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Home , Corey Dillon, Deion Branch, Ken Dorsey, LaMarr Woodley, Rod Marinelli, Santana Moss

7BLACK D7 DAILY 12-07-08 MD RE D7 BLACK

The Post R Sunday, December 7, 2008 D7

NFLGameday Compiled by Desmond Bieler, Matt Bonesteel, David Larimer and Gene Wang

Jacksonville at Chicago 1 p.m., WUSA-9 Little Wonders The Jaguars are 4-8 and have lost five of six, with the only win coming against the winless, punchless Lions. ‘Tis the season to see images of Santa and his Yup, Little Guys can help a team win big, They’re in sole possession of last place Bucs at elves everywhere you look. Well, everywhere you and a look at the standings suggests in the AFC South for the first time since 2003. Now Panthers look in the NFL, you’ll see a lot more players that a lack of Little Guys may hurt. The they start a final stretch that features four games 8:30 p.m. against teams that still are very much alive for Monday who could pass as Santa (i.e., a Big Guy) than bottom six teams — the Lions, Bengals, as one of his elves. But Little Guys do exist, and Rams, Seahawks, Chiefs and Raiders playoff berths, including today’s foe, the Bears. In TV: ESPN Chicago, both of the city’s newspapers wrote stories while several of them play , a few are — with a combined record of 10-61-1, about how the Bears should have an easier road to risking pulverization from hulking defenders by have no prominent Little Guys, although the playoffs after the Vikings lost defensive tackles making steady contributions toward their teams’ would have one if Pat and Kevin Williams (pending legal challenges), offenses. Monday night’s game features (5-9, 192) had stayed healthy and had more even though Chicago probably has to win out and the NFL’s two foremost Little Guys of an impact. A glance at the dozen NFL hope Minnesota loses at least twice. (defi ned here as players no taller players currently doing the most with the than 5 feet 9 and no heavier than least (and in case any fans of a certain Cleveland at Tennessee 205 pounds): Tampa Bay’s Warrick local team are wondering, Santana Moss is 1 p.m. Dunn and Carolina’s Steve Smith. listed at 5-10. Not little enough!): The Browns have a coach () who probably won’t be around next season, a general manager (Phil Savage) feeling similar pressure and a RB , Texans (5-9, 203) RB Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants (5-9, 198) (Ken Dorsey) who began the season as • 180 carries, 904 yards, 8 TDs • 49 carries, 310 yards, 1 TD a third-stringer. What’s not to like about their • 34 catches, 250 yards, 1 TD • 3 catches, 28 yards, 1 TD chances against the 11-1 Titans? The Titans will • 30 kick ret., 630 yards, 21.0 avg., 0 TDs clinch the AFC South title with a win or a Colts loss. RB , Patriots (5-8, 202) Among the other playoff scenarios for the Titans, • 73 carries, 445 yards, 3 TDs RB Jerome Harrison, Browns (5-9, 205) they can clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs with • 43 catches, 363 yards, 1 TD • 29 carries, 244 yards, 1 TD a win and a Jets loss or tie. They can simply clinch a • 7 punt returns, 15.1 avg., 0 TDs • 8 catches, 111 yards, 1 TD playoff berth with a tie; or a loss or tie by the Patriots and a loss or tie by the Jets; or a loss or tie WR , Patriots (5-9, 185) by the Patriots and loss or tie by the Dolphins. • 3 carries, 26 yards, 0 TDs • 84 catches, 868 yards, 1 TD • 16 punt returns, 10.1 avg.,0 TDs N.Y. Jets at San Francisco 4:05 p.m. WR Lance Moore, Saints (5-9, 190) New York was considered one of the league’s best • 59 catches, 739 yards, 8 TDs pass-rushing teams early in the season, with 29 sacks in its first eight games (3.6 per game). But the RB Leon Washington Jets (5-8, 202) Jets have only six sacks in their last four games (1.5 • 61 carries, 326 yards, 4 TDs per game) and didn’t bring down Broncos • 34 catches, 288 yards, 2 TDs quarterback Jay Cutler once. A cure could come in • 25 punt returns, 11.4 avg., 0 TDs the form of the 49ers. San Francisco • 31 kick ret., 865 yards, 27.9 avg., have been sacked 43 times this season, and only the 1 TD Lions have allowed more. An improved pass rush could help the Jets’ beleaguered defensive backs, RB Ray Rice, Ravens (5-8, 205) who are a big reason why New York ranks only 30th • 104 carries, 423 yards, 0 TDs in the league against the pass (249.2 yards per • 31 catches, 264 yards, 0 TDs game). • 7 kick ret., 161 yards, 23.0 avg., 0 TDs St. Louis at Arizona 4:15 p.m. RB Dominic Rhodes, Colts (5-9, 203) • 108 carries, 394 yards, 3 TDs If the Cardinals win, they’ll clinch their first division • 32 catches, 198 yards, 2 TDs title since 1975. They’ll also clinch their first home playoff game since 1947, when the team was located RB Darren Sproles, Chargers (5-6, 181) in Chicago. St. Louis ranks 22nd in the league or • 45 carries, 212 yards, 0 TDs worse in all eight of the league’s main statistical • 20 catches, 268 yards, 3 TD categories: total offense (28th), passing offense • 41 kick ret., 1,040 yards, 25.4 avg., (28th), rushing offense (27th), scoring offense 1 TD (31st), total defense (29th), passing defense (22nd), rushing defense (30th) and scoring defense (31st).

WR Steve Smith, Panthers (5-9, 185) RB , Buccaneers (5-9, 180) • 52 catches, 958 yards, 4 TDs • 145 carries, 640 yards, 2 TDs • 2 carries, 10 yards, 0 TDs • 31 catches, 244 yards, 0 TDs Minnesota at Detroit (1 p.m.): The Vikings have been a stronger team Smith once again tops the Panthers in receiving yards, and he is universally ac- Dunn is the Methuselah of the Munchkins at age 33, having outlasted every recently, winning four of their last five claimed as one of the league’s most dangerous weapons. His exploits include es- other taken in the 1997 , including , to take the NFC North lead. In their sentially winning Carolina’s game last week in Green Bay with a leaping, twisting and Duce Staley. With lost to injury and Carnell Williams only last two games, they outscored the grab of a desperate heave that put his team at the 1-yard line with 1:30 to play. recently returned, Dunn has been a constant force in the Bucs’ backfi eld, leading Bears and Jaguars by a combined in rushing yards. 64-26. RB has 627 rushing yards in the past five games. For the first time all season, Lions Coach Rod Marinelli has addressed the prospect of avoiding dubious history, according to his players. RB Aveion Cason told reporters in the first team meeting after falling to 0-12, Marinelli vs. Buffalo in Toronto “said, ‘We’re not going 0-16.’ ” at N.Y. Giants 4:05 p.m. Houston at Green Bay (1 p.m.): The Packers have lost four of their last five games to fall two games 1 p.m., WTTG-5, WBFF-45 For football fans in Canada, watching this game out of the NFC North lead, largely on their failings might cause some confusion, what with its four At 6-5-1, Philadelphia sits ninth in in close games. On the season, Green Bay is 1-4 in downs, lack of rouges and 10-yard-deep end the NFC and can ill afford another games decided by five points or less. For the zones. For football fans in western New York, loss. Texans, a 16-6 win at Cleveland snapped an watching this game might cause some depression, “This is the most important game of the year,” eight-game losing streak in road games. That win, what with the widespread belief it represents the safety Quintin Mikell said. coupled with a 30-17 defeat of Jacksonville on first step in an inevitable permanent move by Running back has been Monday, has Houston at 5-7. Those wins have come their team to Toronto. slowed by ankle and knee injuries and had to thanks to a defense that also has been flirting with For football fans elsewhere, watching this game overcome broken ribs prior to those ailments. He respectability. indicates an unusual degree of interest in two hadn’t had an effective game for weeks — before teams hovering on the periphery of the playoff Cincinnati at Indianapolis (1 p.m.): The Colts have Thanksgiving day. Westbrook’s most recent chase, fantasy ownership of Ronnie Brown or a rarely been accused of winning ugly as long they’ve outing saw him become just the fourth player in gambling problem. had quarterback , but it took that NFL history, and the first since 1975, to run for The first regular season NFL game to be played last week to continue their climb into postseason 100-plus yards and score two both in Canada is the result of a $78 million deal contention. “You never take winning for granted, rushing and receiving in the same game. between the Bills and Rogers Communications, a but certainly we want to score more than three The Giants (11-1) can clinch the NFC East Canadian firm that owns the Rogers Centre, points,” Manning told reporters in a reference to with a win today. They haven’t lost a divisional home to the Blue Jays and Argonauts and where the team’s offensive output in last week’s 10-6 win game since Dec. 16, 2007 (against the Redskins), this game will be played. The deal calls for a total over Cleveland. The Colts’ fifth straight win — by a and they are 6-0 this season in the Meadowlands, BY JOHN SOMMERS II — REUTERS of eight Bills contests there, five in the regular combined 20 points — made them the third team in where they have outscored opponents 180-77. Eagles running back Brian Westbrook scored his season and three in preseason play. league history to win five straight by six or fewer first four touchdowns since Oct. 26 last week. points, along with the 1992 Colts and 1986 Giants. Atlanta at at Pittsburgh City at Denver (4:05 p.m.): After snapping a 1 p.m. 4:15 p.m., WTTG-5, WBFF-45 seven-game losing streak, the Chiefs visit a city Last week’s loss to the Buccaneers, sealed where they haven’t won since 2000. But the Just when the Cowboys seem to have star when league MVP candidate threw Broncos are facing a different team than the one quarterback Tony Romo fully back from a broken two late , dropped New Orleans, they lost to in Week 4. Chiefs quarterback Tyler pinkie, star running back Marion Barber is which was already last in the NFC South, to 6-6 Thigpen was third on the depth chart and didn’t suffering from a dislocated toe (the pinkie toe, and 11th place in the NFC. play then, but he has 11 touchdowns and four coincidentally). Any hindrance to its offensive At least the Saints can look forward to Reggie interceptions since becoming the starter on Oct. 26, potency is the last thing Dallas needs heading into Bush’s continued return to the field. The running throwing mostly out of a shotgun formation used to a matchup with the Steelers’ imposing defense. back-receiver returned last week after missing suit his strengths. The Chiefs have been more But look who else is fully back for the Cowboys: four games following arthroscopic surgery on his competitive running the spread offense, with three Adam Jones! left knee, but he was limited to five catches for 32 losses by four or fewer points. Among the many categories in which the yards and three carries for zero. Steelers lead the league (passing defense, rushing New England at Seattle (4:05 p.m., WJZ-13): If the The Falcons (8-4) just want to keep on keeping defense and total defense, to name the most season ended after last week, the Patriots would on. Since 2003, the last-place team in the NFC significant) is sacks. The team has 42 of them so miss the playoffs for the first time since 2002, South has won the division the next year, and 1 making them the seventh loser in the far, 25 ⁄2 coming from linebackers James Harrison even with rivals Carolina and Tampa Bay both at 1 last eight years to miss the following season’s (14.0) and LaMarr Woodley (11 ⁄2), already the 9-3, Atlanta is a candidate to continue that trend, most of any duo in Steelers history. playoffs. But they are 20-2 in December since 2003, especially since the Panthers and Bucs play each Harrison needs just two more sacks to surpass and their schedule sets up nicely for another holiday other this week. The Falcons have won four of Mike Merriweather (15 in 1984) for the top spot feast. After the 2-10 Seahawks, New England will their past five, including a win over the Saints in in team annals, and as his two forced last stay on the West Coast to play the 3-10 Raiders; which Atlanta picked off Brees three times. They BY GREGORY SHAMUS — GETTY IMAGES week at New England showed, he is as disruptive then host the 7-5 Cardinals, who are not only returned one of those interceptions 95 yards for a James Harrison (92) and LaMarr Woodley (56) have travel-averse but likely won’t need a win; and finish 1 a defensive presence as there is in the NFL. . 25 ⁄2 sacks, the most in a season for a Steelers duo. at the currently cratering Bills.

ON WASHINGTONPOST.COM Bragging Rights The NFL Gameday crew picks its locks of the week, listed with this year’s record: The Sunday Line 1 New England (-6 ⁄2) over SEATTLE (-5) over Washington (-7) over Philadelphia The guys’ expanded I haven’t trusted a road favorite enough to lock since It’s Charm City vs. Chocolate City, and since I’m on a Sorry Berman, but these days, no one circles the wagons previews and picks of every Weeks 6 and 7, when I lost both. I’m sure the Pats don’t diet these days, I’ll go with the former. Although I like the Giants, whom I may have to lock until someone game are posted online each

want that long flight home if they let me down. reserve the right to eat a Berger’s cookie in celebration. steps up to them. The Eagles won’t be that team. week beginning on Thursdays at

— David Larimer (9-3-1) — Desmond Bieler (7-6) — Matt Bonesteel (7-6) views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/sundayline 7BLACK D7