NFL Gameday News: Week 15

Coachnorm

For even more NFL Game and fantasy insight you should check out Khris and Ryans' podcast. They analyze every game and offer up viewpoints and arguments as they make predictions on every game each week. It is a fun and informative listen.

They usually have a Great Pink Flyod musical intro and outro but they have had a holiday flavor the last two weeks.

http://www.sofantasyfootball.com/nfl...40/index3.html

Coachnorm

In last year's season finale, Devin Hester scored two touchdowns as the Bears handed the Saints a 33-25 loss. Chicago has broken open a series that was deadlocked at 11, by winning the last three matchups, including one in the 2006 NFC Championship Game.

A Big Thursday Night Battle between to 7-6 teams trying to hang on to their playoff hopes. A lot of these games in the nightitme national spotlight have go the way of the team needing it the most. The Bears after taking a Viking hit have been rolling since. The Saints hae been playing catchup all season long in the NFC South. While they are on the bottom looking up they have pulled up close to the pack. The Bears like to throw to RB Forte and their TEs and it will be a challange for Saints LBs to try and control that. Bears WRs are a mixed bag production wise. Hester has become their top WR and as you can see below Booker is dinged up. TE Desmond Clark is also dinged up so TE Greg Olson may see more action in the passing attack. The Saints RB Pierre Thomas has been the focal point of the Saints running attack and Bush has been Dangerous as well. Both are good plays. Deuce is available for the game since it will occur before the judge rules on the suspension appeal. Duece is not as good a play this week as the other two RBs but is capable of vulturing a TD for those in bigger leauges. The Bears D has been giving up a lot of passing Yardage lately which co-incidently is what the Saints do well. They haven't given up that many big plays but sloppy tackling has allowed opposing WRs to YAC it up.

Oh, and it is going to be cold in Chicago. But not meesy or windy the last time I looked. (6 mph)


Bears Injury Report

Doubtful

• M. Booker (WR)

• J. McKie (RB)

• G. Wolfe (RB)

Probable

• D. Clark (TE)

Saints Injury Report






OUT

• J. Brown (T)

Probable

• D. McAllister (RB)
• R. Harper (S)

Bullet Tooth Tony

Hey Coach - great info and thanks for this. I'm a FF vet and in semi finals of my big $$ league.

Even with the cold in Chicago tonight.....you agree no way in hell I can sit Brees, right? My backup is Hill from San Fran, but I gotta ride my horse I think.

Also....how do you think Slaton is going to do against Tenn? He had a pretty good game last time and they are home this week.

Thanks

Coachnorm

Your FUBAR designation makes me suspect you are more than just an FF Vet. Brees for sure as they will probably throw a lot. Hill is a good QB getting better but the Miami D is better than many people suspect.

Slaton is in a tough matchup but should perform well he had a nice upside in that he is the focal point of that rushing attack and will get the carries . Real big game maybe not, but he should be solid and a AJ down on the one can get him an EZ TD. He should be used unless you have both Turner The Burner and Dwill on your team.

Coachnorm

The Falcons struggled to get going offensively at Tampa Bay in Week 2, losing, 24-9. Streaks
The Bucs have won the past three meetings to take an 18-12 overall series lead.

This is an important division matchup for both teams as The Bucs are now a game behind The Panthers after the Monday Night Matchup with Carolina. The Falcons are a game behind the Bucs and Playing at home.

So far this season, NFC South teams are a perfect 10-0 at home in divisional games. The Falcons have already beaten New Orleans and Carolina at the Georgia Dome and will look to complete a perfect divisional home slate against Tampa Bay this Sunday.

As you can see the Bucs are battling against one of the strongest trends this season. The Falcons are a fairly healthy bunch and all your usual Falcon starters are viable from that point of view. How good the Bucs D plays this week is another matter as Carolina showed that big performances can be expected vs the Bucs D if you pound on them enough.

Tampa Bay earlier in the year shut down both the potent Carolina and Falcons rushing attacks. Carolinas' RBs exacted a solid measure of revenge last week. Expect the Falcons Rbs to be looking to get their pound of flesh this week.

Bucs QB Jeff Garcia sounds very iffy with a bad calf, it sounds like Gracia will be ready to but here is the rub. Even if Gracia goes at QB his mobility, which is a big part of his game, maybe limited along with his effectiveness as a result. If McCown does go at QB for this game Gruden doesn't change his game plan for a backup QB. Gruden expects anyone he starts at QB to throw the ball.


Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia was limited during practice Friday because of a right calf strain and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game at Atlanta. Coach Jon Gruden is confident that Garcia can play, if not, he might turn to Luke McCown, and not Brian Griese,who is battling an elbow injury.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers


Questionable

• WR Michael Clayton (toe)

• QB Jeff Garcia (calf)

• QB Brian Griese (right elbow)

• DT Jovan Haye (knee)

• DT Chris Hovan (knee)

• C Sean Mahan (back)

• G Jeremy Zuttah (ankle)

Atlanta Falcons


Doubtful

• WR Laurent Robinson (hamstring)

Questionable

• DE John Abraham (thigh, shoulder)

• T Sam Baker (hip, back)

• S Erik Coleman (quadricep)

• WR Harry Douglas (head)

• K Jason Elam (left hip)

• WR Brian Finneran (hamstring)

• CB Brent Grimes (knee, quadricep)

• DT Grady Jackson (knee)

• RB Ovie Mughelli (hamstring)

• T Todd Weiner (knee)

Coachnorm

In Week 10 of the 2004 season, Cincinnati went into Washington and left a 17-10 winner. The Bengals have taken two of the last three meetings, but the Redskins still own a narrow 4-3 edge in the overall series.

The Washington Redskins have gone from Division leaders to hanging out on the very outskirts of playoff contention. They have not gotten that dreaded 7th loss yet like the Saints just picked up Thursday Night. Yet at this point they would have to win out their schedule and miracles would have to occur all around them. The Bengals continue to be scrappy but Housh is really the only fantasy starter at this point. Maybe ocho cinco, no capitals for his name at this point, shows up with a big game??? Hard to say but he was a solid but not spectacular start last week. He did have a surprise 3 TD game last year that boosted his stats enough that many overvalued him drafting this year.

Portis and his coach blew up and you probably heard about that. But despite that Portis does sound to be as healthy as he has been in recent memory. After a month or so of being pretty banged up he practiced fully Wednesday and the rest of the week as well. He is not even on this weeks injury report.

The Redskins D could use some big games down the stretch but Jason Taylor has had only one sack, so far. Looking forward to dancing season maybe?? Taylor has been banged up and is usually a difference maker on D. Had Taylor shown up as that diference maker the Redskins probably would still be in the thick of things instead of the outskirts.

Redskins safety Chris Horton did not practice all week because of a shoulder injury and is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game at Cincinnati.

Washington Redskins



Out

• LB Marcus Washington (ankle)

Doubtful

• S Chris Horton (shoulder)

• T Jon Jansen (knee)

Questionable

• LB London Fletcher (foot)

• DT Kedric Golston (ankle)

• DT Cornelius Griffin (shoulder, abdomen)

• CB Shawn Springs (calf)

Cincinnati Bengals



Out

• DE Eric Henderson (neck)

• QB Carson Palmer (elbow)

Doubtful

• T Levi Jones (hamstring)

• S Chinedum Ndukwe (foot)

• RB Chris Perry (groin)

• TE Ben Utecht (foot)

• RB Kenny Watson (hamstring)

Questionable

• CB David Jones (knee)

Probable

• S Kyries Hebert (neck)

• WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (hand)

• LB Rashad Jeanty (shin)

• DE Antwan Odom (shoulder)

Coachnorm

In Week 3, Matt Schaub threw three interceptions in a 31-12 road loss to Tennessee. The Titans have won seven straight against the Texans, and lead the overall series, 11-2

I would just like to mention that I am very impressed with the Texans this year. While it has been a very rocky season I have seen acrossthe board improvement on this team. Hopefully in the offseason they beef up the O line some. That said, while I expect an interesting game the beating the Titans may be a little more than they ca handle. Play all your favorite Texans. Play all your favorite Titans but keep and eye on Lendale White before gametime. White missed practice during the week and reports on his Friday practice varies according to what you read. Some have said limited and watch out, others say he practed fully and is expected to play. Sunday Pregame intel will hold the key, he could be a go or he may be in the dressed out emergancy use only category.


Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch is out for Sunday’s game at Houston with a groin injury. Bosch usually is a big sacker of Texan QBs, while the rest of the Titans D line are good Schaub might be able to add one more tick to that mental timeclock in his head with Bosch out. Running back LenDale White is listed as questionable with a knee injury.


Tennessee Titans



Out

• Kyle Vanden Bosch (groin)

Questionable

• RB Quinton Ganther (hamstring)

• DT Albert Haynesworth (knee)

• RB LenDale White (knee)

Probable

• CB Cortland Finnegan (hamstring)

• CB Nicholas Harper (ankle)

• LB David Thornton (hip)

Houston Texans


Probable

• S Will Demps (hamstring)

• S Nick Ferguson (knee)

• DE Jesse Nading (knee)

• G Chester Pitts (ankle)

Coachnorm

In 2004, the Jaguars defense forced five turnovers and RB Fred Taylor rushed for 165 yards in Jacksonville's 28-25 victory over the Packers.The Jaguars look to knot the series at two games apiece.

The Packers are out of the playoff picture at this point but are highly motivated to win out at this point. Winning all their games from now on at least would give them a .500 season to hang their hat on. The Pack may actually be glad to be visiting Florida as the Frozen Tundra advantage doesn't seem real apparent any more. The Jags have seemingly fallen off the end of the earth. WR Jerry Porter is out and WR Matt Jones is wearing suspenders for the rest of the season. RB Fred Taylor is gone with will give MJD owners some hope. MJD may be the only Jag worth playing at this point. The Packers throw well and run well so use your usual Packer starters as production is good even though real life NFL outcomes aren't.

Jaguars running back Fred Taylor is out for the rest of the season with a thumb injury, meaning extra carries for Maurice Jones-Drew. Jacksonville also will be without receiver Jerry Porter. Linebacker Brandon Chillar, tackle Chad Clifton, defensive tackle Ryan Pickett and cornerback Charles Woodson are all probable for the Packers.


Jacksonville Jaguars



Out

• WR Jerry Porter

Questionable

• DT Tony McDaniel

Probable

• DE Reggie Hayward

Green Bay Packers



Out

• S Atari Bigby

Doubtful

• FB Korey Hall

Questionable

• DT Justin Harrell

• LB Danny Lansanah

• DE Jeremy Thompson

Probable

• LB Brandon Chillar

• T Chad Clifton

• DT Ryan Pickett

• CB Charles Woodson

Coachnorm

n Week 12 of the 2004 season, Dolphins DE Jason Taylor had three of the team's eight sacks on Niners QB Tim Rattay, who didn't manage a touchdown pass in San Francisco's 24-17 home loss to Miami. Miami's win in 2004 tied this series, which includes a 49ers win in Super Bowl XIX, at 5-5. ... San Francisco has won five of the last six meetings with the Dolphins.

While that above is interesting it flys in the face of this years big trend, west coast teams going East do poorly. I would like to say that the Niners have been playing pretty solid ball under new coach Singletary. The Dolphins are healthy and you should lay your usual starters. RB Frank Gore is mentioned below but lets look a bit closer. We may get a clue to his status Saturday as he may not travel with the team. If he does make the trip then you will still have to treat him as a Game Time Decision and check before kickoff. Update: Haven't found anything on if Gore made the trip. The Niners did activate a RB named Clayton from their practice squad which may be a sign one of the normal RBs will be inactive.

49ers running back Frank Gore missed practice for a third consecutive day on Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game at Miami. DeShaun Foster could be elevated to starter if Gore is unable to go.


San Francisco 49ers


Out

• WR Arnaz Battle (foot)

Questionable

• RB Frank Gore (ankle)

Probable

• CB Nate Clements (thumb)

• S Dashon Goldson (knee)

• C Eric Heitmann (abdomen)

• CB Marcus Hudson (concussion)

• CB Allen Rossum (ankle)

Miami Dolphins


Probable

• CB Jason Allen (hand)

Coachnorm

In Week 3, Seattle RB Julius Jones ran for 140 yards as the Seahawks thumped the Rams 37-13. The Seahawks have won the last seven contests to claim an 11-9 overall series lead.

This is a matchup between two teams whose season is adrift at this point. It is a hard matchup to figure in real life. It should be more of a battle than most people expect as both these teams probably look at each other as a potential win so it should be hard fought. Coming East has been very bad for West Coast teams but how about just 1/2 way? Fantasy options? QBs for Seattle are both banged up but Wallace had a decent game. TE Carlson is the best play, Dieon Brach has beeen good lately. RBBC splits the pie, MoMo is supposed to be the starter this week but no Tackle Jones this week. For the Rams Holt gets a share every week but the pie is small and Bulger only has been producing in garbage time against prevent Ds. SJax has lived up to the hype but is solid but little else. Avery is a long shot with the small passing pie.

St. Louis kicker Josh Brown is probable to face his former team, the Seahawks, on Sunday. Seattle tackle Walter Jones had microfracture surgery on Thursday and will be out for the rest of the season.

Seattle Seahawks



Out

• T Walter Jones (knee)

Questionable

• DT Red Bryant (ankle)

• QB Matt Hasselbeck (back)

• LB LeRoy Hill (neck)

• S C.J. Wallace (hamstring)

Probable

• WR Koren Robinson (knee)

• CB Josh Wilson (concussion)

• G Mansfield Wrotto (ankle)

St. Louis Rams


Questionable

• CB Jason Craft (back)

• LB Gary Stills (knee)

Probable

• CB Fakhir Brown (ankle)

• K Josh Brown (right groin)

• G Richie Incognito (ankle)

• DE Leonard Little (hamstring)