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A22 SPORTS
Saturday 11 November 2017
With no Zeke, is arrow pointing up for Dallas?

By BARRY WILNER touchdown passes to Jim- return from a devastating wise, but when you play history. Bradley went 14-48
AP Pro Football Writer my Graham for Seattle. knee injury in training camp good teams I think the mar- with the Jags.
The arrow was pointing up The Seahawks (6-3) lim- 2016 is a huge plus. gin of error is even more Cincinnati (3-5) at Tennes-
for the Cowboys, sideways ited Adrian Peterson to “He hasn’t had training slim, and this team has al- see (5-3)
or down for the Falcons. 29 yards in 21 carries in a camp. He hasn’t done ways had a good football Cincinnati ranks last in
Then a federal court on overall offense, so it’s lucky
Thursday upheld the six- that star wide receiver A.J.
game league suspension Green was not suspended
for Ezekiel Elliott, a damag- for his fight with Jackson-
ing blow to Dallas. ville CB Jalen Ramsey last
When they meet Sunday in week. The Bengals best
a critical NFC match, the hope probably is getting
winner will be in decent po- an efficient pass rush led by
sition for a run toward the Geno Atkins.
playoffs, hardly what either These are the kind of games
2016 conference power in which the Titans tend to
projected. stumble while in the playoff
The loser, particularly if it is chase. But they have won
Dallas with NFC East leader three straight and have a
Philadelphia already 2½ dynamic rushing attack
games in front and Elliott with DeMarco Murray, Der-
presumably gone for much rick Henry and quarterback
of the remainder of the Marcus Mariota.
schedule, will have used up Titans S Kevin Byard has five
significant margin for error. interceptions in his past two
“We know as a team what games, tying him for the
we’re capable of,” safety most in consecutive games
Ricardo Allen said of his 4-4 since 1970. Byard leads the
Falcons . “Just go out there NFL with six picks and Andy
and do our job. Just give a In this Oct. 8, 2017, file photo, Dallas Cowboys’ Dez Bryant (88) greets teammates before an NFL Dalton has thrown eight.
little more, take it to anoth- football game against the Green Bay Packers in Arlington, Texas. Houston (3-5) at Los Ange-
er level. Associated Press les Rams (6-2)
“We have another whole The Rams could ravage
half of the season. Get it game marred by a host of anything,” coach Mike Zim- team. Tom Savage in this match-
rolling. Get the small things injuries and penalties, most mer said of the prospect “A lot of the games have up as LA returns home. The
right.” of them against Seattle, to of Bridgewater seeing any been close. ... You can’t previous time the Rams
Dallas (5-3) has done a lot improve to 4-0-1 in Arizona action. “We’re just trying go out there and make a played at the Coliseum
of big things right after a 2-3 in Bruce Arians’ five seasons to get him to where ev- bunch of mistakes and ex- was Oct. 8.
start. Somehow, the Cow- as coach of the Cardinals erybody feels comfortable pect to win.” Houston was inept on of-
boys managed through all (4-5). with him.” The Patriots will practice fense for most of last
the distractions from their Pittsburgh (6-2) at India- Minnesota is comfy atop in Colorado Springs next week’s loss to Indianapo-
star running back’s on- napolis (3-6) the NFC North with a two- week before taking on lis as it needed to revamp
again, off-again suspen- A matchup the Steelers game lead and showing Oakland in Mexico City. much of the offense to suit
sion, and they handled love — they are 22-6 and lots of balance on offense Denver must protect the the more stationary, less
Kansas City quite well last have won four straight and defense during a four- ball better. It’s minus-12 in imaginative game of Sav-
Sunday. — and tend to get off to game win string. turnovers with 19 giveaways age with Deshaun Watson
Now comes a huge in- strong starts without the Washington comes off a and seven takeaways. gone for the season (knee).
conference test at the new ball. Pittsburgh’s defense comeback victory at Seat- Los Angeles Chargers (3-5) LA ranks third in yards and
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, hasn’t allowed a TD on an tle made more impressive at Jacksonville (5-3) tops in points per game
where Atlanta is only 1-2, opening possession in 25 by the wave of injuries it has WOW! The Jaguars won a (32.9). Its 263 points are al-
but plays four of its next five games, the longest active fought through. Its defense game at EverBank Field, ready more in half a sea-
games. streak in the NFL. has looked formidable, beating Cincinnati. They son than in all of 2016 (224).
“We’ve just got to keep on Expecting Indy’s defense led by LBs Zack Brown and were 1-6 there last season. QB Jared Goff comes off
pushing,” says receiver Dez to handle RB Le’Veon Bell Ryan Kerrigan. This is no gimme for the AFC career highs in yards pass-
Bryant, who is bothered and WR Antonio Brown New England (6-2) at Den- South co-leaders. The Char- ing (311) and touchdowns
by knee and ankle woes. might be far too much. ver (3-5) gers have won six straight (four) in a rout of the Giants.
“We know exactly who we Plus, there’s turmoil on the This might look like a mis- in this series, scoring 30 or This is only the third time
are. We’re going to show Colts after Vontae Davis match with the Patriots on more points in five of those these franchises have met,
everybody. This is a real publicly complained about a four-game winning streak and outscoring the Jaguars with the Rams up 2-1.
team that sticks together sitting out with what he says and the Broncos in a four- by a combined 116 points. New York Jets (4-5) at Tam-
and fights for one another. is a balky groin, but what game slide. Jaguars rookie RB Leonard pa Bay (2-6)
We’ve been through a lot the team called a coach’s Beware of that: While New Fournette can become the Journeyman QB Ryan Fitz-
of adversity, and we’re just decision. The veteran cor- England is seeking a 12th first player in NFL history to patrick had one very good
showing you how to get nerback was released consecutive regular-sea- score a TD in the first seven season and one horren-
out of it. That’s what we’re Thursday. son road win, which would games of a career. dous year with the Jets.
going to do. We’re going Minnesota (6-2) at Wash- tie its own AFC record, Bill Former Jaguars coach and He’ll start against his former
to keep on fighting and see ington (4-4) Belichick is 8-10 against current Chargers defensive team — Fitz also has played
where it takes us.” An unquestionable lift for Denver. Tom Brady is 3-7. coordinator Gus Bradley for the Rams, Bengals,
The action began Thursday the Vikings came this week “I think they’ve had good returns to Jacksonville 11 Bills, Titans and Texans —
night with Seattle’s 22-16 with Teddy Bridgewater ac- teams,” Brady says. “Obvi- months after getting fired and face New York’s cur-
victory in Arizona. tivated. He’ll serve as back- ously, you play on the road, to end one of the worst rent journeyman QB, Josh
Russell Wilson threw two up to Case Keenum, but his it’s tough communication- coaching tenures in NFL McCown.q