SPORTS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2016 Quinn returns with high-flying Falcons

NEW YORK: When Dan Quinn left the for his opportunity to be an NFL head coach in Atlanta, he wanted to create an identity unique to the Falcons. Quinn didn’t want Atlanta to be a replica of what he experienced in Seattle, even if the principles he wanted for the Falcons were similar. “Can the team be featured in the very best way of how we wanted to utilize the players? The messaging, the identity, the tough- ness that we wanted to play with, having that really come to life?” Quinn posed. “It took going through some tough lessons and developing some resiliency through last year with some difficult losses. ... Those were scars that were painful as hell to go through, but on the other side of it we grew tougher, we grew stronger.” Quinn’s former team will get an up-close look at what he’s created in Atlanta when the Seahawks host the Falcons on Sunday in a clash of teams that look to be among the top con- tenders in the NFC. It’s an enticing matchup, featuring Atlanta’s No. 1-ranked offense against Seattle’s top-ranked defense that’s had an extra week of rest and preparation. And it’s a reunion for Quinn to see the defense he helped to create in Seattle during his two seasons as coordinator, and whether it can slow down Matt Ryan and the Falcons. The Falcons went down this path a year ago, starting 6-1 before losing six straight games, finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs, so there is still hesitation about the validity of Atlanta’s start this season. But a win in Denver last week, fol- lowed by a win in Seattle would certainly quiet doubters. Even though Dallas has a 4-1 record, there remain enough doubters about the Cowboys that their visit to Green Bay is another prove-it game. The way Dak Prescott is throwing it (155 passes without a pick) and Ezekiel Elliott is running it (league-high 546 yards), Dallas is proving you can win behind rookies. “There are certainly a lot of areas where we have to get bet- ter,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett says, “but we’re doing a SAN DIEGO: San Diego Chargers Craig Mager, center, reacts after picking up a during the second half good job coming off the ball, getting into blocks and finding of an NFL football game as quarterback back left, passes. — AP places for runners to run. The runners are running well.” Still, the Packers hold opponents to 42.8 yards rushing per game. If the Cowboys, who have four wins in 15 games at the Packers, Chargers ease some pain come close to their 155.2 yards per game on the ground, it will be impressive. And possibly decisive.

Anthem blues by beating Broncos 21-13 With Colin Kaepernick starting for the slumping , he’s going to attract attention in Buffalo for SAN DIEGO: The San Diego Chargers from the Denver 20 early in the second migraine condition that mimics strokes. more than his refusal to stand during the US anthem. It took a eased a lot of pain with their 21-13 vic- half, with going over the “I’m sick to my stomach because I hate four-game slide with Blaine Gabbert showing little at quarter- tory over the Denver Broncos. Philip top for a 1-yard gain. Rivers misfired on to lose,” DeCamillis said. “We’ve got a back for coach Chip Kelly to make the change. Buffalo is hop- Rivers threw for 178 yards and one two straight passes and was flushed on lot of grit and determination. We’ll ing to keep streaking after going 3-0 since elevating Anthony touchdown, passing Hall of Famer Dan third down, forcing the Chargers to set- bounce back.” Lynn to offensive coordinator and firing Greg Roman. Fouts to become San Diego’s career tle for Josh Lambo’s 37-yard field goal In Tom Brady’s first regular-season game in Foxborough passing leader, and the Chargers held for a 10-0 lead. McCoy improved to 25- ROLLING RIVERS after serving his four-game “Deflategate” suspension, listen for off the Broncos. The victory may have 31 overall in four seasons. The Chargers Rivers, in his 13th season with the wild cheers of support, some nasty chants about league com- saved embattled coach Mike McCoy’s were coming off a mistake-filled loss at Chargers and 11th as starter, has 43,094 missioner Roger Goodell, and look for Brady to fill the air with job and it snapped a streak of 10 Oakland, and earlier in the season lost career yards passing. Fouts threw for regulation footballs. Many of those are likely to land in the straight losses in the AFC West dating three games in which they led at the 2- 43,040 yards in 15 seasons with San hands of New England’s Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, to 2014. minute warning. The Chargers are try- Diego. “This was one was definitely spe- Danny Amendola and a new favorite, tight end Martellus Most importantly, the Chargers fig- ing to convince voters to approve a $1.1 cial,” Rivers said about passing Fouts. Bennett, who had three touchdown catches last week. The vis- ured out how to finish a game in which billion public handout for a new down- “Making it even more special was wear- iting were humiliated in Dallas, and they they had a late lead. “There is nothing town stadium in the form of an increase ing the uniforms we had. That color haven’t won in New England in 30 years. Brady is 5-1 against like winning,” a misty-eyed McCoy said. in the hotel occupancy tax. blue was what they wore back in that them with 12 touchdowns. The action began on Thursday “Especially beating a good football The victory “meant a ton for Mike,” era when Dan was playing.” Rivers when San Diego held off Denver 21-13. Philip Rivers threw for 178 yards and a touchdown, passing Hall of Famer Dan Fouts team in front of our home fans. It was Rivers said. “It wasn’t talked about a lot threw a 5-yard scoring pass to rookie to become San Diego’s career passing leader. — AP great.” Of course, these being the on the team but veteran players ... I felt tight end Hunter Henry to cap the Chargers (2-4), they still extended nerv- it. Not that I expected it if it didn’t go game’s first possession. Rivers finished ous time right down to the final gun. well. I had no idea but you also you are 18 of 29. Otherwise, the Chargers had to Denver’s Brandon McManus kicked a not playing dumb. We knew we had to settle for Lambo’s career-high four field 46-yard field goal with 27 seconds left, get this thing going in a hurry.” goals of 37, 21, 31 and 32 yards, plus a and Denver recovered the onside kick safety. at its 46. It got to the San Diego 45 with FINALLY FINISHING 8 seconds to go before Trevor Siemian’s What changed from those brutal LATE-FIRING desperation pass was batted down by losses, when the Chargers blew late The five-time defending AFC West Dexter McCoil. “You can’t take winning leads? “It was a mindset for us to go out champion Broncos (4-2) were mostly for granted in this league,” defensive there and finish, and everyone knew we sluggish behind Siemian, who was back end Corey Liuget said. “When I saw it were going to finish this game,” Liuget at quarterback after rookie Paxton said 0:00 and that guy didn’t catch that said. They need to keep it up. Their next Lynch struggled in a loss to Atlanta. ball, I was happy. I got on my knee and two games are at Atlanta and at Denver. They lost their second straight game said, ‘Thank you, Lord. It’s over now.’” San Diego has lost 10 of its last 11 road and had their NFL-record 15 straight Here are some takeaways from the games. divisional road victories snapped. “We Chargers’ victory against the Broncos: didn’t make the most of our opportuni- BRONCOS’ BOSS ties, especially early in the game, but we RIVERBOAT MIKE The defending champion showed a lot of resilience at the end. It SANTA CLARA: San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Eli McCoy has been under fire for his Broncos were coached by special teams was too little, too late,” said Siemian, Harold, quarterback Colin Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid conservative approach, particularly late coordinator Joe DeCamillis after head who was 30 of 50 for 230 yards, with a 5- kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football in games, and clock-management coach was ordered by doc- yard scoring pass to mid- game against the . — AP issues. He went for it on fourth-and-1 tors to sit this one out because of a way through the fourth quarter. — AP