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Posted Nov. 28, 2008

A look at what's ahead in Week 13

NFL.com

12:30 p.m. ET, CBS (Thurs.) Tennessee at Detroit
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Titans, 6-3.
Streaks: The Titans have won four of the last five matchups against the Lions, including a 24-19 win in the most recent matchup on Jan. 2, 2005.
 While this 10-1 vs. 0-11 showdown may be a mismatch on paper, expect the Lions -- facing a Titans team that can clinch the AFC South title this week with a win and Cotls loss -- to come out with quite a bit of intensity as they can save face in front of a Thanksgiving Day national television audience. Football fans can feast their eyes on two of the top rookie rushers in the NFL -- the Titans' Chris Johnson (second among rookies with 833 yards) and the Lions' Kevin Smith (fourth at 599). ... The Titans are going for a fifth consecutive win on Thanksgiving Day. ... Thanksgiving Day games are a tradition in Detroit. The Lions have played in 68 Thanksgiving Day games since 1934. ... Nine years before the Lions started their Thanksgiving Day tradition, Hall of Famer Red Grange made his professional football debut on Thanksgiving Day.


Video: Game preview




4:15 p.m. ET, FOX (Thurs.) Seattle at Dallas
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Cowboys, 6-4.
Streaks: The Seahawks have dominated the series of late, winning three of four, including a memorable victory in the 2006 wild-card playoffs.
 In addition to your plate full of turkey, mashed potatoes, yams and stuffing, be prepared for a large helping of nostalgia as the Cowboys play their final Thanksgiving Day game at Texas Stadium, home to some of the most memorable games ever played on the holiday. This is the two teams' first meeting since that memorable 2006 wild-card playoff showdown. ... The Cowboys have been playing games on Thanksgiving Day since 1966, and are 25-14-1 (.641) on the holiday (Click here for all-time Thanksgiving game results). ... Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck has won three of four career starts against the Cowboys. ... Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware has 26 sacks in his past 25 games.


Video: Game preview




8:15 p.m. ET, NFL Network (Thurs.) Arizona at Philadelphia
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Cardinals, 53-52-5, in this matchup of former NFC East division rivals.
Streaks: The Eagles have won two of the last three matchups, but lost the most recent showdown, a 27-21 Cardinals victory in the team's final home game at Sun Devil Stadium.
 While the Eagles are fading from playoff contention, the Cardinals are hoping to soar to their first postseason appearance since 1998. A win clinches the first division title for the team since 1975 and the team's first home playoff game since 1947. While the Eagles last played on Thanksgiving Day in 1989, the Cardinals' last appearance on the holiday occured in 1983. While the Eagles are 3-1 all-time on Thanksgiving, the Cardinals have a 6-14-2 record and have lost seven straight on the holiday. ... The Cardinals rank second in the NFC averaging 28.9 points per game. ... After a tumultuous couple weeks, Eagles QB Donovan McNabb can take solace in the fact that he has won four of his last five starts against the Cardinals. ... Cardinals QB Kurt Warner is going for a sixth consecutive game with 325 or more passing yards, and can tie Rich Gannon (2002) for the longest streak in NFL history.


Video: Game preview




Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Bills, 5-4.
Streaks: The Bills have won two of the last three against the 49ers, including a 41-7 win in San Francisco during Week 16 of the 2004 season.
 The Bills gave their playoff hopes a shot in the arm with 54-31 win over the Chiefs last week, and would like to keep that momentum going against another team on the brink of playoff contention elimination. The 49ers have 52 plays of 20 or more yards this season, the most in the NFL. ... 49ers QB Shaun Hill has a rating of 100-plus in five of seven career games. ... Bills QB Trent Edwards leads the AFC with a 108.6 passer rating in the fourth quarter.


Video: Game preview




1 p.m. ET, CBS Baltimore at Cincinnati
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Ravens, 14-11.
Streaks: The Bengals have won three of the past four matchups, but the Ravens won the two teams' matchup earlier this season, a 17-10 triumph in Week 1 that got a pleasantly surprising Ravens season off to a rousing start.
 While the Bengals are officially out of the discussion as far as playoff contention is concerned, the Ravens aren't only entertaining thoughts of reaching the postseason, but sit one game behind the AFC North-leading Steelers with a showdown in Baltimore against those Steelers looming in Week 15. In the last six games (five of which were Ravens victories), Ravens rookie QB Joe Flacco has completed 93 of 158 passes for 1,152 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions for a passer rating of 95.2. ... Since 2002, Ravens safety Ed Reed leads the NFL with 37 interceptions. ... The Ravens have not allowed a running back to gain 100 or more rushing yards in 30 consecutive games (longest current streak in the NFL). ... The Bengals are going for a fourth consecutive win over the Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium.


Video: Game preview




1 p.m. ET, FOX Carolina at Green Bay
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Packers, 7-3, including a win over the Panthers in the 1996 NFC Championship.
Streaks: The Packers have won four of five against the Panthers, including a 31-17 win in Week 11 of the 2007 season.
 The Packers' hopes and dreams of an NFC North division title took a hit in a humbling 51-29 loss to the Saints on Monday Night Football, and it will be a tough task to restore those hopes against a Panthers team sporting an 8-3 record. Panthers WR Steve Smith -- coming off his most productive game, yardage-wise (168 vs. the Falcons), since 2005 -- has had 95 or more yards receiving in six of the last eight games. ... Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has a 101.8 passer rating in games played at Lambeau Field. ... The 51 points was the most allowed by the Packers since a 55-24 loss by the Packers to the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants in 1986.


Video: Game preview




Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Giants, 86-61-4, in a series that dates back to a 14-6 Boston Braves win over the Giants in 1932.
Streaks: The Giants have won four of the last five matchups, including a 16-7 win over the Redskins on Kickoff Thursday.
 As fans contemplate what to do with their leftover Thanksgiving Day turducken, they can enjoy this delectable NFC East showdown. What figured to be a four-team race in the NFC East could be turned into a runaway by the Giants, if they beat Washington. The Giants have won 14 of the last 15 on the road (including playoffs), with the only loss in that span coming on Monday Night Football against the Browns. ... Giants QB Eli Manning is 24-5 in his past 29 starts. ... Redskins QB Jason Campbell leads the NFL with a 0.9 interception percentage (3 interceptions on 340 attempts). ... Redskins RB Clinton Portis leads the NFL with 1,206 rushing yards and is aiming to become the third Redskins player to lead the league in rushing, joining Hall of Famer Cliff Battles (1937) and Larry Brown (1970).


Video: Game preview




Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Saints, 20-13.
Streaks: The Buccaneers have won two of three against the Saints, but lost the most recent matchup, 24-20, in Week 1.
 The ultra-competitive NFC South presents a delicious matchup to enjoy with your Thanksgiving Day leftovers. While the 8-3 Buccaneers are tied for first in the divison, the 6-5 Saints sit in last place and need to make a move in a hurry. This showdown at Raymond James Stadium would be a tremendous start as New Orleans plays two straight games against NFC South rivals. Saints QB Drew Brees remains on pace to break Dan Marino's 1984 record of 5,084 yards passing in a season. He has 3,574 yards with five games remaining. ... The Buccaneers possess the NFL's No. 2-ranked pass defense, allowing just 174.6 yards a game via the forward pass. ... The Saints are 3-1 in the four games that Reggie Bush has sat out due to a knee injury. ... Buccaneers QB Jeff Garcia has passed for a career-high four touchdowns twice against the Saints.


Video: Game preview




Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Browns, 13-11.
Streaks: The Colts have won six of the past seven matchups to narrow what had been a huge advantage in the series for the Browns. The most recent matchup of these Midwest teams resulted in a 13-6 Colts win in Week 3 of the 2005 season.
 As the Browns have seen their season of promise slip into bitter disappointment, the Colts have recovered from their slow start to make another playoff run. The Browns game represents the third of six in a row against teams with a losing record for the Colts before closing out the season against the division-leading Titans. The Colts -- who are riding a four-game winning streak -- are going for a fifth consecutive win over the Browns, and a seventh consecutive win in November. ... On the Colts' four-game victory ride, QB Peyton Manning has thrown for 1,069 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception for a passer rating of 100.9. ... This is a homecoming for Colts WR Anthony Gonzalez, who attended St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland and went to college at Ohio State. ... Browns RB Jamal Lewis needs 284 yards to become the first Browns running back since Mike Pruitt to gain 1,000 rushing yards in consecutive seasons (Pruitt had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from 1979-81).


Video: Game preview




1 p.m. ET, CBS Miami at St. Louis
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Dolphins, 8-2.
Streaks: The Dolphins have dominated this series -- winning seven of the last eight games -- and dominated the most recent matchup, a 31-14 win in Miami during Week 7 of the 2004 season.
 The teams that drafted 1-2 in April's draft have headed in opposite directions since that fateful day. Bill Parcells and first-year coach Tony Sparano have had a positive impact on a Dolphins team contending for a playoff spot. In St. Louis, meanwhile, Scott Linehan was fired just four weeks into the season and Jim Haslett is guiding a Rams team destined for another high draft pick come April 2009. Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell (who has six career sacks) needs a half sack to surpass Liffort Hobley for the most career sacks by a Dolphins defensive back. ... Rams DE Chris Long -- the second overall pick in the 2008 draft -- leads all rookies with four sacks. ... The Rams have lost 13 of the last 15 games.


Video: Game preview




4:05 p.m. ET, FOX Atlanta at San Diego
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Falcons, 6-1.
Streaks: The Falcons have won the past four matchups, including a 21-20 win over the Chargers on Oct. 17, 2004.
 The juicy storylines that characterized that 2004 showdown (Michael Vick against the team that traded away the top overall pick, then selected LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees in that same draft) no longer exist. Instead, Vick's replacement -- promising rookie Matt Ryan -- and Tomlinson's former backup -- Michael Turner -- come to San Diego, where the local team is clinging to ever-eroding playoff hopes. Falcons QB Matt Ryan has won two of three starts against AFC teams. ... Falcons RB Michael Turner is ranked third in the NFL in rushing with 1,088 yards, and is coming off a game in which he set a Falcons record with four touchdowns. ... Chargers QB Philip Rivers leads the NFL with a 103.3 passer rating. ... Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson needs three receptions to reach 500 for his career and become only one of five players in NFL history with 10,000 rushing yards and 500 receptions. ... The seven losses for the Chargers matches their loss total from the previous two seasons combined (25-7 from 2006-07).


Video: Game preview




4:15 p.m. ET, CBS Kansas City at Oakland
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Chiefs, 50-44-2, in this showdown of original American Football League teams.
Streaks: The Chiefs have won nine of 11 against the Raiders, but it was Oakland who walked away victorious in the two teams' most recent matchup, 23-8 at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 2.
 The Chiefs are on a losing skid of historic proportions. Kansas City has lost 19 of its last 20 games, lost 10-plus games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 20 years and are coming off a game in which the team allowed the most points (54) in franchise history. However, a win over their long-time nemesis from Oakland could help ease much of that embarrassment. With a 100-yard receiving game in last week's 54-31 loss to the Bills, Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez now has 25 career 100-yard games, one more than Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow for the most by a tight end in NFL history. ... Despite their recent run of futility, the Chiefs are going for a fifth consecutive win in Oakland. ... In 11 career starts, Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell has eight touchdown passes and five interceptions for a 76.8 passer rating. However, Russell is coming off a a career-best 149.1 passer rating in the Raiders' 31-10 win over the Broncos. ... In last game against the Chiefs, Raiders rookie RB Darren McFadden had a career-high 164 yards rushing and two touchdowns.


Video: Game preview




4:15 p.m. ET, CBS Pittsburgh at New England
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Steelers, 12-7.
Streaks: The Patriots have made the all-time series record a bit closer in recent years, winning four of the last five matchups, including a 34-13 win over the Steelers at Gillette Stadium in Week 14 of last season.
 Playoff positioning and potential postseason tiebreakers could be at stake in Foxborough, where the Steelers hold a slim one-game lead in the AFC North and the Patriots are one game behind the division-leading Jets in the AFC East. The Steelers have dominated teams from their own conference this season, going 7-1 against the AFC. ... In three career regular-season games against the Patriots, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has five touchdowns and no interceptions with a 100.2 passer rating. ... The Steelers boast the NFL's top-ranked defense, leading in both rushing defense and passing defense. The Steelers also have an NFL-best 37 sacks. ... The Patriots are coming off a game in which they put up 530 yards of total offense, the second most in franchise history. The most? 597 yards against the Jets on Sept. 9, 1979. ... Patriots QB Matt Cassel is the first quarterback in team history with back-to-back 400-yard passing games, and is the fifth player in NFL history with back-to-back 400-yard games (Billy Volek in 2004, Phil Simms in 1985, Dan Marino in 1984 and Dan Fouts in 1982).


Video: Game preview




4:15 p.m. ET, FOX Denver at N.Y. Jets
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Broncos, 15-14-1, in this showdown of original American Football League teams.
Streaks: The Broncos have won two of the past three matchups, including the most recent clash, a 27-0 rout of the Jets in Denver during the 2005 season.
 The Jets -- coming off their most impressive win of the season -- face the Broncos -- coming off their most disturbing loss of the season -- as division leaders collide at the Meadowlands. Broncos QB Jay Cutler has 48 touchdowns in 32 career games. ... Broncos CBs Champ Bailey (43) and Dre Bly (39) rank first and second among cornerbacks for most interceptions since 1999. ... In their 34-13 win over the Titans, the Jets overwhelmed the previously unbeaten Titans. Tennessee's defense allowed season highs in points (34), yards (409) and rushing yards (192) in that game. ... The Jets are 9-0 when RB Thomas Jones scores a touchdown. ... The Jets -- currently riding a five-game winning streak -- haven't won six consecutive games since 2000.


Video: Game preview




8:15 p.m. ET, NBC Chicago at Minnesota
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Vikings, 50-42-2.
Streaks: The Vikings have won two of the last three against the Bears, but it was the Monsters of the Midway who claimed the last showdown, a very un-Monster-like 48-41 shootout at Soldier Field.
 First place in the NFC North is on the line at the H.H.H. Metrodome, where the Vikings have enjoyed a 4-1 record this season. Bears QB Kyle Orton is 18-10 as a starter, and in the last meeting with the Vikings, the former Purdue University QB threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns for a 114.5 passer rating. ... Bears RB Matt Forte leads NFL rookies with 1,245 yards from scrimmage and 59 first downs. ... Vikings RB Adrian Peterson has enjoyed significant success against the Bears, rushing for 423 yards and seven touchdowns in three career games against Chicago. ... The first win in Vikings team history came against the Bears in the very first game for the expansion team in 1961.


Video: Game preview




8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN (Mon.) Jacksonville at Houston
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Texans, 7-6.
Streaks: The Jaguars have won two of the last three matchups against the Texans, including a 30-27 OT win over Houston in Week 4.
 Both teams sit at 4-7 and cling to playoff hopes that only a calculator can provide. The 2008 season has been a disappointment for both teams, as the Jaguars entertained serious Super Bowl hopes in the preseason, while the Texans believed that making the playoffs for the first time in team history was a realistic goal. The Jaguars are 7-4 all-time on Monday Night Football. ... The Texans are making their first appearance on Monday Night Football, and this Monday Night Football contest is the first for Houston since the Houston Oilers were defeated by the Giants 13-10 at the Astrodome in 1994. ... Texans was chosen from a group of potential nicknames that included Apollos, Bobcats, Stallions and Wildcatters when Houston was awarded an expansion franchise to begin play in 2002.


Video: Game preview



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