Pirate Galaxy » st six contests with an upper-body inj

CINCINNATI -- Vontaze Burfict anticipated a pass over the middle and got there first, grabbing his second interception of the game.The Bengals linebacker was making an impact again.Its been a while.Burfict was back to being a dominating linebacker during Cincinnatis 32-14 win over the Eagles on Sunday.He had two of the Bengals three interceptions, a season-high 15 tackles, and four passes knocked down -- his best all-around game since his famous playoff meltdown.Its like a test, Burfict said . You practice during the week, and on Sundays you have to pass the test. Thats my competitiveness.His marks have been merely above-average for most of the season.The volatile linebacker hadnt picked off a pass since an 18-16 playoff loss to Pittsburgh, when his late interception appeared to seal a Cincinnati victory. Burfict was so caught up in the moment that he ran all the way to the tunnel with the ball.But Jeremy Hill fumbled, and Burfict put the Steelers in range for the winning field goal by hitting Antonio Brown in the head after an incomplete pass, drawing a personal foul. The NFL suspended him for the first three games of this season because of that hit and others.He has so far avoided an egregious play this season. Hes also been less of a factor since returning from the suspension, getting eight or fewer tackles in three of his first four games as he worked his way back into shape. Hes been back in form the past few games, helping Cincinnatis defense find its form.The Bengals (4-7-1) have held each of the past three opponents to 19 points or fewer, with Burfict making game-changing plays.And hes finally heeded his coaches admonitions to avoid the personal fouls that have cost Cincinnati field position and a playoff game.Hes (going) 100,000 miles per hour, defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. Youve got to slow him down some.Burficts first interception came on a short pass by Carson Wentz, ending Philadelphias opening drive in the second half. He had another interception on a pass over the middle in the fourth quarter and returned it 47 yards before Wentz and tight end Zach Ertz brought him down.That quarterback is fast, Burfict said.The defenses improvement -- with Burfict in the middle of everything -- has come too late to make a difference in the Bengals season.In order to win the division, they have to win their last four games, starting Sunday in Cleveland (0-12), and have both Pittsburgh (7-5) and Baltimore (7-5) collapse in December.But the defenses resurgence means that the Steelers and Ravens can expect a challenging game when they come to Paul Brown Stadium later this season.Pittsburgh visits on Dec. 18 and Baltimore on Jan. 1 in the final regular-season game.So long as Burfict keeps playing at the level he did on Sunday, the Bengals defense will be formidable.He thinks hes the best at everything, receiver Brandon LaFell said. He thinks hes the best running back, the best pass catcher. With these two INTs, Im going to hear about this for the rest of the season. He backs it up with his play, though.Game notesThe Bengals are tied for second in the NFL with 14 interceptions, one behind San Diego. Baltimore and Kansas City also have picked off 14 passes. ... The club record for interceptions in a season is 34 in 1996, when Ashley Ambrose had eight. ... The Bengals beat the Browns 31-17 at Paul Brown Stadium on Oct. 23. They didnt win another game until Sunday.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLBilly McKinney Blue Jays Jersey . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. Ken Giles Blue Jays Jersey . LOUIS -- St. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-devon-travis-jersey/ . Klitschkos management company says the bout will be the Ukrainian fighters 25th world championship fight. The 1.83-meter (6-foot) Leapai defeated the previously unbeaten Denis Boytsov in November to become the WBOs mandatory challenger. Eric Sogard Blue Jays Jersey .Y. - Detroit goaltender Jonas Gustavsson has earned NHL first star of the week honours after winning in his first three appearances of the season. Paul Molitor Jersey . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week.CALGARY, Alberta -- Fresh off their 1-0 road win over Minnesota Wild, the Calgary Flames will look to keep things rolling when they host the Arizona Coyotes at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday.Left winger Johnny Gaudreau scored the lone goal for the Flames (6-10-1) against the Wild on Tuesday night, while goalie Chad Johnson stopped all 27 shots he faced for his fifth career shutout.After the game, Flames coach Glen Gulutzan told reporters that hes anxious to see how his players will respond less than 24 hours later in front of their hometown fans against the Coyotes.Sometimes those things, you can get off to a good start because youve kind of got your motor already running, said Gulutzan. We cant look at our situation as far as a negative. Weve just got to go in and do the same thing another night against an Arizona team that is waiting for us. Weve got to be strong mentally now and just push through these things.Whether or not he gets the start against Arizona or if Gulutzan chooses to go back to netminder Brian Elliott, Johnson said the Flames have to bring the same intensity and focus to playing the Coyotes that they had against the Wild.You have to sort of refocus and you cant get too high or too low, said Johnson. Well just have to enjoy now as quickly as possible and then refocus for tomorrow, so itll be a tough game.The win over the Wild snapped a four-game losing streak for the Flames, who were without the services of Gaudreau late in the third period.I dont have any update on Johnny, said Gulutzan. I know he took a couple of slashes ... well see when I talk to the guys, how he is.Meanwhile, the Coyotes (5-9-0) havent played since dropping a 2-1 decision to tthe Boston Bruins at home on Saturday night.ddddddddddddThey received some good news on Tuesday when coach Dave Tippett said he expects that center Martin Hanzal and goalie Mike Smith will return to action during their quick road trip to play the Flames in Calgary on Wednesday and the Canucks in Vancouver the next night.Theyre both going to accompany us on the trip, Tippett told Fox Sports Arizona on Tuesday. Both of them had a good, hard practise again today. If there are no repercussions tomorrow morning and theyre ready to go, well put em in.Smith hasnt played since Oct. 18 -- a span of 12 games -- since sustaining an injury to his left knee, while Hanzal has missed the past six contests with an upper-body injury.Theyre two good veteran players, said Tippett, while noting that the plan is for Smith and fellow goalie Louis Domingue to split the two games on the road trip. Anytime you get your No. 1 goalie back, that gives your club a boost. And Marty Hanzal, we know the importance he has on our team as a centerman just to stabilize us in that position.To make room for Hanzal and Smith on the roster, the Coyotes assigned rookie center Christian Dvorak and goalie Justin Peters to the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League on Tuesday.If the Coyotes want to climb out of last place in the Western Conference, theyll have to find a way to replicate the success that the Flames had on the road against the Wild.We need to raise our desperation and compete, defenseman Connor Murphy said. We need to turn it around before things slip away from us. ' ' '