FOR USE AS DESIRED
            NFL-REG-16    12/24/01

 

THREE DIVISION TITLES ON THE LINE;
WEEK KICKS OFF WITH RAVENS-BUCS SATURDAY NIGHT

 

It’s a new year, but there’s only two weeks left.

 

That’s the NFL timetable as 2002 debuts with two weeks remaining in the NFL regular season. 

 

And what a scramble it should be!

 

“We have a shot,” says New York Giants quarterback KERRY COLLINS, speaking for every team in the playoff race, “and that means a lot.” 

 

As the NFL enters a Week 16 schedule that starts with a Saturday night prime-time telecast, seven teams have made the playoffs, and five more can do so this week.  Three clubs can claim division titles, and all three (Chicago, Philadelphia and St. Louis) would overthrow last year’s champs in those divisions.  Of 15 games this week, 11 have playoff ramifications.

 

The playoff picture with two weeks to go:

 

·         AFC EAST:  The New England Patriots (10-5), winners in nine of their past 11 after going 5-11 last year, have clinched their first playoff spot since 1998.

 

The Miami Dolphins (9-5) can clinch their fifth consecutive playoff spot with:

 

 

The New York Jets (9-5) can earn a playoff berth in HERMAN EDWARDS’ first year as a head coach with:

 

 

Buffalo and Indianapolis have been eliminated from playoff contention.

 

·         AFC CENTRAL:  The Pittsburgh Steelers, with the AFC’s best record (12-2), have clinched their first division title since 1997 and a first-round bye.  The Steelers can earn homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with:

 

           

TheBaltimore Ravens (9-5), Super Bowl XXXV champions, can take a playoff spot with:

 

 

********************************************************************************************************************************************

NFL FACTOID

 

RAMS GO FOR 500…AGAIN:  With two games to go, the St. Louis Rams are within 70 points (430) of scoring 500 points.  They can become only the eighth team in NFL history to do so, and are the only team to accomplish the feat in consecutive years (1999, 526; 2000, 540).  ********************************************************************************************************************************************

 

Cincinnati, Cleveland, Jacksonville and Tennessee have been eliminated from playoff contention.

 

·         AFC WEST:  The Oakland Raiders (10-4) have clinched their second consecutive division title and can earn a 

first-round bye with a win and a Miami loss or tie and a New York Jets loss or tie.

 

The Seattle Seahawks (7-7) are still in playoff contention.  Denver, Kansas City and San Diego have been eliminated.

 

·         NFC EAST:  The Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) can win their first division title since 1988 with a win or tie against the division-rival New York Giants (7-7).

 

The Giants are still in playoff contention.  Arizona, Dallas and Washington have been eliminated.

 

·         NFC CENTRAL:  The Chicago Bears (11-3), with 11 victories for the first time since they finished 11-5 in 1991, have clinched their first playoff berth since 1994, and can take their first division title since 1990 and a first-round bye with a win and a Green Bay loss or tie.

 

The Green Bay Packers (10-4) have captured their first playoff spot since 1998.

 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) can earn their fourth playoff berth in the past five years with a win and an Atlanta loss or tie.

 

Detroit and Minnesota have been eliminated from playoff contention.

 

·         NFC WEST:  The St. Louis Rams, with the best record in the NFC (12-2), have clinched a playoff spot, and can earn their second division title in three years and a first-round playoff bye with:  

 

 

The Rams can clinch homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win and a Chicago loss or tie.

                       

The San Francisco 49ers (11-3), who have exceeded their victory total of the past two seasons combined (10) have taken their first playoff berth in three years.

 

The eventual Western Division champion will clinch a first-round bye.  Atlanta (7-7) and New Orleans (7-7) are still in playoff contention.  Carolina has been eliminated.

 

The Week 16 schedule is crammed with highlight games:

 

* On Saturday night (ABC, 9:00 PM ET) in a special edition of ABC’s NFL Monday Night Football, the “Birds” are back, and the Bucs could be, too.

 

It’s the Baltimore Ravens at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first game ever between the two teams, but not the Ravens’ first visit to Raymond James Stadium.  It’s their favorite road stadium!  Only 11 months ago, they became the Super Bowl XXXV champions at the site.  And they want to use the venue as their springboard to a new title.  The 9-5 Ravens can clinch a playoff spot with a win or tie.

 

The Buccaneers, at 8-6, have rebounded from a 4-5 start to win four of their past five games and hold a prime position for one of the two remaining NFC playoff spots.  They are 12-1 at home in December under head coach TONY DUNGY.

 

“We’re in the driver’s seat now,” says Buccaneers defensive tackle WARREN SAPP.  “We’ve got to crank the car up and mash the gas.”

 

The driving in the game may be done by the teams’ defenses – two of the best in the NFL.

 

Baltimore’s “D” is ranked No. 3 in the AFC, and the Bucs are No. 4 in the NFC.  In the key statistic, points-allowed, the clubs also rank high.  Baltimore has surrendered 240 points, third-best in the AFC.  Tampa Bay has given up 253, fifth-best in the NFC.

 

The chant for the Ravens Saturday night could be to “Stop Alstott!”  The Bucs’ power back bulldozed for 101 yards last Sunday against New Orleans, which boasted the NFC’s No. 4 rush defense going into the game.  “It was straight downhill, pounding the football,” says Alstott.  “That’s what the Bucs do best.” 

 

The Ravens gave up their first 100-yard performance in 51 consecutive games last week when Cincinnati’s COREY DILLON rushed for 127 yards. 

 

The defenses will have to protect against potent air games too.  Bucs wide receiver KEYSHAWN JOHNSON leads the league in receptions with 102, and the Ravens’ QADRY ISMAIL – who last week became the team’s career leader with 184 catches – has the second-best yards-per-reception average (14.4) among the AFC’s top-15 receivers.   .      

 

Each team knows that Saturday is a key game.  “It’s not how you start in this league, it’s how you finish,” says Ravens safety ROD WOODSON.  “We understand that our destiny is in front of us.  If we want it, it’s there to take.”

 

*  NEW YORK GIANTS AT PHILADELPHIA:  One streak was broken, but another is in full force. 

 

That’s the background this week when NFC Eastern Division rivals New York and Philadelphia meet.  The last time they played (October 22), the Eagles broke a nine-game losing streak to the Giants, leapfrogging them to take over first place – which they have not relinquished since.  The Eagles win the division title by beating the Giants again.

 

The Giants are still in the playoff hunt, and have another streak going for them.  Since head coach JIM FASSEL took over the team’s reins in 1997, he has been the NFL’s “Mr. December,” posting a 15-3 (.833) record in the month, the best such mark in the league.  Fassel limits practices in pads during the season to keep his charges fresh.

 

At this point in the season and in the northeast weather, the key to the game could be each team’s rushing attack, and here they are well-stocked.  The Giants trot out TIKI BARBER, the NFC’s ninth-leading rusher with 729 yards.  The Eagles rely on DUCE STALEY, the conference’s No. 13 rusher.  Both have more than 1,000 scrimmage yards, with Staley coming off a 103-yard receiving day on nine catches against San Francisco. 

 

The Giants, like their Meadowlands mates the Jets, have won their last two games on late-fourth-quarter touchdown passes.  Quarterback Collins connected with wideout IKE HILLIARD last week for the winning score with 20 seconds left, after doing the same thing in Week 14 with AMANI TOOMER with 25 seconds left.

 

“This team has no quit,” says Fassel.  “I think that’s pretty evident the last two weeks with us on the edge.  As long as we have a chance, we’re going to fight.  We’re just going to fight to wherever it takes us.” 

 

*  ATLANTA AT MIAMI:  It’s Falcons vs. The Fish in a battle of a hot passing offense against the NFL’s top pass defense.

 

Atlanta comes off a wild 33-30 win over Buffalo Sunday that ended a three-game losing streak (after a three-game win streak) and kept them in the playoff race.  Falcons quarterback CHRIS CHANDLER, fighting the flu, threw for the second-most yards of the season, 431, and two touchdowns, and led Atlanta on a 23-yard drive to the game-winning field goal. 

 

It was the biggest passing-yardage game in Atlanta history and the first time a Falcons quarterback topped 400 yards since STEVE BARTKOWSKI – who is a good friend of Chandler – did so 20 years ago (416, 11/15/81).

 

But Chandler will face the NFL’s stingiest pass defense that allows 170.1 yards per game led by corners PATRICK SURTAIN and SAM MADISON, and safeties BRIAN WALKER and BROCK MARION.

 

“We have two tough road games coming up (St. Louis in Week 17),” says Chandler.  “But Green Bay was a tough road game, and we won that (23-20 in Week 10).  You can’t get too caught up in what’s going on around you.”

 

45th anniversary of ’56 “sneakers II” nfl title game

 

Forty-five years ago this Sunday, the NFL played a game that many feel changed its face forever.  It was the 1956 World Professional Football Championship between the Chicago Bears and New York Giants on December 30, 1965, and it is remembered not so much for the action on the field but for the buzz it created off it.

 

The Giants soundly defeated the Bears 47-7 that day in 18-degree weather at Yankee Stadium.  Wearing sneakers to gain better traction on the frozen field, New York quickly put the game out of reach.  Three minutes into the game, the Giants led 7-0.  Almost three minutes into the second quarter, it was 20-0.  By the half, it was 34-7.  The sneaker effect mirrored a Giants’ tactic used against the Bears in the 1934 NFL title game, also at Yankee Stadium. 

 

But the effect the game had on the citizens of New York was more noteworthy than the game itself.  “I’ll always believe that that game,” says Giants Pro Football Hall of Famer FRANK GIFFORD, “and how it opened everyone’s eyes to the excitement of pro football was the key to the development of the NFL today, more so than the ’58 title game that gets more attention.  People forget what the NFL was like in those days.  It was not America’s No. 1 sport.  The game wasn’t even a sellout.  But once we played the game, we became heroes in New York.  The thing just grew from there.”

 

WEEK 16

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29

BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-5) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-6)

SERIES

	RAVENS	BUCCANEERS
LEADER	First meeting between teams
STREAKS	--
COACHES VS. OPP.	Billick: 0-0	Dungy: 0-0
LAST WEEK	W 16-0 vs. Bengals	W 48-21 vs. Saints
LAST GAME	--
LAST GAME AT SITE	--
BROADCAST	ABC (9:00 PM ET): Al Michaels, Dan Fouts & Dennis Miller; Eric Dickerson & Melissa Stark (Field reporters).  CBS Radio: Howard David, Boomer Esiason, John Dockery (Field reporter)

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Grbac: 234-403-2,668-14-16-73.1	B. Johnson: 324-526-3,270-13-11-78.8
RBs	Allen: 125-451-3.6-3	Alstott: 148-589-4.0-9 (1C)
WRs	Ismail: 69-992-14.4-7	K. Johnson: 102 (1L)-1,237 (2C)-12.1-1
OFFENSE	322.6	303.2
TAKE/GIVE	-9	+14 (1C)
DEFENSE	289.6 (3C)	292.9
SACKS	Boulware: 11.0	S. Rice: 10.0
INTs	Starks: 4	Barber: 9 (T1L)
PUNTING	Richardson: 39.7	Royals: 41.5
KICKING	Stover: 98 (23/23 PAT; 25/30 FG)	Gramatica: 97 (28/28 PAT; 23/29 FG)

NOTES

TEAMS MEET for first time ever……RAVENS: Club returns to site of Super Bowl XXXV victory……Ravens 1-0 all-time on Monday Night Football……Baltimore has outscored foes 109-55 in fourth-quarter & +54 fourth-quarter point differential second in AFC (Miami +73)……Under head coach BRIAN BILLICK, club 22-5 (.815) after Nov. 1 (includes playoffs) ……QB ELVIS GRBAC passed for 202 yards & 1 TD in his last game vs. Bucs (11/14/99 with Chiefs)……RB TERRY ALLEN has 633 rushing yards (4.8 avg.), 4 TD runs & two 100s in 8 career games vs. Bucs……SHANNON SHARPE tops among all TEs with 66 catches……Defense (289.6) third in AFC……Rushing defense (85.9) second in AFC & tied for NFL-best with 3.4 defensive yards/carry avg……Club has not allowed first-quarter TD in past 8 games…… BUCCANEERS:  Are 10-0 at Raymond James Stadium in December. Head coach TONY DUNGY is 12-1 (.923) in December home games……Are 4-1 (.800) in past 5 appearances on Monday Night Football (1-0 in 2001)……Second of 3 consecutive home games to close out regular season……RB MIKE ALSTOTT leads NFC with career-high 9 rushing TDs. Ties for third in conference with 10 total TDs. RB WARRICK DUNN ranks second on club with career-high 66 receptions. Needs 57 yards from scrimmage for fifth consecutive 1,000-scrimmage yard season……WR KEYSHAWN JOHNSON needs 22 receptions in final 2 games to break HERMAN MOORE’s NFL record of 123 catches. Needs 186 receiving yards to break club record set by MARK CARRIER (1,422 in 1989)……SIMEON RICE has 7.0 sacks in past 4 games ……CB RONDE BARBER (3 INTs including INT-TD in Week 15 vs. NO) ties for NFL lead with career-high 9 INTs (2 others). Can become first player in NFL with 10 INTs since MARK CARRIER in 1990.

 

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30

ARIZONA CARDINALS (6-8) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-13)

SERIES

	CARDINALS	PANTHERS
LEADER		1-0
STREAKS		1-0
COACHES VS. OPP.	McGinnis: 0-0	Seifert: 2-1
LAST WEEK	W 17-10 vs. Cowboys	L 38-32 vs. Rams
LAST GAME	11/19/95: Cardinals 7 at Panthers 27.  Carolina’s defense holds Arizona to 96 total yards, 7 first downs & controls ball for 37:45.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/19/95
TV	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Ray Bentley, Jeff Lageman

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Plummer: 281-477-3,326-16-13-80.1	Weinke (R): 242-441-2,564-10-15-65.4
RBs	Pittman: 221-738-3.3-5	Huntley: 132-435-3.3-2
WRs	Boston: 89 (2C)-1,413 (1L)-15.9-6	Muhammad: 50-585-11.7-1
OFFENSE	312.9	258.1
TAKE/GIVE	-5	+6
DEFENSE	359.1	379.6
SACKS	Fredrickson: 4.0	Rucker: 8.0
INTs	Lassiter: 9 (T1L)	Evans: 8 (3C)
PUNTING	Player: 42.1	Sauerbrun: 47.7 (1L)
KICKING	Oglesby: 5 (2/2 PAT; 1/2 FG)	Kasay: 84 (21/22 PAT; 21/24 FG)

NOTES

CARDINALS: QB JAKE PLUMMER needs 2 TD passes to break career-high of 17 set in 1998. His 80.1 passer rating is also on pace for career best……RB MICHAEL PITTMAN needs 26 scrimmage yards for second consecutive 1,000-yards from scrimmage season. Has 5.6 yards per carry average (44 attempts for 246 yards) in past 4 contests vs. NFC West……WR DAVID BOSTON needs 13 catches & 172 yards in final 2 games to break club records held by LARRY CENTERS (101 catches) & ROB MOORE (1,584 yards). Has NFL-best 8 100-yard games this season. Can join Moore (1997) as only players in club history to lead league in receiving yards. In past 2 vs. NFC West, WR FRANK SANDERS averaging 25.0 yards per catch (6 receptions for 150 yards)……S KWAMIE LASSITER ties for NFL lead (2 others) with 9 INTs & can become first player in NFL with 10 since MARK CARRIER in 1990……PANTHERS:Past 5 games & 8 of past 10 decided by 6 points-or-less……Head coach GEORGE SEIFERT is 2-1 (.667) in career vs. Cardinals……QB CHRIS WEINKE needs 33 completions & 46 attempts to pass RICK MIRER (1993) for second-most ever by rookie. Leads NFL QBs with 6 rushing TDs……TE WESLEY WALLS has TD reception in 3 of past 5 vs. NFC East……In only career meeting, Panthers held Cardinals to 96 total yards (34 rushing, 62 passing) & had 37:45-22:15 TOP advantage……Rank second in NFC with 22 INTs & tie for second in conference with 33 total takeaways (Green Bay)……CB DOUG EVANS has 8 INTs, 1 off NFL leaders. No Panther has ever led league in INTs……P TODD SAUERBRUN leads NFL with 33 punts inside 20 & with 39.5 net average.

 

ATLANTA FALCONS (7-7) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (9-5)

SERIES

	FALCONS	DOLPHINS
LEADER		6-2
STREAKS		6-2
COACHES VS. OPP.	Reeves: 3-1	Wannstedt: 1-1
LAST WEEK	W 33-30 vs. Bills	L 20-13 at Patriots
LAST GAME	12/2798: Dolphins 16 at Falcons 38.  Atlanta RB Jamal Anderson rushes for 103 yards & 1 TD as Falcons score 3 TDs in final 7 minutes of game.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/3/95: Miami 21, Falcons 20.  Miami QB Dan Marino throws 21-yard TD pass to WR Irving Fryar with 11 seconds remaining to win game.
TV	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Kenny Albert, Tim Green

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Chandler: 216-354-2,796-16-13-85.6	Fiedler: 248-405-2,989-17-18-79.3
RBs	M. Smith: 214-708-3.3-4	Smith: 276-806-2.9-5
WRs	Mathis: 45-482-10.7-2	Gadsden: 52-659-12.7-2
OFFENSE	316.2	307.6
TAKE/GIVE	+3	-14
DEFENSE	368.6	283.6 (2C)
SACKS	Kerney: 10.5	Taylor: 7.5
INTs	Ambrose: 4	Marion: 3
PUNTING	Mohr: 38.6	Turk: 41.0
KICKING	Feely (R): 106 (3C) (25/25 PAT; 27/34 FG)	Mare: 83 (32/33 PAT; 17/18 FG)

NOTES

FALCONS: Head coach DAN REEVES is 3-1 (.750) career vs. Dolphins……QB CHRIS CHANDLER has passed for 680 yards in past 2 games, including career-high & club-record 431 vs. Bills in Week 15. In last game vs. Miami,completed all 3 pass attempts for 118 yards & 2 TDs for perfect 158.3 passer rating before leaving game. Needs 204 yards for second career 3,000-yard season (1998)……WR TONY MARTIN had 3 catches for 105 yards & 35-yard TD in 1998 contest. Martin was member of Dolphins from 1990-93 & 1999-2000. WR TERANCE MATHIS needs 5 catches for eighth 50-catch season in a row……Defense forced 6 turnovers (4 fumbles, 2 INTs) & held Miami to 38 rushing yards in last meeting…… DE PATRICK KERNEY needs 2.0 sacks for most by Falcon since sacks became official statistic in 1982, passing CHUCK SMITH’s 12.0 in 1997……Rookie K JAY FEELY was 4-4 vs. Bills in Week 15, including 52-yard game-winning FG with no time left……DOLPHINS:With playoff scenario this week, Dolphins could become only NFL club to earn playoff berth in each of past 5 seasons……QB JAY FIEDLER needs 11 yards to become second Miami passer to reach 3,000-yard mark (Dan Marino). Dartmouth-alum Fiedler (6,088 career passing yards) needs 143 to pass JEFF KEMP (Dartmouth) for second-most passing yards by former Ivy Leaguer (SID LUCKMAN, Columbia, 14,686 yards). He tops AFC with 10 fourth-quarter TD passes……WR CHRIS CHAMBERS (791 receiving yards) needs 84 yards to set club rookie receiving mark (874 by TERRY KIRBY, 1993). Chambers (124 receiving yards vs. Patriots) has club rookie-record tying 3 100s & needs one 100 to break tie with JACK CLANCY (1967)……Club has NFL’s No. 1 pass defense (170.1) & could be first Miami team to top league in category in full season since 1973……Special teams holds foes to 26.6 avg. drive start – tops in AFC.

 

BUFFALO BILLS (2-12) AT NEW YORK JETS (9-5)

SERIES

	BILLS	JETS
LEADER	45-36
STREAKS		5 of past 7
COACHES VS. OPP.	Williams: 0-1	Edwards: 1-0
LAST WEEK	L 33-30 at Falcons	W 29-28 at Colts
LAST GAME	10/7/01: Jets 42 at Bills 36.  New York RB Curtis Martin rushes for 135 yards & 2 TDs on 26 carries as QB Vinny Testaverde throws for 173 yards & 2 TDs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/17/00: Jets 27, Bills 14.  New York DB Marcus Coleman catches 45-yard TD as time expires at half & PR Kevin Williams returns punt 97 yards for score.
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Kevin Harlan, Craig James, Beasley Reece (Field reporter)

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Van Pelt: 159-273-1,852-11-10-77.1	Testaverde: 223-375-2,295-14-10-78.5
RBs	Henry (R): 213-729-3.4-4	C. Martin: 297-1,340 (2L)- 4.5-10
WRs	Centers (RB): 75-564-7.5-1	Coles: 47-658-14.0-6
OFFENSE	322.8	294.1
TAKE/GIVE	-13	+23 (1L)
DEFENSE	330.6	317.7
SACKS	Schobel (R): 6.5	Abraham: 12.0 (T2C)
INTs	Clements (R), Spoon (R), Winfield: 2	A. Glenn: 5
PUNTING	Moorman: 41.7	Tupa: 38.9
KICKING	Graham: 22 (4/4 PAT; 6/8 FG)	Hall: 89 (29/29 PAT; 20/27 FG)

NOTES

PAST 2 MEETINGS decided by 6 points-or-less.  Past 4 meetings featured 5 return TDs (4 by Jets; 1 by Bills)……BILLS: Final 2 foes have .643 win pct. (9-5 N.Y. Jets; 9-5 Dolphins)……Last 3 games decided by 3 points-or-less (1-2)……QB ALEX VAN PELT had 90.3 passer rating in first 2001 meeting (23 of 41 for 268 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT). He has 1,497 passing yards in 6 starts……Rookie RB TRAVIS HENRY had first career 100 (19 carries for 113 yards) in last meeting. He has two 100s & needs 1 to tie club rookie record (JOE CRIBBS, 1980; GREG BELL, 1984). RB LARRY CENTERS (760 catches) needs 4 receptions to tie JAMES LOFTON for ninth all-time……WR ERIC MOULDS has 27 receptions for 399 yards in past 4 games vs. Jets. He needs 202 yards over final 2 games to post third career 1,000……DE PHIL HANSEN has 9.0 career sacks vs. Jets – tops vs. any club. DE AARON SCHOBEL has 6.5 sacks & needs 2.0 to tie club rookie record (CORNELIUS BENNETT, 8.5 in 1987)……JETS: With playoff scenario, HERM EDWARDS can be 10th  head coach since 1990 to earn playoff berth in inaugural year……Club 5-2 in division games……Three of past 4 games decided by 1 point (2-1)……QB VINNY TESTAVERDE is 4-1 as Jet vs. Bills with 97.0 passer rating (95 of 149 for 1,096 yards, 10 TDs, 4 INTs)……Club has AFC’s No. 2 ground game (129.4). RB CURTIS MARTIN has 1,077 rush yards in 13 career games vs. Bills. Martin (10 TD runs) needs 1 to tie club season record (11 by three players). Jets 6-0 in 2001 when Martin (122 yards vs. Bills) has 100……TE ANTHONY BECHT had GW-TD catch in 4th quarter of past 2 games ……Offensive line has allowed 16 sacks – fewest in AFC……Club 9-2 all-time when DE JOHN ABRAHAM (1.0 sack vs. Colts) has at least 1.0 sack……Special teams hold foes to 26.7 avg. drive start – second in AFC.

 

CHICAGO BEARS (11-3) AT DETROIT LIONS (1-13)

SERIES

	BEARS	LIONS
LEADER	80-58-5
STREAKS		6 of past 7 at home
COACHES VS. OPP.	Jauron: 3-2	Mornhinweg: 0-1
LAST WEEK	W 20-15 at Redskins	L 47-14 at Steelers
LAST GAME	12/2/01: Lions 10 at Bears 13.  Chicago RB Leon Johnson scores 1-yard TD run with 5:34 remaining to ensure Bears their first winning season since 1995.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/24/00: Bears 23, Lions 20.  Chicago’s Paul Edinger kicks 54-yard FG with 2 seconds remaining to knock Lions from playoff contention.
TV	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Curt Menefee, Brian Baldinger

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Miller: 192-337-1,888-10-10-70.4	McMahon (R): 53-115-671-3-1-69.9
RBs	Thomas (R): 220-947-4.3-6	Stewart: 130-616-4.7-1
WRs	Booker: 85-919-10.8-8	Morton: 62-973-15.7-3
OFFENSE	289.0	306.9
TAKE/GIVE	+6	-12
DEFENSE	314.9	352.2
SACKS	Colvin: 8.5	Porcher: 10.0
INTs	Brown: 4	Lyght: 4
PUNTING	Maynard: 43.1	Jett: 43.9 (3C)
KICKING	Edinger: 91 (28/28 PAT; 21/26 FG)	Hanson: 83 (23/23 PAT; 20/27 FG)

NOTES

TEAMS HAVE SPLIT past 3 season series (Bears won Week 12 meeting)……Four of past 5 decided by 7 points-or-less……BEARS: Aim for first 12-win season since 1988……Are 11-0 when scoring 13+ points……Are 8-0 in games decided by 7 points-or-less……Have NFL-low 15 sacks allowed……RB ANTHONY THOMAS leads all NFC rookies with 947 rushing yards. Needs 53 to become first Bears’ rookie to rush for 1,000 yards since RASHAAN SALAAM (1,074) in 1995. Only other Bears’ rookie RB to accomplish was BEATTIE FEATHERS in 1934 (1,004). RB JAMES ALLEN has rushed for 252 yards in past 3 vs. Detroit……WR MARTY BOOKER needs 81 yards for first-career 1,000-yard season. Has 16 catches in past 2 vs. Lions……Opponents’ 190 points scored are second-fewest in NFC. Defense allowing 11.7 points per game on road……Rush defense (82.7) ranks first in NFC……LB BRIAN URLACHER scored 27-yard receiving TD off fake FG in Week 15 vs. Redskins, something never accomplished by former Bears’ LBs DICK BUTKUS & MIKE SINGLETARY (although Butkus did have PAT-reception). Was Urlacher’s second TD of season (INT return)……In last game at Detroit, K PAUL EDINGER kicked 3 FGs (2 50-yarders), including 54-yard game-winner with :02 remaining ……LIONS:Are 9-2 (.818) in past 11 at home vs. Bears……Rookie QB MIKE MC MAHON has only 1 INT in 115 career passes. Has rushed for 145 yards on season, averaging 5.4 yards per att. (27 att.)……In past 2 home games, RB JAMES STEWART has 34 attempts for 193 yards (5.7 avg.). Had career-best 97 rec. yards (5 catches) vs. Bears in Week 12……In past 11 games vs. Chicago, WR JOHNNIE MORTON has 7 TDs with 5 100-yard games, including career-high 174 yards (9/22/96). Has 51 catches for 899 yards (17.6 avg.) in those 11. Needs 27 yards for fourth career 1,000-yard season……DE ROBERT PORCHER has 3.0 sacks in past 3 home games vs. Bears.

 

CLEVELAND BROWNS (6-8) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (7-7)

SERIES

	BROWNS	TITANS
LEADER	30-26
STREAKS		Past 6
COACHES VS. OPP.	Davis: 0-1	Fisher: 6-3
LAST WEEK	L 30-7 at Packers	W 13-10 at Raiders
LAST GAME	12/2/01: Titans 31 at Browns 15.  Tennessee QB Steve McNair throws for 244 yards & 3 TDs as WR Derrick Mason has 3 receptions for 122 yards & 2 TDs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/19/00: Titans 24, Browns 10.  Tennessee RB Eddie George rushes for 134 yards & 3 second-half TDs.
TV	CBS (12:00 PM CT): Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Couch: 239-401-2,554-14-18-71.2	McNair: 237-388-2,903-18-12-86.7
RBs	White: 94-371-3.9-2	George: 268-759-2.8-3
WRs	K. Johnson: 72-947-13.2-8	Mason: 61-861-14.1-6
OFFENSE	255.0	326.5
TAKE/GIVE	+8	-4
DEFENSE	319.2	333.6
SACKS	J. Miller: 13.0 (1C)	Kearse: 10.0
INTs	Henry (R): 9 (T1L)	Four tied: 2
PUNTING	Gardocki: 43.4	Hentrich: 42.8
KICKING	P. Dawson: 83 (23/24 PAT; 20/23 FG)	Nedney: 83 (26/27 PAT; 19/27 FG)

NOTES

SECOND MEETING IN 29 DAYS……BROWNS: QB TIM COUCH has passed for 506 yards, 4 TDs & 1 INT in 3 career games vs. Titans. Couch needs 446 passing yards in final 2 games for first career 3,000-yard season……WR KEVIN JOHNSON needs 53 receiving yards for first career 1,000. Johnson has 4 TD catches in 5 career games vs. Titans…… LB JAMIR MILLER (13.0 sacks) needs 1.5 sacks for most by Browns player since 1982 (REGGIE CAMP, 14.0 in 1984)……Club tops NFL with 29 INTs & needs 3 to match season-record (32 in 1968).  Browns’ 58.6 defensive passer rating tops NFL……Rookie CB ANTHONY HENRY has 9 INTs & needs 1 to match club record (THOM DARDEN, 10 in 1978)……Defense has allowed 21 TDs – tied for tops in AFC (Pitt.)……Defense tops AFC allowing 4.47 yards/first-down play……TITANS: Aim for seventh consecutive win vs. Browns……QB STEVE MC NAIR 4-0 all-time vs. Browns.  He completed 11 of 17 attempts for 244 yards & 3 TDs for 147.7 passer rating in last meeting. He has won 11 of past 12 December/January regular-season starts with 19-to-6 TD-to-INT ratio. McNair needs 97 passing yards for second career 3,000-yard season……RB EDDIE GEORGE has rushed for 571 yards & 11 TDs in 5 career games vs. Browns. RB SKIP HICKS has 270 rushing yards & 7.3 avg. in past 3 games……WRs DERRICK MASON & KEVIN DYSON have combined for 841 receiving yards & 6 TD catches in past 5 games.  Mason has 24.4 yards/catch avg. in past 3 vs. Browns (10 catches for 244 yards). Mason needs 139 receiving yards for first career 1,000……Titans defense allowed 2 TDs in past 3 vs. Browns……K JOE NEDNEY has converted on 9 of 11 career lead-changing FG attempts after second-half two-minute warning (including GW vs. Raiders).

 

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (5-9) AT ST. LOUIS RAMS (12-2)

SERIES

	COLTS	RAMS
LEADER	21-16-2
STREAKS		3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Mora: 15-5	Martz: 0-0
LAST WEEK	L 29-28 vs. Jets	W 38-32 at Panthers
LAST GAME	10/1/95: Rams 18 at Colts 21.  Indianapolis RB Marshall Faulk rushes for 177 yards & 3 TDs as Colts hand Rams first loss of season.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/17/89: L.A. Rams 31, Colts 17.  Rams’ QB Jim Everett throws for 368 yards with 3 TDs, all to WR Henry Ellard.
TV	CBS (12:00 PM CT): Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, Bonnie Bernstein (Field reporter)

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Manning: 312-489-3,745 (1C)-24-21-85.6	Warner: 327-486-4,191 (1L)-30 (T1L)-18-99.2 (1L)
RBs	Rhodes (R): 182-880-4.8-8	Faulk: 215-1,096-5.1-8
WRs	Harrison: 95 (T3C)-1,300 (1C)-13.7-13 (1C)	Faulk (RB): 71-660-9.3-8
OFFENSE	382.8 (1C)	410.6 (1L)
TAKE/GIVE	-16	-10
DEFENSE	358.1	282.5 (2C)
SACKS	Washington: 6.5	Little: 10.5
INTs	Four tied: 2	Bly: 5
PUNTING	H. Smith: 44.4	Baker: 41.2
KICKING	Vanderjagt: 103 (37/38 PAT; 22/28 FG)	Wilkins: 114 (1C) (48/48 PAT; 22/27 FG)

NOTES

TEAMS MEET in St. Louis for first time & at Rams for first time since 1989 in Los Angeles……Game features NFL’s top 2 offenses (Rams 410.6; Colts 382.8)……COLTS:  Head coach JIM MORA is 15-5 (.750) in career vs. Rams (includes Saints)……QB PEYTON MANNING needs 255 passing yards for third consecutive 4,000-yard season……Rookie RB DOMINIC RHODES (126 yards & 1 TD vs. Jets) has 737 rushing yards & 7 TD runs in 8 starts. Rhodes’ 880 rushing yards most-ever by undrafted rookie.  Needs 120 yards to become third Colts’ rookie to rush for 1,000……WR MARVIN HARRISON needs five receptions for third consecutive 100-catch season. MARCUS POLLARD has 16.2 avg. – tops among TEs with at least 20 catches. He has two 100s & needs 1 to tie club mark by TE (JIM MUTSCHELLER, 3 in 1956). He has 8 TD catches & needs 1 to tie JOHN MACKEY (9 in 1966) for tops in season by Colts TE……RAMS: Are 13-3 (.813) in past 16 vs. AFC (including SB XXXIV). Are 3-0 in 2001……QB KURT WARNER has completed 74.5 percent of passes in past 2 games (41 of 55). Has second career 4,000-yard season & third in club history. In 12 career games vs. AFC (including SB XXXIV), Warner has completed 292 of 422 passes (69.2 pct.) for 3,910 yards (325.8 yards per game) with 31 TDs vs. 10 INTs for 113.0 passer rating……RB MARSHALL FAULK faces former team for first time. Faulk with Colts from 1994-98, rushing for 5,320 yards (4 1,000-yard seasons) & scoring 51 TDs with Indy. In past 8 games vs. AFC, has averaged 162.3 scrimmage yards per game & scored 12 TDs. Has 3 200-yard rushing games in past 21 games, including 202 vs. Carolina in Week 15. Needs 244 scrimmage yards for fourth consecutive 2,000-scrimmage yards season……Have NFC’s No. 2 rush defense (85.4). Have not allowed 100-yard rusher in past 14 games……DBs have scored 5 return TDs.

 

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-9) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (6-8)

SERIES

	CHIEFS	JAGUARS
LEADER		2-0
STREAKS		2-0
COACHES VS. OPP.	Vermeil: 0-0	Coughlin: 2-0
LAST WEEK	W 20-17 vs. Chargers	W 33-3 at Vikings
LAST GAME	9/13/98: Chiefs 16 at Jaguars 21.  Jacksonville RB James Stewart rushes for 103 yards & 1 TD as QB Mark Brunell completes 11 of 18 attempts for 126 yards & 1 TD.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/13/98
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Don Criqui, Steve Tasker

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Green: 255-455-3,305-14-21-70.1	Brunell: 248-400-2,837-16-9-87.3 (3C)
RBs	Holmes: 277-1,347 (1L)-4.9-7	Mack: 186-686-3.7-8
WRs	Gonzalez (TE): 63-830-13.2-4	Smith: 100 (1C)-1,259 (2C)-12.6-7
OFFENSE	357.1 (3C)	298.0
TAKE/GIVE	-7	-2
DEFENSE	320.3	313.1
SACKS	Clemons: 6.0	Brackens: 10.0
INTs	Warfield: 3	Beasley: 3
PUNTING	Stryzinski: 40.9	Hanson: 44.3
KICKING	Peterson: 92 (23/24 PAT; 23/29 FG)	Hollis: 77 (26/27 PAT; 17/25 FG)

NOTES

CHIEFS: Aim for third consecutive victory……Past 3 games decided by 3 points-or-less (2-1)……Club has opened past 3 games with scores on first possession (2 TDs, 1 FG)……Offense averages 5.98 yards/play on first down – second in AFC (Colts)……Passing game (229.3) No. 2 in AFC. QB TRENT GREEN (3,305 passing yards) needs 195 yards to become third passer in club history with 3,500-yard season (BILL KENNEY, ELVIS GRBAC)……RB PRIEST HOLMES has 1,347 rush yards & needs 134 to break CHRISTIANOKOYE’s club mark (1,480 in 1989). He has six 100s & needs two to tie for club season record (Okoye, 8 in 1989). He had 54 rush yards & 5.4 avg. in last start vs. Jaguars (9/10/00 with Ravens)……TE TONY GONZALEZ has 14 catches for 136 yards in 2 career games vs. Jaguars. Gonzalez (830 receiving yards) needs 170 receiving yards in final 2 games for second consecutive 1,000……JAGUARS: Aim for fourth consecutive victory……QB MARK BRUNELL is 2-0 all-time vs. Chiefs completing 20 of 38 passes for 325 yards and 2 TDs for 99.1 passer rating. Brunell tied for AFC lead with 8 third-down TD passes (Gannon)……RB STACEY MACK (111 rushing yards & 2 TDs vs. Vikings) aims for third consecutive 100……WRs JIMMY SMITH & KEENAN MC CARDELL have 678 receiving yards in past 4 games. Smith (122 receiving yards vs. Vikings) has three 100s in past 4 games (vs. three 100s in season’s first 10 games). Smith averages 21.1 yards/catch in 2 career games vs. Chiefs (8 catches for 169 yards). McCardell needs 115 receiving yards for second consecutive & fourth career 1,000……DE TONY BRACKENS (2.0 sacks vs. Minnesota) has 9.0 sacks in past 7 games. Brackens (10.0 sacks) needs 2.0 sacks to match season-high 12.0 in 1999.

 

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (5-9) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-4)

SERIES

	VIKINGS	PACKERS
LEADER	40-39-1
STREAKS		6 of past 7 at home
COACHES VS. OPP.	Green: 11-8	Sherman: 2-1
LAST WEEK	L 33-3 vs. Jaguars	W 30-7 vs. Browns
LAST GAME	10/21/01: Packers 13 at Vikings 35.  Minnesota QB Daunte Culpepper throws for 1 TD & rushes for another while Vikings’ defense holds Packers to 234 total yards.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/6/00: Packers 26, Vikings 20 (OT).  Green Bay WR Antonio Freeman catches game-winning 43-yard TD while lying on ground 3:39 into overtime.
TV	FOX (12:00 PM CT): Pat Summerall, John Madden, Ron Pitts (Field reporter)

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Bouman: 51-89-795-8-4-98.3	Favre: 281-451-3,437-30 (T1L)-15-94.1 (2C)
RBs	Bennett (R): 134-526-3.9-2	Green: 265-1,255 (1C)-4.7-6
WRs	Moss: 78-1,214 (3C)-15.6-10	Green (RB): 57-558-9.8-2
OFFENSE	336.0	345.5
TAKE/GIVE	-15	+8
DEFENSE	364.4	293.6
SACKS	Hovan: 5.0	Gbaja-Biamila: 13.0 (T2L)
INTs	Griffith, E. Kelly (R): 2	Sharper, T. Williams: 4
PUNTING	Johnson: 43.0	Bidwell: 43.6
KICKING	Anderson: 64 (28/29 PAT; 12/14 FG)	Longwell: 88 (37/38 PAT; 17/27 FG)

NOTES

FOUR OF PAST 5 decided by 7 points-or-less. Clubs averaging 49.3 points per game in past 7 games……VIKINGS: Have NFC’s No. 2 pass offense (241.4)……In 7 career games vs. Pack, WR RANDY MOSS has 38 catches for 826 yards (118.0 yards per game) & 7 TDs. Has 5 100-yard games in those 7. Moss has 46 catches for 771 yards (16.8 avg.) & 8 TDs in past 7 games (110.1 per game). Needs 86 rec. yards for NFL-record fourth consecutive 1,300-yard season.  Tied for record at 3 with MICHAEL IRVIN & JERRY RICE (twice). WR CRIS CARTER needs 16 rec. yards to pass HENRY ELLARD (13,777) for third all time. In past 6 games vs. GB, has 30 catches for 442 yards (14.7 avg.) & 4 TDs. Needs 200 rec. yards in final 2 for ninth consecutive 1,000-yard season……Defense held Packers to 234 total & 160 passing yards in last meeting. Had 37:18-22:42 TOP advantage……PACKERS:Have won 11 of past 12 home games ……At home vs. Vikes, QB BRETT FAVRE is 6-2. Has 18 TDs vs. 6 INTs in those 8. Favre is 19-2 (.905) at home in December. Has sixth career 30-TD season, extending own NFL record. DAN MARINO has 4, no other player has 3. Tied for NFL-lead with 30 TD passes. Can become fourth player in NFL history to lead league 4 times (1995-97): joining Johnny Unitas (1957-60), Len Dawson (1962-63, 1965-66) & Steve Young (1992-94, 1998)……RB AHMAN GREEN has career-high 1,255 rush. yards.  Has 1,813 scrimmage yards & needs 187 for first 2,000-scrimmage yard season by Packer. In past 11 home games, Green has 1,623 scrim. yards & 11 TDs. Has 403 scrimmage yards & 3 TDs in past 3 vs. Vikes (134.3 per game)……Club’s 33 takeaways tie for second in NFC (Carolina)……S DARREN SHARPER has 3 INTs in past 3 vs. Vikes.

 

NEW YORK GIANTS (7-7) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (9-5)

SERIES

	GIANTS	EAGLES
LEADER	72-59-2
STREAKS	8 of past 9
COACHES VS. OPP.	Fassel: 9-1	Reid: 1-5
LAST WEEK	W 27-24 vs. Seahawks	L 13-3 at 49ers
LAST GAME	10/22/01: Eagles 10 at Giants 9.  Philadelphia QB Donovan McNabb throws 18-yard TD pass to WR James Thrash with 1:52 left while defense holds Giants to 238 total yards.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/10/00: Eagles 33, Giants 18.  New York QB Kerry Collins passes for 220 yards & 2 TDs as Giants control ball for more than 38 minutes.
TV	FOX (4:05 PM ET): Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston, Pam Oliver (Field reporter)

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Collins: 269-470-3,075-17-14-76.7	McNabb: 264-454-2,963-22-11-83.8
RBs	Barber: 141-729-5.2-3	Staley: 158-581-3.7-2
WRs	Toomer: 64-906-14.2-4	Staley (RB): 61-627-10.3-2
OFFENSE	313.6	304.7
TAKE/GIVE	0	+10 (3C)
DEFENSE	300.1	288.9 (3C)
SACKS	Strahan: 18.0 (1L)	H. Douglas: 8.5
INTs	Allen (R), Sehorn, S. Williams: 3	Vincent: 3
PUNTING	R. Williams: 43.4	Landeta: 44.2 (2C)
KICKING	Andersen: 86 (26/27 PAT; 20/25 FG)	Akers: 104 (32/33 PAT; 24/26 FG)

NOTES

GIANTS: Have scored game-winning TD with less than 1:00 remaining in each of past 2 games……Head coach JIM FASSEL is 9-1 (.900) in career vs. Eagles……Have won 9 of past 10 contests between teams, including last year’s Divisional Playoff 20-10.  New York has outscored Philadelphia 227-125 in those 10……QB KERRY COLLINSbecame first Giant with back-to-back 3,000-yard seasons since PHIL SIMMS (1988-89). Has 0 INTs in 6 career games vs. Philly……Have held Eagles to fewer than 20 points in 8 consecutive games, including playoff……In 6 career meetings, defense has held Eagles’ QB McNabb to 48.6 comp. pct. (68 of 140) & has 2 INTs……DE MICHAEL STRAHAN has 4.0 sacks in past 2 vs. Eagles, including playoff. Leads NFL with career-high 18.0 sacks, second-most in club history & most in NFL since CLYDE SIMMONS had 19.0 in 1992……EAGLES: Can clinch first NFC East title since 1988 with win or tie……QB DONOVAN MC NABB needs 37 passing yards to become first Eagles’ QB since RANDALL CUNNINGHAM (1988-90) & fourth in club history (RON JAWORSKI, 1980-81; SONNY JURGENSEN, 1961-62) with consecutive 3,000-yard seasons……RB DUCE STALEY has 956 scrimmage yards in past 7 games (136.6 per game). His 61 catches for 627 yards are both career highs……WR JAMES THRASH leads club with career-high 690 receiving yards (on career-best 56 catches) & career-most 7 TDs ……Opponents’ 174 points allowed are fewest in NFL. On pace for 199 points allowed, would be lowest in club history in 16-game season……Have allowed 24 points-or-fewer in 30 consecutive games, longest streak since Vikings’ 31 from 1973-75……Have allowed 267 passing yards (133.5 per game) in past 2 vs. Giants……K DAVID AKERS has made club-record 17 consecutive FGs.

 

OAKLAND RAIDERS (10-4) AT DENVER BRONCOS (7-7)

SERIES

	RAIDERS	BRONCOS
LEADER	50-30-2
STREAKS		7 of past 8
COACHES VS. OPP.	Gruden: 1-6	Shanahan: 11-2
LAST WEEK	L 13-10 vs. Titans	Bye (Wk 14: L 26-23 at Chiefs)
LAST GAME	11/5/01: Broncos 28 at Raiders 38.  Oakland QB Rich Gannon completes 25 of 34 attempts for 242 yards & 3 TDs as WR Tim Brown has 9 catches for 95 yards & 2 TDs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/13/00: Broncos 27, Raiders 24.  Denver’s Jason Elam kicks game-winning 41-yard FG as time expires & Broncos LB Ian Gold scores on 12-yard blocked-punt return.
TV	CBS (2:15 PM MT): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, Armen Keteyian (Field reporter)

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Gannon: 303-462-3,291-24 (T1C)-7-97.4 (1C)	Griese: 240-393-2,534-21-15-81.7
RBs	Garner: 183-732-4.0-1	Davis: 131-530-4.0-0
WRs	Brown: 78-1,036-13.3-9	Smith: 98 (2C)-1,195 (3C)-12.2-10
OFFENSE	335.0	311.9
TAKE/GIVE	-1	+10 (2C)
DEFENSE	324.1	293.2
SACKS	Coleman: 5.5	Pryce: 7.0
INTs	James: 4	O’Neal: 7 (3C)
PUNTING	Lechler: 46.2 (1C)	Rouen: 45.8 (2C)
KICKING	Janikowski: 106 (3C) (40/40 PAT; 22/27 FG)	Elam: 109 (2C) (28/28 PAT; 27/31 FG)

NOTES

PAST 5 MEETINGS HAVE BEEN decided by total of 31 points. Clubs have combined for 174 points in past 3 meetings (58.0 per game)……RAIDERS: Team aims for consecutive 11-win seasons for first time since 1983-85……Club ranks second in AFC with 56.9 red-zone TD pct……Club’s past 5 games decided by 8 points-or-less (3-2)……QB RICH GANNON completed 25 of 34 attempts for 242 yards & 3 TDs for 122.4 passer rating in last meeting. Gannon tops AFC with 102.1 fourth-quarter passer rating (8 TDs, 1 INT)……WR TIM BROWN has 26 catches for 309 yards & 5 TDs in past 3 vs. Broncos. His 13 TD catches vs. Broncos are tied for his most vs. any club (Seattle). He has 9 TDs (8 receptions, 1 PR) in past 8 games. WR JERRY RICE needs 27 receiving yards for 13th career 1,000-yard season. Rice (9 TD catches) needs 1 TD reception for 10th 10-TD catch season……Offensive line has allowed only 23 sacks – tied for third in AFC (S.D.)……Club has 31.5 avg. drive start – second in AFC……P SHANE LECHLER (AFC-high 46.2 avg.) aims to become first Raider since 1994 to top conference (JEFF GOSSETT, 43.9)……BRONCOS: Head coach MIKE SHANAHAN has won 11 of 13 contests against Raiders……QB BRIAN GRIESE 3-1 career as starter vs. Raiders……Club second in AFC with 31:48 avg. possession time……WR ROD SMITH (10 receptions for 91 yards & 2 TDs in last meeting) has 100s against all AFC West foes – except Raiders. He needs two receptions for second consecutive 100-catch season & 4 catches to break ED MC CAFFREY’s club record (101 in 2001). Smith ranks second in AFC with 10 TD catches……Denver TEs have combined for 95 receptions, 950 yards & 12 TDs……K JASON ELAM has converted 15 of past 16 FG attempts……Broncos hold foes to 26.8 avg. drive start – third in AFC.

 

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (12-2) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (4-10)

SERIES

	STEELERS	BENGALS
LEADER	36-26
STREAKS	16 of past 21
COACHES VS. OPP.	Cowher: 14-5	LeBeau: 0-3
LAST WEEK	W 47-14 vs. Lions	L 16-0 at Ravens
LAST GAME	10/7/01: Bengals 7 at Steelers 16.  Pittsburgh RB Jerome Bettis rushes for 153 yards on 23 carries as QB Kordell Stewart throws for 151 yards & rushes for 61 yards with 1 TD.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/26/00: Steelers 48, Bengals 28.  Pittsburgh QB Kordell Stewart accounts for 4 TDs (3 passing, 1 rushing) as Steelers convert 3 fumble recoveries into 21 points.
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Gus Johnson, Brent Jones

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Stewart: 239-391-2,786-11-5-86.8	Kitna: 250-466-2,465-10-20-58.1
RBs	Bettis: 225-1,072-4.8-4	Dillon: 297-1,137-3.8-8
WRs	Ward: 87-929-10.7-4	Warrick: 55-525-9.5-1
OFFENSE	371.3 (2C)	272.9
TAKE/GIVE	+9 (3C)	-10
DEFENSE	244.3 (1L)	299.3
SACKS	Gildon: 10.0	Wilson: 9.0
INTs	Scott: 5	Hawkins: 2
PUNTING	Miller: 43.1	Harris: 40.4
KICKING	K. Brown: 115 (1L) (28/30 PAT; 29/43 FG)	Rackers: 55 (19/19 PAT; 12/21 FG)

NOTES

GAME FEATURES AFC’s top 2 sack teams – Pittsburgh (49), Cincinnati (43)……STEELERS: Aim for AFC-best 8th consecutive victory……With win, club would be AFC No. 1 seed for first time since 1994……Club’s 13 turnovers fewest in NFL……QB KORDELL STEWART has won 7 of past 8 December starts. He has won 16 of past 19 starts. Stewart has 5 TD passes & 0 INTs in past 2 games (vs. 6 TDs & 5 INTs in first 12 games)……Ground game (177.1) tops NFL.RB JEROME BETTIShas 1,278 rushing yards (nine 100s) in 12 career games vs. Bengals. Vs. Lions, RB CHRIS FUAMATU-MA’AFALA had career-high 126 rushing yards……Steelers aim for first-ever season with two 1,000-yard receivers (HINES WARD, 929 & PLAXICO BURRESS, 858). Ward has 318 receiving yards & 3 TDs in past 4 vs. Bengals. Burress aims for third consecutive game with TD catch……Club aims to top NFL in defense for first time since 1990……LB JASON GILDON (3.0 sacks in past 2 games) has 7.0 sacks in past 7 vs. Bengals. LB JOEY PORTER has 4.0 sacks in past 3 vs. Cincinnati……BENGALS:RB COREY DILLON is averaging 4.4 yards-per-carry in his past 7 vs. Steelers (138 for 603).  Vs. Ravens, Dillon (24 carries for 127 yards) snapped Baltimore’s 46-game regular-season streak of not allowing 100-yard rusher. Dillon (8 TD runs) needs two scoring runs for second 10 TD-run season. He has 8 TDs in past 8 games (6 rushing, 2 receiving)……WR DARNAY SCOTT has 427 receiving yards (two 100s), 21.4 avg. & 4 TDs in his past 5 vs. Steelers……Club has 19 sacks in past 4 games (vs. 24 in first 10 games). DE JUSTIN SMITH has NFL rookie-high 7.5 sacks & needs 1.0 to break club rookie mark (JAMES FRANCIS, 8.0 in 1990). Vs. Ravens, LB REINARD WILSON had career-high 3.0 sacks……Defense allows 4.52 yards/first-down play – third in AFC.

 

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (11-3) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (4-10)

SERIES

	49ERS	COWBOYS
LEADER	13-7-1
STREAKS	4 of past 5
COACHES VS. OPP.	Mariucci: 2-0	Campo: 0-1
LAST WEEK	W 13-3 vs. Eagles	L 17-10 at Cardinals
LAST GAME	9/24/00: 49ers 41 at Cowboys 24.  San Francisco RB Charlie Garner rushes for club-record 201 yards & QB Jeff Garcia passes for 4 TDs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/24/00
TV	FOX (12:00 PM ET): Sam Rosen, Bill Maas

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Garcia: 281-447-3,046-26-12-91.1 (3C)	Carter (R): 64-125-673-3-6-55.2
RBs	Hearst: 226-1,114-4.9-4	Smith: 217-818-3.8-2
WRs	Owens: 86 (3C)-1,203-14.0-14 (1L)	Ismail: 46-717-15.6-2
OFFENSE	356.9 (2C)	265.6
TAKE/GIVE	+11 (2C)	-9
DEFENSE	314.9	282.0 (1C)
SACKS	Carter (R): 4.5	Ellis: 6.0
INTs	Plummer: 7	Woodson: 3
PUNTING	Baker: 41.0	Knorr: 40.4
KICKING	Cortez: 90 (39/39 PAT; 17/23 FG)	Hilbert: 32 (8/8 PAT; 8/13 FG)

NOTES

GAME FEATURES two winningest teams in NFC since 1970 – SF: 294-189-3 (.609), Dal: 294-192-0 (.605)……

49ERS: Have won 5 of past 6 meetings, including ‘94 title game……Head coach STEVE MARIUCCI has never lost to Cowboys (2-0)……In last meeting vs. Dallas, QB JEFF GARCIA completed 16 of 26 passes (61.5 pct.) for 178 yards with 4 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 121.5 passer rating……RB GARRISON HEARST’s 1,114 rushing yards & 1,441 scrimmage yards are both career second-bests……WR TERRELL OWENS needs 1 TD to set new career high (14 in 1998), which would tie JERRY RICE (3 times) for third in club history. Also needs 12 catches & 249 receiving yards to break career highs set in 2000 (97 for 1,451). Had 2 TD receptions in last meeting vs. Dallas……Total (17) & fumble (5) giveaways are fewest in NFC……Have allowed 3 total points in past 2 games……Defense has held Cowboys’ RB Smith to 62 rushing yards (31.0 yards per game) in past 2 meetings……Club’s 20 INTs rank third in NFC……CB AHMED PLUMMER’s 7 INTs are most since MERTON HANKS’ 7 in 1994. Can become first 49er with 8 since RONNIE LOTT’s 10 in 1986…… COWBOYS: Have won 3 of past 5 at home……In last home start, rookie QB QUINCY CARTER completed 17 of 26 passes (65.4 pct.) for 194 yards with 1 TD vs. 0 INTs for 100.5 passer rating……Have NFC’s No. 2 rush offense (135.1)……RB EMMITT SMITH needs 182 rushing yards for NFL-record 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season. Tied with BARRY SANDERS for most total 1,000-yard seasons with 10. Has 11 total TDs in 10 career games (includes playoffs) vs. SF. Had third 100-yard game of season vs. Arizona in Week 15. Has 73 career, third all-time. At home, RB TROY HAMBRICK is averaging 5.4 yards per carry (152 yards on 28 attempts) & has scored both TDs……Defense’s 282.0 yards per game lead NFC & are fewest by Cowboys’ “D” since 273.9 for all of 1996…...PR REGGIE SWINTON ranks second in NFL with 14.0 average.

 

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7-7) AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (5-10)

SERIES

	SEAHAWKS	CHARGERS
LEADER	23-22
STREAKS	8 of past 10
COACHES VS. OPP.	Holmgren: 4-2	Riley: 2-3
LAST WEEK	L 27-24 at Giants	L 20-17 at Chiefs
LAST GAME	11/29/01: Chargers 10 at Seahawks 13 (OT).  Seattle RB Shaun Alexander rushes for 87 yards & 1 TD as K Rian Lindell makes game-tying & game-winning FGs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/24/00: Seahawks 20, Chargers 12.  Seattle rookie WR Darrell Jackson catches 68-yard TD pass & CB Willie Williams returns INT for 69-yard score.
TV	CBS (1:15 PM PT): Bill Macatee, Trevor Matich, Scott Kaplan (Field reporter)

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Hasselbeck: 176-321-2,023-7-8-70.9	Flutie: 260-468-3,087-14-16-71.6
RBs	Alexander: 266-1,132-4.3-13 (1L)	Tomlinson (R): 325-1,198 (3C)-3.7-10
WRs	D. Jackson: 59-896-15.2-4	Conway: 60-969-16.2-5
OFFENSE	291.1	320.1
TAKE/GIVE	+5	+4
DEFENSE	321.4	306.5
SACKS	Randle: 9.5	Wiley: 12.0 (T2C)
INTs	W. Williams: 4	McNeil: 8 (2C)
PUNTING	Feagles: 44.5 (3C)	Bennett: 42.3
KICKING	Lindell: 85 (28/28 PAT; 19/29 FG)	Richey: 89 (26/26 PAT; 21/32 FG)

NOTES

ALL-TIME SERIES HAS SIX-POINT scoring differential over 45 meetings (Seahawks 928, Chargers 922)……Eight of past 9 meetings decided by 8 points-or-less.  Past two decided by 3 points-or-less……SEAHAWKS: Ground game (123.2) fifth in AFC. RB SHAUN ALEXANDER (TD run & reception vs. Giants) has NFL-high 13 TD runs & AFC-high 15 total TDs (2 rec.). He needs 1 TD to tie club season mark (CHRIS WARREN, 16 in 1995) & aims to be first Seahawk to lead AFC in TDs since 1990 (DERRICK FENNER, 15). Alexander (96 rush yards vs. Giants) averages 107.8 yards per start in 2001……WR DARRELL JACKSONhas four 100s & needs 1 to tie STEVE LARGENT (1984) & BRIAN BLADES (1989) for second-most in season in club history (Largent, 6 in 1979). Jackson (896 yards) needs 104 yards to become first 1,000-yard receiver for Seattle since 1998 (JOEY GALLOWAY)……Vs. Giants, DT JOHN RANDLE scored first career TD (FR)….. CHARGERS:QB DOUG FLUTIE 2-2 all-time vs. Seahawks. He has passed for 855yards, 5 TDs & 83.7 passerrating in his past3 vs. Seattle (with Bills). Flutie is 21-6 (.778) all-time in home starts……Rookie RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON (145 rush yards vs. Chiefs) has 1,198 rush yards & needs 153 yards in final 2 games to break club season rushing record (NATRONE MEANS, 1,350 yards in 1994). He ranks third in AFC with 74 first downs……WR JEFF GRAHAM has 315 receiving yards & 3 TDs in past 4 games. WR CURTIS CONWAY needs 31 receiving yards for first 1,000 since 1996……Defense allows 3.4 yards/carry – tied for tops in NFL……KR RONNEY JENKINS leads AFC with 27.3 avg. Club has NFL-best 33.4 avg. drive start.

 

SUNDAY NIGHT

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (6-8) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7-7)

SERIES

	REDSKINS	SAINTS
LEADER	12-5
STREAKS	7 of past 8
COACHES VS. OPP.	Schottenheimer: 2-3	Haslett: 0-0
LAST WEEK	L 20-15 vs. Bears	L 48-21 at Buccaneers
LAST GAME	9/11/94: Redskins 38 at Saints 24.  Washington QB John Friesz throws 4 TD passes & KR-PR Brian Mitchell has 225 total yards & 1 TD on 5 returns.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/11/94
BROADCAST	ESPN (7:30 PM CT): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, Paul Maguire, Suzy Kolber (Field reporter). ESPN Deportes: Eduardo Varela, Fuad Reveiz, Luz Ramos (Field reporter). CBS Radio: Tony Roberts, Bob Trumpy

 

STAT LEADERS

QBs	Banks: 176-330-2,138-9-8-72.5	Brooks: 277-497-3,586-25-15-82.8
RBs	Davis: 297-1,173 (2C)-3.9-3	R. Williams: 285-1,138 (3C)-4.0-6
WRs	Westbrook: 52-602-11.6-4	Horn: 78-1,208-15.5-9
OFFENSE	273.7	349.1 (3C)
TAKE/GIVE	+3	+3
DEFENSE	317.6	314.3
SACKS	Lang, Smith: 4.0	Clemons: 11.5 (3C)
INTs	Smoot (R): 4	S. Knight: 6
PUNTING	Barker: 41.3	Gowin: 42.0
KICKING	Conway: 78 (18/18 PAT; 20/27 FG)	Carney: 109 (2C) (31/31 PAT; 26/29 FG)

NOTES

REDSKINS: Have won past 3 road games. Have allowed 23 total points in those 3……Have won 7 of past 8 meetings, outscoring NO 178-129 in those 8……Club’s 11 INTs thrown tie for fewest in NFC with Philadelphia & Tampa Bay……In past 4 games vs. NFC West, RB STEPHEN DAVIS has 89 attempts for 389 yards (4.4 avg.) & 2 TDs. Needs 175 yards to pass JOHN RIGGINS (1,347 in 1983) for third-best in club history. Needs 3 carries for second consecutive 300-carry season……WR ROD GARDNER leads club & all NFC rookies with 716 receiving yards……Have held 9 of past 10 opponents to 20 points-or-less……DE BRUCE SMITH has 2.0 career sacks vs. Saints……CB DARRELL GREEN has 1 INT in career vs. NO……SAINTS:Have outscored opponents 108-27 in third quarter……Rank third in NFC in pass offense (236.8)……In past 7 games, QB AARON BROOKS averaging 289.9 passing yards per game. On pace for 4,098 passing yards, which would be first 4,000-yard season in club history. Current record is 3,970 by JIM EVERETT (1995). Brooks needs 72 rushing yards to become only fifth different QB to pass for 3,500 yards & rush for 400 in same season ……RB RICKY WILLIAMS needs 125 rushing yards to pass DALTON HILLIARD (1,262 in 1989) for third-most in club history. In past 3 at home, Williams has 412 total yards from scrimmage (279 rushing, 133 receiving)……WR JOE HORN has 24 catches for 329 yards (109.7 yards per game) in past 3 at home. WR WILLIE JACKSON needs 38 receiving yards for first career 1,000-yard season. Horn & Jackson can become first duo in Saints’ history with 1,000 receiving yards each in same season……Tie for second in NFL (Pitt.) with 49 sacks……Saints have INT in each of 7 career games vs. Redskins’ QB Banks (with SL & Balt.). Have 10 INTs in those 7.

 

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS HAVE OPEN DATE IN WEEK 16

 

NEW ENGLAND (10-5):Team has five consecutive wins for first time since 1994 (7 in a row)……With Week 17 win, club would clinch first home playoff game since 1997……Patriots went 4-0 in December for first time since 1994……Club is 6-2 vs. AFC East……QB TOM BRADY 10-3 as starter……RB ANTOWAIN SMITH (156 rushing yards & 1 TD vs. Miami) has 1,076 rushing yards – his first 1,000-yard season since 1998. He has 14 TD runs in past 16 games. Patriots 4-0 when Smith rushes for 100 yards……WR TROY BROWN (95 catches) needs 2 catches to pass BEN COATES (96 in 1994) for club season record. He has 75 catches for 898 yards in past 11 games……Club allows 17.7 points per game (vs. 21.1 last season). Red-zone defense (39.6 TD pct.) tops in AFC.……At Carolina, 1/6.

 

 

 

2001 NFL STANDINGS

 

x- Clinched Playoff Berth

y- Clinched Division Title

 

 

 

 

 

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE	INTERCONFERENCE	NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
Buffalo at Miami, 4:15	Jacksonville at Chicago, 12:00	Arizona at Washington, 1:00
Cincinnati at Tennessee, 12:00	New England at Carolina, 1:00	Atlanta at St. Louis, 3:05
Denver at Indianapolis, 12:00	Minnesota at Baltimore, Monday, 9:00 (ABC)	Dallas at Detroit, 1:00
Kansas City at Seattle, 1:15		Green Bay at N.Y. Giants, 1:00
N.Y. Jets at Oakland, 1:15		Philadelphia at Tampa Bay, 8:30 (ESPN)
Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1:00		San Francisco at New Orleans, 12:00