Green Bay at Tampa Bay, San Diego at Miami
Puts Focus on Florida

NFL 2002 Week 12

NFL FACTOID BROTHER ACTS

KOY DETMER(1998, Philadelphia), who will start for the Philadelphia Eagles this Monday night, and his brother TY (1996, Philadelphia) of the Detroit Lions are one of two brother combinations in NFL history to start games at quarterback.

The others are the HUARDS (New England’s DAMON, Miami, 1999; and Indianapolis’ BROCK, Seattle, 2000).

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, things are getting really serious.

"Now the season begins," says head coach TOM COUGHLIN of the Jacksonville Jaguars, one of many clubs in the hunt for the 12 NFL playoff berths as Week 12 arrives. "It’s a six-game schedule."

One club this week, the 8-2 Green Bay Packers, can become the first team to make the 2002 playoffs. With a Packers win in Tampa Bay and a Minnesota loss or tie in New England, Green Bay clinches the NFC North Division.

For the Packers to earn that division title, they have to go through a venue they’ve visited many times before, but after this week, should not see again until 2008 -- Tampa Bay and that cannon-firing pirate ship.

The Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- the NFL’s winningest clubs (8-2) -- were NFC Central Division mates for 25 seasons (1977-2001), and waged some memorable twice-a-year battles, especially when Green Bay quarterback BRETT FAVRE and Tampa Bay defensive tackle WARREN SAPP started confronting each other in 1995.

They laughed together, raged at each other, and pushed and shoved each other. The duo just may be the best-known QB-DT rivals in the NFL. Sapp has sacked Favre eight times in the regular season, tying (CHARLIE BATCH) for his career most against any quarterback.

"I’m not going to miss them much," says Favre of the Bucs, now in the NFC South. "As long as those guys -- Warren Sapp, JOHN LYNCH and the other guys -- are there, they’re going to be tough to deal with. No team is easy, but they’ve always been tough."

As far as quarterbacks are concerned, no current team has been as consistent in its sacking of them as the Buccaneers. They lead the NFL in consecutive games with a sack at 54 and counting. The next-closest team (St. Louis) is 15 games away. If the Bucs keep up the pace, they will enter all-time territory in the category:

THE SACK PACKS

Tampa Bay -- with the NFL’s No. 1 defense -- is off to its best start ever through 10 games, has taken over first place by a game over New Orleans, and wants to stay consistent.

"We’ve got to keep pushing now, because we’ve put ourselves into a position to win this division," says Sapp.

And they’ve got to push through one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the game -- especially when he’s riled -- to continue the quest. Favre comes off the Packers’ second loss of the season (31-21 in Minnesota). The last time Green Bay lost (in Week 2), the Detroit Lions paid the price the next week when Favre went 31 of 47 for 357 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-31 victory.

One more thing about Favre:  everybody talks about his 32-0 record in Green Bay when the temperature is 34 degrees or below. In Tampa Bay when the temperature is 75 or above, he is 3-2.

Another Week 12 mano-a-mano matchup comes in Miami when the Dolphins host the San Diego Chargers. It will be the NFL’s leading rusher -- LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON of the Chargers (1,053 yards) -- pounding it out with Miami’s RICKY WILLIAMS, the league’s No. 4 runner (913).

Between them, they have nine 100-yard games, with Tomlinson posting the highest single-game production of the year -- 217 yards against New England on September 29. Williams has five 100-yarders, tying in his first year with Miami the season record for the team (DELVIN WILLIAMS, 1978).

There is one fly in all this yardage ointment, though -- each team’s rushing defense. Miami boasts the NFL’s No. 2 rush defense (92.1), San Diego No. 3 (92.8).

"We have a formula around here," says Dolphins left tackle MARK DIXON. "It’s No. 34 (Williams’ uniform number) right, No. 34 left and No. 34 up the middle. When we are not doing that, we are in trouble."

Although the game is in Miami, Williams will be facing his old hometown team. He grew up in San Diego, was a USA Today All-American honorable mention as a senior at Patrick Henry High School, and a confirmed Chargers fan. "I grew up watching DAN FOUTS, KELLEN WINSLOW, ‘LITTLE TRAIN’ JAMES and BILLY RAY SMITH," says Williams.

The Chargers -- tied at 7-3 with Denver for the AFC West lead -- are as reliant on Tomlinson as the Dolphins are on Williams. When he has rushed for 100 yards this year, the team is 3-1. When he has 20 carries, it is 6-1.

"With San Diego, you know it’s coming," says defensive end JOHN ABRAHAM of the New York Jets, who "held" Tomlinson to 60 yards and one TD on November 3. "There are no ifs, ands or buts. You don’t have to worry if they’re going to pass the ball 30 times. You know they’re going to come straight at you, and see what you’re going to do with it."

But hold on. In a very un-"Marty Ball"-like performance last week in their 20-17 overtime win over San Francisco, the Chargers did pass the ball "30 times."  In fact, quarterback DREW BREES threw it 50 times, completing 29 for 336 yards and two touchdowns -- all career highs.

The first-place AFC East Dolphins (6-4) hope that they turned things around last week (with a 26-7 win over Baltimore) after suffering through a three-game midseason losing streak. They believe they’re ready for the stretch run.

"It’s all about who’s hot at the end of the year," says Miami linebacker ZACH THOMAS. "We haven’t really been hot going into the playoffs before, and I’m hoping we do that."

Sunday night in Denver (ESPN, 8:30 PM ET), things will be hot because one of the NFL’s best offenses -- which looks finally to be at peak efficiency -- will go against the NFL’s No. 2 defense. Make that the "Orange Crush" defense.

The night will definitely have a "retro" look. That’s because the Colts will, of course, be wearing the horseshoe-helmeted, shoulder-striped uniforms they have sported since their inception in 1953. The Broncos will be sporting the classic orange  they wore from the 1970s to 1996.

"It’ll be great," says Broncos safety SAM BRANDON. "When you’re wearing a classic jersey you always want to bring out your best game. It’s part of history here, the orange.  You want to play your best in that color."

The Colts have been playing their best in their colors recently. After a three-game losing streak between Weeks 7-9, the team has handily won its last two, outscoring its opponents 55-16, and is now tied with Tennessee at 6-4 for first place in the AFC South.

And the "Terrific Trio" seems to be back to its explosive ways. Colts quarterback PEYTON MANNING has improved his passer rating from an AFC ninth-best 87.1 in Week 9 to a fourth-best 93.5 heading into Week 12. And after throwing 12 interceptions in the first nine weeks, Manning has thrown only one in the past two weeks.

Indy running back EDGERRIN JAMES -- the team is 31-15 with him and 4-8 without him -- returned in Week 11 after missing two games with injuries and rushed for 106 yards on 24 carries in the Colts’ win over Dallas. "The Edge," though, will confront the top rush defense in the league that allows 67.2 yards per game. The Broncs have allowed one 100-yard game this year (Kansas City’s PRIEST HOLMES, 113 yards on October 20).

And then there’s the NFL’s top receiver in catches (89) and yards (1,110), MARVIN HARRISON, who quietly goes about his business, piling up the numbers. The seven-year veteran became the player to reach 600 career receptions the fastest in history last week, in his 102nd game. Harrison is on target to set the record for most receptions in a season, held by HERMAN MOORE (123, 1995). The top five season reception leaders:

CATCH FETCHERS

"No matter what the defense does, we’re still going to find ways to move it around and get him the ball," says Manning. "It’s nice when you have that kind of confidence in the guy."

The Broncos have all the confidence in "their guy" this week, 16-year quarterback STEVE BEUERLEIN, who will step in for injured starter BRIAN GRIESE (knee) for perhaps the next three weeks.

How long has Beuerlein been around?  As former senior class president of Servite High School in Anaheim, California, he is putting on the class’ 20th reunion next August.

Beuerlein has played for six NFL teams, and has basically seen and done it all.

"I’ve been in this position so many times in my career that I know how to handle it," he says. "I’ll be very focused and very determined to go out there and keep an even keel. I’m going to go in there confident, poised and ready to execute."

The next night on ABC’s NFL Monday Night Football (ABC, 9:00 PM ET), a similar situation exists with one big difference -- experience.

When the Philadelphia Eagles visit the San Francisco 49ers, the Eagles will be without their Pro Bowl quarterback, DONOVAN MC NABB (broken ankle, out six-to-eight weeks). Replacing him will be a six-year QB who has started six games in his career -- KOY DETMER.

Season’s in trouble for the 7-3 NFC East-leading Eagles?  Not so fast. Detmer comes from good football stock (his father SONNY is a legendary Texas high school football coach, and brother TY is a quarterback for the Detroit Lions); he has been with the Eagles since 1997, so he knows the system; and, most of all, he enjoys the confidence of head coach ANDY REID, who takes a 7-0 prime time record as Eagles coach into the game.

"I feel very confident about what Koy can do in this offense," says Reid. "He’s a good football player and a good quarterback. He’s stepped in before and done a nice job for this team."

Of course, running back DUCE STALEY may have to make up some of the yardage lost with McNabb’s absence (he is the top rushing QB in the NFL with 460 yards). Staley -- the NFC’s No. 8 rusher (697 yards) -- had himself a 136-yard day last week and added 82 more yards on receptions. Plus he had perhaps the second-effort play of the week when he bulldozed into the end zone with three defenders on his back after catching a McNabb pass in the second quarter.

The quarterback across the field from Detmer knows how he feels. The 49ers’ JEFF GARCIA was not drafted and had to go to Canada for five years before he got a chance in the NFL. Now his career passer rating (91.4) ranks only behind KURT WARNER (99.9), STEVE YOUNG (96.8) and JOE MONTANA (92.3) in NFL annals.

"I think people still think I’m going to have a fall-off, that I’m going to have a setback, and I’m not," says Garcia. "I’m just going to keep plugging away. I’m just going to keep getting better."

Helping Garcia, and himself, get better is his prime partner, wide receiver TERRELL OWENS. The two (Owens is tied for the NFC reception lead with RANDY MOSS with 62), have hooked up for eight touchdowns, the most for an NFC combo.

But JIM JOHNSON is waiting in the bushes. The Eagles’ defensive coordinator has molded a red-zone package that has surrendered only 10 TDs inside the 20, tied with Dallas for second-fewest in the league behind Tampa Bay (4).

"It’s certain coverages we play and the players believe in it and they have a lot of confidence in it," says Johnson. "I think if I ever tried to change the coverages, I’d have a rebellion on my hands."

WEEK 12: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24

TENNESSEE TITANS (6-4) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (4-6)

SERIES

	TITANS	RAVENS
LEADER	Series tied 6-6
STREAKS		Past 3
COACHES VS. OPP.	Fisher: 6-7	Billick: 5-2
LAST WEEK	W 31-21 vs. Steelers	L 26-7 at Dolphins
LAST GAME	11/12/01: Ravens 16 at Titans 10. Baltimore’s defense stops Titans on goal-line stand on game’s final play as Ravens win 3rd consecutive game.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/7/01: Ravens 26, Titans 7. Baltimore QB Elvis Grbac completes 15 of 31 attempts for 259 yards & 1 TD as Ravens’ defense holds Titans to 185 yards of total offense.
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Tim Brando, Spencer Tillman

STATS

PASSING	McNair: 199-316-2,134-17-11-86.1	Blake: 73-129-837-4-5-70.5
RUSHING	George: 208-697-3.4-6	J. Lewis: 197-828-4.2-5
RECEIVING	Mason: 45-628-14.0-3	T. Taylor: 39-528-13.5-3
OFFENSE	310.6	278.8
TAKE/GIVE	+2	-2
DEFENSE	341.7	332.7
SACKS	Carter: 7.0 (T3C)	Boulware: 4.0
INTs	Schulters: 4 (T2C)	Reed (R): 4 (T2C)
PUNTING	Hentrich: 42.6	Zastudil (R): 42.1
KICKING	Nedney: 67 (22/22 PAT; 15/18 FG)	Stover: 56 (20/20 PT; 12/14 FG)

NOTES

FIRST MEETING as non-division rivals. Six of past 9 meetings have been decided by 8 points-or-less TITANS:  Club has won 5 games in row Team is 10-3 (.769) when QB STEVE MC NAIR passes & runs for TD in same game. McNair has passed for 2,121 yards in career vs. Baltimore, his 3rd-most vs. any opponent. During Titans’ 5-game win streak, McNair has passer rating of 96.7, completing 84 of 136 passes (61.8 pct.) for 889 yards with 9 TDs & 2 INTs In past 5 seasons, RB EDDIE GEORGE leads AFC RBs with 47 TDs, including 2 last week vs. Steelers WR DERRICK MASON had career-best 12 receptions (for 99 yards) in last game vs. Ravens. Offense is AFC’s 3rd-best in red zone: 22 TDs in 35 possessions (62.9 pct.) DE KEVIN CARTER is tied for 3rd among AFC sack leaders with 7.0. Defense has allowed only 4 rushing TDs through 10 games Kickoff coverage unit forcing opponents into NFL’s poorest avg. drive start (23.0) RAVENS:  Have won past 4 meetings, including 2000 AFC Divisional Playoff. Head coach BRIAN BILLICK has 5-2 (.714) career record vs. Titans. Under Billick, club is 25-9 (.735) after Nov. 1 (includes playoffs) QB JEFF BLAKE has TD pass in all 4 starts for Ravens. Blake is former teammate of Titans’ backup QB NEIL O’DONNELL (1998) in Cincy. In his last regular season game vs. Titans (11/12/00), RB JAMAL LEWIS rushed for 99 yards & 1 TD WR TRAVIS TAYLOR has at least 4 catches in each of past 7 games All 4 of TE TODD HEAP‘s TD in 2002 have come at home Rookie S ED REED (No. 24) tied for 3rd among NFL INT leaders with 4. Defense posted 9 sacks vs. Tennessee last year. In last meeting at home, Ravens held Titans to 185 total yards (47 rushing, 138 passing). Baltimore has held Titans RB George to 216 rushing yards in past 6 starts (36.0 yards per game).

ATLANTA FALCONS (6-3-1) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-7)

SERIES

	FALCONS	PANTHERS
LEADER	9-5
STREAKS	Past 5
COACHES VS. OPP.	Reeves: 8-4	Fox: 0-1
LAST WEEK	W 24-17 vs. Saints	L 23-10 at Buccaneers
LAST GAME	10/20/02: Panthers 0 at Falcons 30. Atlanta QB Michael Vick rushes for 91 yards, including 44-yard TD in victory. Falcons rookie RB T.J. Duckett rushes for 2 TDs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/25/01: Falcons 10, Panthers 7. Atlanta RB Bob Christian caps 99-yard second quarter drive with 4-yard TD run to give Falcons 10-0 lead.
TV	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Curt Menefee, Tim Ryan

STATS

PASSING	Vick: 131-228-1,549-7-2-84.9	Peete: 137-232-1,664-8-8-78.3
RUSHING	Dunn: 140-561-4.0-5	L. Smith: 201-721-3.6-7
RECEIVING	Finneran: 35-441-12.6-3	S. Smith: 36-534-14.8-2
OFFENSE	331.2	286.6
TAKE/GIVE	+6	-3
DEFENSE	343.1	285.3 (3C)
SACKS	Kerney: 7.5	Peppers (R): 11.0 (1L)
INTs	Bolden, Carpenter, Mathis: 2	Grant: 3
PUNTING	Mohr: 42.5	Sauerbrun: 46.8 (1L)
KICKING	Feely: 89 (3C) (26/26 PAT; 21/26 FG)	Graham: 35 (8/8 PAT; 9/12 FG)

NOTES

FALCONS:  QB MICHAEL VICK leads NFL with 0.9 INT pct. (2 INTs, 228 attempts). Has led club to scores on 5 of 8 drives (excluding possessions to run out clock) in final 2 minutes of half & game. Ranks second in NFL with 107.6 third down passer rating, including 4 TDs & 0 INTs. Tied for NFL lead among QBs (DONOVAN MC NABB) with 6 rushing TDs & ranks second with 455 yards rushing. Had 44-yard TD run in last meeting, longest by QB in club history Team has rushed for 17 TDs & needs 2 to break club record (18, 1998, 1973). RB WARRICK DUNN seeks third 100-yard rushing game in past 5. RB T.J. DUCKETT leads NFC rookies with 348 yards rushing WR BRIAN FINNERAN has 35 receptions in 2002, 25 for first downs. Helped NFL Europe League’s F.C. Barcelona Dragons to berth in 1999 World Bowl. WR TREVOR GAYLOR had career-high 100 yards receiving last week, including career-long 74-yard TD catch CB RAY BUCHANAN has 28 INTs with Falcons & needs 1 to tie KEN REAVES for fourth in club history PANTHERS:  QB RODNEY PEETE ranks fourth in NFC with 7.17-yard avg. per attempt RB LAMAR SMITH is on pace for second 1,000-yard rushing season in club history (ANTHONY JOHNSON, 1,120). Needs 1 TD run to pass FRED LANE (7) for single-season club record WR MUHSIN MUHAMMAD had career-long 72-yard TD catch vs. Falcons on 10/4/98 TE WESLEY WALLS has 51 career TD catches & needs 1 to tie DAVE CASPER for third-most in NFL history among TEs Defense has allowed 174 points, fourth-fewest in NFL, & NFL-low 18 possessions in redzone.  Team leads league with 35 sacks, including 31 by defensive line, & has surpassed 2001 total (26) Rookie DE JULIUS PEPPERS (No. 2) needs 4.0 sacks for NFL single-season rookie record (JEVON KEARSE, 14.5). Seeks fourth multiple sack game. DE MICHEAL RUCKER has 21.5 career sacks & needs 2.5 to pass LAMAR LATHON in second on club’s all-time list (KEVIN GREENE, 41.5).

DETROIT LIONS (3-7) AT CHICAGO BEARS (2-8)

SERIES

	LIONS	BEARS
LEADER		81-59-5
STREAKS		3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Mornhinweg: 1-2	Jauron: 4-3
LAST WEEK	L 31-14 vs Jets	L 21-16 at Rams
LAST GAME	10/20/02: Bears 20 at Lions 23 (OT). Detroit RB James Stewart rushes for 172 yards & 2 TDs in come-from-behind victory. Lions’ Jason Hanson kicks 48-yard FG for Lions’ victory.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/2/01: Bears 13, Lions 10. Chicago RB Leon Johnson runs in the 1-yard go-ahead TD with 5:34 left.
TV	FOX (12:00 PM CT): Pat Summerall, Brian Baldinger

STATS

PASSING	Harrington (R): 152-307-1,719-10-12-61.2	Chandler: 57-93-536-2-2-75.4
RUSHING	Stewart: 160-768-4.8-3	Thomas: 196-655-3.3-6
RECEIVING	Stewart (RB): 28-216-7.7-1	Booker: 58-827-14.3-5
OFFENSE	278.9	280.4
TAKE/GIVE	-1	0
DEFENSE	367.4	361.4
SACKS	Porcher: 5.0	Colvin: 8.5
INTs	Claiborne: 3	M. Brown: 3
PUNTING	Jett: 42.8	Maynard: 41.3
KICKING	Hanson: 60 (21/21 PAT; 13/15 FG)	Edinger : 72 (21/21 PAT ; 17/20 FG)

NOTES

LIONS:  Club seeks first sweep of season series since 1997 Rookie QB JOEY HARRINGTON (No. 3) needs 2 TD passes to pass CHARLIE BATCH, FRED ENKE & JEFF KOMLO (11) for club rookie record. Needs 22 completions to pass Batch (173) for second all-time among Lions rookies RB JAMES STEWART seeks third 100-yard rushing game in past 6. Rushed for career-high 172 yards vs. Bears in last meeting & seeks third career 100-yard rushing game vs. Chi, most vs. any opponent. Has 13 100-yard rushing games all-time & his team is 9-4 (.692) in those contests. Lions have 8-2 record when he has more than 20 carries WR BILL SCHROEDER looks for fourth 100-yard receiving game vs. Chi in past 6. Had 2 TDs (37,7) last week vs. NYJ TE MIKHAEL RICKS leads NFL TEs with 15.6 yards per catch avg. (17 catches) Team has surrendered 14 sacks, tied for second-fewest in NFL, after allowing NFL-high 66 in 2001 LB DONTE’ CURRY had first career sack in last game vs. Chi K JASON HANSON has 1,104 career points & needs 10 to pass EDDIE MURRAY (1,113) for most in club history BEARS:  QB JIM MILLER needs 3 TD passes for career high (13, 2001). QB CHRIS CHANDLER seeks second win in past 3 starts vs. Det. & has 3 TDs & 1 INT in past 2 vs. Lions RB ANTHONY THOMAS rushed for 92 yards in last meeting. Has 100 total yards in 3 of past 4 WR MARTY BOOKER tied for NFL lead (JOE HORN) with 15 catches of 20 yards or more. Has TD catch or pass in 4 of past 6 games. Has led club in receiving yards in 10 of past 13. Needs 100 yards receiving vs. Lions for career-best 3 100-yard games in single season. Has 224 career receptions & needs 3 to pass HARLON HILL (226) in ninth in club history. WR MARCUS ROBINSON averaging 8 catches, 133.5 yards & 2 TDs in past 2 home games vs. Lions Club tied for second in NFL (Phil) with 12 fumble takeaways (GB, 14) & has at least 1 takeaway in 28 consecutive games LB ROSEVELT COLVIN has 8.5 sacks & needs 2.5 for career high.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-5) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (3-7)

SERIES

	JAGUARS	COWBOYS
LEADER	Series tied 1-1
STREAKS	1-1
COACHES VS. OPP.	Coughlin: 1-1	Campo: 0-1
LAST WEEK	W 24-21 at Texans	L 20-3 at Colts
LAST GAME	10/29/00: Jaguars 23 at Cowboys 17 (OT). Jacksonville QB Mark Brunell & WR Alvis Whitted team on 37-yard TD pass 4:44 into OT to lift Jaguars to victory.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/29/00
TV	CBS (12:00 PM CT): Don Criqui, Steve Tasker

STATS

PASSING	Brunell: 170-288-2,030-10-5-85.0	Hutchinson (R): 45-86-484-1-0-73.0
RUSHING	Taylor: 195-828-4.2-5	Smith: 155-617-4.0-2
RECEIVING	J. Smith: 54-741-13.7-4	Galloway: 49-673-13.7-3
OFFENSE	328.7	281.2
TAKE/GIVE	+8 (T1C)	-4
DEFENSE	324.0	313.7
SACKS	Henderson (R): 7.0 (T3C)	Ellis : 5.5
INTs	McCree: 4 (T2C)	Ross (R): 4 (T2C)
PUNTING	Hanson: 45.1 (1C)	Filipovic (R): 39.6
KICKING	Seder: 30 (9/9 PAT; 7/10 FG)	Cundiff (R): 34 (13/13 PAT; 7/11 FG)

NOTES

JAGUARS:  Team is 12-6 (.667) in past 18 games vs. NFC East. Club is tied for NFL’s 4th-best NFL road record since 1996 (25-22, .532) & is 1 win shy of 2nd 3-game win streak of season. Team is 19-11 (.633) in November QB MARK BRUNELL had streak of 112 passes without INT snapped last week at Houston. Owns AFC’s 2nd-best INT pct. (1.7). Brunell owns 2-1 TD-INT ratio (10-5) RB FRED TAYLOR tied for 6th in AFC in rushing (828), has 5 TDs & is tied for 4th-most runs of 20+ yards (6) in NFL. RB STACEY MACK ranks 5th among AFC rush TD leaders (7). Has scored TD in 3 of past 4 games. In past 6 seasons, club leads NFL in rushing TDs with 102 WR JIMMY SMITH was 2nd-round draft choice of Dallas in 1992. Played in 7 games as rookie. Was team’s preseason receptions leader (13) in 1993 before missing season (appendectomy). Smith (638) needs 12 catches to move into 19th place on NFL all-time reception list, surpassing HOFer CHARLEY TAYLOR (649) Defense has registered at least 1.0 sack in 34 consecutive games, NFL’s 3rd longest active streak COWBOYS:  Club has 66-49 (.574) record vs. AFC since 1970 Rookie QB CHAD HUTCHINSON has not thrown INT in his first 86 career pass attempts RB EMMITT SMITH is NFL’s all-time rushing leader with 16,804 yards. Needs 100 yards rushing vs. Jags to tie BARRY SANDERS in second place all-time with 76 100-yard games (WALTER PAYTON, 77). Has 480 career receptions & needs 10 to pass DREW PEARSON (489) in second on club’s all-time list.   Averaging 88.5 rushing yards in 2 games vs. Jax, including 102 in last meeting WR JOEY GALLOWAY averaginb 20.6 yards per catch vs. Jags & seeks second 100-yard receiving game in past 3 vs. Jax. Seeks 50th NFL TD (44 receiving, 4 PR, 1 rushing). Rookie WR ANTONIO BRYANT leads NFL rookies with 435 yards receiving & ranks second in NFC with 27 catches Defense has allowed 5 TDs in past 5 games. Club tied with SD for NFL second-best (Tenn) in holding opponents to avg. drive start at 25.3 yard line LB KEVIN HARDY makes first start vs. former club after spending 1996-01 with Jax.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (7-3) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (6-4)

SERIES

	CHARGERS	DOLPHINS
LEADER	10-8
STREAKS		Past 3
COACHES VS. OPP.	Schottenheimer: 4-8	Wannstedt: 3-0
LAST WEEK	W 20-17 (OT) vs. 49ers	W 26-7 vs. Ravens
LAST GAME	11/12/00: Dolphins 17 at Chargers 7. Miami RB Lamar Smith rushes for 2 TDs while Dolphins’ defense holds Chargers to 238 total yards & posts 4 INTs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/19/99. Dolphins 12, Chargers 9. Miami’s Olindo Mare kicks 4 FGs, including game-winner from 31 yards out with 3:22 remaining.
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, Armen Keteyian (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Brees: 190-309-1,999-12-11-78.4	Lucas: 72-126-811-2-6-62.0
RUSHING	Tomlinson: 234-1,053 (1L)-4.5-9 (T2C)	R. Williams: 223-913 (3C)-4.1-8
RECEIVING	Conway: 54-794-14.7-5	Chambers: 35-443-12.7-2
OFFENSE	335.1	331.1
TAKE/GIVE	+2	-4
DEFENSE	358.8	296.8 (2C)
SACKS	Johnson: 5.5	Taylor: 8.5 (T1C)
INTs	Edwards: 4 (T2C)	Surtain: 5 (T1L)
PUNTING	Bennett: 40.6	Royals: 41.7
KICKING	Christie: 48 (27/28 PAT; 7/10 FG)	Mare: 68 (26/27 PAT; 14/18 FG)

NOTES

REMATCH of 1981 AFC Divisional Playoff classic (1/2/82), won by SD, 41-38 in OT at Orange Bowl. Game resulted in then-playoff records for most points (79) & total yards (1,036). Pro Football Hall of Fame voted contest "NFL’s Game of 80s."  Was first NFL game to have 2 400-yard passers (DAN FOUTS, SD, 433; DON STROCK, Mia., 403) CHARGERS:  Offense owns AFC’s No. 2 ground attack (143.6) & No. 3 defense vs. run (92.8) QB DREW BREES has led team to 4th quarter comeback victories in 2 of past 3 wins. Brees is completing 63.1 pct. of 3rd down pass attempts (53 of 84), 5th best in AFC RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON leads NFL in rushing with 1,053 yards -- no Chargers RB has led NFL in rushing. Is 2nd on team with 47 receptions, 3rd most by AFC RB. Tomlinson has rushed for 100+ yards in 8 of 26 (31.0 pct.) career NFL games WR TIM DWIGHT tied career-best in receptions as Charger (5) last week vs. SF for 64 yards (12.8) Offensive line has allowed NFL-low 11 sacks K STEVE CHRISTIE has 2nd-most career OT FGs w/ 8, trailing former K JIM BREECH (9) DOLPHINS:  In past 2 home meetings vs. Chargers (including playoffs), club has held visitors to 9 total points Last Sunday, QB RAY LUCAS completed 18 of 26 passes (69.2 pct.) for 221 yards for 95.2 passer rating RB RICKY WILLIAMS (5) needs one 100-yard rushing game to set franchise record for most in season; currently tied with DELVIN WILLIAMS (1978). Williams attempting to become 1st Dolphin to lead AFC in rushing WR JAMES MC KNIGHT earned gameball from head coach DAVE WANNSTEDT last week for 4 catches (59 yards) & key blocks Last week vs. Ravens, DE ADEWALE OGUNLEYE registered 2.5 sacks, 7 tackles & 1 forced fumble. DE JASON TAYLOR is tied for AFC sack lead (8.5). Club leads AFC in sacks with 28. Defense is tied for 3rd in AFC in INTs, led by NFL co-leader CB PATRICK SURTAIN (5). Since 1996, defense has allowed fewest rush TDs in NFL (54). Defense is AFC’s best inside 20, yielding 11 TDs in 30 possessions (36.7).

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-7) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (5-5)

SERIES

	VIKINGS	PATRIOTS
LEADER	Series tied 4-4
STREAKS	Past 2
COACHES VS. OPP.	Tice: 0-0	Belichick: 0-3
LAST WEEK	W 31-21 vs. Packers	L 27-20 at Raiders
LAST GAME	9/17/00: Vikings 21 at Patriots 13. Minnesota QB Daunte Culpepper passes for 2 TDs while Vikings control ball for more than 39 minutes.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/17/00
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Kenny Albert, Tim Green

STATS

PASSING	Culpepper: 204-335-2,311-10-16-71.6	Brady: 261-400-2,644-21 (T1L)-10-91.1
RUSHING	Bennett: 152-853 (2C)-5.6-3	A. Smith: 153-644-4.2-3
RECEIVING	Moss: 62 (T1C)-764-12.3-4	Brown: 62-571-9.2-1
OFFENSE	383.3 (2C)	343.8
TAKE/GIVE	-16	0
DEFENSE	383.9	316.1
SACKS	Johnstone: 5.0	McGinest: 4.5
INTs	Biekert: 3	Law: 3
PUNTING	Richardson: 40.7	Walter: 39.4
KICKING	Anderson: 47 (20/20 PAT; 9/10 FG)	Vinatieri: 75 (24/24 PAT; 17/19 FG)

NOTES

VIKINGS:  QB DAUNTE CULPEPPER has thrown 57 TD passes & needs 2 to pass WARREN MOON (58) for fourth in club history. Has connected with WR RANDY MOSS for 25 career TDs & needs 2 to become most prolific scoring tandem in club history (Moon/CRIS CARTER) RB MICHAEL BENNETT has run of at least 60 yards (85, 78, 62) in NFL-record three consecutive games. Seeks fifth consecutive 100-yard rushing game after posting 130 vs. GB last week. Has 6 career 100-yard games & needs 1 to tie TERRY ALLEN for fourth most in club history.  RB MOE WILLIAMS has TD in 7 consecutive games & needs 1 TD vs. NE for club record. Has 10 rushing TDs in 2002, first in NFC & second-most in NFL, & needs 3 to tie CHUCK FOREMAN & Allen for single-season club record WR Moss averaging 98.5 receiving yards in past 2 vs. AFC opponents. Has catch in 83 consecutive games & needs 1 vs. Pats for third-longest streak in team history (Carter, 111) BC alum DT CHRIS HOVAN had career-high 8 tackles in last meeting vs. NE PATRIOTS:  Club’s first home game since Oct. 27 After scoring 26 total points in 2 home games, club played 3 games on road, averaging 30.3 points QB TOM BRADY makes first career start vs. Vikings. Brady is tied for NFL lead in TD passes (21) with New Orleans’ AARON BROOKS. Brady is 1 of 4 QBs currently on pace to break NFL record for most completions in season (Moon, 404, 1991). Brady is 5 for 5 in converting 3rd down & 1 rush attempts into 1st downs, tied for first in AFC with Cleveland RB JAMEL WHITE RB ANTOWAIN SMITH made NFL debut vs. Minn. (8/31/97) with Bills. Rushed for 55 yards on 7 carries (7.9 avg.) & caught 4 passes for 44 yards (8.8) in 34-13 defeat RB-KR KEVIN FAULK has 4 TDs in past 3 games, including 86-yard KR-TD vs. Oakland last Sunday WR TROY BROWN has 12 career 100-yard receiving games, tied for 3rd-most in club history (IRVING FRYAR). Among AFC leaders, Brown is 4th in 3rd down catches (17) & tied for 6th in overall receptions (62) LB ROMAN PHIFER leads team in tackles (65). Club’s pass defense ranks No. 2 in AFC, No. 4 in NFL (187.8).

CLEVELAND BROWNS (5-5) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7-3)

SERIES

	BROWNS	SAINTS
LEADER	10-3
STREAKS	Past 2
COACHES VS. OPP.	Davis: 0-0	Haslett: 0-0
LAST WEEK	W 27-20 at Bengals	L 24-17 at Falcons
LAST GAME	10/31/99:  Browns 21 at Saints 16. Cleveland wins its first game since rejoining NFL. As time expires, Browns QB Tim Couch finds WR Kevin Johnson for 56-yard game-winning TD.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/31/99
TV	CBS (12:00 PM CT): Gus Johnson, Brent Jones

STATS

PASSING	Couch: 178-283-1,702-12-9-80.4	Brooks: 193-336-2,373 (3C)-21 (T1C)-10-87.8
RUSHING	White: 93-409-4.4-2	McAllister: 205-950 (1C)-4.6-9 (T2C)
RECEIVING	White (RB): 46-278-6.0-0	Horn: 58-905 (1C)-15.6-6 (T2C)
OFFENSE	309.0	347.1
TAKE/GIVE	-2	+5
DEFENSE	349.7	362.9
SACKS	Word: 6.0	Howard: 5.5
INTs	Griffith, Little: 2	S. Knight: 3
PUNTING	Gardocki: 43.2	Gowin: 42.8
KICKING	P. Dawson: 72 (21/22 PAT; 17/20 FG)	Carney: 79 (28/28 PAT; 17/19 FG)

NOTES

BROWNS:  Team has won 3 of past 4 games. Club recorded first victory (21-16) in expansion year at New Orleans (10/31/99) on 56-yard "Hail Mary" pass from QB TIM COUCH to WR KEVIN JOHNSON as time expired. Sunday marks club’s only game of season on artificial turf, first in dome since last meeting at Saints In past 4 games, QB Couch has passer rating of 92.8, completing 90 of 138 attempts (65.2 pct.) for 865 yards & 8 TDs vs. 3 INTs Rookie RB WILLIAM GREEN (No. 16) posted best outing of season last week with 96 yards on 25 carries Rookie WR ANDRE’ DAVIS (No. 47) leads NFL rookie non-kickers in scoring with 42 points (7 TDs) Club is one of 5 NFL teams with TDs on both KR & PR. WR-PR DENNIS NORTHCUTT had 0 TDs in first 2 seasons; has 5 TDs receiving & 2 PR-TDs in 2002. Is 2nd in NFL in PR avg. (16.1). Rookie TE DARNELL SANDERS (No. 122) scored 1st career TD on 14-yard catch last week DE MARK WORD is tied for 8th in AFC in sacks (6.0). Defense is AFC’s 2nd-best inside 20, allowing 13 TDs in 35 trips (37.1 pct.) SAINTS:  Seek first 8-3 start since 1992. Offense ranks first in NFC with 67.6 redzone TD pct. (34 trips, 23 TDs). QB AARON BROOKS ranks third in NFL with TD pass every 6.3 attempts. Ranks second in NFC with 108.0 passer rating in fourth quarter & third with 94.7 rating on third downs. Has posted passer rating of at least 100.0 in 11 career starts & Saints are 9-2 (.818) in those games. Has 56 career TD passes & needs 4 to tie JIM EVERETT for third-most in team history. RB DEUCE MC ALLISTER leads NFL with 6 100-yard rushing games & needs 100 yards vs. Browns for second-most 100-yard games in single-season in club history. Needs 1 rushing TD to become fourth player in Saints’ history with 10 in single-season WR JOE HORN has 23 TD catches with club & needs 3 to pass QUINN EARLY (25) for fourth-most on team’s all-time list. Has 14 100-yard receiving games with NO & club is 12-2 (.857) in those games. Rookie  WR DONTE’ STALLWORTH (No. 13) needs 1 TD catch for club rookie record & his 6 TD receptions are tied for NFL rookie lead (Browns WR Davis) DE DARREN HOWARD has 5.0 sacks in past 5 games.

BUFFALO BILLS (5-5) AT NEW YORK JETS (5-5)

SERIES

	BILLS	JETS
LEADER	46-37
STREAKS		3 of past 4 at home
COACHES VS. OPP.	Williams: 1-2	Edwards: 2-1
LAST WEEK	L 17-16 at Chiefs	W 31-14 at Lions
LAST GAME	9/8/02: Jets 37 at Bills 31 (OT). New York’s Chad Morton becomes 1st player in NFL history with KR-TD in regulation & OT, including game-winning 96-yarder.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/30/01: Bills 14, Jets 9. Buffalo’s defense stops New York deep in Bills’ territory as time expires & Bills QB Alex Van Pelt passes for 185 yards & 1 TD to lead offense.
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, Bonnie Bernstein (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Bledsoe: 255-399-3027 (2L)-18-7-94.7 (3C)	Pennington: 157-221-1,745-10-5-99.8 (1C)
RUSHING	Henry: 186-874-4.7-9 (T2C)	Martin: 146-575-3.9-4
RECEIVING	Moulds: 66 (T3L)-889 (3C)-13.5-6	Coles: 50-660-13.2-2
OFFENSE	374.7 (3C)	309.2
TAKE/GIVE	-2	0
DEFENSE	344.1	362.1
SACKS	Ahanotu, Schobel: 5.0	J. Abraham: 5.0
INTs	Clements: 3	D. Abraham: 3
PUNTING	Moorman: 44.8 (2C)	Turk: 42.3
KICKING	Hollis: 78 (T2C) (27/27 PAT; 17/23 FG)	Hall: 60 (18/19 PAT; 14/19 FG)

NOTES

PAST 4 MEETINGS decided by 6 points-or-less BILLS:  Offense has gained 1,225 total yards in past 3 vs. NYJ (408.3 yards per game) QB DREW BLEDSOE has passed for 3,708 yards in career vs. Jets (271 in Wk. 1 meeting), his 2nd-most vs. any opponent. Has TD pass in all 10 starts this season. On pace for 4,843 passing yards, would be career-best In last meeting, RB TRAVIS HENRY rushed for 149 yards & 3 TDs. In 2 career games vs. NYJ, has rushed for 262 yards (131.0 yards per game) & aims for third 100-yard game in row. Tied for 3rd among NFL rush TD leaders (9) WR ERIC MOULDS has 4 100-yard games in past 8 vs. Jets, including 8 catches for 112 yards & 1 TD in earlier 2002 meeting. Has TD reception in 6 of 10 games this season. Has reception in club-record 75 consecutive games One of 5 AFC clubs with 2 players who have 5.0 sacks or more: DE CHIDI AHANOTU (5.0) & DE AARON SCHOBEL (5.0). Defense posted 3 sacks vs. NYJ in Wk. 1 JETS:  Since 1997, club has won NFL-best 27 road games & are 9-3 (.750) on road under head coach HERMAN EDWARDS. Have won 3 in row, outscoring opponents 88-37. Have not allowed point in 4th quarter in past 3 & have scored 23 QB CHAD PENNINGTON leads NFL in comp. pct. (71.0) & is 2nd in passer rating (99.8). Is 4-2 (.667) as starter RB CURTIS MARTIN rushed for 112 yards vs. Lions in Wk. 11 for 26th 100-yard rushing game with Jets, tied with FREEMAN MC NEIL for most in franchise history. Martin averaging 149.0 scrimmage yards per game in past 2 at home vs. Buffalo (207 rushing, 91 receiving) WR WAYNE CHREBET has 6 career TDs vs. Bills, including 1 in Wk. 1 meeting, his 2nd-most vs. any opponent. In past 4 vs. Bills, WR LAVERANUES COLES has 21 catches for 339 yards (84.8 yards per game) Jets have 6 return TDs in past 6 meetings, including 2 KR-TDs by KR CHAD MORTON in last game. Morton became 1st player in NFL history with KR-TD in regulation (98 yards) & OT (96) while also becoming 2nd player all-time with KR-TD on opening kickoff in OT.

CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-9) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-4-1)

SERIES

	BENGALS	STEELERS
LEADER		37-27
STREAKS		4 of past 5
COACHES VS. OPP.	LeBeau: 1-4	Cowher: 15-6
LAST WEEK	L 27-20 vs. Browns	L 31-23 at Titans
LAST GAME	10/13/02: Steelers 34 at Bengals 7. Pittsburgh RB Jerome Bettis rushes for 109 yards & 2 TDs while Steelers’ rookie Antwaan Randle El has 99-yard KR-TD.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/7/01: Steelers 16, Bengals 7. Pittsburgh RB Jerome Bettis rushes for 153 yards & surpasses 10,000 career rushing yards in first game at Heinz Field.
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Craig Bolerjack, Craig James

STATS

PASSING	Kitna: 156-234-1,588-10-10-82.4	Stewart: 71-114-717-5-5-76.5
RUSHING	Dillon: 202-888-4.4-4	Zereoue: 132-512-3.9-2
RECEIVING	C. Johnson: 38-561-14.8-4	Ward: 76 (2L)-914 (2L)-12.0-10 (1L)
OFFENSE	309.3	372.6
TAKE/GIVE	-10	-2
DEFENSE	337.1	338.0
SACKS	Simmons, J. Smith, Williams: 3.0	Porter: 7.0 (T3C)
INTs	Hawkins, Kaesviharn: 2	Porter: 4 (T2C)
PUNTING	Harris: 41.6	Miller: 42.8
KICKING	Rackers: 46 (19/19 PAT; 9/11 FG)	Peterson: 61 (25/26 PAT; 12/21 FG)

NOTES

BENGALS:  Club has scored at least 20 points in past 4 games Head coach DICK LE BEAU was Steelers assistant under Cowher from 1992-96. Was Pittsburgh’s defensive coordinator from 1995-96, reaching SB XXX in 1995 season QB JON KITNA had career highs in attempts (68), completions (35) & yards (411) vs. Steelers (12/30/01). In past 4 games, has passer rating of 108.4, completing 84 of 121 attempts (69.4 pct.) for 986 yards with 9 TDs & 3 INTs RB COREY DILLON has rushed for 340 yards in past 4 vs. Steelers (85.0 yards per game). Has 3 100+ yard games in past 6, including 2 games with 92 yards. On pace for 1,421 rush yards, club record is 1,435 (Dillon, 2000) WR PETER WARRICK set career highs in receptions (10) & yards (109) vs. Pittsburgh (12/30/01) CB KEVIN KAESVIHARN aims for 3rd consecutive game vs. Pittsburgh with INT Club owns AFC’s 3rd-best avg. drive start after kickoffs (30.3) STEELERS:  Have won 17 of past 23 vs. Bengals. Since 1996, defense has allowed 2nd-fewest rush TDs in NFL (55), trailing Miami (54) QB KORDELL STEWART posted career-best 103 rush yards vs. Cincy (10/11/98) RB JEROME BETTIS has 1,397 rushing yards (106.7 yards per game) in 13 career games vs. Bengals, including 10 100-yard games In past 2 meetings, WR PLAXICO BURRESS has 14 catches for 251 yards (125.5 yards per game) & 2 TDs. WR HINES WARD had longest reception of career vs. Cincy with 77-yard TD (10/15/00). Set career-high last week vs. Tenn. with 168 receiving yards on 10 catches & 2 TDs. Rookie WR-KR-PR ANTWAAN RANDLE EL had 99-yard KR-TD in last meeting, 2nd-longest in team history. Randle El has 1,069 combined yards (468 KR, 341 receiving, 151 PR, 109 rush) & 31 passing yards Offense is 7 of 11 (63.6 pct.) in 4th down conv. attempts In past 5 vs. Cincy, LB JOEY PORTER has 6.0 sacks. Defense intercepted Bengals QB Kitna 3 times in first meeting, including 2 by S LEE FLOWERS. Club 2nd in AFC in sacks (27).

ST. LOUIS RAMS (5-5) AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS (4-6)

SERIES

	RAMS	REDSKINS
LEADER		18-6-1
STREAKS		4 of past 5
COACHES VS. OPP.	Martz: 0-1	Spurrier: 0-0
LAST WEEK	W 21-16 vs. Bears	L 19-17 at Giants
LAST GAME	11/20/00: Redskins 33 at Rams 20. Washington QB Jeff George passes for 3 TDs & K Eddie Murray connects on 4 FGs to pace Redskins.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/30/97: Rams 23, Redskins 20. St. Louis RB Amp Lee catches 36-yard TD pass & sets up Jeff Wilkins’s last minute FG with 45-yard reception in Rams’ victory.
TV	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Dick Stockton, Daryl Johnston

STATS

PASSING	Warner: 90-129-912-1-8-66.4	Wuerffel: 8-14-82-0-2-34.5 or Ramsey (R): 51-102-723-3-5-62.7
RUSHING	Faulk: 164-816-5.0-8	Davis: 142-587-4.1-3
RECEIVING	Faulk (RB): 60 (3C)-426-7.1-2	Gardner: 44-608-13.8-5
OFFENSE	384.3 (1C)	293.8
TAKE/GIVE	-9	-7
DEFENSE	300.6	310.7
SACKS	Little: 7.0	Arrington: 8.0
INTs	Herring: 3	Bailey, Smoot, Ohalete: 3
PUNTING	Berger: 43.0	Barker: 39.7
KICKING	J. Wilkins: 59 (26/26 PAT; 11/15 FG)	Tuthill: 46 (16/16 PAT; 10/13 FG)

NOTES

RAMS:  Club ranks 2nd in NFC with 60.0 redzone TD pct. (35 trips, 21 TDs). Play first of 3 consecutive road games (Phil, KC) QB KURT WARNER expected to make first start since 9/29/02 vs. Dal (finger). Needs 1 TD pass to become 4th player in club history with 100 RB MARSHALL FAULK needs 62 yards to become 2nd player in NFL history with 5,000 yards rushing with 2 different teams (ERIC DICKERSON, Colts & Rams). Would become 4th Ram to reach 5,000 yards. Has 16,131 career yards from scrimmage & needs 163 to pass TONY DORSETT (16,293) in 7th all-time WR ISAAC BRUCE has 592 career receptions & needs 2 to pass HENRY ELLARD (593) for team record. Averaging 7.5 catches in 4 career games vs. Wash. Seeks 3rd consecutive 100-yard receiving game after posting 141 last week vs. Bears. WR TORRY HOLT seeks 2nd consecutive 100-yard receiving game vs. Redskins (125) & 2nd consecutive 100 vs. NFC East foes S KIM HERRING has INT in 3 of past 4 games. Needs 1 INT for career high REDSKINS:  QB DANNY WUERFFEL could see 1st action since 10/6 vs. Tenn (shoulder) RB STEPHEN DAVIS has 18 career 100-yard rushing games & with 100 yards vs. Rams ties for most in club history (LARRY BROWN, JOHN RIGGINS). RB KENNY WATSON averaging 4.7 yards per carry WR ROD GARDNER has 608 yards receiving & needs 134 for career high (741) Defense ranks 2nd in NFC in holding opponents to 36.8 redzone TD pct. (38 trips, 14 TDs) DE BRUCE SMITH has 189.0 career sacks, 2nd-most all-time. Has sacks vs. 70 different NFL QBs, but none vs. Warner. Had 3.0 sacks in last meeting vs. Rams, including safety LB LA VAR ARRINGTON has sacks in 4 of past 6. Has 6.0 sacks in past 6 & career-high 8.0 this season. Had 2.0 sacks in only career game vs. Rams CB CHAMP BAILEY needs 2 INTs for 3rd 5 INT season in past 4. Had 48-yard INT return vs. Rams in last meeting.

OAKLAND RAIDERS (6-4) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-6)

SERIES

	RAIDERS	CARDINALS
LEADER	3-2
STREAKS	2 of past 3
COACHES VS. OPP.	Callahan: 0-0	McGinnis: 1-0
LAST WEEK	W 27-20 vs. Patriots	L 38-14 at Eagles
LAST GAME	12/2/01: Cardinals 34 at Raiders 31 (OT). Arizona’s Bill Gramatica kicks 36-yard FG in OT to lead Cardinals to 3rd consecutive victory.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/4/98: Raiders 23, Cardinals 20. Oakland capitalizes on 4 Arizona TOs to win 2nd consecutive road game. CB Charles Woodson scores go-ahead TD on 46-yard INT-TD.
TV	CBS (2:05 PM PT):Kevin Harlan, Randy Cross, Beasley Reece (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Gannon: 292-418-3,195 (1L)-19 (T2C)-8-99.3 (2C)	Plummer : 185-343-2,019-9-12-65.7
RUSHING	Garner: 101-577-5.7-4	T. Jones: 138-511-3.7-2
RECEIVING	Rice: 66 (T3L)-846-12.8-5	Sanders : 31-345-11.1-2
OFFENSE	401.9 (1L)	309.6
TAKE/GIVE	+5 (3C)	-3
DEFENSE	331.7	364.7
SACKS	Barton: 5.0	Vanden Bosch: 2.5
INTs	R. Woodson: 4 (T2C)	Wilson: 4 (T2C)
PUNTING	Lechler: 43.8 (3C)	Player: 42.9
KICKING	Janikowski: 75 (33/33 PAT; 14/20 FG)	Gramatica: 54 (18/18 PAT; 12/17 FG)

NOTES

RAIDERS:  After starting season 4-0, club lost next 4 & has won past 2 QB RICH GANNON has passed for 300 yards or more in 7 of past 9 games, including 297 yards last Sunday vs. Patriots. NFL record for most 300-yard games in season is 9. Leads NFL’s No. 1 total offense (401.9) & pass offense (308.1) Despite ranking 33rd in NFL in rush attempts, RB CHARLIE GARNER stands 24th in rushing yards (577) & leads all AFC RBs in receptions with 59 for 619 yards. Has scored 7 TDs (4 rushing) WR TIM BROWN needs 8 catches to become 3rd player in NFL history to record 1,000 receptions (teammate JERRY RICE, CRIS CARTER). Since 1996, Brown ranks 3rd in NFL in receptions (581), trailing only Jax WR JIMMY SMITH (616) & Indy WR MARVIN HARRISON (611). Has 55 receptions on year to rank 10th in AFC & 3rd on team. In past 2 games, rookie TE DOUG JOLLEY (No. 55) has 7 catches for 99 yards (14.1) S ROD WOODSON is tied for 2nd in AFC in INTs with 4. Defense forcing 2nd-most turnovers in AFC (20) CARDINALS:  Club seeks fourth win in past 5 games vs. AFC West. Ranks 2nd in NFC with avg. drive start at 30.0 yard-line QB JAKE PLUMMER averaging 237 passing yards in past 4 vs. AFC West, winning 3. Has 15-10 record (.600) when completing at least 60.0 pct. of passes. Has rushed for 217 yards & career-best 6.4 yards per carry. Needs 1 yard rushing for career high RB MARCEL SHIPP had career-long 56-yard run & career highs with 6 receptions for 57 yards last week vs. Eagles. Has career-high 360 yards rushing. WR FRANK SANDERS has 6,524 career yards receiving & needs 121 yards to pass MEL GRAY (6,644) in 4th in club history TE FREDDIE JONES had career highs with 10 receptions, 111 receiving yards & career-high tying 2 TDs vs. Raiders on 10/29/00 (with SD) Club has 13 INTs, 3rd-most in NFC, after posting 17 in all of 2001 LB ROB FREDRICKSON played in 58 games, with 51 starts, with Raiders from 1994-97 after being selected by club in 1st-round of 1994 Draft.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-5) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-7)

SERIES

	CHIEFS	SEAHAWKS
LEADER	30-17
STREAKS	3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Vermeil: 3-2	Holmgren: 3-5
LAST WEEK	W 17-16 vs. Bills	L 31-9 vs. Broncos
LAST GAME	1/6/02: Chiefs 18 at Seahawks 21. Seattle QB Trent Dilfer passes for 2 TDs to lead Seahawks. Seattle RB Shaun Alexander rushes for 127 yards, including 44-yard TD run.
LAST GAME AT SITE	1/6/02
TV	CBS (1:05 PM PT): Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcotts

STATS

PASSING	Green: 181-291-2,254-16-10-90.2	Hasselbeck: 110-167-1,013-3-3-80.8
RUSHING	Holmes: 232-1,012 (2L)-4.4-15 (1L)	Alexander: 170-560-3.3-9 (T2C)
RECEIVING	Holmes (RB): 56-468-8.4-2	Alexander (RB): 44-334-7.6-2
OFFENSE	363.2	296.3
TAKE/GIVE	+8 (T1C)	+2
DEFENSE	417.1	362.7
SACKS	Hicks: 5.0	Bernard (R): 4.0
INTs	Warfield, Wesley: 4 (T2C)	Springs, Tongue: 2
PUNTING	Stryzinski: 39.3	Feagles: 43.3 (3C)
KICKING	Andersen: 91 (1C) (31/31 PAT; 20/22 FG)	Lindell: 61 (19/19 PAT; 14/18 FG)

NOTES

CHIEFS:  Club has won 7 of past 11 at Seattle With Washington, QB TRENT GREEN threw for 2nd-most yards in career (383) vs. Sea. (9/20/98) on 27 of 54 passing (50.0 pct.) with 2 TDs & 2 INTs. Has rallied club to win 4 of 6 games after trailing at halftime this season, including last week vs. Buffalo (13-10). Is NFL’s best 4th quarter passer, completing 51 of 82 attempts (62.2 pct.) for 633 yards & 8 TDs vs. 1 INT for 113.5 passer rating RB PRIEST HOLMES has rushing TD in team-record 8 consecutive games. Holmes (17) is 3 TDs from breaking club record (19) held by former RB ABNER HAYNES in 1962. Last week, became 1st Chief to record consecutive 1,000-yard rush seasons. Holmes is 2nd in NFL in rushing (1,012) & 2nd in receptions among AFC RBs (56) WR EDDIE KENNISON has 18 catches for 296 yards in past 4 games. Tied for 3rd in AFC for most receptions of 40+ yards (3) Defense is lone unit in AFC to have 2 players with 4 INTs: S GREG WESLEY & CB ERIC WARFIELD. Defense has allowed only 43 points in past 3 games, team’s lowest 3-game total since October 1999 (22 points) K MORTEN ANDERSEN has 6 KO touchbacks on season SEAHAWKS:  QB MATT HASSELBECK has completed 65.9 pct. of pass attempts (110 of 167), third-best in NFC. RB SHAUN ALEXANDER had 127 rushing yards, including 44-yard TD in last meeting. Needs 1 reception & 10 receiving yards for career highs (44, 343). Has 5 career 100-yard rushing games & club is 5-0 in those contests. Has 25 career rushing TDs & needs 3 to tie SHERMAN SMITH (28) in third in club history WR KOREN ROBINSON leads club with 593 receiving yards. WR BOBBY ENGRAM has 28 catches, 25 for first downs. Ranks third in NFC with 17 third-down receptions (201 yards). WR DARRELL JACKSON had career-high tying 2 TDs in last meeting DT JOHN RANDLE has 127.0 career sacks & needs 1.5 to pass RICKEY JACKSON in eighth on NFL’s all-time list. Rookie DT ROCKY BERNARD has 4.0 sacks & needs 0.5 to set club single-season rookie record S REGGIE TONGUE spent first 4 NFL seasons with KC, playing in 63 games with 47 starts from 1996-99. Needs 1 INT to tie career high.

NEW YORK GIANTS (6-4) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (2-8)

SERIES

	GIANTS	TEXANS
LEADER	--
STREAKS	--
COACHES VS. OPP.	Fassel: 0-0	Capers: 1-0
LAST WEEK	W 19-17 vs. Redskins	L 24-21 vs. Jaguars
LAST GAME	--
LAST GAME AT SITE	--
TV	FOX (3:15 PM CT): Sam Rosen, Bill Maas

STATS

PASSING	Collins: 217-346-2,552 (1C)-9-11-80.5	Carr (R): 148-271-1,797-9-11-69.4
RUSHING	Barber: 181-736-4.1-5	Wells (R): 118-367-3.1-1
RECEIVING	Barber (RB): 49-433-8.8-0	Bradford: 34-592-17.4-6
OFFENSE	348.9	248.1
TAKE/GIVE	-5	-7
DEFENSE	296.5	314.9
SACKS	Strahan: 8.0	Posey: 6.5
INTs	Peterson, Sehorn: 2	Glenn: 3
PUNTING	Rouen: 42.5	Stanley: 41.1
KICKING	Bryant (R): 61(13/14 PAT; 16/19 FG)	K. Brown: 44 (14/14 PAT; 10/15 FG)

NOTES

GIANTS:  Club is 38-4 (.905) under JIM FASSEL when leading after 3 quarters QB KERRY COLLINS has 1,045 completions with Giants & needs 7 to pass FRAN TARKENTON (1,051) in third in club history. Has thrown club-record 1,717 consecutive passes, longest current streak in NFL .RB TIKI BARBER has 3,542 career rushing yards & needs 68 to pass FRANK GIFFORD in fifth place in club history. Has 333 career receptions & needs 2 to pass CHRIS CALLOWAY (334) in third on club’s all-time list WR AMANI TOOMER seeks third consecutive game with TD catch. WR HERMAN MOORE could see first action with club. Has 670 receptions in 11 seasons with Detroit Rookie TE JEREMY SHOCKEY leads NFC rookies with 38 catches & ranks second with 432 yards. Had career highs with 11 receptions for 111 yards last week vs. Wash. His 111 yards were most by Giants TE since MARK BAVARO’s 148 on 10/10/88 (vs. Phil) Defense has allowed 169 points, third-fewest in NFL & rank third vs. pass (175.1) DE MICHAEL STRAHAN had 2.0 sacks vs. Redskins & seeks ninth consecutive game with at least 0.5 sacks TEXANS:  Head coach DOM CAPERS defeated NYG 27-17 in only career meeting (11/10/96 w/ Panthers). Capers coached Giants QB Collins from 1995-98 at Carolina, where Collins was first-round draft pick in 1995 Draft (No. 5). Texans are 1-0 in interconference home games (defeated Dallas 19-10, 9/8/02) First-round draft pick QB DAVID CARR (No. 1) has 4 TDs in 2 career interconference starts. Aims for 3rd consecutive multiple passing TD game vs. NFC RB JONATHAN WELLS (367) is 1 of 2 rookies to lead his team in rushing (CLINTON PORTIS, Denver) In last meeting vs. Giants (1/6/02), WR COREY BRADFORD (w/ GB) had 3 catches for 111 yards (2nd career 100-yard game) & 1 TD (season-long 54-yard TD catch). WR-KR JERMAINE LEWIS had 84-yard KR-TD & 55.5 avg. in Super Bowl XXXV vs. Giants (w/ Baltimore) Team ranks 4th in total defense in AFC (314.9). Defense boasts 3 players with 4.0 sacks or more: LB JAMES POSEY (6.5; 7th in AFC), LB KAILEE WONG (4.5) & DE GARY WALKER (4.0). LB JAMIE SHARPER (w/ Ravens) recorded 3 tackles & INT in SB XXXV win over NYG.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-2) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (8-2)

SERIES

	PACKERS	BUCCANEERS
LEADER	28-17-1
STREAKS		Past 4 at home
COACHES VS. OPP.	Sherman: 2-2	Gruden: 0-1
LAST WEEK	L 31-21 at Vikings	W 23-10 vs. Panthers
LAST GAME	11/4/01: Buccaneers 20 at Packers 21. Green Bay PR Allen Rossum returns punt 52 yards for TD with 3:03 left to lift Packers. Packers RB Ahman Green rushes for career-high 169 yards.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/7/01:  Buccaneers 14, Packers 10. Tampa Bay S John Lynch bats down Brett Favre’s pass in closing seconds to seal victory.
TV	FOX (4:15 PM ET): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Cris Collinsworth

STATS

PASSING	Favre: 219-340-2,540 (2C)-19 (2C)-7-96.9 (2C)	B. Johnson: 191-310-2,110-14-5-90.1
RUSHING	Green: 192-833 (3C)-4.3-6	M. Pittman: 138-470-3.4-0
RECEIVING	Driver: 50-838 (3C)-16.8-6 (T2C)	K. Johnson: 48-699-14.6-4
OFFENSE	372.2	312.0
TAKE/GIVE	+15 (1L)	+12 (2L)
DEFENSE	333.4	252.1 (1L)
SACKS	Gbaja-Biamila: 9.0 (3L)	Rice: 9.5 (2L)
INTs	Sharper: 5 (T1L)	Brooks, Kelly: 4 (T2C)
PUNTING	Bidwell: 41.5	Tupa: 42.1
KICKING	Longwell: 90 (2C) (33/33 PAT; 19/24 FG)	Gramatica: 80 (23/23 PAT; 19/25 FG)

NOTES

PACKERS:  Clinch NFC North with win & Min loss or tie. Club has 20 consecutive wins when leading at half, NFL’s longest active streak. QB BRETT FAVRE needs 1 TD pass for ninth consecutive 20-TD season, 1 short of NFL record (DAN MARINO, 1983-92). Has started 167 consecutive games, most ever by QB & longest current streak for any player. Has posted passer rating of 100.0 in 5 of 10 games in 2002 RB AHMAN GREEN has 13 career 100-yard rushing games with Packers & club is 13-0 in those games. Needs 100 yards vs. Bucs to pass JOHN BROCKINGTON for second-most 100-yard games (JIM TAYLOR, 26) in club history. GB is 15-2 (.882), including 5-1 (.833) in 2002, when Green has 25-or-more touches WR DONALD DRIVER seeks fourth 100-yard receiving game in past 7, including 121-yard effort last week, with 84-yard TD catch TE BUBBA FRANKS has 35 receptions & needs 2 for career best (36). Leads NFC TEs with 5 TDs Defense has 32 takeaways, most in NFL Rookie S MARQUES ANDERSON has 2 INT-TDs & need 1 to tie NFL rookie record (LEM BARNEY, RONNIE LOTT) BUCCANEERS:  Club aims for first 9-2 start in franchise history Head coach JON GRUDEN spent 1992-94 as Packers WR coach QB BRAD JOHNSON has 48-27 record (.640) as starter WR KEYSHAWN JOHNSON averaging 7 receptions in past 3 vs. GB & seeks third consecutive 7-catch game overall TE RICKEY DUDLEY has 9 receptions, 3 for TDs in 2002 Defense has scored 5 TDs & surrendered 10 in 2002. Club has allowed NFL-low 119 points & seeks to hold opposing offense without TD for fifth time in past 8 games. Defense holds opponents to NFL-best 21.1 redzone TD pct. (19 trips, 4 TDs). Club leads NFL with 21 INTs. DT WARREN SAPP has 7.0 sacks in past 8 games & leads all NFL DTs with 7.5 sacks in 2002. Has 8.0 career sacks vs. Favre, tied for most among NFL QBs (CHARLIE BATCH).  DE SIMEON RICE has 9.0 sacks in past 6 games & seeks sack in fifth consecutive game. Needs 0.5 sacks vs. GB for fifth career 10-sack season.

SUNDAY NIGHT

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (6-4) AT DENVER BRONCOS (7-3)

SERIES

	COLTS	BRONCOS
LEADER		9-3
STREAKS		3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Dungy: 1-1	Shanahan: 0-1
LAST WEEK	W 20-3 vs. Cowboys	W 31-9 at Seahawks
LAST GAME	1/6/02: Broncos 10 at Colts 29. Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning throws 2 TD passes to Colts WR Marvin Harrison, who finishes with 9 catches for 128 yards.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/3/93: Broncos 35, Colts 13. Denver scores on first 4 possessions, including 2 TD passes by Broncos QB John Elway to build 28-0 lead.
TV	ESPN (6:30 PM MT): Mike Patrick, Joe Theisman, Paul Maguire, Suzy Kolber (Field reporter). CBS Radio: Joel Meyers, Bob Trumpy, John Dockery (Field reporter). ESPN Deportes: Eduardo Varela, Fuad Reveiz, Luz Ramos (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Manning: 254-369-2,696 (3L)-19 (T2C)-12-93.5	Beuerlein: 2-2-15-2-0-137.5
RUSHING	James: 178-629-3.5-1	Portis (R): 151-748-5.0-5
RECEIVING	Harrison: 89 (1L)-1,110 (1L)-12.5-8 (T2L)	Smith: 62-671-10.8-3
OFFENSE	351.7	376.3 (2C)
TAKE/GIVE	-2	0
DEFENSE	302.7 (3C)	274.4 (1C)
SACKS	Freeney (R): 7.0 (T3C)	Pryce: 8.5 (T1C)
INTs	Bashir, Harris, Peterson: 2	O’Neal: 4 (T2C)
PUNTING	H. Smith: 40.9	Knorr: 40.5
KICKING	Vanderjagt: 61 (22/22 PAT; 13/20 FG)	Elam: 78 (T2C) (27/27 PAT; 17/24 FG)

NOTES

FIRST MEETING at Denver since 1993 COLTS:  Team has led or been tied for 1st place in AFC South all season In career vs. AFC West, QB Manning has 6-4 (.600) record with 88.0 passer rating, completing 221 of 360 passes (61.4 pct.) for 2,720 yards with 16 TDs & 10 INTs. Has TD pass in 11 consecutive games RB EDGERRIN JAMES has 1,078 scrimmage yards (807 rushing, 271 receiving) & 8 TDs in 7 career games vs. AFC West (154.0 yards per game) WR MARVIN HARRISON is 11 receptions shy of becoming 1st player in NFL history to record 100 catches in 4 consecutive seasons. Had 9 receptions for 128 yards with 2 TDs in last meeting vs. Denver & has 6 career 100-yard games vs. AFC West .In 1st 2 career starts in past 2 weeks, rookie DE DWIGHT FREENEY (No. 11) has 3.0 sacks & forced 4 fumbles. Tied for 3rd in AFC with 7.0 sacks BRONCOS:  Have never lost to Colts at home (5-0). Team is 7-0 in day games QB STEVE BEUERLEIN came off bench last week to throw 2 passes, both TDs (1 & 14 yards). With Carolina, in last start vs. Indy (12/27/98), completed 12 of 21 (57.1 pct.) for 178 yds w/ 1 TD & 1 INT for 81.1 rating in 27-19 win Rookie RB CLINTON PORTIS (No. 51) leads all rookies in rushing with 748 yards & 5 rush TDs. Also has 21 catches for 210 yards & 1 TD. Club has won 26 consecutive home games (including playoffs) when it posts 100-yard rusher In only career meeting, WR ROD SMITH had 7 catches for 92 yards (13.1 avg.). Tied for 6th in AFC with 62 catches & 13 have come on 3rd down. ..DE TREVOR PRYCE tied for AFC lead in sacks (8.5). Defense owns NFL’s longest active streak of 21 home games w/o 100-yard rusher. Ranks No. 1 in NFL vs. run (67.2), No. 2 overall.

MONDAY NIGHT
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (7-3) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (7-3)

SERIES

	EAGLES	49ERS
LEADER		15-6-1
STREAKS		Past 2
COACHES VS. OPP.	Reid: 0-1	Mariucci: 2-0
LAST WEEK	W 38-14 vs. Cardinals	L 20-17 (OT) at Chargers
LAST GAME	12/22/01: Eagles 3 at 49ers 13. San Francisco QB Jeff Garcia & WR Terrell Owens team for 32-yard TD pass in 4th quarter.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/22/01
TV	ABC (8:00 PM CT): Al Michaels, John Madden, Melissa Stark (Field reporter). CBS Radio: Marv Albert, Boomer Esiason, Warren Moon (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Detmer (Pre.): 1-2- (-)3- 0-0-56.3	Garcia: 203-317-2,192-14-6-91.1 (3C)
RUSHING	Staley: 162-697-4.3-2	Hearst: 123-592-4.8-4
RECEIVING	Thrash: 41-509-12.4-5	Owens: 62 (T1C)-891(2C)-14.4-8 (1C)
OFFENSE	379.3 (3C)	364.2
TAKE/GIVE	+5	+9 (3L)
DEFENSE	282.9 (2C)	330.2
SACKS	H. Douglas: 7.0	Carter: 8.0
INTs	Dawkins, Taylor: 2	Heard: 3
PUNTING	Landeta: 44.6 (2C)	Baker: 40.2
KICKING	Akers: 92 (1L) (26/26 PAT; 22/23 FG)	Cortez: 79 (25/25 PAT; 18/24 FG)

NOTES

EAGLES:  Club plays second of 4 consecutive vs. NFC West (Ariz, SF, StL, Sea). Have won 8 consecutive conference games, longest current streak in NFL. Have 26-4 (.867) mark under head coach ANDY REID when scoring at least 20 points. Have scored in 34 of 40 quarters in 2002 QB KOY DETMER makes first start since passing for 3 TDs vs. NE in 24-9 win on 12/19/99. Club has thrown 6 INTs in 2002, tied for NFL-low RB DUCE STALEY had career-high 31 carries (136 yards) last week. Has 12 career 100-yard rushing games & with 100 yards vs. 49ers passes RICKY WATTERS for sole possession of third place in club history. Seeks fourth 100-yard rushing game in past 5 vs. NFC. Had career-high 103 yards receiving vs. SF in last meeting & season-high 82 yards last week WR JAMES THRASH had first career rushing TD (4 yards) last week. WR TODD PINKSTON has 4 TD catches & needs 1 for career high Defense has surrendered 167 points, second-fewest in NFL .DE HUGH DOUGLAS needs 3.0 sacks for third 10.0-sack season in fifth year with Eagles LB LEVON KIRKLAND has never missed game (170) in his NFL career 49ERS:  Club has NFL-low 9 turnovers in 2002. Rank third in NFL with +9 turnover ratio QB JEFF GARCIA leads NFL with 133.1 third down passer rating, including 11 TDs & 0 INTs. Looks for fourth win in past 5 games vs. NFC East opponents RB GARRISON HEARST(592) has 14 career 100-yard rushing games with 49ers & will move into sole possession of 2nd-place in club history (ROGER CRAIG) with 100 yards vs. Eagles. Club has 13-1 record (.929) when he rushes for 100 yards. RB KEVAN BARLOW is averaging career-best 4.6 yards per carry. Hearst & Barlow (517) are only 2 teammates with 500 yards rushing WR TERRELL OWENS had 32-yard TD catch in last meeting. Seeks 4th 100-yard receiving game in past 5 DE ANDRE CARTER has 8.0 sacks in past 9 games & has sacks in 5 of past 6.

 

 

SPORTS

BASEBALL | BASKETBALL | COLLEGES | FOOTBALL | GOLF | HOCKEY | OLYMPICS | SOCCER | TENNIS

 

 

 

NFL 2002 Week 12 Green Bay at Tampa Bay, San Diego at Miami Puts Focus on Florida