Here's a roundup of interesting facts and figures for the Week Nine matchups. Statistics and rankings don't include the Falcons-Saints Monday-night game.

Baltimore at Cincinnati

BAL 7^th OFF; CIN 21^st DEF

BAL 10^th RUN; CIN 5^th VS. RUN

BAL 10^th PASS; CIN 31^st VS. PASS

BAL 4^th PTS; CIN 6^th PTS ALLOWED

CIN 13^th OFF; BAL 14^th DEF

CIN 9^th RUN; BAL 4^th VS. RUN

CIN 18^th PASS; BAL 19^th VS. PASS

CIN 15^th PTS; BAL 12^th PTS ALLOWED

CIN 13^th TO/TA; BAL 8^th TO/TA

CEDRIC BENSON ON PACE FOR 1,646 YDS RUSHING.

RAY RICE HAS RACKED UP MORE THAN 100 COMBINED RUSH-REC YDS IN HIS LAST 4 GAMES.

WILLIS MCGAHEE HAS 10 CARRIES FOR 0 YARDS IN HIS LAST THREE GAMES.

BAL OLB JARRET JOHNSON HAS ALREADY TIED HIS CAREER-HIGH FOR SACKS (5).

CHAD OCHOCINCO HAS CAUGHT 22-315-2 IN THE LAST THREE GAMES.

CIN GOING FOR 3^RD SEASON SWEEP OF BAL IN LAST 5 YEARS.

Houston at Indianapolis

HOU 8^th OFF; IND 9^th DEF

HOU 28^th RUN; IND 17^th VS. RUN

HOU 3^rd PASS; IND 7^th VS. PASS

HOU 12^th PTS; IND 1^st PTS ALLOWED

IND 4^th OFF; HOU 16^th DEF

IND 30^th RUN; HOU 20^th VS. RUN

IND 1^st PASS; HOU 14^th VS. PASS

IND 6^th PTS; HOU 15^th PTS ALLOWED

IND 5^TH TO/TA; HOU 11^TH TO/TA

HOU 1-13 ALL-TIME VS. IND.

4 OF LAST FIVE GAMES BETWEEN THE TEAMS DECIDED BY 6 PTS OR LESS.

COLTS 7-0 ALL-TIME AT IND VS. HOU. IND HAS SCORED 30 PTS OR MORE IN 6 OF THE 7 MATCHUPS.

PEYTON MANNING SACKED 3 TIMES IN WEEK 8; HE HAD BEEN SACKED 2 TIMES IN HIS PREVIOUS 6 GAMES.

DWIGHT FREENEY HAS HAD A SACK IN EVERY GAME THIS SEASON.

RYAN MOATS RUSHED FOR 23-126-3 IN WEEK 8.

Tennessee at San Francisco

TEN 18^th OFF; SF 20^th DEF

TEN 2^nd RUN; SF 2^nd VS. RUN

TEN 26^th PASS; SF 29^th VS. PASS

TEN 24^th PTS; SF 13^th PTS ALLOWED

SF 27^th OFF; TEN 31^st DEF

SF 22nd RUN; TEN 18^th VS. RUN

SF 22^nd PASS; TEN 32^nd VS. PASS

SF 19^th PTS; TEN 32^nd PTS ALLOWED

SF 13^th TO/TA; TEN 28^th TO/TA

FRANK GORE HAS TD RUSHES OF 80, 79 AND 64 YDS THIS SEASON. HIS OTHER 62 CARRIES HAVE GONE FOR JUST 141 YDS.

CHRIS JOHNSON SET A FRANCHISE RECORD WITH 228 YDS RUSHING VS. JAX IN WEEK 8. 

JOHNSON IS AVERAGING 137.3 YDS PER GAME.

ALEX SMITH WAS SACKED 4 TIMES LAST WEEK.

VINCE YOUNG COMPLETED 15-OF-18  PASSES FOR 124 YARDS WITH 1 TD PASS IN WEEK 8.

VERNON DAVIS HAS 7 TD CATCHES THIS SEASON; HE HAD 9 IN HIS PREVIOUS 3 SEASONS.

JUSTIN SMITH HAS 17 TACKLES OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

Kansas City at Jacksonville

KC 30TH OFF; JAX 25th DEF

KC 21st RUN; JAX 25th VS. RUN

KC 30th PASS; JAX 26th VS. PASS

KC 27th PTS; JAX t-25th PTS ALLOWED

JAX 11th OFF; KC 30th DEF;

JAX 8th RUN; KC 26th VS. RUN

JAX 19th PASS; KC t-29th VS. PASS

JAX 22nd PTS; KC 27th PTS ALLOWED

JAX t-20th TO/TA; KC t-13th TO/TA

JAX ALLOWED TEN TO RUN FOR 305 LAST WEEK, 224 BY CHRIS JOHNSON.

MAURICE JONES-DREW RUSHED 8-177-2 VS TEN.

JAX HAS ALLOWED 13 TD PASSES.

JAX HAS 5 SACKS THIS SEASON.

LARRY JOHNSON, WHO IS SUSPENDED, IS AVERAGING 2.7 YARDS PER CARRY. JAMAAL CHARLES, WHO REPLACES HIM, IS AVERAGING 5.0.

KC HAS 3-6 MARK AFTER BYE IN THIS DECADE. THEY HAVE LOST 2 STRAIGHT AFTER BYE.

KC HAS 3 INTS THIS SEASON, OR ONE EVERY 77.6 PASS ATTEMPTS. THE CLUB RECORD FOR FEWEST INTS IN SEASON IS 11 IN 15-GAME STRIKE SEASON OF 1987.

Miami at New England

MIA 23rd OFF; NE 6th DEF

MIA 4th RUN; NE 15th VS. RUN

MIA 29th PASS; NE 5th VS. PASS

MIA 11th PTS; NE 3rd PTS ALLOWED

NE 3rd OFF; MIA 17th DEF;

NE 14th RUN; MIA 7th VS. RUN

NE 2nd PASS; MIA 21st VS. PASS

NE 5th PTS; MIA t-25th PTS ALLOWED

NE 3rd TO/TA; MIA t-20th TO/TA

NE HELD TB TO 11 COMPLETIONS IN 30 ATTEMPTS IN WEEK 7.

NE HAS HAD AT LEAST 5 WINS THROUGH 7 GAMES FOR 4 STRAIGHT YEARS.

SINCE 2001, NE IS 70-17 IN NOVEMBER AND BEYOND, INCLUDING 16-4 THE PAST 2 SEASONS. SINCE '01 NE IS 52-10 AFTER THANKSGIVING AND 23-4 AFTER XMAS.

TOM BRADY WENT 183 PASSES WITHOUT AN INT BEFORE BEING PICKED OFF IN LONDON.

NE SCORED 80 STRAIGHT POINTS VS. TEN AND TB - MOST CONSECUTIVE POINTS SINCE BILLS IN 1992 (86).

SAM AIKEN'S 54-YARD TD VS. TB WAS LONGEST OF HIS CAREER AND LONGEST NE PASS PLAY SINCE 65-YARDER FROM BRADY TO RANDY MOSS IN WEEK 17 OF 2007.

WES WELKER HAS 6+ RECEPTIONS IN 19 OF 21 GAMES.

HE HAS 7 CAREER GAMES WITH 10+ RECEPTIONS, 3 OF WHICH HAVE BEEN THIS SEASON.

BRADY NEEDS ONE MORE 300-YARD GAME TO PASS DREW BLEDSOE FOR CLUB MARK (26).

MIA WAS OUTGAINED 378-104 VS. NYJ.

MIA SWEPT NYJ FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2003.

MIA HAS WON 7 OF LAST 8 DIVISION GAMES.

MIA LOST LAST WEEK FOR FIRST TIME THIS SEASON WHEN LOSING TIME OF POSSESSION BATTLE.

MIA HAD 3 YARDS OF OFFENSE IN THE 3RD QUARTER LAST WEEK BUT 21 POINTS (2 KO RETURNS, FUMBLE RETURN FOR TD).

Detroit at Seattle

DET 25th OFF; SEA 15th DEF

DET 19th RUN; SEA 11th VS. RUN

DET 21st PASS; SEA 18th VS. PASS

DET 25th PTS; SEA t-15th PTS ALLOWED

SEA 22nd OFF; DET 24th DEF;

SEA 29th RUN; DET 22nd VS. RUN

SEA 16th PASS; DET 28th VS. PASS

SEA 21st PTS; DET 31st PTS ALLOWED

SEA t-23rd TO/TA; DET 25th TO/TA

DET SCORED ONLY 10 POINTS (2 ON SAFETY) VS. STL, WHO HAD ALLOWED 30.1 COMING INTO GAME.

DEION BRANCH SCORED HIS 1ST TD OF THE SEASON SUNDAY.

DET DIDN'T SACK OR HIT MARC BULGER ON 35 PASS ATTEMPTS.

DET ALLOWED STEVEN JACKSON TO RUN FOR 22-149-1.

WITHOUT CALVIN JOHNSON, MATTHEW STAFFORD COMPLETED 14-OF-33 PASSES - AND ONLY 2 TO WIDE RECEIVERS.

DET ALLOWED STL FIRST WIN IN 17 GAMES.

San Diego at N.Y. Giants

SD 12th OFF; NYG 3rd DEF

SD 31st RUN; NYG 19th VS. RUN

SD 4th PASS; NYG 3rd VS. PASS

SD 10th PTS; NYG 22nd PTS ALLOWED

NYG 5th OFF; SD 13th DEF;

NYG 7th RUN; SD 27th VS. RUN

NYG 6th PASS; SD 6th VS. PASS

NYG 18th PTS; SD 21st PTS ALLOWED

NYG t-13th TO/TA; SD t-11th TO/TA

NYG ARE ONLY 3RD TEAM TO START 5-0 THEN LOSE NEXT 3.

NYG ALLOWED PHI TO SCORE THREE TIMES LONGER THAN 40 YARDS.

IN 3 LOSSES, ELI MANNING HAS 3 TDS AND 6 INTS.

SD HAS WON 2 DIVISIONAL GAMES TO GET ABOVE .500.

STEVE SMITH HAS 0 TDS IN LAST 4 GAMES AFTER CATCHING 4 TDS IN FIRST 4 GAMES.

VINCENT JACKSON HAS 4 100-YARD GAMES.

NYG ALLOWED 71 POINTS IN FIRST 5 GAMES, 112 IN LAST 3 GAMES.

Carolina at New Orleans

CAR 21^st OFF; NO 11^th DEF

CAR 5^th RUN; NO 6^th VS. RUN

CAR 25^th PASS; NO 16^th VS. PASS

CAR 23^rd PTS; NO 18^th PTS ALLOWED

NO 1^st OFF; CAR 7^th DEF

NO 3^rd RUN; CAR 24^th VS. RUN

NO 6^th PASS; CAR 1^st VS. PASS

NO 1^st PTS; CAR 23^rd PTS ALLOWED

CAR t-28^th TO/TA; NO 4^th TO/TA

CAR HAS WON 6 OF ITS LAST 7 AGAINST NO.

JAKE DELHOMME HAS 7 TDS AND 0 PICKS IN HIS LAST 4 GAMES VS. NO.

CAR RUSHED FOR 270 YARDS LAST WEEK VS. AZ.

STEVE SMITH HAS SCORED JUST 1 TD THIS SEASON.

DREW BREES 1-5 VS. CAR SINCE 2006.

MARQUES COLSTON AVERAGES 63 YARDS PER GAME VS. CAR.

Washington at Atlanta

WAS 24^th OFF; ATL 23^rd DEF

WAS t-26^th RUN; ATL 21^st VS. RUN

WAS 20^th PASS; ATL 27^th VS. PASS

WAS t-28^th PTS; ATL t-8^th PTS ALLOWED

ATL 19^th OFF; WAS t-4^th DEF

ATL 20^th RUN; WAS 23^rd VS. RUN

ATL 17^th PASS; WAS 2^nd VS. PASS

ATL 13^th PTS; WAS 5^th PTS ALLOWED

WAS t-28^th TO/TA; ATL t-8^th TO/TA

WAS HAS LOST ITS LAST 6 ON THE ROAD.

WAS HAS LOST 4 OF ITS LAST 5 GAMES.

WAS HAS NOT FORCED A TURNOVER SINCE WEEK FIVE.

MATT RYAN HAS A 8-8 TD-INT RATIO IN HIS LAST 7 GAMES AT HOME.

ATL HAS WON 11 OF ITS LAST 12 HOME GAMES.

MICHAEL TURNER HAS BEEN HELD TO 65 YARDS OR LESS IN 2 OF 3 HOME GAMES.

Green Bay at Tampa Bay

GB 9^th OFF; TB 29^th DEF

GB 16^th RUN; TB 30^th VS. RUN

GB 9^th PASS; TB 15^th VS. PASS

GB 8^th PTS; TB 30^th PTS ALLOWED

TB 28^th OFF; GB t-4^th DEF

TB 24^th RUN; GB 10^th VS. RUN

TB 23^rd PASS; GB 9^th VS. PASS

TB t-28^th PTS; GB 10^th PTS ALLOWED

GB t-1^st TO/TA; TB t-20^th TO/TA

AARON RODGERS HAS A QB RATING OF AT LEAST 108.5 IN EACH OF PAST 5.

GB HAS ALLOWED LEAGUE HIGH 31 SACKS.

GREG JENNINGS HAS BEEN HELD TO 64 YARDS OR LESS IN 4 OF 7 GAMES.

TB HAS WON 3 OF LAST 4 VS. GB.

GB HAS HELD TEAMS TO 17 POINTS OR LESS IN 4 OF 7 GAMES

TB HAS LOST BY 13 OR MORE IN 5 OF 7 GAMES.

Arizona at Chicago

AZ 17^th OFF; CHI 12^th DEF

AZ 32^nd RUN; CHI 16^th VS. RUN

AZ 8^th PASS; CHI 12^th VS. PASS

AZ 17^th PTS; CHI 19^th PTS ALLOWED

CHI 20^th OFF; AZ 18^th DEF

CHI t-26^th RUN; AZ 9^th VS. RUN

CHI 14^th PASS; AZ 20^th VS. PASS

CHI 16^th PTS; AZ 14^th PTS ALLOWED

AZ 26^th TO/TA; CHI t-18^th TO/TA

AZ HAS A PLUS-3 TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL ON THE ROAD.

AZ IS 3-0 ON THE ROAD.

AZ GAVE UP 270 RUSHING YARDS LAST WEEK VS. CAR.

AZ AVERAGES 4 SACKS PER GAME ON THE ROAD.

JAY CUTLER HAS A 3-6 TD-INT RATIO IN THE PAST 3 GAMES.

MATT FORTE RAN FOR 90 YARDS AND 2 TDS LAST WEEK.

Dallas at Philadelphia

DAL 2nd OFF; PHI 10th DEF

DAL 6th RUN; PHI 12th VS. RUN

DAL 7th PASS; PHI 10th VS. PASS

DAL t-6th PTS; PHI t-8th PTS ALLOWED

PHI 15th OFF; DAL 22nd DEF;

PHI 15th RUN; DAL 13th VS. RUN

PHI 13th PASS; DAL 22nd VS. PASS

PHI 3rd PTS; DAL 11th PTS ALLOWED

PHI t-1st TO/TA; DAL t-18th TO/TA

5 DIFFERENT COWBOYS SCORED LAST WEEK.

MILES AUSTIN HAS A TD IN LAST 3 GAMES.

DAL HAS 17 SACKS IN PAST 5 GAMES.

DESEAN JACKSON HAS 6 TDS THIS SEASON, ALL LONGER THAN 50 YARDS.

TONY ROMO CONNECTED WITH 10 DIFFERENT RECEIVERS LAST WEEK.

PHI AVERAGE 8 YARDS PER OFFENSIVE PLAY LAST WEEK AFTER AVERAGING 5.4 YARDS COMING IN.

LEONARD WEAVER RAN FOR A CAREER-LONG, 41-YARD TD ON THE 3RD PLAY OF THE GAME LAST WEEK.

Pittsburgh at Denver

PIT 6^th OFF; DEN 1^st DEF

PIT 18^th RUN; DEN 3^rd VS. RUN

PIT 5^th PASS; DEN 8^th VS. PASS

PIT 14^th PTS; DEN 2^nd PTS ALLOWED

DEN 14^th OFF; PIT 8^th DEF

DEN 11^th RUN; PIT 1^st VS. RUN

DEN 15^th PASS; PIT 17^th VS. PASS

DEN 20^th PTS; PIT 7^th PTS ALLOWED

DEN 5^th TO/TA; PIT 23^rd TO/TA

ELVIS DUMERVIL HAS 2 SACKS OR MORE IN 4 GAMES THIS SEASON.

JAMES HARRISON HAD SEVEN SACKS IN OCTOBER.

DEN IS ALLOWING JUST 76.6 RUSH YARDS PER GAME.

DEN IS 3-1 VS. PIT SINCE 2003. DEN HAS WON 2 STRAIGHT IN THE SERIES.

DEN HAS SCORED 31 PTS IN ITS LAST TWO GAMES VS. PIT.

RASHARD MENDENHALL HAS LOST A FUMBLE IN HIS LAST TWO GAMES.

PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the second issue being released later this month. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the Herschel Walker trade, the biggest and most infamous deal in NFL history. You probably have a thumbnail sketch of the deal in your mind: The Cowboys used the trade to bolster their roster, and the Vikings released Walker after a little less than three seasons with the club.

But did you know that the Cowboys didn't exercise a single draft pick acquired from Minnesota? No, head coach/trading fiend Jimmy Johnson spun off all of the Vikings' picks in deals for other picks and players.

And it is here that we come to the story of how the Vikings' 1992 second-round pick, acquired 2½ years earlier in the Walker trade, helped the Lions draft PK Jason Hanson, their all-time leading scorer. 

Let's take a trip back in time, shall we?

The story starts on Draft Day 1992, with Dallas holding what used to be Minnesota's second-round selection, which was No. 40 overall. But the Cowboys, as they always were in the Johnson era, were willing to deal. Not surprisingly, they find a trade partner, and it's the Chiefs, who have their sights on QB Matt Blundin. A deal is struck: The Chiefs get the No. 40 pick, and the Cowboys get the Chiefs' second- and third-round picks (Nos. 47 and 74 overall).

The Cowboys, of course, are not done dealing. They ship the Nos. 47 and 74 picks to the Redskins for the No. 56 pick (the last pick in Round Two) and the No. 58 pick (the second selection in Round Three, which Washington acquired in an earlier trade with Cincinnati, a deal that allows the Redskins to trade up for WR Desmond Howard and the Bengals to move down for QB David Klingler).  

Remarkably, the Cowboys actually exercise one of the picks acquired from Washington, taking CB Clayton Holmes 58th overall. (The Redskins, in case you are wondering, select DE Shane Collins and OG Paul Siever with their picks.)

As for the No. 56 selection? This is where the Lions come in. Detroit acquires the pick from Dallas, trading third-, fourth- and ninth-round picks to the Cowboys, who take OT James Brown, OL Tom Myslinski and DB Chris Hall. 

And with the final pick of the second round, the Lions select Hanson.

Related link: Walker trade built foundation for Cowboys' success

PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the first issue now ready for mailing. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — He might not be sure what position he's playing or how much time he'll get, but Junior Seau knows one thing for certain: He is preparing as if he is going to be on the field for the Patriots Sunday against the 0-5 Titans.

"There's no choice," Seau said. "I have to be ready for Sunday."

Seau went through his first practice with the team Thursday after signing Wednesday, and he said it's about what he expected. Some good, some bad.

"It was fun going out there and taking the steps and getting in the right position," he said. "I am a little sluggish. There are some things I can do better, but for a first day it went well."

The spry Seau, who turns 41 in January, was seen walking around the morning practice during stretching this morning, talking to several players as he got loose, with the spirit of a player half his age. He says he has embraced the diplomat role even after only one session on the field, he said, "just trying to share the love" with his social-butterfly approach.

The locker room Seau is rejoining looks vastly different than when he last was with the team, and even the linebacker meetings rooms only contain a few familiar faces. And because of all the personnel changes, Seau says he has no clue what he'll be asked to do specifically.

"With Bill Belichick, you never know where you are going to be playing," Seau said. "You have to have a little grasp of everything."

"I know what I do miss: stretching with the (Tedy) Bruschis, the (Mike) Vrabels and (Larry) Izzos. My crew is gone."

The good news is that the X's and O's haven't changed much, especially as the Patriots appear to be switching back to more of the 3-4 defense that Seau saw a lot of the past two seasons. Seau knows with so much change to the roster, he could be asked to play inside or outside in both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes; he could appear in the nickel defense or the goal-line group.

"It's the same system," Seau said. "As long as Bill is here, it's the same system.

"I am going to be playing for the Patriots. (Belichick) will give me the package he wants me to play in, and we'll go with that. But as far as … where am I going to play? I have no idea."

Change is part of the only business Seau has known — aside from his brief flirtation this offseason with his TV show, "Sports Jobs With Junior Seau" on the Versus network before returning to the Pats — and he's not shocked at all that half of the veteran defensive players he worked with in 2006 and '07 are gone.

"The numbers are always going to change as far as the personnel (goes). It happens in the league: If you are around long enough, you will be fired. It happens to everyone. And it's not a big surprise to me."

Seau says he isn't being brought in to be a mentor or leader or a father figure in a locker room depleted of a ton of veteran talent.

"I am really not looking at that right now," he said. "Whatever I have to do, I have to assert myself into being the player that I can be. (Getting) into shape and more importantly, being a part of the formula.

"My role is to help this team win."

When asked what Seau brings to the team, NT Vince Wilfork didn't mince words: "A lot of leadership. A lot of these (younger players) haven't had a chance to play with Junior.

"A bunch of guys grew up watching him, as I did, and all of a sudden you get a chance to play with him. You see his preparation, it's just amazing. … You can learn so much from a guy like that."

And could Wilfork imagine playing until he is 40?

"I wouldn't say that," he said with a big laugh.

The NFL's owners and the NFL Players Association have just over four months to work out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement or the league will reach the 2010 calendar without a salary cap for the first time since 1993.

The ramifications are large for both players and owners, and though the two sides — and commissioner Roger Goodell — continue to say that working out a new deal is critical, there have been few substantive developments in the negotiations.

Pro Football Weekly reached out to NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith for an exclusive Q&A to discuss the labor issues that stare the league in the face. Smith has been on the job for less than a year, and he has been hard at work trying to meet with players around the league (he has visited 30 of the 32 clubs) and educate them on the latest goings-on with the owners and what a cap-less season — and, if it gets that far, a potential owners lockout in 2011 — might mean for their future.

Here's what Smith had to say in a recent conversation.

PFW: The union and the owners' negotiating team just met for another round of CBA discussions on Oct. 20, the fourth time you have met in this process. How would you say this most recent session went?

Smith: It has been my position not to comment on the specific talks of the sessions.

PFW: The vibe from the owners' meetings in Boston was a hopeful one from commissioner Goodell and some of the owners who spoke on the matter. Do you share their optimism?

Smith: I am hopeful we can get this done, yes. We are committed. There's nothing I want more for the players. I do believe we are on a tight deadline here (to get a new CBA by March), though.

PFW: One of the interesting discrepancies lately has been the issue of economic transparency. The owners opted out of the deal, and the union has said it wants the teams to open up their books to justify the move. Goodell last week told us that no one from the union explicitly has asked for the league to open its books. Do you say differently?

Smith: I chose not to respond (when he heard Goodell's comments). What I would rather do is not even address that specifically. But the owners opted out of the agreement in '08. And it seems to me that if they believe there is an economic problem, or an economic imbalance, in the current deal, they know how much players make. It would be important, in order to analyze whether there is an imbalance, to know what every team makes per year. That's why the profit and/or loss of the teams is critical information in evaluating whether or not this is a fair deal between the owners and the players.

PFW: The one team that is publicly traded, the Green Bay Packers, reported significant gains last season. What can be gleaned from that information?

Smith: Looking at the Packers' audited financial statements, it showed that they made $20 million in profit last year with a slight decrease on investment revenue, which is understandable. And while you can't extrapolate that, that is one of the smaller-market teams that still showed a tremendous profit in a recession. Brett Favre was gone, and they didn't even make the playoffs. One question I would have is, does the NFL believe that the Green Bay Packers' organization is hurt or suffers any harm by having to turn over their financial statements? My guess is that the NFL doesn't believe that they are economically harmed or competitively harmed in any way. If you want to ask (Packers president and CEO) Mark Murphy … does he believe that he is hurt by having to turn over the Packers' audited financial statements every year?

PFW: You have been going around to different teams, explaining the benefit of players saving up in case of an owners lockout in 2011. Has it begun to sink in for some of them how close and how real all of this is?

Smith: I am positive that it has sunk in. We have met, obviously, with virtually all of the teams, all except two. But in addition, we had a special conference call with (the players') agents to explain what we believe about the lockout, and the agents agree about (the players') need to save. We've also had calls with the presidents of the players' wives' association (Off The Field), the players' mothers' association (Professional Football Players Mothers Association) and the fathers' association (National Football Players Father's Association). And we also had calls with the financial advisors for many of the players. So it was important for me to get that information not only to the players but also to their wives, to their parents, to their agents and to their financial advisors.

PFW: In April, the Lions signed No. 1 draft pick Matthew Stafford to a contract that is worth $41.7 million guaranteed — more guaranteed money than in the extension recently signed by former Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning. The owners are likely to ask for a rookie wage scale of some kind. Is there a way to have a system like this in place that actually benefits the players as a whole?

Smith: Yes. And sometimes I believe this is missed from mainstream media, talking about the rookie wage scale … no one from the NFL has proposed a veteran retention program. No one has proposed that money they would save with a rookie scale would go to veterans. No one has proposed a policy to increase the amount of money under the (salary) cap that should be dedicated to veterans. So while I have heard a great deal of rhetoric about a rookie wage scale, no one from the National Football League has proposed a framework that would work within a rookie wage scale or create a financial structure that was designed to help teams keep veterans.

PFW: Are you only talking about the owners proposing it to the players? Or has the union proposed such a system to the owners?

Smith: No one has made a formal proposal on the rookie wage scale. Well, I should say this: The NFL hasn't made a formal proposal on a rookie wage scale.

PFW: But has the union proposed anything in this vein?

Smith: Well, they walked away from the agreement. So we thought we had a deal until 2012. I am not in a position to have to propose anything right now.

PFW: The salary cap presents an interesting dilemma if we reach an uncapped season. On the one hand, you might see some tremendous contracts out there; but on the flip side, there would be no set floor for spending. I have to assume you are ambivalent to the idea of a cap-less season.

Smith: It's important for me to get a deal before the uncapped year. I believe that the system that the NFL has had that ensures competitive balance — on-field competitive balance by ensuring that there is off-field competitive balance — is one that has made more great games, great teams and great fans throughout the years. I don't understand why you would willingly choose to push the fans and the players into uncharted territory where that competitive balance between teams can be altered. I think it has been a pretty good deal. When you think about a team like the Arizona Cardinals that literally came one play away from winning the Super Bowl … and that's what every fan lives for: that any given Sunday their team can not only win today but their team could possibly win it all.

PFW: How important to your negotiations are the idea of guaranteed contracts or partially guaranteed contracts? Or is that just barking at the moon considering how much there still is left to discuss?

Smith: We are interested in learning more about why the (owners) opted out of the agreement and what they think is wrong with the agreement and what they propose to fix it. But now that the players are forced to the negotiating table, will it provide an opportunity to talk about other things? I am sure it will.

PFW: A few weeks ago you qualified the sense of urgency to get this deal done as a "14" on a scale of one to 10. Are you at a place now where you're comfortable where you can get something done? Basically: Would you say the talks are on schedule, or are you in a bit of catch-up mode as far as sealing something up by March?

Smith: (laughs) Let me give you the answer this way: It's important for the players and for the fans to have a deal before the uncapped year. And if this is going to happen, we have a lot of work to do.

PFW: The last round of CBA negotiations went past the initial deadline and included a few extensions before the deal was signed — has there been any talk yet about being willing to extend the deadline if you are still at loggerheads in March?

Smith: You mean can we push out the uncapped year? We haven't had any of those discussions yet. One thing I have promised our players that we are willing to do is if we don't have a deal by mid-January, I have told our players that we are committed to finding five straight days — whether here (Washington, D.C.) or in New York (at the NFL headquarters) — where we just lock ourselves up and try to get a deal done. So far, that has not been met with any encouraging response from the league.

Here's a roundup of interesting facts and figures for the Week Eight matchups. Statistics and rankings don't include the Eagles-Redskins Monday-night game.

Denver at Baltimore

DEN 9th OFF; BAL 19th DEF

DEN 7th RUN; BAL 7th VS. RUN

DEN 13th PASS; BAL 23rd VS. PASS

DEN 17th PTS; BAL 19th PTS ALLOWED

BAL 5th OFF; DEN 2nd DEF

BAL 10th RUN; DEN 3rd VS. RUN

BAL 4th PASS; DEN 9th VS. PASS

BAL 5th PTS; DEN 1st PTS ALLOWED

BAL 12th TO/TA; DEN 4th TO/TA

BAL ALLOWED 309 YARDS RUSHING IN LAST TWO GAMES BEFORE THE BYE.

RAY LEWIS IS ON PACE FOR 141 TACKLES.

BAL HAS SCORED 31 PTS OR MORE IN 4-OF-6 GAMES.

ELVIS DUMERVIL HAS 2 SACKS OR MORE IN 4-OF-6 GAMES.

KYLE ORTON HAS 2 TD PASSES IN HIS LAST THREE STARTS.

DEN HAS ONLY SURRENDERED MORE THAN 20 PTS ONCE THIS SEASON.

Houston at Buffalo

HOU 10th OFF; BUF 24th DEF

HOU 30th RUN; BUF 32nd VS. RUN

HOU 3rd PASS; BUF 10th VS. PASS

HOU 13th PTS; BUF 12th PTS ALLOWED

BUF 27th OFF; HOU 21st DEF

BUF 15th RUN; HOU 21st VS. RUN

BUF 28th PASS; HOU 18th VS. PASS

BUF 24th PTS; HOU 20th PTS ALLOWED

BUF 12th TO/TA; HOU 7th TO/TA

HOU SURRENDERED 247 SECOND-HALF YDS IN WEEK 7.

BUF RUSHED FOR JUST 53 YDS ON 30 CARRIES IN WEEK 7.

HOU HAS ALLOWED LESS THAN 60 YDS RUSHING IN ITS LAST FOUR GAMES.

LEE EVANS CAUGHT 11-265-2 VS. HOU WHEN THE TEAMS LAST MET IN 2006.

TERRELL OWENS IS ON PACE FOR 41 CATCHES, THE FEWEST SINCE HIS ROOKIE SEASON OF 1996.

Cleveland at Chicago

CLE 31st OFF; CHI 16th DEF

CLE 25th RUN; CHI 18th VS. RUN

CLE 31st PASS; CHI 16th VS. PASS

CLE 30th PTS; CHI 22nd PTS ALLOWED

CHI 21st OFF; CLE 32nd DEF

CHI 29th RUN; CLE 31st VS. RUN

CHI 16th PASS; CLE 24th VS. PASS

CHI 20th PTS; CLE 27th PTS ALLOWED

CHI 27th TO/TA; CLE 28th TO/TA

CLE HAS SURRENDERED 11 PASSES OF 20 YDS OR MORE IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS.

JAY CUTLER IS ON PACE FOR 27 INTERCEPTIONS.

MATT FORTE HAS RACKED UP JUST 47 YARDS ON 21  CARRIES IN HIS LAST TWO GAMES.

DEREK ANDERSON HAS COMPLETED 23-OF-70 PASSES FOR 244 YDS IN HIS LAST 3 STARTS.

CLE GAINED 139 YDS ON 52 PLAYS VS. GB IN WEEK 7.

CHI SURRENDERED 445 YDS LAST WEEK.

Oakland at San Diego

OAK 32nd OFF; SD 18th DEF

OAK 26th RUN; SD 28th VS. RUN

OAK 32nd PASS; SD 11th VS. PASS

OAK 31st PTS; SD 21st PTS ALLOWED

SD 13th OFF; OAK 28th DEF

SD 31st RUN; OAK 30th VS. RUN

SD 4th PASS; OAK 12th VS. PASS

SD 8th PTS; OAK 25th PTS ALLOWED

SD 8th TO/TA  OAK 30th TO/TA

SD HAS WON 12 STRAIGHT VS. OAK.

JAMARCUS RUSSELL HAS THROWN AS MANY INTERCEPTIONS (8) IN 7 STARTS AS HE DID ALL OF LAST YEAR.

OAK SURRENDERED 316 YDS RUSHING LAST WEEK.

LADAINIAN TOMLINSON HAS RUSHED FOR 41-141-0 LAST WEEK.

VINCENT JACKSON IS AVERAGING 19.4 YPC THIS SEASON.

OAK RACKED UP SEASON-HIGH 366 YDS ON OFFENSE VS. SD IN WEEK ONE.

Miami at N.Y. Jets

MIA 16th OFF; NYJ 10th DEF

MIA 2nd RUN; NYJ 22nd VS. RUN

MIA 26th PASS; NYJ 8th VS. PASS

MIA 11th PTS; NYJ 4th PTS ALLOWED

NYJ 17th OFF; MIA 13th DEF

NYJ 1st RUN; MIA 4th VS. RUN

NYJ 29th PASS; MIA 19th VS. PASS

NYJ 19th PTS; MIA 26th PTS ALLOWED

MIA t-20th TO/TA; NYJ t-17th TO/TA

NYJ HAVE WON 8 OF THEIR LAST 11 VS. MIA.

NYJ HAD 0 QB HITS IN LAST GAME VS. MIA.

THOMAS JONES HAS 351 YARDS IN LAST 2 GAMES.

MIA HAS BEEN OUTSCORED 79-37 IN 2nd HALF OF ITS 4 LOSSES.

RICKY WILLIAMS SCORED 3 TDS LAST WEEK VS. NO.

MIA 0-2 ON THE ROAD THIS SEASON.

Minnesota at Green Bay

MIN 12th OFF; GB 3rd DEF

MIN 12th RUN; GB 11th VS. RUN

MIN 14th PASS; GB 4th VS. PASS

MIN 3rd PTS; GB t-5th PTS ALLOWED

GB 8th OFF; MIN 17th DEF;

GB 13th RUN; MIN 10th VS. RUN

GB 10th PASS; MIN 20th VS. PASS

GB t-8th PTS; MIN 17th PTS ALLOWED

GB 1st TO/TA; MIN t-4th TO/TA

THERE WERE 3 RETURN TDS OF MORE THAN 75 YARDS IN THE FINAL 7 MINUTES OF THE MIN-PIT GAME (2 BY PIT, 1 BY MIN) — THE FIRST TIME IN NFL HISTORY THAT HAD 3 RETURNS THAT LONG IN A FOURTH QUARTER OF A GAME.

PERCY HARVIN HAD HIS SECOND KICK RETURN OF THE SEASON FOR A TD.

PIT HAD 2 DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS IN THE FINAL 7 MINUTES VS. MIN.

FAVRE HAD A SEASON HIGH IN PASS ATTEMPTS (51) AND YARDS (334).

AARON RODGERS WAS NOT SACKED VS. CLE AFTER COMING IN WITH LEAGUE-WORST 25 SACKS.

GB OUTGAINED CLE 460-139.

GB ALLOWED DEREK ANDERSON TO COMPLETE HIS FIRST 5 PASSES FOR 55 YARDS BUT THEN HELD HIM TO 44 YARDS ON HIS NEXT 24 ATTEMPTS.

Seattle at Dallas

SEA 23rd OFF; DAL 22nd DEF

SEA 28th RUN; DAL 16th VS. RUN

SEA 18th PASS; DAL 22nd VS. PASS

SEA 22nd PTS; DAL 14th PTS ALLOWED

DAL 2nd OFF; SEA 12th DEF

DAL 4th RUN; SEA 13th VS. RUN

DAL 9th PASS; SEA t-16th VS. PASS

DAL 10th PTS; SEA 22nd PTS ALLOWED

DAL t-20th TO/TA; SEA t-20th TO/TA

EDGERRIN JAMES (12,229 YARDS) NEEDS 15 YARDS TO PASS MARCUS ALLEN (12,243) AND MOVE INTO THE TOP 10 RUSHING ALL TIME.

MATT HASSELBECK HAS PLAYED IN ONLY 4 GAMES BUT HAS AN 85 PASSER RATING.

PATRICK CRAYTON LOST HIS STARTING JOB THIS WEEK BUT SCORED 2 TDS VS. ATL: 1 ON A PUNT, 1 ON A RECEPTION.

MILES AUSTIN, WHO REPLACED CRAYTON, HAS A CLUB-RECORD FOR YARDS IN CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH 421 IN HIS PAST 2 GAMES.

DAL IS 3-0 COMING OFF A BYE UNDER WADE PHILLIPS.

TONY ROMO HAS THROWN FOR MORE THAN 250 YARDS IN 5 OF 6 GAMES THIS SEASON.

St. Louis at Detroit

STL 26th OFF; DET 26th DEF

STL 16th RUN; DET 20th VS. RUN

STL 27th PASS; DET 30th VS. PASS

STL 32nd PTS; DET 31st PTS ALLOWED

DET 25th OFF; STL 30th DEF

DET 21st RUN; STL 27th VS. RUN

DET 21st PASS; STL 25th VS. PASS

DET 23rd PTS; STL 30th PTS ALLOWED

DET t-25th TO/TA; STL t-28th TO/TA

DET WAS SHUT OUT IN WEEK 7 FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2001 (119 GAMES).

DET HAS LOST 28 OF 30 GAMES AND IS 1-5 THIS SEASON.

STL WAS 4-OF-13 ON 3RD-DOWN ATTEMPTS AND 0-OF-2 ON 4TH-DOWN ATTEMPTS VS. IND.

DONNIE AVERY CAUGHT A 50-YARD PASS EARLY IN THE GAME BUT STL TOTALED ONLY 90 YARDS ON THEIR OTHER 25 PASS ATTEMPTS.

STL HAS LOST 17 STRAIGHT GAMES, LONGEST CURRENT STREAK IN THE NFL.

STL WAS FIRST TEAM TO HOLD PEYTON MANNING TO UNDER 300 YARDS PASSING.

4 OF DONNIE JONES' 5 PUNTS VS. IND WERE INSIDE 20-YARD LINE.

STEVEN JACKSON RAN FOR 23-134-0 VS. IND.

San Francisco at Indianapolis

SF 29th OFF; IND 9th DEF

SF 23rd RUN; IND 19th VS. RUN

SF 24th PASS; IND 7th VS. PASS

SF t-17th PTS; IND 2nd PTS ALLOWED

IND 4th OFF; SF 14th DEF

IND 27th RUN; SF 6th VS. RUN

IND 1st PASS; SF 21st VS. PASS

IND 2nd PTS; SF 15th PTS ALLOWED

IND 7th TO/TA; SF t-8th TO/TA

JIM CALDWELL HAS TIED BEST START FOR ROOKIE HEAD COACH AT 6-0. HE AND JOSH MCDANIELS ARE FIRST PAIR OF ROOKIE 6-0 COACHES.

CALDWELL IS ONLY 4TH COACH TO EVER START 6-0 WHEN REPLACING A COACH WITH MORE THAN 100 WINS.

PEYTON MANNING PASSED WARREN MOON FOR 4TH IN NFL HISTORY IN COMPLETIONS WITH 3,995.

MANNING'S CAREER COMPLETION PERCENTAGE (64.7) IS THE HIGHEST IN HISTORY OF ANY QB WITH AT LEAST 2,500 ATTEMPTS.

IND'S LAST 4 WINS HAVE BEEN BY 17 POINTS OR MORE.

ALEX SMITH HAD MORE YARDS IN RELIEF LAST WEEK THAN IN 25 OF HIS 30 CAREER STARTS.

MICHAEL CRABTREE HAD 5-56-0 IN HIS FIRST GAME.

VERNON DAVIS HAD HIS FIRST 3-TD GAME (7-93-3) VS. HOU.

SF WAS LIMITED TO 59 RUSH YARDS AT HOU.

IN FIRST HALF OFFENSE UNDER SHAUN HILL TOTALED 50 YARDS. UNDER SMITH IT TALLIED 247.

N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia

NYG 6th OFF; PHI 4th DEF

NYG 5th RUN; PHI 14th VS. RUN

NYG 12th PASS; PHI 6th VS. PASS

NYG 6th PTS; PHI 13th PTS ALLOWED

PHI 14th OFF; NYG 1st DEF

PHI 20th RUN; NYG 15th VS. RUN

PHI 11th PASS; NYG 2nd VS. PASS

PHI 7th PTS; NYG 16th PTS ALLOWED

PHI t-4th TO/TA; NYG 3rd TO/TA

PHI WILL HAVE ITS 4TH STARTING MIDDLE LINEBACKER IN WILL WITHERSPOON.

AGAINST OAK, PHI HAD 54 PASS PLAYS CALLED AND ONLY 12 RUN CALLS. (46 PASS ATTEMPTS, 14 RUSHES, INCLUDING 2 MCNABB SCRAMBLES).

DONOVAN MCNABB IS COMPLETING ONLY 58.5 PERCENT OF HIS PASSES.

ON 31 3RD-DOWN ATTEMPTS WITH MCNABB AT QB, 30 OF THOSE PLAYS HAVE BEEN PASSES.

BRIAN WESTBROOK COMBINED FOR 141 TOTAL YARDS AT OAK.

ELLIS HOBBS WAS REPLACED BY QUINTIN DEMPS AFTER AVERAGING 18.3 YARDS ON KICK RETURNS.

NYG HAD WON 15 STRAIGHT GAMES WHEN LEADING AT HALFTIME BEFORE LOSING TO ARZ.

ARZ HADN'T WON AT NYG SINCE 1999 PRIOR TO WEEK 7.

BRANDON JACOBS HASN'T HAD A 100-YARD GAME IN HIS PAST 10 CONTESTS.

Jacksonville at Tennessee

JAX 11th OFF; TEN 31st DEF

JAX 11th RUN; TEN 9th VS. RUN

JAX 15th PASS; TEN 32nd VS. PASS

JAX 21st PTS; TEN 32nd PTS ALLOWED

TEN 22nd OFF; JAX 23rd DEF

TEN 6th RUN; JAX 12th VS. RUN

TEN 25th PASS; JAX 31st VS. PASS

TEN 27th PTS; JAX 24th PTS ALLOWED

TEN t-30th TO/TA; JAX t-17th TO/TA

OPPOSING QBS ARE COMPLETING 73.9 PERCENT PASSING AGAINST TEN.

KERRY COLLINS WAS 2-FOR-12 PASSING FOR MINUS-7 YARDS, BUT HIS RECEIVERS DROPPED AT LEAST 6 PASSES.

JAX WAS ALSO 3-3 AFTER THE BYE LAST SEASON BUT LOST 8 OF 10 GAMES.

MAURICE JONES-DREW HAD NFL-HIGH 38 TOUCHES THIS SEASON AGAINST STL.

Carolina at Arizona

CAR 20th OFF; AZ 15th DEF

CAR 8th RUN; AZ 1st VS. RUN

CAR 22nd PASS; AZ 29th VS. PASS

CAR 25th PTS; AZ t-7th PTS ALLOWED

AZ 18th OFF; CAR 5th DEF

AZ 32nd RUN; CAR 26th VS. RUN

AZ 7th PASS; CAR 1st VS. PASS

AZ 16th PTS; CAR 23rd PTS ALLOWED

CAR 32nd TO/TA; AZ t-17th TO/TA

CAR HAS WON LAST 5 REGULAR SEASON GAMES VS. AZ.

JAKE DELHOMME HAS THROWN LEAGUE HIGH 13 INTERCEPTIONS.

CAR 9-0 WHEN JONATHAN STEWART HAS 14 OR MORE CARRIES.

AZ HAS WON 3 GAMES IN A ROW.

AZ HAS HELD TEAMS TO 45 RUSHING YARDS OR LESS IN 3 OF 6 GAMES.

AZ 15-0 UNDER KEN WHISENHUNT WHEN IT WINS TURNOVER BATTLE.

Atlanta at New Orleans

ATL 19th OFF; NO 11th DEF

ATL 18th RUN; NO 8th VS. RUN

ATL 17th PASS; NO 14th VS. PASS

ATL 12th PTS; NO 18th PTS ALLOWED

NO 1st OFF; ATL 25th DEF

NO 3rd RUN; ATL 23rd VS. RUN

NO 6th PASS; ATL 26th VS. PASS

NO 1st PTS; ATL 11th PTS ALLOWED

ATL t-8th TO/TA; NO 3rd TO/TA

ATL HAS NEVER LOST 2 GAMES IN A ROW UNDER MIKE SMITH.

RODDY WHITE HAS BEEN HELD TO 56 YARDS OR LESS IN 6 OF LAST 7 GAMES.

ATL IS 8-0 WHEN MATT RYAN HAS 100-PLUS PASSER RATING.

NO HAS WON ITS LAST 5 AT HOME VS. ATL.

NO HAS WON EVERY GAME BY AT LEAST 12 POINTS.

DREW BREES 9-9 VS. THE NFC SOUTH SINCE JOINING NO.

PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.

Just because you make the Top 40 doesn't guarantee you'll be a hit. But linebackers were very much the rage in April's draft, with eight being taken in the first 40 selections, and only once in the past decade (2006, when there were 10) have so many rookie linebackers been taken that high.

Even fans caught on with the LB fever. When the Lions unveiled their new team logo and uniforms to fans and media the week before the draft, fans chanted "Curry, Curry," hoping that their team would take Wake Forest's Aaron Curry over Georgia QB Matthew Stafford.

Think about that: Fans of a team with exactly one Pro Bowl quarterback in the past 40 seasons, starved since the days of Bobby Layne, wanted a linebacker over Stafford.

Curry went fourth overall to Seattle and hasn't disappointed. But this LB class is far from a one-man show. Brian Orakpo (Redskins, 13th pick), Brian Cushing (Texans, 15th pick), James Laurinaitis (Rams, 35th pick) and Rey Maualuga (Bengals, 38th pick) all have started from Day One, quite an achievement in any season.

The other three — Chargers OLB Larry English, Broncos OLB Robert Ayers and Packers LB Clay Matthews — all are seeing more time as they eye starting spots.

The recent success of rookie LBs Jerod Mayo, Curtis Lofton, Patrick Willis, Jon Beason, David Harris and others have proven that the rumors of the potent inside linebacker's demise in modern defenses have been greatly exaggerated. And teams, especially those that run 3-4 schemes, always are on the lookout for the next LaMarr Woodley, DeMarcus Ware or Shawne Merriman as a pass-rushing demon on the outside.

That said, jumping in as a rookie and having immediate success is no easy task.

"There's a learning curve," Cowboys LB Keith Brooking told PFW. "It's something I try to communicate to all young players who come through the door: The NFL season is a grind. The guys that I've seen have the most success are the ones who keep grinding away each day."

Brooking was in Atlanta for 11 years, during which time the Falcons drafted 10 linebackers, only a handful of whom made an instant impact.

"You're going to make mistakes," he said. "You see a lot of (rookies) who get on the field — and playing linebacker, you can never do this because of all the mental gymnastics you're going through — and they don't play fast. If you make a mistake, make a mistake going full speed. The guys who have that mentality, like Curtis Lofton (in '08) — he made mistakes, but when he made them, he was going full speed. We can make up for that defensively."

Following is a progress report on each of the top eight linebackers selected in the 2009 draft:

Aaron Curry
Seattle Seahawks

Ht: 6-1 3⁄4  | Wt: 254 | Sp: 4.54
Drafted: 4th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1            YES      4          0            0     0      0

2            YES      4          0            0     0      0

3            YES      7          1            1     0      0

4            YES      7          0            0     0      0

5            YES      9          1            1     1      0

6            YES      5          0            0     1      0

Under the microscope even more early in the season with injuries reducing the playing time of fellow starting LBs Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill, Curry has earned solid reviews. Widely considered the best defensive player available in this year's draft, the Wake Forest product lived up to that billing in training camp and the preseason, displaying surprisingly impressive pass-rush skills that weren't considered to be his strong suit. Blessed with tremendous pure athleticism and nonstop energy, Curry hasn't wasted any time displaying the ability to dominate in spurts — as he did in a series late in the second half against the Bears, when he registered a sack and forced a fumble, and in a 41-0 blowout win over the Jaguars, when he had a team-high nine tackles, one sack, one QB hurry, one pass breakup and forced a fumble. With a tendency to get "too geeked up," in the words of one daily team observer, and wear his emotions on his sleeve, Curry has been much better when he has made a conscious effort to play under control. That said, his natural intensity is considered a major plus.   

Brian Orakpo
Washington Redskins

Ht: 6-3  | Wt: 260 | Sp: 4.64
Drafted: 13th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1            YES     2            0          0     0      0

2            YES     0            0          0     1      0

3            YES     4            1          0     0      0

4            YES     7            1          0     0      0

5            YES     2            0.5       0     0      0

6            YES     5            1          0     0      0

After a bit of a slow start for Orakpo in his first two weeks, he notched 3½ sacks in his next four games. He has struggled to get off blocks, mostly against the run, but is using his athleticism to make plays. On running downs, Orakpo is the "Sam" linebacker — a position he never played at Texas — and he's learning proper technique on the fly. He hasn't been bad in this area, but he's not disengaging as well as he needs to. In passing situations, Orakpo goes to his more natural DE position as a three-point pass rusher. He lines up next to DT ­Albert Haynesworth, and they are starting to make a good stunt combination with his recent flourish. Orakpo is in no danger whatsoever of having his role altered. He'll keep working with LB coach Kirk Olivadotti on his technique and should make further strides.

Brian Cushing
Houston Texans

Ht: 6-2 7⁄8  | Wt: 243 | Sp: 4.69
Drafted: 15th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1            YES      8           0          0      0      0

2            YES      10         0          0      1      0

3            YES      8           0          0      2      0

4            YES      7           0          0      0      0

5            YES      6           0.5       0      0      0     

6            YES      9           0          2      2      1

The Texans, seeking bulk at linebacker, targeted Cushing in the draft, and he was quickly penciled in as the starter on the strong side. Though he missed the preseason with a knee injury, Cushing has proved a quick study, leading the team in tackles through six games. He has been solid in pass coverage, which was not regarded as his strength at USC. While the Texans' run defense struggled early in the season, it has been much better in the last three games, holding opponents to just 135 yards rushing in that span. And Cushing, who has been nothing short of what he was advertised to be, has been a big part of Houston's improved defensive play. "He's just a playmaker. He's very sound in what's he's doing," Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said this week. He added, "When you get in crunch time, he tends to make even more plays. He's playing like a veteran, playing like a four- or five year player right now."

Larry English
San Diego Chargers

Ht: 6-2 1⁄8  | Wt: 255 | Sp: 4.84
Drafted: 16th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1            NO       1            0         0      0      0

2            NO       1            0         0      0      0

3            NO       2            0         0      1      0

4            NO       2            1         1      0      0

6            NO       4            1         0      0      0

A somewhat surprising selection by San Diego on Draft Day, the plan is for English to be brought along slowly this season. A converted defensive end out of Northern Illinois, he was limited in the preseason by a hamstring injury, causing him to fall a bit behind in learning the scheme. Slated to be more of a pass-rush specialist in 2009, the rookie didn't see a ton of field time in the first month, although when LB Shawne Merriman missed most of Week Three with an injured groin, English came in and made some plays in relief. He notched his first NFL sack and forced fumble vs. the Steelers in Week Four, and he followed that up with his highest tackle total and another sack in the next game. With Merriman set to become a free agent after the season and not expected back in San Diego, the Chargers are grooming English to be their future starter at right outside linebacker. While his playing time and contributions are likely to be sporadic in '09, the club clearly has major plans for this year's first-round pick.

Robert Ayers
Denver Broncos

Ht: 6-3 1⁄8  | Wt: 272 | Sp: 4.82
Drafted: 18th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1             NO       0          0         0      0      0

2             NO       0          0         0      0      0

3             NO       1          0         0      0      0

4             NO       2          0         0      0      0

5             NO       3          0         0      0      0

6             NO       2          0         0      0      0

The basics of defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's 3-4 scheme came to Ayers with relative ease, but he's still trying to figure out the nuances. It's far too early to stick the bust label on Ayers, even though his numbers thus far leave much to be desired. He just hasn't had enough opportunities to be called a major disappointment due to the fact that he's stuck behind Elvis Dumervil, who has played at an elite level through the early portion of the season. Ayers, who played mostly defensive end in college at Tennessee, is getting most of his snaps in nickel situations when Dumervil shifts to the left side, clearing a spot for the rookie at right outside linebacker. Close observers say he showed enough physical ability in training camp to inspire hope that he will develop into the playmaker the Broncos hoped they were getting on Draft Day. It's going to take him more time than many would have liked, but he still has a shot to be very good.

Clay Matthews
Green Bay Packers

Ht: 6-3 1⁄8 | Wt: 240 | Sp: 4.66
Drafted: 26th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1             NO        1         0         0      0      0

2             NO        2         1         0      1      0

3             NO        1         0         0      1      0

4             NO        3         0         1      0      0

6             YES       5         2         0      1      0

After being hampered by a hamstring injury throughout the offseason and preseason, Matthews lost valuable practice time and is began the season second on the depth chart behind Brady Poppinga at right outside linebacker. But there's a good reason the Packers gave up a second-round and two third-round draft picks to select Matthews in the first round, as the USC product has developed into a steady producer. In the first three games, Matthews, who was widely considered one of the better pure pass rushers available in the draft, played about 50 percent of the time, coming in on sub packages in the Packers' constantly shifting 3-4 scheme. Matthews made a big splash on a national stage in Week Four when he stripped the ball away from Vikings RB Adrian Peterson and then ran 42 yards for a touchdown. Matthews got his first start in Week Six and thrilled his coaches and teammates with a performance that included five tackles (three for loss) and two sacks.

James Laurinaitis
St. Louis Rams

Ht: 6-1 7⁄8  | Wt: 244 | Sp: 4.78
Drafted: 35th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1             YES      14        0         0      0      0

2             YES       8         0         0      0      0

3             YES       3         0         0      0      0

4             YES       9         0         0      0      0

5             YES       6         0         0      1       1

6             YES       5         0         0      1       1

Picking up where he left off at Ohio State, where he was a three-year standout and two-time captain, the son of a professional wrestler has been a tackling machine for the Rams. He quickly made a case for himself as the team's first legitimate middle linebacker since London Fletcher with an eye-opening 14-tackle effort in his pro debut in Seattle. A self-made overachiever with excellent intelligence, the Rams' second-round pick in the draft has been much stronger at the point of attack than team insiders expected and has displayed very good range in pass coverage. Going all out in his game preparation with a tremendous work ethic, he also has done a more-than-adequate job calling the defensive signals. Laurinaitis tailed off a bit in the Rams' Week Three loss to the Packers due to a banged-up shoulder, but he bounced back with a team-leading nine-tackle effort in Week Four vs. the 49ers. He's picked off passes in his last two games.

Rey Maualuga
Cincinnati Bengals

Ht: 6-1 3⁄4  | Wt: 249 | Sp: 4.86
Drafted: 38th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1            YES        8         0          0      0      0

2            YES        4         1          2      0      0

3            YES        5         0          0      1      0

4            YES       2          0          0      0      0

5            YES       8          0          0      0      0

6            YES       1          0          0      0      0

Maualuga slid on Draft Day amid whispers about his character, but the Bengals happily stopped his slide, and they have reaped the benefits to date. Off the field, Maualuga is said to be humble and has received raves for his work in the community. On the field, he has transitioned to strong-side linebacker successfully, beating out veteran Rashad Jeanty late in the summer and playing as if he will be a long-term fixture in the Bengals' defense. In time, Maualuga could move back to his natural position of middle linebacker, but for now, his physicality and playmaking ability make him a force outside in Mike Zimmer's 4-3 scheme — a system in which he fits very well. He stood out in the Week Two win at Green Bay. His second forced fumble of the game was recovered by the Bengals, and the offense responded by scoring the eventual game-winning TD. Also, he notched his first career sack, closing quickly on QB Aaron Rodgers. However, his play has been a little uneven of late, with an impressive game in Week Five at Baltimore sandwiched between outings in which he did not make a big impact.

PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the first issue now ready for mailing. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.

Here's a roundup of interesting facts and figures for the Week Seven matchups. Statistics and rankings don't include the Broncos-Chargers Monday-night game.

Minnesota at Pittsburgh

MIN 14th OFF; PIT 3rd DEF

MIN 9th RUN; PIT 2nd VS. RUN

MIN 17th PASS; PIT 12th VS. PASS

MIN 2nd PTS; PIT 11th PTS ALLOWED

PIT 5th OFF; MIN 18th DEF

PIT 15th RUN; MIN 9th VS. RUN

PIT 2nd PASS; MIN 24th VS. PASS

PIT 14th PTS; MIN 18th PTS ALLOWED

PIT 23rd TO/TA; MIN  2nd TO/TA

THESE TEAMS LAST MET IN 2005, WITH PIT WINNING 18-3 AT MIN.

MIN ON PACE TO SCORE 2ND-MOST POINTS IN CLUB HUSTORY.

SIDNEY RICE CAUGHT 6 PASSES FOR 176 YARDS IN WEEK 6.

PIT HAD NINE PASS PLAYS OF 20 YARDS OR LONGER IN WEEK SIX.

HINES WARD HAS CAUGHT 23-357-2 THE LAST 3 WEEKS.

Green Bay at Cleveland

GB 10th OFF; CLE 32nd DEF

GB 19th RUN; CLE 30th VS. RUN

GB 10th PASS; CLE 23rd VS. PASS

GB 8th PTS; CLE 26th PTS ALLOWED

CLE 31st OFF; GB 8th DEF

CLE 18th RUN; GB 16th VS. RUN

CLE 31st PASS; GB 10th VS. PASS

CLE 30th PTS; GB 9th PTS ALLOWED

CLE 28th TO/TA; GB 2nd TO/TA

CLE SURRENDERED 543 YARDS TO PIT IN WEEK 6.

JOSHUA CRIBBS RUSHED 6 TIMES FOR 45 YARDS IN WEEK 6.

DEREK ANDERSON HAS COMPLETED 11-OF-41 PASSES FOR 145 YARDS WITH 1 TD AND 2 INTS THE LAST TWO WEEKS,

AARON RODGERS IS ON PACED TO BE SACKED 80 TIMES.

GREG JENNINGS HASN'T CAUGHT A TD PASS SINCE WEEK ONE.

CLAY MATTHEWS HAD 2 SACKS LAST WEEK. HE HAS 3 ON THE SEASON.

San Francisco at Houston

SF 29th OFF; HOU 20th DEF

SF 16th RUN; HOU 24th VS. RUN

SF 28th PASS; HOU 19th VS. PASS

SF 15th PTS; HOU 22nd PTS ALLOWED

HOU 9th OFF; SF 15th DEF

HOU 30th RUN; SF 7th VS. RUN

HOU 4th PASS; SF 20th VS. PASS

HOU 12th PTS; SF 12th PTS ALLOWED

HOU 11th TO/TA; SF 8th TO/TA

STEVE SLATON HAS MORE REC YARDS (282) THAN RUSH YARDS (274).

SHAUN HILL HASN'T THROWN FOR 200 YARDS IN ANY OF HIS LAST 4 STARTS.

VERNON DAVIS HAD 15 CATCHES FOR 190 YARDS AND 3 TDS IN HIS LAST 3 GAMES BEFORE THE BYE.

PATRICK WILLIS HAS 49 TACKLES, 2.5 SACKS, 2 INT, 2 FF.

MATT SCHAUB HAS 14 TD PASSES IN 219 ATTEMPTS. HE THREW 15 IN 380 ATTEMPTS LAST SEASON.

ANDRE JOHNSON HAS CAUGHT 16-236-2 THE LAST 2 WEEKS.

Chicago at Cincinnati

CHI 19th OFF; CIN 19th DEF

CHI 27th RUN; CIN 11th VS. RUN

CHI 16th PASS; CIN 28th VS. PASS

CHI 13th PTS; CIN 14th PTS ALLOWED

CIN 17th OFF; CHI 13th DEF

CIN 14th RUN; CHI 6th VS. RUN

CIN 19th PASS; CHI 14th VS. PASS

CIN 20th PTS; CHI 15th PTS ALLOWED

CIN 21st TO/TA; CHI 16th TO/TA

JAY CUTLER HAS 5 FUMBLES IN 5 STARTS; HE HAD 5 FUMBLES ALL OF LAST SEASON.

MATT FORTE WAS HELD TO 23 YARDS ON 15 CARRIES WEEK SIX AT ATL.

GAINES ADAMS HELD TO 1 TACKLE OR LESS IN 3-OF-5 STARTS THIS SEASON.

GREG OLSEN HAS CAUGHT A TD PASS IN 3 STRAIGHT GAMES.

CEDRIC BENSON WAS HELD TO 44 YARDS AND A TD ON 16 CARRIES LAST WEEK.

CHI HELD ATL TO 68 YARDS RUSHING IN WEEK 6.

Indianapolis at St. Louis

IND 3rd OFF; STL 30th DEF

IND 29th RUN; STL 26th VS. RUN

IND 1st PASS; STL 27th VS. PASS

IND 5th PTS; STL 30th PTS ALLOWED

STL 27th OFF; IND 7th DEF

STL 17th RUN; IND 14th VS. RUN

STL 23rd PASS; IND 9th VS. PASS

STL 32nd PTS; IND 2nd PTS ALLOWED

STL 28th TO/TA; IND 11th TO/TA

IND HAS WON 14 STRAIGHT REGULAR-SEASON GAMES.

STL HAS LOST 16 STRAIGHT REGULAR-SEAOSN GAMES.

STEVEN JACKSON HAS NO TDS IN 140 TOUCHES THIS SEASON BUT HAS EXCEEDED 100 RUSH-REC YARDS IN 4-OF-6 GAMES.

STL HAS ALLOWED 1 SACK IN HALF OF ITS GAMES THIS SEASON.

AUSTIN COLLIE HAS CAUGHT 14-162-3 IN HIS LAST 2 GAMES.

PEYTON MANNING IS AVERAGING 329 PASSING YARDS.

New England at Tampa Bay

NE 4th OFF; TB 27th DEF

NE 13th RUN; TB 31st VS. RUN

NE 5th PASS; TB 11th VS. PASS

NE 7th PTS; TB 29th PTS ALLOWED

TB 28th OFF; NE 6th DEF

TB 21st RUN; NE 20th VS. RUN

TB 22nd PASS; NE 7th VS. PASS

TB 27th PTS; NE 3rd PTS ALLOWED

TB 16th TO/TA; NE 2nd TO/TA

TOM BRADY'S 5 TD PASSES IN 2ND QUARTER VS. TEN WAS NFL'S MOST IN ONE QUARTER SINCE 1950.

NE'S 59 POINTS AND 619 YARDS WERE FRANCHISE RECORDS.

59-0 WIN WAS LARGEST MARGIN IN GAME SINCE 1976.

45-0 DEFICIT WAS LARGEST EVER.

NE HASN'T LOST BACK-TO-BACK GAMES SINCE 2006, HAPPENING ONLY ONCE SINCE 2003. THEY ARE 29-12 UNDER BILL BELICHICK AFTER LOSSES SINCE 2000.

TB ALLOWED CAR TO RUSH FOR 267 YARDS AND 3 TDS, INCLUDING GAME-WINNER WITH :29 LEFT LAST WEEK.

TB HELD JAKE DELHOMME TO 9-17-65 WITH INT THAT WAS RUN BACK FOR GAME-TYING TD.

JOSH JOHNSON FUMBLED 5 TIMES VS. CAR BUT LOST ONLY 1.

TB IS 0-6 FOR 1ST TIME SINCE 1985, WHEN THEY WERE 0-9. THEY HAVE LOST 10 STRAIGHT DATING BACK TO 2008 SEASON.

Buffalo at Carolina

BUF 25th OFF; CAR 12th DEF

BUF 12th RUN; CAR 28th VS. RUN

BUF 25th PASS; CAR 2nd VS. PASS

BUF 26th PTS; CAR 27th PTS ALLOWED

CAR 26th OFF; BUF 21st DEF

CAR 8th RUN; BUF 32nd VS. RUN

CAR 29th PASS; BUF 4th VS. PASS

CAR 24th PTS; BUF 20th PTS ALLOWED

BUF t-18th TO/TA; CAR t-31st TO/TA

BUF 3-1 ALL TIME AGAINST CAR.

BUF HAS SCORED JUST 36 POINTS IN LAST 4 GAMES.

BUF GAVE UP 318 YDS RUSHING TO NYJ LAST WEEK.

STEVE SMITH HELD TO 38 YDS OR LESS IN 3 OF 5 GAMES.

JULIUS PEPPERS HAS 4 SACKS IN LAST 2 GAMES.

JAKE DELHOMME TIED FOR LEAGUE LEAD WITH 10 INTERCEPTIONS.

Atlanta at Dallas

ATL 18th OFF; DAL 22nd DEF

ATL 24th RUN; DAL 17th VS. RUN

ATL 15th PASS; DAL 26th VS. PASS

ATL 10th PTS; DAL t-12th PTS ALLOWED

DAL 2nd OFF; ATL 23rd DEF

DAL 3rd RUN; ATL 23rd VS. RUN

DAL 9th PASS; ATL 21st VS. PASS

DAL 11th PTS; ATL 4th PTS ALLOWED

ATL 7th TO/TA; DAL t-23rd TO/TA

ATL 13-1 WHEN MICHAEL TURNER HAS 20 OR MORE CARRIES.

RODDY WHITE HAS 266 YARDS AND 3 TDS IN LAST 2 GAMES.

TONY GONZALEZ HAS A CATCH IN 136 STRAIGHT GAMES.

DAL HAS NOT WON CONSECUTIVE GAMES SINCE NOV. '08.

DAL 21-3 WHEN TONY ROMO STARTS AND HAS 100-PLUS PASSER RATING.

DEMARCUS WARE HAS JUST 2 SACKS IN 5 GAMES.

San Diego at Kansas City

SD 13th OFF; KC 29th DEF

SD 32nd RUN; KC 25th VS. RUN

SD 3rd PASS; KC 25th VS. PASS

SD 9th PTS; KC 24th PTS ALLOWED

KC 30th OFF; SD 26th DEF

KC 25th RUN; SD 29th VS. RUN

KC 27th PASS; SD 13th VS. PASS

KC 25th PTS; SD 28th PTS ALLOWED

SD 14th TO/TA; KC t-8th TO/TA

PHILIP RIVERS THREW FOR 662 YDS AND 4 TDS VS. KC IN '08.

SD HAS WON 4 OF LAST 5 AGAINST KC.

SHAWNE MERRIMAN HAS 0 SACKS THIS SEASON.

KC HAS SCORED 20 POINTS OR LESS IN ALL BUT 1 GAME.

MATT CASSEL HAS 0 TURNOVERS IN HIS LAST 4 GAMES.

KC HAS LOST 28 OF ITS LAST 31 GAMES.

N.Y. Jets at Oakland

NYJ 20th OFF; OAK 25th DEF

NYJ 2nd RUN; OAK 27th VS. RUN

NYJ 30th PASS; OAK 16th VS. PASS

NYJ 22nd PTS; OAK 23rd PTS ALLOWED

OAK 32nd OFF; NYJ 11th DEF

OAK 28th RUN; NYJ 21st VS. RUN

OAK 32nd PASS; NYJ 8th VS. PASS

OAK 31st PTS; NYJ 6th PTS ALLOWED

NYJ t-23rd TO/TA; OAK 30th TO/TA

MARK SANCHEZ HAS THROWN 8 PICKS IN THE LAST 3 GAMES.

NYJ LOST DESPITE RUSHING FOR 318 YARDS LAST WEEK.

NYJ HAVE LOST 3 STRAIGHT GAMES.

OAK HAD 6 SACKS LAST WEEK.

JAMARCUS RUSSELL HAS BEEN SACKED 17 TIMES THIS SEASON.

OAK HAS WON 6 OF LAST 10 AGAINST NYJ.

New Orleans at Miami

NO 1st OFF; MIA 10th DEF

NO 4th RUN; MIA 3rd VS. RUN

NO 7th PASS; MIA 18th VS. PASS

NO 1st PTS; MIA 19th PTS ALLOWED

MIA 15th OFF; NO 9th DEF

MIA 1st RUN; NO 5th VS. RUN

MIA 26th PASS; NO t-14th VS. PASS

MIA t-15th PTS; NO t-9th PTS ALLOWED

NO 1st TO/TA; MIA t-21st TO/TA

MIA HELD TEAMS TO 69 RUSHING YARDS OR LESS IN 4 OF ITS FIRST 5 GAMES.

MIA IS 4-6 IN LAST 10 GAMES COMING OFF A BYE.

MIA 2-0 WITH CHAD HENNE AS ITS STARTER.

NO RACKED UP 493 YARDS VS. NYG LAST WEEK.

NO HAS OUTSCORED OPPONENTS IN 1st HALF 106-50.

DREW BREES LEADS THE NFC WITH 13 TD PASSES.

Arizona at N.Y. Giants

AZ 16th OFF; NYG 2nd DEF

AZ 31st RUN; NYG 18th VS. RUN

AZ 6th PASS; NYG 1st VS. PASS

AZ 15th PTS; NYG 17th PTS ALLOWED

NYG 6th OFF; AZ 16th DEF

NYG 5th RUN; AZ 1st VS. RUN

NYG 11th PASS; AZ 31st VS. PASS

NYG 3rd PTS; AZ 8th PTS ALLOWED

NYG 8th TO/TA; AZ 18th TO/TA

NYG ENTERED LAST WEEK WITH NO. 1 DEFENSE BUT ALLOWED DREW BREES TO THROW FOR 369 YARDS AND 4 TDS.

IN WEEK 3-5, NYG OPPONENTS HAD 23 POINTS TOTAL. NO HAD 48 SUNDAY AND 34 BY HALFTIME.

AHMAD BRADSHAW AND BRANDON JACOBS HAD ONLY 17 CARRIES BUT TOTALED 81 YARDS AND A TD AT NO.

NYG WAS ONLY 3-10 ON 3RD DOWNS AT NO. NO WAS 7-13 ON 3RD DOWNS.

KURT WARNER TIED DAN MARINO IN BECOMING FASTEST PLAYERS TO REACH 30,000 PASSING YARDS (114 GAMES).

ARI WAS 8-OF-16 ON 3RD DOWNS VS. SEA, AND 5-7 IN FIRST HALF.

ARI DOMINATED TIME OF POSSESSION VS. SEA: 42:50-17:10.

ARI'S 27th-RANKED DEFENSE (ENTERING GAME) HELD SEA TO 128 TOTAL YARDS.

ARI HAD 5 SACKS BY 5 DIFFERENT PLAYERS.

Philadelphia at Washington

PHI 12th OFF; WAS 5th DEF

PHI 20th RUN; WAS 22nd VS. RUN

PHI 12th PASS; WAS 3rd VS. PASS

PHI 6th PTS; WAS 5th PTS ALLOWED

WAS 23rd OFF; PHI 4th DEF

WAS 23rd RUN; PHI 15th VS. RUN

WAS 20th PASS; PHI 6th VS. PASS

WAS 29th PTS; PHI 15th PTS ALLOWED

WAS 23rd TO/TA; PHI 5th TO/TA

KC STARTED ITS FINAL FOUR DRIVES IN WAS TERRITORY IN WEEK 6'S 14-6 WIN.

CLINTON PORTIS HAD A CAREER-LONG 78-YARD RUN VS. KC.

JASON CAMPBELL WAS BENCHED AFTER COMPLETING 9-OF-16 PASSES FOR 89 YARDS AND 1 INT. TODD COLLINS WASN'T MUCH BETTER: 6-14-75 WITH A SAFETY TAKEN.

PHI CARRIED THE BALL ONLY 14 TIMES (4.8 AVG) BUT THREW IT 46 TIMES AT OAK.

BRIAN WESTBROOK HAD A SEASON-HIGH 141 YARDS FROM SCRIMMAGE VS. OAK.

PHI ALLOWED JAMARCUS RUSSELL TO THROW FOR SEASON-HIGH 224 YARDS, INCLUDING 86-YARD TD  TO TE ZACH MILLER.

PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the first issue now ready for mailing. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.

The Saints' offense has slowed down a bit in their last two games after a dizzying start, yet even after a bye in Week Five, New Orleans is still ranked third in total points with 144, leaving it just 12 points behind the Vikings' league-best mark.

PFW recently spoke with the leader of the Saints' offense and team, QB Drew Brees, in a wide-ranging interview. Brees threw nine TD passes and two interceptions in the first two games of the season and his 14,941 passing yards since 2006 are by far the most by any quarterback in that span. We quickly learned, however, that gaudy statistics are not a priority for Brees. After missing the postseason in each of the past two seasons, the 30-year-old has his eye on a championship run.

PFW: Your team is off to a 4-0 start, but a lot of people are talking about your touchdown-less streak of two games because you haven't gone that long without throwing a TD since early in the 2007 season. Have defenses found the secret to stopping to you? How do you explain what has happened over the past couple games?

Brees: Well, we won the first game that I didn't throw a touchdown pass in by 20 points against a good Buffalo team and then we won this last game that I didn't throw a touchdown pass in by 14 points against an undefeated Jets team. So, quite honestly, I don't care if I throw a touchdown pass or not if we're winning games like that. Whatever I can do to help. I just think it's a product of our thought process offensively of putting more of an emphasis on running the football. For whatever reason, we've thrown the ball a couple times to get it down inside the 5-yard line and we just decided to run it in, you know. Maybe everybody plays the pass so much that it's giving us an opportunity to be real effective in the run game, but like I said, I don't look much into statistics, because obviously we're 4-0 right now and that's all that matters.

PFW: I would think it feels like you have less on your shoulders this season since the defense looks so much better and the running game has improved as well. Does it feel like you're shouldering a little less of a burden?

Brees: Well, you know, I think the fact that the defense is playing the way that they are and we've been able to run the ball the way that we have, that's been great. That does so much for, I think, the overall team and our ability to win football games just because defensively, not only have we been stopping teams, but we've been getting turnovers, creating opportunities for the offense. And, obviously, the run game just helps create balance for the pass game and vice versa.

PFW: You've made it very clear that you weren't satisfied with missing the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. What did you gain from those experiences that has helped you this season?

Brees: The ability just to finish games. And understanding really in the end what wins games and what loses games. Turning the football over, for example, loses games and the ability to get turnovers from the defense wins games. Also just some of the games that we lost had just one play here or there at the end. For example, last year we finished 8-8, but (five) out of those eight games we lost by three points or less. So, we were right there and yet there were just one or two things here or there if we could have just have gone a different a way — our way — then we would've won those games. It just goes to show you there's a fine line between winning and losing in this league and just making sure you do all those little things to make sure you end up on the winning side.

PFW: Pierre Thomas has had a pretty nice last six quarters, gaining 258 yards. Do you think he has reestablished himself as the lead back after struggling with an injury early in the season?

Brees: I think he's doing really well. I think Mike Bell's doing really well, but he's been out for the last two weeks. I think both those guys made a big statement. Coming into the season, if Pierre had been healthy he would've been our No. 1 guy. I think every team now needs at least two (backs). If you look around the league, every solid rushing attack has at least two guys because it's such a physically demanding position. That's really what you need to kind of survive.

PFW: A lot of people were disappointed with Jeremy Shockey last season after he didn't score a touchdown, but he has a pair of them already this season. What are your thoughts on his improvement this season?

Brees: I've been really impressed with Shockey and his ability to … his practice habits. He works extremely hard in practice. He's a guy who's very much full speed all the time. I think there's just a fire and passion for the game of football with him that's somewhat infectious. It's fun to watch him catch a ball and get excited. I think he adds a great element to our offense.

PFW: There has been a lot made of how well you and Sean Payton get along and the great partnership you've formed in New Orleans since '06. Why were you guys able to form such a bond?

Brees: I think he's a great coach. He's got a great offensive mind. We think very much alike. We're constantly communicating throughout the week as far as the type of defense we're going against and our game plan and just how we want to tweak it. I think he's got a very aggressive mentality on game day, which I love. He just gives you a lot of confidence playing for him.

PFW: You guys don't agree on everything do you?

Brees: For the most part we do, but yeah, of course we have those times when we get together and discuss things and maybe his opinion is different than mine, but very rarely because I think that we find that a lot of times if we sit there and watch the film, the film doesn't lie. We do get along, I mean we do agree so much of the time, and obviously we're very much on the same page by the time the game rolls around.

PFW: You've become so ingrained as a part of the community in New Orleans and I'm wondering if you could ever see yourself playing in a different NFL city after all you've been through since signing in 2006.

Brees: I want to stay here the rest of my career.

PFW: Has there been any discussion with the team about making that a reality with a new deal? (Brees' contract expires after the 2011 season).

Brees: No, we're just focusing on the season. That's it.

PFW: You've been very involved with the USO and have visited troops overseas several times. Do you keep in touch with any of the soldiers you've met?

Brees: A lot of them write me letters and occasionally I trade e-mails with them and that kind of thing. It's fun to see these guys and talk to them occasionally to just kind of catch up and see how things are going. Obviously they're all big football fans, so they follow the season and they get all jacked up when we win and we're doing well. A lot of them are Saints fans.

PFW: Are those trips humbling experiences for you?

Brees: Yeah, obviously you appreciate the sacrifices those soldiers make on a daily basis for you. … It just makes you appreciate the freedoms you have as an American. … It definitely puts things in perspective.

PFW: I wanted to send my condolences to you on the loss of your mother, Mina, who passed away in August. Is that something that weighed on you at all here in the early part of the season?

Brees: Yeah, it's something that I think about. It was a very tough loss. I'll always miss her. I know she's watching down over me and my son, her grandson. I just know that she'll always be with us.

Here's a roundup of interesting facts and figures for the Week Six matchups. Statistics and rankings don't include the Jets-Dolphins Monday-night game.

Houston at Cincinnati

CIN 17^TH OFF; HOU 23^RD DEF

CIN 9^TH RUN; HOU 26^TH VS. RUN

CIN 20^TH PASS; HOU 16^TH VS. PASS

CIN 20^TH PTS; HOU 22^ND PTS ALLOWED

HOU 11^TH OFF; CIN 17^TH DEF

HOU 30^TH RUN; CIN 12^TH VS. RUN

HOU 5^TH PASS; CIN 22^ND VS. PASS

HOU 12^TH PTS; CIN 9^TH PTS ALLOWED

HOU 15^TH TO/TA; CIN 18^TH TO/TA

CEDRIC BENSON IS ON PACE FOR 1,558 YDS RUSHING.

THE FUMBLE CHAD OCHOCINCO LOST IN WEEK 5 WAS ONLY THE THIRD LOST FUMBLE OF HIS CAREER.

CIN 3-1 ALL TIME VS. HOU.

HOU GAINED 286 2^ND-HALF YDS VS. AZ IN WEEK FIVE.

ANDRE JOHNSON HAS GAINED 100 OR MORE REC YDS 27 TIMES IN HIS CAREER.

STEVE SLATON IS AVERAGING JUST 3.2 YPC; HE AVERAGED 4.8 LAST SEASON.

Detroit at Green Bay

DET 20^TH OFF; GB 18^TH DEF

DET 19^TH RUN; GB 20^TH VS. RUN

DET 16^TH PASS; GB 17^TH VS. PASS

DET 18^TH PTS; GB 21^ST PTS ALLOWED

GB 14^TH HOFF; DET 22^ND DEF

GB 22^ND RUN; DET 21^ST VS. RUN

GB 12^TH PASS; DET 27^TH VS. PASS

GB 8^TH PTS; DET 32^ND PTS ALLOWED

GB 2^ND TO/TA; DET 23^RD TO/TA

DET's DEFENSE HAS 10 SACKS THIS SEASON, THREE OF THEM COMING AGAINST PIT.

PIT SCORED THREE TOUCHDOWNS IN THREE VISITS INTO DET'S RED ZONE IN WEEK FIVE.

PIT's DEFENSE CAME THROUGH WITH THREE STRAIGHT SACKS ON DET'S FINAL DRIVE.

DET LED IN TIME OF POSSESSION (32:35-26:55) AND FIRST DOWNS (21-18).

DAUNTE CULPEPPER PERFORMED ADMIRABLY IN PLACE OF INJURED ROOKIE QB MATTHEW STAFFORD, PASSING FOR 281 YARDS, A TD AND ONE PICK, BUT HE TOOK SEVEN SACKS.

CALVIN JOHNSON LEFT THE GAME (THIGH) AFTER ONE CATCH FOR TWO YARDS.

BRETT FAVRE THREW FOR 271 YARDS AND THREE TOUCHDOWNS ON 24-OF-31 THROWING AGAINST GB IN WEEK FOUR.

GB ALLOWED A LEAGUE-HIGH 20 SACKS THROUGH FOUR WEEKS.

SINCE THE NFL EXPANDED TO A 16-GAME SCHEDULE IN 1978, GB HAS ALLOWED FEWER THAN 20 SACKS IN A SEASON THREE TIMES.

AARON RODGERS HAD A STREAK OF 159 PASSES WITHOUT AN INTERCEPTION END AGAINST MIN.

Baltimore at Minnesota

BAL 5^TH OFF; MIN 14^TH DEF

BAL 6^TH RUN; MIN 10^TH VS. RUN

BAL 10^TH PASS; MIN 18^TH VS. PASS

BAL 5^TH PTS; MIN 9^TH PTS ALLOWED

MIN 18^TH OFF; BAL 10^TH DEF

MIN 11^TH RUN; BAL 5^TH VS. RUN

MIN 17^TH PASS; BAL 25^TH VS. PASS

MIN 3^RD PTS; BAL 12^TH PTS ALLOWED

MIN 1^ST TO/TA; BAL 10^TH TO/TA

WITH 120 YARDS ON 27 CARRIES, CIN RB CEDRIC BENSON BECAME THE FIRST PLAYER TO RUSH FOR 100 YARDS AGAINST THE RAVENS IN 40 GAMES.

CIN HELD BAL 82 RUSHING YARDS ON 18 CARRIES.

JOE FLACCO COMPLETED 22-OF-31 PASSES BUT FOR ONLY 186 YARDS, AND HIS FINAL PASS WAS PICKED OFF TO END THE GAME SUNDAY.

MIN DE JARED ALLEN RECOVERED TWO FUMBLES AGAINST STL, INCLUDING A 52-YARD TD IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

MIN 5-0 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2003, WHEN IT STARTED 6-0.

BRETT FAVRE TURNED 40 ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY BECAME THE 12TH QB IN THE SUPER BOWL ERA (SINCE 1966) TO START A GAME AT THE AGE OF 40 OR OLDER. HE IS 5-0 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER.

Cleveland at Pittsburgh

CLE 31^ST OFF; PIT 5^TH DEF

CLE 16^TH RUN; PIT 3^RD VS. RUN

CLE 30^TH PASS; PIT 14^TH VS. PASS

CLE 30^TH PTS; PIT 14^TH PTS ALLOWED

PIT 7^TH OFF; CLE 29^TH DEF

PIT 21^ST RUN; CLE 32^ND VS. RUN

PIT 4^TH PASS; CLE 10^TH VS. PASS

PIT 14^TH PTS; CLE 23^RD PTS ALLOWED

PIT 27^TH TO/TA; CLE 27^TH TO/TA

CLE P DAVE ZASTUDIL HAD 7 PUNTS DOWNED INSIDE THE 20 LAST WEEK.

DEREK ANDERSON COMOLETED JUST 2-OF-17 PASSES IN WEEK 5 AT BUFFALO.

PIT NOTCHED 7 SACKS IN WEEK FIVE (8 SACKS IN PREVIOUS 4 GAMES).

JAMAL LEWIS RUSHED FOR 118 YARDS LAST WEEK, THE FIRST TIME HE HAD BROKEN 100 YDS SINCE DEC. 30, 2007.

CLE OLB KAMERION WIMBLEY HAS A SACK IN THREE CONSECUTIVE GAMES.

PIT HAS BEEN OUTSCORED 55-13 IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.

PIT HAS WON 11 STRAIGHT VS. CLE.

Kansas City at Washington

KC 30^TH OFF; WAS 5^TH DEF

KC 24^TH RUN; WAS 22^ND VS. RUN

KC 28^TH PASS; WAS 3^RD VS. PASS

KC 24^TH PTS; WAS 6^TH PTS ALLOWED

WAS 23^RD OFF; KC 32^ND DEF

WAS 25^TH RUN; KC 25^TH VS. RUN

WAS 22^ND PASS; KC 29^TH VS. PASS

WAS 27^TH PTS; KC 28^TH PTS ALLOWED

WAS 18^TH TO/TA; KC 10^TH TO/TA

WAS ALLOWED MILES AUSTIN TO CATCH A DALLAS-RECORD 250 YARDS ON 10 PASSES, INCLUDING THE GAME-WINNING TD IN OVERTIME.

DAL AVERAGED CLOSE TO 18 YARDS PER COMPLETION. DALLAS HAD THREE PLAYS OF AT LEAST 17 YARDS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. AUSTIN HAD THREE RECEPTIONS FOR 153 YARDS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.

 MATT CASSEL THREW FOR 253 YARDS AND TWO TOUCHDOWNS, INCLUDING ONE TO MIKE VRABEL.

VRABEL NOW HAS 11 TD RECEPTIONS IN HIS CAREER.

LARRY JOHNSON RAN 21 TIMES FOR ONLY 37 YARDS.

JOHNSON IS AVERAGING A MERE 2.4 YARDS A CARRY.

WAS HELD TO JUST 198 TOTAL YARDS IN WEEK 5.

WAS' ONLY TDS LAST WEEK CAME OFF TURNOVERS IN CAR'S ZONE.

TE CHRIS COOLEY WAS HELD WITHOUT A CATCH FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HIS ROOKIE SEASON (2004).

QB JASON CAMPBELL COMPLETED 17-OF-23 PASSES BUT ONLY FOR 145 YARDS

THE RUN GAME NETTED BARELY MORE THAN THREE YARDS A CARRY VS. CAR.

Chicago at Atlanta

CHI 22^ND OFF; ATL 20^TH DEF

CHI 27^TH RUN; ATL 24^TH VS. RUN

CHI 19^TH PASS; ATL 21^ST VS. PASS

CHI 7^TH PTS; ATL 5^TH PTS ALLOWED

ATL 13^TH OFF; CHI 13^TH DEF

ATL 15^TH RUN; CHI 9^TH VS. RUN

ATL 14^TH PASS; CHI 19^TH VS. PASS

ATL 9^TH PTS; CHI 13^TH PTS ALLOWED

ATL 7^TH TO/TA; CHI 16^TH TO/TA

MICHAEL TURNER HAS FUMBLED IN EACH OF THE LAST THREE GAMES.

MATT RYAN HAS A QB RATING OF 102.9.

ADEWALE OGUNLEYE HAS 4.5 SACKS IN 4 GAMES; HE HAD 5 ALL OF LAST SEASON.

JAY CUTLER HAS THROWN AT LEAST 2 TD PASSES IN HIS LAST 3 STARTS.

RODDY WHITE HAD TD CATCHES OF 90 AND 31 YDS LAST WEEK.

GREG OLSEN IS ON PACE FOR JUST 40 CATCHES.

St. Louis at Jacksonville

STL 28^th OFF; JAX 30^th DEF

STL 12^th RUN; JAX 19^th VS. RUN

STL 26^th PASS; JAX 30^th VS. PASS

STL 32^nd PTS; JAX 24^th PTS ALLOWED

JAX 19^th OFF; STL 24^th DEF

JAX 13^th RUN; STL 23^rd VS. RUN

JAX 18^th PASS; STL 24^th VS. PASS

JAX 22^nd PTS; STL 31^st PTS ALLOWED

JAX 10^th TO/TA; STL 31^st TO/TA

JAX 1-4 IN LAST 5 VS. THE NFC.

STL HAS LOST ITS LAST 8 VS. THE AFC.

DAVID GARRARD HAS 5 TDS AND 1 INT BUT HAS LOST 3 FUMBLES THE

LAST 2 WEEKS.

MAURICE JONES-DREW HAS BEEN HELD TO 48 YARDS ON 18 CARRIES OVER THE LAST TWO GAMES.

STEVEN JACKSON IS ON PACE FOR 1,443 RUSHING YARDS BUT HAS YET TO SCORE A TD.

Buffalo at N.Y. Jets

BUF 25^th OFF; NYJ 4^th DEF

BUF 10^th RUN; NYJ 13^th VS. RUN

BUF 25^th PASS; NYJ 6^th VS. PASS

BUF 26^th PTS; NYJ 4^th PTS ALLOWED

NYJ 24^th OFF; BUF 19^th DEF

NYJ 7^th RUN; BUF 29^th VS. RUN

NYJ 27^th PASS; BUF 7^th VS. PASS

NYJ 23^rd PTS; BUF 20^th PTS ALLOWED

NYJ 16^th TO/TA; BUF 30^th TO/TA

BUF HAS LOST ITS LAST 8 DIVISIONAL GAMES.

NYJ HAS WON BOTH HOME GAMES DESPITE BEING OUTGAINED IN TOTAL YARDS BOTH TIMES.

BRAYLON EDWARDS CAUGHT 5 PASSES FOR 64 YARDS AND A TD IN HIS FIRST GAME WITH NYJ.

MARSHAWN LYNCH HAD 125 YARDS FROM SCRIMMAGE LAST WEEK.

Tennessee at New England

TEN 16^th OFF; NE 11^th DEF

TEN 8^th RUN; NE 11^th VS. RUN

TEN 21^st PASS; NE 13^th VS. PASS

TEN 24^th PTS; NE 11^th PTS ALLOWED

NE 9^th OFF; TEN 24^th DEF

NE 20^th RUN; TEN 4^th VS. RUN

NE 6^th PASS; TEN 31^st VS. PASS

NE 17^th PTS; TEN 29^th PTS ALLOWED

NE 9^th TO/TA; TEN 27^th TO/TA

TOM BRADY HAS THROWN 4 TDS AND 0 INTS THE LAST 3 WEEKS.

WES WELKER HAS 26 CATCHES DESPITE MISSING 2 GAMES WITH A KNEE INJURY.

CHRIS JOHNSON RAN FOR JUST 34 YARDS LAST WEEK AFTER ENTERING WEEK 5 AS THE NFL'S RUSHING LEADER.

TEN HAS GIVEN UP AT LEAST 31 POINTS IN 3 OF ITS LAST 4 GAMES.

N.Y. Giants at New Orleans

NYG 2^nd OFF; NO 7^th DEF

NYG 4^th RUN; NO 7^th VS. RUN

NYG 9^th PASS; NO 11^th VS. PASS

NYG 4^th PTS; NO 8^th PTS ALLOWED

NO 3^rd OFF; NYG 1^st DEF

NO 2^nd RUN; NYG 16^th VS. RUN

NO 11^th PASS; NYG 1^st VS. PASS

NO 1^st PTS; NYG t-2^nd PTS ALLOWED

NYG t-4^th TO/TA; NO t-2^nd TO/TA
NYG HAVE WON LAST 3 GAMES BY AN AVERAGE OF 24 POINTS.

NYG 3-0 ON THE ROAD THIS SEASON.

BRANDON JACOBS HAS 1 TD ON 100 CARRIES.

ELI MANNING 31-9 IN LAST 40 STARTS INCLUDING THE PLAYOFFS.

NYG MADE 11 SACKS IN LAST 2 GAMES.

NO HAS WON 8 OF LAST 10 GAMES AT SUPERDOME.

PIERRE THOMAS HAS GAINED 258 YARDS IN THE LAST 6 QUARTERS.

DREW BREES HASN'T THROWN FOR A TD SINCE WEEK TWO.

Carolina at Tampa Bay

CAR 27^th OFF; TB 28^th DEF

CAR 23^rd RUN; TB 28^th VS. RUN

CAR 24^th PASS; TB 20^th VS. PASS

CAR 28^th PTS; TB 30^th PTS ALLOWED

TB 26^th OFF; CAR 15^th DEF

TB 26^th RUN; CAR 30^th VS. RUN

TB 23^rd PASS; CAR 2^nd VS. PASS

TB 29^th PTS; CAR t-26^th PTS ALLOWED

CAR 32^nd TO/TA; TB t-18^th TO/TA

CAR HAS WON 9 OF LAST 12 VS. TB.
JAKE DELHOMME HAS MADE 10 TURNOVERS THIS SEASON.

JULIUS PEPPERS HAS 8½ SACKS IN LAST 7 GAMES VS. TB.

TB HAS BEEN HELD TO 14 POINTS OR LESS IN EACH OF LAST 3 GAMES.

JOSH JOHNSON HAS BEEN SACKED 6 TIMES IN 2 STARTS.

Philadelphia at Oakland
PHI 8^th OFF; OAK 31^st DEF

PHI 14^th RUN; OAK 31^st VS. RUN

PHI 7^th PASS; OAK 15^th VS. PASS

PHI 2^nd PTS; OAK t-26^th PTS ALLOWED

OAK 32^nd OFF; PHI 3^rd DEF

OAK 28^th RUN; PHI 14^th VS. RUN

OAK 32^nd PASS; PHI 4^th VS. PASS

OAK 31^st PTS; PHI 18^th PTS ALLOWED

PHI 6^th TO/TA; OAK t-25^th TO/TA

DONOVAN MCNABB 6-1 IN LAST 7 REGULAR SEASON STARTS.

BRENT CELEK AVERAGING 6½ RECEPTIONS PER GAME.

PHI AVERAGES MORE THAN 3 SACKS PER GAME.

JAMARCUS RUSSELL COMPLETING 42.1 PERCENT OF HIS PASSES.

OAK AVERAGING 5.3 POINTS IN LAST 3 GAMES.

OAK AVERAGING 8 FIRST DOWNS IN LAST 3 GAMES.

Arizona at Seattle

AZ 15^th OFF; SEA t-11^th DEF

AZ 31^st RUN; SEA 18^th VS. RUN

AZ 3^rd PASS; SEA 9^th VS. PASS

AZ 16^th PTS; SEA t-6^th PTS ALLOWED

SEA 12^th OFF; AZ 27^th DEF

SEA 18^th RUN; AZ 2^nd VS. RUN

SEA t-12^th PASS; AZ 32^nd VS. PASS

SEA t-12^th PTS; AZ 19^th PTS ALLOWED

AZ t-18^th TO/TA; SEA t-18^th TO/TA

AZ HAS LOST 5 OF LAST 6 AT SEA.

TIM HIGHTOWER LEADS AZ IN RUSHING AND RECEPTIONS.

MATT HASSELBECK HAS 7 TDS IN 2 GAMES HE STARTED AND FINISHED.

JOHN CARLSON HAS TD CATCH IN 4 OF PAST 6 HOME GAMES.

SEA HAS ALLOWED 85 RUSHING YARDS OR LESS IN 4 OF 5 GAMES.

SEA HAS WON 3 OF LAST 4 HOME GAMES.

Denver at San Diego

DEN 6^th OFF; SD 26^th DEF

DEN 5^th RUN; SD 27^th VS. RUN

DEN 15^th PASS; SD 12^th VS. PASS

DEN 21^st PTS; SD 25^th PTS ALLOWED

SD 10^th OFF; DEN 2^nd DEF

SD 32^nd RUN; DEN 6^th VS. RUN

SD 2^nd PASS; DEN 5^th VS. PASS

SD 10^th PTS; DEN 1^st PTS ALLOWED

SD 10^th TO/TA; DEN 4^th TO/TA

DEN HAS BEGUN 5-0 FOR THE 1ST TIME SINCE 1998.

KYLE ORTON HAS THROWN 7 TDS AND JUST 1 INT.

PHILIP RIVERS IS AVERAGING 311.2 PASSING YARDS PER GAME.

SD IS AVERAGING A LEAGUE-WORST 53.8 RUSHING YARDS PER GAME.

Here's a roundup of interesting facts and figures for the Week Five matchups. Statistics and rankings don't include the Packers-Vikings Monday-night game.

Baltimore at Cincinnati

BAL 3^rd OFF; CIN 17^th DEF

BAL 5^th RUN; CIN 14^th VS. RUN

BAL 6^th PASS; CIN 26^th VS. PASS

BAL 3^rd PTS; CIN 10^th PTS ALLOWED

CIN 19^th OFF; BAL 9^th DEF

CIN 11^th RUN; BAL 1^st VS. RUN

CIN 21^st PASS; BAL 23^rd VS. PASS

CIN 16^th PTS; BAL 16^th PTS ALLOWED

CIN 19^th TO/TA; BAL 9^th TO/TA

8 CIN WRS CAUGHT PASSES LAST WEEK.

CARSON PALMER 6-3 AS A STARTER VS. BAL.

JOE FLACCO IS ON PACE TO ATTEMPT 604 PASSES.

RAY RICE RACKED UP 152 COMBINED YARDS LAST WEEK.

DERRICK MASON HAS CAUGHT 12-206-2 THE LAST 2 WEEKS.

CIN HAD FG, XP BLOCKED LAST WEEK BECAUSE OF BAD SNAPS.

Dallas at Kansas City

DAL 4^th OFF; KC 28^th DEF

DAL 3^rd RUN; KC 22^nd VS. RUN

DAL 12^th PASS; KC 28^th VS. PASS

DAL 8^th PTS; KC 29^th PTS ALLOWED

KC 31^st OFF; DAL 26^th DEF

KC 29^th RUN; DAL 17^th VS. RUN

KC 19^th PASS; DAL 29^th VS. PASS

KC 26^th PTS; DAL 12^th PTS ALLOWED

KC 16^th TO/TA; DAL 19^th TO/TA

DAL HELD SCORELESS FOR FINAL 45:43 AT DEN.

DEN RBS CAUGHT 7-OF-7 PASSES THROWN TO THEM VS. DAL, RACKING UP 66 RECEIVING YDS.

TONY ROMO SACKED 5 TIMES AT DEN.

ROMO HAS NOT THROWN A TD PASS IN THE LAST 2 GAMES.

LARRY JOHNSON HAS RUSHED FOR 72-189-0 THIS SEASON. HIS LONG RUN IS 15 YDS.

KC HAS LOST 8 STRAIGHT DATING BACK TO LAST SEASON.

KC HAS ALSO LOST 8 STRAIGHT AT ARROWHEAD.

New England at Denver

NE 8th OFF; DEN 2nd DEF

NE 18th RUN; DEN 5th VS. RUN

NE 5th PASS; DEN 3rd VS. PASS

NE 14th PTS; DEN 1st PTS ALLOWED

DEN 9th OFF; NE 8th DEF

DEN 4th RUN; NE 11th VS. RUN

DEN 17th PASS; NE 8th VS. PASS

DEN 19th PTS; NE 9th PTS ALLOWED

DEN 2nd TO/TA; NE 9th TO/TA

KYLE ORTON HAS THROWN 5 TDS AND 0 INTS.

KYLE ORTON HAS BEEN SACKED 6 TIMES, ONLY 5 FEWER SACKS THAN JAY CUTLER TOOK IN ALL OF 2008 FOR THE BRONCOS.

BOTH OF BRANDON MARSHALL'S TDS AND 158 OF HIS 219 RECEIVING YARDS HAVE COME IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS.

TOM BRADY IS ON PACE TO THROW FOR 4,516 YARDS, WHICH WOULD BE THE 2ND MOST YARDS OF HIS CAREER (4,806 IN 2007).

3 OF THE 4 SACKS TOM BRADY HAS TAKEN CAME LAST WEEK VS. BAL.

DEN HAS STARTED 4-0 FOR THE 1ST TIME SINCE 2003 (6-0).

Cleveland at Buffalo

CLE 29th OFF; BUF 27th DEF

CLE 27th RUN; BUF 27th VS. RUN

CLE 26th PASS; BUF 21st VS. PASS

CLE 30th PTS; BUF 28th PTS ALLOWED

BUF 26th OFF; CLE 32nd DEF

BUF 14th RUN; CLE 31st VS. RUN

BUF 24th PASS; CLE 21st VS. PASS

BUF 23rd PTS; CLE 31st PTS ALLOWED

BUF 26th TO/TA; CLE 31st TO/TA

JEROME HARRISON NEEDS JUST 66 RUSHING YARDS TO BEAT HIS CAREER BEST FOR A SEASON OF 246 (2008).

DEREK ANDERSON AND TRENT EDWARDS HAVE EACH THROWN 1 TD AND 4 INTS OVER THE LAST 2 WEEKS.

MARSHAWN LYNCH GAINED JUST 4 YARDS ON 8 CARRIES IN HIS 2009 DEBUT LAST WEEK.

TERRELL OWENS IS AVERAGING JUST 39.5 RECEIVING YARDS PER GAME.

AARON SCHOBEL HAS RECORDED 1 SACK IN 3 OF THE BILLS' 4 GAMES.

Jacksonville at Seattle

JAX 10th OFF; SEA 16th DEF

JAX 9th RUN; SEA 20th VS. RUN

JAX 13th PASS; SEA 17th VS. PASS

JAX 11th PTS; SEA 17th PTS ALLOWED

SEA 13th OFF; JAX 29th DEF

SEA 24th RUN; JAX 12th VS. RUN

SEA 11th PASS; JAX 31st VS. PASS

SEA 23rd PTS; JAX 19th PTS ALLOWED

SEA 26th TO/TA; JAX 5th TO/TA

SEA HAS WON JUST 1 OF ITS LAST 5 GAMES VS. THE AFC.

JAX IS 5-5 IN ITS LAST 10 AWAY GAMES VS. THE NFC.

DAVID GARRARD HAS 5 TDS AND JUST 1 INT. HE HAS LOST 2 OF HIS 4 FUMBLES.

JAX HAS 3 SACKS, THE FEWEST AMOUNT IN THE NFL.

SENECA WALLACE LOST BOTH HIS FUMBLES AND WAS SACKED 5 TIMES LAST WEEK.

Washington at Carolina

WAS 16th OFF; CAR 23rd DEF 

WAS 22nd RUN; CAR 32nd VS. RUN

WAS 14th PASS; CAR 7th VS. PASS

WAS 27th PTS; CAR 30th PTS ALLOWED

CAR 25th OFF; WAS 12th DEF

CAR 21st RUN; WAS 21st VS. RUN

CAR 22nd PASS; WAS 5th VS. PASS

CAR 29th PTS; WAS t-4th PTS ALLOWED

WAS t-23rd TO/TA; CAR 32nd TO/TA

WAS HAS WON 7 OF LAST 8 VS. CAR.

WAS HAS LOST LAST 5 ROAD GAMES.

CLINTON PORTIS HAS YET TO SCORE A TD THIS SEASON.

JULIUS PEPPERS HAS 4 TACKLES AND NO SACKS SINCE WEEK 1.

CAR 13-2 WHEN DEANGELO WILLIAMS RUSHES FOR 82 YDS OR MORE.

CAR HAS ALLOWED AT LEAST 151 RUSHING YDS IN ALL 3 GAMES.

Atlanta at San Francisco

ATL 23rd OFF; SF 7th DEF

ATL 25th RUN; SF 4th VS. RUN

ATL 19th PASS; SF 12th VS. PASS

ATL t-20th PTS; SF 2nd PTS ALLOWED

SF 28th OFF; ATL 30th DEF

SF 15th RUN; ATL 25th VS. RUN

SF 28th PASS; ATL 27th VS. PASS

SF 9th PTS; ATL 8th PTS ALLOWED

ATL 8th TO/TA; SF 4th TO/TA

SF HAS ALLOWED 4 TDS IN FIRST 4 GAMES.

SHAUN HILL IS 7-0 AS STARTER AT HOME.

VERNON DAVIS HAS 3 TDS IN LAST 2 GAMES.

PATRICK WILLIS HAS CAREER HIGH 2 PICKS THIS SEASON.

ATL HAS NEVER LOST BACK TO BACK GAMES WITH MATT RYAN.

MICHAEL TURNER AVERAGING 3.7 YPC ON ROAD SINCE START OF '08.

Minnesota at St. Louis

MIN 20th OFF; STL 19th DEF

MIN 7th RUN; STL 24th VS. RUN

MIN 25th PASS; STL 19th VS. PASS

MIN 4th PTS; STL t-26th PTS ALLOWED

STL 30th OFF; MIN 3rd DEF

STL 13th RUN; MIN 9th VS. RUN

STL 30th PASS; MIN 4th VS. PASS

STL 32nd PTS; MIN t-10th PTS ALLOWED

MIN t-5th TO/TA; STL t-26th TO/TA

STL HAS BEEN SHUTOUT IN 2 OF 4 GAMES.

STL HAS LOST 14 GAMES IN A ROW.

STL HAS WON 4 OF ITS LAST 5 VS. MIN.

STEVEN JACKSON HAS YET TO SCORE A TD THIS SEASON.

BRETT FAVRE HAS 77 COMPLETION PERCENTAGE ON ROAD IN '09.

ADRIAN PETERSON HAS AT LEAST 116 YDS IN LAST 4 ROAD GAMES.

Houston at Arizona

HOU 15th OFF; AZ 20th DEF

HOU 30th RUN; AZ 6th VS. RUN

HOU 9th PASS; AZ 30th VS. PASS

HOU 13th PTS; AZ 21st PTS ALLOWED

AZ 14th OFF; HOU 25th DEF

AZ 31st RUN; HOU 29th VS. RUN

AZ 4th PASS; HOU 10th VS. PASS

AZ t-20th PTS; HOU 22nd PTS ALLOWED

HOU t-14th TO/TA; AZ t-19th TO/TA

MATT SCHAUB HAS 8-2 TD-INT RATIO IN LAST 3 GAMES.

HOU HELD OAK TO 45 YDS RUSHING LAST WEEK.

HOU 1-0 VS. AZ.

STEVE SLATON AVERAGING JUST 3.3 YPC THIS SEASON.

KURT WARNER SACKED 7 TIMES IN 2 LOSSES FOR AZ.

AZ HAD 12 CARRIES FOR 24 YDS IN LAST OUTING.

AZ HAD 8 SACKS IN FIRST 2 GAMES AND NONE IN WEEK 3.

Pittsburgh at Detroit

PIT 6th OFF; DET 21st DEF

PIT 17th RUN; DET 19th VS. RUN

PIT 3rd PASS; DET 29th VS. PASS

PIT 15th PTS; DET 32nd PTS ALLOWED

DET 18th OFF; PIT 6th DEF;

DET t-19th RUN; PIT 3rd VS. RUN

DET 16th PASS; PIT 16th VS. PASS

DET 17th PTS; PIT t-12th PTS ALLOWED

DET t-23rd TO/TA; PIT t-29th TO/TA

RASHARD MENDENHALL CAME INTO WEEK 4 WITH ONLY 7 RUSHES FOR 45 YARDS.

MENDENHALL SET CAREER HIGHS WITH 29-165-2 RUSHING VS. SD, PLUS 2-26-0 RECEIVING.

AFTER SCORING 3 TDS IN 6 FIRST-HALF DRIVES AT CHI, DET HAD MINUS-8 YARDS IN THE 3RD QUARTER AND SETTLED FOR A FG IN 3 4TH-QUARTER POSSESSIONS.

DET HAS LOST 14 STRAIGHT ROAD GAMES.

PIT HAD MORE THAN 20 MINUTES TIME OF POSSESSION THAN SD IN WEEK 4.

BEN ROETHLISBERGER THREW FOR 333 YARDS AND 2 TDS AND 0 INTS AGAINST SD. IT WAS THE FIRST GAME THIS SEASON WHERE HE HAD MORE TDS THAN INTS IN A GAME.

MATTHEW STAFFORD HAD 296 PASSING YARDS VS. CHI, THE SECOND MOST BY A DET ROOKIE SINCE 1950, BEFORE LEAVING WITH A KNEE INJURY.

CALVIN JOHNSON HAD 8 RECEPTIONS FOR 133 YARDS - ALL BUT 14 OF THEM IN THE 1ST HALF WHEN MATCHED UP ON ZACHARY BOWMAN.

DET HASN'T BACK BACK-TO-BACK WINS SINCE A 6-2 START IN THE 2007 SEASON.

Oakland at N.Y. Giants

OAK 32nd OFF; NYG 1st DEF

OAK 28th RUN; NYG 18th VS. RUN

OAK 32nd PASS; NYG 1st VS. PASS

OAK 31st PTS; NYG 6th PTS ALLOWED

NYG t-4th OFF; OAK 18th DEF;

NYG 6th RUN; OAK 26th VS. RUN

NYG 8th PASS; OAK 13th VS. PASS

NYG 6th PTS; OAK t-19th PTS ALLOWED

NYG t-5th TO/TA; OAK t-19th TO/TA

NYG WR STEVE SMITH CAUGHT A CAREER-HIGH 11 PASSES FOR 134 YARDS AND 2 TDS LAST WEEK.

IT WAS THE 2ND GAME SMITH HAD DOUBLE-DIGIT RECEPTIONS IN A GAME THIS SEASON (10 VS. DAL IN WEEK 2).

SMITH HAS THE MOST RECEPTIONS THROUGH 4 GAMES IN NYG HISTORY.

OAK RBS COMBINED FOR 31 RUSHING YARDS ON 19 CARRIES VS. HOU.

ELI MANNING HAD 292 PASSING YARDS AND 3 TDS BUT ALSO AN INT AND A FUMBLE LOST AT KC.

JAMARCUS RUSSELL COMPLETED 12-FOR-33 PASSING AGAINST HOU AND HAS COMPLETED 40 PERCENT ON THE SEASON.

HAKEEM NICKS CAUGHT HIS FIRST CAREER TD LAST WEEK, A 54-YARD THROW FROM MANNING.

KC CONVERTED ONLY 2-OF-15 3RD DOWNS VS. NYG.

OAK LOST ALL 3 OF ITS FUMBLES VS. HOU. OAK NOW HAS 8 FUMBLES IN 4 GAMES.

Tampa Bay at Philadelphia

TB 27th OFF; PHI 4th DEF

TB 23rd RUN; PHI 15th VS. RUN

TB 23rd PASS; PHI 2nd VS. PASS

TB 28th PTS; PHI 23rd PTS ALLOWED

PHI 7th OFF; TB 31st DEF;

PHI 12th RUN; TB 30th VS. RUN

PHI 7th PASS; TB 18th VS. PASS

PHI 2nd PTS; TB 25th PTS ALLOWED

PHI t-9th TO/TA; TB t-14th TO/TA

TB DEFENSE HAD ITS BEST GAME OF THE SEASON VS. WAS IN WEEK 4 (277 YARDS ALLOWED, 4 TURNOVERS).

TB RAN FOR 4.3 YARDS PER CARRY, INCLUDING 7-41-0 BY QB JOSH JOHNSON IN HIS 1ST CAREER START.

JOHNSON THREW A TD ON HIS FIRST PASS IN WK 4, AN 8-YARDER AT WAS.

TB PK MIKE NUGENT MISSED HIS FIRST 4 FG ATTEMPTS OF THE SEASON, INCLUDING 2 ON SUNDAY VS. WAS, BUT MADE HIS NEXT 2 ATTEMPTS.

WAS RANKED 32ND IN RED-ZONE DEFENSE HEADING INTO WEEK 4 BUT HELD TB TO 2-OF-15 CONVERSIONS.

PHI QB KEVIN KOLB HAD 391 PASSING YARDS IN HIS FIRST START, A LOSS, AND 327 YARDS AND 2 TDS IN HIS SECOND START, A WIN AGAINST KC.

IN HIS 1ST GAME BACK IN THE NFL, MICHAEL VICK HAD ONE RUSH FOR 7 YARDS AND WAS 0-FOR-2 PASSING.

DESEAN JACKSON HAD A CAREER-HIGH 149 YARDS RECEIVING IN WEEK 3 AND HAS TDS IN HIS FIRST 3 GAMES THIS SEASON.

Indianapolis at Tennessee

IND 1^st OFF; TEN 22^nd DEF

IND 29^th RUN; TEN 7^th VS. RUN

IND 1^st PASS; TEN 31^st VS. PASS

IND 7^th PTS; TEN 26^th PTS ALLOWED

TEN 11^th OFF; IND 13^th DEF

TEN 8^th RUN; IND 16^th VS. RUN

TEN 15^th PASS; IND 9^th VS. PASS

TEN 22^nd PTS; IND 4^th PTS ALLOWED

TEN 29^th TO/TA; IND 9^th TO/TA

IND TRYING TO START 5-0 FOR 4^TH TIME IN 5 SEASONS.

PEYTON MANNING HAS THROWN FOR MORE THAN 300 YDS IN EVERY GAME THIS SEASON.

TEN HAS ALLOWED 10 PASSING TDS THIS SEASON; ONLY DET HAS ALLOWED MORE.

KERRY COLLINS ON PACE TO ATTEMPT CAREER-HIGH 612 PASSES.

IND IS 9-5 VS. TEN SINCE DIVISIONAL REALIGNMENT IN 2002.

AUSTIN COLLIE CAUGHT CAREER-HIGH 6-65-1 LAST WEEK.

N.Y. Jets at Miami

NYJ 24th OFF; MIA 11th DEF

NYJ 10th RUN; MIA 2nd VS. RUN

NYJ 27th PASS; MIA 24th VS. PASS

NYJ 23rd PTS; MIA 15th PTS ALLOWED

MIA 17th OFF; NYJ 5th DEF

MIA 1st RUN; NYJ 13th VS. RUN

MIA 31st PASS; NYJ 6th VS. PASS

MIA 18th PTS; NYJ 3rd PTS ALLOWED

MIA 23rd TO/TA; NYJ 16th TO/TA

MARK SANCHEZ THREW 3 INTS AND NO TDS LAST WEEK.

MARK SANCHEZ HAS 5 FUMBLES AND AT LEAST 1 IN EVERY GAME.

NYJ IS 5-1 VS. MIA SINCE 2006, INCLUDING A 3-1 RECORD AT MIA.

CHAD HENNE HAD A 92.0 PASSER RATING IN HIS 1ST START LAST WEEK. HE FUMBLED TWICE.

RONNIE BROWN IS AVERAGING 104.8 SCRIMMAGE YARDS PER GAME.

PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the first issue now ready for mailing. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.

Pro Football Weekly had a chance to sit down recently with Jamie Dukes, a former NFL center and gregarious analyst for NFL Network. Dukes has become an outspoken figure in the fight against obesity since having gastric banding surgery with the Realize Band. He’s also quite outspoken when it comes to his opinions on football, and had the time to give us his impression of the Steelers’ offensive line, his Super Bowl prediction and a little more about the surgery that might have saved his life.

PFW: What were your impressions of Week One? Anything stand out in your mind? 

Dukes: Well, the Pittsburgh Steelers keep jumping out to me. When you look at the championship-caliber teams and their (offensive) line situation and how they win games is just kind of amazing to me. I think they defy most of the odds when you talk about winning games.

PFW: Well when you look at Ben Roethlisberger, he doesn’t put up big numbers, but he finds ways to win games all the time.

Dukes: But they have no rhythm in their offense whatsoever. Deion (Sanders) and I were talking about this the other day. They have no rhythm in their passing game whatsoever, which is just so unusual. We know about the offensive line situation — I’m telling you, the worst offensive line to ever win a Super Bowl. I mean, the worst. Ben tries to take a little pressure off his offensive line as far as he holds the ball long, and yeah he does to a certain extent, but those guys can’t block … The Steelers, they’re missing blocks, they’ve got guys running free. They break down in every area of protection.

PFW: So do you think that’s an indictment of the coach?

Dukes: No, well, I don’t know. I don’t know who it’s an indictment of, but who am I to indict the Super Bowl champs is my point. “Oh, you think you know so much Dukes, we’re the Super Bowl champs. Next question.” That’s the intriguing thing. As much as you think you know about this game, (it’s full of surprises). 

PFW: What about a Super Bowl prediction?

Dukes: It’s all changing, man. I’m going to go with the Patriots in the AFC and I’m still leaning Eagles, even though the Eagles right now are just a bunch of pieces. I mean, they played well the other day, but I don’t think they’re a team yet.

PFW: Even with McNabb’s injury?

Dukes: Well, then there’s that. But I don’t think the rib injury will be a long-term situation.

PFW: Why don’t you tell me a little more about your situation.

Dukes: My average playing weight was around 290 pounds, 295. When I retired, incrementally over a ten-year period, I was probably one biscuit away from 400 pounds. The last time I actually weighed in, it was 385 that I saw, but that was before going to Hawaii and the Pro Bowl and Mai Tais and all that other stuff. Yeah, I don’t have any doubt that on that week, I was probably closer to four bills.

PFW: So what set this whole thing in motion? Was it the deaths (of your former teammates) or was it something else?

Dukes: It was a combination of things. I had been working out but it was just about nothing more than just working. And then the last one that probably kicked it over the top was the loss of Mel Agee … on Father’s Day weekend.

PFW: That’s got to be significant for you. You’ve got kids, right?

Dukes: Yeah, and that’s the thing. You know, all the guys basically left family members. The biggest thing I’ve learned throughout this whole process is that obesity is like the center spoke for all these other issues. From cancer to Type II Diabetes, high blood pressure, fatalities associated with sleep apnea, and it’s obesity that sits there as the center spoke — the common denominator — with a lot of these issues. As I began to get more informed, it was really just kind of impressed upon me to get out there and start getting the word out. Not just to former players, but I think the obesity community needs a champion who’s not afraid to talk about the steps that they went through to get where they are.

PFW: What exactly is the Realize Band?

Dukes: A (silicone) band that they place around the top of the stomach. Imagine — your stomach is the size of a football. If you look at the very top, there’s a smaller area right at the top of the upper stomach there. The band sits at the top of the stomach, so effectively, it shrinks the stomach from the size of a football to the size of a golf ball, literally.

Here's a roundup of interesting facts and figures for the Week Four matchups. Statistics and rankings don't include the Panthers-Cowboys Monday-night game.

Cincinnati at Cleveland

CIN 25th OFF; CLE 29th DEF

CIN 15^th RUN; CLE 30^th VS. RUN

CIN 22^nd PASS; CLE 16^th VS. PASS

CIN 15^th PTS; CLE 31^st PTS ALLOWED

CLE 32^nd OFF; CIN 17^th DEF

CLE 28^th RUN; CIN 11^th VS. RUN

CLE 31^st PASS; CIN 19^th VS. PASS

CLE 31^st PTS; CIN 13^th PTS ALLOWED

CLE 32^nd TO/TA; CIN 23^rd TO/TA

CIN HAD TD DRIVES OF 85 AND 71 YDS IN 4^TH QUARTER VS. PIT.

CIN IS 1-2 IN FIRST GAME AFTER A WIN VS. PIT IN MARVIN LEWIS ERA.

CLE HAS SURRENDERED 382 RUSHING YARDS IN THE SECOND HALF THIS SEASON.

CIN TRYING TO WIN FIRST TWO ROAD GAMES OF SEASON FOR 3^RD TIME IN 5 YEARS.

CLE'S LONGEST RUN THIS SEASON IS 17 YDS.

CEDRIC BENSON RUSHED FOR 38-171-0 IN HIS ONE APPEARANCE VS CLE LAST SEASON.

CLE HAS ONE OFFENSIVE TD THIS SEASON.

Tennessee at Jacksonville

TEN 11^th OFF; JAX 25^th DEF

TEN 6^th RUN; JAX 14^th VS. RUN

TEN 20^th PASS; JAX 31^st VS. PASS

TEN 19^th PTS; JAX 20^th PTS ALLOWED

JAX 16^th OFF; TEN 19^th DEF

JAX 10^th RUN; TEN 2^nd VS. RUN

JAX 19^th PASS; TEN 28^th VS. PASS

JAX 16^th PTS; TEN 22^nd PTS ALLOWED

JAX 9^th TO/TA; TEN 26^th TO/TA

KERRY COLLINS' LAST 13 PASSES MISSED THEIR MARK LAST WEEK AT NYJ (12 INCOMPLETIONS, ONE INT).

JAX SURRENDERED THREE TD PASSES TO COLLINS WHEN THE TEAMS LAST MET.

MAURICE JONES-DREW IS ON PACE FOR 1,504 YDS RUSHING.

MIKE SIMS WALKER HAS SIX CATCHES IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES.

TEN ROOKIE RETURNER RYAN MOUTON FUMBLED TWICE LAST WEEK.

CHRIS JOHNSON IS AVERAGING 6.6 YARDS PER CARRY.

Oakland at Houston

OAK 31st OFF; HOU 31st DEF

OAK 21st RUN; HOU 32nd VS. RUN

OAK 32nd PASS; HOU t-17th VS. PASS

OAK 30th PTS; HOU t-28th PTS ALLOWED

HOU 15th OFF; OAK 23rd DEF

HOU 30th RUN; OAK 28th VS. RUN

HOU 8th PASS; OAK 14th VS. PASS

HOU 11th PTS; OAK t-15th PTS ALLOWED

OAK t-16th TO/TA; HOU 15th TO/TA

HOU HAS WON 3 OF LAST 4 VS. OAK.

MATT SCHAUB HAS 7 TDS IN LAST 2 GAMES.

HOU 0-2 AT HOME THIS SEASON.

STEVE SLATON HAS YET TO SCORE A TD THIS SEASON.

JAMARCUS RUSSELL HAS COMPLETED 41 PERCENT OF THROWS.

DARREN MCFADDEN 7 FUMBLES IN 16 CAREER GAMES.

GREG ELLIS ONLY RAIDER TO RECORD A SACK IN LAST 2 GAMES.

Dallas at Denver

DAL 3rd OFF; DEN 1st DEF

DAL 1st RUN; DEN 7th VS. RUN

DAL 14th PASS; DEN 2nd VS. PASS

DAL 3rd PTS; DEN 1st PTS ALLOWED

DEN 9th OFF; DAL 32nd DEF

DEN 4th RUN; DAL 23rd VS. RUN

DEN 15th PASS; DAL 32nd VS. PASS

DEN 14th PTS; DAL 26th PTS ALLOWED

DAL t-28th TO/TA; DEN 2nd TO/TA

DEN HAS WON LAST 3 GAMES VS. DAL.

ELVIS DUMERVIL HAS 6 SACKS IN LAST 2 GAMES.

KYLE ORTON HAS YET TO MAKE A TURNOVER.

KNOWSHON MORENO AVERAGING 4.34 YPC IN LAST 2 GAMES.

TONY ROMO 15-5 ON THE ROAD AS A STARTER.

DAL ONLY DEF WITHOUT SACK OR TURNOVER HEADING INTO WK 3.

St. Louis at San Francisco

STL t-28th OFF; SF 14th DEF

STL 13th RUN; SF 4th VS. RUN

STL 29th PASS; SF 24th VS. PASS

STL 32nd PTS; SF t-9th PTS ALLOWED

SF t-28th OFF; STL 28th DEF

SF 17th RUN; STL 27th VS. RUN

SF 27th PASS; STL 25th VS. PASS

SF 10th PTS; STL 25th PTS ALLOWED

STL t-16th TO/TA; SF t-9th TO/TA

STL HAS JUST 3 SACKS THIS SEASON.

STL HAS LOST 13 GAMES IN A ROW.

SF HAS ALLOWED 4 TDS IN FIRST 3 GAMES.

SF HAS WON 6 OF LAST 8 VS. STL.

VERNON DAVIS HAD 7 CATCHES FOR 96 YDS AND 2 TDS LAST WEEK.

San Diego at Pittsburgh

SD 8th OFF; PIT 8th DEF

SD 31st RUN; PIT 6th VS. RUN

SD 2nd PASS; PIT 15th VS. PASS

SD 8th PTS; PIT t-7th PTS ALLOWED

PIT 12th OFF; SD 15th DEF

PIT 27th RUN; SD 26th VS. RUN

PIT 7th PASS; SD 9th VS. PASS

PIT 25th PTS; SD 18th PTS ALLOWED

SD t-12th TO/TA; PIT t-28th TO/TA

PHILIP RIVERS HAS THROWN FOR 796 YDS IN LAST 2 GAMES.

SD HAS MOST INTERCEPTIONS IN NFL SINCE 2007 WITH 49.

SD HAS ONE SACK IN EVERY GAME THIS SEASON.

PIT HAS WON 7 OF LAST 8 VS. SD.

PIT HAS WON LAST 7 HOME GAMES INCLUDING PLAYOFFS.

LAMARR WOODLEY HAD 2 SACKS IN LAST GAME VS. SD.

Baltimore at New England

BAL 2^nd OFF; NE 6^th DEF
BAL 5^th RUN; NE 10^th VS. RUN

BAL 5^th PASS; NE 7^th VS. PASS

BAL 2^nd PTS; NE 7^th PTS ALLOWED

NE 5^th OFF; BAL 7^th DEF

NE 18^th RUN; BAL 1^st VS. RUN

NE 3^rd PASS; BAL 17^th VS. PASS

NE 16^th PTS; BAL 9^th PTS ALLOWED

NE 12^th TO/TA; BAL 6^th TO/TA

WILLIS MCGAHEE HAS SIX TDS; HE HAD 7 TDS IN 2008.

NE OUTGAINED ATL 445-257 LAST WEEK.

DERRICK MASON CAUGHT 5-118-1 LAST WEEK.

JOE FLACCO HAS THROWN FOR MORE THAN 300 YARDS IN  2 OF HIS FIRST 3 STARTS THIS SEASON.

BALT HAS SCORED 10 TDS IN 14 RED-ZONE TRIPS THIS SEASON. NE HAS SCORED 4 TDS IN 13 RED-ZONE TRIPS.

BALT IS ALLOWING 2.5 YARDS PER RUSH.

RANDY MOSS HAS 26 CATCHES IN 3 GAMES. HE IS ON PACE TO CATCH MORE THAN 100 PASSES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2003.

N.Y. Giants at Kansas City

NYG 6^th OFF; KC 22^nd DEF

NYG 8^th RUN; KC 18^th VS. RUN

NYG t-10^th PASS; KC 20^th VS. PASS

NYG 7^th PTS; KC 27^th PTS ALLOWED

KC 30^th OFF; NYG 2^nd DEF;

KC 22^nd RUN; NYG 19^th VS. RUN

KC 28^th PASS; NYG 1^st VS. PASS

KC 24^th PTS; NYG t-4^th PTS ALLOWED

KC t-16^th TO/TA; NYG 3^rd TO/TA

KC WAS 0-FOR-11 ON 3^RD DOWNS ON SUNDAY VS. PHI.

MATT CASSEL WAS 14-OF-18 PASSING WITH 2 TDS BUT FOR ONLY 90 YARDS.

NYG RUNNING BACKS RAN FOR 226 YARDS ON 49 CARRIES.

NYG HAD 28 FIRST DOWNS ON SUNDAY, WHILE TB HAD ONLY 5.

NYG HELD TB WITHOUT A 1^ST DOWN UNTIL 5 MIN LEFT IN 3^RD QUARTER.

NYG HELD TB TO 30 YARDS OFFENSE ON FIRST 9 DRIVES.

NYG OUTGAINED TB, 397-86.

AHMAD BRADSHAW HAD HIS 2^ND CAREER 100-YARD GAME SUNDAY.

THE 30-YEAR AGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TOM COUGHLIN (63) AND RAHEEM MORRIS (33) WAS JUST THE 2^ND TIME IN THE PAST 10 SEASONS THAT 2 HEAD COACHES WITH A GAP OF AT LEAST 30 YEARS HAVE FACED OFF. LAST TIME WAS NOV. 4, 2007 WHEN JOE GIBBS (66) FACED ERIC MANGINI (36) OF NYJ.

Tampa Bay at Washington

TB 26^th OFF; WAS 16^th DEF

TB 25^th RUN; WAS 21^st VS. RUN

TB 17^th PASS; WAS 11^th VS. PASS

TB 28^th PTS; WAS 6^th PTS ALLOWED

WAS 13^th OFF; TB 30^th DEF;

WAS 24^th RUN; TB 31^st VS. RUN

WAS t-10^th PASS; TB 22^nd VS. PASS

WAS 29^th PTS; TB 30^th PTS ALLOWED

WAS t-16^th TO/TA; TB t-16^th TO/TA

TB HAD ONLY 5 FIRST DOWNS COMPARED TO NYG'S 28.

TB DID NOT HAVE A FIRST DOWN UNTIL 5 MINUTES LEFT IN 3^RD QUARTER.

TB WAS OUTGAINED SUNDAY, 397-86.

THE 30-YEAR AGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TOM COUGHLIN (63) AND RAHEEM MORRIS (33) WAS JUST THE 2^ND TIME IN THE PAST 10 SEASONS THAT 2 HEAD COACHES WITH A GAP OF AT LEAST 30 YEARS HAVE FACEF OFF. LAST TIME WAS NOV. 4, 2007 WHEN JOE GIBBS (66) FACED ERIC MANGINI (36) OF NYJ.

WAS ALLOWED DET TO CONVERT 9-OF-12 3^RD-DOWN ATTEMPTS AND TO HOLD THE BALL FOR 22 OF THE FIRST 30 MINUTES.

DET HADN'T WON A GAME SINCE DEC. 23, 2007 AS THEY SNAPPED 19-GAME LOSING STREAK.

JASON CAMPBELL PASSED FOR 340 YARDS IN THE LOSS, THE 2^ND-HIGHEST TOTAL OF HIS CAREER.

N.Y. Jets at New Orleans

NYJ 20^th OFF; NO 10^th DEF

NYJ 10^th RUN; NO 5^th VS. RUN

NYJ 25^th PASS; NO 21^st VS. PASS

NYJ 12^th PTS; NO 13^th PTS ALLOWED

NO 1^st OFF; NYJ 3^rd DEF

NO 2^nd RUN; NYJ 9^th VS. RUN

NO 6^th PASS; NYJ 6^th VS. PASS

NO 1^st PTS; NYJ 2^nd PTS ALLOWED

NO 4^th TO/TA; NYJ 6^th TO/TA

NYJ AND NO ARE 2 OF 7 TEAMS REMAINING UNDEFEATED.

MARK SANCHEZ HAS 4 INTS AND 4 FUMBLES.

MARK SANCHEZ IS 1ST ROOKIE QB TO START 3-0 SINCE 1969.

DREW BREES DIDN'T HAVE A TD LAST WEEK AFTER RECORDING 9 IN 1ST 2 GAMES.

THOMAS JONES RUSHED FOR 20 YARDS ON 14 CARRIES LAST WEEK.

NO RECORDED 4 OF ITS 6 SACKS LAST WEEK.

Seattle at Indianapolis

SEA 10^th OFF; IND 12^th DEF

SEA 16^th RUN; IND 20^th VS. RUN

SEA 12^th PASS; IND 10^th VS. PASS

SEA 20^th PTS; IND 3^rd PTS ALLOWED

IND 4^th OFF; SEA 11^th DEF

IND 26^th RUN; SEA 25^th VS. RUN

IND 1^st PASS; SEA 8^th VS. PASS

IND 9^th PTS; SEA 4^th PTS ALLOWED

IND 12^th TO/TA; SEA 26^th TO/TA

PEYTON MANNING IS COMING OFF 1ST 4-TD GAME SINCE WEEK 14 OF 2007.

IND HAS STARTED 3-0 IN 4 OF LAST 5 SEASONS.

IND IS 10-1 IN LAST 11 HOME GAME VS. THE NFC.

JULIUS JONES HAS 226 RUSHING YARDS IN 3 GAMES.

4 COLTS CAUGHT TD PASSES LAST WEEK.

DWIGHT FREENEY HAS AT LEAST 1 SACK IN EVERY GAME.

SEA WENT 1-3 VS. THE NFC LAST SEASON.

Buffalo at Miami

BUF 17^th OFF; MIA 18^th DEF

BUF 9^th RUN; MIA 3^rd VS. RUN

BUF 24^th PASS; MIA 26^th VS. PASS

BUF 12^th PTS; MIA 20^th PTS ALLOWED

MIA 19^th OFF; BUF 27^th DEF

MIA 3^rd RUN; BUF 17^th VS. RUN

MIA 30^th PASS; BUF 27^th VS. PASS

MIA 27^th PTS; BUF 23^rd PTS ALLOWED

MIA 31^st TO/TA; BUF 16^th TO/TA

TERRELL OWENS FAILED TO RECORD A CATCH IN LAST WEEK'S GAME FOR THE 1ST TIME SINCE 1996.

MARSHAWN LYNCH MAKES HIS 2009 DEBUT AFTER SITTING OUT 3 WEEKS UNDER SUSPENSION.

1 TEAM HAS SWEPT THE SEASON SERIES EACH OF LAST 3 SEASONS.

BUF HAS LOST ITS LAST 7 DIVISION GAMES.

CHAD HENNE WAS 10-19 FOR 92 YARDS AND 1 INT IN RELIEF OF CHAD PENNINGTON LAST WEEK.

RONNIE BROWN HAS 304 YARDS FROM SCRIMMAGE IN 3 GAMES.

MIA HAS GIVEN UP EXACTLY 303 PASSING YARDS IN 2 STRAIGHT GAMES.

Detroit at Chicago

DET 27^th OFF; CHI 9^th DEF

DET 20^th RUN; CHI 13^th VS. RUN

DET 23^rd PASS; CHI 12^th VS. PASS

DET 18^th PTS; CHI 12^th PTS ALLOWED

CHI 20^th OFF; DET 26^th DEF

CHI 28^th RUN; DET 16^th VS. RUN

CHI 13^th PASS; DET 29^th VS. PASS

CHI 20^th PTS; DET 28^th PTS ALLOWED

CHI 23^rd TO/TA; DET 16^th TO/TA

DET SNAPPED ITS 19-GAME LOSING STREAK LAST WEEK.

CHI ROOKIE WR JOHNNY KNOX HAS CAUGHT TD PASSES IN 2 STRAIGHT GAMES.

MATTHEW STAFFORD HAD 0 INTS LAST WEEK AFTER THROWING 5 IN 1ST 2 WEEKS.

1 TEAM HAS SWEPT SEASON SERIES IN LAST 5 SEASONS.

Green Bay at Minnesota

GB 22^nd OFF; MIN 4^th DEF

GB 19^th RUN; MIN 12^th VS. RUN

GB 18^th PASS; MIN 5^th VS. PASS

GB 6^th PTS; MIN t-15^th PTS ALLOWED

MIN 18^th OFF; GB 20^th DEF;

MIN 7^th RUN; GB 22^nd VS. RUN

MIN 5^th PASS; GB 13^th VS. PASS

MIN 5^th PTS; GB 17^th PTS ALLOWED

MIN t-4^th TO/TA; GB 1^st TO/TA

PERCY HARVIN HAD A 101-YARD KICKOFF RETURN FOR A TD VS. SF. HE HAS SCORED IN 3 STRAIGHT GAMES, ONLY 2^ND ROOKIE TO SCORE IN FIRST 3 GAMES ALONG WITH DAL'S FELIX JONES (2008).

BRETT FAVRE BECAME 1^ST QB TO SURPASS 300 PASSING YARDS (301) IN BRAD CHILDRES ERA IN MINNESOTA.

FAVRE HAD 265 PASSING YARDS IN 2 GAMES ENTERING WEEK 3.

MIN IS 3-0 FOR 1^ST TIME SINCE 2003.

GREG LEWIS' GAME-WINNING TD WAS HIS FIRST CATCH WITH MIN.

GB HAD 0 TURNOVERS VS. STL AND SCORED 13 POINTS OFF 3 STL TURNOVERS.

GB HAVE 51 WINS IN ROAD OPENERS, MOST ALL TIME.

MIKE MCCARTHY IS 4-0 IN ROAD OPENERS.

DONALD DRIVER PASSED STERLING SHARPE FOR 2^ND IN GB HISTORY BEHIND JAMES LOFTON (9,656 YARDS).

PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the first issue now ready for mailing. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.

Updated Sept. 22, 2009 @ 6:18 p.m. ET

Here's a roundup of interesting facts and figures for the Week Three matchups. Statistics and rankings don't include the Colts-Dolphins Monday-night game.

Atlanta at New England 

ATL 17^th OFF; NE 4^th DEF 

ATL 15^th RUN; NE 14^th VS. RUN

ATL 17^th PASS; NE 6^th VS. PASS

ATL 9^th PTS; NE 2^nd PTS ALLOWED

NE 9^th OFF; ATL 22^nd DEF

NE 26^th RUN; ATL 20^th VS. RUN

NE 4^th PASS; ATL 18^th VS. PASS

NE 21^st PTS; ATL 6^th PTS ALLOWED

NE 14^th TO/TA; ATL 2^nd TO/TA 

MATT RYAN HAS THROWN 5 TDS AND 1 INT.

TOM BRADY'S PASSER RATING WAS 53.1 LAST WEEK.

NE HAS WON ITS LAST 15 REGULAR-SEASON MATCHUPS VS. THE NFC. 

TONY GONZALEZ HAS 12 CATCHES FOR 144 YARDS AND 2 TDS.

ATL HAS WON 4 OF ITS LAST 5 VS. THE AFC.

Kansas City at Philadelphia

KC 24^th OFF; PHI 10^th DEF 

KC 20^th RUN; PHI 16^th VS. RUN

KC 21^st PASS; PHI 12^th VS. PASS

KC 21^st PTS; PHI 28^th PTS ALLOWED 

PHI 10^th OFF; KC 18^th DEF

PHI 9^th RUN; KC 22^nd VS. RUN

PHI 15^th PASS; KC 14^th VS. PASS

PHI 5^th PTS; KC 24^th PTS ALLOWED

PHI 7^th TO/TA; KC 21^st TO/TA.

PHI IS 1-1-1 IN ITS LAST 3 VS. THE AFC.

KEVIN KOLB THREW FOR 391 YARDS, 2 TDS AND 3 INTS IN HIS 1ST START LAST WEEK.

KC HAS LOST ITS LAST 6 VS. THE NFC. 

KC LOST TO OAK LAST WEEK DESPITE OUTGAINING THEM BY 243 YARDS.

DESEAN JACKSON HAS A 71-YARD TD AND 85-YARD PUNT RETURN TD.

Tennessee at N.Y. Jets

TEN 7^th OFF; NYJ 13^th DEF

TEN 4^th RUN; NYJ 6^th VS. RUN

TEN 16^th PASS; NYJ 19^th VS. PASS

TEN 13^th PTS; NYJ 16^th PTS ALLOWED

NYJ 13^th OFF; TEN 26^th DEF

NYJ 6^th RUN; TEN 2^nd VS. RUN

NYJ 19^th PASS; TEN 32^nd VS. PASS

NYJ 16^th PTS; TEN 20^th PTS ALLOWED

NYJ 10^th TO/TA; TEN 21^st TO/TA

THE LAST TIME NYJ WAS 2-0 WAS 2004, WHEN THEY STARTED 5-0.

NYJ'S 34-13 WIN OVER TEN IN 2008 ENDED TEN'S BID FOR AN UNDEFEATED SEASON.

MARK SANCHEZ HAS A 91.3 PASSER RATING.

CHRIS JOHNSON HAD 284 YARDS FROM SCRIMMAGE LAST WEEK. HE HAD TDS OF 57, 69 AND 91 YARDS.

Indianapolis at Arizona

IND 10^th OFF; AZ 8^th DEF

IND 28^th RUN; AZ 4^th VS. RUN

IND 3^rd PASS; AZ 19^th VS. PASS

IND 27^th PTS; AZ 13^th PTS ALLOWED

AZ 15^th OFF; IND 1^st DEF

AZ 25^th RUN; IND 17^th VS. RUN

AZ 7^th PASS; IND 1^st VS. PASS

AZ 9^th PTS; IND 4^th PTS ALLOWED

AZ 14^th TO/TA; IND 23^rd TO/TA

IND IS 19-5 VS. THE NFC IN ITS LAST 24 MATCHUPS.

KURT WARNER'S 92.3 COMPLETION PERCENTAGE (24-OF-26) LAST WEEK SET AN NFL SINGLE-GAME RECORD.

LARRY FITZGERALD HAS 10 CATCHES FOR 105 YARDS AND 2 TDS.

AZ IS 3-3 IN ITS LAST 6 REGULAR-SEASON HOME GAMES. 

New Orleans at Buffalo

NO 1^st OFF; BUF 28^th DEF

NO 7^th RUN; BUF 8^th VS. RUN

NO 2^nd PASS; BUF 31^st VS. PASS

NO 1^st PTS; BUF t-17^th PTS ALLOWED

BUF 14^th OFF; NO 21^st DEF

BUF 5^th RUN; NO 5^th VS. RUN

BUF 20^th PASS; NO 28^th VS. PASS

BUF 6^th PTS; NO 22^nd PTS ALLOWED

NO 6^th TO/TA; BUF t-14^th TO/TA

NO 3-8 WHEN DREW BREES WAS SACKED IN 2008.

MIKE BELL AVERAGING 5.1 YDS PER CARRY.

CHARLES GRANT HAS 5½ SACKS IN LAST 24 GAMES.

TERRELL OWENS HAS AT LEAST 1 CATCH IN LAST 185 GAMES.

FRED JACKSON HAD CAREER HIGH 163 YDS RUSHING LAST WEEK.

BUF HAS LOST 3 OF LAST 4 AT RALPH WILSON STADIUM.

Denver at Oakland

DEN 8^th OFF; OAK 23^th DEF

DEN 10^th RUN; OAK 21^st VS. RUN

DEN 12^th PASS; OAK t-21^st VS. PASS

DEN 18^th PTS; OAK 10^th PTS ALLOWED

OAK 28^th OFF; DEN 3^rd DEF

OAK 16^th RUN; DEN 10^th VS. RUN

OAK 29^th PASS; DEN t-10^th VS. PASS

OAK 23^rd PTS; DEN 1^st PTS ALLOWED

DEN t-2^nd TO/TA; OAK t-10^th TO/TA

DEN 17-6 WHEN CHAMP BAILEY HAS INTERCEPTION.

DEN IS 2-0 FOR THE 3RD STRAIGHT SEASON.

DEN OLB ELVIS DUMERVIL HAD 4 SACKS LAST WEEK.

OAK HAS WON 2 OF LAST 3 VS. DEN.

JAMARCUS RUSSELL 31-44-308, 3 TDs, 0 INTS VS. DEN.

WIN WOULD GIVE OAK FIRST 2-1 START SINCE 2004.

Chicago at Seattle

CHI 19^th OFF; SEA 14^th DEF

CHI 31^st RUN; SEA 27^th VS. RUN

CHI 10^th PASS; SEA 2^nd VS. PASS

CHI 24^th PTS; SEA 3^rd PTS ALLOWED

SEA 12^th OFF; CHI 6^th DEF

SEA 12^th RUN; CHI 12^th VS. RUN

SEA 11^th PASS; CHI 8^th VS. PASS

SEA t-19^th PTS; CHI 11^th PTS ALLOWED

CHI t-23^rd TO/TA; SEA t-26^th TO/TA

CHI HAS WON 2 OF LAST 3 AGAINST SEA.

JAY CUTLER WAS 27-38 WITH 2 TDS AND NO INTS VS PIT.

MATT FORTE HELD TO 13 CARRIES FOR 29 YDS VS PIT.

SEA GAVE UP 256 RUSHING YDS LAST WEEK VS. SF.

SEA 3-6 WITHOUT MATT HASSELBECK LAST SEASON.

JULIUS JONES HELD TO 8 CARRIES FOR 11 YDS LAST WEEK.

Miami at San Diego

MIA 29^th OFF; SD 20^th DEF

MIA 22^nd RUN; SD 25^th VS. RUN

MIA 27^th PASS; SD 13^th VS. PASS

MIA 31^st PTS; SD t-24^th PTS ALLOWED

SD 5^th OFF; MIA 7^th DEF

SD 30^th RUN; MIA 9^th VS. RUN

SD 1^st PASS; MIA 15^th VS. PASS

SD 8^th PTS; MIA 15^th PTS ALLOWED

MIA t-29^th TO/TA; SD t-14^th TO/TA

MIA HAS WON ALL 6 GAMES VS SD IN PAST DECADE.

MIA HAD 4 TURNOVERS IN WEEK ONE LOSS TO ATL.

MIA HAS WON 4 OF LAST 6 ON THE ROAD.

SD HAD 60 YDS RUSHING VS MIA IN 2008 MEETING.

PHILIP RIVERS HAD CAREER HIGH 436 YDS LAST WEEK.

SD 9-2 WHEN VINCENT JACKSON HAS 74 YDS OR MORE.

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 

PIT 11^TH DEF; CIN 20^TH OFF

PIT 7^TH VS. RUN; CIN 11^TH RUN

PIT 20^TH VS. PASS; CIN 23^RD PASS

PIT 6^TH PTS ALLOWED; CIN 19^TH PTS

CIN 13^TH DEF; PIT 16^TH OFF

CIN 11^TH VS. RUN; PIT 29^TH RUN

CIN 17^TH VS. PASS; PIT 7^TH PASS

CIN 12^TH PTS ALLOWED; PIT 28^TH PTS

CIN 26^TH TO/TA; PIT 26^TH TO/TA

CIN IS 5-1-1 WHEN CEDRIC BENSON GETS 20 CARRIES OR MORE.

CIN HAS LOST 8 STRAIGHT VS. PIT (INCLUDING PLAYOFFS).

CARSON PALMER'S 3 TD PASSES VS. GB IN WEEK 2 WERE AS MANY AS HE THREW IN 4 STARTS IN 2008.

WILLIE PARKER IS AVERAGING 2.4 YARDS PER CARRY. HIS LONG RUN IS 13 YARDS.

ANTWAN ODOM'S 5 SACKS IN WEEK 2 TIED A CIN TEAM RECORD. HE HAS 7 SACKS ON THE YEAR, ONE OFF HIS CAREER-HIGH.

CIN  HAS 9 SACKS THIS SEASON; IT NOTCHED 17 ALL OF LAST SEASON.

BEN ROETHLISBERGER IS 11-0 VS. THE NFL'S OHIO FRANCHISES IN HIS CAREER (INCLUDING PLAYOFFS).

Cleveland at Baltimore

CLE 25^TH DEF; BAL 3^RD OFF

CLE 31^ST VS. RUN; BAL 3^RD RUN

CLE 7^TH VS. PASS; BAL 13^TH PASS 

CLE 29^TH PTS ALLOWED; BAL 2^ND PTS

BAL 17^TH DEF; CLE 32^ND OFF

BAL 1^ST VS. RUN; CLE 27^TH RUN

BAL 29^TH VS. PASS; CLE 28^TH PASS

BAL 23^RD PTS ALLOWED; CLE 29^TH PTS

BAL 14^TH TO/TA; CLE 29^TH TO/TA

CLE HAS ONE OFFENSIVE TD IN ITS LAST 8 GAMES.

BRAYLON EDWARDS CAUGHT 6 PASSES FOR 92 YARDS IN WEEK 2.

CLE IS 2-13 ON THE ROAD IN AFC NORTH PLAY SINCE 2004.

BAL SURRENDERED 421 YARDS PASSING TO SD IN WEEK 2.

WILLIS MCGAHEE HAS SCORED A PAIR OF TDS IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES.

RAY LEWIS HAD 3 TACKLES FOR LOSS IN WEEK 2.

BAL TRYING TO START 3-0 FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2006.

Jacksonville at Houston 

JAX 24^TH DEF; HOU 22^nd OFF

JAX 13^TH VS. RUN; HOU 32^nd RUN

JAX 26^TH VS. PASS; HOU 9th PASS

JAX 17^TH PTS ALLOWED; HOU 13th PTS

HOU 22^nd DEF; JAX 23^RD OFF

HOU 32^nd VS. RUN; JAX 18^TH RUN

HOU 12^th VS. PASS; JAX 22nd PASS

HOU 27^th PTS ALLOWED; JAX 26th PTS

HOU 10^th TO/TA; JAX 10^th TO/TA

HOU ALLOWED 9.2 YARDS PER RUSH VS. TEN IN WEEK 2.

MATT SCHAUB TARGETED ANDRE JOHNSON 16 TIMES IN WEEK 2. JOHNSON CAUGHT 10 OF THOSE ATTEMPTS FOR 149 YARDS AND 2 TDS.

STEVE SLATON RUSHED FOR 20-133-2 VS. JAX IN WEEK 13 OF LAST SEASON.

HOU HAS WON 3 STRAIGHT VS. JAX AT HOME AND HAS AVERAGED 33 POINTS.

DAVID GARRARD FUMBLED 3 TIMES IN WEEK 2.

JAX WR MIKE WALKER HAD 107 SECOND-HALF REC YARDS IN WEEK 2.

Green Bay at St. Louis

GB 19^th DEF; STL 29^th OFF 

GB 19^th VS. RUN; STL 26^th RUN

GB 16^th VS. PASS; STL 25^th PASS 

GB 19^th PTS ALLOWED; STL 32^nd PTS

STL 29^th DEF; GB 27^th OFF

STL 26^th VS. RUN; GB 23^rd RUN

STL 25^th VS. PASS; GB 25^th PASS

STL 13^th PTS ALLOWED; GB 11^th PTS

STL 7^th TO/TA; GB 1^st TO/TA

STL TRYING TO AVOID 0-3 START FOR 3^rd CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

MARC BULGER HAS YET TO EXCEED 200 YARDS PASSING THIS SEASON

STL HELD WAS TO 3 FGS IN 5 RED ZONE TRIPS IN WEEK 2.

STL HAS LOST 12 STRAIGHT GAMES DATING BACK TO LAST SEASON.

AARON RODGERS IS ON PACE TO BE SACKED 80 TIMES IN 2009.

GREG JENNINGS HAD ZERO CATCHES IN WEEK 2. HE HAD NEVER BEEN HELD CATCHLESS BEFORE.

GB ALLOWED CIN TO AVERAGE 22.8 YARDS PER PUNT RETURN IN WEEK 2. 

Washington at Detroit

WAS 18^th OFF; DET 27^th DEF

WAS 17^th RUN; DET 23^rd VS. RUN

WAS 18^th PASS; DET 24^th VS. PASS

WAS t-29^th PTS; DET 32^nd PTS ALLOWED

DET 30^th OFF; WAS 12^th DEF

DET 24^th RUN; WAS 18^th VS. RUN

DET 26^th PASS; WAS t-10^th VS. PASS

DET t-16^th PTS; WAS 8^th PTS ALLOWED

DET t-23^rd TO/TA; WAS t-14^th TO/TA

DET HAS STARTED 0-2 4 OF THE PAST 8 SEASONS.

WAS WAS 0-FOR-5 IN RED-ZONE CONVERSIONS VS. STL.

JASON HANSON MADE 2 FGS ON SUNDAY AND NOW HAS MADE 30 OF HIS PAST 31 ATTEMPTS DATING BACK TO 2007.

MATTHEW STAFFORD THREW HIS FIRST TD PASS ON SUNDAY, A 8-YARDER TO CALVIN JOHNSON.

LONDON FLETCHER STARTED HIS 137^th STRAIGHT GAME, 4^th LONGEST IN THE NFL. HE ALSO HAS PLAYED IN 178 STRAIGHT, 2^nd LONGEST STREAK IN NFL.

CHRIS COOLEY HAS 14 CATCHES, THE MOST HE HAS EVER HAD THROUGH 2 WEEKS. HE HAD 6 CATCHES THROUGH 2 GAMES IN 2008. HIS 151 YARDS THROUGH 2 GAMES ARE 72 MORE THAN THE 79 HE HAD LAST YEAR.

WAS HAD 4 DRIVES LAST WEEK THAT WERE AT OR INSIDE STL'S 10-YARD LINE THAT RESULTED IN 3 FIELD GOALS.

DET LED MIN 10-7 AT THE HALF BUT ALLOWED MIN TO SCORE 28 STRAIGHT POINTS IN THE LOSS.

N.Y. Giants at Tampa Bay

NYG 6^th OFF; TB 31^st DEF

NYG 21^st RUN; TB t-28^th VS. RUN

NYG 5^th PASS; TB 27^th VS. PASS

NYG 7^th PTS; TB 31^st PTS ALLOWED

TB 4^th OFF; NYG 16^th DEF

TB 13^th RUN; NYG t-28^th VS. RUN

TB 8^th PASS; NYG 4^th VS. PASS

TB t-13^th PTS; NYG 21^st PTS ALLOWED

TB t-14^th TO/TA; NYG t-2^nd TO/TA

TB IS 0-2 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2006. THEY HAVE LOST SIX STRAIGHT GAMES NOW DATING BACK TO LAST SEASON.

TB COMMITTED 13 PENALTIES FOR 112 YARDS ON SUNDAY.

TB HAS ALLOWED 900 YARDS OF OFFENSE IN 2 GAMES UNDER RAHEEM MORRIS.

TB HAS ALLOWED 210 POINTS AND 23 TDS IN THEIR PAST 7 GAMES.

STEVE SMITH AND MARIO MANNINGHAM COMBINED FOR 20 RECEPTIONS, 284 YARDS AND 2 TDS.

NYG ALLOWED DAL TO RUSH FOR 251 YARDS AND 3 TDS ON 29 CARRIES.

KENNY PHILLIPS HAD 2 INTERCEPTIONS LAST WEEK AND BRUCE JOHNSON HAD ONE.

San Francisco at Minnesota

SF 25^th OFF; MIN 5^th DEF 

SF 8^th RUN; MIN 15^th VS. RUN

SF 30^th PASS; MIN 5^th VS. PASS

SF 12^th PTS; MIN 9^th PTS ALLOWED

MIN 26^th OFF; SF 9^th DEF

MIN 2^nd RUN; SF 3^rd VS. RUN

MIN 32^nd PASS; SF t-21^st VS. PASS

MIN 4^th PTS; SF 5^th PTS ALLOWED

MIN t-2^nd TO/TA; SF t-7^th TO/TA

BRETT FAVRE SET AN NFL RECORD SUNDAY WITH HIS 271^st STRAIGHT START, A RECORD FORMERLY HELD BY JIM MARSHALL.

SF OUTRUSHED SEA 256-66 ON SUNDAY.

FRANK GORE BECAME THE FIRST PLAYER SINCE BARRY SANDERS IN 1997 TO RUN FOR 2 TDS OF 75-PLUS YARDS IN THE SAME GAME.

GORE'S 246 YARDS FROM SCRIMMAGE WERE A CAREER HIGH.

SF SAFETY DASHON GOLDSON HAD HIS 1^st CAREER INTERCEPTION LAST WEEK.

SHAUN HILL IS NOW 6-0 AS A STARTER AT CANDLESTICK AND 9-3 AS A STARTER IN THE NFL.

CHAD GREENWAY CAME INTO SUNDAY WITH 2 CAREER INTERCEPTIONS BUT HAD 2 VS. DET AND ALSO HAD A FUMBLE RECOVERY AND AN ONSIDES KICK RECOVERED.

MIN HAS WON 7 OF LAST 8 TRIPS TO DET AND ARE 30-18-1 ALL TIME THERE.

MIN IS 2-0 FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2006.

Carolina at Dallas 

CAR 21^st OFF; DAL 30^th DEF

CAR 14^th RUN; DAL 24^th VS. RUN

CAR 24^th PASS; DAL 30^th S. PASS

CAR 25^th PTS; DAL 26^th PTS ALLOWED

DAL 2^nd OFF; CAR 15^th DEF

DAL 1^st RUN; CAR t-28^th VS. RUN

DAL 14^th PASS; CAR 3^rd VS. PASS

DAL 3^rd PTS; CAR 30^th PTS ALLOWED

DAL t-29^th TO/TA; CAR 32^nd TO/TA

JAKE DELHOMME HAD HIS FIRST 300 YARD PASSING GAME SINCE WEEK 2 IN 2007.

DELHOMME HAD ONLY 1 INT SUNDAY AFTER THROWING 9 IN PREVIOUS 2 GAMES.

DEANGELO WILLIAMS HAD A RUSHING TD FOR A 2^nd STRAIGHT GAME BUT ALSO HAD A BIG FUMBLE.

DAL SOLD 105,121 TICKETS FOR SUNDAY'S DEBUT AT THE NEW STADIUM, THE MOST EVER AT AN NFL GAME. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 103,467 AT AZTECA STADIUM IN MEXICO IN 2005.

STEVE SMITH WAS TARGETED 28 TIMES THE FIRST 2 GAMES BUT HAD ONLY 11 CATCHES.

HE LED CAR IN YARDS SUNDAY WITH 131 RECEIVING ON 8 CATCHES.

DAL RUSHED FOR 251 YARDS AND 3 TDS ON 29 CARRIES VS. NYG.

PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the first issue now ready for mailing. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.

Here's a roundup of interesting facts and figures for the Week Two matchups. Statistics refer to 2008.

Cincinnati at Green Bay

CIN 12th DEF; GB 8th OFF

CIN 21st VS. RUN; GB 17th RUN

CIN 15th VS. PASS; GB 8th PASS

CIN 19th PTS ALLOWED; GB 5th PTS

GB 20th DEF; CIN 32nd OFF

GB 26th VS. RUN; CIN 29th RUN

GB 12th VS. PASS; CIN 30th PASS

GB 22nd PTS ALLOWED; CIN 32nd PTS

GB 6th TO/TA; CIN 20th TO/TA

GB ALLOWED CHI TO CONVERT ONLY 4-OF-15 3RD DOWNS IN WEEK ONE.

GB IS TRYING TO START 2-0 FOR THE 3RD CONSECUTIVE SEASON.

THE TEAMS LAST MET IN 2005, WITH CIN WINNING 21-14 AT HOME.

LAVERANUES COLES CAUGHT JUST 1 PASS FOR 5 YARDS IN WEEK ONE.

IN HIS LAST 10 STARTS DATING BACK TO 2007, CARSON PALMER HAS THROWN 8 TDS AND 11 INTS.

GREG JENNINGS CAUGHT 6-106-1 IN WEEK 1.

ANTWAN ODOM HAD 2 SACKS IN WEEK ONE; HE HAD 3 ALL OF LAST SEASON.

Houston at Tennessee

HOU 22nd DEF; TEN 21st OFF

HOU 23rd VS. RUN; TEN 7th RUN

HOU 17th VS. PASS; TEN 27th PASS

HOU 27th PTS ALLOWED; TEN 14th PTS

TEN 7th DEF; HOU 3rd OFF

TEN 6th VS. RUN; HOU 13th RUN

TEN 9th VS. PASS; HOU 4th PASS

TEN 2nd PTS ALLOWED; HOU 17th PTS

TEN 2nd TO/TA; HOU 29th TO/TA

HOU SURRENDERED 190 RUSHING YARDS IN WEEK ONE.

KERRY COLLINS COMPLETED 28-OF-58 PASSES FOR 366 YDS WITH 1 TD AND 2 INTS VS. TEN LAST SEASON.

HOU TRYING TO AVOID STARTING 0-2 FOR 5TH TIME IN 6 SEASONS.

STEVE SLATON WAS HELD TO 17 YDS ON 9 CARRIES LAST WEEK.

TEN WR KENNY BRITT CAUGHT 4-85-0 IN HIS DEBUT.

INCLUDING PLAYOFFS, JUSTIN GAGE HAS CAUGHT 25-393-2 IN HIS LAST 4 GAMES.

Pittsburgh at Chicago

PIT 1st DEF; CHI 26th OFF

PIT 2nd VS. RUN; CHI 24th RUN

PIT 1st VS. PASS; CHI 21st PASS

PIT 1st PTS ALLOWED; CHI 14th PTS

CHI 21st DEF; PIT 22nd OFF

CHI 5th VS. RUN; PIT 23rd RUN

CHI 30th VS. PASS; PIT 17th PASS

CHI 16th PTS ALLOWED; PIT 20th PTS

CHI 8th TO/TA; PIT 11th TO/TA

SANTONIO HOLMES CAUGHT 9-131-1 IN WEEK ONE; HE POSTED THE SAME STAT LINE IN SUPER BOWL XLIII.

PIT RBS WERE HELD TO 33 YDS ON 22 CARRIES IN WEEK ONE.

TROY POLAMALU HAS MISSED 8 GAMES IN HIS CAREER; PIT HAS HELD OPPONENTS TO 10 PTS OR FEWER IN 6 OF THEM.

PIT NOTCHED JUST 1 SACK IN THE OPENER.

JAY CUTLER COMPLETED 22-OF-29 PASSES FOR 248 YARDS WITH THREE TDS AND TWO INTS IN HIS ONLY CAREER START VS. PIT IN 2007.

CUTLER'S 4 INTS IN WEEK ONE WERE A CAREER-HIGH.

Baltimore at San Diego

BAL 2nd DEF; SD 11th OFF

BAL 3rd VS. RUN; SD 20th RUN

BAL 2nd VS. PASS; SD 7th PASS

BAL 3rd PTS ALLOWED; SD 2nd PTS

SD 25th DEF; BAL 18th OFF

SD 11th VS. RUN; BAL 4th RUN

SD 31st VS. PASS; BAL 28th PASS

SD 15th PTS ALLOWED; BAL 11th PTS

SD 11th TO/TA; BAL 3rd TO/TA

LADAINIAN TOMLINSON HAS RUSHED FOR 73-280-1 VS. BAL.

BAL HAS WON ONLY 1 OF ITS LAST 8 ROAD OPENERS.

BAL IS 5-0 WHEN JOE FLACCO THROWS 2 TDS OR MORE, AND THEY HAVE SCORED AT LEAST 34 PTS EACH TIME.

BAL RACKED UP 501 YARDS OF OFFENSE IN WEEK 1, A TEAM RECORD.

BAL CONTROLLED THE BALL FOR 39:49 AND HELD A 32-11 1ST-DOWN EDGE VS. KC.

SD HAS WON THE AFC WEST THE LAST 3 SEASONS.

New Orleans at Philadelphia

PHI 9TH OFF; NO 23rd DEF

PHI 22ND RUN; NO 17th VS. RUN

PHI 6TH PASS; NO 23rd VS. PASS

PHI 6TH PTS; NO 26th PTS ALLOWED

NO 1st OFF; PHI 3RD DEF;

NO 28th RUN; PHI 4TH VS. RUN

NO 1st PASS; PHI 3RD VS. PASS

NO 1st PTS; PHI 4TH PTS ALLOWED

NO 22nd TO/TA; PHI 14th TO/TA

PHI FORCED JAKE DELHOMME INTO 5 TURNOVERS (4 INTS, 1 FUMBLE) BEFORE CAR BENCHED HIM.

PHI CB SHELDON BROWN HAD 2 INTS LAST WEEK.

PHI TURNED 7 CAR TURNOVERS INTO 24 POINTS.

DONOVAN MCNABB HAD 3 TDS (2 PASSING, 1 RUSHING) BUT ALSO SUFFERED A BROKEN RIB AND WAS REPLACED BY KEVIN KOLB.

DREW BREES TIED A FRANCHISE RECORD WITH 6 TDS IN A GAME ON SUNDAY.

NO HELD DET TO 33 YARDS RUSHING.

AFTER ZERO TDS IN 2008, TE JEREMY SHOCKEY HAD 2 IN HIS '09 DEBUT.

NO RB MIKE BELL RAN FOR 143 YARDS ON 28 CARRIES, REPLACING INJURED PIERRE THOMAS.

Minnesota at Detroit

MIN 17th OFF; DET 32nd DEF

MIN 5th RUN; DET 32nd VS. RUN

MIN 25th PASS; DET 27th VS. PASS

MIN 12th PTS; DET 32nd PTS ALLOWED

DET 30th OFF; MIN 6th DEF

DET 30th RUN; MIN 1st VS. RUN

DET 28th PASS; MIN 18th VS. PASS

DET 27th PTS; MIN 13th PTS ALLOWED

DET 28th TO/TA; MIN 24th TO/TA

MATTHEW STAFFORD THREW 3 INTS IN HIS FIRST START BUT HAD 1 RUSHING TD.

CALVIN JOHNSON WAS TARGETED 13 TIMES LAST WEEK BUT HAD ONLY 3 RECEPTIONS.

DET HAD AN 87-YARD KICK RETURN AND A 43-YARD PUNT RETURN.

DET S LOUIS DELMAS HAD A 65-YARD FUMBLE RETURN FOR A TD IN HIS FIRST CAREER GAME.

BRETT FAVRE WAS SOLID, COMPLETING 14-OF-21 PASSES FOR 110 YARDS AND A TD IN HIS MIN DEBUT.

ADRIAN PETERSON HAD 216 RUSHING YARDS IN 2 GAMES VS. DET IN 2008 AND HAD 180 IN HIS 2009 DEBUT WITH 3 TDS.

CHESTER TAYLOR WAS THE LEADING MIN RECEIVER LAST WEEK WITH 5 RECEPTIONS. HE HAD 7 PASSES THROWN HIS WAY.

MIN ALLOWED A 67-YARD PUNT RETURN TD LAST WEEK AND ALLOWED AN NFL-WORST 7 LAST SEASON.

N.Y. Giants at Dallas

DAL 13th OFF; NYG 5th DEF

DAL 21st RUN; NYG 9th VS. RUN

DAL 9th PASS; NYG 8th VS. PASS

DAL 18th PTS; NYG 5th PTS ALLOWED

NYG 7th OFF; DAL 8th DEF;

NYG 1st RUN; DAL 12th VS. RUN

NYG 18th PASS; DAL 5th VS. PASS

NYG t-3rd PTS; DAL 20th PTS ALLOWED

NYG t-4th TO/TA; DAL 30th TO/TA

TB HAD 450 YARDS OF OFFENSE VS. DAL LAST WEEK, INCLUDING 174 ON THE GROUND.

TB RAN RAN 31-174-2 FOR A 5.6-YARD AVG LAST WEEK.

THIS IS THE FIRST GAME AT THE NEW COWBOYS STADIUM.

DAL TOTALED 462 YARDS OF OFFENSE VS. TB, 188 OF WHICH CAME ON 3 TD PASSES.

DAL RAN FOR 24-118-1 VS. TB.

NYG ALLOWED ONLY 51 RUSHING YARDS ON 20 CARRIES VS. WAS, 34 COMING ON THE 1ST PLAY OF THE GAME.

OSI UMENYIORA HAD A FUMBLE RETURN TD IN HIS FIRST GAME SINCE SUPER BOWL XLII.

St. Louis at Washington

WAS 19TH OFF; STL 28th DEF

WAS 8th RUN; STL 29th VS. RUN

WAS 23rd PASS; STL 19th VS. PASS

WAS 28th PTS; STL 31st PTS ALLOWED

STL 27th OFF; WAS 4th DEF

STL 25th RUN; WAS 8th VS. RUN

STL 26th PASS; WAS 7th VS. PASS

STL t-30th PTS; WAS 6th PTS ALLOWED

STL 23rd TO/TA; WAS t-17th TO/TA

STEVEN JACKSON HAD 16-67-0 RUSHING, INCLUDING A 22-YARD RUN, VS. SEA IN WEEK 1.

JACKSON TOTALED 111 YARDS IN STL'S UPSET WIN OVER WAS IN '08.

JAMES LAURINAITIS HAD 14 TACKLES IN HIS FIRST START IN WEEK 1.

WAS DID A NICE JOB CONTAINING NYG RBS BRANDON JACOBS AND AHMAD BRADSHAW (28-106-0) AFTER A SHAKY 1ST QUARTER.

CHRIS COOLEY MATCHED HIS 2008 TD TOTAL WHEN HE CAUGHT A SCORE IN THE OPENER VS. NYG.

ALBERT HAYNESWORTH MADE 4 TACKLES IN HIS WAS DEBUT.

WAS HAD ONLY 529 YARDS OFFENSE AND 14 POINTS IN 2 GAMES AGAINST STEVE SPAGNUOLO, WHO WAS NYG DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR.

Indianapolis at Miami

IND 15th OFF; MIA 15th DEF

IND 31st RUN; MIA 10th VS. RUN

IND 5th PASS; MIA 25th VS. PASS

IND 13th PTS; MIA 9th PTS ALLOWED

IND 4th TO/TA; MIA 1st TO/TA

MIA 12th OFF; IND 11th DEF

MIA 11th RUN; IND 24th VS. RUN

MIA 10th PASS; IND 6th VS. PASS

MIA 21st PTS; IND 7th PTS ALLOWED

MIA HAS LOST ITS LAST 3 HOME OPENERS.

IND HAS WON ITS LAST 4 ROAD OPENERS.

NEITHER IND NOR MIA HAD A PLAYER EXCEED 43 RUSHING YARDS LAST WEEK.

REGGIE WAYNE HAD 10 CATCHES FOR 162 YARDS LAST WEEK.

CHAD PENNINGTON WAS SACKED 4 TIMES VS. ATL.

New England at N.Y. Jets

NE 5th OFF; NYJ 16th DEF

NE 6th RUN; NYJ 7th VS. RUN

NE 12th PASS; NYJ 29th VS. PASS

NE 8th PTS; NYJ 18th PTS ALLOWED

NYJ 16th OFF; NE 10th DEF

NYJ 9th RUN; NE 15th VS. RUN

NYJ 16th PASS; NE 11th VS. PASS

NYJ 9th PTS; NE 8th PTS ALLOWED

NYJ 19th TO/TA; NE 15th TO/TA

NE IS 11-2 IN ITS LAST 13 MATCHUPS WITH NYJ.

2 WR'S, 1 TE AND 1 RB HAD AT LEAST 4 CATCHES FOR NYJ.

RANDY MOSS WAS HELD TO 5 CATCHES FOR 48 YARDS IN 2 GAMES VS. NYJ IN 2008.

THOMAS JONES AND LEON WASHINGTON COMBINED FOR 191 SCRIMMAGE YARDS LAST WEEK.

NYJ LED THE LEAGUE WITH 18 PRESEASON SACKS.

Arizona at Jacksonville

AZ 4th OFF; JAX 17th DEF

AZ 32nd RUN; JAX 13th VS. RUN

AZ 2nd PASS; JAX 24th VS. PASS

AZ 3rd PTS; JAX 21st PTS ALLOWED

JAX 20th OFF; AZ 19th DEF

JAX 18th RUN; AZ 16th VS. RUN

JAX 15th PASS; AZ 22nd VS. PASS

JAX 24th PTS; AZ 28th PTS ALLOWED

JAX 25th TO/TA; AZ 17th TO/TA

JAX IS 13-1 IN ITS LAST 14 HOME GAMES VS. THE NFC.

TIM HIGHTOWER HAD 12 RECEPTIONS LAST WEEK, TWICE AS MANY AS LARRY FITZGERALD.

MAURICE JONES-DREW TOTALED 123 SCRIMMAGE YARDS LAST WEEK AS JAX'S FEATURED RB.

KURT WARNER'S PASSER RATING IS 67.2 AND DAVID GARRARD'S IS 61.9.

AZ IS 5-2 IN ITS LAST 7 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES VS. THE AFC.

Tampa Bay at Buffalo

TB 14th OFF; BUF 14th DEF

TB 15th RUN; BUF 22nd VS. RUN

TB 11th PASS; BUF 13th VS. PASS

TB 19th PTS; BUF 14th PTS ALLOWED

BUF 25th OFF; TB 9th DEF

BUF 14th RUN; TB 19th VS. RUN

BUF 22nd PASS; TB 4th VS. PASS

BUF 23rd PTS; TB 10th PTS ALLOWED

BUF 27th TO/TA; TB 11th TO/TA

TB HAD 450 YARDS IN ITS WEEK 1 LOSS.

TB GAVE UP 462 YARDS ON DEFENSE IN WEEK 1.

BUF IS 5-11 VS. THE NFC SINCE 2005.

CADILLAC WILLIAMS HAD 97 RUSHING YARDS IN WEEK 1 AFTER TOTALING 441 THE LAST 2 SEASONS.

BUF STARTS 2 ROOKIES ON THE O-LINE.

Seattle at San Francisco

SEA 28th OFF; SF 13th DEF

SEA 19th RUN; SF t-13th VS. RUN

SEA 29th PASS; SF 20th VS. PASS

SEA 25th PTS; SF 23rd PTS ALLOWED

SF 23rd OFF; SEA 30th DEF

SF 27th RUN; SEA 18th VS. RUN

SF 13th PASS; SEA 32nd VS. PASS

SF 22nd PTS; SEA 25th PTS ALLOWED

SEA t-25th TO/TA; SF t-31st TO/TA

SHAUN HILL 4-0 AS STARTER AT HOME.

FRANK GORE HAD 30 YDS ON 22 CARRIES LAST WEEK.

SF HAS WON 2 OF LAST 3 IN SEA.

SEA HAD 13 SACKS IN 2 GAMES VS. SF IN 2008.

SEA WEEK ONE WIN ITS LARGEST SINCE 1998.

Carolina at Atlanta

CAR 10th OFF; ATL 24th DEF

CAR 3rd RUN; ATL 25th VS. RUN

CAR 19th PASS; ATL 21st VS. PASS

CAR 7th PTS; ATL 11th PTS ALLOWED

ATL 6th OFF; CAR 18th DEF

ATL 2nd RUN; CAR 20th VS. RUN

ATL 14th PASS; CAR 16th VS. PASS

ATL 10th PTS; CAR 12th PTS ALLOWED

CAR 7th TO/TA; ATL 21st TO/TA

JAKE DELHOMME HAS 11 TO'S IN LAST 2 GAMES.

CAR ALLOWED 5.8 YDS PER CARRY LAST WEEK.

STEVE SMITH HAD 14 REC. FOR 264 YDS IN '08 VS. ATL.

MICHAEL TURNER SCORED 14 OF 17 TDS AT HOME IN '08.

ATL 9-1 IN LAST 10 HOME GAMES.

JASON ELAM MISSED 2 FG AND XP LAST WEEK.

Cleveland at Denver

CLE 31st OFF; DEN 29th DEF

CLE 26th RUN; DEN 27th VS. RUN

CLE 31st PASS; DEN 26th VS. PASS

CLE t-30th PTS; DEN 30th PTS ALLOWED

DEN 2nd OFF; CLE 26th DEF

DEN 12th RUN; CLE 28th VS. RUN

DEN 3rd PASS; CLE 14th VS. PASS

DEN 16th PTS; CLE t-16th PTS ALLOWED

CLE t-8th TO/TA; DEN t-31st TO/TA

DEN HAS WON LAST 8 GAMES VS. CLE.

DEN HAD ONLY 2 DRIVES OF MORE THAN 34 YDS LAST WEEK.

KNOWSHON MORENO HELD TO 19 YDS IN WEEK ONE.

CLE HAS LOST LAST 7 GAMES.

BRADY QUINN SACKED 5 TIMES LAST WEEK.

JAMAL LEWIS HASN'T RUSHED FOR MORE THAN 94 YDS SINCE '07.

Oakland at Kansas City

OAK 29th OFF; KC 31st DEF

OAK 10th RUN; KC 30th VS. RUN

OAK 32nd PASS; KC 28th VS. PASS

OAK 29th PTS; KC 29th PTS ALLOWED

KC 24th OFF; OAK 27th DEF;

KC 16th RUN; OAK 31st VS. RUN

KC 20th PASS; OAK 10th VS. PASS

KC 26th PTS; OAK 24th PTS ALLOWED

OAK t-15th TO/TA; KC t-8th TO/TA

KC HAS WON 9 OF LAST 11 VS. OAK 

LARRY JOHNSON HAD 11 CARRIES FOR 20 YDS LAST WEEK.

DWAYNE BOWE HAS 0 TDS IN 4 GAMES VS. OAK.

OAK HAD 6 SACKS VS. KC LAST SEASON.

10 OF LAST 12 MEETINGS DECIDED BY TD OR LESS.

By Barry Wilner, AP Football Writer

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.(AP) — Tom Brady doesn't do mediocre.

That's not what all those long rehab sessions and months of preparing for his return to the NFL were about. So while Brady's performance was pedestrian for much of Monday night's season opener, when the spotlight was at its most intense, he lived up to the advance billing.

It seemed to take forever, though.

A year after being sidelined with torn knee ligaments, Brady resembled a rusty game manager more than the invincible record-setting quarterback who guided the Patriots to a perfect 2007 regular season. Yet, he threw two touchdown passes in the final 2:06 as New England beat the Buffalo Bills 25-24.

"I felt good all night, we were just off," Brady said. "The plays we needed to make — fourth downs we missed, third downs we missed, two chances in the red area, the interception - those things really get you behind the 8-ball. We recovered with just a few seconds left. Sometimes it happens like that.

"It's a pretty special victory."

Brady needed help in the form of Leodis McKelvin's fumble on a kickoff return after the Patriots pulled within five points.

Placekicker Stephen Gostkowski, of all people, recovered at the Buffalo 31. Brady needed three plays before hitting Benjamin Watson over the middle for the decisive 16-yard touchdown with 50 seconds to go.

"We have a real competitive locker room, a real competitive team," Brady said. "When you're in a situation like we were, it's when you really have to step it up. It takes every guy on the field to step it up. Hopefully, we will continue to do that."

Just 1:16 earlier, he found Watson on a similar play for an 18-yard score. It was vintage Brady, who threw for a record 50 TDs two years ago in leading New England to a perfect record.

"Two-minute drives always are fun for a quarterback," Brady said. "Spread it out, the pass rush gets a little tired, you get a feel for the coverage, you just have to be patient.

"I'm glad it's over, glad we are moving on, got a win, and we'll learn from it."

That unbeaten season was spoiled in Brady's last full game that counted, the February 2008 Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants. He was hurt in last season's opener.

Now he's back, although for much of the game he and the Patriots played conservatively, even passively. Indeed, Buffalo seemed ready to break an 11-game losing streak against New England and win for the first time in Gillette Stadium.

Then came the late fireworks, demonstrating that Tom Terrific hasn't lost his touch.

"That's not how we drew it up, but I'll take it," Brady said. "We did a lot of things poorly, but we got the win."

Buffalo did a lot of things well, but got a shocking loss.

"I chose to bring it out because that's me, no matter what it is," McKelvin said of the lost fumble. "If I had that choice, probably 100 times, I'd do it again."

Coming off a 1-4 preseason in which the offense flopped, the Bills made plenty of big plays.

Trent Edwards outperformed Brady for much of the game and threw for two scores. A 10-yard screen pass TD to Fred Jackson put Buffalo ahead 24-13 with 5:32 to go — even though its new spotlight-grabber, Terrell Owens, barely caused a ripple. Owens had two catches for 46 yards, then refused to speak about it after the game.

When the offense wasn't doing the damage, defensive end Aaron Schobel was rambling 26 yards with an interception for a first-half TD.

"The interception was a really bad play," Brady said. "You can't do that. You learn from them, get focused and concentrate on what you have to do."

Still, these are the Patriots, who have not lost a regular-season game with Brady at quarterback since Dec. 10, 2006. And they still have all those threats in the passing game, from Randy Moss (12 catches, 141 yards) to Wes Welker (12, 93) to tight end Watson (6, 77, two TDs).

Although Brady had those impressive stats, he never looked deep and struggled to convert key plays until the final moments. Perhaps that big hit he took on his shoulder from Albert Haynesworth 2½ weeks ago limited Brady. And maybe his team was uncomfortable in the throwback red uniforms or being introduced as the Boston Patriots for the first of the NFL's tribute games to the old AFL. Something wasn't right in Foxborough — until the end.

"It has nothing to do with his layoff," Moss said. "I think it's just first-game jitters. I'm not making an excuse, we just had to settle down and get to playing football the way we know how."

NOTES: Buffalo's other touchdown was an 11-yard reception by Shawn Nelson. Rian Lindell added a 40-yard field goal. ... Gostkowski had field goals of 20 and 28 yards, but only one extra point because the Patriots failed on two 2-point tries after their late touchdowns. ... Fred Jackson, filling in for suspended starting RB Marshawn Lynch, had 57 yards rushing and 83 receiving for Buffalo. ... Bills LB Paul Posluszny broke his arm and DE Chris Kelsay hurt his knee. ... Patriots LB Jerod Mayo, the 2008 Defensive Rookie of the year, injured his right knee.

Game stats

Copyright 2009 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

By Alan Robinson, AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers apparently are going to stay with this Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes combination until somebody beats them.

Jeff Reed kicked a 33-yard field goal with 4:32 gone in overtime and the Super Bowl champion Steelers again relied on Roethlisberger's ability to lead clutch scoring drives to beat the Tennessee Titans 13-10 in the NFL season opener Thursday night.

The Steelers, their running game stuffed by Tennessee's defense, didn't get going until Roethlisberger began repeatedly finding Holmes and Hines Ward open downfield. Roethlisberger went 33 of 43 for 363 yards, with Holmes — the Super Bowl star — making nine catches for 131 yards and a touchdown and Ward, despite a potentially costly fumble, making eight for 103.

Holmes' statistics were exactly the same as the Super Bowl, when he caught the winning 6-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger in the final minute to beat Arizona 27-23.

Thursday's victory might be costly, however — star safety Troy Polamalu, the best player on the field during the first half, sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee on a blocked field goal. Coach Mike Tomlin said the injury usually sidelines a player 3 to 6 weeks.

``It is speculation at this point (how long he will be out),'' Tomlin said.

The Titans lost the coin toss to start the overtime and, as so often happens, never saw the ball again. Roethlisberger, who led a touchdown drive at the end of the first half, hit Ward for 11 yards, Holmes for 11 and rookie Mike Wallace for 22. Unwilling to risk a turnover, the Steelers kicked the field goal on first down to win it.

``It's nice to know we can win close games,'' Reed said. ``This is my eighth year here and I've been in a lot of close games, and we usually are on the up side of those.''

While the Steelers ended up winning on two Reed field goals, the Titans may have lost because Rod Bironas twice couldn't convert from inside the 40.

``The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't beat the Tennessee Titans, the Tennessee Titans beat the Tennessee Titans,'' said wide receiver Nate Washington, the former Steelers player.

Pittsburgh looked ready to win it late in regulation when Roethlisberger, so adept at running the two-minute offense, took advantage of good field position created by a shanked Craig Hentrich punt to find Ward on a 30-yard completion to the Titans 4. But as Ward was trying to muscle his way closer to the goal line, Michael Griffin stripped the ball and Stephen Tulloch recovered with less than a minute remaining.

Even with no running game to support him — the Steelers were outrushed 86-36 as Willie Parker was held to 19 yards on 13 carries — Roethlisberger had the third-most productive passing game of his career. Tennessee's Kerry Collins, usually the caretaker of a run-first offense, was 22 of 35 for 244 yards after having only four games of 200 yards or more last season.

The Titans never led until Bironas connected from 45 yards with 11:03 remaining, making it 10-7, after Collins kept the drive moving with 15-yard completions to rookie Kenny Britt and Justin Gage.

``We had chances and opportunities but missed a field goal, had a field goal blocked,'' coach Jeff Fisher said. ``I believe we've got a good football team in that locker room and we're going to bounce back.''

The Steelers tied it on Reed's 32-yarder with 2:57 to go, but only after Mewelde Moore was held to 1 yard on two plays. Reed, under pressure, barely got off a low line drive that squeezed through the uprights.

Roethlisberger was 7 of 7 for 57 yards on the drive but the Steelers' game-long lack of a running game again caused a drive to stall after they had a second-and-2 at the 10.

The Titans were the last team to beat the Steelers, winning 31-17 on Dec. 21 to gain home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, but they never won again and the Steelers never lost again. Still, Steelers' fans remembered how LenDale White, Keith Bulluck and several Titans players stomped all over Terrible Towels at the end of the game, and it created a buzz of anticipation for a rematch that appeared likely to occur in January but didn't.

Instead, this game wasn't a throwback to last season, but to the 1970s, when the Titans' predecessors, the Oilers, twice met and lost to the Steelers and their famed Steel Curtain defense in the AFC championship game. All that was missing were some Jack Lambert hits on Earl Campbell.

``It was a 15-round, old-school Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight that went the distance,'' Bulluck said.

The Titans spent the first quarter tromping on a Steelers offense that managed all of 1 yard. Then, after Bironas' 31-yarder was blocked by Aaron Smith - he missed earlier from the 27 following a bad snap — both teams suddenly found their offenses.

``I got my hand up,'' Smith said. ``I jumped and my vertical is probably not that good, but ...''

Roethlisberger, again a master of the two-minute drive, needed only five plays to lead a 79-yard drive in which he found familiar target Ward for 29 yards ahead of his 34-yard touchdown throw to Holmes.

Yes, those two again.

With the Steelers defense missing both Polamalu, who had earlier made a remarkable, one-handed interception, and linebacker LaMarr Woodley (leg cramps), the Titans needed only three plays to tie it. Collins found Britt with no defender within 10 yards on him for a 57-yard completion to the 14. Collins then hit an equally wide open Justin Gage in the end zone with 48 seconds left in the half. Britt, the first-round pick, made four catches for 85 yards.

NOTES: The Steelers have won their last seven openers, the longest ongoing streak. ... The returning Super Bowl champion has won its opener for 10 consecutive seasons. ... Roethlisberger is 4-0 with nine TD passes and two interceptions in openers. ... Tennessee started 10-0 last season.

Box score

Copyright 2009 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

MLB Curtis Lofton became an immediate centerpiece on a defense desperate to shape a new identity following a deflating '07 season, when the "D" ranked 29th, after Atlanta used its 2008 second-round pick on the Oklahoma product.

On the heels of a 94-tackle rookie campaign, Lofton helped the Falcons' "D" jump to 25th in the league and established himself as an up-and-coming linebacker.

Ironically, entering this season, Lofton will focus more on moving backward. His coverage skills emerged as a weakness last season.

"We got ourselves a physical middle linebacker at the point of attack," Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said of Lofton. "We have a real strong guy. I think he needs to improve his route coverage."

During his rookie season, Lofton struggled to grasp coverage concepts. As a result, he was taken out during obvious passing situations. VanGorder says that improving his pass coverage will make Lofton a more complete linebacker.

While VanGorder would not indicate whether Lofton would be in on some of the Falcons' sub-packages, the 23-year-old 'backer dropped weight during the offseason to try to improve his speed and is currently in competition for more defensive reps.

"Everyone has expectations for themselves and the team and for the defense," Lofton said.  "We need to get more pressure on the quarterback and in passing situations."

GM Thomas Dimitroff set out to accomplish two main tasks — run the ball with efficiency and stop the opposition's ground game — when he took over a Falcons franchise that had become discombobulated by the surprise resignation of head coach Bobby Petrino prior to the end of the '07 campaign.

Many expected Dimitroff, a product of the Patriots' scouting department, to spend the early picks of his first draft in Atlanta on linemen — a staple of the Bill Belichick-Scott Pioli regime in New England. But, after the he used his top pick on QB Matt Ryan, Dimitroff's strategy for building the D-line was called into question.

The selection of Lofton in the second round, however, helped to stabilize the run defense. His 94 tackles were the second-most made by a first-year player. He had a knack for plugging running lanes and making second and third downs less manageable for opposing offenses.

Entering '09, Lofton is drawing attention as the only returning starter in the linebacking corps. With Lofton still learning the system, especially in pass coverage, there is cause for concern on the defensive side of the ball.

But, the offseason signing of WLB Mike Peterson should alleviate some of the pressure Lofton may have otherwise felt with a green group of 'backers.

Peterson spent time under VanGorder and head coach Mike Smith, playing in the same system when the coaching duo was with the Jaguars.

Thanks to the selection of DT Peria Jerry with the 24th overall pick in the '09 draft, Lofton may have the freedom to make more plays this season. The 294-pound Jerry is expected to keep opposing linemen off Lofton.

"It's going good," Lofton said of the new-look LB corps. "You just have to take it day by day. It's about earning the respect of your teammates and playing the way you can. I would say, just in myself, I need to be more vocal and get into some guys here and there a little more, but I've got to be Curtis. I don't want to be anybody else."

But the understated Lofton is vocal about his disappointment regarding the way the Falcons' '08 season finished.

"I was disappointed because I realized that we had a great team last year and I don't think we reached our full potential, but it was a great building block," Lofton said.

Lofton knows that the spotlight is on the defense to improve. With a potent rushing attack led by Michael Turner, and a dynamic passing game featuring WR Roddy White and TE Tony Gonzalez, there's pressure on Lofton and company to stay off the field as much as possible. The more plays Lofton makes, the more likely that is to happen.

"My personal goal is that I'm capable of having 150-plus tackles," Lofton said. "Really, each day I want to continue to get better each game and help this team improve. As a defense we need to stop the run and can't give up explosive plays."

And he'll just let the naysayers do their thing.

"Everyone has their opinion, Lofton said." "I'll let my play speak for itself."

Kickoff is coming! PFW's annual Kickoff Issue is on sale at PFWstore.com and at newsstands and bookstores across the country. Also, be sure to buy copies of the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports 2009 NFL preview magazine, as well as the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football Guide 2009, both of which are now available at bookstores, newsstands and retail outlets where magazines are sold. Or order your copies online at PFWStore.com.

Toiling for a franchise with only five wins the past two seasons, one can assume most of the Rams' players realize the need to shape up or risk being quickly shipped out. But there are five players in particular who need to turn it up a notch and avoid turning off not only a new regime determined to change the team's recent history but also St. Louis sports fans who have been spoiled rotten by the success of the local Major League Baseball team. Three of the five players are No. 1 draft picks who have yet to live up to their first-round billing. But the player who's feeling the most pressure by far is QB Marc Bulger, who is facing a do-or-die season.

1. QB Marc Bulger

The numbers don't lie. Since signing a hefty six-year, $65 million contract extension before the '07 season, Bulger has hit the skids big time. In addition to registering a woeful 22-28 TD-interception ratio the past two seasons, he has looked tentative and shell-shocked most of the time. With new backup QB Kyle Boller breathing down his neck, Bulger is feeling the heat. A fractured right pinky finger suffered in a mid-August practice hardly helps matters.

2. DRE Chris Long

Yes, the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long is a great kid who works his tail off. But there's no doubt the Rams' No. 1 pick in the '08 draft (second overall) tailed off over the second half of his rookie campaign. Put simply, only four sacks from a player drafted as high as Long isn't going to cut it. But Steve Spagnuolo worked wonders with the Giants' D-line before becoming the Rams' new head coach and figures to have a very positive influence on Long.

3. DLT Adam Carriker

The Rams' '07 No. 1 draft pick has seldom been able to play at full strength due to injuries and has been merely adequate as a pro. After being forced to deal with nagging injuries to both shoulders and an ankle last season, Carriker has been hindered by a sprained ankle that forced him to miss the first three preseason games. It appears free-agent pickup Gary Gibson picked up the slack enough at left tackle to push Carriker for the starting job.

4. ORT Jason Smith

Shouldn't the second overall pick of the '09 draft be counted on to make an immediate impact on a team coming off a 2-14 record? That's not the case with Smith, who unlike ILB James Laurinaitis, the Rams' '09 second-round draft pick, has had a hard time getting up to speed on the pro level. Expected to be the team's left tackle of the future, Smith begins his career at right tackle, where it's far from a given he will crack the Week One starting lineup.

5. WR Donnie Avery

The speedy Avery was not a first-round draft pick last season (he was drafted in the second round), but he was the first wide receiver selected overall. After displaying impressive flashes in '08, finishing second on the team in catches and receiving yards, the Rams are hoping he can stay healthy and blossom into a consistent big-play threat in the team's suspect passing game. But he's iffy for the season opener after fracturing his foot in training camp.

Kickoff is coming! PFW's annual Kickoff Issue goes on sale at PFWstore.com Monday evening and at newsstands and bookstores later this week. Also, be sure to buy copies of the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports 2009 NFL preview magazine, as well as the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football Guide 2009, both of which are now available at bookstores, newsstands and retail outlets where magazines are sold. Or order your copies online at PFWStore.com.

By Rob Reischel

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Never let them see you sweat.

During Ted Thompson's five-year stint as the Green Bay Packers' general manager, this has been his mantra. When dealing with a press corps that has its fair share of tigers, Thompson is almost Buddha-like. No matter how edgy or probing a question may be, Thompson's tone, body language and approach never vary. Some wonder if the man ever blinks, let alone perspires.

But on Aug. 18, it's a good bet a bead or two of sweat formed on Thompson's brow. Same goes for Packers head coach Mike McCarthy.

That was the day former Green Bay legend Brett Favre signed with Minnesota, the Packers' most hated rival.

Thompson and McCarthy were already on the hot seat following the Packers' dismal 6-10 season in 2008. Now, with Favre in the division seeking revenge on the team that sent him packing last summer, that seat went from hot to scalding.

"You're a fool if you don't realize this is a business and take note of what's going on around you," Packers LB Aaron Kampman said. "We all know it's a large year around here, an important year. That's probably an understatement. Big year for everyone here, yes."

Just 19 months ago, Thompson and McCarthy were living large. The general manager had overhauled the depleted roster that former coach and GM Mike Sherman left behind. McCarthy brought renewed energy and imagination to a team that desperately needed both. And Thompson and McCarthy received a lion's share of the credit when the Packers went 13-3 and then reached the '07 NFC title game.

Contrast that to today, when the natives are restless and jobs are on the line.

Green Bay's seven-game slide from 2007 to last year was the greatest in team history. It also tied lowly Detroit for the league's biggest drop in wins in '08.

If the losing wasn't bad enough, the organization took a major public-relations hit from the Favre fiasco, one that eventually led to the future Hall of Fame quarterback being traded to the New York Jets. While many fans sided with Packers management, the Favre loyalists came out in full force, as well.

That led to something many never believed to be possible in Green Bay: a divided fan base.

It all added up to a bleak year in Green Bay, which has led to a make-or-break '09 for many in the organization.

"A guy or a team can go from being the talk of the NFL to being ripped like crazy," LB A.J. Hawk said. "It's just a crazy sport how it works.

"Obviously, going 6-10 last year and how we did it, that doesn't sit well with anyone in here. This is a high-pressure job for everybody. Everyone's always getting evaluated — coaches, players, everybody. And I'm sure this year is huge for a lot of us."

Starting with Thompson.

Thompson trained under Ron Wolf in Green Bay for eight years in the 1990s but hasn't had the same level of success as his legendary mentor. During Thompson's first four seasons, the Packers are 31-33 (.484), have reached the playoffs only once, and their magical 2007 season was the only year they've been above .500.

"It doesn't sound very good when you put it that way," Thompson said. "Yeah, it's a tough league. Especially last year, we were disappointed in the record last year. We felt like it should have been better, and that's my responsibility, so we're going to try to do better."

Thompson has never been popular among the fan base because he guards every morsel of information as if he's working for national security. In a city where the fan base owns the team, running a covert operation — especially when you're not winning — doesn't fly.

Thompson also largely ignores free agency, choosing instead to build through the draft and then re-sign his own players. And while Thompson's drafts have been largely successful, they haven't been enough to consistently get the Packers over the hump.

Thompson appears to have made the right decision in picking 25-year-old Aaron Rodgers over Favre last summer. Of course, Favre could laugh last this season by leading Minnesota to the top of the NFC North and deep into the postseason.

Packers president Mark Murphy supported Thompson and McCarthy throughout the Favre ordeal, and beyond. But former president Bob Harlan hired Thompson, and if the Packers stumble again in 2009 and the Vikings soar, Murphy could certainly make some changes.

"I think, in the NFL, every year's a big year," Murphy said. "You obviously saw last year how quickly things can change. But I have confidence in both of them, and I think they made the changes and did what they needed to do to turn things around and make sure we have a successful year this year."

Just two seasons ago, McCarthy was the runner-up to Bill Belichick in The Associated Press' Coach of the Year voting. He's also a forward thinker offensively who has been largely credited with Rodgers' development.

McCarthy was given a five-year, $20 million contract extension after the 2007 campaign and then proceeded to have his worst coaching season.

"I'll tell you this: I always refer to it as the lessons of 2008," McCarthy said. "It gets me up every day. It still burns my gut."

McCarthy fired eight assistant coaches from his 2008 staff and nudged former special-teams coach Mike Stock into retirement. McCarthy then hired Dom Capers — a former head coach in Carolina and Houston — to rescue a defense that gave up more points than any other Packers team in 22 years.

Capers is giving Green Bay's defense a makeover and switching to a 3-4 scheme. But if that transition takes time and the desired results are slow, the reaper could come calling for McCarthy.

"I don't view it that way," McCarthy said. "I'm thankful to be here today talking to you, if you can believe that. I'm serious. I have the best job in professional sports. I'm excited to coach these guys. I'm just excited that I am up here in 2009, ready to go."

What 2010 holds — for both McCarthy and Thompson — is far less certain.

Tuesday: PFW identifies 14 NFL head coaches who are on the hot seat this season, including McCarthy.

Kickoff is coming! PFW's annual Kickoff Issue goes on sale at PFWstore.com Monday evening and at newsstands and bookstores later this week. Also, be sure to buy copies of the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports 2009 NFL preview magazine, as well as the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football Guide 2009, both of which are now available at bookstores, newsstands and retail outlets where magazines are sold. Or order your copies online at PFWStore.com.

The sum very well might be greater than its parts, but in the NFL, not all parts are created equal. Because of talent, positional importance or depth, certain players carry greater responsibility for their teams. On a Patriots squad teeming with stars, deciphering just who bears the largest burdens is anything but simple. How can fearless slot receiver Wes Welker, the ultimate underneath option who has more catches than anybody the last two seasons, not be among the five most critical players? Or Adalius Thomas, who defines LB versatility? While many deserve recognition, these five particularly stand out from the pack.

1. QB Tom Brady

Arguably the league's standard-bearing quarterback has led all of one regular-season drive since the Patriots' Super Bowl loss to the Giants. Brady's return to vintage form is crucial for the Patriots to stage another title run. What makes his importance even greater in 2009 than in seasons prior is that New England is breaking in a new play-caller in QB coach Bill O'Brien following offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' departure to become Denver's head coach.

2. WR Randy Moss

Moss affects defensive game plans as much as any receiver in the league. Opponents need to either roll coverage to his side, which opens opportunities for the Pats' other offensive weapons, or be victimized by Moss' otherworldly talents. His single-season record of 23 TD receptions is likely unattainable without the Pats running up the score again, but as long as he's healthy, it's tough to imagine the passing attack not remaining lethal.

3. ILB Jerod Mayo

The 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year needs be more than the one-man wrecking crew he was in his debut campaign. He also needs to fill the LB leadership void created by the departures of former Patriots stalwarts Tedy Bruschi (retired) and Mike Vrabel (traded). Indeed, a lot is being asked of the emerging star, not the least of which is an expanded role in the blitz package after he proved capable of crashing the pocket during the latter stages of last season.

4. NT Vince Wilfork

Don't allow Wilfork's meager sack numbers to shape your perception of him. The pivot of the 3-4 "D" isn't asked to rack up gaudy stats. What is expected of Wilfork is tying up the interior O-line, controlling both "A" gaps and collapsing the pocket. He does all of them well. Despite team brass stiff-arming his request for a new contract, Wilfork will be financially rewarded by some team after the season, though he won't be happy signing a franchise tender.

5. OLT Matt Light

One of two O-line starters to be with the Patriots since 2001 — the other is ORG Stephen Neal — Light has the critical job of protecting Brady's blind side. While he's largely hailed for his consistency through the years, he doesn't possess prototypical quickness and has been victimized by some of the AFC's speedy edge rushers. What makes his task at least a little less stressful is Brady's uncanny anticipation of the blind-side pressure.

Kickoff is coming! PFW's annual Kickoff Issue goes on sale at PFWstore.com Monday evening and at newsstands and bookstores later this week. Also, be sure to buy copies of the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports 2009 NFL preview magazine, as well as the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football Guide 2009, both of which are now available at bookstores, newsstands and retail outlets where magazines are sold. Or order your copies online at PFWStore.com.

Wow, what a horrible week for the Colts.

Losing CB Marlin Jackson, one of the better zone corners in the NFL, for the season was a blow. A day later, the news gets worse: ever-injured Bob Sanders also is gone.

We always planned on Sanders coming back later each season, no matter how many times he got hurt in the past. The year the Colts won the Super Bowl, he played as many postseason games (four) as he did regular-season games.

But now the Colts must move on this season, in which they have looked like a Super Bowl contender, without him and Jackson, maybe their best two defenders on the back third.

Kelvin Hayden is a good cornerback whose responsibilities just got very big. Jerraud Powers, who had been playing ahead of Jackson (whose rehabbed ACL didn't appear fully healed), is a rookie who now has a lot on his plate. Melvin Bullitt, who has taken Sanders' spot, will be the starting safety. A great backup, Bullitt now must be a good starter.

In the next few weeks, the Colts must face Andre Johnson (twice), Randy Moss, Brandon Marshall, Braylon Edwards and Terrell Owens (or is that a good thing in the case of Owens?).

It's a tall order for a shorter, quicker group of DBs.

Really, the Colts have been without Jackson and Sanders for much of this season anyway, but we always expected them back healthy at some point. Not now.

Expect a lot of safer cover-2 and cover-3 defenses, nothing new, without Sanders' versatility and with some hefty passing attacks left on the schedule. This has been the first major bump in the road of new head coach Jim Caldwell, and two tough ones to deal with.

Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache mostly has boycotted the media since earlier this season, but he came out this morning to make an empassioned response to the criticism that John Riggins has laid upon his former team and its owner, Daniel Snyder.

Blache had some unsolicited thoughts about his frustration over Riggins' recent comments on Showtime's Inside the NFL show. Here are a few highlights of Riggo's greatest hits, mostly towards Snyder:

“This is a bad guy that owns this team. I’ll just tell you that upfront. Bad guy. And if the commissioner is worried about potential new owners and saying some of these guys shouldn’t apply, he might want to police his own inside guys.

“It’s driven all by his ego and everything has to come from him. And I just don’t think you can be successful in those situations and when you are dealing with someone with the mindset of a child and yet owns a franchise in the NFL.

“Let me put it to you this way, (Showtime analyst) Cris (Collinsworth): This person’s heart is dark.”

Here's what Blache said, slightly edited down (he spoke for a while, and in great detail):

“As much as I hadn’t been talking to the media, I felt like this was something I needed to do. Somebody needed to stand up and set this record straight. The comment that was made was ‘a dark heart’ — that’s totally, totally untrue. The problem is the fans don’t get to know Mr. Snyder like we do. They get an impression from things that are written and from things that people say. Let me just tell you something, for a person that’s been here for six years, that’s gone to him for things that I needed in my family - there’s times he’s come to me when he’s heard about issues in my family and offered his assistance — is unsurpassed. He’s one of the most generous, kind individuals you’ll ever meet.

“My wife and I are involved in Hospice and there’ve been countless times he’s come and helped us with issues and stuff with Hospice. To see that and get the feeling that that’s what everyone on the outside is hearing about this person, I decided it was time to come and set the record straight. It’s enough. It really is. We’ve had criticisms from people outside the building saying who Dan Snyder is and who is isn’t. They don’t know Dan Snyder, and that’s the problem. Trust me, because he and I, we work together. I’m not going to tell you that this is a utopia. There are no utopias in football, and there are no utopias in life. At the same time, enough is enough. Every story, there is one person’s side, another person’s side, and then behind it all there is a third side and it’s the truth.

“I just felt like it was time for somebody to come and throw a little truth out there. We keep hearing these other sides, these other factions, and to be quite candid, the third side — the truth — is that this person (Snyder), all he wants to do is win. That’s all he wants to do. He will spend his money, he will spend his time, he wants to win, he is here for the people, for the fans, for the Washington Redskins. Nobody pains more when we are unsuccessful than Dan Snyder. There is nobody that cares more about the fans than Dan Snyder. There is nobody that wants to win here, more than Dan Snyder. I just think that its time to put out there, for you guys to understand, that everything that is wrong with this organization is not Dan Snyder.

“It’s so easy for people that have access to the microphone everyday to point fingers and shuffle it on somewhere else. At the same time, I’m in on a ton of those meetings when decisions are made. A lot of the things that are right here, you can’t go back and say its so-and-so’s fault. Just to set the record straight, I just think it was wrong. I wish the best for Mr. Riggins in all his endeavors and whatever that he does. For me, that was enough. For me to wash my face in the morning and to feel like a man, or to talk to my kids about doing the right thing, I needed to come here and make this comment today. I got no other interests in it. I have a contract for next year so it’s not like I’m trying to dig something up and if they send me home, the way coaches’ contracts are written, they have to pay me anyways. Quite honestly, this is unsolicited, but from the heart and something that I thought I needed to do.”

It seems to me that perhaps Blache has a point: People do not know Snyder well, but it is partly his own fault. He often is cold with certain media member, doesn't do many interviews and has rubbed fans the wrong way with some of the ways he has run his team. There have been vast claims of a cold working environment at Redskins Park, including needless firings and strained relationships.

Snyder could do himself a lot of good by opening up more, like he did following the death of Sean Taylor and after Joe Gibbs' departure. We saw a man more human than we ever did before. He clearly was affected deeply by both events, right up there with the death of his own father in 2003. Ironic, too, that his dad was a writer and member of the media because just a little more opening up (more than the three minutes he felt obligated to give the media the other day amid all this turmoil) might do wonders for him.

Detroit fans made it clear they didn't want Matthew Stafford before the draft. They acted with some disinterest toward him early in the season until the Lions ended their losing streak. But once it appeared he has shown them enough to buy him some time to develop, they now have turned on him again.

Stafford was booed lustily during and after the Lions' home loss to the Rams, which ended St. Louis' 17-game losing streak. Lions fans were relishing the fact that some other team had lost that many games in a row. They wanted someone else to stay on the bottom for a while, as long as they have suffered.

But booing the kid serves no purpose. And in case you're wondering, they were booing him — not just the team. It was clear from what the players heard from the bench that most of the vitriol was aimed at Stafford.

It isn't all his fault. And it's a good thing the Lions have Dominic Raiola as Stafford's watchdog. He'll do the popping off for his young QB. Stafford, really, has composed himself quite well — through the pre-draft stuff, the early struggles in the offseason and now with this latest loss.

Yeah, he needs to be more accurate. Sure, he has to find other targets he trusts when Calvin Johnson is bracketed or, like Sunday, when he's not on the field.

But there's a lot to like about Stafford.

First, his toughness. We know that if he's not mentally cracking — there has been no evidence of that so far — and he is only 21 years old, then I think we are dealing with a pretty steely young man here. Second, the physical tools are there. He can move around in the pocket well and make all the throws; he just needs to be more precise and gain a better command of the system. And third, Stafford just isn't scared of success — or failure. Jim Schwartz has said it. The fact that his quarterback has taken most of the challenges he has faced head on, fighting through a pretty bad knee injury, shows that he wants to be good.

Eventually he will be. Lions fans will look pretty silly one day when they figure this out.

You could make a case that the Browns are the most dysfunctional team in the NFL right now.

The Bucs are winless. The Lions just lost to the Rams. The Chiefs have just suspended their running back and only have a win over the Redskins, who are a story of weekly discombobulation.

And yet I wouldn't say any of them hold a candle to the Browns.

GM George Kokinis is out. The guy who was hired after the head coach, Eric Mangini, has been sabotaged by Randy Lerner and now must find work. The Cleveland mess is not Kokinis', thankfully. Now he can go back to the Ravens or find work elsewhere, a place where they are reasonable, level-headed and pointed in a proper direction.

Kokinis was made a scapegoat for a sitation he really had little to do with. When he was hired, Mangini already sunk his teeth into personnel and convinced Lerner who should really be making the calls. Kokinis barely had an impact on the draft, we have heard, and he found himself without any real say in team matters. He and Mangini reportedly stopped talking months ago.

See, Randolph D. Lerner twice has tried to hire the next Bill Belichick. He tried and failed with Romeo Crennel and made the same mistake twice by hiring Mangini. The owner should get out of the day-to-day personnel and coaching calls with the team. Bad things tend to happen the more he does with this stuff.

Now, the team is stuck with a head coach whom the players reportedly don't like (sound familiar, Jets fans?) and a rudderless front office. Lerner said he wants a "strong, credible, serious leader" to help guide the Browns in — cue laugh track — a "far more conspicuous, open transparent way" than, ostensibly, the way Kokinis did things.

What a joke. They treated Kokenis the way they are treating Brady Quinn: without respect. Hopefully, the next GM will strongly, credibly and seriously consider what the heck he's getting into before he signs his career away.

Now that's a fake!

Mark Sanchez just ran a naked bootleg from the 1-yard line, walking into the end zone. The only people who knew he scored were the fans and maybe one or two of the refs; the players, the other 21 of them, were scrumming near the line of scrimmage thinking it was a dive play.

How good was the fake? Dolphins DE Kendall Langford was signalling that the Dolphins had caused and recovered a fumble.

The Lions are down eight at the half to the Rams. They should be up eight.

The receivers (and remember, Calvin Johnson is out today) must step up and catch Matthew Stafford's passes. He's a confident kid, but he can do only so much without his top weapon and must get a near-perfect performance from the guys who are out there today without his top option.

Right now, the Lions don't have a No. 2 option who can step up with Johnson out. Bryant Johnson has not been that guy. TE Brandon Pettigrew has a way to go as a pass catcher. Believe it or not, and this has to be the eighth year now they'll need to go this direction in the offseason, but receiver is still a big need, even with all these wideouts they have drafted high over the years.

Bills FS Jairus Byrd was selected as the NFL's October Rookie of the Month, and he is off to a bang in November's first day, too.

Another game, another two interceptions. That's three straight games with two picks apiece. Unreal.

His father is Gill Byrd, a fine and underrated cornerback who has 42 interceptions in 10 NFL seasons. So it's in his blood.

But the kid is on a ridiculous pace to pass Dad … oh, sometime next December, I would say.

All of a sudden, Byrd is the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year. And a ray of light for a Bills team that could use it.

This was a nightmare of Halloween-esque proportions for the Giants.

After a nice kick return, the Eagles steamed down the field and scored on a (!) Leonard Weaver 41-yard run. The Giants should not be letting Weaver score from any distance longer than three yards. On the first play of the drive, they allowed a long screen to LeSean McCoy, as if the Eagles knew the Giants were going to blitz right out of the chute.

Then, more misery: Eli Manning was picked by Asante Samuel, and a few plays later the Donovan McNabb threaded a rope into TE Brent Celek for a 13-0 lead (the extra point was blocked). It looked like the same play they ran two plays early, which also scored but was taken off the board because of a holding penalty.

Wow, what an awful start for a team trying to find itself.

I know I am not the first to chime in on this here, but all day I have had the suspicion that Larry Johnson is done in Kansas City.

And his racial slur, plus calling out Todd Haley, is not the lone reason. Johnson's game is in serious decline, even if the rest of the offense hasn't held up its end of the deal either.

I reached out to a league official, who wasn't in the mood to speculate on Johnson's immediate future, but when I asked him if he thought the team might have been looking for a reason to get rid of him, likely after the season, he said, "No question it seems that way."

Johnson has never been a great soldier (other than his hard running in 2005 and '06) there, especially not after Haley came. The interesting part of the whole deal is that Johnson has gotten a ton of chances. He has 132 carries in seven games, which is fourth most in the NFL and only six fewer than Adrian Peterson has received. Johnson's 2.7-yard average and long run of 17 yards, however, speak volumes about how much he has left in the tank.

And the Chiefs might just ciphon what's left in there now and end this thing. They've had it, the way it seems. They might just suspend the guy for the rest of the season and call it a wrap. I expect them to hold no quarter here.

Why not? In a weird way, this might be the perfect tonesetting opportunity for Haley and Scott Pioli to establish their reign, cutting a malcontent who was on the downside anyway. They would show they mean business. Can they live without Johnson the rest of the season? Why not? Running backs are plentiful; there are two dozen guys on the street who can average 2.7 yards a clip for this team.

When we make our weekly handicapping picks for the paper late on Sunday nights, it's often a tough chore.

Too often I am influenced over what just happened that day in the games, and I fail to see the bigger picture. Another impediment is when the team plays on Monday night, after we go to press. The lines are fresh and subject to change throughout the week, too. Plus, it's just a long day, putting Pro Football Weekly together for you, and I don't often think too clearly that late at night.

So when I looked at the Week Eight games and saw the rematch of Vikings-Packers, I didn't want the first game to influence me too much, I really didn't. I tried to picture what the game would be like on grass, on turf. I tried to picutre how much more emotional this one would be for Brett Favre there, in the house he helped re-build, and not in the new confines of the Metrodome. I wanted to factor in the new personnel for both sides (no Antoine Winfield for Minnesota; a beefed-up offensive line for the Packers, plus S Atari Bigby, but minus a few receivers).

I really did take that into consideration. And I still picked Minnesota.

The sharps are on the Packers, and I am starting to see why. I'll leave the handicapping to Mike Wilkening and his excellent "Covering the Spread" blog on this site. But I am starting to see that bigger picture with this game, the one I was too clouded to see Sunday.

And I got an email from reader Doug Karras (not sure of a relation to Alex), who presented to me these facts:

• The Vikings are 3-12 at Lambeau Field since 1994.
• Mike McCarthy is 3-0 against the Vikings there.
• Adrian Peterson has lost both of his games in Green Bay (although I will add he got hurt in the game his rookie season and did well, running for 19-103-1, in the opener last season).

Further, Mr. Karras added that OLT T.J. Lang, who was among the victimized by DE Jared Allen in the Week Four game, has played better the past two games and should be more comfortable at home. Also: Ryan Grant has run well at Lambeau against the Vikings, Bigby is back and the fact that the Packers moved the heck out of the ball and mostly were felled by negative plays (sacks and turnovers) in the first matchup.

I'll counter with a few thoughts. First, I tend to hate historical statistics when it comes to picking games. What Jake Reed or George Koonce did in the '94 game has absolutely no bearing on what happens up there Sunday. But I get the point: that this Vikings team is built for the Dome, most believe, and it could be 40 degrees and rainy on Sunday.

For me, though, Karras' points on Grant and the Packers' offense in the first game really had me thinking. Winfield was such a thorn for Aaron Rogders in that game, and not having him — even though Karl Paymah played well Sunday at Pittsburgh — is a huge difference. Of course, the Packers will be without TE Jermichael Finley, who was a beast in Week Four, and WR Jordy Nelson, but I still think Rodgers can have a big game if the protection is good.

As for the Favre factor, I don't know how he'll react. If he sucks it in the way he did in Oakland on Monday night years ago following his dad's death, maybe the Vikings win and he's the story again. But if he lets his emotions get the best of him, we could see a playoff-caliber Favre performance, and those haven't been strong the past few years.

We get a chance to change our picks for the Handicapping Inner Circle later in the week. I just might invoke that privilege. Thank you, Doug, for showing me the other side.

NFL Hall of Famer and Redskin-for-life John Riggins has done it again. He has gone to the airwaves — well, on Youtube, produced by something called Two Jerks With A Camera — to voice his continued thoughts on the saga that is the Redskins.

Riggo, a smart man, even uses the word "equanimity" when he praises embattled head coach Jim Zorn and "charlatan" when talking about Daniel Snyder, whom he compares to Bernie Madoff. In fact, Riggins is a walking, talking SAT prep course.

Click here to watch his rant. I am curious to hear your thoughts — before or after tonight's game against the Eagles.

In case you hadn't noticed ... (this line almost always should be followed by the Harry Doyle-inspired "and judging by the attendance, you have!) ... Chiefs RB Larry Johnson went off following Sunday's lambasting by the Chargers.

It's more than he did during the game. Here's his tweet:

"My father played for the coach from 'rememeber the titans.' Our coach played golf. My father played for redskins briefley. Our coach. Nuthn."

Where to start? Grammar aside, we'll leave that one untouched.

So Johnson wants his dad to coach the Chiefs? And not Todd Haley? Interesting.

Haley is not in K.C. to make friends. He has never been anywhere to make friends. He's cut from the Bill Parcells cloth of doing things the only way he knows how. And if you don't like it, tough for you.

Johnson doesn't like it. And the Chiefs appear to have little use for him, as well. So the Chiefs get beat badly at home, one week after the big win at Washington, and Johnson is unhappy. He tweets as much. I wrote last night that he should have sent this message before the trade deadline.

I think Johnson is a former Chief as soon as this season ends. The extent to which they need him, being that he's fairly healthy and able to take a pounding, doesn't supercede the team's long-term vision. They'll drop him like a bad habit following the season, I think.

So maybe his strage comments about "my dad did this, my dad did that" has no real effect. Haley may be made aware of it, but he certainly doesn't care. Do you think he cared when Anquan Bolding disagreed with him on the Cardinals' sideline in the NFC title game? Uh, nope.

Johnson's days as an elite runner are passed, and his days as a scathing commentator probably never will get going.

Robert Taylor, former head coach of Santa Monica Community College — where he coached the likes of Isaac Bruce, Chad OchoCinco and the Panthers' Steve Smith (Chad and Steve were teammates) as well as dozens of other NFL and Division-I players — passed away a few hours ago.

He had been stricken with cancer last year but was doing well this summer when I spoke with him. He was bragging about his white-blood cell counts and telling me how good he felt.

The man was a legend in the junior-college coaching ranks. "I used to hate going to the conventions with him," former assistant Rory Barnett told me a few minutes ago. "He'd get two feet in the door and be mobbed. Everyone loved him."

That definitely goes for Steve. We have talked many times about Coach Taylor, who was the father figure he never had in his life. Steve was one of the guys Taylor saved from the streets, and that might go down as his legacy.

"He saved me," Barnett said. "I was a tranwreck, and he pulled me out. He gave me a job and a chance. He was one of the kindest men I ever knew. He was always helping people out. For 25 years, that's what he did. Coached (football) and took kids under his wing. I am going to miss him so much."

Just got a text from Steve: “Man I am really heartbroken over this.” Understadably, he didn't feel like chatting. Reading Chad's Twitter page today, it was clear how upset he was, too.

Taylor was fired this summer under allegations of recruiting violations, but he never found out what the charges were, according to Barnett. "He was just let go by this new (college) president," Barnett said. "I don't like the way he was railroaded out of here. Football was that man's life. He's a legend around here, has been for 25 years."

And true to those words, in Bear Bryant-like fashion, Taylor — who was fired on July 23 — passed away less than three months later. He was set to attend this weekend's Santa Monica game against West LA Community College.

"He was always asking (me),'How are the kids? How are they doing?'" said Barnett, who remains on the Corsairs' coaching staff. "And I was going to see him (Saturday)."

Taylor and I spoke three, maybe four times. He was extremely generous with his time, gleefully remembering old stories about his players, mainly about Chad and Steve for me. He talked about Steve's orange hair and Chad's Day-glo "suits" he would wear on the sideline the season he was academically ineligible. And of course, there were the fights they got into. But Taylor always spoke proudly of his players, even when talking of their less-than-proudest moments.

The coaching community lost a giant today.

I traded emails yesterday and today with a coach who has spent some time around Jim Zorn in the past and who has talked to him "in the past few weeks."

As the coach said to me, "This can be a brutal business. But you can't let it get to you. You can't let it (take) your pride. And that's what Jimmy's (not) doing, not letting him win."

Him, as you can imagine, equals Daniel Snyder.

I just happened to be talking to this coach, who asked to be nameless for this account, although I am not sure what he fears because this man appears smart enought to never take a job from Snyder given what he has seen happen to his friend, Zorn. But maybe he's just being low-key and not wanting to step on his friend's toes from afar.

Interesting timing, this email chain. Today, Steve Largent went on a Seattle sports-talk show and blasted Snyder publicly, defending his former QB.

I think Zorn is a decent guy who has gotten his feet lopped off from underneath him. Apparently, the Redskins do not value the role of play-caller, though, because in the past two seasons they now have given it to a coach who never has called plays (Zorn) and to a "consultant" who was brought in two weeks ago as an "extra set of eyes" (Sherm Lewis) despite having been out of the league for four-plus years.

Zorn would have been committing career suicide had he turned down the Redskins' head-coaching job two years ago, especially after he had been hired first as the coordinator. it would have been terribly awkward had he stayed in Washington, and had he left other teams might have seen it as a sign of weakness or of someone who didn't want to be a head coach or could not handle the pressure.

Now I think Zorn is handling it well. There have been various reports, confirmed by Largent's comments today, that Zorn considered stepping down Sunday night or Monday morning after he was stripped of play-calling duties.

But he's not backing down, which is what management wanted (it no longer would be on the hook for his salary), and yet he still appears to have the support of a good portion of the locker room despite the turmoil. Sure, some players (ahem, Clinton Portis) are not Zornophiles, but not every coach is loved by every player.

And I think the image of Zorn around the league is a good one. I expect him to hook up with a team as a QB coach after this season (yes, I think he will be employed elsewhere) and be a candidate for a West Coast offensive team in 2011 or thereafter. He is a bright, young coach who could hook up with his old boss, Mike Holmgren, should he come out of retirement next year.

Here's hoping that Zorn's irreconcilable differences with Snyder don't hurt his reputation in the NFL and prevent him from getting a good job with another team.

Just got back from Foxborough, Mass. yesterday following the whitewashing of the Titans. Several of the media members had been lamenting all week that there was nothing going on around this team.

Better warm up the laptops, fellahs. Looks like another storm's a-brewin'.

With the release of Joey Galloway and three other Patriots in the past 24 hours, the Patriots are clearing roster spots and salary-cap space, and the rumors are flying.

Steven Jackson. Shawne Merriman. And here's an old favorite: Julius Peppers.

The first two remain more likely, as Peppers is making $17-plus million this season, meaning the Pats would have to work out a long-term deal with him before swinging any trade to fit him under the cap.

Either way, here's guessing Bill Belichick is not super chatty today on his media conference call. He's a busy man who doesn't like letting media folks in on what's going on.

Other names of note in this discussion: Adalius Thomas and Brandon Tate.

Thomas was a healthy scratch for the first time in his Patriots career on Sunday, and in the days leading up to the game he quietly expressed a little dismay that he hadn't been unleashed this season. Well, he might be let loose — possibly in a trade today. Belichick had little to say about Thomas' benching other than that he played the guys who gave the team the best chance to win Sunday. Or something like that.

And the clock could start on Tate if he practices this week, meaning the team as 21 days to activate him or put him on injured reserve for the season. Tate could end up taking Galloway's spot in the WR mix; Belichick appeared lukewarm on him on Friday but sounded more as if Tate could be practicing this week when asked about it on Monday.

Interesting stuff going on. The trade deadline is 4 p.m. EST, so there are a few hours to figure out if anything is really afoot.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Patriots have scoring plays of 45, 40, 28, 38 and 30 yards in the first 28 minutes of the game.

Playing the Titans, down both starting corners, is just what the team needed.

Having good games are Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, Randy Moss, Stephen Neal (and the rest of the line) and Wes Welker. Julian Edelman has shown up, too, and the defense has been fine.

Also: Junior Seau has three plays under his belt, and he was within a few steps of making the tackle on two of them.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady had so much time on his 40-yard flea flicker touchdown pass, he could have long-snapped the ball to Randy Moss.

The Titans were utterly lost when BenJarvus Green-Ellis flipped the ball back to Brady, who stood flat-footed and scanned the field before gunning it to Moss, who was open despite three Titans in the vicinity. The defense completely bit on the fake.

And on the ensuing offensive play for the Titans, they lost a fumble and watched the Patriots take a 24-0 lead a few plays later.

What a nightmare season this has been.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Patriots CB Jonathan Wilhite whiffed on a tackle of Titans RB Chris Johnson that resulted in a 40-yard run. A play later, SS Brandon Meriweather sort of stood by as teammate Brandon McGowan made a tackle on a Titans first-down run.

But both offenders made up for their mistakes as Meriweather ripped the ball out from LenDale White, and Wilhite recovered. Big play early in the game.

... was to a receiver who spent time this year in jail.

Tom Brady hit a wide-open Wes Welker, who blew by Titans replacement CB Jason McCourty, for a 48-yard pass play in the first quarter. It was the first 40-yard completion by Brady since — drumroll — the 2007 divisional playoff game against the Jaguars, when he hit (ahem) Donte' Stallworth with a long throw down the sideline.

Is this doesn't show you how much the NFL changes, year to year, nothing will.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Who knew? All Laurence Maroney needed to get going was snow on the ground.

Maroney hit the hole hard on his first three runs, each better than the one before.

The first two, he struck forward without delay. On the third, a 45-yard TD, he hesitated just a bit but looked decisive as he ran, and ORG Stephen Neal cleared Titans OLB Keith Bulluck out of the play.

It was the longest offensive play of the season for the Patriots.

Even though the weather is bad, you almost could hear the faint echo of "FINALLY!" from Pats fans who have panned Maroney's herky-jerky, indecsive running style all season until now.