TV GAMES All times Central
Broncos at Bears
Noon, CBS
LINE — Broncos by 1
LAST MEETING Broncos beat Bears 13-10, OT, Dec. 11, 2011
LAST WEEK Broncos lost to 29-13 to Chiefs; Bears beat Rams 37-13
OFFENSE Broncos: 331.7 ypg (28),22.8 ppg (17); Bears: 352.7 ypg (16), 22.1 ppg (20)
DEFENSE Bears 335.6 ypg (8), 26.0 ppg (24); Broncos: 277.3 ypg (1), 18.7 ppg (3)
Broncos QB Peyton Manning will miss game after getting benched last week while trying to play through foot, rib and shoulder injuries. Manning broke Brett Favre’s record for career yards passing, but had almost as many interceptions (4) as completions (5). … Brock Osweiler, who turns 25 on Sunday, will make first career start. … LB Von Miller has 5 sacks, 4 in past 6games. … DE DeMarcus Ware is tied for eighth in league with 6½ sacks, but is listed as questionable with back issues.
Bears Coach John Fox will be facing his former team for first time after leading Denver to 46-18 regular-season record over previous 4 seasons, including 4 AFC West titles and 1 Super Bowl run. Fox and Broncos parted in January. … This will also be first meaningful game against Denver for Jay Cutler since he was traded to Chicago in 2009. He played against Broncos in preseason that year. … Cutler had career-high 151 rating last week and became first Bears QB with 2 touchdown passes of 80 or more yards in 1 game. … RB Jeremy Langford has 324 scrimmage yards (145 rushing, 179 receiving) with 3 TDs (2 rushing, 1 receiving) over past 2 games. … TE Zach Miller has 3 TD catches in past 2 games, including 87-yarder last week. … LB Lamarr Houston has 3 sacks in past 2 games, 4 on season.
Cowboys at Dolphins
Noon, Fox
LINE — Cowboys by 1
LAST MEETING Cowboys beat Dolphins 20-19, Nov. 24, 2011
LAST WEEK Dolphins beat Eagles 20-19; Cowboys lost to Buccaneers 10-6
OFFENSE Cowboys: 338.8 ypg (25), 18.4 ppg (30); Dolphins: 350.2 ypg (19), 21.2 ppg (24)
DEFENSE Dolphins 390.2 ypg (26), 25.0 ppg (21); Cowboys: 349.8 ypg (17), 23.8 ppg (18)
Dolphins interim coach Dan Campbell started 30 games at tight end for Cowboys in 2003-2005. … Rushing average of 4.8 yards per attempt is fourth in NFL, but they run 35 percent of the time, third lowest in league. … Rank next to last in NFL in third-down conversion (29.5 percent) and last in fourth-down conversions (2 for 12). … Rookie Matt Darr leads NFL with punting average of 49.1 yards. … Allowing average of 6.5 yards on first downs, second-worst in league.
Cowboys Jason Garrett would earn his 44th regular-season victory, tying Jimmy Johnson for second behind Tom Landry, who had 250 victories. … Are 15-3 when Tony Romo starts and 0-8 when he doesn’t since Week 2 of 2014. Romo returns from missing 7 games with collarbone injury. … Seven-game losing streak is longest in single season since 1989. … Turnover differential of minus-8 is third-worst in NFL. … They’ve recovered only one opposing fumble all year. … Tied for second in fewest points scored with 166.
Packers at Vikings
3:25 p.m., Fox
LINE — Vikings by 1
LAST MEETING Packers beat Vikings 24-21, Nov. 23, 2014
LAST WEEK Packers lost to Lions 18-16; Vikings beat Raiders 30-14
OFFENSE Packers: 344.3 ypg (21); 24.3 ppg (11); Vikings 328.7 ypg (29), 22.0 ppg (20)
DEFENSE Vikings: 336.6 ypg (9), 17.1 ppg (2); Packers: 371.6 ypg (23), 20.6 ppg (11)
Packers are 9-1-1 in past 11 games against Vikings. Coach Mike McCarthy is 14-4-1 in career. … Second of 4 games vs. NFC North teams in 19-day span. … QB Aaron Rodgers is 9-1 with 123.8 passer rating, 26 TDs and 3 INTs in 10 starts vs. Vikings since 2010. … Rodgers ranks 18th in NFL with 7.3 yards per attempt among qualified QBs. He’s finished in top 5 in league each of past 5 years, including first or second 4 times. … WR Davante Adams had career-high 10 catches last week.
Vikings fourth in NFL with plus-7 turnover margin. … Have won 5 consecutive games for first time since 6-0 start to 2009 season. … RB Adrian Peterson leads all NFL rushers with 961 yards, 227-yard lead over Arizona’s Chris Johnson. … Peterson has 6 career 200-yard games to tie O.J. Simpson for most in NFL. … NT Linval Joseph has 18 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks and forced fumble over past 2 games. … Second with 17.1 points allowed per game and only team that has not given up more than 23 points in any game.
Bengals at Cardinals
7:30 p.m., NBC
LINE — Cardinals by 4 1/2
LAST MEETING Bengals beat Cardinals 23-16, Dec. 24, 2011
LAST WEEK Bengals lost to Texans 10-6; Cardinals beat Seahawks 39-32
OFFENSE Bengals: 376.1 ypg (7), 26.1 ppg (5); Cardinals: 421.1 ypg (1); 33.6 ppg (2)
DEFENSE Cardinals 316.1 ypg (3); 20.6 ppg (11); Bengals: 338.8 ypg, (11), 16.9 ppg (1)
Cardinals haven’t beaten Bengals since 2007. … Playing in second consecutive Sunday night game … Game was flexed from afternoon to night by NFL. … QB Carson Palmer ranks second in NFL in passer rating (108). … Offense has topped 400 yards in past 4 games and 7 of 9. Lead NFL in touchdowns (36) and is second in scoring (303 points, 1 fewer than Patriots). … Under coach Bruce Arians, are 9-2 against AFC, 21-5 vs. teams outside NFC West. … Are 23-2 under Arians when opponent scores 20 points or fewer. … Palmer is 20-4 in his past 24 starts. … WR Larry Fitzgerald needs 13 yards receiving to reach 13,000 for career. … WR Michael Floyd could become first Cardinal with TD catches in 5 consecutive games since Fitzgerald in 2007. … S Tyrann Mathieu has 3 INTs, 52 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 12 passes defensed. … Arizona is only team in top 5 in offense and defense.
Bengals QB Andy Dalton has started every game since Palmer left. … DE Carlos Dunlap didn’t have sack against Houston on Monday but ranks third in NFL for the season with 8 ½. … Playing third consecutive prime-time game. Have 26 sacks, compared to 14 against Dalton. … Plus-12 differential ranks third in NFL. … Failed to score touchdown for first time in 41 games in Monday night loss.
Colts at Falcons
Noon
LINE — Falcons by 5
LAST MEETING Falcons beat Colts 31-7, Nov. 6, 2011.
LAST WEEK Colts had bye; Falcons had bye
OFFENSE Colts: 353.7 ypg (15), 22.2 ppg (19); Falcons: 402.2 ypg (5), 25.4 ppg (8)
DEFENSE Falcons: 342.3 ypg (14), 21.1 ppg (13); Colts: 394.2 ypg (28), 25.2 ppg (22)
Colts Matt Hasselbeck, 40, will make his third start of season in place of injured QB Andrew Luck. Hasselbeck completed more than 63 percent of passes for 495 yards, with 3 TDS and no INTs while going 2-0 in first 2 starts. … Have surrendered average of 279.3 yards through air, ranking 28th in pass defense. … Face one more team that currently has winning record, Pittsburgh.
Falcons WR Julio Jones is on pace for one of NFL’s greatest seasons. He has 80 catches for 1,029 yards and 6 TDs and has shot at eclipsing Marvin Harrison’s single-season receptions record (143). … Jones is coming off fifth 100-yard receiving game … WR Leonard Hankerson expects to return after missing past two games with hamstring injury. Before going down, he had become valuable second option in passing game. … Overtime loss to Tampa Bay only blemish on 3-1 record at Georgia Dome.
Raiders at Lions
Noon
LINE — Lions by 1
LAST MEETING Lions beat Raiders 28-27, Dec. 18, 2011
LAST WEEK Raiders lost to Vikings 30-14; Lions beat Packers 18-16
OFFENSE Raiders: 374.2 ypg (8), 25.2 ppg (9); Lions: 332.1 ypg (27), 18.6 ppg (29)
DEFENSE Lions 384.2 ypg (25), 29.0 ppg (31); Raiders: 408.6 ypg (30), 26.8 ppg (27)
Lions have won 3 consecutive in series, including last matchup at home in 2003. … Have not won 2 in a row for nearly a year. … QB Matthew Stafford was not sacked in last week’s victory after being sacked 13 times previous 2 games. … RB Joique Bell has scored 6 times in past 7 home games. … Rookie RB Ameer Abdullah averaging NFL-high 31.9 yards on kickoff returns. Abdullah has 14 carries over past 3 games after career-high 14 rushing attempts in victory over Chicago. … WR Calvin Johnson had 9 receptions for 214 yards and 2 TDs last game against Oakland 4 years ago. … LB Stephen Tulloch has team-high 67 tackles, 15 more than anyone else on team. … Detroit K Matt Prater missed 2 extra-point kicks in 2-point victory over Packers.
Raiders QB Derek Carr has averaged 306 yards passing over past 4 games with 13 TDs and 3 INTs. … RB Latavius Murray ranks 10th among NFL RBs with 90.1 yards from scrimmage per game. … WR Amari Cooper is 50-732 in receiving yards, leading NFL rookies in both categories. … WR Michael Crabtree was targeted season-low 5 times in last week’s loss after scoring 4 TDs and being targeted 32 times previous 3 games. … WR Andre Holmes has scored on 4 of 7 receptions in 2015. … Rookie TE Clive Walford has three TDs over past 4 games. … S Charles Woodson tied for NFL high with 5 INTs, equaling Ken Riley’s career total of 65 INTs for fifth on all-time list.
Jets at Texans
Noon
LINE — Jets by 3 ½
LAST MEETING Texans beat Jets 23-17, Oct. 8, 2012
LAST WEEK Bills beat Jets 22-17; Texans beat Bengals 10-6
OFFENSE Jets: 360.6 ypg (11), 24.1 ppg (12); Texans: 356.8 ypg (13), 20.4 ppg (26)
DEFENSE Texans: 340.3 ypg (12), 23.4 ppg (17); Jets: 318.4 ypg (4), 20.4 ppg (9)
Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who had surgery on thumb ligament of left hand on Nov. 13, has thrown at least 2 TD passes in 7 of past 9 games. He started 12 games for Houston last season and is expected to start Sunday. … RB Chris Ivory has 4 TDs in his past 6 games combined. … WR Brandon Marshall is 25-293 receiving and 1 touchdown in 3 meetings with Texans. … WR Eric Decker has touchdown catch in 8 of 9 games. … DE Muhammad Wilkerson has 7 sacks, including 2 last week. … CB Darrelle Revis leads NFL with 6 takeaways, including 3 fumble recoveries and 3 INTs. … LB Demario Davis had his first sack this season last week.
Texans QB Brian Hoyer has concussion and is questionable. … QB T.J. Yates played first game since September 2014 when he took over for Hoyer in third quarter Monday and threw for winning touchdown to DeAndre Hopkins. … RB Alfred Blue has averaged 105.5 yards of total offense in past 2 home starts. … WR Hopkins is third in the NFL with 927 yards receiving and 7 touchdowns. … LB Brian Cushing leads team with 76 tackles. … OLB Whitney Mercilus has 5 1/2 sacks in past 4 games. … DE J.J. Watt is second in NFL with 9 1/2 sacks.
Rams at Ravens
Noon, Fox
LINE — Ravens by 2 1/2
LAST MEETING Ravens beat Rams 37-7, Sept. 25, 2011
LAST WEEK Rams lost to Bears 37-13; Ravens lost to Jaguars 22-20
OFFENSE Rams: 309.6 ypg (31), 18.4 ppg (30); Ravens: 361.7 ypg (10), 23.3 ppg (15)
DEFENSE Ravens: 369.7 ypg (20), 26.2 ppg (25); Rams: 331.9 ypg (6), 20.3 ppg (8)
Ravens WR Chris Givens was traded from Rams last month. He scored his first TD with Baltimore last week. … Rams WR Tavon Austin grew up in Baltimore. … QB Joe Flacco connected for three first-quarter TDs, all to Torrey Smith, when teams last met.
Rams will start Case Keenum at QB. He beat Baltimore with Houston in 2014. … WR Wes Welker needs 146 yards receiving to reach 10,000 and 7 catches to reach 900. … Lead NFC with 29 sacks, including 6 by Aaron Donald and 5 by Robert Quinn. … It’s first of two consecutive road games against AFC North. Cincinnati is next. …Rookie Todd Gurley has 709 yards rushing, fourth most in NFL. . Rams’ red-zone defense has permitted TDs 36 percent of time, best percentage in NFL. … Have forced 16 turnovers and scored following 11 of them. …
Ravens Flacco has 13 TDs and 3 INTs in his past 8 home games. Last week, he threw 3 TDs and 2 INTs. … RB Justin Forsett is averaging 100.5 yards from scrimmage in past five games. … FB Kyle Juszczyk had career-high 5 catches last week. … TE Crockett Gillmore seeking third consecutive game with TD catch. … LB Daryl Smith has 81 tackles, which ranks fourth in AFC. … Placed Jeremy Zuttah on IR Wednesday, leaving John Urschel to make first career start at center. … INT. by Lardarius Webb last week was first takeaway since Week 3. Have recovered one opponent’s fumble all season and own a minus-10 turnover differential. … Is 46-14 in games played at home under Coach John Harbaugh, but 1-3 this season.
Redskins at Panthers
Noon
LINE — Panthers by 7
LAST MEETING Panthers beat Redskins 21-13, Nov. 4, 2012
LAST WEEK Redskins beat Saints 47-14; Panthers beat Titans 27-10
OFFENSE Redskins: 349.1 ypg (20), 22.8 ppg (17); Panthers: 352.7 ypg (16), 28.3 ppg (3)
DEFENSE Panthers: 338.0 ypg (10), 19.4 ppg (6); Redskins: 370.3 ypg (21), 23.2 ppg (16)
Redskins’ Kirk Cousins had perfect QB rating of 158.3 against Saints last week, completing 20 of 25 passes for 324 yards and 4 TDs. … RB Alfred Morris is third with 4,366 yards rushing and fourth in TDs rushing with 28 since entering league in 2012. … Rookie RB Matt Jones had 3 catches for 131 yards last week, including 78-yard TD. … TE Jordan Reed has 5 TDs in past 3 games. … LB Ryan Kerrigan is 1 of 2 players with 40 or more sacks and 2 or more interception returns for touchdowns since 2011. …
Panthers have won 13 consecutive regular-season games and are 9-0 for first time. …Panthers have scored at least 27 points in 7 consecutive games. … QB Cam Newton has 6 games in which he has thrown and ran for TD. … Newton is 2-0 vs. Redskins with combined 114.1 QB rating against them. … Newton has 136 career combined touchdowns. Only Dan Marino (171) and Peyton Manning (147) had more in their first 5 seasons. … RB Jonathan Stewart has run for 1,341 yards since Week 13 of last season, more than any other NFL back. … Averaging 13.3 yards per catch, second most in NFL. … Panthers’ defense held Titans to 11 first downs last week. … DE Kony Ealy has a sack in past three games. … Carolina’s 255 points through 9 games are franchise record.
Buccaneers at Eagles
Noon
LINE — Eagles by 6
LAST MEETING Eagles beat Buccaneers 31-20, Oct. 13, 2013
LAST WEEK Buccaneers beat Cowboys 10-6; Eagles lost to Dolphins 20-19
OFFENSE Bucs: 354.0 ypg (14), 21.2 ppg (24); Eagles: 374.1 ypg (9), 23.6 (14)
DEFENSE Eagles: 358.1 ypg (18), 20.4 ppg (9): Bucs: 334.2 ypg (7), 26.3 ppg (26)
Eagles have won past three meetings. … QB Mark Sanchez needs 334 yards passing to reach 15,000 in career. … RB DeMarco Murray has 596 rushing/receiving yards in past 5 games. … RB Ryan Mathews has TD in 3 consecutive games. … WR Riley Cooper had 120 yards receiving and TD in last game vs. Bucs. … DE Fletcher Cox has 4 1/2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery in past 3 home games. … S Walter Thurmond had sack, safety and forced fumble last week. … Since 2013, Philly offense has eclipsed 400 yards a league-leading 26 times.
Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston has rushing TD in 3 consecutive games. … RB Doug Martin has 195 yards rushing and 1 TD vs. Eagles in past 2 games. … WR Mike Evans has 27 catches for 488 yards in past 4 games. … WR Vincent Jackson has 100 yards receiving in 2 consecutive games vs. Eagles, but has been battling knee injury. … LB Lavonte David has 18 tackles and 2 sacks in 2 games vs. Eagles. … Tampa is tied for second in NFL with 9 fumble recoveries. Bucs have scored 67 points off 16 takeaways. … Tampa Bay has 12 three-and-out drives, fewest in league
Chiefs at Chargers
3 p.m.
LINE — Chiefs by 3
LAST MEETING Chiefs beat Chargers 19-7, Dec. 28, 2014
LAST WEEK Chiefs beat Broncos 29-13; Chargers had bye
OFFENSE Chiefs: 340.7 ypg (24); 24.9 (10); Chargers: 413.9 ypg (4); 23.3 ppg (15)
DEFENSE Chargers: 372.1 ypg (24), 27.7 ppg (28); Chiefs: 341.4 ypg (13), 21.7 ppg (14)
Chiefs have won 3 consecutive after 5-game losing streak to tie Oakland for second in AFC West, 3 games behind Denver. … Against Denver, Chiefs had 5 INTs by 5 players, and 5 sacks. … Have held opponents to 14 points per game in past 5. … Have 11 sacks, 7 INTs in past 2 games. … Swept Chargers last year. … Sacked Philip Rivers 7 times, 4 by Justin Houston. … Have won 4 of past 6 vs. San Diego. … QB Alex Smith played at Helix High in La Mesa. … Smith needs 6 more passes and he breaks franchise record for consecutive throws without INT held by Steve DeBerg. … RB Charcandrick West has stepped up after Jamaal Charles (knee) was lost for season, rushing for 309 yards, three TDs in last four games. …
Chargers have lost 5 consecutive to drop to last in division. … LaDainian Tomlinson’s No. 21 will be retired, inducting him into team Hall of Fame. Tomlinson starred from 2001-2009 before being released, playing two seasons with Jets. … Tomlinson retired as league’s fifth all-time leading rusher with 13,684 yards, second-most prolific scorer with 145 rushing TDs. He caught 17 scoring passes, threw for 7 TDs. … L.T. joins Dan Fouts (14), Lance Alworth (19), Junior Seau (55) in having number retired. … Rookie RB Melvin Gordon still looking for first NFL TD, 100-yard game. … Hope to get LT King Dunlap, LG Orlando Franklin back from injuries. … ILB Manti Te’o has missed 4 games with ankle injury. … WR Malcom Floyd hopes to play again this season after tearing labrum in left shoulder making diving attempt at catch in loss to Bears on Nov. 9. Regardless, Floyd still plans to retire after season. … Good bet to miss playoffs for fifth time in six seasons. … Could be third-to-last NFL game at Qualcomm Stadium; Chargers Chairman Dean Spanos wants to move team to Carson. NFL could make decision on L.A. relocation by January.
49ers at Seahawks
3:25 p.m.
LINE — Seahawks by 13
LAST MEETING Seahawks beat 49ers 20-3, Oct. 22, 2015
LAST WEEK 49ers had bye; Seahawks lost to Cardinals 39-32
OFFENSE 49ers: 286.2 ypg (32), 14.0 ppg (32); Seahawks: 352.0 ypg (18), 22.1 ppg (20)
DEFENSE Seahawks: 303.3 ypg (2), 19.9 ppg (7); 49ers: 392.4 ypg (27), 24.98 ppg (20);
49ers have lost 4 consecutive to Seahawks, including 20-3 defeat one month ago when QB Colin Kaepernick was sacked 6 times. … QB Blaine Gabbert to make second start after leading team to victory over Atlanta 2 weeks ago. Gabbert was 15 of 25 for 185 yards and 2 TDs in first start since Oct. 6, 2013 with Jacksonville. … RB Shaun Draughn had 58 yards on 16 carries with Carlos Hyde out in victory over Falcons. … WR Anquan Boldin has 4 career 100-yard receiving games against Seahawks. … TE Garrett Celek had career-high 2 TD receptions in Week 9 victory over Atlanta.
Seahawks have lost 2 consecutive at home, have not lost 3 at home since 2008. … QB Russell Wilson threw 2 INTs in past meeting with 49ers, but is 4-0 against them at home in career. … RB Marshawn Lynch had season-high 122 yards in last meeting, Lynch’s only 100-yard game this season. … WR Doug Baldwin had 7 catches for 134 yards and 1 TD last week vs. Cardinals. … DE Michael Bennett had career-high 3 ½ sacks in last meeting … LB Bobby Wagner returned fumble for touchdown for the second time this season last week. They are first 2 touchdowns of his career. … CB Richard Sherman has gone 10 consecutive regular-season games without INT dating to last season, longest drought of his career.