(SportsNetwork.com) - No one likes Thursday night games, at least according to the Texans Arian Foster. Thursday Night Football is pretty annoying for players, Houstons star running back claimed. I dont know one player that likes it. I really dont know a fan that likes it, either. I think its just the leagues way to try to generate more revenue. Fosters not wrong. The Thursday night games are most definitely a money grab by a league which already has plenty of ducats stashed away, and the players certainly dont like the short week of preparation leading up to the contest. Meanwhile, the Nielsen ratings say the fans watch but they do so with a critics eye, mindful of the fact that the weekly game seems to spawn a lack of competition in a parity-driven league. So far, we are 5-for-5 with blowouts in Thursday night affairs in 2014 with an average score of 41-12. The advantage has skewed heavily toward the home team with the New York Giants being the lone visitor to solve the short-week dilemma in Week 4 against Washington. The fact that Big Blue was able to make the quick trek down the I-95 corridor to the Beltway probably played into its success, however. Perhaps Fosters more legitimate and stinging criticism pointed directly toward player safety and the apparent hypocrisy of staging one game just four days after another. (The NFL) emphasize(s) concussions when they start getting hit with lawsuits and then they care about the player safety but Thursday Night Football is putting every player on the football field in danger, Foster said. Nobody is ready to play physically after a Sunday game but you have to go out there and do it. There is one team, though, who has figured out how to do it better than most and might even like Thursday Night Football, at least a little bit -- the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have excelled historically on short weeks, winning nine straight games on Thursday as they get ready to make the 1,015-mile trip to South Texas in Week 6. Normally the fact that its the Colts who will be uprooting and making the sojourn down to Space City should have the Texans pretty excited to welcome Houston-area native Andrew Luck back to the city for what will be an early- season bragging rights matchup between the two top clubs in the AFC South. The defending division champion Colts, who have rebounded from a slow 0-2 start with three consecutive wins, including last weekends 20-13 triumph over Baltimore, have been the exception to the Thursday night rules, however. Luck and the Colts will come in hot after getting fat over the past three weeks thanks to a fortuitous turn in their schedule with two lightly-regarded opponents -- Jacksonville and Tennessee -- followed by a home game against Baltimore. You can only play who is put in front of you and Indianapolis has handled its business, outscoring those three opponents by a combined 105-47 margin or by an average of 35-16. The Colts defense, which allowed 409.5 yards per game in the first two games of the season, has settled down and surrendered only 297.3 per game since. The Robert Mathis-less unit mustered just one sack and one turnover in the first two and then generated 11 sacks and nine takeaways during its three-game run with outside linebacker and Mathis caddie Bjoern Werner registering a career- high two sacks last weekend. The good thing about the Colts is that were very familiar with them, Texans tackle Duane Brown said. Of course you have a different game plan than weve had in years past, but as far as the personnel and things like that we kind of know what to expect. What to expect, of course, starts with the real strength of the Colts and that lies in their QB, Luck, who pilots an offense that is second overall in the NFL with 439.6 yards per game and tops in passing offense (321.8 YPG). Luck himself leads the NFL with 1,617 passing yards and 14 touchdowns but the free thrower is also tops in interceptions with six. The impressive Houston defense, which leads the NFL with 12 takeaways, counters with All-World defensive lineman J.J. Watt, who has two sacks, three bat downs, an interception return for a TD, and an NFL- high 16 QB hits through five outings. Safeties Kendrick Lewis and D.J. Swearinger both have three forced fumbles, tied for the most in the NFL, and inside linebacker Brian Cushing leads an ornery unit coming off a tough overtime loss in Dallas with 45 tackles. No loss feels good, but, like I said, we have a quick turnaround, Texans coach Bill OBrien said. Weve got to get better, and weve got to get better fast because we havent played a division game yet and we have a very big division game coming up on Thursday night in front of our home fans. Home fans or not, whats past is prologue, meaning the Colts are usually the better prepared team on a short week and there is little reason to expect that will change this time around. Indianapolis is 11-1-1 overall on Thursday and has never lost on NFL Networks Thursday Night Football, posting a 7-0 record dating back to 2007 with six of those seven wins coming away from Indianapolis. You realize once the game starts, its football, said Luck. Theres no use complaining or whining about anything. Its what you do. WEEK 6 (All Times Eastern) Indianapolis (3-2) (-3) at Houston (3-2), Thursday, 8:30 p.m. - See above. Colts 24, Texans 17 New England (3-2) (-3) at Buffalo (3-2), Sunday, 1 p.m. - First place in the AFC East will be on the line in Western New York as the Bills will try to solve Tom Brady and build on Kyle Ortons debut with the team, a 30-of-43 performance with 308 yards and one TD at Detroit last weekend. Terry Pegula might own the Bills on paper now but Brady is their real master, having compiled a 22-2 career record against Buffalo. Brady passed for 292 yards and two TDs in an impressive win over Cincinnati in Week 5, becoming just the sixth QB in NFL history with 50,000 career passing yards (50,232). Patriots 17, Bills 16 Carolina (3-2) at Cincinnati (3-1) (-7), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The Bengals are coming off a disappointing loss at New England and have won 11 consecutive regular-season home games, making this a daunting spot for Carolina. Bengals QB Andy Dalton has thrown for 2,563 yards and 22 TDs with a passer rating of 97.7 over that 11-0 stretch. Panthers signal caller Cam Newton has won five of his past eight games against AFC foes and is the only NFL player with 50-plus passing TDs (69) and 20-or-more on the ground (28) since entering the league in 2011. Bengals 31, Panthers 23 Pittsburgh (3-2) at Cleveland (2-2) (-2), Sunday, 1 p.m. - Its time to exorcise some demons in Cleveland. The Steelers Ben Roethlisberger is 18-1 all-time as a starter versus the Browns, the best record of any NFL QB against one team since the 1970 merger. Cleveland, meanwhile, is fresh off the largest road comeback in NFL history against Tennessee last weekend and the underrated Brian Hoyer is now 5-2 in seven starts with the Browns. Steelers 21, Browns 20 Green Bay (3-2) (-3 1/2) at Miami (2-2), Sunday, 1 p.m. - Its easy to relax when your QB has thrown for seven TDs with no interceptions and a 147.0 passer rating in his last two games and thats exactly what the games best signal caller, Aaron Rodgers, has given Green Bay. The Dolphins had extra time to try to solve A-Rod after beating lowly Oakland in London during Week 4. Packers 28, Dolphins 23 Detroit (3-2) (-2) at Minnesota (2-3), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The Vikings figure to be far more competitive now that Christian Ponder will be back on the bench and rookie Teddy Bridgewater will return from a sprained ankle. Bridgewater passed for 317 yards and had a rushing TD in his career NFL start against Atlanta back in Week 4. The Lions have the NFLs top-ranked defense but are dealing with ankle injuries to both Calvin Johnson, who has 19 receptions for 315 yards (157.5 per game) and three TDs in his past two trips to Minnesota, and Reggie Bush. Vikings 23, Lions 20 Denver (3-1) (-8) at New York Jets (1-4), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The reeling Jets have a tall task this week in trying to stop Peyton Manning, who passed for a career-high 479 yards and four TDs in a win over Arizona in Week 5 as he joined Brett Favre (508) as only players with 500-or-more career TD passes (503). Manning also matched Dan Marino for the most 400-yard passing games in NFL history with 13. The embattled Geno Smith is scheduled to start ahead of Michael Vick for New York again but expect coach Rex Ryan to have a quick hook if things go south quickly. Broncos 34, Jets 13 Baltimore (3-2) (-3) at Tampa Bay (1-4), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The Bucs are expected to stick with Mike Glennon at quarterback and the second-year player has won all three of his starts against AFC foes to date. Pressing Glennon will be Ravens pass rusher Elvis Dumervil, who has 3 1/2 sacks in his past four games against NFC competition. Ravens 17, Buccaneers 16 Jacksonville (0-5) at Tennessee (1-4) (no line), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The oft- injured Jake Locker is dealing with a thumb problem and his status for Sunday is yet to be determined. With Locker on the sidelines, the Titans blew a 25- point lead against Cleveland in Week 5, the worst implosion by a home team in NFL lore. The Jags remain a work in progress as they continue to build around rookie Blake Bortles, who completed 29-of-37 passes for 254 yards in his first NFL road start at San Diego a few weeks ago. Titans 24, Jaguars 17 San Diego (4-1) (-7) at Oakland (0-4) , Sunday, 4:05 p.m. - Tony Sparano takes over in Oakland after an 0-4 start got Dennis Allen canned. Sparano, the ex- head coach in Miami, is facing a juggernaut here as the Chargers Philip Rivers leads the NFL in passing with a 116.3 rating and the San Diego defense is tops in the conference, allowing just 290.8 yards per game. Chargers 33, Raiders 14 Washington (1-4) at Arizona (3-1) (-8), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. - The Cardinals, who have won six of their past seven home games, are hoping to get QB Carson Palmer, who has been dealing with a nerve injury in his shoulder, back this week. The Redskins have lost four of five to start the season and are trying to build around signal caller Kirk Cousins, who has recorded a 100-plus passer rating in three of four games this season, and running back Alfred Morris, who is second in the NFL with 3,233 rushing yards since entering the league in 2012. Cardinals 27, Redskins 21 Chicago (2-3) at Atlanta (2-3) (-3), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. - Home is usually sweet for Atlanta as QB Matt Ryan is 38-10 as a starter in the Georgia Dome, including 2-0 this season, completing 52-of-67 passes for 734 yards with 6 TDs and no interceptions for a 142.2 passer rating in those games. The Bears are trying to halt a two-game skid behind Jay Cutler, who has his last two starts against the Falcons. Falcons 27, Bears 20 Dallas (4-1) at Seattle (3-1) (-8), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. - The Cowboys have won four straight games behind early MVP candidate DeMarco Murray, who leads the NFL with 670 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. Murray has joined Hall of Famers Jim Brown (1958) and O.J. Simpson (1973, 1975) as the only players in NFL history to rush for at least 100 yards in each of his teams first five games. The competition picks up for the Boys this week, though, as they visit the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks, who have won 19 of their past 20 games at home, outscoring opponents 584-273 in those games (15.6 points per game differential). Seahawks 31, Cowboys 17 New York Giants (3-2) at Philadelphia (4-1) (- 2 1/2), Sunday 8:30 p.m. - The Giants have bounced back from a dismal 0-2 start, winning three in a row and scoring 35 points per game over that stretch. The 4-1 Eagles have been doing it in a most unconventional way, scoring seven return touchdowns this season, tied with the 1920 Buffalo All-Americans for the most return touchdowns in the first five games of a season. Eagles 28, Giants 27 San Francisco (3-2) (-3) at St. Louis (1-3), Monday, 8:30 p.m. - After a 1-2 start, the 49ers have won consecutive games with veteran running back Frank Gore leading the way by posting consecutive games with 100-or-more rushing yards, including 107 yards against Kansas City in Week 5. The Rams nearly erased a 27-point deficit last weekend, scoring 21 unanswered points before falling short in Philadelphia as quarterback Austin Davis passed for 375 yards and three touchdowns, his second consecutive start with at least 300 yards and three touchdowns. 49ers 27, Rams 17 . -- The Kelowna Rockets earned their 16th straight win with a 7-2 rout of the Portland Winterhawks in Western Hockey League action Thursday. . The Red Wings hadnt played the night before. The Boston Bruins had. A month from now, or two months from now, it doesnt matter. But right now it does matter, when you start and you play back to back, its wear and tear on you for sure, Babcock said.
http://www.cheapbrewersjerseysauthentic.com/. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a one-year contract. .com) - Colorado forward P. . Johnson shared an update after his surgery Tuesday on Twitter. He also wrote, "now lets get on the grind." The running back told The Tennessean he was having surgery in Pensacola, Fla.TORONTO - For a moment, Steve Tolleson was Everyman. Who hasnt wondered what its like to pitch a major league baseball game? Tolleson, an infielder with the Toronto Blue Jays, got a second shot at taking the mound Tuesday night in an 11-7 blowout at the hands of the Boston Red Sox. The 30-year-old from Spartanburg, S.C., whose throwing background is more beer league than big leagues, had a hit, scored a run and registered a strikeout — an unlikely triple threat. Tolleson describes his pitching experience as "zero." But throwing balls in the low 70s in terms of miles per hour, he struck out Will Middlebrooks and induced Mookie Betts to fly out in the 11th inning. He had come into the game in the ninth inning as a pinch-runner with the score tied at 4-4. Given the fact that Tolleson was sent to the mound two innings later signalled that the Jays — with six relievers having already seen action in the game after starter R.A. Dickey — had thrown in the towel in the ugly loss, it was hardly a night to celebrate. But the soft-spoken Tolleson, who came on as a pitcher to register the final out in a 15-4 loss to Cleveland on May 14, admitted to having fun. "The last time I was kind of a deer in the headlights, not really knowing know what to do," said Tolleson. "This time I just tried to embrace it and enjoy it for what I could and just go out there and try to help move the game along a little bit. It was fun." Tolleson becomes the third position player in Jays history to pitch multiple outings in a season (joining Bob Bailor in 1980 annd Jeff Mathis in 2012).dddddddddddd "Were not proud of that," manager John Gibbons said of having Tolleson pitch twice. Tolleson said his high school coach wouldnt let him pitch, saying "youre never going to do that past high school." "I guess were all kind of laughing at that," he added. Still, overall Tolleson termed the evening a tough night and another unfortunate loss in what has been a dire August for the spiralling Jays. Tolleson says he throws "a good batting practice in the off-season with some of my buddies that play." Otherwise, its been mopping up in a few blowout games in the minor leagues and two with the Jays this year. He saw his job Tuesday as essentially to protect the other pitchers. Asked whether he had a repertoire, Tolleson laughed. "I could say I have a repertoire but it wouldnt be true," he said. "I told Navi (catcher Dioner Navarro) fastball, curveball, knuckleball and I wanted to throw a knuckleball but I figured they saw Dickeys all day today, theyd probably just light up if they saw mine." He threw one curveball that was nowhere close to where it was supposed to be. "I just decided then to just throw it over (the plate) and hopefully, they hit it at somebody." In a strange way, Tolleson may have had a bit of an edge against the batters. Jays slugger Jose Bautista, who pitched in college, says facing an occasional pitcher can be odd for a batter. "At times its effective just because its a rare feat to have a position player pitching," said Bautista. ' ' '
