DETROIT -- The Jacksonville Jaguars finally forced a couple turnovers.Then they lost anyway -- thanks in part to a giveaway of their own.After five straight games without a takeaway, Jacksonville recovered two Detroit fumbles Sunday, but that wasnt enough on a day when neither offense was particularly impressive. Instead it was the Lions who capitalized on the games most significant turnover, returning an interception for a touchdown in their 26-19 victory over the Jaguars.Jacksonville had not forced a turnover since Oct. 2 against Indianapolis. The Jaguars (2-8) forced one on special teams and one on defense Sunday.One wasnt enough, and if thats going to be the case, thats fine, Jacksonville linebacker Paul Posluszny said. We have to find a way to continue to build off that and make it happen, so that we end up winning these types of games.On Detroits very first play from scrimmage, the ball came loose after Matthew Stafford completed a pass to Anquan Boldin. Officials ruled Boldin down, and that call was upheld after the Jaguars challenged.Jacksonville didnt have to wait much longer to snap its takeaway drought. Later in the first quarter, Andre Roberts muffed a punt, and Ben Koyack recovered for the Jaguars at the Detroit 11-yard line.Jacksonvilles offense couldnt take advantage, though, settling for a field goal and a 3-0 lead.Near the end of the third quarter, with the Jaguars up 19-16, Detroits Golden Tate fumbled, and linebacker Telvin Smith recovered at the Jacksonville 34. Again, the Jaguars wasted the opportunity, going three-and-out and punting. The Lions (6-4) then drove 79 yards and took the lead for good on Eric Ebrons 1-yard scoring run.That was the only offensive touchdown of the game for Detroit, which also scored on a 55-yard punt return by Roberts in the second quarter and a 39-yard interception return by Rafael Bush in the third.Punt return for a touchdown, a pick-6 for a touchdown, Posluszny said. We finally forced a turnover on defense, which was great, because it shows us that, hey, if you really concentrate on tackling the football and making plays on the ball, things can happen.The Lions had lost only one fumble all season before Sunday, and they had forced only seven turnovers themselves. They managed three more takeaways against the Jaguars, recovering a fumble in the second quarter and adding two interceptions in the second half.During the course of the season, youre going to have to win a football game a lot of different ways, Detroit coach Jim Caldwell said. It cant just be your offense. Sometimes its going to be your defense, sometimes its going to be your kicking game combined with it.---For more NFL coverage:
http://www.pro32.ap.org and
http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL.---Follow Noah Trister at
www.Twitter.com/noahtrister . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. What do you need to know about last nights big stories? Pierre LeBrun gives us his take on the biggest and best.Knights still need a plan: They have a name, the Vegas Golden Knights. Cant wait for that first game versus the Angeles Kings. OK, OK, I get just one joke. In all seriousness, now we need to see if they have a plan. Front-office types from the other 30 teams have speculated to me about how Las Vegas respected general manager George McPhee will build his team. Does he try for instant results, drafting a more veteran team to create a quick buzz in the first season or two? Or does he go young all the way and who cares how many games they lose in the first few years, as long as a Stanley Cup contender is slowly but surely built through the amateur draft? What I can tell you is that the Vegas front office has not answered this question internally. They have two or three more mock expansion drafts left over the next few months to use different methodologies to that end. How they decide to proceed will greatly influence the age and type of player they go after in the expansion draft.Burns stays a Shark: Speaking of Vegas, I think it was a decent bet the Golden Knights would have given Brent Burns a look, had he gone to free agency after the season. Why not, if youre an expansion team in the worlds entertainment capital, looking to add pizzazz to your hockey entry? Burns, one of his snakes hanging around his neck and perhaps a smaller one roaming in his beard, would have been a fascinating character to unleash on Las Vegas. Theres also the fact that he is one of the NHLs top five defensemen. But of course, its for that reason the San Jose Sharks stepped up to ensure their superstar doesnt hit the market July 1, signing Burns on Tuesday to an eight-year, $64 million deal. Now, it didnt long for people to criticize the term, given that Burns is 31 and will be 40 when the deal expires. But the Sharks were justified in doing this for a bunch of reasons, first among them that you simply cannot replacce a player of this unique talent.dddddddddddd Thats like asking the Los Angeles Kings to replace Drew Doughty or the Ottawa Senators to replace Erik Karlsson. It would be one thing if the Sharks thought their Stanley Cup window was closing, but with many of their core players in their prime, the only solution was to pay up to keep Burns in the fold. The fact that the contract does not include a no-movement clause and only a limited no-trade clause also affords the Sharks flexibility on the back end of it. But dont count against Burns playing the entirety of this deal. The dude keeps himself in insane physical condition.Matthews just not scoring: Its hard to believe after I was at opening night in Ottawa and witnessed pure magic in Auston Matthews scoring four goals in his debut that there would be a time when we would see him go 13 games without a goal. But thats where it lies now, after the 19-year-old phenom was left off the score sheet in Tuesdays 2-1 loss by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Carolina Hurricanes. I also think the past few games have begun to affect his confidence -- I mean, how could it not? But I also see a young player who is doing all kinds of good things elsewhere on the ice. He led the team with five takeaways on Tuesday night, while also putting up seven shot attempts. Many a coach would protect a teenage center by starting him on the wing in the first season or two, in order to limit his responsibilities. Think of the way the Montreal Canadiens brought along Alex Galchenyuk, a winger the first 3? years before finally switching to his natural center in the second half of last season. Matthews is learning how to play 200 feet of ice, while playing mostly with two other rookies in William Nylander and Zach Hyman. No veteran insulation. And thats fine. Matthews is a big boy, hell fight through this. And hell come out of this adversity better for it. ' ' '
