ed into pitching decisions. Thats one of the reasons Yu Darvish

Only one undefeated team remains: the 5-0 Minnesota Vikings. Nine teams, however, have just one loss, with six at 4-1 and three at 3-1.With every team at least 25 percent of the way through its schedule, we are checking the #PulseOfTheNation:The Vikings have reached rarefied air, despite Teddy Bridgewaters preseason injury and Adrian Petersons being out the past three weeks. The New England Patriots (4-1) struggled in a home loss to the Buffalo Bills last week but welcomed Tom Brady back in a road win at the Cleveland Browns. The defending champion Denver Broncos (4-1) have navigated the post-Peyton Manning era well, but they suffered a setback (with quarterback Trevor Siemian out) against the 4-1 Atlanta Falcons. The Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) have looked downright unstoppable at times but were handled by the surprising Philadelphia Eagles (3-1), who just lost their first game.Speaking of surprises, the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders are 4-1, well ahead of expectations. The Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, meanwhile, are high-expectation teams currently sitting at 3-1.Replica Air Max .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Cheap Air Max .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. https://www.airmaxchina.us/ . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Cheap Real Air Max . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. Air Max Sale . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak.SEATTLE -- For the second time in a week, Cole Hamels got battered by the Seattle Mariners.Fortunately for Hamels, hes not likely to see Seattle again this season.Hamels lasted just 1 2/3 innings on Monday, giving up seven earned runs and homers to Robinson Cano and Franklin Gutierrez in Seattles 14-6 win over the Texas Rangers.The Mariners scored five runs in the first, then pulled away with a six-run sixth inning as Hamels watched from the bench long after he had been lifted. It was just the second time in his career that Hamels failed to pitch at least two innings. He lasted just two outs in a 2010 start with Philadelphia, and gave up six runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings last week against the Mariners in Texas.I understand what were trying to accomplish here and when youre not able to do it, especially twice in a row with the type of situations that Ive come out of the game with, theres probably more disappointment in the fact of not being able to give this team a chance to win, Hamels said.Hamels (14-5) had a similar pair of games earlier this year when he faced Minnesota twice in a week. Both times, Hamels couldnt get through five innings, giving up 15 hits and 10 earned runs combined in consecutive starts against the Twins. Those poor performances could be partly explained by Hamels dealing with a blister on his pitching hand.There is no physical issue with Hamels now, just two subpar performances in a row.He didnt get the quality of strike that he wanted to, Texas manager Jeff Banister said. I dont think it was a rhythm issue today, just more didnt get it on the edges where hed like to.Despite being staked to a 7-0 lead, Seattle starter Felix Hernandez (10-5) nearly gave it all away. Texas scored five times off Hernandez in the third inning, including a three-run homer by Nomar Mazara and RBI singles from Rougned Odor and Jonathan Lucroy. Hernandez threw 49 pitches in the inning, but managed to keep the lead. Hernandez made it through 5 2/3 innings and gave up six runs before being lifted.It was my fault. I got out of my game a little bit there, Hernandez said.Odor addeed a solo home run in the sixth inning -- his 30th of the season -- and has homered in five of the past six games.dddddddddddd Odor had two career hits off Hernandez entering the day.I talked to (Shin-Soo) Choo, I talked to (Adrian) Beltre and (Carlos) Beltran, and they gave me a couple tips, Odor said. I tried to do that and I hit pretty good today against him.RATTLING THE BATSCanos 32 homers this season are one off his career high set in 2012 while with the New York Yankees. The two-run shot also set the tone for Seattles largest offensive output since scoring 14 in a win over Toronto in late July. Gutierrez drove in four runs and Jesus Sucre tied a career high with three hits, including a two-run single to cap Seattles big first inning.The key at-bat was Kyle Seagers two-out walk in the first inning. Seager stole second base to get into scoring position and scored on Dae-Ho Lees base hit for an early 3-0 lead. Leonys Martin followed with a double, and Sucres soft liner scored a pair for a 5-0 lead.TRAINERS ROOM:Rangers: Banister said high stress innings -- multiple runners on, pitches in an inning -- are factored into pitching decisions. Thats one of the reasons Yu Darvish was pulled after a season-low four innings Sunday. Darvish allowed five runs on seven hits, throwing 80 pitches, but 33 were in a two-run first.Mariners: RHP Tom Wilhelmsen, on the 15-day DL with lower back spasms, is expected to throw a simulated game on Thursday. Thats the plan with him, see how that goes, manager Scott Servais said. Once he faces some hitters, well see where thats at.UP NEXTRangers: LHP Martin Perez (9-10) makes his career-high 29th start. He is 2-6 with a 5.73 ERA in his last 11 starts. Perez, who had Tommy John surgery in May 2014, already has pitched 169 2/3 innings this season. His high was 167 2/3 in 2013.Mariners: LHP James Paxton (4-5) was pushed back one day after tearing a fingernail in his last start, when he came out after five innings against Texas. ' ' '