Camila Giorgi upset ninth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova 6-4, 7-

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The Detroit Lions like to call themselves an indoor team with an outdoor mentality.Now its time to put that mantra to the test.Needing one win to clinch a playoff spot, the Lions will play at Chicago on Sunday against the struggling Bears. Although Detroit is heavily favoured the weekend, the price for a loss could be severe: The regular-season finale the following weekend is at Green Bay, where the Lions have not won since 1991.Detroit plays its home games indoors at Ford Field, but the race for post-season position will come down to two outdoor games against division rivals, in potentially difficult conditions.Weve got to be a physical team and weve got to be able to run the ball, star receiver Calvin Johnson said. When it gets inclement out there, rain, windy, weve got to be able to work in the trenches. Outside, we have to be able to get those blocks to spring our running backs loose.Cold weather has not been kind to the Lions over the last two decades. Detroit has lost 13 straight games with the temperature at 35 degrees or below, a streak that began with a playoff loss at Green Bay in 1994, according to STATS.Detroit has practiced outside this week in chilly Michigan air, and unlike in seasons past, these Lions seem built to play in adverse conditions. Thanks to its bruising defence, Detroit hasnt needed to rely on Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford as much. The Lions are particularly tough against the run, so they could be at an advantage if the weather makes passing difficult.Earlier this season, the Lions cooled down their indoor facility during practice, and this week, coach Jim Caldwell wanted his players outside.You always have to deal with wind conditions. Indoors we dont have the wind, Caldwell said. You see from previously, when weve had to play in a cold weather, we usually open the doors and try to get the temperature the same. But, obviously in this particular case, were going to go outside. The ground is not frozen or anything of that nature where we have to worry about the guys having issues with footing and things.Detroit (10-4) has won three in a row, all at home. The teams most recent road game was last month at New England, and the Lions lost 34-9, but the streak of losses at 35 degrees or lower can be attributed in part to Detroits futility in general over the last 20 years. Its not as though the Lions have been great in warm weather either.In those 13 losses in colder temperatures, the Lions have entered with a better record than their opponent only three times, and never was the disparity in Detroits favour as big as it is this weekend. The Lions are five games ahead of Chicago (5-9) in the standings, and the Bears are set to go with Jimmy Clausen at quarterback. Hell make his first start since 2010.Lions defensive co-ordinator Teryl Austin says the team was able to find a decent amount of footage on Clausen, even though he hasnt played much.We have a good film staff, Austin said. Obviously, you can go back quite a few years, so weve been able to look at him and look at some of the things that he does. And obviously, you have some preseason tape and some snaps from this year.This combination — a tough defence against an inexperienced quarterback — means this may be Detroits best chance in quite some time to win a cold-weather game. And this would be quite a time to do it.I like playing outdoors. We like practicing outdoors, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said. If youre in this league long enough, its good on the joints. Its definitely fun. Were looking forward to Chicago and then going from there.___AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Black NFL Jerseys . You can watch the game on TSN at 7pm et/4pm pt and listen to the game on TSN Radio 690 in Montreal. After starting the month of November on an 0-3-1 slide, the Canadiens have recorded wins in three of their last five outings (3-1-1). Youth Black NFL Jerseys . - The Cleveland Indians will place centerfielder Michael Bourn on the disabled list before their opener at Oakland on March 31. http://www.officialnflteamgears.com/ . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Black NFL Jerseys 2018 . Patrik Bartosak turned away 50-of-52 shots for the Rebels (28-26-4), who halted their losing streak at seven games. Trailing 2-1 after 40 minutes of play, Feser forced overtime with his second goal of the game at 5:35 of the third period. Black NFL Jerseys For Sale . 42 sitting next to the bench. The 57-year-old with greying hair couldnt box out or grab a rebound, but owner Ted Leonsis waved his red towel and egged on a cheering crowd that chanted "Free Nene!" The Wizards did just fine without the suspended Brazilian forward.ROME - Canadian Milos Raonic defeated Italys Simone Bolelli 6-3, 7-6 (5) in second-round play Tuesday at the Italian Open. Raonic, the No. 8 seed from Thornhill, Ont., had 18 aces in the match. He needed one hour 39 minutes to complete the victory. Also Tuesday, Novak Djokovic marked his return from a right wrist injury by beating Czech veteran Radek Stepanek 6-3, 7-5, while Italian hope Andreas Seppi complained about a decisive time violation in a loss to Tommy Haas. With both new coach Boris Becker and longtime adviser Marian Vajda on hand, Djokovic showed no signs of pain after withdrawing from last weeks Madrid Open. The second-ranked Serbs only trouble came as he attempted to close the match out, dropping his serve twice late in the second set before eventually finishing it off. "I expected to be a little bit rusty on the court, the conditions didnt help, but generally it was a good win," Djokovic said, alluding to the swirling wind inside the Foro Italico stadium. "Im happy with that and hope to elevate my performance in the next one." Djokovic, a two-time Rome champion, committed just nine unforced errors to Stepaneks 27. It was a sharp contrast from Djokovics last match, when he lost to Roger Federer in the Monte Carlo Masters semifinals last month, when he had his wrist heavily strapped and was unable to serve or return at his usual level. Also advancing was Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka, who routed Spanish qualifier Pere Riba 6-0, 6-3. In first-round action, the 15th-seeded Haas overcame Seppi 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. The 34th-ranked Seppi couldnt believe it when he received his second time violation while serving at 3-3, 30-40 in the third set, folllowing his first serve.dddddddddddd. The second violation results in a serve being taken away, which meant a double fault for Seppi and he then went on to lose the final three games. "Ive never received a time violation in my life," he said. "I was just waiting because the fans were making a bit of noise. ... Its scandalous. ... And the first one was for nothing, too. (Haas) hit a drop shot and I had to walk back to get the balls. It was really uncalled for." In first-round womens play, Italian wild-card entry Camila Giorgi upset ninth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova 6-4, 7-6 (2) in a match delayed briefly due to rain; 10th-seeded Sara Errani of Italy eliminated Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa 7-5, 6-3; and 13th-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro eased past Mona Barthel 6-2, 6-2. There was also an upset in the second round, as Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic rallied past seventh-seeded Angelique Kerber 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The 22-year-old Giorgi, who reached the round of 16 at the U.S. Open last year as a qualifier, showed off her attacking game, stepping into the court to whip winners into the corners at every opportunity. Making her Rome main-draw debut, Giorgi had loud support on the picturesque Pietrangeli court, which is lined with neo-classical statues. "The pressure is positive. Its great that the fans come to see you," Giorgi said. "Playing at home happens only once per year." This tournament is the last key clay-court warmup before the French Open, which starts in two weeks. Seven-time champion Rafael Nadal, Federer and womens title-holder Serena Williams open play Wednesday. ___ Follow Andrew Dampf at http://twitter.com/asdampf ' ' '