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Browns Contemplate ’23 Without Chubb

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CLEVELAND – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb will undergo season-ending knee surgery, coach Kevin Stefanski said. The Browns believe Chubb injured multiple ligaments in his knee during Monday’s 26-22 setback to the host Pittsburgh Steelers.

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“Like we talked about last night, Nick has a knee injury that will require surgery that will end his season,” Stefanski said in a Zoom call Tuesday. “… Very disappointed for Nick. He means a lot to this team, he means a lot to this organization. So, he will be missed but he will bounce back, I have no doubt of that.”

Stefanski confirmed Jerome Ford will serve as the featured back while the team looks to add another rusher. As for possibly reconnecting with free-agent Kareem Hunt, who was Cleveland’s second-leading rusher last season, Stefanski said the following:

“We’re [in the] early stages at looking at different options right now, so I can’t really speak on to anybody specific.”

Chubb rushed up the middle for a gain of 5 yards with 14:14 left in the second quarter and was in the process of being tackled by Pittsburgh linebacker Cole Holcomb when safety Minkah Fitzpatrick dropped his shoulder and ran directly into Chubb’s left knee.

The hit by Fitzpatrick caused Chubb’s leg to bend, and Chubb sat up and grabbed his knee and could be heard yelling in anguish through the field microphones.

Chubb, 27, rushed for 64 yards on 10 carries before exiting. He has 170 yards on 28 carries this season.

The four-time Pro Bowl selection topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons, including a career-high 1,525 last season. Chubb had 996 yards as a rookie in 2018 before beginning his streak of 1,000-yard seasons.

Ford, 24, replaced Chubb on Monday and gained 106 yards on 16 carries and also caught a touchdown pass. Pierre Strong also ran for a touchdown for the Browns (1-1), who host the Tennessee Titans (1-1) on Sunday.

Hunt, 28, had 468 yards and three touchdowns on 123 carries during the 2022 campaign, also hauling in 35 catches for 210 yards and a score.

–Field Level Media

Dolphins Hold on For Win Over Patriots

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Miami’s RB Raheem Mostert rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns, and the Miami Dolphins held on for a 24-17 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday night.

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Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa completed 21 of 30 passes for 249 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Tyreek Hill was limited to 40 receiving yards but had the lone touchdown catch for Miami (2-0).

Patriots’ QB Mac Jones completed 31 of 42 passes for 231 yards, one touchdown and one interception for New England (0-2). The Patriots have lost their first two games of the season for the first time since 2001.

New England pulled within 17-10 with 11:21 to go in the fourth quarter. Jones rolled right and found Hunter Henry, who caught a 6-yard pass for his second touchdown in as many weeks.

Miami responded with a touchdown to increase its lead to 24-10 with 8:45 remaining. Tagovailoa took the snap out of the shotgun formation and quickly handed the ball to Mostert, who found daylight and sprinted 43 yards for his second touchdown of the game.

Once again, the Patriots tried to claw back. Rhamondre Stevenson punched in a 2-yard rushing touchdown up the middle with 5:25 remaining to finish a nine-play, 75-yard drive.

The Patriots’ final drive stalled at the Dolphins 30-yard line after a wild play in which Mike Gesicki caught a pass and tossed a lateral to offensive lineman Cole Strange. The 310-pound Strange tried to muscle past the first-down marker, but officials ruled that he was down just shy of the line to gain after a replay review.

The Dolphins opened the scoring with three minutes left in the first quarter on a 23-yard field goal by Jason Sanders.

Miami made it 10-0 with 9:39 to go in the second quarter. Mostert cut toward his left and outraced a Patriots defender for an 8-yard score.

New England got on the scoreboard with a 49-yard field goal by Chad Ryland with 1:49 remaining in the first half.

Miami answered with 11 seconds to go before the break to increase its lead to 17-3. Tagovailoa zipped a pass to Hill, who caught it in stride just across the goal line for a 2-yard touchdown.

–Field Level Media

Miami: Tough Opponent for Patriots

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FOXBORO – A prolific performance on offense in their season opener propels the Miami Dolphins into a visit to the New England Patriots on Sunday night at Gillette Stadium, near Boston.

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Miami (1-0) captured the league’s attention with 536 total yards in a 36-34 road win against the Los Angeles Chargers. They could become the fourth team in NFL history to put up 500-plus yards in their first two games of the season.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa passed for 466 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener, and he promptly was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. He completed 11 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns to wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

Miami head coach Mike McDaniel offered another key statistic: Zero.

That’s how many yards and points the Dolphins can bring with them from Week 1.

“Literally, zero,” McDaniel deadpanned. “I checked with the league. We can’t take the points from last game and put them in the points of this game.

“So it was a really, really cool little thing that you’ll look back on. And that night, as a team, it felt nice to see some of those rewards. But the goal this offseason, the goal for these guys’ lives wasn’t like, ‘Man, I’m going to have a good game.’ So you have to keep that in perspective.

“But I’m excited to see what they do with that moving forward.”

It will not be easy against New England (0-1), which is coming off a hard-fought, 25-20 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1. The Patriots trailed 16-0 after the first quarter but rallied to give themselves a chance for a late victory.

Mac Jones completed 35 of 54 passes for 316 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for the Patriots. Kendrick Bourne caught two touchdown passes and Hunter Henry hauled in one.

“We’ve already talked about what we can do better, and just going out there and trying to do it is a challenge,” Jones said. “But that’s the fun part about the game. You get a chance to learn from your mistakes and then go out there, and it’s going to come up again.”

Jones and his teammates on the Patriots spent this week preparing for a Dolphins defense that now is led by veteran coordinator Vic Fangio. His defensive style relies heavily on zone schemes rather than man-to-man coverages.

“I have a ton of respect for Vic as a coach and what he’s done,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said.

The Dolphins’ offense will match up against a New England defense that produced three sacks, three tackles for loss, four pass break-ups, four quarterback hits and a fumble recovery in Week 1.

Ja’Whuan Bentley led the team with nine tackles, while rookie Christian Gonzalez had seven tackles to go along with a sack, a tackle for loss and a pass break-up.

McDaniel, who is hopeful left tackle Terron Armstead returns after missing Week 1, praised the Patriots’ defense and Belichick, its longtime architect.

“It’s amazing that the orchestration of the defense is so consistent, so fundamentally consistent and sound,” McDaniel said. “Very, very detailed. And the leader of the ship was at the same job when we were all like, ‘What’s an iPod?’

“The coolest part about what they do is it’s not because they’re entitled. It’s because they work at stuff. You can really see it.”

Armstead practiced Thursday without what had become an accustomed non-contact jersey, a sign he could play Sunday night.

Miami has won four of the past five meetings with the Patriots. The Dolphins lead the all-time series, 59-53.

–Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Sept 17th

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – The NBA Board of Governors did it. They voted in a new policy (set of rules) to curb the “load management” issue the league has been wrestling with since the ‘80s.

Here is the league statement issued earlier this week:

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NEW YORK – (Official NBA News Release) – The NBA Board of Governors approved a new Player Participation Policy, which is intended to promote player participation in the NBA’s regular season. The new policy will take effect with the start of the 2023-24 regular season and enhance and replace the Player Resting Policy, which was implemented prior to the 2017-18 season.

The Player Participation Policy primarily will focus on star players. A star player for purposes of the policy is any player who, in any of the prior three seasons, was selected to an All-NBA Team or an NBA All-Star team. This definition also applies, following a given season’s All-Star Game, to any player who is named an All-Star during that season.

Under the policy, unless a team demonstrates an approved reason for a star player not to participate in a game, then, among other things, the team must:

  • Manage its roster to ensure that no more than one star player is unavailable for the same game.
  • Ensure that star players are available for all national television and NBA In-Season Tournament games.
  • Maintain a balance between the number of one-game absences for a star player in home and road games.
  • Refrain from any long-term “shutdowns” in which a star player stops playing games.
  • If resting a healthy player, ensure that the player is present at the games and visible to fans.

The policy includes exceptions for injuries, personal reasons and pre-approved back-to-back restrictions based on a player’s age, career workload or serious injury history.

If you recall, I pontificated on load management in a prior column.

That said, I’m still awaiting load management guidelines from the NHL, as their players play one line and sit and rest for two or three others while the goal-keepers often alternate games.

I’m awaiting the PGA Tour’s load management to address the fact most players can take weeks or consecutive weeks off, or play only at course that suits their game.

I’m awaiting MLB’s system for regulating star catchers who rarely catch consecutive games, never a doubleheader as rare as they are these days. Or, how about a few more Shohei Ohtani’s to play a position and pitch at least a game a week?

How about 11 NFL football players per team who only play on one side of the ball? Pansies!

It seems to me, only the NBA players are criticized for sitting out now and then after having the living daylights beaten out of them by strong defensive players, then traveling for a game the next night or the night after.

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HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Hope is an amazing and powerful human element. It is one of the two most powerful and lasting human conditions – hope and love. … There are thousands of “love songs” but fewer about “hope.”

“Don’t Stop Believing,” by Journey comes to mind. As does, “Land of Hope and Dreams,” by Bruce Springsteen. “I Will Survive” was a song empowering women in the late 1970s and Gloria Gaynor nailed it.

This week, as the 8,040th day passed from September 11, 2001 to September 11, 2023, we mouned once again. That’s 22 years of mourning, of time passing by from the day terror hit New York City, Wash DC, and the sticks of Pennsylvania with the attacks that resonating around the world.

Each year, we learn about another story, another family, another Ground Zero responder falling to cancer from that steaming pit of terror in downtown Manhattan. Each year, the surviving family members pay tribute to their loved ones, telling stories of their lives without their hero. It’s hard and it gets harder every year as some of the newborns or yet-to-be-borns turn 21 or 22 years of age. It’s gut-wrenching.

Every year since moving to Boston and learning of “the man in the red bandana,” known to all as Welles Crowther, a Nyack, NY bred lacrosse player who attended Boston College and accepted a job at Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P., which was a full-service investment banking firm and broker specializing in the financial services sector. Crowther always wanted to work on Wall Street, said his mother, Allison, to Tom Rinaldi of ESPN. But, Welles confided in his late father, Jefferson, that he’d go crazy looking at a computer screen for the rest of his life, noting his true calling was as a firefighter, a vocation or a calling he wanted to pursue in the City of New York. He’d already been training as a junior fire fighter in his hometown of Nyack, just north of the city in Rockland County.

Most know Welles’ story. If you don’t, please visit HERE.

In viewing and re-viewing the various features and September 11, 2001 accounts, I learned this year of the fact a few of the injured workers from offices high in the World Trade Center were sitting on the floor, as low as possible, avoiding smoke and intense heat from flames all around them.

They had given up hope. Some chose to jump, as told by my Holy Trinity HS classmate, Tom Junod in Esquire.

How could you ever blame them as they were experiencing unimaginable horror and were also physically injured, some in wheel chairs and unable to walk. They’d given up hope until they encountered Welles Crowther – who spoke to them in calm, confident and definitive terms.

At least a dozen people were motivated enough to follow Crowther to the ONLY open staircase and the only path to a life-saving descent to the lower floors where fire fighters met them and escorted most to safety.

I thought about it again today, as the Boston College football Eagles took to their Chestnut Hill field to play No. 3 ranked Florida State, an expected, one-sided outcome of an Atlantic Coast Conference match-up that was tagged by BC as “The Red Bandana Game.”

On September 14, 2014, this columnist was fortunate enough to experience the inaugural “Red Bandana” game, a first for Alumni Stadium at BC. The opponent? The No. 9th ranked PAC-12 powerhouse, USC. The score? Boston College 37, USC 31. The contest was among the most exciting sporting events I’ve ever witnessed in person. How could it not be?

I remember, being new to Newton/Chestnut Hill back at that time, and watching this Boston College video. It sent shivers up my spine. Please notice the written script, rather than spoken words. I would place this on my MUST WATCH list.

Saturday marked the 2023 version of “The Red Bandana Game” and the BC Eagles came out fighting, taking a 7-0 first quarter lead and trailed by only seven, 17-10, at the half. Hope dwindled at the 11:20 mark of the third quarter with No. 3 Florida State leading 31-10.

That’s just not the way it goes at Boston College on “Red Bandana Game” day. Look up and 31-10 became 31-16, then 31-22 and 31-29 by the 5:19 mark of the fourth quarter.

“This is winnable,” wrote a friend of BC whose daughter graduated two or three years ago.

It was not.

Boston College fell short, but they did what Welles Crowther did for at least a dozen people. They had hope, showed hope. Hope was on display today. Certainly nowhere near the length Crowther was to endure, as it says in John:15 – “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his fellow man” which was later edited to say “friends” instead of fellow ma. That is a passage not lost by the late Jefferson Crowther’s telling of his son’s story.

It wasn’t lost on September 11, 2023.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND —> TIDBITS: The ever-helpful D1-Ticker noted former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Robert Orr argued the NCAA’s current transfer restrictions violate antitrust law, writing: “After all, it’s the collective power of the NCAA and those 1200 institutions who have imposed punitive limitations on these student-athletes by limiting their ability to transfer. Of course, these limitations apply to absolutely no one else who walks the campus halls or treads on the sports fields of the universities. Administrators, coaches, professors, other students, literally everybody, can jump to a new school with no punitive limitation – except students wanting to play college sports governed by the NCAA. As much as athletes transferring may irritate the schools and fans, there is a fundamental right to do so without any sort of punishment or limitation.” Orr has a point, wouldn’t you say? …

BOSTON BRUINS @ 100: The Boston Bruins unveiled three commemorative Centennial jerseys to be worn during the club’s 100th year, to be celebrated this season of 2023-24. The new jerseys – which were unveiled live during the Centennial Takeoff fashion show event at Logan Airport’s JetBlue hangar – include a new primary home and away look, as well as a vintage alternate expected to be worn for select Original Six® matchups during the coming season.

Developed in conjunction with adidas and the National Hockey League, the Bruins’ Centennial uniform collection pays homage to the club’s 100-year history with both unique and nostalgic highlights. The home and away jerseys carry elements of recent black-and-gold sweaters, but with a festive twist, featuring sparkling “Centennial gold” in place of the traditional Bruins gold. Meanwhile, the alternate jersey, which features brown and gold, is inspired by vintage sweater designs from the club’s origins. All three styles will include a commemorative Centennial patch worn on the right shoulder to mark the historic milestone.

“For reaching such a monumental milestone – our 100th year – we really wanted to do something special with the sweater,” said Bruins President Cam Neely, in a club news release. “(We’re introducing) three bespoke jerseys, each featuring an original crest design as well as unique elements meant to honor a century of Bruins hockey.”

A spin-off of the recent black and white home and away jerseys worn by the Bruins, the Centennial primary uniforms feature new crests, coloring and striping. For the first time since the early 1990s, the club’s primary uniforms are adorned with complementary team crests – a gold-trimmed Spoked-B on the home uniform and a black-trimmed Spoked-B on the road uniform.

Whooo!

NLL DRAFT: One of the great, un-sung events of the sporting calendar, the National Lacrosse League Draft took place this weekend, near Hamilton, Ontario (Canada).

The top lacrosse prospects from North America took the next step in their careers today as the National Lacrosse League conducted its annual Entry Draft, this year held at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre (TRAC).

Hearing their names called first were Dyson Williams (Oshawa, Ontario) by the Albany FireWolves, Adam Poitras (Whitby, Ontario) by the Las Vegas Desert Dogs and Callum Jones (Burlington, Ontario) by the New York Riptide.

The rest of the first round of the 2023 NLL Draft:

(4) Vancouver (from Las Vegas), Payton Cormier (Oakville, Ontario)

(5) Panther City (from Saskatchewan), Ryan Sheridan (Victoria, B.C.)

(6) Georgia, Toron Eccleston (Calgary, Alberta)

(7) Vancouver (from Philadelphia), Brock Haley (Brooklin, Ontario)

(8) Georgia (from Panther City), Jacob Hickey (Toronto)

(9) Vancouver (from Rochester via Las Vegas), Brayden Laity (Maple Ridge, B.C.)

(10) New York (from Halifax), Jake Stevens (Puslinch, Ontario)

(11) Calgary, Bennett Smith (Edmonton, Alberta)

(12) Saskatchewan (from Toronto), Levi Anderson (Calgary, Alberta)

(13) San Diego, Matthew Wright (Oakville, Ontario)

(14) Albany (from Colorado), Nicholas Volkov (Milton, Ontario)

(15) Rochester (from Buffalo), Graydon Hogg (Oshawa, Ontario)

(16) *Rochester (from Calgary), Ben MacDonnell (Oshawa, Ontario)

(17) *Albany, Zachary Young (Oshawa, Ontario)

(18) *Vancouver (from Saskatchewan via San Diego and Philadelphia), Connor O’Toole (Brampton, Ontario)

(19) *Georgia (compensatory selection), Kaleb Benedict (Onondaga, Ontario)

“We recognize the importance of this day to the players selected in the NLL Entry Draft,” said NLL Commissioner Brett Frood. “For our franchises, it is a chance to build and reinforce their rosters, and for fans it’s a peek at the next generation of NLL stars.”

If you haven’t noticed, take a look at the hometowns, cities, provinces and native country of ALL of the players.

Bruni

BRUNI: Speaking as a former NBA spokesperson, we recently learned of the death of one of our own, Ms. Brunilda B. Gill-Nelson, known to many of us as the beloved, “Bruni Gill.” Ms. Nelson passed away September 4, 2023, most likely from complications from a stroke suffered in 2021. These notices are coming far too often. Friends and family will gather on September 30, 2023 and the family requested, “that everyone please come in color as the family will be dressed in blue. The celebration of life will begin at 10am (ET) and a memorial service starts a 11am at Elmwood United Presbyterian Church, 35 Elmwood Avenue, in East Orange, NJ 07018. … If you didn’t know Bruni, you never entered the NBA office at 645 Fifth Avenue. Hired as a receptionist, Bruni was a beacon for everyone who entered the office. Whether an employee – she knew every single employee’s name and what they did for a living – or a league sponsor, or vendor, or Olympic Tower worker, or player or team GM, or team/franchise owner – Bruni greeted you with a positive vibe, a sincere hello, accompanied by a smile that only Earvin “Magic” Johnson could match. Bruni was later promoted to the NBA Events Department where she performed miracles of event management with her colleagues, proven time-after-time-after-time again. No matter what the issue, Bruni was there and ready to solve it or help solve it. … Without a doubt, she is a Top 5 hire in NBA history – any office, any department, or at any team. There is no one who would dispute that fact. God Bless Bruni, Rest-in-Peace-and-Love with an entire organization and league’s support and condolences to the family. (Note: If you’d like further information or to contribute to the fund to support the memorial service, visit: HERE).

PARTING WORDS & MUSIC: Sometimes I wonder. When someone with the lifetime credentials of a Bruni Gill heads to the Pearly Gates, just what does St. Peter think and do?

A song by Elton John contemplates that situation. It hails from his glorious “Tumbleweed Connection,” and was written about a soldier of war passing to the other side.

This one is dedicated to our Bruni with the thought that if St. Peter needs a new receptionist, I’ve got just the beautiful soul to help out.

Here are buds Rich Pagano (Drums and Vocals), Jeff Kazee (Keyboard) and John Conte (Bass) doing their interpretation of the great “Early Elton” epic:

NFL: Week Two | Game Previews

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NFL Previews: Week Two

(Staff and Wire Service Report)

Green Bay at Atlanta: GB QB Jordan Love enjoyed life on the road in the opener — three TD passes in a 38-20 win over the Bears — and matches up with Desmond Ridder at Atlanta in his encore performance. The Packers’ traveling party might look a little different due to injuries. RB Aaron Jones, WR Christian Watson and LB Quay Walker (concussion) were all iffy late in the week. Ridder ran a no-risk offense to notch a win over the Panthers. The Falcons are more grind than glitter, but flashy rookie RB Bijan Robinson has Green Bay’s attention as part of a tandem with RB Tyler Allgeier (two TDs in Week 1).

Las Vegas at Buffalo: LV WR Jakobi Meyers caught a pair of TD passes last week but was in concussion protocol as the Raiders got ready for the angry Bills, who dropped their opener to the Jets in overtime thanks to four turnovers. Las Vegas enjoyed the debut of Jimmy Garoppolo, who is 4-1 all-time against the AFC East. The Bills are accustomed to seeing a more comfortable Josh Allen at home. He had 21 TDs (one rushing) in home games in 2022 (Lions QB Jared Goff led the NFL with 23). Allen admitted he was careless with the deep ball, leading to three interceptions in Week 1. He’ll continue to look for WR Stefon Diggs, who had 6-115 in his last game against the Raiders. Las Vegas looks to balance its offense with RB Josh Jacobs. Still getting into gear after skipping the preseason due to his contract status, he extended his active streak in Week 1 to 26 games with 50-plus yards from scrimmage.

Baltimore at Cincinnati: Cincinnati is looking to bounce back from a 24-3 loss to the host Browns in Week 1. Facing Myles Garrett and an intense Cleveland pass rush in the rain, Joe Burrow and the Bengals could never get the offense in gear, recording just 142 yards of total offense. Burrow had 82 passing yards. The Ravens beat the visiting Texans 25-9 in their home opener, sacking C.J. Stroud five times and holding Houston to just 268 yards of total offense. The Bengals are trying to avoid a repeat of last year’s 0-2 start before winning 12 of their final 14 games to end the regular season and capture their second straight AFC North title. The Bengals also started 0-3 in the division before turning things around. Baltimore is banged-up and has already lost starting RB J.K. Dobbins for the 2023 season, due to an injured Achilles’ heel.

Seattle at Detroit: Lions QB Jared Goff has gone 359 straight pass attempts without getting picked off. That is the third-longest streak in NFL history behind only Aaron Rodgers (402) and Tom Brady (399). Detroit (1-0) missed the 2022 playoffs thanks in part to a shootout loss to the Seahawks. Seattle beat the Lions 51-29 late in the 2021 season and left Detroit last season with a 48-45 triumph. Blocking — and personnel up front — are top-level concerns for the Seahawks. Neither starting offensive tackle is expected to be available due to injury. That’s tough news when contending with Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson, who had eight hurries of Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes in the opener.

Indianapolis at Houston: Top draft picks and QBs of the future Anthony Richardson (Colts) and C.J. Stroud (Texans) tangle for the first of what is likely many division meetings with the losing team dropping to 0-2. These teams tied under different circumstances to open the 2022 season and made coaching changes in the offseason. Each coach preached this week about the importance of avoiding dangerous hits. The Ravens sacked Stroud five times, tied for the third-highest total from Week 1. Richardson absorbed four sacks plus additional blows while scrambling for 40 yards and a touchdown, but left the game on the final drive after being blasted trying to run for another TD inside the 5.

Kansas City at Jacksonville: The Jaguars and Chiefs meet for the third time in less than a year, with Jacksonville looking for its first win over Kansas City since 2009. The Chiefs beat Jacksonville in the divisional playoffs in Kansas City in January. Kansas City expects to be closer to full strength than Week 1, with DT Chris Jones (contract-related) and TE Travis Kelce (knee) absent. Both are shooting to play. Jacksonville used a 14-point flurry in 1:05 in the fourth quarter to separate from the Colts last week. WR Calvin Ridley had 101 yards and a TD in his first game with the Jaguars. In QB Patrick Mahomes’ only game at Jacksonville, he posted 378 yards and three TD passes, and the Jaguars have never held him under 300 yards in three career meetings.

L.A. Chargers at Tennessee: Titans QB Ryan Tannehill said the offense couldn’t be much worse than it was in a 17-16 loss to the Saints last week. And, well, even if the Chargers don’t say so — allowing 17 pass plays of 15-plus yards to the Dolphins represents a special tier of defensive incompetence. Dinged up WR DeAndre Hopkins (ankle) and Tannehill haven’t had much time to get on the same page. RB Derrick Henry is the constant for Tennessee and posted his 43rd career game with 100-plus yards from scrimmage. The Chargers prepped for Week 2 largely without RB Austin Ekeler (ankle) and top pass rusher Joey Bosa (hamstring). Joshua Kelley picked up the slack with 91 rushing yards last week and QB Justin Herbert has an enviable assortment of weapons that now includes massive rookie WR Quentin Johnston.

Chicago at Tampa Bay: All of the new toys in the Bears’ offense were barely unwrapped in an 18-point loss to the Packers. Justin Fields promises a more aggressive approach pushing the ball downfield to No. 1 WR DJ Moore and Darnell Mooney. Tampa Bay had three takeaways at Minnesota and survived a 150-yard game from Justin Jefferson to beat the Vikings thanks to Baker Mayfield’s two TD passes. Mayfield claims he decoded the Minnesota defensive signals and showed serious grit playing through a shoulder injury. WR Mike Evans caught a TD pass to put the contract drama with the Bucs in the rearview mirror, and he caught three TDs in his last meeting with the Bears. Chicago’s coverage adjustments include finding a replacement for CB Kyler Gordon, who landed on IR with a broken hand.

N.Y. Giants at Arizona: In a league defined by close games — there were eight in Week 1 decided by one score — the Cardinals and Giants fared very differently in 2022. The Giants were 8-4-1 in one-score games and finished with a 9-7-1 record last season. They qualified for the playoffs and saw Brian Daboll in his first season be named NFL Coach of the Year. The Cardinals sustained a debilitating stretch of injuries and were 2-6 in one-score games in 2022. That resulted in a 4-13 record and the firing of head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Neither team fared well in Week 1. The Giants were shut out 40-0 in the largest such loss in the history of their rivalry with the Cowboys and Arizona managed a meager 210 yards in a 20-16 loss to the Commanders. Both teams have health concerns, including Giants LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring) and TE Darren Waller (hamstring).

San Francisco at L.A. Rams: One of the unexpected Week 1 showings was delivered on the road by the Rams’ defense at Seattle, smothering the Seahawks to limit the favored division foe to 14 yards of total offense in the second half. Now they look to beat the 49ers in the regular season for the first time since 2018. Brock Purdy showed no ill effects from offseason elbow surgery, guiding a 30-7 win over the Steelers to improve to 6-0 as a starter in the regular season. Purdy makes his first start against the Rams, who became all too familiar with RB Christian McCaffrey (149 total yards, 2 TDs) in Week 8 last year. Los Angeles hopes to be able to introduce rookie WR Puka Nacua to the 49ers after he had 10 receptions for 119 yards in his debut last week. Nacua was added to the injury report Thursday with an oblique injury.

N.Y. Jets at Dallas: Defense spared the Jets in an overtime thriller with the Bills as the coaching staff scrambles to shake off the emotional toll of losing Aaron Rodgers for the season while feverishly working to ready Zach Wilson. Jets coach Robert Saleh continues to refer to his “championship defense” and the heart of that unit, All-Pro DT Quinnen Williams, could have QB Dak Prescott perspiring considering the Cowboys’ starting guards missed practice time with injuries this week. The Dallas offense barely broke a sweat in Week 1, smacking the Giants 40-0 with touchdowns from their defense and special teams. Pass protection is a worry for New York. The Cowboys had seven sacks against the Giants and LB Micah Parsons had 15 in 2022. Dallas won its final eight home games last season but has lost three consecutive games to the Jets.

Washington at Denver: Denver WR Jerry Jeudy plans to play for the Broncos, who needed a dose of good news on the injury front after a training camp marred by bad breaks. QB Russell Wilson was efficient — 79.4 percent completions, 2 TD passes — in his first game with Sean Payton as head coach but Denver had only six offensive possessions in a loss to the Raiders. Washington’s defense held the Cardinals under 250 total yards and more of the same might be needed as QB Sam Howell makes his first career road start and third overall. The home team in this matchup has won five meetings in a row and Washington coach Ron Rivera has never defeated the Broncos, including a Super Bowl 50 loss when he coached the Panthers. Denver’s rebuilt offensive line gets a test from the Washington D-line comprised almost entirely of first-round picks with Chase Young (neck) back on the practice field and expected to play.

Miami at New England: Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins put up video-game numbers in the Week 1 victory over the Chargers — 466 yards, three TDs — with WR Tyreek Hill hauling in 11-215-2. Tagovailoa wasn’t intercepted in three starts vs. AFC East opponents in 2022. The Patriots have lost four of the past five games with the Dolphins but saw positive signs from their passing game in Bill O’Brien’s return to the play-calling role. QB Mac Jones has two or more TD passes in four consecutive games and boosted his TD-to-INT ratio to 9-1 in his past six home starts with a strong effort against the Eagles last week. Neither team was able to gain consistent traction in the running game last week and the Patriots are fighting multiple injuries to starters up front. It’s reunion day for multiple players. Former Dolphins in New England include WR DeVante Parker, TE Mike Gesicki and DT Davon Godchaux. Current Patriots with Miami ties are OL Isaiah Wynn, WR Braxton Berrios, CB Justin Bethel and DE Chase Winovich.

Florida St. Survives BC Upset Bid

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CHESTNUT HILL – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Florida State’s Jordan Travis threw for 212 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the No. 3 Seminoles held off a ferocious rally to edge Boston College 31-29 on Saturday in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams in Boston.

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The Seminoles (3-0, 1-0 ACC) seemed to put the game out of reach when Travis threw a 4-yard touchdown to Preston Daniel and DJ Lundy found the end zone from the 1 within the first four minutes of the third quarter to take a 31-10 lead.

But, on their annual celebration of life for Welles Crowther, The Man with the Red Bandana, the BC Eagles (1-2) stormed back.

Kye Robichaux rushed for a 1-yard TD with 1:02 left in the third and Khari Johnson recovered a fumble and returned it 8 yards for another score to make it 31-22 with 11:18 left in the game.

Quarterback Thomas Castellanos later capped a nine-play, 95-yard drive with a 7-yard scoring scramble to pull Boston College within two.

The Eagles ended up getting the ball back and made it to their own 40, but Kalen DeLoach’s 14-yard sack forced BC to punt.

Boston College’s defense forced a fourth down to provide a chance for the offense to go win the game, but a face mask penalty gave FSU an automatic first down, and the Seminoles ran out the clock to ward off the upset.

Travis completed 16 of 24 passes, while Trey Benson led the rushing attack with 68 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

Castellanos had 305 yards with a touchdown and an interception on 20-for-33 passing for the Eagles, who committed a program-record 18 penalties that cost them 132 yards. He also ran for 95 yards and the score on 16 carries.

Benson plunged into the end zone from 2 yards out with 1:27 remaining in the first half to send Florida State into the break up 17-10.

Boston College opened the game with a seven-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Castellanos’ 32-yard touchdown pass to Lewis Bond.

Ryan Fitzgerald made good on a 30-yard field goal on the Seminoles’ ensuing possession to make it 7-3, but Liam Connor nailed a 21-yarder with 13:22 left in the second quarter to restore the Eagles’ seven-point advantage.

Just 2:59 later, Travis connected with Jaheim Bell for a 19-yard TD that drew Florida State even at 10.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Drop Another to Blue Jays

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TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Toronto’s Whit Merrifield hit a walk-off infield single with two outs in the 13th inning to lift the host Blue Jays to a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. Merrifield’s chopper to third baseman Rafael Devers against Mauricio Llovera (1-3) scored the designated extra innings runner, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., from third base.

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Boston had taken the lead on an RBI single by Pablo Reyes in the top of the 12th, but Toronto’s Bo Bichette tied the game in the bottom half of the inning with a sacrifice fly.

Toronto’s Chad Green (3-0) earned the win, only issuing an intentional walk in the top half of the 13th.

The Blue Jays tied the game with two outs in the ninth thanks to Daulton Varsho’s two-out RBI triple. Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela initially came in on the ball, and it ended up going over his head.

The Blue Jays (82-67) have won the first two games of the three-game series. Boston (74-75) has lost three straight games overall.

Devers hit a two-run home run for the Red Sox, while Guerrero hit a solo shot for the Blue Jays.

Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt allowed two runs, four hits and three walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.

Boston left-hander Chris Sale allowed one run, two hits and two walks in six-plus innings. He struck out 10.

Wilyer Abreu led off the sixth with a walk and stole second. Devers then hit his 32nd homer of the season.

Guerrero led off the bottom of the seventh with his 24th homer of the season, recording his third consecutive game with a home run.

Josh Winckowski replaced Sale following Guerrero’s long ball and walked three batters to load the bases with two outs. Brennan Bernardino came on in relief to retire pinch hitter Ernie Clement.

Boston’s John Schreiber allowed a one-out single to pinch hitter Cavan Biggio in the ninth, and Biggio took second on a wild pitch. One out later, Varsho ripped his game-tying triple to center.

Plate umpire Jordan Baker left the game following the eighth inning after being hit by two foul balls in the contest.

–Field Level Media

BC’s Tough Task | Red Bandana Game

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CHESTNUT HILL – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – After a pair of dominant performances to start the season, Florida State finds itself among the top three teams in the nation for the first time in six years.

But the third-ranked Seminoles believe they haven’t reached their ceiling just yet, and they will look to continue climbing the ranks on Saturday when they face Boston College in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener at BC.

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Florida State (2-0) rose to No. 3 in the AP poll thanks to a 66-13 shellacking of Southern Miss last Saturday. It marks the Seminoles’ highest ranking since 2017, when they started the season as the third-best team in the country.

Through two games, FSU has outscored opponents 111-37. The Seminoles kicked off the 2023 campaign with a 45-24 victory over LSU on Sept. 3.

Although he is pleased with the progress his team has made just two years removed a stretch of four straight losing seasons, Florida State coach Mike Norvell is focused on avoiding complacency.

“Somebody says that we’re highly rated or highly ranked, whatever you call it, or not. None of that matters,” Norvell said. “It’s about what we’re willing to do when we show up and when we go to work.”

Norvell is eager to begin ACC play with a victory, but he knows that it won’t be easy.

“We understand what we want to achieve and what we want to do. This is a first step when it comes to coming into conference play,” Norvell said. “This is a big game up at BC.”

The Eagles (1-1) will have plenty to play for against FSU.

Saturday marks Boston College’s annual Red Bandanna Game, which honors alumnus Welles Crowther.

Crowther died during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. He was in the South Tower, where, with his red bandanna covering his nose and mouth amidst the smoke, he helped others evacuate the building before it collapsed.

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“We talk to our players about 9/11, about Welles, about the Red Bandanna Game,” BC coach Jeff Hafley said. “We teach them about … why we wear those jerseys. It’s not just to put on a new look. It’s way bigger than that.”

Boston College is bracing for its toughest opponent yet, as the Eagles opened their season with a 27-24 overtime loss to Northern Illinois before bouncing back to pull off a gritty 31-28 win over FCS Holy Cross last Saturday.

“They’re as deep as they’ve been,” Hafley said of the Seminoles. “They’re deep at wide receiver. … Every time you turn on the film, there’s a new guy who looks just as big and just as fast. They’ve got depth at running back.

“And then the quarterback. He’s just gotten better and better. If you turn on the tape from when we played him two years ago, he was young, then he got better and now he’s probably one of the best players in all of college football.”

That quarterback Hafley speaks so highly of is Jordan Travis, who has already thrown for 517 yards with six touchdowns against one interception.

Florida State has won 15 of its 20 all-time meetings with BC.

–Field Level Media

Toronto’s Vlad Hammers Red Sox

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TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Meet a new boss, same as the old boss?

That could be the Boston Red Sox mantra as they plod towards the end of the 2023 season.

Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a three-run home run, Jose Berrios pitched seven strong innings and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Boston Red Sox 3-0 Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.

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The Blue Jays (81-67) ended a four-game losing streak and are 4-4 on a 10-game homestand. They were coming off a four-game sweep by the Texas Rangers.

The Red Sox (74-74) were coming off a split of a doubleheader against the visiting New York Yankees on Thursday. Justin Turner hit two doubles to lead the Boston offense.

Berrios (11-10) allowed five hits and no walks while striking out eight.

Boston right-hander Brayan Bello (12-9) gave up the three-run homer to Guerrero, along with three other hits and one walk in six innings, He had a career-best 10 strikeouts.

Toronto took a 3-0 lead in the third. Alejandro Kirk led off the inning with a check-swing double down the right field line. Kirk was out at third on Daulton Varsho’s grounder to shortstop. Bo Bichette walked with two outs and Guerrero hit his 23rd home run of the season on a blast to left-center field.

Berrios retired 10 straight before Turner doubled for the second time with two outs in the sixth. Alex Verdugo struck out to end the inning.

Masataka Yoshida led off the top of the seventh with a single. He was out at second on Wilyer Abreu’s grounder to first. Berrios ended the inning with a strikeout and a flyout.

Jordan Hicks replaced Berrios and pitched a perfect eighth with one strikeout.

Jordan Romano pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning with two strikeouts to record his 35th save of the season.

Notes: Berrios wore No. 21 in honor of Roberto Clemente, who was celebrated across baseball Friday.

Boston first baseman Triston Casas (sore shoulder) was a late scratch but could play Saturday.

Red Sox reliever Chris Murphy, recalled from Triple-A Worcester, struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh and added a perfect eighth.

–Field Level Media

NFL: Week 2 At a Glance

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CINCINNATI – (Wire Service Report) – The idea that things are not so bad as they seem will be put to the test on Sunday.

Teams suffering a beatdown of 10-plus points in Week 1 rebound to cover the spread at a bettable rate in Week 2, according to statistics beginning with the 2014 season.

We have a primary play and a pair of bonus bets for Week 2.

THE HEADLINER
Ravens at Bengals, 1 p.m. ET Sunday

The line: Bengals (-3.5)

With those Week 1 victims 10-3 against the spread the past two seasons – the Bengals were routed by the Cleveland Browns 24-3 last Sunday – a bounceback effort is coming.

Cincinnati’s potential isn’t even the biggest reason for an optimistic outcome in the Bengals’ home opener.

It’s the Ravens’ lackluster Week 1 victory over the Houston Texans in which their three-headed running back attack (JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill) gained 63 yards on 24 carries.

And Dobbins suffered a season-ending injury.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson led Baltimore with 38 yards on six carries – more impressive than his final passing stats (17 for 22, 169 yards, no TDs and one interception).

Houston held a narrow edge in total yards, 268-265, against Baltimore, which was penalized 13 times for 108 yards and surrendered 242 passing yards to rookie CJ Stroud in his NFL debut.

he Ravens’ defensive backfield is far from healthy and there is trouble on the offensive line.

Early this week, coach John Harbaugh said safety Marcus Williams and offensive linemen Ronnie Stanley and Tyler Linderbaum won’t play in Cincinnati.

After managing only 142 total offense in Week 1 at Cleveland, Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, et al, can’t wait to get into the starting blocks.

Burrow struggled mightily last week, going 14 for 31 for just 82 yards, good for a 52.2 passer rating.

“Nobody is panicking in here,” Burrow said. “Week 1 doesn’t define anybody’s season. Obviously, (we were) not very good out there. … But we’ve been in this spot before, we’ve come back stronger and had a great year, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

After a 1-3 start, the Bengals won 12 of their final 14 regular-season games last season.

The pick: Bengals -3.5

BETTING TRENDS

The key to the weekend is finding the best fit for the Week 1/Week 2 trend.

According to Action Network stats, since the start of the 2014 season, teams that lost by at least 10 points in Week 1 have covered the spread at a 62.9 percent rate in Week 2.

The Panthers, Bengals, Colts, Texans, Steelers, Bears, Seahawks and Giants are the candidates to bounce back.

BONUS COMBO

Another game that fits the trend, along with a player prop to consider.

Saints at Panthers, 7:15 p.m. ET Monday

The line: Saints (-3.5)

In Week 1, the Saints were what was expected of them: a struggling offense without suspended star running back Alvin Kamara and with quarterback Derek Carr in his first game.

That 16-15 win over Tennessee was a home game, but the scene shifts to the road and the Monday Night Football spotlight.

Carolina’s 24-10 setback in Atlanta provided a nice opportunity for rookie quarterback Bryce Young to find his footing against an aggressive defense.

Panthers coach Frank Reich should be able to help Young’s game-planning from Week 1 to Week 2 and the pair can find the right recipe to cover this number against New Orleans.

The pick: Panthers +3.5 but Saints if line goes to (+/- 3.0)

PROP CORNER

Lions RB David Montgomery rushing yards

The Detroit Lions upset the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, and Sunday’s opponent, the Seattle Seahawks, dropped a 30-13 stunner at home to the Los Angeles Rams.

The Seahawks, 5.5-point underdogs, fit the Week 1 blowout/Week 2 rebound model but that’s not the play here.

It’s Montgomery against the Seahawks’ run defense.

Seattle wasn’t awful, statistically anyway, against the Rams running backs – but that’s because LA QB Matt Stafford was carving up the secondary.

If Seattle devotes more attention to its pass defense, the run D will be even more vulnerable.

Montgomery’s workload in KC is the final word here. He carried the ball 21 times, and volume is the king when it comes to player props.

With the winning number of 57+ rushing yards and a game that should stay close throughout, this feels like a relatively easy cover.

The pick: Montgomery over 56.5 yards (available at BetMGM)

– Field Level Media