Week 13 Notes & Predictions

By TLarner

So it’s Auburn and Oregon in the college  “National Championship”? Switching back to the pros, many teams are fighting for their right to play in the post season (Yea, that’s right, an actual playoff system). Check out Week 13 news, injuries, and predictions.

Monday Night’s Results:   SF 27, ARI 6

Troy Smith has now won three games in four starts as the 49ers’ quarterback with a win over NFC West rival Arizona. Cardinals’ running back Beanie Wells fumbled early in the first quarter, leading to a 38-yard touchdown catch by Michael Crabtree for a 49er touchdown. After Arizona kicked a field goal, San Francisco running back Anthony Dixon ran one yard for a touchdown. Brian Westbrook had a big night on the ground in relief of Frank Gore, and scored on an eight-yard run in the second quarter, and the 49ers took a 21-6 lead into halftime. In the second half, San Francisco kicker Shane Andrus made two field goals. Arizona quarterback Derek Anderson struggled once again to spark any offense, and had no chance of a come from behind victory.

Smith threw for 129 yards with a touchdown and an interception for San Francisco. Westbrook ran for 136 yards with a touchdown. Gore ran for 52 yards before leaving the game with a hip injury in the first quarter. Crabtree had two catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. Linebacker Takeo Spikes picked off Anderson once in the second half. The Cardinals converted only two third downs all night. They had only eight first downs compared to 26 by the 49ers. Anderson threw for 196 yards with an interception. Wells ran for 13 yards on five carries. Early Doucet had five catches for 60 yards, while Larry Fitzgerald caught four passes for 37 yards.

Thursday Night Football: HOU 24, PHI 34

The Philadelphia Eagles continue to be carried on the wings of quarterback Michael Vick. After Jorrick Calvin had his 102-yard kick return called back on a penalty, Vick led the Eagles’ offense down the field, capping the opening drive off with a short touchdown pass to running back LeSean McCoy. Early in the second quarter, McCoy ran for a touchdown, and the Eagles went up 14-3. Texans’ quarterback Matt Schaub answered with a touchdown pass of his own to receiver Jacoby Jones. David Akers kicked two field goals before the half, and the Eagles led 20-10 during the break. Coming out of the locker room, Schaub threw another touchdown, this time to Arian Foster. A Vick interception set up a touchdown run by Foster, and Houston took the lead, 24-20. Philadelphia scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter on a Vick touchdown run and a Vick touchdown pass to fullback Owen Schmitt to put the game out of reach for the Texans.

Schaub threw for 337 yards with two touchdowns and one pick. Foster ran for 83 yards and a touchdown, and caught two passes for 26 yards and another score. Receiver Andre Johnson had a big game with six catches for 149 yards. Houston had more total yards and more first downs than Philadelphia, but were unable to convert those stats into a win. Vick threw for 302 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 48 yards and another touchdown. McCoy ran for 44 yards with a score, and caught a team high eight passes for 86 yards with a receiving touchdown. DeSean Jackson caught three passes for 84 yards.

News & Notes

The New York Jets are expected to sign veteran receiver Laveranues Coles this weekend. Coles started on the roster in the preseason before being cut, and ranks fourth in Jets history with 459 catches.

Minnesota running backs coach Eric Bieniemy will leave his position to take over as the University of Colorado’s offensive coordinator after the season. Bieniemy is Colorado’s all-time leading rusher and was the running backs coach from 2001-’02.

The NFL Players Association suspended agent Gary Wichard for nine months for his involvement in a recruiting scandal with the University of North Carolina. USC undergrad Teague Egan also had his agent certification revoked after giving a ride across campus to Trojan tailback Dillon Baxter, which apparently violates NCAA rules (Sounds a little ridiculous to me).

Houston receiver Andre Johnson and Tennessee cornerback Cortland Finnegan were each fined $25,000 after their fight during last Sunday’s game. Both were ejected from the game, but neither was suspended for their actions. These division rivals have a history of in-game scuffles. Last year, Johnson was fined $7,500 for taking Finnegan down by the facemask.

Injury Report

49ers’ running back Frank Gore will miss the remainder of the season with a fractured right hip. The star back was on pace for yet another 1,000-yard season. The team had to hide his helmet during their Monday night win over Arizona because Gore wanted to keep playing.

The New York Jets placed safety Jim Leonhard on injured reserve after breaking his leg in practice on Friday. Leonhard was the signal caller for the Jets’ stout defense, and also returned punts.

The Minnesota Vikings listed running back Adrian Peterson, receiver Percy Harvin, and offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson as questionable for Sunday’s game against Buffalo. Coach Leslie Frazier stated he is confident Peterson will play with a sprained ankle, while Harvin is a game-time decision after suffering from more migraines. Hutchinson has a broken thumb, and is “very likely” to start with a cast on his right hand.

Although he is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Ravens, Ben Roethlisberger is going to start with a fractured right foot. Roethlisberger was suspended during the first meeting between AFC North Rivals.

The Washington Redskins will be without safety LaRon Landry and corner Carlos Rodgers when they travel to New York to face division rival Giants. Landry has an Achilles’ tendon injury, while Rodgers will sit with sore hamstrings.

Rookie quarterback Colt McCoy will miss another game as Cleveland coach Eric Mangini named Jake Delhomme the starter for the second straight week. McCoy is still nursing a high ankle sprain.

Dallas running back Marion Barber is ruled out for the Cowboys’ game against Indianapolis. Felix Jones and Tashard Choice will split the carries against one of the worst run defenses in the league.

The Chargers will have rookie running back Ryan Mathews back when they face division rival Oakland on Sunday. Tight end Antonio Gates, receiver Malcom Floyd, and back Mike Tolbert all practiced Friday and are listed as questionable. Gates will be a game-time decision with an injured foot. Floyd is expected to play although he is nursing a hamstring injury. Tolbert, the team’s leading rusher, is suffering from a bruised hand.

Game of the Week: Pittsburgh at Baltimore

A matchup between the top two teams in the AFC North highlights the Week 13 Game of the Week. The Steelers (8-3) will travel to the Ravens (8-3) to determine first place in the division. In their first contest, Baltimore edged Pittsburgh 17-14 in the last game of Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension.

The Steelers have won two straight, including an overtime win in Buffalo last week. Their offense ranks 16th with 23.1 points per game. They are ninth in rushing yards per game, averaging 126.0 yards. In seven starts, Roethlisberger has thrown for 1,825 yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. Running back Rashard Mendenhall is seventh in the league with 962 yards on the ground. He also has nine rushing touchdowns. Receiver Mike Wallace has 792 yards receiving, averaging 22 yards per catch, with eight touchdowns. The Pittsburgh defense is third best in the league, giving up only 16.5 points per game. Their rush defense is first overall, allowing only 64 yards rushing per game. The Steelers’ defense has 32 sacks, 14 interceptions, and 20 forced fumbles. Linebacker James Harrison has a team-high 10 sacks, and Troy Polamalu has four interceptions.

Baltimore is right behind the Steelers with 22.7 points per game. Quarterback Joe Flacco has thrown for 2,722 yards with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Ray Rice has 815 yards on the ground with three touchdowns, and 47 receptions for another 392 yards. Anquan Boldin leads the Ravens with 51 receptions for 652 yards and six touchdowns. The Baltimore defense only allows 17.1 points per game, fifth overall. Linebacker Ray Lewis continues to strike fear in opposing offenses. Lewis has 95 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), and a forced fumble. In five games, hard-hitting safety Ed Reed already has four interceptions.

Key Matchup: Mendenhall vs. Rice

Both Pittsburgh and Baltimore have established quarterbacks, but both defenses can rattle the best QB’s in the league. Each defense can get to the quarterback, and the best two safeties in the NFL can wreak havoc in the secondary. This game will be a typical smash-mouth style game that we are used to seeing from the AFC North. However, both teams have some injuries on the offensive line. Mendenhall ran for 151 yards and scored once the victory over Buffalo last week, while Rice had a 132 total yards as Baltimore beat Tampa Bay. Whichever team is more successful on the ground can slow down the pass rush and set up play action passes.

Prediction

This Steelers team is different than the one that lost to Baltimore earlier this season, mainly because Roethlisberger is now in the lineup. Not only does the Ravens’ defense have to contain Mendenhall, but they now have to worry about the dynamic QB. But Pittsburgh did struggle against Buffalo, while the Ravens handled business against a quality Tampa Bay team. With the injury to Roethlisberger, expect the Ravens to test his mobility. If Big Ben was healthy, I’d feel comfortable picking the Steelers, but this week, Baltimore will take sole possession of first place in the AFC North.

Best of the Rest: (Home team in italics

New Orleans over Cincinnati

Chicago over Detroit

Green Bay over San Francisco

Kansas City over Denver

Cleveland over Miami

Buffalo over Minnesota

New York Giants over Washington

Jacksonville over Tennessee

San Diego over Oakland

St. Louis over Arizona

Indianapolis over Dallas

Carolina over Seattle

Tampa Bay over Atlanta

New England over New York Jets

Last week’s results: 8-4

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