OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Carolina Panthers and Oakland Raiders have undergone a bit of a role reversal the past 10 months.The Panthers (4-6) have gone from a team that played in the Super Bowl behind MVP quarterback Cam Newton in February to one struggling to reach .500, much less the playoffs.Oakland (8-2) has moved in the opposite direction. After missing the postseason for a 13th straight year in 2015, the Raiders have ridden the play of MVP candidate quarterback Derek Carr to first place in the AFC West heading into Sundays game against Carolina.With four straight wins for the first time since 2002 and a tie for the best record in the AFC, Oakland has an opportunity to do far more than just end the playoff drought.Our focus is strictly on beating Carolina, Carr said. Its going to be a tough task because they are 10 months out from playing in the Super Bowl, or however long it was. This team coming in is such a good football team. Their record doesnt show how good they are.The Panthers just havent played that way this season. They followed up the Super Bowl loss to Denver by starting this season 1-5. They have rebounded to win three of the past four games, but have little margin for error if they want to get back to the playoffs.How they play on a two-game West Coast swing will be a big part of determining if that will happen. The Panthers will stay in the Bay Area after the game to prepare for next weeks trip to Seattle.They will even practice at the same field at San Jose State that they used in preparation for the Super Bowl.This is a very important stretch, safety Kurt Coleman said. Weve got to go in with the right mindset. Even though its going to be in California when were getting ready for Seattle, we have to treat it just the same. We cant enjoy the beaches. ... We have to approach it the right way.Here are some other things to watch:SHORT WEEK: While the Panthers come in with extra rest after playing a Thursday game last week, the Raiders have a quick turnaround after a Monday night game in Mexico City . Making it even more difficult, that game was played at an elevation of 7,380 feet, taking even more out of the players. Coach Jack Del Rio backed off his players on Wednesday, but the team believes its conditioning program will have the players ready Sunday.Really the only disadvantage in a short week is that extra day where you can get a little extra in or whatever, Carr said. But, you just make it up on the back end.MAN IN THE MIDDLE: All signs point to 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly missing this game with a concussion after a disturbing scene on Nov. 17. The middle linebacker was shown on TV replays weeping uncontrollably and staring blankly ahead as he left the field on a cart. Last year Kuechly missed three games with a concussion, so there is concern about how his second head injury will affect him long term. The Panthers are hoping A.J. Klein will be able to step in and start, but he, too, is coming off a concussion.A.J. is a guy that we have a lot of faith in, Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis said. He always comes in and plays extremely well and we dont expect it to be any different this weekend.CONTAINING CAM: The Raiders improving defense will have a unique challenge this week against Newton. He can pick a defense apart from the pocket and adds a power-running threat with his size and speed that make him hard to sack and capable of breaking off big plays.Great athlete, big arm, linebacker Bruce Irvin said. If you dont rush him right, hell take off and make you pay.RUNNING GAME STRUGGLES: The Panthers are looking for ways to establish the running game, so expect a full dose of Jonathan Stewart early. After rushing for at least 100 yards in every game last season, Carolinas ground game has stalled and the Panthers are averaging a mere 69.3 yards per game the last three weeks. The Raiders have struggled against the run, allowing 115.7 yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry this season.BY AIR OR BY GROUND: One game after rushing for 218 yards in a win over Denver , Raiders running backs were grounded against Houston as the team gained 30 yards on the ground. Thats not to say the backs didnt produce. Led by fullback Jamize Olawales 75-yard tying touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, Oaklands backs combined for 11 catches for 199 yards, with Jalen Richard adding a TD catch in the second quarter, and Latavius Murray setting up the winning score with a 39-yard reception.---AP Sports Writer Steve Reed contributed to this report---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cincinnati Bengals Billy Price Jersey . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. Cincinnati Bengals Andrew Brown Jersey . The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. http://www.cheapbengalsjerseys.us/cincinnati-bengals-rod-taylor-jersey/ . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Bengals Jerseys China . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. Cincinnati Bengals Auden Tate 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. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It looks as though running back Chris Ivory is going to make his season debut for the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.Ivory is one of five starters listed as questionable for the game against the Baltimore Ravens at EverBank Field, but coach Gus Bradley said Ivory should play.He should, Bradley said. Ill talk to him today, but I think he made another step today. Definitely arrows up for him. Like I said before, the issue is just more his conditioning and how he feels, what can we get from him, and I know thats improving.Bradley said the team wants to see how Ivory responds to a workout Saturday before deciding how much to use him on Sunday.Ivory was taken to a Jacksonville hospital the morning of the Sept. 11 season opener suffering from what the team described as a general medical condition. He remained hospitalized for two days and returned to the team facility Sept. 15.He did not play against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday and was limited in practice Wednesday but practiced fully Thursday and Friday.Ivory has been workinng on regaining some of the conditioning he lost and said Thursday that, while hes not back to where he was before he was hospitalized, he is good enough to play against the Ravens.ddddddddddddThe hope is that Ivory boosts a running game that is averaging 58.5 yards per game and 3.2 yards per carry. Those numbers dip after removing quarterback Blake Bortles five carries for 36 yards, as?T.J. Yeldon and Denard Robinson have combined to rush for 81 yards on 32 carries (2.5 yards per carry).The Jaguars (0-2) will definitely be without left tackle Kelvin Beachum (concussion), and it appears they will be without center Brandon Linder. He suffered a sprained knee Wednesday, did not practice Thursday or Friday and is questionable for Sunday.Cornerback Prince Amukamara (hamstring), defensive end Jared Odrick (triceps) and free safety Tashaun Gipson (hamstring) also are questionable. Reserve tight end Ben Koyack (knee) is out. Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL T-shirts Wholesale NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys NFL Jerseys Wholesale ' ' '