Slider

Josh McCown shined in a relief role in the Bears' narrow loss to Washington last week, and will need to do more of the same to keep Chicago's playoff and division title hopes in play. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images) Our takeaways from the seventh week of the National Football League season.

Defensive end Tamba Hali (r.) has led a Chiefs defense that has not allowed more than 17 points in any game this season and has held half its opponents to seven or fewer points. (Peter Aiken/Getty Images) After taking a break last week to cover college basketball media days, the

Now wearing a Chargers uniform, Danny Woodhead continues to make a difference on the field as the Cowboys found out up-close and personal on Sunday.  (Donald Miralle/Getty Images) Week 4 is in the books in the NFL, so now it is time to start concentrating on the Major League Baseball

After Andrew Luck (12) came back to the Bay Area and helped the Colts dismantle the 49ers, Indianapolis may have become the team to beat in the AFC South. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) After each full week in the National Football League, A Lot Of Sports Talk will offer up 10

Can the new version of "Joe Cool" (Flacco, above) make like the original "Joe Cool" (Montana) and lead a team to back-to-back Super Bowl victories? (Christian Petersen/Getty Images) --by Michael A. Riley The Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals represented the AFC North in the playoffs last year, with the

Cam Newton (r.) and Steve Smith have shared many moments - both good and not-so-good - on the football field for a Panthers team that has the goods to be a threat in 2013 (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) -by Adesina O. Koiki Follow @Koiki_Sport // The title of “NFL’s toughest division”

If the Giants are to run away with the NFC East in 2013, running back David Wilson has to be able to carry the mail in the Big Blue backfield. (Al Bello/Getty Images) --by Tim Schlittner Redskins general manager Bruce Allen recently called the NFC East “the SEC of the

After earning rave reviews as Seahawks defensive coordinator the past four seasons, Gus Bradley hopes to turn the fortunes around in Jacksonville in his first professional head coaching gig. (Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) -by Adesina O. Koiki Follow @Koiki_Sport // The Houston Texans have won two consecutive divisions titles, but winning

After signing a 6-year, $108 million extension, Romo and the Cowboys need to extend their 2013 campaign into the postseason - and beyond. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) We are exactly one week away from the commencement of the first full weekend of the NFL regular season, and we decided this week