Regeln » a victory, the Rebels could lock up second place in the

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants are facing something new heading into their game with the Chicago Bears.For the first time in years, the Giants (6-3) are a legitimate playoff contender. They have won four in a row and are facing somewhat new questions preparing to play the struggling Bears (2-7) Sunday at MetLife Stadium.Is this a trap game for a team that hasnt made the postseason since 2011? Are they going to look past Chicago and even Cleveland (0-10) the following week and assume they are going to be 8-3 heading into the final five games?Giants coach Ben McAdoo doesnt want to hear the questions. His team is coming off an emotional Monday night win against the Bengals, and he insists that any team can step up and win. His job is to make sure the Giants are ready with a short week of preparation.You watch the film, McAdoo said. Theyre better than their record. You can take their record and you can throw it out that window over there. It doesnt matter. You have to prepare for what you see on film. Theyre a dangerous offense and their defense is pretty dang good.Two weeks ago, the Bears played very well in beating the Vikings, a team that ran the Giants off the field. Last week, Chicago was pathetic against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Coach John Fox said there is still time for the Bears to make a run.I think that our division is pretty clumped up, Fox said. Believe it or not, we are only three games out of the division lead, so I think we still have a lot of games in there. I think we have only one AFC opponent left.I have been there before. One year in Carolina we were 1-7 and finished 7-9. If we win the last game, we finish 8-8 and are in the playoffs.The Giants cant afford to overlook either the Bears or Browns because their schedule finishes with games against Pittsburgh, Dallas, Detroit, Philadelphia and Washington. Only the Steelers have a record under .500, and every one of those teams is in the playoff chase.Its not a trap game because this is an NFL team, Giants left guard Marshall Newhouse said. I think around here and anywhere where people have been around long enough will tell you that if you dont bring your stuff, people are going to beat you, and they will embarrass you.Things to watch Sunday:CUT-TING IT: From a triumphant return against Minnesota to a colossal flop against Tampa Bay , the past two games have summarized Jay Cutlers eight seasons with the Bears.He went from leading them to a win over NFC North leader Minnesota in his return from a sprained right thumb to delivering one of his worst performances.He threw interceptions on consecutive passes in the first quarter against the Buccaneers, the second one leading to a field goal. He fumbled twice -- losing one at Tampa Bay 4 -- and got sacked four times. Cutler did that against a team that gave up more than 1,000 yards in total offense in back-to-back losses to Oakland and Atlanta.KICKING MATCHUP: Giants placekicker Robbie Gould is the Bears all-time leading scorer. He was released by Chicago a week before the start of the season and Connor Barth was signed to replace him. Barth had been let go by New Orleans.Gould was signed by the Giants on Oct. 22 after revelations about the extent of the domestic abuse allegations against Josh Brown. Gould has made his only field goal attempt and all nine extra points in three games. Barth is 12 of 15 on field goals and perfect on 15 PATs.I was talking to coach McAdoo at practice, what do I have to be upset about?, Gould said. I got to play with one team for 11 years with a lot of great teammates, with a lot of good memories and they made a decision. I am really happy here, I love being a Giant.NO JEFFERY, LONG: The bad news continued to mount for the Bears. Top receiver Alshon Jeffery was suspended for violating the NFLs policy on performance enhancing substances, and star guard Kyle Long went on injured reserve because of a right ankle injury.Youre losing two leaders on the team, cornerback Tracy Porter said. Alshon and Kyle, they both play at a very high level, so to lose those two key pieces, not just offensively but their presence -- it does a lot for the team, the guys really look up to them.UP FRONT: Bears outside linebacker Pernell McPhee boasted that his defense was going to get to Eli Manning and sack him. The Giants offensive line heard the comment, so it will be interesting to see if Manning stays clean.New York has allowed 13 sacks this season. The Bears have gotten 24.---AP Sports Writer Andrew Seligman in Chicago contributed to this report.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and -http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLWholesale Custom White Sox Shirts . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. Custom Joe Crede Jersey . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. http://www.customwhitesoxjersey.com/custom-nellie-fox-jersey-large-71p.html . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Paul Konerko Jersey Large . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Nellie Fox Jersey Large . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4.BOISE, Idaho -- Boise State running back Jeremy McNichols admitted that last season he didnt spend as much time in the film room or with his offensive line. Hes changed that this year and its paying big dividends.McNichols rushed for 206 yards and a career-high four touchdowns to power No. 22 Boise State past UNLV 42-25 on Friday night.Boise State (10-1, 6-1) kept its Mountain West title hopes alive and reached 10 victories for the second time in three seasons under head coach Bryan Harsin. After passing Western Michigan in the College Football Playoff rankings this week, the Broncos also remained in contention for a Cotton Bowl berth.McNichols set a school record for the most 200-yard rushing games in a single season with his third.You have to know your offensive line well, McNichols said. And last year I didnt watch as much film with them or spend as much time around them. But I changed that this year.Now even at our walk throughs, Ill go over and see what theyre talking about. Having a good relationship with your offensive line is huge. When they mean something and you show them they mean something, they feel like they scored a touchdown with you. They run down the field to try and catch me. Its fun.The Rebels (4-7, 3-4), who lost for fifth time in five tries at Boise State, didnt have much fun trying to stop McNichols, who entered the game as the nations fifth-leading rusher.(McNichols) did a good job of bouncing to the outside and breaking contain, UNLV coach Tony Sanchez said. We had him dead to rights a few times, but just werent able to tackle in space. And that killed us.UNLVs offense, which was missing leading receiver Devonte Boyd due to a broken hand suffered last week, didnt have any better luck either, managing only 302 yards of total offense, their second-lowest output of the season.Harsin said he planned on emphasizing the ground game against UNLV, but things went better than expected.We came in here with the game plan to run the ball, Harsin said, But the way Jeremy was just running it, when hes hot like that, you want to keep getting it to him.McNichols, a junior who could follow in the footsteps of former teammate and Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi and enter the draft after the season, said his last regular season game at home seemed different.I said before the game that something felt special about tonight, McNichols said. When you get in that groove, you feel like every touch could go the distance. And it felt like that tonight.After UNLV converted a fumble into a field goal on Boise States openingg possession, the Broncos went on a 19-play, 74-yard drive -- their longest of the season -- and took a 7-3 lead on quarterback Brett Rypiens 1-yard run.ddddddddddddhe Broncos followed that drive up with their shortest after a 73-yard punt return by Cedrick Wilson set up Boise States offense at the UNLV 6. On the only play of the drive the Broncos ran, McNichols bounced outside and won a footrace to the corner of the end zone for the touchdown, giving Boise State a 14-3 first quarter lead.That early lead helped set the tone for Boise State as UNLV never really threatened to make the game competitive.Rypien finished with 109 yards on 10-of-20 passing. Career receiving leader Thomas Sperbeck had five catches for 47 yards in his final regular-season home game.UNLVs Kurt Palandech passed for 113 yards, completing 10 of 20 passes. He also led the team in rushing with 64 yards.TAKEAWAYSUNLV: The Rebels have already topped last seasons win total of three games, but they will look to finish strong with a win in their finale next Saturday. With a victory, the Rebels could lock up second place in the West division and set their eyes on getting bowl eligible next year.Boise State: The Broncos defense delivered one of their most dominant performances of the season as the entire team seems to peaking at the right time. In the three games since its last-minute loss on the road at Wyoming, Boise State has committed only one turnover and averaged more than 48 points a game, while limiting opponents to just over 21.POLL IMPLICATIONSBoise State isnt likely to impress the voters much with the victory, though the easy win shouldnt cost them any votes either. Dont expect the Broncos to move up in the poll much as most of the teams in front to them are all favored to win handily Saturday.UP NEXTUNLV: The Rebels host in-state rival Nevada in the regular-season finale for both teams.Boise State: The Broncos will travel to Air Force for their final regular-season tilt in a must-win game to keep their division title hopes alive.MORE McNICHOLSMcNichols entered the game leading the nation in scoring with 132 points. His four touchdowns put him at 156 points, 36 more than the next closest player. He also took the leading in rushing touchdowns with 22 for the season. However, hes still 42 points shy of the school single season record of 192.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '