Allgemeines » another element of uncertainty to the W

The Giants vs. the Steelers. Or sometimes referred to as the Maras against the Rooneys for their family business roots.They meet in a huge game Sunday in Pittsburgh that could clear up some of the muddled playoff picture.New York (8-3) is among the hottest teams in football with six straight victories. Not that its helped the Giants move much closer to the Cowboys in the NFC East.But the Giants are in control of the NFC wild-card picture, even if their victories havent looked too pretty.We have everything right in front of us. We dont feel the need ... really inside of this locker room, we dont care about anyones opinion, running back Rashad Jennings says. Someone could put us best, someone could put us worst, it doesnt matter. We have to go out and find a way to win.The Steelers (6-5) are in a tighter spot, tied atop the AFC North with Baltimore, to whom they already have lost. When healthy, the Steelers have looked like a Super Bowl contender. But theyve also had some real duds.They will need to eliminate those stinkers and play solidly the rest of the way, Ben Roethlisberger says.Anytime you get to November, December, January football, you have to be at your best, you have to be hot, and we are playing one of the best football teams in the NFL, he says. They are coming to our place, it has a playoff feel and atmosphere, and it has to. I am sure that they feel the same way.You have to have that mentality at this time of the year because you really cant afford to lose any more games.The action began on a rare week with no division matchups with Dallas 17-15 victory at Minnesota on Thursday night.Dez Bryant caught four passes for 84 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, helping Dallas improve to 11-1 with its 11th straight victory.Sam Bradford threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jerick McKinnon with 25 seconds to play, but the 2-point conversion failed for the Vikings (6-6). They played without coach Mike Zimmer after he had emergency eye surgery Wednesday night. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer directed the team.Off this week are Tennessee (6-6) and Cleveland (0-12).Kansas City (8-3) at Atlanta (7-4)Several emerging players are worth watching here as the Falcons try to stay alone atop the NFC South and the Chiefs pursue the Raiders in the AFC West.Chiefs rookie WR Tyreek Hill last week became the first player since Gale Sayers in 1965 to score on a kickoff return, a run and a catch in the same game.The Falcons, known for their powerful offense, are getting strong play from LB Vic Beasley Jr., second in the NFC with 9+ sacks, and safety Keanu Neal, who leads all rookies with 72 tackles and has four forced fumbles.Denver (7-4) at Jacksonville (2-9)Look for a low-scoring affair as the Jaguars try to snap a six-game slide. They have lost all four at home this season, placing coach Gus Bradleys job in serious jeopardy. But his specialty, defense, is coming on and the Jags rank sixth overall.We all know how good Denvers D can be, and heres a stunning stat: The Broncos have scored a league-high 93 points, or 35 percent of their season total, off turnovers. They have 20 takeaways; the Jaguars are a league-worst minus-15 in turnover margin.Denver has won 28 straight games when winning the turnover battle, the longest current streak in the NFL, and it leads the league in sacks (35) and quarterback hits (89).It might need all the defense it can muster with rookie Paxton Lynch starting for injured quarterback Trevor Siemian.Tampa Bay (6-5) at San Diego (5-6)Not only have the Bucs won three in a row, but they beat Kansas City and Seattle the past two weeks, holding them to a combined 22 points. Rookie DE Noah Spence comes off a superb month in which he had 11 tackles, 2+ sacks and two forced fumbles.San Diegos Antonio Gates was blanked in the win at Houston, not even targeted for the first time in 77 games. Hes three TD catches short of breaking Tony Gonzalezs NFL record of 111 for a tight end.Los Angeles (4-7) New England (9-2)The spiraling Rams, who have given up 63 points over the past 64:02 of game action, are the perfect victim for Tom Brady to get his 201st victory, which would be an NFL record for quarterbacks. Hes currently tied with Peyton Manning.Its probably the most important stat. ... Theres no surprise, Saints QB Drew Brees says of Brady. Listen, hes earned it. He will go down as certainly one of the best, if not the best, for that reason. The guys a winner. Hes a proven winner. ... Theres been a lot of players come through there while hes been there and its been a very consistent result, all the time. Im sure theres a lot of people in that building that deserve credit, but none more so than him.As the Patriots chase home-field advantage in the AFC for the playoffs -- they lead the AFC East by two games over Miami, who they have beaten -- Brady has been sensational since returning from his four-game Deflategate suspension. Brady has 2,201 passing yards, 18 TDs, one interception and a 116.7 passer rating.Miami (7-4) at Baltimore (6-5)Miami has won six in a row, and hasnt taken seven straight since 1985, Dan Marinos third season. Solidly in the playoff race, the Dolphins are getting solid contributions from Ryan Tannehill throwing the ball and Jay Ajayi running it despite a banged-up offensive line.Baltimores defense has been superb as the Ravens have taken three of their past four games. Ranking second overall and first against the run, the Ravens will be a tough test for Ajayi especially.If it comes down to the kicking game, Baltimore has the leagues only perfect placekicker. Justin Tucker is 27 for 27 on field goals and has made all his extra points.Buffalo (6-5) at Oakland (9-2)The Black Hole is truly that for the Bills. Buffalo is 0-8 in Oakland since 1966.But a victory not only would be the Bills 400th regular-season win, it would boost their playoff chances somewhat. Remember, they havent been in the postseason since the 1999 campaign.Oaklands sensational comeback win against Carolina after blowing a huge lead kept the Raiders atop the highly competitive AFC West. It also solidified QB Derek Carrs credentials -- and guts. He left after badly damaging his right pinkie, then returned with a glove on his throwing hand to lead the rally.Detroit (7-4) at New Orleans (5-6)Matthew Stafford is having his best season, and hell need all of his skills and weapons to keep up with Drew Brees.Stafford has led seven game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime in 2016; the Lions are the first team with seven wins when trailing in the fourth quarter in the teams first 11 games of a season. No QB has had eight such drives in one season.Thats one of the rare achievements Brees hasnt managed. Last week, he passed for 310 yards with four touchdowns, and rushed for a TD. He leads the NFL with 3,587 yards and 30 TDs passing. Its Brees ninth season with at least 30 TDs passing, tied for the record, and he has a TD pass in an NFL-record 60 straight home outings.Houston (6-5) at Green Bay (5-6)The Texans have the better record and lead their division, the weak AFC South. Yet nearly everywhere the perception is Green Bay, third in the NFC North, is the better team.Houstons $72 million, four-year investment in quarterback Brock Osweiler isnt paying off, so much so that after last weekends loss, coach Bill OBrien was asked about benching Osweiler.His slump is encouraging for the Packers suspect secondary.Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers is on a terrific streak even while the running game has been mediocre and the blocking has been so-so.Indianapolis (5-6) at New York Jets (3-8), Monday nightWithout Andrew Luck, the Colts were no match for the Steelers on Thanksgiving night. Luck has gone through the NFLs concussion protocol and should be behind center for another prime-time affair.The Jets make just enough mistakes each week to be among the leagues biggest flops after going 10-6 in 2015. Many of their big-ticket players have let them down, and heres a chance to strut before a nationwide audience.Carolina (4-7) at Seattle (7-3-1)The last thing the Panthers need when facing Seattles stingy defense and strong pass rush is an injury-depleted offensive line. Unfortunately for Cam Newton and Carolina, thats the reality.Carolina stayed on the West Coast after the 35-32 loss at Oakland, while the Seahawks flew back cross-country from Tampa after a 14-5 defeat in which the offense was invisible. Russell Wilson, Doug Baldwin and Jimmy Graham should be more productive against the Panthers.Washington (6-4-1) at Arizona (4-6-1)The Redskins owned the second NFC wild-card spot heading into the weekend. Their offense has been dynamic recently, with Kirk Cousins to Jamison Crowder the main connection.Washington also can get after the quarterback, led by Ryan Kerrigan, and Carson Palmer has been sacked 32 times. Even worse for the Cardinals, inexperienced tackles D.J. Humphries and Ulrick John and guard John Wetzel figure to start.Philadelphia (5-6) at Cincinnati (3-7-1)Both teams can begin thinking about next season after recent slumps.The Eagles have lost four straight on the road, but theyre 9-1 vs. the AFC since 2014. Cincinnati is 1-5-1 in the past seven games, and a true sign of their malaise: Mike Nugent has missed his past three PAT kicks and four of the past eight.San Francisco (1-10) at Chicago (2-9)One of these teams will mess up their April draft standing by winning this. Or maybe these two will tie 0-0.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Connor Murphy Jersey . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. Blackhawks Jerseys Outlet . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. http://www.cheapblackhawkschinajerseys.com/chris-chelios-jersey/ . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. Pierre Pilote Jersey . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Stan Mikita Jersey . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. TORONTO -- Never mind 1996 or 1987, or any of the Canada Cups or even the first incarnations of the World of Cup of Hockey. The past, as glorious as it might have been, is the past. Finis. Over and done with.But the future?Thats really the story of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, the sports first best-on-best tournament since the easily forgotten 2004 World Cup, which came on the eve of a lockout.Historically, this dog-eared tournament has been pulled from the hockey closet only when the league and the players needed to beef up their personal coffers. Now the tournament must prove it deserves a place at hockeys international table.If its done right, many believe there is a place for such a tournament.Longtime NHL and international coach Andy Murray, an assistant for Team Canada back in 1996, said he believes the early fall is the perfect time for this kind of tournament. Players are fresh, they love playing for their countries, and there is more preparation time than for the Olympics, driving up the potential for quality hockey.As a stand-alone event, the World Cup of Hockey doesnt lack for competitive juices and interest. In part, thats because of the allure of the Team North America squad made up of players under the age of 24 from Canada and the United States.Not sure anyone could have anticipated the buzz surrounding this fleet-of-foot, wildly skilled team led by the NHLs next great savior, Connor McDavid, and assisted by 2016 first overall draft pick Auston Matthews, who played in front of his new hometown fans in Toronto before he dons a Maple Leafs jersey in the regular season.What began as a gimmick has morphed into a happening, and it will be interesting to see how fans react if they are forced to choose between Team North America and Canada or the United States after the preliminary round.Despite a rash of injury withdrawals, the tournament boasts a whos who of hockeys elite, from Sidney Crosby to?Alex Ovechkin?to Henrik Lundqvist.Team USA is a decided underdog, especially given the selection of a team that left a number of high-skill players such as Phil Kessel and Tyler Johnson at home. But the Americans bear watching as they promise to play a highly physical style that they hope will see them erase the disappointment of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.So the product should not be an issue.But will that ensure a future of World Cups?More to the point, can this tournament provide the kinds of momments that will become a touchstone for a generation of hockey fans in the way the 1987 World Cup of Hockey earned mythic status in Canada or the 1996 version became a shining moment in U.ddddddddddddS. hockey history?One element that will have a large impact on the World Cups role in the future of international hockey is whether this becomes the only best-on-best tournament available to the worlds top players.With the International Olympic Committee threatening to change the way it funds hockeys participation in the Olympics starting in 2018, theres a good chance the NHLs time at the Winter Games is over. The NHL and the players will not pay out of their own pockets to take part in a tournament that most, if not all, league owners hate for the disruption it brings to the regular-season schedule.It will be a sad day if the Olympic experiment, which began with the first NHL participation in 1998, is over. Nothing replaces the Olympics. Not even the World Cup of Hockey.But if the NHL is no longer going to the Olympics, the hunger for this type of international tournament must be satisfied somehow. And we know from the history of the Canada Cup/World Cup of Hockey that this tournament can create indelible memories that span the ages.However, if the NHL stays in the Olympics, then it adds another element of uncertainty to the World Cup of Hockey. Does it get tossed back into the hockey closet with the glowing pucks and mullets?And if not, how much is too much?The commissioner and his office have done such a sensational job of promoting our sport now with the players association, and being partners, and trying to put our game on a different level and expanding it more and more worldwide, so obviously from that point of view, its sensational, Wayne Gretzky said recently.But the Great One did express one concern.I just worry about fatigue, Gretzky said. They play so much hockey. And the level of competition now is so high, and the players are so big and strong and fast, I just sometimes go, Wow, are we playing a little bit too much hockey? But thats not for me to say; Im just talking as a fan.Through the tournaments final, fans will share in the creation of a new chapter of international play. How the chapter ends -- well, thats going to be a fascinating part of this journey. ' ' '