Baltimore (7-5) collapse in December.But the defenses resurge

LILLE, France -- Belgium wont be lacking for support when it takes on Wales in the quarterfinals of the European Championship as it tries to make the final four in a major competition for the first time since the 1986 World Cup.The game on Friday takes place in the northern French city of Lille, which is just 10 kilometers or so from the Belgian border. Fans of the team have already turned up in droves in the city for Euro 2016 games in Lille, and nearby Lens.Local fans should also swell their ranks both in and out of the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. For two of the Belgiums players, Eden Hazard and Divock Origi, it will be homecoming of sorts. Both started their professional careers at the local club Lille.Wales boisterous fans will do their best to compensate, no doubt. Wales is looking to go one further than its previous best appearance in a major tournament. Back in 1958, it lost its quarterfinal match to Brazil to a solitary goal from a young Pele.We are very confident at the moment, the teams star forward, Gareth Bale, said after Wales ground out a 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland in Saturdays last-16 game. You dont get to the quarterfinals of a major tournament by luck.That victory followed two wins in the group stage, to Slovakia and Russia, which secured the team top spot in Group B and entry into what appears to be the easier side of the knockout draw. The winner of the match will take on either Poland or Portugal in the semifinals.Wales coach Chris Coleman said he was impressed with how his team stood up against teams with very diverse playing styles.The three wins out of four we had, we had to win differently. Thats a good sign for any team, said Coleman, who spoke of an ugly win after the Northern Ireland game.We showed another side of our game, it wasnt pretty, he conceded.Wales and Belgium know each other well. They were in the same qualifying groups for the 2014 World Cup and for Euro 2016. The score is equal -- one win apiece and two draws.One concern for Wales has centered on captain Ashley Williams, who injured his shoulder against Northern Ireland. However, hes expected to be fit to start.Colemans counterpart, Marc Wilmots, has his own worries too.Already missing injured defender Vincent Kompany for the tournament, the Belgium coach will now have to replace suspended center back Thomas Vermaelen as well.And two days after leading Belgium in its 4-0 routing of Hungary, Hazard skipped Tuesdays training with a muscle problem, but Wilmots said the winger will be 100 percent, no problem for Fridays game.Hazard and Manchester Citys Kevin De Bruyne were instrumental in Belgiums return to form following an opening 2-0 defeat to Italy. 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CINCINNATI -- Vontaze Burfict anticipated a pass over the middle and got there first, grabbing his second interception of the game.The Bengals linebacker was making an impact again.Its been a while.Burfict was back to being a dominating linebacker during Cincinnatis 32-14 win over the Eagles on Sunday.He had two of the Bengals three interceptions, a season-high 15 tackles, and four passes knocked down -- his best all-around game since his famous playoff meltdown.Its like a test, Burfict said . You practice during the week, and on Sundays you have to pass the test. Thats my competitiveness.His marks have been merely above-average for most of the season.The volatile linebacker hadnt picked off a pass since an 18-16 playoff loss to Pittsburgh, when his late interception appeared to seal a Cincinnati victory. Burfict was so caught up in the moment that he ran all the way to the tunnel with the ball.But Jeremy Hill fumbled, and Burfict put the Steelers in range for the winning field goal by hitting Antonio Brown in the head after an incomplete pass, drawing a personal foul. The NFL suspended him for the first three games of this season because of that hit and others.He has so far avoided an egregious play this season. Hes also been less of a factor since returning from the suspension, getting eight or fewer tackles in three of his first four games as he worked his way back into shape. Hes been back in form the past few games, helping Cincinnatis defense find its form.The Bengals (4-7-1) have held each of the past three opponents to 19 points or fewer, with Burfict making game-changing plays.And hes finally heeded his coaches admonitions to avoid the personal fouls that have cost Cincinnati field position and a playoff game.Hes (going) 100,000 miles per hour, defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. Youuve got to slow him down some.ddddddddddddBurficts first interception came on a short pass by Carson Wentz, ending Philadelphias opening drive in the second half. He had another interception on a pass over the middle in the fourth quarter and returned it 47 yards before Wentz and tight end Zach Ertz brought him down.That quarterback is fast, Burfict said.The defenses improvement -- with Burfict in the middle of everything -- has come too late to make a difference in the Bengals season.In order to win the division, they have to win their last four games, starting Sunday in Cleveland (0-12), and have both Pittsburgh (7-5) and Baltimore (7-5) collapse in December.But the defenses resurgence means that the Steelers and Ravens can expect a challenging game when they come to Paul Brown Stadium later this season.Pittsburgh visits on Dec. 18 and Baltimore on Jan. 1 in the final regular-season game.So long as Burfict keeps playing at the level he did on Sunday, the Bengals defense will be formidable.He thinks hes the best at everything, receiver Brandon LaFell said. He thinks hes the best running back, the best pass catcher. With these two INTs, Im going to hear about this for the rest of the season. He backs it up with his play, though.Game notes The Bengals are tied for second in the NFL with 14 interceptions, one behind San Diego. Baltimore and Kansas City also have picked off 14 passes. ... The club record for interceptions in a season is 34 in 1996, when Ashley Ambrose had eight. ... The Bengals beat the Browns 31-17 at Paul Brown Stadium on Oct. 23. They didnt win another game until Sunday.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '