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Saturday 28 OctOber 2017
Staying in sight of Eagles the aim for Cowboys, Redskins

By BARRY WILNER best with the ball on third
AP Pro Football Writer downs. San Francisco is
Through the decades, one of the worst defending
when the Cowboys and third downs.
Redskins met, it often was Pittsburgh (5-2) at Detroit
for the division lead. On (3-3)
Sunday, the archrivals go The Steelers have won four
at it for the 115th time. At straight in this series. In ad-
stake: second place in the dition to the three-pronged
NFC East behind the high- attack of Ben Roethlis-
flying Eagles. berger, Antonio Brown and
While the Eagles host the Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh is
winless 49ers already own- tied for second in the NFL
ing a 2 1/2-game edge in with 24 sacks. Detroit has
the division, the winner at allowed 23.
FedEx Field at least can re- Fortunately for the Lions,
main in sight of Philly. they come off a bye, al-
So even though neither lowing Matthew Stafford to
Dallas nor Washington, heal up a bit before facing
both 3-3, will have reached that emerging defense.
the halfway mark of the Pittsburgh has had the dis-
schedule, this is a critical traction of receiver Mar-
matchup. tavis Bryant, who was
For Washington, the chal- In this Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017 file photo, Philadelphia Eagles’ Carson Wentz (11) aims a pass suspended for last sea-
lenge is heightened be- against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C. son, complaining publicly
cause it lost on Monday Associated Press about his role. Coach Mike
night at Philadelphia, “And there are some things and expectations of the San Francisco (0-7) at Phila- Tomlin has said there are no
though coach Jay Gruden we can do as far as more way we expect to move delphia (6-1) plans to trade Bryant, who
didn’t see the short week walkthroughs are con- the ball, the way we ex- Carson Wentz made such noted during the week that
as too much of a problem. cerned, more meeting pect to get points. And it’s a strong impression on he was being benched for
“Yeah, I think that the one time, and less pounding been going well. Monday night that he’s Sunday’s game.
thing that I’m pretty decent and running and physi- “It’s hard to say there is one surged in MVP talk. Yes, it’s Denver (3-3) at Kansas City
at is trying to get a gauge cal contact, which, really thing that has changed. just seven weeks, but the (5-2), Monday night
for how our team is feeling, about Week 6 or 7 it isn’t If anything we have con- Eagles do have the NFL’s Like Cowboys-Redskins, this
physically, No. 1,” he says. the end of the world.” tinued to keep faith and best record. And Wentz has is another classic rivalry.
“The majority of these guys Cowboys fans were hav- keep confidence in our- been superb. He leads the Both teams have lost two in
will run through a brick wall ing anxiety attacks with selves and continue with league with 17 touchdown a row. Denver’s offense has
for the Washington Red- their team under .500, but the same game plan we passes, including 11 in the disappeared; the Broncos
skins, that’s for sure, that’s a romp at the 49ers bright- have been doing early in past three games. And the scored 42 points over the
why I love this group. But I ened the outlook. the season. We are getting way he uses his running skills past four games and were
also have to be smart and “We are definitely going into a groove.” has Redskins cornerback shut out by the Chargers
make sure I understand into the direction that we Off this week are the Rams Josh Norman comparing last week. One player who
that this is a long year and want to go,” quarterback (5-2), Cardinals (3-4), Giants Wentz to Houdini. would love to have an im-
I’ve got to make sure that Dak Prescott says. “We are (1-6), Jaguars (4-3), Titans A key element here: Phila- pact on Denver’s offense is
these guys are healthy. playing up to our standards (4-3) and Packers (4-3). delphia is one of the NFL’s Jamaal Charles.q

Houston Texans CEO apologizes over ‘inmates’ comment

HOUSTON (AP) — Bob Mc- disrespectful, I think it was The comment was pub-
Nair, the chairman and ignorant, I think it was em- lished in an ESPN The Maga-
chief executive of the Hous- barrassing,” Brown said. zine story about two recent
ton Texans, apologized Fri- “I think it angered a lot of days of meetings among
day after a report said he players, including myself. owners, players and oth-
declared “we can’t have We put our bodies and ers to discuss the protests
the inmates running the minds every time we step that have drawn the ire of
prison” during a meeting of on the field. To use an anal- President Donald Trump.
NFL owners over what to do ogy of inmates in a prison, Players, following the lead
about players who kneel in I would say they’re disre- of former NFL quarterback
protest during the national spectful.” Colin Kaepernick, say they
anthem. Coach Bill O’Brien was kneel to protest social injus-
McNair said he regretted asked about the situation, tices, particularly against
using the expression and but wouldn’t get into spe- African-Americans. Trump
that he was “not referring cifics about it as his team has sharply criticized the
to our players.” prepared for a game protests and even called
“I used a figure of speech In this Dec. 10, 2014 file photo Houston Texans owner Bob McNair against the Seahawks. on NFL owners to fire play-
that was never intended speaks at an NFL press conference during an owners meeting, “It’s been addressed,” he ers.
to be taken literally,” Mc- in Irving, Texas. said. “I’m really here to talk The meetings earlier this
Nair said. “I would never Associated Press about Seattle. I’m 100 per- month did not result in a
characterize our players or was offended by it.” he was “sickened” by Mc- cent with these players. Our policy change that would
our league that way and I Texans left tackle Duane Nair’s words. coaching staff’s 100 per- require players to stand for
apologize to anyone who Brown told reporters that “I think the comments were cent behind these players.” the anthem.q