. Tennessee has allowed Mariota to be sacked only 12 time

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Iowas 12-0 start last season led some to label the Hawkeyes a fluke. A blowout loss to Stanford in the Rose Bowl only seemed to confirm those suspicions.Iowa is intent on proving that its still a national contender and the Hawkeyes should have a team capable of doing so.Iowa is a favorite to repeat as Big Ten West division champions. The Hawkeyes return 13 starters from last year, when they finished 8-0 in the West and fell inches shy of a playoff berth.Quarterback C.J. Beathard had a strong first season as the starter despite a litany of injuries. If Beathard can stay healthy, a run at Big Ten Player of the Year isnt out of consideration. Iowas defense, which let up just 20.4 points per game, will be led by Thorpe Award-winning cornerback Desmond King.Basically since 1999, when we got here, our goal has been the same, to be Big Ten champions, said coach Kirk Ferentz, who is entering his 18th season with the Hawkeyes. I think what it comes down to is, all you can ask for is opportunity. We feel like we do have a solid foundation built right now.SEASON OPENERThe Hawkeyes shouldnt have too much trouble when they host Miami of Ohio on Sept. 3. The Red Hawks went just 3-9 in 2015 and were pounded at Wisconsin 58-0. Miami averaged a paltry 17.9 points per game last season while giving up 32. Iowa dominated Illinois State in last years opener, the first sign that perhaps the Hawkeyes were in for a special season.SENSATIONAL C.J.Beathard emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the Big Ten in 2015 despite injuries that hampered his mobility. Now healthy and a senior, Beathard appears poised to put together one of the best seasons an Iowa quarterback has ever had under Ferentz. Beathard threw for 2,809 yards with 17 touchdowns and just five picks a year ago, and Ferentz recently compared him to Brad Banks, who was second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2002. Theres just something about him, Ferentz said.BACK-TO-BACK?Iowas powerful rushing attack paved the way for its offense last season, but star running back Jordan Canzeri has moved on. The Hawkeyes should be fine, however, if they lean on big back LeShun Daniels Jr. and speedster Akrum Wadley. Daniels and Wadley each rushed for over 190 yards in a single game in 2015 and appear ready to play bigger roles.KEY GAMESIowas season will likely come down to a three-game stretch starting in late October, with home games against Wisconsin and Michigan wrapped around a road trip to Penn State. Iowa fans know better than to sleep on North Dakota States trip to Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 17. The Hawkeyes will be coming off its rivalry game with Iowa State, and the Bison are the five-time defending FCS champions.PREDICTIONIowa goes 11-1 and wins the West only to fall to Michigan State in a rematch of the Big Ten title game. Of course, Iowa could always go 8-5 -- like it did in 2010, the last time the Hawkeyes entered a season with such high expectations.---This story has been corrected to show in last paragraph that Iowa played Michigan State in the Big Ten title game.---Follow Luke Meredith on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LukeMeredithAP Darrell Henderson Womens Jersey .ca NBA Power Rankings, ahead of the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. Tyler Higbee Rams Jersey .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. http://www.ramsrookiestore.com/Rams-Nolan-Cromwell-Jersey/ . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Tyler Higbee Youth Jersey .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. Robert Woods Womens Jersey .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A two-game skid has whittled away any margin for error the Green Bay Packers had in the NFC North, and now they hit the road for three straight games starting in Tennessee.Its a crucial moment for a franchise that has reached the playoffs each of the past seven seasons.Every game from this point forward in November and December are very important games for us, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. Tough stretch right now with three on the road back-to-back-to-back, but weve just got to take it one at a time and figure out a way to put a better performance on the field on Sunday.This marks Green Bays first three-game road trip since 2012 , and the timing couldnt be worse for a franchise that has lost three of four by a combined nine points. The tight losses have stuck Green Bay (4-4) behind both Minnesota and Detroit in the NFC North after being stunned 31-26 at Lambeau Field by Indianapolis last week.The Titans (4-5) find themselves trying to keep pace in the AFC South. They need one more win to match the victory total for the past two seasons combined and are coming off a 43-35 loss in San Diego , where Marcus Mariota outdueled Phillip Rivers by throwing for 313 yards and three touchdowns while running for another score.The second-year quarterback also cost Tennessee 17 points off three turnovers, and Mariota knows he has to protect the ball better.Weve continued to preach finishing some of these games, but you know what, thats part of it, Mariota said. Thats part of how we have to learn, how were going to get better. Eventually, well turn these around and be on the right side of these things.Here are some things to know about the Packers and Titans:ENERGIZED PACK?: Coach Mike McCarthy says his Packers energy level wont be an issue in Tennessee. Like the presidential election, energy became a buzzword immediately after last weeks loss to Indianapolis after the Packers looked lethargic early. But McCarthy says it was more an issue about not being detailed and consistent enough in adverse situations. Whatever the root of the issues, Green Bay doesnt want to spend the whole game again playing catch-up.PROTECT THE BALL: Turnovers have been the Titans biggest issue in losses this season, something Mariota had improved on in helping Tennessee win three of four in October.dddddddddddd Over his past three games at home, Mariota has thrown seven touchdowns with only one interception. Even with two interceptions in San Diego, Mariota ranks fourth in the NFL with a 111.8 passer rating over the past five games.Rodgers says hes been a fan of Mariota since the fellow Pac-12 quarterback was at Oregon. He can do it all on the field, Rodgers said. Hes extremely gifted athletically, and hes doing a good job of throwing it efficiently. Im definitely impressed with him with the way he comes off and the way hes playing.TO THE QB: The Packers pass rush has slowed down the last few games. Green Bay managed to sack Andrew Luck just twice last week despite the Colts porous offensive line. The front seven has been missing linebacker Clay Matthews the last couple weeks because of a sore hamstring, and its unclear when he might return.Mariota is less experienced than Luck, though he can be just as elusive. Tennessee has allowed Mariota to be sacked only 12 times this season and not at all the past two games, a huge improvement from last year, when the Titans surrendered a league-worst 54 sacks.RUN TEST: DeMarco Murray is second in the NFL with 807 yards rushing, and the Titans rank third in the NFL, averaging 144.2 yards per game. That will be seriously tested against Green Bay, the leagues stingiest run defense. The Packers are allowing 75.8 yards per game, and Tennessee could be without Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. Murrays backup strained his calf last week.WATCH RODGERS: With Eddie Lacy recovering from ankle surgery and on injured reserve, Rodgers is carrying the load as Green Bays leading rusher. The two-time MVP is averaging 5.9 yards per carry and his 199 yards rushing are second only to Lacy. But Titans coach Mike Mularkey said Green Bay has been very creative, finding ways to run with a variety of players such as Ty Montgomery.---AP Sports Writer Genaro C. Armas contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker ' ' '