Sunday, December 17, 2006

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NFL

Jets-Vikings

Journal News

Jets QB Chad Pennington has a career-high 15
interceptions, including four in the last two games. Pennington and the Jets’
passing game will be crucial Sunday at Minnesota
because the Vikings’ defense is allowing an NFL-low 54.1 rushing yards per
game.

Browns-Ravens

Gainesville Sun

The Ravens (10-3) lead the division by two games over Cincinnati
and if they win Sunday and the Bengals lose at Indianapolis
on Monday night, will be division champions for the second time in team
history. Baltimore also won the
division in 2003, the last time it made the playoffs. Even if Baltimore
loses to Cleveland (4-9), something
that doesn’t happen very often, it can still clinch a playoff spot through a
multitude of other scenarios. Since leaving Cleveland
for Baltimore after the 1995
season, the Ravens are 10-5 against the team that replaced them. The Ravens
have won six of their last seven games and are tied with Indianapolis
for the second-best record in the AFC. Baltimore
is 5-1 at M&T Bank Stadium this season and has
won 15 of its last 19 home games in December. As the
Ravens continue to win, quarterback Steve McNair seems to grow more comfortable
in the offense. He has completed 68.1 percent of his passes and thrown for
eight touchdowns in his last seven games, and didn’t throw an interception in
six of those contests. McNair has thrown nine touchdowns passes and only one
interception in his last five starts against the Browns, posting a 98.6 passer
rating. The Ravens are first in the NFL in total defense, allowing 268.1 yards
per game. Baltimore has allowed a league-low 170 points and has held Cleveland to 14 points or less in 10 of their 15 all-time meetings. The
Browns, who have lost eight consecutive road games to division opponents, are
trying to avoid a winless season against AFC North teams.

Dolphins-Bills

Gainesville Sun

Miami and Buffalo,
both 6-7, resurfaced in the crowded conference race after convincing victories
over East opponents last Sunday. Neither team can clinch a berth with a win
this week, but both can improve their positioning. The
Dolphins, who have won five of their last six games, recorded their first
shutout in six seasons with a 21-0 home victory over division-leading New
England last Sunday. It was the 10^th time this season
that Miami has held an opponent to
20 points or fewer. Taylor and
safety Yeremiah Bell combined for 15 tackles and two
sacks as Miami’s second-ranked
defense held the Patriots to a season-low 189 yards. The Dolphins allow 278.2
yards per game.

Steelers-Panthers

Steelers.com

The Steelers know they have an uphill battle if they are
going to get into the post-season, as they not only have to win their last
three games, but a variety of other things have to happen as well.

Charlotte Observer

Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme, recovering from a torn ligament in his right thumb,
tried to throw before Friday’s practice, but had problems with the thumb and
didn’t participate. He hasn’t practiced all week, making it likely that backup Chris Weinke, who
played last week against the New York Giants, will start again Sunday when the
Panthers meet Pittsburgh at Bank of
America Stadium.

Eagles-Giants

Philadelphia Daily News

Eagles revenge for one of worst
loses in history. Had they not blown a 24-7 fourth-quarter lead in that Sept.
17 game and lost, 30-24, in overtime, the Eagles would be 8-5, unbeaten in the
NFC East. And had the game not gone into overtime, they would not have lost
their most dominant defensive player, Jevon Kearse, to a season-ending knee injury.

Jaguars-Titans

Tennessean

Heading into Sunday’s rematch with the Jaguars (8-5), the
Titans (6-7) have won four games in a row. The Titans have consistently ranked
in the NFL’s bottom five in run defense this season. They’re currently ranked
28^th, allowing 140.9 yards per game, and have allowed four 100-yard
rushers this season. Only twice this season have the Titans held the opposition
to under 100 yards rushing. That’s the same number of times they’ve allowed
200-plus rushing yards, although both those games (San
Diego, Dallas)
were early in the season. Since Haynesworth’s return
on Nov. 19, the Titans have shown some improvement. Sunday, however, they face
a Jaguars team that rolled to 375 rushing yards against the Colts last week.
The Titans seemingly hit rock bottom in the passing game against the Jaguars on
Nov. 5, when Young had three interceptions in a 37-7 loss.

Young’s worst game was probably the following week in a
win against the Eagles, when he went 8-of-22 and was nearly intercepted several
times. Since then, however, he has improved. His completion percentage over the
last three weeks is 65.2, and he’s been over 60 percent the last three weeks.
He never surpassed 60 in his first seven starts.