Sports

Brady and Patriots go quietly into the New England night with loss to Titans – Toronto Sun

Published

5 years ago

January 5, 2020

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The 41st playoff game of Tom Brady’s unrivaled NFL career began in a thick fog that had rolled into Gillette Stadium two hours before kickoff.

The future of the Patriots quarterback was already under a cloak of uncertainty so if nothing else, the conditions on an uncharacteristically mild New England night were effective in setting the mood.

Game 41 did not end with victory 31 for famous No. 12, however, as the Patriots fell 20-13 to an upstart and physically motivated group of Tennessee Titans here in Saturday night’s AFC wildcard playoff game.

All dynasties must come to an end, after all, and now the conclusion of one of the best in professional sports is certainly in sight.

If it was Brady’s last game in a Patriots uniform, this with his long-time partner in prime time New England coach Bill Belichick, it passed quietly.

Instead of ending in a dramatic victory drive that would have only added to his legend, Brady’s potential final touch as a Patriot was a nine-yard interception that the Titans Logan Ryan returned for a touchdown.

A pick six for the six-time Super Bowl champion won’t dull his accomplishments, but it was a hard one to swallow in a Patriots playoff season that ended far earlier than has become normal.

“I think we’re all running out of time and chances with every year that goes by,” Brady said afterwards. “ I don’t think I’m the only one in this room (who can say that.

“Who knows what the future holds. We’ll leave it at that. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I can’t predict it.”

Brady did say he wasn’t ready to retire, but that doesn’t mean he won’t explore opportunities elsewhere.

There were those among the sell-out crowd who seemed stunned by the turn of events, accustomed as they had begun to a more triumphant finish from their hero. But really, the surprise was minimal for a variety of factors, with warning signs gathering for weeks.

Brady acknowledged as much in assessing the Patriots offence as a whole this season.

“It was a tough way to end it tonight,” Brady said. “If we want to win those games, we’re going to have to do a better job.”

Even in the disappointing defeat there was plenty of drama for the Patriots – and even some late hope – including a possession that began on the Patriots’ own 11 with 4:44 remaining and opened with a 22-yard Brady completion and then another of six yards.

On this night, there was no comeback script, however. Instead, a dropped pass by usually reliable Julian Edelman and an incomplete pass on third and four followed. Bill Belichick summoned the punting unit.

The Patriots got the ball back with less than a half minute remaining but it was on their own one-yard line. One play later and it was over.

If it was an inglorious final scene here for the future hall of famer, it certainly wasn’t unexpected. The Patriots had lost three of their final four games in a season in which Brady tried to guide a threadbare offence despite his advancing age of 42 years.

“Give them a lot of credit, they played good and stopped us when they needed to,” Belichick said. “We just weren’t able to get the job done.”

The Titans did just enough to advance — thanks mostly to the bull work of 6-foot-4, 230-pound running back Derrick Henry who rushed for 182 yards and a touchdown on a whopping 34 carries.

In fairness to Henry, Titans coach (and former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel) and quarterback Ryan Tannehill who did an adequate job of managing the game, the night was all about Brady.

Given that he had won six Super Bowls in his 20 years with the Patriots and given age, Brady’s future was impossible to ignore as his team started the post-season on wildcard weekend for the first time since 2009.

While not exactly at a crisis point, the Patriots certainly seem at a crossroads, whether Brady has more years left with the team or not. Uncharacteristically, they struggled down the stretch, the supporting cast on offence had been limited and Brady himself was showing signs of frustration.

In the lead up to Saturday’s kickoff, Brady had vowed that he was taking nothing for granted, an approach he insisted he has taken from the time he replaced then starter Drew Bledsoe in 2001.

“If you think about it, every year that we’re in the playoffs, it’s really the same thing,” Brady said during the week. “The team will not be together if we lose, whether that was 2010, ’11, ’12, all the way to now. Even if you’re going to the Super Bowl it’s the same feeling.”

A noble sentiment from Brady but not one borne in history, unfortunately. The one constant from season to season, from Super Bowl title to Super Bowl title was Brady and Belichick.

The Titans came in with a fairly one-dimensional game plan, albeit a smart one. Henry, who led the NFL in rushing yards during the regular season, bullied his way for 106 yards and 22 more via a catch and run in the first half alone.

The Patriots did their best at ball and clock control, likely in attempt to keep Henry on the sideline for as long as possible. Brady engineered three scoring drives in the opening 30 minutes, but the latter of those that began with a first and goal from the seven ended with a field goal and 2:16 remaining to make the score 13-10.

Even though it was early, those four points left off the board felt bigger than normal against the not so mighty Patriots.

That gave Henry and the Titans an opportunity to make up for the two previous drives that had ended in punts. The big back delivered, first with a 29-yard run to open the drive and later with a 22-yard pass and catch from Tannehill that took the ball to the half-yard line.

Henry plunged home for a one-yard touchdown run to give the Titans a 14-13 half-time lead and what would ultimately be the winning score.

“Any time you lose games and not produce the way you want you always wish you could do better,” said Brady, who completed 20 of 37 passes for 209 yards and no touchdowns. “It’s a results business. It’s about winning and losing.”

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

Source link

Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

Source link

Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

Source link

Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

2 days ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

—

Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

Source link