The Bum's Sept. NFL Pods-Stats-News !

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NFL betting: Faves 4-0 in last four London games

The Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers will square off at Wembley Stadium in Week 4 and though the line opened as a pick, bettors should make note of where it swings as the fave has covered in four-straight games in jolly ol' England.

This season marks the seventh consecutive that the NFL will hold a game in London, England. In fact, there are two games to be held on British soil this season with the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers playing there on Oct. 27.

There are a couple of trends through the first six games in London to bear in mind if you're going to make a wager on the Steelers versus Vikings game this weekend.

The favorite has covered in four consecutive matchups and is 4-2 overall in these games.

Last season, the Pats crushed the Rams 45-7 and covered as 7.5-point favorites.

If you're looking at totals, the over/under count is 2-4 in the six games and the under was on a three-game streak before the Pats and Rams went over the 46-point total last season.

The total in this weekends matchup opened at 41.

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Preview: Ravens (2-1) at Bills (1-2)

Date: September 29, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


After the Buffalo Bills' offense struggled in their most recent contest, maybe the last thing they need is to face a Baltimore Ravens defense that has been dominant since a rough season opener.

The visiting Ravens look to hold an opponent without a touchdown in three straight games for the first time in franchise history Sunday against the banged-up Bills.

Baltimore (2-1) has bounced back nicely from its forgettable 49-27 season-opening loss at Denver. The Ravens allowed 510 yards and seven touchdown passes to Peyton Manning in that game, but have yielded only five field goals and 523 yards in home victories over Cleveland and Houston.

"In the NFL you're going to have highs and lows," said linebacker Terrell Suggs, who has a team-high three of Baltimore's 11 sacks. "(The Broncos were) the first game. They had some success. We knew we had to go to work."

Baltimore put that work to good use during last Sunday's 30-9 rout of a Texans team which totaled 61 points in its first two games. Linebacker Daryl Smith scored on a 37-yard return of an interception off Matt Schaub, who was held to 194 yards, and the Ravens limited Houston to a season-low 94 yards rushing.

"They've played two weeks now where they haven't given up a touchdown," said quarterback Joe Flacco, who has thrown one TD but no interceptions in the last two games. "That's pretty good. You're going to have a tough time losing when that happens."

Facing Baltimore's defense presents a daunting challenge for the Bills (1-2), who lost 27-20 at New York last weekend despite the Jets being flagged 20 times for 168 yards. Buffalo became the first team since the Chicago Bears in 1951 to lose when its opponent was penalized 20 or more times.

That's partially because the Bills went 4 of 18 converting third downs, managed three field goals on three trips inside the Jets 20 and allowed eight sacks after giving up one over the previous two weeks against Carolina and New England.

"Some of the mistakes we made were terrible, myself included," center Eric Wood said. "We obviously have to bounce back, but that was a game we kind of threw away."

Buffalo expects to have C.J. Spiller available after a quad injury limited him to nine yards on 10 carries against the Jets. Fred Jackson tried to pick up the slack, rushing seven times for 72 yards and catching four passes for 37.

Rookie EJ Manuel went 19 of 42 for 243 yards with a touchdown, struggling with his accuracy and ability to handle the blitz.

"We want to make sure we're giving our players an opportunity to make those plays," said coach Doug Marrone, whose team's three games have been decided by 10 points. "Am I disappointed? Absolutely. I can tell you this, EJ Manuel is disappointed too. I think those are the things that we'll work on to correct."

Things are equally concerning on the other side of the ball after the Bills yielded 513 yards, including 182 on the ground, at New York. Buffalo ranks second-to-last in the league in run defense, giving up 155.0 yards per game.

Already without injured cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore (wrist) and Ron Brooks (foot) and Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd (foot), Buffalo lost defensive end Alex Carrington to a season-ending quad injury last weekend and could be minus defensive back Leodis McKelvin due to a hamstring injury.

Ankle injuries are not expected to keep defensive linemen Mario Williams and Marcell Dareus from playing.

Having both in the lineup would help if Baltimore's Ray Rice returns after missing his first game since 2008 with a hip injury.

"We have a chance to get Ray back," coach John Harbaugh told the Ravens' official website.

Though Rice has rushed for 36 yards in each of his two games this season, he might provide a boost for a running game that ranks 31st at 2.6 per carry.

Rice's backup, Bernard Pierce, has averaged 2.8 yards on 58 attempts but has a TD in each of the last two weeks.

Jackson outgained Rice 73-72 on the ground in these teams' last meeting, but Flacco threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in Baltimore's 37-34 overtime win in 2010.

Buffalo's Stevie Johnson, who has 14 receptions for 197 yards over the last two games, caught eight passes for 158 yards and a TD in that meeting.

The Ravens lost 19-14 in their only previous trip to Buffalo in 2007.

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Preview: Giants (0-3) at Chiefs (3-0)

Date: September 29, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


The resurgent Kansas City Chiefs lead the NFL in turnover differential and sacks, and have relied upon an effective running game to get off to their second 3-0 start in a decade. They've also handled the NFC East so far, beating teams from that division in each of the last two weeks.

None of that appears to be good news for the winless New York Giants, who are coming off their worst performance under coach Tom Coughlin.

The Chiefs look to keep rolling when they face the desperate Giants on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kansas City sacked Michael Vick six times, had five takeaways and rushed for 146 yards in a 26-16 win at Philadelphia last Thursday that marked a homecoming for coach Andy Reid, the Eagles' coach from 1999-2012.

The Chiefs have an NFL-best plus-nine turnover differential. They had a league-worst minus-24 mark last season.

"Points and turnovers are the two most important things that you have as a football team," Reid said. "If you turn the ball over you're losing football games, and if your takeaway ratio is high then normally you're winning. Those are two important stat points."

So is Kansas City's sack total of 15, with 7 1/2 of those coming from linebacker Justin Houston - he had 4 1/2 last week - to lead the league. The Chiefs managed 27 sacks for all of 2012.

Kansas City is also allowing only 309.0 yards per game, tied for eighth in the NFL.

"I think confidence starts from within," cornerback Sean Smith said. "If you're not confident in the way you prepare and work and study, I don't know what to say about you. But our confidence started back in OTAs and minicamps. We knew we've had something special here for a long time."

Running back Jamaal Charles is coming off his best game of the season, rushing for 92 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries last week.

The Chiefs' encouraging numbers don't seem promising for a New York team that's done hardly anything well during its 0-3 start. The Giants are tops in the league with 13 turnovers, have allowed 11 sacks, are last in the NFL in rushing at 44.3 yards per game and are giving up an average of 129.3 yards on the ground.

They turned in the worst performance of Coughlin's 10-year tenure last week in a stunning 38-0 loss to Carolina, which came in winless. Eli Manning was sacked seven times and hit numerous others, and the Giants were outgained 402-150.

"We have to play better," Manning said. "We have to have greater energy, greater enthusiasm, play better, better technique, decision making. There are some plays out there that we left on the field, and sometimes we just got flat-out beat. It's not a big surprise what we have to do to fix it. We just have to go out there and play better football."

That may have to start with the banged-up and patchwork offensive line, which has been almost completely ineffective so far. Starters David Baas and Chris Snee are out, leaving the relatively inexperienced Jim Cordle and James Brewer as their likely replacements.

Some rare Giants discord also surfaced during the week, with receiver Hakeem Nicks complaining about not being able to throw the ball to himself. Coughlin subsequently criticized him for the comment.

"Once you get to pointing the finger, you get that cancer in the locker room like that, it can fall apart easy," defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins said. "You can't do that. This is a team game. We come into every week, every game, as a team, we leave every game as a team. We win or lose as a team together."

Kansas City may also be benefiting from Reid's familiarity with his former NFC East foes. The Chiefs defeated Dallas in Week 2, and Reid won seven of the last nine matchups with the Giants while with the Eagles.

"There is no time to relax on what you have done, you just have to continue to build and get better," Reid told the team's official website. "We have so many things that we can get better at. ... It's crazy, and so, we are going to do that."

One of those areas is pass protection, which could be key with the Giants looking to get their usually vaunted pass rush going this week. New York, tied for last in the league with three sacks, will be facing a Kansas City club that's allowed Alex Smith to be sacked 10 times, among the most in the NFL.

The Chiefs haven't started 4-0 since opening with nine straight victories in 2003. The Giants last dropped their first four games during an 0-5 start to 1987.

New York has won four straight in the series and took the last meeting 27-16 at Arrowhead on Oct. 4, 2009.

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Preview: Bears (3-0) at Lions (2-1)

Date: September 29, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


While a typically opportunistic defense has paced the Chicago Bears' strong start, the Detroit Lions hope the recent injury to a key offensive starter won't prevent them from ending their recent struggles against their NFC North rival.

Looking for their first 4-0 start in seven years, the visiting Bears try to continue their success against the Lions on Sunday.

For the second time in four years, Chicago is undefeated through three games thanks to the ball-hawking approach of its defense. Major Wright returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown and Julius Peppers took a recovered fumble 42 yards for a score as the Bears forced five turnovers in a 40-23 win at Pittsburgh last Sunday.

Though the Bears are tied for 19th in scoring defense at 24.7 points per game and rank 25th in yards allowed at 383.0, they've scored three defensive touchdowns in the last two games while recovering six fumbles and intercepting five passes in 2013.

Since the start of the 2011 season, Chicago is 13-1 in games in which it's scored a defensive touchdown.

"That's what we do, we take the ball away," Peppers said. "We stress it in practice every day, and it carries over to the game ... we have to continue to do that on a weekly basis to continue to win, and I believe we'll be able to do that."

It's certainly been the case against Detroit (2-1), as Chicago has forced 27 turnovers while winning nine of 10 in the series. The Bears have recorded 14 takeaways while winning the last three matchups.

Chicago has won four of five at Ford Field, but improving to 4-0 for the first time since 2006 may not be easy after the teams' two 2012 meetings were decided by eight points.

Detroit can grab a share of the early division lead Sunday after earning its first-ever win at Washington last week, 27-20.

"The urgency is there for everybody to improve and to get the next win," coach Jim Schwartz said. "I'm certainly not downplaying the importance of any game, but we treat them all with respect and we want to win every single one.

"NFC North games mean an awful lot because No. 1, it's a chance for you to win the game, but No. 2, it's a chance to put a loss on one of your opponents without having somebody else have to help you do it. They're certainly important. I'm not up here to tell you it's not."

Lions running back Reggie Bush said he'll return from a knee injury that forced him to miss last week's game. He totaled 260 yards and a touchdown in the first two contests.

Bush's return could boost an already potent offense that ranks fourth in the NFL with 410.7 yards per game and sixth at 27.3 points a contest.

That unit, however, suffered a blow this week when it lost receiver Nate Burleson.

The veteran, who has a team-leading 19 receptions for 116 yards and made six catches against the Redskins, suffered a broken arm in a single-car accident early Tuesday when he reached over to keep two pizza boxes from falling off the front passenger seat.

"It's tough," said quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has thrown for 1,020 yards with six TDs and two interceptions. "He's been a big part of our team since he's been here."

The Lions may have to rely more on second-year receiver Ryan Broyles, who made three catches for 34 yards Sunday in his first game since suffering a season-ending knee injury in December. Broyles had three catches for 51 yards and a touchdown in Detroit's 13-7 loss at Chicago on Oct. 22.

Burleson's absence likely means more defensive attention on Calvin Johnson, who has 13 receptions for 231 yards and three TDs in the past two games.

Johnson would likely be covered by star cornerback Charles Tillman, but Tillman is hampered by knee and groin issues that sidelined him late last week and is listed as questionable.

Those injuries could prove significant, as Tillman has helped limit Johnson to 15 catches, no TDs and an average of 62.3 yards in the teams' last three meetings.

The Bears announced Monday that starting defensive tackle Henry Melton will undergo season-ending knee surgery.

Jay Cutler turned in an efficient performance against the Steelers, going 20 of 30 for 159 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. His 67.3 completion percentage and 94.2 passer rating are career highs and he's been sacked only three times this season, though two of those came last week.

He's posted a 108.8 rating while throwing seven touchdowns and no interceptions to go 3-1 at Detroit since joining the Bears.

Teammate Matt Forte rushed 46 times for 219 yards and a TD in the last two games at Ford Field.

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Preview: Steelers (0-3) at Vikings (0-3)

Date: September 29, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


Since the NFL adopted a 16-game regular-season schedule 35 years ago, less than 4 percent of teams that lost their first three games have qualified for the playoffs.

Neither the Pittsburgh Steelers nor the Minnesota Vikings expected to be in that position heading into Week 4, but each is hoping a trip overseas for Sunday's matchup in London will help right the ship.

Things haven't gone well stateside for either club. Both remained winless last Sunday, when Pittsburgh committed five turnovers in a 40-23 loss to Chicago while Minnesota fell 31-27 at home to previously winless Cleveland.

Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder suffered a fractured rib in that defeat, and the team announced Friday that Matt Cassel will start in his place.

No team has made the playoffs after an 0-3 start since Buffalo in 1998, and only five of the 161 clubs to lose three straight to open a season since 1978 have reached the postseason.

Only San Diego in 1992 began a season 0-4 and still made the playoffs.

The Steelers haven't begun this poorly since starting 0-3 in 2000, and coach Mike Tomlin realizes his team has plenty of room to improve.

While Minnesota made the trip to London early in the week, Tomlin chose to keep his team in Pittsburgh until Thursday evening.

"I value normalcy in the early portions of the week from a preparation standpoint and from a practice standpoint - use of our facilities, the comforts of home if you will," Tomlin said. "It's purely a business trip for me personally. This is just a road game for us. We are happy to represent the NFL in international play, but in terms of what it is that we are doing, our level of focus and the things that we need to do in preparation and in play, it's just a road game for us."

Minnesota has dropped its first three games for the second time in three seasons, but Adrian Peterson said the team isn't about to quit after winning its last four games of 2012 to get into the playoffs.

Peterson ran for a 78-yard touchdown on his first carry of the season, but he's since averaged just 2.9 yards per rush.

"I feel like we have a mature bunch here," said Peterson, who ran for 88 yards and a touchdown last week. "We've just got to stay confident. Stay confident and keep swinging, but swinging a lot better. I feel like we will approach it with that mindset and attitude, and we'll be OK."

Peterson could certainly benefit from Cassel providing more support than Ponder, who ranks 30th in the league with a 65.9 passer rating.

With coach Leslie Frazier saying it was "too risky to put (Ponder) out there to take a hit," Cassel gets his first start in a Vikings uniform.

The nine-year veteran had a league-worst 66.7 passer rating last season as he played nine games for Kansas City, throwing for six touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

"I've been preparing for this and I feel like I'm ready to go," Cassel said. "I feel comfortable with this offense. I'm excited about it. That's what you prepare for as a backup."

Fellow 31-year-old quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was solid at times last week for Pittsburgh, but he also threw two interceptions and lost a pair of fumbles that each led to Chicago touchdowns.

The Steelers still racked up 459 yards of total offense - their most in a game since 2009 - after totaling 472 in their first two contests. Antonio Brown caught nine passes for a career-best 196 yards and both of Roethlisberger's touchdown throws.

Roethlisberger finished 26 of 41 for 406 yards, but his turnovers played a huge role in Pittsburgh now being on the verge of its first 0-4 start since 1968.

"I expect Ben to be better, Ben expects himself to be better," Tomlin said. "We'll continue to work to do that."

The Steelers are the only team in the league yet to register a takeaway, and their minus-9 turnover margin is tied with the New York Giants for worst in the league.

Minnesota is second behind the Giants with 10 giveaways, committing at least three turnovers in each contest.

"You can't turn the ball over at the rate that we're turning it over and expect to win, unless you're so superior to your opponents," Frazier said. "And we're not."

Minnesota ranks 21st in run defense, allowing 114.0 yards per game, and could see an improved ground game from Pittsburgh - which averages an AFC-worst 51.7 yards rushing - as rookie running back Le'Veon Bell is expected to make his debut.

The second-round pick from Michigan State hasn't played since suffering a sprained foot in a preseason game against Washington on Aug. 19.

The Steelers limited Peterson to 69 yards on 18 carries in a 27-17 home win Oct. 25, 2009, in the most recent meeting.

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Preview: Cardinals (1-2) at Buccaneers (0-3)

Date: September 29, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


One day after another lackluster offensive performance contributed to his team dropping to 0-3, Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano gave a strong vote of confidence to struggling quarterback Josh Freeman.

"Josh is our starter," Schiano said Monday.

It didn't take long for him to change his mind.

Rookie Mike Glennon will make his first start Sunday as the Bucs host the Arizona Cardinals, who have been hit hard by a rash of injuries.

Freeman, selected with the 17th overall pick in 2009, had been Tampa Bay's quarterback since making his first start in the eighth game of his rookie season after the team got off to an 0-7 start. He threw for career highs of 4,065 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2012 as the Buccaneers set a franchise record with 389 points.

His struggles this season, though, have contributed to the team's worst start since Freeman was given the job. He finished 19 of 41 for 236 yards and an interception in last week's 23-3 loss to New England, and he's completed an NFL-low 45.7 percent of his passes for two touchdowns and three picks with a league-worst 59.3 passer rating.

The Bucs' three offensive touchdowns are tied with Jacksonville for fewest in the league, and Schiano said he met with ownership Tuesday to discuss the possible change. He informed Freeman and Glennon before meeting with the entire team Wednesday.

"Any time you work hard with somebody, it's a tough decision," Schiano said. "We feel Mike gives us the best chance to win on Sunday."

There's been some friction off the field with Freeman, who is in the final year of his contract. He claims to have overslept for a team photo Labor Day, then wasn't elected a team captain by his teammates days later for the first time since his rookie year.

Though Schiano denied a report he rigged the voting process, he's now set to take away Freeman's starting job. Glennon was drafted in the third round and was the third quarterback selected behind Buffalo's EJ Manuel and the New York Jets' Geno Smith.

"We felt, at this time, Mike Glennon gives us the best chance to win," Schiano said. "We believe this was the best thing to do for our football team."

Schiano wants Glennon to start this game in order to give the club two weeks to evaluate his performance before facing Philadelphia on Oct. 13. The Bucs have a bye next week, but he said that wasn't the main reason behind making the decision now.

Glennon, who backed up Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson at North Carolina State before throwing for 62 touchdowns over his junior and senior seasons, will be tasked with helping improve an offense that ranks 29th in the league with an average of 282.0 yards per game.

"Mike is a smart, tough football player who loves the game," Schiano said. "He's not going to be perfect, but he's going to do his best to do what the coaching staff tells him to do."

No matter the team's struggles, safety Mark Barron doesn't believe the Bucs have lost confidence.

"To be 0-3, it bothers me a little bit, but I'm fine. We'll bounce back as a team," said Barron, who had an interception last week. "We just have to put it all together. As long as we come out and execute and everybody's on the same page, then we have the players to make whatever play needs to be made. We believe in the scheme, so we've just got to come out and execute."

Leading receiver Vincent Jackson is dealing with a rib injury and will be monitored throughout the week to determine his status, but Arizona (1-2) is dealing with much more significant setbacks after falling 31-7 to New Orleans last Sunday.

It played without nose tackle Dan Williams after his father was killed in a car wreck on his way to the game, then three linebackers were lost for the season after suffering injuries. Sam Acho broke his leg, Lorenzo Alexander has a foot injury and rookie Alex Okafor suffered a torn biceps.

Adding to the list, safety Rashad Johnson lost the tip of his left middle finger and missed the second half before having surgery, though there's a chance he could play this week.

Darnell Dockett, who had three sacks to double his total from last season, said the team needs to remain positive.

"The only bad thing is we can't go 15-1," Dockett said. "A lot of football left. No one should feel sorry for themselves. Sometimes it takes a good loss like this to re-evaluate yourself."

The Cardinals started well last week as Alfonso Smith's TD run capped an 11-play drive that gained 75 yards, but they had only 172 yards of total offense after that. Arizona punted eight straight times following its initial drive before Carson Palmer was intercepted on its final two possessions.

Palmer's 72.3 passer rating is 26th in the NFL, and he's thrown three touchdowns and four picks for a Cardinals offense that ranks 23rd with an average of 328.3 yards per game.

"We did too many things to shoot ourselves in the foot," guard Daryn Colledge said. "You can't play football like that on the road."

Larry Fitzgerald, who had five catches for 64 yards last week, caught two touchdown passes in the last meeting with Tampa Bay, but Freeman threw for 278 yards and a score in the Bucs' 38-35 road win Oct. 31, 2010.

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Preview: Colts (2-1) at Jaguars (0-3)

Date: September 29, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


Perhaps viewed as a pass-first team last season, the Indianapolis Colts might be on their way to transitioning to a wholly different approach in 2013.

A power run game and dominant play up front lifted the Colts to an impressive victory last week, and that could prove to be a winning formula again Sunday against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars.

Indianapolis (2-1) acquired running back Trent Richardson from Cleveland earlier in the week and wasted no time employing a style that many observers thought it wasn't capable of playing. Facing a big and physical San Francisco team, the Colts outplayed the 49ers in the trenches and wore them down en route to a 27-7 road victory Sunday.

Richardson scored a touchdown on his first carry and finished with 35 yards on 13 attempts, while starter Ahmad Bradshaw led the way with a season-high 95 yards and a score on 19 rushes.

Richardson could see a significantly bigger workload this week with Bradshaw having been ruled out due to a neck injury.

It was Bradshaw who keyed Indianapolis topping the 100-yard rushing mark in every week this season, including 179 against the 49ers. The Colts rank fourth in the NFL with 146.3 rushing yards per game.

"I think that was a definite step in the right direction," left tackle Anthony Castonzo said. "A lot of that has to do with the fact that we just have backs that are fun to block for."

The effective ground attack has certainly made things easier on Andrew Luck, who went 18 of 27 for a career-low 164 yards Sunday but ran for a score for the second time in three weeks. Luck threw for 4,374 yards as a rookie last season, when Indianapolis averaged 104.4 yards on the ground, but he's passed for fewer than 200 yards in two of the first three games -both wins.

Indianapolis was equally impressive on the defensive side of the ball, sacking the mobile Colin Kaepernick three times, intercepting him once and keeping him off the scoreboard. The Colts limited San Francisco to 254 yards.

"It was as complete a game as I think we've played since we've been here,' coach Chuck Pagano said.

Indianapolis needs one more victory for its best start since winning its first 14 games in 2009, and its powerful ground attack should give it a good chance to achieve that this week.

Jacksonville (0-3) gave up 156 rushing yards in a 45-17 loss at Seattle on Sunday and has the worst run defense in the NFL at 167.7 allowed yards per game. The defeat was the franchise-worst eighth overall for the Jaguars, who have allowed 29.1 points per game while dropping 15 of 16.

"It's a pretty clear picture,' coach Gus Bradley said. "But I don't want to say that in regards to saying, 'OK, we're three years away (from contending).' That's not how we think. We're just trying to get these guys to play at their highest level."

Bradley's team ranks last in the league in total offense with 230.3 yards a contest, though the Jaguars are hoping to benefit from the return of quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

He'll start for the first time since slicing open the back of his throwing hand in a season-opening loss to Kansas City. Gabbert went 18 of 31 for 209 yards and an interception before leaving with a shoulder injury in a 27-10 home loss to the Colts on Nov. 8, the teams' last meeting.

Cecil Shorts, who had a touchdown catch in both matchups with the Colts last season, has been one of Jacksonville's few effective offensive weapons this year. He has 16 receptions for 236 yards with Chad Henne under center the past two contests.

"We are a very young team and we are still learning,' Shorts said. "We still have a lot of stuff to improve on and we'll hit it hard this week.'

The Jaguars would like to get star running back Maurice Jones-Drew going, but he's averaging a career-low 2.6 yards per carry while battling an ankle injury.

Jones-Drew, though, has had success against the Colts, rushing for an average of 153.3 yards with two touchdowns in his last three meetings. He sat out last year's loss in Jacksonville due to a foot injury.

Indianapolis ranks 26th in the league against the run at 129.0 yards a game.

Luck wasn't at his best as the Colts and Jaguars split their two meetings last year, throwing for 540 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while posting a 55.6 completion percentage and 77.3 rating.

Bradshaw is far from Indianapolis' only injury concern. Safety LaRon Landry (ankle) and defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois (groin) also have been ruled out, though linebacker Pat Angerer (knee) and center Samson Satele (elbow) are listed as probable.

Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis will make his season debut after missing the first three games with a calf injury, but receivers Stephen Burton (concussion) and Mike Brown (back) won't play and neither will safety Dwight Lowery (concussion).

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Preview: Bengals (2-1) at Browns (1-2)

Date: September 29, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


Coach Marvin Lewis realizes he needs to keep his Cincinnati Bengals focused as they prepare to face the Cleveland Browns, who probably shouldn't be taken lightly after last week.

The visiting Bengals hope to avoid a letdown by beating the Browns for the eighth time in 10 meetings when the AFC North rivals meet in Cleveland on Sunday.

Cincinnati (2-1) became the first team in NFL history to lead by 14 points, then trail by 16, before rallying to win 34-30 over Green Bay on Sunday. It was also the first time in 14 years that a team won after allowing its opponent to score 30 consecutive points.

The Bengals know they now have to turn the page from the wild victory as they hit the road looking for a 2-0 start in the division.

"That's what the NFL is - a lead-in to the next game," Lewis told the team's official website. "This is all for nothing if we don't take care of business the next week and the next."

The Browns (1-2) appeared to be looking to next season with the stunning trade of running back Trent Richardson to Indianapolis and the appointment of third-stringer Brian Hoyer as their starting quarterback last week.

However, emerging star Jordan Cameron caught three touchdown passes, including the go-ahead grab in the back of the end zone with 51 seconds left, to give the Browns a 31-27 victory at Minnesota on Sunday.

It was their first win in six games.

"We got together last week after the news about Trent and we kind of came closer as a team," said Cameron, who has 20 receptions for a career-high 269 yards and four scores. "The team leaders talked to us about trusting this organization and where we're going as a team."

Hoyer overcame three interceptions to throw for a career-best 321 yards, going 30 for 54 with three touchdowns. The effort earned him his second straight start and first at home in place of Brandon Weeden, who is recovering from a sprained right thumb.

"It will be awesome,' said Hoyer, who makes his third start in five NFL seasons.

After serving a two-game suspension, Josh Gordon made an immediate impact in his debut with 10 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. The second-year wideout had three receptions for 99 yards and a score to help Cleveland beat visiting Cincinnati 34-24 on Oct. 14.

The Bengals committed four turnovers last week, but limited Green Bay to 13 points off them. They also sacked Aaron Rodgers four times, picked him off twice and scored the winning touchdown on Terence Newman's 58-yard fumble return with 3:47 left.

"Every time we take the field, we take it like we own it," defensive tackle Domata Peko said. "We stood firm as a defense. As long as we do that all season, we should have a chance to win a lot of games.'

Cincinnati, though, would like to clean things up offensively after committing seven giveaways in three games.

Andy Dalton threw his third interception of the season Sunday, though he went 20 of 28 for 235 yards with two touchdowns. The Browns intercepted him four times last year, but Dalton completed 71.4 percent of his attempts for 699 yards and six scores as the teams split the two meetings.

A.J. Green has 10 receptions for 87 yards and one score over the past two weeks after finishing with nine for 162 and two touchdowns in the opener. He's likely to face a difficult matchup in star cornerback Joe Haden, who has played a key role in helping limit Cleveland's opponents to 300.0 yards per game, sixth in the league.

Haden missed a 34-27 loss in Cincinnati last Sept. 16 while serving a four-game suspension for violating the league policy on performance-enhancing substances. He recorded an interception in the win at Cleveland.

"It doesn't matter who I go up against, I feel like everyone is going to try and get up for me," said Green, who had 14 catches for 193 yards and three scores versus the Browns last season. "I just go out there, play my game and we'll see what happens."

Although the Bengals have won seven of nine meetings, they've dropped two of their last three in Cleveland.

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Preview: Seahawks (3-0) at Texans (2-1)

Date: September 29, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has stressed the importance of defense from his first day on the job, and having the league's top-ranked unit has brought the franchise to within one victory of its first 4-0 start.

The Houston Texans hope to prevent that from happening on their home field Sunday, but they'll likely have to limit their mistakes against the Seahawks' ball-hawking defense.

Seattle is allowing an NFL-best 241.7 yards per game, and its 10 forced turnovers are tied for second-most. It has given up a league-low 27 points and had three takeaways in last week's 45-17 win over Jacksonville.

Carroll believes there's still room for improvement, though.

"I think it's a good start. Any way you can get to 3-0 that's darn good," Carroll said. "We have obvious areas we have talked about on offense, just to get out of our own way. I don't think we are there yet with being as precise as we will be. Defensively, we're off to a great start. I really like what is going on."

The Seahawks also had four sacks last week and created enough of a cushion to allow starters on both sides of the ball to rest for most of the second half. However, the 265 yards allowed didn't set well with everyone.

"We're disappointed," cornerback Richard Sherman said. "We didn't expect to give up that many yards, that many points. It feels good to get the win, but obviously we wanted to play better."

Backups played the entire fourth quarter when Jacksonville gained 107 yards and scored a touchdown, but safety Kam Chancellor said that's no excuse.

"I still don't feel that happy right now," Chancellor said. "I still think it's too many yards, and we hold ourselves to a higher standard. You can ask anybody that and they'll say the same thing, that's too many yards."

Carroll, though, has been pleased with the takeaways - a point of emphasis he'll continue to stress.

"It's how we want to play," Carroll said. "We want to play taking care of the football and we want to play getting after it. To us, it's the biggest factor that determines winning and losing. That's why it's the No. 1 emphasis in our program, and always will be."

Houston (2-1) boasts the league's second-ranked defensive unit that allows an average of 249.0 yards per game, but it has forced only one turnover while the offense has given up the ball four times.

Matt Schaub was intercepted on the team's first drive for the second time in last Sunday's 30-9 loss to Baltimore and had a pick returned for a touchdown for the second consecutive game.

The Texans also allowed an 82-yard punt return for a score and committed a franchise-record 14 penalties. Coach Gary Kubiak said those types of mishaps can't continue, especially against an opportunistic team like Seattle.

"I don't think we've played a good team game from start to finish," Kubiak said. "We've been inconsistent. We've turned the ball over. It's about consistency and finding a way to make plays.

"The biggest thing is if we're going to put ourselves in those situations, we're going to struggle."

Receiver Andre Johnson is easing his way back to practice after being forced out against the Ravens with a bruised shin. He also suffered a concussion in a 30-24 overtime win over Tennessee the week prior.

"All the X-rays are fine," Kubiak said. "It's just a matter of working him back through it, probably a day-to-day process."

Arian Foster rushed only 12 times for 54 yards last week while Schaub finished 25 of 35 for 194 yards. Houston had 264 total yards after averaging 450.5 over its first two games.

"Somehow we've got to get some consistency, get rid of those mistakes and play the type of football game we want to play," Kubiak said. "We've got to find a way to make some bigger plays than what we're making."

Seattle made plenty while getting out to a 31-0 lead last week. Russell Wilson finished 14 of 21 for 202 yards and four touchdowns in just 2 1/2 quarters, hitting Zach Miller and Sidney Rice for two scores apiece.

The Seahawks finished with 479 total yards after having 290 in a 29-3 win over San Francisco the previous week.

"I'm proud of the offense," Sherman said. "They scored a lot of points. That's what we needed. They needed that for confidence."

Schaub threw for 365 yards and hit Johnson, who finished with 11 catches for 193 yards, for two touchdowns in a 34-7 victory over Seattle in the most recent meeting Dec. 13, 2009.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Jets (2-1) at Titans (2-1)

Date: September 29, 2013 4:05 PM EDT


The New York Jets and Tennessee Titans are perhaps two of the NFL's most surprising teams thus far with 2-1 records.

But also being two of the league's most-penalized clubs, the more disciplined team could very well be the one to improve to 3-1.

New York travels to Nashville on Sunday in a game that features the AFC's leading rushers in Chris Johnson and Bilal Powell.

The Jets have been called for the most penalties, averaging 11.3 for 93.0 yards per game. They committed a franchise-record 20 in Sunday's 27-20 win over Buffalo, becoming the first winning team penalized that many times since the Browns were charged with 21 while beating the Bears in 1951.

Coach Rex Ryan has installed a policy he hopes will deter his team's trend. After each penalty in practice, 10 push-ups are performed - by everyone, including Ryan himself - except for the player who committed the infraction.

"I want him to notice who he's affecting," Ryan said. "He's affecting all of us. I think that's where it's like, 'Oh, OK.' After you've done a few of those, you're like, 'Really, you got a penalty again?' And they'll get on each other."

Tennessee was called for 10 penalties for 110 yards in just the first half of its 20-17 win against San Diego. It was part of the reason the Titans, whose 31 penalties called against them are tied for third-most, needed a 94-yard game-winning drive, capped by Jake Locker's 34-yard scoring pass to Justin Hunter with 15 seconds remaining.

"We're going to harp on them, we're going to talk about them, we're going to learn from them, we're going to learn how to be smarter," coach Mike Munchak said.

While the Titans relied on late-game dramatics, penalties hamstrung the Jets in what was otherwise a dominant performance against the Bills. They totaled 513 yards, their most since 524 in a 34-20 loss to Baltimore on Dec. 24, 2000. The defense registered eight sacks for the first time since 1988.

Powell recorded career bests with 27 carries for 149 yards, pushing his season total to 226. He totaled 25 rushes in the first two games, but Chris Ivory left Sunday's game with a hamstring injury and will not play against Tennessee, leaving Powell firmly entrenched as the team's No. 1 back.

Johnson has yet to find the end zone but his 256 yards lead the AFC. The New York defense will likely be particularly wary of Johnson's speed after his 94-yard touchdown run - the longest in the league last year - in a 14-10 home victory over the Jets on Dec. 17.

New York committed five turnovers in that contest, something they've been troubled by this season with eight, the NFL's fourth-most. Tennessee is the only team besides Kansas City yet to commit one, tying the second-longest streak to start a season since 1950. The 1995 St. Louis Rams didn't commit a turnover until their fifth game.

Quarterback Geno Smith is responsible for all but one giveaway with six interceptions and one lost fumble, though he showed signs of improvement versus Buffalo. He was 16 of 29 for 331 yards - the most by a Jets rookie - two touchdowns and two picks. He also wasn't sacked after being dropped nine times in his first two starts.

"His communication and level of expertise is just getting better," right guard Willie Colon said. "I think it's important for us to get him in a rhythm, keep his confidence high and sky's the limit."

New York owns the league's seventh-best unit against the pass, limiting opponents to 190.3 yards per game, though Locker has already seen two of the NFL's top-three passing defenses in Houston and Pittsburgh. Locker, however, also appears to have more uncertainty in terms of his playmakers, particularly wide receiver Kenny Britt.

Britt has been targeted 16 times but has caught only five passes for 43 yards and was called for two penalties while failing to record a reception versus San Diego. He is nursing a cracked rib and a sore neck from a hit in last week's win and is listed as questionable.

"He's like anybody else," Munchak said. "We need him to continue to play better just like as an offense we have to play better."

Tight end Delanie Walker also is listed as questionable, though he took part in about 75 percent of practice Friday and expects to play with another day of rest

Shonn Greene - who ran for 3,423 yards and 18 TDs the last four years for the Jets before signing with the Titans as a free agent - said he will not play after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery last week.

New York cornerback Dee Milliner, the No. 9 overall pick in this year's draft, also will sit out due to a hamstring injury suffered in practice this week.

The Jets had won five of the previous six meetings prior to last season.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Eagles (1-2) at Broncos (3-0)

Date: September 29, 2013 4:25 PM EDT


The best start of Peyton Manning's career has the Denver Broncos on the verge of team history.

The Broncos will be trying for a franchise-record 15th consecutive regular-season win Sunday when the Philadelphia Eagles come to town.

It would tie them for the ninth-longest streak all-time, still a ways back from the league-record of 23 that Manning helped Indianapolis set from 2008-09.

Denver's run of 14 in a row, dating to a loss at New England on Oct. 7, ties the franchise record set from 1997-98 during the team's two Super Bowl-winning seasons. Manning, a Colts rookie in 1998, didn't figure one way or the other into that streak, but his start this year has everything to do with potentially topping it.

"We get to play with one of the greatest quarterbacks and football players to ever play the game," tight end Julius Thomas said. "He's great. There's no other way to cut it up or slice it."

The future Hall of Famer has never opened a season with a three-game quarterback rating higher than his current one of 134.7, which leads the NFL. His previous best was 119.9 in 2004.

"It's a huge challenge," Eagles coach Chip Kelly said. "He's one of the all-time great quarterbacks in the history of the league, not just this season, he's done it for such a long time. He prides himself on his preparation. I think if you're a competitor, you're looking forward to it."

Kelly's club must face the league's best offense through three weeks. The Broncos (3-0) are putting up averages of 486.7 yards and 42.3 points, 10.3 better than second-best Green Bay.

Manning has a record 12 passing touchdowns through three games. He's gotten there without throwing an interception, which ties the record number of TD passes Eagles quarterback Michael Vick had in 2010 before his first pick. It took Vick eight games to get there.

Demaryius Thomas has a team-high 20 catches and 307 yards, while Julius Thomas and Wes Welker are one off the league lead with four touchdown catches apiece. Eric Decker has 17 receptions in his last two games, including eight for 133 yards and a score in a 37-21 win over Oakland on Monday night.

"I don't have a great comparison to other years, but guys are making good plays in the passing game," Manning said. "We're doing a good job getting yards after the catch. That makes a big difference. ... Those are the kind of plays that really help get the drives going."

The Eagles (26.3) might not be scoring as much as the Broncos, but they're certainly moving the ball and are second in the league with an average of 461.7 yards.

They have the league's top rushing offense with 627 yards. They're the only team this year to crack 500, and their 6.6 yards-per-carry average is 1.3 higher than any other team.

LeSean McCoy leads the league with 395 yards rushing while Vick is tied for 14th with 187 while averaging 10.4 per carry.

Those numbers might not matter if the Eagles (1-2) can't find a way to defend the pass against Manning. They're allowing an average of 323.0 yards through the air, worse than every team other than the Broncos (327.0), Washington and San Diego.

"Pass defense is everybody," Kelly said. "It's generating the pass rush, not letting the quarterback feel comfortable, being close in coverage. It's a combination of all those things."

Vick's first two games this year were promising, helping Kelly to his first NFL win in Week 1 against Washington before losing a shootout with Philip Rivers in Week 2 at home against San Diego.

He hit a snag in a 26-16 home loss to Kansas City last Thursday, completing 13 of 30 attempts for 201 yards and a touchdown with his first two interceptions of the year.

The Broncos' defense, though, showed some holes against a far less proven quarterback in Week 3, yielding 281 yards and a touchdown on 28 attempts by Oakland's Terrelle Pryor.

"We probably played a little bit loose," cornerback Chris Harris said. "I'm not giving excuses. They made plays. A lot of things happened when he scrambled. We have another scrambling quarterback this week. That's something we need to improve on."

It's been good enough for the Broncos to record their best start since 2009.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Redskins (0-3) at Raiders (1-2)

Date: September 29, 2013 4:25 PM EDT


Although at least one teammate feels Robert Griffin III has yet to return to his elite form, the Washington Redskins have reason to believe they can recover from the franchise's worst start in 12 years.

Perhaps a matchup with a banged-up Oakland Raiders team is what they need to begin that turnaround.

The visiting Redskins try again for their first win Sunday when they face an Oakland team that could be without starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

While Griffin displayed a little bit more running ability last week, he lost a fumble on an awkward dive at the end of a 21-yard scramble in the fourth quarter of a 27-20 loss to Detroit. His fifth turnover of the season proved to be a key play in the Lions' first win in 22 trips to Washington.

Griffin ran the ball a season-high six times for 37 yards but also had a career-high 50 pass attempts, failing to throw for a touchdown despite posting his third straight 300-yard game. He's averaging 46.3 pass attempts, more than Matthew Stafford's NFL record of 45.4 set last year, largely because Washington (0-3) has been outscored 67-21 in the first half.

The Redskins, though, still believe they can bounce back, as they did last season by rallying from a 3-6 start with seven straight victories to win the NFC East.

"I don't think this team has lost its sense of confidence," Griffin said. "We know how close we are. We know we can turn it around and we're built to get out of this hole, just like we were last year."

However, that was before Griffin suffered a serious knee injury in a playoff loss to Seattle. Griffin has come back this season to complete 63.3 percent of his passes for 975 yards with five touchdowns, but he also has four interceptions and has run for 4.1 yards per carry after averaging 6.8 in 2012.

While the quarterback insists he's healthy after his rehab from offseason knee surgery, wideout Pierre Garcon feels Griffin has yet to regain the form that earned him NFL offensive rookie of the year honors last season.

"He's not fully healthy, obviously," said Garcon, who has team highs of 23 catches and 280 yards. "He's running a little bit more, but last year's RG3 was a lot different than this year's RG because of his knee. It's not surprising - we've been talking about it the whole offseason. ... I don't think he's 100 percent, but he's definitely giving 100 percent effort to get 100 percent."

Griffin will try to help Washington end its worst start since opening 0-5 in 2001 while facing an Oakland defense that allowed 536 total yards in Monday's 37-21 loss at Denver.

The Raiders (1-2) have injury concerns on both sides of the ball. Safety Tyvon Branch remains out with an ankle injury and cornerback Tracy Porter returned to practice Wednesday after sustaining a concussion.

Oakland could be without Pryor, who was knocked out of Monday's contest in the fourth quarter after a hard hit to the helmet. He was approved for full contact Friday and split reps in practice with Matt Flynn, who would make his third career start and first as a Raider if Pryor can't go.

Coach Dennis Allen said Pryor is making "a lot of progress" and passed all the concussion protocol tests required by the NFL, but the team wants him to take one more test Saturday.

"It's not something we have to do," Allen said. "It's something we want to do."

Pryor, who beat out Flynn for the starting job in the preseason, has competed 53 of 81 passes for 624 yards with touchdowns and two interceptions. His biggest weapon, however, might be his legs, having rushed for 198 yards to rank fourth in the AFC among all players.

Flynn isn't nearly as mobile, part of the reason why he ended up the backup. He's connected on 55 of 81 passes for 731 yards with nine touchdowns and two picks in two career starts - both while with Green Bay.

"It's a few tweaks here and there really," offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. "Obviously you'll be able to add the option of some of the things we're doing with Terrelle in the run game. But to be honest with you, since Terrelle has taken over, we've done some of those things when Matt has gotten in and taken some of the few reps that he has. He's done some of those things and he's comfortable with that. He's obviously not the athlete that Terrelle is but as far as knowing when to pull the ball and when to hand it off, he's good at that."

Regardless of who gets the start, Oakland has to feel confident about moving the ball against a Redskins team that has allowed a league-high 488.0 yards per game.

"Too many mistakes, poor tackling, blown assignments on defense," linebacker Bryan Kehl said.

Washington's Fred Davis is questionable with a high ankle sprain, while fellow tight end Jordan Reed is day-to-day with a quad contusion.

The Redskins have won their last two trips to Oakland, including 34-13 in 2009 in the most recent meeting.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cowboys (2-1) at Chargers (1-2)

Date: September 29, 2013 4:25 PM EDT


The only game the Dallas Cowboys lost is the only one in which Anthony Spencer played. That sure doesn't mean they wish it was his last of 2013.

Unfortunately for the Cowboys, that's exactly the case. Then again, their DeMarcus Ware-led pass rush is a big reason they are the lone NFC East team above .500 heading into Sunday's road game against the San Diego Chargers.

Spencer's 11 sacks last season ranked second on the team to Ware's 11 1/2, leading to Dallas putting the franchise tag on the defensive end for a second straight season. A free-agent-to-be making $10.6 million this year, Spencer was put on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday because he needs another surgery on his left knee after getting one in July.

"He's a heck of a football player, and he's a guy that we will sorely miss," coach Jason Garrett told the team's official website. "He's been a great leader for our football team. He was a really productive player, a guy that people on our team, players and coaches, look to as an example of how we want to do things."

Spencer's only appearance this season was a two-tackle, zero-sack day in a 17-16 loss at Kansas City in Week 2. Ware had two sacks in that game and two more last Sunday as Dallas bounced back with a 31-7 home victory over St. Louis.

The Cowboys (2-1) totaled six sacks of Sam Bradford, who hadn't been sacked once in the Rams' first two games, to give them an NFC-leading 11.

Ware moved one past Harvey Martin's 30-year-old franchise record with his 115th sack.

"I can't say that it is unexpected because of how hard he works, and his talent level, and his competitiveness," owner Jerry Jones said.

While Ware's four sacks lead the team, defensive tackle Jason Hatcher has one in every game and former seventh-round pick George Selvie - starting in Spencer's place - has a pair.

That defensive line also has played well against the run, allowing an NFC-low 66.3 yards per game. That group has helped limit the Cowboys' last two opponents to an average of 262.5 total yards.

Dallas, seeking its best start since 2008, got its own ground game untracked last week as DeMarco Murray rushed for 175 yards and a touchdown. It was his first 100-yard game since the 2012 season opener.

"When you get a runner like that going, you can feed on him," Garrett said. "He gets a little contagious for everybody. Everybody starts feeling it."

Tony Romo will feel a lot less pressure if Murray keeps performing that way. His 24 pass attempts and 17 completions were his fewest since 2011, throwing for three touchdowns and no interceptions.

San Diego's Philip Rivers also had just 24 attempts last Sunday, completing 20, but only four in the fourth quarter as San Diego again wasted a late lead and lost 20-17 at Tennessee.

The Chargers (1-2) have blown fourth-quarter leads in all of their games. The only win came in Week 2, 33-30 in Philadelphia as Rivers threw for a career-high 419 yards. He's thrown for less than 200 in each of their losses.

"We have to build off the good things, but really clean up the mistakes as soon as possible," first-year Chargers coach Mike McCoy said. "... You see a lot of players making a lot of plays, doing their jobs the right way and then there is one little breakdown somewhere or another."

Rivers, who has eight touchdown passes to one interception, has been sacked five times after being dropped an AFC-high 49 times last year. However, the Dallas defense may be the biggest test yet to San Diego's offensive line.

Leading rusher Ryan Mathews has not topped 75 yards on the ground, going 17 straight games without reaching 100.

These teams last met in 2009 at Dallas, with the Chargers winning 20-17 as Rivers threw for 272 yards and a touchdown to Antonio Gates.

While the tight end has 13 catches for 179 yards and a score over the past two weeks, Eddie Royal leads the NFL with five TD catches but had none last week as he finished with a season-low two receptions.

Fellow wideout Malcom Floyd sat out with a neck injury and is unlikely to return this week. Right tackle D.J. Fluker (concussion) also missed last week's game and linebacker Donald Butler (groin) was limited.

Fluker practiced Wednesday and Butler and Manti Te'o practiced Thursday, putting them on track to start. Te'o hasn't played since injuring his right foot in the preseason opener Aug. 8.

Dallas will be missing wideout Miles Austin due to a hamstring injury.

The Chargers will play with heavy hearts after this week's news of the suicide of Paul Oliver, who played safety for San Diego from 2007-11.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Patriots (3-0) at Falcons (1-2)

Date: September 29, 2013 8:30 PM EDT


The New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons aren't looking like the offensive machines some might have expected them to be.

Both teams are dealing with significant injuries on offense and red-zone issues, but one is still finding a way to win as they get set to meet Sunday night in Atlanta.

The 3-0 Patriots, a season after averaging a league-high 34.8 points per game, are one of 11 NFL teams averaging under 20 at 19.7. The other 10 have a combined record of 7-23, and the 2-1 Jets are the only other team in the group with a winning record.

"I feel good. 3-0. You can't ask for anything better," defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said. "We know our offense, sooner or later, they're going to start clicking."

It's going to be hard for it to get any worse inside the opponent's 20-yard line, where the Patriots are last in red-zone performance.

"Just poor execution," quarterback Tom Brady said. "I've been one of the main culprits."

There could be a turnaround coming if tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Danny Amendola play this week, though both are listed as questionable.

So far this year, the receiving duties have been filled by Julian Edelman's league high-tying 27 catches and rookies Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson. Despite a pair of touchdown catches from Thompkins and seven receptions from Dobson in last Sunday's 23-3 win over Tampa Bay, cohesiveness with Brady has been lacking at times.

Brady has completed 57.5 percent of his passes, his worst three-game mark to open a season since 2006 (53.3), and he's hanging it all on himself.

"I think throwing an interception right to a strong safety last week doesn't help, especially (when) two plays before I had a wide-open guy," Brady said. "I think plays like that are more the problem. I have to do a good job finding the open guys, guys that are running free and then hit them. That will help our red-zone offense more than anything."

The Patriots have managed to overcome the shaky offense by allowing 34 points. The 11.3 points-against average is tied for second with Kansas City and behind only Seattle's 9.0.

They are one of 10 teams to hold their first three opponents under 1,000 yards and have allowed an average of 188.3 yards in the air. New England is second in the AFC in takeaways while cornerback Aqib Talib leads the NFL with three interceptions.

Matt Ryan and the Falcons (1-2), though, should provide a significantly greater test than rookies EJ Manuel and Geno Smith and the recently benched Josh Freeman.

Atlanta's 23.7 points per game isn't a huge departure from last year's 26.2, but coach Mike Smith wasn't at all happy about the way things went down in his team's 27-23 loss to Miami last Sunday.

"We did not play very good situational football. We're talking about red zone, two minute and third downs," Smith said. "We gave up 10 points in two-minute situations - a field goal at the end of the half, and seven points at the end of the game.

"We weren't as efficient as we needed to be on third down; they were 7 of 12. We were 0 for 3 (defensively) in the red zone. We were only 2 for 5 in (offensive) red-zone efficiency so you can just do the math."

Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones leads the NFL with 373 receiving yards and is tied with Edelman for the league high in receptions, but he's questionable with a knee injury.

So is fellow receiver Roddy White, who has just seven catches for 56 yards and has been dealing with an ankle injury.

"We've got to do a lot more on offense," White said. "In the red zone, score touchdowns not kick field goals, and we'll be fine. We've got to find a way to find the end zone."

Falcons running back Steven Jackson will miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury. Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling are expected to again carry the load after combining for 139 rushing yards last week.

Atlanta cornerback Asante Samuel is questionable with a sore thigh.

Brady is 3-0 against the Falcons, including a 26-10 home win over Ryan in the last meeting in 2009.

[StarDust Bum]

Las Vegas Sharps Report- NFL Week 4

Sharps continue to struggle this year with many of their biggest bets. Some of the game-day moves last week did come through, like Detroit (+) at Washington and Baltimore (+) vs. Houston. But, Sharp support for the NY Giants at Carolina was particularly unfounded, as was their support for Pittsburgh (+) over Chicago in the prime time game.

We can’t fully anticipate game day moves here in our Friday article. We can tell you what the Sharps have been doing so far in the markets, and we can report the rumblings we’re hearing about game day possibilities. Just be aware that many syndicates are struggling out of the gate this year.

Games are presented in rotation order (Green Bay and Carolina have byes this week, so there are only 14 games Sunday and Monday)

PITTSBURGH VS. MINNESOTA (in London):
Sharps have been betting Pittsburgh through the week as it looked more and more unlikely that Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder was going to available. The Steelers are now -3 after being lower than that all week. If Ponder plays, his mobility will be hurt by his injured ribs. Matt Cassel is the backup. Sharps think that a rusty QB with a struggling offense will have trouble scoring in London against the Pittsburgh defense. Were Ponder’s status to change significantly between now and kickoff, Vikings money would come in, particularly at the key number of three.

BALTIMORE AT BUFFALO:
Baltimore opened at -3.5 in most places. That’s been coming down with news that C.J. Spiller of the Bills is expected to play this week after suffering a minor thigh injury against the Jets. Baltimore would be -3.5 or possibly -4 were Spiller not able to go. If he plays at anything near full strength, the market believes three is the right number. Sharps may even back Buffalo strong at +3, possibly driving the line lower before kickoff. The Bills are 2-0 ATS at home, and Baltimore’s stats vs. Houston last week weren’t as impressive as the final score might have suggested.

CINCINNATI AT CLEVELAND:
Sharp money has been coming in on the Browns at +5 or higher given their impressive showing with Brian Hoyer last week at Minnesota. Support has continued at +4.5. Stores moving to Cincinnati -4 are seeing some Bengals money start to come in. There’s usually not a major tug-of-war at non-critical numbers.

INDIANAPOLIS AT JACKSONVILLE:
We have a game here in the teaser window, which means lines will vary depending on how each individual store prefers to deal with teasers. Indianapolis at -7.5, -8 or -8.5 would be a popular choice in two-team teasers that move the line six points. That’s why you’re seeing some -9’s out there. Some places would rather let bettors have Jacksonville +9 than Indianapolis -2 in teasers. Sharps are taking the Jags at +9.5 or +9, and would be looking to invest in Indy in teasers rather than straight bets at the numbers between 7 and 9.

SEATTLE AT HOUSTON:
Looks like we’re set up for a classic tug-of-war here, with Sharps liking Seattle -2.5 and Houston +3. We’ve mostly seen the solid three through the week. Whenever stores toy with dropping the number, Sharps hit the favorite at the cheap price. Maybe this will be one of the games that has a big Sunday morning move. For now, we’re looking at a tug-of-war at a key number.

ARIZONA AT TAMPA BAY:
The game opened at Tampa Bay -3 before news broke that quarterback Josh Freeman was benched in favor of backup Mike Glennon. Sharps bet the news…and some sportsbooks just dropped the number to -2.5 before anyone could bet! Note that there wasn’t a tug-of-war after the drop…meaning Sharps want no part of Tampa Bay -2.5. Sharps liking the dog will be taking Arizona +8.5 in two-team teasers or on the moneyline to win straight up rather than betting them +2.5 in most cases. Sharps were not impressed with Glennon during the Preseason.

CHICAGO AT DETROIT:
Another tug-of-war game, with Chicago +3 and Detroit -2.5 battling it out. Sharps have hit any -2.5 pretty hard, following up on the support they’ve been showing the Lions all season. Detroit received a lot of Sunday morning support in Washington last week, in a game they won by seven. Though Sharps gave a lot of that back when they faded Chicago with the Steelers in the prime time game.

NY GIANTS AT KANSAS CITY:
Kansas City -4 and -4.5 is out there as we go to press. The four is more prevalent as Sharps have been more aggressive about hitting Giants +4.5 than they have about hitting Chiefs -4. Many Sharps took a big hit last week when they drove the Giants all the way to near a field goal favorite at Carolina in the hours leading up to kickoff. Many are hesitant to get on that bandwagon again.

NY JETS AT TENNESSEE:
Sharps liked what they saw with Geno Smith’s strong arm last week in New York’s win over Buffalo. That led to strong Sharp support for the Jets at high opening numbers. Any place that opened Tennessee -5 or higher was hit with Jets money. New York continued drawing money at +4.5 and at +4. As we go to press, many stores (particularly in Las Vegas) are now down to NYJ +3.5. Tennessee money would obviously come in at -3 because it’s a key number that’s a few points away from an opener. Middle players couldn’t resist. The Jets are the Sharp side at +4 or more.

DALLAS AT SAN DIEGO:
Interesting price range here. We’re down in the teaser window where Sharps would like to bet the small dog up past the three and the seven. Sportsbooks know that, but can’t figure out how to avoid it! We’re seeing mostly Dallas -2 right now (which means San Diego would be +8 in teasers). If sportsbooks move Dallas to -3, Sharps would pound the home dog at the key number. If sportsbooks moved Dallas to -1, then they are likely to get very one-sided with public money on America's team on game day. A “pick your poison” spot for sportsbooks that will give them headaches all the way to a late afternoon kickoff.

WASHINGTON AT OAKLAND:
This line was delayed coming up on the board because of Terrelle Pryor’s concussion suffered Monday Night in Denver. It looks like Flynn will be in for the Raiders! On that news, Washington opened at -3 as a road favorite. Some places have toyed with -3.5 because the Redskins were getting hit on a limited basis at the key number. Sharps are generally unimpressed with the Redskins though, and made big money against them last week. Also, Sharps don’t see much of a Power Ratings difference between Pryor and Flynn, meaning dog lovers may step up to the plate before kickoff if the public drives the line higher. Not expected to be a high action game for Sharps because both teams are in “fade” categories at the moment (until Pryor is healthy and RGIII starts moving well again).

PHILADELPHIA AT DENVER:
This much talked about game should be a lot of fun to watch. Denver is getting a lot of respect in the markets right now, which is why they’re a double digit favorite against a team getting extra rest and preparation off a Thursday Night game. Denver would get pounded at -10. Philadelphia has been getting serious interest at +11. So, most stores are at Denver -10.5 as we go to press. Sharps would fade any public moves on the favorite before kickoff which could happen because this is a showcase game in the late afternoon TV window.

NEW ENGLAND AT ATLANTA:
Another headache game for sportsbooks, particularly since it’s in the primetime slot that everyone in the world will want to bet. Money would come in very strong on Atlanta -1 at home against a New England team that’s still trying to find its offensive form. New England +3 would get a lot of support because Tom Brady is so rarely a dog of that size, and because Atlanta’s defense has been bad against the pass in second halves this year. Any number between the 1 and the 3 sets up New England +7.5, +8, or +8.5 in two-team teasers. Sportsbooks will have to pick who they want to root for, and at what numbers.

MIAMI AT NEW ORLEANS (Monday Night):
Looks like this is shaping up as a tug-of-war between New Orleans -6.5 and Miami +7. The Saints were bet on the opener of -5.5, and again at -6, and to a lesser degree at -6.5. Any move to the full seven brought in Sharp money on the dog in fairly aggressive fashion. Sharps have been impressed with Miami based on their play thus far early in the season and are hoping that public interest in the Saints will allow for large limit bets on Miami at +7 or better before kickoff. We can report that some of the New Orleans betting on the opener was “position-taking” to set up middles near the TD rather than pure affection for the Saints at that price, so figure Miami as the Sharp side at anything above 6.5.
GLTA in the Den!!!