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October 31st, 2008

NFL Preview - Week 9

By Eric Patten | The Patt Down, NFL, Column

Jets (4-3) at Bills (5-2) — Sunday, 10:00 a.m. PST, CBS

Last week, Brett Favre got booed at home and the Bills lost to Miami, their second loss in three games. Which one is worse? Probably the former, considering Favre earned it after throwing a fourth quarter pick-six and several other reckless passes. But at least the Jets still won, which tightened up the AFC East and raises the stakes of this matchup. Buffalo’s offense may be ignited by Trent Edwards’ passes to Lee Evans, but it’s balanced by Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson rushing for 4.6 yards per click. On Sunday, they’ll face a Jets defense trying to piece together a “complete game.”

LINE: BUF (-5.5), WEATHER: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park NY. Partly cloudy, 48-degrees.

Lions (0-7) at Bears (4-3) — Sunday, 10:00 a.m. PST, FOX

Detroit is so desperate for help with their feeble offense that they worked out Daunte Culpepper on Tuesday. But wait, their defense is worse. They have one interception, can’t pressure the QB and give up the most points in the league. When asked about the Lions’ “Tampa Two”, the same base defense the Bears utilize, Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher said, “If you don’t have the players to do it, it’s not going to work.” While things have gone terribly for Detroit, the Bears are different story. QB Kyle Orton, who was originally asked not to “lose” games for Chicago, is actually helping win them. He’s on pace to challenge Erik Kramer’s franchise record for passing yards (3,838 in 1995) and is doing so without a true number one receiver.

LINE: CHI (-13), WEATHER: Soldier Field, Chicago IL. Partly cloudy, 59-degrees.

Jaguars (3-4) at Bengals (0-8) — Sunday, 10:00 a.m. PST, CBS

Considering Jacksonville just dropped a home game (where they’re a shocking 1-3) against the Browns, a loss at Cincy would be a season killer. Bengals QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is a Harvard grad, likely making it suitable for him to educate, prosecute, or operate on you, but he sure won’t win you a lot of football games. So far, the Jags are saying all the right things about taking the win-less Bengals seriously, but inconsistency has waged war in Jacksonville all year. Leading rusher Maurice Jones-Drew has topped 100 yards rushing twice, but has 98 yards combined in five other games.

LINE: JAX (-7.5), WEATHER: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati OH. Mostly sunny, 70-degrees.

Ravens (4-3) at Browns (3-4) — Sunday, 10:00 a.m. PST, CBS

The formula for the Ravens is simple: control the clock and kill ‘em all with defense. Nearly half-way into the season, they lead the NFL in time of possession at 34:07- more than 45 seconds longer than the No. 2 Giants- and are holding opponents to fewer than 70 rushing yards per game. On Sunday, Cleveland won’t worry much about giving the ball to Jamal Lewis. At 484 yards, the former Baltimore running back’s production has declined to a career-low pace. They do get Kellen Winslow back, meaning Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs will have their trash talked back at them.

LINE: CLE (-1.5), WEATHER: Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland OH. Partly cloudy, 54-degrees.

Packers (4-3) at Titans (7-0) — Sunday, 10:00 a.m. PST, FOX

By beating the Colts last Monday, the Titans put to bed the sleepy notion that they were a 6-0 fraud. Now the Packers come into Nashville off a bye week with a healthier Aaron Rodgers (still nursing an injured throwing shoulder). Green Bay’s biggest problem will be how to contain the Titans brutally efficient rushing duo of Chris Johnson and LenDale White. While Tennesse’s dynamic backfield gets most of the credit, center Kevin Mawae anchors what has become arguably the best in football. Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch (who is expected to return from an injured groin) form a fierce line combo on the opposite side of the ball as well.

The Packers (13) and Titans (12) are first and second in the league in interceptions.

LINE: TEN (-5.5), WEATHER: LP Field, Nashville TN. Sunny, 71-degrees.

Cardinals (4-3) at Rams (2-5) — Sunday, 10:00 a.m. PST, FOX

The Rams were 0-4 and looked like they belonged in a George A. Romero film. Then suddenly, they were resurrected by interim coach Jim Haslett, won two straight and now appear potential contenders in a very weak NFC West. Beating Arizona will pull the Rams within one game of the division lead. Despite an explosive offense, the Cardinals are 1-3 on the road. Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston will have their work cut out for them against at Rams secondary that’s forced nine turnovers in Haslett’s three game tenure. Watch out for Cards safety Adrian Wilson, fined for this week five hit on Trent Edwards. He’s arguably the best safety in the NFC and plays all over the field.

LINE: ARZ (-3), WEATHER: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis MO. Indoors.

Texans (3-4) at Vikings (3-4) — Sunday, 10:00 a.m. PST, CBS

Need three reasons to watch what otherwise seems like a below average game? 1. Running backs like Steve Slaton (Houston) and Adrian Peterson (Minnesota). 2. Gus Frerotte throwing to fantasy football freak Bernard Berrian, while being chased by athletic freak Mario Williams. 3. Vikings defensive tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams and Texans long snapper Bryan Pittman are linked to positive drug tests for taking a diuretic used to mask an illegal diuretic.

LINE: MIN (-4.5), WEATHER:The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis MN. Indoors.

Buccaneers (5-3) at Chiefs (1-6) — Sunday, 10:00 a.m. PST, FOX

How bad do you feel for Chiefs tight end and future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, a member of arguably the poorest excuse for football in the league? Gonzalez has to catch passes from Tyler Thigpen, Ingle Martin, Quinn Gray and put up with knuckleheads like Larry Johnson. As for Tampa Bay, they’re perfect at home and 1-3 on the road. Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn have combined for more than 900 yards rushing combined and should see plenty of carries against the worst ranked run defense in football.

LINE: TB (-8.5), WEATHER: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City MO. Partly cloudy, 71-degrees.

Dolphins (3-4) at Broncos (4-3) — Sunday, 1:05 p.m. PST, CBS

There’s something intriguing about his game and it’s not just flashbacks to the days of Dan Marino v. John Elway. Miami has a suspect defense, so Jay Cutler could have a field day. But don’t underestimate a more than formidable Dolphins offense. Against the one-loss Bills last week, Ted Ginn Jr. broke out for his best day as a pro with seven catches for 175 yards. Combine Ginn’s big play ability with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams toting the load against a questionable Broncos run defense and this game has all the makings of a 38-35 shootout. Denver is still without all-world corner Champ Bailey (groin), but will get firepower back on offense with the return of Tony Scheffler and Eddie Royal.

LINE: DEN (-3), WEATHER: Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver CO. Partly cloudy, 72-degrees.

Cowboys (5-3) at Giants (6-1) — Sunday, 1:15 p.m. PST, FOX

Don’t be fooled by a 1.5 game difference in the standings. The Giants and Cowboys feel miles apart. Brad Johnson has been so bad in relief of injured Tony Romo that word out of Valley Ranch was the Cowboys were considering starting third stringer Brooks Bollinger. That’s like saying the CIA was considering hiring the Keystone Cops. Still, Dallas pulled out a season-saving win versus Tampa last week, and now they’ll try and save their divisional standing. New York’s ferocious pass rush will potentially be stifled by the Cowboys unwillingness to throw down field. Instead, the Giants are focused on stopping Marion Barber. As dominant as the defending champs have looked, there seems to be descension in the lockerroom about Plaxico Burress’ practice habits (or lack-there-of).

LINE: NYG (-9), WEATHER: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ. Partly cloudy, 60-degrees.

Eagles (4-3) at Seahawks (2-5) — Sunday, 1:15 p.m. PST, FOX

Pounding San Francisco for their first road win of the year didn’t improve Seattle’s injury situation. Their offense, 31st in the league at an ugly 258.7 ypg, will again be without Deion Branch and Matt Hasselbeck, the quarterback dealing less with pain and more of a “dead leg” feeling in his back and knee. With Seneca Wallace starting under center against a Philly defense that’s intercepted 12 passes (2nd in the NFC), Seattle may simply be dead. Expect a huge game from Donovan McNabb. So far, Philly has struggled in short-yardage plays, but that likely won’t be a factor against a Seahawks defense susceptible to big plays.

LINE: PHI (-6.5), WEATHER: Qwest Field, Seattle WA. Cloudy, 40% chance of rain, 57-degrees.

Patriots (5-2) at Colts (3-4) — Sunday, 5:15 p.m. PST, NBC

No Tom Brady. Indy with a losing record. This game may have lost a little of its sexiness, but will still be tremendously momentous in the AFC playoff race. New England is in jeopardy of falling off the Bills pace in the East, while the Colts are in jeopardy of falling off entirely. Indy needs the game more, as evidenced by Joseph Addai and Bob Sanders rushing back from injuries, the latter hopefully reducing the sting of corner Marlin Jackson going on injured reserve after injuring his knee during a non-contact drill. The Patriots are also banged up. Kevin Faulk and BenJarvus Green-Ellis will split time in a decimated backfield and Rodney Harrison, Laurence Maroney, et al are done for the year. Maybe Sunday night’s winner will earn a trophy of attrition, if nothing else.

LINE: IND (-5.5), WEATHER: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis IN. Indoors (Roof likely to be closed)

Steelers (5-2) at Redskins (6-2) — Monday, 5:30 p.m. PST, ESPN

Pittsburgh has run into the toughest part of their inter-conference schedule, and after falling to the Giants at home, they have to travel to the Nation’s capitol. It’s a nice battle of young quarterbacks: Ben Roethlisberger and Jason Campbell (who has not thrown an interception, folks. Last week during ESPN’s NFL Countdown, Tom Jackson said outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley was the most important person on Pittsburgh’s defense. This week provides no exception, as Woodley and James Harrison wil be counted on to pressure Campbell. The Redskins will counter with Clinton Portis (on pace for more than 1,850 rushing yards), assuming an ankle injury that kept him out of Thursday’s practice doesn’t force him to miss the game. Troy Polamalu, not a pansy, says he’s impressed with the ‘Skins. On Monday night, the entire country will be dually admiring.

In case you missed it, watch this Santana Moss punt return.

LINE: WSH (-1.5), WEATHER: FedEx Field, Washington D.C. Partly cloudy, 42-degrees.

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