21.   The goaltending of Tommy Salo was shaky, the defense was sent reeling by the speedy Capitals forwards and the offense sputtered.

22.   The home team offenses sputter from quarter to quarter.

23.   The Knicks needed a big defensive fourth quarter, because their offense sputtered in the second half.

24.   The injury-depleted offense is sputtering and coughing and almost grinding to a halt.

25.   The offense sputtered so much that new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson felt pigeonholed by some of the third-and-long scenarios.

26.   The Lion defense was ineffective, and the offense sputtered throughout the entire game.

27.   The offense sputtered again.

28.   The offense sputtered and stumbled.

29.   The offense sputters for a few quarters, then shifts to a higher gear for the decisive touchdown.

30.   The offense also sputtered at times.