MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Lynx have been in this position before. Its not ideal, but the defending WNBA champions have overcome the same predicament in the past.Down 1-0 in the WNBA Finals, the Lynx find themselves with work to do against the Los Angeles Sparks following L.A.s 78-76 victory in Sundays Game 1.En route to the 2015 WNBA title, Minnesota fell in the first game against the Indiana Fever before eventually rallying to win the championship in five games.We were in this position last year, said Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen, who had 18 points in Sundays loss. You regroup, you see what you can do to recover and get back for Tuesday night. We have been a group thats been together for a long time and been a part of a lot of these, so that will be our focus.Los Angeles defense was a big reason the Sparks emerged victorious in Game 1. Brian Aglers team forced 16 Minnesota turnovers and converted those into 18 points at the other end.Its unlikely that the Sparks will hold Lynx leading scorer Maya Moore scoreless in the first half Tuesday like they did Sunday, but another stout defensive effort against Moore and Co. certainly will be key for taking a 2-0 series lead.We respect her, and we respect that whole team, but we really respect what she can do, Agler said of Moore, who finished Sundays game with 18 points. Its not like we dont think thats going to happen. We know its going to happen.Los Angeles is in search of its first WNBA title since 2002. The current core of players is not as battle tested in the Finals like Minnesota. The Lynx are winners of three of the last five WNBA championships and are trying to become just the second franchise to win four titles.In recent years, its been the Lynx knocking the Sparks out of the Western Conference playoffs on their way to the Finals. With the new change to the WNBAs playoffs that seeds teams regardless of conference, Minnesota and Los Angeles have the opportunity to square off in the Finals.For Sparks star Candace Parker, that means her first Finals comes against the defending champs.Were used to kind of meeting them before the finals, so it had a feel like before, Parker said. I think in general at first obviously theres some nerves, but you kind of get lost in the game and just trying to execute.That quest for a fourth ring has already gotten off to a bumpy start for Minnesota after losing at the buzzer on Sunday. Los Angeles hopes to keep that momentum going.Moving forward to Tuesday, we have to make sure we keep our same focus and same energy out there on the floor because we know theyre a hungry team, Agler said. Theyre trying to make history, and theyre going to come after it. Glen Rice Jersey . 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DENVER -- Brock Osweiler wanted to follow Peyton Mannings path, not live in his shadow.And that, he said, was the reason for his remark that drew so much ire back in Denver last spring.Osweiler swears he meant no disrespect to Denver when he said at his introductory news conference in Houston that he chose the Texans over the Broncos in free agency because they gave him the best opportunity to be successful.With his homecoming on tap Monday night, a game pitting two flawed 4-2 division leaders, Osweiler acknowledged it might not have been the wisest choice of words. But hes not apologizing for saying it, just expressing regret that it came off wrong in some quarters.After spending four seasons as Peyton Mannings backup and presumed successor, Osweiler shockingly left the Super Bowl champs for a four-year, $72 million offer from Houston 48 hours after Mannings tearful retirement.His best opportunity to be successful comment was seen as one last jab at the team that had benched him for the playoff run. A dash of salt in the wound of uncertainty hed left behind in Denver, the team was suddenly jolted with an unexpected search for a new quarterback.I dont know what he was thinking, Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said this week. Weve won a lot of games here, so I would think wed give him the best place to win.Osweiler explained that while he felt he fit in very nicely with Gary Kubiaks West Coast offense in Denver, where he went 5-2 as the starter last season, he felt his skills were better suited for Bill OBriens more traditional downfield passing scheme.It seemed like a phenomenal opportunity as a quarterback to play in a system like this, Osweiler said. I was able to see Peyton play in similar systems in 2012, `13 and `14. And I dont think any of us can deny what he was able to accomplish in those systems. So, as a quarterback, as a competitor, as someone striving to do great things in this league, it just seemed like a great opportunity to be able to play in a system that was similar to that.Osweiler also drew the ire of Broncos fans for skipping the teams White House visit annd ring ceremony .dddddddddddd He explained he was too busy learning a new playbook with a new team in a new city to relive Super Bowl 50, although Von Miller and Emmanuel Sanders did Facetime him from the ring ceremony in June.After a six-month search, the Broncos settled on Trevor Siemian as Mannings successor.I think Trevors done a phenomenal job, I really do, Osweiler said. I really couldnt be happier for Trevor.Osweiler is coming off his best game as a Texan, leading Houston back from a 14-point deficit for a 26-23 win in overtime against the Colts last week.Siemian is coming off his first loss, 21-13 at San Diego, where he was still compromised by a sprained left shoulder that had sidelined him the week before.You know what, Im really impressed with the guy, said ESPN color analyst Jon Gruden, who watched the Broncos practice over the weekend. No. 1, winning your first four starts in the NFL is hard to do, I dont care what kind of team youre on. Handling the pressure of not only succeeding Peyton Manning but taking the keys to the world champions, thats tough.Gruden said he expects Siemian to do even better when the Broncos ground game gets going and Kubiaks patented bootlegs and play-actions come into play more.The only bigger shocker than Osweiler leaving Denver this year was Siemian winning the job hed left behind.I think the credit goes to John Elway and Kubiak for a) finding the guy, but b) having the guts to play the guy, Gruden said. Most people would have said, `Hey, lets just go with (Mark) Sanchez. We traded for him. Lets save face and give Sanchez a shot. Or, `Lets go with Paxton Lynch. He was our No. 1 pick. Lets go with our seventh round pick who no one knows about? That takes a lot of courage. I think they deserve credit for playing the best player.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton ' ' '