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The Vikings will be the first team to play a Super Bowl at home.

Case Keenum Authentic Carl Yastrzemski Jersey , who became the starter when Sam Bradford was injured and still has to answer questions about possibly losing his job to Teddy Bridgewater, is poised to do what Daunte Culpepper and Randall Cunningham couldn’t do.

Keenum had another solid performance and the defense shut down a high-powered offense in an impressive 14-9 victory at Atlanta. Then Minnesota (10-2) jumped into the top spot in the NFC when Seattle beat Philadelphia (10-2).

The Vikings are close to securing the NFC North. Getting home-field advantage throughout the playoffs only enhances their chances of hosting the Super Bowl.

But they still have to get through tough teams with better quarterbacks. Minnesota’s defense is outstanding and Keenum has been excellent.

In a big game, though Authentic Roberto Perez Jersey , Keenum or Drew Brees? Keenum or Russell Wilson? Keenum or Carson Wentz?

The Vikings could end up with the No.1 seed and lose a home game in the playoffs. Their fans have seen that before so slow down on those Super Bowl plans.

Here are more overreactions following Week 13:

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OVERREACTION: Josh Gordon will save the Browns (0-12) from going winless.

REALISTIC REACTION: Four catches for 84 yards in his first NFL game since 2014 doesn’t suggest he’ll make enough impact to prevent Cleveland from losing out.

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OVERREACTION: Andy Reid has lost control of the team. Too many costly penalties cost the Chiefs (6-6) in a loss to the Jets (5-7).

REALISTIC REACTION: Lost control is too harsh, but the team lacks discipline.

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OVERREACTION: The Patriots (10-2) don’t need Tom Brady to win. Brady had no TDs and one interception and New England still routed Buffalo 23-3.

REALISTIC REACTION: Brady completed 21 of 30 for 258 yards. He wasn’t great, but effective.

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OVERREACTION: Jimmy Garoppolo is the answer for San Francisco. He led the 49ers (2-10) to a comeback win in his first start.

REALISTIC REACTION: Garoppolo could become a franchise QB Authentic Jonathan Villar Jersey , but beating the Bears isn’t too impressive.

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OVERREACTION: Look out for the Ravens (7-5) because their offense is hitting its stride.

REALISTIC REACTION: Losing cornerback Jimmy Smith is a big blow to the defense, and one solid performance by the offense isn’t convincing.

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OVERREACTION: Alvin Kamara locked up Rookie of the Year honors with an excellent game against the Panthers.

REALISTIC REACTION: He’s the front-runner but Kareem Hunt and Leonard Fournette are still in the race.

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OVERREACTION: Losing Aaron Rodgers was a blessing for the Packers (6-6) because it allowed them to work on their run game.

REALISTIC REACTION: Rodgers is a future Hall of Famer. Enough said.

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OVERREACTION: The Chargers (6-6) will win the AFC West.

REALISTIC REACTION: They’re on a roll but it’s a three-team with the Raiders (6-6) and Chiefs and no real favorite.

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OVERREACTION: All the Giants needed to be competitive was to bench Eli Manning.

REALISTIC REACTION: No one other than Ben McAdoo would’ve started Geno Smith over Manning and now McAdoo is gone.

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OVERREACTION: Beast Mode is back. Marshawn Lynch had a 51-yard touchdown run and his first 100-yard rushing game since coming out of retirement.

REALISTIC REACTION: The Raiders need to keep giving him the ball.

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OVERREACTION: The Legion of Boom is back. The Seahawks held the highest-scoring offense to only 10 points in a 24-10 victory over Philadelphia.

REALISTIC REACTION: Seattle’s defense was ferocious, but penalties and sloppy play by Wentz cost the Eagles. Plus Authentic Ben Zobrist Jersey , no one can replace Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor.

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For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP-RobMaaddi

Most every NFL player knows that a quick way to get ushered to the sidelines – or beyond – is participating in a fight.

Yet in three games Sunday Authentic Steven Wright Jersey , punches were thrown. No, not the variety that Deontay Wilder used to score a first-round knockout the previous night. Enough flying fists and other misdeeds, however, to lead to five ejections.

NFL fights pretty much make no sense. Armored up, players aren’t particularly vulnerable to punches. Indeed, the usual damage that comes from such bouts are bruised or broken hands and fingers from slugging helmets or shoulder pads.

That said, nearly all of the men involved in the near-brawls reasoned that the fighting was a necessary evil. At least on this day.

Which led to short days for such standouts as Bengals receiver A.J. Green and Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey in Jacksonville; Cardinals first-round pick LB Haason Reddick and veteran DL Frostee Rucker and 49ers running back Carlos Hyde in San Francisco.

No one was thrown out in New Orleans, where Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans laid out Saints rookie CB Marshon Lattimore from behind in a skirmish.

That doesn’t mean further discipline from the NFL isn’t possible. Everyone involved certainly will be fined Authentic Abraham Almonte Jersey , and suspensions could be in the offing for anyone who threw a punch.

Starting with Green.

With the Bengals trying to run out the clock late in the first half, Green jogged through his route. Ramsey, bona fide trash talker, knocked him down. Up jumped Green, grabbing Ramsey around the neck, then slamming him to the ground before punching away at Ramsey’s helmet.

”As a player, as a man, and a father Authentic Jimmy Wynn Jersey , that’s a reflection of me,” Green said. ”I should have walked off in that whole situation. I definitely learned from this experience. It’s never going to happen again. I regret my actions. Whatever the punishment, I accept it. I put myself in that situation.”

Ramsey didn’t stick around to talk.

”That’s not football,” Green said of how Ramsey handled himself. ”I’m not going to tolerate disrespect like that. I know we can’t fight on the field. He got under my skin and I can’t let that happen. I’ve been the ultimate pro this long and I can’t let little things like that get to me. I shouldn’t have reacted that way, and I apologized to my teammates. That’s not who I am. It just got the best of me today.”

Ditto for Reddick, Rucker and Hyde.

With 3:36 remaining in Arizona’s 20-10 victory, Niners QB C.J. Beathard scrambled for 10 yards and slid. Arizona safety Antoine Bethea hit him anyway and was penalized for unnecessary roughness.

Niners guard Laken Tomlinson immediately coming to his quarterback’s defense by shoving Bethea, then the scuffle broke out.

Bethea claimed he was simply playing football. San Francisco’s players vehemently – and physically – disagreed.

”I didn’t see Carlos throw a punch Authentic Bob Feller Jersey , I don’t know exactly what he did,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. ”I did see him get punched, punches thrown at him. I did see him get knocked over a couple of times. I really loved how he went to our quarterback’s, went and got out quarterback’s back. And I thought our quarterback had a couple of helmets to the head when he was in the pocket a few plays before, and then he ended up scrambling and sliding and got one again. I think our players had had enough.”

Evans clearly had enough when he believed Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston was being threatened, even though Winston no longer was playing because of a sore shoulder.

The scuffle began in the third quarter when Winston vigorously pressed his finger into the back of Lattimore’s helmet during a dead ball.

”I told him to go to his sideline,” Winston said.

Lattimore shoved Winston, and Evans raced over and took Lattimore to the ground from behind.

Evans was penalized for a personal foul.

”I just let my emotions get the best of me Wholesale Rick Leonard Jersey ,” he said. ”I saw (Lattimore) pick a fight with my quarterback. I shouldn’t have hit him in his back like that. That was kind of malicious.”

Fights usually are. They also usually are senseless in football, with only ejections, injuries and suspensions emanating from them.

It will bear watching not only how the coaches of the six teams involved handle these actions, but what the league’s disciplinary folks do.

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For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

NASHVILLE Authentic Kyle Hendricks Jersey , Tenn. (AP) The Titans may not impress too many people with how they’re playing.

For now, all that matters to Tennessee is finding a way to keep winning.

They have won five of their past six, and the past four victories all have come by four or fewer points.

Tennessee (7-4) heads into December with its most wins since 2008, and beating the Colts 20-16 for their first win at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis combined with a loss by Jacksonville has put the Titans back on top of the AFC South.

The wins may be ugly, but coach Mike Mularkey says winning still says a lot about the Titans.

”I’ve used this word many a time: resilient, a close group, never waiver regardless of the score Authentic Robin Yount Jersey , what time of the game it is,” Mularkey said Monday. ”We think we can win until the final buzzer, that’s just the way we are, that’s this team. It says a lot about our guys in that locker room.”

Whether the Titans end their playoff drought at eight seasons still remains to be seen because they have some areas on offense to improve on over the final five games.

– Marcus Mariota was intercepted twice by the Colts, giving him six interceptions over the past two games. The third-year quarterback has 12 interceptions, the most of his career, and only nine touchdowns.

– Tennessee managed only 9 yards on 11 rushes by halftime. Derrick Henry didn’t have a single yard on just three carries Authentic Ender Inciarte Jersey , didn’t get the ball in the third and finished with 79 yards on 13 carries thanks to a dominant fourth quarter .

Mularkey said it’s encouraging to see what the Titans are capable of, something he’s seen at some point in every game this season. In the fourth quarter, the Titans held the ball for more than 11 minutes and piled up 12 of their 19 first downs.

”You’ve got to play your best football, we’re trying to play our best football, for 60 minutes, that’s key,” Mularkey said.

”I promise you they’re trying to do that. That’s what we’ve got to do Authentic Ian Happ Jersey , especially this time of year. This is when you’ve got to start kicking it in and playing your best and knowing that if you don’t, you still can win.”

Now the Titans get a chance for a little payback Sunday when they host the Texans, who face a short week after playing Monday night along with traveling for back-to-back road games. Houston looks nothing like the team that routed Tennessee 57-14 on Oct. 1.

”That game is far enough back that I think it’s out of their system,” Mularkey said. ”I think our guys know it’s a division game we have to win.”

Then the Titans face their last road trip starting at Arizona before visiting San Francisco. Keep winning, and the Titans could be hosting the Jaguars with the AFC South title on the line in the regular-season finale.

Mularkey said he keeps reminding his Titans not to worry about what anybody else in the NFL is doing.

”If we win, everything will take care of itself,” Mularkey said.

NOTES: Mularkey said WR Rishard Matthews Authentic Dellin Betances Jersey , who missed the Indianapolis game with an injured hamstring, and S Da’Norris Searcy, who left the game with an ankle injury, both will be day to day.

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For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL .

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

ORCHARD PARK Authentic Billy Williams Jersey , N.Y. (AP) Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane is keeping his options open and intends to take his time determining whether quarterback Tyrod Taylor will return for a fourth season.

”We’re going to make the best decision. I’m literally going to go back and watch how he played at the beginning of the year, how he played in the middle of the year and how he played in the end. We’ll see,” Beane said Tuesday after he and coach Sean McDermott held an end-of-season news conference.

”We’re going to take our time and make an informed decision,” Beane added. ”The easy thing to do is go off the last game. And that’s not fair.”

He was referring to Taylor overseeing a pedestrian offensive attack Sunday in a 10-3 loss at Jacksonville in an AFC wild-card playoff. Taylor went 17 of 37 for 134 yards and an interception before being forced out of the game after suffering a concussion on Buffalo’s final possession.

His production against Jacksonville reflected an inconsistent season for the third-year starter, who has a 23-21 record in Buffalo.

The low point came when Taylor was benched in favor of rookie fifth-round draft pick Nathan Peterman in a 54-24 loss at the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 19. McDermott called the decision a ”calculated risk,” which quickly backfired when Peterman threw five interceptions in the first half Authentic Greg Bird Jersey , leaving the Bills no choice but to return to Taylor.

Beane said Taylor doesn’t deserve all the blame for an offense that finished 29th in the NFL in yards gained, and scored just eight touchdowns over the final seven games, including the postseason.

But make no mistake, the first-year general manager said, it’s incumbent on him to get the Bills a franchise quarterback.

”I said that back when I got here,” Beane said. ”It’s a quarterback league. Where you get it Authentic Aroldis Chapman Jersey , I really don’t care. If you give me one, whether he’s on the street now, whether he’s a free agent, whether I draft him, I’ll take him anywhere.”

That leaves Taylor’s future in question despite him being Buffalo’s first quarterback since Rob Johnson in 2000 to start a Bills playoff game.

The Bills were ready to move on from Taylor in March before he agreed to restructure his contact by reducing it from a five-year to two-year term.

Beane said Buffalo has enough assets – two picks in each of the first two rounds of the draft – to move up and address any position of need, including quarterback.

On the other hand Authentic Fernando Valenzuela Jersey , he said, the Bills could comfortably afford retaining Taylor for the final year of his contract, which includes a $6 million bonus in mid-March and the $18 million hit his deal would count against the salary cap.

Whatever euphoria remained from the Bills exceeding expectations by finishing 9-7 and ending a 17-season playoff drought gave way Tuesday to the challenges Beane and McDermott face in continuing a rebuilding process that began a year ago.

”I thought we (grew) faster than I thought,” Beane said. ”But we have a long way to go, we really do.”

McDermott deflected questions on whether he’ll consider changes to his coaching staff, particularly offensive coordinator Rick Dennison. ”This is early in the process right now Authentic Yan Gomes Jersey , and I’m not going to get into speculation,” he said.

Beane seemed open to re-signing defensive tackle Kyle Williams. The 12-year veteran completed the final year of his contract and hasn’t determined whether he’ll retire. Beane said he had a good conversation with Williams on Monday but wants to give him time to think before opening contract talks.

”Who doesn’t love Kyle Williams?” Beane said, referring to the team’s most respected leader. ”We’d definitely love to have Kyle back.”

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NEWARK Authentic John Smoltz Jersey , N.J. (AP) Even when they don’t play their best, the Boston Bruins are still getting it done on the road.

Adam McQuaid got his first goal of the season with 8:05 to play, and the Bruins extended their road point-scoring streak to 13 games with a 5-3 victory over the slumping New Jersey Devils on Sunday night.

”We’re trying to dictate the play early,” said Boston defenseman Torey Krug, who scored twice. ”Don’t let the other team use their home-ice advantage, just make sure we’re skating and going and have them react to us. I think every game we’ve given ourselves a chance to win the game going into the third period. We were ugly the first two Authentic Kenta Maeda Jersey , but got the job done in the third.”

Boston is 11-0-2 in its current road run and 16-5-4 away from TD Garden overall.

Tim Schaller also scored a goal that the Devils were not convinced crossed the goal line despite a review, and Patrice Bergeron added an empty-netter as the Bruins improved to 19-2-4 in their last 25 games. Boston also killed off all seven New Jersey power plays, scored an extra-man goal and got two short-handed in sweeping the three-game season series.

”We’re getting production up and down the lineup,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. ”If they shut down our top guys then someone else contributes. That’s a hallmark of our group, they like to pick each other up and know they don’t have to be the best player every night.”

Backup goalie Anton Khudobin stopped a first-period penalty shot and finished with 35 saves as Boston avoided consecutive losses in regulation for what would have been the third time this season.

Miles Wood, Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri scored for the Devils Authentic Joe Maddon Jersey , who have lost four straight and eight of 11. Eddie Lack, who was acquired in a trade with Calgary in late December, made 22 saves in his first start for New Jersey.

”Our power play was the difference tonight,” Hall said. ”They got one and we gave up a couple on the other end. Like I said, it was one of those nights. We were trying. The effort was there, 5 on 5 Authentic Jimmie Foxx Jersey , I thought we had them for sure. Our power play could not execute.”

McQuaid, who returned to the lineup on Jan. 17 after missing 36 games with a broken right leg, snapped a 3-all tie with a shot from the right point that deflected off the stick of Devils forward Drew Stafford and bounced past Lack.

”He battles so hard for us, does little things, blocks shots, and make hits Authentic Aaron Hicks Jersey ,” Krug said of McQuaid. ”For him to get that one and play with confidence was great. It’s nice to see him get rewarded.”

It was the first game between the teams since Brad Marchand was suspended for five games for elbowing New Jersey’s Marcus Johansson in the head in Boston on Jan. 23. Marchand was booed every time he touched the puck.

There was a scrum after Bergeron scored with 39 seconds to play. Marchand was knocked down by Damon Severson before the goal.

Boston took leads of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 in the first two periods. The Devils responded every time, with Palmieri tying it at 3 by beating Khudobin in close after taking a nice pass from Hall.

The Bruins’ first two goals were a little bizarre. Krug got his first when Nico Hischier tried to clear a puck in the crease and slid it under Lack, who was playing in his sixth NHL game this season.

Wood came out of the penalty box and tied the game with a breakaway goal at 16:32, but Schaller got the lead back for Boston with a stuff at the corner of the net with three seconds left after Hall could not handle a Lack pass.

Hall made up for the mistake 31 seconds into the second period after Hischier intercepted a Marchand pass.

Krug got his 10th of the season with a point shot three seconds after Stafford was called for elbowing.

NOTES: Bruins RW Noel Acciari returned to the lineup after missing seven games with a lower-body injury. … Devils D John Moore was a healthy scratch after playing in the opening 54 games. … Bruins C Ryan Spooner got his 100th career assist on Krug’s second goal. … Boston is 16-5-4 on the road this season and 23-5-6 against Eastern Conference teams.

UP NEXT

Bruins: Host Calgary on Tuesday.

Devils: At Philadelphia on Tuesday.

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CLEVELAND (AP) Hue Jackson is finally handing off his Browns offense.

Cleveland’s coach Authentic Larry Doby Jersey , who has handled game-planning and play-calling duties while going 1-31 over two seasons with the Browns, is hiring former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

Jackson interviewed other quality candidates but chose Haley, who spent six seasons guiding Pittsburgh’s high-powered offense before he was fired following a playoff loss last week Authentic Alex Bregman Jersey , a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press on Monday night.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the move.

A former head coach with Kansas City, Haley’s familiarity with the AFC North will be a huge plus for Jackson as he tries to turn around the Browns following a historic 0-16 season.

The 50-year-old Haley worked in Pittsburgh with some of the NFL’s best offensive players – quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown. The trio made the Steelers a challenge for any defense Authentic Jim Rice Jersey , and the team ranked in the Top 10 in scoring in each of the past four seasons.

The Steelers averaged 25.4 points per game last season while the Browns managed a league-low 14.6.

Haley will inherit an offense in Cleveland with far less talent than he had in Pittsburgh, but the Browns are expected to upgrade their offense through free agency and in the draft. They’ll likely use either the No. 1 or No. 4 overall picks on a quarterback and could land Southern Cal’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen or Wyoming’s Josh Allen Authentic Joc Pederson Jersey , the top three prospects.

Haley became the fall guy after Steelers were bounced by Jacksonville in the AFC playoffs. He was criticized for failing to have Roethlisberger sneak on two failed fourth-down plays. Haley called a wide pitch that lost yardage and Roethlisberger threw an incompletion on the second critical play as the Steelers were beaten 45-42 by the Jaguars, who advanced to the conference championship.

Haley reportedly had a strained relationship with Roethlisberger, and that disconnect could have hastened the Steelers electing not to renew his contract.

Haley went 19-27 and had one playoff appearance with the Chiefs Authentic Javier Baez Jersey , who fired him late in the 2011 season. Prior to that, he worked as Arizona’s offensive coordinator in 2007-08. The Cardinals scored a franchise-record 427 points in Haley’s second season.

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More AP NFL: https://pro32.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL

KANSAS CITY Authentic Aaron Judge Jersey , Mo. (AP) The Chiefs have activated cornerback Steven Nelson from injured reserve, where he has been since training camp Authentic Derek Jeter Jersey , and he could make his season debut Monday night against Denver.

Nelson had core muscle surgery just before the start of the season.

The Chiefs’ defensive backfield has been shredded in recent weeks, allowing more than 400 yards passing and three touchdowns to Derek Carr in a 31-30 loss to Oakland a little more than a week ago.

Nelson started 15 regular-season games and the Chiefs’ postseason game last season Authentic Bill Lee Jersey , making 65 stops and 16 pass breakups. He can play on the outside opposite Marcus Peters, replacing Terrance Mitchell Authentic David Price Jersey , or more likely will handle slot duties in place of Phillip Gaines.

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For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

NEW ORLEANS (AP) The chance to play in an elite passing offense with quarterback Drew Brees was one obvious factor that brought receiver Ted Ginn Jr. to the Saints.

Multiple opportunities to make the Carolina Panthers pay for letting him walk in free agency was another.

”If they didn’t want to bring me back Authentic Sonny Gray Jersey , I wanted to go somewhere to play against them,” Ginn said this week. ”I felt like I did everything I was supposed to do to be there.”

Ginn caught a 40-yard touchdown pass at Carolina in a Week 3 victory and now gets a second shot Sunday with plenty on the line.

The Saints and Panthers are tied atop the NFC South at 8-3. The winner takes sole possession of first place in the division, but if the Saints win, they’d also hold what could be a crucial head-to-head tiebreaker.

”We are aware what’s happening and what is at stake if we win or lose,” Panthers safety Mike Adams said. ”Even though guys say we’re not worried about that, we think about it.”

It’s an ideal stage for the 32-year-old Ginn, who still looks fast – and effective – in his 11th NFL season. Ginn has 42 catches for 641 yards and three TDs this season.

Brees said Ginn was ”obviously a great vertical threat everywhere he had been.”

”That seemed to be the way that teams used him Authentic Thurman Munson Jersey , but it seemed to be as the only way teams used him, whereas I feel like he’s come into this offense and really flourished, and I feel like we’ve given him the opportunity to showcase a lot of the other things that he can do,” Brees said. ”He’s very savvy and I think he’s been a great addition.”

Ginn, meanwhile, said he was pleased to finally have a quarterback who ”really figured out who Ted Ginn Jr. was – and I hate that it took 11 years.”

The Panthers don’t exactly sound like a team that didn’t appreciate Ginn.

”I’m jealous that they have Teddy,” Carolina coach Ron Rivera said.

Added Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis Authentic Yasiel Puig Jersey , ”We loved having Teddy on our team. I hate seeing him play in New Orleans.”

”I hate watching that speed over there with Drew Brees, man. It’s crazy,” Davis continued. ”There is a lot that Ted Ginn Jr. offers to a football team, and now he’s giving that to the Saints.”

Here are some other things to watch for when the Panthers, who won their fourth straight last week, visit a Saints squad coming off its first loss in nine games :

CAM vs. CAM: Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan reached the 10-sack plateau with two sacks last week and is having one of his best seasons since the Saints made him a first-round draft choice in 2011. That’s the same year the Panthers used the first overall pick to take quarterback Cam Newton, who is healthier and running a lot more than the first time these teams met in Week 3. Newton has 209 yards and two TDs rushing in his past three games.

”Early on in the year Authentic Andy Pettitte Jersey , he was trying to be more of a pocket passer, and now he’s back to running that high-octane, read-power-option stuff and it’s clearly working,” Jordan said. ”We’ve got to be disciplined.”

SECONDARY CONCERNS: The Saints have allowed 300 or more yards passing in each of their past two games. A big reason has been the absence of rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who hurt his left ankle in the first quarter of the Saints’ Week 11 win over Washington. While the timeline for Lattimore’s return to form is unclear, fellow starting cornerback Ken Crawley said he expects to return from a one-game absence with an abdomen injury that he conceded is still bothering him.

MUNNERLYN WANTS MORE: Panthers veteran nickel back Captain Munnerlyn was upset after Carolina’s 34-13 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 3 because he played only 10 snaps. Since then Munnerlyn has seen more action and been a force in one of the league’s top defenses, although he did miss last week’s game against the Jets with a virus.

”I hope my role is lot bigger than it was the first time we played them Authentic Masahiro Tanaka Jersey ,” Munnerlyn said. ”I didn’t play that much at all and I didn’t play well when I did get in there because I was thrown off by the fact I didn’t get in there that much. I was so mad.”

OLSEN FACTOR: The Panthers aren’t sure what they will get out of three-time Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen, who is still dealing with a foot injury.

After missing eight games on injured reserve with a broken foot, Olsen attempted to return last Sunday against the Jets but didn’t make it through the first half because of soreness.

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AP Sports Writer Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

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CALGARY Authentic Justin Grimm Jersey , Alberta (AP) It took Evander Kane until his 565th game to get his first NHL hat trick.

Then he added another goal for good measure.

Kane scored four times to lead the San Jose Sharks past the Calgary Flames 7-4 on Friday night, a huge performance by a player who was acquired at the Feb. 26 trade deadline.

”It’s nice to get that monkey off my back,” said Kane, sent from Buffalo to San Jose for forward Danny O’Regan and draft picks. ”It’s been a long time since I’ve scored a hat trick. That was great. It made it even better, obviously, in a big game Authentic Robbie Ray Jersey , an important game.”

Tomas Hertl had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who have won three straight and four of five. Kevin Lebanc and Eric Fehr also scored, and Martin Jones made 30 saves.

San Jose is second in the Pacific Division, three points in front of Los Angeles and Anaheim.

Joe Pavelski, who set up Kane’s fourth goal 62 seconds into the third period, was happy to see his new teammate come through in the clutch.

”It’s always a special night when someone can score three Authentic Masahiro Tanaka Jersey , and for him to get that fourth is pretty cool to see,” Pavelski said. ”He’s definitely made a huge impact on us as a team and on his teammates. He’s been one of the guys driving the bus here for the last week or two. He came through big for us tonight.”

Micheal Ferland had a goal and an assist for the Flames, who are four points out of a playoff spot. Troy Brouwer, Mark Jankowski and Johnny Gaudreau also scored for Calgary.

”We had a few leads in the second and those are times when you want to put your foot on the pedal and get the next one,” forward Mark Stajan said. ”We weren’t able to do that.”

Three nights after stopping all 28 shots he faced against the Oilers, Calgary goalie Mike Smith had a rough outing as he made just 14 saves before being replaced by David Rittich early in the third period. Rittich went on to stop all seven shots he faced in a relief appearance.

”Terrible Authentic Jose Altuve Jersey ,” Smith said when asked to describe his performance. ”It was one of those nights where pucks were hitting things, going in. A couple bad breaks there. It was definitely an off night and a tough one to swallow right now.”

The Sharks opened the scoring six minutes into the first period when Kane’s wrist shot beat Smith to the glove side.

The Flames pulled even at 16:42 when Brouwer chipped a pass from Curtis Lazar into the top corner behind Jones.

Jankowski took a pass from linemate Garnet Hathaway and wired a shot to the top corner, glove side behind Jones to put Calgary up 2-1 at 2:10 of the second.

Kane then redirected Brenden Dillon’s point shot past Smith at 6:29 before Gaudreau cut into the slot and snapped a shot past Jones at 10:16 to put Calgary back up by a goal.

That lead lasted just 1:26 as Lebanc fired a shot from a sharp angle into the top corner past Smith to pull the Sharks into a 3-all tie.

Kane completed his hat trick at 16:32 when he swatted in his own rebound. Hertl poked the puck through Smith’s legs with 1:58 remaining before the second intermission.

”I thought we had some good energy, especially after Johnny scored there,” said Calgary captain Mark Giordano, who was disappointed the Flames weren’t able to hold the lead. ”We didn’t do a good job of stopping them. They came in pretty easy there and got the puck in our net.”

The Sharks added an insurance goal when Kane redirected a pass from Pavelski past Smith.

Ferland backhanded a shot past Jones to pull Calgary within two goals with 5:35 left in regulation and Rittich on the bench for an extra attacker. Fehr rounded out the scoring with an empty-net goal 1:37 later.

NOTES: Jankowski suited up for the Flames after sitting out Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Edmonton. Fellow forward Kris Versteeg returned to Calgary’s lineup after missing the past 49 games with a hip injury. … Gaudreau extended his point streak to six games (three goals Authentic Fernando Valenzuela Jersey , five assists).

UP NEXT

Sharks: At the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.

Flames: At the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.

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Sometimes one would see references to 'hard' style and 'soft' style martial arts. To many non-martial artists Authentic R.A. Dickey Jersey , these terms may be puzzling. In North America, these terms are used to classify martial art styles into two main categories. Japanese/Okinawan karate and Korean tae kwon do are generally referred to as hard styles. Movements in both karate and tae kwon do are often linear with their forms (traditional sequence of set moves) performed with crisp movements. Chinese kung fu styles are usually referred to as soft styles. The circular motions of kung fu forms give them a more visually graceful or softer appearance especially when many of the movements flow from one to another. Even Korean kuk sool won which is sometimes referred to as 'Korean kung fu', is often classified as a soft style since its movements are also more flowing than the stop and go of tae kwon do or karate. This is not to say that hard styles such as karate or tae kwon do are more powerful martial arts than kung fu and other soft styles. The term 'soft' is a bit misleading because the power from circular kung fu moves are often hidden. Circular moves can generate just as much power as linear ones.

The terms hard style and soft style came as a result of the evolution of North American martial arts competitions, particularly in forms divisions. For many years, open karate tournaments which allowed all martial arts styles Authentic Sammy Sosa Jersey , had competitors from different martial arts backgrounds compete in the same forms divisions. All equivalent level competitors, whether they used a Japanese/Okinawan karate kata, a Korean tae kwon do pattern or a Chinese kung fu form, competed together in the same divisions. This provided a nice martial arts showcase for spectators especially at the bigger tournaments. However, some competitors and judges considered divisions with combined styles to be too complicated. For example Authentic Babe Ruth Jersey , judges who were familiar with only Japanese or Korean styles had a difficult time scoring competitors performing Chinese kung fu forms. Sometimes competitors from different martial art styles felt that judges were being biased against them. Judging a hard style form against a soft style form was often like trying to compare apples to oranges.

To help resolve these issues, many of the larger martial arts tournaments expanded to have separate divisions for hard and soft styles. This was a way to equalize things and add some more fairness to all competitors. The largest tournaments went another step ahead and further separated Japanese karate stylists from Korean tae kwon do stylists by putting them into different divisions too. This still left many kempo stylists up in the air because their particular forms have both hard and soft style elements since their movements are both linear as well as circular. Some promoters of large tournaments decided to accommodate kempo stylists by adding in separate forms divisions just for their style too. Of course many smaller local tournaments have not been able to offer separate hard and soft style divisions for martial arts forms competitors mainly because of financial budget restrictions. The terms hard style and soft style are used only in North America and parts of Europe since these are the only regions of the world that have open martial arts competitions. Martial arts competitions in other parts of the world such as Asia are generally restricted to certain specific styles only.

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