MINNEAPOLIS -- Yes, Brock Osweiler has a contract befitting a franchise player, but he joined the Houston Texans this year with only seven career starts. Authentic Warriors Jerseys China .Sam Bradford was once the first overall pick in the draft, but if the Minnesota Vikings finish with a winning record this season this will be the first time hes experienced that in his professional career.Quality quarterback performance has never been more important in the present-day NFL, but what has also become clear is that success is possible without one of the leagues established elite taking the snaps.Dominant defense, with reigning Super Bowl champion Denver as the prime exhibit, is a must have.Thats primarily why the Texans (3-1) and Vikings (4-0) are winning, and theyre not alone.Philadelphia (rookie Carson Wentz), New England (suspended Tom Brady), Denver (first-time starter Trevor Siemian), St. Louis (career fill-in Case Keenum) and Dallas (rookie Dak Prescott) also have aided less-than-ideal blueprints at quarterback this season with defenses that rank in the top 10 in points allowed.When you look at the Vikings defense, youre looking at a terrific defense, Osweiler said. We know the challenge we have going on the road.The Vikings will face one on Sunday as well. Even without superstar defensive end J.J. Watt, the Texans have been difficult to move the ball against.Theyre very sound. Very rarely does it look like guys are out of place, Bradford said. Theyre just playing really good football on that side right now.Here are some key angles to follow for the game:THE BLAIR WALSH PROJECT: Vikings kicker Blair Walsh ranks 28th in the NFL with a 72.7 percent field goal rate that wouldnt be as concerning if he hadnt had some struggles the past few years and the infamous miss of a 27-yard try at the end of the one-point loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the playoffs last season. Coach Mike Zimmer ominously replied not yet when asked this week whether the team would bring in any free agents to compete for the job.In addition to three failed field goals, Walsh has missed two extra points.That may cost us someday, special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said. So were hoping to rectify that situation and help him go out and make all his kicks.BROWNS BACK: The Texans should get a boost by the expected return of veteran left tackle Duane Brown. He missed the first four games this season while recovering from January surgery to repair a torn quadriceps muscle. Theres nobody more eager to have Brown back than Osweiler, who will work with Brown in a game for the first time on Sunday.I dont really foresee any challenges between Duane and myself, Osweiler said. Just all smiles there. Any time you get a player back like Duane, at quarterback theres nothing you can do but smile with that one.CLOWNEYS PROGRESS: Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is finally healthy and contributing for the Texans after failing to make an impact over his first two injury-filled seasons in the league. The first overall pick in the 2014 draft will start his fifth straight game on Sunday, which will be the first time in any of his NFL seasons that hes played that many in a row. Clowneys emergence has been well-timed with the loss of Watt, who had season-ending back surgery last week. Clowney had a sack and two hits on Tennessee quarterback Marcus Mariota in the previous game, and he has five sacks in his past eight regular-season games.VIKINGS VULNERABILITY: Clowney has played both end spots in Houstons 3-4 scheme since Watt has been out, so both Vikings tackles will need to be prepared to block the 6-foot-5, 270-pound product of South Carolina. T.J. Clemmings has taken over on Bradfords blind side on the left, with Matt Kalil likely out for the season following hip surgery. On the right side, Andre Smith left the previous game with an injury to his right arm. Jeremiah Sirles stepped in and will play again if Smith doesnt.Minnesotas offensive line has had its trouble, with only center Joe Berger the only starter in the same place as last season and the running game lagging at the bottom of the league with only 64.3 yards per game, but Bradfords quick release has helped with the pass protection. He wasnt sacked in the previous game.RARE VISIT: The Vikings have won all three matchups with the Texans, who entered the NFL in 2002 and have made only one prior regular-season visit to Minnesota. The Vikings beat Houston 28-21 at the Metrodome in 2008, behind three touchdown passes by Gus Frerotte and an end zone interception of Texans quarterback Sage Rosenfels.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Warriors Jerseys China . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Cheap Durant Jersey .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. http://www.cheapwarriorsjerseysauthentic.com/ . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. PHILADELPHIA -- Ryan Howard isnt the slugger he once was. He can still clear the fences, though.Howard homered and Maikel Franco singled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-2 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday night.Howard put Philadelphia in front 1-0 by leading off the second with a 428-foot drive to right-center off Mets starter Logan Verrett. It was the 13th homer of the season and the 370th of his career for Howard, who moved into a tie with Gil Hodges for 77th on the all-time list.Obviously, in the moment, youre playing a game, but when I get time to sit back and reflect on it, its actually pretty cool, some of the names that Im there with, Howard said. Ive still got some work to do, but Im going to enjoy this one today.Carlos Ruiz doubled and had two hits for the fourth-place Phillies, who have won 11 of 15. Philadelphia also silenced a large contingent of Mets fans, who sometimes made Citizens Bank Park sound more like Citi Field for the second straight night.It was a good win, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. I didnt want to hear the Mets fans.Jose Reyes and Travis dArnaud drove in the runs for the Mets, who have dropped four of five since All-Star slugger Yoenis Cespedes was injured.Were not taking care of opportunities, manager Terry Collins said. Weve got to take advantage of all those opportunities. We had a chance to add on and we didnt get it done.New York failed to homer for just the second time in the last 14 games. The Mets entered having hit 14 homers in four games at Citizens Bank Park this season and 33 long balls over the last two years at Philadelphias home park.The Mets appeared primed to take the lead in the top of the seventh, but pinch-hitter Kelly Johnson flied out to short left field with runners on second and third and one out before left fielder Cody Asche made an excellent sliding catch for the final out on Asdrubal Cabreras sinking liner with the bases loaded.Cespedes was available as a pinch-hitter, but Collins said he went with Johnson because Cespedes couldnt run the bases in the event of a walk.Philadelphia capitalized on Cabreras throwing error at shortstoop in the bottom half for the go-ahead run.Cheap Curry Jerseys. Cabrera threw wide of first baseman James Loney, allowing speedy Peter Bourjos to reach with one out. Bourjos went to second on Asches walk against Jerry Blevins (3-1) and scored on Francos single to left.I had all the time, said Cabrera, who has four errors this season. It happens.The Phillies tacked on a run in the eighth when Ruiz led off with a double, went to third on a groundout and scored on Erik Goeddels wild pitch.Edubray Ramos (1-0) worked a hitless inning for his first major league win. Jeanmar Gomez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 25th save in 27 chances.The Mets tied it in the third on Reyes sacrifice fly that scored Juan Lagares.New York took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on dArnauds sacrifice fly before the Phillies tied it in the fifth on Asches groundout that scored pitcher Jerad Eickhoff.PHILLIES STARTING REPORTEickhoff allowed two runs and five hits with three strikeouts and one walk in six-plus innings. The right-hander singled and doubled to help his own cause.He really wasnt that sharp, but he pitched well enough to win, Mackanin said. Too many baserunners for my liking, but he got us into the seventh inning, so he did a good job that way.METS STARTING REPORTVerrett, making his seventh start in 25 appearances this season, gave up two runs and eight hits with four strikeouts and one walk in six innings. The right-hander is 1-4 with a 5.20 ERA as a starter this season. He took Matt Harveys spot in the rotation this month when the former ace was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome.I felt good, Verrett said. I felt like I threw the ball well and kept us in the ballgame.TRAINERS ROOMCespedes missed his fourth straight game due to a strained right quadriceps. Collins said the outfielder will undergo testing Sunday morning to determine if he is able to play.UP NEXTThe teams wrap up their three-game series Sunday when Mets RHP Jacob deGrom (5-4, 2.61 ERA) opposes RHP Zach Eflin (2-2, 4.08). In six career starts against Philadelphia, deGrom is 3-0 with a 3.03 ERA. 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