|
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Custom Yankees Jersey . -- LeGarrette Blount wasnt satisfied with three short touchdown runs, not against a team coming off the second greatest comeback in playoff history. So the 250-pound back who makes long runs routine took off on a 73-yarder and carried the New England Patriots to their third straight AFC championship game with a 43-22 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night. Suddenly, the ground game has replaced Tom Brady as the heart of the Patriots offence. "Once I get into the open field, theyre going to have to chase me," Blount said. "And if they catch me, they do. And if they dont, they dont. They usually dont." They didnt two weeks earlier when he scored on runs of 36 and 35 yards in the regular-season finale against Buffalo. He also returned kickoffs 83 and 62 yards in that 34-20 victory that gave New England a first-round bye. And they didnt on his long touchdown that gave the Patriots (13-4) a 36-22 lead early in the fourth quarter against the Colts (12-6). The Patriots will face the winner of the game Sunday between the Broncos and Chargers. It will be in Denver if the Broncos win, and New England will host it if the Chargers win. "Its just a great achievement," Brady said. "People have counted us out at times this year, but I think weve got a locker room full of believers." Blount tied Curtis Martins team playoff record of 166 yards rushing, on 24 carries, two weeks after rushing for a career-high 189. "Hes got that combination of size, power and quickness and speed," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "He can run hard. He can make guys miss and he can go the distance." Blount scored on three 2-yard runs in the first half, then burst through the right side for his 73-yarder. Once he reached the end zone, he placed the ball gently on the ground made soggy by a game-long rain. On the next series, Luck threw his third interception and the Patriots capitalized with Stevan Ridleys second touchdown run, a 1-yarder that finished the scoring with 11:12 left. "Im just disappointed in myself," Luck said. "I cant commit that many turnovers and have a chance to win against a great team like this." Blount joined Ricky Watters, who had five touchdowns for San Francisco on Jan. 15, 1994, as the only players with four or more in a playoff game. The Patriots six rushing touchdowns tied the 49ers total in that game for second most in playoff history. Blounts performance came two weeks after he ran for 189 yards and returned two kickoffs for 145 in a 34-20 victory over Buffalo in the regular-season finale. Billed as a matchup between quarterbacks -- long-time great Brady and second-year star Luck -- the Patriots leader was content to hand off while Luck threw an interception on his second pass and never found consistency. He threw two touchdown passes to LaVon Brazill but also threw four interceptions. Luck had three interceptions a week earlier but led the Colts from a 38-10 deficit early in the third quarter to a 45-44 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in a wild-card game. "We had our chances, man, to make plays and get our offence back on the field," Colts safety Antoine Bethea said. "Last game, we were able to do that, but it was a great quarterback, a great offence and a great team we were facing (Saturday)." The Colts trailed 21-12 at halftime, then cut the deficit to 29-22 on a 35-yard pass to Brazill with 5:01 left in the third. The Patriots dominated the rest of the way. "We just had to keep our foot on the gas pedal," Blount said, "and make sure that they didnt to us what they did to Kansas City." Blounts first touchdown came on New Englands first offensive play after Alfonzo Dennards interception. He scored again on the Patriots second series. Luck responded with a 38-yard touchdown pass to Brazill. Former Patriot Adam Vinatieri set an NFL record with his 59th post-season extra point, making it 14-7. Blounts third touchdown came 4:06 into in the second quarter before Vinatieris 36-yard field goal made it 21-10. The Colts got a break late in the first half when Danny Aikens snap sailed over punter Ryan Allens head, ending up in a safety. The Patriots also got a break that the Colts didnt get a touchdown out of it after Allen failed to concede the safety. Allen fumbled into the air and Indianapolis Jeris Pendleton slapped the ball out of the end zone. "Ryan probably wasnt sure how close they were to him," Belichick said. Allen hurt his shoulder on the play and placekicker Stephen Gostkowski punted the rest of the game. Brady took over Allens holding duties. Indianapolis got the ball on the free kick, but the drive ended with Lucks second interception. Vinatieris 21-yard field goal early in the third quarter made it 21-15. Then the Patriots took a 29-15 lead on Ridleys 3-yard run and his carry for a 2-point conversion. But Luck came right back with his second touchdown pass to Brazill. "We didnt accomplish the ultimate goal," Colts running back Donald Brown said, "but there are definitely some positives to look back on." Brady completed 13 of 25 passes for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Luck was 20 for 41 for 331 yards. Notes: Former NBA star Charles Barkley was in the Patriots locker room after the game. "Im a big fan of his," Belichick said. ... A moment of silence was held for 17-year-old Sam Berns of Foxborough, whose battle with a rare and fatal genetic condition that accelerates the aging process inspired Patriots players and was the subject of an HBO documentary "Life According to Sam." He died Friday. He had been invited by Patriots owner Robert Kraft to be the teams honorary captain Saturday. Bernie Williams Jersey . -- Quinn OBrien scored three times in the third period as the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies beat the host Chicoutimi Sagueneens 7-3 on Friday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Derek Jeter Yankees Jersey . Coverage kicks off from Philadelphia on Thursday as Hustler and Lawless tee up the action with a preview show. First round coverage starts on Friday at 3pm ct, as Hustler and Lawlesss and the Illegal Curve Hockey Show are live from the draft floor and continues on Saturday of rounds two through seven at 9am ct. WASHINGTON -- Milwaukee starter Kyle Lohse didnt need many words to sum up his effort in Friday nights 4-2 win at Washington. "It was survival," he said. Lohse limited the Nationals to one run over seven innings despite giving up 10 hits and allowing at least one base runner in every inning. "I think it was five out of seven innings that got led off with a hit. I was thinking about starting off innings out of the stretch, but I didnt want to let everybody know I was aware of it," Lohse joked. Scooter Gennett and Khris Davis homered to help the Brewers take the series opener between division leaders. Aramis Ramirez added a two-run single for the NL Central leading Brewers. Lohse (10-4) picked up his first win since June 22 as Washington went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position. "Thats being able to make pitches and battle when youre not completely on your game," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. Lohse threw 103 pitches. He struck out three without a walk Milwaukee shortstop Jean Segura was back in the lineup, a week after the death of his 9-month-old son, and went 1 for 4. He received a warm ovation from the Nationals Park crowd prior to his first at-bat. "It was amazing, you know, it was amazing," Segura said of the acknowledgement. "When a player has that experience, (is in) that position, its tough. They know how difficult this game is and how hard we go out there and compete" Bryce Harper, struggling since returning from a left thumb injury had a homer and two singles for Washington, which began play percentage points ahead of Atlanta in the NL East. "I think hes stood up just a touch more to get on top of the baseball. Lowered his hands a little bit, probably a little more direct to the ball. He worked on that over the break," manager Matt Williams said. "He looked good up there tonight." Francisco Rodriguez gave up Harpers ninth-inning homer, but picked up his 28th save. Stephen Strasburg (7-7) allowed four runs on seven hits. He struck out nine in seven innings. Washington had won 10 of 14 coming in while the Brewers had dropped 11 of 13, but it was Milwaukee that started fast. The Brewers got solo homers from GGennett in the first inning and Davis in the second. Ichiro Suzuki Jersey. In the fourth, Strasburg issued a two-out walk to Gennett and Ryan Braun doubled him to third. Ramirez then blooped a single, scoring both runners to make it 4-0. "I got in off Ramirezs hands hard and he just dumped it out there in right," Strasburg said. "That was the one that was really frustrating." Strasburg, who allowed seven runs in 4 2-3 innings June 25 in Milwaukee, had given up just five earned runs in 20 1-3 innings in his three starts since. The Nationals pulled to within 4-1 on Ian Desmonds RBI double. An obstruction call briefly delayed the first inning. After Denard Span led off with a single, Anthony Rendon followed with a grounder to shortstop. Span beat the throw to second and was initially called safe, and second baseman Gennetts relay throw got Rendon at first. However, second base umpire Angel Campos called Span out for obstruction as Span came up into Gennett after his slide. Williams argued and the umpires huddled. Span remained out but Rendon was ruled safe at first because Spans obstruction created a dead-ball situation. "I think they got it wrong, but I cant tell you the ruling on it because Ive never seen it before," Roenicke said. "(Crew Chief Bill Miller) said once the umpire calls him safe and then calls the interference it becomes a dead ball." NOTES: Segura had gone back to the Dominican Republic after the death of his son, Janniel, last Friday, and rejoined the team Thursday. ... Williams said RHP Jordan Zimmermann, who left his last start in the fourth inning due to a right biceps cramp, will pitch a bullpen session Saturday and is tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday at Colorado. ... RHP Tanner Roark (8-6, 3.01) will pitch Saturday against Milwaukees Matt Garza (6-6, 3.69). LHP Gio Gonzalez had been scheduled to pitch for Washington, but missed Thursdays team workout -- and his bullpen session -- when one of his flights was cancelled, according to Williams. Gonzalez threw a bullpen session Friday and will pitch Sunday. ... The Nationals announced they have agreed to terms with right-hander Erick Fedde, the 18th overall pick in the 2014 draft. cheap jerseys from china cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
