42 Friday

Sports Friday, December 21, 2018 Buccaneers stand between Cowboys and NFC East title Colts on playoff course, face Giant threat

DALLAS: Last week, the Cowboys had up for 139 yards on 27 carries by Marlon Mack. Colts are bullish about their chances. Winning own hot-shot rookie in running back Saquon a chance to wrap up the NFC East title. In- It also branches out to an offensive line that seven of eight games after a 1-5 start tends to Barkley, who ranks third in the NFL in both stead, they absorbed their first shutout defeat gave up three sacks of quarterback Dak grow the confidence level. Coach Frank Reich rushing yards (1,155) and scrimmage yards in 15 years, as the ended Prescott, and to Prescott himself. His 39 passes kept the team from crumbling and the Colts (1,809). Dallas’ five-game winning streak with a 23-0 netted 24 completions but just 206 yards. have prevailed by more than 20 points on three Barkley is looking to bounce back after hav- decision. With the Washington Redskins (7-7) Tampa Bay’s defense has been much more pli- occasions during the hot stretch. “When you ing just 31 rushing yards and a season-low 56 and the (7-7) recording able than Indianapolis’, ranking 30th in the look at a season where you start 1-5, a lot of total yards in last Sunday’s 17-0 loss to the wins last weekend, Dallas (8-6) saw its division NFL in points allowed per game at 28.8. That questions can easily start coming up around Tennessee Titans. The No. 2 overall pick insists lead shrink to one game with two weeks left in and the Buccaneers’ tendency to turn the ball the building,” Indianapolis linebacker Najee his workload (223 carries, 82 receptions) isn’t the season. However, a visit Sunday from a over-they lead the league with 32 giveaways, Goode told reporters. “People start looking wearing him down. “Physically, I feel pretty lesser team, the (5-9), 25 of them interceptions-helps explain why around, wondering what’s going on. You start good. I’m not going to sit here and lie to you gives the Cowboys a second chance to punch they have gone 3-9 after a 2-0 start. getting confused and there’s easily a chance and say I feel 100 percent,” Barkley told re- their playoff ticket. The sting from last week’s Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter might not you could stay off track and not get back on. porters. “No one feels 100 percent at this loss, which saw Dallas reach Indianapolis terri- survive a second straight disappointing season. “Frank didn’t let any of that happen. That’s point. That’s just the nature of the game, espe- tory no fewer than seven times without even a One report on Sunday suggested he would be who he is, somebody who does not get rattled. cially the position I play, but any position in field goal to show for it, was evident in the fired at season’s end and replaced by an offen- It’s cool to play for him and see him never football at this stage of the season. They’re words of running back Ezekiel Elliott. “That was sive-minded coach similar to Koetter. Tampa change.” The return of stardom for quarterback going to feel a little banged up, but that’s where just a very embarrassing performance by us,” Bay offensive tackle Demar Dotson seemed Andrew Luck and the impressive play of rookie you got to grind it out.” he said. “In all phases of the game, we got beat.” ambivalent about Koetter’s situation. “It’s every outside linebacker Darius Leonard certainly New York could be without Odell Beckham Elliott had a decent game statistically with man for himself at the moment,” Dotson said. have aided the turnaround. Luck has thrown for Jr. (77 catches, 1,052 yards) for the third 87 yards on 18 carries and seven receptions for “I’m not going to worry about saving Dirk’s 3,951 yards and 34 touchdowns against 13 in- straight game due to a quadriceps injury. 41 yards, but he couldn’t get a yard when it job, I’m worried about saving my own.” terceptions after missing the entire 2017 sea- Coach Pat Shurmur said he doesn’t plan to might have turned the game. Cowboys coach son due to shoulder surgery. Leonard leads the shut down the star receiver despite the team Jason Garrett eschewed a 20-yard field goal Colts face Giant threat NFL with 146 tackles and also has 7.0 sacks being out of playoff contention. Giants quar- attempt in the second quarter to go for a The Indianapolis Colts were headed toward and four forced after being a second- terback Eli Manning (18 touchdowns, nine in- fourth-and-1 at the Indianapolis 3-yard line a disastrous season when they lost five of their round selection out of South Carolina State. terceptions) is 311 yards away from his with his team down 7-0. Elliott took the ball first six games. Now they are two victories What may not be good news for the Giants seventh 4,000-yard season. He is interesting and never had a chance. Margus Hunt and away from landing a possible playoff spot. The is that Leonard is peeved after not being in making the Colts’ path to the playoffs a lot Matthew Adams made the first hits, Pierre Colts look to take another step toward being named to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday. He has tougher. “You’re chasing wins. Obviously, you Desir popped the ball loose, and Jabaal Sheard part of the postseason when they host the New pledged to record 40 tackles on Sunday-which want to finish the season strong,” Manning recovered it for the Colts at the 5. “They won York Giants (5-9) on Sunday. Indianapolis (8- is 16 more than the NFL record-and scoffed said. “We’ve been playing good football and the line of scrimmage,” Garrett said. “Ulti- 6) has the same record as the Baltimore Ravens when a reporter told him 40 was impossible. just have to get back to it. Opportunity to go mately, it wasn’t a good game for us in any and Tennessee Titans with two weeks left in the “Impossible? There’s nothing impossible,” against a good team and to kind of see where phase of our team.” regular season. The Ravens currently hold the Leonard said. “If you play a lot of snaps, you we stand. You just want to go out there and That includes a run defense that was carved edge for the final AFC wild-card spot but the just get on every play.” The Giants have their play well.” — Agencies

Jedda Ice Hockey Club defeat Bahrain Club

KUWAIT: Jedda Ice Hockey Club defeated Bahrain Club by 12-8, following a good per- formance - earning it its first two points. This marked the second loss for Bahrain. The match was part of the Gulf Clubs professional ICC hockey tournament. Jedda club’s Chair- man Sultan Salama said he is happy with their performance in its first participation outside Saudi Arabia. He appreciated the support of Deputy Chairman of the Board of Saudi Pub- lic Authority for Sports Prince Abdelaziz Bin Turky Al-Faisal. Salama said his team seeks to continue its winning ways despite the very strong compe- titions. He also lauded the organization for their immense efforts. Kuwait’s player Salem Al-Ajmi said his club’s two wins gave it a strong boost as they head towards winning the title. He ac- knowledged the efforts of his teammates.