s set an NFL record last year by converting eight 2-point conversions

Considering the amount of things that Mondays episode of Raw had going against it before it even started, from the counterprogramming of a presidential debate to an unforgivingly long match to open the show, the end result was a fun three hours of pro wrestling -- even if the execution proved nontraditional.This weeks Raw proved to have more entertainment value than having many of its segments make sense in the big picture, which wasnt necessarily a bad thing when you take into account WWEs current reality following its July brand extension and draft.The constant reminders about WWEs new era have proved true in more ways than simply new superstars getting pushes on the main roster. The biggest by-product has been the totality of ones time as a viewer that is demanded each week by the recent changes.With brand-specific pay-per-views rotating every two weeks added on top of the built-in five hours of Raw and SmackDown per week (not to mention NXT and specials like the Cruiserweight Classic), the patience of viewers runs thin much quicker when things become stagnant, with Raws opening segment this week being the perfect example.Just one night after their match at Clash of Champions, Rusev and newly crowned United States champion Roman Reigns opened the show with a lethargic 35-minute title rematch. To make matters worse, the payoff was a double countout.For as many strategic reasons as WWE had for airing instant live action in lieu of a traditional talking segment, looking to hook viewers who might soon leave for the presidential debate, the length of the match and choice of superstars did nothing but add to customer fatigue.Reigns-Rusev exposed the real danger in presenting too many hours of programming in a short period of time that looks and feels eerily similar. Its for that reason that the remaining two-plus hours of Raw proved to be so refreshing and different.With Seth Rollins used sparingly after suffering a legitimate rib injury Sunday that left him medically unfit to wrestle, and Reigns failing to reappear after the opening match, Raw did well to avoid the recent overexposure of its top babyfaces.Others were given room to shine in their place, including a much better push in Week 2 for Raws new cruiserweight division. Despite a lukewarm reception from the Cincinnati crowd (including nonsensical CM Punk and Randy Savage chants throughout), Raw featured a pair of exciting matches featuring debut appearances, high-flying theatrics and a continued focus on storytelling.In addition, more real estate was given to the capable comedic hands of Universal champion Kevin Owens and his on-screen best friend Chris Jericho, who stole the show during Jerichos Highlight Reel segment. And, for as little sense as their subsequent main event tag-team bout against Enzo Amore and Big Cass seemed to make overall, the match proved plenty entertaining and was a microcosm for the episode as a whole.For as fast-moving as Raw was after a slow start, giving good play to new chapters in the Charlotte-Sasha Banks and Cesaro-Sheamus rivalries, theres still a five-week gap before the next PPV, with plenty of time to slowly build toward the next chapter of most marquee feuds.Raw proved Monday that sometimes taking a break from monotony in order to offer loyal fans something different is the perfect medicine for fatigue. As a result, WWE saved an episode that likely would have been forgiven as a throwaway considering the massive amount of competition it faced during the live broadcast and made it a worthwhile ride.Hits and missesAfter a month of predictable outcomes in their best-of-seven series, it was refreshing to see Cesaro and Sheamus embark on a series of unforeseen turns from their brutal no-contest on Sunday to their unlikely pairing on Raw. Give credit to general manager Mick Foleys impassioned speech backstage for adding legitimacy to the idea by saying, Every once in a while you can put together two people who dont like each other but they have gained each others respect and they create magic. While it remains to be seen whether they can create the kind of underdog buzz that Heath Slater and Rhyno have on SmackDown, its certainly worth a try. For as hard as WWE has tried to push Cesaro as a solo act, his best work with the company remains his run as tag-team champion alongside Tyson Kidd.Multiple honorable mentions for line of the night go to Owens during the Highlight Reel, including when he called out Rollins for injuring Sting, John Cena and Finn Balor. But after Rollins was being held back by security while attempting to rush toward the ring, Owens got in one more dig by saying, Come on Seth. Go redesign, rebuild and reclaim your couch buddy.Jericho, who seems to have made a smart full-time transition from wrestling trunks to leather rock star pants, can currently do no wrong on the microphone, as evidenced by his subtle touch of adding the camera man to his List of Jericho. But its becoming clear that Jericho isnt just having a career renaissance at 45 -- hes starting to make an interesting case that this might be the best version of his character that WWE has ever seen.Another impromptu match in leather pants for @IAmJericho! #RAW pic.twitter.com/rxOx9RogFT- WWE (@WWE) September 27, 2016While running back Reigns-Rusev 24 hours after we just saw it felt gratuitous, credit WWE for pulling off the same trick with much better execution in The New Days title rematch against Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. The match was physical and quick-paced with a PPV feel, helped by the added stipulation that Cesaro and Sheamus would be awaiting the winner. In addition, Kofi Kingston getting busted open the hard way, only to rally to get the pin with his face covered in blood added a classic 1980s feel to the finish. While it surely wasnt WWEs intention in this PG era (with Kingston earning a set of stitches as his reward),?it was hard to deny the moments impact.Among the many things WWE did better this week in its presentation of the cruiserweight division was the changing out of the ring mat and ropes before the start of each match, which paired with the matching purple mood lights in the arena to make the presentation feel unique.Its hard to take anything away from masked cruiserweight Lince Dorados stunning moonsault from the top rope, which ended with him crashing on top of Drew Gulak, Rich Swann and Cedric Alexander who were waiting on the floor. But it was hard to shake the fact that Gulak was his teammate in the match, meaning his absorbing of the blow made as little sense in the overall storyline as it did when Swann did the same thing on top of Alexander during a high spot earlier in the match.Swanns dance-infused theme song is not only infectious, the same can be said for his overall charisma in general. But the one cruiserweight on Monday who did the best job of making a splash was Tony Nese, who quite simply looked like he belonged on the main roster as a physical and athletic threat in his losing performance against division champion TJ Perkins.Speaking of cruiserweights, the speech Brian Kendrick delivered during his brief appearance interrupting Perkins backstage interview was some of the finest heel work of the entire evening.?The 37-year-olds real-life redemption angle is becoming just as interesting to watch as his feud with Perkins.It was good to see Triple H make his first appearance on Raw since helping Owens to the Universal title, even if it came indirectly during a WWE.com exclusive video shot following the conclusion of Clash of Champions on Sunday. The video of Triple H embracing his wife, Raw commissioner Stephanie McMahon, was used nicely to escalate separate arguments between McMahon and both Rollins and Foley, while teasing just enough to where the angle might be headed.The intensity during Charlottes trash-talking segment with Sasha Banks was so electric -- complete with a hard slap from Banks -- it left me hoping this is the rare rivalry that never quite finds its closure.Move of the nightCruiserweight Tony Neses impressive main roster debut was emphatically stamped home by his running backflip onto the floor, in which he crashed into T.J. Perkins while managing to land on his feet?which would have made even Neville proud.#PremiereAthlete? Sounds about right as @TonyNese takes FLIGHT and makes it look easy on #RAW! pic.twitter.com/qBO0F6Z8sN- WWE (@WWE) September 27, 2016Line of the nightNormally I would be out here in a suit with my title, but lets face it, this is Cincinnati, Ohio. I wouldnt be cheering if I were you. This is the city that spawned a living, breathing, walking car wreck like Dean Ambrose. -- WWE Universal champion Kevin Owens taking a jab at Cincinnati native?Dean Ambrose, who wrestles on SmackDown Live.Los Angeles Lakers Store . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Lakers Jerseys China . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Cheap Lakers Jerseys . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. Lakers Jerseys 2019 . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2.PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger did everything perfectly. The fake spike that momentarily fooled the Dallas Cowboys. The perfect lob to Antonio Brown that gave the Pittsburgh Steelers the lead and appeared to be the perfect jolt they needed to jumpstart a sagging season.Only one problem: There was too much time. Far too much. The sense of joy lasted all of 31 seconds, or the time it took the Cowboys to go 75 yards, the final 32 on Ezekiel Elliotts dash to the end zone that gave Dallas a 35-30 victory and sent Pittsburgh to its fourth straight loss.Soaring in October, the Steelers (4-5) are sinking as Thanksgiving approaches. Not even 408 yards and three touchdowns from Roethlisberger, 154 yards receiving by Brown and 134 total yards and two scores by LeVeon Bell could prevent another baffling breakdown.We are undisciplined and not accountable, Roethlisberger said. Thats why they are one of the best in the business and we are not right now.Certainly not the way theyre playing, particularly on defense. Twice in the fourth quarter Pittsburgh was one stop away from ending the Cowboys seven-game winning streak. And twice the Steelers offered little resistance as Dallas rookies Dak Prescott and Elliott did whatever they wanted, hardly bothered by the largest crowd to watch a Steelers home game in club history.Two drives. Both 75 yards. Both ending with Elliott racing across the goal line and a series of black-and-gold clad defenders futilely giving chase.It sucks losing regardless, but especially in critical moments of the game when theyre getting big plays and youre trying to do everything you can to stop them, linebacker Ryan Shazier said. This one really stings a lot.Expected to be in the thick of the AFC race thanks to one of the most talented offenses in the league, the Steelers arent even in first in an underwhelming AFC North. They will head to winless Cleveland next week hoping to end their longest losing streak since dropping the first four games of the 2013 season.Its just unacceptable, defensive end Cam Heyward said.Roethlisberger played poorly last week in his return from left knee surgery, a dismal loss in Baltimore, but told his teammates to follow me with a chance to prove themselves against the NFLs hottest team. While there were moments of brilliance, each one appeared to be met with an equally boneheaded step backward.Afteer Roethlisberger hit Eli Rogers for a 3-yard touchdown in the first quarter to give the Steelers an early 12-3 lead, a pair of Cowboy penalties put Dallas into a first-and-25 hole.dddddddddddd No matter. Two plays later Elliott took a screen pass, picked up a couple of blocks and ran 83 yards to put Dallas right back in it.Bell stretched the ball into the end zone from 1 yard out with 7:51 left to give the Steelers a 24-23 advantage. Dallas went 75 yards in 10 plays, ending with Elliotts 14-yard dash with 1:55 left.Roethlisberger calmly took the Steelers right back down the field and channeled his inner Dan Marino with the clock running and the ball at the Dallas 15. The quarterback took the snap and pretended to ground the ball. Instead he held on to it and hit a streaking Brown for a touchdown that again gave Pittsburgh a one-point advantage.You take a lead so it feels pretty good, Roethlisberger said.Fleeting too. Prescott moved the Cowboys into field goal range helped by a 15-yard facemask penalty on Steelers rookie safety Sean Davis.It was a critical time, Davis said. When seconds go by I was just trying to get him down, poke the ball, grab something and he just ducked. Once I felt my fingers in his facemask I let go.Control of the game followed suit. Instead of settling for a long field goal attempt, the Cowboys instead kept plowing ahead with Elliott going 32 yards right up the middle for the deciding score.We can sit here and say its a great learning example, but learning doesnt get you wins, Heyward said. Were no longer allowed to keep doing that.Not if they want to salvage what once looked like a promising year.TWO MUCH?The Steelers set an NFL record last year by converting eight 2-point conversions, some of them in nontraditional situations early in the game. They went 0 for 4 on Sunday, chasing points all afternoon after they botched a pair of attempts in the first quarter.We want to be aggressive, Roethlisberger said. We practice it every day. We need to be better at it.INJURIESBackup linebacker Steven Johnson left in the first quarter with a broken ankle. Backup safety Shamarko Thomas exited with a groin injury.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '