NEU » Washington and Miami stumbled at Baltim

CLEVELAND -- Chris Perez didnt bother sticking around. After blowing what would have been the Indians biggest win this season, Clevelands closer bolted before answering any questions. He ducked out. He didnt finish anything well Monday night. Perez gave up Alex Avilas three-run homer in the ninth inning as the Detroit Tigers rallied for a 4-2 win over the Indians to increase their lead in the AL Central to four games over Cleveland. Perez (4-2), who became a distraction earlier this season when he was arrested on misdemeanour drug charges, was brought in to protect a 2-0 lead. But the right-hander, pitching his in his third straight game, didnt retire a batter and walked dejectedly to Clevelands dugout in the ninth after giving up Avilas shot as Indians fans booed him mercilessly. Perez quickly dressed after the game and left his teammates to answer what went wrong. "We gotta win those games, thats how I see it," said centre fielder Michael Bourn, who made one of four excellent defensive plays by the Indians. "Thats a tough team over there, granted. But thats a swing game. Its not the end of the world. Its not the end of the season, but we want those games." On the same day a year ago in Detroit, Perez, who had recorded 11 straight saves since coming off the disabled list, gave up five runs in the 10th inning as the Indians lost 10-8 to the Tigers. That loss came in an 11-game losing streak and during a month in which the Indians went 5-24 and fell from contention. Manager Terry Francona believes the team can bounce back after a demoralizing defeat. "It hurt, but well show up tomorrow," Francona said. "We certainly need to be resilient and weve shown that before. If we allow it to get in the way then were not the team I thought we were." Detroit was three outs away from having its lead in the AL Central cut to two games by the second-place Indians before the comeback, which eased a difficult day in which the Tigers learned they would be without All-Star shortstop Jhonny Peralta for his involvement in the Biogenesis drug case. "It feels good after all the stuff that happened before the game," centre fielder Torii Hunter said. "We went out there and battled. We kept our focus and were professionals about it. We did what were capable of doing." After Victor Martinezs RBI single made it 2-1, Perez walked Andy Dirks before Avila drove a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left-centre for his ninth homer, stunning a Cleveland crowd ready to celebrate the teams biggest win this season. The Indians fell to 3-10 against the Tigers, who have beaten them in nine of the last 10 matchups. Cleveland also had its home winning streak snapped at 11. "We cant depend on whoever it is out there to knock them out first and think were going to win the division," Bourn said. "Weve got to do it ourselves. Thats the only way you can do it. Its not an easy task, but it can be done, but youve got to be able to knock them out." Al Alburquerque (2-2) got one in the eighth and Joaquin Benoit worked the ninth for his 13th save. Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez struck out 11 in 7 2-3 innings, and was in line to take a tough loss before the Tigers stormed back for their 13th win in 14 games. Clevelands Corey Kluber had blanked Detroits big bats for 7 1-3 innings and set the tone in a crucial four-game series before the Indians problematic bullpen blew it. "Kluber was filthy," Hunter said. "That guy is nasty. We were scratching our heads like, What can we do to get this guy?" Detroits comeback also spoiled a great defensive effort by the Indians, who got excellent plays from Bourn, left fielder Michael Brantley and All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis. "Up until the ninth, we had played such a good game," Francona said. Kluber limited the Tigers to six singles and got some excellent defence, but the Indians couldnt close out a game that was within their grasp. The right-hander settled in after a somewhat shaky start and held the ALs top hitting team in check. Detroits Miguel Cabrera, back in the lineup after missing a few games with hip and abdominal problems, went 1 for 4 -- he was walked intentionally in the ninth -- and laboured noticeably any time he tried to run. The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on Carlos Santanas RBI double, a shot off the right-field wall that just missed being a two-run homer. Jason Giambis RBI single gave the Indians a 1-0 lead in the second, when Tigers centre fielder Austin Jackson robbed Lonnie Chisenhall of a possible homer. Brantley singled with one out and stole second. With two down, Giambi, closing in on 2,000 career hits, delivered his run-scoring single to centre. Chisenhall followed with a drive to centre that Jackson snared with a leaping grab at the wall in front of the Indians bullpen. NOTES: Brantley recorded his AL-leading 10th assist in the first when he gunned down Hunter at second trying to stretch a single. ... Santana is batting .335 with runners in scoring position. ... Indians ace Justin Masterson (13-7) will face Justin Verlander (11-8) in Tuesdays game. ... Clevelands rotation has a 2.09 ERA in the last 24 games. Billy Cunningham Jersey . 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Roaring out of Texas come the Dallas Cowboys , headed to the Big Apple ready to grab a division crown and maybe more.Crawling out of Texas come the Houston Texans , headed to Naptown for a first-place showdown with the Colts after blowing an exclusive AFC South lead.Yes, the Lone Star state has two division leaders heading into Sunday. Thats about the only resemblance.Dallas (11-1) takes on the New York Giants (8-4), the only team to beat it, in prime time. A Cowboys victory gives them the NFC East title. They already own a playoff berth, and if Detroit and Settle both lose, they also could leave the Meadowlands with home-field advantage for the NFC playoffs.Thats big doings in Big D, so dont expect them to back off.A mentality is something youve built up to get to this point, says rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott, the NFLs leading rusher.Its something that is your character. If youre the type of guy who coasts, youre the type of guy who coasts. But we dont have those type of guys in this locker room. I dont have any worries about that.The Giants had won six straight before falling in Pittsburgh. They also lost their top pass rusher, Jason Pierre-Paul, for the season.But theyre the leader in the NFC wild-card race.This is huge, says defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins. Not saying the last game we had wasnt huge, but this is big in the division. We have got to win this. My ultimate goal is to win the division and they are in our way, so we have to make sure that we get them taken care of.No matter who wins in Indianapolis, the AFC South will be far from decided. A Texans team that dominated the division early on has turned it into a three-team scramble by losing three in a row.Plus, the Colts have Andrew Luck back after he missed one game with a concussion. He returned with a four-TD passing show against the Jets.It certainly feels like a playoff game. I know personally our football team knows how important this game is, says Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler, whose struggles have mirrored Houstons.We know that its a must-win game if we want to accomplish the goals that we set out.Impressively, this is the first year since the 1970 merger that three teams were perfect on the road entering Week 14: Dallas, New England and Oakland. And then the Raiders stumbled in frigid Kansas City on Thursday night, falling 21-13.Tyreek Hill had touchdowns receiving and on a punt return, and Kansas Citys defense made life miserable for Oakland quarterback Derek Carr. The Chiefs (10-3) moved into a first-place tie with Oakland (10-3) in the AFC West, but hold the tiebreaker with two wins over their longtime divisional rival.Baltimore (7-5) at New England (10-2), Monday nightPittsburgh (7-5) at Buffalo (6-6)The AFC North figures to go down to the wire -- the Ravens and Steelers meet in Pittsburgh on Christmas night -- and both teams have difficult road challenges this week.The Patriots can secure the AFC East title by winning or tying and having Miami lose, and they also have a shot at clinching a first-round bye. But Tom Brady and Co. dont exactly relish facing Baltimore, which has won four of five as its defense has become extra stingy.Theyre the first-rated defense in the league, so no one has done a better job over the course of the season than them, Brady says. They dont give you anything easy. You have to earn it. I think they do a good mix with their scheme and also with their personnel, so were prepared for a 60-minute game.Pittsburgh has won five straight and nine of 10 against the Bills, including three straight at Orchard Park. A victory Sunday would be No. 100 for coach Mike Tomlin.Buffalo opens a three-game homestand one win short of 400 in franchise history. The Bills, led by LeSean McCoy, have topped 150 yards rushing in five straight games; their team record is seven straight spanning 1973-74.New Orleans (5-7) at Tampa Bay (7-5)Atlanta (7-5) at Los Angeles (4-8)Lets also tie these two matchups together with the focus on the NFC South race that the Falcons and Bucs lead.Tampa Bay is surging with four straight wins, but has lost eight of the past nine to Drew Brees and the Saints, including the past four in Tampa. The Bucs are getting terrific performances from a rapidly maturing Jameis Winston (15 touchdowns versus four interceptions over the past eight games), and Mike Evans, who ranks third with 1,058 receiving yards and is tied for second with 10 TD receptions.The tough part will be dealing with Brees. He leads the league in completions (375), passing attempts (500), completion rate (71.4 percent), passing yards (3,913) and touchdown passes (30).Atlanta has dropped four of seven to fall into the tie with Tampa Bay. It has the lowest-ranked pass defense in football, though against LAs weak throwing attack, thats not so big a drawback.Brilliant receiver Julio Jones is battling turf toe, which could rob Matt Ryan of his top target.The Rams lost three straight and seven of eight.Denver (8-4) at Tennessee (6-6)While the Raiders and Chiefs battled on Thursday night, the Broncos watched their divisioon rivals.dddddddddddd Tennessee doesnt have that luxury Sunday because it plays at the same time as the teams its tied with atop the AFC South.Neither side can afford a stumble, the Titans much less so. They come off a bye after their offense has gotten in gear with a balanced approach. DeMarco Murray, the 2014 NFL rushing champ with Dallas, trails only the Cowboys Ezekiel Elliott in yards gained on the ground. Marcus Mariota is up to 25 TD passes and a 101.9 passer rating. Mariota has 21 TDs through the air, three interceptions with a 117.7 passer rating in the past eight games. The Titans are averaging a league-best 30.8 points per game since Oct. 6.But penetrating the dynamic Denver defense with passes is another story. With the Broncos more vulnerable against the run, look for lots of Murray. And lots of Broncos star linebacker Von Miller tracking him.Seattle (8-3-1) at Green Bay (6-6)Seattle can clinch the NFC West with a win or a tie against the Pack and an Arizona loss or tie. That division title will come, if not on the Lambeau Field tundra, then down the line.The Packers havent lost to the Seahawks in Green Bay since 1999. Should Russell Wilson lead Seattle to victory, it would move him one behind Atlantas Matt Ryan (56) for most victories in any quarterbacks first five seasons. Wilson would have another three games left this season, too.One key matchup to watch: Aaron Rodgers receivers trying to avoid outstanding linebacker Bobby Wagner, who has an NFL-best 127 tackles, 68 solo.Chicago (3-9) at Detroit (8-4)Chicago comes off a rare win, over disinterested San Francisco, and actually has beaten the Lions this season. More impressively, Detroit comes off its easiest win of the season, at New Orleans.Bears rookie Jordan Howard ran for 111 yards against Detroit in Week 4 and had 117 yards rushing and three touchdowns last week. Hes one of the few dangers Chicago will present to the Lions, who have won four straight and seven of eight since losing at Chicago.Washington (6-5-1) at Philadelphia (5-7)Washington desperately needs this one, and the Eagles are fading rapidly, dropping five of their past six.The Redskins seek a fifth straight win over the Eagles for the first time since a six-game streak from 1981-84. Theyve scored a total of 72 points in their past two visits to the Linc.If Kirk Cousins gets time to throw, he can pick apart a defense. That makes this fact distressing for Philly fans: the Eagles had 20 sacks in the first five games and only six in the past six games, including none in the past two.Cincinnati (4-7-1) at Cleveland (0-12)Its great to see Robert Griffin III healthy enough to get back on the field. Its also uncertain how much of his skills remain intact; its been years since RG3 has been able to stay on the field with any consistency.Expecting him to lift the Browns to their first win might be a bit much, even against a Bengals squad that has underachieved possibly more than any other team. Should Cleveland lose, it will mark one year without a victory. The previous one came Dec. 13, 2015 against San Francisco.Minnesota (6-6) at Jacksonville (2-10)Both slumping teams have highly ranked defenses, which means very little because they cant get out of their own ways with the ball.The Vikings, losers of six of seven since beginning with a five-game winning streak, still have some playoff hopes if they make an immediate turnaround. But they are severely banged up.The Jaguars have lost seven straight overall and are winless in five games at EverBank Field. Their previous home victory was a year ago.Arizona (5-6-1) at Miami (7-5)Arizona was heading downward and the Dolphins were looking up before last week, when the Cardinals handled Washington and Miami stumbled at Baltimore.The Dolphins havent beaten the Cardinals since 1999, but Arizona has dropped all three of its games in the Eastern time zone this season.Miami has beaten only one team thats above .500 (Pittsburgh at 7-5). The other victories came against teams that are a combined 19-52. Yet the Dolphins are in AFC wild-card contention.San Diego (5-7) at Carolina (4-8)San Diego can move the ball and seems to have found a top receiver in Tyrell Williams, who has TD catches in four successive games. Star tight end Antonio Gates has 109 TD catches, second for the position in NFL history to Tony Gonzalez, and RB Melvin Gordon has been highly productive after a bust of a rookie year.Carolina has gone bust just about everywhere after losing in the Super Bowl in February. It has lost five games by three points or fewer and is only 3-3 at home after going 10-0, including playoffs, last season.New York Jets (3-9) at San Francisco (1-11)Two teams that didnt show up last week and embarrassed themselves. If they both learn from it and show some character, this could be an interesting and hard-fought contest.Dont count on it.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '