Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs recorded the second 100-yard rushing game and the first touchdown reception of his NFL career in the Detroit Lions’ 42-17 victory over the Denver Broncos on Saturday night.

The Lions’ 10th victory of the season concluded an NFL tripleheader on Saturday that included the Cincinnati Bengals’ 27-24 overtime victory against the Minnesota Vikings and the Indianapolis Colts’ 30-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Gibbs gained 100 yards on 11 rushing attempts and caught two passes for 8 yards against the Broncos.

The former Alabama ball-carrier scored the Lions’ second touchdown on a 9-yard throw from quarterback Jared Goff with 8:15 left in the first half. Gibbs’ 46th reception was his first to reach the end zone in 2023.

Gibbs scored on a 12-yard run as Detroit went up 35-10 with 12:12 left to play.

Gibbs set up a third-quarter touchdown with a 34-yard run to the Denver 4-yard line.

With three games remaining in the regular season, Gibbs has 792 yards and seven touchdowns on 139 carries and 47 receptions for 296 yards and one touchdown in 12 games.

Cincinnati Bengals 27, Minnesota Vikings 24 (OT)

In his fourth NFL start in place of injured regular Joe Burrow, Bengals quarterback Jake Browning threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tee Higgins with 39 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter as Cincinnati sent the game into overtime, then had a 44-yard connection with wide receiver Tyler Boyd to set up the game-winning field goal in overtime.

Five players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Minnesota-Cincinnati game:

· Jordan Battle (Alabama) started at safety for the Bengals. The rookie matched his career high with 10 tackles.

· Bengals cornerback Allan George (Andalusia) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Bengals wide receiver Shedrick Jackson (Hoover, Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Vikings running back DeWayne McBride (UAB) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron (St. Paul’s Episcopal, Alabama) dressed for the game but did not play.

· Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (Fort Payne) connected for field goals of 34 and 29 yards, with the latter coming with 3:01 left in overtime and winning the game for Cincinnati. McPherson also made his three extra-point kicks.

· Nick Mullens (Spain Park) started at quarterback for the Vikings. In his first start of the 2023 season, Mullens completed 26-of-33 passes for 303 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and ran for 10 yards on six carries. In his 18th career start, Mullens recorded his fifth 300-yard game. Mullens threw touchdown passes to wide receiver Jordan Allison of 37 yards with 10:46 left in the third quarter and 1 yard with 3:48 left in the fourth quarter. Mullens was intercepted on a third-and-9 throw from the Cincinnati 14-yard line and while being sacked on a third-and-7 snap from the Bengals 22 on consecutive possessions in the second quarter.

· Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr. (Alabama) had two receptions for 18 yards.

· Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (Park Crossing) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Jonah Williams (Alabama) started at right offensive tackle for the Bengals.

With its third win in a row, Cincinnati moved to 8-6 while dropping Minnesota to 7-7 with three games remaining on their schedules. The Bengals visit the Pittsburgh Steelers at 3:30 p.m. CST Dec. 23 for their next game. The Vikings host the Detroit Lions at noon Dec. 24.

Indianapolis Colts 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 13

Indianapolis spotted the Steelers a 13-0 lead, then ground its way to the game’s remaining 30 points. Even though No. 1 running back Zach Moss got hurt scoring the Colts’ first touchdown, Indianapolis totaled 170 rushing yards while holding Pittsburgh to 216 total yards. The Colts defense came up with two interceptions and one fumble recovery while the Indianapolis offense played turnover-free.

Seven players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Pittsburgh-Indianapolis game:

· Steelers defensive tackle Montravius Adams (Auburn) made one tackle.

· Steelers linebacker Kwon Alexander (Oxford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Colts cornerback Tony Brown (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) started at free safety for the Steelers. Fitzpatrick broke up one pass before leaving the game in the second quarter with a knee injury.

· Najee Harris (Alabama) started at running back for the Steelers. Harris ran for 33 yards on 15 carries and lost a fumble at the Pittsburgh 18-yard line. Indianapolis scored a touchdown on the next snap to take a 21-13 lead with 13:16 left in the third quarter.

· Colts linebacker Ronnie Harrison (Alabama) did not record any stats.

· Ryan Kelly (Alabama) started at center for the Colts.

· George Pickens (Hoover) started at wide receiver for the Steelers. Pickens had three receptions for 47 yards.

· Colts offensive tackle Braden Smith (Auburn) was designated as a game-day inactive. A knee injury kept Smith out of the lineup for the second straight game.

· Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace (Alabama) made three tackles.

Indianapolis moved past Pittsburgh in the AFC wild-card standings by improving to 8-6. With their third straight loss, the Steelers dropped to 7-7.

The Colts visit the Atlanta Falcons at noon CST Dec. 24 for their next game. Pittsburgh hosts the Cincinnati Bengals at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 23.

Detroit Lions 42, Denver Broncos 17

Detroit quarterback Jared Goff threw five touchdown passes, with three going rookie tight end Sam LaPorta. After punting on their first three possessions, the Lions scored touchdowns on their next five series to overpower Denver.

In addition to Gibbs, eight other players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field in the Denver-Detroit game:

· Brian Branch (Alabama) started at defensive back for the Lions. Branch made two tackles, registered one quarterback hit and broke up one pass.

· Isaiah Buggs (Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Lions. Buggs made two tackles and recovered one fumble. Buggs came up with the football at the Denver 37-yard line to end the Broncos’ first possession of the game.

· Broncos safety Kareem Jackson (Alabama) is serving an NFL-imposed four-game suspension and is not eligible to play. This is the final game of Jackson’s suspension.

· Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Broncos. Jeudy caught three passes for 74 yards, including a 40-yarder.

· Lions defensive tackle Brodric Martin (Northridge, North Alabama) made two tackles.

· Broncos inside linebacker Drew Sanders (Alabama) made one tackle.

· Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith (Saks) made one tackle on special teams.

· Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham (Auburn) played for the first time this season on Denver’s final possession of the game, but he was limited to handoffs.

· Patrick Surtain II (Alabama) started at left cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain made three tackles.

· Jameson Williams (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Lions. Williams caught four passes for 47 yards.

At 10-4, Detroit is on the doorstep of a playoff berth. If the Los Angeles Rams lose to the Washington Commanders on Sunday or the Seattle Seahawks lose to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, the Lions will have their first postseason position since 2016. Denver’s playoff chances took a hit as the Broncos dropped to 7-7.

Detroit visits the Minnesota Vikings at noon CST Dec. 24 in their next game. Denver hosts the New England Patriots at 7:15 p.m. Dec. 24.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.