-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors

HOUSTON -- The easiest thing to do is to acknowledge the rising star power featured by the Oakland Raiders and acknowledge its role in landing atop the AFC West.There is no denying that quarterback Derek Carr, receiver Amari Cooper, and defensive end Khalil Mack are integral to the Raiders foundation. Oakland (7-2) emerges from its bye week on a three-game winning streak set to face the AFC South-leading Houston Texans (6-3) on Monday night in Mexico Citys Estadio Azteca.The Raiders recent collection of early-round draft picks have emerged ahead of schedule and have matched expectations relative to their individual talents. But the Raiders have become the talk of the NFL thanks in no small measure to their depth, and a number of their rotation players were serendipitous discoveries.The Raiders feature 19 undrafted players on their current roster and those players have combined to start 29 games this season.Behind Carr, Cooper (58 receptions for 843 yards and two touchdowns) and receiver Michael Crabtree (49 receptions for 596 yards and six touchdowns), Oakland ranks sixth in the NFL in passing offense at 278.3 yards per game. The Raiders are even better in pass protection, pacing the league with Carr operating behind an offense line showcasing undrafted tackles Donald Penn and Austin Howard.While Penn has started all nine games this season, Howard has made five starts at right tackle. Toss in undrafted rookie guard Denver Kirkland, who has made four starts as an extra lineman, and the Raiders have parlayed line stability into success.The number of (undrafted players) that made our team jumps out, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. For us, its been a process. Its not like all of a sudden we look up and were shocked by it because weve been working with these guys and developing these guys and theyve been giving great energy and effort every day.What is vital to the Raiders is maintaining the momentum theyve cultivated winning six of seven games. Their success has generated conversation throughout the league, and how the Raiders handle their lofty status atop the division will be revealed in how they perform against the Texans after their scheduled break.Weve just got to get back in the swing of things and keep our same focus, Raiders defensive tackle Dan Williams said. Right now, were in good position to achieve our first goal, which is to win the West. I think everybody has the same focus. Weve definitely matured from a year ago and I think were going to get back where we left off.Penn said, Things are coming together. I cant wait to see where its going to go.The Texans removed one monkey from their collective backs by winning on the road for the first time this season, outlasting the Jaguars in Jacksonville on Sunday.What should galvanize the Texans was the performance of their rushing offense against the Jaguars.Before the break, Houston posted just 105 rushing yards against Detroit, its third-lowest total this season. The Texans rebounded for a season-best 181 rushing yards in Jacksonville to offset another subpar effort from quarterback Brock Osweiler and provide hope for an uneven offense moving forward.I think its good, Texans coach Bill OBrien said of the running game. I think theres always things we can improve, but we ran for 180 last game and ran it pretty good against Detroit, so I think its been good.But every weeks different. This is a very, very stout defense. Theyve got big guys inside, good guys on the edge and fast, athletic guys on the inside at linebacker, so its going to be a different challenge.Mack has been a terror in the past four weeks, producing 18 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup. In a 15-12 Raiders win over the Denver Broncos last season, Mack sacked Osweiler five times.Taking that exceptional individual performance into account, Osweiler and the Texans will have a keen eye on Mack.Its very important, Osweiler said. You know, any time you play against a player like Khalil Mack, you need to respect what he brings to the table and you need to have answers for what he brings to the table.Were very fortunate to have a phenomenal offensive coaching staff here, led by (offensive coordinator George) Godsey and Coach OBrien. Im sure theyll have answers for him. But without a question, we are well aware of what Khalil Macks capable of doing -- obviously I experienced it firsthand last year -- and we will have answers for him. Alex Tuch Jersey .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. Brayden McNabb Golden Knights Jersey . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. http://www.goldenknightssale.com/authentic-paul-stastny-golden-knights-jersey/ . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. William Carrier Jersey . They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display. Brandon Pirri Golden Knights Jersey . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. CLEMSON, S.C. -- Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson isnt dwelling on how the third-ranked Tigers pick up their wins, just as long as they continue to be successful in the end.It has been a frenetic month of mid-game mistakes and lasts-minute rallies for the Tigers (8-0, 5-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who pulled off their latest escape Saturday night in a 37-34 win at Florida State.Clemson has needed dramatic comebacks in three of its four October games, including in signature wins over No. 5 Louisville and the 19th-ranked Seminoles . In Watsons view, the end justifies the sometimes sloppy means in the Tigers second straight 8-0 start.Players make plays, this is what we are built for, Watson said Monday. We practice this every Wednesday, being down and having the opportunity to win the game.Clemson hopes to start a more dominating run to the finish the regular season, starting with Saturdays home game against Syracuse (4-4, 2-2). The Tigers have beaten 3-0 against the Orange since Syracuse joined the ACC.The Tigers have had their share of heart-stopping finishes so a comfortable victory would be welcomed.Clemson trailed Louisville 36-28 in the fourth quarter before Watson rallied his team for a pair of touchdown drives in the final seven minutes of the 42-36 victory Oct. 1. Two weeks later, the Tigers sweated out a missed, 33-yard field goal by North Carolina State that wouldve won the game to prevail in overtime, 24-17.This time, Clemson was down 28-20 in the third quarter and 34-29 with 3:23 remaining. But Watson and the Tigers responded with an efficient, smooth 75-yard TD drive ended by tight end Jordan Leggetts 34-yard catch and run where he leaped at the end and extended the ball across the goal line before falling out of bounds.Clemsons defense then forced two incompletions and notched two sacks after the Seminoles had advanced inside the Tigers 40 looking for a tying field goal.Im ecstatic about the way weve been able to finish this season, Clemson defensive back Ryan Carter said. Of course, I wish it werent always this close.ddddddddddddLeggett ended with five catches for 122 yards, setting a single-game school record for receiving yards. He was named the ACC receiver of the week. Leggetts teammate, guard Tyrone Crowder, was the leagues offense player of the year as he helped Clemsons offense gain 511 yards on Florida State.Clemsons closing stretch features four opponents wholl all be heavy underdogs at pulling off the upset. Syracuse hung with the Tigers a year ago at the Carrier Dome before falling 37-27.Orange coach Dino Babers said the Tigers are a different-level opponent for his team. There are a lot of guys that are going to be millionaires on both sides of the football, offensively and defensively, playing for them, he said.After Syracuse comes Pitt, who Clemson faces Nov. 11 at home. The schools have not met since the Gator Bowl after the 1977 season. Clemson finishes ACC play at Wake Forest, which has not beaten the Tigers since 2008.If Clemson is still undefeated then, it concludes the year with South Carolina, which has lost the past two rivalry games and wont be anyones pick to spoil a second-straight perfect season.We know weve got a target on our backs and were going to get a teams best game, Carter said. We see it on the field and we know it is coming.Co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott said last week that former Baylor coaching great and past American Football Coaches Association president Grant Teaff stopped by to visit the Tigers staff. Teaff told them hed watched several games and that the teams apparent belief in ultimate success during dire circumstances is a characteristic championship teams typically develop.We havent won a championship yet and weve got things to clean up, Scott said. Ultimately, our goal is to win games and I think our guys have bought into that.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '