NEU » terris Toppings, and from Khalid Thomas

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens understand just how embarrassing it would be to lose to the winless Cleveland Browns in prime time.They would rather focus on the benefits of a victory, which would thrust Baltimore into sole possession of first place in the AFC North, a half-game ahead of the Steelers.Facing the Browns (0-9) on Thursday night, the Ravens (4-4) have an opportunity to sustain the momentum derived from a win over Pittsburgh that ended a four-game losing streak.I think the fact that (the Browns) havent won yet does add to the challenge for us, because theyre going to be coming in here very determined to win a football game, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said. Their issues arent our issues. Our issue right now is to build on where were at.Still, the Ravens know a loss to Cleveland would be a severe blow to their reputation.When youre a team thats in front of the division -- and with how the outside world looks at it -- if the Ravens lose this game, it just looks bad, quarterback Joe Flacco said. It looks bad because we lost to a team that doesnt have any wins. Thats the reality of it. It just doesnt look good.Heres something that really doesnt look good: nine straight defeats to open a season. That matches the worst start in Browns history, a dubious mark set by the 1975 squad that finished 3-11.Cleveland has been outscored by 105 points, ranks 31st in total defense and has already sorted through a half-dozen quarterbacks.It gets tougher every week that you dont get a win, veteran tackle Joe Thomas said Obviously, as those loss totals stack up, it is more difficult to be positive.The skid would have never gotten this far if the Browns would have capitalized on a 20-0 lead at home against Baltimore in Week 2. The Ravens rallied for a 25-20 win and now own a 26-9 advantage in this lopsided rivalry.We know how to start games; we have not been able to finish them yet, first-year coach Hue Jackson said. Our motivation is we need a win. We are a 0-9 football team, and we want to get on the other side of the ledger.Some things to know about this AFC North matchup:LET `ER RIP, CODY: Browns quarterback Cody Kessler has shown improvement, but hes 0-6 as a starter. He has excellent accuracy on short throws, but isnt stretching the field with long passes.Jackson wants him to be more of a playmaker.Codys done a good job of distributing the ball and hes done a good job of putting the ball in the right places for the most part. But he knows now that in the NFL you have to take a few more chances to score points because the defenses are too good, the coach said.READY OR NOT: The challenge of playing a game with three days preparation is rarely easy, and this is no exception.You can never get used to it, especially when you play your division rival on Sunday and then have to come back and play another game Thursday, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said.The good news is, theres an extended break before the next game.Its nice once a year, Flacco said, because at the end of the day, if you go out there and do your job you get another little bye week to give your body a rest.CANT STOP NOW: Although the Ravens ended their longest losing streak under Harbaugh by beating Pittsburgh, a defeat will make them just another sub-.500 team.We sit at the top of the division, but one loss and you are out, safety Eric Weddle said. This is a division game, a rival. They were up 20-0 on us and easily could have beat us, so we can look at many factors to remind ourselves that we cant take anything for granted.Said Suggs: You dont want to take any steps backward, especially in the AFC.CENTER OF ATTENTION: Cam Ervings second NFL season has been nearly as rough as his first.The starting center sustained a bruised lung in Week 2 and was ejected on Clevelands opening drive in a 35-10 loss to Dallas last week. Erving got into a tussle with Cowboys defensive end David Irving, who punched him before getting his helmet ripped off.Erving, who struggled at guard last season, hopes to rebound against the Ravens.We teased him. He has fresher legs than anybody, Jackson joked. You cant be throwing helmets. He is looking forward to playing.PURPLE HAZE: The Ravens will have purple jerseys and purple pants, their version of the NFLs color rush.And that, Suggs noted, is one plus to playing on Thursday night.We get to wear the nice flashy uniforms, he said with a smile.---AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLWes Martin Jersey . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Case Keenum Jersey . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. http://www.cheapredskinsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-tyler-catalina-jersey . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. Matt Ioannidis Jersey . 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. Zac Kerin Jersey . Its the second straight game Bell has scored in extra time for Kelowna, which beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 6-5 on Friday, and he now has four game-winning goals on the season.SAN ANTONIO -- Dalton Sturm threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns, ran in a third score from midfield, and led UTSA to a 26-13 win over Alabama State in the season opener for both teams Saturday night.Sturm finished 20-for-25 passing with an interception, and got his rushing TD with a 51-yard scramble late in the first half. Jalen Rhodes also ran in a touchdown, Marquez McNair hauled in a 5-yard pass for a TD and Kerry Thomas Jr. snagged a 25-yard pass for a TD as well.UTSA set a single-game school record with six sacks and overpowered FCS Alabama State in the air, racking up 287 passing yards to the Hornets 142.dddddddddddd The win marked new coach Frank Wilsons first NCAA victory.Alabama State got touchdowns from Palmer Graham, who hauled in a 36-yard pass from Quinterris Toppings, and from Khalid Thomas, who punched in the games first TD from the 1.Cheap Jerseys[/urlterris Toppings, and from Khalid Thomasll Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys ' ' '