COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Iowa rushed the ball 58 times for 268 yards to secure a 26-13 road win over Maryland in fourth-string quarterback Jackson Stratton’s first career start on Saturday. The commitment to the ground game allowed the Hawkeyes (7-4, 5-3 Big Ten) to win the time of possession battle 37:41-22:19. Iowa also limited the Terrapins, the Big Ten's No. 2 passing offense entering Saturday, to a season-low 129 passing yards. Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson (2) celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Head coach Kirk Ferentz told the Hawkeye Radio Network the win was a real team effort during a postgame interview. “The defense did a great job, played smart, played competitively,” Ferentz said. “That was a team effort, good pass rush, trying to disrupt the thrower, and being opportunistic in the back end. “The other component was, especially in the first half, being able to keep the ball in our hands ... that minimized the wind and ... I know this, they cannot score if they are over on their sideline.” Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson (2) celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Running back Kaleb Johnson, who rushed for 164 yards on 35 attempts, surpassed Shonn Greene for sole possession of the Hawkeyes' single season rushing touchdown record with his 21 st of the season in the second quarter. “Not only did I break the record, but I played another game with my boys,” Johnson told Big Ten Network. “We got one more game. My focus is on Nebraska ... . I always want to chase greatness. I am not satisfied just because I had a little record. I just want to keep going.” Stratton finished 10-of-14 for 76 yards and a 117 passing efficiency rating in the win. “He really, I thought, played with great poise,” Ferentz said. “Also, awareness, for a guy who has never started a game ... it did not seem to affect him at all. He really did a good job of preparing himself and did a really nice job of inserting himself. I thought he really played a good game.” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz watches during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Iowa set the tone early and often in the first half against the Terrapins (4-6, 1-7 Big Ten) with three straight drives of 12 or more plays, which each lasted longer than six minutes. On its opening drive, the Hawkeyes marched 57 yards in 12 plays to the Maryland 23-yard line before a botched exchange between Stratton and running back Kamari Moulton gave the ball to the Terps. After Iowa’s defense forced a punt on the ensuing Maryland drive, Stratton led Iowa 59 yards back down the field over the course of 13 plays before Drew Stevens put Iowa in front 3-0 with a 27-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining in the first quarter. A three-and-out on Maryland’s second drive set up Iowa’s third long, sustained drive of the game. Stratton piloted the offense 77 yards in 14 plays on a drive that lasted 7:26 and ended with a two-yard touchdown run from Johnson. Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (9) is sacked during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Stevens added a 54-yard field goal with a minute remaining in the first half to send Iowa to the break with a 13-0 lead. Stevens made it 16-0 with a 50-yard field goal to cap the Hawkeyes first drive of the second half. Trailing by two scores, the Terps managed to find the end zone for the first time with an 11-play, 70-yard drive capped by an eight-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback MJ Morris to Tai Felton. Maryland attempted a two-point conversion but failed allowing Iowa to remain in front by two scores, 16-6. After trading punts, Iowa answered with Stevens’ fourth field goal of the game, a 49-yard boot, to push the lead to 19-6 at the end of the third quarter. Maryland found the end zone once more on a 12-yard connection between Morris and Felton with 11:05 to play in regulation, trimming the lead to 19-13. A 68-yard rushing touchdown from Moulton on the subsequent Hawkeye drive, back-to-back Morris interceptions and a 26-yard field goal from Stevens allowed Iowa to swell its final advantage to 29-13. Stevens finished with a school-record 5-of-5 on his field goal attempts. Iowa will wrap up the regular season against Nebraska on Black Friday at 6:30 p.m. with broadcast coverage provided by NBC. “They are a tough, competitive football team,” Ferentz said. “So, nothing easy, there is nothing east. Nothing is easier today, but that is how college football is supposed to be.” Iowa learned from its 2023 mistakes, leaned on the ground game, defense and Drew Stevens's turnaround to beat Maryland in its road finale on Saturday. With rumor swirling about his status ahead of Saturday's matchup against Maryland, Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara took to social media to clear the air with a statement. In the wake of Mark Farley's midseason retirement announcement, Iowa coaches sent their congratulations to the 24-year head coach of Northern Iowa football and weighed in on Farley's final message. Get local news delivered to your inbox! University of Iowa Athletics Beat Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
In a meeting that was largely similar to the one held in October to decide a zone change request — albeit with more confusion from the council members and more visible frustration from some of the individuals present — the city council took a final vote, officially rejecting the requested change and finding that the request amounted to illegal spot zoning. The meeting was, mechanically speaking, one of the more complex conversations the council has had in quite some time, with multiple motions and votes being made on this one subject before the final decision was handed down, with one council member changing his position from the previous discussion, two members from the previous discussion not even being on the council anymore and the remaining members retaining their previous positions. This issue, in general, has been a significant learning experience for the council, as it has led them into several of the more intricate aspects of public administration — such as disclosing ex parte communications and having to learn the difference between the legislative and quasi-judicial roles that a city council fills — that has left some council members and members of the public visibly confused, frustrated and exhausted during and after meetings. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get our free email newsletters — latest headlines and e-edition notifications.SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — De'Vondre Campbell's decision to quit on his team in the middle of a game overshadowed the bigger issues for the San Francisco 49ers. An offense that was one of the most dynamic in the NFL during a run to the Super Bowl last season has been just ordinary for most of 2024 and was downright bad in a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night that just about ended San Francisco's playoff hopes. San Francisco (6-8) was held to its fewest yards (191) in a regular-season game in eight seasons under coach Kyle Shanahan and its fewest points since Shanahan's debut in 2017 on a rainy night that will be remembered mostly for Campbell walking off the field in the middle of the game with a towel draped over his head. The game also featured San Francisco going three-and-out on four drives as Brock Purdy struggled to connect with his receivers. Deebo Samuel dropped a potential touchdown pass after complaining earlier in the week about a lack of touches. Purdy then missed Ricky Pearsall on an underthrown deep shot in the fourth quarter before throwing an interception into the end zone that ended the Niners' comeback attempt. “I just feel like I had a lot of plays left out there that I could have made for our team,” Purdy said. “I thought the defense and special teams played so good. That’s what’s hurting me is I just feel like I failed the team. I could have been better for our offense and we could have put up more points.” Scoring has been an issue this season for the 49ers, who have been missing key playmakers like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk for much of the season. San Francisco is scoring 8.5 fewer points per game on offense than the Niners did through 14 games last season. What’s working Red-zone defense. After allowing touchdowns on 13 consecutive red-zone drives over the previous four games, the 49ers kept the Rams out of the end zone on all three drives that went inside the 20. What needs help Receivers. The 49ers failed to get much production from their wide receivers with Purdy going 6 for 20 for 63 yards with an INT and a 19.4 rating when targeting wideouts. Samuel had 16 yards on seven targets with the key drop. Jauan Jennings had two drops and was the target on the interception. Pearsall had one catch for 16 yards on four targets. Stock up LB Dre Greenlaw returned for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season's Super Bowl. Greenlaw had eight tackles in the first half as he brought needed intensity and physical play that had been missing for much of the season. Stock down Campbell. The 49ers are deciding whether to waive or suspend Campbell, who lost his starting job when Greenlaw returned and then refused to play when he was needed. “His actions from the game just is not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still expect to be a part of our team,” Shanahan said. “We’re working through exactly the semantics of it right now, but we’ll handle the situation appropriately.” Injuries Greenlaw came out of the game feeling OK after leaving with soreness in his knee and Achilles tendon. He is day to day. ... S Ji’Ayir Brown (groin) and LB Dee Winters (neck) are also day to day. ... LT Trent Williams (ankle) is still trying to get back to play after missing the last four games. Shanahan said Williams' recovery has been "a lot slower than anticipated.” Key number 0 — The Niners didn't reach the red zone once all game, with their deepest penetration into Rams territory being when they reached the 27 on a third-quarter field goal drive. This marked the first time since Week 11 in 2010 that the 49ers didn't run a single play inside the opponent's 25. What’s next The 49ers visit Miami on Dec. 22. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLTech billionaire Elon Musk 's new opinion article in Germany's Welt am Sonntag led the newspaper's opinion editor to resign. Newsweek reached out to Musk's social media platform X, formerly Twitter , via email for comment from the tech tycoon and the WELT Group via email for comment on the editor's resignation Saturday afternoon. Why It Matters Musk, the owner of X, and the CEO of car manufacturer Tesla and space tech company SpaceX , has cozied up to President-elect Donald Trump , especially after his November election win. Now, Musk has grown his influence abroad, appearing in a German newspaper to support the country's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD party is viewed as far right and, according to Reuters, the party, at the national level, has been classified by Germany's domestic intelligence agency as a suspected extremism case starting in 2021. What To Know Following the online publication of Musk's commentary on Saturday, which was written in German, Eva Marie Kogel, the editor of Welt am Sonntag 's opinion section, quickly resigned. "I always enjoyed heading the opinion section of WELT and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print," Kogel wrote on X early Saturday morning, according to an English translation of the post written in German. Musk wrote in the opinion piece, according to an English translation by Reuters, "The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party's leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!" Welt am Sonntag published a statement by the newspaper's editor-in-chief designate Jan Philipp Burgard underneath Musk's commentary. "Musk's diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally false," he wrote. The tech tycoon's opinion piece follows a statement he wrote on X on December 20, "Only the AfD can save Germany." What People Are Saying Burgard and Ulf Poschardt, the incoming publisher of Welt am Sonntag , said in a statement to Reuters, "Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression. This includes dealing with polarizing positions and classifying them journalistically." They added that the discussion surrounding Musk's opinion article was "very revealing." Musk's piece had over 300 comments several hours after it was published. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat , said at a news conference on December 20 in response to Musk's X post, "We have freedom of opinion—it also goes for multibillionaires, but freedom of opinion also means that you can say things that aren't right and don't contain good political advice." He added: "I say emphatically that the democratic parties in Germany all see it differently." Weidel said in a December 20 X post that the AfD "is indeed the one and only alternative for our country; our very last option." She also shared several blurbs taken from Musk's opinion piece on X on Saturday, which have been translated from German to English: What Happens Next German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier scheduled new elections for February 23, seven months earlier than planned after Scholz lost a confidence vote in the German parliament last week amid the country's worsening economic crisis. AfD is polling in second place after the German conservatives, Reuters reported earlier this month. But, according to the Associated Press, Weidel will not realistically become chancellor given that other parties refuse to work with the AfD.
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(BPT) - The new year is a good time to reset. From a fresh start on lifestyle choices, hobbies or pursuits, to the less exciting — but no less important — aspects of life, like memberships, contracts and even health insurance. Health insurance deductibles reset in the new year, so it's a good idea to keep that in mind as you plan for healthcare expenses. Any changes made to your health insurance plan during open enrollment go into effect as well. "Even if you spent hours researching your health plan before making a selection, there's always a possibility for the occasional surprise once coverage kicks in, which is why it's important to assess your healthcare coverage and address any gaps before January 1," said Doug Armstrong, Vice President of Health Products and Services at AARP Services, Inc. "AARP members can take advantage of benefits available to them to help find the coverage and savings information they seek." 1. Examine your vision coverage Eye health is important to quality of life, both in terms of moving around safely and appreciating your surroundings. Regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist or optometrist can help make sure your vision is sharp while also monitoring for any issues. However, many health insurance plans don't include vision coverage. If you do see a gap in your coverage, AARP members have access to information on vision insurance options that offer individual and family plans, featuring a large doctor network, savings on frames, lens enhancements, progressives and more. 2. Plan for prescriptions While several health plans offer coverage for prescription drugs, discounts can vary, especially when it comes to different types of medication. AARP ® Prescription Discounts Provided by Optum RX ® can help with savings. This program offers a free prescription discount card that can be used at over 66,000 pharmacies nationwide for savings on FDA-approved medications. Additional benefits for AARP members include home delivery, deeper discounts on medications, coverage for dependents and more. 3. Confirm your primary care With a new health insurance plan, you might find that your primary care physician is no longer in-network or that they no longer accept your insurance. Perhaps you have relocated and are in the market for a new doctor. Whatever the case, there's no time like the present to search for a new primary care physician who meets your needs. If you're on Medicare, Oak Street Health can be a great resource. The only primary care provider to carry the AARP name, Oak Street Health provides primary care for adults on Medicare and focuses on prevention with personalized care to help keep you healthy — physically, mentally and socially. Benefits include same-day/next-day appointments where available, convenient locations, a dedicated care team and a 24/7 patient support line. AARP membership is not required to visit an Oak Street Health location. 4. Protect your smile Optimal dental care includes daily brushing and flossing and a visit to the dentist every six months. During your visit, the dentist can monitor for and treat any issues, such as cavities or gum disease. However, not all plans include dental insurance, which means you might end up paying out of pocket for your cleaning and other procedures. To avoid that, take a look at your coverage. If needed, explore information on dental insurance options that offer individual or family coverage for the most common dental procedures. Dental insurance generally pays for regular check-ups, so many people who purchase protection will benefit from it immediately. 5. Clarify your hearing coverage Hearing loss is a common age-related ailment. According to the National Institute on Aging , one-third of older adults have hearing loss, and the chance of developing hearing loss increases with age. Hearing aids can be an enormous help, improving socialization, boosting confidence and even helping to increase balance. However, many insurance plans do not include coverage for hearing aids. AARP ® Hearing SolutionsTM provided by UnitedHealthcare ® Hearing provides savings on hearing aids and hearing care . Members can save an average of $2,000 per pair on prescription hearing aids and 15% on accessories — no insurance needed. Plus receive a hearing exam and consultation at no cost and personalized support through a large nationwide network of hearing providers. 6. Consider physical therapy Often, the only times that people consider whether their health insurance covers physical therapy is if they already participate in it or after the doctor has prescribed it. As we age, though, physical therapy can be a useful tool in improving balance or recovering from an injury or procedure to help you remain active. Fortunately, the question of coverage or finding an in-network location doesn't have to derail you. AARP ® Physical Therapy At HomeTM by Luna accepts most insurances and Medicare and is available to members and non-members alike. Plus, Luna's experts come to you, so you can receive quality care from the comfort of your home. If you're creating an end-of-year to-do list, consider adding an assessment of your healthcare coverage. After all, the best time to realize you have a gap in coverage is before you need it. To learn more about AARP member benefits, visit aarp.org/benefits . AARP and its affiliates are not insurers, agents, brokers or producers. AARP member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions. 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ATLANTA — To improve Georgia’s troubled prison system, the General Assembly should hike correctional officer salaries, consider more private-public partnerships to expand capacity, increase mental health services and move to single-person cells to improve safety. Those are among a slate of recommendations that a state Senate study committee approved Friday, following hours of testimony at a series of meetings that began in August. Other recommendations that won approval include asking for an audit of contracts to identify any excessive vendor costs, ordering a compensation study, prioritizing new technology to improve security at current and new facilities, and taking action to make sure wardens adhere to consistent policies to prevent culture differences among facilities. The committee also recommended that the state seek federal approval to jam cellphone signals at prisons. Prisoners have used cellphones to run criminal enterprises from inside the prisons, including directing drug trafficking networks and operating various fraud schemes. But the committee voted against a recommendation to create an independent oversight department or bureau to monitor the state prison’s system. “Oversight is provided by regular committees, subcommittees and study committees, and I’m not sure we need to create yet another level,” said GOP Sen. John Albers in opposing the recommendation. The study committee chairman, GOP Sen. Randy Robertson also opposed the idea, saying he doesn’t favor an ombudsman process that doesn’t answer to anyone. “I think a part of oversight is what we’re doing right now,” he said. The study committee, created by the Senate in March , reached its recommendation after hearing more testimony Friday morning, primarily from advocates, people whose loved ones had died in custody, and people who had served sentences in Georgia. Most of the previous meetings focused on testimony from the Georgia Department of Corrections. Friday’s testimony included stories of rampant violence, deaths and inadequate health care experienced by those in prison. Suspicious deaths that weren’t properly investigated were also mentioned during the meeting. That included the testimony of Heather Hunt, whose son died at Rogers State Prison in September. She was told the death was a suicide, but she said prison officials were hostile to her questions and delayed providing information that didn’t add up when it was provided. In the wake of hearing the morning testimony, GOP Sen. Timothy Bearden suggested that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation should be brought in to investigate all deaths within Georgia’s prisons. Now, the GBI handles autopsies, but the GDC’s internal investigators handle most of the death investigations. Robertson said it’s generally up to GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver to decide whether to call in the GBI. Robertson said it might make sense to routinely rely on the GBI, although the committee did not plan to include the suggestion in its report. “One thing that it does is it takes the suspicion out of the mix and the conspiracy theories tend to go away when that happens,” Robertson said. Homicides within the Georgia prison system have reached record levels this year, the AJC has found. The General Assembly will take up the recommendations when it convenes in January. The Georgia General Assembly has faced increasing scrutiny in recent months in the wake of an AJC investigation , a blistering report issued in October by the U.S. Department of Justice and a highly critical contempt order issued in April by a federal judge in a long-running civil case . Gov. Brian Kemp announced in June that he had hired consultants to conduct a deep study of the prison system and recommend changes to improve conditions. The Georgia Department of Corrections has said it is making progress toward addressing problems within the prison system. ©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.NoneTürkiye ranks second in number of universities in THE rankings
TEMPLEGATE tackles a monster Saturday of racing confident of filling the coffers ahead of Christmas. Back a horse by clicking their odds. The only place to get Templegate's tips first - and at the best prices - is by joining Sun Racing's brilliant Members Enclosure. Sign up now for just £1* to be part of racing's best winning team and get... Four free racing tickets, four times a year - worth £300 Templegate’s daily tips at the BEST prices before anyone else Exclusive access to Templegate's daily NAP Tomorrow’s copy of The Favourite at 9pm today Exclusive insights from top trainer Ben Pauling VIP competitions from Racing Breaks each month New customer offer with Coral Become a member today for just £1* *For the first month then £3 per month thereafter. SIGN UP NOW 18+ Ts and Cs apply. First month membership £1, then £3 per month unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date. For more information contact help@thesun.co.uk SKYJACK HIJACK (3.00 Cheltenham, nap) He is an owner’s dream as he made it a brilliant six wins on the spin at Newcastle last time. He glides over his hurdles and takes a lot of pegging back from the front. This is much his toughest assignment so far but he has been clocked some excellent times and looks well up to this standard. He goes on any ground and has no stamina worries. MADARA (1.50 Cheltenham, nb) He was a massive eyecatcher on debut for the Skeltons in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month. He was a mile back jumping three out before picking up strongly to power up the hill into an ever-closing fourth. Harry Skelton takes over from his less experienced rider today and now connections know he stays, he will hopefully be ridden closer to the pace. AMBIENTE AMIGO (12.10 Cheltenham, treble) She pulled away her chances when third at Newbury last time but Harry Cobden takes over today and she will hopefully settle better on this third run over timber. She was useful on the Flat and had plenty in hand when scoring on her hurdles debut at Newcastle. There’s more to come from James Owen’s filly who gets valuable weight from the boys. Templegate's TV verdicts CHELTENHAM SAT Most read in Horse Racing 12.10 AMBIENTE AMIGO pulled away her chances when third at Newbury last time but Harry Cobden takes over today and she will hopefully settle better on this third run over timber. She was useful on the Flat and had plenty in hand when scoring on her hurdles debut at Newcastle. There’s more to come from James Owen’s filly who gets valuable weight from the boys. The yard also run Lavender Hill Mob who was beaten at 2-7 on debut at Newcastle. He is certain to improve on that. Total Look is a threat after his debut success at Navan last month. Trainer Gavin Cromwell has a cracking record at Cheltenham and his hope comes from a useful hurdling family. Quantock Hills was a winner in France and has done well since joining Warren Greatrex. He had seven lengths in hand when winning at Fontwell last time and deserves this crack at a much higher level. Teriferma has left Joseph O’Brien with two hurdles wins on his CV. He has shown his best over this trip but faces stiffer opposition here. Moutarde enjoyed a drop in class when winning easily at Kempton last time but this is tougher. 12.40 TRANSMISSION was impressive when scoring over course and distance last time out. That was just his second run over fences in the UK and the handicapper has been more than fair with a 3lb rise. There’s more to come. Peaky Boy won on his chasing debut here over 2m4f but stormed up the hill so this longer trip should be ideal. Nicky Henderson’s hopeful jumped well and looks capable of improving past a 7lb rise in the weights. Haiti Couleurs had 15 lengths in hand when winning at Aintree last time. He wasn’t stopping at the end of an extended three miles and handled Chepstow well on debut so this track should be fine. He has solid place claims at least. Destroytheevidence got the better of Haiti Couleurs when they met in Wales and ran another decent race when second at Newbury latest. Trainer Kim Bailey is going well and he’s another in with a shout in this tricky contest. Isaac Des Obeaux was placed in Graded company over hurdles and looked in need of the run at Chepstow on return. He should do better but has a bit to find. 1.13 COCO MADEMOISELLE won a couple of times over hurdles but has always looked like a chaser and she went close on her fencing debut at Worcester. She was just pipped after the last over the 2m7f trip so this slight drop in distance should help. You would expect plenty of improvement and he is well handicapped on his hurdles form. Malaita was a winner on her last visit to Cheltenham and wasn’t beaten far at Carlisle last time. She likes this trip and looks a big price to make the frame. Theonewedreamof was last seen running on the Flat but his latest chase run was a winner at Tipperary in July. He looks potentially well handicapped for the canny Gavin Cromwell. Realisation would have won at Lingfield last time but for a mistake at the final fence. She stays well enough and has an each-way shout. Harry Cobden rides Game On For Glory and she finished last season with a fair second around here. She needed her comeback at Market Rasen and is another with place claims. 1.50 MADARA was a massive eyecatcher on debut for the Skeltons in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month. He was a mile back jumping three out before picking up strongly to power up the hill into an ever-closing fourth. Harry Skelton takes over from his less experienced rider today and now connections know he stays, he will hopefully be ridden closer to the pace. He’s better off at the weights with winner Il Ridoto and can turn the form around with the Nicholls runner now on a career-high mark. Grandeur D’Ame was right back to his best when scoring at Chepstow on comeback in October. He was a good fourth in this race 12 months ago and can at least match that effort. Ga Law was a game second in the Paddy Power and can give another good account for in-form trainer Jamie Snowden. This New Course suits him well. With Venetia Williams in such great form, her Gemirande needs a second look. He scooted in at Ascot last time and was a solid fifth in the Grand Annual at the Festival. He’s gone up 8lb but should be competitive. Stage Star goes well around here and needed his comeback run at Aintree. He has plenty of weight but won’t be far away. 2.25 MASTER CHEWY has his sights lowered here after taking a tumble in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek at Sandown last weekend. He warmed up for that with an excellent fourth in a hot handicap at Ascot and has enough quality to defy top weight over his favourite trip. Libberty Hunter looks a threat even returning from eight months off. He ended last season with a cracking third in an Aintree Grade 1 after finishing second in the Grand Annual. Ideally the ground could be a bit softer but he should run well under Harry Cobden. Issar D’Airy has cheekpieces on for the first time after finishing fourth at Newbury last time where he was hampered. He kicked off the season with a good effort at Newbury and has plenty of pace for this trip. He won’t be far away if taking to the headgear. Triple Trade has looked rusty on both outings this season but has dropped to 5lb below his last winning handicap mark. He’s run well here before but needs to find his best. Etalon has been well beaten on his last two and is best watched for now, while Third Time Lucky didn’t show a lot on comeback here last month. He’d been off 18 months so may fare better with that under his belt. 3.00 SKYJACK HIJACK is an owner’s dream as he made it a brilliant six wins on the spin at Newcastle last time. He glides over his hurdles and takes a lot of pegging back from the front. This is much his toughest assignment so far but he has been clocked some excellent times and looks well up to this standard. He goes on any ground and has no stamina worries. French challenger Jet Blue is interesting after a couple of good runs at Auteuil. He was Grade 1 level in bumpers and his trainer has enjoyed Cheltenham success before. Clondaw General cost £150,000 and made a winning start over hurdles at Worcester in October. He’ll build on that if handling this better ground. Western Knight overcame inexperience to land a gutsy win at Ascot three Saturdays ago. He shapes as though this move up in distance will help and doesn’t have to improve much to figure. Aboutdamntime jumped like a natural when winning on debut at Carlisle last time. He needed every yard of the uphill finish there so should relish Cheltenham. 3.35 TAKE NO CHANCES was far from disgraced in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle a fortnight ago and will be happier back at handicap level. She went to Gosforth Park on the back of a 10-length Listed victory at Wetherby and has winning form over to three miles so has no stamina issues. She went close at Chepstow from 1lb lower in October and has more to come. Joyeuse came back from almost a year off with a solid third at Ascot 22 days ago. She shapes as though the step up from two miles will suit and will be fitter for that effort. Wodhooh could be overpriced given she has won Listed hurdles easily on her past two visits to England. She jumped particularly well when scoring at Donny in January and Gordon Elliott should have her fit enough to perform. Pretending led for a long way at Wincanton last time before just fading late on. She has won around here before and could hold on for a place. Georgi Girl was a good winner at Warwick on comeback last month. She has plenty of staying power and a 5lb rise gives her a chance of figuring again for the in-form Hobbs and White training team. DONCASTER 2.05 FORWARD PLAN looked rusty when fourth in the Badger Beers Chase at Wincanton last month. He won this race second-time-out last season and can repeat the feat with the bit of cut in the ground he needs. He’s only 4lb higher than his last win and always runs his race. Gaboriot did well to finish third at Aintree on return given the trip was on the short side. That was a promising effort and he’ll be a threat upped to a more likely distance. More rain would help his chances as soft ground is ideal. Kim Bailey has a good record in this race and his Does He Know has run well enough on both starts this season at Cheltenham. His last win came here and he’s dropped to the same handicap mark. That makes him a danger. Chasing Fire looked in need of the run at Cheltenham last time and should fare better here with cheekpieces going on for the first time. Straw Fan Jack was third in the Festival Plate at Cheltenham three runs ago and was rusty on comeback there last time. He’s down the weights and has an each-way shout. 2.40 WEST BALBOA can get back to winning ways returned to hurdles. She looked all at sea on her two chase runs but she’s a top-level performer over the smaller obstacles and she would be giving lumps of weight away all round if this was a handicap. This trip is fine and all ground seems to come the same to this daughter of the great Yeats. Gale Mahler is the obvious danger but she was a bit disappointing when a well-beaten third at Cheltenham last month. She gets upped in distance here and that could get her back on an even keel. Ottizzini is proven over this three-mile trip despite her blip in bottomless ground at Haydock last time out. She kicked off this season with a convincing win at Ayr and a return to that form could see her hit the forecast spot. Wynenot is another facing a stiffer test of stamina after a solid fourth at Cheltenham 28 days ago. She shapes like a stayer but will have to pull out a bit more. 3.15 NORMAN FLETCHER started this season with an excellent second at Cheltenham and built on that form when scooting in at Huntingdon last month. He had plenty left in the tank and could easily take another step forward here. Deploy To Spy is improving with every run and won on handicap debut at Aintree last month. A 7lb rise in the weights means he’ll have to improve but there’s every chance he will for in-form trainer Olly Murphy. Altobelli is interesting coming back from ten months off for Harry Fry. He kept some smart company last season and went off well backed for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury where he ran as if he was carrying a niggle. He comes back from a fair mark and a market move would be telling. READ MORE SUN STORIES Jungle Jack looked in need of the run at Bangor last month but he needs to raise his game in this company. Lily Du Berlais struggled in a Grade 2 at Haydock on return and was a winner in her last handicap at Kelso in May. She likes this trip and wouldn’t be a shock placer. Templegate's tips Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here .
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — If Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has given any thought to the possibility of in his first season with the team with a win at New England on Saturday, he isn't letting it show. “Just attacking, that’s our mindset. Win the next game," he said. Harbaugh's relative silence on the topic isn't a total departure from his usual business-first approach, but there could also be something else at play. Aside from wrapping up what would be Harbaugh’s fourth postseason trip in five years as an NFL head coach, since the Chargers (9-6) have the tiebreaker over the Denver Broncos but not against the Pittsburg Steelers, Los Angeles would appear destined to be the sixth seed in the postseason. That would mean a trip to Baltimore and a possible Harbaugh Bowl 4 matchup opposite older brother and Ravens coach John Harbaugh. The Ravens beat the Chargers earlier this season 30-23. But first things first. And that's taking care of the Patriots (3-12), who have lost five straight games but showed several signs of offensive improvement during their at Buffalo last week. Jim Harbaugh sees a dangerous group. And his players say they are locked in on the present. “Always one week at a time. We’ve got a lot of respect for this Patriots team," Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said. "We know we’re going on the road and have to be prepared for everything.” If the Patriots are going to play the role of spoiler, it must start with rookie quarterback Drake Maye. He has thrown a touchdown pass in seven consecutive games, tied with Jim Plunkett (1971) for the longest such streak by a rookie in franchise history. But he has also thrown at least one interception in each of the past seven games. Overall, the Patriots have a minus-9 turnover margin. The Patriots did score 14 points in the first half during last week’s loss at Buffalo. Still, New England's offense has had trouble finishing drives, scoring touchdowns on only 47.7% of its chances in the red zone. Maye said that doesn't mean he plans to be timid over the final two games. “I think there’s definitely a way we need to cut down turnovers,” he said. “That starts with me protecting the football and throwing it incomplete or throwing it in the dirt or little things like that. I’m still going to be aggressive.” The Chargers could have a major weapon return in running back J.K. Dobbins, who has been on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury against Baltimore on Nov. 25. With Dobbins out of the lineup, the Bolts have struggled to have any consistency on offense. Los Angeles has averaged only 74.8 rushing yards in the past four games, which is quite a drop from the 118.1 they were generating before Dobbins’ injury. Dobbins was listed as questionable, while Gus Edwards — who rushed for two touchdowns and a season-high 68 yards in last Thursday’s win over Denver — was ruled out with an ankle injury. Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins would likely take over in the backfield if Dobbins also can't play. Justin Herbert, who has 20,466 career passing yards, needs 153 yards to surpass Peyton Manning for the most in a player's first five seasons in league history. Ladd McConkey is 40 yards away from becoming the first Chargers rookie receiver to reach 1,000 yards since Keenan Allen in 2013. The Chargers have won 11 of their past 13 when playing in the Eastern time zone, including last year’s 6-0 victory over the Patriots. Los Angeles has five of its nine games on Eastern time this season for the first time since 2005. They are trying to become the ninth team since 1988 on Pacific time to win at least four games when having to travel at least three time zones. The Chargers have given up two touchdowns and a field goal on the first possession in the last three games. They allowed only one touchdown on an opening drive in the first 12 games. Another cause for concern is that the Bolts have given up scores on the first two series in back-to-back games. AP Sports Writer Joe Reedy in Los Angeles contributed to this report. AP NFL:C.J. Stroud responds to fans booing during Texans' demoralizing loss: 'People are entitled to their opinions'