Thompsons touchdown.PINBALL ROGERS: Rogers first career touchdown catch in his NFL debut was a pinball special. Roethlisbergers pass from the 3-yard line hit receiver Sammie Coates a

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- With the game on the line, the Carolina Panthers sent three blockers in Khalil Macks direction to no avail.He overpowered Trai Turner, beat a chip attempt by running back Fozzy Whittaker and then knocked the ball out of Cam Newtons hands for a game-sealing strip sack before guard Chris Scott could get over to help.Those types of plays are becoming commonplace for Mack, who has put together quite the encore following last seasons historic campaign when he became the first player ever picked as a first-team All-Pro at two positions in one season.With sacks in six straight games, his first career interception and first career touchdown last week and relentless pressure every game, Mack is a major reason for this years success for the Raiders (9-2) and perhaps the leagues most dominant defender.I think him and Von Miller are the two best in the league right now, the two best edge pass rushers and they can do it all, Bills coach Rex Ryan said on a conference call ahead of Buffalos game against the Raiders this Sunday. Thats what Im seeing from him, a guy that can play with speed, power, finesse. You name it, hes got it. When you look at those two, theyre the only two, in my opinion, that are comparable.Mack has showed continual improvement since coming into the league as the fifth overall pick out of Buffalo in 2014. He made a big impact as a rookie in Oakland although he only managed four sacks. He added a few new wrinkles last year and boosted his production to 15 sacks, including five in one game against eventual Super Bowl champion Denver.This year, hes doing it all. From his athletic interception and return for a score last week against Carolina to his nine sacks to his 60 quarterback pressures which lead all edge rushers, according to Pro Football Focus, to his new role as defensive leader now that Justin Tuck and Charles Woodson have retired.Mack gives motivational talks before games and has come up with the motto By any means that his teammates have adopted as the mantra for this years Raiders.Even though Im a younger player, Im just stepping in and doing my part and my role, he said. Its all about that for me. There are still a lot of things we have to do better defensively. Thats whats on my mind right now.That perfectionist streak helped Mack grow from a player who got near the quarterback so often as a rookie but was unable to generate sacks to one who leads the NFL in that category the past two seasons with 24.He has done it despite constantly getting extra attention and recording just one sack the first five weeks.I think the production has come and the stats have come to where everybody else recognizes what hes been doing, but to me hes been really good, coach Jack Del Rio said. Khalil is a rare combination because hes a supremely gifted athlete, but hes got terrific work ethic. This guy comes out and busts it every day for us. Hes a great teammate. Hes humble. He can bring it and he brings it every day. Thats why I had the confidence I had that someday the numbers would come.For Mack, the personal numbers mean far less than the teams success. He took it personally when the defense got off to a rough start, allowing more than 500 yards in each of the first two games of the season and ranking near the bottom of the league in most categories early.But there has been improvement lately, especially during a five-game winning streak that has carried Oakland into a tie for the top spot in the AFC with New England.Even when the defense gives up big plays, it has been stout late. Oakland has faced nine drives this season in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime when tied or leading by eight points or fewer and allowed no points on those possessions.The latest came in the win over the Panthers when the Raiders blew a 17-point halftime lead only to rally from eight points down to go up 35-32 before Macks strip sack ended the comeback attempt.You just see him go out there and he does exactly what he says hes going to do, quarterback Derek Carr said. He does exactly what he does out there at practice. Hes not a guy that just comes out here, shows up and shows up on Sunday and says, `Yeah, Im just freakishly talented and Im going to make all the plays. Which, he very well could, but I think what separates him is his work ethic.(corrects Trai Thomas to Trai Turner)---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCheap Jerseys Paypal . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Cheap Jerseys From China . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. https://www.chinajerseysfreeshipping.com/ . Louis Blues absence from top spot in the TSN. Discount China Jerseys . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. Wholesale China Jerseys . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases.LANDOVER, Md. -- Ben Roethlisberger knew the retired Heath Miller, suspended teammates LeVeon Bell and Martavis Bryant and the injured Markus Wheaton werent walking through that door. So he put the Pittsburgh Steelers young, largely untested offense on his shoulders.Roethlisberger threw for three touchdowns to lead the Steelers to a 38-16 rout of the Washington Redskins on Monday night. After telling his teammates he believed in not just All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown but Eli Rogers, Sammie Coates and others, Roethlisberger recovered a fumble at a pivotal moment and completed 27 of 37 passes for 300 yards in the season-opening victory.He threw two touchdowns to Brown and another to Rogers. Often playing on the opposite side from Josh Norman and tormenting cornerback Bashaud Breeland, Brown made eight catches for 126 yards.Starting in place of Bell, DeAngelo Williams ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.Were confident in that group, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. I know we were missing some pieces tonight, but we had `7. And when you got `7 you got the chance to put together performances like that.Washington led 6-0 and appeared to have another scoring opportunity late in the first quarter when linebacker Ryan Kerrigan sacked and stripped Roethlisberger deep in Pittsburgh territory. Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey knocked the ball out of Kerrigans hands, and Roethlisberger dived on it at his own 13-yard line.The ball was on the ground and Pounce was kind of laying on it and I was trying to tell Pouncey it was right under his leg, Roethlisberger said. Any time you can get those balls back, its huge.Roethlisberger then guided Pittsburgh 87 yards down the field, finishing the drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Brown on a gutsy fourth-and-1 call from the Washington 29.We knew it was coming; I knew it was coming, Breeland said. Thats why I played it the way I played it. It was just a freak play, and he made the play. Thats all I can say.The next time he got the ball, Big Ben took the Steelers 67 yards on 14 plays to make it 14-6.Pittsburghs passing attack got clicking, but Kirk Cousins and the Redskins couldnt keep up. With Matt Jones and the running game grounded and tight end Joordan Reed taken out of the picture, Cousins finished 30 of 43 for 329 yards and two interceptions.ddddddddddddWashington got it as close as 24-16 on Chris Thompsons fourth-quarter touchdown. Then Roethlisberger was at it again, taking the Steelers 77 yards as Williams put the game away with a 15-yard touchdown run to break the 30-point mark.PRIME TIME READY: Tomlin improved to 11-2 on Monday night, including 6-2 on the road and 2-0 at Washington. Pittsburgh is 4-1 when opening the season on Monday night, and the Steelers 44-24 record on MNF is third-best in the NFL behind Seattle (23-6) and San Francisco (47-25).The Redskins have lost 15 of their past 16 Monday Night home games.HOPPING HOPKINS: Washington kicker Dustin Hopkins made all three of his field-goal attempts, connecting from 31, 40 and 34 yards. Hopkins was the Redskins entire offensive production until Thompsons touchdown.PINBALL ROGERS: Rogers first career touchdown catch in his NFL debut was a pinball special. Roethlisbergers pass from the 3-yard line hit receiver Sammie Coates and then Rogers facemask before he finished the grab.SHAZIER, PLAYMAKER: The play after forcing a fumble that the Redskins recovered, Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier picked off Cousins to set up Browns 26-yard TD catch in the third quarter. Shazier left the game with a right knee injury and was being evaluated after the game. Tomlin said hed have more information Tuesday.RUNNING ON EMPTY: Jones was in the starting lineup after separating his left shoulder on Aug. 19, but he lost 4 yards on his first two carries and finished with 24 yards on seven carries. Washington totaled 55 yards rushing, including just 28 in the first half.REED OPTION: Reed caught three passes for 39 yards on the Redskins opening drive and was a nonfactor with four catches for 25 yards the rest of the way.QUOTABLETomlin on why he called a pass to the end zone on fourth-and-1: We play to win.Norman: They took us behind the woodshed today and wore our tail out. It was a good, old-fashioned butt whooping.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '