against Detroit and has two sacks in last two games this year. ... Rams

NORTON, Mass. -- Just because Saturday was the official start to the college football season, its only natural that we compare Deutsche Bank Championship 36-hole leader Kevin Chappell to one of the teams well see this year.He might be the team from the non-power conference threatening to win a title.Or he might be the team on the verge of peaking next season.Or he might be the team that keeps coming close but cant pull off the victory.Or maybe its none of these. Maybe weve just caught a little case of football fever over here.Analogies aside, Chappell leads at TPC Boston after opening rounds of 67-64, as he chases a first career win that has been so close yet so elusive to this point.So far this season, he owns three solo second-place finishes, netting him more than $3.5 million and a likely berth in the season-ending Tour Championship, which was a goal of his. If theres a non-football comparison to be made, its with Kevin Kisner, who had three runner-up results last season, then won for the first time in his fourth start of this season.Despite not winning yet, Chappell insisted he still views his campaign with a positive outlook.Its hard to be frustrated when youre having the best year of your career, he said. Thats really how I try to look at it. Last year when I stood here, I was trying to get to the next event, and this year I stand here and it sounds like Im pretty much a lock to get to the last event at East Lake.You cant be disappointed with that. I would love to have won and won multiple times, but Ive learned from those experiences, and my team and I keep addressing the weaknesses that come up from those situations. You dont know if youre improving until you get in the situation and see how you hold up, so I look forward to that.Hes going to have an opportunity to see that improvement over the final 36 holes, with some heavyweight competition in close pursuit.Jimmy Walker, the recent PGA Championship winner, is just 1 stroke back. So is Paul Casey, the former top-10 player and multiple Ryder Cup team member. Among those not far behind them is Dustin Johnson, who might be enjoying the best season of anyone to date, and Justin Rose, who won Olympic gold just three weeks ago.As for what Chappell has learned from those previous close calls, he pointed to a specific intangible component to his performance.Just how patient you need to be and really the value of a shot, he explained. Use The Players [Championship], for example. I was over par for the tournament for 26 holes and was able to fight back and finish solo second. Solo second pays out like a win, which is huge, but I could have easily packed it in and took it as a missed cut and all of a sudden I net $1 million on the week. It just goes to show that youre never out of it. Im never out of it, and I need to be myself and just ride out the process.That learning curve will be on display during the final two rounds.Theres plenty on the line for Chappell, who could put himself in excellent position for the $10 million FedEx Cup first prize, and perhaps even become a candidate for a Ryder Cup captains selection.Hes either like the team that keeps coming close without finishing or will peak next season, or -- and hes hoping its this one -- is ready to prove itself against those power conferences.Hey, it might be football season, but Chappell is showing hes not ready to close the door on this golf season just yet, either. Air Force 1 Schwarz Deutschland . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Air Force 270 Deutschland Kaufen . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. http://www.airforce1gunstig.de/air-presto-deutschland.html .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Air Force 270 Deutschland . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Nike Sf Air Force 1 Deutschland . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. LOS ANGELES (3-2) at DETROIT (2-3)Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, FoxOPENING LINE -- Lions by 3RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Rams 3-2, Lions 2-3SERIES RECORD -- Rams lead 43-40-1LAST MEETING -- Rams beat Lions 21-14, Dec. 13, 2015LAST WEEK -- Rams lost to Bills 30-19; Lions beat Eagles 24-23AP PRO32 RANKING -- Rams No. 18, Lions No. 20RAMS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (32), RUSH (28), PASS (30).RAMS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (18), RUSH (28), PASS (14).LIONS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (19), RUSH (23), PASS (13).LIONS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (24), RUSH (21), PASS (23).STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Rams RB Todd Gurley averaged career-high 8.75 yards per carry, running 16 times for 140 yards and two TDs in last years win over Lions in St. Louis. ... DT Aaron Donald had career-high three sacks last season against Detroit and has two sacks in last two games this year. ... Rams fly to London after game in Detroit for next weeks game against Giants. ... Rams QB Case Keenum threw two TDs in each of last two road games, wins over Arizona and Tampa Bay. ... Rams WR Tavon Austin had career-high seven receptions, 59 yards receiving, and 26 yards rushing on three carries last week against BBuffalo.dddddddddddd ...Rams LB Mark Barron has eight-plus tackles in last four games and interception against Cardinals and vs. Buccaneers. ... Lions snapped three-game skid with win over previously undefeated Philadelphia. ... Detroit QB Matthew Stafford threw three TDs last week for third time this season. ... Lions RB Theo Riddick had two TD receptions last week for second time this season. ... WR Anquan Boldin has TD catch last three games against Rams and more TD catches (10) against them than vs. any other team. ... Lions DE Ezekiel Ansah (ankle) expected to play after missing three-plus games. ... Detroit CB Darius Slay voted NFC defensive player of week after making victory-sealing interception against Eagles and forcing fumble. ... Fantasy Tip: Gurley set up to run more than 100 yards for first time this season against line likely without DT Haloti Ngata (shoulder) and lackluster LBs without DeAndre Levy (quadriceps, knee).---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '