Washington suffered its first loss of the season last week, but its hopes still flicker for a berth in the College Football Playoff.The seventh-ranked Huskies (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12) still control their destiny in the Pac-12 North, needing to beat struggling Arizona State (5-5, 2-5) at home on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX) before finishing the regular season at division-leading Washington State.We do just need to respond, said Washington coach Chris Petersen, whose team lost 26-13 at home to USC last weekend.I hope our guys have a new edge to them a little bit, but I do think theyve done a good job all season long, like Ive been saying, about preparing. They played hard. Both sides played really, really hard. It wasnt about that at all.Washingtons weak nonconference schedule -- Rutgers, Idaho, Portland State -- continues to be an issue as the Huskies now need help to reach the playoff. But they have a chance to impress late in the season, by beating the Cougars and then facing a ranked champion from the Pac-12 South, possibly even getting a rematch against USC.But first up is Arizona State, which has lost four games in a row, allowing at least 37 points in each of them. The Sun Devils have given up 103 total points to Oregon and Utah in the past two outings.Allowing explosive plays has been at the forefront of ASUs undoing.The Sun Devils have allowed 64 plays of 20-plus yards (tied for 121st out of 128 teams nationally), 34 plays of 30-plus yards (123rd), 24 plays of 40-plus yards (127th), 16 plays of 50-plus yards (127th) and 11 plays of 60-plus yards (tied for 126th).For more evidence, see last weeks 49-26 home loss to Utah.The Utes scored on a 64-yard pass, a 27-yard pass, a 17-yard pass, an 82-yard run, a 24-yard pass and a 40-yard run.The story of the whole game, when you go back and look at the film, my only impression is just big plays, said coach Todd Graham. Thats been the big deal. Its just frustrating.Although stonewalled by USC, Washington has all kinds of explosive potential. The Huskies scored 70 against Oregon and 66 vs. Cal this season. The trio of wide receiver John Ross, running back Myles Gaskin and quarterback Jake Browning can provide plenty of fireworks.Browning, after completing 17 of 36 passes for 259 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions against USC, dropped from first to third nationally in passing efficiency with a rating of 189.1.Gaskin was held to 51 yards rushing on 15 carries last week, but he did go over 1,000 yards for the season and is averaging 6.0 yards per carry. Ross, one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nations top wideout, picked up his 15th touchdown reception of the season last week.Ross is probably the most dynamic player in our league, Graham said. I would say explosive plays and defense are the two things when I think of them.Washingtons defense has been superb, ranking ninth nationally in points allowed (17.9 per game) and 19th in total defense (336.8). The Huskies lead the nation in turnover margin (plus 1.5 per game).But Washington is now without two of its top two defenders against the run. Linebacker Joe Mathis (foot) was already out for the season and linebacker Azeem Victor suffered a foot injury last week that will keep him sidelined.Redshirt freshman DJ Beavers will replace Victor, who has a team-high 68 tackles.I think he filled in pretty well, Petersen said of Beavers.He made some tackles, played aggressive, played tough. Its hard when you lose a player like Azeem, for sure, but it was not like this, Oh, now we have no chance type of thing. He was right there playing physical.Arizona State has some weapons on offense, although quarterback Manny Wilkins, who has dealt with injuries in recent weeks, looked rusty Saturday against Utah, throwing two interceptions and being sacked nine times.Arizona State uses running back Kalen Ballage in a variety of ways, including taking direct snaps. He is coming off his second consecutive game with 200-plus all-purpose yards, rolling up 244 against Utah -- a career-high 118 receiving, 46 rushing and 80 in the return game.Wide receiver NKeal Harry, a talented true freshman, is coming off his best game. He had eight catches for a career-high 114 yards, rushed for 31 yards on a broken play after he dropped a lateral, and completed a 46-yard pass. Hell have interesting matchups this week against Washington cornerbacks Sidney Jones and Kevin King. Pelicans Jerseys China . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. Custom Pelicans Jersey China . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. http://www.custompelicansjersey.com/ . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. Cheap Pelicans Jerseys . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Custom Pelicans Jerseys . LOUIS -- St. Western Bulldogs midfielder Lin Jong admits he may have played his final game for the side after being overlooked for Saturdays AFL grand final.Jong, who appears likely to seek a trade at the end of the season, has been named as an emergency for Saturdays grand final after recovering from a collarbone injury sustained in the first week of the finals.The 23-year-old says hes happy the Bulldogs has made their first grand final in 55 years but concedes his time at Whitten Oval may be up.I guess you could say theres a possibility but Im still weighing up all my options, he told AAP at Fridays grand final parade.At the end of the day, I want to choose what I feel will be best for me.Im really happy for the team. Im part of the team, along with every other boy at the club, who was along for this process of making the grand final.dddddddddddd(But) It doesnt affect my decision, I dont reckon.Jong toured Collingwoods facilities midway through the season but has also been linked to Gold Coast and is sure to attract plenty of interest in the trade period.The speedy midfielder hopes he might still be called upon as an emergency after experiencing the pain of being told by Beveridge he wouldnt be playing in the grand final.Obviously (I was) a bit upset after it but I still understood his perspective, he said.The teams been playing so well so it was hard to change the team, which I completely understand. Thats just life sometimes. ' ' '