Crazy Rebel(l)s
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17.04.2019 08:02
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MINNEAPOLIS -- Aaron Rodgers has two NFL MVP awards and one Super Bowl ring, and hes in his ninth season as the starter for Green Bay.Sam Bradford was never on a winning team over his first six years in the league. He had 15 days to learn Minnesotas offense, then lost his Hall of Fame caliber running back to injury in the third quarter.Guess who was the more productive quarterback on Sunday night?Bradfords debut was almost as dazzling as the new $1.1 billion building itself. He completed 22 of 31 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers to lead the Vikings to a 17-14 victory over the Packers.We won, and at the end of the day thats all that matters, Bradford said.The new guy was sharp, though, and that matters a lot for the Vikings and their Super Bowl aspirations that took a hit when Teddy Bridgewater went down on Aug. 30 with a massive injury to his left knee. That triggered the bold trade with Philadelphia to bring in Bradford.He was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft for a reason, Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said. He was born for something like this.Bradford and emerging weapon Stefon Diggs moved the ball just enough, and the defense did the rest, harassing Rodgers for five sacks and two fourth-quarter turnovers that quashed the comeback and sent the crowd of 66,813 into a deafening frenzy in celebration of the first regular season game at U.S. Bank Stadium.Anytime you join a new locker room, its not easy at first, Bradford said. These guys have had my back from day one.Adrian Peterson limped off in the third quarter with a right knee injury, but the Vikings (2-0) proved they still have a lot of options. Diggs caught nine passes for 182 yards and a score. Kyle Rudolph hauled in the first touchdown . They held the Packers (1-1) to 65 total yards in the first half, withstanding an early touchdown pass by Rodgers to Jordy Nelson on a drive aided by two penalties by cornerback Terence Newman.Rodgers, who ran for 29 yards and a touchdown, had trouble finding a rhythm. He was 12 for 21 for 154 yards in the second half, but the turnovers were costly. Instead, the Bradford-Diggs connection looked like it had been honed for half of a decade.When I first got here and started watching tape, he just kind of popped, Bradford said. You just kind of notice him. Hes always getting separation. He seems to always be finding a way to get open.Here are the other top takeaways from the game:PETERSONS STATUS: Peterson left the stadium on crutches with a brace on his right leg. Zimmer said he was told the injury had already calmed down afterward, but the MRI exam on Monday will be the true test.He might miss a week. I dont know if he will or not, Zimmer said.Peterson has netted only 50 yards on 31 rushes this season.RODGERS SAYS R-E-L-A-X: Nelsons return has been a boost, but Green Bays offense has still been missing the quick-strike, big-play ability it has long had under Rodgers. The Packers are still seeking their timing between Rodgers, Nelson, new tight end Jared Cook and the rest of the receivers.Rodgers, who finished 20 for 36 for 213 yards, targeted Nelson 11 times but completed only five passes to him for 73 yards. Rodgers has a 57.1 completion percentage through two games, the lowest of his career since hes become a starter. The Packers were tied for last in the NFC last season with 5.7 yards per pass attempt, and theyre at 5.0 now.I think were close, at times, Rodgers said. We just need to figure out what that identity is.WAYNES WORLD: With Xavier Rhodes sidelined for a second straight game because of a knee injury, Trae Waynes again became the workhorse cornerback.The second-year player held his own, notwithstanding the pass interference and holding penalties he took on the same drive in the third quarter as the Packers moved to the 13 but turned the ball over on downs. Then came the interception at the Minnesota 41 with 1:50 left that sealed the victory.I was just fortunate to be in the right spot at the right time, Waynes said.SECONDARY STRUGGLES: With starter Sam Shields still recovering from a concussion and rookie Josh Hawkins also out, Green Bay suited up three cornerbacks, though safety Micah Hyde was also used in coverage. Damarious Randall had a tough time matching up with Diggs, who had nine catches for 182 yards.After allowing 320 yards passing by Blake Bortles in the opening win at Jacksonville, the Packers were vulnerable again against Bradford. They gave up gains of 44 and 46 yards to Diggs, who was clearly in sync with his new passer.When quarterbacks and receivers are on time, Randall said, theyre very tough to stop.LOUD CROWD: After playing the last two seasons outside at TCF Bank Stadium, the Vikings have moved into the controlled climate that should help their passing attack. Most importantly, a stout defense can only be more dangerous when buoyed by the noise enhanced by the roof of the ship-shaped stadium.The Packers handled the distraction relatively well, but the new building could prove to be louder than the old Metrodome and ought to be one of the noisiest places to play in the league.This building was rocking, Bradford said. Our fans were tremendous.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Dave Campbell on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DaveCampbellAP Jim Palmer Jersey . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. Baltimore Orioles Jerseys . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12. http://www.theoriolesteamshop.com/Orioles-Joey-Rickard-Kids-Jersey/ . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Brooks Robinson Jersey . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. Cal Ripken Jersey . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home.WASHINGTON -- Denard Span made a diving catch in deep centre field with two runners on base for the final out, and the Washington Nationals held off the San Francisco Giants 6-5 Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory. Jordan Zimmermann (14-6) increased his NL-leading win total, allowing one run in seven innings and outpitching Tim Lincecum (6-12). Washington matched its longest winning streak of the season and moved within one victory of .500 for the first time since July 20. The Giants scored once in the ninth off Rafael Soriano, and put runners on first and second with two outs. Hunter Pence hit a drive to left-centre, and Span ran it down near the warning track to preserve the win. Soriano worked around Brandon Belts RBI single in the ninth and, helped by Spans grab, earned his 31st save. Ian Desmond homered and Anthony Rendon had two RBIs in a five-run fourth inning that put Washington up 6-1. Zimmermann gave up six hits, walked two and struck out two. After going 1-3 in his previous four starts, the right-hander permitted only two runners past second base. In his last 42 regular-season starts, Zimmermann is 23-8 with a 3.01 ERA. Washington is 31-11 in those games. Lincecum surrendered six runs and seven hits in six innings. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner allowed a combined three runs over 22 innings in his previous three starts. Belt homered and Pablo Sandoval had three hits for the last-place Giants, who have lost eight of 11 to fall a season-high 15 games under .500 (52-67). Since the All-Star break, the defending World Series champions are 9-16. The Giants used a walk to Pence, a stolen base and a two-out single by Roger Kieschnick to manufacturee a second-inning run.dddddddddddd In the bottom half, Desmond needed only one swing to tie it. His 17th home run was his 10th career hit in 12 at-bats against Lincecum, including two longballs. San Francisco got two singles and a walk to load the bases with two outs in the fourth for Lincecum, an .098 lifetime hitter who bounced into a force play. Similarly, two singles and an intentional walk loaded the bases for Washington in the bottom half, and the Nationals took full advantage of the situation. Rendon hit a two-run double and Kurt Suzuki followed with an RBI single. A wild pitch by Lincecum let in another run, and Ryan Zimmerman capped the uprising with a run-scoring single. After Zimmermann left, the Giants pierced the Washington bullpen for three runs in the eighth. Belt homered off Ian Krol and Sandoval doubled in two runs off Ryan Mattheus before Tyler Clippard struck out Kieschnick and Gregor Blanco. Sandovals three hits were one more than he had in his previous seven games. Blanco went 0 for 3 and is batting .113 since the All-Star break, and teammate Buster Posey broke out of a 3-for-26 skid with singles in the eighth and ninth. NOTES: Nationals C Wilson Ramos is day-to-day after straining his left hamstring during Tuesdays game. Ramos said Wednesday he expects to be held out "maybe one or two days." ... It was the first time in 10 games that San Francisco lost when scoring at least four runs. The Giants are now 40-12 in such games. ... Washington RHP Dan Haren seeks to win his fourth straight start in the series finale Thursday afternoon. RHP Ryan Vogelsong pitches for the Giants, his second start since returning from the 60-day DL. ' ' ' |
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