Fantasy football matchups to exploit - Week 6
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October 9, 2008 @ 16:57:42
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By Hot off the Wire Network Contributors
Edited by Nicholas Minnix
Bears RB Matt Forte vs. Falcons LBs Curtis Lofton and Keith Brooking
Atlanta moved the veteran Brooking out of the middle to let the rookie Lofton play in the middle. The Falcons have a veteran run stuffer in the middle in defensive tackle Grady Jackson, but they have not been playing stout run defense. The Bears have to have success on the ground and should get some chances since quarterback Kyle Orton has had the hot hand in the last two weeks. Offensive guards Josh Beekman and Roberto Garza are both mobile; they can get to the second level on Lofton and Brooking to spring some big holes for Forte.
Bears OT John St. Clair vs. Falcons DE John Abraham
St. Clair has faced a who's who of pass rushers thus far. This week is no different: He draws the league leader in sacks, Abraham (seven). Abraham possesses a nice mix of speed and power moves; he will most certainly lead the Bears to provide help for St. Clair at times. The matchup is more difficult because it is on artificial surface and will be in the noisy Georgia Dome, where the offensive linemen will be at a disadvantage. St. Clair has done well for himself, but first-round pick Chris Williams is healthy and getting into playing shape. It's imperative that St. Clair have a good game to stay on the field.
Falcons RB Michael Turner vs. Bears LB Brian Urlacher
Some felt the Bears should pursue Turner, who attended Northern Illinois University, in free agency, but they went the draft route with Forte. Atlanta cannot be more pleased with Turner, the explosive runner who runs with excellent pad level and isn't easy to bring down on first contact. This is a meeting where the Bears, in their one-gap scheme, will need to be fundamentally sound. Urlacher hasn't had a big game yet, and this would be a good place to start, in a dome where he has excelled in the past.
Falcons WR Roddy White vs. Bears CB Charles Tillman
White had a special first half against the Green Bay Packers, catching eight passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. He is quarterback Matt Ryan's favorite target (team-high 26 receptions) and the only wideout with double-digit catches. He possesses the speed to hit the home run, and Tillman will be called on to shut him down. Tillman doesn't just play the ball in the air well, he's an aggressive corner who is one of the best in the league at stripping receivers just after the catch. If Tillman succeeds, it will put the pressure on Ryan who hasn't found a comfort level with his other targets.
Texans QB Matt Schaub vs. Dolphins pass defense
The Dolphins have been solid in getting at opposing quarterbacks, recording 12 sacks in their first four games. Schaub wasn't sacked once in his last start. Part of that had to do with improvement along the offensive line, especially with left tackle Duane Brown. Part of it had to do with Schaub making quicker decisions and getting rid of the ball quickly. The Texans will rely on both of those aspects again.
Texans RB Steve Slaton vs. Dolphins run defense
Slaton has been strong in his first three starts, but he faces a big task this week against the Dolphins. He may be as big a key in the receiving game as the running game. He must continue to slip past tacklers in the middle and bounce outside, into open space when he can. Slaton will continue to share carries with Ahman Green, but Slaton will get the most touches, most likely around 20.
Texans WR Andre Johnson vs. Dolphins CB Andre' Goodman
Johnson has quietly spent the past six seasons establishing himself as one of the NFL's elite receivers. This season the former Miami Hurricanes standout has turned 24 receptions into 310 yards and one touchdown. He's averaging 12.9 yards per catch and demands a double team. Goodman has been targeted by all four of the Dolphins' opponents. As a result, the seven-year veteran, who has produced seven interceptions in his career, has given up numerous big plays, including touchdowns, and drawn the most penalties of any Dolphins defender. If the Texans toss Johnson a bomb on Goodman, there's a good chance he'll either come down with the catch or a pass interference call.
Texans OT Duane Brown vs. Dolphins LB Joey Porter
There's nothing more appetizing to a pass-rushing specialist than a rookie left tackle. Brown, Houston's late first-round pick, has had difficulty with speed rushers. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers' James Harrison, Brown gave up three sacks. If this converted college tight end continues to experience hand placement issues, Porter could be looking at another multiple-sack performance. In four games this season the former Pro Bowler has already matched his sack total (5.5) from last season, proving the move back to the weak side was beneficial. The Dolphins are ranked fourth in sacks per passing play, which means Schaub could be under pressure all game long.
Ravens RBs Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain vs. Colts run defense
The Ravens are fourth in the NFL at 153.8 yards rushing per game, but more importantly, they commit to the run and pound it. They have 160 carries. Consider that the Colts have just 75. The Colts are the NFL's worst at stopping the run at 188.5 yards allowed per game. McClain is a bruising second-year fullback type who leads the team with 266 yards on 63 carries, a 4.2-yard average and four touchdowns. The oft-injured McGahee (knee) has 170 yards on 50 carries but has trouble finishing games because he always gets nicked up. The Colts struggle to tackle, and their smallish front is shoved around a lot.
Ravens TE Todd Heap vs. Colts linebackers
Heap had more catches last game (four) than he did in his first three games combined (three). There is no sign that Heap will become an integral part of the passing game any time soon, though. He is still being utilized as a blocker for half of the Ravens' pass plays. Plus, Heap has never been an impact player against the Colts. In four regular season games against Indianapolis, Heap has averaged 2.75 receptions and 35.8 yards; he has one touchdown against them.
Colts QB Peyton Manning vs. Ravens pass defense
Two of the best to play their position square off in what linebacker Ray Lewis referred to as a "chess match." Manning was sharp at the start of the Houston Texans game, but then he wasn't the same until the end, when the Colts rallied with 21 points in the final 2:10 for the stunning victory. Baltimore has allowed 13 points or less in three of four games. Lewis is still the man with a team-high 42 tackles on the NFL's No. 1 defense. The Ravens rank first against the pass this season, but this is deceiving because this secondary is banged up. Cornerback Samari Rolle is out with a shoulder injury, and his replacement, Fabian Washington, is nursing a shoulder injury. Manning will try to check to runs when Lewis and his mates give certain looks; however, Lewis and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan are sure to bluff a bit, switch into other looks and try to blitz Manning when he's not expecting it. Teams have had success against the Colts when they crowd the box because Manning has missed on those deep throws, which are needed to back the blitzers off. Manning is one of the few quarterbacks to have had success against the Ravens, though. In six games against the Ravens, he has thrown 13 touchdown passes and averaged 283 yards passing.
Lions quarterback vs. Vikings SS Darren Sharper
Sharper has intercepted 11 passes against the Lions and returned two of them for touchdowns. Quarterback Jon Kitna (back) has thrown three picks to Sharper. From Scott Mitchell to Charlie Batch to Joey Harrington to Kitna to J.T. O'Sullivan, Lions quarterbacks have struggled against Sharper. No matter who plays quarterback for the Lions, he must keep on eye on No. 42. Kitna isn't certain to play this week, which would leave the duties to either Dan Orlovsky (knee, ankle), who has very limited experience, or Drew Stanton, who has none.
Lions WR Calvin Johnson vs. Vikings CB Cedric Griffin
Opposing quarterbacks have made Griffin a frequent target this season in part because they want to stay away from veteran left corner Antoine Winfield. Griffin has given up plenty of short-to-medium range passes - something that is not a sin in Minnesota's defensive scheme. The Lions are likely to test Griffin by going to Johnson, the Lions' leading receiver with 19 catches for 292 yards and two touchdowns. It would not be surprising to see the Lions' quarterback take a few long shots against Griffin as well.
Lions OT Jeff Backus vs. Vikings DE Jared Allen
Allen led the NFL with 15.5 sacks last season and has two this year. All the Lions' quarterbacks are coming off injuries. If Backus can't contain Allen, it could lead to a fate even worse than sacks. If Orlovsky plays, he would be an inviting target for Allen. He is the least mobile of the Lions' quarterbacks.
Vikings RB Adrian Peterson vs. Lions run defense
The Lions held the Chicago Bears to 2.9 yards per carry Sunday. It allowed Chicago quarterback Kyle Orton to have a career day in the meantime, though. Peterson was held to 1.5 yards per carry Monday night at the New Orleans Saints. He ripped through the Lions last year at the Metrodome, though, with 15 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He hasn't rushed for 100 yards in the past three games. Detroit middle linebacker Paris Lenon is second on the Lions with 35 tackles. He will need help from nose tackle Chuck Darby and defensive tackle Cory Redding.
Raiders TE Zach Miller vs. Saints SS Roman Harper
The Raiders finally let Miller loose last week after defenses had clamped down on him through three games. He had five receptions for 95 yards, including a career-best 61-yard touchdown catch that came when four receivers ran vertical routes and quarterback JaMarcus Russell found him in the seam. He is the receiver Russell trusts the most. With head coach Tom Cable promising to balance what had been a run-heavy offense, Miller figures to get additional work. Harper, a second-round draft pick in 2006, is a physical player who tackles well but can be had in coverage - especially against a player who is as adept as Miller at finding open areas in a zone.
Saints RB Reggie Bush vs. Raiders LB Thomas Howard
Bush returned two punts for touchdowns last week. With Shane Lechler as their punter, the Raiders may be more concerned with him as a receiver out of the backfield. Bush leads the NFL with 38 catches, virtually all of them on safe, shallow routes near the line of scrimmage, although he has the skill set to go deep. Howard led NFL linebackers with six interceptions last year and returned two for touchdowns. He is one of the few players at his position with enough speed and athleticism to entrust with covering Bush. Howard has gone six games without an interception and could be looking to take one back the other way - which could be dangerous if Bush springs a double move.
Saints RB Deuce McAllister vs. Raiders DT Tommy Kelly
The Saints will likely look to lean on the running game more this week. The Raiders' run defense isn't as stout as the Minnesota Vikings' run stoppers. Oakland ranks 17th in the league; they're surrendering 113.2 yards per game. McAllister helped open up the Saints offense two weeks ago versus the San Francisco 49ers. The high-priced, underperforming Kelly will be the Raiders' first line of defense to stop McAllister.
Saints WR Devery Henderson vs. Raiders CB DeAngelo Hall
Henderson has always been known as the Saints' biggest threat for the deep ball. He became more involved in the passing game in the Monday night loss to the Vikings, when he caught four passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. He's averaging 31.7 yards per catch. Although Hall has two interceptions, teams have been picking on him considering that Nnamdi Asomugha, a more accomplished yet lesser known corner, is on the other side of the field.
Bengals QB Carson Palmer vs. Jets pass defense
The Jets are susceptible in the passing game; witness their ranking (31st, 265 yards allowed per game). They are allowing a 68.2 percent completion rate. Cornerback Darrelle Revis is playing well and has three interceptions. The rest of the secondary has been poor, though, and offenses are picking on rookie cornerback Dwight Lowery. New York is getting a solid pass rush, with 13 sacks in four games. Linebacker Bryan Thomas has four, and defensive end Shaun Ellis, three.
Bengals WRs T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson vs. Jets CB Dwight Lowery
With the rookie Lowery learning on the job, he has been very inconsistent, and Housh could put up big numbers against him Sunday. In the last few games, opposing quarterbacks have picked on Lowery and stayed away from Revis. Expect that to continue. This game could also be the one in which the Bengals get the ball to Ocho Cinco, who has just 14 receptions and one touchdown in five games.
Bengals TE Ben Utecht vs. Jets linebackers
Jets linebackers haven't covered opposing tight ends very well this year. The San Diego Chargers' Antonio Gates and the Miami Dolphins' Anthony Fasano both did some damage against the Jets. There is a good chance that Utecht has a breakout game against Gang Green. Utecht is an underrated receiving tight end, and the stars are aligned for him to have a big game in the Meadowlands.
Jets RB Thomas Jones vs. Bengals run defense
New York is faring only a little better than the Bengals in the rush game. It is ranked 26th and is gaining 3.8 yards a carry, compared to 3.3 for the Bengals. Thomas Jones is the workhorse, running 67 times for 254 yards (3.8-yard average) with a long of 16 yards and one touchdown. Though the Bengals run defense is better, they have allowed 229, 177 and 198 yards rushing in three of their five losses. The Bengals are 27th in rush defense at 167.6 yards a game.
Panthers QB Jake Delhomme vs. Buccaneers defensive backs
Delhomme has been fantastic over the years against the Bucs. He's 7-1 with 13 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. He faces a Bucs defense that ranks 21st in the league against the pass, so there will be some opportunities there. Wide receiver Steve Smith dropped two would-be touchdowns this past Sunday, so look for him to be fired up this week.
Buccaneers RBs Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn vs. Panthers defensive linemen
This season the Panthers have faced some top-notch running backs and shut them down. No back has run for 100 yards against the Panthers. That list includes the San Diego Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson, the Kansas City Chiefs' Larry Johnson, the Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson, the Atlanta Falcons' Michael Turner and the Chicago Bears' Matt Forte. The Panthers have allowed only one rushing touchdown, and that was to a tight end. Graham struggled against the one tough run defense (Chicago Bears) he has faced. Dunn is real slicer type of back. He never gives a defensive lineman much to grab at because he runs low to the ground; he's almost sideways as he cuts through the hole.
Buccaneers TE Jerramy Stevens vs. Panthers LB Jon Beason
Beason is one of the better young middle linebackers in the game, but he struggles to turn and keep pace with tight ends running down the seam. Stevens is one of the best in the league at getting down the hash marks, so the Bucs will look to take advantage of that weakness by running Stevens down the seam repeatedly. Not only will that give the Bucs a favorable matchup in the passing game, it should also take Beason out of the box. That should open up some room for the backs to get to the second level.
Rams RB Steven Jackson vs. Redskins LB London Fletcher
Jackson is coming off his first 100-yard rushing game of the season and finally has his legs under him after his 27-day contract holdout in the summer. To approach those kinds of numbers against Washington, he will have to avoid Fletcher, the tough veteran who still has a nose for the football and the range to get there in his 10th NFL season.
Rams WR Torry Holt vs. Redskins CB Carlos Rogers
Cornerback Shawn Springs may be limited this week with a sore calf that kept him out of the Philadelphia Eagles game. The assignment of checking Holt will therefore fall on Rogers, who is having an excellent season. Not even a year removed from knee surgery, Rogers has started every game and ranks fifth on the team with 20 tackles. He also leads the club with eight pass breakups. Holt has 15 catches for 187 yards this season and gets Marc Bulger back as the starting quarterback this week.
Redskins WR Santana Moss vs. Rams CBs Ron Bartell and Jason Craft
In the Redskins' win last week against Philadelphia, and for only the second time since coming to the Redskins in 2005, Moss was held without a catch. The Rams' cornerbacks aren't nearly as good as Philly's Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard. Expect the Redskins to re-establish Moss early in the game against the Rams' 28th-ranked pass defense. Moss' 27 catches are tied for eighth in the NFL, and he has three touchdowns. The Rams have only one interception. Less than three weeks after joining the Rams, Craft will find himself starting Sunday in what has become a patchwork secondary; starter Tye Hill (knee) is expected to miss three to four weeks. Craft, who began the year with the New Orleans Saints, has good footwork and speed, but his normal job is to cover slot receivers as the nickelback.
Jaguars RB Fred Taylor vs. Broncos run defense
Taylor and the Jaguars' running game were shut down last week. He likes running in cool weather, though - 23 of his last 24 games of more than 100 yards have come on Oct. 1 or later. The early forecast in Denver calls for possible snow flurries. Last season Taylor averaged five yards per carry in 17 tries against the Broncos. That was Taylor's best game ever against Denver, though; in five games against the Broncos, he has averaged just 50.5 yards, his lowest average against any NFL team that he has faced at least five times. Denver has struggled to stop the run (25th, 134.0 yards per game). The Broncos' mark of 5.2 yards allowed per carry is the NFL's worst.
Broncos QB Jay Cutler vs. Jaguars secondary
Jacksonville's secondary has some injury issues, especially with free safety Reggie Nelson (knee) and two cornerbacks on the injury report. The Broncos should be encouraged to spread the field and pass often after seeing Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's a big day against the Jaguars last week. Cutler could be in line for another huge statistical game.
Broncos RB Michael Pittman vs. Jaguars run defense
The Jaguars are traditionally tough and physical against the run. An injury to running back Selvin Young (groin) means that Pittman should get an expanded role. Pittman brings a physical running style to the offense. The Broncos might need him to grind out some tough yards against the Jaguars defense to keep the chains moving in what should be a tight battle.
Broncos WR Brandon Marshall vs. Jaguars CB Rashean Mathis
Marshall is off to a fast start, with 34 receptions (most by an NFL wide receiver) for 423 yards and three touchdowns, despite missing the team's season opener. The 105.8 yards-per-game average is second in the league. In last year's meeting with the Jags, Marshall caught seven passes for 133 yards. Most of the time he will likely be covered by Mathis, who's also off to a fast start. He has returned an interception for a touchdown in two of his last three games, with the picks coming against the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning and Roethlisberger. Mathis now has a franchise-record 23 interceptions in his five-plus seasons with the Jaguars.
Cowboys WR Terrell Owens vs. Cardinals CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Owens is in a little bit of a slump. Teams are not letting him get deep, and he is not having much luck underneath. He needs other receivers to make plays to keep defenses honest. He had a 57-yard touchdown catch last week versus the Cincinnati Bengals, his first catch of more than 20 yards since Week 2. The Cardinals have been victimized by the big play. They have allowed 10 passes of 20 yards or more, including four in the last two games. The rookie "DRC" has been burned a couple of times already. He has the confidence and the raw skills to take on anyone, though. He must avoid getting too physical with Owens when he lines up against him. More importantly, he must play smartly. He will be needed with cornerbacks Eric Green (groin) and Roderick Hood (groin) dinged up, although they're expected to play.
Cowboys TE Jason Witten vs. Cardinals linebackers
Witten has 35 catches for 442 yards and has had at least seven catches in each of the first five games. He is Romo's security blanket, maybe sometimes to a fault. The Cardinals have allowed opposing tight ends to catch 20 passes in the first five weeks, led by the Washington Redskins' Chris Cooley, who had seven catches for 72 yards. Witten is difficult to match up with because he can line up in the slot, on the line or in the backfield.
Cardinals RBs Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower vs. Cowboys linebackers
The Cardinals need to find a way to control the ball and keep it away from Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Edge and Hightower have been effective as a tandem, but their production must increase. It would help if Edge could break into some second-level runs to beat inside linebackers Bradie James and Zack Thomas to the secondary. The Cards may mix in running back J.J. Arrington just to add speed.
Eagles QB Donovan McNabb vs. 49ers defense
McNabb held a team meeting the day after the Eagles' most recent loss. Although he probably will be without running back Brian Westbrook (ribs, ankle) in Week 6, McNabb is publicly invested in turning the season around this week, before the Eagles' bye. Teammates expect him to be at his best against the league's 19th-ranked pass defense. McNabb's chest injury, a hindrance the past few weeks, seems better now. Don't be surprised to see him try to run a little, since defenses no longer seem to be expecting it.
49ers QB J.T. O'Sullivan vs. Eagles pass defense
O'Sullivan was off to a strong start, but he has cooled down in the past two weeks. He has six interceptions on the season, and five of them have come in the past two weeks. The Eagles will try to pressure O'Sullivan into poor decisions. Free safety Brian Dawkins will try to deceive O'Sullivan with his coverage. O'Sullivan has been sacked a league-high 20 times, but the 49ers are tied for fourth in the league with 21 pass plays of more than 20 yards. San Francisco is hoping that O'Sullivan will be able to make the Eagles defense pay for its aggressiveness.
49ers RB Frank Gore vs. Eagles run defense
The Eagles like to blitz, and the 49ers want to slow down the pass rush with Gore. Philadelphia has done a good job defensively, especially against the run. They have allowed just 3.3 yards per rushing attempt. Gore is averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He showed his versatility last week when he split out wide and ran a post pattern for a 16-yard touchdown. The 49ers will try to get the ball in Gore's hands a lot.
49ers TE Vernon Davis vs. Eagles safeties and linebackers
Davis has been the forgotten man in the 49ers offense. He has just five catches this season, for 87 yards, and just two in the past four games. Davis and O'Sullivan have been spending time after practice working on their timing in an attempt to generate chemistry. That work has yet to pay off, but it is possible that the 49ers will make more of a concerted effort to get the ball to Davis in this week's game. Opposing tight ends have 33 catches for 428 yards in five games against the Eagles this season. That's 6.6 catches and 85.6 yards per game, so Davis might be busier Sunday.
Packers RB Ryan Grant vs. Seahawks run defense
The last time Grant faced the Seahawks, his day started off as a nightmare. Two quick fumbles almost knocked the Packers out of their Divisional Round playoff game. Grant bounced back and finished with 201 rushing yards, though. After the way the New York Giants' Brandon Jacobs pounded the Seahawks' run D last week, Sunday's game is setting up as a possible replay of the January performance. Grant could use this matchup to get back on track.
Packers WRs Greg Jennings and Donald Driver vs. Seahawks CB Kelly Jennings
Jennings isn't nearly as good as Seattle's other cornerback, Marcus Trufant, so look for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to throw at Jennings often, regardless of whether he's covering Jennings or Driver. Who will have the bigger game between Jennings and Driver? Jennings has taken over the role as No. 1 receiver, but he may see Trufant more often.
Seahawks RB Julius Jones vs. Packers run defense
The Packers' run defense is in shambles right now, and Seattle is decimated at receiver, so look for Jones to carry a heavy load and have a productive game Sunday. The Packers' front four is struggling in all facets of the game and sustained a major blow with the loss of defensive end Cullen Jenkins (chest). With backups Michael Montgomery (ankle) and Jason Hunter (hamstring) both likely to miss this week, the Packers will be extremely shorthanded at defensive end. Of the likely replacements, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila has never been stout against the run, and rookie Jeremy Thompson played poorly in his first NFL game last week.
Patriots WR Randy Moss vs. Chargers CBs Quentin Jammer and Antonio Cromartie
Despite having some of the most talented corners in the league, San Diego currently ranks last in the NFL in pass defense; they allow more than 265 yards per game. Moss and quarterback Matt Cassel seem to be on the same page after their 66-yard scoring hookup against the San Francisco 49ers. Cassel looked deep to Moss on two other occasions in that game, too. Stretching the field with Moss is key to New England's offensive success, and Jammer or Cromartie will have the task of preventing Moss from having another big day.
Patriots KR Ellis Hobbs vs. Chargers special teams
Hobbs' mark of 34.2 yards per kickoff return is tops in the league by nearly three yards; he had been an above-average returner but seems to have kicked it up a notch this season. His returns have allowed New England to start with excellent field position, which comes in handy for Cassel and the rest of the offense. San Diego isn't the worst coverage team in the league, but it is in the bottom third in terms of yards allowed per return. The Chargers will have to work hard to limit Hobbs this week.
Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Patriots run defense
Tomlinson's toe is still hurting, and the league's top back is not in top form. Last Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins was the third time this season that Tomlinson averaged less than three yards per carry. In addition to LT's lost step because of the toe injury, his offensive line isn't clearing holes in the same manner it did in previous seasons. New England's run defense has been a bit softer than normal, this season but the Patriots' front, led by defensive end Richard Seymour, could be due to clamp down.
Chargers WR Vincent Jackson vs. Patriots defensive backs
The Chargers might be without receiver Chris Chambers (five touchdowns) because of an ankle injury, which would give Jackson (17 receptions) even more of a chance to excel. Chambers' absence would also mean potential playing time for wideout Malcom Floyd; the duo of the 6-foot-5 Jackson and the 6-foot-5 Floyd could pose problems for the Patriots in the red zone. New England's secondary suffered a blow when it lost cover corner Asante Samuel in free agency and could be vulnerable to the Chargers' explosiveness.
Giants RB Brandon Jacobs vs. Browns run defense
With the potential for less room to run to the outside against a 3-4 defense (the Giants don't face many of those), their running game is likely to be straight ahead. That's where Jacobs comes in. He has averaged a staggering 5.8 yard a carry on his way to 380 yards and three touchdowns. At 6-foot-4, 264 pounds, his job is to wear down the middle of the defense, where 6-foot-4, 350-pound defensive tackle Shaun Rogers stands. Wearing down a guy as big and strong as Rogers won't be easy. Rogers (22) and defensive end Corey Williams (18) have 40 total tackles, but this unit still has something to prove. Cleveland's run defense has improved, but it still ranks 22nd in the league at 126.0 yards allowed per game. The defense's last effort, versus the Cincinnati Bengals before the bye, was a step in the right direction, though. The Bengals managed just 69 yards rushing, including 28 on 12 carries by running back Chris Perry.
Giants WR Plaxico Burress vs. Browns CB Eric Wright
Burress is probably licking his chops for this matchup. Wright was no match for lesser Giants receivers in the teams' preseason meeting. Burress is well-rested and motivated following his two-week, one-game suspension. The last time Burress was punished with the loss of playing time was in Week 3 of 2005. The next week he caught 10 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns against the St. Louis Rams.
Browns QB Derek Anderson vs. Giants pass defense
The Cleveland organization sounds committed to sticking with Anderson as the starter - at least in the short term. He is coming off his best stretch of the season, completing nine of his final 10 passes and posting 17 fourth quarter points to rally past the Bengals. Anderson has completed just 49.6 percent of his passes (58-for-117) for 543 yards, three touchdowns, six interceptions and a 49.9 quarterback rating. His confidence appeared to take a hit with all the Brady Quinn talk, but the win and the bye have helped him refocus. He must be sharp against a Giants defense that ranks second against the pass at 154.0 yards per game. The last time Anderson saw the Giants, in the preseason, he was leaving the field with a concussion after a sack.
