Rutland Daily Herald from Rutland, Vermont • A9

Rutland Daily Herald Sports Thursday, November 30, 2017 A9 SCOREBOARD 49ers turn to Jimmy at QB NOVEMBER MIN 7:00 VGK UUSH 7:00 7:00 aj NYR I TOR 1 1 TOR 8:00 7:00 7:00 WBCS a jojjl ANA 1 1 LAK I SJS 10:00 10:30 10:30 isH te le NJD I Ppf I 7:00 1:00 22J I HOC 24 TIT I 7:30 HBCSjb I EDM 5:00 2, Garoppolo is eligible to become a free agent in the offseason but the way he plays down the stretch could help set the market for what he will be worth and facilitate a long-term deal with San Francisco. The 49ers also have the option of using the franchise tag to keep Garoppolo if they can't reach a long-term contract. Beathard made five starts as a rookie after taking over from Brian Hoyer, who replaced Garoppolo as Brady's backup in New England. Beathard completed 54.9 percent of his passes, averaged 6.4 yards per attempt and had four TDs and six interceptions for a 69.2 passer rating. Beathard was also sacked 19 times and hit many others while playing behind a patch-work line that could get starting right tackle Trent Brown back this week after he missed the most recent game with a shoulder injury.

By JOSH DUB0W THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SANTA CLARA, Calif. 1 1 1 San Francisco 49ers are ready for the start of the Jimmy Garoppolo era after announcing Tuesday that the franchise's quarterback of the future will make his first start for the team this week. Coach Kyle Shanahan met with Garoppolo and former starter C.J. Beathard to inform them that Garoppolo will make his first start for San Francisco (1-10) on Sunday at Chicago (3-8). The Niners acquired Garoppolo on Oct.

31 from New England for a 2018 second-round pick to be the franchise's long-term quarterback even though he had made only two starts in three-plus seasons for the Patriots. After taking time to learn the new offense, Garoppolo made his San Francisco debut in Sunday's 24-13 loss to Seattle after starter Beathard left with injuries to his hip and knee with just AP PHOTO San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) throws against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of Sunday's game in Santa Clara, Calif. SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT IBS 2 3 9:30 PM 4 at OKC 5 6:00 PM 6 7:30 PM 7 atORL at ATL 14 18 9 at BKN ffl at ATL 19 20 8:30 PM 21 22 7:30 PM 23 Mzb 8:00 PM at DAL at MIA at IND 26 29 BjHH kTlkl AWAY highly sought after quarterback. He completed 42 of 59 passes for 496 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in wins against Arizona and Miami. He got hurt in the second quarter of his second start and has thrown just six passes since then including the two on Sunday but the Niners still believe he's the player to build around.

over a minute left. Garoppolo completed both passes, including a 10-yard touchdown pass to Louis Murphy. Now he will get an even bigger opportunity to show what he can do for his new team. Garoppolo has little NFL game film to go on but his performance in those two starts last year when Tom Brady was suspended was impressive and made him a AMERICAN CONFERENCE East PctPF PA New England Buffalo N.Y Jets Miami 9 2 0.818325220 6 5 0.545224260 4 7 0.364228257 4 7 0.364174289 South PctPF PA 0 .636242269 4 4 7 7 7 4 3 Tennessee Jacksonville Houston Indianapolis .636269168 .364283285 .273195300 North PctPF PA 9 2 Pittsburgh Baltimore Cincinnati Cleveland 0 .818258193 0 .545236187 0 .455199215 0 .000166289 Chiefs' Reid: Lay off QB Smith 6 5 5 6 0 11 West PctPF PA 0 .545272236 0 .455249202 0 .455225261 0 .273197280 Kansas City L.A. Chargers Oakland Denver NATIONAL CONFERENCE East Philadelphia Dallas Washington N.Y.

Giants PctPF PA 10 1 0.909351191 5 6 0.455248270 5 6 0.455258276 2 9 0.182172267 South PctPF PA 8 3 0.727322222 8 3 0.727248207 7 4 0.636265230 4 7 0.364223262 North New Orleans Carolina Atlanta Tampa Bay PctPF PA 0 .818271195 0 .545294264 0 .455232261 All Times EST EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division PctGB Boston 18 4.818 Toronto 12 7.632412 Philadelphia 11 8.579512 New York 10 10.5007 Brooklyn 7 13.35010 Southeast Division PctGB Washington 11 9.550 Miami 10 10.5001 Charlotte 8 11.421212 Orlando 8 1 3.381 312 Atlanta 4 16.2007 Central Division PctGB Detroit 13 6.684 Cleveland 14 7.667 Indiana 12 9.571 2 Milwaukee 10 9.526 3 Chicago 3 16.15810 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division PctGB Houston 16 4.800 San Antonio 13 7.650 3 New Orleans 11 9.550 5 Memphis 7 12.3688 Dallas 5 16.23811 Northwest Division PctGB Portland 13 8.619 Minnesota 12 9.571 1 Denver 11 9.550112 Utah 10 11.4763 Oklahoma City 8 11.4214 Pacific Division PctGB Golden State 15 6.714 L.A. Clippers 8 11.4216 L.A. Lakere 8 12.4006 Phoenix 8 14.3647 Sacramento 6 15.2869 Monday's Games Cleveland 113, Philadelphia 91 Indiana 121, Orlando 109 Detroit 118, Boston 108 Portland 103, New York 91 Houston 117, Brooklyn 103 San Antonio 1 1 5, Dallas 1 08 L.A. Clippers 120, L.A. Lakers 115 Tuesday's Games Cleveland 108, Miami 97 Phoenix 104, Chicago 99 Washington 92, Minnesota 89 Milwaukee 112, Sacramento 87 Utah 106, Denver 77 Wednesday's Games Oklahoma City at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Phoenix at Detroit, 7 p.m. Washington at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Charlotte at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. Miami at New York, 7:30 p.m. Indiana at Houston, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at New Orleans, 8 p.m. Brooklyn at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Thursday's Games Cleveland at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Boston, 7:30 p.m. Chicago at Denver, 9 p.m.

Milwaukee at Portland, 10 p.m. Utah at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m. Friday's Games Detroit at Washington, 7 p.m. Golden State at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Indiana at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. Charlotte at Miami, 8 p.m. Sacramento at Chicago, 8 p.m. San Antonio at Memphis, 8 p.m. New Orleans at Utah, 9 p.m.

Minnesota Detroit Green Bay Chicago 6 5 5 6 3 8 West .273177252 PctPF PA 8 3 0.727329206 7 4 0.636266212 5 6 0.455203278 1 10 0 .091187284 L.A. Rams Seattle Arizona San Francisco AP PHOTO Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid gestures before Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills in Kansas City, Mo. five games. He hasn't come close in the past six games, failing to crack 50 yards in four of those games all but one of them losses. "I just feel like we got to get better all sides of the ball.

Offensively, I got to get better. Everybody does," Hunt said. "We've got to figure out and get over it, honesdy." Yes, even Hunt acknowledges the Chiefs' problems extend to just about everyone on offense. Tyreek Hill has been blanketed the past few weeks, taking away the Chiefs' only playmaking wide receiver. Demarcus Robinson, Albert Wilson and the rest haven't been able to pick up the slack, especially after Chris Conley went down with a season-ending injury.

Kelce has had his share of drops the past few weeks, too. "It is extremely frustrating. We have a championship-caliber team," Chiefs center Mitch Morse said. "I can only speak for myself but stupid mental mistakes and physical errors are putting us out of position to put our offense in a situation to score." Other teams have had a hand in it, too. Offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz said defenses have used cover-2 looks against the Chiefs, and for some reason they haven't been able to counteract it.

Time is ticking to figure it out. By DAVE SKRETTA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS KANSAS CITY, Mo. Andy Reid wants everyone to take it easy on Alex Smith. Good luck. At every turn this week, the Chiefs' coach has had to defend his veteran quarterback, pointing out that the problems with the Kansas City offense extend far beyond him.

Reid has even singled out himself for failing to live up to his own standards, so carefully has he protected his signal-caller. But as bad as Smith has been lately, as the Chiefs have lost five of six, there is a nugget of truth to Reid's assertion: The problems in Kansas City extend far beyond one player. The offensive line. The wide receivers. Even star tight end Travis Kelce.

Everyone has had a hand in the offense's shortcomings. "We all have responsibility to do our job. At all positions. Starting with me," Reid said. "That is not getting done the right way.

It's not one guy. That has to be understood. It's not one person, and we all have to pull together as a football team. In this case, as an offensive football team. Right now.

And get that taken care of as a team. Not one guy." Yet it's no surprise the drumbeat has sounded loudly for Reid to turn to Thursday's Games Washington at Dallas, 8:25 p.m. Sunday's Games Tampa Bay at Green Bay, 1 p.m. Minnesota at Atlanta, 1 p.m. San Francisco at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Detroit at Baltimore, 1 p.m. Denver at Miami, 1 p.m. Indianapolis at Jacksonville, 1 p.m. Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m. Kansas City at N.Y.

Jets, 1 p.m. New England at Buffalo, 1 p.m. Cleveland at L.A. Chargers, 4:05 p.m. Carolina at New Orleans, 4:25 p.m.

L.A. Rams at Arizona, 4:25 p.m. N.Y. Giants at Oakland, 4:25 p.m. Philadelphia at Seattle, 8:30 p.m.

Monday's Games Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 8:30 p.m. the backup quarterback, who is often the most popular player on a team. The Chiefs traded up to get Patrick Mahomes II in the first round for a reason, and Smith's shortcomings have become clear over the years. He struggles to throw the ball downfield. He's become trigger-shy behind a suspect offensive line.

His decisionmaking has come under fire after an interception last week that sealed a 1 6-1 0 loss to the Buffalo Bills. And even his scrambling ability seems to have disappeared. "Listen, when we watch film, I'm watching film from my perspective. What can I do better, every single play? That's what you're going through," Smith said. "Especially the last two weeks, there's been some plays that you'd love to have back.

That's football though. You're not sitting there watching film, making excuses for yourself, that's for sure, in times like this. "You watch and what could I have done differently and what's going to help me next time." For now, it appears Smith will have plenty of "next times" this season. So that means the Chiefs had better shore up their other problems on offense. Start with their high-priced offensive line, where more than $25 million has been invested this season alone.

Not only have they struggled to give Smith time in the pocket, they have also struggled to open holes for Kareem Hunt, who gained just 17 yards on 11 carries last week. Hunt eclipsed 100 yards rushing in four of his first FOOTBALL National Football League ARIZONA CARDINALS Signed RB Branson Hill from the practice squad and RB Darius Victor to the practice squad. DETROIT LIONS Released LB Thurston Armbrister from the practice squad. Signed DE Jeremiah Valoaga to the practice squad. GREEN BAY PACKERS Signed LB Ahmad Thomas to the practice squad.

NEW YORK GIANTS Placed CB Janoris Jenkins on injured reserve. Signed DT Khyri Thornton. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Placed OL Erik Magnuson and RB Raheem Mostert on injured reserve. Released DL Noble Nwa-chukwu from the practice squad. EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP OTPtsGFGA 24 17 5 2 36 88 62 26 16 9 25 10 10 22 10 8 25 10 12 22 8 8 1 33 92 78 5 25 70 74 4 24 60 66 3 23 60 81 6 22 67 74 Tampa Bay Toronto Detroit Boston Montreal Ottawa Florida Buffalo 24 10 12 2 22 72 83 25 6 15 4 16 55 85 Metropolitan Division GP OTPtsGFGA 25 16 8 1 33 72 60 Manning benching low point of year 24 15 7 24 14 6 25 14 10 26 13 10 2 32 89 76 4 32 78 74 1 29 74 75 3 29 74 90 Columbus N.Y.

Islanders New Jersey Washington Pittsburgh N.Y. Rangers Carolina 25 13 10 2 28 82 77 23 10 8 5 25 68 70 25 8 10 7 23 70 78 Philadelphia WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP OTPtsGFGA iflSIV St Louis Winnipeg Nashville Dallas Chicago Minnesota 24 17 6 1 35 84 63 24 15 6 3 33 80 64 24 15 6 3 33 76 68 24 13 10 1 27 70 69 24 12 9 3 27 76 63 24 11 10 3 25 72 74 22 11 9 2 24 73 71 Colorado Pacific Division GP OTPtsGFGA 23 15 7 1 31 81 69 Vegas Los Angeles San Jose Calgary Vancouver Anaheim Edmonton Arizona 25 14 8 3 31 73 57 23 13 8 2 28 61 51 24 13 10 1 27 70 76 25 11 10 4 26 68 73 24 10 10 4 24 65 73 25 10 13 2 22 67 81 27 6 17 4 16 66 98 Thursday, Nov. 30 AUTO RACING 9 p.m. NBCSN NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series Awards, at Las Vegas BOXING 11 p.m. ESPN2 Rey Perez vs.

Lamont Roach, super featherweights, at Oxon Md. (same-day tape) COLLEGE BASKETBALL 6:30 p.m. FS1 Seton Hall vs. Texas Tech, at New York 7 p.m. ESPN Notre Dame at Michigan St.

SEC North Dakota St. at Mississippi St. 9 p.m. ESPN2 Missouri at UCF ESPNU Temple vs. South Carolina, at New York GOLF 5:30 a.m.

GOLF European PGA, Sunshine Asian Tours, AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, first round, at Bel Ombre, Mauritius 12:30 p.m. GOLF Hero World Challenge, first round, at Albany, Bahamas 9:30 p.m. GOLF PGA Tour of Australasia, Australian PGA Championship, second round, at Gold Coast, Australia 1:30 a.m. (Friday) GOLF European PGA, Sunshine Asian Tours, AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, second round, at Bel Ombre, Mauritius NBA BASKETBALL 7:30 p.m. NBA Philadelphia at Boston 10 p.m.

NBA Milwaukee at Portland NFL FOOTBALL 7:20 p.m. NBC NFL Washington at Dallas SOCCER 10:30 p.m. ESPN MLS playoffs, Western Conference championship, 2nd Leg, Houston at Seattle WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 6 p.m. BTN NC State at Rutgers 7 p.m. ESPN2 Ohio St.

at Duke 8 p.m. BTN Louisville at Indiana 9 p.m. SEC Kansas St. at Missouri playing without a line, a running game and viable outside receivers other than Beckham. While the defense had most of its key players returning this season, something seemed to be missing.

Steve Spagnuolo's unit was very good at closing out games last season. In getting off to a 0-5 start, the defense failed to hold fourth-quarter leads in consecutive losses to Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and the Chargers. Even the special teams have struggled with punter Brad Wing having an inconsistent season and rookie placekicker Aldrick Rosas missing five of 18 field goal attempts and booting a couple of kickoff out of bounds. The losses took a toll on the players with cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Janoris Jenkins each being suspended by McAdoo for a game for breaking team rules. It led many to wonder if McAdoo had lost control of the team in only his second season and whether he would be back next year.

Co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch have to decide his future. Reese is almost sure to be fired. "This is not a statement about anything other than we are 2-9, and we have to do what is best for the organization moving forward, and that means evaluating every position," Reese said in a statement Tuesday. "I told Eli this morning that an organization could not ask for any more in a franchise quarterback. He has been that and more.

Nobody knows what the future holds, but right now, this is what we think is best for the franchise." By TOM CANAVAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. The benching of Eli Manning for the first time in 13 seasons is probably the low point of a season in which the New York Giants did almost nothing right. Let's start with the decision by coach Ben McAdoo and management to sit Manning with five games left in the regular season. Sure, the Giants are 2-9, out of the playoff picture and they need to find out something about backup quarterbacks Geno Smith and rookie Davis Webb. Benching the 36-year-old Manning wasn't the right thing to do, and it wasn't handled properly.

If anyone doubts that all they would have had to do was see the tears welling in the two-time Super Bowl MVP's eyes and the heartbreak his quivering chin displayed when asked how much this hurt. The Giants offered Manning the opportunity to start and keep his streak of 210 consecutive starts alive, but the 14-year veteran didn't want to be part of a sham. If you start, you play to win, not keep a streak alive. The wrong move has been par for the Giants, who were coming off an 11-5 season that got them into the playoffs for the first time since 2011. However, all the close games the team won last season, it lost this year.

Injuries to Odell Beckham Jr. and fellow receiver Brandon Marshall hurt, but that wasn't the reason the Giants, who have 19 players on injured reserve, lost this season. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning speaks with reporters at the NFL football team's training facility, Tuesday in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants knew after last season that they needed to improve a weak offensive line and general manager Jerry Reese did little to do that. He signed guard D.J.

Fluker when New York needed a solid tackle. The offense as a whole also needed work. Beckham was the catalyst and had no supporting cast other than Manning and slot receiver Sterling Shepard. The signing of Marshall as the second outside receiver proved to be a bust, and the line only occasionally created holes for the running game. McAdoo, who showed talent as the offensive coordinator under Tom Coughlin, has failed to get the offense in gear for Manning the past two years.

Manning is a pocket quarterback who has been hit a lot the past two seasons NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Top three teams in each division and two wild cards per conference advance to playoffs. Monday's Games Florida 3, New Jersey 2 Pittsburgh 5, Philadelphia 4, OT Montreal 3, Columbus 1 Winnipeg 7, Minnesota 2 Chicago 7, Anaheim 3 Tuesday's Games Tampa Bay 2, Buffalo 0 N.Y. Islanders 5, Vancouver 2 Columbus 3, Carolina 2, SO Florida 5, N.Y. Rangers 4 San Jose 3, Philadelphia 1 Los Angeles 4, Detroit 1 Nashville 3, Chicago 2 Edmonton 3, Arizona 2, OT Toronto 4, Calgary 1 Dallas 3, Vegas 0 Wednesday's Games Ottawa at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Boston, 7:30 p.m. Anaheim at St. Louis, 9 p.m. Winnipeg at Colorado, 9:30 p.m. Thursday's Games Los Angeles at Washington, 7 p.m.

Montreal at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. Vancouver at Nashville, 8 p.m. Vegas at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Dallas at Chicago, 8:30 p.m. Toronto at Edmonton, 9 p.m.

Arizona at Calgary, 9 p.m. Friday's Games Carolina at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m. Anaheim at Columbus, 7 p.m. Pittsburgh at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Ottawa at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m..