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A22 SPORTS
Friday 21 december 2018
Bears, Texans give last-place teams hope for 2019

By ROB MAADDI of the Atlanta Falcons is
AP Pro Football Writer the fifth player with at least
There's hope in 2019 for the three seasons of at least
Jaguars, Raiders, Giants 1,500 yards receiving. Jerry
and other teams who will Rice had four. Marvin Har-
finish last in the division this rison, Antonio Brown and
year. Andre Johnson also did it
The Chicago Bears (10-4) three times.
already won the NFC North DUAL THREAT: Carolina's
to complete a worst-to-first Christian McCaffrey needs
turnaround, and the Hous- nine receptions to break
ton Texans (10-4) are on the Matt Forte's (102) record for
verge of securing the AFC most catches by a running
South to become the sec- back in a season.
ond team to do it this sea- DUAL THREAT II: New York
son. Giants star Saquon Barkley
At least one team has fin- needs seven receptions to
ished in first place in its divi- break Reggie Bush's (88) re-
sion the year after finishing cord for most receptions by
last or tied for last place in a rookie back.
15 of the past 16 seasons. TIGHT END TAKEDOWN:
Since the playoff format Kansas City's Travis Kelce
was expanded to 12 teams needs 108 yards receiving
in 1990, at least four teams to break the single-season
have reached the post- record for tight ends held
season each year after not by Rob Gronkowski (1,327).
qualifying the previous sea- TIGHT END TAKEDOWN II:
son. In this Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018 file photo, Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard (24) runs to Philadelphia's Zach Ertz is
In 2017, the Philadelphia the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay 10 receptions away from
Eagles went from last place Packers in Chicago. breaking the single-season
to winning a Super Bowl Associated Press record for tight ends held
title. The Bears and Texans by Jason Witten (110).
are hoping to duplicate season. Peyton Manning son and rookie running lis Colts running back Mar- 4K CLUB: Brady (3,979) and
that feat this year. had 55 in 2013, breaking back Gus Edwards, the lon Mack joined Eric Dicker- Rivers (3,951) are close to
Here's a look inside more Tom Brady's mark of 50 set Ravens have rushed for at son and Edgerrin James as joining Manning and Brees
numbers entering Week 16: in 2007. Manning also threw least 190 yards in five con- the only players in franchise as the only quarterbacks
COUNTDOWN TO 50: Pat- 49 TDs in 2004, Dan Marino secutive games. Baltimore history with multiple games to throw for 4,000 yards 10
rick Mahomes needs five had 48 in 1984 and Drew is the first team since the of at least 125 yards rushing times. Manning did it in 14
touchdown passes to be- Brees tossed 46 in 2011. 1976 Steelers to do so five yards and two TDs rushing seasons. Brees needs 334
come the third quarter- RUNNING RAVENS: Led by straight games. in a season. yards to reach that number
back to throw for 50 in a quarterback Lamar Jack- MACK ATTACK: Indianapo- JULIO'S WAY: Julio Jones for the 13th time.q

with GQ magazine that he "I'm thankful for the ap- so he learns well," Belichick
drank or used marijuana proach he took here, how said. "For better or worse,
before games. "Probably he was as a teammate. I he's been in a lot of differ-
every game of my career," enjoyed getting to know ent systems. I know it was
he said. him in that process and I'll only one team, but it was
Gordon also said in a 2017 continue to support him in a lot of different systems
mini-documentary on Un- any way I can." up there. Most everything
interreupted.com that he Safety Devin McCourty said we've asked him to do he's
took Xanax, cocaine, mari- the 27-year-old's well-being done somewhere along
juana and other narcotics. is his biggest concern, not the line for somebody.
Gordon's outlook had im- football. "As we go through each
proved with New England, "Life comes before all of week, I would say we've
where he landed in Sep- that," McCourty said. "I gained a little more ground
tember in a trade after think we wish him the best on the overall knowledge
the Browns felt it was time and care about that more of the system," he said.
to cut ties. He had 40 re- than wins or losses." Gordon said earlier this
In this Dec. 2, 2018, file photo, New England Patriots wide re- ceptions for 720 yards and New England officials had month he thought he was
ceiver Josh Gordon is congratulated after an NFL football game three touchdowns with the insulated Gordon and fo- settling in well with New
against the Minnesota Vikings at Gillette Stadium, in Foxbor-
ough, Mass. Patriots, five years removed cused him on getting accli- England.
Associated Press from an All-Pro season in mated to the team's highly- "It felt like home a long time
2013 with 87 catches for disciplined culture, while ago," Gordon said. "The at-
PATRIOTS’ GORDON for violations of its drug poli- 1,646 yards and nine touch- also limiting his time with mosphere is very welcom-
Continued from Page 17 cies since being drafted downs. reporters. ing. It took me a little bit
His attempt to do so is a by the Browns in 2012, and Special teams captain and Coach Bill Belichick said to get acclimated to the
private and personal mat- missed the entire 2015 and receiver Matt Slater said last week that Gordon area. Other than that, it's
ter, which we intend to 2016 seasons. despite his suspension, Gor- was thriving on the field, been pretty smooth so far,
respect," Patriots team of- After being reinstated by don still has support inside developing chemistry with and that's due in part to
ficials said. NFL Commissioner Roger the Patriots locker room. quarterback Tom Brady the facility, the organiza-
Gordon has been suspend- Goodell in 2017, Gordon "My No. 1 concern is with and learning the offensive tion, just everybody helping
ed several times by the NFL revealed in an interview him as a man," Slater said. system. "He's a smart kid, me along the way."q