PANTHERS-RAVENS
Smith leads the way as Ravens beat Panthers 38-10
BALTIMORE (AP) β Steve Smith punished his former team with seven catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns, and the Baltimore Ravens beat the Carolina Panthers 38-10 on Sunday.
Smith spent 13 seasons with Carolina before he was released in a cost-cutting move during the offseason. The 35-year-old receiver showed the Panthers he can still make the big play, scoring twice in the second quarter to help put Baltimore (3-1) in front 21-7 at halftime.
The first touchdown came when Smith grabbed a pass that deflected off the right hand of teammate Owen Daniels. He caught the ball in stride and took it into the end zone to complete a 61-yard play.
Smith also scored from 21 yards out with a diving reception.
Joe Flacco went 22 of 31 for 327 yards and three touchdowns, the other a 24-yarder to Torrey Smith.
Carolina (2-2) has lost two straight, both in lopsided fashion against AFC North foes.
NASCAR-DOVER
Gordon wins at Dover in Chase elimination race
DOVER, Del. (AP) β Jeff Gordon has won the third race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship and is part of a 12-driver field that advanced to the next round.
Gordon was in control in the closing laps Sunday at Dover International Speedway and joined Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano as the three drivers who were guaranteed a berth in the next Chase round with victories.
Kurt Busch, AJ Allmendinger, Greg Biffle and Aric Almirola were eliminated from championship contention. Four more drivers will be eliminated in the next three-race segment that starts next week at Kansas Speedway.
Kasey Kahne was the last driver to make the Chase cut. Kevin Harvick also advanced along with Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman.
BIG BREAK-MYRTLE BEACH
Golf Channel’s Big Break on the Grand Strand
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) β When PGA Tour winner Tommy Gainey learned that Golf Channel’s “Big Break” series was being filmed along the Grand Strand this year, he wondered why it took so long.
The series will debut next month set against the seaside resort known for its golf courses. The group competed over three courses at Barefoot Resort, one each designed by Pete Dye, Tom Fazio and Davis Love III. An episode also was filmed at Pawley’s Plantation.
Gainey competed twice on the series, winning his second appearance in 2007. The showing went a long way to proving Gainey could play pro golf and he eventually won the PGA Tour’s McGladrey Classic in 2012.
Gainey is among 40 past series’ members competing in a four-round tournament, Big Break Invitational Reynolds Planation, starting Tuesday.
FALCONS-VIKINGS
Bridgewater hurt, but Vikings beat Falcons 41-28
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) β Teddy Bridgewater passed for 317 yards and a key 2-point conversion before leaving with an ankle injury, and the Minnesota Vikings beat the Atlanta Falcons 41-28 on Sunday.
The rookie was 19 for 30 with no turnovers and ran five times for 27 yards and a score in his first career start, but his last carry was costly. His left foot rolled underneath him as he was sandwiched by two tacklers at the 1-yard line. Matt Asiata powered his way in on the next play for his third touchdown, and Bridgewater stayed in to zip a crisp pass to Rhett Ellison to push the lead to 35-28.
As Bridgewater was taken away on a cart for X-rays, Christian Ponder took over at quarterback for the Vikings (2-1).
The Falcons (2-2) lost three starting offensive linemen to injuries and wound up sticking tight end Levine Toilolo at right tackle in the fourth quarter.
BRAVES-PHILLIES
Bonifacio, Braves beat Phillies 2-1
PHILADELPHIA (AP) β Emilio Bonifacio led off the game with home run and Freddie Freeman added an RBI single in the first, and the Atlanta Braves finished a disappointing late-season collapse with a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.
The Braves finished with just three hits β all before Phillies starter Cole Hamels (9-9) could record an out.
Five relievers stymied the Phillies, holding them to just four hits, two by Hamels.
James Russell, an emergency starter in place of injured Alex Wood, started for the first time since 2011 and pitched four innings of two-hit ball. Luis Avilan (4-1) picked up the win in relief, throwing two scoreless innings. Craig Kimbrel notched his 47th save.
