Following the most impressive win of the early NFL season, the Atlanta Falcons arent exactly being rewarded.One week after going into Denver and handling the defending league champion Broncos 23-16, the Falcons stayed out west and headed to Seattle. Coming back with a road victory over the Seahawks (3-1 and coming off a bye) would stamp Atlanta (4-1) as a Super Bowl favorite.Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!Atlanta started 6-1 last season and finished 8-8. While this team lks more balanced, more polished and more dangerous than the 2015 version, it still has plenty to prove. On the scoreboard, and in the standings.I think that we are mentally tougher, a more resilient group for sure, Matt Ryan says.You learn from that. Obviously, we started fast last year and things didnt go our way in the second half of the season. I think what you learn is that the difference between wins and losses is a handful of plays and youve got to be on the right end of them. Weve done a really gd job of being opportunistic early in the season.No kidding. Ryan leads the NFL with a 121.6 passer rating, and Julio Jones has averaged a phenomenal 21.5 yards a catch. This is a matchup of the Falcons No. 1-ranked offense against the Seahawks top-ranked defense. Very juicy indeed.You get caught up in the peaks and the valleys just like Pete (Carroll) always says, star cornerback Richard Sherman notes, treat everything like a championship opportunity. You always treat it like youre playing the No. 1 offense. You start treating it like the No. 32 offense, and if the No. 32 offense, they (might) go put up 500 yards on you because theyre still pros, theyre still getting paid to do this. So we dont get caught up in any of that.But Sherman did acknowledge that facing Jones and Ryan would be fun.The action began Thursday night with San Diegos 21-13 home victory over Denver.Philip Rivers threw for 178 yards and a touchdown, passing Hall of Famer Dan Fouts to become San Diegos career passing leader.The victory may have saved embattled coach Mike McCoys job. The Chargers (2-4) were coming off a mistake-filled loss at Oakland.The Super Bowl champion Broncos (4-2) were coached by special teams crdinator Joe DeCamillis after Gary Kubiak was ordered by doctors to sit out because of a migraine condition that mimics strokes.Off this week are Minnesota, at 5-0 the NFLs only unbeaten team, and Tampa Bay (2-3).Dallas (4-1) at Green Bay (3-2)There remain enough doubters about the Cowboys that this is another prove-it game. The way Dak Prescott is throwing it (155 passes without a pick) and Ezekiel Elliott is running it (league-high 546 yards), Dallas is proving you can win behind rkies .There are certainly a lot of areas where we have to get better, coach Jason Garrett says, but were doing a gd job coming off the ball, getting into blocks and finding places for runners to run. The runners are running well.Still, the Packers hold opponents to 42.8 yards rushing per game. If the Cowboys, 4-11 at the Packers, come close to their 155.2 yards per game on the ground, it will be impressive. And possibly decisive.San Francisco (1-4) at Buffalo (3-2)With Colin Kaepernick now the starter, hes going to attract attention for more than his refusal to stand during the national anthem. It tk a four-game slide with Blaine Gabbert showing little at quarterback for coach Chip Kelly to make the change.We need to move the ftball offensively and thats why we made the decision to do what we were doing, Kelly says. So, hopefully we can get a little more consistency on the offensive side of the ball and thats what I think we need.Critical things in third down I think have been the things that weve really tried to emphasize and work on as we get moving forward here. Thats what were hoping for and thats why we made the move.Buffalo is hoping to keep streaking after going 3-0 since elevating Anthony Lynn to offensive crdinator and firing Greg Roman.Cincinnati 2-3) at New England (4-1)Tom Bradys first regular-season game in Foxborough after serving his four-game Deflategate suspension. Listen for wild cheers of support -- and some nasty chants about Roger Gdell -- and lk for Brady to fill the air with regulation ftballs. Many of those are likely to land in the hands of Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and a new favorite, TE Martellus Bennett, who had three TD catches last week.The Bengals were humiliated in Dallas, and they havent won in New England in 30 years. Brady is 5-1 against them with 12 TDs and a 101.2 passer rating.Kansas City (2-2) at Oakland (4-1)One of the NFLs great rivalries resumes -- this is game 115, KC leads 60-52-2 -- with the Chiefs needing to maintain their dominance in the AFC West. Theyve won three straight vs. Oakland and six straight within the division. Alex Smith loves seeing the Raiders on the other side of the line of scrimmage: Hes 7-1 with 18 TDs, three interceptions and a 106.1 passer rating in this matchup.These are the new Raiders, though, formidable and, at last, a threat to make the playoffs, a place they last visited 14 years ago. They rank fourth in total offense, a necessity considering they are last in defense.Philadelphia (3-1) at Washington (3-2)Another long-term rivalry (Washington leads 84-73-5), and this one should say a lot about the NFC East race.Philly stumbled at Detroit after losing its momentum from a 3-0 start by having an early bye. Rkie quarterback Carson Wentz has been terrific, but its the Eagles defensive performance that has been just as crucial. They havent allowed a touchdown in the second half and just six points overall.Washington dropped its first two games, but Kirk Cousins throwing to DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Jamison Crowder and Jordan Reed has sparked the attack.Pittsburgh (4-1) at Miami (1-4)For the first time, twins Maurkice (Steelers) and Mike Pouncey (Dolphins) are opponents. Their showings on the offensive line will be critical, especially for Miami, which has been awful with the ball, struggles to protect Ryan Tannehill, and is a minus-7 in turnover margin; only the Jets are worse.Just what Ben Roethlisberger needs is another dangerous receiver.Well, hes got one: Sammie Coates is averaging an NFL-best 22.1 yards per catch, with at least one reception of 40 yards or more in each game. Big Ben leads the league with 15 touchdown passes, the most through five games in Steelers history, and WR Antonio Brown is tops with 37 catches.Baltimore (3-2) at New York Giants (2-3)Unlike their AFC North brethren, the Ravens have stalled on offense, leading to the firing this week of crdinator Marc Trestman.Barring falling into an early hole, lk for plenty of balance with the ball from Baltimore, with Terrance West toting the ball.Odell Beckham Jr. finally got into the end zone last week at Green Bay, but that didnt do much for New York, which has dropped three in a row.Even more worrisome: New York is minus-7 in turnover differential, with only three takeaways. All that money spent on the defense has yielded minimal returns thus far.Los Angeles (3-2) at Detroit (2-3)The Lions might have benefited from a missed call by officials in their comeback win against the Eagles. They expect DE Ezekiel Ansah (ankle) back after missing three-plus games, and cornerback Darius Slay comes off a strong performance in which he had a clinching interception.To get to .500, Detroit will need to figure out Todd Gurley. The 2015 Offensive Rkie of the Year went for 140 yards on 16 carries and had two TDs in last years win over the Lions in St. Louis. Gurley has yet to break out this season, though, with only a 2.7-yard average. But he has rushed for three scores.Indianapolis (2-3) at Houston (3-2)Given the other matchups this Sunday, its a shame the flex schedule hasnt begun yet.Still, this is for first place in a division, albeit the mediocre AFC South.The Colts are 23-5 against Houston, and Andrew Luck has won 14 of his past 15 starts within the division. He might need a big game because Indy is not likely to shut down receivers DeAndre Hopkins, Jaelen Strong and rkie Will Fuller.New York Jets (1-4) at Arizona (2-3), Monday nightThe Jets crucible of five 2015 playoff teams in six weeks ends here. It hasnt been pretty, and with Carson Palmer expected back from his concussion, the Cardinals will be a difficult opponent.But Arizona also has lost both starting guards, Mike Iupati and Evan Mathis, and New York has a gd defensive line.Jets coach Todd Bowles is close with Cardinals coach Bruce Arians, having played for Arians at Temple (1982-85) and serving as his defensive crdinator with Arizona in 2013-14.Jacksonville (1-3) at Chicago (1-4)Back from London after their first win and then a bye, the Jaguars believe they could make some inroads in the AFC South. Getting by Chicago is a must.But they are 4-21 on the road in coach Gus Bradleys four seasons, including 0-6 against NFC teams.The Bears have gotten gd enough play from backup QB Brian Hoyer -- three straight 300-yard games, six TDs, no picks -- that Jay Cutler might not get back his job once fully healthy. Helping Hoyer has been RB Jordan Howard, whos second among NFL rkies with 296 yards rushing.Carolina (1-4) at New Orleans (1-3)How the mighty have fallen. Carolinas chances of winning a fourth consecutive NFC South are fading after losing their first two division matchups. A third one could be devastating, and they go against the prolific Drew Brees with an underachieving secondary and defense on the whole.But at least they will have 2015 league MVP Cam Newton back at quarterback after he missed the loss to Tampa Bay with a concussion.As always, New Orleans chances ride on Brees arm. He seems more comfortable every week with his current group of targets: Brandin Cks, Willie Snead, Coby Fleener and rkie Michael Thomas.Cleveland (0-5) at Tennessee (2-3)Down Nashville way, theyre singing optimistic songs about the Titans in the AFC South. Dont laugh t hard: a win and a Colts victory creates a three-way tie at the top.The Titans can run the ball, with DeMarco Murray second in the NFL with 461 yards rushing and 633 yards from scrimmage. Murray leads everyone with 33 first downs.Cleveland is gutsy, but so banged-up. The Browns believe this is a gd opportunity to get off the schneid, but theyll need to figure out how to close out a victory if they get in position.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCheap Lebrons From China . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you lk like a high schl offence. Wholesale Lebrons China . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. http://www.cheaplebronsfromchina.com/ . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. Cheap Lebrons Online . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. Cheap Lebrons For Sale . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle.SAN FRANCISCO -- Two teams that would be National League first-round playoff opponents square off Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series that will feature neither teams staff ace.The Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants will take identical 59-42 records onto the field for the first of seven games they will play coast to coast over the next 11 days.The Nationals, who lead the NL East by four games over the Miami Marlins, rode ace Stephen Strasburgs strong seven-inning outing to a 4-1 win over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday before boarding a flight to San Francisco.The Giants, meanwhile, retained a 2 1/2-game lead in the NL West despite a 2-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, a game in which ace Madison Bumgarner lost despite allowing only two runs (one earned) in eight innings.By virtue of both having pitched Wednesday, neither Strasburg nor Bumgarner is scheduled to start again until next week.Interestingly, both are tentatively slated to pitch a week from Sunday, when the Giants and Nationals wrap up a three-game series in Washington.Thursdays first 2016 meeting of the division leaders will pit Giants center Denard Span against his former team for the first time since he left as a free agent over the winter.Washington might finally have found an adequate replacement atop the batting order in Trea Turner, the offensive star the Wednesday win with three hits and three RBI.He is batting .297 in eight games as the Nationals leadoff hitter after the earlier Span replacements struggled at a .214 clip.Hes fun to watch, Strasburg said of Turner after Wednesdays game. I was just excited the other day to finally watch him hit a triple. I was waiting for that for such a long time, just to see him run.The Nationals will be catching Span in his hottest stretch of the season. The Giants leadoff man has recorded two more hits in nine of his past 16 games, raising his average to .256.The Nationals will begin the San Francisco portion of the seven-game sequeence by sending right-hander Tanner Roark to the mound.ddddddddddddoark has been roughed up on a regular basis over his past nine starts, allowing four or more runs on four different occasions, including in his last outing against the San Diego Padres.Roark gave up a pair of home runs among four hits in five innings against the Padres, allowing all San Diegos scoring in 5-3 Washington loss last Friday.Home runs were plentiful in the Giants just-completed series with the Cincinnati Reds, during which San Francisco pitchers allowed eight long balls in three games.That was the most home runs allowed by the Giants in a three-game series in AT&T Park history.The homers led directly to a pair of Reds wins, which dropped San Franciscos record since the All-Star break to 2-9.Weve been through this plenty of times, and we know what its about, Bumgarner said of the Giants struggles of late. Things will turn around for us.Right-hander Johnny Cueto (13-2) gets the call for the Giants on Thursday. In his most recent outing, he allowed one run, which was unearned, in six innings Saturday during a no-decision against the Yankees at New York. San Francisco won 2-1 in 12 innings.Outside of the pitching matchups, second base will be a position of focus in the weekend series.Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy smacked his 20th home run of the season in the series finale against Cleveland. He will take the field Thursday with the NLs best batting average (.354).The Giants, meanwhile, have gone 23 games without their star second baseman, Joe Panik, who is recovering from a concussion. San Francisco has gone just 10-13 during that stretch.Panik began a rehab stint at Triple-A Sacramento earlier this week, and Giants manager Bruce Bochy hopes to have his 2015 All-Star, a .300 hitter in each of the previous two seasons, back in the lineup by the weekend. ' ' '