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ALL ANALYSIS The Rams have yielded 16 points over their last two home games, but those wins cam
Topic Started: Jan 26 2013, 12:48 PM (154 Views)
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LYTHAM ST ANNES, ENGLAND -- If the question has been asked once, its been asked a thousand times this year: Is Tiger back? It was posed after he won for the first time at Bay Hill, again after his victory at the Memorial and even after a third win at the AT+T. Pernell McPhee Jersey . Despite the fact that hes won more tournaments, earned more money than anyone else, has the PGA Tours lowest scoring average and risen from 58th to fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking. Any other mortal golfer would not face such an inquisition. But then there is some reason for the double standard. Woods has been strangely inconsistent. Along with the three victories, hes missed two cuts, the first time hes done that in the same season in his career. And hes been average in the years first two majors, a tie for 40th at the Masters and a T21 last month at the U.S. Open, despite leading after 36 holes. So as the world gathers for the Open Championship in England, the question that should be asked is really: Which Tiger Woods will show up this week? "If I knew the answer Id tell you, but I dont," Woods said with a smile on Tuesday. "I just keep trying to work and keep trying to get better. And Ive had a few wins this year, which is good. But also Ive had a few poor performances, as well. So Im just trying to get better, get more consistent. And thats something Im looking forward to in the future." Despite the up-and-down season, the betting shops in Blackpool, home to Royal Lytham & St. Annes have Woods as the 7-1 favourite. It seems that the punters, at least, are sensing the 14-time major champion has a chance to end his four-year dry spell in the majors. Thats in spite of the fact that even Woods has acknowledged that its never been more difficult to win one of the big four. "I think that there are more guys now have a chance to win major championships than ever before," he said, "and I think that will just continue to be that way. What do we have, 15 in a row I think it is now? And it just goes to show you the depth of the field." That 15 number refers to the number of different major champions. He could have added that the last nine havent won majors before. After Woods on the betting sheet come Lee Westwood and Luke Donald, two major-less players who seem more than ready and eminently capable. No one would be surprised if they won this week. Nor Matt Kuchar or Justin Rose or Hunter Mahan or Jason Dufner. All those players are inside the top-10 in the world. None have a major. Clearly Woods loves this tournament and this style of golf. Hes won three Claret Jugs before and posted four other top-10 finishes. Outside of a missed cut in 2009, hes never been out of the top 30. "I think that shot-making creativity is paramount when you play a links golf course," said Woods. "And I think thats something that, its taken away in, I think, in the modern course design. We dont see that. Everything is in the air. Here you have so many different options, and a five degree wind change changes an entire golf course and changes your entire game plan." Woods was positively beaming when he said those words. Theres no doubt hes embraced links golf and the Open. And no one would be surprised if he was announced, as they do over here, as the champion golfer of the year. Perhaps then the questioning will finally stop. Ngata Jersey . The Winnipeg native is being inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame. Hughes competed in winter and summer Olympics as a speedskater and cyclist, winning a total of six medals. Dennis Pitta Elite Jersey . had to in the top half. And the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger drove in two extra runs in the process to put Chad Billingsley on course to win his fourth straight start. http://www.baltimoreravens2013superbowl.com/joe-flacco-jerseys . When Anthony Gose lifted a fly to right-centre with a man on second in the 10th inning, Jackson realized right away he would need a little extra effort to catch this one. Haloti Ngata Black Jersey . All of a sudden Barbosas entire 2011-12 salary ($7.6-million) was eradicated from the teams ledger, affording them just a hair under $12-million in immediate cap space. Now, obviously the Raptors cannot use any cap space on an upcoming free agent until July, but as Colangelo has repeated again and again since Barbosa was shipped off, the space can be used in a lopsided trade anytime between now and July 1st so long as the team the Raptors are dealing with is no longer playing in the NBA Playoffs. Courtney Upshaw Jersey . It was the third loss for Canada in tennis action on Day 4, as Thornhill, Ont.s, Milos Raonic and Laval, Que.s, Aleksandra Wozniak were eliminated from singles competition earlier in the day.(Sports Network) - It took six touchdown passes, but Aaron Rodgers may have finally calmed the fears that the Green Bay Packers offense was in trouble. The reigning MVP will look to lift his club to consecutive wins for the first time this season today when the Packers wrap a three-game road trip against the St. Louis Rams. Watch Packers vs. Rams on TSN2 today at 1pm et/10am pt. Green Bay had one of the more dangerous offenses a season ago, leading the league with 560 points while ranking third in the NFL in total offense (405.1 YPG) and passing offense (307.8 YPG). However, the Packers went into last weekends meeting with the Houston Texans averaging just 22.4 points and 338.0 yards per game, and more importantly, under .500 at just 2-3 on the season. Rodgers did his best to get his unit on track, matching a franchise record with six touchdown passes in a 42-24 rout of the Texans. Three of those scoring strikes went to wide receiver Jordy Nelson, while fellow wideout James Jones hauled in two touchdown throws. "This was an important game for us. Weve had a couple not go our way, games we should have won," Rodgers said. "Two and four would have been very difficult. Weve got a tough stretch still to play." Green Bay rebounded from a loss to the Indianapolis Colts that opened its three-game swing, the clubs first trip of that length since 1998 as Rodgers matched Matt Flynns single-game club record for touchdown passes set in last seasons regular-season finale versus the Detroit Lions. Scoring has been an issue for the Rams over the past few weeks, with the club averaging a mere 14 points a game over the last four outings. St. Louis has managed to go 2-2 in that time, but couldnt post a third straight victory last weekend due to a 17-14 defeat at the Miami Dolphins. The Rams were held to just a pair of field goals through the first three quarters before quarterback Sam Bradford finally found the end zone on the ground with 8:30 to play. He then hit running back Steven Jackson with a pass for a successful two-point conversion, but Miami was able to eat up some clock and then come up with a big sack late in the game to set up a 66-yard field goal try by St. Louis Greg Zuerlein. Zuerleins attempt was no good, his third miss of the game and the Rams came up short despite logging season highs of 462 total yards and 162 on the ground. "Any time you are able to move the ball like we did and accumulate that many yards and only score six points, its probably one of the most frustrating things there is," Bradford said. St. Louis also fell to 0-3 on the road this season and will try to rebound Sunday and keep its perfect mark at home intact. However, the Rams have lost three straight and six of their last eight in the regular season to the Packers. Green Bay has won three of four in St. Louis during the regular season since the franchise relocated from Los Angeles. WHAT TO WATCH FOR The Packers didnt miss a beat through the air despite No. 1 wideout Greg Jennings missing his second game in a row due to a groin issue, with Nelson and Jones stepping up in the veterans place. Nelson matched a career high with his three touchdown grabs, while Jones became the second player in franchise history to haul in two scoring catches in three straight games. He joined Don Hutson (Nov. 14-Dec. 5, 1943) and his seven TDs on the season led the NFL and already match a career high set through 16 games last season. "I think were pretty deep, first of all, in that group," Rodgers said of his wide receivers. "When you can have Jennings and Nelson and James&nbbsp;Jones and Randall Cobb as your top guys there and Donald (Driver) with his experience, when you lose a guy, the expectation is the next guy up is going to play well. Ray Rice Youth Jersey. And they have, in this case." St. Louis secondary faces a tough task, but does come into this game ranked fifth in passing defense. The Rams are yielding 210.7 yards per game through the air and also rank fifth in the NFL with 18.5 points allowed per game. Cornerback Cortland Finnegan leads the team with three interceptions, one returned for a score, and defensive end Chris Long logged his fourth sack of the season in last weeks loss. Fellow end Robert Quinn will also try to pressure Rodgers this weekend and add to his team-leading six sacks this year. "Well, theyre talented. I think they do a very good job with attacking the line of scrimmage from alignments and even their personnel," Packers head coach Mike McCarthy noted of the Rams defense. "So, it really starts up front with them. I really like their corners. Cortland Finnegans been a good player in this league for a long time and (CB Janoris) Jenkins, hes off to an excellent start as a rookie, too. So, its a group thats definitely going to be a challenge." Injuries are continuing to mount for the Packers, who went into last game minus running back Cedric Benson and nose tackle B.J. Raji. Benson is on the injured reserve/designated for return list. Middle linebacker D.J. Smith was lost for the season due to a knee injury suffered versus the Texans, with Brad Jones, Robert Francois and Jamari Lattimore candidates to replace him in the starting lineup. Outside linebacker Nick Perry is also likely to miss some time due to a knee injury sustained versus the Texans and Jennings was unable to practice on Wednesday. Cornerback Sam Shields may miss this game as well. Green Bays issues at linebacker could open up some holes for Rams running backs Jackson and Daryl Richardson. The duo combined for 128 rushing yards on 23 carries, including 76 by Richardson. Though Jackson is a former Pro Bowl back and can also make plays in the receiving game, Richardson could continue to see plenty of work. He owns the two longest runs by a Rams player this year at 53 and 44 yards, the latter coming versus the Dolphins. "I think hes getting more and more comfortable," offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer told the Rams official website of Richardson. "You see less mental errors in practice. Hes playing faster. You see all the little detail things that you want him doing, with little calls and stuff that hes making. Thats exciting to see. "Daryl is a great change of pace. Were going to try to keep people off balance." OVERALL ANALYSIS The Rams have yielded 16 points over their last two home games, but those wins came against lackluster offenses belonging to the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals. St. Louis struggled in containing Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III in a Week 2 win at home, so the defensive unit could be in for a long day against a confident star like Rodgers. Rodgers has thrown for 585 yards and five touchdowns to just one interception in two previous meetings with the Rams. That includes a trio of scoring strikes, including one each to Nelson (93 yards) and Jones, in a 24-3 win last season. If the Rams can control the clock with a solid run game they may stand a chance, but the Packers are riding a big wave from last week and once again look like one of the NFCs best. Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Packers 27, Rams 13 ' ' '
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