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ByCamInman BayAreaNewsGroup SANTA CLARA Michael Crab- tree's San Francisco 49ers ten- ure could end Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, an oppo- nent he has thrived best against. "We've been fighting for years. It's been fun," Crabtree said this week. "Let's end it with a bang." Of Crabtree's 26 regular-sea- son touchdowns, seven have come against the Cardinals, in- cluding five since 2012. Such end-zone success was expected when the 49ers drafted the All- American in 2009 from Texas Tech, where he had 22 touch- down catches in 2007 and 19 in 2008. Entering Sunday's season fi- nale at home against the play- off-bound Cardinals (11-4), Crab- tree has only four touchdowns in starting every game this sea- son for the 49ers (7-8). He has averaged one touchdown every three games in his 49ers career. "I just need to improve in scoring touchdowns and catch- ing more passes," Crabtree said. Staying healthy has been a battle, following multiple foot fractures and then a 2013 Achil- les tear that kept him out last season until Dec. 1. Crabtree said he feels young, and that his mental strength has helped him overcome physical ailments. "An Achilles injury is not a joke. You've got to work to get healthy and I feel I've been here," said Crabtree, who has been battling a knee issue the past two weeks. While he said a potential re- turn to the 49ers "depends," Crabtree wouldn't elaborate, saying his job is to simply play wide receiver rather than share NFL Sundaymaybefinale forCrabtreeaswell 49ers wide receiver has seven career TDs vs. Cardinals, but only has four total this season MARCIOJOSESANCHEZ—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE The San Francisco 49ers tenure of Michael Crabtree (15) could end Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, an opponent he has thrived best against. Of Crabtree's 26regular-season touchdowns, seven have come against the Cardinals. By Jerry McDonald Bay Area News Group ALAMEDA Talk to interim coach Tony Sparano and some of his players and it's as if fixing the Oakland Raiders' problems on the road could be solved by some kind of mysti- cal energy transfer. Simply take all the life-giv- ing fan support directed at the Denver Broncos on Sunday and reverse the polarity, giving all the intensity and vitality to the visiting team. "You're the Raiders walking into someone else's stadium," Sparano said. "You know how you'll be received. We have to be able to turn it around. Take some of that confidence and swagger we have from home, and bring it with us on the road. That's the next step." The Raiders, 3-12, have won their last three home games but are 0-7 on the road. They lost by a combined score of 83-13 in their last two games in St. Louis and Kansas City, have lost 10 consecutive road games and are 2-21 as the vis- itors since 2012. Denver, coming off a Mon- day loss to Cincinnati, is 11-4 and can wrap up the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs with a win over NFL Raiders look to turn around road woes Oakland has won last three home games but comes into Sunday's finale 0-7 on road BEN MARGOT — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Oakland Raiders have beaten the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills, but all of those games came at home. They've lost 10straight on the road. By Jimmy Durkin Bay Area News Group OAKLAND Things are going well when a two-game losing streak is considered a "crisis," but that's how Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr described his team's trip to Los Angeles that resulted in two losses. "The way we played (Thursday) night is cause for concern and crisis," Kerr said, "but the other thing we talk about a little bit is, 'Here we are, angry about last night, not happy about the way we've played and we're 23-5 with the best record in the league.' So that means a lot." The first-year coach seemed to agree with Draymond Green's as- sessment that the Warriors played "too nice" in the 100-86 loss to the Clippers. "Draymond is a passionate player. That's why I love him," Kerr said. "That's why he's so good for our team and that's why I call him 'The Heartbeat.' And we didn't have much of a heart- beat last night. "I thought we played hard physically but not emotionally or spiritually. We didn't bring our brains. We brought our bodies, but we didn't bring our brains or our hearts. Sometimes that's what NBA Warriors deal with 'crisis' of skidding Golden State lost two games in LA this week DANNY MOLOSHOK — ASSOCIATED PRESS The Clippers' Chris Paul (right) drives as DeAndre Jordan (le ) sets a pick on Stephen Curry. By David Pollak Bay Area NewsGroup SAN JOSE Larry Robinson won't be in his customary spot behind the bench Saturday night when the San Jose Sharks end their holiday break with a rivalry road matchup against the Los Angeles Kings. For that matter, don't expect to see him there any of the next 10 games as well. This is transition time for the Hockey Hall of Fame defense- man now wearing two hats for San Jose — associate coach and director of player development. Somewhat belatedly, Robinson is making his way to Worcester for the first time this season, getting a better handle on what the fu- ture brings. Last summer, Robinson, 63, was determined to ease up on the travel grind — "At my age, it just beats the crap out of me" — so he and the Sharks cut a new deal: One more year behind the bench with limited travel, then two years based at his Florida ranch in a front office role — a plan that could be complicated by credible reports that the Sharks are among the West Coast teams moving their AHL affiliates to NHL Robinson now a two-way executive for the Sharks Golden rays of tropical sun- light slant through the caved- in roof of Saint Thomas de Villanueva chapel, illuminating tiles graced by the faces of saints. Vandals shattered the stained-glass windows. CUBA RelationswithCatholic Church at high point FULLSTORYONPAGEB4 Five new members have been appointed to the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans. The committee was chartered on Nov. 2, 1994, and advises the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. PROGRAMS New minority veterans advisory committee set FULL STORY ON PAGE B5 Get your puzzles fix with the NEA Crossword, 7Little Words and Celebrity Cipher, start your day off right with your horoscope, and read the latest advice doled out by Carolyn Hax. YOUR DAILY BREAK Fun and games inside today PAGE B8 Anyone can live in a self-mind mentality, just as easily as any fish can swim downstream. If we really stop and think about it, our personal everyday life probably sets the tone of our thinking each day. GOD TALK Self-mind mentality vs. spirit-filled mentality FULL STORY ON PAGE B4 49ERS PAGE 2 RAIDERS PAGE 2 WARRIORS PAGE 2 SHARKS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, December 27, 2014 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1