C M Y K D10 DAILY 09-30-07 MD BD D10 CMYK D10 Sunday, September 30, 2007 B x The Washington Post NFLGameday Compiled By Desmond Bieler, Matt Bonesteel, David Larimer and Christian Swezey Two Records, Different Tunes THE RUNDOWN Houston (-3) at Atlanta, 1 p.m. Today, Green Bay’s Brett Favre goes for the all-time NFL mark in touchdown passes. His pursuit of this record comes the same year as The game only a snooty U-Va. fan (is there any Barry Bonds becoming the home-run king. How these players’ quests for statistical immortality stack up against each other: other kind?) could enjoy. The Falcons are reeling Green Bay after unloading a couple former Wahoos — QB at Minnesota Fair. The touchdown-pass crown probably takes a back seat to PRESTIGE Huge. The home run crown is the most hallowed mark in Ameri- Matt Schaub (to Houston) and DE Patrick Kerney 1 p.m. the career rushing yards record. OF RECORD can sports. (Seattle) — and thanks to some rather unwise decisions by a couple former Hokies, Michael DUBIOUSNESS Vick and DeAngelo Hall. BREAKDOWN Negligible. Favre’s streak of 240 consecutive starts is almost su- Epic. At this point, the only people who don’t perhuman, and he admitted to an addiction to pain-kill- OF ACCOMPLISH- think Bonds took steroids also think Michael New York Jets (-3) at Buffalo, 1 p.m. ers several years ago, but he has never been connected MENT Vick will be named the next head of PETA. 3 to steroids. Bills starting QB Trent Edwards, a rookie from Number of Stanford, must feel as if he has spent the past interceptions Surprisingly tepid. The Bears replacing MEDIA Predictably massive. ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” is probably still year-plus playing for the Washington Generals Packers one mediocre quarterback with an- INTEREST doing segments on Bonds’s place in history. against the Harlem Globetrotters. The Cardinal quarterback Brett other was a bigger story this week. went 1-11 last year; the Bills are 0-3. Favre has to throw 1 Baltimore (-4 ⁄2) at Cleveland, 1 p.m. in order to break Epic. Favre is beloved by nearly ev- LEVEL Negligible. Bonds is beloved only by San (WUSA-9, WJZ-13) George Blanda’s eryone but Bears and Vikings fans OF SUPPORT Franciscans, and even the Giants don’t all-time NFL record (Lions fans don’t much care). want him back next year. Browns Coach Romeo Crennel has lost 17 of 18 of 277. coaches’ challenges, according to the Cleveland Effusive. Dan Marino recently SUPPORT Not so much. Henry Aaron told the Plain Dealer. That’s about the same percentage told Packers.com Favre was OF FORMER Associated Press, “I am making a as Bieler’s lock of the week. the only person he ever RECORD-HOLDER comment by not making a com- St. Louis (+13) at Dallas, 1 p.m. (WTTG-5) thought could top his mark ment.” He eventually issued a terse and praised the way his congratulatory statement, but Maybe the preseason does count for something. counterpart “always gives one senses it was mostly just to get The Rams’ starting offense did not score a you hope.” people off his back. touchdown in the preseason. Through three regular season games, the Rams are averaging Strong. Peyton Manning is on LIKELIHOOD Strong. Alex Rodriguez is on pace, less than 11 points. They are 25th in total pace to break all the OF BEING BROKEN and knocking Bonds off this perch offense, 22nd in rushing offense, 20th in passing major passing might endear A-Rod even to offense and 32nd in red zone scoring. records. Yankees fans. Chicago (-3) at Detroit, 1 p.m. “That right there PRESUMED “Hey, who do I have to pay to Even Rex Grossman would like his chances is why Brett Favre REACTION make sure this bus is always against the Lions’ secondary: They gave up 381 is the greatest OF JOHN MADDEN stocked with Ho Hos?!” yards and four touchdowns to the Eagles last thing that ever week. But Grossman has been benched in favor happened to football.” Nobody lifted Bonds in the air after No. 756. of Brian Griese. Oakland (+4) at Miami, 1 p.m. To those who think Joe Gibbs has lost a step, consider that his game plan for the Dolphins in Week 1 has been copied by every opponent BRAGGING RIGHTS A Heavyweight Matchup: Broncos’ Defensive Backs vs. Air Manning since. The Redskins used personnel groups to put The NFL Gameday crew picks Miami into its “nickel” defense, i.e., it inserts an their locks of the week, listed Champ Bailey, perhaps the best extra defensive back and takes out a defensive cornerback in the game, has done with this year’s record: tackle. The offense then runs the ball against the his job for the Broncos against smaller defensive line. DT Vonnie Holliday said Peyton Manning and the Colts’ Denver the Redskins “opened a can of worms” with that VIKINGS (+2) over Packers passing game. It hasn’t mattered. plan. Hey, how about those surprising at Indianapolis In Manning’s last two games Packers? 3-0, with a tough D and a 4:15 p.m. against Denver — not counting a Green Bay (-2) at Minnesota, 1 p.m. certain record-setting QB. No bet- meaningless 33-14 loss in the 2004 The Vikings have a very solid defense. They are ter time to back an opponent of BREAKDOWN regular season finale in which he giving up 12 points per game and have scored theirs, even one quarterbacked by played one series — he has three touchdowns — two on interception returns Kellbrookvis Hollingerson. Let’s completed 59 of 72 passes for 803 and one on a fumble return. face it, Green Bay is due to lose, 17-2 Colts’ record in yards, 7 touchdowns and 1 and Brett Favre is due for a couple Tampa Bay (+3) at Carolina, September since interception. The Colts scored a of his “What the %&$# was he 4:05 p.m. Tony Dungy total of 83 points and won both thinking?” throws. games, including 49-24 in the Former Houston Texans punching bag David Carr — Desmond Bieler (1-2) became coach in 2003, best in the 2004-05 playoffs. is expected to start for the Panthers. He was Bailey held future Hall of Famer sacked 249 times in five seasons in Houston. He 1 league over that COLTS (-9 ⁄2) over Broncos time span Marvin Harrison to nine catches for will be throwing to WR Steve Smith, who has In their last three games that mat- 89 yards and no touchdowns in four straight 100-yard games against the tered against the Broncos (I’m dis- those games. But Harrison’s BY DAVID ZALUBOWSKI — ASSOCIATED PRESS Buccaneers. counting a meaningless 33-14 Den- counterpart, Reggie Wayne, Denver’s lockdown cornerbacks Champ Bailey, left, and Dré Bly have helped Seattle (-2) at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m. ver win in Week 17 of the 2004 sea- torched Denver with 20 receptions the Broncos hold opponents to an NFL-low 88.3 passing yards per game. son, when Peyton Manning barely for 359 yards and five touchdowns. Interesting matchup is 49ers running back Frank played), the Colts have scored 34, Enter Dré Bly, a two-time Pro Problem is, the Colts could lean John Lynch might be out for today’s Gore (356 yards in two games against the 49 and 41 points. Denver barely Bowl pick acquired in an offseason on running back Joseph Addai (271 game with a groin injury. If Lynch Seahawks last year) against safeties Deon Grant beat the Bills and the Raiders and is trade to bookend Bailey. So far this rushing yards, four touchdowns). can’t go, he will be replaced by a and Brian Russell. They were acquired in the 1-10 against the number in its last season, Denver is allowing 88.3 The Broncos are allowing 166 Maryland alum, either Domonique offseason to address poor open-field tackling that 11 games. Make this my FIVE- passing yards per game. rushing yards per game, and safety Foxworth or Curome Cox. Gore exposed last year. STAR LEAD-PIPE LOCK OF THE 1 WEEK*!!!!!! Pittsburgh (-5 ⁄2) at Arizona, 4:15 p.m. *not a guarantee (WUSA-9, WJZ-13) — Matt Bonesteel (1-2) At last, something likable about the Cardinals: SAN DIEGO (-12) over Chiefs For Tomlin, It’s Personal Defenses’ Mirror Image Radio analyst Ron Wolfey. According to the Both teams are frustrated and bick- Arizona Republic, some “Wolfey-isms” include Mike Tomlin faced two uphill battles In the closing scene of “Rocky III,” Apollo “Neil Rackers could kick a can of tuna through a ering. But it’s likely the sideline tiff when he was named the Steelers’ coach in Creed and Rocky Balboa face off for a between LaDainian Tomlinson and colander” and “two rights don’t make a wrong, January. Not only would he have to friendly boxing match in a deserted gym. but two dings definitely make a dong.” Philip Rivers last weekend was improve upon Pittsburgh’s 8-8 record, but Creed had taught Balboa much of what 1 nothing more than a bad day at the Pittsburgh he also had to win over some of his players Philadelphia helped him defeat Clubber Lang. Denver (+9 ⁄2) at Indianapolis, 4:15 p.m. office. Meanwhile, Larry Johnson’s at Arizona who made it clear they wanted offensive at N.Y. Giants “But I didn’t teach you everything,” Creed The town called “India-noplace” has not been hamstring appears to be hurting as 4:15 p.m.