proponents of competing in the Olympics, a

PITTSBURGH -- Once opponents get into the red zone, the Steelers take it as a challenge to keep them out of the end zone.Thats part of the reason why Pittsburghs defense leads the league in stops inside the 20-yard line, including four goal-line stands in the past two weeks, entering Sundays road game against the Buffalo Bills.Its a short field and teams feel like they can get it on you, Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons said. They want to get one up on you, so as a defense, when you stop that, you go out there and assert yourself in a certain way and thats what we do.Timmons did as much when he came through with a game-changing interception at the goal line last Sunday against the New York Giants.Timmons picked off Eli Manning and the Steelers offense capitalized with a touchdown a little more than a minute later. Linebacker Ryan Shazier later broke up a pass on fourth-and-1 from the 3-yard line, helping the Steelers win their third straight game.Thats huge when you have an offense about to score and you stop them, Timmons said. Were just trying to stop them and get the ball back to our offense.The Steelers rank 19th against the pass, giving up 256 yards per game and 14th in total yards allowed at almost 350 per game.But Pittsburgh leads the NFL in red-zone touchdown efficiency at 42.5 percent, as opponents have scored 17 touchdowns in 40 red-zone drives this season.We dont want to let them get down there, but when they get down there, we have to keep them out, safety Mike Mitchell said. Thats our job.Pittsburgh gave up 113 points during a recent four-game losing streak, but the Steelers have stiffened since, allowing just 30 points the previous three games. The Steelers, ranked No. 7 in the league in scoring defense at 19.7 points per game, held each of their previous three opponents to 14 points or less for the first time since 2011.Teams are trying to score points and were just trying to shut them down, Shazier said. We practice that every day, so when we get down (in the red zone), were ready for the situation.Preparation has been key for the Steelers, who regularly practice a goal-line drill called seven shots, where the offense has seven chances to score on the defense from the 2-yard line. More than that, the Steelers focus on an area they call the field goal fringe in addition to red zone and goal-line work.We get a lot of work against some good players, Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler said. We try out different things to see if it works against our offense. If it works against our offense, its probably going to work against everybody elses offense.The Steelers offense is one of the most prolific in the league, led by two-time Super Bowl winner Ben Roethlisberger. Antonio Brown is among the league leaders in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Running back LeVeon Bell leads the league in yards from scrimmage per game and ranks second in rushing yards per contest.Its good practice for the Steelers defense when the opposition reaches the red zone.The players we have on our offense, its hard for everybody in the NFL to stop them, Shazier said. If we can shut them down, we definitely feel like we can shut anybody down.Game notes K Chris Boswell (abdomen), G Ramon Foster (chest), DT Javon Hargrave (concussion), WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot) and S Shamarko Thomas (concussion) did not practice for a second straight day. ... TE Ladarius Green (not injury related), QB Zach Mettenberger (illness) and RB DeAngelo Williams (knee) also missed practice Thursday.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Adidas Gazelle Sale Deutschland . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. Adidas Gazelle Damen Günstig .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. http://www.nmdschuhesale.de/nmd-cs2-schuhe-deutschland.html . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. Nmd Schuhe Deutschland . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Nmd Schuhe Sale Deutschland . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. AKRON, Ohio -- Jason Day pulled out of the Olympics on Tuesday because of the Zika virus, costing golf its No. 1 player as it returns from a century-long absence at the games.The sport has lost two of its biggest stars in the last week, adding to the perception that the Olympics are not a high priority. Rory McIlroy, a four-time major champion, also said Zika will keep from competing in Rio de Janeiro.The sole reason for my decision is my concerns about the possible transmission of the Zika virus and the potential risks that it may present to my wifes future pregnancies and to future members of our family, Day said in a statement. I have always placed my family in front of everything else in my life.The 28-year-old Australian and his wife, Ellie, had their second child in November, and he has said they want more children.Shane Lowry of Ireland, who got married in April and plans to start a family, also withdrew Tuesday. That makes six golfers, including two of the most prominent athletes in Day and McIlroy, to specifically cite Zika for not going to Rio. The others are Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace of South Africa, and Marc Leishman of Australia, whose wifes immune system has not fully recovered after she nearly died last year of toxic shock syndrome.With Rory and myself pulling, I dont know if that will trigger anyone else, Day said. Its not my decision. ... Some guys are in different situations. Some guys are younger and single and can take that chance, and some guys are in the same situation as me and have children or going to have children, get married and stuff like that. Its a difficult one for those guys.American cyclist Tejay van Garderen is among a handful of athletes outside of golf who also cited Zika as the reason behind not going to Rio. Basketball star Stephen Curry didnt specifically cite Zika but noted that other factors played a role in his decision to skip the games.Brazil has been the hardest hit of the approximately 60 countries that have reported an outbreak of Zika, the mosquito--borne virus linked to severe birth defects and possible neurological problems in adults.ddddddddddddDay first expressed concern a month ago at the Memorial and said he had been consulting doctors so he could make a smart choice.I wouldnt be pulling out just because its not safe or something like that down there, because Ive never been down to Brazil and I dont know if it is safe or not, Day said at the Bridgestone Invitational. Im withdrawing from the Olympics because of the Zika, and thats the main reason here, because I just dont want to put my family at risk because of it.Australia has three players in the top 50 in the world, and all of them have withdrawn -- Day, Adam Scott (No. 8) and Leishman (No. 39). Next in line would be Scott Hend (No. 75) and Marcus Fraser (No. 81).Day had been among the strongest proponents of competing in the Olympics, as had McIlroy and other young stars. But as the July 11 deadline nears for qualifying for Rio, some top golfers have been wavering.Among the stars who plan to play or have not decided are Jordan Spieth, U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, Henrik Stenson of Sweden and Masters champion Danny Willett of England.Golf already has lost three of the top 10 players in the world. Scott was the first to withdraw. He said Olympics were never his priority in a year in which the schedule is crammed with major championships with far more historical significant than an Olympic medal.The sport has not been part of the games since 1904 in St. Louis.Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa cited scheduling concerns when he withdrew. Vijay Singh of Fiji briefly mentioned Zika but was more bothered by the schedule. Graeme McDowell, who was in line to replace McIlroy, withdrew late last week because his wife is due with their second child a few weeks after the Olympics and he did not want to be out of the country in the weeks leading to the birth. ' ' '