Peek at the Week: Patriots give Bears final test

Game of the Week

Chicago at New England, 4:15 p.m. |

The line: New England by 2½

Former Bears LB Roosevelt Colvin will try to keep the pressure on Rex Grossman. (AP)

The injuries: Well, cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. isn't injured, but you can scratch him from the Bears' lineup. He was suspended a week by the NFL. Cornerback Dante Wesley (knee) has been upgraded from questionable to probable, while tight end Desmond Clark and running back Thomas Jones returned to practice Thursday and will play. Wide receiver Bernard Berrian, who played last week with a rib injury, told reporters he near 100 percent.

The Patriots' injury report is more extensive, with 11 players making Wednesday's list. You can forget about safety Rodney Harrison (shoulder). He's out. Punter Josh Miller (shoulder) is out, too, having gone on injured reserve Friday. The Patriots this week signed Ken Walter, who was their punter before Miller.

The story: No one is more thankful this weekend than Chicago. First, the Bears end a three-game road swing. Second, they're finished with quality opponents. After Sunday they don't play a club with a winning record, which means I'll see you in Chicago for the NFC playoffs.

The Bears are one of the more interesting teams we've seen in a long time. They're 9-1 and have the league's most formidable defense, yet no one east of Lake Shore Drive really trusts these guys. The reason is Rex Grossman, a quarterback who looks good one week and shaky the next. OK, so you don't need Joe Montana to reach the Super Bowl. Miami got there with David Woodley, for crying out loud.

But you do need someone who doesn't screw up, which is where Grossman gets in trouble. OK, so he's 9-1, and that's all that matters. But the Bears play in a weak division and aren't challenged except when they step out of it. Which is why this game matters. Let's face it: Chicago wins its division in a walk and nails down the home-field advantage early. So the Bears don't really need to win this game. But it would sure help if they played well or Grossman excelled because New England is their last legitimate test before January.

Poll Who is the best team in the AFC? 28% Colts   5% Chiefs   9% Ravens   2% Broncos   43% Chargers   12% Patriots   Total Votes: 24891

The Patriots are a lock to pressure Grossman to try to make him commit the mistakes he did against Arizona and Miami. Guaranteed: Belichick ran through the videotape of Miami's victory a hundred times and spotted something he can exploit. Grossman is about to see it. New England ranks second in run defense, so you can forget about Thomas Jones taking over this game. Nope, it will come down to Grossman.

Or the Bears' defense. Remember, it saved him in Arizona. It could save him again here because of the Patriots' abysmal record at home. Hard as it is to believe, the Patriots have lost more here than they have won (2-3). Not only have they dropped three of their past four in Foxborough, but quarterback Tom Brady has been atypically inaccurate -- with one TD and five interceptions in his past two starts at Gillette.

I guess what it comes down to is this: You have two outstanding defenses. Chicago ranks first in the league; the Pats rank fourth. The Bears allow the fewest number of points; the Patriots are second. So the question is: Whom do you trust more -- Rex Grossman or Tom Brady?

The bottom line: Including the playoffs, the Patriots are 35-1 when Brady has a passer rating of 100.0 or more.

Three games I'd like to see

Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 1 p.m. |

The Steelers are one of the league's also-rans, struggling to regain their Super Bowl form from a year ago, and here's a chance to make a statement. Not only is Baltimore on top of the AFC North, it has the second-best record (along with San Diego) in the conference. Beating the Ravens doesn't tighten up the division; the Ravens have a three-game bulge. But it would keep Pittsburgh's thin playoff hopes on life support and give the Ravens something to think about.

Jamal Lewis might not find much running room vs. the Steelers. (Getty Images)

Many consider Baltimore one of the top four clubs in the league. Yeah? Well, now it must prove it. So Pittsburgh is 4-6. The Steelers are better than that, and their ability to score makes this game intriguing. So does their run defense. Especially here.

A lot has been made of Jamal Lewis' role since Brian Billick took over the offense, and for good reason: The guy's a new man, scoring three times last week. But he shouldn't have an impact here, and the reason is that Steelers brick wall. Only one back (Edgerrin James) has dented it for 100 yards in the past 44 games. And this: This season's list of casualties includes four of the AFC's top five backs, LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson among them. The Steelers are one of only three clubs not to allow a 100-yard rusher this year and the only AFC team to do it. Steve McNair, get warm.

Something to consider: If you're a Ravens fan you better hope the Steelers don't jump to a big advantage. Over their past 91 games they're 90-1 when leading by 11 or more. Under coach Bill Cowher, they're 130-30 when they out-rush opponents.

New Orleans at Atlanta, 1 p.m. |

The last time Atlanta looked this bad William Sherman was passing through town. After winning five of their first seven, the Falcons are a picture of self-destruction. Now they're 5-5, with coach Jim Mora's father piling on by calling quarterback Michael Vick "a coach killer." Ouch.

Deuce McAllister has had some big games against the Falcons. (Getty Images)

The problem with the Falcons isn't so much Vick as it is a depleted roster, with the defense ravaged by serious injuries. Defensive end John Abraham has been hurt most of the year. Defensive end Patrick Kerney is gone. Defensive back Kevin Mathis is gone. Cornerback Jason Webster is sidelined. That's the bad news. The good: Linebacker Ed Hartwell and, possibly, Abraham could return for this game.

Whether they do or not, that defense has to hold off a quarterback (Drew Brees) who has thrown for 908 yards the past two weeks. Good luck. New Orleans has all sorts of weapons on offense, with Brees throwing for a career-high 510 yards last week despite losing wide receiver Marques Colston.

The Saints' defense is beginning to show signs of wear, but it might have come to the right address at the right time. The Falcons not only have produced just 37 points in three weeks; that league-leading rushing offense is in the jar, with Warrick Dunn running for no more than 73 yards in any of his past five starts and Vick struggling to manufacture a passing attack.

This game will tell you a lot about Atlanta. It's beginning to lose its grip on the season. It should be desperate. And it absolutely, positively must win. If it doesn't, look out below.

Something to consider: Running back Deuce McAllister ran for 100 or more yards in four of the past five games with Atlanta and scored his first career rushing TD on a 54-yard run in the Georgia Dome.

Philadelphia at Indianapolis, 8:15 p.m. |

Look, I don't expect this to be much of a contest, either. I mean, when NBC signed on a couple of weeks ago it sure looked like a sweetheart with Donovan McNabb against the unbeaten Colts. But McNabb is gone which means that, even without the winning streak, Indy is a prohibitive favorite.

Good things usually happen for Philly when Brian Westbrook has the ball. (Getty Images)

I'm interested in this game for a couple of reasons: 1) I want to see how the Eagles respond to the loss of their leader, and 2) I want to see how the Colts respond to the loss of that string of nine wins. Jeff Garcia is no McNabb, but the last time I saw him in this offense he was a three-time Pro Bowl choice. Of course that was four years ago. The problem with him is the same as it was in San Francisco: He can't throw the ball downfield. Look at last week's numbers: He threw 48 times for 189 yards. That's 3.9 yards a try. Wow.

The Colts' Peyton Manning should exploit an ordinary secondary, but keep in mind that two of the closest calls Indianapolis had this season were at home against opponents with struggling quarterbacks -- Tennessee and Buffalo. I don't think he struggles here, especially considering Philadelphia has lost its past two on the road (including one indoors) and, frankly, Indianapolis is just better. But let's see. It's another means of measuring one of the AFC's top clubs. The Colts should win, but I want to see how they do it. Remember: They need the home-field advantage and have only a one-game lead in that department.

Something to consider: The Eagles' Brian Westbrook averages 6.2 yards per touch, the highest of the top 10 players in scrimmage yards.

Crummy game of the week

Arizona at Minnesota, 1 p.m. |

Dennis Green visits Minnesota for the apparent beginning of his farewell. (Getty Images)

The Cardinals haven't won a game on the road. The Vikings haven't won a game in a month. Both quarterbacks are struggling. Both offenses rank near the bottom of the league. I think you get the idea. If you're looking for entertainment, go see the Minnesota Wild. If there's a hook it's Denny Green returning for the first time to the home of his biggest victories, and, yeah, that does seem like a long time ago.

It's part of his farewell tour, with the Cards expected to free Green after the season to resume his TV career. There should be no one less enthused about this visit than the Cards' Edgerrin James. He hasn't had a 100-yard game all season and, until last weekend, his longest run was 14 yards. Now he's up against the league's No. 1 run defense, and lotsa luck there, Edge. Remember, the money's good even if the production isn't. I want the under here, and I want Minnesota.

Something to consider: The Cards are road kill. They haven't won away from home all year and are 3-17 in their three seasons under Green.

Upset of the week

Pittsburgh over Baltimore. McNair was not hired to carry this offense, but he might have to do it Sunday.

The Ravens' hopes rest with Steve McNair. (Getty Images)

That's not a good thing. The Ravens will score against Pittsburgh. Everyone does these days. But they will have trouble moving the ball on the ground. And that's how they like to win games: with Jamal Lewis and a suffocating defense.

I know McNair has pulled off several fourth-quarter rallies, but I don't see it happening here.

I think Billick's unbeaten record as an offensive coordinator comes to a close because Pittsburgh is desperate and because the Ravens will be taken out of their offense.

Five guys I'd like to be

1. Michael Vick, QB, Atlanta: Coach killer? Not against New Orleans he's not. He has won five of six against the Saints and is 3-0 against them at home, a record that includes four rushing touchdowns. That's significant because when Vick runs for a score the Falcons are 13-3-1.

2. B.J. Sams, PR-KR, Baltimore: It's not often you'll find a return specialist on this list, but look what's happening here. Sams ranks third in punt returns and sixth in kickoff returns; the Steelers rank 16th in punt coverage and 26th in kickoff coverage. Can you say, "field position?"

It's good to be Carson Palmer, especially when he is playing the Browns. (AP)

3. Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati: He has thrown for at least 250 yards in three of his past four starts against the Browns and had a career-best four touchdowns against them in 2004. Oh, yeah, he also threw two or more TDs in six of his nine starts against Cleveland. Can you say, "Chad Johnson?"

4. Mike Nolan, head coach, San Francisco: The only thing better than Mike Nolan in a suit is Mike Nolan vs. the St. Louis. The guy is 3-0 against the Rams, including Alex Smith's first career victory as a starting quarterback. He's 6-17 against the rest of the league.

5. Brad Johnson, QB, Minnesota: Yeah, he's struggling, but he has never lost to Arizona in five starts. In fact, he had his first career four-touchdown game against the Cardinals.

He said it

"I'm not out here to be a cheerleader. I'm not here to be someone who fades into the background. My job is to help this team win. The opportunities I get will dictate that. If it gets to a point where I feel I'm mot doing anything then generally our team is in trouble." -- New York Giants running back Tiki Barber, criticizing the team's play-calling this week.

Stat of the week

The most effective front four? It's in Chicago, where the team's defensive line is responsible for 24 of the club's 25 sacks. Rookie Mark Anderson leads the Bears with 8½, and he doesn't even start.

Where we will be |

Pete will be in Atlanta to take Jim Mora's pulse. Someone told him Michael Vick was a threat to Jim's health.

I'll be in New England to start filming Super Bowl Shuffle, Part Deux when the Bears leave Foxborough.

Mike Freeman will be in Baltimore to board Air McNair.

Gregg Doyel will be in Indianapolis to chronicle just how much the Colts don't miss Edgerrin James.