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鈥?The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to pick up the pieces from an emotional loss to the New England Patriots without Antonio Brown.Coach Mike Tomlin says Brown will miss Pittsburgh’s Christmas Day visit to Houston with a contusion on his left calf. The NFL’s leading receiver left in the second quarter against the Patriots after getting tangled up while trying to catch a pass in the end zone. Tomlin declined to get into the specifics of Brown’s injury and didn’t put a timetable on a possible return.“I just know he’s out next week Tarvarius Moore Jersey Elite ,” Tomlin said.The Steelers (11-3) will also be without rookie running back James Conner, who was scheduled to undergo surgery on his right knee Tuesday. Conner, who had 144 yards rushing as Le’Veon Bell’s primary backup this season, will be placed on injured reserve. Pittsburgh filled Conner’s roster spot by signing Stevan Ridley. Ridley, a six-year veteran, last played for Atlanta during the 2016 season.Whoever is available, the AFC North champions will head to Houston likely needing at least one win over their final two games and 鈥? maybe two if 鈥? to secure a first-round bye.Regardless of the injuries to Brown and Conner, the offensive line and secondary could get a boost this week. Right tackle Marcus Gilbert returns from a suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy. Tomlin also thinks cornerback Joe Haden may be ready after missing five games with a broken left leg.Tomlin is only too eager to move forward after a calamitous fourth quarter against the Patriots. Pittsburgh blew an eight-point lead, then botched a chance to pull it out on the final drive when tight end Jesse James’ apparent touchdown was overturned on review. Ben Roethlisberger then threw an interception in the end zone rather than spike the ball to set up a potential tying field goal.“I’m not happy with the outcome,” Tomlin said. “We played to win. We didn’t win the game. We’re not quantifying level of success. We didn’t do enough to win the game.”Who exactly did what over Pittsburgh’s final four snaps remains vague. The Steelers were awarded their final timeout after Roethlisberger hit JuJu Smith-Schuster for a 69-yard gain that put the ball at the New England 10. Tomlin said Tuesday his plan wasn’t to call time after the play, saying referee Tony Corrente incorrectly gave it to Pittsburgh because the official saw Roethlisberger mimicking a “time out” signal while looking at the Steelers’ sideline.Things only got more confusing from there. James appeared to give Pittsburgh the lead when he caught a pass at the New England 1 and stretched into the end zone, the ball shifting as his hands hit the ground. Replay officials took the score away when they ruled James didn’t complete the process of making the catch.“I think we all can acknowledge that all of this needs to be revisited http://www.bengalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jessie-bates-iii-jersey , it’s not just that play,” said Tomlin, who serves on the NFL’s competition committee. “We’re having similar discussions week in and week out. We’ve got our work cut out for us during the offseason.”The lengthy review and the reversal appeared to catch Pittsburgh off-guard. Roethlisberger threw short to Darrius Heyward-Bey when play resumed, and when Heyward-Bey was dragged down in bounds, the clock continued to roll. Rather than spike the ball to stop the clock and give kicker Chris Boswell a chip-shot field goal that would have sent the game into overtime, Roethlisberger faked a spike, hoping to take advantage of what Tomlin called an “uncomfortable” situation for the Patriots.Roethlisberger attempted to find Eli Rogers in the end zone, only to have the ball deflect into the hands of safety Duron Harmon and the Patriots escaped with a 27-24 victory, their fifth straight over the Steelers.“We wanted to try and win the game in regulation,” Tomlin said. “There were extra seconds there I wanted to take advantage of. If given the opportunity to do it again, I’d do it again.” The Atlanta Falcons are used to focusing on one or two positions in the NFL draft.

Not this year.

After a Super Bowl appearance two years ago and another trip to the playoffs last season, the Falcons are fairly content with their roster.

Oh Dak Prescott Cowboys Jersey , sure, they've got needs like every other team.

But nothing that looks too pressing.

"This draft is different than most drafts I've been involved with," said Thomas Dimitroff, entering his second decade as the Falcons' general manager.

"This is an important draft and an interesting draft. There are a number of positions we're looking at, more than other years. Other years, we really homed in on one or two positions."

The Falcons have the No. 26 pick in Thursday night's opening round.

With a lot of attention on quarterbacks such as Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and the past two Heisman Trophy winners, Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson, Dimitroff expects some top talent to slip all the way down to Atlanta's spot.

"There's some really legitimate contenders to help our team right away at No. 26 if we stay put," he said. "We'll always be aggressive if we see some interesting impact players who can take us to another level. But hopefully they'll get to 26."

Atlanta follows up over the final two days of the draft with selections in the second (58th overall), third (90th) Byron Jones Jersey , fourth (126th), sixth (200th) and seventh (244th) rounds. In addition, the Falcons were awarded the final pick (No. 256) as compensation for losing five players in free agency, which means they have a chance to grab the player known as "Mr. Irrelevant."

Here's some things to watch from Atlanta heading into the draft:

BIG NEEDS

The Falcons will be looking for help on the interior of the defensive line after mammoth tackle Dontari Poe signed with NFC South rival Carolina during free agency.

The offensive line could get an upgrade, as well. Even though the Falcons signed guard Brandon Fusco in free agency, they are still looking for players to bolster their blocking around center Alex Mack.

OTHER OPENINGS

The Falcons don't have a fullback on the roster after deciding not to re-sign Derrick Coleman, so look for some help at that position in the later rounds.

Also keep an eye on receiver. If someone such as Alabama's Calvin Ridley becomes available, the Falcons might jump at the chance to land a potential star who could take some of the coverage pressure off Julio Jones.

TEAM EFFORT

Dimitroff and coach Dan Quinn have formed an excellent working relationship after somewhat of a forced partnership.

The general manager was hired by the Falcons in 2008 and initially had total control over the draft, but he surrendered some of that power to Quinn when the coach was hired by owner Arthur Blank in 2015.

The arrangement has worked out just fine.

"It's nice for me from an experience standpoint to draft alongside one of the most tenured GMs in the league," Quinn said.

WHEELIN' AND DEALIN'

Dimitroff is always looking to make a deal on draft day.

Last year, the GM sent three picks to the Seahawks in order to move up to No. 26 鈥?the same spot the Falcons have this year 鈥?for UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley, feeling he would be a perfect fit in Quinn's attacking defense.

Dimitroff also traded up to get cornerback Desmond Trufant in 2013 Youth New Orleans Saints Jerseys , and most notably pulled off a huge deal with Cleveland in 2011 to land Jones, who quickly developed into one of the league's top receivers and a cornerstone of the franchise. The Browns are still regretting that trade.

HITS, MISSES AND BARGAINS

QB Matt Ryan has started all but two games since Dimitroff, in his first draft, made him the No. 3 overall pick in 2008. That remains the most significant selection in franchise history.

CB Jalen Collins, a second-rounder out of LSU in 2015, continually ran afoul of drug-testing rules and wound up playing less than two full seasons for the Falcons, who released him last November after his second suspension.

DT Grady Jarrett has become a force on the defensive front since being picked in the fifth round out of Clemson in 2015. The dynamic RB duo of Devonta Freeman (fourth round, 2014) and Tevin Coleman (third round, 2013) were both bargains. LB De'Vondre Campbell was a fourth-round selection in 2016 who became an immediate starter on defense.

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at s://apnews/search/paul%20newberry

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