Ravens fans had two reasons to cheer Thursday night. The second was a 23-16 win over the Browns that came down to the final play. The first was the return of the regular officials, who received an ovation just before kickoff.
Coming up this Sunday the Patriots and Bills will play in Buffalo at 1 o’clock. The Patriots will play without tight end Kellen Winslow who has been released after one game. The eight-year veteran was cut after catching one pass for 12 yards in last Sunday night's 31-30 loss to Baltimore. The Jets will host the 49ers also at 1, and the Giants play Philadelphia for the 8:20 game. The Giants will welcome back Ahmad Bradshaw after being sidelined for a game by an inflamed disk in his neck. The Giants say they intend to start Bradshaw but plan to have him split time with Andre Brown, who rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns in last Thursday's win at Carolina.
Turning to baseball now where the Toronto Blue Jays are doing a terrific job…as spoilers in the American League East race. Fresh off a four-game split of second-place Baltimore, the Jays have opened a four-game series with the division-leading Yankees by trouncing New York 6-0. The outcome leaves the Yankees and Orioles separated by just one game with six remaining.
In the National League R.A. Dickey made a strong statement for the National League Cy Young award this afternoon by becoming the majors' second 20-game winner. Dickey allowed three runs over 7 2/3 innings and tied a career high with 13 strikeouts as the New York Mets downed Pittsburgh 6-5. David Wright's tiebreaking, three-run homer helped Dickey become the first knuckleballer since 1980 to win 20 games in a season.
Yankees play in Toronto all weekend and in a strange twist of fate will be hoping for some help from the Red Sox who start a series with Baltimore tonight. The Mets and Braves play in Atlanta tonight.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press