Pirate Galaxy » back Jonathan Stewart missing his second st

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-NFL Discount Custom High School Shirts . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Cheap Custom High School Jerseys . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. http://www.customjerseyshighschool.com/ . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . Wholesale Custom High School Jerseys . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Custom High School Jerseys Sale . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. ATLANTA -- When Carolina made its most recent visit to Atlanta, all the talk was about the 14-0 Panthers try for a perfect season.Now that the Panthers are 1-2, theyre hearing more questions about their imperfections as they enter Sundays game against the Falcons.Quarterback Cam Newton says the Panthers werent perfect even before their undefeated regular season was spoiled by the 20-13 loss to the Falcons late in 2015.Its not that we didnt have mistakes happen last year, Newton said.We had a lot of mistakes. The fact we were winning kind of blew it under the rug, so to speak. Now that were 1-2, it just feels like we cant get in a rhythm of winning. A lot of things have been magnified. ... What trumps that is when we just find ways to win football games.Among Carolinas mistakes in last weeks 22-10 loss to Minnesota were allowing eight sacks . Newton said he must improve his pressure recognition.Just getting the ball out of my hands, he said. Thats what it comes down to.Newton wasnt in the mood for too many questions this week about last seasons loss in Atlanta.Not talking about last year, he said. Im sorry, I just cant. ... Im just focused on trying to get to 2-2. ... As far as talking about last year, I could really care less about it.The Panthers have bitter memories of the loss, which Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short grouped with the Super Bowl loss to Denver.Its a sour taste, Short said. That game and the Super Bowl both. Its one of those games where the next time you play them you wanted to come out fired up.The Falcons (2-1) lead the NFC South after Monday nights 45-32 win at New Orleans. Quarterback Matt Ryan said the Falcons havent talked about their previous home game against Carolina.Last year was last year, Ryan said. Its different teams. Weve got a lot of different players and theyve got some different players, too. Im sure theyll be ready to play. Theres no question about that.Here are some things to watch in the Panthers-Falcons game:REBOUND FOR JULIO: After All-Pro receiver Julio Jones shared the NFL lead with 136 catches in 2015, its notable when he had only one reception last week against the Saints.dddddddddddd His quiet day came after he was limited all week by a calf injury.Jones was more active in practice this week. He will be looking to move back into his normal prominent role and could be covered by Panthers rookie cornerback James Bradberry. Jones is a tough assignment for any rookie, perhaps especially when coming off a one-catch game.BOUNCE-BACK FOR BENJAMIN: Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin was targeted only once by Newton last week against the Vikings and failed to register a catch. That cant happen, Newton said. If I am speaking for it, that wont happen again. Hes too good of a player.FLYING HIGH: A quiet week from Jones didnt stop the Falcons. Ryan already has seven touchdown passes for the Falcons, who boast the NFLs top offense .The tandem of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman has given more balance to the running game. Second-year receiver Justin Hardy has touchdown catches in two straight games, a good sign he could emerge in his second season.If we play our best ball I feel like we can go toe to toe against anybody, Ryan said.STILL NO STEWART: With running back Jonathan Stewart missing his second straight game with a hamstring injury, coach Ron Rivera said he expects that his running back rotation will be similar to last week against the Vikings.Cameron Artis-Payne had 12 carries for 47 yards against Minnesota. Fozzy Whittaker was used more as a change-of-pace back with five carries for 22 yards and five catches for 34 yards. Whittaker had a 56-yard touchdown reception called back because of a penalty.GOOD START: The Falcons already have matched their one division win last season -- the upset of Carolina. The 1-5 division record spoiled the 8-8 season.We know when we play well in the division, good things can happen, coach Dan Quinn said.---AP Sports Writer Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '