Detroit QB Matthew Stafford is doubtful to play against the Packers due to a shoulder injury. Daunte Culpepper is likely to start in his absence. Stafford had a monster game against the Browns last week, throwing for 422 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. However, the Lions still got carved up on defense, allowing Cleveland's Brady Quinn to complete 21 passes for 304 yards and no interceptions. The Browns have the second-worst passing offense in the league, so if they produced that well against the Lions, Detroit could be in for a long day against Green Bay. Packers QB Aaron Rogers put up 344 yards and a pair of scores against the 49ers in Week 11.
Raiders QB Bruce Gradkowski completed 17 of 34 passes for 183 yards, two touchdowns and one interception as he replaced the newly benched JaMarcus Russell last week in their upset win over Cincinnati. Dallas QB Tony Romo had an underwhelming performance against the Redskins last week, throwing for just 158 yards. However, the Cowboys also posted 158 rushing yards on 33 carries. This week, RB Marion Barber faces a Raiders defense that ranks No. 30 in the league for rushing yards allowed with 157.7 per game. Raiders RBs Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush only mustered a combined 94 yards against a stingy Bengals defense, and they might have trouble improving upon that total on Thanksgiving in Dallas.
The Broncos have lost four in a row since beginning the season with six straight wins. QB Kyle Orton should play this week, and with backup Chris Simms struggling in his absence, that's good news for Denver. For all of their troubles, the Broncos still boast the No. 3 passing defense in the league, holding opponents to 182.5 yards per game in the air. They'll need a strong showing against the Giants, as QB Eli Manning busted loose for 368 passing yards, completing passes to eight different targets in last week's win over the Falcons. Giants running backs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw are both banged up, which could force New York to rely even more on its air attack.
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Week 12 - Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009
Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams
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Last week, the Seahawks rushed for a franchise-worst 4 yards on 13 carries, breaking the previous record of 14 yards set just four games earlier against Arizona at Qwest Field. The seahawks' rushing attack could improve against a Rams defense that gave up 183 rushing yards to the Cardinals. Rams RB Steven Jackson faces a Seahawks defense that actually did a decent job of containing Adrian Peterson, who was held to 82 yards on 24 carries.
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Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles
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The injury woes continue for the Redskins, who will remain without starting RB Clinton Portis this week and have also lost backup RB Ladell Betts to injured reserve with MCL and ACL injuries to his left knee. Rock Cartwright should get the start at running back this week for Washington. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb goes up against a top-ranked Redskins passing defense that has allowed opponents just 161.6 passing yards per game this season. McNabb has completed at least 60 percent of his passes in four of the Eagles' past five games, putting up 244 yards and a pair of scores against Chicago in Week 11. Philadelphia RB Brian Westbrook will remain on the bench this week as he recovers from a concussion.
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Carolina Panthers at NY Jets
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The Panthers must stick with the running game after rushing for 182 yards against Miami. Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams will have to work hard for each yard against the Jets aggressive defense. Jets QB Mark Sanchez locks in on receivers and tries to force too many Favre-like throws into tight coverage. Sanchez will have to be patient in the pocket and should have time to throw since the Panthers' struggling pass rush will be without DE Charles Johnson, who has a strained pectoral muscle.
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Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
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Colts RB Joseph Addai ran for a season-high 74 yards on 19 carries against Baltimore and could have similar success against a Texans defense that allowed Chris Johnson to rush for 151 yards. Texans QB Mat Schaub is coming off a Monday night game loss even though he threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns. Schaub faces a Colts pass rush that should be hungry after the poor effort against the Ravens, which resulted in no sacks for the first time this season.
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Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals
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The 1-9 Browns put up an impressive passing performance against the Lions last week but still ended up losing at the very end. QB Brady Quinn had 304 passing yards and four touchdowns, but that was against the league-worst passing defense of Detroit. The Bengals should be a tougher test, although they enter this game after their own disappointing loss at Oakland. The Bengals turned the ball over repeatedly and failed to put consistent pressure on Oakland QB Bruce Gradkowski. RB Cedric Benson could sit again for the Bengals with a hip injury, while DT Domata Peko (knee) is also questionable.
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Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
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Miami coach Tony Sparano said Monday that NT Jason Ferguson will miss the rest of the season with a quad injury, moving Paul Soliai to the starting lineup. Bills WR Terrell Owens finally had a big game for Buffalo in Week 11 against Jacksonville, catching nine passes for 197 yards from QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, including one for a 98-yard touchdown. Buffalo RB Marshawn Lynch could miss the Miami game with a hurt shoulder. Miami RB Ricky Williams will try to continue his momentum after putting up 119 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns against Carolina, picking up the slack with Ronnie Brown out for the rest of the season. Williams could have another big day at Buffalo, which has allowed opponents an average of 165.9 rushing yards per game this season.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
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Bucs QB Josh Freeman is coming off a rookie-like performance in which he threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. Freeman hopes to rebound against a Falcons defense that watched Eli Manning pass for a career high 384 yards. Falcons QB Matt Ryan faces a Buccaneers defense that held Drew Brees to 187 passing yards, but gave up three passing touchdowns.
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Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers
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Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew should have rushing opportunities against a 49ers defense that got mauled against a beaten-up Packers offensive line and let Ryan Grant rush for 129 yards on 21 carries. The Jaguars' defense will try to limit Frank Gore and force the 49ers to beat them with Alex Smith, who has been inconsistent in recent weeks.
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Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers
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Chiefs QB Matt Cassel and the passing game was pitiful until midway through the fourth quarter against the Steelers. Cassell could struggle against a Chargers defense that put pressure on Chris Simms and Kyle Orton. The Chargers' rushing attack had its best game of the season last week with 203 yards. Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson will test a Chiefs defense that gave up 114 rushing yards against the Steelers, but kept Pittsburgh from making big plays on the ground.
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Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans
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Arizona backup QB Matt Leinart could get the start at Tennessee, with usual starter Kurt Warner questionable after leaving Week 11 against the Rams with concussion symptoms. The Cardinals had their best rushing performance of the season last week, putting up 183 yards against the Rams, but they'll be up against a Titans defense than has only allowed its opponents an average of 104.1 yards per game on the ground. The Titans have the second-worst passing defense in the league, which could ease the pain for the Cardinals if they have to play without Warner. Arizona remains tough against the run, but they'll be put to a major test against RB Chris Johnson and a Tennessee rushing offense that leads the NFL with 168.4 yards per game.
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Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings
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Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson had over 100 rushing yards in three of his four career games against Chicago, which ranks No. 22 in the NFL for stopping the run. Vikings QBs Brett Favre and Tarvaris Jackson combined for five passing touchdowns against Seattle last week, with Favre completing 88 percent of his passes before being pulled from the game once the Vikings achieved a 25-point lead. The Vikings remain very tough against the run, so Chicago will need QB Jay Cutler to have a big day after repeatedly missing open receivers in the Bears' 24-20 loss to the Eagles last week.
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Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens
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Steelers SS Troy Polamalu is likely to miss this week's game in Baltimore with a sprained PCL in his left knee. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is listed as questionable for this game with a possible concussion. If Roethlisberger can't play, third-string QB Dennis Dixon would get the start with backup Charlie Batch sidelined with a broken wrist. Expect the Steelers to run the ball early and often to protect the quarterback. Joe Flacco faces a Steelers defense that let Matt Cassel complete 15 passes for 248 yards, including a 61-yarder in overtime that set up the winning field goal.
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Week 12 - Monday, Nov. 30, 2009
New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints
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Patriots QB Tom Brady showed what Wes Welker means to that offense. Brady recorded another 300-yard passing game and Welker finished with 15 catches, which set a franchise record for a regulation game. The Patriots' passing attack will test a Saints banged up secondary that still made life miserable for rookie quarterback Josh Freeman all day. Saints QB Drew Brees faces a Patriots defense that played well against rookie QB Mark Sanchez and held him to eight completions with four interceptions.
You see that line above!? Yeah, that's in the words of yours truly, Jamey Eisenberg. This will go down as one of the greatest EPIC FAILS of ALL TIME. Here's the full excerpt, including his "rationale":
I really dont care who he picks to win but enless im really tired right now in expert picks harman picks the lions to win but in his forcast he picks the packers to win are the expert picks against the spread or what ??
On the experts page where they pick against the spread, under Harmon it says Dallas (with them being favoured by 2.5). Yet on the Harmon Forecast, it has Dallas beating Green Bay by 2, which would not cover the spread. Just pointing it out....
why, the garbage man(prisco) in the expert picks, say the seahawks will win against the vikings in minnesota, and in his picks says the vikings will win? Is Prisco a retard or something? i just can´t understand that, only Prisco knows
I'm shocked. well done Prisco. there are things that are arguable here or there, but the average newcomer wouldn't be able to call you out for the football-idiot you most often are.
The one thing that I personally think, is that cincinnatti has just started their downward spiral. They've been a mediocre team masked by last minute heroics that gave them a great record. Congrats to cars
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Harmon thinks the Raiders can score 20 points against the Eagles defense after mentioning in his comments that they have only scored a total of 16 the last 3 games? Has the NFL instituted a new handicapping system and the Eagles have to spot the Raiders 17 points at the start of the game? Prisco has them scoring 14 which also seems pretty high. I guess they are counting on interception and kick of
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