USA DAWN: NEWS AND UPDATES

Members of Brazilian football team on board                                                                                                                               The fairytale rise of Brazil's Chapecoense -- from small football club to national heroes -- has been cut tragically short, leaving the country mourning the loss of one its most endearing sports teams. On Tuesday, the airplane carrying the Brazilian team to the biggest game in the club's history crashed in Rionegro, Colombia, killing 75 people. Six people survived the crash and were taken to local hospitals, according ...

New England Patriots defensive end Chris Long (95) is congratulated by teammates after recovering a fumble by the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Patriots won 22-17. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)  (Julio Cortez) The New England Patriots have an unlikely challenger for the top spot in the AFC. Around the same time the Pats squeaked out a win early Sunday night, the Raiders were pulling off a 35-32 win across the country, rallying from an eight-point deficit against the Panthers in the fourth quarter. Both teams have their flaws, but both are 9-2 with five games remaining on the schedule. Home field advantage in the playoffs is paramount, as evidenced by New England's trip to Denver for the 2015 AFC championship game. So where does each team stand? The Raiders appear to have a much tougher schedule down the stretch. PATRIOTS (9-2) Week 13: vs. Los Angeles Rams (4-7) Week 14: vs...

SAN JOSE -- Gabby Douglas stood arms akimbo, the right leg shaking nervously just before facing a nemesis Sunday night at the U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials. The star of the London Games heard the sold-out crowd at the SAP Center urge her forward with cries of "Gabby, Gabby" as she approached the balance beam. Douglas blew into each hand before starting a routine where she fell for the second time at the trials. Douglas' tipsy show on the beam surprisingly didn't stop U.S. gymnastics officials from naming her to the five-member team that will be favored to defend its Olympic title next month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In a decision some fans might consider as risky, Douglas joined American star Simone Biles, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian and 2012 Olympic teammate Aly Raisman on the squad despite finishing seventh out of 14 competitors at the trials. Douglas, 20, and Raisman, 22, are the first Amer...