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ATLANTA -- After a week off, the Atlanta Falcons feel their best is yet to come.Theyre leading the NFC South, some injured players are healing, and the schedule looks mighty favorable the rest of the way.The Falcons (6-4) host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday -- the first of four homes games over the final six weeks of the regular season.You hope to be playing your best football, coach Dan Quinn said. If youre really putting the work in through practice, youre going to keep getting better. If you keep getting better down the stretch, that leads to better things.Running back Tevin Coleman insists hell be ready to go after missing the last three games with a hamstring injury. When healthy, he teamed with Devonta Freeman to give the Falcons a dynamic 1-2 punch in the backfield.Im real excited to be back, Coleman said. Youre going to see a show.The Cardinals (4-5-1) have slipped three games behind Seattle in the NFC West, and theyve got to finish strong to have any shot at a wild card.Its a far cry from where this team started out.After reaching the NFC championship game last season, Arizona was a trendy pick to go all the way. The Cardinals certainly didnt shy away from expectations, making it clear they expected to finally win the franchises first Super Bowl title.Now, those goals seem laughable.As if the disappointment on the field wasnt enough, coach Bruce Arians became ill and was briefly hospitalized after last weeks loss at Minnesota. Hes back with the team and plans to coach against the Falcons.More relief than anything, Arians said. It was a scare.Some things to watch for Sunday at the Georgia Dome:BEYOND JULIO: Julio Jones is always the primary target in the Atlanta passing game, but he often faces double- and even triple-coverage. When thats the case, quarterback Matt Ryan has been more than willing to go to his other options. Seven other players have at least 10 catches, including Mohamed Sanu with 39 and Freeman with 31. Jones, of course, leads the way with 61 receptions for 1,105 yards and five touchdowns. But hes actually far behind his pace from last season, when he had one of the greatest receiving years in NFL history with 136 catches for 1,871 yards.JOHNSONS IMPACT: The Cardinals have a number of problems. David Johnson is not one of them. A third-round pick out of Northern Iowa in 2015, the running back has scored more touchdowns in the past two seasons (25) than any other player in the NFL. Johnson was running neck-and-neck with Dallas Ezekiel Elliott for the NFL lead in yards from scrimmage. Elliott leads with 1,502 after Thursdays game, ahead of Johnsons 1,373. He scored twice against Minnesota -- once on a run, another when hauling in a pass.PUMMELING PALMER: Carson Palmer took some brutal hits against the Vikings as the injury depleted offensive line again showed its inexperience. John Wetzel, who took over at left tackle when Jared Veldheer went down for the season with a torn triceps, had never even played in an NFL game before this season, bouncing around on several practice squads. Likewise, Earl Watford also didnt have much experience when he took over for injured Evan Mathis at right guard. Palmer was hit 15 times against the Vikings, four of them resulting in sacks.BEASLEYS RISE: Outside linebacker Vic Beasley is thriving in his second season with the Falcons. Giving the team the sort of pass rush that has long been a major weakness, Beasley already has 9.5 sacks -- putting him near the top of the league and more than doubling the output from his rookie season. This is the most sacks by an Atlanta player since John Abraham has 10 in 2012, and Beasley still has six more games to add to his total. Look for him to take advantage of Arizonas problems up front.BRYANTS MISSES: Atlantas Matt Bryant has long been one of the NFLs most accurate kickers, but hes coming off a tough game against the Eagles. The 41-year-old missed just his second field goal try of the season, though it should be noted both have been from beyond 50 yards. The bigger shock was botching an extra point for the first time since 2008. Even with the longer PAT put in by the league a year ago, Bryant had been automatic until he sent one wide of the upright in a 24-15 loss at Philadelphia. Hes a huge weapon for the Falcons high-scoring offense, so they dont need this to become a habit.---AP Sports Writer Bob Baum in Phoenix contributed to this report.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCustom Chicago Blackhawks Jerseys Cheap .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Custom Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. http://www.hockeyjerseyscustom.com/custom-minnesota-wild-jerseys-cheap-483k . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Custom Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Cheap . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. Cheap Custom Hockey Jerseys . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford.DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers cant explain exactly what happened when they went to Boston in late July.They dont want to think too much about it and ruin the magic.Starting with a three-game sweep of the Red Sox at Fenway Park, the Tigers have won nine of their last 10 games. On Friday night, they beat the New York Mets 4-3 to move within two games of first-place Cleveland in the American League Central.I hope people are excited about this team, because were playing really good baseball, and having a lot of fun, said Ian Kinsler, who manufactured a key first-inning run. We want everyone to join us -- theres a lot of room on the bandwagon.Tigers ace Justin Verlander was the star once again, holding the Mets to four hits in six innings. Since July 1, he is 5-0 in seven starts with a 1.85 ERA.Obviously, being in the race adds some excitement, Verlander said. Obviously, everyone knows where we are at, and weve been around long enough that were doing some scoreboard watching, but it all comes down to how we finish.Verlander (12-6) allowed only two runs and struck out nine, but the Mets ran his pitch count up to 103 to force him out of the game. Three relievers finished, with Francisco Rodriguez pitching the ninth for his 31st save.James Loney drove in a ninth-inning run with a groundout, and Rodriguez retired Kelly Johnson to end the game. Johnson homered in the fourth for the Mets, who are now two games out of the second National League wild-card spot.We had some chances, but that guy on the mound for the Tigers is awfully good, Mets manager Terry Collins said. Verlanders one of those guys that can get himself out of just about any jam, so you have to get him fast.Noah Syndergaard (9-6) also ran into pitch-count trouble, needing 112 to get through his six innings. He gave up four runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out seven.Im trying to be too fine with my pitches instead of just trusting my stuff and letting it go, he said. I know I have the stuff to go out there and be dominant, but Ive got to let myself do it.The Tigers took advantage of Syndergaards weakness holding runners in the first. Ian Kinsler led off with a single, stole second aand third and scored on Miguel Cabreras groundout.dddddddddddd Opponents are 32 of 36 on steal attempts in Syndergaards 22 starts this season.We had an idea about running today, but you cant do anything until Ian gets himself on first base, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. He got on base and got himself to third, so while Miggy gets the RBI, Kins basically created that run.Verlander was cruising until he walked Jay Bruce on a 3-2 pitch in the fourth. He retired Loney for the second out of the inning, but Johnson hit his second homer in two nights to give the Mets a 2-1 lead.Martinez got the lead back in the bottom of the inning, lining Syndergaards changeup deep into the right-field stands for a two-run homer. James McCann added an RBI single in the inning to make it 4-2.After we got the lead, I went out to the mound telling myself that, no matter what, I couldnt blow it, Syndergaard said. Well, thats like telling someone not to think about a pink elephant. I think every major mistake I made tonight was in that inning.TRAINERS ROOMMets: OF Yoenis Cespedes (quadriceps) is on the disabled list, costing him his first visit back to Detroit since he was traded at last years deadline. Cespedes was popular with Tigers fans.Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermanns MRI showed no damage to the lat muscle that bothered him in Thursdays poor start. Zimmermann will throw a bullpen session on Sunday before the Tigers decide if he will make his next start. .... CF Cameron Maybin sat out his second straight game with a bruised thumb.INTERLEAGUE STARSThe Mets have the best interleague record (.518) of any National League team since games began in 1996, but the Tigers are significantly better at .546. Since 2006, the Tigers are second in the majors at .620 (124-76).UP NEXTThe teams play the second game in their weekend series Saturday evening, with Matt Boyd (2-2, 4.71) facing New Yorks Logan Verrett (3-6, 4.20). Boyd will be making his first interleague start, while Verrett made his first on Monday, getting a no-decision against the Yankees. ' ' '