CINCINNATI -- Linebacker Vontaze Burfict is finished with his NFL suspension, looking to put his emphatic imprint on Cincinnatis struggling defense.Tight end Tyler Eifert is close to full strength after recovering from ankle surgery, eager to become the top passing option near the goal line again.The Bengals are finally back together, looking to dig out of their worst start in five years when they host the Dolphins on Thursday night.The Bengals (1-2) have been out of sync on both offense and defense. They failed to make any game-turning plays in the fourth quarter of back-to-back losses against the Steelers and the Broncos. With Burfict back and Eifert close to form, theyve got two of their top playmakers available again.I just do my job, take control of my defense, just be a leader out there, Burfict said. I do what I can.The Dolphins (1-2) are simply trying to hold it together. They got their first victory on Sunday in overtime when Cleveland missed a field goal at the end of regulation.There wasnt much time to celebrate because of the quick turnaround and a mess on offense.Tight end Jordan Cameron suffered his fourth concussion and has been ruled out for Thursday night. Left tackle Branden Albert and center Anthony Steen have sprained ankles.Right tackle JaWuan James was pulled from the game against Cleveland after allowing a late sack. Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey has missed the first three games while recovering from a hip injury.Well see where it goes, coach Adam Gase said. Weve got a couple of moving pieces, obviously, with our injury situation.Its a game that neither team can afford to lose.Being 1-2, in my opinion, we need to definitely finish the quarter (of the season) at 2-2 and go from there, or else we put ourselves in a very tough bind for the rest of the season, Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said.Some things to watch on Thursday night:HOW MUCH FOR BURFICT?Its likely that Burfict will play most of the game on Thursday even though he missed the preseason and the first three games. Last season, Burfict was recovering from knee surgery and missed the first six games. In his return in Pittsburgh, he made solo tackles on the first two plays and was on the field for nearly half of the defenses plays.Well just see how its going, defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. Thats kind of what happened in Pittsburgh last year. I said, `Every series, just tell me how youre feeling and well go from there.RUN ITAfter getting next-to-nothing out of its running game in the first two games, Cincinnati put an emphasis on it Sunday and got immediate results. Jeremy Hill carried four times for 65 yards in an opening touchdown drive. After that, the Bengals managed only 78 yards on 25 carries, an average of 3.1. It was better, but still not up to standards. The Dolphins run defense is second-to-last in the league.SPUTTERING DOLPHINSQuarterback Ryan Tannehill is the Dolphins leading rusher with 54 yards on the season, and they used four running backs in Sundays win over Cleveland with limited success. Gase said he sees progress in the ground game. The rotation at running back came about with starter Arian Foster sidelined by a groin injury.Youd always love to be able to say, `Lets get a guy in there and get 15, 20 touches and see how it goes, Gase said. I need somebody to step up and be consistent and do their job throughout the entire game, not just one good play here and then we screw up, and then another good play. Were too up-and-down.PLAUDITS FOR PUNTERStruggling to find someone to praise this week, Gase cited his punter -- perhaps a sign things the season arent going well. Second-year pro Matt Darr averaged 48.8 yards against Cleveland and put four of his six kicks inside the 20. Darr understands that punters can make a big impact on a game when the offense is struggling.Weve got all kinds of weapons on this team -- offense, defense -- and on special teams there should be some, too, Darr said.HOME BLUESThe Bengals are only 10-6 at Paul Brown Stadium in the past two seasons, including a first-round playoff loss to Pittsburgh. The Bengals play their next two games at Dallas and New England, underscoring how important it is for the defending AFC North champions to win on Thursday.---AP Sports Writer Steven Wine in Miami contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Ray Ban Sale Online .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Wholesale Ray Ban Store . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. "Given the way the meeting transpired," Ray Halbritter, an Oneida representative and leader of the "Change the Mascot Campaign," said Wednesday, "it became somewhat evident they were defending the continued use of the name. http://www.salerayban.com/cheap-ray-ban-aviator-sunglasses-73i.html .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Discount Ray Ban . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Clearance Ray Ban Sunglasses . Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Philadelphia Flyers are the hottest team in hockey.Wayne Simmonds scored two power-play goals and Philadelphia beat the Nashville Predators 4-2 on Sunday night to win its fifth consecutive game.Playing in front of a sellout crowd, the Flyers (14-10-3) earned their second road victory in two days against a Central Division team. They defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 on Saturday.The Predators (11-9-4) lost in regulation for only the second time in 12 home games this season.Weve got everything clicking. Our penalty kill has done a great job, our power play has scored some big goals and (goalie Steve Mason) has been standing on his head every night, Flyers defenseman Michael Del Zotto said. At the start of the year, wed have one good game and kind of get complacent. Now were just keeping our foot on the gas. We keep playing well, playing as five-man units.Simmonds, who leads the Flyers with 13 goals, scored twice against what had been a stingy Nashville penalty-kill at home. The Predators did not allow a power-play goal in their first 10 home games, but have given up three in their last two games.Hes doing what he does every night, Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said. If theres a better guy in the league net-front, whether its on power play or 5-on-5, I dont know who that is.What I really like about Simmer is that hes at net-front, hes scoring goals, hes on the power play. But hes a hard-nosed, 200-foot player.Michael Raffl gave Philadelphia its third one-goal lead with 3:23 left in the second period. He bulled his way past Nashville defenseman Mattias Ekholm, cut across the crease and slipped the puck beyond the reach of goalie Juuse Saros for a 3-2 advantage.Chris VandeVelde capped the scoring with an empty-net goal with 26.3 seconds remaining.Colin Wilson tied it at 2 for the Predators with 8:41 to go in the second, lifting a short-range backhand past Mason. Mike Fisher sent Wilson in alone on goal with a nice cross-ice pass from just inside the blue line.Nashville has 35 goals in the second period this season, one fewer than the team has totaled in the first and third combined.ddddddddddddIt was a tough weekend for the Predators, who lost to New Jersey 5-4 in overtime Saturday after the Devils rallied from a three-goal deficit in the third period.Last night was a great effort until the third period and we had a meltdown there, Nashville forward Filip Forsberg said Sunday. That cant happen, and today it was kind of the opposite. We started off not good and then we kind of got going as the game went. ... Everyone needs the points no matter where you are in the standings and the inspiration level has to be higher from the start.Simmonds second power-play goal of the night put the Flyers up 2-1 with 13:13 left in the second period. Simmonds stationed himself in front of the Nashville net and stuffed a shot under Saros.The Predators tied it 1-all with 16:43 left in the second when Calle Jarnkrok scored his fourth goal of the season. Jarnkrok redirected Ekholms drive from the blue line past Mason.The Flyers converted on their second power play of the game to take a 1-0 lead with 1:48 left in the opening period. Brayden Schenn ripped a shot from the faceoff circle, and Simmonds goal-mouth deflection bounced off the knob of Saros stick and into the net.Game notes Nashville forward Reid Boucher, picked up off waivers from New Jersey on Saturday, made his Predators debut. ... Philadelphias Claude Giroux got his 367th career assist, moving past Rod BrindAmour into sixth place in franchise history. ... The game marked the fourth of 13 sets of back-to-back games for the Predators this season. ... The Flyers played their seventh set of back-to-back games, and will play another one next weekend. ... Philadelphia has beaten Nashville four straight times. The teams meet again on Dec. 19.UP NEXTFlyers: Host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.Predators: Host the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night. ' ' '
