Fragen und Antworten » The Angels have struggled to close out ga

ORCHARD PARK Johnathan Abram Jersey , N.Y. (AP) — Bills safety Micah Hyde can’t forget the one and only time he picked off Detroit’s Matthew Stafford.It happened in the final minutes of Hyde’s final regular-season game with the Packers, when he intercepted Stafford’s attempt to Golden Tate at the goal line and helped seal Green Bay’s NFC North-clinching 31-24 victory on Jan. 1, 2017.“All our DBs were hurt. I had an ankle (injury), I had a shoulder, but I was still in the game and our final corner got hurt, so I had to play corner” Hyde recalled. “We were 4-6 so we had to win out to get into the playoffs. It was a huge play in a huge game.”Article continues below ...Hyde’s next meeting against Stafford will carry far less significance.Detroit (5-9) is all but mathematically eliminated from contention, and travels to face the Bills (4-9) on Sunday in a matchup of non-conference teams in the midst of closing out what amount to transition seasons.What’s not changed is Hyde’s view of Stafford, in which he dismisses the quarterback’s fading production and Detroit’s dwindling number of proven receiving threats with Tate traded to Philadelphia, Marvin Jones Jr. on injured reserve , and Calvin Johnson three years into retirement.“Gunslinger, man,” Hyde said.“Just because he doesn’t have that feel for his receivers like he usually had in the past with Tate and Johnson and those type of guys, it’s been difficult Maxx Crosby Jersey ,” he added. “But that’s not going to stop him from slinging the rock.”Stafford is still averaging 36 attempts and completing more than 66 percent of them, and yet his yardage has dropped. With 3,187 yards passing, he’s in jeopardy of finishing under 4,000 for the first time in eight years.The dip is a reflection of the changes at receiver, and the Lions placing more emphasis on a running game with the addition of rookie running back Kerryon Johnson.In his third season as offensive coordinator, Jim Bob Cooter has had to adapt to the changing roster. That was evident in a 17-3 win at Arizona last weekend, when Stafford finished with 101 yards passing, the second fewest in a career start, and the Lions’ defense contributed with a touchdown on Darius Slay’s 67-yard interception return.“We’d love to move the ball every drive and score points, but we’re going to find a way to win that game,” Cooter said. “If it’s pretty, if it’s ugly Foster Moreau Jersey , we’ll take the win.”ALLEN ON THE RUNBills rookie quarterback Josh Allen has 335 yards rushing in his past three games, and taken over the team lead with 490 yards — 11 more than running back LeSean McCoy — and five touchdowns.“There’s God-given talent that he has, and he’ll give defenses fits at times,” offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said. “Does that mean we want to have him lead the team in rushing? I would say no. So we’ve got to do a good job in our running game.”SLOW STARTERSThe Bills have been outscored by a combined 168-32 in the first half of their nine losses. That includes squandering a 17-13 lead in a 27-23 loss to the Jets last weekend — the first time Buffalo’s blown a four-point or better halftime lead since a 28-25 loss at Miami on Oct. 23, 2016.COACHING CONNECTIONDaboll and Lions first-year coach Matt Patricia spent time together on Bill Belichick’s staff in New England. Their history goes back further in playing against each other at the Division III college level in New York.Daboll was the receivers coach in New England and played a role in hiring Patricia, who was an assistant at Syracuse.Patricia submitted his application on bright orange paper, representing Syracuse’s color.“I totally did that on purpose. I knew it was going to be a little bit different,” Patricia said. “We laugh about it all the time.”TIGHTENING UPThe Lions’ defense is beginning to find its identity under Patricia. Even before smothering a woeful Arizona team, the Lions held the powerful Rams under control until the fourth quarter. The 30-16 loss to Los Angeles was the only time in the past five games that an opponent has rushed for over 61 yards against Detroit. The acquisition of defensive tackle Damon Harrison seems to have paid dividends.LITTLE HISTORYThis marks just the teams’ 11th meeting, and first since Buffalo’s 17-14 win at Detroit on Oct. 5, 2014.The Bills have just two players left — defensive tackle Kyle Williams and defensive end Jerry Hughes — who were on the team then. It was also Buffalo’s final game before the NFL officially approved the team’s sale to Terry and Kim Pegula from the estate of Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson, who was from Detroit.The Lions have 10 players left from 2014.
The Los Angeles Angels will try to keep charging closer to an American League wild-card spot when they host the Toronto Blue Jays in the third game of their four-game series Saturday night at Angel Stadium.

The Angels (41-35) won the first two games of the series and three straight overall to move within five games of the Seattle Mariners for the second wild-card spot in the AL. The Mariners have lost a season-high five straight games, allowing Los Angeles to make up 3 1/2 games since Tuesday.

“We still have a long ways to go Joey Bosa Jersey ,” Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols told Fox Sports West following a 2-1 victory against the Blue Jays on Friday night.

Pujols went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday’s win. He produced an RBI double in the first inning to give him 630 doubles for his career, moving him within two of David Ortiz for 10th on the all-time major-league list. He is four home runs shy of 630 for career, which would tie Ken Griffey Jr. for sixth on the career list.

Marcus Stroman (0-5, 7.71 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for the Blue Jays (34-41) on Saturday night in his first start since May 8.

In his last outing, Stroman gave up five runs and nine hits over five innings in a 5-0 loss to the Mariners in Toronto. His counterpart, Seattle left-hander James Paxton, became the first Canadian to throw a no-hitter in the game.

Stroman went on the disabled list a day later with fatigue in his throwing shoulder.

“It just got to the point where it was so mentally and physically frustrating,” Stroman told MLB.com at the time. “I just need to take a step back for a second, put it all together and come back and be myself out there.”

Pujols and Angels center fielder Mike Trout are each 5-for-10 in their careers against Stroman.

Stroman is 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA in four career appearances against Los Angeles, including three starts. The 5-foot-8 right-hander threw a complete game the last time he faced the Angels, allowing two runs (one earned) and seven hits in a 6-2 win at Angel Stadium on April 23, 2017, the start of a six-game winning streak for Stroman.

He finished with a career-high 13 wins last season Tony Pollard Jersey , but hasn’t earned a victory since Sept. 24 against the New York Yankees.

Angels rookie right-hander Jaime Barria is scheduled to make his 10th career start and first against the Blue Jays.

Barria (5-3, 3.57) is tied for the AL lead in wins among rookies this season, and ranks third in ERA among rookies with at least 40 innings pitched.

The Angels have struggled to close out games this season, but the bullpen threw two perfect innings to complete the win on Friday, and their relievers have allowed two runs in 7 2/3 innings in the series.

“There’s no doubt, that as that back end of our bullpen grows, that’s going to really help our club,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia told reporters after the win on Friday.