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Overview
Two veteran quarterbacks looking to prove they can take their respective teams to the next level face off in this game. Buffalo's QB Drew Bledsoe and Oakland's Rich Gannon will need to elevate their level of play working against some of the best corners in the league.
The Bills' two-headed monster of Travis Henry and Willis McGahee looks to take some pressure of Bledsoe by establishing an effective running game. Gannon will look to his talented offensive line to give him time to find the open receiver. The Raiders still have questions at receiver, but the unit has shown a penchant for making the big play when it counts. Now the question is can they do it consistently?
When the Bills have the ball
Rushing: Although McGahee played most of the fourth quarter in last week's game, don't expect him to replace Henry as the starter. Henry was forced to leave the game with cramps in his left leg and he should be fully recovered. That said, look for Buffalo to get McGahee more carries early on. Rotating McGahee in more steadily should prevent Henry from cramping up again.
Keeping Henry fresh so he has the burst to turn the corner should be important because the Bills will want to attack the perimeter of Oakland's run defense throughout this game. LOLB DeLawrence Grant and backup Akbar Gbaja-Biamila are two former defensive ends who are adjusting to playing outside linebacker and they have some problems making plays in space. In addition, consistently running outside will force a Raiders defensive line that has excellent size but lacks range to run from sideline to sideline, which should cause it to wear down late in the game.
Oakland's new 3-4 scheme could pose some problems for a Bills offensive line that has yet to jel. OC Trey Teague shows good burst off the ball but he lacks prototypical bulk. He will struggle to create a seam working against NT Ted Washington. While OGs Lawrence Smith and Chris Villarrial are quality run blockers, they lack the quickness to chip Washington before getting up to the second level. They also should have problems reaching the Raiders' inside linebackers as a result.
Passing: Buffalo head coach Mike Mularkey employs a ball-control offense predicated on a strong running game and a conservative passing attack. It's designed to take pressure of Bledsoe and allow him to get rid of the ball quicker. However, Bledsoe, who had just one completion for over 20 yards last week, has to take some chances downfield. If he doesn't, Oakland will stack the line of scrimmage with eight men and crowd the short-to-intermediate routes.
WR Eric Moulds will have some problems getting behind DC Charles Woodson, so Bledsoe should look for No. 3 Lee Evans when taking a shot in the vertical passing game. Evans is raw and he'll struggle to get open underneath working against veteran nickel back Denard Walker, but Walker isn't fast enough to run with him downfield.
With the Bills' running game forcing Oakland's safeties to play closer to the line of scrimmage and the Raiders' depth at corner, Bledsoe should look for TE Mark Campbell early and often. Campbell doesn't have ideal speed but he should have some success getting open working against SS Marques Anderson, especially off of play-action. Anderson has a history of getting caught out of position, and that flaw should only be amplified by the fact that he was acquired on Sept. 3 and is still relatively new to the system. In addition, Campbell runs with good power and should be productive after the catch, as Anderson is an inconsistent tackler.
When the Raiders have the ball
Rushing: Oakland will continue to pound the ball between the tackles with RB Tyrone Wheatley in an effort to stay balanced and keep Buffalo honest, but Wheatley shouldn't have much success working against the Bills. DTs Sam Adams and Pat Williams have the bulk to clog up the middle and Wheatley lacks the burst to consistently turn the corner.
Expect backup RB Justin Fargas to continue to get an ample amount of carries in relief as well. Although the Bills have the speed at linebacker to prevent the explosive Fargas from breaking some long runs, he will help keep Buffalo on its toes and Wheatley fresh late in the game.
Head coach Norv Turner is a former offensive coordinator who does an excellent job of keeping defenses off balance. One of the ways he and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye will keep the Bills guessing is to mix up the play calling on first and second down. If Buffalo doesn't know whether to expect run or pass, the front seven won't be nearly as aggressive. In addition, the Bills rotate Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney at left end because they like Kelsay's ability to defend the run and Denney's ability to rush the passer. Buffalo will have a harder time deciding who to put on the field if it can't anticipate what the Raiders are going to run.
Passing:
QB Rich Gannon, who threw to 11 different receivers last week, does an excellent job of spreading the ball around and he won't allow the Bills to focus on stopping one receiver. This approach should be effective because Oakland doesn't have much proven depth, but WRs Alvis Whitted, Doug Gabriel and Carlos Francis are all playmakers. If the veteran Gannon sees any one of them in a favorable single-coverage matchup, he will exploit it.
WRs Jerry Porter and Jerry Rice won't have as much success getting open working against DCs Nate Clements and Troy Vincent. Clements has the speed to run with Porter downfield and Vincent has the strength to prevent Rice from getting into his routes quickly. With that in mind TEs Doug Jolley and Teyo Johnson should play big roles. Both are quality receiving tight ends who have the size and athletic ability to make the most of any single-coverage matchups they get working against SS Coy Wire. Wire is playing for Lawyer Milloy, who is out with a broken forearm.
The Raiders' offensive line had some problems adjusting to Pittsburgh's blitz packages last week, and Buffalo defensive coordinator Jerry Gray will bring additional pressure at times. One of the players Gray sends will likely be SLB Jeff Posey, who shows good initial quickness and closing speed to the quarterback. Gannon must recognize the pressure, look for his "hot" read and get rid of the ball if it isn't there. He can't afford to repeat last week's two-interception performance in what should be another very close game.
Scouts' Edge
Both teams are coming off disappointing fourth-quarter losses, but look for the Raiders to be the ones who bounce back this week. The Raiders' offense will struggle to move the ball consistently working against a very stout Buffalo defense. However, Gannon will make enough big plays to put Oakland in a position to win late.
The Bills will look to establish their running game once again and they should have some success to the outside, but the Raiders will tighten up in the red zone and force Buffalo to settle for field goal attempts. In addition, the Bills will have problems making adjustments at the line with this game in Oakland, and look for some miscommunication to result in a penalty, incomplete pass or even a turnover.
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Overview
RB LaDainian Tomlinson could be the most dynamic player in the league, and he will force the Jets to alter their defensive game plan somewhat. Rather than playing four down linemen, the Jets will use more of a 3-4 look that gives athletic linebackers such as rookie ILB Jonathan Vilma a chance to shut Tomlinson down.
The approach should work, but it opens up the deeper routes for San Diego's receivers. Can QB Drew Brees take advantage? Meanwhile, New York's offense seems to be hitting on all cylinders and could be in for a big day against an inexperienced San Diego secondary. If QB Chad Pennington can get things going early, this game could get ugly.
When the Jets have the ball
Rushing:
RB Curtis Martin carried the Jets last week with 196 yards and a touchdown. Martin ripped off some long runs, and his presence between the tackles allowed offensive coordinator Paul Hackett to open things up in the passing game.
The most promising thing concerning Martin's performance from last week may have been the play of New York's offensive line. OC Kevin Mawae and LOT Jason Fabini did a great job of getting up to the second-level and should set the tone again this week working against an inexperienced Chargers' defensive line.
However, whereas the Bengals ran a 4-3 defense, the Chargers will lineup in a 3-4, which will change some things for the Jets up front. Instead of Mawae giving help to his guards, he'll need help from them, with NT Jamal Williams lining up across from him on 80 percent of plays. OGs Pete Kendall and Brandon Moore will work in tandem with Mawae. They'll have to do a good job getting out of their stances quickly if the Jets are to have success cutting the Chargers' speedy linebackers off on the second level.
Passing:
The Jets' passing game is one of the most efficient in the NFL and should only improve as QB Chad Pennington gains experience. Pennington is extremely accurate, and with big-play receivers in Justin McCareins and Santana Moss on the perimeter, he has become increasingly difficult to stop.
The key, however, to New York's aerial assault is the play-action package. Pennington is one of the best ball handlers in the league and does a great job of selling his fakes. In order for them to be truly effective, the running game will need to set the tempo. Once Martin gets going and the Chargers' safeties start cheating up into the box, look for Pennington to take a couple of shots downfield. Moss and McCareins both have great speed and can capitalize on any single coverage that they see.
DCs Sammy Davis and Quentin Jammer have big-time potential as a starting tandem, but they are both young and could become exposed if the Jets' running game forces them to play on an island. One or two big plays from the Jets' receivers could blow this game wide-open.
When the Chargers have the ball
Rushing: The Chargers' front-five lacks big names, but they did a decent job of establishing the line of scrimmage last week against the Texans, paving the way for Tomlinson's 121 rushing yards. Tomlinson is the focal point of San Diego's offense and likely will carry the ball 25-plus times against the Jets, as San Diego tries to control the clock and keep Pennington off the field.
Up front, the return of ROT Courtney Van Buren from injury helps to solidify things. However, San Diego's offensive line is only average at best, even when it's at full strength.
Defensively, the Jets' base-package is a 4-3, but coordinator Donnie Henderson has shown some 3-4 looks and likely will play more of the three-man front against the Chargers. In doing so, Henderson will have four athletic linebackers on the field with enough speed to keep Tomlinson from breaking the long run. OLBs Victor Hobson and Eric Barton and ILBs Sam Cowart and Jonathan Vilma represent the strength of the Jets' defense. That said they'll have to do a good job of wrapping up, as Tomlinson runs with good power and has the game-breaking speed to turn things around rather quickly.
Passing: The Chargers have to be pleased with the way QB Drew Brees played last week in San Diego's win over the Texans. The Chargers, much like the Jets, rely on the running game to kick start their passing attack. However, instead of seeing Brees in a straight-drop after his play fakes, keep an eye out for designed bootlegs that allow him to get out of the pocket and make half-field progression reads.
San Diego is doing this for two reasons. First, to help the offensive line in protection, as New York DEs Shaun Ellis and John Abraham have quick first steps and can be tough to handle. Second, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is trying to simplify things for Brees by cutting the field in half and rolling the QB out of the pocket.
In half-field passing, the reads are much easier, and Brees will be less likely to make a mistake. When Cameron does have Brees drop straight back, look for TE Antonio Gates to be his favorite target. Gates had a big coming out party last week (8 catches, 123 yards) and has the speed to stretch New York's defense down the seam.
Scouts' Edge
Both teams enter this game 1-0. While their records are even, their talent level is not. The Jets have playmakers on both sides of the ball and consistency along their offensive and defensive lines, while the Chargers feature a one-man show and a myriad of unproven players.
The emergence of TE Gates will give San Diego a nice complement to Tomlinson's explosiveness out of the backfield, but without any speed to speak of on the perimeter, the Jets shouldn't have too much trouble matching up.
On the flip side, if Martin and the running game get going, look for Pennington to strike deep for a couple of game-breaking plays. The Chargers may have escaped last week with a win, but not this time. The Jets are too good to lose this game.
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Overview
The Dolphins' injury-depleted and undersized front seven was exposed on the ground last week against the Titans. The Dolphins do match up well against the Bengals' passing attack because of the depth that they possess, with Patrick Surtain, Sam Madison, Reggie Howard and rookie Will Poole at cornerback. But in order to take advantage of that edge the Dolphins will have to gamble with a lot of eight-man fronts in order to bottle up Rudi Johnson and the Bengals' running game.
With QB A.J. Feeley the designated starter this week, the Dolphins may look to open things up offensively to attack the Bengals' undermanned secondary. If Feeley can distribute the ball around successfully early on, it could create a lot of room for RBs Lamar Gordon and Travis Minor against a run defense that had no answer for Jets' RB Curtis Martin last week. The big question, however, is whether the Dolphins have the playmakers on offense to keep up in what could be an uncharacteristically high-scoring affair for them.
When the Dolphins have the ball
Rushing:
By gaining just 65 yards on the ground this week, the Dolphins did nothing to discount the theory that their rushing attack will be dismal in 2004 without Ricky Williams. Gordon has the potential to be a solid between-the-tackles runner that can provide good production on first and second down and allow them to control the clock. But he still is so far behind in terms of his assignments that the team can only afford to use him in certain situations.
His role should be increased this week, but his timing and feel regarding his offensive line is still a work-in-progress and, no matter how accustomed he gets, he's still not the workhorse of versatile playmaker that Williams was for this unit. One problem that must improve is the poor execution by the offensive line, which contributed heavily to the team's 14 penalties and also made several mental mistakes.
The Bengals' defensive front seven is vulnerable against the run and struggled against the Jets on pulls, traps and sweep plays. Look for the Dolphins to run off-tackle, especially right at SLB Kevin Hardy. Running outside will help hide their lack of an inside run game, plus it's a better fit for their running backs' style. The key may be the blocking of the offensive line on the second level. If they have success running the ball, it will take pressure off Feeley.
Passing: The offensive philosophy of the Dolphins could make a big change with Feeley as the starter. Feeley is the athlete that Fiedler is, but he has a quicker release and makes better reads and decisions than Fiedler, allowing Miami to open things up more and to throw more often. The Bengals will try to take WR Chris Chambers out of the game with combo coverage and "man under, two deep" zones, and they will be more than happy to limit Feeley to completions to TE Randy McMichael and WR Marty Booker in a "bend-but-don't-break defense."
The Dolphins will go after Cincy's corners that seemed to struggle with indecision last week, particularly rookie Madieu Williams. The unit, as a whole looked, as if it could not decide whether to play press coverage or to sit back in off schemes. It gave up a lot of inside releases and slant routes against the Jets, and this week it needs to get a good shove in at the line of scrimmage with its corners and "feed" the receiver to their safeties. With a weak Dolphins running game, the safeties can get more involved in pass coverage. The Dolphins' best bet will be to counter with more three- and four-receiver sets to loosen up the defense into nickel and dime schemes, taking the Bengals deeper into their secondary than they want go.
When the Bengals have the ball
Rushing: The Bengals' run game will try to get jump-started after a lackluster performance against the Jets. Cincy's offensive line is big and physical and they are good pass blockers. But they are not great on the second level, and don't match up well in terms of quickness against the undersized but athletic Dolphins' front-seven.
RB Johnson is an excellent between-the-tackles power runner, and the key will be for him to get positive yardage on first and second down to avoid third-and-long situations, where the Dolphins can get nickel and dime packages into the game. As basic as it sounds, tackling will be a huge key in this game, as Johnson is especially effective in getting yards after contact. The Bengals will likely target RDE Jason Taylor to negate his ability to chase plays down and pursue from the backside. They also will isolate MLB Zach Thomas and try to wear him down by running right at him.
Passing:
QB Carson Palmer looks poised beyond his years, and his combination of arm strength, pocket mobility and good decision-making have ignited the Bengals' offense. He read his progressions well against the Jets and showed that he is not afraid to dump the ball off to his backs and tight ends rather than take a sack or force a throw.
The problem Palmer faces with the Dolphins' secondary is that Miami has four corners that can play man-to-man coverage, in Patrick Surtain, Sam Madison, Reggie Howard and rookie Will Poole. The Dolphins will try to play a lot of press schemes while they turn and run with the receivers and should be able to get away with no double-teaming, even Chad Johnson in most cases.
The key for the Bengals will be to run the ball effectively and force the Dolphins' safeties up into the box, negating their ability to help with the receivers. Titans QB Steve McNair completed only six passes to his wide receivers last week against Miami's corners so Palmer will have to be patient with dumpoffs and screens. Palmer must wait for the man-to-man matchup that he wants.
Scouts' Edge
Both defenses struggled to stop the run last week in disappointing losses. Neither team seems capable of taking advantage of the other's weakness, though Rudi Johnson could have a breakout game. As good as Palmer looks in the passing game, the strength of the Dolphins' defense is their man-to-man matchup ability in the secondary.
If these two things cancel each other out, this game could come down to Rudi Johnson and Feeley. Whichever player can make the most plays and avoid mistakes can deliver this game for their team. Considering Feeley's inexperience in the system, the safe bet is to go with Johnson and the Bengals.
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Overview
Everyone will be looking for some fireworks from the great pitch-and-catch duos of Donovan McNabb and WR Terrell Owens and QB Daunte Culpepper and WR Randy Moss, but both these teams have underrated running attacks that could ultimately decide the game's outcome.
Eagles RB Brian Westbrook does more overall for his offense, but Vikings RB Onterrio Smith has become a home-run threat against spread out fronts. Both teams have weaknesses when it comes to defending the run, which makes that facet of this game even more intriguing. Because of the matchup problems that Owens and Moss present, neither defense can afford to overload in run support. As a result, Monday night's winner should be decided by the running back that finishes with the most production.
When the Vikings have the ball
Rushing:
One key for the Vikings' run offense is to adjust to what the Eagles safeties – SS Michael Lewis and FS Brian Dawkins – are doing on defense. If the Vikings run the ball well early, the safeties will be forced to play run support in the box, creating opportunities in the passing game. If the Eagles try to shut down Moss by playing "man-under, two deep" schemes – or some type of combo coverage involving the safeties – the Vikings will come back and pound the ball with Smith between the tackles.
It is critical for the Eagles that their defensive tackle duo of Corey Simon and Darwin Walker get penetration at the line of scrimmage. The Eagles don't play a two-gap scheme up front defensively, but Simon and Walker can still protect their undersized linebackers by getting penetration and disrupting plays in the backfield, keeping potential blockers from reaching the second level. If Simon and Walker don't wreak havoc in the middle this week, Philly's linebackers will be constantly fighting through traffic and forced to make tackles two and three yards beyond the line of scrimmage. And that's a problem.
The Eagles must also make sure they contain Culpepper, a threat to tuck the ball and run against this one-gap, man-to-man defense. Philadelphia doesn't want its secondary playing with its back to the quarterback. The Eagles need for their defensive ends to play with great contain. Furthermore, the Eagles might also be forced to employ some "spy" schemes on Culpepper to make sure he is contained, especially on third and long situations.
Passing: When you think of the Vikings' passing game, two names immediately jump to mind: Culpepper and Moss. In reality, however, this offense is beginning to become much more multifaceted. Last week versus the Cowboys, Culpepper threw for 242 yards and completed passes to nine different receivers with four different players catching TD passes. Culpepper seems to have the best grasp of the offense that he's ever had. He is doing a much better job of reading defenses, making his progressions and finding favorable matchups to target.
The Eagles will play a lot of "fire zone" schemes with DCs Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard, but they may not challenge the Vikings' wide receivers at the line of scrimmage with press technique. Look for them to blitz more and play zone behind it. Culpepper would love to see aggressive man-to-man schemes by the Eagles' secondary, but he may have to be content with good pass protection and his receivers finding holes in the defense. There may not be a lot of big passing plays for the Vikings, but Culpepper will adjust to whatever he sees. With Moss likely to get the most attention, the heroes in the passing game for the Vikings could be WRs Marcus Robinson and Nate Burleson and TE Jermaine Wiggins.
When the Eagles have the ball
Rushing: Philadelphia's running back-by-committee is now a committee of one, Brian Westbrook. Westbrook rushed for 119 yards on just 17 carries against the Giants last week, which is not an uncomfortable workload. Westbrook looked surprisingly tough on inside runs and in short yardage situations, which bodes well versus a Vikings front seven that is improved but did not do a very good job in their disciplined gap-control scheme last week. The Eagles' offense is as smart as it gets and it consistently will exploit undisciplined schemes.
The loss of ROG Shaun Andrews really hurts the Eagles' offensive line, but it has proven that it is a group that will battle through the situation and overcome it. It is difficult to judge the Vikings' interior run defense because the Cowboys threw so often in their game that the top four tacklers for the Vikings last week were defensive backs. The Vikings have good speed in their defensive front seven, but MLB E.J. Henderson and WLB Dontarrious Thomas are young and inexperienced. If the Eagles offensive line can get to the second level they will have good success. The Vikings play sound and conservative schemes on defense with marginal blitzing, it should eliminate big plays by the Eagles' run offense.
Passing: The Eagles are going to spread the ball around in the passing game and try to get favorable matchups versus a Vikings defense that will play a lot of man-to-man coverage. The Vikings will not blitz a lot but will play more "man off" coverage, conceding the underneath routes and then punishing the receivers in front of them. It is a "bend-but-don't-break" concept that will test McNabb's patience, as he is not going to get a lot of single man-to-man matchups, especially against Owens.
If the Vikings do a good job on the perimeter, the best matchups for the Eagles to exploit might just be the ones against their running backs and tight ends over the middle. Westbrook is a good matchup for the Eagles on any of the Vikings' linebackers; Westbrook could line up in the slot on occasion. TE L.J. Smith is a good athletic matchup versus DSs Corey Chavous and Brian Russell. The Vikings will try to change their defensive fronts to confuse blocking schemes. It would not be shocking to see the Eagles come out with a spread offense and a "hurry up, no-huddle attack" to catch the Vikings in their base defense early. This could catch the defense by surprise, spread the defense and give McNabb more time to run.
Scouts' Edge
Both teams have a swagger after impressive Week 1 performances that debuted explosive offensive production. The Eagles should find good balance on offense and should be able to exploit the Vikings when they are forced to overcommit against Westbrook and the run.
The Vikings, however, are just a little bit more versatile on offense and the Eagles' porous run defense could lead to major problems on that side of the ball. Philadelphia is a tough place to play, but Culpepper has great confidence and has the ability to exploit a gambling defensive scheme like the Eagles'. Minnesota's offense looks like it has an answer for everything the Eagles' defense can throw at them, which is why we think they'll outscore Philly in its own backyard on Monday night.
Two veteran quarterbacks looking to prove they can take their respective teams to the next level face off in this game. Buffalo's QB Drew Bledsoe and Oakland's Rich Gannon will need to elevate their level of play working against some of the best corners in the league.
The Bills' two-headed monster of Travis Henry and Willis McGahee looks to take some pressure of Bledsoe by establishing an effective running game. Gannon will look to his talented offensive line to give him time to find the open receiver. The Raiders still have questions at receiver, but the unit has shown a penchant for making the big play when it counts. Now the question is can they do it consistently?
When the Bills have the ball
Rushing: Although McGahee played most of the fourth quarter in last week's game, don't expect him to replace Henry as the starter. Henry was forced to leave the game with cramps in his left leg and he should be fully recovered. That said, look for Buffalo to get McGahee more carries early on. Rotating McGahee in more steadily should prevent Henry from cramping up again.
Keeping Henry fresh so he has the burst to turn the corner should be important because the Bills will want to attack the perimeter of Oakland's run defense throughout this game. LOLB DeLawrence Grant and backup Akbar Gbaja-Biamila are two former defensive ends who are adjusting to playing outside linebacker and they have some problems making plays in space. In addition, consistently running outside will force a Raiders defensive line that has excellent size but lacks range to run from sideline to sideline, which should cause it to wear down late in the game.
Oakland's new 3-4 scheme could pose some problems for a Bills offensive line that has yet to jel. OC Trey Teague shows good burst off the ball but he lacks prototypical bulk. He will struggle to create a seam working against NT Ted Washington. While OGs Lawrence Smith and Chris Villarrial are quality run blockers, they lack the quickness to chip Washington before getting up to the second level. They also should have problems reaching the Raiders' inside linebackers as a result.
Passing: Buffalo head coach Mike Mularkey employs a ball-control offense predicated on a strong running game and a conservative passing attack. It's designed to take pressure of Bledsoe and allow him to get rid of the ball quicker. However, Bledsoe, who had just one completion for over 20 yards last week, has to take some chances downfield. If he doesn't, Oakland will stack the line of scrimmage with eight men and crowd the short-to-intermediate routes.
WR Eric Moulds will have some problems getting behind DC Charles Woodson, so Bledsoe should look for No. 3 Lee Evans when taking a shot in the vertical passing game. Evans is raw and he'll struggle to get open underneath working against veteran nickel back Denard Walker, but Walker isn't fast enough to run with him downfield.
With the Bills' running game forcing Oakland's safeties to play closer to the line of scrimmage and the Raiders' depth at corner, Bledsoe should look for TE Mark Campbell early and often. Campbell doesn't have ideal speed but he should have some success getting open working against SS Marques Anderson, especially off of play-action. Anderson has a history of getting caught out of position, and that flaw should only be amplified by the fact that he was acquired on Sept. 3 and is still relatively new to the system. In addition, Campbell runs with good power and should be productive after the catch, as Anderson is an inconsistent tackler.
When the Raiders have the ball
Rushing: Oakland will continue to pound the ball between the tackles with RB Tyrone Wheatley in an effort to stay balanced and keep Buffalo honest, but Wheatley shouldn't have much success working against the Bills. DTs Sam Adams and Pat Williams have the bulk to clog up the middle and Wheatley lacks the burst to consistently turn the corner.
Expect backup RB Justin Fargas to continue to get an ample amount of carries in relief as well. Although the Bills have the speed at linebacker to prevent the explosive Fargas from breaking some long runs, he will help keep Buffalo on its toes and Wheatley fresh late in the game.
Head coach Norv Turner is a former offensive coordinator who does an excellent job of keeping defenses off balance. One of the ways he and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye will keep the Bills guessing is to mix up the play calling on first and second down. If Buffalo doesn't know whether to expect run or pass, the front seven won't be nearly as aggressive. In addition, the Bills rotate Chris Kelsay and Ryan Denney at left end because they like Kelsay's ability to defend the run and Denney's ability to rush the passer. Buffalo will have a harder time deciding who to put on the field if it can't anticipate what the Raiders are going to run.
Passing:
QB Rich Gannon, who threw to 11 different receivers last week, does an excellent job of spreading the ball around and he won't allow the Bills to focus on stopping one receiver. This approach should be effective because Oakland doesn't have much proven depth, but WRs Alvis Whitted, Doug Gabriel and Carlos Francis are all playmakers. If the veteran Gannon sees any one of them in a favorable single-coverage matchup, he will exploit it.
WRs Jerry Porter and Jerry Rice won't have as much success getting open working against DCs Nate Clements and Troy Vincent. Clements has the speed to run with Porter downfield and Vincent has the strength to prevent Rice from getting into his routes quickly. With that in mind TEs Doug Jolley and Teyo Johnson should play big roles. Both are quality receiving tight ends who have the size and athletic ability to make the most of any single-coverage matchups they get working against SS Coy Wire. Wire is playing for Lawyer Milloy, who is out with a broken forearm.
The Raiders' offensive line had some problems adjusting to Pittsburgh's blitz packages last week, and Buffalo defensive coordinator Jerry Gray will bring additional pressure at times. One of the players Gray sends will likely be SLB Jeff Posey, who shows good initial quickness and closing speed to the quarterback. Gannon must recognize the pressure, look for his "hot" read and get rid of the ball if it isn't there. He can't afford to repeat last week's two-interception performance in what should be another very close game.
Scouts' Edge
Both teams are coming off disappointing fourth-quarter losses, but look for the Raiders to be the ones who bounce back this week. The Raiders' offense will struggle to move the ball consistently working against a very stout Buffalo defense. However, Gannon will make enough big plays to put Oakland in a position to win late.
The Bills will look to establish their running game once again and they should have some success to the outside, but the Raiders will tighten up in the red zone and force Buffalo to settle for field goal attempts. In addition, the Bills will have problems making adjustments at the line with this game in Oakland, and look for some miscommunication to result in a penalty, incomplete pass or even a turnover.
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Overview
RB LaDainian Tomlinson could be the most dynamic player in the league, and he will force the Jets to alter their defensive game plan somewhat. Rather than playing four down linemen, the Jets will use more of a 3-4 look that gives athletic linebackers such as rookie ILB Jonathan Vilma a chance to shut Tomlinson down.
The approach should work, but it opens up the deeper routes for San Diego's receivers. Can QB Drew Brees take advantage? Meanwhile, New York's offense seems to be hitting on all cylinders and could be in for a big day against an inexperienced San Diego secondary. If QB Chad Pennington can get things going early, this game could get ugly.
When the Jets have the ball
Rushing:
RB Curtis Martin carried the Jets last week with 196 yards and a touchdown. Martin ripped off some long runs, and his presence between the tackles allowed offensive coordinator Paul Hackett to open things up in the passing game.
The most promising thing concerning Martin's performance from last week may have been the play of New York's offensive line. OC Kevin Mawae and LOT Jason Fabini did a great job of getting up to the second-level and should set the tone again this week working against an inexperienced Chargers' defensive line.
However, whereas the Bengals ran a 4-3 defense, the Chargers will lineup in a 3-4, which will change some things for the Jets up front. Instead of Mawae giving help to his guards, he'll need help from them, with NT Jamal Williams lining up across from him on 80 percent of plays. OGs Pete Kendall and Brandon Moore will work in tandem with Mawae. They'll have to do a good job getting out of their stances quickly if the Jets are to have success cutting the Chargers' speedy linebackers off on the second level.
Passing:
The Jets' passing game is one of the most efficient in the NFL and should only improve as QB Chad Pennington gains experience. Pennington is extremely accurate, and with big-play receivers in Justin McCareins and Santana Moss on the perimeter, he has become increasingly difficult to stop.
The key, however, to New York's aerial assault is the play-action package. Pennington is one of the best ball handlers in the league and does a great job of selling his fakes. In order for them to be truly effective, the running game will need to set the tempo. Once Martin gets going and the Chargers' safeties start cheating up into the box, look for Pennington to take a couple of shots downfield. Moss and McCareins both have great speed and can capitalize on any single coverage that they see.
DCs Sammy Davis and Quentin Jammer have big-time potential as a starting tandem, but they are both young and could become exposed if the Jets' running game forces them to play on an island. One or two big plays from the Jets' receivers could blow this game wide-open.
When the Chargers have the ball
Rushing: The Chargers' front-five lacks big names, but they did a decent job of establishing the line of scrimmage last week against the Texans, paving the way for Tomlinson's 121 rushing yards. Tomlinson is the focal point of San Diego's offense and likely will carry the ball 25-plus times against the Jets, as San Diego tries to control the clock and keep Pennington off the field.
Up front, the return of ROT Courtney Van Buren from injury helps to solidify things. However, San Diego's offensive line is only average at best, even when it's at full strength.
Defensively, the Jets' base-package is a 4-3, but coordinator Donnie Henderson has shown some 3-4 looks and likely will play more of the three-man front against the Chargers. In doing so, Henderson will have four athletic linebackers on the field with enough speed to keep Tomlinson from breaking the long run. OLBs Victor Hobson and Eric Barton and ILBs Sam Cowart and Jonathan Vilma represent the strength of the Jets' defense. That said they'll have to do a good job of wrapping up, as Tomlinson runs with good power and has the game-breaking speed to turn things around rather quickly.
Passing: The Chargers have to be pleased with the way QB Drew Brees played last week in San Diego's win over the Texans. The Chargers, much like the Jets, rely on the running game to kick start their passing attack. However, instead of seeing Brees in a straight-drop after his play fakes, keep an eye out for designed bootlegs that allow him to get out of the pocket and make half-field progression reads.
San Diego is doing this for two reasons. First, to help the offensive line in protection, as New York DEs Shaun Ellis and John Abraham have quick first steps and can be tough to handle. Second, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is trying to simplify things for Brees by cutting the field in half and rolling the QB out of the pocket.
In half-field passing, the reads are much easier, and Brees will be less likely to make a mistake. When Cameron does have Brees drop straight back, look for TE Antonio Gates to be his favorite target. Gates had a big coming out party last week (8 catches, 123 yards) and has the speed to stretch New York's defense down the seam.
Scouts' Edge
Both teams enter this game 1-0. While their records are even, their talent level is not. The Jets have playmakers on both sides of the ball and consistency along their offensive and defensive lines, while the Chargers feature a one-man show and a myriad of unproven players.
The emergence of TE Gates will give San Diego a nice complement to Tomlinson's explosiveness out of the backfield, but without any speed to speak of on the perimeter, the Jets shouldn't have too much trouble matching up.
On the flip side, if Martin and the running game get going, look for Pennington to strike deep for a couple of game-breaking plays. The Chargers may have escaped last week with a win, but not this time. The Jets are too good to lose this game.
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Overview
The Dolphins' injury-depleted and undersized front seven was exposed on the ground last week against the Titans. The Dolphins do match up well against the Bengals' passing attack because of the depth that they possess, with Patrick Surtain, Sam Madison, Reggie Howard and rookie Will Poole at cornerback. But in order to take advantage of that edge the Dolphins will have to gamble with a lot of eight-man fronts in order to bottle up Rudi Johnson and the Bengals' running game.
With QB A.J. Feeley the designated starter this week, the Dolphins may look to open things up offensively to attack the Bengals' undermanned secondary. If Feeley can distribute the ball around successfully early on, it could create a lot of room for RBs Lamar Gordon and Travis Minor against a run defense that had no answer for Jets' RB Curtis Martin last week. The big question, however, is whether the Dolphins have the playmakers on offense to keep up in what could be an uncharacteristically high-scoring affair for them.
When the Dolphins have the ball
Rushing:
By gaining just 65 yards on the ground this week, the Dolphins did nothing to discount the theory that their rushing attack will be dismal in 2004 without Ricky Williams. Gordon has the potential to be a solid between-the-tackles runner that can provide good production on first and second down and allow them to control the clock. But he still is so far behind in terms of his assignments that the team can only afford to use him in certain situations.
His role should be increased this week, but his timing and feel regarding his offensive line is still a work-in-progress and, no matter how accustomed he gets, he's still not the workhorse of versatile playmaker that Williams was for this unit. One problem that must improve is the poor execution by the offensive line, which contributed heavily to the team's 14 penalties and also made several mental mistakes.
The Bengals' defensive front seven is vulnerable against the run and struggled against the Jets on pulls, traps and sweep plays. Look for the Dolphins to run off-tackle, especially right at SLB Kevin Hardy. Running outside will help hide their lack of an inside run game, plus it's a better fit for their running backs' style. The key may be the blocking of the offensive line on the second level. If they have success running the ball, it will take pressure off Feeley.
Passing: The offensive philosophy of the Dolphins could make a big change with Feeley as the starter. Feeley is the athlete that Fiedler is, but he has a quicker release and makes better reads and decisions than Fiedler, allowing Miami to open things up more and to throw more often. The Bengals will try to take WR Chris Chambers out of the game with combo coverage and "man under, two deep" zones, and they will be more than happy to limit Feeley to completions to TE Randy McMichael and WR Marty Booker in a "bend-but-don't-break defense."
The Dolphins will go after Cincy's corners that seemed to struggle with indecision last week, particularly rookie Madieu Williams. The unit, as a whole looked, as if it could not decide whether to play press coverage or to sit back in off schemes. It gave up a lot of inside releases and slant routes against the Jets, and this week it needs to get a good shove in at the line of scrimmage with its corners and "feed" the receiver to their safeties. With a weak Dolphins running game, the safeties can get more involved in pass coverage. The Dolphins' best bet will be to counter with more three- and four-receiver sets to loosen up the defense into nickel and dime schemes, taking the Bengals deeper into their secondary than they want go.
When the Bengals have the ball
Rushing: The Bengals' run game will try to get jump-started after a lackluster performance against the Jets. Cincy's offensive line is big and physical and they are good pass blockers. But they are not great on the second level, and don't match up well in terms of quickness against the undersized but athletic Dolphins' front-seven.
RB Johnson is an excellent between-the-tackles power runner, and the key will be for him to get positive yardage on first and second down to avoid third-and-long situations, where the Dolphins can get nickel and dime packages into the game. As basic as it sounds, tackling will be a huge key in this game, as Johnson is especially effective in getting yards after contact. The Bengals will likely target RDE Jason Taylor to negate his ability to chase plays down and pursue from the backside. They also will isolate MLB Zach Thomas and try to wear him down by running right at him.
Passing:
QB Carson Palmer looks poised beyond his years, and his combination of arm strength, pocket mobility and good decision-making have ignited the Bengals' offense. He read his progressions well against the Jets and showed that he is not afraid to dump the ball off to his backs and tight ends rather than take a sack or force a throw.
The problem Palmer faces with the Dolphins' secondary is that Miami has four corners that can play man-to-man coverage, in Patrick Surtain, Sam Madison, Reggie Howard and rookie Will Poole. The Dolphins will try to play a lot of press schemes while they turn and run with the receivers and should be able to get away with no double-teaming, even Chad Johnson in most cases.
The key for the Bengals will be to run the ball effectively and force the Dolphins' safeties up into the box, negating their ability to help with the receivers. Titans QB Steve McNair completed only six passes to his wide receivers last week against Miami's corners so Palmer will have to be patient with dumpoffs and screens. Palmer must wait for the man-to-man matchup that he wants.
Scouts' Edge
Both defenses struggled to stop the run last week in disappointing losses. Neither team seems capable of taking advantage of the other's weakness, though Rudi Johnson could have a breakout game. As good as Palmer looks in the passing game, the strength of the Dolphins' defense is their man-to-man matchup ability in the secondary.
If these two things cancel each other out, this game could come down to Rudi Johnson and Feeley. Whichever player can make the most plays and avoid mistakes can deliver this game for their team. Considering Feeley's inexperience in the system, the safe bet is to go with Johnson and the Bengals.
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Overview
Everyone will be looking for some fireworks from the great pitch-and-catch duos of Donovan McNabb and WR Terrell Owens and QB Daunte Culpepper and WR Randy Moss, but both these teams have underrated running attacks that could ultimately decide the game's outcome.
Eagles RB Brian Westbrook does more overall for his offense, but Vikings RB Onterrio Smith has become a home-run threat against spread out fronts. Both teams have weaknesses when it comes to defending the run, which makes that facet of this game even more intriguing. Because of the matchup problems that Owens and Moss present, neither defense can afford to overload in run support. As a result, Monday night's winner should be decided by the running back that finishes with the most production.
When the Vikings have the ball
Rushing:
One key for the Vikings' run offense is to adjust to what the Eagles safeties – SS Michael Lewis and FS Brian Dawkins – are doing on defense. If the Vikings run the ball well early, the safeties will be forced to play run support in the box, creating opportunities in the passing game. If the Eagles try to shut down Moss by playing "man-under, two deep" schemes – or some type of combo coverage involving the safeties – the Vikings will come back and pound the ball with Smith between the tackles.
It is critical for the Eagles that their defensive tackle duo of Corey Simon and Darwin Walker get penetration at the line of scrimmage. The Eagles don't play a two-gap scheme up front defensively, but Simon and Walker can still protect their undersized linebackers by getting penetration and disrupting plays in the backfield, keeping potential blockers from reaching the second level. If Simon and Walker don't wreak havoc in the middle this week, Philly's linebackers will be constantly fighting through traffic and forced to make tackles two and three yards beyond the line of scrimmage. And that's a problem.
The Eagles must also make sure they contain Culpepper, a threat to tuck the ball and run against this one-gap, man-to-man defense. Philadelphia doesn't want its secondary playing with its back to the quarterback. The Eagles need for their defensive ends to play with great contain. Furthermore, the Eagles might also be forced to employ some "spy" schemes on Culpepper to make sure he is contained, especially on third and long situations.
Passing: When you think of the Vikings' passing game, two names immediately jump to mind: Culpepper and Moss. In reality, however, this offense is beginning to become much more multifaceted. Last week versus the Cowboys, Culpepper threw for 242 yards and completed passes to nine different receivers with four different players catching TD passes. Culpepper seems to have the best grasp of the offense that he's ever had. He is doing a much better job of reading defenses, making his progressions and finding favorable matchups to target.
The Eagles will play a lot of "fire zone" schemes with DCs Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard, but they may not challenge the Vikings' wide receivers at the line of scrimmage with press technique. Look for them to blitz more and play zone behind it. Culpepper would love to see aggressive man-to-man schemes by the Eagles' secondary, but he may have to be content with good pass protection and his receivers finding holes in the defense. There may not be a lot of big passing plays for the Vikings, but Culpepper will adjust to whatever he sees. With Moss likely to get the most attention, the heroes in the passing game for the Vikings could be WRs Marcus Robinson and Nate Burleson and TE Jermaine Wiggins.
When the Eagles have the ball
Rushing: Philadelphia's running back-by-committee is now a committee of one, Brian Westbrook. Westbrook rushed for 119 yards on just 17 carries against the Giants last week, which is not an uncomfortable workload. Westbrook looked surprisingly tough on inside runs and in short yardage situations, which bodes well versus a Vikings front seven that is improved but did not do a very good job in their disciplined gap-control scheme last week. The Eagles' offense is as smart as it gets and it consistently will exploit undisciplined schemes.
The loss of ROG Shaun Andrews really hurts the Eagles' offensive line, but it has proven that it is a group that will battle through the situation and overcome it. It is difficult to judge the Vikings' interior run defense because the Cowboys threw so often in their game that the top four tacklers for the Vikings last week were defensive backs. The Vikings have good speed in their defensive front seven, but MLB E.J. Henderson and WLB Dontarrious Thomas are young and inexperienced. If the Eagles offensive line can get to the second level they will have good success. The Vikings play sound and conservative schemes on defense with marginal blitzing, it should eliminate big plays by the Eagles' run offense.
Passing: The Eagles are going to spread the ball around in the passing game and try to get favorable matchups versus a Vikings defense that will play a lot of man-to-man coverage. The Vikings will not blitz a lot but will play more "man off" coverage, conceding the underneath routes and then punishing the receivers in front of them. It is a "bend-but-don't-break" concept that will test McNabb's patience, as he is not going to get a lot of single man-to-man matchups, especially against Owens.
If the Vikings do a good job on the perimeter, the best matchups for the Eagles to exploit might just be the ones against their running backs and tight ends over the middle. Westbrook is a good matchup for the Eagles on any of the Vikings' linebackers; Westbrook could line up in the slot on occasion. TE L.J. Smith is a good athletic matchup versus DSs Corey Chavous and Brian Russell. The Vikings will try to change their defensive fronts to confuse blocking schemes. It would not be shocking to see the Eagles come out with a spread offense and a "hurry up, no-huddle attack" to catch the Vikings in their base defense early. This could catch the defense by surprise, spread the defense and give McNabb more time to run.
Scouts' Edge
Both teams have a swagger after impressive Week 1 performances that debuted explosive offensive production. The Eagles should find good balance on offense and should be able to exploit the Vikings when they are forced to overcommit against Westbrook and the run.
The Vikings, however, are just a little bit more versatile on offense and the Eagles' porous run defense could lead to major problems on that side of the ball. Philadelphia is a tough place to play, but Culpepper has great confidence and has the ability to exploit a gambling defensive scheme like the Eagles'. Minnesota's offense looks like it has an answer for everything the Eagles' defense can throw at them, which is why we think they'll outscore Philly in its own backyard on Monday night.