Scoring could be at a minimum tonight
GLENDALE, Calif. (AP) — The defensive-minded NFC West is in the NFL spotlight for tonight’s Week 8 finale.
After a 4-0 start, Arizona will be out to halt a three game losing streak when it hosts division leader San Francisco. The 49ers check in at 5-2 and can open a two-game lead over the Cards with a victory.
With an offense ranked 31st in the 32-team league, Arizona will have to lean on a defense that is ranked No. 7. San Francisco has the No. 1 defense in the NFL and the ninth-ranked offense.
San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith has already matched his interception total from last season. Four of his five picks have come in the last two games.
The Cardinals handed the 49ers one of their three losses last season.
NFL moves trade deadline to Thursday
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has moved its trade deadline back two days to Thursday because of potential complications from Hurricane Sandy.
All 32 teams were notified Monday that the league’s offices would be closed through Tuesday because of the storm. So the deadline now is 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, when waivers for vested veterans also begin.
This is the second time the trade deadline has been moved this year. After negotiations with the players’ union, the deadline was switched from after games of Week 6 to Oct. 30, after games of Week 8.
Traditionally, there are few trades by the teams at the deadline. The NFL hoped the two-week change might result in more deals.
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has moved its trade deadline back two days to Thursday because of potential complications from Hurricane Sandy.
All 32 teams were notified Monday that the league’s offices would be closed through Tuesday because of the storm. So the deadline now is 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, when waivers for vested veterans also begin.
This is the second time the trade deadline has been moved this year. After negotiations with the players’ union, the deadline was switched from after games of Week 6 to Oct. 30, after games of Week 8.
Traditionally, there are few trades by the teams at the deadline. The NFL hoped the two-week change might result in more deals.
Zeller near unanimous preseason pick
The biggest man on The Associated Press’ preseason All-America team got the most votes.
Seven-foot sophomore center Cody Zeller, the main reason Indiana is the preseason No. 1 for the first time in 33 years, was one vote shy of being a unanimous selection for the preseason All-America team.
Zeller, who averaged 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 62.3 percent from the field, received 64 votes from the national media panel which selects the weekly Top 25.
Also on the team announced Monday were junior forwards Doug McDermott of Creighton and Deshaun Thomas of Ohio State and three guards — seniors Isaiah Canaan of Murray State and C.J. McCollum of Lehigh and sophomore Trey Burke of Michigan.
McDermott was named on 62 ballots, while Canaan was on 43 and Thomas 26. McCollum and Burke tied for the fifth spot with 16 votes each.
McIlroy tops Woods
ZHENGZHOU, China (AP) — Rory McIlroy outdueled Tiger Woods in the first one-on-one exhibition match between golf’s two biggest names.
McIlroy shot a 5-under 67 to beat Woods by one stroke in an 18-hole match between the two top-ranked golfers at an exhibition in China.
Woods says he’d like to take on McIlroy more often to create a rivalry at the top of the game.