ATLANTA -- Harry Douglas made the most of his long-awaited opportunity to be more than a complement to star receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White in Atlantas
offence.
Rishard Matthews Titans Jersey . Douglas had seven receptions for a career-best 149 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown
catch, to lead the Falcons to a 31-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on
Sunday. Matt Ryan also threw two touchdown passes to Jacquizz Rodgers as the
Falcons (2-4) snapped a three-game losing streak. Douglas flourished as Ryans
No. 1 target with Jones out for the season with a foot injury and White inactive
for the first time in his nine-year career due to hamstring and ankle injuries.
"Im the type of person that I never shy away from it," Douglas said. "Julio went
down. Roddy wasnt playing. I wanted the challenge. Ive always been like that my
whole life." Ryan completed 20 of 26 passes for 273 yards with three touchdowns
and no interceptions. Ryan said he expected a big game from Douglas, a
fifth-year receiver who has never reached 500 yards receiving or had more than
one touchdown catch in a season. "I dont think anyone in our locker room was
surprised by his play," Ryan said. "Its what hes capable of doing. You may not
know that about him because weve had those other guys." Atlanta managed only 18
yards rushing as running back Steven Jackson missed his fourth straight game
with a hamstring injury. The loss left the Buccaneers (0-6) still looking for
their first win. "Nobody wants to be in this situation," said Tampa Bay
defensive end Adrian Clayborn. "Weve got to deal with it." Trailing 31-17, the
Buccaneers held the ball for 18 plays and over 9 minutes in a marathon
fourth-quarter drive that produced a first down at the Falcons 5. Four penalties
on the possession, including a facemask call against Jackson that pushed the
Bucs back to the 15, helped force Tampa Bay to settle for Rian Lindells 41-yard
field goal with 5 minutes remaining. Lindell added his third field goal of the
game, from 36 yards, with 2 minutes remaining. The Falcons ran out the clock
after recovering an onside kick. Tampa Bay running back Doug Martin left the
game early in the third quarter with a shoulder injury and did not return.
Martin had 11 carries for 47 yards before he was injured while attempting to
catch a 16-yard pass near the left sideline. A side judge threw a penalty flag
for an apparent unnecessary roughness on Falcons safety William Moore, but
referee Walt Anderson withdrew the flag. Martin lay on his back for several
minutes before walking off the field under his own power. He said X-rays "look
fine" and the shoulder is not separated. "Were still evaluating what it is,"
Martin said. He said he is "not sure yet" if he would play in Thursday nights
game against Carolina. "Just have to hope for the best," he said. Moore sacked
Mike Glennon to force a fumble on Tampa Bays first possession. Safety Thomas
DeCoud returned the fumble recovery 30 yards for a touchdown. Glennon, making
his first road start, completed 26 of 44 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns
to Vincent Jackson. "He went on the road and showed he can handle the pressure
on the road," said Tampa Bay receiver Mike Williams of Glennon. "As a team, weve
got to help him and make more plays for him." Jackson, targeted on 22 passes,
had 10 catches for 138 yards, including touchdown receptions of 59 yards in the
second quarter and 1 yard in the third quarter. Jacksons second scoring catch
was Tampa Bays first third-quarter touchdown this season. Entering the game, the
Buccaneers had only 13 second-half points. Tampa Bay was called for 11 penalties
for 103 yards. Following DeCouds touchdown, the Falcons stretched their lead to
14-0 on Ryans first touchdown pass to Rodgers, a 19-yarder early in the second
quarter. Douglas added a 37-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter as the
Falcons led 24-7 at halftime. After Tampa Bay cut the lead to 24-17 on Jacksons
second touchdown catch, the Falcons answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive
which ended with Rodgers 8-yard catch over the middle.
Jason McCourty Titans Jersey .J. -- This Super Bowl has just about everything a fan, a player, a coach -- and certainly a
league -- could ask for.
Jack Conklin Titans Jersey . Kowalczuk has spent four seasons with the Bombers. He spent most of 2013 on the reserve list
but played in four games. Lucas is entering his sixth CFL season and third with
the Bombers. SAN FRANCISCO -- Michael Morse looked baffled after missing wildly
on a wicked curve from Minnesota starter Ricky Nolasco in the fifth inning. It
was one of the few pitches the Giants slugger guessed wrong on, and the last one
from Nolasco he let get by. Morse hit a bases-loaded double on Nolascos next
offering -- one of three doubles by San Franciscos first baseman -- helping the
Giants to an 8-1 win over the Twins on Sunday that completed a three-game sweep.
The crowd at AT&T Park gave Morse a loud ovation after the hit when his face
was shown on the giant scoreboard in centerfield. "Moments like that make you
feel so humble and happy that youre here," said Morse, who signed a one-year
deal with San Francisco in the off-season. "Every day feels like the playoffs
here. Its awesome." Madison Bumgarner pitched seven innings to remain unbeaten
in May, Gregor Blanco had three hits while filling in for leadoff man
Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence homered for the Giants, who improved to 6-0 in
interleague games this year and improved their majors-leading record to 32-18.
Bumgarner (6-3) earned his fourth straight win while relying mainly on his
fastball and slider to baffle the slumping Twins. He struck out 10 with no walks
and allowed only two runners past second base. "Madison was Madison," Giants
manager Bruce Bochy said. "He had his normal stuff and pitched great." It was a
far different result than Bumgarner got in his only other appearance against
Minnesota in 2011 when the left-hander was knocked out of the game after
retiring one batter. This time around, the left-hander was dominant. Bumgarner
fanned Joe Mauer three times, recorded six consecutive strikeouts during one
stretch and struck out the side in the fifth after getting called for a balk.
Its just the fifth time in Mauers career that hes struck out three times against
the same pitcher. George Kontos pitched the final two innings for San Francisco,
which has won seven straight games against American League teams dating to 2013.
"I for sure didnt forget about that," said Bumgarner, who reached double digits
in strikeouts for the 15th time in his career. "There wasnt a wholee lot of talk
about it but its something thats tough to forget, to go through a start like
that one.
Curley Culp Titans Jersey. " Eduardo Escobar singled and scored Minnesotas only run in the third. "I dont think we had a hit
with runners in scoring position and that never bodes well," Twins manager Ron
Gardenhire said. "Well try to find a way to get hits in the right places and win
some ballgames." The Giants jumped on Twins starter Ricky Nolasco (2-5) early
with a pair of bloop singles in the first and a run-scoring hit by
Pablo Sandoval that left fielder Eduardo Nunez got a late jump on. Morses
sacrifice fly made it 2-0. Pences home run in the bottom of the third gave the
Giants a 3-1 lead. It was Pences sixth home run of the season and his fifth
career shot off Nolasco. Morse doubled and scored in the fourth to snap a
2-for-14 slump and make it 4-1, then broke the game open with his bases-clearing
hit in the fifth. San Franciscos power-hitting first baseman smiled and pumped
his fist while standing on second base as the crowd at AT&T Park gave him a
roaring standing ovation. That chased Nolasco, who had won in four of his six
previous starts at the Giants waterfront ballpark. He allowed nine hits over 4
2-3 innings, struck out three and walked one. Minnesota scored its lone run in
the third on back-to-back singles and a sacrifice fly from Brian Dozier. The
Twins, who were outscored 16-4 in the series, managed just three baserunners
over the final six innings and were swept for the third time this season. Mauer
snapped his skid with a single off Kontos in the ninth but was replaced by a
pinch-runner. NOTES: Minnesota announced plans to activate Josh Willingham off
the disabled list Monday after the veteran outfielder missed 41 games with a
fractured left wrist. The team also plans to call up OF Oswaldo Arcia. To make
room, the Twins will option backup C Chris Herrmann and IF Chris Colabello to
the minors. ... Nolasco, the Twins opening day starter, is winless in five May
starts. ... RHP Yusmeiro Petit (3-1) will start in place of Cain in the series
opener against the Cubs. ... Minnesota RHP Kevin Correia (2-5) pitches against
Texas on Monday.
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