Associated Press
FOXBOROUGH., Mass. ó Heady with success, the Atlanta Falcons head to the road for the first time. Following dominant wins over Miami and Carolina, the Falcons face the unenviable task of visiting New England.
Then again, this trip might not be the overwhelming challenge most teams have faced this decade in Foxborough. The Patriots are struggling to find a rhythm and ways to better protect Tom Brady.
So far, the Falcons have looked more like the Patriots than New England has.
“The fact that we are able to have a fast start at 2-0 is huge for us,” said Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli. “The fact we can go out there and just prove to ourselves and everybody that last year wasn’t a fluke and we are a good team. We’re not a wishy-washy, up-and-down type of organization. We’re the type who can be good and be good for a long time, and with the players we have here and the coaches and assistants we have in place, I think we’re set to do that.”
The Patriots have only done that for eight years, but they’ve looked vulnerable on offense and defense in a one-point victory over Buffalo and a 16-9 loss to the Jets in which New York was the more physical, more aggressive and, dare we say it, better-coached team.
The biggest concern is needing Brady to throw so much ó 100 times already ó and his getting battered by pass rushers. Ideally, Brady would have gotten some time after missing last season to become reacquainted with the dangers of playing quarterback in the NFL. Instead, he’s been pressured almost nonstop, and the Falcons already have five sacks.
“We’ve been behind in these games, the second half last week of our own doing. Obviously, in the Buffalo game we were behind the whole game,” Brady said. “So it forces you to throw the ball a little bit more and play on their terms.”
Elsewhere Sunday, it’s Washington at Detroit; Tennessee at the New York Jets; Green Bay at St. Louis; Cleveland at Baltimore; San Francisco at Minnesota; Jacksonville at Houston; the New York Giants at Tampa Bay; Kansas City at Philadelphia; Chicago at Seattle; New Orleans at Buffalo; Miami at San Diego; Denver at Oakland; Pittsburgh at Cincinnati; and Indianapolis at Arizona.
On Monday night, Carolina is at Dallas.
NASCAR
DOVER, Del. ó Clint Bowyer raced to his second Nationwide Series victory of the season on Saturday, taking the lead with 83 laps to go on the concrete at Dover International Speedway.
His celebration was ignored as all attention turned to a brief, but heated, confrontation on pit road between Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski. They made contact late in the race, sending Hamlin to the garage. Keselowski finished third and was greeted when he got out of his car by an angry Hamlin. They exchanged words, and Hamlin shoved Keselowski. Keselowski’s public relations rep shoved Hamlin. The crews for both drivers got between the drivers.
Mike Bliss was second. Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards rounded out the top five.
Busch kept his overall lead in the points standings. He also became the second driver in the second-tier series to ever lead 2,000 laps in a season.
COLLEGE HOOPS
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ó Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl apologized for a joking remark that linked the rural home of one his players to the Ku Klux Klan.
The Volunteers’ fifth-season coach was caught on camera by WBIR-TV during a charity fundraising event describing the challenge of shaping a team of players from different backgrounds.
“I’ve got a tough job,” the Boston native said. “I’ve got to put these guys from different worlds together, right? I’ve got guys from Chicago, Detroit. I’m talking about the ‘hood! And I’ve got guys from Grainger County, where they wear the hood!”
The audience laughed loudly, but after WBIR-TV aired the remarks the coach issued an apology.
GOLF
ATLANTA ó Winning the $10 million for the FedEx Cup remains a long shot for Kenny Perry. Winning the Tour Championship became a far greater possibility Saturday after his 6-under 64 gave him a two-shot lead over Tiger Woods.
– CARY ó Tom Pernice Jr. moved into position to become the 15th player to win his Champions Tour debut, shooting his second bogey-free 5-under 67 to take a one-shot lead in the SAS Championship.
CLEMENS RETURNS
HOUSTON ó Roger Clemens looked like any proud father, setting up the video camera to record a big moment for his son.
The seven-time Cy Young Award winner was back on a big league field Saturday. Before the Astros hosted the Cincinnati Reds, Clemens’ son, Koby, received an award for being the Most Valuable Player of one of Houston’s minor league teams.
NBA
MIAMI ó Michael Beasley aplogized to the Miami Heat, and called his stay in a Houston rehab facility his “lowest hour.”
Speaking out for the first time since returning from more than a month in treatment for substance abuse and other issues, the second-year Heat forward said he spent the offseason “evaluating my life.”
He also does not expect to be subject to an NBA suspension. Beasley will be with the Heat for training camp, which formally opens Tuesday.