25 Sports Monday, January 6, 2020 Brady-led NFL champion Patriots dethroned by upstart Titans Houston beat Bills in overtime thriller

WASHINGTON: Reigning champion New England seed Green Bay waiting to see who they will entertain was dumped from the NFL playoffs by upstart next weekend. Tennessee on Saturday, the Titans taking a 20-13 road Henry scored on a 1-yard run with 38 seconds victory that could spell the end of six-time Super Bowl remaining in the second quarter as the Titans edged champion Tom Brady’s career. ahead 14-13 at half-time, a margin they maintained NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry ran 34 times for until the final seconds as the game hung on a knife’s 182 yards and a touchdown on his 26th birthday and edge. Tennessee erased eight minutes of the fourth former Patriot Logan Ryan returned an interception of quarter with a failed drive then stopped the Pats on Brady nine yards for a touchdown with nine seconds only four plays before forcing a punt and pinning New remaining for the final points to seal New England’s England at the 1-yard line with 15 seconds remaining, fate. “We were just locked in,” Henry said. “We wanted setting the stage for the pivotal pickoff score. it. It’s a great win against a great team in a hostile New England’s Nick Folk opened the scoring with a environment. I’m just happy we could advance. A great 36-yard field goal but the Titans answered with a 75- team win.” yard drive capped by Ryan Tannehill’s 12-yard touch- Brady, a 42-year-old quarterback who is now a free down pass to Anthony Firkser. agent, could not guide the Patriots to a second-half Brady responded by moving New England 75 yards score against a Titans defensive unit overseen by in 10 plays, the Patriots retaking the lead 10-7 thanks Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel, a linebacker on three to Julian Edelman’s 5-yard touchdown run on the first Super Bowl champions with New England. play of the second quarter. After completing 20-of-37 passes for 209 yards, New England drove to the Tennessee 1 but Titan Brady said it was “pretty unlikely” he would retire even defenders forced the hosts to settle for a 21-yard Folk though he turns 43 before next season opens. field goal 2:16 before half-time. “Who knows what the future holds. Let’s leave it at that,” Brady said. “I don’t know what the future looks TEXANS RALLY TO WIN like. I’m not going to predict it.” At Houston, Watson escaped two Bills defenders The Titans advanced to a second-round matchup and flipped a short pass to Taiwan Jones, who ran 34 FOXBOROUGH: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throws a pass against the Tennessee Titans in the next Saturday at American Conference top seed yards to the Buffalo 10-yard line on the play before AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Titans won 20-13. — AFP Baltimore while Houston will travel to second seed Fairbairn’s game winner. “Will, guts, grit — everything. Kansas City next Sunday. Both hosts had first-round They got to me but I stayed up,” Watson said. “I knew somebody had to be great. I said, ‘Why not down pass on a trick play on Buffalo’s opening drive, byes. Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson ran for “Man, just never quit. honestly. I just told myself to me?’” Watson said. “We never quit. Whatever it takes but could not capture their first playoff victory since one touchdown, threw for another and made a stunning stay up. It’s do or die rightnow. All the work I put in in to get the win, we keep fighting and we will always 1995. Buffalo led 16-0 but Fairbairn kicked a field goal play to set up Ka’imi Fairbairn game-winning 28-yard the off-season, I had to get it done.” give our best.” Buffalo’s Stephen Hauschka kicked his off a turnover and Watson scored on a 20-yard touch- field goal 11:40 into over-time as the Texans beat visit- Watson was sacked seven times but completed 20- fourth field goal of the day from 47 yards with five down run, dragging two defenders the last six yards, ing Buffalo 22-19. of-25 passes for 247 yards, ran 14 times for 55 yards seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to pull the Bills and flipped a 5-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Hyde. The National Football Conference playoffs begin and rallied the Texans from a 16-0 deficit, the first time level at 19-19 and set up over-time. Watson threw and ran for 2-point conversions after Sunday with Minnesota at New Orleans and Seattle at in 23 tries under coach Bill O’Brien that Houston had The Bills seized a 13-0 half-time edge, highlighted each touchdown and Houston led until Hauschka Philadelphia, with top seed San Francisco and second escaped so huge a hole to win. by quarterback Josh Allen catching a 16-yard touch- forced over-time. — AFP

Defending champ Schauffele leads US PGA Tournament of Champions

LOS ANGELES: Xander Schauffele will take a one-shot lead over Justin Thomas into the final round of the US PGA Tournament of Champions, where he’ll try to become the first repeat winner in a decade. Schauffele, who fired a final-round 62 on the Plantation Course at Kapalua last year to erase Nasser Al-Attiyah Laia Sanz a five-shot deficit and win, had four birdies in a two-under par 71 on Saturday for an 11-under par total of 208. That put him one in front of Thomas, who The race is on at 2020 in S Arabia had five of his six birdies on the front nine but JEDDAH: The excitement in Jeddah since lost none of the passion I have for this rally. cooled off coming in on the way to a four-under the Dakar Rally arrived has been non-stop. There is very strong competition in the 69 and a 10-under total of 209. US Open cham- From the pre-race technical checks at the race this year and I’m looking forward to pion Gary Woodland, who led heading into the impressive King Abdulaziz Stadium to the the challenge of trying to set the pace.” final round last year but was eclipsed by party atmosphere of the Saturday night BIKE COMPETITORS Schauffele, was alone in third after a 69 for 211. Start Podium at the Dakar Village on the Joaquin Niemann of Chile and former shores of the Red Sea. Toby Price #1: “Last year was a big Masters champion Patrick Reed, who both The Dakar has come to the Middle East challenge, we started the event with a bro- from its first home in Africa, via a magical ken scaphoid bone in the wrist. To carry on started the day one shot behind Schauffele, decade in South America. This third chap- and get the win took everything. This time were among seven players sharing fourth on 212 ter of motorsports’ ultimate test of we’re coming in healthy which is great, but after another wind-whipped day on the par-73 endurance has invigorated everybody - also adds pressure. We won with a broken course in Hawaii. from multiple champions to rookie racers. wrist, so now we’re injury-free people “It was sort of the day I thought it would be, Now offroaders in 83 cars, 144 bikes, 46 expect us to win again.” and (I’m) happy to still have a one-shot lead,” side-by-sides, 46 trucks and 23 quads will Matthias Walkner #2: “I’m feeling quite said Schauffele, who is trying to become the tackle perilous terrain and test their skills OK, all my injuries have more or less first player since Australian Geoff Ogilvy in to the limit. All of this will happen in a new healed up to 90 percent. The preparation 2009-10 to win two straight editions of the country, as Saudi Arabia becomes the 30th has gone pretty well and now it’s all about tournament. nation to host the truly international Dakar a new year, a new challenge and a new “With this wind and the golf course the con- Rally. The 2020 Dakar started on January 5 country. It’s going to be tough and it’s dition it’s in, you kind of have to take what it in Jeddah and finishes 9,000km later on going to be long, but it’s great to be here.” Friday, January 17 in Al-Qiddiya. Sam Sunderland #3: “As racers we always gives you.” Schauffele, who has come from think about how our form has been in the Red Bull off-road team behind in all four of his PGA Tour victories, CAR COMPETITORS last few rallies we’ve done. I’ve had a solid acknowledged that sleeping on the 54-hole Nasser Al-Attiyah #300: “I would like 12 months leading into this Dakar and won ridden almost pain-free, finally my body together, it’s a great feeling.” lead was a “new-ish realm” for him, but his plan to thank everybody who has made it possi- the World Championship, now I want to is in a good state.” Mitch Guthrie Jr. #412: “One of the for Sunday was to maintain the same mindset ble to bring the Dakar to the Middle East. carry on that form at the Dakar.” biggest things about Red Bull Off-Road that had put him atop the leaderboard. I’ve now won the Dakar three times and I’ll Laia Sanz #14: “For sure it will be diffi- SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPETITORS. Team USA is that it’s helping to spread news “Just roll with the shots,” he said of what be going all out to win a fourth. It has long cult for me to finish inside the Top 10, but I Chaleco Lopez #400: “It was great to about the Dakar back in the States. Even on would be required. “Tomorrow is going to be been a dream of mine to see the Dakar will try. I’m excited to ride with my new return to the Dakar last year and win the the racing scene back home we don’t really even windier, I saw in the forecast. “I’m sure it come to this region. I hope everybody will Gas Gas team and if everything works per- side-by-side class. This year the level of know about the ins and outs of the Dakar. might rain, even though it says it’s not going to. enjoy this race.” fectly for us then I’m sure we’ll get a result competition will be even tougher so I’ll Raising awareness of this great race is I’ll just go with the flow.” Stephane Peterhansel #302: “25 years we can all be proud of.” Luciano Benavides need to race a perfect rally if I am going to something I’m happy to be involved with.” Schauffele was even for the day with two ago I came to Saudi Arabia for a motorcy- #16: “I’m feeling really good right now, defend my title.” birdies and two bogeys when he grabbed back- cle race and I remember beautiful land- really motivated to ride the first stage. I Cyril Despres #403: Mike (Horn, co-dri- TRUCK COMPETITORS scapes. I also came back here last year for miss the rally being in South America, but ver) and me are not junior riders anymore, #500: “We are in a to-back birdies at 14 and 15. He parred his way a two-day Baja race and the open desert I’m also excited to discover Saudi Arabia. but I’ve been at the beginning of the Red new country this year, and this means new in, no mean feat in the demanding conditions. was really impressive. I have no doubt we Everything here has been like a dream for Bull Off-Road Junior Program project. It’s challenges to meet on each stage. I’m not Wind was a factor in Thomas’s bogey at 17, will have a very interesting race here in me so far.” Daniel Nosiglia #21: “The past another change for me, after racing bikes here to chase any personal glory, every- where he missed a six-footer for par. “It’s very Saudi Arabia.” Dakar has been very nice for me and I and cars. Now I’m a coach who is also in the thing we do is to help the team be success- tough to putt in this wind,” Thomas said, adding Kuba Przygonski #303: “Timo want to repeat that experience here in race. I’m going to do my best to share with ful. A win for is a win for all of us.” that he was “pretty disappointed” with his fin- (Gottschalk, co-driver) and myself are Saudi Arabia. It’s an honour for me to be these guys what the Dakar Rally is all Dmitry Sotnikov #501: “For this Dakar ish. “I easily could be at 14- or 15-under right ready for these new roadbooks that are racing with Honda and the aim is to finish about.” Mike Horn #403: “I’m a professional all of our trucks are equipped with auto- now and to only be at 10- is a little bit of a coming. Sometimes we will not get these inside the Top 10.” explorer so to be here competing in the matic transmission. We see serious advan- bummer,” he said. roadbooks until shortly before the stage. Mohammed Balooshi #36: “I’m very most famous and prestigious rally-raid in tages with this modification, automatic “I got off to such a great start on that front This means that in some parts we could be happy to be part of this big change for the the world feels great. To be here with the transmission is gaining popularity among nine and the back nine, which I usually play driving blind. My experience racing bikes Dakar. Maybe if the rally was in South young guys has created a great atmosphere all contestants at the rally. We’re always well, I struggled on today.” Woodland, mean- at the Dakar will help with this.” America this year I wouldn’t go, but when in the team. The moment you stop learning trying to improve our race truck.” while, gained momentum with a birdie at 18, Giniel De Villiers #304: “It’s always it is here I have no excuse not to race. We is the moment you become too old. We are exciting when you’re about to discover have 13 tough days ahead of us. To finish here to learn, to compete and to share our QUAD COMPETITORS one of six on the day to offset a double-bogey new deserts in a new country. Nobody each stage will be its own milestone and I’ll experiences with the others.” Blade Ignacio Casale #250: “After my win in at the seventh. really knows what to expect and we’ll have take things day by day.” Hildebrand #409: “I was on my way home 2018, I was really tired of the quad. I didn’t “I played really well,” Woodland said. “Made to adjust as we go along. Our car is feeling CS Santosh #50: “The first time I from a race in Reno when I got a call invit- want anything to do with it. But 16 months an unfortunate double there in the middle of the good, the team is strong and we’re really went to Dakar, I had no idea what I was ing me to test the new OT3 in Morocco. ago, I already wanted to come back. The round but outside that I played great, gave looking forward to getting out there.” doing. This is actually the first time I’m Back then there wasn’t too much informa- desire returned. Yamaha sent me a quad, I myself a lot of chances.” — AFP Carlos Sainz #305: “It’s true that I’m excited because I’ve been more pre- tion on the car or Red Bull Off-Road Team went to the dunes and I realised that it is among the oldest drivers here, but I have pared. This is my first year when I have USA. Now we’re here and it’s all come still my thing.”