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SPORTS Saturday 4 January 2020

In this Oct. 25, 2019, file photo, Houston Astros relief pitcher
Will Harris throws against the Washington Nationals during
the seventh inning of Game 3 of the baseball World Series,
in Washington. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes against the Buffalo Bills in the first half of an
Associated Press NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass.
Former Astro Will Titans-Patriots get prime-time Associated Press

Harris joins Nats spotlight for wild-card games

after losing Game 7
By BARRY WILNER Pro Picks just can’t go the “Minneapolis Miracle.”
AP Pro Football Writer against the Brady Bunch in Last year, it was terrible of-
By JAKE SEINER on it being the last," he
AP Sports Writer said. "So didn't really The Patriots have been this one, as tempting as it ficiating that cost them a
Relief pitcher Will Harris is know how to feel about it compared to a sporting might be. trip to the big game. But
dynasty and to Palpatine’s PATRIOTS, 23-17
New Orleans also has been
joining the Washington and how I felt about the Evil Empire. Regardless of No. 9 Buffalo (plus 3) at No. on a nice run lately, and
Nationals after they beat Nationals. which is true, there’s no 10 Houston, Saturday
the same can’t be said
him and the Houston As- "It didn't take me very denying that New England Forget that the Bills lost their for inconsistent Minnesota.
tros in Game 7 of the long," he added. "It took
World Series. me a little while, thinking enters these playoffs more last two games. They tested “Overall the team kind of
vulnerable than in quite a New England to the limit in heads into this postsea-
Harris and the Nationals about it. I was like, 'Look,
have agreed to a $24 mil- man, there's a lot of base- few years. their 15th game, then had son with some confidence
One thing we’ve learned nothing on the line in the fi-
based on how we’ve been
lion, three-year contract, ball left to play.' And I'm
the team announced looking forward to doing since Tom Brady went from nale with the Jets. playing,” Saints coach
This is a much better Buffalo Sean Payton said. “And yet
199th draft pick to domi-
Friday. The 35-year-old it in an organization that
right-hander dominated I feel really comfortable nant NFL figure is not to squad than what went to I think they understand the
dismiss him and his Patriots. the playoffs two years ago type of tournament this is.”
with Houston for much being a part of."
of the postseason, start- The right-handed Har- Sure, they have been ultra- to break that endless post- They know better than any-
one that it is a crapshoot.
sloppy in the second half of season drought.
ing October with nine ris had a 1.50 ERA in 68 the schedule, and blowing “We’re legit,” linebacker BEST BET: SAINTS, 30-17
consecutive scoreless in- games for the Astros last a bye with a home loss to Lorenzo Alexander says. No. 6 Seattle (minus 1 1/2)
nings. The Nationals final- season. He had been the Dolphins not only was We’ll find out how legit in at No. 11 Philadelphia, Sun-
ly got to him late in the with Houston since 2015 stunning, it was inexcus- the opener of the wild-card day
World Series, and Harris and was an All-Star in
allowed Howie Kendrick's 2016. Harris will try to bol- able. round. Houston tends to Maybe the two most resil-
Not that the Patriots are disappoint once it gets into ient teams in the league
go-ahead home run in ster a bullpen that was
Game 7. among the worst in base- looking backward. They the postseason: The Tex- meet at the Linc. Unfortu-
ans are 3-5 in the playoffs nately, one of their main
never do. The big differ-
Washington went on to ball last season. Nationals
win its first World Series. relievers blew 29 saves ence in Tennessee is at and never have reached a links is injuries — both have
been decimated by them.
quarterback, where Ryan conference title game.
Harris was stuck with the and had a 5.68 ERA, both UPSET SPECIAL: BILLS 23-16
Somehow, the Eagles ran
loss. "There's no bitter- worst in the NL. Harris is Tannehill has been dynam- No. 8 Minnesota (plus 7 off four straight victories
ic and a winner since tak-
ness or anything like that likely to slot behind clos-
from my end other than: er Sean Doolittle as the ing over for Marcus Mari- 1/2) at No. 2 New Orleans, to conclude the sched-
ota. Derrick Henry led the Sunday
ule and steal the NFC East
Would I have liked it to go team's top setup man.
a different way? I mean, Harris filled a number of league in rushing and is a What craziness will strike despite playing with much
threat inside or outside. The the Saints in these playoffs of the junior varsity on the
of course," Harris said. "But roles during his time in
there's a lot of moments Houston, including as a defense is solid enough, to keep them from the Su- field. King-size kudos to
per Bowl? Already, at 13-3, coach Doug Pederson and
though it doesn’t mea-
in my career I wish had specialist against left-
gone a different way." handed hitters — un- sure up to New England’s they could only manage a his staff for not only finding
wild card. In the AFC, they the right subs, but getting
league leaders.
Harris acknowledged usual for a right-handed
feeling uneasy when pitcher, but a crucial Mike Vrabel has the look would have been the No. them ready to play key
of a coach on the rise, as 2 seed. Nothing has been roles in the stretch drive.
the Nationals first ap- strength as Major League
proached him. Baseball adopts a three- does his team. No. 12 (AP easy in the Big Easy for And the same praise for
Pro32) Tennessee is a 4 the Saints in January. Two Carson Wentz, who has
"That's the first Game 7 batter minimum for pitch-
World Series homer I've ers heading into the 2020 1/2-point underdog for Sat- years ago, they fell victim validated himself as a fran-
chise quarterback during
urday night at No. 7 New to some terrible defend-
ever given up and I plan season.q
England. ing in the secondary for this stretch.q