(339.4 yards per game). Outside linebacker Nigel Bradham leads the Eag

Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson spent countless hours during No. 20 West Virginias bye week getting a head start on figuring out ways to slow down Texas Techs Patrick Mahomes.The Mountaineers (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) did it last year, and theyll find out whether a defense that began the season with nine new starters is ready for the nations passing leader when they travel to Texas Tech (3-2, 1-1) on Saturday.Although West Virginia was tested in its first four games, it avoided having to defend against a prolific offense. All that changes in the high-scoring Big 12, starting with Mahomes.He threw for 504 yards and two touchdowns with a sore shoulder and ran for three more scores in a 44-38 loss at Kansas State last Saturday.He must have had some good medicine, said West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen. He didnt look hurt to me.Weve got our work cut out for us on defense.Thats why Gibson has been in the film room looking for ways to exploit Texas Techs offense.I havent found it yet, Gibson said.At least his defense, comprised mostly of seniors, has so far shown its not the weak spot that many thought it might be after being decimated by graduation and the loss of safety Dravon Askew-Henry to a knee injury before the season.West Virginia has allowed only four touchdown passes total and has yet to yield a 300-yard passing effort.Weve got a chip on our shoulder, said West Virginia safety Jarrod Harper. Weve got something to prove. We just want to continue to prove people wrong and continue to make plays and try to be the strong link of the team.Harper, one of the few returning starters, leads the Mountaineers in tackles. Justin Arndt, one of four new starting linebackers, is first in tackles for loss with four and shares the team lead with lineman Noble Nwachukwu (wah-CHOO-koo) with two sacks.Two transfers at cornerback have helped. Starter Antonio Crawford, who came to West Virginia from Miami, sat out a 17-16 win over Kansas State two weeks ago with a shoulder injury. He will return for the Texas Tech game along with Maurice Fleming, a graduate transfer from Iowa who started in Crawfords place but was limited in the second half against Kansas State with an ankle injury.David Long got his first start at linebacker against Kansas State and, although he had only three tackles, prompted a prediction from Gibson that the redshirt freshman could break West Virginias career record for tackles before hes done.Getting to Mahomes will be a tall task, though.We cant sit back and watch, Long said. Just go after him and make plays on the ball. Lets not panic. Lets stay calm. All we can do is go out there and play football.Last week Kansas State returned a Mahomes interception for a first-quarter touchdown and stopped Texas Techs offense on downs three times in the second half.A year ago in Morgantown, Mahomes was held to a season-low 196 passing yards in West Virginias 31-26 win.Weve got to force him into tough situations and tough reads, Harper said. I think if we do that, well be good.Mahomes threw three TD passes against the Mountaineers last year, but Gibson noted the Red Raiders also were forced to kick a pair of short field goals and West Virginia forced a turnover inside its 20-yard line.Hes a gambler, Gibson said. He is going to take his chances on third down and try to keep his offense out there. We have to do a great job on critical downs.Then again, Gibson noted Texas Tech this season is scoring an offensive touchdown once every 11 plays.Thats not real comforting, he said.---Follow John Raby on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jraby-apAP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org Milwaukee Bucks Jerseys . Jane Virtanen scored two, and Alex Roach and Elliott Peterson rounded out the offence for the Hitmen (40-15-6). Brady Brassart chipped in with three assists. Colton McCarthy scored twice, Brayden Point had a goal and two assists, and Jack Rodewald also scored for the Warriors (15-35-9), who were 2 for 5 on the power play. Thon Maker Bucks Jersey . -- 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. https://www.bucksrookiesshop.com/Frank-Mason-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The quest begins with what is supposed to be an easy one, although Germany has traditionally been a stubborn opponent to Canadian teams at international tournaments. Oscar Robertson Bucks Jersey . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. George Hill Bucks Jersey . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. The Philadelphia Eagles skidded in the wrong direction after a 3-0 start.The Cincinnati Bengals never really got going this season.The two below-.500 teams look to halt their free falls when the Eagles visit the Bengals on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, FOX).Philadelphia (5-6) has dropped six of its last eight games after its strong start and is desperate for a victory to remain a viable contender in the NFC wild-card race. The Eagles are just 1-5 on the road and the lone victory came on Sept. 19 against the Chicago Bears.Cincinnati (3-7-1) is well aware that its streak of five consecutive playoff appearances will come to an end. The Bengals all but assured that with three consecutive losses and quarterback Andy Dalton isnt sure how to handle the predicament.Its different. Ive never really been in this situation in my life or with any sport that Ive ever played. Dalton said on a conference call. Ive been just trying to figure out how to change it.The Bengals are averaging 15.3 points during their skid, and will be without star receiver A.J. Green for basically the third consecutive game. Green injured a hamstring on the opening series against the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 20 and missed last Sundays 19-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.The Eagles also are having issues finding the end zone. Philadelphia averaged 14 points while losing to the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers in the past two games and rookie quarterback Carson Wentz is experiencing growing pains.Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft, was the talk of the NFL as he threw seven touchdown passes and was intercepted only once through the first five games.The last six games tell a different story, with Wentz throwing seven interceptions and four touchdowns.The struggles have been alarming and have been a big factor in Philadelphias decline. Yet Wentz maintains he and his team should not be counted out.We just have to stay the course. We cant dwell on anything, Wentz said during a press conference. We just have to keep plugging along. Cant throw in the towel. I know the guys in that locker room and thats not going to happen. Our effort is always there. We just have to keep fighting, keep believing, and we cant change our preparation.Eagles first-year coach Doug Pederson changed his tune lately with the defeatts mounting.ddddddddddddWhere he often mentioned the playoffs while the team was soaring, Pederson is now talking more about the building process.Teams in our situation right now, even though you are still maybe on the edge of getting to where you want to be at the end of the season, you can kind of go the other way, Pederson said in a press conference. Its not to put any added pressure on anybody, but ... I dont want people to just start tanking it in the last month of the season.Pederson said it is likely that leading receiver Jordan Matthews (ankle) will play after missing most of the second half of Mondays loss to the Packers. Matthews leads the Eagles with 57 receptions for 686 yards and three touchdowns.However, running back Ryan Mathews (knee) will miss his second straight game. Mathews leads the Eagles with 427 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.Defensively, Philadelphia is performing well and tied for fifth in scoring defense (19.4 points per game) and stands eighth in total defense (339.4 yards per game). Outside linebacker Nigel Bradham leads the Eagles with 70 tackles and safety Rodney McLeod has a team-best three interceptions.Defensive ends Brandon Graham (team-high five sacks) and Connor Barwin (four sacks) will attempt to pressure Dalton, who had several passes batted down in last Sundays 19-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.Dalton (3,043 yards, 12 touchdowns) went past 3,000 yards for the sixth straight season, joining Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks to do so in each of their first six years.Defensive end Carlos Dunlap (team-high 6.5 sacks) and weak-side linebacker Vontaze Burfict (team-leading 76 tackles) are playing well for the Bengals defense. Burfict is aiming for his fifth consecutive outing of 10 or more tackles.With basically little to play for, Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis is striving to keep the troops motivated.I think coaches work harder, turn over more stones, become better coaches and people when things are a touch off, Lewis said during a conference call. When youre winning, you are doing the same thing, youre just not questioned by the masses about it. It doesnt change your outlook on things. ' ' '