TV GAMES All times Central
Texans at Ravens Noon, CBS LINE - Texans by 1 1/2
LAST MEETING Houston beat Baltimore 43-13 on Oct. 21, 2012 LAST WEEK Houston beat Tennessee 30-24, OT; Baltimore beat Cleveland 14-6 RANKINGS Texans: offense (4), defense (4); Ravens: offense (19), defense (T-21) NOTES Game marks return of S Ed Reed to Baltimore, providing he’s sufficiently recovered from hip injury that sidelined him first two games. Reed signed with Houston as free agent after playing for Ravens in 2002-2012. Won Super Bowl in final season with Ravens. … Houston’s 30-point victory last season was first in series. Ravens are 3-0 against Texans at home, including 20-13 playoff victory in January 2012. … Houston has won six consecutive games in September, but Ravens are 13-5 under Coach John Harbaugh in that month. … Baltimore has won 13 consecutive home games in September and are 34-7 at home under Harbaugh. … At halftime, former Ravens LB Ray Lewis will be inducted into team’s Ring of Honor.
Colts at 49ers
3:25 p.m., CBS LINE - 49ers by 10
LAST MEETING Indianapolis beat San Francisco 18-14 on Nov. 1, 2009 LAST WEEK Indianapolis lost to Miami 24-20; San Francisco lost to Seattle 29-3 RANKINGS Colts: offense (T-14), defense (23); 49ers: offense (17), defense (T-13) NOTES Indianapolis making first visit to Candlestick Park since 28-3 victory Oct. 9, 2005, in first start by 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick Alex Smith for San Francisco against Peyton Manning. … That marked last time before Sunday’s five-turnover loss at Seattle that 49ers had more turnovers than points. San Francisco had five turnovers and no TDs for just third time since 1979. … Colts QB Andrew Luck coached by Jim Harbaugh at Stanford. … San Francisco WR Anquan Boldin has 14 catches for 366 yards and 2 TDs in four career games against Colts. ... Boldin held to 1 catch at Seattle last week. … 49ers have won last five games vs. AFC opponents and Harbaugh’s teams are 7-1 overall in regular season against AFC.
Chargers at Titans Noon
LINE - Titans by 3
LAST MEETING San Diego beat Tennessee 38-10 on Sept. 16, 2012 LAST WEEK San Diego beat Philadelphia 33-30; Tennessee lost to Houston 30-24, OT RANKINGS Chargers: offense (7), defense (31); Titans: offense (30), defense (T-11) NOTES San Diego has won three consecutive in Tennessee and nine consecutive overall in series. … Chargers averaging 37.7 points per game over past three against Titans. … QB Philip Rivers is 5-0 against Titans with 10 TDs and 4 interceptions. … Rivers had fourth career game with 400 yards passing or more last week. … WR Eddie Royal had career-high three TD catches last week. … Tennessee has won two of past three home openers. … Jake Locker tied career high with 2 TD passes last week. … RB Chris Johnson averaging 5 yards per carry against San Diego and rushed for 142 yards in last home game against Chargers. … Titans RB Jackie Battle spent last season with San Diego.
Cardinals at Saints Noon
LINE - Saints by 7 1/2
LAST MEETING Arizona beat New Orleans 30-20 on Oct. 10, 2010 LAST WEEK Arizona beat Detroit 25-21; New Orleans beat Tampa Bay 16-14 RANKINGS Cardinals: offense (13), defense (16); Saints: offense (9), defense (11) NOTES Arizona CB-PR Patrick Peterson, S Tyrann Mathieu and LB Kevin Minter all were defensive teammates at LSU. … Last week, Peterson had 4 tackles, threw 17-yard pass, made 17-yard catch and returned 3 punts. … Since turning pro in 2011, Peterson’s 4 punt return TDs lead NFL. … With nine career INTs, Peterson is only player with more than 7 INTs and more than 3 punt return TDs. … New Orleans aims to improve to 3-0 for first time since 2009, season it won Super Bowl. … Since joining Saints in 2006, QB Drew Brees leads NFL with 34,250 yards passing and 247 TDs.
Browns at Vikings Noon LINE - Vikings by 6 1/2
LAST MEETING Minnesota beat Cleveland 34-20 on Sept. 13, 2009 LAST WEEK Cleveland lost to Baltimore 14-6; Minnesota lost to Chicago 31-30 RANKINGS Browns: offense (28), defense (6); Vikings: offense (20), defense (28) NOTES Brian Hoyer to start at QB for Cleveland. He’s the 19th QB to open a game for Browns since 1999. He fills in for injured Brandon Weeden. … Trade of RB Trent Richardson leaves Browns thin in backfield. No others carried ball in first two games. … WR Josh Gordon also makes season debut after serving two-game suspension for failed drug test, replacing Greg Little in starting lineup. … Minnesota QB Christian Ponder, who has 5 of team’s 7 turnovers, was 10 for 16 passing for 146 yards in second half with 4 rushes for 13 yards last week in loss to Bears. … Vikings RB Adrian Peterson on pace for 1,544 yards rushing. … Kevin Williams (Fordyce) will pass Alan Page for most starts by DT in Vikings history with 158.
Giants at Panthers Noon
LINE - Giants by 1
LAST MEETING New York beat Carolina 36-7 on Sept. 20, 2012 LAST WEEK New York lost to Denver 41-23; Carolina lost to Buffalo 24-23 RANKINGS Giants: offense (5), defense (20); Panthers: offense (27), defense (26) NOTES New York has 10 turnovers in two games: 7 interceptions and 3 fumbles. … Giants QB Eli Manning is 4-1 against Panthers. … Manning has started 137 consecutive games at quarterback, longest active streak for position in NFL. Giants have rushed for just 73 yards on 33 carries in two games, with starting RB David Wilson plagued by fumbles. … Carolina QB Cam Newton, who led team in rushing last year, has just 53 yards on 9 carries and no touchdowns rushing. … Panthers are 17-4 when RB DeAngelo Williams (Wynne), its all-time leading rusher, receives 18 or more carries in game during career.
Lions at Redskins Noon LINE - Pick ‘em
LAST MEETING Washington beat Detroit 37-25 on Oct. 31, 2010 LAST WEEK Detroit lost to Arizona 25-21; Washington lost to Green Bay 38-20 RANKINGS Lions: offense (8), defense (15); Redskins: offense (6), defense (32) NOTES Detroit has never won in Washington, losing 21 consecutive since Redskins moved from Boston to nation’s capital in 1937. Lions loss Sunday would tie NFL record for road futility against single opponent (including postseason), matching 22-game losing streak Lions currently have at Green Bay. … In 47 career games, Detroit’s Matthew Stafford has 1,166 completions, most by QB in first 50 games. Stafford has 13,442 yards passing, needs 422 for most in first 50 games. … Washington has scored 20-plus points in six consecutive regular-season games. … QB Robert Griffin III has only 9 rushes for 25 yards after setting rookie QB record with 815 yards rushing last year. ... Redskins have been outscored 50-7 in first half this season.
Bucs at Patriots Noon LINE - Patriots by 7
LAST MEETING New England beat Tampa Bay 35-7 on Oct. 25, 2009 LAST WEEK New Orleans beat Tampa Bay 16-14; New England beat NY Jets 13-10 RANKINGS Buccaneers: offense (29), defense (T-13); Patriots: offense (22), defense (8) NOTES Tampa Bay lost its first two games by combined three points. New England won two by combined five points. … Buccaneers RB Doug Martin rushed for 144 yards last Sunday. New England has 212 yards rushing all season. … Bucs CB Darrelle Revis faces Patriots for 12th time in career, first 11 with Jets. … New England QB Tom Brady’s 50 consecutive games with at least 1 TD pass is second-longest streak in NFL history. Drew Brees’ streak of 54 ended last season. ... Patriots are 31-3 in past 34 home games. ... New England had more punts (11) than first downs (9) last week.
Rams at Cowboys Noon, Fox LINE - Cowboys by 3 1/2
LAST MEETING Dallas beat St. Louis 34-7 on Oct. 30, 2011 LAST WEEK St. Louis lost to Atlanta 31-24; Dallas lost to Kansas City 17-16 RANKINGS Rams: offense (10), defense (24); Cowboys: offense (24), defense (25) NOTES St. Louis QB Sam Bradford is off to fastest start of four-year career with 651 yards through 2 games. He had 352 yards last week against Atlanta. … Rams tied for league lead in sacks last year with 52 and are off to similar start in 2013. They have six, led by third-year DE Robert Quinn with 3 sacks in opener and 4 overall. … Dallas QB Tony Romo has completed more than 70 percent of passes in both games, but average per attempt is 6.2 yards, significantly lower than career mark of 7.9. … Cowboys DE DeMarcus Ware snapped three-game streak without sack dating to last year by dropping Chiefs QB Alex Smith twice last week. He needs one sack to tie Harvey Martin’s 30-year-old franchise record of 114.
Bears at Steelers 7:30 p.m., NBC
LINE - Bears by 2
LAST MEETING Chicago beat Pittsburgh 17-14 on Sept. 20, 2009 LAST WEEK Chicago beat Minnesota 31-30; Pittsburgh lost to Cincinnati 20-10 RANKINGS Bears: offense (14), defense (17); Steelers: offense (31), defense (10) NOTES Chicago hasn’t won in Pittsburgh since 1989. … Both of Chicago’s victories have come on fourth-quarter comebacks, just second time in franchise history Bears have won first two games when trailing heading into fourth quarter … Chicago’s six takeaways this season are tied for second in the NFL. … Chicago Coach Marc Trestman is third in team history to win first two games (George Halas, Neill Armstrong). … Pittsburgh looking to avoid first 0-3 start since 1986. … Steelers have lost 7 of past 9 games dating back to Week 10 of 2012 season. … Steelers are one of two teams (Oakland) to not record takeaway through two games. … Steelers play Minnesota in London next week, Bears travel to Detroit.
Packers at Bengals Noon
LINE - Packers by 2 1/2
LAST MEETING Cincinnati beat Green Bay 31-24 on Sept. 20, 2009 LAST WEEK Green Bay beat Washington 38-20; Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh 20-10 RANKINGS Packers: offense (1), defense (14); Bengals: offense (12), defense (7) NOTES Green Bay coming off record-setting performance. Aaron Rodgers threw for 480 yards and James Starks ran for 132, first time in NFL history team had passer throw for 450 yards and runner get 125. Packers’ 580 total yards against Washington were second most in franchise history. .... Cincinnati’s Geno Atkins got first sack against Pittsburgh, giving him 13½ in last two seasons, most by DT.
Falcons at Dolphins 3:05 p.m.
LINE - Dolphins by 2
LAST MEETING Atlanta beat Miami 19-7 on Sept. 13, 2009 LAST WEEK Atlanta beat St. Louis 31-24; Miami beat Indianapolis 24-20 RANKINGS Falcons: offense (11), defense (27); Dolphins: offense (21), defense (T-18) NOTES Atlanta TE Tony Gonzalez has 6 touchdown catches in 6 games against Miami. … Falcons have run ball 30 times, fewest in NFL, and are without top RB Steven Jackson (thigh). … With victory, Miami would be 3-0 for first time since 2002. … Dolphins went without penalty last week for first time in 15 seasons.
Jaguars at Seahawks 3:25 p.m.
LINE - Seahawks by 19
LAST MEETING Seattle beat Jacksonville 41-0 on Oct. 11, 2009 LAST WEEK Jacksonville lost to Oakland 19-9; Seattle beat San Francisco 29-3 RANKINGS Jaguars: offense (32), defense (9); Seahawks: offense (23), defense (1) NOTES Jacksonville Coach Gus Bradley served as Seattle’s defensive coordinator in 2009-2012. … Seattle leads league in total defense and scoring defense through two weeks. … CB Richard Sherman, SS Kam Chancellor and FS Earl Thomas all recorded their first interceptions of season against San Francisco.
Bills at Jets 3:25 p.m.
LINE - Jets by 2
LAST MEETING Buffalo beat New York 28-9 on Dec. 30, 2012 LAST WEEK Buffalo beat Carolina 24-23; New York lost to New England 13-10 RANKINGS Bills: offense (T-15), defense (T-18); Jets: offense (25), defense (2) NOTES Matchup of first two QBs selected in NFL draft in April, Buffalo’s EJ Manuel going No. 16 overall, and New York’s Geno Smith selected in second round with 39th pick. … Jets Coach Rex Ryan 7-2 at home in September games.
TODAY’S GAMES All times Central San Diego at Tennessee, noon Arizona at New Orleans, noon St. Louis at Dallas, noon Cleveland at Minnesota, noon Houston at Baltimore, noon NY Giants at Carolina, noon Detroit at Washington, noon Tampa Bay at New England, noon Green Bay at Cincinnati, noon Atlanta at Miami, 3:05 p.m.
Indianapolis at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m. Jacksonville at Seattle, 3:25 p.m.
Buffalo at NY Jets, 3:25 p.m.
Chicago at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
MONDAY’S GAME Oakland at Denver, 7:40 p.m.
Sports, Pages 26 on 09/22/2013