Der Fremde » does experience play in the postseason

DENVER -- Hidden inside Terrance Knightons gargantuan body listed generously at 330 pounds is a former tight end who dreams of playing offence. Air Force 1 Blue Cheap . "I have great ball instincts being an ex-wide receiver," Denvers mammoth nose tackle said after preserving the Broncos 24-17 win over the scrappy Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Knighton deflected Alex Smiths fourth-and-goal pass from the 2 to Dwayne Bowe with 15 seconds left. He was engaged with centre Rodney Hudson when he reached up and felt the football smack into his right arm, then skitter harmlessly into the end zone. "Id rather it my arm than theirs," said Knighton. So, what would it take for Peyton Manning to have Knighton line up with him as a not-so-secret offensive weapon, like J.J. Watt did in Oakland on Sunday? "Might have to send two guys out of the game to put Terrance in there," Manning deadpanned. "Believe it or not, I have thrown some passes to him in practice and he does have good hands. I will vouch for that. High school receiver, he says." The Broncos (2-0) didnt think it would come down to another goal line stand, but Aqib Talibs interception return for a TD earlier in the drive was negated when Quanterus Smith jumped offside. Then, Nate Irvings fumble recovery following DeMarcus Wares sack and strip was changed to an incomplete pass after a review. "We had two takeaways taken away," Broncos coach John Fox said. "There are going to be things well look at that we need to improve on. But well take every W we get." The Chiefs (0-2), without All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles for much of the game, converted 11 of 16 third-down opportunities overall. They just couldnt capitalize in the biggest moments as the Broncos mustered two goal-line stands for the second straight week. Manning was 21 of 26 for 242 yards and three TDs with no interceptions, but spent most of the game on the sideline. The Broncos had the ball for less than 10 minutes in the second half. "Its part of football," Manning said. "Ive been in games like that where you get excited on third-and-long, start warming up, ready to get out there. The defence out there, they were maybe bending a little, but not breaking." Smith was 26 of 42 for 255 yards, and Knile Davis ran 22 times for 79 yards and two touchdowns for Kansas City. Charles left with an ankle injury in the first half, as did safety Eric Berry. Without Wes Welker for the second straight game and facing a defence that lost Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Johnson and tackle Mike DeVito last week, Manning targeted his tight ends again. He found Julius Thomas and Jacob Tamme for 4-yard TDs in the first half. Manning also threw a 12-yarder to Demaryius Thomas. The Broncos (2-0) head to Seattle (1-1) next week not exactly with a head of steam. Theyll face the Seahawks, who handed them a Super Bowl shellacking and then talked trash about them in the off-season. The Broncos have their issues on third downs, but they certainly have come up big on the goal line. Smith led the Chiefs on a 19-play drive that ate up 10 minutes coming out of halftime. They came up empty after getting to the Denver 4 on the strength of five third-down conversions. "I guess that answered the question if were out of shape," Knighton said. An offensive holding call and linebacker Brandon Marshalls sack dropped the Chiefs back to the 19. Cairo Santos, who beat out veteran Ryan Succop in camp, was wide right on a 37-yard field goal attempt. "Weve got to punch it in, bottom line," said Bowe, who caught three passes for 40 yards in his return from a one-game suspension. The Chiefs got it right the next time, converting three third downs on a 14-play drive that covered 90 yards. Davis trotted in from 4 yards, pulling Kansas City to 21-17 with 7:11 left. Santos, however, failed to kick a touchback and Bubba Caldwell returned it 54 yards, setting up Brandon McManus 20-yard field goal with 3:27 left. Coach Andy Reid said he doesnt regret cutting Succop and keeping Santos: "Our guys got to kick better right now but I dont ever look back on those things." Kansas City was trying to get Charles more involved after giving him just seven carries against Tennessee in the opener. But he left after running just twice for 4 yards and catching one pass for 8 yards. Reid blamed himself for poor play calls in the red zone, but Smith said Charles absence was sorely felt close to the goal line. "Everything is magnified down there," Smith said. "It hurts to have him out." Notes: Emmanuel Sanders led the Broncos with eight catches for 108 yards, the first 100-yard game of his career. ... Demaryius Thomas had an 80-yard TD catch negated when right tackle Chris Clark was whistled for being downfield. Air Force 1 Low Discount . -- Athletics manager Bob Melvin is already starting to run out of superlatives to describe Scott Kazmir. Air Force 1 Black Wholesale . -- Get a flow chart ready to follow the Packers quarterback situation. http://www.airforce1storesale.com/fake-air-force-1-low-outlet.html .4 seconds left and dribbled up court, weaving through Pitts defence.TORONTO - Moments after the Raptors storybook regular season came to an end, losing a meaningless game to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden Wednesday, Kyle Lowry addressed his teammates in the visitors dressing room. Turning the page, the focus immediately shifted to the challenge that lay ahead of them, their most arduous test yet and one many of them have only dreamt of, heard about or watched on television. With the battle-tested Brooklyn Nets looming - their first playoff game set to tip-off early Saturday afternoon - the Raptors are leaning on their veterans, on Lowry, his experience and leadership. What did he say to rally his troops ahead of the crucial preparation stage that precedes a postseason series? "Thats for me and my guys to know," he said, chatty as ever. "Kyle came in here, hes been in the playoffs, and told us it starts [Thursday]," DeMar DeRozan clarified, offering a little more insight. "[Thursday] morning, as soon as we come to work its going to start there - studying, understanding what they run, their tendencies." As youve probably heard by now, the Raptors are a young, inexperienced team. Theyve heard about too, its the narrative that drives this series. Lowry and Amir Johnson account for all 24 games of playoff experience in the Raptors starting lineup. Neither have been to the dance in five years, neither have ever started a postseason game. Meanwhile the Nets starters have played in 399 postseason games. They have six players who have logged more than twice as many playoff minutes as any Raptor. Theyll be reminded of it over and over again for two weeks and then, should they advance to round two, itll be revisited once again. They cant run from it, not until they prove its a non-factor, but give them credit for the effort. "I mean, it aint like its rocket science or nothing," said DeRozan, asked about making his playoff debut on Saturday. "Everybody keeps talking to me like, bringing it up like its rocket science or Ive got to know trigonometry or something. You just figure it out. You just go out there. Ive been playing this game long enough, Ive been in the league long enough, been in a lot of situations. So it shouldnt be hard." He has a point. Playoff basketball is still basketball, after all. The game is the same; its the stage that changes. The stakes that are higher and the room for error is narrowed. Some adjust to it better than others. "Everythings at stake so youve just got to be ready for everything," the all-star guard acknowledged. "I think Ive watched enough playoff basketball to see how physical it is and to see how things go. Even superstar players dont get calls out there. So Im conscious of it. Im not naive of anything. Now Im in a position to go through it myself." That heightened, more physically punishing brand of basketball has burned Raptors stars of the past. Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh all shot below 40 per cent in their first playoff series, with Carter barely breaking the 30 per cent barrier and scoring six points fewer than his average that season. "Its a different level," said Dwane Casey, who will be making his playoff debut as a head coach after winning a title as an assistant in Dallas. "Its a different level in intensity, moore physicality, less fouls called. Sf Af1 Store. Youve got to play through it and thats one thing that theyll learn. The only way you can do that, though, is to go through it." "I dont want to overhype it to scare our guys. Its still basketball but guys will see the difference, theyll feel that as soon as they walk on the court." Along with DeRozan, sophomores Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross, as well as fourth-year forward Patrick Patterson are among the teams rotation players who have yet to experience playoff basketball. How big of a role does experience play in the postseason? Given the staggering discrepancy between the two teams, this series could solve that query as much or more than any other in recent memory. Theres no telling how Torontos players might react to the adjustments theyll have to make, both in terms of their mental approach and on-court toughness, but they wont have the luxury of a grace period, not against the team theyre up against. The Raptors cant afford to ease their way in, hosting games one and two at the Air Canada Centre - where they won 22 of their final 29 contests - before the series shifts to Brooklyns Barclays Center, a building the Nets have dominated in since Jan. 1. The most promising quality the Raptors players displayed following Thursday afternoons practice was fearlessness. Theyre not the least bit shaken by the Nets, their experience or the theory that they may have been at the top of Brooklyns postseason wish list. "I mean, were all in the same league, man," DeRozan said. "Honestly, thats how I look at it, man. Credit to them, they did what they did but we play against guys who are experienced all season, honestly." As DeRozan has pointed out, their young legs may also be beneficial against an older, slower club. Although they rank towards the bottom of the league in fast break points - just marginally ahead of the Nets - the Raptors have been able to get out and run against Brooklyn this season. However, the spaced out schedule - with their first four games spanning nine days - at least appears to favour the veteran Nets, who will get a chance to recharge their batteries following each contest, a concern Patterson expressed on Thursday. Torontos true advantage my lie in their size and strength up front, if they choose to utilize it. The Nets turned around their once disastrous season in part by featuring their small lineup, with two point guards in the backcourt and Paul Pierce at the four spot. Although closing out on Brooklyns shooters and defending Pierce on the perimeter presents a challenge in and of itself, they were ranked second to last in rebounding and the Raptors bested them on the boards by 19 this year. Kevin Garnett, who played in just two of the four meetings this season, is nearing his NBA swan song but is still a difference maker defensively and on the glass when hes on the court. The Raptors could force the issue by attacking the paint, putting pressure of Garnett and the Nets frontcourt, void of a true shot blocking presence. "We know who the match-ups are," Casey said. "Weve just got to take it and dissect it and take advantage of the things we have an advantage in, which is our speed, athleticism and our energy. Weve got to keep a fast tempo in the game." ' ' '