quarter.EDMONTON -- Keith Acton has joined the Edmonton Oilers as an associate coach. Acton spent this

NEW ORLEANS -- The defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, who last year had the most suffocating defense in the NFL, have been vulnerable this season stopping the run.The New Orleans Saints, who usually live and die on the ageless right arm of Drew Brees, have found some offensive balance by running the ball effectively in back-to-back wins to climb back into playoff contention.While Sundays game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome pits Brees against the Broncos top-ranked pass defense, the outcome could rest on how well the Saints (4-4) can run the ball to keep Denvers defense working overtime. The Broncos (6-3) saw that play out last week as they were on the field for 80 snaps in a 30-20 road loss to the Oakland Raiders.Its concerning because weve been really good at (stopping the run), and then weve given up almost 400 yards lately, Denver coach Gary Kubiak said. Theres also been a lot of big short-yardage plays where we thought we were there to make the tackle, and we didnt tackle well.The Raiders shredded the Broncos last week for 218 yards on 43 carries. Denver has allowed eight rushes of 20 yards or more, third most in the NFL, and it is surrendering the fourth-most rushing yards overall (128.6 per game).The Saints come into Sundays game knowing they can throw the ball -- Brees leads the NFL with an average of 336.1 passing yards per game. New Orleans has also found a spark with its dormant running game.The Saints rushed for 248 yards on 42 carries in a 41-23 road victory over the San Francisco 49ers last week, the most rushing yards in a game in coach Sean Paytons 11 seasons. Tim Hightower and Mark Ingram each have had a 100-yard game in the last two weeks.Payton figures to keeping looking for balance, especially since the Broncos have one of the leagues top pass rushers in linebacker Von Miller.Hes elite, and you would say, clearly, the best pass rusher in our game right now, Payton said. He wins with speed, he wins with power, his get-off is outstanding. If you sit there with the same cadence, you know at the breath of hut hes going to be one step past your tackle. Hes a fantastic player.Kubiak was effusive in his praise of Brees, who has two 400-yard passing games this season along with another three games of at least 323 yards. Brees 21 touchdown passes rank second in the league to Atlantas Matt Ryan (23), and he has thrown just five interceptions.Brees also is the NFCs top third-down passer, completing 72.1 percent, with eight touchdowns against one interception. He ranks third behind Sam Bradford of Minnesota and Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay in fourth-quarter passing.Weve faced a lot of good quarterbacks, and this ones got to be on top of the list, Kubiak said. Hes exceptional. One of the finest players Ive ever seen from being a quarterback guy and watching that position.Drews the best passer in the league right now, Miller said. Hes leading the league in passing yards, and its not the first time hes done it. Over the years, hes been (Nos.) 1 or 2. Hes just a great quarterback. He goes through all his progressions. Hes got a high IQ.The Broncos allow a league-low 183.3 yards passing per game.Its a tremendous challenge, Brees said. Theyre defending Super Bowl champs for a reason. Its because theres really not a weak link in that defense. Their front four -- or really front five -- rushers, to their linebacker corps to their secondary, its top notch. All those guys are play-makers. They fly around, they get after you.Trevor Siemian, Denvers first-year starter at quarterback, has struggled with a left shoulder injury, completing just 59.8 percent of his passes with 10 TDs and five interceptions. He took several big hits against the Raiders.Siemian bounced back from a rocky 1-of-7 start to throw for 286 yards and two scores against the Raiders. The Broncos, however, have failed to pick up a first down on 25 of their last 51 possessions in their last four games, and theyve gone 2-2 in those games.Weve got to find some consistency, Kubiak said. I feel really good about what Trevors doing, but, like any other player, hes got to get better.For the Saints, starting left tackle Terron Armstead (knee) is questionable. Linebackers Stephone Anthony (hamstring) and Dannell Ellerbe (quadriceps) are out. Denver cornerback Aqib Talib (lower back) and defensivbe end Derek Wolfe (elbow) are out. Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. NHL Jerseys China . Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 7pm et. The Raptors traded Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. https://www.nhljerseys2020.com/ . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. NHL Jerseys 2020 Store . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. Cheap NHL Jerseys From China . Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter.EDMONTON -- Keith Acton has joined the Edmonton Oilers as an associate coach. Acton spent this past season in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, where he served as an assistant coach. Before joining Columbus in 2012, he served as an assistant coach for 10 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he worked with current Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins from 2006-2008. He has also spent time as an assisttant coach with the New York Rangers and Philadelphia.dddddddddddd As a player, Acton registered 584 points (226 goals, 358 assists) and 1,172 penalty minutes in 1,023 career NHL games with, Montreal, Minnesota, Edmonton, Philadelphia, Washington and the New York Islanders. The 55-year-old native of Stouffville, Ont., will join Kelly Buchberger, Steve Smith and Frederic Chabot on Eakins staff. ' ' '