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WASHINGTON -- Max Scherzer believes the Washington Nationals were one hanging curveball away from beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of their NL Division Series.Scherzer hung a curveball to Justin Turner that became a two-run home run and gave up a home run to Corey Seager as the Nationals lost to the Dodgers 4-3 on Friday night. Hitters decried the missed opportunities of going 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position, but Washingtons ace took the blame for mistakes that proved costly.Giving up those two home runs, I really feel like that was the difference in the ballgame, said Scherzer, who allowed four runs and five hits in six innings. Im accountable for that and Ill shoulder that and Ill take the blame for that. I know Im capable of executing pitches at a higher level and Ive got to do it.Scherzer (0-1) allowed a solo shot to Seager on a first-pitch fastball in the first inning that the rookie shortstop drilled to center field. Seager said the Dodgers were looking for any runs they could get off Scherzer, a 20-game winner and NL Cy Young Award candidate.In the third, Los Angeles scratched across another run on an RBI single by Chase Utley, who broke up a potential double play and set the stage for Turner to go deep to left.Scherzer said the third inning will keep him up late at night. He settled down and didnt allow a run from that point on, but Turners blast loomed large.We were pretty aggressive and that kind of affected the way Max pitched to us, said Turner, who had 27 home runs during the regular season. The second time through, he went through all the secondary stuff even more than we saw him do on tape. Thats what you have to do, you have to make adjustments on the fly and see what other teams are doing and attacking and you have to try to make adjustments with them.The Nationals got to Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (1-0) for three runs on eight hits and knocked him out of the game after five innings. Anthony Rendon had a two-run single in the third, and rookie Trea Turner drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.But shortstop Danny Espinosa struck out three times with two runners on, and Washington got only one hit in four innings against LA relievers Joe Blanton, Grant Dayton, Pedro Baez and Kenley Jansen. Manager Dusty Baker acknowledged Espinosa didnt have a very good night, but teammates shared the responsibility for the offensive futility.Were a great team, said reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper, who went 1 for 5 with a double and a run scored. When we get guys on base, we usually have pretty dang good at-bats and usually get those guys in. Definitely tough scoring three runs tonight.MURPHY CAUGHT STEALINGOf all the Nationals missed opportunities, no bad decision loomed larger than the seventh inning when second baseman Daniel Murphy walked and took off to try to steal second off Baez. Murphy was coming off missing time with a strained glute, had the green light to go because he thought Baezs deliver was slow and was thrown out by catcher Yasmani Grandal.Theres only two choices on that play: Its either be safe or dont run, and I cant get thrown out right there, Murphy said. It cost me an at-bat in the ninth inning as well, running into an out on the bases.TRAINERS ROOMNationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg threw a bullpen hours before Game 1 -- his first time on a mound since he hurt his right elbow a month ago. He was ruled out for the NLDS, but the Nationals hope he could return if the team advances. ... All-Star C Wilson Ramos, out for the season with a torn knee ligament, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.UP NEXTIn Game 2, RHP Tanner Roark (16-10, 2.83 ERA) starts for the Nationals, taking the assignment that likely would have gone to Strasburg if he were healthy. LHP Rich Hill (3-2, 1.84 ERA in six starts after a trade from Oakland) will pitch for the Dodgers. 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Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league.NEW ORLEANS -- The defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, who last year had the most suffocating defense in the NFL, have been vulnerable this season stopping the run.The New Orleans Saints, who usually live and die on the ageless right arm of Drew Brees, have found some offensive balance by running the ball effectively in back-to-back wins to climb back into playoff contention.While Sundays game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome pits Brees against the Broncos top-ranked pass defense, the outcome could rest on how well the Saints (4-4) can run the ball to keep Denvers defense working overtime. The Broncos (6-3) saw that play out last week as they were on the field for 80 snaps in a 30-20 road loss to the Oakland Raiders.Its concerning because weve been really good at (stopping the run), and then weve given up almost 400 yards lately, Denver coach Gary Kubiak said. Theres also been a lot of big short-yardage plays where we thought we were there to make the tackle, and we didnt tackle well.The Raiders shredded the Broncos last week for 218 yards on 43 carries. Denver has allowed eight rushes of 20 yards or more, third most in the NFL, and it is surrendering the fourth-most rushing yards overall (128.6 per game).The Saints come into Sundays game knowing they can throw the ball -- Brees leads the NFL with an average of 336.1 passing yards per game. New Orleans has also found a spark with its dormant running game.The Saints rushed for 248 yards on 42 carries in a 41-23 road victory over the San Francisco 49ers last week, the most rushing yards in a game in coach Sean Paytons 11 seasons. Tim Hightower and Mark Ingram each have had a 100-yard game in the last two weeks.Payton figures to keeping looking for balance, especially since the Broncos have one of the leagues top pass rushers in linebacker Von Miller.Hes elite, and you would say, clearly, the best pass rusher in our game right now, Payton said. He wins with speed, he wins with power, his get-off is outstanding. If you sit there with the same cadence, you know at the breath of hut hes going to be one step past your tackle. Hes a fantastic player.Kubiak was effusive in his praise of Brees, who has two 400-yard passing games this season along with another three gamess of at least 323 yards.dddddddddddd Brees 21 touchdown passes rank second in the league to Atlantas Matt Ryan (23), and he has thrown just five interceptions.Brees also is the NFCs top third-down passer, completing 72.1 percent, with eight touchdowns against one interception. He ranks third behind Sam Bradford of Minnesota and Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay in fourth-quarter passing.Weve faced a lot of good quarterbacks, and this ones got to be on top of the list, Kubiak said. Hes exceptional. One of the finest players Ive ever seen from being a quarterback guy and watching that position.Drews the best passer in the league right now, Miller said. Hes leading the league in passing yards, and its not the first time hes done it. Over the years, hes been (Nos.) 1 or 2. Hes just a great quarterback. He goes through all his progressions. Hes got a high IQ.The Broncos allow a league-low 183.3 yards passing per game.Its a tremendous challenge, Brees said. Theyre defending Super Bowl champs for a reason. Its because theres really not a weak link in that defense. Their front four -- or really front five -- rushers, to their linebacker corps to their secondary, its top notch. All those guys are play-makers. They fly around, they get after you.Trevor Siemian, Denvers first-year starter at quarterback, has struggled with a left shoulder injury, completing just 59.8 percent of his passes with 10 TDs and five interceptions. He took several big hits against the Raiders.Siemian bounced back from a rocky 1-of-7 start to throw for 286 yards and two scores against the Raiders. The Broncos, however, have failed to pick up a first down on 25 of their last 51 possessions in their last four games, and theyve gone 2-2 in those games.Weve got to find some consistency, Kubiak said. I feel really good about what Trevors doing, but, like any other player, hes got to get better.For the Saints, starting left tackle Terron Armstead (knee) is questionable. Linebackers Stephone Anthony (hamstring) and Dannell Ellerbe (quadriceps) are out. Denver cornerback Aqib Talib (lower back) and defensivbe end Derek Wolfe (elbow) are out. ' ' '