NFL Week 9 Capsules
SUNDAY'S GAMES
Tampa Bay (5-2) at Atlanta (5-2)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Falcons -8½ Total: 44½
TV/RADIO: None
■ Weather: Indoors
■ Facts: The Buccaneers have had a league-low two sacks over their past five games. Atlanta, meanwhile, kept Matt Ryan clean last game for the first time all season. ... Falcons RB Michael Turner, coming off an injury-ravaged 2009 season, has had three 100-yard games his past five outings. Tampa Bay has allowed a 100-yard rusher in four of its past five. ... In this battle for the NFC South lead, the victor will be in line for at least the No. 2 seed. The loser is thrown into the zany wild-card mix.
■ Analysis: Tampa Bay has faced a pile of horrible quarterbacks, including Arizona's Max Hall, Carolina's Matt Moore and Cleveland's Jake Delhomme. The only time the Bucs faced a standout was three weeks ago against New Orleans, and Drew Brees and the Saints throttled them. Atlanta's Ryan is just as good.
■ Forecast: Falcons 28, Buccaneers 14
San Diego (3-5) at Houston (4-3)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Chargers -2½ Total: 50
RADIO: KWWN (1100 AM, 98.9 FM)
■ Weather: Mid-70s, clear
■ Facts: The Chargers, No. 1-rated in offense and defense, have outgained their foes by 166.9 yards per game, the greatest margin for any team since World War II. ... Houston opponents totaled 62 rushing yards the first two weeks, but have averaged 134 a game since. ... In all five of San Diego's losses, the Chargers held their foes below their season total offense average. Kansas City and New England were more than 150 yards off their norms. ... San Diego TE Antonio Gates, who has 14 catches for 20-plus yards, is doubtful because of plantar fasciitis.
■ Analysis: San Diego QB Philip Rivers is without the bulk of his receivers because of injuries/holdouts, but he'll make guys such as Seyi Ajirotutu, Patrick Crayton and RB Darren Sproles look good against a Houston team that misses LB DeMeco Ryans and has given up at least 24 points its past eight games, a franchise record.
■ Forecast: Chargers 34, Texans 21
New Orleans (5-3) at Carolina (1-6)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Saints -7 Total: 42
TV/RADIO: None
■ Weather: High 50s, clear
■ Facts: The Saints had only 30 yards rushing in their 20-10 home victory over Pittsburgh last week. Remarkably, league teams are 3-2 when gaining 30 or fewer ground yards. ... Carolina QBs have thrown four INTs after taking over possession in opposing territory. Other league passers have heaved a total of 12 such interceptions. ... New Orleans cornerbacks Jabari Greer (shoulder) and Tracy Porter (knee) are both probable to return against the league's worst-rated QB, Matt Moore. ... Saints RB Chris Ivory has had only 55 yards on 22 carries since his 158-yard game at Tampa Bay in Week 6. Don't look for Pierre Thomas (out, ankle) or RB Reggie Bush (doubtful, leg) to replace him just yet.
■ Analysis: The Saints barely edged the Panthers 16-14 in Week 4 as a 13-point home favorite and are 2-6 against the spread in the teams' past eight meetings. But there is no more inept offense than Carolina's, which has been slowed further by the foot injury to RB DeAngelo Williams (doubtful).
■ Forecast: Saints 21, Panthers 10
Arizona (3-4) at Minnesota (2-5)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Vikings -9 Total: 41
TV/RADIO: None
■ Weather: Indoors
■ Facts: Minnesota's Brett Favre (questionable, ankle/elbow/head/common sense) is the league's 29th-rated QB, just ahead of Arizona's Derek Anderson, who just regained his starting job. ... Cardinals RB Beanie Wells says he's ready to play after suffering an allergic reaction after treatment to his knee. ... Arizona WR Steve Breaston (probable, knee) missed midweek drills after having eight catches for 147 yards last week. ... In 1963, the Cardinals won 56-14 at Minneapolis, the most points given up in Vikings history.
■ Analysis: Arizona makes entirely too many errors to remain in the NFC West hunt much longer, having at least a minus-2 turnover differential in five of its past six games. But if Favre continues to insist on playing recklessly despite all his ailments, the Cardinals should be able to stay close.
■ Forecast: Vikings 23, Cardinals 21
Chicago (4-3) vs. Buffalo (0-7), at Toronto
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bears -3 Total: 40½
TV/RADIO: None
■ Weather: Indoors (Skydome)
■ Facts: Since 1992, teams with 0-7 records are 16-3 against the line in their next game. ... Chicago QB Jay Cutler, whose teams are 18-40-1 ATS during his career, has thrown a league-high 33 INTs the past two years. He gets to face a team on a record pace for fewest interceptions with one. ... Buffalo had two 15-play drives last week at Kansas City, for a TD and FG. No other team has had two marches that long in a 2010 game. ... Chicago QBs have thrown the fifth fewest number of passes, yet have been sacked eight more times than anyone else.
■ Analysis: Since teams coming off byes are 7-3 ATS the past three weeks, that would seem to give the Bears an edge. But the Bills are actually taking a step down in class and heading "home" after taking division-leading Baltimore and Kansas City to overtime in Weeks 7 and 8. Give the edge to Buffalo.
■ Forecast: Bills 24, Bears 16
N.Y. Jets (5-2) at Detroit (2-5)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Jets -4 Total: 41½
TV/RADIO: None
■ Weather: Indoors
■ Facts: New York has held enemy QBs to a sub-50-percent completion percentage in each of the past four games. Half the league's defenses haven't had even one such game. ... Lions QB Matthew Stafford, back from his opening-week shoulder injury, had four TD passes last week against Washington, but averaged only 4.4 yards per attempt. His replacement in Weeks 2-6, Shaun Hill, never was below 5.3. ... Detroit had a 41-28 starting field position edge against Washington last week, its best gap this season. ... The Lions have started 16 drives in enemy territory, tied for the league high, and have scored seven TDs.
■ Analysis: Jets offensive players apparently enjoyed their six days off during their bye week a little too much, judging by their performance in a 9-0 home loss to Green Bay last week. They will come out with a vengeance in Detroit against a team that easily could have fallen to Washington last week.
■ Forecast: Jets 31, Lions 20
Miami (4-3) at Baltimore (5-2)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Ravens -5½ Total: 40½
TV/RADIO: CBS (8)
■ Weather: Mid-50s, clear
■ Facts: Miami's leading rusher, Ronnie Brown, has only 175 yards on 55 carries the past four games, 3.2 per rush. ... Baltimore QB Joe Flacco has thrown for 535 yards and five touchdowns, with no INTs, the past two games. In his first five games, that ratio was 5/7. ... Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter has gone 5-for-5 on FG tries in back-to-back weeks. ... Miami has scored only one TD in five of seven games this season.
■ Analysis: Somehow, some way, the Dolphins keep persevering on the road, going 4-0. Plus, they've managed to cause their foes' defense to yield more than their average yield in five straight games, including a big-time 407 against the Jets' No. 5 unit. The Dolphins stay close.
■ Forecast: Ravens 26, Dolphins 24
New England (6-1) at Cleveland (2-5)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Patriots -4½ Total: 44
TV/RADIO: None
■ Weather: Low 50s, clear
■ Facts: Browns rookie QB Colt McCoy had only 85 net passing yards in a 30-17 victory at New Orleans before their bye. ... Patriots coach Bill Belichick is 3-0 ATS on the road against ex-assistant Eric Mangini (3-0 straight up, too), but only 1-3 against the line at home. ... Since 2004, Belichick teams are 1-3 ATS the week before facing Pittsburgh. ... Cleveland has the league's 22nd-rated defense despite not facing a QB rated in the top seven. Tom Brady is ranked fifth.
■ Analysis: The Belichick-Mangini chess match always brings intrigue, but the Patriots are using better pieces. Plus, the precision passing of Brady might keep the Browns' defense on the field all day. Over the past six weeks, Cleveland has allowed six TD drives of 80-plus yards, tied for most in the league.
■ Forecast: Patriots 27, Browns 13
N.Y. Giants (5-2) at Seattle (4-3)
Time: 1 p.m. Line: Giants -6½ Total: 41½
TV/RADIO: Fox (5), KXNT-FM (100.5)
■ Weather: Low 50s, 90 percent chance of rain
■ Facts: In 2006 at Seattle, the Giants outscored the Seahawks 27-0 in the fourth quarter and still didn't come within a TD of beating the line in a 42-30 loss. In 2008 at the Meadowlands, the Giants won 44-6 -- Seattle's worst loss in the past three decades. ... Seattle's Charlie Whitehurst, who has never thrown a pass in a real game, replaces Matt Hasselbeck (concussion). Whitehurst is the 16th QB who didn't start on opening day to take over under center. The previous 15 were 9-6 ATS in their first game.
■ Analysis: The Giants, who have KO'd five quarterbacks this season, will miss their chance to get to Hasselbeck, but should cause chaos for Whitehurst, who completed barely 50 percent of his throws during a lousy preseason. Plus, the Seahawks might be starting a third-teamer at OLT.
■ Forecast: Giants 31, Seahawks 13
Kansas City (5-2) at Oakland (4-4)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Raiders -2½ Total: 40½
TV/RADIO: None
■ Weather: Low 60s, 40 percent chance of rain
■ Facts: Kansas City is 7-0 the past seven years at Oakland, including three straight as an underdog from 2007 to 2009, and 7-0 ATS. ... QB Jason Campbell has leaped from 31st to 21st on the passer charts after leading back-to-back Raiders routs. He starts again over Bruce Gradkowski (probable, shoulder). ... The Chiefs are the only team to outrush their foe in every game. ... Oakland has won consecutive games by 30-plus points. Last season, the most lopsided of the Raiders' five victories was 4 points.
■ Analysis: As dynamic as the Raiders have been the past two weeks, they are committing gobs of penalties -- 10 and 11 the past two weeks -- and are on pace to break the league record for penalty yards. They're facing a Chiefs team that has the fewest giveaways, with four.
■ Forecast: Chiefs 30, Raiders 21
Indianapolis (5-2) at Philadelphia (4-3)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Eagles -3 Total: 46½
TV/RADIO: CBS (8), KWWN (1100 AM, 98.9 FM)
■ Weather: Low 50s, clear
■ Facts: The Eagles, who get back QB Mike Vick (ribs) and WR DeSean Jackson (head) this week, are 14-0 after bye weeks (11-3 ATS), including playoffs, since Andy Reid took over in 1999. ... In four of Indianapolis' seven games, Peyton Manning's Colts faced a team ranked 30th or worse on the offensive charts. ... Indy is coming off a 30-17 Monday night home victory over Houston. But teams are 1-3 ATS on short rest the next week this year when facing an unfamiliar nonconference team.
■ Analysis: In addition to Vick and Jackson, the Eagles also are getting back OLT Jason Peters (knee), which will help against the Colts' ferocious pass rush. It helps that the game is on grass. Indy's top two backs are hurt: Joseph Addai, neck, doubtful; Mike Hart, ankle, questionable. It's only a matter of time before Manning can't get by with a depleted receiving corps.
■ Forecast: Eagles 28, Colts 21
Dallas (1-6) at Green Bay (5-3)
Time: 5:15 p.m. Line: Packers -8½ Total: 45½
TV/RADIO: NBC (3), KWWN (1100 AM, 98.9 FM)
■ Weather: Low 50s, clear
■ Facts: Last March at the Venetian, the Cowboys were listed at +150 to not make the playoffs this season. ... Dallas' Wade Phillips just got the bad news: He's going to be coach for the rest of the season. ... Green Bay WR Greg Jennings led the league with 113.8 yards a game last season. He's at 58.9 this year, but has five TDs. ... In case you're wondering, Dallas has no chance to set the mark for greatest free fall from one season to the next. In 1993-94, the Houston Oilers went from 12-4 to 2-14. ... Dallas QB Jon Kitna, who threw four INTs last week (three on deflections) faces a team with the league's top defensive passer rating. ... Dallas has been outrushed in six straight games, Green Bay in seven of eight.
■ Analysis: Dallas was on a four-game winning streak last year when it was held to a season-low 278 yards in a 17-7 loss at Lambeau Field. Now the Cowboys are on a four-game skid and sending a backup QB against a revitalized Green Bay defense.
■ Forecast: Packers 27, Cowboys 16
MONDAY'S GAME
Pittsburgh (5-2) at Cincinnati (2-5)
Time: 5:30 p.m. Line: Steelers -4½ Total: 41½
TV/RADIO: ESPN (30), KWWN (1100 AM, 98.9 FM)
■ Weather: Mid-60s, clear
■ Facts: The Bengals' 23-20 home victory against Pittsburgh last season broke an eight-game winning streak for the Steelers in Cincinnati. Pittsburgh also was 8-0 ATS in that stretch. ... The Steelers are yielding an average of 58.9 rushing yards a game, a number unsurpassed since the 1944 Eagles gave up 55.8 a game. Cincinnati has the league's 20th-rated rush offense. ... Pittsburgh is finishing off the 21st regular-season road trip of three-plus games in its history. Thanks to last week's loss in New Orleans, this marks the 21st time the Steelers won't sweep. However, they did win three in a row on the road in the 2005 playoffs.
■ Analysis: The Steelers have been quite mortal in the three games since QB Ben Roethlisberger's return, barely beating the line against the Colt McCoy-led Browns, needing the refs' pardon to win at Miami and stumbling last week at New Orleans. The Bengals should escape their freefall for at least one night on national TV.
■ Forecast: Bengals 21, Steelers 17
Last week: 5-8 vs. spread; 5-8 straight up
Season total: 61-52-4 (.540) vs. spread; 67-50 (.573) straight up
