The biggest defensive star in the Lone Star state is out. Thats a void for the Houston Texans as big as, well, J.J. Watts persona.In the mediocre AFC South, which Houston (2-1) leads, losing its best player could bring the defending division champion back to the field -- as uninspiring as the Titans, Colts and Jaguars might be.With the Texans coming off a no-show at New England, visiting Tennessee could be feeling pretty frisky about its chances Sunday.Im very disappointed about that, says Tennessee left tackle Taylor Lewan, who would have matched up a lot with Watt.Ive said before if you want to be the best youve got to go against the best. I want to be the best left tackle in this league. I want the opportunity to go against all the best guys.Houstons best on D for now will have to be Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus.Jadeveon is playing awesome, Whitney, Lewan adds. So a lot of those guys, theyre going to give me all theyve got. Ive got to come with my `A game for sure.The Texans didnt even bring their `D game to Foxborough in prime time . That 27-0 rout was more of an `F.And now, no J.J.When you have that kind of ability and that kind of playmaking its hard to replace with one guy, Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel notes. So were going to ask all the guys on defense to pick it up, to put a little extra in it and see if we can gain some of those plays that J.J. used to make.The action began Thursday night with Cincinnatis 22-7 home victory over Miami. A.J. Green had 10 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown, and the Bengals (3-1) were inspired by linebacker Vontaze Burficts return from a suspension.During the first three quarters, Green had 166 yards on catches while Miami (1-3) had 152 total yards.Burfict was suspended by the NFL for the first three games because of his illegal hits. The linebacker knocked down a pass and had three tackles.Philadelphia (3-0) and Green Bay (2-1) have the first byes of the season.Indianapolis (1-2) vs. Jacksonville (0-3) at LondonThe Jaguars make their annual trip to Wembley, and you have to wonder if Londoners would like to see the agreement with Jacksonville voided.A loss in this early kickoff (9:30 a.m. EDT) could push Jags coach Gus Bradley closer to the edge of unemployment, what with higher expectations the team (and owner Shahid Khan) had entering the schedule.Indianapolis has won six of the past seven in this series and has swept the Jaguars six times since becoming division foes in 2002. Frank Gore needs 88 yards rushing to pass Hall of Famer Marcus Allen (12,243), Colts rushing leader Edgerrin James (12,246), Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (12,279) and Hall of Famer Jim Brown (12,312) to become No. 9 on the NFL career list.Buffalo (1-2) at New England (3-0)While most everyone obsesses over the QB situation in Foxborough, the fact is New Englands defense and running game have turned downright nasty. In their final game before Tom Brady returns, the Patriots get their, uh, patsies: Buffalo has lost eight of the past nine meetings.Bills coach Rex Ryan gets more pleasure out of beating New England than any other opponent. If the Bills dont find a passing game or clamp down on opposing passers, theyre unlikely to find success.Denver (3-0) at Tampa Bay (1-2)Most everyone already believed in the Von Miller-led Denver defense. Now its quarterback Trevor Siemian making folks turn their heads and shout praise. Its a somewhat manufactured statistic, but still, Siemian became the first quarterback to throw for 300 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in his first road start, a win at Cincinnati.Few teams have been as inconsistent as Tampa Bay, and facing that mighty D without your best running back, Doug Martin, is a major obstacle.New York Giants (2-1) at Minnesota (3-0), Monday nightTwo things the Giants swore theyd improved over 2015 was an ability to finish, and their overall defense. In last weeks loss to Washington, they fell short in both areas, and they were wildly undisciplined. Yes, Ben McAdoos Giants looked eerily similar to the final version of Tom Coughlins Giants.Now they visit the Vikings, whose defense could give the Broncos a challenge as best in show. Minnesota doesnt do much with the ball, but can stop just about anyones run or pass game.Oakland (2-1) at Baltimore (3-0)The Ravens are one of the NFLs most pleasant surprises so far, in part because theyre relatively healthy after an epidemic of injuries in 2015. Their defense isnt reminiscent of the Ray Lewis-led units, which doesnt diminish its strong performances one bit.Oaklands work on D, meanwhile, has been as bad as anyones, and now the Raiders make their third long-distance trip in four weeks.Kansas City (2-1) at Pittsburgh (2-1)The Chiefs have lost all three visits to Heinz Field, last winning in the Steel City in 1986. If they can force eight turnovers again like they did against the Jets last weekend, that string of failure will end.Coming off their worst loss in 17 years -- that 34-3 phlop in Philly -- at least the Steelers get back star running back LeVeon Bell from a three-game suspension. But the running game was not a problem with DeAngelo Williams in for Bell.The two-back system would work here, but Bell is so dynamic when he plays the game I dont want him to come off the field, Williams says.Carolina (1-2) at Atlanta (2-1)With the other three members of the NFC South owning losing records, the Falcons could put themselves in great shape with a win over the divisions three-time defending champ. Also remember that Atlanta was 6-1 in 2015 and wound up 8-8.Carolina, of course, was 15-1 a year ago and went to the Super Bowl. If the Panthers dont protect Cam Newton better -- hes been sacked 12 times and hit plenty more -- another such trip is unlikely. So is a win in the ATL.Los Angeles (2-1) at Arizona (1-2)Two teams that once represented St. Louis meet in an important early NFC West matchup. The Cardinals are tough at home, but the Rams beat them in Arizona last season, and after struggling for two games, their offense came alive in a win over Tampa Bay.Arizona must beat the habit of starting slowly; the Cardinals havent scored in the first quarter yet. One good idea might be feeding star receiver Larry Fitzgerald. He has more receptions (153) and TDs (16) against the Rams than against any other franchise.Seattle (2-1) at New York Jets (1-2)Pete Carroll has a dilemma. Given the knee injury to Russell Wilson and the prospect of a bye next week, does the Seahawks coach sit his star quarterback and hope the running game and defense can sneak out of the Meadowlands with a win?One of many things that could make Jets fans shudder is having to take on Seattles aggressive, physical defense a week after Ryan Fitzpatrick was intercepted six times by Kansas City.Seattle is still definitely up there when you think or talk about the defense in this league, Fitzpatrick says. Theyve probably been the standard for the longest, its a lot of the same guys, same scheme and its tough.Cleveland (0-3) at Washington (1-2)So the Browns hire a substitute placekicker when the regular guy goes down in practice. That replacement, Cody Parkey, misses three field goals, including a potential winner on the final play of regulation.The Giants handed Washington a win last week, and the Redskins could be undermanned. They finished that contest minus two starters in the secondary and two on the offensive line, losing DB DeAngelo Hall and C Kory Lichtensteiger to injured reserve.Dallas (2-1) at San Francisco (1-2)A lot of silly questions arising in Big D about, uh, Big D -- as in Dak. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has impressed while Tony Romo is sidelined, making Cowboys fans surmise the team is better off keeping him in the lineup when Romo is ready. Lets see how Prescott fares against a solid defense, which he has yet to face.And he wont this week, either.Ive been very impressed with him, 49ers coach Chip Kelly says. I think not only his athletic ability, but his poise and kind of sense of calm that he has about him in terms of playing the game. It doesnt seem like its happening too fast for him and hes done a great job in the first three games.New Orleans (0-3) at San Diego (1-2)Despite some key injuries, the Chargers havent looked too bad. Now they get to face their former QB, record-setting Drew Brees.Brees began his career in San Diego in 2001, left for Saints after 2005. This will be Brees first game at Qualcomm Stadium since suffering a right shoulder injury trying to recover his fumble in the 2005 finale. Brees became a free agent, signing with New Orleans, while Philip Rivers became the Chargers starter. Brees has led Saints to victories over San Diego in London in 2008 and New Orleans in 2012.Detroit (1-2) at Chicago (0-3)Once a great rivalry, theres not much to recommend in this one.Detroit has won six straight in the series, but could be short-handed with DL Ezekiel Ansah (left ankle) and LB DeAndre Levy (quadriceps) hobbling. Marvin Jones, the NFLs leading receiver, had a career-high 205 yards and two TDs last week in a loss to Green Bay.Bears QB Jay Cutler (sprained right thumb) sat out last weeks loss to Dallas.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Nike Shoes Outlet Nz . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Nike Shoes Clearance Nz . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. http://www.nikeshoessalenz.com/ . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. Wholesale Nike Shoes Nz . -- 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. Nike Shoes Nz Sale . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. LILLEHAMMER, Norway -- Erin Hamlin and Raychel Germaine took the top two spots in the womens race and the U.S. doubles team of Matt Mortensen and Jayson Terdiman were won Sunday at the Lillehammer Cup.Also for the U.S., Tucker West was second in the mens race. The Lillehammer Cup is the unofficial start of the international luge season, capping a week of training for many of the worlds national teams in Norway.It was fun. We definitely treated it as a warm-up race for the World Cup season but it felt good to get into a bit of a race mode so soon, Hamlin said. It was a really busy week and the team, as a whole, slid really well. It was probably the best first week that I can think of, as far as sliding level and quality.It was a significant moment for Mortensen and Terdiman, who were World Cup contenders last winter.This morning was one that I certainly will not forget, Terdiman wrote on his Facebook page. After a long week of training (332 runs in total), Matthew and I finished the week with our first international victory.dddddddddddd This is just an exhibition race, but with some serious competition in the field.Germaine was racing for the first time since having shoulder surgery last spring. Also in the womens race, Brittney Arndt was fourth and Emily Sweeney was fifth for the U.S.Another U.S. womens luger, Summer Britcher -- fifth on the womens World Cup circuit last winter -- entered the mens race Sunday and finished 18th against 25 male sliders. Chris Mazdzer, a World Cup race winner last winner, was fifth in the mens event.The U.S. contingent is expected back at its home base in Lake Placid, New York on Monday. Training at the track on Mount Van Hoevenberg is likely to begin next week, once the icing process at the venue is completed. ' ' '