NFL 2002 December's Here &
So are Final 4 Weeks in Playoff Race

NFL 2002 Week 14

NFL FACTOID: GREEN BAY BIG IN CHINA

Green Bay Packers safety DARREN SHARPER recently did an internet chat with some of the team’s biggest fans -- in China.

The temperature may be dropping, but the pressure is heating up.

It’s December -- that cold, cruel, final NFL month. Four weeks to go to see who goes.

But who knows what will happen?  This is the NFL, where anything goes. "This league is as crazy as it gets," says former NFL lineman and present FOX-TV analyst BILL MAAS.

Crazy?  Just look at last week:

• The quarterback wunderkind, MICHAEL VICK, did it again. "He’s changed the game," says Minnesota linebacker HENRI CROCKETT. "There are going to be no more pocket passers anymore."  Vick ran for 173 yards, the most ever by a QB in an NFL game. He averaged 17.3 yards per carry, also a record. And he scampered for a 46-yard touchdown in overtime -- the longest TD run ever by a quarterback in OT. "I’ve never seen anyone turn on the jets like that," says Falcons head coach DAN REEVES, who’s been in the NFL since 1965.
  

• Eleven of 16 games ere decided by seven points or less, one game shy of the all-time, single-week record in the category.
  

• Three games were decided in overtime, the third weekend this year with at least three OTs. That has happened in a season only once before, in 1995. With 20 overtime games so far this year, the single-season record of 21 in 1995 is set to fall.
  

• The Tennessee Titans rallied from a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the New York Giants, the 13th team this year to overcome such a deficit and win. If that comeback pace is kept up, a record in the category (17 games) will be established (see chart on page 3).
  

• The Philadelphia Eagles won their third consecutive game with a different starting quarterback (A.J. FEELEY, following KOY DETMER and DONOVAN MC NABB). This has not been done since the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1997 (STEVE MATTHEWS, ROB JOHNSON and MARK BRUNELL).
  

• San Diego’s LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON had the most catches (11) ever in a game by a running back who rushed for 200 yards (220).
  

• For the first time in history, there were two games on one day in which running backs for the opposing teams rushed for 200 and 150 yards (Tomlinson, 220, and Denver’s CLINTON PORTIS, 159; and Miami’s RICKY WILLIAMS, 228, and Buffalo’s TRAVIS HENRY, 151).

But enough about last week.

What’s on tap for this week?  The cheer of the NFL holiday season -- tiebreakers.

Two NFC teams -- the Eagles and San Francisco 49ers -- can join Green Bay as division champions. And two -- Vick’s Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- can clinch playoff berths, but not both because they play each other.

The rundown

The NFC East Eagles (9-3) can clinch their second division title in as many years with:

• PHI win + NYG loss or tie, OR

• PHI tie + NYG loss.

The NFC West 49ers (8-4) can earn their first division crown since 1997 with:

• SF win + STL loss or tie, OR

• SF tie + STL loss.

In the NFC South, the first-place Buccaneers (9-3) lead the Falcons (8-3-1) and New Orleans Saints (8-4), but not by much. "This is kind of a round-robin," says Saints head coach JIM HASLETT. "We beat Tampa Bay twice, Atlanta beat us twice. Hopefully, Tampa Bay will beat Atlanta this week and we’ll just pass the thing around."

The Atlanta-Tampa Bay playoff-clinching possibilities. A spot is theirs with:

• 1. TB win + NYG loss or tie, OR

• 2. TB tie + NYG loss.

• 1. ATL win + NYG loss, OR

• 2. ATL win + NYG tie + PHI win, OR

• 3. ATL tie + STL loss or tie + DAL loss or tie + NYG loss +PHI win or tie.

The AFC?  That’s a different case entirely.

Look at the AFC in this way:  if you bunched all 16 teams together, the top 13 would be separated by only 5 1/2
games. The race is way too close to call yet.

One game separates all four teams in the AFC East; 1 1/2 the top three teams in the North; one the top two in the South; and two all four in the West. That equates to 5 1/ 2 games and chaos.

A rundown of some of the playoff-implication games of Week 14 

ATLANTA AT TAMPA BAY

Half a game separates these two teams. The winner can go to the playoffs.

The Bucs face "The Other Cousin" in Falcons quarterback Vick. Last week they lost to his cousin, Saints quarterback AARON BROOKS. Tampa Bay does not seem concerned with the explosiveness of Vick’s running ability. Last season, their defense allowed 6.1 rushing yards by opposing QBs. They have cut that down to 1.6 this season. (NFL Conference Call:  Tampa Bay DE SIMEON RICE, Wednesday, December 4, 11:50 AM ET, 630-395-0406, passcode: NFL).

But, Vick is Vick. "We’ve got to get to the quarterback," says Bucs head coach JON GRUDEN. "We have to congest running lanes in the process. If Michael Vick does find a crease and pulls the ball down and runs, we’ve got to rally. At the same time, we respect everything we see from the guy. He is one dangerous runner."

INDIANAPOLIS AT TENNESSEE

University of Tennessee favorite son PEYTON MANNING, QB of the Colts, returns to the state of his college exploits for the first time.

The second-place Titans (7-5) are one game behind Indy (8-4), which wants to avenge the 23-15 loss Tennessee handed them on November 3. The Colts have not lost since (four in a row). Manning has averaged 275.5 yards per game since that loss, and thrown for six touchdowns and two interceptions. "Peyton’s had a great month since the last time we saw them," says Titans head coach JEFF FISHER.

Tennessee has completely turned its season around, starting out 1-4, and winning six of its past seven.

OAKLAND AT SAN DIEGO

Another division grudge match -- and battle for first place -- in the potent AFC West. Both teams are tied (8-4) atop the division and come off exhilarating victories.

But the Raiders are looking for pay back from October 20 when San Diego came into Oakland and quieted Raider Nation with a 27-21 overtime victory thanks in large part to running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON.     

The second-year pro rushed for 153 yards that day, including the 19-yard overtime winner. The workhorse did it on 39 carries, the league single-game high for this season. He comes off a 37-carry, 220-yard, three-TD  performance last Sunday against Denver.

He will face the NFL’s No. 4 rushing defense. "I’ve got a superstar," exults Chargers linebacker JUNIOR SEAU about Tomlinson. "That ‘L.T.’ guy we’ve got on this team is a beast. I’m glad he’s on our team."

The teams of Chargers head coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER have defeated the Raiders 20 out of the past 25 times.

BUFFALO AT NEW ENGLAND

Another division matchup, another homecoming.

The third-place Bills (6-6) travel to tied-for-first New England (7-5 with Miami) with a familiar face who will be making his first trip to Massachusetts after excelling there for nine years -- quarterback DREW BLEDSOE.

The first time the teams met this year (November 3), Bledsoe and the man who replaced him in New England, TOM BRADY, combined for 612 passing yards in a 38-7 Patriots victory.

And think the Bay State is anticipating the return of Bledsoe?  The Boston Globe has a "Countdown to Bledsoe Bowl II" ticker on its web site counting the seconds, minutes, hours and days till the QB makes his return Sunday.

The Patriots have won five of the past six against the Bills in Foxboro.

NEW ORLEANS AT BALTIMORE

The Ravens are quietly coming back!  And the third-place Saints can’t afford to lose to them.

Baltimore -- two years removed from its Super Bowl triumph -- opened the season with 19 first-year players. Seemingly they were in a retooling year. But they have won three of their past four, are now 6-6 along with Cleveland, 1 1/2 games behind first-place Pittsburgh (7-4-1). The team is guided by veteran quarterback JEFF BLAKE, who this week was named the starter for the rest of the year by head coach BRIAN BILLICK.

The Ravens’ defense will have to stop the NFC’s top rusher, DEUCE MC ALLISTER (1,049 yards), who returned last Sunday after missing a game with a sprained ankle and ran for 99 yards against Tampa Bay’s No. 1 defense.

The Saints are aiming for nothing but the postseason. "I’ve been here six years and been in the playoffs only once," says safety SAMMY KNIGHT. "I'm hungry."

DENVER AT NEW YORK JETS

The two clubs are in the thick of the playoff hunt, but coming off losses.

Denver head coach MIKE SHANAHAN, with the team at 7-5, believes that winning the next four games would ensure a playoff spot for the Broncos. Any team getting to 11 wins should result in a playoff berth, Shanahan believes. But one game at a time. "Our team is smart enough to focus on the Jets and know that they are the only thing that matters," says Shanahan.

A 4:15 PM December game in the Meadowlands?  Expect a good amount of pounding from running backs CURTIS MARTIN of the Jets and rookie CLINTON PORTIS of the Broncos.    

COMEBACKS UP

No lead is safe!  That’s what the numbers in the NFL this year prove.

Through 13 weeks, there have been 13 games in which teams down 10 or more points in the fourth quarter have come back to win. At this rate, there will be 17 such games in 2002, the highest total in the past 10 years.

The double-digit, fourth-quarter comeback games of the past decade:

NFL 2002: WEEK 14

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-11) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-8)

SERIES

	BENGALS	PANTHERS
LEADER		1-0
STREAKS		1-0
COACHES VS. OPP.	LeBeau: 0-0	Fox: 0-0
LAST WEEK	L 27-23 vs. Ravens	W 13-6 at Browns
LAST GAME	9/26/99: Bengals 3 at Panthers 27. Carolina RB Tim Biakabutuka becomes just 3rd player since 1970 to have 2 TDs runs of at least 60 yards in same game.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/26/99
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Bill Macatee, Craig James

STATS

PASSING	Kitna: 208-319-2,194-13-11-84.3	Peete: 151-260-1,817-9-11-73.5
RUSHING	Dillon: 244-1,018-4.2-7	L. Smith: 209-737-3.5-7
RECEIVING	C. Johnson: 49-791-16.1-5	Muhammad: 38-561-14.8-1
OFFENSE	318.8	268.5
TAKE/GIVE	-13	-5
DEFENSE	334.1	295.3 (3C)
SACKS	Williams: 5.0	Peppers (R): 12.0 (2C)
INTs	Hawkins, Kaesviharn: 2	Grant, Minter: 3
PUNTING	Harris: 41.2	Sauerbrun: 46.9 (1L)
KICKING	Rackers: 54 (24/25 PAT; 10/12 FG)	Graham: 42 (9/9 PAT ; 11/16 FG)

NOTES

BENGALS:  Club has scored 20+ points in 6 consecutive games for 1st time since 1996-97 seasons QB JON KITNA makes 1st career start vs. Car. In past 7 games, Kitna has completed 136 of 206 passes (66.0 pct.) for 1,592 yards & 12 TDs vs. 4 INTs for passer rating of 100.6 In 1 career meeting against Panthers, RB COREY DILLON gained 113 yards on 20 carries (5.7 avg.). Surpassed 1,000 rush yards on season last week & became 4th player in NFL history to record 1,000 rush yards in each of 1st 6 seasons (HOF ERIC DICKERSON, CURTIS MARTIN & BARRY SANDERS) WR CHAD JOHNSON (791 yards) is on pace to become 2nd Bengals rookie or 2nd-year WR with 1,000+ yard season (CRIS COLLINSWORTH, 1,009, 1981) KR BRANDON BENNETT ranks 4th in NFL in KR avg. (26.1). KR RUDI JOHNSON returned 3 kicks last week for 90 yards (30.0 avg.). Avg. drive start after KOs is No. 2 in NFL (31.6) DT GLEN STEELE has longest active games played streak for Bengals (59) PANTHERS:  RB DEE BROWN had career-high & first career 100-yard rushing game (122) last week vs. Browns WR MUHSIN MUHAMMAD seeks club-record 18th 100-yard receiving game, including sixth vs. AFC opponents TE WESLEY WALLS has 52 career TD catches & needs 1 to pass DAVE CASPER (52) for third-most in NFL history among TEs Club tied for third in NFC with opposing drive start at 26.2 yard-line Club has 38 sacks, second-most in team history, including 32 by defensive line DE MICHEAL RUCKER has 21.5 career sacks, including 7.0 in 2002, & needs 2.5 to pass LAMAR LATHON in second in club history (KEVIN GREENE, 41.5) & to top career high (9.0) DT BRENTSON BUCKNER played in 14 games for Bengals in 1997. Has 4.0 sacks in 8 games this season. DT KRIS JENKINS has career high 7.0 sacks & ranks second among NFL DTs (WARREN SAPP, 7.5).

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (8-4) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (5-7)

SERIES

	49ERS	COWBOYS
LEADER	13-8-1
STREAKS	2 of past 3
COACHES VS. OPP.	Mariucci: 2-1	Campo: 1-1
LAST WEEK	W 31-24 vs. Seahawks	W 27-20 vs. Redskins
LAST GAME	12/30/01: 49ers 21 at Cowboys 27. Dallas QB Quincy Carter passes for career-high 241 yards & 2 TDs  while rushing for another. Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith rushes for 126 yards.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/30/01
TV	FOX (12:00 PM CT): Pat Summerrall, Brian Baldinger

STATS

PASSING	Garcia: 248-397-2,640-16-8-86.9	Hutchinson (R): 73-135-930-5-2-82.0
RUSHING	Hearst: 164-781-4.8-7	Smith: 198-834-4.2-3
RECEIVING	Owens: 80 (1C)-1,102 (1C)-13.8-10 (1C)	Galloway: 59-871-14.8-6
OFFENSE	362.5	295.4
TAKE/GIVE	+10	0
DEFENSE	346.0	314.8
SACKS	Carter: 8.5	Ellis: 6.5
INTs	Heard, Parrish: 3	Ross (R): 5
PUNTING	La Fleur (R): 39.4	Filopovic (R): 40.5
KICKING	Chandler (R): 12 (6/6 PAT; 2/2 FG)	Cundiff (R): 46 (19/19 PAT; 9/15 FG)

NOTES

49ERS:  Club has 28-16 (.636) December record in past 10 seasons. Team has NFL-low 11 turnovers in 2002. Tied with KC for fourth in NFL with +10 turnover ratio QB JEFF GARCIA has 7 TDs (6 passing, 1 rushing) & 0 INTs in past 2 vs. Cowboys. Leads NFL with 122.1 third down passer rating, including 12 TDs & 0 INTs RB GARRISON HEARST has 15 career 100-yard rushing games with 49ers & club has 14-1 (.933) record when he rushes for 100 yards. Had career-high 3 rushing TDs & 31 carries last week vs. Seattle WR TERRELL OWENS seeks third 2-TD game in past 4 & fourth multiple-TD game of season. Looks for third consecutive game with TD vs. NFC East opponents. Seeks fourth 150-yard receiving game in past 6 DE ANDRE CARTER has 8.5 sacks in past 11 games & has at least 0.5 sacks in 6 of past 8. Needs 1.5 sacks for first-career 10-sack season PR JIMMY WILLIAMS scored first NFL TD on 89-yard PR last week Rookie P BILL LA FLEUR made NFL debut last week, averaging 39.4 yards on 4 punts. Averaged 39.6 yards for NFL Europe’s F.C. Barcelona Dragons this spring COWBOYS:  Rookie QB CHAD HUTCHINSON seeks third consecutive win as starter & has not thrown INT in 4 of 5 career starts RB EMMITT SMITH needs 166 yards rushing for his NFL record 12th consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. Has 76 career 100-yard rushing games & needs 100 yards to tie WALTER PAYTON (77) for most all-time. Had 126 yards rushing in last meeting vs. 49ers & his 144 yards last week vs. Wash. was highest total since 150 on 12/10/00 (vs. Wash.) WR JOEY GALLOWAY seeks TD in third consecutive game & averages 42 yards per TD catch in 2002. Needs 129 yards for fourth career 1,000-yard receiving season. Faces SF for third time & seeks third career 100-yard game vs. 49ers. Rookie WR ANTONIO BRYANT has 30 receptions & needs 3 for third-most among rookies in club history. Leads NFL rookie WRs with 488 yards receiving Rookie CB DEREK ROSS could become first rookie to lead club outright in INTs since EVERSON WALLS (11) in 1981. Rookie S ROY WILLIAMS scored first career TD on 5-yard INT-TD last week.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (6-6) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-7)

SERIES

	BROWNS	JAGUARS
LEADER		7-1
STREAKS		7-1
COACHES VS. OPP.	Davis: 1-1	Coughlin: 7-1
LAST WEEK	L 13-6 vs. Panthers	L 25-23 vs. Steelers
LAST GAME	12/16/01: Jaguars 15 at Browns 10. Jacksonville’s Mike Hollis kicks 2 FGs in 4th quarter while Jaguars RB Stacey Mack rushes for 115 yards.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/30/01: Browns 23, Jaguars 14. Cleveland QB Tim Couch passes for 249 yards & Browns’ Phil Dawson kicks 3 FGs.
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Don Criqui, Steve Tasker

STATS

PASSING	Couch: 202-331-2,014-13-14-73.8	Brunell: 204-351-2,378-13-6-84.0
RUSHING	Green (R): 148-465-3.1-2	Taylor: 228-1,008-4.4-6
RECEIVING	K. Johnson: 52-528-10.2-2	J. Smith: 65-857-13.2-5
OFFENSE	307.3	319.9
TAKE/GIVE	-1	+9 (2C)
DEFENSE	342.8	337.3
SACKS	Word: 7.0	Henderson (R), Stroud: 6.0
INTs	Little: 4	McCree: 5
PUNTING	Gardocki: 42.1	Hanson: 44.7 (2L)
KICKING	P. Dawson: 84 (24/25 PAT; 20/24 FG)	Cunningham: 5 (2/2 PAT; 1/1 FG)

NOTES

GAME FEATURES:  Jacksonville RB FRED TAYLOR & Cleveland RB JAMES JACKSON, who both attended Glades Central High School in Belle Glade, FL BROWNS:  Club is 4-2 (.667) on road. Team’s lone win against Jaguars occurred last season in Jacksonville QB TIM COUCH has 70.8 comp. pct. (92 of 130) in 5 career starts vs. Jaguars & 86.7 passer rating RB JAMEL WHITE had 1st career rushing TD last year at Jacksonville. In past 3 games, rookie RB WILLIAM GREEN (No. 16) has 77 carries for 304 yards (3.9 avg.) & 1 TD. Green attempting to become 6th Browns rusher with 2 100-yard games in rookie season. Club has 3 consecutive 100-yard rushing games for 1st time since 1993 In last meeting at Jax, WR KEVIN JOHNSON had 6 receptions for 80 yards. In 2 games vs. AFC South, rookie WR ANDRE’ DAVIS (No. 47) has 6 catches for 102 yards w/ 2 TD receptions & 1 KR-TD (95 yards) CB ANTHONY HENRY had 2 INTs, including 97-yard INT-TD which tied franchise record for longest INT return (NAJEE MUSTAFAA) in last contest between teams. DT GERARD WARREN had career-high 10 tackles in last meeting & recorded 1.0 sack JAGUARS:  Have won 7 of 8 all-time vs. Cleveland. Have outscored Browns 199-97 QB MARK BRUNELL has 7-1 (.875) record vs. Cleveland with career 86.1 passer rating. Has thrown 7 TDs vs. 3 INTs & rushed for 3 TDs, his most vs. any team In 2 career meetings, RB TAYLOR has rushed for 317 yards (158.5 yards per game) & 4 TDs. In only career game at home vs. Cle, Taylor rushed for 181 yards & tied career-high w/ 3 TDs.  RB STACEY MACK made 1st NFL start vs. Browns (9/3/00), rushing for 74 yards & 1 TD. Last year, Mack had 208 yards in 2 games vs. Cleveland (104.0 yards per game). WR JIMMY SMITH has 430 yards & 2 TDs in past 5 vs. Browns (86.0 per game) LB WALI RAINER, former Brown (1999-01), leads Jax w/ 139 tackles. S MARLON MC CREE needs 1 INT to tie club record (AARON BEASLEY, 6, 1999). Defense has held Browns QB Couch to 840 yards (168.0 per game) & 2 TDs in 5 starts.

ST. LOUIS RAMS (5-7) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-6)

SERIES

	RAMS	CHIEFS
LEADER	4-3
STREAKS		Past 2
COACHES VS. OPP.	Martz: 0-1	Vermeil: 0-2
LAST WEEK	L 10-3 at Eagles	W 49-0 vs. Cardinals
LAST GAME	10/22/00: Rams 34 at Chiefs 54. Kansas City racks up 468 yards on offense & 54 points as Chiefs hand Rams 1st defeat of season.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/22/00
TV	FOX (12:00 PM CT): Sam Rosen, Bill Maas

STATS

PASSING	Martin: 47-77-494-2-3-72.1	Green: 221-345-2,806-20-11-95.4 (3C)
RUSHING	Faulk: 173-845-4.9-8	Holmes: 271-1,322 (1L)-4.9-19 (1L)
RECEIVING	Holt: 65-947-14.6-2	Holmes (RB): 66-634-9.6-3
OFFENSE	371.4 (2C)	388.4 (2L)
TAKE/GIVE	-12	+10 (1C)
DEFENSE	302.8	402.3
SACKS	Little: 8.0	Hicks: 6.5
INTs	Herring: 3	Wesley: 5
PUNTING	Berger: 42.3	Stryzinski: 38.5
KICKING	J. Wilkins: 67 (28/28 PAT; 13/18 FG)	Andersen: 104 (T1L) (41/41 PAT; 21/24 FG)

NOTES

RAMS:  Offense ranks third in NFC with 57.5 redzone TD pct. (40 trips, 23 TDs) & defense tied for third holding opponents to 42.4 redzone TD pct. (33 trips, 14 TDs) QB JAMIE MARTIN makes second start of season. Spent spring of 1995 with NFL Europe League’s Amsterdam Admirals, passing for 11 TDs & 86.2 passer rating, helping club to berth in World Bowl 1995 RB MARSHALL FAULK needs 33 yards to become second player in NFL history with 5,000 yards rushing with 2 different teams (ERIC DICKERSON, Colts & Rams). Would become fourth Ram to reach 5,000 yards. Has 16,182 career yards from scrimmage & needs 112 to pass TONY DORSETT (16,293) in seventh all-time WR ISAAC BRUCE seeks third 100-yard receiving game in past 5 overall & sixth consecutive 5-catch game vs. AFC opponents. Averaging 99.6 yards in past 5 vs. AFC, including 2 100-yard games.   WR TORRY HOLT needs 100-yard game to pass TOM FEARS (16) for 4th-most 100-yard games in club history S KIM HERRING (3) needs 1 INT for career high K JEFF WILKINS needs 8 points for 800th career point CHIEFS:  Since 1995, club is 13-2 (.867) vs. NFC at home. Club has scored 30 points or more 7 times; club record is 8 (1966) Head coach DICK VERMEIL was head coach of Rams for 3 years (1997-99) & led club to Super Bowl XXXIV championship QB TRENT GREEN was Ram for 2 seasons (1999-2000). Including last week vs. Arizona, Green has had 4 games w/ passer rating of 100.0+ in 2002 RB PRIEST HOLMES (22) needs 5 TDs to set new NFL single-season TD-scoring record (MARSHALL FAULK, 26). Holmes leads NFL in total yards (1,956) WR DANTE HALL recorded club record for longest PR-TD (90 yards) last week. WR EDDIE KENNISON is averaging 17.5 yards per catch (44 receptions). TE TONY GONZALEZ had 5 receptions for 117 yards & 1 TD in last meeting Offense allowing 5th-fewest sacks in AFC (20) Defense has not allowed TD in 14 of past 20 quarters. Club recorded 5 sacks last Sunday (23 on season). DE ERIC HICKS leads team in sacks (6.5) & is tied for 9th-most in AFC. S GREG WESLEY tied for AFC lead in interceptions (5).

BUFFALO BILLS (6-6) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (7-5)

SERIES

	BILLS	PATRIOTS
LEADER		44-39-1
STREAKS		Past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Williams: 0-3	Belichick: 4-2
LAST WEEK	W 38-21 vs. Dolphins	W 20-12 at Lions
LAST GAME	11/3/02: Patriots 38 at Bills 7. New England QB Tom Brady completes 22 of 26 passes for 265 yards & 3 TDs while Patriots RB Antowain Smith rushes for 111 yards.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/11/01: Patriots 21, Bills 11. New England RB Antowain Smith rushes for 100 yards & 2 TDs against his former team.
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, Armen Keteyian (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Bledsoe: 291-459-3,514 (2L)-21 (3C)-9-93.9	Brady: 300-464-3,093-24 (1L)-11-91.1
RUSHING	Henry: 238-1,108-4.7-11	A. Smith: 196-782-4.0-4
RECEIVING	Moulds: 73-1,043 (3C)-14.3-7	Brown: 76-715-9.4-2
OFFENSE	369.7	340.5
TAKE/GIVE	-2	+5
DEFENSE	338.8	322.5
SACKS	Schobel: 6.0	Bruschi, McGinest, Seymour: 4.5
INTs	Clements: 4	Law: 3
PUNTING	Moorman: 43.9 (3L)	Walter: 38.4
KICKING	Hollis: 93 (3C) (33/33 PAT; 20/27 FG)	Vinatieri: 89 (29/29 PAT; 20/22 FG)

NOTES

FOUR OF PAST 6 in series have been decided in OT. Eight of past 9 meetings have been decided by 10 points-or-less & 4 of past 6 by 3 points-or-less BILLS:  Last week, RB TRAVIS HENRY (rush), WR ERIC MOULDS (rec.) & WR PEERLESS PRICE (rec.) all surpassed 1,000 yards on season -- 1st time in NFL history RB & 2 WRs did it in same game QB DREW BLEDSOE returns to New England. Was No. 1 overall selection by NE in 1993 NFL Draft & member of Patriots from 1993-2001. Has TD pass in 11 of 12 games with Bills. On pace to set club records in attempts (612), completions (388) & passing yards (4,685) RB Henry has 10-yard rush in 11 of 12 games in 2002 WR Moulds tied for 2nd on club’s all-time list w/ 35 TD receptions (ELBERT DUBENION, 1960-68). WR Price leads team with 9 TD receptions & needs 2 to tie club record (BILL BROOKS, 1995). Offense averaging 22.8 1st downs per game; 2nd in NFL Club has 13 sacks in past 3 vs. Patriots. DE AARON SCHOBEL has 4.5 sacks in 3 career meetings & aims for 4th consecutive game vs. NE with at least 0.5 sacks PATRIOTS:  Head coach BILL BELICHICK has 4-2 (.667) record vs. Buffalo. Patriots have outscored opponents 98-53 in 4th quarter QB TOM BRADY has career 21-8 (.724) record. Brady is 3-0 vs. Bills with 101.1 passer rating, completing 56 of 82 passes (68.3 pct.) for 609 yards with 4 TDs vs. 1 INT. Is 6th player in team history with 3,000-yard season (3,093) In 3 career meetings vs. former team, RB ANTOWAIN SMITH (Bills, 1997-2000) has rushed for 306 yards & scored 5 TDs (3 rushing, 2 receiving). Patriots are 11-2 (.846) when Smith has TD run WR TROY BROWN is on pace to tie his franchise reception record (101 in 2001). Has 13 100-yard games, tied for 2nd-most in team history (TERRY GLENN) LB TEDY BRUSCHI has 2 INT-TDs in past 3 Five of past 8 INTs for CB TY LAW have come vs. AFC East, including 1 in Week 9 vs. Bills. DE WILLIE MC GINEST has 4.0 sacks in past 3 vs. Bills. Defense holding opponents to 4.92 yards per 1st down play, 2nd-best in AFC. 

HOUSTON TEXANS (3-9) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-4-1)

SERIES

	TEXANS	STEELERS
LEADER	--
STREAKS	--
COACHES VS. OPP.	Capers: 1-0	Cowher: 0-0
LAST WEEK	L 19-3 at Colts	W 25-23 at Jaguars
LAST GAME	--
LAST GAME AT SITE	--
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots

STATS

PASSING	Carr (R): 178-329-2,037-9-11-68.2	Maddox: 147-234-1,872-16-11-91.0
RUSHING	Wells (R): 145-435-3.0-2	Zereoue: 137-526-3.8-2
RECEIVING	Allen (RB): 38-234-6.2-0	Ward: 89 (2L)-1,090 (3L)-12.2-11 (1L)
OFFENSE	238.2	376.7 (3C)
TAKE/GIVE	-6	-2
DEFENSE	316.3	329.8
SACKS	Posey: 6.5	Porter: 7.0
INTs	Glenn: 3	Porter: 4
PUNTING	Stanley: 40.7	Miller: 43.0 (3C)
KICKING	K. Brown: 53 (14/14 PAT; 13/18 FG)	Reed (R): 30 (3/4 PAT; 9/10 FG)

NOTES

TEXANS:  Head coach DOM CAPERS was Pittsburgh defensive coordinator from 1992-94 under Steelers head coach BILL COWHER Rookie QB DAVID CARR (No. 1) has completed more than 50.0 pct. of passes in 9 of past 10 games Rookie RB JONATHAN WELLS (No. 99) has started past 7 games. Wells leads club in rushing with 435 yards on 145 carries (3.0). Also has 2 rushing TDs. RB JAMES ALLEN leads club with 38 receptions for 234 yards (6.2 avg.). WR COREY BRADFORD tied for 4th in AFC for most 40+ yard receptions with 3. Has 4 of his team-high 6 TD receptions on road. In 2 games vs. AFC North, Bradford has 7 catches for 129 yards (18.4 avg.) & 2 TDs. TE BILLY MILLER is tied for 4th among AFC TEs in receptions (34) Rookie G/T CHESTER PITTS (No. 50) has started all 12 games for club Special teams rank 5th in NFL in PR-coverage, allowing 5.2 yards per return LB JAY FOREMAN has career-best 145 tackles & leads team. LB JEFF POSEY paces club with 6.5 sacks, tied for 8th in AFC. Defense ranked 10th in NFL P CHAD STANLEY leads NFL in punts inside 20 (28) & fair catches (27) STEELERS:  Since head coach Cowher took Steelers post in 1992, club is AFC’s winningest during that span: 106-65-1 (.619) with 6 division titles Club is 5-2-1 in games that QB TOMMY MADDOX has thrown pass. Has thrown 2 or more TD passes in 5 of 7 starts in 2002. In Wk. 10 vs. Atl., broke 44-year-old team record for most passing yards in game (473), besting 409 yards by HOF BOBBY LAYNE (12/13/58) Team is 3-0 in 2002 when RB JEROME BETTIS carries 20 times or more. In past 2 games, Bettis has 165 yards on 42 carries (3.9 avg.) & 2 TDs WR HINES WARD ranks No. 2 in AFC in receptions (89) & receiving yards (1,090). Has led club in receptions in 5 of past 6 games. WR PLAXICO BURRESS (58 catches) has 2nd-best yards-per-catch avg. (16.3) among AFC receivers with at least 34 receptions Defense 2nd in AFC with 31 sacks, led by LB JOEY PORTER w/ 7.0. NFL’s No. 2 defense vs. run (91.7). Club on pace for 41 sacks, would be 8th time in 10 seasons team recorded more than 40 Rookie K JEFF REED has made 9 of 10 (90.0 pct.) FGs. Tied club record with 6 FGs last week.

ATLANTA FALCONS (8-3-1) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-3)

SERIES

	FALCONS	BUCCANEERS
LEADER		10-8
STREAKS		Past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Reeves: 2-4	Gruden: 2-0
LAST WEEK	W 30-24 (OT) at Vikings	L 23-20 at Saints
LAST GAME	10/6/02: Buccaneers 20 at Falcons 6. Tampa Bay WR Keyshawn Johnson scores on 76-yard TD reception & Buccaneers LB Derrick Brooks scores off lateral to seal victory.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/21/99: Buccaneers 19, Falcons 10. Tampa Bay’s Martin Gramatica kicks 4 FGs & Buccaneers CB Donnie Abraham caps day with 47-INT return for come-from-behind victory.
TV	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Cris Collinsworth

STATS

PASSING	Vick: 161-280-1,994-10-3-87.1	B. Johnson: 234-379-2,520-18 (3C)-6-90.5 (2C)
RUSHING	Vick (QB): 80-648-8.1-8	M. Pittman: 159-537-3.4-0
RECEIVING	Finneran: 44-659-15.0-4	K. Johnson: 55-800-14.5-4
OFFENSE	343.1	304.7
TAKE/GIVE	+11 (3L)	+13 (2L)
DEFENSE	326.8	252.2 (1L)
SACKS	Kerney: 8.0	Rice: 14.5 (1L)
INTs	Carpenter: 4	Kelly: 6 (1L)
PUNTING	Mohr: 41.5	Tupa: 43.1 (3C)
KICKING	Feely: 100 (3C) (34/35 PAT; 22/28 FG)	Gramatica: 91 (25/25 PAT; 22/29 FG)

NOTES

FALCONS:  Club seeks ninth consecutive game without loss QB MICHAEL VICK leads NFL with 1.1 INT pct. (3 INTs, 280 attempts). Has led club to scores on 5 of his 9 drives (excluding possessions to run out clock) in final 2 minutes of half & game. Leads NFL QBs with 648 yards rushing & 8 rushing TDs. Rushed for 173 yards last week vs. Vikings, most by QB in NFL history. Averaged 17.3 yards per carry, highest single-game avg. (minimum 10 attempts) in NFL history, topping MARION MOTLEY’s 17.09-yard avg. on 10/29/50 (11 carries, 188 yards) RB WARRICK DUNN spent 1997-01 with TB, finishing with 4,200 yards. Rookie RB T.J. DUCKETT (No. 18) leads NFC rookies with 451 yards rushing. Club is 8-0-1 when FB BOB CHRISTIAN has at least one carry WR BRIAN FINNERAN has 44 receptions, 33 for first downs. Seeks third consecutive 100-yard receiving game CB RAY BUCHANAN has 29 INTs with Falcons & needs 1 to tie SCOTT CASE in third in club history P CHRIS MOHR leads NFL in holding opponents to 57 PR yards BUCCANEERS:  QB BRAD JOHNSON is 49-28 (.636) as starter, including 17-10 (.630) with TB RB MICHAEL PITTMAN had season-high 62 yards rushing in last meeting WR KEYSHAWN JOHNSON seeks TD in fourth consecutive game vs. Falcons. Had 131 yards receiving in last meeting, including career-long 76-yard TD reception Club has allowed NFL-low 149 points & seeks to hold opposing offense without TD for fifth time in past 10 games. Defense holds opponents to NFL-best 32.0 redzone TD pct. (25 trips, 8 TDs) & leads league with 25 INTs. Club second in NFL (GB) with +13 turnover differential DT WARREN SAPP leads NFL DTs with 7.5 sacks.  DE SIMEON RICE has 14.0 sacks in past 8 games & seeks to extend single-season NFL record with sixth consecutive multiple-sack game. Had 2.0 sacks in last meeting. Needs 2.5 sacks for career high (16.5) LB DERRICK BROOKS needs 1 TD to tie NFL record for most TDs on turnovers in season (5, KEN HOUSTON, 1971).

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-4) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (7-5)

SERIES

	COLTS	TITANS
LEADER		8-7
STREAKS		4 of past 5
COACHES VS. OPP.	Dungy: 0-3	Fisher: 2-0
LAST WEEK	W 19-3 vs. Texans	W 32-29 (OT) at Giants
LAST GAME	11/3/02: Titans 23 at Colts 15. Tennessee LB Keith Bullock returns fumble 61 yards for TD & Titans LB Peter Sirmon’s INT leads to TD.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/23/90: Colts 10 at Houston Oilers 24. Houston QB Warren Moon throws for 308 yards & 3 TDs. Moon sets team career passing record with 19,289 yards.
TV	CBS (12:00 PM CT): Gus Johnson, Brent Jones

STATS

PASSING	Manning: 296-441-3,115 (3L)-20-13-90.3	McNair: 250-402-2,751-20-14-84.5
RUSHING	James: 224-778-3.5-2	George: 244-822-3.4-7
RECEIVING	Harrison: 109 (1L)-1,318 (1L)-12.1-8 (T3C)	Mason: 61-793-13.0-4
OFFENSE	344.9	332.0
TAKE/GIVE	-2	-1
DEFENSE	289.8 (2L)	330.1
SACKS	Freeney (R): 8.0	Carter: 7.0
INTs	Peterson: 3	Schulters: 5
PUNTING	H. Smith: 41.4	Hentrich: 42.0
KICKING	Vanderjagt: 79 (25/25 PAT; 18/25 FG)	Nedney: 85 (25/25 PAT; 20/24 FG)

NOTES

GAME FEATURES NFL’s winningest head coaches since 1999: Tennessee’s JEFF FISHER (40-20, .667) & Indianapolis’ TONY DUNGY (38-22, .633) Game features NFL’s 3 longest  active consecutive games-started streaks to begin career: Tennessee RB EDDIE GEORGE (108), Indianapolis T TARIK GLENN (92) & QB PEYTON MANNING (76).  COLTS:  Club has won 4 consecutive games QB Manning returns to Tennessee. Manning was 4-year starter (1994-97) at Tennessee & led Vols to 39-6 (.867) record while setting 33 school records. Last week Manning became only QB in NFL history to begin career with 5 consecutive 3,000-yard passing seasons RB EDGERRIN JAMES has 547 scrimmage yards (416 rush, 131 rec) & 4 TDs in past 4 Dec. games (136.8 yards per game) WR MARVIN HARRISON recorded his 8th 100-yard receiving game of season last week, 1 shy of his club-record 9 (1999). Harrison has at least 3 catches in 30 consecutive games DT BRAD SCIOLI recorded 3.0 sacks last week vs. Hou. Defense ranked No. 29 in NFL in 2001 (357.2 yards); currently ranks No. 2 (289.8). Club has allowed 4 TDs in past 22 quarters TITANS:  Club has won 6 of past 7 games & are 3-0 vs. AFC South foes during that span In win last week at NYG, QB STEVE MC NAIR posted 2nd-most passing yards in career (334), completing 30 of 43 passes (69.8 pct.) with 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 115.8 passer rating. McNair also rushed for 38 yards on 4 attempts (9.5 avg.) & rushed for game-tying 2-point conversion to force OT. Tied for 4th in AFC w/ 20 TD passes; 2 shy of surpassing career-high 21 (2001) RB EDDIE GEORGE has rushed 20+ carries in 7 games this season & club is 6-1 (.857) WR DERRICK MASON has 4+ catches in 17 of past 20. In past 2, WR DREW BENNETT has 7 catches for 114 yards & 1 TD KR coverage unit giving opp. NFL’s worst avg. drive start (24.1) S LANCE SCHULTERS tied for AFC lead in INTs (5). Defense held Colts RB James to 56 yards on 20 carries (2.8 avg.) in only meeting (1999 playoff).

NEW YORK GIANTS (6-6) AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS (5-7)

SERIES

	GIANTS	REDSKINS
LEADER	78-57-4
STREAKS	Past 3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Fassel: 5-5-1	Spurrier: 0-1
LAST WEEK	L 32-29 (OT) vs. Titans	L 27-20 at Cowboys
LAST GAME	11/17/02: Redskins 17 at Giants 19. Under steady rain, New York rookie K Matt Bryant boots 4 FGs and rookie TE Jeremy Shockey catches 11 passes for 111 yards.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/28/01: Redskins 35, Giants 21. Washington QB Tony Banks passes for 2 TDs as Redskins stun New York. Washington RB Stephen Davis rushes for 107 yards.
TV	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Dick Stockton, Daryl Johnston

STATS

PASSING	Collins: 257-423-3,049 (1C)-12-13-79.4	Wuerffel: 45-73-560-3-5-70.6
RUSHING	Barber: 223-947-4.2-7	Davis: 193-726-3.8-6
RECEIVING	Toomer: 60-923-15.4-4	Gardner: 54-760-14.1-6
OFFENSE	350.3	301.3
TAKE/GIVE	-6	-9
DEFENSE	304.4	316.6
SACKS	Strahan: 11.0 (3C)	Arrington: 9.0
INTs	Peterson, Sehorn: 2	Bailey, Smoot, Ohalete: 3
PUNTING	M. Allen (R): 38.2	Barker: 40.1
KICKING	Bryant (R): 74 (17/18 PAT; 19/23 FG)	Cortez (SF): 79 (25/25 PAT; 18/24 FG)

NOTES

GIANTS:  Club is 38-5 (.884) under head coach JIM FASSEL when leading after 3 quarters QB KERRY COLLINS completing career-high 60.8 pct. of passes RB TIKI BARBER has 3,752 career rushing yards & needs 85 yards to pass RON JOHNSON (3,836) in fourth in club history. Seeks fourth 100-yard rushing game in past 6. Leads NFC with 1,402 yards from scrimmage WR AMANI TOOMER averaging 100.3 yards receiving in past 3 vs. Wash. Has 4 100-yard games & needs 100 yards vs. Wash. to tie single-season career high TE JEREMY SHOCKEY leads NFL rookies with 563 yards receiving & 49 receptions. Had career-high 111 yards in last game vs. Wash Defense ranks third in NFL vs. pass (181.2) DE MICHAEL STRAHAN seeks NFL record 11th consecutive game with at least 0.5 sacks & third multiple-sack game in past 4. Has 7.0 sacks in past 5. Looks for third consecutive multi-sack game vs. Redskins & has 5.5 sacks in past 3 vs. Redskins REDSKINS:  Offense ranks second in NFC with 57.6 redzone TD pct. (33 trips, 19 TDs) while defense ranks second, holding opponents to 36.4 redzone TD pct. (44 trips, 16 TDs) QB DANNY WUERFFEL passed for career-highs 3 TDs & 243 yards last week vs. Cowboys RB STEPHEN DAVIS seeks third 100-yard rushing game in past 4 home games vs. Giants, averaging 106.3 in past 3 at FedEx Field. Has 18 career 100-yard rushing games & with 100 yards vs. NY ties for most in club history (LARRY BROWN, JOHN RIGGINS). Has 5,696 career rushing yards & needs 180 yards to pass Brown (5,875) in second on club’s all-time list WR ROD GARDNER seeks TD catch in 3rd consecutive game vs. NYG Rookie KR LADELL BETTS ranks second among rookies with 24.6 KR avg DE BRUCE SMITH has 191.0 career sacks (5 in 2002), including 35.5 vs. NY teams (30.5 NYJ; 5.0 NYG) & needs 7.5 to pass REGGIE WHITE (198) in first all-time. Had 2.0 sacks last week LB JESSIE ARMSTEAD spent 1993-01 with Giants, making 5 Pro Bowl appearances.

DETROIT LIONS (3-9) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-8)

SERIES

	LIONS	CARDINALS
LEADER	28-20-5
STREAKS		Past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Mornhinweg: 0-1	McGinnis: 1-0
LAST WEEK	L 20-12 vs. Patriots	L 49-0 at Chiefs
LAST GAME	11/18/01: Lions 38 at Cardinals 45. Arizona QB Jake Plummer passes for 4 TDs in come-from-behind win. Detroit QB Charilie Batch set club record with 436 passing yards.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/18/01
TV	FOX (2:05 PM MT): Ron Pitts, Dwight Clark

STATS

PASSING	Harrington (R): 195-391-2,142-11-16-58.8	Plummer: 214-407-2,245-11-17-60.5
RUSHING	Stewart: 195-910-4.7-4	Shipp: 100-528-5.3-4
RECEIVING	Stewart (RB): 39-277-7.1-1	F. Jones: 36-271-7.5-1
OFFENSE	281.8	290.1
TAKE/GIVE	-4	-8
DEFENSE	370.4	386.9
SACKS	Porcher: 5.0	Vanden Bosch: 2.5
INTs	Claiborne: 3	Wilson: 4
PUNTING	Jett: 42.4	Player: 43.7 (2C)
KICKING	Hanson: 77 (23/23 PAT; 18/20 FG)	Gramatica: 56 (20/20 PAT; 12/17 FG)

NOTES

LIONS:  Head coach MARTY MORNHINWEG was RB coach (1988) & offensive coordinator (1994) at Northern Arizona Rookie QB JOEY HARRINGTON (No. 3) needs 1 TD pass to pass CHARLIE BATCH, FRED ENKE & JEFF KOMLO for club rookie record. With 97 yards passing, he becomes club rookie leader (Komlo, 2,238) RB JAMES STEWART needs 90 yards rushing for second-career 1,000-yard season. Has 13 career 100-yard rushing games & his team has 9-4 (.692) record in those games. Lions have 8-3 (.727) record when he has more than 20 carries Rookie free agent WR EDDIE DRUMMOND had first career rush last week vs. Patriots (23 yards) & averages 23.4 yards per KR TE MIKHAEL RICKS leads NFL TEs with 14.7 yards per catch avg Offense has surrendered 16 sacks, tied with Tenn. for second-fewest in NFL (15, SD), after allowing NFL-high 66 in 2001 DE ROBERT PORCHER seeks seventh consecutive game with sack vs. Cardinals. Has 8.0 sacks in 6 career games vs. Ariz, including 2 multiple-sack games K JASON HANSON needs 2 FGs for sixth consecutive 20 FG season CARDINALS:  Club’s 45 points in last meeting vs. Lions equaled most since posting 49 vs. NO on 10/23/77 (W 49-31). Team ranks second in NFC with avg. drive start at 29.7 yard-line QB JAKE PLUMMER has 15-10 record (.600) when completing at least 60.0 pct. of passes. Has rushed for 218 yards & career-best 6.1 yards per carry. Passed for 334 yards, career-high tying 4 TD passes in last meeting RB MARCEL SHIPP has career-high 528 yards rushing. His 5.3 yards-per-carry avg. ranks third in NFL (min. 100 carries). Had career-high 7 receptions (37 yards) last week vs. KC WR FRANK SANDERS has 6,579 career yards receiving & needs 66 yards to pass MEL GRAY (6,644) in 4th in club history. Has 493 career receptions & needs 7 to become third player in franchise annals with 500. Had 127 yards in last game vs. Det Club has 14 INTs after posting 17 in all of 2001 S ADRIAN WILSON needs 1 INT for first career 5 INT season CB MICHAEL STONE lettered in football & track at Southfield-Lathrup HS in Detroit suburb of Southfield, MI.

                                       NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (8-4) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (6-6)

SERIES

	SAINTS	RAVENS
LEADER		2-0
STREAKS		2-0
COACHES VS. OPP.	Haslett: 0-0	Billick: 1-0
LAST WEEK	W 23-20 vs. Buccaneers	W 27-23 at Bengals
LAST GAME	12/19/99: Saints 8 at Ravens 31. Baltimore QB Tony Banks passes for 298 yards & 3 TDs while Ravens’ defense permits just 8 1st downs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/19/99
TV	FOX (4:05 PM ET): Kenny Albert, Tim Green

STATS

PASSING	Brooks: 225-401-2,846-23 (1C)-13-84.0	Blake: 94-172-1,061-6-6-70.4
RUSHING	McAllister: 232-1,049 (1C)-4.5-10 (T2C)	J. Lewis: 236-1,044-4.4-5
RECEIVING	Horn: 66-1,058 (2C)-16.0-7 (T2C)	Heap (TE): 46-508-11.0-5
OFFENSE	341.0	269.5
TAKE/GIVE	+3	+2
DEFENSE	354.3	342.5
SACKS	Howard: 6.5	Boulware: 4.0
INTs	Bellamy, S. Knight: 3	Reed (R): 4
PUNTING	Gowin: 42.5	Zastudil (R): 41.9
KICKING	Carney: 93 (30/30 PAT; 21/24 FG)	Stover: 66 (24/24 PAT; 14/18 FG)

NOTES

SAINTS:  Club has 15-7 (.682) road record under head coach JIM HASLETT. Offense first in NFC with 61.4 redzone TD pct. (44 trips, 27 TDs) QB AARON BROOKS ranks second in NFC with TD pass every 5.7 attempts. Ranks third in NFC with 89.5 third down passer rating. Has rating of at least 100.0 in 11 starts & Saints are 9-2 (.818) in those games. Has 58 career TD passes & needs 3 to pass JIM EVERETT (60) for third-most in team history. Needs 4 TD passes for club single-season record (26, Everett, Brooks) RB DEUCE MC ALLISTER has 6 100-yard rushing games & needs 100 vs. Ravens to pass RUEBEN MAYES for second-most 100-yard games in single-season in club history. Needs 3 rushing TDs to tie GEORGE ROGERS & DALTON HILLIARD (13) for single-season club record WR JOE HORN has 24 TD catches with NO & needs 2 to pass QUINN EARLY (25) in fourth place in club history. Has 3,663 receiving yards with club & needs 96 to pass Early (3,758) in fourth in club history DE DARREN HOWARD has 6.0 sacks in past 7 games RAVENS:  Club is 27-9 (.750) after Nov. 1 under head coach BRIAN BILLICK QB JEFF BLAKE was member of Saints (2000-01) & compiled 7-3 (.700) record. Had career-high 82.7 passer rating in 2000 RB JAMAL LEWIS rushed for 121 yards last week vs. Bengals, his 11th career 100-yard game (including playoffs). Ravens are 11-0 when Lewis rushes for 100 yards (4-0 in 2002) WR TRAVIS TAYLOR aims for 4th TD in past 5. TE TODD HEAP (46) is only TE in NFL to lead his club in receptions Club tops AFC with 20 INTs & 12 different players have INT. On pace for team-record 27 INTs (23 in 2000). First-round draft pick S ED REED (No. 24) leads club with 4 INTs. Was All-State & All-County selection at Destrehan (St. Rose, LA) High School. Rookie S CHAD WILLIAMS tied club record with 98-yard INT-TD last week & blocked punt that was returned 22 yards for TD by rookie WR RON JOHNSON. S Reed & S Williams have blocked 3 punts in 2002. Ravens had never had blocked punt before 2002.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (9-3) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-8)

SERIES

	EAGLES	SEAHAWKS
LEADER	5-3
STREAKS		2 of past 3
COACHES VS. OPP.	Reid: 1-0	Holmgren: 3-4
LAST WEEK	W 10-3 vs. Rams	L 31-24 at 49ers
LAST GAME	9/23/01: Eagles 27 at Seahawks 3. Philadelphia WR James Thrash registers career highs in receptions, 10,  & receiving yards, 165. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb throws 2 TDs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/23/01
TV	FOX (1:05 PM PT): Curt Menefee, Tim Ryan

STATS

PASSING	Feeley: 17-33-198-1-0-80.1	Hasselbeck: 165-258-1,802-9-5-88.0
RUSHING	Staley: 192-783-4.1-2	Alexander: 209-779-3.7-11
RECEIVING	Thrash: 45-570-12.7-5	Alexander (RB): 53-417-7.9-2
OFFENSE	366.7 (3C)	333.7
TAKE/GIVE	+6	+2
DEFENSE	290.7 (2C)	373.2
SACKS	H. Douglas: 10.0	Bernard (R): 4.0
INTs	Taylor: 3	Tongue: 3
PUNTING	Baker: 40.2	Feagles: 42.7
KICKING	Akers: 104 (T1L) (32/32 PAT; 24/26 FG)	Lindell: 74 (26/26 PAT; 16/21 FG)

NOTES

EAGLES:  Club plays last of 4 consecutive vs. NFC West (W-Ariz, W-at SF, W-StL). Have 27-4 (.871) mark under head coach ANDY REID when scoring at least 20 points. Club leads NFC with avg. drive start at 29.8 yard-line. Have won 10 consecutive conference games, longest current streak in NFL QB A.J. FEELEY hails from Pacific Northwest (Ontario, OR) & played collegiately at Oregon. Club has thrown 6 INTs in 2002, fewest in NFL RB DUCE STALEY has 12 career 100-yard rushing games & with 100 yards vs. Seahawks passes RICKY WATTERS for sole possession of third place in club history. Seeks fourth 100-yard rushing game in past 7 vs. NFC Defense has surrendered 187 points, second-fewest in NFL (TB,149) & has 42.0 sacks, most in NFL .DE N.D. KALU had career-high 4.0 sacks last week vs. Rams LB LEVON KIRKLAND has never missed game (172) in his NFL career. Started 16 games for Seahawks last season CB BOBBY TAYLOR had 23-yard INT-TD last week, his second career TD SEAHAWKS:  QB MATT HASSELBECK passed for career-highs & club records with 55 attempts & 427 yards last week vs. SF. Has completed 64.0 pct. of pass attempts (165 of 258), third-best in NFC. Brother TIM HASSELBECK is Eagles No. 2 QB RB SHAUN ALEXANDER has 6 career 100-yard rushing games & club is 6-0 in those contests. Has 27 career rushing TDs & needs 2 to pass SHERMAN SMITH (28) in third in club history. Has 11 rushing TDs in 2002 & needs 5 to pass CHRIS WARREN (15) for club record WR KOREN ROBINSON seeks fourth 100-yard receiving game of season. Needs 144 yards for first career 1,000-yard season.  WR BOBBY ENGRAM has 37 catches, 33 for first downs. Ranks third in NFC with 21 third-down receptions (240 yards). WR DARRELL JACKSON tied career high with 2 TD receptions last week DT JOHN RANDLE has 128.0 career sacks & needs 0.5 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 needs 1 INT for career high P JEFF FEAGLES spent 1990-93 with Eagles.

DENVER BRONCOS (7-5) AT NEW YORK JETS (6-6)

SERIES

	BRONCOS	JETS
LEADER	14-13-1
STREAKS	4 of past 6
COACHES VS. OPP.	Shanahan: 3-1	Edwards: 0-0
LAST WEEK	L 30-27 (OT) at Chargers	At Raiders
LAST GAME	11/5/00: Broncos 30 at Jets 23. Denver QB Brian Griese passes for 327 yards & 2 TDs while Broncos RB Terrell Davis rushes for 115 yards & 1 TD.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/5/00
TV	CBS (4:15 PM ET): Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, Bonnie Bernstein (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Griese: 238-358-2,603-13-11-87.1	Pennington: 194-279-2188-13-6-99.3 (3L)
RUSHING	Portis (R): 192-995-5.2-9	Martin: 178-721-4.1-5
RECEIVING	Smith: 70-780-11.1-4	Coles: 67-896-13.4-3
OFFENSE	372.1	307.6
TAKE/GIVE	-2	+1
DEFENSE	293.5 (2C)	357.5
SACKS	Pryce: 8.5	J. Abraham: 6.0
INTs	O’Neal: 5	D. Abraham: 3
PUNTING	Knorr: 40.1	Turk: 42.1
KICKING	Elam: 89 (32/33 PAT; 19/27 FG)	Hall: 75 (24/25 PAT; 17/24 FG)

NOTES

BRONCOS:  Have won 5 of past 7 vs. NYJ, including 1998 AFC Championship Game, & 11 of past 15, dating back to 1967. Team is 4-2 (.667) on road this season. One of 3 NFL clubs to rank in top 10 in offense (No. 5) and defense (No. 4) Head coach MIKE SHANAHAN 1-0 vs. NYJ on road QB BRIAN GRIESE has completed 37 of 66 passes (56.1 pct.) in two career starts vs. NYJ. In last meeting at Jets (11/5/00), Griese posted 327 passing yards & 2 TDs vs. 1 INT for 100.5 passer rating Rookie RB CLINTON PORTIS (No. 51) leads all rookie rushers with 995 yards. Portis has 3 100-yard games in past 5 with 7 TDs in those games WR ROD SMITH leads team with 70 receptions, marking 7th consecutive season team has had 70-catch performer. In 2 career games vs. NYJ, Smith has 8 receptions for 224 yards (28.0 avg.) -- his highest per catch avg. vs. any team which he has 8 catches against CB DELTHA O’NEAL is tied for most INTs in AFC (5).  DE TREVOR PRYCE ranks No. 2 in AFC with 8.5 sacks; team 5th in AFC with 29 sacks. Defense allowing 4th-fewest 1st downs in AFC (18.3 per game) JETS:  Club has won 5 of its past 7 QB CHAD PENNINGTON is makes 1st career start vs. Denver. Pennington is 5-3 (.625) as starter. Leads NFL in comp. pct. (69.5) In past 3 games, RB CURTIS MARTIN has 54 carries for 258 yards (4.8 avg.) & 1 TD along with 7 catches for 57 yards (8.1) In 3 games vs. AFC West this season, WR LAVERANUES COLES has 23 catches for 334 yards (14.5 avg.), 18 first downs & 4 receptions of 20+ yards. Needs 104 more receiving yards for 1st career 1,000-yard receiving season LB SAM COWART leads team in tackles with 109 (78 solo). Defense has not allowed a 300-yard passing game in 30 of past 31 games. In 1st year with Jets, DT JOSH EVANS has 41 tackles & 2 fumble recoveries. DE JOHN ABRAHAM has 6.0 of team’s 21 sacks. Abraham has 23.5 sacks in 34 career games. Club has surrendered 15.3 points per game in past 7 games after allowing 32.4 points in its first 5.

OAKLAND RAIDERS (8-4) AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (8-4)

SERIES

	RAIDERS	CHARGERS
LEADER	52-31-2
STREAKS	8 of past 10
COACHES VS. OPP.	Callahan: 0-1	Schottenheimer: 20-5
LAST WEEK	Vs. Jets	W 30-27 (OT) vs. Broncos
LAST GAME	10/20/02: Chargers 27 at Raiders 21 (OT). San Diego RB LaDainian Tomlinson rushes for 153 yards, including 19-yard game-winning TD run 3:38 into OT.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/15/01: Raiders 13, Chargers 6. Oakland clinches AFC West as Raiders QB Rich Gannon throws for 221 yards & 1 TD while Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski kicks 2 FGs.
TV	CBS (1:15 PM PT): Kevin Harlan, Randy Cross, Beasley Reece (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Gannon: 350-505-3,877 (1L)-23 (T2L)-9-99.6 (2L)	Brees: 232-372-2,323-12-12-77.4
RUSHING	Garner: 129-729-5.7-5	Tomlinson: 285-1,318 (2L)-4.6-12 (T2L)
RECEIVING	Rice: 77 (2C)- 1022-13.3-7	Tomlinson (RB): 60-410-6.8-1
OFFENSE	412.5	327.4
TAKE/GIVE	+9 (T2C)	+3
DEFENSE	321.2	368.2
SACKS	Coleman: 7.0	Johnson: 5.5
INTs	R. Woodson: 5 (T1C)	Edwards: 5 (T2L)
PUNTING	Lechler: 42.8	Bennett: 40.6
KICKING	Janikowski: 100 (2C) (40/40 PAT; 20/26 FG)	Christie: 63 (30/31 PAT; 11/18 FG)

NOTES

SEVEN OF PAST 9 decided by 7 points-or-less RAIDERS:   Have won 8 of past 10 vs. Chargers.   Team is 4-2 (.667) on road QB RICH GANNON has 9 300-yard games on season, tying all-time NFL record with DAN MARINO (1984), WARREN MOON (1990) & KURT WARNER (1999 & 2001). Gannon has thrown 24 of his 38 20+ yard passes on road. In Week 7 meeting vs. SD, Gannon completed 35 of 45 passes (.778) for 361 yards & 3 TDs vs. 1 INT for 113.1 passer rating Only team in AFC & 1 of 2 in NFL (St.L) with 3 players with 60+ catches: WR JERRY RICE (77), RB CHARLIE GARNER (73) & WR TIM BROWN (67) In career vs. Chargers, WR Brown has 121 catches for 1,557 yards & 8 TDs. Last week vs. NYJ, Brown became 3rd player in NFL annals to record 1,000 career receptions (Rice, CRIS CARTER). Rookie TE DOUG JOLLEY (No. 55) has 15 catches for 182 yards in past 4 games In last meeting at SD, defense held Chargers RB Tomlinson to 46 yards rushing on 17 carries (2.7 avg.) CHARGERS:  Are 5-1 (.833) at home. Head coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER has 20-5 (.800) career record vs. Raiders QB DREW BREES completed 16 of 25 passes (64.0 pct.) for 170 yards with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 110.4 passer rating & 1 rushing TD in Week 7 meeting RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON ranks 2nd in NFL in scrimmage yards (1,728), rushing yards (1,318) & ties for 2nd in TDs (13) & rushing TDs (12). Rushed for 220 yards last week vs. Denver & added 11 receptions, most catches in NFL history for 200-yard rusher in game. Had 153 yards rushing & 2 total TDs in Wk 7 meeting, w/ game-winning 19-yard TD run in OT In last meeting at home, WR CURTIS CONWAY had 6 catches for 99 yards Club tied for 3rd in AFC with 30 sacks, led by DE RAYLEE JOHNSON (5.5). In past 3 vs. Oak, Johnson has 3.5 sacks. LB DONNIE EDWARDS leads team w/ 5 INTs (inc. 1 vs. Oak. in Wk 7) & has tied career high (1999) K STEVE CHRISTIE had game-winning 27-yard OT FG last week vs. Broncos & is tied for most in NFL history with 9 (JIM BREECH).

SUNDAY NIGHT
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-9) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-3)

SERIES

	VIKINGS	PACKERS
LEADER	41-40-1
STREAKS		Past 3 at home
COACHES VS. OPP.	Tice: 1-0	Sherman: 3-2
LAST WEEK	L 30-24 (OT) vs. Falcons	W 30-20 vs. Bears
LAST GAME	11/17/02: Packers 21 at Vikings 31. Minnesota QB Daunte Culpepper throws for 2 TDs & rushes for another. Vikings LB Greg Biekert has 2 of Minnesota’s 3 INTs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/30/01: Vikings 13 at Packers 24. Green Bay RB Ahman Green runs 4 yards for go-ahead TD with 6:28 left.  Packers CB Mike McKenzie solidifies victory with 38-yard INT-TD.
TV	ESPN (7:30 PM CT): Mike Patrick, Joe Theisman, Paul Maguire, Suzy Kolber (Field reporter). CBS Radio: Joel Meyers, Bob Trumpy, Rick Walker (Field reporter). ESPN Deportes: Eduardo Varela, Fuad Reveiz, Luz Ramos (Field reporter)

 

STATS

PASSING	Culpepper: 251-427-2,849 (3C)-13-19-70.5	Favre: 263-420-2,957 (2C)-22 (2C)-12-89.2 (3C)
RUSHING	Bennett: 184-994 (2C)-5.4-4	Green: 222-967 (3C)-4.4-6
RECEIVING	Moss: 79 (2C)-990-12.5-4	Driver: 58-935-16.1-7 (T2C)
OFFENSE	384.9 (1C)	365.4
TAKE/GIVE	-19	+14 (1L)
DEFENSE	376.4	323.7
SACKS	Johnstone: 5.0	Gbaja-Biamila: 10.0
INTs	Biekert: 3	Sharper: 5 (T2L)
PUNTING	Richardson: 40.6	Bidwell: 42.5
KICKING	Anderson: 58 (25/25 PAT; 11/15 FG)	Longwell: 103 (T1L) (37/37 PAT; 22/27 FG)

NOTES

VIKINGS:  QB DAUNTE CULPEPPER needs 151 yards passing for his second 3,000-yard season. Has connected with WR RANDY MOSS for 25 career TDs & they need 2 to become most prolific scoring tandem in club history (WARREN MOON/CRIS CARTER). Seeks third consecutive win vs. GB RB MICHAEL BENNETT has 6 100-yard rushing games & needs 1 to tie TERRY ALLEN for fourth-most in club history. Needs 6 yards for first 1,000-yard season. RB MOE WILLIAMS has 10 rushing TDs & needs 3 to tie single-season club record (CHUCK FOREMAN, Allen) WR Moss needs 10 yards receiving to become first player in NFL history with 1,000 in first 5 seasons. Has 6,386 career receiving yards & needs 48 to pass SAMMY WHITE (6,400) & JAKE REED (6,433) for third in club history. Averaging 105.7 yards vs. GB, including 100 yards in 6 of 9 games PACKERS:  Clinched NFC North. Have won 53 consecutive home games when leading by 10 or more, tied for most in NFL history (Pitt, 1989-00) QB BRETT FAVRE has started 169 consecutive games, most ever by QB & longest current streak for any player. Needs 43 passing yards to extend his NFL record to 11 consecutive seasons with 3,000 yards RB AHMAN GREEN has 13 100-yard rushing games with GB & club has won all 13.  Needs 100 yards to pass JOHN BROCKINGTON for second-most in club history (JIM TAYLOR, 26). GB is 15-2, including 5-1 in 2002, when Green has 25-or-more touches Defense leads NFL with 38 takeaways DE KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA has 7.0 sacks in past 6. Had 72-yard INT-TD in last meeting Rookie S MARQUES ANDERSON has 2 INT-TDs & needs 1 to tie NFL rookie record (LEM BARNEY, RONNIE LOTT).

MONDAY NIGHT
CHICAGO BEARS (3-9) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-5)

SERIES

	BEARS	DOLPHINS
LEADER		5-3
STREAKS	Past 2
COACHES VS. OPP.	Jauron: 0-0	Wannstedt: 0-0
LAST WEEK	L 30-20 at Packers	L 38-21 at Bills
LAST GAME	10/27/97: Bears 36 at Dolphins 33 (OT). Chicago’s Jeff Jaeger kicks 35-yard game-winning in OT as Bears win 1st game of season on Monday night.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/27/97
TV	ABC (9:00 PM ET): Al Michaels, John Madden, Melissa Stark (Field reporter). CBS Radio: Marv Albert, Boomer Esiason, John Dockery (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Miller: 177-302-1,935-13-8-80.9	Fiedler: 117-185-1,304-9-7-84.6
RUSHING	Thomas: 214-721-3.4-6	R. Williams: 279-1,284 (3L)-4.6-12 (T2L)
RECEIVING	Booker: 74 (3C)-1,036 (3C)-14.0-5	Chambers: 41-494-12.0-2
OFFENSE	294.2	335.3
TAKE/GIVE	-1	-5
DEFENSE	359.3	295.3 (3C)
SACKS	Colvin: 10.5	Taylor: 13.0 (2L)
INTs	M. Brown: 3	Surtain: 5 (T2L)
PUNTING	Maynard: 41.2	Royals: 40.6
KICKING	Edinger: 82 (25/25 PAT; 19/24 FG)	Mare: 83 (32/33 PAT; 17/22 FG)

NOTES

BEARS:  Club’s offense has scored TDs on 10 of past 16 trips inside redzone QB JIM MILLER needs 1 TD pass for career high (13, 2001) RB LEON JOHNSON scored first career TD vs. Miami on 10/12/97 (with NYJ) WR MARTY BOOKER leads NFL with 19 catches of 20 yards or more. Has led club in receiving yards in 11 of past 15 games. Averages 6 catches per game in past 6 vs. AFC opponents WR DEZ WHITE has 42 receptions & needs 4 for career high (45, 2001). Has posted career-best 522 yards receiving in 2002. WR MARCUS ROBINSON averaging 30.7 yards per TD catch (3 TDs) in 2002. Had 45-yard TD reception last week vs. Packers TE DUSTIN LYMAN had first career TDs last week (12, 8), finishing with career highs of 7 receptions & 58 yards Club tied with Eagles for second in NFL with 15 fumble takeaways (GB, 18) & has at least 1 takeaway in 30 consecutive games LB ROSEVELT COLVIN has 10.5 sacks & needs 0.5 for career-high DOLPHINS:  Since 1970, club owns NFL’s best interconference record (79-36, .687).   Team is 3-2 (.600) all-time vs. Bears in Miami Head coach DAVE WANNSTEDT was head coach of Bears from 1993-98. Won 41 games with Chicago, 3rd-most victories by coach in club’s history QB JAY FIEDLER makes 1st career start vs. Chicago. In 6 career games vs. NFC North teams, has 5 TDs vs. 1 INT In 2 career games vs. Bears, RB RICKY WILLIAMS has 212 rush yards on 51 carries (4.2 avg.) & 1 TD. Last week set career-best & club record for most yards in game (228) & season (1,284). His 228 rush yards at Buffalo last Sunday was NFL’s season-high to date Defense (295.3) ranks No. 3 in AFC, No. 5 in NFL. CB PATRICK SURTAIN tied for 2nd in NFL with 5 INTs. For 1st time on season, Surtain went consecutive games w/o INT last week. DE JASON TAYLOR leads AFC in sacks (13.0) & is 2nd in NFL. Has 7.5 sacks in past 5 games & has recorded 4 multi-sack games on season.

 

 

SPORTS

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NFL 2002 December's Here &
So are Final 4 Weeks in Playoff Race