MINNESOTA (3-5) At CHICAGO (5-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
OPENING LINE – Vikings by 1 1/2
RECORD VS. SPREAD – Minnesota 2-5-1; Chicago 3-4-1
SERIES RECORD – Vikings lead 52-44-2
LAST MEETING – Bears beat Vikings 36-30 in OT, Dec. 28, 2009
LAST WEEK – Vikings beat Arizona 27-24 in OT; Bears beat Buffalo 22-19 in Toronto
VIKINGS OFFENSE – OVERALL (11), RUSH (9), PASS (16)
VIKINGS DEFENSE – OVERALL (5), RUSH (7), PASS (10)
BEARS OFFENSE – OVERALL (29), RUSH (27), PASS (21)
BEARS DEFENSE – OVERALL (8), RUSH (3), PASS (19)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Last time teams met, Bears’ Jay Cutler threw for 273 yards and four TDs, including winning 39-yarder to Devin Aromashodu. … Minnesota has dropped eight straight on road, including last season’s NFC championship game at New Orleans. Last road win was Nov. 1, 2009 at Green Bay. … Vikings have three straight games with more than 400 yards on offense. … Brett Favre threw for career-high 446 yards to rally Vikings from 14 points down in final 4 1/2 minutes against Arizona last week; Ryan Longwell kicked winning 35-yard field goal in OT. It was Favre’s first 400-yard game since Dec. 5, 1993, when he threw for 402 at Chicago as a Packer. And the 16 years, 337 days between 400-yard games was the longest gap in NFL history. … Percy Harvin set career-highs with nine catches for 126 yards last week. … Adrian Peterson racked up 144 total yards and two TDs for Vikings against Arizona. He needs 143 yards rushing to reach 1,000 for fourth consecutive season. … Longwell is 8 for 8 on field goals. … DE Jared Allen had 2 1/2 sacks last week and has 3 1/2 on year after finishing with at least 14 1/2 the past three seasons. … Chris Kluwe is averaging 42.2 net yards per punt, second in NFL. … Bears will wear throwback 1940s uniforms honoring “Monsters of the Midway” for the second time this season. … WR Johnny Knox has 27 receptions for 527 yards and is fifth in the league in receiving average at 19.5 per catch. The 527 yards match his total as a rookie last season, and he is on pace to become Bears’ first 1,000-yard receiver since Marty Booker in 2002. … Cutler leads league with 28 sacks, although he was sacked just once last week after going down 19 times in previous three games.
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TENNESSEE (5-3) At MIAMI (4-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
OPENING LINE – Titans by 2
RECORD VS. SPREAD – Tennessee 5-3; Miami 5-3
SERIES RECORD – Dolphins lead 17-15
LAST MEETING – Titans beat Dolphins 27-24 in OT, Dec. 20, 2009
LAST WEEK – Dolphins lost to Ravens 26-10; Titans had bye (lost to Chargers 33-25 in Week 8)
TITANS OFFENSE – OVERALL (24), RUSH (10), PASS (26)
TITANS DEFENSE – OVERALL (19), RUSH (14), PASS (23)
DOLPHINS OFFENSE – OVERALL (17), RUSH (16), PASS (14)
DOLPHINS DEFENSE – OVERALL (13), RUSH (16), PASS (13)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Stadium press box will be named for longtime Miami Herald columnist Edwin Pope, with ceremony before game. … Clarence Clemons and his band Temple of Soul will perform before game and at halftime in tribute to veterans. … Titans have won first game after bye each of past four seasons. … They lead NFL with average of 28.0 points per game. … Titans newcomer Randy Moss has 10 touchdowns in 10 games against Miami, but shut out playing for New England when he faced Dolphins and CB Vontae Davis on Oct. 5. … Tennessee’s differential of 9.3 points leads league. … Vince Young ranks second with quarterback rating of 103.1. … Titans rank second in league with 19 takeaways. … They have NFL’s stingiest red-zone defense (29 percent). … In three games against Tennessee, Chad Pennington has thrown for 814 yards with a QB rating of 105.0. … Dolphins are 0-3 at home and have lost five consecutive home games since last year. … Despite .500 record, Miami has been outscored by 32 points. … Miami offense has scored only 11 touchdowns, which ties for second-worst in NFL. … RB Ronnie Brown has played 13 consecutive games since most recent 100-yard game. … Miami’s wildcat has netted 30 yards in 20 snaps this season. … Dolphins 0 for 4 converting fourth downs; opponents are 7 for 13.
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DETROIT (2-6) At BUFFALO (0-8)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
OPENING LINE – Bills by 3
RECORD VS. SPREAD – Detroit 7-1; Buffalo 3-4-1
SERIES RECORD – Lions lead 4-3-1
LAST MEETING – Lions beat Bears 20-17, Oct. 15, 2006
LAST WEEK – Lions lost to Jets 23-20 in OT; Bills lost to Bears 22-19 in Toronto
LIONS OFFENSE – OVERALL (18), RUSH (30), PASS (8)
LIONS DEFENSE – OVERALL (25), RUSH (27), PASS (22)
BILLS OFFENSE – OVERALL (26), RUSH (18), PASS (6)
BILLS DEFENSE – OVERALL (26), RUSH (32), PASS (6)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Lions have lost 24 straight road games, one shy of breaking NFL record they set in 2003. Bills off to third-worst start in team history, and halfway to matching Lions 0-16 finish in 2008. … Teams also tied for league’s longest active playoff drought – dating to 1999 season. … Detroit’s last road win came in 16-7 victory at Chicago on Oct. 28, 2007. … Lions QB Matthew Stafford out after hurting right shoulder last weekend, leading to Shaun Hill making sixth start of season. … Rookie RB Jahvid Best leads NFL rookies with 701 yards from scrimmage (345 rushing, 356 receiving). … DT Ndamukong Suh leads NFL rookies with 6 1/2 sacks. … Lions WR Calvin Johnson played under Bills coach Chan Gailey at Georgia Tech from 2004-06. … Lions and Bills have met in final game of preseason in each of past nine years, with Detroit holding 6-3 edge, including 28-23 win on Sept. 2. … Bills owner Ralph Wilson once owned small share in Lions before helping establish American Football League and creating Buffalo franchise in 1960. … Through quirk in schedule, Bills playing first game at Ralph Wilson Stadium since 36-26 loss to Jacksonville Oct. 10. Buffalo followed with bye, two road games and annual “home” game at Toronto last weekend. … Off to worst start since going 0-11 to open 1984 season, Bills have lost each of past three by three points, including two in OT. … QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown TD in nine straight games, most in Buffalo since Drew Bledsoe had 10-game streak in 2002. … WR Steve Johnson had career-best 11 catches and 145 yards last week. … LB Shawne Merriman unlikely to make Bills debut after straining lower right leg in first practice Wednesday, a week after being claimed off waivers.
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HOUSTON (4-4) At JACKSONVILLE (4-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
OPENING LINE – Jaguars by 1
RECORD VS. SPREAD – Houston 2-5-1, Jacksonville 4-4
SERIES RECORD – Series tied 8-8
LAST MEETING – Jaguars beat Texans 23-18, Dec. 6, 2009
LAST WEEK – Texans lost to Chargers 29-23; Jaguars had bye (beat Cowboys 35-17 in Week 8)
TEXANS OFFENSE – OVERALL (5T), RUSH (6T), PASS (11T)
TEXANS DEFENSE – OVERALL (32), RUSH (11), PASS (32)
JAGUARS OFFENSE – OVERALL (23), RUSH (8), PASS (28)
JAGUARS DEFENSE – OVERALL (28), RUSH (22), PASS (28)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Only four of 16 games in series have been decided by three points or less. Average margin of victory is 11.3 points. … Texans have lost three of four after winning three of four to start season. … RB Arian Foster has scored in three straight games. He leads NFL with nine rushing touchdowns and needs one to join Domanick Williams as only backs in team history with double-digit TDs on ground. … WR Andre Johnson has 76 receptions against Jacksonville, his most against any opponent. … Texans sticking with rookie CB Kareem Jackson, a first-round draft pick who gave up two TD passes last week against San Diego and has struggled most of the season. … Jaguars looking for fourth straight home win against Texans. … QB David Garrard is 5-2 against Texans, with passer rating higher than 90 in five games. … RB Maurice Jones-Drew is as healthy as he’s been all year and looking for consecutive 100-yard games for first time in more than a year. … Jones-Drew has three rushing TDs in last 14 games. He has the same number of receiving TDs. … CB Rashean Mathis has an interception in his last two games against Houston. … PK Josh Scobee has made all 13 field-goal attempts this season. … DE Aaron Kampman has sacked 34 different QBs in his career, but not Matt Schaub.
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NEW YORK JETS (6-2) At CLEVELAND (3-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
OPENING LINE – Jets by 3 1/2
RECORD VS. SPREAD – New York 5-3-0; Cleveland 4-3-1
SERIES RECORD – Browns lead 12-7
LAST MEETING – Browns beat Jets 24-18, Dec. 9, 2007
LAST WEEK- Jets beat Lions 23-20; Browns beat New England 34-14
JETS OFFENSE – OVERALL (12), RUSH (4), PASS (20)
JETS DEFENSE – OVERALL (6), RUSH (4), PASS (18)
BROWNS OFFENSE – OVERALL (25), RUSH (13), PASS (25)
BROWNS DEFENSE – OVERALL (21) RUSH (15), PASS (25)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Story lines galore as Jets visit Browns, who are coming off stunning upsets over New Orleans and New England. … Browns coach Eric Mangini facing former team for first time since being fired by Jets after 2008 season. Mangini went 23-25 in New York, leading Jets to one playoff appearance (2006). … Mangini’s replacement, Rex Ryan, will match wits with his twin brother, Rob, the Browns’ defensive coordinator. … Rex Ryan leads Rob Ryan 3-0 in head-to-head matchups as NFL assistants. … The Ryans’ father, Buddy, whose “46” scheme revolutionized NFL defenses, will be on hand to watch his two sons. … Rex Ryan dressed as his brother Rob during news conference this week. … It will also be WR Braylon Edwards’ first visit since Browns traded him to Jets last season. Edwards spent past two weeks bad-mouthing Cleveland and its fans at every chance. … Jets selected QB Mark Sanchez with No. 5 overall pick in 2009 after making trade with Browns for three players and two draft picks. … Jets defense allowing 16.3 points per game – third best in league. … Browns RB Peyton Hillis rushed for career-high 184 yards last week against Patriots. … Browns rookie QB Colt McCoy expected to make fourth straight start. … Browns have won six straight games against AFC East opponents and are 8-1 vs. division since 2005. … Browns P Reggie Hodges leads league with 10 punts inside 10-yard line.
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CINCINNATI (2-6) At INDIANAPOLIS (5-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
OPENING LINE – Colts by 8
RECORD VS. SPREAD – Cincinnati 2-5-1; Indianapolis 5-2-1
SERIES RECORD – Colts lead 16-8
LAST MEETING – Colts beat Vikings 35-3, Dec. 7, 2008
LAST WEEK – Bengals lost to Steelers 27-21; Colts lost to Eagles 26-24
BENGALS OFFENSE – OVERALL (15), RUSH (22), PASS (6)
BENGALS DEFENSE – OVERALL (18), RUSH (23), PASS (17)
COLTS OFFENSE – OVERALL (3), RUSH (25), PASS (2)
COLTS DEFENSE – OVERALL (20), RUSH (29), PASS (7)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – I-74 rivalry is closest, geographically, of any two teams in AFC. Indy and Cincinnati are 110 miles apart. … Cincinnati ranks third in NFL in turnover differential (plus 44) since Marvin Lewis took over in 2003. Indianapolis (plus 78) is No. 1 in category over same span. … Bengals have lost five straight; they are 24-35-1 in domes. … Bengals CB Leon Hall tied for AFC lead with four interceptions. … Bengals WR Chad Ochocino (724) and Colts WR Reggie Wayne (736) rank 30th and 31st in league in career receptions. … Cincinnati 0-3 this season when Carson Palmer throws for 300 yards … Manning 6-0 against Bengals and has passer rating of 113.7 in those six games. … Colts haven’t lost in series since Nov. 9, 1997 – five months before they took Manning with No. 1 overall pick in draft. … Manning needs four more TD passes for 13th consecutive season of 12-plus TDs. He and Brett Favre share NFL record. … Indy has allowed league-low 10 sacks this season. Colts have been ranked No. 1 in fewest sacks allowed six times since 2000. … DE Dwight Freeney needs two more sacks to pass Hall of Famer John Randle for No. 8 all-time. Freeney has 84. Randle had 85 1/2. … Colts have 12 players on injured reserve and 13 other listed on injury report this week.
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CAROLINA (1-7) At TAMPA BAY (5-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
OPENING LINE – Buccaneers by 7 1/2
RECORD VS. SPREAD – Carolina 2-6; Tampa Bay 4-3-1
SERIES RECORD – Panthers lead 12-8
LAST MEETING – Buccaneers beat Panthers 20-7, Sept. 19, 2010
LAST WEEK – Saints beat Panthers 34-3; Falcons beat Buccaneers 27-21
PANTHERS OFFENSE – OVERALL (32), RUSH (26), PASS (32)
PANTHERS DEFENSE – OVERALL (11), RUSH (25), PASS (5)
BUCCANEERS OFFENSE – OVERALL (21), RUSH (19), PASS (19)
BUCCANEERS DEFENSE – OVERALL (24), RUSH (30), PASS (12)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – NFC South rivals split season series three of past five seasons. Bucs looking for first sweep since 2002, season division was formed and Tampa Bay won its only Super Bowl. … Carolina has won six of past nine meetings overall. … Rookie QB Jimmy Clausen will make his fourth start for Carolina. He replaced injured Matt Moore in first half last week against Saints and went 8 of 18 passing for 47 yards and one interception. … With RBs DeAngelo Williams (foot), Jonathan Stewart (concussion) and Tyrell Sutton (ankle) expected to remain sidelined, Panthers likely will turn to fourth-stringer Mike Goodson, a second-year pro who’s rushed for 50 yards on 16 carries. … In addition to averaging league-low 244.4 yards total offense, Panthers last in scoring at 11 points per game. … Carolina WR Steve Smith has six career 100-yard receiving games against Bucs. … S Charles Godfrey leads Carolina with four inteceptions, tied for fifth in NFL. … Tampa Bay second-year quarterback Josh Freeman makes 18th career start. He’s 8-9 and has won seven of past 11, including four with fourth-quarterback comebacks. … Bucs WR Mike Williams leads NFL rookies with 559 yards receiving and five TDs, including scoring receptions of 47 and 58 yards past two weeks. … Bucs CB Aqib Talib tied for second in league with five interceptions. … Tampa Bay has NFL-low six sacks. Four came during 20-7 win over Carolina in Week 2. Rookie DT Gerald McCoy, third pick in draft, still looking for first sack. … Bucs rookie RB LeGarrette Blount has averaged 79.3 yards rushing over past three games. Still, Cadillac Williams, averaging just 2.4 yards per carry, remains starter, primarily because Blount still learning to pass protect.
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KANSAS CITY (5-3) At DENVER (2-6)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS
OPENING LINE – Chiefs by 2 1/2
RECORD VS. SPREAD – Kansas City 5-3; Denver 2-6
SERIES RECORD – Chiefs lead 54-45
LAST MEETING – Chiefs beat Broncos 44-24, Jan. 3, 2010
LAST WEEK – Chiefs lost to Raiders 23-20; Broncos had bye (lost to 49ers 24-16 in Week 8)
CHIEFS OFFENSE – OVERALL (13), RUSH (1), PASS (30)
CHIEFS DEFENSE – OVERALL (15), RUSH (9), PASS (21)
BRONCOS OFFENSE – OVERALL (8), RUSH (32), PASS (3)
BRONCOS DEFENSE – OVERALL (23), RUSH (31), PASS (8)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Jamaal Charles has rushed for 719 yards, 467 more than Broncos leader rusher Knowshon Moreno. Both have two TDs. … Game features punting brothers, Kansas City’s Dustin Colquitt vs. Denver’s Britton Colquitt. Dustin averaging 43.9 yards a punt, Britton 44.4. … Chiefs QB Matt Cassel has eight TDs and one INT in last four games. … Chiefs lead league with rushing average of 179.6 yards a game. … In KC’s last game against Denver, Charles rushed for franchise record 259 yards and two TDs. … WR Dwayne Bowe needs one TD catch to set a career high with eight. … Tony Verran Tucker ranks second among rookie TEs with 344 yards receiving, behind Aaron Hernandez at 436. … LB Derrick Johnson returned two interceptions for scores in Chiefs’ last game at Denver. … LB Tamba Hali has eight sacks, a half sack shy of his career high. … Broncos 16-7 after bye. … Since 2000, Broncos are 8-2 against Chiefs at Invesco Field. … QB Kyle Orton, who has 2,510 yards passing so far, put up 431 on Chiefs last time teams met, second-highest total in career. He threw for 476 yards against Indianapolis in September. … Moreno has rushed for four TDs against Kansas City. … RB Correll Buckhalter averages nearly seven yards a carry vs. Kansas City with 137 yards on 20 career carries. … WR Brandon Lloyd has five 100-yard receiving games so far and leads league with 878 yards. He also leads NFL with 17 catches of 20 or more yards. In January, he had four receptions for 95 yards in only game against Kansas City. … WR Jabar Gaffney set career highs with 14 catches for 213 yards in Broncos’ last game against KC.
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DALLAS (1-7) At NEW YORK GIANTS (6-2)
Sunday, 4:15 p.m., FOX
OPENING LINE – Giants by 13 1/2
RECORD VS. SPREAD – Dallas 1-7; New York Giants 5-3
SERIES RECORD – Cowboys lead 55-40-2
LAST MEETING – Giants beat Cowboys 41-25, Oct. 25
LAST WEEK – Cowboys lost to Green Bay 45-7; Giants beat Seahawks 41-7
COWBOYS OFFENSE – OVERALL (10), RUSH (31), PASS (4)
COWBOYS DEFENSE – OVERALL (17), RUSH (24), PASS (14)
GIANTS OFFENSE – OVERALL (2), RUSH (3), PASS (7)
GIANTS DEFENSE – OVERALL (1), RUSH (2), PASS (2)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – After taking over from fired Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett makes Cowboys’ coaching debut against former team, the Giants, who are riding five-game winning streak. … Dallas looking to avoid first six-game losing streak since end of 2000, start of 2001. … Rookie WR-PR Dez Bryant has three touchdowns vs. Giants, including 93-yard punt return. … WR Miles Austin had 10 catches for 104 yards and TD in last meeting. …TE Jason Witten has 23 catches for 251 yards and TD in last two meetings. LB DeMarcus Ware has eight sacks, four forced fumbles and two recoveries in last seven vs. Giants. …CB Terence Newman had interception in last game and three in past four games with New York. …Giants have won four of last five vs. Dallas. … Eli Manning tied career-high with four TD passes in last meeting, including two to Hakeem Nicks. … RB Ahmad Bradshaw ran for 126 rush yards in last meeting. … RB Brandon Jacobs has five rushing TDs in last four games. … Nicks has at least 100 yards receiving in four of last five games, and shares league lead with nine receiving TDs. … In past three meetings with Dallas, WR Steve Smith has 25 catches for 345 yards and two TDs. … WR Mario Manningham had career-high 10 catches and 150 yards (1 TD) vs. Dallas. … LB Michael Boley broke Tony Romo’s left collarbone with hit in last game.
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ST. LOUIS (4-4) At SAN FRANCISCO (2-6)
Sunday, 4:15 p.m., FOX
OPENING LINE – 49ers by 5 1/2
RECORD VS. SPREAD – St. Louis 6-2; San Francisco 4-4
SERIES RECORD – Rams lead 60-59-2
LAST MEETING – 49ers beat Rams 28-6, Jan. 3, 2010
LAST WEEK – Rams had bye (beat Panthers 20-10 in Week 8); 49ers had bye (beat Broncos 24-16 in London in Week 8)
RAMS OFFENSE – OVERALL (27), RUSH (17), PASS (24)
RAMS DEFENSE – OVERALL (10), RUSH (8), PASS (16)
49ERS OFFENSE – OVERALL (22), RUSH (21), PASS (17T)
49ERS DEFENSE – OVERALL (16), RUSH (10), PASS (20)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – 49ers have won last four meetings since St. Louis’ 13-9 victory in 2007, outscoring Rams 115-38 during that stretch. San Francisco won 35-0 at home last season. … Niners’ 28-6 win at St. Louis to end last season snapped six-game road losing streak after San Francisco won 2009 season opener at Arizona – and kept Rams winless at home. 49ers scored three touchdowns in final 7 1/2 minutes and TE Vernon Davis tied Antonio Gates’ NFL record for TD receptions by tight end with 13th of the season. … This time around, Rams on top of division and consider themselves right in mix for division’s top spot – not that coach Steve Spagnuolo is letting players think much about being in first place. … 49ers have recorded 36 takeaways in last 15 home games, tied for third most in NFL for teams playing at home. … San Francisco RB Frank Gore needs 194 yards from scrimmage to move past RB Joe Perry (8,624) and into fourth place on 49ers all-time yards from scrimmage list. … San Francisco has won two of three following 0-5 start, including beating Broncos in London on Oct. 31. … St. Louis is contender right now in mediocre NFC West after San Francisco was popular pick to win division before season began. … Rams rookie QB Sam Bradford, among midseason front-runners for Offensive Rookie of Year, has thrown five touchdown passes with no interceptions over last three games. … Opposing quarterbacks have only thrown nine TDs against 49ers in San Francisco’s last 15 home games at Candlestick Park. … Rams WR Danario Alexander, rehabbing from fifth operation on left knee, ruled out for Sunday. … St. Louis 0-3 on road, losing two of those – at Oakland and at Tampa Bay – by combined three points. Sounds a lot like San Francisco with all of its narrow defeats.
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SEATTLE (4-4) at ARIZONA (3-5)
Sunday, 4:15 p.m., FOX
OPENING LINE – Cardinals by 3
RECORD VS. SPREAD – Seattle 4-4; Arizona 3-5
SERIES RECORD – Cardinals lead 13-10
LAST MEETING – Seahawks beat Cardinals 22-10, Oct. 24, 2010
LAST WEEK – Seahawks lost to Giants 41-7, Cardinals lost to Vikings 27-24 in OT
SEAHAWKS OFFENSE – OVERALL (30), RUSH (29), PASS (29)
SEAHAWKS DEFENSE – OVERALL (27), RUSH (19), PASS (30)
CARDINALS OFFENSE – OVERALL (31), RUSH (28), PASS (31)
CARDINALS DEFENSE – OVERALL (30), RUSH (28), PASS (27)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Seahawks have not won at Arizona since 2005, which also was last time Seattle swept Cardinals. … Seahawks have been outscored 74-10 (against Oakland and New York Giants) since beating Cardinals in Seattle three weeks ago. … Seahawks play on road on consecutive weekends for only time this season, at Arizona and at New Orleans. … In the last two games, first Matt Hasselbeck (against Oakland), then Charlie Whitehurst (against the Giants) were combined 25 of 55 for 273 yards and one TD with three interceptions. … Seattle has allowed 436 yards rushing past two games, 239 against Oakland, 197 against Giants. … Cardinals looking to avoid first four-game losing streak in coach Ken Whisenhunt’s 3 1/2 seasons. They last lost eight straight in 2006, Dennis Green’s last season as coach. … Arizona had won four in row against Seahawks before loss at Seattle Oct. 24. … Game features two of NFL’s top kickoff returners. Arizona’s LaRod Stephens-Howling returned one 96 yards for a TD last week at Minnesota, his second return for score this season. Seattle’s Leon Washington returned two for touchdowns in one game, Sept. 26 against San Diego. Brandon Tait of New England is only other player with two kickoff returns for TDs this season. … Cardinals lead NFL with eight returns for touchdowns – two kickoffs, two interceptions, four fumbles. Five of them have come at home. … WR Larry Fitzgerald had first 100-yard receiving game of season last Sunday at Minnesota.
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NEW ENGLAND (6-2) At PITTSBURGH (6-2)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
OPENING LINE – Steelers by 4
RECORD VS. SPREAD – New England 5-3; Pittsburgh 4-3-1
SERIES RECORD – Steelers lead 14-10
LAST MEETING – Steelers beat Patriots 33-10, Nov. 30, 2008
LAST WEEK – Patriots lost to Browns 34-14, Steelers beat Bengals 27-21
PATRIOTS OFFENSE – OVERALL (20), RUSH (15), PASS (17)
PATRIOTS DEFENSE – OVERALL (29), RUSH (21), PASS (29)
STEELERS OFFENSE – OVERALL (28), RUSH (12), PASS (27)
STEELERS DEFENSE – OVERALL (4), RUSH (1), PASS (24)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – New England has won six of eight against Pittsburgh, including AFC title games in Pittsburgh during 2001 and 2004 seasons. Steelers last beat Patriots at home in 2004 (34-20), ending New England’s 18-game regular-season winning streak. Patriots returned that season to win 41-27 in AFC title game. … New England won 23-20 at Heinz Field in 2005, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger’s first career regular-season loss, but Steelers went on to win Super Bowl. … Since 1994, Patriots lead NFL with 189 victories, Steelers second with 181. … Patriots QB Tom Brady is 5-1 against Steelers (143 of 212, 1,658 yards, 11 TDs, 3 INTs). Steelers’ only win vs. Patriots in four tries since 2004 came in 2008, when Matt Cassel was New England’s QB. … Brady averages 304.2 yards passing in six career games against Pittsburgh; Roethlisberger averages 200.8 yards in five career games against New England. … Roethlisberger has 63-27 career record, tying him with Jim McMahon for the third-best QB record after 90 starts since 1970. Brady was 67-23 in his first 90. … Patriots coach Bill Belichick 8-8 vs. Pittsburgh, including time with Browns. … Steelers plus-9 in turnovers, Patriots plus-5. … Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall averaged 94.3 yards rushing in first three home games. Patriots allowed Browns RB Peyton Hillis to run for 184 yards on 29 carries as Cleveland ended New England’s five-game winning streak. … Brady, with 239 TD passes, needs one more to move into 16th place in NFL history. He’s currently tied with Len Dawson. … Patriots RB Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis has six TD runs in six games. New England is 9-1 when Green-Ellis has a rushing TD. … Since 2001, Patriots are an NFL-leading 75-23 after Nov. 1. Since 2003, they are 24-2 following a loss. They have lost successive games only twice since 2003, during the 2006 and 2009 seasons. … Before losing to Browns, Patriots were 14-2 against AFC North during regular season. … After going 2-1 during a three-game road swing, Steelers play five of next seven at home. … Pittsburgh is 9-0 when Mike Wallace has a TD catch. … Steelers allow NFL-low 15.4 points and 58.3 yards rushing per game. … Steelers are 13-4 in prime-time games under coach Mike Tomlin.
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PHILADELPHIA (5-3) At WASHINGTON (4-4)
Monday, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
OPENING LINE – Eagles by 3
RECORD VS. SPREAD – Philadelphia 3-5; Washington 4-2-2
SERIES RECORD – Redskins lead 79-68-6
LAST MEETING – Redskins beat Eagles 17-12, Oct. 3, 2010
LAST WEEK – Eagles beat Colts 26-24; Redskins had bye (lost to Lions 37-25 in Week 8)
EAGLES OFFENSE – OVERALL (4), RUSH (5), PASS (10)
EAGLES DEFENSE – OVERALL (12), RUSH (12), PASS (15)
REDSKINS OFFENSE – OVERALL (19), RUSH (23), PASS (13)
REDSKINS DEFENSE – OVERALL (31), RUSH (18), PASS (31)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Eagles’ QB Michael Vick is league’s leading passer with 105.3 rating. Missed three games after suffering rib injury when tackled by Washington’s DeAngelo Hall and Kareem Moore in first quarter of Oct. 3 loss. … Vick was selected as NFC offensive player of week after accounting for 292 yards (218 passing, 74 rushing) and two TDs (one passing, one rushing) in win over Colts. … Vick hasn’t thrown an interception this season, while Hall leads NFL in picks with six. … Vick needs 25 yards rushing to pass Steve Young (4,239) for second-most by quarterback in NFL history. … Eagles’ LeSean McCoy tied for first among NFL RBs with 41 receptions. … WRs Jeremy Maclin (506) and DeSean Jackson (504) have Eagles on pace to have two receivers top 1,000 yards for first time in franchise history. … Game matches top two NFC teams in turnover differential. Eagles plus-9; Redskins plus-8. … Redskins looking to improve to 3-0 in NFC East games after going 0-6 last year. … Donovan McNabb, who spent 11 seasons with Eagles, faces old team for second time. Completed only 8 of 19 passes for 125 yards in first meeting, a 17-12 Redskins win. … McNabb remains starter despite being benched late in Redskins’ loss to Lions. … McNabb has been sacked 22 times, tied for second most in NFL. … Washington LB Brian Orakpo has five sacks in his last four games.
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