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SPORTS Saturday 23 November 2019
NFL This Week: 49ers-Packers

square off to highlight Week 12

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. teams understand their with the Seahawks' Russell
AP Pro Football Writer roles and embrace them Wilson and Eagles' Carson
Jimmy Garoppolo and the and make it more about Wentz each having thrown
San Francisco 49ers refuse the team." at least one touchdown
to look too far ahead on And, Green Bay is no pass in 13 consecutive reg-
their schedule. Especially stranger to playing in front ular-season games, the lon-
this week while staring at a of big TV audiences: The gest active run in the NFL.
showdown with Aaron Rod- Packers are 3-1 in prime- Wilson is looking to improve
gers and the Green Bay time games this season. to 4-0 in his career against
Packers. Arizona (3-7-1), Minnesota the Eagles. And, Seattle ABOVE: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo
The thing is, though, this (8-3), Kansas City (7-4) and has been terrific on the (10) passes against the Arizona Cardinals during the second
matchup could go a long the Los Angeles Chargers road, going 5-0 so far away half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov.
17, 2019.
way in helping determine (4-7) are the final teams this from home. BELOW: Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers reacts after an NFL
the teams' seeding when season to take their bye- Wentz and the Eagles are football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Nov. 10,
the playoffs start. So, this week breaks. struggling on offense right 2019, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won 24-16.
one Sunday night at Levi's BALTIMORE (8-2) at LOS AN- now and are coming off a
Stadium will have a bit of GELES RAMS (6-4) 17-10 loss to New England
a postseason feel for both Lamar Jackson and the Ra- last week.
the 49ers (9-1) and Packers vens play in LA on Monday CAROLINA (5-5) at NEW
(8-2). night on a six-game win- ORLEANS (8-2)
"With the (49ers) faith- ning streak, the longest ac- Christian McCaffrey has
ful and everything, hav- tive run in the NFL and the been a huge bright spot in
ing them helping out the team's best since 2000 — what has been an up-and-
defense and just getting when they won Super Bowl. down season in Carolina.
the place rocking will be Baltimore has done it most- The Panthers running back
huge," Garoppolo said. ly in dominant fashion, too, is the first NFL player with
"The louder they can be, having won four in a row by at least 1,000 yards rush-
the better. But, yeah, it'll be 14 points or more. ing and 500 yards receiving
a big game Sunday. Jared Goff and the Rams in his team's first 10 games
"This is a great opportunity, have won three of four of season. He has also
great challenge for us." to stay in the NFC playoff eclipsed 140 scrimmage yards and two TDs with one tween the NFC South rivals,
It's also the highlight of a race. Los Angeles will also yards in each of past four interception in a 33-13 loss with the Buccaneers' pre-
Week 12 slate of games on see a familiar face: Ravens games — although Caro- to Indianapolis, his first start vious victory coming over
the NFL schedule. cornerback Marcus Peters lina is 1-3 in those. since the opener. three years ago.
San Francisco begins a was acquired in a trade New Orleans also has a DENVER (3-7) at BUFFALO Atlanta enters this match-
three-game stretch against with the Rams on Oct. 15 record-breaking star on of- (7-3) up having won two in a
teams currently in first and has returned two inter- fense in wide receiver Mi- The Bills are off to their best row overall after starting
place — and all with 8-2 ceptions for touchdowns chael Thomas, who leads start after 10 games in 20 the season 1-7. Meanwhile,
records — including Green while with Baltimore. the league with 94 recep- years, and the play of Josh Tampa Bay has lost five of
Bay, Baltimore and New Or- DALLAS (6-4) at NEW ENG- tions, the most by a player Allen has been a big rea- its past six. What does it all
leans. LAND (9-1) in the first 10 games of a son. mean? Well, the loser in this
"I don't even think about The Cowboys have the season in NFL history. He's Buffalo's second-year one will fall into sole posses-
playoff seeding right now," NFL's top-ranked offense, also the first player with 90- quarterback earned AFC sion of last place in the divi-
49ers coach Kyle Shana- and the Patriots are ranked plus receptions in each of offensive player of week sion.
han said. "Our goal is to No. 1 in defense. his first four seasons. honors after going 21 of Buccaneers quarterback
get in the playoffs. We're all So, something's got to give, JACKSONVILLE (4-6) at TEN- 33 for 256 yards and three Jameis Winston leads the
right there. There's still a lot right? NESSEE (5-5) touchdowns passing and NFL with 22 turnovers, in-
of football left. Each game Dallas' Dak Prescott leads The Jaguars are looking one rushing in a 37-20 win cluding a league-high 18
we win, we've got a better the league with 322.1 pass- to sweep the Titans for the over Miami. Allen also has interceptions. He'll face a
chance at getting in there. ing yards per game and first time since 2005 after 163 pass attempts without Falcons defense that had
You don't think about is on pace to be the first Jacksonville made things an interception, dating to four interceptions in a win
seeds, at least I don't, until Cowboys QB to top the miserable for then-Tennes- a 14-7 win at Tennessee in over Carolina.
you can narrow it down to NFL in yards passing for see quarterback Marcus Week 6. OAKLAND (6-4) at NEW
one or two games. I think a full season. He also has Mariota, who was sacked The Broncos have been YORK JETS (3-7)
we're far from that right 38 wins since entering the nine times in the 20-7 loss in deadly — to themselves The Raiders are coming
now." NFL in 2016, second most Week 3. — late in games, having off having swept a three-
The 49ers showed some in the league during that Ryan Tannehill is under cen- squandered four fourth- game homestand for the
resilience last week, rally- span behind — yep, you ter this time around for the quarter leads. The latest first time since 1980. Now,
ing from 16 points down to guessed it: the Patriots' Tom Titans and has three-game was a doozy as Denver be- they hit the road, where
beat Arizona for the team's Brady. winning drives in four starts. came the first team in five they're 1-3 this season.
biggest regular-season With a win Sunday, New He has also been solid at years to blow a 20-point Oakland rookie running
comeback since 2011. England would extend its home, where he has a 100 first-half lead in a 27-23 loss back Josh Jacobs has three
Meanwhile, the Packers streak to 17 consecutive or higher passer rating in to Minnesota last Sunday. It 100-yard performances
are coming off a 24-16 vic- seasons with at least 10 three games. all has John Elway's Broncos and ranks fourth in the NFL
tory over Carolina at home, wins — which would be an Nick Foles is Jacksonville's in jeopardy of a second 3-8 in rushing with 923 yards.
giving them five wins in their NFL record. quarterback for this meet- record in three years. He'll face a tough test in this
past six games. SEATTLE (8-2) at PHILADEL- ing after Gardner Minshew TAMPA BAY (3-7) at ATLAN- one against a Jets defense
"We've been finding a way PHIA (5-5) played in his place while TA (3-7) that is allowing a league-
to win, different ways," This matchup is highlighted he sat out because of in- The Falcons have won low 79.1 yards rushing per
Rodgers said. "I think great by streaking quarterbacks, jury. Foles threw for 296 the past five meetings be- game.q