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hongwei28 Dec 19 '18
Projected starters and key players for the Super Bowl at Minneapolis on Feb. 4:

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

OFFENSE

Nick Foles [url=http://www.authenticsatlantafalcons.com]Falcons Elite Jerseys[/url] , QB (9), 6-foot-6, 243 pounds, 6th season, Arizona

Took over for Carson Wentz after Wentz tore his ACL in December against Rams. … Played first three seasons with Eagles before returning as free agent. … Became first QB in franchise history to throw for at least 300 yards and at least 3 TDs in playoff game with 352 yards, 3 TDs in NFC championship game.

LeGarrette Blount, RB (29), 6-0, 250, 8th season, Oregon

Won Super Bowls with Patriots after 2014, 2016 seasons. … Led NFL with career-high 18 rushing TDs in 2016. … Power runner who does best work near end zone.

Jay Ajayi, RB (36), 6-0, 223, 3rd season, Boise State

Acquired from Miami at trade deadline. … Became first player in NFL history to produce at least 400 rushing yards with two teams (465 yards, Miami, 408 yards, Philadelphia) in same season. … Was fourth in NFL in rushing in 2016 with 1,272 yards.

Alshon Jeffery, WR (17), 6-3, 218, 6th season, South Carolina

Led Eagles with 9 TD catches in regular season despite no 100-yard games. Only two receivers (DeAndre Hopkins, Devante Adams) had more. … Spent first five seasons with Bears. … Caught 5 passes for 85 yards and 2 TDs in NFC title game.

Nelson Agholor, WR (13), 6-0, 198, 3rd season, Southern Cal

First-round pick in 2015. … With 62 catches, 768 yards and 8 TDs, provides excellent complement to Jeffery in breakout season.

Torrey Smith, WR (82), 6-0, 205, 7th season, Maryland

Brings playoff experience to passing game. … Won Super Bowl 47 with Baltimore. … A deep threat.

Zach Ertz [url=http://www.authenticsbuffalobills.com]Bills Elite Jerseys[/url] , TE (86), 6-5, 250, 5th season, Stanford

One of league’s best tight ends. Led team with 74 receptions and added 8 TDs. Had 8 catches for 93 yards in NFC championship game.

Halapoulivaati Vaitai, LT (72), 6-6, 320, 2nd season, TCU

Fifth-round pick in 2016. Can play both tackle positions. … Replacing perennial Pro Bowl tackle Jason Peters.

Stefen Wisniewski, LG (61), 6-3, 305, 7th season, Penn State

Originally second-round pick of Oakland in 2011. … Has played left guard and center. … His uncle, Steve, was two-time All-Pro selection at guard with L.A. Rams and Oakland Raiders.

Jason Kelce, C (62), 6-3, 295, 7th season, Cincinnati

Went from sixth-round pick in 2011 to first All-Pro selection this season. … Dominant part of run game, can handle DTs one on one.

Brandon Brooks, RG (79), 6-5, 335, 6th season, Miami, Ohio

Spent first four seasons with Texans. … Joined Eagles in 2016. … Selected for first Pro Bowl in 2017.

Lane Johnson, RT (65), 6-6, 317, 5th season, Oklahoma

Second All-Pro on offensive line. … Was No. 4 overall pick in 2013. … Suspended 10 games in 2016 for violating NFL’s performance-enhancers policy.

DEFENSE

Chris Long, DE (56), 6-3, 270, 10th season, Virginia

Won Super Bowl last year with Patriots. … First season with Eagles. …. Had 5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles in regular season and 8 QB pressures in NFC title game. … Similar performance could help Eagles pull upset in Super Bowl. … Second overall pick in 2008 draft by Rams. … Son of Hall of Fame DL Howie Long.

Fletcher Cox [url=http://www.authenticscarolinapanthers.com]Panthers Elite Jerseys[/url] , DT (91), 6-4, 310, 6th season, Mississippi State

Three-time Pro Bowler. … Powerful force who’s second among Eagles interior linemen with 34 sacks. … Had season-high 7 tackles and sack of Falcons’ Matt Ryan in divisional playoff win against Atlanta.

Tim Jernigan, DT (93), 6-2, 295, 4th season, Florida State

Second-round pick of Ravens in 2014 was acquired in trade in April and provides depth on defensive line. … Signed four-year extension through 2021.

Brandon Graham, DE (55), 6-2, 265, 8th season, Michigan

Led Eagles with career-high 9+ sacks. … No. 13 pick in 2010 draft and longest-tenured member of Eagles defense. … Sacked Tom Brady twice when Eagles beat Patriots in previous meeting in 2015.

Derek Barnett, DE (96), 6-3, 259, 1st season, Tennessee

Had 5 sacks in rookie season. …. Had strip-sack of Case Keenum to halt Vikings’ red zone drive in NFC title game. … First-round pick last April.

Mychal Kendricks, LB (95), 6-0, 240, 6th season, Cal

Second on team with 77 tackles. … Has thrived under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. … Had team-high 10 tackles in NFC title game.

Dannell Ellerbe, LB (57), 6-1, 245, 9th season, Georgia

Won Super Bowl 47 with Baltimore. … Joined Eagles in November and became third middle linebacker after Jordan Hicks, Joe Walker sustained season-ending injuries. … Missed NFC title game with hamstring injury.

Nigel Bradham, LB (53), 6-2, 241, 6th season, Florida State

Acquired in trade with Buffalo in 2016. … Led all Eagles LBs with 99 tackles and had career-high 7 tackles for loss and tied for team lead with 2 forced fumbles in first season with Eagles.

Jalen Mills, CB (31), 6-0, 191 [url=http://www.authenticschicagobears.com]Bears Elite Jerseys[/url] , 2nd season, LSU

Seventh-round pick in 2016. Made key defensive play while guarding Julio Jones on fourth down to preserve 15-10 win over Falcons in divisional round.

Patrick Robinson, CB (21), 5-11, 191, 8th season, Florida State

First season with Eagles and led them with 4 interceptions in regular season. … Had spectacular 50-yard pick-6 against Vikings in NFC title game.

Ronald Darby, CB (41), 5-11, 193, 3rd season, Florida State

Missed eight

HOUSTON — It was yet another example of what the Houston Astros look like when their lineup depth flashes, their fourth win in their final at-bat this season offering a glimpse of potential even when everything didn’t quite fall into place.

As the Astros (51-27) near the halfway point of the schedule on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals, they recognize fully that they will require more wins like the one they recorded on Saturday to keep pace in the chase for the best record in the American League.

They were handcuffed by a scuffling pitcher for seven innings before the bottom third of their order helped complete a game-tying rally in the ninth.

And, while Houston failed to walk it off in the 11th, the bottom third of its order generated just enough traffic for the heavy hitters to come to bat in the 12th and secure the 4-3 victory.

Designated hitter Evan Gattis, batting seventh, produced the game-tying RBI with his sacrifice fly in the ninth inning following an 0-for-3 start to his evening. Marwin Gonzalez, batting eighth, walked in both of his final two plate appearances after recording three strikeouts against Royals starter Ian Kennedy. By churning out quality plate appearances, the job was easier up top.

“We’re at our best when those guys are doing something at the bottom,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “That takes a lot of pressure off the top of the order or the middle of the order to have to do it every time. That’s why we think we have a complete team.”

Right-hander Gerrit Cole (8-1, 2.59 ERA) will start the series finale for the Astros in the rubber match. Cole did not factor into the decision in his last start, a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, after allowing four runs on three hits and five walks with eight strikeouts over seven innings.

He made his lone start against the Royals on July 21, 2015, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with six strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings in a 3-2 loss at Kauffman Stadium when he pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Right-hander Jason Hammel (2-8, 4.88 ERA) gets the starting nod for the Royals. Hammel is 2-2 with a 2.85 ERA over nine career appearances (eight starts) against the Astros, including a 1.74 ERA over his last three starts. He hasn’t pitched at Minute Maid Park since 2014.

Hammel, who issued a season-high four walks in his previous outing, has issued two or fewer walks in 11 of 15 appearances this season and is tied for fifth in the American League with 37 starts with two or fewer walks since the start of 2017. His four walks against the Texas Rangers snapped a 37-start streak of walking three or few batters dating back to May 29, 2017.

After delivering at the plate and in the field for the Royals (23-53) in the opener, right fielder Rosell Herrera had a quiet night on Saturday, going 0-for-4 with a walk. Claimed off waivers from Cincinnati on June 2, Herrera was recalled from Triple-A Omaha last Sunday and has worked to show the defensive range and offensive versatility that could make him an asset as the Royals take extended looks at some of the younger players on their major league roster.

“He’s athletic, he’s fast,” Royals manager Ned Yost said of Herrera. “He seems to swing the bat OK from both sides. It’s only been a week. There’s a lot to like looking at him on a short look.”

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