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TAMPA, Fla. -- Mike Smith is headed back to Atlanta, this time as defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The ex-Falcons coach is excited about the trip, though not because hes facing his old team for the first time since being fired two seasons ago.The winningest coach in franchise history when he was let go in December 2014, Smith spent a year away from the NFL before joining one of his former Atlanta assistants, Dirk Koetter, in trying to transform the Bucs into playoff contenders.Koetter, in his first season as coach of the Bucs, and Smith, 66-46 in seven seasons with the Falcons, both reject the notion that returning to the Georgia Dome on Sunday will be special for any other reason than its the regular-season opener.The duo said so much has changed since they left that their familiarity with players remaining on the roster from the Smith regime is only a minimal advantage.Obviously for me and Mike, were both two years removed, so theres less and less guys that theyve kept, Koetter, who spent three seasons as Smiths offensive coordinator in Atlanta before moving into the same role with the Bucs in 2015, which means this weekend actually will be the third time hes gone against the Falcons since his departure.Theres some guys that are the same, but I think my emotional time with that is passed, Koetter added. We have to look at this as a football team. This is a divisional game on the road to open the season. ... Im just worried about what our team does.Smith led the Falcons to two NFC South titles and four playoff berths, including an appearance in the 2012 NFC championship game. He fell out of favor over his last two seasons in Atlanta, going 4-12 in 2013 and 6-10 in 2014.The 57-year-old jumped at the opportunity to join Koetter, who reached out to his old boss after Tampa Bay promoted him from offensive coordinator to first-time NFL head coach when Lovie Smith was fired after last season.The former coach sees a parallel in the challenge he faced in Atlanta, which drafted quarterback Matt Ryan in 2008, and the situation Koetter inherited with the Bucs, who have second-year quarterback Jameis Winston.This is a quarterback-driven league. Theres no doubt about it. And I think Jameis is an outstanding quarterback, Smith said Thursday. Hes got some great traits on the field, but hes also a great leader.And when you have that, I think it puts you a step ahead of the teams in the league. Were all trying to have the best possible football team, and I think it starts with the quarterback position. So I do see some similarities, definitely.Smith joked that hes had a lot of sleepless nights lately, preparing to face a Falcons offense led by Ryan, receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman.Theyre three really outstanding football players, and if they get going, they can make it be a long day for you. Weve had an opportunity to put in our preparation and now we have an opportunity to go in and play and see how we execute, said Smith, adding that the transition from head coach to defensive coordinator hasnt been as difficult as some might expect.I sleep better at night, thats the first thing. Its been enjoyable, Smith said. Its been refreshing to be a little bit more hands-on in a smaller group that youre dealing with. These guys have been great.Not only the players, but the coaches and our support staff. Its been fun to get back to just worry about Xs and Os and not having to worry about things outside of that.Like Smith and Koetter, the Falcons are playing down the significance of opening the season against familiar faces.Once youre out there playing -- and Im sure they would say the same thing -- youre competing. Its just like any other week, Ryan said. I know theyll be well coached. Thats probably the biggest thing going into it. I know theyll be well prepared on both sides of the ball.Coach Dan Quinn and defensive lineman Jonathan Babineaux agreed that when the game begins, all that matters is how well the teams play.You always face former coaches and former teammates, week in and week out. Its the way the league is. Nobody ever really stays on the same team, Babineaux said.Im blessed to be here for 12 years now. But it really doesnt happen anymore these days, the tackle added. Ive got a lot of regard for Dirk and Smitty and what they did in the past here. I think theyre going to have a successful program over there.But Sunday is about the Atlanta Falcons. Theres a lot of new guys in this locker room who werent even here when they were here. So its really no rivalry. Its just a great divisional battle.---AP Sports Writer Paul Newberry in Atlanta contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL J. R. Richard Jersey . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive. Aledmys Diaz Astros Jersey . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. http://www.baseballastrosproshop.com/jake-marisnick-astros-jersey/ . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Andy Pettitte Astros Jersey .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Jimmy Wynn Astros Jersey . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. MILWAUKEE -- Draymond Green knew what was coming.Golden State was up by two and had to defend an inbounds pass from the Milwaukee Bucks with 10.1 seconds left on the Warriors side of the court. Green had the assignment of guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks athletic 6-foot-11 forward.Green tipped away the pass, Klay Thompson secured the loose ball before hitting two critical foul shots, and the Warriors held on to beat Milwaukee 124-121 on Saturday night for their seventh straight victory.Thats what Draymond does. He sees the game. He knows whats coming, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. All I saw was that he got a hand on it and Klay ended up with it. Ive seen that before. Draymond is unbelivable in those situations.Kevin Durant scored 33 points, while Thompson had 25 of his 29 in the second half.But they had to hold off a late charge by the Bucks after leading by as much as 14 points. Jabari Parker and Antetokounmpo led a 13-4 run in the fourth quarter that cut it to 122-120 with about 2 1/2 minutes left on Parkers three-point play.The guys fought for 48 minutes, coach Jason Kidd said.Rowdy Bucks fans had designs of an upset of Golden State at the Bradley Center, just like last season. The teams exchanged empty possessions before Greens sparkling defensive effort with 10 seconds left.Once Giannis was down on the block, I already knew what they were running. I was just waiting on them to pass the ball in, Green said.Antetokounmpo finished with 30 points, while Parker had 28.Theres no satisfaction, weve got to keep getting better, Antetokounmpo said. As a team were not a finished product yet.TIP-INSWarriors: Durant gave the Warriors a brief scare after he got up slowly after bumping into Parker with 9 minutes left in the third quarter. Trainers appeared to be looking at Durants leg during a timeout, and Durant stayed in the game. He looked fine after running down the lanne for a dunk that gave the Warriors an 85-78 lead with 5:58 left in the period.dddddddddddd Durant had 25 points in the first half on 8-of-10 shooting. ... Golden State won its third straight road game despite a subpar shooting night for Stephen Curry, who was 1 of 11 from behind the arc. Curry finished with 20 points.Bucks: The Bucks trailed 69-66 at halftime in spite of a season-high offensive output in the first half. It was also a season-high points allowed in the first half for Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo had 16 before halftime, when the Bucks shot 59 percent. A 37-point first quarter was also a season-high for that quarter for the Bucks.FRIENDLY CHALLENGEKerr issued a good-natured, last-minute challenge to Bucks fans before the game.Kerr said that if a fan showed up with a 10-3 shirt, he would give that fan two tickets to a Golden State home game, though there were several other stipulations, too. First and foremost, the Bucks had to win.The Warriors were 10-2 entering Saturday nights game. Kerrs dare was in reference to how Bucks fans confidently wore 24-1 shirts ahead of the Warriors visit last season to Milwaukee on Dec. 12.I am not giving them a plane ticket, or a place to stay, but Ill give (them) a couple tickets to a game, Kerr said.He never had to follow through.QUOTABLEYou feed off that energy. You need that as a team ... Whoever believes in us and wants us to be great, hopefully they can come to the arena and watch us play. -- Antetokounmpo about the energetic fans in the fourth quarter.UP NEXTWarriors: Wrap up a four-game road trip with a visit to the Indiana Pacers on Monday.Bucks: Host Orlando on Monday. The Bucks have won seven of their last eight home games against the Magic.---Follow Genaro Armas at: https://twitter.com/GArmasAP ' ' '