Hilfestellungen » suffered through a frustrating 20

CINCINNATI -- Round 1 was a raw affair in Pittsburgh on Nov. 1, when the Bengals rallied to win after a week of long-distance name calling.The rematch on Dec. 13 at Paul Brown Stadium was even nastier, starting with a pregame brawl at midfield and ending with Pittsburgh pulling away after Andy Dalton broke a thumb.The trashy trilogy was completed in the first round of the playoffs. The Bengals rallied for a late lead, fumbled the ball away, and the Steelers pulled off an improbable 18-16 victory. Vontaze Burfict committed a personal foul by hitting receiver Antonio Brown in the head after an incompletion, and Adam Pacman Jones got an additional 15-yard penalty for bumping an official, moving the Steelers in range for the winning field goal.Theyre not finished. The Ohio River rivals have kept up the stream of bad-mouthing on social media in the offseason.Its not surprising, especially the way the game ended and just emotions running high and all that stuff, Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert said. Its not stuff that we would want to lag on like that, but given the circumstances, I guess its not surprising.The rancorous rivalry will be at the top of the list of things to watch in the AFC North this season. The Ravens will try to get it together after a season scuttled by injuries, and the Browns will be starting over again with a new head coach and quarterback -- sound familiar?But that Steelers-Bengals rivalry is the most riveting dynamic. It resumes with the Bengals playing in Pittsburgh during the second week of the season; Burfict will be serving a three-game suspension from the league for his hit on Brown. Theyll meet again in Cincinnati on Sunday night Dec. 18, with the playoffs most likely on the line.No other division has sent as many teams to the playoffs lately: The North has gotten 17 teams into the playoffs in the last eight seasons. Its had multiple playoff teams in seven of the last eight seasons.Some things to watch in the AFC North this season:PLAYOFFS AND BUST: The Bengals won the division and tied the club record with 12 victories, but frittered away everything with the one of the worst meltdowns in postseason history. They havent won a playoff game in 25 years, sixth longest such stretch in league history. Theyve lost a first-round playoff game in five straight seasons, an NFL record. And coach Marvin Lewis fell to 0-7 in the playoffs, also a record.Only two other teams have longer active streaks of playoff appearances. New England and Green Bay have gone seven straight seasons. Denver also had made it five straight. The difference: Those other teams have reached the Super Bowl.Were pleased with what we have accomplished, owner Mike Brown said. We are fully aware there is one more step to go.MIA STEELERS: Ben Roethlisberger missed significant time last season with a knee injury. LeVeon Bell tore up his knee in that first game against Cincinnati on a tackle by Burfict. Brown missed a playoff loss to Denver because of the hit by Burfict. Tight end Heath Miller retired after the season. Receiver Martavis Bryant was suspended for 2016 for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy. Bell got a three-game suspension for missing multiple drug tests. Tight end Ladarius Green was signed to replace Miller, but has been limited by ankle surgery. The NFLs third-ranked offense has a lot of questions.The key is always staying healthy, Roethlisberger said. Weve had a hard time doing that the last few years. But if we can stay healthy and be a selfless team, I think weve got a chance.HEALED RAVENS: Baltimore fell to 5-11 -- its first losing season under coach Jim Harbaugh -- with an avalanche of injuries. Eight starters and 20 players overall went on injured reserve, including quarterback Joe Flacco with a left knee injury. Linebacker Terrell Suggs missed most of the season with a torn left Achilles tendon. Some players were still working their way back during camp, including receiver Steve Smith and linebacker Elvis Dumervil.I think you always want to play at full strength, Flacco said. But in the NFL, thats not a reality. You go out there, you play your best, and do your best with what youve got.BROWNS RETOOL (AGAIN): Cleveland hired Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson as its eighth head coach since 1999, when the Browns returned as an expansion team. They cut ties with Johnny Manziel and brought in Robert Griffin III, Clevelands 25th starting quarterback in the last 17 years. During that span, the Browns have had two winning seasons.I like challenges, Jackson said when he arrived in Cleveland. And boy, what a challenge.---PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: Steelers, Bengals, Ravens, Browns.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFLNMD R1 Sale Australia . The third-ranked Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and 10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times. "The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said. NMD R1 Mens Sale . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. http://www.nmdaustraliasale.com/ . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. Ultra Boost 4.0 Australia . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. Adidas Superstar Black Australia . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph.CHICAGO -- The Bears?have released kicker?Robbie Gould, who missed two extra-point attempts in the teams preseason finale at Cleveland.The team announced Goulds release late Sunday.Gould, 34, is the Bears all-time franchise leader in career points (1,207), field goals made (276) and career field goals of 50 yards or more (23).The longest-tenured player on the Bears roster, Gould is the ninth-most-accurate kicker in league history. He also owns the NFLs third-best field goal percentage from 50 yards or longer.With no other kickers listed on the Bears depth chart, it was uncertain how they would proceed at the position entering Sundays opener at Houston.Gould took to Twitter to thank the fans and organization.Gould, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots, was named All-Pro in 2006, helping the Bears on their march to Super Bowl XLI with a game-winning field goal in overtime in the NFC divisional playoffs against Seattle. Gould has 12 game-winning kicks over hhis 11-year career.ddddddddddddHowever, Gould suffered through a frustrating 2015 season. Although he connected on 33-of-39 field goals attempts (84.6 percent) in 2015, Gould hit a bumpy stretch late in the year when he went a combined 2-for-5 in gut-wrenching losses to San Francisco and Washington.Determined to bounce back, Gould embarked on a new training and nutritional regimen in the offseason and reported to camp at a heavier weight after he gained muscle mass. While Gould went 5-for-6 on field goals in the preseason, he failed to convert two PATs in the Bears preseason finale at Cleveland.Gould was scheduled to earn a $3 million base salary in 2016, part of the lucrative four-year extension he signed in 2013. He already collected a $500,000 roster bonus on the first day of the league year.Information from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter was used in this report. ' ' '