ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Bruce Irvin has joked about being Robin to Khalil Macks Batman as part of a dynamic pass-rushing duo for the Oakland Raiders.With the way Irvin has played the past few weeks, it is time for Robin to get his due.Irvin is coming off perhaps his most productive game of the season for the Raiders after posting two sacks and forcing Philip Rivers into a late-game interception that sealed Oaklands 19-16 victory Sunday to clinch the teams first playoff berth since 2002.Whatever it takes to help these guys win, Irvin said. I know Im very capable of doing a lot of stuff. God blessed me with a lot of athletic ability. If they need me to spy, Ill spy. If they need me to rush, Ill rush. Any way I can help Ill do it.Irvin has seven sacks so far this season -- one off his career high set as a rookie in Seattle in 2012. He has five sacks alone the past five weeks to go along with 18 quarterback pressures and strong play against the run and even in coverage at times.Irvin, a former first-round pick who signed as a free-agent with Oakland this offseason, said he is playing the best football of his career of late as he has teamed with Mack.I think that from the moment that Bruce arrived, he and Khalil had a natural competition or natural kind of bond where they were two alpha males, coach Jack Del Rio said. They were going to push each other really hard every day and compete every day. Bruce has been tremendous for us and is a really great addition to the football team.Irvins improved play has lifted the entire defense. The unit started slowly this season after bringing in several new starters, including Irvin, cornerback Sean Smith, safety Reggie Nelson and rookies Karl Joseph and Jihad Ward.Oakland became the first team in 49 years to allow at least 500 yards in each of the first two games of a season and was on a record pace for yards per play allowed at 6.9 through six games.But the defense has tightened since then, allowing only 5.4 yards per play the past eight games and ranking seventh overall in total defense.I think were finally starting to gel, Irvin said. Guys are starting to learn guys tendencies, when guys are going to take chances. People can say what they want to say about our defense with the numbers and all that, but when its time to buckle down and get off the field we seem to do a great job of doing that.The Raiders are tied with the third-most takeaways in the league with 26 and have been at their best in the biggest moments of games. Oakland has faced 11 full drives in the final 5 minutes with the opponent having a chance to tie or take the lead and allowed no points in those situations.The Raiders have forced four punts, three turnovers, stopped three teams on downs and benefited from a missed field goal in those situations, including last weeks win against San Diego.We have to close it out, Irvin said of the mindset. If we dont, we feel like we lost that game if they go down and score and beat us in the last minute. Our defense is doing a great job balling up in key situations and getting off the field and sealing the victory for us.Performances like that have changed the perception of the defense and have contributed to Oakland being in first place in the AFC West. Irvin knows what a top defense can do after having been part of one of the leagues best in Seattle when the Seahawks won the Super Bowl following the 2013 season.But he doesnt want to compare the two units.I hate always comparing us to Seattle, he said. Were Oakland. Were trying to set our legacy. Were trying to have teams watch our defense and try to be like us. Seattle is a good defense but were also a good defense, an up-and-coming defense that has made a lot of strides.Game notes The Raiders held a light practice with a short week before Saturdays game. ... DL Mario Edwards Jr. (hip) participated and could be activated from IR this week. ... S Karl Joseph (toe) and DT Stacy McGee (ankle) remained sidelined.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Discount Nike NBA Jerseys .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. Stitched Nike NBA Jerseys . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. http://www.cheapnbajerseyssigned.com/ . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. Cheap NBA Jerseys Authentic . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. Authentic Nike NBA Gear . 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. NEW YORK -- Yoenis Cespedes has opted out of the remaining two years of his contract with the New York Mets to become a free agent again, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.The person spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday because the decision had not been announced.Acquired by the Mets from Detroit at the July 31 trade deadline in 2015, Cespedes had 17 home runs and 44 RBI in 57 games with the Mets down the stretch, helping them reach the World Series for the first time since 2000.After finding a slow market in a free-agent class that also included Jason Heyward, Alex Gordon and Justin Upton, Cespedes made a surprise return to the Mets when New York agreed in January to a $75 million, three-year contract that allowed him to opt out after one season and $27.dddddddddddd.5 million.Cespedes had 31 homers and 86 RBI in 132 games, slowed after injuring his right quadriceps on July 8. He hit one home run after Sept. 11.The 31-year-old slugger gives up $47.5 million -- $23.75 million in each of the next two years.Other outfielders on the free-agent market include major league home run leader Mark Trumbo, Jose Bautista, Carlos Beltran, Josh Reddick and Matt Holliday. The Cubs Dexter Fowler has said he will decline his mutual option and join the free agents. Jerseys NFL China Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys NFL Jerseys China Discount Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China China NCAA Jerseys Cheap Cheap Nike Dolphins Jerseys Cheap Nike Patriots Jerseys Cheap Nike Jets Jerseys Cheap Nike Bengals Jerseys Cheap Nike Browns Jerseys Cheap Nike Steelers Jerseys Cheap Nike Texans Jerseys Cheap Nike Colts Jerseys Cheap Nike Jaguars Jerseys Cheap Nike Titans Jerseys Cheap Nike Broncos Jerseys ' ' '