GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Dallas quarterback Dak Prescotts NFL career is off to a great start. Veteran Aaron Rodgers is looking for more consistency in Green Bay.Its a surprise that the Cowboys young signal-caller has been more accurate than the two-time NFL MVP more than a month into the season. Theyll meet for the first time on Sunday when Dallas (4-1) visits Lambeau Field to face the Packers (3-1).Prescott, fourth in the league in completion percentage at 69 percent, has yet to throw an interception. Rodgers is 31st in the NFL at 56 percent, with three picks.He looks like hes played in the offense for quite some time, Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said about Prescott. Hes done a really good job particularly ... as far as his decisions with where he goes with the football.Quite impressive for a rookie who took over after veteran Tony Romo went down with a back injury in the preseason. Prescott has attempted 155 passes without an interception, second most by a quarterback to start his NFL career behind New Englands Tom Brady (162.) Prescott is off to the best interception-free start for a rookie.Ive got high expectations for myself. I only want to get better, Prescott said.It sure helps to be able to hand the ball off to the leagues leading rusher in rookie Ezekiel Elliott (109.2 yards per game).Rodgers completion percentage may be uncharacteristically low, though its not like the Packers offense is stuck in neutral. Rodgers has thrown nine touchdown passes, five to Jordy Nelson. Green Bay amassed a season-high 406 yards in total offense in last weeks 23-16 victory over the New York Giants, when Rodgers showed vintage touch with a sideline pass to Davante Adams for a 29-yard score.But given the high standards set by McCarthys offenses in recent years, Green Bays choppy start does stand out.Penalties maligned a couple other big plays last week. Timing seems to be just a touch off at times, and there have been uncharacteristic drops by receivers.Im not worried about that at all. Those things happen, Rodgers said. I missed some passes. Those guys shouldnt be worried about me, either. Were going to get better. Were not going to have inconsistent performances like that.Other notes and things to watch Sunday:WHAT WILL DEZ DO?: Star receiver Dez Bryant returned to practice this week but wasnt sure he would be available against the Packers after missing two games with a hairline fracture in his right knee. He came back after getting hurt against Chicago and scored a touchdown, but its been a cautious approach since the injury was revealed. Im OK with it because we are sitting at 4-1, said Bryant. Its no need to rush things.STOP SIGN: The Packers top-rated run defense (42.8 yards per game) faces its biggest test yet in Elliott and Prescott. Its the first time this season Green Bay will face a mobile quarterback. The Cowboys offensive line has played well, but the Packers might have their best defensive front in years. The line could be reinforced if key backup Mike Pennel returns to the active roster after being suspended for the first four games by the NFL for violating the leagues substance abuse policy.Bullish lineman Mike Daniels leads the push in the middle, while Clay Matthews and Nick Perry spark a deep group of outside linebackers who have extended the wall against the run to the edges.ROMO VS. PRESCOTT: Its looking more like Romo wont be ready Oct. 30 against Philadelphia after the Cowboys bye. If Prescott wins again, the chorus will grow louder for him to keep the job once Dallas 10-year starter is ready to play again.Prescott, Elliott and Bryant shrugged off such talk this week. Thats my job, is to win, Prescott said. Im going to focus on that. If you want to make it bigger, thats up to you guys.EDDIE, EDDIE: Packers running back Eddie Lacy bowled over the Giants last week for 81 yards on 11 carries before leaving with a left ankle injury. He was limited at midweek in practice, though it appears Lacy has a good shot to play Sunday. Lacys hard-charging style won over the Lambeau Field faithful last week, when they chanted Ed-die! Ed-die after the big back lowered his shoulder to power past defenders.FAVRE RETURNS: The Packers plan to honor former quarterback Brett Favre again at halftime, when they will unveil his name along the southeast facade inside Lambeau alongside other Packers enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Favre, who was inducted in August, will also be presented with his Hall of Fame ring.---AP Sports Writer Schuyler Dixon in Dallas contributed to this story.---AP NFL website:
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https://twitter.com/GArmasAP . Neymar curled home a free kick from just outside the area to put the 2014 World Cup host ahead in the 44th minute. Three minutes after the break, a simple through pass from Paulinho freed Oscar and the Chelsea star rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong to extend Brazils lead. .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. . Supported by three-run homers from Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos, the young right-hander went seven strong innings in the Washington Nationals 8-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. . That left plenty of energy for pitching books and swatting away free agency questions. Anthony had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the Knicks avenged an embarrassing home loss with a rout of their own, beating the Boston Celtics 114-88 on Wednesday night for their third straight victory. . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Defending champion Andy Murray guaranteed he will play for another Olympic medal after battling past Steve Johnson to reach the semifinals.Thursdays swirling wind, which contributed to Murray almost crashing out to Fabio Fognini, had died down and the world No.2 initially found the conditions much more to his liking.But, after a dominant opening set, he faltered in the second and again found himself in a real fight before recovering from a break down in the decider to win 6-0, 4-6, 7-6(2).He said: Its obviously been difficult, Ive been in tough positions after great starts and I was close to going out.Sometimes that can work in your favour as the tournament goes on. You start to feel a little bit better, maybe loosen up a bit and hopefully I can play better.It feels different [playing at the Olympics] because its special. We dont get this opportunity all of the time. Competing, trying to win medals for your country adds pressure, obviously.For me, its got nothing to do with having won the gold medal in London. Its just about trying to win more medals for your country and the team, and Ill give it my best shot to do that.Murray will now face fourth seed Kei Nishikori?after he defeated Frances Gael Monfils?7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(6).The last four showdown will take place on Saturday and Murray will surely need to play much better to make the final.The 29-year-old is very much the form man of world tennis having now won 27 of his last 28 matches, 16 in a row and 10 in succession at the Olympics.American Johnson has quietly climbed to 22nd in the world rankings but Murray won their only previously meeting in Shanghai last year comfortably.Rain delayed the start of play for half an hour and Murray seemed keen to make up for lost time, immediately breaking Johnsons serve and racing through the first set in just 26 minutes.Murray was pinning the American on his weaker backhand wing and showing off his full repertoire of shots. The second set was where iit all went wrong for Murray against Fognini and Johnson ended the Scots run of 12 straight games across the two matches with a break in the opening game.ddddddddddddThe 26-year-old does not possess Fogninis extravagant talent but his serve and forehand were combining effectively while Murrays game, particularly his backhand, had gone off the boil.The second seed missed his only break point and Johnson served out the set to love. The Americans response after his first-set mauling had been very impressive and he made the first breakthrough in the seventh game of the decider with a Murrayesque lob.Murray could barely contain his frustration at the way he was playing but his fighting spirit can never be questioned and he hit straight back before saving another break point in a very tense exchange.Johnson twice successfully served to stay in the match, forcing a deciding tie-break -- introduced as a rule change for this Olympics. But Murray secured the early mini-break and never let his advantage slip, finally clinching one of the tenser wins of his career after two hours and 12 minutes.Rafael Nadal made it to the semifinals in his bid for a second Olympic singles gold, overcoming his Brazilian opponent and a raucous, flag-waving home crowd in the Rio Games main tennis stadium.Spains Nadal, the No. 3 seed, came back to beat 54th-ranked Thomaz Bellucci 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in two hours Friday.Nadal was the singles champion at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, then missed the London Games four years ago because of a knee injury.These Olympics represent the left-handers first competition since sitting out for over two months with an injured left wrist he says is not fully healed.Nadal will face Juan Martin Del Potro in the semifinal after he defeated Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, 7-6(4).The Associated Press contributed to this report, ' ' '
