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A20 SPORTS
Saturday 25 November 2017
Saints can run and play D, Rams have a dynamic offense

By BARRY WILNER Frank Gore will move him
AP Pro Football Writer up the career rushing list.
Suppose you were told the Gore needs 89 yards to
New Orleans Saints could pass Jerome Bettis (13,662)
run the ball and play de- for sixth place, and 111
fense, and Drew Brees was yards to pass LaDainian
still their quarterback. Tomlinson (13,684) for fifth.
And you were informed Green Bay (5-5) at Pitts-
that the Los Angeles Rams burgh (8-2)
had a dynamic offense to Brett Hundley and the
go with a physical defense. Packers took a Lambeau
What you would have is a Leap backward in being
terrific matchup of division blanked by Baltimore. Any
leaders. It happens Sunday playoff aspirations are fad-
at the Los Angeles Colise- ing fast on the tundra, and
um. the Pack hasn’t won in Pitts-
New Orleans (8-2) is show- burgh since 1970. That was
ing more balance than at even before the Steel Cur-
any time since Brees ar- tain emerged.
rived in 2006 and began Pittsburgh has won five
setting passing records. straight since a 3-2 start.
Los Angeles Rams has This is the second of four
made a swift and impres- straight prime-time games
sive turnaround under Saints Linebacker Manti Te’o celebrates after making a tackle as The New Orleans Saints take on for the Steelers, who are
first-year coach Sean Mc- The Washington Redskins during an NFL football game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Sunday, 32-16 in prime time un-
Nov. 19, 2017 in New Orleans.
Vay, who has quarterback Associated Press der coach Mike Tomlin.
Jared Goff playing like a Pittsburgh is 23-7 in night
first overall draft selection fense has scored 84 points trap game for the Pan- Fitz needs to look out for games at Heinz Field since
should. off 19 turnovers. Phillips was thers, who next face divi- Adrian Clayborn. The DE it opened in 2001.
The Saints started with two the Saints defensive coor- sion leaders New Orleans has six sacks, two forced Houston (4-6) at Baltimore
losses and haven’t been on dinator from 1981-85, and and Minnesota. But they fumbles, two fumble recov- (5-5) Monday night
the short end of the score interim head coach for four also come off a bye, when eries and one touchdown Even though this seems to
since. weeks after father Bum was coach Ron Rivera surely in the past two games. have little attraction, the
“Specifically, we opened fired. was reminding his players Jacksonville (7-3) at Arizo- fact both of these squads
at Minnesota, which is ob- In the three Thanksgiving not to get careless. na (4-6) are alive in playoff scenar-
viously a good football games, the Los Angeles Carolina is showing lots Tennessee (6-4) at India- ios brings some interest.
team and a tough place to Chargers beat Dallas 28-6, of balance now as Cam napolis (3-7) Baltimore already has three
play, and didn’t play well Minnesota topped Detroit Newton has overcome an The AFC South’s leader shutout wins, including last
enough,” coach Sean Pay- 30-23, and Washington inconsistent early portion and runner-up hit the road weekend in Green Bay. The
ton says. beat the New York Giants of the season. The defense against teams they should previous time the Ravens
“And then the following 20-10, has been lights-out. handle. had such gaudy defensive
week versus New England. I In Arlington, Texas, Philip New York also was off last Jacksonville handles every- stats, they were winning
think we did as a team feel Rivers threw for 434 yards week. one roughly with that sack- Super Bowls with Ray Lewis
like those next two weeks and three touchdowns, Here’s a cool fact: Panthers happy defense ranked No. at inside linebacker. The
on the road at Carolina and Desmond King re- DE Julius Peppers and Jets 1 overall. Teams can run a Ravens are 11-1 in prime
and then on the road to turned an interception 90 QB Josh McCown are the bit on the Jaguars, so Adri- time under coach John
London — we went right yards for the punctuating only players still active who an Peterson might be busy Harbaugh. Their nine-game
from Carolina to London touchdown for San Diego. were drafted in 2002. Pep- for Arizona. winning streak in prime time
— we felt that two-game The Chargers (5-6) moved pers went No. 2 overall to But the Cardinals are down is the longest active run in
stretch was going to be within 1 1/2 games of AFC Carolina, while McCown to their No. 3 quarterback, the NFL.
critical for this team if we West-leading Kansas City. was a third-round selection Blaine Gabbert, who had Players to watch on injury-
were going to aspire to do The defending NFC East (No. 81 overall) by Arizona. better know where former ravaged Houston are DE
something. champion Cowboys (5-6) The Falcons escaped in Se- Cardinals DE Calais Camp- Jadeveon Clowney, who
“I think Carolina was a lost their third straight by at attle on Monday night, and bell is at all times. aims for a fifth straight
good win for us ... and then least 20 points, all without now face one of Matt Ry- This is Jacksonville’s first ap- game with a sack, and WR
carried it over to London star running back Ezekiel El- an’s patsies. In the past sev- pearance at University of DeAndre Hopkins, who has
for the second win before liott. en home games against Phoenix Stadium, which 62 catches for 879 yards
our bye. That two-game In Detroit, Case Keenum Tampa Bay, Ryan has 14 opened in 2006. and nine TDs. Miami (4-
stretch would certainly be, threw two touchdown pass- TDs and one interception. Winning at Indy has been 6) at New England (8-2)
not just because it was our es and ran for a score — all The Bucs come off their best problematic for the Titans. That freight train running
first two wins, but it was in the first half — for Minne- performance this season, They have lost nine straight through the AFC is what
building some confidence sota. The Vikings (9-2) won routing Miami and forc- road games to the Colts everyone feared when the
and that you can think it or their seventh straight and ing five turnovers while not and are still seeking first win season began: New Eng-
wish it or hope to have it, took a three-game lead having any. Mike Evans has at Lucas Oil Stadium. They land on a roll. The Patriots
but it generally just comes over second-place Detroit prospered against Atlanta, will need better work from have won six in a row, and
from demonstrated ability.” (6-5) in the NFC North. with five TDs in his past five Marcus Mariota, who threw they are blowing out op-
The similar demonstrated ___ meetings. He won’t have four picks in last week’s ponents. Now, they get
ability has been present Carolina (7-3) at New York Jameis Winston throwing to loss to Pittsburgh. With the an undermanned Dolphins
with the Rams. Except they Jets (4-6) him, though, as Ryan Fitz- Colts ranking 30th in pass squad that last won in Fox-
didn’t struggle early, in- Tampa Bay (4-6) at Atlanta patrick, a winner in the past defense, Mariota should do borough in 2008, when Tom
stead winning three of their (6-4) two games, goes again for well. Brady was sidelined by a
first four. Wade Phillips’ de- This is the epitome of the the injured starter. A big game by Indy RB knee injury.q