ths here.The defeat ended a difficult few days for West Ham manager Slaven Bilic, whose injury-hit team

ORLANDO, Fla. -- San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Chris Jones provided a nice boost to the defense last week and coach Chip Kelly said the third-year player has earned more playing time.Jones helped the 49ers hold Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi to just 45 yards on 18 carries in Jones first start and first game being active since being signed on Nov. 8 to replace injured defensive lineman Arik Armstead.San Francisco allowed 100-yard rushers for seven consecutive games prior to Sundays game, a 31-24 loss.I thought he did a really nice job, Kelly said. He played 27 snaps, was positive on 24 of the 27. I think his background playing with the Patriots, being in Miami, hes obviously well-coached. So, to get a player of that caliber when we lost Armstead, it was kind of a surprise to us but we were really pleasantly surprised with what he had done and hes earned playing time.Jones said the defense has continued to get better over the last few games as they have focused on stopping the run.Were doing some things different and I think its really helping out, Jones said. As you can see the defense, were getting better each week.The 49ers will face another tough running back Sunday in the Chicago Bears Jordan Howard. The rookie has rushed for 766 yards this season and is averaging 5.1 yards a carry. Jones said hes impressed with what hes seen from Howard and the Bears offensive line so far.For just being a rookie (Howard) definitely runs the ball really hard, Jones said. On their offensive line they have a lot of really well-coached guys, I know they have some guys that are down, but they have a lot of really well-coached guys up front and they know the scheme well.Jones, who started the season with the Dolphins, said he is excited to get another opportunity to play and hopes an improved run defense can lead the 49ers to some wins during the final stretch of the season.I love playing the game, Jones said. It was great to get out there Sunday for the first time in a few weeks and Im hoping that they keep me going. But Im going to do whatever I can to help the team prepare to win.Offensive lineman Joe Staley was impressed with Jones effort in practice leading up to his first start. He said that it should be a message to others on the team to continue to work hard and close the season strong.You can see that he wants it, Staley said. It wasnt a surprise that he went out there and played well. The way he practiced and prepared, he was ready for his opportunity when it came.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL. Dallas Cowboys Store . - The Washington Redskins have cut defensive lineman Adam Carriker and punter Sav Rocca. Fake Cowboys Jerseys . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. https://www.cowboysjerseysale.com/ . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Dallas Cowboys Shirts . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Cowboys Jerseys 2021 . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. MANCHESTER, England -- Raheem Sterling offered further evidence of his improvement under Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola by scoring early and late goals in a 3-1 win over West Ham in the English Premier League on Sunday.Fernandinho scored the other goal for City, which has won its first three matches of the campaign to be level on points with title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea.A negative for Guardiolas side could be a second-half incident in which star striker Sergio Aguero appeared to swing an elbow at marker Winston Reid as they competed for a high ball in the second half. The referee was nearby and didnt give a foul, but if he says he didnt see it, Aguero could face a retrospective ban that would rule him out of Citys next game -- the Manchester derby.Guardiola said he didnt see the incident and gave short shrift to the possibility of a suspension for Aguero -- but was much happier to talk about Sterlings revival.The winger, who cost City 49 million pounds ($76 million) in the summer of 2015, lost his place in the team at the end of last season under former coach Manuel Pellegrini and endured a disappointing European Championship with England. He has looked a different player under Guardiola, rediscovering his confidence and dribbling ability.He now has two goals to his name, the first coming in the seventh minute to finish off one of Citys many flowing team moves in a dominant first-half display by the hosts.Fernanddinho added a second goal in the 18th minute with a powerful header from Kevin de Bruynes free kick.dddddddddddd But it needed Sterlings injury-time goal -- when he rounded the goalkeeper and scored from an acute angle -- to see off a West Ham side that improved in the second half.Of course, we are pleased, Guardiola said of Sterling. He can play right, left, center. He is so dynamic. I am so happy he is playing good.It looked like being a procession for City after a one-sided first half but Michail Antonios 58th-minute header -- a replica of his winner against Bournemouth last weekend -- made it 2-1 and set up a tense finish at Etihad Stadium.Of course we can do better, Guardiola said. No doubt about that. But we are just one and a half, two months here.The defeat ended a difficult few days for West Ham manager Slaven Bilic, whose injury-hit team lost to Romanian side Astra Giurgiu on Thursday to miss out on Europa League qualification.Dimitri Payet, Aaron Cresswell and record signing Andre Ayew were among the key players missing for Bilic.You cant say City didnt deserve to win. Of course they did, he said.With so many players we are missing, I have to praise this team. We cant play much better than we did in the second half especially when you are missing six seven eight players and you play against them. ' ' '