NFL : Sunday

Dolphins have chance for second win at home to Bungles

Miami can finish its franchise-debacle season with two wins if it can beat the woeful Bengals in Week 17. History suggests they have a chance, as they have beaten Cincy eight of the past nine times.

Oddsmakers currently have the Bengals listed as 3-point favorites versus the Dolphins, while the game's total is sitting at 45.

The Bengals defeated Cleveland 19-14 as a 3-point underdog in Week 16. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (43.5).

Kenny Watson rushed for 130 yards on 30 carries with a touchdown for Cincinnati, while Carson Palmer completed 11-of-21 passes for 115 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

The Dolphins lost to New England 28-7 as a 22-point underdog in Week 16. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (45).

Cleon Lemon completed 18-of-41 passes for 171 yards with a touchdown for Miami, while Greg Camarillo caught two passes for 26 yards and a touchdown.

Team records:
Cincinnati: 6-9 SU, 5-9-1 ATS
Miami: 1-14 SU, 5-8-2 ATS

Cincinnati most recently:
When playing in December are 4-6
When playing on grass are 3-7
After being outgained are 5-5
When playing outside the division are 3-7

Miami most recently:
When playing in December are 3-7
When playing on grass are 1-9
After being outgained are 1-9
When playing outside the division are 1-9

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cincinnati's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 6 games on the road
Cincinnati is 6-12 SU in its last 18 games
Cincinnati is 4-9-1 ATS in its last 14 games
Miami is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Cincinnati
Miami is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Cincinnati
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Miami's last 7 games at home
Miami is 5-8-2 ATS in its last 15 games

Game Preview for 49rs vs Browns

(Sports Network) - The game doesn't mean a whole lot to the Cleveland Browns, but you can be sure that Romeo Crennel's team will play as if it does.

The Browns will welcome the San Francisco 49ers to the banks of Lake Erie for both teams' regular season finale, and Cleveland figures to bear the look of a frustrated football team.

Crennel and company experienced a disastrous Week 16, watching as control of their own playoff fate slipped through their collective fingers. The Browns went to Cincinnati and were dealt a 19-14 setback, and that defeat coupled with Tennessee's narrow win over the Jets effectively gave the Titans (9-6) control of the No. 6 position in the AFC.

A superior record over common opponents would give Tennessee the tie-breaking edge in the event of a 10-6 or 9-7 deadlock with the Browns.

Barring either the Browns/49ers or Titans/Colts contest resulting in the NFL's first tie since 2002, Cleveland will need Tennessee to fall in Indianapolis on Sunday night in order for the Browns to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Given their assured status as the No. 2 seed in the AFC, it is unknown to what extent the Colts (13-2) will play their starters in that contest, and history suggests that head coach Tony Dungy will rest many of his key players.

Though things don't look good for the Browns on Sunday, a win would at least give Cleveland the consolation prize of having put up its best record since returning to the NFL following a three-year hiatus in 1999.

The 9-7 record recorded by the 2002 team currently stands as the "new" Browns' best finish.

With what would be a seventh consecutive home win, Cleveland will also secure its best single-season record within friendly confines since the 1957 club won all six of its home games,

San Francisco, meanwhile, travels to Ohio having won back-to-back games over the Bengals (20-13) and Buccaneers (21-19).

Mike Nolan's squad, which has already been assured of a third-place finish in the NFC West, is attempting to give San Francisco its first three-game win streak to end a regular season since 1992.

SERIES HISTORY

The Browns have a 10-6 edge in their all-time series against the 49ers, including wins in their last two head-to-head matchups with San Francisco. Cleveland was a 13-12 road winner when the teams last met, in 2003, and was a 23-13 victor in the previous matchup, at Municipal Stadium, in 1993. The Niners' most recent triumph against the Browns came in 1990 at Monster Park, and they last won at Cleveland in 1984.

Crennel and Nolan will be meeting each other, as well as their counterpart's respective franchise, for the first time as head coaches.

WHEN THE 49ERS HAVE THE BALL

Looking to move to 3-0 as an NFL starter will be 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill (501 passing yards, 5 TD, 1 INT), the former third-stringer who has surprisingly served as the team's most effective QB this year. In three extended appearances, the former University of Maryland signal-caller has a glistening 101.3 passer rating, and has experienced particular chemistry with wideout Darrell Jackson (43 receptions, 2 TD) and tight end Vernon Davis (50 receptions, 4 TD). Jackson had a season-best eight-catch, 86-yard performance against the Bengals in Week 15, and last Sunday scored his first touchdown since Week 7. Davis, the former first-round draft pick, has scored a TD in each of Hill's two starts. Arnaz Battle (47 receptions, 6 TD) continues to lead San Francisco in receiving yards (581) but was held without a reception against Tampa Bay last Sunday. The work of the passing attack has helped open things up for Frank Gore (1008 rushing yards, 51 receptions, 6 TD), who last week went over 1,000 yards for the year with a 21-carry, 89-yard day. Despite their recent renaissance, the Niners remain last in NFL total offense (240.8 yards per game), passing offense (149.8 yards per game), and scoring offense (14.1 points per game).

Hill, Gore and company will be operating against a Cleveland defense that has allowed just two touchdowns in its last two games but is still capable of a fatal defensive lapse. The Browns were able to contain the Cincinnati passing game for the most part last week, intercepting Carson Palmer twice and allowing him to throw just one TD pass, but Cleveland failed to get the job done against Bengals rusher Kenny Watson. Watson piled up 130 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries against the Browns defense. Inside linebackers Andra Davis (65 tackles) and D'Qwell Jackson (92 tackles, 1 INT) had a quiet day with just nine combined tackles, though Shaun Smith (55 tackles, 2 sack) and Orpheus Roye (37 tackles, 0.5 sacks) were active in the trenches with 14 combined stops. Cornerback Leigh Bodden (85 tackles, 6 INT) had both interceptions of Palmer, and safety Sean Jones (93 tackles, 5 INT) posted a team-best nine tackles. The lack of a pass rush has been a constant issue for the Browns all year. Crennel's squad is 28th in the league in sacks (23), and did not get to Palmer last Sunday. The team enters Week 17 ranked 29th against the pass (240.5 yards per game), 28th versus the run (130.7 yards per game), and 30th in touchdown passes allowed (28).

WHEN THE BROWNS HAVE THE BALL

In what had otherwise been a breakout season for Derek Anderson (3635 passing yards, 28 TD, 18 INT), it was last week that the Browns quarterback finally broke down. Anderson helped sink Cleveland with his first four-interception day of 2007, although he was able to mount something of a rally by throwing a pair of touchdown passes to move the Browns within striking distance of a comeback. Both of Edwards' TD passes went to Pro Bowl wideout Braylon Edwards (77 receptions, 15 TD), while tight end Kellen Winslow (78 receptions, 5 TD) chipped in with seven grabs and a game-high 73 yards. Edwards and Winslow are the first teammates in Browns history to go over 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis (1176 rushing yards, 29 receptions, 11 TD) continued a productive first season with the Browns by carrying 21 times for 92 yards and adding 42 yards on five catches out of the backfield last Sunday. Lewis has 90+ ground yards in five of his last six outings. Cleveland is eighth in NFL total offense (350.9 yards per game) as Week 17 commences.

A Niners defense that has been inconsistent at best for most of 2007 caught a major break when Tampa Bay took quarterback Jeff Garcia out of harm's way in the second half of last week's contest. Garcia's replacement, Luke McCown, coughed up two key turnovers that enabled San Francisco to win the game. Cornerback Nate Clements (90 tackles, 4 INT, 1 sack) notched a pick off of McCown, while safety Mark Roman (60 tackles) recovered a fumble that had been forced by linebacker Patrick Willis (162 tackles, 3 sacks). The rookie Willis, who leads the NFL in tackles and is headed to the Pro Bowl, had a monster game with 20 stops, a pair of sacks, and a forced fumble. A pass rush that has been non-existent for much of the season managed four sacks on the day, including one each for Tully Banta-Cain (39 tackles, 3.5 sacks) and Ray McDonald (3 tackles, 1 sack). The Niners enter the regular season finale ranked 24th in the league in total defense (345.4 yards per game), including 26th against the pass (229.9 yards per game) and 22nd versus the run (115.5 yards per game).

FANTASY FOCUS

Most fantasy league championship games took place last week, but any that will occur in Week 17 could be impacted greatly by this contest.

The Browns will play their starters throughout, meaning guys like Anderson, Edwards, Winslow, and Lewis are all must-plays against a suspect San Francisco defense.

On the 49ers side, managers will want to consider starting the likes of Gore, Davis, and possibly even Hill against a weak Cleveland defense, though you can't expect any of the above to be as productive in a cold-weather road game as they have been at home in the past couple of weeks.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

After last week's untimely misstep, you can expect the Browns to get their focus back in a big way against the 49ers. San Francisco doesn't have the defensive personnel to slow the Cleveland attack for four quarters, and you can expect Anderson to be much more protective of the football than he was last Sunday. For the Niners, Hill has been a positive addition to the lineup, but you can't expect someone of his limited experience to continue to play at a high level in a road game against a quality opponent. Look for Cleveland to roll to win number 10.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Browns 38, 49ers 7

Browns need win and help from Colts to make playoffs

A crippling loss Cincy imperiled the playoff hopes of long-suffering Browns fans, but they can still get in by handling the 49ers in Week 17. They still need the Titans to lose in Indy. The 49ers have inexplicably won two in a row after a nine-game losing streak. Of note, the number was bet down quickly after opening at -12.5 for the Browns.

Oddsmakers currently have the Browns listed as 10-point favorites versus the 49ers, while the game's total has not yet been posted.

The 49ers defeated Tampa Bay 21-19 as a 6.5-point underdog in Week 16. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (36.5).

Shaun Hill passed for 123 yard with three touchdowns and an interception, while Frank Gore rushed for 89 yards on 21 carries and caught a touchdown pass in the win.

The Browns lost to Cincinnati 19-14 as a 3-point favorite in Week 16. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (43.5).

Derek Anderson completed 29-of-48 passes for 251 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions for Cleveland, while Braylon Edwards caught eight passes for 52 yards and two touchdowns.

Current streak:
San Francisco has won 2 straight games.

Team records:
San Francisco: 5-10 SU, 5-9-1 ATS
Cleveland: 9-6 SU, 11-4 ATS

San Francisco most recently:
When playing in December are 5-5
When playing on grass are 3-7
After being outgained are 0-10
When playing outside the division are 3-7

Cleveland most recently:
When playing in December are 3-7
When playing on grass are 6-4
After outgaining opponent are 3-7
When playing outside the division are 6-4

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Francisco's last 6 games on the road
San Francisco is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games
San Francisco is 3-10 SU in its last 13 games
San Francisco is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Cleveland is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland's last 5 games
Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Cleveland is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games

Game Preview for Lions vs Packers

(Sports Network) - The last 16 times the Detroit Lions have been the road team in a matchup with the Green Bay Packers, the Lions have traveled back to the Motor City as losers.

Be it in Green Bay or Milwaukee, regular season or playoffs, Detroit hasn't won a road game against the Packers since way back in 1991, or one year before a guy named Favre entered the public consciousness.

On Sunday, the Lions will have a chance to both end that dubious streak and halt its current run of losing seasons at six consecutive, when it faces a Green Bay club that might choose to rest certain personnel in preparation for the postseason.

The NFC North champion Packers are locked into the No. 2 slot in the conference, carving out that position for themselves after they followed up Dallas' win at Carolina on Saturday night with a miserable performance in a 35-7 loss at Chicago on Sunday.

Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters earlier this week that the Packers will play to beat Detroit, though whether that's just a case of vaguely-worded rhetoric remains to be seen.

One has to believe that the Lions wouldn't be greatly disappointed to see Green Bay's backups for a majority of the contest.

A .500 season would represent major progress for an organization that went a combined 24-72 (.250) between 2001 and 2006, and would give Rod Marinelli's club an excellent springboard towards what will be an important 2008 for his staff.

The Lions, who started the season 6-2 before dropping six in a row to fall out of the playoff picture, reclaimed a spot in the win column with last Sunday's 25-20 triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Win or lose on Sunday, Detroit will have posted its best campaign since going 9-7 in 2000.

SERIES HISTORY

The series between the Lions and Packers dates back to the 1930 season, with Green Bay holding a 83-64-7 regular season edge. The Pack was a 37-26 winner at Ford Field on Thanksgiving Day, and has now won six of its last seven with the Lions. Detroit's only win during that stretch came by a 17-3 count in Week 1 of the 2005 campaign in the Motor City.

The Lions are 0-12 in regular season games played at Lambeau Field since last winning there in 1991, and are 0-15 in away contests during that time frame when three matchups in Milwaukee are factored in.

In addition to the regular season series, the clubs have met twice in the postseason, with Green Bay winning NFC First-Round Playoff matchups in the 1993 and 1994 seasons. The '94 matchup was played in Green Bay.

McCarthy leads the series with both the Lions and Marinelli, 3-0.

WHEN THE LIONS HAVE THE BALL

Sunday's game could mark the final game in the era of Mike Martz's high-flying offense, as Martz was recently noncommittal about his future with the team when speaking to reporters. The Lions are eighth in NFL passing offense this season (242.1 yards per game), but Martz's attack has been criticized for being too one-dimensional and subject to turnovers. Quarterback Jon Kitna (3822 passing yards, 17 TD, 18 INT) has not experienced a particularly strong second half of the season, and a Lions offensive line that has allowed a league-high 54 sacks on the year has not shown enough improvement. Kitna's main targets this week will be Shaun McDonald (74 receptions, 5 TD) and rookie Calvin Johnson (44 receptions, 5 TD), who combined for four of Kitna's scant nine completions in the Kansas City game. With wideout Roy Williams and running back Kevin Jones both down for the year due to knee injuries, bruising rusher T.J. Duckett (306 rushing yards, 3 TD) has seen more touches of late. Subbing most of last week for the injured Jones, Duckett carried 15 times for 102 yards and a touchdown in his best game as a Lion to date.

The Packers enter Week 17 ranked 10th in NFL total defense (314.7 yards per game), but come off a week in which they allowed "the other" Adrian Peterson and a poor Bears running game to churn up 139 yards and set the offensive tone. The Green Bay linebacking corps of Nick Barnett (130 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 INT) in the middle and Brady Poppinga (47 tackles, 1 INT) and A.J. Hawk (103 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) on the flanks might receive only limited time this week, but will have to make more of an impact while in the lineup. Up front, Packers fans are likely to see a great deal of rookie tackle and first-round draft choice Justin Harrell (14 tackles), who has garnered more extensive time of late and chipped in with five stops against the Bears. If McCarthy is intent on holding key defensive players out, he will likely start with end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (24 tackles, 9.5 sacks) and cornerback Charles Woodson (63 tackles, 4 INT), both of whom have experienced injury problems this season. End Aaron Kampman (64 tackles, 12 sacks), who was last week named to his second straight Pro Bowl, could also be limited for precautionary reasons.

WHEN THE PACKERS HAVE THE BALL

Green Bay's dangerous passing game was hampered by cold and inclement weather in Chicago last Sunday, and this week's Lambeau Field forecast (32 degrees with snow showers) does not suggest that Brett Favre (4056 passing yards, 26 TD, 15 INT) and company will be flying up and down the field. Favre is unlikely to play the entire game before yielding to Aaron Rodgers (218 passing yards, 1 TD, 0 INT), and wideouts Donald Driver (82 receptions, 2 TD) and Greg Jennings (53 receptions, 12 TD) figure to see less time than the likes of James Jones (45 receptions, 2 TD), Koren Robinson (17 receptions), and Ruvell Martin (15 receptions, 3 TD). Packers first-year running back Ryan Grant (899 rushing yards, 7 TD, 30 receptions) is within 101 yards of the 1,000-yard plateau, but given the circumstances of the game, it seems unlikely that he'll garner enough touches to reach the milestone. Rookie and second-round draft choice Brandon Jackson (154 rushing yards, 1 TD, 14 receptions), who carried three times for 25 yards in Chicago last Sunday, figures to receive his most extensive carries since early in the season.

A Lions defense that ranks last in NFL total defense (376.5 yards per game), scoring defense (27.3 points per game), and has allowed a league-high-tying 29 passing touchdowns could certainly use a belated Christmas gift in the guise of the Packers' second-string attack this week. Last Sunday, the Lions allowed the formerly-deficient Chiefs passing game to pile up 374 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Detroit did manage four sacks of Kansas City QB Damon Huard, including two from disappointing tackle Shaun Rogers (35 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 1 INT), and linebacker Paris Lenon (111 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) came up with the play of the day when he intercepted a Brodie Croyle pass and returned it 61 yards for a Lions touchdown. Detroit is a middle-of-the-pack 19th in the NFL against the run (112.9 yards per game), but held the Chiefs to just 63 yards on the ground last Sunday. Linebacker Ernie Sims (127 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) has been the club's most reliable tackler throughout the year.

FANTASY FOCUS

This game is a prime example of why fantasy football championships generally take place on Week 16 rather than Week 17. There is simply no assurance that any of the Packers' offensive stars will play consistent minutes on Sunday, meaning you're taking a major risk in starting Favre, Driver, Jennings, Grant, or even NFL scoring leader and rookie kicker Mason Crosby.

The Lions' first-string will play the entire game, but it doesn't seem likely that the team will display any aerial proficiency given the expected conditions. If there's a player to start, it might be Duckett, who should see between 15-20 carries and might be facing a depleted defense.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

We already know that the Packers are far superior to the Lions based on the result when these teams met on Thanksgiving, but the circumstances of this week's contest make predicting an outcome problematic. Detroit never plays well in Green Bay, but given that the game should mean more to the Lions, and that the Packers are probably going to play a lot of backup personnel, Kitna and company really should come out of Lambeau Field with a victory.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Lions 21, Packers 20

Lions wrap up disappointing campaign at Lambeau

A .500 season in Detroit would be considered heavenly had the Lions not started the year 6-2. Now they try to salvage a .500 record at Green Bay in a game that means nothing to the Packers. The Lions have only covered three of their past 17 trips to Green Bay and they bring some of the league's worst road defense stats to the finale.

Oddsmakers currently have the Packers listed as 5-point favorites versus the Lions, while the game's total has not yet been posted.

The Lions defeated Kansas City 25-20 as a 6-point favorite in Week 16. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (43.5).

T.J. Duckett rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries for Detroit and Jon Kitna completed 9-of-16 passes for 115 yards with an interception.

The Packers lost to Chicago 35-7 as a 7.5-point favorite in Week 16. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (31.5).

Brett Favre completed 17-of-32 passes for 153 yards with two interceptions for Green Bay, while Ryan Grant rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown.

Team records:
Detroit: 7-8 SU, 6-8-1 ATS
Green Bay: 12-3 SU, 11-3-1 ATS

Detroit most recently:
When playing in December are 3-7
When playing on grass are 2-8
After being outgained are 5-5
When playing within the division are 3-7

Green Bay most recently:
When playing in December are 6-4
When playing on grass are 8-2
After outgaining opponent are 8-2
When playing within the division are 8-2

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Detroit's last 7 games when playing on the road against Green Bay
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Detroit's last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing Green Bay
Green Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit
Green Bay is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
Green Bay is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Green Bay's last 7 games when playing at home against Detroit

Game Preview for Rams vs Cardinals

(Sports Network) - There won't be a playoff berth on the line when the Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams square off at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, though the avoidance of dubious achievements should be enough incentive for both teams to display a strong effort.

With a loss, the Cardinals will have finished off their ninth consecutive losing season, and 18th in 20 seasons since moving from St. Louis to Arizona in 1988.

Last Sunday, Arizona took a step in the right direction by defeating Atlanta, 30-27 in overtime. The Cardinals' seventh win of the year assured the franchise of its best mark since going 7-9 in 2001, and helped the organization halt its streak of seasons with double-digit defeats at five.

A victory for Ken Whisenhunt's squad on Sunday would give Arizona its best record since the 1998 team went 9-7 and reached the postseason.

The Rams, meanwhile, come to the desert seeking to sidestep their worst mark since finishing 3-13 as the Los Angeles Rams in 1991.

St. Louis has already clinched at least a tie for its worst mark since arriving in the Gateway City from L.A. in 1995. The 1998 Rams went 4-12 under head coach Dick Vermeil before rebounding to go 13-3 and win the Super Bowl the following season.

The Rams will be taking the field for the first time since a 41-24 loss to Pittsburgh last Thursday night, a game in which head coach Scott Linehan and veteran wide receiver Torry Holt engaged in a heated sideline confrontation.

Linehan, who is expected to be back in St. Louis next season, downplayed the incident when asked about it by reporters.

SERIES HISTORY

The Rams hold a 30-25-2 lead in the all-time series with Arizona, but were 34-31 home losers when the teams met in Week 5. St. Louis earned unconventional home-and-home splits with the Cardinals in 2005 and 2006, including a 16-14 victory at University of Phoenix Stadium in Week 3 of last season. The road team has now won five straight in the series, and St. Louis is 4-1 in its last five trips to Arizona, with the only loss during that stretch coming in 2004.

The Rams won the only postseason meeting between the two, with the then-Los Angeles-based franchise pulling out a 35-23 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1975 NFC Divisional Playoff.

Linehan is 1-2 against the Cardinals as a head coach, while Arizona's Whisenhunt is 1-0 against both Linehan and the Rams as a head man.

WHEN THE RAMS HAVE THE BALL

Part of Holt's frustration likely stems from the continued struggles of a once-prolific offense that has fallen on serious hard times this year. While working behind a patchwork offensive line that has sustained a large number of injuries, Rams quarterbacks have thrown a league-worst 25 interceptions on the year, while the ground game is tied for last in the NFL in rushing touchdowns (5), along with Carolina. Bulger (2216 passing yards, 10 TD, 13 INT) threw three TD passes against Pittsburgh last Thursday, including one each to wideouts Drew Bennett (32 receptions, 3 TD) and Isaac Bruce (53 receptions, 4 TD), but also tossed a pair of key interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown by the Steelers' Ike Taylor. Running back Steven Jackson (947 rushing yards, 37 receptions, 6 TD) had 106 yards on 15 total touches in the win, including a 12-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter, and now needs 53 rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the third consecutive year. Holt (86 receptions, 7 TD), who was limited to three grabs for 41 yards versus the Steelers, has a touchdown catch in his last five games against the Cardinals.

When the postmortems are written about Arizona's season, many will focus on the significant injuries that decimated coordinator Clancy Pendergast's defense. Safety Adrian Wilson (heel), cornerback Eric Green (groin), and defensive end Bertrand Berry (triceps) are but three of the top-tier defensive players that saw their 2007 seasons cut short, a situation that has caused the team to allow 21 or more points in each of its last seven games. The Cardinals still have some playmakers on the unit, however, with tackle Darnell Dockett (55 tackles) and Karlos Dansby (93 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 INT) the most productive members of the front seven and cornerbacks Antrel Rolle (60 tackles, 3 INT) and Roderick Hood (52 tackles, 5 INT) capable of doing damage in the secondary. Dockett leads all NFL defensive tackles with eight sacks on the season, while Hood had the team's only interception of the Falcons' Chris Redman last Sunday. Pass rushers Calvin Pace (92 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 1 INT) and Antonio Smith (40 tackles, 4.5 sacks) each had sacks of Redman. Arizona is 28th in the league against the pass (237.1 yards per game) and ninth versus the run (99.5 yards per game) as Week 17 begins.

WHEN THE CARDINALS HAVE THE BALL

Though the Cardinals have had their share of bumps and bruises on offense as well, apart from Week 1 starting quarterback Matt Leinart (collarbone), the attack will reach the finish line more or less intact. Kurt Warner (3117 passing yards, 24 TD, 15 INT) has played through a lingering elbow problem to post his best year since 2001 this season, last week going over 3,000 yards and throwing three more touchdown passes. Wideouts Larry Fitzgerald (89 receptions, 8 TD) and Anquan Boldin (67 receptions, 8 TD) have both missed time in 2007, but both contributed to last week's win over Atlanta. Boldin caught 13 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns in his best game of the season to date. Fitzgerald, who has a TD grab in each of his last four outings versus St. Louis, will look to continue his mastery of the Rams on Sunday. The Cardinals running game ranks a disappointing 29th overall (87.9 yards per game), but Edgerrin James (1120 rushing yards, 6 TD, 21 receptions) is over 1,000 yards for the second straight season. James had 88 rushing yards on 26 attempts against the Rams in Week 5.

Injuries have robbed the Rams of both talent and depth on defense, a situation that was evident during Pittsburgh's 425-yard performance last week. St. Louis comes into Week 17 ranked 17th in NFL total defense (335.7 yards per game), including 19th against the pass (220.9 yards per game) and 20th against the run (114.8 yards per game). Jim Haslett's group allowed 261 yards and three touchdown passes to the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger last week, with safeties O.J. Atogwe (70 tackles, 7 INT) and Corey Chavous (70 tackles, 3.5 sacks) not able to make any big plays off of the Pro Bowler. A pass rush that has been reeling since Leonard Little was lost for the season with a toe injury in early November did manage four sacks of Roethlisberger, including two by veteran tackle La'Roi Glover (36 tackles, 6 sacks). Linebackers Will Witherspoon (106 tackles, 7 sacks) and Brandon Chillar (65 tackles, 2.5 sacks) have been among the Rams' most reliable tacklers this year.

FANTASY FOCUS

Any fantasy leagues that play their championship in Week 17 will likely keep a close eye on this game, since managers can be sure that starters will play for the duration, and both defenses are suspect.

For the Cardinals, Warner, Boldin, and Fitzgerald are must-plays, and James could do some damage against a team that struggled against the Steelers run last Sunday.

On the St. Louis side, Bulger has been error-prone all year, but could have his best day of 2007 against a Cardinals defense that made Chris Redman look like an above-average signal-caller last Sunday. Don't hesitate to start Holt or Jackson either.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

This finale might be viewed as something of a nuisance for the Rams, who have been long awaiting a merciful end to this painful, lost season. From that standpoint, it is difficult to envision Linehan's team playing with much emotion or desire on Sunday. The perspective should be a bit different for the Cardinals, who will be able to point to measurable progress if they can get to 8-8 with a win in front of the home fans. With more of a positive nature to play for, give the edge to Arizona.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Cardinals 33, Rams 14

Rams visit desert trying to upset Cardinals

The road team has won five straight meetings between the Cardinals and the city that used to host the Cardinals. Arizona beat one horrible team (Atlanta) last week and will try to close with two straight wins and a .500 record by beating up on the Rams. Of note, the UNDER is 6-1 past seven Ram road games.

Oddsmakers currently have the Cardinals listed as 6-point favorites versus the Rams, while the game's total is sitting at 48.

The Rams were defeated 41-24 by the Steelers last time out, as 8-point underdogs. The 65 points sailed OVER the posted total of 43.5.

Marc Bulger completed 18-of-35 pass attempts for 208 yards with three touchdowns and was picked off twice in the loss.

The Cardinals defeated Atlanta 30-27 in overtime as an 11-point favorite in Week 16. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (43.5).

Kurt Warner passed for 361 yards with three touchdown passes for Arizona, while Anquan Boldin caught 13 passes for 162 yards with two touchdowns in the win.

Current streak:
St. Louis has lost 3 straight games.

Team records:
St. Louis: 3-12 SU, 5-10 ATS
Arizona: 7-8 SU, 7-7-1 ATS

St. Louis most recently:
When playing in December are 4-6
When playing on grass are 6-4
After being outgained are 2-8
When playing within the division are 3-7

Arizona most recently:
When playing in December are 6-4
When playing on grass are 5-5
After outgaining opponent are 4-6
When playing within the division are 5-5

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of St. Louis's last 7 games on the road
St. Louis is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Arizona
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 5 games when playing on the road against Arizona
St. Louis is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Arizona
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Arizona's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Arizona's last 5 games when playing at home against St. Louis
Arizona is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home
Arizona is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing St. Louis

Game Preview for Chargers vs Raiders

(Sports Network) - Playoff positioning will be on the line when a pair of AFC West inhabitants clash this Sunday at Oakland's McAfee Coliseum, where the division-champion San Diego Chargers will attempt to maintain their excellent recent form in a showdown with the downtrodden Raiders.

Although the Chargers wrapped up their third AFC West crown in four years two weeks back, the red-hot club still has something to play for in its regular- season finale. A victory over the punchless Raiders would ensure San Diego the No. 3 seed in the upcoming AFC Playoffs and a seemingly easier road to the conference championship.

If the Chargers gain the third seed, which they would also clinch if Pittsburgh loses at Baltimore on Sunday, that means a home matchup with either Tennessee or Cleveland in next weekend's Wild Card round. And maybe more significantly, San Diego would avoid an encounter with still-unbeaten New England in the Divisional Playoffs if it manages to defeat the Titans or Browns.

If San Diego winds up as the fourth seed, the team would play the 11-4 Jacksonville Jaguars, who dealt the Chargers a 24-17 loss back in November, next weekend at Qualcomm Stadium.

The Chargers enter Sunday's meeting with plenty of momentum, as they've recorded five straight victories to run their season record to 10-5. The two most recent wins have been of the blowout variety, a 55-14 shellacking of Detroit on December 16 and last Monday's 23-3 decision over visiting Denver.

Not surprisingly, running back LaDainian Tomlinson has keyed San Diego's late- season surge. The reigning NFL MVP has strung together four consecutive 100- yard games and scored seven touchdowns over that span, while his 1,418 rushing yards for the season is currently tops in the league.

Tomlinson racked up 107 yards and a score on just 17 carries in Monday's win over the Broncos, despite sitting out most of the second half with the game already in hand.

The 4-11 Raiders come in having dropped three in a row and ensured their fifth straight season with at least 11 losses with last Sunday's 49-11 thrashing at the hands of Jacksonville.

That setback marked the most extensive action thus far for Oakland rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2007 draft. The talented 22-year-old will likely have better days than his showing against the Jaguars, when Russell completed just 7-of-23 throws for 83 yards and was intercepted three times.

Russell will get an opportunity for redemption on Sunday, when he will make his long-awaited first career start under center.

SERIES HISTORY

Oakland has a 54-39-2 record in its all-time regular season series with San Diego, but has lost the last eight in a row to the Chargers, including a 28-14 setback at Qualcomm Stadium in Week 6. San Diego also posted home-and-home sweeps of Oakland in 2004, 2005, and 2006, and was a 27-0 winner when it visited McAfee Coliseum in Week 1 of last season. The Raiders' last win in the series was a 34-31 overtime triumph at home in 2003.

Oakland won the only postseason meeting between the teams, prevailing by a 34-27 count in the 1980 AFC Championship.

San Diego head coach Norv Turner, who served as head man in Oakland in 2004 and 2005, is 2-1 all-time against the Raiders, including 1-1 in his tenure in Washington (1994-2000). Oakland's Lane Kiffin is 0-1 against both Turner and the Chargers as a head coach.

WHEN THE CHARGERS HAVE THE BALL

You can expect the Raiders to receive a healthy dose of Tomlinson (1418 rushing yards, 59 receptions, 17 TD) for as long as this game remains competitive. The perennial All-Pro abused Oakland for a season-best 198 yards and matched a career high with four touchdowns when these teams squared off in Week 6. Tomlinson should play enough to secure his second consecutive NFL rushing title, as he owns a healthy 113-yard advantage on Minnesota's Adrian Peterson coming into the season's final week. If the Chargers can build a sizeable lead, look for Turner to rest his star back and let capable reserve Michael Turner (274 rushing yards, 1 TD) carry the load for the league's seventh-ranked rushing offense (127.9 ypg).

It would be a surprise if Tomlinson didn't have another big day against an Oakland defense that's next-to-last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed (147.6 ypg) and was trampled on by Jacksonville a week ago. The Jaguars piled up 201 yards on the ground against the Raiders, 62 of which came on a first-quarter touchdown run by Fred Taylor. Oakland played the entire second half of that game without tackle Warren Sapp (45 tackles, 2 sacks) after the veteran stopper was ejected for making contact with an official. His actions drew a $75,000 fine from the NFL on Thursday, but not a suspension. The Raiders' top tacklers are linebackers Kirk Morrison (111 tackles, 4 INT, 1 sack) and Thomas Howard (91 tackles, 6 INT, 1 sack), both fast and undersized players more renowned for their coverage skills than their play versus the run.

Oakland's secondary, led by cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (32 tackles, 1 INT) and second-year strong safety Michael Huff (81 tackles, 1 INT, 1 sack), should present more of a test for the San Diego offense and quarterback Philip Rivers. The Raiders have yielded only 15 touchdowns through the air on the season, the second-best mark in the league, and picked off 18 passes. Morrison and Howard have accounted for more than half of the team's interception total, while ends Derrick Burgess (34 tackles, 7 sacks) and Chris Clemons (20 tackles, 8 sacks) have provided a steady pass rush up front.

Rivers (3017 passing yards, 19 TD, 15 INT) has endured an inconsistent season but has been on a good roll of late, as the young signal-caller has completed over 67 percent of his passes over the last two weeks and wasn't intercepted in either one of those games. His main target is All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates (69 receptions, 9 TD), who needs just 78 receiving yards on Sunday to go over 1,000 for the season. Former Miami Dolphin Chris Chambers (63 receptions, 3 TD) comes in 79 yards shy of that mark and has been a nice upgrade to an otherwise pedestrian receiving corps since joining the Chargers in a midseason trade, while Tomlinson's pass catching skills add another dimension to the team's passing attack.

WHEN THE RAIDERS HAVE THE BALL

Russell's (371 passing yards, 1 TD, 3 INT) rookie season has to be labeled a disappointment thus far, but the athletic quarterback can end it on a positive note by showing something in his starting debut. There's plenty of room for improvement off last week's dismal performance, in which Russell made a litany of mistakes and often appeared confused and jittery in the pocket. He did connect with fellow rookie Zach Miller (36 receptions, 3 TD) in the game's final seconds for his first career touchdown pass and has two solid receivers to work with in Ronald Curry (54 receptions, 4 TD) and Jerry Porter (42 receptions, 5 TD). Throwing the football has been a season-long problem for Oakland, which enters Sunday's tilt 31st overall in passing offense (162.5 ypg).

The Raiders do have a strong ground game that wasn't slowed down by the season-ending injury to top running back Justin Fargas in a Week 15 loss to Indianapolis. Veteran backup Dominic Rhodes (180 rushing yards) made up for the loss by producing 115 yards on 27 carries in his first extended action of the year. The ex-Colt is the third Oakland player to eclipse the century mark this season, along with Fargas and one-time starter LaMont Jordan (549 rushing yards, 28 receptions, 3 TD). The trio has helped the Raiders rank sixth in the NFL with an average of 130.9 rushing yards per game.

Rhodes will be going up against a San Diego defense that could be without sturdy nose tackle Jamal Williams (39 tackles) for a second straight week because of an ankle injury. However, standout end Luis Castillo (30 tackles, 2.5 sacks) made a successful return from a six-game absence due to midseason knee surgery in the Denver game, recording a sack and two tackles in limited action. He and fellow lineman Igor Olshansky (48 tackles, 3.5 sacks) anchor a quality run-stopping unit that limited the Raiders to just 43 rushing yards in this year's earlier meeting.

Russell figures to have his work cut out for him on Sunday, as the inexperienced quarterback will have to worry about San Diego's premier pass- rushing duo of outside linebackers Shawne Merriman (65 tackles, 12.5 sacks) and Shaun Phillips (67 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 2 INT) and the ball-hawking abilities of cornerback Antonio Cromartie (40 tackles, 18 PD), who leads the NFL with 10 interceptions and recently earned his first career Pro Bowl nod. Merriman and Phillips combined for 4 1/2 sacks of Daunte Culpepper in the Chargers' October win over the Raiders, while Cromartie and strong safety Clinton Hart (76 tackles, 5 INT, 1 sack) spearhead a pass defense that's produced a league-best 29 picks.

FANTASY FOCUS

Tomlinson's slow start to the season is now well in the back of his owners' minds, and the humble superstar has shown why he was the consensus top choice in most fantasy drafts over the past month. It's doubtful he'll play the entire game on Sunday, but Tomlinson will still have enough cracks at Oakland's porous defense to deliver another productive day. So will a San Diego defense that has forced a league-high 44 turnovers in a most-favorable matchup against a mistake-prone rookie quarterback. Be wary of using any other Charger offensive players, although it would be a tough call to sit Gates. Stay away from Rivers, who's been dealing with a knee sprain in recent games and will surely sit if the team builds a comfortable lead.

I pegged Rhodes as a potential sleeper last week, and he made me look pretty good with an excellent outing against a tough Jacksonville run defense. Oakland's new No. 1 back is certainly worth using again on Sunday. Steer clear of Russell, however, as well as any Raider receiver because of the quarterback's inexperience and expected struggles in this game.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Raiders fans who had trouble stomaching the team's awful showing a week ago should be prepared for a similar queasy feeling on Sunday. Russell's outing against Jacksonville showed he's not yet ready to take on NFL defenses, and having the rookie line up against a San Diego squad that excels at forcing turnovers looks to be a mismatch of epic proportions. So does the one between Tomlinson and Oakland's woeful run defense, which was powerless to stop last year's league MVP when the two divisional foes squared off in October. This one sets up perfectly for the Chargers, who should be able to give many of their key contributors a breather for next weekend's playoff game with an easy victory. Russell will have plenty of great days over the course of his fledgling career, but this will not be one of them.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Chargers 31, Raiders 7

Chargers visit Oakland in Week 17 finale

San Diego is making a second-half push that should frighten the front runners in the AFC. LT looks like the LT of 2006 and the Raiders should provide only token resistance as the Chargers push for a better playoff seed. Of note, the Chargers are 8-1 ATS the past nine meetings with the Raiders.

Oddsmakers currently have the Chargers listed as 9-point favorites versus the Raiders, while the game's total has not yet been posted.

LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown in Week 16 to lead the Chargers to a 23-3 home win over the Denver Broncos.

The Chargers had no trouble covering the 9-point spread in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (47).

The Raiders lost to Jacksonville 49-11 as a 14-point underdog in Week 16. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (40).

JaMarcus Russell completed 7-of-23 passes for 83 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions for Oakland, while Dominic Rhodes rushed for 115 yards on 27 carries.

Current streak:
San Diego has won 5 straight games.
Oakland has lost 3 straight games.

Team records:
San Diego: 10-5 SU, 10-5 ATS
Oakland: 4-11 SU, 6-9 ATS

San Diego most recently:
When playing in December are 9-1
When playing on grass are 9-1
After outgaining opponent are 9-1
When playing within the division are 8-2

Oakland most recently:
When playing in December are 1-9
When playing on grass are 2-8
After being outgained are 2-8
When playing within the division are 2-8

A few trends to consider:
San Diego is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
San Diego is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
San Diego is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Oakland
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of San Diego's last 5 games when playing Oakland
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oakland's last 5 games when playing San Diego
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oakland's last 6 games
Oakland is 6-14 ATS in its last 20 games
Oakland is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games at home

Game Preview for Vikings vs Broncos

(Sports Network) - Last weekend, the Minnesota Vikings had a playoff berth in their hands. Now the club needs some help to reach the postseason. Step one comes this Sunday in Denver, where Minnesota will battle the Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Minnesota had a shot to wrap up the final NFC wild card spot after Philadelphia defeated New Orleans last Sunday. The Vikings were battling the Washington Redskins, the other team in contention for that spot, later that night and were handed a 32-21 setback. That dropped Minnesota to 8-7, the same record as Washington.

In order to advance into the playoffs, the Vikings now need to both beat or tie Denver while also having the Redskins lose to the Dallas Cowboys. If Washington ties Dallas, then Minnesota can only get the final spot with a win.

The Vikings didn't play like a team that was fighting for their playoff lives, as Minnesota allowed Washington to score the first 25 points of the game en route to having a five-game winning streak halted.

Minnesota came into the game with the NFL's No. 1 rushing offense, but logged just 87 yards on the ground against Washington. The Vikings also had the top- ranked run defense in the NFL, but gave up 106 rushing yards.

The Vikings, who had seven players selected to the Pro Bowl this season, now have to go on the road, where they are just 3-4 on the year. They will play for the first time ever at Invesco Field, which opened in 2001.

Standing in Minnesota's way are the Broncos, who lost in blowout fashion on Christmas Eve to San Diego, 23-3. The loss secured Denver's first losing season since 1999, as the club dipped to 6-9 on the year.

The Broncos were also blown out at home against San Diego earlier in the year, but otherwise are a very tough team in Denver late in the season. The team is 20-4 since 1995 at home in December, good for the third-best mark in the NFL, and 4-3 overall as the host this season.

Quarterback Jay Cutler, who struggled against San Diego, has thrown seven touchdown passes and zero interceptions for a 124.4 passer rating in his last three home games.

However, Denver enters this game as losers of two straight and four of its last five games. The Broncos have scored a mere 16 points in their last two games and will post their first losing record since going 6-10 in 1999.

SERIES HISTORY

Minnesota has a 7-4 lead in its all-time series against Denver, including wins in its last two head-to-head matchups with the Broncos. The Vikings were 28-20 home winners when the teams last met, in 2003, and took a 23-20 decision when they last visited Denver in 1999. The Broncos' last win in the series occurred in 1996 at the Metrodome, and they last beat Minnesota in Denver in 1984.

Denver head coach Mike Shanahan is 1-2 in his career against Minnesota. The Vikings' Brad Childress will be meeting both Shanahan and the Broncos for the first time as a head coach.

WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL

The Vikings have lived and died on the ground this year, which is why it is no surprise they were unable to beat Washington. The club averages 164.1 yards per game rushing, but got just 27 out of rookie Adrian Peterson on nine carries and 14 on six attempts by Chester Taylor (761 rushing yards, 7 TD). In fact, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (1,736 passing yards, 7 TD, 12 INT) was the team's leading rusher with 44 yards and two scores. The Vikings will try to get Peterson (1,305 rushing yards, 12 TD), the NFC's leading rusher, back on track. He needs just one rushing score to tie a team record for most touchdowns on the ground in a single season. That mark of 13 is currently held by both Chuck Foreman and Terry Allen. Peterson is also trying to become the first the first rookie to lead the NFC in rushing since Barry Sanders in 1989. The Vikings are also just 46 rushing yards shy of the 2002 club's record of 2,507 in a season.

Minnesota will also hope Jackson can control the ball better than last week. While he did run for two scores, he threw two interceptions to go along with a touchdown toss and 220 passing yards. He also attempted 41 passes, a number Minnesota will look to decrease this weekend. Taylor and wideout Troy Williamson (18 receptions, 1 TD) each led the team with five catches last week, while Robert Ferguson (27 receptions, 1 TD) added four for 51 yards. Leading receiver Bobby Wade (49 receptions, 555 yards, 1 TD) added three catches for 34 yards, and tight end Jimmy Kleinsasser made the lone touchdown catch.

Minnesota should have little trouble getting its ground game going against Denver. The Broncos are allowing 140.7 yards per game rushing, 30th in the league, and allowed NFL leading rusher LaDainian Tomlinson to run for 107 yards and a touchdown on Monday night. In all, San Diego racked up 147 yards on the ground. Linebacker D.J. Williams continued his assault on opposing plays, posting 12 tackles against San Diego to give him an AFC-leading 133 on the season. He trails only San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis in that category. Pro Bowl corner Champ Bailey (78 tackles, 3 INT) added eight tackles, but the Denver secondary failed to grab an interception in the game. Jamie Winborn (27 tackles) finished with seven tackles, while Nate Webster posted six. He is second on the team with 86 tackles this season. Josh Mallard (11 tackles, 2 sacks) had a sack against San Diego, while Elvis Dumervil and Tim Crowder (17 tackles, 4 sacks) each had a half-sack. For Dumervil (36 tackles), the defensive end is now tied for fourth in the AFC with 11 1/2 sacks on the season. In addition to Bailey, Minnesota's Jackson also has to keep an eye on corner Dre' Bly, who leads the team with five picks to go along with 46 tackles and a sack. On the injury front, linebacker Ian Gold will likely miss the game due to a knee problem.

WHEN THE BRONCOS HAVE THE BALL

Both Minnesota's Jackson and Denver's Cutler were drafted in 2006 by their respective clubs, though more long-term pressure is on Cutler, as he was taken 11th overall. Jackson, meanwhile, was a late second-round pick. In his first full season as a starter, Cutler has thrown for 3,251 yards and 18 touchdowns while also getting picked off 14 times. Against the Chargers, he completed 14- of-32 pass attempts for 155 yards, but failed to find the end zone while throwing two interceptions. He was limited in practice this week due to a knee injury, but should be ready to go in this one. However, wideout Brandon Stokley, third on the team with 40 receptions to go along with 635 yards and five touchdowns, could miss a second straight game because of a knee ailment. Despite having the 13th-best pass attack in the league while also ranking ninth on the ground, the Broncos are scoring just 19.9 points per game.

Denver has been using a 1-2 punch in the backfield with Travis Henry and Selvin Young, though both were limited versus San Diego. Young (642 rushing yards, 1 TD) had 10 carries for 39 yards, while Henry (691 rushing yards, 4 TD) had just four attempts for 11 yards. Cutler was the leading rusher with three carries for 42 yards. Second-year wideout Brandon Marshall continued his emergence, hauling in six passes for 75 yards against the Chargers. He has 92 catches for 1,211 yards and six receiving touchdowns on the season, and needs just 89 yards to become the first Broncos wideout to reach 1,300 receiving yards since Rod Smith in 2001. Wide receiver Javon Walker (24 receptions) added two catches for 14 yards on Monday, but has five touchdown catches in six career games against Minnesota. Finally, Tony Scheffler (42 receptions, 4 TD) needs just three receiving yards to become the first Denver tight end to reach 500 yards in a season since Jeb Putzier in 2004.

The Vikings are allowing only 70.5 rushing yards per game -- tops in the NFL -- but are getting torched through the air. Minnesota has allowed the opposition to throw for a league-high 266.1 yards per game. Washington's Todd Collins was right on the mark last week, throwing for 254 yards and two scores against the Vikings, while running back Clinton Portis ran for 76 yards and a TD on 20 carries. The Vikings failed to post a sack against Washington, nor did they force a turnover. Linebacker Chad Greenway (99 tackles, 2 INT) led the way with 11 tackles, while cornerback Cedric Griffin (87 tackles) added eight stops. Defensive end Kenechi Udeze (39 tackles, 5 sacks) and linebacker Ben Leber (60 tackles, 4 sacks) each had six tackles, while leading tackler E.J. Henderson (110 tackles, 4 sacks) had five. Henderson has three sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble over his last six games. Minnesota will get one last chance to break the team record for most interception returns for a touchdown in the single season. This year's squad is currently even with the 1992 team, which returned six picks to the house. Defensive tackle Pat Williams (62 tackles, 2 sacks) missed practice time this week due to a knee ailment and is considered questionable for this Sunday.

FANTASY FOCUS

Minnesota will be going all out on Sunday, and Denver's poor run defense makes both Peterson and Taylor great starts. Jackson, meanwhile, will be relying on his ground game and should be avoided. The Vikings defense should also have a good game this weekend as it pressures Cutler and stuffs the run game. For Denver, Shanahan's inconsistency in choosing which running back will be the focus of his attack makes Henry and Young tough starts, combined with the Vikings great run defense. Marshall is a must-start and Cutler isn't a bad choice, as he will be forced to throw.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Despite a recent five-game winning streak, the Vikings don't control their own destiny. But, all is not lost if the club can come through with a victory in Denver. However, that is easier said than done given the Broncos' recent home success. Still, if Minnesota can get Peterson and Taylor going against Denver's defense, it has an excellent shot of winning. The Vikings will need to avoid scoreboard watching and just leave it in the hands of fate and its awesome running back duo. Meanwhile, Cutler will get a good test this weekend against a solid defense putting it all on the line. While he won't fail the test, he won't be able to do enough to eliminate the Vikings from the postseason. Expect Minnesota to its part on Sunday.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Vikings 24, Broncos 16

Vikings control destiny, must win at Denver

Losing to Washington ended the Viking win streak and damaged their playoff hopes. But a win at Denver will get Minny in. And the Vikes are 6-1 ATS (including 3-0 since 1996) past seven vs. Denver, who are just 3-10 ATS in their past 13 home games.

Oddsmakers currently have the Vikings listed as 3-point favorites versus the Broncos, while the game's total has not yet been posted.

The Vikings lost to Washington 32-21 as a 6-point favorite in Week 16. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (40.5).

Tarvaris Jackson completed 25-of-41 passes for 220 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, while running in for two touchdowns for Minnesota, while Adrian Peterson was held to 27 rushing yards on nine carries.

Jay Cutler was picked off twice in Week 16 as the Broncos fell 23-3 on the road to the San Diego Chargers.

The Chargers had no trouble covering the 9-point spread in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (47).

Current streak:
Denver has lost 2 straight games.

Team records:
Minnesota: 8-7 SU, 7-6-2 ATS
Denver: 6-9 SU, 4-11 ATS

Minnesota most recently:
When playing in December are 4-6
When playing on grass are 4-6
After being outgained are 5-5
When playing outside the division are 5-5

Denver most recently:
When playing in December are 4-6
When playing on grass are 4-6
After being outgained are 3-7
When playing outside the division are 3-7

A few trends to consider:
Minnesota is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Denver
Minnesota is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Minnesota's last 8 games on the road
Minnesota is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Denver
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Denver's last 12 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Denver's last 8 games
Denver is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games at home
Denver is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Minnesota

Game Preview for Chiefs vs Jets

(Sports Network) - When he returns to the Meadowlands to face his former team this Sunday, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards isn't likely to do a double-take over the New York Jets' brand new look.

In fact, Edwards will gaze across the field at the same stumbling, bumbling Jets that he seemed in a haste to leave when he took the Kansas City job following the 2005 season.

After he led the organization to three playoff berths in his first four years, Edwards' final team with the Jets went 4-12 in an injury-marred season that saw both quarterback Chad Pennington and running back Curtis Martin succumb to injuries. After Edwards was replaced with Eric Mangini in time for 2006, it looked as if Gang Green had undergone a renaissance, finishing 10-6 and making a surprise playoff appearance.

But one year later, the Jets have reverted back to the '05 form they displayed under Edwards, and with one more loss will put the finishing touches on the franchise's worst season since going 1-15 under Rich Kotite in 1996.

Edwards would not likely swap places with Mangini at this stage, though it's not as if things are much better for the former NFL defensive back's current employer.

Kansas City comes into the Meadowlands riding an eight-game losing streak, just one off the franchise record of nine, set in the strike-plagued year of 1987.

The Chiefs have already been assured of their worst season since going 4-11-1 in 1988, and with one more loss will have put up their least favorable showing since the 1978 team finished 4-12.

SERIES HISTORY

The Chiefs have a 16-14-1 edge in the all-time regular season series with the Jets, including a 27-7 home win when the teams last met, in Week 1 of the 2005 season. Kansas City was a 29-25 winner when it last played the Jets at the Meadowlands, in 2002. New York's last win in the series was a 27-7 home win in 2001.

The Chiefs and Jets have also met twice in the playoffs, with New York earning a 35-15 home victory in a 1985 AFC First-Round Playoff and the Chiefs winning a 13-6 road decision in a 1969 Inter-Divisional Playoff.

Edwards will be meeting the team that he guided from 2001 through 2005 for the first time as a head coach. The Jets' Mangini will be meeting both his predecessor Edwards and the Chiefs for the first time.

WHEN THE CHIEFS HAVE THE BALL

The Chiefs have some uncertainty at the quarterback position as they head to the Meadowlands. Starter Brodie Croyle (1032 passing yards, 5 TD, 6 INT) injured his hand while trying to make a tackle after throwing an interception in last week's loss to the Lions, and is listed as questionable on this week's injury report. Croyle told reporters he would play, but if he experiences a late-week setback, veteran Damon Huard (2257 passing yards, 11 TD, 13 INT) will again step in. Huard had perhaps his best game of the season against the Lions, completing 24-of-36 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort. Huard was also sacked four times behind a poor K.C. line that has now allowed 52 sacks on the season. Wideout Dwayne Bowe (69 receptions, 5 TD) and tight end Tony Gonzalez (92 receptions, 5 TD) will serve as the top targets for whoever plays QB. The rookie Bowe needs just 18 receiving yards to go over 1,000 for the season. The Chiefs are last in NFL rushing offense (79.7 yards per game) as Week 17 begins, and will be without running back Larry Johnson (foot) again on Sunday. Rookie Kolby Smith (406 rushing yards, 2 TD, 21 receptions), who carried 17 times for 60 yards last week, will be the team's backfield starter.

The Jets rank a respectable ninth in the league against the pass (199.2 yards per game), with a blossoming secondary serving as an overall team strength. Rookie cornerback Darrelle Revis (82 tackles, 3 INT) looks to have Pro Bowl potential down the line, while safety Kerry Rhodes (65 tackles, 5 INT, 1 sack) is a sure tackler with good cover ability. Cornerback David Barrett (58 tackles, 1 INT) had the team's only interception of Tennessee quarterback Vince Young in last Sunday's loss to the Titans. The Jets' pass rush has come up with just 26 sacks through its first 15 games, but three came last week against Tennessee. End David Bowens (23 tackles, 1.5 sacks) took down Young once in the contest. New York is a disappointing 29th in the NFL against the run (140.2 yards per game), but has a capable young tackler in inside linebacker David Harris (116 tackles, 4 sacks). The rookie Harris had eight tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble at the Titans in Week 16. Up front, Sione Pouha (39 tackles) added value by posting a team-high eight solo stops.

WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL

Like the Chiefs, the Jets are either unsure or are unwilling to share who their starting quarterback will be on Sunday. Seven-game starter Kellen Clemens (1414 passing yards, 4 TD, 10 INT) has not appeared since going down early with a rib problem against the Patriots in Week 15, and Pennington (1765 passing yards, 10 TD, 9 INT) could be in line for his second consecutive start. Pennington was accurate in the loss to the Titans, completing 26-of-32 passes for 264 yards with a touchdown, but also threw a pair of interceptions and was sacked six times behind the Jets' paper-thin line. Jerricho Cotchery (74 receptions, 2 TD) had a big day with eight catches for 152 yards and a touchdown, while Brad Smith (32 receptions, 2 TD) hauled in five passes for 45 yards as he subbed for the injured Laveranues Coles (ankle), who has been placed on season-ending injured reserve. Smith himself is questionable for Sunday with a back problem. The Jets running game is led by Thomas Jones (1021 rushing yards, 1 TD, 27 receptions), who went over 1,000 yards last week but has not kept Jets fans from pining for University of Arkansas back Darren McFadden, a potential pickup of the team in the 2008 Draft.

Edwards won't be the only familiar figure Jets fans see on Sunday, as cornerback Ty Law (45 tackles, 2 INT) will also return to face his old employer. Law played just one season with the Jets (2005), but made an impression to the tune of an NFL-best 10 interceptions and a Pro Bowl appearance. This year, the veteran corner has made an impact on a Chiefs defense that ranks sixth in the NFL against the pass (192.3 yards per game) but hasn't made enough big plays. Safety Bernard Pollard (79 tackles, 2 INT, 1 sack) had the team's only interception of the Lions' Jon Kitna last Sunday. A pass rush led by end Jared Allen (61 tackles, 13.5 sacks) has been the defense's strength, with Allen adding two more sacks to his total to go along with his second touchdown catch of the year last week. The Kansas City run- stopping group could be in trouble this week, as a unit that ranks just 26th in NFL ground defense (126 yards per game) could be without questionable linebackers Napoleon Harris (98 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT) and Donnie Edwards (101 tackles, 2 INT, 1 sack) due to knee and groin problems, respectively.

FANTASY FOCUS

Most fantasy championships took place last week, and those that didn't won't be impacted very much by this game. Gonzalez is the only sure-fire fantasy starter on either team, and Bowe and Cotchery are decent No. 2 or flex options. If you're desperate for running back help due to some players around the league taking Week 17 off, you might take a flier on Thomas Jones or Kolby Smith, both of whom are facing poor run-stopping defenses.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Winning this game isn't going to make either team feel good about its 2007, but it would be something for a pair of young clubs to build upon heading into an important offseason. For that reason, expect both the Jets and Chiefs to play hard. With the home fans on their side, and due to the trace of development that has been present with New York in back-to-back close losses to the Patriots and Titans, give a slight nod to Gang Green here. Kansas City will come to play for Edwards in his homecoming, but it won't be enough.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Jets 20, Chiefs 17

Chiefs look to avoid season-ending nine-game slide

And to think KC once looked like a playoff team. The Jets, who have an even worse record at 3-12, will try to send the Chiefs to their ninth straight loss in Week 17. It's coach Herm Edwards against his former team. KC has won and covered the past two meetings and this one is strictly about pride, making it a dangerous game to handicap.

Oddsmakers currently have the Jets listed as 6-point favorites versus the Chiefs, while the game's total has not yet been posted.

The Chiefs lost to Detroit 25-20 as a 6-point underdog in Week 16. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (43.5).

Damon Huard completed 24-of-36 passes for 304 yards with two touchdowns for Kansas City, while Tony Gonzalez caught 10 passes for 137 yards.

The Jets lost to Tennessee 10-6 as an 8.5-point underdog in Week 16. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (37.5).

Chad Pennington completed 26-of-32 passes for 264 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for New York, while Jerricho Cotchery caught eight passes for 152 yards with a touchdown.

Current streak:
Kansas City has lost 8 straight games.
New York has lost 3 straight games.

Team records:
Kansas City: 4-11 SU, 6-8-1 ATS
New York: 3-12 SU, 6-8-1 ATS

Kansas City most recently:
When playing in December are 3-7
When playing on turf are 2-8
After outgaining opponent are 4-6
When playing outside the division are 2-8

New York most recently:
When playing in December are 5-5
When playing on turf are 1-9
After outgaining opponent are 3-7
When playing outside the division are 2-8

A few trends to consider:
Kansas City is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Kansas City's last 10 games on the road
Kansas City is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games when playing NY Jets
Kansas City is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing NY Jets
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the NY Jets last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the NY Jets last 5 games at home
NY Jets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the NY Jets last 6 games when playing at home against Kansas City

Game Preview for Cowboys vs Redskins

(Sports Network) - A month ago, the Washington Redskins were a team in disarray. Now the once-shattered club has an opportunity to earn the NFC's final playoff spot when it hosts the rival Dallas Cowboys in Sunday's regular- season finale at FedEx Field.

The goal of reaching the postseason looked like a pipe dream for the grief- stricken Redskins after they suffered their fourth consecutive loss on December 2, a gut-wrenching 17-16 defeat at home to Buffalo that occurred less than a week after the fatal shooting of standout safety Sean Taylor. The tragic event was part of a grueling 12-day stretch in which the Redskins played three games amidst an unplanned trip to Florida for the funeral of their fallen teammate.

Washington has engineered a remarkable turnaround since that last-second loss to the Bills, winning three straight games and putting itself in position to claim the second NFC Wild Card berth with last Sunday's 32-21 victory at fellow playoff contender Minnesota. The Redskins' resurgence has been even more remarkable considering that it's been done without the services of starting quarterback Jason Campbell, who hasn't played since dislocating his kneecap in the first half of a Week 14 triumph over Chicago.

It turns out that Campbell's loss has been Washington's gain, as seldom-used backup Todd Collins stepped in and guided the team to a 24-16 decision over the Bears and key wins over the New York Giants and Minnesota. The 36-year-old journeyman has played flawlessly during that stretch, throwing for a combined 644 yards and four touchdowns without a single interception.

The 8-7 Redskins enter the last week of play tied with the Vikings for the NFC's remaining Wild Card, but own the tiebreaker advantage over Minnesota by virtue of last week's crucial victory. Washington will secure the sixth and final seed in the conference with a win over Dallas or losses by both the Vikings and New Orleans in their finales. Minnesota travels to Denver on Sunday, while the Saints visit Chicago.

If the Redskins do make it into the playoffs, they will face NFC West champion Seattle in next weekend's Wild Card round.

Dallas has already wrapped up the NFC's No. 1 seed, thanks to a 20-13 win at Carolina on December 22 coupled with a surprising 35-7 loss by Green Bay to Chicago last week. The 13-2 Cowboys can set a franchise record for victories in a regular season on Sunday, which would surpass the mark this year's team now shares with the 1992 Super Bowl champion squad.

It's likely that record is of secondary importance to Dallas head coach Wade Phillips, whose immediate goal remains getting his players healthy and ready for a Divisional Playoff matchup in two weeks. With that in mind, it would be no surprise if many of the Cowboys' key contributors will be either rested or used sparingly in Sunday's tilt.

One Dallas player who definitely won't suit up against Washington is Terrell Owens, after the colorful wide receiver suffered a high ankle sprain in the Carolina game. Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode will also sit out due to a sprained right knee, while star quarterback Tony Romo, who's been bothered by a bruised thumb on his throwing hand, will probably give way to veteran backup Brad Johnson at some point during the contest.

The 39-year-old Johnson played for the Redskins in 1999 and 2000 and threw for a career-high 4,005 yards during his first year with the organization.

SERIES HISTORY

The Cowboys lead the all-time regular season series with Washington, 56-35-2, including a 28-23 win when the teams met at Texas Stadium in Week 11. Dallas also posted a conventional home-and-home split of last year's series, which included a 22-19 loss at FedEx Field in Week 9. Dallas is 0-2 at FedEx Field since last winning there in 2004.

Washington is 2-0 against Dallas in the postseason, winning in the 1972 and 1982 NFC Championship games.

Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs is 15-16 against the Cowboys, including a win in the 1982 NFC Championship, during his career. Phillips, meanwhile, is 2-0 all- time against Washington, with one of those wins coming for his Bills team in 1999 at FedEx Field. Phillips is 1-0 against Gibbs head-to-head.

WHEN THE COWBOYS HAVE THE BALL

A potent Dallas offense which ranks second in the NFL in both total yards (380.3 ypg) and scoring (29.9 ypg) figures to have a decidedly different look this week, particularly at the wide receiver position. You can bet the Redskins will be glad to see Owens (81 receptions, 1355 yards, 15 TD) in street clothes, since the dynamic wideout racked up 173 yards and a career- high four touchdowns against Washington in November. His spot opposite Patrick Crayton (48 receptions, 7 TD) will be filled by the combo of second-year pro Sam Hurd (16 receptions, 1 TD) and veteran Terry Glenn, expected to be active for the first time since undergoing a pair of knee surgeries in September. The 33-year-old had posted consecutive 1,000-yard seasons for the Cowboys prior to this year. Expect an early exit from Romo (4125 passing yards, 36 TD, 18 INT) even though the Pro Bowl signal-caller proved his health by throwing 42 times for 257 yards against Carolina.

Dallas' strong running game didn't miss a beat with Gurode sidelined last week, as the Cowboys amassed 148 yards on the ground versus the Panthers. The club stands 12th overall in rushing offense (116.3 ypg) and boasts two quality backs in Marion Barber (981 rushing yards, 43 receptions, 12 total TD) and Julius Jones (581 rushing yards, 21 receptions). Barber, who recorded 110 yards and a score on 22 attempts in the Carolina win, is the more valuable of the pair, which likely means Jones will be getting the bulk of the work with nothing on the line for the Cowboys.

Whoever gets the ball in the Dallas backfield will be facing a Washington defense that can be mighty tough against the run. The Redskins rank eighth in the league in rushing yards allowed (97.3 ypg) and limited Barber to only 43 yards on 15 carries in the teams' earlier meeting. The unit was equally as impressive last Sunday, holding Minnesota sensation Adrian Peterson to a mere 27 yards on nine tries. Washington will again be without its second-leading tackler in weakside linebacker Rocky McIntosh, who tore ligaments in his left knee during a Week 15 win over the Giants, but former Cowboy Randall Godfrey (25 tackles) stepped in nicely by registering nine tackles and a forced fumble against the Vikings. The 12-year pro is part of an experienced and sound linebacking corps headed by tackling machine London Fletcher (125 tackles, 3 INT) in the middle.

If the Redskins are to achieve their postseason dreams, the defense will have to improve on the 293 yards and four touchdowns it allowed to the Cowboys through the air back in Week 11. Washington has tightened up its 17th-ranked pass defense since that game, as cornerbacks Shawn Springs (60 tackles, 3 INT, 12 PD) and Fred Smoot (49 tackles, 1 INT) have played well lately and second- year safety Reed Doughty (47 tackles, 0.5 sacks) has shown to be a capable fill-in for Taylor at free safety. The Redskins also sacked Romo just once in that earlier encounter, as top pass rusher Andre Carter (52 tackles, 10.5 sacks) was held in check by Dallas Pro Bowl tackle Flozell Adams.

WHEN THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BALL

Collins (644 passing yards, 4 TD, 0 INT) certainly hasn't shown any rust after attempting just 27 passes over the previous nine seasons. The well-prepared veteran hasn't turned the ball over once in his two starts in place of Campbell, and lit up Minnesota's shaky secondary for 254 yards and two touchdowns on 22-of-27 passes last week. Oft-injured receiver Santana Moss (53 receptions, 2 TD) has re-emerged as a big-play threat down the stretch for the Redskins, and amassed 121 yards and a score on nine catches in last month's matchup with Dallas. Counterpart Antwaan Randle El (48 receptions, 1 TD) had his first touchdown grab of the year in Sunday's win, while Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley (61 receptions, 8 TD) is a feared red-zone target for an offense that comes in 14th overall in passing yards (216.0 ypg).

An inconsistent Redskins' running game is keyed by workhorse Clinton Portis (1158 rushing yards, 9 TD, 43 receptions), whose 300 rush attempts in 2007 are tied for second in the NFL. The veteran back hopes to improve off his last encounter with Dallas, when Portis mustered just 36 yards on 12 totes back in November. For the year Washington is averaging 113 yards per week on the ground, good for 13th in the league.

Collins will attempt to bomb away at a Dallas secondary that gave up 348 yards through the air to Campbell earlier this season and could be without Pro Bowl cornerback Terence Newman (50 tackles, 4 INT, 13 PD), who's dealing with soreness in his right foot and will play sparingly, if at all, on Sunday. Nose tackle Jay Ratliff (30 tackles, 3 INT) likely won't participate due to a knee sprain, meaning controversial ex-Bear Tank Johnson (8 tackles, 2 sacks) would get the start up front. One Cowboy defender who's well-rested for this meeting is strong safety Roy Williams (83 tackles, 2 INT). The four-time Pro Bowl choice sat out the Carolina game after being suspended for an illegal tackle on Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb in Week 15.

Williams is an integral part of a Cowboy stop unit that ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing defense (92.1 ypg) and did an excellent job bottling up Portis last month. Dallas is also tied for third in the league with 43 sacks and boasts two top-notch rushing linebackers in DeMarcus Ware (78 tackles, 13 sacks) and Greg Ellis (29 tackles, 12.5 sacks). The duo combined for three of the team's five sacks at Carolina last week. Expect Ellis, who's coming off Achilles' surgery which cut short his 2006 campaign, to have his playing time cut into by promising rookie Anthony Spencer (32 tackles, 3 sacks) on Sunday.

FANTASY FOCUS

The Cowboys normally have a wealth of must-start fantasy performers, but it's unclear how much Romo, Barber and stud tight end Jason Witten (94 receptions, 1121 yards, 7 TD) will play on Sunday with Dallas having already wrapped up home-field advantage in the conference playoffs. Therefore, it might be wise for those whose seasons are still going on to bench each one of those usual stalwarts. Jones and Crayton seem to be the best options among the Cowboys contingent for this week. For the Redskins, Portis is sure to receive plenty of work and makes for a solid start, while Moss has strung together back-to- back strong games and was a handful for the Dallas secondary back in November. He and Cooley look like very good choices on Sunday. Even Collins is worth a flier for those whose regular quarterback may be rested this week.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

No team has had to go through what the Redskins have endured over the last month, but it appears Gibbs' troops will be rewarded for their perseverance and handling of a situation that would have crumbled most clubs. Dallas' offense isn't quite as scary without Owens in the lineup, and with Romo expected to take an early seat during the game, the Cowboys will be fielding a unit that shouldn't give Washington's quality defense too many problems. If Collins can deliver another steady performance under center and the Redskins establish something of a ground game, there's little reason to think Washington won't be able to come through in a matchup where it has far more at stake than its divisional rival.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Redskins 24, Cowboys 13

Redskins have plenty of motivation against Cowboys

Washington hates Dallas. Washington could make the playoffs with a win. Dallas is locked into the top spot in the NFC. The Redskins come off a big win over Minnesota and have covered four of five against Dallas heading into Week 17.

Oddsmakers currently have the Redskins listed as 9-point favorites versus the Cowboys, while the game's total has not yet been posted.

Tony Romo threw for 257 yards and a touchdown to lift the Cowboys over the Panthers 20-13 last week. The Cowboys could not cover the 11-point spread on the road, and the 33 points were UNDER the posted total of 42.5.

Marion Barber ran for 110 yards off 22 carries with one touchdown for the Cowboys.

The Redskins upset Minnesota 32-21 as a 6-point underdog in Week 16. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (40.5).

Todd Collins passed for 254 yards with two touchdowns for Washington, while Clinton Portis rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown and also threw a touchdown pass in the win.

Current streak:
Washington has won 3 straight games.

Team records:
Dallas: 13-2 SU, 9-6 ATS
Washington: 8-7 SU, 6-7-2 ATS

Dallas most recently:
When playing in December are 5-5
When playing on grass are 7-3
After outgaining opponent are 9-1
When playing within the division are 5-5

Washington most recently:
When playing in December are 5-5
When playing on grass are 5-5
After outgaining opponent are 4-6
When playing within the division are 3-7

A few trends to consider:
Dallas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Dallas is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Dallas's last 7 games on the road
Dallas is 16-4 SU in its last 20 games when playing Washington
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Washington's last 10 games
Washington is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 9 games when playing at home against Dallas