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ByRobMaddi TheAssociatedPress PHILADELPHIA Aaron Rodgers threw perfect passes, ran for key first downs and did all his talking on the field. Nobody will question his lead- ership this week. Rodgers had 313 yards passing and tossed two touchdown passes to Davante Adams to help the Green Bay Packers snap a four- game losing streak with a 27-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night. The two-time NFL MVP openly criticized his teammates while the losses piled up, causing people to point the finger back at him for the way he handled it. But Packers coach Mike McCarthy praised his quarterback's approach. "His positive attitude has been consistent through all this time," McCarthy said. "He's grown as a quarterback since the start of 2008, and grown as a person all the way through. He's an excellent leader, always has been." Rodgers hasn't had a losing re- cord since his first season as the starter replacing Brett Favre. He's led the Packers to seven straight playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title. But the team's recent struggles and some of Rodgers' comments made him a target for criticism. "It's been a rough stretch," Rod- gers said. "We're human, so you lose a few in a row and doubt starts to creep in whether or not you can actually finish one of those games off. So for us to fin- ish it off the way we did on of- fense the last two drives, defen- sively to come up with a stop, and to finish out the game with a cou- ple of sacks was great for our con- fidence." Green Bay (5-6) wasn't losing because of Rodgers or the offense. The defense allowed at least 30 points in each of the four previ- ous games and 89 in the past two. Injuries on both sides of the ball didn't help the situation. Rodgers made sure the Packers NFL RODGERSJUSTLETS HIS PLAY SAY IT ALL MICHAELPEREZ—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Aaron Rodgers celebrates a er the Packers' win. MATT ROURKE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks for a receiver during the first half of the Packers' victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press NASSAU, BAHAMAS This might be one time that Tiger Woods doesn't measure success on the golf course by the score on his card. He measured it with three words Tuesday: "I'm playing again." There were times during his 15 months away that Woods wasn't entirely sure that would be the case. He said that when he was at the Hero World Challenge last year, he needed help just to climb out of bed. At an outdoor party at Albany Golf Club, he would mingle for a few minutes and then sit on a stone bench. He spent more time looking back than forward, saying at one point that anything else he achievedingolfwouldbe"gravy." And now he can't wait to get started on Thursday. The 15-month break to heal following back surgeries is the longest he has been away from golf. Woods was a mixture of op- timism and reality about his re- turn. He talked about having all the shots he needs to com- pete against a field that includes 17 players from the top 40 and Woods, the tournamenthostwho is at a career-low No. 898. He is playing, so he said he wants to win. The outlook is no different. He also noted that Bubba Watson won last year at 25-un- der par, and it probably will take something around that to win. "I know that's a tall order since I've been away from the game for so long and I've made a lot of different changes in my game," he said. "The mindset of competing hasn't. That is to go out there and try to beat these guys." GOLF Tiger counts it a success that he's playing again By Ralph D. Russo The Associated Press Ohio State held firm at second in the College Football Playoff rankings, putting the Buckeyes in position to become the first team to be selected to the final four without winning its conference. The second-to-last rankings were released Tuesday night and Alabama was No. 1, followed by Ohio State, Clemson and Wash- ington. The Crimson Tide, Tigers and Huskies all play conference championshipgamesthisweekend and presumably would be in good shape to make the playoff if they win.Thefinalrankingsandplayoff pairings will be released Sunday. Unbeaten Alabama is probably in good shape to make the play- off even if it loses to Florida in the Southeastern Conference title game Saturday Michigan dropped to five af- ter losing to Ohio State. Wiscon- sin was sixth and Penn State was seventh. The Badgers and Nittany Lions will play for the Big Ten ti- tle in Indianapolis on Saturday. Huskiesvs.Wolverines Assuming the Buckeyes are a lock, and it looks good for them, and Clemson doesn't get upset by Virginia Tech in the ACC title game, the debate for the commit- tee when it gathers in Texas on Saturday night to watch games and discuss the only rankings that matter will be Pac-12 or Big Ten. Can Michigan, or maybe the Big Ten champion with two losses, edge a Washington team that would finish 12-1 by beating Colorado on Friday night in the Pac-12 title game? "There is a small separation between these two teams," se- lection committee chairman Kirby Hocutt said of Michigan and Washington. At one point Hocutt added that the difference between the Wolverines and Hus- kies was "razor thin." It looks like not only does the committee not mind putting one Big Ten team without a confer- ence championship in the play- off, but it is also comfortable with two. Michigan at 10-2 has victo- ries against both Penn State and Wisconsin. Penn State's plight A Wisconsin victory in the Big Ten title game would eliminate the controversy. The Badgers lost to Ohio State during the regular season Penn State fans, however, are already cranking up the com- plaints. The Nittany Lions beat Ohio State in October. Add a Big Ten title and Penn State is bound to feel slighted. Conference titles and head-to- head results are essentially used by the committee like tiebreakers when teams are very close. The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions are not in the committee's eyes. At least not yet. "The selection committee rec- ognizes the head-to-head win, but in this particular case, it hasn't been the distinguishing point in our evaluation of those two teams," Hocutt said. COLLEGE FOOTBALL Oh io S t. holds firm in second Staff report COLORADOSPRINGS Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Com- missioner Karl Stressman an- nounced at his State of the PRCA address on Tuesday that, start- ing in 2017, the ProRodeo Hall of Fame will include Women's Pro- fessional Rodeo Association in- ductees. "The PRCA and the WPRA have been long-standing part- ners in this great sport, and we look forward to an even closer working relationship moving for- ward," Stressman said. "Includ- ing the WPRA in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame is a natural exten- sion of that relationship, and it just makes sense to honor and recognize rodeo greats in every event." The WPRA is equally ecstatic about this historic news. "I am beyond thrilled to see this partnership come to frui- tion — not only for the WPRA and its members, but for all of rodeo," said WPRA President Do- reen Wintermute. "I can't thank the PRCA and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame enough for making this happen." The ProRodeo Hall of Fame, which is a popular Colorado Springs attraction for rodeo fans and tourists alike, has already in- ducted 250 people, 27 rodeo com- mittees and 31 animals — includ- ing the legendary bull Red Rock, which was inducted in 1979, bull- fighter Joe Baumgartner, who was inducted in 2013, and the Red Bluff Round-Up, which was in- ducted in 2015. "The ProRodeo Hall of Fame is thrilled to have the opportu- nity to induct WPRA champions, who make up another popular segment of professional rodeo that deserves to be recognized," said Hall of Fame Executive Di- rector Kent Sturman. "The PRCA and the WPRA are great part- ners, so this is a next step that just makes sense for the entire sport. It will be the ProRodeo Hall of Fame's honor to include the stories and history of barrel racing's true legends, which the museum tells through its exhib- its, displays and educational pro- grams." The WPRA will implement its own selection process, and WPRA inductees will join the PRCA at the annual Hall of Fame induc- tions starting with the Class of 2017. RODEO HallofFametoinductfemalemembers 'Excellentleader'throwsfor313yards and two TDs as Packers defeat Eagles RODGERS PAGE 3 Alabama, Clemson and Washington round out top four in playoff rankings SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Wednesday, November 30, 2016 MORE ATFACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1