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Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 31-24 win over Cardinals | COMMENTARY

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:41:01 GMT

Here’s how the Ravens (6-2) graded out at each position after a 31-24 win over the Arizona Cardinals (1-7) in Sunday’s Week 8 game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona:QuarterbacksLamar Jackson is so inconsistent and he proved it again Sunday. One week after lighting up the Detroit Lions, Jackson seemed lost against the Cardinals, who hit him with several defensive looks, including rushing only three players. Jackson can dominate most games with either his legs or his arm, but he held onto the ball too long and at times seemed confused. He completed only 18 of 27 passes for 157 yards and one touchdown. Grade: CRunning backsThe Ravens don’t have a consistent running game either. This group started to dominate in the third quarter after a second interception from Joshua Dobbs led to another Ravens touchdown, but neither running back, Gus Edwards (19 carries for 80 yards and 3 TDs) nor Justice Hill (4 carries for 15 yards), dominated. The Ravens appeared more co...

Week 8 updates: Eddie Jackson and Lucas Patrick are active for Chicago Bears tonight vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:41:01 GMT

The 2-5 Chicago Bears will play the 2-4 Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in a Week 8 matchup. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff (7:20 p.m., NBC-5).Inactives announcedBears safety Eddie Jackson is active for Sunday night’s game against the Chargers after missing four-plus games with a foot injury.Jackson injured his foot in Week 2. He tried to play against the Vikings on Oct. 15 but said he “knew it wasn’t ready” for him to return. His recovery progressed this week, and he practiced in full Friday.However, the Bears will be missing a key piece of their secondary.On Saturday they ruled out safety Jaquan Brisker, who missed practice all week with an illness. Coach Matt Eberflus said Brisker returned to Halas Hall on Friday, but the Bears wanted to see how he felt before declaring his status.The Bears announced Sunday morning that center Lucas Patrick was questionable to play because of a back injury. But he is active for the game.Qu...

Ravens follow familiar script to get past lowly Cardinals, 31-24

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:41:01 GMT

The Ravens’ stint as the greatest show on turf was a short one.A week after scoring on each of their first four possessions and Lamar Jackson throwing four touchdown passes and running for another against the Detroit Lions, Baltimore’s offense hit a drought against the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Still, it did just enough, finding the end zone four times, and then doing what it does best: relying on its defense.The Ravens (6-2) stopped Arizona on fourth down twice, intercepted Josh Dobbs twice, and held the quarterback to 208 yards passing en route to a rocky 31-24 win over the Cardinals (1-7). The victory keeps Baltimore atop the AFC North on a day the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers lost and the Cincinnati Bengals won to each move to 4-3.Leading the way defensively for Baltimore was tackle Michael Pierce, who bullied his way through the Cardinals’ line, racking up four tackles, including one for a loss, knocking down a fourth-and-1 pass and forcing ...

Instant analysis from Ravens’ 31-24 win over Arizona Cardinals

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:41:01 GMT

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 31-24 win over the host Arizona Cardinals in Sunday’s Week 8 game at State Farm Stadium.Brian Wacker: A week after the Ravens looked like an NBA team constantly on the fast break, Lamar Jackson struggled to find open receivers against a Cardinals defense that was dropping into coverage, especially early, and the offense stagnated. The Ravens have a habit of playing down to lesser opponents and did so once again. After their opening drive in which they went 75 yards in 10 plays and picked up five first downs, with Jackson completing 6 of 7 passes along the way, the Ravens managed just 25 yards and one first down on their next three possessions.But when you have perhaps the NFL’s best defense, you can get away with those kind of missed opportunities against a bad team.Michael Pierce was a tour de force, stopping several fourth-down tries, forcing a fumble and generally wreaking ...

Coach hired, team still required: Soccer’s status in the Marshall Islands is a work in progress

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:41:01 GMT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Lloyd Owers recalls with fondness his initial visit from his home in England to the Marshall Islands, a small nation of five islands, 29 atolls and about 60,000 people situated in the western Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Australia.“I felt at home,” the 33-year-old soccer coach said of his first impressions. “The community welcomed me with open arms.”Owers wasn’t there as a widely-traveled Brit checking it out as a tourist. He was appointed technical director of the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation in December of last year, and was making his first official visit in August in that capacity.Oh, by the way, the Marshall Islands has no national soccer team. It’s been touted as the “last country on Earth” without international representation in the sport.“Yes,” Owers reiterates in emailed correspondence with The Associated Press. “We are the only U.N.-recognized nation that have never had a national representative team.”Enter Owers, a well-cre...

Stock market today: Asian shares slip after S&P 500 slips ahead of Fed interest rate decision

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:41:01 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian shares were mostly lower on Monday ahead of a Federal Reserve decision this week on interest rates. U.S. futures gained while oil prices fell more than $1 a barrel. as concerns over an escalation of the Israel-Hamas war added to uncertainty over supplies.The Israeli military’s ground forces conducted incursions into Gaza over the weekend and Prime Minister Netanyahu warned of a “long and difficult” war.A mixed set of economic reports Friday didn’t appear to change Wall Street’s expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep its benchmark rate of above 5.25% unchanged at a meeting Wednesday. A report showed that the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation remained high last month, but within economists’ expectations. Spending by U.S. consumers was stronger than expected, even though growth in their incomes fell short of forecasts.U.S. consumer expectations for inflation in the coming year are rising, up to 4.2% from 3.2% last month. That’s particularly conc...

More than 1,000 pay tribute to Maine’s mass shooting victims on day of prayer, reflection and hope

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:41:01 GMT

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Residents of Lewiston return to work and school Monday, the morning after coming together to mourn those lost in Maine’s worst mass shooting. They gathered Sunday evening, hugging one another, singing a rousing edition of “Amazing Grace,” and seeking guidance out of these dark days from religious leaders who talked of hope, healing and the power of prayer.More than 1,000 people attended Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul for a vigil in Lewiston, where days earlier a gunman fatally shot 18 people. Some put their heads in their hands as the names of the people who died in Wednesday’s shooting were read. Others quietly wept.Hundreds more watched a live stream of the vigil shown on a huge screen in front of the church. Some held American flags and others had lit candles in cups marked with the names of the dead and injured. “Remember to seek healing over relief. Relief is temporary. Healing is permanent. Pain is temporary,” the Rev. Gary Bragg of the Southern Bapti...

From meeting his wife to rescuing a child in a pond, retiring St. Anthony fire chief ‘grateful’ to serve hometown

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:41:01 GMT

When Mark Sitarz reflects on his 25 years as a St. Anthony firefighter, one word comes to mind above all.“Thankful,” he said last week.St. Anthony Fire Chief Mark Sitarz is retiring Oct. 31, 2023, after 25 years with the fire department. (Courtesy of the St. Anthony Fire Department)Sitarz is thankful the city he grew up in hired him as a paid on-call firefighter in 1998, then as a lieutenant, captain and finally fire chief in 2013.He’s thankful he was able to respond to what would become the memorable calls, like meeting his future wife, Sarah, after her car overheated in 2001, and rushing to the Interstate 35W Bridge collapse in Minneapolis in 2007.And, more recently, he’s thankful that he happened to be driving to work on Silver Lake Road one day in July — a moment in time that found him soon jumping into a murky pond and saving a boy from drowning. “Right place, right time,” he said.Sitarz, who turns 54 next month, now says the time is right to step away from the fire depar...

Driver charged with murder of 4 Pepperdine University students on PCH in Malibu out on bond

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:41:01 GMT

A 22-year-old driver facing four counts of murder after the vehicle he was driving earlier this month hit and killed four Pepperdine University students on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu has been released on Bond.  Fraser Bohm was taken into custody on Oct. 24 and charged with four counts of murder for the deaths of Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams. Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams died when authorities say a speeding driver hit them on the Pacific Coast Highway roughly four miles east of the school. The crash happened on Oct. 17, when the four college seniors were hit by a vehicle allegedly driven by Bohm. The 22-year-old was arrested at the scene for gross vehicular manslaughter but was released from custody hours later while authorities investigated the circumstances of the crash. Authorities on Oct. 18, 2023, investigate a fatal crash in Malibu that occurred one day earlier. (KTLA)Accordi...

2 people stabbed near Bernal Heights in SF

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:41:01 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Two people were injured after a stabbing Sunday near the Bernal Heights neighborhood, the San Francisco Police Department said. The stabbing happened around 4:13 p.m. in the area of Bayshore Boulevard and Cortland Avenue. SFPD officers arrived at the scene and spotted two male victims suffering from stab wounds. They were both treated for medical care and taken to the hospital. As of Sunday evening, one victim has non-life-threatening injuries. The other has life-threatening injuries.The suspect, however, was able to escape before SFPD's arrival. No information was provided about the suspect. Assault suspect throws ‘suspicious devices’ towards pursuing officers, leads police on chase from SF to Martinez Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact SFPD at 415-575-4444. You can also text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with "SFPD."