Mattie T’s Week 13 Predictions of the 2006 NFL Season

Very good picks for me last week, including a win at my job’s Office Pool.
Week 12: 13-3

Overall: 100-60 (.625)

vs.
Baltimore Ravens (9-2) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (6-5) from Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH.

8:00 PM EST on Thursday.

Ravens can clinch their first AFC North title & playoff berth since 2003 with a win.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Bengals to upset the Ravens & keep their playoff hopes alive.

Baltimore will try to record their first 6 game streak since the 2000 season, when they won their final 11 games which included a win over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV.

Bengals WR Chad Johnson has amassed an NFL-record 573 receiving yards in his past 3 games & leads the NFL with 1,055 yards receiving.

Johnson has been held under 100 yards in 7 of his 10 career meetings with Baltimore.

Bengals QB Carson Palmer has thrown 9 touchdowns in the last 3 games & is tied with the Colts’ Peyton Manning for the NFL lead in touchdown passes with 21.

Palmer completed just 12 of 26 passes for 194 yards, 1 touchdown & 2 interceptions during the Ravens’ 26-20 win over the Bengals in Week 9. (QB Rating of 52.4, season-low)

Bengals S Kevin Kaesviham is in a 4 way tie for the NFL lead in interceptions with 6.

Cincinnati has the NFL’s worst pass defense, allowing 245.1 yards per game through the air.

Baltimore leads the NFL in turnover margin (+15), interceptions (20) & interception returns for touchdowns (4) & are allowing opponents to complete a league-low 53.2% of passes.

The Bengals will be without RB Chris Perry (broken fibula) & DT John Thornton (knee) on Thursday.

Baltimore has not swept the season series from Cincinnati since 2002.

vs.
San Diego Chargers (9-2) vs. Buffalo Bills (5-6) from Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, NY.

1:00 PM EST

The Chargers are 5-2-1 all-time in Buffalo since losing there during the 1964 AFL Championship.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Chargers to win a close game over the Bills.

San Diego will welcome back LB Shawne “Lights Out” Merriman from his recently completed 4 game suspension.

The Chargers went 4-0 without Merriman despite giving up an average of 26.8 points per game on defense during his absence.

In Merriman’s 7 games this season, the Chargers have only given up an average of 15.6 points per game.

The Bills will try to record their first three game win streak since winning 6 straight from Weeks 11-16 during the 2004 season.

Chargers LB LaDainian Tomlinson leads the NFL in total touchdowns (24), rushing touchdowns (21) & scoring. (144 points)

Bills RB Willis McGahee returned to the lineup during Sunday’s win over the Jaguars & recorded his first 2 touchdown game since his rookie season in 2004.

San Diego leads the NFL in scoring offense (32.1 points per game), touchdowns (43), rushing touchdowns (24), fewest turnovers (9), & fewest fumbles lost (3).

The Chargers are expected to get back G Kris Dielman (ankle) for Sunday’s game, but will be without DE Luis Castillo (ankle).

Buffalo is last in the NFL in third-down percentage at 28.6%.

The Bills are expected to get back WR Josh Reed (bruised kidney) for Sunday’s game.

Reed has not played since Buffalo’s 24-10 win over Green Bay during Week 9.

vs.
Minnesota Vikings (5-6) vs. Chicago Bears (9-2) from Soldier Field in Chicago, IL.

1:00 PM EST

The last Vikings receiver to post a 100 yard receiving game at Soldier Field was former wideout Cris Carter, who caught 7 receptions for 111 yards & a touchdown during Week 7 of the 2000 season.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Bears to win a close one over the Vikings.

Besides the amazing come-from-behind win at Arizona during Week 6, Chicago’s closest win to date this season was against Minnesota during Week 3 at the Metrodome.

Bears QB Rex Grossman threw his 1st career 4th quarter touchdown to WR Rashied Davis to give Chicago a 19-16 lead with 1:58 remaining to propel them to a come-from-behind win.

After that 3 game stretch, Grossman completed 61 of 94 pass attempts (64.8%) for 829 yards (276 yards per game), 6 touchdowns & 3 interceptions. (average QB Rating of 103.8)

Since that Week 3 meeting, Grossman has completed 131 of 252 passes (51.9%) for 1,561 yards (195 yards per game), 12 touchdowns & 11 interceptions in Chicago’s last 8 games. (average QB Rating of 74.6)

Grossman has thrown 11 of his 14 interceptions in the past six games, including three during Sunday’s loss to New England.

Grossman will have a chance to break out of his slump against Minnesota’s 31st ranked pass defense, which allows 242.5 yards through the air.

Minnesota however, does have the NFL’s top run defense, allowing just 56.6 yards on the ground.

The Vikings are the NFL’s only team that has not allowed an 100 yard rushing performance against them this season.

Bears RB Thomas Jones has had three 100 yard rushing performances in Chicago’s last 5 games & will look to become the first back to run for 100 yards on Minnesota’s run defense.

Bears CB Ricky Manning Jr. will return on Sunday from his 1 game suspension.

Manning was suspended by the NFL for last Sunday’s game because of his role in a restaurant altercation.

Vikings QB Brad Johnson threw for a season-high 271 yards & 3 touchdowns during their win on Sunday against Arizona.

Chicago leads the NFL in total forced fumbles recovered (17), and is tied for the league lead in touchdowns allowed (14).

The Bears will be without S Todd Johnson (ankle), while the Vikings will be without TE Jermaine Wiggins (knee).

Vikings S Darren Sharper said on Wednesday that Bears QB Rex Grossman was trash-talking to him & several Vikings players during Chicago’s 19-16 win over Minnesota in Week 3.

Sharper on Grossman:

“He’s a confident guy. We sensed that from the way he was running his mouth when he played us that he was very confident. So we’ll see how confident he is on Sunday.

“He was running his mouth pretty much the whole game, especially when he threw that last touchdown pass. He came over and said some things to my fellow safety and some defensive players and said something to me as well. So he’s a cocky guy and he’s going to say those things. But make sure he’s not the guy who kills their season for them so we’ll see what happens on Sunday.

“When he threw that last touchdown pass it was pretty much in-your-face-type comments. Everyone on our defense remembers what he did and how he was acting. He got caught up in the moment, being a young guy. He made a big play for his team to win a big game so he decided to be a little brash and talk trash a little bit. But there’s always another time you face a team. This is another time for us to face him.

“I never had a quarterback say the things he said before and I’ve been playing 10 years, and I’ve gone against some wild, brash, young quarterbacks. I think he kind of stepped over the line a little bit.

“A quarterback should never talk trash, that’s what I think, but that’s because I’m a defensive back. I don’t want any quarterback talking trash to me but he made the play so he felt like he could run his mouth. Anytime you do that, a quarterback opens his mouth to me, he’s stepping over the line. That’s just because I’m a defensive back.

“It don’t matter who it is. That’s a decision he made. But we have a chance to play each other again and we’ll play each other many more times so we’ll see who gets the best of whom.”

Meanwhile, Grossman responded, admitting he ran his mouth but was responding to safety Dwight Smith. Grossman said Smith hit him on the helmet after Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield returned an interception for a touchdown to open the fourth quarter.

“I probably said some things that I regret,” Grossman said. “But the whole game their DBs were talking to me, just really getting under my skin a little bit, probably more than I should have allowed it to, but they were just yapping the whole game. I threw the interception for the touchdown and I think Dwight Smith came up and smacked me on the helmet and just kind of was in my face and it was just kind of one of those deals. Facing all that adversity, that whole crowd, just so emotional when we finally got the touchdown pass that I probably went overboard a little bit with some of my emotions, some of the things I said, but it was in that moment. I regret it, but still I had all that pent up inside that I had to let it go.

“I never talk trash. You don’t want to get them pumped up, but at that point, maybe that was the only situation where I could let it go. Just because it was [ticking] me off, you know? To throw a touchdown pass to win the game, all that emotion, all that excitement, to have all that pent-up aggression, I can’t help but say something. It wasn’t really ever at Darren Sharper, it was mostly Dwight Smith. Darren Sharper never said a word. He was more in response to backing up Dwight Smith, because he turned his back, he wouldn’t let me talk to him. But yeah, I regret it, and it’s hopefully a situation that never comes up.”

Vikings WR Troy Williamson said earlier this week that he was struck in the face during a charity event sponsored by Sharper.

Each year the veteran free safety puts on “Sharperpalooza” in honor of his birthday.

This year, he had hip hop superstar Ludacris on hand at a nightclub in the Minneapolis suburb of Maplewood, and donated some of the proceeds to the United Way, the Minnesota AIDS Project and his own foundation.

Sharper called the event a success, but it had a somewhat sour ending when Williamson was struck in the face by a security guard shortly after the bar closed early Monday morning.

Williamson did not press charges and no arrests were made.

“You never want to see any incidents where something bad happens, but whenever you get a lot of people together some things like that can happen,” Sharper said Wednesday.

Sharper said he spoke with Williamson about the confrontation and the receiver told him, “I just wish it didn’t happen.”

“It happens. You can say jealousy plays a part it in that. A lot of things play a part in that,” Sharper said.

“But it’s the nature of being a professional athlete. You have to be leery of people when you’re in places like that. You have to just watch yourself.”
vs.
Kansas City Chiefs (7-4) vs. Cleveland Browns (3-8) from Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, OH.

1:00 PM EST

The Chiefs have averaged 40.5 points in winning both meetings with Cleveland since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Chiefs to blowout the Browns on Sunday.

Kansas City has won 5 of their last 6 games & will try to get a step closer to clinching a playoff berth for just the 2nd time in their last 11 seasons.

The Chiefs’ defense has not allowed more than 17 points a game since Week 8. (Team has gone 3-1 during that stretch)

Chiefs RB Larry Johnson has gone over 150 yards in 4 of his last 5 games & leads the NFL with 1,202 yards rushing.

Johnson now needs 549 yards in his final 5 games to set a new career-high in rushing yardage.

Chiefs DE Jared Allen leads the NFL in defensive fumble recoveries with 4.

Browns RB Reuben Droughns (sprained foot) is questionable for Sunday’s game.

vs.
N.Y. Jets (6-5) vs. Green Bay Packers (4-7) from Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI.

1:00 PM EST

The only 4 touchdown, zero-turnover game in the career of Jets QB Chad Pennington came in a 42-17 Jets win over the Packers in December of 2002, which was also the last time the Jets won the AFC East.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Packers to upset the Jets on Sunday.

Green Bay is just 1-4 at Lambeau Field this season.

The Packers are last in the NFL in scoring defense (26 points allowed per game), & have given up a league-high tying 21 touchdown passes on the year, which could mean a huge game in store for Pennington.

The Jets have given up a league-high 13 rushing touchdowns on the year, which could mean a huge game in store for Packers RB Ahman Green.

The Jets’ Justin Miller leads the NFL in kickoff return average (28.9) and kickoff returns for touchdowns. (2)

Packers RT Mark Tauscher (groin) & LB Nick Barnett could both miss Sunday’s game.

vs.
San Francisco 49ers (5-6) vs. New Orleans Saints (7-4) at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA.

1:00 PM EST

49ers have lost 4 of last 5 meetings against Saints at the Superdome.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Saints to blowout the 49ers.

Saints QB Drew Brees leads the NFL in passing yards (3,463) & New Orleans leads the league in total offense. (402.5 yards per game)

The Saints have just 5 interceptions this season, tied for fewest in the NFL.

The Saints could welcome back WR Marques Colston on Sunday, who was inactive during New Orleans’ 31-13 win over Atlanta with an ankle ijury.

If Colston plays, he will attempt to record his 4th consecutive game of 100 yards or more receiving.

Saints WR Devery Henderson has amassed more than 100 receiving yards in 3 of his last 4 outings.

49ers RB Frank Gore has rushed for over 100 yards in three consecutive games & is 2nd in the NFL with 1,177 rushing yards.

The Niners have lost an NFL-high 14 fumbles this season.

San Francisco is tied for last in the league in touchdowns allowed. (33)

vs.
Arizona Cardinals (2-9) vs. St. Louis Rams (5-6) from Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, MO.

1:00 PM EST

Cardinals are 3-18 on road during Dennis Green’s 2+ year tenure.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Rams to blowout the Cardinals.

Arizona is last in NFL rushing offense (69.7 yards per game), yards per carry (2.9) & and has not recorded a single run of 20 or more yards this season.

Rams RB Steven Jackson matched a season-high with 121 yards rushing during Sunday’s 20-17 win over the 49ers.

St. Louis has the NFL’s worst run defense (154.8 yards per game) & allows a league-high 5.2 yards per carry.

Rams QB Marc Bulger has thrown a league-low 4 interceptions out of all active quarterbacks with 11 starts this season.

The Rams will be without starting DE Victor Adeyanju for the next 2-3 weeks with a broken forearm.

vs.
Detroit Lions (2-9) vs. New England Patriots (8-3) from Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA.

1:00 PM EST

Lions have lost last 22 outdoor games played in the month of December & January.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Patriots to blowout the Lions.

With a win on Sunday, the Patriots can become the first AFC team to notch 4 wins against the NFC. (Vikings, Bears, Packers)

New England leads the NFL with 13 of 16 fourth downs converted for 81.2%.

Detroit has the fewest rushing attempts in the league with 209. RB Kevin Jones is questionable for Sunday’s game with an ankle injury.

After recording 3 interceptions during Sunday’s win over Chicago, Patriots CB Asante Samuel is in a four-way tie for the NFL lead in takeaways with 6.

New England has allowed an NFL-low 7 touchdown passes on the season.

The Patriots have also surrended just one run of 20+ yards this season, which is tops in the NFL.

vs.
Indianapolis Colts (10-1) vs. Tennessee Titans (4-7) from LP Field in Nashville, TN.

1:00 PM EST

Colts QB Peyton Manning has been held to under 200 yards passing in each of his last two games against the Titans, which included a season-low 166 yards during Indianapolis’ 14-13 win over Tennessee during Week 5.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Colts to win a close game.

Indianapolis currently has a one-game lead on Baltimore & San Diego for the #1 seed in the AFC.

Tennesee will attempt to win for the 5th time in their last 7 games & avenge a 1 point loss to Indianapolis during Week 5.

Colts QB Peyton Manning is tied the NFL lead in touchdown passes (21) along with Bengals QB Carson Palmer.

Indianapolis leads the NFL in third down percentage (56.7%) & sacks allowed. (12)

Tennessee is last in the NFL in completion percentage. (48.4%)

The Titans are also last in the NFL in total defense (367.8 yards per game) & is tied for last in touchdowns allowed. (33)

vs.

Atlanta Falcons (5-6) vs. Washington Redskins (4-7) from FedEx Field in Landover, MD.

1:00 PM EST

Falcons are 1-9 all-time in Washington.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Redskins to upset the Falcons.

Redskins RB T.J. Duckett will face his former team for the first time since he was traded from Atlanta to Washington in part of a 3 team deal on August 22nd.

Duckett spent the previous 4 seasons in Atlanta.

The Falcons lead the NFL in rushing offense (197.7 yards per game), yards per carry (5.7) & rushes of 20+ yards (21), but have failed to score more than 14 points during their current 4 game skid.

Washington has allowed a league-low 3 rushing touchdowns on the season, but are tied for the league high in touchdown passes allowed. (21)

The Redskins also have an NFL-low 9 takeaways this season & is tied for last in the NFL with 5 interceptions & 14 sacks on defense.

vs.
Houston Texans (3-8) vs. Oakland Raiders (2-9) from McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CA.

4:05 PM EST

Texans won only previous meeting 30-7 in October of 2004.

Sunday will mark the first trip to Oakland for a Houston-based NFL franchise since the Oilers lost 27-7 to the Raiders in a 1980 AFC First-Round Playoff game.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Raiders to upset the Texans.

Raiders QB Aaron Brooks will look to record his first win on the season as the team’s starting quarterback.

Oakland’s previous 2 wins were with QB Andrew Walter under center.

The Raiders demoted offensive coordinator Tom Walsh on Tuesday & promoted tight ends coach John Shoop as the team’s new offensive coordinator.

Shoop’s last offensive coordinator job was with the Chicago Bears from 2001-03, which included a NFC North title in 2001.

Oakland is last in the NFL in total offense (239.8 yards per game), scoring offense (12 points per game), passing offense (139.5 yards per game), touchdowns (13), passing touchdowns (6), & sacks allowed. (53)

Houston is 2-0 this season against Jacksonville & 1-8 against all other opponents.

Texans WR Andre Johnson leads the NFL with 84 receptions & is 18 yards away from his first 1,000 yard receiving season since 2004.

The Texans will have to play on Sunday without C Mike Flanagan (cracked ribs) & QB Sage Rosenfels (fractured thumb), who were both lost for the season during their 26-11 loss to the Jets on Sunday.

Banned Olympic sprint champion Justin Gatlin tried out with Houston on Tuesday, but Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said signing him was “not something we would do right now.”

“It was positive,” Kubiak said of the workout. “He did a good job. Some of our people who were over there watching him were amazed at how fast he ran. I don’t even know if he was full speed at that time. But he did catch the ball pretty good.”

Gatlin, the co-world record holder in the 100 meters, tested positive for testosterone and other steroids in April.

vs.
Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5) vs. Miami Dolphins (5-6) from Dolphin Stadium in Miami, FL.

4:05 PM EST

Jacksonville’s last win over Miami came in a 62-7 drubbing during a 1999 AFC Divisional Playoff Game, which was the last game for QB Dan Marino & head coach Jimmy Johnson.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Dolphins to upset the Jaguars on Sunday.

The Jaguars are a dismal 1-5 on the road this season & has the lowest road win percentage among teams with winning records.

Dolphins RB Sammy Morris will make his first start of the season in place of injured RB Ronnie Brown on Sunday. (fractured hand)

Jaguars CB Brian Williams (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday’s game.

This game will feature the NFL’s #3 (Jaguars, 276.2 yards allowed per game) defense against the NFL’s #5 (Dolphins, 279.5 yards allowed per game) defense.

vs.
Dallas Cowboys (7-4) vs. N.Y. Giants (6-5) from Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.

4:15 PM EST

Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells (served as Giants’ head coach from ‘83-90) is 4-5 against his former team.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Cowboys to defeat the Giants & move a step closer to capturing their first division title since 1998.

Since the Giants’ 36-22 road win over the Cowboys in Week 7, Dallas has gone 4-1 while New York has gone 2-3, which includes 3 straight losses.

The losing streak is starting to frustrate some Giants’ players.

Injured DE Michael Strahan accused WR Plaxico Burress of “quitting” Monday during a radio show on his route that led to a Eli Manning interception late during Sunday’s game.

Strahan then called out ESPN reporter Kelly Naqi on Wednesday after Naqi attempted to question him about those comments he made about Burress just 2 days ago.

“Come here, I want to see your face when you ask this question, the way you are going to ask it,” Strahan said. “I know you are going to ask it in a way there is more division and more of a negative way than it was, so come here, I want to see your face, please.”

“You’re a responsible journalist, look me in the eye and ask this question the way you want to ask it,” said Strahan, who only came into the locker room after being told by the public relations staff that Naqi was questioning his teammates about his comments. “Look a man in the eye before you try to kill him or make up something.”

Naqi then asked Strahan whether he had spoken with Burress since his comments, which came before the Giants held a players’ only meeting on Monday following a heart-breaking 24-21 loss to Tennessee. The setback was New York’s third straight, and came in a game in which it blew a 21-0 fourth-quarter lead.

The Tennessee comeback started after Burress gave up on a deep fourth-quarter pass by Eli Manning and Adam “Pacman” Jones intercepted. It was at least the second time this season Burress quit on a play.

“It’s a shame,” Strahan said on the radio Monday. “You can’t give up. You can’t quit, because you’re not quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on everybody. I don’t quite understand what his lack of motivation is in those types of situations. But I’m going to try to see what it is, and if I can talk to him about it. He’s too good for that.”

Strahan got snippy after Naqi questioned him about talking to Burress.

“I haven’t spoken to you about it,” he said. “I have spoken to Plaxico. I spoke to Plaxico in the team meeting, as well.”

Naqi said she was surprised by Strahan’s tone.

“I just felt like I was doing my job,” Naqi said.

Burress on Wednesday said he was unaware of Strahan’s comments.

“I haven’t had a conversation with him,” Burress said. “If that’s the way he feels, hey, I don’t talk about my teammates. If that’s the way he feels, then that’s the way he feels. I know what my motivation is. If that’s the way he feels, then that’s sad.”

“The fact of the matter is we are 6-5,” Strahan said. “We have lost three games in a row. What do you want us to do, put our head down and run to a corner? We don’t do that. We’re men. We get back, we practice hard. We prepare to play to win. We don’t prepare to come in and have someone who wants to take a comment and try to divide teammates in a way that it just disrupts this team.

“We don’t have that division,” Strahan added. “So if you want to come here with a negative, you are coming to the wrong guy, because I am not a negative guy. I don’t kill my teammates. I’m a man and I talk to my teammates.”

“The only thing that bothers me is the fact that you mislead people outside of this locker room when you guys spend more time with us than we damn near spend with ourselves sometimes, and that’s a shame,” Strahan said.

With that, Strahan said he was finished and had to prepare for the Cowboys. He has been listed as doubtful for Sunday matchup for the NFC East lead.

“If you are going to be negative, be negative because if you think it bothers me I don’t give a damn what you write,” Strahan said.

Giants QB Eli Manning has thrown 2 touchdowns & 6 interception during the team’s current 3 game losing streak.

The Giants could get back LB Brandon Short (quad) for Sunday’s game.

Short has been inactive since Week 7.

Cowboys QB Tony Romo is 4-1 as a starter this season & leads the NFL with a 110.8 quarterback rating.

Dallas cut K Mike Vanderjagt on Wednesday & signed veteran K Martin Gramatica.

Vanderjagt entered this season converting 230 of 266 field goals for an accuracy rate of 86.5%, tops in league history.

However, Vanderjagt only converted 13 of 18 field goals this season for 72.2%, the lowest success rate in his 9 year career.

“I’m just hoping things take a turn for the better,” Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells said

“I think right now, we just have to give him the benefit of the doubt and think things will. Now if they don’t, then that could be a different deal.”

Once so accurate that he was nicknamed “Automatica,” Gramatica was out of the NFL last season and was cut by New England in the preseason. He played three games this season for Indianapolis while K Adam Vinatieri was injured, making his only attempt, a 20-yarder.

Cowboys WR Terrell Owens questioned Parcells’ move of releasing Vanderjagt on Wednesday.

“I don’t see what he did wrong to warrant him being cut,” Owens said Wednesday. “I hope it doesn’t come back to haunt us. Whoever made that decision, I’m pretty sure they’re hoping the same thing.”

“Going into the Colts game, the guy was 12-of-15. That’s still a high kicking percentage,” Owens said. “He didn’t lose any games for us. If I had to put myself in the mix, I feel like I lost some games and I’m still here, so it’s just unfortunate.”

vs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-8) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-7) from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA.

4:15 PM EST

Steelers have won 5 of 6 all-time meetings.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Steelers to beat the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Pittsburgh has to win 4 of their final 5 games to avoid their first losing season since 2003.

Buccaneers QB Bruce Gradkowski will look to get his first career road win in his homecming game.

Gradkowski is a Pittsburgh native, as well as Steelers backup QB Charlie Batch.

Steelers S Troy Polamalu (knee) will miss the first game of his 4 year NFL career, while WR Hines Ward will also miss Sunday’s game with a knee injury.

Pittsburgh is last in the NFL in turnovers (30) & turnover margin. (12)

The Steelers have been shutout twice this season (Jaguars, Ravens) & have not been shutout three times in the same season since 1951.

Tampa Bay has surrended a league-high 21 touchdown passes this season.

The Buccaneers will be without G Dan Buenning (torn ACL, out for season), DT Ellis Wyms, LB Shelton Quarles & TE Alex Smith.

vs.
Seattle Seahawks (7-4) vs. Denver Broncos (7-4) from Invesco Field in Denver, CO.

8:15 PM EST

Broncos have won last 6 meetings & 12 of last 13 overall.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Seahawks to beat the Broncos, spoiling the NFL debut of Jay Cutler.

Rookie quarterbacks Matt Leinart, Andrew Walter, Bruce Gradkowski & Vince Young are a combined 0-4 in their NFL debuts made earlier this season.

Cutler replaced Jake Plummer as the starter on Monday & has been left alone by family, friends and teammates as he crams for his first test against Seattle on Sunday night.

No more voice messages or teammates dropping by his locker to offer up advice.

Cutler even came in on his day off Tuesday to get a head start on preparation; he wanted an early glimpse of the game plan.

“I have to learn everything,” Cutler said.

Cutler’s first practice to install a game plan went a little shaky Wednesday.

“We had some problems in (morning) walk-throughs,” he said. “We’ve got to work out the kinks. Right now everyone is watching really closely to see what I do.”

Including Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren. He’s trying to find what tape there is of Cutler from the preseason just to study up on the former Vanderbilt star.

“We know he’s a great player,” Holmgren said. “We really liked him, too, coming out of college. I’m assuming Jay will (bootleg) some, but probably not as much as Jake. I think he’ll probably be in the pocket a little bit more.”

If the preseason is any indication, Cutler will be looking for rookie TE Tony Scheffler.

Scheffler was Cutler’s security blanket in the preseason.

“We seemed to have a little chemistry in the preseason,” said Scheffler, who’s been inactive the last three games. “We’ll see what happens. He’s a great quarterback and I think he’ll do good.”

Cutler appeared drained as he stepped to the podium for his inaugural Wednesday afternoon press conference. He answered questions with short, crisp responses.

– On whether he fits with this offense: “I think I fit into the offense pretty well.”

– On what he expects from Seattle: “They’ve got a good defense.”

– On whether his friends and family are calling him: “They know I’m busy. I’m just concentrating quite a bit.”

Cutler figured he’d be asked about John Elway eventually.
The comparisons come with stepping behind center.

Since Elway retired following the Broncos’ Super Bowl win over Atlanta on Jan. 31, 1999, Denver has started Chris Miller, Gus Frerotte, Brian Griese, Jarious Jackson, Danny Kanell, Steve Beuerlein, Plummer and now Cutler at quarterback.

They’ve all lived in the shadow of Elway.

“John Elway put the bar high,” Cutler said. “It’s something I’m going to have to live up to. I’m going to try not to disappoint.”

Lang wouldn’t mind sneaking over to Cutler’s locker and giving him some friendly advice, but he doesn’t want to interrupt the rookie.

“I’d tell him to go out and have fun,” Lang said. “When you have fun, you’re doing two things — you’re winning and you’re doing your job. When you’re not having fun that means you’re getting your butt beat and the coach is cussing you out.”

Denver head coach Mike Shanahan won’t whittle down the playbook for the rookie. He expects him to know it.

“We go in with our normal game plan,” he said.

That’s why Cutler has no time for distractions.

“I’ve got to relax,” he said. “It’s going to come and we’ve got a lot of time left.”

Broncos RB Tatum Bell is probable for Sunday’s game after missing 3 of the team’s last 4 games with a turf toe injury.

Seahawks WR Darrell Jackson leads the NFL with 9 touchdown receptions.

Seattle is tied for the NFL lead in touchdown passes (21), but is last in the NFL with 3 rushing touchdowns.

The Seahawks are 4-0 this season when playing both QB Matt Hasselbeck & RB Shaun Alexander.

Denver is tied for the league lead with 14 touchdowns allowed.

vs.
Carolina Panthers (6-5) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (5-6) from Lincoln Financial Field from Philadelphia, PA.

8:30 PM EST

The last Eagles QB other than Donovan McNabb to record a home win on Monday Night Football was Randall Cunningham, who led Philadelphia to a 21-6 win over the Houston Oilers in October of ‘94.

Mattie T’s Prediction: I’m picking the Panthers to squeeze by the Eagles for a close win.

Carolina will play their 3rd primetime game in the past month. (Lost to Dallas & Beat Tampa Bay.)

Carolina is allowing opponents to convert a league-low 28% of third-down attempts.

Panthers RB Deshaun Foster (elbow) is probable for Monday’s game.

Panthers DE Julius Peppers leads the NFL with 11 sacks.

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook has three consecutive 100 yard games & needs 161 yards to record the first 1,000 yard season in his 5th year in the league.

This will most likely be the final role call before Friday’s Jam, so here we go one more time!

$6 cover at the door, if you’re in or around the Chicago Ridge area Friday night, come on out and show us some support.

It’s even going to snow on Friday, but like i said earlier NOTHING will stop me from coming to this event!!!!

Aight ya’ll, i’ll catch you on Saturday with loads of info from the Jam. Peace!!!

Until then,
Mattie T

Sports Writer for BMS Radio Chicago

www.bmsradio.com & myspace.com/bmsradiosports