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NFL Week 14 Picks: Will The Cowboys Get Back On Track?

2009-12-10T23:22:57Z

by Bill Kostroun - AP

4 days ago: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) leaves the field after losing an NFL football game to the New York Giants 31-24 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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Cowboys fans hate hearing it, but until Tony Romo and Co. purge the ghost of Decembers past with a strong finish down the stretch, they will keep hearing it. While Romo had one of his best games last week, passing for nearly 400 yards, the defense and special teams gave up too many big plays en route to (yet another) December loss for the Cowboys. With the Chargers coming to Big D this weekend (and the Saints, Redskins and Eagles still on the slate), the Cowboys face a tough road to get back to the playoffs. And SB Nation's NFL bloggers -- who went a respectable 10-6 last week -- don't expect things to change, at least not on Sunday. They like Philip Rivers and his cast of mammoth wide receivers to continue their hot streak.

In some of the weekend's other big games, our bloggers like the Saints and Colts to remain unblemished, the Dolphins to continue their surprising resurgence, and Brett Favre and the Vikings to dispatch the Bengals.

And the Browns, Bucs, and Rams will all lose, of course. As always, home teams are listed second.

Game	Pick	Comments
	Pittsburgh Steelers	Will the Steeler's month of hell continue? SBN's Dawgs by Nature makes the case for why the Browns might have a chance this week: the Steelers are reeling, the Browns have been secretly decent on offense recently, and the short week and potentially bad weather could negate the Steeler's better talent. Still, even Dawgs by Nature couldn't bring themselves to predict a Browns win, instead calling for a tie. Our bloggers don't see Cleveland winning either. Look for the Steelers to get back on track.
	New Orleans Saints	With Matt Ryan and Michael Turner on the sidelines last week, the Falcons could only muster a meaningless last-second touchdown against the Eagles. With Ryan still looking doubtful, Atlanta will be hard-pressed to do much better this week. For some reason, our bloggers don't think that will be enough against the offensive juggernaut that is New Orleans.
	New York Jets	With Mark Sanchez taking a seat this week, expect an even heavier dose of Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene against a woeful Bucs rush defense. As long as Kellen Clemens doesn't turn the ball over, that should be enough against a Tampa team that is still playing hard, but is simply a few years away.
	Miami Dolphins	In what is a de facto playoff game, our bloggers were nearly evenly divided over who would win the Battle for Florida (sorry Bucs fans, Tampa doesn't count this year). Their verdict? Look for a suddenly relevant Chad Henne to take advantage of the vulnerable Jaguars secondary, as Miami keeps the pressure up on New England.
	Minnesota Vikings	SBN's Cincy Jungle asks whether the Bengals should open the passing game given the Vikings' stout defensive front. This is the conundrum for the Bengals: their formula of playing strong defense, rushing the ball down opponent's throats, and not making mistakes has gotten them this far, but will it be enough against the league's elite? Our bloggers say no, at least not this week.
	Houston Texans	Talk about two 5-7 teams going in opposite directions. While the Seahawks aren't exactly the league's most exciting team, they more or less win the games they should and lose the games they should; the Texans are great on paper, but invent new ways to blow winnable games on a weekly basis. So who will pull out this battle of mediocrity? Our bloggers are going with the more talented team. Playing at home won't hurt either.
	Kansas City Chiefs	In a matchup of two of league's...ahem, winning-challenged teams, our bloggers will go with the team with the better quarterback (who also happens to be playing at home). Sounds about right.
	Green Bay Packers	It's never a good sign when a team's fans are wondering who their "biggest ripoffs" are, as SBN's Windy City Gridiron did. With the Packers jockeying for playoff position, and the Bears simply playing out the stretch of a disappointing season, expect the Packers to sweep the season series.
	Baltimore Ravens	Who's the biggest underdog of the week? According to Advanced NFL Stats (via the Fifth Down Blog), that would be the Detroit Lions, who they give an 11% chance of winning this week. With the Ravens desperate to stay in the AFC wildcard race, and Ray Rice looking to take advantage of a porous Lion's defense, our bloggers agree.
	New England Patriots	If Matt Moore lights up the Pats' secondary, then it will really be panic time in Beantown. As it is, Pats fans at SBN's Pats Pulpit are hoping the team commits to gashing the Panthers' 26-ranked rushing defense, and get back to basics. Our bloggers expect the Patriots to do just that.
	Indianapolis Colts	The Broncos have had issues playing against the no-huddle this season. The Colts have Peyton Manning. The Colts should remain undefeated. QED.
	Oakland Raiders	While it's muuuuch too early to anoint Bruce Gradkowski the "next Rich Gannon", he's made the Raiders a potentially dangerous spoiler down the stretch by simply introducing the threat of a forward pass. With the Redskins victims of some terrible karma, our bloggers like Oakland to get a second consecutive win. Really.
	Tennessee Titans	Chris Johnson needs a nickname. In honor of MTV's Jersey Shore, may I suggest "The Situation", since Chris Johnson is also indescribable; you can't even begin to describe him. Look for Johnson to pile up the yards against a vulnerable Rams defense, as he and the Titans try to keep their faltering playoff hopes alive.
	San Diego Chargers	Will December be the cruelest month once again for the Cowboys? The news that Tony Romo will be the holder again certainly portends excruciating losses for a team that has had its fair share them the past few Decembers. At least this year, the story might not be the Cowboys collapsing, but rather just a brutal end-of-season schedule. Our bloggers like the Chargers to keep their seven-game winning streak going.
	New York Giants	Despite the fact that the Eagles have owned the Giants as of late, our bloggers expect -- albeit, narrowly -- the Giants to reverse the trend and inch closer to a playoff berth. Call it the more-desperate-team-wins-in-the-NFL theory.
	Arizona Cardinals	If the Cardinals, who have had a hard time defending tight ends this season, can keep the Niners' Vernon Davis in check, they should be able to lock up their second consecutive NFC West title. Our bloggers think the Cardinals should get ready to uncork the champagne.

Browns Lead Steelers 13-0 At Halftime In Sub-Zero Cleveland

2009-12-10T23:15:41Z

by Mark Duncan - AP

about 1 hour ago: Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn passes during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

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For plenty more on Thursday night's NFL game, visit SB Nation's Behind the Steel Curtain and Dawgs By Nature.

(Sports Network) - Streaks of a negative variety have been a regular feature of the series between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns, which will resume on the banks of Lake Erie to kick off the Week 14 schedule on Thursday night.

The difference this time around is that the Steelers are one of the teams in the throes of a dubious skid.

Pittsburgh will come into Cleveland having lost four straight games, the organization's longest losing streak since it lost five in a row in 2003. Last Sunday's stunning 27-24 defeat to the struggling Oakland Raiders knocked the Steelers down to 6-6, where they maintain a tie for second place in the AFC North behind the Cincinnati Bengals (9-3).

Pittsburgh is one game out of the final wild card spot as Week 14 commences, and is in danger of becoming the third straight Super Bowl-winning Steelers team to miss the playoffs the following season. In 2006, one year after beating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL, Pittsburgh finished a disappointing 8-8 and outside the postseason money. The 1980 team finished 9-7 and out of the playoffs after beating the Rams in Super Bowl XIV.

Luckily for the Black and Gold, who have positively owned their longtime rival of late, the Browns would seem to be a prime candidate to help the Steelers end their streak, and in convincing fashion.

Cleveland dropped to 1-11 with last week's 30-23 home loss to the San Diego Chargers, have now lost 10 straight games at home, and are 0-5 at Cleveland Browns Stadium during the Eric Mangini era.

The Browns, whose last home win came over the New York Giants last Oct. 13th, have also lost seven straight overall since scoring their lone win of 2009 to date, at Buffalo on Oct. 11th. The seven-game skid is the franchise's longest since it dropped nine in a row in 2004, and the once-proud franchise is in danger of losing all of its home contests for just the second time in team history.

Cleveland must defeat the Steelers, Raiders (Dec. 27), or Jaguars (Jan. 3) in order to avoid its first winless home ledger since the 1999 Browns went 0-8 at home during their expansion season.

The facts of the recent Steelers/Browns series do not lean in the home team's favor.

Pittsburgh is 17-1 against Cleveland since 2000, including 12 straight victories, and the Steelers are 8-0 in C-Town since last losing there in 2000.

After defeating the Browns (27-14) at Heinz Field in Week 6, the Steelers will be gunning for their sixth consecutive home-and-home sweep of the Browns on Thursday.

SERIES HISTORY

The Steelers lead the all-time regular season series with the Browns, which dates back to 1950, by a 58-55 count. As mentioned, Pittsburgh has won 17 of its last 18 regular-season games against Cleveland, including 12 straight since the Browns pulled off a 33-13 win at Heinz Field in 2003. Pittsburgh was a 10-6 winner in Cleveland last year.

The clubs have also met twice in the postseason, with Pittsburgh winning both times. The Steelers picked up a 29-9 victory in a 1994 AFC Divisional Playoff and won a 36-33 thriller in a 2002 AFC First-Round Playoff.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is 5-0 against the Browns as a head man. Mangini is 1-1 against Tomlin and the Steelers, with the win coming while he was at the helm of the Jets in 2007.

WHEN THE STEELERS HAVE THE BALL

Though the Steelers got quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (3145 passing yards, 19 TD, 11 INT) back after a one-game absence due to a concussion last week, the team is likely to be without another of its offensive stars when it takes the field on Thursday night. Wide receiver Hines Ward (72 receptions, 6 TD) injured a hamstring against the Raiders last week, and Tomlin cast doubt on his ability to recover from the injury to play on a short week. That means Roethlisberger will have to lean on hard on wideouts Santonio Holmes (64 receptions, 3 TD) and Mike Wallace (30 receptions, 3 TD), along with tight end Heath Miller (56 receptions, 5 TD), and second-year wideout Limas Sweed could play a greater role in the contest as well. Roethlisberger threw for 417 yards and two touchdowns on 23-of-35 passing in the last meeting with Cleveland, and Holmes caught five balls for 104 yards in that game. The Steelers would also like to establish running back Rashard Mendenhall (887 rushing yards, 16 receptions, 6 TD), whose 20-carry, 103-yard, one-touchdown effort against the Raiders gave him three 100-yard games on the year. Mendenhall needs 113 yards against the Browns to go over 1,000 for the first time in his career. The Steelers line has allowed 30 sacks on the year, but just one last week.

The Browns defense that Roethlisberger and company will be going up against has become further depleted since the teams last met, with former starters like nose tackle Shaun Rogers (ankle), linebackers Eric Barton (neck) and D'Qwell Jackson (shoulder), and safety Brodney Pool (concussion) all having been taken out of commission. None of those losses are welcome for a team that is last in the NFL in total defense (400.2 yards per game), turnover margin (-12), interceptions recorded (6), and takeaways (14) as Week 14 begins. That said, the Browns did a decent job in limiting the Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson to 64 yards on 20 carries last week, with end Robaire Smith (54 tackles, 1 sack) leading the charge with six tackles from the trenches, and outside linebackers Kamerion Wimbley (57 tackles, 6.5 sacks) and Matt Roth (12 tackles, 1.5 sacks) combining for 10 tackles and a sack of Philip Rivers. The Cleveland secondary was particularly punchless against the Chargers, however, surrendering nearly 400 aerial yards. Cornerbacks Hank Poteat (23 tackles) and Eric Wright (40 tackles, 2 INT) are among those looking for a bounce-back performance on Thursday night.

WHEN THE BROWNS HAVE THE BALL

The Browns enter Week 14 ranked last in NFL total offense (242.4 yards per game), and tied for last in the league in rushing touchdowns (3) and rushes of 20 yards or longer (3), figures that are unlikely to get much better against a solid Steelers defensive group. Quarterback Brady Quinn (1183 passing yards, 8 TD, 5 INT) is still seeking his first win in eight starts this season, though the former first-rounder has looked a bit more capable in recent weeks. Quinn has 671 passing yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in his last three games combined. Tight end Evan Moore came out of nowhere with six catches for 80 yards last Sunday, just one week after being called up from the practice squad. Wideout Mohamed Massaquoi (28 receptions, 2 TD) scored his second touchdown in three weeks in the San Diego loss, and fellow WR Brian Robiskie (5 receptions) added value with four catches for 69 yards in his best game as a pro to date. But if the Browns are going to pull off the upset on Thursday, they will need continued solid play from starting running back Jerome Harrison (292 rushing yards, 28 receptions, 2 TD). Taking over full-time for the injured Jamal Lewis last week, Harrison caught seven passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns against the Chargers, also rushing 10 times for 35 yards in the defeat. Wildcat quarterback Joshua Cribbs (218 rushing yards, 18 receptions, 1 TD) rushed for a team-high 38 yards on four carries and also had a catch. A Browns o-line that has held up reasonably well this season surrendered just two sacks of Quinn.

One week after a brutal fourth-quarter display against Bruce Gradkowski and the Raiders offense, the Steelers secondary could have a markedly different look against the Browns. Though safety Troy Polamalu is unlikely to return from his knee injury on a short week, the struggles of cornerbacks Ike Taylor (53 tackles) and William Gay (who also suffered a concussion) last week could prompt Tomlin to open with rookies Joe Burnett (10 tackles) and Keenan Lewis at CB. Burnett, a fifth-round pick out of Central Florida, could get the nod despite dropping a potential game-sealing interception on the Raiders' final drive. Those players will have to be helped out by also-struggling safeties Tyrone Carter (40 tackles, 2 INT, 1 sack) and Ryan Clark (64 tackles, 2 INT), while LaMarr Woodley (39 tackles, 8 sacks), James Harrison (67 tackles, 10 sacks) and the pass rush seek to attack Quinn. Woodley had a pair of sacks against Gradkowski last week, but Harrison was shut out of that category for a second straight game. Pittsburgh's defensive problems have not extended to the run-stopping group, which is No. 1 in NFL rushing defense (77.8 yards per game) and held Oakland's three talented backs to a combined 89 yards on 25 carries last week. Inside linebackers James Farrior (80 tackles 3 sacks) and Lawrence Timmons (56 tackles, 6 sacks) had eight tackles each in the loss, as did end Brett Keisel (44 tackles, 3 sacks).

FANTASY FOCUS

The Steelers have not been the most consistent team from a fantasy perspective this season, but in a favorable matchup against a depleted Cleveland club, you should feel confident rolling with Roethlisberger, Mendenhall, Holmes, and/or Miller. You'll have to monitor Ward's injury status, and if he can't go and you own Wallace, that should cinch your decision to put him in the lineup. Also, the Steelers defense is an excellent play against Quinn and company.

Trying to predict the few-and-far-between occasions when members of the Browns will score a decent fantasy total is an inexact science indeed, but chances are you won't end up kicking yourself for ignoring the Cleveland roster this week.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The Browns won't be confused with a good football team anytime soon, but there's no doubt that Cleveland has been competitive over the past four weeks, in which all of their losses have come by single digits. That trend is unlikely to continue on Thursday night. In addition to being head and shoulders above the Browns in the talent department, an angry group of Steelers will roll into Cleveland as a desperate team, one determined not to let the Browns hang around as they did the Raiders and Chiefs in recent weeks. The losing skid ends at four, and the result is never really in doubt.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Steelers 31, Browns 7

Brian Westbrook Admits He's Concerned About His Future

2009-12-10T15:01:12Z

by Matt Rourke - AP

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Daunte Culpepper To Start For Lions Sunday In Baltimore

2009-12-10T01:26:30Z

by David Richard - AP

3 months ago: Detroit Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper (11) fires a pass against the Cleveland Browns in the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

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Matthew Stafford may be a man (man, a man, a man), but this Sunday in Baltimore, he'll be a man on the bench, resting his shoulder -- the Detroit Lions have announced that Daunte Culpepper will be their starting quarterback this week.

"I’m sore enough and still in enough pain that we collectively felt it was probably a better decision to not play this week," Stafford said today on WJR-AM (760).

Stafford, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, suffered an AC joint separation Nov. 22 against Cleveland when a defender drove his left shoulder into the ground. He didn’t miss a snap until he took another shot Sunday at Cincinnati.

"If he hadn’t taken that hit in the fourth quarter of the Cincy game we wouldn’t be having this discussion," coach Jim Schwartz said. "It was a very, very similar hit that he took in the Cleveland game, and we want to avoid the situation where it can become something that’s chronic.

From SB Nation's Pride of Detroit, this announcment probably came so early in the week as to avoid confusion within the team.

Although Jim Schwartz initially planned on keeping things tight-lipped to prevent Baltimore from gaining more knowledge than they needed, he decided today to go ahead and announce that Matthew Stafford is out this week. Daunte Culpepper will be the starting quarterback, and I sort of think the reason Schwartz decided to announce a decision now is to prevent another miscommunication from happening like on Thanksgiving. Culpepper thought he was going to start, as did basically everybody, but Stafford ended up playing instead.

Only in Detroit.

NFL Week 14 Power Rankings: Where The Pats Go Tumbling

2009-12-10T00:48:28Z

by Lynne Sladky - AP

4 days ago: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) sits on the bench late in the fourth quarter during a NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Miami Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. The Dolphins won 22-21. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Stop me if you've heard this before: the Colts and Saints sit atop SB Nation's NFL blogger power rankings. Of course, with both teams threatening history at 12-0, that's not too surprising. They flip-flopped for the third straight week, as New Orlean's semi-miraculous victory (a touchdown off a fumbled interception by the other team? really?) didn't inspire nearly as much confidence among our bloggers as the Colts did in cooling off the Titans.

The Packers were this week's big winner, moving up four spots to 8th, after they shut down the Ravens on Monday night. With the NFC East's three contenders will have to beat each other up, the Packers look set to wrap up one of the conference's wildcard spots.

And the Patriots crashed this week, after their shocking, and humbling, 22-21 loss to the underdog Dolphins. For the first time in the Belichick-Brady era (or at least the first time since 2002), the Patriots just look average: their defense can't stop anyone, and Brady and the offense are good but not good enough.

And, of course, the Rams and Browns are still bringing up the rear. Some things never change.

NFL Power Rankings

Rank (LW)	Record	Comments
1 (2)	Indianapolis Colts 12-0	Colts players don't want to talk about possibly going undefeated, which isn't surprising because Indianapolis has shied away in recent years from making a run at a perfect record when given the chance to do so. But as SI's Peter King points out, resting players down the stretch may not be the best plan; the Colts' lone Super Bowl win came in 2006, when they were jockeying for position down to the wire.
2 (1)	New Orleans Saints 12-0	While the Colts appear ready to take their foot off the gas pedal, Saints head coach Sean Payton has said New Orleans is "going for" an undefeated season -- to the approval of Saints fans at SBN's Canal Street Chronicles. With plays like Robert Meachem's strip-fumble-return off an interception and (now former) Redskins kicker Shaun Suisam missing a chippie 23-yard field goal, the Saints may have the unstoppable combination of a team playing near its peak, and getting all the breaks. Watch out.
3 (4)	San Diego Chargers 9-3	Would you be interested in a team that has the career leader in quarterback rating among active players, and a cast of gargantuan wideouts who are a mismatch against any defensive secondary? If so, let me introduce you to Phillip Rivers and the Chargers' receiving corps. After a slow first month, the Chargers are arguably the hottest team in the league not located in Indianapolis or New Orleans.
4 (3)	Minnesota Vikings 10-2	Should Vikings fans be worried about last week's loss to the Cardinals? While Minnesota has coasted through an easy slate for most of the season, the defending NFC champs exposed them a bit, leading SBN's The Daily Norseman to ponder what to make of the team. They do note that three of the past Super Bowl participants (and two of the winners) suffered embarrassing late-season losses that caused many of the pundits to write them off. So a single bad week doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. But a few bad weeks would be another matter...
5 (5)	Cincinnati Bengals 9-3	The Bengals continue to eke out victories over the dregs of the league. That's why their DVOA is a middling 15th (behind the Texans!), despite being 9-3. While their defense has been downright dominating at times, the offense has fallen into a predictable rut. The fans over at SBN's Cincy Jungle are worried, and would like to see offensive coordinator Bruce Bratkowski open things up and get the secondary targets like Andre Caldwell more involved. If the Bengals can't get more out of their passing game, they could easily go one-and-done come playoff time.
6 (9)	Arizona Cardinals 8-4	Hello, remember the defending NFC champions? With all the hoopla over the Saints, Colts and Vikes, it's easy to overlook the dangerous Cardinals -- at least until last week's beatdown of Minnesota. Just a reminder: when Kurt Warner is slinging it well, the Cardinals can beat anybody.
7 (8)	Philadelphia Eagles 8-4	According to Football Outsiders' DVOA rankings, the Eagles have been the second best team in the NFL so far (behind only the Saints). Now, maybe this is a case of an esoteric statistic failing to capture what's going on, but based on their talent on both sides of the ball, the Eagles should belong among the league's elite. Don't mess it up, Andy Reid.
8 (12)	Green Bay Packers 8-4	The Packers defense continues to impress. They continue to lead the league in Football Outsiders' defensive DVOA rankings, and, as SBN's Acme Packing Company highlights, last week they shut down the Ravens' ground game by relying on their five linebacker lineup, daring Joe Flacco to beat them deep (which he did not do regularly enough).
9 (11)	Denver Broncos 8-4	Remember when the sky was falling in Denver and they weren't going to make the playoffs after their four-game slide? That was so two weeks ago. With dominating wins over the Giants and Chiefs, the Broncos look like locks for the playoffs (especially with games against the Raiders and Chiefs remaining). Getting big plays out of Brandon Marshall in the passing game is key for them; when he gets the ball, they are dangerous.
10 (7)	Dallas Cowboys 8-4	This time it wasn't Tony Romo's fault. This time it was the defense (and special teams), giving up too many big plays for the offense to overcome. So with another December loss, is it panic time in Big D? SBN's Blogging the Boys tries to dispel some of the fear percolating in Dallas, but the fact remains that the Cowboys face a murderous slate of games down the strech: vs. San Diego, at Washington, at New Orleans and vs. Philadelphia. Could be another long December for Romo and Co.
11 (6)	New England Patriots 7-5	Are the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick Patriots simply (gasp!) just not very good anymore? With a defense that has been exposed in recent weeks (seriously, giving up over 300 passing yards to Chad Henne?), and an offense not clicking well enough to cover for their defensive deficiencies, the Patriots appear to be just another also-ran team at this point. The folks at SBN's Pats Pulpit blame the coaching, namely that Belichick is trying to do too much, since he doesn't have coordinators he trusts enough to delegate to. Whatever the case, this is how dynasties end: not with a bang, but with a 22-21 loss to a mediocre Dolphins squad.
12 (15)	New York Giants 7-5	And just like that, they're back...sort of. But as Adam Caplan of Scout.com explains, despite the win last week, Eli Manning looked very limited physically throwing the ball, and missed a handful of potential deep plays. With the Packers rolling, only two of the three NFC East contenders figure to make the playoffs. Next week's game against the Eagles
13 (10)	Pittsburgh Steelers 6-6	So much for unleashing hell. After one week, December is feeling a lot like November for the Steelers, as they dropped yet another game they were leading in the fourth quarter. What's the problem in Pittsburgh? As SBN's Behind the Steel Curtain points out, they miss Troy Polamalu -- badly. Is it too late to retroactively give him the MVP award for 2008?
14 (14)	Tennessee Titans 5-7	Tennessee's dream of running their last ten games and making the playoffs may be over (although if the rest of the AFC wildcard hopefuls get faltering, 9-7 could still get them in), but there is plenty of reason to be optimistic for next year. Some time off seems to be just what the doctor ordered for Vince Young, and there aren't enough superlatives in the English language to describe what Chris Johnson does on a weekly basis. The future is bright in Tennessee.
15 (13)	Baltimore Ravens 6-6	Are the Ravens passing the ball too much? That's the question SBN's Baltimore Beatdown tackles, comparing Joe Flacco's numbers from the past two seasons. Aside from yards per game, his stats are remarkably similar, leading the folks at Baltimore Beatdown to conclude that Baltimore should get back to its run-first, grind-it-out offense that has worked so well in the past. The one problem? The Ravens defense is no longer the Ravens defense. They are vulnerable at cornerback, and good offensive teams have taken advantage. Simply put, the Ravens need to score more than they did in the past, and that means taking the training wheels off for Flacco. .
16 (18)	Jacksonville Jaguars 7-5	If a potential playoff team wins in an empty stadium, does anyone care? While it's easy to dismiss the Jags because of their negative point differential on the season, SBN's Big Cat Country notes that they've improved defensively, and once they get top corner Rashean Mathis back, they figure to be even better, putting a playoff run not entirely out of the question.
17 (19)	Miami Dolphins 6-6	Well that was unexpected. Just when it looked like the Patriots would cruise to the win, and all but lock down the AFC East, Chad Henne and Davone Bess connected to bring the Dolphins back into the land of the relevant. Speaking of Bess, SBN's The Phinsider wonders if he might have a little Wes Welker in him, just needing the deep threat next to him to create the space for him to operate out of the slot. Hyperbolic? Definitely. But definitely possible.
18 (16)	Atlanta Falcons 6-6	No Matty Ice, no Michael Turner, no hope for the Falcons -- especially with the Saints on tap. SBN's The Falcoholic wonders how many of the Falcons' injured players would have to be healthy for the team to have a chance this weekend. Correct answer: it doesn't matter, not with Drew Brees playing the way he is and the crazy mojo the Saints have going for them.
19 (17)	Houston Texans 5-7	The hits keep coming for Houston -- the latest being that running back Steve Slaton will miss the rest of the season due to a neck injury. But really, this is par for the course for Houston. From their inability to punch it in from the goal line costing them two games, to missed field goals leading to two other losses, to losing star tight end Owen Daniels for the year, the Texans have been plagued by boneheaded mistakes and bad luck. Add it all up, and it should spell another seven or eight win season in Houston, as usual.
20 (21)	New York Jets 6-6	This is what you call a roller coaster year. After starting 3-0, they dropped five of their next six, before salvaging the season with back-to-back wins to suddenly get themselves back into playoff contention. While Mark Sanchez will miss this weeks' game, there shouldn't be too big a drop off with Kellen Clemens, and -- more importantly -- the Jets shouldn't have any trouble running on the suspect Bucs defense.
21 (20)	San Francisco 49ers 5-7	While the Niners certainly haven't reached the Redskins' level of losing, their latest defeat at the hand of Seattle has their fans contemplating whether just isn't very good or is just unlucky. It's an interesting and timeless philosophical question: where does talent end and luck begin? Unfortunately for the Niners, this is all they have left to ponder, now that they're all but out of the NFC West chase.
22 (22)	Carolina Panthers 5-7	Here's all you need to know about how bad the Patriots' secondary has been lately: our Panthers fans are eagerly anticipating the chance for Matt Moore to get a shot against New England. Years of Jake Delhomme inexplicably throwing it to the other team will do that to a fan base. But they do have a point: aside from his single interception, Moore was efficient last week, and could have a big day on Sunday against the Pats. As long as he doesn't turn the ball over, he'll be an enormous improvement over Delhomme.
23 (23)	Chicago Bears 5-7	Who's to blame for the Bears' running woes? SBN's WIndy City Gridiron asked whether it was Matt Forte's fault, the offensive line's or the playcaling -- to which Bears fans resoundingly answered: all of the above! Really, to be the worst running team in the league, you need a perfect storm of ineptitude, which Chicago has had this year. Of course, this only puts more pressure on Jay Cutler to try to make plays and force passes...which hasn't ended well this year.
24 (25)	Seattle Seahawks 5-7	Last year the Seahawks reportedly flirted with taking Mark Sanchez to be their heir apparent at quarterback. With the team struggling once again, and few building blocks in place for the future, might they make a move for one for one of the elite quarterbacks in this year's draft...like Washington's Jake Locker? The Seahawks would almost certainly have to trade up to get him, but considering his physical tools and the sizzle he would bring to a sizzle-less franchise, it could well be worth it. Seattle fans can dream, right?
25 (24)	Buffalo Bills 4-8	With the season essentially over, the fans at SBN's Buffalo Rumblings lay out the case for why the team should stick with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback the rest of the year, as opposed to giving recent pickup Brian Brohm a look. Bottom line: if Brohm couldn't beat out Matt Flynn for the backup job in Green Bay, what hope does he have of playing well in a new system? Fitzpatrick at least gives them a chance in the passing game, albeit a marginal one.
26 (26)	Washington Redskins 3-9	There's not much to say for the Skins. They're simply unlucky, cursed, on the short end of the karmic stick. Over the past month they've undergone a metamorphosis from a team that lost excruciating games to bad teams to a team that loses excruciating games to good teams. I guess that's progress?
27 (29)	Oakland Raiders 4-8	Has a 4-8 team ever had three more impressive wins than Oakland? The Raiders have beaten the Eagles, Bengals and Steelers this year, all solid playoff contenders. And they might -- just might -- have found a quarterback in ex-Buc castoff Bruce Gradkowski. They could be frisky down the stretch.
28 (27)	Kansas City Chiefs 3-9	Sometimes a team loses so thoroughly that there's nothing really to say about it or glean from it. Last week was one of those weeks for the Chiefs.
29 (28)	Tampa Bay Bucs 1-11	After his silly, dominating performance in the Big 12 title game, Bucs fans are hoping to nab Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh with the first pick in the draft. The problem? Even with only a single win, there's no guarantee the Bucs will get the top pick. That's life at the bottom of the NFL -- sometimes you aren't even good enough at losing.
30 (30)	Detroit Lions 2-10	At this point, having rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford tough out his shoulder injury doesn't make too much sense, as SBN's Pride of Detroit points out. He's clearly struggled with it the last two weeks, and he's already demonstrated to his teammates and the fans that he's a man. And that's enough to give the Lions more hope for the future than they've had in a decade.
31 (31)	St. Louis Rams 1-11	SBN's Turf Show Times reports on the proposed change in the league's revenue sharing provision (don't let your eyes glaze over) that could hamper the ability of small-market teams to field competitive teams -- not that the Rams need any help on that front. Of course, the Rams haven't been helped by the fact that they have more good players on IR (free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe was the latest) than they do on their active roster.
32 (32)	Cleveland Browns 1-11	SBN's Dawgs By Nature seems at least mildly pleased that the team's offense "bordered on respectability" in their 30-23 loss last week. It's been that kind of year for Cleveland.

Steve Slaton Placed On IR Due To Neck Injury

2009-12-09T17:04:23Z

by Matt York - AP

2 months ago: Houston Texans running back Steve Slaton (20) is brought down by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby (58) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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The indomitable Adam Schefter reports:

Slaton sat out the Texans' Week 13 loss to the Jaguars due to numbness in his shoulder, and consulted with a specialist in Dallas on Tuesday, who reportedly told Slaton that he had a neck injury, according to HoustonTexans.com.

Slaton struggled holding onto the ball during his sophomore season, fumbling the ball seven times, and finding himself on the bench as a result. Nonetheless, the Texans will miss his receiving skills out of the backfield and in the screen game, where he excels.

Andy Reid Era Continues: Eagles Extend Head Coach Through 2013

2009-12-09T14:25:42Z

by Carolyn Kaster - AP

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Andy Reid will remain the coach in Philly through 2013 after signing a contract extension with the Eagles on Wednesday, according to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer. He's already the longest tenured head coach in Eagles history, and will have been in place for 15 seasons once the new extension expires.

Under Reid, the Eagles are 105-66 (.614 winning percentage) with seven playoff appearances in 10 seasons, including a Super Bowl berth in 2004.

For more on the extension, and all things Eagles, visit SBN's Bleeding Green Nation.

Bengals DT Peko Out Several Weeks After Undergoing Surgery

2009-12-08T15:17:49Z

by Al Behrman - AP

4 months ago: Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko adjusts his hair during practice at their NFL football training camp , Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, in Georgetown, Ky. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

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The Bengals are going to be without run-stuffing defensive tackle Domata Peko for several weeks. After originally spraining one knee back on October 18th, Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko played through the injury, before spraining the MCL on his other knee on November 22nd. Peko continued to play, but was eventually forced out of the team's Week 13 win over the Lions. Peko underwent arthroscopic surgery on his second injured knee on Monday, and will likely be out several weeks, according to Bengals.com.

SBN's Cincy Jungle highlights a report that the Bengals hope to have Peko back for their January 3rd regular-season finale against the Jets, which would give him time to get in some reps before the playoffs.

Losing Peko for an extended period of time would be a blow to a Bengals defense that has been dominating as of late. The surprising 9-3 Bengals have in large part reinvented themselves this year as a tough defensive and running team, en route to sweeping their AFC North games this season. They can clinch a playoff spot this week with either a win or a loss by both the Ravens and Steelers.

Packers Keep Playoff Hopes Alive With 27-14 Win; Ravens Not So Much

2009-12-08T01:14:30Z

by Jim Prisching - AP

2 days ago: Green Bay Packers' Jermichael Finley leaps into the crowd after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

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Aaron Rodgers threw for 263 yards and three scores, and Green Bay overcame an abundance of penalties to beat Baltimore, 27-14, at Lambeau Field.

For more on the Packers and Ravens, check out SB Nation blogs Acme Packing Company and Baltimore Beatdown.

(Sports Network) - A pair of playoff hopefuls from opposite conferences will cap off the Week 13 schedule at chilly Lambeau Field on Monday night, when the Green Bay Packers host the Baltimore Ravens in a game that will have playoff implications for both teams.

Neither the Packers nor the Ravens are likely to take home division crowns in 2009, though both clubs find themselves in the heart of the wild card race, and will either enhance or diminish that standing based on Monday night's result.

Green Bay, which effectively conceded the NFC North when it suffered a second loss to the division rival Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 1st, then looked to be on the ropes for the postseason following a loss to the hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following week, has boosted its status with an encouraging three-game winning streak.

The Packers will come into Monday's contest on 10 days rest, following a 34-12 beat-down of the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a sharp 28-of-39 passing for 348 yards and three touchdowns in the win, doing a healthy portion of his damage down the field to wide receiver Donald Driver (7 receptions, 142 yards, 1 TD), though it was the work of Charles Woodson and the Green Bay defense that truly stole the holiday show.

The Packers intercepted Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford four times, two of which went to Woodson, who sealed the game with a 38-yard INT return for a touchdown and also broke off a piece of NFL history.

Woodson became the first player in NFL history with two interceptions, an interception-return touchdown, one sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the same game, also helping Green Bay rise to the top of the NFL charts in total defense (281.5 yards per game), opponents' completion percentage (53.4), and turnover margin (+17). Woodson was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.

The Ravens also had a positive Week 12 result, helping to remove a major albatross from around their necks by defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers, 20-17, in overtime.

Baltimore had lost three times to Pittsburgh last season, including a 23-14 loss in the AFC Championship, and was nearly sent to another defeat by pesky Steelers third-string quarterback Dennis Dixon.

Trailing 17-14 following a Dixon touchdown run, Baltimore managed overtime thanks to a 44-yard Ray Rice catch-and-run on 4th-and-5 with fewer than four minutes to play, setting up a Billy Cundiff field goal. Cundiff, who would miss a 56-yard kick at the end of regulation, would ultimately hand Baltimore a 20-17 win six plays after Dixon made his only real mistake, an interception that was returned into Steelers territory by Ravens rookie linebacker Paul Kruger in overtime.

For what it may have lacked in style points, the win was an important one for a Baltimore team that had lost five of its previous seven games, including four defeats by six points or fewer.

Hines Ward Injures Hamstring; Questionable For Thursday

2009-12-07T18:03:31Z

by Gene J. Puskar - AP

4 days ago: Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward, right, scores in front of Oakland Raiders' Chris Johnson (27) after taking a pass from Steelers quarterback during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. The Raiders won 27-24. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Things aren't getting any easier for the Steelers. After a last-minute loss to the Oakland Raiders (and that despite head coach Mike Tomlin vowing to "unleash hell" in December), ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Pittsburgh might be without star wideout Hines Ward when they take the field on Thursday against the lowly Browns. According to Schefter, Ward injured his hamstring late in the game against the Raiders, and he will be questionable for the Browns game.

Pittsburgh has dropped four games in a row, to fall to 6-6, and out of the final AFC wildcard spot. With games against the Browns, Packers, Ravens, and Dolphins remaining, the Steelers have no margin of error if they wish to avoid being the first defending Super Bowl champion to miss the playoffs since...the Steelers in 2006.

Warner Throws 3 TDs As Cards Dominate Vikes, 30-17

2009-12-07T01:48:47Z

by Paul Connors - AP

3 days ago: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) throws as Minnesota Vikings center John Sullivan, right, pursues during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

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Kurt Warner threw for three touchdowns and the Cardinals picked off Brett Favre twice in a 30-17 victory over the Vikings to deal Minnesota its second loss of the season.

Warner did not play last week against the Titans in a 20-17 defeat. He left a Week 11 win over the Rams late in the second quarter after taking a blow to the head. Matt Leinart started versus Tennessee, but Warner returned Sunday night and connected on 22-of-32 passes for 285 yards as the Cardinals (8-4) grabbed a three-game lead on the 49ers and Seahawks in the NFC West. Arizona plays at San Francisco next Monday night with a chance to clinch the division title.

Larry Fitzgerald caught eight passes for 143 yards with a touchdown, while Anquan Boldin added seven receptions for 98 yards and a pair of scores for Arizona, which won for the fourth time in five games.

Favre completed 30-of-45 passes for 275 yards with two TDs for the Vikings (10-2), who had a four-game win streak broken but still hold a healthy lead over Green Bay (7-4) in the NFC North.

The Vikings' first loss came October 25 at Pittsburgh in a 27-17 final. That was the only other time Minnesota failed to score at least 27 points.

Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson, who came into the week third in the NFL in rushing with 1,084 yards, was limited to just 19 on 13 carries. Percy Harvin had six catches for 79 yards and a score.

Ahead by just four points, Arizona widened its lead in the final two minutes of the opening half. An offside penalty negated a Warner interception, and the Arizona QB proceeded to complete five straight passes to finish the 77-yard march. That included a 34-yarder for a score to Fitzgerald, who got behind safety Madieu Williams to make the catch in the end zone with 1:14 remaining for a 21-10 margin.

Karlos Dansby intercepted Favre to thwart Minnesota's first possession of the third quarter. That led to a Neil Rackers 31-yard field goal.

Favre was then picked off by Michael Adams, leading to three more points from Rackers as he drilled a 30-yard kick with 3:19 remaining in the third.

Vikings middle linebacker E.J. Henderson was carted off the field with 6:17 left in the game after he and teammate Jamarca Sanford collided while trying to make a tackle on a run by Tim Hightower. Arizona ended up getting a Rackers 29-yard field goal on that possession.

A 31-yard TD pass from Favre to Harvin with 1:20 left capped the scoring.

The Vikings grabbed a 7-0 lead just over five minutes into the game, as they were given a short field thanks to a turnover. On Arizona's second play, Hightower fumbled the ball and Tyrell Johnson recovered for the Vikings at the Arizona 47. Favre then capped a 10-play march with a three-yard TD pass to Visanthe Shiancoe. It was originally ruled incomplete in the left corner of the end zone, but the Vikings challenged the call and it was reversed as replay showed Shiancoe barely had both feet in bounds.

A 64-yard punt return by Steve Breaston set Arizona up at the Minnesota two later in the quarter, and Warner connected with Boldin on the ensuing play for a score.

The Cardinals grabbed a 14-7 lead midway through the second with another quick drive. It covered two plays and 58 yards as Breaston ran 19 yards to the Minnesota 39 before Boldin made a nifty catch on the left side of the field and sprinted to the end zone.

Ryan Longwell booted a 25-yard field goal with 1:55 left in the half to draw the Vikings closer, but the Cardinals then took control just before the intermission.

The Vikings play at home against AFC North-leading Cincinnati next Sunday...This was Minnesota's first road game since Favre's return to Green Bay on November 1...Hightower had six carries for 50 yards, while teammate Beanie Wells was limited to 28 yards on 13 rushes...Favre was sacked three times.

Via Sports Network

Giants 31, Cowboys 24: New York Keeps Playoff Hopes Realistic

2009-12-06T22:13:38Z

by Donna McWilliam - AP

2 months ago: New York Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas (24, left) and Dallas Cowboys guard Leonard Davis (70) look on as Cowboys running back Marion Barber (24, back to camera) scores a touchdown against Giants defensive tackle Fred Robbins (98) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

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If the Giants win, they will be able to calculate their playoff odds with a simple pocket calculator. If they lose, they will need to use a dozen supercomputers, a team of savants, and a complex network of ropes and pulleys.

22-21: Dolphins Edge Patriots Late To Pull Off AFC East Upset

2009-12-06T21:13:50Z

by Lynne Sladky - AP

4 days ago: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. (19) runs for yardage away from New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Wilhite 24) during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Miami, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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For further reading, take a look at our Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit, and our Dolphins blog, The Phinsider.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Dan Carpenter kicked a 41-yard field goal with 62 seconds remaining to give Miami the lead and Channing Crowder intercepted Tom Brady moments later, as the Dolphins tightened the AFC East race with a 22-21 victory over the New England Patriots at Land Shark Stadium.

Chad Henne threw for 335 yards with two touchdowns for the Dolphins (6-6), who rallied from a 14-0 first-half deficit and bounced back with a strong effort after last week's ugly loss in Buffalo.

Brady completed 19-of-29 passes for 352 yards with a pair of touchdowns and two interceptions for New England (7-5), which has lost two in a row and three of its last four. The Patriots were coming off a 38-17 loss at New Orleans on Monday night and now lead the division by just one game over Miami and the New York Jets.

- Via Sports Network.

27-24: Gradkowski, Raiders Slap Steelers With Their Fourth Straight Loss

2009-12-06T21:13:05Z

by Gene J. Puskar - AP

4 days ago: Oakland Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradowski (5) looks to pass in during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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For more, check out our Raiders blog, Silver and Black Pride, and our Steelers blog, Behind the Steel Curtain.

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Louis Murphy's second touchdown reception of the game, an 11-yard grab with nine seconds remaining, capped a frantic fourth quarter and lifted the Oakland Raiders to a stunning 27-24 victory over the slumping Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.

Bruce Gradkowski, who attended Seton-La Salle high school in Pittsburgh, completed 20-of-33 passes for a career-high 308 yards and finished with three touchdowns for the Raiders (4-8), who have won two of their last three games.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, back in the lineup after sitting out last week because of headaches caused by a concussion, threw for 278 yards on 18-of-24 efficiency with two touchdowns and one costly interception in the end zone.

Rashard Mendenhall had 103 yards and one score on 20 carries for Pittsburgh (6-6), which has lost four in a row and fell three games behind Cincinnati for first place in the AFC North Division.

- Via Sports Network.

Redskins Blow 10-Point Lead Late, Fall To Still-Unbeaten Saints In OT

2009-12-06T20:38:39Z

by Nick Wass - AP

Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn walks off the field after the 33 - 30 overtime defeat to the New Orleans Saints inthe NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Late in the fourth quarter, it looked as though the Redskins' ten-point lead would be good enough to hand the Saints their first loss of the season. Then the universe corrected itself.

For more on the wildest game of Week 13 thus far, check out our Saints blog, Canal Street Chronicles, and our Redskins blog, Hogs Haven.

Landover, MD (Sports Network) - Garrett Hartley's 18-yard field goal 6:29 into overtime gave New Orleans a 33-30 come-from-behind win over Washington, as the Saints remained undefeated and clinched the NFC South.

New Orleans (12-0) had already clinched the division before winning, as Atlanta was blown out by Philadelphia on Sunday, but a score late in regulation coupled with the overtime field goal enabled the team to remain unbeaten along with Indianapolis.

Drew Brees went 35-for-49 with 419 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, while Robert Meachem had eight catches for 142 yards and one touchdown. Meachem also scored on a fumble return.

Jason Campbell went 30-for-42 with a career-high 367 yards along with three touchdowns and one interceptions, while Devin Thomas had seven catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns for the Redskins (3-9), who blew a fourth-quarter lead for the third straight game to coincide with a three-game losing streak.

- Via Sports Network.

Texans' Matt Schaub Suffers Shoulder Injury, Returns To Game

2009-12-06T19:20:46Z

by Phil Coale - AP

4 days ago: Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub holds his wrist following a first-quarter play during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. Matt Schaub has left the game with a shoulder injury. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

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Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, who has thrown for over 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. left Sunday's game against the Jaguars after taking a hit to his shoulder. From KTVU-TV:

Schaub was sacked by Jaguars defensive end Derrick Harvey on the Texans' first play from scrimmage, and landed on his left side. Schaub grabbed at his left shoulder in pain while on the ground, and went to the locker room shortly thereafter. His return to the contest is questionable.

Now, don't get too excited...but this has led to the return of Rex Grossman. Hey! I told you not to get too excited!

Tom Brady Leaves For Locker Room After Hit To Arm, Returns For Next Series

2009-12-06T18:18:43Z

by Dave Martin - AP

9 days ago: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady sits on the sidelines during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has left Sunday's game against the Dolphins immediately after completing a touchdown pass to Randy Moss. Right after the touchdown, Brady headed to the locker room. We don't yet know for sure why he exited the game, but it's quite possible that it had something to do with his finger. From Pro Football Weekly:

There has been late word that Patriots QB Tom Brady's right ring finger might not be right.

Observers of his pregame warmups in Miami say Brady was smarting after several throws, appearing to look at his hand many times after them.

We'll have more details on Brady's status as they arise.

Week 13: In Which No Team Has A Bye

2009-12-06T17:28:58Z

by Dave Martin - AP

4 days ago: Philadelphia Eagles running back Leonard Weaver (43) is stopped after a short gain by Atlanta's Thomas Johnson (93) and Mike Peterson (53) in the first half of their NFL football game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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All 32 teams play in Week 13, and 20 of them kick off at 1:00. This is the sort of football overload your doctor warned you about. Jump in here and discuss Titans-Colts, Eagles-Falcons, and other games with like-minded fans.

The NFL has learned that fans like as much football as possible, and in accordance with this epiphany, they are employing the services of 20 teams to kick off at 1:00. Also, to meet demand, they have hastily expanded the league to include six more teams. Please welcome the Tulsa Suffragettes, the Topeka Mason Jars, the Nevada Buckets of Hay, the Portland Startup Ventures, the Roanoke Weather Occurrences, and the Savannah Existential Crises!

Unfortunately, these teams were all founded with feverish haste by commissioner Roger Goodell at approximately 3:30 this morning, so SB Nation has yet to find bloggers for them. However, we do have live game threads for the pre-existing teams that kick off this afternoon! Here are links to your 1:00 games.

Eagles (7-4) at Falcons (6-5) - FOX
Game thread at Bleeding Green Nation
Game thread at The Falcoholic
Live score

Rams (1-10) at Bears (4-7) - FOX
Game thread at Windy City Gridiron
Game thread at Turf Show Times
Live score

Lions (2-9) at Bengals (8-3) - FOX
Game thread at Cincy Jungle
Game thread at Pride Of Detroit
Live score

Titans (5-6) at Colts (11-0) - CBS
Game thread at Stampede Blue
Game thread at Music City Miracles
Live score

Broncos (7-4) at Chiefs (3-8) - CBS
Game thread at Mile High Report
Game thread at Arrowhead Pride
Live score

Patriots (7-4) at Dolphins (5-6) - CBS
Game thread at Pats Pulpit
Game thread at The Phinsider
Live score

Raiders (3-8) at Steelers (6-5) - CBS
Game thread at Behind The Steel Curtain
Game thread at Silver And Black Pride
Live score

Saints (11-0) at Redskins (3-8) - FOX
Game thread at Canal Street Chronicles
Game thread at Hogs Haven
Live score

Buccaneers (1-10) at Panthers (4-7) - FOX
Game thread at Cat Scratch Reader
Game thread at Buc 'Em
Live score

Texans (5-6) at Jaguars (6-5) - CBS
Game thread at Big Cat Country
Game thread at Battle Red Blog
Live score

Cedric Benson Expected To Start Vs. Lions

2009-12-06T16:57:27Z

by Ed Reinke - AP

28 days ago: FILE - In this Nov. 8, 2009, file photo, Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson runs against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati. The Steelers haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in their last 30 games, counting the postseason _ a span of nearly two years. They know they need to be as tough Sunday when they face the Bengals' Cedric Benson. At stake is sole possession of the AFC North lead. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke, File)

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Pro Football Talk reports that Bengals running back Cedric Benson has been listed as active.

Benson's hip injury seems to have healed; he was listed as probable and was a full participant in practice this week. Larry Johnson will back Benson up.

Johnson's 107 rushing yards seem to have bumped him up Cincinnati's depth chart ahead of Bernard Scott. It will be interesting to see whether the Bengals split carries between the two backs.

Mark Sanchez Out For Sunday; Kellen Clemens Will Start

2009-12-04T03:33:50Z

by Chris Young - AP

6 days ago: New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) walks off the field after an injury to his right knee during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)

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Mark Sanchez closed out the first half with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards to put the Jets on top 16-10.

However, early in the second half he left the game with a knee injury, courtesy of one those new-fangled slides we've been hearing so much about. Sanchez limped during the next play and left the field in a hurry to get checked out.

No word on whether or not he'll return. It's the second-straight game Sanchez has injured himself on a sliding play.