THE GOLD SHEET - NFL
KEY RELEASES
KANSAS CITY by 14 over Oakland
TAMPA BAY by 20 over Atlanta
OVER THE TOTAL in the Chicago-Carolina game
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
KANSAS CITY 24 - Oakland 10?Third start overall and first on the road for JaMarcus Russell, who will experience the unique ?pleasure? of trying to direct his team amid the cacophany of arguably the NFL?s noisiest stadium.Brodie Croyle (0-7 as a starter; check status) finally beginning to face opposing QBs with even less experience than his own. Raider RBs (Fargas, McFadden,Bush) imposing, but Oakland OL and WRs not. Will count on improving young Chiefs? defense and K.C.?s crowd to fluster Russell into mistakes.
(07-K. City 12-OAK. 10...K.14-10 K.32/126 O.24/55 O.18/29/1/213 K.16/32/1/164 K.0 O.1)
(07-Oak. 20-K. CITY 17...O.19-18 K.37/164 O.29/153 O.15/22/0/159 K.12/23/1/128 O.1 K.0)
(07-Kansas City +2' 12-10, Oakland +4' 20-17...SR: Kansas City 52-44-2)
TAMPA BAY 26 - Atlanta 6?A rookie QB (Matt Ryan) on a rebuilding team (Atlanta) with a rookie head coach (Mike Smith) is NOT a good combination for facing the most-developed of the usually-confusing, two-deep, zone-blitz defenses now simply dubbed the ?Tampa Two? scheme throughout football. Especially with that combination on the road, and especially when the Bucs dominated the Falcs LY (before Michael Turner, however), winning twice by a total score of 68-10! T.B. offense perfectly average (worse than average if Jeff Garcia & Joey Galloway not in tune), but stop unit expert at producing opponent mistakes.
(07-T. Bay 31-ATL. 7...15-15 T.31/149 A.19/49 A.31/48/2/226 T.11/21/0/156 T.2 A.2)
(07-T. BAY 37-Atl. 3...T.21-5 T.48/190 A.20/106 T.15/25/1/95 A.4/15/2/27 T.0 A.2)
(07-Tampa Bay -3 31-7, TAMPA BAY -12' 37-3...SR: Tampa Bay 17-12)
OVER THE TOTAL Chicago 27 - CAROLINA 26?Kudos to Steve Smith-less Carolina and to Jake Delhomme (and his surgeons) for their lastplay victory at San Diego. However, the running of rookie Matt Fort? (123 yards) and the nearly-mistake-free play of Kyle Orton (13 of 21, no ints.) was a big boost not only to the Bear offense, but to the Chicago defense, which was both injured and overworked LY. Must be impressed with Lovie?s depth on the DL especially with DTs Harris and Dvoracek both healthy, plus impressive thirdround pick Marcus Harrison of Arkansas. With Jake back for Panthers,however, will look ?over? again in Charlotte.
CINCINNATI 16 - Tennessee 13?Situation hardly comforting these days in Cincy, where problems are running a bit deeper than the NFL disallowing ?Ocho Cinco? on jersey of the artist formerly known as Chad Johnson. Getting its ground game in gear (Chris Perry only a puny 2.1 ypc in first game as Rudi Johnson?s replacement) might be easier said than done vs. stout Tennessee run defense. But Titans not looking especially explosive themselves, with Vince Young (knee) and speedy rookie RB Chris Johnson both injured last week (check status). ?Under? might be a better idea.
(07-CINCY 35-Ten. 6...C.30-10 C.36/148 T.18/61 C.32/38/1/278 T.19/31/1/244 C.0 T.1)
(07-CINCINNATI +1 35-6...SR: Tennessee 38-32-1)
Indianapolis 27 - MINNESOTA 16?Indy run defense will give up a bunch of yards to Adrian Peterson, but its pass rush and ball-hawking secondary should prove major problems for young Vike QB Tarvaris Jackson, especially with LT McKinnie serving second game of his suspension. Moreover, 32ndranked Minny pass defense must prove it can contain Peyton Manning, who should be less rusty and quicker on his feet after opening-game loss.Remember, however, that the rebuilt interior of the Colts? OL must deal with the granite-like Williams-Williams DT duo of the Vikes. Minny only 2-5 last 7 as home dog.
(04-INDIANAPOLIS -7 31-28...SR: Indianapolis 14-7-1)
New Orleans 24 - WASHINGTON 17?When is Jason Campbell going to start resembling a real No. 1 QB in the NFL? The fact he?s absorbing his seventh offensive system in eight years (at Auburn, then Washington) has something to do with it. Campbell appears far from mastery of Jim Zorn?s version of the West Coast system, especially if Campbell?s stuttering opening performance vs. the Giants is any indication. Even with Deuce McAllister?s return to active duty on hold due to lingering knee issues, there?s a lot more offensive competence on New Orleans, especially with Drew Brees (343 YP & 3 TDP vs. Bucs) apparently in midseason form.
(06-Washington +9' 16-10...SR: Washington 14-7)
DETROIT 23 - Green Bay 16?First road start for Aaron Rodgers, with Packers only 5-5 SU their last 10 trips to the Motor City. Without Favre?s help with the offense, more is likely to be asked of the Packer defense TY, with CBs Al Harris and Charles Woodson facing younger and more-physical Detroit WRs Roy Smith and Calvin Johnson. Lions? defense still has holes, as Falcons (474 total yards) exposed last week. But is Rodgers ready yet to exploit them? We?ll say no.
(07-G. Bay 37-DET. 26...25-25 D.30/134 G.17/100 G.31/41/0/381 D.19/40/1/197 G.1 D.0)
(07-G. BAY 34-Det. 13...G.19-16 G.38/217 D.17/47 D.22/48/2/246 G.16/26/0/177 G.1 D.0)
(07-Green Bay -3' 37-26, GREEN BAY -4' 34-13...SR: Green Bay 86-64-7
NY Giants 23 - ST. LOUIS 10?Maybe St. Louis isn?t as bad as it looked in its opener at Philly. Then again, maybe it is! After all, it was no secret Rams? banged-up OL was a mess, and that Steven Jackson might be rusty after his holdout and hamstring woes kept him out of preseason. Without much pass rush to bother Eli Manning, it?s hard to see the overworked Ram defense compensating for any offensive shortcomings. Meanwhile, the re-tooled Giants? stop unit looked just fine, with d.c. Steve Spagnuolo still having plenty quality athletes available. The G-men were supreme road warriors LY, winning their last 11 away from Meadowlands (10-1 vs. line!)!
(05-NY GIANTS -3 44-24...SR: St. Louis 26-13)
JACKSONVILLE 17 - Buffalo 16?Not sure we trust Jacksonville to recover from its ugly 17-10 opening loss at Tennessee, especially with OL injuries mounting alarmingly (three more hurt vs. Titans, not to mention top backup Richard Collier?s absence due to gunshot wounds) and protection breaking down for David Garrard, sacked 7 times in Nashville. New WRs Jerry Porter (hamstring) & Troy Williamson yet to provide the deep threat intended.Buffalo?s? offense has more bite now that second-year QB Edwards reading defenses more quickly. Dynamic Bills? ST helped scuttle Seattle in opener.
(07-JACK. 36-Buf. 14...J.21-20 J.26/124 B.24/94 J.23/37/0/292 B.27/40/2/203 J.1 B.1)
(07-JACKSONVILLE -8' 36-14...SR: EVEN 4-4)
SEATTLE 27 - San Francisco 13?Seattle?s WR situation getting desperate, especially after Nate Burleson (knee; check status) was shelved in the Buffalo game after Bobby Engram, Deion Branch, and Ben Obamanu were already out with injury. RB Maurice Morris (knee) also hurting. However,Seattle?s resiliency when returning home?where Seahawks are 19-8-1 vs. spread last 28 games?should not be underestimated. Nor should the QB edge and coaching edge owned by the host. Niners fall behind too early, too often to be trusted.
(07-Sea. 23-S. FRAN. 3...Se.17-9 Sf.19/109 Se.37/93 Se.23/32/1/278 Sf.12/34/2/75 Se.0 Sf.1)
(07-SEA. 24-S. Fran. 0...Se.27-6 Se.36/106 Sf.16/79 Se.27/40/1/274 Sf.12/28/0/94 Se.1 Sf.2)
(07-Seattle -2 23-3, SEATTLE -9' 24-0...SR: Seattle 10-8)
ARIZONA 20 - Miami 17?After six losses by a FG LY, Miami battled Brett Favre and the Jets on pretty even terms for much of last week?s opener,showing enough positives to make them worth a look. Rushing attack should improve as LT Jake Long develops and Ricky Williams & Ronnie Brown get back in the groove. Chad Pennington quickly gaining rapport with TEs Anthony Fasano & David Martin. Kurt Warner a savvy?but not mobile?field general.
(04-Arizona +3 24-23...SR: Miami 8-1)
NY JETS 23 - New England 13?It took less than one quarter for the Super Bowl runner-up jinx to click in, with Tom Brady felled by a major knee injury.Now, the question is whether the proud Patriots, suddenly finding themselves underdogs for the first time since the 2006 playoffs, will rise up behind Matt Cassel (13 of 18, 1 TD in opener; Chris Simms and others to get tryouts this week). However, the truth is N.E.?s OL, ground game, and?at times?the defense were beginning to disappoint. Mangini?s Jets have always played Belichick tough; Favre vs. Cassel might now be the difference.
(07-N. Eng. 38-JETS 14...Ne.28-17 Ne.37/134 Ny.19/60 Ne.22/28/0/297 Ny.21/31/0/167 Ne.0 Ny.0)
(07-N. ENG. 20-Jets 10...Ne.16-13 Ne.35/131 Ny.17/90 Ny.25/40/1/146 Ne.14/27/1/134 Ne.0 Ny.1)
(07-New England -6' 38-14, NEW ENGLAND -21 20-10...SR: EVEN 48-48-1)
HOUSTON 24 - Baltimore 13?Will side with the up and down nature of the NFL, as Houston is desperate to avoid an 0-2 start. Baltimore rookie QB Joe Flacco avoided major mistakes (no sacks, no ints.) in opener, plus running for a 38-yard TD! But Raven defense, which stuffed troubled Cincy (154 total yards), faces a tougher task vs. Houston, especially with Andre Johnson (10 recs. in opener) flashing his 2006 form. Baltimore 0-8 vs. spread on road LY (0-4 as dog). (05-BALTIMORE -8 16-15...SR: Baltimore 2-0)
San Diego 23 - DENVER 13?Are the Chargers still stunned after their lastplay loss on opening day? If nothing else, the setback to Carolina should remind them of their agonizing 1-3 start LY before they straightened things out.Feeling here is S.D. doesn?t want a repeat of that early-season frustration.Even with WR Brandon Marshall (102 recs. LY) back from suspension for Denver, and Charger LB Shawne Merriman limited, S.D. roster much deeper in impact players. Broncs totaled six points in two meetings LY.
(07-S. Diego 41-DEN. 3...S.20-17 S.37/214 D.20/72 S.13/18/0/270 D.23/36/1/224 S.0 D.2)
(07-S. DIEGO 23-Den. 3...S.18-12 S.38/147 D.19/92 S.18/28/0/187 D.14/32/2/133 S.1 D.1)
(07-San Diego +1 41-3, SAN DIEGO -9 23-3...SR: Denver 52-43-1)
*Pittsburgh 31 - CLEVELAND 20?Steelers have dominated the series in recent years, going 9-0 SU, 7-1-1 vs. the spread, and 4-0-1 vs. the number in Cleveland. The Browns? only loss at home LY was vs. Pittsburgh (in the opener with Charlie Frye starting). Now, Cleveland?s defense in question after multipleGame One failures vs. Dallas. The Steelers? superior running game and defense have allowed the Men of Steel to control this matchup. Trust Willie Parker and powerful rookie Rashard Mendenhall to help Pittsburgh maintain its overland edge. TV?NBC
(07-Pitt 34-CLE. 7...P.17-13 P.38/202 C.15/40 P.12/23/0/159 C.15/33/1/145 P.1 C.3)
(07-PITT 31-Cle. 28...P.22-13 P.35/159 C.18/40 P.23/35/1/242 C.16/35/0/123 P.0 C.1)
(07-Pittsburgh -4' 34-7, PITTSBURGH -10 31-28...SR: Pittsburgh 57-55)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
*DALLAS 27 - Philadelphia 23?Both impressive in opener, but pointspread roomy enough to consider Philly, especially with McNabb & Westbrook healthy, the attack invigorated by WR DeSean Jackson (6 for 106 receiving in opener), and the defense reinforced by former N.E. CB Asante Samuel. Eagles play with confidence in Dallas, winning and covering 3 of last 4 meetings. Philly also has the pass rushers in quantity that Browns did not when Tony Romo had plenty of time to spot his targets last week.
CABLE TV?ESPN
(07-Dal. 38-PHIL. 17...D.24-21 D.32/110 P.19/66 D.20/25/1/324 P.27/46/2/250 D.0 P.1)
(07-Phil. 10-DAL. 6...P.20-11 P.27/134 D.15/53 D.13/36/3/187 P.23/41/0/181 P.1 D.0)
(07-Dallas -3 38-17, Philadelphia +10 10-6...SR: Dallas 54-43)