Notes from Lombardi

Michael Lombardi By Michael Lombardi
Posted November 16, 2008
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National Football Post Brunch News

GAME NOTES

 

Chargers (4-5) at Steelers (6-3)

 

The Chargers are 1-4 on the road this season.  Now is the best time to play the Steelers as their secondary is depleted at corner. 

 

Philip Rivers has 2+ TD passes in 4 straight games.  Rivers has 3 TD passes in 5 of 9 games this season and has a TD pass in 16 straight contests.  With 21 TD passes, Rivers is 1 shy of his career-high set in 2006.   Rivers has four 300-yard games this season; entering this season he had four 300-yard games in his career.

 

The Chargers have gained 400+ yards in 3 of their last 4 games (2-2 in those 4 games).  LaDainian Tomlinson has gone 5 straight games without a rushing TD – the longest streak of his career.

 

Antonio Gates has a touchdown catch in three of the team’s last four games.  The Chargers defense has allowed 21.0 PPG at home this season, but 26.8 on the road.

 

The Steelers have lost 2 straight at home.  Pittsburgh hasn’t lost 3 straight at home since 2003.  Over the last 2 games the Steelers have run the ball 55 times for 110 yards – 2.2 yards per rush attempt.

 

The Steelers’ offensive line is the worst it has been in sometime.  They lack talent in their group and it will keep them from winning on the road, as well as in key games. 

 

The Steelers are averaging 96.7 rush yards per game this season.  In only 1 other season since 1970 have the Steelers averaged fewer than 100 rush YPG – that was in 2003 (93.0).

 

Surprisingly, Ben Roethlisberger has more interceptions (11) than touchdowns (10). 8 of his 11 INTs have come in the last 3 games (beginning with that loss to the Giants in which he threw 4 INTs).

 

The Steelers have not allowed a 100-yard rusher this season and have allowed only three 100-yard rushers in the past 75 games (postseason included).  The 3 players to rush for 100 yards are Fred Taylor (Dec. 16, 2007), Thomas Jones (Nov. 18, 2007) and Edgerrin James (Nov. 28, 2005).

 

Ben Roethlisberger This Season

 

1st 6 Games                    Last 3 games

Comp pct                          63.2                                   54.5

Yards/attempt                      7.7                                   5.9

Pass YPG                         193.8                                174.3

TD                                        9                                       1

INT                                       3                                       8

Sacks                                  18                                      10

Passer rating                      98.1                                  38.2

 


 

 

 

Titans (9-0) at Jaguars (4-5)

 

The Titans have won a team-record 12 straight games dating back to last season.  They have also won a team-record 6 straight road games.  The Titans are the 14th team since 1970 to start a season 9-0 or better.

 

The Titans have outscored opponents 109-54 in the 2nd half this season.  Tennessee’s defense has allowed 75 or fewer rushing yards in 8 of 9 games this season.

 

LenDale White (11) and Chris Johnson (5) have combined for 16 rushing TDs.  Chris Johnson had 123 scrimmage yards (93 rushing, 34 receiving) in his last game against Jacksonville.

 

Bo Scaife has 42 receptions this season.  He had career-high 46 last year.  Kerry Collins is 9-3 in his career as a starter with the Titans.

 

The Jaguars are 1-3 at home this season.  All 4 games have been decided by 6 points or fewer.

 

Since the Jaguars drafted Maurice Jones-Drew in 2006, they are 16-4 when they rush for 150 yards or more and 7-14 when they fail to reach 150 yards..

 

 Fred Taylor needs one touchdown to set the franchise record. Taylor is tied with Jimmy Smith, with 69 touchdowns.

 

David Garrard has 7 TDs, 1 INT in his last 6 games.  The Jaguars are 1-5 when they trail at halftime this season.

 

 

 

Cowboys (5-4) at Redskins (6-3)

 

The Redskins held a 38:09-21:51 time of possession advantage and out-rushed Dallas 161-44 in their first meeting. The Redskins have won 3 of the last 4 games against the Cowboys – including the last two.

 

The Cowboys are just 12-15 against the NFC East since 2004 (28-14 vs. non-division foes during that span). 

 

The Cowboys have lost 4 of their last 5 division games – they have 11 turnovers in those 5 games and lost the time of possession edge in all 5 contests.

 

Tony Romo returns to the lineup – Romo has 9 TDs and 3 INTs in his last 4 starts vs. the Redskins.

 

Terrell Owens has 7+ receptions and 1+ TD in 3 straight against the Redskins.  Owens has 36 or fewer receiving yards in 4 straight games.  Jason Witten has 1 reception for 8 yards in his last 2 games.

 

The Cowboys defense has allowed 30+ points in 3 of their last 4 games.

 

Dallas has 8 turnovers and a missed FG in their last 2 losses – opponents have scored 38 points off of those 9 miscues (5 TDs, FG).

 

Cowboys this season

With/Without Romo

 

                                    With                          Without

W-L                              4-2                                1-2

Total YPG                     401.8                           232.0

Pass YPG                     274.0                          140.3

PPG                             29.2                             13.7

3rd down pct                  54.5                             34.1

 

The Redskins defense has limited 5 straight opponents to fewer than 275 yards.

 

Jason Campbell has been sacked 15 times in the last 4 games.

 

Santana Moss has 8+ receptions for 115+ receiving yards in 3 straight games against the Cowboys.

The Redskins are 5-1 this season when they win the time of possession battle (1-2 when they don’t).    

 

 

Eagles (5-4) at Bengals (1-8)

 

The Eagles’ 3-game win streak ended in Week 10 against the Giants. Despite being last in the NFC East, the Eagles rank 4th in PPG (27.9), 7th in total offense (360.8 YPG ) and 5th in passing (262.4 YPG). Philadelphia also ranks in the top-10 in PPG allowed (20th - 20.0 PPG), total defense (9th - 293.8  YPG) and pass defense (6th- 190.4 YPG). The Eagles are 4th in the NFL with 28 sacks (+15 sack ratio).

 

The Bengals are tied for 4th-most sacks allowed (30).

 

Brian Westbrook was limited to 26 rushing yards on 13 attempts (season-worst 2.0 yards per rush) against the Giants in Week 10.

 

The Bengals are ranked 25th against the rush (138.1 YPG). Westbrook needs 1 TD reception to tie Timmy Brown for 1st place in team history among RBs with 26.

 

The Bengals are coming off a bye week following their only victory of the season against the Texans.

 

T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s 61 receptions ranks 3rd in the NFL. He’s had one 100-yard game this season,

 

Chad Johnson’s season-high has been 57 yards against the Jets.

 

Cedric Benson is the only Cincinnati RB to produce a 100-yard rushing game this season (104 vs. JAC).

 

The Eagles are 1-9 over the last 2 years in games decided by less than a TD and 0-4 this year.

 

 

 

Lions (0-9) at Panthers (7-2)

 

The Lions have lost 10 straight games dating back to last season, and have lost 16 of their last 17 games.

 

Daunte Culpepper makes his 2nd start of the season for the Lions.  Culpepper’s last start against the Panthers came on Oct. 30, 2005 – that game was Culpepper’s final game with the Vikings.  On the final play of the 1st quarter, Culpepper tore the ACL, MCL and PCL in his knee.

 

Calvin Johnson has a receiving TD in 4 of his last 5 games.  Johnson is averaging 19.8 yards per reception this season.

 

The Lions have allowed an opposing passer rating of 111.3 – that is worst in the league and worst in the NFL in the Super Bowl era (since 1966).

 

Last 5 teams to start 0-10

 

                                    Started                     Final W-L

2007 Dolphins                   0-13                          1-15

2001 Lions                       0-12                           2-14

2000 Chargers                  0-10                           1-15

1997 Colts                       0-10                           3-13

1993 Bengals                   0-10                           3-13

 

The Panthers last started 8-2 in 2003 when they went to the Super Bowl.  Jake Delhomme has 8 TDs and 1 INT in his last 4 games at home.

 

Delhomme has 4 straight home games with a 110.0+ QB rating.  In his career, Delhomme is 15-0 when he has a passer rating that high. Carolina is 19-5 in games where Delhomme notches at least one touchdown pass and no interceptions.

 

Steve Smith has 30 receptions for 552 yards and 4 TDs in his last 6 games (92.0 ypg).

 

Comparing the Panthers of ’08 to the ’03 Panthers, (the Cardiac Cats) first 9 games:

 

                                    2008                 2003

W-L                              7-2                    7-2

PPG                             19.8                  21.2

Opp. PPG                     18.1                  14.8

Total YPG                     330.0                315.3

Pass YPG                     176.8                196.1

Rush YPG                     153.2                119

Fantasy Draft Guide

Remarks

4 comments for “National Football Post Brunch News”

  1. Paul J
    November 16, 2008
    9:34 am

    My two cents: that Eagles-Bengals game will be a barn burner.

  2. Mr.Murder
    November 16, 2008
    2:43 pm

    All but three games are traps today. The NYG were sure money, TN should be as well(even though it is a division game) and San Diego.

    The Chargers better make it count. It is is Rivers’ team now, he has to make the points count.

    Do what the Colts did, double move the slot and hot number one. Invert Chambers and Gates if need be, so you can sail Chambers and hot Gates.

  3. Uncle Rico
    November 16, 2008
    8:30 pm

    Refs agreed with you in the Pitt-SD game. That was one fishy game. Never seen a home team outside of Alameda come out that lopsided on the laundry. And the call at the end? WTH was that? Harrison was fined several weeks back for pondering if the refs had money on the game. This was a game that really makes you wonder.

  4. Mr.Murder
    November 16, 2008
    11:56 pm

    I didn’t get to see the game entirely, the small bit of action coming from the feed was showing LeBeau going to a lot of max cover.

    That was only a series of plays though, so I can’t say what the whole thing was like.

    The field there is so bad that you can’t do much up the middle. The middle looks like it is all mud, no wonder Ward did so well. As he’s slowed he still is able to settle and make catches well.

    Win a game without scoring a TD, can’t wait to see that tried out on the road in the playoffs….

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