NFL this week
Bay teams meet in Florida The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a lot at stake this week when they host Green Bay. Most of all, they don’t want to go to Wisconsin for a playoff game.
The Bucs and Packers share the NFL’s best record at 8-2 and both are likely to make the playoffs. But the Bucs have never won a road playoff game and never won anywhere, including at home, in temperatures below 40 degrees – 21 straight losses and counting.
This is the first non-division game between the teams since Tampa Bay joined the old NFC Central 25 years ago. They’ve split the last eight games, with each team winning at home. Green Bay has never won at Raymond James Stadium, which opened in 1998.
Indianapolis (6-4) at Denver (7-3)
A fitting end to the Sunday night game might be a tie. Denver and Indianapolis, two of the league’s top teams thus far, are surprisingly 0-5 combined in night games.
The Broncos are 7-0 during the day, but have been outscored 92-65 in three losses under the lights. The Colts are 0-2 in prime time, falling behind by three TDs in each game before scoring.
San Diego (7-3) at Miami (6-4)
A matchup of teams with strong defense, a ball-control offense and – at the moment – an inside track on a playoff berth.
Miami and San Diego are statistically even in scoring, total yards, pass attempts, completions and rushing defense. The biggest disparity is in pass defense – the Chargers rank third worst in the NFL, while the Dolphins have two of the league’s best cornerbacks.
St. Louis (5-5) at Washington (4-6)
After riding Marc Bulger from 0-5 to 5-5, the Rams give the ball back to Kurt Warner, who struggled early this season before breaking his right pinkie. The Rams also hope to have Marshall Faulk back as they try to become the first team to win six straight after losing the first five.
Cleveland (5-5) at New Orleans (7-3)
The Saints play at home for the first time in almost a month. They face the Browns, who in 1999 won for the first time in their return to the NFL by beating New Orleans on a desperation pass.
Tennessee (6-4) at Baltimore (4-6)
Tennessee has won five straight since opening the season 1-4. Eddie George has averaged a meager 36 yards rushing in the last six games between the teams.
New York Giants (6-4) at Houston (2-8)
The Giants are on a three-game winning streak and they want to keep the momentum against the expansion Texans, whom they beat in the Hall of Fame game in August. The Giants are one game behind Philadelphia in the NFC East and have NFL single-season sacks king Michael Strahan, who has eight sacks this season.
Atlanta (6-3-1) at Carolina (3-7)
The Falcons have won five of their last six games, and the sixth ended in a tie. They handed the Panthers their worst loss of the season last month, 30-0.
Minnesota (3-7) at New England (5-5)
The Vikings finally had a good game when they upset Green Bay. But they still have the second-worst defense in the NFL and are last in turnover margin. They’ve lost 15 straight on the road since Thanksgiving 2000, when they won at Dallas. Randy Moss is tied for the NFC lead with 62 receptions and Michael Bennett has rushed for more than 100 yards in his last four games, making Minnesota the league’s top rushing team.
Buffalo (5-5) at New York Jets (5-5)
The Jets have climbed back from a 2-5 hole with a diverse offense and improved defense. But it was their special teams that did in the Bills in the season opener as Chad Morton set an NFL record with a regulation and an overtime kickoff return for TDs.
Oakland (6-4) at Arizona (4-6)
Oakland brings the NFL’s top offense to face a battered Cardinals team that has been outscored 130-62 in a four-game losing streak.
Kansas City (5-5) at Seattle (3-7)
This will be another test for Seattle’s woeful rushing defense when Kansas City’s Priest Holmes takes on the Seahawks, who allow 170.1 yards rushing a game, worst in the NFL.
Jacksonville (5-5) at Dallas (3-7)
Jacksonville has bounced back from a four-game losing streak with consecutive wins and is just one game out of the AFC South lead. The Jaguars are utilizing their running tandem of Fred Taylor (828 yards and five TDs) and short-yardage specialist Stacy Mack (307 yards and seven TDs).
Detroit (3-7) at Chicago (2-8)
In their long history, the Chicago Bears have never lost nine straight games in one season. It could happen Sunday in what could be called the Injury Bowl.
The Lions won the first game at Ford Field 23-20 in overtime as James Stewart trampled the Bears, running for 172 yards.