TAMPA, Fla. -- The Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers insist they arent as bad as their records suggest.The sputtering teams begin the second half of their schedules against each other Sunday, clinging to hope they can eliminate the inconsistency -- and at times, downright poor play -- thats prevented them from being more successful.Chicago (2-6), coming off a bye that gave it extra time to savor a 10-point victory over NFC North leader Minnesota, has already gotten a taste of what a healthy and on-target Jay Cutler back on the field can mean.The Bucs (3-5), whove lost two straight while struggling to run the ball, are clamoring for an opportunity to see whether a mended Doug Martin can change the course of their season.Obviously, it helps to have confidence, and its hard to gain confidence without something good happening, Chicago coach John Fox said. Were in a performance-based business. ... You work very hard in preparation to get that good feeling in the locker room. ... A `W after a game does give you a boost of confidence.Martin, the NFLs second-leading rusher a year ago, has been sidelined since Week 2 with a hamstring injury. He returned to practice this week and is optimistic hell be ready to play against the Bears.With or without Martin, a two-time Pro Bowl selection who rushed for 1,402 yards last season, Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said he has to find a way to get more out of his team.Weve got to coach them better, No. 1. Thats what a coachs job is, thats what my job is, to try to get your team to achieve up to the talent level that they have, Koetter said.Our record is what our record is; we have to own that. ... But I think we can play to a higher level across the board. That starts with me, first and foremost, the coach added. I have to figure out how to reach these guys, how to motivate them, how to get them on the same page, get them to play together, to play up to the talent level that I think we have. That all starts with me.Some things to know about the Bears and Bucs, one-time NFC Central rivals who are playing for the 57th time:PROTECTING THE FOOTBALL: Bucs QB Jameis Winston has made a concerted effort to minimize turnovers following a 1/3 start. The second-year pro, on pace to throw for more than 4,000 yards again, has eight touchdown passes vs. one interception and a lost fumble in the past three games. Tampa Bay is 1-2 over that stretch, primarily because of problems on defense, where it yielded 1,087 yards, including 857 passing, in losses to Oakland and Atlanta the past two weeks.GETTING HEALTHY: The Bears are getting healthier after being banged-up all year.Cutler (thumb sprain) returned after missing five starts to lead a victory over the Vikings on Oct. 31. Linebacker Pernell McPhee (offseason knee surgery) has played the past two games after starting the season on the physically unable to perform list.Coming off a bye, the Bears may be closer to getting a few more key players back, including nose tackle Eddie Goldman, guards Kyle Long and Josh Sitton, and cornerback Bryce Callahan.Goldman is trying to work his way back from a high ankle sprained suffered in a loss to Philadelphia on Sept. 19.If hes doing well in practice and he feels good about it, then we can take a shot with him, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. If hes so-so in practice and still hobbling a little bit, then maybe not.ROOKIES ON RISE: There werent many positives for the Bears in the first half of the season. But here are two: rookies Jordan Howard and Leonard Floyd. Howard, a fifth-round draft pick, ranks second among rookies with 505 yards rushing. He ran for 153 against Minnesota, giving him three 100-yard games. Floyd, an outside linebacker drafted with the No. 9 overall pick, has three sacks in the past two games.NEXT MAN UP: With Martin sidelined since Week 2, and backups Charles Sims, Jacquizz Rodgers and Antone Smith going down with injuries, too, the Bucs have used four starting running backs. It has been difficult for Martin to watch.Real frustrating, the fifth-year pro said. Youve seen guys step up. ... and you see guys go down. Its hard to see. You want to get in.SOMETHINGS GOT GIVE: The Bucs are 0-4 at home this season. The Bears are 0-4 on the road.---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 http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Patrick-Robinson-Jersey/ . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Hoodie/ . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Donnie-Jones-Jersey/ . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/T-Shirts/ . Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Legarrette-Blount-Jersey/ . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- The latest on an appeals hearing for former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky (all times local):3:20 p.m.The first day of an appeals hearing for Jerry Sandusky is over, after the former Penn State assistant coach insisted he is innocent of child molestation charges, and his lawyers described key decisions that were made before and during his 2012 trial.Sandusky and two defense attorneys who represented him at trial testified Friday during the proceedings in a county courthouse near State College.Sandusky is hoping to have his convictions thrown out or to get a new trial. Hes serving 30 to 60 years in prison on a 45-count child sexual abuse conviction.Among the issues are decisions not to have him testify at trial and how the defense responded to a surprise claim midway through the trial by an adopted son who says Sandusky molested him.The proceeding is scheduled to continue later this month.---10:50 a.m.Jerry Sandusky is making a forceful denial of the child molestation charges for which hes been convicted and says it wasnt his idea to waive his right to testify during his 2012 trial.The former Penn State assistant coach testified for an hour Friday during an appeals hearing in which hes hoping to have his conviction thrown out or get a new trial.The 72-year-old Sandusky is disputing the allegations, saying hes never had oral or anal sex with anyone and finds the thought disgusting.He says he learned hed be doing an NBC-TV interview just minutes before it occurred, and that his defense lawyer strongly advised him against taking the stand.The hearing is scheduled for three days. Sandusky is serving 30 to 60 years in prison for sexual abuse of 100 boys.dddddddddddd---This item has been corrected to show it was sent at 10:50 a.m., not 11:50 a.m.---9:30 a.m.Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky has arrived at a courthouse, where hes expected to testify at an appeals hearing that he was wrongly convicted of sexually abusing 10 boys.Sandusky had no comment Friday as he was taken into the Centre County Courthouse near State College.The 72-year-old is arguing he wasnt properly represented by his legal team during a 2012 trial that ended with a 45-count conviction. Hes serving a 30- to 60-year sentence.Among the issues are a statement made during the prosecutors closing argument and the decision to have Sandusky give a television interview after his arrest.He is seeking dismissal of the charges or a new trial.The hearing is scheduled for three days.---1 a.m.Jerry Sandusky plans to take the stand and try to prove his claim he was wrongly convicted four years ago of sexually abusing 10 boys.The former Penn State assistant football coach is expected to testify in a Pennsylvania courthouse on Friday during a Post-Conviction Relief Act hearing that aims to overturn his 45-count conviction.The 72-year-old Sandusky didnt testify at his trial in 2012. His lawyer says he expects Sanduskys testimony to be lengthy.The presiding judge said in June the hearing will delve into a prosecutors closing statement, the decision to let Sandusky give a TV interview after his arrest and other issues.The hearing is expected to continue on Aug. 22 and Aug. 23.Sandusky is serving a 30- to 60-year sentence. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '