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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 2:59 p.m., Thursday, September 25, 2008

NFL: Game-by-game capsules

By Terry Bannon
Chicago Tribune

Here are the NFL game-by-game matchups for this week.

All are Hawaii times.

Falcons (2-1) at Panthers (2-1)

7 a.m. Sunday

Line: Panthers by 7

Weather: Sunny, 80 degrees

Falcons: Atlanta has taken advantage of soft early schedule, which ends this week. Falcons can run, but can they generate enough passing offense to pull off key road division win? Doubt it.

Panthers: Panthers struggling with only 4 TDs from offense, but stout defense is ready to make difference. Controlling ball with run is key to this one.

Fantasy outlook: Michael Turner continues to get it done for Falcons with NFC-leading 5 rushing TDs. Panthers rookie Jonathan Stewart has rushed for 3 TDs and is getting 4.7 yards per carry.

Injury: Panthers G Travelle Wharton may be slowed by knee injury, but is expected to play.

Prediction: Panthers 24, Falcons 20.

Browns (0-3) at Bengals (0-3)

7 a.m. Sunday

Line: Bengals by 3 ›

Weather: Partly cloudy, 75 degrees

Browns: Sticking with Derek Anderson at QB despite continuing offensive problems. That's Brady Quinn warming up in bullpen.

Bengals: Have won last 4 home meetings vs. Browns, about only good news. Carson Palmer has only 1 TD pass, but Bengals' problems aren't just him.

Fantasy outlook: Neither offense can do much, but Bengals' RB Chris Perry has rushed for 2 TDs. Browns' Jamal Lewis getting just 3.5 per carry, awaiting 1st rushing TD.

Injuries: Safeties Sean Jones (knee) of the Browns and Dexter Jackson (thumb) of the Bengals are out.

Prediction: Bengals 24, Browns 13.

Texans (0-2) at Jaguars (1-2)

7 a.m. Sunday

Line: Jaguars by 7

Weather: Sunny, 90 degrees

Texans: Tough early schedule continues after losses to Steelers, Titans. Thanks to Hurricane Ike, Texans haven't played at home yet. QB Matt Schaub needs to come up with some big plays to remain starter.

Jaguars: 1-2 running combination of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew is working, which is good because passing game isn't. David Garrard has 1 TD pass vs. 4 INTs.

Fantasy outlook: Texans have new weapon in rookie RB Steve Slaton, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Jaguars' Jones-Drew rushed for 125 yards and 2 TDs in Texans' 07 visit to Jacksonville.

Injuries: Texans WR Kevin Walter (toe) and Jaguars LB Justin Durant (groin) have missed some practice time this week.

Prediction: Jaguars 20, Texans 10.

Broncos (3-0) at Chiefs (0-3)

7 am. Sunday

Line: Broncos by 9

Weather: Sunny, 75 degrees

Broncos: Broncos scoring league-high 38 points per game, and they've needed them, winning last 2 by combined 3 points (Chargers by 1, Saints by 2). This one shouldn't be as close.

Chiefs: Chiefs, losing by average of 15.3 points per game, went back to Damon Huard at QB after Tyler Thigpen threw 3 picks in 1st NFL start. It won't matter.

Fantasy outlook: Broncos' Brandon Marshall leads AFC with 24 catches for 321 yards — and he's only played in last 2 games. Chiefs' Dwayne Bowe has 15 catches, 2 for TDs, and had 9 receptions during Broncos' 07 visit.

Injuries: Chiefs LB Donnie Edwards has sore ankle.

Prediction: Broncos 38, Chiefs 21.

49ers (2-1) at Saints (1-2)

7 a.m. Sunday

Line: Saints by 5

Weather: Dome.

49ers: 49ers have won 2 straight and come into game with confidence that they can score enough to win. Playing defense will make difference.

Saints: Drew Brees leads offense that hasn't been held below 24 points yet, thanks mostly to Reggie Bush's 402 yards from scrimmage and 3 TDs.

Fantasy outlook: 49ers' J.T. O'Sullivan is NFC's No. 2-rated passer, and has thrown just 1 INT (vs. 3 TDs). Brees off to good start with league-leading 980 passing yards and 5 TDs.

Injuries: 49ers' No. 3 CB Shawntae Spencer out for season with knee injury. . . . Saints G Jamar Nesbit has been suspended 4 games for violating substance abuse policy.

Prediction: Saints 30, 49ers 27.

Cardinals (2-1) at Jets (1-2)

7 a.m. Sunday

Line: Jets by 1 ›

Weather: 40 percent chance of rain, 75 degrees

Cardinals: Cardinals stayed on East Coast after Sunday's loss to Washington, an unusual move. They hope it pays off in more rest for 37-year-old QB Kurt Warner.

Jets: Brett Favre, 38, is practicing with sore ankle, but he always plays. He'll have to make some big plays in passing game to match what Cardinals will do.

Fantasy outlook: Cards' Anquan Boldin averaging 14.5 yards per catch and tied for NFL lead with 4 receiving TDs. Jets' Thomas Jones, averaging 4.2 yards per carry, must carry load in this one.

Injury: Jets anticipate NT Kris Jenkins (back) to play.

Prediction: Jets 24, Cardinals 20.

Packers (2-1) at Bucs (2-1)

7 a.m. Sunday

Line: Bucs by 1

Weather: Partly cloudy, 90 degrees

Packers: Packers have to shake off Sunday night loss to Cowboys, but injuries in secondary are concern. Aaron Rodgers needs big plays to compensate.

Bucs: Brian Griese showed Bears last week he still can make big plays, rallying Bucs to OT victory. Can he do it again?

Fantasy outlook: Packers' Greg Jennings leads NFL with 373 receiving yards and is due for his 1st TD. Antonio Bryant is Griese's favorite target after 10-catch day vs. Bears.

Injuries: Packers CB Al Harris (spleen) is out and CB Charles Woodson playing with sore toe. ... Bucs WR Joey Galloway (foot) may miss 2nd straight game.

Prediction: Bucs 24, Packers 20.

Vikings (1-2) at Titans (3-0)

7 a.m. Sunday

Line: Titans by 3

Weather: Partly cloudy, 90 degrees

Vikings: QB switch to Gus Frerotte paid off in home win over Panthers, but Vikings need more than Adrian Peterson's running.

Titans: NFL's No. 3 defense (240.3 yards per game) allowing just 9.7 points per game, best in league. DT Albert Haynesworth has 3 sacks and CB Cortland Finnegan leads NFL with 4 INTs.

Fantasy outlook: Can Peterson approach his 5.2 yards per carry vs. Titans defense? Titans' LenDale White has been doing dirty work near end zone, rushing for 4 TDs.

Injury: Titans CB Nick Harper has thigh injury.

Prediction: Titans 20, Vikings 13.

Chargers (1-2) at Raiders (1-2)

10:05 a.m. Sunday

Line: Chargers by 7 ›

Weather: Sunny, 75 degrees

Chargers: After starting season with 2 losses by combined 3 points, Chargers turned it loose with 19-point win over Jets Monday night. Next up are Raiders, whom Chargers have beaten 9 straight. Make it 10.

Raiders: Another week, another Lane Kiffin career watch. In meantime, Raiders try to build around rookie RB Darren McFadden.

Fantasy outlook: Chargers QB Philip Rivers has been model of consistency — 3 TD passes in each of 1st 3 games. Raiders' JaMarcus Russell has 3 TD passes, no INTs.

Injury: Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson continues to play with sore toe.

Prediction: Chargers 31, Raiders 20.

Bills (3-0) at Rams (0-3)

10:05 a.m. Sunday

Line: Bills by 8

Weather: Dome

Bills: Going for 1st 4-0 start since '92, and though Trent Edwards is no Jim Kelly, Bills have come from behind to win last 2. That shouldn't be necessary this time.

Rams: Have scored NFC-low 29 points for many reasons, and QB Marc Bulger has paid for it as Trent Green, 38, gets another chance to start. His last start was 11 months ago for Miami and he was knocked out for season with concussion.

Fantasy outlook: Edwards has been hot in 4th quarter, completing 75 percent (24 of 32) with 2 TDs and no INTs. Last year for Miami, Green threw 5 TD passes vs. 7 INTs.

Injuries: Bills lost speedy WR/punt returner Roscoe Parrish 4-6 weeks to thumb injury. Their only FB, Darian Barnes, is battling foot injury.

Prediction: Bills 20, Rams 17.

Redskins (2-1) at Cowboys (3-0)

10:15 a.m. Sunday

Line: Cowboys by 11

Weather: Sunny, 85 degrees

Redskins: Head to Texas with momentum, thanks to 2 straight home victories. Jason Campbell has yet to throw INT and Clinton Portis can run vs. Cowboys.

Cowboys: It's early-season showdown in NFL's best division, and Dallas hasn't revealed serious weakness yet. Offense is churning out 440 yards per game.

Fantasy outlook: Redskins' Santana Moss has 3 TD catches already this season, and 4 in 5 games vs. Cowboys. Rookie Felix Jones making big plays for Cowboys with 3 TDs, 2 rushing and 1 kick return.

Injuries: Redskins DE Jason Taylor (calf) is out. . . . Cowboys G Kyle Kosier (foot) is out.

Prediction: Cowboys 34, Redskins 21.

Eagles (2-1) at Bears (1-2)

2:15 p.m. Sunday

Line: Eagles by 3

Weather: Partly cloudy, 65 degrees

Eagles: Have done good job of handling shaky offenses — holding Rams to 3 points and Steelers to 6. That should make up for likely absence of RB Brian Westbrook (ankle).

Bears: After 2 straight 4th-quarter collapses, can Bears get their act together? At some point, offense has to develop some consistency.

Fantasy outlook: Donovan McNabb, who has beaten Bears in 4 of 5 meetings, has thrown 5 TD passes vs. 1 INT. Newcomer Brandon Lloyd becoming factor in Bears offense with 13 catches for 16.6-yard average and 1 TD.

Injury: Bears playmaker Devin Hester (ribs) may not play.

Prediction: Eagles 20, Bears 13.

Ravens (2-0) at Steelers (2-1)

2:30 p.m. Monday

Line: Steelers by 5 ›

Weather: Clear, 65 degrees

Ravens: Ravens' No. 1-ranked defense could have dominating night, but with rookie QB (Joe Flacco), their offense will struggle against NFL's No. 2 defense.

Steelers: Offense needs contributions from all around with RB Willie Parker out (knee) and QB Ben Roethlisberger playing with hand and shoulder ailments.

Fantasy outlook: Steelers rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall, 1st-round pick from Illinois, gets his 1st start after gaining 28 yards on 10 carries in limited action so far.

Injuries: Steelers DE Brett Keisel (calf) and NT Casey Hampton (groin) are out. ... Ravens S Dawan Landry (neck) is out.

Prediction: Steelers 13, Ravens 10.