NFL CAPSULES -- WEEK 17

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WEEK 17 – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2012

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-9) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (13-2)

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BUCCANEERS:Have 3,500-yard passer (QB JOSH FREEMAN, 3,843), 1,200-yard rusher (RB DOUG MARTIN, 1,312) & 1,200-yard receiver (WR VINCENT JACKSON, 1,334) for 1st time in franchise history. QB Freeman is 1st QB in franchise history with 2 3,500-yard seasons…Rookie RB Martin is 3rd in NFL with 1,766 scrimmage yards (1,312 rush, 454 rec.). Set team rookie record for scrimmage yards. Ties for lead among NFC rookies with 10 rush TDs. Had 2 rush TDs in last meeting…WR Jackson has 80 rec. yards in 5 of past 6.  WR MIKE WILLIAMS has TD in 3 of past 4. Had 7 catches for 132 yards & TD last week…S RONDE BARBER is only player in NFL annals with 25 sacks (28) & 40 INTs (47). Had INT in last meeting. Rookie LB LAVONTE DAVID leads team with 133 tackles. DT GERALD MC COY has career-high 5 sacks. DE MICHAEL BENNETT leads team with career-high 9 sacks…FALCONS:Clinched home-field advantage in NFC…QB MATT RYAN has 56 wins, most in 1st 5 seasons in NFL history. Has best home record in SB era at 33-4 (.892). Aims for 12th consecutive home win. Has 100 rating in 20 home games & Atlanta is 20-0. In career, Falcons are 32-1 (.970) when he has 100 rating…RB MICHAEL TURNER has rush TD in 5 of past 6. Aims for 3rd in row at home vs. TB with 100 rush yards & 2 TDs. In last home meeting, rushed for 172 yards & 2 TDs…WR JULIO JONES has 16 catches for 338 yards & 3 TDs in 3 meetings. Aims for 4th in row vs. TB with 100 yards or TD. WR RODDY WHITE has 6 1,000-yard seasons in row. Since 2007, has 558 receptions, most in NFC. Had 8 catches for 153 yards & 2 TDs last week. TE TONY GONZALEZ has 88 catches & needs 2 to reach 90 for 5th time…DE JOHN ABRAHAM has 14.5 sacks in past 18. LB STEPHEN NICHOLAS(89) leads team in tackles & LB SEAN WEATHERSPOON (87) is 2nd. S THOMAS DE COUD is 2nd among S with 6 INTs.CB ASANTE SAMUELaims for 3rd in row with INT.

NEW YORK JETS (6-9) AT BUFFALO BILLS (5-10)

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JETS:Aim for 4th consecutive win at Buffalo…QB GREG MC ELROY started 1st career game last week…RB SHONN GREENE rushed for 94 yards with TD in last game against Bills. Greene (989) needs 11 rush yards to reach 1,000 for 2nd consecutive season (1,054 in '11). For career, Greene averages 101 rush yards per game with 20 att. Club is 6-0 when Greene has 100 rush yards. Has career-best 8 rush TDs in '12. RB BILAL POWELL has 4 rush TDs in past 6 games… WR JEREMY KERLEY has career-best in rec. (53) & rec. yards (739) & TD rec. (2) in '12. Had 68-yard PR-TD in last game against Bills. WR BRAYLON EDWARDSaims for 4th straight game with TD catch vs. Buf. WR CLYDE GATES had career-long 42-yard rec. last week…LB DAVID HARRIS leads team with 118 tackles in '12…CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE had 40-yard INT-return TD in last game vs. Bills…Rookie DE QUINTON COPLES aims for 4th consecutive game with sack. Has 3.5 sacks in past 3. DE MUHAMMAD WILKERSON has career-best 5 sacks in '12…BILLS: QB RYAN FITZPATRICK(23) needs 2 TD passes to surpass career-best of 24 in '11. Fitzpatrick (79) has 3rd-most TD passes in Bills history. Fitzpatrick (3,175) reached 3,000 yards for 3rd consecutive season…RB C.J. SPILLER aims for 3rd consecutive game with 100 rush yards (103, 138). Spiller (1,185) has reached 1,000 rush yards for 1st time in career. Averages NFL-best 6.48 yards per carry, highest in NFL since 1960 through 15 games (min. 150 att). Rushed for career-best 169 yards in last game vs. NYJ. Has 10 games with 100 scrimmage yards in '12…WR STEVIE JOHNSON (935) needs 65 rec. yards to reach 1,000 for season & become 1st Bill with 1,000 rec. yards in 3 consecutive seasons. Has 2 TD rec. in past 2 vs. NYJ...DE MARIO WILLIAMS (10.5) is 1st Bill since '09 to register 10 sacks in season. Needs 4 sacks to surpass career-best of 14 in '07…DT MARCELL DAREUS has 5.5 sacks in each of 1st 2 career seasons…LB NICK BARNETT leads team with 101 tackles…S JAIRUS BYRD has 4 career INTs vs. Jets, most vs. any team.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (10-5) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-6)

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RAVENS:Have reached playoffs for 5th consecutive season. Captured AFC North title for 2nd straight year…QB JOE FLACCO has career-best 3,783 passing yards in '12. Needs 217 passing yards to join VINNY TESTAVERDE (4,177 in '96) as only 2nd Raven to reach 4,000 in season. Posted 13th career game with 300 passing yards last week & Bal. is 12-1 (.923) in those games…RB RAY RICE(1,138 rush, 478 rec.) needs 84 scrimmage yards to reach 1,700 for 4th season in row. Has 17 career games with 100 rush yards & Bal. is 14-3 (.823) in those games. Rookie RB BERNARD PIERCE had career-high 123 rush yards last week…WR TORREY SMITH (99) needs catch to reach 100 career. Has career-high 8 TD rec. WR ANQUAN BOLDIN (921) needs 79 rec. yards to reach 1,000 for 6th time of career…TE DENNIS PITTA (7) needs TD rec. to set single-season club record among TEs (TODD HEAP, 7 in '05)…S ED REED has 10 career INTs vs. Cin…DT HALOTI NGATA has at least 5 sacks for 3rd season in row…KR-WR JACOBY JONES has NFL-best 32.1 KR avg…BENGALS:Reached postseason in consecutive seasons for 1st time since '81-82…Have won 6 of past 7…QB ANDY DALTONis 18-13 (.581) as starter, highest all-time win pct. by Bengals QB (min. 20 starts). Has 95.1 4th quarter rating in '12…In past 2 at home, RB BEN JARVUS GREEN-ELLIS is averaging 109 rush yards/game. Has career-high 1,094 rush yards in '12…WR A.J. GREEN (1,324) needs 117 rec. yards to surpass CHAD JOHNSON (1,440, '07) for single-season club record. Green (95) needs 5 rec. to become 3rd Bengal to reach 100 in season (T.J. HOUSHMANDZADEH, 112 in '07; CARL PICKENS, 100 in '96)…Defense (47) needs 1.5 sacks to surpass franchise record of 48 in '01…DT GENO ATKINS (13) needs half sack for most by Bengal in season since 1982 (EDDIE EDWARDS, 13 in 1983). Since '10, leads NFL DTs with 23.5 sacks…DE MICHAEL JOHNSON has career-high 9.5 sacks in '12…CB LEON HALL had 17-yard INT-return TD last week…S REGGIE NELSON has 3 INTs in past 4 games.

CHICAGO BEARS (9-6) AT DETROIT LIONS (4-11)

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BEARS:With Chi., QB JAY CUTLER is 6-1 vs. Det. with 11 TDs, 1 INT & 101.2 rating. Incl. playoffs, when he has 100 rating, his teams are 26-1. Has 2,776 pass yards & needs 224 to be 1st Bears QB with 3 3,000-yard seasons…RB MATT FORTÉ has 991 rush yards & 319 rec. yards for 1,310 scrimmage yards, his 5th 1,000-yard season. Has rushed for 100 yards or TD in all 4 games at Det…WR BRANDON MARSHALL has team-record 113 catches & 1,466 yards. Has 97 catches for 1,252 yards (104.3 per game) & 10 TDs in past 12. In career vs. Det., WR-PR DEVIN HESTER has TD via KR (97 yards), PR (82) & rec. (12)…Defense has 8 INT-TDs, tied for 2nd most in season in NFL history. CB CHARLES TILLMANhad INT-TD last week & ties for NFL lead with 3 INT-TDs. Leads NFL with 10 FFs. Since entering NFL in 2003, Tillman has 38 FFs, most by DB. Had 2 FFs in last meeting. Is only player with 30 INTs (33) & 30 FFs in that span. CB TIM JENNINGS leads NFL with career-high 8 INTs. DE JULIUS PEPPERS has 11 sacks & 5 FFs in 9 games vs. Det. CB ZACK BOWMAN had FR-TD last week…LIONS: QB MATTHEW STAFFORD has 4,695 pass yards & needs 305 to record back-to-back 5,000-yard seasons. In past 8 at home, has 2,862 pass yards (357.8 per game)…RB MIKEL LESHOURE has 8 rush TDs in past 8. Has rush TD in 5 of past 6…WR CALVIN JOHNSON (1,892) passed HOFer JERRY RICE (1,848 in 1995) for most rec. yards in season. Needs 108 yards for 1st 2,000-yard season in NFL history. Is 1st player in NFL history with 1,600 rec. yards in consecutive seasons. Has 100 rec. yards in 8 games in row, longest streak in NFL history. Has 11 100-yard games, tied for most in season with HOFer MICHAEL IRVIN. In past 8, has 76 catches for 1,254 yards (156.8 per game) & 4 TDs. Since 2011, has NFL-best 3,573 rec. yards & 115.3 yards per game. Since 2008, has 50 rec. TDs, most in NFL. Aims for 4th in row at home vs. Chi. with TD…DE CLIFF AVRIL has 5 sacks & 2 FFs in past 6. Has sack in 4 of past 6. Is 1 of 2 in NFL with 20 sacks (20.5) & 8 FFs (8) since 2011 (VON MILLER).

HOUSTON TEXANS (12-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (10-5)

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TEXANS:Have most wins in single season in franchise history (12)…QB MATT SCHAUB (3,733) needs 267 passing yards to reach 4,000 for 3rd time in career (4,770 in '09; 4,370 in '10)…In 4 career meetings vs. Ind., RB ARIAN FOSTER averages 164 rush yards per game (656 total). Since '10, Foster leads NFL in rush yards (4,168) & rush TDs (40)…WR ANDRE JOHNSON (806) reached 800 career catches in 2nd-fewest games (137) in NFL history last week, trailing only MARVIN HARRISON (131). Johnson (1,457) needs 43 rec. yards to reach 1,500 for 3rd time. Has 9 career games with at least 10 rec. & 150 yards, tied with TIM BROWN for 2nd-most in NFL history. HOFer JERRY RICE has most in league annals with 10 such games. In past 6, Johnson is averaging 143.3 rec. yards per game (860 total)…DE J.J. WATT (20.5) needs 2.5 sacks to surpass MICHAEL STRAHAN (22.5 in '01) for most sacks in season. Tied career-high with 3 sacks in last game vs. Ind…LB WHITNEY MERCILUS is tied for 1st among AFC rookies with 6 sacks… COLTS:Have 10-0 record vs. Texans at home. Have won 5 consecutive home games…4th team in NFL history to win 10 or more games following season with 2 or fewer victories…QB ANDREW LUCK (4,183) surpassed CAM NEWTON (4,051 in 2011) for most passing yards by rookie in NFL history last week. Has 7 game-winning drives in 4th quarter or OT, tied for most in single season of any QB since 1970. Luck's 10 wins are most by rookie QB who was drafted No. 1 overall in SB era (since 1966)…RB VICK BALLARD ranks 2nd among AFC rookies with 736 rush yards…WR REGGIE WAYNE (13,023) needs 67 rec. yards to surpass HOFer STEVE LARGENT (13,089) for No. 13 on all-time list. Reached 100 rec. for 4th time in career, tied for 2nd-most such seasons in NFL history…LB ROBERT MATHIS has 8 sacks in 11 games in '12. Needs 2 sacks to register at least 10 sacks for 5th time…CB DARIUS BUTLER posted 2nd INT-return TD of season last week. Has career-high 4 INTs in '12. CB VONTAE DAVIS posted 1st INT as Colt last week.

CAROLINA PANTHERS (6-9) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7-8)

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PANTHERS:Aim for 4th win in row. In past 6, QB CAM NEWTON has passed for 11 TDs, 1 INT & 104.2 rating. Is only player with 30 pass (40) & 20 rush (22) TDs in 1st 2 NFL seasons. In last meeting, had 129.2 rating & 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush)…RB DE ANGELO WILLIAMS has 5 rush TDs in past 5 meetings. Has rushed for 650 yards (108.3 per game) in past 6 meetings…WR STEVE SMITH has 22 catches for 331 yards (82.8 per game) & 3 TDs in past 4. Has 1,101 yards, his 7th 1,000-yard season. Aims for 4th in row vs. NO with 100 yards or TD. WR BRANDON LA FELL has 8 career rec. TDs & avg. 26.5 yards per TD (212 yards). TE GREG OLSEN has 4 TDs in past 7…S CHARLES GODFREY had INT-TD in last meeting. CB CAPTAIN MUNNERLYN ties for 3rd in NFL with 2 INT-TDs. DE CHARLES JOHNSON has 27.5 sacks in past 37. Has 10.5 sacks in past 12. DE GREG HARDY has 9 sacks in past 9. Rookie LB LUKE KUECHLY leads team with 152 tackles. Had 2nd career INT last week…SAINTS: QB DREW BREES had 446 yards & 3 TDs last week. Has 4,781 pass yards & is 1st in NFL history with 3 consecutive 4,500-yard seasons. His 14,877 pass yards are most in any 3-year span in NFL history. Needs 219 yards to be 1st in NFL history with 3 5,000-yard seasons. In last meeting at home, passed for 389 yards & 5 TDs…Since 2011, RB DARREN SPROLES leads NFL RBs with 153 catches & 13 rec. TDs. RB CHRIS IVORY rushed for 127 yards & TD in last home meeting. RB MARK INGRAM aims for 3rd in row vs. Car. with rush TD…Since 2010, TE JIMMY GRAHAM leads NFC TEs with 27 TDs (incl. playoffs). Aims for 3rd in row vs. Car. with TD. WR MARQUES COLSTON had 7 catches for 145 yards & 2 TDs in last home game vs. Car. WR JOSEPH MORGAN avg. 41.2 yards per catch (9 catches, 371 yards, 3 TDs)…Since 2006, S ROMAN HARPER has 18.5 sacks, most by DB (incl. playoffs). DE CAMERON JORDAN leads team with career-high 8 sacks. Saints have 2 players with 100 tackles: LB CURTIS LOFTON (118) & Harper (109). CB JABARI GREER had 24-yard INT-TD in 11/7/10 meeting.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-11) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (8-7)

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EAGLES: QB MICHAEL VICK has won 3 of past 4 starts vs. NYG. In last start at NYG (12/19/10), had 3 TD passes & rushed for 130 yards & TD…RB LE SEAN MC COY aims for 4th in row vs. NYG with 100 rush yards. In past 3 meetings, has 364 rushing yards (121.3 per game). RB DION LEWIS had 17-yard TD run last week…WR JEREMY MACLIN has 21 catches for 293 yards (97.7 per game) & 2 TDs in past 3. Has 254 rec., most by Eagle in 1st 4 seasons. Had 2 TDs in last game at NYG. TE BRENT CELEK has 50 rec. yards in 3 of past 4 meetings. Had 65-yard TD in 12/19/10 meeting. Rookie WR-PR DAMARIS JOHNSON has 287 PR yards, 2nd most by Phi. rookie (DE SEAN JACKSON, 440, 2008)…DT FLETCHER COX leads rookie DTs with 5.5 sacks. S COLT ANDERSON had 1st career INT last week. DE TRENT COLE has 3 2-sack games vs. NYG. LB DE MECO RYANS leads team with 111 tackles… GIANTS: QB ELI MANNING has 3,740 pass yards & needs 260 to reach 4,000 for 4th consecutive season. In past 4 meetings, has 11 TDs, 3 INTs & 101.5 rating…RB AHMAD BRADSHAW has 5 TDs (4 rush, 1 rec.) in past 7 division games. Has 908 rush yards & needs 92 for 2nd 1,000-yard season. Rookie RB-KR DAVID WILSON is 2nd in NFC with 26.9 KR avg. Had rush TD last week…WR VICTOR CRUZ aims for 4th in row vs. Phi. with 100 rec. yards & TD. In 3 meetings, has 18 catches for 347 yards (115.7 per game) & 4 TDs. Has 82 rec. for 1,040 yards & 9 TDs, his 2nd consecutive season with 80 rec., 1,000 yards & 9 TDs. No other Giant has had 1 such season. WR HAKEEM NICKS has 13 catches for 242 yards (80.7 per game) & 2 TDs in past 3 at home vs. Phi. WR DOMENIK HIXON had 6 catches for 114 yards in last meeting. Had TD last week… DE JASON PIERRE-PAULhas 3 sacks in past 3 vs. Phi. Has 27.5 career sacks & needs 2.5 to reach 30. S STEVIE BROWN leads NFL with 259 INT yards, most by Giant in single season all-time. Ties for 2nd in NFL with career-high 7 INTs. DE OSI UMENYIORA had franchise-record 6 sacks in 9/30/07 meeting.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (5-10) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-8)

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BROWNS: QB BRANDON WEEDEN (5) has most wins ever by Browns rookie QB. Weeden (3,385) has most pass yards by rookie in club history & has 2nd-most among NFL rookies in '12 (ANDREW LUCK, 4,183). Has 9 TDs & 87 rating on road. Needs 115 passing yards to become 5th rookie QB in NFL history to reach 3,500. QB COLT MC COY had 1 TD vs. 0 INTs & 85.2 passer rating last week…RB TRENT RICHARDSON has most rush yards (950) & rush TDs (11) by Browns rookie in franchise history. Has 3 games with 100 rush yards, tied for most ever by Browns rookie. Totaled 112 scrim. yards & rush TD in last meeting vs. Pit…WR JOSH GORDON ranks 2nd among NFL rookies with 766 rec. yards. WR GREG LITTLE (609) needs 101 rec. yards to surpass rookie total in '11. TE JORDAN CAMERONhad TD rec. in last game vs. Pit…Cle. forced 8 turnovers (5 FRs, 3 INTs) in last game vs. Pit…LB D'QWELL JACKSON had 9 tackles, FF & FR in last game vs. Pit…K PHIL DAWSON has made 28 of 29 FGs in 2012, 2nd-best pct. in NFL…STEELERS:Have won past 8 at home vs. Cle…For career vs. Cle., QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER is 14-1 (.933), incl. 7-0 record at home vs. Browns. Has 29,710 pass yards, most in Steelers annals. RB JONATHAN DWYER has career-best 571 rush yards in '12. RB RASHARD MENDENHALL (29) needs rush TD to join HOFer FRANCO HARRIS & JEROME BETTIS as 3rd Pit. RB to reach 30 career…For career, WR MIKE WALLACE averages 20.8 yards per catch vs. Cle. (16 rec., 333 yards)…WR ANTONIO BROWN aims for 4th straight game with TD catch. In past 2 vs. Cle., Brown is averaging 120.5 receiving yards per game…TE HEATH MILLER has career-best in receiving yards (816) & TD catches (8) in '12…Defense allows NFL-low 272.9 yards per game…LB LA MARR WOODLEYhas 3.5 sacks in past 4 vs. Cle. LB LARRY FOOTE leads team with 104 tackles. LB LAWRENCE TIMMONStied career-high with 2 sacks last week…S TROY POLAMALU aims for 4th straight game with INT vs. Cle…CB CORTEZ ALLEN had career-best 2 INTs last week.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2-13) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (5-10)

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JAGUARS: QB CHAD HENNEpassed for 349 yards in only start at Ten. (w/ Dolphins on 12/20/09). Had 2 TDs vs. 1 INT & 108 passer rating in last game vs. Titans. Registered 9th career game with 300 passing yards last week (348)…Since entering NFL in '06, RB MAURICE JONES-DREWhas 76 total TDs (63 rush, 11 rec., 2 ret.), 2nd-most among active players. In past 5 vs. Ten, Jones-Drew is averaging 124 rush yards per game with 4 rush TDs. RB MONTELL OWENS totaled 119 scrimmage yards last week (42 rush, career-high 77 rec.). Rookie WR JUSTIN BLACKMON leads NFL rookies with 786 receiving yards. Blackmon ranks 2nd among rookies in receptions (58). Had TD reception in last game against Titans…TE MARCEDES LEWIS (45) needs 5 receptions to reach 50 catches in season for 2nd time in career (58 in '10)…LB PAUL POSLUSZNY has team-high 129 tackles…DE JASON BABIN registered 12.5 sacks with Titans in '10. Since '10, Babin is tied for 3rd in NFL with 37.5 sacks…CB RASHEAN MATHIS has 6 career INTs vs. Titans. CB DEREK COX has 4 INTs in '12, tied for career-best…TITANS:Have won 3 of past 4 at home against Jaguars…QB JAKE LOCKER has 300 passing yards (378, 309) in 2 of past 3 at home…RB CHRIS JOHNSON (1,187) needs 13 rush yards to reach 1,200 for 4th time in career. For career, Johnson averages 88 rush yards per game vs. Jax. Has 24 career 125 yard rushing games, 2nd-most in player's 1st 5 seasons in NFL history (ERIC DICKERSON, 27). Has 6 career rush TDs of 80 yards, most in NFL history…WR KENNY BRITT has 4 TD receptions in past 3 against Jaguars. Has career-best 43 receptions in '12. WR KENDALL WRIGHT leads NFL rookies with 62 receptions. Has 2nd-most catches by rookie in Titans history (BILL GROMAN, 72 in '60)…Defense had season-best 7 sacks in last game vs. Jax…LB AKEEM AYERS leads team with 95 tackles. Rookie DT MIKE MARTIN posted 3rd sack of season last week…Rookie LB ZACH BROWN had 10 tackles & 1.5 sack in last game against Jaguars…CB JASON MC COURTY has career-best 4 INTs in '12.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-13) AT DENVER BRONCOS (12-3)

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CHIEFS: QB BRADY QUINN spent 2 seasons (2010-11) w/ Den. Had 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 104.3 rating vs. Broncos on 11/6/08 with Cle…RB JAMAAL CHARLES rushed for 226 yards, incl. an 86-yard TD last week. Has 3 TD runs of at least 80 yards this season, tied with CHRIS JOHNSON (2009 & 2012) & HOFer BARRY SANDERS (1997) for most in single season in NFL history. Needs 44 rush yards to become 3rd player in Chiefs history to reach 1,500 rush yards in season (LARRY JOHNSON & PRIEST HOLMES). Aims for 3rd straight game with 100 rush yards vs. Den. (116, 107). Has 599 career rush yards vs. Den., most vs. any team. RB PEYTON HILLIS posted 1st 100-yard rush game of season last week (101)…WR JON BALDWINhad career-long 57-yard rec. last week…LB TAMBA HALI (9) & LB JUSTIN HOUSTON (10) aim to become 1st Chiefs duo since NEIL SMITH (11.5) & HOFer DERRICK THOMAS (11) in 1994 to each register 10 sacks…LB DERRICK JOHNSONleads team with 119 tackles in '12…BRONCOS:Have won 10 consecutive games, longest active streak in NFL…QB PEYTON MANNING (4,355) needs 346 passing yards to set new career-high (4,700 in '10). Needs 172 passing yards to surpass JAY CUTLER (4,526 in '08) for most in season in by Bronco. Manning's teams have reached 12 regular-season wins in 9 different seasons, most by starting QB in NFL history. Has most TD passes (34) in single season by Broncos QB…RB KNOWSHON MORENO is averaging 122.8 scrimmage yards per game in past 5 starts. For career, Moreno averages 113 scrimmage yards per game vs. KC…WR DEMARYIUS THOMAS (1,312) needs 88 rec. yards to join ROD SMITH (1,602 in 2000) & BRANDON LLOYD (1,448 in 2010) as only Broncos to reach 1,400 rec. yards in season. WR ERIC DECKER (988) & Thomas (1,312) can become 1st Bronco duo with 1,000 rec. yards each since '04 (ROD SMITH & ASHLEY LELIE)…DE ELVIS DUMERVIL (11) reached 10 sacks for 3rd time in career. LB VON MILLER (17.5) surpassed Dumervil (17 in '09) last week for most sacks by Bronco in season since '82.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-4) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (9-6)

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PACKERS:Clinched NFC North for 2nd consecutive season. Have won 12 consecutive division games. Clinch 1st round bye with win…Team scored 55 points last week, tied for most at Lambeau…QB AARON RODGERS has won 5 in row vs. Min. with 122.6 rating (14 TDs, 3 INTs). Packers are 27-0 when he starts & has 115 rating. Has career 104.5 rating, highest in NFL history…WR-PR-KR RANDALL COBB aims for 4th in row with 100 rec. yards or TD. Has 964 KR yards & 954 rec. yards. Can become 1st player in NFL history with 1,000 KR yards & 1,000 rec. yards. Had 80-yard PR-TD in 11/14/11 meeting. WR JAMES JONES leads NFL with career-high 13 rec. TDs. Had TD in last meeting. WR JORDY NELSON had 2 TDs in 11/14/11 game vs. Min. WR GREG JENNINGS has 7 TDs in past 6 vs. Min…LB CLAY MATTHEWS has 4 sacks in past 3 meetings & aims for 4th in row vs. Min. with sack. CB CASEY HAYWARD leads rookies with 6 INTs. CB SAM SHIELDS has INT in 3 of past 4.S MORGAN BURNETThad 2 INTs in last meeting… VIKINGS:Clinch playoff berth with win…QB CHRISTIAN PONDER is 6-1 in past 7 at home…RB ADRIAN PETERSON leads NFL with 1,898 yards & needs 102 to reach 2,000. Has 6 150-yard rush games & trails HOFer EARL CAMPBELL (7) for most in single season. Has 1,399 rush yards (155.4 per game) & 9 TDs in past 9. Since 2007, leads NFL with 8,650 rush yards & 75 rush TDs…TE KYLE RUDOLPH has rec. TD in 4 of past 6. Had TD in last meeting. In last home game vs. GB, WR MICHAEL JENKINShad 3 catches for 111 yards (37 avg.) & TD…DE JARED ALLEN has 42 sacks in past 40. Since entering NFL in 2004, has NFL-best 115 sacks. Has 14.5 sacks in past 8 vs. GB. LB CHAD GREENWAY leads team with 145 tackles. Rookie S HARRISON SMITH ties for 3rd in NFL with 2 INT-TDs. Had INT in last meeting. Had 1st career sack & FF last week. DE EVERSON GRIFFEN had sack in last home game vs. GB…Rookie K BLAIR WALSH has 9 50 yard FGs, most in season in NFL history. Has made 32 of 35 FGs (91.4 pct.) & all 9 50 yard att.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (7-8) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (11-4)

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DOLPHINS: Seek 3rd consecutive win…In past 2, QB RYAN TANNEHILL has 4 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 109.8 passer rating. Tannehill (3,059) has most passing yards by rookie in Dolphins history. Team is 6-1 when Tannehill has 90 rating…RB REGGIE BUSHis averaging 119.5 scrimmage yards per game in December in past 2 seasons (956 in 8 games). Bush (960) needs 40 rush yards to reach 1,000 in consecutive seasons. Rushed for 113 yards in only career meeting at NE (12/14/11). Tied career-high with 2 TD receptions last week. Rookie RB LAMAR MILLER averaged 7.3 yards per carry last week (10 att., 73 yards)…WR BRIAN HARTLINE has career-best in receiving yards (1,014) & receptions (69) in '12…Since '08, TE ANTHONY FASANO has team-high 23 TD rec…DE CAMERON WAKE has career-best 15 sacks in '12. Wake (43) has most sacks by Dolphin in 1st 4 seasons of career. Has 5.5 sacks in 7 career games vs. NE…LB KARLOS DANSBYleads team with 121 tackles…S RESHAD JONES has career-best 4 INTs in '12…PATRIOTS:Have won 9 of past 11 at home vs. Dolphins…QB TOM BRADY has thrown TD pass in 47 straight games, tied with HOFer JOHNNY UNITAS for 2nd-longest streak in NFL history.*Brady (4,543) reached 4,500 for 3rd time in career. Brady is 9-1 as home starter vs. Dolphins…RB*STEVAN RIDLEY (1,189) needs 11 rush yards to become 5th player in franchise history to reach 1,200 in season. WR WES WELKER posted his 18th career game with at least 10 catches last week & passed HOFer JERRY RICE(17) & ANDRE JOHNSON (17) for most such games in NFL history. Aims for 4th straight game with 100 receiving yards vs. Mia (160, 138, 103). Welker (110) is 1st player in NFL history with 5 100-catch seasons. WR BRANDON LLOYD (902) needs 98 rec. yards to reach 1,000 for 2nd time in career…In past 3 vs. Mia., TE ROB GRONKOWSKI has 19 rec. for 266 yards with 2 TDs. TE AARON HERNANDEZ had 8 catches for 97 yards in last game vs. Mia…LB JEROD MAYO leads club w/ 142 tackles…S PATRICK CHUNGhad career-best 2 INT last week.

OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-11) AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (6-9)

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RAIDERS: QB CARSON PALMER (4,018) joined RICH GANNON (4,689 in '02) last week as only QBs in club history to reach 4,000 in season. In 6 career games vs. SD, Palmer averages 339.3 passing yards per game with 14 TDs vs. 3 INTs & 116.4 passer rating…RB DARREN MC FADDEN rushed for 97 yards on 19 att. (5.1 avg.) with TD in last game at SD (12/5/10). For career, McFadden averages 87.1 rush yards per game with 8 rush TDs on road against AFC West opponents (871 in 10 games). RB MARCEL REECE has 496 receiving yards, most among AFC RBs…WR DENARIUS MOORE has career-best 6 TD catches. WR DARRIUS HEYWARD-BEY had career-best 9 receptions vs. SD on 1/1/12 & totaled 2nd-most receiving yards in a game (130). In past 4, rookie WR ROD STREATER is averaging 19.6 yards/catch (14 rec., 274 yards)…TE BRANDON MYERS leads AFC TEs with 75 catches…LB PHILIP WHEELERhas team-best 107 tackles…Rookie LB MILES BURRIS posted 1st INT of career last week…DT DESMOND BRYANT has 2.5 sacks in past 3 games...CHARGERS:Have won 7 of past 9 at home vs. Raiders…QB PHILIP RIVERS (3,455) needs 45 passing yards to become 1st Charger ever with 5 straight seasons with 3,500 passing yards. In past 3 games, Rivers has 6 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 95.4 passer rating. For career, Rivers is 25-5 (.833) as starter in Dec. w/ 54 TDs vs. 16 INTs & 98.7 rating. Rivers has 10-3 (.769) record as starter against Raiders…RB RONNIE BROWNhas career-high 48 receptions in '12…TE ANTONIO GATES (82) surpassed HOFer LANCE ALWORTH (81) for most TD catches in team history last week. Has 10 career TDs vs. Oak. WR DANARIO ALEXANDER has career-best 6 TD catches in '12…Club tied franchise record with 11 sacks last week…DE KENDALL REYES had 3.5 sacks last week, most by Chargers rookie since '86. DE COREY LIUGET has career-best 7 sacks in '12…S ERIC WEDDLE leads team with 89 tackles. LB SHAUN PHILLIPS (9.5) needs half sack to register at least 10 for 3rd time in career…PR MICHEAL SPURLOCK had 63-yard PR-TD last week.

ARIZONA CARDINALS (5-10) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (10-4-1)

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CARDINALS: QB BRIAN HOYER made Arz. debut last week…RB BEANIE WELLS has rushed for 5 TDs in past 5…WR LARRY FITZGERALD has TD in 3 of past 4 meetings. In career, has 1,348 rec. yards vs. SF, his 2nd most vs. opp. (1,436, Sea.). Since 2007 (incl. playoffs), leads NFL with 62 rec. TDs. WR ANDRE ROBERTS has career-highs in catches (61), yards (741) & TDs (5)…LB DARYL WASHINGTON had 2 sacks in Week 8 vs. SF. Aims for 4th in row vs. SF with sack or INT. Is 1 of 2 in NFL (CLAY MATTHEWS) with 14 sacks, 3 INTs & 2 FFs since 2011. Has 10 sacks in past 16. Leads team with 123 tackles. Defense is holding opposing QBs to 68.5 rating. CB PATRICK PETERSON has INT in 4 of past 5. Rookie S JUSTIN BETHEL returned blocked FG 82 yards for TD last week. S KERRY RHODES has 3 INTs & FF in past 6. S ADRIAN WILSON is 1 of 6 in NFL history with 25 sacks (25.5) & 25 INTs (27). DE CALAIS CAMPBELL aims for 3rd in row vs. SF with sack. DT DARNELL DOCKETT aims for 3rd meeting in row with sack…49ERS: QB COLIN KAEPERNICKhas 97.4 rating as starter, incl. 3 starts with 100 rating…RB FRANK GORE has 5 rush TDs in past 5 meetings at home. Has 1,146 rush yards, his 6th career 1,000-yard season…WR MICHAEL CRABTREE had 2 TDs in last meeting. In last game vs. Arz. at home, had 7 catches for 120 yards. Has 90 yards or TD in 6 of past 8. Has 933 rec. yards & needs 67 for 1st career 1,000-yard season. Since 2009 (incl. playoffs),TE VERNON DAVIS leads NFC TEs with 35 TDs. Aims for 4th in row at home vs. Arz. with TD. TE DELANIE WALKER aims for 3rd in row with TD…Team leads NFC & ranks 2nd in NFL in total defense (296.5 yards per game). LB ALDON SMITH has 33.5 career sacks, most by player in 1st 2 seasons. Leads NFC with team-record 19.5 sacks & needs 3.5 to pass MICHAEL STRAHAN (22.5) for NFL record. Has 15 sacks in past 9. Has 4 sacks in 3 career meetings. LB NA VORRO BOWMANleads team with 140 tackles. Had 16 tackles last week. LB PATRICK WILLIS is 2nd with 116. Had INT last week.

ST. LOUIS RAMS (7-7-1) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (10-5)

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RAMS: QB SAM BRADFORD is 4-0-1 in past 5 vs. division. Has won 4 of past 5 overall. Has 3,450 yards & needs 63 yards for career-high (3,512 in 2010)…RB STEVEN JACKSON has 10,083 career rush yards & is 15th player to rush for 10,000 yards with 1 team. Has 990 rush yards & needs 10 to become 6th in NFL history with 1,000 rush yards in 8 consecutive seasons. Since 2006, has NFL-best 11,134 scrimmage yards…WR DANNY AMENDOLA had TD catch in last meeting. TE LANCE KENDRICKS had career-high 119 yards last week, incl. 80-yard TD. Rookie WR CHRIS GIVENS has 3 career TDs & avg. 46 yards per TD…CB JANORIS JENKINS has 4 defensive TDs (3 INTs, 1 FR), most in NFL history by rookie. Had 41-yard INT-TD last week. His 3 INT-TDs are tied for most by rookie in NFL history. DE ROBERT QUINN has 9.5 sacks in past 15. DE CHRIS LONG has 8.5 sacks in past 13. LB JAMES LAURINAITIS is 1 of 2 in NFC with 8.5 sacks & 6 INTs since 2009. Rookie DT MICHAEL BROCKERS has 4 sacks, 2nd most by rookie DT…SEAHAWKS:Clinched playoff berth. Clinch NFC West with win & SF loss…RookieQB RUSSELL WILSON has completed 91 of 145 (62.8 pct.) for 1,254 yards with 16 TDs vs. 2 INTs for 121.5 rating at home. Is 7-0 at home, 1st rookie since merger to start & win team's 1st 7 at home. Has 25 TD passes & needs 2 to pass PEYTON MANNING (26) for most by rookie…RB MARSHAWN LYNCH aims for 3rd in row vs. StL with 100 rush yards. Aims for 4th meeting in row with rush TD. Has 100 rush yards in 7 of past 9. In past 9, has 941 yards (104.6 per game) & 9 TDs. Since Nov. 2011, leads NFL with 2,431 rush yards...WR GOLDEN TATE has 5 TDs (4 rec., 1 pass) in past 7. WR SIDNEY RICE has 6 TDs in past 10. WR DOUG BALDWIN had 2 TDs last week…DE RED BRYANT blocked FG last week that was returned 90 yards for TD by CB RICHARD SHERMAN. Sherman has 2 TDs in past 3. DE CHRIS CLEMONShas 17.5 sacks in past 22. Rookie LB BOBBY WAGNER leads team with 129 tackles. DE BRUCE IRVIN leads NFL rookies with 8 sacks.

SUNDAY NIGHT

DALLAS COWBOYS (8-7) AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS (9-6)

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WINNER clinches NFC East…COWBOYS: QB TONY ROMO has franchise-record 4,685 pass yards & has only 4 4,000-yard seasons in team history. Aims for 3rd in row vs. Was. with 3 TD passes… When RB DE MARCO MURRAY has 18 att., Cowboys are 9-0. Has 992 rush yards (110.2 per game) in those 9…WR DEZ BRYANT had 9 catches for career-high 224 yards with 2 TDs last week. Has 46 catches for 808 yards (115.4 per game) & 10 TDs in past 7. Aims for 8th in row with TD. WR MILES AUSTIN had 10 catches for 146 yards in last game at Was. TE JASON WITTEN has 103 catches, most by TE in season in NFL history. Has 95 catches (7.9 per game) since Oct. 1, 2nd most in NFL. Since 2007, has 547 catches, most by NFL TE…CB BRANDON CARR has INT in 2 of past 3. LB DE MARCUS WARE has 37 sacks in past 34. Has 103 sacks since 2006, most in NFL. LB ANTHONY SPENCER has 6.5 sacks in past 6…REDSKINS:RookieQB ROBERT GRIFFIN III completed 19 of 27 (70.4 pct.) for 304 yards with 4 TDs vs. 1 INT for 131.8 rating in last meeting. Is 2nd in NFL with 104.1 rating. Has 752 rush yards, most by rookie QB in NFL history. Is 1st QB ever with 4 TD passes of 60 yards & rush TD of 60 yards in season…RB ALFRED MORRIS leads NFL rookies with 1,413 rush yards. Has rushed for 544 yards (108.8 per game) & 5 TDs in past 5. Rushed for 113 yards & TD in last meeting. Has 75 rush yards in 13 of 15 (6 100s)…WR ALDRICK ROBINSON had 68-yard TD in last meeting. WR PIERRE GARCON had 59-yard TD in last game vs. Dal. WR SANTANA MOSS has 6 TDs in past 9. Has 3 TDs in past 3 vs. Dal…LB LONDON FLETCHER has INT in 4 of past 5. CB DE ANGELO HALL had INT in last meeting vs. Cowboys. Since entering NFL in 2011, LB RYAN KERRIGAN is only NFL player w/ 10 sacks (16) & 2 INT-TDs (2). Aims for 3rd in row vs. Dal. w/ sack.