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FOR USE AS DESIRED NFL-REG-8 10/30/01
RACES TIGHT AS NFL HEADS INTO NOVEMBER;BEARS MEET BROWNS IN BATTLE OF SURPRISE TEAMS;BRONCOS-RAIDERS MONDAY NIGHT HIGHLIGHTS DIVISION CLASHESThe weather’s getting cooler. But in the NFL, the climate is blazing hot. Surprise teams…see-saw games…tight races. They all have melded together after seven weeks of the schedule to produce, once again, your typical cauldron of an NFL season. In five of the six divisions, no more than 1½ games separate at least the top three clubs. Fourteen teams are over .500. The “unbeatable” St. Louis Rams are now beaten. The surprising Chicago Bears are now 5-1 after rallying from a 19-point deficit Sunday to defeat the equally-surprising San Francisco 49ers in overtime. That was one of four NFL games last week that saw double-digit comeback wins. And the season’s mid-point doesn’t come till next week (November 11-12)! “That’s the NFL now,” says 49ers head coach STEVE MARIUCCI. “Don’t we say that every year now? It’s just crazy. It’s hard to pick winners from week to week, which means the margin for error in every game is very small.” A perfect example of that slim NFL error margin was the 49ers’ game against Chicago. On the first play from scrimmage in overtime, San Francisco quarterback JEFF GARCIA threw to wideout TERRELL OWENS. The ball bounced off Owens and into the hands of Bears safety MIKE BROWN. Bingo! A 33-yard interception TD return by Brown gave Chicago its fifth consecutive victory in the shortest NFL overtime game ever (:16). The NFC Central-leading Bears have won five in a row for the first time since 1991 and are off to their best start since 1990 (9-1), when they finished 11-5. “Every Sunday we go in thinking we’re going to win, expecting to win,” says Brown, the team’s second-round draft choice from Nebraska last year. “That’s the difference between this year and last year.” This week, Chicago hosts a similar “this year/last year” team -- the Cleveland Browns. It’ll be “throwback” football. It’s the black shoes of the Bears, the orange helmets of the Browns. It’s Soldier Field. Real grass. A late fall day next to Lake Michigan. Just the way GEORGE HALAS and PAUL BROWN would have liked it. The 4-2 Browns have already won one less game than they did in the past two years combined, and sit in second place in the AFC Central behind the 5-1 Pittsburgh Steelers. “This is a different team,” says Browns wide receiver KEVIN JOHNSON, who has a TD catch in each of the club’s last three games. “We’re not the old Browns anymore. This is a new team with a new feeling.” It’s also a team with a new coach, BUTCH DAVIS, who tells his players that preparation (as in the weight room and film study) is as important as playing. In that vein, Davis had his coaching staff span out across the country last week during the team’s bye to scout next year’s draft-eligible college crop. “They saw 47 players at 14 schools,” Davis says proudly. NFL FACTOIDTEAM TURNAROUNDS -- More proof that you never know what to expect in the NFL: four teams have already equaled or bettered their win total of last season. And two can match their 2000 win total this week. Chicago (5 wins so far this year/5 all of last year), Cincinnati (4/4), Cleveland (4/3) and San Diego (5/1) have all equaled/exceeded their victory total of last season. This week, Arizona (2-4 in 2001) and Atlanta (3-3 this year) can equal their victory totals of 2000. Cleveland will not have an easy time of it in Chicago on Sunday in a game that has been moved to a 4:15 PM ET kickoff. It faces the NFL’s second-stingiest defense that has surrendered only 74 points (behind Pittsburgh’s 65), and one that has returned a takeaway for a score in three of its past four games. The Bears also lead the NFL in allowing the fewest points in the red-zone (44). But Chicago quarterback JIM MILLER (if his hip prevents him from playing, SHANE MATTHEWS, last week’s unflappable hero who directed the Bears to their comeback win, will start) will have to face the NFL’s fourth-ranked pass defense, one that leads the league in interceptions with 13. He also will confront the Browns’ 2000 first-round draft choice, defensive end COURTNEY BROWN, who is expected to play his first game this season after knee problems. In Pittsburgh in Week 8, it will be for both teams one more crucial AFC Central matchup in a long line of such games. The Steelers, fresh off a 34-7 defeat of Tennessee Monday night, are playing their second in a string of five divisional games, the visiting 4-3 Baltimore Ravens their third of six consecutive AFC Central contests. Three of the past four games in this series have been decided by seven points or less, including the last time the teams met (last October 29), the last loss for the Ravens in the season as they went on to capture the Super Bowl XXXV title. But this is a different year -- as it always seems to be in the NFL -- and the Steelers now boast the defense allowing the league’s fewest points and top overall defense (241.3 yards per game). Defensive end KIMO VON OELHOFFEN thinks he knows why – Steelers running back JEROME BETTIS, the AFC’s fifth-leading rusher with 612 yards who averages 5.5 yards per carry, highest among the conference’s top 10 rushers. “The big reason we’re No. 1 on defense is because of Jerome and the offensive line,” says von Oelhoffen. “They keep the ball away.” Bettis and his running mate AMOS ZEREOUE will go against the NFL’s No. 1 rush defense (65.7). The Ravens won last week (18-17 over Jacksonville) after losing two in a row, the first time that happened since three consecutive losses last October. “We’ve got to get out of this hole,” says Baltimore defensive end MICHAEL MC CRARY of the team’s tied-for-third-place position (Cincinnati). “We’re defending champs. We don’t plan on losing that championship easily. We’ve got to retain it.” In Green Bay this week in an NFC Central Division matchup, there’ll be some definite attempts at “retaining.” The third-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) will seek to maintain the momentum of their 41-14 victory over division-rival Minnesota Sunday. The hometown Packers (4-2), coming off a bye, want to forget their last game (a 35-13 loss to Minnesota) and revert to their three-wins-in-a-row dominance with which they opened the season. These two rivals (it’s the last game they’ll play as division opponents due to next year’s realignment) from such different climates always seem to play close games no matter what the temperature. Five of the past six meetings between the two have been decided by seven points or less, including this past October 7 – a 14-10 Bucs win in 90-degree Tampa heat. That day, in the Packers’ first loss in eight games, Tampa Bay intercepted quarterback BRETT FAVRE three times, with one pickoff being returned 98 yards for a TD by linebacker SHELTON QUARLES. A 95-yard Bucs scoring drive – the longest in team history – produced the winning touchdown (a MIKE ALSTOTT rumbling 39-yard romp). But that was then. This is now…in Green Bay – Favre’s lair. And although there’s no predicting whether the temperature will fall to 34-or-below so Favre can extend his perfect 27-0 home record in that clime, he is the NFL’s winningest home quarterback in the Super Bowl era (since 1967). The top five records in the category: HOME SWEET HOME(Minimum 25 starts)
The Bucs know what they’re facing in Wisconsin – Favre at home and the NFC’s top defense. But they bring with them the fresh memory of a 446-yard, 38:04 time-of-possession performance in Week 7. “We’ve got to take that feeling, that effort, and we’ve got to bottle it and take it with us to Green Bay,” says Alstott, who had 28 carries for 129 yards and three rushing TDs against Minnesota. “If we don’t, the win won’t mean anything. We’ve got to build off this.” The same can be said for both teams in this week’s Sunday night game (ESPN, 8:30 PM ET), the New York Jets at the New Orleans Saints. Both come off important victories. Both want to make it two in a row. The Jets edged Carolina on the road 13-12 in a win without an offensive touchdown, but one that nonetheless lifted them to 4-3, a half-game behind AFC East-leading Miami (4-2). “Sometimes you have to win ugly,” says Jets quarterback VINNY TESTAVERDE. The standings don’t count style points. The Saints pushed arch NFC West-rival St. Louis from their perch Sunday as the NFL’s lone unbeaten team by coming back from an 18-point deficit on the road to win 34-31. It should be a ground-shaking meeting of the NFL’s conference-leading running backs. The Jets’ CURTIS MARTIN leads the league in rushing with 738 yards – 262 away from joining BARRY SANDERS and ERIC DICKERSON as the only backs in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of their first seven seasons. The Saints’ RICKY WILLIAMS leads the NFC with 557 yards. Each also tops his conference in total scrimmage yards. Jets defensive coordinator TED COTTRELL knows what his charges are up against in Williams. “He’s got those big ol’ powerful thighs,” says Cottrell. “My goodness, he can go.” The game will also be a matchup of each conference’s top takeaway/giveaway teams. The Jets are +13 on the year, the Saints +12. Each has a combination of 20 takeaways, tops (Saints) or tying for the top (Jets with San Diego) in their conference. New Orleans head coach JIM HASLETT will switch the team’s training schedule in preparation for its first 2001 prime-time game. He will give his players off during the day Friday and hold practice at the Louisiana Superdome that night to simulate game conditions. “The players will like it because it will be like a dress rehearsal,” says Haslett. To conclude the week on Monday night in Oakland (ABC-TV, 9:00 PM ET), the “Raider Nation” will be decked out in its finest face-paint even though Halloween will be long over. It’s the Raiders hosting the Denver Broncos. What a way to top off the week! It’s the Raiders’ first home Monday night game since 1997. It’s an AFC West battle. It ties Dallas-Washington as the most-contested series in Monday Night Football history (12th game). It’s Gannon vs. Griese. It’s the NFL’s leading receiver ROD SMITH vs. the NFL’s all-time top receiver JERRY RICE (along with TIM BROWN). It’s the Raiders trying to snap a streak of seven consecutive losses to the Broncos, and five losses in a row to Denver on Monday night. It’s two teams “in the toughest division there is,” according to the Broncos’ Smith. And it’s a matchup of two clubs that are certainly evenly-matched in offenses run by quarterbacks RICH GANNON of Oakland and BRIAN GRIESE of Denver. The Monday night matchup: OFFENSIVE MIRROR IMAGES
About the Raiders’ seven consecutive losses to Denver? “We have to get over that hump,” says Oakland tackle LINCOLN KENNEDY. “This is the only animal left untamed in our cage.” WEEK 8SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4BALTIMORE RAVENS (4-3) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-1)SERIES
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NOTESTHREE OF PAST 4 MEETINGS decided by 7 points-or-less……Game features two of NFL’s top 2 defenses – No. 1 Pittsburgh (241.3) & No. 2 Baltimore (254.3)……RAVENS: Play third of 6 consecutive division games……Club has won 11 of past 15 vs. AFC Central (includes playoffs)……QB ELVIS GRBAC 2-1 as starter vs. Steelers. QB RANDALL CUNNINGHAM needs 179 passing yards for 30,000 career……RB TERRY ALLEN had 172 rush yards in only career game vs. Steelers……SHANNON SHARPE (657 career receptions) needs 6 catches to pass Ravens’ VP OZZIE NEWSOME for most catches by TE in NFL history.WR QADRY ISMAIL has 401 receiving yards & 4 TDs in past 3 vs. Steelers. Ismail(GW 2-yard TD catch vs. Jags) has TD catch in 4 of past 5 games……DE MICHAEL MC CRARY has 7.0 sacks in past 6 games. DE ROB BURNETT has 4.0 sacks in past 3 vs. Steelers……Run defense has not allowed 100-yard rusher in 40 consec. regular season games & has NFL-best 2.9 defensive yards/carry avg……K MATT STOVER has connected on 11 consecutive FGs……STEELERS: Play second of 5 consecutive division games……Since 2000, Steelers 8-0 when KORDELL STEWART has completion pct. of 59-or-better (5-0 this season)……Ground game (186.8) tops NFL. RB JEROME BETTIShas 671 rush yards in past 9 vs. Ravens……Vs. Titans, WR PLAXICO BURRESS had first career 100 (151 yards)……LB JOEY PORTER had 2 sacks in last meeting……Club has NFL-high 24 sacks…… Pittsburgh only NFL club not to allow first-quarter points……Club allows NFL-best 10.8 points per game. Defense has allowed 5 TDs in past 22 quarters……CB DEWAYNE WASHINGTON has 3 INT in past 4 meetings. CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-6) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (4-2)SERIES
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NOTES FIRST-EVER MEETING in Miami……PANTHERS:WESLEY WALLS leads all NFC TEs with 27 catches (285 receiving yards ) & ties for NFL lead among TEs with 4 receiving TDs (Saints’ CAM CLEELAND)……Club’s 12 INTs lead NFC & 19 total takeaways rank second in conference……Have allowed 30 points in past 2 games for 15.0 average vs. 23.2 average points allowed for first 5 games……CB DOUG EVANS has INT in 6 consecutive games. Only 5 players in NFL history have longer streaks – 4 with INT in 7 consecutive games & TOM MORROW’s NFL-record 8 consecutive in 1962-63. Evans’ 6 INTs are career high, passing previous best of 5 set in 1996 when with Packers……P TODD SAUERBRUN leads NFL with 39.6 net average & with 19 punts inside 20……Rookie PR STEVE SMITH ranks third in NFC with 12.4 average……DOLPHINS: Aim for fifth consecutive start of 5-2 or better……Are 3-1 in games decided by 8 points-or-less……QB JAY FIEDLER 15-7 all-time (.682) as starter. He leads AFC with 497 third-down passing yards & 91.5 third-down passer rating…… Offense leads AFC with 48.8 third-down conversion rate……Club fourth in AFC with 31:55 avg. poss. time. RB LAMAR SMITH (1-yard TD run vs. Seattle) has TD in 8 of past 10 games. Smith has 5.8 avg. in 2 career games vs. Carolina……Rookie WR-KR CHRIS CHAMBERS leads NFL with 24.1 yards per third-down catch……Offensive line has allowed only 5 sacks – fewest in AFC……Pass defense (177.2) third in AFC. S BRIAN WALKER had 2 INTs in only meeting vs. Panthers. CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-2) AT CHICAGO BEARS (5-1) SERIES
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NOTESBROWNS: Aim for 5-2 start (best since 6-1 in 1994 Wild Card season)……Have outscored foes 57-15 in first half……QB TIM COUCH has 5 TDs & 0 INTs in past 3 games. He leads AFC with 101.4 fourth-quarter passer rating……RB JAMES JACKSON ranks second among AFC rookies with 346 rushing yards……WR KEVIN JOHNSON aims for fourth consecutive game with TD catch for first time in career……DE COURTNEY BROWN could see first action of season. LB JAMIR MILLER has career-high 6.0 sacks……Club tops NFL with 13 INTs. CB ANTHONY HENRY tops all rookies with 4 INTs……Defense allows 4.15 yards per first-down play – second in AFC……Defense has allowed AFC second-fewest 13 red-zone trips (5 TD)……P CHRIS GARDOCKI leads AFC with 38.5 net punting avg.……BEARS: Off to best start since 1990 (9-1). Have won 6 of past 7 at home (3-0 in 2001)……Have scored 135 points in first 6 games (22.5 average) vs. 216 for all of 2000 (13.5 average)……QB SHANE MATTHEWS had career-high 3 TD passes vs. 49ers in Week 7. QB JIM MILLER has 3-1 (.750) career home record as Bears’ starter……Have allowed league-low 2.0 sacks ……In past 2 games, rookie RB ANTHONY THOMAS has 315 rushing yards (2 100-yard games) on 49 carries (6.4 average) & 2 TDs. Leads all NFC rookies in rushing (439 yards)……In past 2 games, rookie WR DAVID TERRELL has 10 catches for 110 yards & 2 TDs. WR MARTY BOOKER has 15 catches in past 2 games……Have NFC’s top run defense (76.8)……Allowing opponents to score 12.3 points per game through 6 games vs. 22.2 for all of 2000. Opponents 74 points allowed are fewest in NFC……Nine players have registered at least 0.5 sack……P BRAD MAYNARD’s 11 punts inside 20 tie for second in NFC. DALLAS COWBOYS (2-4) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (3-4)SERIES
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NOTESPAST 4 GAMES decided by 8 points-or-less……COWBOYS: Have won 2 in a row for first time since 3 consecutive to start 1999 season……QB CLINT STOERNER won first career start vs. Cardinals in Week 7. Was starter for 2001 Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe League……Rank second in NFC in rush offense (140.8)……In 21 career games vs. Giants, RB EMMITT SMITH has rushed for 1,796 yards (85.5 yards per game) & 17 TDs……RB TROY HAMBRICK has 23 rushes for 193 yards (8.4 avg.) in 3 career games vs. NFC East……Club’s 10 fumble takeaways tie for most in NFC……In last meeting, Cowboys held Giants to 225 total yards, including 126 passing. Defense allowed 10 points in past 2 games (5.0 average) vs. 110 in first 4 (27.5)……P MICAH KNORR ties for second in NFC with 11 punts inside 20……KR REGGIE SWINTON ranks second in NFC with 27.4 average……GIANTS: Have won 3 of past 4 & 6 of past 9 overall vs. Cowboys ……QB KERRY COLLINS has completed 88 of 154 passes (57.1 percent) for 950 yards with 7 TDs vs. 3 INTs for 82.4 passer rating vs. Cowboys in 5 career reg. season games……RB TIKI BARBER has 426 scrimmage yards (191 rushing, 235 receiving) in past 4 games vs. ‘Boys. Had career-best 13 receptions & 100 receiving yards vs. Dallas on 1/2/00…… Defense held Cowboys to 414 total yards in 2 games last season (207.0 avg.)……Giants have 7 sacks in past 2 vs. Dallas, including 5 in last meeting……Club’s 23 sacks tie Rams and Packers for most in NFC…… In last meeting vs. Dallas, DE MICHAEL STRAHAN had 2.5 sacks. Has 12.5 sacks in past 5 games, most ever in 5-game span in NFL history (sacks became official statistic in 1982). DETROIT LIONS (0-6) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-2)SERIES
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NOTESLIONS: Rank third in NFC in pass offense (252.5). Total offense ranks fourth in conference (331.5)……Have 1,096 total yards of offense in past 3 games (365.3 average), including 865 passing (288.3 average)……In past 3 games, QB CHARLIE BATCH has passed for 922 yards (2 300-yard games), 64.4 comp. pct. (76 of 118), 8 TDs with 3 INT for 100.3 passer rating……WR JOHNNIE MORTON has 20 receptions for 255 yards & 2 TDs in past 3 games. Has 3 100-yard games in 2001, career high is 5 (1999)……DE ROBERT PORCHER has 5.0 sacks & needs 3.5 to pass 2000 season total of 8.0……P JOHN JETT ranks third in conference with 36.1 net average……KR-PR DESMOND HOWARD leads NFC with 29.0 KR-average & ranks second in NFC with 12.9 PR-average……49ERS: Two losses have come to 5-1 Bears & 6-1 Rams……Are 2-1 in OT games in 2001……Have won 7 of past 8 vs. Lions. Have not lost at home to Detroit since 1975……Have top rushing offense in NFC (145.7)……RB GARRISON HEARST tied career-high with 105 receiving yards (on 4 catches) vs. Bears in Week 7. Has 264 yards from scrimmage in past 2 games. In last meeting vs. Lions (12/14/98), Hearst rushed 24 times for career-high 198 yards (8.3 avg.) & 1 TD. RB KEVAN BARLOW ranks third among NFC rookies with 224 yards on 53 carries (4.2 average)……In past 3 games, WR TERRELL OWENS has 23 catches for 361 yards (2 100-yard games) & 5 TDs. Has TD in 3 of past 4 games & his 6 TDs tie Packers’ TEBUBBA FRANKS for tops in NFC. In past 5 home games, Owens has 46 receptions for 674 yards & 4 TDs……Club’s 8 giveaways tie for second fewest in NFC……CB ZACK BRONSON had 97-yard INT-TD return vs. Bears in Week 7, longest in club history……K JOSE CORTEZ ranks second in NFC with 12 FGs (13 attempts). INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (3-3) AT BUFFALO BILLS (1-5)SERIES
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NOTESPAST 2 MEETINGS featured 3 return-TDs (2 by Colts, 1 by Bills)……Final meeting as AFC East foes……COLTS: Play third game in 15 days……Aim for four consecutive wins vs. Bills for first time since 1976-77……Club averaging 40.7 points in 3 victories (vs. 16.0 in 3 losses)……QB PEYTON MANNING 4-3 all-time vs. Bills. Manning (97 TD passes in 54 career games) needs three TD passes for 100……RB EDGERRIN JAMES has 603 scrimmage yards (three 100s rushing) & 5 TDs in 5 career games vs. Bills. James (102 rush yards vs. Chiefs) tops in NFL with five 100s. He has eight 100s in past 9 games. James has 24 career 100s & needs one to break club-record tie with ERIC DICKERSON…… WR MARVIN HARRISON has 8 TD catches in past 7 vs. Bills. He has 10 TD receptions in past 7 games. Harrison has 23 career 100s & needs one to tie RAYMOND BERRY’s club mark……DE CHAD BRATZKE has 7.0 sacks in past 5 vs. Bills……BILLS: Have won 5 of past 6 home games vs. Colts……Club’s past 2 games decided by 3 points apiece (1-1)……QB ROB JOHNSON has 65.9 completion pct. & 978 yards in past 4 starts vs. Colts. His 70.8 third-down completion pct. tops NFL……RB TRAVIS HENRY third among AFC rookies with 327 rush yards. RB LARRY CENTERS tops NFL with 13 third-down catches. Centers needs 47 receiving yards for 6,000 career……WR ERIC MOULDS has 430 receiving yards (three 100s) in past 5 vs. Colts. Moulds needs 4 receptions to become 4th player in club history with 300 catches. WR PEERLESS PRICE aims for third consecutive game vs. Colts with TD catch. Price has two 100s in past 3 games (vs. two in previous 35 career games) & tops NFL with 20.8 avg per catch……P BRIAN MOORMAN has 45.16 avg. – on pace to break club season record (44.50 by PAUL MAGUIRE in 1969). JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-4) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (2-4)SERIES
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NOTESJAGUARS: Face divisional opponents in next 4 games……Four of club's past 6 losses by 3 points-or-less……QB MARK BRUNELL 32-16 (.667) all-time in division starts. He ranks second in AFC with 90.1 third-down passer rating……RB STACEY MACK has 280 rushing yards & 4.6 yards/carry avg. (vs. 185 yards & 3.0 yards/carry in first 2 seasons combined)……Vs. Ravens, WRs JIMMY SMITH (119 receiving yards) & KEENAN MC CARDELL (118) had NFL-record ninth 100-100 receiving game by teammates. Smith averaging 17.7 yards/third-down catch (vs. 11.0 avg. on other receptions)……Defense has yielded only 7 TDs in 6 games. Red-zone defense tied for tops in AFC with 37.5 TD pct. (Chiefs)……DT GARY WALKER aims for third consecutive game with sack (2.5 in past 2 games). DT SETH PAYNE (1.0 sack vs. Ravens) had sack in last game vs. Tennessee……TITANS:Club has won 6 of past 8 games decided by 3 points-or-less (2-0 in 2001)……Tennessee has won 16 of 18 all-time regular season games (.889) at Adelphia Coliseum……In past 3 vs. Jags, QB STEVE MC NAIR has passed for 753 yards & 7 TDs (0 INTs) for 124.6 passer rating……RB EDDIE GEORGE has rushed for 395 yards (two 100s) & 2 TDs in past 4 vs. Jaguars……TE FRANK WYCHECK (4-yard TD catch vs. Steelers) aims for third consecutive game with TD reception for first time in career……Defense third in AFC with 32.1 third-down conversion rate. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-6) AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (5-2)SERIES
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NOTESPAST THREE MEETINGS IN SAN DIEGO decided by 7 points-or-less (9 total points)……CHIEFS:Four of club’s six losses (including each of past 3) by 8 points-or-less……Offense second in AFC with 6.24 yards/first-down play…… Passing offense (251.1) second in AFC. QB TRENT GREEN tops AFC with 1,799 passing yards. Green averaging 288.9 yards in starts since 2000……Vs. Colts, WR LARRY PARKER scored first career TDs (6 catches for 76 yards & 2 TD)……TONY GONZALEZ tops all TEs with 520 receiving yards……Defense has yielded only 5 first-half TDs this season & 6.4 first-half points per game…… DE ERIC HICKS aims for 4th consecutive game vs. Chargers with sack (6.0 in past 3)…… Red-zone defense tied for tops in AFC with 37.5 TD pct. (Jaguars)……K TODD PETERSON has converted on 10 consecutive field goals……P DAN STRYZINSKI tied for AFC-most 15 punts inside 20……CHARGERS: Aim for fourth consecutive home victory vs. Kansas City. Also, aim for fifth consecutive win at Qualcomm Stadium……Chargers top AFC with +44 first-quarter scoring margin (47-3)……Club 5-0 when scoring at least 27 points……QB DOUG FLUTIE makes first career start vs. Chiefs. Flutie is 21-3 all-time in home NFL starts (4-0 in 2001) ……Club second in AFC with 32:06 avg. possession time. RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON leads all rookies with 620 rush yards & 7 TDs…… TE FREDDIE JONES had 2 TD catches in last meeting……Club tied for second in AFC with 19 sacks. DE MARCELLUS WILEY (2.0 sacks vs. Bills) has 12.5 sacks in his past 11 games……Run defense (81.1) second in AFC……Club tied for NFL-high 20 takeaways……KR RONNEY JENKINS tops NFL with 29.8 avg. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-4) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (3-3)SERIES
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NOTESPATRIOTS: Club plays third consecutive road game……Have scored first in each game this season (including on first drive in past 3 games). Pats have outscored foes 37-20 in first quarter……New England third in AFC with 10 TD passes. QB TOM BRADY 3-2 as starter……WR DAVID PATTEN (5 catches for 62 yards & 1 TD vs. Broncos) aims for third consecutive game with TD catch. WR TROY BROWN has 28 catches for 323 yards in past 3 games. Brown aims for third consecutive game with TD catch. He is tied for second in AFC with 11 third-down catches……First-round rookie DT RICHARD SEYMOUR had 9.5 sacks & 38 QB pressures in four seasons at nearby Univ. of Georgia (1997-00)…… FALCONS: Are 7-5 in games after bye weeks……Have scored on 4 of 6 first-possessions this season. Have outscored opponents 48-3 in first quarter……QB CHRIS CHANDLER leads NFL with 9.23 average gain (yards per attempt: 1,181 yards on 128 attempts). In 6 career home games with Falcons vs. AFC, Chandler has completed 85 of 132 passes (64.4 percent) for 1,077 yards with 11 TDs vs. 4 INTs for 104.9 passer rating…... RB MAURICE SMITH leads club with 3 touchdowns. Club has rushed for at least 100 yards in 5 of 6 games vs. 3 for entire 2000 season……WR SHAWN JEFFERSON played for Patriots from 1996-99. Had 178 receptions for 3,081 yards (17.3 avg.) & 14 TDs. WR TERANCE MATHIS had 8 catches for 117 yards in last meeting vs. Pats (11/8/98)……DE PATRICK KERNEY has career-high 4.5 sacks……Defense forced 5 turnovers (2 INTs, 3 fumble recoveries), including 71-yard fumble-return TD, in last meeting vs. NE. Also held Patriots to 223 total yards, including 18 rushing……P CHRIS MOHR has punted 24 times but has had only 2 returned for 26 yards. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-3) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-4)SERIES
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NOTESEAGLES: In his career, QB DONOVAN MC NABB has thrown 26 TDs vs. 1 INT in red-zone. In 4 career games vs. Cards, McNabb has completed 87 of 128 passes (68.0 percent) for 880 yards with 6 TDs vs. 3 INTs for 93.2 passer rating. Has won 9 of past 13 starts. Club’s 3 INTs thrown are fewest of any NFC team……Rookie RB CORRELL BUCKHALTER had first career 100-yard rushing game vs. Cards in Week 4 (134 yards on 21 carries for 6.4 avg.). Ranks second among NFC rookies in rushing yards (348). RB DUCE STALEY has 510 scrimmage yards (373 rushing, 137 receiving) in past 4 division road games. In 4 career games (with at least 1 touch) vs. Cards, Staley has 486 total yards from scrimmage (391 rushing, 95 receiving) & 3 TDs……WR TODD PINKSTON had 4 receptions for 90 yards & 2 TDs in Week 4 contest vs. Arizona……Have NFL’s top pass defense (148.3). Opponents’ 91 points allowed are third-fewest in NFC…...P SEAN LANDETA ranks second in NFC with 38.8 net average……PR BRIAN MITCHELL leads NFC with 13.4 average……CARDINALS: In past 4 games, QB JAKE PLUMMER has passed for 915 yards with 4 TDs vs. 3 INT. Plummer has 5 fourth-quarter comebacks vs. Eagles, most vs. any team, including Week 4’s 21-20 win at Philadelphia……WR DAVID BOSTON has 16 receptions for 288 yards & 2 TDs in past 3 vs. Eagles. Has 22 catches for 324 yards & 1 TD in past 3 games. Has 40 rushing yards & ranks fourth in NFC in scrimmage yards with 629……WR MAR TAY JENKINS had game-winning TD reception with 9 seconds remaining in Week 4 vs. Eagles. Was first TD catch of career……Defense has allowed 18.3 points per game in past 4 vs. 36.0 in first 2……S KWAMIELASSITER’s 3 INTs are most since career-high 8 in 1998. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-3) AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS (2-5)SERIES
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NOTESSEAHAWKS: Vs. Miami, QB MATT HASSELBECK had career-highs in passing yards (230) & TDs (2). Hasselbeck completes 62.5 percent of third-down pass attempts……RB SHAUN ALEXANDER has rushed for 405 yards in past 3 games……WR DARRELL JACKSON (5 catches for 121 yards & 1 TD vs. Miami) has two 100s in past 4 games (vs. none in previous 18 games).WR BOBBY ENGRAM has 10 of his 15 receptions on third down. WR KOREN ROBINSON ranks second among AFC rookies with 16 receptions (224 yards)……Run defense third in AFC allowing 85.2 yards/game & tied for second in conference with 3.3 yards/carry (vs. 124.3 & 4.3 after 6 games in 2000). Also, club has 15 sacks (vs. 11 after 6 games in ’00)……Special teams holds foes to 24.7 avg. drive start – second in AFC…… REDSKINS: RB STEPHEN DAVIS ranks second in NFC with 524 rushing yards. On pace for 1,198 yards. Can become first Redskin ever with 3 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons……WR ROD GARDNER leads all NFL rookies with 24 catches & 437 yards with 3 TDs. His 18.2 average per catch ranks second in NFC. Last ‘Skins rookie to lead team in receiving was ART MONK with 58 catches for 797 yards & 3 TDs in 1980……Team’s 16 total takes tie for third in NFC. Club’s 11 INTs tie for second in conference. Nine players have at least 1 INT……CB FRED SMOOT leads all NFC rookies with 3 INTs……Against Giants, PR-KR ERIC METCALF, signed prior to Week 7, set NFL record with 12th career kickoff- or punt-return TD with 89-yard PR-TD. Was tied with Eagles’ BRIAN MITCHELL at 11 PR-KR TDs. Has 10 career PR-TDs, also all-time record. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-3) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (4-2)SERIES
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NOTESFIVE OF PAST 6 GAMES decided by 7 points-or-less……BUCCANEERS: RB MIKE ALSTOTT’s 4 rushing TDs rank third in NFC. Tied career high with 3 vs. Vikings in Week 7……In 3 career games vs. Packers, WR KEYSHAWN JOHNSON has 20 receptions & 2 TDs. Leads NFC in receptions (46) & receiving yards (610). Has never led league or conference in either category at year’s end……Have fewest giveaways in NFC (7: 4 INTs, 3 fumbles)……Tie for second in NFC with 11 INTs……Pass defense ranks third in NFC (178.3). Have averaged 127.0 passing yards allowed in past 2 games……Defense has 5 INTs vs. Packers in past 2 meetings……DT WARREN SAPP has 7.0 sacks in past 7 games against Green Bay. Has at least 1.0 sack in 5 of those 7 contests……LB SHELTON QUARLES scored first career TD vs. Pack in Week 4 with 98-yard INT-TD return…... PACKERS: Have not lost at home to TB since 1989……QB BRETT FAVRE is 9-0 all-time vs. Bucs at home. Has 14 TDs vs. 3 INTs in those 9. Leads NFL with 14 TD passes. Has 269 career TDs & needs 4 to tie JOE MONTANA for sixth place all-time. Will play in 150th consecutive game……AHMAN GREEN ranks second among NFC RBs with 29 catches for 244 yards. His 756 scrimmage yards rank second in NFC……WR BILL SCHROEDER leads club with 365 receiving yards (18 catches) & ranks second on team with 4 TDs. Had 4 catches for 119 yards & 67-yard TD in Week 4 vs. Bucs. Leads NFC with 20.3 per catch average……TE BUBBA FRANKS tied for NFC lead with 49ers’ WR TERRELL OWENS with 6 TDs……Club’s 10 fumble takes tie for first in conference. Club’s 2 fumble giveaways are fewest in NFC……Have NFC’s No. 1 defense (263.5) & rank second against pass (160.2)……Club’s 23 sacks tie Rams & Giants for most in NFC…… Defense has 10 sacks in past 2 vs. Bucs…...DE KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA had 3.0 sacks vs. Bucs in Week 4. SUNDAY NIGHTNEW YORK JETS (4-3) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (4-2)SERIES
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NOTES MATCHUP of conference rushing leaders – Jets RB CURTIS MARTIN (738 yards) & Saints RB RICKY WILLIAMS (557)……JETS: Play third consecutive interconference game……Club 4-1 in games decided by 7 points-or-less……Red-zone offense tied for second in AFC with 57.9 TD rate……QB VINNY TESTAVERDE had 120.0 passer rating in last meeting (186 passing yards & 2 TD, 9/26 with Ravens). He has AFC-high 64.6 fourth-quarter completion pct……Ground game (134.1) ranks third in AFC. Jets 4-0 in ’01 when Martin (159 yards vs. Panthers last week) rushes for 100. Martin has 100 in 4 of past 6 games. Martin has TD run in each of 2 career games vs. Saints. ……Vs. Carolina, WR LAVERANUES COLES had career-high 7 receptions……OL has yielded only 11 sacks – third-fewest in among AFC clubs playing 7 games……Club’s +13 turnover rate leads NFL……SAINTS: In 3 career games vs. AFC, QB AARON BROOKS has completed 62 of 99 passes (63.6 percent) for 837 yards with 7 TDs vs. 3 INTs for 100.4 passer rating…… Rush offense (116.2) ranks third in NFC……Williams leads NFC with 782 scrimmage yards. Ranks third among NFC RBs with 27 catches…… CAM CLEELAND ties for NFL lead among TEs with 4 receiving TDs (Carolina’s WESLEY WALLS)…… WR JOE HORN has 16 receptions for 215 yards in past 2 contests against AFC……Team’s 8 total giveaways tie for second-fewest in NFC with 49ers. Club’s 20 takeaways tie for NFL lead (Chargers & Jets) & 10 fumble takes tie for first in NFC (Cowboys & Packers). Have 13 takes in past 3 weeks, including 8 vs. Rams in Week 7……Rush defense ranks second in NFC (86.3)……S SAMMY KNIGHT has 5 INTs, equaling 2000 total. Needs 1 to tie career high of 6 set in 1998.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5DENVER BRONCOS (4-3) AT OAKLAND RAIDERS (5-1)SERIES
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NOTES CLUBS MEET FOR 12TH TIME ON MNF – tied with Cowboys-Redskins for most-played MNF rivalry……Teams meet on Monday night for third consecutive season. Eight of previous 11 MNF meetings decided by 7 points-or-less (with past 2 decided on final play)……Past 4 meetings have been decided by total of 21 points……BRONCOS: Club aims for 8th consecutive win vs. Raiders to match Dallas (vs. Washington) for longest active win streak vs. division foe…… MIKE SHANAHAN has won 11 of 12 contests against Raiders…… Club tops in AFC with 59.1 red-zone TD pct……QB BRIAN GRIESE 3-0 career as starter vs. Raiders. Griese is NFL-best 6 for 6 on third-&-1 rush attempts……RB MIKE ANDERSON had 187 rush yards in only start vs. Oakland (9/17/00)……WR ROD SMITH (159 receiving yards & 1 TD vs. NE) has 100s against all AFC West foes – except Raiders. Broncos 4-0 in ’01 when Smith has 100 (16-9 all-time) ……Club second in NFL with 12 INTs……K JASON ELAM (997) needs 3 points to reach 1,000 career……RAIDERS: Club tied for AFC-best 5-1 record (Steelers)……Have outscored foes 33-7 in first quarter……QB RICH GANNON 25-13 (.658) as Raiders’ starter……Club tops NFL with 32:30 avg. possession time……WR TIM BROWN has 17 catches for 214 yards & 3 TDs in past 2 vs. Broncos. His 11 TD catches vs. Broncos are his second-most vs. any club (Seattle, 12)……OL has yielded only 9 sacks – second-fewest in AFC……Defense has NFL-best 23.4 third-down conversion rate……K SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI has AFC-best .929 FG pct (min. 10 FG)……Special teams tops in NFL in opponents’ drive start (22.9) & third in AFC in own drive start (29.7). CINCINNATI, MINNESOTA & ST. LOUIS HAVE OPEN DATES IN WEEK 8 CINCINNATI (4-3): Club 2-0 in games decided by 7 points-or-less……Club off to best start since 1990 (5-2 in 9-7 AFC Wild Card season)……QB JON KITNA is 22-18 all-time as starter……Vs. Lions, RB COREY DILLON had 96-yard TD run -- longest scrimmage play in club history & tied for fourth-longest run in NFL history. Dillon (184 rush yards & 3 total TDs vs. Detroit) has 100s in 2 of past 3 games. Dillon averaging 104.2 yards/game…… WR DARNAY SCOTT (6 catches for 99 yards & 1 TD) has TD catch in 2 of past 3 games……Club has +3 turnover ratio (vs. –8 after 7 games in ’00)……Vs. Detroit, rookie DE JUSTIN SMITH had first career INT……At Jaguars, 11/11. MINNESOTA (3-4):QB DAUNTE CULPEPPER ties for NFC lead with 5 rushing TDs. Leads club with 323 rushing yards on 49 carries (6.6 average). Ranks second in NFC with 1,701 passing yards & ranks third in conference with 65.2 comp. pct……Three players have at least 100 yards rushing: Culpepper, rookie RB MICHAEL BENNETT (214) & DOUG CHAPMAN (136)……BYRON CHAMBERLAIN leads all NFC TEs with 315 receiving yards (23 catches & 1 TD)……WR RANDY MOSS leads club with 32 catches & 443 yards. WR CRIS CARTER leads club & ties for third in NFC with 4 receiving TDs. His 128 career TDs rank fourth all-time……LB ED MC DANIEL has 993 career tackles & needs 7 for 1,000. He would become only 7th Viking to accomplish……At Philadelphia, 11/11. ST. LOUIS (6-1): Have league’s top passing offense (301.1)……QB KURT WARNER leads NFL with 2,164 passing yards & 67.9 comp. pct. His 13 TDs tie for second in NFL…...RB MARSHALL FAULK expected to return vs. Carolina. Leads all NFC RBs with 36 catches (317 yards & 2 TDs). Ranks third in NFC with 678 scrimmage yards……RB TRUNG CANIDATE ties for NFC lead with 5 rushing TDs……WR ISAAC BRUCE ranks third in NFC with 17.6 average……Have allowed 16.4 points per game vs. 29.4 for all of 2000……Defense’s 16 total takeaways tie for third in NFC. Had 25 for all of 2000……Rank fourth in NFC total (294.7), rush (94.9), & pass (199.9) defense. Averaged 343.4, 106.1, & 237.3 per game in 2000……Club’s 23 sacks tie Packers & Giants for most in NFC……DE LEONARD LITTLE leads club & ranks third in NFC with career-high 7.0 sacks……CB DRE’ BLY leads club with 3 INTs & needs 1 to set career high. Had 3 in each of first 2 seasons.……Vs. Carolina, 11/11. 2001 NFL STANDINGS
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