Saturday, September 14, 2013

KHL Day 11 2013-2014

Four games on a calm Saturday, beginning in...

Podolsk, as Vityaz hosts Dynamo Moscow. Alexander Yeryomenko and Ivan Lisutin tend the twines. Moscow opened in the first period with a Filip Novak power play goal, powered by Maxim Pestushko. Dynamo added on in the third period when Alexei Sopin score, thanks to Andrei Mironov. This was good for a 2-0 win, with the three stars being Yeryomenko (18 save shutout), Novak, and Lisutin (34 for 36 in saves).

Southeast to Kazakhstan, where Barys Astana welcomes Atlant Mytishchi. Sergei Borisov and Vitaly Yeremeyev are in the blue paint. Astana struck first in the first period with a Fyodor Polishchuk goal, with a lone assist by Talgat Zhailauov. Barys added on as Roman Starchenko scored an unassisted power play goal. Mytishchi got on the board in the second period with a Sergei Shmelyov goal, courtesy of Alexander Kadeikin. Astana replied with a Nigel Dawes power play goal, powered by Brandon Bochenski and Dustin Boyd. Atlant answered on an Oleg Yashin goal, via Konstantin Koltsov. Barys extended their lead with a Konstantin Pushkaryov goal, set up by Zhailauov. Mytishchi chipped back with another Shmelyov goal, assisted by Kadeikin. Stanislav Galimov relieved Borisov for the third period. Astana padded the lead in the third period on an Evgeny Blokhin goal, fueled by Josh Gratton and Mikhail Rakhmanov. Atlant pulled back on a power play goal by Rafael Batyrshin, pushed through by Bobby Sanguinetti. They failed to tie the game, handing Barys a 5-4 win. The three stars were Shmelyov, Zhailauov, and Kadeikin.

Back to the Moscow area, where Spartak brings in Lev Praha. Atte Engren is mismatched with Jeff Glass in goal. Moscow was first to score in the first period with a goal from Alexei Krutov, passed from Vyacheslav Kozlov. Praha tied it on a Martin Thornberg goal, going in unassisted. Spartak took the lead back in the second period with a power play goal by Andrei Sergeyev, powered by Rastislav Spirko. Lev retied it as Thornberg scored again, courtesy of Patrik Zackrisson. Moscow again gained the lead on a Pavel Medvedev goal, fueled by Dmitry Chernykh. Praha got another equalizer as Michal Repik scored, with the help of Nathan Oystrick and Ondrej Nemec. Spartak took the lead once again in the third period as Medvedev scored his second of the game, made possible by Igor Volkov. Spartak held on from here to win 4-3, with the three stars being Medvedev, Thornberg, and Krutov.

Finally, we end in Moscow, where CSKA hosts Dinamo Riga. Mikael Tellqvist and Rastislav Stana guard the cages. Riga started in the first period with a Miks Indrasis goal, made possible by Mat Robinson and Roberts Bukarts. Moscow tied it in the second period with a power play goal by Maxim Goncharov, powered by Igor Grigorenko and Alexander Radulov. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Bukarts and Radulov exchanged goals early, and then Radulov edged Bukarts in a later round for a 2-1 win. Radulov, Stana (17 for 18 in saves), and Tellqvist (20 for 21 in saves) get the three stars, while Bukarts gets an honorable mention.

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Friday, September 13, 2013

KHL Day 10 2013-2014

Only one game today, and it's not even in Russia. Medvescak Zagreb of Croatia hosts Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia. Jaroslav Janus and Mark Dekanich are in the creases. Zagreb led off in the first period with a Ryan Vesce goal, assisted by Bill Thomas and Charles Linglet. Bratislava tied it as Roman Kukumberg scored, thanks to Milan Bartovic and Jonathan Sigalet. Medvescak took the lead back with a goal by Ivan Svarny in the second period, set up by Boyd Kane and Patrick Bjorkstrand. Zagreb added on as Jonathan Cheechoo scored, courtesy of Brian Willsie. Slovan shot back in the third period as Bartovic scored, with a lone helper by Juraj Mikus. Bratislava tied it with a Tomas Netik goal, fueled by Libor Hudacek. Slovan completed the comeback with an overtime goal to win 4-3, coming when Mario Bliznak scored, with an assist provided by Bartovic. The three stars were Bartovic, Bliznak, and Netik.

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Thursday, September 12, 2013

Thursday Night Football Week 2 2013

This week's Thursday Night game is a spectacular installment in the rivalry between the host New England Patriots and the visiting New York Jets. New England began with a first quarter Tom Brady touchdown pass to Aaron Dobson for 39 yards, and Stephen Gostkowski handled the extra point. The Patriots added on as Gostkowski made a 21 yard field goal. New York got on the board as Nick Folk kicked a 37 yard field goal. New England responded in the second quarter with a 30 yard field goal by Gostkowski. The Jets pulled closer in the third period as Bilal Powell ran in a 3 yard touchdown, and Folk booted the extra point. The fourth quarter saw no points scored, so the Patriots held on for a 13-10 win, and improve to 2-0 on the season while dropping the Jets to 1-1.

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KHL Day 9 2013-2014

There are ten games to be played today, beginning in...

Omsk, as Avangard hosts Atlant Mytishchi. Stanislav Galimov and Teemu Lassila are in goal. Mytishchi began with a first period goal by Konstantin Koltsov, assisted by Bobby Sanguinetti. Atlant took the lead as Juha-Pekka Haataja scored, with a lone helper from Ilya Kablukov. Omsk got on the board as Tomas Zaborsky scored, thanks to Alexander Perezhogin and Denis Kulyash. Avangard tied the game as Zaborsky scored again, via Kulyash and Perezhogin. Mytishchi took the lead back in the second period with a goal from Alexander Kadeikin, set up by Igor Radulov. Omsk answered as Kulyash scored, with assists provided by Alexander Popov and Kirill Lyamin. Avangard gained the lead in the third period when Valentin Pyanov scored a goal, helped along by Alexei Badyukov. This was good for a 4-3 Avangard victory, with Kulyash, Zaborsky, and Perezhogin getting the three stars.

Next up, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg hosts Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford and Evgeny Lobanov stand in the creases. Yaroslavl led off with a first period goal by Sergei Plotnikov, assisted by Anton But. Lokomotiv added on as Yegor Averin scored, via Plotnikov. Yaroslavl extended the lead in the second period with an Emil Galimov goal, going in unassisted. Lokomotiv wrapped it up at 4-0 in the third period when David Ullstrom scored, with the help of Alexander Chernikov. The three stars were Sanford (28 save shutout), Plotnikov, and Averin.

Moving along to Khanty-Mansiysk, where Yugra welcomes Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Stepanek and Mikhail Biryukov receive the starting nods. Cherepovets was first to score in the first period as Vladimir Antipov scored an unassisted goal. Khanty-Mansiysk tied it with a Mikhail Yakubov goal, courtesy of Marek Troncinsky and Ivan Khlyntsev. Yugra took the lead with an Igor Skorokhodov goal, made possible by Igor Magogin and Vitaly Sitnikov. Khanty-Mansiysk padded the lead on a power play goal by Mikhail Tyulyapkin, powered by Khlyntsev and Yakubov. The scoring was non-existent in the second and third periods, so Yugra walked out with a 3-1 victory, with the three stars being Biryukov (29 for 30 in saves), Yakubov, and Khlyntsev.

Down in Kazakhstan, Barys Astana brings in SKA St. Petersburg. Alexander Salak and Ari Ahonen guard the cages. St. Petersburg struck first in the first period with an Ilya Kovalchuk goal, assisted by Vadim Shipachyov. Astana tied it as Dustin Boyd scored, thanks to Nigel Dawes and Brandon Bochenski. SKA took the lead back with a power play goal by Viktor Tikhonov, powered by Kovalchuk and Roman Cervenka. St. Petersburg added on in the second period when Alexei Ponikarovsky scored, with the help of Yury Alexandrov and Andrei Sigaryov. SKA extended the lead as Cervenka scored a power play goal, fueled by Dmitry Kalinin and Patrick Thoresen. St. Petersburg padded the lead as Kalinin scored a power play goal, passed from Kovalchuk and Cervenka. Barys got one back in the third period on a Roman Savchenko goal, guided in by Talgat Zhailauov and Vladislav Kolesnikov on the power play. They got no closer, losing 5-2, with the three stars going to Kovalchuk, Cervenka, and Kalinin.

Back in Russia, Vityaz Podolsk hosts Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Andrei Vasilevsky and Ivan Lisutin are in the blue paint. Ufa opened with a first period goal by Nikita Filatov, assisted by Dmitry Makarov and Teemu Hartikainen. Salavat Yulaev added on in the second period when Brent Sopel scored, thanks to Makarov and Kirill Koltsov on the power play. Podolsk got on the board as Anton Korolyov scored, with helpers provided by Alexander Rybakov and Vyacheslav Solodukhin. Ufa responded in the third period when Stefan Ruzicka scored a power play goal, powered by Koltsov and Andrei Zubarev. Vityaz got one back with another Korolyov goal, fueled by Logan Pyett. They failed to get an equalizer, leaving Salavat Yulaev with a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Korolyov, Makarov, and Koltsov.

To the east, Ak Bars Kazan welcomes Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Alexander Pechursky is mismatched with Konstantin Barulin in goal. Kazan started in the first period as Janne Pesonen scored, with the help of Shaun Heshka and Vladimir Tkachyov. Ak Bars added on in the second period as Mikhail Varnakov scored a goal, passed from Heshka and Tim Stapleton. Kazan extended the lead in the third period when Dmitry Obukhov scored, thanks to Konstantin Korneyev and Denis Golubev. Magnitogorsk got on the board as Chris Lee scored a power play goal, powered by Rinat Ibragimov and Danis Zaripov. Metallurg pulled closer with a Yaroslav Khabarov power play goal, set up by Justin Hodgman. They couldn't complete the comeback, dropping a 3-2 decision to Ak Bars, and the three stars were Obukhov, Heshka, and Pesonen.

Backtracking to Nizhny Novgorod, as Torpedo hosts Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Alexander Sudnitsin and Georgy Gelashvili protect the nets. Nizhnekamsk got going in the first period with a Nikita Shchitov goal, courtesy of Oskar Osala and Igor Polygalov. Neftekhimik added on in the second period as Osala scored a power play goal, powered by Nikolai Belov and Vitaly Shulakov. They held on from here for a 2-0 victory, with the three stars being Sudnitsin (31 save shutout), Osala, and Shchitov.

Onward to Moscow, where Spartak Moscow brings in their cross-town rivals, CSKA Moscow. Rastislav Stana and Jeff Glass tend the twines. CSKA led off with a first period goal by Alexander Radulov, fueled by Igor Grigorenko. Spartak tied it in the second period as Vyacheslav Kozlov scored, thanks to Alexei Krutov. Spartak took the lead with an Igor Volkov goal, made possible by Deron Quint. Spartak added on as Quint scored a power play goal in the third period, powered by Krutov and Kozlov. CSKA got one back as Oleg Saprykin scored a goal, courtesy of Brandon Reid, but they failed to escape a 3-2 defeat. The three stars were Quint, Kozlov, and Krutov.

Moving west to Belarus, where Dinamo Minsk hosts Lev Praha. Petri Vehanen and Lars Haugen are the masked men. Praha began with a Jakub Klepis goal, assisted by Niko Kapanen and Nicklas Danielsson. Minsk got on the board as Alexander Pavlovich scored in the second period, with the help of Alexander Kitarov. Lev retook the lead with a Toms Kubalik goal, fueled by Nathan Oystrick. Praha added on as Jiri Sekac scored, with a lone assist from Patrik Zackrisson. There was no scoring in the third period, so Lev won 3-1, and the three stars were Kubalik, Vehanen (29 for 30 in saves), and Sekac.

Finally, in Ukraine, Donbass Donetsk hosts Dinamo Riga. Jakub Sedlacek and Jan Laco will attempt to stop the puck. Donetsk started in the first period with a Peter Podhradsky power play goal, passed from Evgeny Dadonov and Maxim Yakutsenya. Riga tied it on a Marcel Hossa goal, with a lone assist by Vitalijs Pavlovs. Dinamo took the lead as Kyle Wilson scored, thanks to Gunars Skvorcovs. Riga added on in the second period as Wilson scored again, and Pavlovs had the only helper. Donbass pulled back on a third period power play goal by Dadonov, powered by Vaclav Nedorost and Yakutsenya. Dinamo shot back and iced the game at 4-2 as Wilson finished his hat trick with an unassisted empty net goal. The three stars were Wilson, Dadonov, and Pavlovs, while Yakutsenya got an honorable mention.

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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

KHL Day 8 2013-2014

Only two games on today, beginning in...

Novosibirsk, as Sibir hosts Amur Khabarovsk. Mika Jarvinen and Sergei Gaiduchenko are the masked men. Novosibirsk started in the first period with a Dmitry Kugryshev goal, courtesy of Konstantin Alexeyev. Sibir added on in the second period as Nikolai Lemtyugov scored, with the help of Jori Lehtera. Khabarovsk got on the board as Dylan Reese scored, with assists provided by Artyom Kryukov and Brian Salcido. Amur tied it in the third period on a Mikhail Fisenko goal, made possible by Vladimir Loginov and Ilshat Bilalov. The tie lasted into the shootout, where Novosibirsk's Dmitry Kugryshev matched Khabarovsk's Alexander Yunkov, followed by Lemtyugov and Jakub Petruzalek trading goals, and then Yunkov and Kugryshev washed each other out again before Sibir finally went ahead for good 3-2 with Kugryshev's third shootout tally. The three stars were Kugryshev, Lemtyugov, and Yunkov.

The other game comes from Novokuznetsk, as Metallurg hosts Admiral Vladivostok. Joakim Lundstrom and Niko Hovinen are between the pipes. Novokuznetsk opened in the second period with an unassisted goal by Marko Anttila. Vladivostok tied it in the third period as Enver Lisin scored an unassisted power play goal. Admiral won 2-1 in overtime as Felix Schutz scored, with a lone assist by Yegor Antropov. The three stars went to Schutz, Lundstrom (34 for 35 in saves), and Hovinen (37 for 39 in saves).

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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

KHL Day 7 2013-2014

The KHL is back at it today, with another twelve games on. I'm going to assume that the pattern has been recognized for how I list goalies, so I will not denote teams anymore. We begin in...

Omsk, as Avangard hosts Severstal Cherepovets. Jakub Stepanek and Teemu Lassila are called on for the starts. Omsk opened with a first period goal by Alexander Perezhogin, coming on the power play from Sergei Kostitsyn. Avangard added on with a Denis Kulyash goal, assisted by Perezhogin and Kostitsyn. Omsk padded the lead in the second period as Alexander Popov scored an unassisted goal. Cherepovets got on the board with an Ignat Zemchenko goal, fueled by Alexander Bumagin. Severstal pulled closer in the third period when Nikolai Bushuyev scored a goal, going in unassisted. Cherepovets tied it with a Gleb Klimenko goal, passed from Stanislav Kalashnikov and Bumagin. The tie lasted to a shootout, where Avangard topped Severstal 4-3 on a lone tally from Alexei Badyukov. The three stars were Perezhogin, Kostitsyn, and Bumagin.

Into Kazakhstan, where Barys Astana welcomes Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Curtis Sanford and Ari Ahonen tend the twines. Yaroslavl began in the first period as Mikelis Redlihs scored an unassisted goal. Astana tied it with a Mikhail Rakhmanov goal, guided in by Mike Lundin and Artemy Lakiza. Barys took the lead on a Dustin Boyd goal, coming off of Nigel Dawes and Brandon Bochenski. Lokomotiv retied it with an Alexei Vasilyev goal, passed from Emil Galimov on the power play. Yaroslavl took the lead in the second period as Alexander Chernikov scored an unassisted goal. Astana tied the game again in the third period with a Konstantin Rudenko goal, made possible by Dmitry Upper. Barys gained the lead on a Dawes goal, thanks to Bochenski and Boyd. Astana iced it at 5-3 with an empty net goal by Maxim Spiridonov, via Upper and Lundin. The three stars were Dawes, Boyd, and Upper, while Bochenski and Lundin get honorable mentions.

Back in Russia, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg brings in Atlant Mytishchi. Sergei Borisov and Jakub Kovar are in the creases. Mytishchi was first to score with a Bobby Sanguinetti goal in the first period, made possible by Igor Levitsky. Yekaterinburg tied it in the second period as Sami Lepisto scored, via Vasily Streltsov. Avtomobilist took the lead on a Filipp Toluzakov goal, set up by Evgeny Fyodorov and Alexei Simakov. Altant tied the game with a third period Konstantin Koltsov goal, coming off of Janne Niskala. The tie lasted into a shootout, where Toluzakov answered a goal from Mytishchi's Yury Trubechyov, before Yekaterinburg took the lead for good on a tally by Anton Lazarev. Toluzakov, Lazarev, and Kovar (27 for 29 in saves) were the three stars.

Over to Khanty-Mansiysk, where Yugra hosts SKA St. Petersburg. Alexander Salak and Mikhail Biryukov are set to start. St. Petersburg struck first in the first period as Roman Cervenka scored, with the help of Patrick Thoresen and Tony Martensson. SKA added on as Thoresen scored, thanks to Martensson. St. Petersburg extended the lead in the second period as Ilya Kovalchuk scored, with a lone assist from Vadim Shipachyov. SKA padded the lead as Viktor Tikhonov potted the puck, courtesy of Alexei Semenov and Alexander Kucheryavenko. Alexei Kuznetso relieved Biryukov at this time. Khanty-Mansiysk got on the board with an Andrei Shefer goal, passed from Evgeny Khvostov and Vitaly Sitnikov. St. Petersburg answered in the third period with an Igor Makarov goal, set up by Andrei Sigaryov. This produced a 5-1 SKA win, with the three stars being Thoresen, Salak (33 for 34 in saves), and Martensson.

Heading to the Moscow Oblast, Vityaz Podolsk welcomes Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. Alexander Sudnitsin and Ivan Lisutin are the masked men. Podolsk started early in the first period with a goal by Vyacheslav Solodukhin, an unassisted goal. For the next fifty-eight minutes, the game saw no goals, meaning Vityaz won 1-0. The three stars were Solodukhin, Lisutin (38 save shutout), and Sudnitsin (23 for 24 in saves).

Back east a bit, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod brings in Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Vasily Koshechkin and Georgy Gelashvili stand in the blue paint. Nizhny Novgorod got going in the second period on a Pavel Lukin goal, courtesy of Tim Brent. Torpedo added on with a power play goal by Pavel Valentenko, set up by Wojtek Wolski and Brent. Nizhny Novgorod extended the lead as Juuso Hietanen scored, with helpers provided by Wolski and Brent, the latter getting a sock trick (which for those of you who don't know is three assists). Torpedo padded the lead with a power play goal in the third period by Vadim Khomitsky, powered by Denis Parshin and Sakari Salminen. Nizhny Novgorod wrapped it up at 5-0 with another Hietanen goal, fueled by Valentenko and Salminen. The three stars were Hietanen, Brent, and Gelashvili (20 save shutout), while Valentenko, Wolski, and Salminen get the honorable mentions.

Moving along to Kazan, where Ak Bars hosts Traktor Chelyabinsk. Michael Garnett and Emil Garipov are between the pipes. Chelyabinsk led off in the second period on an Andrei Kostitsyn goal, via Petri Kontiola. Kazan tied it as Kirill Petrov scored, thanks to Vladimir Tkachyov and Janne Pesonen. Ak Bars took the lead with a power play goal by Alexander Burmistrov, powered by Shaun Heshka and Petrov. Traktor tied it in the third period when Andrei Popov scored, with the help of Alexander Guskov and Jan Bulis. The tie lasted into overtime, where Kazan won 3-2 on a goal by Heshka, assisted by Alexander Svitov and Dmitry Obukhov. The three stars were Heshka, Petrov, and Garipov (20 for 22 in saves).

Into Moscow again, as Spartak welcomes Dinamo Riga. Mikael Tellqvist and Jeff Glass are the reliable goalies. Moscow got going in the second period with a power play goal by Tom Wandell, set up by Andrei Sergeyev. Riga tied it with a Paul Szczechura goal, guided in by Miks Indrasis and Mat Robinson. Dinamo took the lead in the third period with a power play goal by Indrasis, powered by Sandis Ozolins and Robinson. Riga iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Kyle Wilson, via Vitalijs Pavlovs and Ozolins. The three stars were Indrasis, Tellqvist (23 for 24 in saves), and Ozolins.

Across the city, Dynamo Moscow brings in Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Iiro Tarkki and Alexander Yeryomenko guard the cages. Ufa opened with an unassisted Teemu Hartikainen goal in the first period. Moscow tied it as Denis Mosalyov scored, thanks to Marek Kvapil. Dynamo took the lead with an Alexei Sopin goal, with a lone assist by Maxim Karpov. Moscow extended the lead in the second period on an Andrei Mironov goal, passed from Mosalyov and Kvapil. Dynamo added on in the third period when Martins Karsums scored, via Filip Novak. This was good for a 4-1 Dynamo win, with the three stars belonging to Mosalyov, Yeryomenko (33 for 34 in saves), and Kvapil.

Into Belarus, where Dinamo Minsk hosts Slovan Bratislava. Miroslav Kopriva and Lars Haugen protect the nets. Minsk was first to score in the third period with an Alexei Yefimenko goal, courtesy of Dmitry Meleshko and Andrei Stas. Dinamo iced it at 2-0 with an empty net goal by Jacob Micflikier, set up by Geoff Platt and Alexei Kalyuzhny. The three stars were Haugen (26 save shutout), Yefimenko, and Platt.

Continuing to Ukraine, where Donbass Donetsk welcomes CSKA Moscow. Rastislav Stana and Michael Leighton are all padded up Donetsk started with a first period goal by Lukas Kaspar, going in unassisted. Moscow tied it with an Igor Grigorenko goal, fueled by Alexander Radulov. CSKA took the lead with a second period Grigorenko goal, assisted by Radulov and Ilari Filppula. Moscow added on as Brandon Reid scored, courtesy of Roman Lyubimov. CSKA iced it at 4-1 with an empty net goal by Yakov Rylov, an unassisted goal. The three stars were Grigorenko, Stana (22 for 23 in saves), and Radulov.

Finally, in Croatia, Medvescak Zagreb brings in Lev Praha. Petri Vehanen and Barry Brust are the goalies. Praha struck first in the second period with an Erik Christensen goal, guided in by Martin Sevc. Zagreb tied it on a power play goal in the third period, as Brian Willsee scored, thanks to Kurtis Foster and Ryan Vesce. Lev took the lead back on a Niko Kapanen goal, made possible by Ryan O'Byrne and Nathan Oystrick. Praha added on with a Tomas Kubalik goal, assisted by Calle Ridderwall. This held up for a 3-1 Lev win, with the three stars being Kapanen, Kubalik, and Vehanen (24 for 25 in saves).

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Monday, September 9, 2013

Monday Night Football Week 1 2013

Two games are on tonight to begin the Monday Night Football tradition.

First up, the Washington Redskins host the Philadelphia Eagles. Washington opened in the first quarter as DeAngelo Hall returned a Michael Vick fumble for 75 yards and a touchdown, and Kai Forbath made the extra point. Philadelphia answered with an Alex Henery field goal of 48 yards. The Eagles took the lead as Vick passed a 25 yard touchdown to DeSean Jackson, and Henery was there with the extra point. Philadelphia padded the lead as Robert Griffin III fumbled the ball and Alfred Morris recovered it in his end zone, but was tackled for a safety. The Eagles extended the lead with a Vick touchdown pass of 28 yards to Brent Celek, and Henery was true with the extra point. Philadelphia kept going as Vick ran 3 yards for a touchdown, and Henery nailed the PAT. The Eagles added on as LeSean McCoy ran a 34 yard touchdown in, and Henery made the extra point. The Redskins replied on a 5 yard touchdown run by Alfred Morris, and Forbath knocked in the extra point. Washington pulled closer in the fourth quarter on a Griffin 10 yard touchdown pass to Leonard Hankerson, but Griffin couldn't connect with Aldrick Robinson on the two point conversion. The Redskins edged closer as Griffin found Hankerson again for 24 yards and a touchdown, and Forbath handled the extra point again. They failed to tie the game, losing 33-27, and the Eagles start the season at 1-0 and the Redskins begin at 0-1.

The other game came from San Diego, as the Chargers host the Houston Texans. San Diego started with a first quarter Philip Rivers touchdown pass to Ryan Mathews from 14 yards, and Nick Novak handled the extra point. Houston tied it as Matt Schaub tossed a 1 yard touchdown to Owen Daniels, with Randy Bullock making the extra point to tie it. The Chargers took the lead in the second quarter as Rivers connected on a 6 yard touchdown pass to Eddie Royal, and Novak booted the extra point. San Diego extended the lead when Rivers passed a 10 yard touchdown to Vincent Brown, and Novak knocked in the extra point. The Chargers added on in the third quarter on a 1 yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Royal, and Novak kicked in the extra point. The Texans got some back with a Schaub touchdown pass to Garrett Graham, good for 7 yards, and Bullock was there with the PAT. Houston pulled closer on a Schaub touchdown to Daniels, a 9 yard connection, and Bullock kicked in an extra point. The Texans pulled even again as Brian Cushing intercepted Rivers for 18 yards and a touchdown, and Bullock's extra point was the equalizer. Houston finished the comeback as Bullock kicked a 41 yard field goal as time expired to send the Texans to a 31-28 victory, and a 1-0 record to start the season, while the Chargers are at 0-1.

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