Few games get the juices flowing more than a showdown for first place. Throw in one of sports greatest rivalries, and the blood starts percolating.Thats what we could be in for on Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium when the Raiders (10-2) visit the Chiefs (9-3) for the AFC West lead.Going all the way back to the AFL, this is as good a rivalry as the NFL has, and when it has extra meaning -- watch out.Plus, the Chiefs have won four straight against the Raiders.Bring it on.Week 1 we were saying it was the most important thing, and as you get down the line they get bigger and bigger, Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith says.Thats the great thing about this time of the year, the stages get bigger and more meaningful. They save all these division games for the end, so itll be fun. Were looking forward to it. Itll be an awesome environment on top of a huge rivalry.Oakland (No. 3, AP Pro 32) has won six in a row, its last defeat coming at home to KC (No. 4 in AP Pro32). The Raiders are 4-point underdogs at one of the toughest buildings to succeed in, particularly this chilly time of year.Add in Denver also being a factor in the division ...It just shows how good our division is, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr says. I think its a cool thing to be honest. I think its awesome. Competition brings the best out of everybody. Its been like that all year. Weve all been right there with each other and weve all been pushing each other. Its fun, man.More fun for KC on Thursday.CHIEFS, 24-23KNOCKOUT LEAGUE TIP: Packers came through on the Lambeau tundra. COLTS will come through indoors.No. 23 New Orleans (plus 1) at No. 12 Tampa BayBuccaneers are contenders. Can you believe it?BEST BET: BUCS, 33-23No 6 Denver (plus 1) at No. 16 TennesseeTitans not quite ready for this big a step.UPSET SPECIAL: BRONCOS, 20-16No. 1 Dallas (minus 2 1-2) at No. 11 New York GiantsCowboys put division and perhaps a lot more to bed.COWBOYS, 24-16No. 19 Houston (plus 6) at No. 17 IndianapolisWouldnt be shocked to see Texans fall entirely out of AFC South race.COLTS, 22-14No. 10 Baltimore (plus 7) at No. 2 New England, Monday nightRavens will make it close, but wont pull off upset.PATRIOTS, 23-19No. 8 Pittsburgh (minus 1) at No. 20 BuffaloThat ugly non-playoff streak gets longer for Bills.STEELERS, 20-16No. 28 Chicago (plus 8) at No. 7 DetroitLions making believers out of people.LIONS, 30-13No. 16 Minnesota (minus 3) at No. 30 JacksonvilleThe Gus Bradley countdown continues, even against slumping Vikings.VIKINGS, 13-12No. 13 Washington (pick-em) at No. 24 PhiladelphiaRedskins need this one much more than spiraling Eagles.REDSKINS, 28-25No. 5 Seattle (minus 3) at No. 14 Green BaySeahawks are banged-up right now, but so are Packers.SEAHAWKS, 22-20No. 9 Falcons (minus 4 1-2) at No. 27 Los AngelesNow that Bucs have caught them, Falcons get things right -- this week, at least.FALCONS, 24-17No. 21 Arizona (plus 2 1-2) at No. 15 MiamiDid real Cardinals show up last week, and will they do so again? Hope so ...CARDINALS, 26-24No. 22 San Diego (plus 1) at No. 26 CarolinaCam will show up in proper attire this time.PANTHERS, 30-27No. 25 Cincinnati (minus 5 1-2) at No. 32 ClevelandMany are pointing to this as Browns only win. Were not.BENGALS, 28-16No. 29 New York Jets (plus 2 1-2) at No. 31 San FranciscoWho knows? Who cares? Neither team seemed to last week.JETS, 13-12---Last Week: Against spread (6-8-1). Straight up: (8-7)Season Totals: Against spread (90-92-7). Straight up: (112-78-2)Best Bet: 7-6 against spread, 8-5 straight up.Upset special: 5-7-1 against spread, 5-8 straight up---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Sheldrick Redwine Youth Jersey . LOUIS -- St. Denzel Ward Jersey . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. http://www.brownsrookiestore.com/Browns-Baker-Mayfield-Jersey/ . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Custom Cleveland Browns 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. Sione Takitaki Womens Jersey . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. LINCOLN, Neb. -- At Nebraska, where success in basketball has been scant, it helps if the coach has a sense of humor. Thats an area where Tim Miles is not lacking.I think were picked toward the bottom, which is where I like to be, so we can pleasantly surprise all our friends and colleagues in the room today, Miles said at Big Ten media day.The Cornhuskers looked to be on the verge of a breakthrough three years ago when they used a late run to finish fourth in the Big Ten and make the NCAA Tournament. Their follow-up: consecutive losing seasons and 12th- and 11th-place finishes in the conference.The outlook isnt bright for this season, either. The team sustained a major setback in the offseason when its best player, Andrew White III, left in late June and eventually landed at Syracuse. Whites departure, along with the graduation of Shavon Shields, depleted the roster of 33 points and 11 rebounds per game.Nebraska is left with only one double-digit scorer in senior Tai Webster , a promising sophomore class and a cast of newcomers who will have a lot of opportunity to play.The nonconference schedule is ambitious. The Huskers play Atlantic 10 co-champion Dayton, Clemson, in-state rival Creighton and pay a visit to Kansas.Miles said the schedule was put together with the expectation that White would be with the team.Its an elephant, Miles said. We built it thinking this was going to be our strongest, most complete team. Now were minus some outside shooting. It was still going to be a huge challenge.Some things to watch for in Nebraskas 2016-17 season:INJURY ISSUESLouisville transfer Anton Gill and freshman Isaiah Roby got late starts practicing. Gill had a procedure on his knee to alleviate chronic tendinitis, and Roby went into the preseason bothered by a stress reaction in his pelvis area. Freshman center Jordy Tshimanga returned to practice this weeek after missing four days with a mild concussion.ddddddddddddAN IN THE MIDDLEJordy Tshimanga , a 6-foot-11, 275-pound freshman, gives the Huskers the big man they desperately need. Hell be in the lineup right away. The Montreal native has had no problem fitting in with teammates with his big personality.Hes got the attitude that creates improvement, Miles said. He wants to get better every day. When I say that, its evident. Hell come and ask questions all the time, and not dumb ones; really thoughtful questions. Thats where you see his learning curve is going to be good.FILLING THE SEATS?Nebraska will start its fourth season at Pinnacle Bank Arena, and it will be worth watching if capacity crowds continue to show up. The Huskers are among eight programs to average 15,000 per game over the last three years and were 11th in the nation last season with an average of 15,430. Theyre 8-10 in home Big Ten games the last two years.EVER THE OPTIMISTMiles said there is huge growth potential for his team: Youll see coaches say, `I didnt know if wed get eighth in the league, and they get second in the league. You could say the same about the Huskers in 2014. Nobody thought wed be anything. We were picked 12th, got fourth and made the NCAA. You never know how its going to come together.GOOD RIDDANCE?Whites surprise announcement to transfer caused hard feelings. Nebraskas players apparently have gotten over it, though.Our guys, theyre like, `Youre with us or against us. I like that about them. That didnt come from me, Miles said. Theyre a good group. When they have that ownership, thats when you have your best teams. I expect this team will exceed expectations.---Online:AP college basketball website: http://collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '