This is a trip that could go a long way to define the season for the Carolina Panthers.The Oakland Raiders are hoping theyre recovered enough from their latest voyage to be able to continue their winning ways.The teams meet Sunday at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.Were talking about recovering from the trip, Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said. Its all about whats next for us and right now its the Carolina Panthers. ... Busy turning the page to the Carolina Panthers.The Raiders, who are the leaders in the AFC West, are coming off Monday nights victory against the Houston Texans in Mexico City.The Panthers have packed up for the long haul. Theyre staying on the West Coast after this game to take on the Seattle Seahawks the following week.It shapes up as a crucial time for the reigning NFC champions.Were going there for two reasons and two reasons only, Carolina head coach Ron Rivera said, offering a twist on the one-game-at-a-time mantra. Theyre both important. Each game has (its) own individual meaning.Rivera, though, said the focus is clearly on the Raiders as the Panthers (4-6) embark on this trip. Theyll practice at San Jose State in between the games.The Panthers are somewhat wounded, particularly with linebacker Luke Kuechly ruled out after entering the concussion protocol from the Nov. 17 game against New Orleans.Carolina was fortunate to have extra time to prepare because of that Thursday night game. The injury report grew considerably, especially with defensive end Mario Addison and center Ryan Kalil exiting and also ruled out.Hopefully they can come back and we can make a push, Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert said.The Panthers, whove won three of their past four games, are in a wait-and-see situation regarding the linebacking because Kuechlys normal backup is A.J. Klein, who missed the most recent game because of a concussion.The Raiders (8-2) appear in much better position, if nothing else theyre in a more enviable spot in the standings. But winning the division remains a priority and theres lots of work to be done regarding that mission.It still begins with winning the division, Del Rio said. Its the surest way to get a spot in that playoff tournament.With accolades and attention starting to fall on the Raiders, theyre intent on maintaining the right approach.You set goals and you want to reach certain things, quarterback Derek Carr said. Everybody expects great things and when good things come our way you have to know how to be humble.Anytime you have 10 games and you have eight wins, were thankful for that. If we dont win another one, its not going to mean anything. Our focus right now is on beating Carolina.Del Rio, who was the defensive coordinator for the Panthers in 2002, said the Raiders have developed good tendencies during their four-game winning streak. He said there are challenges the team must encounter in the aftermath of the out-of-country trip and dealing with a shortened week of preparation.The seasons foundation is something hes counting on.As you have success and build on that and have a reference point to go back on, Del Rio said. I think our guys have embraced the idea of competing for the full 60 minutes. Weve found ways to win, but it has been different ways each week.While Carr has become a focal point for Oaklands offense, the team has thrived on balance and versatility. Thats something the Raiders figure can work to their advantage.To know that we can win a football game either way, Carr said. We can run the football or throw the football. Either way, Im all for it as long as we keep on winning.The Panthers have been shoddy in converting scoring chances into touchdowns and quarterback Cam Newtons inconsistency has created concerns. Turnovers and red-zone shortcomings have been glaring at times.We will make plays and hopefully we will make enough to win football games, Rivera said.Rivera has put a positive spin on the trips potential even though it means facing a pair of divisional leaders in consecutive weeks. From an internal standpoint, there are gains to be made for the Panthers.Its an opportunity for those guys to do some bonding, Rivera said. Hopefully, it will be a good opportunity for our guys.This will be only the sixth meeting between the Panthers and Raiders, and the first in Oakland since 2008. The Panthers won the 2012 meeting to forge a 3-2 series lead. 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The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. Imad Wasim, the Pakistan allrounder, wants the team to rid itself of the label of being an inconsistent side. While accepting that inconsistency has been a feature of the team of late, Imad said it was now time for change, and hoped the nine-wicket T20 win at Old Trafford against England two weeks ago pointed to a brighter future in limited-overs cricket.We have decided now, as a group, that we will be consistent, Imad said in an interview at Dubai Sports City, where the team has been training in the build-up to the T20 series against West Indies. The label, people say that we are inconsistent, which is true, basically, so I think now things have to change, it has to change for the betterment of Pakistan cricket, and were trying to show some skill level and the intensity that we did in Manchester. Were just changing the trend now.Imad hailed Mickey Arthur, calling him a brillliant coach, but said his role extended only as far as planning, and that the players would need to take greater responsibility in the push towards greater consistency.ddddddddddddI worked with [Arthur] in PSL also, with Karachi Kings, and hes a brilliant coach, Imad said. Hes really one of the best coaches. I think hes a brilliant coach, he gave us a lot of confidence, which Waqar [Younis] bhai also did, so what I think is, its up to the players as well, because the players are going to be inside the ground, were going to implement what the coach has told us, what plans should be executed. Obviously the coach, hes a nice guy, and he just supports us in our good and bad days.Pakistan and West Indies will meet in the first T20I in Dubai on Friday. ' ' '