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Now this is more like it.The Silver and Black against the Orange Crush for the division lead. Well, at least the current Raiders and Broncos going head to head for first place in the AFC West.One of pro sports most storied, intense (yeah, you can say dirty) rivalries resumes Sunday in Oakland. Both teams are 6-2, a half-game ahead of Kansas City in the division.Even better, this spicy matchup takes place in prime time, and for once the Raiders , who have not made the playoffs since losing the Super Bowl in early 2003, seem ready.We put ourselves on display each week, says coach Jack Del Rio, a front-runner for Coach of the Year honors halfway through the schedule.I get that itll be more hyped this week, but it wont be any different in terms of preparing for it and then going out and playing good football. I think what we recognize as an organization is as you become relevant, as you play good football, youre going to have more of these opportunities.This is the natural progression in building a good football team. We should expect to be in these games. Were going to expect to win these games. Then were going to move forward and have more of these kinds of games.The Broncos know all about these kinds of games, making a habit of playing in them in the past five seasons. Led by Von Miller -- like Del Rio, a leading candidate for an award (Defensive Player of the Year) or two (MVP?) -- Denvers defense has been dynamic once more. It has the leagues best pass defense, and isnt exactly a sieve against the run.Star cornerback Chris Harris Jr. loves the idea of a high-profile Broncos vs. Raiders game.The thing is with the Raiders, when we go to the `Black Hole its never blowouts, Harris says. We never go there and run up the score on them. Its always tight games, so them being good now just raises the stakes another level of a championship game.The action began Thursday night, with Matt Ryan throwing for 344 yards and four touchdowns to help the Atlanta Falcons tighten their grip on first place in the NFC South with a 43-28 victory at Tampa Bay.Julio Jones had eight receptions for 111 yards and a TD for the Falcons (6-3). Tampa Bay was lost two straight to drop to 3-5.Off this week are Washington (4-3-1), Cincinnati (3-4-1), Houston (5-3), New England (7-1), Arizona (3-4-1) and Chicago (2-6).---Pittsburgh (4-3) at Baltimore (3-4)Another terrific NFL rivalry, but one that has lost a bit of steam this season with both clubs struggling and banged-up. Even so, the winner here will be in first place.The big question for Pittsburgh, which actually leads the AFC North despite its mediocre record, is whether Ben Roethlisberger has recovered sufficiently from his left knee surgery of two weeks ago to play. Another mystery in the Steel City is whether the defense, ranked a disturbing 27th, can get stingy again.Baltimore comes off a bye after four straight defeats, but it generally has defended Antonio Brown well. Of course, the Ravens have a depleted secondary trying to deal with the 2015 All-Pro receiver.----Dallas (6-1) at Cleveland (0-8)Although the Browns lead the all-time series 17-13, they havent beaten the Cowboys since 1994. Doing so Sunday is a long shot, although Cleveland manages to be competitive most every week while losing every week.Dallas last won seven in a row in 2007. Rookie QB Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliott have been the focal points, of course, but the defense is vastly improved.Cleveland QBs Josh McCown and Cody Kessler were listed as co-starters on the depth chart. Kessler is coming off a concussion. Maybe if coach Hue Jackson combined their attributes ...----Philadelphia (4-3) at New York Giants (4-3)Victor Cruz missed a year and a half of his career after he tore the patellar tendon in his right knee at Philly in a 2014 game. The injury was so ugly that Cruz cried when it occurred.Hes been New Yorks third receiver this season, but just being back on the field again has been an achievement.Its a different circumstance, a different year, he says. But definitely, Id be lying if I didnt say it is in my mind.Both teams have been challenged offensively, and the loser drops into the NFC East cellar.----Jacksonville (2-5) at Kansas City (5-2)The Jaguars fired offensive coordinator Greg Olson this week, with quarterbacks coach Nathaniel Hackett taking over and charged with straightening out QB Blake Bortles and top receivers Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson.KC was hit further by the injury bug in its win at Indianapolis, with star RB Jamaal Charles (knee) back on injured reserve and starting quarterback Alex Smith being held out with head issues. Nick Foles looked solid against the Colts in taking over for Smith.Chiefs coach Andy Reid has 177 wins, one behind Mike Shanahan for 12th in NFL history.----Detroit (4-4) at Minnesota (5-2)One of the NFLs more lopsided rivalries; the Vikings lead 71-36-2 and have won 16 of their past 18 at home against the Lions. None, of course, was in the new stadium.Minnesota has issues, though. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner resigned this week in the wake of two successive losses in which the offense disappeared. Most at fault -- a running game ranked 31st and an offensive line that has been, uh, rank lately.Detroit is like most of the league, very inconsistent. Matthew Stafford is having one of his best seasons: a 103.4 passer rating with 16 touchdowns and four picks.---Tennessee (4-4) at San Diego (3-5)Big week on and off the field for the Chargers. This is their final game before Election Day, when San Diego voters will be asked to approve $1.15 billion in hotel occupancy taxes to help fund a $1.8 billion downtown stadium-convention center annex. The team still has the option to join the Rams in Los Angeles.Tennessee had lost nine in a row to San Diego before winning the previous meeting in 2013. The Titans are in contention for the mediocre AFC South crown midway through the schedule.----New York Jets (3-5) at Miami (3-4)With each of these also-rans coming off consecutive victories, look for the ground game to be decisive. Miamis Jay Ajayi has consecutive 200-yard rushing performances -- no one has had three in a row. His chore is more difficult this time because New York is allowing 3.3 yards per carry, third best in the NFL.If the Jets can protect the ball despite being tied for last in turnover differential at minus-8, they could get their fourth consecutive win over the Dolphins.----Indianapolis (3-5) at Green Bay (4-3)What projected to be a cool showdown between Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers might have, well, cooled a bit. The Colts cant protect Luck, who has been sacked a whopping 31 times and has felt the sting on every one of them. And the Packers might be bringing Jim Taylor out of retirement considering the depletion in the running back group.But Rodgers loves playing AFC opponents at Lambeau Field. Hes averaging 312.4 yards per game with 15 TDs and no interceptions in the past five home games against the AFC.---Buffalo (4-4) at Seattle (4-2-1), Monday nightWith both teams hurting in the running game -- Buffalo might rank second, but if it doesnt have star RB LeSean McCoy (hamstring) the ground attack is mediocre -- this could come down to how effective QBs Russell Wilson and Tyrod Taylor can be. At least the Seahawks have seen Jimmy Graham emerging at tight end as he finally approaches full health.The Bills, making their first trip to Seattle in 12 years, have beaten the other three NFC West teams so far. They face a Seahawks team that is going for an 11th straight win on Monday night. The Seahawks have the highest win percentage (.733) in the history of Monday night games.----Carolina (2-5) at Los Angeles (3-4)For the defending NFC champion Panthers to scare anybody this season, they must go on a winning streak. Their victory over Arizona last Sunday was a solid start.Protecting Cam Newton, who spoke with Commissioner Roger Goodell this week about being on the receiving end of big hits, is the main job for Carolina. Rams 2015 All-Pro DT Aaron Donald says they wont change how they play after Newtons concerns went public, noting, youve got to bring your big boy pads if youre going to tackle him.----New Orleans (3-4) at San Francisco (1-6)The Saints have turned around their season and could climb closer to playoff contention with an eighth win in the past 10 meetings with San Francisco, which has dropped six straight. Drew Brees is having yet another spectacular passing season and needs four TD passes to join Peyton Manning and Brett Favre as the only players with 450 in NFL history.San Francisco must keep the ball away from Brees, but it averages a league-low 4.9 yards per play. On the positive side -- yes, there is one -- the Niners have a league-low 31 penalties.---Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton and Sports Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Basketball Jerseys . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. Wholesale Jerseys NBA Online . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.cheapnbajerseysbywholesale.com/ . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. Cheap NBA Jerseys China . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Cheap NBA Jerseys Free Shipping . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. SAN FRANCISCO -- Oakland manager Bob Melvin leaned back in his clubhouse chair and exhaled -- on the winning side of the Bay Bridge Series rivalry 3 hours, 43 minutes of intense baseball later. Tommy Milone won his second straight decision following a five-start skid, pinch-hitter Nate Freiman had a two-run single, and the Athletics beat the San Francisco Giants 9-6 on Wednesday night in a back-and-forth duel for their sixth straight win. "It was exhausting," Melvin said. "They were competing, boy. You get momentum going in the other direction here sometimes and its hard to stem the tide." Yoenis Cespedes hit an RBI triple in the first to extend his career-best hitting streak to 11 games, and Jed Lowrie added an RBI double as the As (31-23) moved a season-best eight games above .500 for the first time since they were 12-4 on April 17. They won for the 11th time in 12 games. "Thats probably the most fun Ive had in a long time outside of the playoffs. People are competing," said As third baseman Josh Donaldson, who had two hits and a couple of defensive gems. "Good, clean fun. It was awesome." Milone (5-5) outpitched Tim Lincecum and got plenty of support, too. He received three or fewer runs of support in each of his previous seven outings. Hunter Pence homered for the second straight game and Brett Pill also connected for San Francisco. The sloppy reigning World Series champion Giants are having their problems -- starting pitching, defence, at the plate, you name it. "I dont know what happened," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We just didnt play well. Theres no sugarcoating this thing. We pretty much covered all facets of the game tonight as far as not playing well." San Francisco has only two quality starts in the last 15 games and none on the road this month. The Giants are in a stretch with 14 of 18 away from AT&T Park. "This is a tough stretch," Bochy said. "Weve got to get our act together." Lincecum (3-5) lost his third straight start and fourth in five. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner allowed six runs on seven hits in 4 1-3 innings with four strikeouts and four walks. He dropped to 5-3 in 10 career starts against the As. Pence hit a solo shot in the second to highlight his three-hit night, then Pill hit his first longball of the year leading off the sixth. After Cespedes first-inning triple, Oakland added another run when Cespedes scored on second baseman Marco Scutaros error. Scutaro misplayed a popup in shallow right field in which he bumped into Pence, giving San Franciscos second baseman nine errors this year -- tied for most in the majors with Washingtons Ryan Zimmerman. Milone struck out three and walked three in five innings, allowing four runs and eight hits in his first career outing and sstart against the Giants.dddddddddddd Freiman delivered his first career hit as a pinch-hitter with the fifth-inning single. As bench coach Chip Hale was ejected in the bottom of the sixth, when the Giants added three runs. One of those came on Andres Torres double that went over third base, which brought As manager Bob Melvin out twice to argue. A fan interfered with the ball as it bounced near San Franciscos bullpen and was ejected, but baserunner Gregor Blanco was still allowed to score from first base. "I argued everything that I could have argued," Melvin said. "He just said that in his judgment he would have scored (without the interference)." Crew chief and third base umpire Gerry Davis told a pool reporter in that case theres a judgment call and "you award the runners the bases you feel they would have had had there not been interference." As centre fielder Coco Crisp ran down a deep fly by Brandon Crawford to end the seventh, robbing him of an extra-base hit that would have driven in a run. Crisp hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth for insurance. San Francisco lost its third in a row to the As, dropping the Bay Bridge Series for the first time since going 2-4 in 2008. The clubs split their six games in 2010-11, then the Giants went 4-2 last season. "Every time we come here the atmosphere is always awesome," Milone said. Scutaro hit a two-out RBI double in the eighth and Pablo Sandoval followed with a run-scoring single to make it 7-6, snapping an 0-for-15 stretch. Sean Doolittle surrendered a run for the first time in 14 appearances. The As got one back in the ninth on the Giants third error. Grant Balfour pitched the bottom half for his 12th save in as many chances and 30th straight dating to last year. Giants centre fielder and leadoff hitter Angel Pagan received a cortisone shot in his injured left hamstring to alleviate the bursitis that has sidelined him since Sunday. Bochy doesnt expect him to need a stint on the disabled list. "Hes probably down at least a couple more days," Bochy said. "Right now we think he should be ready in St. Louis." Notes: As RF Josh Reddick, on the DL since May 8 with a sprained right wrist, went 1 for 4 with two runs, a walk and a steal -- and a diving catch -- and is scheduled to DH for the River Cats on Thursday with the hope he will be activated by the As ahead of Friday nights series opener at home against the White Sox. ... Milone is 5-2 with a 3.22 ERA in night games. ... Lincecum went 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA in two starts against the As last year. ... RHP A.J. Griffin (5-3) pitches for the As in the series finale Thursday afternoon against LHP Barry Zito (3-3). ... RHP Ramon Ramirez made his Giants season debut with two innings of relief after being promoted from Triple-A Fresno. ' ' '