Cowboys at Rams
Noon, Fox
LINE — Cowboys by 1 1/2
LAST MEETING Cowboys beat Rams 31-7, Sept., 22, 2013.
LAST WEEK Cowboys beat Titans 26-10; Rams beat Buccaneers 19-17.
RANKINGS Cowboys: offense (7), defense (12); Rams: offense (20), defense (15)
NOTES Dallas RB DeMarco Murray leads NFL with 285 yards rushing. … In last year’s game, Murray rushed for 175 yards and TD and Romo passed for 3 TDs in last meeting. Murray had franchise-record 253 yards rushing against Rams in 2011 with 91-yard run. … WR Dez Bryant had 10 catches last week and reached 300 catches in 61st game, fewest games in franchise history. … St. Louis QB Austin Davis made first career start last week in place of injured Shaun Hill, throwing for 235 yards. … RB Zac Stacy averages 104.7 yards past six home games with five TDs. … WR Brian Quick has team-leading 14 catches, seven in each game. … DE Robert Quinn has 13 sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in past nine games at home.
Steelers at Panthers
7:30 p.m., NBC
LINE — Panthers by 3
LAST MEETING Steelers beat Panthers 27-3 on Dec. 23, 2010.
LAST WEEK Steelers lost to Ravens 26-6; Panthers beat Lions 24-7.
RANKINGS Steelers: offense (6), defense (20); Panthers: offense (23), defense (5)
NOTES Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger needs 313 yards passing to reach 35,000 for career. … Steelers have only one touchdown in five trips inside opponent’s 20. … RB LeVeon Bell has AFC-high 304 yards from scrimmage. … WR Antonio Brown has at least five catches and 50 yards in 18 consecutive games. … Rookie LB Ryan Shazier had 11 tackles vs. Ravens. … Carolina last started 3-0 in 2003 when it went to Super Bowl. … Panthers have won eight in a row at home. … Panthers have six takeaways and no turnovers in two games. … QB Cam Newton threw for 281 yards last week against Detroit in first game back from fractured ribs. … RB DeAngelo Williams (Wynne) missed last week with a thigh after gaining 72 yards rushing in Week 1. RB Jonathan Stewart will start if Williams doesn’t play. … WR Kelvin Benjamin leads NFC receivers with 138 yards. … TE Greg Olsen averaging 17.3 yards per catch. … LB Luke Kuechly has NFL-best 340 tackles since 2012. … CB Antoine Cason had 10 tackles, two forced fumbles and recovery in victory over Detroit. … DE Mario Addison had 2½ sacks against Lions with DE Greg Hardy deactivated. Hardy will not play against Steelers.
Broncos at Seahawks
3:25 p.m., CBS
LINE — Seahawks by 4 1/2
LAST MEETING Seahawks beat Broncos 43-8, Feb. 2, 2014, in Super Bowl XLVIII.
LAST WEEK Broncos beat Chiefs; Seahawks lost to Chargers 30-21.
RANKINGS Broncos: offense (14t), defense (27); Seahawks: (14t), defense (11)
NOTES Only sixth time in NFL history teams from previous Super Bowl have met following regular season. Last Super Bowl rematch came in 1997 when Packers beat Patriots. … Denver seeking 13th 3-0 start in franchise history, have missed playoffs three of past five times starting 3-0. … Broncos have 14 players not on roster from Super Bowl and nine new starters on defense. … QB Peyton Manning needs three TD passes to join Brett Favre as only QBs with 500. Manning needs two TD passes for 100 with Broncos. … DE DeMarcus Ware has 4 sacks in past four games vs. Seattle. … Seattle has won 18 of past 19 at home, playoffs included. … Seahawks lost last week by more than seven points for first time since Week 9 of 2011 season in a 23-13 loss at Dallas. … After getting 11 offensive touches in season opener, WR Percy Harvin had his hands on the ball only three times last week, including a disputed 51-yard touchdown run.
49ers at Cardinals
3:05 p.m.
LINE — 49ers by 2½
LAST MEETING 49ers beat Cardinals 23-20, Dec. 29, 2013.
LAST WEEK 49ers lost to Bears 28-20; Cardinals beat Giants 25-14.
RANKINGS 49ers: offense (16), defense (6); Cardinals: offense (18), defense (11)
NOTES San Francisco 18-7 on road under Coach Jim Harbaugh since he took over in 2011. Best NFL road winning percentage (.720) in that span. … In 16 games vs. Arizona, TE Vernon Davis has 54 catches for 811 yards and 9 TDs. In first game against Cardinals last season, Davis caught 8 passes for 180 yards and 2 TDs. … In 2013 season finale against Cardinals, RB Frank Gore got 51st rushing TD, passing Joe Perry and Roger Craig for franchise record. … Arizona QB Carson Palmer missed game Sunday for first time since 2012 season finale. That 2012 game was only one he had missed since 2008. .. Bruce Arians’ 12-6 start as Cardinals’ coach is franchise’s best through 18 games since Norm Barry went 15-2-1 in 1925-1926. Counting interim stint in Indianapolis, Arians 21-9 in regular season games. … S Tyrann Mathieu was in on 5 plays vs Giants, his first game action since tearing ACL and MCL on his left knee in 13th game last year.
Raiders at Patriots
Noon
LINE — Patriots by 14
LAST MEETING Patriots beat Raiders 31-19, Oct. 2, 2011.
LAST WEEK Raiders lost to Texans 30-14; Patriots beat Vikings 30-7.
RANKINGS Raiders: offense (31), defense (23); Patriots: offense (27), defense (4)
NOTES New England QB Tom Brady and Oakland safety Charles Woodson, teammates at Michigan, first met as pros in “tuck rule” playoff game Jan. 19, 2002, won by Patriots 16-13 in OT. Woodson forced Brady’s apparent fumble with under two minutes left, but call was overturned on replay and New England kicked tying field goal. … Brady goes for 150th regular-season win. Only QBs with more are Brett Favre (186) and Peyton Manning (169). Brady needs 453 yards passing to become sixth QB with 50,000. … RB Stevan Ridley rushed for 101 yards against Vikings, sixth time he had more than 100 since being drafted in 2011. … Oakland rookie QB Derek Carr’s 41-yard run against Texans is longest by NFL QB this season. He completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 263 yards and TD last Sunday. … WR James Jones has one TD catch in each of two games this season and total of 12 receptions. … Woodson needs one INT to tie Emmitt Thomas for 11th all-time with 58.
Chargers at Bills
Noon
LINE — Pick ’em
LAST MEETING Chargers beat Bills 37-10, Dec. 11, 2011.
LAST WEEK Chargers beat Seahawks 30-21; Bills beat Dolphins 29-10.
RANKINGS Chargers: offense (19), defense )18); Bills: offense (17), defense (21)
NOTES San Diego TE Antonio Gates had three TDs against Seahawks to increase career total to 90, one short of matching Isaac Bruce, who ranks 10th on NFL career receiving list. … QB Philip Rivers has had touchdown passes in 22 consecutive games, one short of marching team record he set in 2009-2010. … Buffalo has chance to open 3-0 for first time since 2011, which is also last time they won three consecutive. … First-round pick, WR Sammy Watkins, leads NFL rookies with 11 catches for 148 yards. Watkins’ 117 yards receiving against Dolphins was most by Bills rookie since Chris Burkett had 127 against Jets in 1985. … DT Kyle Williams has 4½ sacks in past five games.
Chiefs at Dolphins
3:25 p.m.
LINE — Dolphins by 5 1/2
LAST MEETING Dolphins beat Chiefs 31-3, Nov. 6, 2011.
LAST WEEK Dolphins lost at Bills 29-10; Chiefs lost at Broncos 24-17.
RANKINGS Chiefs: offense (26), defense (24); Dolphins: offense (21), defense (9)
NOTES Miami backup QB Matt Moore threw three scores to help them beat Chiefs previous time teams met in 2011. … Dolphins have outgained opponents 450-185 in second half. They’ve been outgained 445-200 in first half. … Dolphins rank last in NFL at 4.4 yards per pass play, sacks included. They’re averaging 4.6 yards per rush. … Dolphins are 24-5 against AFC West in their stadium, which opened in 1987. … Miami’s Tannehill is 8 for 19 for 77 yards on third down. … Kansas CIty QB Smith ranks 35th and last in NFL with passer rating of 63.6. However, he leads all QBs with 78 yards rushing in 11 carries. He has never faced Dolphins. … Chiefs opponents have a passer rating of 126.9, highest in league. Kansas City has allowed five touchdown passes and made no interceptions.
Ravens at Browns
Noon
LINE — Pick ’em
LAST MEETING Browns beat Ravens 24-8, on Nov. 3, 2013.
LAST WEEK Ravens beat Steelers 26-6; Browns beat Saints 26-24.
RANKINGS Ravens: offense (9), defense (15); Browns: offense (13), defense (31)
NOTES Baltimore LB Terrell Suggs has 15 career sacks vs. Browns, most against any team. … Ravens Coach John Harbaugh and QB Joe Flacco are 11-1 vs. Browns. … New Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak worked with Browns OC Kyle Shanahan in Houston and teams run nearly identical systems. … Ravens have held Browns under 25 points in 10 consecutive games. … Ravens’ defense has allowed just 1 TD, fewest in NFL. … Cleveland rallied in closing minutes last week to win first home opener since 2004. … Browns have faced Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees and Flacco in first three weeks. … QB Brian Hoyer brought Browns back last week to improve to 4-1 as starter. … Hoyer has thrown 132 consecutive passes without an interception, second longest current streak in league. … Browns one of four teams not to commit a turnover this season. … Browns Coach Mike Pettine began NFL career as assistant with Ravens and spent seven seasons (2002-2008) in Baltimore.
Texans at Giants
Noon, CBS
LINE — Texans by 2 1/2
LAST MEETING Giants beat Texans 34-10, Oct. 10, 2010.
LAST WEEK Texans beat Raiders 30-14; Giants lost to Cardinals 25-14.
RANKINGS Texans: offense (22), defense (26); Giants: offense (30), defense (16)
NOTES Houston has started 2-0 in five consecutive seasons. …Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has 129.1 rating last week, second best of career. … RB Arian Foster has rushed for at least 100 yards in first two games. … WR Andre Johnson has 14 catches for 178 yards in two games against Giants, while WR DeAndre Hopkins has caught TD in each of first two games this season. …Texans have not allowed a sack. … New York has started 0-2 in consecutive seasons for first time since 1995-1996. … New York has not recorded takeaway and is minus-6 overall. … QB Eli Manning is 2-0 against Houston. … TE Larry Donnell leads team with 12 catches for 137 yards. WR Victor Cruz has not caught touchdown since fourth week of last season. … Jason Pierre-Paul had 1 1/2 sacks last week, while fellow DE Robert Ayers Jr. has sack in each of first two games.
Vikings at Saints
Noon
LINE — Saints by 9 1/2
LAST MEETING Saints beat Vikings 42-20, Dec. 18, 2011.
LAST WEEK Vikings lost to Patriots 30-7; Saints lost to Browns 26-24.
RANKINGS Vikings: offense (29), defense (7); Saints: offense (3); defense (30)
NOTES Minnesota QB Matt Cassel won his only start in Superdome with Kansas City in 2012. … With RB Adrian Peterson away from team to address child abuse allegations, WR Cordarrelle Patterson is Minnesota’s leading rusher with 102 yards on three carries. … Patterson has TDs in three consecutive games and six of past seven. … LB Chad Greenway had 12 or more tackles in each of Vikings’ past two meetings with Saints. … DE Everson Griffin has 4½ sacks in past four games … New Orleans RB Mark Ingram, who leads New Orleans with 143 yards and 3 TDs on 24 carries, is out with broken hand. … TE Jimmy Graham leads Saints in receiving with 18 catches for 200 yards and 2 TDs. Since 2011, Graham leads NFL TEs with 304 catches, 3,917 yards and 41 TDs. … Saints WR Marques Colston was held without a catch last week, snapping 86-game streak with at least one catch, dating to October 2008. He had five catches for 110 yards in Week 1.
Colts at Jaguars
Noon
LINE — Colts by 7
LAST MEETING Colts beat Jaguars 30-10, Dec. 29, 2013.
LAST WEEK Colts lost to Eagles 30-27; Jaguars lost to Redskins 41-10.
RANKINGS Colts: offense (8), defense (28); Jaguars: offense (32), defense (29)
NOTES Indianapolis is 0-2 for first time since 2011, year Peyton Manning went down with neck injury and they lost first 13 games. That’s also only year in which Jacksonville swept both regular-season meetings. … QB Andrew Luck is 3-1 against Jaguars, he’s been relatively quiet in those games, throwing for 1,079 yards and 5 TDs, running for 94 yards and 2 scores. He also has thrown three INTs and been sacked five times. … In his past eight games in Jacksonville, Colts WR Reggue Wayne has 65 receptions for 946 yards and 3 TDs. … Jacksonville is 0-2 for third consecutive season and fifth time in past seven years. … Both losses in 2014 were debacles, with Jacksonville blowing 17-point halftime lead at Philadelphia and then getting manhandled in 41-10 drubbing at Washington. Jags gave up franchise-record 10 sacks and managed just 148 yards against Redskins. … Coach Gus Bradley responded by making two changes to O-line, including parting ways with RT Cam Bradfield, who started 25 games in last three seasons. … Jacksonville’s home opener is regular-season debut of team’s $63 million stadium upgrades, which include world’s largest scoreboards as well as pools and cabanas.
Packers at Lions
Noon
LINE — Lions by 1
LAST MEETING Lions beat Packers 40-10, Nov. 28, 2013.
LAST WEEK Packers beat Jets 31-24; Lions lost to Panthers 24-7.
RANKINGS Packers: offense (24), defense (19); Lions: offense (10), defense (2)
NOTES Green Bay have won 15 of past 17 in series, but Detroit routed Green Bay on Thanksgiving last year. … Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is 9-1 against Lions with 111 passer rating. Only loss came in 2010 when he left game with injury. … Green Bay’s Jordy Nelson had nine catches for 209 yards last week, most yards receiving for Packers player in non-OT game since 1956. … Detroit WR Calvin Johnson leads NFL since 2011 with 315 catches, 5,384 yards receiving. … Only 38.6 percent of Detroit’s first-down plays have gained 4 or more yards. … Lions RBs Reggie Bush and Joique Bell combined for 310 yards from scrimmage in last meeting with Packers. … Detroit opponents have gained 4.29 yards per play, lowest mark in NFL. … Lions K Nate Freese is 2 of 5 on field goals, has missed all three attempts from at least 40 yards.
Titans at Bengals
Noon
LINE — Bengals by 7
LAST MEETING Bengals beat Titans 24-17, Nov. 6, 2011.
LAST WEEK Titans lost to Cowboys 26-10; Bengals beat Falcons 24-10.
RANKINGS Titans: offense (11), defense (8); Bengals: offense (4), defense (25)
NOTES Tennessee has league’s top-ranked pass defense, but allowed Cowboys to run for 220 yards during last week’s 26-10 loss. … Tennessee’s eight sacks tied for second most in NFL. … TE Delanie Walker had 10 catches for 142 yards vs Dallas, his first 100-yard game in nine seasons. His 142 yards were third-highest total in team history. … Cincinnati trying for franchise record with 11th consecutive regular-season victory at home. … QB Andy Dalton has no sacks or INTs in two consecutive games, a career first. Personal bests are three games without INT, three games without a sack. … Bengals are only NFL team without turnover or sack, first time in team’s 47 seasons it’s gone first two games without either. … RB Giovani Bernard had breakout game vs. Falcons. He carried career-high 27 times for 90 yards and caught team-high five passes for career-best 79 yards.
Redskins at Eagles
Noon
LINE — Eagles by 6 1/2
LAST MEETING Eagles beat Redskins 24-16, Nov. 17, 2013.
LAST WEEK Redskins beat Jaguars 41-10; Eagles beat Colts 30-27.
RANKINGS Redskins: offense (5), defense (1); Eagles: offense (1), defense (13)
NOTES Washington WR DeSean Jackson plays first game vs. Eagles after his release from team in March. Jackson went to three Pro Bowls in Philadelphia and ranks fourth in team history in yards receiving (6,117), seventh in catches (356) and eighth in TD catches (32). He injured shoulder last week. … Redskins trying to win NFC East opener for first time since beating Dallas in Week 1 in 2010. … RB Alfred Morris (3,064) needs 49 yards to pass Don Bosseler (3,112) for 10th on team’s all-time list. … Philadelphia is 9-1 in past 10 regular-season games, including five consecutive wins at home. … Eagles have takeaway in 15 consecutive games, including playoffs. … Defense hasn’t allowed points on opening possession in 14 consecutive games. … Nick Foles can become just third quarterback in team history to throw for 300 yards in three consecutive games. … RB Darren Sproles is only player with run and reception of at least 40 yards this season.