EAST RUTHERFORD, N. Valeri Nichushkin Stars Jersey .J. -- The Cincinnati Bengals have made it to the playoffs five straight years, an impressive stretch of success that should put them among the elite franchises in the AFC.Its the fact they havent won a game once theyve gotten to the postseason that has some fans hesitant to feel any satisfaction.Underrated? Perhaps. But the Bengals know theres only one way to change that perception.Thats one thing were not worried about, quarterback Andy Dalton said. For us, especially right now, our focus is the first game of the year. Thats all you can worry about is what youre doing right now. Were not worried about any of that other stuff. Were trying to do whatever we can to win this week.And that road begins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday against the New York Jets in the season opener.If theres one trend the Bengals can change immediately, its that theyve never defeated the Jets in New Jersey. Theyre 0-9 there, but despite that dismal record, coach Marvin Lewis knows how huge a victory would be in Week 1 -- no matter against whom or where it comes.It makes you 1-0, on the road, which is a good thing, said Lewis, 6-7 in openers with the Bengals. It kicks off the season in the right way. You focus on this since the schedule comes out. This is the opening game, so theres a certain importance to it. Its an opportunity to get off to a fast start.Meanwhile, the Jets havent been to the playoffs since the 2010 season, the longest postseason drought since owner Woody Johnson took over the team in 2000.Johnson declined to make a playoffs-or-bust declaration while speaking to the media this week, but the Jets certainly have their sights set on success.We dont talk about expectations that way, coach Todd Bowles said of his discussions with Johnson and the team. We know what the expectations are.And, they are?To win, Bowles said.Here are some things to know as the Bengals and Jets kick off the season:DANDY ANDY: Dalton was on his way to a possible Pro Bowl appearance last season when he broke the thumb on his passing hand in December. It shortened what had been a terrific year in which he led the AFC with a 106.3 passer rating.The Bengals quarterback is back and feeling healthy, and ready to pick up where he left off last year after 25 touchdown passes and a career-low seven interceptions.Im 100 percent, Dalton said. Im good. No setback from the thumb.FITZ MAGIC: The Jets were uncertain about their quarterback situation until the night before training camp began, when the team and Ryan Fitzpatrick ended a long contract stalemate and agreed on a one-year deal. Both Fitzpatrick and the Jets made it clear they wanted a reunion, and it only made sense after he set a franchise record with 31 touchdown passes and galvanized the locker room after then-starter Geno Smith had his jaw broken by a punch from a teammate.Brandon Marshall enjoyed a huge year with Fitzpatrick throwing to him, setting franchise marks with 109 catches and 1,502 yards receiving, and also tying the team record with 14 TD grabs.ABSENT EIFERT: It appears Dalton and the offense will be without tight end Tyler Eifert against the Jets because of an ankle injury suffered during the Pro Bowl. He was hopeful hed be ready to play, but he had surgery in May and didnt play during the preseason. Eifert, who had 52 catches for 615 yards and 13 TDs last season, will likely be replaced by H-back Ryan Hewitt and tight ends Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah.FORTE FITS: The Jets added a pass-catching presence to their backfield when they signed Matt Forte as a free agent in March. The running back, who played his first eight seasons in Chicago, is two years removed from setting an NFL record at his position with 102 catches.The 30-year-old Forte is coming off a hamstring injury that limited him for half of training camp, but appears ready to be a full contributor to Chan Gaileys offense.Great vision as a runner, really does a good job of setting his blocks up, obviously great hands, Fitzpatrick said. I just think the overall awareness and the experience that he has playing the game of football, he kind of fits right into that huddle.WHOS BLOCKING?: A spot to watch will be right tackle for the Jets, who are toying with the idea of rotating backups Ben Ijalana and Brent Qvale at the position.Starter Breno Giacomini is out for at least six weeks with a back injury, so Bowles has been waiting for Ijalana or Qvale to step up to claim the job.That could certainly have Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap, who set a franchise mark with 13 1/2 sacks last season, and defensive tackle Geno Atkins licking their chops.---AP Sports Writer Joe Kay in Cincinnati contributed.--- http://www.pro32.ap.org/article/jets-owner-wont-say-season-will-be-failure-without-playoffsAP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Dan Hamhuis Stars Jersey . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. Mike Modano Stars Jersey . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night.http://www.authenticstarsnhlhockey.com/tyler-seguin-jersey/ . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. TORONTO -- In a wretched season that cant end soon enough, the Minnesota Twins keep sinking to new lows.Josh Donaldson had his first career three-homer game, Troy Tulowitzki also went deep and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Twins 9-6 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.Minnesota lost its season-worst 10th straight. The Twins have lost seven straight in Toronto.Weve been through quite a few rough spots this year, right-hander Kyle Gibson said. Were just looking for a break or the game to kind of turn it around and get back on a good streak.Rookie Pat Light, making his sixth appearance of the season, took the loss after giving up Donaldsons go-ahead, two-run blast in the seventh.Were calling on some people to try and get some big outs and theres not a lot of experience there for us, manager Paul Molitor said.The Twins have lost four straight games in which they score five or more runs.We scored over 20 runs in three games and couldnt find a way to win one, Molitor said. It shows you how theyre rolling offensively. It was too much offense and not enough pitching.Donaldson began his barrage with a solo homer off Gibson in the second.Dozens of fans tossed hats onto the field to celebrate the home run hat trick after Donaldson, the AL MVP in 2015, hit a solo shot off Alex Wimmers in the eighth. Groundskeepers and even the Blue Jays mascot helped clear the hats away. Donaldson came out for a curtain call as the crowd of 47,444 roared their approval.Ive never had a curtain call before so that was nice, Donaldson said. I tried to enjoy it for a second. (Edwin Encarnacion) was on deck after I hit the third one and he had a huge smile on his face. That kind of brought it into reality a little bit there. Donaldsons fourth multi-homer game this season and the 10th of his career also marked the 17th three-homer game in the majors this season.It doesnt get any better than that, manager John Gibbons said. Hes heating up.Jose Bautista had his first three-hit game of the season for the AL East-leading Blue Jays. Mike Modano Jersey. Scott Feldman (7-4) earned the win by getting two outs in the seventh. Jason Grilli worked the eighth and Roberto Osuna finished.Twins outfielders Robbie Grossman and Danny Santana collided while chasing a high fly by leadoff batter Bautista in the first. The ball dropped in for a double, and Bautista later scored on a sacrifice fly.Youd like to think that ball would be caught, Molitor said.Santana finished the inning but was replaced by Eddie Rosario in the second. Molitor said Santana would be placed on the disabled list with a sprained left left shoulder.Minnesota led 5-2 after scoring four off R.A. Dickey in the fifth but the Blue Jays cut it to 5-4 in the sixth. Tulowitzki hit a leadoff homer, his 22nd, and Kevin Pillar doubled and scored on a base hit by Devon Travis.EIGHT IS ENOUGHThe Twins have allowed eight or more runs in a franchise-high six straight games.UNLUCKY 13The Twins have been swept 13 times this season.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: Triple-A OF Logan Schafer will join the team in Cleveland Monday to replace Santana.Blue Jays: Donaldson hopped around in pain after fouling a ball off the outside of his right knee in the first. He was checked by the trainer and stayed in. ... C Josh Thole is expected to be designated for assignment Monday when the Blue Jays add C Dioner Navarro. Thole could return when rosters expand Thursday.UP NEXTTwins: LHP Hector Santiago (10-8, 5.16) starts the opener of a three-game series at Cleveland on Monday. Santiago has not pitched since Aug. 20 because of a sore left thumb. RHP Trevor Bauer (9-6, 3.88) starts for the Indians.Blue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (7-6, 3.47) faces Orioles LHP Wade Miley (8-10, 5.51) as the Blue Jays begin a three-game series in Baltimore on Monday night. Estrada is 0-2 with an 8.36 ERA in his past three outings. Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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