DENVER -- The Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs are a lot alike. Alvin Kamara Saints Jersey .Stout secondaries.Speedy sack-masters.Scuffling ground games.Problems protecting the passer.Quarterbacks seeking to regain their pre-injury form.Both teams are 7-3.One averages 22.2 points, the other 23.9.One surrenders 18.7 points a game, the other 18.9.The difference when they play Sunday night in Denver could come down to this: the Broncos are fresher .Benefiting from their late bye week, several players are healthy again, most notably cornerback Aqib Talib (back), defensive end Derek Wolfe (elbow), linebacker Brandon Marshall (hamstring), fullback Andy Janovich (hand) and quarterback Trevor Siemian (shoulder).The Chiefs are coming off a 19-17 loss at home to Tampa Bay that ended the five-game winning streak they put together coming off their bye in Week 5.With starters Talib and Wolfe back and DeMarcus Ware ready to increase his workload now that hes been back for a month from a broken arm, Denvers defense is at full strength for the first time since the opener. The mood around team headquarters reflects a growing confidence they can repeat last years spectacular stretch run that resulted in a championship.Im back, baby! Talib declared as he prepared to end his three-game hiatus. My legs feel extra fresh and I just feel like super-fresh right now.Wolfe missed Denvers last game with a hyperextended right elbow.I hated it, Wolfe said. I dont like watching the game in the first place. I like playing it. Standing on the sideline is miserable anyway. Just standing there for three hours isnt fun.The banged-up Chiefs arent in nearly as good of shape as the Broncos.Missing his third straight game is wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who hurt his groin on Nov. 6 against Jacksonville and hasnt played since. His absence has coincided with a pronounced drop in production by the offense.Outside linebacker Dee Ford, tied for the NFL lead with 10 sacks, is out with a pulled hamstring and defensive tackle Jaye Howard is out with a hip flexor.The Chiefs hope to get top cornerback Marcus Peters, who has eight takeaways, back from a hip pointer.Wed love to have them all, Kansas City defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said. Three weeks ago, wed have loved to have Justin (Houston), but it is what it is. ... We cant cancel. We cant completely change our system, so we adjust.The NFL originally had the Patriots-Jets game slated for Sunday night, but switched it to this terrific rivalry, which Kansas City leads 57-55.You have two great teams going at it with the same record -- thats what the people want to see, Von Miller said. Were going to give it to them playing a big-time game.Other things to watch for in the showdown where the winner can set its sights on pursuing a division crown and the loser might have to scramble for a wild card:MORE AIR POWER: The Broncos signing of Marlon Brown this week shows how much they want to use three-wide receiver sets. They have seven receivers and have been activating six most games. The problem is that opponents have sent extra pass rushers at Siemian when the Broncos get out of their two-tight end look.MORE MOBILITY: Before he got hurt in Week 4, Siemian regularly escaped pressure in the pocket and ran for first downs when his receivers were covered. You didnt see that the last three or four weeks, coach Gary Kubiak said. So, hopefully with that freshness, youll start to see some more of that again.SLUMPING SMITH: Alex Smith has struggled in his two games since sustaining a head injury in Indianapolis, leading Chiefs fans to pine for backup Nick Foles. Coach Andy Reid insists Smiths job isnt in jeopardy. However, Reid added: Im just worried that we execute better, and thats all the way around.STARK REMINDER: As far as locker room motivations, this one is much better than Jack Del Rios axe and stump in Jacksonville: The Broncos installed a trophy case with their three Lombardi trophies. Not that we need a reminder, but its cool to see them in there, Siemian said. And thats the goal, right?RED ZONE MENANCE: The Chiefs have seven takeaways inside their 20-yard line. Great secondaries, when they get their hands on the ball, they make you pay, Kubiak said. Good secondaries knock balls down and you go to the next play. K.C. has scored 72 points off turnovers, second to Denvers 93 points.---Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Michael Thomas Jersey . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Sheldon Rankins Jersey . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. http://www.authenticsaintssportsonline.c...ad-gold-jersey/ . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. CHICAGO -- Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers learned from last months blowout loss to Chicago.They turned that knowledge into their own road win Monday night.Lillard had 30 points and seven assists, CJ McCollum scored 24 and the Trail Blazers beat the Bulls 112-110 for their third consecutive victory.Portland had won five of six before Chicago visited the Moda Center on Nov. 15 and rolled to a 113-88 win. That loss started the Blazers on a bit of a slide, but they are rounding into form again.I think the game in Portland helped us prepare for what kind of game it was going to be, Lillard said. We saw how physical they were. They compete on both ends of the floor. ... We just came in with the right mindset, knowing what to expect.Allen Crabbe added 17 points for Portland, which opened a five-game trip with its fourth win in five games. Maurice Harkless had 11 and Evan Turner finished with 10, providing a nice boost in the fourth quarter.Im really pleased the way we responded after the way they beat us the first time, Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts said.Dwyane Wade scored 34 points for the Bulls, and Jimmy Butler finished with 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Robin Lopez had seven points and a season-high 14 rebounds.Chicago played without point guard Rajon Rondo, suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team. There was no public indication from the Bulls on what triggered Rondos suspension. He is expected to return Tuesday night in Detroit.Hes obviously very important with what we do in this building, coach Fred Hoiberg said. Hes a guy that really gets us out and establishes the tempo for our team, especially in the fourth quarter. Hes important for what we do, but thats not the reason we lost the game.Portland trailed 93-92 before Ed Davis converted a driving layup with 8:19 left, sparking an 11-0 run for the Trail Blazers. Turner made three straight jumpers and Lillard connected from long range to make it 103-93 with 5:55 left.Chicago closed to 108-105 on Nikola Mirotics two foul shots with 1:56 remaining, but Lillard made four free throws in the final seconds to help Portland hold on.We used a lot of energy coming back in the thirdd quarter and then from there we didnt make enough shots, Wade said. Archie Manning Jersey. Mirotic finished with 18 points and seven rebounds for the Bulls, who have dropped three of four. Isaiah Canaan had 10 points.Lillard scored 17 to help Portland to a 65-57 halftime lead. The Trail Blazers shot 55 percent in the first half, but the Bulls turned it up on defense to get back in the game in the third quarter.Mirotic capped an 18-4 run with two foul shots, giving Chicago a 75-70 lead with 5:44 left. The Bulls had an 87-83 advantage before McCollum made a 3-pointer in the final second of the period, trimming the lead to one heading into the final quarter.AMINUS RETURNPortland forward Al-Farouq Aminu had three points in 17 minutes in his return to the lineup after being sidelined by a left calf injury. Aminu started the first eight games of the season before he got hurt Nov. 8 against Phoenix.You could tell he had a little rust, but it was good to see him back on the court, Stotts said.TIP-INSTrail Blazers: C Mason Plumlee had 10 points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots. ... Portland went 13 for 18 from the free throw line, compared to 33 of 38 for Chicago.Bulls: Wade got his fourth assist in the fourth quarter to reach 5,000 for his career. ... F Doug McDermott practiced with the Windy City Bulls after he was assigned to the D-League for conditioning. McDermott hasnt played since Nov. 11 due to a concussion. Hopefully he has another good day tomorrow and well see what happens with Thursday, Hoiberg said. ... G Michael Carter-Williams, sidelined since Oct. 31 with left wrist and left knee injuries, also could head to the D-League soon. Hoiberg said he thinks Carter-Williams is going to be re-evaluated Tuesday.UP NEXTTrail Blazers: Visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. Portland is 1-4 in Milwaukee over the past five seasons.Bulls: Visit Detroit on Tuesday night for their first game of the season against the Pistons. 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