Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM ET on Thursday, Dec. 8

Dec. 8 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Thursday: - - - - For any coverage questions, please contact us.general-news@thomsonreuters.com - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Raiders-Chiefs lock up in pivotal AFC West clash KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Revived in part by a 5-0 record on the road, the Oakland Raiders (10-2) can separate from second-place Kansas City in the AFC West and move toward postseason positioning with a win at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night. (FBN-RAIDERS-CHIEFS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU, expect ASAP after 8:25 p.m. game, The Sports Xchange, by Bob Gretz, 700 words) Browns (0-12) go back to RG3 at QB Robert Griffin III will start Sunday's game for the winless Cleveland Browns after missing the past 11 games recovering from a shoulder injury. The Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals with snowy weather forecast in Ohio. (FBN-BROWNS-NEWS-GRIFFIN-STARTER, moved, The Sports Xchange, 445 words) MILLER: Bears, 49ers fall caused by leadership fail It is one of the oldest expressions known to man, dating back nearly two millennium, a simple three-word phrase in the Hippocratic Oath. "Do no harm." Meant for physicians, it ought to apply to owners and general managers in sports, too, and they could start with the National Football League. (FBN-BEARS-49ERS-COLUMN, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Ira Miller, 800 words) Seahawks Terrell on the spot as Thomas' replacement RENTON, Wash. -- The fate of the Seattle Seahawks season could rest on the play of a fourth-year safety with one career start. Steven Terrell is tasked with the enormous job of replacing All-Pro safety Earl Thomas for the rest of the season. (FBN-SEAHAWKS-NEWS-TERRELL-THOMAS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 483 words) Osweiler strives for consistency HOUSTON - Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler is experiencing growing pains in his first full season as a starter after signing a $73 million deal in the offseason. (FBN-TEXANS-NEWS-OSWEILER, moved, The Sports Xchange, 433 words) Rams facing another top QB THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Los Angeles Rams have faced two straight Pro-Bowl quarterbacks in Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. A defense that's been playing at an elite level for most of 2016 responded by surrendering 78 points in two blowout losses. (FBN-RAMS-FISHER-DEFENSE, moved, The Sports Xchange, 412 words) Previewing Week 14 Game advances for all Week 14 games, including key NFC games between the Cowboys and Giants and Green Bay hosting Seattle. (FBN-COWBOYS-GIANTS-PREVIEW/SEAHAWKS-PACKERS-PREVIEW/TITANS-BRON COS-PREVIEW) moved, The Sports Xchange, 800 words per game, all Week 14 games) - Cowboys aim to clinch NFC East at New York - Buccaneers meet Saints for first time this season - Dolphins, Cardinals need wins to stay in playoff chase - Falcons visit LA in critical NFC matchup - Redskins look for repeat of finishing kick NFL notebook News and notes from around the NFL. (FBN-NOTEBOOK, expect by 8 p.m., The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - SOCCER MLS Cup Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders face off for MLS Cup TORONTO - It will be perfect hockey weather, snowy and cold, but soccer will take the sporting spotlight at BMO Field on Saturday when Toronto FC host Seattle Sounders for the MLS Cup. (SOCCER-USA/MLSCUP (PREVIEW), expect by 6:30 p.m., by Steve Keating, 600 words) - - - - COLLEGE BASKETBALL THE SPORTS XCHANGE covers all Top 25 college basketball games and recaps every Power 5 and Big East game. THURSDAY schedule: No. 25 Iowa State at Iowa 8:00 p.m. Texas-Arlington at No. 12 Saint Mary's 10:00 p.m. Fordham at St. John's 6:30 p.m. Vanderbilt at Middle Tennessee 7:30 p.m. Nicholls at Florida State 9:00 p.m. - - - - COLLEGE FOOTBALL Kiffin set to take Houston job Houston will hire Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin to replace Tom Herman as the school's football coach. (FBC-HOUSTON-NEWS-KIFFIN, moved, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) Nevada names Norvell head coach Nevada settled on Jay Norvell as its new head coach, multiple outlets reported. The 53-year-old has spent 31 seasons as an assistant coach in the NFL and college football. (FBC-NEVADA-NEWS-NORVELL, moved, The Sports Xchange, 325 words) College football notebook News and notes from around the nation. (FBC-NOTEBOOK, expect by 7 p.m., The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Twins select RHP Diaz first in Rule 5 draft, ship to San Diego The Minnesota Twins selected right-hander Miguel Diaz from the Milwaukee Brewers with the first overall pick of the annual Rule 5 draft on the final day of MLB's Winter Meetings on Thursday. Diaz was moved in a trade to the San Diego Padres only hours later. (BBO-NEWS-RULE5DRAFT, The Sports Xchange, 433 words) Rangers ink Gomez to 1-year, $11.5 million deal Carlos Gomez, who turned around his 2016 season after joining the Rangers in August, will remain in Texas. The 31-year-old outfielder agreed to a one-year, $11.5 million contact Wednesday. (BBO-RANGERS-NEWS-GOMEZ, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) MLB notebook News and notes from around the league. (BBO-NOTEBOOK, expect by 7 p.m., The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Kings C Cousins, F Barnes sued over New York incident Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins and forward Matt Barnes are being sued following an alleged assault at a New York club on Monday morning. (BKN-KINGS-NEWS-COUSINS-BARNES-SUED, moved, The Sports Xchange, 325 words) THE SPORTS XCHANGE staffs all NHL games. THURSDAY schedule: Denver at Washington 7:00 p.m. Minnesota at Toronto 7:00 p.m. Portland at Memphis 8:00 p.m. Philadelphia at New Orleans 8:00 p.m. Golden State at Utah 9:00 p.m. San Antonio at Chicago 9:30 p.m. NBA roundup Capsule summaries of all games on the schedule Thursday. (BKN-ROUNDUP, expect multiple versions beginning ASAP after 8 p.m. games end, The Sports Xchange, 375 words) NBA notebook News and notes from around the NBA. (BKN-NOTEBOOK, expect by 7 p.m., The Sports Xchange, 375 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE THE SPORTS XCHANGE staffs all NHL games. THURSDAY schedule: Edmonton at Philadelphia 7:00 p.m. Colorado at Boston 7:00 p.m. St. Louis at N.Y. Islanders 7:00 p.m. Vancouver at Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m. New Jersey at Montreal 7:30 p.m. Pittsburgh at Florida 7:30 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Winnipeg 8:00 p.m. Nashville at Dallas 8:30 p.m. Calgary at Arizona 9:00 p.m. Carolina at Los Angeles 10:30 p.m. NHL roundup Capsule summaries of all games on the schedule Wednesday. (HKN-ROUNDUP, expect multiple versions beginning ASAP after 8 p.m. games end, The Sports Xchange, 375 words) NHL notebook News and notes from around the league. (HKN-NOTEBOOK, expect by 8 p.m., The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - DOPING Athletes braced for another McLaren bombshell Frustrated athletes will be watching intently as the second part of the McLaren report into state-sponsored doping in Russian sport is delivered on Friday, ready to take action of their own if their voices are not heard, Travis Tygart head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency tells Reuters in an interview. (SPORT-DOPING/TYGART (INTERVIEW), moved, by Steve Keating, 600 words) - - - -