JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars have a recurring theme in their eight-game losing streak. And its not poor play from quarterback Blake Bortles.The Jaguars (2-11) have had at least one major meltdown on special teams in each of those losses, the kind of gaffes that significantly reduce the teams already-ultra-thin margin for error.Muffed punts, poor coverage and silly penalties are just a few of the problems coach Gus Bradley has seen from his not-so-special units over the last two months. The Jaguars, who play at Houston next, seemingly reached a low point in a 25-16 loss to Minnesota on Sunday.Jacksonville allowed a 53-yard kickoff return, had a punt blocked, was flagged for roughing the kicker, missed one field goal and had a 61-yarder blocked. And maybe the strangest moment of the afternoon: Place-kicker Jason Myers was penalized for delay of game after the Jaguars decided to switch from a deep kick to a squib kick. Those blunders essentially cost the Jaguars at least six points in a close game.It wasnt up to our par, Bradley said Monday. When you take a look at it, there were mistakes by units throughout the whole day.Most of the season, too.Heres a look at the mounting miscues on special teams:-Week 13 against Denver: Alex Ellis was flagged for unnecessary roughness on a punt return in the final minute of the first half. His 15-yard penalty set up a field goal that put the Broncos ahead 10-3.-Week 12 at Buffalo: Rashad Greene muffed two punts, but recovered both. Jacksonville also gave up a 43-yard punt that the Bills turned into a touchdown. Buffalo missed the extra point.-Week 11 at Detroit: Andre Roberts returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown against the Jaguars. Greene also muffed a punt, but Jacksonville recovered.-Week 10 against Houston: The Jaguars gave up a 57-yard punt return to the 7-yard line. The Texans scored a touchdown on the next play.-Week 9 at Kansas City: Bryan Walters fumbled a punt and the Chiefs recovered at the Jaguars 23. Two plays later, they scored a touchdown.-Week 8 at Tennessee: Marqise Lee muffed a punt, the Titans recovered in Jacksonville territory and kicked a field goal.-Week 7 against Oakland: Greene muffed a punt, the Raiders recovered in the red zone and settled for short field goal.Thats 42 points that Jacksonvilles special teams have either directly or indirectly allowed over the last eight games. Its more than half the combined point differential (71) in those losses.You look in the past, a couple of years ago, we were very good in our coverage units, very good, Bradley said. You always have to try and stay ahead of the game. You look at areas like that. We have some new players in there and trying to position where they are best.In previous years, the Jaguars made room for special teams aces on the roster, and players like Montell Owens and Kassim Osgood made the Pro Bowl as niche performers. But Bradley and general manager Dave Caldwell choose to try to develop somebody into that role, Bradley said.It didnt pan out. The bottom half of the roster has yet to produce any big-time special-teams players. And guys drafted in middle rounds to fill those roles -- Ace Sanders, Denard Robinson, Greene and others -- have come up short.And, now, its showing on the field.I just thought in the second half, especially, the errors that we made were uncharacteristic of us, Bradley said. We just cant have them, cant have them in this game.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLMathieu Valbuena Jersey .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Antoine Griezmann France Jersey . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. http://www.nationalfrancesoccer.com/patrice-evra-france-jersey/ .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. Dimitri Payet France Jersey . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. Jeremy Mathieu France Jersey . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games.WASHINGTON -- On the day the Dodgers announced Clayton Kershaw suffered an injury setback, the lineup and starter Scott Kazmir stepped up. Some cramp-curing pickle juice and spicy mustard helped as well.Chase Utley drove in three runs with three hits, including a leadoff homer that quickly spoiled Reynaldo Lopezs major league debut and sent the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-4 win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.Los Angeles swept three games from Washington at home in June and has won six straight in the series.Scott Kazmir (8-3) gave up one run and four hits in seven innings, striking out eight. He extended his unbeaten streak to 12 starts, going 6-0 in that span.The Dodgers also improved to 12-6 since their ace pitcher was placed on the disabled list.With what were going through, guys have to step up, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. It starts with starting pitching. It was a great outing by (Kazmir). Everything was working.Lopez (0-1), considered one of Washingtons top prospects, allowed six runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out nine, featuring a fastball in the upper 90s mph.The NL East-leading Nationals lost their second in a row following a five-game winning streak.Daniel Murphy doubled twice in his first start since the All-Star break. Murphy, who began the day as the top hitter in the majors, had been slowed by a hamstring injury.The Nationals promoted Lopez from Triple-A Syracuse before the game. Utley hit the rookies third pitch over the right-center wall before the sellout crowd.Howie Kendricks opposite-field single extended his hitting streak to 11 games and Justin Turner doubled before Lopez retired a batter.Joc Pederson, activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, hit a two-run, two-out single for a 3-0 lead in the first.We liked what we saw, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said of Lopez. I am sure it shocked him to have his first big-league hitter hit the ball out of the park.Despite the early strugglees, Lopez struck out at least one batter in every inning, fanned the side in the third and Grandal three times.ddddddddddddI was very excited at first and I felt a little nervous, Lopez said. I just had a better feel for my pitches (as the game went on) and that allowed for it to come to me a little better.Grandal homered and Turner had three hits.Jose Lobaton homered for the Nationals and Trea Turner hit a two-run triple.Yasiel Puigs RBI single in the fifth put the Dodgers up 6-0 and ended the Lopezs outing.Cruising with a 6-0 lead in the fifth, Kazmir landed awkwardly after jumping to field Danny Espinosas groundout. Lobaton then homered.The postgame explanation, cramps. The cure? Electrolyte drink, pickle juice, some spicy mustard, Kazmir explained sheepishly. (The trainers) know a lot more than I do and it worked.WOWIE, HOWIEKendrick went 2 for 4 with a walk. During the 11-game streak, he is batting .454 (20 for 44) with five doubles, a home run and six RBI.OUT OF POSITIONMurphy, Washingtons regular second baseman, committed a throwing error in his first start this season at third base with Anthony Rendon (illness) sidelined for a second straight game.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: Manager Dave Roberts said ace Clayton Kershaw, out since June 27 because of mild disk herniation, will remain on the disabled list after feeling discomfort following a throwing session on Saturday.Nationals: RHP Joe Ross (right shoulder inflammation) threw around 35 pitches before Tuesdays game, manager Dusty Baker said. Barring any setbacks, the right-hander is expected to increase his workload over the weekend in the minors.UP NEXTDodgers: Based on the Kershaw situation, Roberts moved RHP Bud Norris (5-7, 4.17) up one day in the rotation.Nationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (5-8, 4.70) is 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA over his last four starts against the Dodgers. ' ' '