PITTSBURGH (AP) Maybe Mike Tomlin called it.

Maybe it was Todd Haley.

Maybe Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Rogers went rogue.

The chaos surrounding Pittsburgh’s decision to go for the win instead of force overtime late in a 27-24 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday doesn’t lead to easy answers.

Roethlisberger initially said he was told to run a play rather than spike the ball to set up an easy field goal.

Roethlisberger later backed off Authentic Jordan Akins Jersey , offering ”maybe I should have clocked it” regardless of what was going on.

”We’re not going to look back and second guess anything or anybody,” Roethlisberger said.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter.

Pinning a fifth straight loss to the Patriots on everything that wrong for the AFC North champions in the final 35 seconds – from Jesse James’ lunging touchdown grab that was overturned on review to Roethlisberger’s fake spike that turned into a game-ending pick – the Steelers are aware they had plenty of chances in the first 59 minutes to end years of frustration at the hands of Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and company.

”They’re beatable,” safety Sean Davis said. ”It’s a tough game. We had some bad calls, but I ain’t going to put it on the refs. But we can’t leave the game in the ref’s hands. We was up big. We’ve got to bury them next time.”

Covering Gronkowski effectively would help. Davis got an up-close look at the seemingly unsolvable matchup problem the 6-foot-6 Gronkowski offers when the 6-foot-1 Davis spent Pittsburgh’s final drive fruitlessly chasing Gronkowski downfield.

Gronkowski caught three passes for 69 yards as well as the 2-point conversion that put the Patriots up three Authentic Bo Horvat Jersey , a sequence Pittsburgh (11-3) could have avoided if Davis had held onto a tipped Tom Brady pass that smacked off Davis’ hands on the first play of New England’s penultimate possession.

”Brady was throwing it right in there, man,” Davis said. ”He just made more plays than us. They made more plays than us.”

But did they really?

The Steelers outgained New England 413-360, picked off Brady for the first time in 12 years, held the ball for 35 minutes and did it all without much from wide receiver Antonio Brown.

The only player to have five consecutive 100-catch seasons left in the second quarter with a left calf injury and didn’t return.

Pittsburgh offered no update on Brown’s status Monday, though he hardly seemed despondent in a Twitter post.

”This is a minor setback for me but not this team Authentic Tyler Seguin Jersey ,” Brown tweeted. ”The goal is still the same & I’m confident that we can & will achieve it. We may not have won the game yesterday but this TEAM made a statement.”

Yet hanging with the Patriots is one thing. Beating them is another matter.

The Steelers let several chances to put the game away disappear, from Davis’ near pick to a three-and-out late in the fourth quarter while clinging to a five-point lead.

Pittsburgh needed 4 yards on third down and instead got just 3 when rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster was dragged to the ground a yard short.

Pittsburgh punted and the Patriots went right down the field.

The missed opportunities, however, began almost from the outset. On New England’s first drive of the game, the Steelers appeared to get off the field after stopping the Patriots on third down.

Defensive end Cam Heyward was flagged for holding. Three plays later, New England was in the end zone.

”We had a lot of chances to close the door in that game Authentic Mike White Jersey , we didn’t,” Heyward said. ”We learned (and) we lived.”

Pittsburgh has an extra day to recover emotionally before going to Houston to face the Texans on Christmas Day.

A victory and another over Cleveland on New Year’s Eve would secure a first-round playoff bye and maybe home-field advantage if the Patriots stub their toe at home against Buffalo or the Jets.

It’s possible. It’s just not likely. Heyward knows this, but he’s not going to let it define what has been a special season.

There may be a rematch against the Patriots in January.

If it has to be in New England, so be it.

”I don’t look at it anything crazy but five games, I mean, four to the Super Bowl Cheap Dontae Johnson Jersey ,” Heyward said. ”I’m looking forward to all of it. We can be dejected about this, but I like where we are at.”

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CAROLINA (11-4) at ATLANTA (9-6)

Sunday Authentic Jaromir Jagr Jersey , 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox

OPENING LINE – Atlanta by 3

RECORD VS. SPREAD – Carolina 9-6, Atlanta 6-9

SERIES RECORD – Falcons lead 27-18

LAST MEETING – Panthers beat Falcons 20-17, Nov. 5

LAST WEEK – Panthers beat Buccaneers 22-19; Saints beat Falcons 23-13

AP PRO32 RANKING – Panthers No. 7, Falcons No. 10

PANTHERS OFFENSE – OVERALL (17), RUSH (4) Authentic Dallas Goedert Jersey , PASS (27)

PANTHERS DEFENSE – OVERALL (7), RUSH (6), PASS (16)

FALCONS OFFENSE – OVERALL (9), RUSH (10), PASS (9)

FALCONS DEFENSE – OVERALL (10), RUSH (8) Authentic Geron Christian Jersey , PASS (12)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Falcons can clinch playoff spot with win or Seattle loss to Arizona. Panthers already have playoff spot and can clinch NFC South with win and Saints loss or tie. Panthers can also win division with tie and Saints loss. Panthers can clinch first-round bye with win, Saints loss or tie, Vikings loss and Rams loss or tie. … Panthers 5-2 on road. … Carolina 9-1 when positive or even in turnover differential. … Panthers QB Cam Newton 2-4 vs. Falcons in hometown of Atlanta. … Newton has engineered winning drives in two of last three weeks. He has 15 winning drives during career. … Newton has 54 career touchdowns rushing, most by any NFL quarterback. … Newton has thrown for at least 3,000 yards in all seven NFL seasons. … RB Christian McCaffrey tied for NFL lead for receptions by rookie (75). … RB Jonathan Stewart has TD rushing in last three road games. … WR Devin Funchess averaging 84 yards receiving per game with two TDs in last two road games. … Panthers have 15 sacks and 10 takeaways in last three games. … DE Julius Peppers has 20 career fumble recoveries Authentic Marcus Davenport Jersey , including two last week. Peppers has five sacks in last six road games. … Peppers and DE Mario Addison only NFC teammates with 10-plus sacks. … DT Kawann Short has 3 1/2 sacks and forced fumble in last three games. … Falcons 4-3 at home in first season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. … Falcons have minus-5 turnover margin after two turnovers, one takeaway against Saints last week. Panthers are plus-2. … Falcons QB Matt Ryan has 19 TD passes, 12 INTs after finishing 2016 with 38 TD passes, seven INTs. … Ryan has 94.1 passer rating in 19 career games against Panthers. … WR Julio Jones third in NFL with 1,364 yards receiving. … LB Deion Jones leads Falcons with three INTs, tied for most in NFL for a linebacker Authentic Jonathan Toews Jersey , and 128 tackles. Jones only NFL player with at least 125 tackles, three INTs. … DE Takk McKinley’s six sacks tied for second most for Falcons rookie. … Fantasy Tip: Falcons RB Tevin Coleman has four rushing TDs in last five home games. He’ll be trying for third straight game against Carolina with TD. He had TD catch last week against Saints.

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The Cowboys returned to their usual pregame configuration: all standing along their sideline, but without arms linked. Last week Dallas kneeled in unison before ”The Star-Spangled Banner” then stood Authentic Jalyn Holmes Jersey , arms linked for the song.

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9:30 a.m.

New Orleans Saints players, coaches and staff knelt before the start of the national anthem but stood in unison once it began ahead of their game against the Miami Dolphins at London’s Wembley Stadium on Sunday.

A week ago, demonstrations were organized across the NFL in response to President Donald Trump’s criticism of players who kneel during the national anthem. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ Shad Khan was the first owner to join his players before the game Authentic Allen Craig Jersey , standing arm-in-arm with them.

Some on the Saints’ sideline stood arm-in-arm on Sunday, and others had their hands over their hearts. On the Dolphins’ sideline, only tight end Julius Thomas Authentic Frank Ragnow Jersey , safety Michael Thomas and wide receiver Kenny Stills remained on one knee while Darius Rucker sang ”The Star-Spangled Banner.”

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MIAMI (AP) Miami Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry wore a sleeveless T-shirt last week bearing the team logo from the early 1970s Authentic Howie Kendrick Jersey , and said he liked the old-school look.

”They should bring it back,” Landry said. ”They were undefeated.”

A few days later, the Dolphins lost their season finale, the glory days further away than ever. Things have gotten so bad Miami now looks upon the Buffalo Bills with envy.

With a 6-10 finish, the Dolphins will sit out the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years, and they’re 65-80 (.448) since 2008. It has been 17 years since the Dolphins won a postseason game, 25 years since they reached the AFC championship game and 33 years since they played in a Super Bowl.

The undefeated season was in 1972, and the Dolphins’ most recent NFL title came a year later. Current coach Adam Gase has only heard about those achievements, because he wasn’t born yet.

Rather than show progress toward ending those droughts Authentic Brandon McCarthy Jersey , the Dolphins regressed in their second season under Gase.

After overachieving to go 10-6 in 2016 and make the playoffs, Miami deteriorated into a wildly inconsistent, undisciplined team undone by a five-game losing starting in Week 8.

”Something has to change,” Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones said following his eighth year with Miami. ”It’s tough not making the playoffs, knowing the potential we have in this locker room. It’s just another season I feel like we’ve wasted.”

Said Gase: ”We need to do a lot of things better.”

Owner Stephen Ross opted for stability and will keep the organization’s core leadership intact. That means Gase, executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum and general manager Chris Grier all return in 2018.

But a major roster upgraded is needed. Here are things to know as the Dolphins begin another long offseason:

LOUSY LUCK: The Dolphins were bad but also unlucky. Even Mother Nature worked against them: Hurricane Irma caused the postponement of the first game, forcing Miami to play 16 weeks in a row.

In retrospect, the season was probably doomed when quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s knee injury early in training camp sent him to the sideline. Jay Cutler came out of retirement as a stopgap replacement, but he was erratic and twice injured. The Dolphins also lost their most promising rookie Jets Nathan Shepherd Jersey , linebacker Raekwon McMillan, to a season-ending knee injury in the first exhibition game.

Tannehill is expected to return as the starter in 2018, but there are doubts about his durability after two serious injuries to his left knee since December 2016. Cutler, 34, likely will resume his retirement.

UNDISCIPLINED: Under Gase, the Dolphins have committed more penalties than any other team in the past two seasons, and there were other reasons to wonder about discipline.

Linebacker Lawrence Timmons went AWOL on the eve of the opener, was briefly suspended and returned to have a poor season. Offensive line coach Chris Foerster resigned in October after a video on social media appeared to show him snorting lines of white powder. Linebacker Rey Maualuga was released the day before a game following a morning incident at a nightclub. Landry and running back Kenyan Drake were ejected from the season finale for their roles in an embarrassing brawl with the Bills.

Long snapper John Denney summed up his 13th season with the Dolphins: ”It was pretty abnormal – a lot of things going on.”

INCONSISTENT: Miami beat both reigning Super Bowl teams but won only four other games. Three losses were against teams that went 13-31 versus the rest of the league.

”This team has a lot of talent,” cornerback Bobby McCain said Lions Tracy Walker Jersey , ”but talent doesn’t get you anywhere.”

The Dolphins lost eight of the final 10 games, including the last three, and it’s hard to argue they were better than their record. They led to start the fourth quarter in only two games and were outscored by 112 points, fourth worst in the NFL.

COMING BACK?: The biggest offseason issue involves Landry, whose contract expires. He’s likely to return, even though his combustible personality causes headaches for Gase.

Miami’s dink passing attack gave Landry one of the NFL’s most bizarre stat lines: 112 receptions to lead the league and break his own franchise record, but an average of 8.8 yards per catch to rank 110th. He finished 13 yards shy of 1,000.

ROAD TRIP: Receiver Kenny Stills has perhaps the Dolphins’ best offseason plan. A nominee for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Stills said he’ll hit the highway with friends in his early-1970s Volkswagen bus to do volunteer work in other states.

”I want to find some grass-roots organizations that need the help or might need the recognition Authentic Courtland Sutton Jersey , and lend a helping hand in any way I can,” he said. ”The whole idea would be to film the trip, let people track it, and then possibly collect donations, and put all of that money back into the organizations we visited.”

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Putting together a documentary of a Super Bowl season is an extensive and exhausting project.

Except when it becomes a labor of love.

For dozens of employees at NFL Films Authentic Marcus Davenport Jersey , the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles season was particularly special. Thus, the DVD that chronicles it and becomes available to the public on Tuesday – PHI-NALLY is how it is dubbed – wasn’t exactly work.

”We are in Mount Royal, New Jersey, which is about 20 minutes from the Linc,” says Todd Schmidt, who produces such enterprises for NFL Films. ”So many of our people are lifelong fans of the Eagles, who have suffered for all those years. And that is something the becomes part of the film; we wanted people out there to understand what some of these people went through during that crazy game and this season.

”I would love for an Arizona Cardinals fan to get the same bang out of this as my 22-year-old son and a lifelong Eagles fan will http://www.newenglandpatriotsteamonline.com/danny-shelton-jersey , and I like to think that the story will do that. This is more than a story of a football season. It’s about why teams and fans don’t quit, and that’s what Philly fans are like. They may get a lot of criticism, but there’s a reason Rocky means so much and showing the heart to never give up means so much.”

NFL Films had the good fortune of being able to place microphones on coach Doug Pederson and quarterback Nick Foles. The exchanges between them not only are insightful football-wise, they provide a window into the aggressiveness that was so critical to not only upending the Patriots in a classic Super Bowl, but in the Eagles putting together such a successful season.

Indeed, Philadelphia’s 41-33 victory in Minneapolis probably made for a much more enchanting story than had the Patriots won. After all, New England taking the NFL title is anything but new Authentic Cliff Pennington Jersey , and the Eagles last won it in 1960, when Norm Van Brocklin was the quarterback and Chuck Bednarik was playing linebacker and center.

So Schmidt opted to open the documentary with a shot of Franklin Field on the University of Pennsylvania campus – the site of that 1960 win over Green Bay. And he decided to close the film with the parade witnessed by more than 700,000 ”so you get a clear idea of what this meant to the city of Philadelphia, the people of Philadelphia, and to Eagles fans.”

NFL Films actually makes two 55-minute films annually. The 2017 version of the Patriots’ season ”will not see the light of day,” Schmidt explains. But it also would have had plenty of cachet.

”I think every team has a story,” he says Cheap Lorenzo Carter Jersey , though how many viewers would be interested in, say, the Browns‘ 0-16 campaign is debatable.

”Had the Patriots won, it would have been a film of dominance; if they had won they would have been the `27 Yankees. It would have been magnificent if they had pulled out that game, two of the most amazing Super Bowls back to back. Tom Brady would go down as the greatest magician ever to walk the earth.

”We are storytellers and we would have made the elements we had work well.”

Still, the elements they had on Philadelphia’s side certainly seem more compelling. A team loses five key players, including late in the schedule the QB who appeared headed to league MVP honors. It’s an underdog in all of its postseason games despite being a top seed. Its history of falling short is monumental.

And then it wins a classic Super Bowl against an NFL dynasty.

”The Eagles story has a lot more historical context Authentic Jose Ramirez Jersey , which is red meat to a storyteller,” Schmidt says. ”The more context and unique elements of the story, the better the story. So I loved the Eagles story.”

As did so many of his co-workers.

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EAST RUTHERFORD Authentic Austin Jackson Jersey , N.J. (AP) Eli Manning isn’t paying much attention to the NFL draft, even with the possibility of the New York Giants using the No. 2 overall pick to take an heir apparent to the two-time Super Bowl MVP.

Manning doubted that he would watch the first round of the draft on Thursday, saying it wouldn’t be hard to find out whether general manager Dave Gettleman either went for a quarterback or opted to take Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, or traded down.

Manning didn’t seem to care. He was more concerned with learning Pat Shurmur’s offense during a three-day voluntary minicamp, and he was enjoying all the compliments his new head coach was heaping on him.

A day ago, Shurmur called Manning the fittest 37-year-old he has seen. His play was the coach’s focus Wednesday.

”This guy’s a pro,” Shurmur said. ”What you noticed about him is you only have to run a play or two, and he gets the drill calibrated and he gets his feet right and he makes the throw. I quickly Authentic Harold Landry Jersey , after being with him one day on the field, see why he’s been so successful for so long.”

Manning believes Shurmur’s offense mixes concepts used by former coaches Tom Coughlin and Ben McAdoo. The verbiage is different.

Shurmur is different, too. He does more coaching on the field than either of his predecessors.

”A lot of times in this time of year you have a few weeks to practice some routes and practice things on the field before you go practice them,” Manning said. ”This year you’re kind of thrown right into the mix and we’re kind of learning on the fly a little bit.”

There seems to be no doubt that Manning will be running the offense, no matter who the Giants take in the draft coming off a 3-13 season.

”I feel good. I’m moving around well,” said Manning, who has 14 years of NFL experience on his resume. ”I’m always working on my flexibility and my conditioning and offseason lifting and everything, so I haven’t relaxed on that in any sense. I know I need that to kind of keep up with those other guys http://www.philadelphiaeaglesteamonlines.com/josh-sweat-jersey , but I feel good in that sense and I have to keep it that way.”

Manning has spent a lot of the offseason with backup quarterback Davis Webb, lifting, working out and watching videotapes of the offense Shurmur used as the coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings last season.

The draft has more meaning for Webb, who was taken by the Giants in the third round last year. He never played, so it is hard to evaluate him.

Yet Webb doesn’t feel like he has anything to prove.

”All I’ve got to do is show what I’ve got and that’s up to them,” he said. ”I try to do the best I can in the meeting rooms, the weight workouts, the practices especially. Just kind of show what I have and let them make a decision. It’s out of my control and I’m not really too worried about it http://www.oaklandraidersteamonline.com/arden-key-jersey , I promise. I just work hard and I know I’m going to get a chance someday.”

Webb has a lot of confidence and he has thrown some good passes in the minicamp. He plans to watch the first round of the draft, just to see who the Giants take.

Having played for California, he knows a couple of the highly regarded quarterback in the draft, Sam Darnold of Southern Cal and Josh Rosen of UCLA. He has seen some of them walking around the Giants’ headquarters for pre-draft meetings.

”I understand, that’s their job. Listen, if I was a GM, I understand, I’d do the same thing Authentic Logan Paulsen Jersey ,” Webb said. ”So, that does not hurt my feelings, I do not care about that. The only thing I worry about is being the best I can be because I know I’m going to get an opportunity in this league and when that comes, I’m going to be ready.”

NOTES: … DT Damon Harrison was not at the minicamp, but he called Shurmur to explain why. … The coach said he has spoken with absent RT Ereck Flowers, but he did not say what was said.

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LAKE FOREST Authentic Will Hernandez Jersey , Ill. (AP) Had the plan unfolded the way the Chicago Bears envisioned, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky probably would still be holding a clipboard.

The No. 2 overall draft pick got thrust into the starting lineup sooner than anticipated. And with that, the adjustment accelerated, the learning curve ramped up, a few gears.

Though the results so far are mixed, there is hope for him – and the franchise, too.

The Bears (3-5) hit their bye and the halfway mark of the season showing signs they’re starting to head in the right direction, though they are last in the NFC North.

They have matched their win total from last year’s 3-13 nightmare Lions Da'Shawn Hand Jersey , and their defense is starting to pile up the takeaways. Chicago has 11 on the season, eight in the past three games. The Bears put together back-to-back wins for the first time since 2015 before a tight loss to Drew Brees and the NFC South-leading Saints at New Orleans last week.

But as promising as that sounds, the Bears’ long-term success largely hinges on their prized quarterback’s development. With his arm strength and quickness, Trubisky gives Chicago hope, though he is far from a finished product.

”I just need to be more efficient and continue to take care of the football, but be aggressive at the same time,” Trubisky said. ”I need to make more plays for this offense while playing within the offense and being myself and continuing to be a leader. We need to score more points. You’ve seen us moving the ball and we just have to continue to not make mistakes and finish with points.”

In the four games since he took over for the struggling Mike Glennon, Trubisky has completed 38 of 80 passes for 512 yards with a 66.2 rating. He has been sacked 11 times and has as many touchdown passes (two) as interceptions. He got picked off trying to hit tight end Zach Miller late in his debut against Minnesota http://www.miamidolphinsteamonline.com/jason-sanders-jersey , leading to a winning field goal for the Vikings. Against New Orleans, an apparent miscommunication with Tre McBride led to another interception that sealed the Saints’ win.

But there have been those tantalizing flashes, like a 27-yard on-the-run touchdown pass to Dion Sims against Baltimore. And a 70-yard completion to Tarik Cohen against Carolina in an otherwise quiet game. Trubisky also has 110 yards rushing.

”When my feet are right and my eyes are right, I’m on the money,” he said. ”But when I change up or do the wrong footwork or my base isn’t good because of the rush in the pocket, that’s usually when the inaccuracies come.”

A decimated corps of wide receivers, Miller’s career-threatening leg injury against New Orleans, and a banged-up line add to the difficulties. Trubisky wasn’t even supposed to be the starter Authentic Kyle Lauletta Jersey , of course.

The Bears opened the season with Glennon as their No. 1 quarterback, thinking Trubisky would basically redshirt. After all, he started just 13 games at North Carolina. But Glennon struggled, so the Bears made the switch following a blowout loss at Green Bay in Week 4.

”You’ve got to trust your feet and trust your eyes,” veteran backup Mark Sanchez said.

That trust comes with developing a familiarity with the system, timing with receivers, and knowing what works against certain defenses.

”He’s doing a lot of this for the first time,” Sanchez said. ”If you think about it as a defensive coordinator Cheap Barkevious Mingo Jersey , these guys stay up all night and they try to wreck your day on Sunday. These guys aren’t knuckleheads. They know what the hell they’re doing.”

Most encouraging to quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone are Trubisky’s work ethic, instincts and understanding of the game. They stand out more than the spotty completion percentage.

Ragone sees a quarterback with an unflinching demeanor who learns from his mistakes. One who can point out what works and doesn’t work when he looks at the video. A guy who understands when to throw the ball away rather than force a pass. And who knows how to connect with his teammates.

”I think his football IQ, in terms of the feel of the game, he’s a really good feel player,” Ragone said. ”He’s done this multiple times. He’ll leave (offensive coordinator Dowell) Loggains’ and my side and go talk to his teammates. That’s not forced. That’s leadership. He’s got an innate ability of when to do that, and all those things kind of add together in terms of the makeup of a quarterback. Things that don’t go on a stat line.

”But as you’re sitting there and you’re truly judging a player and the totality of who he is and what he needs to do – or who he is to his teammates – in my opinion he’s done a great job of understanding how to push, how to pull on his teammates. And they’ve obviously responded to him.”

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CARSON Authentic Andrew Cashner Jersey , Calif. (AP) Los Angeles Rams cornerback Casey Hayward felt ”a little disrespected” that the Buffalo Bills decided to let rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman make his first career start against their defense.

The Chargers gave Peterman a forgettable introduction to the NFL, intercepting him five times in the first half and getting six takeaways total in a 54-24 demolition of the Bills on Sunday.

Hayward said the Bills were ”tripping” to let the fifth-round pick replace Tyrod Taylor.

”You’re starting a rookie against a really good defense. We got some good edge rushers. We got some good guys in the secondary, so we had to take advantage of that,” Hayward said. ”When they announced it, I’m like, `OK? Against us?”’

Linebacker Korey Toomer had a 59-yard pick-six early in the game, and Hayward had two interceptions. Tre Boston and Trevor Williams also picked off Peterman Authentic B.J. Upton Jersey , who became the second quarterback since 1991 to throw five interceptions in his first start. Keith Null threw five interceptions with the St. Louis Rams in 2009.

Joey Bosa had a strip-sack of Taylor in the third quarter, and Melvin Ingram returned the loose ball 39 yards for a touchdown. Taylor, who started the first nine games of the season, replaced Peterman to start the second half.

”No matter who’s back there, we are going to do what we do,” Ingram said. ”We’re going to try to get after the quarterback, and our DBs Authentic James Shields Jersey , they was in they jack mode today.”

The Chargers had 11 takeaways in their first eight games. They bolstered their fledgling playoff hopes with their most emphatic win since beating the New York Jets 31-0 in 2014.

San Diego turned its six takeaways into 31 points, but it could have been worse for the Bills. Nick Novak missed a 46-yard field goal following Hayward’s first interception.

”It felt good,” said Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who was 20-of-32 passing for 251 yards and two touchdowns. ”The defense obviously helped out quite a bit. We had optimal field position, but we executed at a much better level offensively, much better rhythm and flow.”

The 54 points was the most ever in a game that Rivers started, and it was the first time the Chargers topped 50 since a 2008 win over the Denver Broncos.

It was the kind of complete performance the jubilant Chargers believe can propel them back into the postseason chase. Those aspirations seemed outlandish after losing their first four games Authentic Pernell McPhee Jersey , including two against AFC West opponents, and seeing the Kansas City Chiefs jump out to a 5-0 start. The Chargers are now only two games back of the division leaders.

It started with a defense that finally capitalized on opportunities handed to them and created plenty more. Toomer got his interception after Peterman’s pass hit fullback Patrick DiMarco in the hands and bounced up in the air. Hayward’s first pick was on a lob by Peterman under pressure, and he got the second by following Peterman’s gaze and undercutting a route. Bosa planted his helmet squarely in Peterman’s sternum during the throw that resulted in Boston’s third interception in two games.

”Sometimes they come in bunches, and they came today in bunches,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said.

”We were due for a game like this,” Toomer said.

Still, Ingram sees it as just a glimpse of what the Chargers can do Cheap Jihad Ward Jersey , especially on defense.

”We can’t just try to hang our hats on this,” Ingram said. ”There is still a long season ahead of us, and we headed in the right direction, but we ain’t where we want to be yet.”

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EAGAN Cheap Cassius Marsh Jersey , Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Vikings made a splash on the free agent market last month, with their fully guaranteed contract for quarterback Kirk Cousins and the signing of defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson for another instant upgrade for the starting lineup.

There’s another addition coming, too.

Running back Dalvin Cook, his promising rookie season cut painfully short at four games because of a torn ACL in his left knee , has passed the six-month mark in his rehabilitation and remains on track for full action when training camp begins.

He’ll be a limited participant in practices this spring and minicamp, head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman said Authentic Justin Bethel Jersey , and has impressed the team at each stage of his recovery. There’s no reason why he won’t be ready to play in the season opener on Sept. 9.

”Dalvin’s knocked the rehab out of the park,” Sugarman said. ”He’s done a great job. He’s been here every day since the injury occurred, post-surgery.”

The Vikings started their offseason workout program last week at their sparkling new training facility, with state-of-the-art equipment that certainly hasn’t hurt Cook’s quest to come back as the same dual-threat player who was briefly on display last season after being drafted in the second round out of Florida State .

Cook took part in strength and conditioning activities on the indoor turf with the rest of his teammates on Tuesday, when the Vikings opened a portion of the workout to reporters.

”You’ve got to trust yourself and know that you did everything in your power to get your knee back to where it’s at,” Cook said.

”I attacked this thing every day Cheap Mason Rudolph Jersey , and I did what I needed to do to get to this point, so I had no doubt when I first touched the field that it was where I wanted to be at.”

Cook had reconstructive surgery on Oct. 9. The first two weeks were the toughest part, with Sugarman pushing hard on his knee in the early struggle to regain that critical range of motion in the joint.

”You’re ready to hit him across the head,” Cook said. ”It’s a lot. It really is, man. It’s the injury that can make you or break you. I chose the route that it wasn’t going to break me, so I’m going to move forward.”

There will be several more hurdles to clear Cheap Josey Jewell Jersey , particularly those that involve a live defense across the line and ready to take Cook down to the turf. For now, three months before the toil and sweat of training camp arrives, there’s plenty to celebrate.

”This is kind of the fun part again for him to get back on the field to feel like a football player again,” Sugarman said.

As for Cousins, the past week has been about beginning the process of learning the offense and more importantly his new teammates.

He recently hosted wide receivers Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs for a couple of days in the Atlanta area, where Cousins spends most of his offseason.

Becoming the leader can’t be forced Authentic Mike Gesicki Jersey , even though this will unquestionably be his team come fall.

”Everybody’s been very down to earth. There’s a humility there. There’s a formula there for success, and I sit in the team meetings and I see the organization,” Cousins said.

”I see the attention to detail and I see the professionalism, and it’s just no surprise why there was success last year.”

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INDIANAPOLIS (3-8) at JACKSONVILLE (7-4)

Sunday Authentic Durham Smythe Jersey , 1 p.m. ET, CBS

OPENING LINE – Jaguars by 10

RECORD VS. SPREAD – Indianapolis 6-5, Jacksonville 6-5

SERIES RECORD – Colts lead 22-11

LAST MEETING – Jaguars beat Colts 27-0, Oct. 22, 2017

LAST WEEK – Colts lost to Titans 20-16; Jaguars lost to Cardinals 27-24

AP PRO32 RANKING – Colts No. 28, Jaguars No. 10

COLTS OFFENSE – OVERALL (27) Authentic Robert Griffin III Jersey , RUSH (24), PASS (26)

COLTS DEFENSE – OVERALL (29), RUSH (13), PASS (30)

JAGUARS OFFENSE – OVERALL (12), RUSH (1), PASS (29)

JAGUARS DEFENSE – OVERALL (1) Authentic Andrew McCutchen Jersey , RUSH (19), PASS (1)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Colts have lost three of four in series. … Colts RB Frank Gore needs 27 yards rushing to pass Jerome Bettis (13,662) for sixth on NFL’s all-time list and 49 yards rushing to pass LaDainian Tomlinson (13,684) for fifth. … Colts WR T.Y. Hilton needs one 150-yard receiving game to tie Marvin Harrison (11) for most such games in franchise history. … Jaguars dominated first meeting, finishing with 10 sacks while getting first shutout since 2006. Blake Bortles threw for season-high 330 yards Cheap Jonathan Cooper Jersey , and backup T.J. Yeldon had 122 of team’s 188 yards rushing. … First of three consecutive home games for Jaguars. … Jacksonville trying to reach eight wins for first time since 2008. … Jags DE Calais Campbell needs one sack to break franchise record set by Tony Brackens (12) in 1999. … Leonard Fournette, who scored at least one TD in first six games, looking for first since Oct. 15. Fournette needs 235 yards rushing to join Fred Taylor as only rookies in Jaguars history to rush for at least 1,000 yards. … Jaguars expect to get two starting offensive linemen, RT Jermey Parnell (knee) and LG Patrick Omameh (quadriceps), back for first time in weeks. … Fantasy Tip: Jaguars rookie WR Dede Westbrook continues making progress http://www.pittsburghsteelersteamstore.com/chukwuma-okorafor-jersey , and with Allen Hurns (ankle) sidelined at least another week, could be sleeper pick for breakout game against Indy’s beleaguered defense. 2016 Biletnikoff Award winner and Heisman Trophy finalist was targeted 10 times last week and caught six passes.

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