lingzi
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DETROIT —Calvin Johnson gave the Detroit Lions, and their fans, something to
feel good about in a sour season. Jonathan Goodwin Jersey . In yet another
loss, he had a record-breaking night. Matt Ryan threw four touchdown passes,
playing his best early and late, to help the Atlanta Falcons lead from start to
finish in a 31-18 victory over Detroit on Saturday night. Johnson has been a
bright spot during the losing streak and throughout a miserable season in the
Motor City, surpassing Jerry Rices NFL single-season yards receiving mark.
Johnson also became the only player with 100 yards receiving in eight straight
games and the first with 10 receptions in four games in a row in league history.
He had 11 receptions for 225 yards, giving him 1,892 this season with one game
left. Rice had 1,848 for San Francisco in 1995, After making the record-breaking
catch in the fourth quarter, Johnson jogged over to the sideline and handed the
football to his father. “That was a very special moment,” he said. There havent
been many of those this season for the Lions, a season after they won 10 games
and ended an 11-year post-season drought. The Falcons (13-2) let the Lions pull
within five points early in the fourth quarter, then took control for good on
Ryans fourth TD pass to wide-open tight end Michael Palmer in the fourth quarter
and Matt Bryants 20-yard field goal with 3:05 left that gave them a 15-point
lead. Atlanta got what it wanted, home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs, and
didnt mind Johnson had a milestone-filled night. “We had defences to stop
Calvin, but we also knew the biggest thing was to get the win,” Falcons
cornerback Robert McClain said. “We have not peaked yet, were just going to keep
improving.” The Lions (4-11) have been relegated to playing for pride this month
and that hasnt been going very well, losing seven straight games in what has
become the leagues longest active losing streak. Atlanta turned three Detroit
turnovers into points, running any chance it had of winning when Johnson had his
night in the spotlight. “Seventeen points off turnovers is the difference in the
game,” Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said. Detroit hasnt had this long of a losing
streak since it had one lasting an entire season when the laughingstock of a
franchise became the leagues first to go 0-16 in 2008, when Johnson was in his
second season. Johnson surpassed one of Rices records with his 10th catch in the
fourth quarter that put him over the 200-yard mark in the game. He needed 182 to
surpass Rices mark. He had more than 100 yards receiving for an eighth straight
game, breaking an NFL record set by Charley Hennigan in 1961 and matched by
Michael Irvin in 1995. It was Johnsons 11th game with 100 yards receiving this
season, tying Irvins league mark. In the first quarter, Johnson surpassed
Herman Moores single-season franchise record of 1,686 yards. “Ive been an NFL
fan my whole life, dating back to watching Johnny Unitas and Raymond Berry as a
kid, and Ive coached in this league for 19 years,” Schwartz said. “Ive seen a
lot of Hall of Famers, but Ive never seen a better player than Calvin Johnson.
“He just broke a record set by Jerry Rice, who is arguably the best player in
this history of this league.” Befitting a season that has gone badly, though,
Johnson fumbled in the first half to help Atlanta add to its big lead. Larry Grant Jersey .C. Lions is not over yet.
According to CKNW Radio in Vancouver, the Lions asked defensive lineman Tyrone
Williams to retire over the weekend. Jerry Rice Womens Jersey . – Nick Swisher
could only applaud the Angels first impressive catch on a ball that he
absolutely crushed. http://www.sf49erssportsstore.com/justin-smith-jersey/
. —Darren McFadden needed one series to show hes in midseason form for Oakland
following a foot injury that cut his last season short. Michael Crabtree Womens Jersey . He didnt
Friday night and was left scratching his head. “Ive got to find a way to miss
down when I miss,” he said. David Akers Jersey .C. —Brian Vickers will
race for the Nationwide Series championship next season for Joe Gibbs Racing.
BROOKLYN, Mich. —Jimmie Johnson looked as if he had already finished the
hardest work. After starting at the back of the pack, he had moved up quickly,
and when he passed Brad Keselowski for the lead on lap 191 of 200, his No. 48
Chevrolet seemed to be the superior car. Then Johnsons engine faltered with only
six laps remaining. He lost the race—and the NASCAR Sprint Cup points lead—
to Greg Biffle on Sunday. “I got it turned around and was catching him, and then
his engine failed,” Biffle said. “It was going to be a great race, no matter
what. I felt like I could catch him, but well never know. Passing him might have
been a different story.” Biffle won the race at Michigan International Speedway,
taking advantage when Johnson left the track because of engine trouble. Johnson
started the race from the back because of an engine change, and he couldnt hold
on at the end. He finished 27th. After Johnsons mishap, there was a caution for
oil on the track. Biffle held off Keselowski by 0.416 seconds in the
green-white-checkered finish. Biffle took over the points lead, while Johnson
dropped from first to fourth. Matt Kenseth moved up a spot to second despite a
17th-place showing. “I know that a lot of people dont expect us to win the
championship, and dont expect us to compete for the title,” Biffle said. “I dont
care what they say or who they want to talk about, but we will be a factor when
it comes down to Homestead. I promise you that.” Kasey Kahne finished third in
the 400-mile race, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Marcos Ambrose. It was the
12th victory for Roush Fenway Racing at MIS, breaking a tie with the Wood
Brothers for the most wins at the track. Pole sitter Mark Martin was sailing
along in the lead for most of the first 65 laps before his race ended in scary
fashion. Bobby Labonte went into a spin while Martin was coming up from behind,
and Martin went sliding off toward pit road. His car crashed frighteningly into
the end of a short, narrow barrier on the interior side of pit road. The side of
Martins car was essentially impaled by the end of the wall, just in front of the
left rear tire and dangerously close to the drivers seat. But in the smoky scene
that followed, Martin was able to get out and walk away. “I really feel that was
a freak accident. Im not sure you can ever completely fix something like that,”
Martin said. Steve Young Black Jersey. “That was a pretty
freak angle that I got it. Im not sure what you can do. It could have been
really bad if I would have got into that hole a little deeper where it would
have caught me in the door instead of the crush area back there.” Johnson
started from the back, and so did Earnhardt, who was using a backup car after a
mishap in practice Saturday. The two Hendrick Motorsports teammates made a solid
run of it, but it was Biffle and his No. 16 Ford that emerged at the end.
Johnson did not speak to reporters afterward. He was trying to become the first
driver to reach four victories this season. Keselowski and Tony Stewart also
have three, and drivers will earn bonus points in the Chase for the Sprint Cup
for “regular-season” victories. The Chase starts next month. “The 48 has the
most speed and the best history as far as the Chase is concerned,” Keselowski
said. “We caught a lucky break that was unfortunate for Jimmie. ... He
definitely deserved to win the race. Just didnt play out that way.” It was
Biffles second win of the year and third career victory at MIS. Keselowski,
racing in his home state, settled for second place for the second straight week.
“Just a great day,” Keselowski said. “I dont know what to say other than I was
this close to getting what would have been one of the biggest wins of my career.
That would have been really special.” Biffles victory was his 18th on the Cup
circuit. Earnhardt won at MIS in June, snapping a four-year losing streak. The
last driver to sweep the two Cup races at MIS was Labonte in 1995. Earnhardt
bounced back with a nice showing amid adversity. That was after finishing 32nd
at Pocono and 28th at Watkins Glen the last two races. Stewart and Jeff Gordon
both had motor problems, finishing 32nd and 28th. Gordon, Kyle Busch and Carl
Edwards entered the race on the outside looking in for the Chase. Those three
didnt do much to change that. Edwards finished sixth and Busch was 13th. There
are three more races before the Chase starts. Right now Kahne and Ryan Newman
are in line for the two wild card spots that go to the drivers between 11th and
20th in the standings with the most wins. Busch, Gordon, Ambrose and Joey Logano
could edge out Newman if any of them win another race. ’ ’ ’
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