NFL matchups for Week 8
Sunday's games
Detroit (4-2) at Bears (3-4)
Time: Noon, Channel 32
Line: Bears by 5.
Series: Bears lead 87-63-5.
Last time: Lions 37, Bears 27, Sept. 30, 2007 at Detroit.
Last week: Lions beat Bucs 23-16; Bears beat Eagles 19-16.
Notes: Detroit is within a game of leader Green Bay in NFC North. … Detroit has worst defense in NFC (385.8). … Lions scored NFL-record 34 points in fourth quarter in last meeting. … In last two meetings, QB Jon Kitna has completed 47 of 69 passes (68.1 percent) for 530 yards with 5 TDs and no INTs. Kitna has completed 69.5 percent (130 of 187) of his passes, third best in NFL. … Lions are tied for NFL lead with 16 takeaways (9 INTs, 7 fumble recoveries). … Bears have worst rushing defense in NFC (132.6). … In his past two starts vs. Detroit, Brian Griese has passed for 588 yards and 4 TDs. … Devin Hester scored on 97-yard kickoff return in last game vs. Lions. Hester leads NFL in punt returns with 19.4 average (20 for 387). ... DE Mark Anderson has 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles in past two meetings. ... DE Adewale Ogunleye had 2 sacks in last game vs. Detroit. … Bears have won five of last six home games against Lions.
Indianapolis (6-0) at Carolina (4-2)
Time: Noon
Line: Colts by 6½.
Series: Panthers lead 3-0.
Last time: Panthers 23, Colts 20, OT, Oct. 12, 2003 at Indianapolis.
Last week: Colts beat Jaguars 29-7; Panther (BYE) beat Cardinals 25-10 in Week 6.
Notes: Indianapolis joined Green Bay (1929-31) and St. Louis (1999-2001) as only teams to start 6-0 for three straight years. … Colts allow league-low 162.2 yards passing per game. … QB Peyton Manning needs 2 TDs passing to surpass Johnny Unitas (287) as franchise's career leader. Manning has second-highest passer rating (103.5) in AFC. ... Carolina, which is in first place in NFC South, has lost both games at home. … QB Jake Delhomme (elbow) is out for season. … QB David Carr (back) was replaced by 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde, who led Panthers to win at Arizona. He became oldest starting QB in NFL history to win a game. … RB DeAngelo Williams had career-high 121 yards on 10 carries with a TD in Week 6.
Pittsburgh (4-2) at Cincinnati (2-4)
Time: Noon
Line: Steelers by 3½.
Series: Steelers lead 44-30.
Last time: Steelers 23, Bengals 17 OT, Dec. 31, 2006 at Cincinnati.
Last week: Steelers lost to Broncos 31-28; Bengals beat Jets 38-31.
Notes: Pittsburgh leads NFL in total defense (250.3). ... Steelers lead AFC in rushing (159.0). ... In four career starts at Cincinnati, QB Ben Roethlisberger has completed 57 of 82 passes (69.5 percent) for 719 yards, 7 TD passes and 2 INTs. Roethlisberger is 8-0 in his home state of Ohio. ... In four starts vs. Bengals, RB Willie Parker averages 117.2 yards per game (469 total yards). Parker is third among AFC rushing leaders with 600 yards. … Pittsburgh has won six straight in Cincinnati and 14 of 17 visits since start of 1991 season. … Cincinnati rushed for season-high 177 yards and ended its four-game losing streak last week. Bengals had 411 yards on ground in first five games. … QB Carson Palmer has thrown 9 TDs vs. 2 INTs in last three games against Pittsburgh. ... WR Chad Johnson leads NFL with 113.3 yards per game (680 yards, 39 catches).
New York Giants (5-2) vs. Miami (0-7) at London
Time: Noon
Line: Giants by 9½.
Series: Giants lead 3-2.
Last time: Dolphins 23, Giants 10, Oct. 5, 2003 at New York.
Last week: Giants beat 49ers 33-15; Dolphins lost to Patriots 49-28.
Notes: This is first overseas NFL regular-season game. … New York has won five straight, including last four by double digits. … Since giving up 80 points in first two games, defense has surrendered 53 in last five. … RB Brandon Jacobs ran for career-high 107 yards and a TD last week. … WR Amani Toomer caught his 49th TD pass to surpass Kyle Rote for the most in Giants history. … Miami is 0-7 for the first time in its 42-year history. … RB Ronnie Brown, league leader with 991 yards from scrimmage, is out for season (knee). … 49 points scored by Patriots last week were most ever allowed by Dolphins at home. Dolphins have given up league-high 231 points. No other team has allowed more than 200. … QB Cleo Lemon has completed 48 of 80 passes (60.0 percent) for 492 yards in his two starts this year. He's scored 5 TDs (2 passing, 3 rushing). …
Philadelphia (2-4) at Minnesota (2-4)
Time: Noon
Line: Eagles by 1.
Series: Vikings lead 11-10.
Last time: Eagles 27, Vikings 14, Jan. 16, 2005, divisional playoffs at Philadelphia.
Last week: Eagles lost to Bears 19-16; Vikings lost to Cowboys 24-14.
Notes: Philadelphia has won five of last six meetings with Minnesota. … Coach Andy Reid is 3-0 against Vikings. … RB Brian Westbrook has 789 yards from scrimmage, second best in NFC. … QB Donovan McNabb has completed 59 of 90 passes (65.6 percent) for 754 yards with 7 TDs and no INTs in three games against Vikings. … WR Kevin Curtis has 23 catches for 425 yards (106.3 per game) and 4 TDs over past four games. … Minnesota allows 76.5 yards per game on ground to lead league. … Vikings give up 282.5 yards per game in air, worst in league. … QB Tarvaris Jackson broke index finger on throwing hand at Dallas. … Rookie RB Adrian Peterson , who finished with season-low 63 yards last week, still leads NFL with 670 yards rushing. Peterson leads NFC with 857 yards from scrimmage and in first downs (35). … Vikings lead league in rushing with 163.7 per game average.
Cleveland (3-3) at St. Louis (0-7)
Time: Noon
Line: Browns by 3.
Series: Tied 10-10 (Rams lead 2-0 since 1999).
Last time: Rams 26, Browns 20, Dec. 8, 2003 at Cleveland.
Last week: Browns (BYE) beat Dolphins 41-31 in Week 6; Rams lost to Seahawks 33-6.
Notes: Cleveland allows most yards per game (413.0) in league. … In five games since QB Derek Anderson took over as starter, Browns have averaged 32 points per game. His 14 TD passes and 8.13 average gain place him second in conference behind New England's Tom Brady. … In past five games, WR Braylon Edwards has 503 yards receiving (100.6 per game) and 7 TD catches. … Browns haven't won consecutive games since September 2004. ... St. Louis is 0-7 for first time in franchise history. … QB Marc Bulger returned last week. He fumbled three times, lost 2, and finished 21 of 40 for 225 yards passing with 3 INTs. … Rams are last in NFL with minus-12 turnover differential. … Rams have only 4 TDs in 19 trips inside opponents' 20.
Oakland (2-4) at Tennessee (4-2)
Time: Noon
Line: Titans by 7½.
Series: Raiders lead 27-17.
Last time: Raiders 34, Titans 25, Oct. 30, 2005 at Tennessee.
Last week: Raiders lost to Chiefs 12-10; Titans beat Texans 38-36.
Notes: Oakland needs 2 wins to reach 400 regular-season victories. … RB LaMont Jordan is averaging 118.1 yards from scrimmage per game (495 rushing, 214 receiving, 709 total). Jordan is averaging 4.7 rush yards per carry on road (58 for 275 yards). … LBs Thomas Howard (4) and Kirk Morrison (3) have 7 of Raiders' 10 INTs. … P Shane Lechler leads AFC with 43.3 net average. … Tennessee leads NFL in rushing defense, allowing just 59.7 yards per game. … Rob Bironas kicked NFL-record 8 field goals last week. He also had league-record 26 points by a kicker. … Last week, Tennessee blew 32-7 lead by giving up 29 points and wound up with only 57 seconds to salvage victory on Bironas' 29-yarder. … RB LenDale White posted his first 100-yard rushing game (104) last week.
Buffalo (2-4) at New York Jets (1-6)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Jets by 3.
Series: Bills lead 52-42.
Last time: Bills 17, Jets 14, Sept. 30, 2007 at Buffalo.
Last week: Bills beat Ravens 19-14; Jets lost to Bengals 38-31.
Notes: Buffalo is last in AFC in total offense (229.2) and passing offense (130.2); 19 points last week marked season high for Bills. … Bills are last in AFC in pass defense (270.0) and are one of two teams (Cleveland) to give up more than 400 yards per game (402.5). … QB Trent Edwards, 2-1 in three consecutive starts since J.P. Losman was hurt, was chosen starter by coach Dick Jauron. … Bills WR Lee Evans had season-high 98 yards receiving last week and surpassed 3,000 yards for career in his 54th game. … New York has lost four straight and fallen to 1-6 for first time since 1999. … First-round draft pick CB Darrelle Revis drew a pair of pass interference penalties that extended touchdown drives for Bengals. … As starter at home, QB Chad Pennington is 2-1 vs. Bills, completing 68 of 101 passes (67.3 percent) for 664 yards with 3 TDs and 3 INTs.
Houston (3-4) at San Diego (3-3)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Chargers by 9½
Series: Chargers lead 2-0.
Last time: Chargers 27, Texans 20, Sept. 12, 2004 at Houston.
Last week: Texans lost to Titans 38-36; Chargers (BYE) beat Raiders 28-14 in Week 6.
Notes: Houston is averaging AFC-low 75.6 yards per game on ground. … QB Matt Schaub (hip) is listed as day to day. … Sage Rosenfels had 4 turnovers against Titans but threw 4 fourth-quarter TD passes to overcome 32-7 deficit, before Texans lost on last-second field goal. … Rosenfels has started just two games in seven-year career, the last in 2005. Rosenfels went 22 of 35 for 290 yards. He had 249 yards passing in fourth quarter alone, second highest in NFL history. … San Diego has worked out in Arizona because of smoky conditions from wildfires in Southern California. … An estimated 10,000 people were at Qualcomm Stadium evacuation center Wednesday. … TE Antonio Gates has 43 catches for 547 yards and 3 TDs, and he's on pace to break Tony Gonzalez's single-season record for catches by tight end, 102 set in 2004.
Jacksonville (4-2) at Tampa Bay (4-3)
Time: 3:05 p.m., Channel 2
Line: Bucs by 3½.
Series: Jaguars lead 2-1.
Last time: Jaguars 17, Bucs 10, Nov. 30, 2003 at Jacksonville.
Last week: Jaguars lost to Colts 29-7; Bucs lost to Lions 23-16.
Notes: Jacksonville opens three-game road trip at Tampa Bay. … Jaguars have visited Tampa Bay once in 1995, losing 17-16. … QB David Garrard (ankle) will miss at least one game. Quinn Gray will make first career start. Gray was 9 of 24 for 56 yards with 2 INTs against Colts. … Jaguars rank second in AFC averaging 148.5 yards per game on ground. … RB Fred Taylor needs 135 yards rushing to become 21st player in NFL history to reach 10,000. … Tampa Bay has best pass defense (185.6) in NFC. … QB Jeff Garcia finished 37 of 45 for season-high 316 yards with 2 TDs last week. He has thrown 270 passes without an INT and leads NFC with 70.4 completion rate. He ranks second with 7.96 yards per attempt and 106.2 passer rating.
Washington (4-2) at New England (7-0)
Time: 3:15 p.m., Channel 32
Line: Patriots by 16½.
Series: Redskins lead 6-1.
Last time: Redskins 20, Patriots 17, Sept. 28, 2003 at Washington.
Last week: Redskins beat Cardinals 21-19; Patriots beat Dolphins 49-28.
Notes: Washington leads NFC in overall defense (276.8) and has allowed NFC-low 88 points. … QB Jason Campbell has thrown fewer TD passes all season (5) than Patriots QB Tom Brady (6) threw last week. … Chris Cooley has 23 TDs since entering NFL in 2004, most in NFC among TEs. … S Sean Taylor, NFL leader with 5 INTs, has picked off a pass in each of last four games. … DE Andre Carter has 9 sacks in past 11 games. … New England is 7-0 for first time in franchise history and has won every game by at least 17 points. … Patriots lead NFL in total offense (432.9) and passing offense (299.4). … Brady had 6 TD passes against Miami, a club and personal record, for NFL-leading 27 on season. Brady is 24-4 against NFC. … Patriots have won 10 straight regular-season games dating back to 2006.
New Orleans (2-4) at San Francisco (2-4)
Time: 3:15 p.m., Channel 32
Line: Saints by 2½.
Series: Niners lead 45-21-2.
Last time: Saints 34, 49ers 10, Dec. 3, 2006 at New Orleans.
Last week: Saints beat Falcons 22-16; 49ers lost to Giants 33-15.
Notes: New Orleans has scored 50 points in the last two games, after scoring just 51 points in first four games. … Last year against 49ers, RB Reggie Bush had 4 TDs (3 rushing), 131 yards receiving (9 catches) to become first player since 1967 with 100-plus yards receiving and 3 TDs rushing in a game. Bush has 36 catches for 185 yards and 298 yards rushing. … San Francisco ranks last in league with 213.8 yards per game on offense, including league-low 125 yards passing per game. The 1,283 yards of total offense are NFL's fewest by a long way. Except for Buffalo Bills, who have 1,375 yards, no other team has fewer than Minnesota's 1,893. … QB Trent Dilfer went 23 of 38 for 209 yards in second straight start for injured Alex Smith (shoulder).
Monday's game
Green Bay (5-1) at Denver (3-3)
Time: 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Line: Broncos by 3.
Series: Broncos lead 6-4-1.
Last time: Packers 31, Broncos 3, Dec. 28, 2003 at Green Bay.
Last week: Packers (BYE) beat Redskins 17-14 in Week 6; Broncos beat Steelers 31-28.
Notes: Green Bay starts stretch of six games in 32 days. … Packers have won nine of last 10 and have intercepted a pass in 12 consecutive games. … This season, QB Brett Favre has become NFL's career leader in touchdown passes (423), interceptions (279), attempts (8,470) and wins by a starting quarterback (152). He has 243 consecutive starts, completed 64.9 percent of his passes and ranks second in NFC with 1,715 yards passing. … Packers have 394 yards rushing (65.7 per game), less than 19 individual players. … Green Bay leads NFC with 273.7 yards per game in air. … Denver has allowed 164.7 yards per game in air and league-worst 176.2 yards per game on ground. … Broncos are 5-0 at home against Green Bay. … Jason Elam kicked 49-yard FG as time expired to beat Pittsburgh. All three of Denver's winning margins have come on kicks by Elam. Elam has 11 game-winning kicks at end of regulation or overtime in his career.