week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday.NEW YORK

DENVER -- With their playoff fate hanging in the balance, the Denver Broncos face make-or-break games in the last three weeks of the regular season, starting Sunday against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.The defending Super Bowl champions, the Broncos (8-5) enter the game as the sixth (and final) seed in the AFC, but the Miami Dolphins are also 8-5 and could overtake the Broncos if tiebreakers shift in their favor. Three more AFC teams have seven wins apiece.Were going to have to play exceptional from here on, especially this week, said Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak, who added that he viewed New England as the best team in football.The Patriots (11-2) enter the game with the best record in the AFC. They are no strangers when it comes to playing the Broncos, whom they faced 13 times in the past 12 years. Four of those meetings came in the postseason, including last seasons AFC Championship Game, which Denver took en route to its Super Bowl triumph over the Carolina Panthers.However, Denver is treading an uncertain path in its title defense. The Broncos have lost two of their past three games, and they face a brutal stretch in the final three weeks of the season.After playing New England, the Broncos face a Christmas night meeting with the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs followed by a New Years Day regular-season finale against the Oakland Raiders. Each of Denvers three closing opponents has at least 10 wins.I dont care who we play, Broncos safety T.J. Ward said. We need to win these next three games. Weve been in some tough games and come out on top, and weve been on the bottom of some tough games. Weve played two of the teams already (the Chiefs and Raiders). One game was close. One was not. Divisional games are always tough. The Patriots are almost a divisional game. ... Its another great challenge with Brady coming up.The Broncos struggles are most noticeable on the offensive side of the ball, particularly in the running game, where they are having difficulty establishing a consistent threat since the early-season injury loss of C.J. Anderson.Trevor Siemian, in his first year as the Broncos starting quarterback after the retirement of Peyton Manning, is showing promise as a passer, helped by playmaking wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.You look at the production the couple of years together in Denver, I dont know if youll find a pair of receivers better than them, Patriots safety Devin McCourty said of Thomas and Sanders.Even so, the lack of offensive balance is causing the offense to sputter -- especially early. Denver has been outscored 70-23 in the first quarter this season.With the offense having trouble moving the chains, the Broncos vaunted defense has been on the field for longer periods and under more sustained pressure. In Denvers loss last week at Tennessee, the Titans ran roughshod, gaining 180 yards on the ground. Even though the Titans had a tough time moving the ball through the air, their rushing attack more than made up the difference.The Patriots, meanwhile, are riding a wave of momentum behind the streaking Brady, who has 22 touchdown passes and just two interceptions in nine games. He missed the first four games of the season while serving a league-imposed, four-game suspension for the Deflategate controversy.Hes (effective) day in and day out, McCourty said of Brady. Practice can go like that when he gets going, so its not new to us. We see it all the time.McCourty wont get any argument on Brady from the Broncos.He is the best quarterback in the league, said Denver cornerback Aqib Talib, a former member of the Patriots.There is no question the Broncos defense will again try to zero in on Brady, who was sacked five times and hit on numerous other occasions in Denvers AFC title-game win last January.The Patriots will keep a keen eye on pass-rushing linebacker Von Miller, who made life miserable for Brady in the teams last meeting.Hes a very hard guy to block, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said. He can do a lot of things. Hes explosive. Hes fast. Hes quick and he can play with power. Even when you get him blocked, he doesnt stay blocked. Hes got the ability to separate. Hes an outstanding player.The Broncos are dealing with injuries among their corps of linebackers. Brandon Marshall (hamstring) missed last weeks game and will also miss this week. Fellow linebacker Todd Davis missed practice time this week because of an oblique injury and is questionable.Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola is out this week because of an ankle injury. Tight end Martellus Bennett also had some restrictions in practice this week because of ankle and shoulder issues, as did cornerback Malcolm Butler (hip) and safety Jordan Richards (knee). They are all questionable. Baltimore Orioles Gear . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Cheap Orioles Jerseys .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. https://www.cheaporioles.com/ . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. Orioles Jerseys 2020 . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. Baltimore Orioles Store . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday.NEW YORK -- LeBron James was a unanimous pick for the All-NBA team and Kobe Bryant earned his record-tying 11th first-team selection. James received all 119 votes for the first team from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the U.S. and Canada. Joining the leagues MVP and Bryant on the first team Thursday were Oklahoma Citys Kevin Durant, San Antonio centre Tim Duncan and Clippers guard Chris Paul. Bryant tied Utah Hall of Famer Karl Malone with his 11th first-team nod.dddddddddddd NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony led the second team, joined by guards Russell Westbrook and Tony Parker, centre Marc Gasol and forward Blake Griffin. The third team was Houstons James Harden, Miamis Dwyane Wade, Lakers centre Dwight Howard and forwards Paul George of Indiana and David Lee of Golden State. ' ' '