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Rangers force extra
game. MLB 1, 4-5C
Playoff field
not yet set
TIM HEITMAN, USA TODAY SPORTS
QIJFAF-01005z(e)a
COPYRIGHT2013 USATODAY, a division of Gannett Co., Inc.
09.30.13
STATE-BY-STATE 6A MARKETPLACE TODAY 5D PUZZLES 5D MARKET TRENDS 6B WEATHER 10A WHAT TO WATCH 6D YOUR SAY 9A
USA SNAPSHOTS
vacat|on at caravan
com
C
Mayor Gayle McLaughlin,
of Richmond Calif., talks of
using eminent domain, 4B
Waging war
on foreclosures
MARTINE. KLIMEK, USA TODAY
USA SNAPSHOTS
Active coaches in
NHL with most
regular-season wins
Source Hockey-Reference.com
KEVIN GREER AND ALEJANDROGONZALEZ, USA TODAY
660
605
571
519
461
Joel Quenneville
Ken Hitchcock
Lindy Ruff
Barry Trotz
Darryl Sutter
Baseball/American League u4C
Tampa Bay 7, Toronto 6
Baltimore 7, Boston 6
Kansas City 4, Chicago 1
Cleveland 5, Minnesota 1
N.Y. Yankees 5, Houston 1 (14)
Texas 6, L.A. Angels 2
Oakland 9, Seattle 0
National League u4C
Pittsburgh 4, Cincinnati 2
N.Y. Mets 3, Milwaukee 2
Atlanta 12, Philadelphia 5
St. Louis 4, Chicago Cubs 0
San Francisco 7, San Diego 6
Colorado 2, L.A. Dodgers 1
Arizona 3, Washington 2
Interleagueu4-5C
Miami 1, Detroit 0
Football/NFLu6-9C
Kansas City 31, N.Y. Giants 7
Seattle 23, Houston 20 (OT)
Buffalo 23, Baltimore 20
Arizona 13, Tampa Bay 10
Indianapolis 37, Jacksonville 3
Cleveland 17, Cincinnati 6
Detroit 40, Chicago 32
Minnesota 34, Pittsburgh 27
Tennessee 38, N.Y. Jets 13
Washington 24, Oakland 14
San Diego 30, Dallas 21
Denver 52, Philadelphia 20
New England 30, Atlanta 23
SPORTSLINE
FIRST WORD
I WAS READY TO GO OUT
THERE FOR THE 10TH. BUT
ILL TAKE THAT WILD PITCH.
Marlins starter Henderson Alvarez,
whose no-hitter vs. the Tigers wasnt
over until his team scored in the
bottom of the ninth inning on a
wild pitch to win the game 1-0
TWEET OF THE DAY
@ovi8
SO SICK!!!!!!!BEST MOMENT IN
MY LIFE!!!THX @COCACOLA AND
SOCHI 2014 !!!!
Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who was
the first Russian to carry a Sochi
Olympic torch Sunday, receiving the
flame at the traditional lighting cere-
mony in Greece
MAGIC NUMBERS
16, 0
Broncos quarterback Peyton Man-
nings TD pass and interception totals
through four games
MAGIC NUMBER II
2:03.23
The winning time, a world record, for
Kenyas Wilson Kipsang, 31, in Sun-
days Berlin Marathon
LAST WORD
OUR HISTORY HAS BEEN GREAT,
AND WE NEED TO BE GREAT
AGAIN.
Southern Cal athletics director Pat
Haden, after firing coach Lane Kiffin
Edited by Joe Fleming
DIMITRI MESSINIS, AP
Alex Ovechkin rejoins team Tuesday.
LOS ANGELES Lane Kins ring the
morning after a disastrous night in
Tempe, Ariz. a 62-41 loss to Arizo-
na State that gave Kin and South-
ern California a 3-2 record and seven
losses in their last 11 games made
clear that whatever was left of the
Pete Carroll glory years is long gone.
The Trojans newest coach is an
interim choice. USC athletics direc-
tor Pat Haden announced Sunday
that Ed Orgeron, the teams assistant
head coach, defensive line coach and
recruiting coordinator, would take
over for the rest of the season.
In one sentence, Haden also
summed up that one of college foot-
balls most storied programs is not at
the top of its game.
Our history has been great, Ha-
den said. We need to be great again.
For now, that starts with Orgeron
trying to salvage a successful season
while Haden courts a coach.
Haden, a former USC star quarter-
back, tried to put the focus on the
current players as he declined to dis-
cuss candidates for a permanent
coach to lead the Trojans out of their
mediocrity.
Well try to nd the best coach,
but I dont want to talk about the
search now, Haden said. We have
some really great kids, and its about
them now.
The struggling Trojans are taking
two days o before they return to
practice to prepare for their next
game, at home against Arizona on
Oct. 10.
The pressure now shifts to Orge-
ron to nd a way to avoid what, for a
program such as USCs, is shaping up
as another lost campaign following
the collapse of 2012, when the Tro-
jans opened the season ranked No. 1
and stumbled to a 7-6 nish.
Seeking return to glory, USC starts over
MATT KARTOZIAN, USA TODAY SPORTS
Lane Kin was red after USCs sev-
enth loss in 11 games dating to 2012.
David Leon Moore
@DavidLeon_Moore
USATODAYSports
uNo changes at top of coaches poll, 10C
uAnalysis: Southern California job just got better, 10C
vSTORY CONTINUES ON10C
LONDON Christian Pon-
der smiled as he slapped
hands with Matt Cassel
on the sideline, but the
Minnesota Vikings in-
jured quarterback had to know what
he was watching.
Cassel had just thrown a 16-yard
touchdown pass to Greg Jennings in
the third quarter of the previously
winless Vikings 34-27 triumph
against the Pittsburgh Steelers at
Wembley Stadium and put himself
in position to stay the starter after
next weeks bye.
In terms of me being ready to
play, Ill always take the same ap-
proach: Ill be ready, Cassel said.
My job is to be accountable to my
teammates, and whatever Coach
says, thats what Ill do.
The market for No. 2 quarterbacks
was more lucrative than ever in
March, with Cassel among six to sign
contracts worth at least $3 million a
year.
The Vikings got an up-close look at
the jolt a change at the most impor-
tant position can make a week earli-
er, when Brian Hoyer starting in
place of injured Brandon Weeden
threw three touchdown passes in the
Cleveland Browns upset victory at
the Metrodome.
Hoyer, 27, was even better Sunday,
throwing for 269 yards and two
touchdowns without a turnover as
the Browns whipped the Cincinnati
Bengals 17-6. Left for dead when they
traded running back Trent Richard-
son on Sept. 18, the Browns (2-2) are
tied for the AFC North lead.
Certainly, hes been the spark that
I had hoped for, Browns coach Rob
Chudzinski said of Hoyer.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked
for a spark by benching Josh Free-
man and starting rookie Mike Glen-
non, who had them in position for
KIRBY LEE, USA TODAY SPORTS
Matt Cassel stepped in to lead the Vik-
ings to victory against the Steelers.
Cassel shows value of capable No. 2 QB
Tom Pelissero
@TomPelissero
USATODAYSports
MORE NFL INSIDE
Greenwood, member of famed Steel Curtain, dead at age 67, 2C
Steelers, Giants, Jaguars and Buccaneers remain winless, 6C
Bell: New quarterback, same result for Tampa Bay, 7C
Manning throws four TD passes as Broncos crush Eagles, 7C
vSTORY CONTINUES ON 6C
GAME
CHANGE:
BACKUP
QBS
Nick Swisher thrust his arms high
into the air, looked into the sky and
proclaimed that he has never felt so
proud to be a Clevelander.
Hopefully this changes the per-
ception of what people think of this
city and this organization, Swisher
said Sunday. People in the 216, get
ready yall, its time to party.
The Cleveland Indians, who lost
94 games in 2012, are back in the
playos for the rst time since 2007,
earning an American League wild-
card home game.
For the rst time in 21 years, the
Pittsburgh Pirates are joining them.
The Detroit Tigers are returning,
too, as well as the Cincinnati Reds.
This isnt a Major League Baseball
postseason.
Its a Rust Belt renaissance.
These four cities, devastated over
the years by economic woes and, in
some cases, downtown desolation,
suddenly have baseball teams to at
HANNAHFOSLIEN, GETTY IMAGES
Jason Kipnis, left, and Nick Swisher of the Indians celebrate Sundays win, which clinched Clevelands rst postseason berth since 2007.
RESURGENCE IN RUST BELT
JOHNE. SOKOLOWSKI, USA TODAY SPORTS
Rays second
baseman Ben
Zobrist, left,
and shortstop
Yunel Escobar
were up in the
air over their
victory Sunday
that enables
their season to
last at least
another day.
Midwestern teams lock up playo berths
vSTORY CONTINUES ON 5C
Bob Nightengale
[email protected]
USATODAYSports
TODAY
AL one-game playoff
Tampa Bay Rays at
Texas Rangers, 8:07 ET, TBS
TUESDAY
NL wild-card game
Cincinnati Reds at
Pittsburgh Pirates, 8:07 ET, TBS
WEDNESDAY
AL wild-card game
Rangers-Rays winner at
Cleveland Indians, 8:07 ET, TBS
THURSDAY
NL Division Series
Los Angeles Dodgers at
Atlanta Braves, TBA
Reds-Pirates winner at
St. Louis Cardinals, TBA
FRIDAY
AL Division Series
Detroit Tigers at
Oakland Athletics, TBA
Wild-card winner at Boston
Red Sox, TBA
F
2C SPORTS
USA TODAY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
FORMER STEELERS LINEMAN
GREENWOOD DIES AT 67
Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive
end L.C. Greenwood, who won four
Super Bowls as a member of the
Steel Curtain defense, has died. He
was 67. The Allegheny County (Pa.)
Medical Examiners oce said
Greenwood died Sunday from undis-
closed causes at Presbyterian Hospi-
tal in Pittsburgh. Greenwood was a
six-time Pro Bowler and two-time
all-pro during his career from 1969 to
1981 and was honored on the NFLs
All-Decade team for the 1970s. Fam-
ous for wearing gold cleats when he
played, Greenwood joined Joe
Greene, Ernie Holmes and
Dwight White to form the line that
served as the linchpin for the defense
that helped the Steelers win four Su-
per Bowls in a six-season span.
NBA CONSIDERING CHANGE
TO FINALS FORMAT
The competition committee will rec-
ommend a change in the NBA Finals
from a 2-3-2 format to a 2-2-1-1-1 as
it is in the other playo series, ac-
cording to a person familiar with the
situation. The person spoke on the
condition of anonymity because the
league hadnt made the matter pub-
lic. The league has used the 2-3-2 for-
mat since 1985, when it was decided
that the travel from coast to coast
was too long for one game. One argu-
ment for going back is that the lower
seed has a disadvantage, but that
hasnt seemed to be the case. The Mi-
ami Heat were the higher seed this
year, but the Oklahoma City Thunder
were the higher seed in 2012 when
the Heat won. Miami was the higher
seed in 2011 when the Dallas Maver-
icks won. The team with the home-
court advantage has won the Finals
about 70% of the time. The owners
will vote on the proposal at next
months meetings. Sam Amick
KEMPS SEASON OVER
BECAUSE OF ANKLE INJURY
The Los Angeles Dodgers wont have
center elder Matt Kemp for the
postseason because of swelling in a
bone in his left ankle. He left the
clubhouse on crutches after a 2-1
home win vs. the Colorado Rockies in
Sundays regular-season nale. An
MRI taken during the game showed
microscopic evidence of swelling in
one of the major weight-bearing
bones in Kemps sprained ankle. The
announcement came as a surprise,
because a few days ago Kemp said he
felt good. Kemp missed 52 games
over the last two months while on
the disabled list because of the ankle.
He was scratched from Saturdays
lineup in a precautionary move after
starting the previous six games while
trying to accumulate at-bats before
the playos. The Dodgers open the
National League Division Series on
Thursday at the Atlanta Braves.
HADLEY WINS TOURNAMENT,
WILLIAMS EARNS CARD
Chesson Hadley won the Web.com
Tour Championship on Sunday in
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. He closed
with a 1-under 69 for a two-shot vic-
tory in the nal event of the series
that determines PGA Tour cards. A
late bogey by Scott Gardiner kept
Hadley from winning the special
money list and getting full status on
the PGA Tour and a spot in The Play-
ers Championship next year. John
Peterson won the special money
list. Perhaps the biggest winner was
Lee Williams. Needing a birdie on
the 18th hole at TPC Sawgrass, he
rolled in a 55-foot putt over a ridge
and into the cup to earn a tour card.
BRIEFLY ...
Tim Cahill scored in the 76th min-
ute Sunday, lifting the visiting New
York Red Bulls into a 1-1 tie with the
Seattle Sounders that put them back
atop the Major League Soccer stand-
ings. ... Oregon junior running back
DeAnthony Thomas, who injured
his right ankle on the opening kicko
of Saturdays 55-16 home victory vs.
California and missed the rest of the
game, said he was uncertain if he
would be able to play Saturday at
Colorado. ... Shanghai Bobby, last
years undefeated 2-year-old champi-
on, was retired from horse racing af-
ter suering a lower leg injury Friday
in winning the Aljamin Stakes at Bel-
mont Park. The race marked Shang-
hai Bobbys return from a pelvic
fracture that caused him to miss the
Triple Crown races after he got hurt
in the Florida Derby in March.
Compiled by John Tkach fromsta, wires
Where Josh Freeman might land
explored in 10 things we learned
from Week 4 in the NFL.
BRAD PENNER, USA TODAY SPORTS
The Bucs have benched Josh Freeman.
NFL.USATODAY.COM
ANYONE
NEED A QB?
IN BRIEF
SPORTS PHOTOS
QR READER
Scan with a QR reader;
AT&T code scanner
available at scan.mobi.
Get codes for your
business at att.com/mcode.
JAYNE KAMIN-ONCEA, USA TODAY SPORTS
Dodgers center elder Matt Kemp will
miss the postseason.
1977 AP PHOTO
L.C. Greenwood helped the Steelers win
four Super Bowls in six seasons.
NASCAR
drive the (stu) out of that thing.
Thats because Hendrick Motor-
sports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr.
was behind him on the nal restart
with four fresh tires to Johnsons two
the result of pit strategy.
Knaus knew taking two tires
would eventually be trumped by four
but gured there would be enough
time to hold o Earnhardt. Busch
took the lead with two tires earlier in
the race and was overtaken in 27 laps,
Knaus observed; on Sundays nal
run, there were 26 laps left.
We worked hard and tried to un-
derstand what we needed to do for
strategy, and fortunately it paid o
for us, he said.
Thats not a surprising develop-
ment considering the history of the
No. 48 team. Johnson and Knaus
have been a formidable pair unlike
any the sport has seen over the last
decade.
And though it was mildly surpris-
ing not to see better results from
Johnson in the rst two Chase races
he nished fth at Chicagoland
Speedway and fourth at New Hamp-
shire Motor Speedway Knaus said
DOVER, DEL. Theres usually nothing
that can distract laser-focused Jim-
mie Johnson during the 10 weeks of
NASCARs Chase for the Sprint Cup.
He has won ve championships af-
ter retreating into his mental bubble,
thinking only about what it takes to
go fast week after week.
But when he crossed the nish line
of Sundays AAA 400 at Dover Inter-
national Speedway, Johnson said, his
rst thought wasnt about the Chase.
Instead, he reected on the history
he had just achieved: A record eighth
Dover win, breaking a tie with Rich-
ard Petty and Bobby Allison.
Im not sure Ive ever done what
Richard Petty hasnt, Johnson said.
To get this eighth win here is very,
very special.
Then, of course, his thoughts were
back on the Chase.
After he stumbled into the title
run with the worst four-race stretch
of his career, Johnsons consecutive
top-ve results were overshadowed
in the rst two events by one-two n-
ishes from Joe Gibbs Racing team-
mates Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch.
Not anymore.
Johnson is eight points behind
Kenseth worth eight track posi-
tions and showed he was in typical
autumn form despite a quiet two
months by his standards. This was
his rst win since July at Daytona In-
ternational Speedway.
I think Jimmie is probably the
most underrated champion we have
in this industry, crew chief Chad
Knaus said. He is by far and away
the most powerful driver over the
course of the last 25 to 35 years in
this sport. Its pretty fun being able to
work with him.
Johnson, sitting adjacent to Knaus
during the postrace news conference,
allowed himself a smile.
Thanks, man, he said.
To win, Johnson said, he had to
the team was capable of winning the
rst two races.
At Chicagoland, a NASCAR ocial
delayed a pit stop with an incorrect
call about a missing lug nut before
correcting himself; at New Hamp-
shire, Knaus said, Johnson was bot-
tled up on a couple of restarts and
couldnt get the track position he
needed.
But entering Dover, the team felt
extremely condent. Johnson had a
chance to win the June race here un-
til NASCAR penalized him for jump-
ing a late restart (the restart rule has
since been changed), and Knaus
brought the same car back.
We are just trying to establish a
foundation and set ourselves up for
the second half of the Chase, Knaus
said. As long as we do that, were go-
ing to be where we need to be.
With seven races left before a
champion is determined, Johnson,
Kenseth and Busch have separated
themselves from the rest. They were
running rst to third near the races
midpoint, and the trio nished in the
top seven. The top 10 was made up
entirely of Chase drivers for the rst
time in the title runs 10-year history.
When you look up (at the scoring
pylon), everybody that nished in
front of you its all cars that youre
racing for points, Kenseth said after
nishing seventh. Certainly, I want-
ed to do better than that.
Johnson said he was well aware
Kenseth and Busch were going to be
leading laps and posting good results
every week. At Kansas Speedway
where the series travels next week
Kenseth has won the last two races.
I was thinking about (the compe-
tition) when I was in the car, John-
son said. My whole thought process
was just how tough this champion-
ship is going to be.
Youve got to deliver.
How the 13 Chase for the Sprint
Cup drivers stack up after three of
10 races (wins in Chase):
Pos. Driver Wins
Pts./
back
1 Matt Kenseth 2 2,149
2 Jimmie Johnson 1 -8
3 Kyle Busch 0 -12
4 Kevin Harvick 0 -39
5 Jeff Gordon 0 -39
6 Greg Biffle 0 -41
7 Ryan Newman 0 -48
8 Clint Bowyer 0 -51
9 Kurt Busch 0 -55
10 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 0 -57
11 Carl Edwards 0 -65
12 Joey Logano 0 -66
13 Kasey Kahne 0 -78
KENSETH
STILL LEADS
JOHNSON MAKING HIS MOVE
Driver gets closer to sixth title
with record eighth Dover win
Jeff Gluck
@jeff_gluck
USATODAYSports
MATTHEWOHAREN, USA TODAY SPORTS
To get this eighth win here is very, very special, says Jimmie Johnson, celebrating after the AAA 400.
IN THE DRIVERS SEAT
WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON
See the ve-time champion through
the years at nascar.usatoday.com
DOVER, DEL. Junior Nation was
ready to explode with adulation for
its hero and NASCARs most popular
driver as Dale Earnhardt Jr. snied
victory lane late Sunday in the
AAA 400 at Dover International
Speedway.
The scent was lost, however, and
Earnhardt fell short by 0.44 of a sec-
ond to teammate Jimmie Johnson as
Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers
dominated the third race of the title
run.
Earnhardt had one of the best cars
he has had this season and led 80
laps. But despite the advantage of a
four-tire change vs. two for Johnson
on the nal pit stop, he couldnt catch
the ve-time champion over the clos-
ing laps.
Earnhardt, who started on the
pole, had two pit-road miscues he
said also cost him. He failed to slow
down enough during an early round
of green-ag stops and missed the
pit-road entrance. He drove around
the track again to pit, falling from the
lead to eighth in the process. Later,
he checked up behind Mark Martin
at the entrance, costing him time
again.
Earnhardt said of the early-race
pit-road miscue, (It was) a big factor
in us not nishing one spot ahead of
where we are.
We came really close today, he
said. I dont feel like today was a
highlight for us. I think this is how its
supposed to be every week. I know
that competitions dicult and
tough, Jimmie being one of the best
drivers the sport has ever seen. Run-
ning at one of his better racetracks, it
was going to be a challenge, but I felt
like we had enough car and tires for
sure to beat him.
On the nal pit stop, crew chief
Steve Letarte opted for four tires
while the top three drivers at the
time Johnson, Matt Kenseth and
Je Gordon opted for two. It
seemed the call would give Earn-
hardt the edge, and on the nal re-
start he jumped from fourth to
second, nestling behind Johnson.
I thought if I could get to him I
could get by him, Earnhardt said.
Just couldnt do it.
It sucks to lose regardless of who
wins. Its probably harder to run sec-
ond than fth or 10th. You dont get
good cars every week, so youd like to
capitalize. It doesnt bother me that
its Jimmie. I wasnt hoping he was
going to blow a tire or anything at the
end. I was trying to catch him.
Over the nal miles, with Johnson
holding a relatively comfortable lead,
Earnhardt adjusted his driving line in
an attempt to cut the decit, but
Johnson was too strong.
It was Earnhardts best nish since
March, when he was second at Auto
Club Speedway. He also was the run-
ner-up in the season-opening Dayto-
na 500 to Johnson.
Earnhardt jumped one spot in the
standings to 10th.
MATTHEWOHAREN, USA TODAY SPORTS
Its probably harder to run second than fth or 10th, says Dale
Earnhardt Jr., leading the eld Sunday at the start of the AAA 400.
Earnhardt falls 0.44-second short
Mike Hembree
@mikehembree
Special for USATODAYSports
KYLE BUSCH STILL SEEKS
CHASE BREAKTHROUGH
He has three top-ve nishes but no
wins, at nascar.usatoday.com
F
USA TODAY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 SPORTS 3C
The Miami Heats Erik Spoelstra
has signed a contract extension. He
has been their coach for ve seasons
and has a record of 260-134. His
teams have gone to the playos every
season and the NBA Finals in each of
the last three, winning the title in
2012 and 2013. Last season, the Heat
had the second-longest regular-sea-
son winning streak in NBA history
(27 games) and nished with a record
of 66-16. They won the champion-
ship in seven games against the San
Antonio Spurs. Spoelstra has been
able to keep LeBron James,
Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh
playing together after they signed
three years ago. Je Zillgitt
LILES WAIVED, DROUIN
RETURNED TO JUNIOR TEAM
The Toronto Maple Leafs waived de-
fenseman John-Michael Liles and
the Tampa Bay Lightning returned
Jonathan Drouin to his junior
team as NHL rosters got in shape for
the opening of the season. Liles is
making $4.25 million this season as
part of a four-year, $15.5 million con-
tract he signed in 2012. The Maple
Leafs would get $925,000 in relief
from his $3.825 million cap hit if he
cleared waivers and went to the
American Hockey League. Drouin,
drafted third overall in June, had one
assist and four shots in four presea-
son games. He will return to Halifax
(Nova Scotia) of the Quebec Major
Junior Hockey League. Among oth-
ers put on waivers: Cory Emmerton
(Detroit Red Wings), Je Schultz
(Los Angeles Kings), Philip Larsen
(Edmonton Oilers) and Adam Par-
dy (Winnipeg Jets). Also, the Ana-
heim Ducks acquired Washington
Capitals center Mathieu Perreault
for a minor leaguer and a draft pick.
FORCE WINS NHRA
MIDWEST NATIONALS
John Force raced to his record
136th career victory and moved into
position for a 16th Funny Car season
title Sunday in the NHRA Mello Yello
Drag Racing Series Midwest Nation-
als in Madison, Ill. Force, 64, won for
the second time this year, beating de-
fending champ Jack Beckman with
a 4.097-second run at 310.13 mph in a
Ford Mustang. Beckman had a 4.127
at 309.84 in a Dodge Charger. Force
is six points behind leader Matt Ha-
gan with three events left. Antron
Brown won Top Fuel, Erica En-
ders-Stevens Pro Stock and Matt
Smith Pro Stock Motorcycle.
TITANS LOCKER SENT
TO HOSPITAL WITH HIP INJURY
After suering a right hip injury,
Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake
Locker was carted o the eld in the
third quarter of Sundays 38-13 win
vs. the visiting New York Jets. He was
taken to a nearby hospital, where he
was admitted. The Titans had no o-
cial update on Lockers condition
Sunday evening, other than coach
Mike Munchak saying Locker did
not need immediate emergency sur-
gery. Titans oensive coordinator
Dowell Loggains indicated after the
game that Locker could be out of ac-
tion for at least a few weeks.
John Glennon,
The (Nashville) Tennessean
Compiled by John Tkach fromsta, wires
UPDATE
Heats Spoelstra
gets extension
STEVE MITCHELL, USA TODAY SPORTS
Erik Spoelstra has led the Heat to back-
to-back NBA championships.
NICK TURCHIARO, USA TODAY SPORTS
John-Michael Liles has played the last
two years with the Maple Leafs.
MARK J. REBILAS, USA TODAY SPORTS
John Force is in position for a 16th
Funny Car season championship.
HOUSTON Everywhere you turn in
Houston, theres no mistaking the
fact that Dwight Howard has ocial-
ly arrived.
His Godzilla-sized likeness is plas-
tered on a four-story-tall poster just
outside the Toyota Center that reads
Legacy of Bigs, with Howard over-
looking the likes of Yao Ming, Ha-
keem Olajuwon, Ralph Sampson,
Elvin Hayes and Moses Malone. The
real-life version of Howard has made
plenty of appearances, too, none
more unexpected than his visit with
teammate Chandler Parsons to a
high school football game late last
week that sent the locals into a
frenzy.
But when it comes to the path that
brought him here, the July 5 an-
nouncement that he had decided to
leave the Los Angeles Lakers and an
extra $30 million behind in Los An-
geles, he wants to make one thing
clear that wasnt on that day: He nev-
er waed.
Howard, whose infamous indeci-
siveness during the accurately
dubbed Dwightmare in Orlando
added to the decline of his once-spar-
kling image, was on a plane from As-
pen, Colo., to Los Angeles when
reports surfaced saying that de-
spite a USA TODAY Sports report re-
vealing his decision to join the
Rockets he was having second
thoughts. The news sparked the lat-
est public bashing of Howard in the
social media world, with fans and
media alike criticizing him for what
appeared to be another dose of un-
necessary drama. The problem, How-
ard said, is it never happened.
That was not the case, Howard
told USA TODAY Sports. I was very
upset about it when all that stu
started to come out, because thats
not what was going on. I decided
the night before it came out, and my
thinking was, Let me get back to L.A.
and sit in front of (Lakers general
manager) Mitch (Kupchak) and give
the Lakers that respect. I wanted to
tell them in person.
There was no (thought of ), Oh
man, hold up, let me think about this
again. The night before, when I had
decided, I sat down with everybody
my agent, my best friend who was
there and my bodyguard, and we
talked. I said this is where I want to
go. I told my Dad that this is where I
want to go. I said, Tomorrow, when I
get home, were going to talk to the
Lakers. Im going to tell the other
teams on the phone, and thats what
I did.
As for why he didnt take the op-
portunity to continue playing for the
Lakers, time or Father Time, to be
more precise played as big a part as
any. Howard, 27, clearly saw 24-year-
old James Harden as a more worthy
running mate than 35-year-old Kobe
Bryant. And while the notion that the
Lakers kingdom could eventually be
his after Bryant retired years from
now and fellow superstars were
brought to town was appealing, How-
ard learned last season that he had
no time to wait.
A lot of people say, Well, if you
wouldve waited a couple years, then
this couldve been yours (with the
Lakers). And Im like, In a couple
years, Im 30, Howard said. I dont
want to wait. Ive been in the league
10 years. I dont want to wait for
things to happen. I want to be aggres-
sive, to make things happen.
And Im looking at all these young
guys who are just ready, and theyre
missing one piece. And Im like, I
could be that piece, and I dont want
to miss my chance.
James Harden doesnt come by
every 10 years. It doesnt happen. Its
no knock on other players who I
played with, but youre talking about
all these guys who are young and are
going this way, going up, so Im like,
Man, this is a great spot for me. A
great town, great organization.
Theyre going this way (points up).
Even with all the mystique that
came with the Lakers and their 16 ti-
tles, Howard went with the franchise
that t him now.
Other teams have more history,
but yesterdays scores dont win to-
days games, he said. Youve got to
look at the now. Whats in the now?
What can we do now?
Nobody cared about what I did
eight years ago, they want to know
what I can do now, and its the per-
fect team for me.
HOWARD NEVER WAFFLED
Center was
certain about
Rockets move
Sam Amick
@sam_amick
USATODAYSports
TROY TAORMINA, USA TODAY SPORTS
Dwight Howard, right, didnt want to miss out on the opportunity to play alongside James Harden, left.
Other teams have
more history, but
yesterdays scores
dont win todays
games. Youve got
to look at the now.
Dwight Howard
PARK CITY, UTAH It was a big day for
Lolo Jones, who was literally burst-
ing at the seams.
Im the heaviest ever in my life,
Jones said Sunday after proudly
weighing in at 157 pounds. It took so
much work. Im 3 pounds away from
my ultimate goal.
As a two-time Olympic hurdler,
Jones is more accustomed to count-
ing her calories. As an aspiring Olym-
pic bobsledder, shes downing 9,000
calories daily to build the muscle to
power a 400-pound sled.
Two weeks ago her speed suit t
just ne. But a few days ago when she
put the suit on for a commercial
shoot, it ripped down the middle of
her stomach. She couldnt have been
happier. But its not as if she has a few
spare tires around her midsection.
Im pumped about this muscle
weight, Jones told USA TODAY
Sports. My abs are still there. Im
still cut, just super solid.
As the U.S. Olympic Committee
kicked o its media summit with
many of the top hopefuls for the So-
chi Games, Jones is among the group
vying for a spot on a deep team.
After nishing fourth in the 100-
meter hurdles in the London Olym-
pics in 2012, Jones didnt know how
she would pick herself up from the
disappointment.
Encouraged by Olympic bobsled-
der Elana Meyers, Jones gave the
sport a try. In her rst World Cup
event, she won the silver medal with
pilot Jazmine Fenlator.
When Fenlator rst saw Jones, she
didnt recognize the hurdler. Jones
said after London she was depressed
and her track weight of 133 dipped
into the 120s. Who is this skinny
girl? Fenlator said.
Thirty pounds later, the skinny girl
downs two protein shakes (1,365 cal-
ories each) and makes McDonalds
runs at 10 p.m. for double bacon
cheeseburgers. That is quite a shift
from a sport in which you eat an
M&M and you think your career is
over, Jones said.
In bobsled, the mantra is mass
pushes mass.
Pilots dont like these skinny
brakemen, so they feel like theyre
pushing more weight than they have
to, Jones said.
Team trials begin Oct. 12 in Lake
Placid, N.Y., and the Olympics kick o
in 130 days. But Jones has a lot of
tweeting to do before her 369,000
followers understand whats ahead.
People are just so confused,
Jones said. Bobsled brings a lot of
confusion in itself because really the
only informative thing we have out
there is Cool Runnings (a movie
about the Jamaican bobsled team),
and thats not quite accurate.
Another misconception is about
her future in track. She plans to do
both sports and is aiming for the
2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Though she dreams about reach-
ing 160 pounds, she really would love
to hit 170. Jones tried to bet Fenlator
about reaching that magic number,
but her track and bobsled coaches
weighed in.
They said if I got to 170, I would
be done with track, Jones said.
Athletes from other sports who
have tried bobsled did so after they
nished competing. The most nota-
ble past converts: Heisman Trophy
winner Herschel Walker, hurdlers
Renaldo Nehemiah and Edwin Mo-
ses and Super Bowl champ Willie
Gault. Only Walker competed in the
Olympics (1992).
Fenlator and Aja Evans, both for-
mer college track athletes, and Lau-
ryn Williams, a 2004 Olympic silver
medalist in the 100 meters, also are
vying for spots on the Sochi team.
Jones bulking up for bobsled
Hurdler making
big push to be on
U.S. Sochi team
Kelly Whiteside
@KellyWhiteside
USATODAYSports
KEVINJAIRAJ, USA TODAY SPORTS
Lolo Jones, who competed in hurdles in the 2012 London Olympics,
has gained 30 pounds in her bid to make the U.S. bobsled team.
Im pumped about
this muscle weight.
My abs are still
there. Im still cut,
just super solid.
Lolo Jones
4C SPORTS
USA TODAY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
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MLB SCORES
AMERICAN LEAGUE
East W L Pct. GB Strk.
Last
10 vs. Div. Home Away
x-Boston 97 65 .599 L-2 5-5 44-32 53-28 44-37
TampaBay 91 71 .562 6 W-1 8-2 43-33 51-30 40-41
Baltimore 85 77 .525 12 W-2 4-6 36-40 46-35 39-42
NewYork 85 77 .525 12 W-3 5-5 37-39 46-35 39-42
Toronto 74 88 .457 23 L-1 4-6 30-46 40-41 34-47
Central W L Pct. GB Strk.
Last
10 vs. Div. Home Away
x-Detroit 93 69 .574 L-3 5-5 47-29 51-30 42-39
y-Cleveland 92 70 .568 1 W-10 10-0 44-32 51-30 41-40
Kansas City 86 76 .531 7 W-1 6-4 44-32 44-37 42-39
Minnesota 66 96 .407 27 L-6 1-9 29-47 32-49 34-47
Chicago 63 99 .389 30 L-1 3-7 26-50 37-44 26-55
West W L Pct. GB Strk.
Last
10 vs. Div. Home Away
x-Oakland 96 66 .593 W-1 7-3 44-32 52-29 44-37
Texas 91 71 .562 5 W-7 8-2 53-23 46-35 45-36
Los Angeles 78 84 .481 18 L-4 4-6 32-44 39-42 39-42
Seattle 71 91 .438 25 L-1 4-6 36-40 36-45 35-46
Houston 51 111 .315 45 L-15 0-10 25-51 24-57 27-54
NATIONAL LEAGUE
East W L Pct. GB Strk.
Last
10 vs. Div. Home Away
x-Atlanta 96 66 .593 W-1 6-4 47-29 56-25 40-41
Washington 86 76 .531 10 L-1 5-5 43-33 47-34 39-42
NewYork 74 88 .457 22 W-1 6-4 34-42 33-48 41-40
Philadelphia 73 89 .451 23 L-1 2-8 37-39 43-38 30-51
Miami 62 100 .383 34 W-4 6-4 29-47 36-45 26-55
Central W L Pct. GB Strk.
Last
10 vs. Div. Home Away
x-St. Louis 97 65 .599 W-6 8-2 46-30 54-27 43-38
y-Pittsburgh 94 68 .580 3 W-3 7-3 45-31 50-31 44-37
y-Cincinnati 90 72 .556 7 L-5 4-6 40-36 49-31 41-41
Milwaukee 74 88 .457 23 L-1 6-4 34-42 37-44 37-44
Chicago 66 96 .407 31 L-3 3-7 25-51 31-50 35-46
West W L Pct. GB Strk.
Last
10 vs. Div. Home Away
x-Los Angeles 92 70 .568 L-2 5-5 37-39 47-34 45-36
Arizona 81 81 .500 11 W-1 4-6 36-40 45-36 36-45
San Diego 76 85 .472 15
1
/2 W-1 5-5 35-41 45-36 31-49
San Francisco 75 86 .466 16
1
/2 L-1 5-5 44-32 41-40 34-46
Colorado 74 88 .457 18 W-2 5-5 38-38 45-36 29-52
x-division champion; y-wild-cardwinner
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay 7, Toronto 6 Baltimore 7, Boston 6
Cleveland 5, Minnesota 1 Texas 6, L.A. Angels 2
N.Y. Yankees 5, Houston 1 (14) Oakland 9, Seattle 0
Kansas City 4, Chicago White Sox 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
N.Y. Mets 3, Milwaukee 2 Pittsburgh 4, Cincinnati 2
Atlanta 12, Philadelphia 5 St. Louis 4, Chi. Cubs 0
San Francisco 7, San Diego 6 Arizona 3, Washington 2
Colorado 2, L.A. Dodgers 1
INTERLEAGUE
Miami 1, Detroit 0
WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS
RESULTS
Friday Saturday
American League American League
BOS 12, BAL 3 CLE 5, MIN1
TR 6, TB 3 TOR 7, TB 2
TEX 5, LAA3 SEA7, OAK 5
KC6, CWS 1 BAL 6, BOS 5
CLE 12, MIN6 CWS 6, KC5
NYY3, HOU2 NYY2, HOU1
OAK 8, SEA2 TEX 7, LAA4
National League National League
PIT 4, CIN1 PIT 8, CIN3
MIL 4, NYM2 SD9, SF 3
ATL 1, PHI 0 MIL 4, NYM2
STL 7, CHC0 PHI 5, ATL 4
WAS 8, ARI 4 STL 6, CHC2
LAD11, COL 0 WAS 2, ARI 0
SF 7, SD3 COL 1, LAD0
Interleague Interleague
MIA3, DET 2 MIA2, DET 1
Royals 4, White Sox 1
Kansas City 000 200 200 4
Chicago 000 100 000 1
Kansas City ab r h bi bbso avg
Lough lf 5 0 1 0 0 1 .286
Giavotella2b 3 1 2 0 2 0 .220
Perez 1b 4 1 3 2 0 0 .292
Butler dh 4 0 0 0 0 2 .289
Cain cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .251
Maxwell rf 3 1 0 0 1 1 .252
Hayes c 4 1 1 2 0 0 .278
Ciriacoss 4 0 1 0 0 0 .210
Falu 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .250
Totals 35 4 9 4 3 5
uBatting 2B: Giavotella(3). HR: Pe-
rez (13); Hayes (1). RBI: Perez 2 (79);
Hayes 2 (2). GIDP: Butler. TeamLOB: 7.
uFielding E: Perez (8). DP: 2.
Chicago ab r h bi bbso avg
De Azalf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .264
Ramirez ss 3 1 2 1 1 0 .284
Konerko1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .244
Gillaspie 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .245
A. Garciarf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .283
Danks cf 3 0 0 0 1 1 .231
Viciedodh 3 0 1 0 1 1 .265
Beckham2b 3 0 1 0 1 1 .267
Semien 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .261
Phegley c 3 0 0 0 0 1 .206
Totals 31 1 6 1 4 8
uBatting HR: Ramirez (6). RBI: Ra-
mirez (48). TeamLOB: 7.
uFielding DP: 1.
Pitching ip h r er bb so era
Kansas City
Chen W,9-4 6
2
/3 4 1 1 3 4 3.27
HerreraH,20
1
/3 0 0 0 0 0 3.86
Hochevar H,9 1 0 0 0 0 2 1.92
HollandS,47 1 2 0 0 1 2 1.21
Chicago
QuintanaL,9-7 7 6 4 4 2 4 3.51
Petricka 1 1 0 0 1 1 3.26
Troncoso 1 2 0 0 0 0 4.50
Batters faced; pitches-strikes: Chen
25; 81-56; Herrera1; 5-2; Hochevar 3; 11-
10; Holland 6; 21-16; Quintana 28; 102-
71; Petricka5; 22-12; Troncoso5; 16-12.
uUmpires HP: Conroy; 1B: Darling;
2B: Meals; 3B: Emmel.
uGame data T: 2:34. Att: 22,633.
Rays 7, Blue Jays 6
TampaBay 600 100 000 7
Toronto 000 003 120 6
TampaBay ab r h bi bbso avg
DeJesus cf-lf 5 0 0 0 0 3 .255
Myers rf 4 1 2 1 0 2 .295
Loney 1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 .300
Longoria3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 .266
Zobrist 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .275
D. Youngdh 3 1 2 1 1 0 .271
Joyce lf 3 1 0 0 1 1 .235
Fuldcf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194
Lobaton c 4 1 1 2 0 2 .249
Escobar ss 4 1 2 1 0 0 .257
Totals 35 7 9 7 2 10
uBatting 2B: Myers 2 (23); Longoria
(38); Lobaton (15). RBI: Myers (53); Loney
(75); Longoria (86); D. Young (6); Lobaton
2 (32); Escobar (56). TeamLOB: 3.
uFielding DP: 2.
Toronto ab r h bi bbso avg
Reyes ss 4 1 2 1 1 0 .296
Gose cf 4 0 2 1 1 1 .259
Lawrie 3b 3 1 2 1 2 0 .254
Sierrarf 3 1 1 0 2 1 .290
DeRosadh 3 1 2 2 0 1 .235
Lindph-dh 2 0 1 0 0 0 .288
Rogers pr-dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Langerhans 1b 4 1 1 0 1 1 .273
Arencibiac 2 0 0 1 0 1 .194
Kawasaki ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .229
Thole c 1 0 0 0 0 1 .175
Goins 2b 5 0 0 0 0 1 .252
Pillar lf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .206
Totals 36 6 12 6 7 7
uBatting 2B: Lawrie (18); DeRosa
(12). SF: Arencibia. RBI: Reyes (37); Gose
(12); Lawrie (46); DeRosa2 (36); Arencibia
(55). GIDP: Gose; Lind. TeamLOB: 11.
Pitching ip h r er bbso era
TampaBay
Moore W,17-4 5
1
/3 6 3 3 3 4 3.29
McGee 1 2 1 1 1 0 4.02
PeraltaH,41 1
1
/3 1 2 2 2 1 3.41
Rodney S,37 1
1
/3 3 0 0 1 2 3.38
Toronto
RedmondL,4-3
2
/3 4 5 5 1 1 4.32
Wagner 2 2 1 1 1 2 3.79
Perez 1 1 1 1 0 1 5.40
Jenkins
1
/3 1 0 0 0 0 2.70
Jeffress 2 1 0 0 0 2 0.87
Oliver 1 0 0 0 0 2 3.86
Delabar 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.22
Santos 1 0 0 0 0 2 1.75
Batters faced; pitches-strikes: Moore
24; 93-55; McGee 6; 28-19; Peralta 6; 20-
10; Rodney 8; 33-20; Redmond 7; 29-17;
Wagner 8; 34-17; Perez 4; 23-18; Jenkins
2; 8-6; Jeffress 7; 33-21; Oliver 3; 11-8; De-
labar 3; 8-5; Santos 3; 10-8.
uUmpires HP: Schrieber; 1B: Kel-
logg; 2B: Cooper; 3B: Fairchild.
uGame data T: 3:22. Att: 44,551.
Braves 12, Phillies 5
Philadelphia 000 400 100 5
Atlanta 302 023 02x 12
Philadelphia ab r h bi bbso avg
Hernandez cf 5 0 1 1 0 1 .289
Rollins ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 .252
Utley 2b 4 1 2 0 0 0 .284
Brown lf 3 1 1 0 0 0 .272
De Fratus p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Savery p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Mayberry ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .227
Cloydp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111
Frandsen 1b 4 1 1 1 0 1 .234
Asche 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
Galvis 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .234
Kratz c 3 2 1 3 1 1 .213
Bernadinarf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .181
Miner p 1 0 1 0 0 0 .333
Ramirez p 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Jimenez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Martinez lf 2 0 1 0 0 0 .175
Totals 36 5 10 5 1 6
uBatting HR: Kratz (9). RBI: Her-
nandez (10); Frandsen (26); Kratz 3 (26).
GIDP: Brown. TeamLOB: 5.
uFielding E: Hernandez 2 (6). DP: 3.
Atlanta ab r h bi bbso avg
Heywardcf-rf 4 1 0 0 2 0 .254
J. Upton rf-lf 5 0 1 0 0 2 .263
Freeman 1b 5 2 2 1 0 0 .319
Terdoslavich 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215
Gattis lf 5 2 3 2 0 0 .243
B. Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .184
Lairdc 4 4 4 0 1 0 .281
Simmons ss 4 3 3 1 1 0 .248
Janish ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 .171
Johnson 3b 3 0 2 5 1 0 .261
Uggla2b 2 0 0 0 3 1 .179
Teheran p 2 0 1 0 0 1 .224
Constanzaph 1 0 1 2 0 0 .258
Avilan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R. Johnson ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .244
Ayalap 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Woodp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Carpenter p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Bethancourt ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000
Kimbrel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 361217 11 9 5
uBatting 2B: Simmons 2 (27). 3B:
Johnson (2). HR: Gattis (21). SF: Johnson.
RBI: Freeman (109); Gattis 2 (65); Sim-
mons (59); Johnson 5 (10); Constanza 2
(3). GIDP: Heyward; J. Upton; Johnson.
TeamLOB: 10.
uBaserunning SB: Simmons (6). CS:
Johnson (2).
uFielding E: Uggla(14). DP: 2.
Pitching ip h r er bb so era
Philadelphia
Miner L,0-2 2
1
/3 7 5 5 3 1 4.40
Ramirez 2
1
/3 4 2 2 2 2 7.50
Jimenez
2
/3 3 3 3 2 1 3.71
De Fratus
2
/3 0 0 0 2 0 3.86
Savery 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.15
Cloyd 1 3 2 2 0 1 6.56
Atlanta
Teheran W,14-8 5 6 4 4 0 3 3.20
Avilan H,27 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.52
Ayala
2
/3 2 1 1 1 0 2.90
Wood
1
/3 0 0 0 0 1 3.13
Carpenter 1 0 0 0 0 2 1.78
Kimbrel 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.21
WP: Jimenez. IBB: Uggla (by Ramirez).
Batters faced; pitches-strikes: Miner
15; 61-33; Ramirez 12; 43-24; Jimenez 7;
32-18; De Fratus 3; 21-11; Savery 3; 10-7;
Cloyd 6; 17-12; Teheran 20; 66-45; Avilan
3; 13-8; Ayala 5; 17-9; Wood 1; 3-3; Car-
penter 4; 15-12; Kimbrel 4; 19-10.
uUmpires HP: Everitt; 1B: T. Welke;
2B: Bellino; 3B: Dreckman.
uGame data T: 3:27. Att: 42,194.
Cardinals 4, Cubs 0
Chicago 000 000 000 0
St. Louis 001 200 01x 4
Chicago ab r h bi bbso avg
Castross 4 0 0 0 0 1 .245
Watkins 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .211
Rizzo1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .233
Schierholtz rf 3 0 2 0 0 0 .251
McDonaldph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .302
Sweeney cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .266
Murphy 3b 2 0 0 0 0 2 .255
Bogusevic lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .273
Boscan c 3 0 0 0 0 0 .222
Samardzijap 2 0 0 0 0 1 .113
Rondon p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Lake ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .284
Stropp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Rosscupp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 31 0 5 0 0 5
uBatting 2B: Watkins (1); Rizzo (40);
Schierholtz 2 (32). GIDP: Bogusevic.
TeamLOB: 5.
uFielding DP: 1.
St. Louis ab r h bi bbso avg
Carpenter 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .318
Jay cf 3 1 2 1 1 1 .276
Beltran rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 .296
Chambers rf-lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 .154
Adams 1b 4 1 2 0 0 2 .284
Molinac 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319
Cruz c 4 0 1 1 0 1 .203
Descalsoss 3 1 1 1 0 0 .238
Kozmaph-ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 .217
Robinson lf-rf 3 0 1 1 0 0 .250
Wong2b 3 0 1 0 0 1 .153
Westbrook p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176
Kelly p 2 1 1 0 0 0 .152
Choate p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Peterson ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .077
Martinez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Siegrist p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 31 4 9 4 2 8
uBatting 2B: Adams (14); Cruz (6);
Descalso (25); Kelly (1). RBI: Jay (67); Cruz
(13); Descalso (43); Robinson (16). GIDP:
Cruz. TeamLOB: 5.
uBaserunning CS: Jay (5).
uFielding DP: 1.
Pitching ip h r er bbso era
Chicago
Samardzija
L,8-13
6 8 3 3 0 4 4.34
Rondon 1 0 0 0 1 2 4.77
Strop
2
/3 1 1 1 1 1 2.83
Rosscup
1
/3 0 0 0 0 1 1.35
St. Louis
Westbrook 1 1 0 0 0 0 4.63
Kelly W,10-5 5
1
/3 3 0 0 0 5 2.69
Choate H,15
2
/3 0 0 0 0 0 2.29
Martinez H,3 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.08
Siegrist 1 1 0 0 0 0 0.45
HBP: Murphy (by Kelly). Batters faced;
pitches-strikes: Samardzija 24; 95-59;
Rondon 4; 22-12; Strop 4; 23-13; Rosscup
1; 5-4; Westbrook 4; 14-9; Kelly 20; 67-47;
Choate 1; 1-1; Martinez 3; 10-6; Siegrist 4;
18-13.
uUmpires HP: Iassogna; 1B: Davis;
2B: Knight; 3B: Carlson.
uGame data T: 2:34. Att: 44,808.
Indians 5, Twins 1
Cleveland 200 002 100 5
Minnesota 000 000 100 1
Cleveland ab r h bi bb so avg
Bourn cf 5 1 2 0 0 0 .263
Stubbs cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
Swisher 1b 5 1 2 2 0 0 .246
Kipnis 2b 4 1 2 0 1 1 .284
Santanadh 5 1 1 1 0 0 .268
Raburn rf 4 1 1 0 0 1 .272
Carson rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .636
Cabrerass 3 0 1 0 0 0 .242
Brantley lf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .284
Gomes c 3 0 1 1 0 1 .294
Aviles 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .252
Totals 37 5 10 4 1 5
uBatting 2B: Swisher (27); Santana (39).
HR: Swisher (22). S: Cabrera. SF: Gomes. RBI:
Swisher 2 (63); Santana(74); Gomes (38). Team
LOB: 8.
uBaserunning SB: Kipnis (30). CS: Bourn
(12).
Minnesota ab r h bi bb so avg
Presley cf 3 0 1 0 1 1 .283
Dozier 2b 3 0 1 0 0 1 .244
Plouffe 3b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .254
Doumit dh 4 0 0 0 0 2 .247
Parmelee 1b 4 0 0 0 0 4 .228
Herrmann rf 4 1 1 0 0 2 .204
Thomas lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .214
Fryer c 3 0 1 1 0 1 .385
Florimon ss 2 0 0 0 0 1 .221
Colabelloph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .194
Bernier ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
Totals 32 1 5 1 1 16
uBatting RBI: Fryer (4). TeamLOB: 6.
uBaserunning SB: Presley (1).
uFielding E: Plouffe (13); Florimon (18); Di-
amond.
Pitching ip h r er bb so era
Cleveland
Jimenez W,13-9 6
2
/3 5 1 1 1 13 3.30
Rzepczynski H,6
2
/3 0 0 0 0 1 0.89
Masterson 1
2
/3 0 0 0 0 2 3.45
Minnesota
DiamondL,6-13 6 7 4 2 0 3 5.43
Tonkin 1 1 1 1 1 0 0.79
Fien 1 0 0 0 0 2 3.92
Duensing 1 2 0 0 0 0 3.98
WP: Duensing. HBP: Dozier (by Masterson).
Batters faced; pitches-strikes: Jimenez 26;
106-71; Rzepczynski 2; 7-5; Masterson 6; 23-13;
Diamond 28; 93-63; Tonkin 5; 18-10; Fien 3;
15-9; Duensing4; 14-9.
uUmpires HP: Gibson; 1B: Gorman; 2B:
Randazzo; 3B: Vanover.
uGame data T: 2:48. Att: 30,935.
Marlins 1, Tigers 0
Detroit 000 000 000 0
Miami 000 000 001 1
Detroit ab r h bi bbso avg
Kelly cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .222
Dirks rf 3 0 0 0 1 0 .256
Fielder 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .279
Tuiasosopo1b 2 0 0 0 0 2 .244
Peraltalf-ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 .303
Infante 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 .318
Perez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .197
Penac 3 0 0 0 0 0 .297
Iglesias ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 .303
Castellanos lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .278
Santiago3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .224
Verlander p 2 0 0 0 0 1 .000
Fister p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
Porcellop 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
Avilaph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .227
Putkonen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 28 0 0 0 1 4
uBatting TeamLOB: 3.
uFielding E: Verlander (2).
Miami ab r h bi bbso avg
Pierre lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .247
Lucas 2b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .256
Ruggianocf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .222
Stanton rf 4 1 1 0 0 3 .249
Morrison 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .242
Hechavarriass 4 0 0 0 0 1 .227
Coghlan 3b 2 0 1 0 2 1 .256
Hill c 3 0 0 0 0 2 .155
Dobbs ph 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
Alvarez p 3 0 0 0 0 2 .300
Totals 32 1 6 0 2 13
uBatting TeamLOB: 7.
uFielding E: Hechavarria(15).
Pitching ip h r er bbso era
Detroit
Verlander 6 3 0 0 1 10 3.46
Fister 1 1 0 0 0 1 3.67
Porcello 1 0 0 0 0 2 4.32
Putkonen L,1-3
2
/3 2 1 1 1 0 3.03
Miami
Alvarez W,5-6 9 0 0 0 1 4 3.59
WP: Putkonen (2). HBP: Fielder (by Alva-
rez). Batters faced; pitches-strikes:
Verlander 22; 80-56; Fister 4; 13-7; Porcel-
lo 3; 10-7; Putkonen 5; 23-12; Alvarez 30;
99-66.
uUmpires HP: Kulpa; 1B: Guccione;
2B: Hallion; 3B: Barksdale.
uGame data T: 2:06. Att: 28,315.
Mets 3, Brewers 2
Milwaukee 000 200 000 2
NewYork 100 000 02x 3
Milwaukee ab r h bi bbso avg
Aoki rf 3 0 0 0 1 0 .286
Bianchi ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 .237
Lucroy c 4 1 2 0 0 0 .280
Gomez cf 3 1 1 0 1 0 .284
Betancourt 3b 3 0 0 0 1 1 .212
Halton 1b 3 0 0 1 0 1 .238
Ramirez ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .283
Schafer lf 3 0 1 1 0 2 .211
Gennett 2b 3 0 1 0 0 0 .324
Estradap 2 0 0 0 0 1 .206
Gindl ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .242
Kintzler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 30 2 6 2 3 6
uBatting RBI: Halton (17); Schafer
(33). GIDP: Betancourt. TeamLOB: 4.
uBaserunning SB: Gomez (40).
uFielding E: Bianchi (10); Lucroy
(10).
NewYork ab r h bi bbso avg
Younglf 4 1 1 1 0 1 .249
Duda1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 .223
Germen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Black p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Turner ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .280
Franciscop 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Wright 3b 2 0 0 1 0 0 .307
Murphy 2b 3 0 1 0 0 0 .286
Baxter rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .189
Lagares cf 3 1 0 0 0 2 .242
Centenoc 3 0 1 0 0 1 .300
den Dekker pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .207
Recker c 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215
Tovar ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 .200
Niese p 1 0 0 0 0 1 .205
Satin ph-1b 2 0 0 0 0 1 .279
Totals 27 3 3 2 0 8
uBatting S: Tovar. SF: Wright. RBI:
Young(32); Wright (58). TeamLOB: 2.
uBaserunning SB: Young 2 (46);
Murphy (23).
uFielding E: Black (1). DP: 1.
Pitching ip h r er bbso era
Milwaukee
Estrada 7 2 1 1 0 8 3.87
Kintzler
L,3-3; BS,4
1 1 2 0 0 0 2.69
NewYork
Niese 6 6 2 2 2 2 3.71
Germen 1 0 0 0 0 2 3.93
Black W,3-0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.71
FranciscoS,1 1 0 0 0 0 2 4.26
Batters faced; pitches-strikes: Estrada
23; 100-64; Kintzler 6; 14-10; Niese 23;
80-50; Germen 3; 15-10; Black 4; 11-6;
Francisco3; 16-9.
uUmpires HP: Reyburn; 1B: Buck-
nor; 2B: Scott; 3B: Tichenor.
uGame data T: 2:23. Att: 41,891.
Pirates 4, Reds 2
Pittsburgh 110 100 010 4
Cincinnati 000 000 020 2
Pittsburgh ab r h bi bbso avg
Pie cf 5 0 0 0 0 3 .138
Tabatalf 3 1 2 0 0 0 .282
Lambolf 2 0 1 0 0 0 .233
Snider rf 5 0 0 0 0 1 .215
Alvarez 3b 1 0 0 0 1 0 .233
G. Sanchez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .254
Buck c 4 0 1 1 0 1 .219
Jones 1b 4 1 1 1 0 1 .233
Mercer ss 4 2 3 1 0 0 .285
Harrison 2b 4 0 2 1 0 0 .250
Cumpton p 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
Pimentel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Gomez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077
T. Sanchez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .233
Farnsworth p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 34 4 10 4 2 6
uBatting 3B: Mercer (2). HR: Jones
(15); Mercer (8). S: Cumpton 2. RBI: Buck
(62); Jones (51); Mercer (27); Harrison
(14). GIDP: Jones; Harrison. Team LOB:
8.
uFielding DP: 2.
Cincinnati ab r h bi bbso avg
Choocf 2 0 0 0 0 0 .285
Hamilton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 .368
Ludwick lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 .240
Paul lf 1 0 0 0 1 0 .244
Duke p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.00
Votto1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 .305
Soto1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Bruce rf 1 0 0 0 1 1 .262
Heisey pr-rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 .237
Frazier 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 .234
Hannahan 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 .216
Cozart ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 .254
Rodriguez pr-2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 .111
Mesoracoc 2 0 0 0 0 0 .238
Partch p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Christiani p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Robinson ph-lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 .255
Izturis 2b-ss 3 1 2 0 0 0 .209
Reynolds p 1 0 0 0 0 1 .143
Hanigan ph-c 1 0 0 0 0 0 .198
Miller c 1 0 1 2 0 0 .257
Totals 30 2 6 2 2 5
uBatting 2B: Cozart (30); Izturis (8);
Miller (5). S: Hamilton. RBI: Miller 2 (8).
GIDP: Soto; Hannahan. TeamLOB: 4.
uFielding E: Cozart (15). DP: 2.
Pitching ip h r er bbso era
Pittsburgh
Cumpton W,2-1 5 2 0 0 1 3 2.05
Pimentel H,1 2 0 0 0 0 1 1.93
Gomez 1 3 2 2 1 0 3.35
Farnsworth S,2 1 1 0 0 0 1 1.04
Cincinnati
Reynolds L,1-3 5 7 3 3 1 4 5.52
Partch 2 0 0 0 1 1 6.17
Christiani 1 2 1 1 0 0 2.25
Duke 1 1 0 0 0 1 6.03
HBP: Alvarez (by Reynolds). Batters
faced; pitches-strikes: Cumpton 18;
65-44; Pimentel 6; 23-18; Gomez 6; 18-9;
Farnsworth 3; 15-10; Reynolds 24; 90-58;
Partch 7; 25-14; Christiani 4; 14-9; Duke 4;
13-9.
uUmpires HP: Winters; 1B: Diaz;
2B: Wegner; 3B: Timmons.
uGame data T: 2:53. Att: 40,142.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS A
spot in the American
League wild-card game
represented purgatory
for the Texas Rangers a
year ago. This season, its
a path to redemption.
The Rangers 6-2 vic-
tory against the Los An-
geles Angels on Sunday
afternoon completed a
four-game series sweep
nishing a 7-0 homestand
that allows Texas to host
a wild-card tiebreaker
game tonight against the
Tampa Bay Rays.
And Game 163 will in-
clude the return of out-
elder Nelson Cruz, the
clubs top power hitter
this season, to the active
roster. Cruzs 50-game
suspension connected
with the Biogenesis scan-
dal ended with Sundays
game. Neither manager
Ron Washington nor gen-
eral manager Jon Daniels
would say Cruz would
denitely be in tonights
lineup.
Its gonna be special
to be back, said Cruz,
who last played in a big-
league game Aug. 4. He
was the team leader at
the time in home runs
(27) and RBI (76).
The Rangers stumbled
into the 2012 wild-card
game after appearing
headed for a third consec-
utive AL West title. They
were swept in three
games by the Oakland As
to end the regular season
and lost the division title.
Rangers sweep into wild-card tiebreaker
Jeff Miller
Special for USATODAYSports
Dbacks 3, Nationals 2
Washington 000 002 000 2
Arizona 100 000 02x 3
Washington ab r h bi bb so avg
Kobernus lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .167
Rendon 3b 3 0 2 0 1 0 .265
Hairston rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 .191
Moore 1b 4 1 1 0 0 1 .222
Walters ss 4 1 1 1 0 0 .375
Lombardozzi 2b 4 0 2 1 0 0 .259
Solanoc 4 0 0 0 0 1 .146
Perez cf 3 0 1 0 0 1 .125
Leon ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000
Roark p 3 0 1 0 0 1 .286
Mattheus p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Cedenop 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Brown ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .167
Totals 35 2 8 2 1 5
uBatting 3B: Walters (1). RBI: Walters (1);
Lombardozzi (22). GIDP: Solano. TeamLOB: 7.
uBaserunning SB: Lombardozzi (4).
uFielding E: Rendon (16); Roark (1).
Arizona ab r h bi bb so avg
Bloomquist ss 4 1 1 0 0 2 .317
Eaton lf 3 1 1 0 0 0 .252
Goldschmidt 1b 3 0 1 1 0 1 .302
Campanapr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .261
Ziegler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Prado3b 4 0 2 1 0 0 .282
Hill 2b 3 0 0 0 1 0 .291
Pollock cf 4 0 1 1 0 0 .269
Parrarf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .268
Gosewisch c 3 0 0 0 0 1 .178
Miley p 2 0 0 0 0 0 .133
Nieves ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .297
Hernandez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Chavez 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
Totals 31 3 7 3 1 4
uBatting S: Eaton. SF: Goldschmidt. RBI:
Goldschmidt (125); Prado (82); Pollock (38).
TeamLOB: 7.
uFielding E: Bloomquist (1); Prado (10).
DP: 2.
Pitching ip h r er bb so era
Washington
Roark 7 3 1 0 1 3 1.51
Mattheus L,0-2;
BS,3
2
/3 4 2 2 0 1 6.37
Cedeno
1
/3 0 0 0 0 0 1.50
Arizona
Miley 7 8 2 1 1 2 3.55
Hernandez W,5-6 1 0 0 0 0 1 4.48
Ziegler S,13 1 0 0 0 0 2 2.22
Batters faced; pitches-strikes: Roark 27; 95-
70; Mattheus 6; 19-11; Cedeno 1; 2-1; Miley 30;
101-65; Hernandez 3; 8-7; Ziegler 3; 8-7.
uUmpires HP: Gibson III; 1B: McClelland;
2B: Foster; 3B: Bell.
uGame data T: 2:29. Att: 30,420.
Orioles 7, Red Sox 6
Boston 220 100 001 6
Baltimore 000 052 00x 7
Boston ab r h bi bbso avg
Ellsbury cf 5 1 2 1 0 1 .298
Bogaerts ss 4 0 0 0 1 3 .250
Ortiz dh 5 2 2 0 0 0 .309
Napoli 1b 4 0 2 1 1 2 .259
Bradley Jr. pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189
Carplf 5 0 2 1 0 0 .296
Middlebrooks 3b 5 0 0 0 0 1 .227
Saltalamacchiac 2 1 1 0 0 0 .273
Lavarnway ph-c 2 0 0 0 0 0 .299
McDonald2b 2 1 2 0 1 0 .133
Gomes ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .247
Holt 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .203
Berry rf 4 1 2 2 0 1 .625
Totals 39 6 13 5 3 8
uBatting 2B: Napoli (38); Carp(18).
HR: Ellsbury (9); Berry (1). RBI: Ellsbury
(53); Napoli (92); Carp (43); Berry 2 (4).
GIDP: Middlebrooks. TeamLOB: 9.
uBaserunning SB: Berry (3).
uFielding DP: 1.
Baltimore ab r h bi bbso avg
Roberts dh 4 1 1 0 1 2 .249
Markakis rf 3 1 1 0 2 0 .271
Hardy ss 5 1 1 2 0 1 .263
Davis 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
Flaherty 1b 3 1 2 2 0 0 .224
Pearce lf 2 0 0 0 2 0 .261
McLouth cf 4 0 1 2 0 2 .258
Valencia3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 .304
Clevenger c 4 1 1 0 0 0 .267
Schoop2b 4 2 2 0 0 0 .286
Totals 33 7 10 6 6 6
uBatting 2B: Roberts (12); Markakis
(24); Hardy (27); Flaherty (11); McLouth
(31). RBI: Hardy 2 (76); Flaherty 2 (27);
McLouth 2 (36). GIDP: Clevenger. Team
LOB: 8.
uFielding E: Clevenger (1). DP: 1.
Pitching ip h r er bbso era
Boston
Webster 3 0 0 0 3 2 8.60
Doubront 1
1
/3 5 5 5 3 2 4.32
De LaRosaL,0-2
2
/3 1 1 1 0 0 5.56
Thornton
1
/3 1 1 1 0 0 3.74
Dempster
2
/3 1 0 0 0 0 4.57
Breslow 1 1 0 0 0 1 1.81
Uehara 1 1 0 0 0 1 1.09
Baltimore
Tillman 5 8 5 4 1 5 3.71
McFarland
W,4-1
1 1 0 0 2 0 4.22
Hammel H,1 2 1 0 0 0 2 4.97
J. Johnson S,50 1 3 1 1 0 1 2.94
R.De La Rosa pitched to 1 batter in the
6th. WP: Thornton; Tillman; J. Johnson.
Batters faced; pitches-strikes: Web-
ster 12; 49-31; Doubront 12; 55-35; De La
Rosa 3; 15-10; Thornton 2; 3-2; Dempster
3; 10-7; Breslow 3; 15-10; Uehara 4; 12-
11; Tillman 24; 88-52; McFarland 6; 24-
11; Hammel 7; 27-18; J. Johnson 5; 20-15.
uUmpires HP: ONora; 1B: Cul-
breth; 2B: Johnson; 3B: B. Welke.
uGame data T: 3:23. Att: 44,230.
Rangers 6, Angels 2
Los Angeles 100 001 000 2
Texas 000 021 12x 6
Los Angeles ab r h bi bbso avg
Shuck dh 4 0 2 0 0 1 .293
Aybar ss 4 1 1 0 0 0 .271
Trout cf 3 1 1 1 1 1 .323
Hamilton lf 4 0 1 1 0 1 .250
Kendrick 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .297
Calhoun rf 3 0 1 0 1 0 .282
Trumbo1b 3 0 0 0 0 3 .234
Conger c 2 0 0 0 0 2 .249
Cowgill ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .231
Iannettac 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225
Romine 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 .259
Totals 31 2 7 2 2 11
uBatting HR: Trout (27). RBI: Trout
(97); Hamilton (79). GIDP: Shuck; Aybar
2. TeamLOB: 4.
uBaserunning SB: Calhoun (2).
uFielding E: Vargas. DP: 1.
Texas ab r h bi bbso avg
Kinsler 2b 4 0 1 1 0 0 .275
Andrus ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 .271
Rios rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 .278
A. Beltre 3b 4 2 2 1 0 1 .316
Pierzynski dh 4 1 2 0 0 0 .275
Sotoc 3 2 2 2 1 1 .245
Moreland1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .231
Gentry lf 3 1 2 2 1 1 .280
Martin cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 .262
Totals 32 6 10 6 2 6
uBatting 2B: Rios (32); Pierzynski
(24); Soto (9). HR: A. Beltre (30); Soto (9).
S: Martin. RBI: Kinsler (71); A. Beltre (92);
Soto 2 (22); Gentry 2 (22). GIDP: Martin.
TeamLOB: 5.
uBaserunning SB: Gentry 2 (24).
uFielding DP: 3.
Pitching ip h r er bbso era
Los Angeles
Vargas L,9-8 6
1
/3 7 4 3 2 4 4.02
Gutierrez
1
/3 1 0 0 0 0 4.23
De LaRosa
1
/3 0 0 0 0 0 2.86
Frieri 1 2 2 2 0 2 3.80
Texas
Darvish 5
2
/3 4 2 2 2 8 2.83
Cotts W,8-3
1
/3 1 0 0 0 1 1.13
Ross H,15 1 1 0 0 0 2 3.03
Scheppers H,27 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.90
Nathan 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.39
Batters faced; pitches-strikes: Vargas
27; 98-58; Gutierrez 2; 7-5; De La Rosa 1;
6-3; Frieri 5; 27-18; Darvish 21; 84-52;
Cotts 2; 9-7; Ross 4; 20-13; Scheppers 3;
9-9; Nathan 3; 9-6.
uUmpires HP: Marquez; 1B: Bar-
rett; 2B: DiMuro; 3B: Barry.
uGame data T: 2:57. Att: 40,057.
Yankees 5, Astros 1
NewYork 000 000 010 000 04 5
Houston 100 000 000 000 00 1
NewYork ab r h bi bb so avg
Nunez 3b 7 2 3 2 0 1 .260
Murphy c 7 0 1 1 0 3 .154
Granderson cf 7 0 2 1 0 2 .229
Wells lf 6 0 0 0 0 1 .233
Reynolds 1b 6 1 1 1 0 0 .220
Overbay 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
Hafner dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 .202
Adams 2b 6 0 1 0 0 5 .193
Ryan ss 6 1 2 0 0 1 .197
Almonte rf 6 1 2 0 0 2 .236
Totals 55 5 12 5 0 16
uBatting 2B: Nunez 2 (17); Granderson
(13). 3B: Adams (1). HR: Reynolds (21). RBI: Nu-
nez 2 (28); Murphy (1); Granderson (15); Rey-
nolds (67). TeamLOB: 10.
Houston ab r h bi bb so avg
Villar ss 6 1 1 0 0 1 .243
Altuve 2b 5 0 0 0 1 0 .283
Dominguez 3b 6 0 1 1 0 2 .241
Carter 1b 4 0 0 0 1 3 .223
J. Martinez rf 5 0 1 0 0 3 .250
Lairddh 4 0 0 0 0 2 .169
Wallace ph-dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 .221
Crowe cf 5 0 0 0 0 2 .218
Corporan c 5 0 1 0 0 2 .225
Elmore lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 .242
Krauss ph-lf 3 0 0 0 0 2 .209
Totals 46 1 4 1 2 19
uBatting 2B: Villar (9). RBI: Dominguez
(77). TeamLOB: 5.
uFielding E: Villar (16).
Pitching ip h r er bb so era
NewYork
Huff 5 3 1 1 0 7 5.50
Marshall 2 1 0 0 1 3 4.50
Betances 2
1
/3 0 0 0 0 4 10.80
Claiborne
2
/3 0 0 0 0 1 4.11
Phelps 1 0 0 0 1 2 4.98
Daley W,1-0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0.00
Robertson 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.04
Houston
Bedard 7 3 0 0 0 9 4.59
ZeidH,6
2
/3 1 1 1 0 2 3.90
Chapman BS,3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.77
Cruz
1
/3 0 0 0 0 0 3.38
Fields 1 1 0 0 0 1 4.97
Harrell L,6-17 4
2
/3 5 4 4 0 4 5.86
De Leon
1
/3 1 0 0 0 0 5.40
K.Chapman pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. WP:
De Leon. HBP: Hafner (by Bedard); Hafner (by
Bedard). Batters faced; pitches-strikes: Huff
18; 71-49; Marshall 8; 31-20; Betances 7; 40-27;
Claiborne 2; 8-6; Phelps 4; 16-10; Daley 6; 24-
19; Robertson 3; 9-5; Bedard26; 103-69; Zeid3;
9-8; Chapman 1; 2-2; Cruz 1; 1-1; Fields 4; 15-
10; Harrell 20; 68-49; De Leon 2; 10-6.
uUmpires HP: Miller; 1B: Cederstrom; 2B:
Danley; 3B: Carapazza.
uGame data T: 3:52. Att: 40,542.
Athletics 9, Mariners 0
Oakland 040 040 001 9
Seattle 000 000 000 0
Oakland ab r h bi bbso avg
Youngcf 3 1 1 2 0 1 .200
Choice cf-rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 .278
Smith lf 5 2 3 1 0 0 .253
Donaldson 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 .301
Weeks pr-2b-cf 4 1 1 0 0 3 .111
Moss dh 2 0 1 1 0 1 .256
Vogt ph-dh 2 1 0 0 1 1 .252
Callaspo2b-3b 3 1 1 1 2 0 .258
Reddick rf 3 1 1 1 0 1 .226
Parrinoss 2 0 1 1 0 0 .118
Norris c-1b 4 1 0 0 1 1 .246
Barton 1b 2 1 1 2 1 0 .269
Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 .303
Sogardss-2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .266
Totals 37 9 10 9 6 9
uBatting 2B: Smith 2 (27); Moss
(23); Reddick (19); Parrino (2). RBI: Young
2 (40); Smith (40); Moss (87); Callaspo
(58); Reddick (56); Parrino (1); Barton 2
(16). TeamLOB: 7.
Seattle ab r h bi bbso avg
Miller ss 4 0 2 0 0 1 .265
Franklin 2b 3 0 0 0 1 2 .225
Seager 3b 3 0 1 0 1 0 .260
Morales dh 3 0 0 0 1 1 .277
Ibanez lf 4 0 0 0 0 2 .242
Almonte lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
Smoak 1b 3 0 1 0 1 1 .238
M. Saunders rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .236
Zuninoc 4 0 0 0 0 1 .214
Ackley cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .253
Totals 32 0 5 0 4 10
uBatting TeamLOB: 9.
Pitching ip h r er bbso era
Oakland
Gray W,5-3 5 3 0 0 3 8 2.67
Chavez 1 0 0 0 0 2 3.92
Figueroa
2
/3 1 0 0 0 0 12.00
Otero
1
/3 0 0 0 0 0 1.38
Cook 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.54
Balfour 1 1 0 0 0 0 2.59
Seattle
Ramirez L,5-3 1
1
/3 3 4 4 4 3 4.98
Noesi 3 4 4 4 1 2 6.59
LaFromboise 2
2
/3 1 0 0 0 3 5.91
Capps 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.49
Wilhelmsen 1 2 1 1 1 1 4.12
WP: Wilhelmsen. Batters faced; pitch-
es-strikes: Gray 21; 79-50; Chavez 3;
16-9; Figueroa 3; 11-8; Otero 1; 6-3; Cook
4; 12-7; Balfour 4; 13-12; Ramirez 11; 58-
33; Noesi 14; 54-36; LaFromboise 9; 35-
25; Capps 3; 10-5; Wilhelmsen 6; 25-15.
uUmpires HP: Hudson; 1B: Layne;
2B: Wendelstedt; 3B: Porter.
uGame data T: 3:08. Att: 17,081.
Giants 7, Padres 6
SanDiego 001 140 000 6
SanFran. 100 110 202 7
SanDiego ab r h bi bbso avg
Denoracf-rf 5 1 3 0 0 1 .279
Guzman lf 3 1 0 0 1 2 .226
Forsythe lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
Gyorko2b 4 1 1 4 0 0 .249
Headley 3b 2 1 0 0 2 0 .250
Medica1b 4 0 1 1 0 2 .290
Kotsay rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .194
Fuentes cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .152
Hundley c 4 1 1 1 0 1 .233
Amaristass 3 1 0 0 1 0 .236
Ross p 3 0 0 0 0 1 .182
Stauffer p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Vincent p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Gregerson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Venable ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .268
Alonsopr 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
Street p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 33 6 7 6 4 8
uBatting 2B: Denora (21); Medica
(2). 3B: Venable (8). HR: Gyorko (23);
Hundley (13). RBI: Gyorko 4 (63); Medica
(10); Hundley (44). GIDP: Gyorko. Team
LOB: 4.
uBaserunning CS: Headley (4).
uFielding E: Hundley (10). PB: Hun-
dley (4). DP: 1.
SanFrancisco ab r h bi bbso avg
Blancocf-lf 2 2 0 0 2 1 .265
Peguerolf 1 1 1 1 0 0 .207
Abreu 2b 5 2 2 0 0 2 .268
Belt 1b 3 1 2 2 1 0 .289
Posey c 3 0 1 0 2 0 .294
Pence rf 5 0 2 3 0 1 .283
Sandoval 3b 4 0 2 1 0 0 .278
Crawfordss 2 0 0 0 0 1 .248
Adrianzass 2 0 1 0 0 0 .222
Perez lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 .258
Pagan ph-cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .282
Moscosop 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000
Dunningp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Kieschnick ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .202
Kontos p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Monell ph 0 1 0 0 0 0 .125
Hembree p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Zitop 0 0 0 0 0 0 .147
Sanchez ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .248
Romop 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 34 7 11 7 5 8
uBatting 2B: Abreu (12); Belt 2 (39).
HR: Peguero (1). RBI: Peguero (1); Belt 2
(67); Pence 3 (99); Sandoval (79). GIDP:
Crawford. TeamLOB: 10.
uBaserunning SB: Blanco(14).
uFielding E: Sandoval (18). DP: 2.
Pitching ip h r er bbso era
SanDiego
Ross 6 7 3 3 1 7 3.17
Stauffer H,7
2
/3 0 2 2 2 0 3.75
Vincent H,10
1
/3 1 0 0 0 0 2.14
Gregerson H,25 1 0 0 0 0 1 2.71
Street L,2-5; BS,2 0 3 2 2 2 0 2.70
SanFrancisco
Moscoso 4
1
/3 4 5 5 4 4 5.10
Dunning
2
/3 1 1 1 0 0 2.84
Kontos 2 1 0 0 0 1 4.39
Hembree
2
/3 0 0 0 0 1 0.00
Zito
1
/3 0 0 0 0 1 5.74
RomoW,5-8 1 1 0 0 0 1 2.54
H.Street pitched to 5 batters in the 9th.
WP: Street; Moscoso. IBB: Posey (by
Street). HBP: Monell (by Stauffer); Belt (by
Ross). Batters faced; pitches-strikes:
Ross 26; 95-63; Stauffer 5; 19-8; Vincent 2;
6-5; Gregerson 3; 13-10; Street 5; 23-11;
Moscoso 20; 84-47; Dunning4; 11-8; Kon-
tos 6; 16-13; Hembree 2; 13-8; Zito 1; 4-4;
Romo4; 14-10.
uUmpires HP: Wolcott; 1B: Fletcher;
2B: Drake; 3B: West.
uGame data T: 3:17. Att: 41,495.
Rockies 2, Dodgers 1
Colorado 100 100 000 2
Los Angeles 000 010 000 1
Colorado ab r h bi bb so avg
Blackmon cf 4 1 2 1 1 1 .309
Rutledge 2b 4 0 1 0 1 1 .235
Helton 1b 4 0 1 0 1 1 .249
Tulowitzki ss 4 0 1 1 1 2 .312
Cuddyer rf 5 0 1 0 0 3 .331
Arenado3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 .267
Culberson lf 3 1 1 0 1 0 .293
Pachecoc 4 0 2 0 0 1 .239
Francis p 1 0 1 0 0 0 .071
Herreraph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .292
Oswalt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
Ottavinop 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111
Wheeler ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .220
Bettis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Brothers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Totals 35 2 11 2 5 10
uBatting 2B: Francis (1). S: Francis. RBI:
Blackmon (22); Tulowitzki (82). GIDP: Arenado;
Wheeler. TeamLOB: 12.
uBaserunning SB: Rutledge (12).
uFielding PB: Pacheco(2). DP: 1.
Los Angeles ab r h bi bb so avg
Puigrf 2 0 0 0 1 1 .319
Capuanop 0 0 0 0 0 0 .042
Butera1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 .143
Crawfordlf 2 0 0 0 0 0 .283
Nolascop 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120
Castellanos ph-rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 .167
M. Youngss-3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 .279
Gonzalez 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .293
Withrowp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Gordon ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 .234
M. Ellis 2b 3 1 1 0 1 1 .270
Uribe 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 .278
Wilson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Howell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Jansen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Buss ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .105
A. Ellis c 2 0 1 0 0 1 .238
Federowicz c 2 0 0 0 0 2 .231
Schumaker cf 4 0 1 1 0 2 .263
Ryu p 1 0 0 0 0 1 .207
Van Slyke lf 2 0 1 0 0 0 .240
Totals 31 1 5 1 4 13
uBatting 2B: A. Ellis (17). RBI: Schumaker
(30). TeamLOB: 7.
uBaserunning CS: Van Slyke (1).
uFielding DP: 2.
Pitching ip h r er bb so era
Colorado
Francis W,3-5 5 3 1 1 2 6 6.27
Oswalt H,1 1 0 0 0 0 1 8.63
OttavinoH,8 1 0 0 0 0 2 2.64
Bettis H,3 1 1 0 0 0 1 5.64
Brothers S,19 1 1 0 0 2 3 1.74
Los Angeles
Ryu L,14-8 4 8 2 2 1 4 3.00
Nolasco 1 1 0 0 0 1 3.70
Capuano 1 2 0 0 0 1 4.26
Withrow 1 0 0 0 1 1 2.60
Wilson
1
/3 0 0 0 1 1 0.66
Howell
2
/3 0 0 0 0 0 2.03
Jansen 1 0 0 0 2 2 1.88
Batters faced; pitches-strikes: Francis 20;
84-52; Oswalt 3; 13-10; Ottavino3; 16-11; Bettis
3; 11-7; Brothers 6; 26-14; Ryu 21; 76-51; Nolas-
co 3; 17-11; Capuano 5; 18-10; Withrow4; 13-8;
Wilson 2; 10-5; Howell 1; 2-2; Jansen 5; 21-11.
uUmpires HP: Davidson; 1B: Hirschbeck;
2B: Hoye; 3B: Reynolds.
uGame data T: 3:08. Att: 52,396.
Rockies rst baseman Todd Helton wrapped up his
17-year career with a 2-1 win against the Dodgers.
GARY A. VASQUEZ, USA TODAY SPORTS
OUT ON A WINNING NOTE
F
USA TODAY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 SPORTS 5C
BASEBALL
With the hearing for Alex Rodri-
guezs 211-game suspension levied
by Major League Baseball scheduled
to begin today in New York, USA
TODAY Sports Bob Nightengale ex-
amines the key questions. So as the
New York Yankees third baseman
says, Lets get it on.
HOW LONG WILL THE HEARING
TAKE?
It is expected to last ve days, Rodri-
guez says, with mountains of evi-
dence presented by both sides. MLB
insists that Rodriguez has been dop-
ing for the last three years and will
have Biogenesis founder Anthony
Bosch provide testimony. Rodriguezs
team says the investigation is nothing
more than a witch hunt and the Yan-
kees are in cahoots with MLB to keep
from paying Rodriguez all of what is
remaining on his contract.
WHEN WILL A RULING BE ISSUED?
Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz is ex-
pected to announce his decision
within 25 days of the hearings com-
pletion. Horowitz has the option of
upholding the suspension, overturn-
ing it or reducing it. Yet even if Horo-
witz is ready to rule before the 25
days have passed, an announcement
will wait until the rst week of No-
vember because MLB does not want
to disrupt the postseason, much less
the World Series.
WHATS AT STAKE FOR
RODRIGUEZ?
Rodriguez says hes ghting for his
life and his legacy. He not only
would lose about $31 million in pay,
but the outcome also might deter-
mine whether Rodriguez ever plays
again. If Rodriguezs suspension is
upheld in full, he wont be allowed to
play again until May 2015. It would
mean an 18-month layo for a guy
who would be nearly 40 when he re-
turns. His baseball skills likely will
have severely deteriorated after that
long of a layo and certainly would
end any chance of breaking Barry
Bonds home run record.
WHATS AT STAKE FOR
THE YANKEES?
The ruling will impact how the Yan-
kees approach player personnel
moves this winter. If Rodriguez loses
his appeal, the Yankees can save his
$31 million salary in 2014, allowing
them to reach their goal of slipping
below the $189 million luxury-tax g-
ure without severely damaging their
playo hopes next season. If Rodri-
guez wins, theyre on the hook for the
entire salary, meaning they couldnt
be major players in the free agent
market, and it could adversely aect
their chances of bringing back free
agent second baseman Robinson
Cano.
WHATS AT STAKE FOR
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL?
Its reputation. It thinks its investiga-
tion was handled professionally and
fairly and that everyone who cheated
was caught and punished according-
ly. If the suspension sticks, MLB in-
vestigators can stick their chests out
and let the world know they were
right. If Rodriguez wins his appeal, it
would not only create the perception
that the process was severely awed
but also that the 13 others snared in
the Biogenesis case might have blun-
dered by accepting their suspensions.
WHATS THE MOST LIKELY
OUTCOME?
It seems far-fetched that Rodriguez
will simply get o or even that the
entire suspension is upheld. Even if
MLB thinks Rodriguez has been dop-
ing for years, he has passed all of its
drug tests, so how can he receive a
penalty four times as severe as any-
one else? Rodriguez will be suspend-
ed, but it likely will be reduced to
about 100 games.
BRAD PENNER, USA TODAY SPORTS
Alex Rodriguez faces a 211-game suspen-
sion for his part in the Biogenesis bust.
Judgment
time has
arrived
for A-Rod
The Cleveland Indians roll into the
playos as one of baseballs hottest
teams. But when they play their rst
postseason game in six years
Wednesday, theyll meet a team on at
least an emotional high.
The Tampa Bay Rays and Texas
Rangers play today in Arlington, Tex-
as, for the chance to meet the Indians
in the American League wild-card
game after tying for the second wild-
card spot.
Todays game is baseballs rst
play-in game since the Minnesota
Twins beat the Detroit Tigers for the
2009 AL Central championship.
Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner
David Price will start for the Rays.
The Rangers plan to pitch rookie
Martin Perez.
The Rays narrowly averted a nal-
weekend meltdown at the Toronto
Blue Jays, while the Rangers, coming
o seven consecutive and necessary
victories, carry several seasons worth
of postseason baggage with them to a
home game.
They can only hope they can use
real suitcases to get to Wednesdays
wild-card game in Cleveland.
Whoever goes to Cleveland could
be emotionally spent after a wild n-
ishing week.
We never do things seemingly
easy, says Rays manager Joe Mad-
don, who was ejected for arguing in
the seventh inning Sunday.
This time of year has been particu-
larly dicult for the Rangers. Texas
forced the playo by completing a
four-game sweep of the Los Angeles
Angels with a 6-2 victory Sunday. If
the Rangers could get past the Rays,
it would set up a matchup of two hot
teams, but Texas past is signicant.
The Rangers lost last years AL
West on the nal day of the season,
then the inaugural wild-card game at
home to the Baltimore Orioles, a
quick exit added to their crushing
2011 World Series defeat when they
were one out from the championship
in Game 6 at the St. Louis Cardinals.
They also lost the 2010 Series to the
San Francisco Giants.
The Rangers played desperate
down the stretch this year, maybe
even saving manager Ron Washing-
tons job.
The Rays had looked just as hot as
the Indians until a few days ago, win-
ning seven in a row and 12 of 15. But
losses Friday and Saturday at Toron-
to and Sundays scare leaves them
looking a bit more vulnerable.
The Indians, meanwhile, complet-
ed a 15-2 nish to their season with a
5-1 victory Sunday at the Minnesota
Twins and are positioned to be the
latest October Cinderella story. Only
once in the last 11 years has there
been a postseason without a wild-
card team winning at least one play-
o round. Four wild cards have won
the World Series in that span, and
four other have lost the Series.
The Indians resemble the 2007
Colorado Rockies, who nished the
regular season 14-1, including a play-
o against the San Diego Padres to
decide the wild card, then swept
through seven playo games to reach
the World Series. Thats where the
Boston Red Sox ended the streak
with a four-game sweep.
The last wild card to win a World
Series was the 2011 Cardinals, who
nished the season 16-5, upset the
Philadelphia Phillies in the division
series and beat the Milwaukee Brew-
ers and Rangers, coming from behind
in each series.
The Indians are now one win from
a division series matchup with the
AL East champion Red Sox. That
would pit Cleveland manager Terry
Francona against Boston, the team
he led to that 07 championship.
In fact, Franconas Red Sox got to
that World Series by rallying from
down 3-1 in games against Cleveland
in the ALCS, the last time the Indians
were in the postseason.
They might face a Rays team that
counts on its pitching, led by Price
and Alex Cobb, who has emerged as a
strong No. 2 down the stretch. The
Rangers have a club-record 50 come-
from-behind wins this year and dont
rely on one oensive star. Adrian
Beltre leads a group of six players
with 60-plus RBI. Texas can nish o
tight games with closer Joe Nathan
and a bullpen that has the best ERA
among AL teams still playing.
RANGERS, RAYS EXTEND
SEASONS AT LEAST ONE DAY
Indians stay hot,
clinch wild card,
wait for opponent
Paul White
@PBJWhite
USATODAYSports
TIMHEITMAN, USA TODAY SPORTS
The Rangers A.J. Pierzynski reacts to his fth-inning double Sunday.
Texas will play the Rays to determine the ALs second wild card.
Henderson Alvarez pitched a no-
hitter Sunday.
He didnt get to jump into his
catchers arms like most pitchers do
in that situation.
Instead, he had to wait until his
teammates scored an unlikely run in
the bottom of the ninth inning to give
the Miami Marlins a 1-0 victory
against the Detroit Tigers.
Alvarez held the playo-bound Ti-
gers and a pretty much representa-
tive lineup for an otherwise
meaningless game on the nal day of
the regular season without a hit.
But Justin Verlander and two Detroit
relievers kept the game scoreless into
the bottom of ninth.
Tigers reliever Luke Putkonen en-
tered in the ninth and gave up con-
secutive singles to Giancarlo Stanton
and Logan Morrison, plus a two-out
walk to load the bases, then threw a
wild pitch to make the no-hitter
ocial.
Alvarez was waiting to bat in the
on-deck circle.
But instead of having to pitch the
10th, Alvarez ran to the plate to join
the walk-o celebration, which even-
tually oated over toward the stands
where he hugged his pregnant wife.
I was ready to go back out there
for the 10th inning, but Ill take that
wild pitch, he said through an inter-
preter. He said he threw his hands
into the air after striking out Matt
Tuiasosopo to end the top of the
ninth, thinking momentarily that he
had a 1-0 lead. With the emotion
and nerves, I didnt realize we hadnt
scored a run yet, Alvarez said.
By rule, a no-hitter must be a full
game, however long it lasts.
In 1995, Pedro Martinez pitched
nine perfect innings for the Montreal
Expos against the San Diego Padres.
That game was scoreless until Mon-
treal scored in the top of the 10th, but
Martinez allowed a double in the bot-
tom of the 10th so did not get credit
for a no-hitter or perfect game.
There was no suspense about a
perfect game for Alvarez because he
hit Prince Fielder with a pitch with
two outs in the rst inning. The only
other Detroit baserunners were Jose
Iglesias, who reached rst with two
outs in the fth on an error by Mar-
lins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria,
and Andy Dirks, who reached on a
two-out walk in the ninth.
The only big name missing from
the Detroit lineup was third baseman
Miguel Cabrera, given a day o in an-
ticipation of the Tigers American
League Division Series that begins
Friday at the Oakland Athletics.
Alvarez, 23, was acquired last o-
season in a 12-player deal with the
Toronto Blue Jays to launch another
rebuilding phase in Miami. He went
5-6 and is 15-23 lifetime.
The last Marlins no-hitter was in
2006 by current Tigers starter Anibal
Sanchez.
Alvarezs no-hitter veers from usual script
Paul White
@PBJWhite
USATODAYSports
STEVE MITCHELL, USA TODAY SPORTS
Marlins owner Jerey Loria, left, hugs
pitcher Henderson Alvarez on Sunday.
least provide a distraction.
The impact of professional sports
to a city is such a life, a sense of pride
to the community, said Indians vice
president Bob DiBiasio, who has
been with the organization for
34 years. Its almost an inspirational
thing. Nothing can bring a town to-
gether more than sports.
The Indians, who averaged 19,661
fans a game this year (29th in the
major leagues), sold out their
Wednesday wild-card game before
the team charter even landed in
Cleveland on Sunday.
Ive got to tell you, this day is as
rewarding as anything Ive ever expe-
rienced, DiBiasio said. Its a heck of
a day around here.
It was a magnicent day in Mil-
waukee, too, home of Commissioner
Bud Selig. There are nine teams alive
for the postseason, four of them
among the games ve lowest-reve-
nue clubs.
While the New York Yankees are
at home, the Tampa Bay Rays, Oak-
land Athletics, Pirates and Indians
are still playing. The Rays and Texas
Rangers play a tiebreaker today, the
winner playing the Indians in the
wild-card game.
Oh, and those fat cats among the
top ve revenue-producing teams?
The Boston Red Sox are the lone
team that qualied, with the Yankees,
Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs
and San Francisco Giants nishing a
combined 82 games out of rst place,
no one nishing higher than fourth.
Yeah, baby, after 20 consecutive
losing years, even the Pirates can
mock the Yankees, evoking 1960 and
Bill Mazeroski, if so inclined.
Theres no more negativity, says
center elder Andrew McCutchen,
the likely National League MVP win-
ner. We dont have to think about it
anymore or be a part of it.
Considering fans in this football-
crazed town are numb that the Steel-
ers are 0-4, their success couldnt
have come at a better time.
Ive been around a lot of playo
atmospheres growing up in Pitts-
burgh, Walker told news reporters
in Cincinnati. I watched the Steelers
win two Super Bowls. I saw the Pen-
guins play home playo games.
I always wanted to be a part of
something like that.
Now, on Tuesday against the Reds,
the Pirates will nally have a playo
game at gorgeous PNC Park, the rst
in Pittsburgh since Oct. 11, 1992.
People are going to be out of their
minds, Walker said. Im imagining
its going to be Steeler-esque.
The As and Rays face dierent
challenges. Oaklands ballpark stinks.
There have been two sewage leaks
this season in 45-year-old O.co Coli-
seum, Selig recently calling it a pit
and an unfortunate mess.
And it could be the site of the
World Series, a nation wondering if
the sewage system holds up with the
place packed with fans and news
media.
At least Selig is convinced the As
will have fans show up for the post-
season, with the upper-deck tarps al-
ready planning to be removed. In
Tampa Bay, there is no guarantee of
sellout crowds, with Selig calling the
Rays attendance disgraceful.
This is why Tigers manager Jim
Leyland wept during his clubs AL
Central Division title celebration last
week, humbled that 3.1 million fans
in baseballs most economically trou-
bled city would support the Tigers
this season. This was about the
3 million, said Leyland, whose Ti-
gers havent won a World Series since
1984. Probably a lot of them who
couldnt aord to come, and didnt
show up, but were with us in spirit
every night. Theres a passion thats
unbelievable.
There are other droughts in this
years eld. The Indians havent won
since 1948. The Dodgers since 1988.
The Pirates last won the World Series
in 1979, and the Braves in 1995.
The Rangers and Rays have never
won. Only the St. Louis Cardinals
and Red Sox have been recent
champs, winning a combined four
World Series titles since 2004.
There are no overwhelming favor-
ites, but Americas darlings will be
the Rust Belt teams, where a champi-
onship will be so much more signi-
cant than claiming hardware.
For this city, after everything its
been through, Indians President
Mark Shapiro said, it would mean
absolutely everything.
Playoff berths boost morale in cities
vCONTINUED FROM1C
FRANK VICTORES, USA TODAY SPORTS
Jordy Mercer, left, Josh Harrison and the Pirates will participate in
the teams rst home playo game since Oct. 11, 1992.
FOLLOW NIGHTENGALE
ON TWITTER
@BNightengale for breaking news,
analysis and insight
PELISSEROS TAKEAWAYS
SUNDAYS
RESULTS
Cincinnati 6 This should have been a game Bengals D-line could control. Instead: three sacks, no turnovers forced.
CLEVELAND 17 Dont look now, but tight end Jordan Cameron is approaching Gronk-like unguardability in red zone.
Chicago 32 It turns out bad Jay Cutler is still in there. Four turnovers low-lighted his worst game under Marc Trestman.
DETROIT 40 Theres never been a question about its talent. Next weekend at Green Bay will test how far Lions have come.
Seattle 23 Only QB Russell Wilson still hasnt hit his stride. Good thing Seahawks defense might be NFLs best.
HOUSTON 20 J.J. Watt is angry, and why not? Matt Schaub and Texans cant crumble like that on their home eld.
Indianapolis 37 Winning consecutive road games by 54-point margin is rare. Big test awaits next week: Seahawks in Indy.
JACKSONVILLE 3 Four down, 12 to go. Will Blaine Gabbert throw TD pass before hes nished?
N.Y. Giants 7 Eli Manning is on pace to throw 36 interceptions and hes not even Giants biggest problem.
KANSAS CITY31 All of a sudden, Chiefs seem to have weapons to spare. It took four weeks to double their win total from 2012.
Pittsburgh 27 RB LeVeon Bells debut provided hope for future. But present is a dark place at 0-4.
MINNESOTA 34 Lost in Matt Cassels turnover-free start and Adrian Petersons big day was a defense that nally got late stop.
Arizona 13 Scoreless drought ended at a shade over 99 minutes. Carson Palmer continues to struggle, though.
TAMPA BAY10 Sooner Buccaneers can end Josh Freeman saga, the better. But theyre awed well beyond that.
N.Y. Jets 13 Itll be long season if Geno Smith becomes turnover machine. At least hes avoiding his linemens backsides.
TENNESSEE 38 Timing of Jake Lockers hip injury couldnt be worse for a team that seemed to be gaining condence.
Philadelphia 20 Forget slowing down Chip Kellys offense. Its just allowing opponents more chances to exploit Eagles D.
DENVER 52 How many quarterbacks have even come close to having a month like QB Peyton Manning (16 TDs, no INTs)?
Washington 24 Did defense x something or just roast a bad offensive line? Itll nd out in two weeks in Dallas.
OAKLAND 14 Darren McFadden is out again with hamstring injury, putting more pressure on Terrelle Pryor when he returns.
New England 30 Tom Brady and retooled receiving corps have made huge strides in last two games.
ATLANTA 23 Good news: Tony Gonzalez is playing great. Bad news: 37-year-old tight end is most durable skill position player.
THURSDAY: San Francisco 35, St. Louis 11
Byes: Carolina, Green Bay. HOME team; winner
Baltimore 20
uJoe Flaccos fth intercep-
tion stopped a rally on a day
Ray Rice only got ve carries.
BUFFALO 23
uThe Fred Jackson-C.J. Spill-
er platoon should help both.
Dallas 21
uCowboys have no TDs in
10 second-half road drives.
SAN DIEGO 30
uPhilip Rivers is playing like a
guy who has nothing guar-
anteed beyond this season.
KEVINHOFFMAN, USA TODAY SPORTS
The Bills Fred Jackson had 16 carries
for 87 yards and a touchdown.
CHRISTOPHER HANEWINCKEL, USA TODAY SPORTS
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers
threw for 401 yards and three TDs.
F
6C SPORTS
USA TODAY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
NFL: WEEK
East W L T Pct PF PA
NewEngland 4 0 0 1.000 89 57
Miami 3 0 0 1.000 74 53
Buffalo 2 2 0 .500 88 93
N.Y. Jets 2 2 0 .500 68 88
North W L T Pct PF PA
Baltimore 2 2 0 .500 91 87
Cincinnati 2 2 0 .500 81 81
Cleveland 2 2 0 .500 64 70
Pittsburgh 0 4 0 .000 69 110
South W L T Pct PF PA
Indianapolis 3 1 0 .750 105 51
Tennessee 3 1 0 .750 98 69
Houston 2 2 0 .500 90 105
Jacksonville 0 4 0 .000 31 129
West W L T Pct PF PA
Denver 4 0 0 1.000 179 91
Kansas City 4 0 0 1.000 102 41
San Diego 2 2 0 .500 108 102
Oakland 1 3 0 .250 71 91
AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
East W L T Pct PF PA
Dallas 2 2 0 .500 104 85
Philadelphia 1 3 0 .250 99 138
Washington 1 3 0 .250 91 112
N.Y. Giants 0 4 0 .000 61 146
North W L T Pct PF PA
Chicago 3 1 0 .750 127 114
Detroit 3 1 0 .750 122 101
Green Bay 1 2 0 .333 96 88
Minnesota 1 3 0 .250 115 123
South W L T Pct PF PA
NewOrleans 3 0 0 1.000 70 38
Carolina 1 2 0 .333 68 36
Atlanta 1 3 0 .250 94 104
TampaBay 0 4 0 .000 44 70
West W L T Pct PF PA
Seattle 4 0 0 1.000 109 47
Arizona 2 2 0 .500 69 89
San Francisco 2 2 0 .500 79 95
St. Louis 1 3 0 .250 69 121
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
6
Seasons in which Denver Broncos
quarterback Peyton Manning has led
his team to a 4-0 start two more
than any other quarterback in NFL
history. Fran Tarkenton did it four
times.
3
Consecutive games in which Hous-
ton Texans quarterback Matt Schaub
has thrown an interception that has
been returned for a touchdown.
12
Field goals of 50 yards or more for
Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair
Walsh, who broke Ryan Longwells
career team record Sunday in only
his second season. Walsh has yet to
miss from 50 yards and beyond.
8
Consecutive games in which New
Orleans Saints quarterback Drew
Brees has thrown for at least 300
yards, one shy of matching his NFL
record entering todays game against
the Miami Dolphins.
83.3
Completion percentage Sunday for
San Diego Chargers quarterback
Philip Rivers, an NFL record for a
400-yard game.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Buffaloat Cleveland, 8:25(Thu.)
NewEnglandat Cincinnati, 1
Detroit at GreenBay, 1
Seattleat Indianapolis, 1
Baltimoreat Miami, 1
NewOrleansat Chicago, 1
Philadelphiaat N.Y. Giants, 1
KansasCityat Tennessee, 1
Jacksonvilleat St. Louis, 1
Carolinaat Arizona, 4:05
Denver at Dallas, 4:25
SanDiegoat Oakland, 4:25
Houstonat SanFrancisco, 8:30
N.Y. Jetsat Atlanta, 8:40(Mon.)
Byes: Minnesota, Pittsburgh, TampaBay, Washington
Timesp.m. andEastern
Week5lineswill appear inTuesday'seditions
NEXT WEEKS GAMES
NFL: WEEK 4
Tom Pelissero goes deep in breaking down Week 4 and looking ahead
Tom Pelissero
[email protected]
USATODAYSports
SINKING FEELING
their rst win Sunday before an in-
terception set up Arizonas tying TD
late in the Cardinals 13-10 victory.
The Oakland Raiders started Matt
Flynn in place of concussed starter
Terrelle Pryor against the Washing-
ton Redskins, and the Tennessee Ti-
tans turned to another $3 million
backup, Ryan Fitzpatrick, after Jake
Locker was carted o and taken to
the hospital with a right hip injury
against the New York Jets.
Cassel, 31, knows well how impor-
tant a backup quarterback can be.
Not that the New England Patriots
needed something more than they
were getting from Tom Brady in
2008, but Cassel made the most of
his opportunity after Brady suered
a season-ending knee injury in
Week 1.
This time, Cassels opportunity
came because of a broken rib for
Ponder, who entered the week 30th
in the NFL with a 65.9 passer rating.
Cassels passer rating Sunday against
the Steelers struggling defense was
123.4, with a pair of touchdown
passes to Jennings.
I rmly believe this oense can be
reckoned if we can get it going in the
passing game like we did today, Jen-
nings said
Vikings coach Leslie Frazier reiter-
ated that Ponder is the Vikings quar-
terback but qualied that it would be
premature to discuss any decision.
The decision seems obvious. Cas-
sel played well, the Vikings won and
nothing about Ponders performance
to this point suggests he has a stran-
glehold on the job.
What you think? Vikings run-
ning back Adrian Peterson said.
They have a tough (decision). Its go-
ing to be tough for them. Its a good
thing we have a battle coming up.
Calls for other quarterbacks jobs
might come soon perhaps even in
Houston, where Matt Schaubs latest
pick-six helped complete a fantastic
collapse in a 23-20 loss to the Seattle
Seahawks.
The Texans have been under-
whelming during their 2-2 start.
Schaub hasnt been much better. And
his two backups, T.J. Yates and Case
Keenum, lit it up in the preseason.
Theres more to lose for a title
hopeful such as Houston than a
Cleveland team restarting its rebuild-
ing process. But it worked out well
last year for the San Francisco 49ers,
who reached the Super Bowl after
swapping Alex Smith for Colin
Kaepernick.
KENBLAZE, USA TODAY SPORTS
Brian Hoyer is 2-0 since taking
over as the Browns quarterback.
Backup
plans
tested
vCONTINUED FROM1C
LONDON This isnt sup-
posed to happen to the
Pittsburgh Steelers, as
stable an organization as
there is in the NFL.
Theyre 0-4 for the rst time since
1968 after Sundays 34-27 loss to the
Minnesota Vikings at Wembley Sta-
dium and might come up empty as
they search for answers during their
bye week.
Right now you could say were the
worst team in the league. That
hurts, quarterback Ben Roethlis-
berger said. We are in uncharted
territory, and the water is dangerous
right now. It stings. I have to hope
and believe we can turn it around.
Thats the approach Im going to take
this week and next week. Im going to
do the best I can to lead these guys.
Theyre not the only winless team
in the NFL. The Jacksonville Jaguars,
New York Giants and Tampa Bay
Buccaneers all fell to 0-4 Sunday.
But theres something dierent
about seeing this from the Steelers,
who havent nished below .500 in a
decade and have made the playos in
14 of the last 21 years.
I feel like its a story. Jacksonville
nothing against them they arent
getting the same questions that were
getting, safety Ryan Clark said. The
feeling around the city isnt the same
feeling. Its to the point, its like
youre noticeable in Pittsburgh and
you hate being noticed, because you
feel like youre not doing or uphold-
ing the tradition that not only the
greats have set but ourselves.
Its sad. Its embarrassing. We
need to nd a way to get out of it.
Theyre only two games back in
the AFC North, which became fur-
ther muddled Sunday with the Cleve-
land Browns upset of the Cincinnati
Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens
loss at the Bualo Bills.
But the Steelers look old on de-
fense, where they havent recorded a
takeaway all season. They look dis-
jointed on oense, where Roethlis-
berger is under siege behind a patch-
work oensive line. And, unlike last
season, they dont have the excuse of
an injury to their quarterback.
Only one team, the 1992 San Diego
Chargers, started 0-4 and made the
postseason.
Were just not a good team, safe-
ty Troy Polamalu told USA TODAY
Sports. And weve got to do some-
thing to get better.
uIs it too soon for the Detroit Li-
ons to give tailback Reggie Bush a
raise? He looks refreshed at 28 and
ripped apart the Chicago Bears in a
40-32 win, with 173 yards on 22
touches. The Lions are so much more
dangerous now that they have a
ground threat and at a bargain price
$4 million guaranteed on the four-
year, $15.5 million deal Bush signed.
Winless Steelers
grasp for answers
Miami at New Orleans, 8:40 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Saints are 3-0 in coach Sean Paytons return from suspen-
sion and havent lost at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome with
Payton on the sideline since the 2010 nale. The Dolphins
need to run more effectively than they have to keep quarter-
back Drew Brees off the eld and extend their unbeaten run.
TODAY:
PAIR OF
PERFECT
TEAMS
HOT
READS
KIRBY LEE, USA TODAY SPORTS
I have to hope and believe we can turn it around, says Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, being pressured by Vikings linebacker Erin
Henderson on Sunday. Thats the approach Im going to take this week and next week. Im going to do the best I can to lead these guys.
F
USA TODAY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 SPORTS 7C
NFL: WEEK 4
HOUSTON Houston Texans quarter-
back Matt Schaub stepped to the Re-
liant Stadium podium Sunday long
after his third consecutive game with
a pick-six cost his team in a 23-20
overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks
on Sunday.
Schaubs sports jacket matched his
mood: gray, after the Seahawks ral-
lied from a 20-3 halftime decit.
Welcome to another week in
sports talk radio hell for the quarter-
back having a recurring nightmare.
This time it was third-and-4 from
the Seattle 41-yard line with the Tex-
ans up 20-13 with 2:51 left in the
fourth quarter.
Instead of taking a sack, Schaub
lofted a pass intended for tight end
Owen Daniels over blitzing safety
Kam Chancellor. But Seahawks cor-
nerback Richard Sherman knew it
was coming, based on practicing
against the same look against the
Seahawks scout team Friday.
Sherman beat Daniels to the ball
and took it 58 yards for the score.
It hurts; it hurts bad, a shell-
shocked Schaub said after his sev-
enth consecutive game dating to last
season, including the playos, with a
pick. Im the quarterback of this
team. I had the ball in my hands. This
one hurts real bad.
Coach Gary Kubiak partially
blamed himself, saying he should
have called a run on the ill-fated in-
terception that tied the score. Kicker
Steven Hauschkas 45-yard eld goal
with 3:19 remaining in overtime
completed Seattles come-from-be-
hind victory.
Though third-year backup T.J.
Yates and second-year pro Case Kee-
num played well in the preseason,
Kubiak isnt considering replacing
embattled Schaub.
No, we have a lot of things we
have to x, Kubiak said. Ive got to
x me. Ive got to do better.
Obviously, we have to protect the
ball. But I put him in a bad situation,
not running the ball, trying to be ag-
gressive, trying to make a play, and
we didnt. And it ended up killing us.
Daniels concurred with his coach.
I believe weve got to just run the
ball there, but we run the plays that
are called and we have to make good
decisions, Daniels said.
Schaub is 1-5 in his last six games
against 2012 playo teams.
Texans defensive end J.J. Watt,
who needed six stitches on the bridge
of his nose after the game, wasnt
about to sack his own quarterback.
He is going through a tough
time, Watt said of Schaub. People
are going to come after him. But foot-
ball is a team game. It is not (about)
one player.
We are going to show up tomor-
row and get every single thing we are
doing wrong corrected. We have just
got to nish.
Second-year Seahawks quarter-
back Russell Wilson took over the
game in the second half, scrambling
for 46 yards, including one run for
7 yards on the eight-play, 42-yard
winning drive.
Wilson, who has led the Seahawks
to their rst 4-0 start, completed 12
of 23 passes for 123 yards.
Wilson sparked the comeback
with his feet on a 14-play, 98-yard,
fourth-quarter drive capped by Mar-
shawn Lynchs 3-yard scoring run
that pulled Seattle to 20-13 with 7:43
left. Wilson keyed the drive with
scrambles of 24, 13, 11 and 14 yards.
Russell was o the charts, coach
Pete Carroll said. You had to watch
this game to see the things that he
did to give us a chance.
In other words, Wilson was the an-
ti-Schaub. Three Houston turnovers
led to 13 Seattle points on a day when
the Texans outgained the Seahawks
476 yards to 270.
Another
Schaub
ub costs
Texans
Jim Corbett
@ByJimCorbett
USATODAYSports
TROY TAORMINA, USA TODAY SPORTS
The Texans J.J. Watt required six
stitches to his nose after the game.
TAMPA This was one loss that could
not be pinned on Josh Freeman.
The deposed Tampa Bay Bucca-
neers quarterback, further demoted
when he was deactivated for Sun-
days game against the Arizona Car-
dinals, was not the one who threw
the game-swinging interception Sun-
day at Raymond James Stadium.
That was the fate of rookie Mike
Glennon, who crash-landed in his
NFL starting debut while Freeman
watched from a suite.
Glennons most glaring blunder
came deep in Bucs territory with 3:23
to play, when his pass over the mid-
dle for Vincent Jackson was a tad be-
hind the receiver allowing
cornerback Patrick Peterson to un-
dercut the route for an interception.
Bad timing. Bad location.
I just had to put the ball about a
foot in front of Vincent, and thats
the dierence, Glennon said.
Dierent quarterback, same result
this time a 13-10 loss. The Bucs
(0-4) remain winless.
After the interception, the rst of
two by Glennon and one Peterson
maintained was telegraphed, it took
one play for Carson Palmer to con-
nect with Larry Fitzgerald for a tying
13-yard TD strike. And it took one
breath to wonder whether Freeman
would have made the same mistake.
It starts with me, and its our
coaching and our playing and the
quarterbacks a part of that, second-
year Bucs coach Greg Schiano said.
Schiano pushed the button on the
boldest switch in the NFL last week
when he benched Freeman three
days after declaring the under-
performing quarterback still gave the
team its best chance to win.
For much of Sundays game, it ap-
peared the switch would not burn
Schiano, because the Bucs defense
forced three turnovers and kept the
Cardinals out of the end zone. But
typically in the NFL, games are de-
cided by a handful of plays.
And when the Bucs could not build
on a 10-0 lead after halftime, they
were one play away from a problem.
Weve got to play more consistent
the whole game, said star corner-
back Darrelle Revis, who was beaten
by Fitzgerald for the touchdown.
Revis, obtained in an oseason
trade with the New York Jets and
signed to a six-year, $96 million con-
tract, said he would have laughed
someone out of the room had it been
suggested a few weeks ago that the
Bucs would be 0-4. Now hes coming
to grips with reality. The Bucs sea-
son seems in the tank. Since the NFL
playo eld was expanded in 1990,
one team has earned a playo berth
after starting 0-4.
Weve got to stick together, Revis
said.
The teams chemistry will be test-
ed not only by the results on the eld
but also by the switch from Freeman
to Glennon, a towering third-round
rookie from North Carolina State.
Until his late interceptions (Peter-
son victimized him for a second time
in the closing seconds), Glennon pro-
tected the football well as he com-
pleted 24 of 43 passes for 193 yards
and a TD. He lacked consistent accu-
racy, but some of the misres were
caused by pressure as the Cardinals
dialed up a heavy array of blitzes.
Teammates gave Glennon a pass
after Sundays game. Revis said that
while he and Jackson walked o the
eld, they agreed Glennon had per-
formed well. Guard Carl Nicks said
the oensive line shared blame for
the late-game issues because of pro-
tection breakdowns.
Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy
put the onus on the defense for blow-
ing the lead. Clearly, no one dared
bash the rookie. That would have
been unfair.
But as long as Freeman who said
he wanted to be traded remains on
the roster, the potential for distrac-
tion will remain.
I can see why you say that, safety
Dashon Goldson said. But I think
were mature enough to handle it.
Goldson was a member of the San
Francisco 49ers last season when
quarterback Alex Smith was benched
for Colin Kaepernick. Smiths han-
dling of his demotion was never an
issue for the 49ers. Goldson can
sense how Freeman, who declined to
comment to news reporters Sunday,
could be similarly challenged.
Now the Bucs must decide what to
do with Freeman keep him, trade
him (with Jake Locker hurt, will the
Tennessee Titans call?), release him
or suspend him (if he skips, or has
skipped, additional meetings).
Goldson said he chatted with Free-
man after the demotion.
I told him not to lose his head and
to stay focused, Goldson said.
Think positive. You can be called
upon any day, even if its not here.
Whether Freeman remains
through the season, he is central to
the teams story: Since a 6-4 start last
season, the Bucs are 1-9. The switch
to Glennon might ultimately be
Schianos make-or-break moment.
ROB FOLDY, USA TODAY SPORTS
Rookie quarterback Mike Glennon, pressured by the Cardinals defense in his rst start, threw two late interceptions in the Buccaneers loss.
STILL NO BANG FOR BUCS
Jarrett Bell
[email protected]
USATODAYSports
FOLLOW JARRETT BELL
@JARRETTBELL
For in-depth analysis, commentary
and breaking news on the NFL
I told him not to lose his head and
to stay focused. Think positive. You
can be called upon any day, even if
its not here.
Buccaneers safety Dashon Goldson, on benched QB Josh Freeman
DENVER Peyton Manning is just toy-
ing with opponents.
For the third time in four games,
Manning and the Denver Broncos
went into halftime in a close game
Sunday against the Philadelphia Ea-
gles. For the third time in four games,
the third quarter belonged to
Manning.
Manning threw three touchdown
passes and only one incompletion in
the quarter as the Broncos pulled
away from the Eagles and went on to
win 52-20. Denvers oense didnt
need to convert a third down on its
three 80-yard touchdown drives in
the third quarter.
Im enjoying it. That was a good
team, Manning said. We were moti-
vated to be on top of our game oen-
sively, score points touchdowns,
not eld goals. I thought we did that
today, and you certainly enjoy that.
It was perhaps the rst admission
from Manning this year that, indeed,
this historic pace and four-game win-
ning streak are even a little bit fun.
When the Broncos added a spe-
cial-teams touchdown early in the
fourth quarter to take a 36-point
lead, coaches sent Manning to the
bench and gave second-year backup
Brock Osweiler the rst signicant
regular-season action of his career.
It was another historic day for
Manning. He threw for one touch-
down in the rst half and has 16
touchdowns and no interceptions
this season, passing Kurt Warner
(1999) and Don Meredith (1966) for
the most touchdowns through four
games and tying Milt Plum for the
longest TD streak without a pick to
begin a season in NFL history. Plums
feat stretched over the rst 10 games
of the 1960 season.
Manning, an NFL history bu, was
tipped o before his postgame news
conference about his link to Plum.
Im throwing 16 out as his num-
ber, is that right? Manning said,
quickly receiving armation from a
Broncos team ocial. My brother
Cooper and I used to play a lot of tri-
via when we took road trips with my
dad. Cooper will be proud that I
knew Milt Plum.
The Broncos also set a single-game
team record with 52 points and are
averaging 44.75 points a game.
Defensive players from both
teams, meanwhile, acknowledged
how taxing it was to play in such a
high-tempo game in which the teams
combined for 922 total yards (472 for
Denver, 450 for Philadelphia) and
140 oensive plays (71 for Denver, 69
for Philadelphia).
It was the most tired Ive ever
been playing football in my life,
Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe
said. It almost made me throw up,
and I dont ever throw up.
This was a game that could have
been a shootout, with two up-tempo,
high-scoring oenses so dierent
in scheme but so similar in speed.
But from the rst quarter, the Ea-
gles couldnt keep pace. When Man-
ning led a rst-quarter touchdown
drive, the Eagles settled for a eld
goal. When speedy Broncos special-
teams star Trindon Holliday scored
on a 105-yard kicko return, the Ea-
gles answered with another eld goal.
You cant trade three (points) for
seven, Eagles coach Chip Kelly said.
Thats not going to work.
Such has been the story of the rst
month of the season for the Eagles
who rack up yards but dont score
enough points. Still, Michael Vick,
LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson
were able to keep the Eagles in games
against the San Diego Chargers and
Kansas City Chiefs.
Not against the Broncos, who have
the NFLs top-ranked oense in total
yards, total points and passing yards
and a quarterback in Manning who is
completing 75% of his passes.
The Eagles have lost three consec-
utive games, all to AFC West teams.
Sundays blowout raises questions
about how much, if anything, has
changed for the Eagles with the
switch from Andy Reid to Kelly and
the overhauled oense.
Kelly said the question was a fair
one but he wouldnt be able to gauge
any change until his team returned
to practice in Philadelphia this week.
This is a tough-ass league, Kelly
said. If we come out and are hanging
our heads and feeling sorry for our-
selves, then Ill say we didnt have any
progress. ... They come back to work
on Tuesday, then Ill be excited about
this group and we move forward.
4-0 Broncos post points at rare clip
Mannings precision
befuddles Eagles
RONCHENOY, USA TODAY SPORTS
Peyton Manning had 327 passing yards with four touchdowns Sun-
day. He has 16 TD passes and zero interceptions this season.
Lindsay H. Jones
@ByLindsayHJones
USATODAYSports
F
8C SPORTS
USA TODAY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
NFL: WEEK 4
ATLANTA The New Eng-
land Patriots keep nding
ways to win and players
to make it happen. But
this time, only barely.
Contributions from
deep down the roster,
plus the usual strong play
from quarterback Tom
Brady, spurred New Eng-
land to a 30-23 win
against the Atlanta Fal-
cons on Sunday night, but
the Patriots (4-0) had to
survive their own lax play
and bad hands in the
fourth quarter.
While trying to convert
a rst down on a fourth-
and-inches late in the
game, Brady bobbled the
snap, giving the ball
and one last chance to
the Falcons (1-3). But
they couldnt convert,
with Matt Ryans nal
pass falling incomplete in
the end zone.
Bradys bobble came
minutes after the Patri-
ots, who nearly blew a 30-
13 lead, couldnt handle
an onside kick, leading to
a Falcons eld goal that
cut the lead to seven
points.
Brady threw for 316
yards and two touch-
downs. Wide receiver
Kenbrell Thompkins,
playing for injured Danny
Amendola, caught six
passes for 127 yards, in-
cluding an 18-yard lung-
ing touchdown grab in
the fourth quarter that
put the Pats up by 14
points.
Seldom-used tight end
Matthew Mulligan caught
Bradys other TD pass,
and Julian Edelman had
seven catches for 118
yards.
The Falcons cut the
gap to 30-20 with a
fourth-quarter TD by
tight end Tony Gonzalez.
Patriots
hold o
Falcons
late rally
Robert Weintraub
Special for USATODAYSports
49ers 35, Rams 11
SanFrancisco 0 14 7 14 35
St. Louis 3 0 0 8 11
First quarter
St. Louis: 40 FG by Greg Zuerlein, 7:09.
Drive: 5 plays, 35 yards in 1:57. Rams
3-0.
Second quarter
San Francisco: 20 yd pass Colin Kaeper-
nick to Anquan Boldin (Phil Dawson kick),
6:22. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards in 2:55.
49ers 7-3.
San Francisco: 34 yd run by Frank Gore
(Phil Dawson kick), 0:37. Drive: 8 plays, 80
yards in 3:19. 49ers 14-3.
Third quarter
San Francisco: 12 yd pass Colin Kaeper-
nick to Vernon Davis (Phil Dawson kick),
8:49. Drive: 11 plays, 88 yards in 5:03.
49ers 21-3.
Fourth quarter
San Francisco: 1 yd run by Anthony Dix-
on (Phil Dawson kick), 10:15. Drive: 2
plays, 3 yards in 0:48. 49ers 28-3.
St. Louis: 6 yd pass Sam Bradford to
Lance Kendricks (Benny Cunningham up
the middle for the two-point conversion),
5:44. Drive: 4 plays, 24 yards in 0:57.
49ers 28-11.
San Francisco: 29 yd run by Kendall
Hunter (Phil Dawson kick), 4:25. Drive: 4
plays, 42 yards in 1:19. 49ers 35-11.
TEAMSTATISTICS
SFX STL
First downs 19 14
Rushing 8 0
Passing 8 12
Penalty 3 2
3rd-down efficiency 6-15 3-17
4th-down efficiency 1-1 0-0
Total net yards 370 188
Total plays 65 65
Average gain 5.7 2.9
Net yards rushing 219 18
Rushes 40 19
Average per rush 5.5 0.9
Net yards passing 151 170
Completed-attempted 15-23 19-41
Yards per pass 6.0 3.7
Sacked-yards lost 2-16 5-32
Hadintercepted 0 1
Punts-average 7-54.7 11-44.5
Return yardage 0 93
Punts-returns 1-0 6-19
Kickoffs-returns 0-0 3-74
Interceptions-returns 1-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 10-85 8-82
Fumbles-lost 2-2 2-1
Time of possession 31:45 28:15
PLAYERSTATISTICS
Missed eld goals San Francisco:
Dawson 53, 79.
San Francisco rushing: Dixon 3-6 (TD),
Gore 20-153 (TD), Hunter 11-49 (TD),
James 3-0, Kaepernick 3-11.
St. Louis rushing: Bradford 3-(-4), Cun-
ningham4-6, Richardson 12-16.
San Francisco passing: Kaepernick 15-
23 for 167, 0 INT, 2 TD.
St. Louis passing: Bradford 19-41 for
202, 1 INT, 1 TD.
San Francisco receiving: Baldwin 2-19,
Boldin 5-90 (TD), V. Davis 2-18 (TD), Hunt-
er 1-9, V. McDonald 1-9, Miller 3-22, Pat-
ton 1-0.
St. Louis receiving: Austin 2-6, Cook 4-
45, Cunningham 1-17, Givens 4-49, Ken-
dricks 1-6 (TD), Pettis 5-59, Quick 1-12,
Richardson 1-8.
San Francisco tackles-assists-sacks
(unofficial): Bowman 5-1-2, Brock 3-0-0,
Brooks 5-2-1, Brown 6-1-0, Dixon 1-0-0,
Dorsey 4-0-1, Jerod-Eddie 1-0-0, Lem-
onier 3-0-0, R. McDonald 1-1-0, Morris 1-
0-0, Reid 1-0-0, Skuta 1-1-0, J. Smith
0-1-, Stupar 2-0-0, Ventrone 1-0-0,
Whitner 3-0-0, Wilhoite 6-1-0.
St. Louis tackles-assists-sacks (unof-
cial): Armstrong 3-0-0, Bates 1-0-0,
Brockers 1-1-, Finnegan 1-0-0, Giorda-
no 1-0-0, Jenkins 3-2-0, Johnson 3-2-0,
Langford 1-1-0, Laurinaitis 9-3-0, C. Long
1-2-, McDonald 2-1-0, McLeod 2-2-0,
Ogletree 7-2-0, Quinn 2-0-1, Rivers 1-0-0,
Sims 1-1-0, Witherspoon 3-1-0.
Turnovers Interceptions: San Fran-
cisco: Whitner 1 for 0 yards. Fumbles
lost: San Francisco: Gore, Kaepernick; St.
Louis: Bradford. Opponents fumbles
recovered: San Francisco: Jerod-Eddie;
St. Louis: Armstrong, McLeod.
Officials Referee: Triplette, Umpire:
Hannah, Line judge: Bergman, Side
judge: Wyant, Head linesman: McKin-
nely, Back judge: Freeman, Field judge:
Anderson
A: 56,640. T: 3:32
THURSDAYS
LATE GAME
Vikings 34, Steelers 27
Pittsburgh 7 3 7 10 27
Minnesota 101014 0 34
First quarter
Minnesota: 54 FGby Blair Walsh, 12:08.
Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards in 2:52. Vikings
3-0.
Minnesota: 70 yd pass Matt Cassel to
Greg Jennings (Blair Walsh kick), 8:06.
Drive: 3 plays, 76 yards in 0:56. Vikings
10-0.
Pittsburgh: 8 yd run by LeVeon Bell
(Shaun Suishamkick), 4:02. Drive: 8 plays,
75 yards in 4:04. Vikings 10-7.
Second quarter
Minnesota: 60 yd run by Adrian Peter-
son (Blair Walsh kick), 12:42. Drive: 1
plays, 60 yards in 0:10. Vikings 17-7.
Pittsburgh: 26 FG by Shaun Suisham,
3:39. Drive: 15 plays, 78 yards in 9:03.
Vikings 17-10.
Minnesota: 37 FG by Blair Walsh, 0:39.
Drive: 8 plays, 47 yards in 3:00. Vikings
20-10.
Third quarter
Pittsburgh: 1 yd run by LeVeon Bell
(Shaun Suisham kick), 11:28. Drive: 6
plays, 80 yards in 3:32. Vikings 20-17.
Minnesota: 7 yd run by Adrian Peterson
(Blair Walsh kick), 7:52. Drive: 6 plays, 75
yards in 3:36. Vikings 27-17.
Minnesota: 16 yd pass Matt Cassel to
Greg Jennings (Blair Walsh kick), 5:11.
Drive: 2 plays, 37 yards in 0:27. Vikings
34-17.
Fourth quarter
Pittsburgh: 15 yd pass Ben Roethlis-
berger to Jerricho Cotchery (Shaun Suish-
amkick), 12:42. Drive: 9 plays, 77 yards in
3:13. Vikings 34-24.
Pittsburgh: 28 FG by Shaun Suisham,
3:37. Drive: 9 plays, 54 yards in 3:12. Vik-
ings 34-27.
TEAMSTATISTICS
PIT MIN
First downs 29 16
Rushing 5 7
Passing 21 7
Penalty 3 2
3rd-down efficiency 8-15 4-11
4th-down efficiency 0-0 0-0
Total net yards 434 393
Total plays 77 51
Average gain 5.6 7.7
Net yards rushing 77 145
Rushes 21 25
Average per rush 3.7 5.8
Net yards passing 357 248
Completed-attempted 36-51 16-25
Yards per pass 6.4 9.5
Sacked-yards lost 5-26 1-0
Hadintercepted 1 0
Punts-average 4-35.8 4-41.8
Return yardage 95 144
Punts-returns 1-3 1-0
Kickoffs-returns 4-92 5-144
Interceptions-returns 0-0 1-0
Penalties-yards 4-50 5-89
Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-0
Time of possession 36:27 23:33
PLAYERSTATISTICS
Missed eld goals Minnesota:
Walsh 44.
Pittsburgh rushing: Bell 16-57 (2 TD), A.
Brown 1-10, Dwyer 2-7, F. Jones 2-3.
Minnesota rushing: Cassel 2-5, Peter-
son 23-140 (2 TD).
Pittsburgh passing: Roethlisberger 36-
51 for 383, 1 INT, 1 TD.
Minnesota passing: Cassel 16-25 for
248, 0 INT, 2 TD.
Pittsburgh receiving: Bell 4-27, A.
Brown 12-88, Cotchery 5-103 (TD), D.
Johnson 1-8, F. Jones 1-4, Miller 6-70,
Sanders 4-57, Wheaton 3-26.
Minnesota receiving: Carlson 1-4, Ger-
hart 1-7, Jennings 3-92 (2 TD), Patterson
1-9, Rudolph 2-6, Simpson 7-124, Wright
1-6.
Pittsburgh tackles-assists-sacks (un-
official): Allen 2-1-0, Clark 5-1-0, Cro-
martie-Smith 1-0-0, Garvin 2-0-0, Gay
1-1-0, Hood2-0-0, J. Jones 1-0-0, Keisel 1-
0-0, McLendon 4-0-0, Polamalu 2-0-0,
Taylor 3-2-0, Thomas 1-0-0, Timmons 6-
0-0, Wheaton 1-0-0, Williams 5-0-0,
Woodley 3-0-1, Woods 1-0-0, Worilds
1-0-0.
Minnesota tackles-assists-sacks (un-
official): Allen 3-1-2, Bishop 1-0-0,
Blanton 1-0-0, Evans 1-0-0, Floyd 0-1-,
Greenway 10-0-1, Griffen 2-0-1, Hender-
son 9-0-0, Hodges 1-0-0, Mauti 2-0-0,
Raymond 3-1-0, Rhodes 3-0-0, Robinson
12-0-0, Robison 1-0-0, Sendejo 4-0-0,
Smith 6-1-0, Webb1-0-0, Williams 2-0-0.
Turnovers Interceptions: Minnesota:
Greenway 1 for 0 yards. Fumbles lost:
Pittsburgh: Roethlisberger. Opponents
fumbles recovered: Minnesota:
Williams.
Officials Referee: Blakeman, Um-
pire: DeFelice, Line judge: Marinucci,
Side judge: Meyer, Head linesman:
Veteri, Back judge: Miles, Field judge:
Meslow
A: 83,518. T: 3:01
Seahawks 23, Texans 20
Seattle 3 0 3 14 3 23
Houston 0 20 0 0 0 20
First quarter
Seattle: 48 FG by Steven Hauschka,
11:11. Drive: 4 plays, 40 yards in 1:34.
Seahawks 3-0.
Second quarter
Houston: 31 yd pass Matt Schaub to
Garrett Graham (Randy Bullock kick),
14:55. Drive: 6 plays, 90 yards in 2:52.
Texans 7-3.
Houston: 5 yd pass Matt Schaub to Ari-
an Foster (Randy Bullock kick), 6:11. Drive:
10 plays, 80 yards in 5:10. Texans 14-3.
Houston: 22 FG by Randy Bullock, 3:51.
Drive: 7 plays, 15 yards in 2:13. Texans
17-3.
Houston: 42 FG by Randy Bullock, 0:01.
Drive: 12 plays, 67 yards in 1:12. Texans
20-3.
Third quarter
Seattle: 39 FGby Steven Hauschka, 3:54.
Drive: 4 plays, 0 yards in 0:25. Texans
20-6.
Fourth quarter
Seattle: 3 yd run by Marshawn Lynch
(Steven Hauschka kick), 7:43. Drive: 14
plays, 98 yards in 7:28. Texans 20-13.
Seattle: 58 yd interception return by
RichardSherman (Steven Hauschkakick) ,
2:40. 20-20.
Overtime
Seattle: 45 FGby Steven Hauschka, 3:19.
Drive: 8 plays, 42 yards in 3:27. Sea-
hawks 23-20.
TEAMSTATISTICS
SEA HOU
First downs 15 29
Rushing 6 7
Passing 6 20
Penalty 3 2
3rd-down efficiency 3-14 6-17
4th-down efficiency 1-1 0-0
Total net yards 270 476
Total plays 58 88
Average gain 4.7 5.4
Net yards rushing 179 151
Rushes 30 35
Average per rush 6.0 4.3
Net yards passing 91 325
Completed-attempted 12-23 31-49
Yards per pass 3.3 6.1
Sacked-yards lost 5-32 4-30
Hadintercepted 1 2
Punts-average 6-46.3 7-45.3
Return yardage 173 54
Punts-returns 4-60 1-1
Kickoffs-returns 3-55 2-52
Interceptions-returns 2-58 1-1
Penalties-yards 9-62 6-86
Fumbles-lost 3-1 2-1
Time of possession 31:48 39:53
PLAYERSTATISTICS
Missed eld goals: None.
Seattle rushing: Lynch 17-98 (TD), Turbin
3-4, Wilson 10-77.
Houston rushing: Foster 27-102,
Schaub1-5, Tate 7-44.
Seattle passing: Wilson 12-23 for 123,
1 INT, 0 TD.
Houston passing: Schaub 31-49 for
355, 2 INT, 2 TD.
Seattle receiving: Baldwin 3-39, Cole-
man 1-4, Lynch 3-45, Miller 1-7, Rice 1-11,
Tate 3-17.
Houston receiving: Daniels 6-72, Foster
6-69 (TD), Graham 5-69 (TD), Hopkins 2-
27, Johnson 9-110, G. Jones 1-1, Martin
1-6, Tate 1-1.
Seattle tackles-assists-sacks (unoffi-
cial): Avril 2-0-1, Bennett 0-1-0, Browner
5-0-0, Bryant 3-1-0, Chancellor 7-0-0, Cle-
mons 3-2-1, Lane 1-0-0, Maxwell 4-0-0,
McDaniel 1-2-1, McDonald 5-0-1, Me-
bane 4-1-0, Sherman 4-0-0, M. Smith 6-
1-0, Thomas 7-0-0, Thurmond 2-0-0,
Wagner 6-2-0, Wright 4-1-0.
Houston tackles-assists-sacks (unof-
cial): Bouye 1-0-0, Braman 1-0-0, Cush-
ing 6-3-0, Griffin 1-0-0, B. Harris 1-0-0,
Jackson 4-0-0, Jefferson 0-1-0, Joseph 2-
0-0, Lechler 1-0-0, Manning 3-0-0, Mays
3-2-0, Mercilus 4-2-2, Mitchell 0-2-0,
Pleasant 1-0-0, B. Reed 3-1-1, E. Reed 2-
1-0, Sharpton 4-2-0, Smith 2-2-1, Swear-
inger 1-0-0, Tuggle 2-0-0, Watt 4-4-.
Turnovers Interceptions: Seattle:
Sherman 1 for 58 yards, Thomas 1 for 0
yards; Houston: Joseph 1 for 1 yards.
Fumbles lost: Seattle: Lynch; Houston:
Tate. Opponents fumbles recovered:
Seattle: Wagner; Houston: McClain.
Officials Referee: Corrente, Umpire:
Bryan, Line judge: Lewis, Side judge:
Tolbert, Head linesman: Hayward,
Back judge: Wilson, Field judge:
Cavaletto
A: 71,756. T: 3:29
Bills 23, Ravens 20
Baltimore 0 7 7 6 20
Buffalo 6 14 3 0 23
First quarter
Buffalo: 27 FG by Dan Carpenter, 6:11.
Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards in 4:43. Bills
3-0.
Buffalo: 27 FG by Dan Carpenter, 3:03.
Drive: 5 plays, 16 yards in 2:26. Bills 6-0.
Second quarter
Baltimore: 10 yd pass Joe Flacco to
Marlon Brown (Justin Tucker kick), 13:55.
Drive: 3 plays, 27 yards in 0:54. Ravens
7-6.
Buffalo: 42 yd pass EJ Manuel to Robert
Woods (Dan Carpenter kick), 8:40. Drive:
5 plays, 70 yards in 1:59. Bills 13-7.
Buffalo: 16 yd run by Fred Jackson (Dan
Carpenter kick), 6:52. Drive: 4 plays, 28
yards in 1:13. Bills 20-7.
Third quarter
Baltimore: 26 yd pass Joe Flacco to Tor-
rey Smith (Justin Tucker kick), 7:17. Drive: 4
plays, 80 yards in 1:31. Bills 20-14.
Buffalo: 22 FG by Dan Carpenter, 1:56.
Drive: 9 plays, 44 yards in 2:57. Bills
23-14.
Fourth quarter
Baltimore: 35 FG by Justin Tucker, 7:12.
Drive: 5 plays, 74 yards in 1:21. Bills
23-17.
Baltimore: 24 FG by Justin Tucker, 4:04.
Drive: 5 plays, 50 yards in 1:39. Bills
23-20.
TEAMSTATISTICS
BAL BUF
First downs 15 19
Rushing 0 10
Passing 13 7
Penalty 2 2
3rd-down efficiency 3-16 5-18
4th-down efficiency 1-1 0-0
Total net yards 345 350
Total plays 63 79
Average gain 5.5 4.4
Net yards rushing 24 203
Rushes 9 55
Average per rush 2.7 3.7
Net yards passing 321 147
Completed-attempted 25-50 10-22
Yards per pass 5.9 6.1
Sacked-yards lost 4-26 2-20
Hadintercepted 5 2
Punts-average 7-47.3 8-43.3
Return yardage 105 46
Punts-returns 4-31 4-34
Kickoffs-returns 3-73 0-0
Interceptions-returns 2-1 5-12
Penalties-yards 8-59 11-99
Fumbles-lost 0-0 4-1
Time of possession 23:34 36:26
PLAYERSTATISTICS
Missed eld goals: None.
Baltimore rushing: Pierce 4-7, Rice 5-17.
Buffalo rushing: Choice 3-11, Graham
1-14, Jackson 16-87 (TD), Manuel 11-1,
Spiller 23-77, Woods 1-13.
Baltimore passing: Flacco 25-50 for
347, 5 INT, 2 TD.
Buffalo passing: Manuel 10-22 for 167,
2 INT, 1 TD.
Baltimore receiving: M. Brown 4-34
(TD), Clark 4-34, Dickson 2-12, Doss 4-47,
Leach 1-2, Pierce 1-2, T. Smith 5-166 (TD),
Thompson 4-50.
Buffalo receiving: Chandler 2-28, Gra-
ham 2-32, Johnson 1-(-1), Smith 1-28,
Woods 4-80 (TD).
Baltimore tackles-assists-sacks (un-
official): C. Brown 1-0-0, Bynes 4-4-0,
Canty 3-2-1, Dumervil 2-1-0, Elam 6-0-0,
Graham 7-2-0, Huff 2-1-0, Ihedigbo 5-
2-0, A. Jones 6-2-0, Levine 1-0-0, McClel-
lan 1-0-0, McPhee 3-1-0, Ngata 3-1-0, Si-
mon 1-0-0, D. Smith 4-8-0, J. Smith 4-1-0,
Spears 2-1-0, Suggs 9-8-1, Upshaw1-1-0,
Webb1-0-0.
Buffalo tackles-assists-sacks (unoffi-
cial): Alonso 2-3-0, Bradham 1-1-0,
Branch 2-0-0, Burton 1-2-0, Dareus 5-2-2,
Easley 4-0-0, Lawson 5-0-1, Leonhard 3-
1-0, Moats 1-1-0, Robey 2-0-0, Rogers 6-
2-0, Searcy 6-0-0, A. Williams 2-0-0, M.
Williams 1-0-1.
Turnovers Interceptions: Baltimore:
Graham 1 for 0 yards, D. Smith 1 for 1
yards; Buffalo: Alonso 2 for 6 yards, Leon-
hard 1 for 0 yards, A. Williams 2 for 6
yards. Fumbles lost: Buffalo: Manuel.
Opponents fumbles recovered: Balti-
more: B. Williams.
Officials Referee: Boger, Umpire: Mi-
chalek, Line judge: Stephan, Side
judge: Baynes, Head linesman: Camp,
Back judge: Steratore, Field judge:
Prioleau
A: 68,296. T: 3:34
Browns 17, Bengals 6
Cincinnati 0 3 3 0 6
Cleveland 7 0 3 7 17
First quarter
Cleveland: 2 yd pass Brian Hoyer to Jor-
dan Cameron (Billy Cundiff kick), 2:13.
Drive: 12 plays, 95 yards in 6:29. Browns
7-0.
Second quarter
Cincinnati: 25 FG by Mike Nugent,
10:48. Drive: 13 plays, 46 yards in 6:25.
Browns 7-3.
Third quarter
Cleveland: 51 FG by Billy Cundiff, 5:10.
Drive: 10 plays, 17 yards in 3:25. Browns
10-3.
Cincinnati: 43 FG by Mike Nugent, 0:37.
Drive: 10 plays, 62 yards in 4:33. Browns
10-6.
Fourth quarter
Cleveland: 1 yd pass Brian Hoyer to
Chris Ogbonnaya(Billy Cundiff kick), 4:54.
Drive: 12 plays, 91 yards in 6:37. Browns
17-6.
TEAMSTATISTICS
CIN CLE
First downs 16 18
Rushing 3 4
Passing 10 14
Penalty 3 0
3rd-down efficiency 4-14 9-18
4th-down efficiency 1-3 0-0
Total net yards 266 336
Total plays 64 71
Average gain 4.2 4.7
Net yards rushing 63 89
Rushes 20 30
Average per rush 3.2 3.0
Net yards passing 203 247
Completed-attempted 23-42 25-38
Yards per pass 4.6 6.0
Sacked-yards lost 2-3 3-22
Hadintercepted 1 0
Punts-average 4-38.8 5-42.8
Return yardage 75 72
Punts-returns 2-15 1-7
Kickoffs-returns 4-60 2-60
Interceptions-returns 0-0 1-5
Penalties-yards 3-25 5-80
Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0
Time of possession 28:51 31:09
PLAYERSTATISTICS
Missed eld goals Cleveland: Cun-
diff 37, 49.
Cincinnati rushing: Bernard 10-37, Dal-
ton 4-13, Green-Ellis 6-13.
Cleveland rushing: Hoyer 4-7, McGa-
hee 15-46, Ogbonnaya5-27, Rainey 6-9.
Cincinnati passing: Dalton 23-42 for
206, 1 INT, 0 TD.
Cleveland passing: Hoyer 25-38 for
269, 0 INT, 2 TD.
Cincinnati receiving: Bernard 6-38, Eif-
ert 3-39, Green 7-51, Gresham 3-53, Sa-
nu 3-19, Sanzenbacher 1-6.
Cleveland receiving: Barnidge 1-2,
Benjamin 1-39, Bess 2-25, Cameron 10-
91 (TD), Gordon 4-71, Ogbonnaya 5-21
(TD), Rainey 2-20.
Cincinnati tackles-assists-sacks (un-
official): Atkins 1-2-1, Burct 5-9-0,
Crocker 1-0-0, Dunlap 3-1-1, Ghee 2-
1-0, Harrison 1-3-0, Iloka 3-3-0, M. John-
son 1-1-0, A. Jones 1-2-0, Maualuga 4-
7-0, Mays 4-1-0, Newman 3-3-0, Peko 1-
3-0, Rey 0-1-0, Still 0-1-0, Thompson
3-0-0.
Cleveland tackles-assists-sacks (un-
official): Bademosi 1-0-0, D. Bryant 0-
4-0, Gipson 3-3-0, Haden 4-0-0, Jackson
7-3-0, Kruger 0-2-0, Magee 1-0-0, McFad-
den 1-0-0, Mingo 3-1-1, Owens 3-0-1,
Robertson 6-4-0, Rubin 4-0-0, Skrine 2-
0-0, Taylor 2-0-0, Ward4-1-0.
Turnovers Interceptions: Cleveland:
Skrine 1 for 5 yards. Fumbles lost: Cin-
cinnati: Dalton. Opponents fumbles
recovered: Cleveland: Owens.
Officials Referee: Winter, Umpire:
Paganelli, Line judge: Arthur, Side
judge: Hill, Head linesman: Howey,
Back judge: Steed, Field judge:
Steenson
A: 71,481. T: 3:04
Cardinals 13, Buccaneers 10
Arizona 0 0 0 13 13
TampaBay 7 3 0 0 10
First quarter
Tampa Bay: 8 yd pass Mike Glennon to
Mike Williams (Rian Lindell kick), 6:17.
Drive: 6 plays, 41 yards in 2:26. Bucca-
neers 7-0.
Second quarter
Tampa Bay: 50 FG by Rian Lindell, 0:27.
Drive: 13 plays, 61 yards in 4:23. Bucca-
neers 10-0.
Fourth quarter
Arizona: 42 FGby Jay Feely, 11:16. Drive:
6 plays, 26 yards in 2:14. Buccaneers
10-3.
Arizona: 13 yd pass Carson Palmer to
Larry Fitzgerald (Jay Feely kick), 3:06.
Drive: 1 plays, 13 yards in 0:06. 10-10.
Arizona: 27 FGby Jay Feely, 1:29. Drive: 5
plays, 29 yards in 0:27. Cardinals 13-10.
TEAMSTATISTICS
ARI TAM
First downs 17 20
Rushing 4 4
Passing 11 13
Penalty 2 3
3rd-down efficiency 1-10 7-18
4th-down efficiency 0-0 1-1
Total net yards 296 253
Total plays 59 76
Average gain 5.0 3.3
Net yards rushing 56 80
Rushes 20 31
Average per rush 2.8 2.6
Net yards passing 240 173
Completed-attempted 21-38 24-43
Yards per pass 6.2 3.8
Sacked-yards lost 1-8 2-20
Hadintercepted 2 2
Punts-average 7-45.7 8-40.3
Return yardage 21 94
Punts-returns 1-5 2-22
Kickoffs-returns 0-0 3-69
Interceptions-returns 2-16 2-3
Penalties-yards 10-90 8-73
Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-1
Time of possession 25:55 34:05
PLAYERSTATISTICS
Missed eld goals: None.
Arizona rushing: Ellington 4-29, Men-
denhall 12-21, Palmer 4-6.
Tampa Bay rushing: Demps 1-14, Glen-
non 2-(-1), Goldson 1-22, Martin 27-45.
Arizona passing: Palmer 21-38 for 248,
2 INT, 1 TD.
Tampa Bay passing: Glennon 24-43 for
193, 2 INT, 1 TD.
Arizona receiving: J. Brown 1-19, Dray
1-10, Ellington 3-22, Fitzgerald 6-68 (TD),
Floyd 5-87, Housler 1-23, Mendenhall 3-
13, Roberts 1-6.
TampaBay receiving: Demps 1-8, Jack-
son 2-27, James 1-2, Leonard 2-11, Lorig
1-20, Martin 3-16, Ogletree 5-30, Wil-
liams 4-38 (TD), Wright 5-41.
Arizonatackles-assists-sacks (unoffi-
cial): Abraham 1-0-0, Arenas 1-0-0, Bell
5-3-1, Bethel 1-0-0, Brinkley 6-2-0, Camp-
bell 2-0-0, Dansby 9-0-0, Demens 4-0-0,
Dockett 2-0-0, T. Jefferson 6-1-0, Mathieu
6-0-0, Moch 3-0-1, Peterson 2-0-0, Powers
5-0-0, Rucker 1-1-0, Shaughnessy 4-0-0,
Taamu 1-0-0.
Tampa Bay tackles-assists-sacks (un-
official): Banks 1-0-0, Barron 1-1-0, Black
2-1-0, Bowers 0-1-0, Casillas 2-0-0, Clay-
born 3-0-0, David 4-2-0, Foster 5-0-0,
Goldson 3-2-0, Johnson 3-1-0, McCoy 1-
0-1, Revis 6-0-0, Spence 1-1-0, Tandy 1-
0-0, Teo-Nesheim1-0-0, Watson 6-0-0.
Turnovers Interceptions: Arizona:
Peterson 2 for 16 yards; Tampa Bay:
Banks 1 for 0 yards, Revis 1 for 3 yards.
Fumbles lost: Arizona: Mendenhall;
Tampa Bay: Glennon. Opponents fum-
bles recovered: Arizona: Shaughnessy;
TampaBay: McCoy.
Officials Referee: Steratore, Umpire:
Schuster, Line judge: Seeman, Side
judge: Weatherford, Head linesman:
Mackie, Back judge: Paganelli, Field
judge: Waggoner
A: 44,956. T: 3:13
Chiefs 31, Giants 7
NewYork 0 7 0 0 7
Kansas City 0 10 7 14 31
Second quarter
Kansas City: 5 yd pass Alex Smith to
Sean McGrath (Ryan Succop kick), 14:47.
Drive: 11 plays, 98 yards in 5:38. Chiefs
7-0.
New York: 69 yd pass Eli Manning to
Victor Cruz (Josh Brown kick), 13:53. Drive:
2 plays, 74 yards in 0:54. 7-7.
Kansas City: 51 FG by Ryan Succop,
1:55. Drive: 5 plays, 31 yards in 1:53.
Chiefs 10-7.
Third quarter
Kansas City: 89 yard punt return by
Dexter McCluster (Ryan Succop kick),
1:34. Chiefs 17-7.
Fourth quarter
Kansas City: 2 yd pass Alex Smith to Ja-
maal Charles (Ryan Succop kick), 5:43.
Drive: 14 plays, 80 yards in 9:17. Chiefs
24-7.
Kansas City: 34 yd pass Alex Smith to
Dwayne Bowe (Ryan Succop kick), 3:06.
Drive: 3 plays, 35 yards in 1:25. Chiefs
31-7.
TEAMSTATISTICS
NYG KAN
First downs 11 21
Rushing 3 4
Passing 8 15
Penalty 0 2
3rd-down efficiency 1-14 9-16
4th-down efficiency 1-2 0-0
Total net yards 298 390
Total plays 61 70
Average gain 4.9 5.6
Net yards rushing 98 102
Rushes 21 28
Average per rush 4.7 3.6
Net yards passing 200 288
Completed-attempted 18-37 24-41
Yards per pass 5.0 6.9
Sacked-yards lost 3-17 1-0
Hadintercepted 1 2
Punts-average 8-49.9 5-44.6
Return yardage 105 152
Punts-returns 4-35 4-113
Kickoffs-returns 3-74 1-22
Interceptions-returns 2-(-4) 1-17
Penalties-yards 7-65 7-62
Fumbles-lost 3-2 1-1
Time of possession 24:04 35:56
PLAYERSTATISTICS
Missed eld goals NewYork: Brown
44.
New York rushing: Jacobs 1-5, Man-
ning2-12, Scott 5-26, Wilson 13-55.
Kansas City rushing: Charles 18-65,
Daniel 2-(-2), Davis 1-2, Al. Smith 7-37.
New York passing: Manning 18-37 for
217, 1 INT, 1 TD.
Kansas City passing: Al. Smith 24-41
for 288, 2 INT, 3 TD.
New York receiving: Cruz 10-164 (TD),
Jacobs 1-5, Nicks 3-33, Randle 1-7, Scott
1-0, Wilson 2-8.
Kansas City receiving: Avery 2-23,
Bowe 4-58 (TD), Brock 2-27, Charles 5-62
(TD), McCluster 5-48, McGrath 5-64 (TD),
Sherman 1-6.
New York tackles-assists-sacks (un-
official): Amukamara 2-1-0, Bradford 1-
0-0, Herzlich 7-1-0, Jenkins 1-0-0, Joseph
3-0-0, Kiwanuka 1-0-0, McBride 1-1-0,
Moore 2-0-0, Mundy 2-1-0, Patterson 3-
0-0, Paysinger 7-0-1, Pierre-Paul 1-0-0,
Rogers 1-0-0, Rolle 6-0-0, Ross 3-0-0,
Thomas 3-0-0, Tuck 1-0-0, Williams 2-0-0.
Kansas City tackles-assists-sacks
(unofficial): Bailey 3-0-1, Berry 2-0-0,
Catapano 1-0-0, Colquitt 1-0-0, Cooper
1-0-0, DeVito 1-0-0, Gray 1-0-0, Hali 4-
0-2, Hemingway 1-0-0, Houston 2-0-0,
Jackson 2-1-0, D. Johnson 8-1-0, Jordan
3-0-0, Lewis 1-0-0, Parker 1-0-0, Poe 2-
0-0, Robinson 5-0-0, Sherman 2-0-0, S.
Smith 4-0-0.
Turnovers Interceptions: New York:
Amukamara 1 for -4 yards, Rolle 1 for 0
yards; Kansas City: Demps 1 for 17 yards.
Fumbles lost: New York: Manning 2;
Kansas City: Hudson. Opponents fum-
bles recovered: New York: Paysinger;
Kansas City: Berry, Robinson.
Officials Referee: McAuley, Umpire:
Dawson, Line judge: Symonette, Side
judge: Coleman, Headlinesman: Brad-
ley, Back judge: Dyer, Field judge:
Brown
A: 73,386. T: 3:13
Colts 37, Jaguars 3
Indianapolis 0 2014 3 37
Jacksonville 3 0 0 0 3
First quarter
Jacksonville: 53 FG by Josh Scobee,
8:14. Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards in 1:11. Jag-
uars 3-0.
Second quarter
Indianapolis: 22 FG by AdamVinatieri,
14:43. Drive: 11 plays, 54 yards in 3:43.
3-3.
Indianapolis: 41 yd interception return
by Darius Butler (Adam Vinatieri kick) ,
11:48. Colts 10-3.
Indianapolis: 1 yd run by Trent Richard-
son (Adam Vinatieri kick), 5:54. Drive: 6
plays, 81 yards in 3:28. Colts 17-3.
Indianapolis: 46 FG by AdamVinatieri,
1:34. Drive: 10 plays, 44 yards in 3:18.
Colts 20-3.
Third quarter
Indianapolis: 31 yd pass Andrew Luck
to Coby Fleener (Adam Vinatieri kick),
12:15. Drive: 2 plays, 63 yards in 0:37.
Colts 27-3.
Indianapolis: 5 yd pass Andrew Luck to
Reggie Wayne (Adam Vinatieri kick),
1:22. Drive: 12 plays, 72 yards in 8:35.
Colts 34-3.
Fourth quarter
Indianapolis: 28 FG by AdamVinatieri,
1:53. Drive: 7 plays, 37 yards in 2:56.
Colts 37-3.
TEAMSTATISTICS
IND JAC
First downs 26 14
Rushing 8 0
Passing 16 10
Penalty 2 4
3rd-down efficiency 6-13 2-11
4th-down efficiency 0-0 0-1
Total net yards 437 205
Total plays 70 54
Average gain 6.2 3.8
Net yards rushing 154 40
Rushes 29 18
Average per rush 5.3 2.2
Net yards passing 283 165
Completed-attempted 24-39 17-32
Yards per pass 6.9 4.6
Sacked-yards lost 2-14 4-14
Hadintercepted 1 3
Punts-average 3-46.0 6-48.3
Return yardage 112 98
Punts-returns 5-19 1-10
Kickoffs-returns 2-45 4-87
Interceptions-returns 3-48 1-1
Penalties-yards 7-58 9-65
Fumbles-lost 1-0 0-0
Time of possession 36:38 23:22
PLAYERSTATISTICS
Missed eld goals: None.
Indianapolis rushing: D. Brown 3-65,
Havili 3-0, Hilton 1-3, Luck 2-26, Richard-
son 20-60 (TD).
Jacksonville rushing: Forsett 1-3, Gab-
bert 2-10, Jones-Drew 13-23, Todman
2-4.
Indianapolis passing: Hasselbeck 2-3
for 37, 0 INT, 0 TD, Luck 22-36 for 260, 1
INT, 2 TD.
Jacksonville passing: Gabbert 17-32
for 179, 3 INT, 0 TD.
Indianapolis receiving: D. Brown 2-11,
Fleener 5-77 (TD), Havili 2-1, Heyward-
Bey 3-33, Hilton 5-48, Jones 1-21, Rich-
ardson 1-6, Wayne 5-100 (TD).
Jacksonville receiving: Ebert 1-5, For-
sett 2-10, Harbor 2-39, Jones-Drew 1-5,
Sanders 4-59, Shorts III 7-61.
Indianapolis tackles-assists-sacks
(unofficial): Angerer 3-0-0, Bethea 4-
0-0, S. Brown 3-0-0, Butler 6-0-0, Chap-
man 1-0-0, Davis 3-0-0, Franklin 1-0-0,
Freeman 4-0-0, Gordy 2-0-0, Guy 1-0-0,
Howell 2-0-0, Lefeged 1-0-0, Mathews 1-
0-0, Mathis 4-1-3, Redding 3-0-1, Reed 1-
0-0, Toler 1-0-0, Walden 1-1-0.
Jacksonville tackles-assists-sacks
(unofficial): Allen 5-2-1, Alualu 1-0-1, Ba-
bin 2-1-0, Ball 2-1-0, Blackmon 3-0-0,
Branch 1-0-0, Cyprien 4-1-0, Deaderick 1-
0-0, Evans 6-0-0, Harris 3-0-0, Hayes 7-
0-0, Marks 1-0-0, Miller 2-0-0, Mincey 1-
0-0, Posluszny 8-1-0, Prosinski 2-0-0, Rey-
nolds 2-0-0, Taufoou 1-0-0, Tinker 1-0-0,
Todman 1-0-0.
Turnovers Interceptions: Indianapo-
lis: Butler 1 for 41 yards, Davis 1 for 0
yards, Gordy 1 for 7 yards; Jacksonville:
Blackmon 1 for 1 yards. Fumbles lost:
None. Opponents fumbles recov-
ered: None.
Officials Referee: Parry, Umpire: Far-
rell, Line judge: Hill, Side judge: Larrew,
Head linesman: Bowers, Back judge:
Paganelli, Field judge: Edwards
A: 59,695. T: 3:08
Lions 40, Bears 32
Chicago 3 10 3 16 32
Detroit 3 27 7 3 40
First quarter
Chicago: 34 FG by Robbie Gould, 8:34.
Drive: 7 plays, 54 yards in 3:21. Bears
3-0.
Detroit: 23 FG by David Akers, 2:38.
Drive: 11 plays, 78 yards in 5:56. 3-3.
Second quarter
Detroit: 31 FG by David Akers, 14:28.
Drive: 5 plays, 18 yards in 1:46. Lions
6-3.
Chicago: 53 ydrun by Matt Forte (Robbie
Gould kick), 13:44. Drive: 2 plays, 80
yards in 0:44. Bears 10-6.
Detroit: 41 FG by David Akers, 10:19.
Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards in 3:25. Bears
10-9.
Detroit: 1 yd run by Matthew Stafford
(David Akers kick), 6:09. Drive: 4 plays, 22
yards in 2:03. Lions 16-10.
Detroit: 2 yd pass Matthew Stafford to
Calvin Johnson (David Akers kick), 5:47.
Drive: 1 plays, 2 yards in 0:04. Lions
23-10.
Detroit: 37 ydrun by Reggie Bush (David
Akers kick), 2:43. Drive: 2 plays, 51 yards
in 0:52. Lions 30-10.
Chicago: 28 FG by Robbie Gould, 0:00.
Drive: 4 plays, 36 yards in 0:20. Lions
30-13.
Third quarter
Chicago: 25 FG by Robbie Gould, 9:05.
Drive: 6 plays, 73 yards in 2:22. Lions
30-16.
Detroit: 4 yd fumble return by Nick Fair-
ley (DavidAkers kick) , 0:20. Lions 37-16.
Fourth quarter
Detroit: 43 FG by David Akers, 8:57.
Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards in 4:17. Lions
40-16.
Chicago: 14 yd pass Jay Cutler to Alshon
Jeffery (Jay Cutler pass to Alshon Jeffery
for the two-point conversion), 4:00. Drive:
12 plays, 77 yards in 4:57. Lions 40-24.
Chicago: 10 yd pass Jay Cutler to Earl
Bennett (Jay Cutler pass to Brandon Mar-
shall for the two-point conversion), 0:43.
Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards in 2:16. Lions
40-32.
TEAMSTATISTICS
CHI DET
First downs 18 23
Rushing 4 10
Passing 13 13
Penalty 1 0
3rd-down efficiency 1-13 2-10
4th-down efficiency 2-2 0-0
Total net yards 417 387
Total plays 66 66
Average gain 6.3 5.9
Net yards rushing 131 159
Rushes 16 30
Average per rush 8.2 5.3
Net yards passing 286 228
Completed-attempted 27-47 23-35
Yards per pass 5.7 6.3
Sacked-yards lost 3-31 1-14
Hadintercepted 3 1
Punts-average 5-40.2 3-50.0
Return yardage 172 163
Punts-returns 2-17 1-57
Kickoffs-returns 6-147 3-62
Interceptions-returns 1-8 3-44
Penalties-yards 4-30 3-25
Fumbles-lost 2-1 4-2
Time of possession 28:11 31:49
PLAYERSTATISTICS
Missed eld goals: None.
Chicago rushing: Cutler 1-9, Forte 14-95
(TD), Jeffery 1-27.
Detroit rushing: Bell 7-12, Bush 18-139
(TD), Stafford5-8 (TD).
Chicago passing: Cutler 27-47 for 317, 3
INT, 2 TD.
Detroit passing: Stafford 23-35 for 242,
1 INT, 1 TD.
Chicago receiving: E. Bennett 2-19 (TD),
M. Bennett 8-90, Forte 5-22, Jeffery 5-107
(TD), Marshall 7-79.
Detroit receiving: Bell 4-30, Bush 4-34,
Durham 3-58, Johnson 4-44 (TD), Petti-
grew7-54, Scheffler 1-22.
Chicagotackles-assists-sacks (unoffi-
cial): Ja. Anderson 2-2-0, Bostic 1-0-0,
Bowman 3-0-0, Briggs 9-4-0, Collins 1-
2-0, Conte 6-0-0, Costanzo 1-0-0, Frey 2-
4-0, Jennings 2-1-0, Paea 2-0-0, Peppers
4-2-1, Podlesh 1-0-0, Rosario 1-0-0, Till-
man 2-0-0, Walters 1-0-0, Williams 3-1-0,
Wootton 4-0-0, Wright 3-3-0.
Detroit tackles-assists-sacks (unoffi-
cial): Ansah 0-1-0, Bentley 2-2-0, Delmas
2-0-0, Green 1-1-0, Houston 2-0-0, Levy 4-
3-0, Lewis 2-0-0, Mathis 1-0-0, McIntosh
2-0-0, Mosley 1-2-0, Palmer 2-1-0, Quin 1-
0-0, Slay 6-1-0, Suh 4-0-2, Tulloch 10-4-1,
Wendling1-0-0, Whitehead2-0-0, Young
1-0-0.
Turnovers Interceptions: Chicago:
Wright 1 for 8 yards; Detroit: Delmas 2 for
2 yards, Quin 1 for 42 yards. Fumbles
lost: Chicago: Cutler; Detroit: Bell, Staf-
ford. Opponents fumbles recovered:
Chicago: McClellin, Wootton; Detroit:
Fairley.
Officials Referee: Carey, Umpire:
Brown, Line judge: Podraza, Side
judge: Rosenbaum, Head linesman:
Baltz, Back judge: Helverson, Field
judge: Weir
A: 64,552. T: 3:13
Broncos 52, Eagles 20
Philadelphia 3 10 0 7 20
Denver 14 7 2110 52
First quarter
Denver: 6 yd pass Peyton Manning to
Wes Welker (Matt Prater kick), 10:19.
Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards in 3:52. Broncos
7-0.
Philadelphia: 35 FG by Alex Henery,
6:03. Drive: 11 plays, 65 yards in 4:16.
Broncos 7-3.
Denver: 105 yd kickoff return by Trindon
Holliday (Matt Prater kick) , 5:50. Broncos
14-3.
Second quarter
Philadelphia: 25 FG by Alex Henery,
14:18. Drive: 15 plays, 73 yards in 6:32.
Broncos 14-6.
Philadelphia: 4 yd run by Chris Polk
(Alex Henery kick), 11:06. Drive: 7 plays,
64 yards in 2:10. Broncos 14-13.
Denver: 4 yd run by Knowshon Moreno
(Matt Prater kick), 5:05. Drive: 11 plays, 80
yards in 6:01. Broncos 21-13.
Third quarter
Denver: 1 yd pass Peyton Manning to
Demaryius Thomas (Matt Prater kick),
9:54. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards in 5:06.
Broncos 28-13.
Denver: 15 yd pass Peyton Manning to
Demaryius Thomas (Matt Prater kick),
5:10. Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards in 3:12.
Broncos 35-13.
Denver: 4 yd pass Peyton Manning to
Wes Welker (Matt Prater kick), 0:22.
Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards in 3:35. Broncos
42-13.
Fourth quarter
Denver: 17 yd blocked punt return by
Steven Johnson (Matt Prater kick) , 13:54.
Broncos 49-13.
Denver: 53 FG by Matt Prater, 6:53.
Drive: 7 plays, 30 yards in 3:49. Broncos
52-13.
Philadelphia: 6 yd pass Nick Foles to
Jeff Maehl (Alex Henery kick), 4:35. Drive:
7 plays, 80 yards in 2:18. Broncos
52-20.
TEAMSTATISTICS
PHI DEN
First downs 21 35
Rushing 9 11
Passing 12 19
Penalty 0 5
3rd-down efficiency 8-16 5-8
4th-down efficiency 0-0 0-0
Total net yards 450 472
Total plays 69 71
Average gain 6.5 6.6
Net yards rushing 166 141
Rushes 35 33
Average per rush 4.7 4.3
Net yards passing 284 331
Completed-attempted 17-31 30-37
Yards per pass 8.4 8.7
Sacked-yards lost 3-13 1-6
Hadintercepted 0 0
Punts-average 5-38.2 2-46.0
Return yardage 47 105
Punts-returns 1-21 2-0
Kickoffs-returns 1-26 1-105
Interceptions-returns 0-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 8-62 2-25
Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0
Time of possession 26:38 33:22
PLAYERSTATISTICS
Missed eld goals Philadelphia:
Henery 46.
Philadelphia rushing: Brown 8-19, Mc-
Coy 16-73, Polk 3-33 (TD), Vick 8-41.
Denver rushing: Ball 8-24, Hillman 11-
36, Moreno12-78 (TD), Osweiler 2-3.
Philadelphia passing: Foles 3-4 for 49,
0 INT, 1 TD, Vick 14-27 for 248, 0 INT, 0 TD.
Denver passing: Manning 28-34 for
327, 0 INT, 4 TD, Osweiler 2-3 for 10, 0 INT,
0 TD.
Philadelphia receiving: Avant 1-7,
Brown 2-41, Casey 1-12, Celek 3-57,
Cooper 2-25, Ertz 1-38, Jackson 2-34,
Maehl 2-43 (TD), McCoy 1-21, Polk 2-19.
Denver receiving: Caldwell 1-5, Decker
5-88, Green 1-5, Hillman 2-21, Moreno 1-
13, D. Thomas 9-86 (2 TD), J. Thomas 4-
43, Welker 7-76 (2 TD).
Philadelphia tackles-assists-sacks
(unofficial): Allen 8-1-0, Anderson 0-1-0,
Barwin 3-1-0, Boykin 3-1-0, Carmichael 2-
0-0, Cole 2-2-0, Cox 0-1-0, Curry 2-0-0,
Fletcher 0-1-0, Geathers 1-0-0, Goode 2-
0-0, Graham1-0-0, Kendricks 4-0-0, Knott
1-1-0, Logan 1-0-0, Ryans 10-2-0, Thorn-
ton 4-1-1, Williams 3-2-0, Wolff 6-1-0.
Denver tackles-assists-sacks (unoffi-
cial): Ayers 5-1-, Brewer 1-0-0, Carter 2-
0-0, Harris 1-0-0, Ihenacho 9-0-0, Irving2-
1-0, Johnson 1-0-0, Knighton 0-1-0,
Moore 6-1-0, Phillips 4-0-1, Rodgers-Cro-
martie 2-0-0, Trevathan 9-1-0, Unrein 1-
0-0, Wolfe 2-0-1, Woodyard4-4-.
Turnovers Interceptions: None.
Fumbles lost: None. Opponents fum-
bles recovered: None.
Officials Referee: Morelli, Umpire:
Jenkins, Line judge: Johnson, Side
judge: Vernatchi, Head linesman:
McKenzie, Back judge: Shaw, Field
judge: Lucivansky
A: 77,002. T: 3:01
Chargers 30, Cowboys 21
Dallas 0 21 0 0 21
SanDiego 7 6 7 10 30
First quarter
San Diego: 26 yd pass Philip Rivers to
Danny Woodhead (Nick Novak kick),
7:05. Drive: 5 plays, 65 yards in 3:01.
Chargers 7-0.
Second quarter
Dallas: 5 yd pass Tony Romo to Dez Bry-
ant (Dan Bailey kick), 13:10. Drive: 9 plays,
85 yards in 3:58. 7-7.
San Diego: 36 FG by Nick Novak, 5:11.
Drive: 6 plays, 36 yards in 2:27. Chargers
10-7.
Dallas: 34 yd pass Tony Romo to Dez
Bryant (Dan Bailey kick), 2:36. Drive: 5
plays, 72 yards in 2:35. Cowboys 14-10.
Dallas: 52 ydinterception return by Sean
Lee (Dan Bailey kick) , 1:19. Cowboys
21-10.
San Diego: 42 FG by Nick Novak, 0:00.
Drive: 8 plays, 66 yards in 1:19. Cowboys
21-13.
Third quarter
San Diego: 13 yd pass Philip Rivers to
Danny Woodhead (Nick Novak kick),
9:32. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards in 5:28.
Cowboys 21-20.
Fourth quarter
San Diego: 23 FGby Nick Novak, 14:46.
Drive: 13 plays, 84 yards in 6:23. Char-
gers 23-21.
San Diego: 56 yd pass Philip Rivers to
Antonio Gates (Nick Novak kick), 6:54.
Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards in 3:08. Chargers
30-21.
TEAMSTATISTICS
DAL SDC
First downs 21 27
Rushing 3 5
Passing 15 20
Penalty 3 2
3rd-down efficiency 3-9 5-12
4th-down efficiency 0-0 0-0
Total net yards 317 506
Total plays 56 70
Average gain 5.7 7.2
Net yards rushing 92 112
Rushes 16 27
Average per rush 5.8 4.1
Net yards passing 225 394
Completed-attempted 27-37 35-42
Yards per pass 5.6 9.2
Sacked-yards lost 3-19 1-7
Hadintercepted 0 1
Punts-average 5-40.6 4-39.8
Return yardage 175 30
Punts-returns 1-38 1-12
Kickoffs-returns 3-85 1-18
Interceptions-returns 1-52 0-0
Penalties-yards 5-33 7-85
Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0
Time of possession 25:57 34:03
PLAYERSTATISTICS
Missed eld goals Dallas: Bailey 56.
Dallas rushing: Dunbar 1-7, Murray 14-
70, Romo1-15.
San Diego rushing: R. Brown 1-7, Math-
ews 19-62, McClain 2-11, Woodhead
5-32.
Dallas passing: Romo 27-37 for 244, 0
INT, 2 TD.
San Diego passing: Rivers 35-42 for
401, 1 INT, 3 TD.
Dallas receiving: Beasley 3-16, Bryant
6-81 (2 TD), Harris 1-13, Murray 5-20, Wil-
liams 7-71, Witten 5-43.
San Diego receiving: Allen 5-80, Brown
7-41, Gates 10-136 (TD), Mathews 4-41,
Phillips 1-7, Royal 3-42, Woodhead 5-54
(2 TD).
Dallas tackles-assists-sacks (unoffi-
cial): Allen 0-1-0, Carr 2-0-0, Carter 5-3-0,
Church 8-1-0, Claiborne 6-1-0, Durant 0-
1-0, Hatcher 3-1-0, Hayden 3-2-0, E.
Jones 1-0-0, Lee 15-3-0, Nevis 1-0-0,
Scandrick 4-1-0, Selvie 4-0-1, Sims 6-0-0,
Ware 1-1-0, Wilber 0-1-0, Wilcox 1-1-0.
San Diego tackles-assists-sacks (un-
official): Ajirotutu 1-0-0, Butler 0-1-0, But-
ler 8-0-0, Cox 2-0-0, Gilchrist 2-2-0, Green
1-0-0, Johnson 1-3-1, Lissemore 1-0-0, Liu-
get 3-2-1, Marshall 7-1-0, Patrick 5-0-0,
Reyes 2-0-1, Scifres 1-0-0, Teo 3-0-0,
Thomas 1-0-0, Walker 3-1-0, Weddle 5-
2-0, Wynn 1-0-0.
Turnovers Interceptions: Dallas: Lee
1 for 52 yards. Fumbles lost: Dallas: Wil-
liams. Opponents fumbles recovered:
San Diego: Marshall.
Officials Referee: Hochuli, Umpire:
Hall, Line judge: Hussey, Side judge:
Washington, Head linesman: Hittner,
Back judge: Carey, Field judge:
Wrolstad
A: 68,601. T: 3:02
Titans 38, Jets 13
NewYork 0 6 0 7 13
Tennessee 1014 0 14 38
First quarter
Tennessee: 1 yd pass Jake Locker to De-
lanie Walker (Rob Bironas kick), 11:57.
Drive: 5 plays, 18 yards in 2:19. Titans
7-0.
Tennessee: 26 FG by Rob Bironas, 4:20.
Drive: 11 plays, 67 yards in 6:04. Titans
10-0.
Second quarter
New York: 45 FG by Nick Folk, 14:55.
Drive: 10 plays, 63 yards in 4:25. Titans
10-3.
Tennessee: 4 yd pass Jake Locker to
Nate Washington (Rob Bironas kick),
6:46. Drive: 6 plays, 26 yards in 2:41. Ti-
tans 17-3.
New York: 47 FG by Nick Folk, 2:26.
Drive: 6 plays, 48 yards in 4:20. Titans
17-6.
Tennessee: 16 yd pass Jake Locker to
Justin Hunter (Rob Bironas kick), 0:02.
Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards in 1:26. Titans
24-6.
Fourth quarter
Tennessee: Karl Klug recovered fumble
in the end zone (Rob Bironas kick) , 11:45.
Titans 31-6.
New York: 34 yd pass Geno Smith to
Jeff Cumberland (Nick Folk kick), 8:49.
Drive: 8 plays, 82 yards in 2:56. Titans
31-13.
Tennessee: 77 yd pass Ryan Fitzpatrick
to Nate Washington (Rob Bironas kick),
7:06. Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards in 1:43. Ti-
tans 38-13.
TEAMSTATISTICS
NYJ TEN
First downs 16 17
Rushing 5 4
Passing 11 11
Penalty 0 2
3rd-down efficiency 4-13 10-18
4th-down efficiency 0-1 0-0
Total net yards 330 322
Total plays 62 65
Average gain 5.3 5.0
Net yards rushing 91 78
Rushes 23 31
Average per rush 4.0 2.5
Net yards passing 239 244
Completed-attempted 23-34 21-32
Yards per pass 6.1 7.2
Sacked-yards lost 5-50 2-13
Hadintercepted 2 0
Punts-average 5-49.0 7-41.9
Return yardage 53 75
Punts-returns 2-7 2-36
Kickoffs-returns 3-46 0-0
Interceptions-returns 0-0 2-39
Penalties-yards 10-66 4-30
Fumbles-lost 2-2 0-0
Time of possession 29:22 30:38
PLAYERSTATISTICS
Missed eld goals: None.
New York rushing: Bohanon 4-17,
Green 2-1, Powell 14-66, Smith 3-7.
Tennessee rushing: Battle 11-42, Fitz-
patrick 2-(-2), C. Johnson 15-21, Locker
3-17.
NewYork passing: Smith 23-34 for 289,
2 INT, 1 TD.
Tennessee passing: Fitzpatrick 3-8 for
108, 0 INT, 1 TD, Locker 18-24 for 149, 0
INT, 3 TD.
New York receiving: Bohanon 3-17,
Cumberland 1-34 (TD), Gates 3-24,
Green 1-1, Holmes 1-25, Kerley 4-65,
Obomanu 1-8, Powell 3-42, Winslow
6-73.
Tennessee receiving: Hunter 1-16 (TD),
C. Johnson 2-10, Mooney 1-3, Walker 3-
14 (TD), Washington 4-105 (2 TD), Wil-
liams 5-53, Wright 5-56.
New York tackles-assists-sacks (un-
official): Allen 2-0-0, Barnes 1-0-1, Bel-
lore 1-0-0, Coples 1-0-0, Cromartie 4-0-0,
Davis 8-1-0, Douzable 1-0-0, Ellis 1-1-0,
Harris 6-0-0, Harrison 2-0-0, Jarrett 2-0-0,
Landry 6-0-0, Lankster 1-0-0, Pace 3-0-1,
Richardson 0-3-0, Walls 5-0-0, Wilkerson
2-1-0, Wilson 1-0-0.
Tennessee tackles-assists-sacks (un-
official): Ayers 2-2-0, Brown 6-0-1,
Campbell 1-0-0, Casey 3-2-1, Fokou 4-
4-0, Gooden 1-0-0, Griffin 2-3-0, A. John-
son 2-1-0, Klug 1-1-1, Martin 1-1-0,
McCourty 4-1-0, Morgan 1-2-0, Pitoitua3-
0-2, Pollard 6-2-0, Sensabaugh 3-1-0,
Verner 0-2-0, Wilson 1-0-0.
Turnovers Interceptions: Tennessee:
Verner 2 for 39 yards. Fumbles lost:
New York: Smith 2. Opponents fum-
bles recovered: Tennessee: Klug,
Verner.
Officials Referee: Anderson, Um-
pire: Rice, Line judge: Boston, Side
judge: Banks, Head linesman: Stelljes,
Back judge: Smith, Field judge: Horton
A: 69,143. T: 3:06
Lions 27, Redskins 20
Detroit 7 10 0 10 27
Washington 7 7 3 3 20
First quarter
Washington: 17 yd interception return
by DeAngelo Hall (John Potter kick) , 9:23.
Redskins 7-0.
Detroit: 12 yd run by Joique Bell (David
Akers kick), 5:14. Drive: 8 plays, 85 yards
in 4:09. 7-7.
Second quarter
Detroit: 5 yd pass Matthew Stafford to
Joseph Fauria (David Akers kick), 14:47.
Drive: 10 plays, 92 yards in 3:52. Lions
14-7.
Washington: 30 yd run by Alfred Morris
(John Potter kick), 3:29. Drive: 7 plays, 72
yards in 3:24. 14-14.
Detroit: 32 FG by David Akers, 0:44.
Drive: 9 plays, 66 yards in 2:45. Lions
17-14.
Third quarter
Washington: 43 FG by John Potter,
12:11. Drive: 6 plays, 35 yards in 2:49.
17-17.
Fourth quarter
Detroit: 28 FG by David Akers, 11:08.
Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards in 1:30. Lions
20-17.
Detroit: 11 yd pass MatthewStafford to
Calvin Johnson (David Akers kick), 3:56.
Drive: 9 plays, 71 yards in 4:19. Lions
27-17.
Washington: 21 FGby John Potter, 1:40.
Drive: 13 plays, 72 yards in 2:16. Lions
27-20.
TEAMSTATISTICS
DET WAS
First downs 24 27
Rushing 4 2
Passing 18 21
Penalty 2 4
3rd-down efficiency 4-13 6-13
4th-down efficiency 1-1 0-0
Total net yards 441 420
Total plays 66 74
Average gain 6.7 5.7
Net yards rushing 63 120
Rushes 23 22
Average per rush 2.7 5.5
Net yards passing 378 300
Completed-attempted 25-42 32-50
Yards per pass 8.8 5.8
Sacked-yards lost 1-7 2-26
Hadintercepted 1 1
Punts-average 6-52.5 5-46.2
Return yardage 28 116
Punts-returns 2-9 2-11
Kickoffs-returns 1-15 4-88
Interceptions-returns 1-4 1-17
Penalties-yards 8-71 6-45
Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-1
Time of possession 28:48 31:12
PLAYERSTATISTICS
Missed eld goals: None.
Detroit rushing: Bell 20-63 (TD), Riddick
2-(-2), Stafford1-2.
Washington rushing: Garcon 1-10,
Griffin III 6-37, Morris 15-73 (TD).
Detroit passing: Stafford 25-42 for 385,
1 INT, 2 TD.
Washington passing: Griffin III 32-50
for 326, 1 INT, 0 TD.
Detroit receiving: Bell 4-69, Broyles 3-
34, Burleson 6-116, Durham1-33, Fauria
1-5 (TD), Johnson 7-115 (TD), Riddick 1-8,
Scheffler 2-5.
Washington receiving: Garcon 8-73,
Hankerson 3-21, Helu Jr. 3-35, Morgan 2-
19, Moss 7-77, Paulsen 4-51, Reed5-50.
Detroit tackles-assists-sacks (unoffi-
cial): Ansah 3-4-2, Bentley 1-0-0, Delmas
2-6-0, Fairley 0-3-0, Green 1-0-0, Hilliard
0-1-0, Houston 5-2-0, Levy 6-3-0, Mathis
7-0-0, Mosley 2-0-0, Palmer 1-0-0, Quin 6-
0-0, Suh 4-1-0, Tulloch 3-3-0, Young4-1-0.
Washington tackles-assists-sacks
(unofficial): Amerson 2-1-0, Barnett 1-
1-0, Bowen 0-3-0, Coeld 1-2-0, Fletcher
4-4-1, Golston 0-2-0, Hall 3-1-0, Kehl 1-
0-0, Kerrigan 3-4-0, Meriweather 7-2-0,
Merling 0-1-0, Murphy 1-0-0, Neild 1-1-0,
Orakpo 2-3-0, Paulsen 1-0-0, Riley Jr. 3-
7-0, Wilson 3-3-0.
Turnovers Interceptions: Detroit:
Houston 1 for 4 yards; Washington: Hall
1 for 17 yards. Fumbles lost: Washing-
ton: Griffin III. Opponents fumbles re-
covered: Detroit: Quin.
Officials Referee: Hochuli, Umpire:
Hall, Line judge: Hussey, Side judge:
Washington, Head linesman: Hittner,
Back judge: Carey, Field judge:
Wrolstad
A: 80,111. T: 3:21
Champions Tour
First Tee Open
Final round Sunday
uCourses: Pebble Beach Golf Links (par-72, 6,837 yards)
and Del Monte Golf Course (6,357 yards, par 72), Pebble
Beach, Calif.
uPurse: $1.8 million
Kirk Triplett (270), $270,000 .............67d-70p-68205 (-11)
Dan Forsman (144), $144,000............68d-70p-69207 (-9)
Doug Garwood (144), $144,000 .......67d-71p-69207 (-9)
Tom Lehman (107), $107,100 .............67d-67p-74208 (-8)
Russ Cochran (86), $85,500.................68d-67p-74209 (-7)
John Cook (68), $68,400......................70d-68p-72210 (-6)
Willie Wood (68), $68,400..................72p-69d-69210 (-6)
Bernhard Langer (58), $57,600...........63d-74p-74211 (-5)
Olin Browne (45), $45,000...................69d-72p-71212 (-4)
Craig Stadler (45), $45,000.................70d-69p-73212 (-4)
Esteban Toledo (45), $45,000.............69d-72p-71212 (-4)
Duffy Waldorf (45), $45,000...............72d-68p-72212 (-4)
Web.Com Tour
Web.ComTour Championship
Final round Sunday
uCourse: TPC Sawgrass, Dyes Valley Course (par-70,
6,864 yards), Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
uPurse: $1 million
Chesson Hadley, $180,000..............65-66-70-69270 (-10)
Brendon Todd, $66,000......................71-67-69-65272 (-8)
Brad Fritsch, $66,000..........................70-68-68-66272 (-8)
John Peterson, $66,000 ......................66-71-68-67272 (-8)
Scott Gardiner, $66,000......................67-68-65-72272 (-8)
Andrew Loupe, $34,750......................68-69-67-69273 (-7)
Russell Knox, $34,750..........................67-69-68-69273 (-7)
Sean OHair, $23,333...........................70-70-67-67274 (-6)
Billy Hurley III, $23,333.........................66-70-70-68274 (-6)
Danny Lee, $23,333.............................71-69-66-68274 (-6)
Byron Smith, $23,333...........................67-70-69-68274 (-6)
Andres Gonzales, $23,333.................70-68-67-69274 (-6)
Ryo Ishikawa, $23,333........................69-68-68-69274 (-6)
Lee Williams, $23,333.........................69-67-69-69274 (-6)
Jamie Lovemark, $23,333...................70-67-66-71274 (-6)
Joe Durant, $23,333 ............................66-67-68-73274 (-6)
Tom Hoge, $14,000 .............................68-71-69-67275 (-5)
Heath Slocum, $14,000 .......................68-70-70-67275 (-5)
Paul Goydos, $14,000.........................72-68-68-67275 (-5)
Tim Petrovic, $14,000 ..........................69-70-68-68275 (-5)
Bud Cauley, $14,000............................70-69-65-71275 (-5)
Will MacKenzie, $10,800 ....................69-67-71-69276 (-4)
Robert Karlsson, $10,800....................64-74-69-69276 (-4)
Nick OHern, $8,480 ............................71-67-70-69277 (-3)
Roland Thatcher, $8,480 ....................69-69-68-71277 (-3)
Hudson Swafford, $8,480...................66-71-69-71277 (-3)
Rod Pampling, $8,480 ........................70-66-68-73277 (-3)
Andrew D. Putnam, $8,480.................68-67-67-75277 (-3)
Daniel Chopra, $6,867 ........................69-69-70-70278 (-2)
Tag Ridings, $6,867.............................71-68-68-71278 (-2)
Chad Campbell, $6,867......................70-68-67-73278 (-2)
Nick Flanagan, $5,600........................69-68-71-71279 (-1)
Glen Day, $5,600..................................70-70-68-71279 (-1)
Nathan Green, $5,600 .......................73-66-68-72279 (-1)
Aron Price, $5,600................................69-65-72-73279 (-1)
Andrew Svoboda, $5,600....................67-67-71-74279 (-1)
Jhonattan Vegas, $5,600....................66-69-70-74279 (-1)
Fabian Gomez, $5,600 .......................69-71-71-68279 (-1)
Chad Collins, $5,600............................69-71-73-66279 (-1)
Ben Kohles, $5,600...............................70-69-66-74279 (-1)
Ashley Hall, $4,220.................................63-76-70-71280 (E)
Jason Gore, $4,220 ...............................68-70-69-73280 (E)
Ryan Spears, $4,220..............................69-70-71-70280 (E)
Jim Renner, $4,220.................................69-70-71-70280 (E)
Dicky Pride, $4,220.................................66-74-70-70280 (E)
Troy Merritt, $3,630.............................73-64-70-74281 (+1)
Ben Martin, $3,630..............................68-71-70-72281 (+1)
Mark Anderson, $3,630 .....................64-71-74-72281 (+1)
Colt Knost, $3,630 ...............................69-71-70-71281 (+1)
Shane Bertsch, $3,630........................65-74-72-70281 (+1)
Adam Crawford, $3,450....................71-65-72-74282 (+2)
David Mathis, $3,375 .........................71-67-69-76283 (+3)
Kevin Kisner, $3,375............................72-68-73-70283 (+3)
PGA European Tour
Alfred Dunhill Links
Third round Saturday
uCourses: s-St. Andrews, Old Course (par-72, 7,305
yards), c-Carnoustie, Championship Course (par-72, 7,412
yards) and k-Kingsbarns Golf Links (par-72, 7,181 yards),
St. Andrews and Carnoustie, Scotland
uPurse: $5 million
David Howell..................................67c-68k-63s-67-265 (-23)
Howell won on second playoff hole
Peter Uihlein...................................71c-60k-65s-69-265 (-23)
Tom Lewis........................................64k-65s-73c-64-266 (-22)
Shane Lowry ..................................68k-66s-64c-68-266 (-22)
Tommy Fleetwood.........................65s-66c-69k-67-267 (-21)
Garth Mulroy .................................66k-69s-65c-68-268 (-20)
Chris Wood ....................................66k-69s-69c-65-269 (-19)
Charl Schwartzel ...........................68c-68k-66s-67-269 (-19)
Thomas Levet.................................68s-64c-68k-69-269 (-19)
Ricardo Gonzalez..........................67s-69c-63k-70-269 (-19)
Martin Kaymer...............................69c-66k-63s-71-269 (-19)
GOLF
WHAT? NO TEBOW?
Football fans in the United King-
dom are known for representing ev-
ery team at international series
games, and Sunday at Wembley Sta-
dium was no dierent. That included
plenty of fairly unusual jersey
choices: Mewelde Moore, Jermaine
Wiggins, Darrell Green, Ronde Bar-
ber, Zach Thomas, Priest Holmes, Le-
Roy Butler and multiple Mark
Sanchezes.
Which means, of course, should an
expansion team ever land in London,
Sanchez would have a spot where
hed be welcome.
OH, WAIT,
THERES TEBOW
With Jacksonville Jaguars quarter-
back Blaine Gabbert ailing in his re-
turn to action, there was a sign from
above Sunday at EverBank Field.
Gabbert tossed three interceptions
against the Indianapolis Colts in a
37-3 loss. Hes a mess, and Chad
Henne doesnt appear to be the an-
swer under center, either.
Tim Tebow, perhaps?
Thats the message a plane
whisked through the sky: Tebow,
Why Not?
Repeatedly, the Jaguars have stat-
ed they have no interest in Tebow,
but some fans obviously arent hear-
ing that.
Someone green-lit the airplane
stunt, and a handful of supporters
turned out recently for a much-
hyped yet sparsely attended rally.
He cant be worse than what Jack-
sonville has.
ALL TOGETHER NOW
Life is about teachable moments.
The tip drill has been around and
referenced since the start of time.
But now, after the Seattle Sea-
hawks epic practical application
Sunday against the Houston Texans,
secondary coaches everywhere are
rejoicing.
Their words have true value. Ball
skills are no joke, and this is only
reinforcement.
To recap: Houston quarterback
Matt Schaub threw a pass intended
for tight end Owen Daniels, but it
was initially deected by Seattle line-
backer K.J. Wright.
Daniels recovered enough to bob-
ble the ball to Seattle safety Kam
Chancellor, who knocked the ball to
Seahawks cornerback Brandon
Browner, who then tapped it into the
outstretched arms of Seattle safety
Earl Thomas.
If only cornerback Richard Sher-
man would have been involved in the
play, all of the members of the Sea-
hawks vaunted Legion of Boom sec-
ondary would have touched the ball
during the interception.
OUTSIDE THE NUMBERS
OH, SAY, ITS
SIMMONS
Jeffrey Martin
@JayMart
USATODAYSports
CONCERNED FATHER
Seattle Seahawks defensive end
Michael Bennett, the teams leader
in sacks, was placed on a stretcher
and carted o the eld Sunday at
Reliant Stadium after suering an
apparent lower back injury late in
the second quarter against the
Houston Texans.
Bennett went to high school in
Houston and attended Texas A&M.
His father attended Sundays game,
and Fox cameras captured the fa-
ther reacting in anguish and calling
out to his son from the stands.
The Seahawks said Bennett was
taken to a local hospital but had
feeling in all of his extremities.
While rushing Houston quarterback
Matt Schaub, Bennett was pushed
from behind into Schaubs leg,
which appeared to make Bennetts
head snap back. The defensive end,
who lost his helmet in the process,
lay on the turf face-down as he was
given attention.
KIRBY LEE, USA TODAY SPORTS
Gene Simmons sang the U.S. national
anthem in England on Sunday.
TROY TAORMINA, USA TODAY SPORTS
Michael Bennett is taken o the eld Sunday with Seahawks teammate Brandon Browner at his side.
Gene Simmons is a co-founder of
KISS, the legendary heavy metal
band whose members perform with
their faces painted in black and
white.
He might be best known for his
work on the bass or maybe his out-
rageously long tongue.
Simmons was not, however, re-
nowned for his vocals, which is why
he was a questionable choice to sing
the national anthem before Sun-
days kicko between the Minnesota
Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers
at Wembley Stadium in London.
The result was odd and rather se-
rene, denitely not what youd ex-
pect.
Last season, he did the honors at
O.co Coliseum for a Monday night
clash between the Oakland Raiders
and the San Diego Chargers.
Clearly, he has caught the football
bug; Simmons is one of the co-own-
ers of the L.A. KISS, an Arena Foot-
ball League team that will debut in
2014.
Itll be interesting to see if his
ownership stake will yield more ef-
forts such as this. Then again, an
owner should have better sense.
SISTER ACT
Oakland Raiders rookie tight end
Mychal Rivera had seven receptions
entering Sundays game against the
Washington Redskins.
His eighth was a big deal, an 18-
yard touchdown that sent his little
sister, seated up in a box inside O.co
Coliseum, into hysterics.
His little sister is Naya Rivera, who
plays Santana Lopez on the popular
Fox series Glee.
CARY EDMONDSON, USA TODAY SPORTS
Raiders
rookie Mychal
Riveras
touchdown
excited his
celebrity sis-
ter, an actress
who attended
Sundays
game.
FA
USA TODAY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 SPORTS 9C
Boxing: Welterweights, Sadam Ali vs. Jay Krupp, in Brooklyn,
N.Y. (Fox Sports 1, 9 p.m.)
Major League Baseball: Amiercan League tiebreaker game,
Tampa Bay at Texas (TBS, 8 p.m.)
NFL: Miami at New Orleans (ESPN, 8:25 p.m.)
Soccer: English Premier League, Newcastle at Everton (NBC
Sports Network, 3 p.m.)
uComplete TV listings, 6D
SPORTS ON TV
Times Eastern. Programs live unless noted. Check local listings.
FOR THE RECORD
Baseball
uNational League
Miami Marlins: Promoted Michael Hill
to president of baseball operations and
Dan Jennings to general manager.
Philadelphia Phillies: Reinstated OF
Casper Wells from the 15-day disabled
list and P Antonio Bastardo from the re-
stricted list. Transferred P Kyle Kendrick
to the 60-day disabled list.
San Francisco Giants: Agreed to
terms with OF Hunter Pence on a five-
year contract.
Hockey
uNational Hockey League
Dallas Stars: Assigned G Cristopher
Nilstorp, C Travis Morin and RWColton
Sceviour to Texas (AHL).
Detroit Red Wings: Assigned F Mitch
Callahan, F Luke Glendening, F Calle
Jarnkrok, F Tomas Jurco, F Teemu Pulk-
kinen, F Riley Sheahan, D Adam Alm-
quist, D Xavier Ouellet, D Ryan Sproul
and G Jared Coreau to Grand Rapids
(AHL). Released F Jeff Hogganand DNa-
than Paetsch from professional tryout
agreements. Placed F Willie Coetzee, F
Landon Ferraroand DNick Jensen on in-
jured reserve.
Edmonton Oilers: Claimed F Luke
Gazdic off waivers from Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Kings: Loaned RWTyler
Toffoli, C Linden Vey and LW Tanner
Pearson to Manchester (AHL).
Nashville Predators: Assigned F Tay-
lor Beck, G Marek Mazanec and D Joe
Piskula to Milwaukee (AHL).
NewYork Rangers: Assigned F Marek
Hrivik, F Chris Kreider, F Oscar Lindberg, F
Brandon Mashinter, F Darroll Powe, D
Conor Allen and D Stu Bickel to Hartford
(AHL).
Tampa Bay Lightning: Assigned LW
Mike Angelidis, RWJ.T. Brown, RWBrett
Connolly, D J.P. Cote, D Dmitry Korobov,
RW Nikita Kucherov, D Matt Taormina
and RW Dana Tyrell to Syracuse (AHL)
and G Kristers Gudlevskis to Florida
(ECHL).
Vancouver Canucks: Agreed to terms
with RW Jannik Hansen on a four-year
contract extension.
Washington Capitals: Acquired a
2014 fourth-round draft pick and F John
Mitchell from the Anaheim Ducks for F
Mathieu Perreault. Assigned Mitchell to
Hershey (AHL).
College
Southern California: Fired football
coach Lane Kiffin. Named Ed Orgeron
interim coach.
DEALS
College
uUSA TODAY Coaches Top 25:
1-Alabama 25, Mississippi 0
2-Oregon 55, California 16
3-Ohio State 31, 24-Wisconsin 24
4-Clemson 56, Wake Forest 7
5-Stanford 55, Washington State 17
10-Georgia 44, 6-LSU 41
8-Florida State 48, Boston College 34
9-Texas A&M45, Arkansas 33
West Virginia 30, 11-Okla. State 21
12-Oklahoma 35, 22-Notre Dame 21
13-SouthCarolina 28, Central Florida 25
15-Miami (Fla.) 49, South Florida 21
19-Florida 24, Kentucky 7
20-Washington 31, Arizona 13
23-Fresno State 42, Hawaii 37
Saturdays results
uFootball Bowl Subdivision
Arizona State 62, Southern Calif. 41
Army 35, Louisiana Tech 16
Ball State 31, Toledo 24
Boise State 60, Southern Miss. 7
Bowling Green 31, Akron 14
Colorado State 59, Texas-El Paso 42
Duke 38, Troy 31
East Carolina 55, North Carolina 31
Idaho 26, Temple 24
Illinois 50, Miami (Ohio) 14
Iowa 23, Minnesota 7
Kent State 32, Western Michigan 14
Missouri 41, Arkansas State 19
N.C. State 48, Central Michigan 14
Nevada 45, Air Force 42
Northern Illinois 55, Purdue 24
Oregon State 44, Colorado 17
Pittsburgh 14, Virginia 3
Rice 18, Florida Atlantic 14
San Diego State 26, N.M. State 16
TCU 48, Southern Methodist 17
Tennessee 31, South Alabama 24
Texas State 42, Wyoming 21
Tulane 31, Louisiana-Monroe 14
UNLV 56, New Mexico 42
Vanderbilt 52, Ala. at Birmingham 24
Western Kentucky 19, Navy 7
uFootball Championship Subdivsion
Alabama A&M12, Texas Southern 10
Alabama State 49, Alcorn State 30
Bryant 47, Wagner 28
Butler 45, Jacksonville 27
Coastal Carolina 53, Elon 28
Delaware 29, James Madison 22
Delaware State 24, Savannah State 22
Eastern Illinois 42, Eastern Kentucky 7
Fordham 38, St. Francis (Pa.) 20
Furman 24, The Citadel 17
Gardner-Webb 55, Point (Ga.) 7
Georgia Southern 23, Chattanooga 21
Harvard 41, Brown 23
Holy Cross 31, Dartmouth 28
Jackson State 19, Southern 14
Lamar 27, Grambling State 16
Lehigh 34, New Hampshire 27
Liberty 73, Kentucky Wesleyan 7
Marist 31, Dayton 20
Mercer 31, Drake 17
Missouri State 37, Illinois State 10
Monmouth 37, Columbia 14
Morehead State 45, Davidson 14
Nicholls State 44, Arkansas Tech 34
Norfolk State 27, Morgan State 21
Northern Arizona 34, Montana 16
Northern Iowa 41, McNeese State 6
Northwestern State 37, Langston 0
Old Dominion 66, Albany 10
Prairie View 56, Stephen F. Austin 48
Rhode Island 42, Central Conn. 7
Robert Morris 37, Va. Military 31 (2OT)
Sacramento State 31, Weber State 3
Sacred Heart 16, Bucknell 0
San Diego 59, Stetson 0
Tennessee Tech 38, Indiana State 37
Tennessee-Martin 17, SE Missouri 7
Towson 35, Stony Brook 21
UC Davis 30, Idaho State 13
Villanova 35, Penn 6
Yale 38, Cornell 23
Youngstown State 28, Southern Ill. 27
Canadian Football League
East W L T Pts PF PA
Toronto 9 4 0 18 388 337
Hamilton 6 7 0 12 327 364
Montreal 5 8 0 10 302 361
Winnipeg 2 11 0 4 268 421
West W L T Pts PF PA
Calgary 10 3 0 20 408 312
B.C. 9 4 0 18 378 319
Saskatchewan 8 5 0 16 388 299
Edmonton 3 10 0 6 316 362
Sundays result
Montreal 17, Saskatchewan 12
Saturdays results
Calgary 35, Hamilton 11
Toronto 34, Edmonton 22
Fridays result
B.C. 53, Winnipeg 17
FOOTBALL
Major League Soccer
Eastern W L T Pts GF GA
New York 15 9 7 52 48 37
Kansas City 14 10 6 48 43 29
Montreal 13 9 7 46 48 44
Houston 12 10 8 44 38 37
Philadelphia 11 10 9 42 38 39
Columbus 12 14 5 41 40 41
New England 11 11 8 41 42 34
Chicago 11 12 7 40 38 45
Toronto 5 15 11 26 29 45
D.C. United 3 21 6 15 20 52
Western W L T Pts GF GA
Salt Lake 15 10 6 51 54 39
Seattle 15 8 6 51 39 29
Portland 12 5 13 49 46 31
Los Angeles 13 11 6 45 46 37
Colorado 12 9 9 45 37 31
Vancouver 11 11 8 41 42 39
San Jose 11 11 8 41 31 41
Dallas 10 10 10 40 42 46
Chivas USA 6 16 8 26 29 54
Sundays results
Portland 1, Los Angeles 0
Columbus 4, Dallas 2
New York 1, Seattle 1
San Jose at Chivas USA
Saturdays results
Toronto 4, D.C. United 1
Salt Lake 1, Vancouver 0
New England 1, Houston 1
Chicago 2, Montreal 2
Fridays result
Philadelphia 1, Kansas City 0
English Premier League
GP W T L GF GA Pts
Arsenal 6 5 0 1 13 7 15
Liverpool 6 4 1 1 8 4 13
Tottenham 6 4 1 1 6 2 13
Chelsea 6 3 2 1 7 3 11
Southampton 6 3 2 1 5 2 11
Man. City 6 3 1 2 14 7 10
Hull City 6 3 1 2 6 7 10
Everton 5 2 3 0 6 4 9
Aston Villa 6 3 0 3 9 8 9
West Brom 6 2 2 2 6 5 8
Cardiff City 6 2 2 2 6 7 8
Man. United 6 2 1 3 8 8 7
Swansea 6 2 1 3 8 9 7
Norwich 6 2 1 3 4 6 7
Stoke 6 2 1 3 4 6 7
Newcastle 5 2 1 2 5 8 7
West Ham 6 1 2 3 4 5 5
Fulham 6 1 1 4 4 9 4
Crystal Palace 6 1 0 5 4 10 3
Sunderland 6 0 1 5 4 14 1
uHome teams in CAPS
Sundays results
Norwich 1, STOKE 0
Liverpool 3, SUNDERLAND 1
Todays game
Newcastle at EVERTON
Saturdays results
TOTTENHAM1, Chelsea 1
ASTON VILLA 3, Manchester City 2
Cardiff City 2, FULHAM1
HULL CITY 1, West Ham 0
West Brom 2, MAN. UNITED 1
SOUTHAMPTON 2, Crystal Palace 0
Arsenal 2, SWANSEA 1
Spanish Primera Liga
Sundays results
Levante 1, OSASUNA 0
Elche 1, CELTA VIGO 0
Getafe 2, ESPANYOL 0
REAL BETIS 1, Villarreal 0
Todays game
Athletic Bilbao at GRANADA
Saturdays results
VALENCIA 1, Rayo Vallecano 0
Barcelona 2, ALMERIA 0
REAL SOCIEDAD 1, Sevilla 1
Atletico Madrid 1, REAL MADRID 0
Italian Serie A
Sundays results
Juventus 1, TORINO 0
ATALANTA 2, Udinese 0
Inter Milan 1, CAGLIARI 1
CATANIA 2, Chievo 0
Lazio 2, SASSUOLO 2
CATANIA 2, Livorno 1
AS ROMA 5, Bologna 0
Todays game
Parma at FIORENTINA
Saturdays results
Napoli 2, GENOA 0
AC MILAN 1, Sampdoria 0
German Bundesliga
Sundays results
Nuremberg 3, WERDER BREMEN 3
Stuttgart 4, BRAUNSCHWEIG 0
Saturdays results
Schalke 3, HOFFENHEIM3
BAYER LEVERKUSEN 2, Hannover 0
BAYERN MUNICH 1, Wolfsburg 0
DORTMUND 5, Freiburg 0
HERTHA BSC BERLIN 3, Mainz 1
FRANKFURT 3, Hamburger 2
SOCCER
NASCAR Sprint Cup
Sundays AAA 400
uTrack: Dover (Del.) International
Speedway
uLength: 400 1-mile laps
1. (8) Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet) 400
laps, 48 points
2. (1) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (C) 400, 43
3. (11) Joey Logano (Ford) 400, 41
4. (16) Jeff Gordon (C) 400, 41
5. (14) Kyle Busch (Toyota) 400, 40
6. (12) Kevin Harvick (C) 400, 38
7. (2) Matt Kenseth (T) 400, 38
8. (3) Ryan Newman (C) 400, 37
9. (19) Greg Biffle (F) 400, 35
10. (23) Clint Bowyer (T) 400, 35
11. (7) Jamie McMurray (C) 400, 33
12. (22) Brian Vickers (T) 400, 0
13. (20) Kasey Kahne (C) 399, 31
14. (25) Jeff Burton (C) 399, 30
15. (10) Martin Truex Jr. (T) 399, 29
16. (24) Marcos Ambrose (F) 398, 28
17. (15) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (F) 398, 27
18. (21) Paul Menard (C) 398, 26
19. (29) Mark Martin (C) 397, 25
20. (18) Denny Hamlin (T) 397, 24
21. (9) Kurt Busch (C) 397, 23
22. (5) Aric Almirola (F) 397, 22
23. (13) Juan Pablo Montoya (C) 397, 21
24. (26) Casey Mears (F) 395, 20
25. (27) David Ragan (F) 395, 19
26. (17) A J Allmendinger (T) 395, 18
27. (33) Cole Whitt (T) 394, 0
28. (39) David Reutimann (T) 394, 16
29. (31) Danica Patrick (C) 394, 15
30. (28) David Gilliland (F) 393, 15
31. (30) Travis Kvapil (T) 392, 13
32. (36) Ryan Truex (C) 392, 0
33. (40) Dave Blaney (C) 391, 11
34. (32) J.J. Yeley (C) 390, 10
35. (4) Carl Edwards (F) 385, 9
36. (42) Timmy Hill (F) 381, 8
37. (6) Brad Keselowski (F) 355, 7
38. (37) Landon Cassill (C) susp., 275, 0
39. (41) Joe Nemechek (T) susp., 168, 0
40. (43) Tony Raines (C) vibration, 154, 0
41. (35) Reed Sorenson(F) brakes, 139, 0
42. (38) Josh Wise (F) brakes, 128, 0
43. (34) M. McDowell (F) brakes, 107, 1
uRace statistics
Winners avg. speed: 130.909 mph.
Time of Race: 3 hours, 3 min., 20 sec.
Margin of Victory: 0.446 seconds.
Caution Flags: 4 for 21 laps.
Lead Changes: 19 among 8 drivers.
uLap Leaders: Earnhardt 1-25; Kenseth
26-30; Earnhardt 31-39; Gilliland 40; Ky-
.Busch 41-70; Newman 71-75; Earnhardt
76-117; J.Gordon 118-119; Johnson
120-165; Newman 166; Kenseth 167-
197; Johnson 198-229; Earnhardt 230;
Johnson 231-310; Earnhardt 311-312;
J.Gordon 313; Bowyer 314; Johnson
315-370; Earnhardt 371; Johnson 372-
400.
uLeaders Summary (driver, times led,
laps led): Johnson, 5 times for 243 laps;
Earnhardt, 6 for 80 laps; Kenseth, 2 for
36 laps; Ky.Busch, 1 for 30 laps; New-
man, 2 for 6 laps; J.Gordon, 2 for 3 laps;
Bowyer, 1 for 1 lap; Gilliland, 1 for 1 lap.
uSprint Cup points leaders: 1. M.Ken-
seth, 2,149; 2. J.Johnson, 2,141; 3. Ky-
.Busch, 2,137; 4. K.Harvick, 2,110; 5.
J.Gordon, 2,110; 6. G.Biffle, 2,108; 7.
R.Newman, 2,101; 8. C.Bowyer, 2,098; 9.
Ku.Busch, 2,094; 10. D.Earnhardt Jr.,
2,092; 11. C.Edwards, 2,084; 12. J.Loga-
no, 2,083.
AUTO RACING
Football
uAssociated Press Top 25:
Rank, school (1st) W-L Pts LW
1. Alabama (55) 4-0 1,495 1
2. Oregon (5) 4-0 1,422 2
3. Clemson 4-0 1,354 3
4. Ohio State 5-0 1,305 4
5. Stanford 4-0 1,280 5
6. Georgia 3-1 1,171 9
7. Louisville 4-0 1,091 7
8. Florida State 4-0 1,069 8
9. Texas A&M 4-1 1,012 10
10. LSU 4-1 979 6
11. Oklahoma 4-0 838 14
12. UCLA 3-0 834 13
13. South Carolina 3-1 812 12
14. Miami (Fla) 4-0 753 15
15. Washington 4-0 665 16
16. Northwestern 4-0 550 17
17. Baylor 3-0 536 19
18. Florida 3-1 481 20
19. Michigan 4-0 471 18
20. Texas Tech 4-0 264 24
21. Oklahoma State 3-1 230 11
22. Arizona State 3-1 192 NR
23. Fresno State 4-0 187 25
24. Mississippi 3-1 132 21
25. Maryland 4-0 119 NR
Others receiving votes: Northern Illi-
nois 104, Va. Tech 49, Wisconsin 46, Ne-
braska 20, Missouri 14, Notre Dame 12,
Central Fla. 6, Mich. State 5, Rutgers 2
POLLS
WNBA
Conference finals Best-of-3
uAtlanta def. Indiana (2-0)
uMinnesota def. Phoenix (2-0)
Sundays results
Atlanta 67, Indiana 53
Minnesota 72, Phoenix 65
Finals Best-of-5
uAtlanta vs. Minnesota
Oct. 6
Atlanta at Minnesota, 8:30
National Basketball Assoc.
Preseason
Saturday, Oct. 5
Oklahoma City vs. Fenerbahce Ulker
at Istanbul, 9 a.m.
Chicago at Indiana, 7
New Orleans at Houston, 8
Golden State vs. L.A. Lakers
at Ontario, Calif., 10
Sunday, Oct. 6
Philadelphia vs. Bilbao
at Bilbao, Spain, noon
Denver at L.A. Lakers, 9:30
Monday, Oct. 7
Toronto at Boston, 7:30
Atlanta at Miami, 7:30
Memphis vs. Chicago
at St. Louis, 8
CSKA Moscow at Minnesota, 8
New Orleans at Dallas, 8:30
Maccabi Haifa at Phoenix, 10
LA Clippers at Portland, 10
Sacramento at Golden State, 10:30
BASKETBALL
Thailand Open
Sundays results from Bangkok, Thai-
land:
uPurse: $631,530; Surface: Hard
Singles Final: Milos Raonic (3), Can-
ada, def. Tomas Berdych (1), Czech Re-
public, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
Doubles Final: Jamie Murray, Brit-
ain, and John Peers (3), Australia, def.
Tomasz Bednarek, Poland, and Johan
Brunstrom (4), Sweden, 6-3, 3-6, 10-6.
Malaysian Open
Sundays results from Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia:
uPurse: $984,300; Surface: Hard
Singles Final: Joao Sousa, Portugal,
def. Julien Benneteau (5), France, 2-6,
7-5, 6-4.
Doubles Final: Eric Butorac, USA,
and Raven Klaasen, South Africa, def.
PabloCuevas, Uruguay, and HoracioZe-
ballos, Argentina, 6-2, 6-4.
Toray Pan Pacific Open
Saturdays results fromTokyo:
uPurse: $2.37 million; Surface: Hard
Singles Final: Petra Kvitova (7),
Czech Republic, def. Angelique Kerber
(5), Germany, 6-2, 0-6, 6-3.
Doubles Final: Cara Black, Zimba-
bwe, and Sania Mirza, India, def. Chan
Hao-ching, Taiwan, and Liezel Huber,
USA, 4-6, 6-0, 11-9.
China Open
Sundays results fromBeijing:
uPurse: Men - $3.57 million; women -
$5.19 million; Surface: Hard
Womens singles First round: Ag-
nieszka Radwanska (3), Poland, def.
Stefanie Voegele, Switzerland, 4-6, 6-4,
6-4; Lucie Safarova, Czech Republic,
def. Sam Stosur (15), Australia, 7-5, 6-3;
Kaia Kanepi, Estonia, def. Julia Goerg-
es, Germany, 7-5, 6-4; Li Na (4), China,
def. Daniela Hantuchova, Slovakia, 6-0,
6-4; Madison Keys, USA, def. Dominika
Cibulkova, Slovakia, 6-4, 6-3; Serena
Williams (1), USA, def. Elena Vesnina,
Russia, 6-4, 6-2; Laura Robson, Britain,
def. Klara Zakopalova, Czech Republic,
7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1; Lauren Davis, USA, def.
Mona Barthel, Germany, 6-0, 5-7, 6-4;
Misaki Doi, Japan, def. Silvia Soler-Espi-
nosa, Spain, 6-1, 6-1; Maria Kirilenko,
Russia, def. Zheng Jie, China, 7-5, 6-2;
Sabine Lisicki (13), Germany, def. Cha-
nelle Scheepers, South Africa, 6-3, 6-2.
Womens doubles First round: Kris-
tina Mladenovic, France, and Flavia
Pennetta, Italy, def. Darija Jurak, Croa-
tia, and Mandy Minella, Luxembourg,
6-2, 6-2; Vania King, USA, and Galina
Voskoboeva, Kazakhstan, def. Svetlana
Kuznetsova, Russia, and Sam Stosur,
Australia, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
TENNIS
National Football League
Todays game
Favorite Line Underdog Pts
NEWORL. 7 Miami 48
TODAYS LINE
National Hockey League
Preseason
(ss)-split squad
Sundays results
N.Y. Islanders (ss) 5, Ottawa (ss) 2
N.Y. Islanders (ss) 4, Ottawa (ss) 1
Saturdays results
Toronto 3, Detroit 1
Florida 5, Tampa Bay 3
Chicago 4, Washington 3 (OT)
Colorado 3, Los Angeles 2
San Jose 6, Anaheim 5
Fridays results
Carolina 1, Buffalo 0
Washington 6, Philadelphia 3
N.Y. Islanders 6, Nashville 4
Detroit 5, Toronto 2
St. Louis 4, Minnesota 1
Dallas 4, Edmonton 0
Boston 5, Winnipeg 0
Phoenix 2, San Jose 1
Los Angeles 4, N.Y. Rangers 1
End of preseason
HOCKEY
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NFL: WEEK 4
F
10C SPORTS
USA TODAY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
COLLEGES
Football poll; times p.m. Eastern
1. Alabama (4-0)
Points: 1,546 (59 rst-place
votes). Previous ranking: 1. This
week: Saturday vs. Georgia State.
Last week: Beat then-No. 21 Missis-
sippi 25-0.
2. Oregon (4-0)
Points: 1,479 (2). Previous rank-
ing: 2. This week: Saturday at Colo-
rado (Pac-12, 6). Last week: Beat
California 55-16.
3. Ohio State (5-0)
Points: 1,397. Previous ranking:
3. This week: Saturday at No. 15
Northwestern (ABC, 8). Last week:
Beat then-No. 24 Wisconsin 31-24.
4. Clemson (4-0)
Points: 1,352 (1). Previous rank-
ing: 4. This week: Saturday at Syra-
cuse (ABC, 3:30). Last week: Beat
Wake Forest 56-7.
5. Stanford (4-0)
Points: 1,325. Previous ranking:
5. This week: Saturday vs. No. 18
Washington (ESPN, 10:30). Last
week: Beat Washington State 55-17.
6. Georgia (3-1)
Points: 1,148. Previous ranking:
10. This week: Saturday at Tennes-
see (CBS, 3:30). Last week: Beat
then-No. 6 LSU 44-41.
7. Louisville (4-0)
Points: 1,147. Previous ranking:
7. This week: Saturday at Temple.
Last week: Idle.
8. Florida State (4-0)
Points: 1,129. Previous ranking:
8. This week: Saturday vs. Maryland
(ESPN, noon). Last week: Beat Bos-
ton College 48-34.
9. Texas A&M (4-1)
Points: 1,072. Previous ranking:
9. Next game: Oct. 12 at Mississippi.
Last week: Beat Arkansas 45-33.
10. Oklahoma (4-0)
Points: 964. Previous ranking:
12. This week: Saturday vs. TCU
(Fox, 7). Last week: Beat then-
No. 22 Notre Dame 35-21.
11. LSU (4-1)
Points: 931. Previous ranking:
6. This week: Saturday at Mississip-
pi State (ESPN, 7). Last week: Lost
to then-No. 10 Georgia 44-41.
12. South Carolina (3-1)
Points: 860. Previous ranking:
13. This week: Saturday vs. Ken-
tucky. Last week: Beat Central Flor-
ida 28-25.
13. UCLA (3-0)
Points: 812. Previous ranking:
14. This week: Thursday at Utah
(Fox Sports 1, 10). Last week: Idle.
14. Miami (Fla.) (4-0)
Points: 727. Previous ranking:
15. This week: Saturday vs. Georgia
Tech (ESPNU, 3:30). Last week:
Beat South Florida 49-21.
15. Northwestern (4-0)
Points: 620. Previous ranking:
16. This week: Saturday vs. No. 3
Ohio State (ABC, 8). Last week: Idle.
16. Baylor (3-0)
Points: 573. Previous ranking:
18. This week: Saturday vs. West
Virginia (Fox Sports 1, 8). Last
week: Idle.
17. Michigan (4-0)
Points: 546. Previous ranking:
17. This week: Saturday vs. Minne-
sota (ABC, 3:30). Last week: Idle.
18. Washington (4-0)
Points: 545. Previous ranking:
20. This week: Saturday at No. 5
Stanford (ESPN, 10:30). Last week:
Beat Arizona 31-13.
19. Florida (3-1)
Points: 515. Previous ranking:
19. This week: Saturday vs. Arkansas
(ESPN2, 7). Last week: Beat Ken-
tucky 24-7.
20. Oklahoma State (3-1)
Points: 330. Previous ranking:
11. This week: Saturday vs. Kansas
State (ABC, 3:30). Last week: Lost
to West Virginia 30-21.
21. Fresno State (4-0)
Points: 270. Previous ranking:
23. This week: Saturday at Idaho.
Last week: Beat Hawaii 42-37.
22. Texas Tech (4-0)
Points: 231. Previous ranking:
25. This week: Saturday at Kansas
(Fox Sports 1, noon). Last week:
Idle.
23. Northern Illinois (4-0)
Points: 131. Previous ranking:
not ranked. This week: Saturday at
Kent State. Last week: Beat Purdue
55-24.
24. Arizona State (3-1)
Points: 118. Previous ranking:
not ranked. This week: Saturday vs.
Notre Dame in Arlington, Texas
(NBC, 7:30). Last week: Beat South-
ern California 62-41.
25. Nebraska (3-1)
Points: 71. Previous ranking:
not ranked. This week: Saturday vs.
Illinois (ESPNU, noon). Last week:
Idle.
Dropped out: No. 21 Mis-
sissippi (3-1, lost to No. 1
Alabama25-0), No. 22 No-
tre Dame (3-2, lost to then-
No. 12 Oklahoma 35-21),
No. 24 Wisconsin (3-2, lost
to No. 3 Ohio State 31-24).
Others receiving votes:
Mississippi (3-1) 69; VirginiaTech (4-1) 54; Wisconsin (3-2)
47; Maryland (4-0) 45; Notre Dame (3-2) 29; Missouri
(4-0) 21; Central Florida (3-1) 15; Michigan State (3-1) 10;
Rutgers (3-1) 9; Oregon State (4-1) 7; Arizona (3-1) 1; Cin-
cinnati (3-1) 1; East Carolina (3-1) 1; Iowa (4-1) 1; Utah
(3-1) 1.
The USA TODAY Sports board of coaches is made up
of 62 head coaches at Football Bowl Subdivision schools.
All are members of the American Football Coaches Asso-
ciation.
I think were going to kind of cir-
cle the wagons a bit, play these eight
games and let the chips fall where
they may, Orgeron said. Im going
to have some energy, some excite-
ment, high-ving guys. Thats what I
like to do.
TURNAROUND ON KIFFIN
Orgeron, a former head coach at Mis-
sissippi, was given no commitment
beyond this season.
Im excited to coach the next
eight games, and well see where it
takes us, he said. Well answer the
bell. Were all accountable for what
happened.
Haden and Orgeron had nothing
but nice things to say about Kin,
who did not win enough to maintain
Hadens support. His ring was a sur-
prise only in terms of the timing, al-
though it was a striking turnaround
for Haden, who had released a video
before the season saying, Im behind
Lane Kin 100%. I have great con-
dence in him.
Hadens explanation Sunday was
that he wanted to give Kin support
as he tried to right the ship. We sup-
port our coaches 100% until theyre
no longer our coaches, Haden said.
It came down to a gut feeling that
we werent making the progress that
I thought we should be making.
Kin was told of his ring by Ha-
den after the team arrived in Los An-
geles on a charter ight about 3 a.m.
He really, really tried to keep his
job, and I respect him for that, said
Haden, who said after he told Kin a
group text message was sent to the
team.
I was surprised, center Marcus
Martin said. Now well just try to
move forward and focus on the next
few games and bond with the Trojan
family.
Orgeron said oensive coordinator
Clay Helton would call plays, previ-
ously Kins job. Orgeron said the of-
fense probably would look about the
same. Orgeron and everybody at the
university hopes the defense will be
improved.
LACK OF DEPTH
USCs biggest problem under Kif-
n or Orgeron is a lack of depth, a
result of NCAA scholarship sanc-
tions. The Trojans were down to 56
healthy scholarship players Saturday,
and the defense was about as thin
and eective as paper.
Weve just been ghting, fth-
year USC linebacker Devon Kennard
said. I think well put a better prod-
uct on the eld the next game.
USC is not without talent, though
sophomore quarterback Cody Kess-
ler is still nding his way. Two young
running backs Tre Madden and
Justin Davis have shined.
But the Trojans best player, All-
America wide receiver Marqise Lee,
was knocked out of the game Satur-
day with a leg injury. His status is un-
known, but it points to the lack of
quality backups.
The issue was spelled out clearly
by Orgeron before the season.
The sanctions have created a
depth issue that has hurt us, Orge-
ron said. Our rst team is where it
used to be. We still dont have a full
second team that you feel really good
about putting those guys in. And no
third team.
The sanctions last another year;
the Trojans are limited to 15 initial
scholarships and 75 total again in
2014.
But Kin said before the season
that the impact of the penalties
would be felt longer than that as the
small scholarship classes advanced
through the program.
USC might not be back to a deep,
talent-rich squad reminiscent of Car-
rolls teams until 2017.
Even at full strength, USC has
plenty of competition in the Pac-12.
Oregon and Stanford are powers,
while Washington, UCLA, Arizona
State and Arizona are on the rise.
Former Southern California wide
receiver John Jackson, an analyst on
Trojans radio broadcasts, says the
setbacks and negativity in the pro-
gram do not signal USC will cease to
be a power. There is still that unques-
tioned tradition of success.
Pat is challenged with a big deci-
sion, Jackson said of the coaching
search. There will be rumors about
everybody, and youre going to see all
the big names.
And the top high school players?
Will they turn their backs on USC
and head elsewhere, such as cross-
town UCLA, which has emerged as a
force under second-year coach Jim
Mora?
UCLA is the hot team now, but
USC has a great opportunity, Jack-
son said. Freshmen want to play,
and all USC has to do is show them
their depth chart.
Wobbly
Kiffin
era ends
at USC
vCONTINUED FROM1C
KELVINKUO, USA TODAY SPORTS
Ed Orgeron, talking at a news conference Sunday in Los Angeles, takes over the Southern California job
on an interim basis. He was 10-25 as head coach at Mississippi from 2005 to 2007.
Our history has been great. We
need to be great again.
Southern California athletics director Pat Haden
The enduring image
from Lane Kins ten-
ure at Southern Califor-
nia might be the deated
footballs.
How could we forget? Last No-
vember, with USC in the midst of a
tailspin from preseason No. 1 in the
Associated Press media poll to un-
ranked, the Pac-12 ned the school
$25,000 for intentionally taking the
air out of the balls on the sideline, ap-
parently as a scheme to make them
easier to grip and throw.
Kin claimed no knowledge. A
student manager was red. But it was
just another in a string of self-inict-
ed controversies. And considering
the violation came in a 62-51 loss to
Oregon just another in a string of
deating performances it seemed
about right.
But for more symbolism, consider:
Before Kins rst kicko, the life
had already been sucked from the
program by Pete Carrolls departure
and devastating NCAA sanctions.
The combination of penalties and
predecessor might have doomed Kif-
n from the start.
Now those factors are fading away.
It might not take much for Kins
successor, whoever gets hired, to
reinate one of college footballs
glamour programs.
This is not to absolve Kin. Not
hardly. So much of what went wrong
with USC was clearly his fault, and it
wasnt just losing though that, as
usual, was the biggest reason. His
time was highlighted by a series of
head-scratching gaes and otherwise
infuriating behavior that changed the
perception of Kin from Boy Won-
der into wondering whether the boy
would ever mature.
Without question, his actions
helped hasten the programs down-
ward spiral and his own demise, but
the situation was set up for failure,
which is also why the next hire is set
up for success. At a news conference
Sunday afternoon to discuss his deci-
sion, USC athletics director Pat Ha-
den narrowed the prole of preferred
candidates to living coaches
really, he did but otherwise, he de-
clined to discuss the search, saying it
wasnt fair to the players who still
have two-thirds of a season left.
Despite the last few seasons, there
wont be any shortage of attractive
contenders for one of college foot-
balls premier jobs. A two-year bowl
ban has been served. The scholarship
reductions (10 a year for three years)
have one more year to run, but the
Trojans can sign a full class of 25
recruits beginning in February 2015
and carry a full roster of 85 scholar-
ships (up from 75) that season.
If the brand has been tarnished a
bit, theres still plenty of cachet to at-
tract top recruits, many of whom are
in the Trojans backyard.
As important, the next coach wont
be following Carroll or being mea-
sured directly against the mantra of
Win Forever. Kin was, and even
more so because he had been a part
of those teams as an assistant coach.
But even before Carroll got out
just ahead of the NCAA posse, Ore-
gon had surpassed USC and the Tro-
jans recruiting had slid.
Yet when the Trojans went 10-2 in
2011, including a victory at Oregon,
and quarterback Matt Barkley decid-
ed to return for his senior season,
USC became a chic preseason pick in
2012. But after a 6-1 start, USC lost
ve of its last six games.
This years 3-2 start, punctuated
by a 62-41 loss at Arizona State on
Saturday, nished Kin.
The next coach enters a changed
environment.
Those Ducks have been dominant,
and Stanford has risen to become a
national contender. Across town,
UCLA is emerging under second-
year coach Jim Mora. Arizona State
might not be far behind. And dont
forget Washington, which is nally
rising again under Steve Sarkisian
(another former Carroll assistant and
a potential candidate for the USC
job).
Still, Haden will have his choice of
coaches. And although the timing of
his decision to let Kin go is odd
meaning the month, not the middle
of the night it also gives him a head
start. Texas, another plum job, might
open soon, too. Haden gets the early
lead in searching for candidates.
If he lands the right guy, look out.
A perennial power could reinate in
a hurry.
Next USC coach could enjoy quick revival
George Schroeder
@GeorgeSchroeder
USATODAYSports
ANALYSIS
KELVINKUO, USA TODAY SPORTS
Southern California AD Pat Haden will
have his choice of coaches.
CHRIS PETERSEN,
BOISE STATE
He has turned down opportunities
at other schools in conferences
whose champ automatically re-
ceives a Bowl Championship Se-
ries bid but none this lofty. Has
had at least 10 wins in each of his
seven full seasons at Boise State,
with two perfect seasons and two
BCS appearances. He might be
ready for another challenge.
KEVIN SUMLIN,
TEXAS A&M
The trendiest name for the way he
rapidly turned A&M from a peren-
nial underachiever into one of the
countrys hottest teams and just
as it traded in the Big 12 for a spot
in the Southeastern Conference.
JACK DEL RIO,
DENVER BRONCOS
The former Jacksonville Jaguars
coach has earned raves as an
assistant with the Broncos, but
what makes Del Rio a candidate is
his time as an All-America line-
backer at USC in the 1980s. But he
has never been a college assis-
tant, let alone a head coach.
STEVE SARKISIAN,
WASHINGTON
His time as a USC assistant under
Pete Carroll is a bonus and an
impediment. Sarkisian was one of
the engines behind the dynastic
run in the 2000s. But USC might be
wary of hiring another of Carrolls
former offensive assistants.
JAMES FRANKLIN,
VANDERBILT
Would bring the sort of energy the
program has lacked and the
energy that was a hallmark of the
great Carroll-coached teams of
the last decade. But hes only three
years into his rst Football Bowl
Subdivision head coaching job.
Paul Myerberg
5 POSSIBLE
CANDIDATES
FOR USC JOB
Five coaches Southern California
could consider:
Fran Drescher is 56. Jenna Elfman
is 42. Marion Cotillard is 38.
Compiled by Cindy Clark
DRESCHER, ELFMAN: WIREIMAGE; COTILLARD: GETTY IMAGES
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 SECTION D
Museum
exhibit will
showcase
the popular
comedy 2D
Anchorman
heads to new
level of classy
USA SNAPSHOTS
Biggest challenge
for helping a kid
with homework
Im too Im too Im too Im too Im too
busy busy
My child My child My child My child My child My child My child
doesnt doesnt
want my want my
help help
I dont
understand understand understand understand
the subject the subject
Source National Center for Family Literacy
survey of 154 parents
CATHY PAYNE AND SAM WARD, USA TODAY
46%
32% 32% 32% 32% 32%
22%
NEWS PHOTOS
QR READER
Scan with a QRreader;
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business at att.com/mcode.
LIFELINE
Miley Cyrus has no regrets.
Thats the takeaway from or at
least, the oft-repeated message in
MTVs Miley: The Movement.
The Movement was conceived ear-
lier this year, presumably as a means
of promoting the 20-year-old TV and
pop veterans upcoming
album, Bangerz, out
Oct. 8. As anyone read-
ing this knows, Cyrus
kicked that campaign
into high gear awhile ago
with a series of provocative gestures
the most notorious being the
twerk seen round the world at
Augusts MTV Video Music Awards,
which Cyrus memorably describes
here as a strategic hot mess.
But what else would you expect?
Show business is, essentially, all that
this still-very-young woman has
known. Theres no life for me other
than entertaining, she says in one
interview segment. Mother Tish
Cyrus, a prominent presence in the
lm, notes that the younger Cyrus
gave up her childhood as if that
decision had been made without
parental consent.
Father Billy Ray Cyrus wasnt
interviewed for the documentary,
which follows his daughter over
roughly three months, mostly at
public appearances culminating, of
course, with the VMAs. Even more
conspicuous in his absence is Cyrus
former anc, Liam Hemsworth,
whose split with her made news two
weeks ago.
Instead, Pharrell Williams, one of
her collaborators on Bangerz, turns
up to vouch for Cyrus character and
authenticity. Shes still evolving,
Williams says, praising her crazy
voice and calling her a byproduct of
America.
That Cyrus is. She tells us so, not
in those precise words, but in how
she presents her goals and denes
contemporary fame. Defending her
creative choice at the VMAs, she says,
You want to make history. ... Every-
things about whats going to be the
big moment in pop culture.
Cyrus cites similar moments
provided by Madonna and Britney
Spears. The latter, Cyrus idol and a
guest on Bangerz, chats with her in a
cute segment; Cyrus tells Spears that
she has been a Madonna-like inspira-
tion to my whole generation.
Throughout Miley, Cyrus comes
across as good-humored and grateful
to her fans, the army driving her
titular movement. She greets admir-
ers with seemingly genuine enthusi-
asm after a radio interview and a
Good Morning America appearance.
Now people really get to see what
the movement is all about, the for-
mer child star says, later adding,
Right now, I still feel like Im
beginning.
Cyrus is certainly entitled to that
perspective at her age. Lets just hope
that her unfolding story doesnt be-
come yet another cautionary tale.
PHOTOS BY MTV
Miley Cyrus describes her infamous performance at MTVs VMAs as a strategic hot mess in the documentary. You want to make history.
Movie showcases young stars
ruthless pursuit of celebrity
Cyrus and her mother, Tish, who says that her daughter gave up
her childhood to become a star on television and in music.
Mileys
Movement
marches on,
mercilessly
MILEY: THE MOVEMENT eeEE
MTV Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET/PT
TV
PREVIEW
ELYSA
GARDNER
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