SS Adrian Wilson’s hamstring was reportedly much improved last week and he saw more work on Sunday. He posted five solo tackles and broke up a pass. CB Rod Hood returned after hurting his groin in the previous game and posted six solo tackles. FS Antrel Rolle led the team with eight tackles (six solo) and broke up a pass.

Atlanta
Overshadowed by the performance on offense of this year’s first-round pick QB Matt Ryan, last year’s first-round pick had perhaps his best game on the other side of the ball. DE Jamaal Anderson not only got his first career sack in the game, but had three other tackles for a loss or no gain. He also batted away two passes. The team had no other sacks and forced no turnovers. MLB Curtis Lofton led the team with eight tackles (seven solo, including one on special teams).

Baltimore
A thin secondary missing SS Dawan Landry (neck and back), CB Samari Rolle (neck) and his back-up, Fabian Washington (shoulder and neck) helped the Colts kick-start their air attack. Frank Walker started in place of Rolle and along with CB Chris McAlister and nickel CB Corey Ivy, all took a beating. There is no timetable for Landry, who continues to recover from a scary spinal concussion in Week Three, while Rolle is expected out the rest of the month after surgery for a bulging disc in his neck. Washington, battling a bulging disc but not opting for surgery, is day-to-day. Jim Leonhard continues to start at SS while Landry is out.

OLB Bart Scott led the team with seven tackles (five solo). MLB Ray Lewis had his first sack of the season among his six tackles (five solo).

Buffalo
Several key defenders rested injuries over the bye and it looks like most of them should be ready to play this week. CB Ashton Youboty (hamstring) and FS Ko Simpson (hamstring) returned to practice this week. DE Aaron Schobel (left foot) and CB Terrence McGee (left knee sprain) did not return to practice on Monday. Schobel sounds likely to return this week, but not McGee. Watch for news later in the week on these two key IDPs. The team gave up on former first-round pick John McCargo, dealing him to the Colts for a fourth-round pick at the trade deadline.

Carolina
With no sacks and forcing no turnovers, the defense couldn’t help overcome multiple miscues by the offense and special teams. MLB Jon Beason led the team with 13 tackles (eight solo). WLB Thomas Davis played through an ankle injury and is expected to play this week. DT Kris Jenkins continues to have his snaps limited as the team is cautious with a lingering back injury. The team was missing DT Darwin Walker up front, who was out with a pulled hamstring.

Chicago
Already missing CB Nathan Vasher, who missed his second game after surgery on his right thumb and wrist, took several more hits to the secondary on Sunday. Before halftime, CB Charles Tillman fell awkwardly after an offensive pass interference and injured his left shoulder. He was already playing through a right shoulder injury from earlier in the season, but still hasn’t been ruled out this week. Tillman was replaced by Marcus Hamilton, who was signed just a few weeks ago after TB let him go. Hamilton broke up a pass in the end zone, but also made a poor read on the pass that set up the game-winning field goal for the Falcons. Multi-purpose DB Danieal Manning left with a pulled hamstring in the third quarter and reserve CB Trumaine McBride also left with a shoulder injury. McBride is likely to play this week, while Manning appears more uncertain. The team will likely bring fifth-round pick Zack Bowman off the practice squad and may need to hit the street, depending on how severe some of the injuries are. Corey Graham started in place of Vasher and led the team with 10 tackles (nine solo), including a nice TFL on an attempted reverse.

DE Alex Brown appeared to have game-changing play in the first quarter when he got to ATL RB Michael Turner and the ball came lose. Brown gathered the ball and rumbled down near the goal line. However, replay showed Turner’s knee was down before losing the ball and call was reversed. The Falcons would rebound and drive for a FG. On the next drive, the Bears came out short on another potential momentum-shifter on the next ATL drive. Graham forced a fumble the DT Tommie Harris recovered on his knees then inexplicably lost and the Falcons took back. The change in possession gave the Falcons a new set of downs and they would drive for another FG and 9-0 lead.

Cincinnati
MLB Dhani Jones led the team with ten tackles (eight solo, including one on special teams) and leads the league with 61 tackles on the season. SS Chinedum Ndukwe got the team started on the right foot when he recovered a fumble on the Jets’ first drive of the game and returned it 15 yards for a TD. DE Antwan Odom forced the fumble on a sack. Dexter Jackson (thumb) remained inactive despite returning to practice last week. I expect Ndukwe to remain the starter when Jackson returns.

CB Jonathan Joseph returned to the starting lineup after being eased back in the previous game. CB Jamar Fletcher, who was signed for depth, has a hamstring injury and is not expected to play. FS Marvin White had his first career pick. DT John Thornton was inactive with a sore Achilles’ tendon, but is expected back this week.

Cleveland
The Browns were rejuvenated on both sides of the ball in an upset of the world champs. CB Eric Wright sealed the victory with a 94-yard interception return for a TD. FS Brodney Pool also had a pick deep in CLE territory. SS Sean Jones (knee) remained inactive coming off the bye, but could be back this week. OLB Willie McGinest returned and was in the starting lineup, but rookie Alex Hall rotated in and had his team-leading third sack of the season. ILB D’Qwell Jackson led the team with ten tackles (eight solo).

Dallas
OLB DeMarcus Ware posted six solo tackles, including his sixth sack of the season among his four QB hits. He now had a sack in nine straight games (ten if you include the playoffs). The NFL record is ten, set by Denver OLB Simon Fletcher in 1992 when Wade Phillips was an assistant with the Broncos. The Cowboys record is considered 11 by DT Harvey Martin, but that was before the sack was an official statistic.

CB Terence Newman remained inactive with a groin injury and Adam Jones started in his place. Newman had surgery on the groin last week and is expected to miss four weeks. Of course, Jones was kind enough to pick this time to be involved in another incident and now the team will be without his services for at least four weeks. Jones reportedly got in a fight with a body guard last week and the police were called to the scene at a hotel. Not surprisingly, owner Jerry Jones took no action. However, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Jones indefinitely and will decide on the length following Week Eleven, which means at least four weeks. If the reports are accurate, this was a relatively minor incident and not even worthy of punishment for most players, but Jones was, and should be, held to a higher standard. How many “last” chances can this recitative punk get? Orlando Scandrick should get the start at corner and rookie CB Mike Jenkins will see a bigger role. SS Roy Williams is expected to return from a broken forearm this week. He will likely split time with Keith Davis. Depth is hurting at safety, as well, with Pat Watkins missing another game with a stinger, although he is expected to return this week. Courtney Brown has been getting work in place of Davis in passing situations with Watkins out.

Denver
MLB Nate Webster led the team with 11 tackles (seven solo), including his first sack of the season. He forced a fumble on the Jaguars’ first drive of the game that WLB D.J. Williams recovered. The offense promptly gave it right back when RB Fred Taylor fumbled on the next play. SLB Boss Bailey had seven tackles (four solo) and forced a fumble, but continues to struggle with the right ankle he sprained in the preseason. He left twice in the fourth quarter after aggravating it. Despite a poor aggregate performance by the Denver defense, teams appear still unwilling to challenge CB Champ Bailey. The Rocky Mountain News reported he hasn’t had a pass throw his way in the last two games and just ten on the season.

DT Kenny Peterson had his third sack of the season, tying a career-high for a single season. He forced a fumble on the play that DE Elvis Dumervil recovered. SS Marquand Manuel had ten tackles (eight solo). Reserve DE Tim Crowder and tweener Jarvis Moss were both active, but saw little work in either the team’s 3-4 or 4-3 fronts. The team missed Ebenezer Ekuban, their premier pass rush threat from the edge this year. He was inactive with a groin injury, but is expected to return this week.

Detroit
A spirited effort by the defense couldn’t overcome the inept offense or the officiating. CB Leigh Bodden was charged with a questionable pass interference late in the game that set up the game-winning FG. Bodden had his first pick as a Lion in the third quarter, which led to Detroit’s only TD of the game. He recovered a fumble and forced one on back-to-back drives in the fourth quarter, as well as posted four solo tackles. SS Daniel Bullocks led the team with ten tackles (nine solo, including one for a loss) and forced a fumble. S Gerald Alexander, who Bullocks replaced as a starter earlier in the year, was placed on the IR with a neck injury. CB Brian Kelly was back in a starting role and had seven tackles (six solo). Travis Fisher, who started over Kelly in the previous game, was active but did not play due to a sore knee.

DE Dewayne White had his best fantasy game of the season. He had seven tackles (six solo), including his third sack of the season. DE Jared DeVries had a sack for the second straight game. WLB Ernie Sims and DT Cory Redding shared a sack. Sims had seven tackles (four solo).

Green Bay
A banged-up GB defense was greater than a banged-up SEA offense. Corners Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams helped prevent any hope of a comeback with picks on back-to-back possessions to start the fourth quarter. Woodson continues to play at an All-Pro level despite battling a toe problem all season. In addition to his fourth INT of the season, he broke up another pass and had two solo tackles, including a sack. Williams had a pick for the third straight game as he continues to replace Al Harris. The news was good this week on Harris, with latest reports saying he could return from his lacerated spleen after the team’s Week Eight bye. The news isn’t as good at safety, where SS Atari Bigby remained out with a hamstring injury. Aaron Rouse returned from a left knee sprain to start in place of Bigby, but he suffered a concussion in the first half and left the game. Charlie Peprah replaced Rouse at SS in the second half. It is believed that Rouse will be OK to play this week. Bigby will probably be held back one more week because the team has a bye in Week Eight, so it should be Rouse or Peprah this week.

The DLine injury news is also a mixed bag. New starting DE Michael Montgomery, who took over when Cullen Jenkins went on the IR, missed the game with an ankle injury. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila started and rotated with rookie Jeremy Thompson. While SEA LT Walter Jones handled them, LDE Aaron Kampman brought plenty of pressure. He notched two sacks, giving him six on the season, and two other solo tackles. DT Ryan Pickett battled knee tendinitis at practice last week and then suffered a strained triceps in the game. He believes he’ll play this week, but his status is uncertain. The line should get a boost as last year’s first pick, DT Justin Harrell, returns to practice from the PUP. He could be ready to go Sunday, if needed. WLB A.J. Hawk continues to play through a lingering groin injury and doesn’t appear up to full speed. He had just two solo tackles, giving him five total (four solo) in the last two games. FS Nick Collins led the team with six solo tackles. MLB Nick Barnett had five solo.

Houston
DE Mario Williams had his third two-sack game of the season, forcing a fumble on one. He has six sacks on the season. New SS Brandon Harrison, who replaced C.C. Brown who is on the IR, led the team with ten tackles (six solo). MLB DeMeco Ryans had just four tackles (three solo). DT Deljuan Robinson started over last year’s first-round pick Amobi Okoye for the second straight game. Okoye has struggled in run defense, but still works in for his superior pass rush ability in passing situations.

CB DeMarcus Faggins started next to Jacques Reeves for the second straight game, with Fred Bennett demoted to nickel corner. Dunta Robinson came off the PUP this week and returned to practice. DB Eugene Wilson almost blew the game after trying to score on a pick late in the fourth quarter. He fumbled the ball back to MIA who went on to score a TD and take the lead, before some late-game heroics by QB Matt Schaub led them to victory.

Indianapolis
With CB Kelvin Hayden inactive with an injured left knee, Tim Jennings got the start and made an impact early and often. He tipped a pass on the Ravens’ first drive that SS Melvin Bullitt intercepted. Jennings then got a pick of his own in the fourth quarter and then forced a fumble on the next drive that DE Robert Mathis recovered. Jennings also led the team with ten solo tackles. Hayden visited Dr. James Andrews, never a good sign, regarding his knee injury last week, but there is no update on his status so he should be considered out indefinitely. Bullitt continues to fill in for Bob Sanders (high ankle sprain and arthroscopic knee surgery), who isn’t expected back until November. CB Marlin Jackson played through a sore ankle.

WLB Freddie Keiaho had two fumble recoveries on the same play. After DE Raheem Brock separated BAL RB Le’Ron McClain from the ball in the first quarter, Keiaho recovered it and then fumbled it on the return and recovered it yet again. Brock also had a sack in the game. DE Dwight Freeney was active, but limited by a lingering hamstring problem. He is expected to play this week. Mathis made up for the absence of Freeney by bringing enough pressure for two players and racking up three sacks, forcing a fumble on one. He took advantage of the absence of starting OT Adam Terry and abused his back-up, an aging Willie Anderson. SLB Clint Session was expected to be inactive with a calf injury, but started and played. Tyjuan Hagler returns from the PUP this week and resumed practicing. He will press Session to regain the starting SLB job. The team acquired former first-round pick DT John McCargo from the Bills for a fourth-round pick. They released LaJuan Ramsey to make room.

Jacksonville
Unhappy with the play of CB Will James, the team worked SS Brian Williams back at corner again, despite the return of Drayton Florence from a groin injury. Williams had four solo tackles and broke up two passes. Florence had three solo tackles and got credit for a forced fumble by WR Brandon Marshall at the Jaguars’ five-yard line. Florence picked it up and returned it 18 yards. FS Reggie Nelson (knee) missed his third straight game and with Williams at corner, Gerald Sensabaugh and Pierson Prioleau got the starts at safety. Prioleau led the team with six solo tackles, including one on special teams. WLB Darryl Smith had six tackles (five solo). Sensabaugh left the game in the second quarter with a sprained thumb, but returned in the second half. Sensabaugh got his second pick of the season on an overthrown ball before leaving in the second quarter. Third DE Reggie Hayward forced a fumble in the first quarter that CB Rashean Mathis recovered. It led to a FG, the only points JAX converted off their three turnovers.

Kansas City
OLB Donnie Edwards (ankle) didn’t practice last week, so he remains a question mark this week. Demorrio Williams would get another start if Edwards can’t go. Unable to find any takers for Napoleon Harris at the trade deadline, the Chiefs cut bait and released him.

Miami
OLB Joey Porter remains on a tear, posting a sack among his five QB hits and three solo tackles, also batting down a pass. He has 5.5 sacks in the last three games and 6.5 on the season, tied for second in the league. One of his hits forced a bad throw that was intercepted by ILB Akin Ayodele. CB Andre Goodman also had a pick and appeared to have another to seal the victory late in the fourth quarter, but it was reversed on replay because it was trapped, and the Texans continued the drive for a game-winning TD. CB Will Allen hurt his knee during the game, but there is no report on the severity of the injury. ILB Channing Crowder led the team with 13 tackles (nine solo, including one for a loss) and broke up two passes. SS Yeremiah Bell had 12 tackles (eight solo), broke up a pass, and recovered a fumble.

Minnesota
DT Kevin Williams dominated the interior line exploding for a career-high four sacks. He had four other solo tackles, including one for a loss. Williams now has six on the season, the most he’s had since 2004, when he posted back-to-back double-digit sack seasons his first two years in the league. After going two games without a sack, DE Jared Allen got a gift when DET QB Dan Orlovsky made a dumb mistake in his first career start. The Lions were pinned at their own one-yard line late in the first quarter after recovering a fumble. On second down, Orlovsky scrambled back to avoid Allen, not paying attention to his field position. He stepped out of bounds without even knowing it. Allen, the closest defender to Orlovsky when it occurred, was credited with the sack and safety.

New MLB David Herron suffered a left ankle sprain in the second quarter and had to leave the game. He would return before leaving for good early in the fourth quarter, also getting his bell rung in the game. Herron was replacing E.J. Henderson, who is out for the season. Vinny Ciurciu replaced Herron in the game, but he is more of a special team player and played with a concussion. Erin Henderson, E.J.’s brother and a reserve LB, also suited up despite a concussion. However, the UDFA is a special teams player and not in the mix as a replacement. There is concern Herron will miss this week, so the team brought back former second-round pick Dontarrious Thomas on Monday. Thomas left for SF via free agency over the winter, but failed to make it out of camp with the 49ers. He could start in the middle this week if Herron isn’t ready. WLB Ben Leber had six tackles (five solo) and got credit with a generous fumble return when he and SS Darren Sharper collided with DET WR Calvin Johnson early in the fourth quarter. The ball came out, and Leber recoverd it, but replay appeared to show Johnson was down. However, the referee ruled the evidence wasn’t indisputable and the turnover stayed. FS Madieu Williams completed his second week of practice back from a neck injury, but was still inactive. Rookie Tyrell Johnson continues to replace Williams, whose return date was pushed back a few weeks after he was expected to be back by now. Nickel CB Charles Gordon had his first career sack.

New England
DE Ty Warren had four solo tackles, including twice stopping SD RB Ladainian Tomlinson for a loss and once for a gain of just one. He also picked up an unforced fumble by SD RB Jacob Hester for the team’s only turnover. The Pats had no sacks. First-round pick ILB Jerod Mayo led the team with seven tackles (six solo, including one on special teams).

CB Ellis Hobbs (leg), DE Jarvis Green (right ankle), and S Brandon Meriweather (hip) were dinged in the game. As usual, there was no information from the team. Hobbs returned in the second quarter after leaving in the first. Green’s injury seems the worst. He left the game limping in the first quarter, did not return, and was reportedly seen in a walking boot after the game.

New Orleans
With the game in hand, third DE Bobby McCray cleaned up with two sacks, forcing a fumble on one recovered by DT Kendrick Clancy. MLB Jonathan Vilma led the team with 11 tackles (seven solo). CB Randall Gay returned to the starting lineup, across from Mike McKenzie, with rookie Tracy Porter done for the season. Nickel CB Jason David had his first pick of the season. Depth was thin at corner as veteran Aaron Glenn was inactive with an ankle sprain. He is expected back this week. FS Kevin Kaesviharn was inactive with a back injury. Josh Bullocks replaced him. First-round pick DT Sedrick Ellis remains out a few more weeks with a knee injury.

New York Giants
MLB Antonio Pierce battled a quad strain in practice last week before aggravating it in the first quarter of Monday night’s game. He left, but would return, finishing with four tackles (three solo) and a pass defensed. Chase Blackburn manned the middle while Pierce was out. After WLB Gerris Wilkinson was starting to get more snaps in the job share with rookie Bryan Kehl, he suffered a MCL sprain in the second quarter and left the game. Kehl led the team with six tackles (five solo). CB Aaron Ross left the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent leg injury, but it was reported as just a cramp. The team had no sacks and forced no turnovers in the loss.

New York Jets
With Eric Smith suspended, Abram Elam got the start at safety and led the team with seven tackles (six solo, including one on special teams). The defense brought plenty of pressure from everywhere on lightly-tested CIN QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Journeyman DB Hank Poteat got the second sack of his career and forced a fumble that OLB Calvin Pace recovered. Pace also had a sack among his four solo tackles and forced a fumble on it. DE Shaun Ellis and ILB Eric Barton each had a sack. OLB Bryan Thomas and ILB David Harris shared a sack. Thomas dinged his leg in the game, but was able to return. Harris had six tackles (two solo). CB Justin Miller, who has missed time due to a foot injury, remained inactive on Sunday despite reportedly being healthy enough to play.

Oakland
Pressure on the QB was lacking with DE Derrick Burgess inactive with a strained triceps. DT Tommy Kelly had the only sack and only other QB hit. Jay Richardson started at LDE and Kalimba Edward moved to RDE. No firm word on when Burgess will return, but the conservative estimate is two weeks.

SS Gibril Wilson (ten solo) and WLB Thomas Howard (eight solo) led the team with 11 tackles. Although CB Nnamdi Asomugha is playing with a brace as he continues to recover from a right elbow fracture, he continues to garner respect. NO QB Drew Brees only threw at him once among his 30 passes.

Philadelphia
Down by nine at the half, the defense stepped up to secure the win. SS Quintin Mikell got his second pick of the season after the team went up by one on the previous drive. It led to a FG. On the 49ers next drive, DE Trent Cole stripped the ball for the sack and forced fumble that reserve DE Chris Clemons recovered. It led to another FG. On the subsequent SF drive, DE Juqua Parker grabbed his first career INT and returned 55 yards for his first career TD to seal the victory. Parker also had a sack among his five tackles (four solo) as he played through some right knee swelling.

MLB Stewart Bradley led the defense with nine tackles (six solo). Mikell had nine tackles (five solo), including a solo and assist on special teams. DE Victor Abiamiri was active for the first time this season and played in a few pass packages, but put up a goose egg. Abiamiri is being eased back from a dislocated wrist.

Pittsburgh
DE Brett Keisel is expected to return this week after resting his calf injury over the bye. NT Casey Hampton remains questionable with a groin injury.

St. Louis
Defensive-minded new HC Jim Haslett appears to have used the bye week to work on forcing turnovers, because the defense forced three on a WAS O that had not committed one prior to Sunday. FS O.J. Atogwe forced a fumble after a first-down catch by WAS TE Chris Cooley in Rams’ territory. CB Jason Craft recovered. He also had 10 solo tackles, including one for a loss. Craft was starting with Tye Hill expected out the rest of the month after arthroscopic surgery over the bye to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. In the second quarter, WAS QB Jason Campbell couldn’t recover a bad shotgun snap, especially when DE Leonard Little was on top of him quickly. DE Chris Long recovered the ball. The play of the game came just before halftime when DT Adam Carriker slapped a Campbell pass in the air and in to the arms of WAS G Pete Kendall. Kendall was promptly hit by WLB Pisa Tinoisamoa and coughed up the ball. Atogwe picked it up and raced 75 yards for his second TD of the season to give the Rams the lead, and the momentum, heading in to halftime. Tinoisamoa also had a sack and led the team with 12 tackles (nine solo), including two for a loss and an assist on special teams. In the third quarter, Little got his third sack of the season when he stripped the ball on a third down play deep in WAS territory. The Redskins recovered, but had to punt, and the Rams converted a FG.

Nickel CB Ricky Manning Jr. had had a sack before breaking his ankle in the second quarter. Jonathan Wade replaced him, but the team is now in trouble at CB as Manning Jr. went on the IR. To fill his spot, they resigned CB Fakhir Brown. Brown was a starter earlier this year before his questionable release by former HC Scott Linehan late last month.

San Diego
FS Eric Weddle continues to be the top tackle producer, leading the team with 11 solo, including one on special teams. He suffered a shoulder sprain in the game, but is expected to play this week. He leads the team, by a wide margin, with 50 tackles and 41 solo tackles on the season. ILB Stephen Cooper looks back to 2007 form in his second game back, posting ten tackles (seven solo), including his first sack of the season. Tim Dobbins started next to Cooper, but had just one solo tackle, rotating with Matt Wilhelm. Wilhelm had six tackles (five solo). On the outside, Jyles Tucker remained inactive for the second straight game giving Marques Harris another start. Harris had a sack on which he forced a fumble among his three tackles (two solo). Tucker is expected back from a strained hamstring this week.

Reserve DT Ryon Bingham continues to see more work, both backing up NT Jamal Williams and when the line has a four-man front. He had seven tackles (five solo), including a sack, and is on pace to put up career numbers across the board. DE Igor Olshansky had a sack and DE Luis Castillo had five solo tackles. Castillo hurt his arm in the game, but is expected to play this week. CB Quentin Jammer had his first pick of the season.

San Francisco
ILB Takeo Spikes had a pick for the third consecutive game and posted seven tackles (two solo). ILB Patrick Willis led the team with eight tackles (six solo). DE Ray McDonald blocked a FG and DB Donald Strickland returned it 41 yards for a TD to pull the 49ers within one as the first half expired. OLB Manny Lawson (hamstring) was inactive for the second straight game. He is expected back this week.

Seattle
MLB Lofa Tatupu led the team with 11 tackles (ten solo), including one for a loss. It was the first double-digit tackle game of the year for him. OLB Julian Peterson had his third sack of the season among his seven solo tackles and forced a fumble recovered by DT Rocky Bernard on it. The turnover was in GB territory and led to a TD.

DE Patrick Kerney suffered a neck stinger in the game, but is expected to play this week. SS Deon Grant suffered a strained ligament in his left knee on the Packers’ first play from scrimmage and left the game. He would later return and finish the game. Grant believes he will play this week, with a brace, if necessary, although it appears he has not had further tests yet. Jordan Babineaux should get the start if Grant cannot go. CB Kelly Jennings was active after suffering a concussion in the previous game, but Josh Wilson remains the starter and it sounds like it will stay that way even if Jennings in 100%.

Tampa Bay
After losing their last five at home to CAR, TB got all the bounces on their way to trouncing the Panthers. It started on the first drive of the game, when reserve rookie LB Geno Hayes blocked a punt, picked it up in stride, and returned it 22 yards for a TD. Later in the first quarter, CAR TE Dante Rosario tipped up a diving attempt at a catch in to the hands of FS Tanard Jackson who returned it 25 yards to set up the second TD of the game. Late in the first half, QB Jake Delhomme tried to close the gap with a deep pass to CAR WR Muhsin Muhammad in the end zone. Muhammad and rookie nickel CB Aqib Talib would go up for it and knock it to SS Jermaine Phillips. It was the first pick of the season for Jackson and Phillips. Talib would get his second pick of the season and his career when CAR WR Steve Smith couldn’t hang on to a pass in the fourth quarter. It could have been worse, as DE Gaines Adams, MLB Barrett Ruud, OLB Derrick Brooks and CB Ronde Barber each dropped potential interceptions.

Ruud started despite a torn meniscus suffered in his right knee the previous game. He had four solo tackles. Brooks (four solo), Barber (four solo), and OLB Cato June led the team with five tackles. The Bucs had no sacks for the second straight game.

Tennessee
DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (groin), DT Tony Brown (foot), and CB Reynaldo Hill (hamstring) remain uncertain this week despite resting their injuries over the bye week.

Washington
The game started out well, with SLB Marcus Washington forcing a fumble on STL RB Steven Jackson deep in Rams’ territory. FS LaRon Landry recovered and RB Clinton Portis took it in on the next play. Washington looked significantly better after battling hip and hamstring problems. Washington also had eight tackles (five solo, including two for a loss). DE Jason Taylor returned, but did not start, although he saw significant playing time and had four tackles (two solo, including one for a loss). CB Shawn Springs returned and had a sack after missing the previous game with a calf strain. DT Cornelius Griffin was active, returning after missing the previous game with a shoulder injury.

Rookie SS Chris Horton led the team with ten solo tackles, including one on special teams. Horton suffered a “low” ankle sprain in the game. He is expected to play this week and the team may have problems if he can’t. Reed Doughty, who Horton replaced as a starter, was inactive as he battles a back problem and went on the IR this week. The team signed Mike Green to replace him at safety. Nickel corner Fred Smoot had a groin injury in the game and was replaced by Leigh Torrence. Smoot’s injury reportedly isn’t serious.