NFL Week 14 previews capsules
Sunday's games
Miami (0-12) at Buffalo (6-6)
Time: Noon
Line: Bills by 7.
Series: Dolphins lead series 50-35-1
Last time: Bills 13, Dolphins 10, Nov. 11, 2007 at Miami.
Last week: Dolphins lost to Jets 40-13; Bills beat Redskins 17-16.
Notes: Miami has lost franchise-record 15 straight games. … Last week, rookie QB John Beck threw 3 interceptions and lost 2 fumbles. Beck has no TDs and 53.6 passer rating in three starts. … LB Zach Thomas (head) and S Cameron Worrell (knee) are out for season. … RB Jesse Chatman (ankle), who had career-high 124 yards rushing last meeting, is questionable. Lorenzo Booker or Samkon Gado would start if Chatman can't. ... Miami had season-high 5 sacks last week. DE Jason Taylor has 17 career sacks vs. Bills, personal best against any opponent … Buffalo trails Cleveland and Tennessee for final AFC wild card. … Last week, QB Trent Edwards finished 22 of 36 for 257 yards passing and is 4-1 as starter. … K Rian Lindell has made 17 straight FGs, tying franchise record.
St. Louis (3-9) at Cincinnati (4-8)
Time: Noon
Line: Bengals by 6.
Series: Series tied 5-5.
Last time: Rams 27, Bengals 10, Dec. 21, 2003 at St. Louis.
Last week: Rams beat Falcons 28-16; Bengals lost to Steelers 24-10.
Notes: St. Louis has won three straight in series. … QB Marc Bulger (concussion) returned to practice and should start. QB Gus Frerotte, who threw for 3 TDs last week, is likely out with shoulder injury, leaving Brock Berlin as only healthy QB if Bulger is ruled out. … RB Steven Jackson (165 carries, 628 yards) is averaging 121 yards from scrimmage in past four games. Jackson has scored in four of past five. … Cincinnati has AFC-best 14 fumble recoveries. … QB Carson Palmer struggled in wet, muddy conditions last week, completing career-worst 38.6 percent (17 of 44) of passes, but Bengals still have fourth-best passing offense in NFL (262.6). ... RB Rudi Johnson has scored in two straight but is averaging career-low 2.8 yards per carry (140 carries, 389 yards). His longest run of season is 20 yards.
Dallas (11-1) at Detroit (6-6)
Time: Noon, Channel 32
Line: Cowboys by 10.
Series: Cowboys lead 11-10.
Last time: Lions 39, Cowboys 31, Dec. 31, 2006 at Dallas.
Last week: Cowboys beat Packers 37-27; Lions lost to Vikings 42-10.
Notes: Dallas can clinch NFC East with win or Giants loss or a tie by both teams. … Dallas has won six straight and 11-1 start is best in franchise history. … QB Tony Romo (33 TDs) threw for 4 TDs last week, breaking franchise single-season record. He also tied team mark with TD in 16th straight game. … WR Terrell Owens (71 receptions) has 14 TD catches and has scored in seven straight, both tying single-season franchise records. Owens leads NFC with 1,249 yards receiving and is averaging 132.7 yards over past six games. … … Lions have lost four in a row but are still tied for last NFC wild card. … Last week, QB Jon Kitna threw for 260 yards to top 3,000 yards passing for sixth time in career. He is averaging career-best 263.1 yards passing per game. … WR Roy Williams (knee) is expected to miss rest of season. … Lions allow 265.6 yards passing per game, second most in NFL.
Oakland (4-8) at Green Bay (10-2)
Time: Noon, Channel 2
Line: Packers by 12½.
Series: Series tied 5-5.
Last time: Packers 41, Raiders 7, Dec. 22, 2003 at Oakland.
Last week: Raiders beat Broncos 34-20; Packers lost to Cowboys 37-27.
Notes: Green Bay has won four straight in series. … Raiders have won two straight, but remaining opponents are 35-13 (.729) … QB JaMarcus Russell made his debut last week, playing two series. Coach Lane Kiffin could start QBs Daunte Culpepper or Josh McCown, who threw for 3 TDs last week. … Last week, RB Justin Fargas had 146 yards rushing on a career-best 33 carries. Fargas has topped 100 yards rushing in three of last five games and scored in two straight. … Green Bay can clinch playoff berth with Arizona loss or tie. … QB Brett Favre (elbow, shoulder) is expected to start after being knocked out of last week's game. He has started 269 straight, including playoffs, a league record for QBs. Aaron Rodgers, who was 18 of 26 for 201 yards and 1 TD in relief, injured his hamstring and is out. … WR Greg Jennings has scored in three straight and is third in NFC with 10 TDs.
Tampa Bay (8-4) at Houston (5-7)
Time: Noon
Line: Buccaneers by 1½.
Series: Buccaneers lead series 1-0.
Last time: Buccaneers 16, Texans 3, Dec. 14, 2003 at Tampa Bay.
Last week: Buccaneers beat Saints 27-23; Texans lost to Tennessee 28-20.
Notes: Tampa Bay can clinch NFC South with win or tie or losses by Carolina and New Orleans. … QB Jeff Garcia (back) missed last week's game and is questionable. QB Luke McCown, who threw for career-best 313 yards in relief, would continue to start if Garcia can't play. … WR Joey Galloway (49 receptions, 891 yards) had season-high 159 yards receiving last week. … Texans QB Matt Schaub dislocated his left shoulder last week and is out. Sage Rosenfels, who was 17 of 30 for 185 yards in relief, will start. … RG Fred Weary (leg) is out for season. … WR Andre Johnson (32 receptions, 535 yards) has 115-plus yards receiving and has scored in four of five games this season. … RB Ron Dayne is averaging 93.8 yards rushing over past four games.
Carolina (5-7) at Jacksonville (8-4)
Time: Noon
Line: Jaguars by 10½.
Series: Jaguars lead series 2-1.
Last time: Panthers 24, Jaguars 23, Sept. 7, 2003 at Carolina.
Last week: Panthers beat 49ers 31-14; Jaguars lost to Colts 28-25.
Notes: Last week, Carolina snapped five-game losing streak and won at home for first time in more than year. … Panthers are 4-2 on road. … QB Vinny Testaverde has four games of 299-plus yards passing vs. Jaguars. Carolina is averaging 165.3 yards passing per game since Week 3 when QB Jake Delhomme got hurt. … RB DeShaun Foster snapped four-game scoreless streak last week. … Steve Smith is averaging 8.5 yards per catch in his last five games, down from career average of 14.0. … Last week, Jaguars RB Fred Taylor had 104 yards, his second straight 100-yard game. ... RB Maurice Jones-Drew (134 carries, 631 yards) has scored in four straight and is averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Jags have 100-plus yards rushing in 21 of 23 games. ... QB David Garrard threw first INT of season last week but has passer rating of 104.7, third best in league.
New York Giants (8-4) at Philadelphia (5-7)
Time: Noon
Line: Eagles by 3.
Series: Giants lead series 79-67-2.
Last time: Giants 16, Eagles 3, Sept. 30, 2007 at New York.
Last week: Giants beat Bears 21-16; Eagles lost to Seahawks 28-24.
Notes: New York has won four of past five in series. … Last week, RB Derrick Ward (125 carries, 602 yards) broke leg and is out for season. RB Brandon Jacobs, who has missed two straight with hamstring injury, is likely to start. … New York tied league record with 12 sacks in last meeting, including 6 by DE Osi Umenyiora. Umenyiora is tied for NFC-lead with 11 sacks. … QB Eli Manning (2,571 yards, 17 TDs) leads NFL with 17 INTs, but he threw for 371 yards and 3 TDs in his last game in Philadelphia. … Philadelphia is 2-4 at home and 1-3 vs. NFC East. … QB Donovan McNabb (ankle, thumb) is likely to start after missing two games. A.J. Feeley has thrown 7 INTs in two starts, including four last week. … RB Brian Westbrook leads NFL in yards from scrimmage (1,598) and first downs (78) and is second among RBs in receptions (69). In his last seven games vs. Giants, Westbrook has nine TDs.
San Diego (7-5) at Tennessee (7-5)
Time: Noon
Line: Even.
Series: Chargers lead series 21-16-1.
Last time: Chargers 40, Titans 7, Sept. 17, 2006 at San Diego.
Last week: Chargers beat Chiefs 24-10; Titans beat Texans 28-20.
Notes: San Diego has won four straight in series. … Chargers can clinch AFC West with win and Denver loss. … CB Antonio Cromartie has league-best 8 INTs and Chargers have plus-14 turnover differential, second-best in NFL. … Last week, LaDainian Tomlinson gained 177 yards rushing and scored twice. He has 12 TDs, most of any RB, and Chargers are 26-2 when Tomlinson has multi-touchdown game. … Tennessee is tied for final AFC wild card with Cleveland. … Titans are 5-1 in December dating to last season. … QB Vince Young has 1,056 yards passing (264 per game) and 4 TDs in last four. Young has 14 INTs and 68.9 passer rating, both second-worst in conference, but leads QBs with 302 yards rushing.
Minnesota (6-6) at San Francisco (3-9)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Vikings by 7.
Series:49ers lead series 22-19-1.
Last time: 49ers 9, Vikings 3, Nov. 5, 2006 at San Francisco.
Last week: Vikings beat Lions 42-10; 49ers lost to Panthers 31-14.
Notes: Minnesota has won three in row, outscoring opponents 112-49, and four of five. Vikings have scored 40-plus points in last two. … QB Tarvaris Jackson is 6-2 this season and has posted passer ratings of 139.2 and 110.4 in last two. Last week, Jackson threw for season-high 204 yards and career-best 2 TDs. … Minnesota has rushed for 105 first downs, most in NFL, but thrown for league-low 99. … San Francisco RB Frank Gore (171 carries, 713 yards) has 21 receptions for 182 yards in past three games after 17 catches for 132 yards in his first eight. … 49ers have league lows in total offense (231.7 yards per game), points per game (13.7), yards passing (145.1), and third-down conversion rate (27.3 percent). QB Trent Dilfer (58.4) and QB Alex Smith (57.2) have worst passer ratings in NFL. Dilfer will continue to start with Smith (shoulder) out.
Arizona (6-6) at Seattle (8-4)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Seahawks by 6½.
Series: Cardinals lead series 9-8.
Last time: Cardinals 23, Seahawks 20, Sept 16, 2007 at Arizona.
Last week: Cardinals beat Browns 27-21; Seahawks beat Eagles 28-24.
Notes: Seattle leads Arizona by 2 games and can clinch NFC West with win. … RB Edgerrin James had 114 yards rushing last week and has two straight 100-yard games vs. Seahawks. James had career-high 219 vs. Seattle in 2000. … WR Larry Fitzgerald (NFC-best 75 receptions, 1,060 yards) missed last week with groin injury and is questionable. WR Bryant Johnson (6 receptions, 54 yards, one TD last week) would start if Fitzgerald is ruled out. WR Anquan Boldin (toe) missed practice and is questionable. … Seattle has plus-8 turnover margin, second-best in NFC. … QB Matt Hasselbeck is 42 of 64 (65.6 percent) for 524 yards and 4 TDs in past two vs. Cardinals. … Last week, RB Shaun Alexander had 65 yards rushing and 1 TD after missing three games with sprained knee. He has 16 TDs in last 10 vs. Cardinals. ... WR Bobby Engram (72 receptions, 874 yards) needs 126 yards receiving for first 1,000-yard season.
Kansas City (4-8) at Denver (5-7)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Broncos by 6½.
Series: Chiefs lead series 52-43.
Last time: Broncos 27, Chiefs 11, Nov. 11, 2007 at Kansas City.
Last week: Chiefs lost to Chargers 24-10; Broncos lost to Raiders 34-20.
Notes: Chiefs have lost five in row and six straight in Denver. … Last week, Kansas City allowed franchise-record 8 sacks. … DE Jared Allen leads NFL with 11½ sacks. … WR Dwayne Bowe leads rookies in receptions (54) and yards receiving (786) and needs 2 catches and 4 yards to set Chiefs rookie records. Bowe had career-high 9 receptions last meeting. … Denver QB Jay Cutler is 59 of 84 (70.2 percent) for 712 yards and 6 TDs and 2 INTs in last three home games. … RB Travis Henry (143 carries, 629 yards) won appeal of one-year suspension for failed drug test and will likely split carries with RB Selvin Young. Henry has topped 100 yards rushing in both career games vs. Chiefs and Young had career-high 109 yards rushing in last meeting.
Pittsburgh (9-3) at New England (12-0)
Time: 3:15 p.m., Channel 2
Line: Patriots by 12.
Series: Steelers lead series 13-9.
Last time: Patriots 23, Steelers 20, Sept. 25, 2005 at Pittsburgh.
Last week: Steelers beat Bengals 24-10; Patriots beat Ravens 27-24.
Notes: Patriots have won five of six in series, but Steelers' last win stopped New England's record 21-game winning streak and 18-game regular-season streak. … Pittsburgh can clinch AFC North with win and Cleveland loss. … QB Ben Roethlisberger has career-high 25 TDs, second in AFC. He is averaging 181.3 yards passing in last three games and has INT in four straight. … New England has won 15 straight regular-season games dating to last season and can clinch homefield advantage throughout AFC playoffs with win and Colts loss. … Patriots lead NFL in turnover differential (plus-17), total offense (425.3), passing offense (304.0), points scored (469), and third-down conversion rate (50.4). … QB Tom Brady has 3 TDs in past two games after throwing 3-plus TDs in every previous game. His 41 TDs, 3,696 yards passing, 70.2 completion percentage and 123.4 passer rating all lead NFL. ... WR Randy Moss posted season-low 34 yards receiving last week but has NFL-best and franchise-record-tying 17 TDs.
Cleveland (7-5) at New York Jets (3-9)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Browns by 3½.
Series: Browns lead series 12-7 (Browns lead 2-1 since 1999).
Last time: Browns 20, Jets 13, Oct. 29, 2006 at Cleveland.
Last week: Browns lost to Cardinals 27-21; Jets beat Dolphins 40-13.
Notes: In seven wins this season, Cleveland averages 34.1 points. In 5 losses, Browns average 19.4. … Last week, WR Braylon Edwards caught 7 passes for career-high 149 yards to top 1,000 yards for season. Edwards has 11 TD catches and needs 1 to tie franchise record. … QB Derek Anderson (3,062 yards, 24 TDs) has four INTs in past three games. He threw for 304 yards last week to top 3,000 yards for first time. … New York scored season-high 40 last week. … QB Kellen Clemens finished 15 of 24 (62.5 percent) for 236 yards and a TD last week but has worst passer rating in AFC (61.5). … RB Thomas Jones (231 carries, 838 yards) had his first TD rushing last week.
Indianapolis (10-2) at Baltimore (4-8)
Time: 7:15 p.m., Channel 5
Line: Colts by 9½.
Series: Colts lead 5-2.
Last time: Colts 15, Ravens 6, AFC divisional playoff, Jan. 13, 2007 at Baltimore.
Last week: Colts beat Jaguars 28-25; Ravens lost to Patriots.
Notes: Indianapolis has won four straight in series and can clinch AFC South with win and loss by Jaguars and loss or tie by Titans. … Peyton Manning threw for 4 TDs last week and is tied with Dan Marino as only QBs to throw more than 20 in each of first 10 NFL seasons. Manning has 9 TDs in five career games vs. Ravens. … WR Reggie Wayne (76 receptions, 1,169 yards, eight TDs) had 8 receptions for 158 yards last week, and in past six, Wayne has 39 catches for 669 yards (112 yards per game). … Ravens have lost franchise-record six straight but have won six of seven in December. … RB Willis McGahee (243 carries, 1,048 yards) has scored in seven straight games and finished with a season-high 138 yards rushing last week. McGahee went over 1,000 yards for the third time.
Monday's game
New Orleans (5-7) at Atlanta (3-9)
Time: 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Line: Saints by 4½.
Series: Falcons lead series 44-33
Last time: Saints 22, Falcons 16, Oct. 21, 2007 at New Orleans.
Last week: Saints lost to Buccaneers 27-23; Falcons lost to Rams 28-16.
Notes: New Orleans have won three straight in series. … QB Drew Brees has 986 yards and 5 TDs in four starts vs. Falcons. Brees surpassed 3,000 yards passing for fourth straight season last week. … RB Reggie Bush is second in NFC and leads RBs with 73 catches. Bush had TD reception last meeting but hasn't had 75-plus yards rushing since Week 6 and leads RBs with 8 fumbles. … Last week, Falcons QB Chris Redman finished 16 of 24 for 172 yards and career-high 2 TDs in relief of Joey Harrington. Redman is likely to start again. … RB Jerious Norwood averaged 11.8 yards per carry last week (8 carries, 94 yards). … WR Roddy White had career-high 10 catches for 146 yards and TD last week and needs 80 yards for first 1,000-yard season.