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Week 9
Vikings' elite status may have something to do with Moss
Posted: Wednesday October 25, 2000 12:28 PM
Updated: Thursday October 26, 2000 11:54 PM
By Jon A. Dolezar, CNNSI.com
The St. Louis Rams have fallen by the wayside, leaving only the Minnesota Vikings with an unblemished loss column.
The Vikings' hot start may be surprising due to offseason personnel losses, but with a 34-9 record (including the playoffs) since the beginning of the 1998 season, maybe it's not all that shocking.
After going a respectable 56-38 in the first six seasons under head coach Dennis Green, Minnesota improved to 15-1 in 1998 after drafting Randy Moss.
Moss' production in his two-plus year career has been unparalleled during that time, and he is giving indications that he may be capable of shattering all existing NFL receiving records.
Moss has 16 100-yard receiving games in 43 games and already owns two of the four best receiving seasons in franchise history. After storming to 1,313 yards in his rookie year, Moss improved to 1,413 yards last season. Do I hear 1,513? Not quite, but with 33 catches for 621 yards and seven touchdowns already this season, Moss is on pace for 75 grabs for 1,419 yards and 16 touchdowns. Pretty consistent, considering he averaged 74.5 catches for 1,363 yards and 14 touchdowns through his first two years.
More important than individual statistics, the Vikings' team performance proves Moss' worth.
Pity Buccaneers defensive backs Damien Robinson, Ronde Barber, John Lynch and Donnie Abraham, who catch Moss in the midst of a hot streak. In the past four games, Moss has caught 21 passes for 425 yards and six touchdowns, including a 118-yard game against Tampa Bay in Minnesota's 30-23 win against the Bucs in Week 6.
| Week 9 NFL Preview |
| Panthers (3-4) at Falcons (2-6), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
| 108-50: Panthers' scoring advantage in the first half of games this season, though they have been outscored 66-36 in the second half. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler (102 touchdowns, 56 interceptions since beginning of 1995 season) against Panthers cornerbacks Eric Davis (22 interceptions in 69 games with Carolina) and Doug Evans (16 career interceptions, but only four in 32 games with Carolina), and safeties Mike Minter (five interceptions in past 25 games) and Eugene Robinson (56 interceptions in 241 career games). |
| Player to Watch |
| Steve Beuerlein, QB, Carolina: Savvy veteran has thrown for 813 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions in the past three games. |
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Vikings (7-0) at Buccaneers (3-4), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
| 149.4: Vikings' league-leading rushing average, which should be tested heartily by the Buccaneers' 13th-ranked rushing defense which allows 107.0 yards per game.
Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Buccaneers defensive end Marcus Jones (career-high 10 sacks) against Vikings veteran left tackle Todd Steussie. |
| Player to Watch |
| Randy Moss, WR, Minnesota: Third-year superstar has been only "average" against the Bucs with 17 catches for 417 yards and five touchdowns in five career meetings (average of 3.4 catches for 83.4 yards and 1.0 touchdown) compared with career averages of 4.7 catches for 83.7 yards and .9 touchdown per game in his other 35 games. |
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Jets (6-1) at Bills (3-4), 1 p.m. |
Key Stat |
| 74: Points scored by the Jets in the fourth quarter, a total that is higher than their fourth-quarter scoring total in six of the past 10 years. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Bills wide receiver Eric Moulds (36 catches for 468 yards and three touchdowns in past four games) against Jets cornerback Marcus Coleman (nine interceptions in past 23 games) and Aaron Glenn (11 interceptions in past 36 games). |
| Player to Watch |
| Sam Cowart, LB, Buffalo: Third-year middle linebacker out of Florida State is outplaying better-known former Seminoles linebackers Derrick Brooks and Marvin Jones. Cowart has made 74 tackles and two interceptions in the first seven games as the leader of the NFL's second-stingiest run defense (allowing only 2.9 yards per carry). |
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| Steelers (4-3) at Ravens (5-3), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
| .736: Steelers' winning percentage in October (17-6) since 1995, the best in the AFC. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Ravens quarterback Trent Dilfer (81 interceptions in 82 career games) against Steelers cornerbacks Dewayne Washington and Chad Scott, who have combined for six interceptions this season and 28 in their careers. |
| Player to Watch |
| Jerome Bettis, RB, Pittsburgh: Since a subpar 8-yard game in Week 1, "The Bus" has rolled to 620 yards and six touchdowns in the past six games. |
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| Lions (5-2) at Colts (5-2), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
| 12-1: Colts' record when Edgerrin James runs for 100 yards or more. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Colts quarterback Peyton Manning (41 touchdowns and only 22 interceptions in past 23 games) against Lions free safety Kurt Schulz (27 interceptions in past 78 games). |
| Player to Watch |
| James Stewart, RB, Detroit: After a slow start in the first three games (156 yards and no touchdowns) Stewart has picked it up with 366 yards and four touchdowns in the past four games. |
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| Packers (3-4) at Dolphins (5-2), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
| 1-11: Dave Wannstedt's career record against the Packers, though the Dolphins are 8-1 lifetime against Green Bay, including wins in the past five meetings in Miami. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Packers rookie offensive tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher against Dolphins defensive line that has combined for 23 1/2 sacks. |
| Player to Watch |
| Dorsey Levens, RB, Green Bay: Packers' banged-up feature back was thankful for the bye week to rest his severely sprained ankle. Levens hasn't put up huge numbers this season (only 197 rushing yards on 69 carries) but Green Bay is 3-1 with him in the lineup and 0-3 without him. |
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| Bengals (1-6) at Browns (2-6), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
| 103.4: Jerome Bettis' rushing average in nine career games against the Bengals. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Browns linebackers Wali Ranier (55 total tackles, three stuffs) and Jamir Miller (46 total tackles, 1 1/2 stuffs) against Bengals running back Corey Dillon (on pace for career-high 1,373 yards). |
| Player to Watch |
| Akili Smith, QB, Cincinnati: Second-year quarterback has thrown for 471 yards and three touchdowns in two starts against the Browns (235.5 yards per game) but only 1,174 yards (a horrible average of 97.8 yards per game) and one touchdown in his other 12 starts. |
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| Rams (6-1) at 49ers (2-6), 4:05 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
| 6,541: Combined total yards by versatile running backs Marshall Faulk (3,611) and Charlie Garner (2,930) since the beginning of the 1999 season. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Rams quarterback Trent Green (27 touchdowns in 18 career games) against 49ers defense that is allowing a league-worst 288.9 passing yards per game. |
| Player to Watch |
| Isaac Bruce, WR, St. Louis: After catching only 25 passes for 361 yards and one touchdown in his first eight games against the 49ers, Bruce has exploded for 24 catches for 415 yards and six touchdowns in his past three against San Francisco. |
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| Saints (4-3) at Cardinals (2-5), 4:05 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
| 2,386: Total yardage pace for Saints running back Ricky Williams, who gained only 1,056 yards in 12 games in his rookie season. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Saints wide receiver Joe Horn (on pace for 91 catches for 1,142 yards and 11 touchdowns) against veteran Cardinals cornerback Aeneas Williams (only three interceptions in past 38 games). |
| Player to Watch |
| La'roi Glover, DT, New Orleans: Perhaps the most underrated defensive player in the league, Glover has 36 sacks since the beginning of the 1997 season, and has seven in the past three games and 10 on the season (had one taken away after Falcons' game when coaches reviewed the film), one behind the Eagles' Hugh Douglas for the league lead. |
| |
| Eagles (5-3) at Giants (5-2), 4:05 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
| 49: Punt return yards needed by Eagles return ace Brian Mitchell to pass Dave Meggett's record of 3,708 for first on the all-time list. Mitchell also needs only 161 kick return yards to pass Mel Gray's record of 10,250 for first place as well. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Giants running back Tiki Barber (326 yards in first three games this season, only 130 in past four) against Eagles linebackers Jeremiah Trotter (54 total tackles, two stuffs), Barry Gardner (33 total tackles, four stuffs) and Carlos Emmons (39 total tackles, 3 1/2 sacks). |
| Player to Watch |
| Hugh Douglas, DE, Philadelphia: Leads the league with 11 sacks, and has 25 1/2 sacks in his past 27 game. |
| |
| Chiefs (4-3) at Seahawks (2-6), 4:15 p.m. | | Key Stat |
| .628: Chiefs' winning percentage against Seahawks (27-16), although Seattle has won three of the past five. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Seahawks rookie right tackle Chris McIntosh against defensive end Duane Clemons (2 1/2 sacks in three games this season), the likely fill-in for the injured Eric Hicks. |
| Players to Watch |
| Darrell Jackson, WR, Seattle and Sylvester Morris, WR, Kansas City: Standout rookie wideouts top the rookie receivers in catches (30 by Jackson) and yardage (395 by Morris). |
| |
| Jaguars (2-6) at Cowboys (3-4), 4:15 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
| 22-14: Cowboys' record against AFC teams (.611 winning percentage) since 1991. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell (217 sacks in 79 games) against a struggling Cowboys front four that has only 4 1/2 sacks in seven games this season. |
| Player to Watch |
| Emmitt Smith, RB, Dallas: Veteran workhorse has 507 yards rushing and five touchdowns and is on pace for 1,159 yards, which would be his 10th consecutive 1,000-yard season, tying Barry Sanders for the NFL record. |
| |
| Raiders (6-1) at Chargers (0-7), 8:35 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
| .617: Raiders' winning percentage (49-30-2) against the Chargers, including wins in five of the past six. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Raiders middle linebacker Greg Biekert (58 total tackles, 1 1/2 stuffs) against Chargers running back Jermaine Fazande (averaging only 3.2 yards per carry). |
| Player to Watch |
| Tyrone Wheatley, RB, Oakland: After getting off to a slow start with only 123 yards and two touchdowns in the first three games, Wheatley has stepped up with 345 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the past four. |
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| Titans (6-1) at Redskins (6-2), 9:00 p.m. Monday |
| Key Stat |
| 4.5: Average career catches per game for Redskins fullback Larry Centers, who is on pace for 82 catches for 676 yards, which would be his best season since 1996, when he caught 99 balls for 766 yards and seven touchdowns with the Cardinals. Stats matchup | Preview |
| Key Matchup |
| Titans quarterback Steve McNair (on pace for career-high 18 touchdown passes this season) against Redskins cornerbacks Deion Sanders, Darrell Green and Champ Bailey, who have a combined 105 interceptions in 436 career games. |
| Player to Watch |
| Jevon Kearse, DE, Tennessee: After recording 15 sacks and eight forced fumbles in his outrageous rookie season, "The Freak" has only three sacks and one forced fumble in seven games this season. |
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