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NFL

Only one QB has conquered Matt Ryan's Super Bowl challenge

ATLANTA — Hall of Famer Bob Griese can relate to Matt Ryan’s pain.

Griese, a six-time Pro Bowl quarterback with the Miami Dolphins, first made it to the Super Bowl during his MVP season in 1971. Griese, like Ryan, dropped his first Super Bowl appearance — a 24-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl VI.

Griese didn’t let the disappointment deter his focus on the NFL’s ultimate prize.

“Well, there’s been a lot of us that have lost our first Super Bowls,” Griese said. “But fortunately, in our case, we went back and won the second and third time. The mentality — and Coach [Don] Shula struck this from the time we lost the Super Bowl until the time we were in camp the following year — was, ‘We’re going to have to play as hard as we did the season we went to the Super Bowl just to get back because there’s no guarantees you’re going to get back.’ “

Bob Griese and the Dolphins bounced back from a loss in Super Bowl VI to defeat the Redskins for the championship the next season. Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Griese and the Dolphins did get back the next year, capping off their historic 17-0 season with a 14-7 victory over Bill Kilmer and the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII. Griese is still the only quarterback to lose a Super Bowl and then come back and win one the next season.

The window for a return Super Bowl trip might be small but not impossible for Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons, who face the New England Patriots on Sunday in a rematch of Super Bowl LI. Griese is also one of three quarterbacks to lose in their first Super Bowl appearances and then return to win one at some point in their careers. The other two are also in the Hall of Fame: Len Dawson and John Elway.

Dawson, with the Kansas City Chiefs during the 1966 season, fell to Bart Starr and Green Bay in Super Bowl I, 35-10. Three seasons later, Dawson and the Chiefs topped Joe Kapp and the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV, 23-7.

Elway, the Denver Broncos legend, dropped his initial Super Bowl appearance with a 39-20 loss to Phil Simms and the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXI. He returned the next year but fell to Doug Williams and the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII, 42-10. He lost a third Super Bowl — 55-10 to Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIV — before winning back-to-back Super Bowls 11 years after his first appearance. Elway defeated Brett Favre and Green Bay 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII, then beat Chris Chandler and the Falcons 34-19 in Super Bowl XXXIII.

“Losing a Super Bowl is the most disappointing loss you can have,” Elway said. “It’s so devastating because you get to that final game and are one of only two teams left. For me, losing a Super Bowl only increased my desire to win one. The pain you felt in losing a Super Bowl felt like fuel on the fire.

“The one thing I’d tell any young quarterback who has lost a Super Bowl is to keep chasing that dream, because it’s worth it in the end, for what it means and for your legacy.”

Elway was 26 when he lost his first Super Bowl. He won his last at 38.

Griese was 26 when he lost his first Super Bowl appearance to Roger Staubach and the Cowboys. It ate at him, sure, but it certainly motivated him.

“It weighs on you,” Griese said. “When you lose, that’s the last game of the year. When we got back to Miami, we met one time. I don’t know if we looked at the film or not. I know that I wanted to get the film and look at it and see what they did that we weren’t expecting and how we can do better on our mistakes.

“It’s a loss, and you’ve got to carry that loss over to the regular season the following year. But there’s nothing you can do other than just try and be your best and win every game the next season.”

Two straight losses have Ryan and the Falcons at 3-2 heading into their matchup with the Patriots. In a wide-open NFC there is ample time to get back on track toward at least another playoff run. Griese, now a radio voice for the Dolphins, saw Ryan up close on Sunday and has monitored his mindset from afar.

“You read some stuff and you see some stuff on what’s he’s doing: putting it behind,” Griese said of Ryan. “You do everything you can to move forward. You watch the film. You learn from the film because teams are going to try and do the same things. But the [Super Bowl] loss, you just put it out of your mind and just play one game and win every game if you can, though you can’t. And you just make an effort to get back that way.”

The 32-year-old Ryan, now in his 10th season, appears to be following that playbook, at least publicly. He believes he’s been candid through the offseason and preseason regarding his thoughts about losing the Super Bowl, which he says he watched several times soon after the game before moving on. Although the reigning MVP is intent on putting the loss behind him, Ryan admitted it still stings, even if he doesn’t dwell on it daily.

“I mean, I think it’s always going to be part of you,” Ryan said. “I think that’s every athlete, right? There’s things throughout your life that motivate you to be the best player that you can be and gets you out of bed in the morning.

“For sure, I think from a big-picture standpoint, you certainly use all those kinds of things as motivation. But honestly, it’s about this 2017 team and seeing how good we can be. … That’s the mindset that you have to have.”

Soccer

How English clubs are re-establishing Champions League dominance

The last time an English club won the Champions League was in 2011-12.

Didier Drogba’s penalty eluded Manuel Neuer to edge Chelsea past Bayern Munich in the Bavarian capital, and after eight years of growth bankrolled by Russian oil magnate Roman Abramovich, the Blues had reached the pinnacle of European football.

Chelsea’s victory was hardly indicative of the status of Premier League clubs on the continent. It was just the fourth time an English side had won the tournament since its rebranding in 1992 – and considering the other three belonged to European competition experts Manchester United and Liverpool – it made sense that fans and pundits alike were beginning to question the credentials of England’s top flight.

As recent as five years earlier – when Liverpool lost to AC Milan in the 2006-07 final, England had three teams in the semi-finals. That feat repeated itself in each of the next two Champions League campaigns, and in the span of four years, five Premier League sides contested the final.

Half a decade on, and by the time Drogba’s goal clinched a maiden Champions League victory, Chelsea’s ascension had become the exception. Here’s a look at the successes of English clubs over the last 11 Champions League and how England’s top flight has begun to trend down:

Year Teams in QF Teams in SF Teams in F
2006-07 3 3 1
2007-08 4 3 2
2008-09 4 3 1
2009-10 2 0 0
2010-11 3 1 1
2011-12 1 1 1
2012-13 0 0 0
2013-14 2 1 0
2014-15 0 0 0
2015-16 1 1 0
2016-17 1 0 0

When Leicester City became the only Premier League club to advance to the quarter-finals last season, a miracle run by the Foxes was the only positive among a den of negativity concerning England’s efforts on the continent. That prompted further discussion and a slew of questions about English football, chief among them: Why are Premier League sides so poor in the Champions League?

The decline can be chalked up to several factors, ranging from the lack of a winter break and subsequent congested schedule, the competitive nature of the Premier League when compared to Europe’s other top divisions and its effect on a squad, and tactical naivety in contrast with Spanish and German peers. Gareth Bale, who has tasted Champions League football with both Spurs and Real Madrid, agrees.

“Obviously the winter break is massive. In England you’ll play four or five games and we don’t play any. You don’t get many rest days and it really does burn you out for a long time after that,” Bale told the Daily Mail in March.

“Spanish teams definitely know they have this edge over the English. Every country does: Spain, Italy, Germany, they all have the winter break.”

A glance at the quarter-final sides over the last six seasons alludes to England’s decline, a staggering number when compared to England’s second-place standing in UEFA’s club coefficient as of Sept. 29, 2017:

Nation # of QF sides UEFA rank
Spain 17 1
Germany 10 4
France 7 5
England 6 2
Italy 4 3
Portugal 3 7
Turkey 2 10

Without a finalist in five years and just two clubs in the last-four during that spell, this season’s efforts from a record-five English sides is flipping the trend of mediocrity on its head.

Through 15 group-stage matches, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Liverpool have combined for 11 victories, four draws, and nary a defeat with 44 goals scored and a scant 11 against. With the group stage at the midway point, it’s becoming clear which sides will advance to the knockout round, and which will fight for a third-place finish and a spot in the Europa League.

So far so good for the five English sides, each of whom lead their respective groups after three matches, with the two Manchester sides boasting perfect records. Tottenham and Chelsea both sit on seven points, and with six and five-point advantages, respectively, on the third-place sides in Groups H and C, meaning a spot in the last-16 for the London duo appears highly likely. Even Liverpool, which kicked-off the group stages with a pair of underwhelming stalemates, stands atop of Group E by virtue of Tuesday’s 7-0 drubbing of Maribor.

Whether tactical adjustments or increased payrolls and spending powers courtesy of a massive television deal are the reason for England’s return to prominence, it’s both too early to say and too complicated to quantify. One thing that’s clear is that Premier League clubs are again to be feared on the continent, a standard befitting Europe’s richest league.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

NFL

Source: Redskins' Allen (foot) out for season

Washington Redskins defensive lineman Jonathan Allen will miss the rest of the season after suffering a Lisfranc injury in his left foot during Sunday’s win over San Francisco, a source said Wednesday.

It’s a crushing blow for a defense that had been improving, in part because of Allen’s performance.

Allen, the 17th overall pick in this year’s draft, visited noted foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson on Tuesday. Redskins right tackle Morgan Moses had a similar injury near the end of the 2014 season, but underwent surgery and returned for the start of training camp.

The Redskins picked DL Jonathan Allen 17th in the draft, and coach Jay Gruden said he’d been playing his position “like a veteran, really.” Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire

The Redskins (3-2) play at Philadelphia on Monday night and could be without three key defensive players. Josh Norman (rib) missed Sunday’s 26-24 victory and fellow cornerback Bashaud Breeland had to leave early after spraining the MCL in his left knee.

Allen had been starting as a tackle in the nickel package, usually playing alongside Matt Ioannidis. The two had been giving Washington what it needed: players who can drive offensive linemen back and collapse the pocket.

Allen only had one sack, but he had a number of strong rushes to help set up others — or prevent the quarterback from escaping. Those two, plus the outside linebackers, enabled Washington to often send just four rushers and focus on coverage.

On Monday, head coach Jay Gruden said Allen was playing the position “like a veteran, really.”

“He has got great fundamentals,” Gruden said. “He’s got a great idea of run/pass, how to get off blocks. He has got strong hands and he was getting a pretty consistent pass-rush push. He doesn’t have a lot of sacks obviously, but he was getting push in the pocket which was critical for the interior guys so the edge guys can get home. Just all around, he has played well.”

Allen had fallen in the draft in part because of concerns about his shoulders. The Redskins did not share those concerns and were ecstatic that he fell to them. He provided them with versatility, too; Allen also played end in their 3-4 base front and could line up at different spots. He also occasionally rushed from a standing position behind a nose guard, picking his spot where to rush.

Second-year player Anthony Lanier II will replace Allen in the lineup. The Redskins like his length and the fact the 6-foot-6 Lanier he bulked up to 286 pounds; Gruden said Lanier is much stronger than he was as a rookie. He can play tackle in their nickel package and end in their base. He’s also considered a good athlete, but more raw than Allen.

Washington’s defense is allowing just 88 rushing yards per game, the eight-best total in the NFL. Philadelphia’s offense is fifth with 132.5 rushing yards per game.

Soccer

Spurs' strong display dispels small-squad struggles

After crashing out of the Champions League last season courtesy of a 2-1 defeat to Monaco, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted his squad was too thin to handle the rigours of Europe’s marquee tournament.

“Our objective is to be competitive in the Premier League and Champions League but we need to show more, maybe to add more quality in our squad,” the affable Argentine gaffer told the Mirror last November.

“We have quality, yes, to compete in the Premier League but maybe to share both, maybe after today we see we struggle a little bit.”

Nearly 11 months removed from the loss at the Stade Louis II, Spurs were again hampered by a handful of injuries for Tuesday’s unenviable visit to the Santiago Bernabeu to face Real Madrid, but instead of suffering through a slew of second-choice players, Tottenham excelled in the 1-1 stalemate.

Winks glimmers in the Spanish capital

It’s easy to hype up English players, especially those that wear the badge of an academy product.

That’s exactly the burden that Harry Winks carries, and while the load is beyond his control, the 21-year-old made a good account of himself Tuesday.

With ball-stopping midfield duo Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama both absent with injury, Winks paired with Eric Dier in a 4-2-3-1 formation opposite central midfield monoliths Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Perhaps the greatest testament to Winks’ performance was that he didn’t appear out of place.

Winks completed 94 percent of his passes and successfully bagged 14 more than any other Spurs players, but it was his work in cutting off Real’s distribution through the middle to Karim Benzema that will earn the once-capped Three Lion praise. Look no further than Winks’ team-best three interceptions for proof of a polished two-way player who is making the most of Pochettino’s faith.

Sissoko shines out wide

Considering the magnitude of the opponent and its celebrated venue, Tottenham’s starting XI raised a few eyebrows.

Ben Davies’ illness and Danny Rose’s 10-month absence meant Jan Vertonghen slotted in at left-back, and with Dele Alli serving a suspension, Fernando Llorente played as a quasi No. 10 with Christian Eriksen and Moussa Sissoko on the wings.

While Eriksen was busy getting a 90-minute lesson in metronome management from Modric, Sissoko was starring on the left flank. Arguably his best performance in a Spurs strip since a deadline day move last summer from Newcastle, Sissoko combined with right-back Serge Aurier to brilliant results. An enterprising effort from the French international both in possession and off the ball saw Sissoko pair two successful dribbles, complete 82 percent of passes, and perhaps most remarkably, get stuck in on three fruitful tackles, monitoring the world’s best full-back in Marcelo.

Contrast between two continental campaigns

After getting bounced by the principality lot 11 months ago, Pochettino offered, “Maybe after five games we do not show enough quality to share two tough competitions in the Premier League and Champions League.”

Tottenham appeared outclassed in Europe, Winks barely had a few appearances under his belt, and Sissoko’s move to the English capital was maligned as one of Spurs’ worst summer signings.

A year on, and elated Tottenham supporters who had made the trip to Madrid were singing, “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, who needs Bale when you’ve got Sissoko?”

What a difference a year can make.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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Soccer