Now that the Steelers have gotten rid of all the guys who seemed to have a problem with Ben Roethlisberger — or at least were willing to say it out loud — now they have to pay their quarterback.And as they prepare to do so Derwin Gray Pittsburgh Steelers Jersey , they’re leaving no doubt that he’s their guy.Via Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network, Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert said that talks on Roethlisberger’s new deal were “still ongoing” but it was what he said about it that made their intent clear.In noting that all this offseason’s chatter regarding Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown was just a distraction rather than a big issue, Colbert staked the team firmly to the 37-year-old Roethlisberger.“We feel comfortable knowing Ben is our quarterback and our leader Derwin Gray Pittsburgh Steelers Jersey ,” Colbert said.The fact he has to say it out loud speaks to all the drama that has surrounded the Steelers lately. But if letting two stars of their offense go for nothing and a relative song didn’t make it clear that Roethlisberger ran the place, that statement did. Even though Colbert acknowledged that this would be his quarterback’s final contract, they’re willing to commit to him for the foreseeable future. PITTSBURGH (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a Texas man who threatened to go through with a mass shooting and suicide at an NFL playoff game in Pittsburgh has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.U.S. Attorney for Western Pennsylvania Scott Brady announced the sentence for San Antonio resident Yuttana Choochongkol Derwin Gray Jersey 2019 , who also went by the name Jason Manotham. Attorney information for Choochongkol was not listed in online federal court records.Federal agents say Choochongkol used the “contact us” function on the Heinz Field website, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, to send threatening messages that he planned to shoot fans and players at the Jan. 14 playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was convicted of threatening interstate communications.The 41-year-old also sent a threat to a television station a few days before the game. Both threats were reported to the FBI Cheap Derwin Gray Jersey , which used an internet protocol address to track the man.

Analyzing Nasir Adderley’s potential fit in the Silver and Black"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Raiders StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Raiders NewsYahoo Raiders Team PageYahoo Raiders ReportYahoo Raiders Depth ChartYahoo Raiders TransactionsYahoo Raiders PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕NFL DraftNFL Draft ProfilesRaiders Draft 2019NFL Draft 2019 scouting report: Nasir Adderley is the best safety in this draftNew John Matuszak Jersey ,38commentsAnalyzing Nasir Adderley’s potential fit in the Silver and BlackPDTShareTweetShareShareNFL Draft 2019 scouting report: Nasir Adderley is the best safety in this draftChuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsMeasurables6’0”, 206 lbs40-yard dash: 4.54 (Pro Day w/ injury)Bench Press: 19 repsVertical Jump: 39 inchesNote: Had hamstring injuryStats2016: 51 tackles, 8 passes defended2017: 49 tackles, 6 passes defended, 2 interceptions2018: 78 tackles, 8 passes defended, 5 interceptions2019: 48 tackles, 9 passes defended, 3 interceptionsAwards2016: Third-team All-CAA2017: All-CAA First Team2018: All-CAA First TeamCombine and Senior Bowl inviteStrengths Nice speed and agility allowing him to make plays sideline to sideline, with the strength and size to complete the play. Football IQ and game sense both above average, gives him a jump on plays that he utilizes well. Attacks every play, both in pass coverage and run support. Keeps eyes on the quarterback consistently. Solid tackler, can make the tough open-field tackles. Intelligence to read the play and determine optimal choice Howie Long Jersey , athleticism to make it happen more often than not.WeaknessTruthfully, there aren’t many. The obvious one is the level of competition. Playing at Delaware Adderley was not necessarily playing against the cream of the crop. Scouts point out that he played against very few NFL-caliber players. Other knock is a lack of man coverage from the safety position as he played a huge majority of his snaps in single high sets after switching from corner to safety in his junior year. VerdictIn my opinion, Adderley is the top safety option in this class. He could benefit from some coaching at the next level, especially in play recognition as he wasn’t facing the best or most diverse offenses in college. Adderley’s experience is paramount, teams will love his ability to play cornerback and safety.Pro ComparisonEarl ThomasFit with RaidersJon Gruden got a first hand look at Adderley while he coached him at the Senior Bowl, and he reportedly loved him. It is no surprise that Oakland needs help in the secondary (at both positions), and Adderley has experience at both. He would likely supplant any of the team’s options as a starter, or at the very least would push them all for snaps. Adderley’s motor is that of a ‘Gruden Grinder’ and he will be an option with either the late first picks ( 24 and 27) or the second round pick (35).Oakland would be smart to snag Adderley whenever possible. With the safety misses in previous drafts (Obi Melifonwu, Shalom Luani, Karl Joseph) the Raiders are still searching for a long-term solution. Adderley can be that player with potential to be the next star safety in the NFL. Andre James, T/G, UCLAMeasurables6’4", 299 lbs5.32 40 yard dash21 bench reps29" vertical jump105" broad jump4.84 20-yard shuttle8.00 3-coneStats2018: Started all 12 games at left tackle..."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Raiders StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Raiders NewsYahoo Raiders Team PageYahoo Raiders ReportYahoo Raiders Depth ChartYahoo Raiders TransactionsYahoo Raiders PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Raiders 2019 UDFA scouting report: Andre James has explosiveness Lyle Alzado Jersey , but needs to bulk upNew,7commentsPDTShareTweetShareShareRaiders 2019 UDFA scouting report: Andre James has explosiveness, but needs to bulk upBrian Spurlock-USA TODAY SportsAndre James, T/G, UCLAMeasurables6’4”, 299 lbs5.32 40 yard dash21 bench reps29” vertical jump105” broad jump4.84 20-yard shuttle8.00 3-coneStats2018: Started all 12 games at left tackle2017: Started all 13 games at right tackle2016: Started 7 games at right tackle2015: Redshirt seasonAwards2018: Awarded game ball after the UCLA Bruins beat the Arizona Wildcats on October 20, after he had lost his father to cancer earlier in the week.StrengthsHas the frame necessary to play offensive line in the NFL, but needs to add some weight. Possesses the explosive type of athleticism that offensive line coach Tom Cable looks for. Good football IQ allows for the recognition and identification of targets, has power when he is able to square up with opponents and maintain position.WeaknessesWhile James possesses explosiveness required for success in performing cut blocks in the zone blocking scheme, he lacks the foot speed to play tackle against athletic edge rushers in the NFL. That lack of speed is also why he has trouble getting to the second level, and he can be a hit or miss blocker who has a habit of lunging.VerdictJames has the frame to potentially play in the NFL, but he will need to work on improving his athleticism while also adding weight, which could prove difficult. At just 22 years old he has time to develop further Art Shell Jersey , but due to lacking both size and athleticism, is likely to be both outmatched and overpowered by many NFL defensive linemen. He has both a natural fluidity in his movement and demonstrates the explosiveness displayed in his vertical and broad jump at the combine. However, his footwork needs improvement, and his change of direction is at times painful.Fit With RaidersJames seems a long shot to make the roster at this point, but with the competition at left guard wide open, and plenty of time between now and training camp, anything is possible. He plays a position at which the Raiders have a need, and college teammate Kolton Miller showed significant improvement in technique between the draft and the opening of training camp, so the question becomes how much time and effort James will put into addressing his areas of need between now and late July.

On Saturday afternoon at the Prudential Center Youth Jordan Weal Jersey , the Florida Panthers conclude a weeklong residency in the Metro New York area with an off-Broadway matinee against the New Jersey Devils.The Panthers (2-3-3) arrived in New York on Monday, dropped a 5-2 decision to the Rangers on Tuesday, rallied for a 3-2 overtime victory over the Islanders on Wednesday and followed a day off Thursday filled with appearances at the NHL store and on NHL Network by several star players with a spirited practice on Friday.Next is a noon start against the Devils (4-2-1) on Saturday.Article continues below ...“Winning how we did (against the Islanders), tying the game in the third period and winning in overtime, gives us a lot of confidence going forward,” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said after Friday’s practice. “We just need to bring the same energy we had last game to New Jersey.”Despite playing on consecutive nights, the Panthers erased a two-goal deficit in the final period against the Islanders. Mike Hoffman capped the comeback with his fourth goal of the season for the overtime win.Barkov assisted on the game-winner and had two assists. He now has six points in the last five games.Teammate Evgenii Dadonov, who scored his fourth goal on Wednesday, carries a five-game point-scoring streak into Saturday’s matchup with New Jersey.“In hockey, you’re always looking for a spark Scott Laughton Jersey , and I think we’re feeling inspired by that third-period comeback in Brooklyn,” Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad told the team’s website.While the Panthers seek their first consecutive wins of the season, as well as their first in regulation, the Devils hunt their first victory since Oct. 16.New Jersey started the season with four consecutive victories but remains winless since then with two regulation losses and, most recently, a 4-3 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators on Thursday.Nico Hischier scored twice in the loss, Taylor Hall extended his point-scoring streak to six games and Kyle Palmieri notched his team-high 11th point. Yet the Devils let a one-goal slip away late in the third period Thursday before Nashville’s Kyle Turris scored the deciding goal in overtime.“I think we did a pretty good job of playing back to a type of game we need to play,” Devils captain Andy Greene said of the team’s effort on Thursday.Already missing injured forwards Jesper Bratt and Drew Stafford, goalie Cory Schneider and defensemen Steven Santini and Ben Lovejoy, the Devils practiced without center Marcus Johansson on Friday. He was absent because of an illness and is questionable to play against the Panthers.In addition Womens Sean Couturier Jersey , the Devils sent forward John Quenneville back to the minors on Friday and recalled rookie winger Joey Anderson from AHL Binghamton. Anderson had two goals and five points in eight minor league games this season.“There are some guys on our team right now who sometimes when they have the chance to shoot the puck from quality areas, they are bypassing the shots,” Devils coach John Hynes said. “For us, it has to be more pucks to the net, getting into the areas where you’re going to score goals. We need that from more of our forwards in the lineup.”After Saturday’s game, the Devils hit the road to play seven consecutive games away from the Prudential Center. So far, they played only once on the road, a 5-2 loss to the Flyers in Philadelphia last Saturday.The Panthers will leave New Jersey and head to Finland next week as part of the NHL Global Series. They will play two games against the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 1-2.“I can’t believe it’s really going to happen,” said Barkov, a Finnish native. “I’m going back to Finland in a couple days. I can’t wait to see the atmosphere.” The Colorado Avalanche went to Canada last week in search of four points but came away with one against Calgary and Vancouver.They should have had four Shayne Gostisbehere Jersey , but late collapses in both games turned a potential 2-0-0 swing into a 0-1-1 result. Colorado (7-4-3) has had four days to get that bad taste out of its mouth, and now has to focus on playing the best team in the NHL.The Nashville Predators (11-3-0) are in town Wednesday night riding a three-game winning streak and the most points in the league. It’s the first meeting since Nashville eliminated Colorado in six games in the first round of the playoffs last year, and the Predators look as formidable now as they did in April.Article continues below ...“They’re a good team, great (defensive) corps, quite a few forwards that can score, great goalie,” forward Colin Wilson said this week. “But I like the way we matched up against them last year, the way we played against them. We were really strong. It should be a good game (Wednesday).”Wilson has firsthand knowledge of Nashville, having played for the organization before signing with Colorado in the summer of 2017. He knows how deep the team is, from the forwards to goaltender Pekke Rinne Andrej Sustr Jersey Womens , who signed a two-year contract extension on Saturday.The Predators are a deep team, too, and that depth has been tested with the absence of forward Viktor Arvidsson.Arvidsson, the team’s third-leading scorer, has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury. He was placed on injured reserve Monday, retroactive to last week, so he is eligible to return against the Avalanche.Ryan Hartman skated on the top line with Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen during practice Monday and could be there Wednesday. His solid play this season is a reason that coach Peter Laviolette is willing to try him there.“It’s just mixing it up a little bit, trying to find the right guy,” Laviolette told The Tennessean on Tuesday. “(Hartman) has warranted it, the way he’s played the last few games http://www.flyersshoponline.com/authentic-nolan-patrick-jersey , his speed (and) the way he’s chipped in offensively.”As good as Nashville’s top line is, Colorado’s trio is the highest scoring in the NHL. The three are all in the top eight in points in the NHL entering Tuesday’s action, with winger Mikko Rantanen first with 24 points. Nathan MacKinnon has 21 points and Gabe Landeskog 18. MacKinnon and Landeskog are tied for second in the NHL with 11 goals apiece.The three are a big reason Colorado entered Tuesday tied with Calgary with the most goals in the league with 52.The top line has carried the team, but the Avalanche have started to get secondary scoring from its other lines and the defensive corps. Sheldon Dries and Vadislav Kamenev each scored their first NHL goals in Calgary.Those two got opportunities because of injuries to J.T. Compher and Tyson Jost. Both are dealing with head injuries, with Jost closer to returning. Forward Sven Andrighetto is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.

EDMONTON Kevin Hayes Jersey , Alberta (AP) — The San Jose Sharks have been getting contributions from just about everyone during their five-game winning streak.On Saturday night, it was Kevin Labanc’s turn. The 23-year-old recorded his first career hat trick as the Sharks beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-2.“I have to show that I’m doing everything I can to be here and to make myself better and make this team better as well,” Labanc said. “We’re trying to improve ourselves in the standings. We have a great team here and we have to keep this rolling.“Besides the hat trick, we got the two points and that was huge for us.”Evander Kane and Tomas Hertl also scored for San Jose, and Aaron Dell stopped 21 shots.“When mentally we want to engage, and do it the right way, we’ve eliminated a lot of odd-man rushes and on top of it our goalie has been playing really solid,” Sharks captain Joe Pavelski said.Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zack Kassian scored for the Oilers, who have lost seven of eight. Edmonton has also lost five straight at home and is 2-11-0 in its last 13 games at Rogers Place.“We can’t play this way and actually expect to win hockey games, not at this time of year. Quite frankly, not ever. Maybe in an exhibition game,” Oilers coach Ken Hitchcock said. “This, for players Kevin Shattenkirk Jersey , has to be really unacceptable. To play that way, with so much at stake, to be able to move with two or three points of eighth place and play this way, it can’t be acceptable.“At this time of year the coaches can’t want it more than the players.”The Sharks got a break on the first goal of the game midway through the first period when Labanc’s shot caromed off of defender Kevin Gravel and past Oilers goalie Cam Talbot.San Jose added to its lead a couple of minutes later when Kane was left all alone on his path to the front of the net. He easily scored his 24th goal of the season.The Sharks made it 3-0 on the power play six minutes into the middle period when Labanc rifled a shot top corner.The Oilers finally got one past Dell when Nugent-Hopkins notched a power-play goal 12 minutes into the second.Labanc recorded his third goal of the game and ninth of the season early in the third period, beating Talbot with a quick wrist shot from the slot.The Sharks made it 5-1 three minutes later as Hertl went untouched as he dipsy-doodled in front of the net before scoring his 25th.Kassian batted a puck out of the air and past Dell with six minutes left for the Oilers.NOTES: Sharks veteran Joe Thornton dressed in his 1,540th game, tying Shane Doan and Johnny Bucyk for 15th in league history. The 39-year-old had a pair of assists to tie Hall of Famer Gordie Howe for ninth place on the NHL list. … San Jose D Erik Karlsson missed his seventh straight game with an undisclosed injury. … Gravel was inserted on the Oilers blue line in place of Matt Benning, who was nursing a minor injury.UP NEXTSharks: Close out a four-game trip in Vancouver on Monday.Oilers: Embark on a three-game trip, beginning in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. TORONTO (AP) — Booed out of their own building after a lopsided loss last week, the Calgary Flames recommitted to their defensive structure and the move paid off against Toronto.Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm scored in a 55-second span of the third period to lead the Flames to a 3-1 victory over the Maple Leafs on Monday night, snapping a three-game losing streak.“We put together 60 good minutes,” said Lindholm, who leads his team with eight goals after coming over in a blockbuster trade with the Carolina Hurricanes at the NHL draft. “We were above them all night http://www.officialhockeyrangersshop.com/authentic-adidas-marc-staal-jersey , first to pucks, won battles.”Lindholm and Monahan each added an assist. Michael Frolik added an empty-net goal to seal it. Mike Smith made 24 saves.Nazem Kadri, playing his 500th NHL game, scored for Toronto. Frederik Andersen stopped 31 shots.The Leafs lacked jump in their first game without Auston Matthews. It was announced earlier Monday that the center would miss at least four weeks with a left shoulder injury.“Our last two games have been the way we want to play,” Calgary captain Mark Giordano said. “When you play well defensively the goals come.”Monahan snapped a scoreless tie 4:39 into the third on a power play, netting his fifth goal of the season of a rebound of a shot by Lindholm.Lindholm then gave the Flames, who were 0-2-1 over their last three, a 2-0 edge with his team-leading eighth goal at 6:34 after the Leafs turned the puck over in their own zone.“I thought they skated, I thought they worked, I thought they sailed out of their zone and beat us up the ice,” said Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, whose club was coming off back-to-back wins over the Winnipeg Jets. “The game is frustrating when the other team works harder than you.”Toronto defenseman Igor Ozhiganov hit the post at the other end on the next shift.The Leafs got to within one at 16:07, when Kadri scored his third of the season and third in as many games on a feed from Mitch Marner Authentic Mats Zuccarello Jersey , one second after a Toronto two-man advantage of 1:09 expired.The Leafs pressed for the tie, but were unable to get another one past Smith before Frolik added an insurance goal into an empty net, his fifth goal of the season.The Flames fell 3-2 in a shootout to the Washington Capitals in Calgary on Saturday — a result that, despite the final score, was viewed as a step in the right direction after getting blown out 9-1 by the Pittsburgh Penguins at home 48 hours earlier.Andersen kept things scoreless early in the second when he made a right pad save that stopped Lindholm on a delayed penalty, before Smith stopped Hyman at the other end.Johnny Gaudreau cut around Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner later in the period, but couldn’t get a shot away on Andersen.The Leafs goalie stopped Matthew Tkachuk and Mikael Backlund before John Tavares shoveled a loose puck off a scramble into Smith’s open net, but it was just after the buzzer sounded to end the second period.The 21-year-old Matthews, who doesn’t require surgery for his damaged shoulder, was hurt on a clean check by Jets defenceman Jacob Trouba early in the second period of Saturday’s 3-2 comeback victory over Winnipeg.Matthews sustained a similar injury to his other shoulder last February and missed 10 games — his third stint on the sidelines in 2017-18 following back and concussion problems — but still managed to finish second on the team in goals (34) and points (63) in just 62 appearances.He will sit out at least 13 games with this injury, and perhaps more if the recovery process stretches beyond 28 days.Matthews has 10 goals (tied for second in the NHL) and 16 points (tied for sixth) through 11 games this season.Calgary held a 12-4 edge in shots, with Toronto’s output in the opening 20 minutes tying its lowest in any period in 2018-19.With their best player on the shelf, the Leafs were forced to shuffle their lines over Saturday’s final two periods and again on Monday.Kadri Mika Zibanejad Jersey , who started the campaign as Toronto’s No. 3 center, was reunited with Marner and Patrick Marleau after the trio clicked in the second half 2017-18, while Tavares played between Hyman and Kasperi Kapanen to round out the top-six forward group.The Leafs are also still without winger William Nylander, who was slated to start the season alongside Matthews and Marleau following the addition of Tavares this summer, as the restricted free agent and the club remain at odds over a new contract.“It’s frustrating,” Matthews said of his injury prior to Monday’s game. “There’s not much you can do.“I’m going to work as hard as I can to get back as soon as possible.”NOTES: Marner has five assists in his last three games. … The Leafs were 11-7-2 without Matthews last season. … Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott, who missed both victories over Winnipeg because of an illness, was a healthy scratch.UP NEXTCalgary: Back in action Tuesday in Buffalo.Toronto: Hosts the Dallas Stars on Thursday.

We're almost through the first two weeks of the 2018-19 NHL season. It's obviously too early to tell which teams are for real Womens Derek Dorsett Jersey , and which ones are bound to disappoint this year.This week's power rankings changed significantly. We based them on how the teams have fared, and how we expect them to play going forward. For example, the Lightning and Jets aren't in the top-10, strictly because they've played poorly. But we know they'll pick it up soon, and they'll climb into the top-five eventually.Here's where all 31 teams stand.31. Ottawa Senators (1-2-1)A very uninspiring series of efforts from a Sens team that already looks like it can't wait for the season to end. It's not good that the attendance is also a problem this early. And a sad reminder, their 2019 first-rounder goes to the Colorado Avalanche via the Matt Duchene trade.advertising30. Edmonton Oilers (0-2-0)Back-to-back losses to start the season, and it's another case of Connor McDavid having to carry the entire team. If things don't turn around by November, head coach Todd McLellan could lose his job. There are no more excuses for another bad year.29. New York Rangers (1-3-0)Pain was expected on Broadway, and such pain has come. The Rangers didn't sell out their home opener, and the team knows this rebuild is going to be a long and painful process. They'll in contention for a top-five selection.28.聽Detroit Red Wings (0-2-2)The Red Wings are still searching for their first win of the season. With captain Henrik Zetterberg retiring due to back injuries, Detroit is in need of a new leader and scoring. Dylan Larkin has shown he might be that guy.advertising27. Arizona Coyotes (1-2-0)Through three games, nobody on the Coyotes has more than a single point this season. Dylan Strome is still transitioning into the big leagues, while a lower-body injury has prevented Alex Galchenyuk from making his Arizona debut. Once he returns, the offense will get better.26. Buffalo Sabres (2-2-0) Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY SportsWell, they don't look that horrible so far. The Sabres picked up home victories against the struggling Rangers and Vegas Golden Knights, only to fall 6-1 at home to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. But really, if the Sabres avoid a bottom-five finish this year, the fans will be happy.advertising25.聽Vegas Golden Knights (1-4-0)Not exactly the encore we expected. The defending Western Conference champions have limped to a 1-4-0 start, with a horrible minus-nine goal differential. The only good news? There's 77 games left to figure it out.24. Montreal Canadiens (1-1-1)They stole a point in Toronto then crushed the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 on the road. But oh http://www.officialcanucks.com/authentic-adidas-henrik-sedin-jersey , the Habs laid an egg at home and lost 3-0 to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. At least they probably won't start 1-6-1 like last year?23. Vancouver Canucks (2-2-0)advertisingRookie Elias Pettersson is off to a sizzling start, with seven points through his first four NHL games. The Canucks upset the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 on Thursday. They're not a playoff team, but Vancouver is聽considerably better than the other bottom feeders.22. Florida Panthers (0-1-1)The Panthers are off to a slow start, but don't forget the hot second-half surge they had last season. This team always struggles out of the gate, but Aleksander Barkov and co. will take off soon. Too much talent for them to be mired in mediocrity again.21. New York Islanders (2-1-0) Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY SportsThe post-John Tavares era hasn't been awful yet. The Islanders handed the Carolina Hurricanes their only thus far, then shut out the San Jose Sharks on Monday. They visit the Nashville Predators Saturday.advertising20. Minnesota Wild (1-1-1)A big comeback win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday gave Minnesota their first win of the season. But the team looks quite sloppy, and it's no wonder many pegged them to miss the playoffs this season.19. Philadelphia Flyers (2-2-0)Yeesh. Goalie Brian Elliott owns a 4.70 goals against average with a .869 save percentage. James van Riemsdyk will miss over a month because of a lower-body injury. Even if they're 2-2, Flyers fans have good reason to worry about this season.18. St. Louis Blues (1-1-1)advertisingThe Blues shrugged off a pair of opening losses by taking it to the Calgary Flames Thursday, winning 5-3. Newcomer Ryan O'Reilly leads the way with four points through the first three games.17. Calgary Flames (2-2-0)The Flames simply won't be a playoff team if goalie Mike Smith plays like this. He owns a 3.57 goals against average and .881 save percentage. The Flames have 15 goals through their first four games, but they can forget about the playoffs if the defense and goaltending doesn't pick it up.16. Dallas Stars (2-1-0) Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsThe Stars shut out the Arizona Coyotes in their season opener then hammered the Winnipeg Jets 5-1. That was followed by a 7-4 stinker at home to the Toronto Maple Leafs. At least goalie Ben Bishop looks solid so far.advertising15. New Jersey Devils (2-0-0)A nice start to the season for New Jersey. They took down the Oilers 5-2 in the season opener (played in Gothenburg, Sweden), then crushed the defending champion Washington Capitals 6-0 on Thursday. We'll see if this offense is for real, or if it's just a lucky start.14. Los Angeles Kings (2-1-1)The Kings have taken seven of eight points, and their 2-1 road loss to the powerhouse Winnipeg Jets is nothing to worry about. The only concern is if this ageing core has enough gas in the tank for another run at the Cup.13. Tampa Bay Lightning (1-1-0)Not the best start for the Lightning, but we know they're going to pick it up. They're still a top-five team in the NHL, but they belong outside of the top-10 until we see them get it together again.advertising12. Pittsburgh Penguins (2-1-0)The Penguins rebounded from an ugly 5-1 home loss to the Montreal Canadiens by taking down the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. This team tends to get hotter in the second half, so fans shouldn't worry if they struggle with consistency for the first couple of months.11. Winnipeg Jets (2-2-0)The Western Conference favorites need to be better. They took down the Los Angeles Kings in their home opener, but followed it up with an ugly road loss to the Nashville Predators. But not to worry, they'll get hot soon.advertising10. San Jose Sharks (2-2-1)The Sharks have been up-and-down through their first five games. Newcomer Erik Karlsson has three assists through his first five games. The Sharks haven't played their best yet Jacob Markstrom Jersey , but we know it's coming soon.9. Washington Capitals (2-1-1) Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY SportsA 2-1-1 start to the season isn't so bad, given the Stanley Cup hangover's legitimacy and a daunting schedule to start the season. Washington begins a three-game homestand on Saturday.8. Colorado Avalanche (3-1-0)The Avalanche have beaten up on three mediocre teams thus far, but they've done it in style. Mikko Rantanen leads the team with seven points. Semyon Varlamov is 3-0-0 with an impressive 1.55 GAA and .955 save percentage.advertising7. Columbus Blue Jackets (3-1-0)Artemi Panarin unsurprisingly leads this team with seven points through the first four games. Are the Blue Jackets sure they don't want to meet his asking price? You don't want to lose him in free agency.6. Anaheim Ducks (3-0-1)No Corey Perry and an injured Ryan Kesler? No problem. Jakob Silfverberg leads the team with five points, and the Ducks look like the team that's won five of the last six Pacific Division titles.5. Carolina Hurricanes (3-0-1)The new-look Hurricanes are off to an impressive start, taking seven of a possible eight points. Sebastian Aho leads the team with six points, while newcomer Micheal Ferland has five points. Curtis McElhinney has won his first two starts. Just wait until new defenceman Dougie Hamilton picks it up, too.4. Boston Bruins (3-1-0)Boston's top line hasn't lost a beat. They had no problem brushing aside the Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators or Edmonton Oilers after a 7-0 opening loss to Washington. Now, if only they could get some secondary scoring...3. Chicago Blackhawks (2-0-2)You never want to jump to conclusions this early in the season, but these look like the old Blackhawks that own three Stanley Cups this decade. Jonathan Toews has eight points through the first four games. Patrick Kane hasn't missed a beat; he has seven points and could contend for the scoring title.2. Nashville Predators (3-1-0)The Predators already look like the team many pegged to win the Stanley Cup. They avenged last season's heartbreaking playoff exit by defeating the Winnipeg Jets 3-0 on Thursday.1.聽Toronto Maple Leafs (4-1-0) Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsNobody can stop this Toronto power play, it's that simple. Auston Matthews already has nine goals and 12 points. Morgan Rielly is tied with Matthews for the scoring lead. By the way, Mitch Marner and John Tavares each have 10 points.Yeah, this offense is going to be hard to stop all year. We feel very sorry for the other 30 teams right now. CHICAGO (AP) The Vancouver Canucks have struggled to score since rookie Brock Boeser was shelved by a back injury.They got some help Thursday night from an unlikely source.Alexander Edler scored twice in his fourth career multigoal game, and the Canucks stopped a seven-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the sliding Chicago Blackhawks.Henrik Sedin and Bo Horvat each had a goal and an assist as Vancouver won for the first time since Boeser got hurt late in regulation of a 4-3 overtime victory against the New York Islanders on March 5. The Canucks (26-39-9) scored seven goals during their slide, which included three consecutive shutouts.”I don’t think we played a perfect game, but it was nice to get a win,” Edler said.Chicago (30-36-9) closed out a three-game homestand with its fifth consecutive loss. Jean-Francois Berube was pulled in the second period after allowing four goals on 18 shots, and Anton Forsberg finished with eight saves.The Blackhawks played without captain Jonathan Toews, who is out with an upper-body injury and will be re-evaluated next week. Toews got hurt during Tuesday night’s 5-1 loss to Colorado Markus Granlund Jersey , which officially eliminated Chicago from playoff contention.Nick Schmaltz and Matthew Highmore scored for Chicago, which has lost seven of eight overall. The Blackhawks have allowed at least five goals in each of their last five games.”It’s something we’re working on. We talk every day about limiting other team’s chances,” Schmaltz said. ”Whether we’re not coming back hard enough or turning pucks over at the blue line, I think we can do a better job of that.”Schmaltz picked up his 21st of the season when he got a piece of Brent Seabrook’s big slap shot from the right circle at 8:02 of the first, tying it at 1. The Canucks took over from there.Sedin made it 2-1 when he jumped on a rebound and knocked it by Berube with 2:18 left in the first. It was Sedin’s first goal since Nov. 14 and just his third of the season.”It’s a good feeling, but I put zero thought into not scoring,” Sedin said. ”I felt good for the most part. I mean two goals is not good, but there’s been other guys scoring around me. That’s helped.”Horvat scored on a rush in the second, and Edler chased Berube when he sent a long slap shot under the goaltender’s left arm 9:38 into the period. The veteran defenseman matched his career best with his first two-goal game since 2011 and No. 4 overall.”You need offense from your back end,” coach Travis Green said. ”Nice to see Eddie get a couple goals tonight.”Brent Sutter added his eighth 3:24 into the third, making it 5-1 Vancouver. The Blackhawks got one back when Highmore scored with 3:33 left, but the Canucks were never seriously threatened.”I think we’re doing a lot of good things,” Highmore said. ”It’s just momentary lapses. In this league, if you don’t play a full 60 minutes, teams make you pay.”NOTES: Canucks F Brendan Leipsic departed with an upper-body injury. … Horvat reached 20 goals for the second straight season. ”To get it in back-to-back years, that gives me confidence moving forward,” he said. … Highmore returned to the lineup after he missed the loss to Colorado with an upper-body injury.UP NEXTCanucks: Visit the St. Louis Blues on Friday night.Blackhawks: Visit the New York Islanders on Saturday night.—Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap—

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Valtteri Filppula isn’t taking many shots Christopher Tanev Jersey , but the third-line center is making them count.The New York Islanders decided to follow his lead, with Filppula scoring two goals on two shots to help his team snap a two-game road losing streak with a 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.Filppula, Matt Martin, Leo Komarov and Andrew Ladd each had a goal in the third period as the Islanders set a season high in scoring.“It’s always nice to get a couple goals, and I think all of our lines played really well,” said Filppula, who also had an assist for his first three-point game since Dec. 16, 2016, against Calgary.Casey Cizikas had a goal for the second straight game Authentic Daniel Sedin Jersey , and Josh Bailey scored on the power play. Robin Lehner made 28 saves for the Islanders, who were playing the second game of a back-to-back.Jonathan Quick made his first start for the Kings after missing five games because of a lower-body injury, but was pulled with 10:40 remaining after allowing six goals on 29 shots. Tyler Toffoli and Jeff Carter each scored on the power play, and Los Angeles lost its third straight.Filppula made it 3-1 after Bailey’s power-play goal put New York back in front 2-1 at 3:43 of the second period.After Carter made it 3-2 during a two-man advantage early in the third, Filppula had a short-handed goal on a two-man break 46 seconds later to restore a two-goal lead.Filppula, who has scored a team-leading four goals on seven shots, credited passes from Komarov and Ladd for making his night so easy and helping the Islanders win for the second time in their past nine games in Los Angeles (2-7-0).“I’d like to have the chance to shoot it a little bit more, but today, with both those passes Womens Derek Dorsett Jersey , can’t get much closer than that,” Filppula said.Martin added his goal a minute later, at 4:40.Komarov scored, sending Quick to the bench, and Ladd capped the barrage of goals at 11:34 against backup Jack Campbell.“It was really disappointing,” Kings coach John Stevens said. “Totally, totally went to sleep, gave up a really easy short-handed goal there and just stopped playing.”The Islanders took a 1-0 lead at 4:05 of the first on a goal by Cizikas.Toffoli tied it at 1, redirecting Drew Doughty’s shot from the blue line at 14:56 for the Kings’ first power-play goal of the season. Los Angeles had started 0 for 22 on the power play and was the last team in the NHL to score with the man advantage.And while the Kings got their power play on track http://www.officialcanucks.com/authentic-adidas-henrik-sedin-jersey , they continue to struggle on the penalty kill. Los Angeles has allowed a power-play goal in three straight games and four of the last five, killing just 64.7 percent of penalties (11 of 17) in that span.“I think we’ve got some soul searching to do,” defenseman Alec Martinez said. “What happened there at the end was unacceptable. It’s not one guy in particular. It’s all of us. We’ve got to figure some things out.”Kings center Anze Kopitar did not play because of illness. It was the first time he missed a game since Jan. 18, 2017, and ended a streak of playing in 126 consecutive games.Lehner left late in the third period after he was struck in the upper body by a puck, Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. Thomas Greiss played the final 7:04 and stopped all five shots he faced.NOTES: Filppula, Ladd and Scott Mayfield each had three points. Mayfield and defenseman Thomas Hickey each had a plus-5 rating. … Islanders center Mathew Barzal had two assists, giving him six in six games. … Kings forward Sheldon Rempal played 13:06 in his NHL debut. … With Quick coming off injured reserve, goalie Peter Budaj was assigned to the Kings’ AHL affiliate in a corresponding move.UP NEXTIslanders: Conclude their four-game trip in San Jose on Saturday.Kings: Host the Buffalo Sabres in a Saturday matinee. SEATTLE (AP) — The ownership group looking to bring an expansion NHL team to Seattle unveiled plans Monday for a $70 million training facility in the northern part of the city.NHL Seattle CEO Tod Lewieke announced the plans Jacob Markstrom Jersey , which include three full-sized rinks and office space to serve as the headquarters for the proposed new franchise. The facility will have 180,000 square feet total and be located near Seattle’s Northgate Mall, which is being redeveloped. The location is a short walk from a new light-rail station set to open in a few years and has easy access to Interstate 5.“We have an incredible opportunity to make Seattle the epicenter of hockey in the Pacific Northwest and our ownership has given us the ability to take a big, big step today,” Leiweke said. “This is a major commitment. We’re investing lots of money in KeyArena, we’re acquiring a team we hope, and this is another major financial commitment that our owners are making to try and grow the game, build the game and have impact.”The expansion bid by Seattle appears to be set for final approval by the NHL Board of Governors in early December. The board’s executive committee gave a unanimous recommendation last week in New York to move ahead with approving Seattle’s bid to become the league’s 32nd team.The hope is Seattle will be ready to join the league for the 2020-21 season, assuming construction stays on schedule for the $700 million renovation of KeyArena. The venue hosted its final scheduled event last Friday Markus Granlund Jersey , when the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings met in an NBA preseason game, and the renovation could begin in the coming weeks.The proposed training facility would have one rink with seating for 1,000 and two rinks each with seating for 400. The NHL Seattle group also expects the building to be a hub for growing youth programs in the area. Lance Lopes of NHL Seattle noted similar facilities are under construction or nearing completion in St. Louis; San Jose, California; and Anaheim, California.“This is a trend across the country to build these multiplex facilities with a training facility as well,” Lopes said.

It’s amazing how quickly good feelings from a win can go away. The positivity from last week’s win against the Cleveland Browns has already disappeared with this loss to the Los Angeles Chargers Frostee Rucker Jersey , quickly dissolving back into the negativity that had preceded the Raiders lone victory. It isn’t just that the Raiders lost, it’s that they played so badly in a huge game for them. This was a divisional rivalry that could have gotten the Raiders out of the AFC West cellar with a victory, and Oakland just completely whiffed on even making the game competitive. It wasn’t just a loss, it was an implosion. That is on Jon Gruden not having his team ready for this game, he needs to make sure the team is better prepared and motivated for such an important game.Once again though, a horrible decision by Derek Carr in the end zone directly affected the outcome of the game. It was with a minute left in the 3rd quarter, the score was 20-3 and the Raiders had 1st and goal at the 1 yard line when Carr threw another absolutely ridiculous interception. Let’s just repeat that for a second, it was 1st and goal from the 1!Not only was it an awful call to even throw the ball there instead of run Marshawn Lynch Authentic Leon Hall Jersey , but there was absolutely no reason to force a throw into traffic in the middle of the end zone anyway. It was just plain stupid and unforgivable of Carr, there was no chance he was going to complete that pass to Derek Carrier and he threw it directly to Melvin Ingram like Ingram was the intended target.How many times do we have to say this anyway, run Marshawn Lynch in that situation every single time. Lynch is the most violent runner of the past decade, you give him the first opportunity to score from the goal line. This shouldn’t have to even be said. Don’t be cute, don’t be creative, just hand the ball off to Beastmode and let him dominate the defense even if they know it’s coming. If he gets stopped then MAYBE try something else, but don’t throw the damn ball on 1st and goal from the 1 when you have Marshawn Lynch.If the Raiders score a touchdown there the game is 20-10 going into the 4th quarter and all of the momentum would have been on Oakland’s side. Who knows what happens after that? The game was fully in reach if Carr doesn’t throw the bonehead interception. It’s ok to throw the ball away in order to live to fight another day, but Carr consistently makes these horrible decisions instead.Then to make matters worse Youth Johnny Townsend Jersey , once the offense got the ball back after the Chargers scored another touchdown they showed absolutely no urgency in trying to come back from the 26-3 deficit. The 9 play touchdown drive would have been beautiful if it had happened any time before the 4th quarter, but it was agony to watch the team walk to the line like they had all the time in the world.They weren’t likely to come back anyway, but that doesn’t mean you don’t still do everything you can in trying to make the improbable happen. There was just under 10 minutes left in the game for the Raiders to get 23 points, and they took 4:31 off the clock on the one slow moving drive. There was no fire, no rhythm, no anything of what you actually would want to see from your favorite team in that situation.The one bright spot to point out in the whole game was that Daryl Worley looked really good at times coming back from suspension. He had 8 tackles in the game and at least two of them were on third down plays where he came up with the stop when nobody else was going to be able to. There is a reason that he played 77% of the snaps despite only having 3 practices since preseason ended, and hopefully he continues to show that type of play going forward.A semi-bright spot was the play of Martavis Bryant who had 3 receptions for 91 yards, however that’s only simi-bright because of his extremely costly fumble in the 2nd quarter. The Raiders needed to respond to the Chargers touchdown that took the lead 10-3 http://www.raidersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jared-cook-jersey , but Bryant’s fumble led to another LA touchdown and the Raiders never were really in the game again after that. Still, it’s great to see him continuing to get comfortable in the Raiders offense and to put his impressive speed on display. He is showing what the Raiders saw in him to trade a 3rd rounder for him, he just needs to clean it up a little more and secure the ball much better than he did on that fumble.There is no excuse for such a lackluster offense in such a big game for the Raiders though, Jon Gruden absolutely has to do better than this. This clearly looks like a lost season already at 1-4, but that doesn’t excuse having such a flat, uninspired offense like they showed against the Chargers. There is no excuse for the offense to play like they did yesterday, and that is on Jon Gruden to make sure the team isn’t flat like that.That’s the most frustrating part of the whole thing. Gruden is a master motivator (maybe) and instead of showing up for a big game like this the team just completely folded. Where is the fire that Chucky is supposed to have if it isn’t showing up in an AFC West rivalry game to get out of the cellar of the division? Losing is one thing, but losing with no heart is another and this was the latter.Next up is Seattle in London Marshawn Lynch Jersey , a game that seemed a lot more winnable a week ago. Still, a win against the Seahawks before facing the Colts at home and the 49ers in Santa Clara could put them right back on track to getting this season respectable at least. Right now even hoping for a .500 season is hard to do, but a win against Seattle could reinvigorate the team and the fanbase.Sadly, it’s awfully hard to be optimistic going forward after flopping like they did against the Chargers in such a big opportunity for them. If the Raiders continue to play with as little heart as they showed yesterday then there’s a much better chance that Oakland would be battling for the top pick in the draft rather than being anywhere near 8-8 when the season ends. There’s a country song that says “I’m much too young to feel this damn old”. That’s kinda how I feel about this season. I’m much too tired for it to only be at the season’s halfway point. I have a feeling I’m not alone in that. The difference is that I have to look at a game like this and try to make sense of it. It’s exhausting, to be perfectly honest.Just a week ago, we saw the offensive line have their best game and Derek Carr play probably his best game of the season as well. But as usual, the defense gave it away. This game saw the offense take a nosedive, in part because the offensive line was in shambles. Kolton Miller got hurt on the first drive and everything went to shit. And the defense did what it has all season – give up everything.Plain and simple Justin Ellis Jersey , they just have very little talent on the defense. They allowed undrafted Nick Mullens making his first NFL appearance throw for 262 yards and 3 touchdowns and the running backs go for 143 yards and one touchdown on the ground. This one was over midway through the third quarter. That has been the story in three of the Raiders last four games.BallerJohnathan HankinsHe seemed to be the only player on the Raiders who was outplaying the man across from him consistently. Last week he was second on the team with 9 combined tackles. That’s impressive for any position, but outstanding for a nose tackle. This game he was tied for second with 4 combined tackles and two tackles for loss.Stops were hard to come by in this game. Late in the first quarter, Frostee Rucker got a stop on a 1-yard run because Hankins got in the backfield to disrupt it. The 49ers would still get to the goal line. Kyle Wilber missed a tackle that would have stopped them on third and one, but on first and goal, Hankins got in the backfield again and didn’t miss his tackle for a 2-yard loss.In the second quarter, Tahir Whitehead made a run stop in part because Hankins was in his gap. The Raiders actually stopped that drive for a punt. The only punt of the first half. Hankins might seem like an unlikely Top Baller, but he deserves it. If only for his performance over the past two weeks while the rest of the defense has been a travesty.Honorable mentionRodney Hudson – Steady presence on the offensive line. Literally the only one this week.Jalen Richard – Led the team in receiving with 4 catches on 4 targets for 45 yards. He had 8 catches on 8 targets for 50 yards last week. Raiders need a reliable outlet out of the backfield and he’s it.See the Busters

Detroit Lions Week 1 injury update: What we know about Ezekiel Ansah http://www.authenticsdetroitlions.com/cheap-glover-quin-jersey , T.J. Lang, Matthew Stafford Monday night wasn’t just a disaster in terms of performance on the field for the Detroit Lions. They also dealt with injuries to some key players. Matthew Stafford, Ezekiel Ansah, T.J. Lang and Darius Slay all missed time against the New York Jets. While we won’t know the full status of any of these players until the first injury report of the week (expected Wednesday), here’s what we know about each of their statuses as of Monday night.Matthew StaffordStafford suffered two injuries. First, his leg got stepped on by Taylor Decker Youth Ricky Wagner Jersey , leaving him with very limited mobility for a single drive. However, he didn’t miss any time because of the injury and he looked much more comfortable on his leg as the game went on.But not much later, Stafford took a brutal hit simultaneously low and to his midsection. Stafford stayed down for some time after the play, and ended up missing a couple plays.Stafford would end up coming back in, but was pulled when the game was well out of hand.Where things stand now: It looks like Stafford is relatively fine. He’s not expected to miss any time, and he told reporters after the game http://www.lionsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-t.j.-lang-jersey , “I’ll be okay.”UPDATE: Stafford gave more details on the radio Tuesday, and it seems like he’ll be just fine: Ezekiel AnsahAfter just 19 defensive snaps, Ansah left the game with a shoulder injury. He went into the locker room, and it didn’t appear he ever returned to the field. Though he was first listed as questionable to return with the shoulder injury, he was eventually downgraded to out. Where things stand now: After the game, head coach Matt Patricia could not give an update on Ansah’s condition.“We’ve got to go in there and take a look at it and see what’s going on Matthew Stafford Jersey ,” Patricia said. We’ll hopefully know more early this week.T.J. LangIf you skipped out on the game early, you probably didn’t even know T.J. Lang suffered an injury. He missed just one offensive snap for the game (the final kneel down), but the team officially announced that he was questionable to return with a back injury. Where things stand now: We don’t know, but this is obviously a very concerning injury. Not only did Lang miss the entire preseason, but he also missed time last season with a back injury. There’s no word on whether this is the same kind of back injury, but for a player that has struggled with staying healthy since landing in Detroit Authentic Ziggy Ansah Jersey , this isn’t a great start to the season.Darius SlaySlay took a friendly-fire hit to the head when Ansah landed on him in the first quarter of the game. Though it looked bad at the time, the team evaluated him for a concussion, and he was cleared. He was in for the very next defensive drive. Where things stand now: Head injuries are always tricky, and we’ve seen symptoms show up hours or even days after a player suffers a concussion, so Slay isn’t necessarily clear from the injury. However, he sent out an optimistic tweet after the game: Cowboys right guard Zack Martin left in the second half with a knee injury against the Eagles on Sunday.The four-time Pro Bowler has been battling a knee issue all season.Philadelphia running back Corey Clement injured his right knee when he was stopped for a 4-yard loss late in the first quarter and didn't return to the overtime loss. Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat left in the first half with an ankle injury and didn't return. Buffalo was down to third-string running back Marcus Murphy after LeSean McCoy was sidelined by a hamstring injury in the first quarter and Chris Ivory hurt his ankle in the third quarter of the loss to the Jets.Starting linebacker Matt Milano was carted off the field after getting his leg tangled while stopping Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold at the goal line.Detroit was hit hard by injuries in its win over Arizona. In the span of three plays Youth Quandre Diggs Jersey , the Lions lost defensive ends Ezekiel Ansah (knee) and Da'Shawn Hand (shoulder).Later in the half, right tackle Rick Wagner left with a concussion. The team also lost fullback Nick Bellore (ankle), wide receiver Bruce Ellington (hamstring), cornerback Marcus Cooper (back) and safety Charles Washington (hamstring).Broncos cornerback Isaac Yiadom suffered a shoulder injury in the loss at San Francisco. Wideout Courtland Sutton nursed a thigh injury.49ers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon returned after landing hard on his left ankle late in the game when he went down defending a pass on the sideline.Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill had X-rays of his right ankle after the win over the Patriots. He acknowledged it didn't feel good after the game. "I rolled it pretty good," he said. "Got X-rays and buttoned it up tight."Redskins tight end Jordan Reed injured his right foot in the first quarter and did not return in the loss to the Giants. Rookie linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton left with a shoulder injury.Texans receiver and kick returner Deandre Carter left in the first quarter against Indianapolis and was later ruled out with a concussion.Colts right guard Mark Glowinski was carted to the locker room in the second quarter with an ankle injury.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Digna Strautmane scored 22 points https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Sam-Mills-Jersey , nine in the pivotal third quarter, and No. 12 Syracuse won its ninth straight Thursday night, 82-50 over Pittsburgh.Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi added 16 points and Tiana Mangakahia 14, also nine in the third quarter, as the Orange (15-2, 4-0 ACC) outscored the Panthers 28-8 to break the game open.Mangakhia had five points in an 8-0 surge early in the third quarter that pushed the lead to 48-35 and then Strautmane had six in a 14-0 run. By the end of the quarter, when Syracuse was 7 of 15 from the field with 3 3-pointers and 11 of 12 from the line, a six-point lead became swelled to a 66-40 lead. The Panthers (9-9, 0-4), who have lost four straight, made six field goals and shot 21 percent in the second half. Cassidy Walsh had three 3s and 13 points.Djaldi-Tabdi and Gabrielle Cooper had eight rebounds apiece as the Orange had a 51-32 advantage on the boards and Mangakahia had eight assists. Plays to Love, Plays to Hate (aka “P2L, P2H”) looks at the most significant plays in swinging momentum and impacting the eventual outcome of the game. There is always plenty to hate about NFL officiating, so we will only focus on the plays on the field, not the refs.Three plays to love1st Quarter 1:29 – Panthers 7, Browns 7. Browns ball 2nd-and-12 at CLE 12The Situation: The Browns were backed up to their own 12 yard line late in the first quarter of a 7-7 game.The Play: Rashard Higgins caught a short pass and was nailed by Luke Kuechly. Luke stripped the ball from Higgins and Thomas Davis recovered at the Cleveland 17. Kuechly’s forced fumble led to a Panthers touchdown and a 14-7 lead.2nd Quarter 8:22 – Panthers 14, Browns 14. Panthers ball 1st-and-10 at CAR 18The Situation: The Browns had just evened the score at 14 with a 51-yard bomb. On the first play of the Panthers next drive, D.J. Moore did his thing. The Play: Moore caught a 10-yard quick slant with Cleveland defenders surrounding him. Moore spun away from the first tackler then broke three more tackles en route to a spectacular 40 yard catch and run to the Cleveland 42. This was the key play in setting up a Panthers field goal and a 17-14 lead. 3rd Quarter 10:41 – Panthers 17 https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Christian-Mccaffrey-Jersey , Browns 17. Panthers ball 4th-and-1 at CLE 45The Situation: Facing 4th-and-1 on the wrong side of midfield, Ron Rivera & Co. decided to trust the offense and go for it.The Play: The Panthers lined up with a jumbo set, signaling a predictable quarterback sneak or a power run. Instead, Cam Newton went play action and hit Ian Thomas for a nine yard gain. This drive ultimately ended with a field goal and a 20-17 Panthers lead.Three plays to hate2nd Quarter 8:35 – Panthers 14, Browns 7. Browns ball 3rd-and-17 at CLE 49The Situation: Carolina was up by seven points in the second quarter and forced Cleveland into a 3rd-and-17 from near midfield.The Play: As per usual, the Panthers defense botched a third-and-a-mile scenario. This time Baker Mayfield felt pressure, rolled left to buy time, and uncorked a perfect bomb to Jarvis Landry for a 51-yard touchdown. Landry beat Eric Reid who was close in coverage, but not close enough to stop the incredibly accurate pass for a momentum-shifting score. 3rd Quarter 14:52 – Panthers 17, Browns 17. Panthers ball 1st-and-10 at CLE 32The Situation: Luke Kuechly stripped Jarvis Landry on the first play of the third quarter and the Panthers recovered at the Cleveland 32. The Carolina offense was given a gift to break the 17-17 tie.The Play(s): There are three plays to hate on this clown show of a sequence. On 1st-and-10 Norv Turner thought it was a good idea to have D.J. Moore block Myles Garrett with no help. Not surprisingly, Garrett abused Moore and dropped Christian McCaffrey for an eight yard loss. Later, on 3rd-and-13, Devin Funchess ran open on a seam route but never turned his head to see the quick release from Cam Newton. If Funch turns around he likely picks up big yards here. Next, on fourth down, the Panthers lined up for a 52-yard field goal but were called for a delay of game. Off came the field goal unit and on came the punt team. Carolina started at the Cleveland 32 and ended up punting. Ridiculous. 3rd Quarter 8:30 – Panthers 17, Browns 17. Panthers ball 2nd-and-Goal at CLE 3The Situation: After Ian Thomas converted on 4th-and-1 the Panthers drove down to the Cleveland three yard line. The Play: Christian McCaffrey took a handoff off the left side and pranced into the end zone for a touchdown and an apparent 24-17 Panthers lead. But the joy - and the touchdown - was nullified by a holding penalty on Taylor Moton. Carolina could never overcome the 10-yard penalty and were forced to settle for a field goal. Moton’s penalty cost the team four points.Closing it out and summing it upOnce again the Panthers were horrible stopping third-and-long situations. In addition to Jarvis Landry’s 51-yard score on 3rd-and-17, Carolina also gave up a conversion on 3rd-and-9 late in the second quarter followed by a 3rd-and-10 that should have been an easy touchdown but Rashard Higgins just dropped it. I’m sick of our corners being two steps out of position and both safeties being two seconds too late with help over the top.Did I “hate” Cam Newton missing Jarius Wright on 4th-and-Goal from the three yard line with 2:39 left, trailing by six? Of course I did! It’s a throw our franchise quarterback needs to make. But let’s face it https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Daryl-Williams-Jersey , the offense took at least seven points off the board with the punt after Luke’s forced fumble (should’ve turned this into a field goal at least) and by Taylor Moton’s holding penalty turning a touchdown into a field goal. It’s stupid plays and sequences like these that are killing the Panthers, not just Cam’s overthrows. But Cam did look pretty terrible in the second half. He had zero touch. Almost every pass had the velocity of a bazooka. He keeps throwing 100 MPH fastballs when the better throw is to get some air under it and let his receivers run it down. The sequence that looked particularly bad was when the Panthers got possession with 13:05 left in the fourth quarter. On first and second downs he overthrew open receivers with inaccurate heaters that went over their heads. Then on third down he underthrew an open Curtis Samuel on a deep route and the pass was broken up. Samuel had two steps on T.J. Carrie and an accurate pass here would have been a long gain, if not a touchdown. It’s a broken record at this point. Defense can’t get stops on third-and-long. Chris Clark can’t protect Cam Newton’s blindside. The offense leaves points on the field. Cam is then forced to navigate various come-from-behind scenarios without being able to make any mistakes, which is when he starts pressing and overthrowing his targets. Panthers lose. What a wasted season. Plays to love season leaders6 - Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore3 - Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, James Bradberry2 - Chris Clark, Devin Funchess, Efe Obada, Kyle Love, Luke Kuechly, Ryan Kalil, Torrey Smith, 1 - Ben Jacobs, Colin Jones, David Mayo, Donte Jackson, Eric Reid https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Donte-Jackson-Jersey , Graham Gano, Greg Van Roten, Ian Thomas, Jarius Wright, Julius Peppers, Kawann Short, Mario Addison, Michael Palardy, Norv Turner, Ron Rivera, Taylor Heinicke, Wes HortonPlays to hate season leaders6 - Cam Newton 5 - Eric Reid4 - James Bradberry, Mike Adams2 - Captain Munnerlyn, Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, Devin Funchess, Dontari Poe, Donte Jackson Greg Olsen Jersey , Eric Washington, Graham Gano, Norv Turner1 - Amini Silatolu, C.J. Anderson, Chris Clark, Colin Jones, Corn Elder, Ian Thomas, Luke Kuechly, Ron Rivera, Taylor Moton, Thomas Davis, Trai Turner

The Dallas Cowboys woke up on Tuesday morning with a 3-5 record and seemingly a lot of soul-searching to do. As true as that is the world goes on and that means that Jerry Jones had one of his weekly appearances on 105.3 The Fan.Jones addressed how the defense needs to play better Chidobe Awuzie Jersey , that Jason Garrett is aware of the team needing to improve, but he dropped a bit of a bomb whether intentionally or not. When talking about Dak Prescott, Jerry Jones literally said that Prescott was going to get extended.Dak Prescott is eligible to be extended in the offseason and many once thought that would be when he got paid like a big-time NFL quarterback. Prescott hasn’t exactly played to those standards through eight games, and to be fair Jerry didn’t exactly say what the Cowboys would be paying him, but confirming that they would be extending the third-year quarterback is quite a vote of confidence.Of course, the Cowboys are obviously all-in on Dak. They traded away next year’s first-round draft pick to acquire Amari Cooper which is a move that helps Prescott. Incidentally, that is a move that would also remove the ability to acquire a top-of-the-draft prospect which further cements Prescott’s status as the team’s signal-caller for the 2019 season at minimum.For what it’s worth, if we’re talking about a fair contract given everything we’ve seen from Prescott over the last 365 days, then there are definitely worse moves that can be made. If the Cowboys can somehow get Prescott for relatively cheap, hope that he regains his rookie form in the future (perhaps under a different coaching staff) Jourdan Lewis Color Rush Jersey , then maybe it’s an investment Jerry Jones thinks is worth making.If the Cowboys go even more all the way in on Dak Prescott and hand him a contract to match that level of want and faith, well, that would be a different story entirely. For now, we know Dak is going to get extended. Unless Jerry Jones changes his mind. The Dallas Cowboys have already played their Week 13 game, they won against the previously 10-1 New Orleans Saints in case you forgot. It was amazing. But the show must go on and the rest of the league has yet to play including Monday night’s game between the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.As things currently stand the Cowboys have a lead with a little breathing room in the NFC East, but things are a little dicey behind them. This is why Monday night’s game is important as how it goes will influence the rest of the season and division race.NFC East standings after Cowboys win on Thursday:Dallas Cowboys: 7-5 overall, 3-1 in divisionWashington Redskins: 6-5 overall, 2-1 in divisionPhiladelphia Eagles: 5-6 overall, 2-1 in divisionNew York Giants: 3-8 overall, 0-4 in divisionThe G-Men have taken themselves out of this conversation and will be spending their holiday season watching from the kid’s table. Dallas obviously has the inside track to the division crown https://www.dallascowboysfanshop.com/Rico-Gathers-Jersey , but whoever wins on Monday night has a snowball’s chance. The question now becomes... who do you hope wins?The logic behind rooting for PhiladelphiaThere are undoubtedly many of you who are immediately screaming internally that you can never root for the Eagles, so just consider this rooting against the Redskins. Whatever helps you sleep at night. The reality here is that someone has to win and someone has to lose so we might as well try to benefit from it by getting on the same page.It makes mathematical sense to root for the Eagles if we’re being honest. They have one less win than the Redskins so a Philadelphia victory allows no team to match the Cowboys current win total. That’s certainly preferable. Philadelphia also has the far more difficult schedule remaining of the NFC East foes. After this game on Monday night they visit Dallas (another point is that the Cowboys still can influence Philly), visit Los Angeles, host Houston, and visit Washington to end the season. There’s logic to preferring an Eagles win, er, Redskins loss. From BTB’s own Tom Ryle:The logic behind for WashingtonIf your mind is made up on wanting the Redskins to lose more than the Eagles, hey that’s up to you; however, there is definitely logic to support preferring a Washington win. It’s this writer’s preferred option if you care.Jerome Miron-USA TODAY SportsWashington’s schedule is easier, nobody denies that. After visiting Philly they host the Giants Geoff Swaim Jersey , visit the Jaguars, travel to Tennessee, and host the Eagles in the regular season finale. That’s unquestionably an easier road than Philadelphia’s... but the car they’re traveling in is of a lower quality. That’s important.The Redskins have had a long time to sit on their loss to the Cowboys (these really are such fun sentences to type) and Colt McCoy will likely be more prepared for his second game this season than he was on Thanksgiving Day. That doesn’t change that he’s still Colt McCoy.If you asked me which team I’m more concerned about for the Cowboys sake, it’s the Eagles not the Redskins. Philadelphia is a better overall team and for me the priority is eliminating them, even if that means keeping Washington step for step with Dallas through Week 13. That schedule of theirs definitely looks soft but there’s no way that the Redskins in their current form are capable of capitalizing on it in the way that our deepest fears and insecurities think.What say you, BTB? Who do you hope wins/loses? What are you hoping is the situation surrounding the Cowboys when we wake up next Tuesday morning?