(SportsNetwork. Athletics Jerseys China .com) - NFL coaches can be a lot like politicians when it comes to word play. Thats why when you really want to know what a mentor is thinking, you ignore the semantics -- artful or not -- and focus in on the actions. Understand, unless your Jay Gruden, NFL coaches simply dont put players on blast and thats why you wont see a Rex Ryan stepping to the podium and giving you his honest assessment of a player like Geno Smith. Ryans handling of the second-year quarterback who ultimately will cost him his job in New York couldnt have been more transparent on Monday night, however. It had zero to do with us not having faith in our quarterback, Ryan claimed after figuratively tying Smith up in a 16-13 loss to Miami. It had everything to do with us trying to win the game. In one fell swoop Ryan lied to his constituency before rebounding and allowing a grain of truth to escape. Inject Ryan with sodium pentothal and that statement would have read I have no faith in our quarterback and I was trying to win the game. With Ryan and his team limping toward the finish line, the Jets (read that GM John Idzik) turned back to Smith at quarterback against the playoff-hopeful Dolphins. Ryan, who will be first in line to file his change of address form on Black Monday, understands the only power he has left with this team is between the lines on game day and this contest served as his very own occupy movement, a protest against the GM who forced an ill-equipped QB on the coach. The overmatched Smith threw a total of 13 times against Miami, five of which came after the Dolphins kicked what proved to be the game-winning field goal late in the fourth quarter. Up until Caleb Sturgis converted that 26-yard chip shot, Ryan ordered his offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg to make Smith hand it off again and again and again ... and again. The Jets run-to-pass ratio was a ridiculous 49-8 before necessity gave Smith a few meaningful throwing opportunities, a clear indication Ryan had absolutely no confidence in the signal caller.. And the coachs lack of belief was only amplified by that fact that two of the Dolphins top three cornerbacks -- Cortland Finnegan and Jamar Taylor -- were injured and Miami was forced to play street free agent R.J. Stanford. Granted the Jets were more than successful on the ground early, piling up 210 yards in the first half but when the Dolphins ultimately adjusted and stacked the box, New York still wouldnt allow Smith take a shot against a corner who was busy getting his early Christmas shopping done the previous week. The game plan was to try to establish the run and when you have that kind of success running, that helps the football team and thats why we stayed the course, Ryan said. What Ryan left out was the fact that the course was originally plotted because he didnt believe the quarterback could carry his own water. Well, I dont know about that, Ryan said Tuesday when asked whether Smith gave him the best chance to win. I have said all along that I feel good, that we could win with either Mike Vick at quarterback or Geno Smith and I have always said that. Geno Smith wouldnt be in there if we didnt think we had an opportunity to win. I can promise you that. Again, ignore the words and watch the actions. The decision to take the ball out of the quarterbackss hands was ultimately Ryans definition of giving his team the best chance to win. If we can run for 300 yards again this week, I would love to sign up for it, Ryan said. We are just trying to find a way to give us a chance to win the football game and I thought we did that, its just unfortunate (that) we came up short. And then the dam broke. Yep, absolutely, 100 percent, Ryan responded when asked if he was embarrassed by his teams 2-10 record. Im embarrassed for myself absolutely. It is, its an embarrassment. Its definitely embarrassing to me. I feel like Ive let my owner down. Ive let our fan base down. The absence of Idziks and Smiths names in Ryans confession stood out as starkly as his game plan on Monday night. WEEK 14 (All Times Eastern) Dallas (8-4) (-3 1/2) at Chicago (5-7), Thursday, 8:25 p.m. - Week 14 of the NFL season kicks off on Thursday night when the Bears host the Cowboys at Soldier Field. Each team will try to rebound from lopsided divisional losses on Thanksgiving Day as Dallas laid a 33-10 egg against visiting Philadelphia, and the Bears suffered a 34-17 setback at Detroit. Dallas is a perfect 5-0 on the road this season, the best mark in the league as a visitor and relies on a strong running game, led by DeMarco Murray who tops the NFL with 1,427 rushing yards and has run for at least 100 yards in 10 of the teams 12 games this year. Bears 28, Cowboys 23 Pittsburgh (7-5) at Cincinnati (8-3-1) (-3), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The AFC North rivals clash at Paul Brown Stadium in the first of two meetings over the final four weeks. The Bengals, who have won five of six and are 13-1-1 in their last 15 at home, hold a 1 1/2-game lead over the other three teams in the division (Steelers, Baltimore and Cleveland). Pittsburgh receiver Antonio Brown enters the final month of the season leading the NFL with 96 catches and 1,258 yards. Bengals 24, Steelers 21 Indianapolis (8-4) (-4) at Cleveland (7-5), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The Colts can be the first team to clinch a division title with a win and a Houston loss but they wont be doing it against Johnny Manziel. The embattled Brian Hoyer will remain the starting quarterback for the Browns, at least for the time being. After thorough evaluation and talking to the staff, we feel Brian gives us the best opportunity to win on Sunday, said Cleveland coach Mike Pettine in a statement on the clubs website. This is a football decision and those are always going to be based on what we think is best for our team. Last week, Indianapolis scored six touchdowns of at least 30 yards in a 49-27 win over Washington, becoming the first team to register at least six 30-plus yard touchdowns in a game since 1966 (Washington, Nov. 27, 1966, 72-41 win vs. New York Giants). Colts 33, Browns 17 Tampa Bay (2-10) at Detroit (8-4) (-9 1/2), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The ex-NFC Central inhabitants renew hostilities with the Lions being the only relevant participant. Detroit is one game behind Green Bay in the NFC North with a Week 17 matchup looming. Lions QB Matthew Stafford has averaged 301 passing yards and three TDs in two career meetings with the Bucs. Lions 27, Buccaneers 17 Houston (6-6) (-5) at Jacksonville (2-10), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The J.J. Watt show invades Jacksonville as the presumptive NFL Defensive Player of the Year looks to build on his historic season. Watt is first player with three offensive TDs and two TDs on takeaways since Bill Golding in 1948. He also leads all AFC players with 48 sacks since entering the league in 2011. Texans 24, Jaguars 14 Baltimore (7-5) at Miami (7-5) (-3), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The Ravens and Dolphins are two of five AFC teams at 7-5 and the loser of this one could be crippled in the conference playoff hunt. Baltimore QB Joe Flacco is 3-0 in his career against Miami with a 105.1 passer rating, a number which foreshadows success for the Ravens. Baltimore is 49-9 when Flacco crosses the 90.0 barrier. Ravens 21, Dolphins 20 NY Jets (2-10) at Minnesota (5-7) (-6), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The Jets have won seven straight and are 8-1 all-time against Minnesota but Rex Ryan has checked out when it comes to Geno Smith while Vikings rookie signal caller Teddy Bridgewater is trending upward, compiling a career-high 120.7 passer rating against Carolina in Week 13. Vikings 20, Jets 13 Carolina (3-8-1) at New Orleans (5-7) (-9 1/2), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The Saints have been uncharacteristically bad at the Superdome, losing three straight but Carolina has dropped six consecutive overall and Drew Brees has a 129.8 passer rating in his past three at home against the Panthers. Saints 31, Panthers 14 NY Giants (3-9) at Tennessee (2-10) (pick em), Sunday, 1 p.m. - Two dismal teams battle in Music City. The Giants have lost seven straight and failed to beat 2-10 Jacksonville last week after jumping out to a 21-0 lead. Titans rookie QB Zach Mettenberger is expected back under center this week after being knocked out against Houston with a shoulder injury. Tennessee has failed in six consecutive tests. Giants 17, Titans 16 St. Louis (5-7) (-2 1/2) at Washington (3-9), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The Rams have remained very competitive thanks to their strong from on defense which includes star pass rusher Robert Quinn, who has nine sacks and four forced fumbles in his past seven games, and rookie DT Aaron Donald, who leads all freshman with six sacks. Washington is sticking with Colt McCoy at QB after a 392-yard, three-TD performance in a shootout loss to Indianapolis last weekend. Rams 23, Redskins 21 Kansas City (7-5) at Arizona (9-3) (-1 1/2), Sunday, 4:05 p.m. - Two teams aiming to stop the bleeding after consecutive losses tangle in the desert. The Chiefs are now among five teams at 7-5 on the AFC side and can ill afford another setback, while Arizonas 9-1 start has regressed to 9-3 and a slim, one-game edge on the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks in the NFC West. The Cards are 6-0 at home this season and have won 10 of their last 11 overall in Arizona. Cardinals 20, Chiefs 17 Buffalo (7-5) at Denver (9-3) (-10), Sunday, 4:05 p.m. - Buffalos stout front will try to slow down the powerful Broncos. The Bills lead the NFL with 48 sacks and are the only team with three players who have nine-or-more sacks (Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus and Jerry Hughes). Williams has 6 1/2 sacks in his past four games while Dareus leads all interior lineman with 10 QB takedowns. Hughes, meanwhile, needs just one-half sack to record back-to-back 10-sack seasons. Denver QB Peyton Manning leads the NFL with 36 TD passes and has a TD pass in 51 consecutive games. Broncos 27, Bills 20 San Francisco (7-5) (-8) at Oakland (1-11), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. - The Bay Area Bragging Rights Bowl shouldnt be much of a contest as the 49ers are in desperation mode to keep their playoff hopes alive and the 1-11 Raiders are fresh off a 52-0 drubbing at the hands of the St. Louis Rams. 49ers 31, Raiders 10 Seattle (8-4) at Philadelphia (9-3) (-1), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. - The Seahawks and Eagles are both coming off big divisional Thanksgiving Day victories. Seattle won at San Francisco 19-3 while Philadelphia recorded a 33-10 win at Dallas. After two consecutive division wins - both by scores of 19-3 -- the Seahawks enter the final month in control in the NFC West. If Seattle wins out, which includes a Week 16 matchup against the 9-3 Cardinals, Seattle will take home the division crown for the second consecutive year. The Eagles have sole possession of first place in the NFC East and LeSean McCoy surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark (1,018) against the Cowboys while wide receiver Jeremy Maclin reached the 1,000-yard receiving mark (1,088). Seahawks 23, Eagles 20 New England (9-3) (-3 1/2) at San Diego (8-4), Sunday 8:30 p.m. - Sundays action concludes with two teams in the thick of the AFC playoff race. At 9-3, the Patriots lead the AFC East and are in control for home-field advantage in the conference. The 8-4 Chargers are currently the top wild-card team and sit just one game behind Denver for the top spot in the AFC West. The Pats, who have won seven of eight, need one win to join the 1983-98 San Francisco 49ers as the only NFL teams with 10-plus wins in 14 consecutive seasons. Patriots 27, Chargers 20 Atlanta (5-7) at Green Bay (9-3) (-12), Monday, 8:30 p.m. - Rarely is a division leader favored by double digits over another division leader but thats the story here. The Falcons enter the final month tied with New Orleans for the top spot in the NFC South at 5-7. The powerful Packers are 6-0 at Lambeau Field this season, outscoring opponents 245-106 in those contests. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has thrown 360 consecutive passed and 31 touchdown passes at home since his last interception, both NFL records. Packers 34, Falcons 20 Chris Bassitt Athletics Jersey . -- Without Carey Price, the run for a first Stanley Cup in 21 years got steeper and longer for the Montreal Canadiens. Chris Bassitt Jersey .com) - Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending May 11. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/ . "Im not doing enough to help them," Durant told The Oklahoman on Monday of his 28-9 team. "Im shooting too much. Im shooting too many threes. Im not helping them out at all.LJUBLJANA, Slovenia -- Nemanja Nedovic stole the ball, raced down the court and soared for a thundering one-handed dunk. It was just one of many highlights by Nedovic, who outplayed Tony Parker on Sunday in Serbias 77-65 victory over France at the European basketball championships. That dunk gave Serbia its biggest lead of 14 points midway through the fourth quarter. With France cutting the gap, Nedovic nailed a big 3-pointer that gave his team a secure 10-point lead with 2:28 left in the game. The win gave Serbia first place in Group E, with both teams having already qualified for the quarter-finals. Lithuania took second, France third and Ukraine fourth place. Nedovic, a shooting guard headed for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA, finished with 17 points and upstaged Parker, the San Antonio Spurs star, who was held to 10 points. "He is a great player and it was our team effort that stopped him," said Nedovic, who went 5-for-8 from 3-point range and had 14 of his points in the second half. Centre Nenad Krstic finished with 19 points while two other Serbia big men, Djordje Gagic and Vladimir Stimac, combined for 16 points and 11 rebounds. Serbia overcame 48-per cent shooting from the foul line. "They were more aggressive, they put us under pressure and they have bigger men, Krstic was big inside," France forward Nicolas Batum said. Batum was one of four France players with 12 points. Earlier, Sacha Massot had a key block and a dunk late in the game to help give Belgium a 60-56 victory over Latvia that sent Ukraine into the quarter-finals. Ukraine needed the help, too, as it then lost 70-63 to Lithuania in a later game. Latvia needed to win and have Lithuania beat Ukraine to advance. "We beat Belgium by one point on a 3-point play with two seconds left in our first game of the tournament and they did us a favour today," Ukraine ccoach Mike Fratello said. Oakland Athletics Pro Shop. Croatia, Slovenia and Italy have already advanced from Group F, which ends play Monday. Spain, Greece and Finland are in the running for one remaining slot. Massot blocked a Janis Blums layup and then dunked for a 59-56 lead that completed a 9-0 Belgium run. Dairis Bertans missed a 3-point attempt and Wen Mukubu made one of two free throws to complete the scoring. Massa led Belgium with 14 points, four rebounds and three blocks. Latvia, which shot 29 per cent from the field, had a chance to win late despite trailing most of the game but Rolands Freimanis botched an alley-oop attempt. Latvia got the ball back thanks to Axel Hervelles turnover but Massot blocked Blums drive. Latvia made only 5 of 29 3-point attempts despite relying on long-range shooting as its biggest weapon. Mukubu had 13 points and Hervelle added 10 and seven rebounds in Belgiums only second-round win. Lithuanias Linas Kleiza nailed a 3-pointer for a decisive 67-63 lead with 1:03 remaining. He also made a free throw and Donatas Motiejunas made two as Lithuania scored the last six points of the game. "They made the big shots when they had to," Fratello said, while praising his team for its effort even though it had already qualified before the game. "They could focus on trying to win to move up in the standings. It didnt happen but they showed they deserved to be here." Kleiza finished with 15 points, while Sergii Gladyr had 18 for Ukraine. Pooh Jeter added 10 points and eight assists. "We didnt expect to get this far, but we are young and ambitious and we go out and play hard," Gladyr said. Ukraine, which will host the next European championship in two years, is in the quarter-finals for the first time. "Ukraine has improved a lot, they play very good basketball," Lithuania coach Jonas Kazlaukas said. ' ' '