New England (2-1)at new Orleans (3-0)
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: Patriots by 7.
Vs. spread: Patriots 3-0; Saints 3-0.
Outlook: The combined record of the Saints' opponents is 1-10, so this game will show if their record is a product of inferior competition or true promise. Still, Danny Wuerffel, who produced no points in two starts last season, is maturing. He hit a fourth-and-17 pass last week that led to the tying touchdown in an overtime win in Indianapolis. After an initial stumble in Denver, all is going smoothly for the Patriots, who have cruised to a pair of wins with a flawless offense and a steady defense. Drew Bledsoe has been a machine, putting up a 99.9 quarterback rating and leading the only offense in the league without a turnover.
Notable: Bledsoe has thrown 106 straight passes without an interception. This is Saints coach Mike Ditka's 200th game. He's 121-78.
Injuries:
PATRIOTS: Questionable: DE Ferric Collons (ankle).
SAINTS: Doubtful: LB Kevin Mitchell (shoulder); QB Heath Shuler (toe). Questionable: S Sammy Knight (shoulder). Probable: T Clarence Jones (ankle); RB Lamar Smith (ankle); RB Ray Zellars (ankle).
N.Y. Giants(2-2) at Tampa Bay (1-3)
Time: 4: 15 p.m.
Line: Bucs by 3 1/2 .
Vs. spread: Giants 2-2; Bucs 1-3.
Outlook: The Giants can't run, which means they can't hide their other offensive problems -- notably, Danny Kanell's mediocrity. Kanell has shown a tendency to get rattled and make poor decisions against the blitz, and without a running game to keep the heat off (2.8 yards per attempt, better than only Green Bay's 2.6), the Giants' attack doesn't scare anyone. The Bucs' offense has all but disappeared, too, especially the running game. Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott have combined for just 329 yards in four games.
Notable: Giants have 15 sacks, tied with Green Bay and St. Louis for tops in the NFC.
Injuries:
GIANTS: Doubtful: LB Scott Galyon (Achilles'-calf); DT Robert Harris (pectoral). Questionable: CB Shaun Williams (hamstring). Probable: S Tito Wooten (hamstring). LB Jessie Armstead (ankle); LB Marcus Buckley (hip); S Sam Garnes (foot); G Jerry Reynolds (shoulder); G Ron Stone (buttocks).
BUCS: Out: WR Brice Hunter (concussion); WR Bert Emanuel (ankle). Doubtful: DE Chidi Ahanotu (shoulder). Questionable: CB Rhonde Barber (hamstring); S Tony Bouie (knee); TE Pat Hape (hamstring). Probable: WR Jacquez Green (thumb); T Paul Gruber (shoulder); TE Dave Moore (neck); DT Warren Sapp (shoulder).
Carolina (0-3) at Atlanta (2-1)Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: Falcons by 3.
Vs. spread: Panthers 0-2; Falcons 2-1.
Outlook: The Falcons are not quite in the 49ers' class yet, but they can play with anyone else in the division. The way for the Panthers to win will be to get to quarterback Chris Chandler. He has taken an inordinate amount of punishment behind a suspect offensive line. If the Panthers can use their zone blitz to knock out Chandler (Kevin Greene has been hot, and it is about time for Sean Gilbert to start earning his money), they will be in good shape. Then again, the Falcons probably will not have to throw much with Jamal Anderson running so well.
Notable: Falcons have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 11 games.
Injuries:
PANTHERS: Out: G Matthew Campbell (knee); WR Rae Carruth (foot); TE Kris Mangum (eye); S Mike Minter (knee). Questionable: WR Michael Bates (knee); LB Tarek Saleh (ankle); CB Michael Swift (leg). Probable: LB Micheal Barrow (knee); LB Greg Lloyd (knee).
FALCONS: Out: LB Henri Crockett (wrist). Doubtful: LB Keith Brooking (quadriceps). Questionable: CB Michael Booker (quadriceps); C Calvin Collins (ankle); T Jose Portilla (hamstring); DT Esera Tuaolo (biceps). Probable: QB Chris Chandler (wrist); DE Antonio Edwards (knee); DT Travis Hall (calf).
Miami (3-0) at N.Y. Jets (1-2)
Time: 1: 01 p.m., Ch. 13.
Line: Jets by 2 1/2 .
Vs. spread: Jets 2-1; Dolphins 2-1.
Outlook: Finally, the Dolphins get tested by a competent offense. It will be interesting to see if the Jets' offense is as explosive as it was when it last played. For the second game in a row, Vinny Testaverde gets the starting call at quarterback ahead of Glenn Foley. And Testaverde has a couple of terrific targets in Wayne Chrebet and Keyshawn Johnson, who have combined for six touchdowns. This might be the game in which the Dolphins are forced to go away from their precious running game -- which, despite all the hype, is averaging just 3.8 yards per carry -- and allow Dan Marino to turn gunslinger. Are the Dolphins' receivers up to the task?
Notable: Dolphins have won the past four meetings, the teams combining for an average of 53.5 points in each game.
Injuries:
DOLPHINS: Questionable: WR O. J. McDuffie (ankle). Probable: QB Craig Erickson (elbow); WR Nate Jacquet (hamstring); T Richmond Webb (ankle); LB Zach Thomas (elbow).
JETS: Questionable: WR Wayne Chrebet (ankle); LB James Farrior (knee); QB Glenn Foley (ribs).
San Francisco (3-0) at Buffalo (0-3)
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: 49ers by 10.
Vs. spread: 49ers 1-2; Bills 1-1.
Outlook: Question: Can the scoreboard at Rich Stadium show triple figures? Because the 49ers could pile up the points in a lopsided matchup against a struggling defense. In particular, the Bills could have real problems trying to match up against the receiving trio of Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens and J. J. Stokes. Another mismatch is on the other side of the ball, where the Bills' offensive line could provide the gasoline for the fire in the 49ers' -- pass rush. Buffalo's Rob Johnson isn't a bad quarterback -- until the game is on the line. In his two fourth-quarter appearances, Johnson's passer rating is a laughable 18.1.
Notable: Steve Young and Rice have connected for 78 touchdowns, one behind Miami's Dan Marino and Mark Clayton.
Injuries:
49ERS: Out: T Dave Fiore (knee). Doubtful: DT Shane Bonham (biceps); TE Greg Clark (foot); CB Marquez Pope (back). Probable: S Zack Bronson (hip); S Tim McDonald (rib); S Lance Schulters (quadriceps).
BILLS: Out: RB Jonathan Linton (hamstring); WR Andre Reed (shoulder). Probable: LB Mark Pike (biceps).
Philadelphia (0-4) a Denver (4-0)
Time: 4: 15 p.m., Ch. 45.
Line: Broncos by 15 1/2 .
Vs. spread: Eagles 2-2; Broncos 3-1.
Outlook: Broncos quarterback John Elway, recovering from a right hamstring injury, might miss the game because of an aching lower back. Coach Mike Shanahan said he would not know until game time whether Elway would play. Will it matter? Doubtful. The Eagles are the league's lowest-scoring team, averaging 9.0 points, even after a relative explosion of 21 last week. And no team has scored more points than Denver, which fired up 38 with backup Bubby Brister directing the offense vs. Washington last week.
Notable: Broncos are 24-2 at home under Shanahan.
Injuries:
EAGLES: Out: DT Rhett Hall (knee-injured reserve); CB Bobby Taylor (shoulder). Probable: T Richard Cooper (hamstring); S Brian Dawkins (knee); C Steve Everitt (foot); WR Irving Fryar (back); RB Charlie Garner (ankle); WR Jeff Graham (infection); QB Bobby Hoying (back); TE Jimmie Johnson (groin); G Jermane Mayberry (finger-toe-ankle); QB Rodney Peete (rib); WR Freddie Solomon (groin); RB Duce Staley (toe-ankle); DT Hollis Thomas (knee); RB Kevin Turner (toe).
BRONCOS: Questionable: G David Diaz-Infante (knee); WR Marcus Nash (hamstring). Probable: QB John Elway (hamstring, back); DE Ernest Jones (knee); LB John Mobley (hamstring); LB Bill Romanowski (groin); DE Neil Smith (knee).
Detroit (1-3) at Chicago (0-4)
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: Bears by 1.
Vs. spread: Lions 1-3; Bears 3-1.
Outlook: Both teams are rebuilding with young players, so it is difficult to get a handle on how either will play. The Lions hope that quarterback Charlie Batch does not lose the game and that Barry Sanders will win it. The Bears still are waiting for Curtis Enis and Alonzo Mayes to transform their offense. This game also features two receivers who have performed below expectations this year: Curtis Conway and Johnnie Morton. The Bears keep coming close -- leading at halftime each game -- as coach Dave Wannstedt has done a nice job getting this team to play hard. Sooner or later, they will beat a team or pack it in for the year.
Notable: Sanders has three consecutive 100-yard rushing games the Bears. Enis has 262 yards rushing, tops among NFL rookies.
Injuries:
LIONS: Doubtful: P John Jett (shoulder). Questionable: RB Cory Schlesinger (ankle); CB Terry Fair (knee); G Mike Compton (ankle); C Jim Pyne (groin); RB Tommy Vardell (knee).
BEARS: Questionable: WR Curtis Conway (groin); T Andy Heck (toe); DT Bryan Robinson (knee).
San Diego (2-2) at Indianapolis (0-4)
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: Colts by 1.
Vs. spread: Chargers 1-2; Colts 0-4.
Outlook: This was supposed to be a glimpse of the future, matching Ryan Leaf and Peyton Manning, the top picks in this year's draft. But both are mired far down the list in passer rating and stand 1-2 in the league in interceptions. Leaf added four last week to bring his total to eight, and with nine turnovers in the last two games, he has taken the title of NFL's coldest quarterback, with a rating of 32.1. But the Chargers have something the Colts don't have, a defense that can stop the run. Opposing runners average 2.9 yards per rush, lowest in the league. The Chargers' Natrone Means could feast on the Colts' soft run defense, ranked last in the league.
Notable: Colts' Marshall Faulk is averaging 3.3 yards per carry, lowest among league's top 20 rushers.
Injuries:
CHARGERS: Out: CB Dwayne Harper (neck); TE John Burke (knee). Questionable: CB Paul Bradford (knee).
COLTS: Out: DE Dan Footman (knee). Doubtful: DE Al Fontenot (calf). Questionable: LB Elijah Alexander (ankle). Probable: CB Jeff Burris (shoulder); LB Anthony Jordan (ankle); DT Steve Martin (ankle); DE Kendel Shello (ankle); RB Lamont Warren (ankle).
Oakland (2-2) at Arizona (2-2)
Time: 4: 05 p.m., Ch. 9.
Line: Cardinals by 2 1/2 .
Vs. spread: Raiders 2-2; Cardinals 2-2.
Outlook: Which are the real Raiders? The self-destructing bumblers who lead the league in penalties and have turned the ball over nine times? The team that ranks 11th in the AFC in rushing or the group that ran for 129 yards last week against the Cowboys? The line that gave up 19 sacks in three weeks or the one that gave Jeff George all day to throw last Sunday? A win over the Cardinals doesn't mean the Raiders are contenders, but a loss would be a strong clue that they are again the frauds they were last year. The Cardinals don't do anything well, but a defense with potential seems to be improving.
Notable: Cardinals' 45-87 record in the 1990s is second-worst in the NFL to the Rams, who are 42-90.
Injuries:
RAIDERS: Doubtful: LB Aaron Wallace (knee). Questionable: DE James Harris (groin); LB John Henry Mills (hamstring); S Anthony Newman (groin).
CARDINALS: Out: T Anthony Clement (back); DE Jerry Drake (back); CB J. J. McCleskey (knee). Questionable: G Chris Dishman (neck); CB Tom Knight (hamstring); WR Rob Moore (hamstring). Probable: WR Ronnie Anderson (hamstring); S Kwamie Lassiter (back); P Scott Player (calf); DE Simeon Rice (rib).
Sattle (3-1) at Kansas Cit (3-1)
Time: 8: 20 p.m., ESPN.
Line: Chiefs by 4.
Vs. spread: Seahawks 3-0; Chiefs 2-2.
Outlook: No team plays better pass defense than the Chiefs, who boast a stellar cover cornerback in Dale Carter and the league sack leader in linebacker Derrick Thomas. The challenge is stopping the productive pass-catch combination of Warren Moon to Joey Galloway. The Kansas City offense is effective when Donnell Bennett is running consistently rather than having to rely on Rich Gannon's passing. For the Seahawks, a win can establish them as a force in the AFC West, but a loss will start the doubts again.
Notable: Chiefs have won 15 of the past 16 vs. the Seahawks at Arrowhead Stadium, including seven straight.
Injuries:
SEAHAWKS: Out: LB James Logan (leg). Questionable: LB DeShone Myles (knee). Probable: LB Anthony Simmons (knee); RB Mack Strong (ankle); LB Dean Wells (calf).
CHIEFS: Out: DT Chester McGlockton (back); G Dave Szott (biceps). Questionable: DE Pellom McDaniels (elbow); RB Tony Richardson (hamstring); WR Andre Rison (hamstring); S Reggie Tongue (hamstring). Probable: QB Elvis Grbac (shoulder); DE John Browning (foot); CB Dale Carter (toe); WR Tamarick Vanover (toe).
Pub Date: 10/04/98