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A20 SPORTS
Saturday 15 december 2018

Cowboys can prove they are real by grabbing NFC East title

By BARRY WILNER Angeles Chargers’ 29-28 left was overturned on loss. QB Deshaun Watson has
AP Pro Football Writer comeback victory at Kan- review. Officials ruled the New Orleans has struggled thrown at least one TD pass
If the Dallas Cowboys are sas City. catch did not “survive the offensively the past two in 18 straight games, while
for real, they will win their Philip Rivers led the Char- ground;” James jostled it weeks, but this is a match- top target DeAndre Hop-
sixth straight game and kins has caught at least
clinch the NFC East at In- one TD pass in five straight
dianapolis on Sunday. road games. He and Wat-
If the Colts are for real, they son have connected for
will knock off the Cowboys 16 TD passes in 20 games
and stamp themselves as they’ve played together.
true contenders for the New York got back rookie
AFC playoffs. quarterback Sam Darnold
With three games remain- and he put together his first
ing, Dallas (8-5) is in control fourth-quarter comeback
of its division, thanks to a to beat Buffalo last week
staunch defense and a re- and end a five-game slide.
vived air game with the ad- Tennessee (7-6) at New
dition of Amari Cooper. Has York Giants (5-8)
any veteran been more The other weekend game
worth a first-round draft at MetLife Stadium; notice
pick in a midseason trade? the neutral end zones.
“I didn’t know we were go- New York once was 1-7,
ing to get all that, honest- yet has a very long shot
ly,’” says NFL rushing leader at making the playoffs. A
Ezekiel Elliott about Coo- retooled offensive line has
per, acquired from Oak- provided time for Eli Man-
land. “But when I finally saw ning to show he isn’t over
him in person, when I saw In this Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, file photo, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs the hill, and for rookie run-
him catch the ball, I saw against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas. ning back Saquon Barkley
him run around and run af- Associated Press to go wild.
ter the catch, that’s when Tennessee has had at least
I really realized he’s truly gers to a pair of touch- after stretching across the up Drew Brees enjoys. The 400 yards in each of the
special.” downs in the final minutes, goal line. Saints beat the Panthers past two games, and hasn’t
A Cowboys win does the then hit Mike Williams for So the league amended three times last season, in- managed three straight
trick in the NFC East, as the go-ahead 2-point the rule in the offseason to cluding the playoffs. Brees since Oct. 1-16, 2000. It has
would losses by Philadel- conversion with 4 seconds allow some movement by has completed 76.7 per- allowed the fewest touch-
phia and Washington. Dal- remaining. The Chargers the ball if a receiver main- cent of his passes for 2,714 downs in the league this
las has almost no chance (11-3) trailed 28-14 before tains possession. yards with 21 touchdowns season, 27.
at a first-round playoff bye, Justin Jackson scored with New England can clinch its and four interceptions in the Green Bay (5-7-1) at Chi-
though. So what? The Cow- 3:49 to go. 10th straight AFC East title past 10 NFC South games, cago (9-4)
boys were 3-5 and sinking Not only did the Chargers with a win or tie and a Mi- and has 46 TDs and 20 INTs Chicago’s last-to-first climb
and now look where they clinch a playoff berth, they ami loss or tie. vs. the Panthers, who have in the NFC North could be
are. Talking about sinking, forged a first-place tie with Baltimore, meanwhile, will lost their past five overall. finalized against its biggest
Indianapolis was 1-5 two the Chiefs (11-3) in the AFC sit the now healthy Joe But Carolina is 5-1 at home. rival. A win over Green Bay,
months ago. Then the Colts West while ending a nine- Flacco behind first-round With the Rams coming off which leads the NFL’s lon-
(7-6) won five straight be- game losing streak to their pick Lamar Jackson, who the lowest-scoring per- gest series 97-94-6, gets it
fore that string ended with longtime division rivals. has won three of his four formance under Sean done. So does a Minnesota
an awful performance at New England (9-4) at Pitts- starts with Flacco (hip) side- McVay, a 15-6 loss to the loss or tie.
Jacksonville. So they went burgh (7-5-1) lined. The Ravens’ ground Bears, they try to avoid fall- The Bears lead the NFL in
to AFC South leader Hous- Tampa Bay (5-8) at Balti- game has been sensation- ing in consecutive games turnover differential (plus
ton, winner of nine in a row, more (7-6) al with the rookie behind with McVay in charge. In- 13) and interceptions (25).
and won. The AFC North has become center: Jackson has 336 deed, he has won at least Green Bay, under interim
In his comeback from a a jumble with Pittsburgh’s yards rushing over the past two straight after all seven coach Joe Philbin, must
2017 season lost to a shoul- slump (three successive four games, the most by of his career defeats. win out for any chance to
der injury, Andrew Luck has defeats) and Baltimore’s any NFL quarterback in his Eagles QB Carson Wentz is play in January. The Pack-
been sensational, working resurgence. These match- first four starts during the Su- battling a back injury. He ers have won eight in a row
behind an offensive line ups don’t bode well for the per Bowl era. Baltimore also tore up his knee at LA last at Soldier Field and nine of
that has gone from sieve Steelers, especially if Ben is allowing an NFL-low 18.5 year and missed his team’s the past 10 meetings over-
to sturdy. Luck has been Roethlisberger’s rib and points per game. run to the championship. all. But with a win, Chicago
sacked 16 times, second James Conner’s ankle are Philadelphia (6-7) at Los Houston (9-4) at New York would finish 7-1 at home for
fewest in the league. factors. Angeles Rams (11-2) Jets (4-9), Saturday the first time since 2005.
Indy is in a four-way tie for The Patriots have won New Orleans (11-2) at Car- Despite flopping at home Miami (7-6) at Minnesota
the second AFC wild-card the past five meetings. Of olina (6-7), Monday against Indy, the Texans are (6-6-1)
slot with Baltimore, Tennes- course, the 2017 version Top seed in the NFC is what in solid position, closing in Miami’s stunning “Drake Es-
see and Miami. is unforgettable: Roethlis- it’s all about for the Saints on the division crown, with cape” victory against New
“Most people call this the berger threw an intercep- and Rams, who lost to New a playoff berth almost cer- England kept it viable in
dash for cash,” Colts tight tion in the end zone with Orleans this season. tain at the least. Houston the AFC playoff chase. The
end Eric Ebron says. “So 5 seconds remaining after The Rams and Saints each also has an outside chance Dolphins are second in the
you just try to win.” tight end Jesse James’ ap- clinch a first-round bye with at a first-round playoff bye, NFL with 19 interceptions
The weekend began Thurs- parent go-ahead touch- a win and a Chicago loss or but probably needs to win and tied for third with 25
day night with the Los down with 29 seconds tie, or a tie and a Chicago out and get some help. takeaways.q