Preview of Week 7 2008-09 NFL Regular Season

Dallas Cowboys looks to avenge their two straight setbacks when they face the St. Louis Rams on Week 7 of the 2008-09 NFL Regular Season.

After losing two of the last three games, the Cowboys have yet another bad news. They found out Monday that quarterback Tony Romo will be out four to six weeks with a broken right pinky finger on his throwing hand. He suffered the injury on the first play of the overtime loss to the Cardinals last Sunday. Veteran quarterback Brad Johnson will start in his place.

Cowboys have been playing below expectations lately and seem like the players we’re just not putting their best foot forward. The Cowboys have not played well for a few weeks. Now maybe they will address problems they had all along and not let wins over bad teams mask lingering issues.

In just two weeks as Rams Coach, Jim Haslett has delivered one consistent message and it was witnessed last Sunday’s 19-17 victory over the Washington Redskins. The adversity started early. The Rams had 12 players on the field on Washington’s first third-down attempt. It gave the Redskins a first down.

St. Louis Rams had squandered a 16-7 fourth-quarter lead and were trailing 17-16 with 1:13 remaining and the ball on their own 41-yard line.

LG Jacob Bell suffered a sprained foot against the Redskins and is considered day-to-day. QB Marc Bulger has a jammed finger on his throwing hand that was swollen Monday, but he is expected to be able to play Sunday against the Cowboys.

New Orleans Saints 3-3 look to continue their winning streak when they face the Carolina Panthers on week 7 of 2008 NFL Regular Season. The New Orleans Saints might have had their best effort less than six days later in a complete win over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.
The Saints played 24 consecutive games, a streak that dated to the end of the 2006 season, with at least one giveaway before it finally ended Sunday. They had no turnovers against the Raiders, the first time that had happened since a 30-7 beating of the New York Giants in Giants Stadium on Dec. 24, 2006.

The New Orleans Saints are now 8-0 under Sean Payton when they have no turnovers—going 7-0 in 2006 and 1-0 so far this season.

On the other hand, Carolina Panthers came into the league ranked fourth on defense, but allowed the Bucs to rush for 142 yards and one of them is Warrick Dunn had 115 of those. That’s largely because the offense couldn’t get anything established, going three-and-out seven times. The defense spent more than 21 minutes on the field in the second half.

Against New Orleans, Panthers need to get their defense work to have a chance in winning this game.

Pittsburgh Steelers 4-1 has a two-game lead in the AFC North Division as they head to winless Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

The Bengals and Steelers were developing one of the more hotly contested rivalries in the league in 2005 and there’s plenty of animosity left. The most important thing confronting the Steelers this week is not to look beyond the Bengals.

After they play at Cincinnati, where they have won seven straight, they play a grueling four-game stretch that starts with the New York Giants on Oct. 26. Then it’s off to Washington before home dates against Indianapolis and San Diego.

The good news for the Steelers is they play four of five at home after their trip to Cincinnati. The Steelers won their past two games without some key injured starters who should return this Sunday—halfback Willie Parker, defensive end Brett Keisel, nose tackle Casey Hampton and fullback Carey Davis.

Without Carson Palmer, who was ruled out of the game Sunday at home against the Steelers, The Bengals’ will have to continue their efforts on week 7 of the 2008 NFL Regular Season on Sunday. Palmer did not play because of an inflamed throwing elbow.

The Bengals is No. 31 in total offense (227.8) and rush offense (72.2) and 26th in pass offense (155.7). They are No. 29 in scoring (14.67), and two of their nine touchdowns have been scored by the defense.

San Diego Chargers hopes to kick-start a victory against Buffalo Bills on week 7 of 2008 NFL Regular Season.

San Diego Chargers’ triumph over the New England Patriots last Sunday night meant more than a usual victory. It got them to 3-3 and revived their postseason hopes.

FS Eric Weddle has a banged-up right shoulder, and it’s worth watching as the week progresses. RB Darren Sproles is nursing a sprained ankle that could limit him this week in practice. Although, pound-for-pound, he may be among the toughest Chargers. WR Chris Chambers could test his sprained ankle later in the week and has a chance of playing Sunday.

One of the biggest keys to success against the rejuvenated Chargers will be whether Buffalo can get its running game in gear now that Trent Edwards will be able to return to action and play against San Diego on Sunday.

The Buffalo Bills rank 23rd heading to week 7 rushing at 98.4 yards a game. One of the bigger problems has been a lack of push up front from what is, on paper, the heaviest line in the NFL, as backs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson haven’t had much room to run.

Minnesotta Vikings look to extend their winning streak to two when they are pitted against Chicago Bears on Sunday.

The Vikings last-second victory over the Lions was the team’s second in a row and put them in a first-place tie with Chicago and Green Bay in the NFC North. The Vikings will face the Bears in Chicago on Sunday before having a bye week.

The Vikings have a piece of first place in the division but six games this early into the season doesn’t mean much. The team still has a lot of work to do and continue to get better.

RB Adrian Peterson received treatment following the victory over the Lions on Sunday because of a banged up left wrist but was said to be fine on Monday. MLB David Herron suffered what appeared to be ankle and neck/head injuries in Sunday’s game but his status is not clear.

Meanwhile, good news for the Chicago Bears is that they are at home against the 3-3 Vikings on Sunday and have a chance to move into sole possession of first place in the mediocre NFC North.

Kansas Chiefs hopes to get a 2-4 win against the unbeaten Tennessee Titans when they face each other on week 7 of 2008 NFL Regular Season.

The Kansas Chiefs are getting nothing from the passing game. They went into their bye week ranked 30th, averaging only 136.6 passing yards a game. Three quarterbacks have combined for an awful 53.7 passer rating based on 52 percent accuracy with only four touchdowns against eight interceptions.

Coach Herm Edwards knew things would be tough at this point for a team with 15 rookies on the 53-man roster after the first quarter of the season. Five rookies are starting, and four more are playing extensively. They seemed intent on shopping around any number of veterans who could bring them draft picks.

The victorious Tennessee Titans turn their attention to the struggling Kansas City Chiefs, whom they face Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Struggle or not for the rebuilding Chiefs, Titans coach Jeff Fisher said Monday his 5-0 club will not overlook Kansas City, despite what appears to be a mismatch on paper. The Titans needed the bye week to heal up one of the most important elements of the club in the unbeaten start - the defensive line.

Baltimore Ravens will continue to rely on the services of quarterback Joe Flacco. Ravens coach John Harbaugh reaffirmed a day after the Ravens were routed 31-3 by the Indianapolis Colts.

Ravens will slug it out against Miami Dolphins Sunday afternoon. According to Harbaugh, offensive tackle Adam Terry could replace Marshal Yanda at right guard if Terry recovers from an ankle injury. Backups Chris Chester and Oniel Cousins are “in the mix,” Harbaugh said.

Miami Dolphins will try to get a 3-3 standing coming of a stiff match last game against Houston. Coach Tony Sparano is preaching “resilience” to his resurgent squad after it took a step backward Sunday. The Dolphins should be resilient with a friendly schedule coming up in which three of their next five opponents have a combined record of 4-11 (Baltimore, Oakland and Seattle).

Winless Detroit Lions will have to wait on the status of their quarterback Jon Kitna when they face the Houston Texans.

The Lions aren’t saying anything about his back injury, though Kitna told the Associated Press: “I’ll eventually be able to play. I don’t know if it will be this week.” Asked if the lack of information about injuries - Kitna’s in particular - had anything to do with the trade deadline, coach Rod Marinelli referred the question to general manager Martin Mayhew.

Adding more trouble to Detroit, the Lions put safety Gerald Alexander on injured reserve Monday because of a neck injury he suffered late in Sunday’s 12-10 loss at Minnesota.
For Houston, two straight losses against Jacksonville and Indianapolis still hunts them but they look to bounce back when they face to lowly Detroit Lions Sunday afternoon.
The passing game eventually won the game for the Texans, but it came very close to costing them the game. Matt Schaub opened the game by throwing two interceptions before settling down, and his receivers helped bail him out of a couple of near interceptions. He finished by completing 22 of 42 passes for a franchise-record 379 passing yards. He was sacked only once and threw one touchdown pass. WR Andre Johnson had 10 catches for 178 yards and one touchdown.

The 3rd rank team in the 2008 NFL New York Jets will face the Oakland Raiders this Sunday. Jets 3-2 allowing only 69 yards per game and that aspect of the defense could get its stiffest test yet Sunday when the Jets visit Oakland, currently fourth in the NFL in rushing offense with 141 yards per game. While the Raiders look to get their offense going after they were drubbed by New Orleans last week 3-34. JaMarcus Russell poor performance of 13-for-35 from the field and 159-yard performance that led to only three points, plus he committed two turnovers that led to only 14 points for the Saints. Russell’s 40.1 passer rating was the worst of his starts, and the second worst of his career, better only than the 17.4 he had in his first extended playing time last season against Jacksonville (7-for-23, three interceptions, one touchdown).

San Francisco 49ers team defense continue to hunt them and against the tough New York Giants this will be tested again in Week 7 of 2008 NFL Regular Season.
The 49ers are ranked 26th in the league in total defense through six games. They have surrendered 30 points or more in each of the past three games. But no changes are going to be made head Coach Mike Nolan said.

While the New York Giants will try to get back on track after a jolting loss they suffered at the expense of the Cleveland Browns. The defeat signaled the end of the Giants’ eight-game winning streak and their 12-game road winning streak. There is a missing link in the road-game string, as the NFL does not count the Super Bowl as either a home or away game for the participants.

Indianapolis Colts defense finally showed up last Sunday against Baltimore Ravens and Colts look to continue their winning ways versus Green Bay Packers Sunday afternoon.
Indianapolis held the Ravens without a touchdown and limited Baltimore’s offense to 260 total yards. The run defense, in particular, stepped up its play and allowed just 51 total yards. Not a bad day’s work for a unit that had been ranked near the bottom of the NFL in stopping the run.

WR Marvin Harrison has caught 109 touchdown passes from QB Peyton Manning. WR Reggie Wayne has 50 TD receptions from Manning. Manning has now joined former Dolphins QB Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw at least 50 touchdown passes to two receivers
Green Bay Packers who won their last game against Seattle will most likely play without Ryan Pickett who was injured as he tried to reach out to tackle the Seahawks’ Julius Jones on a running play.

The loss of Pickett, their mammoth run stopper, left the Packers with only fellow starter Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole as their healthy natural tackles.

Green Bay lost versatile, productive lineman Cullen Jenkins to a season-ending torn pectoral muscle in Week 4. His replacement, Michael Montgomery, also has played on the edge and moved inside but suffered a sprained ankle in Week 5 that sidelined him Sunday.
Cleveland Browns will try for back to back wins against Washington Redskins after beating the Super Bowl Champions Neww York Giants last week.

The Browns won by 21 and accomplished something that has not been done against the Giants in 72 years—beat them in a game in which the victor did not punt or commit a turnover.
For Washington Red Skins, Durant Brooks might well have booted his last punt for the Redskins. The rookie from Georgia Tech, who won a close competition with three-year incumbent Derrick Frost this summer, could be cut as soon as Tuesday if the Redskins like any of the punters they bring in to try out for his job.

With a 39.6-yard gross average, Brooks is last in the league by 4.1 yards. His 32.1 net average is also the NFL’s worst.

The Seattle Seahawks will be missing quarterback Matt Hasselbeck for one more week, meaning they will be playing with a backup when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday night.

Hasselbeck had not sufficiently recovered from a hyperextended knee he suffered against the New York Giants on Oct. 5, so he went to see a specialist in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

The specialist, according to Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, said that Hasselbeck is experiencing weakness in the knee because of a bulging disc in his back, a topic that was derided by the team as overblown earlier in the season.

For Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Fullback Byron Storer suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while covering a kickoff in Sunday’s 27-3 win over Carolina. He is expected to be placed on injured reserve, ending his season. In addition, starting fullback B.J. Askew has missed the last three games with a torn hamstring and is likely at least a week away from returning to the lineup.

The NFC South may turn out to be a better division than most thought before the season. Three teams - the Bucs, Falcons and Panthers - are tied at 4-2. New Orleans is 3-3.
In the last game of Week 7 of 2008 NFL Regular Season will feature the game of New England Patriots battling Denver Broncos.

New England looks to find some answers after suffering two losses in three games, Patriots got blown out by a substantial margin, this time suffering a 30-10 loss Sunday to the slumping San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.

Three weeks after getting walloped at home by Miami’s gimmick offense, the Patriots were beaten by a much simpler attack Sunday—long, deep passes against one-on-one coverage.
The Broncos will have to decide how they’ll use Selvin Young when he returns from his injury, or how rookie Ryan Torain fits in the plans when he is ready to play. For now, the 33-year-old Pittman is just happy to be a major contributor.

“I always knew I could still run the ball,” Pittman said. “I showed a lot (Sunday), I believe.”