( CBS Baltimore ) — The AFC North remains the most competitive division in football, with three likely playoff contenders and a Cincinnati Bengals team that can beat anyone in a given week. They’ll get their first crack at the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. The Cleveland Browns welcome back running back Nick Chubb, who should be able to do some damage against a Houston Texans defense that can’t stop anyone. The Baltimore Ravens, meanwhile, will look to work through a few issues on offense against the New England Patriots, who have quite a few issues of their own. Rick Ritter, CBS Baltimore anchor and host of the Ravens’ ‘Purple Pregame’ show, breaks down AFC North matchups for Week 10. All times listed are Eastern. Houston Texans @ Cleveland Browns, Sunday, November 15 @ 1:00 p.m. (FOX) The Texans defense is among the worst in the NFL. And against the run, they are the absolute worst, allowing 159.5 yards per game. According to Ritter, “I don’t think anybody in the NFL, jumping over to the defense real quick, is scared of that Texans D. Going into last week’s game against Jacksonville, they were giving up 31 points per game, which is just hard to believe.” An explosive Browns offense should be able to move the ball at will, especially with Nick Chubb returning from injury. “It seems likely they’re going to be getting Nick Chubb back, which is a huge addition to that offense,” says Ritter. “When Chubb is healthy and Kareem Hunt is healthy, it’s hard to argue that there’s a better running game in the entire league. Those two just go together so well.” > > READ: Fantasy Football Start Or Sit Week 10: ‘Jared Goff Has Top Five Potential’ Against Seahawks The Browns passing game might be a story of addition by subtraction. “We talk about Odell Beckham going out for the season with that injury,” says Ritter. “Baker [Mayfield] actually looked better without Beckham. So can he keep that up if he doesn’t have to worry about forcing somebody the ball? Obviously, there was a little drama there this season, with him demanding the ball.” The Browns defense will have their hands full with Deshaun Watson. “That offense is explosive,” says Ritter. “They can score at the drop of a dime. They had two touchdowns last week, a 55-yarder and a 77-yarder. I don’t think there’s a defense in the league that Brandin Cooks and Will Fuller can’t get behind, when they have the opportunity. So they can put up points.” Myles Garrett and company will look to make Watson’s life difficult, while the Browns offense controls the ball and the clock on the ground. “It will be closer than people think,” says Ritter. “But I think the Browns get this win.” Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, November 15 @ 4:25 p.m. (FOX) The Steelers are the NFL’s last remaining undefeated team , and they’ve beaten the Bengals in their last 10 matchups. Some of the Steelers’ wins this season have been close; they only beat the Dallas Cowboys by five points last week. Likewise, some of the Bengals’ losses have been close. Cincinnati also has an extra week of rest, with their bye following a nice win over the Tennessee Titans. Even with all that in mind, “it is hard to bet against the Steelers right now,” says Ritter, “assuming Big Ben and company are fine, with some of them being placed on that COVID list . This is a crazy stat to throw out here. If Ben Roethlisberger keeps up on this pace, he is going to break his single-season touchdown record at 38 years old, which is really just hard to believe. Up there is Pittsburgh, they have three wide receivers out of that organization. JuJu Smith-Schuster seemed to start coming along the last couple of games. He looked great against Dallas. Obviously, Chase Claypool, we know what he can do. And Diontae Johnson. Roethlisberger has a slew of weapons at his disposal.” > > READ: NFL Week 10 NFC North Picks: Dalvin Cook ‘Has Been Tremendous Since His Return,’ Says SportsLine’s Kenny White And the Steelers defense can be dominant, allowing 317.4 yards and 20.1 points per game. They’ve also piled up 32 sacks, best in the league. Bengals rookie QB Joe Burrow has endured his fair share of sacks, but it hasn’t seemed to slow him down. “Don’t sleep on this guy,” says Ritter. “He’s a competitor. He knows how to go out and play.” And he has a few weapons around him, with A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins. “I can’t talk enough about Tee Higgins,” says Ritter, “how special this guy looks already, being so young and what he’s going to be. In a couple years, that guy, maybe even sooner, is going to be a top-five receiver in this league. I don’t expect Joe and them to roll over in any way in this game.” The Steelers are favored by 10 points, though the game could be closer. According to Ritter, “you can’t bet against Pittsburgh right now. I think they win this one.” Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots, Sunday, November 15 @ 8:20 p.m. (NBC) The Patriots, with their continuing struggles, almost handed the lowly New York Jets their first win. They’ll need to play a whole lot better to keep pace with the Ravens and improve upon their 3-5 record this week. The Ravens have their own issues , which, given their 6-2 record and personnel, are the kind of issues most teams would be happy to have. Baltimore leads the league in rushing, averaging 170.1 yards per game. Their passing game is only slightly more productive, putting up just 176.9 yards per game, among the NFL’s worst. > > READ: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 10: Broncos Rookie KJ Hamler Beginning To Emerge The offensive issues were evident against the Indianapolis Colts defense, admittedly one of the league’s best. “That offense did not look good in the first half,” says Ritter. “[In the] second half, we start to see Lamar Jackson the MVP from last season a little bit. Kind of get into his groove, kind of take the game over.” A lot of the focus falls on the wide receivers and allowing them to make plays. According to Ritter, “there’s so much talk about the Ravens wide receivers and them not winning at the line of scrimmage in terms of those one-on-one-matchups. They have to get Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown the ball. There has been a lot of talk here in Baltimore and around the country about finding ways to get this guy the opportunities. And that falls on Greg Roman. He’s only had about 50 yards receiving the last two weeks. This is their number-one receiver. He can take the top off of the defense. He can get behind those safeties. In order for this passing game to get to that next level, they have to get ‘Hollywood’ Brown involved.” The offense has become predictable. “Lamar Jackson said today that defenses are calling out their plays on offense,” Ritter relayed. “Obviously, that’s a big concern, and it falls on the offensive coordinator. They have to switch things up, they have to get going.” Dez Bryant, recently activated from the Ravens’ practice squad, could help change that. Though it’s hard to expect too much from a receiver who hasn’t played since 2017. Despite their offensive issues, the Ravens remain a playoff contender, even as they chase the the Steelers. “They’re going to be okay,” says Ritter. “They’re going to make the playoffs. Lamar can take over a game. They have time to fix this stuff in the backend of the season with a favorable schedule. I have the Ravens winning this game on Sunday night football. Stream your local NFL On CBS game live with CBS All Access.
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The Pistons are open to moving up in the NBA draft and want to speak to top prospect LaMelo Ball.
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Pistons intrigued by LaMelo, moving up in draft
MOSCOW (AP) — When the final whistle blew and they knew they were going to their first World Cup final, the Croatians ran to their jumping and cheering fans in their iconic red-and-white checkered jerseys. Mario Mandzukic scored the winning goal in the 109th minute and Croatia shocked England, rallying for 2-1 victory Wednesday. Defender Sime Vrsaljko kept the score even in extra time by heading a shot off the goal line about 10 minutes before Mandzukic scored for Croatia, which is the first team in 28 years to come from behind to win a World Cup semifinal match. “Mentally strong team,” midfielder Ivan Rakatic said. “It’s just unbelievable to get back in the game in this way.” The Croats will play France for the title on Sunday in its biggest sporting moment since becoming an independent nation in 1991. France, which won its only title at home in 1998, will have an extra day of rest after beating Belgium 1-0 on Tuesday. Croatia played three straight extra-time matches — two ended in penalty kicks. Football will not be coming home to England, and there will be no title to match the 1966 triumph at Wembley Stadium. Harry Kane & Co. will deal with the same disappointment that felled Shearer and Platt, Gazza and Wazza, Beckham and Gerrard. Croatia’s legs at the start seemed to carry the weight of so many minutes in the knockout stage, and a pressing England went up quickly. Kevin Trippier curled in a free kick in the fifth minute. But Croatia found energy after the break when the game opened up, making England’s missed first-half opportunities seem all-the-more significant. Ivan Perisic tied the score in the 68th minute with his fourth goal of the tournament. Rakitic switched the ball from left flank to right, where Vrsaljko crossed. Walker attempted to clear diving header but Perisic jumped and from behind raised his left boot over Walker’s head to poke the ball past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from about 8 yards. Four minutes later, Perisic hit Pickford’s near post. Mandzukic scored after Walker stuck out a leg to block Josip Pivaric’s cross. The ball popped up and Perisic outjumped Tripper to head the ball behind the defense. Mandzukic alertly reacted to the unexpected ball in the penalty area, splitting defenders John Stones and Harry Maguire, who had taken four short steps up. The ball bounced twice, Mandzukic ran onto it and one-timed a low, left-footed shot to Pickford’s left. Mandzukic was mobbed by teammates, who jumped on him in the corner and trapped photographers under them in the crush. England went ahead with its ninth set-piece goal of the tournament, after Luca Modric tripped Dele Alli, giving England a free kick about 25 yards out in the center of the field. Trippier struck the ball with his right foot and it rose above leaping Dejan Lovren and Mandzukic to the left of the desperate dive of goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, who turned his head and watched the ball land in the upper corner. With his first international goal, just over a year after his England debut, the 27-year-old Trippier joined David Beckham as the only English players since 1966 to score on free kicks at the World Cup. Choruses of “God Save the Queen” began in England’s end. Kane had a chance to double the lead in the 30th minute when Subasic made a sliding save on his short-range shot and Kane’s follow-up effort from the end line hit the post and bounced off the keeper and up as the flag went up. Jesse Lingard sent an open 18-yard shot just wide in the 35th. England had its moments to come back but could not finish its chances. Lingard failed to connect with a Kane through ball in 78th, Kane miss-hit a header off a free kick in stoppage time, and Stones’ header from a corner was cleared off the line by Vrsaljko in the 99th. As the action went end to end, Croatia had its chances, too. Pickford rushed off his line and stuck out his right leg to block Mandzukic’s poke-in attempt of Perisic’s cross near the end of the first extra-time period. (© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Croatia Stuns England To Earn First Trip To World Cup Final
The Redskins want Alex Smith to trust in his receivers on contested routes, and Josh Doctson could prove to be a player that can go get the ball.
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Alex Smith can help a more confident Josh Doctson
The Redskins want Alex Smith to trust in his receivers on contested routes, and Josh Doctson could prove to be a player that can go get the ball.
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Alex Smith can help a more confident Josh Doctson
Pete Carroll’s call to throw the ball from the 1 in Super Bowl XLIX led to Seahawks players being “turned off by the message,” Cliff Avril said.
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Avril: Players questioned Carroll after SB INT
LiAngelo Ball, the second of the Ball brothers, will get a look from the Lakers in a pre-draft workout on Tuesday. He hopes to show the team that he would be a good fit alongside his brother Lonzo.
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Family connection: Lakers to work out LiAngelo
The Chiefs quarterback says he’s prepared to spread the wealth in 2018. “In coach Reid’s offense, everybody gets the ball,” he said.
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Patrick Mahomes II will have big job keeping his receivers happy
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo disagreed with his overtime sixth foul call: “I grabbed the ball. But the ref said that I grabbed his hand.”
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Antetokounmpo: 6th whistle was not a foul
Report: Christina Aguilera's New Album Drops In May And Sounds Like “Mostly Pop With Some R&B”
Sound familiar? That's because last month, a May release was widely rumored. It appears that's still a-go! Better yet, Xtina has some seriously huge plans to get the ball rolling with the new LP, which sounds like “mostly pop with some R&B sounds.” …
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Report: Christina Aguilera's New Album Drops In May And Sounds Like “Mostly Pop With Some R&B”
Report: Christina Aguilera's New Album Drops In May And Sounds Like “Mostly Pop With Some R&B”
Sound familiar? That's because last month, a May release was widely rumored. It appears that's still a-go! Better yet, Xtina has some seriously huge plans to get the ball rolling with the new LP, which sounds like “mostly pop with some R&B sounds.” …
Read the original:
Report: Christina Aguilera's New Album Drops In May And Sounds Like “Mostly Pop With Some R&B”