Redskins edge Giants
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — The NFL’s No. 2 draft pick has led the Redskins into the thick of a race for the NFC East title.
Robert Griffin III accounted for 235 yards as Washington held off the visiting Giants 17-16, slicing New York’s division lead to one game over the Skins and Dallas Cowboys. It’s Washington’s third straight victory over a division rival.
With the Giants leading 16-10 early in the fourth quarter, RG III hooked up with Pierre Garcon for an eight-yard TD pass that proved to be the winning score.
Griffin picked up 72 yards on the ground while breaking Cam Newton’s NFL rushing record for a rookie quarterback.
The Redskins’ third straight win gets them to 6-6. The Giants fall to 7-5 with their third loss in four games.
Kaepernick still No. 1
UNDATED (AP) — San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh says that Colin Kaepernick will remain the team’s starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against Miami despite an overtime loss to the Rams on Sunday.
Harbaugh took the blame for a misfired pitch by Kaepernick that led to a St. Louis touchdown. The coach indicated that former starter Alex Smith is not out of the mix to be the starting quarterback again.
In other NFL news, Eagles coach Andy Reid said Nick Foles will remain the starter for the rest of the season, even when Michael Vick returns from a concussion. The Eagles have lost eight straight games, a strong factor in Reid’s decision.
A day after benching Mark Sanchez in favor of third-stringer Greg McElroy in an ugly 7-6 win over Arizona, Jets coach Rex Ryan is undecided on his starting quarterback for Sunday’s game at Jacksonville. Ryan says he wants to consult with his coaching staff and expects to decide who’ll start against the Jaguars by the time the team practices Wednesday.
Oakland coach Dennis Allen left the team after Sunday’s 20-17 loss to Cleveland to fly to the Dallas area to be with his father, who has a serious medical issue. Allen is expected to rejoin the team on Wednesday night and be on the field Thursday when the 3-9 Raiders host the 9-3 Broncos.
Manziel, Klein, Te’o among Heisman finalists
NEW YORK (AP) — The Heisman Trophy finalists have been announced, and the trio consists of two quarterbacks and a linebacker from the nation’s top-ranked team.
Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o and Kansas quarterback Collin Klein will be on hand when the trophy is presented in New York on Saturday.
Manziel is the favorite to win college football’s most prestigious award when it is presented Saturday night in New York. He would be the first freshman to win the Heisman and the first Texas A&M player since halfback John David Crow won the school’s only Heisman in 1957.
Te’o is trying to become the first defense-only player to win a Heisman and the eighth player from Notre Dame.
Klein would be the first player from Kansas State to win the Heisman. On Monday, he won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to the nation’s top upperclassman quarterback.
Te’o has come away with two trophies on Monday, taking the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker, and the Bronko Nagurski Award as the country’s top defensive player.
Clippers outlast Jazz
UNDATED (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers are 11-6 following their third straight victory.
Blake Griffin scored 30 points and the Clippers handed Utah its first home loss of the season by downing the Jazz 105-104. Jamal Crawford came off the bench to add 20 points off the bench, including a pair of free throws that put L.A. ahead 105-101 in the waning moments. Chris Paul delivered six of his 14 points in the fourth quarter after the Clippers entered the period down by 10.
Mo Williams led the Jazz with 20 points and 12 assists against his former team.
In other NBA action, Brandon Knight scored 17 points and Detroit picked up its fifth straight home win by downing Cleveland 89-79. Kyle Singler and Tayshaun Prince each had 15 points for the Pistons, who are 5-3 at home but 1-10 away from The Palace at Auburn Hills.
Luke Babbitt hit a pair of clutch three-pointers while Portland erased an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter of a 118-112 overtime win at Charlotte. LaMarcus Aldridge had 25 points and 13 rebounds to help the Trail Blazers overcome Ben Gordon’s franchise-record eight three-pointers.
Glen Davis and Arron Afflalo each had 24 points and J.J. Redick added 22 in Orlando’s 102-94 win at Golden State. Nikola Vucevic furnished 14 points and 15 rebounds as the Magic won in California for the second time in as many nights.
Ryan Anderson’s 22 points and seven rebounds led New Orleans to a 102-81 rout of Milwaukee. Robin Lopez had 21 points, including 11 straight during a 13-0 run that put the Hornets ahead to stay.