Über das Forum » hed with a 13-yard TD run.THE TAKEAW

LANDOVER, Md. -- Losers of two in a row, the Green Bay Packers had no trouble sharpening their focus on the Washington Redskins when they met in the playoffs in January.Its their intent to do that again to pull out of this tailspin before its too late.The Packers (4-5) return to the scene of their NFC wild-card win Sunday night hoping that facing the Redskins (5-3-1) can turn their fortunes around after a three-game skid.This game is important because its the game this week, so thats what were focused on: beating the Redskins, Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said.We clearly understand where we are in our season and understand how weve played the last couple games, so its about improving each and every week.Another loss would make the Packers path to an eighth consecutive playoff appearance more difficult. But the margin of error is also small for the Redskins, who could fall to last place in the NFC East with a loss and a win by the Philadelphia Eagles.While Washingtons position is more comfortable than Green Bays, coach Jay Gruden said the Packers are not far away from being the Packers that we know.Injuries havent helped, but the mere presence of two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers makes them formidable.The fact that the Packers have lost a couple of games here really is irrelevant when you have him as the quarterback and some of the other great players that they have on defense, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins said.You realize youve got to come ready to go because theyre going to be hungry and theyre going to be ready.The Redskins are seemingly better than they were when they lost 35-18 on Jan. 10. Cornerback Josh Norman gives the defense a different look, and undrafted rookie Robert Kelley has shown evidence that he can be a capable starting running back.A similar scheme that they ran last year, theyre just doing a little bit better I think, Rodgers said. You have some guys who maybe werent big contributors last year who are kind of stepping up and being more of an impact player this year.Some things to watch when the Packers visit the Redskins:SACKS IN BUNCHES: One reason things fell apart for the Redskins in the playoff game was that their initial pass rush on Rodgers was neutralized by Green Bays running game. Washington has three sacks in five consecutive games, including two big ones by Preston Smith in a victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Its a lot of guys trying to find ways to get to the quarterback, Smith said. And of course its a competition to see who can get more sacks by the end of the year. Maintaining a consistent pass rush was a goal from training camp, and this is another major test.RUN IT OUT: In the span of a few days, Christine Michael went from being the leading rusher for Seattle, to Seahawks outcast, to potential backfield savior for the Packers. Green Bay has only three rushing touchdowns this season, all from Rodgers. McCarthy wants to balance the offense, which has been pass-heavy since Eddie Lacy went down with an ankle injury. Any semblance of a consistent running game will help the Packers extend drives, which could in turn rest a defense that has been on its heels the past few weeks.OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD: Norman relishes matchups against not only top receivers but top quarterbacks, and on a conference call Wednesday he referred to Rodgers as a wizard. Rodgers has Davante Adams and Jordy Nelson as targets, and Norman is eager for the challenge. Facing definitely a cerebral assassin in that guy over there, he said of Rodgers. I know how he works, so Im looking forward to it.STARTING STRONG: Fast starts used to be a Green Bay specialty. Lately, the Packers have been falling behind early. Last week, DeMarco Murray had a 75-yard touchdown run on Tennessees first play from scrimmage. The previous week, the Colts ran the opening kickoff back 99 yards for a score. The poor starts left the Packers scrambling in both games, with the offense forced to get away from the run. The Packers need to avoid another slow start. They also need to avoid the momentum-sapping late scores that have also plagued them near the end of second quarters of recent games.---AP Sports Writer Genaro Armas in Green Bay, Wisconsin, contributed.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLAsics Shoes Australia . Pirlo limped out of Sundays 1-0 win over Udinese after just 13 minutes. 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If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency.BOSTON -- Lamar Jackson ran for three touchdowns and threw for four more in three quarters on Saturday to lead Louisville (No. 7 CFP, No. 5 AP) to a 52-7 victory over Boston College.Jackson ran for a 69-yard score on the games third play and added rushing TDs of 13 and 53 yards in the second half. The Heisman Trophy favorite also threw for TDs from 30, 44 and 10 yards out on drives of five, four and one play to give the Cardinals a 28-0 lead just two snaps into the second quarter.Despite leaving the game briefly in the first half with cramps, Jackson ran 15 times for 185 yards to become the first quarterback in school history to run for more than 1,000 yards in a season. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 231 yards.It was the third time this season he has accounted for seven or more touchdowns. No other player in FBS has done it more than once.Jackson went to the bench for the last two possessions of the first half with that coach Bobby Petrino said was forearm cramps but returned to start the second. He left after three quarters with the Cardinals (7-1, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference No. 7 CFP) leading 52-7.Tyler Rouse scored from 39 yards out on a screen pass from Patrick Towles to give Boston College (4-5, 1-5) its only score. The Eagles were coming off a victory over North Carolina State that was their first ACC win in almost two years.(Louisville) is one of the top three talented teams in America. That quarterback is electric, BC coach Steve Addazio said. When you play a great football team, you cant have self-inflicted misttakes like we had.ddddddddddddJackson had one shaky period, when he threw an interception with about five minutes left in the first half, then left with the arm injury. Petrino said Jackson complained about forearm cramps and numbness in his fingers and received intravenous fluids before returning for the second half.He returned at the start of the third quarter but lost the ball while scrambling. But then he led the Cardinals on an eight-play, 77-yard drive that he finished with a 13-yard TD run.THE TAKEAWAYLOUISVILLE: Arm cramps threatened to stall Jacksons Heisman candidacy, but he returned in the second half to run for two more touchdowns before sitting out the fourth quarter.I think he should be good, Petrino said. He looked pretty good in the second half.BOSTON COLLEGE: Its one thing to beat N.C. State like the Eagles did to snap an almost two-year ACC losing streak. But BC was reminded how far it has to go before it can be competitive among the top-tier teams in the conference.UP NEXTLOUISVILLE: The Cardinals return home to play Wake Forest before a Thursday night matchup at Houston.BOSTON COLLEGE: Heads to Florida State on Friday night. The Eagles have lost six in a row to the Seminoles despite playing them tightly in the past three seasons, including Florida States 2013 national championship season.---More AP college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. ' ' '