HOUSTON -- J.
Slick Watts Jersey .J. Watt stood to face the media Sunday after his first game since signing a six-year, $100 million contract. A reporter started his question with: "You know you dont have anything to prove," before Houstons star defender cut him off. "What do you mean? Ive got everything to prove," Watt said. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a touchdown pass, rookie Alfred Blue blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown and Watt lived up to his massive new contract to help the Texans to a 17-6 win over Washington. The victory is Houstons first since last Sept. 15 and snaps a 14-game skid. The Texans led 7-6 after a 76-yard touchdown reception by DeAndre Hopkins in the second quarter. Blue blocked Washingtons punt on the next drive, scooped it up and returned it five yards for a touchdown to push the lead to 14-6. Watt signed his contract Monday and showed on Sunday that he isnt content to slow down after getting paid. He had two tackles for losses including a sack, blocked an extra point, recovered a fumble and swatted down a pass. He also was credited with five hurries of Robert Griffin III. "The goal is always to be underpaid," Watt said. "You never want to be that guy that people say: He got money and shut down. So I want to go out there every single day ... and prove that Im worth it." First overall pick Jadeveon Clowney had a tackle for a loss in the first half before leaving with a knee injury. It wasnt clear how Clowney was injured, but it happened late in the second quarter. OBrien didnt provide much more information on Clowneys health after the game. "They think its a good prognosis so it looks like its going to be OK," OBrien said. "He may miss some time, he may not. Who knows? So well know better as the week goes on." Griffin threw for 267 yards, but Washington was done in by two second-half fumbles. A 42-yard field goal by Randy Bullock in the fourth quarter was the only score of the second half in a game that featured the NFL head coaching debut for both Washingtons Jay Gruden and OBrien. "When games are so close, a couple of big plays are going to be the difference," Gruden said. "Were going to be in a lot of those close games, so we have to figure out how to make them and how to stop them." Both teams got off to a slow start offensively, gaining just one first down apiece and punting a combined seven times in the first quarter. Washington took the lead when Darrel Young scored on a 1-yard run about six minutes before halftime, but Watt blocked the extra point attempt to make it 6-0. That score was set up by a 21-yard run by Alfred Morris. It didnt take the Texans long to erase the deficit when Fitzpatrick found Hopkins wide open before he juked Bacarri Rambo to finish the 76-yard score. Rambo is filling in for Brandon Meriweather, who was suspended for the first two games for a helmet-to-helmet hit. Washington fumbled on consecutive plays in the third quarter. The first one came when Griffin bobbled a handoff to Morris, who dropped it before Watt pounced on it for the seventh recovery of his career. The next error came when Griffin found Niles Paul, who had gotten in front of the defence, for a 48-yard pass. But D.J. Swearinger stripped the ball and Kendrick Lewis recovered it at the 9-yard line. A thunderstorm started brewing outside as that play unfolded and a loud clap of thunder boomed through the stadium as Lewis jumped on the ball. The Texans didnt take advantage of either of the fumbles. They punted after the first one and Arian Foster lost a fumble to end a long drive by Houston following the second one. Washington was driving late when Watt knocked down a pass by Griffin on third down. They went for it on fourth down, but couldnt convert and the Texans ran out the clock. Foster ran for 103 yards in his first action since off-season back surgery. "I thought Arian got every inch that he could out of the running game," OBrien said. "He meant a lot to our team today." Fitzpatrick had 206 yards passing in his first game with the Texans, who traded away last years opening day starter Matt Schaub to Oakland in the off-season. NOTES: Washington TE Jordan Reed has a strained hamstring and nose tackle Barry Cofield has a sprained ankle. ... Houston LB Brian Cushing had five tackles in his first game since a season-ending knee injury midway through last season.
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Tom Meschery Jersey . That was OK with him. He was just happy his team came away with two points. Letestu redirected Jack Johnsons shot from the point with 2:38 left, lifting the Blue Jackets past the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on Monday night.PARIS - Standing at the top of the Portuguese league, its time for Benfica to its turn fortunes around on the European stage.With only one point after three games in Group C of the Champions League, Benfica is desperate for a good result to keep alive its chances of progressing to the knockout stage as Monaco travels to Lisbon on Tuesday.Monaco, which has been struggling in front of goal this season following the departures of James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao, remains unbeaten in the competition and can move to the top of the group with a win depending on leader Bayer Leverkusens result against Zenit St. Petersburg.Here are some things to know about Tuesdays matches:___TIME FOR TALISCAAfter racking up eight goals in nine Portuguese league games, Benfica needs Talisca to show the same form against Monaco.The Brazilian is the top scorer in Portugal. He has netted more goals than eight clubs in the league, including the winner in last weekends 1-0 win at Rio Ave that kept Benfica at the top of the table.Talisca has so far disappointed, though, in his first season in the Champions League. His masterful left-foot shots havent found their target, and the Lisbon club is having one of its worst European campaigns ever.Adding to the concerns of coach Jorge Jesus, Argentine winger Nicolas Gaitan is doubtful with a back injury and central defender Lisandro Lopez is suspended.___LEVERKUSENS BEATINGBayer Leverkusen had a nasty, bruising, match in Hamburg, losing 1-0.Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu was singled out for rough treatment after leaving Hamburg in off season on bad terms and endured many fouls. But the team escaped without any major injury and captain Lars Bender is expected to be able to play despite a bruised nose and knee.Leverkusen leads the group and a victory in St. Petersburg would cement the position.Weve put ourselves in a good position and we will try to keep it that way, Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller said. But the group will be decided on the final match day.The rival has to attack and we should have some space to counter, Voeller said.Leverkusen will be without suspended left back Wendell. The Brazilian has been one of Leverkusens better players and his absence could hurt.___GOALS NEEEDEDAfter finishing second to Paris Saint-Germain in the French league last season, Monaco received a brutal reality check following the departures of Falcao and Rodriguez.
Stitched Thunder Jerseys. he pair of strikers has not been replaced and Leonardo Jardims side scored only 14 goals in 12 league matches so far, having won just six of its 15 matches in all competitions.Jardim was left frustrated by Fridays 1-1 home draw with Reims and has asked his players to be more efficient in the final third.We have lots of chances in every match, we are not clinical enough, Jardim said.Jardim also has to cope with injuries and his main offensive asset, veteran Dimitar Berbatov, remains sidelined with a groin injury. Spanish defender Borja Lopez is still unavailable with a knee injury but Joao Moutinho, who recovered from a shoulder problem, is likely to start.___SILVA HEADING BACK HOMEOn loan at Monaco this season, Bernardo Silva is eager to return to the club which has nurtured him.The Portuguese midfielder joined Benfica as an 8-year-old boy but left during the off-season after Jorge Jesus called him up only three times last season.At Monaco, Silva has gained the confidence of his new coach as Jardim uses him regularly in the league and already gave him a Champions League start.Playing in the French league and the Champions League after a stint in the Portuguese second division is wonderful, the 20-year-old midfielder said. The club has put its trust in the young players, and we are trying to repay them for what they do by winning matches, and hopefully titles.___SLOWING DOWNZenit has won 17 of its 21 Russian league games — and 22 of its 29 matches in all competitions — since Andre Villas-Boas took over in March.However, the pace has slowed, with two wins from the last six matches in all competitions for Zenit, which failed to score in three of those six matches, including its last two Champions League games.Villas-Boas, the former Tottenham manager, does not see any reason to be worried, though. His team remains at the top of the Russian league by seven points and is still unbeaten after 12 games following Saturdays victory over second-place CSKA Moscow 1-0.Everyone is still in good form and fresh, Villas-Boas said. ' ' '