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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Devin McCourty had a quick answer for how the New England defense can settle the nerves of fans after last weeks poor performance.Its simple. Weve just got to play better, the defensive captain said Wednesday.Theres nothing I can say to calm that or anything, weve just got to go out there and play better. I think thats what everyone in the locker room and everyone on the defense wants to go out there and do. Theres nothing to say, youve just got to go do it.While attention is being paid to the physical condition of Rob Gronkowski, it is almost easy to forget the defense played so poorly in a 31-24 loss to Seattle on Sunday night. The loss dropped the Patriots to 7-2, and perhaps provided a lesson on what has to be done to keep things on track heading toward the likely postseason berth.It can (be a positive), said McCourty, whose team visits the 49ers (1-8) on Sunday. I think its all up to the players. I think it falls on us to go out there and play better after a loss. I think any type of game, anything you go through adversity-wise, can help you, but its all on how you respond; how you go out there and come back from it.I think that falls on us. Weve been in games where weve won, but we havent particularly played well, and weve learned from those games and the different things we didnt do well in them, and proved that the next week. Now, coming off a loss, its something that we have to improve on, go out there and win and just play better football.This weeks task could be easier -- on paper, anyway. The Niners have lost eight straight after an opening win.But the Niners, with mobile Colin Kaepernick at quarterback, can present another interesting problem for a defense thats been anything but stellar. The 49ers are 29th in the NFL in total offense. But they are seventh in rushing.The Patriots, who allowed 348 passing yards to Russell Wilson last week, saw Kaepernick in 2012, and lost to Chip Kellys Eagles last season, giving them some insight on the 49ers.They run the ball as much as any team in the league, so that sets up their play action and some of the quarterback movement plays that hes good at, as well as their third-down package, New England coach Bill Belichick said.He has a good group of skill players to work with. The receivers are good, the tight ends are good, the backs are very good. They can move the ball.Still, it all comes down to the Patriots playing better on defense.The club traded linebacker Jamie Collins on the first day of the bye week, and then saw the defense struggle against the Seahawks. Something to prove perhaps?I mean, if wed have played well wed still have something to prove, defensive end Chris Long said. Every week we have something to prove. If you have a mindset any different in this league youre going to get embarrassed because theres good teams every week that you have to play that has weapons. San Francisco certainly has that.Game notes TE Rob Gronkowski sat out Wednesdays practice with what the team said was a chest injury. Gronkowski was briefly staggered in the second quarter Sunday night after taking a hard hit to his chest from safety Earl Thomas, but was able to return to the game. On Monday, Thomas sent best wishes to Gronk via Twitter, calling him One of the best Ive lined up against. Gronkowski responded in his own tweet , saying, The respect is mutual man, you got the best of me on that one. The grind is real, you showed the fans a real football hit.In other Gronkowski family related news, Robs brother, Glenn, was re-signed to the practice squad.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Air Max 270 Be True . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. Air Max 270 Flyknit Femme . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. http://www.airmax270flyknit.fr/air-max-270-grise.html . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Air Max 270 Blanche Orange . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. Air Max 270 Bleu Homme . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game.PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Rory McIlroys chip for birdie on No. 18 dropped into the hole, and he dropped to a crouch with a fierce fist pump. Confident, intense, he looked like the defending champion at a major, the guy who won the PGA Championship by a record eight strokes last year. Ever since McIlroy found himself in danger of missing the cut midway through his round Friday, that player may have finally returned. McIlroy shot a 3-under 67 in tougher conditions Saturday to lift himself to the edge of contention. He was tied for seventh, six strokes behind leader Jim Furyk, heading into the final round. "It was good to feel the sort of rush again," he said. If he can feel it again Sunday, perhaps this will be the week that snaps him out of a seasons worth of doldrums. Through 11 holes of his second round, McIlroy was 4 over for the tournament. The cut wound up at 3 over. Since then, he has played 25 holes in 7 under. McIlroy was at 1 under for the tournament when he stepped up to the 17th tee Saturday. The final two holes have been the toughest to birdie at Oak Hill this week, but he did it at both, sinking a long putt on No. 17. "I probably made up at least 3, 3 1/2 shots on those last two holes," McIlroy said. "Making a birdie on 17 is like an eagle," he added, "and thhen to follow it up with another on the last is even better.dddddddddddd" Coming into the day, he did what he always does when he finds himself in a similar situation: He reminisced about Quail Hollow in 2010. McIlroy was two shots over the cut line with three holes to play in the second round when he made an eagle to stick around for the weekend. Then he shot 66-62 over the last two days for his first PGA Tour victory. "It gives me a bit of confidence knowing that Ive been in that position before and Ive been able to win," McIlroy said. "I know this is a major championship and its a bit different, but I felt good enough about my game that I could go out there and post a good one today and at least give myself a chance going into tomorrow." He has yet to win in 2013 and shot just one round below 70 in his first three majors of the year. Two days after he appeared headed toward missing the cut at the second straight major, he has an outside chance at winning his third. "To play like that on this golf course and do what I needed to do yesterday just to make the cut, and then to go out and play the way I did today, its been a good stretch of holes," McIlroy said. "Ive got another 18 to play, and hopefully I can just keep playing the way I am." ' ' '