NFL FanHouse

FanHouse Preview: Bengals at Steelers

Chris Burke — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bengals, Steelers, FanHouse Previews

Pittsburgh doesn't win the AFC North every year -- it just feels that way. The Ravens actually took the division title in 2003 and 2006, and Cincinnati tied the Steelers for the crown in 2005.

That, of course, was the year that Pittsburgh and Cincinnati met in the first round of the playoffs. The Bengals' Carson Palmer went down after one pass attempt with a disastrous knee injury and the Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl.

It has taken Cincinnati since that game to get back into contention, but the Bengals finally appear to be back. They currently sit tied for first place with Pittsburgh at 6-2 overall, and have a win over the Steelers to their credit this year. A win Sunday in Heinz Field, coupled with a favorable schedule the rest of the way, could mean the AFC North title slips out of the 'Burgh again.

More Previews: Broncos-Redskins | Eagles-Chargers | Cowboys-Packers

Three Key Questions:

1. Can Cedric Benson keep up his current pace?

2. Having played Monday night in Denver, will the short week hurt Pittsburgh?

3. How will Cincinnati handle Rashard Mendenhall?

Player in the Spotlight: Mendenhall. The Steelers' second-year running back didn't get a single carry in his team's Week 3 loss in Cincinnati, but he appears to have completely taken over the starting job now. If there was any doubt, Mendenhall may have silenced them with an impressive 22-carry, 155-yard performance in Pittsburgh's Monday win over the Broncos. He brings a more punishing dimension than Willie Parker, and the Steelers' ability to balance their offense will go a long way in deciding this one. Benson will get his yards for Cincinnati -- Mendenhall needs to answer him on the other side of the ball.

Cincinnati's Path to Victory: Cincinnati's 3-0 on the road this season, and that's a record that doesn't come about without solid play on both lines. The Bengals will do their best to take away one aspect of the Steelers' offensive attack -- though the safer bet is probably to limit Mendenhall and the ground game and force Ben Roethlisberger to win the game in the face of pressure. Carson Palmer needs to be solid, but if Benson falls short of 100 yards rushing, he'll have a hard time keeping the Cincinnati offense moving.

Pittsburgh's Path to Victory: The Steelers may have played their best half of the year in the second half at Denver, absolutely manhandling the Broncos en route to a 28-10 win. The defense is really starting to click -- remember, Troy Polamalu's first game out with a knee injury was in Cincinnati's Week 3 win over Pittsburgh, so it's hard to say the Steelers were at full steam. They'll also get Ryan Clark back after he had to sit out in Denver because of his sickle-cell trait. Polamalu's presence can't be understated, and the Steelers will use him to pressure Palmer, as well as to keep Benson in check. Don't be surprised to see Pittsburgh come out throwing early to try and loosen the Cincinnati defense up. Once Roethlisberger got hot in Denver, Mendenhall put the game on ice with some big runs.

Prediction: You really have to tip your cap to the Bengals -- that 6-2 record isn't a fluke. They're already 4-0 within the division, including a sweep of Baltimore. Should they complete their sweep of the Steelers, too, it would be hard to pick against them in the AFC North division race. Pittsburgh's absolutely scorching hot right now, though, with five straight wins. If Mendenhall turns into a legit No. 1 back and Polamalu stays healthy, those are two huge components working in the Steelers' favor that weren't there before. Cincinnati will make a game of it, but the Steelers will find a way at home. Pittsburgh 27, Cincinnati 17

FanHouse Preview: Bengals at Steelers originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Steelers at Broncos

Chris Burke — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Steelers, FanHouse Previews

The Denver Broncos, the 2009 NFL season's early Cinderella story, ran out of magic in a 30-7 Week 8 shellacking at Baltimore. Now, despite their 6-1 record and first-place standing in the AFC West, folks are wondering(again) if the Broncos' hot start was just a mirage.

The Chargers, fresh off a win over the Giants on Sunday, are finally making some noise in the division. Denver also made what could be seen as a desperation move this week, signing 35-year-old cornerback Ty Law after the Ravens' Joe Flacco had a field day against the Broncos' secondary.

Denver is even a home underdog Monday night as Pittsburgh comes in -- but the Steelers have issues of their own. Despite a four-game winning streak, the defending Super Bowl champs have plenty of question marks. They'll enter the Mile High City a game behind Cincinnati in the AFC North, and with a still clunky-at-times offense and banged-up defense.

Three Key Questions:

1. Will the Broncos' front four be able to contain Ben Roethlisberger?

2. Can Kyle Orton protect the ball against Pittsburgh's blitzing defense?

3. Is either team going to have success running the ball?

Player in the Spotlight: Tyrone Carter. Pittsburgh will be without starting safety Ryan Clark, who suffers from sickle cell and had major health issues after his last attempt to play in Denver. So Carter, Troy Polamalu's fill-in after Polamalu injured his knee earlier this season, figures to slide into the starting lineup. That means Carter will be responsible for preventing any Denver home runs -- with Polamalu's penchant for blitzing and attacking the line -- and the Broncos might try to stretch the field with Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall. Pittsburgh's defense makes it very tough to put together long, methodical drives, so Denver will try for a few big plays.

Pittsburgh's Path to Victory: The Steelers just need to keep doing what they've been doing. Have they been flawless during their four-game win streak -- with victories over San Diego, Detroit, Cleveland and Minnesota? Absolutely not. In every game but the matchup with the Browns, Pittsburgh's nearly coughed up a lead late. But, even without Clark, Lawrence Timmons and Travis Kirschke, all defensive starters, Pittsburgh should be able to get pressure on Orton and maybe even force a mistake or two. Offensively, the running back combo of Rashard Mendenhall-Willie Parker needs to find at least some room -- say, close to 100 yards combined -- to keep Roethlisberger from getting hammered all game.

Denver's Path to Victory: If this becomes a shootout, Denver will be in trouble. Playing at home, in front of a ravenous Monday night crowd, the Broncos have to play to their strengths -- and they may not have a bigger one than their incredible pass rush. Denver's third in the league with 23 sacks, 10 courtesy of Elvis Dumervil. And with Pittsburgh's constant issues on the offensive line, that total figures to rise. But the Broncos have to get it done without needing linebackers and cornerbacks to join the rush. Pittsburgh's talked about using a no-huddle, spread offense frequently this week, and Denver will have enough trouble covering the Steelers' plethora of weapons without committing extra guys to blitzes. If Denver can keep Pittsburgh's offense frustrated, and get its own running game going early, it will be tough for the Steelers to win.

Prediction: Steelers fans are always within reach of the panic button, and Cincinnati's rise doesn't help there. The Bengals visit Pittsburgh next week, but with Cincinnati already holding a win over the Steelers this season, if the champs lost this week and next, winning the AFC North would be extremely difficult. Win or lose, Denver's in decent shape, though its schedule cranks up following a Week 10 visit to Washington. This is a great matchup -- two good, hungry teams with outstanding defenses, struggling running games and enough firepower to put some points on the board. Denver might not be a flash in the pan, but it's hard to pick against the Steelers. Pittsburgh 24, Denver 21

FanHouse Preview: Steelers at Broncos originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Cowboys at Eagles

R.J. White — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:20:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Eagles, NFC East, FanHouse Previews

When the Eagles and Cowboys step on the same field, you know you're in for a battle. This will be the 100th meeting in the series, with the Cowboys entering the fay with a 55-44 lead in the previous 99 games. The Eagles have the leg up in recent years though, culminating in a Week 17 beatdown last year that wound up earning Philly a playoff berth over Dallas. (Not that Tony Romo would have done much had he made the playoffs anyway.)

Both teams are 5-2, and with the Giants losing to both these foes in recent weeks, this game will determine who has the inside track at winning the NFC East. So if you though this would be just another regular ol' 100th meeting between hated rivals, think again.

More Coverage: Westbrook Reportedly Out for Eagles
The Once-Over: Breakdowns of All Week 9 Games

Three Key Questions:

1. Can Miles Austin be stopped?

2. Will the Eagles second line of defense at linebacker be able to contain the Dallas rushing game?

3. Can Donovan McNabb's offensive line keep the pressure off their quarterback?

Player in the Spotlight: Brian Westbrook. He's often been labeled a fragile, injury-prone player, and that stigma has come to pass this year. He received 13 carries in each of his first two games before missing Week 3. He then returned after the bye to take six carries in each of his next two games before suffering a concussion early in Week 7. He missed the Giants game last week, but looks ready to go for this important contest. Which is great for the Eagles, as he's routinely been trouble for the Cowboys, and his presence will be key to an Eagles victory.

Dallas's Path to Victory: The emergence of Austin has brought Romo's A-game back, but with the Eagles likely to take away the deep threat, this game will come down to how well he connects with tight end Jason Witten, who's having a quiet year by his standards. If those two aren't on the same page (and it's probably foolish to think Romo and Roy Williams will be clicking), then Romo will start forcing balls to Austin. If that happens, the Eagles will take full advantage. The Cowboys aren't likely to contain the Eagles' passing game, so keeping up with them will be essential to making this a game. Dallas must be able to keep the running game in play in the second half, and it'll take a few defensive stops and smart decisions by Romo to get them tere.

Philadelphia's Path to Victory: It'll be tempting to stick to the air against the Cowboys secondary, but mixing in the rushing game will be crucial to making sure the Dallas pass rush doesn't tee off on McNabb. Luckily for Philly, the ground attack came out in full force last week, rushing for 180 yards thanks to big efforts from rookie LeSean McCoy and fullback Leonard Weaver. With Westbrook back, Philly will try to run a balanced offense to slow down the rush and count on the defense to capitalize on any Romo mistakes. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott will keep the pressure on Romo and try to expedite the process.

Prediction: This game should be close at halftime, but I can see the Eagles pulling away in the third quarter and maintaining a two-score lead in the fourth quarter. Once Dallas's offense goes pass-happy, this game is over. I like the Eagles to take a one-game lead in the division, but as we see time and time again, anything and everything is in play in this matchup. Eagles 31, Cowboys 24.

FanHouse Preview: Cowboys at Eagles originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Falcons at Saints

Chris Burke — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, Saints, FanHouse Previews

The NFC South takes center stage on Monday night with a huge showdown between Atlanta and New Orleans in the Superdome.

And in anticipation of the crucial ballgame in the bayou, we've turned the show over to Tom Mantzouranis, our resident Saints guru, and Knox Bardeen, a credentialed member of the media covering the Falcons.

Those two break down the game's most important storylines after the jump. And come back at kickoff to join us in our weekly Monday Night Football live chat.

Three Key Questions:

1. Can the Falcons get any pressure on Drew Brees?

Knox Bardeen: One of the key matchups for the Falcons will be defensive end John Abraham against Saints left tackle Jermon Bushrod. Last week, the Dolphins' Jason Taylor gave fits to Bushrod and put pressure of Drew Brees all day. Abraham can get by Bushrod the same way and if Kroy Biermann (who is tied with Abraham for the team lead in sacks) is healthy enough to play on Monday night, Brees will be on the run quite a bit.

Tom Mantzouranis: Simply put, no. As mentioned before, Abraham vs. Bushrod is a mismatch, but Payton learned last week that Bushrod needs help against elite pass rushers and will adjust accordingly with tight ends David Thomas and Darnell Dinkins, an exceptional blocker. Expect a lot of two TE sets. But it wasn't the outside pass rush that doomed the Saints in the first half of the Dolphins game, it was the rush up the middle. Drew Brees could have avoided Jason Taylor if the middle held up, but in the first half it didn't. Brees is so good at stepping up and moving around the pocket that you have to get a collapse up the middle to force him into bad throws or taking sacks. The Falcons' interior defensive line isn't good enough to do that against the Saints' really talented young guards. Abraham might get into the backfield a few times, but Brees' quick release and awareness should overcome that.

2. How big of an impact will Tony Gonzalez have in this game?

KB: Gonzalez is averaging a little more than 4 1/2 receptions per game over his last three games but has only scored once. You can safely bet that the future Hall of Famer is eager to get back into the end zone, especially on the prime time stage of Monday Night Football. Saints linebacker Scott Shanle said this week that "It's going to be the toughest game this year as far as matching up." He was speaking of all of the weapons that Atlanta brings to the table, but specifically Gonzalez. Don't be surprised to see Gonzalez targeted a lot against New Orleans, especially in the end zone.

TM: It's tough to say. The Saints haven't let an opposing tight end score a touchdown against them yet this season. Then again, if the Falcons can find a way to get Darren Sharper to help double cover Roddy White, Gonzalez can find some mismatches with strong safety Roman Harper or weakside linebacker Scott Shanle. And if the Saints get a good lead in the fourth, they might go to prevent or Cover-2 and allow Gonzalez to pick up some yards in the middle of the field, meaning his stat line would be impressive. I think something like 75 yards and a touchdown seems fair. That stat line looks nice, especially to fantasy owners, but is that really much of an "impact"?

3. Which Saints running back will have the best game?

KB: I think Sean Payton is going to continue spreading the wealth between Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas. Early on, both runners will see equal time, and the back that is proving to be more effective should see his role expanded as the night rolls on. Thomas has been on fire recently and is earning more yards per carry at the moment -- my guess is that he'll emerge as the back that runs more on Monday night.

TM: Ahhh, the $1,000,000 question. The way it looks like the Saints are going, expect to see something like this: 12-15 carries for Pierre Thomas, 12-15 for Mike Bell, 2-5 for Reggie Bush. Pierre will get almost all of the carries in the first half, Bell will get almost all of the carries in the second half as well as any goal-line carries. The way that sets up, I think Bell is the guy who has the best game. By the time he starts getting a heavy workload, defenses have already been worn out and ill-equipped to keep up with his fresh legs and powerful style. I see Pierre making the Falcons defense chase him to the outside a lot early to tire them before Bell punishes them up the middle. Of course, Bell's impact is dependent on whether the Saints are leading in the second half. If they're playing heavy catch-up, Pierre (and even more-so Bush) will see an increase in carries, but I expect the game to be at least close enough late (if the Saints aren't outright secure in a lead) that Bell and Thomas will split carries, with Bell's doing more damage.

Atlanta's Path to Victory: In the year and a half since head coach Mike Smith has taken over in Atlanta, the Falcons have not lost back-to-back games. They were crushed last week in Dallas, so it's safe to say that Atlanta should fare well tonight on the big Monday Night Football stage. If they are going to win and close the two game gap that New Orleans has already established, the Falcons will need Michael Turner to get back to 2008 form. Turner scored a rushing touchdown in each game against the Saints last season. He'll need to score again and improve on his yards per carry average which has dipped from 4.5 yards per carry last season to 3.4 in 2009.

On defense, the Falcons need to realize that they cannot completely stop the Saints high-powered offense. The secondary in Atlanta is young and has been exposed already this season - especially with the loss of Brian Williams and William Moore. Neither Brent Grimes or Chris Houston match up well against Marcus Colston and the secondary, as a whole, gave up 300 yards passing and three aerial touchdowns to a similar, yet less explosive, Cowboys offense last week. The Falcons defensive backs must keep plays in front of them and use a "bend but don't break" philosophy against Drew Brees and the plethora of passing targets available to the Saints quarterback. -- KB

New Orleans' Path to Victory: The Saints are the team of the century. OK, not really, but their weaknesses (yes, they do have them) are few and far between. Their offense has been nearly unstoppable, and their defense is the real story of the team's success. Their path to victory is simple -- don't fix what isn't broken.

Unfortunately, the team comes into Monday night's game without fullback Heath Evans, the free agent addition whose impact can not be underestimated. His blocking and receiving have made the team's offense much better than they were last year. He's maybe the least well-known name among the team's skill players on offense, but the loss is huge. They'll have to be creative in making up for his absence (especially considering he played a big role in helping out inexperienced left tackle Jermon Bushrod, who doesn't draw an easy assignment with John Abraham), but if anyone can gameplan around it, it's Sean Payton. Whenever this offense has lost pieces it's motored on virtually unabated. We'll see if that continues. -- TM

Predictions: If Atlanta has any dream of winning the NFC South, it must have this game. Meanwhile, New Orleans can flash its undefeated-season potential in front of a national-TV audience. You won't find a better atmosphere than the one in the Superdome on Monday, and it may wind up being one of the more entertaining contests of the season.

KB: New Orleans 42, Atlanta 30
TM: New Orleans 31, Atlanta 23

FanHouse Preview: Falcons at Saints originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Week 7 NFL Picks: Brett's Boys Due For A Loss

Dave Goldberg — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: FanHouse Previews, NFL Predictions

There aren't normally this many unbeaten teams left after six weeks of the season -- the number right now is four, a "modern'' record. (which means nobody really knows who did what back in the days of the Canton Bulldogs and Providence Steamrollers.)

There might be only one after this week: Denver, which isn't playing. Although, to get serious, does anyone really expect the Rams to beat the Colts? And we'll get to the Saints later.

But it's time for the Vikings to lose (yes, I've said that before.) If not for Brett Favre and Greg Lewis, they would have lost to San Francisco. If not for Steve Hauschka, the Raven's field-goal kicker, they would have lost last week to Baltimore.

This week's game is at Pittsburgh -- FINALLY, the Vikings play a good team on the road. The Steelers are favored by either four or four-and-a-half points, more than the three points they get for home field. Which means that people think the Steelers are simply a better team. (Super Bowl winners die hard).

There's some sense to that.

The Vikings' three road games have been at Cleveland, Detroit and St. Louis, who have two wins among them this season. Their home games are against San Francisco, Green Bay and Baltimore. As noted, they probably should have lost two of them.

It doesn't mean they'll lose again. But they're not the 2007 Patriots and the law of averages says ...

Vikings at Steelers

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Minnesota Vikings		19
Pittsburgh Steelers	- 4 1/2	24

Just as the Saints had a week off to prepare for the Giants in last week's battle of the unbeatens, the Dolphins had their bye week before this game. No, Miami's secondary isn't much good, but the Dolphins do have the ability to control the clock with their wildcat -- that's how they almost beat the Colts.

Saints at Dolphins

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
New Orleans Saints	- 7	24
Miami Dolphins		23

Tom Coughlin doesn't like to lose two in a row. But how hard the wind is blowing Sunday night at the Meadowlands may be more important than Kurt Warner, his receivers and the still rather disheveled New York secondary.

Cardinals at Giants (Sunday night)

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Arizona Cardinals		23
New York Giants	- 7	27

Jerry Jones tells the world he didn't trade someone (presumably backup TE Martellus Bennett). Thirty teams didn't trade anyone, so why do we care?

Falcons at Cowboys

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Atlanta Falcons	+ 4	33
Dallas Cowobys		31

If you're like me and don't remember these teams EVER playing, here's the facts: they've met eight times and Cincy actually leads 5-3, winning 24-7 in Chicago in 2005. The Bengals don't have Antwan Odom. They do have a revenge-minded Cedric Benson against his old team.

Bears at Bengals

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Chicago Bears		19
Cincinnati Bengals	- 1	17

Chargers at Chiefs

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
San Diego Chargers	- 5 1/2	27
Kansas City Chiefs		17

Colts at Rams

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Indianapolis Colts	- 14	37
St. Louis Rams		16

Browns at Packers

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Cleveland Browns		0
Green Bay Packers	- 7	26

Patriots at Bucs (Game being played in London)

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
New England Patriots	- 15 1/2	37
Tampa Bay Bucs		3

49ers at Texans

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
San Francisco 49ers		20
Houston Texans	- 3	27

Jets at Raiders

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
New York Jets	- 6	9
Oakland Raiders		13

Bills at Panthers

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Buffalo Bills	- 7	24
Carolina Panthers		13

Eagles at Redskins (Monday night)

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Philadelphia Eagles	- 7	17
Washington Redskins		13

LAST WEEK: 9-5 (spread), 7-7 (straight up)

SEASON: 52-38 (spread) 59-31 (straight up)

Week 7 NFL Picks: Brett's Boys Due For A Loss originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Four Keys to a Falcons' Win

Knox Bardeen — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:06:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, NFC North, NFC South, FanHouse Previews

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Sunday Night, the Chicago Bears are in town visiting the Atlanta Falcons and fireworks could be in order inside the Georgia Dome. Both offenses can be prolific and they will be throwing against weaker defensive secondaries.

So expect the scoreboard operators to get a workout. When all is said and done, if the result is going to favor the Falcons, here's what they'll need to do.

o. The Bears rank 4th in the NFL with 14 sacks. Adewale Ogunleye has 4.5 and Alex Brown has 2.5 to lead the pass rush, but seven other players each have a sack. The bring the heat well and frustrate the best of opposing quarterbacks. The Falcons, on the other hand, have the best offensive line in the league when it comes to protecting the quarterback as Matt Ryan has only been sacked twice this season. The offensive line must continue to protect Ryan on Sunday night, giving him time to find any of his plethora of receiving targets.

More Coverage: Game Preview | Full Week 6 Scoreboard

o. Atlanta came out of a bye week and traveled to San Francisco -- and you saw what they did to the 49'ers. The Bears roll into Atlanta rested from their bye week and the Falcons need to focus on running their offensive game plan and not think too much about the extra time Chicago had to prepare. Ryan said it best, "They will be a little bit rested, but I never put too much stock into the bye week and coming off it. I think that everybody shows up week in and week out prepared to play. Teams do a great job in the NFL of getting ready to go regardless of whether or not they're coming of a bye week. We know Chicago is going to come in here ready and fresh and that it's going to be a tough matchup for us." Don't let bye-week get you upset."

o. Chicago has had a rough time this season containing opposing No. 1 receivers. In three of Chicago's four games they have allowed an opposing receiver to gain 100-plus yards. If Ryan gets the time to throw, he must take advantage of the Bears secondary and one of his two top targets, either Roddy White of Tony Gonzalez, needs to amass 100 yards.

o. During the Atlanta bye week the coaching staff surprised Jamaal Anderson by trying him on the interior of the defensive line instead of his normal defensive end spot. He made his first start there against San Francisco and had two tackles and got his hands on the quarterback twice as well. Anderson is enjoying his new position and needs to come up big on Sunday to help contain Matt Forte. If Forte is kept in check, the Falcons chances of winning grow.

Four Keys to a Falcons' Win originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Giants at Saints

R.J. White — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Giants, Saints, FanHouse Previews

Two undefeated teams enter, one leaves with a win and the unquestioned title of NFC Favorite. This is what football is all about.

Brother Eli and the G-Men travel to the Superdome with Super aspirations in mind. Coach Sean Payton has put the "S" back in Saints, and New Orleans will look to extend a four-game winning streak that has been matched just three times in Saints history.

There's a very good chance (barring late-season mojo from Grandfather Time) that this Week 6 matchup will end up being a preview of the NFC Championship game in January, which makes it by all accounts the game of the week.

Three Key Questions:

1. How's the foot, Eli?

2. Will the New Orleans defense stand strong against their biggest challenge yet?

3. With Michael Boley, Chris Canty, and Aaron Ross out, has the Giants' plan of building defensive depth paid off?

Player in the Spotlight: Jeremy Shockey. Drafted by the Giants and traded to the Saints, Shockey is probably the person best acquitted with the workings of both teams. He's the type of player that competes with a chip on his shoulder, so expect him to be primed and ready to go. He'll need to be at his best; Giants cornerback Corey Webster has quickly turned into one of the league's best shutdown corner, weekly taking the opposing team's best receiver out of the picture. Sorry, Marques Colston fans. With Lance Moore having showed nothing to this point, that puts much of the pressure on Shockey to carry the load on the receiving end.

New York's Path to Victory: It's amazing that although the Giants have been ahead in games for much of the season, they still boast the best passing defense in the league. Even when opposing teams must go strictly to the air, the Giants still give up virtually nothing. Against Drew Brees and the Saints, you'd be foolish to expect to contain the pass for 60 minutes. The key will be to exploit replacement left tackle Jermon Bushrod in obvious passing situations, get pressure on Brees, and force the Saints' punting team on the field. The New Orleans defense is much improved, but the Giants offense will get theirs. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw could be the best 1-2 punch in the league at the running back position. But to win, the Giants have to limit the scoring chances of New Orleans.

New Orleans' Path to Victory: Knowing how well the passing offense did in 2008 and seeing the Saints as the No. 1 scoring team in the land, you would expect that a pass-dominant offense has led the way for New Orleans. But this has been the second-best rushing offense in the league this season (compared to being the 11th-ranked passing offense), and with early-season wonder Mike Bell ready to return to action, this group is capable of cycling fresh runners throughout the game. While the Giants are scared of Brees' arm, the New Orleans offense must commit to a rushing attack that has worked well all season. Once they can get Eli Manning into catch-up mode, the playbook is opened up for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

Prediction: The only prediction you can be sure of here is that we'll be watching a great game featuring two well-prepared teams that play great football. The Superdome crowd will be ready to will their team to victory in this game if they must. With two weeks to prepare for this contest, I'd give the upper hand to the Saints. New Orleans 30, New York 24.

FanHouse Preview: Giants at Saints originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Jets at Dolphins

Chris Burke — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Dolphins, Jets, FanHouse Previews

This year's Jets are just built for media coverage -- between superstar rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, bold and brash head coach Rex Ryan, and now, wide receiver/model/actor Braylon Edwards, there are plenty of storylines to keep New York in the headlines.

But heading into tonight's game between the Jets and Dolphins, here's what you might not be reading: This game is more important for Miami.

Even with a loss, the Jets would still sit in first in the AFC East with a very favorable schedule coming up (Buffalo, at Oakland, Miami, Jacksonville in their next four). The Dolphins, on the other hand, are in make-or-break mode. After a Week 6 bye, the Dolphins host New Orleans, then have to play the Jets and Patriots on the road back-to-back. With three losses already, Miami's on the verge of falling out of the postseason picture -- even in a division that looks to be there for the taking.

Suffice it to say, Monday night is a must-win for Miami. If the Dolphins pull the minor upset off, they improve to 2-3, shove the Jets to 3-2 -- and a tie with New England -- and jumble the AFC East picture.

Three Key Questions:

1. How well will Edwards mesh with Sanchez, just days after being traded from Cleveland to New York?

2. Can Miami QB Chad Henne repeat his strong Week 4 performance?

3. Will the Dolphins be able to run the ball at all against the Jets defense?

Player in the Spotlight: Edwards. He wanted to get out of Cleveland and go to a big market, and he got his wish. Now he has to make the Jets' investment in him worthwhile. Jerricho Cotchery, New York's current leading receiver with 25 catches for 356 yards, is a game-time decision with a hamstring injury, which might increase even further the pressure on Edwards to produce immediately. If his head's on straight, he could give Sanchez the big-play and red-zone threat that he needs -- but if he brings his Cleveland struggles east, he'll just make Sanchez's job more difficult.

New York's Path to Victory: There's no need to change anything -- the Jets are 3-1 and played well enough to win last week in New Orleans, save for two terrible Sanchez turnovers that led to two Saints' TDs. The defense put the clamps on Drew Brees' aerial show like few defenses can, and the unit is still a top-five group in both points and yards allowed. The Jets are able to stop the run without doing anything special, but they'll likely pay extra attention to the Ronnie Brown-Ricky Williams duo in Miami's backfield, and force Henne to play well in his second NFL start. Sanchez has to play better than he did in Week 4, too -- four turnovers won't get it done against many opponents.

Miami's Path to Victory: In Week 2's Monday night game, host Miami absolutely took it to Indianapolis for much of the game -- but struggled to punch the ball in the end zone, couldn't come up with a big defensive stop, and let one get away. If the Dolphins play with the same intensity they displayed in that game, they'll make life hard on the Jets. Last week, in Henne's first start, the Dolphins got it done on the ground, rushing for 250 yards in a 38-10 win over Buffalo -- Henne threw for 115 yards and a TD, but didn't have to do much. He'll probably find himself in less of a comfort zone this week. That said, if he avoids turning the ball over and stretches the Jets defense by throwing the deep ball, as he's more than capable of doing, Brown and Williams could find room.
Miami also had six sacks against Buffalo (though it seems like everyone does) -- keeping the pressure on Sanchez might be the key.

Prediction: It's not easy to consider picking against the Jets given how the matchup of their dominating defense against the inexperienced Henne. But Sanchez showed a little chink in his armor last week, and he has to deal with a pretty potent Miami rush. Oh, and let's not forget the topic we started with: that this game is a monster for the Dolphins. At home, with their season on the brink, they have to find a way. Miami 27, New York 21

FanHouse Preview: Jets at Dolphins originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Patriots at Broncos

R.J. White — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Patriots, FanHouse Previews

It's not very often you'll find a 4-0 team as a home underdog against a non-undefeated team, but that's exactly the scenario that has played out. New England's only road game this season was in New York, where the Jet defense completely stifled the New England offense as the team handed the Patriots their only loss of the season. No defense has played better than that of the Denver Broncos, and the team has given up just 26 points combined over the first four games of the season. Sure, a couple of those games were against Brady Quinn and JaMarcus Russell-led teams, but you can only beat the teams you play, and Denver has done a great job of that this year.

More Previews: Falcons-49ers | Texans-Cards | Jaguars-Seahawks

Three Key Questions:

1. With starter Correll Buckhalter out with an ankle injury, is Knowshon Moreno ready to be the man?

2. Can the New England offensive line slow down the aggressive, big-play Denver pass rush?

3. Is Wes Welker finally healthy enough to return to excelling in the New England offense?

Player in the Spotlight: Champ Bailey. The grizzled veteran looked like his old self in last week's win over the Cowboys, completely taking over in the fourth quarter and swatting balls away from Dallas receivers at will. There's a big leap in talent from Roy Williams and the Dallas receiving corps to Randy Moss. The last time these two teams met, Moss caught two touchdown passes en route to a 41-7 shellacking of the Broncos. If Moss catches two touchdowns again this week, Bailey and the Denver secondary have failed. The key will be Denver's ability to put pressure on the quarterback, and Bailey's ability to continue his renaissance.

New England's Path to Victory: With Fred Taylor likely out for the season, the multi-talented New England rushing committee has gotten a bit smaller. Taylor led the team with 201 rushing yards and a 4.5 yards-per-carry average, and no other Patriot back has even 100 yards on the season. The Patriots will have to exploit the Broncos' aggressiveness with quick passes to Welker, Sammy Morris, and Kevin Faulk, the latter two veteran running backs. I wouldn't be surprised to see the two of them in the backfield together much of the day, as both are good blockers and great receivers. Once the linebackers and safeties have to turn their attention to stopping the short running game, that's when Moss will look to break one.

Denver's Path to Victory: New England is third in the league in time-of-possession, holding the ball for over 35 minutes on average in a game. For Denver to win, they'll have to keep the ball away from that methodical New England offense. The Patriot defense has only managed one interception through the first four games, despite facing young QBs Trent Edwards, Mark Sanchez, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. As long as Kyle Orton protects the football and doesn't try forcing bad passes, Denver should be able to win the ball-control game. From there, it's a matter of Moreno making would-be tacklers miss and the defense containing the short passing game of New England.

Prediction: In a Week 5 filled with uninteresting games, this battle stands head and shoulders above the rest. People proclaimed Dallas as the first real test for the Denver defense, and that test was passed with flying colors. Yet some remain unconvinced. I say that none know the intricacies of the New England offense better than Denver coach Josh McDaniels, and it will be up to New England coach Bill Belichick to stay one step ahead. Does he have the personnel to keep up, or will the student overtake the master? Snow is in the forecast, which favors the home team here. Denver 24, New England 14.

FanHouse Preview: Patriots at Broncos originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Bengals at Ravens

R.J. White — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bengals, Ravens, AFC North, FanHouse Previews

Cincinnati (3-1) really could be 4-0 and would be, if not for the Madden-esque TD reception by Denver's Brandon Stokley in Week 1. Since that game, the Bengals traveled to Green Bay and beat a heavily-favored Packer team, took down world champion Pittsburgh at home, and just barely survived a letdown game in Cleveland last week.

Baltimore (3-1) feels like they should be 4-0, victimized by an iffy penalty in last week's game at Foxboro (if the game was at home, are the Ravens not penalized?). With Pittsburgh lurking, each of these Cincinnati-Baltimore games are critical in battling for a playoff spot. Most people see the Ravens as a contender, but the Bengals as a pretender.

Is that fair?

More Previews: Browns-Bills | Cowboys-Chiefs
Bucs-Eagles | Raiders-Giants | Steelers-Lions
Redskins-Panthers | Vikings-49ers

Three Key Questions:

1. Can Baltimore rookie Michael Oher transition smoothly to the blind side in replacing Jared Gaither, and will Marshall Yanda be able to slip right in on the right side?

2. Will Cedric Benson find any room to run against the No. 1 rushing defense in the league, one that allows less than 60 yards on the ground per game?

3. How many game-day tweets will we see from Chad Ochocinco?

Player in the Spotlight: Antwan Odom. After totaling a whopping seven sacks in the first two games of the season, Odom was held to just one sack combined against Pittsburgh and Cleveland. With Oher drawing his first start on the left side of the offensive line, it will be on Odom to create consistent pressure on Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco. The Bengals can't afford to blitz Flacco too often, as the Ravens have displayed the ability to hit any number of offensive weapons during a drive. The less people in coverage, the easier it will be for Flacco to find the open man. Odom's final line should be a reflection of the game result, when all is said and done.

Cincinnati's Path to Victory: The Bengals will try to establish a running game, but the deck is stacked against him. We know the Ravens' defense will be gunning for Ochocinco, so it's up to Carson Palmer to consistently find his secondary options in the passing game. If Laveranues Coles and Chris Henry turn in performances in line with their first four games, then the Bengals have no shot. So these secondary receivers will have to step up and come through on the road in a hostile Baltimore environment. It will be nearly impossible to play successfully from behind, so expect Palmer to try and get everyone involved early. If they can manage a halftime lead, allowing them to keep feeding Benson the rock, then they have a good shot at pulling off the win.

Baltimore's Path to Victory: Both Oher and Yanda are great run blockers, so Baltimore's prospects will be tied tot he ground game. The dynamic duo of Willis McGahee (255 yards, seven TDs) and Ray Rice (429 yards, one TD) should expect double-digit touches yet again. The Cincinnati defense features a pair of up-and-coming young cornerbacks, but the secondary has been susceptible to big games from little-known receivers (Cleveland's Mohamed Massaquoi and Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace) in recent weeks. Sure, they have to contain veteran Derrick Mason, but former Bengal Kelley Washington can be just as dangerous to this team.

Prediction: In order for Odom to work his magic, Cincinnati has to jump to an early lead. Expect a few shots down the field by Palmer in the first quarter. Baltimore will counter with a steady dose of Rice in between the 20s and McGahee in the red zone. If Bengals defensive tackle Tank Johnson isn't 100% over his foot injury, which held him out of the Browns game, the Ravens should have no problem moving the ball on the ground. Once the Bengals offense gets desperate, that's when the Ravens defense attacks. Baltimore should have no problem with Cincinnati in the second half, which should lead to an easy win for the Ravens. Baltimore 31, Cincinnati 16.

FanHouse Preview: Bengals at Ravens originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Once-Over: Week 5

Knox Bardeen — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: FanHouse Previews

With attention spans dwindling, we forego full game-by-game previews to give you the essentials you need to know about every contest this glorious NFL weekend. We call it The Once-Over.

The Early Games

Minnesota (4-0) at St. Louis (0-4): One of the reasons that the Vikings are off to one of their best starts in six years is the 40-year old Brett Favre. Surprisingly, he's experiencing success by avoiding the risky situations that he flourished in during the early portion of his career and that caused him grief in the later. Against St. Louis, Favre should be able to throw the ball like he was still in his 20s, but the wise, older quarterback would do good to let Adrian Peterson run the ball, since the Rams are porous against the run.

Kyle Boller will likely start for the Rams instead of Marc Bulger, which isn't good news for the Rams. Boller threw for only 108 yards last week with an interception filling in for the injured Bulger. Steven Jackson will find it tough to run against Minnesota and their top-ten rush defense.

Pick: Minnesota

Tampa Bay (0-4) at Philadelphia (2-1): The Eagles look to get Brian Westbrook and Donovan McNabb back this week -- which comes at a great time as the Buccaneers have the worst defense in the NFC, allowing 393.5 yards per game.

Three of Tampa Bay's four losses have come at the expense of the NFC East. As the Bucs complete the divisional cycle on Sunday don't expect a different result. Having the entire NFC East on their schedule in their first five games is brutal.

Pick: Philadelphia

Oakland (1-3) at New York Giants (4-0): No defense in the league is as stingy as the Giants when it comes to gaining yardage. They allow an NFL best 232.3 yards per game while the Raiders only gain 208.5 yards per game -- an NFL worst. If Eli Manning is able to play with his foot injury, he's not going to have to put up too many points to win.

If the bad news of JaMarcus Russell's inconsistency and slow development weren't enough, the Raiders will be without running back Darren McFadden for two to four weeks as he recovers from knee surgery. This offense can't catch a break.

Pick: New York

Dallas (2-2) at Kansas City (0-4): The Dallas offense started strong, but now that's looking more like playing against weak defense than real progress. Since Week 1, Tony Romo has thrown four interceptions and has played his last two games without throwing a touchdown pass. Is there any doubt the Dallas offense is stalling? Marion Barber being healthy on Sunday will help -- so will playing against the Kansas City defense.

The Chiefs have lost 27 of their last 29 games and haven't started a season this poorly since 1980. The defense will have trouble with Romo and Barber on Sunday but did catch a break as Roy Williams may be unable to play. On offense, Larry Johnson must bring his 2.6 yards per carry average up and the Chiefs must do better in third down situations -- 2 third down conversions in their last 26 attempts -- if Kansas City is to have any chance.

Pick: Dallas

Pittsburgh (2-2) at Detroit (1-3): For Pittsburgh, this game constitutes who isn't playing almost as much as who will be on the field. Willie Parker is unable to play due to turf toe so Rashard Mendenhall will have to step in. Mendenhall rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns last week so the ground attack could still be in good hands without Parker. Troy Polamalu will miss the game with a knee injury also -- nobody can do justice replacing him.

Detroit may be without their rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford, who injured his knee last week and has only been available to practice on a limited basis. Calvin Johnson may also miss the game with an injury. Without Stafford and Johnson, the Lions will have next to no chance of winning this game.

Pick: Pittsburgh

Washington (2-2) at Carolina (0-3): When the Redskins get to play a winless team they get the job done. Both of their wins this season have come against teams that haven't tallied a victory. If they want this trend to continue on Sunday Jason Campbell, who threw for three interceptions last week and Clinton Portis, who is without a 100-yard rushing game, need to step up and score some points. The Redskins average 14 points per game -- 27th in the league.

Evey team that has played against the Panthers this season has rushed for at least 150 yards. The Carolina defense would like to stop that from happening on Sunday and would also like to get Jake Delhomme back on track. Delhomme has seven interceptions with only two touchdown passes this season.

Pick: Carolina

Cleveland (0-4) at Buffalo (1-3): The Browns average 12.3 points per game and just had to trade a major offensive weapon in Braylon Edwards due to off-field troubles. Mohamed Massaquoi broke out with eight receptions for 148 yards last week and the offense could use more development from the rookie receiver -- no matter which quarterback throws him the ball.

Buffalo is a fumbled kickoff return and two minutes of utter frustration away from an extra win (remember the opening game against New England) and possibly a much different mentality around the clubhouse. The Bills are still waiting for Terrell Owens to have a breakout game and that could happen against a weak Browns defense. Also watch the two-headed rushing monster of Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. This could be the week something special happens among the running back tandem.

Pick: Buffalo

Cincinnati (3-1) at Baltimore (3-1): One of these teams was supposed to be 3-1 -- one is an unexpected guest near the top of the standings. For Cincinnati to continue their winning ways they'll have to find a way for Cedric Benson to run against a fierce defense that hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 39 games. In the likely event Benson is held short of 100 yards, Carson Palmer must continue his success against the Ravens -- he's 6-3 with 2,235 yards and 12 touchdowns in nine games against Baltimore.

The defense in Baltimore has always been the story. But this season the Ravens offense is putting up 31 points per game -- third best in the NFL. Joe Flacco should be able to pick apart the Bengals defense that allows 242.3 yards passing per game.

Pick: Baltimore

The Late Games

Atlanta (2-1) at San Francisco (3-1): The big story in San Francisco this week was the signing of Michael Crabtree, its first-round draft pick. Crabtree won't be a factor this week against the Falcons so the 49ers will need another solid game from the defense, a unit that is best in the NFC -- allowing only 13.3 points per game.

The Falcons travel west after a bye week and are happy to not be facing Frank Gore, who is out with an injury. The big question will be if Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Tony Gonzalez can put up enough points against a great defense to hold off the San Francisco offense.

Pick: Atlanta

Jacksonville (2-2) at Seattle (1-3): The Jaguars have scored 68 points over the last two weeks, both times winning games. Maurice Jones-Drew has four touchdowns in the past two weeks and Mike Sims-Walker has emerged as a No. 1 receiving threat. This awakened offense will face a Seattle defense that has allowed an average of 27.3 points per game over the past three weeks after blanking St. Louis is Week 1.

Seattle will get its starting quarterback back this week as Matt Hasselbeck will return from a rib injury to lead an offense that has floundered since their opening week victory. Seattle has gone three weeks scoring under 20 points in each game and both Nate Burleson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh -- who are both top-25 receivers from a receiving yardage standpoint but only have one touchdown between them -- will be glad to be catching ball from Hasselbeck.

Pick: Jacksonville

New England (3-1) at Denver (4-0): When Denver traded Jay Cutler to Chicago and got Kyle Orton in return, many felt the defense would have to raise the level of their game. Through four wins, the Broncos defense has allowed an average of 6.5 points per game. For their winning ways to continue, they'll need to have continued success keeping the Patriots off of the scoreboard.

The Patriots will be facing an unbeaten team for the fifth straight game. And while Tom Brady and the offense aren't scoring at will like usual the Patriots defense is keeping them in games until the very end. Look for New England's top-ten pass defense to shine against Orton and with Correll Buckhalter out, the Patriots will find ways to shut down rookie running back Knowshon Moreno.

Pick: New England

Houston (2-2) at Arizona (1-2): Arizona will try and fix what ails its high-flying offense that averaged 26.7 points per game last season but has only mustered 19 per this year. One area to focus may be Kurt Warner, who threw twice as many touchdowns as interceptions last year, but has four picks and only four touchdowns this year. The Houston defense, while performing well last week, still gives up 368.8 yards per game. This could be the week Warner and the offense turn things around.

Matt Schaub is one of nine NFL quarterbacks who have already hit the 1,000-yard mark in passing yards this season. The Arizona defense is 30th in the league giving up 280.3 yards in the air each week. Expect Schaub to put up big numbers in Arizona.

Pick: Houston

SNF

Indianapolis (4-0) at Tennessee (0-4): This isn't your typical 4-0 team versus an 0-4 team. Indianapolis is the real deal thus far, but nobody expected a winless Titans team at this point after the Titans won the AFC South last season. Even though Kerry Collins is the NFL's 28th-ranked passer, he'll remain under center against an Indianapolis pass defense that's ranked No. 8, allowing only 201.8 yards through the air.

Peyton Manning is off to one of the best starts in his professional career, and he's doing it with a lot of new personnel, not to mention a new coach. Manning leads the league with 1,336 yards passing and is tied for the lead with nine touchdowns. The Colts have won 13 straight regular season games -- their last loss coming against Tennessee last season.

Pick: Indianapolis

MNF

New York Jets (3-1) at Miami (1-3): The Jets have a new head coach in Rex Ryan and a new quarterback in Mark Sanchez. But all eyes have been on the newest member of the Jets this week --Braylon Edwards, who came over in a trade from Cleveland on Wednesday. Edwards will suit up and play on Monday night and may have to shoulder a bigger workload as Jerricho Cotchery may miss the game wit a hamstring injury.

Miami and their new quarterback Chad Henne will face the challenge of facing a Rex Ryan defense. Henne didn't hurt the Dolphins last week in his debut as a starter but also didn't impress throwing for only 115 yards and a touchdown. They'll need another impressive rushing attack -- the Dolphins amassed 250 yards on the ground against Buffalo last week -- to have a chance for victory.

Pick: New York

The Once-Over: Week 5 originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Packers at Vikings

Chris Burke — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Vikings, FanHouse Previews

We have to talk about Brett Favre -- I'm sorry, that's just the way it's got to be. To ignore Favre's involvement in the season's first Green Bay-Minnesota clash would be like discussing the Cold War and leaving out Gorbachev.

Monday's key NFC North matchup will mark the first time Favre has played against the Packers, with whom he starred for 16 seasons, and he'll do so while wearing the jersey of one of Green Bay's most hated rivals. It probably doesn't help Packers fans' waning allegiances to Favre that Minnesota's off to a 3-0 start and sits in first in the division. Green Bay, on the other hand, is just two weeks removed from a stunning home loss to Cincinnati and trying to keep pace.

All Favre aside, there's a lot on the line in the Metrodome Monday, and who comes away with a victory will depend on a lot more than just Minnesota's new quarterback.

Three Key Questions:

1. Can Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers rise to the challenge and keep pace with his quarterback counterpart?

2. How well will the Packers be able to contain Adrian Peterson?

3. Will the television broadcast actually show the game, or just keep every camera on Favre all night?

Player in the Spotlight: Rodgers. Favre's too easy of an answer here -- obviously, everyone wants to see what the frequently retired signal-caller does against his old club. But Rodgers' performance will likely have more of an impact on Monday's result. If Favre falters, Minnesota can turn to Peterson and its defense to hang around. Rodgers doesn't really have that luxury -- Green Bay's in the middle of the pack (No. 16) in rushing yards per game and the defense has been pushed around by Cincinnati and St. Louis in the past two weeks. Rodgers has to play well and test the Vikings defense often to try and free running back Ryan Grant. Green Bay needs to keep its defense on the sidelines as much as possible, but the Packers' offense can only be as effective as Rodgers allows.

Green Bay's Path to Victory: This can go one of two ways -- either the Pack can decide to try and grind it out, keep Favre and Peterson off the field, and try to win with ball control; or Green Bay can throw caution to the wind and simply attempt to outgun the Vikings. The Packers have the weapons to pull off option two, but the first scenario is more conducive to this rivalry. It also makes more sense on the road. No one knows what Favre is capable of better than Green Bay, which is both good and bad. The Packers have seen Favre's heroics plenty of times -- but they're also aware that he can make mistakes when under pressure. Cleveland, Detroit and San Francisco all went toe-to-toe with the Vikings and hung around for the majority of the game. Green Bay's better than all three of those teams.

Minnesota's Path to Victory: Just stick to the script. The Vikings have been a little slow starting out games -- especially on the ground, as they've tried to lean on Peterson early and keep Favre from having to do too much. They've been able to crank it up in the second half, though, and figure to finish strong again, given the ravenous home crowd that will be present Monday night. Cincinnati won in Lambeau by controlling the game at the line of scrimmage and relentlessly attacking Rodgers. Minnesota's defensive line is stout, both against the run and the pass, so the goal will be to make Rodgers' life as miserable as possible. If the Vikings can get on top early, they'll be able to ride Peterson late -- and limit the number of opportunites for Favre to make a mistake.

Prediction: A lot of people are anticipating a bit of a shootout in this one, with both offenses finding plenty of room. That may be the case, but there's just as good a chance that this winds up being a game won methodically in the trenches. Should that occur, it'd be hard to pick against Minnesota. Either way, this should be a fun one -- unless you're a Packers fan, in which case, it might be your worst nightmare. Minnesota 24, Green Bay 21

FanHouse Preview: Packers at Vikings originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Week 4 Picks: 'Game of the Century' Between Vikings and Packers?

Dave Goldberg — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: FanHouse Previews

Brett Favre's first game against the team he led from 1992-2007 is a good enough storyline on its own. But by the time Favre takes the field for the Vikings in the Metrodome to face the Packers, anyone who watches anything on the "Worldwide Leader's'' "Family of Networks'' may be so Favred-out that the game will be anti-climactic.

Example: ESPN2's "Sports Nation,'' ("nation'' in this context is a cliche that should be bagged) promises to utter the word "Favre'' 275 times during its Monday afternoon show. Who knows how many times it -- and other ESPN outlets -- will show Favre's last-second TD pass that beat San Francisco last week.

Thus I am heeding the the advice I got to shut off the television until 8:30 p.m. Monday.

Good idea because the game itself should be fun -- not only will Favre be amped up, but so will Aaron Rodgers. And Favre and Rodgers aren't exactly best friends, another "storyline'' being played to hilt this week..

The Vikings, one of seven 3-0 teams in the NFL, are favored by 3 1/2 points, three points for home field and the other half point because Favre or not, they might be a little better. Home field may not be as big a factor as it often is in Minneapolis -- lots of Packers fans usually find themselves tickets for this fixture.

Where will the game be won? Probably not at QB. The most important matchup is up front, where the Vikings seem to have a decided advantage when their defense is on the field against the Packers' OL. Rodgers has been sacked 12 times, more than any quarterback in the league and the Green Bay tackles, with Chad Clifton banged up, are the primary culprits.

Packers at Vikings

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Green Bay Packers		17
Minnesota Vikings	- 3	24

The Saints, who play New York/New York with a bye in between, are a very fashionable team right now. They demonstrated last week they can win outdoors without a TD pass from Drew Brees but WITH a nice ground attack featuring Pierre Thomas. The Jets, unbeaten or not, seem to be viewed as the same old Jets in Vegas. Thus the line. Closer than that.

Jets at Saints

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
New York Jets		22
New Orleans Saints	- 7	26

The Patriots beat Atlanta last week by running, primarily with Fred Taylor, the kind of aging pickup that has traditionally worked so well for Bill Belichick. But Tom Brady couldn't produce a touchdown against the Jets, whose coach, Rex Ryan, ran the Ravens' defense last season.

But this is Baltimore's first tough game.

Ravens at Patriots

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Baltimore Ravens		16
New England Patriots	- 2	20

Interesting road favorite. That's because Vegas questions the Denver schedule -- the Cowboys are a lot better than the Browns and Raiders, even with banged-up RBs.

Cowboys at Broncos

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Dallas Cowboys	- 3	24
Denver Broncos		14

The Steelers don't lose three in a row, do they? Not against a team they beat twice last season -- in the first 11-10 game in NFL history, then 35-24 in the playoffs.

Has there ever been a 9-8 game?

Chargers at Steelers

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
San Diego Chargers		20
Pittsburgh Steelers	- 6 1/2	21

Bengals at Browns

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Cincinnati Bengals	- 5	19
Cleveland Browns		10

Titans at Jaguars

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Tennessee Titans	- 3	22
Jacksonville Jaguars		12

Seahawks at Colts

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Seattle Seahawks		17
Indianapolis Colts	- 10 1/2	31

Raiders at Texans

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Oakland Raiders		24
Houston Texans	- 9	30

Giants at Chiefs

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
New York Giants	- 9	34
Kansas City Chiefs		10

Buccaneers at Redskins

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Tampa Bay Bucs		10
Washington Redskins	-	20

Bills at Dolphins

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Buffalo Bills	- 2	12
Miami Dolphins		13

Lions at Bears

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
Detroit Lions		13
Chicago Bears	- 10	31

Rams at 49ers

Team	Pointspread	Projected Score
St. Louis Rams		8
San Francisco 49ers	- 9	21

LAST WEEK: 9-7 (spread), 11-5 (straight up)

SEASON: 29-19 (spread) 31-17 (straight up)

Week 4 Picks: 'Game of the Century' Between Vikings and Packers? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Colts at Dolphins

Chris Burke — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Colts, Dolphins, FanHouse Previews

For all the Parrotheads out there who consider themselves football fans -- and there must be a few -- tonight is your Woodstock. The Miami Dolphins host the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football in revamped and renamed Land Shark Stadium, a moniker taken from Jimmy Buffett's personal beer. And Buffett himself may take the stage at some point, if rumors are true. If nothing else, 600 Parrotheads (the nickname for Buffett's heartiest fans) will dance to Buffett's song "Fins" during the halftime show. Dolphins part-owners Serena and Venus Williams, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez are all expected to show, as well.

Oh, and then there's that football game. If it doesn't get lost in all the Sunshine State hoopla, it could be a dandy.

Three Key Questions:

1. After scoring seven points in a Week 1 loss to Atlanta, can the Dolphins wake up their offense enough to keep pace with Indianapolis?

2. With Anthony Gonzalez out, will any Indianapolis receiver be able to take the pressure off Reggie Wayne?

3. Will the Colts stay aggressive on defense?

Player in the Spotlight: Chad Pennington. Miami's quarterback was 21 of 29 in Atlanta last week, but totaled just 179 yards as Miami dinked-and-dunked around the field while struggling with the Falcons' pressure -- Atlanta sacked Pennington four times. Indianapolis promises to bring the heat as well, but Pennington has to find a way to stretch the field. The Dolphins' run game could certainly use less eyes on it -- Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams mustered just 82 yards on 17 carries in Week 1.

Indianapolis' Path to Victory: Atlanta's Matt Ryan had his way with Miami's defense, to the tune of 229 yards passing and two touchdowns. Those stats don't necessarily bode well for the Dolphins on Monday with Peyton Manning in town. Wayne stepped up with a 10-catch, 162-yard performance to help the Colts take down Jacksonville in Week 1, but he'll no doubt draw a lot of attention from Miami's secondary. Either Pierre Garcon or Austin Collie will need to make a play or two, and tight end Dallas Clark should get involved early and often. Defensively, if the Colts do exactly what they did in Week 1, which was get after the quarterback and limit big plays, it will be tough for Miami to score.

Miami's Path to Victory: With all eyes on Land Shark Stadium, the Dolphins need to make sure that the sideshows don't steal the spotlight. This is a critical early game for the Dolphins -- the Jets look much improved, Buffalo's playing well and New England, you have to figure, will sort itself out. So Miami's already in a hole in the AFC East, and must play like it. Let Pennington air it out as much as he can, get Pat White and Brown and Williams running the Wildcat, and so on. The last thing Miami can afford to do Monday night is run twice, throw short once, then punt on multiple possessions. Indianapolis will wear down the Dolphins defense if that happens. The Dolphins also might want to consider double-teaming Clark or Wayne on every play, thus forcing Manning to find a third receiving option, or the Colts to run the ball.

Prediction: Miami's Week 1 stinker soured people on the Dolphins quickly, and this tough matchup hasn't helped circle the wagons. But Miami travels to San Diego next week, so this game might be all that stands between the Dolphins and an 0-3 start. The Colts won't give it up easily, though. Manning poses issues for the Dolphins' secondary, and the Colts' blitzing defense has the potential to completely stuff Pennington and the Miami offense. Expect Miami to put forth a very strong effort and be in the game late -- but Manning and the Colts to win the game. Indianapolis 24, Miami 20

FanHouse Preview: Colts at Dolphins originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Steelers at Bears

Chris Burke — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:10:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, Steelers, FanHouse Previews

Given that Chicago drew a road game at Green Bay and a visit from the defending Super Bowl Champion Steelers to start the season, an 0-2 start would be neither totally unexpected nor disastrous to the Bears' playoff hopes.

But try to telling that to the Windy City faithful.

After new quarterback Jay Cutler bumbled his way to four interceptions in a 21-15 loss at Lambeau last week, Chicago finds itself under the gun already. With Pittsburgh in for the Bears' home opener Sunday, Cutler needs to bounce back -- or he'll find himself getting picked apart by the Steelers' aggressive defense, even without injured Troy Polamalu in the lineup.

Three Key Questions:

1. Can the Steelers survive the loss of Polamalu?

2. Was Cutler's Week 1 meltdown an aberration or will he continue to struggle?

3. Will Pittsburgh be able to slow Chicago's pass rush?

Player in the Spotlight: Tyrone Carter. When Polamalu missed time in 2006 and 2007, it was Carter who filled in and started. Things are never the same when a player the caliber of Polamalu goes t o the sideline, but Carter at least held down the fort. He'll have to do so again against a team that will test him -- between the run game with Matt Forte and the ability of tight end Greg Olsen to slip into the secondary, Carter must play a solid game on Sunday. He's far from the dynamic talent Polamalu is, and the Steelers don't figure to turn him loose as much, but they'll still expect plenty from Carter.

Pittsburgh's Path to Victory: Carter may not get the green light as much as Polamalu would, but don't expect defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to take the foot off the gas. Especially in light of Cutler's turnover-fest in Week 1, Pittsburgh will try to get him out of the pocket as much as possible. On the other side of the ball, the Steelers have to deal with a strong Chicago pass rush, led by Adewale Ogunleye, that produced four sacks of Aaron Rodgers last week. Ben Roethlisberger will be under pressure, so his challenge is to take care of the ball. Pittsburgh plans to rotate Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall in the backfield -- but if they both struggle to find room, it will only add to Roethlisberger's pressure problems.

Chicago's Path to Victory: It really starts with Cutler playing well, but it's unfair to lump it all on him. Another four-turnover performance by the QB and the Bears will get run off their own field -- but, that said, he needs some help. Chicago cannot desert Forte, and really need to make it a point of emphasis to get him close to 30 carries. And the Bears receivers must show up in a big way. Chicago has to get in Roethlisberger's kitchen early and often, possibly forcing a few turnovers on that side of the ball, and also could go a long way toward victory by keeping Parker running in quicksand.

Prediction: Without Polamalu, this becomes a bit trickier -- with him, Pittsburgh's superior on paper and in matchups. But the loss of Pittsburgh's super safety could open the field for the Chicago offense a bit. Will it be enough to offset the Steelers' offensive firepower? That all depends on Cutler, who will need to be flawless to get Chicago over the top. After seeing his Week 1 showing, it's hard to imagine that will be the case. Pittsburgh 27, Chicago 17

FanHouse Preview: Steelers at Bears originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Saints at Eagles

Chris Burke — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, Saints, FanHouse Previews

It's foolish to think too far ahead in the ever-changing NFL, but it's not exactly a pipe dream to think that Week 2's New Orleans-Philadelphia game could be a very early preview of the NFC Championship Game.

Both teams have what it takes -- especially on offense -- to make such a rematch happen way down the road. Unfortunately, a few of the weapons that could take the Saints and Eagles to the next level will probably miss Sunday's showdown. Philadelphia could be without injured starting quarterback Donovan McNabb, and will be without suspended backup QB Michael Vick, while New Orleans running back Pierre Thomas might be on the shelf for the second straight week.

There are still enough talented players to light some fireworks in this one, though.

More Coverage: Giants-Cowboys Preview | Complete Week 2 Schedule

Three Key Questions:

1. If McNabb's a no-go, can Kevin Kolb or Jeff Garcia make enough big plays to keep pace with New Orleans' offense?

2. Will Mike Bell repeat his Week 1 performance in the Saints' backfield?

3. Will there be any punts?

Player in the Spotlight: Kolb. Easy one here. It's hard to imagine any team slowing down the Saints offense too much -- a best-case scenario for Philly's defense might be to hold them in the low-20s with a turnover or two. So that means that the Eagles will need to counter with some offensive punch of their own. The jury's out on whether or not Kolb will be able to provide that, though if he proves overwhelmed early, Philly coach Andy Reid might turn to the recently-signed Garcia. The Eagles will need to have the pedal to the metal early, regardless of who's under center.

New Orleans' Path to Victory: Keep scoring points, to state the obvious. The Saints, even with a few defensive deficiencies, have the ability to outscore anyone on their schedule. With the aforementioned McNabb and Vick absences, if the Saints have another big offensive day, the Eagles will be hard-pressed to keep up. Bell showed the ability to do the job on the ground, too, rumbling for 143 yards in Week 1 against Detroit. Defensively, New Orleans should do what it can to get after the passer -- the Saints recorded just one sack of Matthew Stafford last week, but pressured him frequently, and held Detroit running back Kevin Smith to just 20 yards on the ground. If they can get to Kolb/Garcia or slow the Brian Westbrook-LeSean McCoy duo, Philadelphia will be in trouble.

Philadelphia's Path to Victory: Minus McNabb, it's going to be all about ball control. Sure, the Eagles picked off five passes last week -- and might be able to, at least, limit New Orleans' big plays -- but if Philadelphia's going to hang around, it will need to pound out a lot of yards on the ground. Not only would that keep the Saints' offense on the sideline and eat the clock, but it would open things up a bit for Kolb. As it is, the Saints will probably sit several guys in the box and force Philly to win through the air.

Prediction: WIth McNabb, this would be a potential classic. If he can't go, then the mountain becomes a pretty tough one to climb for the Eagles. They're not going to get blown out at home -- there are way too many good players on Philadelphia to let that happen, and the venue is way too difficult a place to play for visiting teams. That said, if New Orleans doesn't turn the ball over and keeps Westbrook relatively in check, it's hard to envision Philly getting the job done.
New Orleans 34, Philadelphia 21

FanHouse Preview: Saints at Eagles originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Giants at Cowboys

Josh Alper — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Giants, FanHouse Previews

Under most circumstances, you don't need much added incentive to watch a Giants-Cowboys game. The NFC East rivals always put on good games, are loaded with high-profile players and have designs on making noise in the playoffs later this season. Usually that's reason enough for them to land on national television, but Sunday night their contest will be a side dish.

Welcome to JerryWorld.

Jerry Jones' pleasure dome gets its long awaited night in the spotlight on Sunday and you can be sure that it will be profiled, discussed and featured far more than any players on either team. That's what pouring $1.15 billion into a stadium unlike any the NFL has ever seen before gets you. You'll hear plenty about 100,000 fans, $60 pizzas and everything else related to the building on Sunday night, so let's just focus on the game in these parts.

Three Key Questions:

1. Can the Cowboys do a better job against the run than they did against the Buccaneers in Week 1?

2. Will Tony Romo continue to bedevil the Giants pass rush with his feet?

3. Have the Giants fixed the problems protecting Eli Manning that led to eight Cowboys sacks when the two teams met last December?

Players in the Spotlight: You know about the two quarterbacks, so let's turn our focus elsewhere. A matchup that will go a long way toward determining who comes out on top in this game will be Cowboys tight end Jason Witten against Giants safeties Michael Johnson and Kenny Phillips. Romo has always killed the Giants by making plays when protection breaks down, either with his feet or by making a throw on the run. Witten is his favorite target in those circumstances, and the two Giants safeties can't let him slip free or he will make it a very long night for Tom Coughlin's defense. Complicating matters is the fact that both safeties missed practice time with injuries this week and that the Giants cornerbacks are riddled with injuries as well. There's not much margin for error, and a slip here could give the Cowboys a major edge.

New York's Path to Victory: The Giants need to keep things very simple on Sunday night. Pound Brandon Jacobs into the middle of the Cowboys defense until they prove they can stop it and then give the ball to Ahmad Bradshaw to outrun Cowboys defenders on the flanks. Manning proved last week that his fat new contract hasn't made him any better about holding onto the ball and avoiding interceptions when he's under pressure, so the Giants need to use the running game to keep him out of situations where DeMarcus Ware can make his life miserable. Defensively it's very similar. Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora need to pressure Romo, but they can't break contain to go for big plays. That will open lanes for Romo to exploit and leave their slow linebackers and injury-depleted secondary in bad situations.

Dallas' Path to Victory: Count on Terrence Newman, Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick being able to keep the Giants receivers under wraps and stop the run. If the Giants are consistently finding themselves with long second and third-down conversions, they will not be successful offensively. That means a lot of work the good-looking Cowboys offense, especially if they can get the running game going. If Marion Barber and Felix Jones get going, it will make it even easier for Romo to find Witten in single coverage battles that he'll win more often than not.

Prediction: The JerryWorld factor becomes the thumb on the scale in what figures to be a very tight game between two teams that match up very well. The massive crowd, the wall of noise and the desire to avoid the anger of Double J himself proves to be enough for the Cowboys to pull this one out. Cowboys 23, Giants 20

FanHouse Preview: Giants at Cowboys originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Bills at Patriots

Chris Burke — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Patriots, FanHouse Previews

If you're looking for a white-knuckle, nail-biter of a Monday night game, it might be best to look elsewhere -- like to Oakland, where the Raiders host San Diego late, though that might not be much help either. New England has won 11 straight against Buffalo, including two last year minus Tom Brady, and posted a 20 1/2-point average margin of victory during that win streak. On top of that trend, the Patriots' home crowd will be understandably jacked up to see Brady back on the field, and will do its best to make Terrell Owens' regular-season Buffalo debut a miserable one.

The Bills would love to signal in the T.O. era with a huge road win. But they will need a near-flawless effort to get it done.

Three Key Questions:

1. Is Tom Brady, post-knee injury and with a preseason throwing shoulder nick, healthy?

2. Can Trent Edwards take advantage of Buffalo's talented receivers?

3. How well will Fred Jackson fill in at running back for the suspended Marshawn Lynch?

Players in the Spotlight: Buffalo's secondary. Ok, Brady and Owens are going to be in the television spotlight, but if the Bills have any hope at all of escaping Foxboro with an upset win, their defensive backfield must play huge. It's an underrated group that brings back all four starters from 2008 -- Terrence McGee, Donte Whitner, Leodis McKelvin and Bryan Scott. Both cornerbacks are undersized, though, with McKelvin standing an inch taller, 5-foot-10, than McGee, so slowing Randy Moss will be difficult. If nothing else, Buffalo needs to keep New England to the nickel-and-dime underneath patterns and take away the deep ball.

Buffalo's Path to Victory: All eyes are on Owens and Edwards, but Jackson's the guy who needs to turn in the biggest game for the Bills to hang around. With Lynch out, and Buffalo adopting a no-huddle offense this season, the only chance the Bills have of keeping the Patriots on the sideline for extended periods of time is for Jackson to grind out some yards on the ground. That said, Edwards has to avoid any turnovers at all and hit on a bomb or two. Defensively, it's always difficult to get pressure on Brady, so the Bills need to generate what they can there, but keep the game in front of them -- if New England starts hitting on 20-plus-yard passes right away, it could get ugly.

New England's Path to Victory: New England just needs to do what New England does -- or, rather, what New England did before the Brady-less 2008 season. It could take Brady a little bit to settle back into regular-season game speed, but probably not that long, which mean lots of looks at Moss and Wes Welker. The Patriots have a massive stable of running backs, as well, that all can handle some carries and ease the offensive burden. New England might struggle initially with Buffalo's no-huddle attack, depending on how well the Bills execute it. With Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden at cornerback, New England could be one of the few teams able to play Owens and Josh Reed straight up and let the rest of its defense go to work.

Prediction: Buffalo has an opportunity to show that it's a threat in the AFC East. The problem is that, realistically, the Bills just don't match-up well with New England in any way. It will be fun to see how Owens performs (and behaves) in a new uniform, but don't expect his presence to be enough to pull Buffalo through. New England 31, Buffalo 14

FanHouse Preview: Bills at Patriots originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jimmy Johnson and FanHouse Preview The 2009 NFL Season

Will Brinson — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Chargers, Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins, NFL Coaching, NFL Media Watch, FanHouse Previews, NFL Quarterbacks, NFL Predictions, NFL Analysis

Jimmy Johnson is a talented gentleman; it's rare when you see someone in the sport of football achieve success at the college level (Miami), the professional level (Dallas) and in the announcing booth (tell me you don't think Fox is easily the No. 1 preview show on Sundays. Go ahead. I dare you.)

So when given the chance -- courtesy of the fine folks at Proctor & Gamble, who make Old Spice (the official deodorant of NFL locker rooms) and Gillette (same but for the razor) -- to speak with him, podcast-style, about the upcoming season, I didn't flinch. Jimmy and I kick around the 2009 NFL season after the jump and debate whether the Steelers are underrated, if Carolina can win the South, who his sleepers from the NFC are, what he thinks of Emmitt Smith pitching pork and taking a jab at Wade Phillips, among other stuff. Enjoy.

Jimmy Johnson and FanHouse Preview The 2009 NFL Season originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Titans at Steelers

JJ Cooper — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, Titans, AFC North, AFC South, FanHouse Previews

Once upon a time, the Titans and the Steelers were division rivals. And they hated each other in a respectful kind of way. It actually goes back to the 1970s, when Earl Campbell and company met up with Jack Lambert and all for three physical games in 1978 and 1979. The Raiders and the Steelers tried to intentionally injure each other for sport; the Oilers and Steelers injured each other unintentionally through hard hits. If not for the Steelers, the Oilers would have made two Super Bowl appearances. For what it's worth, those Steelers admit that the Oilers were their toughest competitor.

In the 1990s, the Oilers moved to Tennessee, but the rivalry remained. In 2002, the division realignment separated the two teams, but even that year, they got to meet again in a playoff game that the Titans won in overtime. They can't count on playing every year any more, but Lendale White's Terrible Towel as a hanky routine should help ensure a healthy rivalry for years to come.

Three Key Questions:

1. Will the Titans' passing game be up to one of its biggest challenges?

2. Can Titans defensive tackle Jason Jones match his 2008 coming out party?

3. Who will land the biggest punch in a game that should be a brawl?

Players In The Spotlight: Jason Jones/Chris Kemoeatu. The last time Jones faced the Steelers, he picked up 3 1/2 sacks, largely because he abused Kemoeatu. That game gave the first glimpse that the Titans may be OK defensively if Albert Haynesworth left in free agency, and also reminded Steelers' fans that the biggest thing standing between Pittsburgh and a Super Bowl trophy was its offensive line. Kemoeatu has struggled during the preseason. If he can't handle Jones, it's going to be a long night for the Steelers.

Tennessee's Path To Victory: Last year the Titans beat the Steelers by winning the special teams' battle, forcing turnovers and getting an outstanding game from its defensive front four. Repeat that formula and Tennessee should be 1-0 again. Kerry Collins isn't flashy, but he generally does a good job of moving the chains and protecting the ball. Pittsburgh's defense is built around not giving up the big play, but Tennessee's offense likes to dink and dunk with passes to tight ends and running backs, which is at times the weak link of the Steelers' pass defense.

Pittsburgh's Path To Victory: Last year's loss to the Titans carried the same blueprint of an earlier loss to the Eagles. When the Steelers' offensive line struggled, it sometimes melted down. That's what happened against the Titans. Pittsburgh should have much improved special teams play thanks to the return of punter Daniel Sepulveda and the arrival of returner Stefan Logan. If Pittsburgh can just limit the sacks and turnovers and get a couple of quality drives on offense, their defense should handle the rest.

One Interesting Tidbit: Pittsburgh is 6-0 in its last six season openers which is the longest streak in the NFL.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 20, Tennessee 17.

FanHouse Preview: Titans at Steelers originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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