FOXBOROUGH, Mass. . -- The New England Patriots lost their second defensive end in nine days on Monday when Jermaine Cunningham was suspended for four games without pay for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. Now its Trevor Scotts turn to get ready for more action. "I dont really know whats going to happen as far as depth chart," the former Oakland Raider, who has been used sparingly, said, "but Ill definitely be preparing to have a more active role this week." First-round pick Chandler Jones was having a solid rookie season with six sacks before hurting his right ankle in the first quarter of a 59-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 18. He missed the rest of that game and all of last Thursdays 49-19 rout of the New York Jets when Cunningham had a season-high six tackles in his first start of the year. Now Cunninghams gone and Jones may not be ready to face the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Scott has played only 110 snaps, 59 in the first nine games and 51 in the past two. He figures to play a lot more in Miami than his average this season of 10 per game. But a defence that has just 23 sacks in 11 games seems to be taking in stride the loss of Cunningham, who has played well with three sacks after struggling last year, his second following the 2010 draft when the Patriots took him in the second round. "Every year theres always going to be some issue that you have to deal with. Thats just the way football goes," said defensive end Rob Ninkovich, who leads the Patriots with seven sacks. "So thats another thing that well just deal with." With a win at Miami, the Patriots (8-3) would clinch the AFC East title for the fourth straight season and ninth in the last 10. If they win, none of the other division teams could get more than nine victories and they would lock up the best record among the four teams in division games. "Thats huge," special teams captain Matthew Slater said. "Were really thankful as a team to be where we are right now, to have a chance to be in position to play for something else. But we realize that eight wins doesnt get us anything. Thatll get us a ticket home at the end of the season." Thats not very likely to happen -- with or without Cunningham and Jones -- not with the Patriots having the NFLs best offence, a five-game winning streak and two games against Miami and one against Jacksonville, both with losing records, remaining. "The next guys got to just step up and be ready to play," safety Steve Gregory said. "The game of football is a physical game. Guys go down. Guys get hurt. Everyone on your roster has to be ready to step up and play at any given moment, so all of our guys treat it that way." The Patriots signed Scott as a free agent following four seasons with Oakland, where he was drafted in the sixth round. He had a total of 12 sacks in 32 games over his first two seasons, but just 1 1-2 in 26 games during the last two. Of his 58 games with the Raiders, he started 16. Hes not worrying about his limited playing time so far this year. "Its not going to help if I get down about myself," Scott said. "I dont really have any control over that. But I just have control over what happens when I do get in the game." The leagues announcement of Cunninghams suspension did not specify the substance. The Patriots had no official reaction. Cunningham can return to the active roster on Dec. 24, one day after the Patriots play at Jacksonville, and be eligible for the regular-season finale against the Dolphins in Foxborough. Patriots rookie running back Brandon Boldens four-game suspension for violating the same NFL policy ends after Sunday game in Miami. Cornerback Aqib Talib has played two games since being traded by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had to sit out his first game with the Patriots to complete his four-game suspension for violating the policy on performance-enhancing substances. Now with Cunningham out, if Scott can pressure the quarterback it would help the entire defence. A good pass rush "always helps" the secondary, safety Devin McCourty said. "I think we work together pretty good at times and I think its been improving each week." How will that be affected by Cunninghams absence for four of the remaining five games? "Well see," McCourty said. "I dont know." [url=http://www.buccaneersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-ted-larsen-jersey-fo... Larsen Jersey . -- Miami Dolphins backup running back Daniel Thomas was placed on injured reserve Wednesday because of a knee injury, and three ailing starters missed practice. .S. Open mixed doubles field, Ekaterina Makarova and Bruno Soares are now Grand Slam champions. [url=http://www.buccaneersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-connor-barth-jersey-... . The Toronto Blue Jays acquired pitchers J.A. Happ, Brandon Lyon and David Carpenter in a 10-player deal with the Houston Astros. [url=http://www.buccaneersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-kevin-ogletree-jerse... Ogletree Jersey . Danny Califf provided the killer blow to the Timbers, scoring in the 68th minute to see Chivas (8-8-5) take nine points from its three games against Portland. Since Wilkinson took over for John Spencer as head coach, Portland (5-13-4) has lost four in a row by a combined score of 12-3. .ca Play of the Year Showdown. The best plays of this past season have been archived and the matchups have been set. PORTLAND, Ore. -- The short-handed Oklahoma City Thunder were rescued by LaMarcus Aldridges miscalculation and Kendrick Perkins defence. Aldridge airballed a 20-foot step-back jumper with 1.7 seconds left would have tied it for the Trail Blazers, and the Thunder went on to snap Portlands nine-game winning streak at the Rose Garden with an 87-83 victory on Sunday night. "It felt good when it left my hands," Portlands All-Star said. "But it definitely wasnt good when I shot it." Kevin Durant had 33 points for the Thunder, who had their lowest output since scoring 84 in the season opener against San Antonio. Russell Westbrook added 18 points and nine assists for the Thunder in the absence of starters Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha. Aldridge had a season-high 33 points and 11 rebounds for the Blazers, who trailed by 11 points but came within one point with less than a minute left. Westbrooks 3-pointer made it 84-74 with 3:35 left but the Blazers closed to 84-80 after Nicolas Batums putback with 1:57 to go. Batum added a 3-pointer with 21.9 seconds left to make it 84-83. Perkins missed the first of two free throws and, after a timeout, Aldridge missed his fadeaway jumper -- under hard-nosed pressure by Perkins. Westbrook then made two free throws for the final margin. "After Perk made his one free throw to give us a little cushion, he came back down and played some great defence on LA (Aldridge)," Durant said. "You cant ask for much more than that from a big man. He was unbelievable on that play." The Blazers had three options on the play, the second was for Aldridge to hand off to Batum, who he thought didnt have a shot. Instead, Aldridge took it. Afterward, the Blazers locker room was subdued. Wesley Matthews, one of the options, sat with his head in his hands. "Every time you lose its frustrating," Matthews said. "Especially when you should have won." The Blazers had extended their Rose Garden winning streak to nine after rallying for a 92-90 win over Miami on Thursday night. But Portland fell 103-97 at Golden State on Friday to stop a four-game overall winning streak. Ibaka missed the game because of chest contusion he sustained in the third quarter of the Thunders 116-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. [url=http://www.buccaneersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-adam-hayward-jersey-... Hayward Jersey. . It was the first time Ibaka missed a game this season. The 6-foot-10 forward is averaging 14.3 points and 8.4 rebounds. Ibaka was replaced by Nick Collison in Oklahoma Citys starting lineup. Sefolosha, held back with a sore neck, had also started in all of the Thunders games this season, averaging 7.5 points and four rebounds. He was replaced by DeAndre Liggins, who made his first career start. Liggins ended up playing 40 minutes, with 11 points and nine rebounds. "It was one of our best defensive games of the year, and its kind of surprising because we did not have two of our best defensive players in the games," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "But thats what teams do. Teams have to step up and figure out ways to win, and our guys came off the bench and did a great job." The Blazers trailed by eight points early, but pulled to 18-17 on Aldridges layup and free throw late in the first quarter. Portland couldnt get any closer and Collisons reverse layup midway through the second quarter gave the Thunder a 33-27 lead. The Blazers responded with a 12-2 run, pulling ahead on a trio of free throws and a 3-pointer from Batum that put Portland ahead 39-25. Durant was whistled for three fouls and went to the bench but the Thunder kept up the pressure and the Blazers hung onto only a 43-42 lead at the break. The Thunder pulled back in front, 52-48, after Westbrooks finger-roll layup and Collisons hook shot. Durant made a 3-pointer over Batum to make it 57-50. Liggins hit a 3 that stretched Oklahoma Citys lead to 63-52. Aldridge and Batum had back-to-back dunks to pull Portland to 72-67 with 8:04 left. NOTES: There were lots of fans wearing Seattle SuperSonics gear at the Rose Garden, as there always are when Oklahoma City comes to town. But NBA fans from Seattle may not be lamenting the loss of a hometown team much longer. Reports emerged last week that the owners of the Sacramento Kings may be in talks with a group in Seattle that would relocate the team. The Sonics left for Oklahoma City in 2008. A fan in the stands at the Rose Garden held a sign that read "Bring Back the Rivalry!" ' ' '