Clanregeln » aid of the player he described as a

LOS ANGELES -- Just three weeks ago, the Buffalo Bills were 0-2 and Rex Ryan appeared to be headed directly for trouble.Ryan and his Bills emerged from the Coliseum on Sunday with their first three-game winning streak in a half-decade and every reason to think this once-problematic season can be memorable.With their 30-19 victory over the Rams, the Bills (3-2) kept pace in the AFC East race. After LeSean McCoy rushed for 150 yards and cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman grabbed two interceptions, Ryan acknowledged that his team has found its groove, and in plenty of time to save its season.It feels great, Ryan said. You know me, Im just an average coach, very rarely won three straight games, so it feels great. Weve just got to go for four now.The Bills hadnt won three straight since winning the first three contests of the 2011 season, which ended 6-10. Buffalos three-week turnaround is remarkable, but it played out logically in front of the stadium featuring a large contingent of long-suffering Bills fans eager to see their team in the Coliseum for the first time since a game against the Raiders in 1992.The defense produced its third consecutive strong performance, limiting the Rams to 345 yards and just one touchdown while forcing three turnovers even without defensive lineman Marcell Dareus, a late scratch after injuring his hamstring Friday.Robey-Coleman made the biggest plays, returning one of his picks for a touchdown in the stadium where he played his college ball. The Bills plus-9 turnover margin is among their greatest assets, Ryan said.I think the big deal is youre seeing 11 guys out there playing as one, Ryan said. They dont want to let each other down, and I think thats a great thing. ... It has nothing to do with individual glory and all that. I think weve sold out to just being a team and I think thats how were playing.The Bills offense was led by Tyrod Taylor -- who passed for two touchdowns and made enough big plays to counteract a few regrets -- and McCoy, who tore through a Los Angeles defensive line missing three starters. Buffalo didnt overwhelm the depleted Rams, but capitalized on several opportunities for a comfortable win.I could have easily have had over 200 yards, McCoy said.That confidence is worlds away from the Bills state just three weeks ago, when a 37-31 loss to the New York Jets prompted Ryan to fire offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Buffalo hasnt lost with newly promoted coordinator Anthony Lynn in charge, but McCoy believes the praise should go to the entire offense.It wasnt a dominating performance by our offense, or a dominating performance by our defense or special teams, McCoy said. It was all together. Thats a big win.The Bills didnt dominate the Rams, but they proved to be resourceful on both sides of the ball. That adaptability is a key to the three-game resurgence under Ryan.After consecutive wins over Arizona, New England and Los Angeles, the Bills schedule gets theoretically easier for the next two weeks, making a 5-2 start looked eminently possible. Buffalo returns home to host struggling San Francisco before traveling to Miami.Its gratifying for the moment, but man, we know weve got a ton of work in front of us, Ryan said. The gratification will come, obviously, if were fortunate enough to do what our plans are. But right now, weve got a flight home. Maybe it will be gratifying on the way home. Ill overeat, like always, but thats it.---AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLBoston Bruins Gear . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Boston Bruins Pro Shop . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. https://www.cheapbruins.com/ . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. Boston Bruins Shirts . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. Fake Bruins Jerseys . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night.RIO DE JANEIRO -- Juan Martin del Potro sobbed into Novak Djokovics shoulder, the two opponents locked in a long embrace at the net.Djokovic would walk off the court weeping, too. For one man, a victory over the worlds No. 1 tennis player that could resurrect a career he feared was over. For the other, a stunning loss that leaves him waiting four more long years for a chance at an Olympic singles gold medal.Del Potro, the 2009 U.S. Open champion stalked by injuries ever since, won 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) in the first round Sunday at the Rio de Janeiro Games. After three left wrist surgeries that had him contemplating retirement, he is ranked just 145th. But when the big Argentine is healthy and smacking his signature forehand around the court, his play is worthy of the gold-medal match -- no matter that his backhand is still a work in progress.Amazing, amazing match for me, del Potro said. I didnt expect to beat Novak tonight, because I know my situation.These two faced off for bronze in London four years ago, with del Potro winning. But when he arrived at Wimbledon in June, he hadnt appeared at a major in 2 1/2 years. He would upset fourth-seeded Stan Wawrinka in the second round there, and even though a fatigued del Potro lost his next match, it was a hint that he might yet still have some greatness in him.Del Potro was just 20 when he rallied from a two-sets-to-one deficit to stun five-time defending champion Roger Federer in the U.S. Open final. With the way his forehand rocked Federer that day, more Grand Slam titles seemed certain for the young Argentine.Then came a string of wrist injuries, first to the right, then the left -- which the righty needs for his backhand. He was still slicing often Sunday, but the two-handed shot is beginning to look more comfortable. And with the way he was booming his serves and forehand, del Potro put the pressure on Djokovic from the start.In the second-set tiebreaker, del Petro crushed two straight forehand winners on Djokoovics serve to take a 3-0 lead.dddddddddddd He made it 5-0 before Djokovic scored a point.Del Potro hit 41 winners Sunday, 29 on his forehand. It would be a forehand off the net cord, however, that clinched victory on his second match point.Djokovic, a 12-time major champion, had more unforced errors than winners: 32-26. The Serb, who will be 33 at the 2020 Olympics, called this one of the toughest losses in my life.Hes still alive in doubles, though, so a gold medal in Rio remains a possibility.At 2-2 in the first-set tiebreaker, del Potro won three straight points to take control. A big forehand that Djokovic couldnt get back gave him three set points, and he converted the second when Djokovics forehand sailed wide.In decisive moments, he just came up with some extraordinary tennis, Djokovic said of the player he described as a good friend of mine.Del Potros Sunday did not start off so auspiciously -- he was stuck in an elevator at the Olympic Village for 40 minutes before Argentine handball players freed him.Its very difficult because del Potro has a very important match, one of his rescuers, Gonzalo Carou, said later.A hugely difficult match from both del Potro and Djokovics perspectives -- each had the misfortune of drawing the other in the first round.It was a raucous atmosphere in the last match of the night on center court, where Argentine fans chanted for del Potro and Brazilians would try to drown out their rivals with cheers for Djokovic.Djokovic started the year with talk of a Grand Slam after he won the Australian Open and French Open. But he was upset in the third round at Wimbledon by 41st-ranked Sam Querrey. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist seemed to bounce back by winning a hard-court tuneup in Toronto before coming to Rio de Janeiro.He told me really kind words at the end, del Potro said, and I appreciated that. ' ' '