Week 14 capsules

— TV GAMES-

All times Central

Chargers at Steelers Noon, CBS

LINE - Steelers by 8 LAST MEETING Pittsburgh beat San Diego 38-28, Oct. 4, 2009 LAST WEEK San Diego lost to Cincinnati 20-13; Pittsburgh beat Baltimore 23-20 RANKINGS Chargers: offense (26), defense (9); Steelers: offense (20), defense (1) NOTES San Diego has lost 4 consecutive and 6 of past 7. TE Antonio Gates needs 1 more touchdown to tie Lance Alworth for team record in career touchdown receptions (81). ... Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger needs 134 yards passing yards to become 25th player in NFL history to top 29,000 career passing yards. TE Heath Miller’s 7 touchdowns this season have tied career high he previously set in 2007. Steelers allowing 12.4 points at Heinz Field this season, fewest in NFL. Steelers 11-2 in last 13 games at home, both losses coming against Baltimore Ravens.

Cowboys at Bengals Noon, FOX

LINE - Bengals by 3 LAST MEETING Dallas beat Cincinnati 31-22, Oct. 5, 2008 LAST WEEK Dallas beat Philadelphia 38-33; Cincinnati beat San Diego 20-13 RANKINGS Cowboys: offense (8), defense (11); Bengals: offense (15), defense (8) NOTES Dallas has won 3 of past 4, scoring 38, 23, 38 and 38 points. Cowboys trying to win back-to-back games for second time this season. ... Cincinnati trying to win 5 games in row for second consecutive season. RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis has run for more than 100 yards in each of past 3 games, a career best and best by Bengals player since Corey Dillon in 1999. Last Bengal to run for 100 yards in 4 consecutive games was Paul Robinson in 1968. WR A.J. Green scored 1 touchdown in each of first 9 games, but has been kept out of end zone in last 2.

Saints at Giants 3:25 p.m., FOX

LINE - Giants by 5 LAST MEETING New Orleans beat New York 49-24, Nov. 28, 2011 LAST WEEK New Orleans lost to Atlanta 23-13; New York lost to Washington 17-16 RANKINGS Saints: offense (6), defense (32); Giants: offense (10), defense (22) NOTES Playoff implications for both teams: New Orleans in almost-must-win situation to keep hopes alive for fourth consecutive postseason berth; New York clinging to one-game lead over Washington and Dallas in NFC East. ... Giants QB Eli Manning threw for 406 yards and 2 touchdowns last season against Saints. In last 8 home games, including playoffs, he has completed 176 of 279 for 2,316 yards, 17 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

Lions at Packers 7:20 p.m., NBC

LINE - Packers by 6 1/2 LAST MEETING Green Bay beat Detroit 24-20, Nov. 18 LAST WEEK Detroit lost to Indianapolis 35-33; Green Bay beat Minnesota 23-14 RANKINGS Lions: offense (2), defense (19); Packers: offense (16), defense (15) NOTES Green Bay has won 21 consecutive against the Lions in Wisconsin, streak that dates back to Dec. 6, 1992 victory at County Stadium in Milwaukee. The 20 consecutive regular-season victories (Packers won another in playoffs) is longest in NFL history. ... Detroit has lost 4 consecutive, last 3 by combined 9 points. With 1,428 yards receiving, Lions WR Calvin Johnson needs to average 105 yards over last 4 games to match Jerry Rice’s single-season NFL receiving record of 1,848 yards. Johnson averaging 119 yards per game.

Rams at Bills Noon

LINE - Bills by 3 LAST MEETING Buffalo beat St. Louis 31-14, Sept. 28, 2008 LAST WEEK St. Louis beat San Francisco 16-13 OT; Buffalo beat Jacksonville 34-18 RANKINGS Rams: offense (25), defense (12); Bills: offense (17), defense (24) NOTES St. Louis have chance to win 3 consecutive for first time since closing 2006 season 3-0. Rams are 4-0-1 against NFC West, and 1-6 against rest, including 0-3 against AFC East teams. They’re 1-3-1 on road this season, and 8-36-1 away from St. Louis since 2007. They haven’t won three road games in one season since going 4-4 in 2006. ... Buffalo in midst of three-game homestand, which closes next week with annual “home” game at Toronto, where they’ll play Seattle. Bills’ 12-season playoff drought NFL’s longest active streak.

Eagles at Buccaneers Noon

LINE - Buccaneers by 7 1/2 LAST MEETING Philadelphia beat Tampa Bay 33-14, Oct. 11, 2009 LAST WEEK Philadelphia lost to Dallas 38-33; Tampa Bay lost to Denver 31-23 RANKINGS Eagles: offense (12), defense (17); Buccaneers: offense (14), defense (30) NOTES Tampa Bay’s 2002 Super Bowl championship team will be honored at halftime. S Ronde Barber is only player from that team remaining on roster. His fourth-quarter interception and 92-yard return for touchdown sealed club’s victory over Eagles in that season’s NFC title game. ... With Michael Vick sidelined by concussion, Philadelphia Coach Andy Reid has named Nick Foles as starting quarterback for rest of season. With 793 yards passing in four games, Foles has thrown for most yards by Eagles rookie since Donovan McNabb threw for 948 in 1999.

Falcons at Panthers Noon

LINE - Falcons by 3 1/2 LAST MEETING Atlanta beat Carolina 30-28, Sept. 30 LAST WEEK Atlanta beat New Orleans 23-13: Carolina lost to Kansas City 27-21 RANKINGS Falcons: offense (9), defense (18); Panthers: offense (18), defense (14) NOTES Atlanta clinched NFC South title. Falcons Coach Mike Smith has lost 22 games as a head coach to Ron Rivera’s 19. Big difference is Smith has won 54 and Rivera just 9. In last meeting in Charlotte between teams, QB Matt Ryan has won 7 of past 8 starts against Carolina, including 6 consecutive. ... Since Week 9, Carolina QB Cam Newton has 12 total touchdowns (9 passing, 3 rushing) and 2 turnovers. Newton has completing 83 of 143 passes. RB DeAngelo Williams (Wynne) has scored in his past 2 meetings with Falcons.

Jets at Jaguars Noon

LINE - Jets by 3 LAST MEETING New York beat Jacksonville 32-3, Sept. 18, 2011 LAST WEEK New York beat Arizona 7-6; Jacksonville lost to Buffalo 34-18 RANKINGS Jets: offense (29), defense (10); Jaguars: offense (31), defense (31) NOTES New York QB Mark Sanchez gets start week after being replaced by third stringer Greg McElroy. Sanchez had 2 touchdown passes in last game against Jaguars. Backup QB Tim Tebow (ribs) hopes to be active as he plays second NFL game in hometown. ... Jacksonville QB Chad Henne went 3-1 vs. Jets as starter with Miami, throwing 6 touchdown passes. Cecil Shorts III has touchdown reception in 4 consecutive games, tying franchise record held by Reggie Williams (2007).

Titans at Colts Noon

LINE - Colts by 5 1/2 LAST MEETING Indianapolis beat Tennessee 19-13 OT, Oct. 28 LAST WEEK Tennessee lost to Houston 24-10; Indianapolis beat Detroit 35-33 RANKINGS Titans: offense (23), defense (27); Colts: offense (3), defense (21) NOTES Tennessee has lost all 4 games at Lucas Oil Stadium and haven’t won at Indianapolis since December 2007. Titans 3-2 in games decided by 7 or fewer points, while Colts 7-1. ... Indianapolis 5-1 at home this season, have won 7 of past 8 and have 4 consecutive home victories over Titans. QB Andrew Luck needs 404 yards to reach 4,000 for season and 456 yards to break Cam Newton’s single-season record for rookie (4,051).

Ravens at Redskins Noon

LINE - Redskins by 2 1/2 LAST MEETING Baltimore beat Washington 24-10, Dec. 7, 2008 LAST WEEK Baltimore lost to Pittsburgh 23-20; Washington beat New York 17-16 RANKINGS Ravens: offense (19), defense (25); Redskins: offense (7), defense (29) NOTES Baltimore has won 4 of 5 and have played 3 consecutive games decided by 3 points, wining 2 and losing 1. Ravens can clinch playoff spot for fifth consecutive season with victory and loss by Pittsburgh or Cincinnati. Ravens clinch AFC North if they win and both Steelers and Bengals lose. ... Washington has won 3 consecutive, haven’t won 4 in row since 2008. QB Robert Griffin III has 714 yards rushing, NFL record for rookie QB.

Chiefs at Browns Noon

LINE - Browns by 7 LAST MEETING Kansas City beat Cleveland 16-14, Sept. 9, 2010 LAST WEEK Kansas City beat Carolina 27-21; Cleveland beat Oakland 20-17 RANKINGS Chiefs: offense (21), defense (16); Browns: offense (27), defense (23) NOTES Visit to Cleveland a homecoming of sorts for Kansas City Coach Romeo Crennel, QB Brady Quinn, RB Peyton Hillis (Conway, Arkansas Razorbacks) and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who all spent time with Browns. ... Cleveland QB Brandon Weeden passed for season-high 364 yards last week, also team rookie record.

Bears at Vikings Noon

LINE - Bears by 3 LAST MEETING Chicago beat Minnesota 28-10, Nov. 25 LAST WEEK Chicago lost to Seattle 23-17 OT; Minnesota lost to Green Bay 23-14 RANKINGS Bears: offense (30), defense (5); Vikings: offense (22), defense (13) NOTES Chicago has won six consecutive against Vikings, and Vikings Coach Leslie Frazier 0-4 against team he once played for. The six-game streak matches longest for Bears in series, set first in 1983-1986. Bears lead NFL with 34 takeaways, and Vikings tied for 22nd with 15. ... Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson leads league with 1,446 yards rushing, more than 22 other NFL teams. He has 6 consecutive 100-yard games, the longest streak of his career and in Vikings history.

Dolphins at 49ers 3:05 p.m.

LINE - 49ers by 10 1/2 LAST MEETING Miami beat San Francisco 14-9, Dec. 14, 2008 LAST WEEK Miami lost to New England 23-16; San Francisco lost to St. Louis 16-13 OT RANKINGS Dolphins: offense (28), defense (20); 49ers: offense (11), defense (2) NOTES Miami QB Ryan Tannehill threw for 431 yards in only road game vs. NFC, on Sept. 30 at Cardinals. ... In 3 career starts since taking over San Francisco QB job from Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick has 100.1 passer rating with 4 touchdowns - throwing for 3 and running for another.

Cardinals at Seahawks 3:25 p.m.

LINE - Seahawks by 10 LAST MEETING Arizona beat Seattle 20-16, Sept. 9 LAST WEEK Arizona lost to New York 7-6; Seattle beat Chicago 23-17 OT RANKINGS Cardinals: offense (32), defense (7); Seahawks: offense (24), defense (4) NOTES Arizona won in Week 1 20-16 at home when Kevin Kolb came off bench to throw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Andre Roberts with 4:59 left. ... Seattle to play first game without CB Brandon Browner - suspended 4 games by NFL for use of performance enhancing drugs. QB Russell Wilson has 9 touchdown passes and no interceptions over past 4 games raising his season total to 19.

Sports, Pages 24 on 12/09/2012

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