Week 7 NFL capsules
Sunday's games
Bears (3-2) at Cincinnati (4-2)
When - 3:15 p.m., Channel 32
Line - Bengals by 1
Record vs. spread - Bears 3-2; Cincinnati 3-3
Series record - Bengals lead 5-3
Last meeting - Bengals beat Bears 24-7, Sept. 25, 2005.
Last week - Bears lost to Falcons 21-14; Bengals lost to Texans 28-17.
Streaks, stats and notes - Bears are playing on road for second straight week, only time this season they play back-to-back away from home. ... Jay Cutler passed for more than 300 yards in loss to Falcons, first time he's topped mark with Bears. He has 11 career 300-yard games. ... Rookie WR Johnny Knox is averaging 33.7 yards on kickoff returns, best in league. ... Abilene Christian president Royce Money and athletic director Jared Mosley will attend game, which features three former Wildcats: Bengals RB Bernard Scott, Bears DB Danieal Manning and Knox. ... Game features Bengals RB Cedric Benson going against former team, which drafted him fourth overall in 2005 but released him last year. ... Bengals have scored 54 of their 118 points in final two minutes of halves and in overtime. ... Cincinnati's pass defense slipped from 23 to 28 after Matt Schaub threw for 4 touchdowns in Texans' win. ... DE Jonathan Fanene is expected to start in place of Antwan Odom, who tore right Achilles' tendon against Texans and is out for season. It will be Fanene's sixth career start. ... WR Chad Ochocinco will be trying for first back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since second and third games of 2007 season. ... Bengals are 3-0 on road, 1-2 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Minnesota (6-0) at Pittsburgh (4-2)
When - Noon, Channel 32
Line - Steelers by 41/2
Record vs. spread - Minnesota 4-2; Pittsburgh 1-5
Series record - Vikings lead 8-7
Last meeting - Steelers beat Vikings 18-3, Dec. 18, 2005
Last week - Vikings beat Ravens 33-31; Steelers beat Browns 27-14
Streaks, stats and notes - Teams met in Super Bowl 35 years ago, with Steelers winning 16-6 in first of four Super Bowl victories during 1974-79 seasons. ... Vikings and Steelers were 1-2 in rushing defense last season; this season Steelers are No. 2 and Vikings are No. 9. ... Vikings have weakness for allowing big plays; teams have converted 15 passes of 25 yards or longer against them. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has 14 such completions. ... Vikings' Jared Allen leads NFC with 71/2 sacks. Roethlisberger is NFL's most-sacked QB since 2004; Roethlisberger has been sacked 16 times in six games this season. ... Vikings RB Adrian Peterson leads NFL in rushing (624 yards) and averaged 161.5 yards in first two games against AFC North (Browns, Ravens). Steelers give up average of 73 yards rushing, but didn't allow 100-yard rusher in last 26 regular-season games. ... Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe has 5 TD catches in last five games. Steelers TE Heath Miller has 4 in last three games. ... Vikings QB Brett Favre is 6-0 for first time in career. Favre is playing in Pittsburgh for only the second time during regular season; his Packers lost 27-20 in 1998. ... Favre can become first quarterback to start 7-0 with new team since Dieter Brock of 1985 Rams. No other QB has done it since 1970 NFL merger. ... Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was Minnesota's defensive coordinator in 2006 before being hired by Pittsburgh. ... Steelers have won nine in row at home, counting postseason. ... Roethlisberger is 9-1 against NFC in Pittsburgh. ... WR Hines Ward leads NFL receivers with 599 yards in six games and averages 125 yards at home. ... Roethlisberger threw for 417 yards last Sunday against Browns, most by winning QB in Steelers history. He has three games of 300 yards-plus this season; Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw had only four in his career (1970-83).
Green Bay (3-2) at Cleveland (1-5)
When - Noon
Line - Packers by 9
Record vs. spread - Green Bay 3-2; Cleveland 3-3
Series record - Packers lead 9-7
Last meeting - Browns beat Packers 26-24, Sept. 18, 2005
Last week - Packers beat Lions 26-0; Browns lost to Steelers 27-14
Streaks, stats and notes - Second meeting between two storied franchises this year. Packers shut out Browns 17-0 in exhibition opener Aug. 15. ... Packers are making first trip to Cleveland since 1995. ... Green Bay was only team that had not played Cleveland since Browns' expansion return in 1999. ... Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has been sacked league-high 25 times. ... Packers veteran LT Chad Clifton reinjured his ankle in win last week over Detroit and may sit. If he does, rookie T.J. Lang will start. ... Rookie LB Clay Matthews III had breakout last week, recording 2 sacks and 3 tackles for loss in shutout of Detroit. Matthews' father, Clay, was Browns star linebacker from 1978-93. ... Packers re-signed RB Ahman Green this week. He played seven seasons with Pack before signing with Houston in 2007. He needs 46 yards to surpass Jim Taylor as franchise's all-time leading rusher. ... Browns' record is sickly and they've been ill, too, as 12 players missed practice Wednesday, 10 missed Thursday. ... QB Derek Anderson has league's lowest passer rating (41.7) but has been plagued by drops last two weeks. ... Browns used KR/WR/QB Joshua Cribbs in wildcat formation last week in loss at Pittsburgh and could expand package. ... P Dave Zastudil has dropped 14 punts inside 20-yard line in past three games, tying league record for that span.
New England (4-2) vs. Tampa Bay (0-6) at London, England
When - Noon, Channel 2
Line - Patriots by 141/2
Record vs. spread - New England 3-3; Tampa Bay 1-5
Series record - Patriots lead 4-2
Last meeting - Patriots beat Buccaneers 28-0, Dec. 17, 2005
Last week - Patriots beat Titans 59-0; Buccaneers lost to Panthers 28-21
Streaks, stats and notes - The Glazer family, who own the Buccaneers, also own Manchester United of English Premier League. ... It's fifth NFL regular-season game played outside United States, third in London, where Giants and Dolphins played in 2007 and Chargers and Saints met last season. ... There have been nine preseason games played in London. ... With trip across Atlantic Ocean, Bucs rank sixth in league in travel miles (23,018) this season. Patriots (22,710) are seventh. Tampa Bay traveled less than 16,000 miles for eight regular-season and two preseason games in 2008. ... New England QB Tom Brady is 12-0 with 109.9 passer rating against NFC opponents since Oct. 9, 2005. He's thrown for 30 touchdowns vs. 5 interceptions during that stretch. ... Brady has been especially good in October. Last week he became first QB in NFL history to throw for 5 TDs in a quarter. And since 2006, he's 11-1 in October and passed for 3,292 yards, 39 TDs and just 3 interceptions. ... Patriots WR Randy Moss, who has three 100-yard receiving games this season, has averaged 18.3 yards per catch against Tampa Bay during career on 36 receptions. ... Bucs are off to worst start since 1985, when they opened with 9 consecutive losses on way to 2-14 finish. Team's 10-game losing streak dating to last December is Tampa Bay's longest since 1977, when Bucs were in middle of NFL record 26-game skid. ... TE Kellen Winslow leads Bucs in receiving with 29 catches for 286 yards and 4 TDs. ... RB Cadillac Williams has rebounded from off-season knee surgery to average 4.3 yards per carry and leads Bucs with 276 yards rushing. He's scored 3 TDs, 2 on ground.
San Francisco (3-2) at Houston (3-3)
When - Noon
Line - Texans by 3
Record vs. spread - San Francisco 4-1; Houston 3-3
Series record - Niners lead 1-0
Last meeting - Niners beat Texans 20-17 in OT, Jan. 1, 2006
Last week - Niners had bye, lost to Falcons 45-10 in Week 5; Texans beat Bengals 28-17
Streaks, stats and notes - First meeting between these teams in Houston. ... Niners coach Mike Singletary was born and grew up in Houston before starring at Baylor. ... Niners rookie WR Michael Crabtree will make NFL debut after extended contract holdout. Last time he played in a game was Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2. ... LB Patrick Willis has 2 forced fumbles, 21/2 sacks and an interception return for a score in last two games. ... RB Frank Gore is scheduled to play for first time since injuring right ankle on his first carry Sept. 27. He's averaging 6.2 yards a carry. ... Houston has won four straight against NFC. ... Houston WR Andre Johnson has had at least 100 yards receiving in two straight games. He needs 49 yards to reach 7,000 for career. ... QB Matt Schaub has thrown for 300 or more yards in four of last five games. His 14 TDs lead NFL. ... Rookie LB Brian Cushing had first interception last week and leads Texans and all rookies with 48 tackles. He was AFC defensive player of week. ... RB Steve Slaton had career-high 102 yards receiving against Bengals.
Indianapolis (5-0) at St. Louis (0-6)
When - Noon
Line - Colts by 13
Record vs. spread - Indianapolis 4-1; St. Louis 2-4
Series record - Colts lead 22-17-2
Last meeting - Colts beat Rams 45-28, Oct. 27, 2005
Last week - Colts had bye, beat Titans 31-9 in Week 5; Rams lost 23-20 in OT to Jaguars
Streaks, stats and notes - Colts have franchise-record 14 consecutive regular-season wins, longest current streak in NFL. ... Rams have lost 16 in row, longest current slump in league. ... Colts QB Peyton Manning has 12 TD passes, 4 INTs and is 30-16 vs. NFC. ... Colts are playing in St. Louis for first time since Dec. 30, 2001, a 42-17 Rams victory. ... Colts WR Pierre Garcon is averaging 24 yards on 8 receptions in four career starts. ... Colts' Dallas Clark leads TEs with 35 receptions, 441 yards. ... Colts DE Robert Mathis has 41/2 sacks in last four games. ... RB Steven Jackson had 128 total yards last week, with 50 yards on 16 carries and 78 yards on team-high 6 receptions. ... Rams QBs have distributed ball to eight receivers in four of six games. ... Rams rookie MLB James Laurinaitis has INT in last two games. ... Rams WR-KR Danny Amendola averaged 31.3 yards on 4 kickoff returns last week. ... Rams averaging 9 points, worst in NFL. ... St. Louis QB Marc Bulger has 32 TD passes in 22 career starts vs. AFC.
San Diego (2-3) at Kansas City (1-5)
When - Noon
Line - Chargers by 41/2
Record vs. spread - San Diego 2-3; Kansas City 1-5
Series record - Chiefs lead 50-47-1
Last meeting - Chargers beat Chiefs 22-21, Dec. 14, 2008
Last week - Chargers lost to Broncos 34-23; Chiefs beat Redskins 14-6
Streaks, stats and notes - Game will be salute to military, with pregame and halftime flyovers and 40 men and women being inducted into Army. ... Another retro game for Chiefs, one that owner Clark Hunt and family take particular interest in. Late Lamar Hunt founded old AFL, which counted Chiefs, Chargers as charter members. As before previous home game with Cowboys, Chiefs been referring to themselves as Texans, what they were their first three years before moving from Dallas. ... Chargers swept two-game series last year by total of 2 points. ... San Diego's 22-21 come-from-behind win in Arrowhead last December proved fateful because 20-year GM Carl Peterson was fired next day, leading to dismissal of Herm Edwards and hiring of GM Scott Pioli, coach Todd Haley. ... Larry Johnson is 124 yards short of breaking Priest Holmes' Chiefs career rushing record of 6,070 yards. Two-time Pro Bowler is averaging paltry 2.7 yards per carry.
New Orleans (5-0) at Miami (2-3)
When - 3:15 p.m.
Line - Saints by 6
Record vs. spread - New Orleans 5-0; Miami 2-3
Series record - Dolphins lead 6-3
Last meeting - Dolphins beat Saints 21-6, Oct. 30, 2005
Last week - Saints beat Giants, 48-27; Dolphins bye, beat Jets, 31-27 in Week 5
Streaks, stats and notes - When teams last met in 2005, game was played at Louisiana State because of damage to Superdome and New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina. ... Saints are 0-3 in Miami, with their only visits in 1970, 1980 and 1998. ... Dolphins lead NFL in third-down conversions at 56 percent. Saints are fourth at 46 percent. ... Drew Brees is 0-3 against Miami with 2 touchdown passes, 5 interceptions and 12 sacks. All came while he was with San Diego. ... Miami linebacker Akin Ayodele and New Orleans DT Remi Ayodele are brothers. ... Saints are 5-0 for first time since 1993 and one of four remaining unbeaten teams. They lead league in points per game, points per game differential, yards per game, turnover margin and takeaways. ... New Orleans' 15 takeaways have led to 7 touchdowns and field goal. ... Saints have yet to trail, and they've won each game by at least 14 points. ... Brees leads NFC with 13 touchdown passes and has thrown only 2 interceptions. ... Miami QB Chad Henne will try to improve to 3-0 as starter. ... Dolphins have won two in row but are underdogs for the sixth time in as many games.
Atlanta (4-1) at Dallas (3-2)
When - 3:15 p.m.
Line - Cowboys by 4
Record vs. spread - Atlanta 4-1; Dallas 2-3
Series record - Cowboys lead 15-8
Last meeting - Cowboys beat Falcons 38-28, Dec. 16, 2006
Last week - Falcons beat Bears 21-14; Cowboys bye, beat Chiefs 26-20 in OT in Week 5
Streaks, stats and notes - Dallas, Atlanta and Denver are only NFL teams that have not allowed touchdown in third quarter. ... Dallas and Atlanta have split their last 14 games. Before that, Cowboys had won eight of nine, including NFC divisional playoff games in 1978 and 1980 seasons. ... Both teams had receivers with team-record receiving games on Oct. 11: Atlanta's Roddy White had 210 yards against San Francisco; and in Dallas' last game Miles Austin had 250 yards vs. Kansas City. ... White is on pace for third consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season, which would match Andre Rison (1992-94) for most by Falcons player. ... Atlanta has allowed only 2 sacks this season, none in the past 17 quarters (four-plus games). ... Falcons are playing first of four road games in a five-week stretch. After Dallas, they play at NFC South rival and undefeated New Orleans on Nov. 2. ... Dallas is 15-5 coming off bye weeks, 6-1 at home. Cowboys have won out of bye week in last four seasons. ... Cowboys are 2-0 this season against NFC South teams (Tampa Bay and Carolina), improving to 48-22 against that division - their best record against any division. ... Since starting 12-1 for coach Wade Phillips, Dallas is 13-11 its past 24 regular-season games, plus a playoff loss. ... After leading NFL with 20 sacks last season, DeMarcus Ware finally got his first 2 of season in last game against Kansas City. ... First-year Cowboys LB Keith Brooking played first 11 seasons of career for Atlanta, where he had 1,471 tackles and 17 sacks in 161 games (146 starts). He was last remaining player from Atlanta's only Super Bowl 11 seasons ago, when he was rookie.
Buffalo (2-4) at Carolina (2-3)
When - 3:05 p.m.
Line - Panthers by 7
Record vs. spread - Buffalo 3-3; Carolina 1-4
Series record - Buffalo leads 3-1
Last meeting - Panthers beat Bills 13-9, Nov. 27, 2005
Last week - Bills beat Jets 16-13 in OT; Panthers beat Buccaneers 28-21
Streaks, stats and notes - Game features two elite WRs who have been virtual nonfactors. Steve Smith has just 21 catches for 259 yards and no TDs for Panthers. Terrell Owens has 15 catches for 215 yards and 1 TD for Bills. Smith ranks 49th in NFL in receptions, Owens 92nd. ... Bills snapped three-game losing streak vs. Jets, but lost QB Trent Edwards to concussion. Backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was 10 of 25 for 116 yards and INT. ... Bills' first trip to Charlotte since 1998, when Doug Flutie threw for 282 yards and 2 TDs in 30-14 win. ... Buffalo's defense had 6 interceptions vs. Jets, but allowed 318 yards rushing. ... Bills rank last in league in rushing defense after allowing 961 yards in past four games. Panthers rushed for 267 yards vs. Buccaneers. ... Bills WR Lee Evans needs 29 yards receiving to reach 5,000. ...Panthers had gone 14 years without two 100-yard rushers in same game. Now it's been done three times in 12 games. DeAngelo Williams had 152 yards and Jonathan Stewart 110 vs. Bucs.
New York Jets (3-3) at Oakland (2-4)
When - 3:05 p.m.
Line - Jets by 6
Record vs. spread - New York 3-3; Oakland 3-3
Series record - Raiders lead 20-14-2
Last meeting - Raiders beat Jets 16-13 in OT, Oct. 19, 2008
Last week - Jets lost to Bills 16-13 in OT; Raiders beat Eagles 13-9
Streaks, stats and notes - Jets went 0-4 on West Coast last season, losing to Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle and San Diego. ... RB Thomas Jones set franchise record with 210 yards rushing last week against Buffalo. ... New York's 318 yards rushing last week were most by losing team since merger in 1970. ... After becoming first QB to start his rookie season 3-0, Mark Sanchez is 36-for-80 for 429 yards with 8 INTs and 1 TD for 26.5 QB rating in losing past three weeks. ... Jets K Jay Feely made franchise-record 24 straight FGs before missing from 44 yards last week against Buffalo. ... Raiders coach Tom Cable got his first career win last year against Jets when Sebastian Janikowski kicked longest OT field goal in NFL history, 57-yarder. ... Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell has thrown 5 of his 6 INTs this season on first down.
Arizona (3-2) at N.Y. Giants (5-1)
When - 7:20 p.m., Channel 5
Line - Giants by 7
Record vs. spread - Arizona 3-2; New York 4-2
Series record - Giants lead 79-41-2
Last meeting - Giants beat Cardinals 37-29, Nov. 23, 2008
Last week - Cardinals beat Seahawks 27-3; Giants lost to Saints 48-27
Streaks, stats and notes - Game matches two of NFL's top receivers : Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald had 35 catches for 360 yards and 5 TDs, Giants WR Steve Smith has 41 catches for 525 yards and 4 TDs. ... Giants have won six of eight vs. Arizona. ... Cardinals QB Kurt Warner, who mentored Eli Manning as rookie in New York, reached 30,000 yards passing last week, tying Dan Marino for fastest to mark. ... Tim Hightower leads NFC running backs with 29 receptions. ... Fitzgerald had 13 catches last week, tying his career high set vs. Giants in 2005. ... Arizona defense allowed 14 yards rushing last week against Seattle, lowest in Seahawks' history. ... DE Bertrand Berry has 6 sacks in last three games vs. Giants. ... Manning is 2-0 vs. Cardinals, including 3 TD passes last year. ... RB Ahmad Bradshaw leads NFC with 6.2-yard average per carry. ... Smith's 41 receptions are tied with Hines Ward for league lead and his 525 yards receiving top NFC. ...WR Mario Manningham has TD receptions in four of six games. ...Rookie WR Hakeem Nicks has TD catches in three straight. ... Giants failed to sack Drew Brees last week.
Monday's game
Philadelphia (3-2) at Washington (2-4)
When: 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Line - Eagles by 7
Record vs. spread - Philadelphia 3-2; Washington 2-4
Series record - Redskins lead 77-65-5
Last meeting - Redskins beat Eagles 10-3, Dec. 21, 2008
Last week - Eagles lost to Raiders 13-9; Redskins lost to Chiefs, 14-6.
Streaks, stats and notes - Both teams enter with playcalling issues. Eagles threw 46 passes - and had 6 sacks - while rushing only 14 times in last week's loss at Oakland. ... Redskins front office stripped coach Jim Zorn of play-calling duties after loss to Kansas City, replacing him with offensive consultant Sherm Lewis. ... Eagles had scored at least 20 points in every game until last week, while Redskins have yet to score 20 in game this season. ... Eagles are tied for first in NFL with 11 interceptions; Redskins have only 3. ... Asante Samuel (4) and Sheldon Brown (3) are league's top CB interception tandem. ... Samuel's 27 INTs lead NFL since 2005. His teams are 22-2 when he has at least one. ... QB Donovan McNabb has won eight of past 12 starts vs. Washington. ... Redskins have had six coaches during Andy Reid's 11 seasons in Philadelphia. ... Washington plays first opponent that enters game with victory after setting NFL record by opening against six straight winless teams. ... Jason Campbell starts again as Washington QB despite getting benched at halftime last week. Campbell went 9-for-16 for season-low 89 yards with an interception before being replaced by Todd Collins, who finished 6-for-14 for 75 yards in first game since 2007.