The true surprise of the Bears last week was Chris Chandler: he stayed healthy for the ENTIRE game. Let's give credit where credit is due: he did an ok job, especially considering the opponent and the absence of Marty Booker. Now, he will get the start again this week, and, normally, it would be fair to say it wouldn't matter. But this week that is not the case. The Bears, for all their problems and flaws, are not as bad as their record might indicate. They have held games pretty close: Seattle only won by 7, Saints won by the same margin, they beat Oakland by 3, the Pack beat 'em by 15 (ok, THAT was a blow out, but it was Favre on MNF, and he ALWAYS blows out Chicago on Monday night), Vikings edged them by 11 (hey, for the Bears, that is an "edge" win!), and we can ignore the first game (at least Bears fans would prefer to). The defense and running game for Chicago has shown vast improvement over the short course of these 7 weeks, and Detroit is a team you can definitely run against (the Lions are giving up about 130 yards rushing a game, and are more than vulnerable to the big run having given up 5 runs of 20 yards or more thus far). More importantly, the Lions give up plenty of points: opponents are scoring an average of about 27 points a game, and it's almost always against the pass (5 rushing TD's versus 13 passing TD's given up thus far). The Bears need to have the passing game working at a premium level. If they can get the receivers the ball, they can take it to the Lions. The Bears' defense can take advantage of the Lions' injuries and lack of rushing to keep their score respectable; the real question is can they pass the ball. Anthony Thomas should return, and if he can run with the same confidence and power that he had regained before the injury, the Bears should find some passing lanes open and be able to move the chains into the red zone. What they do from there will determine the winner, and the smart money should be on the Bears, for once!

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Anthony Thomas (Questionable), Marty Booker (Questionable), Bears Defense

2nd String: Joey Harrington, Chris Chandler, Mikhael Ricks, Az-Zir Hakim

Prediction: Lions 13, Bears 21

Seattle (5-1) at Cincinnati (2-4) 1:00 PM
Here is a game that looks much better now than many thought it would (including me). Seattle, despite all the offensive weapons a team could desire, have had trouble getting into the end zone. Last week, they had plenty of opportunities to blow the game wide open and take the Bears to task. However, they failed to take advantage on many of those chances and barely (pun intended) won on a late rushing TD by Shaun Alexander. Alexander, along with Koren Robinson, has been a little bit of a mystery for this team. Alexander has been solid, yet it seems the Seabirds have been hesitant to give him the ball in the second half. They revert to the passing game, which is also loaded with talent. Koren Robinson and Matt Hasselback should be hooking up more than college kids after the keg goes dry. Yet they have struggled to connect when it really counts: late in the game, when the score is close, and especially in the red zone. Seattle's offensive line may bare some of the blame for this: although they have done well, Hasselback has been rushed and scrambled more times than he would like. That said, he's gotten away and thrown the ball plenty, but either the passes have been off or Robinson has been tightly covered. Darrell Jackson is out there too, and he's a great #2 receiver to have at your disposal. This situation needs to be reversed in order for Seattle to win games that are likely to be as tight as this match up is likely to be. Cincy's defense has improved dramatically under Marvin Lewis. Despite the loss of Takeo Spikes, Cincy has gotten great QB pressure and has racked up a very respectable 12 sacks, not to mention they are holding teams to under 200 passing yards a game (very respectable considering the personnel, ranked 8th overall in the NFL). The Bengals will give the Seahawks a real battle for field position and points: Cincy give up an average of 22 points a game, and Seattle is averaging 24 points scored a game. This looks to be a tight battle, and if Seattle can't get it done both rushing and passing, they may find themselves in trouble.

I underestimated the offense of the Bengals last week. Either that, or I overestimated the Ravens' defense. Maybe it was both, but regardless of the final score, one must admit the Bengals have become a much better offense that anyone could have expected. Chad Johnson is an all-out stud: the guy is becoming a weekly 100 yard and TD fantasy dream. Jon Kitna has matured into a good veteran QB. Corey Dillon is a great RB, but he has struggled with injuries and is no longer the lone wolf of this offensive unit. Even draft-bust-in-the-making Peter Warrick has turned his game around and has played great thus far. Give credit to new coach Marvin Lewis: he has changed the attitude and approach of this team and they believe they can beat any and all comers. Granted, they are 2 & 4, but believe most Bengal fans (and I know you are out there, and not wearing the paper bag masks this year I've noticed!) are happy with that record at this point in the season. Consider their schedule thus far: Denver, Oakland (they really blew that one), Pittsburgh, Cleveland (1 of the wins), Buffalo (kept that one close till late), and Baltimore (win #2). Not exactly a run through the dandelions: all those teams (except Oakland) have better-than-average defensive units. Seattle's defense could be great, or they could come out and throw up like they did versus Green Bay. The bad news for Cincy is the way they match up offensively doesn't fit well with the defensive weakness of Seattle. The Hawks are more vulnerable, thus far, to the running game. Marcus Trufant and Shawn Springs have done a great job against opposing receivers, and Chad Johnson and Peter Warrick may have trouble getting open. The onus of the game will fall to Corey Dillon (the guy who has decided he wants out of Cincy, again; tell ya' what Corey, put up or shut up). Can he show up like he's facing Denver and run for a gazillon yards and TD's, or will he continue to struggle (only 39 yards last week)? Considering his current lack of health, not to mention his current lack of heart, it is hard to bet on him. It is also hard to bet on this Seattle team that seems to play down to their opponents. Maybe the real game breaker will be Shaun Alexander, or better yet Mike Holmgren: the Bengals give up 120 yards rushing a game, and Alexander would be happy to get the ball 30 times, but Holmgren has yet to do that (24 is the high number of carries for Alexander; he may have gotten more versus Arizona if he had been there for the first half, but I doubt it). Until I see Alexander get the carries he deserves, and until I see Hasselback really get it done when his team really needs it, I'm not putting my money on the Chickens. Take the Bengals at home in a close one.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Shaun Alexander, Koren Robinson, Jon Kitna, Corey Dillon, Chad Johnson, Cincy Defense

2nd String: Matt Hasselback, Corey Dillon, Darrell Jackson (Questionable), Peter Warrick, Seattle Defense, Josh Brown

Prediction: Seahawks 20, Bengals 23

NY Giants (2-4) at Minnesota (6-0) 1:00 PM
New York, New York, you royal screwed us all last week, New York. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE GIANTS?! I can't believe the drop from this teams' performances in the early weeks. Kerry Collins seems to have traded arms with Cade McNown. "Hey, is that a blue or green jersey?" The guy is not struggling; he's completely failing his team. Turnovers kill, and Collins has 7 over the last 3 weeks. It would also be nice if the special teams could report for these games. It would probably help if Tiki Barber could, I don't know, hold on to the ball and run with some conviction. Needless to say, the Giants are floundering. Know what I've been wondering: who remember Sean Payton? Maybe you Giant fans could enlighten me: didn't Sean Payton ruin this team last year, and Coach Jim Fassel fired him and sent him away so he could get the team back on track? How did that work out? OH YEAH, Payton is now with Bill Parcells, helping mold the top offense in the NFL. So when is Fassel going to bear the axe for this team's inept play? Enough questions, let's get down to it. There is no reason to believe that Collins can throw. There is no reason to think Tiki Barber is going to turn it around (don't be surprised to see more of Dorsey Levens in there at RB). The defense hasn't been too bad: held Philly to nothing but Brian Westbrook doing some damage. Too bad that was enough for Philly to win. It's also too bad they are coming against what may be the best offensive team in the NFL right now. It's also too bad they are coming against a defense that is playing very well too. Minnesota's defense is getting better with every game, and the only way to attack them is a solid running game mixed with some long pass plays. Right now, I don't think the Giants are capable of either.

Kick in the Randy Moss show. Is this guy crazy or what? Here is an actual quote from a sports radio show I heard this week: "Randy Moss' football intelligence is so far beyond his opponents." Now, how many of you, after last year, thought you would EVER hear anyone talk about how INTELLIGENT Randy Moss can be? Seriously, did you ever think you would hear that? THAT is how good things are going for the Vikings right now. They seem unable to do wrong. They pass all over the field. They run wherever and whenever they want, and they don't even have their best RB (by the way, I've gotten tons of emails about Michael Bennett: he's been practicing, making "good hard cuts" on his injured foot, and it sounds like he may hit the playing field in early November). They play defense, they pick off passes, they create fumbles, they break fingers in gruesome & horrifying ways. They are coming up against a good Giants defense: giving up about 103 yards rushing a game, 205 yards passing, not too bad. Here's the problem: they score an average of 17 points a game, and give up about 21 points a game. That, my friends, equals losses. The Vikings are scoring about 30 points a game on average, and if Denver can't keep them to a lower number, and Denver gives up an average of 16 points a game, it's hard to believe the Giants will fair much better. This will be only the second real test the Vikings offense has faced, and after watching them handle their first so well (Denver last week), I'll feel comfortable going back to this purple and gold well again. The Vikings should move on to 7 & 0.
LATE NEWS: It's official: Michael Bennett has returned to the team and was taken of the PUP list today. The Vikings won't get him on the field for 3 more weeks (they have to release a player to do so, and Bennett needs the practice time). Projected game of return: Nov.2 versus Green Bay.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Daunte Culpepper, Randy Moss, Amani Toomer, Jeremy Shockey, Moe Williams, Minnesota Defense

2nd String: Tiki Barber, Ike Hilliard, Onterrio Smith, Nate Burleson, Jim Kleinsasser

Prediction: Giants 12, Vikes 27

Cleveland (3-4) at New England (5-2) 1:00 PM
The Browns have to be worried. I warned you all that Tim Couch was a different QB at home, and he proved me correct last week (well, at least HE came through for me last week). Kelly Holcomb came in, and he nearly led the Browns back to victory. Amazingly enough, the Chargers' defense stopped him! A bigger concern may be the health of Willie Green. Green had just started to find his groove when he left the San Diego game with an unspecified shoulder injury. He did see some small activity in the second half, but it wasn't much and he was in obvious pain. You might think, "Who cares? The Pats' rush D is tough." True, they do keep teams under 100 yards rushing. However, they also allow more rushing TD's than any other type of scoring (7 rushing TD's versus 3 passing and 1 INT returned). If Cleveland could get the ball in the red zone, and that is a big if, Green would be key to punching it in. The Pats are allowing over 230 passing a game, but with Cleveland's QB problems and potential running woes, it's hard to see them scoring too much in this game. The Browns are only scoring 16 points a game, and that's not likely to cut it this week.

High marks for Tom Brady these last few weeks are in order. After struggling the first 3 weeks (I know, he had a nice game in Week 2 versus Philly, but can we REALLY count that?) he has brought the passing game in New England back to prominence. He'll need his best game this week as he faces the Cleveland D, which is surprisingly ranked #1 in the NFL for passing defense (allowing only 148 yards passing a game and having given up only 4 passing TD's thus far). The key has been clutch throws, like the 82-yard TD strike to Troy Brown to beat Miami in OT this last week. Brady will try to break that tough Cleveland D this week: the Pats running game is not exactly stellar. However, they are capable of getting some yards and mixing it up. Mike Cloud gives you some speed, Kevin Faulk gives you some power, and Antowain Smith gives you a little bit of both. With the Browns giving up over 130 yards rushing a game, it would be beneficial for the Patriots to run the ball, and run it some more, then run it a little more. RB-by-committee may not help your fantasy team, but it will be in order for this game to help the Pats open up the passing game. It's fair to the Patriots could win this with defense alone: they have 3 interceptions returned for TD's (tops in the NFL) as well as 1 fumble recovery for a score, they give up only 90 yards rushing a game (and have allowed only 1 run for over 20 yards), and although they've given up an average of 237 yards passing a game they've given up only 3 passing TD's (wait, we sort of covered this already, but did you know the Patriots have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher and only 1 100-yard receiver, which was Chris Chambers going for 102 this last week? Good thing to think about when filling out your fantasy roster, and thus I expect you to forgive me for stating the same observation twice.). If Brady can get it working through the air, and the Patriots' defense can keep up the good work, the Patriots should not only win, they should role.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Tom Brady, Patriot Defense, Christian Fauria, Adam Vinatieri

2nd String: Kelly Holcomb, Willie Green, Troy Brown, Kevin Faulk, Mike Cloud, Andre Davis, Quincy Morgan

Prediction: Browns 12, Pats 23

Carolina (5-1) at New Orleans (3-4) 1:00 PM
Everyone had Carolina last week…. wait, I guess that was just me! The Panthers' defense didn't show as well last week as they had in previous games. They get a good chance to redeem themselves this week versus the Saints. Now, the Saints have looked much better the last two weeks: they beat the Falcons and the Bears and scored a combined 65 points. Maybe you missed the real meat of that statement: THEY BEAT THE FALCONS AND THE BEARS. Combined record of those two teams: 2 & 11. This Panthers team is just a smidge better than both of those teams. The Cats' defense is solid: giving up only a little over 17 points a game. They are not especially strong in one area: they give up over 100 yards rushing a game and over 235 yards passing. They just keep teams out of the end zone. When faced with a good defense, it seems the Saints aren't too eager to score anyway. Deuce is the only consistent performer on this team, and I'll keep stating that every week until someone on this team proves differently. Aaron Brooks put up an amazing game last week versus Atlanta (352 yards, 3 TD's). I'm pretty sure that Jack Black could put up pretty good numbers against Atlanta. The Saints do need Brooks to show this well every week to get more wins. He has failed to do so when pressured, sent on the run, shaken up by a couple of good sacks, or faced with covered receivers and a weak offensive line. By the way, that offensive line thing is, like, an EVERY GAME occurrence. Some teams are just better at taking advantage of it, and Julius Peppers, Mike Rucker, and Kris Jenkins will give the offensive line more than it can handle.

You want some good news Panther fans? Jake Delhomme is starting to work it on offense. Last week, he threw for 362 yards and 2 TD's, easily his best game yet. "But Bryan, that was against the Titans, without Samari Rolle, and they are bad versus the pass even will Rolle." Good point, but Delhomme is still improving at a nice rate. He has thrown a grand total of 1 interception in his last 4 games, an amazing feat for any NFL QB. Steve Smith has served as a nice target for him, and Kevin Dyson may return this week after serving his time on the PUP (Players Unable To Play list, if ya' don't know feel free to drop me an email). This gives the Panthers 2 great deep threats, and should really help their offensive trophy horse, RB Stephen Davis. Davis started the season on fire, yet he's been cooled by some small injuries and a decent defensive effort the last two weeks (the Titans only give up 78 rush yards a game, a formidable foe for any RB). He should return to form this week against a not-so-healthy Saints defense: giving up 127 yards rushing a game. Here's a nice side note, a little glimpse into the irony of statistics (when viewed from the right perspective): the Saints give up all those rushing yards yet have given up only 5 rushing TD's, and they give up only 180 passing yards a game yet have given up 12 passing TD's. Here's what that really reveals: you can work the field on these guys, and if one approach doesn't work there is a good chance the other will. The Panthers will come out running, letting Davis (and don't forget DeShaun) wear down that defensive line and carry the team downfield. After the Saints have had enough of this, they'll hit 'em with some slants and deep routes, trying to open up the long game. I believe they have a good chance of pulling it off, and even if they don't I think most of us should believe this Panthers defense is capable of shutting down the Saints. Key stat no one notices: in their four losses the Saints have averaged a score of only 14 points. Keep down their end of the scoreboard, and you can win.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Carolina Defense, Stephen Davis, Deuce McAllister, John Kasay

2nd String: Jake Delhomme, Aaron Brooks, DeShaun Foster, Joe Horn, Donte Stallworth (Questionable), John Carney Steve Smith

Prediction: Panthers 20, Saints 13

St. Louis (4-2) at Pittsburgh (2-4) 1:00 PM
Are the Rams on a roll or what? Even with two injured RB's (not only is Marshall Faulk hurt, but Lamar Gordon left this last week's game with a left ankle injury, and is out for this game), the Rams were able to come out, put the clamps on Ahman Green, and beat up on the Green Bay Packers. Marc Bulger has been playing great football, averaging 267 yards and 5 TD's a game. Only problem is he's also throwing his fair share of interceptions (he's thrown a total of 7 so far). However, that said, as long as he has Torry Holt on the field it doesn't seem to be a problem. These two go together like Peanut Butter and Tuna Fish (just a little Adam Sandler, Big Daddy reference for all of ya'), and they've lit up opposing defenses much more easily than even Rams' fans could have expected. They better have their best stuff on the field this weekend as they run into the #2 ranked passing defense in the NFL. The Steelers, despite their record, are not a team that will roll over for the Rams. They give up only 90 yards rushing a game, not that the Rams are guaranteed to have a running game anyway, and are giving up only 152 passing yards a game. So, either the Pittsburgh defense will give or the Rams will take a hard lesson in pass defense. Lamar Gordon is out for this game, and the Rams will need a top effort from 3rd stringer Arlen Harris to have a good shot at winning. The Rams are not going to come out and pass all over this team. KC didn't blow them away with the passing game, the Bengals didn't throw on them (don't laugh, the Bengals are a throwing team), and Denver didn't go crazy through the air against them. If you look at the Pittsburgh losses, you will see a common theme in all their opponents: a well-balanced attack of rushing and passing, neither aspect really controlling the game, both hands working together type of games. If the Rams want to continue their winning ways this week, they need Harris to run well and they need to use him more than they have Gordon or Faulk (I've been pretty outspoken about the obvious trend towards passing utilized by Mike Martz), they need to pass a fair amount but not on every play, and they need a strong defensive effort.

Never would I have guessed the Steelers would be at 2 & 4 at this point in the season. You look at that squad, and all you see is talent on both sides of the ball. LOADED with skill, and they still can't get the wins. Maddox keeps turning the ball over when it's crucial for Pitt to score. Amos Zereoue & Jerome Bettis don't seem able to run as productively as the team needs to pose a legitimate running threat (by the way, it sounds like Jerome Bettis will actually get the start this week). The WR team is amazing: you would be hard pressed to find a better trio than Plaxico, Hines Ward, and Randle El. So why can't they score? Why can't they get a blowout win, or just a win for that matter? Turnovers are killing them. The running battle is killing them. Special teams aren't the best. It's not just one thing: all of these things combined make it very hard for this team to win. I have a hard time believing this team will not do better, but they will have a tough time versus this Rams defense. St. Louis is very similar to Pitt on the defensive side of the ball. The Rams give up about 103 rushing yards a game, 194 passing yards a game, and they are giving up about 18 points a game. Pretty solid. They can be passed on, but you better be good as this team is more than capable of hurting you. This will be another tough game for Pittsburgh. Key question: can Tommy Maddox get the ball to the right players and throw versus this Rams team. Although the Pack lost last week, Favre did rack up almost 270 yards (if Ahman Green could have broken out of the attack, as he was obviously the key target for the Rams, the results would have been very different). Problem is, Maddox has thrown all over some other teams and still lost (i.e. the Titans). The Pitt D is good enough to keep it close, and that may be the difference. The decision to start Jerome Bettis signals a new dedication to the running game for Pitt. If Maddox can keep from throwing interceptions, if Burress and Ward can do their thing, if Bettis can run ALL GAME LONG (not for big yards, but at least for positive yards and to keep that Rams defense respectable), and if Pitt's D can play tough again, I believe this could be a great upset for the week and a turning point for this Steelers team. If the Steel Curtain can get out to a good early lead at home, Martz is more likely to fall back to his "Let's go long on 3rd and 2" type of style, and that will play right into the hands of the tough Pittsburgh defense. Like I always say, call me crazy, but I'm taking Pittsburgh in a lower scoring game than you would guess.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Marc Bulger, Torry Holt, Jeff Wilkins, Plaxico Burress, Hines Ward, Jeff Reed, Pittsburgh Defense

2nd String: Tommy Maddox, Jerome Bettis, St. Louis Defense, Amos Zereoue, Isaac Bruce, Rams Defense, Arlen Harris, Jay Riemersma

Prediction: Rams 17, Steelers 20

Dallas (5-1) at Tampa Bay (3-3) 1:00 PM
Knifed in the back, betrayed, my faith shaken and my security stolen: that's how I felt after watching Tampa get WORKED by the Niners last week. How is this defense playing so badly in what is turning into a fairly common occurrence? Stephen Davis rang 'em up for 142 yards in their loss to Carolina in Week 2 (142 yards? Tampa never let teams run like that last year.). Peyton Manning passed for one MILLION yards on MNF in Week 5 (Tampa never would have broken down late in a game like that last year). Last week they got played by Garrison Hearst, Jeff Garcia, AND Terrell Owens (unbelievable). Now, I (well, I guess I'm being a little selfish), I mean we, have no idea what to expect from this football team. When they've won, the offense has been great and the defense has been, well, the Tampa Bay defense. Before last week, you could at least look at those 2 loses and say "They were superior for the bulk of the game, and just couldn't hold on." Last week, they were suckin' wind the entire game, and now this game with Dallas may be the most interesting game of the week. Parcells was predicted to exit the season with 5, maybe 6, wins. He has that already! Starting with the defense, the Boys are playing top-notch defensive football. They have the 2nd best rushing defense in the NFL, and the passing D is ranked 5th to match. THAT is tough. They allow teams to score about 17 points a game, and that can lead to wins for sure. Their defense can score, they can shut down your runners, they get great QB pressure and WR coverage, they make big plays, they lay big hits, they do it all and are playing with maximum confidence. Tampa's offense may have started hot, but they have shown some kinks in the armor. They didn't get ahead of Washington two weeks ago until late in the 3rd quarter, and that was started by the defense. This last week, they did little to nothing to make me believe it's a fluke.

Every team that has beaten Tampa has had one major thing in common: a strong offensive line. Carolina, Indy, and the 49ers (I can't write that without gasping in disbelief) all had major contributions from the offensive line. Whether it was blocking, opening holes for the RB's (did you SEE some of the valleys Hearst had to run through?), or protecting the QB, they did it all for a full 60 minutes and gave their team a chance to win against what had been considered the best defense in all of football. Dallas is capable of this same type of game. They don't always wow you with the offensive numbers. Quincy Carter has been solid: he runs, he throws with the kind of accuracy he couldn't buy before Parcells, and he doesn't turn the ball over. You can't ask for much else out of a QB. Hambrick isn't so solid at RB, but he's improving and, along with Aveion Cason, gives the Boys a respectable running game. The WR's have been solid, and I don't know what Parcells puts into Terry Glenn, but I want a shot. Funny thing: I think the best WR on this team is the one that (a) doesn't start, and (b) has yet to enjoy the fruits of Quincy Carter (that would be Antonio Bryant). I've been waiting for this kid to take over the starting job from either Glenn or Galloway, so don't be surprised if he comes out soon with a bombshell game. Right now, the Cowboys seem very solid, very worthy of the 5 & 1 record, and, scary as it may be, able to do better. You want a big statement game? This is a great chance. I know, I said the same thing about the Philly game, and that is why I'm taking Tampa. Don't get me wrong, I'm on the Dallas bandwagon (ya' know what, I got on the day after Parcells signed on the dotted line). But this game may be a bigger bite than this team is really ready for. It will be close, but I'm not willing to bet this Tampa defense flounders two weeks in a row. After the loss to Indy on MNF, the D came back strong versus the Redskins, and I expect the same this week. Don't get me wrong: this will be a close one. Dallas has won some games, but all but two of those wins have been pretty close (and, a win is a win is a win, but some of those teams, like Philly & Atlanta & the Jets, are just plain awful). This will be a game that, at the end of the season, they will look back at and say, "That game could have gone either way, if one or two plays had gone differently, and it was one of the best games of the year." Mark your Tivo, this game is going to be AWESOME, for those of us into old school defensive match ups. I'm taking Tampa, by one Derrick Brooks' interception.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Tampa Defense, Billy Cundiff, Dallas Defense, Brad Johnson, Keenan McCardell, Martin Gramatica

2nd String: Quincy Carter, Troy Hambrick, Aveion Cason, Terry Glenn, Antonio Bryant, Joey Galloway, Michael Pittman

Prediction: Dallas 18, Bucs 21

Tennessee (5-2) at Jacksonville (1-5) 1:00 PM
Ever bet against everyone, gone against the grain, stood tall in the face of adversity? I did last week: I took Carolina over Tennessee, and Steve McNair humbled me. They not only beat Carolina, they beat up Carolina. Here's the weird thing: if you had showed me the score of that game without showing me the box score or stats, I would have said, "Well, I guess McNair tore it up for 350 again, maybe 3 or 4 TD's, and I KNOW Derrick Mason got his." Well, that's not the case. In fact, the only real noticeable player for the Titans was Drew Bennett (97 yards, 1 TD). Here's an even better statement: if you had told me that Jake Delhomme threw for over 300 yards in the game, and told me nothing else, I would have guessed that my prediction of Carolina winning was good. So much for those apples. The Titans are getting it done with everything but running. Eddie George has been so unproductive that Jeff Fisher has started spreading the wealth to Robert Holcombe. Otherwise, the Titans have all their other aspects working nicely. They get a real chance to shine and pad the stats this week versus a struggling Jacksonville squad. Steve McNair should have another awesome fantasy performance (the Jags are giving up about 220 yards passing a game, not to mention the 11 passing TD's they've allowed thus far). Bennett has firmly grasped the #2 WR role, and along with Derrick Mason, makes for an offensive receiving corps to be feared. Don't expect much from George once again: the Jags actually boast the 4th best rushing defense in the NFL, giving up only 85 yards rushing a game. George seems unable to run against bad defenses, and after the Jags shut him down again this week, I expect Jeff Fisher to look into rookie Chris Brown as an option when he gets to full healthy (hamstring, currently listed as Questionable).

Suppose the Jags pull off the upset of the week. How's that going to happen? This is the NFL, right? It's not the local Elk's Softball league were the bastards that own Jim's Towing have brought in every ringer in the county and no one has a shot at winning. If the Jags are going to win, they have some huge obstacles. First, there is the powerful Titans' defense. Currently ranked 3rd versus the run (allowing 78 yards a game, only 2 runs for over 20 yards), they automatically match up well with Jacksonville's strengths. Fred Taylor is, easily, the best weapon on this team right now. He's like Halle Berry: damn he looks good, but he just can't find a mate that will support him. The offensive line is a little bit worrisome in Jacksonville, yet Taylor continues to perform well. He's likely to have trouble versus this Titans team: they will key heavily on him and try to force the passing game. Rookie QB Byron Leftwich has shown some promise, and we all know this kid has talent and will some day be a stud. However, right now he's a rookie, and he battles the same disease almost every rookie QB battles: interceptions. 5 TD's versus 6 interceptions for Leftwich: typical of a rookie's season at this point. He has shown some chemistry with veteran WR Jimmy Smith. Smith, when he is on, could make Rick Mirer look like a Pro Bowler. If the Jags are going to win, they will need not only an excellent defensive performance, they will need Leftwich to hit Smith as early and often as possible. The Titans' passing defense is struggling: they are currently the 2nd worst passing D in the NFL, giving up over 250 pass yards a game. All you have to do is look at last week's stats to realize that: they gave up over 360 yards to Jake Delhomme! However, there is one stat that is easy to look over, one stat that can make you wonder, "Is this pass D really THAT bad?" That is the sacks: the Titans currently have 19 QB's hit, tied for 3rd most in the NFL. Translation: when Javon Kearse and Kevin Carter can get pressure on the QB and get to him, they perform very well. They thrive on QB pressure, and they should be able to thrive against the Jags all day. Leftwich is a runner like Manute Bol is a horse jockey. He doesn't consider himself mobile, and he's not. He's a classic pocket passer, and with a bad offensive line he could be a sitting duck for Kearse and Carter. If they can get to Leftwich, if they can get to Taylor in the backfield, it could be a long day for Jacksonville. They may be coming off a bye week, but the only thing the Jags are rested for is a good, old fashioned, country butt whippin'. Take the Titans: they are on a roll and this is one game they know that McNair and the defense can win without the run support.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Steve McNair, Derrick Mason, Titan Defense, Fred Taylor, Jimmy Smith

2nd String: Eddie George, Drew Bennett (Questionable), Gary Anderson, Byron Leftwich, Kyle Brady, Seth Marler

Prediction: Titans 30, Jags 17

Denver (5-2) at Baltimore (3-3) 1:00 PM
Stability is a foreign word in Denver right now. First, Jake Plummer goes down for a month or so with a broken foot he didn't even know he had. Then, Steve Beuerlein not only has a game that would make Ryan Leaf feel sorry for him, he has his finger broken like a chicken wing and is out for the season. Not a good situation for a team that started the season with the anthem, "We are only going to carry 2 QB's this year, as the situation of need for a 3rd QB rarely if ever arises." Um, did you notice the Eagles last year, had starter Donovan McNabb go down with a broken leg, watched Koy Detmer come in and play like a Pro Bowler till his arm was broken, then had AJ Feeley (the third stringer) come in on his white horse and lead the team into the playoffs? Well, the news isn't good for Denver. Any time you hear the words "Jeff George is a leading candidate," you should drop to your knees for that team, even if you hate them. This hurts the team on so many levels: without a real passer, teams can generate their defensive efforts on Clinton Portis (who, but what is reported, is still bothered by the chest and could be put out more easily than normal). Horrible news for Denver, especially coming into this particular game. Baltimore is most vulnerable to the passing game, and if you can't throw with any confidence your chances are greatly diminished. Cincy proved last week you can throw all day on this defense and if you hope to win, you better throw all day. The Ravens' rush D isn't what it once was, but it's still not bad, giving up only 93 rush yards a game with only 3 rush TD's allowed and only 1 run for over 20 yards allowed thus far. Keep an ear out for who Denver signs, not that it will make a difference. Unless they bring back John Elway, don't expect anyone to jump into this offense and be productive to the point of throwing for 250 and giving the Broncos a real good shot at winning.

Unlike the Broncos, the Ravens have a QB they are familiar with, and he is starting to find his NFL game. Kyle Boller enjoyed a breakout game last week: 302 yards and 2 TD's. No one was happier than TE Todd Heap and WR Travis Taylor. These two guys are great players that are capable of winning games, when they get the ball. Jamal Lewis has carried this team up until last week, and the fact they had gotten 3 wins on Lewis alone is amazing. Raven fans hope this is the start of Boller's prominence as a NFL QB. He's still a rookie, but he seems to get it: his game last week was like watching a whole new man behind center. He's a great talent, and if he can give half the effort he did last week versus Cincy the Ravens will be much more competitive. They have their work cut out for them this week against a good Broncos defense. Currently ranked 9th versus the run (allowing 92 rush yards a game) and 6th versus the pass (allowing 178 yards passing a game, they are a good all-around D that can cause problems for almost anyone. One major flaw: they have allowed 6 big running plays (20+ yards) thus far, tied for 3rd most in the league. This is not a good stat for a team coming against the league's top rusher. Baltimore looks to run against everyone, and so far they've been successful (best rushing offense in the game, averaging an amazing 186 yards rushing a game). Fantasy owners that have Lewis are licking their chops every week, regardless of the opponent (and the fact he has apparently been somewhat hampered by sprained right shoulder, and his trainer says he likely won't be at 100% the rest of the year). One disappointment has been the number of TD's for Lewis (5 TD's thus far, not bad but not what you want from the league's top rusher). They have to get Lewis into the end zone more often, and they would love to get Heap and Taylor open deep more often. Heap is a stud, and he can score on short or long passes. Look for the Ravens to come with a more balanced attack this week: running a bunch, keeping that Broncos D on the field as long as possible, and opening up some pass plays for Boller. Another good game for Boller, and watch out. His confidence could use a good boost, and though they lost last week, it was a good start. With no passing game, Denver's normal game plan will be hurting and they will have to gamble against a defense you don't want to gamble against. Barring a miracle, like John Elway coming out of retirement and taking a rest from running the Colorado Crush (an arena team, for those not in the know), Denver will struggle to score, and a low scoring affair can only help the Baltimore Ravens. Look for Jamal Lewis to top the "Start 'Em" lists on each and every site and publication this week, and look for Baltimore to take advantage of the Broncos current situation.
LATE NEWS: The Broncos officially signed Jarious Jackson (ex-Notre Dame star, ex-Bronco 3rd stringer) and have announced that Kanell will start. We'll see what happens, but you've got to admit, it sure is better than watching Jeff George!

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Jamal Lewis, Clinton Portis, Shannon Sharpe, Denver Defense, Todd Heap, Baltimore Defense, Matt Stover, Jason Elam

2nd String: Rod Smith, Ashlie Lelie, Kyle Boller (Questionable), Travis Taylor

Prediction: Broncos 13, Ravens 24

San Francisco (3-4) at Arizona (1-5) 4:05 PM
Could all those who picked the Niners last week raise your hand? Your services are desired at this week's "Liars Convention." I didn't, and I didn't see anyone, anywhere, saying, "So who else has the Niners this week?". They seem to have found a new source of power for the offensive line. Jeff Garcia was spending more time on his back than…. never mind, that one is way to easy. He seemed to be sacked on every other play, until last week against what may or may not be the NFL's best defense. Terrell Owens was there and getting his touches, making all his fantasy owners happy for the first time in weeks. The real surprise was the running of Garrison Hearst (and Kevan Barlow, but give Hearst his due, he was awesome). It is amazing how a team can turn around with a solid offensive line. The O-line is the most understated commodity in football. Hearst has been such a good RB for such a long time, it's hard to see how a team can let him go like Tampa did last week. Now, this may or may not be a turning point for the 49ers. At this point, it's hard to say: they may go like pit bulls the rest of the way, or they may sink back into the bad play they displayed prior to last week. However, it can be safely stated that they should be able to handle this Arizona team. The Arizona defense is horrible at best: they are giving up about 118 yards rushing a game and 207 yards passing as well. Most notably, they are the 2nd worse defense for allowing points, allowing an average of 30 points a game. You are not going to win too many games when your average NFL team racks up 30 points. The Niners are more than capable of scoring 30, and they can do it with half the effort they put up this last week.

Killing me softly, with his play…. wait, Emmitt is out indefinitely. Sorry about that, I was having a flashback. The Arizona team should be able to put up some offense, especially now that they have a solid RB in the backfield. Jeff Blake can heave it, and Anquan Boldin has to be considered the rookie of the year thus far with his amazing play at receiver. Marcel Shipp is an upgrade at RB, and if the offensive line was worth anything this team would regularly putting up at least 21 to 28 points a week. However, they are not: they average 13.7 points a game (I would normally round this off to 14, but I'm just not in the mood to give this team anything right now). Let's revisit the last paragraph: the Cardinals give up 30 points a game, and they score 13. How that adds up to beating Green Bay, I still don't and never will understand. This team is the doormat of the NFL, and the 49ers are coming off the biggest win of the year for their organization. I don't know what else to say: I would normally go into the numbers for San Fran's defense (5th best rush defense in the NFL, ranked 14th versus the pass) and talk about how this Zona team could possibly pull out a win. But I just don't see the point. I try my best to make it a point to never count a team out, to be objective and positive about every team in some way. I'll say this: Arizona is coming off their bye week. Other than that, there just isn't too much to say that is good: their receiver lineup is questionable (the only receiver they have at 100% is Boldin), they are coming into a hot team with a defense that has played well, and their defense is going to suffer on all fronts versus the Niners. I don't look at the spreads until I'm done with the reviews, and I'm betting this line is big. Give the points.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Terrell Owens, Jeff Garcia, Garrison Hearst, 49er Defense, Anquan Boldin

2nd String: Kevan Barlow, Tai Streets, Jeff Blake, Marcel Shipp, Freddie Jones

Prediction: Niners 22, Cards 10

NY Jets (2-4) at Philadelphia (3-3) 4:15 PM
My instincts tell me this Jets team is in the process of turning it around. After a horrible start, the loss of Chad Pennington, the four week losing streak to start the season, and the bashing of their coach and players following all the struggles, the Jets have put together two consecutive wins and are coming into a game in which their star player is going to play (not start, but he will see some snaps). The return of Chad Pennington will be huge for this team. I realize they still lost their best WR from last season, and their kicker (who was a good kicker), and their return weapon, and some defense, but this team will benefit from Pennington more than you might imagine. This kid is so good at leading his team: his mental game is one of the best in the NFL, he is able to present the strong leadership a team needs in the huddle, and he has the arm and legs to back it all up. At the start of the season, WR Santana Moss was a player projected for a breakout season, based largely on his chemistry with Pennington and newfound position on the depth chart. He has started to come around in these last two wins for the Jets. Also, you have seen a lean towards a change at RB, as LaMont Jordan has seen more action and shared carries with veteran Pro Bowler Curtis Martin. This change is needed, as Martin has been entirely ineffective for the Jets and Jordan is a capable runner with great abilities. This team is starting to come around, and this week's game is huge for that progression. The Eagles are a team on the ropes: they are sitting with 3 wins, yet the team is ugly. Last week's win over the Giants: ugly. The win over the Redskins: ugly. The win over Buffalo: not as ugly, but not definable as "nice." This may sound very stupid, but you have to score to beat the Eagles. The Jets have struggled to score: the 2nd worst scoring team in the NFL right now (about 16 points a game). They have to do better than this, and they have to play defense (we're getting to this).

Another sign of life for the Jets is their recent defensive efforts. They do allow way too much running, giving up over 150 yards rushing a game. However, they do have the NFL's 4th best passing defense. Key stats: giving up 160 yard passing a game, only 3 passing TD's allowed (tied for best in the NFL), and 21 sacks (tied for best in the NFL). They can get after it behind the line, and Donovan McNabb is in a world of trouble right now. He'll be target #1 for every team they face, and the Jets will be no different. They should spend a good portion of time concentrating on Brian Westbrook. As the leading rusher for the Eagles right now, he single handedly won the game for Philly last week scoring the only offensive TD in the game on a 6 yard run and scoring the winning TD on an 84 yard punt return. The special teams for the Jets will pose a greater force against Westbrook this week, and it's hard to see McNabb breaking his funk against this tough Jets defense. This Jet defense is pumped up: having won two straight games and wanting an official streak, not to mention the return of their hero and leader, this unit knows they can win this game with a great effort. Look for Shaun Ellis and John Abraham to be all over the field, making plays and creating chaos for the Eagles' offense. If the Jets can enjoy the balanced attack they have put forth the last two weeks, they will beat this struggling Eagles team. Now is the time for the Jets to get on track: it's not too late to turn things around and make a run. The Eagles can't afford a loss either, but until they make a change at QB or McNabb shows a significant change in his game, it's hard to believe they won't continue to struggle. Take the hot hand: go with the J-E-T-S.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Santana Moss, Anthony Becht, Jet Defense, Brian Westbrook, Duce Staley, James Thrash, David Akers

2nd String: Donovan McNabb, Vinny Testaverde, Chad Pennington, LaMont Jordan, Curtis Martin, Duce Staley, James Thrash

Prediction: Jets 17, Eagles 13

Houston (2-4) at Indianapolis (5-1) 4:15 PM
Just about had it. Houston almost had the win to get them to 3 & 3 and keep them in the black. Unfortunately, their defense let them down late in the game and they take another loss. This team has shown improvements since last season. The most noticeable change is David Carr seems to be staying more vertical this season, and thus has found more success throwing from an upright position, rather than the horizontal or angled position he spent much of last year. In other words, his offensive line is protecting him better and his sacks are WAY down. The addition of Andre Johnson really helps as well. Another great addition, as predicted by many fantasy players out there, has been Domanick Davis at RB. He ruled the first half last week, running at will versus the Jets. Too bad Stacey Mack was stealing his touchdowns, RIGHT FANTASY OWNERS?! Anyway, the Texans find themselves with a much tougher task this week: how, in the name of all that is good, are we going to stay in this game with Indy? Indy's defense has improved with leaps and bounds this year under Tony Dungy. They can do it all: pass rush, tackle, run containment, interceptions, fumble recoveries, they do it all with conviction. They are allowing only 18 points a game. This is going to be a tough go for Houston (by the way, Houston is averaging 17 points scored a game, and that doesn't bode well for the Texans either). They have the tools to do some damage, but will it be enough to match the Indy offense? Doubtful at best, but look for Carr and Johnson to give it a go, and Davis will get his carries. If they can get some yards and sneak in some scoring, they could keep it respectable.

On the other hand, we have the Colts. How do you want them go about it this week? It sounds like Edge will be back on the field, and that is good news to all of the Colts. Granted, Peyton Manning and company have done ok without him, but they did pick up a loss. James is such a power, he can run, as we all know, with the best of them. However, he rarely gets his due when it comes to his receiving abilities. He has great hands and is capable of doing so much after the catch, he makes opposing defenses tremble. He can give Harrison that extra hesitation for the coverage backs, not that Marvin can't get open on his own. The Houston D is not a formidable as hoped: they allow 116 yards rushing a game (including a handful of big runs), and they are horrible versus the pass (3rd worst pass D in the NFL, giving up 250 yards passing a game). It's not very encouraging to see those numbers when you are packing for Indy. Throw in the fact Indy is coming off their bye week and playing at home, and the choice seems easy. Houston doesn't have the fire power to score enough points. Houston doesn't have the defensive backs to cover Marvin Harrison and/or Reggie Wayne. Edge is coming off a month break and is looking to get some TD's. Everything points to Indy.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Peyton Manning, Edge James, Marvin Harrison, Domanick Davis, Andre Johnson, Indy Defense

2nd String: David Carr, Stacey Mack, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Mike Vanderjagt

Prediction: Texans 12, Colts 30

Buffalo (4-3) at Kansas City (7-0) 8:30 PM
Right now, I don't know what to make of Buffalo. For 4 freakin' weeks, after starting off so well, the Bills struggled to do anything right. They couldn't pass, they couldn't run, they couldn't defend. Then, this last week, they come out versus the Redskins, in Washington, and light them up like a 4th of July show at the Capital. Travis Henry goes CRAZY (obviously moved by the return of Willis McGahee from injury) for 167 yards rushing and Bledsoe throws for almost 250 without Eric Moulds on the field. The defense is all over Patrick Ramsey and decides to break Ladell Betts' arm for fun, just to add injury to insult. So, what Bills team is going to show up this week? Well, they are playing the best team in the NFL in one of the toughest arenas to visit in all of sports. They will NEED their best games from all components in order to win this one. They are capable of taking a fight to KC. When he's on, Bledsoe is one of the best QB's in the NFL. Eric Moulds is hoping to return from injury, and when he's healthy he's as good as any receiver you'll find in the NFL (ok Minnesota fans, Randy Moss may be better, and I'd argue Marvin Harrison, but give Moulds some props). Travis Henry is fighting to keep his job, so you know he'll leave it all on the field. KC has been winning close games of late, and they are not unbeatable. It's just so hard to bet on this Buffalo team when they have played so horribly at times.

A key for the Chiefs that may not get enough pub is their defense. The special teams and Dante Hall gets plenty of notice, and the offense is impossible to ignore with Holmes, Green, and Gonzalez. However, the defense is solid and capable of big time plays, especially at key moments in games. They kept Tim Brown 1 yard short of the TD to send last weeks' game into OT. They put the clamps on Favre and Ahman Green late (after they spent the entire game padding their stats) in the game two weeks ago to allow their team to come back and win. They give up tons and tons of yards, but when it counts the most (the red zone) they are tight. They currently allow only 18 points a game, a great number when you look at the yards they allow and the points their offense scores. They will be after the Bills this weekend in full force. One thing the Bills have proved is if you can contain Henry and get after Bledsoe, you can shut this team down (i.e. the Jets in Week 6). The Jets pressured Bledsoe all day long, handed him a few sacks, and kept the Bills to 3 lousy points. Expect the Chiefs to follow the Jets' recipe: QB pressure, QB pressure, and some more QB pressure. The Bills, if they can hold off the blitz, can move the ball, but they will have to score more often and be more opportunistic than they have proven to be thus far. Bottom line: the Bills' defense will need to perform beyond their capabilities. They current possess the 3rd best passing defense in the NFL (153 yards a game), and a rush defense that isn't too shabby either (112 yards a game). They could play well, but there are 3 facts you can't ignore. Dick Vermeil is the 2nd best coach in the NFL right now (Bill Parcells is top dog, sorry Dick). Priest Holmes is totally unstoppable, and his coach knows it and makes sure every team gets their dose of Priest. This game is in Kansas City: Arrowhead may be the toughest place for visiting teams to play in the entire NFL (ask ex-players, or current for that matter, the place is nuts and the fans are louder than an F-16 landing in your bedroom). I know it's crazy to take a team that is 7 & 0, been winning games by such slim margins, and say they win again. But I'm ballsy, and after my horrible performance last week I don't care. I'm calling it like I see it my friends. Take KC in a great game.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Priest Holmes, Trent Green, Drew Bledsoe, Travis Henry, Eric Moulds (Questionable), Tony Gonzalez

2nd String: Johnnie Morton, Morten Andersen, KC Defense, Josh Reed

Prediction: Bills 18, Chiefs 23

Miami (4-2) at San Diego (1-5) Mon 9:00 PM
San Diego wins! Despite all attempts by their inept coach and defense to blow it, they won a game and they won it the way they will win more games: LaDainian Tomlinson. I normally don't voice too much personal opinion into these reviews, but I'm going to hear. The only reason San Diego took so long to win a game is all at the feet of Coach Marty Schottenheimer. How Tomlinson doesn't get 30 carries a game is beyond me, screw how far behind you may be or how tough the defense is. Tomlinson was outraged at the end of the last offensive drive in last weeks close call win. He had just carried the ball 5 times for 48 yards, literally carrying the entire team down field, up by only 3 points, to the 4-yard line. He had run for 200 yards. Cleveland had NO answer for him. 1st and goal, and Tomlinson doesn't see the ball one time. They give the ball to Lorenzo Neil twice, and he gets stuffed both times. Then, in an unbelievable call, they fake to Tomlinson (who skated into the end zone UNTOUCHED) and try this little bootleg that the Browns were all over, sacking Brees for a loss of 14 yards! THE ENTIRE DEFENSIVE LINE WAS ON BREES. LT COULD HAVE HIGH STEPPED INTO THE ENDZONE. Instead, they kick the field goal, go up by 6 with 1:30 left. Holcomb tried his best, and got the Browns to mid-field. The Chargers' defense is not good at all. Fortunately for the Bolts, Holcomb just ran out of time. If you give him 10 more seconds, I have not doubt they could have won. GIVE THIS KID THE BALL. OK, enough said, and I apologize but it has so agonizing to watch and I (along with LT, if you read the Charger news) have carried the anger around all week. That said, it is not looking good for the Bolts this week. Miami is tough, maybe not so much offensively but on defense they are extremely strong. They currently have the best rushing D in the land, giving up a measly 69 yards rushing a game. If San Diego has any shot at all, they need to pass the ball. The Fins' pass D is a little soft, but they have improved in the last few weeks. Although they have given away 250 passing yards a game, they have allowed only 4 passing TD's and have gathered 11 sacks and 10 interceptions. They are dangerous: they want you to pass. They want Jason Taylor to blitz, they want to force quick throws, and they want to take your passes to their house. They will take it to LT this Monday night, and he may or may not get some yards. Right now, the smart money is on him being "contained." The burden of scoring will fall on Drew Brees, and he's a capable QB. However, his receivers are not. They drop balls, they don't get open, they don't block so well, they don't help out the team very often. Offensively (and defensively for that matter), it will be a long night for the Bolts. By the way, future Hall of Famer Junior Seau will be playing against his old team, so there is another worry for the Chargers' offensive line.

So who is going to play QB for the Fins? No word will be released until the review is already in front of you and your done reading it (from the mouth of Dave Wannstedt, no decision or announcement will be made until late Wed. at the earliest). Fiedler was apparently hurt and backup (potential starter) Brian Griese has been cleared to play. Right now, there is little to no reason to believe Griese won't get a shot. The passing for the Fins has been disappointing. WR Chris Chambers is a top talent going to waste as they are unable to get this kid the ball consistently. He's a game breaker, and with the Chargers' defense being so vulnerable to the pass (226 yards a game, 12 passing TD's allowed), the Fins would love to get him the rock. Ricky Williams has gone 3 straight games without gathering 100 yards, an incredible feat by the opposing defenses. However, that won't happen this week. The Bolts are horrible versus the rush: they allow about 137 rushing yards a game. They won't stop Ricky even if they take the trendy approach and key everything on him. They just won't stop him: they don't have the personnel to stop him, they don't have the talent to key on him and leave receivers like Chambers in single coverage, and if Ricky doesn't get 100 yards I'll eat his dreadlocks. Look for Miami to use him as every team should use a RB of his caliber. He'll get 30 carries, if not more, and he alone could win this game. However, they will open up the passing game, especially if Griese starts (by the way, I've been adding "LATE BREAKING NEWS" to these reviews before I send them off if it's available; if Miami releases a statement, it will be below). If you have Chambers, it's a great week to start him. I know it's Monday night, and Monday nights have a tendency to be wacky. But this game has "route" written all over it. Take the Fins, and they are likely to cover whatever spread you end up getting your money on.

LATE NEWS: Still no official word on the QB situation. Fiedler is listed as questionable and Griese has taken the snaps with the starters thus far this week. Take what you want from that, but I'd suggest you lean towards Griese.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Ricky Williams, LaDainian Tomlinson, Chris Chambers, Randy McMichael, Miami Defense

2nd String: Drew Brees, Brian Griese/Jay Fiedler (Questionable), David Boston, Josh Norman

Prediction: Fins 23, Bolts 12