NFL preview capsules for Week 9
By Associated Press
Sunday’s games
New York Jets (4-3) at Buffalo (5-2)
Time: noon, CBS
Line: Bills by 1½
Series record: Bills lead 54-47
Last meeting: Jets beat Bills 38-7, Jan. 2, 2011
Last week: Jets had bye; Bills beat Redskins 23-0 at Toronto
Streaks, stats and notes: Jets LB Aaron Maybin has accomplished more in four games with New York than he did in two seasons with Bills, who selected him with No. 11 pick in 2009 draft. Maybin has three sacks and five tackles in New York, after having no sacks and 24 tackles in 25 games with Buffalo before being released in August. ... After losing three straight, Jets have bounced back with two wins, including 27-21 over Chargers on Oct. 23. ... Jets have won three straight and five of past six meetings against AFC East rival Bills. ... Last season, Jets outscored Buffalo by combined 76-21 in two games, while totaling 549 yards rushing. ... Jets have lost first three road games for first time since 2007, when they opened 0-5 on road and finished 1-7. ... In past three games against Bills, QB Mark Sanchez is 48 of 84 for 540 yards, with six TDs and one interception. ... With 602 catches, LaDainian Tomlinson is nine short of passing Keith Byars for third on the NFL list among RBs. ... CB Darrelle Revis: called by Jets coach Rex Ryan as “best player in football,” this week: has three interceptions in past two games against Buffalo. ... Bills have won first four “home” games (including last week at Toronto), and have chance to match best home start since 1995. ... Have opened season by scoring 20 or more points in first seven games for first time since an eight-game streak in 2002. ... Bills defense jumped 10 spots to 20th in NFL’s rushing yards allowed rankings after limiting Redskins to 26 yards. ... Buffalo allowed 200 yards rushing eight times last season, but has allowed 135 or more twice this year. ... Bills averaging AFC-best 30.1 points per game. ... With 46 TD passes in two-plus seasons in Buffalo, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is two short of passing Doug Flutie for fifth on team list. ... Bills’ 10 sacks against Redskins were second-most in team history.
Tampa Bay (4-3) at New Orleans (5-3)
Time: noon, FOX
Line: Saints by 7½
Series record: Saints lead 22-17
Last meeting: Buccaneers beat Saints, 26-20, Oct. 16, 2011
Last week: Buccaneers had bye; Saints lost to Rams 31-21
Streaks, stats and notes: Tampa Bay has won three of past four meetings. ... Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman has won past two starts vs. New Orleans, completing 44 of 67 (65.7 percent) for 558 yards with four TDs and 0 INTs for 111.4 rating. ... WR Mike Williams has had six or more catches in his past two games. ... Williams and TE Kellen Winslow tied for team lead in catches with 31. ... Winslow has catch in 83 straight games. ... S Tanard Jackson has INT in last two games. ... Freeman and Saints QB Drew Brees tied for second in NFL with 10 INTs. ... Brees has 20-plus completions in NFL-record 28 straight games. He has TD pass in 35 consecutive games, and with a TD pass vs Tampa Bay can tie Brett Favre for second-longest streak in NFL history. ... Since 2008, Brees 22-7 in home starts, including playoffs, completing 70.1 percent of his passes for 8,862 yards (305.6 per game), 77 TDs, 23 INTs and 109.5 rating. ... RB/PR/KR Darren Sproles is only player this season with two rushing TDs, two receiving TDs and punt return for a score. ... Jimmy Graham leads NFL TEs in receptions (49) and yards (713). Graham had seven catches for 124 yards in last game vs Tampa Bay. ... WR Marques Colston had seven catches for 118 yards and TD in last meeting. ... Saints defense allowed 183 yards rushing last week.
Miami (0-7) at Kansas City (4-3)
Time: noon
Line: Chiefs by 5
Series record: Dolphins lead 15-12
Last meeting: Dolphins beat Chiefs 38-31, Dec. 21, 2008
Last week: Dolphins lost to Giants 20-17; Chiefs beat Chargers 23-20 OT
Streaks, stats and notes: Kansas City going for fifth straight win for first time in eight years. ... Chiefs first team in NFL history to share division lead through seven games after losing first three. ... Dolphins have won seven of last nine meetings. ... Kansas City C Casey Wiegmann has started 166 straight games dating to Sept. 23, 2001. He’s also played 10,568 consecutive snaps. ... Chiefs have forced 10 turnovers in last two games. ... Last meeting, Dec. 21, 2008, was coldest game in Dolphins history and second-coldest game played at Arrowhead Stadium: 10 degrees at kickoff, wind chill minus-12. ... Dolphins least-penalized team in NFL with 31 for 274 yards. Of those, 13 have been offensive penalties. ... Chiefs have outscored opponents 51-27 in second half during four-game winning streak. ... Kansas City P Dustin Colquitt had gross average of 57.2 yards last week against San Diego, best single-game mark in franchise history. ... Miami blew 15-point lead with less than 3 minutes left in 18-15 OT loss to Denver on Oct. 23. Dolphins led Giants by seven last week before falling, 20-17.
Seattle (2-5) at Dallas (3-4)
Time: noon
Line: Dallas by 12½
Series record: Cowboys lead 8-5
Last meeting: Cowboys beat Seahawks 38-17, Nov. 1, 2009
Last week: Seahawks lost to Cincinnati 34-12; Cowboys lost to Philadelphia 34-7
Streaks, stats and notes: Seattle QB Tarvaris Jackson better look out. Dallas LB DeMarcus Ware coming off four-sack game against Philadelphia’s Michael Vick. ... Seahawks fans remember Tony Romo’s botched hold of short field goal in 2006 playoff game. Romo might be holder again because of injury to P Mat McBriar. Romo pressed into duty as holder against Eagles and did fine on one opportunity. ... Two of Dallas’ three wins have come against NFC West teams. One of Seattle’s two wins came against NFC East team. ... Cowboys have won last two meetings. Win again and they’ll match longest streak by either team in series, set by Dallas in initial three meetings. ... Seahawks coach Pete Carroll will see familiar faces as he coached Dallas RT Tyron Smith and K David Buehler at USC. ... Former Cowboys greats Drew Pearson, Larry Allen and Charles Haley will be inducted into team’s Ring of Honor at halftime.
San Francisco (6-1) at Washington (3-4)
Time: noon
Line: 49ers by 4½
Series record: 49ers lead 17-10-1
Last meeting: 49ers beat Redskins 27-24, Dec. 28, 2008
Last week: 49ers beat Browns 20-10; Redskins lost 23-0 to Bills
Streaks, stats and notes: 49ers are first team since 1920 Buffalo All-Americans to rush for a TD and not allow a rushing TD in each of first seven games of a season. 49ers have won five straight, seek first six-game winning streak since 1997. Also looking to win first four road games for first time since 1992. The other three road wins also had 9 a.m. PT starts. San Francisco hasn’t won four such games in a season since 1990 team went 5-0 when playing with 10 a.m. body clocks. ... 49ers have allowed league-low 107 points (15.3 per game) and rank first with 54 passes defended. Defense hasn’t allowed 100-yard rusher in 29 consecutive games. ... 49ers QB Alex Smith has two interceptions, tied for fewest in NFL among those with at least 150 attempts. He ranks second in NFC with 104.9 rating in fourth quarter. ... 49ers outscoring opponents 64-38 in fourth quarter. 49ers RB Frank Gore fourth player since 1970 with 125-plus yards rushing and a rushing TD in four consecutive games, joining O.J. Simpson (1975), Terrell Davis (1998) and Larry Johnson (2005). ... 49ers LB Aldon Smith leads NFL rookies with 6½ sacks and was NFL rookie of month for October. ... Former Redskins CB Carlos Rogers faces old team. Already has career-high three interceptions. ... Washington has three-game losing streak for 12th straight season, longest such active run of annual futility in NFL. ... QB John Beck makes third Redskins start. Is 0-6 in NFL career as starter; teams 0-8 in games he’s played. Was sacked franchise-record 10 times last week. ... Redskins coming off first shutout in coach Mike Shanahan’s 24 seasons as NFL coach or offensive coordinator. ... P Sav Rocca has put league-high 16 punts inside 20 and none of his 32 punts have gone for touchbacks. Only Tampa Bay’s Michael Koenen has more punts (35) without touchback. ... Redskins’ Fred Davis averaging 14.4 yards per catch, second among NFL tight ends. ... Washington’s defense has 23 sacks, fifth most in league.
Cleveland (3-4) at Houston (5-3)
Time: noon
Line: Texans by 10½
Series record: Tied 3-3
Last meeting: Texans beat Browns 16-6, Nov. 23, 2008
Last week: Browns lost to 49ers 20-10; Texans beat Jaguars 24-14
Streaks, stats and notes: RB Peyton Hillis questionable with strained left hamstring. ... Browns making first trip to Houston since 2006. ... Cleveland outscored 44-3 in first quarter and 29-6 in third quarter this seasons. ... Browns have completed league-low 11 receptions covering 20 yards or more. ... QB Colt McCoy making first NFL start in Texas since playing for Longhorns from 2005-09. ... RB Chris Ogbonnaya waived by Texans on Oct. 12, and signed by Cleveland week later. ... LB D’Qwell Jackson averaging 9.3 tackles per game, tied for second-most in league. Jackson leads team with 65 tackles, and has led team in six of seven games this year. ... WR Greg Little leads team with 29 receptions. ... WR Joshua Cribbs needs 245 yards on kick returns to become seventh NFL player to reach 10,000. ... WR Andre Johnson questionable with right hamstring injury. ... Houston outscoring opponents 124-42 in first half. ... Texans have scored on first possession five times. ... Houston defense has an interception in last seven games. ... LB Brian Cushing leads team with 54 tackles. ... DE Antonio Smith has 4½ sacks and 16½ quarterback hits. ... RB Arian Foster has rushed for more than 100 yards in last two games. Foster tied with Domanick Williams for club career mark for rushing touchdowns (23). ... QB Matt Schaub has TD pass in 16 consecutive games. ... TE Owen Daniels leads Texans with 31 receptions for 415 yards.
Atlanta (4-3) at Indianapolis (0-8)
Time: noon
Line: Falcons by 8
Series record: Colts lead 13-1
Last meeting: Colts beat Falcons 31-13, Nov. 22, 2007
Last week: Falcons had bye; Colts lost to Titans 27-10
Streaks, stats and notes: Atlanta’s only win in series came in 1998, Falcons’ Super Bowl season. ... Most lopsided series in NFL with at least 10 games played. ... Falcons 5-2 coming off bye weeks last seven seasons. ... Atlanta has won five straight November games, dating to 2009, and is 25-8 when playing indoors with coach Mike Smith. ... Under Smith, Falcons 28-7 when scoring first, 28-1 when leading at start of fourth quarter. ... Atlanta has converted 45.7 percent of third downs (No. 6) this season. ... Indianapolis hasn’t lost four straight home games since 2001, with last loss in streak being game former coach Jim Mora uttered infamous “Playoffs?” ... Dwight Freeney needs 1½ sacks to get No. 100 in his career. ... Pierre Garcon had 25 catches for 420 yards in October and leads Indy with 37 receptions and 569 yards. ... WR Reggie Wayne needs six catches to move past Larry Centers for No. 19 on league’s career list. ... Colts coming off season-high 158 yards rushing vs. Titans. ... Jamaal Anderson, Atlanta’s first-round pick in 2007, gets chance to face old team.
Denver (2-5) at Oakland (4-3)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Raiders by 7
Series record: Raiders lead 60-42-2
Last meeting: Raiders beat Broncos 23-20, Sept. 12, 2011
Last week: Broncos lost to Lions 45-10; Raiders had bye
Streaks, stats and notes: Raiders have won four straight in series, their longest streak since taking six straight from 1992-94, including playoff game. ... QB Tim Tebow made first career start against Raiders last year, going 8-for-16 for 138 yards with a 40-yard touchdown run and 33-yard TD pass. ... Tebow has been sacked 13 times in two starts. Raiders have been sacked eight times all season. ... WR Eric Decker has 30 catches, more than twice as many as any other player currently on Broncos. Decker has five TD catches in past six games. ... Broncos LB Von Miller has six sacks, second among all NFL rookies. ... QB Carson Palmer set to make first career start for Raiders after throwing three INTs in relief effort against Kansas City on Oct. 23. ... Oakland RB Darren McFadden has rushed for 434 yards and scored four TDs in last three games vs. Denver. His 6.3 ypc in his career vs. the Broncos is highest of any back since merger but status in doubt because of sprained foot. ... Raiders third-year WR Darrius Heyward-Bey already has career highs with 27 catches for 434 yards. ... Oakland has league worst 69 penalties for 600 yards. ... Raiders K Sebastian Janikowski hit record-tying 63-yard FG at Denver earlier this year.
Cincinnati (5-2) at Tennessee (4-3)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Titans by 3
Series record: Titans lead 39-32-1
Last meeting: Titans beat Bengals 24-7, Sept. 14, 2008
Streaks, stats and notes: Bengals looking for fifth consecutive win, which would be longest win streak since six-gamer in 1988. ... Bengals 3-1 on road this season. ... Rookie QB Andy Dalton has completed 64.4 percent of passes for 760 yards with seven TDs and three interceptions and 91.8 passer rating on road. ... Dalton first Bengals rookie QB to win four straight starts. ... Bengals 11-1 when RB Cedric Benson runs 25 times or more. ... Rookie WR A.J. Green looks for fifth consecutive game with TD catch on road. Green has two TDs of 40 yards or longer this season and leads rookies with 33 receptions, yards receiving (516) and TD catches (5). ... Bengals allow 85.4 yards rushing per game, second-best in NFL. ... Bengals have forced eight fumbles, second-most in NFL. ... Titans have won four of past five at home. ... Titans 4-1 when QB Matt Hasselbeck has 90 or better passer rating. Hasselbeck needs three TD passes to reach 190 for career. ... Hasselbeck has six TD passes in past two games versus Bengals. ... Chris Johnson rushed for 109 yards in his only game against Bengals. He needs 100 yards rushing to reach 5,000 for his career. ... Javon Ringer had 102 yards from scrimmage (60 rushing, 42 receiving) last week. ... WR Nate Washington scored twice last week. ... Jared Cook averaging 18 yards per catch this season. ... CB Jason MCCourty scored TD on blocked punt last week and leads team with 59 tackles.
Green Bay (7-0) at San Diego (4-3)
Time: 3:15 p.m., FOX
Line: Packers by 5½
Series record: Packers lead 8-1
Last meeting: Packers beat Chargers 31-24, Sept. 23, 2007
Last week: Chargers to Chiefs 23-20 OT; Packers had bye
Streaks, stats and notes: Off to first 7-0 start since 1962, Packers are NFL’s last undefeated team. ... Including Super Bowl run, Packers have won 13 straight, longest winning streak in team history. ... Packers trying for fourth 4-0 road start in last 70 seasons. ... Green Bay’s .889 winning percentage vs. San Diego is its highest against any NFL opponent. ... Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has thrown for 2,372 yards and 20 touchdowns, with three interceptions. He’s first NFL QB in history to post 2,300 yards passing and 20 TDS in first seven games. He has 71.5 completion percentage and 125.7 rating, putting him ahead of Drew Brees’ single-season completion percentage mark of 70.62 percent in 2009 and Peyton Manning’s single-season quarterback rating mark of 121.1 in 2004. ... Rodgers, who played at Cal, will be making first NFL start in home state. His offseason home is in Del Mar, north of San Diego. ... San Diego’s Philip Rivers lost fumble in final minute and also threw two interceptions in loss at KC, giving him 11 interceptions and three lost fumbles compared to seven TD passes this year. His passer rating is 80.7. ... Chargers LG Kris Dielman will miss second straight game with concussion. RB Curtis Brinkley, who had big plays also expected to miss game with concussion.
New York Giants (5-2) at New England (5-2)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Patriots by 8½
Series record: Patriots lead 5-3
Last meeting: Giants beat Patriots 17-14, Feb. 3, 2008 (Super Bowl)
Streaks, stats and notes: Teams meet for first time since 2008 Super Bowl, which Giants won 17-14 to spoil Patriots’ hopes for 19-0 record. Teams also met in final game of that regular season, and New England won 38-35 to complete 16-0 regular season. Teams also met this exhibition season: Giants won 18-17. ... Patriots 18-1 against NFC at Gillette Stadium, including 18 in row. ... Giants 2-0 against AFC East this season. ... Giants defense has forced at least one turnover in 20 consecutive regular season games. ... Lawrence Tynes has made Giants franchise record 135 consecutive extra points. ... Patriots face New York teams in consecutive weeks. ... Patriots have won 20 straight regular-season home games. ... Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick have won 116 games together, tied with Dan Marino and Don Shula for most by quarterback/coach combo. ... Brady has thrown a touchdown pass in team record 23 straight games. ... Since beginning of 2003 season, Patriots have lost back-to-back games twice.
St. Louis (1-6) at Arizona (1-6)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: OFF
Series record: Rams lead 32-31-1
Last meeting: Rams beat Cardinals 19-6, Dec. 5, 2010
Streaks, stats and notes: Even though it’s their eighth game overall, Sunday’s contest is Rams’ first against NFC West foe. ... Steven Jackson, already Rams’ career leader in yards rushing, gained 169 against Saints, moving ahead of Marshall Faulk into second in franchise career 100-yard games with 28. He trails Eric Dickerson by 10. ... Jackson’s two TDs against New Orleans moved him ahead of Dickerson into fourth in career TDs for Rams with 58. ... St. Louis allowing 165 yards rushing per game, worst in NFL, but gave up season-low 58 against Saints. ... Cardinals had beaten St. Louis eight straight times before last December’s home loss. ... An Arizona defeat would mean Cardinals have had seven-game losing streaks two seasons in row. ... Beanie Wells has carried 34 times for 166 yards (4.9 average) and two touchdowns in three career games against St. Louis. ... Larry Fitzgerald’s 12 career TDs against St. Louis are most for any Rams opponent. ... Safety Adrian Wilson has more sacks against the Rams (7½) than any other St. Louis foe. He also has six interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries against St. Louis. He has an interception in each of last four games in series. ... After Sunday’s game, Cardinals play three straight on road, where they have lost 11 in row dating to 2010 season opener at St. Louis.
Baltimore (5-2) at Pittsburgh (6-2)
Time: 7:20 p.m., NBC
Line: Steelers by 3
Series record: Steelers leads 18-13
Last meeting: Ravens beat Steelers 35-7, Sept. 11, 2011
Last week: Ravens beat Cardinals 30-27; Steelers beat Patriots 25-17
Streaks, stats and notes: Two teams have combined for most wins in NFL since John Harbaugh became Baltimore’s coach in 2008. ... Baltimore’s 21-point comeback last week against Arizona was biggest rally in team history. ... Steelers have won seven straight at Heinz Field. ... Eight of last 10 games in series decided by touchdown or less. Baltimore’s 35-7 win in season-opener was team’s biggest victory over Steelers since franchise moved to Baltimore from Cleveland in 1995. ... Pittsburgh 6-2 for fifth straight year under coach Mike Tomlin. ... Pittsburgh’s defense has recorded safeties in back to back games, first time team has done that dating back to 1960. New York Giants were last team to accomplish feat in 2008. ... Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco began college career at Pitt before transferring to Delaware in 2004. ... ... Pittsburgh has won four straight games. ... Baltimore LB Terrell Suggs became Baltimore’s all-time sacks leader last week, passing Peter Boulware. ... Suggs has 13½ sacks in 17 career games against Steelers. ... Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has 75 wins in 106 career starts, fourth-fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 75 victories. ... Tomlin needs one more win to become fourth coach in team history with 50 career victories, joining Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Raymond Parker. ... Pittsburgh’s seven turnovers against Ravens in opener was most by team in 16 seasons. ... Baltimore S Ed Reed needs 20 interception return yards to pass Rod Woodson’s NFL record for career interception return yards of 1,483.
Monday’s game
BEARS (4-3) at Philadelphia (3-4)
Time: 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Line: Eagles by 7
Series record: Bears lead 29-11-1
Last meeting: Bears beat Eagles 31-26, Nov. 28, 2010
Last week: Bears had bye; Eagles beat Cowboys 34-7
Streaks, stats and notes: Bears and Eagles meet for fifth straight year, with Chicago going 3-2. ... Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub coached in Philadelphia from 2001-03 as Eagles assistant special teams/assistant defensive line coach. ... Eagles LBs coach Mike Caldwell played with Bears in 2002. ... Bears K Robbie Gould went to Penn State and grew up in Lock Haven, Pa. ... Bears QB Jay Cutler tied career-best with four TD passes last year vs. Eagles. ... Cutler needs five TD passes to surpass Ed Brown and Erik Kramer for fourth-most in franchise history. ... Bears RB Matt Forte averaging career-high 5.4 yards per carry this season with 672 yards rushing. ... Forte leads all backs in catches and yards receiving since joining NFL in 2008 with 209 receptions for 1,914 yards. ... Bears 4-3 following bye week under coach Lovie Smith, including 4-1 since 2006. ... Eagles 79-35-1 the rest of season after bye in 12 seasons under coach Andy Reid. ... Eagles 11-4 in last 15 prime time games. ... Through first seven games, Eagles have rushed for 1,259 yards on 218 carries, placing them third in franchise history behind 1949 (1,549) and 1950 (1,497) teams. ... Eagles RB LeSean McCoy has career-high eight TDs rushing, and has scored in all seven games, which is second-longest streak in team history behind Steve Van Buren’s eight in 1947. ... Eagles QB Michael Vick 17-6 as starter when his rating exceeds 100, including 5-1 with Philadelphia. ... Vick has recorded at least 50 yards rushing in four straight games.