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The Philadelphia Eagles got off to a surprising start, but they have since lost three of four and head into a season-defining stretch against a string of playoff contenders, beginning Sunday with a home game against the explosive Atlanta Falcons.Little was expected from the Eagles after an offseason that saw a coaching change and the exodus of their presumed starting quarterback and top running back. But Philadelphia raced out to a 3-0 start behind savvy rookie quarterback Carson Wentz and an opportunistic, aggressive defense.Wentz and the Eagles cooled off the past two weeks, though, and dropped division games on the road to the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants in back-to-back weeks.We still are -- and I truly believe that -- were still a good football team, Eagles first-year coach Doug Pederson said.That will be tested against the Falcons (6-3), who, led by quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones, boast the highest-scoring offense in the NFL, averaging 33.9 points. Ryan, who grew up around the Philadelphia area, is having an MVP-caliber season, completing 69.3 percent of his throws with 23 touchdowns and only four interceptions.Its always fun to get back up there and play, Ryan said. Well be ready to go. Itll be nice to have some family and friends up there. But once we start playing, its like any other week. You just get into it and try to play your best.Jones is averaging 19.0 yards per catch and has five touchdowns. But theres much more to the Falcons attack than Ryan and Jones. Receiver Mohamed Sanu has 37 catches, including three touchdowns, and running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are both receiving threats out of the backfield. Coleman is out with a hamstring injury this week.(Ryans) not always having to look for Julio (Jones), Pederson told reporters. Hes got other weapons on that offense that hes utilizing and thats whats making that offense explosive right now.The Eagles pass defense ranks sixth in the league, allowing 218 yards through the air per game. Starting corner Leodis McKelvin (hamstring) will play this week.The Falcons also have injury concerns in their secondary, but they received good news this week when a second look at star cornerback Desmond Trufants left shoulder produced optimism about the Pro Bowlers availability. Trufant, who injured the shoulder in last Thursdays win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, did not practice Wednesday but was not listed on Fridays injury report.The good news for us, from the second opinion, everything went well, Atlanta coach Dan Quinn said.Second-year defensive back Jalen Collins, who was suspended for the first four games of the regular season after violating the leagues policy on performance-enhancing substances, is available if Trufant struggles.The Falcons will be without veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney, who is battling a quad injury.Atlanta has played well on the road, going 4-1 away from home this season. Quinn, who is in his second season with the Falcons, credits the teams preparation process for its success away from home.We love the process that we go through to get ready, Quinn told reporters. Whether were home, away, night, day, West Coast, East Coast, we know we have a responsibility to get ready.The Eagles are 3-0 at home this season, including wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings.Wentz, a first-round draft pick out of North Dakota State, has exceeded expectations but has not been able to produce big plays in the passing game as of late. He threw two interceptions without a touchdown in last weeks loss at the Giants.Hes learning the speed of the game and learning that each game is different, unique and has its own set of circumstances, Pederson said of the rookie. I also think he realizes how hard it is to win in the NFL, and when you do win, how rewarding it is due to the preparation that goes into the week.One thing he has done well is (taking care of) the things that weve asked him to do in managing our offense during the game. Hes handled it extremely well. Jackie Robinson Jersey . 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OMAHA, Neb. -- November college basketball games typically dont mean much in the big picture of a season.As far as Greg McDermott was concerned, No. 22 Creightons 79-67 victory over No. 9 Wisconsin on Tuesday night meant a whole lot.You could argue it might be the best win weve had since Ive been here when you consider where were trying to get the program back to, where the Wisconsin program is today, and in the manner that we did it, the Bluejays seventh-year coach said.Khyri Thomas scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half, breaking open a close game with a three-point play and 3-pointer on consecutive possessions, as the Bluejays beat a Wisconsin team reached the Sweet 16 and returned all five starters.Maurice Watson Jr. had 17 points and 10 assists and Marcus Foster added 15 points for the Bluejays (2-0).I think new can go super far, especially in conference play and in the (NCAA) Tournament, Thomas said. We have so many athletic guys.The game was part of the Gavitt Tipoff Games matching Big East and Big Ten teams the first week of the season.Coming in here, I knew it would be a heck of a challenge, Badgers coach Greg Gard said. Gregs got a very good team; hes kind of earmarked this year as being their year. Congratulate his team on playing very well. We showed at times some very uncharacteristic Wisconsin-like handlings of possessions where we got a little disheveled at times.Bronson Koenig scored 21 points and Nigel Hayes had 16 points to lead the Badgers (1-1). But Wisconsin made only 3 of 26 3-pointers after starting 8 of 13 from beyond the arc. The Badgers also committed 16 turnovers, 12 of them by starters.Nobody forces Wisconsin into 16 turnovers, nobody keeps Wisconsin off the free-throw line, McDermott said. For us to beat a veteran team like they are, that plays the right way, and the success theyve had in their careers, is really a feather in the cap for our team.Hayes, the Big Ten preseason player of the year, scored 11 points in the first 12 minutes and was held scoreless until there were 11 minutes left in the game.Thats wheen Creighton started its decisive run.dddddddddddd Cole Huffs jumper from in front of the Creighton bench put the Bluejays up 52-50. After Toby Hegner hit a 3, Thomas stripped the ball from Koenig, drove for a layup and converted a three-point play. Happ missed on the other end, and then Thomas drilled a 3 to make it 63-52.BIG PICTUREWisconsin: Typical November game. The Badgers glut of turnovers and impatience on offense, especially in the first half, will provide plenty of fodder for film study. Weve got to be able to touch the post more and try to play more inside-out, Gard said.Creighton: The Bluejays have one of the best home-court advantages in the nation, and they were fueled by it.The Bluejays got out to a quick lead, never let the Badgers go on a big run and got big-time defensive performances from 7-foot redshirt freshman Justin Patton and the 6-8 Huff.POLL IMPLICATIONSCreighton will merit a promotion in the Top 25 if it goes unbeaten this weekend in a tournament in the Virgin Islands. Wisconsin probably will drop, but not much.THOMAS RISEThomas went from struggling through conference play last season to becoming a major contributor in the NIT, averaging 12.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in three games.All of a sudden, his frame of mind changed going into the offseason, McDermott said. His motivation was better, his confidence is in a different place, hes eager to get into the gym because he tasted a little success in postseason basketball. That has carried over.ANTHEM PROTESTHayes and Jordan Hill, as they did in Wisconsins exhibition game and opener, stood a couple feet behind teammates during the national anthem. Hayes has said he doesnt take a knee on the court because it would be painful, so he chooses to stand back.UP NEXTWisconsin hosts Chicago State on Thursday.Creighton plays Washington State on Friday at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '