Peek at the Week: Jets, Cards put to test vs. the best

Game of the week

New York Jets at Tennessee, 1 p.m. ET | Endzone

The line: Titans by 5½

The story: A week ago the Jets produced one of their biggest victories in years by beating New England, a decision that gained the franchise the credibility it sought when it acquired veterans like Brett Favre, Alan Faneca and Kris Jenkins. Now it's looking for something more ... something like recognition as one of the teams to watch in the playoffs.

We're getting ahead of ourselves here, but imagine what a defeat of Tennessee would accomplish. First, it would put a blemish on the only undefeated record in the business, and, second, it would signal the Jets are legit. Too many people, including myself, still aren't sold on these guys, wondering how you can lose to San Diego and Oakland and still be considered a neighborhood bully. Well, wonder no more if the Jets win here.

They can ... only I don't see it happening. First, the Titans are exceedingly good on defense and they excel at takeaways, with an AFC-best 15 interceptions. Quick, what does Favre do? Throw interceptions, that's what. So he has just one in his past three games. He still leads the league with 12, and, guaranteed, he takes chances if the Jets fall behind.

For the Jets to succeed, Favre must not turn the ball over. It's as simple as that. That can happen if he gets help from Thomas Jones, the AFC's leading rusher, but the Titans can be tough against the run, allowing Jacksonville 33 yards in the season opener.

Jets fans look at their team's rush defense and say, hey, if Chicago can bottle up Tennessee's backs, why can't we? Well, they can. Then you make Kerry Collins beat you, and that's a smart way of attacking these guys. Except Collins has been down this road before. He beat Chicago two weeks ago. He beat Jacksonville last week. He doesn't make the critical mistakes because he doesn't take the heat. Look it up: The guy has been sacked five times all season.

Bottom line: It's a great opportunity for the Jets, and the pressure clearly is on Tennessee. But the Titans defense is top shelf, with Tennessee allowing more than 17 points only once in the past 13 regular-season games, and that was a defeat of Indianapolis.

Something to consider: Don't be surprised if nothing happens in the first quarter. Since Week 14 of last season, nobody has allowed fewer first-period points than Tennessee (23), which has blanked six of its past 10 opponents -- but the Jets are close. They're third with 40.

Three games I'd like to see

New England at Miami, 1 p.m. ET | Preview

The line: Dolphins by 1½

The Patriots couldn't get a handle on Ronnie Brown in Week 3. (Getty Images)

The story: Both teams are tied at 6-4, but let's be honest: The pressure here is on only one of them, and that's New England. With a loss the Patriots' chances of repeating in the AFC East are severely compromised -- partly because the Dolphins would win a tiebreaker and partly because the Pats could fall two games off the lead.

Miami likes its chances here because A) the Dolphins always seem to play these guys tough in Miami (they're 31-10 vs. New England at home), and B) because they torched New England two months ago in Foxborough. Just a hunch, but New England is prepared for the "Wildcat" this time around.

If Miami wins, the Jets better dig in. It's the Dolphins they have to beat for the division title, and the two meet Dec. 28. Look at Miami's schedule: After New England, three of their next four games are against St. Louis, San Francisco and Kansas City -- opponents with a combined record of 6-24. The fourth is Buffalo, and I don't understand the Bills, either.

Winning this one will be tough because the Patriots know the consequences of another loss and because, frankly, all games are tough for the Fins. They won their past two by a combined four points, against Oakland and Seattle. Quarterback Chad Pennington isn't making mistakes, and there is no need to pass the word to New England. He missed on only three of 20 passes against the Patriots in September and has a completion percentage of 70 the past eight games.

Something to consider: This is the first time the two have met with the same number of wins since an Oct. 19, 2003, game in Miami when the Dolphins were 4-1 and the Patriots 4-2.

New York Giants at Arizona, 4:15 p.m. ET | Preview

The line: Giants by 3½

Brandon Jacobs' knee injury shouldn't slow the Giants' run game. (Getty Images)

The story: The Arizona Cardinals are going to the playoffs, and let's hear it for head coach Ken Whisenhunt. He changed the culture of losing around this team, and he did it with a 37-year-old quarterback.

Now Whisenhunt and Kurt Warner aim for something bigger -- something like the same credibility the Jets seek in Tennessee. A victory here would signal that the Cards are more than the best team in a dreadful division; it would signal that they're a threat to make a playoff run -- provided, of course, they are at home.

It's no secret the Cards are a different team in Glendale than they are on the road. They beat Miami there. They beat Dallas there. They clobbered Buffalo there, too, and it was the Bills' first loss of the season.

But that's not all. They're working on a seven-game home winning streak, dating back to last season, and Warner has 10 touchdown passes and one interception in four home starts this year.

That's the good news. The bad is that they haven't faced an opponent like the Giants, the most complete team in the business. Arizona might catch a break with Brandon Jacobs, iffy because of a sore knee. But Jacobs returned to practice Thursday and appears ready to go. The same can't be said of wide receiver Plaxico Burress. He has a hamstring problem, and coach Tom Coughlin is noncommittal about Burress' availability.

No problem. New York has been here before. Remember what happened when Coughlin suspended Burress for one game earlier this season? The Giants waxed Seattle, with replacement Domenik Hixson producing 102 yards in catches in the first half.

Jacobs or no Jacobs, the Giants will look to run. The Cards rank seventh in rush defense, but so what? Nobody was better than Baltimore, and the Giants shredded the Ravens for 207 yards on the ground. Arizona, of course, pays almost no attention to the run on offense, with Warner throwing 61 percent of the time. The results speak for themselves: He leads the league in passer rating, completions and completion percentage and is second in yards and touchdowns.

To beat him you must pressure him, and the Giants can. They rank third in sacks per pass play, which means it all comes down to protecting Warner for Arizona. If the Cards can, the Giants are vulnerable. If they can't, forget about the upset. It's not happening.

Something to consider: In 10 games Warner has fumbled seven times, losing five of them.

Indianapolis at San Diego, 8:15 p.m. ET | Preview

The line: Chargers by 2½

The season has reached the desperation stage for L.T.'s Bolts. (Getty Images)

The story: The Colts are getting better. The Bolts are not. Something has to give, and it could be the Chargers' playoff chances. Plain and simple, another loss probably ends their chance for a division repeat. What a shame. There is so much talent on this team but so few results.

Quarterback Philip Rivers leads the league in touchdown passes, but he has been all over the place the past four games -- throwing interceptions and losing fumbles at all the wrong times. Result: San Diego has lost three of those four and nearly dropped the fourth to Kansas City.

Rivers isn't the problem; an offensive line that struggles to open holes for LaDainian Tomlinson is. So is a defense that, while improved under new coordinator Ron Rivera, still bends too much in crunch time. In six of the past 11 games, including the AFC Championship Game, the defense has allowed opponents to score or run out the clock on their final possession. That includes four games this year where opponents scored in the final 24 seconds.

Indianapolis, on the other hand, seems to improve with each week. Peyton Manning looks like an MVP again, and he's the reason the Colts should win. Yes he committed big mistakes last year when he was besieged by a Chargers pass rush led by Shawne Merriman. But Merriman is gone, and so is the San Diego pass rush. Until last week, the Bolts had one sack in their previous three games -- and that was when Tyler Thigpen ran out of bounds.

If Manning has time here, the Chargers are finished. He'll dissect what's left of a team that promised so much and delivered so little.

Something to consider: Since 2006, San Diego is 14-1 at home against the AFC.

Why Mondays shouldn't get you down

Green Bay at New Orleans, 8:30 p.m. ET | Preview

The line: Saints by 2½

Reggie Bush could be back after missing three games. (Getty Images)

The story: I can't figure either of these teams out. The Saints should be better than they are, but they're crippled defensively. The Packers should be better than they are, but they're starting to get crippled defensively. So maybe this becomes a shootout between Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. If it does, I know whom I'm taking.

If Brees has trouble here it will be with a terrific Green Bay secondary led by cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson. The Packers lead the league with 16 interceptions and seven defensive touchdowns. In fact, they're only three scores short of the league record set in 1998 by Seattle.

The good news for Brees is that he could have Reggie Bush back. Bush is a bona-fide weapon, whether it's catching a slew of passes out of the backfield or returning punts. In fact, the last time the Saints appeared on Monday night he had two punt returns for touchdowns.

The Packers can minimize the damage of New Orleans' top-ranked passing game by calling Ryan Grant's number. Grant has two 100-yard rushing performances in his past four starts and is beginning to look like the back who excelled the second half of last season. If he can exploit the Saints' defense as he did Chicago's, it's over. The Packers can hold the ball, keep it out of Brees' hands and force the Saints to play a hurried game of catch-up.

Something to consider: This is the first home game for New Orleans since Oct. 12. Technically, the Oct. 26 date with San Diego was considered a home game, too, but playing in London isn't exactly playing at home.

Upset of the week

Indianapolis over San Diego

Peyton Manning tries to reverse a trend vs. San Diego. (Getty Images)

Once again, I'm betraying my desperate-team-at-home axiom. Normally, you take clubs that absolutely, positively must win, and San Diego absolutely, positively must win to stay in the AFC West race. Only the Chargers don't seem to respond to threats this year, fading away a week ago in Pittsburgh and disappearing down the stretch against New Orleans and Buffalo.

There's something missing from this team, and it's attitude. Nothing seems to bother these guys, and that's not good when you're slipping out of the division picture. The Chargers keep taking punches, then remind us how they made a charge the second half last season. Well, this just in: It's the second half of the season, guys, and so far I haven't seen anything close to what I witnessed in 2007.

In particular, the defense that led the league in takeaways last season isn't responding, and I don't see how it rattles Peyton Manning with a lackluster pass rush. Manning remembers what happened the last two times he met these guys, and he has something to prove. So do his teammates. They think they can be a playoff factor, and this is the time you make the run for January.

The Chargers are favored because they're home and, frankly, because they should be desperate. I saw how they responded when they were pressed against New England, and I was impressed. But that was the last decent game by these guys, and it was six weeks ago. I don't see how they wake up now.

Crummy game of the week

Buffalo at Kansas City, 1 p.m. ET | Preview

The line: Bills by 2½

Tyler Thigpen will throw against a depleted Bills secondary. (Getty Images)

The story: Buffalo has dropped its past four; the Chiefs have lost six in a row and 18 of their past 19. The smart money says Buffalo prevails only because Kansas City can't seem to beat anyone not named Denver, but the Chiefs have been piling up yards on offense lately, and Buffalo has not.

Buffalo is one of the season's big disappointments, winning its first four games then losing five of its past six. The offense commits a ton of mistakes and coordinator Turk Schonert seems to have lost confidence in Trent Edwards' arm, with the quarterback seldom taking chances down the field.

Kansas City, on the other hand, keeps growing with its confidence in Tyler Thigpen. The club has produced four straight games of 330 total yards or more and came this close to beating the Jets, Tampa Bay and San Diego -- losing to the Jets and Chargers in the final minute and the Bucs in overtime.

But that's the problem. Kansas City just can't seem to close the deal. Of course, neither can Buffalo.

Don't be surprised if this game is determined by turnovers, and that's not good news, Bills fans. Over the past four weeks, Buffalo is minus-10 in the takeaway/turnover ratio, while the Chiefs are plus-eight. Only San Francisco (25) has committed more turnovers this season than Buffalo (22).

Something to consider: In his past four games, Thigpen has completed 61 percent of his passes for 945 yards with eight touchdowns, one interception and a 96.9 passer rating.

Games within the games

John Harbaugh will match wits with mentor Andy Reid. (Getty Images)

1. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh vs. Philadelphia coach Andy Reid. Reid gave Harbaugh his first pro job, with the two working together 10 years. He also recommended him for Baltimore. If you don't think this is tough for Harbaugh, you didn't try to contact him this week. I did. He declined all interviews.

2. Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner vs. the New York Giants. Warner once played for the Giants, but for only a year. He was benched after nine games so the club could play Eli Manning, and Warner wasn't happy about it. He was grateful for the opportunity but disappointed to get pulled after a 5-4 start. This is his chance to make a statement for himself.

3. Washington coach Jim Zorn and running back Shaun Alexander return to Seattle. Zorn served as Mike Holmgren's quarterbacks coach, and Alexander was the league MVP in 2005 with the Seahawks. He also is the Seahawks' career rushing leader, but he's a third-string back with Washington. Don't expect him to have the impact here that Zorn could.

4. Miami linebacker Joey Porter vs. New England. I love this guy. His mouth is as big as the plays he makes, and be grateful it's another week of the Patriots. "I don't like them," Porter announced. "I ain't ever too much cared for them." His latest beef? Before their last game with New England, the Patriots' punter, kicker and a few assistants allegedly walked through the Dolphins as they were stretching in their end of the field. "It's always about respect," Porter said. Uh-oh. The last time he sounded off like this he blew up the New England pocket.

5. Minnesota coach Brad Childress vs. Jacksonville wide receiver Troy Williamson. Williamson did nothing in Minnesota, which is why the Vikings shipped him south. Now he says he wants to "duke it out" with his former head coach, challenging him to a fistfight at the 50. Williamson is still seething about a fine imposed last season after he missed a game following the death of his grandmother. He's also not doing much. He has four catches this season and probably won't play against the Vikings. But he can still meet his former coach at the 50. "I'm not like a woman," an amused Childress told Jacksonville reporters. "I'll give you my weight. It's 190 pounds of twisted steel and rompin', stompin' dynamite."

Five guys I'd like to be this weekend

Tony Romo at home usually means good things for Dallas. (Getty Images)

1. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo. He's home, and when he's home he is tough to beat. Romo has won eight of his past 11 home starts, with 29 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 103.4 passer rating. When Romo has a rating of 100 or better the Cowboys are 16-3.

2. Miami running back Ronnie Brown. He plays New England, the opponent he shredded for 113 rushing yards and five touchdowns -- four rushing, one throwing -- the last time the two met.

3. Denver wide receiver Eddie Royal. The last time -- OK, the only time -- he faced Oakland, he had nine catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. And that was without Brandon Marshall on the field.

4. Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme. He has won four of his past five against Atlanta and is 7-1 in his past eight starts against the division.

5. Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Including the playoffs, he aims for his fifth straight win over Washington.

Bo Scaife is a big part of the Titans' passing attack. (Getty Images)

Just a hunch

Tennessee tight end Bo Scaife should have a big day against the Jets.

Scaife leads Tennessee in catches, which means Kerry Collins trusts the guy. It also means the Jets should beware.

They allowed New England's Ben Watson to make eight receptions last week, including one for a touchdown, in an overtime defeat of the Patriots.

So what? So Watson had 11 until then, with no more than three in any game. Scaife three times has had five or more catches, with a season-high 10 against Chicago.

Can Ed Hochuli ever get a break from Chargers fans? (Getty Images)

Significant numbers

Talk to a San Diego fan and sooner or later he'll mention that, were it not for Ed Hochuli, the Chargers would be tied with Denver for the AFC West lead.

Well, they're not and it's time to let it go.

But think about this for a moment, Bolts fans: When your Chargers were in Oakland on Sept. 28, they trailed 15-0 at halftime and 15-3 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Imagine if the Chargers lost that one. They would be tied with, uh-huh, the Raiders. Ouch.

Sunday's weather watch

Poll What is the best game of Week 12?   40%  Jets at Titans     3%  Bills at Chiefs     9%  Colts at Chargers     8%  Packers at Saints     27%  Giants at Cardinals     12%  Patriots at Dolphins     Total Votes: 38434

• Baltimore: Partly cloudy, high of 43.
• Cleveland: Partly cloudy, high of 40.
• Dallas: Few showers, high of 66.
• Detroit: Dome.
• Jacksonville: Partly cloudy, high of 63.
• Kansas City: Partly cloudy, high of 56.
• Miami: Scattered showers, high of 75.
• St. Louis: Dome.
• Nashville: Mostly sunny, high of 55.
• Denver: Mostly sunny, high of 58.
• Phoenix: Partly cloudy, high of 81.
• Atlanta: Dome.
• Seattle: Partly cloudy, high of 48.
• San Diego: Mostly sunny, high of 66.

Where we will be

• Pete will be in Miami to talk trash with Joey Porter.

• I will be in Baltimore for takeout at Lexington Market.

• Mike Freeman will be in Tennessee to lead those "T-I-T-A-N-S, Titans! Titans! Titans!" cheers.

• Gregg Doyel will be in Atlanta to run a clearance sale on Michael Vick jerseys.