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SPORTS Saturday 12 OctOber 2019
Seahawks flying

high as they visit

unpredictable Browns

By BARRY WILNER bounce back harder."
AP Pro Football Writer Week 6 began with the
The Seahawks were sup- New England Patriots' 35-14
posed to be continuing victory over the New York
their retool this year, one Giants. Rookie quarter-
season after their remake back Daniel Jones and the
helped get them back into Giants (2-4) kept it close,
the playoffs. Instead, they trailing by a touchdown
have one of the NFL's best midway through the fourth
records. quarter, but a forced fum-
The Browns were pegged ble by Jamie Collins led to
(hyped?) to be a bud- a TD that gave the Patriots
ding powerhouse with all a cushion. New England
of the improvements in forced four turnovers, and
talent, plus the predicted Tom Brady had two touch- In this Sept. 29, 2019, file photo, Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) avoids a tackle
maturity of Baker Mayfield down runs and moved by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Maurice Canady (26) while running for a touchdown during the
in his second pro season. ahead of Peyton Manning second half of an NFL football game in Baltimore.
Instead, they are perhaps for second place on the Associated Press
the most inconsistent team NFL's all-time passing yards
in the league, with Mayfield list. The reigning Super Bowl City (4-1) INTs. And the Bucs allowed It helps to have the most
struggling. champions are 6-0 for the The scoreboard might blow more than 300 yards pass- productive receiver, Mi-
Seattle (4-1) is at Cleveland first time since 2015. up from all the points these ing in each of the past four chael Thomas, with 45
(2-3) in a most intriguing Off this week are Buffalo (4- two could produce. weeks. catches and 543 receiving
matchup Sunday. 1), Chicago (3-2), Oakland Houston scored the sec- Panthers RB Christian Mc- yards. Jacksonville also is
A Seahawks victory, com- (3-2) and Indianapolis (3- ond-most points (53) in Caffrey's 866 yards from missing its veteran starter,
bined with a 49ers loss to 2). franchise history last week scrimmage are the second Nick Foles. Rookie Gard-
the Rams, would put Se- San Francisco (4-0) at Los against Atlanta. Deshaun most through five games in ner Minshew is one of three
attle on top of the tough Angeles Rams (3-2) Watson, possibly the sec- NFL history to Jim Brown's QBs in the Super Bowl era
NFC West. But it's difficult The other two contenders ond-most exciting quarter- 988 in 1963. Pretty good with a 100-plus rating and
to figure out which Browns out west; isn't that delightful back in the league behind company there. no interceptions through
squad they will face: Will for this long rivalry? KC's Patrick Mahomes, has Philadelphia (3-2) at Min- his first four career starts. RB
it be the team that won in The Rams have lost two perhaps the most thrilling nesota (3-2) Leonard Fournette seeks his
Baltimore, or the team that in a row as their defense receiver in DeAndre Hop- Not quite the same as the third consecutive 100-yard
was blown out last Monday has sprung holes. The Nin- kins. Eagles' previous trip to Min- performance. He had runs
night in San Francisco? ers came off their bye and No slouches on defense, nesota, when they beat the of 48, 81 and 69 yards the
"I don't think it was my best routed Cleveland. the Texans have forced Patriots for their first Super past three weeks.
assignment as a teacher," San Francisco is off to its a turnover in 18 straight Bowl title on Feb. 4, 2018. Cincinnati (0-5) at Balti-
Seahawks coach Pete Car- first 4-0 start since 1990. The games, the longest active Main matchup here is the more (3-2)
roll said of assigning his play- only 5-0 starts for the fran- streak in the NFL. NFL's No. 3 rushing offense, The only division with a sin-
ers to watch Browns-49ers. chise since joining the NFL But Mahomes has thrown led by No. 2 rusher Dalvin gle winning team, and the
"The game didn't work out. are 1990, 1984, 1952. The 202 consecutive passes Cook, against the best run Ravens came up with a big
I was hoping it was going to won the NFL championship without an interception. defense. Cook trails only one in overtime last week
be a real battle. The game in the 1984 season. Alex Smith has the franchise McCaffrey. at Pittsburgh to grab the
kind of got lopsided, so it A key for the Rams' defense record of 312. Last week against the lowly AFC North lead.
wasn't as beneficial. It's is stopping the 49ers early in Chiefs coach Andy Reid Jets, Philly became the first Lamar Jackson's 11 TD
still really good to see the the second half; they have needs one win to reach 200 team in NFL history with 10 passes rank second in the
guys. You hear the stories scored a touchdown on regular-season victories. He sacks and two defensive NFL behind Seattle's Russell
about the players and the the first possession in all four has 211 overall. TDs in a single game. Wilson (12), and Baltimore's
backgrounds. The guys will games this season. Slowing Carolina (3-2) vs. Tampa New Orleans (4-1) at Jack- 961 yards rushing are sec-
come in here today are down the running game Bay (2-3) at London sonville (2-3) ond most in franchise his-
much more familiar with would help: San Francisco An early riser (9:30 a.m. EDT) They are not chanting tory after five games.
them because of that. ran for 275 yards vs. Cleve- in their second matchup of "Drew Who?" in the Big The Bengals still are looking
In that regard, it's always land and lead the NFL the season. The Bucs won in Easy. At least not yet. for a first win under coach
helpful. Too bad it wasn't a with 200 yards rushing per Carolina. But Teddy Bridgewater has Zac Taylor. They're 0-5 for
better game." game. This is the first overseas stepped in for Drew Brees the seventh time since
Will it be a better perfor- For LA, the most efficient regular-season match for (thumb surgery) and quar- 1990, most in the NFL over
mance by the Browns on offense has come through the Panthers. If British fans terbacked the Saints to that span. This is their worst
Sunday? the air. The Rams are the were looking forward to three straight victories. Two start since Marvin Lewis'
"We have done it before," only team with three receiv- seeing Cam Newton, Kyle were against 2018 play- team went 0-8 in 2008.
running back Nick Chubb ers with 325 yards receiv- Allen has been a superb re- off teams, the Cowboys Atlanta (1-4) at Arizona (1-
said. "After every loss we ing: Cooper Kupp, Brandin placement. Allen has won and the hated Rams, who, 3-1)
have, we came back hard- Cooks and Robert Woods. all four career starts, three helped by a major offici- Kliff Kingsbury got his first
er. That is what I expect this Kupp is second in the NFL this season, with seven TDs, ating gaffe, beat New Or- victory as Cardinals coach
team to do every time. with 41 catches and ranks no interceptions, making leans to get to the Super in Cincinnati. But Arizona
Hopefully, we can stack fourth with 505 yards and him the first quarterback in Bowl. He has a passer rat- ranks 24th in pass defense,
some wins, but I know when four TDs. the Super Bowl era to win ing or 100 or higher in two while Atlanta is third in yard-
we do face adversity, we Houston (3-2) at Kansas his first four starts with no of his past three road starts. age throwing the ball.q