Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
GREEN BAY AT MINNESOTA, 1 P.M. ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: In the first game between these two, the Packers gave up 196 yards rushing against the Vikings, which was the highest total (by 40 yards) since Dom Capers became the team’s defensive coordinator. Adrian Peterson had 131 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries and Green Bay can expect more of the same today. The Vikings’ wild card is how effective WR Sidney Rice (hip surgery) will be in his first action of the season. Rice was Brett Favre’s go-to receiver last season, and he is anxious to play. How long Rice lasts could go a long way toward deciding the outcome of this game.
The rest of the games after the jump…
With the defensive line healthier, the Packers feel good about stopping the run, but they also will be inclined to keep attacking Favre to prevent him from getting into a passing rhythm. Clay Mathews leads the NFL with 10.5 sacks, and he can come from any alignment. After nine games this season, the Packers are the No. 1-rated scoring defense, having allowed just 143 points.
The Packers may scrub some running plays in order to control the game with Aaron Rodgers throwing shorter pass routes. Rodgers has been protected very well lately while the Minnesota pass rush has been non-existent except for a fourth-quarter rally against the inept Cardinals.
WASHINGTON AT TENNESSEE, 1 P.M. ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Washington’s best defensive player, safety LaRon Landry, didn’t even make the trip because of an Achilles strain, which should be great news for Titans QB Vince Young. It means that a slower Reed Doughty will start. Also, Phillip Buchanon will start for injured RCB Carlos Rogers, the team’s best cover cornerback. This will be the first test for Washington’s defense against Titans RB Chris Johnson, a true home-run hitter. They obviously struggled Monday night, surrendering 592 yards and 59 points to the Michael Vick-led Eagles. The ‘Skins will need DT Albert Haynesworth to clog the middle against Johnson. With Kerry Collins hurting, rookie Rusty Smith will be Young’s backup today.
The Redskins plan to start RB Clinton Portis and need to run consistently in order to keep the Titans’ constant pass rush off Donovan McNabb. If Portis can’t sustain it, rookie free agentKeiland Williams, who leads the Redskins with five touchdowns, will replace him. Will Montgomery also starts for injured Redskins RG Artis Hicks. The Titans have struggled defending tight ends this season, so look for McNabb to feature Chris Cooley and Fred Davis. Conversely, in order to get some production out of Randy Moss, the Titans could be in a three wide-receiver look much of the time, taking advantage of a porous and beat-up Washington secondary.
DETROIT AT DALLAS, 1 P.M. ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: One big reason why the Lions have lost a record 25 consecutive road games is because they remain a very sloppy football team. They have committed 88 penalties, second most in the league. They also have committed 19 false starts and dropped 27 passes, tops in the NFL. Look for the Cowboys to come after Lions QB Shaun Hill, knowing he’s reluctant to run because of a broken left forearm. Also, Lions rookie RB Jahvid Best simply hasn’t been that quick since suffering a turf toe injury. There’s a chance Cowboys CB Terence Newman won’t play, meaning Mike Jenkins and rookie Bryan McCann, who had the 101-yard INT return against the Giants, will have to do the job against Lions WR Calvin Johnson. The Cowboys played a lot more zone defense with Paul Pasqualoni running the defense after Wade Phillips’ firing and figure to continue that approach until a consistent pass rush emerges.
The Dallas offense must block the Lions’ defensive tackle duo of Corey Williams and rookieNdamukong Suh in order to run and keep Jon Kitna standing. If they can do that, Dallas should be able to throw plenty of corner routes and run wide with Felix Jones and Marion Barber. Kitna is coming off his best throwing game since replacing an injured Tony Romo, who may be back in mid-December.
ARIZONA AT KANSAS CITY, 1 P.M. ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Arizona’s current four-game losing streak is the longest in coach Ken Whisenhunt’s short tenure with the Cardinals, and much of the problem has been an inability to stop the deep pass. The Chiefslove to run the football, so maybe safetyAdrian Wilson won’t be beaten deep for a touchdown a third straight week. Look for the Cardinals to crowd the line of scrimmage, hoping to stop Jamaal Charles andThomas Jones. Besides, Kansas City’s running game has lost a little punch with the high ankle injury to rookie Dexter McCluster, who will miss another game. Cardinals RCB Greg Toler has also been benched in favor of Trumaine McBride andMichael Adams. Without TE Tony Moeaki, Chiefs QB Matt Cassel will have to zero in on WRDwayne Bowe, who will be double-covered.
The Chiefs were burned consistently by the Broncos’ play-action attack last Sunday, and it will be critical to see if defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel has figured out a way to stop the bleeding. The Cardinals are minus-9 in turnover ratio with their quarterbacks leading the NFL with 23 interceptions. QB Derek Anderson has to play error-free ball and Arizona has to sustain a running game, something it has been unable to do during the losing streak. The Cardinals may try rookie Andre Roberts on punt returns with LaRod Stephens-Howling out.
SEATTLE AT NEW ORLEANS, 4:05 P.M. ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Saints are saying it will be a game-time decision, but it’s looking like RB Reggie Bush will miss an eighth straight game and also an opportunity to play against his former USC coach Pete Carroll. Defensively, the Seahawks likely will try to pressure Saints quarterback Drew Brees into some mistakes. Brees has 18 TD passes on the season, but he also has thrown 12 picks. But Brees has been more consistent in his last two games and Seattle is allowing 272.2 yards a game, while the Saints are fifth in passing with 276.2 yards per game. Saints TE Jeremy Shockey is also out, but New Orleans has two decent backups at the position.
Offensively, the Seahawks are facing the best pass defense in the league, led by blitz-happy New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, so look for Seattle to try and establish the run withMarshawn Lynch now that their best run blocker, rookie offensive tackle Russell Okung, is back in the lineup. The Seahawks had their best two-game stretch of the season running the ball with No. 1 pick Okung on the field, rushing for a total of 111 yards at Chicago and 144 yards at home the next week against Arizona. The Saints are also getting back cornerbacks Jabari Greer andTracy Porter. The only downside is that safeties Darren Sharper and Malcolm Jenkins could be out, meaning Usuma Young will start at free safety. The Saints also better be careful aboutLeon Washington’s return game for Seattle.
TAMPA BAY AT SAN FRANCISCO, 4:05 P.M. ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The forecast predicts a chance of heavy rain, which could turn Candlestick Park into a mud bowl, and probably tip the scales to the 49ersconsidering Frank Gore knows how to and where to run on such a soggy field. The Bucs have allowed a 100-yard rusher in virtually every game this season. The Bucs need to get pressure on 49ers QB Troy Smith and keep him from rolling to his right. Smith makes a lot of throws on the run. The Bucs are considering sticking veteran CB Ronde Barber on 49ers TE Vernon Davis, who leads the team with 513 receiving yards.
Seven rookies, not including leading rusher LeGarrette Blount, started in a win over Carolina last week. But for all the contributions from first-year players like receivers Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn, fullback Erik Lorig, guard Ted Larsen and Blount, the Bucs wouldn’t be winning without QB Josh Freeman, who is making fewer mistakes with the football. He’s no longer throwing silly interceptions and he can take off and run when flushed out of the pocket. Look for the Bucs to continue using QB Josh Johnson in the Wildcat formation. Johnson had a 14-yard run on first down during his only appearance in Carolina last Sunday.
ATLANTA AT ST. LOUIS, 4:05 P.M. ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Rams will need to be at their best against a balancedFalcons offense that presents numerous challenges to any defense. Thirteen of the Rams’ 15 takeaways have come in their five home games, but Atlanta has just 10 turnovers all season. The Falcons, who could open in a no-huddle offense, have gotten back to their fast-starting ways under head coach Mike Smith. They have a 22-6 record in games where they score first and own a 22-1 mark in games where they hold the lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Rams will return RCB Bradley Fletcherto the starting lineup after Kevin Dockerywas burned by the 49ers. The Rams need to put plenty of pressure on Falcons QB Matt Ryan, who is coming off a big game against Baltimore. Ryan tends to focus on TE Tony Gonzalez, who has caught 41 passes for 402 yards and three touchdowns, and WR Roddy White, who leads the NFL with 70 receptions for 934 yards. He caught 12 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, including a 33-yard game winner in the final seconds against the Ravens.
On offense, the Rams will look to control the ball with RB Steven Jackson and hope that Sam Bradford can hit some plays against a pass defense that has allowed 245.3 yards per game and a 67.3 percent completion rate.
OTHER SUNDAY GAMES
Baltimore at Carolina, 1 p.m. ET: Panthers coach John Fox makes perfect sense in starting journeyman Brian St. Pierre over rookie Tony Pike, who played in a spread offense in college. The last time I saw St. Pierre in practice, he was throwing more accurately than Matt Leinart with the Cardinals. St. Pierre has been with Carolina for eight days, but got the nod over Pike, the team’s sixth-round pick last April. “All our decisions are based on right away who gives us the best chance to win. I think everyone in that locker room understands that,†Fox said.
Houston at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m. ET: The Jets hope to move 5-0 all-time against the Texans, who will have a limited quarterback in Matt Schaub. Schaub spent one whole day hospitalized in order to treat severe bursitis in his right knee. If he gets knocked out, Dan Orlovsky will go for Houston. RB Arian Foster (920 yards rushing) was in Los Angeles on Friday due the death of his grandmother, but he is expected to start. Both of New York’s losses have come in the New Meadowlands Stadium.
Buffalo at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. ET: The Bills finally got into the win column last week. They will use the same approach they used last week, which is running Fred Jackson as much as possible. Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn’t have the arm strength to scare the Bengals’ two fine cornerbacks, Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph. The Bengals should be minus defenders Tank Johnson and Frostee Rucker, but WR Chad Ochocinco and RB Cedric Benson will play.
Cleveland at Jacksonville, 1 p.m. ET: The Jaguars shoot for their third straight win to remain in the playoff hunt and to do that they will have to stop Browns RB Peyton Hillis, who is averaging 109 scrimmage yards per game. Cleveland lost in overtime to the Jets last Sunday, and rookie QB Colt McCoy has played well since becoming the starter. The defensive spotlight will be on Jacksonville’s new defensive ends Jeremy Mincey and Austen Lane.
Oakland at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m. ET: Can the Raiders win two straight in Pittsburgh? If they do, it will be their first four-game winning streak since 2002, the last season they went to the Super Bowl. Something is going to give in this game. Oakland with Darren McFadden leads the league’s No. 2 rushing offense while the Steelers, who are minus two starting defensive linemen, allow only 63.2 rushing yards per game. The Raiders are getting healthy on offense and TE Zach Miller(foot) is expected to play, however, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey will be a game-time decision.
Indianapolis at New England, 4:15 p.m. ET: This is the eighth consecutive year these two AFC powerhouses have met in the regular season. Their last five encounters, including playoffs, have been decided by seven points or less. Peyton Manning figures to attack a young New England secondary that is allowing 277 yards a game. Tom Brady is coming off a great game against the Steelers and figures to stick with the short, underneath passing game. The Colts won last year’s encounter by one point. Brady has won 24 consecutive home games during the regular season, one shy of Brett Favre’s NFL record.
N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia, 8:20 p.m. ET: Well, Michael Vick is coming off the greatest game a quarterback has ever had in the NFL. Two others, Bill Kenney and Eric Hipple, also passed for over 300 yards, threw for four touchdowns and ran for two more in a single game, but neither of them was able to also run for 80 yards. Granted, the Giants have a lot better and quicker defense than the Redskins. The sky’s the limit for Philadelphia’s offense now that Vick has become an all-around quarterback, studying like a Tom Brady.
By John Czarnecki
