NEWS » Patriots lost linebacker Dont’a Hightower to a torn c

DENVER (AP) — For all the excitement over the electrifying Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield Ryquell Armstead Jersey , two of the baby-faced, new-age quarterbacks bringing their spread DNA from college towns to NFL cities, old standbys still stood out in 2018.“I still see older guys that are making an impact,” said Broncos linebacker Von Miller, one of those seasoned stars who shined in 2018. “I mean, we’re old, but we’re not OLD. The thing is, the young guys are playing at a higher level.”So are plenty of the “old” guys.Miller’s 14½ sacks are his most in six seasons and pushed him past Simon Fletcher’s franchise marks for most regular-season sacks in a career (98) and most career sacks including playoffs (104½).Of course, there were the greybeard quarterbacks benefiting from fewer practices and less pummeling, favorable rules and a league bent on protecting them like the golden geese they are.Drew Brees will be 40 on Jan. 15, and if things go as he hopes, he’ll be preparing for the Saints, who own the league’s best record at 13-2, to host the NFC championship.At 37, Philip Rivers is having his best season in a decade and still has a chance this weekend to land the Chargers ahead of Mahomes and the Chiefs in the AFC playoffs.Ben Roethlisberger, 36, could still steer the slumping Steelers into the playoffs, although they’ve been surpassed by the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens.And Tom Brady , who was getting college recruiting letters when Mahomes and Mayfield were born in 1995, is starting to show signs he’s 41, but nevertheless has the Patriots positioned for a ninth consecutive first-round bye.It wasn’t just the better-protected passers who excelled in 2018. Several seasoned position players showed the kids a thing or two, including vintage running backs Adrian Peterson, 33, Frank Gore, 35, and Darren Sproles, 35.Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri http://www.jaguarscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-gardner-minshew-ii-jersey , who turns 46 this week, surpassed Morten Andersen’s all-time mark for field goals in September, and a month later broke Andersen’s NFL career points record.Providing the perfect target for Mahomes’ high-flying run-pass-option repertoire is 29-year-old Travis Kelce, who needs 54 receiving yards Sunday against Oakland to break Rob Gronkowski’s single-season record for tight ends of 1,327.Last week, Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz, 28, surpassed Jason Witten’s single-season receptions record for tight ends and now has 113 catches for 1,148 yards.Twin centers Maurkice and Mike Pouncey had stellar seasons at age 29. Mike, with the Chargers, earned his fourth Pro Bowl, and Maurkice, with the Steelers, earned his seventh.Miller was one of two Broncos who will be 30 next year who had spectacular seasons even if their team didn’t. Cornerback Chris Harris Jr . had one of his best seasons following Aqib Talib’s trade before breaking his right leg earlier this month. He said he’ll return to play in the Pro Bowl alongside Miller, the game’s reigning MVP.“For my 11 games, shoot, I had stats that some people barely have in a full season,” Harris said. “I feel like this is one of my best seasons.”He can’t believe next season will be his ninth, either.“Oh man, I really feel young, though. I’m not even looking at it as the years or anything like that. I’m just looking at how my body feels, and my body feels great,” Harris said. “I’ve invested a lot in it to make sure I can play forever.”Miller, also completing his eighth NFL season, figures he also has an eternity left.“I’m not even halfway through yet,” he said.As the president of the pass-rushing fraternity , Miller scans the NFL landscape and smiles at some of the seasons his brethren are having.Khalil Mack Marquise Brown Jersey , 27, invigorated the Chicago Bears and led them to their first playoff appearance in eight years. J.J. Watt , 29, came back from an injury-riddled 2017 season to help lead the Texans‘ resurgence. And Aaron Donald , 27, signed a $135 million deal on the eve of the season, then quickly made it look like a bargain for the Rams by posting a league-leading 19½ sacks.Other older players who aren’t acting their age yet include:—Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, 28, who made his eighth Pro Bowl.—Falcons receiver Julio Jones, 29, and center Alex Mack, 33.—Ravens free safety Eric Weddle, 33, and guard Marshall Yanda, 34.—Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins, 30.—Cowboys 28-year-old O-linemen Zack Martin and Tyron Smith.—Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, 35, who has 25 touchdown throws and only two interceptions, and linebacker Clay Matthews, 32.—Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, 29.—Steelers speedy receiver Antonio Brown, 30.—Titans punter Brett Kern, 32.—And Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, 28, who led Seattle’s revitalized defense after the “Legion of Boom” was broken up. Much of the NFL season seemed like a Hollywood sequel without the leading actors from the original as injuries claimed so many superstars, leaving the playoff field awash in postseason party crashers . Among them are the Buffalo Bills, who just might have to go into their first playoff game in 17 seasons with a running back who had never gained a single yard before last week. The Pittsburgh Steelers are thankful they don’t have a game this weekend http://www.ravensfootballauthentics.com/jaylon-ferguson-jersey-authentic , giving receiver Antonio Brown another week to heal from his torn left calf that has sidelined him for three weeks. Brown is the only consensus All-Pro in the season of the injured superstar, a year that had such a devastating effect on many of the usual championship contenders such as Green Bay and Seattle and helped usher eight new teams into this year’s playoff field. The Packers’ playoff hopes were crushed when Minnesota’s Anthony Barr squashed Aaron Rodgers, breaking the quarterback’s collarbone. The Seahawks turned into the ”Legion of Whom? ” with season-ending injuries to Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor. The Texans missed the playoffs after injuries to defenders J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus and sensational rookie Deshaun Watson, who was leading the league with 19 touchdown throws before he tore his right ACL in practice two days after Halloween. Bills running back LeSean McCoy is hopeful he can play on a sprained ankle in Sunday’s AFC wild-card game at Jacksonville, the franchise’s first postseason kickoff since the ”Music City Miracle” in 2000. ”I don’t want to make any promises,” said McCoy. Nobody can this year, it seems. Brown was a leading MVP candidate when he collided with Patriots DB Eric Rowe on Dec. 17 and hobbled off with a torn calf, then watched Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski rally in the fourth quarter for a crucial 24-21 win that gave New England the top seed in the AFC again despite losing Julian Edelman in the preseason. The NFC’s top seed is also missing a big name: second-year QB Carson Wentz, whose knee injury thrust backup Nick Foles into the starting job for the playoffs. The Bills have no established running back behind McCoy on the depth chart. Marcus Murphy was promoted from the practice squad ahead of the Week 17 win over the Dolphins, rushing for 41 yards on seven carries. Buffalo also has veteran fullback/running back Mike Tolbert. ”I think we’re moving in the right direction,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said of McCoy. ”Will we be able to get there in time? We’ll see.” If not, they’ll be without their most explosive and most consistent playmaker, one who finished the year with 1,138 rushing yards and six touchdowns. His absence would leave a hole in Buffalo’s offensive attack; the Bills finished the regular season with the 31st-ranked passing attack in the league. Other teams overcame big injuries to reach the playoffs, including the Vikings after rookie running back Dalvin Cook tore an ACL on Oct. 1 against the Lions, and the Panthers, who overcame the loss of longtime tight end Greg Olsen, who broke a foot against the Bills in September. In addition to Edelman, the Patriots lost linebacker Dont’a Hightower to a torn chest muscle and the Chiefs lost Eric Berry to a ruptured left Achilles tendon. The Rams lost All-Pro kicker Greg Zuerlein last month to a back injury and the Steelers lost linebacker Ryan Shazier to a spine injury last month that could end his career. The Eagles were all the rage in the topsy-turvy NFL this season until Wentz tore his left ACL against the Rams on Dec. 10. Wentz was a leading MVP candidate when he got hurt. The Eagles’ passing game has struggled since Nick Foles took over. He’s spending Philadelphia’s bye week trying to develop more chemistry and consistency with his receivers. ”We’ve got some good work the last couple of weeks with Nick,” coach Doug Pederson said. ”We have to get better in the run game. That helps any quarterback obviously.” Wentz’s injury continued a trend in which it seemed like a superstar would suffer a season-ending injury just about every weekend. Even Joe Thomas, the Cleveland Browns’ ironman left tackle, got hurt in 2017. Thomas suffered a torn triceps on Oct. 22 against Tennessee and underwent season-ending surgery. Before he got hurt, the 10-time Pro Bowler had played every snap of his career, reaching 10,363 consecutive plays, believed to be a record. —