Clanregeln » second straight win over a highly ranked opponen

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos dazzling defense has a fatal flaw: It keeps showing up late.The Broncos (4-2), who host the Houston Texans (4-2) on Monday night in Brock Osweilers much-anticipated homecoming , have surrendered first-drive scores in all but one game so far. Even in that one, they allowed a long touchdown drive on the second series.Last year we gave up 18.5 points per game, and this year we are giving up 18 points per game, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips noted. Its not good when you get behind early like that, so its something were obviously trying not to do.The Broncos have held their last two opponents -- Atlanta and San Diego -- well below their scoring average but lost both games. The Falcons came into Denver averaging 39.75 points and beat the Broncos 23-16 even though Matt Ryan completed just 15 passes.The Chargers were averaging 30.4 points and beat Denver 21-13 even though they gained just 92 yards in the second half after jumping ahead 10-0 when the Broncos had taken just five snaps.Were giving up the same amount of points, but youd rather not give them up the first series of the game where it hurts your team as far as mentally getting behind, Phillips said. We played well after that. Were addressing it. It still ends up the same number of points, but like I said, its not the way you want to do it.The Broncos are having a hard time pinpointing the reasons for their slow starts. But each of their opponents has pulled off a play in that initial drive that it hadnt shown before playing Denver, like Cincinnatis counter that resulted in a 50-yard run by Jeremy Hill.Asked for the key to starting fast, linebacker Brandon Marshall admitted: I have no idea, to be honest with you. Ive been around football a long time and they say weve got to start fast. It starts in practice, whatever the case may be. Its tough.Because you get out there and of course everybodys juiced, everybodys amped up. But an offense scripts the first 15 plays, so they might throw in a couple of wrinkles in that you havent seen. ... When you look at our offense and you look at (Broncos coach Gary) Kubiak, his first 15 plays are always excellent every week.The Broncos first drives this year havent gone nearly as well as their opponents.They fumbled away against Carolina.They missed a field goal against Indianapolis.They punted against Cincinnati, Atlanta and San Diego.The only time they scored on their first drive was against Tampa Bay after Aqib Talibs interception set up the offense at the Buccaneers 11. Siemian found Demaryius Thomas for the score on his first snap, but the Bucs promptly responded with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive.Running back C.J. Anderson said its incumbent upon the Broncos offense to start faster, too.If Denvers defense gives up a long, 12-play drive, we cant go three and out, Anderson said. Thats what weve been doing. Or weve been getting a first down, moving the chains once and then we go three downs and were out. We definitely cant do that. If someone has a 12-play drive, we answer with a 12-play drive.Pass rusher DeMarcus Ware, who aims to return from a broken right forearm next weekend against San Diego, said he thinks the Broncos will get off to a faster start against the Texans based on how well he saw them practice this week. He said he saw better energy and more attention to detail from the start, something hes counting on seeing again Monday night.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapletonAir Force 270 China .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. Air Force 1 Blue Cheap . 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. http://www.airforce1storesale.com/fake-air-force-1-green-outlet.html . Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. Fake Air Force 1 For Sale . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. Air Force 1 Blue Store . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St.NORMAN, Okla. -- With his best receiver sidelined, Baker Mayfield still boosted his Heisman Trophy resume.Mayfield passed for 288 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 7 Oklahoma defeated No. 11 Oklahoma State 38-20 on Saturday in a matchup that decided the Big 12 champion and likely guaranteed the Sooners a trip to the Sugar Bowl.Mayfield performed well throughout, despite finishing the game without Biletnikoff Award finalist Dede Westbrook. The speedster caught four passes for 111 yards before being knocked out of the game in the second quarter on a crushing hit by Oklahoma State safety Jordan Sterns. Mayfield threw two touchdown passes after Westbrook left the game, and the offense didnt miss a beat, finishing with 629 yards.He was just fantastic, he was just exactly what he needed to be, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said of Mayfield. He gave our guys chances to make plays, he handled the ball great himself, had a few key runs for us, threw the ball. The guys really, really talented. To be able to do what he did, theres not many guys who could do what he did today.Mayfield finished fourth in the Heisman balloting last year, but he didnt get an invitation to New York for the ceremony. He wants to go this year, and he wants Westbrook to get an invitation, too.After the game, Mayfield wore a pin from the school with both his and Westbrooks names on it. Mayfield crossed out his own name with a marker to make sure Westbrook wasnt forgotten.Dede is the best player in the country, Mayfield said. I still want to hold Dedes hand all the way to New York.Mayfield should be a Heisman front-runner heading into next season, too. He said after the game that he plans to return for his senior season.Coming back, be here for another year, he said. Opportunity for a three-peat (Big 12). The ultimate goal is why I came here -- to win a national title.Samaje Perine rambled for 239 yards on a career-high 37 carries and Joe Mixon caught a touchdown pass and busted a 79-yard touchdown run for the Sooners (10-2, 9-0 Big 12, No.dddddddddddd 9 College Football Playoff).It was the second straight time the teams met in the regular-season finale to determine the conference champion. Oklahoma beat the Cowboys 58-23 last season.In this years showdown, Mason Rudolph completed just 11 of 25 passes for 186 yards for Oklahoma State (9-3, 7-2, No. 10 CFP). His top target for the season, James Washington, caught just two passes for 50 yards on eight targets.Just a rough day, Rudolph said. Ill take all the responsibility for the lack of production, especially in the second half. Obviously, it needed to be better.THE TAKEAWAYOKLAHOMA STATE: It was an especially bitter defeat for the Cowboys, who have become so close to turning the tide against their biggest rival. The Cowboys, who last won the Big 12 in 2011, fell to 2-10 against the Sooners under coach Mike Gundy. Even with Westbrook out and Perine being knocked out briefly after a helmet-to-helmet hit, the Cowboys couldnt keep the momentum.They made too many big plays, Sterns said. Thats a great football team with big playmakers.OKLAHOMA: The Sooners added a second straight win over a highly ranked opponent, but it likely wasnt enough to get them into the College Football playoff for the second straight year.Probably, realistically, more needed to happen last week to give ourselves a better opportunity, but thats past, Stoops said. Whatever theyre going to decide, theyll decide.POLL IMPLICATIONSOKLAHOMA STATE: Likely wont fall too far with a road loss against a Top 10 team , especially with so many other top teams playing each other.OKLAHOMA: Not much space to move up. The Sooners were already ahead of Colorado, which lost to Washington on Friday.UP NEXTOKLAHOMA STATE: Bowl game to be determined.OKLAHOMA: The Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2 unless the Sooners make the College Football Playoff.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP . ' ' '