DT Darnell Dockett brought great pressure the whole game and netted 2 sacks among his season-high 10 tackles (9 solo). He leads the team with 8 sacks on the season. MLB Gerald Hayes had 8 solo tackles, including his second sack of the season.

Reserve DB Antrel Rolle saw significant work for the first time this year, despite not starting. He had 10 tackles (7 solo, including one on special teams). There appears to be hope for the former first round pick after all.

Atlanta
SLB Michael Boley continues his outstanding season, leading the team in tackles with 10 (9 solo). He also forced a fumble and broke up a pass. Tackles are down and the big plays haven’t been there for MLB Keith Brooking, but he had his first sack among his 6 solo tackles on Sunday. WLB Demorrio Williams failed to gain any more ground with rookie LB Stephen Nicholas missing another game with his ankle injury. Williams had just 4 tackles (2 solo). Nicholas continues to run, but is still struggling with explosion and cutting on the ankle. He is likely to miss this week.

DE John Abraham had his sixth sack of the season and continues to lead the team. He consistently brings good pressure and is on track for double-digit sacks, but his tackle numbers have been extremely disappointing.

SS Lawyer Milloy had his first pick of the season and CB DeAngelo Hall grabbed his team-leading third of the season. Hall’s pick was huge, coming deep in SF territory with a one-point lead and less than three minutes to play. It set up a FG and reserve DB Jimmy Williams sealed the victory with his first career pick on the final SF drive.

Baltimore
CB Chris McAllister’s knee didn’t improve enough over the bye and CB Samari Rolle had a reportedly had a relapse of the undisclosed illness that cost him some game earlier this season, so the Ravens were without their starting corners on Monday night. It was pretty noticeable when PIT QB Ben Roethlisberger lit the defense up for five TDs in the first half. Two of the biggest highlights were hits on FS Ed Reed, instead of by him. PIT OLB James Harrison was just starting his Superman performance when he labeled Reed on a punt return as he tried to jump over someone. Harrison’s helmet was right on the ball for a text book hit. The second was a block by PIT WR Hines Ward that Reed never saw coming. He was lifted off the ground and shook up on the play, but did return and had a pick in the game.

DE Terrell Suggs led the team with 11 tackles (6 solo), including a sack. DE Trevor Pryce returned from a broken wrist.

Buffalo
Despite forcing no turnovers, the defense did enough to support an excellent offensive effort. On a day of mostly good news, the team took another injury hit to a defense that can ill-afford to suffer any more. MLB John DiGiorgio suffered a concussion in the third quarter and left the game. SLB Angelo Crowell moved to the middle, finishing with a team-high 14 tackles (11 solo). Crowell leads the team in tackles for the season. With DiGiorgio out, WLB Keith Ellison became the second LB as the team played a lot of nickel against the three-wide sets CIN ran. If DiGiorgio misses any time, Crowell likely moves to the middle with Coy Wire working at WLB in the base 4-3 and Ellison playing SLB. Depth is a problem at LB as special teamer Leon Joe sat out with a leg injury and is questionable this week.

CB Terrence McGee had another strong game. He has always put up solid tackle numbers, but has really matured in coverage. He broke up 4 passes and already has a new career high with 14 on the season. In leagues that include return yardage, he is especially valuable.

DE Ryan Denney was active for the first time this year, returning from a broken foot, but saw very little work. FS Jim Leonhard returned from a calf injury, but played mostly on special teams. George Wilson remained the starter at FS for at least one more game. CB Ashton Youboty missed another game with his ankle injury.

Carolina
The once-proud pass rush of this defense managed a season-high three sacks, but remains the worst in the league. DT Damione Lewis had two sacks and now leads the team with 2.5 on the season. DE Julius Peppers lost his lead of 1.5 sacks, which all occurred in Week Six, and had 3 tackles (2 solo). He also suffered a toe injury in the game and had two unsportsmanlike penalties.

MLB Dan Morgan was finally placed on the IR due to his Achilles’ tendon injury. Rookie Jon Beason remains in the middle and led the team with 11 tackles (9 solo), his third double-digit tackle game. He’s doing just fine in the tackle department, but it would be nice for his fantasy owners if he could finally mix in a sack or a turnover here and there. SLB Thomas Davis had his first sack of the season and is now a serious threat to challenge his previous career best of 1.5. He is on pace to eclipse his career high in tackles set last year, but still not break 100. It is also disappointing that the converted college DB doesn’t have a pick yet in his career.

Chicago
DE Alex Brown has begun encroaching on DE Mark Anderson’s snaps lately. Anderson has struggled to be an effective pass rusher as an every-down player and is struggling in run defense, often overrunning the play. CB Nathan Vasher believes he is on target to return this week from a partially torn groin.

Cincinnati
DE Justin Smith played through a sore hamstring and had 7 tackles (4 solo). He is still looking for his second sack of the season. While never an elite pass rusher, his production in that department has been disappointing. However, Smith is on pace for career-high tackle numbers. DT John Thornton was inactive with a neck stinger. Michael Myers started at DT in his place.

MLB Ahmad Brooks (groin) missed his sixth straight game and LB Caleb Miller (back) missed his fifth straight. There continues to be no timetable for their return and there is talk Miller is done for the season. The team brought back Ed Hartwell for a workout last week, but haven’t signed him. Hartwell was a surprise cut after a decent preseason with the team. Anthony Schlegel continues to play some outstandingly consistent mediocre MLB, posting his usual 5 tackles (3 solo) and no big plays. He has started five games and averages exactly 5 tackles and nothing else. Schlegel suffered an injury to his mid-section in the game, as he was wrapped after and in pain. WLB Landon Johnson led the team with 9 tackles (5 solo). SLB Dhani Jones had 8 tackles (7 solo), rotating less with Robert Geathers, who saw more time on the line with Thornton out.

Rookie CB Leon Hall got his team-leading third pick of the season on a WR screen in the first quarter. It appeared BUF ran the same play as the previous one, which Hall broke up for a two-yard loss. It was one of 4 solo tackles Hall had in the game.

Cleveland
ILB Andra Davis was unspectacular in his return to the starting lineup. He had 4 tackles (3 solo). ILB Leon Williams had 6 tackles (5 solo) and broke up a pass. ILB D’Qwell Jackson is reported to miss “at least a couple weeks”, so don’t count on him this week.

CB Leigh Bodden led the team with 8 tackles (6 solo) and recovered a fumble, the only turnover for the Browns.

The team finally put NT Ted Washington on the IR to mercifully end his season, and possibly the career of the storied big man. They signed CB Ricardo Colclough, recently released by the Steelers, to fill his roster spot. The 2004 second-round pick was a small school prospect who bumped his stock at the Combine.

Dallas
OLB Demarcus Ware led the team with 8 tackles (7 solo) and 1.5 sacks. He leads the team with 7 sacks this season. CB Anthony Henry returned after missing three games with a high ankle sprain. He didn’t start, but did grab his fifth pick which moved him back in to a tie for the league lead he held before getting injured.

DT Tank Johnson’s eight-game suspension is over. He is expected to take over at NT sooner than later.

Denver
Even the rare highlights for the Broncos on Sunday ended up tainted. DE Elvis Dumervil had the only sack for DEN on the day in the second quarter. However, he grabbed DET QB Jon Kitna’s facemask on it and the personal foul negated what would have resulted in a fourth down. The Lions scored a TD on the drive. It was the seventh sack of the season for Dumervil, who leads the team.
MLB D.J. Williams led the team with 9 tackles (4 solo) and forced a meaningless fumble he recovered near the end of the game. Williams briefly left the game with a back injury, but returned shortly and finished the game.

FS John Lynch was inactive with a pinched nerve in his neck suffered in the previous game. Domonique Foxworth started at FS in his place and had 6 tackles (3 solo). An MRI revealed no structural damage in Lynch’s neck, but he is day-to-day and hasn’t been cleared to play this week yet. Rookie DE Jarvis Moss broke his right fibula and tore ligaments in the same ankle in practice last week. He is done for the season. The team took a look at former Broncos Kenny Peterson and Demetrin Veal as potential replacements on the roster. DEs John Engleberger, Simeon Rice, and Tim Crowder all rotated and each had just a solo tackle. Rice also batted down a pass. Dumervil is by far the only Bronco DL worth owning.

Detroit
DT Shaun Rogers easily had the IDP video highlight of the week in the fourth quarter of their blowout victory. The Broncos tried to set up a screen, which DET played well, and as DEN QB Patrick Ramsey tried to lob it off his back foot, Rogers grabbed his first career pick out of the air like a DB and raced 66 yards for a TD. DEN RB Selvin Young caught up to Rogers around the 15-yard line, but Rogers, generously listed at 340 pounds, road him down and knocked him away with a fabulous stiff arm. Rogers also led the team with 2.5 sacks. He has 4.5 on the season, one shy of his best career total for a season. It was the second of two defensive scores on a huge day for the Lions. DE Dewayne White picked up a fumble forced by DE Corey Smith in the third quarter and returned it three yards for a score. White aggravated a left triceps injury on the play and left the game as a precaution. The team was already short at DE, as Kalimba Edwards remained inactive. Smith and Jared DeVries have played well in place of Edwards, who missed his second game because of the knee injury and missed two earlier this year due to an ankle injury. Despite Edwards practicing last week, the team had no reason to rush him back. Similarly, they continue to keep rookie Ikaika Alama-Francis inactive while he develops, since he doesn’t add value on special teams. DeVries shared a sack with WLB Ernie Sims, giving DeVries 3.5 for the season, a new career best. Sims led the team with 9 tackles (6 solo).

MLB Paris Lenon had 5 tackles (2 solo) and continues to rotate with Teddy Lehman, who had 4 tackles (1 solo). CB Travis Fisher was OK after leaving their previous game early with a hip/lower back bruise. He remained a starter opposite Fernando Bryant.

Green Bay
After a bomb to WR Greg Jennings got them a one-point lead late in the fourth quarter, CB Charles Woodson ensured QB Brett Favre would get his first win over KC. A miscommunication between KC RB Priest Holmes and QB Damon Huard resulted in Huard lobbing a pass right to Woodson in the middle of the field. Woodson returned his second pick of the year 46 yards to seal the victory.

The defense kept the pressure on all day, getting to Huard five times. DT Corey Williams led the way with 2 sacks that were part of his team-leading 6 solo tackles. Most of his damage was in the first half, because Williams was helped off the field with a knee injury in the third quarter. He will have an MRI, but indicated it wasn’t serious after the game. Third DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila also had 2 sacks, his third multi-sack game of the year. He now has 6.5 on the season, surpassing his disappointing six in 2006, and is on track for his first double-digit sack season since 2004. DE Aaron Kampman continues to prove his sack numbers from last year were no fluke as he registered his 9th sack of the season among his 4 solo tackles. Kampman moves in to a tie with PHI DE Trent Cole for the NFL lead.

FS Nick Collins went down in a heap of pain, grabbing his left knee, after a tackle early in the third quarter. He was helped off the field and on crutches after the game, but he was optimistic and the MRI showed it wasn’t as bad as it appeared to be watching it. He has no structural damage, but a sprain in a ligament in the left knee that will cost him a few weeks. Rookie Aaron Rouse replaced him and has 3 solo tackles. Rouse, a third-round pick, gets a big opportunity. He is a super-sized safety who is probably a better fit at SS, but lost that competition to Atari Bigby in the preseason. Still, the team thought enough of him as a rookie to part ways with veteran Marquand Manuel. Despite standing 6’3”, he has shown to be a liability in coverage, but that doesn’t matter for fantasy purposes. He is an intriguing waiver wire pick if you are desperate at safety. After drawing four penalties last week, including two that helped a TD drive, SS Atari Bigby had another big penalty this week. After the GB offense turned it over in their own territory, KC had the ball at the GB 30-yard line with less than 30 seconds to go. A pass interference by Bigby on the first play ended hope of holding the Chiefs to a FG, as they ran for a TD on the next play to take a 7-6 halftime lead. If not for late comebacks, Bigby could be a big factor in two losses for the Packers and I suspect that has not gone unnoticed by the GB coaching staff.

WLB A.J. Hawk has been a mild fantasy disappointment this year. He is not producing at the same clip he did as a rookie, especially in the big play department. However, he had a solid game on Sunday, getting his first pick of the season and posting 5 solo tackles, including one on special teams. He also broke up another pass.

Houston
The Texans up-and-coming young defense suffered a huge blow when it lost one of it’s cornerstones on Sunday. Late in the first quarter, CB Dunta Robinson had his right leg contorted during a gang tackle. His hamstring was completely ripped off the bone and he at least tore his ACL in the right leg. He is obviously done for the season. CB Petey Faggins returns to the starting lineup, where rookie CB Fred Bennett had replaced him. Jamar Fletcher would regain the nickel CB job, but he had an appendectomy last week and will miss three weeks. Dexter Wynn should see time in his place.

Bennett had his first career pick on Sunday and MLB DeMeco had his first pick of the season. Ryans also broke up another pass and had 6 tackles (4 solo). Rookie DT Amobi Okoye had his team-leading fifth sack, and first since Week Four.

Indianapolis
The game got off to a good start when DE Robert Mathis sacked NE QB Tom Brady on their first play from scrimmage. Mathis had another sack among his 6 solo tackles, passing DE Dwight Freeney (who has 3.5) for the team lead with 4 sacks on the season.

FS Antoine Bethea grabbed his team-leading third pick of the season just outside their own end zone in the third quarter to stifle an NE scoring drive. He also had 5 solo tackles. MLB Gary Brackett made an outstanding athletic play in the fourth quarter when he tipped a ball at the height of his leap to himself, then tipped it again before catching it as he fell. It was his second pick of the season. He also had 7 tackles (6 solo). CB Marlin Jackson led the team with 9 tackles (6 solo).

WLB Freddie Keiaho remained inactive with post-concussion syndrome. SLB Tyjuan Hagler was also inactive with a neck injury, making Rocky Boiman the only LB other than Brackett with significant experience. It wasn’t a major problem, as the team ran plenty of nickel against the Pats pass-first, and then a lot more, offense. HC Tony Dungy is optimistic both Keiaho and Hagler will be back this week, but both remain questionable.

Jacksonville
An aerial assault by the Saints left plenty of tackle opportunities for the safeties Sammy Knight and rookie Reggie Nelson. Knight led the team with 11 (9 solo) and broke up 2 passes. It was his second double-digit tackle game of the season and he leads team in tackles on the season. Nelson had 10 solo tackles.

DT Marcus Stroud had a tackles and knocked down a pass in his last game for a while. Stroud was suspended four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The signing of Grady Jackson now makes a lot of sense, especially with the loss of DT Tony McDaniel last week, although it should be Rob Meier who starts while Stroud is out, with Jackson rotating in. Meier is a decent interior pass rusher and is a good pick-up for leagues that require a DT, if you have a need. DE Paul Spicer had his team-leading sixth sack of the season, the only one for the team in the game. He is well on his way at age 32 to breaking his single-season best of 7.5 sacks and is the only Jaguar regularly bringing good pressure.

Stroud’s looming suspension wasn’t the only off-field issue disrupting the team last week. OT Richard Collier and rookie LB Justin Durant were arrested in separate off-field incidents. Durant was passed out in his car with an open container of alcohol and then arrested when he resisted arrest. Durant didn’t travel with the team on Sunday and was suspended for another game by the team.

CB Brian Williams missed another game with a sore hamstring, giving Aaron Glenn another start.

Kansas City
Coming out of their bye week, the offense was sluggish in the first half and defense gave up some yards, but allowed only six points and the second of two interceptions would swing the momentum heading in to halftime. CB Patrick Surtain grabbed his second pick of the season on the first drive by GB. With less than a minute to play in the second quarter, nickel CB Benny Sapp got his first pick of the season in GB territory. The offense converted the turnover to take a 7-6 halftime lead. The got to GB QB Brett Favre in the first half too, with DEs Jared Allen and Tamba Hali sharing a sack on which Hali forced a fumble, but GB recovered. It gives Hali three sacks on the year and 8.5 for Allen, who falls to a tie for third in the league.

It was a different story in the second half. While the offense got on track, the defense failed to force any more turnovers or get to Favre the rest of the afternoon. GB got the decisive TD late in the fourth quarter when a trips set caused match-up problems, leaving OLB Donnie Edwards in coverage on GB WR Greg Jennings on a streak up the middle, which resulted in a TD. Edwards led the team with 7 solo tackles.

Reserve MLB Johnny Baldwin was placed on the IR due to a knee injury. The fifth-round pick of the Lions showed some flashes in Detroit before ultimately getting cut. Since bringing him in, the Chiefs have liked him enough to maintain a roster spot for him while he was injured before finally putting him on the IR. He could be a name for dynasty leaguers to remember. Reserve OLB Keyaron Fox remained inactive, as he continues to battle a hamstring problem, despite returning to practice after their bye week. He is expected to be active this week.

Miami
MLB Zach Thomas began practicing this week after their bye, but has not been cleared for contact and is questionable for the this week.

Minnesota
While RB Adrian Peterson had another record-breaking day, the defense contained SD RB Ladainian Tomlinson. MLB E.J. Henderson led the way with 7 tackles (6 solo) and some spectacular, albeit uncredited, hits on SD QB Phillip Rivers. Henderson was coming up the middle on blitzes frequently and one when Tomlinson tried to cut his legs, Henderson leaped at Rivers, crushing him just as he released the ball. Henderson forced Rivers to throw early and rung his bell another time when he followed Ben Leber on a delayed blitz. I think the official scorer did a poor job of recording QB hurries, as the Vikings were credited with none. Rivers would disagree. After getting dinged earlier in the game, DE Ray Edwards had the only sack, his first time getting the QB since Week Two, giving him 2.5 on the season. Edwards also forced a fumble on the sack. WLB Chad Greenway recovered a fumble on an aborted snap and had 4 tackles (2 solo).

CB Antoine Winfield was inactive with a hamstring injury he suffered in the previous game that was aggravated during practice last week. The team hopes to have him back this week, but he remains questionable. Rookie Marcus McCauley, who has struggled in his nickel role recently, got the start in place of Winfield. SD WR Chris Chambers beat him a few times, but he also broke up a potential TD to SD WR Vincent Jackson and McCauley had 4 solo tackles. Nickel CB Charles Gordon had his first career interception when he stepped in front of SD TE Antonio Gates as DT Kevin Williams pressured Rivers. FS Dwight Smith returned to the starting lineup after missing two games with a hamstring injury. DE Erasmus James also returned from a shoulder injury and saw a few snaps on defense for just the second game this year.

New England
With the team running a lot of nickel, they ran a lot of schemes with four down linemen. Richard Seymour got the start at DT to fill the extra spot. DE Jarvis Green made his case to remain a key part of the rotation with Seymour back as he had a big game. He had 5 tackles (4 solo) including a sack to preserve the victory late in the fourth quarter on which he forced a fumble that flew in to the hands of OLB Rosevelt Colvin. Colvin also had a sack, as did ILB Mike Vrabel. Vrabel moves in to tie for third in the league with 8.5 sacks this season, one short of his career best. DE Ty Warren led the team with 7 tackles (5 solo).

New Orleans
DE Charles Grant started, but was limited by his sprained left ankle, opening the door for Renaldo Wynn to see work as a pass rusher. Wynn, an eleven-year vet and former first-round pick of their opponent, had a rare multi-sack game. His two sacks give him more than Grant and as many as DE Will Smith. DT Brian Young, who leads the team with three sacks, was inactive with a swollen left knee. Antwan Lake started in his place. Young is expected back this week and Grant is expected to see more snaps, although Wynn had to impress as a pass rusher on a team that has struggled to get to the QB this year.

WLB Scott Shanle was inactive with a hamstring injury suffered in their previous game. Brian Simmons got the start in his place and had 5 tackles (2 solo). Their LB depth took a hit, as the team placed Alfred Fincher on the IR due to a concussion. The team signed Matt McCoy, recently cut by the Eagles, to replace him. The team basically swapped a 2005 third-round bust for a 2005 second-round bust at LB. Fincher had shown he was nothing more than a special teams player, and may not be back next year, whereas McCoy at least can replace Fincher on special team, but also has some starting experience to add to a weak LB group.

CB Mike McKenzie had a good day. He had 4 solo tackles and broke up 3 passes, including returning one 75 yards for his first TD as a Saint.

New York Giants
SS James Butler continues to battle hamstring and ankle problems, despite coming off the bye, so rookie Michael Johnson could get another start this week.

New York Jets
Rookie ILB David Harris continues to be a spectacular fantasy producer. He led the team with 24 tackles (20 solo) in his second career start, including a stop on third-and-short late in the game that allowed the offense to drive for a game-tying FG. After his first career start in their previous game, he now has 41 tackles just between those two games, moving him to the team lead for tackles on the season. Fellow ILB Eric Barton had 8 tackles (4 solo), including his first sack of the season. He also had his first interception since 2004.

Unfortunately for the Jets, that was about all of the highlights. Several players are nicked up on defense, including CB Darrelle Revis. He strained his hamstring during the game, but returned. SS Kerry Rhodes (knee), CB Hank Poteat (chest), FS Abram Elam (neck), and DT Dewayne Robertson, who has been battling knee problems most of the season, will all benefit from the bye this week.

ILB Jonathan Vilma is following suit with the team practice of keeping quiet regarding injuries. He has not commented on it, leading to speculation he is personally motivated to do so because it is related to the bone condition in the right knee he came in to the league with discussed here last week. He is having surgery this week, but HC Eric Mangini did not get in to specifics, of course. Matt Chatham was activated from the PUP, adding depth to the LB group in Vilma’s roster spot. The team also appears satisfied enough with new starting FS Abram Elam that they released Rashad Washington. This also gives some confidence that Kerry Rhodes’ knee injury isn’t serious.

Oakland
DT Gerard Warren (thigh) and SLB Sam Williams (shoulder) each missed their third-straight game. Robert Thomas started in place of Williams and led the team with 11 tackles (9 solo).

CB Nnamdi Asomugha injured his knee in the game and while it is reported as not serious, he is questionable this week. Fabian Washington replaced him and would return to the starting lineup this week if Asomugha can’t go. The team signed DT Josh Shaw to add depth with Tommy Kelly out for the season, and Jay Richardson has moved in to the starting lineup in place of him.

Philadelphia
CB Lito Sheppard had his first pick of the season, but aggravated his left knee injury he sprained his MCL in that cost him four games earlier this season. An MRI showed the knee appears OK and he is expected to play this week. FS Brian Dawkins returned from his neck injury after missing five games. He had 2 solo tackles and was expected to just time with Quintin Mikell, but saw more work when SS Sean Considine was injured. Mikell led the team with 9 tackles (3 solo, including one on special teams). Considine suffered a shoulder sprain in the shoulder he dislocated his rookie season. His status sounds very questionable.

Pittsburgh
It would take an entire article dedicated to OLB James Harrison to do justice to the performance he had Monday night. He forced a fumble on the first series putting his helmet right on the ball after Steve McNair eluded his grasp the first time. He then put his helmet right on the ball again to force a fumble on an Ed Reed punt return that rookie Lawrence Timmons recovered. And the big plays kept coming all night. His final line: 9 tackles (8 solo), 3.5 sacks, 6 QB hits, one INT, 2 forced fumbles, and one fumble recover. Ya think they made the right call letting Joey Porter go?

DE Aaron Smith (sprained left knee) and FS Ryan Clark (inflamed spleen) remained inactive. Travis Kitschke started in place of Smith and had a sack. Anthony Smith again started in place of Clark. Both remain questionable this week.

St. Louis
DE Leonard Little will miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament connecting his left big toe. He has at least four months of rehab ahead of him.

San Diego
A week after an incredible game for nickel CB Antonio Cromartie, which included two TDs, he had quite an encore. He grabbed a missed 57-yard FG attempt at the end of the first half just inside the backline of the end zone and took it 109-yards for an NFL record that conceptually (you can’t be on the 110th yard, it would be out of bounds) can’t be broken. It is (obviously) the longest play in NFL history. Three players were previously tied for the longest play in history. CHI CB Nathan Vasher set a new record with a 108-yard missed FG return two years ago, which teammate WR Devin Hester replicated last year, and NE CB Ellis Hobbs returned a KO that far this year.
Unfortunately for the Chargers, most of the other highlights involved the Vikings, particularly RB Adrian Peterson. Peterson set an NFL single-game record with 296 rushing yards, not a record a defense likes being associated with. WILB Matt Wilhelm led the team with a career-high 14 tackles (11 solo). The defense generated little pressure on the few passes the Viking threw. The team was already without OLB Shaun Phillips, who was inactive with a groin injury he thought he would be able to play through this week, when they lost another key part of the front seven. DE Luis Castillo had to be assisted off the field with a right knee and ankle injury after a Peterson run in the third quarter. He had surgery Monday on a tendon in the right ankle and is expected to miss up to six weeks. He missed six games last year due to a left ankle sprain. Before leaving, Castillo had 3 solo tackles, including the only sack of the game. He shared his first in their previous game, giving him 1.5 on the season. Jacques Cesaire is a solid back-up, but not the explosive player or pass rush threat that Castillo is. Look elsewhere for a replacement, if necessary. Phillips is expected back this week.

After a 64-yard run by Peterson, the Vikings tied the game at 14 early in the third quarter. On the next play from scrimmage by the Chargers, an aborted snap gave the ball right back to MIN deep in SD territory. FS Marlon McCree temporarily stopped the bleeding when he recovered an unforced fumble by MIN RB Chester Taylor on the subsequent drive. The offense failed to capitalize, punting away on the following drive. They had the same problem on their only other turnover in the game. SILB Stephen Cooper forced Peterson to fumble and CB Drayton Florence recovered in the fourth quarter, but it also led to a punt.

Cromartie and Cletis Gordon saw more work again this week when CB Quentin Jammer left his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury. Jammer aggravated the right hamstring he injured in Week Eight. He will be day-to-day again this week. NT Jamal Williams returned to the starting lineup after missing the last game recovering from minor surgery on both knees before their Week Seven bye.

San Francisco
In a story that will go down as legend in what is looking like a tremendous career, rookie WILB Patrick Willis never missed a play after breaking his hand in the first half. Willis was fitted with a soft cast on his right hand at halftime and took his normal snaps in the second half. Willis led the team with 10 tackles (8 solo), including his first career sack. He took over the league lead in tackles with his latest performance. X-rays revealed a small fracture in the hand, but he will be fitted with a cast and is not expected to miss any time. Willis played his senior year with a cast for a broken finger that never seemed to hamper his outstanding play. Jeff Ulbrich saw significant time over Derek Smith at SILB and was more productive. HC Mike Nolan complimented Ulbrich’s play and indicated he’ll continue to split time with Smith, which kills the value of either player. A former starter, Ulbrich hadn’t previously been in Nolan’s good graces, as he worked almost exclusively on special teams this year.

SS Michael Lewis left the game with apparent ankle pain after a tackle in the first quarter, but returned and had his first pick as a 49er. He finished with 6 solo tackles, as well. Shawntae Spencer started in place of CB Walt Harris who was inactive with a hyperextended knee suffered in the previous game. He looks to be questionable again this week.

In what has become an annoying weekly special teams move, SF again released LB Hannibal Naives and signed FB Zak Keasey. It would seem they’d have violated some CBA agreement by now. The impact is Parys Haralson and Tully Banta-Cain appear locked in as the starters outside, with Brandon Moore not getting a chance and Navies relegated to a practice player plus status.

Seattle
MLB Lofa Tatupu led the team with 8 tackles (7 solo). DE Darryl Tapp played with a broken finger. While he didn’t get a sack, he had a pick and 3 solo tackles. DE Patrick Kerney is playing through a strained oblique and questionable this week.

Tampa Bay
Limiting AZ to less than 17 minutes of possession in the entire game left few tackles opportunities. MLB Barrett Ruud had just one assist and lost the league lead in tackles. DT Jovan Haye led the team with 4 tackles (3 solo) and brought some good pressure, as he continues to have a breakout season. SS Jermaine Phillips had his team-leading third pick late in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. Just last year the team was considering replacing him, now he is one of the top playmakers on the team, in addition to remaining an intimidating hitter.

DE Greg Spires was inactive with a calf injury suffered in the previous game, giving rookie DE Gaines Adams his first career start. Adams posted just one solo tackle, but got in the backfield on passes a couple of times and knocked one down. Spires is expected to miss at least another game despite the bye this week, so Adams could get another start. Pass rush specialist Patrick Chukwurah (left shoulder) remained inactive, but is expected back after the bye. CB Brian Kelly returned after missing five games with a groin injury. He didn’t start, but bumped Sammy Davis out of the nickel job.

Tennessee
After the pass rush finally got on track in the previous game, it blew up against the Panthers and highly-sackable QB David Carr. DT Albert Haynesworth led the way with a sack on the first play from scrimmage and two more in the game. Haynesworth set a new career high, and is tied for the team lead, with five sacks. He also led the team with 7 tackles (6 solo). Haynesworth injured his hamstring during the game and left in the fourth quarter, but is expected to play this week. DE Travis LaBoy had a sack, keeping pace with Haynesworth with five on the season, and his first career pick. However, LaBoy suffered a concussion in the game and will be evaluated later this week. DE Kyle Vanden Bosch also had his fifth sack of the season.

SS Chris Hope kept his mid-season fantasy rejuvenation going. For the second straight game he has 6 tackles (5 solo) and a pick. On the other hand, WLB Keith Bulluck continues to disappoint. He had just 3 tackles (2 solo). SLB David Thornton continues to produce on a pace to have at least his best season since 2003, when he played the fantasy-coveted Tony Dungy defense WLB position. Thornton had 6 tackles (5 solo) and his first sack of the year. The team signed LB Rich Scanlon to fill the roster spot opened by Corey Simon’s retirement. Depth is good at most positions on the team, so signing a player to no specific one is a surprise, but I still wonder if there isn’t an undisclosed injury Bulluck is battling.

Pacman Jones was supposed to meet with commissioner Roger Goodell last week to discuss early reinstatement. Not surprisingly, the suspension was not reduced. The juxtaposition of Haynesworth and Jones is interesting. Last year Haynesworth was perilously close to being out of the league after stomping Andre Gourde on the haid. He accepted blame while he quietly served his penalty, and now is having a career year living up to his tremendous potential. Jones, on the other hand, appears to show no contrition beyond lip service after being faced with a similar situation. He continues to be in the news for the wrong reasons, including mocking his strip club situation at a recent wrestling event, and now his tremendous potential seems to have a better chance of being met in the wrestling ring, instead of on the football field.

Washington
After going in and out of most of their previous game due to recurring problems with pinched nerves in his shoulders, WLB Rocky McIntosh looked fine and played well. He led the team with 12 tackles (11 solo). He is closing in on team-leading MLB London Fletcher, who had 7 solo tackles. SLB Marcus Washington was inactive again with lingering problems in his left hamstring. He missed two games before returning in Week 8 and now missed another game with the problem. Randall Godfrey started in his place.

CB Fred Smoot returned from his hamstring problem to resume starting with Carlos Rogers done for the year. He had 4 solo tackles, but aggravated his hamstring. Leigh Torrance would get the start if Smoot can’t go. On the other side, CB Shawn Springs finished with 6 solo tackles and forced a fumble that was recovered by SS LaRon Landry.