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Home , Damon Huard, David Garrard, Herm Edwards, Marc Bulger, Mike Furrey, Mike Martz

9BLACK E9 DAILY 11-05-06 MD BD E9 BLACK

The Washington Post B Sunday, November 5, 2006 E9

NFLGameday Compiled By Desmond Bieler, Matt Bonesteel, David Larimer and Christian Swezey

Against the Colts, Everyone’s in a Rush THE RUNDOWN Cincinnati [+3] at Baltimore, 1 p.m. The Colts are again undefeated and again in contention. But one facet of the team is playing at a decidedly [WJZ-13] non-super level: its run defense. Indianapolis is giving up an unsightly 167.9 yards per game, dead last in the NFL. Has a team that lousy against the run won the Big Game? Some of the more defensively challenged Super Bowl champs: The Ravens are finally feeling good about their Indianapolis at offense, but not the Bengals. Asked if he plans to New England WORST SUPER BOWL RUN DEFENSE WORST SUPER BOWL PASS DEFENSE WORST SUPER BOWL TOTAL DEFENSE retain Bob Bratkowski, Coach Tonight, told reporters: “Yes. Was that at the 8:15 p.m. 1973 Yards allowed Rank among 1987 Yards allowed Rank among 1987 Yards allowed Rank among bottom of the useless-question list?” Dolphins per game SB winners Redskins per game SB winners Redskins per game SB winners [WRC-4, Atlanta [-5] at Detroit, 1 p.m. WBAL-11] Rushing yards 142.2 yds. 40th (last) Rushing yards 111.9 yds. 29th Total yards 363.1 yds. 40th Passing yards 114.6 yds. 1st Passing yards 251.1 yds. 40th You might have seen this coming. Charles Rogers, Mike Williams and Corey Bradford, BREAKDOWN Many members of ’s back- Wait, didn’t this unit feature By Super Bowl winner standards, all high-priced busts at wideout, haunt GM Matt to-back winners swear this team perennial cornerback these Redskins were no great Millen. But WR Mike Furrey — who played safety 64 was even better than the unbeat- Darrell Green? Must have been all shakes against the run, either. last season with the Rams — has 37 catches for Wins for Patriots en ’72 squad. But not in this cate- Barry Wilburn's fault. (They still stomped the Broncos, 431 yards and 3 after offensive Tom gory, as the ’73 edition gave up 42-10.) coordinator persuaded him to sign with Brady since his nearly 32 more yards per game. Detroit for the league minimum. first start on Sept. Green Bay [+3] at Buffalo, 1 p.m. 30, 2001, most in ... and a surprise ... and a surprise ... and a surprise the league. Packers QB Brett Favre is 15 touchdowns from 1967 Yards allowed Rank among 1986 Yards allowed Rank among 2001 Yards allowed Rank among breaking ’s NFL record of 420 career Packers per game SB winners Giants per game SB winners Patriots per game SB winners passes, and 18 from 59 breaking George Blanda’s all-time mark of 277. Wins for Colts Rushing yards 137.4 yds. 39th Rushing yards 80.2 yds. 5th Total yards 349.1 39th Passing yards 117.4 yds. 2nd Passing yards 242.9 yds. 38th After his league-high 29 picks last season, Favre quarterback Further evidence that a) Tom has thrown five interceptions this year, none in the Vince Lombardi's crew (along It only looked like Brady is that good and b) Mike past three games. during that span, BY ANDY LYONS — GETTY IMAGES with the Dolphins) made up for was making an impact all over the Martz's game plan was that bad. second most in is one of the many rushers lousy run defense by being the field. But Big Blue was awfully (The Pats beat the Rams, 20-17.) Houston [+13] at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m. the league. to get past the Colts’ defense this season. two toughest against the pass. stingy against the run (80.2 ypg). Texans rookie Owen Daniels doesn’t have the cachet of fellow tight ends Alge Crumpler and Todd Heap, but his five touchdown catches tie him with Super Bowl winners’ median 205.2 passing yards allowed 102.8 rushing yards allowed those two for most in the NFL at the position. He is 2006 Colts so far 167.6 passing yards allowed 167.9 rushing yards allowed one short of tying the single-season record in the Texans’ short and ignominious history. CONCLUSION 1 Kansas City [+2 ⁄2] at St. Louis, 1 p.m. A team can win the Super Bowl with a malodorous run defense, but only if it puts a hammer lock on opponents’ passing. Nearly identical The Rams and Chiefs play for the Governor’s Cup, numbers against the pass and the run put the Colts in a no-man’s land that, from a historical perspective, bodes ill for their title hopes. which normally goes to the winner of the teams’ Source: Superbowl.com annual preseason matchup. “I really couldn’t care less about the Governor’s Cup other than the fact that we win the game,” Chiefs defensive end Eric Hicks said. 1 Miami [+13 ⁄2] at Chicago, 1 p.m. Bragging Rights Bengals’ Running Game Could Be in for a Long Day Against Ravens The Bears have allowed the fewest points (69) through their first seven games of any NFL team The Gameday Gang made a “We need to toughen up,” Bengals since 1937. They’re also the league’s valiant stab at mediocrity a T Willie Anderson said following a highest-scoring team. They are the first team in couple of weeks ago, but last week loss to Atlanta last week. “We have league annals to win four straight at home by 25 tough guys, but it’s spotty.” You can returned to just plain bad, going Cincinnati at or more points in the same season. The Dolphins see what he means. Off the field, the are winless on the road. This ain’t 1985. 1-3 once again. For those of you Baltimore, Bengals aren’t scared of anything scoring at home, that’s five out of 1 p.m., [WJZ-13] — not least Cincinnati police New Orleans [-1] at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. the past six weeks with a 1-3 BREAKDOWN officers — but on the field is While Bucs QB Bruce Gradkowski has received record. Awfully solid. another matter. Tough guys run the generally good reviews for his five pro starts, his HOME TEAMS IN CAPS ball on first down. Cincinnati has completion percentage has declined with each 772, 6 run the ball 42.1 percent of the time game, and Tampa Bay has failed to score an Receiving yards on first down this season. Last year offensive touchdown the past two weeks. Bengals (+3) over RAVENS and receiving it ran on first down 52.1 percent; in 1 Tennessee [+9 ⁄2] at Jacksonville, 1 p.m. touchdowns for 2004 it was 53.2 percent and in Having to pick a lock last week, when Bengals WR Chad whipping boys like the Lions, Bills and 2003 it was 54.5. Jaguars Coach ’s decision to start Johnson in his last Re-establishing the run is a tall David Garrard today over banged-up Byron Redskins were idle, was like Paul seven games Newman eating 50 hard-boiled eggs in order today. The Ravens lead the Leftwich was done so inscrutably that even against the NFL in rushing defense (66 yards Garrard is scratching his head. “It’s hard for me to “Cool Hand Luke” — I did it because Ravens. people were counting on me, not per game), and the Bengals are say anything because no one is being definitive on because I wanted to. Anyway, Carson without two starting offensive BY CHRIS O’MEARA — ASSOCIATED PRESS anything — if it’s Byron’s health, it’s performance Palmer won’t lay an egg against the 90 linemen (both are injured). Tight Bengals will try to continue his success against or whatever,” Garrard told reporters. “I can’t give Ravens, and Rudi Johnson will have a big Points the Bengals end Reggie Kelly has played a lot as the Ravens, but it will be tough if Cincinnati doesn’t establish the run. you any explanation on why all of this is game running the ball to key a huge road have scored in a blocker, though that allows occurring.” victory. their past three defenses to add a defender within Coach is establishing the first touchdown pass McNair 1 games against the Minnesota [-5 ⁄2] at San Francisco, — Christian Swezey (4-3) five yards of the line of scrimmage the run and using his wide receivers had thrown to a wide receiver. 4 p.m. [WBFF-45] Ravens. They have since Kelly is not a receiving threat more. When Clarence Moore Meantime, Jamal won all three. Green Bay (+3) over BUFFALO (he has eight receptions this year). caught a touchdown pass from Lewis had 31 carries for 109 yards Both teams must be going into this thinking, “Well, Meantime, it appears Ravens Steve McNair last week, it marked last week; both were season highs. at least we can’t get embarrassed as much as we Let’s keep things simple: The Packers did last week.” have gotten to 3-4 by beating every bad Denver [-3] at , 4:15 p.m. team they’ve faced (at Lions, at Dolphins, [WUSA-9] Cardinals), and the Bills, averaging 10 points and 214 yards over their past Slip Sliding Steelers Not Easy Playing Green It’s time for the Steelers to prove last season’s three games, are a bad team. Let’s make Super Bowl run was more than a perfectly timed things even simpler: Brett Favre vs. J.P. Ben Roethlisberger’s various maladies Chiefs quarterback resumed hot streak. They have matched the worst start by a Losman. and resulting poor play have had practicing this week after recovering from defending Super Bowl champion in 19 years and — David Larimer (3-4) something to do with the Steelers’ 2-5 the brutal concussion he suffered in Week 1 are 6-8 in their last 14 regular season games. start, but it’s far from the only cause. against the Bengals. Coach 1 Denver at Take, for instance, turnovers. Last Kansas City at has steadfastly maintained that Green will Cleveland [+12 ⁄2] at San Diego, 4:15 p.m. WASHINGTON (+3) over Dallas Pittsburgh, season, Pittsburgh had 23 giveaways. This St. Louis, 1 p.m. retake the starting job from dropped the appeal of his 4:15 p.m. The Redskins have home field, a sense of season, the Steelers have 18, tied for when he’s ready to go, perhaps next Sunday suspension before this weekend’s games, so he’ll [WUSA-9, BREAKDOWN desperation (or at least they bloody well second worst in the league. And although against the Dolphins. miss a couple of big games for the Chargers — but WJZ-13] should), a full defensive complement and a Roethlisberger has accounted for the bulk But should he? today’s is not one of them. The Browns are 31st in bye week’s worth of preparation. Oh, and of those turnovers (11 interceptions and 20-5 Huard’s of 100.4 ranks third the NFL in total offense. BREAKDOWN Chiefs’ overall they’re getting points from a visiting lost a ), the Steelers have lost six in the league behind Peyton Manning and record vs. NFC Indianapolis [+3] at New England, divisional arch rival. Meantime, Dallas has additional . Their seven overall his opposing counterpart this week, the teams since 8:15 p.m. [WJLA-7, WMAR-2] a quarterback in dire need of a reality 65 fumbles are just two away from their total Rams’ . Huard is 4-2 as a starter Percentage of 1995, the NFL’s check. of nine last season. this season, and was 4-1 as a starter for the When will the NFL’s schedule-makers have the voters who best — Desmond Bieler (2-4-1) There’s also the team’s performance on Dolphins in 1999 when Dan Marino went Patriots travel to Indianapolis? Today, the Colts will preferred Charlie punt returns, which has suffered since interconference down with an injury. But such success face New England in Foxborough for the fifth Batch over Ben left for the Redskins. record over that hasn’t swayed Edwards, who said this week 1 straight time, including New England’s wins in the CHICAGO (-13 ⁄2) over Miami Roethlisberger as Last season, Pittsburgh averaged 10.2 span. that “we’ve got to get [Green] back out 2004 AFC title game and the 2005 first-round Should I break out of this soul-crushing the Steelers’ starter yards per return, ranking third in the there.” playoff game. in a poll conducted four-game skid, Miami defensive end Jason league. This season, that average has 16-1 Bulger, meanwhile, is on pace to throw a 1 by a Pittsburgh Oakland [+7 ⁄2] at , tomorrow, Taylor will be getting a gift basket filled dropped to 6.1 yards, which is tied for Rams’ home career-high 27 touchdown passes, and he 8:30 p.m. [ESPN] with the finest meats and cheeses Hickory television station. second worst in the league. Plus, the record vs. AFC has just one this season. He’s Farms has to offer. “These guys can be team’s ground game has fallen off, from teams since doing his best to make up for a defense that Another yawner of a Monday game: The Seahawks beaten; it’s as simple as that,” Taylor said 23-8 138.9 yards per game in 2005 (fifth in the 1998. Their has allowed less than 20 points only twice remain tied atop the NFC West despite being 1-3 this week of the 7-0 Bears. Nothing like Roethlisberger’s league) to 110.4 yards per game this average margin of this season, the last time being Sept. 24 without RB . As for the Raiders, some halfhearted bluster to brighten an career regular season (16th in the league). victory in those against the Cardinals. He’s also been sacked their offense has failed to score a touchdown in under-performing tout’s day. season record as a Add it all up, and it equals a team that games was 13 nine times over the past two games. four of their seven games. — Matt Bonesteel (2-4-1) starter looks nothing like last year’s champion. points. Open: Arizona, Carolina, N.Y. Jets,

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