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21	September 2019

ATLANTA (AP) � The NFL should�ve ended the season two weeks ago

.This Super Bowl was a hot mess Derek Rivers Jerseys 2019 , really no better than a sloppy preseason game.Tom Brady and the New England Patriots captured their sixth championship Sunday night, an amazing accomplishment that was overshadowed by the ugly way they won it against the stunningly inept Los Angeles Rams.An instant classic?No, this was instantly forgettable.The only touchdown finally came when the game was 53 minutes old, the Patriots reaching the end zone on Sony Michel�s 2-yard run after one of the few offensive highlights � Brady�s niftily threaded ball to Rob Gronkowski with three defenders around, resulting in a 29-yard play.It was the only time all evening that either team reached the red zone.That brief burst of offense was enough to carry the Patriots to a 13-3 victory , but this game will be remembered as an unworthy finale to a thrilling season. Certainly not in the same league as that pair of captivating games we witnessed on conference championship weekend. Not even close to the Super Bowl classics that capped off the last two seasonsThose represented the NFL at its HD best.The latest Super Bowl should�ve been broadcast in black and white.It was straight out of the 1950s.�You�ve got to grind it out and find a way,� said Brady, delivering a drab quote that perfectly fit the occasion.Stephen Gostkowski clinched it for the Patriots, barely guiding a 41-yard field goal inside the left upright with 1:12 remaining to make it a two-score game.What a blessing.The last thing anyone needed was the Rams having any chance to send this monstrosity to overtime.Taking nothing away from a stout defensive effort by both teams, this lackluster affair seemed more the result of two offenses that never found their footing � especially the youthful Rams and their 24-year-old quarterback, Jared Goff.There were plenty of silly mistakes, the kind of plays you normally see when teams are working through the kinks coming of training camp. Both teams were flagged for having two men in motion at the same time. The Rams were penalized for a false start when lined up on second down needing less than a yard. One of their better plays was negated by a holding penalty. They even got caught with too many men on the field.�We just played bad today,� running back C.J. Anderson said.With just over a minute to go, after the Rams were called for yet another holding penalty, the press box announcer summed it up best after accidentally leaving his mic on.�Ughhhhhhh,� he moaned, snapping the assembled media out their slumber.It was the lowest-scoring game in Super Bowl history, eclipsing a 21-point snoozer in 1973 when Miami capped its perfect season with an ugly victory over Washington that had least had a bit of comic relief: kicker Garo Yepremian�s ridiculous attempt to throw a pass.When Adam Levine ripped off his shirt during the halftime show, it was quickly apparent that tattoos would far outnumber points in the A-T-L.Come to think of it, Maroon 5 might have benefited the most from this one.Their lame White Deatrich Wise Jerseys , off-key performance was probably the highlight of the night.The Rams needed until deep into the third quarter to finally surpass 100 yards, on a drive that resulted in their only points. Greg Zuerlein booted a 53-yard field goal that tied the game at 3 with just over two minutes remaining in the period, and it looked like Los Angeles might actually have a chance to pull out a game it had no business winning.After Michel�s TD, Los Angeles gave itself one more chance. Driving briskly into New England territory, the Rams had first down at the 27 when Goff lofted a pass toward the right pylon with Brandin Cooks breaking into the clear. But Patriots second-string safety Duron Harmon, in the game after Patrick Chung sustained what looked to be a broken arm, came flying over to level Cooks just as the ball was slipping through the receiver�s hands at the goal line.Cooks conceded afterward that it was a catch he should�ve made, but he was hardly alone in that category.On the very next play, Huron came at Goff on a blitz. The young quarterback flinched with the safety in his face, wobbling up a pass that was easily picked off by Stephon Gilmore.New England drove the other way for the clinching field goal.With eight seconds remaining, the Rams sent on Zuerlein to attempt a 48-yard field goal, knowing the only remote chance they had to force OT was to get three points, pull an onside kick and heave a desperation pass toward the end zone on the final play.Zuerlein was money all season, and especially in the NFC championship game against the New Orleans Saints, when he tied it up with a 48-yard field goal and won the game in overtime with a booming 57-yard effort.That was then.This time, Zuerlein�s kick sailed wide left of the upright.Brady kneeled down one more time and it was over.Thankfully.Disney officials dutifully announced that Brady and MVP Julian Edelman would be visiting the Magic Kingdom on Monday.The folks at Mickey Mouse Land might want to reconsider their offer.It�s probably best to just forget this stinker of a Super Bowl. If the Dallas Cowboys are for real, they will win their sixth straight game and clinch the NFC East at Indianapolis on Sunday.If the Colts are for real, they will knock off the Cowboys and stamp themselves as true contenders for the AFC playoffs.With three games remaining, Dallas (8-5) is in control of its division, thanks to a staunch defense and a revived air game with the addition of Amari Cooper. Has any veteran been more worth a first-round draft pick in a midseason trade?�I didn�t know we were going to get all that Deatrich Wise Jerseys 2019 , honestly,'� says NFL rushing leader Ezekiel Elliott about Cooper, acquired from Oakland. �But when I finally saw him in person, when I saw him catch the ball, I saw him run around and run after the catch, that�s when I really realized he�s truly special.�A Cowboys win does the trick in the NFC East, as would losses by Philadelphia and Washington. Dallas has almost no chance at a first-round playoff bye, though.So what? The Cowboys were 3-5 and sinking and now look where they are.Talking about sinking, Indianapolis was 1-5 two months ago. Then the Colts (7-6) won five straight before that string ended with an awful performance at Jacksonville. So they went to AFC South leader Houston, winner of nine in a row, and won.In his comeback from a 2017 season lost to a shoulder injury, Andrew Luck has been sensational, working behind an offensive line that has gone from sieve to sturdy. Luck has been sacked 16 times, second fewest in the league.Indy is in a four-way tie for the second AFC wild-card slot with Baltimore, Tennessee and Miami.�Most people call this the dash for cash,� Colts tight end Eric Ebron says. �So you just try to win.�Two road teams won Saturday, with Cleveland edging Denver 17-16, and Houston beating the New York Jets 29-22, and.Baker Mayfield�s 2-yard TD toss to Antonio Calloway with just under 12 minutes left provided the winning margin for the Browns (6-7-1). They snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Broncos (6-8).Houston�s Deshaun Watson threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins with 2:15 left. The Texans are 10-4, and the Jets 4-10.The weekend began Thursday night with the Los Angeles Chargers� 29-28 comeback victory at Kansas City.Philip Rivers led the Chargers to a pair of touchdowns in the final minutes White Joe Thuney Jerseys , then hit Mike Williams for the go-ahead 2-point conversion with 4 seconds remaining. The Chargers (11-3) trailed 28-14 before Justin Jackson scored with 3:49 to go.Not only did the Chargers clinch a playoff berth, they forged a first-place tie with the Chiefs (11-3) in the AFC West while ending a nine-game losing streak to their longtime division rivals.New England (9-4) at Pittsburgh (7-5-1)Tampa Bay (5-8) at Baltimore (7-6)The AFC North has become a jumble with Pittsburgh�s slump (three successive defeats) and Baltimore�s resurgence. These matchups don�t bode well for the Steelers, especially if Ben Roethlisberger�s rib and James Conner�s ankle are factors.The Patriots have won the past five meetings. Of course, the 2017 version is unforgettable: Roethlisberger threw an interception in the end zone with 5 seconds remaining after tight end Jesse James� apparent go-ahead touchdown with 29 seconds left was overturned on review. Officials ruled the catch did not �survive the ground;� James jostled it after stretching across the goal line.So the league amended the rule in the offseason to allow some movement by the ball if a receiver maintains possession.New England can clinch its 10th straight AFC East title with a win or tie and a Miami loss or tie. Baltimore, meanwhile, will sit the now-healthy Joe Flacco behind first-round pick Lamar Jackson, who has won three of his four starts with Flacco (hip) sidelined. The Ravens� ground game has been sensational with the rookie behind center:Jackson has 336 yards rushing over the past four games, the most by any NFL quarterback in his first four starts during the Super Bowl era. Baltimore also is allowing an NFL-low 18.5 points per game.Philadelphia (6-7) at Los Angeles Rams (11-2)New Orleans (11-2) at Carolina (6-7), MondayTop seed in the NFC is what it�s all about for the Saints and Rams, who lost to New Orleans this season.The Rams and Saints each clinch a first-round bye with a win and a Chicago loss or tie, or a tie and a Chicago loss.New Orleans has struggled offensively the past two weeks, but this is a matchup Drew Brees enjoys. The Saints beat the Panthers three times last season, including the playoffs. Brees has completed 76.7 percent of his passes for 2,714 yards with 21 touchdowns and four interceptions in the past 10 NFC South games and has 46 TDs and 20 INTs vs. the Panthers, who have lost their past five overall. But Carolina is 5-1 at home.With the Rams coming off the lowest-scoring performance under Sean McVay, a 15-6 loss to the Bears, they try to avoid falling in consecutive games with McVay in charge. Indeed, he has won at least two straight after all seven of his career defeats.Eagles QB Carson Wentz is battling a back injury. He tore up his knee at LA last year and missed his team�s run to the championship.Tennessee (7-6) at New York Giants (5-8)The other weekend game at MetLife Stadium; notice the neutral end zones.New York once was 1-7, yet has a very long shot at making the playoffs. A retooled offensive line has provided time for Eli Manning to show he isn�t over the hill, and for rookie running back Saquon Barkley to go wild.Tennessee has had at least 400 yards in each of the past two games Joe Thuney Jerseys 2019 , and hasn�t managed three straight since Oct. 1-16, 2000. It has allowed the fewest touchdowns in the league this season, 27.Green Bay (5-7-1) at Chicago (9-4)Miami (7-6) at Minnesota (6-6-1)Chicago�s last-to-first climb in the NFC North could be finalized against its biggest rival. A win over Green Bay, which leads the NFL�s longest series 97-94-6, gets it done. So does a Minnesota loss or tie.The Bears lead the NFL in turnover differential (plus 13) and interceptions (25).Green Bay, under interim coach Joe Philbin, must win out for any chance to play in January. The Packers have won eight in a row at Soldier Field and nine of the past 10 meetings overall. But with a win, Chicago would finish 7-1 at home for the first time since 2005.Miami�s stunning �Drake Escape� victory against New England kept it viable in the AFC playoff chase. The Dolphins are second in the NFL with 19 interceptions and tied for third with 25 takeaways.Minnesota was overwhelmed last Monday night at Seattle, and fired offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. In their past three losses, all on the road, the Vikings have averaged just 274 yards and 12 points per game. But they�re at home and the Dolphins are 0-5 on the road since beating the Jets in Week 2.Seattle (8-5) at San Francisco (3-10)Surging Seattle has won four straight and its defeats are to opponents who are a combined 36-16, with two of losses to the 11-2 Rams. The Seahawks have the league�s top rushing team and have become as stingy as anybody on defense despite being in a rebuild.A win gets them into the postseason, and they have won 10 straight in this NFC West rivalry, starting with the conference title game in January 2014. Linebacker Bobby Wagner , making a hefty statement for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, seeks his eighth straight game with at least eight tackles. Wagner had 12 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, two passes defensed and a 98-yard interception return for a TD in the Week 13 win over San Francisco.Detroit (5-8) at Buffalo (4-9)Don�t look for much scoring here.With 3,187 yards passing White Michael Bennett Jerseys , Detroit QB Matthew Stafford is in jeopardy of ending his seven-season streak of topping 4,000 yards. His counterpart, first-round pick Josh Allen, has a combined 335 yards rushing in the past three games. He�s the second NFL QB to top 90 yards rushing in three consecutive games, joining Green Bay�s Tobin Rote in 1951.Arizona (3-10) at Atlanta (4-9)Atlanta might do some scoring here, while Arizona ranks at the bottom in most offensive categories. Its pitiful 178 points are 23 lower than the next-worst team, Buffalo. The Cardinals started five rookies on offense last week.After being held without a TD catch in the first seven games, Atlanta WR Julio Jones has five in the past six games. Jones leads the NFL with 1,429 yards receiving and has topped 100 yards in nine games.Oakland (3-10) at Cincinnati (5-8)Banged-up Cincinnati has been in freefall, dropping five in a row and seven of eight. This is its final home game. The Bengals have averaged 51,673, the second-smallest attendance since Paul Brown Stadium opened in 2000. They�re 3-4 at home.The Raiders fired GM Reggie McKenzie on Monday, one day after a stunning upset of Pittsburgh.Washington (6-7) at Jacksonville (4-9)What does a team do when its top two QBs have broken legs and the third guy has a broken career? In Washington�s case, it turns to someone who hasn�t started since 2011, is 0-5 in the NFL and recently had a contract with the startup Alliance of American Football, Josh Johnson.Redskins RB Adrian Peterson needs 112 yards rushing to pass Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson (13,259) for eighth most in NFL history.