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A16 SPORTS
Saturday 16 January 2021
Tight games this weekend, with one upset projected

By BARRY WILNER Cleveland is that the D
AP Pro Football Writer showed some real vulner-
Aaron, meet Aaron. And ability after building the big
Aaron. Aaron Donald, the lead at Pittsburgh. Sure, the
unanimous All-Pro defen- Browns were able to get
sive tackle who owns a conservative, but don’t try
couple of Defensive Player that against Patrick Ma-
of the Year awards, cer- homes and the reigning
tainly hopes to meet fellow champions.
All-Pro Aaron Rodgers on KC has been idle since the
Saturday — in the Packers’ regular-season finale, when
backfield. Donald hopes to several important regulars
put the star quarterback were rested. So rustiness is a
on the ground a few times, consideration. Losing prob-
too. Same for when Green ably isn’t, but this spread is
Bay running back Aaron too wide.
Jones comes in the vicinity BEST BET: CHIEFS, 30-24
of the Los Angeles Rams’ Tampa Bay (plus 3 1-2) at
dynamic D-lineman. New Orleans, Sunday
For the Rams to have a Old-timers day at the Su-
strong chance of advanc- perdome. Tom Brady and
ing to the NFC champion- Drew Brees are a collec-
ship game, they need Don- tive 85 years old. They also
ald and the top-rated de- Nurse shark on the Saba Bank which is part of the Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary. are headed to Canton five
fense he anchors to, well, Photo credit: Hans Leijnse (SHAPE/DCNA) years after they retire — if
sink the Pack. satile Jones, All-Pro receiv- with KANSAS CITY. But don’t offs in 1995. they ever do — and will
“He’s a special, special er Davante Adams in the expect a rout. Of course, the perfor- take lots of records with
player,” Rodgers says. “Ob- midst of a career season, Baltimore (plus 3 1-2) at Buf- mance by Lamar Jackson them.
viously a first-ballot Hall of and breakout tight end falo, Saturday in his first postseason win The Saints won both meet-
Famer. Impact player ev- Robert Tonyan. The LA of- John Harbaugh has a pret- after two defeats, and Bal- ings between these NFC
ery single year, a guy that fense also hasn’t been spe- ty amazing NFL record: timore’s defense shutting South rivals during the reg-
you have to game-plan for, cial. Jared Goff will start eight road playoff victories. down 2,000-yard rusher ular season. The team that
have to be aware of where at quarterback with John He snapped a tie with Hall Derrick Henry, bodes well swept the regular-season
he’s at at all times, and just Wolford inactive one week of Famer Tom Landry and for the Ravens. series has won 14 of the
one of those special talents after incurring a neck injury Tom Coughlin when the Ra- Just not quite well enough. previous 22 matchups. And
that we haven’t seen a against Seattle. vens won at Tennessee. BUFFALO, 26-24 New Orleans was the pre-
whole lot of in this game in Los Angeles is a 7 1-2-point This is a much bigger chal- Cleveland (plus 10) at Kan- vious team in such a situa-
the history of the game. A underdog at Green Bay. lenge. Buffalo has won sas City, Sunday tion, achieving the sweep
lot of credit to him, the way With about 6,500 fans in at- seven straight, has a far Another team with a swell by beating Carolina 31-26
he takes care of himself, his tendance, the home-field better defense than the of confidence has to be the in the wild-card round after
motor and he’s somebody advantage will be less than Titans, and a more dan- Browns. That they mauled sweeping the Panthers in
that you gotta be worried it is normally, but frigid Lam- gerous passing attack. The the self-destructing Steel- the 2017 regular season.
about.” beau for a team from So- Bills’ win against Indianapo- ers should be taken into We don’t have to pick an
Naturally, the Rams should Cal? It will be close, but... lis was tight, but also had account, but that offense upset, but we’re not going
be worried about Rodg- PACKERS, 23-19 to be a huge confidence was impressive, and the against TB12.
ers and a four-pronged KNOCKOUT POOL: For those boost for a franchise that defense was a takeaway UPSET SPECIAL: BUCCA-
offense featuring the ver- with all options open, go last advanced in the play- machine. One trouble for NEERS, 24-23.q

NBA fines Irving $50,000 for health, safety violations

NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie of his $33.5 million salary. plained the reasons for
Irving’s absence from the Irving has missed the last Irving’s absence, leaving
Brooklyn Nets has become five games while away it to him to do when he
a costly one. from the Nets for personal returns. Their next game is
The NBA fined the point reasons. He was seen in Saturday against Orlando,
guard $50,000 on Friday a video on social media though coach Steve Nash
for violating its health and during his absence at an said Friday he had no up-
safety protocols, and said indoor family party while date about when Irving
he could return to team not wearing a mask. would rejoin the team.
activities Saturday. The league’s protocols “Without a doubt, the or-
The league added that prohibit attending indoor ganization’s disappointed
he would forfeit his salary social gatherings of 15 or with not having any one of
for each game he misses more people or entering our players, in this particu-
during a five-day quar- bars, lounges, clubs or sim- lar case Kyrie, not amongst
antine period that would ilar establishments. us, not in the trenches with
Utah Jazz’s Derrick Favors (15) defens Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie end Saturday if he contin- Irving is the second player us and so forth,” general
Irving (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball game
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, in New York. ues to test negative for the to be fined for that. The manager Sean Marks said
Associated Press coronavirus. He’s already other is his new team- Thursday during a news
missed two, which means mate, James Harden. conference to discuss the
By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer he has lost nearly $900,000 The Nets have not ex- trade for Harden. q