Dein erstes Forum » when we were down seven games with 17 to play

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The division leaders keep rolling into Lambeau Field to face the Packers. But Green Bays game Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons isnt generating quite the same buzz as the Packers victorious showdown the previous week with the New England Patriots. Watch the game live on TSN tonight starting at 8:15pm et/5:15pm pt on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, and TSN5. No talk of potential Super Bowl or NFC championship previews here, though this contest could be just as critical to each teams playoff hopes. Yes, even the Packers — the 9-3 team anointed as the NFL favourite of the month after beating the Patriots — arent guaranteed anything. Even with quarterback Aaron Rodgers playing at what Falcons coach Mike Smith described as a level that much higher than everybody else. The typically even-keeled Rodgers appreciates the compliments, but will kindly move on. I think you just have to realize that youre one game away from getting thrown in the trash, Rodgers said. So youve got to continue to stay focused on the things you can control — your preparation, your performance each week — and realize this is a what have you done for me lately league. Even the NFC North isnt a lock for Green Bay. So long as Detroit stays a game back in the division, the Lions have a chance to unseat the Packers if they can win the regular-season finale at Lambeau. Detroit beat Green Bay in Week 3. Theres an urgency that picks up, a focus, and we have to play our best football this week, and realize were in some tough races. Obviously for the division, which is our first goal, and then after that anything is a bonus, Rodgers said. Just getting to .500 would be a bonus for Atlanta, tied with New Orleans at 5-7 atop the mediocre NFC South. The Falcons, though, have won three of four after beating injury-riddled Arizona last week. Beating the Packers in December in Green Bay could push their confidence level through the Georgia Dome roof. We want to be a relevant football team in December. I think thats what everybody shoots for and sometimes being a relevant football team means having 10 wins, sometimes it means having less than that, Smith said. This week, were playing a team thats got the best record in the NFL at 9-3 and theyre playing outstanding football. Some things to watch in the teams first meeting on a Monday night since Atlantas 28-21 win on Nov. 22, 1971: ROLLING RODGERS: The star quarterback is having an MVP-calibre year, dissecting defences with his trademark pinpoint passes and ability to extend plays. Rodgers has thrown an NFL record 360 passes at home without an interception, having last been picked off at Lambeau on Dec. 2, 2012. Its a big difference covering for 5 seconds and 10 to 12 seconds (against Rodgers). Receivers can run anywhere, Atlanta cornerback Desmond Trufant said. TURNING OVER: Maybe Rodgers will meet his match in the Atlanta defence, which has the leagues worst unit statistically but leads the NFC with 24 takeaways, including 14 interceptions. Nine picks have come during the recent 3-1 stretch. Turnovers are way more important to me. Its proven when you win the turnover battle you come out with the win, probably, safety William Moore said. TAKEAWAYS TIMES TWO: The only problem for the Falcons is that they are facing the team that leads the league in turnover margin at plus-15. That is partly due to Rodgers, who has 32 touchdown passes to three interceptions. But the Packers defence has been productive as well with 23 takeaways. SECONDARY LOOK: Starting cornerback Sam Shields availability for the Packers was in question at midweek because he is recovering from a concussion sustained in the Patriots game. At first glance, that could prove problematic given that Roddy White is expected back from an ankle injury at receiver for Atlanta to join Julio Jones and Harry Douglas. The Packers, though, are relatively deep in the secondary. Coach Mike McCarthy likes how backup cornerbacks Davon House and Casey Hayward have performed, while young free safeties Micah Hyde and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix are often on the field together when the Packers go with five defensive backs. FINDING CLAY: The Packers have been giving opposing offences something extra to think about since using Clay Matthews more at inside linebacker instead of solely at his traditional role rushing the passer outside. The move seems to have helped against the run, while getting more snaps for Nick Perry and Mike Neal to rush the passer opposite Julius Peppers. Smith said it gives Green Bay flexibility to find advantageous matchups in rushing the quarterback. ___ AP Sports Writer Charles Odum and Associated Press writer George Henry in Flowery Branch, Georgia contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Trent Grisham Jersey . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. Ray Black Brewers Jersey . The San Antonio Spurs handled the conditions, and the team, and it sure helped when a suffering LeBron James couldnt make it to the finish. https://www.cheapbrewers.com/289y-bud-se...ey-brewers.html. Still, Inter moved one point ahead of Parma in the race for fifth place and the final Europa League spot. Udinese remained 14th, 11 points above the relegation zone. Inter was beaten 2-1 by Atalanta at home on Sunday and has won only seven of 16 matches at the San Siro this season, as the squad seems to still be searching for its identity under new owner Erick Thohir and first-year manager Walter Mazzarri. Tyrone Taylor Brewers Jersey . Unfortunately for the Cleveland Cavaliers, James Harden was in the building. Tyler Saladino Jersey .com) - The surprising Calgary Flames host the winless New Jersey Devils at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday.PHILADELPHIA -- Kyle Kendrick has to wait an extra day to start another home opener. The Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers enjoyed an unexpected day off Monday without having to sit around in their uniforms and wait through rain delays. A gloomy forecast forced postponement of their game 25 hours before the scheduled start. When the teams meet Tuesday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, Kendrick (0-0) will face former Phillies pitcher Kyle Lohse (0-1). Itll be Kendricks second straight start in the home opener. "The fans are going to be excited and Im looking forward to it," he said. "Well be back home for the first time this year and hopefully we can get a win. Thats the main thing." The Phillies went 3-3 in their first six games at Texas and the Chicago Cubs. Bullpen breakdowns cost them two games against the Rangers, including closer Jonathan Papelbons eighth blown save since 2013. But the offence got off to a surprisingly strong start after a miserable spring. The Phillies are batting .276 and averaging 5.2 runs per game. After hitting just .217 with three extra-base hits and three RBIs in Florida, Chase Utley found his groove once the games started to count. He already has three doubles, two homers, six RBIs and a .458 average. Dominic Brown is hitting .381, Jimmy Rollins has six RBIs in four games and the team has seven homers. "Chase is a perfect example of why we dont worry as much as everybody else worries," general Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "When the bell ringgs and the lights are major league lights and the background, those guys are ready to turn on the switch.dddddddddddd" The Brewers (4-2) are coming in after a three-game sweep of the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. It could be a welcome trip to Philadelphia for Ryan Braun, who has only three singles in 20 at-bats. The 2011 NL MVP has had more success against the Phillies than any other team. He has a career average of .386 with a .430 on-base percentage, .690 slugging percentage, 14 homers and 30 RBIs in 43 games vs. Philadelphia. Braun is battling a thumb injury that also bothered him last year before he served a 65-game suspension for violations of MLBs drug agreement and labour contract. Braun heard boos in Boston in his first road game since returning and surely will hear some more in Philadelphia. Lohse takes the mound for the Brewers after losing to Atlanta in his first start. The right-hander pitched for the Phillies in the second half of 2007, helping them begin their streak of five NL East titles. "That was the year we caught the Mets, when we were down seven games with 17 to play," Lohse told MLB.com. "Unfortunately, we ran into the Rockies that year, when they won 22 in a row or whatever it was to get in the playoffs. They were on fire. But I enjoyed my time (in Philadelphia). It was fun to be a part of that comeback." Both teams are trying to rebound from fourth-place finishes in 2013. The Phillies were 73-89 and the Brewers won one more game. ' ' '