Monday 11/5/18
5 November 2018 Sports
Sports from Wayne Mausser
Tom Brady threw for 294 yards and a touchdown, and James White ran for two scores to lead the New England Patriots to a 31-17 victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. It was the sixth straight victory for the Patriots (7-2).
Rodgers completed 24 of 43 passes and two touchdowns in his second career matchup with Brady.
It was 17-all late in the third quarter when Aaron Jones fumbled for Green Bay (3-4-1).
New England receiver Julian Edelman hit White on a 37-yard catch-and-run to set up White’s second score, a 1-yard run. On the Patriots next possession, Brady connected with Josh Gordon for a 55-yard TD.
Gordon caught four passes for 115 yards, the 12th 100-yard receiving game of his career.
With tight end Rob Gronkowski out with a back and ankle injury and leading rusher Sony Michel out for the second straight week with a knee issue, Brady and the Patriots had to get creative. They again turned to receiver Cordarrelle Patterson to help carry the load in the backfield. Patterson was effective for the second straight week, rushing 11 times for 61 yards and touchdown.
New England also capitalized on a pair of long flea-flicker passes to set up scores.
Rodgers was on target in the first half. He was elusive in the pocket and extended plays with his feet, keeping the Patriots’ secondary off balance long enough to create space downfield or some big gains. The longest was a 51-yard pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the third quarter that helped set up Rodgers’ 15-yard TD pass to Jimmy Graham that tied the game at 17. But the pocket got smaller in the second half as the Patriots defense sped him up, hitting him six times and sacking him once.
Packers safety Jermaine Whitehead was ejected in the second quarter.
He was called for unnecessary roughness and tossed. Whitehead was the replacement for Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who was traded to the Washington Redskins last week.
Starting RT Bryan Buluga left the game in the first half with a knee injury and did not return. CB Kevin King left the game with a hamstring injury and did not return and S Kentrell Brice left in the third quarter with a knee injury.
Elsewhere in the NFC North..Chicago 41, Buffalo 9 and Minnesota 24, Detroit 9. Tonight, Tennessee is at Dallas.
NBA-Milwaukee 144, Sacramento 109…Giannis Antetukuompo led the Bucks with a triple-double…26 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists.
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