The talk of the offseason has been about both teams winning enough games to make the playoffs as the New Orleans Saints host the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.New Orleans boasts a coach in Sean Payton and a franchise quarterback in Drew Brees, who have won a Super Bowl.Oakland owns a dynamic offense led by quarterback Derek Carr and a veteran defensive coach in Jack Del Rio.Saints general manager Mickey Loomis knows how to build a team that can win a Lombardi Trophy. General manager Reggie McKenzie, after tearing the Raiders roster down and starting over, is looking to leave his own fingerprints and legacy on the silver and black.New Orleans is coming off a 7-9 season that felt worse than the record. The offense was stagnant at times and the defense struggled so mightily that Rob Ryan, the defensive coordinator, was fired.Payton enlisted Dennis Allen to run his defense. Ironically, it was Allen who was McKenzies first head coach hire in Oakland. And subsequently, his first coach to fire. In the NFL, it is truly how the world turns.We come in expecting to win our division. Thats our goal, its our goal every year. Were not going to back away from that, Del Rio said.The Raiders have not made the playoffs since 2003. They also finished 7-9 in 2015 and there is more optimism for this young group of players. With third-year man Carr at quarterback and throwing to second-year wide receiver Amari Cooper, the Raiders offense looks to be hitting full stride.Brees, the beloved quarterback of the Saints, has to be excited about the financial windfall he received heading into the season opener. On Wednesday, Brees signed a two-year extension that had long been discussed.The contract keeps him in black and gold for the next two seasons and pays him a fully guaranteed $44.25 million. Brees facing a very good Raiders defense behind his much-maligned offensive line has to give the former Super Bowl MVP pause, though.The Raiders defense is full of upstarts and has one of the most explosive players in the NFL in defensive end Khalil Mack. The first-round selection in 2014 received All-Pro votes at two positions last season.Mack has the speed and hand usage to beat tackles around the edge. He also has the power to bull-rush a guard on the interior. The Saints offensive line is banged up, especially their best offensive lineman -- left tackle Terron Armstead.If Armstead cannot play or is limited, second-year utility man Andrus Peat has played left tackle, left guard and right guard in his career. Starting left guard Tim Lelito may have to shift to right guard.Because of the injury situation and the important responsibility to protect Brees, the Saints brought back former Pro-Bowl guard Jahri Evans on Wednesday.New Orleans center Max Unger is the one true constant along the offensive line. If Evans can hold his own against Raiders defensive tackle Jihad Ward, the Saints should be able to find running room inside.The Saints offense has shown the ability to run the football with Mark Ingram. The former Alabama runner continues to produce better than four yards per carry and has become a viable threat out of the backfield.Oaklands linebacking corps is still a work in progress and starting middle linebacker Ben Heeney was getting pushed for playing time by 2016 sixth-round selection Cory James in the preseason.The running attack of the Raiders also needs to play a factor into this game. So much has been made of Carrs aerial attack, running back Latavius Murray often gets left out of the conversation.Murray can find positive yards on the left side running behind a giant offensive line led by free-agent addition Kelechi Osemele and left tackle Donald Penn.The Saints defense is banged up as well and has Cleveland Browns castoff Paul Kruger, a natural outside linebacker, playing some defensive end.This offseason brought much change to the aforementioned Saints defense. Linebacker James Laurinaitis signed after the Los Angeles Rams let him go. Laurinaitis and the Saints secondary led by safety Jarius Byrd know they have to improve over last years unit.The new middle linebacker hopes that working against Brees will have them prepared for Carr, Cooper and wide receiver Michael Crabtree.Said Laurinaitis: It challenges our whole defense to raise our level up, because if not its going to be all of those practices where he can carve you up and embarrass you. I have been really encouraged by how our defense has competed against our offense day in day out because they put a lot of stress on the tempo that they move at. Nike Zoom France . At a Manhattan federal court hearing, attorney Jordan Siev said his law office has gotten more evidence nearly every day to support its lawsuit accusing MLB and Selig of going on a "witch hunt" to ruin Rodriguezs reputation and career. He said the defendants went "way over the line. Grossiste Nike Zoom En France . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. http://www.paschernikezoom.fr/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Nike Zoom Pas Cher France . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. Nike Zoom Pas Cher Chine .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. DENVER -- Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts had his speech all ready to go -- the one he was prepared to deliver after being swept out of Coors Field.Thanks to Andrew Toles, there was no need.Toles hit a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning, helping Los Angeles overcome a late six-run deficit in a 10-8 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night for a doubleheader split.Toles didnt think it was going out, either.I was amazed. I still am, Toles said. All I want to do is contribute.Has he ever. In his last 10 games, Toles is hitting .579 with three homers.None bigger than Wednesday, of course.He is so calm and cool, Roberts said. He doesnt know how good some of these pitchers are. Or the ballpark.I was preparing my pep talk in the middle innings. To get them up after being swept.With good reason. It wasnt looking promising. Then again, this is Coors Field, where anything can happen -- and often does.Trailing 8-2, the Dodgers scored three times in the eighth and added five more in the ninth. Toles capped the final inning with an opposite-field homer off closer Adam Ottavino (0-1) for his first career slam.Ottavino tried to start the pitch inside, but it drifted into the middle of the plate.Everybody played good. I just let everybody down tonight, Ottavino said. Unacceptable performance.Luis Avilan (1-0) threw a scoreless eighth to earn the win. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 40th save, getting David Dahl on a called third strike to end it.The Dodgers began their comeback in the eighth with an RBI double from Yasmani Grandal, an RBI single by Joc Pederson and a sacrifice fly by Howie Kendrick. Chase Utley nearly brought in more, sending a two-out grounder up the middle with two on, but DJ LeMahieu ranged to his right, snared the ball and threw Utley out by a step to end the threat.Los Angeles scored once in the ninth on an RBI single from Josh Reddick and then loaded the bases with two outs, setting the stage for Toles.Colorado took two of three in the series against the NL West-leading Dodgers, who maintain a 1 1/2-game lead over San Francisco. This marks the fifth series the Rockies have captured from a first-place team in August. Theyre the only team in the majors with a possitive run differential (plus-24) and a losing mark (64-69).ddddddddddddWe won the series -- doesnt feel like it, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. Bottom line: Were up six with six outs to go. Weve got to win that game.Starter Jeff Hoffman allowed two runs and was in line for his first big league win before the bullpen had a meltdown.Stephen Cardullo did most of the early damage -- on his 29th birthday, no less -- with a grand slam during a five-run first inning off Bud Norris, who got the last-minute start with Rich Hill bothered by a blister. Cardullo also hit his first big league homer as a pinch-hitter in Game 1.In the opening game, left-hander Tyler Anderson (5-5) threw 6 1/3 stellar innings as the Rockies cruised to a 7-0 win for their first home shutout this season.The doubleheader was necessitated by a rainout Tuesday.Utley led off the game with a homer for the Dodgers, the third time hes done that this season.Cristhian Adames turned in quite a doubleheader with six hits, including two triples. LeMahieu finished the day 3 for 8 to run his average to an NL-leading .345.Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer and finished with 36 RBI for the month. Its the most by a Rockies player for August, passing the mark of 33 set by Andres Galarraga in 1996.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (mild disk irritation) had a successful outing in a simulated game Tuesday and now is in a momentary holding pattern. We havent made the decision as far as what his next progression will be, Roberts said. ... LHP Scott Kazmir (neck stiffness) will be slotted into the rotation when hes eligible to come off the DL on Sept. 7.Rockies: 1B Mark Reynolds (broken bone in left hand) was activated off the 15-day disabled list and entered both games as a defensive replacement. To make room, INF Daniel Descalso was put on the paternity list.UP NEXTDodgers: After a day off, Los Angeles opens a three-game series at home against San Diego. Lefty Julio Urias (5-2) will start Friday.Rockies: Following a rest day, Colorado faces Arizona for three games. Lefty Jorge De La Rosa (8-7) starts Friday. ' ' '