NFL report

— Rookies making marks

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck surpassed Cam Newton’s year-old record for yards passing by a rookie when he had 123 in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Luck needed only 74 yards to break the Carolina quarterback’s mark of 4,051 yards, and he eclipsed it while leading the Colts to a field goal that gave Indianapolis a 13-3 halftime lead.

The former Stanford star finished with 205 yards passing in the Colts’ 20-13 victory over the Chiefs, clinching an AFC playoff berth.

Luck’s 21 touchdowns are well off Peyton Manning’s record of 26 set in 1998.

Also, Minnesota Vikings rookie place-kicker Blair Walsh broke the NFL record for 50-yard plus field goals in a season.

Walsh kicked a 56-yard field goal in the second quarter against the Houston Texans, giving him a record ninth field goal of 50 yards or more.

Redskins kicker Kai Forbath set the NFL record for consecutive field goals to begin a career with 17 in a row. He had field goals of 45 and 42 yards in the first half against the Eagles. New Orleans’ Garrett Hartley had 16 consecutive.

Tough talk

Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly said the Oakland Raiders were gunning for Cam Newton after the Carolina Panthers took out quarterback Carson Palmer.

Kelly says, “You take our guy out, we’re going to go and try to take your guy out. We’re not out to hurt someone, but when that happens ...”

The Raiders lost the game 17-6, although they did get several shots in on Newton, including one that prompted Carolina’s second-year quarterback to bounce up from the ground and chastise and bump an official for not throwing a flag for a late hit.

Palmer left late in the first quarter when Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy slammed into him from behind as Palmer was setting up to throw. Officialspenalized Hardy for leading with his helmet.

Matt Leinart replaced Palmer.

Injuries, injuries

Starting running backs Arian Foster of Houston, Matt Forte of Chicago and Trent Richardson of Cleveland were sidelined for part of their games Sunday.

With one week remaining in the regular season, the Texans will be monitoring Foster’s heart after he was removed from a loss to Minnesota with an irregular heartbeat.

Foster, the team’s leading rusher, left the game after gaining 15 yards on 10 carries. He also had two catches for 14 yards. His last play came with about nine minutes left in the third quarter.

Coach Gary Kubiak said Foster had experienced the problem once before in practice.

The medical staff told Kubiak that Foster was OK late in Sunday’s game and could return. But Kubiak thought it best to give him the rest of the game off.

Forte gained 88 yards in 12 carries, including a 4-yard touchdown run in a victory at Arizona before leaving with a right ankle injury early in the second half.

Late in the fourth quarter of a loss at Denver, Richardson was carted off the field with a left ankle injury; the Browns offered no report on the injury.

Earlier, fellow rookie Brandon Weeden hurt his right shoulder when Von Miller crashed into the quarterback.

Weeden slammed his helmet to the ground on the sideline and walked slowly to the locker room.

Earlier in the game, cornerback Sheldon Brown left with a head injury after colliding with Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley.

Brown was trying to cover Demaryius Thomas over the middle of the field when he bumped into Stokley.

Broncos cornerback Tracy Porter left with a concussion in the first quarter.

Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer hurt his back in a loss at Carolina.

Palmer was flushed from the pocket late in the first quarter, rolled right and stopped to set up. That’s when defensive end Greg Hardy came in from behind and hit Palmer in his lower back with the crown of his helmet. Officials flagged Hardy for unnecessary roughness because he led with his helmet, resulting in a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down.

X-rays on Palmer were negative.

Sports, Pages 16 on 12/24/2012

Upcoming Events