data-mm-id=”_pg08bavq9″>We may only be about three weeks through this NFL season, but there have already been a few emerging storylines that would have shocked your standard NFL fan before the year began. The Baltimore Ravens actually pass the ball more than they run, and have been astoundingly effective in doing so. The Denver Broncos have zero sacks through three games. Cam Newton, Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, and Sam Darnold are all sidelined for different lengths of time with various maladies. But one of the biggest surprises of all has been the Buffalo Bills. They're undefeated after their first three games, have averaged 390 yards of offense per contest, and Josh Allen looks a lot better than he did at this time one year ago. The defense was a top-five unit last year and picked up right where it left off. Of course, the true litmus test comes in the foreboding figure of the New England Patriots, slated to visit Buffalo in Week 4. This battle of unbeatens will show to Buffalo and the NFL how close the Bills really are to competing. Looking at the numbers behind their first trio of victories, there's both reasons for optimism and pessimism if you're a Bills fan. The numbers that stand out the most come from the turnover department– the defense has forced no less than seven turnovers in three short games. That's a high number, and a very large part of the reason Buffalo's record has remained unblemished. But the question must be posed: can they keep it up?Consider this: Sean McDermott has been at the head of an NFL defense in some capacity every year since 2011, when he was named defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. McDermott-coached defenses have been in the top 10 for turnovers per game every year since 2015. Turnovers can be a wonky stat to place faith in and fluctuate year-to-year, because half of the turnovers in the NFL each year can be chalked up to good (or bad) luck more than anything. But still, five years in a row as a top 10 team in that stat isn't an anomaly, it's a pattern. Last year, Buffalo averaged 1.7 turnovers per game, and this year, they're on pace to eclipse that mark at 2.3 per game. Two turnovers per game isn't an unreachable mark; in the past three years, five teams have reached the same number over a full season. Buffalo doesn't have that one transcendent defensive talent that defenses like the Bears, the most recent team to hit two turnovers a game, did. But for a squad locked in on getting the ball loose in some way, shape, or form, this level of success very well could be something they can continue. Unfortunately, turnovers is also where things could go south quickly for Buffalo. As often as their defense gets their hands on the ball, Allen and the rest of the offense hand it right back. They have six turnovers through three games, and breaking out the calculator here, comes to an average of 2.3 turnovers a game (repeating, of course) across the length of a full season. Bad! Allen has three interceptions and four fumbles already, only one of which he was able to recover. As Bill Belichick is fond of saying, before teams figure out how to win, they have to figure out how not to lose. That starts by preventing turnovers. Viewing Allen as the foundation of the Bills' hopes and dreams isn't exactly a hot take. They won't go far unless Allen continues to progress, and cutting down on turnovers is a big hurdle for the young quarterbacks of the NFL. In only his second year (and taking into account how much time he spends outside the pocket), it's no shock Allen is having a tough time hanging on to the ball early on. Buffalo's defense has been good enough to keep them undefeated, despite the turnovers. But if Buffalo wants to show they can enjoy sustain success, it'll start with turnovers, one way or the other.
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At a press conference ahead of Tuesday s semi-final first-leg match at home against Real Madrid, the right-back underlined the importance to defend as a unit, but admitted that the Portuguese attacker will have his chances.
You have to defend against him with the whole team, Lahm told Goal.com. Individual players can never be 100 percent turned off.
Lahm nonetheless is confident in his side, and hailed team-mate Arjen Robben, who has taken flak of late for failing to convert a penalty against Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund.
He is a player who can decide games. He has been criticised in recent weeks, but among the team…
Corinthians striker Paolo Guerrero could be set for a return to Europe, .
The Peruvian forward left Hamburger SV to join the Brazilian giants in the summer, but his impressive performances have not gone unnoticed.
Guerrero scored the only goal in Corinthians’ 1-0 win over Al Ahli in the Club World Cup semi-final and will have a chance to prove his worth in the final clash against Chelsea.
La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that a number of top Italian clubs are showing interest in the highly rated striker.
Napoli, Juventus and Fiorentina have all been following Guerrero in the past and could reignite their interest.
Guerrero, who joined Corinthians in a €3.5 million deal from Hamburg, has one and a half years left on his deal.
The 28-ye…
Manchester City and England defender Kyle Walker will not face a criminal charge over an alleged incident of indecent exposure.
Cheshire Constabulary opened an investigation after Walker was shown on CCTV footage, published by The Sun, with friends at a venue where he apparently pulled down his trousers.
The newspaper alleged Walker indecently exposed himself, with the incident said to have happened on March 5.
However, Cheshire Constabulary said on Friday that the case has now been closed after Walker voluntarily attended a police station on Thursday.
On Wednesday 8 March, Cheshire Constabulary was made aware of a video circulating on social media in relation to an alleged incident at a bar in the Wilmslow area, the widely released statement read.
…
Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand has warned his team-mates to concentrate only on their own title bid.
United have a seven-point lead at the top of the table over rivals Manchester City, but Ferdinand admitted the title race was far from over.
With just six matches remaining of the 2011-12 season, United had an eight-point lead over City, but conspired to lose the title on the final day of the season.
Last year it was new because it was the first time they had challenged properly and there was a lot of focus on Manchester, Ferdinand told reporters.
But we have to make sure we keep our own house in order, make sure we keep ticking off the games. We don t have to focus on anyone else, just ourselves.
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Christian Eriksen is back on Manchester United s transfer radar.
The Red Devils are said to be preparing a January bid for the Tottenham midfielder, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
Eriksen reportedly turned down a move to Old Trafford earlier this year.
TOP STORY – UNITED REIGNITE ERIKSEN INTEREST
Could Jose Mourinho unintentionally do his old employers another favour?
Tottenham lost to United in midweek and are now about to receive an offer for playmaker Eriksen from their Premier League rivals, reports The Mirror.
The Denmark international has not featured in the starting XI since Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino and, though he prefers a move abroad, might have a decision to make when the transfer win…
Mike Phelan has been confirmed as Manchester United s assistant manager on a three-year contract.
The 56-year-old had been working as part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s backroom staff since December and has now agreed a permanent deal.
Phelan had been touted as a candidate for the role of director of football at Old Trafford, but United confirmed on Friday he would continue to assist Solskjaer with the day-to-day running of the first team.
He walks around Carrington and players really respect him, Solskjaer told a media conference ahead of United s final Premier League game of 2018-19 at home to Cardiff City on Sunday.
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Head coach Massimiliano Allegri has signed a new deal at Juventus that ties him to the Serie A champions until 2018, the club have confirmed.
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The 48-year-old had 12 months remaining on his previous deal but both he and the club were eager to extend his stay with the Bianconeri.
A club statement read: Juventus Football Club is delighted to announce that Massimiliano Allegri has signed an extended contract that ties him to the club until 30 June 2018.
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Real win chase for Odegaard
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Market: Fiorentina win
Odds: 4/6 @
With a Europa Conference League quarter-final ticket still hanging in the balance, Fiorentina will make the trip to Sivasspor on Thursday evening.
Starting with the hosts, while Sivasspor might have made the trip out to Italy last week looking to spring a Conference League upset on foreign soil, Rıza Calımbay s men have come under some recent scrutiny. Eventually getting hit with a 1-0 loss in their first-leg meeting, the Braves will be more than aware that they face a huge challenge on Thursday evening. Tipped as a real outside pick to punch their quarter-final ticket, the former Trabzonspor boss has seen his side lose each of their last three appearances across all competitions. Failing to pick up any momentum last weekend …
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Jurgen Klopp s side suffered elimination from Europe s elite competition with a resounding 6-2 aggregate defeat against Real Madrid in the last 16.
Sitting six points behind fourth-placed Tottenham in the Premier League with a game in hand over the north London side, Liverpool face a fight to secure their spot in next season s competition.
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