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NFL The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Monday, November 19, 2018 3B SCOREBOARD Texans win seventh straight ALEX BRANDON I The Associated Press Houston Texans quarterback and Gainesville High graduate Deshaun Watson (4) is pushed out of bounds by Washington Redskins free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (20) during the second half of Sunday’s game in Landover, Maryland. Gainesville graduate Watson streaky with passing for Houston Associated Press Justin Reid returned an interception 101 yards to help the Houston Texans overcome a mistake-prone Deshaun Watson for their seventh consecutive victory, 23-21 against the Redskins on Sunday. Watson, a Gainesville High graduate, com pleted 16 of 24 throws with a touchdown and two interceptions for Houston. Washington’s loss came at a significant price when quarterback Alex Smith suf fered a gruesome ankle injury on a sack in the third quarter. Smith’s right ankle turned the wrong way as he was sacked by Kareem Jackson and J.J. Watt on a play eerily simi lar to Joe Theismann’s broken leg that came exactly 33 years ago to the day. Colt McCoy replaced Smith and threw for a touchdown pass and led a long scoring drive for Washington (6-4), which likely will have to rely on the journeyman quarterback the rest of the way. Adrian Peterson’s touchdown that put the Redskins up 21-20 early in the fourth quarter was the first lead change in a game involving the Redskins all season. Houston (7-3) turned over the ball three times, but kept its winning streak going after Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins missed a 63-yard field-goal attempt with 3 seconds left. Peterson ran for two touchdowns to con tinue climbing the NFL rushing chart, but was bottled up on a lot of his other carries. Peterson’s 3- and 7-yard TD runs gave him 105 in his career and moved him past former Redskins star John Riggins into sole posses sion of sixth, one behind Jim Brown for fifth. Peterson finished with 51 yards on 16 carries. STEELERS 20, JAGUARS 16: Ben Roeth- lisberger was far from perfect until the fourth quarter, and that was all that mat tered for the Pittsburgh Steelers. One week after Roethlisberger had a per fect quarterback rating, he overcame three interceptions and a 16-0 deficit by leading two late scoring drives. He lunged in from the 1 for the winning score with 5 seconds left for a victory over the Jacksonville Jag uars on Sunday. The Steelers (7-2-1) won their sixth straight and likely ended any playoff hopes for the Jaguars, who eliminated Pittsburgh in the divisional round last year. The Jaguars (3-7) dropped their sixth in a row in a game they controlled until the final five minutes. Leonard Fournette ran for 95 yards and caught two passes for 46 yards that led to the Jaguars’ only touchdown when he launched himself from the 4 and scored for a 16-0 lead with 2:09 left in the third quarter. Roethlisberger, who now has 10 turnovers in his last three games against Jacksonville, took over from there. He got safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. to bite on a pump fake and found Antonio Brown open deep in the middle of the field for a 78-yard touchdown. Still trailing by 10 points with just under six minutes remaining, Roethlisberger found tight end Vance McDonald in the back of the end zone to cut the lead to 16-13 with 2:28 remaining. The Jaguars went three-and-out, and Roethlisberger led a 68-yard drive. He hit JuJu Smith-Schuster on the left sideline for a 35-yard gain to the 27 that at least got the Steelers in field goal position. James Conner dropped a sure touchdown when he got behind linebacker Telvin Smith Sr., but Roethlisberger hit Brown over the middle to the 2. BRONCOS 23, CHARGERS 22: Brandon McManus kicked a 34-yard field goal as time expired and snapped the Chargers’ six-game winning streak. Denver got the ball at its 8 with 1:51 remaining, and Case Keenum orchestrated a seven-play, 76-yard drive. Keenum, who was 19 of 32 for 205 yards, completed five passes for 86 yards during the drive, including a 30-yarder to Courtland Sutton to the Denver 16. Keenum then spiked the ball and McMa nus kicked the field goal as time expired. Phillip Lindsay had 11 carries for 79 yards and Sutton had three receptions for 78 yards. Denver (4-6) had lost six of seven coming into the game. Philip Rivers threw for 401 yards and two touchdowns. The 15-year veteran, who completed 28 of 43 passes, also became the sixth quarterback in league history to throw at least two touchdown passes in each of his team’s first 10 games to start a season. It was not one of the cleanest games for Rivers or the Chargers (7-3), though. Rivers threw two interceptions and Los Angeles committed 14 penalties, including 10 in the first half. Mike Badgley, who made three field goals, also missed an extra point that ended up looming large. SAINTS 48, EAGLES 7: Drew Brees passed for 363 yards and four touchdowns, and the Saints won their ninth straight with a demolition of Philadelphia that was the Eagles’ worst loss by far since they won last season’s Super Bowl. Brees completed 22 of 30 passes and did not turn over the ball, giving him 25 TD passes and only one interception this season. Brees’ fourth touchdown seemed to encap sulate New Orleans’ audacious approach to the game. He hit running back Alvin Kamara in stride down the right sideline for a 37 yards on a fourth-and-7 play that gave the Saints (9-1) a 45-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. Brees’ other touchdown passes went for 3 yards to Austin Carr, 15 yards to rookie Tre’Quan Smith, and 23 yards to Michael Thomas. Smith finished with 10 catches for 157 yards, while Thomas’ four catches for 92 yards made him the first receiver in Saints history to surpass 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first three seasons. COLTS 38, TITANS 10: Andrew Luck threw three touchdown passes and Mar lon Mack and Jordan Wilkins both ran for scores. Indy (5-5) has won four straight for the first time since November 2014. Luck remained unbeaten in 10 starts against the Titans. Tennessee (5-5) lost quarterback Marcus Mariota in the final minute of the first half after he reinjured his right elbow. Titans defensive coordinator Dean Pees also was taken to a nearby hospital for observation after medical workers were called to the coaches’ box during the first quarter. The 69-year-old Pees retired briefly after last season. Luck’s mastery over Tennessee did not change. He shredded the league’s best scor ing defense by going 23 of 29 with 297 yards with two TD passes to T.Y. Hilton. Luck has thrown at least one TD pass in a league-high 33 consecutive games and three or more in seven straight. Adam Vinatieri added another milestone to his growing list by celebrating his 210th career win over a 23-season career with New England and Indy. That’s one more than George Blanda won during a 26-year career that spanned four decades. Earlier this season, Vinatieri, the league’s oldest active player at age 45, also broke Morten Andersen’s career records for field goals and scoring earlier this season. RAVENS 24, BENGALS 21: Rookie quar terback Lamar Jackson juked and sprinted for 117 yards in his first NFL start, Gus Edwards ran for 115 and the Ravens ended a three-game losing streak. Flashing the moves that enabled him to win the 2016 Heisman Trophy at Louisville, Jackson zipped in and out of the pocket for 27 carries. Though the Ravens (5-5) relied heavily on the run, Jackson also com pleted 13 of 19 passes for 150 yards with an interception. Ravens starting quarterback Joe Flacco did not practice all week and was inactive with a right hip injury. That created an open ing for Jackson, the 32nd overall pick in the NFL draft. Before Sunday, the former Louisville star occasionally took snaps in running situations and replaced Flacco in the fourth quarter of two blowouts. Having to carry the load by himself, Jackson responded with a solid per formance in a game the Ravens had to win. LIONS 20, PANTHERS 19: Cam Newton threw an incomplete pass on a 2-point con version with 1:07 left, letting the Lions hold on. Newton had time and receiver Jarius Wright open in the end zone, but the star quarterback sailed the pass high. Carolina coach Ron Rivera went for the win after Newton threw his third touchdown pass to DJ Moore, perhaps because usually reliable kicker Graham Gano missed an extra point and a field goal earlier in the game. The Lions (4-6) recovered an onside kick to seal the victory and end a season- high three-game losing streak. They were in a position to win after Matthew Stafford threw a go-ahead, 19-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Golladay with 5:19 left. GIANTS 38, BUCCANEERS 35: Saquon Barkley ran for a career-high 142 yards and scored three touchdowns as the Giants got consecutive games for the first time since December 2016. Eli Manning also threw two touchdowns and linebacker Alec Ogletree returned one of the Giants’ four interceptions 15 yards for another score in New York’s biggest point output of the season. The Giants (3-7) never trailed as Manning found a wide-open Barkley on a 6-yard TD pass on the opening series, and the No. 2 overall pick in the draft scored from 5 yards on the second possession to give New York the lead for good. RAIDERS 23, CARDINALS 21: Daniel Carlson kicked a 35-yard field goal as the game ended in a matchup of teams scraping the bottom of the NFL standings. The Raiders (2-8), who had lost five straight, matched the record of the Cardinals. Derek Carr threw for two touchdowns and had completions of 32 and 20 yards on the final drive that led to Carlson’s winning kick. Carlson also had field goals of 49 and 21 yards in the second half. Standings AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pet PF PA New England 7 3 0 .700 280 236 Miami 5 5 0 .500 199 256 Buffalo 3 7 0 .300 137 251 N.Y. Jets 3 7 0 South .300 i 208 254 W L T Pet PF PA Houston 7 3 0 .700 239 205 Indianapolis 5 5 0 .500 298 249 Tennessee 5 5 0 .500 178 189 Jacksonville 3 7 0 North .300 176 219 W L T Pet PF PA Pittsburgh 7 2 1 .750 299 225 Baltimore 5 5 0 .500 237 181 Cincinnati 5 5 0 .500 256 312 Cleveland 3 6 1 West .350 218 263 W L T Pet PF PA Kansas City 9 1 0 .900 353 240 L.A. Chargers 7 3 0 .700 262 209 Denver 4 6 0 .400 228 235 Oakland 2 8 0 .200 170 293 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East w L T Pet PF PA Washington 6 4 0 .600 197 198 Dallas 5 5 0 .500 203 190 Philadelphia 4 6 0 .400 205 231 N.Y. Giants 3 7 0 South .300 i 215 263 W L T Pet PF PA New Orleans 9 1 0 .900 378 239 Carolina 6 4 0 .600 260 252 Atlanta 4 6 0 .400 263 276 Tampa Bay 3 7 0 North .300 267 329 W L T Pet PF PA Chicago 6 3 0 .667 269 175 Minnesota 5 3 1 .611 221 204 Green Bay 4 5 1 .450 247 243 Detroit 4 6 0 West .400 222 263 W L T Pet PF PA L.A. Rams 9 1 0 .900 335 231 Seattle 5 5 0 .500 246 216 Arizona 2 8 0 .200 145 248 San Francisco 2 8 0 .200 230 266 Sunday's Games Dallas 22, Atlanta 19 Indianapolis 38, Tennessee 10 Detroit 20, Carolina 19 N.Y. Giants 38, Tampa Bay 35 Baltimore 24, Cincinnati 21 Houston 23, Washington 21 Pittsburgh 20, Jacksonville 16 Oakland 23, Arizona 21 Denver 23, L.A. Chargers 22 New Orleans 48, Philadelphia 7 Minnesota at Chicago, late Open: Buffalo, San Francisco, Miami, New England, Cleveland, N.Y. Jets Today's Games Kansas City at L.A. Rams, 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 22 Chicago at Detroit, 12:30 p.m. Washington at Dallas, 4:30 p.m. Atlanta at New Orleans, 8:20 p.m. Associated Press Monday night matchup of heavyweights puts Los Angeles in the spotlight ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” crew is under the spotlight every week, but attention will be further magnified when the Los Angeles Rams host the Kansas City Chiefs in a matchup of 9-1 teams. This week’s game carries more story lines than usual. It’s the first Monday night game in Los Angeles since 1985. It’s also just the sec ond time that teams meeting on Monday night in Week 11 or later have each had one or fewer losses. While most of the attention will be focused on quarterbacks Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes, it is also an opportu nity for the crew of Joe Tessitore, Jason Witten and Booger McFarland to show improvement in what has at times been a trying first year. That is especially true for Witten, whose transition from the playing field to the booth has not gone quite as well as former teammate Tony Romo’s move to CBS. Witten has had some noticeable flubs but has owned up to them. “Hell, I’m not perfect,” Witten said dur ing a teleconference last week. “Certainly with Tony and the success that he had, I really try not to live in that world and fully embrace it and continue to get bet ter and evaluate it. I think with the flubs, I certainly do not deny it, I don’t try to hide it and as you said, that’s really all you can do in those moments is self-deprecate and move forward.” Three-man booths can take time to develop, but time has not been on the side of recent announcing teams. The last three “MNF” booths with two analysts have lasted two or three seasons. The challenge of developing chemis try is tougher since McFarland is down on the field hovering above the action instead of next to Tessitore and Witten. “MNF” producer Jay Rothman said there are cameras set up where the announcers can see each other and that interruptions have been rare. “I think it’s going to be something unique and different that no other, no other broadcast can offer, which is offense, defense, young, old, I consider myself old, guys talking about football and having a conversation that pulls the viewer in,” McFarland said. Associated Press FALCONS ■ Continued from 1B that. When you go into a locker room, it’s emotional and guys are upset. .. Honestly, all our focus, all our energy, and intent are right into this week’s preparation. That’s the best thing we can do right now.” Julio Jones’ brilliant 34-yard touchdown catch over cornerback Chidobe Awuzie with 1:52 remaining tied the game at 19-all. Then Quinn gambled on a defensive stop as he burned timeouts in hopes his defense could make a stop and give the ball back to Matt Ryan and the offense. Instead, the Cowboys used a 10-play drive to set up Maher’s game-winning field goal. “We have been in position, but just have not been able to finish,” said defen sive tackle Grady Jarrett, who vowed he wouldn’t give up on the season. “Ain’t no way around it,” Jarrett said. “It is what it is. You’ve got to go back to work or you’re going to sulk. I ain’t sulking. ” Before Jones’ late touchdown catch, Atlan ta’s only offense came on four field goals by Matt Bryant, who was perfect in his return after missing three games with a hamstring injury. Bryant, 43, used a heating pad on the Cowboys 22, Falcons 19 Dallas 3 0 3 16—22 Atlanta 0 6 3 10—19 First Quarter Dal—FG Maher 21,2:56. Second Quarter Atl—FG Bryant 41,14:52. Atl—FG Bryant 45, :29. Third Quarter Dal—FG Maher 50,10:15. Atl—FG Bryant 53,7:12. Fourth Quarter Dal—Prescott 4 run (kick failed), 14:19. Dal—Elliott 23 run (Maher kick), 12:26. Atl—FG Bryant 21,8:26. Atl—J.Jones 34 pass from Ryan (Bryant kick), 1:52. Dal—FG Maher 42, :00. A—74,447. Dal Atl First downs 20 19 Total Net Yards 323 354 Rushes-yards 29-132 18-80 Passing 191 274 Punt Returns 0-0 3-16 Kickoff Returns 0-0 2-32 Interceptions Ret. 1-28 0-0 Comp-Att-Int 22-32-0 24-34-1 Sacked-Yards Lost 2-17 3-17 Punts 3-44.3 2-31.0 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0 Penalties-Yards 2-20 2-15 Time of Possession 31:57 28:03 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—Dallas, Elliott 23-122, Lewis 1-5, Prescott 4-5, R.Smith 1-0. Atlanta, Coleman 8-58,1.Smith 6-10, Ridley 1-5, Hall 1-3, Sanu 1-3, Ryan 1-1. PASSING—Dallas, Prescott 22-32-0-208. Atlanta, Ryan 24-34-1-291. RECEIVING—Dallas, Elliott 7-79, C.Beasley 5-51, Swaim 4-24, Cooper 3- 36, R.Smith 2-8, Gallup 1-10. Atlanta, J.Jones 6-118, Sanu 4-56, Hooper 4- 27, Ridley 3-32, Coleman 3-27, Paulsen 2-19,1.Smith 2-12. MISSED FIELD GOALS—None. Associated Press sideline to stay loose. Highlights? There weren’t many. Jones had six catches for 118 yards. He’s had a touchdown catch in three straight games but didn’t talk with report ers after the game. Vic Beasley Jr. had two sacks. Ryan INTRODUCING a* and Jo*** 1 ® j Say ed You- Mr. Nibble/ 2011-2017 / Little & Davenport Funeral Home To inquire about pricing packages available to memorialize a pet in print, please contact Megan Lewis at 770-535-6371 or mlewis@gainesvilletimes.com Pets at Peace will appear in The Times the last Sunday of each month.
