has now won six games over the Spurs dating to last season.WINNING BIGHouston has won each of its first six

MINNEAPOLIS - For the last three years, Jay Gruden and Mike Zimmer had an office across the hall from each other at Cincinnati Bengals headquarters.This week, theyll set up shop on opposite sidelines in Minnesota.I honestly dont like going against my friends, just because at the end of the day one of us is going to be upset, said Zimmer, who was hired by the Vikings this season, a week after Washington picked Gruden to take over the Redskins. It is what it is, and so Im sure hell have his team ready to play, and hopefully Ill have mine ready to play.Zimmer spent the last six years as defensive co-ordinator for the Bengals, and Gruden was the offensive co-ordinator for the last three.We competed every day in practice. It was not friendly, usually. Both of us are pretty good competitors and we all wanted to win the drill, definitely, in Cincinnati so we had our share of arguments and tension, but ultimately I have a ton of respect for him, Gruden said.Particularly for his ability to scheme.Ive seen some of the best quarterbacks come in there and walk out of there scratching their head, Gruden said.Of course, Gruden has been planning for a defence he has seen often. Gruden, like his fellow first-time head coach, has been busy trying to put his stamp on a team in need of some repair.Its been a pretty smooth transition, outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said. Hes been a great coach to play for. Hes the type of guy you want to win for because hes competitive and a very tough-minded coach.Here are some key nuggets to know about the game between the Redskins (3-5) and Vikings (3-5):RG3 RETURNS: Robert Griffin III is expected to return at quarterback for the Redskins, whove turned to Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy since Griffin dislocated his left ankle in the second game of the season. McCoy completed 36 of 42 passes and led the overtime victory at Dallas on Monday night, but this is Griffins job.In two prior games against the Vikings, hes thrown for four touchdowns and rushed for two while turning the ball over once.BLITZING BRIDGEWATER: Redskins defensive co-ordinator Jim Haslett has used a variety of blitzes out of his 3-4 scheme, and the rush has been largely effective. They had five sacks against the Cowboys, and with a rookie quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater the opponent this week, the Redskins are again likely to bring the heat.Its very exotic. You never know what youre going to get, said Bridgewater, who will make his fifth career start.Kerrigan credited new linebackers coach Brian Baker, who was a Vikings assistant from 2001-05, with refining his technique. Hes fourth in the NFL with 7 1-2 sacks.At times I would rush too wide and wouldnt take the most direct route to the quarterback, and when youre doing that youre taking more time, and by that time the balls gone, Kerrigan said.TWO-MINUTE TEDDY: Bridgewater guided a nine-play, 61-yard drive over the final 1:57 of regulation last week to get the Vikings in position for the tying field goal. Though hes been up and down since taking over the job, he has shown a knack for handling those hurry-up situations.Our coaches are calling great plays, allowing me to think less, but still me being a young guy and trying to be perfect, I find myself thinking too much, Bridgewater said. I have to continue to trust my teammates, trust everything that Im being taught and allow those guys to make plays.TEMPERED ENTHUSIASM: The Redskins, who have already matched their victory total from last season, have won their last two games. With Minnesota, a bye week and a home game against Tampa Bay (1-6), an ascent into the NFC East race is possible. But left tackle Trent Williams tried to offer some caution.Weve only won three out of eight games. Youre not going to see anybody around here beating their chests, he said.PROTEST PLANNED: Nationwide pressure on the Redskins to drop their nickname has been ratcheting up, with critics decrying it as racist and owner Dan Snyder and defenders claiming its a tribute to Native Americans. Minnesota has been a ground zero of sorts for the movement, and theres a protest planned by several groups prior to the game. Radio ads have been running this week to elicit support for the rally, which will include a march through the University of Minnesota campus to the stadium.Former Vikings strong safety Joey Browner, a six-time Pro Bowl pick, is scheduled to be one of the speakers against the nickname at the event.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Reggie Jackson Jersey . The union filed a grievance late Thursday, one day after Goodell suspended four players who participated in bounties from 2009-11. The complaint says Goodell is prohibited from punishing players for any aspect of the case occurring before the new collective bargaining agreement was signed last August. J. C. Ramirez Jersey . Re-signed by the club to a one-year, two-way (NHL/AHL) contract on July 5, Bass appeared in three preseason games with Columbus prior to breaking a bone in his hand on Sept. http://www.baseballangelslockroom.com/cj...-angels-jersey/. 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The championships will feature approximately 250 of Canadas best figure skaters in senior, junior and novice as they vie for spots on the national team, international assignments and will act as the final step in the 2014 Olympic qualification process.HOUSTON - Heading into a game with the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale had his eye on a few matchups. A specific one that caught his eye was getting Dwight Howard in the post.The plan worked.With San Antonio missing big bodies Tim Duncan, who was rested along with fellow veteran Manu Ginobili, and Tiago Splitter (right calf tightness), Howard dominated the interior from the opening tip, scoring 32 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in leading Houston to a 98-81 victory.We looked at some stuff (on tape) and we got him in the post, McHale said. I thought (Howard) rolled hard and got some late at the rim. He was really devastating on those high passes. Its important that he gets in a rhythm and plays. It doesnt matter who is out there playing for them, hes got to play well for us.The win runs Houstons record to a league best 6-0 while dropping San Antonios mark to 2-2.With no Duncan or Splitter inside Houston had a decided advantage down low and exploited it from the beginning, feeding Howard at every turn. Whether on the pick-and-roll, at the elbow, or on alley-oop passes, Howard was the target and had a double-double — 20 points and 12 rebounds — by halftime as he exploited a vulnerable Spurs interior defence where Matt Bonner, Jeff Ayers, and Aron Baynes struggled to keep up.We are a sum-of-the-parts team, Popovich said. We have to have all our parts to be at our best. We cant rely on one player. We have to do it as a group. If we have injuries, we need our full bench to continue to play at our best.When Howard was not scoring inside, James Harden filled the stat sheet, adding 20 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Rockets. While he had his share of points, Harden was clear after the game about the advantage of having a force inside.Its tough with the best big man in the league rolling down the paint, Harden said of Howard.dddddddddddd Hes a lob target, and you have shooters around him. Its tough to guard it.As the Spurs struggled to keep Howard from gutting them in the middle, they had little consistency when they had the ball. They started the game sluggish, going scoreless in the first six minutes.While San Antonio rebounded and pulled to within 18-15 at the end of the first quarter, that was as close as the Spurs would get. The tough night finished with the defending NBA champs, who trailed by as many as 31, shooting just 34.4 per cent from the field.It was a bad night tonight and I couldnt hit a shot, Tony Parker, who finished with just six points, said. Defensively, we did OK, but we never got into an offensive rhythm.Cory Joseph led the Spurs with 18 points off the bench and Baynes had 12 points and 11 rebounds.TIP-INSSpurs: Marco Belinelli was an injury scratch due to a strained right groin and was replaced by Bonner. . San Antonio started 0-for-15 on 3-pointers, making their first with 7:02 to go in the third quarter, and finished 2 for 20 from beyond the arc.Rockets: Terrence Jones missed his second straight game with a leg contusion. . Patrick Beverley missed the game due to a strained hamstring and was replaced by Isaiah Canaan, who scored 12 points along with Jason Terrys 16 points. . Houston has now won six games over the Spurs dating to last season.WINNING BIGHouston has won each of its first six games by 10 points or more. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Rockets are the first team to accomplish the feat since the 1985-86 Denver Nuggets.DEFENDING THE ARCHouston came into the game holding opponents to 29.1 per cent from beyond the arc. That number will improve after holding the Spurs to 2-for-20 shooting from 3-point range.UP NEXTSpurs: Host New Orleans on Saturday.Rockets: Host Golden State on Saturday. ' ' '