Two star quarterbacks, two championship-winning coaches and two of the NFL’s marquee franchises.
Toss in the iconic venue of Lambeau Field and Sunday’s game between the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers shapes up to be more than just a Thanksgiving holiday weekend appointment viewing.
This potential shoot-out pairing the Patriots’ Tom Brady and the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers could be a Super Bowl preview – not that anyone who will play in the game has acknowledged to thinking that far ahead.
“This one’s important because it’s a November game and you start to see the play-off stuff start to shake out a little bit,” Rodgers said before correcting himself. “We’re not allowed to talk about that, I don’t think – we’ve got to win 10 games first, I think [coach Mike McCarthy] usually says.”
The Packers seem well on their way given how well things have been going at home of late.
Green Bay (8-3) have been crushing opponents early at Lambeau, outscoring foes 128-9 before half-time in four straight home wins. Rodgers spent the fourth quarters of the last two home games watching from the sideline in a knit cap.
That seems likely to change today.
New England (9-2) have won seven straight and has already defeated every other squad in the four-team NFC North. Brady remains ridiculously good at 37, having thrown for 26 touchdowns against six interceptions.
“His command at the line of scrimmage, his up-tempo offence, his cadence,” McCarthy said in beginning a long list of compliments for the Patriots star.
He could have gone on for hours.
The Patriots were probably in a similar mode. They do not want to be the latest team caught up in a Packers offensive onslaught.
“This is not the team you want to get behind. You get behind 14-0 and then it’s 21-0, then it’s 28-0 and, before you know it, they’ve just got the game so well under control that you have no chance,” Brady said.
Rodgers has been pretty good himself this season, throwing 30 touchdown passes to just three interceptions. There are few better in the league than Rodgers when it comes to extending plays and making pinpoint throws under pressure.
“You definitely don’t want a quarterback like him having more time than what he already has,” Patriots linebacker Akeem Ayers said.
But today’s game will severely test the abilities of receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb to get open against the Patriots’ cornerback duo of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. It will be a case of strength on strength when Rodgers tries to throw to his top wideouts.
On the other end, six-foot-six tight end Rob Gronkowski will test young Green Bay safeties Micah Hyde and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, a rookie.
Matchup nightmare Gronkowski might also draw Clay Matthews in coverage, though that could take the star linebacker away from his pass-rushing duties more often than the Packers might prefer.
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EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
SHAITTAN
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THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Punchy appearance
Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance
More coverage from the Future Forum
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
FIGHT%20CARD
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TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Malin Cilic (CRO) v Benoit Paire (FRA) [8]
Not before 4pm:
Dan Evans (GBR) v Fabio Fogini (ITA) [4]
Not before 7pm:
Pablo Carreno Busta (SPA) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [2]
Roberto Bautista Agut (SPA) [5] v Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
Court One
Starting at 2pm
Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND) v Dennis Novak (AUT)
Joao Sousa (POR) v Filip Krajinovic (SRB)
Not before 5pm:
Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) [1] v Marin Cilic v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Nikoloz Basilashvili v Ricardas Berankis (LTU)
More from Neighbourhood Watch
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
