Dein erstes Forum » Evan Longoria was a position of strength. Brad Millers

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Coach Mike McCarthy felt maturity played a part in the Green Bay Packers latest victory.And that started long before McCarthys resilient team came back in the final minute Sunday after blowing a big lead to outlast the rival Chicago Bears 30-27 on the road.McCarthy praised his older players Monday for urging their young teammates to be sufficiently prepared for the frosty temperatures and the unpredictable footing on the turf at Soldier Field.Just going through all of those different things, the comment was (made), of all the games that weve played, these guys handled it seamlessly, McCarthy said.By weathering that challenge and holding off the Bears late charge, the steely Packers are now two wins from completing a late-season resurgence with a once-unlikely return to the playoffs.Everythings right in front of us now, quarterback Aaron Rodgers said after his heroics down the stretch Sunday extended Green Bays winning streak to four games. Rodgers 60-yard heave on a third-and-long play to Jordy Nelson in stride down the middle of the field set up Mason Crosbys winning 32-yard field goal as time expired.Coupled with Detroits loss to the New York Giants, the Packers (8-6) moved within a game of the first-place Lions (9-5) in the NFC North with two games left.Just seeing this team battle through tough situations and adversity and just finding ways to make plays, thats what its about, Crosby said. Were in December football, were in kind of playoff football now where those are critical (kicks) at those important times. It was good to have a game like that under our belt moving forward.Because Green Bay has an earlier win over the Lions, all the Packers need to do to rally for the division title and earn a playoff spot for the eighth straight season is to win out, culminating with a Jan. 1 game at Detroit.Weve done our part so far, and thats going to have to continue the next couple of weeks, said Nelson, who had seven catches for 124 yards as the Packers completed a season sweep of the Bears.But McCarthy doesnt want the team looking too far ahead.The Packers first must get past another division rival and on a short week for just about every team. The Minnesota Vikings, who badgered Rodgers in a 17-14 win at home early in the season, come to Lambeau Field on Saturday for a Christmas Eve matinee.Control your own destiny is what you want, but, really, the only time Ive talked about playoffs is -- I hit em again with it, I think, last week or two weeks ago -- 10 wins, and thats really all weve really focused on, McCarthy said. We know were at eight, we have to get to nine, and then obviously next week Ill be answering the question the same way.The condensed schedule this week wont give Green Bay much time on the practice field. But McCarthy is hopeful a few injured players can recover quickly to play against the Vikings.Guards Lane Taylor (hip) and T.J. Lang (back) had to leave Sunday just before Rodgers big throw to Nelson.I dont have any high concern right now for either one of those guys, McCarthy said.Ditto on the status for Rodgers, who held up fine in the subzero wind chill Sunday despite playing with a sore right calf.The early indication is hes better today than he was going into the game, McCarthy said. We feel good about that.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Michael Strahan Jersey . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Dalvin Tomlinson Jersey . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. http://www.giantsonlineteamshop.com/darius-slayton-jersey-cheap.html . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. Harry Carson Youth Jersey . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Eli Manning Giants Jersey . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. With free agency set to begin Tuesday, the offseason is about to get underway. What are the big questions facing all 30 teams? Were starting with the American League East.Who will replace David Ortiz?2016 record: 93-69Lets be clear: No one can replace Big Papi.Ortiz was the face of the Red Sox for most of these past 14 years, the lone link between the 2004, 2007 and 2013 World Series winners. And he delivered more than clutch hits. When something needed to be said, Ortiz usually stepped forward.But Ortizs production must be replaced. Third baseman Pablo Sandovals return from shoulder surgery, a full season of young outfielder Andrew Benintendi and an eventual contribution from top prospect Yoan Moncada will help, but its doubtful they will add up to Ortizs farewell-season totals of 38 homers and 127 RBIs.Conventional wisdom has the Sox paying top dollar for Edwin Encarnacion, who has averaged 39 homers, 110 RBIs and a .912 OPS per season for the Toronto Blue Jays since 2012, and he would slot in as the designated hitter. But the 34-year-old bats right-handed, and the Red Sox already lean heavily right with Mookie Betts, Hanley Ramirez, Xander Bogaerts and Dustin Pedroia.A potentially better free-agent fit: Carlos Beltran.Beltran turns 40 in April. Hes primarily a DH now and has leadership qualities that would fit well on a young, contending team. Hes a switch-hitter with relatively similar left-right splits. And hes coming off a season in which he hit 29 homers and drove in 93 runs with an .850 OPS.According to multiple sources, the Red Sox were interested in Beltran at the trade deadline before the New York Yankees dealt him to Texas. Beltran says he hasnt considered following Ortiz into retirement, but given his age, Beltran also isnt likely to get more than a two-year commitment.For those reasons, Beltrans market bears watching. -- Scott LauberHow high will the payroll climb?2016 record: 89-73Fact: Toronto is the fifth-largest media market in North America.Another fact: Nearly 3.4 million fans flocked to Rogers Centre this year, marking the Blue Jays most well-attended season since 1993.Myth: The Jays cant afford to re-sign both Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista.By now, after losing in the American League Championship Series in back-to-back seasons, it should be evident to ownership that the Blue Jays can compete with almost any team, on the field and financially. According to most estimates, the clubs 2016 payroll was roughly $150 million, and surely theres room to grow. But that doesnt make the decisions on their free-agent sluggers any easier.Bautista is 36 and coming off his worst season since 2009. Encarnacion will be 34 by Opening Day, and after a 42-homer season, he figures to command a four- or five-year contract worth more than $20 million annually. Multiyear deals for players in their mid-30s tend not to be good business, and Jays president Mark Shapiro knows it. But Bautista and Encarnacion rank with the most accomplished hitters in franchise history. Losing both would profoundly weaken one of the ALs mightiest lineups, to say nothing of demoralizing a fan base that has displayed renewed enthusiasm for baseball over the past two years.Theres growing belief within the industry that the Jays will push hard to keep Encarnacion while allowing Bautista to walk. -- Scott LauberCan the Orioles lock up Manny Machado?2016 record: 89-73If the Orioles stand any chance of signing Manny Machado to a long-term contract extension, nows the time. The 24-year old slugger wont come cheap, not after another standout season in which he set career highs in doubles (40), homers (37), RBIs (96) and OPS (.876). He also continued to look like one of the best fielders on the planet.ddddddddddddMachados current contract is set to expire after the 2018 season. If he makes it to free agency, theres no way Baltimore wins a bidding war to retain his services -- not with deep-pocketed poachers such as the Yankees waiting in the wings. So owner Peter Angelos and GM Dan Duquette must act now if they want to keep Machado in orange and black. With only $54 million currently committed to the 2018 payroll, and just $32 million on the 2019 books, the Birds should have the kind of fiscal flexibility to get a deal done. But does Machado want to stay? No doubt the numbers will play a big part, but extending Jonathan Schoop -- who is Machados BFF and one of the games up-and-coming second basemen -- wouldnt be a bad idea either. -- Eddie MatzWill the Yankees be big spenders?2016 record: 84-78You say, Spend Hals Money! Well, the Yankees probably wont do too much of that this winter. Owner Hal Steinbrenners plan for years: have more financial flexibility with a younger, more athletic roster. The Yankees are, finally, really making this a reality, as evidenced by their trade deadline deals as they slowly move under the luxury tax threshold.This winter, the Yankees wont stand still -- GM Brian Cashman is always active -- but there will be no mega-splurge.The Yankees could reunite with Aroldis Chapman or former prospect Mark Melancon to team with Dellin Betances. Neither Chapman nor Melancon would cost a draft choice, unlike?Kenley Jansen.Meanwhile, the Yankees want to add a starter. Rich Hill once was a Yankee, and he could be a Yankee again. In 2014, the Yankees failed to recognize Hills potential as a starter. Now, he has been dominant but injury prone. Still, a lefty at Yankee Stadium is always enticing, especially one who had a 2.12 ERA in 20 starts in 2016. -- Andrew MarchandWhere will the runs come from?2016 record: 68-94From 2008 to 2013, the Rays averaged 92 wins per season, second most in the majors behind the Yankees. Tampa Bay made the playoffs four times in that span. But since then, the team has suffered three straight losing seasons, bottoming out at 68-94 in 2016. The Rays bashed a franchise-record 216 home runs in 2016, but there wasnt much else to go with the power. Tampa ranked 14th in the AL in runs after ranking 14th in 2015 and 15th in 2014. So while Chris Archer and Drew Smyly?will certainly have better seasons down the road, the Rays need to improve their offense.Last season, the Rays were last in batting average and strikeouts, 12th in walks, and Kevin Kiermaier?was their only player to steal more than seven bases. So we know they need to draw more walks and put more balls in play. Heres where reach position ranked in wOBA:C: 27 1B: 19 2B: 14 3B: 7 SS: 7 LF: 17 CF: 22 RF: 23 DH: 14 (of 15)Really, only third base with Evan Longoria was a position of strength. Brad Millers poor defense at shortstop forced a move to first base late in the season, with Matt Duffy taking over in 2017. Kiermaier isnt going anywhere with his defense, so that leaves catcher, DH and the corner-outfield positions as the places for upgrade. Corey Dickerson and Steven Souza combined for 41 home runs but just 2.4 WAR last season. While the free-agent market will be flooded with DH types, the Rays are unlikely bidders for Edwin Encarnacion or Mark Trumbo. The Rays will need Dickerson and Souza to improve their approaches at the plate, strike out less and get on base at a much higher rate -- and probably hope for the best with stopgaps at catcher and DH. -- David Schoenfield ' ' '