top-rated defense in the conference (322.4 yards per game allowed) and yield

ATLANTA -- Taylor Gabriel took two short passes for touchdowns and the Atlanta Falcons returned from a bye week to add to Arizonas misery, blowing out the Cardinals 38-19 on Sunday.Gabriel, who was cut by the winless Cleveland Browns before the season, scored on plays of 35 and 25 yards that showed off his speed.His second score finished the Cardinals, who began the season touted as a Super Bowl contender but have been one of the NFLs most disappointing teams.The Falcons (7-4) began the day leading the NFC South and moved a step closer to their first playoff berth since 2012.The Cardinals (4-6-1) have lost two straight and three of their past four, putting them in danger of missing the postseason a season after reaching the NFC championship game.Coach Bruce Arians was on the sideline after falling ill and being briefly hospitalized early in the week, but it did little to inspire his team.Arizona got off to a strong start, burning the Falcons for eight plays of at least 13 yards on their first two possessions. Jermaine Gresham capped the first drive with a 1-yard touchdown catch, but a botched shotgun snap forced the Cardinals to settle for a field goal and a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter.The Falcons surged ahead late in the first half when Matt Ryan tossed a screen pass to Gabriel, who picked up a couple of key blocks and outran everyone else to the end zone for his first score.Arizona cut it to 17-13 when Chris Catanzaro hit a 54-yard field goal on the final play of the half, the Cardinals taking advantage of an interception off a bobbled pass by Atlanta star Julio Jones.Tevin Colemans 2-yard touchdown run capped a 13-play, 77-yard drive that extended Atlantas lead to 24-13 late in the third quarter. Then it was Gabriel with the clinching score. He took a quick pass in the flat, sped down the left sideline and reached the pylon with a soaring dive.Gabriels two touchdowns doubled his scoring output for the season. He finished with four catches for 75 yards, coming up big for the Falcons on a day when Jones was held to four catches for 35 yards matched up mostly against Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson.Peterson was called for a couple of pass interference penalties while defending Jones, both of which contributed to Atlanta scores.KEANUS HITAfter being fined for a vicious hit in Atlantas previous game, rookie safety Keanu Neal could be taking another blow to his wallet.Neal was penalized in the fourth quarter for unnecessary roughness against Cardinals star receiver Larry Fitzgerald.It looked as though both players lowered their helmets before making contact, but it was Neal picking up the flag.Neal was fined $24,309 for his helmet-to-helmet blow on Philadelphia receiver Jordan Matthews. Neal wasnt penalized for that play, and insisted afterward that hes not a dirty player.UP NEXTCardinals: Return home to face Washington next Sunday.Falcons: Host the Kansas City Chiefs, the only team remaining on Atlantas schedule with a winning record.---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-NFL Jean-Sebastien Giguere Jersey .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. Cam Fowler Jersey . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. http://www.authenticduckspro.com/Ryan-kesler-ducks-jersey/ . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. Andrew Cogliano Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Scott Niedermayer Jersey .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Colorado is one victory away from finishing a worst-to-first season.If the ninth-ranked Buffaloes (9-2, 7-1) can defeat visiting No. 21 Utah in the final game of the regular season in Boulder on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX), they will win the Pac-12 South, just one year after finishing last with a 1-8 conference mark.A victory by Utah (8-3, 5-3) means USC advances to the conference title game. The Trojans have finished league play at 7-2 and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against Colorado.We are very happy to be in the position that we are in, said Buffaloes quarterback Sefo Liufau. Were very happy to be able to go out there and grind one out and get a good win.Colorado had lost 23 consecutive games to ranked foes before defeating No. 20 Washington State 38-24 last Saturday.We have something called the gold games and we have gold bricks, running back Phillip Lindsay said. So any time we beat a ranked team, we get a gold brick. This is our first time since weve been ranked that we get a gold brick so its a pretty big deal for us. Were excited and were happy and we have to continue to ride this wave and get ready for the next game.Utah was also in contention for the South title until it was upset 30-28 at home to Oregon on Saturday. The Utes will have to be on guard against an emotional letdown.Its a concern when you have an emotional game like that and it ends like it did with so much disappointment, said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham.There was a lot of frustration in our locker room, which was different than after the UW game (a 31-24 loss), where there was a lot of anger. This was frustrating. There is concern, but this team has shown the ability all year long to bounce back and play well, so we expect that.Two of Utahs seniors reached milestones last Saturday -- defensive Hunter Dimick set the programs career sack record with 29, and Joe Williams became the 13th Utah player to rush for at least 1,000 yards in a season -- despite missing five games due to a temporary retirement.When asked about the achievement, all that Williams coould say is: Colorado.ddddddddddddColorado and Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011, but the Rumble in the Rockies -- something of a forced rivalry between the schools -- has never been for much in terms of real stakes. The Utes have been in contention for the South title late in the season, but the Buffaloes won a mere five conference games in their first five seasons.Colorado, which is 9-2 overall for the first time since 2001, has surged this season behind a veteran team and the steady play of Liufau. He became the second player in school history to throw for 300 yards and run for 100 when he had 345 passing yards and 108 rushing yards with three scores in the win over Washington State.The Buffaloes have no obvious week links.They can run the ball -- Phillip Lindsay has 1,051 rushing yards and a Pac-12 high 15 rushing touchdowns -- and they have the top-rated defense in the conference (322.4 yards per game allowed) and yields only 18.5 points per game, second in the league. Colorado has a plus-8 turnover margin on the season; linebacker Jimmie Gilbert has forced five fumbles.Utah counters with a stout defensive line, led by Dimick and defensive tackle Lowell Lotulelei, a first-round NFL Draft prospect. Marcus Williams is one of the nations top free safeties. But the Utes still allowed Oregon to run for 251 yards, while being burned for 324 passing yards by Ducks freshman quarterback Justin Herbert.Offensively, the Utes rely on Joe Williams and quarterback Troy Williams, who has thrown for 14 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He was solid last week in the loss to Oregon, going 20-of-30 for 235 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown pass. He also tallied 40 yards on 10 carries.Utah has won the last four in the series but can only be a spoiler as Colorado looks to go 6-0 at home and win the Pac-12 South.Our young men are performing well under pressure, coach Mike MacIntyre said. They dont get stressed out. ' ' '