JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars have a bright spot in the franchises darkest season.Coach Gus Bradleys defense ranks fourth in the NFL in yards allowed and has been at its best the last five weeks. The unit has surrendered 258 yards a game over the last five weeks and given the Jaguars (2-10) a chance to win each time out.Were becoming the defense that were supposed to be, defensive tackle Malik Jackson said Wednesday.It clearly hasnt been enough since Jacksonville has lost seven in a row heading into Sundays game against Minnesota (6-6), which has dropped six of seven . But its surely something for owner Shad Khan and general manager Dave Caldwell to consider when they start making moves at the end of the season.It wouldnt be surprising to see first-year defensive coordinator Todd Wash stick around and get a chance to take his 4-3 scheme to the next level, especially with so much young talent on that side of the ball.Rookie cornerback Jalen Ramsey, linebacker Telvin Smith and defensive ends Yannick Ngakoue and Dante Fowler Jr. are cornerstones. Jackson, veteran safety Tashaun Gipson, cornerback Aaron Colvin and rookie linebacker Myles Jack provide more building blocks for a defense that was among the worst in the league in 2015.The Jaguars committed nearly $130 million in free agency to sign Jackson and Gipson, and then got better-than-expected contributions from Ramsey, fellow rookie Ngakoue and third-year pro Smith.Combining seven newcomers with a handful of returners took time to jell. But the results have shown in recent weeks.You never know how fast its going to happen, Bradley said. I think guys really understand their roles and theyre playing fast because of it. Its impressive what those guys have done in how they have come together.The Jaguars enjoyed their best defensive effort in Bradleys four seasons last week against Denver. They held the Broncos to 206 yards and 1-for-13 on third down. Denver still won, though, because it forced Jacksonville into three turnovers that led to 10 points.When you know you have arrived is when a defense starts dictating the outcome of the game, Bradley said. You saw Denver get a Pick-6, another interception and you feel like their defense really dictated the outcome of that game. Thats the mark of a really good defense. Really good defense. Right now were not there yet. Were not dictating the outcome of it, but not to be confused with a talented defense that really has the arrow up.Youre really excited about this group of guys. Really excited.The one thing the Jaguars need to do better defensively is create turnovers. They have an NFL-low seven takeaways and have gone eight games with an interception.In every other category, were killing it, Jackson said. But weve just got to do more.The defense has had plenty of chances to do more, including dropping interceptions against Kansas City and Denver. The unit also got robbed of a turnover against Buffalo, when officials inadvertently whistled a play dead as running back LeSean McCoy was getting the ball stripped out of his grasp.The balls just not bouncing our way right way, safety Johnathan Cyprien said. Were causing a fumble, but the referee blow the whistle and its dead. Or maybe we drop an interception. Its just problems, weird things happening. Its plays we can do in our sleep, but it just so happens that were not capitalizing. Weve got to continue to fight through it.Regardless, theres much more good going on than bad on defense -- a significant change from recent years and something to build on moving forward.Obviously, this season didnt work out the way we wanted, veteran linebacker Paul Posluszny said. But we still have four games to kind of make our mark. It took a little time for everyone to catch on, but were starting to go now.Imagine when all these guys are second-, third- and fourth-year players. If these guys can be together for several years, they have a chance to be an awesome, awesome defense.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Devils Jerseys . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Cheap Devils Jerseys Authentic . 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BORDEAUX, France -- Despite missing more penalties in one shootout than it had done in 40 years of taking spot-kicks after extra time, Germany still managed to end its curse against Italy.Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger all missed in Saturdays shootout after the sides finished 1-1 following extra time in their European Championship quarterfinal.Fortunately, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer spared their blushes with two saves as Italy missed four spot-kicks and Germany went on to win 6-5, securing the teams first competitive victory over the Azzurri at the ninth attempt.It was a war of nerves, Neuer said.Only two German players had ever missed in a tournament shootout before -- Uli Hoeness as West Germany lost the 1976 European Championship final 5-3 to Czechoslovakia, and Uli Stielike as West Germany defeated France 5-4 in the 1982 World Cup semifinal.It was a dramatic shootout in Bordeaux, featuring 18 spot kicks with neither side striking a decisive blow before it went to `sudden death.Ive never experienced a penalty shootout like it before. It went on for ages. Im not sure how many penalties there were exactly, Neuer said.There had been a penalty beforehand too, scored by Leonardo Bonucci in the 78th minute to cancel out Ozils opener from 13 minutes before.With extra time almost at an end, Italy coach Antonio Conte brought on penalty specialist Simone Zaza on for Giorgio Chiellini, but the move backfired when he missed after an unconventional trot up to the ball.Then Muellers curious failure to score at a European Championship came back to haunt him when his effort was saved by Italy veteran Gianluigi Buffon.Andrea Barzzagli scored before Ozil struck the post, leaving Italy with a 2-1 lead.dddddddddddd Then Graziano Pelle dragged his effort wide and Julian Draxler equalized to make it 2-2.Germany had the advantage when Neuer saved Bonuccis spot kick.I didnt want to let Bonucci score a second time, the Germany goalkeeper said.But German celebrations were cut short when Schweinsteiger, who could have sealed victory by converting his spot-kick, struck his effort well over.Neither side missed their next three penalties. Then Neuer saved Matteo Darmians spot kick, paving the way for Jonas Hector to be the hero with the winning shot.Im delighted that it went in, Hector said. There werent many more people there (to take a penalty). I took my heart in my hand and just wanted to make sure it went in.Hectors strike penalty ended a winless curse against Italy that dated back to their first meeting at the 1962 World Cup.After so many years or decades we were due a win against Italy, German football federation president Reinhard Grindel said. From that point of view, the right ones had the luck that you need in a shootout.Germany coach Joachim Loew had tried a new tactical setup with a three-man defense, but in the end it was an old friend -- the penalty kick -- that provided the key to victory.However, Neuer is anxious to avoid a similar situation when the team plays a semifinal against France or Iceland in Marseille on Thursday.You cant just rely on the fact that Germany comes through every time theres a penalty shootout, Neuer said. ' ' '