NFL Week 4 Capsules
SUNDAY’S GAMES
Oakland (1-2) at Houston (1-2)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Texans -9 Total: 42
TV: None
• Weather: Temperatures in low 80s, 20 percent chance of rain
• Facts: If you include JaMarcus Russell’s sack and interception yardage last week, Oakland’s passing attack went backward 6 yards against Denver. ... The Texans haven’t been this big a favorite since Week 7 last season when they were favored by 9 over Cincinnati. Houston won 35-6. ... The Texans are the only team to allow a 100-yard rusher in each of the first three weeks. ... Oakland’s Darren McFadden leads all RBs with three fumbles, all last week against Denver. ... Here is the most often-heard phrase on Raiders radio broadcasts: “Russell would like to have that one back.”
• Analysis: Sure, the Texans are excited the Raiders are coming to town, but the visitors’ eyes are lighting up, too. Russell probably could hand off 40-plus times and keep the game close.
• Forecast: Texans 21, Raiders 19
Tennessee (0-3) at Jacksonville (1-2)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Titans -3 Total: 41½
TV: None
• Weather: High 80s, 20 percent chance of rain
• Facts: Tennessee is the first 0-3 team to be favored on the road since the Browns were 2½-point picks at Oakland in 2006. Cleveland won 24-21. ... The Jaguars’ Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for 119 yards last week against Houston, which is yielding a league-worst 6.3 yards per carry. But the Titans’ run defense isn’t a soft touch, allowing a league-low 2.2 per carry. ... Tennessee was 13-3 last year. The NFL’s worst collapse from one year to the next was by the Titans’ predecessors, the Houston Oilers, who dipped from 12-4 in 1993 to 2-14 in 1994.
• Analysis: The Jaguars can’t stop anyone through the air, allowing completions on 77.3 percent of attempts. That’s largely because they are tied for next to last in sacks. Kerry Collins should be able to stand tall.
• Forecast: Titans 27, Jaguars 17
Baltimore (3-0) at New England (2-1)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Patriots -2 Total: 44½
TV: CBS (Channel 8)
• Weather: High 60s, 20 percent chance of rain
• Facts: On seven first-and-goal possessions the last two weeks, New England had only one TD. They came up short only six times last season. ... Baltimore RB Willis McGahee has scored a league-best 36 points, more than St. Louis and Cleveland have scored. ... Pats WR Randy Moss has an NFL-high 26 catches, but a career-low 10.8 yards average and no TDs. He had 34 TDs over the last two seasons. ... Didn’t it appear Patriots QB Tom Brady wanted to give WR Joey Galloway an Atomic Wedgie after Galloway dropped that pass in the end zone last week?
• Analysis: The Patriots are not championship timber on defense anymore. Especially with run-stuffing NT Vince Wilfork questionable (ankle) and all those veterans already having been put out to pasture.
• Forecast: Ravens 36, Patriots 28
Cincinnati (2-1) at Cleveland (0-3)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bengals -6 Total: 38½
TV: None
• Weather: High 50s, 30 percent chance of rain
• Facts: Most QBs who throw three interceptions in a half and don’t generate any TDs lose their starting jobs. Not Cleveland’s Derek Anderson, who was promoted to first string over Brady Quinn. ... Cincinnati went 16 plays for its winning touchdown last week against Pittsburgh, the league’s longest scoring march this season. ... The Browns were 34-3 losers last week at Baltimore. Over the past four seasons, teams that lost by 30-plus points are 35-21 against the line the next week. ... Cleveland’s three losses have come against teams with a cumulative 9-0 record this season.
• Analysis: The Bengals have everyone’s attention after upsets of Green Bay and Pittsburgh, but they have given up a league-high 13 pass plays of 20-plus yards. If Anderson can do anything well, it’s take shots downfield. Maybe he gets lucky.
• Forecast: Bengals 17, Browns 16
New York Giants (3-0) at Kansas City (0-3)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Giants -8½ Total: 42½
TV: Fox (Channel 5)
• Weather: Mid-60s, 10 percent chance of rain
• Facts: Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 104 yards last week against Tampa Bay. He’s probable with a bum ankle, but was in a walking boot at midweek. ... The Chiefs were 0-for-11 on third-down conversions last week at Philadelphia and are last in the league with a 19.4 percent conversion rate. ... The Giants are trying to become the first team to win three road games in consecutive weeks since they did it in their 2007 playoff run to the title.
• Analysis: Kansas City seems to be treating these early games like controlled scrimmages, running scripted plays regardless of the situation. Giants QB Eli Manning should have all day in the pocket.
• Forecast: Giants 28, Chiefs 9
Detroit (1-2) at Chicago (2-1)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bears -10 Total: 39
TV: None
• Weather: High 50s, 40 percent chance of rain
• Facts: The Lions are the only team to have begun three drives inside their own 10 and wound up scoring. They did so on three straight possessions last week against Washington (TD, FG, FG). ... Since QB Jay Cutler’s disastrous four-interception debut for Chicago against Green Bay, he has five TD passes and one interception in two victories. ... Detroit RB Kevin Smith, who had 101 yards rushing last week, is questionable (shoulder).
• Analysis: Now that the adult beverages have been mopped up at Lions headquarters after their victory celebration, the team might want to spend time mending a defense that is allowing opposing QBs a passer rating of 123.7. How bad is that? No quarterback in history had that high a rating over a full season.
• Forecast: Bears 34, Lions 10
Tampa Bay (0-3) at Washington (1-2)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Redskins -7½ Total: 37
TV: None
• Weather: Mid-70s, 10 percent chance of rain
• Facts: Wonder if Dale Earnhardt Jr. still requests that Redskins score updates get piped into his helmet during races? ... All eyes in D.C., figuratively speaking, are on the strained glute of DT Albert Haynesworth (probable). Of equal concern is RB Clinton Portis’ calf (questionable). ... Second-year pro Josh Johnson is the Bucs’ new starting QB after Byron Leftwich led them to one first down on nine possessions last week against the Giants. The Bucs’ 86 yards of total offense marked the lowest total since Oakland got 77 against Atlanta in 2008.
• Analysis: Johnson was given the starting job based apparently on that 71-yard drive against a sleepy Giants prevent defense last week. The Bucs’ Raheem Morris has that coach-in-the-headlights look.
• Forecast: Redskins 28, Buccaneers 7
Seattle (1-2) at Indianapolis (3-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Colts -10 Total: 44
TV: None RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
• Weather: Low 60s, 30 percent chance of rain
• Facts: The Seahawks are the first West Coast team this season to have to play in the dreaded early Sunday time slot back East. Since 2003, they are 4-12-1 against the spread in this situation. ... The Colts are 4-10 against the line at home since midseason 2007. ... Seneca Wallace is Seattle’s likely starter at QB again in place of Matt Hasselbeck (doubtful, rib). Wallace will face a pass defense that hasn’t allowed a completion of longer than 26 yards. ... Indianapolis has had seven sacks, four by Dwight Freeney (questionable, quadriceps).
• Analysis: Colts QB Peyton Manning has opened with three straight 300-yard passing games for the first time in his career. Against Seattle’s beat-up defense, he could get his fourth in a row if he feels like it.
• Forecast: Colts 31, Seahawks 13
New York Jets (3-0) at New Orleans (3-0)
Time: 1:05 p.m. Line: Saints -7 Total: 45½
TV: None
• Facts: The last time two undefeated teams met at least this deep in the season was 2007, when New England (5-0) won at Dallas (5-0). ... The Jets have the only defense holding passers to a sub-50 percent completion rate (47.3). Last year they allowed a 64.3-percent clip, seventh worst in the league. ... The only other time two N.Y. teams opened 3-0 was in 2000. ... Rookie QB Mark Sanchez and the Jets began six drives in Titans territory last week, scoring on TD “marches” of 19 and 23 yards. The rest of the day New York totaled 10 points.
• Analysis: Every Jets starting DB is listed on the injury report. Maybe it’s a jab at the NFL office, but QB Drew Brees, who has led New Orleans to 14 offensive touchdowns, doesn’t need any sort of advantage.
• Forecast: Saints 28, Jets 14
Buffalo (1-2) at Miami (0-3)
Time: 1:05 p.m. Line: Bills -1½ Total: 37
TV: None
• Weather: High 80s, 30 percent chance of rain
• Facts: In the last 10 seasons, 36 teams have opened 0-3 and none made the playoffs, although two managed winning seasons. ... Terrell Owens’ pass-catching streak of 185 games ended last week against New Orleans. At least he didn’t abuse any sideline markers as Jerry Rice did when his 274-game streak ended. ... Dolphins receivers are averaging a league-low 8.3 yards a catch. Miami is the only team with more yards rushing than passing. ... Second-year Dolphins QB Chad Henne will be making his first start. Chad Pennington is out (dislocated shoulder).
• Analysis: Buffalo RB Marshawn Lynch returns from his three-game suspension and likely will wage a spirited battle with RB Fred Jackson for the starting spot. That should help keep a depleted Bills defense off the field (three DBs out or ailing).
• Forecast: Bills 27, Dolphins 20
St. Louis (0-3) at San Francisco (2-1)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: 49ers -9½ Total: 37½
TV: None
• Weather: Mid-60s, 10 percent chance of rain
• Facts: The Rams are the first team to start 0-3 in three consecutive seasons since New Orleans from 1995 to 1997. ... Flashback: At this point last season, ex-49er J.T. O’Sullivan was the league’s fourth-rated passer. Within five weeks he was benched for Shaun Hill. ... RB Glen Coffee will be the workhorse for San Francisco now that Frank Gore (ankle) is out. ... Rams QB Marc Bulger, tied for last in the NFL with a 5-yard average per pass, is questionable (shoulder). Kyle Boller could get his first start since he left Baltimore.
• Analysis: No matter which of St. Louis’ Killer Bs starts at QB, the offense should die again, especially with top receiver Laurent Robinson (ankle) going on injured reserve.
• Forecast: 49ers 26, Rams 7
Dallas (2-1) at Denver (3-0)
Time: 4:15 p.m. Line: Cowboys -3 Total: 42
TV: Fox (Channel 5) RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
• Weather: Mid-60s, 20 percent chance of rain
• Facts: Denver is one of seven 3-0 teams, the most in the NFL since 2002. That season, six of those teams didn’t make the playoffs, including the Broncos. ... Cowboys RB Marion Barber (thigh) is probable. ... Denver’s Josh McDaniels is trying to become the first rookie coach to open 4-0 since Jim Mora Jr. with Atlanta in 2006. ... The Broncos, who have the league’s top-rated defense, won their first three games last season, but then promptly lost 33-19 to K.C. as a 9-point favorite.
• Analysis: Dallas’ massive offensive line bullied the Giants and Panthers in past weeks. Unless Denver’s defensive front makes great gains in the weight room this week, the Cowboys should muscle on through.
• Forecast: Cowboys 24, Broncos 13
San Diego (2-1) at Pittsburgh (1-2)
Time: 5:15 p.m. Line: Steelers -6½ Total: 43
TV: NBC (Channel 3) RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
• Weather: Low 70s, 20 percent chance of rain
• Facts: Pittsburgh RB Willie Parker is doubtful with a turf toe after gaining a season-best 93 yards last week. Backup Rashard Mendenhall, his logical replacement, is catching grief for not doing his playbook homework. ... San Diego, without RB LaDainian Tomlinson (probable, ankle) the past two weeks, is averaging 2.8 yards per rush, worst in the league. ... Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is the NFL’s most accurate passer (71.7 percent). In his 2008 Super Bowl season, he was 21st at 59.9.
• Analysis: Chargers QB Philip Rivers is used to carrying the load without a running game, averaging 330 passing yards a game. Pittsburgh, without injured safety Troy Polamalu, doesn’t seem in sync, as evidenced by its fade last week at Cincinnati.
• Forecast: Chargers 31, Steelers 28
MONDAY’S GAME
Green Bay (2-1) at Minnesota (3-0)
Time: 5:30 p.m. Line: Vikings -3½ Total: 45½
TV: ESPN (30) RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
• Facts: Minnesota QB Brett Favre said with a straight face he’s not out for revenge against the team that first drove him into retirement. ... The Vikings have started a league-best nine drives in opposing territory, resulting in four TDs and three FGs. ... Veteran Packers left tackle Chad Clifton (questionable, ankle) is hopeful to join an offensive line that has yielded a league-worst 12 sacks. ... No team over the past three-plus seasons has allowed as many defensive/special teams TDs as the Vikings (24). Two came this year.
• Analysis: Favre’s miracle TD heave to Greg Lewis in the closing seconds last week masked the fact he almost threw the game away with an interception moments earlier. It’s hard to be sold on a 3-0 team that has had such a cushy schedule (Browns, Lions).
• Forecast: Packers 24, Vikings 20
Byes: Philadelphia, Carolina, Arizona, Atlanta
Last week: 7-9 vs. spread; 9-7 straight up
Season total: 20-27-1 vs. spread; 26-22 straight up
