Über das Forum » m really going to have a big challenge ahead

PITTSBURGH -- Their momentum gone and the Pittsburgh Steelers surging behind backup quarterback Landry Jones, the New England Patriots needed something to get them going.They found inspiration in the usual places: LeGarrette Blounts churning legs, Tom Bradys accurate right arm and Rob Gronkowskis massive hands.Twice the undermanned Steelers needed one stop to give their offense the ball with a chance to take the lead on Sunday afternoon.And twice the Patriots instead went right down the field instead, pulling away for a 27-16 victory that left little doubt as to where the balance of power in the AFC sits as the season reaches its halfway point.The Steelers were within 14-13 when Blount broke runs of 11 and 25 yards to set up a 36-yard touchdown from Brady to Gronkowski early in the third quarter.When another Pittsburgh field goal brought Pittsburgh within four, the Patriots responded with another long touchdown drive fueled by a 37-yard catch-and-run by Gronkowski that set up Blounts second touchdown of the game.It was good to score like that and good to make plays in the second half that we needed to, Brady said. They certainly made it tough on us.Maybe, but the Steelers (4-3) also made it tough on themselves. Pittsburgh scored one touchdown in four trips to the red zone and was flagged 10 times for 85 yards, including a holding call in the second quarter that wiped out a touchdown pass that would have tied the game.Instead, Chris Boswell missed a 42-yard field goal and Pittsburgh never legitimately came close to evening the score again.You cant waste red zone trips, you have to come off blocks and make tackles in the run game, you cant give up explosion plays, we did, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. Thats why we lost.Brady, Blount and Gronkowski had plenty to do with it too. Brady completed 19 of 26 for 222 yards and two touchdowns to improve to 9-2 against Pittsburgh. Gronkowski caught four passes for 93 yards and his 68th touchdown catch, tying Stanley Morgan for the most in club history. Blount finished with 127 yards rushing and two scores against the team he walked away from 2014 .His runs were able to settle us down, New England coach Bill Belichick said of Blount.New England (6-1) remained perfect since Brady returned from his four-game Deflategate suspension and while the Patriots lost a pair of fumbles they also didnt throw an interception, making them the third team since 1960 to get through the first seven weeks of the season without throwing it to the other team, joining the 1960 Browns and 2008 Redskins.MISSED OPPORTUNITIESSteelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley hardly limited the playbook with Jones under center. The fourth-year quarterback did what Roethlisberger likes to do, particularly getting the ball to running back LeVeon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown.Bell finished with 149 yards of total offense and Brown caught seven passes for 106 yards, but too often Pittsburgh settled for field goals (or field goal attempts) when touchdowns were required.We just got to the red zone a lot of times and turned the ball over, you cant have that, Bell said. I mean, it is a small margin for error against a team like that.FLEET FEETThe 39-year-old quarterback who once ran the 40-yard dash at the combine in a not-so fleet 5.28 seconds can still run away from the bad guys. Brady ran for three first downs in the first half, mashing his way on a quarterback sneak and twice escaping pressure and outrunning defenders a decade or more younger for the necessary yardage.NOT-SO RELIABLENew England kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed a regular season extra point during his rookie year in 2006 and then didnt miss another one until last week against Cincinnati, an NFL record streak of 479 attempts between misfires (though there was that costly missed kick in last years AFC championship game ). Gostkowski didnt have to wait nearly as long until watching a second one go astray. Gostkowski misfired on a third-quarter extra point that kept the Steelers within seven.This is a tough place to kick, Belichick said. Im not making any excuses. The kicker on the other side of the field had trouble too.In addition to the 42-yarder he missed, Boswell misfired on a 54-yarder with the Steelers down two scores in the fourth quarter.QUOTABLEWere looking like garbage right now. This is terrible right now. -- Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier on his teams run defense.UP NEXTPatriots: visit Buffalo next Sunday. The Bills beat the Brady-less Patriots 16-0 in New England on Oct. 2.Steelers: off next week then visit AFC North rival Baltimore on Nov. 6. Air Force 1 Mid Bianche . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Sf Air Force 1 Mid Nere . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. http://www.airforce1outletitalia.it/scontate-air-force-1-alte-2020.html . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Air Force 1 Low Italia . Miller reached right to deflect Mikhail Grabovskis attempt with just over 2 minutes remaining in regulation, and then made two more saves in the shootout Sunday to give the Sabres a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Air Force 1 Low Outlet Italia . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. OMAHA, Neb. -- After being on the sideline for two days, Michael Phelps was ready to go and it showed.The 18-time Olympic champion advanced to the semifinals of the 200-meter butterfly at the U.S. swimming trials Tuesday with the fastest time in the preliminaries. Phelps led all way and touched in 1 minute, 56.68 seconds.His first race on Day 3 of the eight-day meet drew the loudest cheers of the morning session.That was the most annoying part, I think. Having to wait this long, he said. But Im happy to get the first one underway and just keep going from there.Also advancing to the evening semis was Pace Clark, second fastest in 1:56.90, and Jack Conger in third at 1:57.33.Chase Kalisz (KAY-lish), Phelps protege who already made the team by winning the 400 individual medley Sunday, moved on as did Tyler Clary, who was second to Phelps at the 2012 trials.Phelps is seeking his fifth Olympic appearance and first as a father. The avid golfer noted world No. 1 Jason Day has decided not to compete in Rio de Janeiro, where golf is making its return to the games.Nobody wants to go, he said. But hopefully I get to go soon.Like Phelps, Katie Ledecky had an easy swim in reaching the semis of the 200 freestyle in pursuit of a second event for the Rio Games. The Maryland teenager led the prelims in 1:55.60. She already is on the team in the 400 free.Ive definitely gained a lot of speed the last couple of months. Thats been showing in these races, Ledecky said. Ive put some more focus on these shorter races, so I can be a big part of those relays and also compete individually.The top six finishers in the 100 and 2200 freestyles typically make the team and comprise the relay pool of candidates.ddddddddddddLeah Smith, who also made the team by finishing second to Ledecky in the 400 free Monday, was second quickest in 1:56.47.Missy Franklin tied for seventh with Hali Flickinger in 1:58.61. Franklin faces a busy night. She will swim the 200 free semifinals shortly before 8 p.m. EDT and return about 15 minutes later for the 100 backstroke final in a bid to make her second straight Olympic team. She won four golds and a bronze four years ago at the London Games.I think I do my best when Im given a big challenge, and tonight Im really going to have a big challenge ahead of me, she said. My warmups have been feeling really great. I think Im trying a little bit too hard and thinking a little bit too much. Its just about trusting myself and just letting it happen.After creating a splash in London, Franklin attended college for two years before turning pro. She has talked about the challenges of balancing sponsor demands, photo shoots, appearances and travel with training in her home state of Colorado.Its a different kind of pressure, for sure, she said.Defending Olympic champion Allison Schmitt qualified as fourth fastest for the 200 free semis in 1:57.77.In the 200 individual medley, Maya DiRado advanced to the semifinals with the fastest time of 2:11.66. Caitlin Leverenz was second at 2:11.89, followed by Melanie Margalis at 2:12.36. Margalis also advanced as third fastest in the 200 free. ' ' '