No place like home ice The futures of the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins are being dictated early this season by three of the NHL’s budding talents. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews lead the improving Blackhawks (5-4-0) into Boston on Thursday night to meet Phil Kessel and the Bruins (5-3-0), who are looking to continue their strong play at home.
Author: Anthony Rome
Saints Back on Track After an 0-4 start, the New Orleans Saints are beginning to resemble the team that came within a game of the Super Bowl last year. The San Francisco 49ers appear to be heading in the opposite direction. The Saints travel to San Francisco on Sunday for the first time since 2001, to face their former NFC West rival.
QB Problems in Jax Thanks to an injury-prone incumbent, David Garrard got plenty of opportunities to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars when he was a backup quarterback. Now Garrard’s the starter, and his misfortune has given Quinn Gray a chance. With Garrard sidelined, the Jaguars will give Gray his first NFL start when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Where We Playin’? The San Diego Chargers’ franchise has more than football on its mind as it prepares for Sunday’s scheduled home game against the Houston Texans. With sprawling wildfires that forced more than a half a million to flee Southern California this week, the Chargers (3-3) are in Arizona working out at the Cardinals’ training facility as they await the league’s decision where and when the game will be played.
Steelers try to rebound A win over Pittsburgh on Sunday would move Cincinnati to within one game of first place in the AFC North. It would also be the Bengals’ first victory at home over the Steelers in nearly six years. The Bengals look to register back-to-back wins for the first time this season and halt a lengthy losing streak to the Steelers in Cincinnati when the division rivals meet for the first time this year.
Eagles looking to rebound Donovan McNabb said last week the path to the NFC East title still ran through the Philadelphia Eagles. Following another loss, they may already be on the outside looking in. McNabb and the Eagles will try to turn their season around against another inconsistent team when they visit the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Will Young return? The Tennessee Titans managed to win last weekend without Vince Young, but they’d rather not have to do it again. The Titans hope to have their young quarterback back behind center Sunday when they host the struggling Oakland Raiders.
Key Battle in Chi-Town Bears tackle Tommie Harris predicted that the Detroit Lions won’t leave Chicago with a win on Sunday. His statement doesn’t seem bother the Lions, who aren’t about to make any bold declarations after doing so last year resulted in them being embarrassed at Soldier Field.
Pats to get first real test? The New England Patriots have coasted through some of the NFL’s worst defenses on their way to the best start in franchise history. The Washington Redskins figure to provide a much tougher challenge. The NFL’s most dominant team looks to hit the halfway point of the season with its perfect record still intact Sunday afternoon when the Redskins make their first visit to Gillette Stadium.
London Treat At least the Miami Dolphins get a home game against a team to which they haven’t lost in more than a decade as they try to finally post their first win. Problem is, that ‘home game’ isn’t in Florida. It’s not even in the United States. And the team they’re facing is one of the hottest in football. The New York Giants hope a trip overseas doesn’t cool them off, going for a sixth straight victory and trying to keep the disheartened Dolphins winless on Sunday as the NFL plays a regular-season game in London for the first…