Week 15 Stats , Trends , Notes

[Kramer]

NFL WEEK 15



STATS VS ATS

HOME 108 VS AWAY 100
DOGS 96 VS FAV 104-8 TIES = 208TOTAL
(48%)

14X16=224 -16 BYES = 208
OVER 111 VS UNDER 97

.


PLAYOFF RACE :

AFC 1 - New England (13-0) 2 - Indianapolis (11-2) 3 - Pittsburgh (9-4) 4 - San Diego (8-5) 5 - Jacksonville (9-4) 6 - Cleveland (8-5)

NFC 1 - Dallas (12-1) 2 - Green Bay (11-2) 3 - Seattle (9-4) 4 - Tampa Bay (8-5) 5 - N.Y. Giants (9-5) 6 - Minnesota (7-6)


AFC WILD CARD TIE BREAKER :
IF BILLS BEAT BROWNS ,
OR BILLS , BROWNS , TITANS FINISH 10-6 :
1) : HEAD TO HEAD BILLS BEAT OUT BROWNS
2) BEST DIV WIN LOSS
BILLS 4-2 TITANS 3-2 INDY PENDING WEEK 17

3) BEST COMMON GAMES?
(MIN OF FOUR)
BUF : JETS TWICE
VS NYJ WK 4
VS CIN WK 9
AT JAC WK 11

TEN :
VS NJY WEEK 16
VS JAC WK 10
AT CIN WK 12
THROWN OUT

4)STRENGTH OF VICTORY
SO BILLS NEED TEN TO FINISH 9-7 ...


Cincinnati at San Francisco
CIN 6th OFF; SF 23rd DEF
CIN 22nd RUN; SF 26th VS. RUN
CIN 5th PASS; SF 17th VS. PASS
CIN 7th PTS; SF 23rd PTS ALLOWED
SF 32nd OFF; CIN 26th DEF
SF 29th RUN; CIN 22nd VS. RUN
SF 32nd PASS; CIN 25th VS. PASS
SF 32nd PTS; CIN 28th PTS ALLOWED
SF 31st TO/TA; CIN 13th TO/TA
CIN has allowed 73.2 rushing yards in its last 5 games.
SF hasn’t scored more than 10 points in its last 5 home games.
CIN RB Rudi Johnson has scored in 3 straight games.
SF LB Patrick Willis has 136 tackles in 13 games.
SF QB Shaun Hill has completed 22-of-28 passes for 181 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT this season.

CIN QB Carson Palmer hasn’t thrown a TD pass in his last two starts.
Niners' Shaun Hill expected to make his first NFL start in place of injured quarterbacks Alex Smith (shoulder) and Trent Dilfer (concussion), and ex-Panthers starter Chris Weinke was signed on Wednesday to back him... Cincinnati trying to avoid its first losing season since 2002...

Bengals wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh leads the NFL in receptions (96), and needs five more to surpass Carl Pickens (100 in 1996) for the franchise single-season mark...

San Francisco is last in the league in total offense (235.5 yards per game), passing offense (150 yards per game), and scoring offense (13.2 points per game)...Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer has not thrown a touchdown pass in two straight games, matching the longest drought of his career...

Bengals and Niners are a combined 6-18 since winning Monday night games in Week 1, including a combined 0-3 in primetime.

At 5-8, the Bengals are eliminated from postseason consideration and in danger of recording their first losing campaign in head coach Marvin Lewis' five-year tenure. And while the season has been an overall disappointment for a club that came in with playoff aspirations, the last few weeks have produced better results.

Cincinnati has sandwiched home wins over Tennessee and St. Louis around a loss to AFC North leader Pittsburgh over its past three games, and Lewis' charges have a chance to record their first winning streak since ripping off four consecutive victories from November 19-December 10 of last season.

Offense has been the Niners' primary crutch, as the team ranks last in the NFL in total yards (235.5 ypg), scoring (13.2 ppg) and passing yards (150.0 ypg). San Francisco has scored 16 points or less in all 10 of its 2007 defeats.

The Bengals' main problem has been playing on the road. Cincinnati is just 1-5 away from home this year and has lost seven of its last eight as the visitor dating back to last season

The 49ers have a 7-3 lead in their all-time regular season series with the Bengals, but have lost two in a row to Cincinnati. The Bengals won home shootouts in 2003 (41-38) and 1999 (44-30), last losing to San Francisco in a road contest in 1996 (28-21). Cincinnati is 1-4 all-time in San Francisco, scoring its only win there in the first meeting between the clubs, in 1974.


CIN is 4-8-1 ATS... CIN is 12-8 ATS L20 road games... CIN is 3-6 ATS L9 with 6 or less days rest CIN is 10-6 ATS L16 on grass CIN is 6-2 to the OVER L8 as favorites CIN is 6-3 to the UNDER L9 in L4 weeks of season... SF is 3-10 ATS... SF is 1-6 ATS L7 home games... SF is 4-7 ATS L11 games in December... SF is 5-1 to the UNDER L6 home games... SF is 8-5 to the UNDER L13 games overall...



Cincinnati is 1-4 ATS on the road and San Francisco is 1-5 ATS at home. The Bengals are 6-15 ATS off a straight up win versus an NFC team. They have 'covered' 10 of their last 13 as road favorites. San Francisco is 6-13 ATS at home off a double-digit loss. The 49ers have slipped below the total in five of six home games this season.


The Bengals have covered six of their last seven road games vs. NFC foes but have failed to cover all three of their previous games this season as a road favorite. … Cincy has covered one of its last four night games and is 3-6-1 against the number in its last 10 night contests. …

The Bengals have covered their second-to-last road games two of the last 10 seasons. …
The 49ers are 3-10 against the spread, including 1-5 at home. …
San Francisco has covered one of its last eight, two of its previous 11, and four of its last 16 games overall. … The 49ers have covered one of their last six contests following a double-digit loss and have covered one of their last seven times while playing the second of consecutive home contests. … San Francisco has covered one of its last six night games and has covered its second-to-last home contest one of the last five seasons.


SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16TH


Arizona at New Orleans
AZ 15th OFF; NO 28th DEF
AZ 27th RUN; NO 14th VS. RUN
AZ 10th PASS; NO 28th VS. PASS
AZ 12th PTS; NO 21st PTS ALLOWED
NO 10th OFF; AZ 15th DEF
NO 28th RUN; AZ 10th VS. RUN
NO 4th PASS; AZ 24th VS. PASS
NO 16th PTS; AZ 27th PTS ALLOWED
AZ 28th TO/TA; NO 21st TO/TA


AZ has not met NO since Oct. 3, 2004 when AZ won, 34-10.
AZ QB Kurt Warner threw a career-high 5 INTs last week vs. SEA.
AZ RB Edgerrin James has run for more than 88 yards just once in the last 11 games.
4 of AZ’s 7 road games have been decided by 3 points or less. The team is 2-5 on the road.
NO had allowed a league-low 11 sacks entering Week 14.
NO QB Drew Brees was one INT away from tying a career record for picks in a season entering Week 14.
NO is 2-4 at home this season.


Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin (dislocated toe) expected to miss his second straight game, and tight end Leonard Pope (ankle) will miss the remainder of the season...New Orleans is 2-4 at home this season, while the Cardinals are 2-5 on the road...Saints running back Aaron Stecker, filling in for the injured Reggie Bush, carried 20 times for 100 yards in New Orleans' 34-14 win over the Falcons on Monday night..

Cardinals' 21 interceptions thrown are tied for the most in the league, along with St. Louis...New Orleans wideout Marques Colston is 22 yards shy of his second consecutive 1,000-yard season...Saints have surrendered an NFL-low 11 sacks on the year...Cardinals' Darnell Dockett leads all NFL defensive tackles with eight sacks.

the loser of this weekend's game at the Superdome will be officially relegated to the "playing out the string" pile, while the winner gets at least one more week of membership in the exclusive "mathematically alive for the postseason" club
neither team appears REALISTICALLY for
the postseason


The Saints are actually at the top of the "not quite at playoff level" heap, based on a 5-4 conference record, compared to the 4-5, 4-7 and 3-6 marks rung up respectively so far by fellow pursuers Washington, Detroit and Arizona.

Fitzgerald (groin) was limited in Friday's practice and will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Saints, the Arizona Republic reports
Boldin (toe) looked better on Friday, but will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game, the Arizona Republic reports

Bullocks (knee) was limited in Friday's practice and is questionable for Sunday's game against Arizona, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports



The Cardinals hold a 13-11 edge in their all-time series with the Saints, and have won seven of the last nine head-to-head matchups. The clubs last met during 2004 in Arizona, a 34-10 Cardinals victory. New Orleans won the previous meeting, a 21-10 triumph in the desert, and were 27-10 winners when the teams last met at the Superdome in 1997.

The Cardinals last won in the Crescent City in 1996.
The Saints' Payton and Cardinals' Ken Whisenhunt will be meeting each other, as well as their counterpart's respective franchise, for the first time as head coaches.

Saints by 3.5? That's it!? New Orleans is coming off a blowout victory, while the Cardinals were just thrashed by the Seahawks. The public is going to pound New Orleans



ARI is 8-5 ATS... ARI is 7-4 ATS L11 December games... ARI is 0-4 ATS L4 vs. NFC South... ARI is 6-10 ATS L16 off NFC South game... ARI is 4-2 to the UNDER L6 vs. NO... ARI is 5-1 to the OVER L6 road games... NO is 5-8 ATS... NO is 7-13 ATS L20 as favorites... NO is 1-5 ATS L6 home games. NO is 2-6 ATS L8 dome games... NO is 5-2 to the OVER L7 games...


Arizona is 4-18 ATS on the road versus a non-division opponent off a SU loss. The Cardinals have also dropped 16 of 24 spread decisions on the highway after allowing 28 points or more. New Orleans has struggled at home, failing to get the cash at a 23-10-1 clip, falling short in five of six this season.

Arizona has failed to cover four of its last five games vs. NFC South opponents but has covered four of its last five times while playing the second of consecutive road games. … The Cardinals are 15-27-2 vs. the spread in their last 44 games on artificial turf, and four of their last five contests have gone over the total. … The Saints are 5-8 against the number, including 1-5 at home. …

New Orleans has covered one of its last nine, and four of its previous 15 home games, including playoffs. …
The Saints have covered two of their last 12 contests as a home favorite and are 15-33-1 against the number in their last 49 games as a home favorite. …


New Orleans has covered its second-to-last home game two of its last 10 times



Atlanta at Tampa Bay
ATL 24th OFF; TB 3rd DEF
ATL 23rd RUN; TB 15th VS. RUN
ATL 19th PASS; TB 4th VS. PASS
ATL 30th PTS; TB 2nd PTS ALLOWED
TB 19th OFF; ATL 18th DEF
TB 10th RUN; ATL 24th VS. RUN
TB 16th PASS; ATL 13th VS. PASS
TB 19th PTS; ATL 18th PTS ALLOWED
ATL 12th TO/TA; TB 5th TO/TA


TB beat ATL, 31-7, on Nov. 18.
TB DE Greg White had 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 pass defended despite not starting last week vs. HOU.
TB RB Earnest Graham has scored in each of the last 5 games.
ATL is 1-5 on the road this season.
ATL was held to a season-low (entering Week 14) 49 yards rushing in last meeting with TB.

Entering Week 14, ATL had not scored more than 20 points since Week Four.
Falcons take the field for the first time since head coach Bobby Petrino resigned to take the University of Arkansas job on Tuesday...Defensive backs coach and longtime NFL assistant Emmitt Thomas will serve as interim head coach for the Falcons......
Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia (back) expected to return to the lineup following a two-week absence..

Falcons are likely to give Chris Redman his second consecutive start at QB, after the ex-Raven threw for a career-high 298 yards in Monday's 34-14 loss to New Orleans...Buccaneers have thrown a league-low five interceptions on the year...Tampa Bay wideout Ike Hilliard, who leads the team in receptions with 58, is considered questionable with knee and back problems...

Falcons have thrown a league-worst four interceptions for touchdowns
White (knee) was limited in Friday's practice and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Bucs, the Falcons' official site reports.

Spires (calf, questionable) participated fully in practice with the Buccaneers on Friday.
Nece (groin, questionable) was limited in practice for the Buccaneers on Friday.

Askew (ankle, questionable) was held out of practice for the third straight day by the Buccaneers on Friday.

Pittman (ankle) was limited in practice all week and is questionable for Sunday's game against Atlanta, according to the official injury report.
Hilliard (back) fully participated in Friday's practice and is listed as probable to play against Atlanta on Sunday, on the official injury report.


Garcia (back) fully participated in practice all week and is probable for Sunday's game against Atlanta on the official injury report.


Thomas' first head coaching assignment will be a difficult one, as his team goes into battle against a Tampa Bay club on the verge of wrapping up its second NFC South title in the last three years.

The Buccaneers missed on an opportunity to clinch the division title when they came out flat in a 28-14 loss at Houston last Sunday,
but Jon Gruden's squad needs just one win in its final three games,
or one New Orleans loss in its final three, to take the NFC South crown.

Tampa Bay (8-5) begins Week 15 ranked fourth in the NFL hierarchy behind Dallas
Tampa Bay holds a 16-12 edge in its all-time series with Atlanta, including a 31-7 win at the Georgia Dome when the teams met in Week 11. The Falcons swept the home-and-home last season, scoring a 14-3 home win in Week 2, and claiming a 17-6 decision in the return matchup at Raymond James Stadium in Week 14. The Bucs scored a home-and-home sweep of the Falcons in 2005.
Gruden has a career mark of 8-4 against the Falcons, including a win while with the Oakland Raiders in 2000. Thomas, who served on the Philadelphia Eagles staff with Gruden from 1995 through 1997, will, as mentioned, be acting as a head coach for the first time since breaking in as an assistant with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1981.


ATL is 5-7-1 ATS... ATL is 3-11 ATS L14 when playing a team with a losing record... ATL is 4-7 ATS L11 December games... ATL is 7-10 ATS L17 vs. NFC South... ATL is 4-1 to the OVER L5 overall... ATL is 10-1 to the UNDER L11 on the road... TB is 8-5 ATS... TB is 7-2 ATS vs. NFC... TB is 4-0 ATS vs. NFC South... TB is 9-12 ATS L21 as favorites... TB is 4-2 to the OVER L6 overall... TB is 4-1 to the UNDER L5 home games...


Tampa Bay bashed Atlanta in the initial series clash this season as three-point road favorites, 31-7.
The Bucs are 9-4-1 ATS versus the Falcons and the favorite has cashed at a 14-5-1 clip. Tampa Bay has posted a 19-10-1 spread mark in December. Atlanta has ducked 'under' in 12 of its last 15 as road dogs of seven points or more and the Bucs have been on the low side in 18 of 23 as home favorites.


Atlanta has failed to cover its last three games but has covered the last four meetings with Tampa Bay. … The Falcons have covered five of their last six road contests vs. NFC South rivals. …

The Buccaneers are 7-6 vs. the number, including 5-1 at home. … Tampa Bay has covered three of its four games this season vs. NFC South rivals and has covered its last four games following a double-digit loss. … Four of the Buccaneers’ last five, six of their previous eight, and 30 of their last 47 home contests have stayed under the total, including playoffs


Baltimore at Miami

BAL 25th OFF; MIA 20th DEF
BAL 18th RUN; MIA 32nd VS. RUN
BAL 22nd PASS; MIA 3rd VS. PASS
BAL 25th PTS; MIA 31st PTS ALLOWED
MIA 30th OFF; BAL 5th DEF
MIA 20th RUN; BAL 3rd VS. RUN
MIA 26th PASS; BAL 21st VS. PASS
MIA 27th PTS; BAL 24th PTS ALLOWED
MIA 30th TO/TA; BAL 32nd TO/TA


The teams last met in 2004, with the Ravens winning 30-23 in Baltimore in the final week of the regular season. MIA has won 4-of-6 vs. BAL in the last 10 years.

BAL has lost 7 straight.
***BAL QB Kyle Boller has lost his last 9 road starts.***
Boller last won on the road on Nov. 14, 2004 vs. the N.Y. Jets.
MIA has surrendered 140+ RUSH yards in 9-of-13 games.
MIA QB John Beck doesn’t have a TD pass in 86 attempts.
MIA WRs have caught only 3 TDs this season.

Dolphins attempting to avoid the NFL's first 0-14 start since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost all 14 in their inaugural season of 1976...
Miami expected to start Cleo Lemon at quarterback after rookie John Beck went 0-4 without a touchdown pass in four starts...Lemon is 0-5 as a starter in his career, including 0-4 this season...Kyle Boller will start at QB for Baltimore...Ravens have committed an NFL-high 35 turnovers on the year, including a league-worst 22 lost fumbles, and are last in turnover margin (-17)..

.Miami running back Jesse Chatman (ankle) could return to the lineup after a one-week absence...Baltimore has allowed an NFL-low 2.8 yards per rush...Dolphins are last in NFL rushing defense (155.4 yards per game), but have faced 32 more rushing attempts than any other team....Ravens placed cornerback Chris McAlister (knee) on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday... Baltimore has forced a league-low-tying five lost fumbles on the year

The 0-13 Dolphins have three more chances to avoid becoming the first 0-16 team in NFL history, and the first to go winless through a full NFL season since the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 0-14 in their inaugural campaign. (The 1982 Baltimore Colts went 0-8-1 in a strike-shortened season.)

Besides the '07 Dolphins and '76 Bucs, only the 1986 Indianapolis Colts, 1980 New Orleans Saints, and 1962 Oakland Raiders have lost their first 13 games of the season. The '80 Saints started 0-14 before winning their first game, while the '86 Colts and '62 Raiders won their 14th contest of the year.



Ironically, the Dolphins' most recent win came last Dec. 10, when they beat a New England Patriots team that hasn't lost a regular season game since that day.

Miami is 4-1 against Baltimore in regular season games all-time, but was a 30-23 road loser when the teams last met, in Week 17 of the 2004 season. The Dolphins' wins in the series came at Memorial Stadium in the 1997 season and at home in 2000, 2002, and 2003. In '03, the Dolphins were 9-6 overtime winners against the Ravens.

In addition to the regular season series, the teams met in a 2001 AFC First- Round Playoff, with the Ravens scoring a 20-3 road victory.

Billick is 2-3 against Miami all-time, including the playoff win. The Dolphins' Cameron will be meeting both Billick and the Ravens for the first time as a head coach.

Look for the Ravens to emphasize the run against a Miami defense that has surrendered 140 rushing yards or more in 9-of-13 games this season and allowed 224 rushing yards last week at Buffalo
Suggs (illness) did not practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, the Ravens' official site reports.

Wilcox (toe/ankle) was limited at Friday's practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, the Ravens' official site reports.
McGahee (foot) was a full participant at practice Friday and is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, the Ravens' official site reports

Heap (strained hamstring) was listed as a limited participant at Friday's practice and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, the Ravens' official site reports.
Crowder will miss Sunday's game against the Ravens due to knee and foot injuries, the Miami Herald reports.
Booker (knee) practiced all week and is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Ravens.

Cobbs was limited in practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Ravens.


BAL is 2-11 ATS... BAL is 0-6 ATS in road games... BAL is 1-9 ATS *** vs. AFC... BAL is 7-3 ATS *** December games.... BAL is 5-1 to the OVER L6 overall... BAL is 5-1 to the UNDER L6 vs. MIA... MIA is 3-8 ATS... MIA is 10-22 ATS L32 vs. AFC... MIA is 4-7 ATS L11 December games... MIA is 3-6 ATS L9 as underdogs... MIA is 4-2 to the UNDER L6 overall...


Baltimore has lost 18 of its last 25 on the road and failed to cash 16 of 25. Miami is 6-16 ATS at home versus non-division foes and 0-5 ATS this season at Dolphin Stadium. The Ravens have cashed 13 of 18 as favorites during the last four weeks of the season

The Ravens are 2-11 vs. the spread, including 0-6 on the road. ... Baltimore has covered six of its last 25 road games and has failed to cover its last seven contests as a road favorite. …

The Ravens have covered one of their last eight games overall as a favorite and have failed to cover their last six times while playing the first of consecutive road contests. …
Baltimore has covered its second-to-last road game seven of the last 10 seasons. …
The Dolphins are 3-8-2 against the number, including 0-5 at home. … Miami has covered four of its last 20, and nine of its previous 38, home games and is 25-45-2 against the spread in its last 72 games overall. …
The last four meetings between these teams in Miami have stayed under the total.


Buffalo at Cleveland

BUF 28th OFF; CLE 32nd DEFBUF 16th RUN; CLE 28th VS. RUN
BUF 28th PASS; CLE 30th VS. PASS
BUF 26th PTS; CLE 32nd PTS ALLOWED
CLE 8th OFF; BUF 30th DEF
CLE 17th RUN; BUF 18th VS. RUN
CLE 11th PASS; BUF 29th VS. PASS
CLE 5th PTS; BUF 16th PTS ALLOWED
CLE 16th TO/TA; BUF 8th TO/TA

BUF QB Trent Edwards tossed 4 TDs last week, which were 3 more than he passed for in his previous 6 career games.
BUF is 6-2 in its last 8 games.
BUF collected a season-high 5 sacks last week vs. MIA.
With 8 wins, CLE has already doubled its win total from 2006.
CLE QB Derek Anderson has thrown 24 TDs.


NYJ outgained CLE by 50 yards last week, but CLE still won.
Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards is 5-1 as a starter and threw a career-high four touchdown passes in last week's 38-17 win over Miami...Browns wideout Braylon Edwards (13 touchdown receptions) needs one scoring catch to break a tie with Gary Collins (1963) for the franchise record...Bills offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild was named head coach at Colorado State on Wednesday, but will remain with Buffalo through the end of the season..

.Cleveland is last in the league in total defense (389.7 yards per game), scoring defense (27.4 points per game), and touchdown passes allowed (27)...The Browns' Joshua Cribbs (31.0) leads the NFL in kickoff return average, while the Bills' Roscoe Parrish is number one on the league punt return chart (17.5)

*** The Bills' seven wins have come against opponents that are a combined 21-70.
the Browns can clinch a playoff spot with a victory this Sunday coupled with losses by both Tennessee and Denver. And the club is just one game back of Pittsburgh (9-4) for first place in the AFC North. Cleveland has lost both of its games against the Steelers this season, however.


The Browns, who haven't been in the postseason since 2002, have won three of four since losing to Pittsburgh in Week 10, including a 24-18 victory over the New York Jets at the Meadowlands this past weekend.
Cleveland also enjoys an easier finish to the season, as it plays in Cincinnati (5-8) and then hosts San Francisco (3-10) in the final week.


Meanwhile, the Bills are one of the two teams, along with the Titans, who trail the Browns by one game for the second wild card spot. Buffalo has won two straight games and six of eight, and is coming off of a dominant 38-17 victory over the winless Miami Dolphins.

Cleveland holds a 7-5 advantage in its all-time regular season series with Buffalo, but has lost in its last three meetings with the Bills, in 2004 at home and 1995 and 1990 in Buffalo. The Bills were 37-7 winners over the Browns and interim head coach Terry Robiskie in the 2004 meeting. The Browns' last regular-season victory over the Bills took place in 1987 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.

In addition to their regular-season history, the franchises met in a 1989 AFC Divisional Playoff, won by Cleveland at home by a 34-30 count.


Buffalo head coach Dick Jauron is 1-0 in his career against the Browns, with that win, a 27-21 overtime triumph, coming for his Bears team in 2001. The Browns' Romeo Crennel will be meeting both Jauron and the Bills for the first time as a head coach.

The winner STAYS ALIVE in the AFC. The loser is likely done
GAME ON ...
Kelsay (left ankle) practiced Friday, but is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Browns, the Bills' official site reports.

Wire (neck stinger) is out for Sunday's game against the Browns, the Bills' official site reports
Jurevicius (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills, the Browns' official site reports.




BUF is 9-4 ATS... BUF is 4-0 ATS L4 as road 'dog of 3.5 - 7 pts... BUF is 7-4 ATS L11 vs. AFC... BUF is 7-4 ATS L11 December games... BUF is 4-2 to the OVER L6 overall... CLE is 10-3 ATS... CLE is 8-2 ATS *** vs. AFC... CLE is 4-1 ATS L5 vs. AFC East... CLE is 11-3 ATS L14 as favorites... CLE is 5-1 to the OVER L6 home games...

Buffalo is 26-12 ATS versus bad defensive teams who give up 24 or more points per game. However, the Bills have faltered in nine of 10 ATS on the road after 'covering' two of three. Cleveland is 6-0 as chalk this year. The Browns have come up short in nine of 10 ATS when playing a marginal winning team (51 to 60 percent) in the second half of the season.
Buffalo has covered eight of its last 10 games, including three of its previous four road contests. … The Bills have covered nine of their last 11 games as a road dog and have covered four of their last five contests following a double-digit win. … Buffalo has covered its last 10 games as a dog of seven points or fewer. …
The Browns are 10-3 vs. the number, including 5-1 at home. …
Cleveland has covered its last five home games and has covered its previous six, and eight of its last nine, contests as a favorite. … The Browns have covered five of their last six games vs. AFC East squads but are 0-6-1 vs. the spread in their last seven games before having played the Bengals.




Green Bay at St. Louis

GB 3rd OFF; STL 19th DEF
GB 24th RUN; STL 21st VS. RUN
GB 2nd PASS; STL 17th VS. PASS
GB 4th PTS; STL 26th PTS ALLOWED
STL 27th OFF; GB 9th DEF
STL 26th RUN; GB 11th VS. RUN
STL 17th PASS; GB 16th VS. PASS
STL 29th PTS; GB 6th PTS ALLOWED
STL 24th TO/TA; GB 9th TO/TA


The teams last met last season, with the Rams winning 23-20 at Green Bay.
STL WR Torry Holt has racked up more than 1,000 yards receiving in the last 8 seasons.
GB has racked up 400 yards of offense or more in 7 of its last 11 games.
GB RB Ryan Grant is averaging 111.6 rushing yards in his last five games.
GB WR Greg Jennings has a TD catch in 6-of-7 games and has 11 TD catches on the season.
STL RB Steven Jackson has had at least 100 combined yards in his last 5 games


The Packers are 11-2 and still can clinch homefield advantage throughout the NFC postseason and a first-round bye depending on how the 12-1 Dallas Cowboys close out their season.

Green Bay will try to stay within striking distance on Sunday afternoon, when they pay a visit to the battered St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome.
Third-string quarterback Brock Berlin made his first career NFL start against Cincinnati and finished 17-of-28 passing for 153 yards and an interception for the disappointing Rams, who are 3-10 this season and have lost two of their past three games.


The Rams, who opened the season with an 0-8 start, will be playing with heavy hearts after owner Georgia Frontiere was hospitalized in Los Angeles this week with an undisclosed illness.

The 80-year-old Frontiere has had health problems for several months, according to team spokesman Rick Smith. She has been in charge of the Rams since husband Carroll Rosenbloom passed away in 1979.

The Rams lead the all-time regular season series with the Packers, which dates back to the 1937 season, 45-40-2. St. Louis was a 23-20 road winner when the teams met in Week 5 of last year, while Green Bay won the previous meeting, 45-17, at home in Week 12 of the 2004 season. The Rams won the last game played between the teams at the Edward Jones Dome, a 34-24 triumph in 2003, and the Packers have not won in St. Louis since 1996.


Rams quarterback Marc Bulger (concussion) could return Sunday after missing two games, and backup Gus Frerotte (shoulder) could also be available after missing last week's loss to the Bengals...Brock Berlin would make his second straight start if neither Bulger nor Frerotte can go...Green Bay running back Ryan Grant has gone over 100 yards four times in his past seven games...

St. Louis rusher Steven Jackson has gone over 90 yards in four consecutive games, but has not eclipsed 100 yards since Week 3...Packers rookie kicker Mason Crosby leads the NFL in scoring (115 points)...Rams have a league-low tying four rushing touchdowns on the year, along with the Panthers...St. Louis is tied with Arizona for the most interceptions thrown in the league, with 21

Woodson (toe) was limited in practice all week, but the Packers have listed him as probable for Sunday's game against the Rams, the team's official site reports.
Kampman missed practice for the second straight day on Friday due to back spasms and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Frerotte, who is returning from a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, will serve as the Rams' backup quarterback for Sunday's game against the Packers, the Belleville News-Democrat reports

Bulger (concussion) has been officially declared the Rams' starting quarterback for Sunday's home game against the Packers, the Belleville News-Democrat reports.




GB is 10-2 ATS... GB is 5-1 ATS L6 road games... GB is 6-2 ATS L8 vs. NFC... GB is 14-8 ATS L22 road games.. GB is 5-1 to the OVER L6 overall... GB is 5-1 to the OVER L6 road games... STL is 5-8 ATS... STL is 4-11 ATS L15 vs. a team with winning record... STL is 4-6 ATS *** vs. NFC... STL is 9-4 to the UNDER L13 overall... STL is 5-1 to the OVER home vs. GB...
Green Bay is 6-14-2 as turf road favorites, though it has cashed in its first pair in that role this season. The Packers are also 2-6 ATS on the road off a 14-point win. The NFC-North champs have cashed five of six on the highway this season and topped the total at the same rate



The Packers have covered one of their last seven contests prior to a road game against the Bears and are 1-11-1 against the number in their last 13 contests as a favorite of more than 10 points.


Green Bay’s last four games have all gone over the total, and it has covered one of the last five meetings with St. Louis, including playoffs. …
The Rams are 5-8 against the spread, including 2-4 at home. … St. Louis has covered four of its last five games and has covered three of its last four contests vs. NFC North opponents. … The Rams have failed to cover the first of consecutive home games its last four times and have covered their second-to-last home contest three of the last 12 seasons.

Jacksonville at Pittsburgh

JAX 9th OFF; PIT 1st DEF
JAX 2nd RUN; PIT 2nd VS. RUN
JAX 20th PASS; PIT 2nd VS. PASS
JAX 10th PTS; PIT 1st PTS ALLOWED
PIT 14th OFF; JAX 17th DEF
PIT 3rd RUN; JAX 5th VS. RUN
PIT 24th PASS; JAX 27th VS. PASS
PIT 8th PTS; JAX 6th PTS ALLOWED
PIT 14th TO/TA; JAX 7th TO/TA


JAX QB David Garrard has tossed 13 TDs and just 1 INT.
JAX WR Reggie Williams has caught 4 TDs in the last 6 games.
JAX held CAR to just 149 yards last week.
PIT is 7-0 at home.

Before losing by 21 points last week, PIT had lost its three games by a combined 13 points.
PIT QB Ben Roethlisberger has already exceeded his previous career-high in TDs for a season by 8. He has 26.


Pittsburgh is 7-0 at home this season, joining New England as the only teams to be unblemished on their home fields this year...Steelers running back Willie Parker leads the NFL in rushing (1,217 yards)...


Pittsburgh ranks first in the league in total defense (245.5 yards per game), scoring defense (14.5 points per game), touchdowns allowed (21), and rushing touchdowns allowed (3)... Steelers placed defensive end Aaron Smith (biceps) on season-ending injured reserve on Tuesday...
With the Steelers the favorites to win the AFC North but a long shot to earn a first-round bye, this could be a preview of a first-round playoff game


Jacksonville placed Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcus Stroud (ankle) on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday...Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu (knee) could return to the lineup after missing three straight games...Steelers kicker Jeff Reed (21-of-23) leads the NFL in field goal percentage (.913).


The Steelers' defense suffered a huge loss when DE Aaron Smith tore his biceps in Week 14. He will miss the rest of the season. SS Troy Polamalu (knee) has missed the last three games.
Now that FB Dan Kreider (knee) is on injured reserve, the Steelers are even less apt to power the ball in the I-formation. Even without stud MLB Mike Peterson (hand) and DT Marcus Stroud (ankle), Jacksonville boasts a stout run defense.


Willie Parker has had a big decrease in production in the season’s second half and can’t be trusted as an every-down workhorse.
The Steelers will still feed him the ball but often on draws and out of single-back sets to catch the “D” off balance



Steelers running back Willie Parker, who leads the NFL with 1,217 rushing yards, is vying to become Pittsburgh's first NFL rushing champion since Bill Dudley amassed a league-best 604 yards in 1946.


The STEELERS have outscored visitors 180-64 at Heinz Field in 2007 and will wrap up the regular season with two games on the road at St. Louis and Baltimore. The Steelers aim to finish the season a perfect 8-0 at Heinz Field for the second time in four years and just the fourth time in team history.

The Jaguars can secure a playoff spot with a win over the Steelers combined with a Tennessee loss or tie in its game with Kansas City this weekend.
Both teams bring a talented backfield into Sunday's matchup, as the Jaguars own the second-best ground attack in the NFL (143.8 ypg). The Steelers, thanks to tailback Willie Parker, average 141.6 rushing yards per contest.

Jacksonville leads its all-time series with Pittsburgh, 10-8, including a 9-0 home blanking of the Steelers in Week 2 of last season.


The Jaguars also won the previous meeting between the clubs, a 23-17 overtime win at Heinz Field in Week 6 of the 2005 season. The Steelers had won the three prior meetings, including a 17-16 road win in 2004 and a 20-7 win in the Steel City in 2001.



Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio is 2-1 against the Steelers, while Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin will be meeting both Del Rio and Jacksonville for the first time as a head man.
Roethlisberger (shoulder) participated in practice on Friday, and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Jacksonville, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports
McFadden (ankle) returned to practice Thursday.

Nelson missed practice Friday because of a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh, the Associated Press reports.


Taylor (coach's decision) did not practice Wednesday, the Jaguars' official site reports.

Hayward (groin) is listed as out for Sunday's game against the Steelers, the Jaguars' official site reports
Stroud (ankle) will miss the rest of the season after being placed on IR Wednesday, the Jaguars' official site reports.


I know Pittsburgh still needs to win its division, but it's still two games in front of the Browns, thanks to tie-breakers.
Only 3 games to go ...
There’san extra 1/2pt for Steeler bettors

Steelers have easier win at Rams
All they really need is 1 of next 3 , finish 10-6 ,
they’ve beaten Browns twice if Browns finish 10-6




JAC is 9-4 ATS... JAC is 4-4 ATS L8 in weeks 13-16... JAC is 5-1 ATS L6 road games... JAC is 7-2 ATS vs. AFC... JAC is 5-1 to the OVER L6 road games... JAC is 5-0 to the OVER L5 games overall. PIT is 7-6 ATS... PIT is 5-2 ATS L7 home games... PIT is 3-3 ATS L6 vs. AFC South... PIT is 17-5 to the OVER L22 home games... PIT is 8-3 to the UNDER L11 vs. JAC...
Pittsburgh has thrived as home favorites in December, cashing at a torrid 24-10 clip. The Steelers are 18-8 as favorites of between 3 1/2 and 9 1/2-points and 8-1 as home chalk of 3 1/2 to seven points. Jacksonville is 3-14 ATS after allowing 99 or less rushing yards in four straight games.


The Jaguars have 'covered' five in a row overall and five of six on the road and they are 18-8-1 as dogs since 2004. Pittsburgh has zipped 'over' in 17 of 22 home games. Jacksonville has topped the 'total' in seven of eight when it was between 35 1/2 and 42. They have also been on the high side in eight of nine during the last four weeks of the season


The Jaguars are 9-4 vs. the number, including 5-1 on the road. ... Jacksonville has covered its last five, and nine of its previous 11, games and is 13-4-1 vs. the spread in its last 18 contests as a dog. … The Jaguars are 31-17-2 against the number in their last 50 games as a dog. … Jacksonville has covered the last four, six of the previous seven and nine of the last 11 meetings with Pittsburgh, and eight of the last 11 meetings have stayed under the total. …


The Steelers are 7-6 against the spread, including 5-2 at home. … Pittsburgh has covered one of its last five games but has covered its last four, and six of its previous seven, contests following a double-digit loss. … The Steelers have failed to cover their last three, and six of their previous seven, games vs. AFC South opponents, and their last four games have all stayed under the total.


NY Jets at New England

NYJ 26th OFF; NE 4th DEF
NYJ 19th RUN; NE 12th VS. RUN
NYJ 23rd PASS; NE 6th VS. PASS
NYJ 24th PTS; NE 4th PTS ALLOWED
NE 1st OFF; NYJ 27th DEF
NE 14th RUN; NYJ 30th VS. RUN
NE 1st PASS; NYJ 11th VS. PASS
NE 1st PTS; NYJ 25th PTS ALLOWED
NE 1st TO/TA; NYJ 19th TO/TA



NYJ QB Kellen Clemens has tossed just 4 TDs to 9 INTs.
NE beat NYJ 38-14 in Week 1.
NYJ has won just 1 game on the road, a 40-13 victory at MIA in Week 13.
NE QB Tom Brady needs 9 TD passes to break IND QB Peyton Manning’s NFL single-season record of 49.


NE WR Randy Moss needs 6 TD receptions to break Jerry Rice’s single-season record of 22.


NYJ was the last team to beat NE at home. It won 17-14 in Week 10 of 2006
New England quarterback Tom Brady leads the NFL in passing yards (4095), touchdown passes (45), and passer rating (123.5), receiver Randy Moss paces the league in touchdowns (19), and the Patriots are No. 1 in the NFL in total offense (425 yards per game), passing offense (311.3 yards per game), and scoring offense (38.7 points per game)...


Brady needs five touchdown passes to surpass Peyton Manning's league mark of 49 TDs in a season, and Moss needs four TD catches to break Jerry Rice's single-season record of 22...Patriots and Jets each have just two rushes of 20 yards or longer this season, tied for the lowest figure in the league...New England has an NFL-low 10 turnovers on the year, and possesses a league-best +18 turnover margin


The two sideline generals have quite a history together, as Mangini broke into the NFL ranks as a bottom-rung assistant on Belichick's staff when the latter was head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 1995. Belichick also brought his protege along when he became an assistant with the Jets two years later, and Mangini also worked under him for six seasons with New England before taking over the Jets prior to the 2006 campaign.


The friendship between the pair, which was tested when Mangini took over a division rival, became further strained after Mangini's upstart Jets defeated Belichick's Pats at Gillette Stadium in Week 10 of last season. The tension grew greater in the aftermath of New England's 38-14 victory over New York in this year's season opener.



Following the loss, the Jets filed a complaint to the NFL office accusing the Patriots of illegally videotaping New York's defensive signals during the course of the game. After an ensuing investigation by the league, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that New England would be forced to forfeit its first-round selection in the 2008 draft and levied a $500,000 fine on Belichick.


The incident tarnished the reputation of both coaches, with Belichick viewed by many as a cheater who compiled his glossy credentials by using dirty tactics, and Mangini as a whistle-blower who broke an unspoken code among the coaching circles.


Another chapter of the story was revealed this week, when news broke that the Jets had used a second video camera in one of the end zones during one of the team's two games in Foxborough last year.
The Jets claimed that they had received prior permission from the Patriots to record the game, and the NFL stated on Wednesday that such a practice is neither illegal or uncommon
The Jets hold a 48-45-1 edge in the all-time regular season series with the Patriots,
were 38-14 home losers against New England in Week 1.
Last season, New York broke a seven-game losing skid to its longtime AFC East rival with a 17-14 road victory in Week 10. New England is 10-2 in its last 12 regular season games against the Jets, with the losses over that stretch coming at home in 2002 and 2006.
The Patriots and Jets have also met twice once in the postseason, including a 26-14 road victory for New England in a 1985 AFC First-Round Playoff and last season's 37-16 triumph in an opening-round tilt.
Belichick has a career mark of 12-6 against the Jets, for whom he served as defensive coordinator from 1997 through 1999, including 11-5 while with New England. Mangini is 1-3 against both his former mentor Belichick and his ex- employer New England.


Sanders (knee) has had limited participation in practice this week and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets, the Boston Globe reports
Vrabel (thigh) was limited at practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets, the Boston Globe reports.

Watson (ankle) has had limited participation in practice this week and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets, the Boston Globe reports.

Cotchery isn't sure if he'll have to wear a protective splint on his finger for the rest of the season, indicating that it's something he and the Jets' trainers will evaluate each day, the Associated Press reports
Coles (high ankle sprain) was limited at practice once again Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots.



LETS SEE A FIRST YEAR QB GOING UP AGAINST TOM BRADY AND BELICHICH

THE SAME JETS TEAM THAT LOST TO DALLAS 34-3 WHO WERE BEATEN BY SAME
PATRIOTS...
THE JETS WHO LOST TO WASH AND BUFFALO (TWICE)
AND BENGALS AND EAGLES AND RAVENS


NYJ is 4-8-1 ATS... NYJ is 9-14 ATS L23 road games... NYJ is 6-3 ATS L9 in weeks 13-16... NYJ is 6-4 to the UNDER *** overall... NE is 7-3 ATS as double-digit favorites... NE is 19-1 SU and 14-6 ATS L20 overall... NE is 11-4 ATS L15 vs. AFC East... NE is 5-0 to the OVER L5 vs. AFC East... NE is 9-3-1 ATS L13 vs. NYJ...

The New York Jets have proved pesky in Beantown, getting the cheddar at a 12-5-1 clip. New England opened the season by beating the Jets at the Meadowlands as 6 1/2-point favorites, 38-14.

The Patriots have prevailed in nine of the past 11 series showdowns (8-2-1 ATS). They have cashed at a 20-8-1 pace versus division foes during the final four weeks of the season. New England has eclipsed the 'total' in seven of eight as double-digit favorites.



The Jets are 4-8-1 vs. the number, including 2-4 on the road. … New York has covered one of the last 10, and two of the previous 13, meetings, including playoffs. … The Jets have failed to cover their last three games as a dog of more than 10 points and have covered one of their last six times while playing the first of consecutive road contests. … The Patriots are 10-3 vs. the spread, including 5-1 at home. … New England has covered its last five, eight of its previous 10, and 11 of its last 14 games vs. AFC East rivals, including playoffs, and has covered seven of its last nine games as a favorite of more than 10 points.



Seattle at Carolina

SEA 11th OFF; CAR 13th DEFSEA 21st RUN; CAR 19th VS. RUN
SEA 8th PASS; CAR 12th VS. PASS
SEA 6th PTS; CAR 17th PTS ALLOWED
CAR 29th OFF; SEA 12th DEF
CAR 15th RUN; SEA 13th VS. RUN
CAR 30th PASS; SEA 22nd VS. PASS
CAR 28th PTS; SEA 5th PTS ALLOWED
SEA 3rd TO/TA; CAR 15th TO/TA


SEA allowed 14 points in the second half last week vs. AZ after allowing just 13 second half points in its previous 4 games.
SEA CB Marcus Trufant had 3 INTs for 96 yards, including an 84-yard TD return, last week vs. AZ.
SEA’s current 5-game winning streak is its longest since 2005 when it won 11 straight and made it to the Super Bowl.
SEA QB Matt Hasselbeck has 11 TDs and 3 INTs during the team’s 5 game winning streak.


CAR had a season-low 149 yards of offense last week in a loss to JAX.
CAR has lost 6 of its last 7 games.
CAR is 3-0 against the NFC West this season
Vinny Testaverde expected to make his seventh start at QB for Panthers...Seattle wideout and 12-year NFL veteran Bobby Engram is 71 yards shy of his first career 1,000-yard season...Carolina receiver Steve Smith has gone six straight games without a touchdown catch, the longest such drought since his rookie season of 2001...Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kerney leads the NFL in sacks (13.5)...


Panthers have a league-low-tying four rushing touchdowns on the year, along with the Rams...
Seattle has allowed an NFL-low 10 touchdown passes in 2007...Panthers have recorded an NFL-worst 16 sacks in 13 games...Seahawks' Nate Burleson is one of four players (Yamon Figurs, Devin Hester, Darren Sproles) with a touchdown off both a kickoff and punt return this season.
delivered another outstanding performance in the Arizona game. The two-time Pro Bowl selection threw for 272 yards and a season-best four touchdowns against the Cardinals, three of which came during the first half, as the Seahawks built a commanding 27-7 lead at intermission.
Hasselbeck has had at least two touchdown passes in seven of Seattle's last eight games, and his 24 scoring strikes on the season are tied with Green Bay's Brett Favre for the second-most among NFC signal-callers.



The Seahawk defense, led by end Patrick Kerney and cornerback Marcus Trufant, has also been superb as of late. The unit intercepted Cardinals quarterback five times last week, with Trufant accounting for three of those picks and running one of them back 84 yards for a touchdown.
Kerney, the NFC's Player of the Month for November, had three sacks in the game and now has accumulated a league-best 13 1/2 quarterback takedowns in 2007.

Carolina head coach John Fox has been mum on who will be under center for his team for this game, leading to speculation that rookie Matt Moore could make his first career NFL start on Sunday.
Testaverde (team decision/general soreness) did not practice Friday for the third straight day, the Charlotte Observer reports.


Jarrett (knee) practiced on Friday, and is currently probable to start on Sunday against Seattle, the Charlotte Observer reports.

Colbert (knee, doubtful) was held out of practice Friday, the Charlotte Observer reports
Alexander (cracked wrist) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against Carolina, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.



WHAT DOES THIS GAME MEAN TO SEATTLE?
THEY’VE ALREADY CLINCHED THE NFC WEST ,
THEY AREN’T GETTING HOME FIELD ADV
7 POINTS MAY AS WELL BE 9.5


SEA is 8-4-1 ATS... SEA is 7-2 ATS L9 as favorites... SEA is 8-2 ATS *** vs. NFC... SEA is 4-1 ATS L5 vs. NFC South... SEA is 7-4 to the OVER L11 December games... SEA is 16-7 to the OVER L23 road games... CAR is 5-8 ATS... CAR is 3-5 ATS L8 as underdogs... CAR is 5-1 ATS L6 vs. NFC West... CAR is 6-2 to the UNDER L8 as underdogs..


Seattle (9-4, 8-4-1) clinched its fourth consecutive NFC West title last week and it has won five straight, its longest streak since an 11-game run two seasons ago that helped the Seahawks reach the Super Bowl. Carolina (5-8 SU&ATS have lost and failed to cash in six of their last seven trips to the post and they have lost five of six games at home this season. Seattle have failed to get the cheese in nine of 10 coming off a blowout win by 21 points or more and they are 0-7 ATS on the road following a victory by 14-points or more.


Carolina is 0-7 off a road loss, but it has 'covered' seven in a row after losing by 28 points or more. The Panthers were 21-5-1 as underdogs before coming up short in five of seven in that role this year.



Seattle has covered its last five games but has failed to cover its last five road contests when sandwiched between two home games. … The Panthers are 5-8 against the spread, including 1-5 at home. … Carolina has covered its last nine regular-season games vs. NFC West opponents, and three of its last four games have gone over the total. … The Panthers have covered seven of their last 10 games after having scored seven points or fewer in their previous outing.

Tennessee at Kansas City
TEN 21st OFF; KC 14th DEF
TEN 4th RUN; KC 26th VS. RUN
TEN 27th PASS; KC 9th VS. PASS
TEN 22nd PTS; KC 13th PTS ALLOWED
KC 31st OFF; TEN 6th DEF
KC 32nd RUN; TEN 9th VS. RUN
KC 25th PASS; TEN 8th VS. PASS
KC 31st PTS; TEN 11th PTS ALLOWED
TEN 18th TO/TA; KC 24th TO/TA



TEN RB LenDale White rushed for 113 yards last week after rushing for just 141 in the previous 4 games.
TEN has been held to less than 200 yards passing in 7 of 13 games this season.
TEN QB Vince Young has thrown 16 INTs and just 7 TDs this season.
KC has lost 6 games in a row.
KC was outgained 453 yards to 129 in a loss to DEN last week and had just 16 yards rushing.
KC has allowed 13 sacks in the last 2 games
Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle still seeking his first win as an NFL starter...Tennessee has a league-low seven touchdown passes on the year...Chiefs are last in the NFL in rushing offense (80.2 yards per game)...Titans running back LenDale White is 133 yards shy of his first career 1,000-yard season...
Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez is 46 yards shy of his third career 1,000-yard season...Chiefs running back Larry Johnson (foot) will miss his sixth consecutive game... Titans kicker Rob Bironas leads the NFL in made field goals (27).

The Chiefs' current six-game losing streak is the franchise's longest since 1998, when Marty Schottenheimer's final team lost six consecutive in the midst of a 7-9 year.


Kansas City last lost seven in a row in 1987, when the team dropped nine consecutive, though three of those losses came with replacement players on the field during a player's strike. The team's longest losing streak in a non- strike year came in 1985, when it lost seven in a row.


The Chiefs have the third-longest current skid in the NFL behind only the 0-13 Dolphins and the equally 4-9 Ravens, who have lost seven straight.
Tennessee, meanwhile, might come off a worse indignity. The Titans held a 17-3 fourth-quarter lead on the visiting San Diego Chargers, and looked to be well on their way to maintaining their standing near the top of the AFC Wild Card race.


But Jeff Fisher's club imploded, allowing San Diego to put together its first two touchdown drives of the day to tie the contest at 17-17. Predictably, the Chargers finished the comeback in overtime on a long LaDainian Tomlinson touchdown run.


The Titans, who have lost four of five since a 6-2 start, sit a game behind Cleveland for the final Wild Card spot in the AFC as Week 15 commences.
Edwards (hamstring) missed practice again on Thursday, the Chiefs' official site reports.

Johnson (foot) again practiced on a limited basis Thursday, the Chiefs' official site reports

White (knee) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, the Tennessean reports
Jones (groin) is listed as out for Sunday's game against the Chiefs

Haynesworth (hamstring) did not practice Friday and will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game at Kansas City, the Tennessean reports




TEN is 0-3 ATS L3 vs. AFC West... TEN is 6-5 ATS L11 December games... TEN is 1-4 ATS L5 games... TEN is 9-4 ATS L13 road games... TEN is 4-2 to the OVER L6 vs. KC... KC is 1-5 ATS L6 overall... KC is 1-5-1 ATS L7 home games... KC is 4-6 ATS *** December games... KC is 4-2 to the OVER L6 overall...


Kansas City is 13-3 ATS at home after allowing 35 points or more in its last game. The Chiefs have also 'covered' 20 of 27 off a road blowout loss by 14 points or more. Kansas City had zipped 'over' in 39 of 62 December outings
The Titans are 6-7 vs. the number, including 3-3 on the road. …

Tennessee has covered one of its last five games and has covered one of its last four road contests. … The Titans have failed to cover their last eight games vs. AFC West opponents but have covered their last four road games when sandwiched between two home games.

… Tennessee has covered six of its last eight contests as a road favorite. … The Chiefs are 5-7-1 vs. the spread, including 1-5-1 at home. … Kansas City has failed to cover its last four home games and has covered one of its last six games overall. … The Chiefs have covered their final home game three of the last four seasons and have covered consecutive meetings with the Titans


Indianapolis at Oakland

IND 4th OFF; OAK 24th DEF
IND 12th RUN; OAK 31st VS. RUN
IND 6th PASS; OAK 5th VS. PASS
IND 3rd PTS; OAK 20th PTS ALLOWED
OAK 23rd OFF; IND 2nd DEF
OAK 5th RUN; IND 17th VS. RUN
OAK 29th PASS; IND 1st VS. PASS
OAK 23rd PTS; IND 3rd PTS ALLOWED
OAK 21st TO/TA; IND 2nd TO/TA


OAK QB JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2007, has played in just 1 game.
Last week’s loss to GB halted OAK’s 2-game winning streak.
OAK RB Justin Fargas has run for at least 139 yards in 2 of the last 3 games.
IND QB Peyton Manning’s QB rating of 92.5 is the lowest it has been since 2002 (88.8).
IND’s 44 points last week were the most it has scored in a game since Week 12 of 2006 (45 vs. PHI).
IND has won 4 in a row after a 2-game losing streak
those Colts -- while perilously clinging to what's essentially just a 2.5-game lead over Jacksonville in the AFC South with three games remaining -- have to head into the hornet's nest known as Oakland, where the lowly
Raiders lie ominously in wait for an unknowing 11-2 foe.



Raiders starting quarterback will likely be either Josh McCown (finger) or Daunte Culpepper (quadriceps), with rookie JaMarcus Russell to appear off the bench... Colts wideout Marvin Harrison (knee) unlikely to return to the lineup...
Status of Raiders running back Justin Fargas (ribs), who is 80 yards shy of his first career 1,000-yard season, unknown for Sunday...
Colts have lost the fewest fumbles in the NFL (3)...
Indianapolis is No. 1 in the league in passing defense (166.8 yards per game)...


Raiders have allowed an NFL-worst 21 rushing touchdowns, 16 rushes of 20 yards or longer, and are surrendering a league-high 4.8 yards per run... Colts have allowed a league-worst three kickoff returns for touchdowns

Session (ankle) is listed as questionable against Oakland.
Mathis (both knees) missed practice on Friday, but is listed as questionable against Oakland.
Diem (knee) has been ruled out this week against Oakland.
Bethea (knee) missed practice on Friday and is questionable against Oakland, the team's official web site reports.

Harrison (knee) missed Friday's practice and has officially been ruled for Sunday's game against Oakland, the team's official web site reports.

Edwards (hamstring) missed practice again on Thursday, the Chiefs' official site reports

Johnson (foot) again practiced on a limited basis Thursday, the Chiefs' official site reports

Smith (knee) practiced again Friday and is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Titans.

IND is 8-5 ATS... IND is 21-9 ATS L30 after 2+ wins... IND is 3-7 ATS *** December games... IND is 14-9 ATS L23 road games... IND is 13-9 to the UNDER L22 road games... OAK is 5-8 ATS... OAK is 0-9 ATS L9 in weeks 13-16... OAK is 6-16 ATS L22 home games... OAK is 1-11 ATS L12 December games... OAK is 8-4 to the OVER L12 games... OAK is 21-11 to the UNDER L32 games as 'dogs...


The Colts are 8-5 against the number including 4-3 on the road. … Indy has covered seven of its last 10 games, including four of its previous five road contests. … The Colts have covered two of their last eight regular-season games vs. AFC West foes and have failed to cover their final road game the last four seasons. … Indy has covered its last three, and four of its previous five, games as a road favorite of more than 10 points, and its last three games have gone over the total. …
The Raiders are 5-8 against the spread, including 1-5 at home. … Oakland has covered three of its last nine games and has covered two of its previous seven contests as a dog of more than 10 points. … The Raiders have covered three of their last 15, and five of their previous 25, games after having scored 10 points or fewer in their previous outing.


Indianapolis is 20-6-1 ATS on the road versus non-division foes. Oakland is 4-17 ATS in December, 9-18 as home dogs and 1-5 ATS at home this season.

Detroit at San Diego
DET 16th OFF; SD 16th DEF
DET 30th RUN; SD 19th VS. RUN
DET 7th PASS; SD 14th VS. PASS
DET 13th PTS; SD 9th PTS ALLOWED
SD 20th OFF; DET 31st DEF
SD 11th RUN; DET 16th VS. RUN
SD 21st PASS; DET 31st VS. PASS
SD 9th PTS; DET 30th PTS ALLOWED
SD 3rd TO/TA; DET 9th TO/TA


DET controlled much of the first 3 quarters against heavily favored DAL before allowing DAL to escape with a 28-27 victory.
SD rallied from 14 down at Tennessee to pull out a 23-17 OT win. SD can take the AFC West with a win and a Broncos loss.
SD has won 7 straight games in December.
DET allowed DAL TE Jason Witten 15 catches last week and now faces SD’s Antonio Gates.
In DET’s 4-game losing streak, the team rushed for 164 yards combined. Against DAL, Kevin Jones and T.J. Duckett rushed for a combined 152 yards and 3 touchdowns.


DET has lost 5 straight since their 6-2 start.
SD RB LaDainian Tomlinson scored 16 yards out in OT.
SD scored the game’s final 20 points.
Gates caught a 2-yard touchdown with 9 seconds remaining to send the game into OT.


SD QB Philip Rivers struggled early but was 11-of-17 for 127 yards with 2 TDs in SD’s 2 touchdown drives in the 4th quarter.
This was the first time in SD history that the club has trailed by 14 points in the 4th quarter on the road and came back to win.
Rivers has committed 20 turnovers this season (15 interceptions and 5 fumbles).



San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers (knee) expected to play, but the team will be without linebacker Shawne Merriman (knee) for at least one week...Detroit wide receiver Roy Williams (knee) likely to miss the remainder of the season...Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns (12)...Detroit has allowed a league-worst 52 sacks on the year...San Diego cornerback Antonio Cromartie leads the league in interceptions (9), and needs one more to break a tie with Charlie McNeil (1961) for the franchise record..

.Chargers and Lions are 1-2 in the league in takeaways with 35 and 33, respectively...Chargers are first in the NFL in INTs (22), while Lions lead the league in forced fumbles lost (17)...Detroit has allowed an NFL-worst 43 touchdowns on the year...Lions have lost five straight in their series with the Chargers, and are 0-3 all-time in San Diego

With the win, the Chargers maintained a two-game lead on the Denver Broncos in the AFC West, and can clinch a second consecutive division title with a fourth straight triumph in Week 15, coupled with a Denver loss in Houston on Thursday night

Like their competitors on Sunday, the Detroit Lions very nearly headed into Week 15 boasting positive momentum. Rod Marinelli's team, desperate for a win following four consecutive losses, led NFC top dog Dallas for most of last week's matchup, and held a 27-14 fourth-quarter lead over the Cowboys.
But the Lions failed to keep their grip on what would have been a course- reversing victory, as Dallas rallied for two touchdowns, including one on a final-minute pass from Tony Romo to tight end Jason Witten, that severely harmed Detroit's chances at its first playoff berth since 1999.



The Lions enter Sunday's game sitting amid a glut of 6-7 teams looking up at 7-6 Minnesota for the final Wild Card spot in the NFC.
The potential tie-breakers don't favor Marinelli's club, nor does a schedule which includes road games against the Chargers and 11-2 Packers, with a home game against the Kansas City Chiefs sandwiched in between.
The Chargers have won seven straight games in December.
The Lions ran for 152 yards and three TDs last week against Dallas.

And still lost



The Lions’ zone coverages couldn’t slow Cowboys TE Jason Witten (15 catches) last week, which has San Diego’s Antonio Gates licking his chops.

Williams (ankle) is iffy for Sunday's game against the Lions, the San Diego Union Tribune reports

Though Gates (back) is listed as questionable, he's considered likely to play Sunday against the Lions, the San Diego Union Tribune reports.
Rivers (knee) took about half the reps in practice Friday and said he felt about the same as he did Thursday, the San Diego Union Tribune reports. He is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions.




San Diego has a 5-3 lead in the all-time series with Detroit, and has won five in a row in the series since the Lions prevailed in the first three meetings (1972, 1977, 1978). The Chargers were 14-7 road winners when the clubs last met, in 2003, and took a 27-21 decision when the two last did battle in Southern California, in 1996. The Lions are 0-3 all-time in San Diego.


DET is 6-6-1 ATS... DET is 7-3 ATS *** vs. AFC... DET is 6-3 ATS L9 in weeks 13-16... DET is 7-3 to the OVER *** as 'dogs... DET is 2-0 to the OVER L2 vs. AFC West... SD is 8-5 ATS... SD is 7-3 ATS *** as favorites... SD is 5-1 ATS L6 home games... SD is 7-4 to the OVER L11 games vs. NFC... SD is 6-2 to the UNDER L8 in weeks 13-16....



Detroit is dangerous when wounded. The Lions are 16-6 ATS after five or more straight losses. San Diego has cashed 28 of 42 off three or more straight spread wins. The Chargers have also 'covered' eight straight versus good passing teams averaging 235 or more yards per game through the air. Detroit has dipped 'under' in 15 of 19 on the road when the number was between 45 1/2 and 49.

The Lions are 6-6-1 vs. the number, including 2-4 on the road. … Detroit has covered one of its last five, and three of its previous 11, road games, and five of its last six games have gone over the total. …
The Lions have covered their last four, and seven of their previous nine, contests as a dog of more than 10 points and have covered seven of their last 10 games vs. AFC opponents. …




The Chargers are 8-5 vs. the spread, including 5-1 at home. … San Diego has covered its last three, and seven of its last nine, games. … The Chargers have covered 10 of their last 14 regular-season home games and are 20-8-1 against the number in their last 29 regular-season home contests. …
San Diego has failed to cover its last four, and five of its previous six, games as a favorite of more than 10 points.



Philadelphia at Dallas



PHI 7th OFF; DAL 8th DEF
PHI 8th RUN; DAL 4th VS. RUN
PHI 12th PASS; DAL 20th VS. PASS
PHI 15th PTS; DAL 15th PTS ALLOWED
DAL 2nd OFF; PHI 10th DEF
DAL 9th RUN; PHI 8th VS. RUN
DAL 3rd PASS; PHI 19th VS. PASS
DAL 2nd PTS; PHI 12th PTS ALLOWED
DAL 9th TO/TA; PHI 24th TO/TA



PHI’s playoff hopes likely were dashed with a last-minute loss to NYG at home.
DAL survived their late scare in DET as TE Jason Witten caught a TD pass — his 15th reception of the game — with 18 seconds left.
PHI QB Donovan McNabb didn’t complete a pass longer than 19 yards last week.
DAL held PHI RB Brian Westbrook to 16-65-1 as a runner in the first meeting, but he snagged14
/90 yards as a receiver.



DAL QB Tony Romo ate up the Eagles’ secondary in Week 9 as old friend Terrell Owens (10-174-1) proved to be extremely difficult to cover.
DET ran for 152 yards and 3 TDs last week against DAL.
Romo has a TD pass in 17 straight games, breaking Troy Aikman’s record for the longest streak in franchise history.



Witten made up for his goal-line fumble by converting on a couple of crucial third downs in the fourth quarter and catching the game-winner. He finished with 138 yards.
DAL has scored at least 24 points in every game this season and has won 7 straight games. Their last seven-game streak was in 1993-94.
With the win, DAL clinched the NFC East Division title.



PHI PK David Akers had his 57-yard field goal attempt clang off the right upright with a second remaining to preserve the Giants’ 16-13 victory. The kick would have tied a career-long if it had sailed just a few inches left.
PHI DE Trent Cole had his first 2-sack game since Week 8.
Coming into the game, PHI was ranked 8th in 3rd-down conversions. That dropped to 12th after they delivered on only 2-of-13 3rd-down attempts against NYG.

Dallas has scored at least 24 points in every game this season...
Eagles running back Brian Westbrook leads the NFL in scrimmage yards (1752) and leads NFL backs with 74 receptions...
Cowboys wideout and one-time Eagle Terrell Owens leads the NFL in receiving yards (1270)...
Philadelphia receiver Kevin Curtis is 70 yards shy of his first career 1,000-yard season...



Dallas tight end Jason Witten is 45 yards short of his first career 1,000-yard season...
Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton (foot) considered questionable for Sunday...
Philadelphia has recorded an NFL- low seven interceptions and 15 takeaways on the season...
Eagles are the only team in the league without a touchdown off either a punt, kickoff, fumble, or interception return this year.

With their postseason hopes now all but dashed, the Philadelphia Eagles will attempt to spoil the Dallas Cowboys' goals of seizing home field advantage throughout this year's NFC Playoffs when the bitter divisional rivals square off this Sunday in a late-season showdown from Texas Stadium.



The Eagles are in grave danger of missing out on the conference's postseason parade for only the second time in the last eight years after suffering narrow defeats in each of their previous three games heading into Sunday's tilt.
At 5-8, Philadelphia now trails Minnesota by two games in the race for the NFC's final wild card spot with three to play.
Those three losses have come by a total of 10 points, with the most recent setback coming at the hands of fellow NFC East member New York last Sunday.


The Giants went ahead on Eli Manning's third-quarter touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress, then held on for a 16-13 decision when Philadelphia's David Akers hit the upright on a 57-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds.
Dallas has already wrapped up the division crown by virtue of last week's 28-27 comeback triumph at Detroit. The Cowboys rallied from a 13-point fourth- quarter deficit and forged ahead on a 16-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Tony Romo to tight end Jason Witten with just 18 seconds left on the game clock.


Newman (knee/toe) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Eagles after being limited in Friday's practice, the Dallas Morning News reports.
Glenn (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Eagles, the Dallas Morning News reports.

Crayton (ankle) fully participated in practice all week and is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Eagles, the Dallas Morning News reports
Brown (shin) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against Dallas, the Eagles' official site reports.

Dawkins (back) practiced on Friday and is listed as questionable to play against the Cowboys on Sunday, the Eagles' official site reports.
Westbrook (knee) was limited during Friday's practice, but he's listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, the Eagles' official site reports.

Smith (knee) will not play against Dallas on Sunday, the Eagles' official site reports



The Cowboys haven't won 13 games in a regular-season since 1992, a year in which the franchise captured the first of three Super Bowl titles in a four- season span.

The Cowboys hold a 52-41 advantage in their all-time regular season series with the Eagles, including a 38-17 win in Philadelphia in Week 9. Dallas was swept in a home-and-home with their long-time NFC East rival last season, including a 23-7 home loss. The Eagles' last defeat at Texas Stadium occurred in 2005.


Eagles head coach Andy Reid has a career record of 12-5 against the Cowboys. Dallas' Wade Phillips is 2-0 all-time against both Philadelphia and Reid all- time, with the first of those wins coming in the form of a 26-0 rout for Phillips' Bills over the Eagles in 1999.

What do the Cowboys have to play for?
The only way they can lose the hold on their No. 1 seed is if something bizarre happens.
That's why they didn't show up against the Lions until the very end
They watched the score of the Eagles Giants game , and until Giants had the lead


then they didn’t take the Lions serious.
They have a game lead on the Packers , Have beaten the Packers ,
and Carolina next week for home field adv..
Or perhaps Packers can lose at cold Chicago outdoor stadium next week ...

The Eagles need 3 wins to finish 8-8
If Vikings lose 1 of 3 they’ll be 8-8 ...
The Eagles beat Vikings in week 8 so they’d win the tie breaker...
Win or done for Eagles..
the majority of Philadelphia's losses have come by single digits (3, 8, 13, 3, 21, 3, 4, 3)
10.5 is a lot of points in a heated rivalry,
especially when one of the teams may not be fully focused



Eagles DE Juqua Thomas is playing near a Pro Bowl level, and he’ll face off against Cowboys ORT Marc Colombo, who struggled Sunday while playing through an ankle injury.
Thomas uses his speed well to drive blockers upfield, and he has adapted well to a full-time role.



The Eagles seem to lose when supposed to win and vice versa...

The Eagles have covered seven of the last 10 meetings in Dallas. …
The Eagles have covered last 4 road games
But just 1 0f 6 vs NFC East
The Cowboys are 10-3 vs. the number, including 6-1 at home. … Dallas has covered all four of its games vs. NFC East rivals and has covered its last four home contests. … The Cowboys have covered seven of their last 11 home games prior to consecutive road contests.



PHI is 4-1-1 ATS L6 at DAL... PHI is 6-7 ATS.... PHI is 4-0 ATS L4 off NFC East game... PHI is 6-4 ATS *** avenging a loss... PHI is 5-2 to the OVER L7 overall... DAL is 9-4 ATS... DAL is 7-2 ATS L9 vs. NFC... DAL is 2-6 ATS L8 December games... DAL is 3-1 ATS vs. NFC East... DAL is 10-3 to the OVER L13 overall... DAL is 8-3 to the OVER L11 as favorites...



Dallas trounced Philadelphia in the first meeting this season as three-point road favorites, 38-17. The Eagles are 20-8 ATS avenging a home loss and they have 'covered' 10 of 12 off a division game. The Cowboys have flopped in eight of their last 11 ATS versus Philadelphia at home. The SU winner in this NFC-East rivalry is 28-4-1 ATS. Dallas has gone 'over' in 10 of 13 games this year. The Eagles have barged 'over' in nine of 10 as underdogs.



Washington at NY Giants

WAS 17th OFF; NYG 7th DEF
WAS 12th RUN; NYG 7th VS. RUN
WAS 15th PASS; NYG 10th VS. PASS
WAS 20th PTS; NYG 21st PTS ALLOWED
NYG 18th OFF; WAS 11th DEF
NYG 7th RUN; WAS 6th VS. RUN
NYG 18th PASS; WAS 23rd VS. PASS
NYG 15th PTS; WAS 14th PTS ALLOWED
NYG 21st TO/TA; WAS 24th TO/TA



WAS won an emotional game last Thursday, their first since the death of teammate Sean Taylor. But it did come at a cost — QB Jason Campbell (dislocated kneecap) is likely out for the season after being hurt against the Bears.
NYG won their 9th game, beating PHI and likely locking up the NFC’s top wild-card spot.



Backup QB Todd Collins, who replaced Campbell, was 15-of-20 passing for 224 yards with 2 TDs and no interceptions last week.
NYG DE Osi Umenyiora got his 7th sack against the Eagles in 2 games. Umenyiora leads the NFC lead with 12 sacks.
NYG RB Brandon Jacobs lost 2 fumbles in his first game back to action since Week 11.
WAS CB Shawn Springs intercepted 2 Brian Griese passes on consecutive Bears drives in the 2nd quarter. The 1st of his 2 interceptions led to the game’s first score, a 21-yard touchdown pass from Collins to TE Todd Yoder.
Collins played in the regular season for the first time since 2004.
WAS won despite rushing for just 32 yards.
The last time Collins threw 2 touchdown passes in a game was on Nov. 30, 1997, as the QB for the Bills


Collins last opened a game on Dec. 14, 1997, as a member of the Buffalo Bills...Giants can clinch a Wild Card berth with a win or losses for Minnesota (vs. Chicago) and New Orleans (vs. Arizona)...Collins, who threw his first NFL pass since 2004 in last week's 24-16 win over the Bears, completed 15-of-20 throws for 224 yards and two touchdowns in the game...
New York receiver Plaxico Burress, who had seven catches for 136 yards and a touchdown in last week's 16-13 win over the Eagles, needs 100 yards for the fourth 1,000-yard season of his career... Giants lead the NFL in sacks (47)...Redskins have allowed just two rushes of 20 yards or longer, the lowest figure in the league.

The New York Giants have a postseason berth within their grasp and will try to lock up the playoff spot this Sunday, when they host the NFC East-rival Washington Redskins at Giants Stadium.



A win over the Redskins, who are also fighting for a playoff spot, would clinch one of the NFC's wild card spots for the 9-4 Giants.
Dallas (12-1) has already won the NFC East crown


.
New York can also get into the postseason with a loss or tie by both Minnesota and New Orleans this weekend.
Even if they were to lose final 3 , they’d be at 9-7 ...
The Giants won their second straight game this past Sunday after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, 16-13.
It was New York's sixth straight road win, a good sign for a team that will open the postseason as the visitor if it gets in.

Meanwhile, 6-7 Washington is one of four teams, along with Detroit, Arizona and New Orleans, that are a game back of Minnesota (7-6) for the final wild card spot.
That makes this game a big one, as the Redskins play at the Vikings next weekend.
Washington will be without its starting quarterback for this test, though, as Jason Campbell suffered a dislocated left kneecap during their 24-16 win over the Chicago Bears on December 6.


Campbell suffered the injury in the second quarter when he was tackled by Chicago defensive end Mark Anderson. The quarterback was taken off the field on a cart and did not return.
Todd Collins, who has spent the majority of his 13-year career as a seldom- used backup, will make his first NFL start since he began a game for the Buffalo Bills on December 14, 1997.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Washington in what has been an emotional period for the team. It was the second game for the Redskins since the death of safety Sean Taylor, who was critically shot in his home on November 26 in an apparent robbery attempt


The Giants have a 85-60-4 advantage in the all-time regular season series with Washington, including a 24-17 come-from-behind win at FedEx Field in Week 3. New York has now won three straight in the series and will be going for its first back-to-back home-and-home sweeps of the Skins since 1994-95. The Redskins, who last defeated the G-Men in 2005 at home, have lost the last three meetings between the teams at Giants Stadium since last winning there in 2003.

Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs is 14-18 against the Giants in his career, including the '86 postseason loss. New York's Tom Coughlin is 6-4 against the Redskins all-time, including 1-2 while with the Jacksonville Jaguars (1995-2002), and is 5-2 head-to-head versus Gibbs.
Butler (hamstring) is listed as out for Sunday's game against the Redskins.

Shockey (abdominal strain) was limited in Friday's practice, the NY Newsday reports.
Burress (ankle/knee) missed practice all week, but should play against Washington on Sunday, the Giants' official site reports.

The Redskins have placed Thomas (triceps) on IR


WAS is 4-7-2 ATS... WAS is 3-6 ATS L9 on grass... WAS is 6-4 ATS *** December games... WAS is 0-3 ATS L3 vs. NYG... WAS is 5-2 to the UNDER L7 vs. NYG... NYG is 8-5 ATS... NYG is 9-2 ATS L11 off win vs. NFC East... NYG is 7-4 ATS L11 vs. NFC... NYG is 7-4 ATS L11 December games... NYG is 5-1 to the OVER L6 home games... NYG is 6-3 to the OVER L9 games in weeks 13-16....


The New York Giants upset Washington in the first encounter this season as 3 ½-point road dogs, 24-17. The Skins are just 10-23 ATS avenging a home loss. However, they have 'covered' 26 of 37 as road dogs of 3 1/2 to seven points. The host has cashed in five of the past seven series showdowns. The Giants have dropped six in a row ATS at home during the second half of the season


The Redskins are 3-8-2 vs. the spread, including 0-5-1 on the road. … Washington is 0-4-1 against the number in its last five road games and has covered one of its last nine, and six of its previous 21, contests on artificial turf. … The Redskins have covered both of their night games this season but are 2-7-1 against the number in their last 10 contests vs. NFC East rivals. …
The Giants are 8-5 against the spread, including 3-3 at home. …


New York has covered three of its last four, and eight of its previous 11, games but has failed to cover consecutive home contests. … The Giants have covered nine of their last 11 games vs. NFC East rivals, including playoffs, and have covered the last three, and seven of the previous 10, meetings with the Redskins



MONDAY, DECEMBER 17TH
Chicago at Minnesota
CHI 22nd OFF; MIN 25th DEF
CHI 31st RUN; MIN 1st VS. RUN
CHI 14th PASS; MIN 32nd VS. PASS
CHI 20th PTS; MIN 8th PTS ALLOWED
MIN 13th OFF; CHI 29th DEF
MIN 1st RUN; CHI 25th VS. RUN
MIN 31st PASS; CHI 26th VS. PASS
MIN 10th PTS; CHI 19th PTS ALLOWED
MIN 6th TO/TA; CHI 20th TO/TA


MIN have won 4 straight after beating San Francisco 27-7 and would be in the playoffs if they started this week.
CHI’s playoff hopes were dashed following a Thursday-night loss to Washington.
CHI could only amass 60 yards on the ground against the Redskins.
CHI QB Rex Grossman, who posted an 82.1 rating in his four games since being benched, was lost for the season with a knee injury in the first half.
Despite netting 22 first downs, CHI only scored one TD.
MIN defense allowed 83 yards rushing, 375 yards passing to CHI in Week Six.
MIN RB Adrian Peterson ran for 224 yards and 3 TDs vs. CHI in first meeting.
Last week RB Chester Taylor broke an 84-yard TD scamper, but MIN finished the day with only 117 yards on the ground.



CHI allowed MIN 311 yards rushing the last time these two played.
MIN has 17 runs of 20 or more yards this year, most in the NFL.
CHI failed to score a red-zone touchdown to tie the game at 17 in the 4th quarter.

CHI had a 1st-and-goal from the Redskins 1-yard line, but a 3-yard loss by RB Adrian Peterson and two Brian Griese incompletions forced the Bears to settle for a 22-yard Robbie Gould field goal.
CHI committed 9 penalties for 49 yards, with 6 of those penalties coming on a single third-quarter drive.


Grossman left the game after just 6 pass attempts and was replaced by Griese, who finished 27-of-45 for 295 yards, with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions

Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman (knee) is likely to miss the rest of the year...
Minnesota has won four straight since a 3-6 start, the franchise's longest winning streak since taking six in a row in 2005...
Vikings lead the NFL in rushing offense (172.2 yards per game), rushing touchdowns (18), yards per carry (5.5), and rushes of 20 yards or longer (17)...


Minnesota's Adrian Peterson rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-31 win over the Bears in Week 6...
Chicago's Adrian Peterson has 279 scrimmage yards in his past three games...Bears are last in the league in yards per carry (3.18)...Vikings lead the NFL in rushing defense (70.7 yards per game), but are last in the NFL in passing defense (273.3 yards per game).

Walker (elbow) did not practice Thursday, the Chicago Tribune reports


CHI is 2-4 ATS L6 vs. MIN... CHI is 4-9 ATS... CHI is 2-6 ATS L8 in weeks 13-16... CHI is 2-5 ATS L7 in dome games... CHI is 5-1 to the OVER L6 dome games... CHI is 9-6 to the OVER L15 vs. NFC North... MIN is 7-4-1 ATS... MIN is 4-2 ATS L6 home games... MIN is 13-5 ATS L18 as favorites... MIN is 12-9 ATS L21 on MNF... MIN is 10-7 to the UNDER L17 as favorites... MIN is 7-1 to the UNDER L8 after 2+ wins


The Bears are 4-9 vs. the number, including 3-4 on the road. … Chicago has covered one of its last four games, and three of its last four contests have gone over the total. … Chicago has covered one of its last six games vs. NFC North rivals and has covered its final road game one of the last five seasons. …


The Bears have covered four of their last 16 regular-season games and have covered five of their last 19 contests overall, including playoffs. … The Vikings are 7-4-2 vs. the spread, including 4-2 at home. … Minnesota has covered five of its last six games, including its last three home contests. …
The Vikings have covered 12 of their last 15 contests as a favorite on artificial turf but
have covered one of their last four night home games. …


Minnesota has covered three of the last four meetings but has not covered both meetings during a season in any of the last four campaigns (the Vikings covered in Week Six).


Minnesota will be looking to sweep the season series against Chicago for the first time since 2000. The Vikings surprised the Bears the first time around as six-point road dogs, 34-31. That extended a streak that has seen the dog bark in 16 of the past 19 series confrontations. The Bears are 6-24 ATS on the road in December. Minnesota is 3-9 as favorites versus a division opponent off back-to-back SU and ATS wins. The Vikings have knuckled 'under' in 10 of 11 off a double-digit win.

Lets look at how good your 2nd nfc WILD CARD LEADER IS
They lost to 5-8 Eagles at home , beat Chargers who were looking ahead to the Colts,
Lost 34-0 Packers div rival , beat Oak NYG,Det who ere on the road ,
SF on the road.
They also lost to the Chiefs in week 3
So they’ve beaten Atl , Chi by 3 S.D. looking ahead.
The Giants. Not too many winning teams.
Just giving a heads up if they make te playoffs.
As for this game.

All they need to do is stay a game ahead of trailing teams which should be clearer by Monday...

Chicago allowed them 311 yards rushing the last time these two played, especially with the playoffs within reach. If Minnesota can get QB Tarvaris Jackson out of the pocket on play-action fakes and put him in a position to make plays with his feet and his arm, Chicago will be in trouble.

Vikings OLT Bryant McKinnie vs. smallish Bears DRE Mark Anderson. Anderson is giving away about 90 pounds in this battle.