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LONDON (AP) Wide receiver Stefon Diggs is active and is expected to play for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday when they face the Cleveland Browns at Twickenham Stadium.

Diggs Cheap Martavis Bryant Jersey , who missed the last two games because of a groin injury, was able to complete a full practice on Thursday and Friday. His return should help alleviate the burden on Adam Thielen, who caught 14 passes for 139 yards over the past two weeks.

The Browns, meanwhile, will be without four starters. Defensive tackle Trevon Coley has a neck injury and will not play Cheap Adrian Clayborn Jersey , while cornerback Jason McCourty, who has an ankle injury, and rookie safety Jabrill Peppers, who has a toe injury, will miss their second consecutive game.

Cleveland had already ruled out defensive end Myles Garrett Giants Patrick Omameh Jersey , the No. 1 pick in April, after he sustained a concussion in the loss to the Tennessee Titans a week ago. Garrett missed his first four games with an ankle injury but has four sacks in three games.

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Vikings: QB Sam Bradford (knee), G Jeremiah Sirles (knee), DE Stephen Weatherly (knee), WR Rodney Adams Cheap Tremaine Edmunds Jersey , G Nick Easton, DT Jaleel Johnson, C Cornelius Edison.

Browns: DE Myles Garrett (concussion), CB Jason McCourty (ankle), DT Trevon Coley (neck) Cheap Mark Walton Jersey , S Jabrill Peppers (toe), DT Larry Ogunjobi (groin), LT Zach Banner, QB Kevin Hogan.

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SANTA CLARA Cheap Josh Jackson Jersey , Calif. (AP) After opening the season with six straight losses, the San Francisco 49ers have turned over the reins of the offense to rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard.

Beathard’s performance over these next 10 weeks could play a big part in determining whether the rebuilding 49ers view Beathard as a foundation piece of if they decide they need to target another quarterback in free agency or with a high draft pick next year.

”I’m not looking that far ahead,” Beathard said Wednesday. ”Right now my focus is on today’s practice and geared toward beating the Cowboys and doing the best we can to get better and improve.”

Beathard had a promising debut in relief of ineffective starter Brian Hoyer in last week’s 26-24 loss at Washington. That earned Beathard a shot at the starting role for the 49ers (0-6) beginning Sunday at home against the Dallas Cowboys.

First-year coach Kyle Shanahan said he wants to see whether Beathard shows enough potential for the team to want to build around him.

”By no means do you have to be one of those top five guys Cheap Rashaan Gaulden Jersey ,” Shanahan said. ”But you have to show the ability that you can build things around a person who gives you the chance no matter what type of defense you go against, that he’s got the ability to make those throws, he’s got the ability to make some off schedule plays and he’s the type of person who can handle all the stuff that goes with it.”

Shanahan has had strong belief in Beathard Raiders Martavis Bryant Jersey , saying he was the one quarterback he targeted in the draft where he was taken in the third round by San Francisco.

Beathard beat out veteran Matt Barkley for the backup job behind solid play in the preseason and has only gotten better on the practice field the past few weeks.

That led to the decision to pull Hoyer in the second quarter last week with San Francisco trailing 17-0. Beathard led a comeback attempt that fell just short when the Niners couldn’t get into range for a potential game-winning field goal in the final seconds of the loss to Washington.

Beathard finished 19 for 36 for 245 yards and one touchdown. His only interception came on his desperation final pass with San Francisco looking to convert on fourth-and-20.

Beathard said he will have the same type of approach this week as the starter as he did as the backup.

”I just think I don’t get too high or too low in any situation,” he said. ”I just try to stay pretty mellow because I know the game of football. There’s a lot of ups and downs. You never want to get too mad when you have a bad play or too high when you have a good one. It’s all about staying mellow and staying the same through all of it.”

The biggest change will be getting a full week of practice with the starters so he can build a stronger rapport with receivers Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin.

Beathard has been preparing for this moment for years. The grandson of Super Bowl winning executive Bobby Beathard started 28 games in college at Iowa and came to the NFL more prepared to play early because of his experience in a pro-style offense.

”I don’t think it’s too big for him,” Shanahan said. ”I think he’s used to having it and I think he’s just going to go about it like he’s gone about every other day throughout his career.”

NOTES: Rookie LB Reuben Foster and teammate Ray-Ray Armstrong were nearly the victims of an armed robbery attempt after being out late Sunday night at a club in San Francisco. ”It was a scary moment for my family and for the organization Cheap Mark Walton Jersey ,” Foster said. ”I’m truly sorry to the organization and the fans that I concerned them. But you can live and you learn.” … DL Ronald Blair, who has been on IR all season with a hand injury, returned to practice. He can be activated to the roster in two weeks. … The 49ers signed CB Greg Mabin and TE Cole Wick to the practice squad and released DB Jarnor Jones from the practice squad.

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BUFFALO BILLS
Added: FB Patrick DiMarco (ATL) Jets Terrelle Pryor Sr. Jersey , DB Micah Hyde (GB), FB Mike Tolbert (CAR), G Vlad Ducasse (BAL)
Lost: CB Stephon Gilmore (NE), WR Marquise Goodwin (SF), WR Robert Woods (LAR)
Re-signed: OLB Lorenzo Alexander, OT Jordan Mills

Gilmore wasn’t worth to the Bills what he’s worth to the Patriots because the Bills, under new head coach Sean McDermott, will employ a lot of traditional zone coverages. (The Patriots, on the other hand, play more man-to-man.) The more interesting move is adding not one, but two fullbacks—and probably the best two from the NFC last year. DiMarco will help on base downs; Tolbert will help on passing downs. QB Tyrod Taylor is not a fast field-reader and needs extra time in the pocket. Having a third-down back with Tolbert’s blocking prowess will help.

MIAMI DOLPHINS
Added: S Nate Allen (OAK), LB Lawrence Timmons (PIT), DE William Hayes (LAR) Cheap Brian O'Neill Jersey , TE Anthony Fasano (TEN), TE Julius Thomas (trade from JAX)
Lost: TE Dion Sims (CHI)
Re-signed: DE Andre Branch, S Reshad Jones, WR Kenny Stills, DT Earl Mitchell (SF), OT Branden Albert (trade to JAX)

Shoddy inside linebacker play was a big issue for this defense last season. Timmons gives them an attack-minded veteran. He’s a more instinctive player than intellectual one; it may take him some time to adjust to new surroundings. Fortunately, new D coordinator Matt Burke will run a traditional zone scheme, which any veteran, and especially one who still moves as well as Timmons, should pick up smoothly.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Added: CB Stephon Gilmore (BUF), TE Dwayne Allen (trade from IND), WR Brandin Cooks (trade from NO), DE Lawrence Guy (BAL) Cheap LaAdrian Waddle Jersey , DE Kony Ealy (trade from CAR)
Lost: TE Martellus Bennett (GB), CB Logan Ryan (TEN), DE Jabaal Sheard (IND)
Re-signed: DT Alan Branch, S Duron Harmon

Adding the quick, speedy Cooks makes this a scarier offense than it was a year ago—especially when you consider that Rob Gronkowski (if healthy) will also be impacting safeties in the middle of the field. That said, you have to question paying Dwayne Allen $5 million over the next two years rather than choosing to pay Bennett, who signed with Green Bay for an average of $7 million a year. Allen is flexible as a move-blocker, but he isn’t a major receiving threat from the slot or especially out wide. He doesn’t provide as much formational diversity as Bennett would have.

NEW YORK JETS
Added: OT Kelvin Beachum (JAX)
Lost: WR Brandon Marshall (NYG), C Nick Mangold (released), OT Ryan Clady (released), CB Darrelle Revis (released)

The Jets still haven’t found someone to replace Revis. That’s a concern because Todd Bowles can’t run his full blitz-intensive system without a top-shelf cover corner.

BALTIMORE RAVENS
Added: S Tony Jefferson (ARI), RB Danny Woodhead (SD/LAC)
Lost: FB Kyle Juszczyk (SF), RT Ricky Wagner (DET) Cheap John Hannah Jersey , FS Lardarius Webb (released), OLB Elvis Dumervil (released)
Re-signed: DT Brandon Williams

The addition of Jefferson is offset a little by the release of Webb. Yes, Webb’s release created $5.5 million in cap space, but he had blossomed into one of the rangier free safeties in the sport. His cornerbacking background also provided the unique flexibility to drop down and cover the slot. Having a safety trio of him, Jefferson and Eric Weddle would have allowed for a scheme with almost no boundaries on its flexibility and disguises. But money was limited, and adding Jefferson certainly makes for more schematic diversity. Overall, still not a bad move by the Ravens.

CINCINNATI BENGALS
Added: none
Lost: LB Karlos Dansby (ARI), LT Andrew Whitworth (LAR), G Kevin Zeitler (CLE), DT Domata Peko (DEN)
Re-signed: CB Dre Kirkpatrick, WR Brandon LaFell

On the dark side: yes, Whitworth and Zeitler were the only two consistent pieces on an offensive line that surprisingly struggled throughout 2016. If callow third-year tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher don’t take big steps forward, it will be difficult for Cincy’s entire offense to function. On the bright side: Kirkpatrick and LaFell were two players the Bengals needed to retain Cheap Adam Butler Jersey , and it wasn’t a sure thing that they would. Kirkpatrick is long and flexible. LaFell is not a dynamic weapon, but he’s revered as a leader and, within the context of Cincy’s scheme, can produce on in-breaking routes (like skinny posts and slants).

CLEVELAND BROWNS
Added: WR Kenny Britt (LAR), C J.C. Tretter (GB), G Kevin Zeitler (CIN), QB Brock Osweiler (trade from Houston)
Lost: WR Terrelle Pryor (WAS)

So you essentially pay $16 million for what’s likely to be a late second-round pick in 2018 as part of the Osweiler trade, but you won’t pay half of that to retain an uber-athletic 27-year-old wide receiver whom you invested significant man hours and resources in developing? Unless the Browns know something about Pryor that we don’t, letting him walk to Washington for $8 million is as dumb as it gets. He has the raw talent to be a true No. 1. Maybe he’s still a ways off from that, but at the start of last season he was a guy who could only line up wide and run post patterns..

When Pro Football Hall of Fame voters meet the day before the Super Bowl to choose the Class of 2018 Cheap Rashaan Gaulden Jersey , the decision to select Terrell Owens should take less time than it does to microwave a bag of popcorn.

T.O. belongs in Canton. It’s a no-brainer.

Owens is second to Jerry Rice in all-time receiving yards and third in touchdown catches behind Rice and Randy Moss, a finalist in his first year of eligibility.

No. 81 was a five-time All-Pro, a six-time Pro Bowl pick and one of the most entertaining players of his generation.

Owens deserved first-ballot induction. Case closed. Yet, he’s been snubbed twice because voters are punishing him for his off-field and locker room ”antics” during a sensational 15-year career.

But there is no ”character clause” for the Pro Football Hall of Fame – and that’s not saying Owens should fail it.

Owens was never arrested nor suspended by the NFL. He didn’t have legal issues or drug problems.

Still Cheap Donte Jackson Jersey , he’s been kept out because of questionable behavior and the perception he was a malcontent.

Sure, Owens often spoke his mind and sometimes got under the skin of teammates and coaches. He threw some of his quarterbacks – Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo – under a rapidly moving bus. He also defended Romo from criticism and famously cried once while doing it.

Owens should be judged for his value on the field. He made every one of the five teams he played for better. He wasn’t the perfect teammate and he was disruptive at times, but when he stepped on the field Cheap DJ Moore Jersey , he was exceptional and durable.

Owens only missed 12 games in his long career, plus the nine he didn’t play in 2005 after Andy Reid kicked him off the Philadelphia Eagles following a nasty feud with McNabb and a dispute with management over a new contract.

That came only several months after Owens helped McNabb have his best season, and then heroically returned from ankle surgery – against doctor’s orders – to play in the Super Bowl. Owens would’ve been MVP of that game against the New England Patriots if McNabb didn’t throw three interceptions in the 24-21 loss.

Anyone who covered the T.O. circus in Philadelphia and the aftermath knows Owens wasn’t solely to blame for the way things went down. McNabb was overly sensitive and didn’t like all the attention Owens received. McNabb was booed by Eagles fans at the 1999 draft and he never forgot it. The same fans embraced Owens from the second he arrived in Philadelphia after eight seasons in San Francisco. More than 20,000 people went to see his first practice of 2004 training camp at Lehigh University. That led to jealousy issues with McNabb that finally escalated a year later.

After things got ugly in Philly, the locker room was divided between McNabb supporters and Owens supporters. If the mess was entirely Owens’ fault, some of the well-respected veterans who sided with him wouldn’t have done so.

But it was easier for Reid to dismiss a 32-year-old receiver who wanted more money than a 28-year-old franchise quarterback who never ruffled any feathers.

Owens ended up in Dallas and had three excellent seasons with the Cowboys before he wore out his welcome. He played one year in Buffalo and one more in Cincinnati.

Those who argue that Owens bounced around the league because teams couldn’t wait to get rid of him should consider that Rice played for three clubs, and Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton also played for five. Lofton is on the 48-member selection committee and voted for Owens last year.

This really shouldn’t be a difficult decision. It certainly doesn’t compare to the steroid dilemma Major League Baseball Hall of Fame voters face each year.

Terrell Owens is one of the greatest players in the history of the sport and earned the right to receive a gold jacket.

When he finally puts one on, getcha popcorn ready because it’ll be the most must-see induction speech ever.

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) Carson Wentz looked like the vintage Carson Palmer.

Wentz threw a career-best four touchdown passes to help the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Arizona Cardinals 34-7 on Sunday.

The quarterbacks and teams seem headed in opposite directions. Wentz has the Eagles off to an impressive 4-1 start in his second season. Meanwhile Cheap Vincent Valentine Jersey , the window could be closing for the 37-year-old Palmer and the Cardinals (2-3).

”The sky’s the limit,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. ”And the key is just staying grounded and staying focused on the next game. These wins, these losses, are short-lived in this business and you have to get yourself ready to go within 24 hours.”

While Philadelphia quickly prepares for a trip to Carolina (4-1) on Thursday night Cheap Trey Flowers Jersey , the Cardinals return home to face Tampa Bay (2-2) looking to avoid a downward spiral.

”We have to find out what went so wrong and find ways to improve,” Palmer said. ”We have a veteran group with guys that are professionals and we have to pick it up. There’s no doubt we have to do better on offense.”

Wentz tossed three scoring passes on three consecutive attempts in the first quarter, including 59 yards to Torrey Smith, 11 yards to Zach Ertz and 15 yards to Trey Burton. He connected with Nelson Agholor for a 72-yard TD on third-and-19 in the third quarter. Wentz is the first Eagles player to throw for three touchdowns in the first quarter of a game.

Here are some things we learned following Philadelphia’s convincing win over the Cardinals:

THIRD-DOWN DOMINANCE: The Eagles entered with the NFL’s second-best third-down offense and went 9 for 14 in those situations. Wentz was 11 for 12 for 225 yards and three TDs on third down. Wentz already has six TDs on third downs in five games. He had three such TDs his entire rookie season. ”Third down is the money down Cheap Tom Brady Jersey ,” Wentz said. ”To be that efficient, that’s huge.”

BLAME GAME: Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said the flat performance was his fault. ”I got to point it at me because our team obviously was not ready to play in all three phases,” he said.

His players disagreed. ”I don’t think that anyone thinks it’s a whole better if we are blaming anybody,” right tackle Jared Veldheer said. ”It just comes down to us fixing problems Cheap Tedy Bruschi Jersey , addressing them head-on. You have to be vigilant when watching the tape to get better and correct mistakes.”

BEAST MODE II: LeGarrette Blount had 74 yards rushing on 14 carries for the Eagles, a week after he ran for 136 yards. Blount’s 37-yard run was another tough, bruising play that energized the offense and the crowd. ”They’re good at stopping the run, they’re good at everything Cheap Steve Grogan Jersey ,” Blount said. ”We studied those guys hard and went out and played hard.”

PLAY BALL: Smith and a few teammates came up with an original, baseball-themed TD celebration . Smith was the batter. Jeffery crouched like a catcher. Agholor pretended to be the pitcher and Wentz was the umpire. Agholor wound up and threw a fake pitch. Smith used the ball as a bat and swatted a ”home run.”

INJURY REPORT: Cardinals LS Aaron Brewer (arm) left in the first quarter. Veldheer (knee) and DT Olsen Pierre (ankle) were injured in the third. Eagles RT Lane Johnson left at halftime with a head injury, but Pederson couldn’t confirm if he has a concussion.

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FRISCO Cheap Vincent Valentine Jersey , Texas (AP) Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is ending his legal fight with five games remaining on a six-game suspension over alleged domestic violence.

Elliott’s agents said Wednesday the decision by last year’s NFL rushing leader ”is in no way an admission of wrongdoing.” Elliott had a hearing set in a federal appeals court on Dec. 1, four games into the suspension.

Wednesday was the 96th day since Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the suspension. Elliott served the first game in Dallas’ 27-7 loss to Atlanta last weekend. By accepting the six-game ban, Elliott is eligible to return for the final two games of the regular season: Dec. 24 at home against Seattle and Dec. 31 at Philadelphia.

The defending NFC East champion Cowboys (5-4) are three games behind the division-leading Eagles (8-1), who visit Sunday night. A year after being the top seed in the NFC at 13-3, Dallas faces a difficult task staying in playoff contention until Elliott returns.

The 22-year-old Elliott was suspended by Goodell in August after the league concluded following a yearlong investigation that he had several physical confrontations in the summer of 2016 with Tiffany Thompson, his girlfriend at the time.

Prosecutors in Ohio didn’t pursue the case Cheap Trey Flowers Jersey , citing conflicting evidence. Elliott denied the allegations under oath during his NFL appeal.

”Our vigilant fight on behalf of Ezekiel once again exposed the NFL’s disciplinary process as a sham and a lie,” the NFL Players Association said in a statement. ”They hired several former federal prosecutors, brought in `experts’ and imposed a process with the stated goal of `getting it right,’ yet the management council refuses to step in and stop repeated manipulation of an already awful League-imposed system.”

The suspension prompted weeks of court hearings in three states resulting in three legal reprieves that kept Elliott on the field.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to an expedited hearing for Elliott’s arguments that he wasn’t treated fairly by the league, but last week turned down his request for an injunction while the case was being heard.

The same court ruled against New England quarterback Tom Brady last year over his four-game suspension in the ”Deflategate” case. Unlike Elliott, Brady had won a lower-court ruling that delayed the suspension for a year.

”This decision arises from a practical assessment of the current legal landscape Cheap Tom Brady Jersey ,” agents Rocky Arceneaux and Frank Salzano said.

”This decision is in no way an admission of any wrongdoing, and Mr. Elliott is pleased that the legal fight … resulted in disclosing many hidden truths regarding this matter, as well as publicly exposing the NFL’s mismanagement of its disciplinary process.”

A Texas judge granted an injunction that kept Elliott eligible early in the season, agreeing with NFL Players Association lawyers who argued that investigators withheld key evidence from Goodell, and that the appeal hearing was unfair because arbitrator Harold Henderson refused to call Goodell and Thompson as witnesses.

The NFL contended all along that the league followed federal law as it relates to labor agreements and the commissioner’s power to discipline players.

A federal appeals court in New Orleans tossed Elliott’s lawsuit in Texas on the grounds that it was filed prematurely. The case moved to New York because the NFL had already filed there.

After a visiting federal judge granted a temporary restraining order that kept Elliott on the field two more weeks, the judge assigned to the case rejected all of Elliott’s arguments in denying his request for an injunction.

An emergency stay made him eligible for one game against Kansas City before the latest ruling denying an injunction.

”Mr. Elliott’s desire for closure is in his best interest Cheap Tedy Bruschi Jersey , as well as the best interests of his teammates, family and friends,” Elliott’s attorneys said. ”Mr. Elliott will maximize his time away from the game and come back even stronger both on and off the field.”

The Dallas offense struggled without Elliott against the Falcons, finishing with a season low in points. Alfred Morris, who started in Elliott’s place, had 53 yards on 11 carries. Elliott is third in the NFL with 783 yards rushing.

”Like I said and continue to say Cheap Steve Grogan Jersey , we trust those running backs that we have and what they’ll do this Sunday,” quarterback Dak Prescott said Wednesday before Elliott’s decision was announced.

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GREEN BAY Cheap Vincent Valentine Jersey , Wis. (AP) Dean Lowry estimates that he could run a 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds.

Watching him rumble down the field on a 62-yard fumble return for a touchdown might have felt like an eternity to fans at Lambeau Field.

Lowry’s score highlighted a solid effort for the Packers’ defense, and Green Bay’s offense relied on the running game to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-20 in overtime on Sunday. The game ended on the opening possession of overtime with Aaron Jones’ 20-yard scoring run on his only carry.

Lowry’s touchdown was even more entertaining.

Lowry snatched the ball out of the air following a strip-sack of Jameis Winston by Kenny Clark. Seconds later, the 6-foot-6, 296-pound lineman was making a Lambeau leap.

”It was good to show it off a little bit,” Lowry joked about his speed. ”I was definitely winded right afterward.”

The Packers (6-6) got seven sacks along with a blocked punt by Kyler Fackrell and kept their playoff hopes alive. They still trail NFC North-leading Minnesota by four games Cheap Trey Flowers Jersey , but there is renewed optimism with the possibility of quarterback Aaron Rodgers returning from a collarbone injury in a couple weeks.

”When you can grind it out and do things a different way and your team is successful … we’re a better team today, not only because we won the game but how we won,” coach Mike McCarthy said.

Green Bay spoiled the return of quarterback Jameis Winston to the Buccaneers (4-8), whose playoff hopes are just about done.

Still, Winston refused to focus on anything but getting better for next week’s game against Detroit. The quarterback missed Tampa Bay’s three previous games with a shoulder injury.

”I can’t really tell you about the future right now Cheap Tom Brady Jersey ,” Winston said. ”No one in this room can predict the future right now, so we’ve just got to keep building and getting better every single day.”

Other notes and takeaways from Green Bay’s win:

RUNNING AWAY

The Packers had just 84 yards passing but wore down the Buccaneers on the ground. Rodgers’ replacement, Brett Hundley, had runs of 18 and 7 yards on the game-winning drive in overtime. If Green Bay can keep running the ball effectively, it may be able to stay in the playoff race until Rodgers returns to spice up the offense.

Hundley finished 13 of 22 for 84 yards Cheap Tedy Bruschi Jersey , adding seven carries for 66 yards. Jamaal Williams ran for 113 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.

WINSTON UNDER DURESS

Winston finished 21 of 32 for 270 yards and two touchdowns , including an 11-yard scoring pass to tight end Cameron Brate for a 20-17 lead with 6:02 left. But Winston had defenders in his face all day.

”That’s probably our worst protection game we’ve had all year,” coach Dirk Koetter said.

Winston refused to blame his offensive line, though there were a couple communication issues with center Evan Smith. He was a last-minute replacement after starter Joe Hawley was scratched with an illness. Two other starters on the line were placed on injured reserve earlier in the week.

”So I don’t think it’s right to be able to say that they did subpar when they overcame so much in this day,” Winston said.

The line did help Peyton Barber rush for 102 yards on 23 carries.

LOST LAST CHANCE

The Buccaneers had one last shot in regulation after Mason Crosby kicked a 22-yard field goal to tie the game at 20 with 2:01 left. But Winston’s 20-yard pass to Charles Sims was negated by an illegal block penalty on Smith that pushed the offense back to first-and-20 from its own 10. Tampa punted three plays later and never got the ball back.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Packers believe they need to win their last four games to have a shot at the postseason. They face the winless Cleveland Browns next week Cheap Steve Grogan Jersey , and with a win, Rodgers could return to a 7-6 team the following week at Carolina. Rodgers returned to practice on Saturday for the first time since getting hurt on Oct. 15 at Minnesota.

INJURY REPORT

Packers linebacker Jake Ryan departed in the fourth quarter with a neck injury. Also, line judge Tom Stephan had to be helped onto a cart that took him off the field after he got hurt on a third-down play with 11:08 left in the first quarter.

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ALAMEDA Cheap Vincent Valentine Jersey , Calif. (AP) The NFL said Thursday it will investigate whether the Oakland Raiders violated the ”Rooney Rule” when they hired Jon Gruden as coach.

The Fritz Pollard Alliance called for the investigation on Wednesday out of concern that Raiders owner Mark Davis came to an agreement with Gruden before the team interviewed any minority candidates as required by the NFL since 2003.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement that the NFL will ”look into this.”

The Fritz Pollard Alliance is dedicated to promoting diversity and equality of job opportunity in the coaching, front office and scouting staffs of NFL teams.

Davis said Tuesday at the news conference introducing Gruden as the team’s new coach that he had been trying to make the move for six years and finally believed it would happen after a meeting in Philadelphia on Christmas Eve Cheap Trey Flowers Jersey , the day before Gruden worked a game between the Raiders and Eagles on ESPN.

”I felt pretty confident that he was all-in,” Davis said. ”And that’s the term that we were using in our discussions and everything Cheap Tom Brady Jersey , are you all-in? And I never wavered from all-in. And this time he didn’t waver, either.”

Davis fired Jack Del Rio a week later and the team officially hired Gruden on Jan. 6. Davis also said he wouldn’t have fired Del Rio if he didn’t believe Gruden would sign on as coach.

”I believe that I would’ve sat down with Jack and we would’ve figured out coordinators and assistant coaches and things like that and try to figure out how to reinvigorate the franchise through Jack Cheap Tedy Bruschi Jersey ,” he said.

Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said Tuesday he interviewed two minority candidates before Gruden’s hiring was announced. Those candidates were Oakland tight ends coach Bobby Johnson and Southern California offensive coordinator Tee Martin.

The Raiders haven’t commented on the request from the Fritz Pollard Alliance.

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PITTSBURGH (AP) The New England Patriots have built a dynasty on second chances. Miss an opportunity to bury the Super Bowl champions and they will find a way to find a way Cheap Marcus Davenport Jersey , usually behind a mix of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, and defensive playmaking at just the right time.

It’s a lesson the Pittsburgh Steelers have learned through the years, one they were determined to finally learn from this time around. Instead, more of the same.

Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted in the end zone with 5 seconds remaining, securing New England’s 27-24 comeback victory Sunday built on more Brady and Gronkowski magic.

Another AFC East title, a record ninth in a row.

Another shot at home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

This one came with an assist from the NFL rule book that will add ”surviving the ground” to the league’s ever-expanding and ever-perplexing lexicon.

Plus, the risky decision by the Steelers quarterback not to spike the ball and set up a tying field goal, which could reverberate well into January.

”It was a tight game,” said Brady, who fed Gronkowski repeatedly to set up Dion Lewis’ go-ahead 8-yard touchdown with 56 seconds remaining. ”We just made one more play than they did.”

Same as it ever was.

The Patriots (11-3) can make sure they don’t have to leave Foxborough in January if they finish up the regular season with wins over Buffalo and the New York Jets. Brady finished with 298 yards passing with two touchdowns and an interception. Gronkowski, fresh off a one-game suspension, finished with nine receptions for 168 yards, including three on the winning drive.

That drive, by the way, started with Pittsburgh safety Sean Davis letting a tipped pass slip off his fingertips. Instead of a game-sealing interception, the Steelers gave New England another shot. Brady responded by finding Gronkowski for gains of 26, 26 and 17 yards.

”I think they were trying to challenge us and he made a lot of good plays,” Brady said. ”Other guys make a lot of good plays#2# too, but when he’s open, he gets it.”

It briefly looked like it wouldn’t be enough.

The Steelers (11-3) played most of the game without star wide receiver Antonio Brown, who left in the second quarter with a left calf injury. Still, the AFC North champions gamely hung in and appeared to take the lead when Roethlisberger connected with tight end Jesse James for a 10-yard touchdown with 28 seconds to go.

The play was overturned on review, with official Tony Corrente explaining that because the ball shifted as James twisted his way into the end zone , it did not ”survive the ground” and therefore wasn’t a catch.

”He lost complete control of the football,” Corrente told a pool reporter.

That decision that left James stunned.

”I guess I don’t know a lot of things about football,” James said. ”I can’t call it#3# obviously. They think they made the right call. I’m sure we’ll see it over the next couple days.”

Probably far longer than that.

Roethlisberger hit Darrius Heyward-Bey for a short gain on the next snap, but Heyward-Bey was tackled in bounds. With the clock running and no timeouts, Roethlisberger hurried to the line. Rather than spike it to set up a short kick, Roethlisberger tried to win it.

Instead, he lost it.

His pass to Eli Rogers was batted into the air, and New England safety Duron Harmon came down with it. The Patriots had their fifth straight victory in a series that would feel more like a rivalry if the outcome wasn’t always the same.

”We’re not going to look back and second-guess anything or anybody,” Roethlisberger said. ”We lost a game and I threw a pick in the end zone at the end of the game to lose it.”

Roethlisberger completed 22 of 30 passes for 281 yards with two touchdowns and the pick. Le’Veon Bell ran for 117 yards and added another 48 receiving. Still, it did little to take away the sting of a near miss.

”I’m not into moral victories right now,” Roethlisberger said. ”We just lost a game. It doesn’t sit well. But the season is not over.”

SHAZIER STOPS BY

Pittsburgh received an early emotional jolt when cameras cut to injured linebacker Ryan Shazier sitting in a private box less than two weeks removed from spinal stabilization surgery. The crowd at rainy Heinz Field roared as Shazier#4# who appeared to be seated, waved a Terrible Towe l. The 25-year-old is recovering from spinal stabilization surgery on Dec. 6, two days after leaving a Monday night victory over Cincinnati on a stretcher following a routine hit on Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone.

”We had no idea he was going to be here,” Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree said. ”We were excited. It was good to see him smiling and cheering.”

INJURIES

The Patriots lost running back Rex Burkhead with a knee injury in the first half. Burkhead did not return. Pittsburgh rookie running back James Conner exited with a sprained knee in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

New England: Host the Bills on Christmas Eve. The Patriots handled the Bills 23-3 earlier this month in Buffalo.

Pittsburgh: Visits Houston on Christmas Day.

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NEW YORK (AP) The Houston Astros may not have the drawing power of the Chicago Cubs Cheap Vincent Valentine Jersey , but Fox isn’t about to complain.

The network was blessed with a seven-game World Series for the second straight year, which is ideal for business. The Astros’ victory over the Dodgers reached an average of 28.3 million viewers, the Nielsen company said.

That’s nowhere near the 40 million that 2016’s ultimate game between the Cubs and Cleveland Indians reached. But both those teams were bucking a history of futility, and the seventh game was breathtakingly close. The Astros won their first championship and dominated in the seventh game.

Still, a solid Series enabled Fox to win the ratings race for a second straight week, averaging 9.7 million viewers in prime time. CBS had 8.2 million, NBC had 6.3 million Cheap Trey Flowers Jersey , ABC had 4.5 million, Telemundo had 1.5 million, Univision had 1.4 million, the CW had 1.3 million and ION Television had 1.2 million.

Fox News Channel was the week’s most popular cable network, averaging 2.73 million viewers in prime time. ESPN had 2.24 million, Hallmark had 1.9 million, MSNBC had 1.87 million and USA had 1.27 million.

ABC’s ”World News Tonight” topped the evening newscasts with an average of 8.6 million viewers. NBC’s ”Nightly News” had 8.1 million and the ”CBS Evening News” had 6.4 million.

For the week of Oct. 30-Nov. 5 Cheap Tom Brady Jersey , the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: World Series Game 7: Houston at L.A. Dodgers, 28.29 million; World Series Game 6: Houston at L.A. Dodgers, 22.33 million; ”60 Minutes,” CBS, 15.09 million; NFL Football: Oakland at Miami, NBC Cheap Tedy Bruschi Jersey , 14.36 million; ”The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 14.16 million; ”Young Sheldon,” CBS, 12.83 million; ”NCIS,” CBS, 12.11 million; ”Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick Cheap Steve Grogan Jersey ,” NBC, 11.43 million; ”The Good Doctor,” ABC, 10.58 million; NFL Football: Denver at Kansas City,” ESPN, 10.49 million.

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ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co. CBS is owned by CBS Corp. CW is a joint venture of Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corp. Fox is owned by 21st Century Fox. NBC and Telemundo are owned by Comcast Corp. ION Television is owned by ION Media Networks.