Andy Richardson
Brief thought on Jets-Patriots: Wow, so far so good for the NFL Network this year...two Thursday games, two thrillers. I'm guessing Brett Favre was a little tired of hearing about him throwing up interceptions all the time. I mean, the guy has had a few good games over the years. He does have the career wins record along with the TD and interception records, and it's not because of all the Hall of Famers he played with. Dustin Keller is going to be -- is already -- a really good young tight end. Where is he on next year's draft board for tight ends? Witten, Gates, Gonzalez, Dallas Clark, probably Winslow....then Keller? He's in the conversation. Anyway, on to the games.
Denver at Atlanta: No Selvin Young; the Broncos will use Peyton Hillis and maybe give Tatum Bell some carries. I personally think Hillis will get virtually all of the carries and the Broncos won't run much anyway. Like almost every other Broncos game, this one should be a high-scoring affair, because the Broncos are in it. I'd happily start any key players on either side.
Minnesota at Tampa Bay: The Bucs' defense has shut every opposing runner down for the last two years. Adrian Peterson, too? I'm starting the guy anyway, but my expectations are low. They're even lower for Minnesota's passing game; Gus Frerotte isn't going to do much against this defense, on the road. For the Bucs, I like Jerramy Stevens as a tight end option with Alex Smith likely out. I want no part of the Bucs' runners against Minnesota's defense.
Baltimore at N.Y. Giants: Super Bowl rematch! Can the Giants' top-ranked rushing offense move the ball on Baltimore's top-ranked run defense? My guess is no; maybe they won't even try. Half of Baltimore's starting secondary went on IR last week. Giants should be able to pass, and they should be able to give Joe Flacco some problems. I like the Jints. Oh yeah, Derrick Mason is a gametime decision. Startable if he plays, but make sure Sunday morning.
Oakland at Miami: The Raiders will probably be without their top two wideouts -- Javon Walker's on IR, Chaz Schilens is questionable. The good news is that those guys aren't necessarily any better than the guys who would start in their place; a group that includes Johnnie Lee Higgins, Ashley Lelie, Ronald Curry, and whatever feller they sign off a barge to fill Walker's roster spot. Oh, JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden are both supposed to play. I wouldn't start McFadden or Justin Fargas because it would be a committee against a tough run defense, and I wouldn't start Russell because he's Russell. Miami's two running backs, in contrast, look like fine plays this week. Zach Miller might be OK for Oakland, which in theory will have to move the ball somehow.
Detroit at Carolina: Game two of the "horrible team visiting playoff hopeful" doubleheader. Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith could do OK this week; otherwise, forget the Lions. Mike Furrey is probably out, so Shaun McDonald has some value I guess in very deep leagues. Daunte Culpepper will start, increasing my interest in the Panthers' defense. Detroit should get clobbered here, so I like any and all Panthers. I'd even consider Jonathan Stewart, although DeAngelo Williams is getting more of the work. I do think Detroit could go 0-16. Probably won't, but you never know.
Philadelphia at Cincinnati: Apparently Cedric Benson has some kind of back injury, but he's probable, so I guess he's OK. I wouldn't use him against the Eagles. Eagles against bad teams tend to score lots of points.
Chicago at Green Bay: Huge game, because I can't see the Vikings actually winning the NFC North, so the winner of this game will have the edge there. Great matchup for the Packers' passing offense and poor matchup for the run game, but the Bears do tend to force quarterbacks into mistakes. They gave Favre plenty of problems the last few years; we'll see how Rodgers does. I do like his wideouts here, though. For the Bears, I guess Kyle Orton will be out there. I expect him to hand it off a lot to Matt Forte, and maybe a Bears TE will catch a touchdown (as happened in both games a year ago). Edge to Greg Olsen.
Houston at Indianapolis: Tricky situation for the Colts. Marvin Harrison is hurting the team right now, but how do you move Anthony Gonzalez ahead of him? Not easily, certainly. Anyway, the Colts should crush Houston in this one, even though Houston should have won the earlier meeting. Nice game to have Colts players. Houston is trickier, since Gary Kubiak says he's going to limit Steve Slaton's touches. I'd probably still start him against this defense, but this is a committee now. No injuries of note unless you count a possible Harrison bruised ego.
Tennessee at Jacksonville: This seems as likely a spot as anywhere for the Titans to lose, facing a division rival that's still pretty good. Unfortunately it sounds like Matt Jones won't play, which hurts this passing offense -- when did you ever think you'd hear those words? I'm not smarter than NFL GMs, but sometimes you just know that a certain move is a bad one: Seattle signing Nate Burleson and giving up a first-rounder for Deion Branch; Oakland signing Javon Walker (everyone knew that one); Jacksonville signing Jerry Porter. Anyway, this looks like kind of a lower-scoring game. Jacksonville's defense is kind of toothless these days.
New Orleans at Kansas City: The Tyler Thigpen era marches onward. Good for him. Good matchup this week, too, and I'm regretting not picking up Mark Bradley in my dynasty league -- he should be in lineups in a lot of leagues. Reggie Bush won't play, so if you've been hanging onto Pierre Thomas all year, this is the week when he and Deuce McAllister should get most of the carries and post good numbers against a lousy run defense.
Arizona at Seattle: Matt Hasselbeck returns. I envision this as being something like parents returning home after their teenage son had a party and finding the place trashed. "What happened here? I left you a defending division champ and now we're a 2-7 doormat?" Arizona's defense made Shaun Hill and the rest of the 49ers look pretty good on Monday, so Hasselbeck, Bobby Engram and Julius Jones have some value. Deion Branch is also supposed to return. No thanks. Perhaps Tim Hightower will bounce back from disappointing everyone Monday night, but this is still a pass-first Cardinals team and Seattle usually plays the run pretty well at home.
St. Louis at San Francisco: Two bad teams, but at least San Francisco can probably be counted on to come up with some points from its key starters. St. Louis is just hopeless. Steven Jackson is out again, and I wouldn't want to gamble on Antonio Pittman, or Torry Holt, or Marc Bulger playing an entire game, or any of these guys. Frank Gore should be very good. Shaun Hill might be a nice spot start. Josh Morgan is out.
San Diego at Pittsburgh: Looks like a good game. San Diego won't run, so they'll have to pass. Pittsburgh should be able to do a lot of good things against a surprisingly weak Chargers defense. Roethlisberger is in and he, Hines Ward, and Santonio Holmes should do well. I wouldn't touch Willie Parker; figure a committee with Mewelde Moore (my guess).
Dallas at Washington: Sunday night game. Nice break for NBC; doesn't everyone want to see if Romo is OK or if he fumbles the ball eight times with his injured finger? Portis is either out or unusable. Santana Moss is in, and he's killed Dallas in the past. Big game in the NFC East, and a nice chance for Washington to make Jerry Jones' playoff "guarantee" look foolish.
Cleveland at Buffalo: These teams played an 8-0 game last year. This will have a little more scoring, but neither offense is playing well enough to count on them too heavily. (I'm discounting Cleveland's huge game against Denver.) Marshawn Lynch, though, should have his first big game of the season. This is the Monday game, of course, so it's a good time to fix up a big plate of Buffalo wings and enjoy.
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