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SPORTS Saturday 14 OctOber 2017

Top spot in AFC East on line

with Patriots vs., uh, Jets?

By BARRY WILNER shoulder, but promises he’ll ethlisberger and Co. in
AP Pro Football Writer be behind center going for check in January.
It’s difficult to decipher a record 187th regular-sea- Last week against Jack-
which is more unexpected: son win for a quarterback. sonville, Roethlisberger
The New England Patriots He’s tied with Brett Fa- tossed five interceptions,
losing twice at home in the vre and Peyton Manning. two of them returned for
first month of the NFL, or the Brady’s 211 combined ca- touchdowns, and the Jag-
New York Jets holding a 3-2 reer wins, including regular uars rolled to a 30-9 vic-
win record, the same as the season and playoffs, are tory. Roethlisberger wasn’t
Patriots. already a league record. panicking: “We’re still top
They meet on Sunday at The Kansas City Chiefs are of the AFC North. We’re ABOVE: In this Oct. 8, 2017, file photo, New York Jets quarterback
MetLife Stadium, and with relishing the opportunity right there in the hunt in the Josh McCown (15) and wide receiver Jermaine Kearse celebrate
Buffalo on a bye, the win- to exact a little revenge AFC.” touchdown during an NFL football game against the Cleveland
ner grabs first place in the on visiting Pittsburgh. The The Green Bay Packers can Browns in Cleveland. BELOW: In this Oct. 5, 2017, file photo,
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) calls out a
AFC East division. Heady last time the Steelers went really establish themselves signal during the second half of an NFL football game against
atmosphere for New York, to Arrowhead Stadium, as the cream of the NFC the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla.The Jets host the New
commonplace for New in January in the playoffs, North by extending their England Patriots on Sunday.
England. they beat the Chiefs 18-16 superiority over the Vikings. Associated Press
Jets quarterback Josh Mc- without scoring a touch- Green Bay has won five of
Cown, who is new to this ri- down. its past seven road games
valry that the Patriots have The Chiefs are much bet- versus Minnesota, though it
dominated for years, win- ter now, the NFL’s lone un- lost at U.S. Bank Stadium a
ning 10 of the past 12, says: beaten team through the year ago.
“What they’ve done so well first five weeks. Aaron Rodgers has been
over the years is game- On offense, they’re more at the top of his game in
planning for you. Having 10 dynamic. the tightest situations such
days to prepare for us, we Alex Smith is the league’s as last week at Dallas, and
know that they’ll be ready top-rated passer, receiver he likes facing Minnesota.
to go.” Tyreek Hill has built on his Rodgers is 12-6 as a starter
That’s right: The Patriots dramatic debut season, against the Vikings, with a
haven’t played since an and rookie Kareem Hunt 68.3 percent completion
Oct. 5 victory at Tampa has emerged as a premier rate, 4,810 yards, 40 touch-
Bay. running back. On defense, downs, and six intercep-
Patriots passer Tom Brady they return just about ev- tions. of defensive end Everson have dropped eight of
has been nursing a sore left eryone who held Ben Ro- He will need to be aware Griffen, who has at least their past nine at EverBank
one sack in each of five Field.
Raiders still planning to host Chargers after smoke concerns games this season, tying a A highlight could be the
career-long streak. running games, with rook-
By MICHAEL WAGAMAN the Bay Area and would ing the air quality, which An 11-day road trip be- ie Leonard Fournette for
Associated Press update fans if there were forced the Raiders to alter gins for the Los Angeles Jacksonville and Todd Gur-
ALAMEDA, California (AP) changes regarding the their outdoor schedule this Rams, fortunately for them ley, the 2015 top offensive
— The Oakland Raiders game. week and raised the possi- in Jacksonville, then across rookie, for Los Angeles.
are still planning to host the Thick smoke and ash have bility that the game would the Atlantic to face division Week 6 began with Phila-
Los Angeles Chargers on filled Bay Area skies since be moved. rival Arizona in London next delphia beating Carolina
Sunday despite concerns the wildfires started Sunday “I think we’re going to be week. The team will spend 28-23 on Thursday. Carson
about poor air quality re- about 50 miles north of Oak- fine,” Raiders coach Jack four days in Jacksonville fol- Wentz threw for 222 yards
sulting from wildfires in Cali- land. The fires have killed 31 Del Rio said. “Obviously it’s lowing Sunday’s game. and three touchdowns to
fornia’s wine country. people and destroyed at a serious situation what’s The Jaguars have an NFL- help the Eagles improve
The team said Friday of- least 3,500 homes and busi- going on up north. A lot of worst 9-28 record at home to an NFC-best 5-1. Cam
ficials would continue to nesses. people have had their lives (not including five London Newton threw three inter-
monitor the air quality in The NFL has been monitor- turned upside down. q games) since 2011. They ceptions for Carolina.q