51SU N DAY, NOV E M BER 1, 2009T H E E X A M I N ER
SPORTSNFL Week 8 Preview
2
Favre's Lambeau leap � OK, OK. We know you've overdosed
on Brett Favre. But there's no way his return to Lambeau
Field doesn't make this list. To mark the occasion, FOX
will run a Favre Cam (no joke) -- showing every move
The Shameless One makes, even on the sidelines. No truth
to the rumor that John Madden will jump out of a cake. So
how will Favre be received? Considering it's Wisconsin (and
not Philadelphia, Boston or New York), expect Favre's Frozen
Tundra homecoming to be warm and fuzzy. After all, both parties
are better off for the separation. In Minnesota, Favre is rejuvenated
and thinking Super Bowl. In Green Bay, fans are satisfied that Aaron
Rodgers is a worthy successor. And he'll show it if someone from his
inept offensive line finally throws a block. � Kevin Dunleavy
EXAMINER POWER RANKINGS
No.Team Comment Pvs
1. Saints (6-0) Shootout win? Low-scoring win? Comeback win? Check 1
2. Colts (6-0) No 300-yard game for Manning, but another ho-hum win 3
3. Broncos (6-0) Two slugfests (@ Ravens and vs. Steelers) coming up 4
4. Vikings (6-1) ESPN might explode with Gunslinger's return to Green Bay 3
5. Patriots (5-2) Have outscored last two opponents 84-7 6
6. Steelers (5-2) Under the radar and on a four-game winning streak 8
7. Giants (5-2) October Eli looked like December Eli Sunday vs. Cards 5
8. Packers (5-2) Hmmmm ... wonder what's going on in Green Bay this week 11
9. Ravens (3-3) Season could go either way at this point 9
10. Eagles (4-2) DeSean Jackson can flat-out fly 10
11. Falcons (4-2) Looked poised to crack top 5, then were blasted by Cowboys 7
12. Jets (4-3) Sanchez: 9-of-15, 1 TD ... and a half-smoke with everything14
13. Cowboys (4-2) Here they come ... 15
14. Bears (3-3) There they go ... 12
15. Cardinals (4-2) Big, big win for NFC champs in the Meadowlands 17
16. Bengals (5-2) Think Cedric Benson isn't sore at the Bears? 19
17. Chargers (3-3) Hey, you're supposed to beat the Chiefs by 30 16
18. 49ers (3-3) Lost the game, but possibly gained a quarterback 14
19. Texans (4-3) Forget the run game, let Schaub light it up 20
20. Dolphins (2-4) Loss to Saints will come back to haunt them 18
21. Bills (2-4) Did anyone watch their 20-9 win over the Panthers? 22
22. Panthers (2-4) Delhomme will remain starter ... not like it really matters 21
23. Seahawks (2-4) Have played only one game decided by fewer than 13 points 23
24. Jaguars (3-3) Easy stretch (@ Titans, vs. Chiefs) = 5-3 record at midpoint 24
25. Titans (0-6) Owner wants to see Vince Young. So do we 25
26. Lions (1-5) In not playing, they move up one spot. Why? Well ... 27
27. Raiders (2-5) Indisputably the worst 2-win team in the league 26
28. Redskins (2-5) They're only this high because of the teams behind them 28
29. Chiefs (1-6) LJ blowup adds absurdity to an otherwise bland team 29
30. Browns (1-6) Bears hungry after 45-10 loss to Bengals. This could be ugly 30
31. Buccaneers (0-7) Equally bad in the olde country 31
32. Rams (0-7) Yep, they're still here 32
-- James Irwin
PLAYER TO WATCH
Darren Sharper, S, New Orleans Saints
If the season ended today, Sharper would get serious consideration for defensive play-
er of the year because of his NFL-high six interceptions, three of which he returned for
touchdowns. While much has been made of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' part in the turnaround
of the Saints' defense, Sharper has been just as big in his first season with New Orleans. In his previous
three seasons, he combined for nine picks -- and only one last season with Minnesota. The 13-year vet from
William & Mary now has 60 career interceptions, 11 of which he's returned for TDs. Monday's opposing quar-
terback, Atlanta's Matt Ryan, has thrown a combined five interceptions in his last three games. � John Keim
PORTIS COUNTDOWN
Yards needed by running back Clinton Portis
to pass John Riggins as the Washington
Redskins' all-time leading rusher.
880
UPSET SPECIAL
49ers over Colts
San Francisco may not look like
a playoff team after consecutive
losses to Atlanta and Houston
-- especially after making a quar-
terback change last week. But the
49ers will hang with Indianapolis.
Running back Frank Gore should
be better in his second game back
from an ankle injury and can attack
the Colts' smaller defensive line.
Tight end Vernon Davis was a beast
last week in a failed comeback
attempt. This also is Alex Smith's
last shot to prove he is a capable
NFL quarterback as he takes over
for Shaun Hill. Smith has another
weapon at his disposal. Top draft
pick Michael Crabtree had five
receptions for 56 yards in his first
NFL game after a long contract
dispute. � Brian McNally
FANTASY WATCH
Five to Start
1. QB Matt Schaub � The Texans play caller is the top fantasy quarterback and has
become a must start every week in all fantasy leagues.
2. RB Kevin Smith � In what promises to be an ugly game between the Lions and
Rams, someone has to score. Why not Smith?
3. RB Ricky Williams � The Dolphins' wildcat offense has flourished and Williams is a
big reason why -- averaging 5.7 yards per carry this season.
4. WR Donnie Avery � The Lions have allowed 17 passing touchdowns this season and
Avery has scored two touchdowns in his last three games.
5. WR Lance Moore � Saints quarterback Drew Brees likes to spread the ball around
and New Orleans is playing a Falcons' defense that is in the bottom 10 in pass defense.
Five to Sit
1. QB Brett Favre � Have you heard Brett's heading back to Green Bay? It's not the
crowd that will bother Favre, it's the Packers' pass defense.
2. RB Willis McGahee � After scoring 7 TDs in four weeks, McGahee rushed for one
yard on eight carries with one catch and no touchdowns the last two weeks.
3. RB Jonathan Stewart � The Panthers back averages under 10 carries a game and
is facing the NFL's top rush defense in Arizona.
4. WR Michael Crabtree � The rookie had a nice debut with 56 yards receiving, but
he's facing a good Colts' passing defense this week.
5. WR Anquan Boldin � He has only one touchdown this season and might be limited
with a right ankle injury on Sunday against the Panthers. � Jeffrey Tomik
STORY LINES
GAME TO WATCH
Giants at Eagles, 1 p.m., FOX
The NFC East was supposed to be the NFL's best, but it's taken some
hits the past few weeks, in part because of New York's two-game losing
streak. That's left the Giants just a half-game ahead of Philadelphia
and Dallas. The Giants are banged up in the secondary, a troubling
sign considering the Eagles' big-play capabilities, particularly receiver
DeSean Jackson. New York's defense remains first in yards allowed,
but 16th in points allowed. Philadelphia running back Brian Westbrook
(concussion) might not play. A key matchup will be New York's pass
rush vs. the Eagles' underperforming offensive line. Did we mention
these two cities are going at it in the World Series as well? �JohnKeim
BETTING LINES
Sunday's games
Time Favorite Line Underdog Total
1 p.m. NY Giants -1 At Philadelphia 44
1 p.m. At Baltimore -3.5 Denver 41.5
1 p.m. At Chicago -13.5 Cleveland 40
1 p.m. Houston -3.5 At Buffalo 41.5
1 p.m. At Indianapolis -12.5 San Francisco 45
1 p.m. At NY Jets -3 Miami 40.5
1 p.m. At Detroit -4 St. Louis 44
1 p.m. At Dallas -9.5 Seattle 46
4:05 p.m. At San Diego -16.5 Oakland 41.5
4:05 p.m. At Tennessee -3 Jacksonville 44.5
4:15 p.m. At Green Bay -3 Minnesota 47.5
4:15 p.m. At Arizona -10 Carolina 41.5
Monday Night Football
8:35 p.m. At New Orleans -10.5 Atlanta 54.5
1
Vince Young under center � When the owner wants you to
do something, it doesn't matter if you're the longest-ten-
ured head coach in the NFL. After closing practice to the
public during their bye week, the Tennessee Titans (0-6)
and head coach Jeff Fisher are coming out with a new look.
Titans owner Bud Adams has favored Vince Young to start
and he'll get his wish this week against the Jaguars (3-3).
For a guy who has had his mentality questioned in
the past, the Jags are an interesting choice. Young
faced Jacksonville in the last game he started (the
2008 opener) and he was picked off twice and
limped off the field. He also has a TD-to-INT ratio
of 3:8 vs. the Jags -- so this will be an interesting
experiment for the Titans. � Leon Saffelle
3
IstheRavens'seasonontheline?�A3-0startandtheredis-
covery of how to play offense had Charm City rolling and
gushingoversecond-yearquarterbackJoeFlaccoearlyin
the year. But Baltimore has lost three straight since and
finds itself not only behind Pittsburgh (5-2) but also upstart
Cincinnati (5-1) in the AFC North. With an extremely tight
battleforAFCWildCard berthsbrewing,theRavenshada
bye week to look at the standings and realized they
can ill afford to fall further back when they face
also-rested and undefeated Denver at home this
weekend. Baltimore still has Indianapolis, Green
Bay, Cincy and two games against Pittsburgh
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