Leading Off: Pictures of the Week

Leading Off: Pictures of the Week

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Clemson wide receiver Stanton Seckinger dives inside the pylon for a touchdown to give the eighth-ranked Tigers' a 38-28 fourth-quarter lead over Georgia in the season-opener for both teams last Saturday. Seckinger's score proved to be the difference-maker as Clemson eked out a 38-35 victory over the No. 5 Bulldogs.

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

A pack of cars race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday. Kyle Busch won the race, his fourth victory of the year, clinching a spot in the Chase for the championship.

Elise Amendola/AP

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado slides into home to score a first-inning run against the Red Sox on a double by first baseman Chris Davis on Aug. 28. Despite trailing Baltimore 3-1 in the seventh, Boston rallied for a 4-3 win, increasing their lead over the third-place Orioles in the American League East to 7½ games.

Bruce Adler

Penn State running back Zach Zwinak (28) upends Syracuse defensive end Robert Welsh, halting his 31-yard interception return at the one-yard line during the fourth quarter last Saturday. Welsh's pick set up a goal line score for Orange running back Jerome Smith, but the Nittany Lions hung on to win 23-17.

Efrem Lukatsky/AP

Veronica Bertolini of Italy performs with a ball during the 32nd FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Kiev, Ukraine, on Aug. 28. Bertolini received a score of 16.000 for her ball routine and placed 26th in the all-around competition.

Harry How/Getty Images

Running back Anthony Dixon of the 49ers dives into the end zone for a touchdown despite the best efforts of Chargers safety Sean Cattouse during the second quarter of San Francisco's 41-6 preseason victory on Aug. 29.

David Tullis/AP

Danica Patrick (10) and Jamie McMurray (1) drive through turn one at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday. McMurray finished the race in 11th, while Patrick came in 21st.

Bill Frakes/SI

North Carolina defensive end Kareem Martin (95) and safety Jeff Schoettmer (34) sandwich South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw (14) during the Gamecocks' 27-10 season-opening victory on Aug. 29.

Ross D. Franklin/AP

Diamondbacks shortstop Didi Gregorius leaps over the Padres' Will Venable for a throw to first on Aug. 26. Though his bat has slumped after a hot start, Gregorius has stayed in the Arizona lineup by playing sparkling defense.

Al Tielemans/SI

Georgia fullback Quayvon Hicks hurdles Clemson safety Robert Smith during the Tigers' 38-35 victory last Saturday. Hicks gained 38 yards on three carries, including a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter -- one of five rushing TDs in the game for the Bulldogs.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Tim Tindle's 1969 Camaro crashes and disintegrates during the first round of Pro Mod drag racing competition at the NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis on Sunday. Incredibly, Tindle walked away from the accident with no major injuries.

Hunter Martin/Philadelphia Eagles/Getty Images

Eagles cornerback Jordan Poyer upends Jets tight end Konrad Reuland during New York's 27-20 preseason victory on Aug. 29. Reuland caught six passes for 30 yards against Philadelphia, but also lost one fumble.

Carlos M. Saavedra/SI

Rafael Nadal extends for a backhand during his 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 second-round victory over 134th-ranked Rogerio Dutra Silva at the U.S. Open on Aug. 29.

Greg Nelson/SI

TCU cornerback Jason Verrett (2) brings down LSU running back Terrence Magee during the No. 12 Tigers' 37-27 victory over the 20th-ranked Horned Frogs last Saturday. McGee rushed for 95 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns as part of a potent LSU ground game that gained 197 yards.

Carlos M. Saavedra/SI

Victoria Azarenka rips a forehand during her 6-0, 6-0 first-round defeat of 99th-ranked Dinah Pfizenmaier at the U.S. Open on Aug. 27. Azarenka, the tournament's No. 2 seed, remains alive at the Open after a fourth-round triumph over Ana Ivanovic.

Jack Dempsey/AP

Colorado State safety Kevin Pierre-Louis (26) and cornerback Bernard Blake break up a pass intended for Colorado wide receiver Paul Richardson (6) during the second quarter of the Buffaloes' 41-27 victory on Sept. 1. Apart from this play, Richardson torched the Rams' secondary, catching 10 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns in the debut for new Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre.

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

West Ham United midfielder Ravel Morrison buries a shot past Cheltenham Town goalkeeper Scott Brown for the winning goal during the Hammers' 2-1 victory in the second round of the Capital One Cup on Aug. 27. Morrison also set up West Ham's other goal by drawing a free kick 25 yards out that teammate Ricardo Vaz Te curled into the top-left corner.

Simon Bruty/SI

Fans at the Horseshoe cheer Ohio State in its season-opener against Buffalo last Saturday. The third-ranked Buckeyes whipped the Bulls 40-20 to begin their quest for a national title.