Big NFL Division Games On Tap

THE EMMITT WATCH

Dallas Cowboys running back EMMITT SMITH this week continues his quest to break perhaps the NFL’s most hallowed record -- career rushing yards, held by WALTER PAYTON. This Sunday, the Cowboys host the New York Giants.   A breakdown of Smith’s progress towards the record:

Payton Career Rushing	16,726
Smith Career Rushing	16,423
Yards To Break Record	304

With his Baltimore Ravens’ rousing win Monday night, Billick’s team now heads into division-rival Cleveland Sunday night (ESPN, 8:30 PM ET) for a key matchup -- just one highlight in a batch of big Week 5 NFL games.

Only four weeks into the season, it seems like a year’s worth of highlights have already exploded. In the past week alone, there were pulsating finishes five-touchdown performances and 108-yard missed field-goal returns. You know -- just your normal NFL week.

Week 5?  On the schedule is "Marty Ball Returns to the AFC West" "Brady at the Beach" and "Brett vs. the Bears," just to name a few.

Here we go again!

Coming off their packed-full-of-everything loss to Baltimore Monday night, the Denver Broncos are 3-1 -- not a bad start to the first quarter of your season. This Sunday, they welcome the AFC West-rival San Diego Chargers, the winningest team in the NFL at 4-0. The last time the Chargers were 4-0, they went to the Super Bowl (XXIX).   

"It definitely empowers you," says San Diego wide receiver-kick returner TIM DWIGHT of the team’s 2002 start. "We’re getting there. We build each week."

And the building this week will be upon old times.

First-year San Diego head coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER -- 12-3 in his past 15 games with Washington and San Diego -- returns to the division in which he coached from 1989-98 with Kansas City. And the face he’ll see across the field is a familiar one -- Broncos head coach MIKE SHANAHAN.

The two faced each other nine times in their AFC West days, and Schottenheimer has a 5-4 edge. But they played each other close. Five of the nine games were decided by seven points or less.

NFL FACTOID: FIRST TO 32
When the Philadelphia Eagles met the Houston Texans last week, Eagles P SEAN LANDETA, RB-KR BRIAN MITCHELL and CB TROY VINCENT became the first players in NFL history to play against 32 teams.

Sunday?  Who knows. It’s a No. 1 against a No. 2 squaring off.

The Chargers have the NFL’s top rushing offense (182.0 yards per game) led by the NFL’s new "LT," LA DAINIAN, who leads the league in rushing (506 yards) and first downs (32).

Tomlinson goes against the NFL’s second-ranked rush defense (56.5). Safe to say that Broncos midnight-oil-burning defensive coordinator RAY RHODES will be working overtime to stop him. The key to the game could be whether the Broncos’ speedy linebackers -- JOHN MOBLEY, AL WILSON and first-year starter IAN GOLD -- can contain Tomlinson.

San Diego comes off a victory over New England in which "Marty Ball" was in full force. Quarterback DREW BREES threw only 18 times, while Tomlinson rushed 27 times for a team record-tying 217 yards and two TDs.

"I’m going," says the happy-to-grind-it-out Schottenheimer, "to send the NFL back to the Neanderthal age."

Tomlinson has rushed for 1,742 yards in his first 20 career games, most in Chargers history over that span:

LT MOST AT 20

Chargers Running Back	Years	Rush Yards First 20 Games
La Dainian Tomlinson	2001-02	1,742
Don Woods	1974-75	1,674
Chuck Muncie	1980-81	1,302
Paul Lowe	1960-61	1,267
Dickie Post	1967-68	1,073

In Miami this week, it’s two shocked 3-1 AFC East teams looking to get rid of the malaise brought on by their first loss of the season last week.

"We need to get whatever we’re doing wrong corrected right now," says Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY.

"There’s no way we’re supposed to play like that," says Miami cornerback SAM MADISON of his club’s loss to Kansas City.

Get ready for a long, hot day in the Miami sun.

These two teams always seem to play each other tight. The past 10 regular-season games between them have been decided by no more than 10 points.

Miami will have to correct the defensive flaws that allowed Chiefs quarterback TRENT GREEN to throw for 328 yards and five touchdowns last Sunday, and tight end TONY GONZALEZ to catch seven passes for 140 yards and three TDs.

"That’s not supposed to happen," says Madison. "It’s not like we’re in some new defense where we don’t know where we’re supposed to be. We’ve played together for a long time." 

Brady won’t make it easy for the Fish. He leads the conference in attempts, completions and touchdowns (11) and ranks second in completion percentage and yards.

But the Dolphins have their own weapon to be reckoned with, running back RICKY WILLIAMS -- the "Miami Pound Machine."  After rushing for 100 yards in each of his first three games with his new team, Williams was "held" to 66 and a TD by Kansas City.

And expect Miami to utilize Williams as San Diego did Tomlinson. The Chargers ran a man in motion (Dwight) to keep the Patriots off balance, and then sent Tomlinson charging up the middle for long gains.

"I’m sure that until we defend it correctly, we’ll keep seeing that," says Patriots head coach BILL BELICHICK. "We’ll probably see it from Miami and down the line."

In Buffalo this week, it’s those "Cardiac Bills" taking on the undefeated Raiders (3-0). And Bills fans are becoming "Drew Believers," as one hand-crafted sign said at Ralph Wilson Stadium last week.

Ever since they got quarterback DREW BLEDSOE in an offseason trade with New England, the Bills seem incapable of playing drab football. In fact, they’ve set an NFL record by going to overtime in three of their first four games. And the 2-2 Bills could easily be 4-0, with their two losses coming by a combined 11 points.

The game, between two AFL originals, could be a JACK KEMP-TOM FLORES-like air show, with Bledsoe and the Raiders’ RICH GANNON at the controls. The two combine for three of the top five passing-yardage games of 2002  (Bledsoe: 463; Gannon: 403 and 381) to lead the league’s No. 1 (NE) and 3 (Oak.) passing games.

"It’s a lot of fun, obviously," says Gannon of his team’s passing penchant. "One thing we’re doing is rolling a lot of personnel onto the field."  Are they ever!  In Week 4, Gannon distributed passes to nine different receivers.

The week concludes on Monday night (ABC, 9:00 PM ET) with "Brett vs. the Bears" in the renewal of the NFL’s most-contested rivalry -- 163 games and counting (Bears lead series, 84-73-6).

This is an "anniversary" year for Packers quarterback BRETT FAVRE. Ten years ago, Green Bay general manager RON WOLF traded a first-round draft choice to Atlanta for the relatively-unknown Favre, and the rest is history. Two Super Bowl appearances, one Super Bowl title, and three MVP awards later, the kid from Kiln is still as frisky as ever, and leading Green Bay to comeback victories as he did last week against Carolina, his 25th.

That came almost 10 years to the day (September 20, 1992) that Favre directed his first comeback -- a five-play, 92-yard, 54-second drive that gave the Packers a 24-23 victory over Cincinnati.

"I’d rather be sipping Gatorade on the sidelines," Favre says of his comebacks. "But I think I handle the situation very well. My team trusts I’ll get the job done. I don’t always do it, but I like the ball in my hands in that situation."

The Bears don’t like the ball in Favre’s hands at all. He is 16-4 (.800) lifetime against Chicago, his most victories against any club, and has his highest division passer rating against them -- 93.2. A breakdown of Favre’s NFL career highs that have come against Chicago:

BRETT FAVRE VS. THE BEARS

On top of those exploits, Favre can achieve some NFL milestones Monday night. In his 166th career game, he will reach 40,000 passing yards the third fastest in history with 262 yards (behind DAN MARINO, 153 games; and WARREN MOON, 165). And with five touchdown passes, Favre becomes the fourth QB in history with 300 TDs (Marino, 420; FRAN TARKENTON, 342, and JOHN ELWAY, 300).

On top of all that, "I still get excited about a Monday night game," says Favre.

The matchup could come down to an air -- or ground -- game. Both clubs are proficient in those phases.

Favre and his counterpart, JIM MILLER, rank in the top six in NFC third-down passing (Miller, 4; Favre, 6), and top four in fourth-quarter passing (Miller, 3; Favre, 4). If the air lanes are clogged, both teams can stay on the ground and pound it out. Green Bay’s AHMAN GREEN is the NFC’s No. 4 rusher (309) and Chicago’s ANTHONY THOMAS No. 5 (288).

AND YOU CAN QUOTE ME!

Interesting quotes from around the NFL

• "I’m still learning the league. I think Peyton Manning led the league in interceptions as a rookie. I’m just trying to get better and do what I need to do to prepare myself for my future" – Dallas Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter.

• "I love the game, and I always will. It will always excite me. You can’t simulate this game. You can’t simulate the camaraderie" – San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau.

• "These quarterbacks are good enough to expose you. These running backs are good enough to expose you. You always have to be prepared" – Green Bay Packers rookie safety Marques Anderson.

• "We believe we’ve got a good defense, good special teams, and offensively we’re going to continue to pound, pound, pound. If we’ve got to get into a shootout, we will, but that’s not out style. We want to continue to wear people out" – Chicago Bears quarterback Jim Miller.

• "Man, I hope we’re playing together for a long time" – Baltimore Ravens quarterback Chris Redman after tight end Todd Heap caught two of his touchdown passes Monday night.

WEEK 5: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-1) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (1-2)

SERIES

	BUCCANEERS	FALCONS
LEADER	9-8
STREAKS	Past 3
COACHES VS. OPP.	Gruden: 1-0	Reeves: 2-3
LAST WEEK	35-7 at Bengals	Bye (Wk 3: W 30-3 vs. Bengals)
LAST GAME	11/5/00: Buccaneers 27 at Falcons 14. Tampa Bay QB Shaun King passes for 3 TDs as Buccaneers hand Falcons their 6th loss in 7 games.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/5/00
TV	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Kenny Albert, Tim Green

STATS

PASSING	B. Johnson: 94-145-965-6-2-91.9	Vick: 48-77-549-4-0-101.1 (1C)
RUSHING	Pittman: 55-194-3.5-0	Vick (QB): 24-184-7.7-1
RECEIVING	Pittman (RB): 22-144-6.5-0	Finneran: 14-173-12.4-2
OFFENSE	306.8	312.3
TAKE/GIVE	+3	+1
DEFENSE	266.8	305.7
SACKS	Sapp: 4.0	Kerney: 2.0
INTs	Brooks: 3 (T1L)	Ambrose, Mathis, Weary: 1
PUNTING	Tupa: 45.5 (3C)	Mohr: 40.2
KICKING	Gramatica: 32 (3C) (11/11 PAT; 7/9 FG)	Feely: 29 (8/8 PAT; 7/9 FG)

NOTES

BUCCANEERS:  QB BRAD JOHNSON has 44-26 (.629) record as starter. Passed for season-high 3 TDs, including 65-yard TD pass last week RB MIKE ALSTOTT has rushed for 4,055 career yards & needs 146 to pass Atlanta RB Dunn for second in club history. Had career-long 47-yard TD vs. Falcons (11/9/97) WR KEYSHAWN JOHNSON had 2 TDs (5, 29) in last meeting & has 3 TDs in past 2 vs. Falcons. WR KEENAN MC CARDELL had first career 100-yard receiving game with Buccaneers (108 yards) last week, including 65-yard TD catch. Had 9 receptions in last game vs. Falcons (with Jaguars, 11/7/99) TE KEN DILGER had 22-yard TD catch vs. Bengals, his first with TB. TE RICKEY DUDLEY has TD catch in each of first two games with TB, including 35-yarder last week DT WARREN SAPP had 2.0 sacks vs. Bengals ...FALCONS:  Head coach DAN REEVES has 189 career wins & needs 5 to pass CHUCK KNOX (193) for sixth all-time QB MICHAEL VICK has 101.1 passer rating in first season as starter, tops in NFC. Ranks first in NFL among QBs with 184 yards rushing. Falcons are only club with 0 INTs in 2002 RB WARRICK DUNN faces former club for first time. Spent 1997-01 with TB, finishing with 2 1,000-yard rushing seasons & ranks second on Buccaneers’ all-time rushing list with 4,200 yards. Rookie first-round draft pick (No.18) RB T.J. DUCKETT has rushed for 138 yards, with 4.8 avg, through 2 games, tops among rookies in NFC WR BRIAN FINNERAN had career-high 2 TD receptions (20,13) vs. Bengals in Week 3. WR SHAWN JEFFERSON had 6 catches in last meeting PR-KR ALLEN ROSSUM had career-long 55 yard PR vs. TB (with Packers, 11/14/01) LB KEITH BROOKING has 10 or more tackles in each of club’s first 3 games, including career-high 22 vs. GB in Week 1.

OAKLAND RAIDERS (3-0) AT BUFFALO BILLS (2-2)

SERIES

	RAIDERS	BILLS
LEADER	16-15
STREAKS	3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Callahan: 0-0	Williams: 0-0
LAST WEEK	W 52-25 vs. Titans	W 33-27 (OT) vs. Bears
LAST GAME	10/17/99: Raiders 20 at Bills 14. Oakland S Eric Turner’s INT near end zone as time expires seals win for Raiders. Raiders RB Tyrone Wheatley rushes for 2 TDs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/17/99
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Kevin Harlan, Randy Cross, Beasley Reece (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Gannon: 91-131-998-7-3-100.0	Bledsoe: 116-165-1,345 (1L)-10 (T2L)-2-109.8 (2L)
RUSHING	Garner: 32-240-7.5-2	Henry: 67-282-4.2-4 (T3C)
RECEIVING	Rice: 20-263-13.2-1	Moulds: 33 (1L)-413 (1C)-12.5-3 (T3C)
OFFENSE	450.3 (1L)	388.3
TAKE/GIVE	+4 (T3C)	-1
DEFENSE	296.3	324.3
SACKS	Romanowski: 1.5	Schobel: 3.5 (T3C)
INTs	R. Woodson: 3 (T1L)	0
PUNTING	Lechler: 44.7	Moorman: 47.5 (2L)
KICKING	Janikowski: 29 (14/14 PAT; 5/6 FG)	Hollis: 36 (12/12 PAT; 8/11 FG)

NOTES

GAME FEATURES NFL’s top three active reception leaders: Oakland WRs JERRY RICE (1,384) & TIM BROWN (954) and Buffalo RB LARRY CENTERS (777). Same three players also have longest active consecutive game streaks with reception: Rice (244), Brown (143) & Centers (140). In average points per game, Oakland (37.7) is No. 1; Buffalo (33.0) is No. 4 RAIDERS:  One of 2 undefeated AFC West teams. Since 1992, own NFL’s 2nd-best October record at 27-10 (.730) QB RICH GANNON tied for 4th in AFC in TD passes (7) and 4th in NFL in comp. pct. (69.5) RB CHARLIE GARNER tied for 1st in NFL for most runs of 20+ yards (4). Tied for 6th in league in 1st downs with 21 (11 rush) Team rushed for 195 yards & had 39:35 TOP in last meeting vs. Bills. RB TYRONE WHEATLEY had 25 carries for 97 yards & 2 TDs in that contest Club is one of 3 AFC teams (Clev. & NE) to have 3 players with 16 or more receptions (Rice 20, Brown 17, Garner 16) WR Brown averages 22.3 yards per catch vs. Bills & has 5 TDs in 7 contests Tied for 3rd in AFC in takeaways (9) Defense intercepted Bills QB Bledsoe (w/ NE) 3 times in only career meeting Rookie CB-PR PHILLIP BUCHANON leads NFL in PR avg. (19.5) with 1 TD K SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI leads NFL in touchbacks on kickoffs (8) BILLS:  Since 1992 are 23-17 (.575) in October & 52-30 (.634) at home. Last 3 home games have gone into OT, tying NFL record. Have been in OT three of past four games, no team has ever reached OT in 4 of 5 QB DREW BLEDSOE threw for 321 yards & 2 TDs in only career start vs. Raiders (10/9/94 w/ NE). Leads starting NFL QBs with 109.8 passer rating. Has 10 TD passes vs. 2 INTs. Has now thrown 149 passes in row without INT. Against Chicago in Wk. 5, posted 1st 4-TD game by Bills QB since JIM KELLY (12/10/95) RB TRAVIS HENRY has rushed for 469 yards & 5 TDs in past 5 home games WR ERIC MOULDS leads NFL with 33 catches for AFC-best 413 yards (12.5) & 3 TDs. Has at least 8 catches in each game in ’02. Had 12-yard TD reception vs. Oakland in last meeting Defense has held Oakland WR Rice to 39.5 rec. yards per game avg. in 4 career meetings.

ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-2) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-1)

SERIES

	CARDINALS	PANTHERS
LEADER	1-1
STREAKS	1-1
COACHES VS. OPP.	McGinnis: 1-0	Fox: 0-0
LAST WEEK	W 21-7 vs. Giants	L 17-14 at Packers
LAST GAME	12/30/01: Cardinals 30 at Panthers 7. Arizona QB Jake Plummer & WR David Boston combine on pair of second quarter TDs in victory.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/30/01
TV	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Curt Menefee, Tim Ryan

STATS

PASSING	Plummer: 63-126-691-5-4-66.6	Peete: 63-105-869-3-2-88.2
RUSHING	T. Jones: 69-310 (3C)-4.5-1	L. Smith: 96-364 (1C)-3.8-6 (1C)
RECEIVING	Boston: 16-262-16.4-1	S. Smith: 18-306-17.0-1
OFFENSE	291.0	338.0
TAKE/GIVE	0	+5 (2C)
DEFENSE	355.0	239.8 (1L)
SACKS	Vanden Bosch: 2.0	Rucker: 5 (3L)
INTs	Lucas: 2 (T3C)	Grant: 3 (T1L)
PUNTING	Player: 44.0	Sauerbrun: 45.5 (2C)
KICKING	B. Gramatica: 21 (9/9 PAT; 4/6 FG)	Graham: 2 (2/2 PAT; 0/1 FG)

NOTES

 CARDINALS:  Club aims for best start since 1991 (3-2) QB JAKE PLUMMER had 105.9 passer rating with 2 TDs & 0 INTs in last meeting. Completed 71.8 percent vs. Giants (23 of 32) with 1 TD & 0 INTs. Had 1 catch for 2 yards vs. NY RB MARCEL SHIPP had career high 92 yards rushing, including first career TD run (10 yards) vs. Giants. Also added career high 5 receptions & 39 yards WR DAVID BOSTON had 7 receptions for 127 yards, including TDs of 61 & 5 yards, in last meeting WR MAR TAY JENKINS tied career high with 6 catches vs. Giants. WR FRANK SANDERS has 465 career catches & needs 5 to pass PAT TILLEY (469) for fourth in club history TE FREDDIE JONES aims for third consecutive game with at least 5 catches DE KYLE VANDEN BOSCH has sacks in consecutive games S JUSTIN LUCAS had first career INT & first career INT-TD (38 yards) last week PANTHERS:  3-1 start matches best in club history (1996) Have had time of possession advantage in all 4 games QB RODNEY PEETE has thrown 0 INTs in 3 of past 4 starts RB LAMAR SMITH had 2 TD runs (3,2) vs. GB. Has 6 TD runs this season, most by Panthers RB since TSHIMANGA BIAKABUTUKA’s 6 in 1999. Needs 2 TD runs to pass FRED LANE (7) for most in single-season in club history. RB BRAD HOOVER had career-long 31-yard reception last week WR STEVE SMITH had first career 100-yard receiving game vs. Packers (116 yards, 5 receptions), including career-long 61-yard catch. WR MUHSIN MUHAMMAD looks to extend club-record 16 100-yard receiving games.   WR KARL HANKTON had career-long 31-yard catch vs. Packers Club has 17 sacks, most in NFL, after totaling 26 in 2001 Panthers aim to hold opponents under 300 total yards for fifth consecutive game & can set club record by holding opponents under 100 yards rushing for fifth consecutive game DT KRIS JENKINS had career high 2.0 sacks vs. GB.

NEW YORK GIANTS (2-2) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (2-2)

SERIES

	GIANTS	COWBOYS
LEADER		48-29-2
STREAKS	3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Fassel: 6-4	Campo: 1-3
LAST WEEK	L 21-7 at Cardinals	W 13-10 at Rams
LAST GAME	12/9/01:  Giants 13 at Cowboys 20. Dallas QB Quincy Carter throws 3-yard TD pass to Jackie Harris in fourth quarter to lead Dallas to come-from-behind victory.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/9/01
TV	FOX (12:00 PM CT): Pat Summerall, Brian Baldinger

STATS

PASSING	Collins: 92-145-1,130 (1C)-1-6-72.5	Carter: 74-125-776-3-3-75.3
RUSHING	Barber: 68-214-3.1-2	Smith: 59-236-4.0-0
RECEIVING	Barber (RB): 24-174-7.3-0	Galloway: 22-254-11.5-1
OFFENSE	342.3	295.8
TAKE/GIVE	0	-1
DEFENSE	259.8 (2C)	339.0
SACKS	Strahan: 2.0	Ellis: 5.5 (2L)
INTs	Peterson: 2 (T3C)	Four tied: 1
PUNTING	M. Allen: 40.6	Knorr: 40.5
KICKING	Bryant (R): 31 (4/4 PAT; 9/9 FG)	Cundiff (R): 21 (6/6 PAT; 5/6 FG)

NOTES

GIANTS:  QB KERRY COLLINS has led club to wins in 3 of past 4 vs. Cowboys. Starts 43rd consecutive game for NY, third-most for club since 1980 RB TIKI BARBER had career highs with 13 receptions & 100 yards vs. Cowboys on 1/2/00. Rushed for 110 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, in last meeting. Has led club in rushing & receptions in 3 consecutive games. RB RON DAYNE had first career 100-yard rushing game vs. Dallas (108, 10/15/00) WR AMANI TOOMER ranks third in NFC with 358 receiving yards. Has 100 yards receiving in 2 of past 4 games WR IKE HILLIARD has reception in club-record 66 consecutive games Rookie TE JEREMY SHOCKEY tied for NFC rookie lead (DONTE’ STALLWORTH) with 15 receptions (198 yards) DE MICHAEL STRAHAN has 5.0 sacks in past 3 vs. Cowboys. Has sacks in consecutive games DE FRANK FERRARA had first career sack vs. Dallas on 11/4/01 P MATT ALLEN had career-long 65-yard punt vs. Cardinals COWBOYS:  Club has 27-12 (.692) record in October games past 10 years RB EMMITT SMITH has 16,423 yards rushing & needs 304 yards to surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer WALTER PAYTON (16,726) as all-time leading rusher. In 22 career games vs. NY, has 18 TDs, third-most vs. any team. Has averaged 84.5 yards per game vs. Giants QB QUINCY CARTER had 100.5 passer rating & completed 65.4 percent (17 of 26) in last meeting Rookie WR ANTONIO BRYANT leads NFC rookies with 216 yards receiving (14 catches) WR DARNAY SCOTT had first TD catch (17 yards) with Cowboys last week .TE JAMES WHALEN had team-high 5 receptions (38 yards) last week, first catches of his career. Led NFL Europe League with 66 receptions for Scottish Claymores in 2001 Defense surrendered 93 yards rushing vs. Rams DE GREG ELLIS has sacks in 4 consecutive games, including 5.0 in past 3 Rookie K BILLY CUNDIFF connected on game-winning 48-yard field goal vs. Rams, club’s first game-winning FG since 10/1/00 (TIM SEDER vs, Carolina).

CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-4) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-1)

SERIES

	BENGALS	COLTS
LEADER		11-8
STREAKS		Past 2
COACHES VS. OPP.	LeBeau: 0-0	Dungy: 2-0
LAST WEEK	L 35-7 vs. Buccaneers	Bye (Wk 3: W 23-3 at Texans)
LAST GAME	10/24/99: Bengals 10 at Colts 31. Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning passes for 2 TDs & Colts RB Edgerrin James scores twice.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/24/99
TV	CBS (12:00 PM CT): Don Criqui, Steve Tasker

STATS

PASSING	A. Smith: 12-33-117-0-1-34.5	Manning: 66-104-772-6-3-93.1
RUSHING	Dillon: 70-243-3.5-0	E. James: 81-325-4.0-0
RECEIVING	Dillon (RB): 14-104-7.4-0	Harrison: 23-288-12.5-2
OFFENSE	229.8	359.3
TAKE/GIVE	-5	-2
DEFENSE	333.8	296.3
SACKS	T. Williams: 2.0	Bratzke, Scioli: 2.0
INTs	Gibson, Simmons: 1	Bashir, Macklin, Washington: 1
PUNTING	Harris: 41.0	H. Smith: 45.0 (T3C)
KICKING	Rackers: 11 (2/2 PAT; 3/4 FG)	Vanderjagt: 22 (7/7 PAT; 5/7 FG)

NOTES

ONE-TANK TRIP:  Cities separated by 115 miles BENGALS:  QB AKILI SMITH had career-long 24-yard run vs. Indy in 1999 RB COREY DILLON has rushed for 778 yards & 7 TDs in past 8 road games (97.3 yards per game). Dillon became Bengals’ all-time leading rusher last week with 6,452 yards, surpassing former RB JAMES BROOKS (6,447). FB LORENZO NEAL has played in 132 consecutive NFL games, dating back to 1994. Neal has blocked for 1,000-yard rushers in past 5 seasons with 4 teams, including Bengals in ’01 (Dillon) Defense posted 1st multi-INT game of season vs. Tampa Bay last week with 2 (DT OLIVER GIBSON, LB BRIAN SIMMONS). DE JUSTIN SMITH has 7.0 sacks in past 10 games. In last contest vs. Indy, LB TAKEO SPIKES had team-best 9 tackles, including 6 solos Rookie fourth-round draft pick (No. 109) K-P TRAVIS DORSCH attended Purdue in West Lafayette, IN K NEIL RACKERS has made 11 of past 14 FG attempts COLTS:  Since 1999, club is 31-20 & tied for NFL’s 7th-best record during that span. Team drafted 25 of 53 players on roster Head coach TONY DUNGY has never lost to Cincinnati (2-0 w/ TB). Since 1970, 10 defenses have scored 7 or more TDs in 1 season, 4 of them were coached by Dungy. Colts have 1 defensive TD after 3 games QB PEYTON MANNING has completed 34 of 59 passes (57.6 pct.) for 494 yards & 5 TDs vs. 1 INT for 106.2 passer rating in 2 career games vs. Cincy RB EDGERRIN JAMES has 1,259 rushing yards in past 10 home games & 1,664 total scrimmage yards with 9 TDs. James is averaging 149.0 scrimmage yards per game in 2002, which ranks 4th in NFL In last meeting, WR MARVIN HARRISON had 8 receptions for 156 yards (19.5 avg.) & 56-yard TD. Has 22 catches for 324 yards & 2 TDs in 3 career meetings vs. Bengals (108.0 yards per game). WRs Harrison, QADRY ISMAIL & REGGIE WAYNE combine for 41 catches, 537 yards & 6 TDs In last game vs. Bengals, defense posted 5 sacks, 2.0 each by DE CHAD BRATZKE & DT ELLIS JOHNSON. Colts have held Cincy RB Dillon to 36 rushing yards in 2 career meetings (18.0 per game).

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-1) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-1)

SERIES

	PATRIOTS	DOLPHINS
LEADER		43-27
STREAKS		5 of past 6
COACHES VS. OPP.	Belichick: 1-5	Wannstedt: 3-3
LAST WEEK	L 21-14 at Chargers	L 48-30 at Chiefs
LAST GAME	12/22/01: Dolphins 13 at Patriots 20. New England scores 20 points in 14-minute span & holds on to win. Patriots jump past Dolphins into first place in AFC East.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/7/01: Dolphins 30, Patriots 10. Miami RB Lamar Smith rushes for 144 yards & 1 TD as Dolphins amass 209 yards on ground.
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, Armen Keteyian (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Brady: 129-185-1,326 (2L)-11 (1L)-4-100.9	Fiedler: 76-120-889-7-5-87.8
RUSHING	A. Smith: 64-296-4.6-1	R. Williams: 82-460 (2L)-5.6-4 (T3C)
RECEIVING	Brown: 31 (2C)-292-9.4-1	Chambers: 17-228-13.4-1
OFFENSE	427.8 (2L)	381.0
TAKE/GIVE	+4 (T3C)	+3
DEFENSE	293.5 (3C)	332.0
SACKS	McGinest, Seymour: 2.0	Taylor: 1.5
INTs	Buckley: 2	Marion, Rodgers: 2
PUNTING	Walter: 35.6	Royals: 45.0 (T3C)
KICKING	Vinatieri: 37 (T2C) (13/13 PAT; 8/9 FG)	Mare: 34 (16/16 PAT; 6/8 FG)

NOTES

EIGHT OF PAST 10 meetings decided by 7 points-or-less. Six of past 10 decided by 3 points-or-less PATRIOTS:  Club owns NFL’s No. 1 pass offense (325.3) and No. 1 pass defense (152.3). Team has added 43 players to 53-man roster since hiring head coach BILL BELICHICK in 2000 QB TOM BRADY is 17-4 (.810) in career as starter including postseason. Leads NFL in TD passes (11) & is league’s 6th-rated passer (100.9). Brady is averaging 331.5 passing yards per game, including outings of 410 and 353 yards RB ANTOWAIN SMITH has TD run in each of past 3 vs. Dolphins. In last meeting, rushed for career-high 156 yards with 1 TD. Smith’s teams are 10-1 when he rushes for 100 or more yards WR TROY BROWN has 18 receptions in past 3 vs. Miami. Brown ranks 2nd in AFC with 31 catches. Rookie WR DEION BRANCH recorded 13 receptions vs. San Diego in Wk. 4 & is tied for 5th in NFL with 28, leading all rookies Tied for 3rd in AFC in turnover ratio (+5) CB TY LAW had 27-yard INT-TD in 10/17/99 meeting. Also posted career-tying second-best 4 passes defensed. Law has 26 career INTs & with 1 more, will tie MAURICE HURST (1989-95) for 6th-place on club’s all-time list DOLPHINS:  Are 5-1 (.833) all-time vs. NE head coach Belichick. Club has won 19 of past 26 vs. Pats & 11 of past 13 at home Rush offense ranks 3rd in NFL (165.3). QB JAY FIEDLER is 3-1 (.750) all-time vs. Patriots & 25-11 (.694) all-time as starter. Set career-highs in completions (30), attempts (45, since tied) & yards (320) vs. NE (12/24/00). At home in 2002, is 2-0 & has 103.8 passer rating with 4 TDs vs. 0 INTs RB RICKY WILLIAMS averaging 131.0 rush yards per game at home in ’02. NFL’s 2nd-leading rusher with 460 yards In 12/22/01 meeting, WR CHRIS CHAMBERS had career-bests in receptions (7) & receiving yards (124). WR ORONDE GADSDEN has 4 TD catches in 7 career games vs. Pats. Among TEs, rookie RANDY MC MICHAEL is 2nd in NFL in receiving yards (204) and 3rd in league in receptions (13). Has 9 catches for 152 yards & 2 TDs in 2 home games.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-2) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3-1)

SERIES

	STEELERS	SAINTS
LEADER	6-5
STREAKS	Past 2
COACHES VS. OPP.	Cowher: 1-0	Haslett: 0-0
LAST WEEK	W 16-13 (OT) vs. Browns	L 26-21 at Lions
LAST GAME	10/17/93:  Saints 14 at Steelers 37. Pittsburgh CB Rod Woodson returns INT 63 yards for TD just 1:39 into game as New Orleans suffers first loss of season.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/16/90:  Steelers 9, Saints 6.   Pittsburgh K Gary Anderson’s 43-yard field goal with 1:44 remaining gives Steelers victory over New Orleans.
TV	CBS (12:00 PM CT): Gus Johnson, Brent Jones

STATS

PASSING	Stewart: 57-96-586-3-5-65.7	Brooks: 89-152-979-9 (T1C)-6-81.0
RUSHING	Bettis: 32-100-3.1-0	McAllister: 81-338 (2C)-4.2-3
RECEIVING	Ward: 24-286-11.9-3 (T3C)	Horn: 26-357-13.7-1
OFFENSE	304.7	346.0
TAKE/GIVE	-7	-2
DEFENSE	350.7	348.8
SACKS	Haggans, Porter: 3.0	Whitehead: 2.0
INTs	Porter: 3 (T1L)	Allen, Knight, Da. Smith: 1
PUNTING	Miller: 42.8	Gowin: 41.4
KICKING	Peterson: 17 (5/5 PAT; 4/6 FG)	Carney: 17 (11/11 PAT; 2/3 FG)

NOTES

STEELERS:  Club won its first Super Bowl in New Orleans’ Tulane Stadium (SB IX vs. Minn., 16-6, 1/12/75). Are NFL-best 29-9 (.763) in October since 1992. New Orleans marks Steelers’ longest road trip of ’02 regular season (1,093 miles) QBs TOMMY MADDOX (Shreveport) & KORDELL STEWART (New Orleans) are Louisiana natives. Stewart named New Orleans Player of the Year & Louisiana MVP as senior at John Ehret H.S. (Marrero, La.). Maddox was 11 of 13 for 122 yards with 1 TD & 1 INT in OT victory last week RB JEROME BETTIS had career-best 212 rush yards in New Orleans (12/12/93 w/ Rams). In 1992 Sugar Bowl in Superdome, led Notre Dame to 38-29 win vs. Florida with 150 rush yards & 3 TDs on 16 carries WR HINES WARD tied for 5th in AFC in receptions (24) LB JOEY PORTER tied with 4 players for NFL-high 3 INTs. Porter and LB CLARK HAGGANS are tied for 5th in AFC with 3.0 sacks SAINTS: Head coach JIM HASLETT was born in Pittsburgh & spent 1997-99 as Steelers’ defensive coordinator. Was All-American DE at Indiana University of PA. Offensive coordinator MIKE MC CARTHY was assistant coach at University of Pittsburgh from 1989-92 & is Pittsburgh native. Defensive line coach SAM CLANCY had minority coaching internship with Steelers in 1999 & played for USFL’s Pittsburgh Maulers (1984) .Offense leads NFL in TD pct. inside redzone (90.0 pct: 10 trips, 9 TDs). Defense ranks second in NFC in redzone with 28.6 TD pct. (14 trips, 4 TDs) QB AARON BROOKS ranks third in NFC with 104.6 third-down passer rating RB DEUCE MC ALLISTER had career highs with 8 receptions for 67 yards vs. Detroit Rookie WR DONTE’ STALLWORTH became first receiver in 20 years to catch TD pass in first 4 NFL games & can tie CHARLIE BROWN (5, 1982) for most consecutive games with TD catch from start of NFL career (since 1970) with TD catch vs. Steelers.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (1-2) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1-3)

SERIES

	REDSKINS	TITANS
LEADER		5-3
STREAKS		Past 2
COACHES VS. OPP.	Spurrier: 0-0	Fisher: 2-0
LAST WEEK	Bye (Wk 3: L 20-10 at 49ers)	L 52-25 at Raiders
LAST GAME	10/30/00: Titans 27 at Redskins 21. Tennessee’s Derrick Mason returns punt 69 yards for TD & Titans CB Samari Rolle has 81-yard INT-TD as Tennessee wins on Monday night.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/19/97: Oilers 28, Redskins 14. Tennessee RB Eddie George rushes for 125 yards & 2 TDs as Oilers win in front of largest home crowd of season.
TV	FOX (12:00 PM CT): Dick Stockton, Daryl Johnston

STATS

PASSING	Matthews: 55-90-558-4-2-84.4 or Wuerffel: 7-11-71-0-2-42.4	McNair: 91-141-1,000 (3C)-7-6-84.2
RUSHING	Davis: 51-216-4.2-1	George: 71-192-2.7-3
RECEIVING	Davis (RB): 17-95-5.6-0	Mason: 23-357 (3C)-15.5-0
OFFENSE	279.3	319.5
TAKE/GIVE	-5	-1
DEFENSE	358.0	356.3
SACKS	Arrington: 2.0	C. Hall (R): 4.0 (T1C)
INTs	Bailey: 2 (T3C)	A. Dyson: 2
PUNTING	Barker: 45.2	Hentrich: 44.9
KICKING	Tuthill: 5 (2/2 PAT; 1/1 FG)	Nedney: 19 (7/7 PAT; 4/4 FG)

NOTES

REDSKINS:  QB DANNY WUERFFEL could make first start since 6/25/00 in NFL Europe League. Led Rhein Fire to 13-10 win vs. Scottish Claymores in World Bowl 2000 RB STEPHEN DAVIS has 18 career 100-yard rushing games & with 1 more ties for most in club history (LARRY BROWN, JOHN RIGGINS). Has rushed for 100 yards in 5 of past 8 games & averaging 102.0 yards in past 3 vs. AFC opponents WR ROD GARDNER leads club with 210 yards receiving Defense held Titans to 189 total yards in last meeting DE BRUCE SMITH has 186.0 career sacks & needs 12.5 to pass REGGIE WHITE (198.0) for first all-time LB LA VAR ARRINGTON had career-high (since broken) 11 tackles (1.0 sacks) in last meeting CB DARRELL GREEN needs 1 INT to increase NFL record of consecutive seasons with INT to 20. Rookie fifth-round draft pick CB ANDRE LOTT was all-SEC performer following senior season at Tennessee. Native of Memphis was prep star at Melrose HS TITANS:  Have never lost to Redskins at home (3-0, including Houston). Club has won 9 of past 10 vs. NFC East In career vs. Redskins, QB STEVE MC NAIR is 2-0 & has completed 27 of 39 passes (69.2 pct.) for 288 yards & 1 TD vs. 0 INTs for 99.1 passer rating. McNair is AFC’s best 3rd down passer: 24 of 37 for 245 yards, 4 TDs & 0 INTs for 119.8 rating RB EDDIE GEORGE has rushed for 196 yards & 2 TDs in 2 career games vs. Washington WR-PR-KR DERRICK MASON had 69-yard PR-TD in last meeting. Has 49 receptions for 727 yards & 4 TDs in past 7 home games (103.9 receiving yards per game). Mason is 3rd-best in NFL in 3rd down reception yards (134) on 8 catches TE FRANK WYCHECK started career with Redskins (1993-94). Had 18-yard TD catch in last game vs. former team AFC’s best offense in scoring TDs in red zone: 10 TDs in 12 attempts, 83.3 pct.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (4-0) AT DENVER BRONCOS (3-1)

SERIES

	CHARGERS	BRONCOS
LEADER		46-37-1
STREAKS		8 of past 10
COACHES VS. OPP.	Schottenheimer: 9-16	Shanahan: 13-4
LAST WEEK	W 21-14 vs. Patriots	L 34-23 at Ravens
LAST GAME	11/11/01: Chargers 16 at Broncos 26. Denver QB Brian Griese passes for 2 TDs & Broncos’ Jason Elam kicks 4 FGs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/11/01
TV	CBS (2:05 PM MT): Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots

STATS

PASSING	Brees: 57-96-608-4-2-83.2	Griese: 86-130-860-7-5-86.7
RUSHING	Tomlinson: 101-506 (1L)-5.0-5 (2C)	Portis (R): 35-204-5.8-1
RECEIVING	Conway: 20-313-15.7-3 (T3C)	Smith: 20-224-11.2-2
OFFENSE	324.8	333.8
TAKE/GIVE	+7 (1L)	+1
DEFENSE	264.5 (1C)	277.3 (2C)
SACKS	Leber (R): 4.0 (T1C)	Pryce: 3.0
INTs	Edwards: 2	O’Neal, Washington: 1
PUNTING	Bennett: 39.7	Rouen: 42.8
KICKING	Christie: 22 (13/13 PAT; 3/5 FG)	Elam: 26 (11/11 PAT; 5/8 FG)

NOTES

CHARGERS:  Aim for first 5-0 start since 1994 (6-0), when club advanced to Super Bowl XXIX QB DREW BREES has won first 4 starts. Last QB to win his first 5 was Minnesota’s DAUNTE CULPEPPER RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON leads NFL in rushing with 506 yards (126.5 per game). Has 5 rush TDs. Against NE last week, had career-high 217 rush yards on 27 carries & 2 TDs. His 217 yards are NFL single-game most in 2002 after 4 weeks. Averaged 5.4 yards per carry in last game vs. Broncos (75 yards on 14 carries) WR CURTIS CONWAY had 3 catches for 111 yards (37.0 avg.) & 1 TD in last meeting. Ranks 2nd in NFL in 3rd down receptions (9) for 10.6 avg. & 5th in AFC in receiving yards (313). RONNEY JENKINS had 88-yard KR-TD in 10/21/01 meeting & had 56.5 KR avg. in that game Team has NFL’s best turnover ratio (+7) Third-round draft pick LB BEN LEBER tied for AFC lead in sacks with 4.0. Only NFL team with 4 players with 3.0 sacks or more: Leber (4.0), DE ADRIAN DINGLE (3.0), DE RAYLEE JOHNSON & DE MARCELLUS WILEY (3.0). Club has 16 sacks on season for 1st in AFC & 2nd in NFL (Car. 17). Defense had 8 sacks in 2 games vs. Denver in ’01 BRONCOS:  Have won 8 of past 10 vs. Chargers Head coach MIKE SHANAHAN is 13-4 (.765) all-time vs. SD & 8-1 (.889) at home QB BRIAN GRIESE completed 21 of 31 passes (67.7 pct.) for 224 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 110.1 passer rating vs. Chargers at Denver in ’01 WRs ED MC CAFFREY (148) & ROD SMITH (187) set career highs in receiving yards in 11/19/00 meeting vs. SD. McCaffrey also tied career-best with 10 catches & has 11 receiving TDs in 12 career games vs. Chargers. TE SHANNON SHARPE has 1,037 career yards & 4 100-yard games vs. SD, his most vs. any team. Only AFC team with 3 100-yard rushers: rookie RB CLINTON PORTIS (204), RB MIKE ANDERSON (159), &  RB OLANDIS GARY (116) NFL’s best defense per rush attempt (2.9), 2nd in NFL in rush yards allowed per game (56.5) & 6th in NFL in total yards allowed per game (277.3). Club had 4 sacks & 5 INTs in 2 games vs. Chargers in 2001.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-2) AT NEW YORK JETS (1-3)

SERIES

	CHIEFS	JETS
LEADER	Series tied 14-14-1
STREAKS		Past 2
COACHES VS. OPP.	Vermeil: 3-1	Edwards: 1-0
LAST WEEK	W 48-30 vs. Dolphins	L 28-3 at Jaguars
LAST GAME	11/11/01: Chiefs 7 at Jets 27. New York RB Curtis Martin rushes for 113 yards & 3 TDs while Jets’ defense forces 4 turnovers.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/11/01
TV	CBS (4:05 PM ET): Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, Bonnie Bernstein (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Green: 76-119-952-10 (T2L)-5-99.1	Pennington: 26-47-352-0-2-61.7
RUSHING	Holmes: 97-438 (3L)-4.5-7 (1L)	Martin: 32-98-3.1-0
RECEIVING	Holmes (RB): 22-132-6.0-1	Coles: 14-143-10.2-0
OFFENSE	401.3 (3L)	250.0
TAKE/GIVE	+2	-6
DEFENSE	439.0	398.3
SACKS	Hicks: 3.0	Evans, J. Ferguson: 2.0
INTs	Wesley: 3 (T1L)	D. Abraham, Beasley, Darling: 1
PUNTING	Stryzinski: 41.5	Turk: 43.2
KICKING	Andersen: 40 (1C) (16/16 PAT; 8/8 FG)	Hall: 18 (3/3 PAT; 5/6 FG)

NOTES

STUDENT VS. TEACHER:  NYJ head coach HERM EDWARDS played for KC head coach DICK VERMEIL with Philadelphia (1977-82) CHIEFS:  Club has scored at least 30 points in 3 of first 4 games for first time since 1966 (club went 11-2-1 & advanced to Super Bowl I). Head coach Vermeil is 3-1 (.750) in career vs. Jets QB TRENT GREEN threw career-high 5 TD passes vs. previously unbeaten Miami this past Sunday. Joins LEN DAWSON and ELVIS GRBAC as only Chiefs to throw 5 TDs in one game (Dawson did 5 twice and 6 once) RB PRIEST HOLMES leads NFL in scoring, including kickers, with 48 points (8 TDs, 7 rushing). Is NFL’s 3rd-leading rusher (438 yards). In past 10 road games, Holmes has 1,204 rush yards (120.4 yards per game) & 11 TDs TE TONY GONZALEZ set career-high vs. Dolphins last week with 3 TD receptions & now has 35 in career. His 35 TDs as Chief ranks fourth in team history, surpassing FRED ARBANAS (34) S GREG WESLEY had career-high 3 INTs vs. Dolphins in Week 4. Became 7th Chiefs player to record at least 3 INTs in game JETS:  Head coach Edwards was scout for KC (1990-91, 1995) & DB coach (1992-94). General manager TERRY BRADWAY was member of Chiefs’ player personnel department from 1992-00 In most extensive playing time of career last week, QB CHAD PENNINGTON was 21 of 34 passing for 281 yards, 0 TDs & 1 INT for 75.7 rating vs. Jax RB CURTIS MARTIN rushed for 113 yards & 3 TDs in last year’s meeting vs. KC In 2 career games vs. Chiefs, WR WAYNE CHREBET has 12 catches for 168 yards Jets held KC QB Green to career-low 35.5 passer rating in only career meeting. Club has held Chiefs RB Holmes to 81 rush yards in 3 games (27.0 per game). Club had 3 sacks & 3 INTs in meeting last year. LB SAM COWART tied career-best 23 tackles vs. KC (11/19/00 w/ Buf.). In last game vs. KC (11/14/99 w/ TB), CB DONNIE ABRAHAM posted 7 tackles, 2 passes defensed & 1st career sack.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-1) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-1)

SERIES

	EAGLES	JAGUARS
LEADER		1-0
STREAKS		1-0
COACHES VS. OPP.	Reid: 0-0	Coughlin: 1-0
LAST WEEK	W 35-17 vs. Texans	W 28-3 vs. Jets
LAST GAME	10/12/97: Eagles 21 at Jaguars 38. Jacksonville RB James Stewart rushes for 5 TDs & 102 yards as Jaguars win 10th consecutive home game.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/12/97
TV	FOX (4:15 PM ET): Sam Rosen, Bill Maas

STATS

PASSING	McNabb: 92-153-1,050 (3C)-9 (T1C)-3-92.2 (3C)	Brunell: 57-87-721-4-1-101.7 (3L)
RUSHING	Staley: 45-147-3.3-2	Taylor: 65-339-5.2-3
RECEIVING	Staley (RB):18-167-9.3-1	J. Smith: 14-197-14.1-1
OFFENSE	387.5 (2C)	392.0
TAKE/GIVE	+6 (1C)	+5 (2C)
DEFENSE	263.3 (3C)	329.3
SACKS	Douglas: 4.0	Four tied: 1.0
INTs	Dawkins: 2 (T3C)	McCree: 2
PUNTING	Landeta: 44.8	Hanson: 48.7 (1L)
KICKING	Akers: 42 (1L) (15/15 PAT; 9/9 FG)	Epstein (R): 14 (8/8 PAT; 2/5 FG)

NOTES

EAGLES:  Club 24-3 (.889) under head coach ANDY REID when scoring 20-or-more points. Eagles have 24-16 (.600) October record in past 10 years & off to best start since 1996 (3-1). Have scored at least 30 points in 3 consecutive games (37,44, 35) for first time since 1992 (Weeks 2-4 -- 31,30, 31) QB DONOVAN MC NABB has won 6 of past 8 starts vs. AFC opponents, passing for 15 TDs & 6 INTs RB DUCE STALEY tied career-high with 2 TD runs (1,1) vs. Texans WR JAMES THRASH has TD catch in 5 consecutive games & 2 100-yard receiving games during streak. WR ANTONIO FREEMAN had 3 receptions for 104 yards in last meeting vs. Jaguars (with Packers, 12/3/01) Defense had season-high 7 sacks, from 7 different players, vs. Texans DE HUGH DOUGLAS has 5.0 sacks in past 5 games S BRIAN DAWKINS became first player in NFL history to record sack, INT, fumble recovery & TD reception in same game last week. His 57-yard TD catch on fake punt first of career. Dawkins & rookie CB LITO SHEPPARD played high school football at Jacksonville’s Raines HS JAGUARS:  Jacksonville head coach TOM COUGHLIN was Eagles’ wide receivers coach from 1984-85 Are 38-20 (.655) all-time at home. In total offense, club ranks 5th in NFL (392.0). Have scored points in all 8 trips inside opponents’ 20 yard-line (6 TDs). Team ranks 5th in NFL converting 46.3 pct. of 3rd down conversion attempts (19 of 41) Among starting QBs, MARK BRUNELL ranks 2nd in NFL with 101.7 passer rating. Leads NFL with 8.29 yards per attempt In past 13 games with at least 15 carries, RB FRED TAYLOR has rushed for 1,647 yards (126.7 yards per game) & 14 TDs. Taylor leads NFL with most scrimmage yards per game (171.3) & is tied for NFL lead in most runs of 20+ yards (4). Ranks 3rd in NFL in rush yards per game (113.0) &  5th in NFL among rushing leaders with 339 yards on 65 carries (5.2), despite a bye week WR PATRICK JOHNSON leads NFL in avg. yards per catch (23.0) among players with 5 or more catches, has 2 TDs in 3 games Defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in ALLTEL Stadium in past 14 games (STEPHEN DAVIS, Wash., 114 yards, 10/22/00).

ST. LOUIS RAMS (0-4) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (2-1)

SERIES

	RAMS	49ERS
LEADER	54-48-2
STREAKS	Past 6
COACHES VS. OPP.	Martz: 4-0	Mariucci: 4-6
LAST WEEK	L 13-10 vs. Cowboys	Bye (Wk 3: W 20-10 vs. Redskins)
LAST GAME	12/9/01: 49ers 14 at Rams 27. St. Louis QB Kurt Warner passes for 2 TDs & RB Marshall Faulk rushes for 2 to pace Rams.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/23/01: Rams 30, 49ers 26. St. Louis QB Kurt Warner passes for 321 yards & 3 TDs to lead Rams past 49ers.
TV	FOX (1:15 PM PT): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Cris Collinsworth, Pam Oliver (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Martin: 24-37-262-1-1-83.4	Garcia: 53-81-455-2-3-72.8
RUSHING	Faulk: 48-188-3.9-4 (T2C)	Barlow: 30-174-5.8-1
RECEIVING	Holt: 32 (1C)-424 (2L)-13.3-0	E. Johnson: 13-133-10.2-0
OFFENSE	350.8	302.0
TAKE/GIVE	-7	+3
DEFENSE	313.0	292.3
SACKS	Little: 4.0	Carter, Okefor: 3.0
INTs	Four tied: 1	Bronson: 2 (T3C)
PUNTING	Berger: 43.8	Baker 40.7
KICKING	Wilkins: 19 (7/7 PAT; 4/7 FG)	Cortez: 20 (5/5 PAT; 5/7 FG)

NOTES

SERIES MARKED BY STREAKS: 49ers won 17 consecutive games before Rams began current 6-game winning streak RAMS:  QB JAMIE MARTIN passed for career-high 268 yards last week vs. Cowboys. Expected to make first start for Rams & second career NFL start. Passed for 11 TDs & 6 INTs for NFL Europe League’s Amsterdam Admirals in 1995 RB MARSHALL FAULK has 114 TDs & needs 3 to pass JOHN RIGGINS (116) for seventh all-time. Has rushed for 100 yards in 3 of past 5 vs. 49ers, including 105 yards rushing & 8 receptions for 79 yards vs. SF (9/23/01) WR TORRY HOLT had 9 receptions last week, tied for second-most of his career. His 106 yards receiving vs. Cowboys was 16th career 100-yard receiving game. WR ISAAC BRUCE has 100 yards receiving in 4 of past 6, with 7 TDs, vs. 49ers. Has averaged 7.1 receptions for 122 yards in those games DE GRANT WISTROM has 5.0 sacks in past 5 games 49ERS:  QB JEFF GARCIA has completed 65.4 pct. (53 of 81) for 455 yards in 2002 RB GARRISON  HEARST has 13 career 100-yard rushing games with 49ers, third in club history. Can tie ROGER CRAIG (14) for second with 100-yard outing vs. Rams. Rushed for 97 yards & 5.1 yards per carry avg. in Week 3 win vs. Redskins.  RB KEVAN BARLOW rushed for career-high 94 yards vs. Wash WR TERRELL OWENS has 61 career TDs & needs 1 to pass KEN WILLARD for third in club history. Needs 6 TDs to pass Craig for second. Has 3 100-yard receiving games in past 5 vs. Rams. Had career-long 38-yard TD run in win vs. Redskins TE ERIC JOHNSON made first career NFL start vs. St. Louis (9/23/00). Played football & golf at Yale DE ANDRE CARTER tied career-high with 2.0 sacks in win vs. Redskins. DT BRYANT YOUNG had career-high 3.0 sacks vs. StL (10/6/96). DE SEAN MORAN joined 49ers in offseason after playing in 31 games for Rams (2000-01) K JOSE CORTEZ had career-long 52-yard FG vs. Rams (9/23/01).

SUNDAY NIGHT

BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-2) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-2)

SERIES

	RAVENS	BROWNS
LEADER	4-2
STREAKS		Past 2
COACHES VS. OPP.	Billick: 4-2	Davis: 2-0
LAST WEEK	W 34-23 vs. Broncos	L 16-13 (OT) at Steelers
LAST GAME	11/18/01: Browns 27 at Ravens 17. Cleveland records 4 INTs, including 43-yard INT-TD by S Devin Bush, to complete season sweep of Baltimore.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/21/01: Browns 24, Ravens 14. Cleveland’s defense records 7 sacks & Browns QB Tim Couch passes for 2 TDs in span of 1:56 of 3rd quarter.
TV	ESPN (8:30 PM ET): Mike Patrick, Joe Theisman, Paul Maguire, Suzy Kolber (Field reporter). CBS Radio: Joel Meyers, Bob Trumpy, Allan Pinkett (Field reporter). ESPN Deportes: Eduardo Varela, Fuad Reveiz, Luz Ramos (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Redman: 49-96-511-3-2-68.5	Couch: 52-79-470-3-3-78.6
RUSHING	J. Lewis: 59-195-3.3-1	White: 45-228-5.1-1
RECEIVING	Heap (TE): 13-124-9.5-2	K. Johnson: 24-259-10.8-1
OFFENSE	230.7	331.0
TAKE/GIVE	-1	-1
DEFENSE	315.7	343.0
SACKS	Boulware, McCrary: 2.0	Word: 3.0
INTs	Baxter, R. Lewis, Reed (R): 1	Griffith: 2
PUNTING	Zastudil (R): 43.1	Gardocki: 44.1
KICKING	Stover: 11 (5/5 PAT; 2/3 FG)	Dawson: 37 (T2C) (10/10 PAT; 9/11 FG)

NOTES

THE WAY WE WERE:  Ravens’ head coach BRIAN BILLICK and Cleveland defensive coordinator FOGE FAZIO worked together as offensive and defensive coordinators for Minnesota Vikings from 1995-98 RAVENS:  Head coach Billick is 4-2 (.667) against Cleveland First-year starting QB CHRIS REDMAN had best game as pro last Monday night vs. Denver: 13 of 24 for 152 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs for 101.4 rating RB JAMAL LEWIS rushed for 170 yards & 2 TDs vs. Cleveland on 11/26/00, his 2nd-best rushing day of career & most TDs scored in one game In five games vs. Cleveland QB Couch, defense has limited him to 72 of 136 passing for 676 yards, 3 TDs and 8 INTs for 49.8 rating. Club has allowed 3 red zone TDs in 10 attempts (30 pct.), tied for 4th-stingiest red zone TD pct. in NFL BROWNS:  One win from becoming 11th NFL team with 400 victories & 7th in that group with winning record. Have scored 103 points, most in 1st 4 weeks since 1989 (9-6-1, advanced to AFC Championship). Team has posted 2 300-yard passing games in 2002, posted 3 from 1999-2001 Head coach BUTCH DAVIS is 2-0 in career vs. Ravens. Club had never beaten Balt. before Davis (0-4) Offense averaging 5.79 yards on 1st down, 7th-best in league. Club is 1 of 11 NFL teams to score points in every red zone possession in ’02 QB Couch has NFL’s 5th-best fourth quarter passer rating (118.0) Club’s WRs have 64 catches for 791 yards & 9 TDs. WR KEVIN JOHNSON tied for 5th in AFC in receptions (24). Rookie  WR ANDRE’ DAVIS tied for 2nd in league in TD catches (4) & 3rd among AFC rookies in catches (14) & rec. yards (186). WR-PR DENNIS NORTHCUTT ranks 2nd in NFL PR avg. (16.7) Team is tied for 3rd in AFC with 6 INTs.

MONDAY NIGHT

GREEN BAY PACKERS (3-1) AT CHICAGO BEARS (2-2)

SERIES

	PACKERS	BEARS
LEADER		83-73-6
STREAKS	Past 8 on road
COACHES VS. OPP.	Sherman: 3-1	Jauron: 2-4
LAST WEEK	W 17-14 vs. Panthers	L 33-27 (OT) at Bills
LAST GAME	12/9/01: Bears 7 at Packers 17. Green Bay RB Ahman Green rushes for 125 yards & 1 TD.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/11/01: Packers 20, Bears 12. Green Bay QB Brett Favre passes for 2 TDs as Packers snap Bears’ six-game winning streak.
TV	ABC (8:00 PM CT):  Al Michaels, John Madden, Melissa Stark (Field Reporter). CBS Radio: Marv Albert, Boomer Esiason, John Dockery (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Favre: 103-159-1111 (2C)-8 (3C)-3-94.1 (2C)	Miller: 77-128-864-7-3-88.8
RUSHING	Green: 61-309-5.1-0	Thomas: 95-288-3.0-2
RECEIVING	Driver: 21-320-15.2-4 (T1C)	Booker: 25-425 (1L)-17.0-2
OFFENSE	395.3 (1C)	300.8
TAKE/GIVE	+2	+4 (T3C)
DEFENSE	333.5	334.3
SACKS	Hunt: 3.0	Colvin: 6.0 (1L)
INTs	McKenzie, Sharper: 2	Austin: 2 (T3C)
PUNTING	Bidwell: 43.8	Maynard: 40.6
KICKING	Longwell: 39 (2C) (12/12 PAT; 9/10 FG)	Edinger: 31 (10/10 PAT; 7/10 FG)

NOTES

GAME IS 164th IN SERIES (including postseason), most of any two teams in NFL history. Rivalry dates to 1921 PACKERS:  QB BRETT FAVRE has 39,738 yards passing and ranks eighth in league history. Will play in 166th career game this week & needs 262 yards to become third-fastest player ever to pass for 40,000 (DAN MARINO, 153; WARREN MOON, 165;). Has 5,601 career pass attempts & needs 4 to pass DAN FOUTS (5,604) in sixth place all-time. Has 295 career TD passes & needs 5 to become fourth player in NFL history with 300 & 6 to pass JOHN ELWAY (300) for third all-time. Has 16-4 record all-time vs. Bears RB AHMAN GREEN has 11 100-yard rushing games & club is 11-0 in those games. Has averaged 109 yards per game & 4.6 per carry in past 2 vs. Bears WR DONALD DRIVER had career high 2 TD receptions (31, 22) last week & aims for fourth consecutive game with TD catch TE BUBBA FRANKS threw first career TD pass (31 yards) vs. Panthers DT CLETIDUS HUNT tied career high with 2.0 sacks last week BEARS:  QB JIM MILLER threw 47 pass attempts, second-most of his career, in last home game vs. Packers (11/11/01) WR MARTY BOOKER had 8 receptions (81 yards) vs. GB on 11/11/01. Has led club in receiving yards in 6 of past 7 games. WR MARCUS ROBINSON had TD receptions of 68 & 58 yards in his last game vs. Packers (10/1/00). WR DAVID TERRELL has 40 career receptions & 7 TD catches, averaging 1 TD catch per every 5.7 receptions. Leads club with 3 TD catches this season TE JOHN DAVIS had first TD catch (3 yards) with Bears last week LB ROSEVELT COLVIN needs 0.5 sacks vs. Packers to set club record with 8 consecutive games with at least 0.5 sacks (ALONZO SPELLMAN). Has 10.0 sacks during that streak, including 2.0 vs. Bills. LB BRIAN URLACHER  had 1 INT & 1.0 sack in last meeting.

DETROIT, HOUSTON, MINNESOTA, SEATTLE HAVE OPEN DATES IN WEEK 5

DETROIT (1-3):  Lions won first game of season (26-21) over previously unbeaten Saints last week. Rookie QB JOEY HARRINGTON won his first game as NFL starter, completing 20 of 35 attempts for 267 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs for 91.0 passer rating RB JAMES STEWART rushed for 65 yards vs. Saints, giving him 5,026 career rushing yards. Has averaged 4.7 yards per carry this season WR BILL SCHROEDER had first reception as Lion last week, finishing with 7 catches for 78 yards, including 38-yard TD catch WR AZ-ZAHIR HAKIM had 98 yards receiving (3 catches) vs. NO, his most with Detroit KR-PR DESMOND HOWARD averaged 42.5 yards per KR in win vs. Saints. Has 8 career PR-TDs & needs 2 to tie ERIC METCALF for most all-time S COREY HARRIS had first INT with Lions & career long 49-yard INT return vs. NO K JASON HANSON connected on 4 of 4 FGs last week.

HOUSTON (1-3):  One of only two AFC teams (Denver) to have more than one 100-yard rusher: RB JAMES ALLEN (175) & rookie RB JONATHAN WELLS (147) WR-PR JERMAINE LEWIS has 10.4 PR avg., 4th-best in AFC, 8th in NFL DE JEFF POSEY is tied for 3rd among AFC sack leaders with 3.5. LB JAMIE SHARPER has 2.5 sacks. As team, Houston has AFC’s 5th-most sacks (12) CB AARON GLENN has 2 INTs, tying him for 4th-most in AFC. CB MARCUS COLEMAN tied for 2nd in AFC with 2 fumble recoveries Defense is tied for 2nd in conference and 4th in NFL in allowing TDs inside its 20 yard-line: 3 TDs in 10 possessions (30.0 pct.). Club ranks 2nd in AFC and 6th in NFL in allowing fewest yards on 1st down (4.45) P CHAD STANLEY has placed AFC-high 10 punts inside opponents’ 20 yard-line & has 0 touchbacks. K KRIS BROWN is 4 of 5 in FG attempts in 2002. Only miss was 54-yard attempt, which hit upright.

MINNESOTA (0-4):  QB DAUNTE CULPEPPER tied career high with 53 pass attempts last week vs. Seattle. Also rushed for 61 yards, including 12-yard TD run. Has connected with WR RANDY MOSS for 23 career TDs & needs 4 to become most prolific scoring tandem in club history (WARREN MOON/CRIS CARTER). Culpepper has 52 career TD passes & needs 7 to pass Moon (58) for fourth in club history RB MICHAEL BENNETT has 258 consecutive scrimmage attempts without fumble. Rushed for 91 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, vs. Seahawks & also added 44 yards receiving (4 catches). RB MOE WILLIAMS had career high 2 rushing TDs (3, 5) last week. Also had career bests with 7 receptions & 77 yards & added 4 KR for 77 yards. Needs 107 yards rushing to set new career-high, surpassing 291 yards rushing in 2001.

SEATTLE (1-3): Head coach MIKE HOLMGREN reached 100 career victories with win vs. Vikings Against Vikings, RB SHAUN ALEXANDER became 13th player in NFL history to score at least 5 TDs in single-game & first since JAMES STEWART scored 5 for Jacksonville (10/12/97). His 5 TDs were most ever in one half & set club record for TDs & points scored in single game. Rushed for 139 yards & 4 TDs & also added 3 receptions for career-high 92 yards, including career-long 80-yard TD reception. Club is 5-0 lifetime when he rushes for 100 yards QB TRENT DILFER passed for 222 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs vs. Vikings Rookie fifth round draft choice DT ROCKY BERNARD had 2.0 sacks vs. Vikings & leads club with 4.0. DT JOHN RANDLE ranks second among active players with 125.0 sacks.

 

2002 NFL STANDINGS

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE							NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
East Division							East Division
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA		W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
Miami	3	1	0	.750	130	85	Philadelphia	3	1	0	.750	140	64
New England	3	1	0	.750	129	80	Dallas	2	2	0	.500	57	86
Buffalo	2	2	0	.500	132	131	N.Y. Giants	2	2	0	.500	55	64
N.Y. Jets	1	3	0	.250	50	133	Washington	1	2	0	.333	48	80
North Division							North Division
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA		W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
Cleveland	2	2	0	.500	103	91	Green Bay	3	1	0	.750	111	114
Baltimore	1	2	0	.333	41	58	Chicago	2	2	0	.500	91	98
Pittsburgh	1	2	0	.333	47	73	Detroit	1	3	0	.250	85	138
Cincinnati	0	4	0	.000	23	119	Minnesota	0	4	0	.000	99	141
South Division							South Division
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA		W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
Indianapolis	2	1	0	.667	64	49	Carolina	3	1	0	.750	76	45
Jacksonville	2	1	0	.667	76	47	New Orleans	3	1	0	.750	111	89
Houston	1	3	0	.250	42	92	Tampa Bay	3	1	0	.750	106	47
Tennessee	1	3	0	.250	93	128	Atlanta	1	2	0	.333	77	54
West Division							West Division
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA		W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
San Diego	4	0	0	1.000	102	38	San Francisco	2	1	0	.667	40	47
Oakland	3	0	0	1.000	113	59	Arizona	2	2	0	.500	83	74
Denver	3	1	0	.750	98	87	Seattle	1	3	0	.250	84	87
Kansas City	2	2	0	.500	142	133	Saint Louis	0	4	0	.000	61	88

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

(Home teams in capitals)
Open dates: Atlanta, Indianapolis, San Francisco and Washington

JACKSONVILLE 28, N.Y. Jets 3

BUFFALO 33, Chicago 27 (OT)

DETROIT 26, New Orleans 21

KANSAS CITY 48, Miami 30

PHILADELPHIA 35, Houston 17

GREEN BAY 17, Carolina 14

PITTSBURGH 16, Cleveland 13 (OT)

Tampa Bay 35, CINCINNATI 7

Dallas 13, ST. LOUIS 10

OAKLAND 52, Tennessee 25

ARIZONA 21, N.Y. Giants 7

SAN DIEGO 21, New England 14

SEATTLE 48, Minnesota 23

BALTIMORE 34, Denver 23

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE -- OCTOBER 6-7

(All times local)

Open dates: Detroit, Houston, Minnesota and Seattle

Oakland at Buffalo 1:00 PM

Pittsburgh at New Orleans 12:00 PM

Tampa Bay at Atlanta 1:00 PM

Cincinnati at Indianapolis 12:00 PM

Washington at Tennessee 12:00 PM

N.Y. Giants at Dallas 12:00 PM

New England at Miami 1:00 PM

Philadelphia at Jacksonville 4:15 PM

Arizona at Carolina 1:00 PM

San Diego at Denver 2:05 PM

St. Louis at San Francisco 1:15 PM

Kansas City at N.Y. Jets 4:05 PM

Green Bay at Chicago (Champaign, Ill.) 8:00 PM (ABC)

Baltimore at Cleveland 8:30 PM (ESPN)

 

 

SPORTS

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

 

 

 

NFL 2002 Season