The defense suffered a blow in the game as Berry left with a torn left triceps. He is expected to miss the rest of the season. Since leading the NFC in sacks in 2004, his first year with AZ, this will be the third straight year that ended early due to injury for the 32-year old Berry. He tore a pec muscle halfway through 2005 and missed the final six games last season when he tore his right triceps. Darryl Blackstock replaced him and had his first sack of the season. Despite showing some flashes in preseason, Blackstock has been a disappointment under two different coaching regimes since being drafted in the third round of the 2005 draft. While Joe Tafoya will also see some work, primarily on running downs, this should be a significant opportunity for Blackstock, and probably his last as a Cardinal if he doesn’t take advantage. He is due to be a RFA next season. The team signed Bo Schobel, most recently with the Colts, to add depth at end in expectation of losing Berry for the season.

Already battling a heel problem, SS Adrian Wilson missed most of the second half with cramping in his right calf. Matt Ware saw work in his place.

Atlanta
DT Rod Coleman finally asserted himself as a game-changing force in his fourth game this season. Coleman had both sacks on the day for the team, forcing a fumble on one. DE John Abraham had 3 solo tackles and batted down a pass.

Rookie Stephen Nicholas returned from an ankle injury, but was limited mostly to special teams. WLB Demorrio Williams had just 4 solo tackles, as did MLB Keith Brooking, who also broke up a pass. SLB Michael Boley had his worst fantasy game of the season, posting just one solo tackle.

CB DeAngelo Hall continues to raise his level of play when facing CAR WR Steve Smith, and this time Hall kept his mouth shut. Hall’s biggest play came on a fourth-and-inches when Smith leaped over him for an apparent first-down catch in the ATL red zone. Hall kept battling and as Smith tried to secure possession. Hall was able to pop the ball free and it eventually bounced out of the end zone. It was ruled a catch by Smith with Hall subsequently forcing a fumble. As the ball went out of the end zone, it was a touchback. Hall also broke up two passes and had 5 tackles (3 solo). Rookie CB Chris Houston led the team with 8 solo tackles.

Baltimore
CBs Chris McAllister (knee) and Samari Rolle (mystery illness) both missed another game, giving Corey Ivy and Derrick Martin another start. However, Ivy left with a concussion on the second series, so Ronnie Prude had to take over. He was the last healthy CB, as David Pittman (concussion) was also inactive. The depth problems on the secondary weren’t limited to the corners. FS Ed Reed played well through a neck injury and mild concussion, with little rest because Gerome Sapp was out with a thigh injury. McAlister could return this week, but Rolle remains a mystery.

MLB Ray Lewis led the team with 10 tackles (7 solo), including his first sack of the season and forced a fumble.

Buffalo
CB Terrence McGee and MLB John DiGiorgio led the team with 7 solo tackles each. McGee also broke up 2 passes. DiGiorgio appears to be OK after suffering a mild concussion in the previous game.

DE Chris Kelsay had his second sack of the season for a safety. DE Aaron Schobel leads the team with a disappointing 2.5 sacks. After double-digit sacks three of the last four years, he is on pace for his lowest sack output in his career.

Jim Leonhard has lost his starting job at FS to George Wilson, who preformed well while Leonhard was missed several games with a calf injury. CB Kiwaukee Thomas is expected to miss several weeks with a groin tear.

Carolina
With Dan Morgan on the IR, rookie Jon Beason is finally locked in at MLB for this year and likely beyond. Beason led the team with 11 tackles (9 solo) for the second straight week. He is still looking for his first sack or turnover. The league’s worst pass rush had two sacks, including the first of the season by DE Mike Rucker. WLB Na’il Diggs had his first of the season. After getting his first sack of the season in the previous game, SLB Thomas Davis just missed twice. The first hit knocked ATL QB Joey Harrington out for a play and the second came just after Harrington released what would be the game-winning TD with seconds left in the game.

The only CAR TD of the game came when SS Chris Harris forced a fumble as he tackled ATL WR Laurent Robinson in the second quarter. CB Ken Lucas picked it up and took it back 27 yards for the score. Harris and Lucas each had 5 solo tackles and Lucas broke up 3 passes. FS Deke Cooper left the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. Instead of veteran Marquand Manuel, the team brought in rookie UDFA Quinton Teal to replace him. Teal and Harris were crossed up and screened by a ref on the game-winning pass. Cooper will be evaluated later this week, so either Manuel or Teal could get the start if he can’t go.

Chicago
DE Adewale Ogunleye had a huge game, totaling 3 sacks among his 6 solo tackles. He also helped secure the victory on his final sack deep in Oakland territory with less than two minutes to play. He forced a fumble on it that reserve DE Israel Idonije fell on. Oguleye is on track for his best season since coming to Chicago. He is tied with DT Tommie Harris for the team lead in sacks with seven. DE Alex Brown continues to rotate more with Mark Anderson, who continues to struggle in run defense, as well as generate pressure like he did last year. Anderson was fooled badly on a QB end round early in the game. He frequently gives up containment responsibilities to fly down the line looking for the big play. Anderson had just an assist and batted down a pass, while Brown had 2 assists, but had a sack and forced fumble erased when he was called offsides.

MLB Brian Urlacher posted 8 tackles (6 solo), but looked like his back problems were hampering him. He was not as mobile or explosive as usual.

CB Nathan Vasher missed another game with a partially torn groin and has done some practicing, but his return remains uncertain. Rookie Trumaine McBride continues to excel in his place, showing great timing for breaking up passes, of which he had two on Sunday. McBride also had 3 solo tackles and recovered a fumble. FS Danieal Manning had his team-leading second interception on the last play of the game.

Cincinnati
The highlight of an outstanding defensive effort was rookie CB Leon Hall’s team-leading fourth pick of the season in the end zone to end the first half and halt a great scoring opportunity for the Ravens. Hall broke up another pass and had 7 solo tackles, including 2 on special teams. Most of the secondary played very well. SS Dexter Jackson played more disciplined with less trash talking for positive results. He tipped the pass that Hall picked and most of his 5 tackles (3 solo) were in helping limit BAL RB Willis McGahee to just 3.5 ypc. Jackson also recovered a fumble forced by rookie third safety Chinedum Ndukwe. Jackson briefly left the game with an undisclosed injury, but returned soon after and it wasn’t mentioned by HC Marvin Lewis in his press conference. Ndukwe continues to make big plays on special teams and defense in his limited opportunities. He also had 6 solo tackles, including one on special teams, and grabbed his first career interception in the game, as well as just missing another. He saw a bit more work with FS Madieu Williams limited by a foot strain. Williams sounds questionable for this week. Fellow rookie safety Marvin White recovered a fumble on a kickoff.

After missing six games with a groin injury, the team finally called it a season for MLB Ahmad Brooks and put him on the IR. Same for Caleb Miller, who also missed six games with a back injury. Anthony Schlegel, who had been replacing Brooks, was inactive with a back injury suffered in the previous game. So WLB Landon Johnson moved to the middle and led the team with 9 tackles (8 solo, including one on special teams). Dhani Jones took WLB and Rashad Jeanty got his first start of the season at SLB. Schlegel could be back this week, but has been unimpressive, so Johnson could stick in the middle. He already is the only CIN LB worth starting, so the bump in his value is relative. The team added LB Roy Manning for depth since they lost Brooks and Miller for the season.

DE Justin Smith finally got his second sack of the season. DT John Thornton missed another game with a neck stinger.

Cleveland
After a league-worst seven sacks in the first eight games, the defense got to PIT QB Ben Roethlisberger four times on Sunday. When rookie CB Eric Wright got his first career sack for a loss of eleven on second-and-seven late in the fourth quarter, it looked like CLE was about to leave Pittsburgh with a huge upset. However, the defense couldn’t hold the rest of the drive, giving up two third-and-long conversions and the Steelers scored the game-winning TD. Wright continues to be an outstanding producer. His sack was among his team-leading 12 solo tackles, including one of special teams, and he broke up a pass. Wright leads the team in tackles on the season.

Andra Davis started again in place of D’Qwell Jackson at ILB. Jackson returned to practice in limited fashion last week, but missed his second-consecutive game and is still questionable this week with a sprained ankle. Davis had 9 tackles (3 solo), while ILB Leon Williams had 11 tackles (6 solo), but couldn’t stick with PIT TE Heath Miller on the game-winning TD reception.

DE Shaun Smith continues to start over Orpheus Roye as Roye struggles with knee problems. Smith forced a fumble on his first career sack, in his fifth season, among his 6 tackles (3 solo). FS Brodney Pool had his first pick of the season in the second quarter that led to a TD that gave the Browns a 21-3 lead in the second quarter. DE Robaire Smith had his second sack of the season and pass rush specialist OLB Antwan Peek also had a sack, giving him 2.5 for the season. Kamerion Wimbley didn’t get one, but continues to lead the team with three sacks.

Dallas
SS Roy Williams (8 solo), ILB Bradie James (7 solo), and OLB Demarcus Ware (5 solo) all had 10 tackles. Ware also led a sack parade with his team-leading eighth of the season. OLB Greg Ellis had a sack, giving him 6.5 for the six games he has played this season. He has not gotten to the QB in only one game. Reserve OLB Anthony Spencer, the man Ellis bumped to the bench, got his second sack of the season and first since being demoted.

DT Tank Johnson played in his first game since the Super Bowl, after serving an eight-game suspension, and had his first sack as a Cowboy. He did not start, but came in the game at DT early and saw a significant amount of work. DE Chris Canty also had a sack.

CB Anthony Henry played again, but did not start and saw limited snaps. He is questionable again this week.

Denver
Their biggest news of the week came before the game, as the team released DE Simeon Rice last Friday. Rice, who is second among active players to Michael Strahan with 121 sacks, never got 122 in Denver. The 33-year old Rice started one game and had no sacks as a big disappointment after being brought in to improve the struggling DEN pass rush. He previously insinuated lingering problems from offseason shoulder surgery contributed to his slow start and the excuses continued as he blamed the team for not being “allowed to be great” in Denver. After the team signed three free agent linemen (Josh Mallard, Paul Carrington, and Larry Birdine) when they put rookie DE Jarvis Moss on the IR and released DT Amon Gordon, the writing was on the wall and Rice asked to be released. They also brought back DL Kenny Peterson, who was cut after coming back from his four-game suspension to start the season.

In the game, it was rookie DE Tim Crowder and young DE Elvis Dumervil who got the pass rush going. Crowder had the first two sacks of his career, including one on KC’s final offensive play to lock up the victory. Crowder and Dumervil also helped keep that drive alive by being offsides five times (one and four, respectively). Dumervil forced fumble on his sack that was returned for a TD by SLB Nate Webster. Dumervil has sacks in back-to-back games and leads the team with 8, 0.5 short of his total as a rookie last year. Crowder impressed in the preseason, but entered the season with an ankle sprain that limited him. With Rice and Moss gone, he should see plenty of opportunities as a pass rusher with decent potential the rest of the season. WLB Ian Gold had 6 solo tackles, including his first sack of the season.

FS John Lynch missed his second straight game with a pinched nerve despite seeing some practice last week. Domonique Foxworth replaced him again. Another change at safety was Nick Ferguson getting demoted in favor or Hamza Abdullah at SS. Abdullah responded to his first career start by leading the team in tackles with 8 solo, as well as forcing a fumble and tipping two passes that resulted in picks. The first probably should have been his first career interception, but instead nickel CB Karl Paymah grabbed it out of the air for his first career pick. The second by Abdullah was tipped to CB Dre’ Bly for his team-leading third pick. CB Champ Bailey also had his second pick of the season in the game. Abdullah has better range in coverage than Ferguson and has good value the rest of the season if he can hold the job.

Detroit
DE Dewayne White missed his first game as Lion after aggravating a left triceps injury in the previous game. He remains questionable for this week. Jared DeVries got the start in White’s place and had his first sack since a three-sack game in Week Four. Corey Smith also saw more snaps.

WLB Ernie Sims led the team with 8 solo tackles and forced a fumble that DT Cory Redding recovered. Sims is tied for third in the league in tackles.

CB Fernando Bryant left the game in the fourth quarter with a sprained right foot. He is questionable this week and Stanley Wilson should return to the starting lineup if Bryant can’t go this week. Rookie FS Gerald Alexander had his first career sack.

Green Bay
CB Charles Woodson saved the shutout with his team-leading third pick of the season in the fourth quarter. It was also his second in as many games. On the Vikings’ final drive, DT Johnny Jolly and DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila helped preserve the shutout with sacks. It was the first of his career for Jolly, who has been, literally at well over 300 lbs, a big part of the success of a Packer defense. They held MIN rookie RB Adrian Peterson to just 45 yards rushing a week after his record-breaking rushing game, although Peterson left in the third quarter with a knee sprain after a tackle by CB Al Harris on Peterson’s only reception of the game. KGB had another sack in the game, giving him 8.5 on the season, his best total since 2004. Starting DE Cullen Jenkins, who has battled a variety of injuries this season, was hit in the right knee late in the game and did not return. DE Aaron Kampman brought plenty of pressure, but failed to register a sack and was passed after being in a tie for the league lead.

Rookie Aaron Rouse started at FS in place of Nick Collins, who is expected to miss at least two more games. Rouse had 4 solo tackles. WLB A.J. Hawk led the team with 7 solo tackles.

Houston
The team officially put CB Dunta Robinson on the IR over the bye and signed S Curome Cox, who had some starting experience in Denver before being released. Petey Faggins will not regain the starting CB role he lost to rookie Fred Bennett, instead FS Von Hutchins will start at corner with Bennett. Will Demps will move in to the starting lineup at FS with Cox adding depth. Nickel CB Jamar Fletcher is out until late November after undergoing an appendectomy, so Faggins will compete there.

Indianapolis
Already missing seven starters on both sides of the ball, including OLBs Freddie Keiaho (post-concussion syndrome) and Tyjuan Hagler (neck injury), the defense took another hit in a disappointing loss on Sunday night. DE Dwight Freeney came up limping after a pass rush in the fourth quarter and had to be carted off the field. He injured his left foot and the team has not clarified the injury, but indicated he’ll miss some time. ESPN’s John Clayton reported it is a Lisfranc injury that will require season-ending surgery. DE Robert Mathis, who had his team-leading fifth sack in the game, could move to the right side and Josh Thomas may start in place of Freeney on the left side. The team signed Simeon Rice to add depth. After his stint in Denver, it is hard to expect him having much fantasy value. They have further concerns on the DLine as DT Raheem Brock hurt his neck during the game and is questionable this week. Brock would also likely see time at DE with Freeney out. Rookie DT Keyunta Dawson also injured his hand and is not expected to play this week.

With Keiaho and Hagler both out, Rocky Boiman got another start at SLB and rookie Clint Session got his first career start at WLB. Session had his first two career picks in the game, and his first included an amazing return negated by an inadvertent whistle. MLB Gary Brackett tipped a pass to the end zone which then deflected off the back of FS Antoine Bethea. Brackett fell after tipping it and then the ball went off Bethea and bounced on Brackett twice on the ground. Before it fell, Session snatched up and rolled about six yards deep in the end zone. You could hear the whistle sounding in the game, but Session got up and returned it to about the SD six-yard line before running out of gas and getting dragged down by his leg. The pick was allowed, but after conferring, the return was erased because of the whistle and it was ruled a touchback. Brackett was involved in another odd play that got the Colts right back in the game despite all the problems on offense. After narrowing the lead to eight early in the first quarter, SD was pinned deep in their own territory the following possession. As SD QB Phillip Rivers dropped near his goalline for a pass, the ball slipped out of his hands as rookie DT Ed Johnson led the pass rush. Brackett grabbed the fumble for a TD. He also led the team with 7 solo tackles. Keiaho and Hagler both remain questionable for this week.

Jacksonville
After underperforming most of the season, MLB Mike Peterson and DE Reggie Hayward broke out after most fantasy owners have probably give up on them. After just one sack through the first eight games, Hayward had 2.5 on Sunday, forcing a fumble on one, and also batting down a pass. He has struggled with coming back from a torn Achilles’ tendon that cost him last season. Hayward finding his pass rush grove couldn’t come at a better time as Bobby McCray has disappeared back to nowhere as fast as he rose from it last season. After ten sacks in 2006, McCray has lost his starting job and plummeted down the depth chart. The sack Hayward shared was with Jeremy Mincey, who was just signed last week off the street and jumped ahead of McCray. Peterson led the team with a game-high 14 tackles (9 solo), as well as recovering a fumble and grabbing his first pick of the season. Peterson got out of the gate slow after returning from a torn pec in 2006. He had 26 tackles in the first five games, but now has had two double-digit tackles game and 38 tackles in his last four games.

DT Marcus Stroud began his four game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. As expected, Rob Meier started in his place with Grady Jackson rotating in. CB Brian Williams returned from a hamstring injury and grabbed his team-leading third pick.

Kansas City
DE Jared Allen had the only sack for the team, taking sole possession of the league lead with 9.5 sacks this season. He has played in only seven games after being suspended for the first two and didn’t get to the QB in only one game he played this season. After a few relatively quiet games, SLB Derrick Johnson had another huge game. He led the team 11 solo tackles, forcing a fumble on one, and had his second pick of the season.

SS Bernard Pollard blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety early in the second quarter. Pollard blocked three last season.

Miami
Despite practicing coming off their bye, MLB Zach Thomas missed his fourth game this season as he battled migraines. Thomas missed two games after suffering a concussion in Week Two. After playing a couple of weeks, he suffered whiplash in a car accident after Week Seven. He sat out Week Eight and they had a bye in Week Nine, but now he is dealing with chronic migraine headaches. The migraines are bothersome, but he could probably play through them. He is still out because he hasn’t been cleared from the concussion and neck injuries he suffered in the other two incidents, either or both of which could be the cause. He remains questionable this week, but could return if he is cleared for contact and practices by Thursday. Channing Crowder against started in the middle in place of Thomas and led the team with 8 tackles (7 solo).

Already dealing with enough injury problems, the team got a scare when DEs Jason Taylor and Matt Roth were injured on the same play in the third quarter. Taylor came back briefly in the late fourth quarter with the ankle taped heavily, but didn’t last long. Taylor injured his left ankle and the MRI came back negative, so he could play this week. He had his team-leading fifth sack before leaving. Roth strained his groin and didn’t return to the game. His prognosis for this week sounds a bit less optimistic and he is expected to miss this week. Quentin Moses and Rodrique Wright worked at ends in the absence of Taylor and Roth. Moses shared his first career sack with SLB Joey Porter. DT Vonnie Holliday returned from a fractured right ankle.

Minnesota
The offense was typically disappointing, but a blowout resulted when the second-ranked run defense failed them, as well. GB RB Ryan Grant was the first back to rush for over 100 yards against them, most of it in the first half, while GB QB Brett Favre threw three TDs. The last one looked like a sure pick for CB Cedric Griffin, until SS Darren Sharper broke it up and the deflected ball landed in GB WR Ruvell Martin’s hands for his second TD. Griffin had 8 tackles (6 solo) and broke up a pass, but had a rough day in coverage. The run and pass defense were hurt by the absence of CB Antoine Winfield (pulled hamstring) for a second straight game. He has practiced this week and is expected to return. Rookie Marcus McCauley started in his place and had 7 tackles (6 solo), also struggling in coverage on a very effective day by Favre.

The team forced no turnovers and had no sacks. MLB E.J. Henderson led the team with 11 tackles (10 solo). Reserve DE Erasmus James saw his most significant action of the year, getting 4 tackles (3 solo). Part of the reason James got more snaps was rookie DE Brian Robison suffered an elbow sprain in the game, although he did return with it wrapped.

New England
They don’t talk about injuries, so there isn’t much to say about them coming off a bye week.

New Orleans
After battling a sprained left ankle in their previous game, the team decided to rest DE Charles Grant. Josh Cooper got his second career start in place of Grant with Renaldo Wynn seeing significant action in passing situations. Grant should return this week. On the other side, DE Will Smith had a big game, totaling 7 tackles (4 solo), including his third sack of the season. After a slow start, Smith has two sack in his last three games. He is now tied with DT Brian Young for the team lead. Young is out indefinitely after getting his left knee cleaned last week. Antwan Lake will replace him while he is out.

WLB Scott Shanle missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury, but is expected back this week. Brian Simmons continued to replace him and had his first sack of the season among his 8 tackles (5 solo). MLB Mark Simoneau and SLB Scott Fujita also had 8 tackles (6 solo) each.

FS Josh Bullucks had 7 tackles (5 solo), including his first sack of the season, but failed to recover two onside kicks he got his hands on. CB Jason David was burnt multiple times again, helping a struggling STL offense get on track. David had 7 solo tackles in the game.

New York Giants
FS Gibril Wilson led the team with 14 tackles (10 solo) and grabbed his third pick of the season. SS James Butler returned to the starting lineup coming back from hamstring and ankle problems. He had 3 solo tackles.

DEs Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan each had a sack. It was the fifth of the season for Strahan and the ninth for Umenyiora, who is tied for second in the league.

New York Jets
Coming off their bye, a lot of dinged players rested and now have practiced this week and are expected to play, including: SS Kerry Rhodes (knee), FS Abram Elam (neck), DT Dewayne Robertson (knees), and starting corners Hank Poteat (chest) and Darrelle Revis (hamstring).

The team has acknowledged the season-ending surgery to ILB Jonathan Vilma was for his right knee, the one with his bone condition. It has been speculated it is microfracture surgery, while the team has specified and his agent contends it isn’t career-threatening surgery.

Oakland
DE Derrick Burgess continued to get his season back on track with his second sack of the season, both in his last three games, among his 4 solo tackles. Situational pass rusher Chris Clemons continues to excel in limited snaps. He had his third sack of the season, tying him with DT Gerard Warren for the team lead. Warren returned from a thigh injury.

SLB Sam Williams missed his fourth straight game with a shoulder injury. Robert Thomas continued to start in his place and tied for the team with 9 tackles (8 solo). MLB Kirk Morrison had his first sack of the season on a nice blitz up the middle where he knocked CHI QB Brian Griese out of the game. Morrison also had 9 tackles (7 solo).

CB Nnamdi Asomugha was inactive with a knee injury suffered in the previous game. With Fabian Washington (calf) also out, Chris Carr started opposite Stanford Routt and was playing well, until he was smoked by CHI WR Bernard Berrian for the decisive long TD pass. Asomugha and Washington are expected back this week.

Philadelphia
After being active only once in the first eight games, despite a strong preseason, rookie DE Victor Abiamiri got his first career start on Sunday. He replaced Jevon Kearse, who has never lived up to expectations in Philly. Abiamiri failed to capitalize, as he didn’t appear in the box score. Kearse didn’t play in the first quarter and had a single assist in the game, playing mostly in short-yardage situations. As usual, Trent Cole was the most productive end. He didn’t get to the QB, and lost the league sack lead, but had 6 tackles (3 solo) and helped the team secure victory when DT Mike Patterson forced a fumble on a sack late in the fourth quarter. Patterson was credited with the forced fumble, but it was actually the second hit by Juqua Thomas that knocked the ball loose. Also, Cole grabbed the ball first, but DT Brodrick Bunkley ended up with the ball, so there could be a scoring change there. Patterson had 5 other solo tackles in the game. It was the only sack of the game for the Eagles. Darren Howard has been useless all season and while Kearse may regain his starting job, he is too sporadic to start regularly. After Cole, situational Juqua Thomas has been their next best DE, but I wouldn’t gamble on starting him unless your other options are really poor, but Thomas may be next in line to get a start. Stay away from Philly ends not named Cole, but Abiamiri has some dynasty upside if you can stash him. Patterson suffered an ankle sprain in the game, but is expected to play this week.

For the second time in his three years in the NFL, SS Sean Considine won’t make it more than halfway through the season due to his left shoulder. Considine missed more than half the season after dislocating the shoulder as a rookie in 2005 and now will miss the rest of the year after injuring it last Sunday night. The team activated DB Marcus Paschal from the practice squad and Quintin Mikell, who started most of the season at FS in place of Brian Dawkins, is now the starting SS. Mikell had 8 tackles (5 solo) and forced a fumble that reserve CB Joselio Hanson recovered. Unfortunately for them, the offense turned it right back over on the next play. Mikell has some nice value for the rest of the season and, after signing a four-year extension this year, the special teams’ ace has future potential in dynasty leagues as the top back-up to both an aging Dawkins and injury-prone, coverage-liable Considine. Dawkins also had 8 tackles (5 solo) and broke up a pass. CB Lito Sheppard’s left knee was fine after there was concern he had aggravated a previous injury in Week Nine. Sheppard started and had 6 tackles (5 solo). Nickel CB William James was demoted in favor of Hanson in the second half.

The promise of Omar Gaither at MLB after Jeremiah Trotter was continues to fade. He had just 5 tackles for the second straight game and hasn’t had more than 7 tackles since Week Four, when he had 10, his only double-digit tackle game of the season. Gaither has no sacks or forced fumbles, and one pick, also in Week Four. Until he gives a reason otherwise, Gaither isn’t worth starting if you have marginally better options. WLB Takeo Spikes led the team with 12 tackles (9 solo) and passed Gaither for the team lead in tackles. As he no longer turns in the big plays (no sacks, picks, or fumbles), Spikes isn’t worth starting if you have better options unless he makes double-digit tackle games a habit (Sunday was his first of the season).

Pittsburgh
OLB James Harrison didn’t have quite the game he had last Monday night, but he did force two fumbles, and one was recovered by CB Ike Taylor in the third quarter. It was the only turnover the defense got and was a huge one, as it led to the first TD of the afternoon for the Steelers and changed the momentum of the game for a PIT offense that was unable to finish in the first half. Harrison had 5 solo tackles, including two on special teams. OLB Clark Haggans led the team with 8 tackles (2 solo). The team had no sacks in the game.

DE Aaron Smith returned from a sprained left knee and was back in the starting lineup. However, Ryan Clark missed his third straight game with an inflamed spleen. Anthony Smith remained the starter at FS.

St. Louis
With DE Leonard Little on the IR, Victor Adeyanju moved in to the starting lineup, but failed to make an impact. He didn’t tally a stat in the box score. MLB Will Witherspoon had the only sack on the day on which he forced a fumble. He led the team with 7 tackles (6 solo). SS O.J. Atogwe and WLB Pisa Tinoisamoa each had their second pick of the season.

San Diego
With Quentin Jammer inactive after leaving the previous two games early with a hamstring injury, the Antonio Cromartie show continued on prime time Sunday night in his first career start. The incredible athleticism Cromartie showed at the Combine that got him drafted in the first round in 2006 despite missing the entire 2005 season to a torn left ACL has translated on the football field. He had three picks against IND QB Peyton Manning, including a terrific one-handed grab. He broke up another pass and had 6 solo tackles. He now also leads the league in interceptions with six. There was still some criticism for his game fantasy players could find…it was the first time in three games he hasn’t scored a TD. Jammer should be back this week, but Cromartie is the hottest fantasy DB out there and should be starting in every league.

Manning threw a career-high six picks, including WILB Matt Wilhelm with his first of the year, OLB Shaun Phillips with his first since his rookie season, and SS Clinton Hart sealing the win with his third pick of the year on the last play of the game. Wilhelm also had 11 tackles (9 solo) and Hart led the team with 12 (11 solo, including one on special teams).

Rookie S Eric Weddle continues to see significant work, now more at the expense of FS Marlon McCree than SS Clinton Hart. However, Weddle hurt his knee in the game and is day-to-day. Jacques Cesaire started in place of DE Luis Castillo who is expected to miss several weeks after surgery on a tendon in his right ankle. Cesaire had 3 tackles (2 solo) and batted down a pass. He isn’t much of a fantasy option.

San Francisco
Derek Smith continues to start at SILB, but Jeff Ulbrich saw more work and led the team with 10 tackles (9 solo). Rookie WILB Patrick Willis appeared to struggle a bit more this week with a cast on his broken right hand. He had 5 solo tackles.

Seattle
OLB Leroy Hill was inactive with a strained hamstring, giving Kevin Bentley a start and he responded by leading the team with 10 tackles (6 solo). DE Patrick Kerney was moved over to the right side to face SEA LT Walter Jones and notched a sack on which he forced a fumble. The move may have been because of Jones and/or because Kerney was battling some pain in his right side, so perhaps playing that size exposed him to less hits there. It remains to be seen how it impacts his value and Darryl Tapp’s, who moved to the left side. OLB Julian Peterson had his team-leading seventh sack.

Tampa Bay
CB Brian Kelly is expected to be back and starting after returning from his groin injury in limited fashion before their bye week. The team still signed CB Keiwan Ratliff for depth and special teams to offset the loss of Torrie Cox.

DE Greg Spires (calf, Achilles’ tendon) and Patrick Chukwurah (left shoulder) remain questionable for this week.

Tennessee
Despite expecting to play, DT Albert Haynesworth was inactive with a sore hamstring. The run defense suffered for it, as they allowed a team over 100 yards rushing for the first time this season. JAX RB Maurice Jones-Drew did it by himself, becoming the first individual 100-yard rusher in almost a year against the Titans. Randy Starks replaced Haynesworth in the starting lineup. Haynesworth is questionable for this week.

DE Travis LaBoy was inactive after suffering a concussion in their previous game. CB Nick Harper left the game in the second half with a concussion and was replaced by Reynaldo Hill. Both are questionable this week.

SLB David Thornton led the team with 10 tackles (6 solo). WLB Keith Bulluck had a season-high 8 solo tackles. DE Antwan Odom had his fourth sack of the season.

Washington
Up by two points midway through the fourth quarter, the Redskins were in Eagle territory and looking to expand their lead. However, a fumble by the offense looked like it derailed their effort. However, on the next play by PHI, DE Andre Carter stopped the momentum shift by forcing a fumble with a sack that DT Anthony Montgomery recovered. The offense would run clock and convert a FG on the subsequent drive, even though it ultimately wasn’t enough. Carter continues to have his best season since 2002, which was his only with double-digit sacks. He leads the team with 7 sacks and has forced 3 fumbles. He had 4 solo tackles in the game and is also on pace for a new career high in tackles. Carter is a perennial tease and usually an annual disappointment, but he continues to produce this year.

After being used on blitzes several times in the previous game, a victory at NYJ, to net 7 tackles and a sack, rookie SS LaRon Landry was used mostly in pass defense on Sunday, much to the chagrin of his fantasy owners. After 31 tackles in his three previous games, Landry had just one assist in the game. He spent a lot of time in pass defense, particularly after FS Sean Taylor left the game with a knee injury. An MRI showed it was a grade 2 MCL sprain and he will miss at least two weeks. Pierson Prioleau replaced Taylor and was turned around on a 45-yard TD pass to PHI WR Reggie Brown after MLB London Fletcher fell down in coverage. Fletcher led the team 10 tackles (9 solo) and has moved in to the league lead for tackles. Prioleau is expected to start while Taylor is out.
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 his second straight again. Randall Godfrey started in his place. CB Fred Smoot played through a sore hamstring opposite Shawn Springs. Leigh Torrance remains the nickel corner.