NFL

There is never, ever an excuse to lose at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Sure, the Chicago Bears have problems at home under John Fox (2-9), but Jacksonville coach Gus Bradley is 5-21 on the road. cheap NFL jerseys

The Bears' 17-16 collapse on Sunday is the low point of the Fox era. The Bears have regressed in Year 2 under Fox.

There is no growth right now that anyone in the organization can identify for next year.

Somehow, the Bears (1-5) blew a 13-point fourth-quarter lead -- spoiling a respectable effort by the defense, which made a couple of game-changing plays, courtesy of cornerback Tracy Porter (end zone interception) and linebacker Willie Young (sack, forced fumble). cheap NFL jerseys

Offensively, quarterback Brian Hoyer continues to run the offense in an efficient, turnover-free manner -- making it a possibility that he starts Thursday at Lambeau Field -- but 16 points is not nearly enough. cheap NFL jerseys

The Bears have to figure out a way to score. cheap NFL jerseys

A good place to start is Alshon Jeffery, who in the first half reminded everyone why he is the Bears’ second-highest paid player in 2016.

Jeffery averaged only six targets over the three-week stretch prior to Sunday, but Hoyer got him going early.

Unlike in past games, Jeffery faced a lot more single coverage from the Jaguars, who tried to neutralize him with fifth overall pick Jalen Ramsey.

Jeffery had little trouble against the highly touted rookie, catching six passes for 90 yards on seven targets before halftime. Jeffery only had one reception in the second half, but the Bears went to him a couple of times.

Throughout the week, the Bears publicly downplayed any storyline that questioned Jeffery’s usage. But Jeffery looked incredibly frustrated in Chicago’s Week 5 loss in Indianapolis, which ended in him throwing up his arms in anger and slamming his helmet on the bench after Hoyer missed Jeffery on the final play of the game.

Look, Jeffery makes $14.599 million. He should be upset. The Bears will not beat good teams without Jeffery playing a large role.

But the Bears are in big trouble. Their next two opponents: Green Bay and Minnesota.

Barring an unforeseen turn of events, the Bears will be 1-7 at the bye week. cheap NFL jerseys

Forget about finishing 7-9, at this rate, the Bears may own the No. 1 pick in next spring's draft.

Anquan Boldin has moved up the NFL’s all-time receiving charts. wholesale NFL jerseys

With an 8-yard catch in the first quarter, Boldin passed former St. Louis Rams receiver Torry Holt for No. 15 in league history in receiving yards. wholesale NFL jerseys

Boldin entered the game with 13,379 receiving yards -- 3 behind Holt, who had 13,382 yards from 1999 to 2009. He finished Sunday with eight catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. wholesale NFL jerseys

That puts him at 13,439 yards, solidly in 15th place all time. His touchdown reception was the 77th of his career, tying Joey Galloway and Steve Smith for No. 28 all-time.

Next up for Boldin in yards is either Larry Fitzgerald, who is still active and enters Sunday with 13,727 yards, or Henry Ellard, who had 13,777 yards from 1983 to 1998.

Boldin joined the Lions just before training camp this season to become the team’s slot receiver. He has played with four teams in his career, including the Arizona Cardinals from 2003 to 2009; the Baltimore Ravens from 2010 to 2012 and the San Francisco 49ers from 2013 to 2015. wholesale NFL jerseys

Boldin is one of 13 NFL receivers with over 1,000 receptions -- currently in 11th. wholesale NFL jerseys

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett was on the receiving end of a cut block by Atlanta Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews, and he suffered a right knee injury in the third quarter of Sunday's game. wholesale jerseys

Afterward, Bennett took exception with Matthews. wholesale jerseys

"If you're big in the NFL, you just line up and play," Bennett said. "Why do you have to cut somebody on the f---ing play? wholesale jerseys

"That s--- is just stupid. Why cut somebody when you can just line up and win? I mean, I don't know. I don't come off the ball jumping at offensive linemen's legs." wholesale jerseys

The play Bennett described occurred in the third quarter, when Matt Ryan found Mohamed Sanu for a 10-yard touchdown. Bennett went to the ground and clutched the back of his right knee. He went into the locker room and did not return. wholesale jerseys

Bennett said afterward that the knee injury is "nothing major," and he should be able to play next week.

Added Pete Carroll, "A little sore, but we think he's OK. A little sore knee. We'll see what happens here in the next couple days."

The New York Giants desperately needed to make something happen Sunday afternoon in the second half at MetLife Stadium against the Baltimore Ravens. They had struggled offensively early, especially in the first half when they went more than 20 minutes before recording a first down. cheap jerseys

But when they needed to make plays in the second half, star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. came through. He had 211 yards receiving and two mammoth touchdowns in the second half, the final a 66-yard score with 1:36 remaining to put the Giants back in the lead. They held on to win 27-23.

Beckham finished with 222 yards receiving and two touchdowns on eight receptions. His 124 yards after the catch were the most by any player this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

“We all know what kind of player he is and he had one of those days [Sunday] where he was just kind of unstoppable,” Giants linebacker Jonathan Casillas said. “Hats off to him. He has been getting a lot of criticism lately and he showed up.”

Quarterback Eli Manning finished with 403 yards passing -- 296 in the second half -- and three touchdown passes. He finally got it going in the second half after several weeks of sub-par performances.

It was all going poorly for the Giants into the third quarter until, with one snap, everything changed. The Giants' biggest stars combined to make a big play in a game that potentially saved their season. cheap jerseys

Manning lofted a perfect pass into Beckham's arms late in the third quarter, after the Ravens had just reclaimed the lead at 13-10. Beckham didn’t break stride and went 75 yards for the touchdown.

It was the play the Giants had been waiting five-plus weeks to see, and it turned the tide in a game the Giants desperately needed. cheap jerseys

“It was fun,” Manning said. “It was fun to get out there and see our guys making the plays that we expect them to do,” Manning said. “It was a big win for us.” cheap jerseys

Beckham and Manning came through Sunday and did it in the clutch. Their top playmakers took advantage of a decimated Ravens team to snap a three-game skid. cheap jerseys

A fourth straight loss would have been demoralizing, especially if it had come against this Ravens team. It could’ve sent the season spiraling out of control. But Beckham and Manning wouldn’t let it happen. They connected again later in the fourth quarter when the Ravens had reclaimed the lead. Manning hit Beckham in stride on a slant pattern with 1:36 remaining. Beckham raced for the 66-yard score and the Giants hung on in the final seconds for their first win since Week 2 against the Saints.

By their standards, Beckham and Manning hadn’t been performing especially well this season. It has been a problem, because the Giants are only going as far as they take them. On this day, that was to a victory after an eye-opening second half.