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NFL
The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com
Monday, November 5, 2018 3B
SCOREBOARD
Houston wins sixth straight
Gainesville High graduate Watson
threw pair of Texans touchdowns
[>■
Houston Texans quarterback and Gainesville High graduate Deshaun
Watson (4) avoids the tackles of Denver Broncos linebacker Shaquil
Barrett (48) and outside linebacker Bradley Chubb during the second
half of Sunday’s game in Denver.
Associated Press
Brandon McManus missed a
51-yard field goal as time expired,
leaving Demaryius Thomas a win
ner in his homecoming and Hous
ton escaped Denver with a 19-17
victory.
Gainesville High graduate
Deshaun Watson threw for a pair
of Houston touchdowns but was
sacked four times.
The Texans (6-3) won their sixth
straight and the Broncos (3-6) lost
for the sixth time in seven games.
Thomas finished with three
receptions for 61 yards, but two
of them were back-to-back for 31
and 18 yards on the Texans’ open
ing touchdown drive.
McManus’ second miss of
the game came after Case Kee-
num completed an 18-yard
pass between two defenders to
Emmanuel Sanders on fourth-
and-8 from the Denver 45-yard
line.
Keenum threw a 5-yard pass
to tight end Jeff Heuerman, who
had a career-best 10 catches for
83 yards and then running back
Phillip Lindsay lost a yard.
SAINTS 45, RAMS 35: Michael
Thomas caught a late 72-yard
touchdown reception and then
celebrated with a cellphone in
a throwback to another famous
New Orleans play, and the streak
ing Saints handed the Los Angeles
Rams their first loss of the season
with a win on Sunday.
Drew Brees passed for 346
yards and four touchdowns in
New Orleans’ seventh straight
win, and Thomas finished with a
club-record 211 yards receiving.
But what happened after their
last connection of the day really
stole the show in a wild shootout
between two of the NFL’s best
offenses.
Thomas’ long TD came on
a pivotal third-down play with
about four minutes to go, when
the Rams seemed to expect the
Saints to run a play closer to
the first-down marker. Thomas
ran free behind Marcus Peters,
caught Brees’ long throw virtually
in stride and ran straight to the
goal post, where he got out an old-
school flip phone — reminiscent
of Joe Horn’s Sunday night TD
celebration in 2003.
CHARGERS 25, SEAHAWKS
17: Philip Rivers made his 200th
consecutive start and kept Los
Angeles surging at the midpoint of
the season, surviving a late rally
by Seattle’s Russell Wilson.
Rivers threw for 228 yards
and two touchdowns, Melvin
Gordon added 113 yards rushing
and the Chargers won their fifth
straight with a 25-17 win over the
Seahawks on Sunday.
Rivers threw touchdown passes
of 12 yards to Tyrell Williams and
30 yards to Mike Williams, and let
the Chargers defense stymie Rus
sell Wilson until the final minutes.
Seattle had won four of five fol
lowing a 0-2 start.
Desmond King provided the
deciding points for Los Angeles
(6-2) by stepping in front of Wil
son’s pass for David Moore and
returning it 42 yards for a touch
down with 6:44 remaining to give
the Chargers a 25-10 lead.
Wilson managed to make the
final minutes nervous for Los
Angeles.
STEELERS 23, RAVENS 16:
James Conner rushed for 107
yards and caught a TD pass for
the Steelers (5-2-1), who have won
four straight since falling to the
Ravens at home on Sept. 30.
Roethlisberger went 28 for 47
for 270 yards.
His 1-yard run put Pittsburgh
up 20-6 in the third quarter, and
the 36-year-old showed his grit by
missing only one play after being
flattened during a sprint from the
pocket with just over 13 minutes
left.
CHIEFS 37, BROWNS 21: Pat
rick Mahomes passed for 375
yards, threw three touchdown
passes — two to Travis Kelce —
and continued the best start by
an NFL quarterback in 68 years
as Kansas City’s impossible-to-
handle offense kept rolling with a
win over the Browns, who played
their first game since coach Hue
Jackson’s firing.
Kareem Hunt had two scoring
runs and one receiving for the
Chiefs (8-1), who came in averag
ing 36.3 points per game with an
offense overloaded with weapons
for Mahomes.
The 23-year-old used all of
them in winning his first pro
matchup against Baker Mayfield
and the Browns (2-6-1).
VIKINGS 24, LIONS 9: Dani
elle Hunter had 3(4 of Minneso
ta’s franchise-record 10 sacks and
a fourth-quarter fumble return
for a touchdown, making for a
miserable afternoon for Matthew
Stafford and the Lions.
Hunter, the fourth-year defen
sive end, also was credited with
nine tackles and four quarterback
hits as the Vikings (5-3-1) limited
the Lions to 214 total yards.
DOLPHINS 13, JETS 6: Rookie
linebacker Jerome Baker inter
cepted Sam Darnold and scored
the only touchdown on a 25-yard
return with 11 minutes left, and a
resilient defense helped the Dol
phins beat the Jets.
Darnold threw four intercep
tions and took four sacks, and the
Jets went 2 for 13 on third down.
The hobbled Dolphins (5-4)
endured another wave of inju
ries, but their defense was much
improved after three consecutive
JACK DEMPSEY I The Associated Press
poor games, with the quality of
the opposition certainly a factor.
Darnold tried to rally his sput
tering team from a 6-3 deficit, but
following a punt he took a high
snap and made an ill-advised
throw to tight end Eric Tomlin
son. Baker stepped in front for
his first career interception and
scored untouched.
T.J. McDonald and Walt Aik-
ens made interceptions to end the
Jets’ final two possessions.
The Jets (3-6) lost their third in
a row and have scored 33 points
during the skid. They’ve dropped
nine of their past 10 road games
dating to 2017.
BEARS 41, BILLS 9: Jordan
Howard scored two touchdowns
and the Bears’ defense had two
others in a win over the Bills in
what proved to be another com
edy of errors for Buffalo and its
anemic offense.
Eddie Jackson scored on a
65-yard fumble return and Leon
ard Floyd returned a tipped pass
19 yards for another score some
3(4 minutes apart in the second
quarter.
Standings
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
East
W
L
T
Pet
PF
PA
New England
6
2
0
.750
239
185
Miami
5
4
0
.556
187
225
N.Y. Jets
3
6
0
.333
198
213
Buffalo
2
7
0
South
.222
96
241
W
L
T
Pet
PF
PA
Houston
6
3
0
.667
216
184
Tennessee
3
4
0
.429
106
127
Jacksonville
3
5
0
.375
134
170
Indianapolis
3
5
0
North
.375
231
213
W
L
T
Pet
PF
PA
Pittsburgh
5
2
1
.688
227
188
Cincinnati
5
3
0
.625
221
237
Baltimore
4
5
0
.444
213
160
Cleveland
2
6
1
West
.278
190
247
W
L
T
Pet
PF
PA
Kansas City
8
1
0
.889
327
226
L.A. Chargers
6
2
0
.750
220
180
Denver
3
6
0
.333
205
213
Oakland
1 7 0 .125
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
East
141
252
W
L
T
Pet
PF
PA
Washington
5
3
0
.625
160
172
Philadelphia
4
4
0
.500
178
156
Dallas
3
4
0
.429
140
123
N.Y. Giants
1
7
0
South
.125
150
205
W
L
T
Pet
PF
PA
New Orleans
7
1
0
.875
279
218
Carolina
6
2
0
.750
220
180
Atlanta
4
4
0
.500
228
226
Tampa Bay
3
5
0
North
.375
229
275
W
L
T
Pet
PF
PA
Chicago
5
3
0
.625
235
153
Minnesota
5
3
1
.611
221
204
Green Bay
3
3
1
.500
175
173
Detroit
3
5
0
West
.375
180
210
W
L
T
Pet
PF
PA
L.A. Rams
8
1
0
.889
299
200
Seattle
4
4
0
.500
188
156
Arizona
2
6
0
.250
110
199
San Francisco
2
7
0
.222
207
239
Sunday's Games
Minnesota 24, Detroit 9
Miami 13, N.Y. Jets 6
Atlanta 38, Washington 14
Kansas City 37, Cleveland 21
Pittsburgh 23, Baltimore 16
Chicago 41, Buffalo 9
Carolina 42, Tampa Bay 28
Houston 19, Denver 17
L.A. Chargers 25, Seattle 17
New Orleans 45, L.A. Rams 35
Green Bay at New England, late
Open: Indianapolis, Arizona, N.Y. Giants, Jacksonville,
Philadelphia, Cincinnati
Today's Games
Tennessee at Dallas, 8:15 p.m.
Witten set to broadcast
first game of Cowboys
Jason Witten vividly remembers
Tony Romo’s return to the home
of the Dallas Cowboys for the first
time as a broadcaster last year after
retiring as the storied franchise’s
all-time passing leader.
Now it’s the 15-year tight end’s
turn. Witten’s move from the field
to ESPN’s “Monday Night Football”
booth was a little more sudden and
surprising than Romo’s decision to
join CBS after he had lost his job to
Dak Prescott.
The club’s career leader in
catches and games was still a starter
when he left, and probably a little
more beloved than his best friend
and former quarterback. The fans
figure to illustrate as much when
the Cowboys (3-4) host the pro team
from Witten’s home state, the Ten
nessee Titans (3-4), on Monday
night.
Associated Press
FALCONS
■ Continued from 1B
JULIE SMITH I Associated Press
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) scrambles with
the ball during the first half against the Washington Redskins
on Sunday in Landover, Maryland.
team than we were at the
start and we’ve got to keep
it trending in that direction.”
Nowhere is that progress
more evident than on the
ground, where Coleman ran
for 80 yards and Ito Smith
had 66 yards and a rushing
touchdown. The Falcons sur
passed 100 yards rushing for
the first time since Week 2.
“The big guys, they put
the work in,” said coach
Dan Quinn, whose team
didn’t punt until midway
through the third quarter
and converted its first eight
third-down opportunities.
“We know we are at our best
when both the run game and
our pass game are in bal
ance. And today we had that,
and the results were there.”
Atlanta’s 30th-ranked
defense did its part, too,
holding Washington to 35
first-quarter yards and mak
ing a crucial stop after Ryan
was picked off by Quinton
Dunbar — just the quarter
back’s third interception this
season.
The NFC East-leading
Redskins (5-3) could blame
poor tackling, ill-timed pen
alties and a series of injuries
along the offensive line for
the end of their three-game
winning streak.
Already without left
tackle Trent Williams after
surgery to repair his dislo
cated right thumb, Wash
ington lost left guard Shaun
Lauvao to a left knee injury,
right guard Brandon Scherff
to a left shoulder injury and
struggled to stop the Falcons
when it mattered.
“It wasn’t the prepara
tion, just the executing,”
Washington safety D.J.
Swearinger said. “Got to be
better. Got to be disciplined.
Got to be disciplined in our
efforts.”
Swearinger and other
players blamed officials for
part of the Redskins’ disci
plinary trouble that added
up to 10 penalties for 147
yards.
Adrian Peterson was held
to 17 yards on nine carries
a week after rushing for
149 yards at the New York
Giants. Alex Smith was 30 of
46 for 306 yards, an intercep
tion and a touchdown pass to
Josh Doctson.
KAZEE’S PICK AND
THROW
Falcons safety Damontae
Kazee effectively ended
any chances of a Redskins
comeback when he picked
off Smith with about seven
minutes left. After the play,
Kazee ran toward the cor
ner of the stadium full of
Falcons fans and did his best
Ryan impression by throw
ing the ball to the top of the
lower deck.
Kazee said he was trying
to get the ball to his nephew
in that corner of the stands
and isn’t worried about
punishment.
“I get fined every week,”
Kazee said. “I don’t care.”
SMITH’S RUN
As inconsequential as
Washington’s ground game
was, Smith had its lon
gest gain of the day on a
scramble that helped set up
a touchdown. With Peter
son blocking for him, the
34-year-old picked up 22
yards before being stopped
on a crushing shoulder-to-
shoulder hit from Brian
Poole at the Atlanta 19.
INJURIES
FALCONS: Calvin Ridley
was cleared to return after
being evaluated for a head
injury. .. K Matt Bryant
missed his second consecu
tive game with a right ham
string injury, and CB Robert
Alford was out with an ankle
injury, the first game he has
missed since 2015.
Falcons 38
Redskins 14
Atlanta 7 14 7 10—38
Washington 0 7 7 0—14
First Quarter
Atl—Coleman 39 pass from Ryan (Tavecchio
kick), 9:46.
Second Quarter
Atl—I.Smith 12 run (Tavecchio kick), 9:10.
Was—Doctson 2 pass from A.Smith (Hopkins
kick), 3:10.
Atl—Ridley 40 pass from Ryan (Tavecchio
kick), :28.
Third Quarter
Atl—Coleman 10 pass from Ryan (Tavecchio
kick), 9:58.
Was—Bibbs 3 run (Hopkins kick), 2:15.
Fourth Quarter
Atl—FG Tavecchio 27,7:09.
Atl—Jones 35 pass from Ryan (Tavecchio
kick), 3:45.
A—0.
Atl
Was
First downs
25
20
Total Net Yards
491
366
Rushes-yards
24-154
15-79
Passing
337
287
Punt Returns
1-4
1-0
Kickoff Returns
0-0
5-95
Interceptions Ret.
1-0
1-24
Comp-Att-Int
26-38-1
30-46-1
Sacked-Yards Los
t2-13
3-19
Punts
2-51.5
5-49.0
Fumbles-Lost
0-0
0-0
Penalties-Yards
7-50
10-147
Time of Possession
32:56
27:04
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Atlanta, Coleman 13-88, I.Smith
10-60, Ridley 1-6. Washington, A.Smith 1-22,
Perine 2-20, Bibbs 3-20, Peterson 9-17.
PASSING—Atlanta, Ryan 26-38-1-350.
Washington, A.Smith 30-46-1-306.
RECEIVING—Atlanta, Jones 7-121, Ridley
6-71, Coleman 5-68, Sanu 4-45, Hooper 3-41,
I.Smith 1-4. Washington, M.Harris 10-124, Davis
5-62, J.Reed 4-34, Doctson 3-31, Peterson 3-16,
Richardson 2-16, Perine 2-8, Bibbs 1-15.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.
REDSKINS: Played
stretches without three-
fifths of their starting offen
sive line and lost Lauvao to
a potentially serious knee
injury. Lauvao injured his
left knee on the third play of
the game, was taken off the
sideline in a wheelchair and
did not return. RT Morgan
Moses injured his right knee
in the first quarter before
returning in the second.
Coach Jay Gruden said Lau
vao and Scherff would have
MRIs Monday.
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