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SPORTS Saturday 3 december 2016

NFL Preview
Family Feud: Maras-Rooneys, better known as Giants-Steelers

BARRY WILNER against Denver.
AP Pro Football Writer With a loss to the Super Bowl
The New York Giants vs. champion Broncos, the
the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jaguars would become
Or sometimes referred to the fifth team in NFL history
as the Maras against the to post double-digit losses
Rooneys for their family in six consecutive seasons.
business roots. The Jaguars seem certain
They meet in a huge NFL to join the depressing club.
game on Sunday in Pitts- After all, they are winless
burgh that could clear up in four games at home this
some of the muddled play- season and haven’t beat-
off picture. en a team that’s finished
New York, at 8-3, is among with a winning record since
the hottest teams in the 2012.
league with six straight vic- We all know how good
tories. Not that it’s helped the Broncos’ defense can
the Giants move much be: They have scored a
closer to the Dallas Cow- league-high 93 points, or
boys in the NFC East. 35 percent of their season
But the Giants are in con- total, off turnovers. They
trol of the NFC wild-card lead the league in sacks
picture, even if their vic- (35) and quarterback hits
tories haven’t looked too (89).
pretty. Tampa Bay has suddenly
“Inside of this locker room, become interesting be-
we don’t care about any- cause quarterback Jameis
one’s opinion,” running Winston has done a better
back Rashad Jennings job of taking care of the
says. “Someone could put football. Over the last sev-
us best, someone could en games, he’s thrown for
put us worst, it doesn’t mat- 14 touchdowns and turned
ter. We have to go out and over the ball five times
find a way to win.” (three interceptions, two
The Steelers are in a tight- fumbles) to lift the Bucca-
er spot, tied atop the AFC neers into playoff conten-
North at 6-5 with Baltimore, tion.
to whom they already Indianapolis Colts quarterback Scott Tolzien (16) tackles Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Mitchell (23) They have beaten Kansas
have lost. When healthy, after Mitchell made an interception during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. City and Seattle in the past
the Steelers have looked 24, 2016, in Indianapolis. two weeks, holding them
like a Super Bowl contend- Associated Press to a combined 22 points.
er. But they’ve also had those stinkers and play are worth watching in At- same game. Meanwhile, where they
some real duds. solidly the rest of the way, lanta where the Falcons The Falcons, known for their are headed, San Diego,
They will need to eliminate quarterback Ben Roethlis- try to stay alone atop the powerful offense, are get- the Chargers would like
berger says. NFC South and the visiting ting strong play from line- to think that, even at 5-6,
“They are coming to our Kansas City Chiefs pursue backer Vic Beasley Jr., sec- they’ve got a chance to
place, it has a playoff feel the Oakland Raiders in the ond in the NFC with 9 1/2 make the playoffs. That’s a
and atmosphere,” Roethlis- AFC West. sacks, and safety Keanu tall task, considering they’d
berger says. “You have to Chiefs rookie wide receiver Neal, who leads all rook- have to run the table, and
have that mentality at this Tyreek Hill last week be- ies with 72 tackles and has they still have to play the
time of the year because came the first player since four forced fumbles. top two teams in the AFC
you really can’t afford to Gale Sayers in 1965 to The Jacksonville Jaguars West, Oakland and Kan-
lose any more games.” score on a kickoff return, can reach another miser- sas City, although those
Several emerging players a run, and a catch in the able milestone on Sunday games are in San Diego.q