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Kacsmar: Ravens need to win, Patriots have to win

On Sunday, the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens every will perform within their third AFC Championship game more than the previous 6 many years, the Patriots winning the two plus the Ravens losing each, which includes final year's 23-20 heartbreaker in Foxboro. It truly is also the third time the teams have met inside the playoffs within the previous 4 many years.

No meeting appears far more evenly matched, that's the very first rematch inside a conference championship considering that the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers met 3 many years within a row (1992-94).

It might be the last game on the terrific profession for Ray Lewis, and potential Hall of Fame security Ed Reed isn't far behind him for retirement. Therefore, the Ravens possess a smaller sized window of chance, however they will be the secondary story.

In case the New England Patriots fall at your home or fail to win the Super Bowl this yr, it's going to carry on the biggest run of playoff disappointment in NFL background.

Patriots will need to validate their record success

Even though coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady won 3 Super Bowls collectively from 2001-2004, that was an eternity ago. The only other recent Patriots to get won a Super Bowl with all the group are Deion Branch (backup receiver) and Vince Wilfork (like a rookie in 2004).

New England's regular-season good results has only improved, but no a lot more championships have come. The Patriots did come excruciatingly near 3 times, losing two Super Bowls on last-minute touchdown drives through the New York Giants and blowing the biggest lead ever inside a championship game (18 factors), losing to your Indianapolis Colts.

The 2007 season started out with controversy immediately after the Spygate story of illegal videotaping broke, questioning the validity of New England's historic results. Belichick answered with one of several most dominant seasons in background.

Although they have been nonetheless ahead from the curve offensively in people days, in 2007 the Patriots modified the dynamic of their crew by including receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker, the latter defining the part on the slot receiver. There was tiny comparison with their championship teams, which had been constructed on sturdy defenses.

New England's 2007 offense became the 1st to make use of the shotgun on in excess of 50 % of their plays, making use of aspects from the spread offense Belichick picked up on from university coach Urban Meyer.

The outcomes had been amazing since the 2007 Patriots scored a record 589 factors. Brady threw a record 50 touchdown passes with Moss catching 23 of them. Once the crew started out 10-0, it had been outscoring opponents by 25.four factors per game, wanting like arguably one of the most dominant crew in historical past.

However the grind of the march for the best season took its toll. The Patriots fell behind by twelve factors on the New York Giants in Week 17, but came back to win to clinch the only 16-0 normal season ever. Nonetheless, the game constructed self-assurance while in the Giants, who took down the Patriots (twelve.5-point favorites) in Super Bowl XLII, holding by far the most prolific offense ever to just 14 factors. Brady, who scoffed at Giants' receiver Plaxico Burress' prediction of New England scoring 17 factors, was sacked 5 instances immediately after enjoying pristine pass safety all season.

It even now took the best drive in NFL historical past, engineered by Eli Manning, to have the 17-14 win, however the Giants pulled off the upset, leaving the Patriots using a hollow 18-1 finish.

Brady tore his ACL inside the very first quarter from the initially game in 2008, however the Patriots nevertheless managed to finish 11-5 behind Matt Cassel. Even so, they became just the 2nd 11-5 group ever (1985 Denver Broncos) to not qualify for your playoffs.

Returning to begin the 2009 season, Brady led the Patriots to a thrilling comeback win more than Buffalo in Week one, but that might be Brady's only game-winning drive on the season. The 2009 crew struggled to near video games out, which was the hallmark of New England's earlier achievement while in the decade.

The season-changing minute came in Week ten once the Patriots (6-2) played the Colts (8-0) in prime time. As soon as holding a 17-point lead while in the fourth quarter, the Patriots faced a 4th-and-2 at their very own 28, holding onto a 34-28 lead with two:08 left. Most coaches would punt, but Belichick kept the offense over the field. Brady's pass to Kevin Faulk was quick in the initially down, and Peyton Manning threw the game-winning touchdown with 0:13 left within a 35-34 comeback win.

From that stage the Patriots completed just 4-4, lost Welker to injury in Week 17, and hosted the Ravens inside the Wild Card round. Ray Rice started off the game with an 83-yard touchdown run, and Brady turned the ball in excess of 3 times during the very first quarter. Baltimore led 24-0 at that stage, and went on to win 33-14. The Ravens lost in New England by a 27-21 last in Week four.

In 2010 the Patriots yet again started out to evolve their offense right after drafting tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. They completed the standard season on an eight-game winning streak, turning the ball above just a single time (+23 in turnover differential), and averaging 37.four factors per game (a minimum of 31 factors in each and every game). No effectiveness was a lot more amazing than a 45-3 rout in the Jets in Week 13.

The 2010 Patriots scored 518 factors. Brady won his 2nd MVP award, turning out to be the 1st unanimous assortment ever. He threw 36 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions, going a record 335 pass attempts without the need of an interception.

This was the scariest crew getting into the playoffs in recent times. Acquiring clinched the league's most effective record (14-2), the Patriots had by now beaten the Steelers (39-26), Jets (45-3), Bears (36-7) and Packers (31-27). Individuals 4 teams ended up staying the last 4 in 2010, because the Patriots fell flat on their encounter in the home from the Divisional round against the Jets.

Brady threw an interception on his to start with possession, snapping his streak. Mark Sanchez confidently guided the Jets to an upset win, whilst the scoring juggernaut managed 11 factors while in the game's initially 58 minutes against Rex Ryan's defense. Two late scores had been as well tiny also late since the Jets won 28-21.

From 2006-2011, Brady set a NFL record with 31 consecutive wins in the home within the frequent season. But hidden inside the streak had been these two dwelling playoff losses.

In 2011 the Patriots once again reshaped their offense, thoroughly making use of Gronkowski and Hernandez, now inside their 2nd season, for the tune of 169 receptions for two,237 yards and 24 touchdowns. Gronkowski had the biggest getting season ever by a tight finish with 18 complete touchdowns.

Brady passed for five,235 yards (2nd most in NFL background), plus the Patriots scored 513 factors while in the season. However they once more couldn't resolve Tom Coughlin's Giants, losing in the two the common season and Super Bowl, scoring 17 factors this time in the 21-17 reduction.

Right here the Patriots are yet again in 2012, scoring 557 factors from the normal season, that is the third-highest complete in NFL historical past. Certainly one of their most current offensive developments is definitely the utilization of one-word play-calls to run a no-huddle offense so rapid the defense are unable to even get set (here is taking a look at you, Houston). It had been a further stellar typical season, and now they sit two wins far from that elusive ring.

But we've observed this just before. From the finish, a group the Patriots played while in the common season has come back to beat them, that is what has occurred all 6 instances within the playoffs due to the fact 2005. It can be Baltimore, who currently beat the Patriots 31-30 in Week three (in Baltimore), or it may be the San Francisco 49ers during the Super Bowl, who also beat the Patriots this yr.

Pretty much every one of the gamers within the Patriots never understand what it can be want to win a Super Bowl, however the shadow Belichick and Brady carry above the group meshes their previous title achievement with each other using the regular-season records considering the fact that 2007.

These two eras are mutually unique, and also the failure to win a championship on this offense-driven era must reflect extra poorly to the crew, Belichick and Brady than it has to date.

The Patriots are 76-20 (.792) during the common season because 2007, which can be one of many very best six-year runs ever. Additionally it is the ideal run to not develop a championship.

Regardless of the many offensive records, the Patriots haven't sealed the deal given that that final Super Bowl win just about eight many years ago. New England has currently had 3 from the highest-scoring teams in NFL background and only managed to score 14, 21 and 17 factors inside a season-ending reduction for which it had been the preferred every time.

As being a 9-point favourite above Baltimore, the Patriots naturally can not win the Super Bowl this Sunday, nevertheless they can eliminate one more shot at a single just after but a different historic typical season.

The possibilities are operating out for Brady and Belichick. Whilst these two can rest on their laurels, background is not going to deal with the Patriots as kindly without having a championship to validate this era's achievement.

Ravens seek out breakthrough win and fantastic ending for Lewis

Nobody ought to be sleeping over the Ravens. The return of leader Ray Lewis has lifted the crew, because they hope to make that storybook ending which has a walk-off Super Bowl victory, appreciated in previous many years by John Elway (1998) and Jerome Bettis (2005).

The Ravens are while in the AFC Championship game for that third time given that 2008, the commence from the John Harbaugh/Joe Flacco era. Once more they're around the road, owning lost 23-14 in Pittsburgh (2008) soon after Flacco threw an interception returned for any touchdown by Troy Polamalu.

There exists the bitter taste of final year's reduction, during which Patriots defensive back Sterling Moore knocked what would have already been the game-winning touchdown from Lee Evans' hands with 22 seconds left. Seconds later on, Billy Cundiff rushed and missed the game-tying kick, just the 2nd time in historical past a kicker missed a do-or-die field target inside a championship game or Super Bowl.

(The 1st time was once the Buffalo Bills' Scott Norwood missed the game-winner in Super Bowl XXV, lifting then-New York Giants defensive coordinator Belichick with all the win.

Harbaugh came from Philadelphia, exactly where he was the unique teams coordinator through the Eagles' streak of 3 straight losses during the NFC Championship (2001-2003). His group has adequate big-game practical experience to have in excess of the hump, nonetheless it is usually a difficult process to win in Foxboro.

Baltimore is 2-4 against New England given that 2007, but each reduction was a nail-biter that went down on the wire. These teams know one another effectively, plus the Ravens can stage to several beneficial indicators just after dealing with a so-so common season.

The Ravens presently have beaten the Patriots this yr, as well as 503 yards of offense they piled up that evening will be the most New England has permitted this season. The Patriots have enhanced on defense considering that Week three, but so has Baltimore.

The postseason continues to be the only time this yr the Ravens have had their significant 4 on defense intact. That is Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata. Though they've faced 174 offensive snaps the final two weeks, this defense is back to generating plays and limiting factors. They may also get some aid from your truth that Rob Gronkowski is out for your Patriots.

If winning a Super Bowl nowadays is extra about peaking in the ideal time, needing to conquer adversity, then the Ravens match the bill. They've got the rallying cry to win 1 for Lewis, Flacco is thriving with large pass plays just after the crew replaced offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, and following the Giants, no group has offered the Patriots much more issues than the Ravens.

New England's not the only constant winner within this game that lacks a current championship. The Ravens are just the sixth crew to ever win a playoff game in 5 consecutive seasons, nevertheless they will be the only group to not attain no less than a single Super Bowl. Only the 2000-04 Eagles failed to win a Super Bowl, when another 4 teams all came as a result of no less than after.

With legacies around the line, and windows closing on several of the game's greats, this ought to be a traditional AFC Championship.

investment

Amazon AutoRip services offers out totally free digital copies of CDs

Online retailer Amazon has launched a services that merchants absolutely free digital versions of CDs purchased by means of its shop.

AutoRip, that's only offered while in the US, will immediately continue to keep a digital copy of eligible CDs within a customer's cloud storage account.

Buyers will probably be in a position to access the music by means of Amazon's Cloud Player to the world wide web or by way of tablet and smartphone apps.

Amazon has drawn up a catalogue of 50,000 CDs that happen to be eligible for AutoRip.

Music market

The catalogue is compiled from people albums which have proved most common with Amazon consumers during the final 15 many years.

The checklist involves “Dark Side of your Moon” by Pink Floyd, “Thriller” by Michael Jackson and “21” by Adele.

Any consumer that has purchased a CD from the catalogue from Amazon given that the company began trading in 1998 are going to be eligible to have a no cost MP3 copy of it. Amazon mentioned it anticipated building copies of countless CDs.

“When we picked individuals 50,000 titles we focused on possessing a significant vast majority of our physical CD revenue covered,” stated Steve Boom, head of digital music at Amazon within a statement.

The services possibly helps make it substantially simpler for individuals to create up a library of digital music. Prior to now most CD owners needed to rip the songs themselves to make digital versions.

The Amazon Cloud Player is usually accessed a net browser, together with on Android phones, iPhones, Kindle Fire tablets along with other products.

The move is broadly observed as an try to consider market place share from arch-rival Apple's iTunes music keep.

The Cupertino giant has related cloud storage companies for music and prospects the marketplace with a lot more than 50% from the industry share, although Amazon has under 15%. Google gives a comparable services.

technology

Theme for '13: Wonderful expectations

Watch closely, individuals. The 2013 NASCAR season might be a single to keep in mind.

I am counting on it, if not betting on it.

A number of factors are likely to occur in NASCAR this year which have by no means occurred in advance of. And also a number of items could come about that nobody has witnessed in quite a few many years.

Let us start out that has a couple of confident issues, or practically confident matters:

” 43 many years ago — The final time NASCAR raced on dirt. It had been Sept. 30, 1970, around the fairgrounds in Raleigh, N.C. Richard Petty won for the 1-mile oval.

NASCAR goes vintage racing this year which has a Camping Globe Truck Series occasion to the dirt at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, a half-mile oval owned by Tony Stewart.

This race will probably be one of several most anticipated occasions on the season. It will take area on July 24, a Wednesday evening ahead of the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis (90 miles away) 4 days later on.

The field will likely be restricted to 30 trucks. Eldora has 16,000 seats, but further grandstands are going to be brought in for the probably sellout crowd.

” A female 1st — No lady ever has run a total Cup season, except for your six-race inaugural NASCAR season in 1949, when Sara Christian raced in all 6 occasions.

She completed 13th total, very best ever for the girl, but a six-race season hardly counts by today's specifications.

Danica Patrick will turn into the 1st lady on the modern-day era to race a complete Cup routine (barring injury or suspension) this season when she runs total time for Stewart-Haas Racing.

By contemporary specifications, Janet Guthrie posted the very best ranking for any female when she completed 23rd inside the 1977 standings even though operating 19 of 30 occasions, earning 4 top-10s.

Equaling that mark is really a tall process for Patrick, but not extremely hard. Bobby Labonte was 23rd inside the 2012 standings with two top-5s and an common finish of 22.six. Patrick will probably be within a much better motor vehicle (Hendrick Motorsports tools) than Labonte has.

Right here are various other items that may transpire for your very first time inside a extended time and a few other folks that will be a initially in NASCAR:

” 51 many years ago — The 1962 season marked the final time NASCAR had 3 consecutive seasons the place a crew proprietor won a Cup title for your very first time.

It will eventually take place this year if Michael Waltrip Racing claims its initial title with both Clint Bowyer or Martin Truex Jr. The two males produced the 2012 Chase, and Bowyer completed since the championship runner-up to Brad Keselowski.

“We possess the capability to enhance on our good results from final season,” mentioned Scott Miller, MWR's vice president of competitors. “We created a procedure final season to obtain from point A to point B, and we discovered loads of achievement using the method. We'll utilize the identical procedure to assist us with all the advancement in the 2013 motor vehicle.

“Toyota Racing Advancement is doing work actually challenging for the engines to offer us much more reliability and even more electrical power. I believe we are able to elevate our plan this season and compete for the championship yet again.”

Stewart's 2011 title was the 1st Cup crown for Stewart-Haas Racing. Keselowski gave Roger Penske his long-awaited Cup championship in 2012.

Rex White (1960), Ned Jarrett (1961) and Joe Weatherly (1962) gave crew owners first-time championships half a century ago. The exciting factor is the fact that all 3 of them ran races in people championship many years for over one particular crew proprietor, not unusual in people days.

” 32 many years ago — Darrell Waltrip won the 1981 title in his 1st season driving for Junior Johnson. Nobody has finished it because, but Matt Kenseth includes a fantastic shot at it this year in his to start with season for Joe Gibbs Racing.

” 17 many years ago — The 1996 season was the sole time a driver won the championship twelve many years eliminated from his final a single. Terry Labonte did it at Hendrick Motorsports. Jeff Gordon could equal the feat this year for boss Rick Hendrick. Gordon's fourth and final Cup title came in 2001.

” 14 many years ago — Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his 2nd consecutive Nationwide title (the Busch Series on the time) in 1999. That was the final time the Earnhardt title had a championship banner.

You will find two strategies that may transpire this year. Earnhardt could win the Cup crown in what may possibly be his finest probability ever. And Regan Smith could win the Nationwide title driving his initially complete season for JR Motorsports.

” 13 many years ago — Bobby Labonte's Cup championship in 2000 was the final time NASCAR had a driver who was the brother of the champion win a title from the similar series.

Ty Dillon could win the Camping Planet Truck Series crown this year, two seasons right after his brother, Austin Dillon, won it.

Austin also is really a contender for your Nationwide Series title this year, so they could turn into the primary brothers to win titles inside the exact same season.

” ten many years ago — Brian Vickers won the Nationwide title in 2003. He's one of many favorites to win it this year in his very first season driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. If he does, he'll come to be the very first guy to win championships inside the series ten many years apart.

” Back-to-back titles in two series — That by no means has occurred, but Ricky Stenhouse Jr. features a shot at it this year. Granted, it is an extended shot, but he's driving a excellent auto for the group that manufactured the Chase final year. Stenhouse, who won the previous two Nationwide titles, replaces Kenseth at Roush Fenway Racing.

Keselowski and Greg Biffle came near to accomplishing this feat. Keselowski's Cup crown final year came two many years following he won the 2010 Nationwide title. Biffle won the 2002 Nationwide championship two many years soon after winning the CWTS title.

Keselowski and Bobby Labonte would be the only Nationwide champs (up to now) who went on to win a Cup title.

7tech

Drug Agency Suggests Reduced Doses of Rest Aids for ladies

On Thursday the agency stated that females ought to be taking half as a lot, soon after laboratory reports and driving tests confirming the hazards of drowsiness.

The new recommendation applies to medicines containing the energetic ingredient zolpidem, by far one of the most extensively employed rest help. Employing decrease doses implies much less from the drug will stay from the blood while in the morning hrs, and can minimize the threat that individuals who use it'll be impaired though driving.

Sleeping capsules have boomed in recognition together with the more and more frantic pace of contemporary American existence. In accordance with IMS, a wellbeing care info and engineering firm, about 60 million prescriptions have been dispensed in 2011, up about twenty % due to the fact 2006. About 40 million had been for items containing zolpidem.

The agency's announcement was focused on ladies given that they consider longer to metabolize the drug than guys. An estimated ten % to 15 % of ladies can have a degree of zolpidem inside their blood that may impair driving eight hrs right after taking the pill, when only about three % of guys do, explained Dr. Robert Temple, an official within the agency's Center for Drug Evaluation and Investigate.

Reports of aftereffects from sleeping capsules have circulated for a long time, and a few medical professionals questioned why the drug agency took so extended to act. Mishaps with sleepy driving ?a and in some cases odd acts of texting, consuming or acquiring intercourse while in the evening with no any memory of it from the morning ?a have prolonged been acquainted for the healthcare neighborhood.

“In this situation, the F.D.A. may possibly be behind the eight ball,” explained Daniel Carlat, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Tufts University, referring to residual drowsiness. “Few medical doctors might be stunned hearing about this. They will say, 'Oh yeah, we have currently noticed this in our sufferers.' “

He additional that Thursday's announcement “will be very good for public well being due to the fact it is going to get individuals to inquire their medical professionals regarding the proper dosage.”

Agency officials acknowledged they had obtained about 700 reports of driving mishaps with individuals on zolpidem in excess of the many years, that has a spike in 2007 soon after a modify in labeling induced additional men and women to phone in complaints. However they stated it had been not simple to draw a direct connection in between the reports plus the drug. Individuals frequently didn't don't forget what time they took the pill. At times they'd been drinking.

It had been not until eventually the drug agency reviewed driving simulation research from controlled trials of your drug Intermezzo, which was accepted in 2011 for middle-of-the-night waking, that a a lot more comprehensive image of your dangers emerged. The agency linked the driving simulation data with information from companies about the level of zolpidem in patients' blood and established that ranges over about 50 nanograms per milliliter greater the danger of crashing whilst driving, explained Dr. Ellis Unger, an official in the agency's Center for Drug Evaluation and Study.

Dr. Unger stated that all makers of new sleeping medicines would now be asked to conduct driving trials; a spokeswoman clarified that it might not be expected.

“A large amount of men and women are asking yourself with regards to the elephant inside the space,” Dr. Unger explained. “Why did this consider so lengthy? This is certainly science, and our contemplating evolves after a while.”

The drug agency informed suppliers the suggested dose for ladies need to be lowered to five milligrams from ten for immediate-release merchandise like Ambien, Edluar and Zolpimist. Doses for extended-release merchandise really should be lowered to six.25 milligrams from twelve.five, the agency explained. Most sleeping medicines containing zolpidem are now generic.

For guys, the agency informed makers that labels must suggest that well being care suppliers ought to “consider” prescribing decrease doses.

Sufferers taking the larger doses ought to carry on them for that time staying, officials explained, but need to check with with their medical doctors about lowering them. Medical professionals can nevertheless prescribe the greater dose if your decrease one particular doesn't operate. The reduced doses are presently commercially offered, Dr. Unger stated, because they are advisable for older individuals.

Sanofi, the maker of Ambien and Ambien CR, stated inside a statement that individuals taking zolpidem “should usually speak to their medical professional with regards to the most acceptable dose,” and the label “provides vital information” to find out what that is certainly. The enterprise additional that it “stands behind the sizeable clinical information demonstrating the security and efficacy of Ambien.”

Zolpidem has also been identified to trigger sleepwalking incidents, and Dr. Unger stated there was proof the decrease dose may possibly ease this kind of occasions, even though it truly is weaker than the proof about next-morning drowsiness. Dr. Carlat explained certainly one of his sufferers identified that her bodyweight achieve though within the drug was from midnight trips towards the kitchen that she didn't even recall taking.

Dr. Daniel Kripke, professor emeritus of psychiatry in the University of California, San Diego, plus a top critic of sleeping tablets, welcomed the move but mentioned the agency was even now not undertaking sufficient to investigate other probable unwanted effects.

“It's an incredibly compact phase inside the appropriate route,” he mentioned. He extra that sleeping medicines like zolpidem may well raise complete rest time by twenty minutes a evening, but that most reports propose the utilization of sleeping capsules impairs a person's effectiveness the subsequent day.

Critics with the drug agency stated the label on Intermezzo, which really obviously denotes the hazards for ladies, signifies the agency was mindful of those issues earlier.

But Thomas Roth, director from the rest center at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit that has been a consultant to sleeping pill makers, mentioned the drug agency had constantly been worried in regards to the likely dangers with driving, “but they care about this extra now.” He stated he believed the reduced dose would nonetheless be productive for several individuals.

Agency officials say all sufferers are special and doses will should be tailored. They say the medicines must be prescribed in the lowest dose essential to deal with a patient's insomnia.

?Dr. Daniel J. Buysse, professor of psychiatry in the University of Pittsburgh College of Medication, says he previously prescribes the reduced dose when he feels it's essential, by telling individuals to lower a tablet in half along the score.

“This just tells me, perhaps be a bit bit additional cautious,” explained Dr. Buysse, that has been a consultant for drug corporations together with the maker of Ambien. “But I usually do not believe it's going to possess a massive impact on what I do.”

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