Zach Zenner fumbled at the end of a 7-yard run and Olivier Vernon recovered in the end zone.I thought I had it good on the exchange, but Ill have to look at the tape and see what happened, Zenner said. I

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Soccer great Diego Maradona is urging fellow Argentines to leave Lionel Messi alone over the current stars decision to retire from Argentinas national team following its loss to Chile in the Copa America championship match.In an interview on La Red radio, Maradona also ridiculed people who have criticized Messi for missing his shot as Chile won a penalty shootout to take the title, questioning those who find fault with a soccer stars play without ever having touched a ball.Despite Argentinas loss, I consider Messi a winner, said Maradona, who led Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup.Although he earlier joined in the chorus of Argentines calling on Messi to stay with the national squad, Maradona toned that down Wednesday.Lets let Messi have his holidays, he said. From now on we have to build a unified idea and if Messi says `I dont want more, we will have to present another team.Maradona criticized the Argentine Football Association, whose national team hasnt won a major title since the Copa America tournament in 1993. We must have done something wrong because the AFA is the way it is. Argentine soccer is how it is, and we will be paying for it, he said.Illustrating his dim view of the current national team, Maradona confirmed the authenticity of a leaked WhatsApp audio in which he implies to his 1986 teammates that their 1986 World Cup-winning squad was better than Messis. We didnt go to play against Chile. We went and beat Germany, he says. You know what I mean about the difference between one team and the other?Messi touched off an uproar in Argentina with his abrupt resignation from the national team after Sundays game with Chile.He is the national teams career leading scorer with 55 goals in 113 international appearances, but he has never led Argentina to a major title, losing championship matches to Brazil in the 2007 Copa America, Germany in the 2014 World Cup and Chile in the 2015 and 2016 Copa America.Thats it, Ive already tried enough, Messi told the Argentine network TyC Sports after the latest loss to Chile. It pains me more than anyone not being able to be a champion with Argentina, but thats the way it is. It wasnt meant to be, and unfortunately I leave without having achieved it. San Francisco 49ers Gear . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. 49ers Jerseys 2020 . 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After losing 17-6 to the Giants on Sunday, Detroits focus is solely on the Cowboys and their meeting in Dallas on Dec. 26.I view it like Ive viewed it all season long, like Ive viewed it since Ive been here, Caldwell said. One game. Thats all were looking at. Get through this one, take a look at the film. Get ourselves corrected and look forward to the Cowboys coming up.The Lions (9-5) still control their playoff future. They can lock up the NFC North title by winning out. They are a game ahead of the Packers, who beat the Bears 30-27 on Sunday.Detroit closes out the season at home against Green Bay.But nobody in the Lions dressing room was looking beyond the Cowboys.Its going to be one, quarterback Matthew Stafford when asked about the two-game sprint to the finish. We just keep taking one at a time.The loss to Giants was a tough one. Both teams fought hard in a defensive struggle that snapped the Lions five-game winning streak.A positive for the Lions was another stout defensive effort. It was the eighth straight game in which they held an opponent to 20 or fewer points.Aside from Odell Beckham Jrs one-handed touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, the Lions were nip and tuck with a surging Giants team that has won eight of its last nine games.The Lions, who rallied in the fourth quarter to win in eight of their nine victories, never came close to a comeback in this one as the Giants made them play on a long field all day.Stafford didnt show any major issues playing with an injured middle finger on his throwing hand. He finished 24 of 39 for 274 yards and an innterception, finding Golden Tate eight times for 122 yards.ddddddddddddHe hung in there and fought, Caldwell said of Stafford. Obviously its going to be a little bit different for him, in terms of his adjustment. Well battle through it. Thats not the reason we lost the game today. Were not looking for any excuses.The biggest play for the Lions was a 67-yard throw from Stafford to Tate that gave the, first-and-10 at the Giants 11, trailing 7-3 in the second quarter. On first down, Zach Zenner fumbled at the end of a 7-yard run and Olivier Vernon recovered in the end zone.I thought I had it good on the exchange, but Ill have to look at the tape and see what happened, Zenner said. I thought I had a good grip on it and then the worst feeling in the world happened when the ball was loose.Matt Prater accounted for the Lions points with field goals of 48 yards in the second quarter and 33 in the third. The second cut the deficit to 10-6; New York had gotten a 47-yard field goal from Robbie Gould late in the second quarter.However, the Lions never got closer as New York limited Detroit to 5 of 14 on third downs and 324 yards in total.Now its on to Dallas for the Lions final playoff push.We dont like this feeling, Tate said. Were going to try and change that Monday (against Dallas). We need a great week of practice. Me personally, Im excited to get back out there and get this taste out of our mouths and keep it moving. We are right where we want to be. We just need to worry about us and play fundamental, sound football.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '