Hometown Broadcasting Sports Monday 11/15/21
15 November 2021 Sports
Sports for November 15th
Aaron Rodgers was uneven in his return from COVID-19 but did more than enough to support a standout Green Bay Packers defense in a 17-0 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. A.J. Dillon rushed for two fourth-quarter touchdowns for the Packers, who handed the Seahawks their first shutout loss in a decade. A week after he was forced to sit out a loss at Kansas City because of a positive COVID-19 test and the subsequent revelation that he was not vaccinated, Rodgers went 23 of 37 for 292 yards and threw an interception in the end zone. Rodgers did not practice all week and was cleared to play Saturday under the NFL’s protocols for unvaccinated players.
Although Rodgers was hardly at his best, his return made this much clear: With him, the Packers (8-2) are among the best teams in the NFC and a Super Bowl contender.
Seattle’s Russell Wilson also struggled in his return after missing three games with an injury to the middle finger on his throwing hand. He went 20 of 40 for 161 yards with two interceptions. The Seahawks (3-6) wasted two scoring opportunities when Kevin King and Adrian Amos picked off Wilson passes in the end zone.
Aaron Jones left the game with a knee injury which is believed to be a sprained MCL and his status is unknown. More tests will be conducted. Dillon carried the Packers’ rushing attack down the stretch. On third-and-goal from the 3, Dillon ran into Bobby Wagner around the line of scrimmage but essentially carried the six-time All-Pro linebacker into the end zone for his first touchdown run of the season. That extended Green Bay’s lead to 10-0 with 10:37 left. Dillon also scored on a 2-yard run with 2 minutes left after setting up that touchdown with a 50-yard reception. He rushed for 66 yards on 21 carries and had two catches for 62 yards.
Green Bay outgained Seattle 201 yards to 86 in the first half but failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Mason Crosby missed a 42-yard field goal and another possession ended with Rodgers throwing incomplete on fourth-and-2 from the 34.
The Packers recorded their first shutout since a 22-0 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 30, 2018. The Seahawks hadn’t been shut out since falling 24-0 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 18, 2011.
Despite Rodgers’ return, multiple Packers players left Sunday’s game due to injuries – running back Aaron Jones- who is reported to have sprained his MC- as well as linebackers Rashan Gary and Whitney Mercilus.
Next week, the Packers, who are now 8-2, will travel to Minnesota to take on the now 4-5 Vikings.
In the NFC North Minnesota defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 27-20. Meanwhile the Lions broke their losing streak, but still are winless. Detroit tied the Steelers in overtime on road, 16-16.The Packers continue to hold their lead in the NFC North. The Vikings are in 2nd place, and the Chicago Bears are in third. The Bears had a bye this week, and are currently 3-6.
In Sunday Night Football the Chiefs dominated the Raiders in Las Vegas 41-14. Tonight the Rams play at San Francisco.
In the NBA Sunday night the Bucks lost at Atlanta 128-120. Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 26 points, Jrue Holiday added 19 and Grayson Allen had 18. Tre Young led the Hawks with 42. The Bucks have lost two straight but remained tied for first in the NBA Central with the Pacers at 6-8. The Bucks are back home Tuesday night against the Lakers.
On the men’s PGA Tour Jason Kokrak won the Houston Open by two strokes over Kevin Tway and Scottie Scheffler. Kokrak shot a final round 65 to finish at 270.
On the LPGA tour Nelly Korda won the Pelican Women’s Championship in a playoff with three other golfers.
On the Champions Tour Phil Michelson won the Charles Schwab Cup Championship tournament, shooting a 5-under par 65 at Phoenix Country Club, Bernhard Langer won his sixth Charles Schwab Cup.
Braelon Allen understood the importance of his role following Chez Mellusi’s injury, sidelining Wisconsin’s leading rusher for the rest of the season. Allen handled that burden as effectively as he has accepted every other task assigned to him during his exceptional freshman season. The 17-year-old Allen rushed for 173 yards and three touchdowns to help No. 20 Wisconsin beat Northwestern 35-7 for its sixth consecutive victory on Saturday. Mellusi, who hurt his left knee during a 52-3 victory at Rutgers last week, entered Saturday’s action ranked fifth in the Big Ten in rushing (815) and second in carries (173).
Allen stepped up, continued his emergence that coincided with the start of Wisconsin’s winning streak. He has rushed for over 100 yards in six straight games after totaling just 12 carries during Wisconsin’s 1-3 start.
He’s the first Wisconsin true freshman to run for at least 100 yards in six consecutive games since Anthony Davis in 2001. Allen improved his season rushing total to 834 yards. Allen led a balanced team effort. Graham Mertz threw two touchdown passes, and Wisconsin’s defense recorded four interceptions. Northwestern’s Andrew Marty was picked off three times for a second straight week.
Wisconsin (7-3, 5-2 Big Ten, No. 18 College Football Playoff) is tied with No. 19 Iowa (No. 20 CFP) for first place in the Big Ten West Division standings. Wisconsin beat Iowa 27-7 on Oct. 30.
Northwestern (3-7, 1-6) lost its fourth straight game.
Allen wasted no time Saturday showing he could pick up the slack in Mellusi’s absence. He had seven carries for 86 yards during a 95-yard drive that put Wisconsin ahead for good. He started that stretch with a 37-yard scamper and ended it with a 2-yard touchdown. The most spectacular of his 25 carries came late in the third quarter when he bounced off three defenders in the first 10 yards of a 33-yard touchdown that extended Wisconsin’s lead to 35-0. Ron Dayne, Wisconsin’s 1999 Heisman Trophy-winning running back, was on the sideline Saturday and offered Allen encouragement before that touchdown.
Mertz completed his first nine pass attempts and went 18 of 23 for 216 yards, including touchdown passes of 13 yards to Danny Davis and 11 yards to Jake Ferguson. He completed passes to nine different teammates and was intercepted once.
Northwestern’s lone score came when A.J. Hampton returned a Julius Davis fumble 49 yards with 11:38 remaining. The fumble was forced by Xander Mueller. Northwestern wasted an 82-yard drive on its opening possession when Caesar Williams picked off a Marty pass in the end zone. Wisconsin then scored touchdowns on three straight possessions.
Wisconsin hosts Nebraska on Saturday in its home finale.
UW-River Falls 28. UW-Oshkosh 21-Titans fall to 6-3 overall and 4-3 in the conference.
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