Premier League status after inheriting a struggling team last October

HOUSTON -- Perceptions are fickle, so much so that they can allow for a quarterback to be compared to a maligned underachiever one week only for opinions to drastically change if that quarterback spearheads a string of victories.Following the Lions 1/3 start, Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford was in some circles being aligned with Bears signal caller Jay Cutler, whose abundant talent has for years failed to deliver on notable team success. Stafford has the statistical profile of an elite quarterback, but the Lions have sputtered along for years, and their sluggish start to this season provided room for those critical of Stafford to sound off.Three wins in three games later and Stafford is earning raves. He ranks third in the NFL in passer rating (105.7), fourth in touchdown passes (15) and eighth in passing yards (1,914). Despite the Lions pass-heavy offense, Stafford has thrown just four interceptions.The accumulation of those numbers has yielded MVP discussion as the Lions visit the Houston Texans Sunday at NRG Stadium.I really dont pay too much attention to it, Stafford said. I just care about how I perform for the guys in this locker room and this coaching staff and the owners and the people affected by the Lions. Thats what I care about. Preparing as hard as I possibly can to play well for those people.Though Stafford is deflecting praise, he has been instrumental in the Lions winning streak. Detroit has defeated the Eagles, Rams and Redskins by a total of seven points, with Stafford leading fourth-quarter surges to victory in each contest.Last Sunday against the Redskins, Stafford completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin with 16 seconds to play to cap a six-play, 75-yard drive. His late-game mastery of the offense is as responsible for the MVP talk as his aggregate numbers, and the more Stafford shines down the stretch, the more praise he earns.Well one thing, I think his preparation is such that he really prepares himself for those kinds of moments, Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. Number two, obviously he has some unique talents and focus where he doesnt back down from real tough situations. Number three I think his leadership just in terms of getting guys to rally around him particularly in those crucial moments. He kind of has a knack for that.Somewhat lost amid the furor of Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler delivering an embarrassing effort in his Denver homecoming on Monday night was another subpar performance by the Texans run defense. The Broncos, whod amassed 309 rushing yards in their previous four games combined, gouged Houston for 190 yards and two rushing touchdowns in a 27-9 win that snapped their two-game losing skid.Well, I think any time an offense is able to run the football, it makes it very difficult on a defense, Texans coach Bill OBrien said. It does. It does affect your game plan and we have to people use the phrase, Go back to the drawing board. I dont know if thats what it is. I think every team is different.The way that Detroit runs the ball is a lot different than the way that Denver runs the ball. Were going to have to really study hard here on Detroit and figure out what we need to do to stop the run because it has to get a lot better.The Texans are ranked 29th in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing 135.4 yards per game. Thats a far departure from last season when they finished 10th in the league allowing 99.8 rushing yards per game. Houston has dealt with its share of injuries on defense at all three levels, with of course the most notable absence being All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt, whose renown is linked to his pass rushing abilities.Even without Watt the Texans shouldnt be this porous. And while their offensive woes are legitimate with Osweiler at the controls, their inability to muster a solid front against opposing rushing attacks is as problematic as the issue at quarterback.Theres no excuses, OBrien said. They dont cancel the games when theres injuries, so we have to all do a better job. Again, it probably gets boring listening to me. Coaches and players, we all just need to do a better job of playing and coaching better on Sundays. Wholesale Air VaporMax 2018 . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. Buy Air VaporMax 2018 . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. http://www.cheapairvapormaxstore.com/ . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. Grey 2018 Air VaporMax Shoes . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. Black Air VaporMax Shoes . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. SUNDERLAND, England -- David Moyes was hired to take charge of Sunderland as Sam Allardyces successor on Saturday, returning to Premier League management two years after being fired by Manchester United.Moyes signed a four-year contract less than 24 hours after Sunderland announced Allardyces departure to become England manager. Allardyce secured Sunderlands Premier League status after inheriting a struggling team last October but the northeast club doesnt want to be in regular relegation battles.It is our aim to become a better, stronger and more stable football club, Sunderland chairman Ellis Short said. With a manager of Davids caliber and experience at the helm, we have a fantastic opportunity to begin looking upwards, rather than downwards every season.The 53-year-old Moyes has a managerial career to rebuild at Sunderland after three disappointing years.The Scots relative success at Everton from 2002-13 earned him the high-profile job at United after Alex Fergussons retirement.dddddddddddd But Moyes was fired 10 months into a six-year contract after missing out on Champions League qualification.Moyes next headed to Spain but he was dismissed by Real Sociedad last November after a poor start to the season. Now Moyes is hoping for another period of stability in his dugout at Sunderland.I have taken over a big British club, with a great support and Im looking forward to working in the Premier League again, Moyes said. I look forward to continuing the good work done by Sam.Sunderland said it had been pursuing Moyes for almost five years.I have spoken with him on many occasions and I have always been hugely impressed, Short said. He was my number one managerial target for the last five appointments, but his desire to honor existing contracts meant we were not able to bring him to Sunderland previously. ' ' '