ek, to picture a victory over the Cornhuskers. Although the defending national champions had won 28 straight, Ohio State beat Nebraska in five a year ago in

This is a trip that could go a long way to define the season for the Carolina Panthers.The Oakland Raiders are hoping theyre recovered enough from their latest voyage to be able to continue their winning ways.The teams meet Sunday at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.Were talking about recovering from the trip, Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said. Its all about whats next for us and right now its the Carolina Panthers. ... Busy turning the page to the Carolina Panthers.The Raiders, who are the leaders in the AFC West, are coming off Monday nights victory against the Houston Texans in Mexico City.The Panthers have packed up for the long haul. Theyre staying on the West Coast after this game to take on the Seattle Seahawks the following week.It shapes up as a crucial time for the reigning NFC champions.Were going there for two reasons and two reasons only, Carolina head coach Ron Rivera said, offering a twist on the one-game-at-a-time mantra. Theyre both important. Each game has (its) own individual meaning.Rivera, though, said the focus is clearly on the Raiders as the Panthers (4-6) embark on this trip. Theyll practice at San Jose State in between the games.The Panthers are somewhat wounded, particularly with linebacker Luke Kuechly ruled out after entering the concussion protocol from the Nov. 17 game against New Orleans.Carolina was fortunate to have extra time to prepare because of that Thursday night game. The injury report grew considerably, especially with defensive end Mario Addison and center Ryan Kalil exiting and also ruled out.Hopefully they can come back and we can make a push, Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert said.The Panthers, whove won three of their past four games, are in a wait-and-see situation regarding the linebacking because Kuechlys normal backup is A.J. Klein, who missed the most recent game because of a concussion.The Raiders (8-2) appear in much better position, if nothing else theyre in a more enviable spot in the standings. But winning the division remains a priority and theres lots of work to be done regarding that mission.It still begins with winning the division, Del Rio said. Its the surest way to get a spot in that playoff tournament.With accolades and attention starting to fall on the Raiders, theyre intent on maintaining the right approach.You set goals and you want to reach certain things, quarterback Derek Carr said. Everybody expects great things and when good things come our way you have to know how to be humble.Anytime you have 10 games and you have eight wins, were thankful for that. If we dont win another one, its not going to mean anything. Our focus right now is on beating Carolina.Del Rio, who was the defensive coordinator for the Panthers in 2002, said the Raiders have developed good tendencies during their four-game winning streak. He said there are challenges the team must encounter in the aftermath of the out-of-country trip and dealing with a shortened week of preparation.The seasons foundation is something hes counting on.As you have success and build on that and have a reference point to go back on, Del Rio said. I think our guys have embraced the idea of competing for the full 60 minutes. Weve found ways to win, but it has been different ways each week.While Carr has become a focal point for Oaklands offense, the team has thrived on balance and versatility. Thats something the Raiders figure can work to their advantage.To know that we can win a football game either way, Carr said. We can run the football or throw the football. Either way, Im all for it as long as we keep on winning.The Panthers have been shoddy in converting scoring chances into touchdowns and quarterback Cam Newtons inconsistency has created concerns. Turnovers and red-zone shortcomings have been glaring at times.We will make plays and hopefully we will make enough to win football games, Rivera said.Rivera has put a positive spin on the trips potential even though it means facing a pair of divisional leaders in consecutive weeks. From an internal standpoint, there are gains to be made for the Panthers.Its an opportunity for those guys to do some bonding, Rivera said. Hopefully, it will be a good opportunity for our guys.This will be only the sixth meeting between the Panthers and Raiders, and the first in Oakland since 2008. The Panthers won the 2012 meeting to forge a 3-2 series lead. Wholesale Bruins Jerseys . 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Boston Bruins Gear .Y. -- Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had little trouble picking up his first shutout of the season against a Buffalo Sabres team thats having trouble scoring goals. Ohio States team huddle prior to taking the floor on Saturday against top-ranked Nebraska in Lincoln lasted longer than the traditional minute.Visualize, coach Geoff Carlston stressed to the Buckeyes, asking each of them to focus on the winning moment of the upcoming match.It wasnt a stretch for sophomore setter Taylor Hughes, the espnW volleyball player of the week, to picture a victory over the Cornhuskers. Although the defending national champions had won 28 straight, Ohio State beat Nebraska in five a year ago in Columbus. The Buckeye seniors have never lost in Lincoln, where Nebraska has sold out every home game since 2002.Hughes pictured setting senior Taylor Sandbothe for the kill, almost exactly what happened a few hours later.I had us winning in five, though, Hughes admitted, but Ohio State (12-4) only needed four sets to take their third straight at Devaney Sports Center. Since joining the Big 10 in 2011, the Cornhuskers have a winning record over every conference program except Ohio State, which is 4-3 in Lincoln.Hughes finished with 41 assists and a career-best 11 kills hitting at a match-high .500 rate, using her long arms and big hands to create chaos for the Cornhuskers.Poor passing in the first set delayed the Buckeyes upset, but Ohio State regrouped when Taylor started putting it everywhere, Carlston said. That made Nebraska uncomfortable and have to worry about her. After that first set, she set a really smart game. She kept our team steady and climbing the mountain.In the second set alone, Hughes carried the Ohio State offense, impacting 17 of the teams 18 kills with 11 assists and six kills of her own.Carlston remembers Hughes as a 9-year-old; he coached her older sister, Ashley, also a setter at Ohio State. Another sister, Cassie, played volleyball for Columbus State.I wouldnt want any other setter in the country, he said.dddddddddddd Shes the youngest in a family of competitors, and usually that youngest kid watches and observes. That last sibling tends to have an edge to her. By the time she was a sophomore in high school, I saw that grittiness.Along with that, she owns an enviable topspin lefty serve, one the Ohio State band lauds at home games with an encouraging, Click. Click. Boom, every time Hughes steps to the line.Hughes planned to play basketball along with volleyball in high school before a knee injury made her reconsider competing in a contact sport. She was a regular in the stands for Ashleys college games, but strongly considered Georgia Tech before deciding on Ohio State.The tradition and excellence are unexplainable until you get here, said Hughes, who grew up about 40 minutes away from campus in Carroll, Ohio.Ohio State went 2-0 last week without starter Audra Appold, Hughes roomie and second in hitting on the team to Sandbothe. Credit Hughes for mixing up her sets to keep the Nebraska defense at bay.I had less weapons, but it made it more of a game to trick their blockers, she said.Junior Luisa Schirmer had 16 kills. Sandbothe had 12 kills, hitting .346, and freshman Brooke Bailey added five kills.At 23-13 in the fourth set, Hughes realized her visualization of beating Nebraska was no longer just in her head.Their coach started making challenges, she said. I felt like they were nervous. At 23-13, I finally felt like we had it in the bag, and I got the goose bumps.The final four will be played at Ohio State in December, but right now, Hughes cant imagine anything better that what happened on Saturday night.Ive still got a big smile on my face, she said. I cant picture a bigger win. ' ' '