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Patriots-Chiefs, Saints-Rams in conference championships

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.


By JAY COHEN, AP Sports Writer
Tom Brady versus Patrick Mahomes. Drew Brees against Jared Goff.
Two high-profile rematches with the Super Bowl on the line.
The NFL’s highest-scoring offenses face off in the conference championships next Sunday. Brady leads the New England Patriots into Kansas City to take on Mahomes and the Chiefs, and Brees and the New Orleans Saints host Goff and the Los Angeles Rams.


“We’ll see how it goes,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “Well-coached, they have a lot of explosive players. We had a tremendous game with them here earlier. That was a long time ago. We’ll see where we are now, see where they are.”


New England hosted Kansas City way back on Oct. 14, and Brady passed for 340 yards and a touchdown in a 43-40 victory that was the Chiefs’ first loss of the season. Mahomes’ 75-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill tied it with 3:03 left, but Brady drove the Patriots to Stephen Gostkowski’s 28-yard field goal as time expired.


The AFC championship game is Brady’s first trip to Kansas City since he threw two interceptions and was sacked twice in an ugly 41-14 loss on “Monday Night Football” on Sept. 29, 2014.

New England Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY (12) runs for a first down during the second half of an NFL game between the Houston Texans and the New England Patriots. The Patriots beat the Texans 27-6 at NRG Stadium in Houston.


“It’ll be a tough game,” Brady said. “They’re well-coached. They’ve got a good offense. … It’s going to be a lot of fun to go back there and play in a championship game and try to advance.”


New Orleans (14-3) and Los Angeles (14-3) played their own wild shootout on Nov. 4. Wil Lutz’s 54-yard field goal got the lead for the Saints with 6:23 left, and Brees found Michael Thomas for a clinching 72-yard touchdown in a 45-35 victory.


“When we come out there, we feel like no one can stop us,” Thomas said of his connection with Brees. “I just feel like we keep building every week. We have a thing, and it’s hard for the other team to stop.”


The Saints averaged 31.5 points this season on their way to the NFC South title, ranking third in the NFL behind the Chiefs (35.3 points per game) and Rams (32.9) and ahead of the Patriots (27.3).


It’s the first time in the Super Bowl era that the NFL’s top four scoring offenses all reached the conference championships. But New Orleans’ defense played a crucial role in its 20-14 win over Philadelphia in the divisional round on Sunday. Marshon Lattimore had two interceptions, including one on the Eagles’ final drive, and the Saints erased an early 14-0 deficit.


“We were real calm and poised and we knew we were going to get things done,” Brees said.


Los Angeles advanced by powering its way to a 30-22 win against Dallas on Saturday. C.J. Anderson had 123 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and Todd Gurley rushed for 115 more yards and another TD.
“Our sense of focus and the sense of urgency have gone up tremendously,” guard Rodger Saffold said.


New England (12-5) also showed off its rushing attack in a 41-28 win against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Sony Michel rushed for 129 yards and three TDs. The Patriots scored on their first four possessions on their way to a 35-7 halftime lead.


“The ability to execute early and get things going sets a lot of things up,” wide receiver Julian Edelman said. “It shows that we had a good week of practice, executed well in practice and it carried over and went into the game.”


Kansas City (13-4) is headed for its first AFC title game in 25 years after rolling to a 31-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. Mahomes, who is one of the favorites for the NFL MVP award, passed for 278 yards and rushed for a score in his playoff debut.


“This is what we work for,” Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford said. “We just want to keep this thing rolling. Enjoy it now but keep it rolling.”

Jay Cohen can be reached at https://twitter.com/jcohenap

Risk-taking Saints advance to host Rams for NFC title

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.


By BRETT MARTEL, AP Sports Writer
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Coach Sean Payton the New Orleans Saints are anything but risk averse.
After all, Payton’s Saints won a Super Bowl with the help of a surprise onside kick nine years ago, and now New Orleans is one home victory away from its first Super Bowl since then — thanks to a pair of aggressive and pivotal fourth-down play calls when the Saints were trying to come back from a two-touchdown deficit.
“We needed to shift momentum and we were able to, fortunately, and take advantage of it,” said Payton, who’s bound to carry that approach into the NFC title game against the Los Angeles Rams next weekend.
Facing fourth-and-short on their own 30, Payton called for a fake punt on which third-string quarterback and special teams virtuoso Taysom Hill took a direct snap as the up back.
So when the Saints faced another fourth down on the Eagles 2 later that same drive, it only seemed fitting that they dialed up a touchdown pass from Drew Brees to rookie receiver Keith Kirkwood instead of settling for a field goal.
That marked the beginning of 20 unanswered points scored by New Orleans in a 20-14 triumph in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs on Sunday.
“It’s that play-to-win mentality,” Brees said. “I’ve been with Sean long enough now to say that he’s always been like that. From ’06 until now, I think it’s something that he knows the offense and the team feeds off of.
“When you get that in guys’ minds that we are going to be aggressive, we are going to play to win, it allows guys to relax and cut loose,” Brees added.
Payton’s gambles often occur with Hill on the field, perhaps because they seem to think alike. Hill had the option to check out of the fake and let the snap sail to punter Thomas Morstead if the defensive alignment looked unfavorable. But Hill was in no mind to wait for a better opportunity. He had seemingly nowhere to go when he got the ball, and powered through anyway.
“At the end of the day I’m going to error on being aggressive. I’m going to error on taking the opportunity to create some momentum and have a game-changing play for sure,” Hill said. “It’s all about taking calculated risks. It’s finding that balance and that was a look that I felt like we could get it. That was a look that the coaches felt like we could get it, and I think at the end of the day it shows how much trust coach has in us.”
Eagles coach Doug Pederson said the Saints’ risk-reward propositions had less to do with the element of surprise than simply New Orleans ability to call a good play situationally and execute.
“You kind of expect it in that situation,” Pederson said. “You’ve just got to be prepared for that. We had our defense stay on the field. It was a great play by them.”
Some other story lines surrounding the Saints’ first divisional round playoff victory since their last Super Bowl title in the 2009-10 season:
LOST LEADER: The Saints stopped short of confirming that top defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins would miss the rest of the postseason with a low leg injury in the area of his Achilles, but when he punched the turf before being carted off the field, it looked serious. Afterward, Payton and players insinuated that Rankins’ injury was season-ending.
“It’s gut wrenching,” Payton said. “He’s played so well for us.”
Rankins was a first-round draft choice in 2016 and his eight sacks this season ranked second on the team .

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton on the sidelines during the second half of the NFL preseason game between the Houston Texans and the New Orleans Saints at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on August 20, 2016. The Texans beat the Saints 16-9.


“To see him go down really hurt,” fellow Saints defensive lineman Tyeler Davison said. “But I think it’s going to give us some fuel as well to play for him and pull this thing out for him.”
ALSHON’S ABBERATION: Normally reliable Eagles receiver Alshon Jeffery might have been the least likely candidate to have an accurate Nick Foles pass bounce off his hands and into the waiting arms of cornerback Marshon Lattimore in the final minutes, sealing the result right when Philadelphia was threatening to take a lead in the final minutes.
Jeffery dropped to the turf, face down, after the turnover, but the Eagles tried to console him. Before that fateful play, Jeffery had five catches for a team-high 63 yards.


“He’s so down, but for me it’s about staying positive,” Pederson said. “He’s made many, many big catches for us throughout the season … I told him to keep his head up and don’t let one play define him.”
GROUND GAINS: The Saints outgained the Eagles 137-49 on the ground, with the elusive Alvin Kamara rushing for 71 yards, including a 12-yard, first-down run that let the Saints run out the clock. The hard-charging Mark Ingram added 53 yards. The running back tandem also combined for six catches for 44 yards.
WORN DOWN: If it wasn’t tough enough for the Eagles to have three defensive starters — end Michael Bennett, tackle Fletcher Cox and cornerback Rasul Douglas — leave the game intermittently with minor injuries, Philadelphia’s defense also spent far more time on the field than the Eagles would have liked. During the last three quarters, the Saints possessed the ball for more than 32 minutes and had one 92-yard drive that took 18 plays — or more than 20 plays when counting plays wiped out by penalties.


Brees pointed to that possession as “the turning point in the game.”

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Dallas Loose Divisional in LA

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

LOS ANGELES — Aiming to clinch their first berth in the NFC Championship in 23 seasons, the Cowboys instead became victims of identity fraud.

Rather than seeing Ezekiel Elliott running free in the Rams secondary, it was Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson that tore apart Dallas’ defense to the tune of 238 rushing yards. Behind its ground attack, Los Angeles kept possession for the majority of the game and recorded a 30-22 win Saturday night at LA Memorial Coliseum.

The Cowboys’ defense, which established itself as one of the NFL’s best all season, was unable to keep the Rams from putting together long, time-consuming drives. 

Despite the struggles, Dallas had a shot to tie the game with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion early in the fourth quarter during a promising march into enemy territory. However, Elliott was stuffed on an unimaginative run play up the middle on fourth-and-1.

Los Angeles got its own fourth-down chance on the ensuing possession and cashed in on a 1-yard plunge across the goal line by Anderson. The score left the Cowboys in desperation mode, as they faced a 30-15 deficit with 7:16 left to play.

Dak Prescott scored on a short run with 2:11 to go to help make it a once-score contest at 30-22, but Garrett chose to kick it deep rather than go with the onside. The outcome was extremely predictable, as the Rams picked up a pair of first downs via the run to ice the victory.

It was a frustrating end to a stellar season for the ‘Boys, but one thing is certain — Dak doubters had little to grumble about during the latter portion of the season. Even in defeat, Prescott outplayed Jared Goff by completing 20 of his 32 throws for 266 yards.

Surprisingly, it was the Cowboys’ defense that turned out to be the weak link when it mattered most.

Dallas relied on a bend-but-don’t-break approach defensively on the first two Los Angeles possessions, which resulted in a pair of Greg Zeurlein field goals. At that point, the Cowboys held a 7-6 lead thanks to an impressive opening drive led by Prescott that was capped by his 29-yard touchdown strike to Amari Cooper.

Each of the Rams’ next two possessions reached the end zone, mostly thanks to a patient running game that began to gash Dallas right up the gut. Anderson ended a nine-play march with a 1-yard plunge, and Gurley, who made his return to the lineup from a knee injury, later broke loose for a 35-yard TD run.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup catches a pass over Los Angeles Rams free safety Lamarcus Joyner during the second half in an NFL divisional football playoff game Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

The Cowboys’ last chance to draw closer before halftime was stopped by a phantom sack on Prescott in which the referees ruled him “in the grasp” despite clear evidence to the contrary.

Dallas trailed 20-7 at intermission but managed to make it a 23-15 game in the third quarter after Elliott muscled his way into the end zone from a yard out and Prescott hit Cooper for the 2-point try.

The Cowboys then got a rare defensive stop thanks to a pair of errant passes from Goff, but Los Angeles’ defensive front answered by meeting Elliott in the backfield on his fourth-down run from the Rams’ 35.

Elliott finished the game with just 47 yards on 20 carries.

Saints VooDoo Eagles in Divisional

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

NEW ORLEANS — The voodoo of Drew Brees brought an end to Nick Foles’ amazing magic act Sunday during an epic clash in New Orleans.

The Saints, who entered as the NFC’s No. 1 seed, took the defending Super Bowl champion’s best punch before turning the tables in time to record a 20-14 victory at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. 

Philadelphia wide receiver Alshon Jeffery committed the evening’s biggest gaffe when he let a late pass from Foles slip through his hands in the red zone. New Orleans’ Marshon Lattimore was right there for the game-clinching interception.

It was a valiant effort by the Eagles, who had every bit of momentum surging in their direction during the first quarter. After Brees’ first throw was intercepted by Cre’Von LeBlanc on a home-run toss to Ted Ginn, Philadelphia marched 76 yards in seven plays to vault ahead.

Foles struck on a play-action pass by dropping in a perfect throw to Jordan Matthews for a 37-yard touchdown toss.

After the Eagles forced a three-and-out by the Saints, Foles directed a 10-play scoring drive that was capped by his own 1-yard dive across the goal line. New Orleans followed with another punt after looking completely out of sync on offense.

Lattimore may have sparked Brees and company with his first pick of Foles, which set up a 12-play, 79-yard march to the end zone. The drive featured a successful fake punt and ended with a clutch 2-yard scoring toss from Brees to Keith Kirkwood on fourth down.

The Saints tacked on a 45-yard field goal by Will Lutz to trim the Eagles’ lead to 14-10 at the half.

New Orleans then began the third period by forcing an immediate punt and embarking on a marathon 18-play, 92-yard drive. Brees hit Michael Thomas on a 2-yard TD pass to help put the Saints ahead 17-14. 

Thomas shredded Philadelphia’s secondary after intermission and finished the night with 12 receptions for 171 yards.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) reacts after a touchdown carry by running back Alvin Kamara, not pictured, in the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Lutz split his next two field goal tries, and New Orleans’ defense stood tall when it absolutely needed to. Foles had driven the Eagles all the way to the Saints’ 27-yard line when a high pass zipped through Jeffery’s mitts and was snatched by Lattimore at the 19 with 1:51 left on the clock.

It was a bitter ending for Foles and the Eagles, but Brees will carry the Westlake alumni torch this week in an intriguing NFC Championship matchup.

The NFL’s all-time leading passer will look to advance to his second career Super Bowl Sunday when the Rams head to New Orleans for a collision of the conference’s top seeds.

NOTES: Brees is now 2-0 all time in head-to-head postseason games against Foles. The Saints defeated Foles’ Eagles 26-24 in a 2014 wild-card contest in Philadelphia.

Brees is the lone quarterback to have a winning record against Foles in the playoffs.

Tom Herman’s Next Class

Written by Charles Branch on . Posted in TEXAS SPORTS, UT FOOTBALL.

Many fans and media were really impressed with the overachieving season the Texas Longhorns had to finish the year, especially with the forever impressive win to beat the fifth ranked Georgia Bulldogs who might have been snubbed from the National Playoff.

A great win to finish the season will intensify the expectations for the 2019 season. And just like every season players come and go. Playmakers jump to the NFL a la Lil’Jordan Humphrey or finish out their eligibility; Gary Johnson, Breckyn Hager, Kris Boyd, and Charles Omenihu come to mind.

What does this mean for the starting offense and defense? The defense will take a big hit losing a majority of their starting first team and a lot of experience. Luckily after receiving draft stock analysis Junior Safety Brandon Jones has decided to return for his final season to graduate. Teaming up with Freshman stud safety Caden Sterns definitely eases some fans minds heading into the offseason. The secondary will need to find cornerback replacements from Devonte Davis and Kris Boyd who has NFL quality talent to compete at the next level. Freshman corners Anthony Cook and Kobe Boyce played extensively in the Oklahoma State game when Davis and Boyd were suspended for the first half. The freshmen were exposed early causing the Horns to play catch up the rest of the game before losing. They will have a full off season and will compete to earn the starting left and right cornerback positions.

Colin Johnson will return to the field to give Sam Ehlinger a big target who will team up with Devin Duvernay next year. The offense should continue where they left off as Keaontay Ingram will run full time from splitting time with Tre Watson this past year. Fans will see if he has the ability to elevate his game in 2019 judging from this season he will be more than capable.

Tom Herman in year two successfully recruited another top ten class to spring board them into the offseason in December grabbing twelve elite prospects from the top 300 athletes.  Three starting offensive lineman will move on from the team leaving multiple spots on the line up for grabs. Tyler Johnson a four star offensive tackle ranked 37th nationally signed in the early signing period and will be enrolled early in January. He will compete with redshirt freshman Junior Angilau another top 300 prospect from their previous third ranked class for one of the tackle jobs.

Gary Johnson was the leading tackler will be missed for the Horns who leaves a huge void in the middle of the of the front seven. De’Gabriel Floyd an All American linebacker who played his senior season at Westlake provides fire power to a lot of question marks that need answers. He will bring toughness to the position to help stop the run in the Big 12 as he too is also an early enrolled player.

Photo: Pat Carrigan Texas Sports Monthly

Herman signed talented receiver in Jordan Whittington from Cuero, Texas who can play all three phases of the game. He took over the state championship game and was the MVP on both the defense and offense sides of the ball. He will enroll early in January to show the coaches his playmaking ability to be used in September.

There were many players that were able to benefit from the 4 game rule that allowed players to qualify for a red shirt season. The depth on the Texas team is very deep which adds the idea the talent that Texas has been able to rack up has greatly improved. Ayodele Adeoye played in four games and will likely take over one of the linebackers jobs vacated from Wheeler and Johnson. Pairing him with Floyd will give them a nasty duo. And last season Texas brought in its third ranked class and many players were able to red-shirt the season. Herman has brought in the talent and has shown he can coach them up to the Texas standard. Sam Ehlinger has weapons to take this offense to the playoff where fans think back of Colt McCoy and Vince Young. It’s been ten years since the Horns has been in the national title game will next year have this team in the hunt? September can come back fast enough.

Baker Mayfield 27 Touchdowns Rookie Record.

Written by Charles Branch on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

Lebron James gave Cleveland their first championship after decades of disappointment, but he moved on to the beautiful state of California. The nostalgia of Jim Brown and Bernie Kosar flowed through the Land giving the fans a ray of hope for the future. A hard working town deserves a sports franchise that will excite them from September to all the way to the beginning of February.

On the day of the 26th in April 2018 the Browns under new management, John Dorsey, took a shot on Oklahoma’s Heisman trophy winner and Austin’s own Baker Mayfield with the first pick of the NFL Draft. Scouts were concerned about his brash and cocky attitude. USC’s Sam Darnold was the popular pick and many analysts questioned the move. Why make the move on a kid who was cocky but most of all wasn’t your most physically intriguing prospect? Many compared him to Russell Wilson, but Drew Brees took it upon himself to say he can be a better player eventually than #9 in New Orleans. High praise for a Super Bowl winning quarterback.

The Browns were coming off a winless season but made impressive moves in the offseason to get ready to compete in 2018. They traded for the high volume catcher Jarvis Landry, signed the efficient Tyrod Taylor, and even drafted Georgia’s Nick Chubb who played against Oklahoma in their playoff game a few months before. There was potential brewing.

As expected Tyrod Taylor won first team reps in the off-season. Baker Mayfield waited patiently for his opportunity.

His came in week three for the Browns as Taylor left the game with a concussion and never let go. Of course he faced rookie Jet’s quarterback Sam Darnold who in most cases was the clear cut favorite as the best quarterback in the class. Mayfield took control from a 14-0 hole and led them to their first win on the Thursday night primetime game. He bettered Darnold that night and gave fans a belief that carried through the season.

In the middle of the season head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley were fired when they were derailing the progression of the young rookie since they couldn’t work together. Mayfield teamed up with his new interim head coach and his play caller and believed. Hue Jackson eventually was hired on with the Cincinnati Bengals and Mayfield voiced his opinion about Jackson’s decision to join a team they would play twice a year. He felt betrayed when the coach wanted the team to play for him but joined the team in the same state so he didn’t give Jackson the time of day. He was asked about it. “I didn’t feel like talking… It’s just somebody [who] was in our locker room, asking for us to play for him and then goes to a different team we play twice a year. Everyone can have their spin on it, but that’s how I feel.” Mayfield during the game stared at Jackson after a play and made gesture which were criticized in the media when it wasn’t Jackson’s decision to leave but was forced out of Cleveland. The Browns were able to win twice against the Bengals this season.

In week seventeen the Browns played their final game against the Ravens who were fighting their way into the playoffs as Pittsburgh was watching closely wishing for them to lose so they could sneak in. The game was close to the end Mayfield threw three interceptions and was on the cusp of their first winning season since 2007 before throwing it to a Ravens’ defender. They finished the season 7-8-1.

Mayfield celebrated the best rookie quarterback season throwing 3,725 yards with 27 touchdowns beating out Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson while not playing a full sixteen game schedule. He would have the highest passer rating (93.7) among the top rookie quarterbacks who struggled to even hit 80. Dorsey was the last one laughing.

Lebron left Cleveland in the summer while Mayfield slowly materialized as their new savior in a span of six months. It wasn’t the prettiest of seasons but hope as always was born for Browns fans in Cleveland. A tough kid out of Lake Travis who has had to fight and earn his spot on every team he’s ever played for. Mayfield is a winner and he was able to get the Brown’s out of the losing column and now it’s time to take the next step.

Cowboys-Rams Preview

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – These NFC mainstays’ first playoff meeting since January 1986 in Anaheim, when Eric Dickerson rushed for 248 yards and two TDs in 20-0 win for Rams. Franchises have split eight postseason games. Rams are most frequent playoff opponent for Dallas. …

Cowboys hold training camp in Southern California and have huge local fan base, as America’s Team does everywhere. …

Two elite running backs showcased. Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott won second NFL rushing title, while LA’s All-Pro Todd Gurley led league in TDs and finished third in rushing race. …

Rams All-Pro DT Aaron Donald led NFL with 20 1-2 sacks, nearly twice as many as Cowboys leader Demarcus Lawrence’s 10 1-2. Rams had 41 team sacks to Cowboys’ 39, yet Rams had 97 more sack yards. …

Rams finished third in NFL with 18 interceptions. Cowboys were 26th with just nine, fewest among playoff teams. … Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was Cowboys’ head coach from 2007-10, going 1-2 in playoffs. Veteran defensive mastermind still speaks fondly of Dallas, stays in touch with Jerry Jones. …

Cowboys haven’t won playoff game on road since January 1993. …

Cowboys haven’t won two playoff games in same season since 1995-96 on the way to last Super Bowl title. Dallas beat Seattle last week in wild-card round. …

Cowboys are on five-game losing streak in divisional playoff round. …

Dallas’ next playoff victory will be 36th, tying Pittsburgh for most in NFL history. Patriots enter weekend with 34. …

Win over Seahawks was Dallas’ 62nd playoff game, passing Steelers for most in NFL history. …

QB Dak Prescott hurt Seahawks on ground, rushing for three first downs in fourth quarter and plunging for winning TD. Rams could be similarly vulnerable with subpar rushing defense. …

Cowboys punt returner Tavon Austin spent first five NFL seasons with Rams as first-round pick. He was LA’s leading receiver in 2016, but used largely as ball carrier by coach Sean McVay last season when he couldn’t crack starting receiver group. Traded to Dallas in April. … Rams haven’t won playoff game since 2004-05 season. …

Rams finished tied for NFL’s best record at 13-3 after winning second straight NFC West title, earning bye. …

LA is second team in NFL history to host playoff game in temporary stadium, and first to do it in back-to-back seasons. …

McVay seeking first career playoff victory at 32 years old. He’s led LA to 24 wins in two transformative seasons. …

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) poses for cameras after the NFC wild-card NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. The Cowboys won 24-22. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

Rams are averaging 32.8 points per game against NFC East opponents under McVay. …

Rams went 7-1 at Coliseum this season, losing only to Philadelphia. … LA led NFC with 421.1 yards and 32.9 points per game. …

Gurley expected to play first game in four weeks. He sat out final two regular-season games to rest injured knee, seeks his first career playoff victory. So does QB Jared Goff, who finished fourth in NFL with 4,688 yards passing to earn Pro Bowl selection. …

Backup Rams RB C.J. Anderson rushed for 299 yards in two games with Gurley out. McVay expected to use both backs. …

Donald also led NFL with 25 tackles for loss in self-described best season. Was only unanimous selection for All-Pro team. …

First playoff game with Rams for veterans CB Aqib Talib, CB Marcus Peters, DT Ndamukong Suh. Talib has two career interceptions against Cowboys, returning one 103 yards for TD in 2017.

Eagles-Saints Preview

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.


By The Associated Press

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Saints coach Sean Payton spent part of childhood in Philadelphia, started NFL coaching career as Eagles assistant in 1997 and is 2-0 against Philadelphia in playoffs since getting only head coaching job in New Orleans in 2006. … Eagles coach Doug Pederson played college football at Louisiana-Monroe, which was then known as Northeast Louisiana. … Philadelphia’s 16-15 win at Chicago was closest margin of victory in team’s postseason history. …

Pederson is 4-0 in playoffs. Only Andy Reid has more postseason wins (10) in team history. Pederson is 13-6 in December, January and February. … Eagles are 22-3 when scoring first under Pederson. … QB Nick Foles has led a winning drive in fourth quarter last two playoff games, including Super Bowl. … Foles has thrown multiple TDs in three consecutive playoff games. He is 38 of 46 (82.6 percent) for 431 yards, five TDs, one INT and 132.9 passer rating on third and fourth downs in last four games. …

WR Alshon Jeffery has 18 catches for 301 yards and three TDs in four playoff games. … Leading rusher Josh Adams only played one snap vs. Bears.

Darren Sproles and Wendell Smallwood combined for 21 carries and 40 yards. … DE Michael Bennett has sack in three straight playoff games. …

DT Fletcher Cox has three sacks, two forced fumbles and fumble recovery in past two games vs. Saints. … K Jake Elliott has made eight consecutive field-goal attempts in playoffs, including four from 40-plus yards. …

Foles, Sproles did not play in previous meeting. … TE Zach Ertz has 437 catches, most in NFL history during first six seasons of career. … Eagles’ 44 sacks tied for eighth in NFL. Saints’ 49 sacks tied for fifth. …

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton on the sidelines during the second half of the NFL preseason game between the Houston Texans and the New Orleans Saints at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on August 20, 2016. The Texans beat the Saints 16-9.

Saints are 5-0 at home in playoffs since Payton became coach in 2006, when he won first playoff game as head coach vs. Eagles. …

Saints QB Drew Brees had 74.4 completion percentage (364 of 489), highest single-season percentage in NFL history. Brees led league with 115.7 rating in 2018, ranks first in NFL history in career passing yards with 74,437, completions with 6,586, and ranks second in TD passes with 520. …

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) in action during the first half of the NFL preseason game between the Houston Texans and the New Orleans Saints at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on August 20, 2016.

In five home playoff games, Brees is 116 for 171 (67.8 percent) for 1,529 yards (305.8 per game) and 12 TDs. … Game is Brees’ last before turning 40 on Tuesday. … RB Alvin Kamara ranked second in NFL with 18 scrimmage TDs (14 rushing, 4 receiving) and seventh with 1,592 scrimmage yards in 2018. He has touchdown in each of previous two career playoff games. …

RB Mark Ingram rushed for 97 yards, TD in only career postseason outing on Jan. 4, 2014. … Ingram played in 12 games after starting season on four-game suspension, rushed for 645 yards, six TDs this season. …

WR Michael Thomas led NFL with 125 catches and had franchise single-season record 1,405 yards receiving, surpassing Joe Horn’s 1,399 in 2004. Thomas has 15 receptions for 216 yards, two TDs in two career playoff games. …

DE Cameron Jordan had 12 sacks in 2018, his fourth career 10-plus sack season. He has 3½ sacks, two batted passes in past four postseason games. … LB Demario Davis led team with 110 tackles in first season with Saints. … DT Sheldon Rankins had career-high eight sacks this season.

PHILADELPHIA (10-7) at NEW ORLEANS (13-3)
Sunday, 4:40 p.m. ET, Fox
OPENING LINE — Saints by 10
RECORD VS. SPREAD — Philadelphia 6-9-1, New Orleans 10-6
SERIES RECORD — Eagles lead 17-14
LAST MEETING — Saints beat Eagles 48-7, Nov. 18, 2018
LAST WEEK — Eagles beat Bears, 16-15; Saints had bye, lost to Panthers 33-14 on Dec. 30.
AP PRO32 RANKING — Eagles No. 12, Saints No. 1
EAGLES OFFENSE — OVERALL (14), RUSH (28), PASS (7).
EAGLES DEFENSE — OVERALL (23), RUSH (7), PASS (30).
SAINTS OFFENSE — OVERALL (8), RUSH (6), PASS (12).
SAINTS DEFENSE — OVERALL (14), RUSH (2), PASS (29).

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Sam Ehlinger honors Brees wears Chaps Jersey in Sugar Bowl win.

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in UT FOOTBALL.

By now, Longhorn fans have seen video clips or photographs of Sam Ehlinger paying homage to Drew Brees by donning his throwback Westlake jersey at the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.

What some may not know is that the idea didn’t come from Ehlinger himself, and the jersey wasn’t found at an Austin-area merchandise shop. Instead, the show of respect came about thanks to an alert teammate from Homestead, Florida.

Senior cornerback Davante Davis was walking near Canal Street prior to the game when he spotted the jersey at a retail shop. After a quick text message to an excited Ehlinger, Davis purchased the item, brought it to Ehlinger and the quarterback reimbursed the $90 price tag. 

Ehlinger wore the jersey during a pregame walk into the stadium, and the former Chaparral put in on once again after Texas had completed a 28-21 upset of the highly-touted Georgia Bulldogs. Not even head coach Tom Herman’s strict dress code policy could stop Ehlinger from honoring the NFL’s all-time passing leader.

“Coming into the Superdome, I had to respect Drew because of all the amazing things he’s done in this building,” Ehlinger said. “I honestly wanted to play like him and have a little magic. That was just paying my respect to him.”

Brees was sent a picture of Ehlinger’s tribute and posted his support on Twitter. He said that he was able to catch most of the second half of the Sugar Bowl and gave his Westlake predecessor credit for guiding the Longhorns’ offense.

Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger heads to the locker room before the team’s Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game against Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in New Orleans. Ehlinger wore a high school jersey of Westlake High School graduate and New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees. (Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

“He played big, his team played great, but he was obviously the leader and the catalyst for the team,” Brees said. “I’m happy for his success and he’s a great kid.”

Brees, of course, led Westlake to the 1996 UIL Class 5A state championship before departing for Purdue. Ehlinger left Westlake two decades later and finished his prep career as the program’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.

Brees said he’s known Ehlinger for years and marveled at how the signal caller has handled the spotlight of being the Longhorns’ starter.

“I feel like I’ve seen him grow up a little bit, just knowing him since middle school and high school and some of his goals and aspirations,” Brees said. “I think he’s always envisioned himself being in that position, playing for the University of Texas — the hometown team — and leading them at quarterback. He’s done a phenomenal job of that in his first two years. He’s still young. His future is very bright.”

That opinion is shared by many that watched Ehlinger earn the Sugar Bowl’s Most Outstanding Player award after becoming the first Texas quarterback since Vince Young to rush for three touchdowns in a bowl game.

But even after witnessing Ehlinger rise to national prominence in his own backyard, Brees still seemed more surprised that the sophomore could actually find one of his No. 15 Chaps jerseys.

“Did he have to get that specially made or put a call in to the coach or AD and borrow it?” Brees asked reporters in a press conference the day after the Sugar Bowl. “I don’t know. It was cool.”

Westlake High School has since remedied the problem of a potential lack of inventory. It announced on Jan. 9 that the team store inside Chaparral Stadium has ordered throwback Brees jerseys to sell, as well as versions with Ehlinger’s No. 4 and Nick Foles’ No. 7.

Perhaps Davis should ask for a portion of the proceeds.

Cowboys’ playoff trip to Rams is LA reunion for Tavon Austin

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

By SCHUYLER DIXON, AP Pro Football Writer
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Tavon Austin’s fresh start with the Dallas Cowboys wasn’t much different than the stale final season the versatile receiver endured with the Los Angeles Rams.


The difference is that Austin has a chance to change the feeling — against his former team, in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Cowboys traded for Austin during the draft, but he missed nine games after injuring a groin. While he was out just one game last season under first-year Rams coach Sean McVay, Austin was hampered by wrist and hamstring issues while simply getting buried on the depth chart.
He’s trying not to view Saturday night’s game in LA as a matchup of a team that wanted him against a team that didn’t .


“You’re always going to feel disrespected because you’re getting traded,” Austin said. “If you get traded, evidently you’re not doing something right. Or you ain’t getting it done, or they don’t believe in you. I felt disrespected, but at the end of the day it’s the business side.

FILE – In this Jan. 5, 2019, file photo, Dallas Cowboys’ Tavon Austin (10) returns a punt for a long gain as Seattle Seahawks’ Ed Dickson gives chase during an NFC wild-card NFL football game in Arlington, Texas. Austin’s fresh start with the Cowboys wasn’t much different than the stale final season the versatile receiver endured with the Los Angeles Rams. The difference is that Austin has a chance to change the feeling, against his former team no less, in the divisional round of the playoffs. The Cowboys traded for Austin during the draft, but he missed nine games after injuring a groin. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins, File)


“(McVay) talked to me on the phone about it and told me he was going to give me a chance to go somewhere else and finish my career. And that was good enough for me.”


Austin had the first long play of the season for the Cowboys, a 64-yard touchdown catch from Dak Prescott in a Week 2 win over the New York Giants before getting injured four weeks later. He returned in time for the regular-season finale at New York, setting up a strong showing in the 24-22 wild-card win over Seattle.


An 80-yard punt return for a touchdown was nullified by a holding penalty that didn’t make any difference in Austin breaking free. He added a 51-yard return early in the fourth quarter to set up a drive that ended with Prescott throwing an interception in the end zone.


The Cowboys haven’t had much of a threat in the return game without Austin, and haven’t been able to utilize many gadget plays on offense without the hybrid receiver/runner.


The eighth overall pick in 2013 when the Rams were still in St. Louis, Austin had five disappointing seasons, including the franchise’s first two after moving back to LA. The former West Virginia player heard the “bust” talk, but tried to ignore it. He’s still trying to ignore it.


“Every game is emotional,” Austin said. “Not really a difference between games. It’s just the fact that I played over there for so long. I’m all right. I’m not going to make it a Tavon against the Rams thing.”
It wasn’t so much the Rams wanting to dump Austin as it was simply not having a spot for him two years after he signed a four-year, $42 million extension.


The 28-year-old Austin was a good fit for Dallas because offensive coordinator Scott Linehan likes gadget guys. Linehan just never got to use him much.


“Tavon has the unique ability of making big plays with not playing every game,” Linehan said recently. “He’s going to feel like a guy with fresh legs on the field.”


And Austin has a fresh outlook, even after another stale season marked by an injury that led to career lows in games and catches.
“You always want to show out. That’s the point,” Austin said. “We’ll see when we get over there. Hopefully I do, but if I don’t, hopefully we just get the win.”

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