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TAMPA, Fla. - Go ahead and snicker.While it may seem laughable that Sundays game between Tampa Bay (2-9) and Cincinnati (7-3-1) is just as important to the playoff aspirations of the struggling Buccaneers as those of the AFC North-leading Bengals, its also true.The surging Bengals, whove won four of five, clearly are in a position to control their own fate in the NFLs tightest division race.Our guys, they know the urgency, Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said.The Bengals, whove won the past two weeks on the road, are one of a record 16 teams with at least seven victories through 11 games.Division rivals Baltimore, Cleveland and Pittsburgh are all 7-4 — a half game behind the Bengals — making the AFC North the first division in league history to have every team at least three games above .500 at any point in a season.We know every week is important, so you dont want to have any slip-ups because if you do . you can go from first to last really easily, Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton said. We know every week is so important, so it just brings that extra focus to the game.Despite being seven games under .500, the Bucs still have a chance to salvage their season in the under-performing NFC South. Amazingly, theyre only two games out of first place while also remaining in contention for the No. 1 overall pick in next years draft.Its crazy . but the reality of our division right now is its still up for grabs, Tampa Bay quarterback Josh McCown said. Were not in a favourable position, but were not out of it.Atlanta and New Orleans lead the NFC South at 4-7, with defending champion Carolina just behind them at 3-7-1.The Bucs face even longer odds of winning the division because theyve lost twice to the Falcons and once to both the Saints and Panthers, who theyll face again down the stretch.You dont want it to come like this, with this kind of record, but at the same you want to be playing meaningful games in late November and December, McCown said. Hopefully we can continue to put ourselves in position to do that, and it starts by beating Cincinnati.Things to watch while the Bengals try to hang on to first in the AFC North and the Bucs try to climb back in the NFC South race:KINGS OF THE ROAD: The Bengals are trying to win three straight road games for the first time in franchise history. Its the ninth time theyve played at least three consecutive road games, the first since 2003. Theyve moved ahead of the NFLs tightest division by winning in New Orleans and Houston.Honestly if we can go into Tampa and take care of business, then the month of December will be exactly what we expected the month of December to be for us, left tackle Andrew Whitworth said.RISING STAR: Bucs WR Mike Evans leads NFL in November with 505 yards receiving and six touchdowns through the air. He leads all rookies with 841 yards receiving overall and eight TD catches.MORE OF AJ: Receiver A.J. Green missed three games and most of another because of an injured right big toe, and was a nonfactor in his first two games back. Hes been back in form during the last two games, getting six catches for 127 yards in New Orleans and a career-high 12 catches for 121 yards in Houston.Well try to get him 13, 14, 15 — however many we can, Dalton said, jokingly. But you know, it was a big point of emphasis getting A.J. involved. We got a lot of good looks for him to make plays and he made the plays. So when youve got a guy like that, youve got to give him his chances.BETTER D: Since returning from its bye week five games ago, Tampa Bay has made strides on defence, allowing 302 yards per game (fourth lowest in the NFL over the stretch) and 19.2 points per game (11th).STOPPING MJ: Defensive end Michael Johnson left Cincinnati as a free agent and signed with Tampa Bay. His former teammates are looking forward to their reunion Sunday. Bengals end Carlos Dunlap talks with Johnson every week to keep up on their personal lives and their careers.Its going to be fun to go out there and compete against him, Dunlap said. Were going to have our little friendly dispute going on who gets the first sack or who gets the most sacks like we always did when we were here.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Hydro Flask With Straw Sale . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the Maple Leafs have trade offers on the table for the 26-year-old, but none have been deemed acceptable by the team. Hydro Flask Buy Uk . -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released veteran guard Davin Joseph, a mainstay on their offensive line over the past eight seasons. http://www.wholesalehydroflaskuk.com/hyd...-uk-outlet.html. -- The NFL cancelled its Hall of Fame game between St. Hydro Flask Sale Uk . - The width of Alec Martinezs shin guard was the difference between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks in their playoff series opener. Wholesale Hydro Flask .ca. Kerry, In the closing minutes of the second period of Game 4 between Pittsburgh and Columbus there were the remnants of two broken sticks behind the Pittsburgh net. OAKLAND, Calif. -- In one corner of the Golden State Warriors locker room, Stephen Curry iced a welt on the left side of his forehead. On the other, Jermaine ONeal limped out of the training room with bandages around his waist and wrist. The Warriors emerged from 53 minutes of basketball battered and bruised by the NBAs hottest team but delivered their own kind of knockout blows. Curry converted a tying layup with 3.2 seconds left in regulation and finished with 25 points, ONeal made a big-time block in overtime and the Warriors outlasted the Rockets 102-99 Thursday night to halt Houstons eight-game winning streak. "Thats one of our biggest wins of the year," said ONeal, who grabbed 10 rebounds and defended Dwight Howard as well as anybody has this season. Just after James Harden hit a go-ahead jumper, Curry came back with a left-handed layup over Howard to send the game to the extra session. The Warriors got a big boost in overtime when ONeal, who had surgery on his right wrist earlier this season and was filling in for injured centre Andrew Bogut, blocked Chandler Parsons baseline dunk attempt at the rim. Curry followed with two free throws to give Golden State a 98-95 lead with 15.9 seconds left. The teams traded free throws as the Rockets ran out of time. "There were so many big plays that we made both offensively and defensively," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. "We were patient, we executed and it was just a big-time win for us." Harden scored 34 of his 39 points in the second half to rally the Rockets, but said he hyperextended his right elbow in a collision during the closing minutes. Harden had an X-ray but the results had not come back. Hes scheduled to have an MRI in Phoenix, where Houston plays its next game Sunday. "When it first happened, I thought it was over. I thought I broke it or whatever," said Harden, who stayed in the game. "Its still painful. Its throbbing but hopefully its nothing too serious." The Warriors outshot Houston 39.8 per cent to 36.6 per cent and made just enough plays late. David Lee had 28 points and 14 rebounds, and Klay Thompson and Jordan Crawford scored 12 points each in Golden States all-round defensive effort. Howard grabbed 21 rebounds, but scored just 11 points on 4-for-13 shooting, and Parsons added 21 points and eight rebounds as Houston lost for the first time since Jan. 25 at Memphis. It was the Rockets longest winning streak since a franchise-record, 22-game run in 2007-08 season.dddddddddddd "It just wasnt a crisp game for us," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. Playing on consecutive nights made for two tired teams until both picked up the intensity late in the fourth quarter. Harden stripped Lee as he turned to shoot out of the post, then hit a go-ahead shot from 23 feet over Thompson that put Houston ahead 89-87 with 6.9 seconds to play in regulation. After the Warriors called timeout to advance the ball to half court, Curry received a pass from Andre Iguodala while running off a screen and drove to his left and to the hoop. With Howard approaching, Curry floated a left-handed layup over the Rockets centre for the tying score before Harden missed a 3-pointer at the regulation buzzer. Curry said the play was designed for him to shoot a 3-pointer but defenders overplayed him. "At that point, it was just about getting into the lane as quick as possible and try to get it on the rim," said Curry, who was inadvertently bruised by Howards leg as the two dove for a loose ball earlier. "Dwight was there to protect and thankfully I was able to get a little bit of touch on it and it went in." The Warriors took control for good when Parsons sprinted down the baseline, received a pass from Harden and went up for a one-handed dunk only to be emphatically denied by the veteran ONeal, bringing the announced sellout crowd of 19,596 roaring to their feet. "He made a great play going baseline, and when youre big, you kind of look at it like being a free safety," ONeal said. "I wanted to make sure I got to the rim in time to save the dunk." "It was just perfect timing on his part," Parsons said. The Rockets were forced to foul Curry with time running out. He made both free throws, then the Warriors intentionally fouled Harden so he couldnt attempt a tying 3-pointer. Harden and Curry swapped free throws before the Warriors stole the ball to finish off a thrilling game between teams that could see each other in the Western Conference playoffs. NOTES: Steve Blake, acquired by the Warriors in a trade with the Lakers on Wednesday, finished with three points, two rebounds and one assist in 19 minutes. ... Houston won the season series 2-1 over the Warriors. ... McHale was whistled for a technical foul for arguing a charging call against Jeremy Lin at the end of the first quarter. The foul on Lin was waved off after officials ruled time had expire