NFL WEEK 8 CAPSULES

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WEEK 9 – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-6) AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (3-4)

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CHIEFS:In only meeting vs. SD (w/ Cle. on 12/6/09), QB BRADY QUINN passed for 271 yards with 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 95.7 rating. QB MATT CASSEL had 102.1 rating in last game at SD…Club averages AFC-best 155.1 rush yards per game in '12…In past 5, RB JAMAAL CHARLES is averaging 6.2 yards per carry vs. Chargers (56 att., 346 yards). Averages 103.7 scrim. yards per game in '12 (595 rush; 131 rec.). Charles (4,799) needs 201 scrim. yards to reach 5,000 career…WR DWAYNE BOWE (393) needs 7 rec. to become 4th player in franchise annals to reach 400 career. Bowe (39) needs TD rec. to become 5th player in club history with 40 career. WR JON BALDWIN has 9 rec. for 132 yards with TD in 2 career games vs. SD. WR DEXTER MC CLUSTER has 6 rec. in each of past 2 games…LB TAMBA HALI has 9.5 career sacks vs. SD, most vs. any opponent…CB BRANDON FLOWERShas 2 INTs in past 3 vs. SD…CHARGERS:Seek 5th straight win vs. KC at home…Have won 2 of past 3 on TNF…As starter at home vs. KC, QB PHILIP RIVERS has 5-1 record. Is 40-8 (.833) as starter when posting 100 rating. In past 3 on Thursday Night Football, Rivers has 8 TDs vs. 1 INT & 105.9 rating…RB RYAN MATHEWShad 2 rush TDs in last meeting at home vs. KC. RB RONNIE BROWN had season-best in rec. (7) & rec. yards (85) last week…TE ANTONIO GATES (78) trails only HOFer LANCE ALWORTH (81) for most rec. TDs in team history…LB SHAUN PHILLIPS (65) has 3rd-most sacks by Charger (LESLIE O'NEAL, 105.5; LEE WILLIAMS, 65.5)…DE COREY LIUGET has 2 sacks in past 3…Since '11, S ERIC WEDDLE leads NFL w/ 9 INTs…LB DONALD BUTLER had 6 tackles, 0.5 sack & 21-yard INT-return TD in last game vs. KC.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2012

DENVER BRONCOS (4-3) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (3-4)

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BRONCOS: QB PEYTON MANNINGis 7-0 all-time vs. Cin. & has 17 TDs vs. 3 INTs & 107 rating. In past 2 on road, has completed 55 of 74 passes (74.3 pct.) for 646 yards with 6 TDs vs. 1 INT & 121.8 rating. Registered 37th career game with at least 3 TD passes & 0 INTs last week, surpassing BRETT FAVREfor most such games in NFL history…RB WILLIS MC GAHEE posted 33rd 100-yard rush game of career (3rd in '12) last week, most among active players. Had 101 rush yards & rush TD in last meeting vs. Cin. Rookie RB RONNIE HILLMAN had career-best 86 rush yards last week…WR DEMARYIUS THOMAS posted 4th 100-yard rec. game of season last game (137). WR ERIC DECKER seeks 5th straight game w/ TD. Tied career-best with 2 TD rec. last week…LB WESLEY WOODYARD had sack & INT in Week 8…DE ELVIS DUMERVIL has 4 sacks in past 4. LB VON MILLER has 17.5 sacks in 22 career games…BENGALS: QB ANDY DALTONpassed for 332 yards with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 107 passer rating in only game vs. Broncos…Ranks 2nd in AFC w/ 105.3 4th-quarter rating (PEYTON MANNING, 119.6)…Since '10, RB BEN JARVUS GREEN-ELLIS is tied for 3rd in NFL w/ 26 rush TDs. Has 2 rush TDs in 3 reg. season games vs. Den. RB CEDRIC PEERMAN posted 1st rush TD of career last game…WR A.J. GREEN has TD catch in 6 consecutive games, tied for 4th-longest streak in franchise history. In only career meeting vs. Den., Green had career-high 10 catches with 124 yards & TD reception. Has TD catch in each of Bengals 3 home games in '12. Green (7) needs TD catch to surpass his '11 rookie total…Defense ties for 3rd in NFL & is 1st in AFC with 23 sacks…DE MICHAEL JOHNSON (6) needs half sack to surpass career-high of 6 in '11…Since '11, DT GENO ATKINS has 14.5 sacks. Atkins & Johnson each had sacks in last game against Den.…S CHRIS CROCKERrecorded 2nd INT of season last week…LB REY MAUALUGA leads team with 58 sacks.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-2) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-6)

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RAVENS:Club has 11-5 (.688) record after bye…Seek 10th straight win vs. Browns…Bal. has won past 10 vs. AFC North…With win, JOHN HARBAUGH & JOE FLACCO will record 50th career win as HC & starting QB tandem…Flacco*is 9-0 vs. Cle. & has 11 TDs vs. 5 INTs & 92.3 rating. Ravens are 26-2 (.929) when he has 100 rating…RB RAY RICE (4,901) needs 99 rush yards to joinJAMAL LEWIS(7,801) as only players in Ravens history to reach 5,000. In career vs. Browns, Rice averages 91.6 rush yards per game (167 att., 824 yards). Ravens are 13-2 (.867) when Rice has 100 rush yards in game…WRTORREY SMITH had 6 rec. for 97 yards w/ TD in last meeting vs. Cle. WR ANQUAN BOLDIN posted 9 rec. for 131 yards in last game vs. Browns. Boldin (9,911) needs 89 scrimmage yards to reach 10,000 career…CB CARY WILLIAMS has 3 INTs in past 4…S ED REED has 10 career INTs vs. Cle., tied for most vs. any opponent…LB TERRELL SUGGS had sack in season debut vs. Hou. Has 13 sacks in 18 career games vs. Cle…LB DANNELL ELLERBE led team with 12 tackles last game…BROWNS:Aim for 3rd straight win at home…Rookie QB BRANDON WEEDEN leads AFC rookies with 9 TD passes. Leads NFL rookies in completions. (165). In past 3, Weeden has passed for 624 yards with 4 TDs vs. 1 INT. Passed for 320 yards in only game vs. Bal…Rookie RB TRENT RICHARDSON has 5 rush TDs, most by Browns' rookie in team's 1st 8 games since '69 (RON JOHNSON, 5). Posted 2nd 100-yard rush game of career last week (122). Leads AFC rookies with 470 rush yards. Had rush TD in only meeting vs. Bal…WR JOSH GORDON leads NFL rookies in receiving yards (379). Averages 22.3 yards per catch in '12. WR GREG LITTLE had season-high 77 rec. yards in last game vs. Bal…Browns have AFC-best 10 INTs this season…LB D'QWELL JACKSON hasteam-high 60 tackles in '12…DT AHTYBA RUBINhas 2 sacks in past 2 vs. Bal…RookieDT BILLY WINNposted 1st sack of career last week…Since entering NFL in '10,CB JOE HADEN* leads team w/ 8 INTs.

ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-4) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-3)

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CARDINALS: QB JOHN SKELTON had career-highs in att. (52) & comp. (32) last week & had 4th career game with 290 yards (290)…In last road game, RB-KR LA ROD STEPHENS-HOWLING had career-high 104 rush yards & TD. In 2 meetings (incl. playoffs), has 9 KR for 189 yards (21 avg.)…WR LARRY FITZGERALD has 3 TD catches in 2 career meetings (incl. playoffs). Since 2005, leads NFL with 68 rec. TDs, is 2nd with 9,346 rec. yards & ranks 3rd with 680 catches. WR ANDRE ROBERTS has 7 TDs in past 12. WR EARLY DOUCET had six catches for 77 yards & 2 TDs in WC playoff meeting…LB DARYL WASHINGTON ranks 3rd in NFL with career-high 8 sacks. Had 2 sacks last week & aims for 3rd in row with 2 sacks. Is 1st Cardinal with 2 sacks in consecutive games since 1999 (ERIC SWANN). Washington has 9 sacks in past 9. DT DARNELL DOCKETThad sack in WC playoff meeting. LB O'BRIEN SCHOFIELD has 4 sacks in past 6 games… PACKERS:Through 8 games, QB AARON RODGERS has 21 TD passes. He is 1st QB in NFL history to have 20 TD passes through his team's 1st 8 games in back-to-back seasons (24 TDs through 8 games in 2011).*Had 115 rating in both career meetings (incl. WC playoff), passing for 658 yards & 5 TDs for 120.8 rating in those 2. Packers are 25-0 when he starts & has 115 rating…RB ALEX GREENhad career-high 82 scrimmage yards last week (54 rush, 28 rec.). Aims for 5th in row with 60 scrim. yards…WR JAMES JONESscored 1st career postseason TD vs. Arz. in WC playoff. Leads teams with 7 TDs & needs 1 more for career high (7 in 2011).WR-PR-KR RANDALL COBBis only player in NFL with 450 KR (466), 450 receiving (463), 150 PR (165) & 50 rush (67) yards. Has 4 TD catches in past 4 & aims for 3rd in row with TD.WR JORDY NELSONhas 5 TDs in past 4…Since 2010 (incl. playoffs),CBTRAMON WILLIAMS leads NFL with 15 INTs. LB CLAY MATTHEWS leads NFC with 9 sacks & needs 1 more for 3rd career 10 sack season (10 in 2009; 13.5 in 2010). CB CASEY HAYWARD leads all rookies with 4 INTs.* **

BUFFALO BILLS (3-4) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (6-1)

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BILLS:Club is 2-0 at Hou…QB RYAN FITZPATRICK(9,689) needs 311 passing yards to become 5th QB in franchise history to reach 10,000 career. At Hou. on 11/27/05 (w/ Rams), Fitzpatrick registered 1st 300-yard passing game of career (310)…RB FRED JACKSON(3,991) needs 9 rush yards to join HOFers THURMAN THOMAS (11,938) & O.J. SIMPSON (10,183) & JOE CRIBBS (4,445) as only Bills to reach 4,000 career. Since '11, Jackson averages 113.8 scrim. yards per game, 4th-best in NFL. Had career-best 8 rec. last game. Posted 1st TD rec. of season last game. RB C.J. SPILLER averages 7.3 yards per carry in '12 (72 att., 523 yards)…WR STEVIE JOHNSON has 3 TD rec. of 25 yards in '12…TE SCOTT CHANDLER is tied for 3rd among AFC TEs with 4 TD rec....DE MARIO WILLIAMS was selected by Hou. as No.1 overall pick in '06 NFL Draft…DE CHRIS KELSAY has 2 sacks in past 2…Since entering NFL in '09, S JAIRUS BYRD is tied for 3rd in NFL w/ 16 INTs…Rookie CB STEPHON GILMORE has team-high 10 passes defensed…PR LEODIS MC KELVIN has NFL-best 24 PR avg. in '12…TEXANS:Aim for 7-1 start for 1st time in franchise history…In past 11, QB MATT SCHAUBis 10-1 w/ 15 TDs vs. 5 INTs & 98.1 rating. Club is 14-2 (.875) when Schaub has 100 passer rating at home…Since '10, RB ARIAN FOSTER leads NFL in total TDs (40; 35 rush, 5 rec.) & rush yards per game (97.2). Posted 10th career-game w/ 2 rush TDs last game. Aims for 5th straight game with rush TD…WR ANDRE JOHNSON has 15 career games with 10 catches, tied for 4th-most in NFL history. Since entering NFL in '03, Johnson averages NFL-best in rec. yards per game (78.3) & rec. per game (5.7)…TE OWEN DANIELS has TD catch in 4 of past 5…Defense allows 18.3 pts per game, 2nd-lowest in AFC…CB JOHNATHAN JOSEPH had  52-yard INT-return TD last game. Had 2 INTs & TD in last meeting vs. Bills (w/ Cin. on 11/21/10). DE J.J. WATT has team-high 10 passes defensed in '12. DE ANTONIO SMITH tied career-high w/ 2 sacks last game…S GLOVER QUIN leads Texans w/ 36 tackles.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (4-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-3)

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DOLPHINS:Club has won 5 of past 6 at Ind…Dolphins seek 4th consecutive win & 3rd straight on road…In past 3, QB RYAN TANNEHILL has completed 40 of 60 passes (66.7 pct.) for 426 yards with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 98.3 passer rating. Passed for 431 yards at Arz., 2nd-most yards by NFL QB on road in '12 (DREW BREES, 446). QB MATT MOORE has 16 TDs & 88.7 rating in 12 starts w/ Mia…RB REGGIE BUSHaverages 5 yards per carry on road with Dolphins (188 att., 949 rush yards)…WR BRIAN HARTLINE (33 rec., 555 rec. yards) needs 11 catches & 61 rec. yards to surpass career-high of 43 rec. for 615 receiving yards in '10…TE ANTHONY FASANO has TD rec. in each of past 2…Defense allows AFC-low 18 points per game in '12…Dolphins have not allowed 100-yard rusher in 21 straight games…Rank 2nd in AFC with 22 sacks (Cin., 23)…DE CAMERON WAKE has 7.5 sacks in past 4 games…CB NOLAN CARROLL had sack & FF last week…Rookie DE OLIVIER VERNON recovered blocked punt for TD last week…CB SEAN SMITHhas team-high 10 passes defensed...COLTS:Aim for 4th straight win against Mia…QB ANDREW LUCK has highest winning pct. (.571) through Week 8 by a rookie QB who was No. 1 overall pick  in NFL history. Averages 281.6 passing yards per game, most among rookie QBs. Luck is 1 of 3 rookies in NFL history with at least 3 300-yard passing games (PEYTON MANNING, 4 in '98 & CAM NEWTON, 3 in '11). Leads AFC QBs in rush yards (143) & rush TDs (3)…RB DONALD BROWN had rush TD in only game vs. Dolphins. Brown has 80 rush yards in past 2 games (84, 80). Rookie RB VICK BALLARDhad 16-yard game-winning TD rec. last week…WR REGGIE WAYNE averages NFL-best 108.1 rec. yards per game in '12 (757 rec. yards in 7 games). Wayne (54) reached 50 receptions for 10th straight season. Wayne (916) needs 5 catches to surpass TORRY HOLT (920) for 13th-most in NFL annals…LB DWIGHT FREENEY has 4 sacks in past 3 against Mia. LB ROBERT MATHIS has 5 sacks in 4 games in '12…LB JERRY HUGHES has 2 sacks in past 3 games.

DETROIT LIONS (3-4) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-6)

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LIONS:In past 6 vs. AFC, QB MATTHEW STAFFORD has passed for 1,843 yards (307.2 per game) with 17 TDs & 1 INT for 112.1 rating. Has 9,948 pass yards in 36 career games & needs 52 to reach 10,000 in 2nd-fewest games in NFL history (KURT WARNER, 36 games)…RB MIKEL LE SHOURE has 429 scrim. yards (85.8 per game) in 5 career starts. RB JOIQUE BELL is 2nd among NFC RBs with 227 rec. yards…In past 4 vs. AFC, WR CALVIN JOHNSON has 29 catches for 605 yards (151.3 per game) with 5 TDs. Since 2011, has 2,319 rec. yards, most in NFL & his 100.8 yards per game avg. during span ranks 1st. Since 2008, has 46 TD catches, most in NFL. Last week, WR TITUS YOUNG had career-highs in catches (9) & rec. yards (100) & tied career best with 2 TDs. Since 2010, TE BRANDON PETTIGREWis 3rd among TEs with 192 catches. Aims for 4th in row vs. AFC with 5 catches…CLIFF AVRIL is 1 of 2 NFC players with 14 sacks (15.5) & 6 FFs (6) since 2011. Since 2010, DT NDAMUKONG SUH has 17.5 sacks, tied for most by NFL DT. S RICARDO SILVAhad 1st career INT vs. Sea…JAGUARS:Club has won 3 of past 4 against Lions, incl. 2 wins at home…In past 2, QB BLAINE GABBERThas 413 yards with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 89 passer rating. Passed for career-best 303 yards last week vs. GB. Has 103.8 rating on road in 4th quarter this season…RB RASHAD JENNINGStotaled 115 scrimmage yards last week (59 rush, 56 receiving). Has reached 100 scrimmage yards in consecutive games (102, 115)…WR CECIL SHORTS had career-best in catches (8) & receiving yards (116) last week. In past 2 starts (1st of career), Shorts is averaging 97.5 receiving yards per game (16.3 avg.). Averages 20 yards per catch in '12 (20 rec., 400 yards). Rookie WR JUSTIN BLACKMON had career-long 36-yard rec. vs. Packers…T GUY WHIMPER had 1-yard TD catch last week, 1st TD of career…CB RASHEAN MATHIS has 2 INTs in each of 2 career games vs. Lions…DE JEREMY MINCEY aims for 3rd consecutive game with sack…LB RUSSELL ALLEN leads team with 57 tackles.

CHICAGO BEARS (6-1) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (3-5)

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BEARS:In only career meeting (11/19/07 with Den.), QB JAY CUTLER passed for 200 yards & 2 TDs for 137 rating. Incl. playoffs, when he has 100 rating, his teams are 25-0…RB MATT FORTÉ had 126 scrim. yards (72 rush, 54 rec.) & TD catch in last meeting…In past 4, WR BRANDON MARSHALL has 34 catches for 461 yards (115.3 per game) & 3 TDs. Since 2007, has 524 catches, 3rd most in NFL.  Incl. playoffs, WR-KR-PR DEVIN HESTER has 19 total return TDs (12 PR, 6 KR, 1 missed FG), tied with HOFer DEION SANDERS for most in history…Defense has 6 INT-TDs, most of any team in NFL history through 7 games. LB LANCE BRIGGS & CB CHARLES TILLMAN are 1st teammates to each have INT-TD in consecutive games (Weeks 4 & 5). Tillman (7) & Briggs (5) have most INT-TDs in team history. CB TIM JENNINGS has 7 INTs in past 8 & had 1st career INT-TD vs. Car. DE JULIUS PEPPERS had 2 sacks & FF last week. S MAJOR WRIGHThas 3 INTs, INT-TD & FF in past 5…TITANS:Have won 10 past 12 at home vs. NFC…In past 3 starts vs. Bears (incl. postseason), QB MATT HASSELBECKhas passed for 837 yards with 6 TDs vs.0 INTs & 96.2 rating. In past 2, Hasselbeck has 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 101.6 passer rating…For career, RB CHRIS JOHNSON averages 93.3 rush yards per game vs. NFC (1,679 rush yards in 18 games). Since Week 6, Johnson leads NFL with 385 rush yards. Has 4 career rush TDs of 80 yards, most in NFL history. Has 30 career 100-yard rush games & Titans are 22-8 (.733) in such games. Since '08, Johnson leads NFL with 6,240 rush yards…WR NATE WASHINGTON has 100 rec. yards in 2 of past 3 vs. NFC (130, 112). Washington (295) needs 5 catches to reach 300 career. Has at least 1 reception in 70 consecutive games. WR KENDALL WRIGHT leads NFL rookies in rec. (40). Recorded 3rd TD catch of career last week…CB JASON MC COURTYhas INT in 2 of past 3…S MICHAEL GRIFFIN posted 1st INT of season & 18th of career last week…Last week, K ROB BIRONAS (201) joined AL DEL GRECO (246) as only players in franchise history to make 200 FGs.

CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-6) AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS (3-5)

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PANTHERS: QB CAM NEWTON had 256 passing yards w/ 127.5 rating & 2 TDs (1 rush, 1 pass) in only career meeting. Had 5th career 300-yard passing game vs. Bears (314). Has 11 rush TDs in 11 career road games…Since entering league in 2006,RB DE ANGELO WILLIAMS ranks 2nd in NFL with 5.0 rush avg. (min. 500 att.). When RB JONATHAN STEWART has 15 att., Panthers are 14-4 (.778). Aims for 3rd in row with rush TD vs. Redskins…WR STEVE SMITH had 7 catches for 143 yards (20.4 avg.) in last meeting. Aims for 4th in row with 5 rec. vs. Was. WR BRANDON LA FELLhad TD catch in last meeting. Has 20 yard catch in 6 of past 7…DE CHARLES JOHNSON had 2 sacks & 2 FF last week. Has 22.5 sacks in past 29. Had sack & FF in last meeting. Rookie LB LUKE KUECHLY leads team with 62 tackles. LB JAMES ANDERSON had sack & FR in last meeting. DT DWAN EDWARDS has career-high 4.5 sacks. DE GREG HARDY had career-high 3 sacks vs. Chi. & has 5 sacks in past 4. DE FRANK ALEXANDER is tied for 2nd among NFC rookies with 2.5 sacks. Rookie CB JOSH NORMAN had 1st career INT last week…REDSKINS: QB ROBERT GRIFFIN III leads NFL rookies with 66.8 comp. pct. & 97.3 rating. Is 1st among QBs with 476 rush yards & 6 TDs. His 6 rush TDs are 2nd most by any player…RB ALFRED MORRIS ranks 3rd in NFL with 717 rush yards, best among rookies. Has 454 rush yards in past 5 (90.8 per game). Is tied for 2nd in NFC with 5 rush TDs. Redskins are only team with 2 players (Griffin, Morris) with 5 rush TDs each…WR SANTANA MOSS had TD catch vs. Pit. & has 5 TD in past 6. WR PIERRE GARCON avg. 19.1 yards per catch. TE LOGAN PAULSEN aims for 3rd in row with 4 rec. TE NILES PAUL had career-long 37-yard catch last week…LB RYAN KERRIGAN had sack last week. Since 2011, is only NFL player with 10 sacks (12) & 2 INT-TDs (2). DE ADAM CARRIKER had career-high 1.5 sacks in last meeting. DT BARRY COFIELD has 1.5 sacks in past 2 meetings. LB LONDON FLETCHER aims for 5th meeting in row with 7 tackles.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-4) AT OAKLAND RAIDERS (3-4)

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BUCCANEERS:Aim for franchise-record 4th consecutive game with 28 points…QB JOSH FREEMAN is 1st QB in team history to pass for 3 TDs in 3 consecutive team games. Aims for 4th in row with 3 TDs. In past 3, has completed 58 of 104 (55.8 pct.) for 1,010 yards with 9 TDs vs. 1 INT for 113.9 rating. Aims for 4th in row with 100 rating. Bucs are 9-3 when he has 100 rating…Last week, rookie RB DOUG MARTIN became 1st player in team history & 1st NFL rookie in 25 seasons with 135 rush yards (135) & 75 rec. (79) yards in game. Is only NFC player with 500 rush (543) & 200 rec. (224) yards…WR VINCENT JACKSON has TD catch in 4 of past 5 games vs. Oak. Is averaging 21.6 yards per catch, most by player with 20 rec. Since 2008, Jackson's 18.5 yards per catch avg. (230 rec., 4,245 yards) is best in NFL (min. 100 catches). WR MIKE WILLIAMS had TD catch last week. Has 100 yards or TD in 5 of 7 games this year…DB RONDE BARBER is only player in NFL annals with 25 sacks (28) & 40 INTs (46). Aims for 4th in row with INT or FF. LB MASON FOSTER had sack & FR last week. Leads team with 53 tackles…RAIDERS:Club is 5-0 all-time at home vs. TB…Aim for 3rd straight win in '12…Have won 3 of past 4 at home vs. NFC…With Raiders, QB CARSON PALMERhas 300 passing yards & 100 passer rating in 3 of 5 games vs. NFC…RB DARREN MC FADDEN has 100 rush yards (145, 111) in past 2 at home vs. NFC. Posted 11th career game with 100 rush yards last week & Raiders are 9-2 (.818) when he has 100 rush yards…WR DARRIUS HEYWARD-BEY had 32-yard TD reception last week. WR DENARIUS MOORE had 104 receiving yards (104) in last game vs. NFC opponent. Moore aims for 4th straight game with TD catch. For career, avg. 17.6 yards per catch (59 rec., 1,037 yards)…TE BRANDON MYERS has career-best in rec. (31) & rec. yards (383) in '12…LB PHILIP WHEELERleads team with 59 tackles in '12…DT RICHARD SEYMOUR aims for 3rd straight game with sack…Since entering NFL in 2000, K SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI leads NFL w/ 38 FGs of 50 yards.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (5-3) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-4)

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VIKINGS: QB CHRISTIAN PONDER aims for 5th win in past 7 starts…Since 2007, RB ADRIAN PETERSON leads NFL with 7,527 rush yards & 68 rush TDs. Peterson (7,527) now has more rush yards than Pro Football HOFer JIM BROWN (7,459) through 1st 6 NFL seasons. Aims for 3rd in row with 120 rush yards & TD. Has 30 career 100-yard rush games, most in franchise history…WR-KR PERCY HARVIN & HOFer GALE SAYERS are only players in NFL history w/ 20 scrim. TDs & 5 KR-TDs in 1st 4 seasons. Harvin, Sayers & TIMMY BROWN are only players in NFL history w/ rush, rec. & KR TD in 3 consecutive seasons. Since Ponder's 1st start (10/23/11), Harvin has 122 receptions, 2nd most in NFL. Aims for 5th in row w 100 rec. yards or rec. TD. Had TD catch in last meeting…DE JARED ALLEN has 7 sacks in past 6 & aims for 7th in row with sack. Has 39 sacks in past 33. Since entering NFL in 2004, Allen has NFL-best 112 sacks. LB CHAD GREENWAY leads team with 81 tackles…Rookie K BLAIR WALSH has converted 17 of 18 FGs, incl. 4 of 4 from 50 yards…SEAHAWKS:RookieQB RUSSELL WILSON passed for 236 yards & 2 TDs for 96.8 rating last week. Leads all rookies with 10 TD passes & is tied for most wins by starting rookie QB (4)…RB MARSHAWN LYNCH ranks 2nd in NFL with 757 rush yards. Has 85 rush yards in 15 of past 17. Since Nov. 2011, leads NFL with 1,698 rush yards. Rushed for 105 yards last week, incl. career-long 77-yard TD. RB-PR-KR LEON WASHINGTON ranks 2nd in NFC with 29.8 KR avg...WR SIDNEY RICE was Vikings' 2nd-round draft pick in 2007 & spent 4 seasons with club (2007-10). Has TD in 2 of past 3. WR GOLDEN TATE has 20 yard catch in 5 of past 6 at home. Last week, TE ZACH MILLER had 1st TD catch with Seahawks…Rush defense (84.9 yards per game) ranks 2nd in NFC. DE CHRIS CLEMONShas 13 sacks in past 15. Had 2 sacks in last meeting. Rookie DE BRUCE IRVIN leads NFC rookies w/ 4.5 sacks. LB LEROY HILL had 1 sack & FF in last home meeting. Posted 1st sack of season last week. S EARL THOMAS has INT in 2 of past 3.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-3) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (6-2)

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STEELERS:Club is 16-6 (.727) vs. NFC under MIKE TOMLIN. With win, Tomlin will record 60th career victory…Pit. has won past 4 in Nov. on road…Have NFL-best 51.9 pct. 3rd-down conversion rate…In only career meeting at NYG (rookie in '04), QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER passed for 316 yards & TD. For career, Roethlisberger is 23-7 (.767) vs. NFC. Posted 21st 3 TD pass game of career last week…RB JONATHAN DWYERaims for 3rd consecutive game with 100 rush yards (122, 107). Rookie RB CHRIS RAINEY is averaging 5.4 yards per carry in past 2…WR MIKE WALLACEhas 3 TD receptions in 4 road games in '12…TE HEATH MILLER has 6 TD rec. in '12, 2nd-most among NFL TEs…LB LARRY FOOTE (3) needs 1.5 sack to surpass career-high of 4 sacks in '06. Foote leads team with 50 tackles…LB JAMES HARRISON (59) needs 1.5 sacks to surpass KEITH WILLIS (59) & JOEY PORTER (60) for 2nd-most sacks in Pit. history…S RYAN CLARK spent 2 seasons (2002-03) w/ Giants…GIANTS:Incl. SB XLVI, QB ELI MANNING has won 8 in row vs. AFC, passing for 2,194 yards with 14 TDs & 5 INTs for 94.7 rating in those 8. Is 27-5 (.844) in Oct., best in SB era (min. 20 starts). Incl. playoffs, has won 12 of past 14…RB AHMAD BRADSHAW has 408 rush yards (102 per game) & 6 TDs in past 4 vs. AFC. Giants are 10-0 when he has 100 rush yards…Since 2011, WR VICTOR CRUZ ranks 3rd in NFL with 2,186 receiving yards. Has 6 TDs in past 5. In past 2 vs. AFC, Cruz has 8 catches for 214 yards (107 per game) with 4 TDs. In past 2 at home, WR HAKEEM NICKS has 15 catches for 252 yards (126 per game; 16.8 avg.) & TD. …DE JASON PIERRE-PAUL has 4 sacks in past 3. Has 7 sacks in past 6 vs. AFC. LB MATHIAS KIWANUKA had 2.5 sacks in last meeting. Has 6.5 sacks in past 8 at home vs. AFC.S STEVIE BROWN had career-high 2 INTS & FR vs. Cowboys & has 4 INTs in past 4 overall. Has 168 INT return yards, most by Giants player since 1963 (DICK LYNCH). CB COREY WEBSTER had INT in last meeting. Has 4 INTs in past 5 vs. AFC.

SUNDAY NIGHT

DALLAS COWBOYS (3-4) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (7-0)

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COWBOYS:In 2 career meetings, QB TONY ROMOhas passed for 589 yards & 5 TDs with 127.7 rating. In career, when Romo starts & has 100 rating (min. 10 att.), Cowboys are 34-8 (.810). Had career-high 437 pass yards last week…When RB DE MARCO MURRAY has 18 att., Cowboys are 7-0. Has 856 rush yards (122.3 per game) in those 7 games. RB FELIX JONES (2,494) needs 6 rush yards to become 10th player in club history to reach 2,500 career…In past 2 at home, WR DEZ BRYANT has 10 rec. for 215 yards (107.5 per game). TE JASON WITTEN had 18 rec. last week, most ever by TE in game. Since 2007, has 495 catches, most of any NFL TE. WR MILES AUSTIN has TD catch or 100 yards in 9 of past 11…LB DE MARCUS WARE has 33 sacks in past 26. Since 2006, has 99 sacks, most in NFL. Ware has 5.5 sacks & 3 FFs in past 5. S DANNY MC CRAY had 1st INT of season last week…FALCONS:Are 7-0 for 1st time in team history…QB MATT RYAN passed for 262 yards & 3 TDs for 137.4 rating vs. Phi. In career, Falcons are 28-0 when Ryan has 100 rating (5-0 in 2012). When Ryan has 3 TD passes, team is 15-0 (4-0 in 2012). Only DARYLE LAMONICA (19-0) has better record in games with 3 TDs…RB MICHAEL TURNER had rush TD in last meeting. When he has 23 att., his teams are 22-1 (.957)…In past 3 at home, WR RODDY WHITE has 22 rec. for 343 yards (114.3 per game) & 4 TDs. Since 2007, has 511 receptions, most in NFC. Since Dec. 2011, WR JULIO JONES has 15 catches of 25 yards, most in NFL during span. TE TONY GONZALEZ has 99 catches TDs & needs 1 for 100…DE JOHN ABRAHAM had sack vs. Phi. & has 11.5 sacks in past 10 overall. Has 119 sacks, most by active player. LB STEPHEN NICHOLAS had sack in last meeting. S THOMAS DE COUD had 1st sack of season last week & is only NFL player with 4 INTs & sack.

MONDAY NIGHT, NOVEMBER 5, 2012

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (3-4) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-5)

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EAGLES: QB MICHAEL VICK has won 5 of 7 career starts vs. NO, passing for 1,131 yards & rushing for 527 yards with 12 total TDs (6 pass, 6 rush) in those 7. Rushed for 166 yards on 12 att. (13.8 avg.) in last meeting. Since 2010, is only NFL player with 8,000 pass (8,144) & 1,500 rush (1,512) yards…RB LE SEAN MC COY had TD run & TD catch last week, 4th such career game. In past 7 on road vs. NFC, McCoy has 763 scrim. yards (109 per game) & 7 total TDs (5 rush, 2 rec.). Eagles are 10-1 when McCoy rushes for 100 yards…In only career meeting,WR-PR DE SEAN JACKSON had 4 rec. for 101 yards (25.3 avg.) with 71-yard TD. Incl. playoffs, has 31 TDs (24 rec., 4 PR, 3 rush) & avg. 44.5 yards per TD (1,380 yards). WR JEREMY MACLIN has 100 yards or TD in 5 of past 7 on road…DE JASON BABIN has 10.5 sacks in past 12. DE TRENT COLE had sack in last meeting. Since 2007, has 56.5 sacks, 4th most in NFL. LB AKEEM JORDANhad INT in last meeting…SAINTS: QB DREW BREES has TD pass in 50 consecutive games, longest streak in NFL history. Passed for 2 TDs last week & has 301 career, surpassing HOFer JOHN ELWAY (300) for 6th most all-time. Has 62 career 300-yard passing games, tied with BRETT FAVRE for 3rd most in NFL history…Since 2011, RB-PR-KR DARREN SPROLES leads NFL RBs with 125 catches. Leads NFL RBs in rec. yards (323) & TD catches (4)…TE JIMMY GRAHAM has TD catch in 7 of past 9 overall. Since 2010, Graham leads NFC TEs with 20 TDs. In past 4, WR MARQUES COLSTON has 30 catches for 420 yards (105 per game) with 5 TDs. Had 8 catches for 98 yards & 2 TDs in last meeting. WR DEVERY HENDERSON has 40 yard catch in 2 of past 3…Since 2006, S ROMAN HARPER has 17 sacks, most by DB. LB SCOTT SHANLE had INT in last meeting. DE JUNIOR GALETTE has 4 sacks & FF in past 5.