NFL Week 16 Preview

Packers renew storied rivalry in Chicago

Editor's Note: This NFL season, the Green Valley News is focusing on seven NFL teams, the Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings

We picked the Cardinals as Arizona's team. A recent poll showed the Cowboys in a statistical dead heat with the Cardinals when Arizona residents were asked to name their favorite NFL team. Before the Cardinals moved to Arizona, the Cowboys and Broncos were shown nearly every week on local affiliates, building major fan support in the area.

The Bears, Packers, Lions and Vikings were chosen because many Green Valley residents have moved here from the Midwest. Loyalties remain with their home teams.

This week's previews:

GREEN BAY (12-2) At CHICAGO (5-9)

11 a.m., FOX

OPENING LINE: Packers by 8.

LAST MEETING: Bears 27, Packers 20, Oct. 7, 2007 at Green Bay.

LAST WEEK: Packers beat Rams 33-14.

PACKERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (3), RUSH (28), PASS (2)

PACKERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (11), RUSH (15), PASS (14)

BEARS OFFENSE: OVERALL (25), RUSH (32), PASS (14)

BEARS DEFENSE: OVERALL (29), RUSH (25), PASS (26)

BREAKDOWN: Chicago has won four of past five in series.

Green Bay clinched first-round bye last week and has won 16 of 18.

QB Brett Favre (3,905 yards, 26 TDs) eclipsed Dan Marino to become NFL career leader in yards passing with 61,405. Favre, voted to start Pro Bowl, is completing career-best 67.1 percent of passes and needs 95 yards passing for fifth 4,000-yard season. He threw for 322 yards, one TD and two INTs last meeting.

S Atari Bigby has four INTs, three coming in last two weeks.

WR Greg Jennings (50 receptions, 878 yards) has scored in five straight and has 12 TDs, tied for second best in NFC.

LB Nick Barnett had season-high 13 tackles and two sacks last week. Barnett had his only other sacks of season in last meeting.

Rookie K Mason Crosby leads NFL with 130 points.

RB Ryan Grant has TD in four straight games.

DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila has 11 sacks in past 11 meetings with Bears.

Chicago was eliminated from playoff contention last week.

QB Kyle Orton was 22-of-38 for 184 yards and one INT in first start of season last week. Orton will continue to start.Bears are averaging 78.4 yards rushing per game and 3.1 yards per carry, both worst in NFL.

RB Adrian Peterson (100 carries, 317 yards) is fourth among RBs with 49 receptions.

LB Brian Urlacher had two sacks last week and leads team with 107 tackles.

DE Adewale Ogunleye has six sacks in past seven games and five forced fumbles in past six.

Both teams had four Pro Bowl selections.

KANSAS CITY (4-10) At DETROIT (6-8)

11 a.m., CBS

OPENING LINE: Lions by 5.

LAST MEETING: Chiefs 45, Lions 17, Dec. 14, 2003 at Kansas City.

LAST WEEK: Chiefs lost to Titans 26-17; Lions lost to Chargers 51-14.

CHIEFS OFFENSE: OVERALL (31), RUSH (30), PASS (23)

CHIEFS DEFENSE: OVERALL (15), RUSH (26), PASS (8)

LIONS OFFENSE: OVERALL (15), RUSH (31), PASS (7)

LIONS DEFENSE: OVERALL (31), RUSH (21), PASS (31)

BREAKDOWN: Kansas City has won four straight in series. Head coaches Rod Marinelli and Herm Edwards were both assistants on Tampa Bay staff from 1996-2000.Chiefs have lost seven straight and haven’t scored in fourth quarter in six straight.

RB Larry Johnson (foot) has missed six consecutive games, but could play this week. RB Kolby Smith is averaging 81.8 yards rushing over past four outings.

Kansas City has second-best kickoff coverage in AFC, with opponents’ average starting position the 25.2.

Chiefs average 3.3 yards per rush and 80.9 yards rushing per game, both worst in AFC. Their five TDs rushing are tied for last in NFL.

DE Jared Allen was elected to the Pro Bowl and is tied for second in conference with 11 1/2 sacks.

Detroit has lost six straight.

This season’s Lions, who lost 56-21 to Philadelphia in September, are only team in franchise history to allow 50-plus points twice in one year.

Last week, QB Jon Kitna tied career high with five INTs. Kitna needs 293 yards passing for second consecutive 4,000-yard season and to become 11th player with multiple 4,000-yard seasons.

WR Calvin Johnson is second among NFC rookies in receptions (42) and yards (665). He topped 100 yards receiving for first time last week (102).

Detroit has allowed 32 TDs inside red zone, most in NFL.

RB Kevin Jones is averaging 36.7 yards rushing over last three. Jones has scored in seven of 12 games this season.

WR Shaun McDonald has career highs in receptions (72), yards receiving (848) and TDs (5).

Detroit has allowed 319 first downs, most in NFL, and opponents have converted 85 of 185 third downs (45.9 percent), worst in NFC.

ATLANTA (3-11) At ARIZONA (6-8)

2:05 p.m., FOX

OPENING LINE: Cardinals by 10 1/2.

LAST MEETING: Falcons 32, Cardinals 10, Oct. 1, 2006 at Atlanta.

LAST WEEK: Falcons lost to Buccaneers 37-3; Cardinals lost Saints 31-24.

FALCONS OFFENSE: OVERALL (27), RUSH (25), PASS (20)

FALCONS DEFENSE: OVERALL (24), RUSH (27), PASS (12)

CARDINALS OFFENSE: OVERALL (14), RUSH (29), PASS (10)

CARDINALS DEFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH (11), PASS (27)

BREAKDOWN: Atlanta has lost five straight overall, but has won last four in series.

QB Chris Redman (513 yards, 4 TDs) had 0.0 passer rating last week, but will start.

Opponents have scored seven defensive TDs.

WR Roddy White (66 receptions, 5 TDs) needs 1 yard receiving for first 1,000-yard season.

Falcons are one of seven teams with no Pro Bowl selections.

RB Warrick Dunn is averaging 17.3 yards rushing over past three games. Dunn’s 3.1 yards per carry is lowest in six seasons with Falcons.

DeAngelo Hall has 388 INT yards since 2005, most in NFL. His five INTs this season are one off career high.

Arizona will not have winning record for 22nd time in 23 seasons, but two more wins would give Cardinals best record in nine years.

Arizona leads NFL in penalties (125) and yards penalized (1,008).

QB Kurt Warner is 6-1 in career vs. Falcons, with 18 TDs. Warner has 15 TDs in past six games.

RB Edgerrin James is averaging 80.5 yards rushing over past four games and topped 1,000 yards rushing last week for fifth consecutive season.

Darnell Dockett leads DTs with eight sacks.

WR Anquan Boldin (54 receptions, 635 yards) had six receptions for 83 yards last week after missing one game with dislocated toe. Boldin is averaging 49.8 yards over his past seven outings.

Arizona has minus-9 turnover margin, second worst in NFC.

WR Larry Fitzgerald (83 receptions, 1,166 yards) has scored in five straight games, with seven TDs in that span. Fitzgerald was voted as a Pro Bowl starter and lone Arizona representative.

WASHINGTON (7-7) At MINNESOTA (8-6)

6:15 p.m., NBC

OPENING LINE: Vikings by 6 1/2.

LAST MEETING: Vikings 19, Redskins 16, Sept. 11, 2006 at Washington.

LAST WEEK: Redskins beat Giants 22-10; Vikings beat Bears 20-13.

REDSKINS OFFENSE: OVERALL (16), RUSH (11), PASS (15)

REDSKINS DEFENSE: OVERALL (10), RUSH (9), PASS (19)

VIKINGS OFFENSE: OVERALL (11T), RUSH (1), PASS (30)

VIKINGS DEFENSE: OVERALL (20), RUSH (1), PASS (32)

BREAKDOWN: Washington and New Orleans trail Minnesota by one game for final NFC wild card.

Redskins have three players elected to Pro Bowl, including slain S Sean Taylor.

This is Washington’s third straight nationally televised night game. Skins won first two.

Redskins coach Joe Gibbs is 8-1 against Minnesota.

Last week, QB Todd Collins won first start since Dec. 14, 1997. He finished 8-of-25 for 166 yards in wet, windy conditions.

RB Clinton Portis (280 carries, 1,082 yards) had 126 yards rushing last week to top 1,000 yards for fifth time in six seasons.

WR Santana Moss (49 receptions, 622 yards) is averaging 51 yards receiving and is scoreless over past four games.

CB Fred Smoot played two seasons with Vikings (2005-2006).

TE Chris Cooley is averaging 80.2 yards receiving over past five outings. His seven TDs tie career best.

Minnesota has won six straight.

QB Tarvaris Jackson threw three INTs last week, but finished with career-high 249 yards passing. Jackson is 8-2 as starter this season.

Rookie RB Adrian Peterson (218 carries, conference-best 1,278 yards) averages 106.5 yards rushing per game, best in league. Peterson is trying to be first rookie to lead NFC in rushing since Barry Sanders in 1989. His 12 TDs on ground rank second in NFL.

RB Chester Taylor has 443 yards rushing and six TDs in past five.

Minnesota has best rush offense and defense in league (172.2 yards per game, 67.9).

Vikings are 5-2 at home. Defense has scored NFL-best eight touchdowns.

WR Bobby Wade leads team with career highs in receptions (46) and yards receiving (521).

DENVER (6-8) At SAN DIEGO (9-5)

6 p.m., ESPN, Monday

OPENING LINE: Chargers by 7 1/2.

LAST MEETING: Chargers 41, Broncos 3, Oct. 7, 2007 at Denver.

LAST WEEK: Broncos lost to Texans 31-13; Chargers beat Lions 51-14.

BRONCOS OFFENSE: OVERALL (6), RUSH (8), PASS (12)

BRONCOS DEFENSE: OVERALL (22), RUSH (29), PASS (6)

CHARGERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (20), RUSH (7), PASS (22)

CHARGERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (16), RUSH (16), PASS (22)

BREAKDOWN: Broncos were eliminated from playoffs last week.

QB Jay Cutler is 47-of-66 for 498 yards, five TDs and zero INTs over past two games.

RB Selvin Young (108 carries, 603 yards) is averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

WR Brandon Marshall had career-high 11 receptions last week and has topped 100 yards receiving in two straight games.

TE Tony Scheffler (40 receptions, 460 yards) finished with career-best seven catches for 100 yards and one TD last week.

P Todd Sauerbrun was cut, 10 days after police cited him for assault over altercation with taxi driver. P Paul Ernster was signed.

CB Champ Bailey was elected to start Pro Bowl and has most INTs (42) among active CBs since 1999. Teammate Dre’ Bly is second with 38.

DE Elvis Dumervil is fourth in AFC with 11 sacks.

San Diego clinched AFC West last week and had eight players elected to Pro Bowl, tied for most in AFC. Chargers have won four straight, outscoring opponents 130-55 over streak.

QB Philip Rivers is 3-0 with 771 yards passing and six TDs as starter vs. Broncos. In career, Rivers is 14-1 at home.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson (1,311 yards rushing, NFL-best 14 TDs) has three straight 100-yard rushing games and is averaging 146.3 over that span.

Defense has NFL-best 27 INTs. CB Antonio Cromartie, picked to his first Pro Bowl, leads league with 10 INTs, a franchise record.

LB Shawne Merriman (knee) missed last week, but is expected to play. His 11 1/2 sacks are tied for second in AFC.

Other NFL games

Thursday’s Game

Pittsburgh 41, St. Louis 24

Saturday’s Game

Dallas at Carolina, 6:15 p.m.

Sunday’s Games

Houston at Indianapolis, 11 a.m.

N.Y. Giants at Buffalo, 11 a.m.

Philadelphia at New Orleans, 11 a.m.

Cleveland at Cincinnati, 11 a.m.

Oakland at Jacksonville, 11 a.m.

Tampa Bay at San Francisco, 2:05 p.m.

N.Y. Jets at Tennessee, 2:15 p.m.

Baltimore at Seattle, 2:15 p.m.

Miami at New England, 2:15 p.m.

© 2007 The Associated Press

Nick’s Picks

Sports Editor Nick “The Greek” Prevenas picks against a Green Valley News reader each week on NFL games. In Week 14, Prevenas squared off against Green Valley News lifestyles editor and football costume enthusiast, Regina Ford. While admitting to knowing next to nothing about each NFL team, Ford’s “nicest costumes” technique netted her an 8-6 mark, but Prevenas’ “watch the games and form opinions” routine resulted in a 9-5 record and one-game advantage. Through 15 weeks, Prevenas is 137-78. This week’s challenger is Green Valley News copy editor Pat Rueter. If you would like to challenge Nick, email him at nprevenas@gvnews.com.

Nick's Picks

Packers

Lions

Cardinals

Vikings

Chargers

Colts

Bills

Saints

Browns

Jaguars

Buccaneers

Titans

Seahawks

Patriots

Pat's Picks

Packers

Lions

Cardinals

Vikings

Broncos

Colts

Giants

Saints

Browns

Raiders

Buccaneers

Jets

Seahawks

Patriots