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Peek at the Week: Jets-Saints, Favre vs. Green Bay lead pack
Oct. 2, 2009
By Clark Judge
Game of the Week
N.Y. Jets at New Orleans, 4:05 p.m. ET
The line: Saints by 6½
The story: I was at a Jets news conference this week when someone asked coach Rex Ryan about the possibility of an all-New York Super Bowl. Huh? Guys, it's three games. Sure, the Jets are better than anyone imagined, but give it a rest. Tennessee won its first 10 last year but couldn't survive one playoff game. There's a lesson there, and it is this: Enough already. Let's not put this conversation on the back burner; let's take it off the stove and focus on what we know.
And what we know is that this weekend's game will be the toughest yet for Gang Green. Drew Brees is the league's highest-rated and most productive quarterback. He is accurate, he is smart and he is difficult to sack. Worse, he is home. He has two 300-yard games. He has nine touchdown passes. And he has three victories. I don't know that Ryan's defense gets to Brees, but I do know it can rattle him as it rattled Tom Brady. Only one problem: New York's defensive backs are hurt, with five showing up on this week's injury report, including three cornerbacks. You can't rush the pocket if you don't have the confidence in your corners to play single coverage. Brees may have drawn the long straw.
Ryan talked a lot about the Saints' rushing attack because coaches are supposed to pump up their opponents, but it's not the New Orleans backs that are the concern; it's Brees and his receivers. Stop Brees, you can stop the Saints. Buffalo couldn't because it couldn't score. The Jets can, but they better get their running game on track. They can't keep relying on Mark Sanchez not to screw up, and screwing up is a distinct possibility here: The Saints have a league-leading nine takeaways.
Something to consider: The Saints lead the NFL with 120 points, the most by a team through the first three weeks of a season since 1968 (Dallas, 132).
Three games I'd like to see
Baltimore at New England, 1 p.m. ET | SI.com: What to watch | Preview
The line: Patriots by 1½
The story: The sky isn't falling, the sky isn't falling ...
That was a close call, Patriots fans. Your team dodged Armageddon by beating Atlanta, and now all is right with the world ... we think. New England was smart by turning to its running backs and not Tom Brady last weekend, but that formula won't work here. The reason is Baltimore. The Ravens haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 38 straight games and are the league's premier run defense. If you want to beat them, you beat them with the pass. So start warming up, Tom. He had to throw 38 times the last time he faced these guys, and we might be looking at those numbers if he has to play from behind here.
He did in 2007, and that was when Kyle Boller was on the field. Now it's Joe Flacco, and the Ravens are a far, far superior outfit. For the first time in the club's history it appears a franchise quarterback is in place for the next 10 years. Flacco has a strong arm. He is accurate. He commits few mistakes. And he wins. In fact, he has won 14 of his past 17 starts, including the playoffs. What makes Baltimore difficult to defend is that it can run, too, with Willis McGahee the league leader in touchdowns and the club a perfectly balanced fifth in rushing and fifth in passing. So what? So the Patriots might not have defensive tackle Vince Wilfork to serve as a speed bump. He missed practice Thursday.
Just a hunch, but here's how this one goes: If New England can jump on top it has a chance for the victory. But the Patriots played from behind their first two games and would have lost both were it not for Leodis McKelvin. If they fall behind here, it's over. The Ravens are not the Bills, and Tom Brady is not himself ... yet.
Something to consider: Dating to 2007, Brady is 11-0 at home, with 24 touchdown passes, five interceptions and a 103.7 passer rating.
Dallas at Denver, 4:15 p.m. ET
The line: Cowboys by 2½
The story: There are two surprises here: 1) Denver's Josh McDaniels; and 2) Dallas' stumbling, bumbling play. The Cowboys are 2-1 because they knocked off two winless teams. Congratulations, guys. Dallas was tripped up by the Giants, and it hasn't proven anything other than it's the second best team in Texas (Colt McCoy, take a bow). This is the Cowboys' chance, and I would be careful here, Dallas fans. Denver is not an easy mark. Yes, the Broncos have overachieved, but they're home, they're confident and they're playing for a head coach we all may have underestimated.
I admit I thought the Broncos were going to stink. But they haven't, and they haven't because their defense has been a brick wall, they force turnovers, they don't commit mistakes and Correll Buckhalter looks like the reincarnation of Terrell Davis. Anyone checked out his numbers? I have, and he is averaging an astounding 7.4 yards a carry. Denver will try to lull the Cowboys to sleep with a combination of Buckhalter, short, safe passes and a defense that dares Tony Romo to throw. Unfortunately for Tony, he may have to. Dallas is running out of running backs, with Marion Barber and Felix Jones hurt. Coach Wade Phillips said he expects Barber to play, so stay tuned.
Something to consider: The Cowboys have rushed for 200 yards the past two games, the first time since 1979 they had back-to-back 200-yard rushing performances.
San Diego at Pittsburgh, 8:20 p.m. ET | Preview
The line: Steelers by 6½
The story: This is the third time in less than a year these two have met, and already the doom-and-gloomers are out in San Diego, asking what happens if their Bolts fall again to Pittsburgh. I'll tell you what: Nothing. The Chargers are notoriously slow starters, and a loss here makes them 2-2 at the bye -- exactly where they stood a year ago after four games. Then the fun begins. The Bolts move into the division schedule, with three straight games against AFC West opponents, and that's where they get better.
Frankly, this game is more important to Pittsburgh than it is to San Diego. The Chargers have a huge margin for error in their division, while the Steelers do not. Baltimore is not going away in the AFC North, and the Steelers must start winning again or risk getting left behind. Then, of course, there's the team's psyche. It was damaged the past two weekends and is in urgent need of repair.
Ben Roethlisberger is supposed to ride to the rescue here, but I wouldn't sell out Pittsburgh's rushing attack. I know, it hasn't done much up until now, but it hasn't faced this year's Chargers, either. They're vulnerable to the run without defensive tackle Jamal Williams and have slid to 26th in the league rankings. Moreover, Pittsburgh ran for nearly 300 yards on them the past two times they played. This is a statement game, and it's either San Diego proving it can beat the big boys come playoff time, or it's Pittsburgh proving it's way too soon to be ridiculed. I say it's Pittsburgh.
Something to consider: The Chargers are 0-13 in regular-season games in Pittsburgh.
Monday night lights
Green Bay at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m. ET
The line: Vikings by 3½
The story: Gee, Brett Favre goes against the club he put back on the map, the club he's most associated with and the club he desperately wanted to rejoin last summer, and we're looking for a story line? Please. It's right there with No. 4, people. Much as he and the Vikings insist this is nothing more than an important division showdown, we know better. This is personal for Favre, the game he wanted when he returned to football. Green Bay didn't annoy him when it wouldn't take him back last season; it infuriated him, and Favre swore revenge.
This is his revenge.
If there's a danger it's that he gets so geeked up at the prospect of playing the Packers that he loses perspective, and the perspective here is that this is not one man's war. This is a battle between two teams liable to fight for the NFC North title. Minnesota won it last year sans Favre; now the Vikings are undefeated with him, and people already are talking about having Favre around in 2010. Geez, can we catch a breath already? Favre started 8-3 last year with the Jets, but they didn't want him back. Why? Because he wilted down the stretch, unable to make the big plays he did earlier in the season. That happens to quarterbacks about to turn 40.
I'm curious to see what Green Bay defensive coordinator Dom Capers cooks up for Favre. The Packers know his strengths and weaknesses and will go after both with a defense that leads the league (with New Orleans) in takeaways. If the Packers can jump to an early lead, they will test Favre's patience -- and we all know he doesn't have any. Especially here. Especially now.
Something to consider: Favre has beaten 31 NFL teams. Name the only team he hasn't and win an expenses-paid weekend in Gary, Ind.
Crummy game of the week
Tampa Bay at Washington, 1 p.m. ET | Preview
The line: Commanders by 6½
The story: First team to 10 wins. Forget it. I can't wait that long. The Bucs produced 85 yards last weekend and had one first down through three quarters. Terrible, right? It gets worse. Now they're pushing a quarterback with no pro starts, and that would be OK if it were first-round pick Josh Freeman, but it's not. It's Josh Johnson, taken in the fifth round of last year's draft, and someone please explain to me what's going on here.
All I know is that we have two of the league's worst offenses, and, yeah, I'm talking about finding the end zone. Washington can't do it, and neither can Tampa Bay. Washington quarterback Jason Campbell is under almost as much fire as his head coach, but there's nothing like the Tampa Bay Bucs to make people happy. The Bucs can't stop the run, with opponents averaging 187 yards per game, so roll out Clinton Portis, sit back and enjoy. Wait a minute, Portis is hobbled with an ankle injury? Let's just make it the first team to six, and call it.
Something to consider: Campbell threw for 301 yards the last time these two met. When Campbell has a passer rating of 100, Washington is 5-1.
Upset of the week
Denver (+2½) over Dallas
There wasn't much beyond Felix Jones that impressed me with the Cowboys on Monday. They won, but so what? Carolina was dreadful. The Cowboys have trouble tackling, they don't produce sacks, they don't produce turnovers, their two top running backs are hurt (even though Marion Barber may play) and nobody is sure which Tony Romo shows up. So I'm going to take them on the road? No way.
I don't know much about Denver, but I do know the Broncos are starting to feel good about themselves. They think they're pretty good, and I can see why: The 16 points they have allowed are the fewest in the league. Defense was supposed to be a liability, but someone forgot to tell Mike Nolan. So the Broncos are first in overall defense, second against the pass and 1-0 at home. I'll take my chances.
Games within the games
Green Bay QB Brett Favre vs. Packers Backers: A year ago Cheeseheads missed the guy; now they use his jersey as a doormat. As the T-shirt with Favre's likeness inside an outline of Wisconsin says: "We Will Never Forget You ... Brent."
New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer vs. New Orleans QB Drew Brees: Schottenheimer was Brees' position coach in San Diego, and he did a marvelous job with the guy. Now, he schools rookie Mark Sanchez and sneaks peeks at his former pupil. Nobody loses here.
New Orleans LB Jonathan Vilma vs. ex-teammates: Poor Jonathan. He went to New Orleans because he didn't fit the Jets' 3-4, and he had immediate success. But now the Saints are moving in and out of the 3-4, too, which means Vilma's time is cut. Life is not fair.
Jacksonville QB David Garrard vs. coach Jack Del Rio: Del Rio pulled the plug on Garrard's weekly radio show. It aired three weeks. It won't air again. Jack must have forgotten that to air is human.
Minnesota WR Percy Harvin vs. migraines: They're becoming an issue, and the Vikings aren't surprised. They knew about them when they drafted him. Harvin's headaches forced him to miss practices last week and were one reason the club made Greg Lewis active for its game with San Francisco. Smart move.
Five guys I'd like to be
Chicago DT Tommie Harris: He aims for his fifth straight game vs. Detroit with a sack.
Baltimore QB Joe Flacco: In his past three road games he's no ordinary Joe: five touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 105.2. Baltimore is 12-2 when he throws at least one TD pass.
Washington coach Jim Zorn: He desperately needs to win. Now along comes Tampa, with Josh Johnson making his first pro start. Jim Zorn, this is your lucky day.
Detroit WR Calvin Johnson: He looks for his sixth straight game with a touchdown vs. an NFC North opponent.
San Francisco QB Shaun Hill: He aims for his third straight game against the Rams with two or more touchdown passes.
Numbers to crunch
2: Sacks Cincinnati's Antwan Odom needs to pass his career high of 8
3: Consecutive games that Minnesota rookie Percy Harvin has scored
4: Consecutive victories for Shaun Hill within NFC West
12: Consecutive regular-season victories for Indianapolis
25: Number of 300-yard passing games for Drew Brees
121: Yards receiving Andre Johnson has averaged in his past 10 games at home
192: Rushing yards for Adrian Peterson the last time he faced Green Bay
575: Cedric Benson's rushing total dating back to Dec. 21, 2008, best in the NFL
12-0: The record of Jay Cutler's teams when he has a passer rating of 100 or better
Sunday's weather watch
• Chicago: Partly cloudy, high of 59
• Cleveland: Partly cloudy, high of 58
• Houston: Scattered thunderstorms, high of 83
• Indianapolis: Partly cloudy, high of 63
• Jacksonville, Fla.: Mostly cloudy, high of 86
• Kansas City, Mo.: Partly cloudy, high of 64
• Foxborough, Mass.: Showers, high of 72
• Washington, D.C.: Sunny, high of 74
• Miami: Isolated thunderstorms, high of 87
• New Orleans: Dome
• Denver: Partly cloudy, high of 65
• San Francisco: Sunny, high of 58
• Pittsburgh: Partly cloudy, high of 58
Where we will be
• I'll be in Pittsburgh to order an L.T. from Primanti Brothers.
• Pete Prisco will be in New Orleans brushing up on the Sideline Boogie with Saints owner Tom Benson.
• Mike Freeman will be New England because he can't get away from there.
• John Oesher will be in Indianapolis to teach Seneca Wallace how to throw off his front foot.
• Gregg Doyel and Darren Wolfson will be Minneapolis joining Brett Favre in chants of "Who Dey? Who Dey?" when the Packers take the field.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/12299681
Oct. 2, 2009
By Clark Judge
Game of the Week
N.Y. Jets at New Orleans, 4:05 p.m. ET
The line: Saints by 6½
The story: I was at a Jets news conference this week when someone asked coach Rex Ryan about the possibility of an all-New York Super Bowl. Huh? Guys, it's three games. Sure, the Jets are better than anyone imagined, but give it a rest. Tennessee won its first 10 last year but couldn't survive one playoff game. There's a lesson there, and it is this: Enough already. Let's not put this conversation on the back burner; let's take it off the stove and focus on what we know.
And what we know is that this weekend's game will be the toughest yet for Gang Green. Drew Brees is the league's highest-rated and most productive quarterback. He is accurate, he is smart and he is difficult to sack. Worse, he is home. He has two 300-yard games. He has nine touchdown passes. And he has three victories. I don't know that Ryan's defense gets to Brees, but I do know it can rattle him as it rattled Tom Brady. Only one problem: New York's defensive backs are hurt, with five showing up on this week's injury report, including three cornerbacks. You can't rush the pocket if you don't have the confidence in your corners to play single coverage. Brees may have drawn the long straw.
Ryan talked a lot about the Saints' rushing attack because coaches are supposed to pump up their opponents, but it's not the New Orleans backs that are the concern; it's Brees and his receivers. Stop Brees, you can stop the Saints. Buffalo couldn't because it couldn't score. The Jets can, but they better get their running game on track. They can't keep relying on Mark Sanchez not to screw up, and screwing up is a distinct possibility here: The Saints have a league-leading nine takeaways.
Something to consider: The Saints lead the NFL with 120 points, the most by a team through the first three weeks of a season since 1968 (Dallas, 132).
Three games I'd like to see
Baltimore at New England, 1 p.m. ET | SI.com: What to watch | Preview
The line: Patriots by 1½
The story: The sky isn't falling, the sky isn't falling ...
That was a close call, Patriots fans. Your team dodged Armageddon by beating Atlanta, and now all is right with the world ... we think. New England was smart by turning to its running backs and not Tom Brady last weekend, but that formula won't work here. The reason is Baltimore. The Ravens haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 38 straight games and are the league's premier run defense. If you want to beat them, you beat them with the pass. So start warming up, Tom. He had to throw 38 times the last time he faced these guys, and we might be looking at those numbers if he has to play from behind here.
He did in 2007, and that was when Kyle Boller was on the field. Now it's Joe Flacco, and the Ravens are a far, far superior outfit. For the first time in the club's history it appears a franchise quarterback is in place for the next 10 years. Flacco has a strong arm. He is accurate. He commits few mistakes. And he wins. In fact, he has won 14 of his past 17 starts, including the playoffs. What makes Baltimore difficult to defend is that it can run, too, with Willis McGahee the league leader in touchdowns and the club a perfectly balanced fifth in rushing and fifth in passing. So what? So the Patriots might not have defensive tackle Vince Wilfork to serve as a speed bump. He missed practice Thursday.
Just a hunch, but here's how this one goes: If New England can jump on top it has a chance for the victory. But the Patriots played from behind their first two games and would have lost both were it not for Leodis McKelvin. If they fall behind here, it's over. The Ravens are not the Bills, and Tom Brady is not himself ... yet.
Something to consider: Dating to 2007, Brady is 11-0 at home, with 24 touchdown passes, five interceptions and a 103.7 passer rating.
Dallas at Denver, 4:15 p.m. ET
The line: Cowboys by 2½
The story: There are two surprises here: 1) Denver's Josh McDaniels; and 2) Dallas' stumbling, bumbling play. The Cowboys are 2-1 because they knocked off two winless teams. Congratulations, guys. Dallas was tripped up by the Giants, and it hasn't proven anything other than it's the second best team in Texas (Colt McCoy, take a bow). This is the Cowboys' chance, and I would be careful here, Dallas fans. Denver is not an easy mark. Yes, the Broncos have overachieved, but they're home, they're confident and they're playing for a head coach we all may have underestimated.
I admit I thought the Broncos were going to stink. But they haven't, and they haven't because their defense has been a brick wall, they force turnovers, they don't commit mistakes and Correll Buckhalter looks like the reincarnation of Terrell Davis. Anyone checked out his numbers? I have, and he is averaging an astounding 7.4 yards a carry. Denver will try to lull the Cowboys to sleep with a combination of Buckhalter, short, safe passes and a defense that dares Tony Romo to throw. Unfortunately for Tony, he may have to. Dallas is running out of running backs, with Marion Barber and Felix Jones hurt. Coach Wade Phillips said he expects Barber to play, so stay tuned.
Something to consider: The Cowboys have rushed for 200 yards the past two games, the first time since 1979 they had back-to-back 200-yard rushing performances.
San Diego at Pittsburgh, 8:20 p.m. ET | Preview
The line: Steelers by 6½
The story: This is the third time in less than a year these two have met, and already the doom-and-gloomers are out in San Diego, asking what happens if their Bolts fall again to Pittsburgh. I'll tell you what: Nothing. The Chargers are notoriously slow starters, and a loss here makes them 2-2 at the bye -- exactly where they stood a year ago after four games. Then the fun begins. The Bolts move into the division schedule, with three straight games against AFC West opponents, and that's where they get better.
Frankly, this game is more important to Pittsburgh than it is to San Diego. The Chargers have a huge margin for error in their division, while the Steelers do not. Baltimore is not going away in the AFC North, and the Steelers must start winning again or risk getting left behind. Then, of course, there's the team's psyche. It was damaged the past two weekends and is in urgent need of repair.
Ben Roethlisberger is supposed to ride to the rescue here, but I wouldn't sell out Pittsburgh's rushing attack. I know, it hasn't done much up until now, but it hasn't faced this year's Chargers, either. They're vulnerable to the run without defensive tackle Jamal Williams and have slid to 26th in the league rankings. Moreover, Pittsburgh ran for nearly 300 yards on them the past two times they played. This is a statement game, and it's either San Diego proving it can beat the big boys come playoff time, or it's Pittsburgh proving it's way too soon to be ridiculed. I say it's Pittsburgh.
Something to consider: The Chargers are 0-13 in regular-season games in Pittsburgh.
Monday night lights
Green Bay at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m. ET
The line: Vikings by 3½
The story: Gee, Brett Favre goes against the club he put back on the map, the club he's most associated with and the club he desperately wanted to rejoin last summer, and we're looking for a story line? Please. It's right there with No. 4, people. Much as he and the Vikings insist this is nothing more than an important division showdown, we know better. This is personal for Favre, the game he wanted when he returned to football. Green Bay didn't annoy him when it wouldn't take him back last season; it infuriated him, and Favre swore revenge.
This is his revenge.
If there's a danger it's that he gets so geeked up at the prospect of playing the Packers that he loses perspective, and the perspective here is that this is not one man's war. This is a battle between two teams liable to fight for the NFC North title. Minnesota won it last year sans Favre; now the Vikings are undefeated with him, and people already are talking about having Favre around in 2010. Geez, can we catch a breath already? Favre started 8-3 last year with the Jets, but they didn't want him back. Why? Because he wilted down the stretch, unable to make the big plays he did earlier in the season. That happens to quarterbacks about to turn 40.
I'm curious to see what Green Bay defensive coordinator Dom Capers cooks up for Favre. The Packers know his strengths and weaknesses and will go after both with a defense that leads the league (with New Orleans) in takeaways. If the Packers can jump to an early lead, they will test Favre's patience -- and we all know he doesn't have any. Especially here. Especially now.
Something to consider: Favre has beaten 31 NFL teams. Name the only team he hasn't and win an expenses-paid weekend in Gary, Ind.
Crummy game of the week
Tampa Bay at Washington, 1 p.m. ET | Preview
The line: Commanders by 6½
The story: First team to 10 wins. Forget it. I can't wait that long. The Bucs produced 85 yards last weekend and had one first down through three quarters. Terrible, right? It gets worse. Now they're pushing a quarterback with no pro starts, and that would be OK if it were first-round pick Josh Freeman, but it's not. It's Josh Johnson, taken in the fifth round of last year's draft, and someone please explain to me what's going on here.
All I know is that we have two of the league's worst offenses, and, yeah, I'm talking about finding the end zone. Washington can't do it, and neither can Tampa Bay. Washington quarterback Jason Campbell is under almost as much fire as his head coach, but there's nothing like the Tampa Bay Bucs to make people happy. The Bucs can't stop the run, with opponents averaging 187 yards per game, so roll out Clinton Portis, sit back and enjoy. Wait a minute, Portis is hobbled with an ankle injury? Let's just make it the first team to six, and call it.
Something to consider: Campbell threw for 301 yards the last time these two met. When Campbell has a passer rating of 100, Washington is 5-1.
Upset of the week
Denver (+2½) over Dallas
There wasn't much beyond Felix Jones that impressed me with the Cowboys on Monday. They won, but so what? Carolina was dreadful. The Cowboys have trouble tackling, they don't produce sacks, they don't produce turnovers, their two top running backs are hurt (even though Marion Barber may play) and nobody is sure which Tony Romo shows up. So I'm going to take them on the road? No way.
I don't know much about Denver, but I do know the Broncos are starting to feel good about themselves. They think they're pretty good, and I can see why: The 16 points they have allowed are the fewest in the league. Defense was supposed to be a liability, but someone forgot to tell Mike Nolan. So the Broncos are first in overall defense, second against the pass and 1-0 at home. I'll take my chances.
Games within the games
Green Bay QB Brett Favre vs. Packers Backers: A year ago Cheeseheads missed the guy; now they use his jersey as a doormat. As the T-shirt with Favre's likeness inside an outline of Wisconsin says: "We Will Never Forget You ... Brent."
New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer vs. New Orleans QB Drew Brees: Schottenheimer was Brees' position coach in San Diego, and he did a marvelous job with the guy. Now, he schools rookie Mark Sanchez and sneaks peeks at his former pupil. Nobody loses here.
New Orleans LB Jonathan Vilma vs. ex-teammates: Poor Jonathan. He went to New Orleans because he didn't fit the Jets' 3-4, and he had immediate success. But now the Saints are moving in and out of the 3-4, too, which means Vilma's time is cut. Life is not fair.
Jacksonville QB David Garrard vs. coach Jack Del Rio: Del Rio pulled the plug on Garrard's weekly radio show. It aired three weeks. It won't air again. Jack must have forgotten that to air is human.
Minnesota WR Percy Harvin vs. migraines: They're becoming an issue, and the Vikings aren't surprised. They knew about them when they drafted him. Harvin's headaches forced him to miss practices last week and were one reason the club made Greg Lewis active for its game with San Francisco. Smart move.
Five guys I'd like to be
Chicago DT Tommie Harris: He aims for his fifth straight game vs. Detroit with a sack.
Baltimore QB Joe Flacco: In his past three road games he's no ordinary Joe: five touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 105.2. Baltimore is 12-2 when he throws at least one TD pass.
Washington coach Jim Zorn: He desperately needs to win. Now along comes Tampa, with Josh Johnson making his first pro start. Jim Zorn, this is your lucky day.
Detroit WR Calvin Johnson: He looks for his sixth straight game with a touchdown vs. an NFC North opponent.
San Francisco QB Shaun Hill: He aims for his third straight game against the Rams with two or more touchdown passes.
Numbers to crunch
2: Sacks Cincinnati's Antwan Odom needs to pass his career high of 8
3: Consecutive games that Minnesota rookie Percy Harvin has scored
4: Consecutive victories for Shaun Hill within NFC West
12: Consecutive regular-season victories for Indianapolis
25: Number of 300-yard passing games for Drew Brees
121: Yards receiving Andre Johnson has averaged in his past 10 games at home
192: Rushing yards for Adrian Peterson the last time he faced Green Bay
575: Cedric Benson's rushing total dating back to Dec. 21, 2008, best in the NFL
12-0: The record of Jay Cutler's teams when he has a passer rating of 100 or better
Sunday's weather watch
• Chicago: Partly cloudy, high of 59
• Cleveland: Partly cloudy, high of 58
• Houston: Scattered thunderstorms, high of 83
• Indianapolis: Partly cloudy, high of 63
• Jacksonville, Fla.: Mostly cloudy, high of 86
• Kansas City, Mo.: Partly cloudy, high of 64
• Foxborough, Mass.: Showers, high of 72
• Washington, D.C.: Sunny, high of 74
• Miami: Isolated thunderstorms, high of 87
• New Orleans: Dome
• Denver: Partly cloudy, high of 65
• San Francisco: Sunny, high of 58
• Pittsburgh: Partly cloudy, high of 58
Where we will be
• I'll be in Pittsburgh to order an L.T. from Primanti Brothers.
• Pete Prisco will be in New Orleans brushing up on the Sideline Boogie with Saints owner Tom Benson.
• Mike Freeman will be New England because he can't get away from there.
• John Oesher will be in Indianapolis to teach Seneca Wallace how to throw off his front foot.
• Gregg Doyel and Darren Wolfson will be Minneapolis joining Brett Favre in chants of "Who Dey? Who Dey?" when the Packers take the field.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/12299681
