nt in the first quarter. ... Made 3 of 19 3-pointers in the first half. ... G Vi

DENVER --?Paxton Lynch fought off nerves Sunday in his first NFL start as the Denver Broncos quarterback.But he couldnt overcome the Atlanta Falcons.Atlanta sacked Lynch six times as he finished 23-of-35 for 223 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the Broncos 23-16 loss, their first of the season.Lynch looked unsettled in the pocket at times against a Falcons defense that entered the game 30th in the league in total defense, 31st in pass defense and with just four sacks.Obviously you have some butterflies in your first NFL start, Lynch said. Its not a preseason game and your team is 4-0. You are excited about that, but you have to focus on the team and winning the ballgame. After that first drive, I was ready to go and ready to play with those guys.Lynch, the Broncos first-round draft pick in April, started while Trevor Siemian recovers from a left shoulder injury. Siemian, who had practiced on a limited basis this past week, was ruled out after a brief throwing session Saturday.Lynch fumbled twice -- the Broncos recovered both -- and before a surge in the fourth quarter, which the Falcons entered leading by 17, he had just 101 yards passing.?I am upset, obviously, because we lost, Lynch said. I am kind of happy that I got the first one under my belt. My first start with these guys and having a chance to play with them. If I get put in that situation again, I will know how to handle it a little bit better than I did the first time. I am glad I got the experience, but I am also upset that we didnt come out with the win.The Broncos also didnt provide Lynch the best of support, rushing for 85 yards in their third consecutive game with less than 100 yards rushing.The Broncos pass protection was spotty at times, as well, with right tackle Ty Sambrailo being replaced in the fourth quarter.We have to help him better, us as coaches, Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. We got down early in the game. We were committed to running the ball [Sunday] and tried to do that early. We did not run the ball well. We get down by 13, something like that, and were struggling to protect him. We put him in a really tough situation. Thats not the type of game you want to put him in.It was uncertain whether Lynch would start the Broncos Thursday night game at San Diego, which stands as the shortest turnaround between games they face this season.Siemian said after Sundays game that he had thrown a little bit at the teams practice Saturday when it was determined he would not play against the Falcons. Siemian also said he still believed he was close to returning to the lineup but would see how he felt this week and what the teams medical staff said in the coming days.Well see. ... Ill take it one day at a time and get right [Monday], Siemian said.Said Lynch: Im just going to keep approaching it like I have been approaching it. I am going to take it day by day, and if my number gets called again, then I am going to make sure I am ready to go out there and play. If my number isnt called, I am going to make sure to be ready to play if I have to go back in the game again.Hydro Flask Rose . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. Bouteille Hydro Flask Pas Cher .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. http://www.hydroflaskbouteille.fr/bouchon-hydro-flask-outlet.html . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. Bouteille Hydro Flask France . According to a report from the Vancouver Province, the Lions are expected to replace former DC Rich Stubler with defensive backs coach Mark Washington. Hydro Flask Pas Cher . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations.OKLAHOMA CITY -- Paul Millsap took advantage of a chance to show off his rare versatility.Atlantas 6-foot-8 forward shifted to center because Dwight Howard was out and scored a season-high 30 points, including the go-ahead 10-footer with 12.7 seconds left. He helped the Hawks overcome Russell Westbrooks 46 points and beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 110-108 on Monday night.It took everything we had, Millsap said. It took everybody stepping up to get this win tonight.After Millsaps late shot, Thunder center Steven Adams rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Westbrook and dunked it, but a review determined that the basket came just after time expired.Westbrook entered the game as the NBAs leading scorer with more than 30 points per game.If he gets his points -- hes going to get that regardless, Millsap said. The game plan was try to take everybody else out of it.Westbrook, who made 16 of 33 shots and had 11 rebounds and seven assists, was unimpressed with his effort.No, we dont have any moral victories around here, buddy, he said.Dennis Schroder scored 31 points and made 10 of 16 shots for the Hawks, who have won four of six after a six-game losing streak.Pretty special effort by the guys tonight, to come in here down Dwight, without him, and to find a way to compete against a great rebounding team and an individual player thats playing just lights-out basketball, Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. I was very proud of our players.Jerami Grant scored a season-high 15 points, and Andre Roberson matched a season high with 14 points for the Thunder.Westbrook scored 18 points in the second quarter to help the Thunder take a 53-48 lead. The Hawks shot 50 percent in the first half, but without Howard, they were outrebounded 27-14, and the Thunder outscored them 10-0 on second-chhance points.dddddddddddd Schroder scored 18 points in the first half, and Millsap added 16.The Hawks closed the third quarter well to take an 81-78 lead into the fourth, then Atlanta held on.They made some tough plays toward the end of the game, Thunder guard Semaj Christon said. We can do better on defense keeping the guys in front of us without fouling.---TIP INSHawks: F/C Mike Muscala tipped the ball into his own basket while trying to grab a rebound in the first quarter. The basket was credited to Oklahoma Citys Enes Kanter. ... F Thabo Sefolosha, a former Thunder player, scored 15 points.Thunder: Shot just 27.3 percent in the first quarter. ... Made 3 of 19 3-pointers in the first half. ... G Victor Oladipo missed his fourth straight game with a bruised right wrist. ... Adams streak of six straight games with double figures points ended. He finished with six points. ... Oklahomas Citys four starters other than Westbrook made 7 of 26 shots and scored 24 points.STAT LINESRoberson scored his 14 points on 5-for-14 shooting. He took five more shots than he had ever taken in a regular-season game.Im just letting it fly, to be honest with you, he said. It wasnt falling for me early, but I stuck with it, and the team needed me to keep shooting, so thats what I was doing. I just go out there and do anything I can.QUOTABLEKyle Korver, on Millsap: Hes just so tough. Hes tough mentally, hes tough physically, and he has been doing that for this team for a lot of years.UP NEXTHawks: Host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.Thunder: Play at the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP . ' ' '