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  Posted: Thursday December 06, 2001 9:03 AM
Updated: Friday December 07, 2001 6:50 PM


Weekly Archive: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12


CNNSI.com's Jon A. Dolezar breaks down this week's games.
Week 13 Previews
   New York (5-6) 1 p.m. EST
Sunday
   Dallas (3-8) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat 516 -- Total yards for Tiki Barber in his past five games against the Cowboys.
Key
Matchup
Cowboys RT Solomon Page against Giants DE Michael Strahan (on pace for league-record 22.5 sacks).
Player to Watch Emmitt Smith, RB, Dallas: Has 1,796 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 21 games against the Giants.


   Chicago (9-2) 1 p.m. EST
Sunday
   Green Bay (8-3) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat 83-76-6 -- Bears' record (.521 winning percentage) against the Packers in the NFL's longest-running rivalry, though Green Bay has won 13 of the past 15.
Key
Matchup
Packers WR Bill Schroeder (career-high 19.3 yards per catch and seven touchdowns) against Bears CB R.W. McQuarters (two interceptions and 10 passes defensed).
Player to Watch Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay: Completing 63.7 percent of his passes and has a quarterback rating of 96.0, the second best of his career after his 99.5 mark in 1995.


   San Francisco (9-2) 1 p.m. EST
Sunday
   St. Louis (9-2) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat 116 -- Games it took Marshall Faulk to score 100 touchdowns, the sixth-fastest behind Jim Brown (93), Emmitt Smith (93), Lenny Moore (107), Don Hutson (110) and Jerry Rice (115).
Key
Matchup
49ers WR Terrell Owens (394 catches for 5,800 yards and 56 touchdowns in 87 games) against Rams CB Aeneas Williams (48 interceptions and 136 passes defensed in 171 career games).
Player to Watch Ahmed Plummer, CB, San Francisco: Has seven interceptions and 18 passes defensed and is trying to become the first 49er with eight interceptions since Ronnie Lott in 1986.


   Tennessee (5-6) 1 p.m. EST
Sunday
   Minnesota (4-7) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat 112 -- Receiving yards needed by Randy Moss to become the first player with 1,000-yard seasons in his first four years.
Key
Matchup
Vikings OT Everett Lindsay and Chris Liwienski against Titans DE Jevon Kearse and Kevin Carter (combined 11 sacks and 12.5 stuffs).
Player to Watch Steve McNair, QB, Tennessee: Recorded a 147.7 quarterback rating last week and had 296 total yards in his last meeting against the Vikings, a 26-16 Minnesota victory in Nashville to close the 1998 season.


   Jacksonville (3-8) 1 p.m. EST
Sunday
   Cincinnati (4-7) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat 34 -- Receiving yards needed by Jimmy Smith to become only the fifth player with six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
Key
Matchup
Bengals RB Corey Dillon (career-worst 3.8 yards per carry this season) against Jaguars MLB Hardy Nickerson (74 tackles and one fumble recovery).
Player to Watch Mark Brunell, QB, Jacksonville: Completing 60.8 percent of his passes for 2,176 yards and is 4-1 with 10 touchdowns and one interception in his past five against the Bengals.


   New Orleans (6-5) 1 p.m. EST
Sunday
   Atlanta (6-5) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat 210 -- Yards needed by Aaron Brooks to become the first Saints QB to pass for 3,000 yards since Jim Everett threw for 3,117 yards in 1996.
Key
Matchup
Saints RB Ricky Williams (career-high 1,456 total yards) against Falcons MLB Keith Brooking (97 total tackles, three sacks, two stuffs and five passes defensed).
Player to Watch Chris Chandler, QB, Atlanta: Has a 105.9 quarterback rating in seven starts against the Saints and leads the NFL with a 118.5 fourth-quarter rating.


   Detroit (0-11) 1 p.m. EST
Sunday
   Tampa Bay (6-5) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat +14 -- Bucs' turnover margin, the best in the NFC.
Key
Matchup
Buccaneers WR Keyshawn Johnson (83 catches for 976 yards) against Lions CBs Todd Lyght and Terry Fair (combined four interceptions).
Player to Watch Mike McMahon, QB, Detroit: Will be making his first start against the Bucs and has a 66.7 quarterback rating in five appearances.


   Cleveland (6-5) 1 p.m. EST
Sunday
   New England (7-5) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat 11-5 -- Browns' record against the Patriots, including wins in six of the past nine.
Key
Matchup
Patriots WRs Troy Brown and David Patten (combined 119 catches for 1,533 yards and nine touchdowns) against Browns CBs Daylon McCutcheon, Corey Fuller and Anthony Henry (combined 13 interceptions).
Player to Watch Tom Brady, QB, New England: Tied with Rich Gannon for best completion percentage in the AFC at 65.6 and has completed more than 70 percent of his passes in four consecutive games.


   Carolina (1-11) 1 p.m. EST
Sunday
   Buffalo (1-10) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat 9 -- Catches of more than 40 yards by Bills wide receivers Eric Moulds and Peerless Price this season, the most by any receiving tandem in the league.
Key
Matchup
Panthers QB Chris Weinke (eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions) against Bills free S Keion Carpenter (no interceptions after five in 2000).
Player to Watch Deon Grant, FS, Carolina: The only completely healthy member of the Panthers' usual starting secondary will be asked to slow down Alex Van Pelt and the Bills' passing offense which is averaging 793 yards in past three games since he became the starter.


   San Diego (5-7) 1 p.m. EST
Sunday
   Philadelphia (7-4) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat 44 -- Rushing yards needed by LaDainian Tomlinson to become the first Charger to rush for 1,000 yards since Natrone Means ran for 1,350 in 1994.
Key
Matchup
Eagles RB Duce Staley (852 total yards in nine games) against Chargers OLB Junior Seau (74 total tackles, 6.5 stuffs and five passes defensed).
Player to Watch Corey Simon, DT, Philadelphia: Emerging into a top defensive lineman in his second season, with six sacks, 5.5 stuffs and three fumble recoveries.


   Washington (5-6) 4:05 p.m. EST
Sunday
   Arizona (5-6) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat 67-44-2 -- Redskins' record against the Cardinals (.602 winning percentage), including wins in three of the past four.
Key
Matchup
Cardinals WR David Boston (career-high 72 catches for 1,171 yards and six touchdowns) against Redskins CB Champ Bailey (two interceptions and 12 passes defensed).
Player to Watch Kwamie Lassiter, FS, Arizona: Tied his career high of eight interceptions set in 1998 and has 19 picks in his past 59 games.


   Kansas City (3-8) 4:15 p.m. EST
Sunday
   Oakland (8-3) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat 40-40-2 -- Record in the Chiefs-Raiders series, though Oakland has won the past four.
Key
Matchup
Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (54 catches for 704 yards and three touchdowns) against Raiders SS Marquez Pope (66 total tackles, 5.5 stuffs and seven passes defensed).
Player to Watch Priest Holmes, RB, Kansas City: Has 366 total yards in the past two games and needs only 22 rushing yards to become the first Chiefs running back to rush for 1,000 yards since Christian Okoye ran for 1,031 in 1991.


   New York (7-4) 4:15 p.m. EST
Sunday
   Pittsburgh (9-2) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat 1-13 -- Jets' all-time record against the Steelers, the worst record by one team against another in NFL history.
Key
Matchup
Jets RB Curtis Martin (NFL leading 1,070 yards rushing) against Steelers LB Earl Holmes (team-leading 68 tackles).
Player to Watch Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, RB, Pittsburgh: Gets the start for the injured Jerome Bettis. Fu rushed for 74 yards on just 12 carries filling in for the Bus last week.


   Seattle (6-5) 8:30 p.m. EST
Sunday
   Denver(6-6) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat 114 -- Current streak of pass attempts without an interception by Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck .
Key
Matchup
Broncos QB Brian Griese (20 TDs, 14 INTs) against Seahawks S Reggie Tongue (two interceptions against Denver in Week 5, including one returned for a touchdown).
Player to Watch Shaun Alexander, RB, Seattle: Rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns in first meeting against Denver in Week 5.


   Indianapolis (4-7) 9 p.m. EST
Monday
   Miami (8-3) Preview
Stats Matchup
Injury Report
Key Stat 140 -- Number of points allowed by Indianapolis during current four-game losing streak.
Key
Matchup
Colts QB Peyton Manning (20 TDs, 17 INTs) against Dolphins CB Sam Madison (two interceptions, including one against Manning in Week 9).
Player to Watch Chris Chambers, WR, Miami: Has two 100-yard games and five touchdowns (including four in the fourth quarter) in last four games.


 

 

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