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CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Different co-ordinators, same systems, same head coach. The Bengals will be slightly different next season as they try to end one of the NFLs longest runs of playoff misery. The Bengals promoted linebackers coach Paul Guenther to defensive co-ordinator on Thursday, keeping continuity for a unit that finished No. 3 in the NFL last season. The move came one day after the Minnesota Vikings hired Mike Zimmer as their head coach. Its also the second time in two weeks that Cincinnati replaced a co-ordinator with an in-house candidate. They elevated running backs coach Hue Jackson to offensive co-ordinator after Jay Gruden was hired by the Redskins as head coach. "Were going to have some new coaches, and its great for us," coach Marvin Lewis said on Thursday. "Some new blood, some new energy. Because we cant be the same. We dont get to be the same. Weve got to be better in 2014 than we were in 13, and thats what our quest is right away." The Bengals won the AFC North this season, but couldnt shake their legacy of flaming out in the playoffs. They lost to San Diego 27-10 in the opening round at Paul Brown Stadium, making it 23 years since they last won a playoff game, tied for the sixth-longest streak in NFL history. Theyve also tied the NFL record by losing their opening game three years in a row. And Lewis is 0-5 in the playoffs during his 11 seasons in Cincinnati, trailing Jim Mora by one for the most consecutive playoff losses to start a coaching career. "I want to still be playing a year from now," said Lewis, who is entering the final year on his contract. The Bengals are the first team since the 2006 San Diego Chargers to lose both co-ordinators to head coaching jobs elsewhere, according to STATS LLC. Zimmer presided over one of the Bengals best stretches of defence during his six seasons in Cincinnati. The Bengals finished in the Top 10 for fewest yards allowed in four of the last five seasons. Guenther has spent nine seasons on Cincinnatis coaching staff, the last two with the linebackers. He worked with Zimmer to formulate the defensive plays. "Since the first day he got here, Ive been by his side most of the time," Guenther said. "If you look back at our defence in 2008, it has transformed to now. Weve sat side-by-side and put a lot of this stuff together." Zimmer wanted to bring Guenther with him to Minnesota as his defensive co-ordinator, but Guenther decided to stay in Cincinnati. "Ive got young kids; I didnt have to move my family," Guenther said. "Ive got good players that I really like and care for. And really at the end of the day, that was probably the one thing that I said: OK, I feel bad for these guys, this guys leaving and that guys leaving (as co-ordinators) and these guys deserve a good situation." The Bengals will be getting a couple of their defensive stars back from injury. Top cornerback Leon Hall tore an Achilles tendon and defensive tackle Gen Atkins tore a knee ligament during the season. The defence has a core of young players led by Pro Bowl linebacker Vontaze Burfict. One of the biggest challenges for Guenther will be calling the plays during games. Zimmer was known for his ability to anticipate what the opposing offence would do and get into a defence that contained it. "Youve got to understand (the opposing offence) better than they understand themselves," Lewis said. "Mike was excellent at that. Going forward, thats going to be the challenge of Paul in this situation in this role. Hes not been that." Guenther sat with the coaches in a booth on game days and was part of the discussions about which defence to call. "There is a lot of communication going on every play: What do you like here? What do you like there? To be honest with you, I could sit up in the press box and probably 95 per cent of the time know what was going to come out of his mouth," Guenther said. "Being around the guy and understanding how he calls the game, certain situations, you know it. Its just a matter of going out there and doing it." Terrell Brandon Jersey . Louis Blues were workmanlike, methodical and -- most of all -- effective on Monday night. Brad Daugherty Jersey . -- Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice tweeted an apparent goodbye after a report about his pending release. https://www.thecavalierslockerroom.com/Tyrone-Hill-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Darius Garland Jersey . Henrik Samuelsson and Luke Bertolucci also scored for the Oil Kings, who are now 9-0 on home ice in the playoffs to cut Portlands series lead to 2-1. Chase De Leo and Mathew Dumba responded for the Winterhawks, who suffered just their fourth loss in their last 46 games, a string of success running all the way back to Jan. Cedi Osman Cavaliers Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. SAN ANTONIO -- Portland coach Terry Stotts is running out of adjectives and analogies to describe the San Antonio Spurs dominance in the second quarter. Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points, Tony Parker had 16 points and 10 assists, and San Antonio rolled to a 114-97 victory over the Trail Blazers on Thursday night for a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. After being struck by a "tidal wave" during the second quarter of the opener, Portland took on even more water in Game 2. "The onslaught at the beginning of the second quarter was obviously the turning point in the game," Stotts said. Boris Diaw scored six straight points to ignite a 23-8 run that gave San Antonio a 54-36 lead with 7 minutes remaining in the first half. The Spurs outscored the Trail Blazers 41-25 in the second quarter, raising their advantage to 77-48 in that period in winning the first two games of the best-of-seven series convincingly. Nicolas Batum scored 21 points for the Trail Blazers. Damian Lillard had 19 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 16 points and 10 rebounds, but the Trail Blazers All-Star duo put up 43 shots. Aldridge was 6 for 23, missing back-to-back dunks in the second quarter. "We missed a lot of shots," Aldridge said. "I definitely wasnt in a good rhythm tonight. I missed two dunks and four or five layups, so if those shots go in, then the whole game is different." The Trail Blazers host Game 3 on Saturday night. Manu Ginobili added 16 points, Marco Belinelli scored 13 and Diaw had 12 as San Antonios reserves outscored Portlands 50-19. Making matters worse for the Trail Blazers, reserve Mo Williams was limited to 9 minutes due to a groin injury. He finished with four points. "Our bench is coming alive," Parker said. "They had a hard first round. They had a hard time against Dallas, but the last two games the bench is playing well." The Trail Blazers, who found a snake in their locker room before the game, had a much better start than in Game 1. Batums 3-pointer gave Portland its first lead of series at 7-4 with 9:47 remaining in the first quarter. It lasted for 16 seconds before Leonards 3 tied it. San Antonio soon began using the quicker pace to force turnovers and find open shooters. The Spurs had 17 fast-break pooints in the first half compared to two by the Trail Blazers.dddddddddddd. Wesley Matthews was clearly frustrated, taking his mouthpiece out and looking upward in frustration before glaring at his teammates. Matthews responded by scoring 10 straight points in the third quarter while San Antonio went scoreless for 4 minutes, pulling Portland within 81-69 with 2 minutes remaining in the third. After losing 116-92 in the opener, Portland was sparked by greater activity by Robin Lopez, who had six rebounds and a blocked shot in the opening six minutes. He struggled once Diaw entered the game. Portland did not allow any fast-break points in the second half, closing within 10 points midway through the final quarter. Lillards 18-foot jumper pulled the Blazers within 92-80 with 9:17 remaining and his driving layup a minute and half later cut the margin to 94-84. Batum, who was 1 for 5 on 3-pointers in Game 1, hit his third of the game to cut the lead to 99-91 with 5:37 remaining. "The first two games, they went on a big run in the first half of both games," Lillard said. "Then in the second half, we come out and make those adjustments and those corrections and clean things up and then we play a much better half. We have to do a better job of taking away those second chances." The Trail Blazers had a chance to close within seven inside 5 minutes, but Leonard blocked Matthews layup from behind to maintain the Spurs advantage at 102-93. Parker followed with a jumper in the lane on Lillard, and Leonard and Ginobili hit back-to-back 3s to put San Antonio up 110-93 and put the game out of reach. NOTES: Portlands Thomas Robinson found the snake two hours before tipoff when he reached for a bag in his locker. The team initially thought it was a baby rattlesnake, but stadium officials later determined it was a non-venomous snake. The snake was estimated between 3 to 4 feet in length. ... Spurs general manager R.C. Buford was honoured before the tip after being awarded NBA Executive of the Year on Wednesday. Buford, who won the award for the first time in his 12th season as the teams general manager, received a rousing ovation from the sell-out crowd. ... Parker had to towel off after having beer spilled on his left leg when he tumbled into the courtside seats 2 minutes into the game. ' ' '