d consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and A

HOUSTON -- Houstons defense hasnt fallen apart without star defensive end J.J. Watt.In fact, it has been the strength of a team that enters its bye week 5-3 despite inconsistent play by new quarterback Brock Osweiler.Theres always room for improvement, but I think overall guys have stepped up their play across the board whether its the d-line, the linebackers, secondary, veteran cornerback Johnathan Joseph said. Its hard to replace the production (Watt) brings to the table, but I think were more than capable with the guys we have on defense and that just has to be our mentality.The Texans ranked fifth in the NFL through Sundays games in allowing 316.2 yards a game . Coach Bill OBrien has been impressed with the way his defense has responded without Watt.Injuries do happen, but look we have lost the three-time Defense Player of the Year and those are hard injuries to overcome for some teams, OBrien said. But not for this team so far because we have a resilient locker room and we have a bunch of guys in there that play hard.Their pass defense is allowing the second-fewest yards in the NFL with 190.5. The Texans have done this despite playing several games without a variety of starters in the secondary. Joseph sat out large portions of two games, cornerback Kareem Jackson missed two games and safety Quintin Demps has sat out the past three.Joseph shared why he thinks Houston has been so good against the pass this season.Players playing the right technique, (defensive coordinator) Romeo (Crennel) making great calls in great situations, guys challenging throws, the pass rush getting there and harassing the quarterback all day, he said.The emergence of cornerback A.J. Bouye has helped Houstons secondary remain solid despite the injuries. Bouye, who was signed to the team as an undrafted free agent in 2013, has 33 tackles along with nine pass break-ups and a sack.Watt was placed on the injured reserve after three games and had season-ending back surgery a few days later. Without Watt, who led the NFL in sacks with 17 1/2 last year, the Texans asked Jadeveon Clowney to expand his role. And for the first time in his injured-plagued career, the top overall pick in the 2014 draft has responded.Clowney moved from outside linebacker to defensive end to fill in for Watt and has thrived. He has 30 tackles, three sacks and leads the team with nine tackles for losses .Hes started all eight games after not starting more than four in a row in his first two years in the NFL. That, OBrien said, is a big reason why hes finally playing to his potential.The fact that hes out there every day at practice, getting all the reps in practice and then having all the reps in the games. Theres no substitute for that, he said. When youre young and youre injured and youre in and out of the lineup or youre not in the lineup for a long time, its hard. Its hard to make up that lost ground and I think hes done a really good job of being out there every day and hes been one of our most productive players. No doubt about it.While the Texans have been great against the pass, theyre hoping to improve against the run when they return to play on Nov. 13 at Jacksonville after their bye. Houston is allowing 125.8 yards rushing per game, which is unacceptable to Crennel.I put all the pressure on myself ... they need to play better (and) I need to coach better, Crennel said.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLClint Capela Jersey . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. James Harden Jersey . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. http://www.therocketsofficial.com/Authentic-James-Harden-Rockets-Jersey/ . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Clyde Drexler Jersey . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. Eric Gordon Jersey . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse.DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers have been losing to Cleveland all season, so it was fitting that the Indians celebrated their AL Central title at Comerica Park.Its hard to explain the one-sided nature of this series this year. All the Tigers know is that theyll be in real trouble if it doesnt change soon.Buck Farmer allowed four runs in five innings, and Detroit couldnt rally against the Cleveland bullpen, losing 7-4 on Monday night to fall two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card. The Indians clinched the division crown, improving to 14-2 against the Tigers this season.I cant really explain it, but the truth is, theyve outplayed us, Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. Theyve outhit us, theyve outpitched us, theyve out-defended us. Its simple.Corey Kluber left after four innings with right groin tightness, joining Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar in a group of talented Cleveland pitchers dealing with injuries. But even those concerns were secondary when the Indians poured onto the field to celebrate their first division title since 2007.Its hard, man. It is so hard to explain how hard winning is, manager Terry Francona said. Weve had some challenges thrown our way, but so has everyone else. We managed to get this far, and now we get to play more baseball.Cleveland last made the postseason in 2013 as a wild card.Coco Crisp and Roberto Perez homered for the Indians, and Jason Kipnis doubled in a run.Farmer (0-1) yielded four hits and four walks.Andrew Miller (10-1) won in relief, and Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his 30th save in 33 chances.Crisp and Detroits J.D. Martinez traded two-run homers in the second, and Cleveland took the lead for good in the fifth on the double by Kipnis. Mike Napolis sacrifice fly later that inning made it 4-2.With the division title 15 outs away, the Indians took the field for the bottom of the fifth without their ace. Kluber, the team leader with 18 wins, was replaced by Dan Otero, and the announcement about the 2014 AL Cy Young Award winners groin problem ccame a little while later.ddddddddddddMiguel Cabrera made it 4-3 with an RBI single, but Perez led off the seventh with a drive to right to put the Indians back up by two.Cabrera added another run-scoring single in the seventh, but Perez -- who entered the game hitting .168 -- answered with another big hit in the eighth, lining an RBI single up the middle.Cleveland made it 7-4 on an error by Martinez in right.Miller, the third reliever for the Indians, struck out four of the six hitters he faced before giving way to Allen. The final out came on a strikeout by Cameron Maybin.Now the Tigers have to face the prospect of three more games this week against a Cleveland team thats dominated them.Try to win the next game. Theres nothing you can do, second baseman Ian Kinsler said. You play hard, you prepare, you get ready to play, hopefully it turns around one particular day, and hopefully that days tomorrow.FRIENDLY CROWDThe Indians werent able to clinch the division at home, but Detroit is only about 170 miles from Cleveland, and there were plenty of fans chanting Lets Go Tribe! after this one was over. A large group of Indians supporters gathered behind their dugout on the first base side.It was awesome, especially that last inning when theyre all chanting, going crazy, Napoli said. Obviously, we wanted to do it at home, but to be able to come here, play Detroit, a team that we can get it done against, its nice.TRAINERS ROOMIndians: Salazar (strained forearm) threw a bullpen session before the game.Tigers: Ausmus said 3B Nick Castellanos (left hand) could be back before the weekend. Hes currently in the instructional league.UP NEXTIndians: Cleveland sends RHP Mike Clevinger (2-2) to the mound Tuesday night at Detroit.Tigers: Detroit counters with RHP Justin Verlander (15-8), who struck out 11 against Minnesota last Thursday.---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '