Offtopic/fun » team in the 2016 Four Nations tournam

CLEVELAND -- The losses are now coming with lumps for the Browns.The 11th one this season was the most painful yet.Cleveland was manhandled on Sunday by the Steelers, who had eight sacks in a 24-9 battering. Pittsburgh gave Browns rookie quarterback Cody Kessler his second concussion in five weeks, an injury that could end a tough first season for him.Kessler had to be helped from the field late in the third quarter after he was wobbled on a hard hit by Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons. Timmons launched himself at the rookie and appeared to strike him with his shoulder while the QB was being dragged down. Kesslers head snapped back and also hit the ground.As he was being checked by medical personnel, Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor laid on the ground next to his teammate to see if he was OK.Following the game, a passionate and disgusted Pryror sounded off about Clevelands quarterbacks being abused.We cant keep doing this, said Pryor, a former QB. Its as simple as that. Im tired of our guys getting hit. Im nobody to complain because I dont run it, but its personal for me because I care for those guys. I dont like seeing them get hit like that. Point blank, period. Somebodys got to say it. Im gonna say it.Browns coach Hue Jackson said its possible Kessler may need extra time to recover from his second concussion since Oct. 23.I am definitely going to talk to our medical staff because this is about a young mans career and future, Jackson said. So we have to do the right thing.The Steelers (5-5) came in with a league-low 13 sacks, but teed off against a revamped Cleveland offensive line. Now suffering through the worst season in franchise history, the Browns (0-11) did not try to re-sign free center Alex Mack or right tackle Mitchell Schwartz in the offseason, and left guard Joel Bitonio sustained a season-ending foot injury in Week 5.Star left tackle Joe Thomas has taken a diplomatic stance on the changes. But following another lopsided loss, the perennial Pro Bowler said the upheaval has been costly.We lost a couple of really good players, the best at their position, he said, referring to Mack and Schwartz. That was our strategy in the offseason. Thats what we decided to do. You have to lie in the bed that you made.Josh McCown replaced Kessler in the fourth quarter and took hard knocks as well, getting his chin bloodied by a vicious shot by Stephon Tuitt.Its possible the Browns could have Robert Griffin III back at some point. Hes been out since breaking a bone in his shoulder in the opener and will return to practice this week. Griffin probably wont be ready to face the New York Giants next Sunday.At this point, Jackson is just trying to make sure his team survives.I dont want this group to go backward any more than what we already have, he said. I have to regroup with the guys and regroup with our coaches, and we have to keep pressing forward.MAN OF STEEL: Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison became the teams career sacks leader with 77 +. Afterward, the 38-year-old became emotional when he was presented with the game ball, saying was sad that his late father wasnt there to see it.Awesome, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. Hes one of the best that Ive ever seen or played with. Im glad hes on our side.FRONT FORCE: The Steelers got back to basics -- running the ball, stopping the run -- to end a four-game losing streak.Roethlisberger didnt get sacked and LeVeon Bell rushed for a season-high 146 as the Steelers improved to 2/3 on the road.With the win, and Baltimores loss to Dallas, Pittsburgh moved back into a tie atop the AFC North.The offensive line was not satisfied with how we ran the ball against the Ravens two weeks ago and against the Cowboys last week, Bell said. The line was putting in a lot of time in the film room over the last two weeks, and it showed. They kept me clean, kept Ben clean.PASS THE STUFFING: Its a short week for the Steelers, who will play at Indianapolis on Thanksgiving.Anytime we can come in and get a win, get things back into perspective, its good, said WR Antonio Brown, who had eight catches for 76 yards.CHEAP SHOT?: Thomas felt Timmons shot on Kessler was excessive.To me when you have a quarterback scrambling, running out of the pocket and you get targeted, I know in college football they throw you out for something like that, he said. Hopefully the legislation in the NFL is trying to eliminate that type of play. Quarterbacks get hurt when they get hit like that. Thats something you dont want to see.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL .Jordan China . 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The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far.As Australia and New Zealand prepare to resume hostilities in this weekends Four Nations rugby league final, history, form and the UBET odds all point heavily in favour of a Kangaroos victory.The Kiwis will be armed with a strong weapon though - albeit a weapon they would prefer not to have.Tragedy can invoke some very powerful emotions and in times of hardship, people are often inspired to achieve goals that may otherwise seem forlorn.The recent earthquake in New Zealand has shocked the world, especially the Kiwi rugby league team, but this will provide additional motivation as they attempt to lift their nations flagging spirits.?Former New Zealand captain Gary Freeman told ESPN that the tragedy is sure to provide added inspiration for the players but they must be able to handle it correctly.When you throw so much emotion into this game it can go against you, Freeman said.I think theyll be motivated more from last weeks poor performance against Scotland.The boys would know themselves that they can play better.It would seem that the Kiwis have little to be confident about heading into the game - they have already faced the Kangaroos on three occasions this year; losing all three, conceding 56 points and scoring just 14 across 240 minutes of football.I always remember an old coach of mine Warren Ryan saying, the more losses you have, the closer you are to your first win, Freeman said.This is the number one game, this is the game the Kiwis have to win and theyll have to step up to the mark.The Kiwis understand that a win over old rivals Australia will provide a small slice of happiness to the grief-stricken people in their homeland, but Freeman believes pride in their own performance will be motivation enough.I think theyll be motivated from last weeks poor performance against Scotland. The boys would know themselves that they can play better, Freeman told ESPN.As an ex-player, we drew some games and lost some games against opposition that we knew we shouldve beaten and the following week wed stood up to be counted.People only remember the last game and the only game theyre going to remember out of this whole tournament is this final game.Lewis Brown, Jordan Rapana and Joseph Tapine originate from the earthquake affected areas and although their families are safe and well, Freeman expects them to lead from the front for the Kiwis at Anfield.But the man affectionately known as Wiz believes the biggest advantage New Zealand have is psychological; the Kiwis have won on three of the past four occasions when meeting Australia in a final.However, sport doesnt always go to script and in what has been the year of the underdog, New Zealand will privately consider themselves a serious chance of reclaiming the Four Nations title.Absolutely, the Aussies will be trying to rectify, but if Ireland can beat the All Blacks then we can beat Australia. Freeman said.In reality, the Kiwis are probably fortunate just to be in the final - their only win of the tournament was a less than convincing one point victory in their opening match against England.New Zealand have limped into the final after an 18-all draw with minnows Scotland; an embarrassing result which was ultimately the difference between preparing for the final or preparing for a flight home.It wasnt their greatest match against Scotland, buut sometime that can lead you into a false sense of security when youre the Australian side, Freeman told ESPN.ddddddddddddave the Aussies peaked too early? Have they produced their best game one before the big one? Theyve done that previously.You have to remember, New Zealand are the world champions and they will stand up to be counted.In the Kangaroos camp though, confidence couldnt be higher; they have stormed into the final undefeated and racked up an impressive 104 points while conceding just 38; but Freeman pointed out that it will mean absolutely nothing unless they come out on top in the final 80 minutes of the tournament.It doesnt really matter whats happened before. Its whats going to happen this weekend, Freeman said.All of the people back home in New Zealand will be up watching so theres a lot on the line for our boys; theres a lot on the line in this game.A strong start is vital to New Zealands chances and how they harness their emotions in the opening 20 minutes could prove decisive in the outcome of the match.New Zealand captain Jesse Bromwich identified the 2013 World Cup final as an example of why it is so important for his side to be on their game from the opening whistle.Australia ambushed the Kiwis on that occasion by jumping out to a healthy halftime advantage before going on with the job in the second half to thrash New Zealand 34-2 at Old Trafford.If theres anything weve learned, its probably about our start. They came out really hard there, blew us off the park really early and we just couldnt find our feet after that, New Zealand captain Jesse Bromwich said.Its a big ask against Australia, theyve got a very big forward pack. But its something weve been working on, and hopefully we can show that on Sunday.Australia Kangaroos: TBANew Zealand Kiwis: TBAVenue:?Anfield, LiverpoolKick-off: 1.30am AEDT, Monday 21st November, 2016.Key Stats:New Zealand have won three of the last four tournament finals when playing Australia. (2008 World Cup, 2010, 2014 Four Nations)Australia have a 74 percent winning record against New Zealand (Played 133, Won 98, Lost 32, Drawn 3).Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Greg Inglis are unbeaten on UK soil in?14 Tests.UBET verdict:$1.25 Australia, $4.00 New ZealandAustralia has been the standout team in the 2016 Four Nations tournament and will deservedly start heavy favourites to regain the title and rugby leagues world number one ranking from New Zealand.But despite advancing to the Anfield showpiece undefeated, Mal Meninga and his men will know that the campaign will be considered a monumental failure if they dont finish the job this weekend.Everything points to a Kangaroos victory but favourtism brings a degree of pressure and they will also have their hands full dealing dealing with an emotion-charged Kiwi side motivated by the recent earthquake tragedy in New Zealand.The Kangaroos should still have too much skill and class for the Kiwis but this encounter promises to be the most even contest of the previous three theyve already played this year.Weather:?Liverpool is expecting scattered showers throughout the day with a temperature of 6 degrees for kick-off.Prediction:?Australia by 8. 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