f them, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. So we feel good about that. Not a lot of offense on either side but I think thats because the pitchin

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Gary Kubiak isnt backing down from his defense of Jordan Norwood. He does acknowledge, however, that Emmanuel Sanders could return punts as the Denver Broncos scramble to get into the playoffs over the holidays.Rookie speedster Kalif Raymond provided a much-needed spark on special teams against Jacksonville and Tennessee after being promoted from the practice squad following Norwoods two muffed punts in an overtime loss to Kansas City last month.Needing his most experienced slot receiver for the up-tempo game plan against New England last weekend, Kubiak activated Norwood in place of Raymond, which returned Norwood to his punt return duties.That decision turned into a debacle when Norwood muffed his first punt return Sunday , which resulted in a turnover the Patriots turned into three points.Tough play that Ive got to make, said Norwood, who spent the rest of the day getting away from Ryan Allens punts, which resulted in poor field position for an already scuffling offense in Denvers 16-3 loss .Norwood also coughed up the football on his one and only catch in the closing seconds, giving him five fumbles on 50 touches on the season. The only players in the league with more than five fumbles are all quarterbacks.Norwood was shoved in the back by teammate Aqib Talib after a big muffed punt at midfield against the Chiefs on Nov. 27. This time, Kubiak had Norwoods back, defending him both after the game and again this week.Asked whether hed consider using the sure-handed Sanders, who has just one drop to go with his 78 receptions, as a punt returner as he did at times last season, Kubiak said, Yeah, it comes up, theres some thought there.But Im going to tell you guys again, Ive got a lot of confidence in Jordan. And Im disappointed he didnt handle the ball well and obviously that was (the case) a few weeks ago, too. Hes got to handle the ball better, Kubiak said. But hes also made some big plays for this team and I put him back there, Im the guy that put him back there. I believe in him.Kubiak said he was pleased with how Trevor Siemian ran Denvers no-huddle offense that set the tempo early on. Greg Knapp, the Broncos QB coach and passing coordinator called the plays instead of Kubiak or offensive coordinator Rick Dennison.When we go hurry-up, I feel very comfortable with `Knapper working with him because it cuts out the middle man, so to speak, Kubiak said. ... I like to cut them loose and go. Obviously I have opinions, but I just think that it makes us play a little faster. I think we responded to that. We had some good ball movement in the first half.That pace helped dictate the Patriots personnel and kept the pass rush at bay until Siemians second-quarter interception led to the games only touchdown and had the Broncos playing catch-up the rest of the afternoon.However, it stands to reason that Norwood will be active again against the Chiefs, at least in the slot, given Kubiaks pleasure with the no-huddle offense and his confidence in Norwood.Sanders said hes willing to return punts if asked but said he has confidence in Norwood.Sanders said returning punts is the hardest job in the NFL, because you have 11 guys running down the field trying to knock your head off.I have the utmost respect for Jordan and any punt returner thats in college, high school or NFL, Sanders said. That is a tough job and hes been doing well. He has the longest punt return in the history of the Super Bowl. He has done a great job for us. Is it fair that were being hard on him? Yes, it is fair because obviously he has to do his job. But it is a tough job.He said Norwood just hit a rough patch, not unlike any other player hitting a slump.It can happen to any receiver or quarterback, Sanders said. You have those two-game droughts where youre doing bad and everybody is trying to mash you on the head and tell you that youre not doing a great job. But you have to get back on the horse and ride and try to make them highs.The Patriots made stopping Sanders a priority, holding him to three catches for 48 yards. But Sanders took offense when cornerback Malcom Butler told reporters hed shut him down .He said he beat Butler on the one snap they were in man, and other than that, it was Cover 2. So, tell the truth. ... My 2-year-old son Princeton Sanders can play Cover-2 in this league.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton Wholesale MLB Jerseys . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. Authentic Jerseys Cheap . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. http://www.authenticwholesalejerseys.net/ .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. NFL Jerseys Outlet . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. Cheap Jerseys From China . LOUIS -- Theres no telling how these wacky World Series games will end. HOUSTON -- Despite striking out 61 times and only scoring 10 runs in four games, the Toronto Blue Jays found a way to take three of four from the Houston Astros.J.A. Happ won his ninth consecutive decision, Edwin Encarnacion reached 30 home runs for the fifth straight season and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Houston Astros 4-1 on Thursday night for their eighth win in 11 games.Its been a tough place for us to play; we won three games and had a chance to win all four of them, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. So we feel good about that. Not a lot of offense on either side but I think thats because the pitching was so good on both sides. We got some big hits and won some close games.Happ (15-3), who already has set his career high for wins, retired 12 of his first 13 batters and allowed one run and four hits in six innings. He is 9-0 with a 2.49 ERA in 10 starts since losing at Detroit on June 6.Its nice to have a couple quick innings, Happ said. Hopefully the less pitches they see the better youre going to be for the later at-bats when youre turning the lineup over or trying to at least two, three or four times. I think that was huge to be able to have something left to get out of that jam.Happ struck out six and walked none, and Joaquin Benoit, Jason Grilli and Roberto Osuna completed the five-hitter. After walking rookie Alex Bregman leading off the ninth, Osuna struck out Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Evan Gattis for his 24th save in 26 chances.After being given a day off Wednesday, Bregman was 1 for 4 with a sixth-inning single. The second overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, is hitting .056 (2 for 36) since he was brought up July 25.Houston pitchers struck out a major league-record 61 in the four-game series, three more than the previous mark set by Cincinnati pitchers against San Diego in 2008. Astros pitchers set a record with 52 strikeouts in a three-game series against Baltimore from May 24-26.Mike Fiers (7-5) gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings, walking none and tying his second high with seven strikeouts.Devon Travis doubled leading off the first inning for the first of his three hits and scored on Josh Donaldsons groundout -- the first run in the series that did not score on a solo home run.I felt good tonight, Travis said. I found out once again for the millionth time that this is a really humbling game. Its alwayys great to come out here and help your team with a ball game.ddddddddddddOn the previous pitch, Smoak took an 0-2 curveball on the low, outside corner and stepped toward the dugout thinking it was strike three, only to have plate umpire Todd Tichenor call the pitch a ball.Toronto doubled the lead in the fifth when Justin Smoak swung over a curveball in the dirt for strike three and the ball hit off Gattis and bounced away for a wild pitch that allowed Russell Martin to score from third.Tyler White hit a run-scoring double in the bottom half for his first RBI since June 10.The Astros have lost eight of their last 10 games, getting outscored 47-21.We all hate it collectively because we dont like going through this rut, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. I think the guys are handling it like pros. We believe in this group and they believe in themselves, but sometimes, you need to have a good day to realize all the work and extra conversations are worth it. Its the big leagues and its a game of adjustments -- its not a try-hard league.Travis singled in a run against Will Harris in the eighth, and Encarnacion connected against James Hoyt in the ninth for his 298th home run.It feels good, Encarnacion said about being close to 300. I know its going to happen but I wish it could happen with people on base so we could win some games.TRAINERS ROOMBlue Jays: SS Troy Tulowitzki went 1 for 4 after missing three games after breaking his right thumb when hit by a pitch from Baltimores Chris Tillman on Sunday.Astros: INF Marwin Gonzalez (right hand soreness) was held out of the starting lineup but pinch hit in the seventh inning and grounded out. Gonzalezs right-handed swing is less comfortable than left-handed swing, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. ... Luis Valbuena (right hamstring strain) is taking part in any baseball activity but continues daily treatment ... INF Carlos Gomez (right hamstring strain) was 0 for 2 with two strikeouts as the designated hitter after not playing in five of the last six games.UP NEXTBlue Jays: LHP Francisco Liriano (6-11), acquired from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline, is to make his Toronto debut on Friday at Kansas City.Astros: LHP Dallas Keuchel (6-11) is slated to start at home Friday against Texas. ' ' '