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Falcons fire struggling DC

The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. — Mike Smith is out as defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, replaced by linebackers coach Mark Duffner.

Riding a three-game losing streak and not showing any signs of being able to fix a porous unit that keeps undermining the team’s chances of winning, the Bucs dismissed the former Atlanta Falcons coach Monday after yielding 92 points in the first half of consecutive losses to Pittsburgh, Chicago and Atlanta.

Tampa Bay, which has the NFL’s second-ranked offense and No. 1 passing attack, rallied to make two of those games close, however pressure on coach Dirk Koetter to make a change had been mounting since Mitchell Trubisky threw a career-best six touchdown passes in the Bears’ 48-10 rout of the Bucs on Sept. 30.

The day after the loss to Chicago, Koetter said he had no intentions of dismissing Smith because the defensive woes were not the fault of any one person.

The Bucs had a bye after that game, but having an extra week to prepare for Atlanta didn’t turn out to be an advantage. The Falcons gained 219 yards and scored touchdowns on their first three possessions to open a 21-6 lead before holding on late for a 34-29 victory that apparently sealed Smith’s fate.

“I have the utmost respect for Mike Smith as a man and as a football coach,” Koetter said. “These decisions are always difficult, but our top priority here is to ensure that we do everything possible to help this team succeed.”

Through five games, the Bucs (2-3) are 31st in total defense at 439.8 yards per game. They’re last in pass defense (355.6), while also allowing a league-high 34.6 points per game.

Bills’ Allen week to week

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bills rookie Josh Allen is out indefinitely after hurting his right throwing arm and leaving Buffalo in a quandary at quarterback.

Without providing many details, coach Sean McDermott would only list Allen as being “week to week” on Monday, a day after Allen hurt his elbow in the third quarter of a 20-13 loss at Houston. McDermott said he will know more about the nature of Allen’s injury after meeting with team doctors.

The injury to the first-round draft pick leaves McDermott having to decide between having turnover-prone backup Nathan Peterman or newly signed 12-year veteran Derek Anderson start in Buffalo’s game at Indianapolis on Sunday. McDermott wouldn’t provide a hint as to who would start in Allen’s place.

Peterman threw two interceptions, with his first returned for the deciding touchdown with 1:23 left against the Texans.

Vikings lose Hughes

EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings cornerback Mike Hughes has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, ending a promising rookie season after six games.

Coach Mike Zimmer confirmed the diagnosis on Monday, after Hughes was hurt in the fourth quarter of Minnesota’s 27-17 win over Arizona on Sunday. Hughes was covering Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the slot, when he tripped during a brief tangle of feet with Fitzgerald as he angled off a post route about 10 yards deep. As Hughes tried to keep his balance, his left leg bent sideways as he tumbled in pain to the turf while grabbing his knee.

Tannehill might return

DAVIE, Fla. — The most prolific game of Brock Osweiler’s career may have been a cameo.

Or not.

With Ryan Tannehill nursing an injury to his throwing shoulder, it was uncertain Monday whether Osweiler will get another start for the Miami Dolphins.

Osweiler thrived as Tannehill’s replacement Sunday, passing for a career-high 380 yards and three touchdowns to help beat the Chicago Bears. Tannehill was ruled out only hours before kickoff but might return for Sunday’s home game against the Detroit Lions, coach Adam Gase said.

Bryant likely out

ATLANTA — Falcons kicker Matt Bryant is likely to miss the next game against the New York Giants after straining his right hamstring making a 57-yard field goal.

Coach Dan Quinn said Monday that the Falcons are going to bring in another kicker by the time they return to practice this week. Giorgio Tavecchio, who was with the team at the end of the preseason, is among the candidates to fill in for at least one game.

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