| 1 |  |
Last Week: 1 |
Everyone has worried about their one-dimensional offense, but the Titans have averaged more than twice as many passing yards as rushing yards over their last four games. If teams start playing them to pass, be prepared to see Chris Johnson and LenDale White pound the ball again. Big test this week as the Titans host the AFC East-leading Jets and their 4th-ranked rushing defense.
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| 2 |  |
Last Week: 2 |
The Professor likes to be honest, so I’ll tell you this: With each new dominating ground performance, it is getting harder and harder to keep the Giants ranked Number 2. To put things in perspective, the Ravens had only given up one rushing touchdown all season and hadn’t allowed more than 76 yards on the ground in a single game this season. The Giants pounded out two rushing TDs and 207 rushing yards in Week 11. Wow.
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| 3 |  |
Last Week: 9 |
After tossing eight interceptions in his previous three games, Big Ben was efficient and turnover-free against the Chargers, finishing with his highest completion percentage since Week 1. Hines Ward registered his second straight 100-yard receiving game and Willie Parker pulled off his first 100-yard rushing game since Week 2. It looks like this offense might finally be catching up to a defense that’s first in passing yards and rushing yards allowed and second in points allowed.
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| 4 |  |
Last Week: 5 |
This team has the second-best record in the NFC and no one is taking them seriously. Yes, they’re beating up on weak teams. But you can’t deny their two-headed rushing attack of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. They have six rushing TDs each and both eclipsed 100 yards in Week 11. A running game like that is a nice complement to the NFL’s third-rated scoring defense.
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| 5 |  |
Last Week: 11 |
Gang Green’s defense continues to impress. They have the second-most sacks in the NFL and are fourth-best against the rush. Brett Favre and Thomas Jones have made plays for this team on offense, but it’s the other side of the ball that has carried the Jets to the top of the AFC East.
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| 6 |  |
Last Week: 6 |
The Official Bandwagon Team of the SIKids.com Fantasy Wizard has practically wrapped up a home playoff game already, and the Wiz hasn’t stopped dancing around in his red cape since. Between Kurt Warner (four consecutive 300-yard passing games) and the dynamic duo of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald (both had more than 150 yards in Week 11), these Cards can put up some points. Sorry to rain on everyone’s parade, but I’m still worried about their lack of a running game (29th in rushing yards), which makes it difficult to hold onto late leads.
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| 7 |  |
Last Week: 8 |
We know about the tough defense (the Bucs are fourth in the league in points allowed per game), but Tampa QB Jeff Garcia deserves some credit, too. Garcia is third in the league in completion percentage and has the fewest picks in the NFL.
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| 8 |  |
Last Week: 3 |
Are they that bad or the Giants just that good? Joe Flacco threw two interceptions—his first since Week 6—but it was the Ravens’ lack of a running game that doomed them. Other than 57 yards on Flacco scrambles, none of the Ravens trio of backs (Willis McGahee, La’Ron McClain, and Ray Rice) cracked 20 yards on the ground. What happened to the best running team in the AFC?
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| 9 |  |
Last Week: 4 |
Matt Ryan can only lead so many miracle comebacks. This one came down to Roddy White dropping a TD with just under a minute left. After all that White has done for the Falcons this season, it’s hard to pin the loss on him for one bad play. Up next is a huge division game at home against Carolina, so there is no time to sulk. How Ryan and Co. respond will go a long way towards determining whether or not the Falcons are a playoff team this year.
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| 10 |  |
Last Week: 12 |
You look at the stats—worst rushing team in the NFL, 25th in the league against the run on defense—and wonder how they’re above .500, let alone in playoff contention. Then you remember Peyton Manning is rounding into form. During the Colts’ current three-game winning streak, Manning has thrown for 240 or more yards in each game while totaling seven TDs and zero INTs.
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| 11 |  |
Last Week: 14 |
Joey Porter leads the NFL in sacks (13.5) while the team as a whole is 9th in the league against the run. Is it time to take Miami seriously? Their Week 12 match-up against the Pats will let us know.
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| 12 |  |
Last Week: 7 |
Their two-game losing streak has coincided with their first two sub-100 yard rushing games since Week 1. Three out of their four losses have come in games where they lost the time of possession battle. The Redskins look great when they dominate the ball. But when they can’t play keep away with their running game, they get into trouble. Washington’s offense lacks the explosive big-play ability.
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| 13 |  |
Last Week: 10 |
Matt Cassel certainly showed he’s capable of playing quarterback at an extremely high level…in a game his team lost. It won’t get any easier for Cassel and the Pats. as they head to Miami this week, then return home to take on the Steelers in Week 13.
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| 14 |  |
Last Week: 17 |
Two come-from-behind road wins in the last two weeks. This Denver team is starting to show some life. They’ve lost five running backs this season and five of their defensive backs are banged up. That’s where passing game studs like QB Jay Cutler, and receivers Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal enter the equation.
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| 15 |  |
Last Week: 22 |
Lookout, NFC North. In the last five weeks, Ryan Grant has come on strong and Aaron Rodgers has thrown six touchdowns and two interceptions. Throw in a defense that has seven touchdowns of its own, and this looks like a team that could be very dangerous down the stretch.
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| 16 |  |
Last Week: 23 |
Tony Romo returns. The Cowboys win. But it’s not nearly that simple. Big D turned it around against the Redskins by controlling the game with Marion Barber (66 fourth quarter rushing yards). Maybe Romo’s presence opened up some holes for Barber, but this team clearly needs to focus on its running game to succeed. The Cowboys average 140 rushing yards in their wins. As long as Romo’s pinkie can handle handing the ball off to Barber, the ’Boys can survive.
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| 17 |  |
Last Week: 19 |
The Saints finally get to return home after their first road win of the season. It’ll be New Orleans’ first game at the Superdome since October 12. Their reward for such a long stretch away from home: Five of their final six games are against teams with winning records.
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| 18 |  |
Last Week: 15 |
For a team that passes as much as the Eagles do, Donovan McNabb can’t complete fewer than half his pass attempts… which is what he’s done in each of the past two games. The playoffs are starting to slip away from Philly.
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| 19 |  |
Last Week: 13 |
In four of Minny’s five losses, Adrian Peterson has had less than 25 carries. That includes Sunday’s loss to the Bucs. Am I missing something here? If I’m head coach Brad Childress, I’m force-feeding Peterson the ball until opposing defenses figure him out.
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| 20 |  |
Last Week: 16 |
This defense is a shell of its former self. Chicago is 6th against the run. But the Bears gave up 200 rushing yards to the Packers, leaving their 30th-ranked pass defense exposed. Aaron Rodgers dropped back 30 times and wasn’t sacked once. Rodgers joins Brian Griese and Matt Ryan as the third QB to finish a game against the Bears unscathed this season.
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| 21 |  |
Last Week: 21 |
Maurice Jones-Drew has six touchdowns in his last three games. That’s where the good news ends. Aside from helping Jones-Drew into the end zone lately, the offensive line has been underperforming. Jags QB David Garrard was sacked four times in Week 11 and has been sacked at least twice in five out of the Jags’ last six games.
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| 22 |  |
Last Week: 24 |
Brady Quinn’s first win as a starter came on the road Monday night. Impressive, but this was a team effort. The Browns had zero turnovers, only two penalties, and the defense forced four turnovers. Despite the good vibes, Cleveland would probably have to run the table to even sniff a playoff berth. That’s not likely with Indianapolis, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh still on the schedule.
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| 23 |  |
Last Week: 18 |
It feels like the Bills’ season has dropped off the edge of Niagara Falls. Buffalo has lost four straight, turning the ball over a staggering 13 times in that span. That’s how you fall from first place to last in your division over the span of a month.
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| 24 |  |
Last Week: 20 |
It’s way too late to say San Diego is off to a slow start. Two home games in a row against Indy and Atlanta will decided whether or not the Chargers will land a playoff spot. I don’t like their chances.
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| 25 |  |
Last Week: 25 |
For the second time this year, Sage Rosenfels’s game-ending turnover handed Indy a win. Sorry Steve Slaton. His 156 rushing yards in the loss lifted him to third among rookies. If the Texans can keep starting QB Matt Schaub healthy for a full season, Schaub, Slaton, and Andre Johnson could develop into a very formidable trio.
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| 26 |  |
Last Week: 29 |
Congratulations to interim head coach Mike Singletary, who nailed down his first win by beating the Rams. Two questions remain in San Fran: Is Singletary the coach of the future? And is Shaun Hill (5 TDs, 2 INTs in six halves of football) the QB of the future?
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| 27 |  |
Last Week: 28 |
Hey, would you look at that. The Bengals haven’t lost since October!
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| 28 |  |
Last Week: 26 |
They’ve lost their last three games by an average of 28 points, the last of which came against a 3-7 Niners team. Remember that two-game winning streak earlier this season? Yeah, neither do I.
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| 29 |  |
Last Week: 27 |
Matt Hasselbeck’s return didn’t exactly provide the boost the Seahawks were expecting. Hasselbeck was held to less than 200 passing yards and threw three INTs. Seattle’s streak of NFC West titles is going to end at four, and without nary a whimper.
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| 30 |  |
Last Week: 30 |
Tyler Thigpen tossed two more touchdowns, making that eight in the last four games. Too bad he can’t play defense. The Chiefs are 28th in scoring defense and last in yards allowed. I have a feeling they’re going to be scouting defensive players at this year’s combine.
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| 31 |  |
Last Week: 31 |
The third down conversion stats for the Raiders are mind-boggling. After going 2-for-11 on third down in Week 11, the Raiders have now converted only 22 percent of their third downs this season.
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| 32 |  |
Last Week: 32 |
Hey, at least it’s not as bad as 2001…yet. The Lions started out 0-12 that season. For the sake of Lions fans, I hope they don’t make franchise history in 2008.
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