• No byes Week 12, set lineups for three early (Thursday) games
• AZ DE Berry done for year…again
• BAL MLB Lewis inactive again
• GB MLB Barnett breaks hand, expected to play
• IND DE Freeney back in the offensive backfield again
• CLE OLB Wimbley sets new Browns rookie sack record
• MIN MLB Harris returns, Thomas back to bench
• KC OLB Johnson remains inactive, likely to miss this week
• IND FS Sanders knee remains a problem
• JAX SS Darius done for year
• Suspension ends for DET DT Rogers, but he's still expected to miss this week
• SF CB Harris takes share of league lead in INT, CB Spencer hurt
• Happy Thanksgiving - nothing like a tryptophan buzz and football in November

Atlanta
A defense devastated by injuries started strong in the first half, but fell apart in the second, giving up 24 points to the Ravens. A defense that held the Ravens to seven yards on nine carries in the first half was run over in the second half, providing lots of tackle opportunities. WLB Demorrio Williams led the way with a game-high 17 tackles (9 solo). Williams started again with MLB Edgerton Hartwell (knees) still inactive and unable to face his former team. MLB Keith Brooking had 13 tackles (6 solo). SLB Michael Boley had 6 tackles (3 solo) and recovered a fumble on an aborted snap. Hartwell could return this week, bumping Williams back to a reserve role.

DE John Abraham (abdomen, groin) remained out and with Patrick Kearney on the IR, the team went with UDFA rookie Paul Carrington at RE and Chauncey Davis at LE. Carrington had his second sack among 5 solo tackles. Davis had 2 solo tackles, while DE Josh Mallard got his fourth sack of the season working in on passing downs. Mallard also had another solo tackle, his first non-sack tackle of the year. The team is cautiously optimistic Abraham could return this week.

CB Jason Webster (torn groin) was inactive as expected and rookie CB Jimmy Williams continues to be unable to capitalize on the opening as he missed another game with an ankle sprain. Allen Rossum started opposite CB DeAngelo Hall. Veteran journeyman S Lance Schulters was resigned last week, as expected and saw significant playing time. He replaced Rossum in run situations and had 5 tackles (4 solo).

Baltimore
MLB Ray Lewis missed his second straight game due to a back injury. He had minor surgery last week to drain a pocket of blood from his back and the team hopes to have him back for their match-up with Pittsburgh this week. The team went with a committee to fill their open LB spot. Bart Scott slid over to MLB and DE Jarrett Johnson lined up at an OLB spot to start the game. Scott had 4 tackles (3 solo) and Johnson had 2 solo tackles, one on special teams. Scott took over the team lead in tackles on the season with Lewis inactive, but he hasn’t been making the big fantasy plays he did the first four games of they year. LB/DE Dan Cody was active for the first time in his career and even saw action in the rotation. Dennis Haley, who replaced Mike Smith the previous week, who was replacing Lewis at MLB, failed to build on his big performance. It looks like Haley isn’t a solid option if Lewis remains out. Haley had just one solo tackle on special teams and the only thing he did on defense was draw a neutral zone infraction penalty. Smith was placed on the IR before the game and is done for the season.

OLB Adalius Thomas led the team with 6 tackles (4 solo). Thomas is playing through an ankle injury and broke a streak of five consecutive games with a sack. DE Trevor Pryce had 2 sacks, giving him 6½ on the season, his highest total since 2003. Pryce had 2 other solo tackles. DE/OLB Terrell Suggs had his fourth sack, his first since September. After getting at least one sack each of his first four seasons, CB Samari Rolle had his first sack since 2001. DT Kelly Gregg also had a sack.

Buffalo
MLB London Fletcher (9 solo) and WLB Angelo Crowell (7 solo) led the team with 10 tackles. DE Aaron Schobel notched his eighth sack of the season.

CB Nate Clements grabbed his first pick of the year. He also broke up 2 other passes, recovered a fumble, and had 4 tackles (2 solo).

Carolina
The previous week against TB, DE Julius Peppers had a three-sack game. On Sunday, the Rams were determined to stop Peppers, and succeeded (he did not appear in the box score), but forgot about everyone else. The Panthers tied a team record for sacks in a game with seven. DE Mike Rucker led the way with two sacks, including one for a safety. MLB Chris Draft, OLB Thomas Davis, and former Ram DT Damione Lewis each had 1½ sacks. Davis led the team with 10 tackles (9 solo).

CB Ken Lucas was inactive with a thigh injury, so rookie Richard Marshall got his second career start. Marshall had 4 tackles (3 solo), 4 passes defensed, and recovered a fumble forced by rookie Dion Byrum on STL WR Torry Holt. Byrum, an UDFA originally signed by Chicago, was just signed last week off the Tampa Bay practice squad. The team had another turnover, a pick by CB Christian Morton. It was the first career INT for Morton, who was signed off the practice squad less than a month ago.

MLB Dan Morgan, on the IR due to multiple concussions, indicated last week he expects to be back next season and he is ready to play now, but the move to end his season was precautionary.

Chicago
A defensive struggle turned on a key play in the second quarter that showed why MLB Brian Urlacher is the defending D-POY. The Jets took their most successful drive of the game to the Bears six-yard line and on third down NYJ QB Chad Pennington threw a low pass that Urlacher reached down and hung on to, returning it out of the end zone to the Chicago 33-yard line. The Bears wouldn’t score, but the Jets lost their momentum and balance was regained in the a field position battle of the first half. Urlacher also finished tied for the team lead with 11 tackles (5 solo). SS Todd Johnson also had 11 tackles (6 solo). The hard-hitting Johnson appears to have temporarily subsided the push Chris Harris made for more playing time with a pick the previous week. Harris showed his special teams value recovering a surprise onside kick to start the second half. The Bears would capitalize with a FG to break the 0-0 tie and put the pressure on the Jets offense.

After a couple of quiet weeks, freshman pass rush sensation DE Mark Anderson had a sack among 3 solo tackles. He leads the team with 8½ sacks for the year. DE Adewale Ogunleye also had a sack, he has 3.5 on the season. Ogunleye had to leave the game a bit early after getting unintentionally kicked in the groin. He should be OK this week.

CB Charles Tillman had to leave the game after a collision with teammate Johnson during a tackle. He looked shaken up on the sidelines, but returned to the game. CB Nathan Vasher had his second pick of the year.

Cincinnati
SLB Brian Simmons (neck) remained inactive and Ahmad Brooks (groin) was active, but DNP. Rashad Jeanty remained the starting SLB and Caleb Miller got the start in the middle with Landon Johnson locked in at WLB. Miller led the team with 14 tackles (12 solo) and recovered a fumble forced by Jeanty, who had 4 solo tackles. Johnson had 12 tackles (8 solo).

SS Dexter Jackson (Achilles’ tendon) was inactive and, as usual, Kevin Kaesivaharn replaced him. Kaesivaharn had a huge game with 11 tackles (10 solo), including 2 sacks, and a pick. CB Deltha O’Neal (shoulder) was inactive and first round pick Johnathan Joseph started in his place. Jackson and O’Neal are questionable this week.

Cleveland
OLB Kamerion Wimbley had a sack and just missed a couple more, but coming up short on his last one was the difference in the game. With seconds left in the game, PIT QB Ben Roethlisberger escaped Wimbley’s grasp to flip the ball to PIT RB Willie Parker for a game-winning TD. The sack gives Wimbley 6½ for the season, a new rookie record for the Browns. On the other side, OLB Willie McGinest had his third sack of the season among his 5 tackles (3 solo) and also had his first pick of the year.

CB Daven Holly, forced into a starting role with all the injuries at corner, grabbed the first two interceptions of his career. The first was tipped off the fingertips of PIT WR Santonio Holmes that he took 57 yards for his first career TD. CB Leigh Bodden remained inactive with a high ankle sprain. Brodney Pool got the start in his place and shared the team lead with 8 tackles (7 solo, including 3 on special teams). ILB Andra Davis had 8 solo tackles.

Dallas
With OLB Greg Ellis on the IR, Al Singleton replaced him in the starting lineup. First round pick Bobby Carpenter was active and saw work in the rotation. However, it was reserve OLB Kevin Burnett who turned in the big play. He grabbed his first career pick and returned it 39 yards for his first career TD. OLB Demarcus Ware had a sack for the third consecutive game and leads the team with six. ILB Akin Ayodele led the team with 8 solo tackles.

SS Roy Williams got his team-leading fourth INT of the season. It is the most he’s had since getting five as a rookie in 2002.

Denver
CB Darrent Williams and MLB Al Wilson led the team with 7 tackles (5 solo) each. Williams also returned a pick for a TD.

FS Nick Ferguson is likely done for the season after a knee injury. Sam Brandon is expected to replace him.

WLB Ian Gold returned from a hamstring injury. He started and posted 6 tackles (3 solo).

Detroit
The patchwork defensive line failed to put much pressure on AZ rookie QB Matt Leinhart or slow down RB Edgerrin James, who both found success. The team forced no turnovers and had no sacks.

DT Shaun Cody returned, but didn’t start. He left the game after aggravating his injured toe and is now doubtful for this week. DT Shaun Rogers is eligible to return from suspension this week, but is not expected to be active as he had knee surgery over his four-game suspension that he is recovering from slower than hoped. So the patchwork DLine will continue for another week.

Boss Bailey started at SLB and rotated with Alex Lewis. Lenon remained the starter in the middle and rotated with Teddy Lehman.

Green Bay
First round pick WLB A.J. Hawk continued his strong play. He led the team with 13 tackles (10 solo) and recovered a fumble. MLB Nick Barnett broke his right hand in the fourth quarter. He is expected to play on Monday night with an oversized cast.

Houston
With BUF QB J.P. Losman throwing out of his own end zone in the third quarter, CB Dunta Robinson snagged his second pick and returned it nine yards for a TD.

Rookie DE Mario Williams had just two solo tackles as he continues to play through a case of plantar fasciitis in his foot that has gotten progressively worse. He is expected to play this week.

Indianapolis
MLB Gary Brackett (hamstring) was inactive again and former starter Rob Morris got the start. Morris led the team with 9 tackles (6 solo). Brackett is expected back this week.

FS Bob Sanders continues to struggle with knee problems. After missing five games, he returned for one, and now has missed two more in a row. Marlin Jackson started in his place again. Sanders is not expected to play this week.

After starting the season with the worst sack drought of his career, DE Dwight Freeney is getting back on track. He had two tackles, including a sack on which he forced his first fumble of the season. Freeney has now had sacks in back-to-back games and all 2½ sacks he has on the season in his last four games.

Jacksonville
It was a costly win for the Jaguars as SS Donovin Darius broke his right leg. Gerald Sensabaugh will replace him in the starting lineup.

DT Marcus Stroud returned to the starting lineup and Rob Meier returned to the bench as Bobby McCray held on to a starting job at end. McCray had his team-leading seventh sack of the season.

Rookie WLB led the team with 6 tackles (4 solo) and had the first INT of his career.

Kansas City
FS Greg Wesley (shoulder) was active, but did not play. Rookie Jarrad Page replaced him and sealed the victory with a pick in the end zone. Page broke up another pass and had 3 solo tackles. Wesley remains uncertain for this week.

OLB Derrick Johnson (ankle) remained inactive and is not expected to play this week either. Keyaron Fox started in his place again and had 8 solo tackles. MLB Kawika Mitchell (8 solo) and SS Sammy Knight (7 solo) led the team in tackles with nine.

Miami
DE Jason Taylor showed why he is one of the best ends in the league on an athletic pick to seal the victory. Taylor pealed off his blocker upon recognizing the screen being set up and snagged the pass from MIN QB Brad Johnson with a perfectly timed leap. He returned it 51 yards for his seventh career TD. In addition to the pick, Taylor had 5 tackles (2 solo), including his ninth sack, forced 2 fumbles and broke up another pass. Another defensive TD earlier in the fourth quarter gave the team the lead. DE Matt Roth forced a fumble that FS Renaldo Hill returned for a score. Roth saw more work because David Bowens missed time in the game with a hyperextended knee.

There were several other injuries for the D in the game that could be factors with the short week. OLB Channing Crowder left the game with a hip pointer and did not return. Derrick Pope replaced him. CB Will Allen left with a groin injury and is questionable.

DT Keith Traylor was inactive and is out indefinitely with a knee injury. Jeff Zgonina started in his place.

Minnesota
CB Antoine Winfield had his third pick and second concussion of the season, but is expected to play this week. Rookie nickel CB Cedric Griffin suffered a stinger in the game, but an MRI on his neck, but says he is expects to play through the shoulder pain this week.

MLB Napoleon Harris returned to action and resumed his starting MLB spot. He had 6 tackles (3 solo) and pushed Dontarrious Thomas back to the bench.

New England
ILB Tedy Bruschi led the team with 8 tackles (5 solo) and shared a sack with reserve OLB Tully Banta-Cain that knocked GB QB Brett Favre out of the game with an elbow injury. OLB Mike Vrabel had 1½ sacks among his 6 tackles (5 solo) and forced a fumble. DE Ty Warren returned from injury and had 1½ sacks, as well.

A decimated secondary got a week off as the Pats shut down the Packers in Lambeau. SS Rodney Harrison remained inactive with a broken right shoulder blade and James Sanders started in his place. Harrison will miss this week, as well. Chad Scott, who replaced Harrison the previous week, had to move to CB to replace Asante Samuel. Samuel is questionable this week. FS Eugene Wilson remained inactive for the sixth consecutive game with a hamstring injury and Artrell Hawkins continued to replace him. Wilson is questionable this week.

New Orleans
DE Will Smith had a sack among his 4 tackles (2 solo), giving him a team-high 6½ on the year. After a disappointing October, he has 3 sacks in 3 games this month. He has battled a hip problem this year.

CB Fred Thomas returned from a hamstring and posted 5 solo tackles and forced a fumble. He aggravated the injury and is questionable again this week. Jason Craft would replace him if he can’t go.

New York Giants
With three of their top four ends inactive again, first round pick Mathias Kiwanuka started in place of Osi Umenyiora and DT William Joseph slid over to DE to start for Michael Strahan at LE in the base package. Expect the same this week as Strahan (foot), Umenyiora (hip flexor), and Justin Tuck (foot) are expected to miss this week, as well. CB Sam Madison (hamstring) is also expected to miss this week.

Brandon Short (quad) missed his third straight game, but Carlos Emmons returned from a groin injury and started at WLB, bumping rookie Gerris Wilkinson. Reggie Torbor started at SLB. MLB Antonio Pierce led the team with 10 tackles (9 solo) and recovered a fumble.

New York Jets
OLB Victor Hobson (6 solo) and ILB Jonathan Vilma (2 solo) each had 9 tackles, but neither of them could get over quick enough to help rookie CB Drew Coleman after CHI WR Mark Bradley put a move on him after a curl and turned up the field to score a 57-yard TD that put a defensive struggle out of reach. SS Kerry Rhodes also had 9 tackles (9 solo, including one on special teams) and got his team-leading fourth sack. Rhodes appeared to have recovered a fumble by CHI RB Thomas Jones in the second quarter, but the ruling was overturned on a controversial replay and would end up being a huge difference.

CB Andre Dyson had to leave the game with a neck injury. Justin Miller replaced him.

Rookie LB Anthony Schlegal was active for the first time this season. He saw mostly work on special teams.

Oakland
SS Michael Huff played through a concussion and led the team with 10 tackles (9 solo, including one on special teams).

CB Nnamdi Asomugha continued his mini-breakout season. He had his second career sack among his 6 solo tackles and forced a fumble.

Philadelphia
After starting with 5 sacks for the month and at least one in every game in September, DE Trent Cole had a sporadic October and a slow start the previous week to November. He turned it around on Sunday posting 1½ sacks and forcing a fumble. Cole leads the team with 8 sacks. He and MLB Jeremiah Trotter led the team with 8 tackles (6 solo) each. DE Darren Howard shared a sack with Cole and another with SS Sean Considine. Considine remains the starter, but Michael Lewis retains a role as an LB-tweener in the nickel packages.

CB Lito Sheppard broke up five passes, but also dropped what should have been a sure pick. FS Brian Dawkins had 6 solo tackles and broke up 2 passes, but also dropped what should have been an interception and he was the last guy to miss a tackle on a 70-yard TD run by TEN RB Travis Henry. CB Rod Hood was a healthy scratch. It appears that Joselio Hanson has passed him as the nickel corner and William James is now the fourth corner.

Nickel LB Shawn Barber left the game with a knee injury that was diagnosed as a torn MCL after the game. His status for this week is uncertain.

Pittsburgh
As the 3-4 is designed to do, the linebackers put great pressure on CLE QB Charlie Frye in the game. ILB James Farrior had a biggest day, notching his third sack of the season among his 12 tackles (6 solo) and also had a couple other QB pressures. OLB Clark Haggans aggravated an ankle injury in the game, but never left. He had a key sack on a third-and-four deep in Steeler territory that left the Browns with another FG instead of a TD. Haggans had four other solo tackles and recovered a fumble. He leads the team with 5½ sacks this year. OLB Joey Porter had a half-sack among his 8 tackles (5 solo) and two other QB hurries.

SS Troy Polamalu was cleared to play despite a concussion the previous week. He posted 7 tackles (5 solo), including his first sack of the season and broke up a key pass on third down late in the game that prevented the Browns from being able to run out the clock. The Steelers scored the game-winning TD on the subsequent drive.

CB Deshea Townsend was limited to pass packages by a lingering ankle injury and concussion the previous week, so on-again, off-again starter Bryant McFadden ran opposite Ike Taylor as the starter.

St. Louis
DE Leonard Little celebrated signing a five-year extension with 5 solo tackles, including a sack on which he forced a fumble, and a pass defensed. It was the tenth sack of the season for Little, who returns to double-digit sacks for the first time since 2003. DT La’Roi Glover had 2 sacks.

Among his 4 solo tackles, FS O.J. Atogwe forced two fumbles for the second straight game. One was recovered by DT Jimmy Kennedy.

A play after CAR WR Keyshawn Johnson ripped off his helmet and drew a face-mask foul, CB Tye Hill grabbed his second pick of the season on the next play when Johnson attempted a pass on a trick play.

MLB Will Witherspoon led the team with 8 solo tackles. He also broke up a pass.

San Diego
OLB Shaun Phillips aggravated his calf injury during the game, but returned in the second half. He had his eighth sack in the game and forced a fumble. OLB Shawne Merriman served the third game of his four-game suspension. Carlos Polk started in his place. He injured his shoulder in the game, but returned.

DE Luis Castillo remained inactive with a high ankle sprain. Jacques Cesaire continued to replace him, but suffered an ankle injury of his own and his status is uncertain with the short week. DE Igor Olshansky was ejected near the end of the game when he clubbed DEN C Tom Nalen after Nalen appeared to launch at his knees on a play that was whistled dead.

San Francisco
Two picks by CB Walt Harris for the second time this season helped the 49ers get to .500 in an upset over Seattle. Harris set a new career high with six picks and is tied for the NFL lead. CB Shawntae Spencer had to leave the game after spraining his ankle, he is questionable this week. Sammy Davis replaced him in the game.

OLB Brandon Moore had 6 solo tackles, as did FS Keith Lewis (including 2 on special teams) to lead the 49ers in tackles. Lewis also recovered a fumble and had a pick. Lewis and Mark Roman are locked in as the safety tandem now. Mike Adams was active, but did not appear in the box score, and Tony Parrish was a healthy scratch for the first time in his career.

Seattle
FS Ken Hamlin led the team with 12 tackles (7 solo). OLB Leroy Hill (9 solo) and MLB Lofa Tatupu (8 solo) each had 10 tackles. Tatupu also forced a fumble, recovered by DE Grant Wistrom, the only turnover of the game.

DT Chartric Darby had his third sack in two games since moving in to the starting lineup. It gives him 3.5 on the year, a new career best.

Tampa Bay
As expected, DE Simeon Rice (shoulder) and DT Ellis Wyms (ankle) were inactive again. Rice is considering surgery which could end his season. MLB Shelton Quarles (knee, ankle) was expected to return this week, but he was inactive again, as well. The same trio replaced them: Dewayne White at DE, Jon Bradley at DT and Barrett Ruud in the middle. White had his fourth sack of the season among his 3 tackles (2 solo) and 2 QB hurries. He could provide some good production the rest of the season if Rice is done. Bradley had 4 tackles (1 solo). Ruud had 6 tackles (5 solo).

OLB Derrick Brooks (7 solo) and CB Rhonde Barber (5 solo) led the team with 8 tackles. Barber also broke up a pass and shared a sack with DE Greg Spires.

CB Juran Bolden left the game with an ankle sprain. X-rays were negative, but he did not return to the game. Torrie Cox and Phillip Buchanon saw more work in his absence.

Tennessee
OLB Keith Bulluck capped a surprising thrashing of the Eagles by taking a lateral from DT Randy Starks the final 16 yards for a score. Bulluck had 8 solo tackles and broke up 2 passes as well. Starks, who had recovered an aborted snap on the play, did not start. And it was not because of the return of DT Albert Haynesworth from suspension. Rookie Jesse Mahelona started next to Robaire Smith. Haynesworth was in the rotation and will likely return to a starting role.

DE Travis LaBoy was inactive due to a concussion in the previous game and Antwan Odom missed another game, and is expected to miss at least one more, due to recent knee surgery. So Tony Brown got the start opposite Kyle Vanden Bosch.

With CB Reynaldo Hill (ankle) inactive, versatile seventh round pick Cortland Finnegan got the start and led the team with 11 tackles (8 solo) and broke up 2 passes. CB Pacman Jones returned a punt 90 yards for a TD. Jones had his court date set at December 5th for his recent assault accusation for spitting on a woman in a bar.

Peter Sirmon got the start in the middle, but rookie Stephen Tulloch continues to see significant action and had his first career pick.

Washington
SS Troy Vincent left in the first half with a hamstring injury and would not return to the game. Adam Archuleta must really be in Joe Gibbs’ doghouse because it was Vernon Fox, not Archuleta, who replaced Vincent. Vincent is day-to-day. FS Sean Taylor led the team with 9 tackles (7 solo).