. Purdy nowhere after winning the
stole the show. The rookie Super Bowl last season but
quarterback chosen with Mayfield makes them at
the last pick in the draft this least interesting to watch.
year threw two touchdown Other backups had vary-
passes and ran for anoth- ing results. Flacco briefly
er score, helping the San replaced Mike White in the
Francisco 49ers rout Brady San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws a touchdown pass to running back New York Jets’ 20-12 loss
and the Tampa Bay Buc- Christian McCaffrey during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo. White was bat-
caneers 35-7, spoiling the in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. Associated Press tered by the Bills through-
GOAT’s Bay Area home- out the game and ended
coming. about their support. “Be- confident he can do the rookie after backup Tyler up going to a hospital in an
“I grew up watching him, ing the last pick, my family job. Huntley, who filling in for La- ambulance afterward for
seeing him make plays has always been the rock “I’m not surprised,” Niners mar Jackson, entered con- what the team said was a
and win Super Bowls, so to and the people to tell me receiver Ray-Ray McCloud cussion protocol in the third precautionary trip.
be out on the same field ‘you’re good enough,’ es- III said. “If you just watch quarter against Pittsburgh. The Houston Texans used a
and being able to com- pecially my dad. To do this Brock when he first walked Brown took his first snap two-QB system with Davis
pete against one another, and have this kind of per- in this building, from when from the Ravens 1 with Mills and Jeff Driskel sharing
it’s literally a dream come formance with them here he was drafted here, when the team leading 13-7. He snaps in a 27-23 last-minute
true,” Purdy said. “I’m very watching, it means the he practices even in pre- tossed a 3-yard pass. Brown loss at Dallas.
blessed and honored to world to me. I’m thankful.” season, his personality just finished 3 of 5 for 16 yards Mitchell Trubisky took over
play against him.” The NFC West-leading 49ers reflects on the field hands and guided the offense on for Kenny Pickett after
After his second TD pass (9-4) are relying on Purdy down. He’s an animal and a field-goal drive that end- Pittsburgh’s rookie starter
of the game, Purdy’s fa- to take them to the Super he’s passionate about ed up being the decisive entered the concussion
ther wiped tears from his Bowl after losing Jimmy his craft. He is going to let score in a 16-14 victory over protocol in the first quarter.
eyes. Purdy, who played Garoppolo to a foot injury. you know how, but he is the Steelers. The Denver Broncos turned
four seasons at Iowa State Trey Lance, who opened not cocky. He is very confi- The AFC North-leading Ra- to Brett Rypien after Russell
before the Niners selected the year as San Francisco’s dent and as a quarterback vens (9-4) don’t know when Wilson slammed his head
him with the 262nd pick, starter, already went down that’s all you need back Jackson will return so they’ll into the turf at the end of
had many family members for the season with a bro- there.” be counting on Huntley a run. Rypien tossed a TD
in the stands. ken ankle on Sept. 18. The Baltimore Ravens had and Brown, if needed. pass in a 34-28 loss to Kan-
“It’s everything,” he said Purdy’s teammates are to turn to an undrafted “He’s kind of calm, cool sas City. q

Guardians add pop, sign slugger Josh Bell to 2-year contract

By TOM WITHERS and believe they’ve add- biggest surprises last sea-
\AP Sports Writer ed one with the switch-hit- son. They pulled away in
CLEVELAND (AP) — The ting Bell. September to finish 92-70
Guardians added some The 30-year-old hit 37 hom- and win their division by 11
major pop to their pesky ers in 2019 for Pittsburgh games.
lineup. and has 130 over seven Cleveland beat Tampa
Cleveland officially signed season in the majors. Bay in the wild-card round
slugger Josh Bell to a two- He’ll likely platoon at first before losing to the New
year, $33 million contract base with Josh Naylor and York Yankees in the Division
on Monday after agreeing be used as a designated Series, when the Guardians
to the deal last week dur- hitter. This will be Bell’s first were outhomered 9-3.
ing the winter meetings in time in the AL after playing Bell split last season be-
San Diego. with the Pirates, San Diego tween the Nationals and
The AL Central champions and Washington. Padres, posting career-
were in the market for a Embracing a patience- highs in hits (147) and walks
San Diego Padres’ Josh Bell takes batting practice before
Game 2 of a baseball NL Division Series against the Los Angeles big bat after hitting just 127 over-power approach at (81). For the season, he
Dodgers, Oct. 12, 2022, in Los Angeles. homers (second fewest the plate, the Guardians batted .266 17 homers and
Associated Press in the league) last season were one of baseball’s 71 RBIs in 156 games.q