Longs yardage books) are so good, the green books especially, once you get a pin sheet before you even get out there you can tel

LANDOVER, Md. -- Losers of two in a row, the Green Bay Packers had no trouble sharpening their focus on the Washington Redskins when they met in the playoffs in January.Its their intent to do that again to pull out of this tailspin before its too late.The Packers (4-5) return to the scene of their NFC wild-card win Sunday night hoping that facing the Redskins (5-3-1) can turn their fortunes around after a three-game skid.This game is important because its the game this week, so thats what were focused on: beating the Redskins, Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said.We clearly understand where we are in our season and understand how weve played the last couple games, so its about improving each and every week.Another loss would make the Packers path to an eighth consecutive playoff appearance more difficult. But the margin of error is also small for the Redskins, who could fall to last place in the NFC East with a loss and a win by the Philadelphia Eagles.While Washingtons position is more comfortable than Green Bays, coach Jay Gruden said the Packers are not far away from being the Packers that we know.Injuries havent helped, but the mere presence of two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers makes them formidable.The fact that the Packers have lost a couple of games here really is irrelevant when you have him as the quarterback and some of the other great players that they have on defense, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins said.You realize youve got to come ready to go because theyre going to be hungry and theyre going to be ready.The Redskins are seemingly better than they were when they lost 35-18 on Jan. 10. Cornerback Josh Norman gives the defense a different look, and undrafted rookie Robert Kelley has shown evidence that he can be a capable starting running back.A similar scheme that they ran last year, theyre just doing a little bit better I think, Rodgers said. You have some guys who maybe werent big contributors last year who are kind of stepping up and being more of an impact player this year.Some things to watch when the Packers visit the Redskins:SACKS IN BUNCHES: One reason things fell apart for the Redskins in the playoff game was that their initial pass rush on Rodgers was neutralized by Green Bays running game. Washington has three sacks in five consecutive games, including two big ones by Preston Smith in a victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Its a lot of guys trying to find ways to get to the quarterback, Smith said. And of course its a competition to see who can get more sacks by the end of the year. Maintaining a consistent pass rush was a goal from training camp, and this is another major test.RUN IT OUT: In the span of a few days, Christine Michael went from being the leading rusher for Seattle, to Seahawks outcast, to potential backfield savior for the Packers. Green Bay has only three rushing touchdowns this season, all from Rodgers. McCarthy wants to balance the offense, which has been pass-heavy since Eddie Lacy went down with an ankle injury. Any semblance of a consistent running game will help the Packers extend drives, which could in turn rest a defense that has been on its heels the past few weeks.OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD: Norman relishes matchups against not only top receivers but top quarterbacks, and on a conference call Wednesday he referred to Rodgers as a wizard. Rodgers has Davante Adams and Jordy Nelson as targets, and Norman is eager for the challenge. Facing definitely a cerebral assassin in that guy over there, he said of Rodgers. I know how he works, so Im looking forward to it.STARTING STRONG: Fast starts used to be a Green Bay specialty. Lately, the Packers have been falling behind early. Last week, DeMarco Murray had a 75-yard touchdown run on Tennessees first play from scrimmage. The previous week, the Colts ran the opening kickoff back 99 yards for a score. The poor starts left the Packers scrambling in both games, with the offense forced to get away from the run. The Packers need to avoid another slow start. They also need to avoid the momentum-sapping late scores that have also plagued them near the end of second quarters of recent games.---AP Sports Writer Genaro Armas in Green Bay, Wisconsin, contributed.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Nike Air Max Billigt Sverige . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Nike Air Max Billigt Online . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. http://www.sverigeairmax.com/ .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament. Nike Air Max Sverige Online .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury. Nike Air Max Skor Billigt . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. SPRINGFIELD, N.J. -- Every caddie showed up for work, but not every caddie got to actually work on the course. The weather ruined a perfectly good Saturday, but not the spirits of the caddies. As soon as the horn blew, I left the media center to go hang out with my buddies in the caddie area. Heres what I learned.Collins: How different was the course Saturday, before the weather, compared to Friday? Caddie: It was a little drier, greens werent quite as soft, but still plenty soft. The rough was drier which made it easier to get it out.Collins: Mickelson said someone would drop a 62 this weekend. Do you see it? Caddie: If it was gonna happen (Saturday), it would have happened in the morning. You got the weather coming in which is going to soften it up, but if theres any wind I dont see it. But this morning it was pretty soft, and there was no wind, so it was easier to hit the fairways and get it closer to the pins. I thought somebody would really go low this morning.Collins: Whats this courses defense? Caddie: I think its putting, the greens. I think the greens are a little tricky to read. They have a lot of slopes and ridges. They find the places to cut the holes where theyre maybe just on a little bit of a hump... (Looking at the pin sheet) Today the 18th (hole) is literally right on a knob.Collins: There was an issue with the pin sheets on Friday... Caddie: Yes, there was. (leaning into the recorder for affect) Collins: For the caddies, how frustrating is it to not be sure if you have the right information? Caddie: When we teed off yesterday morning... Theres an official on the tee that says, Theres been a change to #16. Okay. So we play number one, two, (etc.) they blow the horn... we came inside with (another group) .... were talking about the hole locations, and I said, Did they tell you about the hole location change on 16? And theyre like, No! But they did tell us about the one on 10. And Im, Well they didnt tell us about the one on 10! (Starts laughing at the absurdity.) Then we get back on the course, and were on No. 6 and here comes an official saying, Theres been another change. This time it was No. 8. Collins: Two holes before you get to it?! Caddie: YES! So, I dont know, if you know you just had an inch of rain the night before, and you know theres more rain coming, why even put the (hole) locationns in a questionable spot? Collins: What reason did they give yall for the changes, and why they got the changes to you so late? Caddie: You know, No.dddddddddddd 16 (hole) was in a low area at the back left. Basically, what they did was put them (the holes) in higher areas... Like No. 8 ... No. 10. I dont know why, I looked at the... Collins: On No. 10, they didnt move the hole location. They had it wrong on the pin sheet! Caddie: Oh, is that the thing? Because that was where the hole was today -- what was on the original pin sheet yesterday. Collins: Ooooh, so they put Saturdays hole location on Fridays pin sheet! Because the first group that played yesterday on No. 10... Caddie: Yeah, Colt (Knost) was in it, and he claims (trails off), but you can see! You can clearly see if the pin was right or left! You can see from the tee box, I got there... Caddie#2 (whos been eavesdropping): Yeah, but heres the thing, (looks at me) plug your ears! He (Colt Knost) is only 5-foot-1!Collins: What do caddies normally do during delays like this? Caddie: Sit around and eat! Yeah, a lot of eating and a lot of storytelling. Just do whatever you can to kill time. Maybe FaceTime or call the family? Collins: Do the guys whove played a bunch of holes talk about conditions of the course to the guys who havent even teed of yet? Caddie: Yeah, but on this course (there isnt much to share). Plus, you know before you go out there because the books (Mark Longs yardage books) are so good, the green books especially, once you get a pin sheet before you even get out there you can tell, Okay, this is gonna be a dodgy pin... Like the hole on 18 today, (his player) even said, They had to do a lot of work to get a pin there!Caddie: The guys that you dont want to be are Russell Knox and Marc Leishman ... They were on 18, you see Russell Knox tap out (finish the hole), Leishmans got about a 10-footer, and they blow the horn! You see Russell Knox throw his putter and youre like, Whats he upset about? And then I thought, Hes got to sign (Leishmans) scorecard! (Knox) cant go anywhere until Leishman finishes, even though hes done. So thats the group right there... thats the one group you do not wanna be! Collins: True dat! ' ' '