NFL 2002 Week 8: Cardinals - 49ers Battle for 1st
Highlights Big Division Weekend

NFL 2002 Week 8

NFL FACTOID: 150-YARD RUSHING GAMES ON RECORD PACE

Through seven weeks of the season, there have been 16 individual 150-yard rushing games, compared to nine at this point last season. At this pace, there would be a record 40 such games this year, topping the previous high of 29 in 2000.

 

The first "new rivalry" in the realigned NFL may be ready to hatch.

While everyone wanted to hold on to some of the great NFL rivalries like Bears-Packers or Cowboys-Redskins when the league realigned this year, it was thought that as the season progressed, new rivalries would develop.

Week 8 presents a good example of a new rivalry -- the Cardinals and the 49ers. That's the NFC West tied-for-first Cardinals and 49ers.

The teams have played 21 times (the 49ers lead 12-9), but this is the first meeting as division rivals. And it's a tiebreaker. Barring a tie (and the Cards came within 3:10 of one last week), one of the 4-2 teams will sit exclusively in first place in the NFC West by Sunday night.

The Cards are getting to like their new division.

"To be in first place six games into the season is great," says Arizona quarterback JAKE PLUMMER. "When those 16 games are done, that's where I want to be."

You speak for everyone in the NFL, Jake. Even for those on the losing side of the ledger, there's still hope.

Just look at 14 of the past 15 seasons. In that span, at least one team with three or fewer wins through seven games made it to the playoffs. Last year, it was the 3-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers who finished 9-7 and earned a wild card berth.

"Any team can go out there and win on any Sunday," says 49ers guard RON STONE.

Like this Sunday, when Stone's 49ers take on the visiting Cards.

Arizona is off to its best start since 1988, its first year in the state. It does not win spectacularly. After losing its opener, it has won four of its past five games, none by more than 14 points.

"A 'W' is a 'W,'" says Cards center MIKE GRUTTADAURIA. "But it sure would be nice to win one pretty."

The Cards -- and the Niners -- are opportunistic teams. They are tied with Philadelphia and Kansas City for the second-best takeaway/giveaway margin (+6) in the NFL behind Green Bay's +12.

And their quarterbacks -- Arizona's Plummer and San Francisco's JEFF GARCIA -- are confident, gutsy leaders who can compete in an air show, or long-drive you to death. They rank in the top six in the NFC in third-down passing -- Garcia with the top 118.0 rating, and Plummer No. 6 with an 83.5 mark.

Rushers?  Receivers?  The teams stack up evenly here, too.

The clubs' main backs are out of the same mold -- compact, quick and punishing. The Niners' GARRISON HEARST (a former Cardinal) -- 5-11, 215 -- is the conference's ninth-ranked rusher (386 yards). The Cardinals' THOMAS JONES -- 5-10, 220 -- is No. 11 with 378 yards.

Or the game could turn into a battle of speed-merchant wideouts. San Francisco's TERRELL OWENS is tied for the second-most TD catches in the NFC (4), while Arizona's DAVID BOSTON has the second-best average (16.6) of the conference's top 10 receivers.

So who knows what will swing this first-place battle?

One thing Jake Plummer does know -- it is a BIG game.

"This week is going to be one of the biggest games at this point in the season that's ever been played since the Cardinals have been here in Arizona," the quarterback says.

Welcome to a new rivalry.

Week 8 also features a rivalry -- and friendship -- that goes back to the ol' neighborhood days, when two of the main participants in a key game this Sunday were youngsters. When the third-place NFC South Atlanta Falcons (3-3) travel to the division-rival New Orleans Saints -- 6-1 and in first place -- it will mark the first meeting in the NFL of cousins and quarterbacks MICHAEL VICK of Atlanta and AARON BROOKS of New Orleans.

And let the memories begin!

The cousins were born and raised in Newport News, Virginia, and were and are close friends. Both were regulars at the Hampton Roads Boys & Girls Club, where they started perfecting their quarterbacking skills. Brooks (26) went to Virginia and Vick (22) to Virginia Tech. Both are amazed at where they are today.

"Never thought it would happen," says Vick.

Brooks likes having his younger cousin in the league, but, he says, "it's tough being in the same division.

"There's not much more I can teach him," says Brooks of Vick. "He's a grown man now. He's in the NFL. He understands what's going on around him. My job is just to be a guiding light for him."

Vick and Brooks are not the only cousins playing in the NFL right now. A sampling of NFL cousins:

 

The "Cousin QBs" are ranked second (Vick, 93.8) and third (Brooks, 90.8) in NFC passer rating, and come off stellar Week 7 performances.

Vick accumulated 297 total yards in a win over Carolina, including a 44-yard TD run and 28 receiving yards off a lateral. Brooks, who led the Saints to 22 fourth-quarter points in their triumph over San Francisco, completed 23 of 35 attempts for 254 yards and three touchdowns, and added a TD run.

The key to the battle could be the schemes Falcons defensive coordinator WADE PHILLIPS -- directing the league's sixth-ranked defense -- devises to negate the NFC's No. 1 rusher DEUCE MC ALLISTER (721 yards) and No. 2 receiver, JOE HORN (44 catches, 609 yards).

In another "good old days" Week 8 meeting, they weren't cousins, but they were college teammates who battled each other for a starting position. And now they meet Sunday.

It's the Denver Broncos at the New England Patriots, which means it's Broncos quarterback BRIAN GRIESE against the man he beat out for the starting spot at the University of Michigan, TOM BRADY.

Brady was a sophomore in 1996 when junior Griese edged him out for the backup role that ultimately led to the starting job on the Wolverines' 1997 national championship team. After Griese graduated, Brady took Michigan to a 20-5 record.

Brady now looks back on the competition as a learning experience. "If you are focused on how someone else is playing, it takes away from what you're trying to accomplish," he says. "That's what I learned when I competed with Brian. That was the difference between the immature approach I took my sophomore year compared to the mature approach that Brian took."

Now they're both starters. The Super Bowl XXXVI-champion Patriots have lost their last three after winning their first three and come off a bye. The 5-2 Broncos sit in second place in the AFC West behind 6-1 San Diego and come off a 37-34 overtime victory over Kansas City.

Each team will be challenged by a No. 1 NFL defensive unit. The Broncos bring the top rush defense in the league (75.0 yards per game), and the Patriots boast the best pass defense in the NFL (155.7).

Since Brady and Griese were in grammar school, Denver has dominated New England, winning 12 of 14 meetings since 1984.

That sort of dominance existed in a long-played series that will be renewed in Philadelphia Monday night (ABC, 9:00 PM ET). Existed till last year.

The New York Giants had defeated the NFC East-rival Eagles nine times in a row from 1997 through their Super Bowl XXXV year of 2000. But things finally turned for the Eagles last season as they swept their turnpike rivals.

Quarterbacks KERRY COLLINS of the Giants and DONOVAN MC NABB of the Eagles will confront the league's second- (Eagles) and third-ranked (Giants) defenses.

Plus New York will now face a Philly streak. The Eagles have not lost a prime-time game (6-0) since head coach ANDY REID and McNabb came to the team in 1999. 

AND YOU CAN QUOTE ME!

Interesting quotes from around the NFL

·         "I'm having the time of my life" – Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox on taking the team to victory in three of its past four games.

·         "It's totally different than reading about him or seeing him on film or TV. The guy is quick, fast and strong. I mean, we had him dead-on a couple of times" -- Carolina Panthers safety Mike Minter on playing Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

·         "I don't know of anybody who gets the ball out of there as quickly as he can. He's got this remarkable delivery that makes it very hard to get to him" – St. Louis Rams head coach Mike Martz on the quick release of quarterback Marc Bulger.

·         "It's hard to cover speed. You can do so many different things to stop a run game, but when you have speed, it's hard to cover and stop. You can put two guys on him, and if he runs right through the coverage, the fast guy wins. He's getting more confidence. He thinks he can make any play" – Houston Texans quarterback David Carr on wide receiver Corey Bradford.

·         "At Texas, I was just running. The talent is different in the NFL. These guys are 300-some pounds, and they can really move. You have to come to the table with more than just a speed rush. You have to be able to counter and react" – Green Bay Packers rookie linebacker Marcus Wilkins.

WEEK 8 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (3-3) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-3)

SERIES

	STEELERS	RAVENS
LEADER	8-4
STREAKS	Past 5 on road
COACHES VS. OPP.	Cowher: 9-4	Billick: 3-3
LAST WEEK	W 28-10 vs. Colts	W 17-10 vs. Jaguars
LAST GAME	12/16/01: Steelers 26 at Ravens 21. Pittsburgh QB Kordell Stewart throws for 333 yards & 2 TDs while rushing for 55 yards & WR Plaxico Burress has 8 catches for 164 yards & 1 TD.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/16/01
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Gus Johnson, Brent Jones

STATS

PASSING	Maddox: 64-99-794-7-5-91.9	Redman: 97-182-1,034-7-3-76.1
RUSHING	Bettis: 83-326-3.9-5	J. Lewis: 134-576-4.3-3
RECEIVING	Ward: 38-431-11.3-6 (T1L)	J. Lewis (RB): 26-180-6.9-0
OFFENSE	341.7	267.7
TAKE/GIVE	-5	+2
DEFENSE	333.7	349.0
SACKS	Porter: 6.0 (T1C)	Boulware: 4.0
INTs	Porter: 3 (T3C)	R. Lewis, Reed (R): 2
PUNTING	Miller: 43.1	Zastudil (R): 40.7
KICKING	Peterson: 34 (16/16 PAT; 6/10 FG)	Stover: 38 (11/11 PAT; 9/11 FG)

NOTES

REMATCH of 2001 AFC Divisional Playoff (Pittsburgh 27, Baltimore 10) Five of past 6 meetings decided by 7 points-or-less. Road team has won past 6 meetings STEELERS:  Have won past 5 at Baltimore. Head coach BILL COWHER has 9-4 career record (.692) vs. Ravens, including 5-1 (.833) mark on road. Cowher has .500-record or better against 23 of 30 NFL teams he has coached against RB JEROME BETTIS rushed for 91 yards in last game vs. Balt. (11/4/01). Needs 35 yards to pass O.J. SIMPSON into 11th place all-time in career rushing yards. In playoff, RB AMOS ZEREOUE rushed for 63 yards & 2 TDs. Had career-high 73 rushing yards in last regular season meeting WR PLAXICO BURRESS has TD reception in each of past 3 vs. Ravens, including playoff. Had career-best 164 yards (career high-tying 8 catches, 1 TD) in last regular season game vs. Balt Defense limited Ravens last year to 121 rushing yards, 540 total yards & had 5 INTs in 3 meetings S BRENT ALEXANDER has 3 INTs in past 3 vs. Balt. including Divisional Playoff In past 4, including Divisional Playoff, LB JOEY PORTER has 5.0 sacks RAVENS:  Club has won 18 of past 23 home games (incl. playoffs) & have won 3 of past 4 after 0-2 start QB CHRIS REDMAN makes second career division start. Is 1-0 vs. AFC North with 106.0 passer rating after completing 19 of 30 passes (63.3 pct.) for 208 yards with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs in 10/6/02 win over Cleveland In last game vs. Pitt. (10/29/00), RB JAMAL LEWIS rushed for 93 yards & added 53 receiving yards, accounting for 146 of team’s 274 yards (53.3 pct.). Club is 7-0 when he rushes for 100 yards LB ED HARTWELL led team in tackles in each of past 2 games (23). LB BERNARDO HARRIS posted 9 tackles & INT vs. Jax last Sunday. LB PETER BOULWARE recorded 10 tackles & 1.5 sacks last year in regular season vs. Pitt. Defense posted 6 sacks in 3 meetings last year. Held Steelers to 143 passing yards in playoff.

DETROIT LIONS (2-4) AT BUFFALO BILLS (4-3)

SERIES

	LIONS	BILLS
LEADER	3-2-1
STREAKS	2 of past 3
COACHES VS. OPP.	Mornhinweg: 0-0	Williams: 0-0
LAST WEEK	W 23-20 (OT) vs. Bears	W 23-10 at Dolphins
LAST GAME	10/5/97: Lions 13 at Bills 22. Buffalo RB Antowain Smith rushes for 56-yard TD to ice game 2 plays after Bills record safety to take lead.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/5/97
TV	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Ron Pitts, Tim Green

STATS

PASSING	Harrington (R): 83-159-1,009-5-6-66.8	Bledsoe: 182-282-2,198 (1L)-15 (T1C)-5-98.7 (2C)
RUSHING	Stewart: 86-420-4.9-2	Henry: 132-631-4.8-7 (T2L)
RECEIVING	Hakim: 24-334-13.9-1	Moulds: 48 (2C)-662 (1L)-13.8-5 (T3L)
OFFENSE	286.3	389.9 (3L)
TAKE/GIVE	-2	+1
DEFENSE	366.5	345.3
SACKS	Eight tied: 1	Schobel: 4.5
INTs	Claiborne: 3 (T2C)	Clements: 3 (T3C)
PUNTING	Jett: 44.9 (3C)	Moorman: 48.0 (1L)
KICKING	Hanson: 42 (15/15 PAT; 9/10 FG)	Hollis: 61 (T2C) (22/22 PAT; 13/16 FG)

NOTES

LIONS:  Club aims for consecutive victories for first time since 11/19-11/23/00 Rookie first-round draft pick (No. 3)QB JOEY HARRINGTON seeks third win in fifth NFL start. Compiled 9-2 (.818) road record as college starter at Oregon RB JAMES STEWART rushed for career-high 172 yards last week vs. Bears. Has 12 career 100-yard rushing games, including 6 with Lions, & his team has 9-3 record in those games. Averaging career-best 4.9 yards per carry. RB AVEION CASON had career-high 57 yards receiving (3 catches) vs. Bears WR BILL SCHROEDER has TDs in 2 of past 5 games vs. AFC TE MIKHAEL RICKS leads NFC tight ends with 216 yards receiving KR-PR DESMOND HOWARD has 8 career PR-TDs & needs 2 to tie ERIC METCALF for most all-time K JASON HANSON connected on 3 second-half FGs vs. Bears, including 48-yard OT game-winner P JOHN JETT punted 5 times vs. Bears & had 3 downed inside 10 yard-line BILLS:  Special teams coordinator DANNY SMITH was Detroit’s tight ends coach (1999-2000). Are 19-6 (.760) in past 25 home games vs. NFC. Rank No. 2 in NFL in pass defense (289.9) & No. 3 in NFL total offense (389.9) QB DREW BLEDSOE has 2-0 record & completed 63 of 85 passes (74.1 pct.) for 791 yards with 7 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 130.1 passer rating vs. NFC this year. In 3 career games vs. Lions (w/ NE), has passed for 638 yards With 100 rush yards this week, RB TRAVIS HENRY becomes 1st Bills RB since THURMAN THOMAS (1994) with 3 consecutive 100-yard rush games At home in 2002, WR ERIC MOULDS has 343 yards (114.3 yards per game), 2 TDs & 6 catches of 20+ yards. WR PEERLESS PRICE is 3rd in AFC with 47 catches & 639 receiving yards Club scored 17 points off 6 takeaways in last week’s win at Miami CB NATE CLEMENTS tied club record with 3 INTs last week, including 29-yard INT-TD. LB LONDON FLETCHER had 1.0 sack & 5 tackles in last game vs. Detroit (10/8/01 w/ StL). Leads team with 77 tackles. Club tied for 2nd in AFC in sacks (19) P BRIAN MOORMAN leads NFL with 48.0 punting avg.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-2) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-4)

SERIES

	BUCCANEERS	PANTHERS
LEADER	2-1
STREAKS	2-1
COACHES VS. OPP.	Gruden: 1-0	Fox: 0-0
LAST WEEK	L 20-10 at Eagles	L 30-0 at Falcons
LAST GAME	10/18/98: Panthers 13 at Buccaneers 16. Tampa Bay QB Trent Dilfer scores 1 TD & throws game-winning pass to WR Karl Williams with 1:39 remaining for comeback victory.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/1/96: Panthers 24, Buccaneers 0. Carolina’s defense causes 4 turnovers & is responsible for 21 points as Panthers register first shutout in franchise history.
TV	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Dick Stockton, Troy Aikman, Cris Collinsworth

STATS

PASSING	B. Johnson: 145-239-1,544-7-5-80.6 or R. Johnson: 4-7-31-0-0-68.2	Weinke: 10-21-140-0-0-69.5 or Fasani (R): 6-18-100-0-1-29.9
RUSHING	M. Pittman: 102-358-3.5-0	L. Smith: 147-513-3.5-6 (2C)
RECEIVING	M. Pittman (RB): 33-263-8.0-0	S. Smith: 28-436-15.6-1
OFFENSE	305.9	301.3
TAKE/GIVE	+5	+3
DEFENSE	253.3 (1L)	282.1
SACKS	Sapp: 7.0 (T1L)	Peppers (R): 7.0 (T1L)
INTs	Brooks: 4 (T1L)	Grant: 3 (T2C)
PUNTING	Tupa: 44.3	Sauerbrun: 46.1 (1C)
KICKING	Gramatica: 49 (16/16 PAT; 11/16 FG)	Graham: 16 (4/4 PAT; 4/6 FG)

NOTES

BUCCANEERS:  Defense has scored 5 TDs & surrendered 6 in 2002. Club has allowed NFL-low 76 points & seeks to hold opposing offense without TD for fourth time in past 5 games. Defense holds opponents to NFL best 16.7 redzone TD pct. (12 trips, 2 TDs) QB BRAD JOHNSON has 46-27 record (.630) as starter, including 3-0 all-time vs. Car. Has thrown 6 TDs & 1 INT all-time vs. Car. Needs 50 yards passing to become sixth player in franchise history to pass for 5,000 yards DT WARREN SAPP has 6.0 sacks in past 5 games. His 7.0 sacks are most among NFL DTs. LB DERRICK BROOKS scored on 11-yard fumble return TD last week & has 4 TDs in 2002. Needs 1 TD to tie NFL record for most TDs on turnovers in season (5, KEN HOUSTON, 1971) Needs 1 INT-TD to become fourth player in NFL history with 4 in season PANTHERS:  Defense leads NFL with 25 sacks, including 22 by defensive line. Need 2 sacks vs. Bucs to surpass 2001 season total (26). Club has not allowed 100-yard rusher in past 9 games QB CHRIS WEINKE was Heisman Trophy winner at Florida State. Rookie fifth-round draft pick QB RANDY FASANI made NFL debut last week, passing for 100 yards & team-leading 58 yards rushing   RB LAMAR SMITH has 6 TD runs in 2002, 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. Rookie second-round pick RB DE SHAUN FOSTER could make NFL debut Club has INT in 7 of past 8 games Rookie first-round pick (No. 2 overall) DE JULIUS PEPPERS tied for NFL lead with 7.0 sacks. Has 2 3.0-sack games & needs 1 more to become first rookie in NFL history with 3 3.0-sack games in single-season. DE MICHEAL RUCKER needs 3.0 sacks vs. Bucs to tie career high (9.0, 2001) P TODD SAUERBRUN leads NFC with 46.1 gross avg. & ranks second with 14 punts inside 20 yard-

                                                 TENNESSEE TITANS (2-4) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-6)

SERIES

	TITANS	BENGALS
LEADER	36-29-1
STREAKS	7 of past 8
COACHES VS. OPP.	Fisher: 10-4	LeBeau: 1-3
LAST WEEK	Bye (Wk 6: W 23-14 vs. Jaguars)	Bye (Wk 6: L 34-7 vs. Steelers)
LAST GAME	1/6/02: Bengals 23 at Titans 21. Cincinnati’s Neil Rackers kicks 34-yard FG with 20 seconds remaining to lift Bengals to victory.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/18/01: Titans 20, Bengals 7. Tennessee QB Steve McNair completes 16 of 25 attempts for 172 yards & 1 TD as WR Derrick Mason returns opening kickoff 101 yards for TD.
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Don Criqui, Steve Tasker

STATS

PASSING	McNair: 141-216-1,471-9-9-81.4	Kitna: 72-113-602-1-7-54.5
RUSHING	George: 112-331-3.0-4	Dillon: 110-464-4.2-3
RECEIVING	Wycheck (TE): 25-209-8.4-1	Dillon (RB): 22-144-6.5-0
OFFENSE	322.8	266.2
TAKE/GIVE	-4	-10
DEFENSE	344.2	342.3
SACKS	Carter: 6.0 (T1C)	T. Williams: 3.0
INTs	A. Dyson: 3 (T3C)	Five tied: 1
PUNTING	Hentrich: 44.2	Harris: 40.9
KICKING	Nedney: 32 (11/11 PAT; 7/8 FG)	Rackers: 15 (6/6 PAT; 3/5 FG)

NOTES

TITANS:  Since 1992, club is 24-15 (.615) in October & 7-6 (.538) following bye. Aim for 5th consecutive win at Cincinnati & 8th win in past 9 games vs. Bengals Head coach JEFF FISHER has career 10-4 (.714) record vs. Cincinnati .QB STEVE MC NAIR (8-2 as starter vs. Cincy) has career-high 17 TD passes vs. Bengals (vs. 3 INTs). In career, has completed 157 of 264 passes (59.5 pct.) for 2,077 yards with 17 TDs vs. 3 INTs for 101.2 passer rating. Also has rushed for 252 yards & 5 TDs .RB EDDIE GEORGE has 7 TDs in past 6 vs. Cincinnati. Has career-best 1,075 rush yards & five 100-yard games vs. Bengals (12 games). Titans are 9-3 (.750) vs. Cincy when George plays WR-KR-PR DERRICK MASON has 764 all-purpose yards (405 receiving, 98 PR, 260 KR, 1 rushing) & 2 TDs in past 3 against Bengals (254.7 yards per game). Mason had career-high 186 receiving yards (1/6/02) & career-long 101-yard KR-TD (11/18/01) last year vs. Cincinnati DE JEVON KEARSE has 4.0 sacks in past 5 vs. Bengals LB KEITH BULLUCK has led team in tackles past 2 games KR coverage tied for 1st in NFL, allowing 17.4 yards per return. Coverage unit forcing opponents’ avg. drive start at 20.2, ranking No. 1 in league ..BENGALS:  RB COREY DILLON has 861 rushing yards, 11 TD runs & 4.6 yards per carry average in 10 career games vs. Titans (187 attempts). In past 2 games, Dillon has 221 yards on 40 carries (5.5 avg.) & 3 rushing TDs. Ranks 8th among AFC rush leaders with 464 yards on 110 attempts (4.2). Ranks 13th in AFC in total scrimmage yards (608) for 101.3 per game. Leads team with 22 receptions. Dillon’s 33 1st downs are 15th-most in NFL. Is 4-for-4 in converting 3rd & 1 rushing situations into 1st downs WR CHAD JOHNSON has 13 catches for 143 yards in past 2 games. Caught career-high 7 passes vs. Pittsburgh Club is tied for 3rd in AFC in fewest fumbles (3) DT TONY WILLIAMS leads club & is tied for 2nd among AFC interior line sack leaders with 3.0 Defense ranks 2nd in AFC in avg. yards per 1st down play (4.91).

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-5) AT. DALLAS COWBOYS (3-4)

SERIES

	SEAHAWKS	COWBOYS
LEADER		5-2
STREAKS		Past 2 of 3
COACHES VS. OPP.	Holmgren: 2-4	Campo: 0-1
LAST WEEK	L 37-20 at Rams	L 9-6 (OT) at Cardinals
LAST GAME	12/16/01: Cowboys 3 at Seahawks 29. Seattle RB Ricky Watters rushes for 104 yards & 1 TD in victory.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/22/98: Cowboys 30, Seahawks 22. Dallas QB Troy Aikman passes for 2 TDs as Cowboys win fourth consecutive game.
TV	FOX (12:00 PM CT): Pat Summerall, Daryl Johnston

STATS

PASSING	Dilfer: 87-156-1,136-4-5-74.1	Hutchinson (R): (Pre) 38-60-383-1-0-87.0
RUSHING	Alexander: 105-375-3.6-5 (T3C)	Smith: 107-447-4.2-1
RECEIVING	Jackson: 28-335-12.0-0	Galloway: 35-506-14.5-2
OFFENSE	293.7	310.9
TAKE/GIVE	+1	-4
DEFENSE	398.8	337.1
SACKS	C. Brown: 5.0	Ellis: 5.5
INTs	Tongue: 2.0	Five tied : 1
PUNTING	Feagles: 43.6	-- --
KICKING	Lindell: 35 (14/14 PAT; 7/11 FG)	Cundiff (R): 28 (10/10 PAT; 6/9 FG)

NOTES

SEAHAWKS:  QB TRENT DILFER has won 19 of past 26 starts & has 99.7 passer rating in only career game vs. Cowboys (with Ravens, W 27-0, 11/19/00) RB SHAUN ALEXANDER has 5 career 100-yard rushing games & club is 5-0 in those contests. Has 21 career rushing TDs & needs 2 to pass RICKY WATTERS in fourth in club history. Seeks second TD in second career game vs. Cowboys WR KOREN ROBINSON had first career 100-yard receiving game vs. Rams last week (166 yards) including 79-yard TD & career-long 83-yard reception. WR DARRELL JACKSON has 2,129 yards receiving & needs 160 yards to pass MIKE PRITCHARD (2,288) in seventh on club’s all-time list Rookie second-round draft pick KR MAURICE MORRIS scored first career TD on 97-yard KR TD vs. Rams. Leads all NFC rookies with 25.0 KR avg Rookie DT ROCKY BERNARD has 4.0 sacks & needs 0.5 sacks to set club single-season record for rookies (BRIAN BOSWORTH, 1987; MICHAEL MC CRARY, 1993; SAM ADAMS, 1994) P JEFF FEAGLES has held opponents to 40 PR yards in 2002, second-fewest in NFL COWBOYS:  RB EMMITT SMITH has 16,634 career yards rushing & needs 93 yards to surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer WALTER PAYTON (16,726) as all-time NFL leading rusher. Needs 1 rushing TD to become first player in NFL history with 150 rushing TDs. Has scored 3 TDs in 3 career games vs. Seahawks & seeks first career 100-yard rushing game vs. Seattle. Has 479 career receptions & needs 1 to pass TONY HILL in third on club’s all-time list Rookie free agent QB CHAD HUTCHINSON makes first career start Rookie second-round draft pick WR ANTONIO BRYANT had career-long 78-yard TD catch vs. Cards last week. Seeks TD in fourth consecutive game. WR JOEY GALLOWAY looks for third 100-yard receiving game in past 4. Drafted by Seattle in first-round of 1995 NFL Draft & spent 1995-99 seasons with club, topping 1,000 yards receiving 3 times Club ranks third in NFC holding opponents to avg. drive start of 25.1 yard-line.

OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-2) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-4)

SERIES

	RAIDERS	CHIEFS
LEADER	41-40-2
STREAKS	Past 5
COACHES VS. OPP.	Callahan: 0-0	Vermeil: 1-4
LAST WEEK	L 27-21 (OT) vs. Chargers	L 37-34 (OT) vs. Broncos
LAST GAME	12/9/01: Chiefs 26 at Raiders 28. Oakland DE Regan Upshaw sacks Chiefs QB Trent Green on potential game-tying 2-point conversion with 1:38 remaining.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/9/01: Raiders 27, Chiefs 24. Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski kicks game-winning 31-yard FG with 15 seconds remaining. Raiders QB Rich Gannon passes for 341 yards & 2 TDs.
TV	CBS (12:00 PM CT): Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, Bonnie Bernstein (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Gannon: 179-259-2,048 (2L)-14 (T3C)-6-101.0 (1C)	Green: 136-214-1,656-15 (T1C)-8-95.1 (3C)
RUSHING	Garner: 57-419-7.4-3	Holmes: 167-766 (2L)-4.6-12 (1L)
RECEIVING	Rice: 40-559-14.0-3	Holmes (RB): 45-347-7.7-2
OFFENSE	433.8 (1L)	390.4 (2L)
TAKE/GIVE	+4 (2C)	+6 (1C)
DEFENSE	337.2	441.0
SACKS	Barton: 4.0	Hicks: 5.0
INTs	R. Woodson: 3 (T3C)	Wesley: 4 (T1L)
PUNTING	Lechler: 47.7 (2L)	Stryzinski: 40.1
KICKING	Janikowski: 46 (25/25 PAT; 7/11 FG)	Andersen: 71 (1L) (26/26 PAT; 15/16 FG)

NOTES

SERIES OF STREAKS:  Raiders aim for 6th consecutive win over Chiefs after KC had won 5 in row Six of past 7 meetings have been decided by 7 points-or-less. In total offense, teams rank No. 1 (Oak., 433.8 yards) & No. 2 (KC, 390.4) in NFL & in scoring, rank No. 1 (KC, 34.1) & No. 2 (Oak., 32.7) RAIDERS:  QB RICH GANNON was member of Chiefs from 1995-98. Is 5-0 with 1,346 passing yards & 12 TD passes in past 5 vs. KC. With 300 pass yards Sunday, becomes 3rd QB in NFL history with 6 consecutive 300-yard games (KURT WARNER, STEVE YOUNG) In 3 road games in ’02, RB CHARLIE GARNER has 384 scrimmage yards on 38 touches for 10.1 avg. Is 6th in AFC in scrimmage yards (796). RB TYRONE WHEATLEY has 422 scrimmage yards & 5 TDs in past 5 vs. Chiefs WR TIM BROWN has 1,754 receiving yards vs. Chiefs -- his most vs. any club. In last meeting at KC, Brown had 8 receptions for 133 yards & 1 TD. WR JERRY RICE needs 1 TD to become 1st in NFL history to score 200 in career. On road in 2002, Rice is averaging 101.3 yards per game (304 yards in 3 games) & has 4 catches of 20+ yards Defense has sacked KC QB Green 7 times in 3 career meetings CHIEFS:  Team’s 239 points scored after 7 games is most in club history, besting previous mark of 237 in 1966 when team advanced to Super Bowl I QB TRENT GREEN has thrown 6 TDs vs. 2 INTs in 3 career starts vs. Oakland RB PRIEST HOLMES had career highs in scrimmage yards (277) & receiving yards (109) in last meeting vs. Raiders. Rushed for 168 yards & 1 TD and had 5 receptions for 109 yards, including career-long 67-yard TD catch. Leads NFL in scrimmage yards (1,113) & is 2nd in NFL in rushing (766). Has 14 TDs through 7 games -- most in NFL history after 7 games since HOFer JIM BROWN (15) in 1958 TE TONY GONZALEZ has TD catch in 5 of past 7 vs. Raiders. In only career meeting vs. Oakland (10/13/96 w/ Det.), WR JOHNNIE MORTON had 8 receptions for 109 yards (13.6 avg.) & 1 TD DE ERIC HICKS tied for 5th in AFC in sacks (5.0).

CHICAGO BEARS (2-4) AT. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-5)

SERIES

	BEARS	VIKINGS
LEADER		44-35-2
STREAKS	Past 3
COACHES VS. OPP.	Jauron: 4-3	Tice: 0-1
LAST WEEK	L 23-20 (OT) at Lions	L 20-7 at Jets
LAST GAME	9/8/02: Vikings 23 at Bears 27. Chicago S Mike Brown sets up winning drive with INT in fourth quarter. WR David Terrell catches go-ahead TD with 28 seconds left.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/25/01: Bears 13, Vikings 6. Chicago RB James Allen rushes for 107 yards & Bears defense keeps Minnesota out of end zone.
TV	FOX (12:00 PM CT): Sam Rosen, Bill Maas

STATS

PASSING	Miller: 104-177-1,217-10-6-84.4 or Chandler: 16-25-163-1-1-79.3	Culpepper: 142-231-1,562-7-12-69.9
RUSHING	Thomas: 136-425-3.1-3	Bennett: 78-336-4.3-1
RECEIVING	Booker: 38-580 (3C)-15.3-4 (T2C)	Moss: 40-404-10.1-2
OFFENSE	301.2	383.5 (1C)
TAKE/GIVE	-1	-14
DEFENSE	359.3	391.3
SACKS	Colvin: 7.0 (T1L)	Johnstone: 4.0
INTs	Austin : 2	Chavous : 2
PUNTING	Maynard: 42.2	Richardson: 43.0
KICKING	Edinger: 42 (15/15 PAT; 9/12 FG)	Anderson: 20 (5/7 PAT; 5/7 FG)

NOTES

BEARS:  QB JIM MILLER aims for third consecutive win as starter vs. Vikings. In past 4 vs. Min, has passed for 7 TDs & 3 INTs. Passed for career-high 422 yards vs. Vikings on 11/14/99. QB CHRIS CHANDLER made first career start for Bears last week. Passed for 340 yards & 3 TDs vs. Vikes in 1998 NFC Championship Game (with Falcons) WR MARTY BOOKER has led club in receiving yards in 7 of past 9 games. Needs 100 yards receiving for career-best 3 100-yard games in single-season. Had career-best 198 yards (8 catches, 1 TD) in last game vs. Vikes. Needs 8 catches to pass JIM DOOLEY (211) in tenth in club history. WR MARCUS ROBINSON has at least 7 catches in 5 of past 6 games vs. Vikings TE JOHN DAVIS has 13 receptions with 3 TDs in 2002 Club has recorded takeaways in 24 consecutive games LB ROSEVELT COLVIN has 11.0 sacks in past 9 games VIKINGS:  QB DAUNTE CULPEPPER has thrown 54 TD passes & needs 5 to pass WARREN MOON (58) for fourth in club history. Has connected with WR RANDY MOSS for 23 career TDs & needs 4 to become most prolific scoring tandem in club history (Moon/CRIS CARTER). Has rushed for most career yards (179) & TDs (4) vs. Bears RB MOE WILLIAMS needs 87 yards for career high (291, 2001) WR Moss seeks fourth 100-yard receiving game vs. Bears. Has 53 career catches vs. Chicago, second-most vs. any NFL club. Posted career-high 12 receptions & 204 yards vs. Bears (11/14/99).   WR D’WAYNE BATES spent 1999-2001 seasons with Bears. WR DERRICK ALEXANDER looks for second 100-yard game vs. Bears in past 3. Had 6 receptions for 154 yards, including 86-yard TD catch vs. Chi. (with Chiefs, 9/12/99) Vikings have 4 native Minnesotans on roster: C MATT BIRK & G CORBIN LACINA (Cretin-Derham Hall HS), QB TODD BOUMAN (Russell-Tyler-Ruthton HS) & T ADAM HAAYER (Forest Lake HS).

                                                 ATLANTA FALCONS (3-3) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (6-1)

SERIES

	FALCONS	SAINTS
LEADER	38-27
STREAKS		3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Reeves: 10-6	Haslett: 3-1
LAST WEEK	W 30-0 vs. Panthers	W 35-27 vs. 49ers
LAST GAME	12/9/01: Saints 28 at Falcons 10. New Orleans WR Joe Horn & RB Deuce McAllister each score fourth quarter TDs to help Saints beat Falcons.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/21/01: Falcons 20, Saints 13. Atlanta WR Shawn Jefferson catches a 39-yard TD pass from QB Chris Chandler to break a 10-10 tie in the fourth quarter.
TV	FOX (12:00 PM CT): Curt Menefee, Tim Ryan

STATS

PASSING	Vick: 68-111-764-4-0-93.8 (3C)	Brooks: 137-233-1,643 (2C)-16 (1L)-7-90.8 (3C)
RUSHING	Vick (QB): 31-276-8.9-2	McAllister: 154-721 (1C)-4.7-5 (T3C)
RECEIVING	Finneran: 22-265-12.0-3	Horn: 44 (2C)-609 (2C)-13.8-4 (T2C)
OFFENSE	314.3	347.4
TAKE/GIVE	+2	+5
DEFENSE	292.5	356.4
SACKS	Kerney: 4.0	Howard: 3
INTs	Six tied: 1	S. Knight: 3 (T2C)
PUNTING	Mohr: 42.0	Gowin: 42.1
KICKING	Feely: 52 (13/13 PAT; 13/16 FG)	Carney: 55 (T2C) (19/19 PAT; 12/14 FG)

NOTES

CLUBS MEET for first time as NFC South divisional rivals FALCONS:  Club 26-10 (.722) all-time under head coach DAN REEVES when leading at halftime QB MICHAEL VICK has thrown 139 consecutive passes without an interception, longest current streak in NFL. Leads all QBs with 276 yards rushing. Made first start since Oct. 6 (shoulder) last week & had 297 yards of total offense, including 44-yard TD run First-round draft pick (No. 18) RB T.J. DUCKETT leads all NFC rookies with 273 yards rushing WR BRIAN FINNERAN has 3 TD receptions & needs 1 for career high. Has 22 receptions, 15 for first downs. WR SHAWN JEFFERSON has averaged 21.8 yards per reception in past 2 vs. Saints DE TRAVIS HALL needs 3.5 sacks to pass LESTER ARCHAMBEAU (36.5) in fifth place on club’s all-time list DE PATRICK KERNEY had 2.0 sacks vs. Panthers CB ASHLEY AMBROSE spent 1999 season with Saints & led club with 6 INTs K JAY FEELY leads NFC with 10 touchbacks on KOs SAINTS:  Club seeks 7-1 start, best since 1991 Offense ranks first in NFC with 66.7 redzone TD pct. (24 trips, 16 TDs) QB AARON BROOKS looks for eighth consecutive game with 200 yards passing RB DEUCE MC ALLISTER has 5 100-yard rushing games in 2002 & club is 5-0 in those games. Needs 100 yards vs. 49ers to tie RUEBEN MAYES (6) with second-most 100-yard games in single-season in club history. Leads NFL with 3 runs of at least 50 yards (62, 52, 53) this season WR JOE HORN seeks third career 100-yard receiving game vs. Falcons. Has 12 100-yard games with Saints & club is 11-1 in those games. Has 3,214 yards receiving with Saints & needs 11 to pass HENRY CHILDS in fifth place in club history. Rookie WR DONTÈ STALLWORTH has TD catch in first 4 games before missing past 3 (hamstring). With TD catch vs. Falcons, ties CHARLIE BROWN (5, 1982) for most consecutive games with TD catch to start career.   Needs 2 TD catches to tie DANNY ABRAMOWICZ (6, 1967) for most by rookie in club-history.

                                                CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-4) AT NEW YORK JETS (2-4)

SERIES

	BROWNS	JETS
LEADER	9-6
STREAKS		2 of past 3
COACHES VS. OPP.	Davis: 0-0	Edwards: 0-0
LAST WEEK	W 34-17 vs. Texans	W 20-7 vs. Vikings
LAST GAME	10/2/94: Jets 7 at Browns 27. Cleveland QB Vinny Testaverde throws for 257 yards & Browns rookie WR Derrick Alexander has 7 receptions for 105 yards.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/16/90: Jets 24, Browns 21. New York RBs Freeman McNeil, Johnny Hector & Brad Baxter each run for TD as Jets defeat Cleveland.
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Kevin Harlan, Randy Cross, Beasley Reece (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Couch: 109-176-985-5-6-72.3	Pennington: 72-105-913-3-3-93.1
RUSHING	White: 73-365-5.0-2	Martin: 74-287-3.9-2
RECEIVING	White (RB): 37-218-5.9-0	Coles: 28-345-12.3-1
OFFENSE	311.6	294.3
TAKE/GIVE	-3	-2
DEFENSE	359.3	414.3
SACKS	Word: 5.0	J. Abraham, Evans, J. Ferguson: 2.0
INTs	Griffith: 2	D. Abraham, Robinson: 2
PUNTING	Gardocki: 44.2	Turk: 42.3
KICKING	P. Dawson: 51 (15/15 PAT; 12/14 FG)	Hall: 31 (7/7 PAT; 8/11 FG)

NOTES

TEAMS MEET for first time since Browns’ return to Cleveland. First meeting in New York since 1990. Teams played 3rd-longest game in NFL history (77:02) in 1986 AFC divisional playoff (Cle. 23-20, 2OT) BROWNS:  Defensive coordinator FOGE FAZIO was Jets’ linebackers coach for 5 years (1990-94) Under head coach BUTCH DAVIS (2001-present), Cleveland is 9-3 (.750) when scoring 20+ points in game QB TIM COUCH is 30 of 49 (61.2 pct.) in 4th-quarter passing for 220 yards with 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 92.2 rating RB JAMEL WHITE ranks 2nd among AFC RBs in receptions (37) Rookie WR ANDRÈ DAVIS attended Niskayuna (NY) High School. Recorded 95-yard KR-TD last week; 1st Browns rookie with KR-TD since CARL WARD (1967). Is 3rd among AFC rookies in receptions (21). One of 2 teams (Buffalo) to have 5 players with 20+ catches Last QB to pass for 300+ yards vs. club was Chicago's SHANE MATTHEWS (357) on 11/4/2001 (16 games). Defense had 9 sacks in Wk. 7 vs. Hou, tied for 2nd-most in team history & most since 12/5/93 vs. N.O One of 4 teams with TDs on both PR & KR JETS:  Have not lost to Browns at home since 1979 (2-0). Club has won 5 of past 7 in series Offensive coordinator PAUL HACKETT was Browns’ QB coach for 2 seasons (1981-82) QB CHAD PENNINGTON has career 114.8 passer rating in October. Has completed 54 of 71 passes (76.4 pct.) for 621 yards with 4 TDs vs. 1 INT. Against Minn. in Wk. 7, had career highs in comp. pct. (82.8 pct., 24 of 29), yards (324) & passer rating (124.7) RB CURTIS MARTIN made NFL debut vs. Cleveland (9/3/95 w/ NE). Rushed for 102 yards on 19 carries (5.4 avg.) & 1 TD. Jets are 19-6 when Martin rushes for 100+ yards WR SANTANA MOSS set career-high with 111 receiving yards on 5 receptions last week Only 3 current Jets were with team last time clubs met (10/2/94): RB RICHIE ANDERSON and LBs MARVIN JONES & MO LEWIS CB AARON BEASLEY had 40-yard FR-TD last year vs. Browns (9/30/01).

ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-2) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-2)

SERIES

	CARDINALS	49ERS
LEADER		17-9
STREAKS		Past 6 at home
COACHES VS. OPP.	McGinnis: 0-0	Mariucci: 2-0
LAST WEEK	W 9-6 (OT) vs. Cowboys	L 35-27 at Saints
LAST GAME	10/1/00: Cardinals 20 at 49ers 27. San Francisco RB Charlie Garner rushes for 2 TDs as 49ers win second consecutive game.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/1/00
TV	FOX (1:05 PM PT): Kenny Albert, Brian Baldinger

 

STATS

PASSING	Plummer: 104-212-1,144-6-5-65.1	Garcia: 110-175-1,146-6-4-83.7
RUSHING	T. Jones: 91-378-4.2-1	Hearst: 73-386-5.3-3
RECEIVING	Boston: 25-415-16.6-1	Owens: 28-346-12.4-4 (T2C)
OFFENSE	309.3	343.5
TAKE/GIVE	+6 (T2L)	+6 (T2L)
DEFENSE	334.3	324.3
SACKS	Vanden Bosch: 2.5	Carter: 5.0
INTs	Wilson : 3	Bronson: 3 (T2C)
PUNTING	Player: 44.1	Baker 40.9
KICKING	Gramatica: 40 (10/10 PAT; 10/15 FG)	Cortez: 50 (14/14 PAT; 12/14 FG)

NOTES

CLUBS MEET for first time as NFC West rivals CARDINALS:  Club’s 4-2 start best since 1988 & win vs. 49ers gives team best start since 1976 QB JAKE PLUMMER has engineered game-winning drive in club’s final possession past 2 weeks RB THOMAS JONES has rushed for 378 yards & needs 3 yards for career-high (380, 2001). Seeks TD in second career-game vs. 49ers WR DAVID BOSTON seeks second consecutive 100-yard receiving game after posting 110 yards (6 catches) vs. Cowboys last week. WR FRANK SANDERS has 473 career receptions & needs 8 to pass JACKIE SMITH (480) in third on club’s all-time list Club seeks to surrender 1 TD or less for fourth consecutive game (6 vs. Dal; 13 vs. Car; 7 vs. NYG). Team’s 4 INT vs. Cowboys last week most since 4 on 12/27/98 (W 16-13 vs. SD) DE KYLE VANDEN BOSCH has at least 0.5 sacks in 3 of past 4 games S ADRIAN WILSON had career-high 3 INTs vs. Dal last week K BILL GRAMATICA has connected on game-winning field goal in past 2 games (40 yards vs. Dal; 50 yards vs. Car) 49ERS:  QB JEFF GARCIA leads NFL with 118.0 third-down passer rating, including 4 TDs & 0 INTs RB GARRISON HEARST has 14 career 100-yard rushing games with 49ers & will move into second place in club history (ROGER CRAIG) with 100-yard outing vs. Cards. Club has 13-1 (.929) record when he rushes for 100 yards. Drafted No. 3 overall by Arizona in 1993 & spent 1993-95 seasons with club, including first career 1,000-yard rushing season (1,070, 1995). Plays first game vs. former club. Hearst & RB KEVAN BARLOW (320) are only RB tandem in NFL to each have 300 yards rushing WR TERRELL OWENS has 64 career TDs & needs 3 to pass Craig for second in club history. Has 16 career 100-yard receiving games & needs 100 yards vs. Cards to tie GENE WASHINGTON for second-most 100-yard games in club history (JERRY RICE, 66). WR TAI STREETS had career-high 6 catches (80 yards) vs. Saints last week S TONY PARRISH needs 1 INT to tie career-high (3, 2000-01) K JOSE CORTEZ has connected on 11 consecutive FGs.

                                                HOUSTON TEXANS (1-5) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (3-3)

SERIES

	TEXANS	JAGUARS
LEADER	--
STREAKS	--
COACHES VS. OPP.	Capers: 0-1	Coughlin: 0-0
LAST WEEK	L 34-17 at Browns	L 17-10 at Ravens
LAST GAME	--
LAST GAME AT SITE	--
TV	CBS (4:15 PM ET): Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots

STATS

PASSING	Carr (R): 78-157-1,004-6-6-66.9	Brunell: 97-162-1,180-5-4-82.3
RUSHING	Allen: 70-257-3.7-0	Taylor: 130-597-4.6-4
RECEIVING	Bradford: 20-428-21.4-5 (T3L)	J. Smith: 29-400-13.8-1
OFFENSE	244.3	339.7
TAKE/GIVE	-2	+3 (T3C)
DEFENSE	316.2	337.5
SACKS	Posey: 4.5	Henderson (R): 4.0
INTs	Glenn: 2	McCree: 2
PUNTING	Stanley: 41.3	Hanson: 46.3 (3L)
KICKING	K. Brown: 27 (9/9 PAT; 6/8 FG)	-- --

NOTES

GAME FEATURES head coaches who took over expansion teams in 1995 -- Houston’s DOM CAPERS was first coach for Carolina & Jacksonville’s TOM COUGHLIN remains only coach in Jaguars’ history. Coughlin has 1-0 record vs. Capers (Jacksonville, 24-14 in 1996) TEXANS:  Selected 3 Jaguars in expansion draft: T TONY BOSELLI (No. 1) and DTs GARY WALKER (No. 4) & SETH PAYNE (No. 8). Team acquired former Jaguar DE JEFF POSEY (4.5 sacks, tied for 7th-best in AFC) as UFA. Club has 16 players who played high school football in Texas As head coach of 2 expansion teams in career, DOM CAPERS owns record of 32-40 (.444) Rookie QB DAVID CARR has reached career-bests in passing yards in 3 consecutive games (188, 218, 267, respectively). Has not thrown INT in past 9 quarters WR COREY BRADFORD tied for 2nd in NFL in TD receptions (5) & has 20 catches for 428 yards for NFL-best 21.4 receiving avg. among players with at least 18 receptions. Second-round draft pick (No. 33) WR JABAR GAFFNEY attended Raines High School (Jacksonville, Fla.) & was consensus All-America selection at Florida Defensive line -- DEs Walker, Payne & NT JERRY DELOACH – have started all 6 of club’s games. In AFC, club is No. 3 in pass defense (194.3), No. 5 in total defense (316.2) & tied for 5th in sacks (15) JAGUARS:  Since 1996, club tied for NFL’s 4th-best home record (37-14, .725) QB MARK BRUNELL is 35-20 (.636) in career in division games In past 16 games with at least 15 carries, RB FRED TAYLOR has rushed for 1,905 yards (119.1 yards per game) & 15 TDs. Team is 30-16 (.652) when Taylor plays. Club tied for NFL’s 2nd-fewest fumbles lost (2) WR JIMMY SMITH has 45 catches for 528 yards & 4 TDs in past 6 home division games. Has more receiving yards than any NFL player over past 7 seasons (8,372). Has more career receptions than 14 of 19 Hall of Fame WRs & is 19 catches from surpassing RAYMOND BERRY (631). Has played in 117 of 118 games in Jaguars’ history. WR-PR BOBBY SHAW leads AFC with 14.3 PR avg. Club is NFL’s 2nd-best on 4th down conversions (7 of 9, 77.8 pct.) Team has sack in 30 games in row, longest streak in AFC & 4th-longest in NFL KR coverage unit gives foes NFL’s 3rd-poorest avg. drive start (24.2).

DENVER BRONCOS (5-2) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-3)

SERIES

	BRONCOS	PATRIOTS
LEADER	21-14
STREAKS	11 of past 13
COACHES VS. OPP.	Shanahan: 5-2	Belichick: 1-5
LAST WEEK	W 37-34 (OT) at Chiefs	Bye (Wk 6: L 28-10 vs. Packers)
LAST GAME	10/28/01: Patriots 20 at Broncos 31. Denver QB Brian Griese passes for 2 TDs as Broncos rally from 10-point deficit to win.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/24/99: Patriots 24, Broncos 23. New England RB Terry Allen rushes for 106 yards & 2 TDs as Patriots build 24-14 lead & hold off Broncos.
TV	CBS (4:15 PM ET): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, Armen Keteyian (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Griese: 169-261-1,887 (3L)-12-8-88.7	Brady: 170-260-1,749-14 (T3C)-9-88.1
RUSHING	Portis (R): 88-451-5.1-2	A. Smith: 86-385-4.5-1
RECEIVING	Smith: 42-487-11.6-2	Branch (R): 37-408-11.0-2
OFFENSE	381.3	374.2
TAKE/GIVE	+1	-2
DEFENSE	283.9 (1C)	299.0 (2C)
SACKS	Pryce: 6.0 (T1C)	Four tied: 2.0
INTs	O’Neal: 3 (T3C)	Buckley: 2
PUNTING	Rouen: 43.2	Walter: 37.9
KICKING	Elam: 61 (T2C) (19/19 PAT; 14/18 FG)	Vinatieri: 42 (15/15 PAT; 9/10 FG)

NOTES

CLUBS MEET FOR EIGHTH CONSECUTIVE SEASON -- longest active streak among non-division rivals Game features former Michigan QBs -- Denver’s BRIAN GRIESE & New England’s TOM BRADY. AFC’s top 2 defenses meet (Denver is No. 1, NE is No.2). BRONCOS:  Club has won 11 of past 13 vs. NE. Have 25-16 (.610) record in October since 1992 Head coach MIKE SHANAHAN has 5-2 (.714) career record vs. Patriots (2-1 on road) QB Griese has 960 passing yards in past 3 vs. NE (320.0 per game). Has passed for 300+ yards in 4 consecutive games & aims to become 6th player in NFL history with 5 300-yard passing games in row WR ROD SMITH has 33 catches for 550 yards (3 100s) in past 5 vs. Patriots (110.0 yards per game) In past 3 vs. Pats, WR ED MC CAFFREY has 21 catches for 299 yards & 2-point conversion. TE SHANNON SHARPE set single-game receiving yard record for TE with 214 in Wk. 7 vs. KC. Surpassed HOFer DAVE CASPER as 2nd-leading TD-scoring TE all-time with 53 (JERRY SMITH, 60, Wash. ’65-77) Defense intercepted Pats QB Brady 5 times in last meeting. CB DENARD WALKER had 2 INTs, including 39-yard INT-TD PATRIOTS:  Are 6-1 (.857) in past 7 at home, including playoffs QB Brady has 17-6 (.739) career record (including postseason). Is NFL’s 3rd-highest rated passer in 4th quarter (110.3), completing 37 of 57 passes (64.9 pct.) for 441 yards with 5 TDs vs. 1 INT RB ANTOWAIN SMITH has 148 rush yards & 5.3 avg. in 2 career games vs. Denver WR TROY BROWN has 19 catches for 291 yards & 4 TDs in past 3 vs. Broncos. Has 21 receptions for 213 yards in past 2 at home WR-KR DEION BRANCH leads NFL rookies in 3rd down catches (12), tied for 5th in NFL overall. First round draft pick (No. 21) TE DANIEL GRAHAM was All-Colorado at Thomas Jefferson H.S. (Denver, Co.). Was unanimous 1st team All-American & John Mackey Award winner (best TE) at Colorado Club leads NFL in pass defense (155.7). CB TERRELL BUCKLEY leads team with 2 INTs. Led Broncos with 6 INTs in 2000.

SUNDAY NIGHT
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-2) AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS (2-4)

SERIES

	COLTS	REDSKINS
LEADER	17-9
STREAKS		Past 4 at home
COACHES VS. OPP.	Dungy: 2-2	Spurrier: 0-0
LAST WEEK	L 28-10 at Steelers	L 30-9 at Packers
LAST GAME	12/19/99: Redskins 21 at Colts 24. Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning passes for 198 yards & 2 TDs & RB Edgerrin James scores twice as Colts clinch their first AFC East title since 1987.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/27/96: Redskins 31, Colts 16. Washington RB Terry Allen scores 3 TDs for second consecutive week to keep Redskins in first place.
TV	ESPN (8:30 PM ET): Mike Patrick, Joe Theisman, Paul Maguire, Suzy Colber (Field reporter). CBS Radio: Joel Meyers, Bob Trumpy, Rick Walker (Field reporter). ESPN Deportes: Eduardo Varela, Fuad Reveiz, Luz Ramos (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Manning: 149-226-1,584-10-8-86.2	Mathews: 55-90-558-4-2-84.4
RUSHING	James: 140-490-3.5-1	Davis: 107-448-4.2-3
RECEIVING	Harrison: 52 (1L)-659 (2L)-12.7-3	Gardner: 24-366-15.3-2
OFFENSE	345.5	306.0
TAKE/GIVE	+1	-8
DEFENSE	317.8	319.5
SACKS	Bratzke, Freeney (R), Scioli: 3.0	Arrington: 5.0
INTs	Bashir, Harris, Peterson: 2	Bailey: 3 (T2C)
PUNTING	H. Smith: 44.8	Barker: 43.2
KICKING	Vanderjagt: 46 (13/13 PAT; 11/14 FG)	Tuthill: 24 (9/9 PAT; 5/6 FG)

NOTES

COLTS:  QB PEYTON MANNING completed 23 of 37 passes (62.2 pct.) for 298 yards with 2 TDs & 1 INT for 94.2 passer rating in only career meeting vs. Redskins. In 16 career games vs. NFC, has passed for 4,326 yards (270.4 yards per game) & 32 TDs (21 INTs). Needs 2 TD passes to surpass BERT JONES (122) for 2nd-most in team history In only meeting vs. Washington, RB EDGERRIN JAMES had 148 scrimmage yards (89 rushing, 59 receiving) & 2 TDs. James has 1,360 total yards from scrimmage (872 rushing, 488 receiving) & 10 TDs in 8 games vs. NFC (170.0 yards per game). Had career-high 11 catches last Monday vs. Pitt WR MARVIN HARRISON had 9 catches for 117 yards (13.0 avg.) in last game vs. Skins LB MIKE PETERSON has an INT in each of past 2 games REDSKINS:  Club will commemorate its 70th anniversary by honoring "70 Greatest Redskins," including CB DARRELL GREEN, at halftime QB SHANE MATTHEWS makes first start since 9/22 vs. San Francisco RB STEPHEN DAVIS has 18 career 100-yard rushing games & with 100 yards vs. Colts ties for most in club history (LARRY BROWN, JOHN RIGGINS). Seeks sixth 100-yard game in past 12 WR DERRIUS THOMPSON had career-high 5 receptions & 89 yards last week. WR ROD GARDNER needs 2 TD receptions to tie career-high (4, 2001) Defense ranks third in NFC in holding opponents to 41.7 redzone TD pct. (24 trips, 10 TDs) LB LA VAR ARRINGTON seeks sack in third consecutive game. Has 3.0 sacks in past 2 & career-high 5.0 this season Green needs 1 INT vs. Ind to increase NFL record of consecutive seasons with INT to 20. CB CHAMP BAILEY needs 2 INTs to tie career high (5, 1999-00).

                                                                          MONDAY NIGHT
                                      NEW YORK GIANTS (3-3) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-2)

SERIES

	GIANTS	EAGLES
LEADER	72-60-2
STREAKS	Past 2
COACHES VS. OPP.	Fassel: 8-2	Reid: 4-2
LAST WEEK	Bye (Wk. 6 L 17-10 vs. Falcons)	W 20-10 vs. Buccaneers
LAST GAME	12/30/01: Giants 21 at Eagles 24. Philadelphia K David Akers kicks a 35-yard field goal with seven seconds left to eliminate New York from playoff contention.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/30/01
TV	ABC (9:00 PM ET): Al Michaels, John Madden, Melissa Stark (Field reporter). CBS Radio: Marv Albert, Boomer Esiason, John Riggins (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Collins: 130-203-1,565 (3C)-5-8-79.4	McNabb: 132-226-1,407-12 (3C)-4-87.0
RUSHING	Barber: 99-365-3.7-2	Staley: 82-381-4.6-4
RECEIVING	Barber (RB): 31-236-7.6-0	Staley (RB): 26-214-8.2-1
OFFENSE	331.8	370.8 (2C)
TAKE/GIVE	-4	+6 (T2L)
DEFENSE	282.0 (3L)	254.5 (2L)
SACKS	Strahan: 3.5	Walker: 4.5
INTs	Peterson: 2	Dawkins: 2
PUNTING	M. Allen: 40.7	Landeta: 45.2 (2C)
KICKING	Bryant (R): 38 (8/8 PAT; 10/10 FG)	Akers: 55 (2C) (19/19 PAT; 12/12 FG)

NOTES

GIANTS:  Play first of 2 consecutive prime-time games (vs. Jax, 11/3/02, 8:30 p.m., ESPN). Club has won 4 of past 5 in Phil QB KERRY COLLINS has thrown franchise-record 1,574 consecutive passes for club, longest current streak in NFL. Will start 45th consecutive game for Giants & pass DAVE BROWN (44) for second-most among QBs (PHIL SIMMS, 50) in Giants Stadium era (1976). Aims for second consecutive 300-yard passing game against Eagles (303, 12/30/01) WR AMANI TOOMER has 2 career 100-yard receiving games vs. Phil. & needs 1 more for most vs. any foe. WR IKE HILLIARD has catch in club-record 68 consecutive games DE MICHAEL STRAHAN aims for fourth consecutive multi-sack game vs. Eagles & has 7.5 sacks in past 3 vs. Phil, including postseason. Has 8.0 career sacks vs. QB DONOVAN MC NABB, most vs. any QB Rookie K MATT BRYANT has connected on first 10 career FG attempts & needs 3 to tie KRIS BROWN (13) for most consecutive FGs to start career EAGLES:  Club aims for eighth consecutive prime-time win & is 25-4 (.862) when scoring 20 or more points under head coach ANDY REID. Club has scored in 21 of 24 quarters in 2002 & 5-2 start would be best since 1996 QB McNabb looks to improve to 3-0 on MNF. Has 93.6 passer rating (41 of 64, 446 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT) in 2 career MNF games RB DUCE STALEY has 10 career 100-yard rushing games, including 152 yards last week. Has rushed for 3,696 yards & needs 8 to pass TIMMY BROWN (3,703) in fifth place on club’s all-time list WR JAMES THRASH looks for TD in third consecutive game vs. NYG & has TDs in 5 of past 7 games overall TE CHAD LEWIS looks for fourth TD in past 5 games vs. Giants KR-PR BRIAN MITCHELL has 20,984 combined yards and needs 16 to become third player in NFL history (WALTER PAYTON, JERRY RICE) to reach 21,000 K DAVID AKERS has connected on 18 consecutive FGs, including postseason.

                          GREEN BAY, MIAMI, ST. LOUIS, SAN DIEGO HAVE OPEN DATES IN WEEK 8

GREEN BAY (6-1):  Club won its 18th consecutive game when leading at halftime (17-6 vs. Wash), longest current streak in NFL QB BRETT FAVRE has 40,333 career yards passing & needs 219 to pass JOE MONTANA (40,551) in sixth place all-time. Leads NFL with 102.0 passer rating & is tops in NFC with 153 completions & 1,706 yards passing. Has passed for 14 TDs, second-most in NFC, & 3 INTs, second-fewest of any NFC starter RB AHMAN GREEN has 13 100-yard rushing games with Packers & club is 13-0 in those games. Has rushed for 3,202 career yards & needs 152 to pass EDGAR BENNETT (3,353) in eighth in club history TE BUBBA FRANKS leads NFC tight ends with 24 receptions Defense second in NFL with 12 INTs after finishing with 20 in 2001 DE KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA has 4.0 sacks in past 3 games.

MIAMI (5-2):  Among NFL leaders, RB RICKY WILLIAMS is 4th in rushing (711) & 4th in total yards from scrimmage (910). Offense is 3rd in AFC in rush yards per game (141.1) Rookie TE RANDY MC MICHAEL leads team in receptions (24) & already has third-most TDs by Dolphins rookie with 4. Recently signed WR CRIS CARTER has caught 1,093 passes for 13,833 yards & 129 TDs, placing him second in NFL annals in both receptions & receiving TDs, & third in receiving yards.  Offense has scored 20 TDs in 28 red zone possessions (71.4 pct.), 3rd-best in NFL KR-RB TRAVIS MINOR in NFL’s top kick returner (28.8). Team tied for NFL-best avg. drive start after KR (32.4) CB PATRICK SURTAIN is tied for 3rd in AFC with 3 INTs. Club tied for AFC lead in INTs (11) and overall takeaways (15). Defense is 4th in AFC in sacks with 17, led by DE JASON TAYLOR with 5.5. Taylor ranks 4th among AFC sack leaders. Defense is AFC’s 2nd-toughest inside own 20-yard line, allowing only 9 TDs in 24 possessions (37.5) Team is 9-4 all-time after bye week.

ST. LOUIS (2-5):  RB MARSHALL FAULK has 119 career TDs & ranks seventh on NFL’s all-time list. Rushed for personal season-high 183 yards vs. Seattle, including 4 TDs (3 rushing, 1 receiving). Has rushed for 4,424 yards with Rams (10,044 career yards) & needs 76 yards to become fourth player in club history with 4,500 yards. Leads NFC with 47 first downs (34 rushing, 13 receptions) WR ISAAC BRUCE has 58 career TDs & needs 1 to pass ERIC DICKERSON in second place on club’s all-time list. WR TORRY HOLT leads NFC with 613 yards receiving & his 42 catches rank third Defense has held opponents to 1 offensive TD in consecutive games. Unit has forced NFL-best 23 turnovers in 2002 K JEFF WILKINS ranks second in NFC with 8 touchbacks on KOs.

SAN DIEGO (6-1):  Club off to best start since 1994 when team began 6-1 & advanced to Super Bowl XXIX With victory in Oakland, head coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER recorded his 159th career regular season win, surpassing HOF coach BUD GRANT (158) for ninth-place on all-time list. Schottenheimer is 8 victories from surpassing HOF coach PAUL BROWN QB DREW BREES has won 6 of first 7 NFL starts. On 3rd down, Brees is 39 of 59 (66.1 pct.) with AFC’s 4th-best passer rating (94.7). In win over Oakland last Sunday, Brees completed 16 of 25 passes (64.0 pct.) for 179 yards with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 110.4 rating RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON leads NFL in rushing (785 yards) & is 3rd among AFC RBs in receptions (34) Rookie WR RECHE CALDWELL has TD catch in each of past 2 games. WR CURTIS CONWAY leads club in receptions (39) & is 4th in AFC in receiving yards (565). Conway is 3rd in NFL 3rd down receptions (14). Club is only AFC team with 3 players with at least 4.0 sacks: DE ADRIAN DINGLE (4.5), DE RAYLEE JOHNSON (4.5) & rookie LB BEN LEBER (4.0). Defense is NFL’s 2nd-best in rushing yards allowed per game (78.7).

 

 

SPORTS

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

 

 

 

NFL 2002 Week 8 | Cards - 49ers Battle for 1st Highlights Big Division Weekend