NFL PREVIEWS Today's games

CLEVELAND (4-6) at MINNESOTA (5-5)
Game time: 1 p.m.
TV/Radio: (27) (19) (WKBN-AM 570)
Key matchup: Cleveland run defense vs. Minnesota ground attack. Vikings' offense is ranked 25th in league in total yardage, but for second time in last three weeks, Minnesota managed to run effectively. Minnesota was averaging 84.1 yards rushing in first seven games, but has run for 112 a contest during its three-game winning streak. Cleveland posted its first shutout since Nov. 25, 2001 last week. Browns did allow 5.6 yards per rush (25-for-139) to Dolphins.
Streaks, stats and notes: Cleveland has lost four straight and 15 of its last 18 road games. ... Browns can surpass 2004 win total in 11th game of season. ... QB Trent Dilfer has 11 TDs vs. four INTs in 10 career starts vs. Minnesota. ... Reuben Droughns (868) needs 132 yards rushing to be first Browns RB to reach 1,000 yards. ... LBs Andra Davis (135) and Ben Taylor (92) are 1-2 in tackles. ... S Brian Russell spent 2002-04 with Vikings and led club with nine INTs in 2003. ... Minnesota has four wins in its last five games after sweeping Packers for first time since 1998. ... Vikings have won five consecutive home games vs. AFC opponents. ... QB Brad Johnson has 146 career TD passes and needs four to become eighth active player with 150. ... Johnson is 3-0 as starter this year and 61-41 (.598) all-time. ... WR Troy Williamson ranks second among NFC rookies with 292 yards receiving (20 catches). ... Club leads NFL with five return TDs (3 INTs, 1 KR, 1 PR). ... S Darren Sharper leads NFL with 241 yards on five INTs returned.
ST. LOUIS (4-6) at HOUSTON (1-9)
Game time: 1 p.m.
Key matchup: St. Louis secondary vs. Houston QB David Carr. Rams' depleted secondary will likely start four players who have combined for only six career starts. Strong safety Adam Archuleta, who ranks second among NFL defensive backs with 31/2 sacks, is out after sustaining concussion in last week's game. Both starting cornerbacks also are hurting: Travis Fisher (groin) and DeJuan Groce (concussion). Rams are likely to go with rookie Ron Bartell and Chris Johnson at cornerbacks and Mike Furrey and rookie Jerome Carter at safety. Carr has scored TD passing or rushing in 13 of past 14 games.
Streaks, stats and notes: St. Louis offense averages 275.1 yards passing per game, second in NFL. ... QB Jamie Martin, in for injured Marc Bulger (right shoulder) has won his two starts and completed 68.9 percent of his pass attempts (62-of-90) in three game against AFC. ... RB Steven Jackson has 315 of his 735 yards rushing against AFC. He ranks fourth among NFL RBs with 34 receptions (279 yards). ... WR Torry Holt needs 188 for his sixth consecutive 1,000-yard season. ... Furrey has five takeaways in past five games with two fumble recoveries and three INTs. ... Houston has allowed 292 points. Only St. Louis has allowed more (300). ... RB Dominick Davis has 100-plus yards from scrimmage in five of past six games. ... CB Phillip Buchanon, Houston's biggest offseason acquisition, was put on injured reserve list with high ankle sprain.
CAROLINA (7-3) at BUFFALO (4-6)
Game time: 1 p.m.
Key matchup: Carolina's red zone offense vs. Buffalo's red zone defense. Buffalo's NFL-worst red zone defense faces Panthers' second-ranked red zone offense. In 32 red zone opportunities, Carolina has 22 touchdowns and seven field goals. Bills have allowed 19 touchdowns in 28 opponents' chances inside 20-yard line, good news for Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme. Last week's defeat marked first time in 18 road games Delhomme failed to throw touchdown pass. It was also just fourth time in team history Panthers were held to three or fewer points, and first since 41-0 loss to Atlanta on Nov. 24, 2002.
Streaks, stats and notes: Since 2003 under coach John Fox, Panthers have 14-9 (.609) road record, including playoffs. ... Delhomme leads NFL, averaging 8.14 yards per pass attempt. ... RB Stephen Davis is tied for third in NFL with 12 TDs. ... DeShaun Foster (21 receptions, 275 yards) leads NFL RBs with 20-plus catches with 13.1 yards per catch average. ... WR Steve Smith leads NFL with 110.6 yards per game average and nine TD catches. He's tied for league lead with 22 third-down receptions (288 yards). ... Defense ranks second in NFL with 27 takeaways. ... Bills are 4-1 at home, but 0-3 against NFC opponents this season. ... RB Willis McGahee ranks third in AFC in yards rushing (895) and is fourth in first downs (59). ... WR Eric Moulds (47) needs three catches to post eighth consecutive 50-catch season. Only Andre Reed (nine seasons) owns longer streak (1986-94) in club history. ... Rookie WR-KR Roscoe Parrish returned six KOs for 176 yards last week (29.3 average), with returns of 41 and 45 yards.
SAN DIEGO (6-4) at WASHINGTON (5-5)
Game time: 1 p.m.
Radio: WBBW-AM 1240
Key matchup: Takeaways vs. giveaways. Redskins' turnover differential stands at minus-13, tied for last in NFL with New Orleans. Washington has only eight takeaways, tied for last with Houston. That means Washington has had 21 turnovers, including 15 lost fumbles. Redskins are fortunate their record isn't worse than 5-5. San Diego has been more consistent with minus-1 in turnover margin (13 takeaways to 14 giveaways).
Streaks, stats and notes: San Diego's four losses have been by total of 12 points. ... Marty Schottenheimer was Redskins head coach in 2001. He led them to 8-8 (.500) record, winning eight of last 11. ... QB Drew Brees has two-plus TDs in five consecutive games vs. NFC. Brees has 1,232 yards passing in past four games (308.0 average). ... Antonio Gates tops NFL TEs with 56 receptions (87.1 yards per game). ... Offense, averaging 30.0 points per game, has scored at least 17 points in 23 consecutive games for longest such streak in NFL. ... Defense allows 78.1 yards rushing per game, tops in NFL. ... Rookie Shawne Merriman (7.0) leads NFL LBs in sacks. ... Four of five losses by Redskins have been by seven points or less. ... QB Mark Brunell ranks second in NFL with 1.6 INT percentage (5 INTs, 322 attempts). ... WR Santana Moss needs 12 yards receiving for second career 1,000-yard season. Moss is fifth in NFL averaging 98.8 yards per game. ... Chris Cooley ranks fourth among NFL TEs with 543 yards receiving (46 catches).
SAN FRANCISCO (2-8) at TENNESSEE (2-8)
Game time: 1 p.m.
Key matchup: San Francisco QB Ken Dorsey vs. Tennessee defensive ends. Dorsey will make second consecutive start while rookie Alex Smith gets more time to shake off rust after missing three games with knee injury. Dorsey had best game of his three-year career last week. Dorsey completed 18 of 29 passes for career-high 249 yards, and his 22-yard strike to Brandon Lloyd in fourth period ended San Francisco's drought of 15 quarters without a touchdown. Titans DE Antwan Odom has scored two touchdowns this season, both on fumble recoveries. Odom had 27-yard fumble return in last week's game. On other side, Kyle Vanden Bosch stands third in NFL with 81/2 sacks.
Streaks, stats and notes: San Francisco makes its first appearance at The Coliseum, where Tennessee has gone 20-4 against first-time visitors. ... RB Kevan Barlow has rushed for 274 yards in past three vs. AFC opponents, averaging 91.3 yards per game and 4.7 per carry. ... RB Frank Gore has 326 yards rushing, fourth among rookies. ... Lloyd ranks third with 18.2 yards per catch among WRs with 20-plus catches. ... 49ers hold opponents to average drive start on kickoffs at 24.8-yard line, fourth best in NFL. ... K Joe Nedney is 8-of-9 on FGs from 40-plus yards. ... Tennessee has lost five straight, each by 10 points or fewer. ... Rookie Erron Kinney needs one catch to be first Titans TE to reach 50 since Frank Wycheck (2001). ... QB Steve McNair (3,398) needs 10 yards rushing to surpass John Elway for fourth-most yards by QB in NFL history.
CHICAGO (7-3) at TAMPA BAY (7-3)
Game time: 1 p.m.
TV: (17/62) (8) (53)
Key matchup: Chicago defense vs. Tampa Bay defense. Bears have won six straight and are in first place in NFC North, thanks largely to No. 1 ranked defense in NFL. Chicago has allowed fewest points in NFL with 110 in 10 games, and is allowing league-low 252.1 yards per contest. Bears have given up three touchdowns in their opponents' last 78 possessions, and just two TDs rushing all season. Tampa Bay ranks third in total defense, but has been struggling past three weeks. While Bears have given up total of 29 points during that span, the Buccaneers have given up average of 32 points.
Streaks, stats and notes: Chicago seeks first seven-game win streak since 1986. ... 1986 Super Bowl Bears allowed 127 points through first 10 games. ... QB Kyle Orton has led club to seven wins, most by rookie drafted in fourth round or later since common draft was instituted in 1967. Orton has eight TD passes and 1,389 yards passing. ... RB Thomas Jones needs 160 yards rushing for first career 1,000-yard season. He ranks fifth in NFL, averaging 93.3 yards per game. ... Second-year CB Nathan Vasher has won a Player of the Week award each of last two weeks. ... Tampa Bay has won six of past seven games vs. Bears at home. ... QB Chris Simms seeks third consecutive win as starter. ... RB Mike Alstott has four TDs in past three games. ... Almost 40 percent of WR Joey Galloway's 862 yards receiving, have come on third down (343). ... Galloway needs 138 yards receiving for fourth career 1,000-yard season and first since 1998. ... Shelton Quarles is tied for first among NFL LBs with four forced fumbles.
BALTIMORE (3-7) at CINCINNATI (7-3)
Game time: 1 p.m.
Key matchup: Baltimore QB Kyle Boller vs. Cincinnati pass defense. Boller has 100.0-plus passer rating in both career starts against Bengals. He has completed 26 of 45 (57.8 percent) passes for 428 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Bengals have not allowed Baltimore QB 200-plus yards passing in four consecutive games. Ravens' offense has been terrible last three games, accumulating only 28 points -- 21 on field goals -- and 604 total yards. Baltimore has scored two touchdowns in last five games and has league-low eight for season. Bengals have lost eight of their last 10 division games at home.
Streaks, stats and notes: Baltimore has a minus-11 turnover margin. ... Coach Brian Billick is 9-4 vs. Cincinnati. ... RB Jamal Lewis has rushed for 100-plus yards in each of four career games at Cincinnati. ... WR Derrick Mason is tied for NFL lead with 22 third-down catches. ... Ravens' defense has allowed 21 TDs rushing since 2003, fewest in NFL in that span. ... AFC Special Teams Player of the Week Matt Stover has made 10 FGs in row vs. Cincinnati. ... Cincinnati aims to reach 8-3 for first time since 1988, when team advanced to Super Bowl. ... Bengals lead NFL with 20-plus turnover margin. ... QB Carson Palmer has multi-TD passes in eight of 10 games and 100-plus passer rating in nine of 10. ... RB Rudi Johnson (854) needs 146 yards to be third Bengals RB to rush for 1,000-plus in consecutive seasons (Corey Dillon 1997-02; James Brooks 1989-90). RB Chris Perry is third among NFL RBs with 44 catches. ... WR Chad Johnson tops AFC with 61 catches and leads AFC with five 40-plus yard receptions.
NEW ENGLAND (6-4)at KANSAS CITY (6-4)
Game time: 1 p.m.
Key matchup: New England run defense vs. Kansas City RB Larry Johnson. Patriots face Johnson, who is coming off club-record 211-yard game in last week's win over Houston. Johnson, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, is looking for his fourth straight 100-yard game. New England has won 30 of its last 31 games, including playoffs, when allowing fewer than 100 yards rushing.
Streaks, stats and notes: Patriots are 24-2 after Nov. 1 since 2003 and have won 10 of last 11 road games in November, including seven straight. ... New England coach Bill Belichick is 5-1 against Kansas City. ... QB Tom Brady leads NFL in yards passing (2,782). ... Brady has 725 yards passing on 56 of 80 passing (70.0 percent) with five TDs vs. 1 INT for 113.8 passer rating in two games against Chiefs. ... WR Deion Branch (707) stands fourth in AFC yards receiving with 55 receptions. He needs three more to surpass career high (57, 2003). ... K Adam Vinatieri has made 23 consecutive fourth-quarter FGs and 28 of past 29 (96.6 percent) in second half. ... Chiefs QB Trent Green makes his 75th consecutive start for Kansas City. In two career starts vs. Patriots, Green has completed 43 of 67 (64.2 percent) of his passes and owns 94.7 passer rating in those games. ... Tony Gonzalez (54) is first TE in NFL history to post eight consecutive seasons of 50-plus receptions. ... Defense has not allowed 100-yard rusher in 17 games, second-longest streak in NFL (Pittsburgh, 22).
MIAMI (3-7) at OAKLAND (4-6)
Game time: 4:05 p.m.
Key matchup: Miami pass defense vs. Oakland QB Kerry Collins. Dolphins' defense has not allowed 300-yard passer in 40 consecutive games. In two career meetings vs. Collins, Miami has six interceptions, seven sacks and allowed no touchdowns. Collins ranks No. 2 in NFL yards passing (2,656) and stands fourth in AFC with fourth-quarter passer rating (96.7) with seven touchdowns and an interception. Dolphins will have different starters at all three linebacker spots Sunday. Derrick Pope will make first start of season at weakside linebacker in place of rookie Channing Crowder, who will shift to middle. Donnie Spragan, who replaced Junior Seau for three games earlier this season, will start at strongside linebacker, with Seau out for season.
Streaks, stats and notes: Miami has won five straight against Oakland. ... Miami has lost three straight and six of its last seven overall. ... RB Ronnie Brown (731) has reached second-most yards rushing by rookie in franchise history (Karim Abdul-Jabbar, 1,116, 1996). Brown is first among NFL rookie RBs with 24 receptions. ... Seau is out for season with calf injury. ... Oakland coach Norv Turner spent two seasons as Dolphins offensive coordinator from 2002-03. ... RB LaMont Jordan is NFL's only player with 600-plus yards rushing and 400-plus yards receiving (692 and 436). Jordan is tied for third in league with 61 first downs. ... WRs Randy Moss (669) and Jerry Porter (663) are one of four NFL tandems to each have 600 yards receiving.
GREEN BAY (2-8)at PHILADELPHIA (4-6)
Game time: 4:15 p.m.
Key matchup: Green Bay QB Brett Favre vs. Philadelphia pass defense. Favre is 4-6 career against Philadelphia, including 0-4 in Philadelphia. Favre has started 235 straight games, including playoffs, league record for quarterbacks. The Packers haven't had losing season with Favre as their quarterback. With one more defeat, though, Packers will clinch first sub-.500 record since 4-12 in 1991. Eagles' defense holds opponents to 32.8 third-down conversion percentage (45 out of 137), fourth in NFL. Favre should keep eye out for DE Trent Cole, who has five sacks in past three games.
Streaks, stats and notes: Packers are 7-3 vs. NFC East opponents under coach Mike Sherman. ... Favre needs two TD passes to extend his NFL record to 12 consecutive seasons with 20 TD passes. ... Offensive line has allowed 13 sacks, tied for second fewest in NFL. ... Packers' 13 consecutive years of finishing no worse than even (8-8 in 1999) is longest active streak in NFL. ... Philadelphia leads NFL with 283.7 yards passing per game. ... Philadelphia is 6-0 against NFC North teams. ... Eagles have won seven straight home games against Green Bay since 1962. ... QB Mike McMahon makes first start with Eagles in Philadelphia. ... RB Brian Westbrook leads NFL RBs with 567 yards receiving and six catches of 20-plus yards. He's tied for tops among RBs with 52 receptions. ... Eagles announced QB Donovan McNabb and All-Pro CB Lito Sheppard are done for season.
NEW ORLEANS (2-8)at NEW YORK JETS (2-8)
Game time: 8:30 p.m.
TV/Radio: (ESPN) (WBBW-AM 1240)
Key matchup: New Orleans pass defense vs. New York QB Brooks Bollinger. Saints' defense ranks third, allowing 170.4 yards passing per game. Second-year DE Will Smith leads club with 51/2 sacks after posting 71/2 as rookie. New York lost its fifth straight, longest skid since 1995, with 27-0 defeat at Denver last week. It was first time Jets were held scoreless since Dec. 24, 1995, 12-0 home loss to Saints. Jets have used five quarterbacks this season, their most since 1989. Bollinger suffered concussion in first quarter at Denver, but is expected to start.
Streaks, stats and notes: New Orleans is looking to avoid its first seven-game skid since 1999, when it finished 3-13. ... Coach Jim Haslett has 25-20 (.556) road record, best in team history. ... QB Aaron Brooks passed for 343 yards and two TDs last week, giving him 116 career TD passes and 10 300-yard passing games, surpassing Archie Manning (115, 9) for most in franchise history. ... New York has lost 88 total player games this season. ... WR Laveranues Coles (17) is tied for third in AFC in third-down receptions. Among NFL WRs with 20-plus catches, Justin Mc Careins (27) is fourth in per-catch average (17.6 yards). ... Jets' defense ranks third in AFC vs. pass (173.2 yards per game). ... CB Ty Law (5) is tied for third in NFL in INTs. ... Recent speculation has centered around coach Herman Edwards being candidate for possible job opening in Kansas City should Dick Vermeil retire.
Associated Press
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