Bewerbungen » e safety Malik Hooker is tied for 11

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The preseason expectations for the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers were at opposite ends of the spectrum.A year after making it to the NFC title game, the Cardinals believed they had the ingredients to take that next step and possibly win the Super Bowl. The Niners were more in a rebuild situation with first-year coach Chip Kelly and an unsettled quarterback situation.A quarter of the way through the season, the teams are surprisingly in the same spot: last place in the NFC West heading into Thursday nights meeting after opening the season 1-3.We feel like our backs are against the wall because when we came into the season, everyone was patting us on the back, Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson said. Now its like, `these guys are pretenders. Thats kind of the persona we had in years previously, that we had to prove something.Arizona will have to do it without starting quarterback Carson Palmer, who is out with a concussion. The Cardinals will turn to Drew Stanton, who went 5-3 as a starter in 2014 when Palmer was injured.San Francisco is sticking with Blaine Gabbert at quarterback despite having the least productive passing offense in the NFL through four games. Kelly has said backup Colin Kaepernick is not 100 percent after three offseason surgeries and Gabbert showed signs of progress in last weeks loss to Dallas.He started the game by leading two straight TD drives before the offense stalled and got just one field goal the rest of the game.I think the improvements going to happen every week, Gabbert said. The more reps you get in a game, the more and more Chip and I are on the same page. Hes calling a certain play, I know why hes calling that play. He sees something on the field. When we get on that same page were really going to take off.Here are some other things to watch when the Cardinals visit the Niners:STANTON THE SUB: Stanton will make his first start since 2014. Hes thrown just 40 passes the past two seasons. He completed 54.9 percent for 1,626 yards, six TDs, five INTs and a 76.3 rating during his half season as starter two years ago.We dont change anything we do, coach Bruce Arians said. Hes extremely knowledgeable in the offense and I feel very comfortable with him in there.REPLACING BOWMAN: The Niners lost their top defensive player and spiritual leader when linebacker NaVorro Bowman ruptured his Achilles tendon last Sunday against Dallas. Nick Bellore, mostly a special teams player in his 36 career games, is slated to make his first start on defense.Ive been the next guy up for a long time and now my time has come, so its time for me to prepare and perform like I know I can, Bellore said.CLOSE CALLS: The Cardinals made it all the way to the NFC title game last year in part because of their ability to pull out wins in close games. Arizona won five of six in the regular season in games decided by eight points or fewer, and also beat Green Bay in overtime in the playoffs. That hasnt been the case this season when a botched snap on a potential winning field goal led to a Week 1 loss against New England, and a big punt return and two late interceptions of Stanton led to last weeks 17-13 loss to the Rams.Close games are always won on one play here, one play there, Arians said. In the past weve made them and right now were not making them.WHERES TORREY: San Franciscos most accomplished receiver, Torrey Smith, was mostly invisible last week against Dallas. He wasnt targeted on a single pass until the fourth quarter and finished with one catch for 3 yards. Smith had a chance for a go-ahead TD when he got behind the defense on one play, only to have it turn into an interception on a bad throw by Gabbert. His only other target came when he caught the 3-yard pass on fourth-and-6 to end San Franciscos comeback attempt.Ive been getting open, he said. You can go look at the film. Ive been getting open.TOUGH TASK: The Niners have allowed Fozzy Whitaker, Christine Michael and Ezekiel Elliott all to run for more than 100 yards the past three weeks. Thats the first time since 2004 that San Francisco has allowed a 100-yard rusher in three straight games. The job doesnt get any easier this week against Arizonas David Johnson, who has 510 yards from scrimmage this season and is averaging 4.7 yards per carry.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---AP freelancer Jose Romero in Tempe, Arizona, contributed to this report John Block Jersey . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Elvin Hayes Jersey . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. https://www.cheaprocketsonline.com/887z-trevor-ariza-jersey-rockets.html . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. Rafer Alston Jersey . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. Lewis Lloyd Jersey . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. Tuesday was only the first of six release days for the College Football Playoff rankings. There is still plenty of time for teams to make or break their playoff hopes.LSU is not done yet.Nebraska? Going after the seemingly vulnerable Buckeyes.Week 10 features just two games between ranked teams, but they will have major playoff implications in the SEC and Big Ten. Heres a look at whats at stake for all four teams in the games with the biggest impact:Alabama at LSUIf Alabama wins: Alabama can knock LSU out of the conversation for good and further assert itself as the best team in the SEC and the country with another road win against a ranked division opponent. ESPNs Football Power Index projects that if the Tide win on Saturday, their chances of winning the SEC increase to 74 percent. The FPI favors Alabama to win each of its four remaining games but shows this one will be the most difficult, with a 65.5 percent chance to win.?If LSU wins: Hello, chaos. LSU would own a head-to-head tiebreaker over the defending national champs but would still have to win out and need Auburn to lose again. Winning out will be tough, with a road trip to Texas A&M on Thanksgiving -- just five days after playing the rescheduled Florida game -- but its possible Auburn could lose to Alabama in the Iron Bowl. ESPNs FPI gives Auburn a 23.3 percent chance to beat the Tide. The more likely scenario is Alabama wins out and LSU loses again, leaving the Tide right where they started -- at the top of the SEC. Another possibility is Alabama loses a second time and Texas A&M wins out -- leaving the Aggies atop the West. See? Chaos.Nebraska at Ohio State (8 p.m. ET, ABC)If Nebraska wins: The two-loss Buckeyes likely would be doomed in the playoff picture, while the Huskers stock -- and their chances of winning the West division -- would both increase. According to the FPI, Nebraska has a 25 percent chance to win the West, but if it can beat Ohio State, that will rise to 56 percent. This is the second of back-to-back road games against ranked opponents for Nebraska, after losing last week to Wisconsin. This is the kind of statement win that would catch the committees attention, and Nebraska needs it. So far its only road wins have come against unranked Northwestern and Indiana.If Ohio State wins: The Buckeyes will keep their playoff hopes alive and continue staring down what should be a season-defining home game on Nov. 26 against Michigan to determine the East winner. Nebraska will drop into a two-loss tie with Wisconsin in the West, and the Badgers will hold the tiebreaker by virtue of their victory Saturday over the Huskers. Nebraskas only hope if it loses would be for Wisconsin to lose again, but the Badgers are favored by the FPI to win each of their four remaining games against unranked opponents. With four Power 5 undefeated teams remaining and a strong collection of one-loss teams for the committee to choose from, Ohio State cant afford to slip up at home on Saturday. One more scenario to consider: Penn State still can win the East if it wins out and Michigan loses twice.Playoff pictureTexas A&M at Mississippi State: The Aggies are on the bubble, and they are favored by the FPI to win each of their remaining games. This is their last road test of the season, and if they can win out, they will stay in the debate.Vanderbilt at Auburn: The Tigers have won five straight and played their way back into the conference title conversation. They have to win out, and hope Texas A&M stumbles again.Louisville at Boston College: After close wins against Duke and Virginia, Louisville cant afforrd another nail-biter against an unranked 4-4 team.dddddddddddd Its time for the Cards to earn some style points.Wisconsin at Northwestern: The Badgers are in must-win mode from here on out. Last weeks important win over Nebraska wont amount to anything if Wisconsin loses a third league game.Maryland at Michigan: Hey look, another home game! This will be the Wolverines seventh game in Ann Arbor, and another one against an unranked opponent likely wont move the committee much.Syracuse at Clemson: Clemson is coming off a critical, emotional win at Florida State, and this could be closer than some might expect. Syracuse is coming off back-to-back wins and had a bye week to prepare.Florida at Arkansas: The Gators have a clear path to winning the SEC East, especially now that Tennessee has collapsed with three losses, but this is a must-win. The only team the Gators have beaten on the road is Vandy, and they still have to play at LSU on Nov. 19. If Florida loses at Arkansas and at LSU, Kentucky or a three-loss Tennessee will win the East. Thats cringe-worthy.Washington at Cal: The Huskies have played the easiest nonconference schedule in the FBS, which is why road wins are critical to impress the committee. They got a big one last week against Utah, but they cant afford to slip up against a team that is 2-3 in league play.SuperlativesPlayer in the spotlight: LSU running back Leonard Fournette. Fournette has come back from an ankle injury this season and is coming off a school-record 284 rushing yards against Ole Miss. Last year, though, Alabama held Fournette to a season-low 31 yards on 19 carries, and he was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage 11 times. He -- and his offensive line -- will be challenged again, as Alabamas run defense is No. 1 in yards per rush and rushing touchdowns allowed.Matchup to watch: Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. versus Ohio States secondary. Armstrong has thrown 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. The Buckeyes are fourth in turnover margin (plus-1.25 per game), third in pass efficiency defense (93.5) and ninth in passing yards allowed (171.1). Sophomore safety Malik Hooker is tied for 11th nationally with four interceptions.Upset watch: Florida at Arkansas. Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen is expected to return from a knee injury, and he needs to be healthy in order for a chance at the upset. The Razorbacks had a bye week to recover from their embarrassing 56-3 loss to Auburn, and they now have back-to-back home games to reset.Can-miss game: Tennessee Tech at Tennessee. Its not even that Tennessee Tech is a 3-5 FCS team -- its that the Vols have lost three straight, star running back Jalen Hurd has decided to transfer and Rocky Flop is the trendy nickname.Dont forget about: Kentucky. If the Wildcats win out -- and Florida loses twice (think at Arkansas and at LSU) -- then Kentucky wins the East. Repeat: Kentucky can win the East. The Wildcats host Georgia on Saturday and then finish their SEC schedule on Nov. 12 at Tennessee.Under-the-radar game: Air Force at Army. With a win, Air Force clinches the Commander-in-Chiefs Trophy for the fourth time in the past seven seasons. If Army wins, the Black Knights would have a chance to clinch the trophy against Navy on Dec. 10. Army hasnt won the trophy since 1996.Hold that thought: Dont hand Clemson the Atlantic Division title just yet. Clemson can clinch it on Saturday if it beats Syracuse and both Louisville and Wake Forest lose. ' ' '