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Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009
Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30	Tampa Bay continues to look for its first win of the season, and the Packers will not be an easy conquest. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers went 26-for-41 for 287 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 36-28 home loss to the Vikings in Week 8. The Buccaneers rank No. 15 in the league in passing yards allowed, but considering they've also allowed nine passing plays gain 40 yards or more -- eight of which resulted in touchdowns -- this could turn into a blowout if Tampa Bay doesn't improve in that area. The Bucs will start Josh Freeman at QB after finding no success with previous starters Byron Leftwich and Josh Johnson. Result: Green Bay Packers 28, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38
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Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots
28	Heading into their bye in Week 8, the Patriots won their previous two games (against the Titans and the Buccaneers) by a combined score of 94-7. The Dolphins present a greater challenge to the Patriots than either of those two teams, and they're riding high off their win over the Jets in New York last week that saw Teddy Ginn Jr. score twice on long kick returns and OLB Jason Taylor score a rare touchdown off a turnover. However, the Dolphins have allowed an average of 236 passing yards and 25.3 points per game, while the Patriots passing attack led by QB Tom Brady and WRs Wes Welker and Randy Moss is ranked No. 2 in the league with 291 yards per game. Result: New England Patriots 27, Miami Dolphins 17
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Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars
19	With usual Chiefs starter Larry Johnson suspended for inappropriate remarks, FB Jamaal Charles will get more playing time against the Jaguars. Rushing yards are the Chiefs' best statistical category right now, and they only rank No. 21 in the league in rushing, which shows you how bleak the situation is in Kansas City. Chiefs C Rudy Niswanger is considered questionable for the game due to an MCL sprain suffered against the Chargers on Oct. 25, which kept him out of practice during the bye week. Jaguars star RB Maurice Jones-Drew figures to get more carries against Kansas City after producing 177 yards and a pair of touchdowns with just eight touches last week. Result: Jacksonville Jaguars 24, Kansas City Chiefs 21
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Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts
31	Last week, Texans RB Steve Slaton lost his fifth fumble and was replaced by Ryan Moats, who played for the second time this season. Moats carried 23 times for 126 yards and a team-record three touchdowns. The Texans’ rushing attack could struggle against a Colts defense that did allow 49ers RB Frank Gore to break loose for a 64-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, but did a nice job of bottling up Gore and the rest of the San Francisco running game. The Texans defense hopes to contain Colts QB Peyton Manning after holding Ryan Fitzpatrick to 117 yards and no touchdowns. Result: Indianapolis Colts 20, Houston Texans 17
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Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
29	Heading into their bye in Week 8, Bengals RB Cedric Benson was the No. 1-ranked running back in the NFL with 720 yards, including three games with at least 100 yards. Bengals QB Carson Palmer has shown remarkable poise thus far, with WRs Chad Ochocinco and Andre Caldwell producing when it matters most. However, the Ravens' pass rush looked fantastic against the Broncos last week, roughing up Denver QB Kyle Orton. The Bengals rank No. 30 in the NFL with 253.3 passing yards allowed per game, and Ravens QB Joe Flacco completed 80 percent of his 25 passing attempts, including 14 in a row, against the Broncos last week. Result: Cincinnati Bengals 17, Baltimore Ravens 7
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Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears
28	Cardinals QB Kurt Warner is coming off one of his worst games in which he threw five interceptions and lost a fumble when he tried to scramble. Warner's struggles could continue against a Bears defense that is coming off a big game against the Browns, which held Anderson to a 10.5 passer rating. Bears RB Matt Forte could be used often to test a Cardinals rush defense that was ranked No. 1 in the league entering the game last week, but allowed the Panthers to gain 270 yards on 44 carries. Result: Chicago Bears 21, Arizona Cardinals 41
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Washington Redskins at Atlanta Falcons
34	Redskins TE Chris Cooley will miss at least a few games after surgery to repair his fractured ankle. Redskins QB Jason Campbell is expected to play even though he sprained his own ankle against the Eagles before the bye week. He'll face a Falcons defense that has allowed 256.4 passing yards per game thus far in the season, the second worst average in the NFL. Falcons RB Michael Turner will be looking for a big game against a Redskins defense that has allowed 118 rushing yards per game. Result: Atlanta Falcons 31, Washington Redskins 17
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Detroit Lions at Seattle Seahawks
24	Lions WR Calvin Johnson remains day to day with a right knee injury. He has missed the past two games. The Lions dropped at least six passes in the first half, and no wide receiver caught a pass until the fourth quarter. Lions Quarterback Matthew Stafford could decide to pick on Seahawks CB Marcus Trufant, who was called for three defensive penalties which all led to touchdowns for Dallas. Seahawks RB Julius Jones could have success against a Lions defense that couldn't stop Steven Jackson, especially with the game on the line late in the fourth quarter. Jackson had 22 carries for 149 yards. Result: Seattle Seahawks 32, Detroit Lions 20
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Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints
34	The Panthers ran the ball 44 times for 270 yards against the Cardinals last week, putting up the second-best rushing performance in franchise history against what was the top-ranked rushing defense in the league. Panthers QB Jake Delhomme is questionable to play after a chest injury took him out of the Arizona game, but Delhomme -- 6-0 as a starter at the Superdome -- believes he'll be ready to go. The Saints remain the only undefeated team in the NFC, averaging a league-best 39 points and 428.7 yards per game. Saints QB Drew Brees has averaged 325 passing yards over his past three games, and he faces a Panthers defense that leads the NFL in fewest passing yards allowed per game (160.6). Result: New Orleans Saints 30, Carolina Panthers 20
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Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers
28	Last week, Titans QB Vince Young was accurate but conservative in his first start of the year which led to 15 completions out of 18 throws for just 125 yards and one touchdown. Young could come back to Earth this week against a 49ers defense that did a great job of making the Colts settle for four field goals and recorded three sacks on Peyton Manning. 49ers QB Alex Smith faces a Titans defense that manufactured some pressure with timely blitzes and a better rush after weeks of being mutilated by opposing quarterbacks. Result: San Francisco 49ers 27, Tennessee Titans 34
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San Diego Chargers at NY Giants
17	Chragers RB LaDainian Tomlinson had two rushing scores last week, but there is still work to be done on the running game. The Chargers will have to establish the rushing game early and often against a Giants defense that has struggled against the run lately. Last week, the linebackers were virtually invisible at the point of attack and the defensive tackles were, at times, totally taken out of the equation by the Eagles' offensive line. This could be a long day for Giants QB Eli Manning, who is regressing back to his days as a rookie. Result: San Diego Chargers 21, NY Giants 20
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Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
30	Cowboys QB Tony Romo has been sensational lately and has not throw an interception in three straight games. Romo could struggle against the Eagles' opportunistic defense that creates turnovers. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb came out of his two-game funk against the Giants, but he will be tested by an improved Cowboys defense. Result: Philadelphia Eagles 16, Dallas Cowboys 20
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Monday, Nov. 9, 2009
Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
27	Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is off to a fast start and coming off a bye week. Roethlisberger faces a Broncos defense that has to put more pressure on the quarterback after allowing Joe Flacco to complete 20 of 25 passes and find open receivers when he needed to make a big throw. Broncos QB Kyle Orton could have success against a Steelers passing defense that led the NFL last season, but now rests in the middle of the pack as offenses dink-and-dunk their way down field rather than run it.
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