NFL quick hits: Week 9 betting recap
By Shawn Torrey
Mon, Nov 7, 2005

You might remember that we dubbed Week 6 of the schedule, “The Square Affair” when the favorites combined to go 10-3-1 ATS. With that in mind, it’s only fair that we call Week 9, “The Sequel.” --football gambling--

Books have to be feeling the pain as the chalk teams prevailed for the third time in the past four weeks. A quick run back through previous editions of this column shows the favorites bringing home the cash at a mind-boggling 27-13-1 ATS over the past four weeks. --football gambling--

We should mention that the past two Monday Nighters are not included in that total since we changed the publishing time of this piece to Monday mornings. Regardless, without getting nit-picky, that’s one heck of a haul for anyone who would be silly enough to blindly bet the favorites. --football gambling--

Road favorites covered as many as eight games this week depending upon your line, and overall the homers finished just 4-8-1 ATS. There was no distinct advantage for totals players as the under finished with a slight 7-6 edge. --football gambling--

Hang in there underdog bettors, the big payday is coming.
Atlanta 17 at Miami 10 (1 / 40)
Since nobody seems willing to give Vick the credit that he says he deserves, we’ll gladly step to the mic. The noted scrambler stayed home in this one and tossed for a season-high 228 yards. More importantly, the Falcons improved to 5-1 (4-2 ATS) in their last six contests. --football gambling--

The Dolphins dropped the cash for the fourth time in five games. Oakland 23 at Kansas City 27 (-4 ½ / 51 ½). --football gambling--

Why do they kick meaningless extra points when there is no time left remaining on the clock?
Well, as far as we can tell it’s merely to give bettors chest pains. Whether you were on the side or total in this one, we’re willing to bet that you were frantically counting pointspreads in your head as time expired. We’re also guessing that you were again reminded to always get the best number. --football gambling--

Houston 14 at Jacksonville 21 (-13 / 36 ½) --football gambling--
Jacksonville didn’t make life very easy for fans, and bettors alike on Sunday as it took 14 fourth-quarter points to gain victory over the one-win Texans. The slow start had Jags supporters chewing on chalk from the word go. --football gambling--

Tennessee 14 at Cleveland 20 (-3 / 37) --football gambling--
The Browns now have more wins to their credit than eight other teams in the league and the Titans are included in that list. Technically that means that the Browns are the ninth-worst, which isn’t bad considering they lost to the Texans last week. --football gambling--

The under is now an 7-1 when the Browns hit the field, but unexplainably the posted total has actually gotten higher in each of Cleveland’s last three games. Go figure. --football gambling--
Cincinnati 21 at Baltimore 9 (3 / 36) --football gambling--
The Bengals racked up 329 yards on the Ravens, and racked the cash for the fourth time in five road games this season. They pushed in the other.
The under improved to 3-0 in the Bengals’ last three, and 3-0 when they tackle a divisional foe. The Ravens failed to score more than 10 points for the fourth time this year, and the under improved to 6-2 in Baltimore games. --football gambling--

Carolina 34 at Tampa Bay 14 (pk / 37)
Let’s keep it simple. The Bucs finally faced a talented opponent, and they flat-out got their butts kicked. The win was the Panthers fifth in a row (3-2 ATS), and the over has now hit in six straight Carolina games. The Bucs lost for the second straight time since their bye week and are now just 1-5 ATS over their last six games. --football gambling--

San Diego 31 at NY Jets 26 (6 / 41)
Chargers supporters fell victim to the ‘backdoor cover’ after looking like they were going to cover this spread by double-digits. Brooks Bollinger was the unlikely hero for New York bettors, leading a charge that didn’t fall short by much. --football gambling--

The 26 points is the most that the Jets have put up all season. The over has now cashed in three straight Jets contests and this result snapped a four-game under streak, and three-game ATS run for the Bolts. --football gambling--

Detroit 14 at Minnesota 27 (-2 / 38) --football gambling--
The Vikings went to bat for steam bettors who had this line moving fast prior to kick-off, easily collecting the coin with a 13-point win. Oddly enough they did it without their best player and quarterback Culpepper, reinforcing they fact that sometimes things go unexplained in this league. --football gambling--

Minnesota has quietly won and covered three in a row at home and has pulled into a second place tie in the NFC North with the Lions. --football gambling--

NY Giants 24 at San Francisco 6 (11 / 43) --football gambling--
The Giants picked up their first road win of the campaign and improved their current win streak to three. So long as Eli Manning stays far away from San Diego, this team will do just fine.
Seattle 33 at Arizona 19 (5 / 43) --football gambling--
Remind us again why Dennis Green decided to go with Kurt Warner, or was that brilliant idea kept a secret? --football gambling--

The Seahawks are in cruise control and enjoy a 5-2 ATS run, while over bettors are benefiting from a 5-1 streak. --football gambling--
Chicago 20 New Orleans 17 (3 / 34) --football gambling--
Chicago may have been guilty of playing to the level of its competition here, but ultimately couldn’t help but win its fourth in a row against the lowly Saints. New Orleans has recorded just one win since a season-opening victory over Carolina. --football gambling--
The over cashed in a Bears game for just the second time this season- the first since Week 2 of the schedule. --football gambling--

Pittsburgh 20 at Green Bay 10 (3 ½ / 38) --football gambling--
Has anyone seen Favre’s mo-jo? --football gambling--
The Packers had ample opportunity to go up early in this one, but bad teams tend to squander those chances. The Pack did just that and they are a bad team. Green Bay hasn’t cracked the 20-point plateau in three weeks, and the under is 3-0 in those games. --football gambling--

Philadelphia 10 at Washington 17 (3 / 38 ½) --football gambling--
Note to Andy Reid: Umm, you`re allowed to run the ball inside the other team’s five-yard line with less than two minutes left and the game on the line. In fact, some would even say it’s encouraged. --football gambling--

Note to T.O.: Under the safe assumption that you’ll never read this article, I feel compelled to say that you’re an idiot. The Eagles dropped their fourth in a row against the number and matched their season-low points total. The Skins are now 5-2 ATS in their last seven and 3-1 ATS at home. --football gambling--
Share your thoughts on this article in the Covers posting forum.--football gambling--

Chargers hold on, down Chiefs

By Casey Pearce , Chargers.com
Sunday, October 30, 2005

A career day by tight end Antonio Gates fueled the Chargers’ offense and helped the Bolts earn a 28-20 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Qualcomm Stadium Sunday afternoon. -NFL Football-

Gates caught 10 passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns as the Chargers evened their record at 4-4 on the season. All figures were career highs for the third-year tight end. -NFL Football-

“We came in with the intention of getting Gates the ball today,” Chargers Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer said. “We were anxious to see what they would try to do [to him in coverage]. But Antonio Gates is growing as an accomplished NFL tight end and receiver. It's fun to watch him progress, because it's obvious he's going places that he's really never been before.' -NFL Football-

Gates caught touchdown passes of 19, 20 and 35 yards, the latter coming midway through the fourth quarter with the Chargers clinging to an eight point lead. On a crucial 3rd-and-four from the Kansas City 35 yard line, quarterback Drew Brees hit Gates on a quick slant. The All Pro tight end slipped a tackle and raced into the end zone to give the Bolts a two-possession lead. -NFL Football-

“He made some great plays today and showed everybody once again or confirmed that he’s the guy,” Brees said. “You can’t say enough about how clutch he was.” -NFL Football-

The Chargers’ defense entered the game ranked second in the NFL against the run. Despite missing three starters including linebackers Steve Foley and Randall Godfrey, the Bolts held Kansas City’s sixth-ranked rushing offense to 95 yards on the day. The Bolts also sacked Chiefs quarterback Trent Green four times and kept him off balance throughout the afternoon. -NFL Football-

“I was very pleased with the way that we played on defense,” Schottenheimer said. “You all know how highly I think of their offensive line as well as their quarterback and running backs. We made some plays at critical times that really pushed us through.” -NFL Football-

After Gates’ first touchdown catch gave the Chargers an early 7-0 lead, running back LaDainian Tomlinson threw his third touchdown pass of the season to make a 14-0 contest. Tomlinson took a pitch from quarterback Drew Brees and darted to the outside. As the Kansas Citydefense converged, the All Pro back found a wide open Eric Parker in the back of the end zone for a 17-yard score. Gates added his second score of the afternoon just before the half to give the Bolts a 21-3 lead at the break. -NFL Football-

Midway through the third quarter, the Chiefs drew closer when tight end Tony Gonzalez caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Green that made it a 21-10 ballgame. Following a Brees interception, Kansas City had a chance to close the gap to four. But with the Chiefs driving at the San Diego 13 yard line, Shawne Merriman sacked Green and forced him to fumble. Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips pounced on the ball to end the threat. -NFL Football-

The Chiefs again drove inside the gold zone on their first possession on the fourth quarter, but key stops by Merriman, defensive end Jacques Cesaire and Stephen Cooper closed the door at the San Diego three yard line and forced Kansas City to settle for a 20-yard Lawrence Tynes field goal that kept it a 21-13 contest. -NFL Football-

Any time a receiver has a performance like that of Gates, it’s generally synonymous with a big day from their quarterback. Such was the case Sunday as Brees completed 25-of-43 passes for a season-high 324 yards and three touchdowns. His clutch throw to Gates for his third score of the day pushed the Chargers’ cushion back to 28-13. -NFL Football-

“We talk so much about finishing games all the time,” defensive end Luis Castillo said. “Whether it’s finishing on offense or defense, we need to make the big plays. Today the defense did and the offense was able to put up a touchdown in the second half to give us just enough room to close it out.” -NFL Football-

With 3:49 remaining, the contest was far from over. Green quickly marched his offense 64 yards in 1:37 and found wide receiver Eddie Kennison for a seven-yard score that again brought the Chiefs within one possession at 28-20. Green had an impressive day in his own right, completing 31-of-43 for 347 yards and two scores. -NFL Football-

The Chargers finally slammed the door when Kassim Osgood fell on the ensuing onsides kick attempt, allowing the Chargers to run the clock out. The recovery capped yet another impressive performance from Osgood, who recorded four special teams tackles to extend his team lead in the category to 15. -NFL Football-

With the passing game clicking, Tomlinson finished with 17 carries for 69 yards. Coming into the day, the Chargers were 0-4 when their workhorse back had less than 100 yards or less than 20 carries. -NFL Football-

“There are going to be times when we’re going to need to throw it 50 times to win. Today was one of the days we needed to throw it a lot,” Brees said. “Even if (Tomlinson) is not getting it every play, he’s still a thought in the minds of the opposing defenders. That makes the rest of us better.” -NFL Football-

The Chargers defense stood firm when it counted the most Sunday. Kansas City scored 20 points despite six trips inside the Chargers’ 20 yard line. The Chiefs also converted just two of 13 third downs. -NFL Football-

“I was very impressed with how we played defensively today,” Schottenheimer said. “We held up when it was important, and you’re going to win a lot of football games when you do that.” -NFL Football-

The Chargers now turn their attention to the 2-5 New York Jets, who enjoyed their bye Sunday. -NFL Football-

Injuries

Offensive tackle Roman Oben left the game with a foot injury and did not return. Safety Terrence Kiel (calf), defensive end DeQuincy Scott (ankle), fullback Andrew Pinnock (shoulder/calf) and Merriman (groin) also reported injuries. -NFL Football-

Notes

Merriman’s two sacks were the most by a Chargers rookie since Chris Mims dropped the quarterback twice against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1992…Keenan McCardell also contributed five catches for 73 yards, and Parker finished with four catches for 63 yards…Gonzalez had seven receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown…Sammy Davis tied Donnie Edwards for the team lead in tackles Sunday. Both players had 11 stops… Castillo was credited with 1.5 sacks on the day, the first of his career…Mike Scifres was his brilliant self, averaging 49.2 yards on six punts…The Chargers were flagged for just four penalties in the win. -NFL Football-

Quarterback matters of life and depth

By Ira Miller, the San Francisco Chronicle

After Baltimore and Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl two years apart with Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson as their quarterbacks, a theory made the rounds that, perhaps, the quarterback position in today's game was no longer as important as it historically had been. -NFL Football-

You won't find many people who would admit to ever thinking that way. -NFL Football-

In New England, Tom Brady has held the Patriots together through sheer will, just as Steve Young used to compensate for a weakened roster near the end of the 49ers' dynasty in the '90s. Cincinnati has become a threat because Carson Palmer is proving to be the real deal, and the Giants' Eli Manning may have crossed a significant threshold with his late rally to beat Denver last weekend. -NFL Football-

All around the NFL, whether it's Peyton Manning in Indianapolis, Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia or Michael Vick in Atlanta, franchise quarterbacks are the driving force behind their teams. -NFL Football-

Even Pittsburgh, which is a team driven by its running game and defense, has a franchise quarterback — Ben Roethlisberger, the NFL's top-rated passer. -NFL Football-

"It's hard to win if you don't have a quarterback. You have no margin of error," Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher says. -NFL Football-

Teams aren't just satisfied with one anymore, either. -NFL Football-

The need for quarterback depth drove two trade deadline deals, with Tampa Bay getting Tim Rattay from San Francisco, and San Diego, which on the surface wouldn't seem to need another quarterback, getting A.J. Feeley from Miami. -NFL Football-

A common thread linked the teams that shipped out Rattay and Feeley: Both of them were remnants of a previous administration. Mike Nolan, the 49ers' new coach, is going with Alex Smith, the first player chosen in the draft this year. It was former GM Terry Donahue who claimed the team could win behind Rattay, who has a 4-12 record as a starter. At Miami, former GM Rick Spielman gave up a second-round pick for Feeley last year. New boss Nick Saban actually gave away a sixth-round pick with Feeley to get Cleo Lemon from San Diego. -NFL Football-

That explains why Rattay and Feeley were traded. -NFL Football-

Why Tampa Bay and San Diego wanted them is another issue entirely: depth. -NFL Football-

Jon Gruden, with the Bucs at 5-1, wanted another experienced hand after Brian Griese was injured. Gruden is not fond of Chris Simms, the team's interim starter. Simms was drafted by Rich McKay, the former Tampa Bay general manager, against the wishes of Gruden, who hadn't worked him out. Further, Gruden has a distaste for left-handed quarterbacks. -NFL Football-

In San Diego, Chargers general manager A.J. Smith would hardly seem to need Feeley, not with Drew Brees proving his 2004 resurgence was no fluke and with Philip Rivers still waiting in the wings. The Chargers have the salary cap flexibility to retain both of them next year, but Smith isn't even thinking that far ahead. He loves depth, and when he could get a veteran quarterback plus an extra draft pick, the deal was a no-brainer for him. -NFL Football-

The quarterback always was the most important player, but in the present era, with a salary cap that can affect a roster and free agency that can rob a team of players, teams are in transition more than ever. That has only increased the value of a franchise quarterback, because a great one, like Brady, can hold a team together when everything else is falling apart. -NFL Football-

Young, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this year, played that role in San Francisco as the dynasty was crumbling around him both on the field and in the front office. He kept the 49ers competitive until his career was ended early in the 1999 season. From the beginning of the 1981 season through the third game of 1999, Young's final game, the 49ers had a winning percentage of .740. Since then, their percentage is .404. -NFL Football-

Few players, and certainly not the great ones, would say outright that they are the catalyst for their team, but Brady inadvertently came close the other day when someone asked him how his temperament had changed and his maturity grown in recent years. -NFL Football-

He says he is "still probably immature in some ways" but adds:

"As a player, I think I'm certainly more aware of what's going on out there, and I have more understanding of what our offense is doing. ... My job is to get everyone else doing the right thing ... so we can be efficient and productive. I have a little more say than I used to." -NFL Football-

Despite the Patriots' slow start, Brady is the constant who gives New England a chance at a third straight title, because he will keep the team competitive. Around him, New England is a shadow of the defending champs. -NFL Football-

The running game, which was so strong last season in Corey Dillon's first year in New England, has fallen off dramatically. Dillon, who ran for 1,635 yards and averaged 4.7 a carry in 2004, is on pace for barely half that (877) and is averaging 3.4 a carry. Meanwhile, Brady, who threw 474 passes last season, is on pace to throw 608. The defense is allowing 40-plus yards a game more often than a year ago. In 2004, New England permitted opponents to score 20 points just six times in 16 games. This year, the Patriots have allowed all six opponents to score at least 20. -NFL Football-

"We've lost some very key players," Brady says. "We lost some guys who are great talents and great leaders." -NFL Football-

But because the Patriots haven't lost their real leader, they will return from the bye week as a team that no one should count out. Presumably, the time off gave coach Bill Belichick a chance to patch some holes on defense. -NFL Football-

Cowher's Steelers are doing it a different way. Roethlisberger is almost a caretaker quarterback, asked to manage games while the Steelers, who average the fewest pass attempts in the NFL, rely on their running game and defense. But he is 17-1 as a regular-season starter. In his five games this year (he missed one because of injury), he has attempted only 100 passes, but nine went for touchdowns and only one was intercepted. His passer rating is 120.7; only Peyton Manning, at 121.1 a year ago, ever did better for a full season. -NFL Football-

If more evidence is needed that the NFL is a quarterback-driven league, you need only point to recent drafts. Starting with the Colts' choice of Peyton Manning in 1998, seven of the last eight No. 1 picks were quarterbacks, including the last five in a row. Prior to that, a quarterback was chosen with the top pick only eight times in 31 years since the NFL's merger with the American Football League created a common draft. -NFL Football-

In a sometimes-trendy and fair-weathered league, styles can be revered one season and forgotten the next. But as long as teams like the Patriots, Colts and Eagles keep winning, the franchise quarterback is a stalwart phenomenon. -NFL Football-

© Copyright 2005 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Chargers, Dolphins swap third-string QBs
By BERNIE WILSON, AP Sports Writer
-- NFL --
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The Chargers took third-string quarterback A.J. Feeley off Miami's hands and gave up on guard Toniu Fonoti in separate deals before the NFL trading deadline on Tuesday. -- NFL --

The Chargers picked up two draft picks in the process. Besides getting Feeley, the Chargers also got a sixth-round pick in 2006 from Miami for third-string quarterback Cleo Lemon, who's never taken a regular-season snap.
-- NFL --
The Chargers sent Fonoti to Minnesota for a seventh-round draft pick in 2006, which will be upgraded to a sixth-rounder if Fonoti dresses for six games or starts three games. -- NFL --
-- NFL --
Feeley started eight games for Miami last year, but was demoted by new coach Nick Saban heading into this season. -- NFL --
-- NFL --
Lemon was on San Diego's practice squad in 2003 and was the fourth-stringer last season. -- NFL --
Feeley has been a bust in Miami. He was obtained from the Philadelphia Eagles on March 3, 2004, for a second-round draft pick. -- NFL --
-- NFL --
He played in 11 games, including eight starts, throwing 11 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions. Playing behind a weak offensive line, he was sacked 23 times. -- NFL --
After naming Gus Frerotte the starter this year, Saban dropped Feeley to third on the depth chart behind Sage Rosenfels.-- NFL --
-- NFL --
The acquisition of Feeley certainly had fans wondering what the Chargers will do with Drew Brees and Philip Rivers after this season. -- NFL --
-- NFL --
After leading San Diego to the playoffs last year, Brees was tagged as the Chargers' ``franchise'' player, earning an $8 million, one-year contract. The Chargers have several options with Brees, including signing him to a long-term deal, franchising him again and keeping him, or franchising him and trading him. -- NFL --
Rivers, in the second year of a six-year contract, played only sparingly as a rookie last year and hasn't taken a snap this year. He was taken with the No. 4 pick overall in the 2004 draft by the New York Giants, then sent to San Diego, along with a handful of picks, for Eli Manning. -- NFL --
-- NFL --
``I don't discuss our football business,'' general manager A.J. Smith said. ``I understand speculation as to, why is A.J. Feeley here and not Cleo Lemon. People should focus on the draft pick rather than the quarterback.
``We stockpile players, bring in the best players. At the end of the year, we make decisions. This gives us injury protection.'' -- NFL --
-- NFL --
Feeley started five games for Philadelphia in 2002 when Donovan McNabb was hurt. -- NFL --
Fonoti was a second-round draft pick in 2002. The Chargers liked his size -- 6-foot-4, 350 pounds -- but Fonoti battled injuries and weight problems. Fonoti missed the last four games with a broken hand, and sat out the entire 2003 season with a foot injury. The Chargers also apparently wearied of Fonoti's work ethic. -- NFL --
He was absent without an excuse from the start of minicamps the last two years. -- NFL --
Although Fonoti was a bust in San Diego, if he can stay healthy he'll fill a need on the Vikings offensive line, which has been inconsistent during the team's 1-4 start. He has started 32 of the 33 games he's played, including the first of the season before breaking his hand in practice Sept. 14. -- NFL --
-- NFL --
He played the following week in a loss to Denver, but had a plate inserted and required further surgery.-- NFL --
-- NFL --The Chargers had planned to determine Fonoti's future at the end of the season, but began shopping him around earlier this month. They later invited his agent, Steve Feldman, to try to broker a deal. -- NFL --

-- NFL --
Smith said ``several situations'' involving Fonoti early in the season hastened the player's exit.
-- NFL --Smith refused to offer specifics, and Feldman didn't return a call seeking comment.
AP Sports Writers Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis and Steven Wine in Miami contributed to this report.-- NFL --

Houshmandzadeh out for Bengals

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2005) -- Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was inactive against the Jacksonville Jaguars because of a hand injury. - NFL Football -

Houshmandzadeh, the team's second-leading receiver behind Chad Johnson, has 20 catches for 248 yards and a touchdown this season. He injured his hand last week against Houston, when he caught eight passes for 105 yards. - NFL Football -

Kelley Washington was scheduled to start in his place.

Safety Madieu Williams also was inactive because of a shoulder injury.

Starting center Rich Braham (knee) was active, but was not in the starting lineup. He was replaced by Eric Ghiaciuc. - NFL Football -

© 2005, NFL Enterprises LLC.

Advice for Fantasy Football in Week 4
Don’t bail on the Colts and start your guys anytime they play the 49ers

By John McFarland
Associated Press

So you’ve got a crummy quarterback who’s killing you in your fantasy football league, and maybe you even have a few of his lackluster receivers. - NFL Football -

It’s usually an easy fix — just cut them or trade them, right?

But it’s much more complicated for the many fantasy players who find themselves feeling stuck with two-time MVP Peyton Manning or any of his three 1,000-yard receivers.

As amazing as they were in 2004, the core of the Colts’ aerial attack has been a dud so far. Manning hasn’t thrown a touchdown in two weeks. Marvin Harrison has one TD and averages 53 yards a game. Reggie Wayne hasn’t scored. Brandon Stokley hasn’t done squat since catching Manning’s NFL-record 49th TD pass last year. - NFL Football -

So what do you do?

The main thing is not to panic. Yes, last week’s struggle against Cleveland’s 30th-ranked defense was alarming. But the other two games were against stingy defenses, and the upcoming schedule smells like cupcakes: Tennessee, San Francisco, St. Louis and Houston.

On the other hand, if you’re 0-3 and loaded with Colts, shop them around. Trade any receivers, but hold out for a ridiculous offer for Manning — he’s still worth that based on history alone.

In the meantime, here are some players to start in Week 4, some who should stay on the bench and a few long shots who just might pay off. - NFL Football -

Do it
Start banged-up Donovan McNabb against the Chiefs defense that was exposed Monday night, but make sure you have a solid backup. Something about the strangely generic term “sports hernia” makes you wonder how long he’ll last.

—Michael Vick should be an automatic start against the Vikings, if for no other reason than the head-spinning 46-yard TD run he had in overtime to cap a 173-yard rushing game in Minnesota a few years ago.

—If San Francisco’s Tim Rattay and Washington’s Mark Brunell can light up the Cowboys, certainly Oakland’s Kerry Collins can. He’s coming off a 345-yard game, and Randy Moss is for some reason still ticked at Dallas for not drafting him seven years ago.

—With Rattay and Arizona’s Josh McCown as the NFL’s ambassadors to Mexico on Sunday night, we may not get invited back. International incidents aside, both could post big numbers against matador defenses. - NFL Football -

—North of the border, Brett Favre and Jake Delhomme should likewise shred each other’s struggling defenses when the Packers, the Panthers and their one combined win get together Monday night.

Not bad in a time of need
Tampa Bay’s Brian Griese faces a poor Detroit defense that is surely freaked out by NFL rushing leader Cadillac Williams’ freakish start to his NFL career.

Warning! Warning!
Please, in the name of Heath Shuler, don’t start these guys:

—Kansas City’s Trent Green has just one TD so far, and he may not last long against the ever-blitzing Eagles.

—Houston’s David Carr has completed 13 passes to wide receivers, giving them one more reception than Cincinnati’s defenders.
—If by now you’re still even considering starting Detroit’s Joey Harrington, I’m sorry, I just can’t help you. - NFL Football -

Running back who can carry your team
—You never bench Chargers touchdown machine LaDainian Tomlinson, so consider this a one-time public service announcement for jittery overthinkers. Get ahold of yourselves, folks, and start LT against the Patriots and everyone else on the upcoming rugged stretch of schedule.

—Rudi Johnson of the Bengals is averaging 100 yards a game in his last nine games. Houston has been giving up 144 rushing yards a game and appears worse defensively than the 2003 Texans who let Johnson go for 182 yards and two scores. - NFL Football -

—The Giants found out last week they can pile up a lot of yards without involving Tiki Barber. They also learned that they lose (with a lot of yards) when they don’t involve Barber.

—What ever happened to New Orleans’ Deuce McAllister? He’s gaining 3.2 yards a carry and has yet to reach 70 yards. Then again, what ever happened to the Bills’ run defense? McAllister should be sort of fired up for his sort-of home game in San Antonio.

—If you’re not too bitter with Jacksonville’s Fred Taylor for losing yardage in overtime last week and costing you a 100-yard bonus, give him a try against Denver. The Broncos allowed some big runs Monday night before the Chiefs had to pass every down. - NFL Football -

Week 3 NFL Preview

By GERRY DULAC, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bengals (2-0) at Bears (1-1), 1 p.m.

Cincinnati has the top-ranked offense in the NFL and is coming off a 37-8 victory against Minnesota, and much of the credit has to go to QB Carson Palmer. In his past five games, dating to last season, he has thrown 14 touchdowns with a passer rating over 100. The Bengals have started 3-0 just three times in 30 years, and each time (1975, 1988, 1990) they advanced to the playoffs. Like the Bengals, Chicago had five interceptions in last week’s victory against Detroit and has allowed just one touchdown in two weeks.

Prediction: Bengals, 20-13

Browns (1-1) at Colts (2-0), 1 p.m.

Romeo Crennel was 6-0 against Indianapolis when he was defensive coordinator in New England because he limited Peyton Manning to nine touchdowns with 10 interceptions in those games, including playoffs. But he also had Tedy Bruschi, Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel and Ty Law on his defense. Cleveland is coming off a surprise victory in Green Bay – a surprise because quarterback Trent Dilfer had never won in eight previous meetings at Lambeau Field. It will be even more of a surprise if the Browns win in Indy, where the Colts have six in a row.

Prediction: Colts, 30-10

Falcons (1-1) at Bills (1-1), 1 p.m.

There are questions about the quarterback in this game, but for different reasons. The concern with Atlanta’s Michael Vick is his hamstring, injured in last week’s 21-18 loss in Seattle. The concern with Buffalo’s J.P. Losman is his productivity, which has been at issue in each of the first two games. The only team with fewer offensive yards than the Bills (463) is Houston (341), which just fired its offensive coordinator. And the Bills have scored just 24 points in two games, second fewest in the AFC.

Prediction: Falcons, 17-14

Buccaneers (2-0) at Packers (0-2), 1 p.m.

Green Bay has won 12 consecutive home games against Tampa Bay, which, surprisingly, is only the fourth-longest current streak in the NFL (Washington has the longest, 17 in a row against Detroit). But the Pack’s streak could be in jeopardy against the Buccaneers, who are seeking their first 3-0 start since 2000. The Bucs have already received a pair of 100-yard games from rookie RB Carnell Williams, the only back in the league with more rushing yards than Willie Parker. And they’re visiting Green Bay at a nice time of year – when it’s not below freezing.

Prediction: Buccaneers, 21-20

Panthers (1-1) at Dolphins (1-1), 1 p.m.

As much as Carolina was deflated by its opening-week loss to New Orleans, the Panthers got some juice from last week’s victory against the Patriots. But they have to justify that with a victory against Miami, which has been feistier than a junkyard dog the first two weeks of the season. The Dolphins haven’t allowed a quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in 32 games, the longest streak in the NFL. And they’re trying to win their fourth consecutive home game for the first time since 2002. The Upset Special.

Prediction: Dolphins, 16-14

Saints (1-1) at Vikings (0-2), 1 p.m.

Looking more and more like the first coach to be fired in 2005, Mike Tice has a daunting task in front of him. Not only does he need to find a way for Minnesota to get a victory – the Vikings have lost four in a row and six of the past seven, dating to last season – but he needs to do something about the Vikings offense. Without Randy Moss, the Vikings have seen teams stack the defensive line to stop the run, without worrying about committing an extra player to stop their former receiver. How many more games will it take Tice to figure this out?

Prediction: Vikings, 24-21

Jaguars (1-1) at Jets (1-1), 1 p.m.

After beating one Florida team with a tough defense, New York gets to face another. Jacksonville held the Colts without a touchdown for three quarters before losing, 10-3, a game in which quarterback Byron Leftwich got pounded like a veal cutlet. Leftwich will not have to worry about the same kind of pressure from the Jets – or any other team, for that matter – because the Colts bring the heat. The Jets have had a hard time getting Curtis Martin untracked in both games – he is averaging just 2.5 yards per carry – but the Jaguars haven’t exactly been stingy with their run defense.

Prediction: Jets, 16-14

Raiders (0-2) at Eagles (1-1), 1 p.m.

For now, Oakland is the best 0-2 team in the NFL, which is a lot like being the best-looking “Survivor” to be voted off the island. And, for now, the Raiders better hope Philadelphia doesn’t show the same kind of eastern hospitality it did for the last Bay Area team to visit Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles had a club-record 583 yards offense in last week’s 42-3 home victory against San Francisco, and it could get just as ugly against the Raiders. OK, whose problems would you rather inherit – Randy Moss or Terrell Owens?

Prediction: Eagles, 38-16

Titans (1-1) at Rams (1-1), 1 p.m.

These teams haven’t met since St. Louis beat Tennessee in Super Bowl XXXIV, 23-16, a game in which the Titans were stopped inches from the goal line as time expired. Since then, the fortunes of both teams have turned sour, especially the Titans, who have had to purge their roster of most of their high-priced stars. The Rams are still pretending to be a contender in the NFC West, but, then, just about anyone could contend in the NFC West. You know they’re in trouble when their defense is better than their offense.

Prediction: Titans, 20-17

Cowboys (1-1) at 49ers (1-1), 4:05 p.m.

One week after playing the dirt path to the Eagles’ all-terrain offense, the San Francisco defense can feel as though it accomplished at least one thing in Philadelphia – getting Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens to smile at each other on the field. Never fear, though. In Dallas, the 49ers face a team with which no deficit is ever too large to overcome. After watching the way the Cowboys blew a 13-3 lead to the Redskins, it can only be surmised Roy Williams is the last person you would want to guard your house at night.

Prediction: Cowboys, 28-23

Cardinals (0-2) at Seahawks (1-1), 4 p.m.

Certain rules go with being considered a dark horse playoff team, and the first is that the horse has to display some kind of gallop. But there isn’t even a trot in the Arizona offense, perhaps because Kurt Warner is trying to win through the air (88 passes in two games) and not on the ground. The Cardinals are 0-2 and fading quickly, especially if they don’t end their losing ways to Seattle, which has won four of the past five meetings. This is the second of three consecutive division games for the Cardinals. Giddyup.

Prediction: Seahawks, 23-14

Patriots (1-1) at Steelers (2-0), 4:15 p.m.

Quick, name the only NFL team to beat two teams from the same city and the same team from two cities? It’s the Steelers, who own victories against the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans, who were formerly the Houston Oilers. They also own the longest active regular season winning streak in the NFL (16 games) and are hoping to eclipse the record (18) held by the team they play today, New England. The Patriots, who had their streak ended last year at Heinz Field, haven’t lost back-to-back games since December 2002, an NFL-best span of 35 weeks.

Prediction: Steelers, 23-17

Giants (2-0) at Chargers (0-2), 8:30 p.m.

Eli Manning faces the team which drafted him No. 1 overall in 2004, then traded him hours later to the Giants for their No. 1 pick, Philip Rivers. And so it is that Manning – Eli, not Peyton – goes to San Diego for the first time with the team that leads the NFL in points scored. What’s more, the Giants have allowed just one offensive touchdown in two games and only 51.5 yards rushing per game, second only to Tampa Bay. That is a credit to Tim Lewis, the former Steelers defensive coordinator. But, c’mon. The Chargers can’t be that bad.

Prediction: Chargers, 24-20

Monday

Chiefs (2-0) at Broncos (1-1), 9 p.m.

This is the 14th year in a row Denver has appeared on Monday Night Football, the longest active streak in the NFL. But, if it weren’t for Champ Bailey, the Broncos almost came into prime time 0-2. Bailey’s interception return last week sealed a victory against San Diego, a victory that was much needed after being humiliated a week earlier in Miami. Kansas City may not feature the most feared defense in the league, not by a long shot. But the Chiefs have put up something resembling more than just mild resistance in their first two victories. Denver has won the past three meetings at home.

Prediction: Broncos, 30-27

Last week: 9-7 (.563)

Season record: 19-13 (.593)