Sean Payton is known for his screen plays and getting the ball in his play-makers’ hands. Over the years we have become used to seeing players like Reggie Bush http://www.authenticsneworleanssaints.com/cheap-tyeler-davison-jersey , Pierre Thomas, and more recently Alvin Kamara gain huge chunks of yards on these screens. But sometimes, the best person to catch a screen is the one that is least expected.Josh Hill has caught 3 screens this year for a total of 43 yards. Screens, inherently have a layer of deception to them, but the Saints add wrinkles that add to this level of deception.Hill’s first reception of the year came week 1 against Tampa Bay. The Saints line up in 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends), with Mike Gillislee in the backfield and Watson and Hill as the tight ends. On his play, the Saints will use play action to freeze the linebackers. Right Guard Larry Warford (#67) will “pull” as if they are running a power run play. To further sell the play action, Hill will block the defensive end momentarily before releasing into the flat. Max Unger and Ryan Ramzyck will lead block on the screen and Hill is able to break a tackle and pick up 15 yards.Hill’s second screen came in week 2 against the Cleveland Browns. This time, the Saints will roll out their 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end). Much like the previous play, this one will feature play action as well, but this time Ted Ginn will run a jet sweep motion from right to left behind the line of scrimmage. The purpose of this motion is to make the defense flow to the opposite side of where the play will happen. One defender who is in man coverage will follow GInn, but the linebackers and safety for Cleveland do a good job at staying disciplined. The offensive line is the same as above, with Warford pulling and Unger and Ramzyck lead blocking for Hill Color Rush Sheldon Rankins Jersey , who is only able to gain 5 yards on this play. The third tight end screen for Hill has the most window dressing and is possibly my favorite play design so far of this season. The Saints have their three most dangerous offensive weapons on the field—Mark Ingram in the backfield, Kamara will lineup as a receiver to the outside of a bunch formation to the right, and Michael Thomas split out to the left. This play is not much different than the one called against Cleveland, but having Kamara run the jet motion rather than Ginn presents an even bigger threat to the defense, so naturally they are more likely to flow in his direction. This flow is only aided by having Ingram in the backfield rather than Gillislee. Another subtle detail is that Thomas is split out wider here than in the previous play. This will stretch the defense further out and take players even further away from the playside. By the time Hill peels off of his block and makes the reception, he has nearly 15 yards of open space and ultimately picks up 23 yards. Another thing to note on this play is the nice block from rookie Tre’Quan Smith on the safety. Smith has been a reliable blocker in the run game so far this year and will only help him to stay on the field.Screens are a good way to make over-aggressive defenses pay for that aggressiveness. They are also a good way at slowing down the pass rush from the opposing defense, and with the Saints facing one of the best defensive line in the NFL this weekend, we may see a few more of these tight end screens dialed up. While Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan stressed that New Orleans doesn't fear going on the road in the playoffs, he readily acknowledged the advantages of staying in the Superdome.New Orleans (12-2) can lock up the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a victory over visiting Pittsburgh (8-5-1) on Sunday."That would be huge," said Jordan, referencing what he calls "dome-field advantage."The Saints did fine on the road this season, going 7-1. They won't finish any better in the Superdome, where they are 5-1 with two regular-season home games left. But New Orleans' offense generally has been better at home, where Drew Brees' pre-snap instructions 鈥?and center Max Unger's line calls 鈥?are easier for teammates to hear. The Saints have averaged about 38 points at home, but their road scoring average dipped about nine points below that after three straight road games in which they were held to 28 or less in each game and to 12 or fewer points twice."It's been almost a month since we've been at the dome Youth Mark Ingram II Jersey , so it'll be nice to be back in there," Brees said. "Obviously we've got a lot going for us right now 鈥?a lot at stake."In reality, the Saints don't have that much riding on Sunday's game 鈥?certainly not as much as the Steelers, who could still win the AFC North but haven't clinched a playoff berth yet. New Orleans already has won a second straight NFC South crown and will finish as a top seed even if it splits its next two games. But from the standpoint of offensive production, playoff history and promoting optimal health, the Saints know they'd be best served by beating Pittsburgh.In franchise history, the Saints are 1-7 in playoff games away from the Superdome. Since coach Sean Payton and Brees arrived in 2006, the Saints have not lost any of their five home playoff games. The one season they won the Super Bowl, they were the NFC's No. 1 seed.In fact, no Super Bowl participant has won a single road playoff game since the 2012 Baltimore Ravens won at Denver and New England en route to their title-winning tilt with San Francisco in New Orleans.Meanwhile, key Saints players could get as much as two weeks rest 鈥?the regular-season finale and the playoff bye 鈥?if New Orleans wins this week."Rest is much needed to get our bodies right," Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore said. "Take a week, or two (off) if we clinch it this week. Hopefully rest the starters for the last game."The Steelers can't worry about rest 鈥?not even after improving their postseason outlook with a victory over New England last week."We just want to get into the playoffs," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "It doesn't matter how you get in, we just want to get in. Obviously Youth Alvin Kamara Jersey , the first and second seed you would like, but I don't think we can get that now. So, let's just find a way to get in."Some other prominent story lines surround the Steelers' visit to the Superdome:BOWING UPDespite a significant slowdown offensively during their past three games, the Saints went 2-1 during that stretch because of strong defensive play.New Orleans, which struggled defensively early this season, has not allowed any of its past six opponents to score more than 17 points and has held two teams to less than 10."The offense was really getting us through the games at the beginning of the season and the roles flipped," Lattimore said. "Nobody pointed fingers. We just got the job done. That's the biggest thing, just playing as a team."JAYSAM'S JOURNEYSteelers rookie running back Jaylen Samuels will start his third straight game in place of injured Pro Bowler James Conner, who is hobbled by a sprained left ankle.Samuels, a fifth-round pick, lit up New England for 172 total yards. Not bad for a player who was asked to work out as a tight end at the NFL combine. The going could get considerably tougher against New Orleans, which leads the league in rush defense (79.1 yards per game).RESPECTBrees is the third high-profile quarterback the Steelers have faced in four weeks, joining New England's Tom Brady and Philip Rivers of the Los Angeles Chargers. Roethlisberger, who only knows Brees casually from run-ins at the Pro Bowl, isn't sure Brees has gotten enough credit for his record-setting career."He's incredibly athletic ... and a tireless worker http://www.authenticsneworleanssaints.com/cheap-ken-crawley-jersey ," Roethlisberger said. "Not really known for a huge arm, but can pretty much make any throw. I have a lot of respect for that guy."JORDAN'S JUDGMENTJordan, the Saints' sacks leader, sounded incredulous when a media member referred to Roethlisberger as a "future Hall-of-Fame quarterback" during an interview in New Orleans' locker room.Grimacing and turning his head sharply, Jordan said: "It that true? Really? In this era? You'd put him at like a top three of this era? Top five of this era?"Jordan listed Brees, New England's Tom Brady, Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, the Los Angeles Chargers' Philip Rivers, the retired Peyton Manning and the Giants' Eli Manning as QB's he'd place above Roethlisberger.This season, Roethlisberger's 4,462 yards rank second behind only Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes in the NFL.Jordan, a first-time All Pro last season, has 12 sacks to go with 17 tackles for losses, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh contributed. www.nflshopoutlet.com/jacksonville-jaguars

Keenan Allen Doesn't Return vs. Chiefs After Suffering Hip Injury - Adam WellsAllen's 16 games played in 2017 surpassed his total from the previous two seasons combined (nine). That health translated into an excellent performance for the 26-year-old http://www.chargersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-derwin-james-jersey , who set career highs with 102 receptions and 1,393 receiving yards.Chargers finally end streak, shock Chiefs on Thursday Night Football - Travis WakemanThe win ties the Chargers with the Chiefs at 11-3 in the AFC West. By virtue of a better divisional record, the Chiefs still control their own destiny and will win the division if they win out. However, this win did clinch the Chargers their first playoff berth since 2013. In addition, it also broke the team’s nine-game losing streak against the Chiefs.Twitter reacts to Los Angeles Chargers’ 29-28 victory vs. Chiefs - Gavino BorquezWhat a game that was! The Chargers were able to rally back from being behind 14 points to shock the nation by defeating the Chiefs in the final seconds, which was led by wide receiver Mike Williams’ outstanding performance.Two-point conversion propels Chargers into postseason - Eric Williams"The touchdown to Mike Joey Bosa Jersey , our first touchdown was that same play," Rivers said. "We dressed it up a little bit, put Travis over there, put all three receivers over there, motioned Travis and hoped they wouldn’t recognize it. And, they busted a coverage."Refocused, NFL Week 15: Los Angeles Chargers 29 Authentic Austin Ekeler Jersey , Kansas City Chiefs 28 - PFF Analysis TeamIt was a game of many ups and downs for Philip Rivers. His first throw of the night was underthrown and intercepted. He had two more inexplicable throws to defenders on the night, one of which was intercepted in the back of the end zone. In the end, Rivers led his team on two well-managed touchdown drives that won the game for the Chargers. The best throw of the night came on fourth down where he laid it out perfectly for Travis Benjamin with the game on the line.Social Media Information:BFTB Facebook Page: Click here to like our pageBFTB Twitter: Follow @BFTB_ChargersThe Lightning Round Twitter: Follow @Lightning_RoundThe Lightning Round Facebook: Click here to like our pageBFTB Manager: Richard Wade: Follow @RichardWadeTop Ten Offensive Performances of 2017: #8 Hunter Henry v. DAL Wk. 12 #8.) Hunter Henry - 5 catches, 76 receiving yards, 1 touchdown Jerry Jones is a proud alumni of the University of Arkansas. So much so that he helped the Razorbacks put together an alternate jersey that easily resembled a red version of the Cowboy’s uniforms for their match-up against Texas A&M this past season which happened to take place at AT&T Stadium.This fact probably didn’t sit well with Jones as he watched Hunter Henry, a former All-American with the Razorbacks, help demolish his team in a primetime match-up on Thanksgiving Day in the house that he built Youth Darius Philon Jersey , himself.From the very first play, Henry was making his presence felt. On 1st & 10, Henry and Antonio Gates were both lined up on the left side of the formation which created an overloaded look for the defense. Going against the grain, the Chargers decided to pass, calling a Smash-concept to the boundary.Gates immediately released to the flat while Henry pressed linebacker Anthony Hitchens vertically before breaking on a corner-route to the sideline. The TE’s speed was too much as he was able to separate and make the catch in front of the safety who was coming over the top or a 17-yard gain.His second splash-play came at the end of the first quarter with the Bolts at midfield. Lined up on the left side, the Bolts used an end-around motion from wideout Travis Benjamin to occupy the eyes of the secondary in order for Henry to come open on a deep crossing route behind the coverage. Rivers hit him in-stride for a 27-yard gain.After two more catches of 7 and 22 yards, respectively http://www.chargersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-isaac-rochell-jersey , Henry used some outstanding basketball skills to get the Chargers their first score of the game.At 6-foot-5 and 250-pounds, he used every inch of his massive frame to box out the defender for a 3-yard touchdown grab.This was Henry’s final catch of the game but it was his biggest as it opened the floodgates to an offensive barrage that allowed the Bolts to walk away with a 28-6 victory and ignite the momentum that certainly helped the Chargers finish the regular season with a 9-3 record in their final 12 games. nflshopoutlet.com

Tom Brady has made it well known he wants to continue playing in the NFL into his mid-to-late 40’s. And with a chance to win his sixth Super Bowl ring next Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams Antonio Garcia Jersey , his future plans remain unchanged. In an interview with ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, Brady said there is “zero” chance Super Bowl 53 will be his last game played.At the age of 41, Brady has showed no signs of slowing down. A year after an MVP campaign, Brady and co. bested the leagues MVP favorite in the AFC Championship Game to reach his ninth Super Bowl.In what many considered a “down” year for Brady, in which had analyst across the nation proclaiming he was “falling off a cliff” or had a “noodle arm”, Brady completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 4,355 yards, 29 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a 97.7 passer rating.So why would Brady retire? His TB12 method has kept him pliable and healthy, all while he’s proved to still be one of the leagues elite quarterbacks. And just ask the Kansas City Chiefs, there’s no better quarterback in crunch time.Brady often discussed the topic last offseason, and shared in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that retirement is coming “sooner rather than later”.“I think about it more now than I used to. I think I’m seeing that there’s definitely an end coming, sooner rather than later Dont'a Hightower Jersey ,” Brady told Winfrey. “As long as I’m still loving it. As long as I’m loving the training and preparation and willing to make the commitment.”In an ESPN Instagram post that followed about the subject, Brady responded in the comments by writing “Cuarenta y cinco,” which is 45 in Spanish.With Super Bowl 53 in the near future, Brady likely isn't focused too much on retirement. He has the Patriots in their third straight Super Bowl, and nobody would be surprised if they made it four next year.A sample of the interview with Darlington and Brady can be seen here: Another day, another perplexing mystery of the universe solved, and for once, the answer isn’t “ALIENS”.(Don’t take it personally, George. I still believe.)When you’ve been building your own legend from almost going undrafted for as long as Tom Brady has, you’re bound to rack up nickname after nickname in the process, especially as society’s sense of humor evolves over the years. Not to mention that sports dorks really, really like alliteration, so you get stuff like this:Ah, Tom Terrific. That’s some 101-proof nostalgia right there Authentic Joe Thuney Jersey Salute to Service , before everybody hated New England and decided we were the combined scum of the Evil Empire New York Yankees and the Iceland Junior National hockey team from Mighty Ducks 2 because the Patriots figured out that if you trot out 5 wide receivers against a base defense, there’s probably going to be some mismatches. Ah, simpler times, when iPods only played music and Justin Timberlake ruled the land, my friends.Anyway, for as much as my fellow nerds and I here at the Pulpit use Pro Football Reference for any and all nerd-related foozeball research, the one part of Brady’s page that never ceased to grind my gears was that “The Pharoah” nickname. The rest of them all make sense, and I honestly assumed that “Sir” was someone with a sense of humor at PFR adding it in there after that Seth Wickersham ESPN “bomb” that said Brady supposedly got Fight-Club-level-pissed if rookies didn’t call him “Sir”.Which, yeah, that’s totally the vibe in these videos where Brady’s acting like he’s the regional manager. You just keep doing you, ESPN.Meanwhile, the heck is “The Pharoah” supposed to mean? For as much as the word “literally” has been callously abused over the last couple years, the word “Pharoah” has literally never been used in reference to TB12, ever. Not on broadcasts Limited Brandon Bolden Jersey , not in interviews, not in Madden, not even in the player introductions where players can get away with saying their high school or Hogwarts or Ball So Hard University.*SI’s Robert Klemko pulls up in a Corvette convertible*“You guys got a mystery that needs solving?”And solve it he did! Buried in Klemko’s Sports Illustrated article about how Brady cares about Pro Bowls approximately as much as he cares about getting Patriot of the Week, former Patriots middle linebacker and violent run-thumper Brandon Spikes finally cracked the code:(warning: if you’re going to the gym today, read this BEFORE you take your pre-workout energy supplement, combining the two could be more power than one human can control)Hey, like they said in another cinematic classic of our generation, “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die”.(also, gratuitous plug: if YOU have a blog, Pro Football Reference has a player link tool that lets you hit just one button and all the players in your story automatically get linked to their stats page. It’s legit!)

2018 Season Youth Brett Jones Jersey , Week 1: 49’ers News and Notes This week, our beloved Minnesota Vikings kick off their 2018 campaign this Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, in Minneapolis.This is the real deal, kids.We’re finally past all the preseason hype, and Mike Zimmer and Company finally get to put rubber to the road.With that, let’s take a look at this weeks opponent:The Kyle Shanahan-led San Francisco 49’ers.San Francisco made some late-season noise in 2017 after acquiring quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (no relation) from the New England Patriots.There has been a ton of talk over the offseason of the Niners challenging for a Wild-Card spot out of the NFC West.Coming off a 6-10 season, finishing dead last, that seems like a tall task, even with Jimmy G at the helm.The 49’ers on OffenseThe team was so impressed with Garoppolo that he was signed to a $137.5 million contract, including a $48.7 million signing bonus.And they wasted little time getting him some help, drafting Notre Dame Offensive Tackle Mike McGlinchey with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 draft.They also signed former Vikings Running Back Jerick McKinnon during the free-agency period and intended to plug him in as the feature back.In preseason, the team was impressed with McKinnon, but unfortunately he tore his ACL last week, ending his season before it even started.It sucks to see that happen to McKinnon.Injuries are a part of life in the NFL, and McKinnon seems to be taking the setback well, telling the Sacramento Bee:Here’s hoping that Jet makes a full recovery.The 49’ers haven’t been gun-shy about spending money on the offensive side of the ball.According to Spotrac, San Francisco is second in the NFL in cap allocation on the offense, committing a whopping $99 million.Yes http://www.vikingsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-tom-compton-jersey , they signed Garoppolo and his contract is a big part of that, but the Vikings - who rank 14th at just under $78 million - signed a couple of guys named Cousins and Diggs to pretty hefty contracts, as well. What does the extra $21 million get them?Well, $4.45 million of it goes to fullback and Harvard-Alum Kyle Juszczyk.Juszczyk (ironically, pronounced YOOZ-CHECK), is the eleventh highest-paid player on the 49’ers roster.Keep that number in your head for a moment, $4.45 million.Now, think about this statistic:14 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown.That is Juszczyk’s career rushing total.Career!Who says going to Harvard doesn’t pay?Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in entering his fifth season in the league, part of the same draft class as Teddy Bridgewater and Blake Bortles.He spent the first three and a half years as understudy to Tom Brady.At least one publication thinks Garoppolo is ready to take Brady’s place among the greats.The Sporting News’ Nicholas McGee states:Maybe it’s just me, but I’d like to see Garoppolo do it over a period of more than seven starts before crowning him the next Tom Brady.But throwing a football apparently isn’t the only “game” that ol’ Jimmy G has!He created a stir recently by taking *ahem* Actress Kiara Mia on a dinner date in Beverly Hills!No worries of Deflategate by the looks of things. (and, yes鈥?the link to her Twitter is most definitely NSFW)Sports Gossip website Terez Owens took a thinly-veiled shot at Garoppolo and Mia, while invoking the now-infamous Nike ad featuring former Niners QB Colin Kaepernick.It wouldn’t be right to end the Niners offensive wrap-up with a story like that, so I’ll leave it with this story instead:The 49’ers signed offensive lineman Zack Golditch to their practice squad late last week, after he spent training camp with the Los Angeles Chargers.Golditch is a 23 year-old undrafted rookie guard out of Colorado State University.Ordinarily, this would hardly be newsworthy.But Golditch’s story is a little different - he is a survivor of the horrific 2012 Aurora theater shooting.Golditch was shot through the neck, just below his ear.Thankfully, it missed his spine and any major arteries.There are a few pretty good stories about what happened to him that night, if you’re willing to do a quick search of the interwebz.The 49’ers on DefenseWhile San Francisco spends money on offense like it grows on trees Rashod Hill Jersey , the same can’t be said about the defense.Only six teams spend less than the $58.5 million the 49’ers will spend this season.By comparison, the Vikings will spend nearly $92 million on the defensive side of the ball this season, good for second-most in the league.This is due partly to the fact that the 49’ers have recently invested heavily through the draft on the defensive side of the ball, and many of their best defensive players are still playing under their rookie deals.One player who is definitely not playing on his rookie deal is veteran cornerback - and longtime Seattle Seahawk Richard Sherman.Sherman was signed this offseason after rupturing his Achilles tendon in 2017.Sherman is part of the Players’ Association Executive Committee, and believes that another lockout is inevitable, when the current collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2020 season.Sherman told Joe Stiglich of the Associated Press:Kyle Juszczyk gets paid four-plus million dollars, and the owners don’t like that?REALLY!?C’mon!Hard to believe.As to this weekend’s game, Niners Linebacker and all-around special person Reuben Foster won’t be suiting up for the game, due to being suspended by the league because of his arrest on drug and weapons charges.He apologized for the incident and promised never to do it again.At least we won’t have to see him do this:Or thisRidiculous Quote of the WeekWonder if he’d want to bet 14 and a half years worth of sandwiches on that? Once again, the time for Minnesota Vikings football is nearly upon us. The Vikings will take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon out on the East Coast, and are going to try to win their first game in nearly a month. . .yes, it has been almost a month since the Vikings won a football game. That’s sort of depressing to think about, isn’t it?So, if you’re wondering about how you can follow along with all of the action on Sunday afternoon, we’ve got everything you need here in one place.Television InfoThis game is actually part of the late slate of Sunday afternoon games this week, which means that it will be kicking off at 3:25 PM Central on Sunday afternoon. This game will be broadcast on FOX, which is KMSP-9 in the Twin Cities, and the play-by-play will be handled by Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.If you’re wondering whether or not you’re in the main broadcast area for this week’s game Authentic Dalvin Cook Jersey , below is the map from 506 Sports. The Vikings/Eagles game is in red.For our friends over in the United Kingdom, this game will be broadcast on Sky Sports, specifically on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event. Coverage of this game will start on those channels at 9:00 PM UK time.For our men and women in uniform overseas, this game will actually be shown LIVE on the American Forces Network on AFN Prime Atlantic. Kickoff is scheduled for 2100Z, which means is a 2200L kickoff for everyone in Central Europe, Monday morning at 0030L for viewers in Afghanistan, and 0500L for anyone watching in Japan and Korea.Radio InfoIf you’re not going to be anywhere near a television for this one, you’ll be able to hear the call from Paul Allen and Pete Bercich on the Vikings Radio Network. That link goes to a list of Vikings Radio Network affiliates across the Upper Midwest. See if yours will be carrying the game. There are a couple of other places you can find it online as well, including the TuneIn radio service as well as the KFAN site (if you’re on a desktop or laptop computer only. . .it won’t work on phones or tablets).For those that have satellite radio (which, I’ll admit, has been a life saver for me the last two weeks as I’ve been traveling), you can find the Vikings Radio Network feed on Sirius Channel 127. If you have XM Radio, you can hear the game on XM Channel 225, but be advised that it will be the Eagles’ radio feed. If you’re using the SiriusXM Online App, the Vikings’ permanent home there is Channel 819.Referee InfoAccording to the folks from Football Zebras, the officiating crew for this week’s contest will be led by Walt Coleman. The Vikings last saw Walt Coleman in December of last season, as his officiating crew was responsible for calling the Vikings’ 34-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium.Weather InfoFrom what the good folks at WeatherNation are saying about this one, it’s going to be another warm one in Philadelphia on Sunday. In fact Youth Riley Reiff Jersey , it looks like the weather conditions will be similar to what the Vikings saw last Thursday in Los Angeles. Temperatures at kickoff are forecast to be in the low 80s with some light winds and mostly cloudy skies.Streaming InfoThere are several legal subscription services that are available in order to stream the game legally. Among them are Fubo.tv, USTVNow, and Sling TV. If you’re overseas, your best bet is going to be NFL GamePass.Since it has recently been brought up, I want to make it perfectly clear that streams from Reddit or other places are not. . .I repeat, not. . .legal. If you’d like to argue about that, you can argue it somewhere else, because the moderators won’t listen to that garbage. Until Reddit, or anywhere else, has a deal with the National Football League, those streams are illegal and not welcome to be put up on this site. If you want to use them, go find them on your own and don’t be plastering them in the comments section here unless you’d rather not be in the comments of the Game Thread. . .or any other thread. . .here at DN.That should be all of the information you need in order to keep track of all the action from Lincoln Financial Field between the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon. We’ll have our Open Thread for the first quarter up about an hour before kickoff or so, and we hope that you’ll join us here for all of the fun!

Once again White Mike Hughes Jersey , the time for Minnesota Vikings football is nearly upon us. The Vikings will take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon out on the East Coast, and are going to try to win their first game in nearly a month. . .yes, it has been almost a month since the Vikings won a football game. That’s sort of depressing to think about, isn’t it?So, if you’re wondering about how you can follow along with all of the action on Sunday afternoon, we’ve got everything you need here in one place.Television InfoThis game is actually part of the late slate of Sunday afternoon games this week, which means that it will be kicking off at 3:25 PM Central on Sunday afternoon. This game will be broadcast on FOX, which is KMSP-9 in the Twin Cities, and the play-by-play will be handled by Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.If you’re wondering whether or not you’re in the main broadcast area for this week’s game, below is the map from 506 Sports. The Vikings/Eagles game is in red.For our friends over in the United Kingdom, this game will be broadcast on Sky Sports, specifically on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event. Coverage of this game will start on those channels at 9:00 PM UK time.For our men and women in uniform overseas White Laquon Treadwell Jersey , this game will actually be shown LIVE on the American Forces Network on AFN Prime Atlantic. Kickoff is scheduled for 2100Z, which means is a 2200L kickoff for everyone in Central Europe, Monday morning at 0030L for viewers in Afghanistan, and 0500L for anyone watching in Japan and Korea.Radio InfoIf you’re not going to be anywhere near a television for this one, you’ll be able to hear the call from Paul Allen and Pete Bercich on the Vikings Radio Network. That link goes to a list of Vikings Radio Network affiliates across the Upper Midwest. See if yours will be carrying the game. There are a couple of other places you can find it online as well, including the TuneIn radio service as well as the KFAN site (if you’re on a desktop or laptop computer only. . .it won’t work on phones or tablets).For those that have satellite radio (which, I’ll admit, has been a life saver for me the last two weeks as I’ve been traveling), you can find the Vikings Radio Network feed on Sirius Channel 127. If you have XM Radio, you can hear the game on XM Channel 225, but be advised that it will be the Eagles’ radio feed. If you’re using the SiriusXM Online App, the Vikings’ permanent home there is Channel 819.Referee InfoAccording to the folks from Football Zebras http://www.authenticsminnesotavikings.com/cheap-xavier-rhodes-jersey , the officiating crew for this week’s contest will be led by Walt Coleman. The Vikings last saw Walt Coleman in December of last season, as his officiating crew was responsible for calling the Vikings’ 34-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium.Weather InfoFrom what the good folks at WeatherNation are saying about this one, it’s going to be another warm one in Philadelphia on Sunday. In fact, it looks like the weather conditions will be similar to what the Vikings saw last Thursday in Los Angeles. Temperatures at kickoff are forecast to be in the low 80s with some light winds and mostly cloudy skies.Streaming InfoThere are several legal subscription services that are available in order to stream the game legally. Among them are Fubo.tv, USTVNow, and Sling TV. If you’re overseas, your best bet is going to be NFL GamePass.Since it has recently been brought up, I want to make it perfectly clear that streams from Reddit or other places are not. . .I repeat, not. . .legal. If you’d like to argue about that, you can argue it somewhere else, because the moderators won’t listen to that garbage. Until Reddit, or anywhere else http://www.authenticsminnesotavikings.com/cheap-matt-wile-jersey , has a deal with the National Football League, those streams are illegal and not welcome to be put up on this site. If you want to use them, go find them on your own and don’t be plastering them in the comments section here unless you’d rather not be in the comments of the Game Thread. . .or any other thread. . .here at DN.That should be all of the information you need in order to keep track of all the action from Lincoln Financial Field between the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon. We’ll have our Open Thread for the first quarter up about an hour before kickoff or so, and we hope that you’ll join us here for all of the fun! Good Morning!It’s Thorsday and game day?Yes, it’s time for that annual hate fest I have with the league schedule as I don’t care for Thursday night games but I will watch if the Vikings are playing, really this is one (of many) issues the Player’s Union needs to find a way to negotiate getting rid of when the next CBA rolls around in 2020.As we’ve all read in multiple places DE Everson Griffen is out for the time being, good luck to him as he gets the help he needs for whatever the cause is.The game starts tonight at 2030 ET and I think there are a couple of legal streaming options available for this game, I’ll be watching via Amazon Prime as I want to check out the play call of Andrea Kremer and Hannah Storm and I don’t want to watch on mute due to Troy’s sidekick yammering on and on about his hearthrob.In the meantime, while we’re waiting for the next Vikings game to start we’ll continue with our thread full of beer and rib recommendations, nap strategies, crock pot and smoker recipes.Have another cup of coffee and drop by for some fan wisdom and snark.Rams fan Ramsrock stopped by again this year, always nice to have great fans from other teams in our Open Thread.With that White Tom Compton Jersey , let’s do this.Around the DN since our last thread:Chris has a spot where you can keep up with all the latest Vikings-Rams news.Five Good Questions from Turf Show Times with Joe McAtee and the Rams perspective on the game, Welcome Aboard Joe!One of my favorite weekly articles, Eric has his game preview with Vikings at Rams: Changing Perspective, while you’re there check out the GPOTW, this week a cheerleader, not a “pick.”From Chris, Hannah Storm and Andrea Kremer will make history as they’ll be the first all female duo to call an NFL game. Congratulations to them.Finally, Norse Code Podcast Episode 247: A Work In Progress (featuring. Joe McAtee of Turf Show Times).Vikings news from other sources:At Vikings.com they take a look back on the life and career of former HC Dennis Greenwho made a profound impact with players both on and off the field.He entered the team’s Ring of Honor, becoming the 24th member of the distinguished group.DE’s Stephen Weatherly and Danielle Hunter are prepping for a quick turnaround vs. the Rams.What’d They Say: Rams Talk About Vikings.Head Coach Mike Zimmer addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center on Tuesday.At 1500espn they ponder the question if OT Riley Reiff can’t play, how will Vikings align their O-line?At the espn NFC North blog:Resetting NFC North: Impact of Khalil Mack, who’s the favorite, more.League news: From NFL.com Los Angeles Rams place Aqib Talib on injured reserve.Jameis Winston on his return: ‘I’m not a selfish player’Joey Bosa says he’ll likely be out until midseason.What to watch for in Vikings vs. Rams on Thursday.We come to today’s media selection: It’s Game Day.Led Zeppelin-The Immigrant SongAgain White Trae Waynes Jersey , we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:-No discussion of politics or religion-No feeding of the trolls-This isn’t a male version of The View, so leave the gender hatred at the door-Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)-Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags-No pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employer-If you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go away-While navigating the open thread, just assume it’s sarcasm.

Sam Darnold appeared destined to go to Cleveland in the months leading up to the NFL draft.Then New Orleans Saints Womens T-Shirt , the Browns called an audible along the way and went instead with Baker Mayfield at No. 1 overall. After the Giants took Saquon Barkley next, the New York Jets ended up with the quarterback they wanted all along and Darnold was headed to the Big Apple."I thought I could've been there or several other teams," Darnold said Monday. "I honestly haven't even thought about it since I got drafted by the Jets. With (Cleveland) having the (No.) 1 pick, I guess there was a good chance I might have gone there, so I was thinking about it before. But ever since the draft, I haven't thought about it."On Thursday night, Darnold will be in Cleveland. But as the enemy — and a reminder to Browns fans of who they might have had.Not that Darnold, who'll be making his third NFL start, has revenge or redemption on his mind."No, I'm just going to go out there and play ball," he said.Darnold has much more pressing matters at hand, such as trying to bounce back from a 20-12 loss to Miami on Sunday .The No. 3 overall pick struggled at times with some missed opportunities and mistakes, as did the rest of the Jets. But Darnold also had some positive moments, and at 21 years and 103 days old became the youngest player to throw for 300 yards. He finished with 334 yards passing with one touchdown and two interceptions."Other than the two picks, I thought I played pretty well," Darnold said. "So New Orleans Saints Hats , I'm just going to continue to try to play as consistent as possible and find completions when I can and take shots when I can."Meanwhile, Mayfield hasn't yet taken a regular-season snap for the Browns with Tyrod Taylor as the starter. The former Oklahoma star is considered the future of the franchise for Cleveland — a label that appeared reserved for Darnold."I was excited to go anywhere," Darnold said. "Whoever wanted me, whoever wanted to pick me. As a top pick, it was a dream come true right when it happened. I wasn't concerned with who was picking me, but more with where I was going and where I might need to spend the next, for now, three or four years."The Jets envision Darnold being around for a lot longer than that, and Thursday will serve as the next test — and step — in the young quarterback's development.The Browns are still winless since 2016, but they have a tie and a three-point loss through the first two games so they're no pushovers.Gregg Williams' defense has already caused problems for the likes of Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger and New Orleans' Drew Brees, and could be licking its chops to face a rookie at home in front of the Dawg Pound."First of all, I think his guys are ready to play every single game," Darnold said. "They come out fiery and at the same time, they bring pressures that, sometimes, no one's ever seen before. We're going to be ready. I'm focused on what we're doing New Orleans Saints Womens Hoodie , but also on what the defense is doing and how we can attack them."The Jets and Darnold will have to do a better job than they did for much of the game against the Dolphins. New York was just 3 of 10 on third downs, including 1 of 8 in the first half when it fell behind 20-0.This will be the third game in just 11 days for the Jets, no easy task for a rookie QB. Darnold recognizes that this week's preparation will be condensed even more than last week, when New York was coming off a Monday night game in the opener."It's a different challenge, something I haven't necessarily dealt with, but it's awesome," Darnold said. "It's just another challenge for this team and we're going to take it head on. Looking at Cleveland last night, it was moving on right after that game. We watched that game and then got right to Cleveland. Not the final score that we wanted. Obviously, we looked to come out of there with a win, but move on as fast as possible and get to Cleveland because it's a short turnaround."NOTES: TE Neal Sterling (concussion), S Marcus Maye (foot) and LB Josh Martin (concussion) did not practice, although it was more of a walkthrough session. LT Kelvin Beachum (foot) and LG James Carpenter (foot) were limited. ... Jets coach Todd Bowles said he liked what he saw from Mayfield while going through the draft process. "I thought he was he gritty," Bowles said. "Had a great workout when we worked him out. I think he's a tough player and he's going to be a good player." ... WR ArDarius Stewart returned from his two-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancers. The Jets have until 4 p.m. Wednesday to make a decision on whether to activate or release him. If you’re a daily fantasy player, before each game I will look at three/four players from the New Orleans Saints and their opponent’s rosters that I would target in daily fantasy (based off their value and potential results). Unfortunately, the Saints are on a bye week this week, but daily fantasy knows no such thing as “bye.” So we’ll continue Womens Customized New Orleans Saints Jerseys , but expand out look into the rest of the NFC South.Obviously, Saints QB Drew Brees is a safe QB for daily fantasy leagues, but spending your money on a top-tier starting QB leaves you scraping the barrel to fill out the rest of your roster. So here are two Panthers, one Falcon and one Buccaneers that provide the most bang for your buck. (Values from Fanduel.)QB Jameis Winston (TB) - $7,400Famous Jameis might be one of the best daily fantasy plays in the entirety of Week 6. At $1,100 cheaper than the most expensive QB available (and the 11th most expensive QB), he is an incredible value play going against one of the worst defenses in the NFL - the Atlanta Falcons.RB Christian McCaffrey (CAR) - $8,500McCaffrey is also $1,100 cheaper than the most expensive player at his position this week. In daily fantasy leagues that include full or half-point PPR, McCaffrey is a great play against a Washington Redskins defense that is likely to be still reeling after an embarrassing performance against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.WR Calvin Ridley (ATL) - $6,700Ridley is an even better value play this week, coming a whopping $2,400 cheaper than the most expensive WR available in daily fantasy. As Julio Jones continues to struggle finding the end zone, Ridley has been one of the beneficiaries. We saw against the New Orleans Saints that Ridley can score (scoring twice, in fact), so he’s a high-ceiling play for Week 6.DST Panthers (@ Redskins) - $3 www.saintscheapshops.com ,900This play is actually a bit of a reach, as the Panthers are one of the cheapest DSTs available this week. But like the Saints last week, the Panthers have a stout defensive line that can give the Redskins rushing game fits all game. Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson are both still banged up, so the Panthers could find themselves with similar success as the Saints on Sunday.My full daily fantasy lineup this week: QB: Jameis Winston (TB) - $7,400RB: Christian McCaffrey (CAR) - $8,400RB: Marshawn Lynch (OAK) - $6,500WR: Calvin Ridley (ATL) - $6,700WR: Jarvis Landry (CLE) - $6,900WR: Doug Baldwin (SEA) - $6,200TE: Jared Cook (OAK) - $6,400FLEX: Robert Woods (LAR) - $7,300DST: Panthers (@ Redskins) - $3,900 Custom Washington Redskins Jerseys

EDEN PRAIRIE http://www.raidersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-kolton-miller-jersey , Minn. — In most cases, the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings would take a strong look at their Week 1 matchup as they prepare for Sunday’s NFC playoff game.

In this case, what happened in that Sept. 11 opener is indicative of the teams meeting in Minnesota for the second time this year.

Both teams underwent significant changes since the Vikings’ 29-19 victory.

Minnesota quarterback Sam Bradford completed 27-of-32 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns in the first meeting, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Bradford played only a single half the rest of the season as Case Keenum replaced the injured Bradford and put himself in MVP consideration.

New Orleans jettisoned former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson after a miserable four-game run and thrived with Mark Ingram and rookie Alvin Kamara, becoming one of the league’s most dangerous running back duos. The Saints’ defense also started to find its way.

“They’re a different team than they were Week 1, but so are we,” said Minnesota tight end Kyle Rudolph, who scored a touchdown in the first game. “Everyone in the NFL is trying to find their identity early on. They’re different from a personnel standpoint and they’re also different from a team, like us, who has found their identity.”

The teams found their identity but had plenty of personnel changes along the way. The Vikings’ defense is healthy, but Keenum has taken hold of the starting quarterback spot and rookie running back Dalvin Cook, who ran for 127 yards and a touchdown in the first meeting, has been out since Week 4 because of a torn ACL.

“There are some similarities in regards to scheme, but I think when you go through a course of an NFL season and you look at the attrition that takes place, there are eight or nine of our starters that are playing in that game that aren’t playing in this game, and I’m sure the same exists for Minnesota,” New Orleans coach Sean Payton told reporters this week http://www.eaglesauthorizedshops.com/authentic-dallas-goedert-jersey , according to the team’s website. “And you begin to take shape as the season progresses to who you become and I think both teams have done that.”

In the Saints’ case, they altered their offensive identity to rely on Ingram and Kamara. New Orleans ranked fifth in the league in rushing this season as Ingram ran for a career-high 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns. Kamara led the league with 6.1 yards per carry as the Saints had an NFC-best 4.7 yards per carry as a team.

Peterson had six carries for 18 yards in the first meeting in Minnesota. With the carries being split three ways, Ingram had six carries and Kamara touched the ball 11 times on offense.

“They got a little bit of everything,” Vikings defensive end Brian Robison said. “Ingram’s more of a downhill runner. Kamara is definitely a guy that can bounce to the outside. He’s got speed to hit the edge and they’re both really good in the screen game.”

The Vikings were second in the league in run defense, allowing 83.6 yards per game. They’ve held two of their past three opponents to fewer than 46 yards.

Selling out to stop the run isn’t a solid strategy either. In last week’s win against Carolina, the Saints ran 22 times for 41 yards as the Panthers dared New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees to beat them.

Brees had 376 passing yards and two touchdowns, and receivers Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn each had more than 100 yards receiving against the Panthers.

“We’ve been telling y’all all year, man, don’t sleep on Drew,” Ingram told the New Orleans Times Picayune. “And if you’re going to stack the box and try and stop the run and take us out the game, he’s going to hurt you. We’ve been telling you he’s the best quarterback in the league and he’s still Drew Brees. He proved that (Sunday).”

Perhaps the biggest change for the Saints has been the development of the defense. After allowing 470 total yards to Minnesota in Week 1, New Orleans gave up 555 to New England the following week. Slowly, communication improved on the back end combined with the play of rookie Marcus Lattimore and Ken Crawley at cornerback.

The Saints were third in the NFL and first in the NFC with 20 interceptions in the regular season. Lattimore led the team with five.

“He’s a good player,” Vikings Pro Bowl receiver Adam Thielen said of Lattimore. “He’s physical. He can run with anybody. He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now. He’s got great ball skills. He’s pretty much got everything you need to be a really good corner in this league.”

New Orleans also pressures the passer. Cameron Jordan tied Minnesota’s Everson Griffen for fourth in the league with 13 sacks. As a team, the Saints’ 42 sacks were tied for seventh in the NFL.

Like Brees, Keenum didn’t make mistakes once replacing Bradford. He threw seven interceptions http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com/authentic-rashaad-penny-jersey , one fewer than Brees, and the Vikings allowed the seventh-fewest sacks in the league behind a patchwork offensive line.

“He is playing well,” Payton told the team’s website of Keenum. “You can see him getting the ball to a lot of different guys. These guys, I think, have done a great job on offense. I think they are playing a game really that suits both sides of the ball.”

Minnesota should head into Sunday healthy, including the return of rookie center Pat Elflein from a shoulder injury.

New Orleans is battered. Left guard Andrus Peat and defensive tackle Tony McDaniel were placed on injured re

MILWAUKEE — For the Atlanta Braves, the big question as they headed from a long three-game series in Yankee Stadium to Milwaukee concerns the status of star first baseman Freddie Freeman.

All indications are Freeman will play the opener of a four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers, but it will not be official until the lineup card is posted Thursday afternoon at Miller Park.

“If you ask him, he’s going to say yes,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “But until we get there and see how it is, we won’t know. It was probably good that we got him out of there and started on some treatment.”

Freeman exited in the fourth inning of Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the New York Yankee Stadium with an upper right arm contusion. He was injured when he was hit in the third inning by CC Sabathia, and by pulling him early to get treatment, Freeman and the Braves hope the precautionary measure means he can play Thursday.

“Luckily, it didn’t hit my hand,” Freeman said. “I’ll take the elbow and a little soreness. As long as I have the strength in my arm tomorrow, I can deal with the pain.”

Atlanta is 4-2 on its 10-game trip. The Braves swept three games in St. Louis last weekend and took a 5-3, 11-inning victory over the Yankees on Monday before losing the last two games.

“I thought we handled ourselves really well http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com/authentic-shaquem-griffin-jersey ,” Snitker said. “We won a really tough game the first night, we put ourselves in a position to win today and today here we come again. The guys never quit. They know they can play with anybody and it’s a good sign.”

Milwaukee (51-35) is the first team in the National League to reach 50 wins after completing a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 3-2 win on Wednesday.

Brad Miller and Nate Orf played roles in three close wins as Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell is employing a mix-and-match approach at shortstop. He is using that strategy while remaining optimistic that shortstop Orlando Arcia will rediscover his offensive stroke at Triple-A Colorado Springs and rejoin Milwaukee for a playoff push.

Miller has gotten off to a good start with the Brewers. He extended his hitting streak to nine games Wednesday and has a hit in 10 of 12 games since joining the team, with a pair of home runs.

Orf was batting .307 with an .875 OPS when he was summoned Monday from Triple-A and recorded his first career hit with a solo home run against the Twins.

Both are immediate offensive upgrades to Arcia, who was slashing .197/.231/.482 but remained in the regular lineup because of his defensive ability.

While Miller saw extensive action at the position earlier in his career and Orf has spent most of the season there at Colorado Springs, neither player is a natural shortstop so Counsell was prepared to sacrifice defense to shore up the bottom of the order.

“When we sent Orlando down, we had multiple players on the roster who aren’t true shortstops so we’re trying to find guys who can play shortstop and who can kind of fill in at shortstop,” he said. “I don’t think we have an answer, but this is how we’re going to try it.”

A more stable solution could be coming soon. Tyler Saladino was on a roll before suffering a severe ankle sprain on May 29.

In 16 games with the Brewers, he batted .324 with three home runs and eight RBIs while playing defense well enough to make it possible for Milwaukee to send Arcia down a first time on May 25.

Saladino has been rehabbing for the last week and could rejoin the team in the next few days.

“Tyler will be back soon and will end up having some of the shortstop duties,” Counsell said. “We’ll sit down here soon and figure that out.”

The right-handed hitting Orf is likely to get the starting nod Thursday when the Brewers face Braves left-hander Max Fried.

Fried (1-2, 2.55 ERA) returned to the rotation last week when Brandon McCarthy was placed on the disabled list and struck out 11 over 6 2/3 innings and earned his first victory of the season as Atlanta beat the Cardinals in St. Louis.

Fried remained with the team after his last outing but didn’t learn for sure that he’d get another start until Wednesday morning. He’s looking forward to getting his first taste of meaningful action as the two winningest teams in the National League face off for the first time this season.

Milwaukee counters with right-hander Jhoulys Chacin (6-3, 3.71) who bounced back from his worst outing of the season to hold the Cincinnati Reds to a run over five innings while striking out nine his last time out.

Signed to a two-year contract over the winter, Chacin has been a stabilizing force in the Brewers’ rotation. He leads the staff with 18 starts and 97 innings his season.

Chacin has pitched well against Atlanta throughout his career, posting a 3.94 ERA in six previous starts. Due to a lack of run support in those contests, is just 1-4 lifetime against the Braves.

The Texas Rangers have placed first baseman Ronald Guzman on the seven-day concussion disabled list and recalled utilityman Ryan Rua from Triple-A Round Rock.

The Rangers made the move Tuesday http://www.patriotsauthorizedshop.com/authentic-danny-shelton-jerseyy , a day after Guzman left in the sixth inning of a 7-4 win over San Diego after his head struck the knee of third baseman Christian Villanueva when the rookie was diving back on an attempted pickoff.

Guzman was called up to become the regular first baseman early in the season after injuries forced the Rangers to juggle their lineup. The 23-year-old is hitting .227 with seven homers and 30 RBIs.

Rua, who was on the opening-day roster http://www.patriotsauthorizedshop.com/authentic-jason-mccourty-jersey , is set for his fifth stint with the Rangers this season. Primarily a left fielder and first baseman, Rua has a .163 average with two home runs with the Rangers and is hitting .236 with three homers in Round Rock.

—

The Chicago Bears have released oft-injured linebacker Pernell McPhee and safety Quintin Demps.

The first major free agent signing by general manager Ryan Pace Milan Lucic Jersey Kids , McPhee had trouble staying healthy in three seasons with the Bears. He had 90 tackles and 14 sacks in 36 games for Chicago after playing his first four years with the Baltimore Ravens.

McPhee missed the first six games in 2016 following surgery on his left knee and had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in July. He also sat out three games late last season because of a shoulder ailment and finished the season on injured reserve.

A broken arm limited Demps, who signed with Chicago in March Oscar Klefbom Jersey , to three games.

The Bears announced the moves on Monday.

—

Stephen Piscotty was perfectly fine with Andy Green’s decision to walk Matt Olson to load the bases ahead of him with no outs in the eighth inning.

He liked Green’s move even more after hitting a go-ahead double to keep the plucky Athletics rolling along.

Piscotty doubled three times and had three RBIs http://www.jaguarsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-ronnie-harrison-jersey , helping Oakland beat San Diego 4-2 on Wednesday.

”We know we have a really good offense and if we keep that game close anything can happen in any inning,” Piscotty said. ”We’ve been doing it all year. It’s a great testament to this team, how well we battle late.”

Khris Davis added an RBI single for the A’s, who have won 14 of 17 to move a season-high nine games over .500.

”We have a young group that’s played together that expects to win,” manager Bob Melvin said. ”There’s a lot more to go before we consider it special, but here recently we’ve been playing really well.”

Piscotty doubled in Olson in the second, and then had another two-base hit in the sixth. He snapped a 2-all tie in the eighth with a two-run double off Craig Stammen.

Green opted to pitch to Piscotty in the eighth. Jed Lowrie drew a leadoff walk off Jose Castillo (1-2) and Davis doubled before Olson was walked.

Chapman said the intentional walk was the smart play http://www.jaguarsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-logan-cooke-jersey , even though it backfired on the Padres.

”Olson’s a power guy and he’s a left-hander and there’s a base open and it’s a tie ballgame. It made a lot of sense,” Piscotty said. ”I was ready as soon as guys were on second and third.”

Lou Trivino (7-1) retired two batters for the win. Blake Treinen pitched the ninth for his 22nd save.

Christian Villanueva hit his 17th home run for San Diego. The Padres lost all four games against the A’s this season.

”We’re not getting hits with runners in scoring position,” said Green, who is in his third year managing the Padres. ”Sometimes the best thing you can do is relax, go play baseball and enjoy what you’re doing and then the hits start coming.”

OH SO SMOOTH

Oakland third baseman Matt Chapman was hitless in three at-bats, but helped with a pair of sparkling defensive plays. The A’s rookie made a diving stop on A.J. Ellis‘ grounder in the fourth, and then made a spinning backhand grab of Hunter Renfroe’s sharp grounder down the third-base line to begin a 5-4-3 double play in the sixth.

”You look at the box score and it shows oh-for http://www.chiefsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-armani-watts-jersey , but for us he drove in like three runs,” Melvin said. ”There’s two plays there that are going to lead to some runs probably for sure.”

STRONG STARTS, NO DECISIONS

Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision.

San Diego’s Luis Perdomo, who was called up from the minors before the game, allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings in his first start since April 15.

Oakland’s Sean Manaea gave up two runs in seven innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: Closer Brad Hand rejoined the team after missing Tuesday’s game for personal reasons.

Athletics: A day after getting spiked on the side of his leg while covering first base, Chris Bassitt was still noticeably sore, but isn’t expected to miss his turn in the rotation. … RHP Daniel Mengden (sprained right foot) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Nashville on Friday.

UP NEXT

Padres: LHP Eric Lauer (3-5 http://www.chargersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-justin-jones-jersey , 5.08 ERA) faces the Diamondbacks for the first time in his career Thursday in the opener of a four-game series in Arizona. Lauer had a 2.76 ERA in six June starts.

Athletics: RHP Paul Blackburn (2-2, 6.46) pitches Friday in Cleveland, seeking a second consecutive win over the Indians.

—

Oakland Raiders long snapper Jon Condo says the team has told him he won’t return in 2018.

Condo said on his Twitter account Wednesday that the Raiders told his agent he won’t be back when he becomes a free agent next week.

Condo was initially signed to Oakland’s practice squad in 2006 and became the team’s long snapper the following season. He played 173 of 176 games over 11 years with the Raiders.

Oakland had signed two long snappers to futures contracts earlier this offseason, Andrew East and Bradley Northnagel.

The Raiders previously announced that kicker Sebastian Janikowski won’t be back next year, meaning there will be no players remaining who were acquired before longtime owner Al Davis died in October 2011.

—

Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy says he’s making progress with his right ankle injury but his status is uncertain for Sunday’s AFC wild-card playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

McCoy spoke to the media on Thursday for the first time since suffering the injury in Sunday’s 22-16 win over the Miami Dolphins. He has yet to practice this week Mark Walton Color Rush Jersey , but did participate in stretches Thursday before leaving the field with a trainer.

”I’m definitely happy with how things are working out so far, but there is a lot more room for improvement, especially with where I want to be,” McCoy said. ”I know my body, I know myself, especially the way I play is more cutting and running.

”It’s been feeling a lot better. I’m out of the boot and I can walk around without any pain. So that’s a plus.”

McCoy has been Buffalo’s most explosive and most consistent playmaker, finishing the year with 1,138 rushing yards and six touchdowns. His absence would leave a hole in Buffalo’s offensive attack; the Bills finished the regular season with the 31st-ranked passing attack in the league.

”I just want to be able to cut well enough where I don’t have a lot of pain when I’m cutting,” McCoy said. ”I just want to be close or the best as far as 100 percent as I can get. But the type of game like this, you’ve got to lay it all on the line. If I can’t get 100 percent, as long as I’m out there and I can run effective enough I’ll do it. So we’ll just see.”

McCoy was quick to mention previous times when he tried to play through injuries in Buffalo and had limited success. McCoy has attempted to play through hamstring injuries in each of the past two seasons. Each time, his production significantly dropped.

”I don’t want to make any promises,” McCoy said.

The Bills have no established running back behind McCoy on the depth chart. Marcus Murphy was promoted from the practice squad ahead of the Week 17 win over the Dolphins, rushing for 41 yards on seven carries. Buffalo also has veteran fullback/running back Mike Tolbert.

”I think we’re moving in the right direction,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said of McCoy. ”Will we be able to get there in time? We’ll see.”

J.D. Martinez hit his major league-leading 25th home run, Rafael Devers delivered a tiebreaking double and the Boston Red Sox beat the skidding Los Angeles Angels 9-6 on Wednesday night after squandering a six-run lead.

Martinez’s homer capped a six-run second for the Red Sox Baker Mayfield Color Rush Jersey , who won for the fifth time in six games. Eduardo Nunez and Sandy Leon also went deep in the inning. Boston improved to 5-0 against the Angels this season and has outscored them 45-10.

Martin Maldonado launched a three-run homer and Ian Kinsler had a solo shot for the Angels. They lost their fifth straight and 12th in 16 games.

Los Angeles reliever Jake Jewell was carted off the field with what appeared to be a gruesome injury to his right ankle after covering the plate on a run-scoring wild pitch in the eighth.

Angels star Mike Trout went 1 for 4 as a sprained right index finger kept him as the designated hitter for the eighth consecutive game.

Devers doubled off reliever Jose Alvarez (3-3) in the seventh, putting Boston back in front 7-6, and scored on Leon’s single. Matt Barnes (2-2) worked a scoreless inning. Craig Kimbrel got four outs for his 23rd save, his first of more than three outs this season.

ASTROS 7, BLUE JAYS 6

HOUSTON (AP) – Alex Bregman hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to complete a big rally in Houston’s victory over Toronto.

It was Bregman’s third straight game with a homer and it capped a huge comeback for the Astros. They trailed 5-0 in the middle of the first inning after a terrible start by Dallas Keuchel.

The Astros trailed by one when Tony Kemp singled off Ryan Tepera (5-3) with no outs in the ninth and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Then with one out in the inning, Bregman sent a fastball to left field, where it bounced off the wall above the Crawford Boxes, to give Houston the victory.

Bregman also doubled twice after hitting a homer and doubling three times in a win on Tuesday night.

Will Harris (3-3) allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth.

After the Blue Jays took a 5-0 lead in the first, Houston scored three in the bottom of the first to close the gap and got within one Evan Gattis‘ RBI double in the fifth. But Kevin Pillar singled and scored on an error in the sixth to make it 6-4. Marwin Gonzalez snapped an 0 for 23 slump with a solo shot to the bullpen in right-center off Tyler Clippard with two outs in the eighth inning to cut the lead to one.

DODGERS 7, CUBS 5

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger each hit a solo home run, Joc Pederson added a two-run shot and Los Angeles defeated Chicago.

The Dodgers improved to 17-6 in June and have slugged a major league-leading 51 homers this month. That’s the second-most during any month in franchise history, and with three days remaining they have a chance to overtake last year’s team that set the record with 53.

Alex Wood (4-5) allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings to earn his third straight win. The left-hander struck out six and walked none, retiring the final seven batters he faced. Kenley Jansen earned a four-out save, his 21st of the season.

Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks (5-8) gave up six runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings, failing to go at least five innings for the first time in 16 starts this season. The team has lost five of his last six starts.

RANGERS 5, PADRES 2

ARLINGTON Denzel Ward Color Rush Jersey , Texas (AP) – Mike Minor took a perfect game into the seventh inning, Shin-Soo Choo reached base for the 40th straight game and Texas beat San Diego.

Minor (6-4) was perfect until Eric Hosmer’s single up the middle with one out in the seventh. One out later, center fielder Delino DeShields preserved Minor’s shutout by leaping to rob Hunter Renfroe of a home run. Minor struck out five and threw 85 pitches.

Choo tied Philadelphia’s Odubel Herrera for the longest on-base streak this season. Choo was hit by a pitch leading off the first inning and also had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

Keone Kela pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save, the most in the majors this season without a blown save. Clayton Richard (7-7) took the loss.

PIRATES 5, METS 3

NEW YORK (AP) – David Freese hit a go-ahead, two-run single and Pittsburgh rallied for four runs in the ninth inning to beat New York.

Gregory Polanco had an RBI single and Josh Bell added a sacrifice fly in the ninth as the Pirates, shut down by Zack Wheeler most of the night, came back against a beleaguered New York bullpen to win for just the second time in eight games.

Wilmer Flores homered and Asdrubal Cabrera had three hits for New York, which has dropped eight of nine. Mets relievers have 21 losses this season, most in the majors.

Felipe Vazquez (3-2) threw two scoreless innings for the win.

Jeurys Familia (3-4) took the loss.

PHILLIES 3, YANKEES 0

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Zach Eflin limited New York to four hits in seven innings, and Rhys Hoskins hit a three-run homer in Philadelphia’s victory.

Eflin won his fifth straight start and kept the surprising Phillies in the thick of the NL East race.

Eflin (6-2) became the first Phillies pitcher to win five starts in a month (he had a 1.76 ERA in June) since Cole Hamels went 5-0 in May 2012.

Searanthony Dominguez finished for his fifth save. Luis Cessa (0-1) lasted only three innings in his first start for the Yankees since Aug. 14.

DIAMONDBACKS 2, MARLINS 1

MIAMI (AP) – Robbie Ray pitched six scoreless innings in his first game in nearly two months in Arizona’s victory over Miami.

Ray (3-0) allowed two hits and issued two walks. He struck out six in his first game since April