Die Macht » of becoming the 13th player in school

One of the true negatives of Thursday night games is seeing key players, often stars, unable to participate because of the short turnaround.Thats the case this week for the Arizona Cardinals, whose quarterback, Carson Palmer, remain in the NFLs concussion protocol and is out.With the Cardinals at 1-3, just like their opponent, San Francisco, this is no time to be short-handed. Particularly at that position.Cardinals coach Bruce Arians had been somewhat optimistic about Palmers availability. He even checked with Palmers wife for an evaluation.Well, youre not going to get the real truth from a football player, Arians says. Hes always going to tell you hes ready and hes OK. I was counting on her to tell me what it was really like.Not that Shaelyn Palmer is a doctor. So it will be Drew Stanton behind center.The 49ers have dropped three straight since an opening victory, but they will have their regular signal caller in Blaine Gabbert. Though Gabbert hardly has been a sensation for San Francisco.Short week or not, you cant skip any part of your normal preparation, Gabbert said. If anything, you have to do more, especially from the physical aspect to get your body feeling the way it should by Sunday, which happens to be Thursday this week. And then from a mental aspect ... its just everything is sped up.The disappointing Cardinals (No. 20 Arizona, AP Pro32) are 4-point favorites over the host Niners (No. 31, AP Pro32).CARDINALS, 24-16KNOCKOUT LEAGUE TIPThe Bengals came through for us last week, and we will remain in the Buckeye state this time. No, were not taking the Browns. Tom Brady and the PATRIOTS are an obvious choice.No. 3 New England (minus 10) at No. 32 ClevelandWhats the over/under on how many TDs Brady throws -- in the first half?BEST BET: PATRIOTS, 48-13No. 29 Tennessee (plus 4) at No. 26 MiamiDolphins are well rested. That might be only thing they have going right now.UPSET SPECIAL: TITANS, 22-20No. 13 Houston (plus 4 1-2) at No. 2 MinnesotaAnother chance for Texans to prove themselves against quality competition? Nope.VIKINGS, 20-13No. 21 New York Jets (plus 10) at No. 6 PittsburghRight now, Steelers can manhandle anybody.STEELERS, 30-17No. 19 Washington (plus 5) at No. 10 BaltimoreRedskins have won two straight without being very impressive.RAVENS, 21-20No. 30 Chicago (plus 6) at No. 28 IndianapolisColts experiment of no bye after London game works. Barely.COLTS, 27-23No. 4 Philadelphia (minus 3) at No. 27 DetroitThis one scares us. Are Eagles ready to be 4-0? Dont think so.LIONS, 28-27No. 8 Atlanta (plus 6) at No. 1 DenverThis one doesnt scare us, but Broncos defense does.BRONCOS, 24-13No. 11 Cincinnati (pick-em) at No. 12 DallasFinally, Dak Prescott faces a good defense. Not a good thing for Dallas.BENGALS, 28-14No. 25 San Diego (plus 3) at No. 9 OaklandChargers are mastering close defeats. Heres another.RAIDERS, 35-31No. 17 (tie) Buffalo (plus 2 1-2) at No. 14 Los AngelesBoth teams have made a nice turnaround. Rams grab NFC West lead.RAMS, 23-21No. 17 (tie) New York Giants (plus 6 1-2) at No. 7 Green BayUntil Giants get healthy in secondary, they are doomed against top QBs.PACKERS, 30-20No. 24 Tampa Bay (OFF) at No. 16 CarolinaNo line because of Cam Newtons uncertain status. Panthers win with or without him.PANTHERS, 23-21---This Week: Against spread (8-7). Straight up:(8-7)Season Totals: Against spread (28-32-2). Straight up: (36-26)Best Bet: 1/3 against spread, 2-2 straight up.Upset special: 2-2 against spread, 2-2 straight up.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLBobby Tolan Cardinals Jersey . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. Marcell Ozuna Cardinals Jersey .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. https://www.cheapcardinalsonline.com/564t-mike-matheny-jersey-cardinals.html . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. Red Schoendienst Cardinals Jersey . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. Ted Simmons Cardinals Jersey . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.SALT LAKE CITY -- Oregon has represented a bit of a benchmark for No. 11 Utah since the Utes entered the Pac-12 in 2011.The Ducks won the conference three straight times between 2009 and 2011 and again in 2014.They were the reigning champions last year when Utah went into Eugene and upset Oregon 62-20 for its most significant win since joining the league.Now the Ducks (3-7, 1-6 Pac-12) are in the midst of their worst season since 2006 and the Utes are approaching another milestone. Utah (8-2, 5-2, No. 12 CFP) will win the South Division for the first time in school history and play in its first Pac-12 championship game if it wins the final two games of the season, starting Saturday with Oregon.Theres not a chance that well be looking past those guys, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. Not a chance at all. Theyre very talented on offense. I mean, theyre Oregon.Theyre going to be wanting to avenge that loss, he added. We went into their house and had a big win. Certainly thats got to be on their mind. ... Were going to get their best shot. We know that and we better be ready.In a role reversal, Oregon is coming in as an underdog. The Ducks are coming to the end of a disappointing season where even winning out would leave them shy of bowl eligibility.The Utes are 13 +-point favorites and some Ducks assistant coaches have talked about using that as motivation.I havent directly said `underdog or really anything in that vein, Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said. Again, we just need to play together and play better. Play the complimentary football we talked a little bit about over the weekend. But whatever can stoke their fire. If that gets the defensive backs ready to go, or gets the defense to play with a chip on their shoulder, great.Things to watch when Utah hosts Oregon:EYES ON FREEMAN: Royce Freeman comes into Salt Lake City as the Ducks No.dddddddddddd. 2 all-time leading rusher with 3,800 career yards. The junior has run for 599 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He and the Oregon offense will face the No. 2 run defense in the Pac-12. The Utes are allowing just 119.7 yards per game.NO CONCERNS: Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert said the offense doesnt need to do anything special this week against the Utah defense dubbed Sack Lake City. That unit had 11 sacks last week and the Utes are tied for No. 5 in the nation with 35 sacks overall. Defensive end Hunter Dimicks 27 career sacks are one shy of the school record. I dont think Im going to have to be any more aware of them than I am every other week, Herbert said. I dont think its something we need to change dramatically.CUP OF JOE: Utah running back Joe Williams has run for 939 yards in just six games, including 864 yards in the four games since he came out of retirement. He is 61 yards shy of becoming the 13th player in school history to run for 1,000 yards in a season and his 156.5 yards per game put him on pace for a school record.DOUBT: Despite all of the past Oregon success and highly ranked recruiting classes, a 1-6 conference record has taken a toll. Theres certain fragments of guys that you can see arent 100 percent confident, Helfrich said. You cant fake that (confidence). You cant simulate that. The only way that happens is in training, and getting your confidence through true preparation, seeing yourself do it, seeing your teammates doing it and then just repeating it.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kareemcopeland . ' ' '