WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

San Francisco 49ers:

WR Terrell Owens did not play in the ballgame.� His replacement as the #1 wideout was Tai Streets.� Streets produced a Terrell-like 8 receptions for 90 yards though it could have been monstrous if he had caught a potential 99-yard touchdown pass from Garcia.

Jeff Garcia wasn�t supposed to play once the game got out of reach.� Well, it never got out of reach and so he stayed in for the entire game.� Unfortunately for Garcia owners, he wasn�t all that productive against one of the league�s worst pass defenses.� In his defense, the interception came on a deflection, and he should have had much more yardage had it not been for some costly drops by Streets and J.J. Stokes.

K Jeff Chandler missed an early 42-yard field goal wide right.� He then missed another wide left, perhaps overcompensating for the earlier miss.� He did later hit one, from just 24 yards.� Clearly, this is a problem that Chandler MUST overcome very quickly if San Francisco is going to make any noise in the postseason.

Arizona Cardinals:

Marcel Shipp had another effective day running and catching the football.� He obviously has an ability to play in this league, but he also has a knack for giving up costly fumbles.� He had another one today in the red zone that absolutely killed a solid Arizona drive.� Shipp finished with 115 total yards and no touchdowns.

Pro Bowl alternate offensive lineman Leonard Davis left the game with an apparent left leg injury.� He was taken to the locker room for X-Rays and did not return.� Losing Davis would greatly affect Marcel Shipp�s production for next week�s game, so Shipp owners should keep an eye on this.

Jake Plummer, for all the knocks he takes (physically and verbally), has something about him that enables him to rise to the occasion every now and then.� He kept his team in the game today despite a heavy pass rush from the Niners all day long.� He may not be back in Arizona next season, but before you write him off entirely, consider the cast around him.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

San Francisco 49ers:�

QB:� Jeff Garcia wasn�t supposed to play much in this one, but the Niners could never really take control of the game.� Garcia had a very good game for real football, but his fantasy numbers left a lot to be desired.� He was 23-29 for 256 yards, but managed only 1 touchdown pass and was picked once (though it wasn�t his fault).� He had two potential TDs dropped as well, one each by Streets and Stokes.

RB:� Garrison Hearst wanted to have a big day upon his return to Arizona and while he did score a touchdown, he was generally unproductive (11 carries for 38 yards).� He also appeared to have injured his elbow slightly, but he later returned to the game.

Kevan Barlow carried 13 times for 50 yards and saw much of the action down the stretch when San Francisco was trying to run out the clock.

FB Fred Beasley saw more action with the football today than he has seen all year probably.� He caught Garcia�s only touchdown, and had five carries in the game.� He did fumble once, but it was because he never really got the handle from Garcia.

WR:� Terrell Owens did not play, as he was nursing various injuries.

Tai Streets has quietly had a very solid season.� He came into the game with 59 receptions on the year, and added to that total with 8 catches for 90 yards.� He was the primary target, especially on third down, and was clearly Garcia�s #1 guy with Owens out of there.� Streets did, however, blow a potentially HUGE play when he dropped what could have been a 99-yard touchdown from Garcia at his own 26-yard line.� There was nothing in front of him but open space.

Cedric Wilson got the majority of the looks as the #2 guy in the first half, while J.J. Stokes saw much of the action in the second half.� Stokes also dropped a touchdown pass from Garcia.� Neither of these receivers should ever be in your lineup.

TE:� Eric Johnson caught 3 passes for 19 yards, and was targeted nine times (including three in the red zone).� With Owens out, Johnson clearly had an increased role.

49ers Pass Defense:� The Niners got loads of pressure on Jake Plummer.� Often, he was able to avoid the oncoming rush by using his excellent scrambling ability.� Still, San Francisco managed four sacks and Plummer was laid on his back on more than a few occasions.� LB Julian Peterson would have had an easy interception return for a touchdown, but he forgot to catch the ball first.

49ers Rush Defense:� Marcel Shipp was bottled up for the most part following his 40-yard scamper on his first carry.� The Arizona rushing attack wasn�t much of a factor, and the Niners did a solid job today against a hot back.

49ers Special Teams:� PK Jeff Chandler did an awful job today, twice missing field goals from 42 yards out.� If the 49ers are to have any shot whatsoever in the postseason, they had better get Chandler�s problems straightened out right away.� He did make a 24-yard field goal later in the game, but he�s getting paid to make the tough ones, not the 24-yarders.� KR Cedric Wilson had a nice 37-yard return to set up the Hearst touchdown.

Arizona Cardinals:

QB:� Jake Plummer was by no means excellent today, but considering his �weapons� and the lack of time with which he had to throw the football, it�s hard to say he was poor.� His numbers were far from stellar (16-26, 109 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) but he made things happen when the Cards needed them to.� He should have had several deep balls caught but the weak receiving corps couldn�t haul them in.� However, there were several passes that should have been intercepted that weren�t, so it�s not like he got NO breaks.

RB:� Marcel Shipp would have sewn up the feature role in Arizona long ago had it not been for his propensity to fumble at the most inopportune times.� He fumbled again today, this time inside the red zone, which stalled a promising Arizona drive.� Still, there is no denying Shipp�s talent.� Speed or no speed, the guy just produces results.� He totaled 115 yards today in a game that Arizona trailed throughout, which isn�t too shabby.

WR:� Kevin Kasper was targeted seven times and had the first two touchdown of his NFL career today.� That being said, he is only in the lineup because of all of the injuries to the Arizona WR corps.

Jason McAddley caught 2 balls for 12 yards.� See above explanation on why it is a bad idea to have this guy on your team.

TE:� Freddie Jones, Arizona�s leading receiver, did not catch a single pass today.� What�s more, he was only targeted once.� It�s one thing to be the leading receiver on the Raiders or the Bills, it�s quite another to be leading the Cardinals.� Jones is not very good, and should not be in your lineup.

Arizona Pass Defense:� Had absolutely no answers for the Niners passing game.� Garcia picked them apart with precision throws all day long, and if not for a few costly drops, this game would never have been close.� Arizona needs a major overhaul with their defense in the offseason.� Got little to no pressure on Garcia, and sacked him only once.

Arizona Rush Defense:� Surprisingly, not too bad.� The 49ers carried the ball a total of 33 times for 106 yards, barely over 3 yards per carry.� Perhaps it was the effectiveness of the Arizona defense that stalled the Niners rushing attack, or perhaps it was the ease with which SF threw the ball that caused them to abandon the run early on.� Garrison Hearst barreled over a number of �defenders� on his touchdown run.

Arizona Special Teams:� Bill Gramatica missed his only field goal attempt of the afternoon.� He is now just 15-21 on the year.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Chicago Bears:

Following the team�s weekly script, QB Chris Chandler was knocked out of the game in the 2^nd quarter with a concussion, and was replaced by Henry Burris.� This was the most extensive action that Burris has seen, and the Carolina defense blitzed him the entire second half.

WR Dez White had his best game of the year, hooking up with Chandler on a 76 yard touchdown reception on the second play of the game.� He also hauled in a 5 yard touchdown.� Those were his only two receptions.

Rookie RB Adrian Peterson only toted the rock 2 times for 9 yards.�� This was surprising because the Bears had stated that they would use the last few games to evaluate their younger players.

Carolina Panthers:

RB Dee Brown continued his solid play, finishing with 55 yards and 2 touchdowns (2,1).� He left the game for most of the 3^rd quarter with an injury, but returned for the 4^th quarter.� DeShaun Foster will have to battle for the lead role next year in training camp.

PR/KR/WR Steve Smith continues to provide a spark in the offense, and showcased his speed and agility on a 69 yard reception.� He caught 4 balls for 97 yards (6 targets.)

The Carolina defense under the direction of Jack Del Rio and John Fox is quickly becoming one of the most suffocating units in the NFL.� DE Al Wallace, filling in for Peppers, registered 2 sacks.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Chicago Bears:

QB:� Chris Chandler was effective early, including a 76 yard td pass to Dez White on the second play of the game.� He did not last, though, leaving in the 2^nd quarter with a concussion.� He will probably not play next week in a meaningless game.� He was an efficient 7/8 for 113 yards.� Chicago will probably keep him next year to help whoever Chicago drafts, much like he did in Atlanta with Mike Vick.

Henry Burris really didn�t have a shot, as Carolina blitzed on nearly every play.� He did throw a touchdown pass, but was only 8/22.� He�s got a cannon arm, and does move pretty well out of the pocket.� His decision making is poor, as you would expect from a young quarterback.

RB:� Leon Johnson received the bulk of the work, which was somewhat surprising.� His stats were more of an attribute to the Carolina defense than anything.� He finished with a measly 29 yards on 16 carries. (1.8 ypc.)

Rookie tailback Adrian Peterson only ran two plays, which was surprising because Coach Jauron had just stated last week that he was going to see an ample amount of playing time.

WR:� When Chandler went down, so did Marty Booker�s fantasy chances on the day.� The Pro Bowler finished with just 5 catches for 20 yards. (6 targets.)� Burris did not have time to get the ball to his receivers.

Dez White, on the contrary, had his best day of the season, hauling in 2 balls for 81 yards and 2 scores.� He was wide open behind the secondary on his 76 yard touchdown grab, slithering behind the secondary.� He remains entrenched as the #2 WR in Chicago, but will have to battle David Terrell once again next year.�

TE:� Rookie John Gilmore was used sparingly, but did catch 2 balls for 32 yards.� The Bears have a quandary at tight end next year.� Gilmore�s performance next week will go a long way in deciding whom to keep in the upcoming offseason.

Rush Defense:� Between the 20�s they were effective, but both times the Panthers were at the goal line they gave way to RB Dee Brown.� Brian Urlacher had 11 tackles on the day, which is about his average.

Pass Defense:� Did not get much pressure on Rodney Peete and conversely only sacked him one time.� R.W. McQuarters did not play once again, and rookie Roosevelt Williams was repeatedly burned by Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith.

Special Teams:� Not a good day for the Bears, to say the least.� The list includes a muffed punt by Ahmad Merritt inside their own 5 yard line, and a blocked field goal.

Carolina Panthers:

QB:� Rodney Peete did what was asked of him by HC John Fox, which is not to lose the game.� From a fantasy standpoint, that is not the philosophy you want from your quarterback.� He completed 18/35 passes for 179 yards and 1 touchdown.�

Chris Weinke capped a disastrous week for Florida State by being demoted to 3^rd string quarterback before the game.� If he is still on a fantasy roster somewhere�wow.

RB:� Dee Brown had another terrific day from a points perspective, rushing for 55 yards and 2 touchdowns.� He left the game for a short while due to injury, but came back to relieve Joe Montgomery.� He will battle DeShaun Foster for the #1 tailback job in Carolina, which has always been an unstable position, including Tim Biakabutuka, Fred Lane, and Lamar Smith.�

Joe Montgomery filled in for Dee Brown while he was being examined.�

WR:� Steve Smith had a great day, catching 4 balls for 97 yards, including a 69 yard catch and run where he was tackled on the 2 yard line.� He is providing a spark to the offense and special teams, and is a rising star.�

Muhsin Muhammad had a quiet day, but did get in the end zone from 3 yards out.� He was also stopped on the 1 yard line on another play.� He caught 5 balls (7 targets), and is still the #1 receiver in Carolina.

TE:� In what was probably his last game at Ericsson Stadium as a Panther, TE Wesley Walls had a forgettable day. �He amassed just 9 yards on 1 catch.� Kris Mangum is the heir apparent.

Rush Defense:� Great job of dominating a depleted Chicago line, limiting the Bears to just 55 yards on the ground.� This defense is really coming together as a unit.

Pass Defense:� DE Al Wallace had 2 sacks replacing Julius Peppers, and the unit as a whole finished with 4 sacks.� The secondary played great, holding the Bears to just 163 yards through the air.

Special Teams:� Blocked a field goal, and recovered a punt that was muffed.� Steve Smith and Isaac Byrd continue to set the Panthers up in good field position.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

New England Patriots:

Tom Brady had happy feet and looked uncomfortable in the pocket most of the game. He was sacked twice and chased out of the pocket several other times, but many times Brady simply hurried himself. Brady completed only 2 balls over ten yards through 3 quarters.

Antowain Smith was the focus of an unproductive offense. Through the 3^rd quarter just over 40% of the Patriots offense was directed at Smith. (14 carries and 5 targets in the passing game).

The Patriot defense is a shadow of what it used to be. Pennington wasn�t pressured at all the entire game and Martin was held to less than 3 yards on only 2 of his 26 carries (both 2 yard gains).

New York Jets:

Chad Pennington started the game red-hot hitting all 11 of his pass attempts in the 1^st quarter including 2 TDs. He cooled off in the 2^nd and 3^rd, but went 6 of 7 in the 4^th quarter with another TD to put the game out of reach. Pennington was accurate and efficient while managing a great overall game.

The bum ankle that has hindered Curtis Martin all season looks to be in his past. Martin did a great job of grinding out the tough yards. The Jets let Martin tote the ball 26 times and was only spelled by Lamont Jordan on two carries. One of which Jordan fumbled.

Laveranues Coles is entrenched as the #1 WR for the Jets. He made 3 big catches in the 4^th quarter to put the game away. When the Jets had to have the big grab they went to Coles.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

New England Patriots:

QB: Tom Brady: 19-37-133 yards passing (1 TD, 1 INT). 4-24 yards rushing. Brady was unable to get the ball down field during the game. He was harassed by the Jets pass rush and continually delivered the ball within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. Through 3 quarters he had only completed 2 balls longer than 10 yards. Brady did throw one very pretty potential TD bomb that was dropped by Givens.

RB: Antowain Smith: 14-46 yards rushing, 4-22 yards receiving (5 targets). Smith saw action through 3 quarters. He did not receive a carry or target during the entire 4^th quarter.

WR: Troy Brown: 2-8 yards receiving (7 targets). Troy Brown disappeared in this game. He was held without a catch through the first half and fumbled 3 times in the game. Brown appeared to be injured at one point in the game, but as of this writing it was is unclear exactly what may have been wrong.

David Patten: 5-38 yards receiving (8 targets). Patten was the top WR in an anemic passing attack. 4 of his 5 catches were for less than 10 yards.

TE: Christian Fauria: 2-12 yards receiving (TD & 4 targets). Fauria was the only Patriot TE targeted in the game. Fauria was also targeted at the goal line on the Patriots last possession. In the first 7 years of Fauria�s career with Seattle his caught 7 TDs. His first quarter TD in this game was his 7^th of this season.

Pass Defense: The pass rush was non-existent and Pennington dissected the secondary at will. Not one ball was close to being intercepted, as the secondary didn�t get a hand on a ball all night.

Rush Defense: The Patriots kept Curtis Martin from breaking any long runs, but they couldn�t keep the Jets from moving the sticks. 16 of Martin�s 26 carries were for either 3 or 4 yards.

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New York Jets:

QB: Chad Pennington: 23-33-285 passing yards (3 TD). Pennington was a stud in this game. He showed the strong arm when he needed to, and he showed the soft touch when necessary. Getting to show off on national TV is going to move Pennington up the charts for next years fantasy football drafts.

RB: Curtis Martin: 26-106 yards rushing, 1-3 yards receiving (1 target). A month ago Curtis Martin had his name tossed around as a bust this season, but owners who held on to him to get to their playoff weeks were rewarded for having patience. Martin ran hard again this week putting up another 100+ yard game. He didn�t sniff the endzone, but he did have every carry through the first 3 quarter of the game for the Jets.

Richie Anderson: 5-34 yards receiving (9 targets). Anderson played his usual active role in the passing game. One of his 5 yard grabs was nullified by penalty.

Lamont Jordan: 2-3 yards rushing, 0-0 yards receiving (1 target). Jordan had both of his carries in the 4^th quarter. He fumbled on his second carry.

WR: Laveranues Coles: 5-78 yards receiving (TD & 6 targets). Coles made a nice grab on his TD in the 1^st quarter. After the Jets built up their lead Coles wasn�t looked to until the 4^th quarter. He made 3 catches to keep drives moving and help finish off the Patriots.

Wayne Chrebet: 4-61 yards receiving (TD & 7 targets). Coles is putting up better numbers on a weekly basis, but Chrebet is still capable of being productive any given week. Chrebet was the recipient the late Jets TD and led the team in WR targets.

Santana Moss: 4-77 yards receiving (TD & 5 targets). Moss continues to make big plays in the return game. He returned a punt 34 yards to set up the first TD to Coles.

TE: Anthony Becht: 2-21 yards receiving (3 targets). All three of Becht�s targets were in the first quarter. One reception was nullified by a penalty. Becht disappeared through the rest of the game.

Pass Defense: The Jets sacked Tom Brady twice and harassed him consistently through the game. The secondary grabbed one gift interception on a terribly throw ball. Beyond that when you hold the opposing QB to only 133 yards passing you�re doing something right.

Rush Defense: Antowain Smith was contained well. His longest run was only 7 yards and then held him to just over 3 yards per carry on the night.

Special Teams: Kevin Faulk kept the game from being a total laugher with a kick return for a TD. Troy Brown fumbled a punt and the punter didn�t keep the ball away from Santana Moss who leads the NFL in punt return average. Moss torched them for a 34 yarder that led to the first Jets TD.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

New Orleans Saints:

Deuce McAllister had nowhere to run and did very little in this game finishing with only 15 carries for 26 yards.

Aaron Brooks was shaky.�� He fumbled the ball twice from the ball slipping out of his hands. Brooks had a horrible grip this game with several wobbly passes. Brooks did play ok getting 203 yards and a TD without a run game to balance the attack.

Dont� Stallworth had a solid day getting 6 catches for 111 yards and a TD. Stallworth showed his blazing speed to break a slant 57 yards for a TD. Stallworth appears to be getting in a rhythm with Brooks.

Joe Horn abused the corners and getting good separation from the secondary to make his catches finishing up with 6 catches for 64 yards.

Cincinnati Bengals:

Corey Dillon had a very impressive day gaining 126 yards on 18 carries. Dillon got excellent blocking all day and was able to rack up yards inside and bounce out for big gains. Dillon left the game with a bruised elbow.

Nicolas Luchey finished up the game plowing for yards and showing off his superior strength. Luchey had 12 carries for 59 yards and 2 TDs.

Peter Warrick had 7 catches for 71 yards and a TD as the underneath receiver. Warrick made some moves and broke tackles to get a 30-yard TD.

Chad Johnson was looked at often but was heavily guarded by Dale Carter and stopped to only 4 catches for 47 yards but came very close to getting some deep catches.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

New Orleans Saints

QB: Aaron Brooks - played shakily but had no help from the run game. Brooks fumbled twice from the ball slipping out of his hands and had a few wobbly passes from slipping prior to the throw.

Brooks went 16 of 38 for 203 yards and a TD. The TD pass was a quick slant that went 57 yards for the score. With a run game he would have better stats because the LBs were able to drop in to coverage without problems.�� Definitely seems to be bothered by injury.�

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RB: Deuce McAllister - had a horrible game getting 15 carries for 26 yards. Simply no holes opened in the blocking and he was forced to just hit a pile each carry.� His ankle was still heavily taped but he�s been effective playing with it taped like that before.�

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WR: Joe Horn - played well getting 6 catches for 64 yards. Horn abused the corners underneath by faking deep then cutting back toward Brooks and using his body as a shield from the defenders.

Dont� Stallworth - had an excellent game getting 6 catches for 111 yards and a TD. The TD was a quick slant that Stallworth busted 57 yards for the score. Stallworth was constantly going up top and getting critical pass attempts. He seems to be getting into a good rhythm with Brooks.

TE: Boo Williams - was expected to have a solid day against the poor coverage of the Bengals� LBs. But this did not occur because the run game was non-existent so Williams finished with 1 catch for 9 yards.

Run Defense: was horrendous allowing Corey Dillon to get 126 yards on only 18 carries.� When Dillon left, Nicolas Luchey then was able to power over the defensive linemen when they wrapped him up. The line simply was getting pushed back and allowing openings for big gains.

Pass Defense: was considerably better then the run defense allowing only 190 passing yards. Dale Carter matched up with Chad Johnson covered him tightly and stopped several near completions deep. Fred Thomas came out with 2 INTs before leaving with an injury.

Cincinnati Bengals

QB: Jon Kitna - was decent but complained that the weather was causing trouble with his hands and making him throw inaccurate passes. Kitna finished 20 of 40 for 190 yards with a TD and 2 INTs. Kitna seemed to focus on getting the ball into seams with Peter Warrick and deep to Chad Johnson while the others got the ball if they were wide open.

RB: Corey Dillon - was very impressive with 18 carries for 126 yards and 1 catch for 16 yards. Dillon got good blocking from the line and especially from Lorenzo Neal. Dillon was able to run inside and bounce outside for huge yards. Dillon left the game with a bruised elbow.

Nicolas Luchey - came in after Dillon�s injury and just bulldozed through the line again and again. Luchey got 12 carries for 59 yards and 2 TDs and appeared to be stronger than every defensive player the Saints had.

WR: Peter Warrick - played well but is mainly the Bengals possession receiver getting into the seams of the defense. Warrick caught a pass early in the game and made some terrific moves to score from 30 yards out.

Chad Johnson - is the go to receiver and deep threat but was handled quite well by Dale Carter this game. Johnson had 4 catches for 47 yards but came close to several deep catches.�� Missed several possible long plays that would have been tough catches.

TE: Matt Schobel - was a non-factor with 1 catch for 2 yards.

Run Defense: was awesome holding McAllister to 26 yards on 15 carries. The Bengals smashed the line and swarmed to the ball carrier.

Pass Defense: was poor but did what was needed to secure a win. The defense did a good job of holding the center of the field. The secondary was making big hits on the receivers causing some drops throughout the game.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Buffalo Bills

The play calling of the Bills was horrible.� For some reason they chose to ignore the running backs in the passing game until 3 minutes left in the 4th quarter when it was too late.�

Even considering the windy and cold conditions, Drew Bledsoe played a bad game.� His stats of 18/36 for 179 yards do not even begin to tell how bad he looked.�

Travis Henry fumbled the ball on the second New England series despite not even being hit hard.� He ran hard in the second half but was often stuffed by the swarming Packer rush defense that did not respect the anemic Buffalo passing attack.

Eric Moulds didn�t have a catch until half way through the 3^rd quarter because of Bledsoe�s ineptitude.� He did end up with 5 catches for 45 yards and was targeted 10 times on the day.

Peerless Price caught 5 passes for 39 yards and was targeted 11 times but most of the passes ended up 10 yards away from where he was.� He did drop a crucial 3^rd and 12 pass for a long gain that would have turned the tide of the game.

Green Bay Packers

Brett Favre completed just 15 of 33 passes for 114 yards but he had to contend with strong winds and 6 dropped passes which would have made his numbers much more respectable

Ahman Green looked impressive.� He put the Green Bay offense on his shoulders and carried them to victory.� His 133 total yards accounted for more than half of Green Bay�s 223 total yards.�

Donald Driver remains Favre�s favorite target catching 5 passes for 52 yards and a touchdown.� He made a phenomenal catch to go over 1000 yards for the season.�

Green Bay�s pass defense was dominant.� Vonnie Holliday had dedicated the game to the memory of his 16 year old cousin who died Saturday from a congenital heart defect.� He delivered with FIVE sacks and forced THREE fumbles.��

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Buffalo Bills

QB:�� Even considering the cold and windy conditions, Drew Bledsoe played a bad game.� His stats of 18/36 for 179 yards do not even begin to tell how bad he looked.� He threw 2 interceptions which were both balls that he attempted to force to Peerless Price.� He telegraphed passes, forced throws, didn�t see wide open receivers, threw into double coverage, threw errantly, and held the ball too long in the pocket which resulted in 7 sacks.� He fumbled the ball FOUR times, two of which were lost.�

RB:�� Travis Henry fumbled the ball on the second New England series despite not even being hit hard.� He ran hard in the second half but was often stuffed by the swarming Packer rush defense that did not respect the anemic Buffalo passing attack.

WR:�� Eric Moulds didn�t have a catch until half way through the 3^rd quarter because of Bledsoe�s ineptitude.� He did end up with 5 catches for 45 yards and was targeted 10 times on the day.

Peerless Price caught 5 passes for 39 yards and was targeted 11 times but most of the passes ended up 10 yards away from where he was.� He did drop a crucial 3^rd and 12 pass for a long gain that would have turned the tide of the game.

TE: Jay Riemersma caught 3 passes for 31 yards.� 2 of those passes for 20 yards were in the first quarter but between the inept play calling and Bledsoe�s incompetence the Bills forgot about passing to him much again.

Bills Pass Defense:� The Bills held Green Bay in check most of the day in the air.� They picked off 2 Favre passes and sacked him twice.� They held him to 114 passing yards.� Their coverage on the day was excellent and Favre rarely had an open receiver to throw to.

Bills Rush Defense:� Ahman Green ran for 116 yards but it took him 26 carries to do so.� This group just got beaten down over the course of a long game in which they had to deal with 5 turnovers on the offensive side of the ball.

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Green Bay Packers

QB:�� Brett Favre completed just 15 of 33 passes for 114 yards but he had to contend with strong winds and 6 dropped passes which would have made his numbers much more respectable.� Despite very tight coverage by the Bills secondary Favre was able to get the ball in the vicinity of the receivers.� Both his interceptions were forced passes intended for Donald Driver.

RB:�� Ahman Green looked impressive.� He put the Green Bay offense on his shoulders and carried them to victory.� His 133 total yards accounted for more than half of Green Bay�s 223 total yards.� Not only that, considering the Bills only totaled 185 yards, he accounted for nearly ONE THIRD of the total offense in the entire game!

WR:���� Donald Driver remains Favre�s favorite target catching 5 passes for 52 yards and a touchdown.� He made a phenomenal catch to go over 1000 yards for the season.� Both Favre�s interceptions were passes intended for Driver.

Terry Glenn, was more active than his 4 catches for 27 yard stats would indicate.� Favre looks to him after looking for Driver.� He was targeted on a 4^th and 3 play but the pass was at his feet.

Robert Ferguson caught only 1 pass for 11 yards but just missed a touchdown reception that was a bit off target.

TE: Bubba Franks failed to catch a pass but was targeted in the red zone.� The pass was thrown behind him but went off his hands.

Packer Pass Defense: Green Bay�s pass defense was dominant.� Darrin Sharper intercepted Bledsoe on the first series in the red zone but had to leave the game with a sprained right knee.� He is crucial to the Packer post-season.� Vonnie Holliday had dedicated the game to the memory of his 16 year old cousin who died Saturday from a congenital heart defect.� He delivered with FIVE sacks and forced THREE fumbles.��

Packer Rush Defense:� Routinely stuffed a red hot Travis Henry for little or no gain.� The Bills totaled just 43 rushing yards on the day.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

San Diego Chargers

Drew Brees played a good game throwing two touchdowns without an interception, but converted only 2 of 12 3^rd downs.

LaDainian Tomlinson again ran very well. He is a very strong and quick runner that should be a lot of fun to watch for years to come.�� Wasn�t a big part of the gameplan early but once he got rolling, he was tough.

Tim Dwight had a good day. Besides being the top WR with Conway out, he is back to returning kicks and is always a threat to break one all the way.

The Charger defense held the Chiefs to only 53 rushing yards on the day.

Kansas City Chiefs

Trent Green played without a running game this week and did what was needed to get a victory. Even though he missed a few passes, he completed enough of them to get 3 scores and a �W�.

Michael Cloud was a poor substitute for Priest Holmes. The Chiefs abandoned the run after many unsuccessful rushing attempts.

Marc Boerigter is the deep threat of this offense. He had two touchdowns including a 99 yard bomb. He is a good option with both Morton and Holmes out.

Tony Gonzalez had a good day, but he was a couple of drops and a couple of bad passes away from having a huge day. With Holmes out, Gonzalez is the focal point of the Chief�s offense.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

San Diego Chargers

QB: Drew Brees completed 26 of 40 passes for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns without throwing an interception. Brees started out the game slow. The game plan was to come out of the gate throwing and Brees missed pass after pass in the first half while barely including Tomlinson in the offense at all. In the second half, Tomlinson established the strong running game which opened up the passing game for Brees. He was much more effective in the second half and was leading a comeback drive that was only 10 yards out of field goal range before Caldwell fumbled. You would think the Chargers would have realized by now that their offense only works after Tomlinson has established the run. Brees also had a problem on 3^rd downs converting only 2 of 12 opportunities.

RB: LaDainian Tomlinson had 24 carries for 131 yards and gained another 26 yards on 9 catches. He is the key to this offense which showed in the second half. He failed to score but ran very strong whenever handed the ball. He is both fast and powerful and rarely goes down without a fight.

Fred McCrary did not have a carry but did catch a 3 yard touchdown pass. His main function is lead blocking for Tomlinson. It�s always nice to see a workhorse get a little glory.

WR: Curtis Conway did not play again this week.

Tim Dwight had 6 catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. He also was back to returning both punts and kickoffs which is fun to watch. He is very fast and had several strong returns. His specialty on offense is the short crossing route which is a pass that Brees throws well.

Reche Caldwell had 4 catches for 53 yards. He played well until he fumbled on the final drive to end the game. That is a lot to weigh on the mind of a rookie. That fumble might knock the Chargers out of the playoffs. Let�s see next week how he responds.

Eric Parker also looked good this week catching 3 passes for 48 yards. He was open on two corner routes that Brees threw bad passes on. He could have had a big day. The rookie continues to show promise.

TE: Stephen Alexander caught only 2 passes on the day, but they were for 45 yards. He was also open on several other plays that Brees didn�t make good throws on. He�s no Tony Gonzalez, but he has good hands in an offense that likes to use its tight end.

Pass Defense: The Charger pass defense was not as bad as the numbers look. They were skewed by the 99 yard touchdown reception given up to Marc Boerigter by Rogers Beckett. Beckett gets burned deep it seems every week, even after losing his starting job a few weeks back. Green was sacked 3 times (defensive ends Raylee Johnson and Marcellus Wiley and reserve defensive tackle Dequincy Scott). Safety Keith Lyle (the man who took Beckett�s starting job) had the only interception on the day.

Rushing Defense: The Charger rushing defense was tough. They only gave up 53 rushing yards on the day. Linebacker Donnie Edwards (who deserved to make the Pro Bowl) again led the Charger�s defense with 8 solo tackles and 3 assists. It should be noted that Michael Cloud is not Priest Holmes and they missed Tony Richardson, but the Chief�s line is good enough for me to run behind. Bottom line is that the Charger�s line was not pushed around by the Chief�s line.

Kansas City Chiefs

QB: Trent Green completed 23 of 36 passes for 337 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was under heavy pressure most of the day and was sacked 3 times. He did not throw that many bad passes, but one was intercepted. It is always tough on a quarterback when he doesn�t have a running game, but Green answered the challenge.

RB: Michael Cloud carried the ball 16 times for 19 yards. He was often met in the backfield by the defense. The holes were not big enough for Cloud and he could not make things happen by himself. He did gain 28 yards on 3 receptions, but it is clear how much Priest Holmes is needed in Kansas City.

Omar Easy filled in for Tony Richardson and did not have a carry, but had 3 catches for 23 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown. He was not a big part of the game plan.

WR: Eddie Kennison had 5 catches for 70 yards, a couple of which were very tough catches. He also had two carries on the first two plays of the game netting a total of two yards. He fits the Chief�s offense well.

Marc Boerigter had a monster day catching 5 passes for 144 yards including 2 touchdowns (one of which was a 99 yard reception). He is the deep threat in this offense and Trent Green is hitting him in stride.

Dante Hall did not look like himself. He had only 1 catch for 7 yards and did not show his usual quickness on the kick returns. My assumption is that he is more hurt than he reported and should return to blinding speed when healthy.

TE: Tony Gonzalez had 6 catches for 65 yards. He was open time after time on the seam routes. He dropped a few passes and Green missed him on a few. Gonzalez could have easily gone for well over 100 yards on the day with one or two scores. With Priest Holmes out, Gonzalez is once again the focal point of the offense.

Pass Defense: The Chiefs did a good job of pressuring Brees and holding the Chargers to 235 passing yards. Defensive end R-Kal Truluck had the only sack for the Chiefs, but the team flushed Brees out of the pocket on a regular basis. They did an ok job of covering the Charger receivers, but the Chargers were without their star receiver Curtis Conway.

Rushing Defense: The Chief rushing defense got run over. Tomlinson ran for 131 yards on only 24 carries. Safety Shaunard Harts had 9 solo tackles and a forced fumble and linebacker Mike Maslowski had 7 solo tackles and 1 assist, but the tackles were not made until Tomlinson had already gained 5 yards or more. The unit could not plug up the running lanes.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Philadelphia Eagles

A.J. Feeley is a legitimate NFL quarterback and he looked a lot better than his mediocre stats on the game would suggest. He is an accurate passer; he is cool under pressure, and he has full grasp of the Eagles� offense. He finished 19/33 for 253; 1 TD and 2 interceptions.

The Eagles� defense is a force.� They had 7 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, an interception returned for a TD, and allowed only 3 points.

Duce Staley ran well and approached 100 yards total offense on the day. 83 yards to be exact � and a nice 5 yard TD romp where he displayed great power.

This offense spreads the ball around to a lot of different receivers, so its hard for one guy to get nice stats. 4 different players caught 3 or more balls, and 8 caught at least one ball. Antonio Freeman led in yardage with 82; but Todd Pinkston snagged the only TD.���

Dallas Cowboys

Dallas has a lot of restructuring to do this off season. Owner Jerry Jones met with Bill Parcells for a �secret meeting� sparking speculation that he will be the Cowboys� new head coach next year.

Emmitt Smith looked to be a shadow of his former self although he still has a little something in the tank when given the chance. He can still rush for about 4 yards/carry although he doesn�t break the long ones any more. He only got 8 carries in the game as the Cowboys were playing from behind for about 3 � quarters.

Chad Hutchinson has a strong arm when given time; but he usually holds the ball too long and he can be very inaccurate. 15/24 -128 � 1 INT.

Joey Galloway still has the old speed. He displayed it on a 71 yard punt return. Unfortunately, Hutchinson never got him the ball in the passing game.�

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Philadelphia

QB: A.J. Feeley - is a legitimate NFL quarterback and he looked a lot better than his mediocre stats on the game would suggest. He is an accurate passer; he is cool under pressure, and he has full grasp of the Eagles� offense. He finished 19/33 for 253; 1 TD and 2 interceptions. Feeley has a nice strong arm and throws well away from defenders, still giving his receiver a chance to make the catch. One of his interceptions came off a tipped ball and what not at all his fault. He looked great on the TD toss to Pinkston which was a fade into the endzone. He placed it perfectly.

RB:� Duce Staley - ran well and approached 100 yards total offense on the day. 83 yards to be exact � and a nice 5 yard TD romp where he displayed great power. He looked very good in the game, both catching and running the ball.

Brian Westbrook � is a future star. He runs with great vision and anticipation and uses his blockers well. He is Priest Holmes like. He made the most of his 8 carries by taking them for 55 yards. He looked particularly good on one draw play that he took 18 yards to convert on third and long.

WR: Todd Pinkston -� has great concentration and hands which he displayed on his 14 yard TD catch. He ended the day with 4-55-1td.

Antonio Freeman � is a cagey veteran who know this system well and knows how to get open; especially to convert third downs. He led receivers with 82 yards on 4 catches.

James Thrash � was quiet with 1 catch for 30 yards.

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Freddie Mitchell � has lost his number 3 receiver role to Antonio Freeman. He still managed to make 2 grabs for 17 yards.

TE: Chad Lewis � was very Chad Lewis like in his 3 catches for 34 yards. Still reliable; but his numbers have been disappointing this year.

Pass Defense: The Eagles� defense is a force.� They had 7 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, an interception returned for a TD, and allowed only 3 points. WOW. This secondary sent 3 members to the Pro Bowl and they can shut down just about any receiver in the league.

Rush Defense: This swarming defense is very good, although they are a little on the smallish side and can be run on given the right opposing team.�

Special Teams:� Brian Mitchell continues to be a weapon in the return game; he could break one at any moment.

Dallas Cowboys

QB: Chad Hutchinson has a strong arm when given time; but he usually holds the ball too long and he can be very inaccurate. His stats were - 15/24 -128 � 1 INT. He is a very tough quarterback who likes to run but thinks he is tougher than linebackers and runs head first into them � not smart. He is big, but still � not smart. He is fairly mobile, but not by any means a scrambling quarterback. He did manage to run for 28 yards on 4 attempts.

RB: Emmitt Smith -� looked to be a shadow of his former self in what may have been his last game as a Cowboy at home; although he still has a little something in the tank when given the chance. He can still rush for about 4 yards/carry although he doesn�t break the long ones any more. He only got 8 carries in the game as the Cowboys were playing from behind for about 3 � quarters.

Troy Hambrick � didn�t get many chances to show that he can carry the load next year. He only got 6 carries and the swarming Eagle defense only allowed 4 yards.

WR: Antonio Bryant � caught 3 balls for 34 yards.

Joey Galloway - still has the old speed. He displayed it on a 71 yard punt return. Unfortunately, Hutchinson never got him the ball in the passing game.�

TE: Tony McGee � caught 3 balls for 28 yards.

Pass Defense: Rookies Pete Hunter (CB) and Roy Williams (FS) were impressive in the loss; both getting a pick. They should have a bright future.�

Rush Defense: An average unit. They looked pathetic on Duce Staley�s touch down run where they missed 5 tackles. Dat Nguyen is the standout in the linebacker core. He had 6 solo tackles and 2 assists.

Special Teams:� Joey Galloway was explosive on a 71 yard punt return. He almost scored.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Oakland Raiders

Rich Gannon was under much greater pressure than the last time these teams met. But Gannon still managed to get a respectable 201 yards and a TD pass. Though this wasn't a spectacular game by Gannon's standards, his performance was more than enough to win the game for Oakland.

The Raider rushing game is back. The Garner / Wheatley duo is becoming deadly and Zack Crockett continues to get the short yardage TDs.

The Raider defense was a big factor in winning this game. Griese and Beuerlein were under constant pressure and Oakland picked off the Denver QBs three times.

Denver Broncos

Brian Griese was only 7/15 for 48 yards and 2 interceptions. Before Griese could make up for his mistakes, he was knocked out of the game with a knee injury. In relief of Griese, Steve Beuerlein threw for a bunch of yards but didn't fare much better in leading the Broncos to a win.

Hawaii native Ashley Lelie is an emerging star for Denver and he burned Oakland for 4 catches and 106 yards.

Clinton Portis ran well, but was taken out of the game because Denver had to throw the ball the entire second half. Portis ran well with 12 rushes for 52 yards and a TD. Portis owners should not be worried about these numbers.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Oakland Raiders

QB: Rich Gannon was under much greater pressure than the last time these teams met when Gannon threw for a record 21 straight completions. But Gannon still managed to get a respectable 201 yards and a TD pass. Gannon's only error was a fumble that was forced by a big Denver pass rush. Gannon made up for that with a gutsy run for a TD. The run was tough and Gannon showed a nice bit of determination to get that rush TD. Though this wasn't a spectacular game by Gannon's standards, his performance was more than enough to win the game for Oakland.

RB: Many predicted that Charlie Garner would struggle against the sometimes sturdy Denver run defense, but Garner proved his doubters wrong. Garner torched the Broncos for� 152 combined yards and a TD catch. Garner's speed mixed with some powerful running was the key to this important game.

Tyrone Wheatley continues to impress as a runner and had 18 carries for 61 yards. The Garner / Wheatley duo is becoming deadly and is really what the Giants had hoped for with Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne.

Zack Crockett continued his hot streak as a scoring threat with two short-yardage TD runs

WR: The Oakland receivers didn't get a TD, but they played well. Tim Brown led all Raiders with 6 catches for 79 yards. Brown didn't get a TD, but he caught some important balls to extend Oakland drives.

Jerry Rice was mostly quiet with 3 catches for 25 yards.

Jerry Porter had a mediocre game with only 1 catch for 6 yards.�� He can shine but he�s also very prone to just disappearing.

WR/KR Marcus Knight had a costly fumble.

TE: Doug Jolley was held without a catch for the first time in weeks.

Pass Defense Notes: This unit played well. Despite giving up 282 passing yards, the Oakland secondary made a lot of big hits and intercepted three Denver passes. Those yards were more of a product of Denver playing from behind the entire game.

Rush Defense Notes: The Oakland rush D only allowed 79 yards on the ground, but that was more of a result of Denver having to throw the entire game. Though the Denver RBs had a good average-per-carry ratio, the Raider rush D didn't allow Denver to dictate the pace in this game and pressured Denver QBs all day.

Denver Broncos

QB: Brian Griese was only 7/15 for 48 yards and 2 interceptions. The first interception wasn't Griese's fault as it was a tipped ball. The second interception was a bad pass. Before Griese could make up for his mistakes, he was knocked out of the game with a knee injury.

In relief of Griese, Steve Beuerlein didn't fare much better. Though Beuerlein went 13/28 and 234 yards, he threw an interception and had no TD passes. Beuerlein did pad his stats with a rushing TD. In defense of Griese and Beuerlein, the Oakland D blitzed the Denver QBs all day and the Denver line had no answer for the Raider pressure.

WR: The WR corps was the bright spot for Denver. Hawaii native Ashley Lelie is an emerging star for Denver and he burned Oakland for 4 catches and 106 yards. Much of that yardage came on a beautiful 48 yard catch. Lelie looks like what Denver has been waiting for: a legitimate deep threat. Smith and McCaffrey are great possession receivers, but Lelie has better speed.

Rod Smith finally got into the Denver game plan with 5 catches for 64 yards.

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Ed McCaffrey was mostly held in check with 3 catches for 23 yards.

RB: Clinton Portis ran well, but was taken out of the game because Denver had to throw the ball the entire second half. Portis ran well with 12 rushes for 52 yards. Portis got another TD - his eighth in five games. Oakland did not stop Portis so much as Denver's playing from behind reduced his role. Portis owners should not be worried about these numbers.

Mike Anderson got 3 carries and 20 yards.

Olandis Gary only had one carry for no gain.

TE: Shannon Sharpe had a good day with 7 catches for 84 yards before he was knocked out with an injury.

Pass Defense Notes: This unit played decently - considering how Gannon ripped them apart last time. They covered the Oakland WRs well, but had no answer for Charlie Garner.

Rush Defense Notes: Though the Denver front seven put good pressure on Gannon and forced a fumble, they did not stop the Raider running game and that was the key to this game. Oakland gained 136 yards rushing.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Cleveland Browns:

Tim Couch led two TD drives and looked very good in those two drives. The rest of the game, Couch was shaky at best.

William Green was out for a couple series with a groin injury. He played most of the 2^nd quarter and the entire 2^nd half after the injury. He should be fine.

Jamel White has a good set of hands.

Baltimore Ravens:

Jamal Lewis still has great speed. There were a couple of plays where he shouldn�t have been able to get to the corner. He got to the corner. He should be amazing next season.

Travis Taylor is capable of making a couple of big plays each week.

Todd Heap will be an elite fantasy TE for years to come.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Cleveland Browns

QB: Tim Couch (22/31 for 209 / 1 TD / 1 INT) had two good drives all day long (the first of the game and the last of the game). Lucky for him, that�s all that was needed for the win today. He was especially sharp running the two-minute drill.

RB: William Green (20 for 56 / 2 rec for 2) never got going today. His longest rush was 9 yards. In the first drive, he suffered a groin injury and was taken out of the game. He was replaced by Jamel White, and White scored two plays later. Green came back at the 13:23 mark in the 2^nd quarter and played the rest of the game.

Jamel White (4 for 11 / 1 TD / 4 rec for 63) scored his TD with William Green on the sidelines with a groin injury. When Green was healthy enough to return, Green received the vast majority of the carries. White was very effective receiving the ball out of the backfield and turned in a huge play on Cleveland�s late-game scoring march. He hauled in an impressive one-handed catch in the 3^rd quarter.

WR: Kevin Johnson (5 for 44) is nothing more than a possession WR. His five receptions were very quiet.

Quincy Morgan (3 for 50) never really got going today. It was fairly apparent that the Ravens secondary was keying on Morgan for most of the game.

Andre Davis (3 for 21) had two of his catches on back-to-back plays. The remainder of the game he was almost non-existent.

TE: Mark Campbell (2 for 7 / 1 TD) caught a short TD for the game-winning score.

Steve Heiden (1 for 2) started the game.

Browns Rush Defense: The Ravens were able to peel off several long runs today. At times, Jamal Lewis was bottled up quickly, but Lewis did have a few good sized runs (the longest was 25 yards). Cleveland is known for being weak against the run, and today they met that expectation.

Browns Pass Defense: This unit was effective against Jeff Blake and the Baltimore passing attack. The Ravens were unable to get any big plays today in the air (the longest was 17 yards). The one INT Blake threw was on a last second hail mary. However, Corey Fuller had an INT that was called back due to interference (a bogus call).

Baltimore Ravens

QB: Jeff Blake (16/28 for 143 / 1 TD / 1 INT) was generally efficient but never went after the big play. His INT was on a last second hail mary.

RB: Jamal Lewis (21 for 100 / 1 rec for 3) still has a tremendous burst of speed. He�s just a hard running tough player. The announcers mentioned that Lewis says his knee still isn�t at 100%. If that�s true, Lewis will be an elite fantasy RB next year.

Chester Taylor (1 for 10 / 1 rec for 0) replaced Lewis for a few plays.

Alan Ricard (1 for 4 / 1 rec for 4) is as big a threat in the air as he is on the ground.

WR: Travis Taylor (3 for 39 / 1 TD / 3 rush for 20) ran two straight end-arounds to open the game. Taylor showed great effort on his TD catch.

Randy Hymes (3 for 36) made a few good plays. This kid has some potential seeing as how he is actually an undrafted rookie free agent that played QB in college.

TE: Todd Heap (7 for 61) is a stud. He has excellent hands (as if you didn�t know that already). He had another short reception (for a first down late in the game) that was called incomplete (and for some unknown reason wasn�t called complete in instant replay).

Ravens Rush Defense: The Browns� ground game was stymied all afternoon. The Ravens held Cleveland to a 2.4 ypc average. That�s excellent. Ed Reed made a couple of outstanding plays in run support.

Ravens Pass Defense: This unit looked shaky to start the game but then dominated for most of the game. Tim Couch proceeded to shred the Ravens secondary in the two-minute drill. In the Browns� last drive, WRs were wide open, and Couch found people with ease.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Detroit Lions:

Mike McMahon (11/33, 149 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT) Had a couple good moments in an otherwise poor performance. He had only 99 yards and 6 completions in the first half. One INT came off a blocked pass, but the other two were just poorly thrown. His good / lucky moments came on a one yard TD toss to James Stewart, where McMahon was in the grasp of two Falcons and tossed the ball underhand to Stewart. The other was a nice 15 yard TD pass to Aveion Cason, who made a leaping grab for the TD. Not a good performance by McMahon overall.

None of the Lion WR's did anything to speak of. Bill Schroeder was targeted most, but he only caught 2 passes, one or 46 yards. Scotty Anderson had only one catch for 18 yards.

The Lion running game wasn't much better. James Stewart, coming off a stinger and other injuries that kept him out last week, carried the ball just 12 times for 34 yards, and Aveion Cason started off the game with a nice 17 yard run... which turned out to be his only carry of the day. The Detroit offense looked bad, no other word for it. One bright spot on the Lions was once again return man Eddie Drummond. He had an 88 yard kick return that sparked the Lions short-lived comeback in the game.

The Lion defense played well for the first 3 quarters of the game, then fell apart in the fourth quarter. Robert Porcher was in Michael Vicks face pretty much all game, and the Lions did a fairly good job of containing Vick till towards the end of the game. They also intercepted Vick once.

Atlanta Falcons:

Michael Vick started out slow, but exploded at the end of the game to finish a career high 337 yards passing. He completed 20/38 passes with two TD's and one INT. The Lions did a pretty good job of containing Vick most of the game, and Vick ended up with 42 yards rushing on 8 attempts. Vick didn't look too sharp throughout most of the game, but pulled his act together in the fourth quarter.

WR Quentin McCord had a huge day, catching 7 passes for 182 yards and a TD. McCord was filling in for Shawn Jefferson. McCord had several nice catches, including a 60 yarder and a couple over 20, one of which was a nice TD catch. Michael Vick really seemed to like throwing to McCord, and McCord ran some great routes in game. McCord made the most of his opportunity, and it will be interesting to see how he is used in Atlanta's final game with Cleveland.

Warrick Dunn also had a fine day, carrying the ball 30 times for 132 yards and a TD. Dunn looked super in the game, and scored on a three yard TD to cap off an 88 yard drive to seal the game for the Falcons. Dunn also had 5 catches for 37 yards.

K Jay Feely had a superb game, connecting on 5 of 5 FG attempts and basically keeping the Falcons in the game for the first half.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW:

Detroit Lions:

QB: Mike McMahon, except for a couple passes and a 21 yard run, had a poor game. He completed just 11 of 33 passes for only 159 yards. He did have 2 TD's, which were his only bright spots in the game. On his 1 yard TD to James Stewart, he underhanded the ball while in the grasp of two Falcons. The other was a nice 15 yard pass to Aveion Cason. McMahon was intercepted three times in the game. A poor performance.

RB: James Stewart, who was coming off of a couple injuries that forced him to miss last weeks game, carried the ball only 12 times for 34 yards. The Lions offense was poor the entire game, both passing and running. Stewart never really got the chance to get going in the game.

Cory Schlesinger carried the ball only 4 times for 6 yards, and had 2 receptions for 39 yards. One of his catches was a screen to the outside that he took down the sideline for 21 yards.

WR: WR's? The Lions had WR's playing in this game? Bill Schroeder led the Lion WR's with 2 catches for 60 yards... 46 of which came on one play. Scotty Anderson, the only other Lion WR to catch a pass, had one reception for 18 yards. One word... ugly.

TE: Mikhael Ricks was also quiet due to the Lions sputtering offense, catching 2 passes for 7 yards.

Rush Defense: The Lions run defense played pretty decently for the first half of the game, then really fell a part in the second half, especially the fourth quarter. Warrick Dunn was able to run on the Lions all game, but was ineffective in the redzone until the fourth quarter.

Pass Defense: The Lion pass rush kept decent pressure on Michael Vick through most of the game. Robert Porcher got several licks on Vick in the game, and was in Vicks face most passing plays. The Lions also did a fair job of containing Vicks running. However, the Lion secondary gave up more and more yardage to Vick as the game progressed, and in the fourth Vick just had his way.

Special Teams: Jason Hanson missed his only FG attempt of the day. Eddie Drummond returned a kick for 88 yards, sparking a brief Lion comeback in the game.

Atlanta Falcons:

QB: Michael Vick started pretty slow, but gathered momentum, had a strong fourth quarter and finished with a career high 337 yards passing with 2 TD's and one INT. Vick's rushing was contained fairly well by the Lions pass rush, and Robert Porcher got in a couple good shots... Vick got up shaking his left hand once or twice in the game. Vicks favorite target in the game was by far Quentin McCord, who caught 7 passes for 182 plus a TD.

RB: Warrick Dunn rushed 30 times for 132 yards and a TD and added 37 yards on five receptions. Dunn was able to gain good chunks of yardage throughout the game, but was ineffective in the redzone until late in the fourth quarter when he ran in the ball from the three to seal the game. A nice performance overall form Dunn, but it came against a faltering Lion defense.

Bob Christian carried the ball twice for 18 yards, and caught 2 passes for 27 yards. Christian was hit and knocked unconscious during the game. He was carried to the sideline where he revived, but he did not return to the game.

WR: Quentin McCord filled in for Shawn Jefferson and made the most of his opportunity. He caught seven passes for 182 yards and a TD while being Michael Vicks favorite target of the game. Vick went to McCord early and often, and McCord was open all game long against a soft Lion secondary.� A fine performance from McCord... it'll be interesting to see how the Falcons utilize him next week and in the playoffs (if they get there).

Brian Finneran caught 3 passes for 54 yards, including a nice 34 yard TD pass from Michael Vick. Finneran had only three other targets in the game, one of which was intercepted by the Lions..

Trevor Gaylor caught 2 passes for 16 yards in the game, but did see quite a few targets from Michael Vick during the game.

TE: Alge Crumpler played in the game, but saw few targets and had no receptions.

Reggie Kelly had one catch for 21 yards,�� and was also not a factor in the game.

Rush Defense: Held the Lion RB's to 62 yards combined and no rushing TD's.. Good performance.

Pass Defense: Held Lion QB to just 149 yards passing and intercepted him three times. Good pressure up front. Secondary slipped once allowing Aveion Cason to catch a 15 yard TD, the other was a lucky underhand toss by QB Mike McMahon while two Falcons were hanging on him. Good performance.

Special Teams: Jay Feely was a perfect five for five on FG attempts, and kept the Falcons in the game early on. The Kick return team let up an 88 yard return to Eddie Drummond, which sparked a brief Lion comeback.

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St. Louis 10 at Seattle 30

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

St. Louis Rams

Marc Bulger was injured on the first Rams series with a twisted upper back. He did not return. He went to the hospital and his MRI was negative. Jamie Martin replaced him and was not effective.

Marshall Faulk and Lamar Gordon were both slightly injured going into the game so Trung Canidate got the start. He lost a fumble on his third carry and did not return. Faulk took over and finished with 13 yards on 9 carries.

Torry Holt was a bright spot for the Rams. Martin really focused on him the whole game. He finished with 9 catches for 92 yards and a score.

Seattle Seahawks:

Matt Hasselbeck might be the future of the passing game in Seattle. He had his third 300-yard passing game of the season and he looked sharp all game. His numbers would have been much bigger if there hadn�t been 2 or 3 drops by his wideouts early in the game.

Jerramy Stevens might be worth stashing in keeper leagues that require a tight end. He�s huge (6-6, 265) and he�s faster than most of the linebackers that try to cover him. He finished with 4 catches for 70 yards.

Darrell Jackson continued his miraculous comeback and finished with 71 yards and a score. He�s still a threat to score on every passing down.

Shaun Alexander may have secured a Fantasy Championship or two today with two 1-yard touchdown runs against an overmatched St. Louis rush defense. This was a terrific example of a money player coming through at crunch time.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW


St. Louis Rams

QB:  With Kurt Warner done for the season lots of Rams fans got what they wanted and saw Marc Bulger get the start. He lasted almost 5 plays as he was injured as he got sacked. He left the game with a twisted upper back and was taken to the hospital. His MRI results came back ok. His status for next week is uncertain.

That left the passing duties to Jamie Martin. Martin had a decent first half playing efficiently if not spectacularly. He just doesn�t have the arm strength to make a lot of the throws Mike Martz asks for. When they started calling long pass plays in the second half Martin and the Rams really struggled. He was intercepted three times and he lost a fumble. He finished 31-48 for 259 yards and a score.

RB: � Trung Canidate started the game for the ailing pair of Faulk and Gordon. Canidate lost a fumble on his third carry and didn�t get back into the game.

With no healthy runners available outside of the benched Canidate, Marshall Faulk saw a lot more playing time than he would have. He managed only 13 yards on 9 carries and added another 17 yards on 4 receptions. This was clearly not the Faulk we�ve all come to expect but that was mainly due to his lengthy recovery from a high ankle sprain.

WR:   Torry Holt was the lone bright spot on an injury depleted Rams team. He finished with 92 yards on 9 catches and he also scored. He was clearly the only receiver Martin felt 100% comfortable throwing to.

Isaac Bruce was probably the most disappointed to see Bulger leave the field injured. The best games of Bruce�s this season have come with Bulger under center. It�s clear that Martin has neither the chemistry nor the confidence in Bruce that he has in Holt. Bruce finished with 4 catches for 49 yards.

Troy Edwards showed up a little bit in this game. He was used as the 4^th receiver and had 5 catches for 39 yards.

TE: Ernie Conwell had a catch. It was for 6 yards. You must be a big Ernie Conwell fan if you�re reading this looking for his name.

St. Louis Pass Defense: They allowed Matt Hasselbeck to complete over 62% of his passes and if not for a drop and a pass interference call they would have given up two more touchdown passes. The Seattle wide receivers seemed too fast and Jerramy Stevens seemed too big and fast for the St. Louis secondary to cover effectively. They did manage to sack Hasselbeck twice.

St. Louis Rush Defense: Shaun Alexander was held to 79 yards rushing. He did score two short-yardage touchdowns.

Seattle Seahawks


QB:  Matt Hasselbeck might be a legit starter, albeit a year later than Mike Holmgren thought he would be. He has two excellent weapons at wide receiver in Robinson and Jackson and a developing threat in Jerramy Stevens. Hasselbeck enjoyed good protection, which allowed his receivers time to get open on longer routes.� The protection also kept him from taking any extra hits. He finished the game with 303 yards on 20 of 32 passing.

RB: Shaun Alexander didn�t have a ton of rushing yards but he did score twice in a game where the Seattle passing was featured. He had some success rushing up the middle but most of his yards came on plays where he bounced the run to the outside and on sweeps. He finished with 79 yards rushing on 26 carries.

WR:  Koren Robinson is becoming the big play receiver in Seattle. He has good WR size (6-1, 205) and he�s incredibly fast. Please be sure to include Robinson in your long-term Fantasy Team plans. He�s always had the physical tools but now with a second year of experience and a passer who can throw the deep ball accurately he looks like he will now become the �next big thing�, and he�s just 22 years old. In a smaller market West Coast town like Seattle he�ll likely not get the hype he would be getting if he played in a New York or Miami so be sure to keep an eye out for him next year.

Darrell Jackson continued his comeback from that terrible concussion and had another good game. He finished with 4 catches for 71 yards, including a 38-yards touchdown grab in the 4^th quarter to seal the Seahawks victory.

TE:   The Seahawks have a good tight end in Itula Mili. He can be a punishing blocker and he is a proven receiver both in the red zone and downfield. Unfortunately for him, the Seahawks brought in Jerramy Stevens who is huge and is as fast as some wide receivers. And he can catch the ball, too. He finished with 4 catches for 70 yards and should have had a touchdown on a long pass where he fell at the goal line but was ruled down at the one.

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Seattle Pass Defense: The Seahawks pressured both Bulger and Martin all game. Bugler left injured on a sack early in the first quarter and Martin was hit nearly every time he dropped back to pass. Martin was sacked just once but the pressure forced him into three interceptions and also forced a fumble that he lost.

Seattle Rush Defense: It�s tough to judge the Seahawks pass defense in this game because there wasn�t healthy Ram running back. Trung Canidate fumbled on his third carry and was benched which forced the injured Marshall Faulk to have most of the carries. At the very least, the Seahawks can use this game to get their yards-per-game average down for next year�s press kit.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

David Carr didn�t look good today, completing just 38% of his passes for only 112 yards. The offensive line didn�t give him enough time to find the open receiver.�� He also set the single season record for being sacked.

Jonathan Wells was shut down by the Redskins defense. He ran for only 33 yards.

Patrick Ramsey had a better game than his stats show. His arm strength enabled him to complete a lot of passes that other QBs wouldn�t have.

Ladell Betts and Kenny Watson both had amazing games today. They combined for 226 yards on 40 carries and a touchdown.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

QB: David Carr didn�t have a great game at all. Many of his passes were off target and fell incomplete. He had a lot of trouble finding an open receiver. David Terrell picked him off when he under threw a pass. He was 12/31 with 112 yards and one interception. He couldn�t get any protection from his line either. Bruce Smith sacked him twice.�� If you�re keeping track, he set the single season record for being sacked.

RB: Jonathan Wells was a non-factor today. He had trouble breaking through the line and into the secondary. He had just 33 yards on 15 carries.

WR: Corey Bradford was Houston�s top receiver today. He had five catches for 43 yards.

Jabar Gaffney had a disappointing game against his old college coach. He had only one catch for 16 yards.

TE: Billy Miller was Houston�s second leading receiver with three receptions for 30 yards.

Rush defense: Could not stop Betts and Watson at all. They rushed for a combined 226 yards and a 5.65 average.

Pass defense: Had trouble containing Ramsey. He threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns.

QB: Patrick Ramsey won the battle of the rookie QBs today. His stats (14/31, 190 yds., 2 TDs) don�t tell the entire story. He was far more impressive than his stats show. His arm strength enabled him to complete some passes that other QBs probably wouldn�t have completed. His touchdown pass to Derrius Thompson was amazing. Thompson was surrounded by defenders at the goal line and Ramsey was still able to get him the ball. Ramsey also had a 12 yard TD pass to Rock Cartwright.

RB: Kenny Watson and Ladell Betts split time at RB and both had excellent games.

Watson had 110 yards on 20 carries. Betts had 116 yards on 20 carries and a three yard TD run. Both of them looked very good, often breaking runs into the secondary and beyond. Betts� size allowed him to break many tackles today. Together they had a 5.65 YPC average. At the goal line, Betts was the RB. He got the ball on four straight plays until he scored.

WR: Rod Gardner had only an average game today. He had four catches for 53 yards. He had a nice catch for 33 yards near the end of the first half.

Derrius Thompson�s role on the team has been increasing during the past few weeks. He was the Redskins� leading receiver with seven catches for 73 yards today. He also had a beautiful 13 yard touchdown reception.

TE: No Redskins TE caught any passes today.

Rush defense: Did an excellent job with Wells, holding him to 33 yards. He never could get anything going.

Pass defense: Put a lot of pressure on Carr, forcing him to make bad decisions. Bruce Smith had two sacks and moved closer to Reggie White�s all time sack record.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Tennessee Titans

Steve McNair looked a little shaky on the opening drive but regrouped and showed the leadership his is known for in the victory.� With the game in hand, McNair gave way to Neil O'Donnell for the last 10 minutes.�

Eddie George also left the game for the last 10 minutes, as his services were not needed anymore.� He carried the load on the Titans final scoring drive with five carries for 35 yards.�

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Derrick Mason had a decent day while drawing the double coverage.� He was under thrown on a deep incompletion as he had a step on Jason Craft.� He also had a slant pass deflected away and dropped what would have been a first down in traffic.���

Kevin Dyson did not play due to a hamstring injury.

Justin McCareins came down with only one catch.� He drew a controversial pass interference penalty at the goal line and committed an offensive pass interference that negated a 23-yard gain.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Mark Brunell left at the end of the third quarter with hamstring injury, not to return.� Brunell struggled with Fred Taylor also suffering from injury.� The Titans double teamed Jimmy Smith and the other receivers could not get open.� In the second half, the Titans pinned their ears back, pressuring Brunell.��

David Garrard played the fourth quarter at quarterback.� He showed a strong arm and mobility.

Fred Taylor came out of the game with an injured ankle in the first quarter.� He returned late in the third quarter but was not an impact.� Taylor had a 10-yard run called back on illegal motion.

Jimmy Smith saw double teams all day and never could get going.

Bobby Shaw had an up-and-down game.� He had a 4-yard touchdown called back from illegal motion and then dropped the next pass in the end zone.�

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Tennessee Titans

QB: Steve McNair - He looked a little shaky on the opening drive but regrouped and showed the leadership his is known for in the victory.� McNair showed he still has scrambling ability as long as he stays healthy.� With the game in hand, McNair gave way to Neil O'Donnell for the last 10 minutes.� McNair finished the game icing his back.�

Neil O'Donnell - Finished the game for the Titans and only threw the ball once.

RB: Eddie George - George also left the game for the last 10 minutes, as his services were not needed anymore.� He carried the load on the Titans final scoring drive with five carries for 35 yards.� George also had an eight-yard run called back for holding.

Robert Holcombe - Gave the Titans a change of pace, spelling George.

Mike Green - Showed some quickness, getting all of his carries late in the game.

WR: Derrick Mason - Had a decent day while drawing the double coverage.� He was under thrown on a deep incompletion as he had a step on Jason Craft.� He also had a slant pass deflected away and dropped what would have been a first down in traffic.

Kevin Dyson - Did not play due to a hamstring injury.

Justin McCareins - Came down with only one catch.� He drew a controversial pass interference penalty at the goal line and committed an offensive pass interference that negated a 23-yard gain.

Drew Bennett - Had a five-yard attempt broken up by Fernando Bryant and a six-yard catch negated by an illegal shift.� He was overthrown on a bad break on an out route.

TE:� Frank Wycheck - McNair missed him on a 10-yard out while under pressure.� He was also missed on a shorter out route.

Titans Pass Defense: Great coverage by Rolle and company and pressure from Albert Haynesworth, rookie Carlos Hall and Jevon Kearse made for a long day for Brunell.����

Titans Rush Defense: With Taylor out most of the game and a Titans lead, the Jaguars' rushing game was not a factor.

Titans Special Teams: Joe Nedney was strong on his only field goal attempt, but it went wide left.

Jacksonville Jaguars

QB: Mark Brunell - Left at the end of the third quarter with hamstring injury, not to return.� Brunell struggled with Fred Taylor also suffering from injury.� The Titans double teamed Jimmy Smith and the other receivers could not get open.� In the second half, the Titans pinned their ears back, pressuring Brunell.

David Garrard - Played the fourth quarter at quarterback.� He showed a strong arm and mobility.

RB: Fred Taylor - Came out of the game with an injured ankle in the first quarter.� He returned late in the third quarter but was not an impact.� Taylor had a 10-yard run called back on illegal motion.

Stacey Mack - Filled in for Taylor while he was nursing his ankle.� Returned a kickoff for 54 yards.� Had a 14-yard screen pass negated from a holding call.

WR: Jimmy Smith - Saw double teams all day.� Samari Rolle was all over Smith on a 12-yard comeback that fell incomplete.� He was overthrown and well covered on a medium-crossing route that resulted in a bruised shoulder for Smith.� He returned later and had a slant pass deflected away and caught a touchdown with eight seconds left in the game.

Bobby Shaw - Had an up-and-down game.� He was running a 15-yard crossing route that was intercepted for a touchdown.� Brunell missed him on a 10-yard sideline route while under pressure.� Garrard overthrew Shaw 20 yards down the sideline.� He had a 4-yard touchdown called back from illegal motion and then dropped the next pass in the end zone.

Kevin Lockett - Had a holding penalty negate a four-yard gain on the only ball thrown to him.

TE: Kyle Brady - Dropped a flair pass that Garrard threw a bit behind him.� Dropped the ball as he was hit on a 12-yard out.

Pete Mitchell - Had the ball deflected away in the end zone.

Jaguars Pass Defense: Fernando Bryant's play was inconsistent.� The secondary gave a lot of cushion that McNair took advantage of, when needed.��

Jaguars Rush Defense: George and the Titans ran over the Jaguars in the fourth quarter to ice the game.� Wali Rainer and the Jaguar defense could not contain McNair's scrambling.

Jaguars Special Teams: Ran a fake punt with Garrard running the ball.� Also ran a reverse on a kickoff return in desperation.� Kicker Danny Boyd was strong on his attempts.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Miami Dolphins

RB Ricky Williams was shut down in the second half, finishing with just 67 rushing yards and no touchdowns.� The Vikings defensive line was fresh in the fourth quarter, keyed on Williams, and kept him from breaking off any long gains.

QB Jay Fiedler ran an efficient game (15-for-21 passing), but was not a difference maker.� 70 of his 177 passing yards came in the first five plays from scrimmage, including a 59-yard TD pass to Chris Chambers, the only big play Fiedler made all day.

No Miami WR stood out � Chambers was invisible after the first quarter, James McKnight only caught passes underneath, Dedric Ward dropped the only pass thrown to him, and Cris Carter only saw the field on 4-WR sets.

Miami�s pass defense kept them in the game � 2 INTs in the endzone, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles on Daunte Culpepper.� DE Jason Taylor had little trouble beating rookie LT Bryant McKinnie one-on-one, forcing much of the action leading the Vikings miscues.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings controlled the ball well, keeping possession for over 11 minutes of the second quarter, and stringing together 78-yard, 7-minute TD drive to open the second half.� The defense was fresh in the fourth quarter (especially the defensive line), so the defense was able to shut down the run late in the game.

WR Randy Moss was relatively quiet the first three quarters, but came alive in the fourth to finish with solid fantasy numbers (7 catches, 110 receiving yards, 1 TD pass thrown), and was inches from a huge day.� Moss was wide open for a 52-yard TD coming off a flea-flicker, but was overthrown by Culpepper.� On another play, Moss nearly pulled down a 24-yard TD pass in the side of the endzone � he got both feet down in bounds, but juggled the ball, and the incomplete pass ruling on the field was upheld after a replay challenge.

QB Daunte Culpepper was clearly rattled by the Miami pass rush.� He threw 2 INTs in the endzone, fumbled three times (all on pass plays), and was forced to scramble on six other plays.� He ended up being the Vikings� leading rusher (67 yards), but did not score rushing or passing.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Miami Dolphins

QB: Jay Fiedler ran an efficient game (15-for-21 passing), but was not a difference maker.� 70 of his 177 passing yards came in the first five plays from scrimmage, including a 59-yard TD pass to Chris Chambers, the only big play Fiedler made all day.� Fiedler had some success throwing off of play-action fakes, but those were less effective when the running game was shut down late.

RB: Ricky Williams only had 15 carries (Miami ran just 38 plays to Minnesota�s 62), and was not effective in the second half.� He looked healthy, and ran well in the first half, but the run blocking broke down many times in the fourth quarter, and Williams was tackled in the backfield multiple times.

Rob Konrad caught two passes for 15 yards, but did not run the ball.� He saw some action at H-back, as well as fullback.

WR: Chris Chambers caught just two passes, but his first was a 59-yard TD on the fifth play of the game.� Thanks to a great play-fake by Fiedler, Chambers was open for a go route deep, split two defenders after the catch, and was gone for the score.� Chambers was invisible in the second half.

James McKnight caught five passes for 47 yards.� Three of his receptions were on consecutive plays in the third quarter.� McKnight (6 targets) was used mainly on underneath crossing routes.� He lost a fumble on a WR screen pass.

Dedric Ward dropped the only pass thrown to him, a third-down pass where he was open for a first down.

Cris Carter only saw the field in 4-WR sets, about 10 plays total.� Carter caught one pass for 15 yards, and was targeted one other time in the endzone � Carter was open, but the pass was thrown behind him incomplete.

TE: Randy McMichael caught the only pass thrown to him, a 13-yarder in the fourth quarter.

Jed Weaver caught the only pass thrown to him as well, a 3-yard TD late in the third quarter.

Pass Defense: kept the Dolphins in the game � 2 INTs in the endzone, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles on Daunte Culpepper.� DE Jason Taylor had little trouble beating rookie LT Bryant McKinnie one-on-one, forcing much of the action leading the Vikings miscues.� They double-covered Moss on most plays, and every red zone play.

Rush Defense: officially gave up 129 yards, but about half of those were actually on scrambles by Culpepper.� They held Michael Bennett to just 3 yards per carry, and shut down most outside running plays.

Special Teams: K Olindo Mare made all his kicks (1 short FG, 2 PATs), coverage units did their job, kickoff return team broke one long return, and had a second called back on a holding penalty.

Minnesota Vikings

QB: Daunte Culpepper was clearly rattled by the Miami pass rush.� He threw 2 INTs in the endzone, fumbled three times (all on pass plays), and was forced to scramble on six other plays.� He ended up being the Vikings� leading rusher (67 yards), but did not score rushing or passing.� The Vikings did call on Culpepper�s running ability on two key short-yardage plays on the final drive � a QB sweep on third-and-two (got nothing), and a QB draw on fourth-and-two (got three yards and a first down).

RB: Michael Bennett was bottled up by the Miami defense, just 54 yards on 18 carries.� Outside running plays rarely had holes, and Bennett failed to break off a long run between the tackles.� Bennett was ineffective in short-yardage situations.

Moe Williams played sparingly, but did score a 3-yard TD moving through the pile.� He had just one other carry, and did not catch a pass.

WR: Randy Moss was relatively quiet the first three quarters, but came alive in the fourth to finish with solid fantasy numbers (7 catches, 110 receiving yards, 1 TD pass thrown), and was inches from a huge day.� Moss was wide open for a 52-yard TD coming off a flea-flicker, but was overthrown by Culpepper.� On another play, Moss nearly pulled down a 24-yard TD pass in the side of the endzone � he got both feet down in bounds, but juggled the ball, and the incomplete pass ruling on the field was upheld after a replay challenge.� Most of his catches were underneath, except for a 60-yard post pattern in the fourth quarter that set up his TD pass in the fourth quarter.� His TD pass was off a reverse on third-and-goal from the 13 � Moss spun away from one tackler, then hit a wide open D�Wayne Bates on the numbers in the endzone.�

D�Wayne Bates had a quiet, but effective, 79 receiving yards and a TD catch.� With Kelly Campbell out of the lineup, Bates had no competition for the WR2 role, catching seven passes on eight targets.� Most of his catches were on short route with running room.

TE: Jim Kleinsasser caught two screen passes for that netted 20 yards, though he was tackled in the backfield for a 4-yard loss on one of them.� Kleinsasser also saw some time at FB, even getting two carries, including a 3-yard run up the middle on third-and-two that moved the chains.

Byron Chamberlain caught all three passes thrown to him, totaling 33 receiving yards.� Two of his catches were during the final drive, both on turn-in routes across the middle.

Pass Defense: did not make many big plays (S Jack Brewer intercepted a pass), but did not give up any big plays after the opening drive.� The pass rush did not generate many hurries, and did not sack Fiedler.

Rush Defense: did a great job containing Ricky Williams, especially in the second half.� Well-rested after long Viking drives in the second and third quarter, the defensive line filled gaps and broke through to the backfield several times.� DT Chris Hovan had two big tackles for losses in the in the fourth quarter.

Special Teams: The kickoff coverage unit gave up two long returns, but the punt coverage downed a punt inside the two thanks to CB Tyrone Carter keeping the ball out of the end zone.� The big special teams play of the day came from 43-year-old K Gary Anderson, who hit a 53-yard FG with 10 seconds left to win the game, his longest made FG in years.�

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