Michael Thomas reached behind a goal post to pull out a flip phone in homage to a memorable touchdown celebration of the past. Benjamin Watson used his touchdown catch to let everyone know that he and his wife are expecting 鈥?and it's going to be twins.That was cause enough for celebration itself on a feel-good weekend for the NFL. So
http://www.saintsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-mark-ingram-jersey , too, was that bettors in Las Vegas and elsewhere finally turned the tables and took the bookies for millions of dollars.They could have just as easily been popping champagne corks at NFL headquarters in New York. A season that began in turmoil has reached its midpoint and the league is riding a new high, with television ratings up and fans filling stadiums to cheer their favorite teams.Suddenly, the NFL is fun once again.It showed Sunday in a shootout in New Orleans that was widely entertaining even without the touchdown props. Then, if any further evidence was needed, it was provided in prime time when Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers squared off in a showdown of quarterback greats.Brady and the New England Patriots won that one, and once again are treating another visit to the Super Bowl as their birthright. Out west, meanwhile, the Rams are trying to win fans again in Los Angeles with a team that could find its way to Atlanta, too.And a new group of exciting young quarterbacks are letting everyone know the future of the sport is in good hands.What could go wrong? Well, plenty
Max Unger Jersey , especially if President Trump takes an interest in the league once again.But these are good times for a league that has taken blow after blow the last few years only to emerge with its position of America's favorite sport safely intact."We're the best," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said at last month's owner meetings. "And I know that's ironic since we've had some criticism, too. But I think that's healthy."What is really healthy are offenses around the league, with scoring at record levels and 27 of 32 teams averaging more than 20 points a game. New rule changes designed to protect the quarterback and free up offenses have worked exactly as planned, despite some grumbling early by players upset they couldn't hit like they did in the past.Healthy indeed. Things are so good that even Roger Goodell couldn't mess it up.Actually, maybe he can. Not many were paying attention, but there were still a few protests during the anthem over the weekend and the issue is one presidential tweet away from blowing up once again.Meanwhile, Colin Kaepernick remains unemployed, something everyone in the league should be ashamed about.For now, though, the attention is on the game itself. And it can be argued that the game has never looked better.There's no confusion anymore about when a catch is really a catch
Authentic Sheldon Rankins Jersey , and even Clay Matthews of the Packers seems to have figured out how and when to safely take down the opposing quarterback.There are dominant teams on both coasts, and a few high scoring games that are reminiscent of the old American Football League. The concussion issue has subsided, though the disturbing fact remains players are still suffering from them 鈥?at great risk to their long term health.Even fans of the hapless Cleveland Browns have something to be happy about with a couple of wins and a couple coaches fired. They also have a franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield and a potential upside that's the envy of better teams.It didn't happen exactly by design. A lot of the NFL's good fortune is due to good luck and an unwillingness of fans to let go of their favorite sport despite its many flaws.There still is no real grand plan to end the protest debate, no long term solution to the fact football played at the highest level can shorten lives. The officiating continues to get in the way 鈥?often at just the wrong time 鈥?and there's a real chance games aren't played when the current collective bargaining agreement expires and players finally make a stand for guaranteed contracts.For now, though, those are distant threats. The league remains the most popular in the country by far, and the addition of legalized betting around the country will boost it even more just like fantasy football has done in recent years.What once looked like a season lost is now looking like a season to remember._Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at
[email protected] or ://timdahlberg Dak Prescott desperately scrambled for a first down in a game of fourth-quarter keepaway, then took three knees starting from the New Orleans 1 to run out the clock by the narrowest possible margin.Anything to keep Drew Brees and the NFL's highest-scoring offense on the sideline.Ezekiel Elliott scored the only Dallas touchdown on a 16-yard screen pass and the Cowboys stifled Brees and the Saints, ending New Orleans' 10-game winning streak with a 13-10 victory Thursday night.The Cowboys (7-5) won their fourth consecutive game and assured they will at least remain tied for the NFC East lead.The Saints (10-2) were shut out in the first half, had their fewest points in three years and finished with a season-low 176 yards. They missed a chance to perfectly match Dallas from two years ago, when then-rookie sensations Elliott and Prescott won 11 straight after dropping the opener."Everybody knew it. We had to keep the ball away from Brees
Youth Tyeler Davison Jersey ," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "We needed to play this kind of game. I must tell you, the defense played beyond my expectations. They played like a championship defense."Brees had his fewest yards passing in a first half since joining the Saints in 2006 with 39, and couldn't get a potential winning drive going in the final minutes.Instead, Jourdan Lewis' interception 鈥?just the third for Brees while he became the NFL's first with at least 30 TD passes in 10 seasons 鈥?gave the Cowboys a chance to run out the clock from the New Orleans 1 after an interference penalty in the end zone.Brees said he was trying to throw the ball away behind pass-catching back Alvin Kamara, who cut outside just as Brees threw it and Lewis dove forward, barely keeping the ball off the ground."As an offense, we think complementary football," Brees said. "Let's put together a drive. Let's keep our defense off the field. Let's control the game, control the clock, control the ball. Just never felt like we really did that as an offense like we've done this year."The Cowboys spent the fourth quarter trying to protect their three-point lead, with Prescott breaking several tackles on an 11-yard scramble on third-and-10 and Cole Beasley catching a third-down pass and diving for 5 yards on third-and-5.But Prescott fumbled on his season-high seventh sack with Dallas in position for at least a field goal
http://www.saintsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-terron-armstead-jersey , giving Brees another chance from his 15 with more than two minutes remaining.Brees' interception came two plays later, then Marshon Lattimore was called for interference against Amari Cooper in the end zone, giving Dallas a first down at the 1 with 1:58 remaining.The Cowboys had just enough time to end the game, with the play clock matching the game clock down to zero after Prescott took a knee for the third time.Brees was 18 of 28 for 127 yards, actually the second straight game and third overall under 200 yards for the MVP contender. The running game didn't do much either, with Kamara getting 36 yards rushing while the Saints had 65 as a team after averaging 177 the previous four games.The only touchdown drive for the Saints was aided by three first downs on Dallas penalties. The biggest was Randy Gregory's roughing-the-punter penalty on Thomas Morstead.Two plays later, Brees dropped a deep throw to a backpedaling Keith Kirkwood in the end zone for a 30-yard score to get New Orleans within 13-10.Prescott had 194 of his 248 yards passing while helping the Cowboys to a 13-0 halftime lead 鈥?the first scoreless first half for the Saints since 2014, also against the Cowboys, and their first deficit in five games.Elliott had 136 scrimmage yards with 76 rushing and 60 receiving on six catches.MATCHING ZEKE, RAISING HIM $2After forcing and recovering a fumble by Cooper in the first half , Lattimore ran to one of the giant red Salvation Army kettles behind an end zone
Cameron Jordan Jersey , pulled $23 out of his uniform and dropped it in. Lattimore is No. 23. In the Thanksgiving game a week earlier, Elliott (No. 21) dropped $21 into the other kettle on the same end of the field.GIL BRANDT IN RING OF HONORThe Cowboys inducted former director of player personnel Gil Brandt into the team's ring of honor at halftime. The 85-year-old joins former coach Tom Landry and former general manager Tex Schramm, both deceased, in the 22-person group. Those three held their titles for the franchise's first 29 years before Jerry Jones bought the team.Jones fired Landry immediately, and Schramm resigned less than two months later. Jones fired Brandt after the owner and general manager's first draft in 1989. Brandt has been nominated as a contributor for next year's voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.THIS AND THATNew Orleans DT David Onyemata had his first two sacks of the season in the first half. ... Kirkwood's TD was the second of his career, and second in as many weeks. ... Cooper had eight catches for 75 yards, and rookie Michael Gallup had five for 76, highlighted by a 40-yarder to set up the first of Brett Maher's two field goals.UP NEXTSaints: At Tampa Bay on Dec. 9 in second of three straight road games.Cowboys: Philadelphia on Dec. 9 in last of three straight home games.Corrects to fewest points in three years for Saints instead of four years.
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