crowd roared to its feet with Golden State up 96-89, but the c

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England offensive line, maligned through the early weeks of the season, has rebounded to do a terrific job protecting the teams 37-year-old prime asset.Quarterback Tom Brady contributed to the teams highlight film with a 17-yard scramble that ended in a hard hit instead of a slide last week against Miami. On Nov. 2, some Brady footwork led to a circus catch by tight end Rob Gronkowski, another highlight-reel play.Overall, Brady has been mostly upright over the last 10 games, nine of them wins.I think it was just a matter of time, tackle Cameron Fleming said Friday as the Patriots finished preparation for Sundays game at the New York Jets. There were a lot of changes coming in and I think we all just needed time to shore up our technique and mould together as a unit — and realize that were interchangeable, that if one man goes down then another man can come in and help and get the job done.I think it was time that got us better and we focused on what we needed to do to improve, because we knew there was something wrong that needed to change and we just made it happen.Changes? Start with long-time line coach Dante Scarnecchia retiring and being replaced by Dave DeGuglielmo. Then, just before the start of the season, Pro Bowl guard and team leader Logan Mankins was traded to Tampa Bay.The result: four sacks in the opening game, nine in the first four, with Brady getting hit way too much and the team going 2-2.Now, with two games left in the regular season and the Patriots on the verge of clinching home-field advantage for the entire AFC playoffs, the team is second in the league (behind Denver) in fewest sacks per passing play. New England is third in total sacks allowed (behind Denver and Baltimore).So the team that yielded nine sacks in the first four games has surrendered nine in 10 games since. The continued health of tight end Rob Gronkowski has helped, but the line has been good.We dont look back too far, said left tackle Nate Solder. Our goal right now is the Jets and I think thats been our approach all season. One week at a time you improve, you get a little bit incrementally better, and by the time you get to this point in the season, you see some big improvements.I think its incrementally because I think each guy improves a little bit each week and that gets you to where youve improved a lot over the course of the season.Added guard Ryan Wendell: I would expect every year to get better throughout the season. We work hard to try and get better every week, so if we werent doing that, we wouldnt be doing our jobs.As far as the coaching change affecting the group, Wendell added, Its still the same system. Players and coaches change every year and weve been real fortunate around here to have one coach at that position for a long time. But across the NFL coaches and players are moving all the time, so its not that out of the ordinary.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Air Max 90 Offerta .Y. -- Defenceman Ryan Murphy had a goal and an assist and Drew MacIntyre made 24 saves to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New York Islanders 4-2 in an exhibition game Wednesday night. Scarpe Air Max 90 Outlet . CBS Sports Jon Heyman is reporting that Santana will sign a one-year deal, likely in the next two days with one of a trio of suitors, with the Toronto Blue Jays believed to be heavily involved. http://www.airmax90scontate.it/ . Rookie Marek Mazanec made 39 saves for his first NHL victory and the Predators beat the Chicago Blackhawks 7-2 Saturday night. Air Max 90 Outlet Italia .C. -- The shot that would have beaten No. Air Max 90 Scontate Uomo . An offseason trade acquisition from Kansas City, Greinkes National League debut was delayed by a non-baseball injury in the spring, and he was 0-1 after dropping an 8-0 decision at Atlanta in his initial appearance with the Brewers on May 4. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Stephen Curry scored 24 points and dished out nine assists, and the Golden State Warriors forced a decisive Game 7 by outlasting the Los Angeles Clippers 100-99 Thursday night. Andre Iguodala added 15 points and Draymond Green had 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Warriors, handing Los Angeles one more obstacle to overcome in a week full of them after Clippers owner Donald Sterling earned a lifetime ban from the NBA for his racist remarks. The finale of the first-round series will conclude Saturday night in Los Angeles. The Warriors limited big men Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan even after centre Jermaine ONeal left with a sprained right knee in the second quarter. The Clippers simply ran out of time in the closing minute, missing three shots before Matt Barnes made a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds to play. Los Angeles fouled Curry, who missed both free throws. Green grabbed the rebound as time expired, touching off a confetti-filled celebration throughout the gold-shirt wearing sellout crowd of 19,596, which packed an unusually warm Oracle Arena that rocked and roared throughout. Barnes finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds, Griffin had 17 points and nine rebounds before fouling out, and Jordan had 19 boards and nine rebounds for the Clippers, who are trying to win just their third playoff series since Sterling bought the franchise in 1981. Clippers point guard Chris Paul appeared hampered by the strained left hamstring that has bothered him all series. He crouched down and held his knees during stoppages, often wincing in pain. He had nine points, eight assists and five rebounds. With the stakes higher than theyve been all season, the teams traded blows in a fast and physical game that often featured more fouls than flamboyant plays. ONeal appeared to take the worst one, spraining his right knee when Glen "Big Baby" Davis lowered his shoulder and crashed into him while going for a rebound in the second quarter..dddddddddddd ONeal lay in pain until limping to the locker with the help of teammates. He did not return. Green filled the void for a Warriors front line already missing two centres, including starter Andrew Bogut, who has sat out the series with a fractured right rib. Greens physical play inside highlighted a game that officials had to constantly control. The teams combined for 31 fouls in the first half and 52 for the game. Griffin and J.J. Redick, and Golden States David Lee all fouled out in the fourth quarter. The teams kept things just as close on the scoreboard as on the court. Los Angeles led 51-48 at the half, while the Warriors went up 70-67 through three quarters. The Warriors began to pull away when Iguodala hit a corner 3-pointer in front of the Clippers bench, falling to the floor after drawing Griffins sixth foul with 2:31 to play. Iguodala strutted down court and gave a low-hand slap to Green as the crowd roared to its feet with Golden State up 96-89, but the celebration would have to wait. The Clippers came back quickly, cutting Golden States lead to two on a 3-pointer by Jamal Crawford and a layup by Barnes. Both teams missed several shots in the final minute, especially Los Angeles. The Clippers missed three straight shots -- and corralled three rebounds -- before Barnes hit the 3 with 1.1 seconds remaining to trim Golden States lead to one. Los Angeles had no time left for one more shot, forcing a much-anticipated finale between rising Pacific Division rivals. The Clippers and Warriors have played 10 games this season. Each team has won five. NOTES: The Warriors had lost seven straight elimination games since Sleepy Floyd scored 51 points to lead Golden State past the Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals on May 5, 1987. ... The Warriors have won 17 of their past 20 home games against Los Angeles. ... Clippers reserve F Hedo Turkoglu sat out with a lower back injury suffered in Game 5. He is day to day. ' ' '