STEELERS NOTES

Rush offense ranks 2nd in AFC & 3rd in NFL (139.4 yards-per-game)...QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER has 12-2 (.857) record vs. NFC & has completed 192 of 308 passes (62.3 pct.) for 2,715 yards with 19 TDs vs. 8 INTs & 100.5 passer rating. Team is 22-2 (.916), when Roethlisberger has 100+ passer rating…RB WILLIE PARKER is averaging 112 rush yards-per-game in past 2 & aims for 3rd consecutive 100-yard rush game. Team is 18-3 (.857) when Parker has 100+ yards…In only career meeting vs. Rams (10/26/03), WR HINES WARD recorded 5 receptions for 90 yards (18.0 avg.) with 2 TDs…TE HEATH MILLER has career-high 7 TD receptions in ’07…Team ranks 1st in NFL in total defense (258 yards-per-game)…Defense ranks 3rd in AFC with 33 sacks…Since ’04, team is 22-7 (.759) when defense records 3+ sacks…

RAMS NOTES

Have never lost at home to Steelers (11-0-1)…QB MARC BULGER was born in Pittsburgh & attended Central Catholic HS. Won only start vs. Pit., passing for 375 yards with 1 TD & 0 INTs for 102.9 passer rating. Rams are 19-11 (.633) when Bulger has 95+ rating…In past 9 vs. AFC, RB STEVEN JACKSON has 1,231 scrimmage yards (136.8 per game) & 8 TDs. Has 927 rush yards (103 per game) & 7 rush TDs in those 9. In career, when Jackson has 23+ carries, Rams are 11-3 (.786). In those 14, has rushed for 1,696 yards (121.1 per game) & 11 TDs…WR TORRY HOLT had 7 catches for 174 yards (24.9 avg.) & 1 TD (36 yards) in only meeting vs. Pit. Has recorded 160+ rec. yards in game 10 times in career & Rams are 7-3 (.700) in those contests. Has 14 catches for 200 yards (100 per game) in past 2 vs. AFC. WR ISAAC BRUCE has 10 catches for 181 yards (90.5 per game) in 2 career meetings…S OSHIOMOGHO ATOGWE has INT in 5 of past 6 (6 INTs). Ties for NFC lead with 7 INTs. LB WILL WITHERSPOON has 6 sacks in past 7. Has 1+ sack in 5 of past 7. CB FAKHIR BROWN has INT in 2 of past 3, incl. 36-yard INT-TD.

COWBOYS NOTES

Lead NFC in points scored (429) & total offense (378.5 yards per game). QB TONY ROMO has passed for franchise-record 35 TDs this season. Team is 13-2 (.867) when Romo has 100+ rating…RB MARION BARBER has scored TD in 18 of past 29 (27 TDs). Had 2 TDs in last meeting. RB JULIUS JONES has rushed for 286 yards (143 per game) & 3 TDs in 2 career meetings…WR TERRELL OWENS leads NFC with 14 rec. TDs & needs 1 to pass FRANK CLARKE (1962) for team record. Has caught 26 TDs in past 26. In past 6 vs. Car., Owens has 640 yards (106.7 per game) & 4 TDs. JASON WITTEN leads NFC TEs in catches (88) & yards (1,068) & ties for 1st with 7 TDs. Needs 12 catches to become 2nd TE in NFL history with 100…LB DE MARCUS WARE has 26.5 sacks in past 32. Had 3 sacks & 3 FFs in 12/24/05 meeting. LB GREG ELLIS has 11.5 sacks in 11 games. Had 2 sacks & FF in last meeting. CB TERENCE NEWMAN has INT in 3 of past 5, incl. 50-yard TD…

PANTHERS NOTES

QB MATT MOORE won 1st career NFL start last week, passing for 208 yards & posting 92.8 rating. Spent preseason with Dal. & had 100.1 rating. QB VINNY TESTAVERDE spent 2004 season with Dal. & passed for 3,532 yards…Incl. playoffs, Panthers are 16-1 (.941) when RB DE SHAUN FOSTER has 70+ rush yards. Leads team with 821 rush yards & aims for 3rd 1,000-yard rush season in team history. Had TD in last meeting. RB DE ANGELO WILLIAMS had 35-yard TD run last week…WR STEVE SMITH had 24-yard rush TD in last meeting. WR DREW CARTER has 9 career TDs (incl. playoffs) & 4 have been 30+ yards. JEFF KING is 6th among NFC TEs with career-best 45 catches… DE JULIUS PEPPERS (56.5) & DE MIKE RUCKER (55) are top 2 in sacks in team annals. Peppers has 7 sacks in 4 meetings, incl. 2 3-sack games. Panthers are 12-3 (.800) when S CHRIS GAMBLE has INT. Had INT in last meeting. LB THOMAS DAVIS has sack in 2 of past 3.

GIANTS NOTES

QB ELI MANNING has 2,974 passing yards & 19 TDs this year & can join PHIL SIMMS as only NYG QBs with 3,000+ yards & 20+ TDs in 3 seasons in row. Has won 6 of past 9 starts vs. AFC…Rush offense is 2nd in NFC (127.1 yards per game). RB BRANDON JACOBS rushed for 130 yards last week. Has 709 scrimmage yards (118.2 per game) in past 6. Aims for 3rd in row vs. AFC with 100+ rush yards…WR PLAXICO BURRESS has TD catch in 19 of past 30 (21 TDs). Has TD catch in 5 of past 6 vs. AFC. Rookie TE KEVIN BOSS had 1st career TD catch (19 yards) last week. WR AMANI TOOMER had 3 catches for 110 yards (36.7 avg.) & 1 TD (77 yards) in last meeting …DE OSI UMENYIORA ties for 4th in NFL with 12 sacks. Has 3 sacks in past 4 vs. AFC. DE MICHAEL STRAHAN has 2.5 sacks in 3 career meetings & aims for 4th in row vs. Buf. with 0.5+ sack. DE JUSTIN TUCK had sack last week & has career-high 10 sacks. Had 1 sack entering 2007. CB SAM MADISON had INT in last game vs. Buf. (12/4/05 with Mia.)…

BILLS NOTES

Rookie QB TRENT EDWARDS has 3-1 (.750) record as starter at home & has completed 67 of 103 passes (65.0 pct.) for 728 yards with 5 TDs & 3 INTs for 89.8 passer rating. Edwards (1,336 pass yards) & rookie RB MARSHAWN LYNCH (940 rush yards) are 1st rookie QB-RB tandem since Detroit’s RODNEY PEETE (1,479 pass yards) & BARRY SANDERS (1,470 rush yards) in ’89 to gain 900 rush yards & 1,200 passing yards in season. Lynch leads AFC rookies with 940 yards & 6 TDs. RB FRED JACKSON is averaging 71 rush yards-per-game in past 3…WR LEE EVANS leads team with 51 rec. for 804 yards (15.8 avg.)…DE AARON SCHOBEL aims for 4th straight game with sack…Club is 11-1 (.916), when CB TERRENCE MC GEE has INT…WR-PR ROSCOE PARRISH leads NFL with 17.5 PR avg. (22 PR, 386 yards).

PACKERS NOTES

Have won 16 of past 18…QB BRETT FAVRE became NFL’s all-time leading passer last week (61,405 yards). Has 22 wins vs. Chi., tied for his most vs. opponent. Has 9 games with 100+ rating this year & team is 9-0. In career (incl. playoffs), GB is 90-8 (.918) when Favre has 100+ rating…RB RYAN GRANT has 884 scrimmage yards (110.5 per game) in past 8. Aims for 5th in row with rush TD…WR DONALD DRIVER has reception in 94 consecutive games, 2nd-longest streak in team history (STERLING SHARPE, 103). Had TD catch in last game at Chi. WR GREG JENNINGS has TD catch in 10 of past 12 (12 TDs). Had 41-yard TD in last meeting…DE AARON KAMPMAN has 27.5 sacks in past 30. DE KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA has 11 sacks in past 11 vs. Bears. Has 5 sacks in past 6. LB NICK BARNETT had 1.5 sacks in last meeting. Had 2 sacks last week. S NICK COLLINS had career-high 2 INTs & scored only career TD (55-yard INT-TD) in last game at Chi. CB CHARLES WOODSON has 3 INTs in past 4 vs. Chi. DT COREY WILLIAMS aims for 3rd in row at Chi. with sack. LB A.J. HAWK had INT in last meeting at Chi...

BEARS NOTES

QB KYLE ORTON won only start vs. GB (12/4/05). Is 10-6 (.625) in career as starter…RB ADRIAN PETERSON has 356 scrimmage yards in past 4 (89 yards per game)…WR BERNARD BERRIAN averages 32.3 yards per TD catch (387 yards) & 8 of his 12 career TDs are 30+ yards. WR-PR-KR DEVIN HESTER has 12 career TDs (6 PR, 4 KR, 1 missed FG, 1 rec.) & averages 84.4 yards per TD (1,013 yards), highest avg. in NFL history (min. 10 TDs). WR MARK BRADLEY had career-long 75-yard TD in last home game vs. GB. TEs DESMOND CLARK (34 yards) & rookie GREG OLSEN (19) each had TD catch in last meeting…DE MARK ANDERSON has 17 sacks in 1st 30 games of career. DE ADEWALE OGUNLEYE has 6 sacks in past 7. Has 5 FFs in past 6. CB CHARLES TILLMAN has 3 INTs, 3 FFs & 1 FR in his past 4 vs. GB & Bears are 4-0. LB BRIAN URLACHER had INT in last meeting. Had 2 sacks last week.

BROWNS NOTES

Club is 5-0 under ROMEO CRENNEL when scoring 30 or more points…In only start vs. Cin. (9/16/07), QB DEREK ANDERSON completed 20 of 33 passes (60.6 pct.) for 328 yards with 5 TDs vs. INT & 121.0 passer rating. Team is 4-0 this season when Anderson has 100+ passer rating…In 12 career games vs. Cin., RB JAMAL LEWIS averages 121.5 rush yards-per-game (1,459 yards, 263 att.) with 10 TDs, incl. season-best 216 yards in last meeting. Lewis’ teams are 21-3 (.875) when he has 25+ carries. Lewis is averaging 114.6 rush yards-per-game in past 3 vs. AFC…WR BRAYLON EDWARDS has 13 TDs in ’07 & needs TD catch to set Browns’ single-season record (GARY COLLINS, 13 in 1963). Edwards had 8 receptions for 146 yards (18.3 avg.) & 2 TD receptions in last meeting vs. Bengals…TE KELLEN WINSLOW (971) needs 29 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for 1st time in career. Winslow & Edwards can become 1st Browns duo to reach 1,000 each in season…CB LEIGH BODDEN has 3 INTs vs. Cin. (most vs. any opponent)…KR-PR JOSHUA CRIBBS leads NFL with 30.9 KR avg…

BENGALS NOTES

Club aims for 4th consecutive win vs. Browns at home…Team is 12-2 (.857) when QB CARSON PALMER has 3+ TD passes…In 7 career games vs. Cle., Palmer has 5-2 (.714) record & has completed 163 of 248 passes (65.7 pct.) for 1,800 yards with 19 TDs vs. 11 INTs & 94.2 passer rating…Team is 15-4 (.789) when RB RUDI JOHNSON has 100+ rushing yards. Johnson has 100+ rush yards in 5 of past 6 vs. Cle. while averaging 137.3 rush yards-per-game…WR T.J. HOUSHMANDZADEH leads league with 101 catches. Houshmandzadeh has 4 TD receptions in past 3 games vs. Browns. WR CHAD JOHNSON ranks 3rd in AFC & 4th in NFL with 1,265 rec. yards. Johnson averages 166 receiving yards-per-game in past 2 vs. Cle., including 209 yards in last meeting. WR CHRIS HENRY has 2 TDs in 3 career games vs. Cle…Since ’03, team is 21-5 (.807) when defense has 2+ INTs…1st-round pick CB LEON HALL (No. 18) is tied for 1st among NFL rookies with 4 INTs.

CHIEFS NOTES

Club aims for 5th consecutive win vs. Lions…In 4 career starts, QB BRODIE CROYLE has completed 71 of 122 passes (58.2 pct.) for 663 yards with 4 TDs vs. 4 INTs & 70.5 passer rating. Croyle posted career-high 2 TD passes last week…In 4 career starts, rookie RB KOLBY SMITH has 327 rush yards (3.9 avg.) on 83 att. with 2 TDs. Smith has 80+ rush yards in 3 of 4 starts in ’07…TE TONY GONZALEZ extended rec. streak to 113 games last week – streak is 2nd in NFL history among TEs (OZZIE NEWSOME, 150). In 2 career meetings vs. Lions, Gonzalez averages 82.5 receiving yards-per-game…Rookie WR DWAYNE BOWE leads all rookies in yards (885) & receptions (61), both franchise rookie records. Bowe has 20-yard reception in each of past 4 games. WR EDDIE KENNISON led team with season-best 6 receptions last week…Since 1995, CB TY LAW leads all NFL CBs with 52 INTs. DE JARED ALLEN is tied for 2nd in AFC with 11.5 sacks. Allen has 4.5 sacks in past 3 games vs. NFC. DE TAMBI HALI has 0.5 or more sacks in 4 of past 5…

LIONS NOTES

Head coach ROD MARINELLI & KC head coach Herm Edwards were both assistants together on TB staff from 1996-2000…QB JON KITNA has 9 TDs in 5 career starts vs. KC. Has 2 TD passes in 4 of those 5 contests…RB KEVIN JONES has rushed for TD in 7 of 12 games this year (8 TDs). Jones has 542 scrimmage yards (108.4 per game) in past 5 vs. AFC… WR CALVIN JOHNSON ranks 2nd among NFC rookies with 42 catches & 665 yards. Had 1st career 100-yard game last week (102 yards). WR MIKE FURREY has TD reception in 3 of past 6 games vs. AFC. Had team-high 7 catches (80 yards) last week. WR SHAUN MC DONALD has career-highs in catches (72), yards (848) & TDs (5). WR BRANDON MIDDLETON had 1st career TD catch last week…Club leads NFC with 33 takeaways & ties for lead with 17 FR. DT CORY REDDING has 3 sacks in past 7 vs. AFC. DE KALIMBA EDWARDS has 3 sacks & 3 FFs in past 5 vs. AFC. DE DWAYNE WHITE had sack in only game vs. KC (11/7/04 with TB).

TEXANS NOTES

Club aims for most wins in season in franchise history (8)…QB SAGE ROSENFELS is 3-0 as starter in ’07 & has completed 54 of 82 passes (65.9 pct.) for 590 yards with 5 TDs vs. 2 INTs & 97.1 passer rating…Texans are 4-1 (.800), when RB RON DAYNE has 20+ carries. Dayne averages 78.6 rush yards-per-game vs. Colts…WR ANDRE JOHNSON has 80+ receiving yards in 6 of past 7 & averages 100.4 yards-per-game in ’07…TE OWEN DANIELS leads team with 739 receiving yards & ranks 2nd on team with 60 rec., both franchise-highs for TE…Rookie DT AMOBI OKOYE (No. 10) leads AFC rookies with 5.5 sacks. DE MARIO WILLIAMS has 9 sacks in past 5, incl. career-high 3.5 last week & aims for 6th consecutive game with sack. Williams leads AFC & ranks 2nd in the NFL with 13 sacks…WR-KR ANDRÉ DAVIS has 50+ yard KR in each of past 2 games…K KRIS BROWN has converted all 5 50+ yard FG attempts in ’07…

COLTS NOTES

Club has clinched AFC South for 5th consecutive season & aims for 5th win in row vs. division.…Team is 17-8 (.680) under TONY DUNGY (2002-present) in Dec…QB PEYTON MANNING has 10-1 (.909) career record vs. Hou. & has completed 242 of 340 passes (71.2 pct.) for 2,981 yards with 26 passing TDs vs. 4 INTs & 118.5 passer rating. Colts are 10-2 (.833) when RB JOSEPH ADDAI has 20+ carries. Addai averages 84.6 rush yards-per-game vs. Hou…WR REGGIE WAYNE is averaging 110.7 receiving yards-per-game vs. division this season. Wayne (1,280 rec. yards – 2nd in AFC) needs 30 to equal career-high of 1,310 receiving yards last season. Rookie WR ANTHONY GONZALEZ averages team-high 15.8 yards-per-catch (554 yards, 35 rec.)…Colts are 17-3 (.850) when TE DALLAS CLARK scores TD. As starter, Clark has 5 TDs in 5 games vs. Hou (tied with Jax. for most vs. any opponent)…Defense ranks 2nd in NFL, allowing 272.9 yards-per-game…Colts have recorded 10 INTs in past 7 games…Team is 26-4 (.866) when DT ROBERT MATHIS registers sack.

RAIDERS NOTES

Team’s 132.4 rushing yards-per-game rank 4th in AFC…In past 3 starts, QB JOSH MC COWN has completed 34 of 60 passes (56.7 pct.) for 345 yards with 5 TDs vs. 2 INTs & 87.2 passer rating. Rookie QB JA MARCUS RUSSELL (No. 1) has completed 6 of 12 passes for 66 yards in 2 games in ’07...As starter in ’07, RB LA MONT JORDAN averages 4.1 yards-per-carry (511 rush yards, 125 att.). RB DOMINIC RHODES’ teams are 4-2 (.667) against Jaguars…WR RONALD CURRY leads Raiders with 52 rec. for 682 receiving yards…WR JERRY PORTER leads team with 5 TD receptions & has TD reception in 2 of past 3 games. Rookie TE ZACH MILLER ranks 2nd in NFL in receptions (33) & yards (333) among rookie TEs…LB THOMAS HOWARD posted his 6th INT last week & is tied for 2nd in AFC. DT WARREN SAPP (96.5) needs 3.5 sacks to become 2nd DT to record 100 career sacks (JOHN RANDLE, 137.5)…P SHANE LECHLER leads NFL with 49.0 avg…

JAGUARS NOTES

Team has won 10 of past 13…Club ranks 1st in AFC & 2nd in NFL in rushing (149.6 yards per game) & has 100+ rushing yards in 23 of past 25 games…In ’07, QB DAVID GARRARD has 8-3 record (.727) as starter & has completed 197 of 307 (64.2 pct.) for 2,310 yards with 16 TDs vs. 2 INTs & 101.6 passer rating…RB FRED TAYLOR aims for 5th consecutive 100-yard rushing game & is averaging 121.7 rush yards-per-game in past 4 (487 yards, 71 att.). Taylor averages 5.1 yards-per-carry in December (most in any month). Taylor aims for 3rd consecutive 100-yard rush game at home & is averaging 118 rush yards in past 2 home games. RB MAURICE JONES-DREW is averaging 4.6 yards-per-carry in ’07. Jones-Drew has 25 TDs in past 28 games…WR DENNIS NORTHCUTT leads team with 43 receptions for 583 yards. Team is 7-1 (.875) this season when WR REGGIE WILLIAMS has TD. Williams has 4 TDs in past 5 games & leads team with career-high 8 in ’07…Defense has 8 INTs in past 6 games…In only career meeting vs. Raiders, CB RASHEAN MATHIS had INT…Rookie S REGGIE NELSON has 4 INTs & is tied for 1st in NFL among rookie DBs. DE BRENT HAWKINS registered career-high 2 sacks last week.

EAGLES NOTES

In 3 career starts vs. NO, QB DONOVAN MC NABB has completed 55 of 89 passes (61.8 pct.) for 728 yards with 5 TDs vs. 1 INT for 101.7 passer rating. Incl. playoffs, when McNabb has 100+ rating, Eagles are 35-1 (.972)…RB BRIAN WESTBROOK leads NFL with 1,896 scrimmage yards (1,191 rush, 705 rec.) & 94 1st downs. Leads NFL RBs with 83 receptions. In playoff, Westbrook rushed for 116 yards & 2 TDs. WR REGGIE BROWN has 15 career rec. TDs with avg. length of 24.7 yards (370 yards). In last meeting, Brown had 6 catches for 121 yards with 1 TD (60 yards) & added 15-yard TD run. WR KEVIN CURTIS has 970 yards & needs 30 for 1st career 1,000-yard season. Westbrook (83 catches, 705 yards), Curtis (64, 970) & Brown (50, 624) are 1st trio in team history with 50+ catches & 600+ yards. TE L.J. SMITH had TD in last meeting…Eagles had 3 INTs last week – S BRIAN DAWKINS, S QUINTIN MIKELL & CB LITO SHEPPARD. Sheppard had INT in last meeting. DE TRENT COLE has 3 sacks in past 2 & has 11 sacks in past 12. K DAVID AKERS became franchise’s all-time leading scorer last week (884 points)…

SAINTS NOTES

QB DREW BREES has posted 95+ passer rating in past 2 vs. Phi., incl. playoff. When Brees has 95+ rating in starts, his teams are 28-7 (.800). Has 11 TD passes in past 5 at home & aims for 6th home game in row with 2+ TDs…RB AARON STECKER has 195 rush yards (97.5 per game) & 2 TDs in past 2…WR MARQUES COLSTON has 61 catches for 829 yards (103.6 per game) & 7 TDs in past 8. WR DEVERY HENDERSON has 11 career rec. TDs (398 yards) & averages 36.2 yards per TD catch. ERIC JOHNSON ranks 7th among NFC TEs with 44 catches. In last game vs. Phi. (9/24/06 with SF), Johnson had 7 catches for 87 yards & 1 TD…S ROMAN HARPER has INT in 3 of past 4, incl. 31-yard INT-TD. DE WILL SMITH has 12.5 sacks in past 21. DE CHARLES GRANT aims for 3rd in row vs. Phi. with sack. LB SCOTT FUJITA had 2 sacks & FF last week. Had INT & 0.5 sack in last meeting. DT HOLLIS THOMAS was Eagle from 1996-2005. Had sack in last meeting vs. former club.

FALCONS NOTES

Have won past 4 in series…QB CHRIS REDMAN has 2+ TD passes in 2 of past 3 games…RB WARRICK DUNN has 10,096 yards in career & is 1 of only 3 RBs in NFL history listed 5-9 or under to rush for 10,000 yards (EMMITT SMITH, BARRY SANDERS). Dunn has faced Arz. 3 times in career & his teams are 3-0. RB JERIOUS NORWOOD had 1st 100-yard game (106) & rushed for 1st TD (78) in last meeting. Has 3 career rush TDs & averages 71.3 yards per TD run…WR RODDY WHITE has career-high 999 yards & needs 1 for 1st 1,000-yard season of career. Falcons are 9-1 (.900) when TE ALGE CRUMPLER has 80+ yards…CB DE ANGELO HALL had 37-yard INT-TD in last meeting. Has 388 INT yards (15 INTs, 25.9 avg.) since 2005, most in NFL. DE JOHN ABRAHAM has 8 sacks in past 13. LB MICHAEL BOLEY had sack, INT & FF in only meeting. LB KEITH BROOKING has faced Arz. 4 times in career & his teams are 4-0. Has INT, FF & 0.5 sack in those 4…

CARDINALS NOTES

QB KURT WARNER is 6-1 (.857) in career vs. Atl., completing 119 of 177 (67.2 pct.) for 1,785 yards with 18 TDs vs. 6 INTs for 119.9 passer rating. Incl. playoffs, Warner has posted 100+ rating 32 times in career starts (min. 10 att.) & his teams are 29-4 (.879). Aims for 7th in row with 2+ TD passes…RB EDGERRIN JAMES has rushed for 708 yards (88.5 per game) in past 8 Dec. games, incl. 4 100-yard games. Has 204 scrimmage yards (102 per game) in 2 career meetings…WR ANQUAN BOLDIN has 20 100-yard rec. games in career. WR LARRY FITZGERALD has TD catch in 8 of past 9 Dec. games & has 12 TDs in past 13 games in month. WR BRYANT JOHNSON has 9 career TD catches & 4 have been 25+ yards (56, 54, 40 & 28). TEs TROY BIENEMANN & BEN PATRICK each had TD last week…CBs ROD HOOD & ANTREL ROLLE tie for NFL lead with 2 INT-TDs. LB KARLOS DANSBY has 3 INTs, 3 FFs & 1 sack in past 6. DARNELL DOCKETT leads DTs with 8 sacks. DE ANTONIO SMITH had sack in last meeting. LB GERALD HAYES had sack last week & has career-high 4 sacks.

BUCCANEERS NOTES

Clinched NFC South with victory last week. QB JEFF GARCIA spent 5 seasons with 49ers (1999-2003) & was selected to 3 Pro Bowls. Faces former team for 1st time. Has won 4 starts in row. When Garcia has 95+ rating, his teams are 31-11 (.738)…RB EARNEST GRAHAM has rush TD in team-record 6 consecutive games. In past 8, Graham has 962 scrimmage yards (120.3 per game) & 7 TDs…WR JOEY GALLOWAY has 6 TDs this season (301 yards) & averages 50.2 yards per TD. Had 8 catches for 149 yards (18.6 avg.) & 1 TD (78 yards) in last meeting. Has 3 100-yard games in 5 career meetings & has 4 TDs vs. SF. WR-KR MICHAEL SPURLOCK had 90-yard KR-TD last week, 1st KR-TD in franchise history. WR IKE HILLIARD leads club with 59 receptions (672 yards). Had 6 catches for 141 yards (23.5 avg.) in 11/30/98 meeting (with NYG)…CB RONDE BARBER (12) & LB DERRICK BROOKS (8) are franchise leaders in TDs by defensive player (incl. playoffs). Barber had 29-yard INT-TD last week. DE GAINES ADAMS leads NFL rookies with 6 sacks. In past 5, DE GREG WHITE has 5.5 sacks & 7 FFs. Has 1+ FF in 4 of past 5…

49ERS NOTES

Have won 14 of 17 in series. Have won 7 in row at home vs. TB. QB SHAUN HILL made 1st career start last week & completed 21 of 28 passes (75 percent) for 197 yards with 1 TD vs. 0 INTs for 105.8 passer rating. Added rush TD. RB FRANK GORE rushed for season-high 138 yards last week. Has 919 rush yards & can become 5th player in team history with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons – had team-record 1,695 yards last year. In past 7 Dec. games, Gore has 992 scrimmage yards (141.7 per game) & 3 TDs…WR ARNAZ BATTLE has reception in 34 consecutive games. WR DARRELL JACKSON led team with 8 catches for 86 yards last week. TE VERNON DAVIS had TD last week. Has 6 career TDs & averages 19.5 yards per TD (117 yards)…DE BRYANT YOUNG leads team with 6.5 sacks. Team is 38-20 (.655) when Young has 1+ sacks. Had 2 sacks in last meeting. Rookie LB PATRICK WILLIS leads team in tackles…In last meeting, K JOE NEDNEY had 5 FGs. P ANDY LEE leads NFL with 42.4 net avg. & has placed 35 punts inside 20.

DOLPHINS NOTES

In ’07 as starter, QB CLEO LEMON has completed 104 of 178 passes (58.4 pct.) for 1,087 yards with 4 TDs vs. 3 INTs & 76.7 passer rating. Lemon posted season-best 315 passing yards last week. Lemon has 4 rush TDs & needs 1 to set single-season franchise record for rush TDs by QB…RB SAMKON GADO aims for 3rd consecutive game with 1 or more TDs. In 5 starts this season, RB JESSE CHATMAN is averaging 63.6 rushing yards-per-game (318 yards, 87 att.). WR GREG CAMARILLO had career-high 3 receptions for 109 yards (36.3 avg.) last week, incl. 64-yard game winning TD reception. Rookie WR TED GINN JR. (No. 9) is averaging 14.8 yards-per-catch (340 yards, 23 rec.)…Dating back to ’05, team has recorded sack in 33 of past 36 games…For career, DE JASON TAYLOR has 11 sacks & 3 INTS vs. NE. Taylor has 10 sacks this season & has reached double-digit mark for 3rd consecutive season & 6th time for career…

PATRIOTS NOTES

Team has won 17 consecutive regular-season games dating back to ’06 & can tie its own NFL-record 18-game regular-season winning streak (2003-04)…Since 2000, club has 26-6 (.812) record under BILL BELICHICK in Dec. & 18-7 (.720) record at home vs. division…Offense ranks 1st in NFL (413.6 yards-per-game)…QB TOM BRADY (45) needs 4 TD passes to surpass DAN MARINO (48) on single-season TD pass list & tie PEYTON MANNING for 1st…Brady has 44-10 (.814) career record at home with 86 TDs vs. 29 INTs & 92.1 passer rating. For career, team is 43-1 (.977) when Brady has 100+ passer rating…Team is 10-0 when RB LAURENCE MARONEY has 15+ carries. Maroney had season-high 26 att. for 104 yards (4.0 avg.) with TD last week…WR RANDY MOSS (19) needs 3 TD receptions to tie JERRY RICE (22 in ’87) for all-time single-season record…WR WES WELKER posted 9 rec. for 138 yards (15.3 avg.) with 2 TDs in last game vs. Mia…Team is 36-3 (.923) since 2000 when defense records 2+ INTs…Since ’05, CB ASANTE SAMUEL ranks 2nd in NFL with 19 INTs (CHAMP BAILEY, 21).

RAVENS NOTES

Have won both meetings in all-time series…In 12 career games vs. NFC, QB KYLE BOLLER has completed 179 of 295 passes (60.7 pct.) for 1,977 yards with 17 TDs vs. 8 INTs & 88.5 passer rating. In past 2 games, rookie QB TROY SMITH has completed 8 of 16 passes (50.0 pct.) for 82 yards with rush TD. RB WILLIS MC GAHEE (1,197) needs 51 rushing yards to surpass career-high of 1,247 rush yards in ’05. McGahee posted his 5th 100-yard rush game of season last week (104). In only meeting vs. Sea. (with Bills on 11/28/04), McGahee gained 116 yards (4.1 avg.) on 28 att with career-high 4 rush TDs…In ’07, WR DERRICK MASON ranks 3rd in NFL with 92 rec. & needs catch to reach 700 for career…Since ’03, team is 31-9 (.775) when defense posts 3+ sacks…Club ranks 2nd in NFL in rush defense (77.0 yards-per-game)… Since ’02, S ED REED is tied with DARREN SHARPER for most INTs among NFL safeties with 33. Reed aims for 3rd consecutive game with INT vs. NFC opponent…

SEAHAWKS NOTES

In only game vs. Bal., QB MATT HASSELBECK completed 23 of 41 passes (56.1 pct.) for 333 yards with 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 122.3 passer rating. Seahawks are 35-12 (.745) in his starts with 90+ rating…In 20 career games vs. AFC with 20+ carries, RB SHAUN ALEXANDER has rushed for 2,392 yards (119.7 per game) & 25 TDs. Seahawks are 16-4 (.800) in those 20. Has 99 career rush TDs & needs 1 to reach 100…WR DEION BRANCH has TD catch in 3 of past 4. Incl. playoffs, when Branch has TD catch, his teams are 19-4 (.826). WR-PR NATE BURLESON has 11 TDs (8 rec., 2 PR, 1 KR) as Seahawk, averaging 37.6 yards per TD (414 yards). WR BOBBY ENGRAM leads team with 1,013 yards, 1st career 1,000-yard season. Had 2 TD catches in last meeting…DE PATRICK KERNEY has 10 sacks & 3 FFs in past 6. Has 3 3-sack games in past 5. Has 3 sacks in 2 career meetings vs. Bal. LB JULIAN PETERSON has 19 sacks in past 30. DT ROCKY BERNARD had sack in last meeting. CB MARCUS TRUFANT ties for NFC lead with 7 INTs.

JETS NOTES

Club aims for 4th consecutive win vs. Titans…Tenn. native QB CHAD PENNINGTON has 2-0 record vs. Titans & has completed 42 of 56 passes (75.0 pct.) for 550 yards with 4 TDs & 2 INTs & 114.4 passer rating. QB KELLEN CLEMENS has TD pass in 4 of 7 career starts…RB THOMAS JONES (963) needs 37 yards to reach 1,000 & become 1st Jets RB to reach mark since CURTIS MARTIN in ’04. Jones’ teams are 24-12 (.667) when he records 20+ att…In only meeting vs. Ten. (9/10/06), WR LAVERANUES COLES recorded 8 receptions for 153 yards (19.1 avg.). WR JERRICHO COTCHERY leads team with 66 receptions for 902 yards…TE CHRIS BAKER has reception in 24 consecutive games & posted career-high 8 catches last week…S KERRY RHODES has INT in 4 of past 5 games. Rookie LB DAVID HARRIS leads team with 99 tackles & rookie CB DARRELLE REVIS ranks 3rd on team with 84 tackles…Since ’01, Jets lead NFL with 10 KR-TDs. KR-RB LEON WASHINGTON leads NFL with 3 KR-TDs & ranks 2nd with 28.2 avg…

TITANS NOTES

Ten. ranks 4th in NFL with 134.6 rush yards-per-game…QB VINCE YOUNG has 6-2 (.750) record in Dec. Young leads NFL QBs with 375 rush yards in ’07. Young has season-best 109.6 passer rating last week & Titans are 7-1 (.875) when he has 80+ passer rating…RB LEN DALE WHITE is averaging 103 rush yards-per-game in past 2. RB CHRIS BROWN averages 4.8 yards-per-carry in ’07 (427 yards, 89 att.)…WR ROYDELL WILLIAMS had career-high 2 TD rec. last week. WR ERIC MOULDS (9,955) needs 45 yards to become 28th player in history to reach 10,000 career receiving yards…Defense ranks 5th overall in NFL allowing 298.2 yards-per game…Since ’06, team is 9-2 (.818) when it records 2 or more INTs…LB KEITH BULLUCK leads team with 4 INTs. DE KYLE VANDEN BOSCH leads team with 9 sacks & needs 3.5 to equal career-high (12.5 in ’05). Rookie S MICHAEL GRIFFIN (No. 19) has 3 INTs & aims for 4th consecutive game with INT…K ROB BIRONAS has made 24 of past 26 FGs & leads NFL with 31 FGs.

REDSKINS NOTES

QB TODD COLLINS led team to win last week in 1st start since 12/14/97. Passed for 299 yards in only start vs. Min. (8/31/97 with Buf.)…In only game at Min. (10/19/03 with Den.), RB CLINTON PORTIS rushed for 117 yards & 1 TD. Had 126 yards & 1 TD last week. When Portis has 100+ rush yards, his teams are 27-9 (.750). Had TD in last meeting. RB-KR ROCK CARTWRIGHT is 3rd in NFC with 26.1 KR avg…TE CHRIS COOLEY has 26 TDs since entering NFL in 2004, most in NFC among TEs. WR SANTANA MOSS has 8 catches for 180 yards (22.5 avg.) in 2 career games vs. Min. Incl. playoffs, WR-PR ANTWAAN RANDLE EL has 22 TDs (11 rec., 6 PR, 4 pass, 1 KR)…DE ANDRE CARTER has 14.5 sacks in past 19. DE DEMETRIC EVANS has 2.5 sacks in 2 meetings & aims for 3rd in row vs. Min. with 1+ sack. DE PHILLIP DANIELS has 5 sacks in past 9 vs. Min. CB FRED SMOOT played 2 seasons in Min. (2005-06)…

VIKINGS NOTES

Aim for 6th consecutive win. Averaging 31.8 points per game in past 5. QB TARVARIS JACKSON has won 6 starts in row & is 8-2 (.800) as starter this year. Passed for career-high 249 yards last week…Club leads NFL in rushing (172.2). Rookie RB ADRIAN PETERSON leads NFL averaging 106.5 yards per game. Leads NFC with 1,278 rushing yards & can become 1st rookie to lead NFC since HOFer BARRY SANDERS in 1989. Ran for 2 TDs last week & is 2nd in NFL with 12 rush TDs. RB CHESTER TAYLOR has 443 rush yards (88.6 per game) & 6 TDs in past 5. Rushed for 88 yards & 1 TD in last meeting…WR BOBBY WADE leads team with career-high 46 catches & 521 yards…Rush defense leads NFL allowing 67.9 yards per game. Club led NFL in category last season (61.6). DT KEVIN WILLIAMS has 1.5 sacks, 1 INT & 1 FF in 2 career meetings. S DARREN SHARPER has 48 INTs since 2000, most in NFL.

BRONCOS NOTES

Club has won 3 of past 4 on MNF…QB JAY CUTLER has 111.5 passer rating on MNF…In past 2 games, Cutler has completed 47 of 66 passes (71.2 pct.) for 498 yards with 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 118.7 passer rating. For career, club is 4-0 when Cutler has 100+ passer rating…Rookie RB SELVIN YOUNG averages 5.6 yards-per-carry (603 yards, 108 att.)…WR BRANDON MARSHALL had career-high 11 rec. last week & aims for 3rd consecutive 100-yard receiving game. Marshall has totaled 21 receptions & 222 receiving yards in past 2 games. TE TONY SCHEFFLER posted career-best 7 receptions for 100 yards (14.3 avg.) with TD last week…CBs CHAMP BAILEY (42) & DRE’ BLY (38) rank 1st & 2nd among active CBs for most INTs since 1999. DE ELVIS DUMERVIL ranks 4th in AFC with 11 sacks…

CHARGERS NOTES

As starter vs. Den, QB PHILIP RIVERS has 3-0 record & has completed 47 of 67 passes (70.1 pct.) for 771 yards with 6 TDs vs. 2 INTs & 125.9 passer rating. Rivers has 14-1 (.933) career record at home & has 4-0 record at home in Dec. Team is 8-1 (.889) when Rivers has 70+ completion pct…RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON averages 113.1 rush yards-per-game vs. Broncos at home. Tomlinson averages 107.9 rush yards-per-game in Dec. (most in any month). Tomlinson aims for 4th consecutive 100-yard rush game & is averaging 146.3 in past 3. RB DARREN SPROLES totaled career-high 25 att. for 122 yards (4.9 avg.) last week…Team is 8-0 when TE ANTONIO GATES has 2 or more TD receptions…Defense leads NFL with 27 INTs & has 3 or more INTs in 4 games in ’07...Team is 11-1 (.909) when LB SHAWNE MERRIMAN has 2+ sacks. CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE leads NFL with franchise-high 10 INTs.

MAIN PAGE | TEAM NOTES | INJURY REPORT PREVIOUS | TOP