San Francisco routs LA Rams in NFL season opener

SAN FRANCISCO -- Carlos Hyde scored two touchdowns as the San Francisco 49ers routed Los Angeles 28-0 in the Rams' season opener and first game since returning to southern California following a 21-year absence.

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert threw a touchdown pass as the 49ers were in control throughout, giving new San Francisco coach Chip Kelly a victory in his debut Monday night at Levi's Stadium.

"The credit goes to our defense and our defensive staff," said Kelly. "They did a very nice job. It is something for us to build on."

It was a tough night for the Rams whose return to Los Angeles after a 21-year stay in St. Louis had created a buzz around the National Football League (NFL) only to be shutout in their season opener.

This was among the league's top rivalries back in the 1970s and 1980s when the Los Angeles Rams or the 49ers won all but two NFC West Division crowns.

San Francisco backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick continued his American anthem protest Monday by kneeling during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner.

He was joined on the ground by teammate Eric Reid and Antoine Bethea and Eli Harold, who both raised their right fists in a similar fashion to US Olympian Tommie Smith's black power salute at the 1968 Mexico City Games. Two members of the Rams also joined in as Robert Quinn and Kenny Britt also held up fists.

But Kaepernick's protest didn't sit well with a few of the fans located behind the 49ers' bench who yelled at Kaepernick to stand up during the playing of the song.

Hyde gained 88 yards on 23 carries and Gabbert completed 22-of-35 passes for 170 yards and an eight-yard touchdown to tight end Vance McDonald.

Running back Shaun Draughn scored on a three-yard run in the second quarter, and wide receiver Jeremy Kerley grabbed seven passes for 61 yards.

The 49ers' defense held the Rams to 185 total yards.

Los Angeles running back Todd Gurley ran for just 47 yards on 17 carries. Gurley was the league's offensive rookie of the year last year.

Keenum struggles

Quarterback Case Keenum struggled mightily in the first season-opening start of his career. He completed 17-of-35 passes for 130 yards with two interceptions.

Rams rookie quarterback Jared Goff, the first overall pick in the 2016 draft, wasn't able to crack the starting lineup and was in street clothes for the final game of NFL's first week of action.

In the earlier Monday contest, Ben Roethlisberger threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns and the Pittsburgh Steelers stomped the host Washington Redskins, 38-16.

Wide receiver Antonio Brown grabbed eight passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns for the Steelers. Roethlisberger completed 27-of-37 passes with one interception at FedEx Field stadium.

Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins had his streak of 16 straight regular-season games with a touchdown pass snapped. He completed 30-of-43 passes for 329 yards and threw two interceptions.

DeSean Jackson had six catches for 102 yards for Washington.

The Steelers went two-for-two on fourth down conversions.

Conversely the Redskins were zero-for-two on fourth down and just three-for-10 on third downs.

"We didn't convert (fourth downs) and we weren't very good on third downs," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. "The money downs are a big difference in the game, but overall they just out-coached us and out-played us."

Said Redskins cornerback Josh Norman, "They took us out behind the woodshed. It was good old fashioned whipping."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Denver defense kryptonite to Panthers Superman Newton

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Denver Broncos shocked the Carolina Panthers 24-10 as the Super Bowl closed out its first half-century on Sunday with an upset and a cliffhanger as Peyton Manning left everyone guessing about his future.

As a glittering shower of golden confetti fell on Levi's Stadium, Manning appeared to have penned the fairytale ending to a Hall of Fame career ready to ride off into the sunset holding the Vince Lombardi trophy, the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl and the first to win championships for two franchises.

But a coy Manning refused to reveal his hand leaving open the possibility that the 39-year-old could remain part of the NFL next season even as the Super Bowl turns the corner and steams toward its centennial and a new era that includes a team back in Los Angeles.

"It's certainly been an emotional week for everybody," said Manning, amid the post-game celebrations. "I got some good advice from (former Indianapolis Colts coach) Tony Dungy. He said don't make an emotional decision.

"I think that was good advice to kind of let this sink in.

"This has been a very emotional week, an emotional night and it is just beginning, I look forward to celebrating with my friends and family and I think I will take some time after that."

The golden Super Bowl was much hyped as a passing of the baton with Manning the aging super star giving way to Panthers' flashy quarterback Cam Newton, who did not live up to his Superman nickname against a top ranked Denver defense that proved to be his kryptonite.

Having claimed NFL most valuable player honours on Saturday and his 17-1 Panthers favoured by nearly a touchdown, Newton's coronation seemed almost certain.

But Manning was not quite ready to drop the torch, adding a couple of more lines to the quarterbacking record book including becoming the first to win 200 games (regular season and playoffs).

"They just played better than us," grumbled Newton. "I don't know what you want me to say.

"They made more plays than us and that's what it came down to.

"We turned the ball over, gave up sacks, threw errant passes. That's it."

A five-time league most valuable player, Manning's performance will not be remembered as one of his best as the Denver offense managed just 194 yards, the fewest for a winning team in the Super Bowl.

Instead it was a relentless Denver defense that can claim credit for the victory holding the Panthers' number one ranked offence -- that averaged over 31 points a game during the regular season -- to a single touchdown and field goal.

The Denver defense, which recorded seven sacks, was led by a rampaging Von Miller who forced Newton into two fumbles that were both converted into touchdowns earning the linebacker Super Bowl most valuable player honours.

"What our guys did, the way they played, they will be in the conversation," said Broncos general manager John Elway, when asked if Denver's defense is one of the best of all-time.

"He (Miller) has just gotten better and better. He has been unbelievable these playoffs.

"He has got something with Cam. He likes to get after Cam."

That something can be traced back to the two players' college careers.

Miller was the number two overall choice in the 2011 NFL draft out of Texas A&M, while Newton was taken first overall after winning a national college championship with Auburn.

"I thought at that time I could be number one, but (Carolina) didn't see it that way. They took Cam Newton," Miller said in the run-up to the National Football League's title game.

Now Miller has something Newton does not -- a Super Bowl championship.

(Editing by Sudipto Ganguly)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

No dancing, just dejection for Newton

SANTA CLARA -- In the end there was to be no dancing and no "dabbing" -- just dejection.

Cam Newton arrived in Sunday's Super Bowl after a record-breaking season which left long-time observers of the National Football League declaring that he had redefined the role of quarterback.

But the biggest night of the Carolina Panthers superstar's career ended in bitter disappointment after the Denver Broncos defense harried him into a string of mistakes to seal a dramatic 24-10 victory.

Newton ended up coming off second best in his duel with Broncos defensive star Von Miller, the man who had been chosen behind the Panthers quarterback as the second overall pick in the 2011 draft.


Twice Miller stripped Newton of the ball close to the Carolina goal line, and on both occasions it led to Denver touchdowns.

As Denver's players celebrated a remarkable win at Levi's Stadium, Newton collapsed to the turf distraught.

Later he appeared before reporters in the bowels of the stadium, hoodie drawn over his head, offering monosyllabic answers to journalists before leaving after little more than three minutes.

"They just played better than us. I don't know what you want me to say. They made more plays than us, and that's what it came down to," Newton said.

"We had our opportunities. There wasn't nothing special that they did. We dropped balls. We turned the ball over, gave up sacks, threw errant passes. That's it. They scored more points than we did."

Asked if he had a message for Panthers fans, he replied: "We'll be back."

It was a sour ending to a remarkable season for Newton, who led the Panthers to a 17-1 record en route to Sunday's Super Bowl while spearheading the highest-scoring offense in the NFL.

The 26-year-old has become a polarizing figure in his five seasons at Carolina, widely admired for his play but attracting sporadic criticism for his exuberant touchdown celebrations and his signature "dab" end zone routine.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera admitted he had made a point of speaking to Newton after the loss.

"I spoke with him a little bit, but again this is one of those things that's going to hurt," Rivera said.

"It's going to hurt everybody for a while. Hopefully after a few days, or whatever it is, we're going to get over it and we'll move forward."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: Pia dances with Broncos cheerleaders

MANILA – After learning some dance steps from members of the American football team Carolina Panthers, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach made sure to also spend time with the Denver Broncos.

In a video clip posted on her Instagram page Friday, Wurtzbach shared her early morning practice with the Broncos cheerleaders.

She also shared a group picture with them where she expressed in the caption how delighted she is to have “a really big team.”



Wurtzbach is a special Super Bowl correspondent of “Inside Edition.” She was mobbed by fans upon her arrival in San Francisco for her hosting stint.

Super Bowl 50 will be held at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 7.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: Pia dances with Carolina Panthers

MANILA – Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach had fun in her first day as a special Super Bowl correspondent of “Inside Edition.”

In a video post on Instagram by her fellow “Inside Edition” correspondent Megan Alexander, Wurtzbach said she had a great time interacting with the players.

“It was a lot of fun. I was able to talk to a lot of the players. They taught me how to dab,” she said.



In another video posted by the official Miss Universe Instagram account, Wurtzbach is seen dancing with members of the American football team Carolina Panthers.


Wurtzbach was mobbed by fans upon her arrival in San Francisco for her “Inside Edition” stint.

Super Bowl 50 will be held at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 7.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pia is Inside Edition's special correspondent at Super Bowl

MANILA – Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach will be Inside Edition's special correspondent at Super Bowl 50.

This was announced by the newsmagazine on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

In an article published on its website, Wurtzbach was quoted to have said that this will be her first time to experience America’s biggest sporting event of the year.

“I’m excited to take viewers behind the scenes in the lead-up to the big event," she said.

Furthermore, Inside Edition said Wurtzbach will also take viewers through game day coverage along with its correspondent Megan Alexander.

“Pia is a natural fit as Inside Edition’s Super Bowl Correspondent," said Executive Producer Charles Lachman. "She has the on-air poise that we look for in our talent, and as reigning Miss Universe, she’s no stranger to a thrilling competition."

During Wurtzbach’s homecoming press conference on Sunday, the beauty queen revealed that she can’t stay long enough in the Philippines because of a big opportunity waiting for her in California.

“I am going to San Francisco because--secret muna,” she said. “I would have stayed longer but then sayang kasi ito.”

In a separate interview with ABS-CBN News, Wurtzbach said it means a lot to her that she's now able to reach a bigger and wider audience including those in the United States.

"Ito na yung lahat ng pinaghandaan ko ng many years. Dito ko na talaga maa-apply. Kasi hindi naman nags-stop sa pageant night iyan. Umpisa pa lang doon. Lahat ng natutunan ko maa-apply ko lahat dito," she siad.

Super Bowl 50 will be held at the Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 7.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com