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SPORTS Saturday 7 OctOber 2017

Packers-Cowboys: A great NFL rivalry is renewed on Sunday

By BARRY WILNER ten says. “We have so
AP Pro Football Writer much respect for their de-
From Vince Lombardi and fense, Clay Matthews and
Tom Landry through Reg- the way they attack as a
gie White and Brett Favre, football team. They’re a
Troy Aikman and Emmitt blueprint in a lot of ways,
Smith. and more than anything
From the tundra of Lam- they’ve played well at criti-
beau to the gap in the Tex- cal times throughout the
as Stadium roof to Jerry’s last seven, eight, 10 years.”
palace. The Los Angeles Rams can
Green Bay Packers vs. the establish their credentials
Dallas Cowboys has been against the boss of their
one of the NFL’s most en- NFC West division when the
tertaining and meaning- Seattle Seahawks visit.
ful rivalries for decades. The Rams’ offense has
Whether it was the Ice been sizzling behind run-
Bowl or Aaron Rodgers’ ning back Todd Gurley and
impromptu pass to Jared rapidly improving quarter-
Cook last January, people back Jared Goff. Gurley is
(and players and coaches) back in 2015 offensive rook-
remember these match- ie of the year form, gaining
ups. 215 yards from scrimmage
They’re back at it on Sun- in a win at Dallas last week-
day in Dallas. end. He has 596 yards rush- In this Jan. 15, 2017, file photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) rushes for a
“Ahhh, yeah,” says Packers ing/receiving, the second- gain as Dallas Cowboys’ Sean Lee (50) and Anthony Brown (30) defend during the second half of
receiver Jordy Nelson, who highest total in the NFL to an NFL divisional playoff football game in Arlington, Texas.
leads the league with five Kansas City Chiefs rookie Associated Press
touchdown catches. “It’s a Kareem Hunt. from scrimmage in Week 1, troit Lions. a last-minute touchdown.
good conversation, for the The Seahawks also have Hunt’s fumble on his initial These should be bright They lead the league with
fans. There’s a lot of history come alive on offense, NFL carry. He’s made up days in Charlotte after 11 takeaways and seven
there. We’ve played them, gaining 910 yards overall for it big time. Newton won a franchise- interceptions. The Panthers
I think in my 10 years, nine in losing at Tennessee and Houston has come on record 54th game last have been intercepted five
times or so, eight times. It’s beating Indianapolis at defensively even without week at the New England times, but they do have Ju-
just some big games; big home. But rookie sensation J.J. Watt being the major Patriots. Newton was 22 for lius Peppers back plaguing
games and some incred- running back Chris Carson force. Watt does not have 29 for 316 yards with three quarterbacks.
ible finishes. Hopefully, broke his leg and is on in- a sack, but he has 4 1/2 touchdowns, one intercep- Week 5 began with New
there’s another one.” jured reserve. sacks, a forced fumble and tion, and he ran for a score England beating Tam-
Their last matchup was Unless the Houston Tex- fumble return combined to extend the NFL quarter- pa Bay 19-14. Tom Brady
a Packers 34-31 division- ans lay an egg as they did in his past three meetings back record with 50 rushing threw for 303 yards and
al playoff win in January against Jacksonville in their with Kansas City. Besides, touchdowns. one touchdown, and
when Rodgers completed opener, they should pro- defensive end Jadeveon The Lions would be un- New England’s porous
a 35-yard pass to Cook on vide a strong test for the Clowney has compen- beaten but for an officiat- defense showed signs of
third-and-20 with three sec- Chiefs, the league’s only sated with three sacks, a ing review that overruled improvement.q
onds left. That set up Ma- unbeaten squad. forced fumble and fumble
son Crosby’s 51-yard field Kansas City has won 26 of return for a touchdown in
goal as time expired. its past 30 regular-season the past two games com-
Cowboys tight end Jason games, but never looked bined.
Witten recognizes why the as good as now, with Andy Carolina quarterback
Packers are so formidable, Reid’s offense humming Cam Newton got himself
especially for Dallas. behind Hunt and quarter- in hot water off the field
“The entire organization, back Alex Smith. Get this: with his snide remark to a
what they’ve built, starts The Chiefs have not com- female reporter, hardly the
with Aaron Rodgers and mitted a turnover since kind of spotlight the Pan-
the way he plays,” Wit- their first offensive play thers need against the De-