A black cat did nothing to jinx the Dallas Cowboys at the Meadowlands Monday night. Dak Prescott threw two of his three touchdown passes in a 21-point fourth quarter that carried the Cowboys to a 37-18 win over the Giants.
Prescott hit Blake Jarwin for a 42-yard touchdown in the final minute of the first half to cut into New York’s 12-3 lead. The Dallas QB added a 15-yarder to Michael Gallup and a 45-yarder to Amari Cooper in the fourth to clinch the victory. Jourdan Lewis scored on a 63-yard fumble return in the final seconds for the 5-3 Cowboys. The game was stopped for a few minutes while a cat scampered on the field during a Giants drive in the second quarter. The feline darted toward the end zone and made an elusive beeline toward a camera platform before running up the tunnel to the cheers of the big crowd. Dallas outscored the Giants, 34-9 once the kitty left the field. The cat picked up almost as much yardage as Ezekiel Elliott, who shredded the Giants for 139 yards rushing. Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones was 26 of 41 for 210 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also was New York’s top ground-gainer with 54 yards on six carries, while Saquon Barkley ran 14 times for just 28 yards. New York is 2-7 following its fifth straight loss.
In NFL news, Le'Veon Bell had an MRI on one of his knees, and the Jets are awaiting the results to see if the star running back will need to miss any time. Coach Adam Gase says he's unsure when Bell was injured during New York's 26-18 loss at Miami on Sunday.
Former NFL player Kellen Winslow Jr. has pleaded guilty to raping an unconscious teen and sexual battery involving a 54-year-old hitchhiker. In exchange for his plea, the court agreed to sentence him to between 12 and 18 years in prison. He had faced life in prison if convicted of rape on multiple counts in the retrial. In June, a jury found him guilty of raping a homeless woman in Encinitas, north of San Diego.
Cleveland Browns safety Jermaine Whitehead has been released following his disturbing social media rant after a loss in Denver. Whitehead made several threatening and expletive-filled posts on Twitter. One of Whitehead's tweets was directed at former NFL player Dustin Fox, who works for the team's radio network and has criticized Whitehead's tackling. Whitehead missed tackles on two big plays by the Broncos. He was in his second season with Cleveland.
Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett has a sprained left knee but has not been ruled out of Sunday's game against Miami. It's not even clear if Brissett will practice this week. Reich says receiver Parris Campbell also had surgery on a fractured hand.
Miami rookie receiver Preston Williams will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury suffered in the team's first win of the year against the Jets. It's not yet known whether Williams will be ready for training camp next year.
Dolphins running back Mark Walton has been suspended without pay for the next four games for violating NFL conduct and substance abuse policies. Walton was arrested three times last offseason in his hometown of Miami and was sentenced in August to six months' probation after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor weapons charge. Walton will be eligible to return to the active roster Dec. 2 following the Week 13 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
NBA
Kyrie Irving had 39 points and nine assists as the Nets earned a 135-125 win over the Pelicans. New Orleans lost despite Brandon Ingram’s career-high 40 points on 17 of 24 from the field.
The Phoenix Suns have moved three games over .500 for the first time in more than four years while also handing the Philadelphia 76ers their first loss of the season. Devin Booker poured in 40 points and Ricky Rubio added 21 with 10 assists as the Suns downed the 76ers, 114-109. Booker finished a sizzling 15 of 19 from the field, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Phoenix blew a 100-93 lead before Booker and Kelly Oubre Jr. made big buckets to put the Suns in front for good. Al Horford scored a team-high 32 points for the 5-1 Sixers, who were the last NBA team to suffer a loss. Philadelphia played without Joel Embiid, who was given the night off.
The Bucks rolled to a 134-106 romp over the Timberwolves as Giannis Antetokounmpo furnished 34 points and 15 rebounds for his seventh straight double-double to start the season. Khris Middleton matched his season high with 26 points and Eric Bledsoe set a season best with 22 to go with nine boards and six assists.
Rookie forward Eric Paschall hit a key 3-pointer with 4:05 remaining and finished with 36 points and 13 rebounds as the Warriors finally earned its first home win of the season, 127-118 against the Trail Blazers. Paschall is the first Warriors rookie with back-to-back games of 25 points since Stephen Curry had five in a row in April 2010.
James Harden shot 7-for-16 from 3-point range while delivering 44 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in the Rockets, 107-100 victory at Memphis. Eric Gordon added 16 points for Houston, which gave Russell Westbrook the night off.
Bradley Beal's 20 points and six assists carried the Wizards to a 115-99 whipping of the Pistons. Pistons center Andre Drummond fell short in his bid to become the first player in at least 35 seasons to post four consecutive games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds, finishing with 15 points and 24 boards.
NHL
The Boston Bruins have continued their torrid start to the season despite wasting a three-goal lead on Monday. Brad Marchand scored his second goal of the game with 1:57 left to send the B’s to their sixth straight win, 6-4 over the Penguins. Marchand also had three assists while extending his point streak to 13 games. David Pastrnak and Jake DeBrusk tallied as the Bruins jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but the Penguins stormed ahead before Torey Krug tied it midway through the third period. Jaroslav Halak made 40 saves as Boston improved to 11-1-2.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored twice and the Senators notched their first road win of the season by pounding the Rangers, 6-2. Anders Nilsson stopped 32 shots and ex-Ranger Vladislav Namestnikov also scored as Ottawa won for just the fourth time in 13 games.
The Coyotes beat the Oilers, 3-2 on Derek Stepan’s goal 61 seconds into overtime. Michael Grabner and Carl Soderberg also scored for Arizona, which is 8-2 in its last 10 games.
Matt Duchene scored twice while the Predators put together a five-goal second period in a 6-1 rout of the Red Wings. Nick Bonino’s team-high eighth goal sparked the second-period outburst as Nashville halted a two-game skid and dealt Detroit its 11th loss in 12 games.
MLB
Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez has decided to keep his contract with the Red Sox instead of becoming a free agent again. The 32-year-old slugger has averaged just short of 40 homers and 118 RBIs in his two seasons with the Bosox, along with a .317 average and .985 OPS.
The Yankees have declined to make a $17.8 million qualifying offer to shortstop Didi Gregorius, which means they won’t receive draft-pick compensation if he signs with another team. Gregorius came back from Tommy John surgery in early June and hit .238 with 16 homers and 61 RBIs in 82 games.
The Phillies have declined club options on left-hander Jason Vargas and right-handers Jared Hughes and Pat Neshek.
If Madison Bumgarner decides to leave the San Francisco Giants this winter, his new team will have to pony up at least one draft pick. The Giants have made a $17.8 million qualifying offer to the 30-year-old left-hander, who is 119-92 with a 3.13 ERA in 11 seasons with the ballclub. San Francisco would receive at least one draft pick from any team that signs Bumgarner before next year’s draft, a compensation rule that caused pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel to wait until after the draft to sign 2019 contracts. The 30-year-old Bumgarner went 9-9 with a 3.90 ERA over 34 starts this year after two injury-shortened seasons.
Elvis Andrus is staying with the Rangers after the shortstop passed up on a second chance to opt out of his contract and become a free agent. Andrus has $43 million and three years left on his contract in Texas. The 31-year-old shortstop hit .275 with 12 home runs, 72 RBIs and 31 stolen bases in 147 games last season, his 11th with the Rangers. Andrus is the team's longest-tenured player, and the only player remaining from their only two World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011.
The Brewers have cut $15 million in payroll for next season by trading right-hander Chase Anderson to the Toronto Blue Jays and declining a $7.5 million option on first baseman Eric Thames. The Brewers received first baseman/outfield prospect Chad Spanberger for Anderson, who was 8-4 with a 4.21 ERA in 27 starts and five relief appearances. Thames batted .247 with 25 homers and 61 RBIs in 149 games last season.
The Pirates have exercised their 2020 options on pitcher Chris Archer and center fielder Starling Marte. Archer is scheduled to make $9 million next season and Marte $11.5 million.
Former All-Star Danny Salazar has become a free agent after refusing an outright assignment to the Cleveland Indians’ Triple-A team at Columbus. Salazar made the AL All-Star team in 2016 before shoulder problems set him back.
The Angels have declined their $14 million contract option for 2020 on longtime right fielder Kole Calhoun, making him a free agent. Calhoun belted a career-best 33 homers last season while batting .232 with 74 RBIs.
The Cubs have declined their $5 million option on reliever David Phelps. The 33-year-old right-hander was 2-1 with one save and a 3.18 ERA in 24 appearances with the Cubs after he was acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline.
In other MLB news, the Nationals were guests of honor on the South Lawn of the White House, two days after the team paraded down Constitution Avenue. Reliever Sean Doolittle was among several Nationals to skip the event. He and his wife have worked with Syrian refugees and military veterans and support gay rights. Also among those not listed as being in attendance were National League MVP candidate Anthony Rendon, outfielders Victor Robles and Michael A. Taylor, and pitchers Joe Ross, Javy Guerra and Wander Suero.
Looking at some award contenders:
Angels outfielder Mike Trout, Astros third baseman Alex Bregman and Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien are finalists for the AL MVP award. Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon, Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger and Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich are the top three for the NL MVP Award.
Houston's Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander are finalists for the AL Cy Young Award along with Tampa Bay's Charlie Morton. Mets ace Jacob deGrom is a finalist for the NL Cy Young Award after getting 29 of 30 first-place votes last year. He is competing with Washington's Max Scherzer and the Dodgers' Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, Atlanta right-hander Mike Soroka and San Diego shortstop Fernando Tatís Jr. are finalists for the NL Rookie of the Year. Houston designated hitter Yordan Álvarez, Tampa Bay second baseman Brandon Lowe and Baltimore left-hander John Means are the top candidates in the AL.
The Yankees' Aaron Boone, Minnesota's Rocco Baldelli and Tampa Bay's Kevin Cash are finalists for AL Manager of the Year. Atlanta's Brian Snitker is a finalist to win the NL award for the second straight season, joined by Milwaukee's Craig Counsell and St. Louis' Mike Shildt.
Dwight Evans, Thurman Munson and Lou Whitaker have been added to the ballot for the baseball Hall of Fame's modern era committee to consider next month. Former players' association head Marvin Miller will be on a Hall of Fame ballot for the eighth time when the modern era committee meets Dec. 8 ahead of the winter meetings in San Diego. Other holdovers on the 10-man ballot are Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker and Ted Simmons, but Luis Tiant has been dropped.
INDYCAR
Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IndyCar Series have been sold to Penske Entertainment Corp. in a stunning announcement that relinquishes control of the iconic speedway from the Hulman family after 74 years. The speedway spun off multiple other subsidiaries, including the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Productions, which are also part of the deal to Penske Entertainment.
© The Associated Press 2019. All Rights Reserved.