West Virginia defense still had to watch as the Texas desperation pass gently floated toward the end zone and then drifted too far.Then came the celebratio

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- DJ Haydens career over the past four seasons has pretty much mirrored that of the Oakland Raiders, the only NFL team hes played for.After a lengthy stretch of lean years that lasted more than a decade the Raiders are 6-2 and tied with the Denver Broncos heading into Sunday nights game between the two AFC West co-leaders.Likewise, Hayden also appears to have put his own individual rocky past behind and is emerging as an integral cog in Oaklands secondary this season.The 12th overall pick in 2013, Hayden had been used almost exclusively in the Raiders nickel defense but had to pull double duty on the outside last week when starting cornerback Sean Smith was injured on the second play from scrimmage in Oaklands overtime win against Tampa Bay.Im pretty comfortable because thats what Ive been doing pretty much my whole life, Hayden said Thursday. Thats what the team needed me to do, come play nickel and corner.While he was beaten for a touchdown, Hayden played all but two snaps against the Bucs, allowed only two catches on the six passes thrown his direction.(He is) really clear on what his job is and what his responsibility is and it really shows in his confidence, Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said. The way he carries himself, the way he plays, the way hes making plays . theres no question hes really doing a great job of helping us.Smith returned to practice Thursday after sitting out a day earlier with a shoulder injury but was limited to individual drills during the 30-minute media access window. His status for Sundays game is uncertain.If Smith -- one of the Raiders top free agent signings in the offseason -- is unable to play against Denver, Hayden is likely to start in his place. Hayden replaced Smith in Oaklands base defense after Smith went out but moved inside to defend the slot when the Raiders went to their nickel while TJ Carrie lined up at cornerback.Oaklands much-maligned pass defense limited Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston to 180 yards, the fewest allowed by the Raiders this season. They also forced three-and-outs both times the Bucs had the ball in overtime, setting the stage for quarterback Derek Carrs game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass to Seth Roberts.We had a great time out there, Hayden said. Theres some stuff we could have done better but we played a pretty good game . especially in overtime. I thought we played really good in overtime.That hasnt always been the case for Hayden, who struggled with injuries and had problems covering bigger receivers as a starting cornerback during his first few seasons in the NFL. Haydens career with the Raiders appeared to be at a crossroads when the team declined to pick up the option year on his contract this offseason then asked him to move inside to defend the slot.After a slow start both for Hayden and Oaklands defense, both seem to be settling into a much more comfortable groove now.Its not what I see on film, its how Im playing, how were all playing, how we all feel out there, Hayden said. I feel like Im playing better but still, the season aint over yet. Still gotta do work.As Hayden is quick to point out, that goes for the Raiders as a team as well. Oakland won just seven games in Haydens first two seasons then matched that by going 7-9 in 2015. With six wins already this season, the outlook is drastically different than it has been but the job is only half-finished.Ill wait until after the season to appreciate it but when I was younger we were rough, Hayden said. It feels good but theres still a lot of work out there to do and we have to finish out.Game notes Center Rodney Hudson (knee) and left guard Kelechi Osemele (knee) were also limited after sitting out Wednesday. Wide receiver Amari Cooper (back) and fullback Jamize Olawale (ankle) were limited as well.---Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Custom Football Jerseys . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. Custom Washington Redskins Jerseys Cheap . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.customjerseysfootball.com/custom-los-angeles-rams-jerseys-cheap-703h . Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league. Custom New York Jets Jerseys Cheap . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Discount Custom Football Jerseys . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. AUSTIN, Texas -- After bringing the big hits all day, the West Virginia defense still had to watch as the Texas desperation pass gently floated toward the end zone and then drifted too far.Then came the celebration.Then the wait to see if the Mountaineers had too many players on the field and if Texas would get one last shot to win.Nope. Game over. West Virginias chase for its first Big 12 championship is still alive.Kennedy McKoy ran for two touchdowns and Mountaineers (8-1, 5-1, No. 16 CFP) earned a tough 24-20 Big 12 road win, setting up a showdown with league leader Oklahoma next week.The Mountaineers have not yet won a league title since joining the Big 12 in 2012 but are chasing one with rugged defense in a league spends most weekends breaking scoreboards.They wanted to get this win pretty bad, West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said. Our goal has always been to win the Big 12 ... That defense was excellent.Skyler Howard passed for 269 yards and a touchdown for the Mountaineers. The defense gave up 536 yards but got four sacks, forced three turnovers and kept Texas running back DOnta Foreman, the Big 12s leading rusher, out of the end zone .One of those turnovers came on a big hit on Texas quarterback Shane Buechele by Kyzir White that forced a fourth-quarter fumble inside the West Virginia 25.Buechele passed for 318 yards and drove the Longhorns to final chance to win before his last pass fell incomplete. The Longhorns twice fought back from double-digit deficits before the final play.We kept taking our punches and kept coming back, Texas Charlie Strong said. Throw the Hail Mary and had the chance to win it.Foreman finished with 167 yards, his 11th consecutive 100-yard game, which tied former Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbells Texas school record.THE TAKEAWAYWest Virginia: The Mountaineers came in with the Big 12s best defense and lived up to the billing. Most of Foremans yards came early and the Mountaineers pounded him and Buechele in the second half. The West Virginia offense had four turnovers, three by Howard, but the defense surrendered just seven points off those. Foreman also had an early fumble.They give (Fooreman) the ball and ride him.dddddddddddd We had to stop him and make others make plays. We did that, West Virginia linebacker Al-Rasheed Benton said.Texas: The pressure is back on Strong, who now has three consecutive five-loss seasons. Texas looked to be turning things around with big wins over Baylor and Texas Tech, but the numbers game is catching up to Strong, who is facing intense speculation that he could be fired. Texas is still trying to get bowl-eligible after not making one last season.I really dont worry about that, Strong said of his tenuous job status. I have a really good group of guys and I know they are going to play for me. Theyre going to battle. Theyre going to give everything theyve got.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe victory and impressive defense should keep West Virginia hovering around the top 10 . Keep winning at the Mountaineers can only move up.OPEN MICHolgorsen could be heard using profanity and telling game officials his players were tougher than Texas when an open microphone picked his argument over a reversed fumble. The Mountaineers led 17-3 and recovered a muffed punt return when officials determined they had interfered with the catch. The Longhorns seized on the momentum change by quickly marching to a touchdown in a 10-point rally that cut the lead to 17-13 by halftime.MISSING MALIKTexas linebacker Malik Jefferson, whose resurgent play the previous two weeks had been key to the Longhorns improved defense, left the game in early in the first quarter and did not return. Texas officials said he was being evaluated for a head injury. He had three tackles, including one for a loss, when he was taken out.UP NEXTWest Virginia: The Mountaineers return home next Saturday to host Big 12 leader Oklahoma in a game with huge implications for the league title.Texas: The Longhorns go on the road to Kansas next Saturday.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 .---Previous versions of this story incorrectly spelled the name of Kennedy McKoy. ' ' '