NFL 2002 Week 9
NFL 2002 Season Hits Mid-Point with Races Tight

NFL 2002 Week 9

NFL FACTOID: HUTCHINSON THE FIRST

When rookie CHAD HUTCHINSON started for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8, he became the first quarterback in NFL history -- starter or sub -- to also pitch in the major leagues (2001 St. Louis Cardinals, three games, four innings pitched).

 

Halfway there, it’s been full-blown craziness.

In other words, just your typical NFL season.

As the official mid-point of the 2002 season -- Week 9 -- is reached this week, division races are as tight as a lineman’s jersey (in six of the eight divisions, no more than a game separates the first and second-place clubs) records seemingly are set every week scoring is the highest (44.4 points per game) it’s been in 38 years (1964) 53 percent of games have been decided by eight points or less and one wild game after another (see Atlanta-New Orleans, Week 8) is being played every week.

"We’ve got a lot of football left," says another of ‘02’s wild stories -- Pittsburgh quarterback TOMMY MADDOX, who didn’t play in an NFL game for six years (1995-2001), took over at QB after an 0-2 Steelers start and has led them to a 3-1 record and first place in the AFC North.

This week?  You’ve got a battle for first in the AFC North (Steelers-Browns) two stars playing their former teams for the first time (DREW BLEDSOE and JERRY RICE) the first "Battle of the Bay" in Oakland in 23 years and "Mr. Monday Night" (BRETT FAVRE) returning to that stage.

One half down, another unpredictable one coming up!

In Cleveland, it will be like old times -- a battle for first place between the Browns and -- who better than to wage it against? -- the Steelers.

This longtime "Rust Belt Rivalry"  – the first AFC series to reach 100 games (as they did this past September 29) -- is fueled by only 133 miles of highway between the cities and memories of cleats-dug-deep-in-the-mud battles. DICK SCHAFRATH, anyone?  JACK LAMBERT, anyone?  BRADSHAW?  KOSAR?

Those legends always hover over a Browns-Steelers game, particularly one that means a first-place swing.

The first-place Steelers (4-3) have uprighted their season after their 0-2 start, and have outscored teams 93-35 in their current three-game winning streak. In that time, they have gone from 13th in the conference in offense to eighth.

"It does nothing for you to read your clippings," says Steelers head coach BILL COWHER.

The second-place Browns (4-4) know that. They lost their season-opener, won their next two, lost their next three, and are now on a two-game winning streak.

"This is by far the biggest game of the year for us," says Browns tight end AARON SHEA. "It’s Pittsburgh, it’s at home, and it’s for first place in the division. It doesn’t get any better than this. It’s storybook."

In Buffalo this week, Drew Bledsoe will play a "storybook" game he’s been aiming for since last April 21. That was the day he was traded from the team he played for for nine years and faces Sunday, the New England Patriots. And he’s been "Buffalo Wingin’ It" ever since!

The Patriots’ all-time leader in attempts, completions and passing yards leads the AFC in just about every category -- attempts, yards, interception percentage and passer rating, and is tied with Kansas City’s TRENT GREEN for most TD passes (16).

"Sunday will be a great challenge because those guys over there have a great team," says Bledsoe (NFL Conference Call: Wednesday, October 30, 12:15 PM ET, 630-395-0182, Passcode: NFL). "They have a great defense that was good enough to win a Super Bowl. I know they’ll be a great challenge, but this will be fun." 

How the top 15 quarterbacks in all-time passer rating did in their first game against their original team:

HEY, YOU LOOK FAMILIAR

The 5-3 second-place "Bearded Bills" -- whose offense has started sporting beards to keep their three-game winning streak going ("I hope they keep them the whole year," says head coach GREGG WILLIAMS) -- boast a pick-your-poison attack built around Bledsoe, running back TRAVIS HENRY and wide receivers ERIC MOULDS and PEERLESS PRICE. 

Henry is second in the league to Kansas City’s PRIEST HOLMES (90) in non-kicker points scored (60). Moulds and Price rank second (57) and third (51) in the AFC, respectively, in catches and first and second (785 and 740) in receiving yards.

The quartet poses a real problem for opponents. "Do they blitz and take a chance one-on-one with Eric and Peerless?" asks Bills backup quarterback ALEX VAN PELT, "or do they play ‘cover two’ and let us run the ball and die slowly?"

That is, of course, what head coach BILL BELICHICK and the Patriots will be trying to figure out. In spite of losing their last four games (to clubs with a combined 23-6 record), 3-4 New England -- with the second-ranked defense in the conference -- is not quaking.

"We’re not pushing the panic button around here," says Patriots wide receiver TROY BROWN, "but we’re pushing the urgency button."

Whatever buttons are pushed, the game should be close. Four of the past five meetings between the teams have been decided in overtime. And the past eight games have been decided by a combined 39 points.

"Every time we play them, it’s close," says Belichick.

So are San Francisco and Oakland -- 23 miles, in fact -- but the 49ers have not made that trip in 23 years (since 1979). They will this Sunday, right smack into the home of the "Raider Nation."  These are the kinds of rivalries that realignment and its new scheduling formula will make even more intense.

There’ll be a familiar face awaiting the Niners at Network Associates Coliseum -- the NFL’s all-time touchdown scorer (199), scrimmage-yards leader (21,617), receptions (1,409) and reception-yards leader (20,990) -- who else, No. 80 -- JERRY RICE, who amassed the bulk of those records as a 49er from 1985-2000 and helped the team to three Super Bowl championships.

It will be Rice’s first regular-season game against his old mates, and he joins other top 10 all-time receptions leaders in playing their original team:    

HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE?

Like another legend who last week broke an NFL record (EMMITT SMITH, career rushing yards), Rice Sunday can add more chapters to his milestone dossier. With one touchdown, he becomes the first player in NFL history with 200, and with 10 yards, Rice becomes the first with 21,000 receiving yards.  

The 40-year-old Rice -- the only receiver to play at that age in the NFL since 1970 -- will essentially go against the man who took over for him, TERRELL OWENS of the Niners. The 28-year-old is on his way to duplicating his ranking as the top TD receiver (16) of last year. With his two scoring catches last Sunday, Owens leads the NFC in receiving TDs.

"I’m watching him in awe in a lot of ways," says San Francisco quarterback JEFF GARCIA. "T.O. gives us a capacity that very few teams have."

The game also pits Garcia vs. Gannon. Garcia -- leading the 49ers to a 5-2 record and first place in the NFC West -- is ranked third in the NFC in passer rating (91.5). RICH GANNON (97.1) of the Raiders is second to Bledsoe in the AFC and knows it’s time for the 4-3 Raiders to stop their three-game skid. He has thrown for 300 or more yards in six consecutive games, joining STEVE YOUNG and KURT WARNER as the only quarterbacks to do so in NFL history. No QB has thrown for 300 in seven games in a row.

There’s another quarterback who has set some records in his time who’ll help close out the week at a time in which he seems to excel -- Monday night (ABC, 9:00 PM ET).

BRETT FAVRE and his 6-1 Green Bay Packers host the 5-2 Miami Dolphins in a clash of first-place teams. It will be the 499th Monday night game in history (see below). And one of the best performances ever in that history came from Favre this past October 7.

Against division-rival Chicago on the road, Favre surpassed 40,000 yards for his career (only the eighth QB in history to do so). For the night, he completed 22 of 33 attempts for 359 yards and three TDs, one going 85 yards to DONALD DRIVER for the longest play from scrimmage in the NFL this year.

"That’s the thing about Brett," says Driver. "You keep running and get open and he’ll find you."

A player the Packers are familiar with from his years in the NFC Central will be making his debut with the Dolphins -- CRIS CARTER, the NFL’s second-ranked career receiver (1,093) who has come out of retirement to shore up an injured Miami receiving corps. And Carter likes Monday nights. He is the third-leading receiver in the history of the series with 119 catches (behind Rice’s 220, and ANDRE REED’s 124).

With the air show on each side, it could still come down to two "pounders" -- running backs RICKY WILLIAMS of the Dolphins (No. 4 in the NFL, 711 yards) and AHMAN GREEN of the Packers (No. 7 in the league, 640).

500TH MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME COMING UP; GREATEST TO BE NAMED

There have been so many great games on ABC’s NFL Monday Night Football since the longest-running prime-time entertainment series in television history began in 1970. In Week 10 on November 11, the 500th Monday Night Football   game in history will be played when the Denver Broncos host the Oakland Raiders. And that night, the greatest Monday night game in history, as voted upon by fans on NFL.com, will be named.

Since the beginning of the season, fans have been asked to vote for the greatest MNF game, narrowing an original list of 12 such games to a final five. The five finalists for the greatest Monday Night Football game ever:

·         NOVEMBER 20, 1978 – DOLPHINS 30 AT OILERS 35 – EARL CAMPBELL rushes for 199 yards and four TDs as he outduels BOB GRIESE at the Astrodome.

·         SEPTEMBER 5, 1983 -- COWBOYS 31 AT REDSKINS 30 -- DANNY WHITE throws for three second-half touchdowns and runs for another to rally Dallas from a 23-3 halftime deficit to defeat the defending Super Bowl champions.

·         DECEMBER 2, 1985 -- BEARS 24 AT DOLPHINS 38 -- DAN MARINO throws three TD passes and RON DAVENPORT runs for two more as the Dolphins hand the Bears their first (and only) loss of the season.

·         OCTOBER 17, 1994 -- CHIEFS 31 AT BRONCOS 28 – In a classic exhibition of gunslinging quarterbacks, JOHN ELWAY and JOE MONTANA battle back and forth the entire night. A Montana five-yard TD toss to WILLIE DAVIS with eight seconds to go gives the Chiefs the win.

·         OCTOBER 23, 2000 -- DOLPHINS 37 AT NY JETS 40 (OT) – Jets overcome a 30-7 fourth-quarter deficit to win on a JOHN HALL 40-yard field goal.

WEEK 9
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-4) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (4-3)

SERIES

	RAVENS	FALCONS
LEADER	1-0
STREAKS	1-0
COACHES VS. OPP.	Billick: 1-0	Reeves: 0-1
LAST WEEK	L 31-18 vs. Steelers	W 37-35 at Saints
LAST GAME	10/3/99: Ravens 19 at Falcons 13 (OT). Baltimore QB Stoney Case’s 54-yard TD pass to WR Justin Armour 2:29 into OT lifts Ravens to victory.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/3/99
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Gus Johnson, Brent Jones

STATS

PASSING	Blake: 29-50-298-1-3-56.9	Vick: 84-135-959-4-0-93.4 (2C)
RUSHING	J. Lewis: 147-610-4.1-3	Vick (QB): 41-367-9.0-4
RECEIVING	J. Lewis (RB): 31-230-7.4-0	Finneran: 26-327-12.6-3
OFFENSE	280.9	333.1
TAKE/GIVE	-2	+3
DEFENSE	339.6	300.4
SACKS	Boulware: 5.0	Kerney: 4.0
INTs	R. Lewis, Reed (R): 2	Carpenter: 2
PUNTING	Zastudil (R): 41.5	Mohr: 42.0
KICKING	Stover: 42 (12/12 PAT; 10/12 FG)	Feely: 65(T1C) (17/17 PAT; 16/19 FG)

NOTES

RAVENS:  Club has won 3 of past 5 games Club is 14-1 (.933) when RB JAMAL LEWIS carries ball 20 times or more WR TRAVIS TAYLOR has at least 4 catches in each of past 4 games. Set career-high in receptions last Sunday vs. Pitt with 7 (82 yards, 11.7 avg.). TE TODD HEAP ranks 3rd among AFC TEs in receptions (29) Since club began play in 1996, T JONATHAN OGDEN has started every game (109). Team has outscored opponents 54-33 in 2nd quarter First-year starting LB ED HARTWELL has 63 tackles through 7 games. With 12 INTs, team is tied for 3rd-most in NFL & on pace for franchise-record of 27 INTs. Club has 10 players with at least 1 INT. Defense is 4th in AFC in points allowed (20.3) & 5th in conference in denying 3rd down conversion attempts (37-98, 37.8 pct) FALCONS:  Club 27-10 (.730) all-time under head coach DAN REEVES when leading at halftime. Offense ranks third in NFC with 56.0 redzone TD pct. (25 trips, 14 TDs) QB MICHAEL VICK has thrown 163 consecutive passes without INT, longest current streak in NFL. Ranks second in NFL with 104.2 third-down passer rating Leads all QBs with 367 yards rushing & his 9.0 yards per carry average is NFL best among rushers with at least 350 yards. Seeks third consecutive 90-yard rushing game & third consecutive game with rushing TD RB WARRICK DUNN seeks consecutive 100-yard rushing games for third time in career. Had personal season-high 142 yards rushing last week vs. Saints & most since 145 yards vs. Rams on 12/18/00 (with Bucs). 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 26 catches, 20 for first downs K JAY FEELY leads NFC with 10 touchbacks on KOs.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-4) AT BUFFALO BILLS (5-3)

SERIES

	PATRIOTS	BILLS
LEADER	43-39-1
STREAKS	Past 3
COACHES VS. OPP.	Belichick: 3-2	Williams: 0-2
LAST WEEK	L 24-16 vs. Broncos	W 24-17 vs. Lions
LAST GAME	12/16/01: Patriots 12 at Bills 9 (OT). New England’s Adam Vinatieri kicks game-winning FG, his 4th of game, from 23 yards out in OT to give Patriots victory.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/16/01
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, Armen Keteyian (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Brady: 185-289-1,879-15 (T3C)-9-86.8	Bledsoe: 203-318-2,500 (1L)-16 (T1C)-5-98.3 (1C)
RUSHING	A. Smith: 99-443-4.5-2	Henry: 151-695-4.6-9 (2L)
RECEIVING	Brown: 43-388-9.0-1	Moulds: 57 (2L)-785 (1L)-13.8-5
OFFENSE	346.3	384.0 (2L)
TAKE/GIVE	0	0
DEFENSE	306.4 (2C)	337.4
SACKS	McGinest: 3.0	Schobel: 4.5
INTs	Buckley, Law: 2	Clements: 3
PUNTING	Walter: 38.1	Moorman: 46.2 (1C)
KICKING	Vinatieri: 46 (16/16 PAT; 10/11 FG)	Hollis: 67 (T2L) (25/25 PAT; 14/17 FG)

NOTES

FOUR OF PAST 5 in series have been decided in OT. Past 8 meetings have been decided by 10 points-or-less & 4 of past 5 by 3 points-or-less. In 83 career games b/w teams, clubs separated by 24 total points (NE 1,626; Buff 1,602).  PATRIOTS:  QB TOM BRADY has 17-7 (.708) career record (including postseason). Is 2-0 vs. Buffalo. Has thrown for 862 yards on road in 2002 (287.3 yards per game). Ranks 2nd in NFL in 4th qtr. passing (109.0), completing 40 of 64 passes (62.5 pct.) for 463 yards with 6 TDs vs. 1 INT RB ANTOWAIN SMITH rushed for 195 yards & 2 TDs in 2 meetings last year. Was first-round selection & member of Bills from 1997-2000 & 15 of his 40 career TD runs have come at Ralph Wilson Stadium. NE is 9-2 when Smith has TD run Rookie WR DEION BRANCH has 20 catches for 254 yards (12.7 avg.) & 1 TD on road in 2002. Offense is 3rd in AFC in converting 3rd down attempts (42 of 95, 44.2 pct.) Four of past 7 INTs for CB TY LAW have come against AFC East (1 vs. Buffalo, 11/11/01). In 4 career games vs. Bills (w/ Pats), CB OTIS SMITH has 28 tackles & 1 INT. DE WILLIE MC GINEST has 2.5 sacks in past 2 vs. Bills. Defense is No. 2 in NFL (Tampa Bay) in passing yards per game (164.1) BILLS:  QB DREW BLEDSOE faces former team for first time. Was No. 1 overall selection by NE in 1993 NFL Draft & was member of Patriots from 1993-2001. Set franchise career passing records for attempts (4,518), completions (2,544) & yards (29,657). On pace to become 2nd player in NFL history to record 5,000 pass yards in season (DAN MARINO, 5,084, 1984) RB TRAVIS HENRY has 53 carries for 281 yards (140.5 yards per game) & 3 TDs in 2 division games in 2002. His 9 rush TDs are 2nd in NFL to KC’s PRIEST HOLMES (13) WRs ERIC MOULDS (785) & PEERLESS PRICE (743) rank No. 1 & 2 in NFL in receiving yards. Price has 6 receiving TDs, tied for NFL lead. Club is 1 of 2 teams (Cleveland) to have 5 players with 20 or more catches Club had 12 sacks last year vs. Patriots. DE AARON SCHOBEL had 4.0 sacks in 2 meetings last year & aims for 3rd consecutive multi-sack game vs. NE. Defense has held opponents under 200 pass yards in past 3 games.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (5-2) AT CHICAGO BEARS (2-5)

SERIES

	EAGLES	BEARS
LEADER		24-6-1
STREAKS	Past 3 of 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Reid: 2-0	Jauron: 0-2
LAST WEEK	W 17-3 vs. Giants	L 25-7 at Vikings
LAST GAME	10/22/00: Bears 9 at Eagles 13. Philadelphia QB Donovan McNabb passes for 1 TD & Eagles’ defense holds off Chicago’s 4th quarter rally.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/17/99: Eagles 20, Bears 16. Philadelphia QB Doug Pederson passes for 2 TDs as Eagles break 18-game road losing streak. Eagles RB Duce Staley rushes for 101 yards.
TV	FOX (12:00 PM CT): Dick Stockton, Daryl Johnston

STATS

PASSING	McNabb: 146-256-1,544-12 (3C)-4-83.9	Miller: 104-177-1,217-10-6-84.4 or Chandler: 31-50-339-2-2-78.7
RUSHING	Staley: 106-507-4.8-2	Thomas: 145-443-3.1-3
RECEIVING	Thrash: 30-418-13.9-4	Booker: 42-660 (2C)-15.7-5 (2C)
OFFENSE	378.1 (2C)	289.3
TAKE/GIVE	+7(T3L)	-3
DEFENSE	267.0 (2L)	360.0
SACKS	Walker: 6.5	Colvin: 7.0 (T3L)
INTs	Dawkins: 2	Austin: 2
PUNTING	Landeta: 45.0 (2C)	Maynard: 42.0
KICKING	Akers: 64 (T3C) (19/19 PAT; 15/16 FG)	Edinger: 43 (16/16 PAT; 9/12 FG)

NOTES

EAGLES:  Club 25-4 (.862) when scoring at least 20 points under head coach ANDY REID. Club has scored in 24 of 28 quarters in 2002 & 6-2 start would be best since 1996 QB DONOVAN MC NABB aims for third consecutive win vs. Bears, including postseason. Ranks second in NFL among QBs with 356 yards rushing & is first QB with 2 100-yard rushing games (111 vs. NYG, 100 vs. Jax) in single-season since Bears QB BOBBY DOUGLASS (1972). McNabb was HS star at Mount Carmel (IL) High on southside of Chicago. RB DUCE STALEY has 11 career 100-yard rushing games & with 100 yards vs. Chi, ties RICKY WATTERS for third most (12) in club history. Seeks second consecutive 100-yard effort vs. Bears (101, 10/17/99). DT DARWIN WALKER has recorded at least 0.5 sacks in 6 consecutive games LB LEVON KIRKLAND has started 130 consecutive regular-season games & has never missed game (167) in NFL career BEARS:  QB JIM MILLER needs 3 TD passes to tie career high (13, 2001). QB CHRIS CHANDLER seeks fourth win in past 5 starts vs. Eagles QB HENRY BURRIS saw first action with Bears last week WR MARTY BOOKER has led club in receiving yards in 8 of past 10 games. Needs 100 yards receiving vs. Eagles for career-best 3 100-yard games in single-season. Needs 4 catches to pass JIM DOOLEY (211) in tenth in club history. Seeks at least 80 yards receiving for fifth time in past 6 games Tied for fourth in NFC with 11 third-down receptions (167 yards, 2 TDs) TE JOHN DAVIS needs 5 catches & 65 yards for career highs in both categories (17, 202, 2000) Club tied for second (Phi) in the NFL with 10 fumble takeaways (11, GB) LB ROSEVELT COLVIN has 11.0 sacks in past 10 games LB MIKE CALDWELL played in 62 games with 29 starts for Eagles from 1998-2001, posting career-high 140 tackles last season.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-3) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-4)

SERIES

	STEELERS	BROWNS
LEADER		54-45
STREAKS	Past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Cowher: 12-4	Davis: 0-3
LAST WEEK	W 31-18 at Ravens	W 24-21 at Jets
LAST GAME	9/29/02: Browns 13 at Steelers 16 (OT). Pittsburgh QB Tommy Maddox enters in 4th quarter & completes 11 of 13 passes for 122 yards & 1 TD. Steelers’ Todd Peterson kicks winning FG.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/11/01: Steelers 15, Browns 12 (OT). Pittsburgh’s Kris Brown kicks 5 FGs, including game-winning 32-yarder in OT.
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots

STATS

PASSING	Maddox: 82-123-966-9-6-94.4	Couch: 142-225-1,292-7-6-77.9
RUSHING	Bettis: 83-326-3.9-5	White: 87-390-4.5-2
RECEIVING	Ward: 46-528-11.5-6 (T1L)	White (RB): 43-260-6.0-0
OFFENSE	333.3	314.4
TAKE/GIVE	-1	0
DEFENSE	337.4	344.5
SACKS	Porter: 6.0 (T2C)	Word: 5.0
INTs	Porter: 4 (T1L)	Griffith, Little: 2
PUNTING	Miller: 43.2	Gardocki: 43.9
KICKING	Peterson: 41 (20/20 PAT; 7/11 FG)	P. Dawson: 61 (16/16 PAT; 15/17 FG)

NOTES

TEAMS MEET for 100th regular season game in series -- first AFC rivalry to reach 100 regular-season games & most played rival for each club. Clubs are only AFC teams with 400 victories: Pitt. (479) & Cle. (401) STEELERS:  Have won 10 of past 12 vs. Browns, including 1994 AFC Divisional Playoff Head coach BILL COWHER has career 12-4 (.750) record vs. Cleveland. Played 3 seasons with Browns (1980-82) & spent 4 years (1985-1988) with Cleveland as coach (sp. teams & secondary). Under Cowher, Steelers are 71-1 (.986) when holding lead of more than 10 points -- best mark in NFL history QB TOMMY MADDOX led Steelers to 16-13 OT win over Browns in Wk. 4, entering in 4th quarter. Club has scored 28 points or more in each of his 4 starts in 2002 RB JEROME BETTIS has 613 yards (three 100s) in past 6 vs. Browns (102.2 yards per game) WR HINES WARD led team with 9 catches for 104 yards in last meeting In past 3, club has out-gained Browns 1,162 to 605 Club had 7 sacks in last meeting at Cleveland, 3.5 by LB JASON GILDON. LB JOEY PORTER tied for NFL lead in INTs (4) & tied for 2nd in AFC in sacks (6.0). BROWNS:  In 2 career starts at home vs. Pittsburgh, QB TIM COUCH has completed 41 of 64 passes (64.1 pct.) for 476 yards with 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 102.1 passer rating RB JAMEL WHITE had 16 carries for 105 yards (6.6 avg.) & 1 TD in Wk. 4 meeting, including career-long 54-yard run. Ranks 3rd in NFL among RBs in receptions (43), on pace for 86; club record is 89 (HOF TE OZZIE NEWSOME, 1983 & ’84) In 4 home games in ’02, WR QUINCY MORGAN has 23 catches for 342 yards (14.9 avg.) & 3 TDs, including 14 1st-down receptions & 8 catches of 20+ yards. Team is No. 2 in NFL in 4th qtr. points (73) WR-PR DENNIS NORTHCUTT is 2nd in AFC in PR avg. (12.9) DE COURTNEY BROWN has 4.0 sacks in 4 games vs. Pitt. Defense has 5 INTs in past 2 vs. Steelers. Browns have intercepted Steelers QB Maddox in each of past 2 games on just 21 attempts. Defense has 3rd-best AFC red zone TD pct. (11-27, 40.7 pct.).

DALLAS COWBOYS (3-5) AT DETROIT LIONS (2-5)

SERIES

	COWBOYS	LIONS
LEADER	Series tied 7-7
STREAKS		Past 2
COACHES VS. OPP.	Campo: 0-1	Mornhinweg: 1-0
LAST WEEK	L 17-14 vs. Seahawks	L 24-17 at Bills
LAST GAME	1/6/02: Cowboys 10 at Lions 15. Detroit QB Ty Detmer passes for 2 TDs, including the winning 16-yard TD strike to WR Johnnie Morton with 5:37 left in the game.
LAST GAME AT SITE	1/6/02
TV	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Pat Summerall, Brian Baldinger

STATS

PASSING	Hutchinson (R): 12-24-145-1-0-82.8	Harrington (R): 103-200-1,208-6-7-65.6
RUSHING	Smith: 131-556-4.2-2	Stewart: 110-503-4.6-3
RECEIVING	Galloway: 39-568-14.6-3	Hakim: 27-367-13.6-2
OFFENSE	301.6	285.7
TAKE/GIVE	-3	-1
DEFENSE	328.4	363.1
SACKS	Ellis: 5.5	Edwards: 2.5
INTs	Ross: 2	Claiborne: 3 (T2C)
PUNTING	Knorr: 41.0	Jett: 43.3
KICKING	Cundiff (R): 30 (12/12 PAT; 6/9 FG)	Hanson: 47 (17/17 PAT; 10/11 FG)

NOTES

COWBOYS:  RB EMMITT SMITH is NFL’s all-time rushing leader with 16,743 yards. Gained 109 yards vs. Seattle last week to pass Pro Football Hall of Famer WALTER PAYTON (16,726) for most all-time. Smith needs 100 yards rushing vs. Detroit to tie BARRY SANDERS in second place all-time with 76 100-yard rushing games (Payton, 77). Seeks TD in fourth consecutive game vs. Lions. Smith has 480 career receptions & needs 10 to pass DREW PEARSON (489) in second place on club’s all-time list QB CHAD HUTCHINSON is first player in NFL history to start game at QB & pitch in Major League Baseball. Threw first career TD pass (39) last week vs. Sea Rookie second-round pick WR ANTONIO BRYANT seeks fourth TD in past 5 games. Leads NFC rookies with 23 receptions & 385 yards receiving.  WR JOEY GALLOWAY seeks 50th NFL TD (44 receiving, 4 PR, 1 rushing) Club ranks first in NFC holding opponents to avg. drive start of 25.0 yard-line Club has 7 INTs in 2002 after posting 9 in 2001 LIONS:  Rookie first-round draft pick  (No.3) QB JOEY HARRINGTON seeks third win in fourth career start at Ford Field RB JAMES STEWART seeks TD in third consecutive game & second 100-yard rushing game in past 3. Has 12 career 100-yard rushing games, including 6 with Lions, & his team has 9-3 record in those games WR AZ-ZAHIR HAKIM seeks third TD in past 4 games. Had 23-yard TD catch last week vs. Bills TE MIKHAEL RICKS second among NFC tight ends with 245 yards receiving (13 catches) & second in NFL with 18.8 avg. yards per reception (minimum 10 catches) Rookie second-round draft pick DE KALIMBA EDWARDS had career high 1.5 sacks vs. Bills. DT LUTHER ELLISS aims for third consecutive game with at least 0.5 sacks KR-PR DESMOND HOWARD has 8 career PR-TDs & needs 2 to tie ERIC METCALF for most all-time K JASON HANSON has 1,091 career points & needs 23 to pass EDDIE MURRAY in first on club’s all-time list P JOHN JETT ranks third in NFC with 39.1 net punting average. Spent 1993-96 seasons with Cowboys, earning two Super Bowl rings.

CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-7) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (2-5)

SERIES

	BENGALS	TEXANS
LEADER	--
STREAKS	--
COACHES VS. OPP.	LeBeau: 0-0	Capers: 0-0
LAST WEEK	L 30-24 vs. Titans	W 21-19 at Jaguars
LAST GAME	--
LAST GAME AT SITE	--
TV	CBS (12:00 PM CT): Don Criqui, Steve Tasker

STATS

PASSING	Kitna: 89-136-795-3-7-66.9	Carr (R): 89-175-1,188-7-6-71.8
RUSHING	Dillon: 140-602-4.3-4	Allen: 80-297-3.7-0
RECEIVING	C. Johnson: 24-307-12.8-1	Bradford: 21-444-21.1-5
OFFENSE	283.0	244.0
TAKE/GIVE	-10	-3
DEFENSE	342.3	312.4
SACKS	Williams: 3.0	Posey: 5.5
INTs	Five tied: 1	Glenn: 2
PUNTING	Harris: 41.3	Stanley: 41.6
KICKING	Rackers: 21 (9/9 PAT; 4/6 FG)	K. Brown: 34 (10/10 PAT; 8/11 FG)

NOTES

BENGALS:  QB JON KITNA recorded finest performance by Cincy QB this season last Sunday vs. Tenn., completing 17 of 23 attempts (73.9 pct.) for 193 yards with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 127.6 passer rating RB COREY DILLON has 63 rushing attempts for 338 yards (5.4 avg.) with 2 TDs & 14 1st downs in 3 road games this year (112.7 yards per game). In past 3 games, has rushed for 359 yards on 70 carries (5.1 avg.) & 4 TDs. Ranks 6th in AFC among 1st down leaders (41) & is 4-for-4 in converting 3rd & 1 rushing attempts. Owns 7 of club’s top 10 single-game rush performances all-time WR RON DUGANS leads club in special teams tackles (6) and is 4th in receptions (20). Team ties for 2nd in NFL with 7 players with 10 or more receptions Rookie first-round draft pick (No.10) T LEVI JONES (No. 10) makes 4th NFL start this Sunday LB TAKEO SPIKES has led club in tackles 4 of past 7 games.  DT TONY WILLIAMS leads club in sacks (3.0) & is tied for 2nd-most by AFC interior lineman. Aims to become 3rd interior lineman to earn team’s sack title in club history (TIM KRUMRIE, 1991; DAN WILKINSON, 1996) TEXANS:  Head coach DOM CAPERS grew up in Buffalo, OH, (126 miles from Cincinnati) & graduated from Mount Union College (Alliance, OH). Also coached for 3 years (1972-74) at Kent State while earning masters degree Rookie first-round draft pick (No. 1) QB DAVID CARR in past 3 games has completed 45 of 77 attempts (58.4 pct.) for 669 yards, 3 TDs & 0 INTs for 100.0 passer rating. Carr has 87 consecutive attempts without INT. Ranks 3rd among AFC QBs in rush yards (141). In 2 of past 3 games, someone other than QB Carr has thrown TD pass for club (RB JAMES ALLEN, rookie  WR JABAR GAFFNEY) RB JONATHAN WELLS ranks 3rd in NFL among rookie rushers (267). Wells attended Ohio State, 100 miles north of Cincinnati WR COREY BRADFORD has 15 catches for 315 yards (21.2 avg.) & 4 TDs in past 4 games. Bradford has 2 multi-TD games on season Club ranks 4th in AFC total defense (312.4) & surrenders AFC-low 4.69 yards per 1st down play. Club tied for 2nd in AFC in sacks (20). DE JEFF POSEY tied for 4th in AFC with team-high 5.5 sacks K KRIS BROWN has scored in 39 consecutive games, including game-winning 45-yard FG last week vs. Jax.

TENNESSEE TITANS (3-4) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-3)

SERIES

	TITANS	COLTS
LEADER	Series tied 7-7
STREAKS	3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Fisher: 1-0	Dungy: 0-2
LAST WEEK	W 30-24 at Bengals	L 26-21 at Redskins
LAST GAME	9/4/94: Houston Oilers 21 at Colts 45. Indianapolis RB Marshall Faulk rushes for 143 yards & 3 TDs in NFL debut. Colts score first 42 points of game.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/4/94
TV	CBS (1:00 PM ET): Kevin Harlan, Randy Cross, Beasley Reece (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	McNair: 157-243-1,686-12-9-85.9	Manning: 170-258-1,798-12-10-85.4
RUSHING	George: 133-437-3.3-4	James: 154-523-3.4-1
RECEIVING	Mason: 30-455-15.2-2	Harrison: 58 (1L)-736 (3L)-12.7-3
OFFENSE	325.6	333.0
TAKE/GIVE	-4	-1
DEFENSE	349.9	325.3
SACKS	Carter: 6.0 (T2C)	Bratzke, Freeney (R), Scioli: 3.0
INTs	A. Dyson: 3	Bashir, Harris, Peterson: 2
PUNTING	Hentrich: 44.8 (3C)	H. Smith: 42.8
KICKING	Nedney: 44 (14/14 PAT; 10/11 FG)	Vanderjagt: 47 (14/14 PAT; 11/14 FG)

NOTES

TEAMS MEET for first time since 1999 AFC Divisional Playoff (Titans 19, Colts 16). First regular-season meeting since 1994 Clubs are led by two of NFL’s three winningest coaches since 1999: Titans’ JEFF FISHER (36-19, .655) & Colts’ TONY DUNGY (34-21, .618). Tampa Bay’s JON GRUDEN is 2nd (36-20, .643) Game features NFL’s 3 longest  active consecutive games-started streaks to begin career: Tennessee RB EDDIE GEORGE (103), Indianapolis T TARIK GLENN (87) & QB PEYTON MANNING (71) TITANS:  Defeated Colts in 1999 AFC Divisional Playoff en route to Super Bowl XXXIV appearance In past 2 games (both wins), QB STEVE MC NAIR has passer rating of 108.0, completing 42 of 63 passes (66.7 pct.) for 441 yards, 4 TDs & 0 INTs In postseason matchup, RB EDDIE GEORGE rushed for 162 yards on 26 carries (6.2 avg.), including 68-yard TD. Has now posted consecutive 100-yard rush games 11 times in career CB ANDRE DYSON tied for 4th in AFC with 3 INTs. DE KEVIN CARTER tied for 2nd in AFC with 6.0 sacks P CRAIG HENTRICH is 3rd in AFC with 44.8 avg. & 1 TB. Kickoff coverage unit handing opponents AFC’s worst avg. drive start (21.6) .COLTS:  QB Manning was 4-year starter (1994-97) at Tennessee & led Vols to 39-6 (.867) record. Set 33 school records, 8 SEC marks & 2 NCAA records. In only career meeting vs. Titans (1999 AFC Divisional Playoff), Manning threw for 227 yards & rushed for 22 yards, including 15-yard TD RB EDGERRIN JAMES has 1,362 rushing yards (113.5 yards per game) in past 12 home games (10 100-yard games) & 1,785 total scrimmage yards (148.8) with 10 TDs In past 21 home games, WR MARVIN HARRISON has 16 100-yard receiving games. Harrison has 198 catches for 3,017 yards (111.7 yards per game) & 31 TDs at home since 1999 (27 games). Needs 1 catch vs. Titans for 100 consecutive games with reception Last year vs. Titans, WR QADRY ISMAIL (w/ Balt.) had 11 receptions for 222 yards (20.2 avg.) & 2 TDs CB-ST CLIFTON CROSBY tied for NFL-best 3 defensive fumble recoveries. Defense No. 2 in AFC vs. pass (177.9) P HUNTER SMITH leads AFC in net punting avg. (38.3).

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-5) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-2)

SERIES

	VIKINGS	BUCCANEERS
LEADER	31-17
STREAKS		Past 4 at home
COACHES VS. OPP.	Tice: 0-0	Gruden: 1-0
LAST WEEK	W 25-7 vs. Bears	W 12-9 at Panthers
LAST GAME	10/28/01: Vikings 14 at Buccaneers 41. Tampa Bay RB Mike Alstott rushes for 3 TDs & QB Brad Johnson passes for 2 in Buccaneers’ win.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/28/01
TV	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Kenny Albert, Tim Green

STATS

PASSING	Culpepper: 164-260-1,778 (3C)-8-12-74.2	B. Johnson: 145-239-1,544-7-5-80.6 or R. Johnson: 26-40-210-0-1-67.7
RUSHING	Bennett: 107-442-4.1-1	M. Pittman: 114-394-3.5-0
RECEIVING	Moss: 49 (T1C)-523-10.7-3	M. Pittman (RB): 34-259-7.6-0
OFFENSE	380.7 (1C)	295.9
TAKE/GIVE	-12	+7 (T3L)
DEFENSE	366.6	237.9 (1L)
SACKS	Johnstone: 5.0	Sapp: 7.5 (2L)
INTs	Chavous: 2	Brooks: 4 (T1L)
PUNTING	Richardson: 41.8	Tupa: 43.2
KICKING	Anderson: 26 (11/11 PAT; 5/6 FG)	Gramatica: 61 (16/16 PAT; 15/20 FG)

NOTES

FIRST EVER non-division game between clubs VIKINGS:  QB DAUNTE CULPEPPER has thrown 55 TD passes & needs 4 to pass WARREN MOON (58) for fourth in club history. Has connected with WR RANDY MOSS for 24 career TDs & needs 3 to become most prolific scoring tandem in club history (Moon/CRIS CARTER). Has 7 career 300-yard passing games & needs 300 yards vs. Bucs for sole possession of fourth on club’s all-time list. Culpepper had career-high 30 completions (9/30/01) & 53 attempts (since tied) vs. Bucs (10/29/00) RB MOE WILLIAMS needs 78 yards for career high (291, 2001) Moss seeks third career 100-yard receiving game vs. Bucs & has 7 TDs in 8 games vs. TB, including 3 in past 4 games TE JIM KLEINSASSER had career-high 8 receptions & 51 receiving yards vs. Bucs on 9/30/01 Rookie K HAYDEN EPSTEIN played in first game with Vikings last week & handled KOs BUCCANEERS:  Defense has scored 5 TDs & surrendered 6 in 2002. Club has allowed NFL-low 85 points & seeks to hold opposing offense without TD for fifth time in past 6 games. Defense holds opponents to NFL best 13.3 redzone TD pct. (15 trips, 2 TDs) QB BRAD JOHNSON spent 1992-1998 with Vikings, passing for 44 TDs & 29 INTs for 85.3 passer rating. Seeks second win in third career start vs. former club & has 46-27 (.630) record as starter. QB ROB JOHNSON passed for 179 yards in first career start for TB last week RB MIKE ALSTOTT had career high 28 carries & career-high tying 3 TDs vs. Vikings in last game WR KEYSHAWN JOHNSON plays sixth game vs. Min. & seeks third 100-yard receiving effort. Averages 6.4 catches vs. Vikes K MARTIN GRAMATICA connected on 47-yard game-winning FG last week & was 4 of 4 vs. Panthers DT WARREN SAPP has 7.0 sacks in past 6 games. His 7.5 sacks are most among NFL DTs LB DERRICK BROOKS has 4 TDs in 2002 & needs 1 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.

NEW YORK JETS (2-5) AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (6-1)

SERIES

	JETS	CHARGERS
LEADER		17-9-1
STREAKS		3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Edwards: 0-0	Schottenheimer: 2-3
LAST WEEK	L 24-21 vs. Browns	Bye (Wk 7: W 27-21 (OT) at Raiders)
LAST GAME	12/18/94: Chargers 21 at Jets 6. San Diego QB Stan Humphries passes for 280 yards & 3 TDs as Chargers clinch 2nd AFC West title in 3 years.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/2/90: Chargers 38, Jets 17. San Diego RB Marion Butts rushes for 159 yards & 2 TDs while Chargers QB Billy Joe Tolliver passes for 2 TDs.
TV	CBS (1:05 PM PT): Dick Enberg, Dan Dierdorf, Bonnie Bernstein (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Pennington: 91-131-1,096-5-4-94.8 (3C)	Brees: 127-204-1,332-9-6-83.6
RUSHING	Martin: 92-352-3.8-2	Tomlinson: 174-785 (2C)-4.5-7 (T3L)
RECEIVING	Coles: 33-406-12.3-2	Conway: 39-565-14.5-4
OFFENSE	286.7	344.4
TAKE/GIVE	-5	+3
DEFENSE	402.9	312.0 (3C)
SACKS	J. Abraham, Evans: 3.0	Dingle, Johnson: 4.5
INTs	D. Abraham, Robinson: 2	Edwards: 4 (T1L)
PUNTING	Turk: 41.9	Bennett: 40.5
KICKING	Hall: 34 (10/10 PAT; 8/12 FG)	Christie: 33 (21/21 PAT; 4/6 FG)

NOTES

GAME FEATURES NYJ head coach HERMAN EDWARDS vs. SD head coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER. Edwards was scout & DB coach at Kansas City (1990-95) for Chiefs head coach Schottenheimer JETS:  Have won 8 of past 11 road contests. Are 8-4 (.667) in past 12 vs. AFC West QB CHAD PENNINGTON makes 1st NFL road start. Has 113.4 passer rating as starter, completing 65 of 84 passes (77.4 pct.) for 744 yards with 5 TDs & 2 INTs In past 4 vs. AFC West (including postseason), RB CURTIS MARTIN has 3 100-yard games & 4 TDs. Jets are 19-6 (.760) in regular season when Martin rushes for 100+ yards. Martin has 1,127 scrimmage yards (125.2 yards per game) & 7 TDs in past 9 vs. AFC West (incl. playoffs) WR-PR SANTANA MOSS has 12 catches for 199 yards (16.6 avg.) with 1 TD & 1 PR-TD in past 3 games WR LAVERANUES COLES aims for 4th consecutive 100-yard game vs. AFC West (incl. playoffs). Has 350 yards (116.7 yards per game) on 21 catches (16.7 avg.) & 1 TD in past 3 vs. AFC West KR CHAD MORTON ranks 4th in AFC with 26.9 avg. Morton grew up in South Torrance, CA & attended USC CHARGERS:  Aim for first 7-1 start since 1994 when team advanced to Super Bowl XXIX. Have won 4 of past 6 at home vs. NYJ QB DREW BREES has won 6 of first 7 NFL starts & aims to become first QB since DAUNTE CULPEPPER (2000) to win 7 of first 8. Has 109.7 passer rating in situations when game is tied, completing 24 of 36 passes (66.7 pct.) for 290 yards with 2 TDs & 0 INTs RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON leads NFL in rushing yards per game (112.1) & ranks 2nd in scrimmage yards avg. (148.0 yards per game) Rookie WR RECHE CALDWELL has TD catch in each of past 2 games. WR CURTIS CONWAY is tied for 3rd in NFL 3rd down receptions (14) Club leads AFC with 22 sacks & is only team in conference 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 vs. rush (78.7).

ST. LOUIS RAMS (2-5) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-3)

SERIES

	RAMS	CARDINALS
LEADER	23-21-2
STREAKS		5 of past 6
COACHES VS. OPP.	Martz: 0-0	McGinnis: 0-0
LAST WEEK	Bye (Wk. 7: W 37-20 vs. Seahawks)	L 38-28 at 49ers
LAST GAME	9/27/98: Cardinals 20 at Rams 17. Arizona K Joe Nedney’s 4th quarter field goal gives Cardinals victory in first game as visitor in St. Louis.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/29/96: Cardinals 31, Rams 28 (OT). Arizona QB Kent Graham throws 4 TD passes & Greg Davis kicks game-winning FG as Cardinals overcome 14-point 4th quarter deficit.
TV	FOX (2:15 PM MT): Curt Menefee, Tim Ryan

STATS

PASSING	Bulger: 36-61-451-4-1-97.1	Plummer: 128-248-1,430-6-8-63.7
RUSHING	Faulk: 124-602 (3C)-4.9-7 (T1C)	T. Jones: 106-432-4.1-2
RECEIVING	Faulk (RB): 49 (T1C)-332-6.8-2	Boston: 31-498-16.1-1
OFFENSE	359.4	325.1
TAKE/GIVE	-6	+2
DEFENSE	327.9	337.6
SACKS	Little: 6.0	Vanden Bosch: 2.5
INTs	Bly: 2	Wilson: 3 (T2C)
PUNTING	Berger: 42.3	Player: 43.7 (T3C)
KICKING	J. Wilkins: 43 (16/16 PAT; 9/12 FG)	Gramatica: 44 (14/14 PAT; 10/15 FG)

NOTES

RAMS:  QB MARC BULGER looks for third consecutive win in third career start RB MARSHALL FAULK has 119 career TDs & needs 6 to tie Pro Football Hall of Famer  WALTER PAYTON (125) for sixth all-time. 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. Rushed for his season-high 183 yards in last game (Week 7 vs. Seattle). Rams are 18-0 when Faulk rushes for 100 yards. Cards 1 of 4 clubs (Ari, GB, Hou, Pit) he has yet to score TD against. Leads NFC with 47 first downs (34 rushing, 13 receiving) WR ISAAC BRUCE has 58 career TDs & needs 1 to pass ERIC DICKERSON in second place on club’s all-time list. Needs 100 yards receiving vs. Cards to become first player in club history with 30 career 100-yard receiving games. Had 117 yards receiving, 2 TDs in last game vs. Ariz WR TORRY HOLT ranks third in NFC with 613 yards receiving (42 catches) Defense aims to hold opponents to 1 offensive TD or less for third consecutive game K JEFF WILKINS ranks second in NFC with 8 touchbacks on KOs CARDINALS:  Club plays second of 3 consecutive NFC West games (vs. Sea, Week 10). Seeks to post at least 28 points in consecutive games for first time since 1998 (28, 45, 11/15-11/22) QB JAKE PLUMMER has 15-9 (.625) record, including 1-0 vs. Rams, as starter when completing at least 60.0 pct. of passes RB THOMAS JONES has career-high 432 yards rushing in 2002 WR FRANK SANDERS seeks TD in 3 consecutive games vs. Rams. Has 479 career receptions & needs 2 to pass JACKIE SMITH (480) in third on club’s all-time list. WR DAVID BOSTON has 7 career catches of at least 50 yards TE FREDDIE JONES seeks second consecutive 7-catch game vs. StL C MIKE GRUTTADAURIA spent 4 seasons (1996-99) with Rams, anchoring offensive line for Super Bowl XXXIV champs Club has surrendered 1 TD or less in 3 of past 4 games ..Club has 10 INTs after posting 17 in all of 2001.

                                                SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-2) AT OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-3)

SERIES

	49ERS	RAIDERS
LEADER		6-3
STREAKS		3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Mariucci: 0-1	Callahan: 0-0
LAST WEEK	W 38-28 vs. Cardinals	L 20-10 at Chiefs
LAST GAME	10/8/00: Raiders 34 at 49ers 28 (OT). Oakland QB Rich Gannon throws for 310 yards & 2 TDs, including game-winning 31-yard TD pass to WR Tim Brown in OT.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/29/91: L.A. Raiders 12, 49ers 6. Oakland’s Jeff Jaeger kicks club record-tying 4 FGs while Raiders’ defense shuts down San Francisco’s high-powered offense.
TV	FOX (1:15 PM PT): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Cris Collinsworth

STATS

PASSING	Garcia: 128-203-1,398-10-4-91.5 (3C)	Gannon: 214-314-2,382 (2L)-15 (T3C)-7-97.1 (2C)
RUSHING	Hearst: 78-421-5.4-3	Garner: 67-466-7.0-3
RECEIVING	Owens: 36-478-13.3-6 (T1L)	Rice: 45-604-13.4-3
OFFENSE	345.4	431.4 (1L)
TAKE/GIVE	+10	+4 (T2C)
DEFENSE	338.0	335.1
SACKS	Carter: 6.0	Barton: 4.0
INTs	Heard, Bronson: 3.0 (T2C)	R. Woodson: 3
PUNTING	Baker: 40.5	Lechler: 44.4
KICKING	Cortez: 58 (19/19 PAT; 13-15 FG)	Janikowski: 50 (26/26 PAT; 8/13 FG)

NOTES

BAY AREA SHOWDOWN in Oakland for first time since 1979 (Raiders 23, Niners 10) 49ERS:  QB JEFF GARCIA leads NFL with 137.6 third down passer rating, including 8 TDs & 0 INTs. Had sixth career 4 TD, 0 INT effort (including vs. Raiders in last meeting) last week vs. Cards. Seeks second 300-yard passing game vs. Oak (336) in second career start vs. club RB GARRISON HEARST has 14 career 100-yard rushing games with 49ers & will move into sole possession of second place in club history (ROGER CRAIG) with 100 yards vs. Oak. Club has 13-1 record (.929) when he rushes for 100 yards. RB KEVAN BARLOW needs 142 yards rushing for career high (512, 2001) & is averaging career-best 4.9 yards per carry. Hearst & Barlow (371) are only RB tandem in NFL to each have 350 yards rushing WR TERRELL OWENS has 66 career TDs & needs 1 to pass Craig for second in club history. Has 17 career 100-yard receiving games & needs 100 yards vs. Raiders to pass GENE WASHINGTON in second on club’s all-time list (JERRY RICE, 66) S RONNIE HEARD had first 3 career INTs vs. Cards RAIDERS:  Have won 13 of past 17 at home. Are 11-2 (.846) in past 13 vs. NFC. Have 6-3 (.667) all-time record vs. SF & have won 3 of past 4 WR JERRY RICE faces former team for first time after spending 16 years with SF (1985-2000). Holds 27 regular season and postseason team records, including receptions (1,281), receiving yards (19,247) & TDs (176). Won 3 Super Bowls with Niners With 300 pass yards this Sunday, QB RICH GANNON becomes 1st QB in NFL history to record 7 consecutive 300-yard games. In past 16 home games, Gannon has completed 359 of 527 passes (68.1 pct.) for 3,945 yards with 42 TDs & 9 INTs for 109.5 passer rating RB CHARLIE GARNER was member of 49ers for 2 years (1999-2000). Leads NFL RBs in receiving yards (449) & has 130.7 scrimmage yards per game avg In last meeting, WR TIM BROWN had 7 catches for 172 yards (24.6 avg.) & 2 TDs, including game-winning 31-yarder in OT.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (3-4) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (2-5)

SERIES

	REDSKINS	SEAHAWKS
LEADER	6-4
STREAKS		Past 3 of 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Spurrier: 0-0	Holmgren: 0-1
LAST WEEK	W 26-21 vs. Colts	W 17-14 at Dallas
LAST GAME	11/4/01: Seahawks 14 at Redskins 27. Redskins win 3rd consecutive game behind 142 rushing yards & 1 TD from RB Stephen Davis.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/2098: Seahawks 24, Redskins 14. Seattle KR Steve Broussard returns opening kick 90 yards for TD & Seahawks’ defense forces 3 turnovers to increase record to 3-0.
TV	FOX (1:15 PM PT): Sam Rosen, Bill Maas

STATS

PASSING	Matthews: 72-125-768-6-2-85.0	Hasselbeck: 37-56-309-2-1-84.6
RUSHING	Davis: 123-528-4.3-3	Alexander: 128-433-3.4-7 (T1C)
RECEIVING	Gardner: 28-414-14.8-2	Jackson: 30-377-12.6-0
OFFENSE	315.1	289.9
TAKE/GIVE	-6	0
DEFENSE	310.7	375.7
SACKS	Arrington: 7.0 (T3L)	C. Brown: 5.0
INTs	Bailey, Smoot: 3 (T2C)	Tongue: 2
PUNTING	Barker: 42.1	Feagles: 43.7 (T3C)
KICKING	Tuthill: 38 (11/11 PAT; 9/10 FG)	Lindell: 40 (16/16 PAT; 8/12 FG)

NOTES

REDSKINS:  QB SHANE MATTHEWS seeks third win in fifth start this season. Has 5 TDs, 1 INT in his 2 wins RB STEPHEN DAVIS has 18 career 100-yard rushing games & with 100 yards vs. Seahawks ties for most in club history (LARRY BROWN, JOHN RIGGINS). Seeks second consecutive 100-yard effort vs. Sea. Has 40 first downs, third in NFC WR ROD GARDNER needs 2 TD receptions to tie career-high (4, 2001) Club ranks fifth in NFC in holding opponents to 46.2 redzone TD pct. (26 trips, 12 TDs) DE BRUCE SMITH had 1.5 sacks in last game vs. Seahawks & has sacks against 70 different QBs in 18 seasons LB LA VAR ARRINGTON seeks sack in fourth consecutive game. Has 5.0 sacks in past 3, including 2.0 last week, & has career-high 7.0 this season. CB DARRELL GREEN needs 1 INT vs. Seahawks to increase NFL record of consecutive seasons with INT to 20. CB CHAMP BAILEY needs 2 INTs to tie career high (5, 1999-00) SEAHAWKS:  QB MATT HASSELBECK makes second start of season. Leads NFC with 102.5 fourth-quarter passer rating. Replaced injured QB TRENT DILFER (Achilles) last week & led club to first road win of season RB SHAUN ALEXANDER seeks TD in second consecutive game vs. Redskins. Had 41-yard TD run in only prior meeting. Has 5 career 100-yard rushing games & club is 5-0 in those contests. Has 23 career rushing TDs & needs 5 to tie SHERMAN SMITH (28) in third in club history WR-PR BOBBY ENGRAM has 19 receptions in 2002, 17 for first downs. Leads NFC with 14.3 PR average DT JOHN RANDLE has 127.0 career sacks & needs 1.5 sacks to pass RICKEY JACKSON in eighth on NFL’s all-time list. Rookie fifth-round draft pick DT ROCKY BERNARD has 4.0 sacks & needs 0.5 to set club single-season rookie record LB CHAD BROWN has at least 1.0 sack in 5 of past 6 games S REGGIE TONGUE needs 1 INT to tie career high (3, 2001) P JEFF FEAGLES has held opponents  to 40 PR yards in 2002, second-fewest in NFL.

SUNDAY NIGHT
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (3-4) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (3-4)

SERIES

	JAGUARS	GIANTS
LEADER	Series tied 1-1
STREAKS	1-1
COACHES VS. OPP.	Coughlin: 1-1	Fassel: 1-1
LAST WEEK	L 21-19 vs. Texans	L 17-3 at Eagles
LAST GAME	12/23/00: Jaguars 25 at Giants 28. New York scores 3 4th quarter TDs to close season with 5 consecutive victories & secure homefield advantage throughout NFC playoffs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	12/23/00
TV	ESPN (8:30 PM ET): Mike Patrick, Joe Theisman, Paul Maguire, Suzy Colber (Field reporter). CBS Radio: Joel Meyers, Bob Trumpy, John Riggins (Field reporter). ESPN Deportes: Eduardo Varela, Fuad Reveiz, Luz Ramos (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Brunell: 113-196-1,382-6-4-81.2	Collins: 150-237-1,813 (2C)- 5-8-79.7
RUSHING	Taylor: 155-681-4.4-4	Barber: 114-444-3.9-2
RECEIVING	J. Smith: 33-480-14.5-2	Barber (RB): 36-327-9.1-0
OFFENSE	332.6	332.9
TAKE/GIVE	+4 (T2C)	-5
DEFENSE	323.9	302.0
SACKS	Henderson (R): 5.0	Strahan: 4.0
INTs	McCree: 2	Peterson: 2
PUNTING	Hanson: 45.8 (2C)	M. Allen: 40.9
KICKING	Seder: 5 (2/2 PAT; 1/3 FG)	Bryant (R): 41 (8/8 PAT; 11/11 FG)

NOTES

JAGUARS:  In 1 career start vs. NYG (12/23/00), QB MARK BRUNELL completed 23 of 41 attempts (56.1 pct.) for 262 yards with 2 TDs & 1 INT. Has connected with WR JIMMY SMITH for 40 TD passes, 2nd-most among current QB-WR duos (Indy’s PEYTON MANNING-MARVIN HARRISON, 50) ..RB FRED TAYLOR is AFC’s 5th leading rusher with 681 yards, on pace for his 3rd career 1,000-yard season. Is also No. 2 on team’s receiving list with 27 receptions for 263 yards. On pace for career-best 2,158 total scrimmage yards. Offense is 4th in AFC in rushing (138.6) WR Smith is tied for 9th in AFC in receiving yards (480), on pace for 7th-consecutive 1,000-yard season, which would tie for 4th all-time (LANCE ALWORTH) PR BOBBY SHAW leads NFL with 15.3 PR avg Rookie DT JOHN HENDERSON leads AFC interior lineman with 5.0 sacks. Club has sack in 31 consecutive games, 4th-longest current streak in NFL. GIANTS:  Club is 36-4 (.900) under JIM FASSEL when leading after 3 quarters Club is 7-3 in past 10 vs. AFC QB KERRY COLLINS has thrown club-record 1,608 consecutive passes, longest current streak in NFL. Seeks second consecutive 300-yard game vs. Jags (321 in last game) RB TIKI BARBER has 3,250 career yards rushing & needs 43 to pass EDDIE PRICE (3,292) in seventh in club history. Has 317 career catches & needs 11 to pass BOB TUCKER (327) for fourth. Seeks second 100-yard rushing game in past 3 vs. AFC (124 vs. Oak, 11/25/01) WR AMANI TOOMER seeks fifth 100-yard receiving game in past 8 vs. AFC. Averages 104.7 yards, with 10 TDs in past 10 vs. AFC DE MICHAEL STRAHAN has sacks against 44 different QBs, but never Brunell K MATT BRYANT has connected on first 11 career FG attempts & needs 3 to pass KRIS BROWN (13) for most consecutive FGs to start career.

                                                                         MONDAY NIGHT
                                         MIAMI DOLPHINS (5-2) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-1)

SERIES

	DOLPHINS	PACKERS
LEADER	9-1
STREAKS	9-1
COACHES VS. OPP.	Wannstedt: 2-11	Sherman 0-1
LAST WEEK	Bye (Wk. 7 L 23-10 vs. Bills)	Bye (Wk. 7: W 30-9 vs. Redskins)
LAST GAME	10/29/00: Packers 20 at Dolphins 28. Miami recovers from 17-0 deficit to defeat Green Bay. Dolphins PR Jeff Ogden has 81-yard TD run for final score.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/14/97: Packers 23, Dolphins 18. Green Bay RB Dorsey Levens rushes for career high 121 yards as Packers win first game ever against Miami.
TV	ABC (8:00 PM CT): Al Michaels, John Madden, Melissa Stark (Field reporter). CBS Radio: Marv Albert, Boomer Esiason, Warren Moon (Field reporter)

STATS

PASSING	Lucas: 13-33-165-1-4-26.3	Favre: 153-233-1,706-14 (2C)-3-102.0(1L)
RUSHING	R. Williams: 163-711 (3C)-4.4-6	Green: 143-640 (2C)-4.5-4
RECEIVING	McMichael (R) (TE): 24-327-13.6-4	Driver: 32-527-16.5-5 (T2C)
OFFENSE	341.3	368.9 (3C)
TAKE/GIVE	0	+12 (1L)
DEFENSE	325.3	320.1
SACKS	Taylor: 5.5	Gbaja-Biamila: 5.0
INTs	Surtain: 3	Sharper: 3 (T2C)
PUNTING	Royals: 43.6	Bidwell: 42.9
KICKING	Mare: 52 (22/23 PAT; 10/14 FG)	Longwell: 65 (T1C) (23/23 PAT; 14/19 FG)

NOTES

DOLPHINS:  Are 9-1 (.900) all-time vs. GB. Are 9-4 (.692) following bye QB RAY LUCAS has won 4 of past 5 starts & is 6-3 (.667) in past 9 .Among NFL leaders, RB RICKY WILLIAMS is 4th in rushing (711) & 7th in total yards from scrimmage (910) WR CRIS CARTER makes debut with Dolphins. Has 1,093 career catches for 13,833 yards & 129 TDs. Needs 7 receptions to become second player in NFL history with 1,100 catches (JERRY RICE) & needs 172 yards to pass JAMES LOFTON for 2nd all-time in career receiving yards. In career vs. GB, Carter has 105 catches for 1,283 yards & 11 TDs. WR CHRIS CHAMBERS leads Miami WRs with 23 catches for 290 yards & 2 TDs. Chambers was 2nd round selection in ’01 from Wisconsin & is 2nd on school’s all-time list for catches & yards (AL TOON) .DE JASON TAYLOR leads club with 5.5 sacks (tied for 4th in AFC). Defense is AFC’s best inside 20 (9 TDs in 24 trips, 37.5 pct.) PACKERS:  Club has won 18 consecutive games when leading at half, longest current streak in NFL QB BRETT FAVRE has 40,333 career yards passing & needs 219 to pass JOE MONTANA (40,551) in sixth all-time. Is 69-12 (.852) as starter at home, best by home QB since 1950. Has started 164 consecutive games, most by active player. Has played in 166 consecutive games & will pass WILLIE WOOD (166) for second on club’s all-time list RB AHMAN GREEN has 13 100-yard rushing games with Packers & club is 13-0 in those games. Seeks third consecutive game with TD & has 5 TDs (4 rushing, 1 receiving) in past 2 games. Looks for third consecutive 100-yard rushing game vs. AFC foes, averaging 143 yards in past 2. Has rushed for 3,202 career yards & needs 152 to pass EDGAR BENNETT (3,353) in eighth in club history DE KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA seeks third multiple-sack game in past 4. Has 4.0 sacks in past 3 games.

CAROLINA, DENVER, KANSAS CITY, NEW ORLEANS HAVE OPEN DATES IN WEEK 9

CAROLINA (3-5):  Defense leads NFL with 31 sacks, including 27 by defensive line. Panthers have already surpassed 2001 season total (26). Club has not allowed 100-yard rusher in past 10 games & has held opponents under 300 total yards in 5 of 8 games. Defense has INT in 8 of past 9 games & ranks third in NFL with 117 points allowed 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. Smith rushed for 82 yards vs. TB last week ..Club has INT in 8 of past 9 games Rookie first-round draft pick (No. 2 ) DE JULIUS PEPPERS needs 6.0 sacks for NFL single-season rookie record (JEVON KEARSE, 14.5, 1999). Has 3 multiple-sack games in 2002, including 2.0 last week vs. TB. DE MICHEAL RUCKER needs 3.0 sacks vs. NO to tie career high (9, 2001) K SHAYNE GRAHAM matched his career-best with 3 FGs (20, 47, 39) vs. TB.

DENVER (6-2):  QB BRIAN GRIESE has TD pass in 23 consecutive games, longest current streak in NFL. Griese stands among AFC’s top 5 in following categories: completions (3rd), yards (3rd), attempts (4th), completion pct. (5th) & TDs (5th) RB CLINTON PORTIS leads all rookie rushers (562) and ranks 8th overall in AFC WR ROD SMITH is tied for 5th in NFL in receptions (49) & 6th in receiving yards (541) TE SHANNON SHARPE leads NFL TEs with 38 catches & 455 receiving yards. Is Broncos’ all-time TD reception leader with 47. Tied for 2nd on list are WRs Smith & ED MC CAFFREY with 46 CB DELTHA O’NEAL tied for 4th in AFC with 3 INTs. Defense ranks No. 1 in AFC & No. 3 in NFL in total defense (270.8). Defense is NFL’s best in rushing yards per game (74.3). Club tied for 2nd in AFC in sacks (20), led by AFC sack leader DE TREVOR PRYCE (7.0).

KANSAS CITY (4-4):  RB PRIEST HOLMES leads NFL in rush yards (857) and total scrimmage yards (1,297) with NFL-best 15 TDs after 8 weeks. Holmes is on pace for 30 TDs, which would break all-time single-season TD record (MARSHALL FAULK, St.L, 26, 2000) & is tied for 3rd in NFL with 51 receptions. Holmes has 77 1st downs, next closest is SD’s LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON with 57 QB TRENT GREEN is tied for AFC lead in TD passes with 16 TE TONY GONZALEZ is tied for NFL lead in TD receptions (6). Gonzalez ranks 2nd in NFL among TEs in receptions (33) & receiving yards (429) Team’s 259 points scored are 2nd most in team history after 8 games, second only to 1966 team (285), which advanced to Super Bowl I Club owns AFC’s best turnover ratio (+6) & has forced turnover in 10 consecutive games. Team has blocked punt or field goal in 3 consecutive games DE ERIC HICKS is tied for 6th in AFC in sacks (5.0).

NEW ORLEANS (6-2):  Club’s 6-2 start best since 1993 Offense ranks first in NFC with 69.0 redzone TD pct. (29 trips, 20 TDs) QB AARON BROOKS leads NFL with 18 TD passes & ranks first in NFC with 1,835 yards passing. Has passed for 200 yards in 8 consecutive games. Ranks third in NFC with 99.9 passer rating on third downs & 95.2 rating in fourth quarter RB DEUCE MC ALLISTER has 6 100-yard rushing games in 2002 & is tied with RUEBEN MAYES (6, 1986) for second-most 100-yard games in single-season in club history. Saints have 5-1 record when McAllister rushes for 100 yards & he leads NFC with 836 yards rushing WR JOE HORN has 12 100-yard receiving games with Saints & club is 11-1 (.917) in those games. Leads NFC with 670 receiving yards & is tied for conference lead with 49 catches. WR DONTÈ STALLWORTH has 4 TD catches in his first 5 games & needs 2 to tie DANNY ABRAMOWICZ (6, 1967) for most by rookie in club history.

 

 

SPORTS

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

 

 

 

NFL 2002 Week 9 | NFL 2002 Season Hits Mid-Point with Races Tight