1 BLACK E12 DAILY 10-01-06 MD BD E12 BLACK

E12 Sunday, October 1, 2006 B x

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

Misery Loves Company THE RUNDOWN (+7) at Atlanta, 1 p.m. We couldn’t pass up a look at the two biggest also-rans in history. and Buffalo have combined to lose eight Super Bowls; their inferiority complex must be such that they don’t teach Roman numerals in schools there anymore. The Falcons lead the league in rushing at 225 yards per game, but against the Saints on Monday night, Minnesota at they threw the ball eight more times than they ran Buffalo, 1 p.m. it. They abandoned the run partly because they 1991-94 Super losses 1970, ’74, ’75, ’77 were down 20-3 at halftime, but also because the BREAKDOWN Saints were able to keep from getting played three Super , also a to the outside, where he excels. sports at bosses thinker, quoted ancient 1 31-22 (-9 ⁄2) at , 1 p.m. (WTTG-5) Career record on () and earned a philosopher Lao-tse the road for master’s degree from when announcing his Even if sits after his busy week (and Vikings QB Brad Harvard. retirement. remember, he’s still nursing a broken finger), it’s Johnson, 38. He unlikely Dallas will need him against the foundering has thrown 70 (tie) LB got into a fight Worst pregame C Scott Anderson had a few drinks a Titans, who rank last in the league in time of passes with Magic Johnson’s bodyguard a prep week before Super Bowl IX and got possession and giveaways. and 51 few days before Super Bowl XXVII; into an altercation with a cook when Indianapolis (-9) at , 1 p.m. in judged a wet T- the eggs he ordered "over easy" were those games. shirt contest after curfew in well done. He was arrested for public The Colts rank 28th in the league in rushing Minneapolis a year earlier. drunkenness. defense and have allowed 5.3 yards per carry, which is last in the league. But Indianapolis might 70.4 Buffalo led the Giants 19-17 following Closest call Minnesota trailed Pittsburgh 9-6 in find relief in the Jets, who are averaging just 2.6 Percentage of a touchdown run by the fourth quarter in Super Bowl IX, yards per carry, second-to-last in the league. catches by Buffalo 1 on the first play of the fourth quarter which is a nice way of saying the (-3 ⁄2) at , 1 p.m. WR Lee Evans that in Super Bowl XXV. Vikings have not led in a Super Bowl. have resulted in Under Coach Nick Saban, the Dolphins are 8-0 first downs in his Jefferson High grad Then there was Gary Anderson missed his first kick when they run the ball at least 30 times, including career missed a potential winning 47-yard the kicker — or PAT — of the season last week’s 13-10 win over the Titans. But they are field goal in the final seconds against with five minutes left in the NFC title 2-9 under Saban when not reaching that number. the Giants. game in '99. Atlanta won in . Expect to see Ronnie Brown get a high number of carries against a Texans team that is giving up 163 Someone hid Thurman Thomas’s hel- Conspiracy The NFL gave the Houston Oilers’ yards on the ground per game. met on the sideline, forcing him to theory practice facilities to Miami before Minnesota (+1) at Buffalo, 1 p.m. miss the opening play of a Super Bowl Super Bowl VIII. The Vikings got the loss to the Redskins in 1992. practice field at Delmar High. The Bills racked up 475 yards last week against the Jets, their most since 2002, and quarterback J.P.

BY RUSTY KENNEDY— RB Willis McGahee has rushed for How the teams Can get yards when needed by run- ASSOCIATED PRESS Losman threw for 328 yards, the most by a Buffalo Four straight losses in the Super 311 yards but no TDs. He has one TD look this season ning behind LT Bryant McKinnie, LG experienced famil- quarterback since 2002. But in four trips inside the Bowl proved painful for Jim Kelly. run in his past 13 games. Steve Hutchinson and C . iar heartache in the title game. Jets 20, the Bills came away with just one touchdown and two field goals. (+7) at Carolina, 1 p.m. The Saints and Panthers should be plenty familiar with what each team brings to the table: Saints Bragging Rights Seahawks, Bears Are Looking for a Fourth Coach was and Panthers Coach John Fox was defensive coordinator The Gameday Gang went 1-2-1 last This week’s marquee matchup for the Giants when they went to Super Bowl XXXV. week. Now the only 2-0 member is features teams poised to reach In fact, Payton would have Fox review new one whose first win was earned by something of a milestone: The offensive plays he drew up. someone else. Really nice job, boys. Seahawks have never started 4-0; the 1 HOME TEAM IN CAPS Seattle at Bears haven’t done it since 1991. San Diego (-2 ⁄2) at Baltimore, 1 p.m. Despite Seahawks RB Shaun (WUSA-9, WJZ-13) (-3) over OAKLAND [8:15 p.m., Alexander’s wild enthusiasm early The Chargers and Ravens are two of the seven Think it can’t get any worse for the WRC-4, last week that he would play tonight remaining unbeatens, but neither team has beaten Raiders? Well, as a Jets fan who suffered WBAL-11] with a cracked bone in his foot, it is anyone of note. In fact, their opponents are a through the Rich Kotite Era, I’m here to almost certain he will miss a game say: Sure it can! Unless a week off was BREAKDOWN combined 0-13. for the first time in his NFL career. San Francisco (+7) at Kansas City, 1 p.m. just what the Silver and Bleech needed to In steps , who has solve its myriad woes, it shouldn’t be 14-2 big-game experience — Redskins With still recovering from a concussion getting less than three points from any Seahawks Coach fans might remember him from last suffered against the Bengals in Week 1, Damon team in the AP top 25, let alone the NFL. ’s season’s playoffs, when he played Huard gets his second start at quarterback for the Of course, I’m the guy who picked against career record much of that Seattle victory after Chiefs. It’s the first time a quarterback other than the Saints last week, so it’s entirely against the Bears Alexander suffered a concussion. “I Green has started at home for Kansas City since possible the gods aren’t through don’t think anyone’s worried about in 2000. punishing me yet. what Maurice can and cannot do,” 1 Detroit (+5 ⁄2) at St. Louis, 4:05 p.m. (WBFF-45) — Desmond Bieler (1-1) Seahawks running backs coach New Orleans (+7) over CAROLINA Stump Mitchell told the Seattle BY JIM BRYANT — ASSOCIATED PRESS Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz waxed Times. Maurice Morris, who figures to replace injured starter , brings nostalgic over his tenure with the Rams, whom he Though the Panthers seemed to The more important matchup big-game experience to the Seahawks after his showing in the playoffs. coached from 2000 until last season. Among the awaken from their early-season catnap might well be in the passing game. things he said he misses is the Edward Jones last week, it’s still hard to see them as a QB threw five Giants. And Hasselbeck has a 6-1 completion rate. The Bears, who Dome, “just the smell it has.” In Detroit, Martz touchdown better than anyone, much touchdown passes last week as the record in his past seven starts away have not allowed a , must still be adjusting to that new dome smell, as less Team USA. And if not for their Seahawks’ newly featured four wide from Seattle, with 8 , 0 say they will not put an extra his offense is averaging just 12.3 points. kicker, they’d be 0-3. The Saints’ offense receiver formation destroyed the interceptions and a 70.4 percent on the field. is fun to watch and hard to stop, and Cleveland (-3) at Oakland, 4:15 p.m. they’re starting to have that whiff of Former Browns quarterback was sacked destiny about them, or at least eau de a team-record 56 times in 1999. This season, playoffs. quarterback is on pace to be sacked 64 — Matt Bonesteel Youth vs. Experience Pats Losing Their Way? times. But even though it ranks second in passing (1-0-1: Josh Scobee, you’re dead to me) yards allowed, Oakland has just two sacks in its The average age of Super Bowl-winning The Patriots haven’t lost consecutive games two games this season. 1 San Diego (- 2 ⁄2) over BALTIMORE is 31, which make sense: since Dec. 16 and 22, 2002, a stretch of 60 New England (+6) at Cincinnati, 4:15 p.m. Chargers QB is making his experienced enough to read defenses games, including playoffs. Yet there are third start, but he’s played in plenty of expertly but youthful enough to employ whispers that their mystique may be fading. In a conference call with reporters this week, hostile environments before — not in the San Diego at athletic ability when things break down. New England at Much of that can be chalked up to their Bengals said, in -crazy ACC, mind you, but back Baltimore However, the Chargers and Ravens are Cincinnati, 17-7 loss last Sunday against Denver, the reference to Patriots safety , “You in his Alabama days. Today, 1 p.m. attempting to win it all with signal-callers 4:15 p.m. first time New England scored in single tell 37 I’m going to knock his helmet off.” In [WUSA-9, who fall on either side of that ideal. digits since 2003. After the game Broncos response, Harrison said: “This is kind of similar to Ravens QB Steve McNair, meantime, BREAKDOWN showed his toughness against the Browns. WJZ-13] San Diego’s Philip Rivers is the one who Coach said his team’s goal the gig, but Chad is not on that falls well short in the experience department. was to shut down the Patriots’ rushing level of receiver. He’s not as good as Freddie.” But Baltimore is one Shawne Merriman BREAKDOWN sack from having as the QB. By Rivers, the No. 4 overall pick in 2004, is in 56 attack and essentially dare New England to “Why run all the his first season as a starter after spending Career touchdown win by passing. But while QB Seattle (+3) at Chicago, 8:15 p.m. the way, congrats to Alfonso Soriano, the (WRC-4, WBAL-11) Nats’ 40-40 man, and to Desmond Bieler, way there just to two years apprenticing under . passes for Bengals threw for a season-high 320 yards, Shanahan our very own 50-50 guy — he gets 50 lay a lollipop on The Chargers raised eyebrows by letting QB was proved right: New England had just 50 Seeing that his “bone machine” and a whole lot of percent right, 50 percent wrong. the guy? When Brees go to New Orleans, but so far Rivers in 32 games, the rushing yards, and its scoring average praying didn’t quite heal the cracked bone in his — Christian Swezey (2-0) you get there, has performed well, hitting 71.7 percent of third-fewest dropped to 16.7 points per game. foot, Seattle Shaun Alexander won’t games needed to you want to put his passes for 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions Now the team must travel to 3-0 play tonight. But don’t expect Maurice Morris, his Jacksonville (-3) over WASHINGTON and a 107.4 rating. reach that number Cincinnati, which couldn’t be more replacement, to get a whole bunch of carries. something on By contrast, the Ravens benched a in NFL history confident. The Bengals’ defense is allowing Coach Mike Holmgren likely will try to spread the It’s been a tough week. Not only did my him to first-round pick, Kyle Boller, and leaped at ( did it a solid 15.7 points per game and is tied for field like he did against the Giants. last lock get busted, I got dissed in this remember you.” the chance to acquire 33-year-old Steve in 22 games, Dan second in the league with six interceptions. 1 space by a person who talks like Dick Van Marino in 24). Green Bay (+10 ⁄2) at , McNair from Tennessee. The team’s players Acknowledging that he had only one wide Tomorrow, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) Dyke in “Mary Poppins.” So I need this one. Ravens have effusively praised the former league receiver, Troy Brown, who was with the I’m going with the Jags, whose defense is Bart Scott,on sacking quarterbacks. co-MVP’s veteran presence. But McNair has team last season, Brady told the Boston Since 2001, Packers quarterback is 5-2 immeasurably nastier than the one the Scott has five sacks in long since stopped being a rushing threat, Globe, “This team is establishing its own with a 107.1 , 18 touchdowns and 4 Redskins carved up last week, and whose three games, part of and this year his completion percentage identity.” But he added, “We’re sitting at 2-1, interceptions in Monday night road games. But giant wideouts are a bad matchup for Baltimore’s league-high total of (55.4) and passer rating (78.3) are leading the division, so I don’t think we Green Bay has a nine-game road losing streak to Washington’s depleted secondary. unimpressive. should throw away the season quite yet.” the Eagles, including playoff games. — David Larimer (1-1) 16.

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EAST W L T Pct. SOUTH W L T Pct. NORTH W L T Pct. WEST W L T Pct. EAST W L T Pct. SOUTH W L T Pct. NORTH W L T Pct. WEST W L T Pct. New England 2 1 0 .667 Indianapolis 3 0 0 1.000 Baltimore 3 0 0 1.000 San Diego 2 0 0 1.000 Philadelphia 2 1 0 .667 New Orleans 3 0 0 1.000 Chicago 3 0 0 1.000 Seattle 3 0 0 1.000 N.Y. Jets 2 1 0 .667 Jacksonville 2 1 0 .667 Cincinnati 3 0 0 1.000 Denver 2 1 0 .667 Dallas 1 1 0 .500 Atlanta 2 1 0 .667 Minnesota 2 1 0 .667 St. Louis 2 1 0 .667 Buffalo 1 2 0 .333 Houston 0 3 0 .000 Pittsburgh 1 2 0 .333 Kansas City 0 2 0 .000 N.Y. Giants 1 2 0 .333 Carolina 1 2 0 .333 Green Bay 1 2 0 .333 Arizona 1 2 0 .333 Miami 1 2 0 .333 Tennessee 0 3 0 .000 Cleveland 0 3 0 .000 Oakland 0 2 0 .000 Washington 1 2 0 .333 Tampa Bay 0 3 0 .000 Detroit 0 3 0 .000 San Francisco 1 2 0 .333 DEPENDABLE CAPABLEAPABLE BUILT IN AMERICA

With U.S. And Imported Parts 1 BLACK E12