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The expectation is that Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is going to take a big step forward this season.His beleaguered franchise just might be ready to do the same.The Raiders havent started 2-0 since 2002 but have the opportunity to open with back-to-back victories this season when they host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.Oakland rallied for a 35-34 road win over the New Orleans Saints in its opener. Coach Jack Del Rio seized the chance to obtain a victory with a gutsy two-point conversion call and Carr delivered with the winning throw to receiver Michael Crabtree with 47 seconds remaining.It was the type of dramatic victory that can set the tone for future success. And Carr says he can see the belief blooming as the Raiders take aim at reaching the playoff for the first time since that 2002 squad advanced to the Super Bowl before losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Everyone on this team is so confident in what we can do, Carr said on Wednesday. Its not arrogant, its not that we think were better than anybody. We respect every team that we play. At the same time, we know the work weve put in. We know how to compete.Like Coach (Del Rio) said, were learning how to win. We love what weve done, but I think its just the confidence level that everybody has.Carr passed for 319 yards in the victory that saw the Raiders score 22 fourth-quarter points. The third-year pro passed for 3,987 yards and 32 touchdowns last season and another big season could move him into the upper tier of NFL quarterbacks.Carr hears the chatter about his growth and said it all comes down to believing in the process.I trusted from the beginning, Carr said. I remember I told you all, we were 0-10, I still thought we could go play in the Super Bowl. Thats always been my mindset. Ive always worked toward that and I still will work towards that. So whether were 1-0 or 0-10, my mindsets always going to be the same.Atlanta is aiming to rebound from a 31-24 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a contest in which it didnt record a sack while Tampa Bays Jameis Winston threw four touchdown passes.The Falcons would like to avoid a 0-2 hole but even last seasons fast 6-1 start didnt get them into the playoffs. Atlanta finished 8-8 and missed the postseason for the third straight season.Quarterback Matt Ryan passed for 334 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Tampa Bay. Ryan played his best football in the contest after Atlanta sped up the offense to try to recover from an 18-point deficit but coach Dan Quinn doesnt believe a no-huddle attack fits his squad.We dont see it as a featured way where, every play, we are no huddle, Quinn said Wednesday. We wouldnt be able to play in a style that would best suit our guys. That said, we do like going in and out of that speed. That stresses the defense a lot.Falcons receiver Julio Jones remains hampered by an ankle injury. He caught four passes for 66 yards and one score against the Buccaneers.Ive played through things, said Jones, who caught 136 passes for 1,871 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Its nothing thats going to hold me back from going out there and producing or doing what I do.Regardless of his health, Del Rio is concerned about figuring how to match up with Jones.Hes big, hes fast, hes strong, Del Rio said. Hes good with the ball in his hands. Hes become a much better route runner. I think when he first came in, he was a little raw in that regard, but man, hes become a really good route runner as well. I think hes a heck of a football player.Oakland allowed 419 passing yards and 507 overall against the Saints. The Raiders will try to spring defensive end Khalil Mack loose after he didnt reach Drew Brees in the opener. Mack had 15 sacks last season, second-most in the NFL behind Houstons J.J. Watt.The Falcons won the last meeting 23-20 on Oct. 14, 2012 when Matt Bryant kicked a 55-yard field goal with one second remaining. Michael Cooper Jersey . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. Kurt Rambis Lakers Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. http://www.lakersteamofficial.com/Kurt-Rambis-Lakers-Jersey/ .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Shaquille ONeal Jersey . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth. Anthony Davis Lakers Jersey . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. CANTON, Ohio -- An emotional and invigorating Hall of Fame weekend came to a grinding halt Sunday night when the Packers-Colts game was canceled because of poor field conditions.One day after Brett Favre led the eight-member class of 2016 into the hall, its president, David Baker announced the cancellation after discussing problems with the turf with both teams. He said it was a safety issue and that all fans would be fully refunded for ticket purchases, which will cost the hall several million dollars.This is a hard decision, but we know it is the right decision, Baker said. In some respects a hard decision because of the impact it has. This is an important game to the people in Canton.The NFL and NFL Players Association said in a statement: We are very disappointed for our fans, but player safety is our primary concern, and as a result, we could not play an NFL game on this field tonight.Baker noted that the field was new and had been approved when inspected after its first installation. But paint congealed at midfield and in the end zone, hardening those areas. Workers used a variety of equipment to smooth the artificial surface. Rubber pellets used in the turf came loose and were scattered in several spots and needed to be removed, as well.We know a lot of you came a long way, Baker told the crowd, which booed when his name was announced. Here at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we have the greatest respect for players and for player safety. As a result of some painting on the field today, some questions arose.Team physicians also were consulted.We thought we would be able to remediate it by delaying the game for as much as an hour, Baker added. But in the end, if its remotely close to unsafe, we conferred with the league, we think the best thing to do is respect the safety of thhe players.dddddddddddd Its the only thing to do.I can tell you, I had a son who played in this league. If it happened with him on the field, I would have wanted someone to make the same decision.This was not the first cancellation of an NFL exhibition game -- the Hall of Game contest was not played in 2011 because of the lockout -- but it was the most high-profile preseason match to be called off.In 2001, a new artificial surface at Philadelphias Veterans Stadium was deemed too dangerous for the Eagles to play the Ravens.Both teams walked onto the field at 8 p.m., moments before the game would have kicked off, and the players saluted the crowd. When the halls class of 2016 was introduced the stands remained relatively full for that. But then many fans departed the stadium even though the halftime show featuring Lee Greenwood was held.Colts coach Chuck Pagano said he was disappointed but understood the cancellation. He was looking to find out about a lot of these young players.Packers coach Mike McCarthy saluted the many Packers fans who came to Canton to see Favre inducted into the hall.We really were looking forward to performing tonight, McCarthy said. You get tired of practicing against yourself and you get to play a real game.Many of the thousands of Packers fans in Canton returned Sunday to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. They sat watching highlights of Favres speech and of Friday nights concert featuring Tim McGraw before they were told about the games cancellation.Also inducted were Tony Dungy, Marvin Harrison, Orlando Pace, Kevin Greene, Ken Stabler, Dick Stanfel and Ed DeBartolo Jr.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '