Bilderecke » following a Rose Bowl victory at the end of the 2000 season.

SEATTLE -- Even as Washington is reaching heights not seen in more than a decade, climbing to No. 5 in this weeks AP Top 25 , there is another number taking precedence this week.Twelve. And no, that has nothing to do with the Seattle Seahawks.Its the number of Washingtons consecutive losses to Oregon, one that has grown each year since 2003 and will continue to linger over the Huskies football program until its losing streak to the Ducks is finally snapped.So will it be brought up this week by Washington coach Chris Petersen? Dont even think about it.I dont know why Id do that. No, Petersen said Monday.From the time he left Boise State to accept the job at Washington, the question of when Petersen would end the Huskies losing ways has followed him everywhere. Its the biggest topic among fans and alumni, more so than anything related to in-state rival Washington State.This week presents what could be Washingtons best chance to end the losing skid against the Ducks. The Huskies are coming off a thorough dismantling of Stanford 44-6 on Friday night -- one of its most impressive victories in years -- while the Ducks are wounded, having lost three straight after an 18-point loss at Washington State.There may not be a better time for Washington to end the losing skid. But even in the simplest of ways, the Huskies are avoiding talk about the skid. Washingtons game notes mentions Oregon has had the edge of late, winning 17 of the last 21, but doesnt mention having lost 12 straight.You hear that a lot. So we get it. We know its important. But all these games are important, Petersen said. I mean, I want our guys to just do what theyve been doing, just preparing hard and staying focused on the right things and showing up on Saturday with great energy and playing as a team. You cant tell them, `OK, now were going to prepare really hard. Thats ludicrous. That doesnt make any sense. These guys have been giving everything they can possibly give, so we just need to stick to that and stay focused and not pay attention to all the stuff that doesnt really matter.Still its a different week around the Huskies program and not simply because they have their highest ranking in the AP poll since finishing No. 3 following a Rose Bowl victory at the end of the 2000 season. There is a buzz about Washington different from any other time during Petersens tenure or under his predecessor Steve Sarkisian.The win over Stanford validated the hype surrounding Washington. It also kicked all that attention into overdrive.Were kind of burying our head in the sand. I think they have done a good job of just paying attention to whats important and practicing hard and all those type of things, Petersen said. I do think its important that we pay attention to it as coaches and talk about those things, because it can be distracting, theres no question about it. Its distracting to me to have to sit here and talk to you.Because of that, Petersen has made players off-limits for interviews this week for the third time since arriving at Washington. He said its not specifically because of the opponent, but more to give his players a break with classes having started last week.It has nothing to do with the opponent, Petersen said. It has to do with us -- it always has to do with us. Its never about the opponent. Stan Smith Ireland Online . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Discount Stan Smith Ireland . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. http://www.stansmithsaleireland.com/ . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. Cheap Stan Smith Ireland From China . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Stan Smith Shoes Ireland . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. CINCINNATI -- Only three wins heading into December? Thats a new one for Andy Dalton and many of the Bengals.And they have company that can commiserate this weekend.The Bengals (3-7-1) are already thinking about next year as they get set to host the Eagles (5-6), who are pretty much in the same predicament. The first game of December is wrapped in a lot of what-ifs for both teams.Its different, Dalton said. Ive never really been in this situation in my life or with any sport that Ive ever played. Ive been just trying to figure out how to change it.So are the Eagles, who won their first three games in what was expected to be a rebuilding season behind rookie quarterback Carson Wentz. Theyve since lost six of eight, leaving them -- like the Bengals -- with only the slimmest chance for reaching the playoffs.Yeah, its been an up-and-down year, Eagles defensive end Connor Barwin said. Obviously we were all very excited at the beginning of the year.Mathematically, each of them still has a chance.The Bengals could win another title in the subpar AFC North by running the table and having the Ravens (6-5) and the Steelers (6-5) fall apart.The Eagles have home games left with all three teams in their division -- the Cowboys (10-1), the Giants (8-3) and the Redskins (6-4-1) -- so theres a chance to gain ground in the wild-card race.Whoever loses on Sunday can pretty much go ahead and write off the season and get ready for a dismal December.We brought this on ourselves, Bengals cornerback Adam Pacman Jones said.Some things to watch on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium:NO RUSH: The Eagles have only six sacks in the past five games after recording 20 in the first six. Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox has four sacks and none in the past seven games. Cox signed a contract that included more guaranteed money ($63 million) than any non-quarterback has ever received.He draws a lot of attention, a lot of double teams, coach Doug Pederson said. He still is very disruptive and can be a force inside. Its just a matter of the sheer determination and wanting to get the job done. Hes still a very capable defensive lineman for us.Defensive end Vinny Curry signed a contract that included $23 million guaranteed. He has only 1+ sacks. Ennd Brandon Graham leads the team with five, but only has one in the past five games.ddddddddddddBALANCING ACT: The Eagles are 0-4 when they dont rush for 100 yards and 0-3 when Wentz throws more than 40 passes. Pederson has stressed the need for balance, so he tries to run the ball and control the clock to limit the pressure on his rookie quarterback.Against the Packers, Wentz threw 36 passes and the running backs only had 13 carries. Rookie Wendell Smallwood is expected to get the bulk of the workload against the Bengals if Ryan Mathews cant return from a knee injury.IN YOUR FACE: The Ravens tried an unusual -- and successful -- strategy against Dalton during their 19-14 win on Sunday. Rather than a full-out pass rush on Cincinnatis final series, they held their spots and put up their hands, batting down four of Daltons last eight passes as they closed out the win. Itll be interesting to see if the Eagles try some of the same against an offense missing deep threat A.J. Green and running back Giovani Bernard.Ive never seen it happen four times on a drive, Dalton said. We have to do whatever we can do not to let that happen.PAT PROBLEMS: Bengals kicker Mike Nugent has missed his past three point-after-touchdown attempts and four of his past eight, playing a huge role in close games. The Bengals are 0-3-1 in their past four games, with Nugents missed PAT and field goal attempt figuring in the 27-27 tie with Washington. The three losses have been by a total of 10 points. The Bengals have decided to stick with Nugent rather than find a late-season fill-in. The home crowd wont take kindly to another miss of any sort.HOME WOES: The Bengals are only 4-5 at Paul Brown Stadium since the middle of last season, including a first-round playoff meltdown against the Steelers last season. Fans booed and left early during a 16-12 loss to Buffalo on Nov. 20. Given how the season has gone, playing at home isnt much of an advantage.---AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi in Philadelphia contributed to this report.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '