Game Preview for Chargers vs Titans
(Sports Network) - The San Diego Chargers are closing in on another AFC West title and will try to keep their winning streak intact when they visit the Tennessee Titans Sunday afternoon at LP Field.
San Diego is two games ahead of Denver in the division standings with four games left on the schedule, including a second matchup against the Broncos in two weeks. After a shaky 1-3 start to the 2007 season, the Chargers have rebounded to win two straight and six of their last eight games.
The Chargers are coming off a 24-10 victory over the AFC West-rival Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium last Sunday. It was all defense for the Bolts, who recorded a season-high eight sacks against Kansas City. All-Pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson continued his solid season and passed Hall of Famer Walter Payton for third on the all-time list for rushing touchdowns (111).
Head coach Norv Turner seems to have the Chargers back to their 14-2 form from a year ago, but is now faced with a tough task on Sunday in Tennessee. San Diego then returns home to host Detroit and Denver before hitting the road to Oakland in the regular-season finale for both teams.
The Titans are losing ground in the AFC South and sit three games behind division-leading Indianapolis and one game back of second-place Jacksonville. However, they are tied with Cleveland for the final wild card spot in the AFC.
Tennessee got back in the win column with last Sunday's 28-20 home win over the division-rival Houston Texans. Quarterback Vince Young is starting to find his groove and threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns to lead the way. Young, who is often criticized for his arm strength and accuracy, proved critics wrong on Sunday.
Young is the offensive leader of the Titans, who put the brakes on a three- game losing streak with the win. Tennessee also got a huge lift with the return of star defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and can thank defensive end Antwan Odom for knocking Texans quarterback Matt Schaub out of the game early on. Haynesworth was a big reason for the early success of the Tennessee defense until he missed three games because of a hamstring injury.
Now Haynesworth is back and healthy for a Titans squad clinging to a tie for the final postseason berth in the AFC. After hosting the Chargers, Tennessee will visit Kansas City before taking on the New York Jets. The Titans will then wrap up the 2007 regular season with a tough one at Indianapolis.
SERIES HISTORY
The Chargers have a 21-13-1 lead in the all-time regular season series against the Titans, including wins in the last four head-to-head matchups. San Diego was a 40-7 home winner when the teams met in Week 2 of last season, and took a 13-7 decision in its only trip to Tennessee, back in 1998. The Titans/Oilers last defeated San Diego in 1992, when they blanked the Chargers by a 27-0 count in Houston.
Though San Diego leads the regular-season series, the Titans/Oilers have won all three postseason matchups between the teams, including AFL Championship wins in 1960 and 1961.
Turner is 0-4 in his career against the Titans, going 0-2 while with Washington (1994-2000) and 0-2 while with Oakland (2004-05). Tennessee's Jeff Fisher is 0-3 in his career against San Diego, but is 4-0 head-to-head with Turner.
WHEN THE CHARGERS HAVE THE BALL
The Chargers have no problem putting up points even during their early struggles this season. They are averaging 24 points a game over the past four weeks thanks to Tomlinson (1,049 rushing yards, 11 TD), who had 177 yards and two second-half touchdowns against the Chiefs. He has five TD's over the last five games, but will face a tough Tennessee run defense this weekend. Tomlinson has faced the Titans twice in his career and is averaging 109 rushing yards per game with three touchdowns. When Tomlinson scores two or more touchdowns in a game, the Chargers are an amazing 26-2. Tomlinson is also a threat out of the backfield and has 427 receiving yards and a score this season. He is aiming for the 42nd 100-yard game of his career on Sunday.
Titans linebackers David Thornton (90 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT), Keith Bulluck (69 tackles, 4 INT) and Ryan Fowler (47 tackles) will be busy trying to contain Tomlinson, who faces the seventh-rated run defense in the NFL. The trio combined for 19 stops in a win over Houston on Sunday and have faced other top running backs in the league, including Indianapolis' Joseph Addai, Reggie Bush of the Saints and Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor of Jacksonville. Bulluck continued his team-best active streak of 92 consecutive starts and became the third player in team history reach 1,000 career tackles last week. Most of the credit, though, goes Haynesworth (32 tackles, 5 sacks), who returned from a three-game absence last weekend. The bulky lineman was able to contribute with two stops against the Texans. The Titans ranked first in the NFL against the run before Haynesworth's injury, allowing 66 yards rushing a game over the first eight weeks. Without him, the Titans gave up 166, 166 and 148 yards rushing in the three games he missed -- all losses. Defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch (39 tackles, 6 sacks) plays with a high motor every game, while fellow end Odom (16 tackles, 5 sacks) brings the big hits. Odom, who knocked Schaub out of the game last weekend with a shoulder injury, has a career-high five sacks this season.
While the Titans will most likely stack the box with eight men to contain Tomlinson, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (2,458 passing yards, 15 TD, 13 INT) will get a chance to compete with Tennessee's eighth-rated pass defense. Rivers didn't have astronomical numbers in the win over Kansas City, passing for 157 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He has five TD passes and three picks over the last three weeks. Rivers threw for 235 yards and a touchdown for a 99.1 passer rating in his only meeting with Tennessee, which came last season. Rivers' favorite target has been Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates (61 receptions, 8 TD). He only had one catch for minus-one yard against the Chiefs, but is enjoying another productive campaign. Wideout Vincent Jackson (30 receptions, 3 TD) had a 38-yard touchdown reception last weekend and has the potential to break out any week. Since most of the offense is centered around Tomlinson, the receivers have to fight for catches every week. Chris Chambers (51 receptions, 2 TD) and Tomlinson are also in Rivers' arsenal.
Tennessee's defensive backfield doesn't garner the attention the front four and linebackers do, but this group is as talented as any other in the league. Led by cornerbacks Cortland Finnegan (67 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) and Nick Harper (65 tackles, 2 INT) and safety Chris Hope (49 tackles, 2 INT), the Titans will be an even match for San Diego's 22nd-ranked pass attack. Hope missed Sunday's win over the Texans, however, and is considered questionable for Sunday. Finnegan and Harper combined for 14 tackles last weekend. Titans rookie safety Michael Griffin (30 tackles, 1 INT) posted his first career pick in the Houston win.
WHEN THE TITANS HAVE THE BALL
Young (1,911 passing yards, 7 TD, 14 INT) is having a streaky season, one year removed from his AFC Rookie of the Year campaign. He is 1-3 over the last four games but has been opening eyes around the league with his improved arm strength and accuracy. Young has been criticized often for his ability to hit receivers accurately, but is averaging 264 yards passing over the past four weeks with four touchdown passes and six interceptions. In Sunday's win over the Texans, Young threw for 248 yards and two scores with an interception. Young, who has been picked off in five straight games, had a 43-yard touchdown strike to Roydell Williams and an 11-yard scoring toss to Justin Gage against Houston. He also accounted for 44 of the team's 153 rushing yards against the Texans, giving him 292 yards on the ground this season. Over the past four games, Young has 1,056 passing yards and 176 rushing yards, an average of 308 yards per contest. Gage (41 receptions, 2 TD) and Williams (38 receptions, 2 TD) are Tennessee's deep threats, while tight end Bo Scaife (40 receptions, 1 TD) contributes in a limited capacity.
San Diego's pass defense leads the NFL with 20 interceptions this season. So it looks like a good matchup for the Chargers, since Young seems to turn the ball over on a week-to-week basis. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie (25 tackles, 8 INT) is having a splendid season shutting down opposing wide receivers and posted his third game of the year with two or more picks against the Chiefs. Cromartie has an NFL-leading eight interceptions in 2007. Cornerback Quentin Jammer (48 tackles) and safeties Clinton Hart (63 tackles, 3 INT) and Marlon McCree (59 tackles, 3 INT) combined for 14 tackles and three passes defensed last weekend against Kansas City.
Titans running back LenDale White (754 rushing yards, 6 TD) seems to have regained his form after three straight weeks of subpar performances. During Tennessee's three-game losing streak, White averaged 27 rushing yards per game with no touchdowns. He then broke out for 60 yards and a score on 12 carries against the Texans. White posted his sixth touchdown of the season, while backfield mate Chris Brown (388 rushing yards, 2 TD) had 46 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries last week. The duo make up the fifth-best ground attack in the NFL this season. San Diego is 20th against the rush and the 3-4 scheme may have something to do with it. Defensive ends Igor Olshansky (36 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Jacques Cesaire (26 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and nose tackle Jamal Williams (36 tackles) combined for 16 tackles and a sack last weekend.
All-Pro linebacker Shawne Merriman (58 tackles, 9.5 sacks) leads the Chargers in sacks and will be gunning for the elusive Young and White. Merriman is coming off an impressive game against the Chiefs in which he posted six tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery. He has 13 stops and four sacks over his last four games. Linebacker Shaun Phillips (57 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 1 INT) also wreaked havoc on Kansas City with nine tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, a pass defensed and a forced fumble. Linebacker and leading tackler Stephen Cooper (83 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) posted a game-high 10 tackles and a sack in the win. The Chargers notched eight sacks against Kansas City.
FANTASY FOCUS
Tomlinson is a fantasy stud and will be until the day he retires. Owners can always count on Tomlinson to get at least 10 or more points every week because the offense is centered around the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player. Not only can Tomlinson hurt you between the tackles and around the ends, he is also a dangerous threat out of the backfield. He usually kills defenses on screen plays because of his patience and excellent vision. Rivers is not having the type of season owners had anticipated. After an outstanding 2006 campaign, the young quarterback has declined this season. Gates garners his success on how Rivers plays and has fallen off as one of the top tight ends in fantasy football. Jason Witten of Dallas, Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez and Cleveland's Kellen Winslow have emerged ahead of him at the position this season. Gates is still a must-start every week, because you never know how Rivers will perform.
As for the Titans, Young and White rake in the most fantasy points. White had been hurting owners over the past three weeks until breaking out for 60 yards and a score last Sunday. He should do well again this weekend against San Diego's suspect run defense. Young, meanwhile, is playing the best football of the season at the right time. With Tennessee hunting for a playoff berth, now is the time for Young to lead the way. He is passing for more yards lately, which has opened up the offense more.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Chargers are inching closer to another division title, while the Titans are fighting to stay alive in the playoff picture. Tennessee is battling with Cleveland for the final postseason spot in the NFL and will come out on top on Sunday because there is no margin for error. Fisher is an excellent planner and can make the proper adjustments at crucial times. Expect the Titans to give Tomlinson a hard time much like their division rivals in Jacksonville did to the star back a few weeks ago. Tomlinson was held to 62 yards rushing against the Jaguars. Tennessee has the defensive line and the linebackers to not only stop San Diego's ground attack, but apply enough pressure on Rivers. Rivers has been shaky under Turner's command and won't find any loopholes on Sunday. Tennessee will be led once again by Young and his ability to make plays. As long as Young plays smart and protects the football, the Titans will be in good shape. Plus, the Titans are playing in front of their home crowd.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Titans 27, Chargers 23
Game Preview for Raiders vs Packers
(Sports Network) - The Green Bay Packers will try to lock up the NFC North title this Sunday at Lambeau Field, where they will battle the Oakland Raiders.
The Packers are far exceeding everyone's expectations set for the season, as the club is 10-2 and can win the division with a victory this weekend despite a loss to Dallas in its most recent matchup. Green Bay, which has won 14 of its past 16 games dating back to last season, can also claim the 18th division title in team history with a loss or tie by the second-place Detroit Lions in their game against the Cowboys this Sunday.
In addition, the Packers will clinch at least a playoff spot despite a loss if the Arizona Cardinals lose or tie this weekend. Green Bay, which hasn't reached the postseason since the 2004 campaign, hasn't lost consecutive games since Weeks 12 and 13 of last season.
And it looks as if Green Bay will have its workhorse under center in Brett Favre. The legendary quarterback left the team's 37-27 setback to the Cowboys in the second quarter due to an elbow bruise.
However, head coach Mike McCarthy said last Friday that Favre, who was recently selected as Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year, should be ready to go in this one and extend his streak of games started to 250, a league record for quarterback.
Just in case, Green Bay signed quarterback Craig Nall this week. He gives Green Bay three quarterbacks on the roster for the first time all season and would back up Aaron Rodgers if for some reason Favre can't play.
While the Packers are confident they'll have their veteran quarterback under center this weekend, the Raiders will likely get some more glimpses of their signal-caller of the future.
In last Sunday's 34-20 win over Denver, Oakland rookie JaMarcus Russell, the first overall pick of the 2007 draft, made his NFL debut. Russell saw limited time, replacing starter Josh McCown briefly in the second quarter. He played in two series and completed 4-of-7 passes for 56 yards while adding four yards on three carries.
At 4-8 and tied for third in the AFC West, Oakland has little to lose by putting Russell on the field. It may have happened sooner if the LSU product's career hadn't gotten off to a late start because of a contract holdout.
It remains to be seen how the quarterback situation will pan out for Oakland regarding this game. Daunte Culpepper had two strong games for Oakland, which has won two straight after a six-game losing streak, but missed the Denver game because of a quadriceps injury. He did not practice early in the week and is also considered questionable for this game.
McCown, meanwhile, threw three touchdown passes in his start last weekend.
Whether Culpepper or McCown starts, it is likely that Russell will see the field again this Sunday.
SERIES HISTORY
The Packers lead the all-time regular season series with the Raiders, 5-4, including a 41-7 road win when the teams last met in 2003. That game is best- remembered for coming one day after the death of Favre's father, with the quarterback throwing for 399 yards and four touchdowns in an inspirational effort. Green Bay has now won four straight in the series since the then-Los Angeles Raiders were 20-0 winners at Lambeau Field in 1987.
In addition to the regular season series, the teams also faced off in Super Bowl II, with the Packers scoring a 33-14 win in Miami.
The Packers' McCarthy and Raiders' Lane Kiffin will be meeting each other, as well as their counterpart's respective franchise, for the first time as head coaches.
WHEN THE RAIDERS HAVE THE BALL
Culpepper (1,331 passing yards, 5 TD, 5 INT) had thrown for 514 yards and a touchdown over his last two games before the injury, though McCown was also good last week in his first start since September 16. McCown (901 passing yards, 8 TD, 9 INT) threw for 141 yards on 14-of-21 passing, but the bottom line is that both quarterbacks have struggled overall this season, as evidenced by Oakland's No. 30 ranking in passing offense (173.3 ypg) with. Both players know it is only a matter of time before the team becomes solely Russell's. Oakland has been outstanding on the ground this year, and were getting it done earlier in the season behind LaMont Jordan (528 rushing yards, 3 TD). However, it has been the Justin Fargas (863 rushing yards, 3 TD) show as of late, with Jordan falling behind backup Dominic Rhodes on the depth chart. Fargas ran for 146 yards and a score against Denver and is averaging 106 yards per game on the ground in his five starts this season.
Wide receivers Tim Dwight and Jerry Porter both caught touchdown passes last week, as did tight end Zach Miller. Porter (34 receptions, 4 TD) led the team with five catches for 49 yards, while leading receiver Ronald Curry (47 catches, 3 TD) contributed three receptions for 34 yards. Fullback Justin Griffith added to the passing game, hauling in four passes for 23 yards, while Miller (31 receptions, 2 TD) ended with 58 yards on three catches.
Green Bay's defense will aim to recover a bit this weekend, as it was lit up for 414 net yards, including 309 passing, in addition to 37 points versus Dallas. Those totals were far above the Packers' average, as they enter this tilt allowing 18.5 points (6th overall), 323.6 yards (15th overall) and 223.1 passing yards (23rd overall) per game. Green Bay had all sorts of trouble with Cowboys wideout Terrell Owens, who made seven catches for 156 yards with a score. Thankfully for the Packers, Oakland does not a receiver the caliber of Owens. Corner Al Harris (32 tackles) came up with the Packers' lone turnover against Dallas, picking off his first pass of the season. Another Green Bay cornerback to keep an eye on this weekend is Charles Woodson, who was the fourth overall pick of the 1998 draft by the Raiders. If Woodson (48 tackles, 4 INT) is able to play -- he missed the Dallas game with a toe injury -- it would mark his first game against his former club. Linebacker A.J. Hawk (80 tackles) was Green Bay's leading tackler last week with eight, while Nick Barnett (96 tackles, 2 sacks) added five stops and safety Atari Bigby (77 tackles) had six. The Packers also failed to sack Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, a rarity when ends Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Aaron Kampman are on the field. Gbaja-Biamila (22 tackles, 9.5 sacks) has five sacks in his past four games, while Kampman (54 tackles) is tied for the NFC lead with 11 sacks. Gbaja- Biamila, though, is considered questionable for Sunday due to an ankle/knee injury, as is reserve safety Aaron Rouse (knee).
WHEN THE PACKERS HAVE THE BALL
Favre threw for just 56 yards and was picked off twice against the Cowboys before his exit. Both turnovers led to touchdowns for Dallas. Despite that rough outing, the veteran is still enjoying one of the best seasons of his career. Favre has thrown for 3,412 yards and 22 touchdowns while getting intercepted 10 times for a QB rating of 97.9. Rodgers (218 passing yards, 1 TD, 0 INT) did an outstanding job filling in for Favre after the injury, giving Green Bay hope for the future. Green Bay is ranked 30th in the league in rushing offense, but got excellent support on the ground from Ryan Grant (588 rushing yards, 4 TD) against the Cowboys. Grant ran for 94 yards on 14 carries and found the end zone twice. Wide receiver Donald Driver (70 receptions, 898 yards) led Green Bay in the loss with seven catches for 66 yards to extend his streak of games with a reception to 92, the second-longest run in team history. Greg Jennings (44 receptions, 10 TD) made five receptions for 87 yards and caught the team's only touchdown pass. Jennings has a scoring catch in eight of his last 10 games. James Jones also got on the stat sheet with three catches and leads all NFC rookies with 43 receptions and 633 yards.
The Oakland defense was able to hold Denver under 300 yards of total net offense last Sunday and managed to pick off Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler twice. Linebacker Thomas Howard (75 tackles, 1 sack) posted one of those picks and is tied for third in the NFL with five interceptions on the season. He also had seven tackles in the game. Corner Fabian Washington (29 tackles, 1 INT) notched the other interception, giving Oakland 15 as a team on the season, tied for sixth in the league. End Jay Richardson (25 tackles) had Oakland's only sack of the game, the first of his career. Leading tackler Kirk Morrison (99 tackles, 1 sack) had a team-high 10 tackles in the win, while tackle Warren Sapp (35 tackles, 2 sacks) and linebacker Robert Thomas (48 tackles) each had five stops. Sapp, with 96 1/2 career sacks, is just 3 1/2 shy of becoming the second defensive tackle in league history with 100, which would join John Randle (137.5).
While Oakland has been dominant against the pass (5th in the league), it has struggled mightily against the run. The Raiders are allowing 148 yards per game on the ground, 30th in the NFL, although they did hold Denver running backs Travis Henry and Selvin Young to just 77 rushing yards between the two of them. However, Henry found the end zone twice.
FANTASY FOCUS
With fantasy playoffs set to start in most leagues, now is the time to exploit great matchups. That makes Grant an excellent start this weekend due to the Raiders' poor run defense. Owners who picked him up earlier in the year will see it pay off in a big way this weekend. However, don't be afraid to start Favre, Driver and Jennings, either. That trio is talented enough to get past a strong Raiders' pass defense, and if a better option isn't there to start, feel safe in going with any of those three. Favre is slinging it like never before, Jennings is a touchdown machine, and Driver guarantees you at least 5-7 catches. Green Bay should see a lot of red zone chances, so give Packers kicker Mason Crosby a look as well. For the Raiders, Fargas has been just as good as Grant lately and he should get a bulk of carries as the Raiders shuffle two quarterbacks in and out of the game. For this reason, none of the Raiders' QB's should get a look, as whoever plays will be splitting time with Russell. This also hurts the value of Oakland's receivers. None are worth more than a flex start, though Miller might serve well at the tight end spot.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
While the Raiders will surely come to play, there is little doubt the club is on cruise control as it begins to mold itself for the future. The Packers, meanwhile, would like nothing more than to wrap up the division this weekend so they can start saving Favre for the playoffs. Green Bay's offense is clicking right now and should put up a ton of points on the Raiders. Russell, when he plays, will get some good experience in avoiding a pass rush, as Green Bay can bring the heat. The Packers are just too much for the Raiders to handle right now, even if Oakland has won two in a row, and should head to the locker room after four quarters as NFC North champs.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Packers 35, Raiders 17
Game Preview for Panthers vs Jaguars
(Sports Network) - The Jacksonville Jaguars have a chance to move one step closer to realizing their playoff dreams when they host the Carolina Panthers this Sunday in an interconference encounter from Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.
Jacksonville's hopes for an AFC South championship were all but dashed with last Sunday's 28-25 loss to the division-leading Indianapolis Colts, but with an 8-4 record, the club still finds itself in a good position in regard to securing a postseason berth. The Jaguars currently own the top Wild Card spot in the conference and have a seemingly favorable schedule the rest of the way, with three of their final four regular-season tests coming against teams sporting sub-.500 records at the moment.
Don't expect the Jags to be taking anything for granted, however. Jack Del Rio's squad was in a similar situation a year ago, but proceeded to lose its last three games and got left out of the playoff field with an 8-8 mark.
Carolina also finds itself in the postseason mix among the NFC contingent, but is one of a logjam of teams battling for the conference's final Wild Card slot. The Panthers are tied with five other franchises at 5-7, which is one game back of a trio of 6-6 teams sharing the No. 6 seed entering this week's play.
Right now, Carolina would settle for back-to-back victories, something it hasn't done since defeating New Orleans and Arizona to begin October. The Panthers dropped five straight games following that streak before rebounding with a 31-14 home decision over the lowly San Francisco 49ers.
Carolina mustered a mere 50 points over the course of its five-game slide, but took advantage of six San Francisco turnovers to record its highest point total of the season.
Such a scoring outburst could be tougher to come by for the Panthers this week, as the Jaguars have held the opposition to 17 points or less in five of their six home games in 2007.
Carolina has had success on the road this season, having won four of its six away tests so far. However, the Panthers have lost all three of their matchups against AFC South foes this year.
Jacksonville is 2-1 versus the NFC South in 2007, with the lone blemish a 41-24 setback at New Orleans back in Week 9.
SERIES HISTORY
Jacksonville has a 2-1 edge in its all-time series with Carolina, but was a 24-23 road loser when the teams last met, in 2003. The Jaguars defeated the Panthers in Jacksonville (24-14) in 1996 and Charlotte (22-20) in 1999.
Panthers head coach John Fox is 1-0 against both Jacksonville and Del Rio.
WHEN THE PANTHERS HAVE THE BALL
Carolina has struggled mightily to put up yards and points ever since starting quarterback Jake Delhomme went down to a season-ending elbow injury in September, although the ageless Vinny Testaverde (868 passing yards, 5 TD, 5 INT) has been a serviceable fill-in when the brittle 44-year-old has been able to take the field. Wide receiver Steve Smith (59 receptions, 6 TD) hasn't been the gamebreaking presence that earned him Pro Bowl nods in each of the last two seasons, although the seven-year pro's drop in production can be attributed to the team's revolving-door situation at quarterback as well as the inability of Drew Carter (28 receptions, 4 TD) and Keary Colbert (31 receptions) to emerge as reliable options in the passing game. The Panthers rank just 28th of 32 NFL teams in passing offense (176.0 ypg) and 26th in scoring (17.0 ppg).
The Panthers have been inconsistent running the ball as well, although the club did amass a strong 166 yards on the ground against a submissive San Francisco team last Sunday. Second-year back DeAngelo Williams (468 rushing yards, 18 receptions, 2 total TD) had 82 of those yards on just 17 carries and is pushing injury-prone incumbent DeShaun Foster (728 rushing yards, 22 receptions, 4 total TD) for playing time. Williams is averaging a healthy 4.9 yards per pop this year, compared to 3.6 for Foster.
Opposing running backs have often found the going tough to come by when facing the Jaguars, who are yielding just 96.7 rushing yards per game (8th overall) and limited Indianapolis to 63 yards on the ground last week despite being without three-time Pro Bowl tackle Marcus Stroud (22 tackles, 3 sacks) and rugged middle linebacker Mike Peterson (70 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT). Peterson will miss a third straight game with a broken hand, but Stroud should be back in the lineup after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's steroid policy. He'll again be beside tackle John Henderson (30 tackles, 1 sack), who's been voted to Hawaii twice during his first six NFL campaigns.
Teams have found the going a little easier attacking Jacksonville via the air, as evidenced by Peyton Manning's 288-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Jaguars in last week's showdown. For the year the Jags rank 27th in passing yards allowed (249.2 ypg), but the defense has recorded eight interceptions over the last five weeks. Safeties Sammy Knight (74 tackles, 4 INT, 10 PD) and Reggie Nelson (51 tackles, 4 INT, 1 sack) have been the team's top two ball-hawks, while corner Rashean Mathis (51 tackles, 1 INT) was a Pro Bowl honoree last season who's been slowed by a groin injury this year. A hit- or-miss pass rush has been led by ends Paul Spicer (30 tackles, 6.5 sacks) and Reggie Hayward (17 tackles, 3.5 sacks), but Hayward will not play on Sunday due to a groin pull.
WHEN THE JAGUARS HAVE THE BALL
Jacksonville only ranks 13th in the NFL in total yards (337.8 ypg) and scoring (22.3 ypg), but the offense has been a very effective unit in the games in which quarterback David Garrard (1883 passing yards, 11 TD) has been under center. The first-year full-time starter has completed better than 67 percent of his passes and did not throw an interception until being picked off once by the Colts last week. Due to Garrard's efficiency and a punishing ground game that has produced an average of 141 yards per contest (2nd overall), the Jaguars have turned the ball over just 16 times all year. Jacksonville comes at you with two very good running backs in veteran Fred Taylor (812 rushing yards, 2 TD) and second-year standout Maurice-Jones Drew (631 rushing yards, 8 TD, 27 receptions), with Taylor having put together 104-yard outings in back- to-back weeks. The Jags were able to compile an impressive 168 rushing yards on a tough Indianapolis defense a week ago.
The Jaguars don't have any standout receivers, but their trio of Dennis Northcutt (36 receptions, 3 TD), Ernest Wilford (31 receptions) and Reggie Williams (26 receptions) are all capable performers. Williams is the big-play threat of the bunch, as he's averaged 17 yards per catch and leads the team with six receiving touchdowns. Wilford's been Garrard's go-to-guy as of late, having racked up a season-best 72 yards on five grabs against the Colts.
While Carolina's offense has been anemic for most of the year, Fox has still managed to field a pretty solid defense that is coming off its best showing of the season. The Panthers limited the inept 49ers to 195 total yards and recorded six sacks along with six turnovers, including four picks of quarterback Trent Dilfer. One of those interceptions was returned 73 yards for a touchdown by nickel back Richard Marshall (57 tackles, 2 INT). Until last week, pressuring the passer had been a big problem for the Panthers, who entered the San Francisco game with a league-worst 10 sacks. Longtime end Mike Rucker (40 tackles, 2.5 sacks) awoke from a season-long slumber to register 1 1/2 sacks in the win, but three-time Pro Bowler Julius Peppers (35 tackles, 3 sacks) has disappointed on the other side.
In addition to its No. 10 overall rating in pass defense (207.2 ypg), Carolina has been mostly stout versus the run, holding opponents to just 3.6 yards per rush on the year. A quality tackle tandem of Kris Jenkins (30 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Maake Kemoeatu (34 tackles) has enabled rookie middle linebacker Jon Beason (98 tackles, 1 INT) to make plays. The 2007 first-round draft choice has five games with double-digit tackles this season.
FANTASY FOCUS
With both teams preferring to grind it out on offense, there doesn't appear to be a wealth of intriguing fantasy options coming out of this game. Taylor's recent strong yardage totals make him a good candidate to start, but the 10th- year pro's low touchdown total on the season gives him only No. 2 back status. Since Jones-Drew gets most of the goal-line touches and is more involved as a receiver, put Taylor's understudy in that same category. Garrard wouldn't be a bad choice, since the underrated quarterback has put together two straight games of over 250 passing yards. It's hard to recommend any Jacksonville receivers other than maybe Reggie Williams, but the Jaguars defense should be a reasonable play against a Carolina team that struggles to score points.
On the Panthers' side, Smith's track record makes him definitely worthy of starting consideration, but keep in mind that he hasn't had a 100-yard game or a touchdown since Week 6. Testaverde should not be used unless you're desperate at quarterback, while Foster's done little in terms of point- production in recent weeks. Carolina only seems to use DeAngelo Williams in blowout games, and this one doesn't appear to fit that bill.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Jacksonville knows from last year's experience that it can't be taking any opponent lightly at this critical time of year, so a letdown at home against a Carolina squad that frankly isn't as strong would be quite a surprise. The Panthers' impressive all-around performance last week was more the product of inferior competition than anything else, and the bar will certainly be raised on Sunday by the Jaguars. Look for Jacksonville to play it safe and come through with a methodical victory that will cement its status as a likely playoff participant.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Jaguars 23, Panthers 13
Game Preview for Buccaneers vs TEXANS
(Sports Network) - No one will argue that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had it easy over their first 12 games of the 2007 season, but did anyone expect this?
A Tampa Bay team just one year removed from a 4-12 disaster needs only to defeat the Houston Texans on Sunday at Reliant Stadium in order to wrap up the NFC South title and a playoff berth.
Entering 2007, the Buccaneers were considered at best a dark horse to come out of the division. Most of the focus in the NFC South was on defending division champ New Orleans, which had played for the conference title in January, and on a talented Carolina team that had just missed the playoffs at 8-8.
But as the Saints struggled, and the Panthers were beset by injuries, the Buccaneers took advantage.
Last Sunday's 27-23 come-from-behind win in New Orleans completed a home-and- home sweep of the Saints by Jon Gruden's club, putting the Bucs in position to not only wrap up a postseason berth in Week 14, but to wrap it up with three weeks to spare.
Though the division title is what Tampa Bay is after, continued strong play in the team's concluding stretch of the schedule could give the Buccaneers a shot at the No. 2 seed and the all-important first-round bye that comes with it,
Gruden and company face Atlanta (3-9), San Francisco (3-9), and Carolina (5-7) in their final three games.
The Texans, meanwhile, are simply looking to keep their postseason dreams alive for another week. Houston was a 28-20 loser at Tennessee last Sunday, dropping Gary Kubiak's team to 5-7 and keeping them alone in last place in the AFC South.
Though a division title is now out of reach for the Texans, four wins in a difficult final stretch that begins with the Bucs and concludes with matchups against the Broncos (5-7), Colts (10-2), and Jaguars (8-4) would give Houston a realistic chance at its first postseason berth in team history.
SERIES HISTORY
The Buccaneers and Texans have met just once in a meaningful game, a 16-3 Tampa Bay home win during the 2003 season. The Bucs will be traveling to Houston for the first time since 1995, when the lost to the Oilers, 19-7, at the Astrodome. Tampa Bay is 0-4 all-time in Houston.
The Buccaneers and Texans also met in the 2007 preseason, a 31-24 Tampa Bay win at Raymond James Stadium on Aug. 30th.
Gruden is 1-0 in his career against the Texans, while Houston's Kubiak will be meeting both Gruden and the Bucs for the first time as a head coach.
WHEN THE BUCCANEERS HAVE THE BALL
After missing most of the last two weeks due to a back problem, it would appear that Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia (2135 passing yards, 11 TD, 3 INT) will return to the lineup on Sunday. If the veteran has another setback, the Bucs would again turn to Luke McCown, who played well in the win over the Saints. The ex-Brown threw for 313 yards - the team's second-highest passing total of the season, and also tossed touchdown passes to seldom-seen tight ends Jerramy Stevens and Anthony Becht. But McCown showed his greatest chemistry with ageless wideout Joey Galloway (49 receptions, 6 TD), who tortured the Saints by hauling in seven passes for 159 yards, including a 60- yarder to end the first quarter that set up a one-yard touchdown pass one play later. Galloway needs 109 yards for the sixth 1,000-yard season of his career, and third consecutive. The running game remains in good hands with the blossoming Earnest Graham (737 rushing yards, 7 TD, 36 receptions), who has averaged 101.8 yards in his last four games, and has scored a touchdown in four straight. The Buccaneers, who currently rank 19th in the league in total offense (325.2 yards per game), have thrown a league-low five interceptions on the season.
The Buccaneers might seek to take a run-first approach against a Texans defense that ranks just 25th in NFL rushing defense (122.2 yards per game) and is surrendering 4.5 yards per carry on the season. Houston gave up 153 yards on 29 carries (5.3 per rush) to the Tennessee ground attack, and allowed touchdown runs by both LenDale White and Chris Brown. Middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans (109 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) posted a game-high 14 tackles in the loss, but did not get enough help from an interior line led by tackles Travis Johnson (32 tackles, 1 INT) and Amobi Akoye (27 tackles, 5 sacks). When Garcia drops back to pass, he'll want to be on the lookout for defensive end Mario Williams (40 tackles, 8.5 sacks), who comes off a career-best two-and-a-half sack effort against Vince Young last Sunday. The 2006 No. 1 overall draft pick leads the Texans in QB takedowns, but as a team Houston ranks near the bottom of the league with 19 sacks. A makeshift secondary that has been beset by injuries received 12 tackles from safety Will Demps (24 tackles) and an interception from cornerback Fred Bennett (33 tackles, 3 INT) last week.
WHEN THE TEXANS HAVE THE BALL
Sunday will bring the second start of the 2007 season for Texans quarterback Sage Rosenfels (914 passing yards, 8 TD, 7 INT), who is expected to be in the lineup subbing for the injured Matt Schaub. Schaub suffered a shoulder injury after being tackled by Titans end Antwan Odom in the first quarter of last week's loss, and is out indefinitely. Rosenfels, who presided over a 24-17 win over the Raiders in Week 9, was 17-of-30 for 185 yards with a touchdown and an interception after relieving the starter in Week 13. Wideout Andre Johnson (32 receptions, 5 TD) was once again the team's top target, hauling in nine passes for 116 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown. Johnson has 100-yard games in four of his five appearances this year, and can eclipse 1,000 (in what would be a total of nine appearances) by averaging 116.3 over his final four games. In the backfield, Ron Dayne (601 rushing yards, 3 TD, 14 receptions) is expected to again get the start after averaging 84.3 rushing yards per game over his past three starts. Ahman Green (260 rushing yards, 2 TD, 14 receptions), who has missed six games this season with a knee injury, could miss the rest of the season. The major problem for the Houston offense this year has been turnovers, with the team having committed an NFL-worst total of 31 as Week 14 commences.
Though the work of the Tampa Bay offense has been a pleasant surprise this season, the mistake-prone Texans will be far more concerned about a Buccaneers defense that ranks fourth in the league overall (291.8 yards per game) and shut down the high-powered New Orleans attack for much of last week's contest. The Saints managed just 246 total yards and 13 first downs, while Tampa came up with three sacks of the usually untouchable Drew Brees and picked up a key fourth-quarter turnover. Ends Gaines Adams (27 tackles, 4.5 sacks) and Jovan Haye (55 tackles, 5 sacks) both had sacks of Brees, while Haye jumped on Reggie Bush's botched pitch attempt to Devery Henderson to set up a Tampa Bay score in the closing minutes. Rookie Greg White (18 tackles, 5.5 sacks) continues to lead the Bucs in sacks, while safety Jermaine Phillips (72 tackles, 3 INT, 1 sack) and cornerback Ronde Barber (47 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) have made a number of big plays due to the persistent Buccaneers pressure. Linebackers Barrett Ruud (94 tackles, 2 INT) and Derrick Brooks (94 tackles), who are tied for the team lead in stops, will look to keep the Texans running game in check this week.
FANTASY FOCUS
The Buccaneers are not known for their high-powered offense, but fantasy managers who have started either Graham or Galloway in recent weeks have been pleasantly surprised. Kicker Matt Bryant and the Tampa Bay defense are also decent plays, but it's probably best to stay away from Garcia until he proves he's back to health. On the Houston side, Andre Johnson appears to be back to previous form, and is a must-start. You'll probably hesitate in starting Ron Dayne, though the journeyman will likely give you something out of the backfield. Kicker Kris Brown has been among the league's most consistent point-producers at his position.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Buccaneers are a better team than the Texans, but there have to be some questions about their state of mind entering this game. Seven days after a monumental road win in New Orleans, will a team that has already pretty much guaranteed itself a playoff berth display 100 percent focus? It seems doubtful. Houston comes into this matchup as a desperate club trying to hold on tight to its fleeting playoff hopes. For that reason, look for the Texans to play more consistent football, sprinkle in a couple of big plays, and walk away with a win.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texans 20, Buccaneers 19
Game Preview for Rams vs Bengals
(Sports Network) - Another weekend of NFL football approaches and the Cincinnati Bengals have another chance to finish the 2007 season with a respectable record.
Picked in the preseason as a potential team to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, the Bengals have played to a disappointing 4-8 mark so far. Head coach Marvin Lewis' job has been in jeopardy, and a loss to the lowly St. Louis Rams Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium will only make his job stability worse. The Bengals would once again fall short of a winning season under Lewis for the fourth time in five seasons if they can't beat the Rams.
Cincinnati had a chance to keep its slim playoff hopes alive last week in Pittsburgh, but the Bengals played as ugly as the conditions at a rain-soaked Heinz Field. The Bengals suffered a 24-10 loss as quarterback Carson Palmer battled through a rough day, passing for 183 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Palmer had his worst outing of the season and completed just 17-of-44 passes for a quarterback rating of 51.6.
Palmer and the Bengals catch a break this week versus St. Louis, but nothing is a given anymore in the National Football League. Cincinnati will then travel to San Francisco before hosting Cleveland and heading out to Miami for the regular-season finale.
The main question heading into this weekend for St. Louis is the health of quarterback Marc Bulger. Bulger is still recovering from a concussion, but passed a neuropsych exam and was cleared for practice Wednesday. Bulger, who will most likely be available against Cincinnati, was held out of last week's 28-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He originally sustained the injury during the first quarter of a November 25 loss to Seattle.
Backup and former Bengal Gus Frerotte started in Bulger's place against the Falcons and threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Unfortunately, Frerotte will not play on Sunday because of a shoulder injury.
St. Louis has won three of its last four games after opening the season with an 0-8 record. The playoffs are obviously out of the question for second-year head coach Scott Linehan's club, so pride is on the line for the Rams.
The Rams will host Green Bay and Pittsburgh before closing out a miserable and injury-riddled 2007 campaign at Arizona.
SERIES HISTORY
The all-time series between the Rams and Bengals is knotted at 5-5, with St. Louis evening the series by virtue of a 27-10 win during the 2003 season. The Rams have won three in a row against Cincinnati, including a 38-10 triumph in their most recent trip to the Queen City, in 1999. The Bengals' most recent win in the series was a 15-3 victory at Riverfront Stadium against the then- Los Angeles Rams in 1993.
Lewis is 0-1 in his career against St. Louis, while Linehan will be meeting both Lewis and the Bengals for the first time as a head coach.
WHEN THE RAMS HAVE THE BALL
With Frerotte (983 passing yards, 7 TD, 11 INT) out with a partial tear in the labrum of his right shoulder as well as a sprain and Bulger (1,789 passing yards, 6 TD, 9 INT) slowly recovering from a concussion, the starting quarterback duties could go to Brock Berlin. According to Linehan, he is confident in Berlin's ability despite having been on the practice squad. But Linehan is also optimistic that Bulger will return against Cincinnati. Bulger, though, must be cautious in his return, as concussion injuries are taken seriously. He has been meeting with doctors on a regular basis and will continue to get multiple opinions from the medical staff.
The Rams have the 16th-best pass attack in the NFL and one of the top wide receivers in the game. All-Pro wideout Torry Holt (72 receptions, 6 TD) is coming off his second 100-yard receiving game over the past four weeks, as he hauled in six passes for 135 yards and a touchdown versus Atlanta. Holt has reached the end zone twice in three games and is aiming for his eighth consecutive season with 1,000 yards receiving. He has had 100-yard games 12 times in his career against teams from the AFC. Age hasn't been a problem for wideout Isaac Bruce (42 receptions, 3 TD), as the veteran has three touchdown catches over the last four weeks. Bruce only has one 100-yard receiving game this season, however, and came away with 31 yards on four receptions in the recent win over Atlanta. Tight end Randy McMichael (28 receptions, 3 TD) hasn't contributed much in his first year with St. Louis, but had two catches for 10 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.
Cincinnati is near the bottom in pass defense this season. It may catch a break if Bulger doesn't play, but the Bengals still have to be wary of what Holt and Bruce can do to opposing defenses. In the loss to the Steelers, the Bengals allowed seven first downs on 11 third-down opportunities, including five by Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward. Even though the defense forced four turnovers for the third time this season and didn't allow a pass longer than 19 yards, Cincinnati has a challenge this weekend against the Rams' West Coast offense. The Bengals have also allowed just an average of 277 passing yards in their last four games. Cornerbacks Leon Hall (49 tackles, 4 INT), Deltha O'Neal (43 tackles, 1 INT) and Johnathan Joseph (38 tackles, 3 INT) will try to keep Holt and Bruce in check. Joseph had one of two picks for the Bengals last week and finished with seven solo tackles. He is aiming for a third straight game with an interception.
St. Louis running back Steven Jackson (628 rushing yards, 4 TD) is averaging almost 93 rushing yards over the last three games with a pair of touchdowns. Jackson has three scores over the last four weeks and recorded 96 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in the win over Atlanta. He seems to be fully recovered from a groin injury that sidelined him for four games earlier this season. Still, the Rams have the 24th-ranked ground attack this season despite having one of the best running backs in the game. Jackson, the NFL's defending yards from scrimmage champion, will be in search of just his second 100-yard rushing game of the season against the Bengals' weak run defense, which ranks 23rd in the league. Cincinnati hadn't allowed a team to gain 100 yards rushing in the previous three games until the Steelers posted 101 last weekend. Linebackers Landon Johnson (82 tackles, 1 sack) and Dhani Jones (60 tackles, 1 sack) combined for 11 tackles in the loss to Pittsburgh. Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Smith (61 tackles, 2 sacks) hasn't had a sack in three games and is due for a breakout day.
WHEN THE BENGALS HAVE THE BALL
Palmer (3,259 passing yards, 21 TD, 15 INT) did not throw a touchdown pass in a game for the second time this season last weekend in Pittsburgh. He finished just 17-of-44 for a season-low 183 yards and was sacked once. Palmer, though, can still become the fifth-fastest quarterback to reach 100 career touchdown passes when he faces the Rams' 20th-ranked pass defense. Palmer, who has five TD passes and five interceptions over the previous three weeks, owns an 8-4 record versus the NFC with 25 touchdowns and 13 picks. He has three talented wide receivers in his arsenal, leading with Pro Bowl wideout Chad Johnson (77 receptions, 1,127 yards, 6 TD). Johnson is a threat on every snap of the ball and came away with 86 yards on six catches last weekend. He has just three touchdown catches over the last 10 weeks, though, and all three were recorded in a win over Tennessee on November 25. Johnson has no less than four catches over the last four games for the fourth-best passing offense in the league. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (914 receiving yards, 11 TD) owns an NFL-best 88 receptions this season, but has just one score over the past four contests. He has no less than five catches over the last four weeks of action and needs just 86 receiving yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season. Chris Henry (17 receptions, 1 TD) has played the last four games since serving an eight-game NFL suspension for some legal issues. Henry is a solid third option for Palmer and usually takes on single coverage, since most teams like to double up both Johnson and Houshmandzadeh.
St. Louis is only 20th against the pass and gave up 324 yards through the air against the miserable Falcons last week. Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (57 tackles, 5 INT) and cornerback Fakhir Brown (38 tackles, 3 INT) both had interceptions in the win and will be busy again with a trio of talented Cincinnati wideouts on the horizon. Atogwe and Brown combined for 11 stops last Sunday for a defense which recorded 10 passes defensed in the game. Linebackers Brandon Chillar (53 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Chris Draft (27 tackles, sack) and Brown came away with two tipped passes apiece.
Bengals running back Rudi Johnson (389 rushing yards, 2 TD) couldn't do much against Pittsburgh's defense in the rain, as he finished with 34 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. He is back at full strength after missing time because of injury and has scored in back-to-back games. Backup Kenny Watson (521 rushing yards, 5 TD) is doing a fine job with his chances on the field and is averaging almost five yards per carry for the league's 26th-best ground attack. Watson had just 23 yards on five touches against the Steelers. The two will share the load against St. Louis' below average run defense. The Rams surrendered 111 rushing yards to the Falcons, as Atlanta's Jerious Norwood posted 94 yards on eight carries. St. Louis had gone three straight weeks without giving up 100 yards on the ground until the Atlanta game. Rams linebackers Will Witherspoon (87 tackles, 7 sacks) and Chillar have the duty of shutting down the rush and keeping an eye on both runners out of the backfield. Witherspoon has six sacks in the past five games and at least one of those tilts. Defensive tackle and team sack leader La'Roi Glover (27 tackles, 4 sacks) and end James Hall (40 tackles, 2.5 sacks) will apply the pressure up front, along with tackles Clifton Ryan (22 tackles, 2 sacks) and rookie Adam Carriker (22 tackles, 2 sacks). The Rams recorded four sacks in the win over the Falcons.
FANTASY FOCUS
Palmer is coming off a poor showing, but don't pay too much attention to that because he will bounce back. Palmer is one the league's best signal-callers and has been delightful so far for fantasy owners. A big reason for Palmer's success has and always will be because of Chad Johnson. The flamboyant wide receiver gets a lot of looks and yardage, but is not reaching the end zone on a regular basis. That shouldn't matter, because he can break out for two or three scores at times. Fellow wideout Houshmandzadeh is enjoying a career year with a league-high 88 receptions to go along with 11 touchdowns. Henry is a nice flex option because of the one-on-one matchups he ends up going up against. Rudi Johnson is a good start this week against the Rams' run defense, so keep Watson on the bench. Watson does figure in the scheme, just not as much as Johnson does. Jackson and Holt are the best fantasy options for St. Louis. With Bulger still recovering from a concussion, the Rams are left with just Jackson and Holt to carry the fantasy load. Holt is a future Hall of Famer and had 10 catches for 124 yards and a score in the Rams' last meeting with the Bengals. Jackson has 987 yards from scrimmage and seven TD's in his last seven games versus teams from the AFC.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Rams have already packed their bags for vacation, so a solid effort from them on Sunday is not expected. Linehan's team has been plagued by injuries the entire season despite St. Louis' recent success since an 0-8 start. Bulger will most likely be under center on Sunday with a cloudy head, although he has been gradually coming along from his concussion and has been practicing this week. Cincinnati is playing for Lewis, who could be on the way out depending on how the Bengals wrap up the 2007 season. A chance for a division title went out the window after the loss at Pittsburgh, and the chances of the Bengals reaching the playoffs in the AFC with an 8-8 record are slim. Palmer and his trio of wide receivers will enjoy a productive afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium, especially if Rudi Johnson can find some daylight to keep the St. Louis defense on its heals.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Bengals 31, Rams 16
Game Preview for Dolphins vs Bills
(Sports Network) - The Buffalo Bills continue to offer their long-suffering fan base hope.
Dick Jauron's team, which will host the winless Miami Dolphins at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday, has defied the odds to merit serious discussion in the AFC playoff picture.
Despite scoring a grand total of 13 offensive touchdowns on the year, and despite featuring an all-rookie backfield that is currently at half-strength, Buffalo enters Week 14 just a game out of the final Wild Card spot in the conference.
The team got to .500 last week by outlasting the Redskins, 17-16, in Washington. Rian Lindell kicked five field goals in the game, including the 36-yard game-winner in the final seconds.
A win over the Dolphins, who the Bills already defeated back in Week 10, would make the Bills 7-6 in advance of what could be a monumental matchup at currently 7-5 Cleveland in Week 15. The Browns currently hold the edge for the final playoff spot, with the similarly 7-5 Titans right behind.
Buffalo, which last reached the postseason in 1999, will conclude its 2007 regular season schedule with a home date against the Giants (Dec. 23) and a trip to Philadelphia (Dec. 30).
The stakes for Miami, meanwhile, are as obvious as stakes come.
The 0-12 Dolphins are running out of opportunities to avoid becoming the first 0-16 team in NFL history, and the first to go winless in a complete season since the 1976 Buccaneers lost all 14 contests in their initial year of existence.
What many expected to become the Fins' first win of the season last week instead emerged as a 40-13 loss to the previously two-win Jets.
That loss was Miami's most decisive of the 2007 season to date.
SERIES HISTORY
Miami leads the all-time regular season series with Buffalo, 49-33-1, but has lost six of the last seven in the series, including three straight. The Bills were 13-10 road winners when the teams met in Week 10, and swept last year's home-and-home, including a 21-0 blanking at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Dolphins last defeated the Bills at home during the 2005 season, and are 0-3 in Buffalo since last prevailing there in 2003.
Though the Dolphins lead the regular season series, the Bills hold a 3-1 edge in postseason games. Buffalo defeated Miami in a 1990 AFC Divisional Playoff, the 1992 AFC Championship, and a 1995 AFC First-Round Playoff, while the Dolphins were winners in a 1998 AFC First-Round Playoff.
Jauron is 3-1 in his head coaching career against the Dolphins, including a 27-9 loss for his Bears in Miami during the 2002 season. The Dolphins' Cam Cameron is 0-1 against both Jauron and Buffalo as a head coach.
WHEN THE DOLPHINS HAVE THE BALL
With the opening day backfield of quarterback Trent Green and running back Ronnie Brown by now long gone due to injury, Miami will again have to make do with rookie signal-caller John Beck and running back Jesse Chatman. Beck, the No. 40 overall draft pick out of BYU, is still seeking his first touchdown pass as a pro and has not exactly been the answer to the team's offensive problems. The 26-year-old is a combined 46-of-84 for 318 yards with three interceptions in his three starts. Chatman (435 rushing yards, 1 TD, 23 receptions) has played reasonably well despite being bothered by a sore ankle, and if he is unable to go this week, rookie Lorenzo Booker and journeyman Samkon Gado will have to pick up the slack. Booker caught six passes for 63 yards in his most significant action of the year last week. Wideouts Marty Booker (31 receptions, 1 TD) and Ted Ginn, Jr. (18 receptions, 1 TD), will do their best to get open after combining for just seven catches for 55 yards against the Jets. The Miami offense has fallen to 29th in the league (281.5 yards per game).
Beck and company will have a chance to move the ball this week against a Bills defense that ranks just 30th in the league (370.3 yards per game), including 29th against the pass (254 yards per game) and 22nd (116.3 yards per game) against the run. That said, Buffalo did an excellent job against the Redskins attack last week, limiting Clinton Portis to just 50 yards on 20 carries, and holding Jason Campbell to 216 passing yards and two turnovers after the third- year pro had posted back-to-back 300-yard showings. Cornerbacks Terrence McGee (61 tackles, 2 INT) and Jabari Greer (37 tackles, 2 INT) were once again excellent in coverage, unheralded middle linebacker John DiGiorgio (87 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) posted a team-best 10 tackles to help stop Portis, and a formerly-suspect group of pass rushers notched three sacks of Campbell. End Aaron Schobel (41 tackles, 3.5 sacks), who has had a disappointing season one year removed from a Pro Bowl campaign, had one of the three sacks.
WHEN THE BILLS HAVE THE BALL
If you had told Bills fans before the season that by Week 14 their backfield would be occupied by quarterback Trent Edwards (1047 passing yards, 1 TD, 5 INT) and rookie Fred Jackson (116 rushing yards, 12 receptions), they probably would have expected to be fretting over the possibility of a winless campaign of their own. But to the contrary, Edwards has been efficient during his time in the lineup, and Jackson, a first-year player out of tiny Coe College, made the most of his first real opportunity last week. Subbing for the injured Marshawn Lynch (751 rushing yards, 6 TD, 15 receptions), who is regarded as questionable for this week with a knee problem, Jackson carried 16 times for 82 yards and also contributed a team-best 69 yards on four receptions out of the backfield versus the Redskins. Edwards threw for a season-best 257 yards in his first start since Oct. 28, hooking up five times for 67 yards with wideout Josh Reed (43 receptions). Lee Evans continues to lead the Bills in receptions (45), receiving yards (689), and TD catches (2). The Buffalo line has allowed 23 sacks on the year, but did not surrender one last week.
The hits just keep on coming for the Miami defense, which this week placed perennial Pro Bowl middle linebacker Zach Thomas (migraines) and safety Cameron Worrell (knee) on a crowded season-ending injured reserve list. A defense that ranks 16th in the league overall (329 yards per game) now consists of ever-reliable end Jason Taylor (39 tackles, 8 sacks, 1 INT), blossoming linebacker Channing Crowder (78 tackles, 0.5 sacks), and very little else. Taylor had two of the Dolphins' six sacks against Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens last week, while Crowder managed six tackles for a team that was gutted for 163 yards on the ground. Outside linebacker Joey Porter (52 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 INT) also made an impact, intercepting his second pass in as many games. The secondary is the element of the Miami defense that has been most affected by injury, with players like waiver-wire safety Lance Schulters (9 tackles) and cornerback Jason Allen (35 tackles, 2 INT) now counted on to contribute significant minutes. Miami is third in the NFL against the pass (179.3 yards per game), but has also faced 33 fewer aerial attempts than any other team. The Fins rank last in the league against the run (149.7 yards per game), and have faced 21 more rushing attempts that any other team.
FANTASY FOCUS
Few fantasy managers will be firing up the satellite to watch this game, though there are a couple of players on the Buffalo side who will be counted on for contributions. Provided Lynch misses another game, which seems probable, Jackson should be able to ring up his first 100-yard effort against the Dolphins and their NFL-worst run defense. The Bills passing attack probably won't set the world on fire, though no one in the Miami secondary has the ability to cover Evans. Lindell, who is an NFL best 20-of-22 on field goals this year, is also a solid play. Miami doesn't have a player worth mentioning for fantasy purposes.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
On a neutral field, you'd have to give the Dolphins a chance here, since Miami took Buffalo to the wire the last time these teams played and the Bills have not exactly become a juggernaut since. But in the cold environs of Western New York, where the weather is expected to be in the low 30s with precipitation, the Fins figure to look less comfortable than they have been for the season's first three months. Buffalo will ride Jackson and move the clock offensively, while a rejuvenated defense hassles Beck and covers his receivers like a blanket from start to finish.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Bills 23, Dolphins 7
Game Preview for Cardinals vs Seahawks
(Sports Network) - Prior to the start of the 2007 season, there was a persistent question about whether anyone would rise up and take the NFC West from the three-time defending division champion Seattle Seahawks.
When the Arizona Cardinals visit Qwest Field on Sunday, that question could be answered once and for all.
A win for Seattle (8-4) will lock up the franchise's fourth consecutive division crown, sending Arizona (6-6), the team's closest West competitor at the moment, into a crowded pool of Wild Card hopefuls.
The Seahawks have gotten closer to realizing their divisional destiny by going on a four-game winning streak, including back-to-back road victories over the Rams (24-19) and Eagles (28-24).
In turn, Mike Holmgren's club has remained in the mix for a first-round bye in the NFC, as it currently stands two games back of 10-2 Green Bay for such a distinction. As Week 14 begins, the Hawks hold the No. 3 position in the conference.
The opponent trying to negatively impact Seattle's chances, the Cardinals, currently own the second of two Wild Card positions in the conference.
A thrilling 27-21 win over the Browns last week helped Ken Whisenhunt's squad even up its record at 6-6, and a favorable tie-breaker has Arizona listed ahead of similarly 6-6 Detroit and Minnesota on the final playoff line in the conference.
With a triumph in Seattle, Arizona can both boost its Wild Card chances and move the franchise closer to its first division title since moving to the desert in 1988.
Due to their head-to-head win over the Seahawks in Week 2, the Cardinals would need only to finish in a tie with Seattle to claim the division, based on a would-be home-and-home sweep.
The Cardinals' final three games are at New Orleans (5-7) and at home against Atlanta (3-9) and St. Louis (3-9).
Seattle finishes up at Carolina (5-7), at home against Baltimore (4-8), and at Atlanta (3-9).
SERIES HISTORY
Arizona leads the all-time series with the Seahawks, 9-8, breaking a deadlock in the series with a 23-20 home win in Week 2. The teams split a home-and-home last season, with Seattle coming up a 21-10 winner at Qwest Field in Week 2 and Arizona returning the favor with a 27-21 home victory in Week 14. The Cardinals are 0-4 in Seattle since last winning there in 2002.
Holmgren has a 7-4 record against Arizona in his career, with all of those games coming during his tenure with Seattle. The Cardinals' Whisenhunt is 1-0 against both Holmgren and the Seahawks as a head coach, and was the offensive coordinator on Pittsburgh's Super Bowl win over Seattle following the 2005 season.
WHEN THE CARDINALS HAVE THE BALL
An Arizona offense that ranks 16th in the league (331.2 yards per game) has some injury concerns as Week 14 begins, most notably in the receiving corps. Anquan Boldin (48 receptions, 6 TD) is considered doubtful after dislocating a toe in last week's win over the Browns, an injury that occurred in a game in which Larry Fitzgerald (75 receptions, 6 TD) was absent due to a groin injury. Fitzgerald's return this week is considered probable, and Bryant Johnson (38 receptions, 1 TD) will likely start in place of Boldin. The quarterback throwing them the ball, Kurt Warner (2178 passing yards, 15 TD, 9 INT), has multiple touchdown passes in four straight games. The Cardinals will also try to establish Edgerrin James (922 rushing yards, 6 TD, 13 receptions), who recorded just his second 100-yard game of the year when he went for 114 against Cleveland last Sunday. James' high game of 2007 came in Week 2 against the Seahawks, when he rushed 24 times for 128 yards and a touchdown. James is 76 yards shy of his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season.
The Seahawks have been a middle-of-the road defensive unit for most of the year (104.2 yards per game), but have built a reputation of excelling in the area of big plays. That reputation was reinforced last week, when middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu (90 tackles, 4 INT, 1 sack) intercepted Philadelphia quarterback A.J. Feeley three times. Tatupu, who also had a pick against the Cardinals back in Week 2, was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts. End Patrick Kerney (42 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 1 INT) and linebacker Julian Peterson (61 tackles, 9 sacks, 2 INT) have helped make up a relentless Seattle pass rush. Peterson had an interception and the only sack of Feeley last Sunday. An underrated secondary led by cornerback Marcus Trufant (62 tackles, 4 INT) has given up an NFL-low seven touchdown passes on the year, including one to Arizona tight end Leonard Pope back in Week 2.
WHEN THE SEAHAWKS HAVE THE BALL
A Seattle offense that transformed from a balanced attack to a pass-happy system somewhere around midseason enters Week 14 ranking 11th in the league with 342.9 yards per game. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's 187 passing yards last week marked his lowest total since Week 5, though that figure had something to do with a number of short fields given up by the Philadelphia offense. Hasselbeck (3074 passing yards, 20 TD, 10 INT) threw TD passes to Bobby Engram (72 receptions, 4 TD) and Nate Burleson (34 receptions, 5 TD) in the win. In Week 2, the veteran threw for 281 yards, but a key fumble on an exchange with Shaun Alexander (557 rushing yards, 3 TD, 12 receptions) in the waning moments set up the Cardinals for the winning score. Alexander rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries in that contest. Deion Branch (36 receptions, 2 TD) caught seven passes for 122 yards in the defeat.
As banged up as the Cardinals are offensively, it is the defense that is the real concern as the team attempts to make a playoff push. Safety Adrian Wilson (heel), cornerback Eric Green (groin), and defensive end Bertrand Berry (triceps) have all been lost for the year in the past month. The short-handed secondary gave up 304 yards through the air to the Browns' Derek Anderson last week, though the team got a lift from a 71-yard interception return for a TD by cornerback Rod Hood (39 tackles, 4 INT) in the first quarter, one of two picks for him on the day. Fellow d-backs Antrel Rolle (43 tackles, 3 INT) and Terrence Holt (47 tackles) will have to help Holt with the Seattle receivers this week. The team's top pass rushers at this stage - linebacker Karlos Dansby (71 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 INT) and tackle Darnell Dockett (49 tackles, 8 sacks) - are also counted on for their run-stopping ability on an Arizona defense that ranks 11th in the league in rushing defense (99.7 yards per game). The Cardinals are 14th in NFL total defense (322.8 yards per game).
FANTASY FOCUS
The Seahawks spread the football out offensively, which generally prevents their principles from being reliable fantasy options. Players like Hasselbeck, Branch, and Engram will likely give you something, but don't count on them to carry your team. Actually, the most reliable Seattle starter might be the team's defense, which consistently piles up sacks and doesn't surrender a wealth of big plays. On the Arizona side, it's hard to know what impact Fitzgerald's injury will have on his production, but both he and Warner remain solid fantasy options. James, who rarely goes over 100 yards and gets taken out in goal line situations, is not.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
A month ago, this would have been a fascinating game. As it stands currently, the Seahawks should roll. A young Arizona team is simply too injury-scarred on both sides of the football to win a difficult road game, and you have to believe that Seattle smells blood in the water. Holmgren's team, which has by the way played its best football of the season over the past month, has been in many of these situations before over the past half-decade, and isn't about to blink against an inferior opponent. Look for the Seahawks to jump out to an early lead and keep the Cardinals at arm's length thereafter.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Seahawks 31, Cardinals 13
Game Preview for Vikings vs 49rs
(Sports Network) - In this week's NFL version of "can you top this?", Adrian Peterson wins.
The ex-Oklahoma running back, who entered the fray this spring amid questions about his long-term durability, has been nothing short of remarkable over 13 weeks of rookie-year critic-answering with the Minnesota Vikings.
Not only is the 6-foot-1, 217-pounder already atop the league's rushing list with 1,197 yards in just 184 carries - a remarkable 6.5-yard average - but he's also made entry No. 1 in the all-time record book after a 296-yard blitzing of the San Diego Chargers in a 35-17 Week 9 win.
And just to prove the mid-season jaunt was no fluke, he proved fully recovered from a dinged-up knee last week, going for 116 more yards on just 15 carries in a 42-10 throttling of the Detroit Lions.
"He said he feels as good as he has felt all year long," Vikings head coach Brad Childress said, of Peterson. "That is what (trainer Eric Sugarman) said to me. He came in and treated and was off to the races."
On the other side, it's what could have been.
San Francisco plays host this week featuring running back Frank Gore, who led the NFC in 2006 with 1,695 yards while helping the 49ers to a 7-9 record that many assumed would mean full-fledged contention in the conference's West division this time around.
Needless to say, it hasn't gone quite as planned.
The University of Miami product has battled injuries and loaded-up defenses throughout a disappointing 2007, reaching 100 yards only once while a once- promising season has deteriorated to a 3-9 "playing out the string" embarrassment.
The Niners won their first two outings, but followed up the mini-streak with an eight-game losing skid that's plunged them into basement-sharing status with the equally inept St. Louis Rams.
"It's hard to win a football game when you turn the ball over five times," coach Mike Nolan said after a 31-14 debacle at Carolina last week. 'We came back and made it 17-14 and I felt we were doing very well. Then we turned the ball over on a punt. The turnovers hurt us. In all of our losses that's been a factor."
SERIES HISTORY
The all-time regular season series between the Vikings and 49ers is tied, 18-18-1, with San Francisco evening the series by virtue of a 9-3 home win during Week 9 of last season. The Vikings won the previous matchup, a 35-7 tilt at the Metrodome in 2003. The Vikings are 0-5 in regular season games played in the City by the Bay since last winning there in 1986.
In addition to the regular season series, the teams have an extensive postseason history together, having met in the playoffs a total of five times. San Francisco has a 4-1 edge in the postseason series, winning NFC Divisional Playoff games at home in 1988, 1989, and 1997, and on the road in 1970. The Vikings' lone postseason win over the 49ers came in 1987 at what is now known as Monster Park. Including playoff games, the Vikings are 0-7 in San Francisco since the '87 triumph.
Nolan is 1-0 head-to-head against both Minnesota and Childress.
WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL
In addition to all else, Peterson's 10 touchdowns have all but guaranteed him both his conference's Rookie of the Year and a fair chance at Pro Bowl honors as well. Veteran Chester Taylor has provided a second quality option, averaging 103.7 yards per game over the last three weeks. He had 96 yards in his last game against San Francisco. The dual attack has taken a good deal of heat off of young QB Tarvaris Jackson, who had his best game last week when he threw for a pair of touchdowns. Overall, he's completed 96-of-168 passes for 1,104 yards and five touchdowns. Bobby Wade leads the team with 34 receptions, and rookie Sydney Rice has a TD reception in three of his last four games.
The Niners are near equal to Minnesota overall with a 346.2-yard per week defensive average, but have failed to create a lot of opportunities while the team has sunk to a minus-9 turnover ratio. End Bryant Young leads the Niners with 6.5 sacks, while veteran ex-New England Patriot linebacker Tully Banta- Cain has a fumble recovery for a touchdown in two straight games. San Francisco is 38-20 when Young records at least one sack. Rookie linebacker Patrick Willis leads the team in tackles, while backfield mates Walt Harris and Nate Clements have also been productive, sharing the lead with three interceptions. Harris had an INT in the teams' last meeting and Clements has two interceptions and a forced fumble over the last four games.
WHEN THE NINERS HAVE THE BALL
Gore can still become the fifth player in team history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He's rushed for 536 yards and caught 20 passes for 192 yards in his last five December games. His production will take the heat off whomever starts at quarterback, be it former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith or former Super Bowl winner Trent Dilfer. Smith is questionable with right shoulder and right forearm issues, while Dilfer completed just 14-of-29 passes and was picked off four times last week. Wide receiver Arnaz Battle has at least one catch in 32 straight games and looks for his third straight with a TD reception. Darrell Jackson, an offseason acquisition from Seattle, has 17 catches and two TDs in his last two against the Vikings.
The Vikings figure to match up well against Gore and Co. with a rushing defense that's permitted an NFL-stingiest 70.5 yards per game. Safety Darren Sharper leads the NFL with 47 interceptions since 2000, and his teams are 7-2 in nine games against the Niners. Up front, defensive end Kenechi Udeze had an interception last week and linemate Kevin Williams had a sack. Rookie end Brian Robison leads the team with 4.5 sacks, while safety Dwight Smith has a unit-best four interceptions. Overall, the Vikings surrender 349.3 total yards per week.
FANTASY FOCUS
Peterson has risen to "must-play" status in just 13 weeks, making him the primary weapon in this game. Gore is a quality commodity in his own right, but could struggle against a defense that'll likely load up and force whatever quarterback plays to move the offense. Outside of that on either side, the offensive pickins are slim. Defensively, Minnesota has a plus-6 turnover ratio.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Vikings are making the dreaded trip to the West Coast, which will be a quality barometer toward identifying whether they're a legitimate playoff contender or just a mediocre team on a hot streak. Expect a full dose of Peterson either way, which should be good enough to handle a Niners team eager to reach the finish line.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Vikings 17, Niners 7
Game Preview for Chiefs vs Broncos
(Sports Network) - In past years, a December showdown between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs usually played a part in determining the AFC West champion. But this time there won't be much more than pride on the line when the two storied rivals meet this Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Denver lost significant ground to the first-place San Diego Chargers in the AFC West standings with last Sunday's disappointing 34-20 loss at the hands of the hated Oakland Raiders, while the Chiefs have taken themselves virtually out of the playoff picture with defeats in five consecutive games.
The 5-7 Broncos now sit two games behind San Diego with four to play and are mired in a two-game losing streak after a forgettable performance against the Raiders. Denver's season-long troubles on defense plagued the club once again, as Oakland racked up 175 rushing yards on the afternoon and received three passing touchdowns from quarterback Josh McCown.
The Broncos didn't show much on offense either, netting just 292 total yards against a relatively soft Raiders defense and committing four turnovers. Second-year quarterback Jay Cutler threw two interceptions and completed just 16-of-32 passes in arguably the most ineffective game of his young career.
At least Denver will have top rusher Travis Henry in uniform on Sunday, after the troubled back was able to get a one-year suspension for violation of the NFL's drug policy overturned on Tuesday due to a procedural error by the league.
Kansas City's problems have come on the offensive side, as the Chiefs have averaged a paltry 12 points over their last four defeats and rank 30th in the NFL in both total yards (280.7 ypg) and scoring (14.3 ppg).
One explanation for Kansas City's meager output is the absence of star running back Larry Johnson, who will sit out a fifth straight game with a sprained foot. Rookie Kolby Smith has filled in quite capably, though, having compiled 233 rushing yards over the team's two most recent setbacks.
The Chiefs' current slide is their longest since a five-game skid from November 5-December 4, 2000. Kansas City has not dropped six in a row since the 1998 campaign.
The latest loss, a 24-10 decision at San Diego last Sunday, dropped the Chiefs to 4-8 on the season and came without the services of recently-promoted starting quarterback Brodie Croyle, who sat out with a back bruise. The second-year pro is expected to make his third NFL start in this matchup, however.
Croyle relieved deposed starter Damon Huard during the second half of Kansas City's 27-11 home defeat to the Broncos in Week 10 and finished with 162 yards and an interception on 17-of-30 passing. He then started the team's next two contests before getting hurt in a loss to Oakland on November 25.
SERIES HISTORY
Kansas City holds a 52-42 lead in its all-time series with Denver, but was a 27-11 home loser when the teams met in Week 10. The home team had won the previous nine games in the series, including a conventional home-and-home split of last year's series. The Chiefs are 0-6 in Denver since last winning there in 2000, and dropped a 9-6 overtime decision at Invesco Field at Mile High last season.
The two storied franchises have met just once in the postseason, with the Broncos claiming a 14-10 road victory in a 1997 AFC Divisional Playoff.
Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan is 14-15 against Kansas City in his career, including 12-14 since taking over in Denver in 1995. The Chiefs' Herm Edwards is 2-3 against both Shanahan and the Broncos as a head coach, including 1-2 since arriving in K.C.
WHEN THE CHIEFS HAVE THE BALL
Kansas City has fielded one of the NFL's best rushing attacks over the past few years, but the team has failed to establish a strong run game this season even when Johnson's been healthy. The Chiefs average a meager 85.6 yards per week on the ground (29th overall), although Smith (252 rushing yards, 2 TD) has breathed some life into the offense since taking over as the starter. The fifth-round draft choice ran over the Raiders for 150 yards and two scores two weeks ago and followed up with 83 yards on 21 carries against a tough San Diego defense last Sunday. A shaky offensive line has been partly to blame for the Chiefs' rushing struggles and could be without starting tackles Damion McIntosh (knee) and Chris Terry (personal) this week. That doesn't bode well for Croyle, considering the front wall has yielded a poor 42 sacks this year.
Croyle (614 passing yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) is considered Kansas City's quarterback of the future, but the ex-Alabama star has been understandably inconsistent in his limited action. He played very well in his first career start, nearly leading the Chiefs to a road upset at Indianapolis in Week 11, but went just 12-of-23 for 145 yards and an interception versus Oakland in his subsequent outing. Despite the club's year-long erratic play at quarterback, tight end Tony Gonzalez (72 receptions, 4 TD) has turned in another Pro Bowl- caliber season, while rookie receiver Dwayne Bowe (54 receptions, 4 TD) looks like a future star. He had a season-best nine catches for 105 yards against the Broncos last month.
Denver limited the Chiefs to just 67 rushing yards earlier this season, a rare stout effort by a defense that's been bullied on a week-to-week basis. The Broncos are surrendering a woeful 149.1 yards per game on the ground (31st overall) and also sit next-to-last in the league in points allowed (27.4 ypg). In an effort to improve on those poor numbers, the team released aging tackle Sam Adams on Tuesday and will insert promising rookie Marcus Thomas (12 tackles, 1 INT) into an every-down role. Two of the defense's few bright spots have been middle linebacker and leading tackler D.J. Williams (109 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) and Hamza Abdullah (37 tackles), who's done well since replacing veteran Nick Ferguson (55 tackles) at strong safety in midseason.
Despite a No. 9 overall ranking in pass defense (202.8 ypg) and the presence of two quality cornerbacks in perennial Pro Bowler Champ Bailey (59 tackles, 2 INT) and Dre' Bly (37 tackles, 4 INT, 11 PD) in the secondary, the Broncos really haven't been overly strong against opposing aerial assaults this year either. After McCown's surprising three-touchdown effort last week, Denver has now given up 20 passing scores in 2007. Bailey and Bly did have interceptions in the Week 10 win over the Chiefs, while the defense added four sacks in one of its best games of the year. Rookie reserve Tim Crowder (14 tackles, 4 sacks) had two of those takedowns, while speedy end Elvis Dumervil (28 tackles, 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles) has been the team's best havoc-wreaker.
WHEN THE BRONCOS HAVE THE BALL
As is the case with most young quarterbacks, Shanahan has had to endure growing pains from Cutler (2598 passing yards, 13 TD, 12 INT), who's had his share of highs and lows in his first full season as a starter. The rocket- armed 24-year-old has fared well at home, however, having posted a strong 94.3 passer rating and a 69 percent completion percentage in Denver's six games at Invesco this year. Cutler's got plenty of weapons to work with, as second-year wideout Brandon Marshall (65 receptions, 4 TD) has enjoyed a terrific sophomore campaign and the injury-plagued Javon Walker (20 receptions) is a top-flight receiver when healthy. Veteran Brandon Stokley (39 receptions, 4 TD) had 102 receiving yards last week, but injured his knee during the game and is considered questionable for Sunday. Denver's also been pleased with the play of young tight end Tony Scheffler (29 receptions, 3 TD), who's been more involved in the offense recently.
The Broncos' eighth-rated rushing offense (120.8 ypg) is keyed by a stable of capable backs headlined by Henry (629 rushing yards, 3 TD), although he's still trying to regain form after sitting out three straight games with a partially torn knee ligament. He struggled in his return to action last week, gaining just 49 yards on 15 carries but also scoring twice on short runs. Henry will be pushed for time by exciting rookie Selvin Young (413 rushing yards, 1 TD, 25 receptions), who came through with a career-best 109 yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs in November, and possibly fellow youngster Andre Hall (206 rushing yards, 2 TD), provided he can come back from a high ankle sprain that forced him to miss the Oakland game.
Kansas City's seasoned defense has been good against the pass but vulnerable to strong running games like Denver's, as evidenced by the Broncos' 141 rushing yards in the Week 10 meeting. The Chiefs were even more submissive against San Diego last week, as reigning league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson piled up 177 yards and two scores on just 23 carries. Making matters worse, linebackers Derrick Johnson (75 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 INT) and Donnie Edwards (85 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) could miss Sunday's tilt. Johnson is dealing with the recent death of his father, while the 34-year-old Edwards' streak of 149 straight starts is in jeopardy after he injured his hamstring last week. Even with those two in the fold, the Chiefs have ranked only 21st versus the run (115.8 ypg).
Throwing the ball on Kansas City has been more of a challenge for opponents, as the Chiefs have yielded just 197.3 passing yards per game (7th overall) and only 10 touchdowns through the air. Jared Allen (47 tackles, 9 PD) has been a dominant force from his defensive end spot, having racked up a league-best 11 1/2 sacks despite being suspended the season's first two games. Second-year man Tamba Hali (34 tackles, 5 sacks) has performed well on the other side, while thirty-somethings Ty Law (38 tackles, 2 INT, 8 PD) and Patrick Surtain (46 tackles, 2 INT) are a pair of savvy cornerbacks.
FANTASY FOCUS
With two defenses that struggle to stop the run, look for the running backs to take center stage in this matchup. Smith should have a third straight productive outing and has proven to be solid No. 2 fantasy back, but the position is a little more unsettled on the Denver side. Henry will surely be motivated but appears to not yet be at 100 percent health, meaning he could lose touches at the expense of Young and possibly even Hall. As for the quarterbacks, Croyle is not yet worthy of starting status and Cutler will be facing a tough Kansas City pass defense, which makes him a risky play. Marshall has been remarkably consistent and is a good option as a No. 2 wide receiver or flex player, but hold off on using either Walker or Stokley because of health concerns. For the Chiefs, Gonzalez is an obvious must-start at tight end and Bowe's been very productive as well, although there's a chance his numbers could drop this week with Croyle under center and Kansas City likely having success running the ball.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
One would think that the Broncos would be able to rise to the occasion in a rivalry game with their playoff hopes currently on life support, but Denver was in the same situation a week ago and laid an egg against the Raiders. Fortunately, the team catches a Kansas City squad that's suffered injuries in a number of key areas and is clearly playing with an eye on next season. The Chiefs always play hard under Herm Edwards and their defense should be able to keep them in the game, but expect the Broncos to eventually wear them down with the run and keep their home dominance in this series intact.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Broncos 26, Chiefs 17
Game Preview for Steelers vs Patriots
(Sports Network) - In their past two games, the New England Patriots have played with fire.
On Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium, the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers will look to turn that blaze into an inferno.
The Patriots, heavy favorites in recent narrow wins over the Eagles (31-28) and Ravens (27-24) have encountered fourth-quarter deficits in both of those contests, only to rally late.
This past Monday night in Baltimore, it took a 13-play, 73-yard drive furthered by several defensive penalties to keep Bill Belichick's team unbeaten. A controversial eight-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to wideout Jabar Gaffney in the final minute ended up being the game-winning score, though a desperation heave from Ravens signal-caller Kyle Boller to wideout Mark Clayton fell two yards shy of giving the home team a miracle win.
This week, the Patriots will be trying to avoid such drama while also becoming the fifth team in NFL history to start 13-0. Following the Steelers battle, New England will take on the 3-9 Jets, 0-12 Dolphins, and 8-4 Giants to end the regular season.
Vying to send New England to the right-hand column of the standings for the first time this year is a Steelers club that has spent most of the year just below the Patriots and Colts on the NFL radar.
Pittsburgh was a 24-10 winner over the Bengals this past Sunday night, upping its record at Heinz Field to 7-0 this season, but Mike Tomlin's club knows it must play better away from the Steel City in order to earn league-wide respect.
The Steelers - who play three of their final four games away from Pittsburgh - are just 2-3 in away games under Tomlin, with none of the three losses coming against a team currently sporting a winning record.
The Black and Gold's most recent sojourn resulted in a 19-16 overtime loss to the Jets, an opponent that was 1-8 entering that game.
A win in New England, while also altering the perception of the AFC power structure, could also give the Steelers their first division title since 2004. Pittsburgh would also need the Browns (7-5) to lose to the Jets on Sunday in order to secure the crown.
SERIES HISTORY
The Steelers have a 12-6 edge in their all-time regular season series with the Patriots, but were 23-20 home losers when the teams last met, in Pittsburgh's Super Bowl season of 2005. The Steelers won the previous regular season matchup, taking a 34-20 decision at Heinz Field against a then-6-0 New England team in 2004. The Pats won the most recent game between the two in Foxborough, a 30-14 affair in 2002. Pittsburgh last won in New England in 1997.
The teams have also met in the playoffs four times since 1996, with the Patriots winning a 1996 AFC Divisional Playoff (28-3), the Steelers returning the favor with a victory in a 1997 AFC Divisional Playoff (7-6), and New England prevailing in the 2001 (24-17) and 2004 (41-27) AFC Championships. The 1997, 2001, and 2004 meetings were all played in Pittsburgh.
Belichick has a 7-9 mark against the Steelers, including 4-1 since coming to New England. Pittsburgh's Tomlin will be meeting both Belichick and the Patriots for the first time as a head coach.
WHEN THE STEELERS HAVE THE BALL
In order to pull off the upset in New England, the Steelers are going to require a stronger offensive effort than the one they managed against the Bengals a week ago. Running back Willie Parker (1093 rushing yards, 2 TD, 17 receptions) rushed 28 times for 87 yards in the win, but also lost two fumbles and nearly lost two more. With backup Najeh Davenport (320 rushing yards, 3 TD, 13 receptions) a question mark to play due to a lingering foot injury, the rushing load could once again fall completely on Parker's shoulders. Also needing to avoid miscues will be quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (2564 passing yards, 25 TD, 11 INT), who completed 21-of-32 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions in wet, slippery conditions last week. Roethlisberger has now failed to cross 200 yards in three straight outings after reaching the plateau in six consecutive previous starts. New Steelers touchdown reception king Hines Ward (57 receptions, 6 TD) will be looking to build on a Week 13 that saw him tie, then pass, John Stallworth on the team's all-time TD catch list with his 62nd and 63rd scores. Ward had 11 receptions for 90 yards on the night. Potentially assisting a Steelers attack that ranks 14th in the league overall (332 yards per game) is the return of wide receiver Santonio Holmes (39 receptions, 7 TD), and left tackle Marvel Smith, who have each missed the last two games with ankle and back problems, respectively.
The reputation of the Patriots defense took a hit in Monday night's win over the Ravens, as a lightly-regarded Baltimore attack more or less had its way with New England. Baltimore running back Willis McGahee carried 30 times for a season-high 138 yards and a touchdown in the contest, and Boller was an efficient 15-of-23 passing for 210 yards and a pair of touchdowns with an interception. The defensive play of the night for the Patriots was turned in by safety James Sanders (55 tackles, 2 INT), who intercepted an overthrown Boller pass in the fourth quarter to deny the Ravens in adding to a then-seven point lead. A pass rush that will be without Rosevelt Colvin due to an undisclosed injury for the remainder of the year did not manage a sack of Boller, an ominous sign for the unit. Outside linebacker Mike Vrabel (60 tackles, 9.5 sacks), who had four tackles in the victory, continues to lead the Pats in sacks. Inside linebacker Tedy Bruschi (70 tackles, 2 sacks) had 12 tackles in Baltimore, and remains the team leader in stops. In the secondary this week, cornerbacks Asante Samuel (27 tackles, 6 INT) and Ellis Hobbs (50 tackles, 1 sack) figure to match up with Ward and Holmes, respectively. The Patriots are third in the league in total defense (289.4 yards per game) following Monday night's struggles.
WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL
The offensive numbers for the Patriots are gaudy, and will remain so. New England quarterback Tom Brady leads the NFL in passing yards (3696), touchdown passes (41), and passer rating (123.4), receiver Randy Moss (75 receptions) paces the league in touchdowns (17), and New England is No. 1 in NFL total offense (425.3 yards per game), passing offense (304 yards per game), scoring offense (39.1 points per game), and touchdowns (61). Belichick's club has also committed the fewest turnovers in the league (10), and paces the NFL in turnover margin (+17). That said, wideouts Moss and Wes Welker (84 reception,s 7 TD) come off their quietest outings of the season, as the duo combined for just seven catches and 52 yards versus the Ravens. Running back Laurence Maroney (511 rushing yards, 2 TD) turned in a game-high 79 receiving yards on just two receptions, though he never got untracked in the running game while managing just 44 yards on 13 totes. Wideout Donte Stallworth (40 receptions, 3 TD) tallied three grabs for 68 yards in the win. his second-most productive day of the season. Brady, who has rarely been pressured this year, was sacked three times in Baltimore.
Call it the unstoppable force against the irresistible object. While New England is setting records for offense, the Steelers come into this week ranked No. 1 in the league in total defense (230.8 yards per game), passing defense (154 yards per game), scoring defense (12.9 points per game), touchdowns allowed (17), and rushing touchdowns allowed (3). A defense that last week prevented the Bengals from scoring points on seven of their nine trips into Pittsburgh territory and forced Carson Palmer into the lowest completion percentage of his career (17-of-44, 38.6 percent) will need to keep New England's offensive efficiency relatively low. Helping matters is the expected return of safety Troy Polamalu (42 tackles), who has been out two games with a knee injury. Other stars on the unit include run-stuffing nose tackle Casey Hampton (17 tackles) and outside linebacker James Harrison (75 tackles, 8.5 sacks), both of whom are likely Pro Bowl-bound. The key matchups for Pittsburgh will be in the secondary, where cornerbacks Deshea Townsend (41 tackles, 2 INT), Ike Taylor (53 tackles, 2 INT, 1 sack), and Bryant McFadden (15 tackles, 1 INT) will be attempting to match up with New England's fleet of receivers.
FANTASY FOCUS
The Patriots have been as close to a fantasy sure-thing as you'll ever hope to see, though owners of Pats like Moss and Welker had to be disappointed by those players' relatively weak showings in Baltimore. Given that the Steelers secondary is not as strong as that of the Ravens, look for both receivers' numbers to improve on Sunday. Brady is the league's fantasy MVP as well as its real MVP, and Maroney actually had a decent fantasy week with over 120 combined yards against the Ravens.
On the Pittsburgh side, Parker has been as reliable a running back as you'll find in the NFL this year, though his fumbles hurt more than a few owners last week. Roethlisberger's numbers have tapered off, but he is still a worthwhile start, as is Ward, who always seems to come up with some catches even when he is not scoring touchdowns. The Steeler defense is a risky play this week given the Patriots' offensive proficiency. Might be best to keep them on the bench.
Both kickers and defenses are a decent play.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
After playing a couple of nail-biters in a row, a Patriots team that Belichick describes as "tired" can't be jacked up about playing the physical Steelers on a short week. The fact that the Steelers are a run-first, stop-the-run-styled team does not necessarily bode well for a New England club that neither stopped Willis McGahee nor established Laurence Maroney on Monday night. Still, at the end of the day, you have to wonder about the Steelers' obvious inconsistency away from Heinz Field this season, as well as their occasional problems at covering opposing passing attacks. Expect that Pittsburgh will make enough mistakes to harm their chances in a difficult road environment, and for the Patriots to walk away as a 13-0 team when all is said and done.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Patriots 27, Steelers 17
Game Preview for Browns vs Jets
(Sports Network) - It's "back to reality" time for the New York Jets.
Now that their one-week vacation in south Florida -- and the NFL's closest thing to a guaranteed get-well game -- is history, the league's consensus second-worst team returns to the iced-over swamps of Jersey and a late afternoon visit from everything they'd expected to be this year...a viable playoff contender.
A surprising 7-5 through 12 games after a woeful 4-12 experience in 2006, the Cleveland Browns reach Week 14 of 2007 in the driver's seat for the AFC's second wild-card slot -- a race they lead by virtue of tiebreaker over fellow 7-5 Tennessee and by a game over 6-6 Buffalo.
But for the Jets, even after their 27-point Mardi Gras in Miami "improved" them to 3-9...reality bites.
"It was kind of an insult to everybody," New York's Chris Baker said of the Dolphins game, which winless Miami nonetheless entered as a one-point favorite. "We were hearing, 'This is Miami's chance.' We wanted to show them, 'This isn't the game you're going to win.' That's how we went about it throughout the week."
Against legitimate opposition, the road's been a little rougher.
New York is a mere 1-9 in 10 games against non-finned opponents, with only a shocking Week 11 upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers standing between them and an ignominy even greater than their already precipitous plummet from 2006 playoffs to 2008 draft board.
"They (stink), too," Miami defensive end Jason Taylor said, "but they beat us and they go home happy."
Meanwhile, the spike in Cleveland has been as dramatic as the dive in East Rutherford.
The Browns stumbled to three losses in their initial five games early on, before a 5-1 stretch through October and November got them within a game of the Steelers and the North Division lead.
A loss to Arizona last week complicated matters, though, and will force Romeo Crennel's team to decisively take care of business over a final quarter in which the opposition has a combined 16-32 record.
Step one...end the Jets' winning streak at, uhhhh...one.
"I could have done a much better job getting those guys prepared, and getting those guys to understand the ramifications of their actions and the choices they make on the field." Crennel said after the loss to the Cardinals. "We're going to have to work on that and try and get some things done there.
"We have four games to go. The next one is on the road. We got to put everything we have into it to play a lot better then we played (Sunday) on the road."
SERIES HISTORY
Cleveland holds an 11-7 advantage in its all-time series with the Jets, including a 20-13 home win when the teams met in Week 8 of last season. The Jets were a 10-7 road winner in the previous meeting, in 2004. The Browns took a 24-21 decision when the clubs last faced off at the Meadowlands, in 2002. New York last defeated Cleveland at home in 1990.
In addition to the regular season series, the teams played a memorable postseason game, with Cleveland scoring a 23-20 overtime win at home in a 1986 AFC Divisional Playoff.
Crennel is 1-0 against both the Jets and head coach Eric Mangini since arriving in Cleveland. Crennel and Mangini both served on Bill Belichick's staff with the Patriots from 2001 through 2004, with Mangini taking over defensive coordinator duties after Crennel was hired by the Browns in 2005.
WHEN THE BROWNS HAVE THE BALL
Derek Anderson has emerged as the most surprising signal-calling story of 2007, keeping Brady Quinn on the sidelines while completing 223-of-406 passes for 3,062 yards and 24 touchdowns -- good for third in the conference. He's connected often with second-generation tight end Kellen Winslow, who's caught 65 passes overall for five touchdowns and 909 yards, best in the NFL at his position. In his only career game against the Jets, Winslow caught seven passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. In the backfield, veteran Jamal Lewis has engineered a resurgence of his own, going for eight touchdowns (third in the AFC) while rushing 197 times for 803 yards. Lewis' teams are 20-3 in his career when he carries the ball at least 25 times.
The defense took center stage against the Dolphins, forcing five turnovers -- three interceptions, two fumbles -- and consistently harassing rookie QB John Beck. Rookie linebacker David Harris, who stepped into a starting role when Jonathan Vilma was lost for the season with a knee injury, leads the team with 82 tackles, while fellow rookie Darrelle Revis is third with 75. Defensive end Shaun Ellis is a half-sack away from passing franchise icon Mo Lewis for fifth on its all-time sack list. He shares the 2007 team lead at four with Dewayne Robertson. Safety Kerry Rhodes aims for a fourth consecutive game with an interception and, with one more, can establish a new single-season personal best.
WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL
Kellen Clemens picked up his second win of the season as "starter of the month" for the Jets, completing 15-of-24 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins -- even in the absence of leading receiver Jerricho Cotchery with a finger injury. Laveranues Coles, who'd been dinged up with a concussion and a sore ankle for the last several weeks, returned and caught five balls for 69 yards, including a 32-yarder. Running back Thomas Jones went for 75 yards on 24 carries and scored his first touchdown of the season against Miami. Jones is up to 838 yards on the season over 231 carries -- a 3.6-yard average. As a unit, the Jets average a still-anemic 288.4 total yards, while giving up 351.3 per week.
Cornerback Leigh Bodden has been a bellwether of good things for the Browns' defense in 2007. Cleveland is 4-0 in games in which he records an interception, and he shares the team lead in the category at four with defensive back Sean Jones. Lineman Robaire Smith and linebacker Kamerion Wimbley share the team lead with four sacks apiece. As a unit, though, the Browns have suffered, allowing 389.9 yards per week and entering the week with a decidedly un-playoff-like turnover ratio of minus-1.
FANTASY FOCUS
Anderson and Co. have been responsible for big numbers throughout the season. Wideout Braylon Edwards has already established the best season of his young career with 62 catches for 1,043 yards and 12 touchdowns, each of which are career-highs. Lewis is also a good gamble against a Jets defense that's bent but not broken against all levels of foes. For New York, Clemens could connect frequently with Coles and Cotchery, provided either are healthy. Jones, meanwhile, has been hot and cold all season and is risky. Defensively, neither team is a high-end proposition.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
The Jets have (gasp!) won two out of three, but have flopped every other time they've been poised to start a run. And, now that they neither have the motivation of an 0-11 opponent nor a chance at a playoff berth, the true reality of an ugly year may set in. Cleveland is hardly a behemoth of an opponent, but an edge in offensive talent and the always cited "more to play for" intangible could decide things.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Browns 24, Jets 14