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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Its been two months since Tom Brady returned to the field after serving a four-game suspension. In his eight games back, Brady has played at an MVP level in leading his team to the cusp of yet another AFC East title.But as New England (10-2) prepares to host the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night, the ghost of Deflategate has emerged this week -- even as Brady insists its the furthest thing from his mind.In the initial months after Deflategate began, court papers surfaced as a part of a lawsuit Brady filed against the NFL to fight his suspension. They revealed a claim that a Ravens employee contacted the Indianapolis Colts about deflated footballs used in Baltimores playoff loss to the Patriots the week before the AFC title game in 2015. Those claims were refuted by the Ravens.Brady was suspended for what the NFL determined was his role in a scheme by the Patriots to underinflate footballs used in that 2015 AFC championship game.I think you just try to put everything aside, and whether it was that or whether it was a playoff game a couple of years ago or whether it was a regular-season game a couple of years ago or championship games, Brady said this week. I mean, none of those really matter.What does matter is that the outcome of Mondays game will have playoff implications for both teams.New England can clinch the AFC East for what would be an NFL-record eighth consecutive season with a victory and Miami loss or tie. The Patriots would also earn a first-round bye with a win and losses by Miami and Pittsburgh.Baltimore (7-5) has won four of its past five games, but entered the week tied with the Steelers for first place in the AFC North.Under coach John Harbaugh the Ravens have been one of the few teams that have consistently played the Patriots close. In six games at Gillette Stadium under Harbaugh, the Ravens are 2-4, but their four defeats have come by an average of four points. That includes the 35-31 loss in the 2015 playoff loss.We do appreciate it, Harbaugh said of the rivalry with New England. Were glad to be in this game. Were glad weve earned the right to play a meaningful game in December, most especially against the team were about to play, because theyre always in that position.Here are some other things to watch for in Monday nights matchup:GROUND GAME: The Ravens entered the week with the NFLs top-ranked defense, giving up 296.1 yards per game overall and an NFL-low 73.8 rushing yards per game. That unit will be tested this week when it tries to slow down New England RB LeGarrette Blount, who has a league-best 13 rushing touchdowns.PLAYING THROUGH PAIN: The spotlight has been on Patriots TE Martellus Bennett since Rob Gronkowski was placed on injured reserve following season-ending back surgery Dec. 1. Bennett continues to deal with an ankle issue that slowed him in New Englands win over the Rams. He was targeted just four times in that game, finishing with two catches for 4 yards. He also had a pair of holding penalties.Bennett acknowledged he is not 100 percent, but said his working through it.The thing about playing this sport is its always something. You never go through a season without having some kind of nick or tear, Bennett said. I just keep going. Im like the Energizer bunny. I just try to find a way.OLD MANS GAME: While many people have marveled at the play of Brady at age 39, a lot of that same praise was heaped on 37-year-old Ravens WR Steve Smith by the Patriots. Smith has 54 catches for 589 yards this season. Hes also been a nuisance in his past two games against New England, amassing 145 receiving yards and a touchdown. Patriots CB Malcolm Butler called Smith one of his favorite players.Lot of respect, man, Butler said. At the age of 37, he looks like hes out there running around like hes 26 or 27.EYES ON JONES: Its been a challenging season for Patriots rookie cornerback and punt returner Cyrus Jones. He had his fourth fumble of the season last week against Los Angeles, and is averaging only 4.7 yards per punt return. He was replaced by Danny Amendola, who promptly suffered an ankle injury. But Jones said hes hoping to get more chances to prove himself.Ill just take whatever opportunities I get, Jones said. Dannys out, so somebody has to get back there and try to do it.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower Cheap Air Max 97 Pink China . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. Air Max 97 Cheap Womens . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. http://www.cheapairmax97fromchina.com/ . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. Cheap Air Max 97 All White China .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. Cheap Air Max 97 Black China . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Top-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska completed a dominating week at the Connecticut Open on Sunday, beating Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-6 (3) in the final then spraying her coaches and friends with champagne.The Polish star didnt drop a set during the tournament, her 19th WTA championship. She took control of the final from the start, winning 20 of the first 27 points, jumping out to a 5-0 lead.She ran the 21-year-old Ukrainian all over the court, chasing down shots and placing her own with pinpoint accuracy. Svitolina held off two set points in the sixth game, but Radwanska was able to serve out the set in 29 minutes.I was really feeling good this week, Radwanska said. Everything was working. I was feeling very confident on that court.The second set was much closer. It included three service breaks for each player and a 37-shot rally in the ninth game. Radwanska broke serve in that game to go up 5-4 and seemed to be in control, especially after Svitolina turned her ankle chasing a lob shot.But the 10th seed rallied, breaking back and going up 6-5. Radwanska saved two set points to force the tiebreaker, and took five of the last six points to win it.Svitolina committed 36 unforced errors, including a backhand into the net to end the match.Set points, they come and go in five seconds, Svitolina said. She served two big serves. She placed it really well.Radwanska had nnever before made it past the quarterfinals in New Haven, but had a relatively easy trip this year that included a first round bye and straight set wins over Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, lucky loser Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium and a 6-1, 6-1 semifinal victory over two-time champion Petra Kvitova.ddddddddddddShe becomes the first top seed to win since Caroline Wozniacki did it in 2011. The title is Radwanskas second this season after taking the Shenzhen Open in China in January.She takes home just over $130,000 for winning in Connecticut, but also earned enough points to clinch the U.S. Open Series bonus challenge. That means a chance for up to an extra $1 million, depending on her finish in New York next week, where she will be the No. 4 seed.So now its everything in my power to do good in the U.S. Open, she said with a big grin. It will be worth it, right?Svitolina, who beat Serena Williams in the third round at the Olympics, is now 4-1 in WTA finals, but this was her first at a Premier level event. She was playing this tournament for the fourth time and had never before made it out of the first round.She said it was a disappointing first set, but an otherwise encouraging week.There is no time to be sad because U.S. Open is just on Monday, she said. ' ' '