>It’s time.After 15 weeks of the NFL season Adidas Tuukka Rask Jersey , it’s time to acknowledge a whole bunch of items that have become apparent.Some did so over the course of the schedule, and some became crystallized Sunday.Such as:鈥?Teams get antsy and/or dumb when they play the Patriots.Looks as if the AFC road to the Super Bowl will go through Foxborough again, but not because an opponent played with fear against New England. Many do, of course. And others make ridiculous decisions with a chance to beat Tom Brady and Company; think back to the two most recent NFL championships the Patriots won, against Seattle and Atlanta.The Steelers had no fear Sunday. And they had some real bad luck once more; in the AFC title contest last January, they lost Le’Veon Bell early. This time, it was Antonio Brown.Yet they were in position to win, or at worst, force overtime. But Ben Roethlisberger gambled when he didn’t need to 鈥?and lost.“We’re not going to look back and second-guess anything or anybody,” Roethlisberger said. “We lost a game and I threw a pick in the end zone at the end of the game to lose it.”Just as bad, the Steelers were in control in the fourth quarter and didn’t look comfortable. Happens all the time against the Patriots, especially for Pittsburgh.鈥?The Seahawks are out of control.Pete Carroll is one of the NFL’s best coaches; nobody gets his guys to play harder. However Authentic Jalyn Holmes Jersey , what Carroll has been getting for more than a month will cost Seattle a playoff berth, ending five straight appearances. The Seahawks commit far too many penalties, lose their minds over some flags, and are as undisciplined as any team. It’s a shame, because Russell Wilson has enhanced his game so much, but has little to show for it.“No, there is nothing to be happy about. That was a really dismal performance by us,” Carroll said after getting hammered by the Rams, 42-7.鈥?The NFC is the place to go in the postseason.Sure, Patriots-Steelers was entertaining Sunday. Whether it will be so in a month if the teams meet again, who knows?It’s time to recognize the wide-open NFC is a can’t-miss prospect, from the wild-card round throughout. The Eagles Davante Adams Jersey , despite major injuries, have showed spunk to go with impressive depth. The defense needs to get stingy again, but that offense, even with Nick Foles replacing Carson Wentz, is a challenge for everyone.Minnesota has a defense to play with anyone, and like Philly, terrific coaching. The Rams have an offense to play with anyone and, like Philly and Minnesota, terrific coaching.New Orleans hasn’t looked as strong recently, but it has Drew Brees, the most proven NFC QB likely to make these playoffs. For once, the Saints have a running game and an impressive D.The other NFC South members probably going to the postseason Cheap Nick Chubb Jersey , the Panthers and Falcons, are capable of beating anyone anywhere. Or losing to anyone.For 2017, you can take the AFC. We’ll revel in the NFC.鈥?Change must come in Ohio. The Bengals sure seem to have quit on Marvin Lewis, the second-longest tenured coach with the same team in the league. It’s time for Cincinnati to move on from the coach who is 0-7 in the playoffs and whose team has regressed in all facets.It’s even worse across the state in Cleveland. In a league where teams commonly leap from the bottom toward the top 鈥?the Eagles, Rams, Jaguars and Saints this year 鈥攖he Browns remain bottom feeders. Unless they pull a repeat of 2016 by winning their 15th game after 14 straight defeats, they’ll almost certainly match Detroit’s 0-16 ignominy of 2008.Who should go? Downtrodden Cleveland fans will sum it up succinctly: “Everyone.”鈥?Green Bay should shut down Aaron Rodgers.The Packers quarterback is one of the best ever, headed for Canton. Watching him at Carolina on Sunday was almost as painful as the shots he was taking and the looks on his face after them. Yes, Rodgers is a courageous performer and leader, but with the Pack headed home on New Year’s Day (barring some major collapses throughout the NFC), let him fully heal for 2018.鈥?Jimmy Garoppolo is the real deal.Hey, Niners Authentic Josey Jewell Jersey , sign the guy this week to a long-term deal. He’ll be worth it. The Latest on Super Bowl protests (all times local):

7:55 p.m.

A Metro Transit spokesman says 17 people taken away after blocking a light-rail line carrying ticketholders to the Super Bowl in Minneapolis have been cited and released.

Howie Padilla says they were cited for unlawful interference with transit.

No one was hurt in the protest Sunday. Metro Transit had buses standing by to get ticketholders to the stadium in time for kickoff.

The activists said they were protesting police brutality, as well as the light-rail trains being taken over by Super Bowl spectators rather than being available to ordinary citizens.

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6 p.m.

A Metro Transit spokesman says 17 people were taken away after they blocked a light-rail line carrying Super Bowl ticketholders to the stadium.

Howie Padilla says no one was hurt in the protest, which blocked trains for about two hours ahead of Sunday’s kickoff. Metro Transit had buses standing by to get ticketholders to the stadium in time.

The activists said they were protesting police brutality, as well as the light-rail trains being taken over by Super Bowl spectators rather than being available to ordinary citizens.

Padilla says Metro Transit doesn’t expect the 17 activists to face charges. He says Metro Transit respects people’s right to free speech and demonstration.

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4:30 p.m.

Police in Minneapolis are removing protesters who locked themselves across a light-rail line near U.S. Bank Stadium, temporarily halting trains carrying fans to the game.

Live footage from the scene Sunday showed police working to unlock or cut locks the protesters had used at the stop near the University of Minnesota’s West Bank station. That’s about a half-mile from the stadium.

The live footage showed protesters in zip ties waiting to board a bus to be carried from the scene.

Protesters blocked the line shortly after 2 p.m., saying they were protesting police brutality as well as the light-rail line being turned over to Super Bowl fans for the day.

Metro Transit was busing fans the rest of the way to the game.

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3:30 p.m.

A small group of activists protesting police brutality have shut down a light-rail line carrying fans to the Super Bowl in Minneapolis.

About 30 activists walked onto the city’s Green Line at the Stadium Village stop shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday, stopping trains in both directions. The line runs from downtown St. Paul to the heart of Minneapolis, and is a main way some fans are getting to the big game.

Chinyere Tutashinda, a spokeswoman for the activists, says some chained themselves along the track.

Metro Transit spokesman Howie Padilla says the agency has contingency plans to get riders the rest of the way to U.S. Bank Stadium. He says he’s confident they’ll be there for kickoff.

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