Gästebuch » He hasnt hit that wall where it seems like too

PITTSBURGH -- Something feels right about football here when the weather turns cold -- yellow towels waving and gloved hands clapping rhythmically while Renegade pulses out across three rivers in the fourth quarter.Something feels right about the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens hitting the three-quarter mark of the NFL season in a flat-footed tie, even if theyre each a ho-hum 7-5 and have both gone through four-game losing streaks.Something feels right about ugly in the AFC North, where the teams are built for chilly crunch time and each fan base in the division outside of Cleveland has come to expect not just big-time December football, but the January football that follows.So it was that on the first weekend of December, the Steelers took the field here against a New York Giants team that came in on a six-game winning streak and?found a way to win?despite?12 penalties and a pair of turnovers. This just a few hours after the Ravens ended the Miami Dolphins six-game winning streak in Baltimore.The 2016 editions of the AFC Norths black-and-blue bloods are by no means perfect. But in the cases of Pittsburgh and Baltimore, they appear to be putting things together at the right time -- and setting themselves up for a fun (if flawed) division race.Hopefully, we can build upon this performance as we move forward, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Sunday night.And thats the right way to look at what the Steelers did here Sunday. Beating the Giants, who came in with the leagues fourth-best record, was no small accomplishment. But the way they did it was by no means perfect. You couldnt watch the Steelers on Sunday and think this was a team clicking on all cylinders. Some cylinders? Sure. More cylinders than were clicking earlier in the season? Absolutely. But this doesnt look like the elite AFC title contender most people thought they could be in 2016.Too many penalties. Too many odd playcalls that stalled promising drives. Not much rhythm. A workmanlike victory built on screen passes and the breakout performance of tight end Ladarius Green, whose season just got going a couple of weeks ago after a rash of injuries delayed his Steelers debut.Hes finding a comfortable seat on a moving train, Tomlin said of Green. And we need him to.The Steelers know theyre a work in progress. They have the benefit of a quarterback/coach combination that has built teams into playoff contenders and even Super Bowl champions as difficult seasons have gone along. In that way, theyre a little bit like their rivals in Baltimore -- even if they insist theyre not paying attention to what the Ravens are up to.Were trying to focus on being inside our own stadium and taking care of what we need to take care of, linebacker Ryan Shazier said. Well see them soon enough.They will. In their own stadium. On Christmas Day. The Ravens beat the Steelers in Baltimore earlier this season, which is why they are currently listed atop Pittsburgh in the AFC North standings despite their identical records. But depending on what happens the next two weeks -- which see the Ravens play at New England and home against Philadelphia, and the Steelers go to Buffalo and Cincinnati -- that Dec. 25 game is going to be more than enough reason to take a three-hour break from A Christmas Story reruns and tune in for an AFC North slobberknocker.The Steelers have the better quarterback and appear to have the softer schedule. The Ravens have the more dominant defense. Pittsburgh has won three in a row. Baltimore has won four of its last five. They each beat one of the leagues hottest teams Sunday. This race sets up nicely for a lot of reasons. But the very best is the two teams pedigrees.Its that time of year that we have to be our best self, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said.Lots of sayings bounced around the Pittsburgh locker room Sunday night. That thing about be inside our own stadium is clearly something Tomlin is preaching, because he said it and so did several players. The be our best self thing also got echoed in a few different corners of the locker room. Youve got to find those mantras that work, and youve got to make sure you have the people in place to make sure they dont end up just being empty words.The Steelers can do that, and so can the Ravens, which is what makes their burgeoning December division race so much fun. Neither is perfect, and at this point, neither appears to be great. But they have the players to help them get there, and the experience to know how. And whether they roll or limp through the tough tests they face over the next two weeks, Ravens-Steelers?should be quite a present for NFL fans to find under the tree. New Orleans Saints Gear . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Saints Jerseys China . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. https://www.saintsjerseyssale.com/ . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Cheap Saints Jerseys . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. Stitched Saints Jerseys . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Javon Hargrave may be quietly putting together a noteworthy start to his rookie season.Hargrave was listed as the starting nose tackle when the Steelers released their first depth chart of the regular season. Hargrave is dealing with a quad injury, but if hes able to play in the opener Monday at Washington, he will be on track to become the third rookie to start on the defense in 15 years.Its a blessing, but at the same time, I still havent played yet, Hargrave said Wednesday. Its not really official yet. Im just taking it day by day, still getting better and trying to help the team.Hargrave, who beat out third-year defensive lineman Daniel McCullers for the starting spot, injured his quad in practice Monday, the same day he was promoted. Hargrave said the injury wasnt serious.I was a little nervous, Hargrave said. It couldve been worse, but Im blessed that it wasnt. Its a blessing anytime you can avoid an injury like that.Hargrave is trying to become the second rookie in three years to start on the Steelers defense. Linebacker Ryan Shazier started as a rookie in 2014 and Kendrell Bell did the same as an inside linebacker in 2001.I just feel like I come out and work hard to try and get better every day, Hargrave said. Im just doing things to help the team and take advantage of opportunities.The Steelers drafted the 6-foot-2, 305-pound Hargrave in the third round out of South Carolina State. Hargrave was dominant at the FCS level, where he was a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 and 15. He amassed 37 sacks in 47 games at South Carolina State, including 10 or more in each of his last two seasons.Defensive line coach John Mitchell called Hargrave a self-mmade man when the Steelers drafted him and was impressed by his power and quick first step.dddddddddddd The Steelers initially planned to use Hargrave in sub packages and as part of a line rotation, giving ends Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt a much-needed rest.But now it appears the rookie will be starting alongside the veteran defensive ends.Hes not a finished product, but hes growing, Heyward said. I think he understands his first skill is listening. If he can continue to grow and get better the sky is the limit for him.Heyward is most impressed by Hargraves resilience.He keeps bouncing back, Heyward said. He hasnt hit that wall where it seems like too much for him. Hes trying to grow every day and thats not easy, but you appreciate that. As a rookie, it can be very overwhelming at times, and it probably will be later down the road, but as of now, hes done a good job.Tuitt, in his third season, started just four games as a rookie. He realizes the difficulties of learning the Steelers defense.Every day at practice he wants to get better and he doesnt make the same mistake twice, Tuitt said. Hes just a hard worker and he bought into what we do on the defensive line.For the coaches to make the decision they made, they saw something in him that he was doing well.Game notes Heyward is progressing from a high-ankle sprain suffered in the preseason and said he `doesnt see any reason he cant be ready for Monday. . The Steelers signed former Tennessee Titans running back David Cobb to the practice squad and released running back Cameron Stingily.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '