Page 21 - aruba-today-20181215

A21
SPORTS Saturday 15 december 2018

Rivers leads Chargers

to last-second comeback

win over Kansas City

By DAVE SKRETTA Mahomes and the NFL’s
AP Sports Writer highest-scoring offense,
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — and Rivers led a tense fi-
Arrowhead Stadium was nal drive that included a
already emptying by the fourth-down dart to Travis
time Chargers quarterback Benjamin to keep it alive.
Philip Rivers jogged to the That crucial penalty on
locker room, triumphantly Kendall Fuller in the back
waving his hand as a sat- of the end zone gave the
isfying cascade of boos Chargers the ball at the 1,
washed over him. and Rivers found Mike Wil-
He had finally beaten the liams along the sideline on
Kansas City Chiefs. the next play. And when
It sounded perfect. his TD catch with 4 seconds
Rivers led Los Angeles on left was confirmed, coach Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams (81) runs into the end zone between Kansas
a feverish fourth-quarter Anthony Lynn sent his of- City Chiefs defensive back Daniel Sorensen, right, and safety Ron Parker, left, during the second
comeback Thursday night, fense back onto the field. half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018.
capped by a debatable Williams hauled in the con- Associated Press
pass-interference call, version to end five years’ snapped their nine-game in place of the injured Mel- Hyped by the return of star
a tense video review of worth of frustration. losing streak against Kansas vin Gordon and Austin Ekel- safety Eric Berry, it looked
the last touchdown and “We didn’t come here to City. er. for a while as if the Chiefs
the gutsy decision to try a tie. We came here to win. They hadn’t beaten the Mahomes was held to just would simply resume their
2-point conversion. And for So to me it was a no-brain- Chiefs since 2013, the last 243 yards and two touch- vexation of Rivers at Ar-
the first time in years against er,” said Lynn, whose team year they made the play- downs for Kansas City, and rowhead. Steven Nelson
Kansas City, everything became the first since Min- offs. his inability to pick up a first leaped to snag a jump
turned out perfectly for Riv- nesota in Week 15 of the “Oh, it’s satisfying,” Benja- down in the closing minutes ball for a pick on the sec-
ers and the Chargers in a 2002 season to win with a min said. “We talked about proved costly. The Chiefs ond play of the game, and
29-28 victory that clinched 2-point conversion in the it. We knew it had been a forced the Chargers to Rivers tossed another just
their playoff spot. final 10 seconds of regula- couple years and we want- burn two timeouts on their before halftime. Mahomes
“This was big. Here or at tion. ed to go into this game and last drive, but Mahomes and Co. took advantage
home, whatever,” Rivers The comeback allowed change that and we did.” was sacked by Isaac Ro- of their early momentum.
said, “we needed to beat Los Angeles to forge a first- Rivers threw for 313 yards chell and Kansas City had Kansas City breezed down-
these guys.” place tie in the AFC West, and two touchdowns with to punt. field after Nelson’s inter-
The Chargers (11-3) trailed though the Chiefs (11-3) two interceptions, and Wil- The Chiefs never got the ception, and the young
28-14 when Justin Jack- hold the tiebreaker with liams had seven catches ball back on offense. MVP candidate threw a
son’s touchdown run with a better division record. for 76 yards and two scores “They found a way to win dart to Demarcus Robin-
3:49 to go gave them a More satisfying was the while adding another on and we didn’t,” Mahomes son — while in the grasp of
chance. They quickly got simple fact that Rivers and the ground. Jackson ran for said. “You have to find a Chargers safety Adrian Phil-
the ball back from Patrick the Chargers had finally 58 yards and a touchdown way in this league.” lips — for a 7-0 lead.q

Eagles’ Wentz has stress fracture in back; no surgery needed

By ROB MAADDI bly have on anybody that brace. This guy is playing
AP Pro Football Writer has a stress fracture or stress through a lot.” Foles hasn’t
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Car- injury,” Pederson said. taken a snap in a game
son Wentz’s back injury “If we put him out there, since Week 2. He took over
means Nick Foles gets an- there has to be 100 per- in Week 14 last season after
other opportunity to rescue cent that there’s no risk of Wentz tore two ligaments
the Philadelphia Eagles. anything further.” The team in his left knee during a
Eagles coach Doug Peder- isn’t certain when Wentz comeback win on the road
son said Friday that Wentz got hurt and Pederson said against the Rams. Foles led
does not require surgery for the injury developed over Philadelphia to its first NFL
a stress fracture in his back time. A test on Tuesday re- title since 1960 and started
and the injury could take vealed his condition. “He’s the first two games this sea-
up to three months to heal. one of the toughest dudes son, going 1-1.
The quarterback is listed I know, but of course it’s “Nick is a Super Bowl MVP
as “doubtful” for Sunday going to affect him,” wide quarterback for a reason
night’s game against the In this Sept. 23, 2018, file photo, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback receiver Jordan Matthews and we’ve got a ton of
Carson Wentz (11) and quarterback Nick Foles (9) throw
Rams in Los Angeles and is before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, in said after Thursday’s prac- confidence that he’s going
scheduled to travel with the Philadelphia. tice. “You have to be able to give it his all like he al-
team. Foles wasn’t avail- Associated Press to twist, you have to be ways does,” said tight end
able to speak to reporters, separation for him or if he Pederson is optimistic about able to turn. Carson is prob- Zach Ertz, who caught the
but teammates expect the gives me an opportunity Wentz’s recovery. ably the best quarterback winning touchdown pass
Super Bowl MVP to start. and I am covered, go get “The fact that he doesn’t also throwing off the run, so from Foles in Philadelphia’s
“He’s the guy and it’s my it,” wide receiver Nelson need surgery on this is the that affects your running, 41-33 win over New Eng-
job to create as much Agholor said after practice. best news you could possi- too. He’s wearing a knee land in February. q