Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EST on Wednesday, Dec. 24

Reuters

Dec. 24 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Wednesday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Raiders set to begin interviews Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis will begin interviewing candidates to become the team's next head coach starting Monday. (FBN-RAIDERS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) Cards QB Stanton likely to return for playoffs Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said quarterback Drew Stanton has an "85 percent" chance to be back for the playoffs. (FBN-CARDINALS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 355 words) Rush to judgment: Bills' biggest failure was ground game ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - There was well-documented screaming this season about the sub-par play of the Buffalo Bills quarterbacks, offensive line, and certainly offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. But perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the moribund Bills' offense has been the stagnant running game. (FBN-BILLS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 545 words) Redskins only Pro Bowl pick is a warrior ASHBURN, Va. - The massive gorilla tattoo on Trent Williams' back prompted his "Silverback" nickname, but he might want to change it to "Warrior" the way that Washington Redskins' left tackle has continued to fight through such a lost season. (FBN-REDSKINS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 515 words) ALSO: TV calling Redskins S Clark (FBN-REDSKINS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 413 words) Fox: 'Sky is not falling' in Denver ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Head coach John Fox wanted to ease the discomfort evident in Denver after the Broncos' fourth loss of the season. (FBN-BRONCOS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 515 words) Packers out for improvement vs. Lions GREEN BAY - Detroit's defense did a number on quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' finely tuned offense in the first meeting this season. Coach Mike McCarthy and Green Bay might change the pace to shift the outcome. (FBN-PACKERS-NEWS, expect by 7 p.m. ET, The Sports Xchange, 515 words) NFC South finale a last chance for Panthers, Falcons Live reports from team headquarters of the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers as they prepare for Sunday's NFC South championship game. (FBN-PANTHERS/FALCONS-NEWS, expect separate stories by 7:30 p.m. ET, The Sports Xchange, 525 words) Eagles rookie LB Smith not fitting in Rookie first-round pick Malcolm Smith has struggled to find a role - and the playing field - with the Philadelphia Eagles. (FBN-EAGLES-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 515 words) Bengals, Steelers to settle North Sunday Live reports from team headquarters of the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers, who square off Sunday for the AFC North championship. (FBN-STEELERS-BENGALS-NEWS, expect separate stories by 7:30 p.m. ET, The Sports Xchange, 525 words) - - NFL roundup News and notes from around the league. (FBN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 7:45 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - COLLEGE FOOTBALL Bahamas Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Central Michigan NASSAU, Bahamas - Western Kentucky and Central Michigan, both 7-5, meet in the postseason for the second time in three years (2012 Little Caesers Pizza Bowl) in the inaugural Bahamas Bowl. (FBC-WESTERNKENTUCKY-CENTRALMICHIGAN-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU, expect ASAP after 11 a.m. ET kickoff, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) Hawaii Bowl: Fresno State vs. Rice HONOLULU - Fresno State (6-7) takes on Rice (7-5) in the 13th annual Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium. (FBC-FRESNOSTATE-RICE-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU, expect ASAP after 8 p.m. ET kickoff, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Curry spices thing up with dazzling three-point prowess LOS ANGELES - Blessed with extraordinary hand-eye coordination and one of the purest shooting strokes in the National Basketball Association, Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry is on track to end his career as one of the best three-point shooters ever. (NBA-WARRIORS/CURRY, moved 1900 GMT/2 PM ET, by Mark Lamport-Stokes, 400 words) Rockets, McHale agree to extension As the Houston Rockets ramped up efforts to lure Josh Smith to the team, GM Daryl Morey agreed to a contract extension for head coach Kevin McHale. (BKN-ROCKETS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 200 words) Cavs fear Varejao injury is long-term Anderson Varajao's injury could be a lingering issue for the Cleveland Cavaliers and their post presence. Initial tests revealed a possible Achilles tear. (BKN-CAVALIERS-NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 200 words) - - Today's NBA schedule at a glance No games scheduled - - NBA Roundup The latest moves and news from the NBA. (BKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Today's NHL schedule at a glance No games scheduled - - NHL Roundup The latest moves and news from the NHL. (HKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) (Compiled by Steve Keating.)