12-28-2019, 05:59 AM
Aaron Rodgers will get an extra weeks rest for his aching left calf — the one Ndamukong Suh stepped on (more on that later) — thanks to having led the Packers to a fourth consecutive NFC North title and the conferences No. 2 seed.After aggravating his injury and being carted away in the first half, Rodgers returned to hear MVP! chants from the Lambeau Field faithful during Green Bays 30-20 victory over Suhs Detroit Lions on a snowy Sunday in Wisconsin. Rodgers scored on a 1-yard sneak once he came back and finished 17 of 22 for 226 yards passing, including a pair of TD throws and zero interceptions.While Rodgers and the Packers (12-4) made the Lions the NFCs No. 6 seed, just take a look at whos No. 1: Seattle.Yes, the reigning Super Bowl champions 3-3 start is a distant memory, and a 20-6 victory over St. Louis allowed the Seahawks (12-4) to finish atop the NFC West. Since linebacker Bobby Wagner returned from a right foot injury, Seattle is 6-0, allowing an average of 6.5 points.Its been a decade since New England won consecutive NFL championships, the longest stretch without a repeat champion in nearly a half-century of Super Bowls. But Seattle could end that drought.Next weekend, itll be Detroit at Dallas, and Arizona at Carolina in the NFC; Cincinnati at Indianapolis, and Baltimore at Pittsburgh in the AFC.New England and Denver earned the AFCs top two seeds.The Steelers will await word on the status of running back LeVeon Bell, who left Sunday nights AFC North-clinching 27-17 win over the Bengals with a knee injury after getting hit by Reggie Nelson (who got an earful from Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin after the game.)The Lions could face the Cowboys without Suh. His cleat twice wound up on the lower left leg of Rodgers, who then shoved away the 300-plus-pound defensive tackle.Remember: Suh was suspended for two games by the NFL after stomping on the right arm of Green Bays Evan Dietrich-Smith during a Thanksgiving Day game in 2011. (On Sunday, Detroit played without centre Dominic Raiola, who was suspended for stepping on a Bears player last week.)In case you missed it, here are the other top topics after the NFLs 17th — and final — regular-season Sunday:FLOPS: Given a chance to make the playoffs by winning, the Chargers and Falcons flopped. San Diego had more turnovers (two) than points (zero) in the second half of a 19-7 loss to Kansas City, while Atlanta rolled over in a 34-3 defeat against Carolina.BLACK MONDAY: We know Jim Harbaugh is leaving the 49ers. Wholl join him on the way out? Jets coach Rex Ryan and Bears coach Marc Trestman are expected to be let go, Falcons coach Mike Smiths run could be over, too, and Oakland probably will replace interim coach Tony Sparano. Assistants who could get consideration for a top job: Arizonas Todd Bowles and Clevelands Kyle Shanahan.COWBOYS RECORDS: As the NFC East champ Cowboys routed the rival Redskins 44-17, DeMarco Murray broke Emmitt Smiths franchise record for rushing yards in a season by getting to 1,845, and Dez Bryant eclipsed Terrell Owens team mark for touchdown catches in a season by grabbing his 16th. Dallas is only the sixth team since 1978 to go 8-0 in away games — and four of the other five reached the Super Bowl.WERE NO. 1: Well, sort of. While some clubs were concerned with playoff permutations, Tampa Bay was busy letting a lead slip away in a 23-20 loss to New Orleans that gave the Buccaneers the No. 1 overall pick in next years draft. In need of a quarterback, the Bucs could end up with Heisman Trophy winners Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston.WHAT ABOUT WATT: Its been more than a quarter-century since a defensive player won NFL MVP honours (Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor in 1986), and Rodgers might have sealed his second award with his back-from-injury performance Sunday. But Houston defensive end J.J. Watt completed a remarkable individual season in a 23-17 win over Jacksonville, adding three sacks, a forced fumble and a safety. Watts 20 1/2 sacks make him the first player with a pair of 20-sack seasons.___Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich___Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Air Jordan 1 Outlet . The club says its first-choice centre back "underwent medical tests on Wednesday morning" which confirmed he has injured his right hamstring. The injury was caused in the second minute of Tuesdays 4-1 league win over Real Sociedad in the Camp Nou when teammate Sergio Busquets accidentally struck Mascherano just above the knee with an outstretched boot. Discount Air Max 95 Australia . Mike Babcock has turned to the Montreal Canadiens goalie over Roberto Luongo, who backed Canada to a gold medal in Vancouver in 2010, for Canadas final preliminary round game against the ailing Finns. http://www.discountaustraliashoes.com/ch...-fake.html . He was with the New York Jets in 2011 when the NFL locked out their players after they failed to agree on a new contract. Willy went undrafted but was given a look by four NFL teams before heading north. Wholesale Air Max 97 . Not to be outdone, Atletico Madrid bettered its title rivals by demolishing 10-man Getafe 7-0 with Diego Costa returning from injury to score with a brilliant bicycle kick. "It was an almost perfect night," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. Custom Air Force 1 Australia . The Canadian defensive tackle suffered the injury on Monday and had tests done on Tuesday. He was a potential starter on the defensive line but head coach Mike OShea said he wasnt even thinking about the ratio when he got the news.PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. -- Coda Gordon scored twice and added two assists as the Swift Current Broncos downed the Prince Albert Raiders 7-0 in Western Hockey League action on Sunday. Jay Merkley chipped in with two goals, and Dillon Heatherington, Jake DeBrusk and Zac Mackay had a goal apiece for Swift Current (24-18-6), who racked up 31 penalty minutes on 10 infractions. Nathan Burns added three assists. Broncos goaltender Eetu Laurikainen made 35 saves for his third shutout of the season. Nick McBride started in net for the Raiders (22-22-2), but was pulled after allowing four goals on 19 shots through 42:32. Cole Cheveldave stopped 4-of-7 shots in relief. --- WINTERHAWKS 5 CHIEFS 0 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Brendan Leipsic scored twice and added an assist as Portland thrashed Spokane. Chase De Leo, Keegan Iverson, and Oliver Bjjorkstrand also scored for the Winterhawks (30-12-5).dddddddddddd Brendan Burke made 25 saves to pick up his first shutout of the season. Grant Hughson made 35 saves for the Chiefs (27-15-4). Spokane was given 29 penalty minutes on nine infractions, while Portland had 10 penalties totalling 31 minutes. --- AMERICANS 4 GIANTS 0 KENNEWICK, Wash. -- Eric Comrie made 43 saves and the Americans got offensive contributions from four different players en route to shutting out Vancouver. Brian Williams scored his 28th of the season, Beau McCue had a short-handed goal, and Parker Wotherspoon and Jessey Astles each scored for Tri-City (22-21-4). Payton Lee started in net for the Giants (23-16-8), but left the game after 15:39. Lee gave up three goals on just 12 shots. Ryan Kubic stopped 10-of-11 shots in relief. ' ' '